So, this is my first time making a post like this where I'm sharing an experience, so sorry if my storytelling isn't that well and I wasn't sure if this was the right place to share this or if a different subreddit was better. Also, I'm high. :p This is probably going to be a long post so strap in or go below to find a summary. And before anyone says this is fake, trust me, I wish it was. This was very real and I'm still traumatized by what happened. I'm hoping finally sharing what happened with other people who can give me on advice on how to deal with it (mentally) can help.
I'm not going to be using any real names or specific locations for privacy reasons (I'm also deathly afraid he might come across this) I'll call myself L (20M) and the guy who I think could've been a serial killestalker I'll call B (26M).
For some minor backstory, I'm a twenty year old trans male and I've never had much experience in dating. I live in the bible belt, so my dating life was non-existent or was filled with creeps. I wasn't looking for a partner at this time, but I ended up meeting B who was super sweet, had an amazing voice/laugh, and was overall very attractive. The main reason why I liked him and wanted to try dating him was because he told me he had dated trans partners before and knew a lot about it and was very respectful of my boundaries. Most guys never cared how I felt and always wanted to 'see my tits' and so on, and even if they liked me, when it came to sex and my body they were all very disrespectful. To top it all off, me and B had the same interests and 'end goal' for our lives and we got along extremely well. I have a lot of mental disorders since BEFORE I met B, some being CPTSD, Agoraphobia, and Severe Panic Disorder, so meeting new people and trusting others was something very hard for me. I'm usually very awkward and have trouble keeping up conversation with others, but not with him. He was amazing and we flowed together well. All green flags. Sometimes I feel as though the guy I first met is still out there, because when I met this dude in person, he was completely different.
So, we met around fall of last year on a dating app. I was mainly looking for hookups because at that point in time I had given up on dating. Like I said earlier, we started talking and that changed for me. He told me he was poly and me and him had a long talk about it and we decided we would both keep it open and would be fine to see other people while we talked, and if things started to get more serious and it worked, then we'd be monogamous. (This is important for later) So, there were no red flags in the beginning, until a few started to pop up. He told me he was into guns, which at first was fine with me. He didn't hunt, he just liked to shoot and go to shooting ranges for fun. Hell, to me that sounded like every man's dream to shoot and blow stuff up so I was excited when he suggested to go to a shooting range together. Also, I'm in the south of the US as well, so I was used to that. Then he started talking about serial killers and darker stuff and how he was into that. Which again, was fine with me. I've been through a lot in my life and have a lot of trauma and dark humor, and dark things in general, doesn't bother me, and I love horror. We talked about how we should watch the new Jeffrey Dahmer show that has Evan Peters. I love AHS so I was down for it. It started getting a lot weirder though, and I should've known then that something was wrong, I think I was blinded by the chance to actually have a caring partner that was already educated on trans topics, so I didn't think. He told me that his former partner and him had gotten in a fight, the one before me. He told me what happened between for the fight, I'm not going to include this part as it's very specific, but by the end he had told me his partner had left in the middle of the night and got his family to pick him up (His partners family live in another state, so his ex partner ended up moving ACROSS STATES to get away from him.) He said when he woke up he was gone and wasn't answering his calls. The way he told the story in the beginning though made it seem like his ex was a really stuck-up and petty person who HE got away from. Now I know why his ex actually left and that his EX was the one who got away. Ok, so with that all out of the way, we had been talking for around three months when we decided to finally meet. We had taken some time figuring out where to meet since we both wanted to meet in public, which I thought was a really green flag. When I told him I'd just drive up to his place, he said no because he didn't want to give out his address before we met. Which again, I thought was SUPER GREEN, but apparently not. I didn't want him to drive here for the same reasons, but also because I live with my grandparents so I figured that'd be pretty awkward. We ended up deciding to meet at a park near his house to see that we weren't catfishing each other and basically to catch the vibes of the other. He lived in a different state but the drive was only two hours away, not too bad. I drove up there (I was 19 at this point in time btw...) and when I finally arrived I gave him a call and he said he'd be there. So, this 'park' ended up not being a park, but a CEMETARY. For some reason though, there was a playset on the other side of the road that was connected to it which is where I parked. After we were supposed to meet, we were going to go back to his place then I was going to drop off my car and we were going to take his and go out and eat. So, a few minutes go by and I see a car start to pull up toward me. I was still in my car as there was no where else to sit. I went to open my door and hop out when he pulled in beside me but all he did was roll down his window and said "you can follow me now." BRUH, WHAT, OK? That was it. He rolled it back up and started to drive away. Now, I know what most of you are thinking, BITCH RUN. Well, I was stupid and hate confrontation or anything like that so I went along with it. I followed him and then realized that the park wasn't 'near' his house, IT WAS RIGHT BEHIND IT. I drove not even another minute probably and we were already there. Making me think he wanted to watch me approach from his house. So, I parked and we both got out. He looked exactly as he did in the pictures and was more attractive in person, although his personality and the way things were going made it not matter. We went to head inside and he stopped me before going in and said something like, "Hey, I have a headache so we're just going to stay here. Is that ok?" I have no idea why, but practically the ENTIRE TIME I was with him that day, he had a constant expression on his face that made him look like he was constipated/confused. Think of Edward in Twilight when he is trying not to kill Bella or be weird. It was THAT face. Furrowed brows, mouth open slightly, with that weird look on his face. So, at first I felt a bit let down, that was until I realized everything else that had happened up before this point. Then it turned into anxiety. I told him that was fine and when he opened the door, all the lights were off. Like, ALL OF THEM. It was pitch black and he had black out curtains on his windows. He led me to his bedroom which creeped me out and we proceeded to sit on his bed. He told me he was sorry about not wanting to go out and that we could just watch tv and cuddle. Now, if this was the guy thought I had been talking to, then I'd would've been fine with it. But this dude seemed like a completely different person from who I had met. Keep in mind I had been talking with him for three months and we connected really fast and had hours long convos on the phone a day. I was honestly just creeped out but wasn't scared because I've been in similar situations like this before. I figured I'd just make up an excuse later so I could leave. That's when he told me to lay back and get comfortable and we'd watch, low and behold, JEFFREY DAHMER. So, that's what he put on while we made, really weird, small talk. So, he told he had a shit ton of guns and reached beside his nightstand and whipped out a pistol. He told me he had built it himself and let me hold it. But just the fact that this guy can whip out a gun like that, while acting like a creep, AND that show playing? Nah man, god I'm such an idiot. Anyway lmao, he started stroking my thigh and 'petting' me while we watched the show. I was SOOO uncomfortable and I noticed I had a texts from two of my friends and my mom who were all asking if I made it up here ok. I texted back and let them know I was fine, and this is when I started panicking a lot more on the inside. Anytime I'd get a text, or even open my phone at all, he'd lay his head on my shoulder to see what I was doing. He even ended up reading one of my texts out loud from earlier in the day. I felt that I couldn't just leave like any weird date, 1) because he had guns EVERYWHERE. 2) Because he was watching every move I made 3) Because that's when I realized he was potentially dangerous and unhinged on a physical level. A bit later after sitting in silence, 'watching the show,' he started talking about how he knew everything about Jeffrey Dahmer. What kind of poison or drug he'd use on his victims, exactly how he drilled the holes in his victim's heads, and basically everything about Dahmer's life. He even knew what steps Dahmer would do and in what order before killing his victims. Now, I knew a lot about serial killers as well because I like true crime and shit like that. I ended up agreeing with him and playing along. Looking back, I don't know how, but I found a way to still fake laugh at this man's jokes and act like I was the same as him. I even went as far to say that I felt bad for Dahmer and could be his friend. B's eyes seem to light up when I said that and then he went on a rant about how Dahmer was misunderstood and only needed somebody. It made me sick to my stomach but I continued going along with it. Later he went on to say multiple things that disgusted me and made me afraid. Like how he was into knife play, little brother play, where he makes his partners act like a younger brother. He also told me he loved taking sexual pictures of his partners while they held his guns in different poses and asked me if I would. I 'gladly' agreed and said we could do it later. NAH, FUCK THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Btw, this whole time he was still stroking me and putting his hands on me. He kept trying to push alcohol on me, and joked it was laced. I told him I wasn't a big drinker and didn't want anyway at the moment. Every time I refused he kept getting more irritated. He then made a weird comment, saying, "Isn't getting fucked up what you're here for?" UMMMM, NO????? He had a jar of moonshine and finally I told him I'd take a sip. I held it up to my lips and closed them before slightly letting the liquid hit them, then I pretended to take a small gulp and told him it tasted good. That's when he got a huge smile on his face and all the annoyance from before went away. Looking back, I think it was actually laced, and you'll see why next. Yay... So a bit after this, I started to get a slight headache and that's when I realized I left my bag in my car. I got a bit excited because I thought I could take this as a chance to leave. I asked him if I could go grab my bag from my car for my headache medicine and he said of course. Now listen, I said earlier I have dark humor and it's been a coping mechanism for me. So when I left to go to my car I made a joke to him and said, "Don't worry, Jeff. I'll be right back, I'm not leaving." DUDE. When I told my friend what I had said later she told me I memed a serial killer. BRUH, WHY AM I LIKE THIS? I COULD'VE DIED OR WORSE AND I CALLED HIM JEFF? Lord help me... Anyway, so my headache only got worse after I 'took a sip' of the moonshine and I started feeling dizzy. Now, even though I didn't actually drink it, a few drops still came in contact with my lips made it into my mouth. I went to my car and grabbed my bookbag from my floorboard. I sat in the driver's seat and looked on my phone. I was about to call my best friend, basically my sister, and then leave. My soul left my body though, because when I looked over, this dude was standing on his porch, WATCHING ME. Seeing if I was trying to leave. Knowing he had guns and we were in a small town where hearing gun shots were normal, I grabbed my bag and hopped right out of the car. When he knew I was walking back he walked to his car and opened his trunk. He pulled out a gun case that was like THREE FEET LONG. This gun was huge and he walked it into the house behind me. He told me it was some kind of sniper rifle and he said each single bullet costed 8$ or something like that. I later learned that owning something like that in the state he lived in was illegal. So, he kept making weird comments and touching/petting me while he told me all the ways he'd kill me 'if he was a serial killer.' I had been at his for almost 4 hours at this point and he FINALLY left me alone in the living room for a few moments, going back in his bedroom for something. I quickly texted my mom and told her to call me and give me an excuse. I didn't tell her what was going on as I knew she would've panicked more than me and probably would've made it worse. I just told her I didn't like him much and needed a reason to leave. I told her I was deleting the text I just sent and told her not to text me back as I knew B would read it. I told her to call me after a few minutes of seeing my text. So, luckily a few minutes later I got a call and she told me she was in the hospital and needed me to come home. Now, my mom has health problems and B knew of this before I came so it was actually the perfect excuse. I pretended like I was more annoyed than concerned since I'd told him before she was always in and out of the hospital with her health because she doesn't take care of herself. I apologized for having to leave so soon, (Before all this, if things went good I was supposed to stay the night.) And he didn't say a single word before looking at me coldly and going into his room. I waited for like ten minutes, unsure if I should just leave. I was deathly afraid of him now and didn't know if he was about to pull out a gun. I kept hearing bangs and loud noises coming from his room. When he finally came out though, he didn't have anything and still looked cold. I said my final goodbye and we hugged for a second before I left. As soon as I hopped in my car I put that bitch in drive and WENT. Now that I was out and everything started to hit me more, the adrenaline and fight or flight went away. Only leaving me with anxiety and I was completely shaken. I called my two of my best friends who are together and told them what happened. I asked if I could come to their place because I live with my grandparents (who are conservative Baptists if that says anything) and I DID NOT want to tell them about what happened. They didn't even know I went up there or that I was talking to someone. They said I could and my friend who I'll call M (21f) stayed on the phone with me basically my whole drive back home. The more I told her the more WTF she became. And honestly, there are a lot of other creepy/weird things he did that I left out because there are so many it's hard to remember every detail at once. Once I got to her place I noticed I had several missed calls and texts from him. I blocked him on everything and then M asked me something that made my stomach drop. She asked if my Snap location was on. It was. I drove the whole way back with my location on, straight to my friend's place. I turned it off immediately and started panicking a little. M and my other friend I'll call J tried to reassure me but then I got a phone call from an unknown number. M answered it for me and said hello. It was quiet because it was not on speaker but I could the voice. It was him and I felt a chill go down my spine. He asked if I was around and M told him he had the wrong number. He called back SOOO many times, each time with a different number. Even months after I kept getting calls from unknown numbers. After a few months, I wasn't sure if it was him or a scam caller and over the course of a few weeks I answered a few of them. I never said anything, just answered and never let the call time go over 10 seconds. Each time I could hear rustling noises and no voices. One time all I heard was heavy breathing. I decided to not answer anymore of them and luckily they've since stopped the last month or two. I was so scared soon after it happened though. Even though I never told him my address, he still knew where I worked and I was so afraid he'd show up with a gun and shoot up the place. Because it wasn't some random fast food chain or retail job. I work at a pretty good place to be so young and there is only ONE of these places. I'm not going to give away any details but he if wanted to he could GPS straight to where I work, anyone could because it's well known and public. I was nervous he'd scope out the place and wait until he saw me and which side of the building I enter, etc. During this time I kept a knife on me at all costs and had a necklace type sheath thing and both the knife and sheath were flat, so I'd wear it around my neck under my shirt and apron at work (even though I could've been fired if found with it.) A few days after it all happened, I woke in the middle of the night and even now I SWEAR to this day I smelt him. I know I didn't and my brain was probably making it up, but it was HIM. Him, and his whole house, had a distinct smell. Like booze and cigarettes mixed with his own scent. I was shaking and had cold sweats. I had never sat up so fast out of sleep before, especially because I hadn't been dreaming. It was like something had woken me up. His smell was everywhere and I looked to my dog who seemed undisturbed and that's when I knew no one was here. My dog is very protective and barks at anyone he doesn't know so I felt safe but still was uneasy and I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. I ended up telling one of my bosses what had happened and asked her if we could get the gate closed at night since I work second. About two weeks after everything, I was sitting on my back porch smoking when I saw a car that looked just like his pass by. I tried to look at the driver and when I did, my stomach turned. It looked just like him. Even now, I'm not sure if it was him or not but considering nothing has happened, I assume it wasn't. Although I told my friends that I was nervous. Since I know a lot about serial killers and true crime, my initial thought was if I was him, I wouldn't come after me right away. I'd wait and let them get comfortable, thinking they are safe and then get them. Which is why I guess I've been paranoid about it again lately. It's been about 6-8 months since then. I'm still traumatized from it and still look over my shoulder when I'm walking at night, thinking I'm going to see him again on day. Even though I don't get nearly as many calls now, I still do from time to time. Although no one ever speaks when I answer nowadays, It's like I have a gut feeling it's him. Though I don't know if I'm just paranoid or not. Also, this dumbass didn't want me to get his address but I found it anyway. So if something ever happens to me or he tries to do something I can give the police his address. Because since we met at a 'park' that was RIGHT BEHIND HIS HOUSE, me and my friend went on google maps and put in the address to the 'park.' Then I moved the maps down the roads we drove on until I found his house. We went in 3rd person and zoomed in on the numbers on his house and his street name. So, B, if you find this. Fuck around and find out. Idk if you are a serial killer or not, and maybe your just really weird. But dude, if that's the case you need to WORK ON THAT. Anyway, that's my story. Sorry if some things don't make sense or if the words are too jumbled. I'm still super high and kind of just ranted a bit. So, if anyone has any advice or something similar happen to them, I'd love to hear from you! I'll try to answer any questions, but nothing too personal. If you've read this far, your a real G, thank you. I know this is a super long post, so it means a lot. I hope the rest of you are having a good night / day wherever you are!
TLDR; Met a guy on a dating app who seemed like a really great and normal guy who turned out to be very weird and controlling and LOVES Jeffrey Dahmer. Watched my every move to make sure I didn't leave until I finally got out and SPED AWAY. Kept getting calls for months after.

I would really love some advice with how to approach my new MIL and SIL with how I was treated during my entire engagement.
This has been going on since 2021 whenever my now husband proposed to me all the way to us getting married in early April 2024. I will do my best to shorten everything and bullet point the important parts.

• Now husband, has proposed to me in October 2021. Sister-in-law before proposal was all in it, treating me like a sister and friend and even took photos of the proposal. -Have asked many times for photos but she has not given any.
  
• After proposal while hanging out with sister-in-law; I started noticing little changes in her attitude towards me. She kept telling me that as my MOH she already knows what to do because she’s been involved in so many weddings. After the seventh time of her, mentioning this I had to sit down with her to let her know she was only going to be a BM and my sister was going to be my MOH. She walked away from me. I didn’t understand where some of this was coming from because I never once hinted or told her she would be my MOH. From that point on there were small things like trying to one up me or out stage me on something.
  
• Example #1: I got a raise at my job and she knew now how much I was making. She asked if we were hiring. I said yes; the start out for everyone is X amount. She responded with maybe for you; I have a degree and should be making the same amount if not more than you. I let her know that yes while she does have a degree and while I do not have a degree; I was hitting my 11th year of experience and that everybody who I knew who started this position started off at X amount.
  
• Example #2: I was talking to MIL and SIL about the weather. I made a comment that I hope it stays under 75 degrees a little while longer because I was not ready for Texas summer weather. She replies with “Sorry, it is now 76 degrees” and smirks
  
• Example #3: She started dating someone in the military. Her son him and her were all gonna go to this military flea market. She was so excited because she had never been before or even heard of it. (It’s a place where you can get designer and everyday stuff for a hefty discount.) since my family is military I thought I would help her out by giving her advice I thought she would need. I told her “They have a strict radio, cell phone, iPad, touchscreen policy. Make sure when you go that no one is on their cell phone or iPad because you will get a ticket for it. It doesn’t matter if you’re the passenger or if you’re in the backseat, no one in the car is allowed to be on any electronic device until you exit.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes at me and told me “she knows what the rules are!” Responded with “I’m sorry I was trying to help you since you had never been before.” she rolled her eyes again and walked away from me.
  

*I wanted a black dress for the wedding, SIL argued that it was so omen. When she saw I was not budging said she wanted a black dress for her wedding - she is not engaged
*we are having the wedding at our house. SIL argued it was trashy and we should do a venue. Our home and land is way big enough to support 50 people.

• At my bridal proposal party - I got everyone a box of gifts, each one of them,hand-picked by me and worth a significant amount. Everyone got the exact same me thing. While everyone else was going through, looking at everything smiling about it, she was just sitting there to her herself, not saying a word to anyone else. - some of my friends and family thought she was really rude because of this. The one thing she did smile about was the expensive necklace earring bracelet matching set that I got everyone. It was $200 and she knew it. This was the most expensive item in the box.
• I hosted three more parties to try to ease the friction so that everyone would get to know each other since some people had it met before. She was talking to my sister the entire time and not talking to anyone else. She felt that because my sister was having a boy that she would be the only one she has something in common with. -this was not true because some of my other friends have boys, and some of my other friends share the same hobbies as her however she did not take an interest in getting to talk to them. Just my sister. - Later on I had to have a sit down with MIL about this because of her attitude everyone thought she was really rude and didn’t understand what they had done for her to be acting that way towards them. MIL stated that I don’t know what it’s like to be a single mom and that SIL said from day one everyone was against her.
  
• This continued on at the next party. This time MIL met with me at a restaurant to talk to me about things at the party that happened. She said SIL came home in tears because all the girls were rude to her. -I explain to her that none of the 5 girls were and SIL was once again and her phone the whole time not socializing. I also explained to her that SIL was 30 minutes to an hour late to all the parties and would leave about 30 minutes later. All of my friends and family were trying their best to welcome her with open arms and talk to her and get to know her and socialize with her. MIL said I must have done something to have her daughter otherwise she wouldn’t be acting that way and come home crying. She said my friends and family were bullying her. - she started screaming at me that we were against her daughter in the middle of Olive Garden and demanded to know why. I left crying.
  
• I sat down with MIL and SIL about the small parties and why I had put it together. SIL stated from day one it seemed like I was out to get her and that everyone and my friend group was against her. I told her that was not true, and I had never talked bad or about her to any of them. Some of them asked me about her and I only said positive things like she is a chef and loves to cook, she is crafty, she has a son, etc. she told me that it seemed like everyone had some sort of vendetta against her since she arrived the first day. I told her it wasn’t true that people were trying to talk to her and have a conversation with her, but she was only in her phone, not socializing. And she explained she was in her phone because people were being rude to her which was not true. - knowing it was a bunch of BS I just told her I would talk to them about it. -she said one girl opened the door to her house and said “oh, it’s you!” in a condescending voice and rolled her eyes which was not true.
  
• Fast-forward to the week of my wedding:
  
• Monday- SIL text me about hair and make up and when she should be there. Prior to this time the wedding was brought up said she wanted to do her own hair and her make up so I did not schedule her appointments because she wanted to do it herself. I told her I did not schedule her an appointment because of this. She replied with she changed her mind and wants an appointment for hair and make up and that she did tell me this during Christmas.(she did not-wedding talk was not allowed). I explained that she did not talk to me about anything wedding related during Christmas because it was a holiday and we just wanted to relax with the family. She said, regardless, I should’ve scheduled her a hair and make up appointment because she’s an adult and is allowed to change her mind when she wants to and now she wants to get her hair and make up done by a professional.” -I made the appointments for her.
  
• Wednesday- she messaged me asking if “the dog was going to walk with her son down the aisle since they were both ring bears?” I told her that “it was never discussed that the dog would be because our dog is almost 70 pounds and it’s still a puppy and i would NEVER let a three year old to be walking alone with the dog since they are so unpredictable.” She replied with “well that’s not what you said last time.” - What I said: boy dog #1 would walk with husband, boy dog #2 would walk with the best man, girl dog would walk with my MOH. - I told her “that was never the plan because I would not expect her toddler son to handle a 70 pound dog.” MIL chimes in: “I also remember you saying that the dog would be walking with her son. She just wanted to make sure that her son was going to be taken care of and nothing bad was going to happen to him.” I get offended by this. Because there is no way I would ever rip my nephew in danger like that.
  
• Friday - she cancels the hair and make up appointment. I set for her on Monday.
  
• Day of the wedding: SIL is four hours late. She stays for the ceremony leaves within the hour.
  
• MIL: since Christmas to today: every time I see her tells me how stressed out I look. How exhausted I must be planning the wedding. -I am not stressed out at all. Since we’ve had almost 3 years to plan this, I have already gotten alot of it within the first year of planning, help from friends and family with small little things that I needed done. Basically had all the decor, dance floor, yard games, signs, etc finished a year before I needed it. The dress was done with wiggle room in case I gained some weight but not too big to wear it swallows me. Both photographers booked, caterer booked, cake, and cupcakes booked; we are basically done with everything so there was no need for me to be stressed. - it’s important she was making comments about me being stressed. Coworkers not said anything about being stressed but they’ve said the opposite about how calm I am for someone who’s about to get married. I tell this to MIL. The day of the wedding- MIL comments about how crappy the drive was to our house. She went around asking a couple people if I was freaking out from all the stress of the day - my friends and family the amazing people they are told her “I’m not stressed out.” MIL took a photo of me and posted it to Facebook saying “Countdown to Mrs. New last name!!! She’s way too calm.” -I found this to be very passive aggressive. She would also comment on my body. Every time she saw me, I was looking a little bit skinnier. This really triggered me as I grew up with a Mom who always fat shamed me or commented positively and negatively about my body every chance she got.
  

My main reason for airing my family drama and issues is because I feel like something else is going on and SIL and MIL aren’t being truthful about it. I feel like MIL is clearly taking her daughter side because it’s her daughter. I get it however I feel like I don’t deserve to be treated this way when I did nothing wrong. The lying, passive aggressive, and gaslighting me about conversations that “have” happened is very concerning for the future relationship that I have with them.
I want to sit down and talk to them about it, but I’m not quite sure how to start the conversation and I’m afraid that I will get gaslit during the conversation. I felt like my entire engagement experience was ruined by them. I do not have a happy memory with them about it just with my sister, friends and family.
Before anyone says anything, husband is aware of the situation and is leaving the ball in my court for when I’m ready to talk about it. 100% supports me as he has seen all the text messages, the passive comments, etc and is not okay with it. He fully supports me and whatever decision I have and doesn’t want to overstep.

LPs

• A Boogie wit da Hoodie - Better Off Alone (w Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk, Cash Cobain, Fridayy & Mariah the Scientist) [Melodic Trap, Atlantic]
• Blessd (🇨🇴) - BlessDeluxury (w Hades66, SOG, Nicki Nicole + more) [Latin Rap, Warner]
• Álvaro Díaz (🇵🇷) - SAYONARA (w Tainy, Rauw Alejandro, Feid, Young Miko + more) [Latin Trap, UMG]
• Alejo (🇵🇷) - EN ESTA NOS FUIMOS LEJOS (w Jowell + more) [Reggaetón]
• Vacra (🇫🇷) - PYGMALION [French Rap]
• Clavish (🇬🇧) - Chapter 16 (w Fredo, Aitch, Potter Payper, D-Block Europe + more) [UK Rap, Polydor]
• Rio Da Yung OG - Rio Circa 2020 (w RMC Mike & Louie Ray) [Michigan Trap]
• Harley (🇫🇷) - WHO'S HARLEY? [French Rap]
• BIG30 - Still King (w Fredo Bang & K Carbon) [Memphis Trap, NLess]
• ShooterGang Kony - OPPS CAN'T HAVE FUN [West Coast Trap]
• Mach-Hommy - #RICHAXXHAITIAN (w Black Thought, KAYTRANADA, 03 Greedo, Roc Marciano + more) [East Coast Hip Hop]
• Rapsody - Please Don't Cry (w Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, Hit-Boy, Baby Tate + more) [Conscious Rap, Jamla/Roc Nation]
• softboy ivo (🇩🇪) & Philantrope (🇦🇹) - Seele Aus (w Wun Two + more) [European Hip Hop]
• Courtney Bell & Royce Da 5'9" - Microdose (w Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, LaRussell, Symba + more) [Rap]
• ian - Valedictorian [SoundCloud Rap]
• Stavo (🇫🇷) - Eviter la misère [French Rap, Warner]
• wolfacejoeyy - valentino [Sexy Drill, Alamo]
• Blu - abc [West Coast Rap]
• Raz Fresco & Daniel Son - Northside [Rap]
• USKY - ANHÉDONIE [French Rap]
• Nico Miseria (🇪🇸) - YO NO SOY YO [Latin Rap]
• Mike Shabb - SEWASIDE III (w Boldy James, Navy Blue, Nicolas Craven, Da$H, Estee Nack, ANKHLEJOHN & Lord Sko) [Rap]
• paymels & StoopidXool - Spectrum [Rap]
• La F (🇫🇷) - TNF 3.5 [French Rap]
• HOLOGRAM LO’ (🇫🇷) & HUNTRILL (🇫🇷) - REPLICA 2 (w Alpha Wann + more) [French Rap]
• Thizzler On The Roof - Bar Wars: Season 1 (w lou deezi, 1100 Himself + more) [West Coast Trap]
• Zinée (🇫🇷) - OSMIN (w Chilly Gonzales) [French Rap]
• Zoomy (🇫🇷) - DIRTY SPRITE 19® [French Rap]
• your.nash (🇫🇷) - solitaire mais bien accompagné [French Rap]
• Heem - Bars & Noble (w Benny the Butcher, Boldy James, Conway the Machine, Jay Worthy, Jae Skeese & ILLY FOO) [Rap]
• Ben.C (🇫🇷) - BENNY [French Rap]
• FRELONZ (🇫🇷) - MOTION OVER EMOTION [French Rap]
• Struggle Mike - HONOR (w Benny the Butcher, Jeru The Damaja, Planet Asia, Eto + more) [Coke Rap, BSF]
• Butter Bullets (🇫🇷) - Château [French Rap]
• Rory Sweeney (🇮🇪) - Carlos Danger Presents Irish Hash Mafia (w Curtisy + more) [Irish Cloud Rap]

Deluxe

• Doja Cat - Scarlet 2 CLAUDE: Disc 3 [Pop Rap, *Kemosabe/Republic]
• Childish Gambino - ATAVISTA (w 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Ariana Grande, ) [Pop, Rap, RCA]
• Madison McFerrin - I Hope You Can Forgive Me (w Honey Dijon & TrillzAI) [R&B]
• DJ Ess - #HEAVENSGATE, Vol. 1: DJ Ess Mixes [Surf Gang]

EPs

• LaRussell, 03 Greedo & Mike G Beatz - Sessions At The Grill: Episode 001 [West Coast Rap]
• Jay 305 & Hit-Boy - Don't Wait Until I Die EP (w DOM KENNEDY) [West Coast Rap]
• Kaydy Cain (🇪🇸) - For Romantic Bitches [Spanish Rap]
• Terrace Martin - Grounded [Jazz?]
• Lil Double 0 - Return of the Walker [Trap, Freebandz/Open Shift]
• Mutant Academy - Talk Soon [Rap]
• Lil Supa & Recognize Ali - "REC a LIL" [Rap]
• Cold Hart - Rap Show (w BONES & GothBoiClique) [Cloud Rap, Epitah]
• Kamaiyah - Figuring Out My Emotions [West Coat Rap]
• Kitty Ca$h - Handle With Care (w Rico Nasty, Thundercat, James Fauntleroy, PawPaw Rod, Kilo Kish, George Riley & ROZET) [Rap]
• Payroll Giovanni - Have Money, Have Heart [Rap]
• Leith (🇫🇷) - SI LA FORTUNE EST AVEUGLE [French Rap]
• Elaquent - Obrigado! [Beats]
• Fendi P - White Lines (w Polyester the Saint) [Southern Rap, Jet Life]
• SAM (🇫🇷) - 1ère mi-temps [French Rap]
• Cities Aviv - Bernadette Leak [Experimental Rap]
• EESAH YASUKE (🇫🇷) - PS: J'ÉCRIS L'ALBUM (w Haviah Mighty) [French Rap]
• Mandyspie (🇫🇷) - Monster Therapy [French Rap]

Songs

• Maluma & Pirlo - MIONCA
• Conep & Anuel AA - Bellakita
• NxWorries - FromHere (feat. Snoop Dogg & October London)
• Tha Dogg Pound, Tha Eastsidaz & Snoop Dogg - We All We Got
• Kodak Black - No Manager*
• DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, Yandel, Darrell & Dei V - No Puedo Controlarme
• Jimin, Mark Ralph, Muni Long, JVKE & NLE Choppa - Angel (Anniversary Edition)
• Key Glock - Fuck Around & Find Out
• TitoM, Yuppe & S.N.E. - Tshwala Bam (Remix) [feat. Burna Boy]
• Russ & 6LACK - Working On Me
• Masio Gunz & Jeremih - Panic
• T-Pain - On This Hill
• Chow Lee & Cash Cobain - swag it! (Remix) [feat. Flo Milli]
• Diany Dior, Cash Cobain & NAV - Favorite Lady
• Saweetie - NANi
• Yelawolf & Jelly Roll - Trailer in the Sky
• Cowboy Killer & Yelawolf - Bob Barker
• El Malilla, Yeyo & DJ Rockwel MX - B de Bellako (Remix) [feat. Jowell & Randy]
• Lila Iké - He Loves Us Both (feat. H.E.R.)
• Sayian Jimmy - BAD BOY (Remix) [feat. Gino Mella, LIT killah, Juhn, Jairo Vera, Dani Flow & Montaña the Producer]
• FERG - MDMX*
• Chance The Rapper & DJ Premier - Together
• Omar Apollo - Dispose Of Me
• 2Rare, Skilla Baby & Rob49 - C4
• 42 Dugg - Win Wit Us
• Brown Money Minds, That Mexican OT & DeeBaby - Fuck It
• Big Hit, Hit-Boy & The Alchemist - Black & Whites
• Nardo Wick - Deep End
• Lupe Fiasco - Samurai
• Nemzzz - ATM
• JasonMartin, DJ Quik, Channel Tres, Free Nationals & George Clinton - TWO HI (WAVES)
• Durand Bernarr & Free Nationals - Fist Bump
• MCVERTT & 41 - Hate The Real
• M Row & MCVERTT - Undefeated
• Sheff G & Great John - Everything Lit
• A.R. The Mermaid & 03 Greedo - Bitch I Met
• Bb trickz & El Baby R - Trickstar
• BERWYN - I AM BLACK
• Maxo Kream - Judged the Plugg (From the Block Performance)*
• Peezy - The Warm Up
• Homixide Gang & Cxdy - R50
• YTB Fatt & Rylo Rodriguez - In The Air
• EBK Young Joc - Temper
• P Dub, EBK Leebo & EBK Juvie Ju - Free Leebo
• Don Corleo & Veeze - duh duh duh
• Living Legends, Del the Funky Hompsapien & Statik Selektah - The Return (Remix) [feat. Aesop Rock, Blu, Chino XL, Kool Savas, Planet Asia, Twigy, Vast Aire & 2Mex]
• Fat Trel & Sada Baby - Steppa
• Luxx Kitty - FWM (feat. Sada Baby)
• SwuM - Lost In Space
• Rucci & BlueBucksClan - It Hit Different
• Skrapz & Kano - Marathon Continues
• STRANGEHUMAN - SIN PERDER, NUNK CUENTA
• MATT OX - MONDAY TO SUNDAY
• lil joujou, Slayter & Midnvght - Mini Van
• Your Old Droog & Conductor Williams - Mercury Thermometers
• RJD2 - Catch The Exit Door (feat. Jamie Lidell)
• Chris Palace - FWM
• lou deezi, Mari Peso & Wiggle - Trapped
• THEBROSFRESH - Caution (Remix) [feat. Pell]
• Certified Trapper - Blood
• Babyfxce E - BTA Freestyle
• RMR - Sweet Divorce
• Shreea Kaul - Press Pause (feat. Dende)
• Humane The Moon - K9 (feat. Jeshi)
• 22nd Jim - Vacuum Seats & Money Counters
• Karriem Riggins - Affectionate Overture
• Big $wift & Chito Rana$ - Wanna Ride
• Nyck Caution - On Mine
• KrispyLife Kidd - In That Case
• RXKNephew - No Handouts
• KALLITECHNIS - WOUND UP
• Lilblackkids (Georgia Anne Muldrow & Keith Rice) - Moon Slide
• Tracy T, Street Symphony & Symba - Cross Me Out
• Young Ant Jefe - Drip On 'Em (feat. Big Sad 1900)
• Estee Nack & BonesWeso - RUDEBOY
• Hurricane Wisdom - Rose Gold
• Woodie Smalls - Understand
• KayFarraway & ROMderful - Give Up The Ghost
• Highway - SDSU
• Bizarre - HEEBEE JEEBEEZ*
• PENPALS & EMERLD - Raw Deluxe
• Siege MC, Redeyes & Tha God Fahim - Black Flame
• Shoebox Baby - What Happened?
• Cuban Doll & Molly Brazy - Buban Doll
• K.Rock$ & Glockboyz Teejae - Victor Wembanyama
• Freddy Got Magic & Supa Bwe - Same Thing (feat. 7000 (7K))
• GB Jay, Verde Babii, Ssrichh33 & Ranvo - Ran Wit It
• DCG BROTHERS & Screwly G - Bounce Out
• GEMEN - Maison de Campagne / SMS
• Finch & Fritz Rango - Remedy (feat. Young Wabo & Denmark Vessey)
• Demae - Speechless
• Janette King - Paradise

Old Drop Watches

2023 and 2024 Calendar

I (34F) am currently in the process of divorce, which has been mentally exhausting but thanks to therapy and a lot of work on myself I’m reaching a peaceful agreement.
I’ve had recently reconnected with an old flame back from university days. I was clear from the start that I did not think it was a good time to explore anything beyond platonic, however he (34M) insisted that he had been waiting on his chance with me for over a decade and that he is ready to date me despite my divorce not yet being finalised. I was very cautious at first , accepting the odd coffee date here and there as I like to take things slow before becoming intimate, especially given the circumstances.
He, however, was very insisting, full of compliments, generous, chivalrous, talked about marriage and family, even children’s names. Within 1 month, he referred to me as his girlfriend. This caught me by surprise, but I just assume some people are more spontaneous and a serious conversation about “what are we” wasn’t needed. He told all his friends about me. Because he is an old friend, and actually one who warned me about a toxic ex of mine in the past, I felt he was very caring and safe , and eventually I let my guard down and decided to let him in. For my birthday, he got flowers, took me out for dinner, even got me a necklace and a little music box. I’ve asked him if he was falling in love with me and he said yes.
Then eventually I let myself be intimate with him. It’s been mind blowing every single time.
I work a 9-5 kind of job that involves travelling from time to time. He works in a busy hospitality environment, mainly nights. I did ask from the start if he did not consider this an incompatibility, which he reassured me it wouldn’t be and managed to fit each other in our busy schedules. He always insisted on paying too, despite me being the one who earned the most. He booked us on a trip to his home country with his family. Again, a little bit too fast for me , but I have no logical reason to refuse.
Then something happened. He told me about his schedule for the week in order to fit some time together. Because he had a training event that may involve dinner with colleagues the following day, I told him I would see him in 3 days instead. But he insisted that he would see me the next day. I told him it really was ok if he couldn’t meet up, but he was determined to meet me. So the next day, I told him ok, I’m finished with work, let me know how you’re getting on. He said he thought he was finishing within the following hour. As I needed to buy some stuff anyway I told him I would then see him in town. Comes to the meeting time and he texts “I am staying for dinner , can’t get out of it” to which I say: it’s ok, that’s why I suggested not to meet today but when we both have free time. And I went home. He texted me but I only saw it after I finished cooking my own dinner: “are you ignoring me ?” At this point , I found it a bit strange that after technically leaving me stranded he was asking if I was ignoring him. But of course I replied and made nothing out of it. However , I found it a bit rude that he didn’t even apologise for his sudden change of plans.
We met that Friday and it was great. Said he’s meeting me the next day , usual time (a few hours before he starts his shift) but he overslept and had to go to work. Again, not a problem. However the same thing happens the following day (Sunday) but this time I don’t hear from him until he’s been working a few hours already. “Guess what time I woke up”. I saw the message and put my phone on the side , as I had low battery and was out socialising with friends. Didn’t think this required an immediate response. Later on in the evening I come to a multitude of messages accusing me that I’ve changed my style of messaging and that something was off. I explained exactly what happened and that he had nothing to worry about. We agreed to meet up next day. We did. He brought up the “incident” again. I apologised , I expressed that I did not like being messed around with my schedule as I’m usually quite busy and there has been a few instances already and no apologies, we made up and went for dinner and after , to have a few drinks where he normally works. He made a point it was gross misconduct to drink at his work. Well, we get there , he necks two shots and informs me the date was over and he decided to jump in and help. No apologies. I left and told him I found this very rude. At this point my gut feeling is starting to tell me something’s off.
There’s a few more instances of me having to chase him to clarify whether or not to meet. I find this a bit exhausting to do. Not every time we agreed , we met as he was busy either sleeping or working. Or his phone died. Then when we have some time together , which is scarce , he is constantly on his phone replying to everyone , so I find this behaviour very confusing and ultimately, rude.
Last planned date , after checking with him several times , I got theatre tickets and paid deposit for dinner. He reassured me it was going to happen and that he was very excited. He doesn’t reply to my last messages for a solid 15h, so I ask him why is he treating me like this when he doesn’t like the same done to him ? The day before this, he messages me saying “little bit of a pickle but have to work tomorrow”. At this point , I’ve had enough with my time being wasted and not a single apology. So I texted him back that “I need a break from all this, sorry”. He just reacts with a thumbs up which is infuriating to say the least (we are talking 14 years of friendship) so I asked him : “is that it? Are you even sorry ? “ to which he says : “sorry for what, having to work? “ to which I reply: no it’s not even about tickets or rotas or plans , is about emotional neglect and lack of consideration. He says he’s not willing to discuss it as his out with his team and I said I agree is not the time and place. But he carried on texting me saying that he doesn’t think it will work out and that he needs someone smart and not someone who lives in la-la land. I firstly explain that I had already broken up with him earlier, so no need to turn the tables and that I know I am smart and why trying to belittle me? He continued lashing out that I am not smart , I am not brave, etc. and that he wins at all these qualities. I come to the conclusion that he’s the one scared of vulnerability and trying to compete against me, which is weird and childish.
Now the weight in my chest has lifted and I think I’ve dodged a bullet , however part of me wonders if I have been too harsh breaking up by text with someone who struggles with emotional intelligence and self regulation?
Many thanks in advance

For the purpose of this, I wish this OP could be edited by others.
I'd like to reconstruct the timeline of this day, even though it has been done countless times.
Please fill me in where I am wrong, I promise I am happy to learn. This will likely be biased, as I don't believe Oswald was guilty as charged, in either of the two murders.
AM: Oswald gets a ride to work from Irving, by Frazier. He has a package wrapped in brown paper that is presumebly the rifle. (Paper never found, and he would have had to bring the paper before hand? Presuming it was paper from the TSBD.) He mentions curtain rods, apparently.
Let's get into the meat of the time frame.
12:30. Three shots fired. (Gun was found with no extra bullets in it. Meaning he only loaded 3 bullets into the 6 capacity clip, makes no sense.)
He then stashes the rifle, makes it down 4 flights of stairs to the 2nd floor lunch room, where he either orders a coke or has one stashed. (If he had it stashed, this would have been the only smart thing he did. Had he carried it, it surely would explode upon opening!)
12:31 Truly and Baker confront him in the lunch room. (So Baker saw the assassination, hopped off his motorcycle, decided where it came from, introduced himself to Truly, and together they charged through the TSBD, ignoring everyone else, got to the second floor, and chose to confront Lee with gun drawn within 90 seconds.) Lee appears calm, collected, and not breathing hard, so they move on. (If a man shoots the president, i dont think this is possible, especially within seconds. Eyes and heart-rate would be crazy-town)
It wasn't until after this that Lee decided to leave. He figured what went down, and it scared him.
I'll make a second post this because this will get to long, and I'd like to get input just up to this point.
But we are only at minutes from the assassination at this point.

Travel Diary: I make $195,000 and spent $2149.75 (+49k points) while on a trip to Amsterdam
Section One: Bio
Age: 40
Occupation: Lawyer
Hometown: DC
Number of PTO days and how you accrue them: I earn 6 hours of annual leave every two weeks (19 days total a year), and used 36 hours for this trip
Section Two: Assets + Debt
Not super comfortable with a very detailed financial picture, but my NW is ~$750k. No SO.
Section Three: Income
Main Job Monthly Take Home: After all deductions and contributions to savings, my monthly take home is ~$6200
Section Four: Travel Expenses/Diary
Trip planning - My (40F) best friend from college (39F) and I decide to go to Amsterdam on a birthday trip. We both turn 40 in 2024, and we decide to go in May because it's in between our birthdays and because it'll be tulip season in Amsterdam! Neither of us have been. We also haven't travelled together before, despite being friends for 20(!) years, so we are a little apprehensive, although we have spent a lot of time together over the past few years. We decide on a 6 day trip. For purposes of this diary I'm going to list my half of the expenses for things we split. Costs are in US dollars, despite paying using Euros. As a side note, I also am a little over one year post-Gastric Bypass, which has a limited effect on my diet (I try to eat low carb, but you'll see that I mostly fail at this on this trip!).
Pre-trip expenses: $1193.15 total
Flight: $255 + 49k points (from Capital One)
Lodging: $1425.91 (split) - $713
Rijksmuseum: $40.28
Anne Frank House: $24.95
Keukenhof Gardens plus bus ticket: $36.20
Red Light District Tour: $50.52
Day trip to windmills tour: $43.20
Snacks: $30ish
Day 1 (Total $21.17)
Our flight is at 5:30pm, so we planned to be at the airport by 3:30pm, which actually turned out to be 4pm. Uber ($21.17). After checking bags (included in flight price) and getting through security we made it to our gate right as boarding was about to start. No time for food or drinks.
On the plane I eat a snack of roasted chickpeas before dinner, which was chicken cacciatore with mashed potatoes, bread, cheesecake, cheese, and a salad. And two glasses of wine. I save the cheesecake and cheese for later.
My friend and I watch a movie (Poor Things) and then try to sleep. I am reading A Fault In Our Stars, because Amsterdam. I try unsuccessfully to sleep for awhile and then go back to reading. At some point i eat the cheese and cheesecake. Breakfast is a cheese roll, which i eat a couple bites of (OMG does all of Amsterdam have this much cheese?? - spoiler alert… yes it does!). I wish I had slept more.
Day 2 - Even though it feels like a continuation of day one. (Total $207.02)
7am - We land at 7 and then grab the bags and go through customs. Easy peasy. We are exhausted so we grab coffee at the airport before figuring out public transit ($5.10). I take out 60 euro for cash in case we need it ($65). We buy a train ticket to the central station ($6.33) and when we get there we buy a four day unlimited public transit pass ($28.44) so that we don’t have to worry about it later.
We get to the hotel at around 9am. They tell us it will cost $50 to check in early, which we opt not to do. Instead we go get breakfast and coffee at a cafe nearby ($21.20). The hotel tells us that our prepaid amount did not include city taxes, which is another $183 (my half $91.88).
11:30am - Back at the room we decide to rest for 90 minutes. Enough to catch up on sleep but not to waste the day and get more jet-lagged. After a rest we decide to walk around and get a feel for the neighborhood and do some shopping. We find a bookstore, and I buy a copy of my favorite book from high school, Tess of the D’Ubervilles with a beautiful cover and gold edges ($21.46). We also buy fries with truffle, mayo, and Parmesan at a fry shop ($3.32) (that’s all they have and they are delicious!). We also stop a grocery store and pick up a few things including yogurt, cheese, salami, apples, and an energy drink ($13.19). We have some early days planned and nothing seems to open early. It’s very cold and rainy and semi unpleasant.
6pm - We drop stuff off, bundle up, and head off to dinner and a tour of the red light district. We try to find a place that serves Snert, a Dutch pea soup, but strike out. We end up at an Asian place instead. I get chicken satay and a beer and my friend gets Indonesian soup and wine ($16.10). Our red light tour is great, but we are exhausted after and head straight home to bed. 22k steps total
Day 3 (Total $87.24)
7:30am - We have an early day planned, and have to be on a bus near the central station by 8am. I eat a yogurt and energy drink (from grocery store) for breakfast and we take public transit (covered on unlimited card) to the station. We find the right bus and head off!
First stop is the windmills, which are beautiful! I am happy we get there early because we basically have the place to ourselves. My friend gets a coffee and we both use the restroom ($1.08!). Then we head to Edam and do a walking tour there. Next stop is a clog/cheese place, which feels very touristy but they do feed us lots of cheese. I buy a cheese slicer as a souvenir ($10.81). Next stop is another small town where we have lunch at a cafe. We basically pick one at random. My friend gets fried fish and I get a ham and cheese panini and a beer ($17.30). Final stop is an artificial island town called Maarken. We do another walking tour.
2:30pm - we arrive back in Amsterdam and get let off north of the water. I grab a coffee ($3.76). We go up to the Adam lookout and take a ride on the swing off the side of the building ($25.95 for swing plus ticket to lookout). We also grab a drink and sit on a pillow watching the city from very high up, which is lovely ($6.63). On the way out I buy a reusable water bottle at the gift shop ($4.87).
After the lookout we take the tram over to a brewery at a windmill that was recommended to us by several people (including here on Reddit!). Cost was covered by the transit pass. We buy bitterballen and a small bottle of Genever (local whiskey) (paid by my friend) and a flight of beer ($16.84). We are a bit tipsy but enjoying the lovely weather.
6:30 - On the way back toward the hotel the weather turns and it starts raining so we dip into a pub for dinner. I have a burger ($16.12). We are there at 8pm, which is momentous because it’s a day of remembrance and the whole bar is silent for two minutes. It was very interesting to be there during this time.
We are exhausted by this point and go home to bed. 19k steps total for the day.
Day 4 (Total $104.33)
7am - Another early day as we have to be on a bus at 7:30 to go to Keukenhof for the tulips! (paid in advance). We wanted to take the first bus out there because we heard the crowds were bad. I eat a yogurt for breakfast and take a 5 hour energy (no cafes open this early!). We try to take public transit to the train station but didn’t realize that the trains do not run that early on a Sunday so we grab an Uber instead ($12.20). We tell the Uber driver we’re trying to catch a bus so he makes sure we find the right place and we pull up just as the bus is loading. Phew!
8:00am - we spend 5 hours in the gardens and take literally hundreds of pictures. We are glad that we get there early as the first few hours are lovely and empty. We get a coffee ($4.60) and lunch later ($25.36). By 1pm it’s getting very crowded so we start heading out. We grab the bus back to the train station.
2:30pm - We decide to go by the Rijksmuseum although not in it because we planning that later. Instead we stop off at the Van Gogh/Rijks gift shop that’s nearby. I get a couple souvenirs, including a foldable bag and a magnet ($20.44). I also get a coffee ($3.64) and my friend gets bubble tea. We sit on the hill on museumplein and people watch. After awhile it starts to get hot (we had dressed for the early morning) so we head back to the hotel to change.
5pm - we decide we are having an evening of drinking. We first grab a drink in the hotel bar because we get free vouchers for each day we choose not to have the room cleaned. Then we have dinner at an udon place, which is delicious. We have tempura, chicken katsu, and dumplings ($15.94). Then because it’s cinco de mayo we decide to have margaritas at the Mexican place near the hotel ($15.15)! Not Dutch but it’s fun. We head down the street to another bar and have a Genever cocktail called an Amsterdam mule ($9.91). I am happy with our choice of hotel because there are so many places in our neighborhood. On the way home we pass a fresh stroopwaffle place and must get in line for one ($5.92).
By then we are exhausted and head to bed. 21k steps total for the day.
Day 5 (Total $80.44)
8am - We have a slightly less early day but have tickets to the Anne Frank house at 9:15. (paid in advance). I eat some yogurt and cheese in the room before we leave. It’s walkable so we decide to head out early and grab coffee on the way. ($3.19). The house is sombering but I’m glad we did it.
11am - After the Anne Frank house we walk to the nearby cheese museum. We sample lots of cheese. I buy one cheese to take home ($15.18). We want to walk to a used bookstore, but decide to have lunch at a cafe on the way. We pick one at random. We split chicken tenders and a goat cheese and apple sandwich and I have a beer. ($15.14). The sandwich is one of the best things we have eaten. We spend about an hour in the bookstore and my friend buys one book.
3pm - We realize we are by the monkey bar (one of the oldest bars in Amsterdam that they told us about on our red light district tour). We stop in for a drink. Ok two drinks. ($12.50). We take the metro back towards the hotel and stop in at a tile store in our neighborhood so I can buy a magnet. I buy magnets from all my trips, but I like non-touristy handmade ones if I can find them, Van Gogh magnet from yesterday aside. I buy one with a windmill on it. ($14). We also stop at the grocery store for more yogurt ($3.05) and for Dutch apple pie at the cafe across the street from the hotel ($4). We get back to the hotel and have another free drink and then rest before dinner.
8pm - We go out to a Dutch restaurant for dinner. I am not super hungry from pie so I just get the snert (pea soup). My friend gets sauerkraut and potatoes. Sorry, but I thought it was pretty bland food in general. ($13.38).
We head home. It’s a lighter day, only 14k steps today.
Day 6 (Total $194.47)
8am - Today is our last full day in Amsterdam. We have planned to spend the day at the Rijksmuseum. We want to get there right when it opens for crowd reasons. We had bought “friend of the museum” passes ahead of time so that we can skip the line. I have a yogurt for breakfast and we walk to a cafe near the museum for coffee and breakfast for my friend ($3.78). The man at the cafe is very nice and we love sitting outside in the sunshine. It’s going to be a warm day!
We spend about 5 hours at the museum. We rush to see the Van goghs and the main gallery where the Rembrandts are, including The Night Watch, which is probably one of the most famous paintings in there. We had downloaded the app so we shared a pair of earbuds and listened to audio notes about many of the works (they have a number you can enter in). We take a break outside for coffee ($7.29 - i pay) and skip the line again. Totally worth it for the more expensive ticket. Around 2 we are hungry and have seen almost everything. We stop in the gift shop and I buy a ring and earring set. ($64.76). I forget to use my 10% discount for being a friend. :( I wanted a necklace too but didn’t like the ones they had there so I’ll try to find a matching piece at home.
2pm - My friend has been trying to get herring for the whole trip so we make it a point to do that. The first place is a bust so we find a little stand that sells it a 15 min walk away. We are determined, so we head there. I don’t eat fish so I get a shawarma on the way, which is terrible (cash). I throw half away. After lunch we get ice cream. I get coffee ice cream, and it makes up for the bad shawarma ($6). We also stop at the peanut butter store, which is allegedly the first in the world, and I pick up 3 small jars for my mom for Mother’s Day ($8.11). We also stop at a thrift store and i buy a dress ($21.59). At some point this day (I think), we also stop at another bookstore, and I buy a few things including a card, a couple gifts, and a book ($39.71).
6pm - After resting a bit, we get two more free drinks at the hotel and then head out to dinner. We pick another Asian place. I get an aperol spritz at dinner and we share appetizers (satay, spring rolls, and bitterballen). We also get coconut ice cream with mango sauce for dessert. All yum! ($33.03).
We get one final drink at a local bar near the hotel ($10.20) and I’m again grateful for our choice of neighborhood. Today has been all walking because our 4-day metro pass ran out yesterday. Total steps 13k.
Day 7 (Total $36.93)
8am - this our last day. The plane was supposed to leave at 1:30pm, but we get a message that it’s delayed an hour. We decide to have a leisurely breakfast. We pick a place that’s at a hotel near our hotel. I get an egg sandwich and my friend gets French toast. We both get coffee. ($15.27)
We decide to leave for the airport around 11. We walk to the central station about 20 min away, and I buy wooden tulips for my mom on the way (cash). We buy train tickets (cash) and get right on a train. We are proud of ourselves for our navigation on this trip.
12pm - we get to the airport and through security. We head to a lounge but there’s a line. We are 40th in line based on our QR code place. We decide not to wait and sit down for lunch at a random bar. I get a sausage and a beer ($20.66). We walk around some and get another message that our flight is delayed more, to 4pm. It’s finally our turn to get into the lounge at 2:30 (2 1/2 hour wait) so we go. I grab some water and a whiskey and coke but we just ate so we are not hungry. Around 3 we head to the gate. Unfortunately when we get there our flight is delayed more and will board at 4. They give us airport vouchers so we buy a book, beer, and some stroopwaffles ($1 after vouchers). We finally board and head off around 5.
On the flight we are served dinner. They have run out of chicken by the time they get to me, but eventually find one and bring it to me later. I have a wine too. I read, watch a movie, and try to sleep a little. We have a whole row of four to ourselves so we can spread out. Dinner is a French bread pizza.
8pm - We land around 7pm (love time zone math!), grab our bags, and get a taxi to my car ($27.09). I drop off my friend and get home at 8:30. I am exhausted but cuddle my cats for about an hour before going to bed. 15k steps today
After trip expenses - $225 cat sitting
Total expenses: $2149.75 (+49k points)
Flight: $255 + 49k points
Lodging: $804.88
Food/drinks: $531.38
Travel: $101.56
Activities: $221.10
Souvenirs/gifts: $ 231.93
Final parting thoughts - I think just over $2k for an almost-week long trip to Europe is a pretty comfortable number for me. I am glad I could use points for most of the flight. We definitely didn't try to cheap out on anything. We spent a lot of money drinking (neither of us drink this much usually). I hope this was helpful to anyone, and I look forward to reactions/comments!

I (29F NT) am extremely neurotypical and emotionally/mentally/financially stable. I’ve been struggling with my fiancé (31M dx rx) for a long time, and could really use some tailored words of wisdom. Lurking this subreddit/community has been so incredibly validating and helpful as I navigate this overwhelming journey… 2 years into our relationship and I feel like I’m at my breaking point. I doubt whether he’s capable of changing fast enough, I’m not sure I want this for my life anymore. Things will only get harder as we age and kids are thrown in the mix…
The past year has been soul-crushing, I’m a shell of the person I used to be. I’ve self-isolated from friends, had depressive episodes (never had that before), gained an excessive amount of weight, am frequently paranoid and anxious (never had anxiety before). I just never have long-lasting peace, it has destroyed my mental health. Before all this, I was eager to get engaged/married while he was nervous and wanted to take it slow. Now things have flip-flopped: he proposed far earlier than I thought he would, and I’m hitting the breaks uncertain of our future when I’m supposed to be planning a wedding (I refuse to until I see long-term/consistent improvement from him).
I can say that thankfully, my fiancé is not on the extreme end of ADHD. He doesn’t struggle holding a job, he isn’t a slob, he doesn’t shut down sexually, etc. He was diagnosed with ADD (so inattentive ADHD) when he was 18, and has been taking Adderall since. He does not take as much as he is prescribed, which I’ve questioned and he brushed off. We have gotten into heated, and ridiculous, arguments since early-on in our relationship.
Fall last year I unintentionally stumbled upon the emotional dysregulation aspect of ADHD. I was watching reels on Facebook, and in one a woman started by saying “If your partner has ADHD, watch this.” I continued watching, and 5-10 seconds later she mentioned in passing how they have problems with emotional regulation. I was immediately floored and replayed the video to make sure I heard it correctly. I Googled it and, low and behold: there was article after article about this. I read bullet point after bullet point of the manifestations of ADHD, and I couldn’t believe how it described exactly what I had been dealing with for nearly a year and a half.
My entire life I thought ADHD just meant someone had more difficulty focusing or they were hyperactive. This is what most of [uninformed] society thinks, and also what my fiancé himself thought. Over a 12+ year period since being diagnosed, not a single doctor or psychiatrist ever once mentioned the emotional dysregulation aspect of ADHD to my fiancé. He had no idea! Previously, I had chalked up our problems to political differences and that for his entire 20s he was always around (and dated) people very different from me. So I thought he just had trouble adjusting away from judgmental worldviews he had adopted while being surrounded by like-minded people for so long.
The discovery of emotional dysregulation and RSD was ground-breaking for us. He had been starting to think I was the problem since he “didn’t have these problems in my previous relationships.” Well that’s because he always dated less-mentally-stable people (his most recent girlfriend was diagnosed bipolar), so by comparison he was always the more stable one in the relationship and the magnifying glass was pointed away from him. Making the link between our problems and his ADHD made it tangible in a way that he could understand, which provided a foundation for his growth and improvements to begin (alongside therapy). But it’s very difficult for a 30+ year old man with a brain disorder to unlearn bad habits he was fully unaware of & learn how to retrain his brain to process information in a healthy way…
My fiancé has externalized RSD - he becomes highly reactive and verbally aggressive. He is hypersensitive, his brain distorts reality and interprets innocuous questions/statements like “did you put water in the soap dispenser” or “that’s a lot of cereal” as personal attacks. He also has a very big problem not respecting certain differences in opinion we have, or not respecting my choice to not eat/do certain things - he will push and push and push and push, will not stop pushing even after I calmly & nicely asked him to stop dozens of times after dozens of arguments, will not stop even after I’m sobbing begging him to please stop with tears streaming down my face. What are these explosive arguments about? The most mundane, inconsequential things. I wish this was made-up: HOV lanes, me not wanting to eat salad, me not wanting to eat warm guac, me not wanting to eat mustard, me not wanting to try Adderall or coke, me having a different view/opinion on how we should heat up a frozen pizza, me not wanting to eat mushrooms because they make me sick, etc etc.
Every single time we have an explosive argument, he pushes and pushes and pushes. When I reiterate, for the 100th time, that I have autonomy over my own body and don’t need to do anything I don’t want to do, he tries to manipulate me by flipping the script and parroting words/phrases I’ve used in previous discussions (like saying I’m being “disrespectful” and “dismissive” of his feelings/opinions because I won’t do what he wants me to do). Only once he calms down does he realize how badly he effed-up, profusely apologizes, and promises to never do it again and that he’s capable of being better… But then he just does it again and again and again and again and again and AGAIN.
He tries to play the victim and come off as reasonable by saying that he’s just “trying to understand” me by asking questions. I told him that is a cop-out because after I’ve explained how I feel, he ignores it since it doesn’t make sense to him & doesn’t line up with what he thinks/believes, and instead he continues pushing/pressuring me.
More recently he also claims that he isn’t trying to pressure me to do anything TO MYSELF, he’s just sharing his own experiences and thoughts with me so I can understand him better. When you repetitively “share your experiences/thoughts” on XYZ after I made it clear dozens of times that I don’t want to do XYZ and to please stop pressuring me to, even if you don’t explicitly state “You should try XYZ,” you are still INDIRECTLY pushing/pressuring me.
I. am. SO TIRED. Resentment has been growing, I’m paranoid and anxious, I don’t trust him (because he has repeatedly lied to me), his substance use (alcohol and weed) has become less and less attractive. He claimed a long time ago that I’m obsessed with being right, but he’s just projecting - he’s the one obsessed with “being right.” While he loves how I do all the paperwork-related “adult” part of life, he gets really annoyed that I’m almost always ‘right’ about things while he is not - so he takes it out on me.
Things have gotten to the point of reactive abuse, which I warned him about a few months into our relationship (at the time I didn’t know the term, just the concept). I’m having such a hard time making my mind up on where to go from here. When things are good, they are so good. He is a genuine person and a good man, we have SO much love for each other. We share many laughs and have built a life together. But… his brain is plagued with a disorder (that he was not fully informed on & did not begin attempting to manage until 6 months ago) that breaks me down.
While he has improved since the ADHD link was discovered and he started therapy, he continues slipping up and defaulting back to his regular BS. I don’t think I can take it anymore. I don’t want to waste more years of my life, or end up trapped in a marriage because of kids… I’m afraid that’s what it will come to, and I’ll be forever mad at myself for sticking around despite the red flags and what I knew about his condition.
BUT… What if it’s possible for him to improve and stop hurting me? Maybe he needs different medication? Maybe there are other communication approaches we can try? Maybe there’s a better kind of ADHD-specific therapy out there (I don’t think his/our current therapist is helping much)?
I know that he has a long way to go, and that I need to focus on healing. What are methods that have worked for you? Is there a better way I can go about looking for a therapist that specializes in adult ADHD & who truly understands it and can help? My fiancé acknowledges and understands that he has a problem, I can see that he is genuinely trying to improve - he wants to be a better person for himself and also be the partner I deserve. He is struggling to make it happen, he wants it SO badly - he doesn’t want to lose me or the life we have together. I just don’t know how much more of this I can take… Please, any advice & support would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

Hello everyone, I have had an interesting trip to say the least.
Backstory, me and the bride met in middle school at a summer Christian camp. We went to the same school, but she was a year older than me. We were close friends in high school but drifted during college because that’s what typically happens.
Fast forward, she graduated last year and moved back with her fiancé. We linked up afterwards and our friendship is doing great. I was invited to the wedding, not a bridesmaid which is not a problem because I am so happy that she met someone who cares for her. I just wanted to clear that up because I know some will jump to conclusions (looking at you Charlotte, if you’re even reading this).
Now, the bride invited me to the bachelorette weekend and of course I accepted because who doesn’t like a girls exclusive weekend?! She got it for free from one of the bridesmaids and asked if she could bring me since one of the other bridesmaids just gave birth. She accepted!
We will call the owner of the beach house Stella. Stella was fun to be around and seemed to have a great sense of humor. I found her to be passive aggressive towards me, after seeing my necklace (I have a birthstone that my bf gave me, a cremation necklace for my dog who recently passed {bf also got me that bc he’s a sweetheart and we love a good gentleman around here}, and lastly a cross with an infinity thing). She stared at my chest a lot, I originally thought that she was just enamored or jealous by my enormous jugs (I am a size H) and shrugged it off.
Later we were playing drinking games in the house (still the first night) and every thing was great! Stella suggested that we play truth and dare, which I didn’t like because I thought that it was too high-schooly, but I went along anyways. After everyone had gone around, Stella suggested spicing things up. I was interested by replacing the truth rule with drinking, but immediately thrown off when she suggested stripping.
As I stated earlier, I have size H boobs, I have always been self conscious about them, especially since they have scars from open heart surgery. Stella said we would have to work our way from the top to the bottom and then first one out of clothes had to streak. I thought it was an insane idea, but really who am I to judge as a Christian? That’s Gods job, not mine.
I politely declined and told the girls that I would be on the balcony watching the waves because I was uncomfortable with showing my boobs to everyone because I am not good with dares.
Needless to say Stella threw a fit and called me a boring Bible thumper. I had not mentioned my faith at that point during the ENTIRE day. The bride stepped in and asked if we could just cut out the stripping part. That must have hit a few nerves because Stella told her that there was no way that she was taking my side because she knew what Christians had done to her in the past.
Now I had no idea that she had any religious trauma and I feel bad that evil people severed her relationship with God because of their selfishness. I think it’s awful that so many hijack Christianity for evil and I do not blame her for the conclusions that she had jumped to about all Christians.
Turns out my friend had never mentioned that she was a Christian because of Stella’s disdain. Shit hit the fan when the bride told Stella that she was a Christian and that we became friends at a Christian camp. She freaked out and said that she could not believe that she had been lied to all of these years (they became friends 2 years ago) and that she could not stand to be around ‘disgusting Bible thumpers for any longer’.
We were all drunk. None of us could drive. And Stella wanted me and the bride out. The other bridesmaids were trying to calm Stella down and reassure her that not all Christians are menaces. Stella went to her room rambling about how I had made her friend (the bride) a homophobic witch.
We stayed the night, hoping Stella was too drunk to remember (which is where we might have been in the wrong) and hoped for an apology if she did. I honestly thought she would be embarrassed by her behavior. Instead the morning after she doubled down, BROKE DOWN THE DOOR OF THE BEDROOM I WAS STAYING IN, and demanded that the bride and I leave. The bachelorette weekend was then spent in our hometown bar hopping at the few bars there and sleeping at my parents house.
The bride asked Stella to step down and she told the bride to fuck off because she was going to step down anyways. I cash apped her 150 for ‘I’m sorry, here’s some money for a new door’ and she sent it back under ‘I don’t take money from homophobic Bible thumpers’.
I think that was her only insult, I have no fucking idea but man did my friend dodge a bullet. Imagine what Stella’s reaction would have been if a pastor had shown up to the wedding and she had to watch my friend and her fiancé announce their love to Jesus Christ and form a marriage in his name.
And for the question you all may be asking, no, I will not be a bridesmaid because I am graduating college and am broke.
Edit: I was splitting the post into paragraphs to make it easier to read

im a 27 year old male, 5'7" or 5'8" tall and weigh 215lbs,
Given that ive eaten out 77 times so far this year and have consumed 111 non diet pop (soda), would it be safe to assume my weight would will significant change if i cut out fast food and non diet pop, while making more health conscious food choice, like veggies or fruit for snack (compared to whatever is available in the fridge and easy to make/heat up) while continuing my 2km-5km walks 5 times a week
fast food numbers
normally i go to popeyes, get a 5 piece tender combo, 2 biscuits and a diet coke. This is 1085 calories (using lose it app). So at 77 times thats 83,545 calories total (23.87lbs)
Pop aka Soda numbers
at 111 pops so far this year. Assuming one is 140 calories that is 15,540. So 4.44lbs (thought it'd be more)
if bullet point helps anyone
cut this:

• fast food (eaten 77 times this year already(
• non diet pop (111 cans this year)

implement this

• health conscious snack options (veggies, fruits, etc)
• 2km-5km walks per day (5 per week)

would i lose the 50lbs i wish to. If i understand thius (which means i dont) cutting out non diet pop and fast food would drop me 27lbs eventually right

Salem County John Doe (New Jersey, 1979) – Genetic Genealogy Testing after Forty-Five Year Mystery
Sometime during the winter of 1978 to 1979, along a rural dirt road, a young man was shot in the face and partially buried in the woods in Quinton Township, New Jersey. Though his body was covered with brush and logs, his left arm and left hip remained exposed, waiting to be discovered. Approximately six months after his death, police were called to the scene by a local resident on the afternoon of June 3, 1979. The man’s body underwent an autopsy, and newspapers featured descriptions of his unfortunate demise and deserted belongings. A facial reconstruction was painstakingly created and distributed, but the man’s identity has remained a mystery for nearly 45 years. Researchers and students at the Ramapo College of New Jersey’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy department have begun analysis of the man’s DNA in the hopes of bringing answers.
Sources differ on the level of trauma inflicted on this John Doe. Some papers indicate that he was shot in the left eye with a “small caliber” or “.22 caliber” bullet, while another suggests that his face was “completed obliterated, apparently by a shotgun blast”. Despite the undeniably poor condition of the remains, police determined the man to be between white, 18-22 years of age, approximately 5’8” tall, and 150 pounds prior to his death. He had straight, medium brown hair, that was 4-6 inches long. He had the following clothing and accessories with him:
• White Madewell brand painters’ pants (without bib) • Brief underwear • Dark blue Lee brand jacker (size small), adorned with a 1” gold colored metal letter ‘R’ on the right and a quarter-inch gold colored cross on the left jacket breast pockets • Michelangelo brand heavy knit V-neck sweater, dark blue or black yoke and sleeves with white body and large buttons no • Red plaid Cotton Poppy brand Indian style print shirt • T-shirt (size 34/36S) • Black Pro Ked brand sneakers (size 8) • Yellow metal 17-inch spiral twist chain necklace • Gray metal 14½-inch chain necklace with decorative gray metal horn ornament (possibly an Italian good luck charm) • Pack of Marlboro cigarettes with the words “Meth” and “Weed” written along one side with some artwork, and the words “Joints” and “Pot” written on the other side • A matchbook decorated with a gold Tolz Realty Co. advertisement
Sources: No 1. Unidentified Wiki: Salem County John Doe (1979) ) 2. NamUS: Unidentified Person/NamUS #UP1526 3. June 3, 1979, Press of Atlantic City (New Jersey): “Shotgun Murder is Probed” 4. June 15, 1979: Courier-Post (Camden, New Jersey): “Police request help to identify victim” 5. June 22, 1979, Press of Atlantic City (New Jersey): “ID on Body Of Slain Man Sought” 6. Ramapo College of New Jersey: Cases in Progress

TLDR: The Atlanta Braves baseball team is the only publicly traded baseball team. DFV just posted a picture that was already tweeted by Gamestop, difference being he drew some Red Socks on the image. The Braves played the Red Sox last Tuesday and Wednesday, which led me down an incredible rabbit hole.
I am not a smart man. Just a man, who thinks too much. Even now, I should be getting my last minute Mother’s day gifts together but this won’t leave my brain. Neil Gaiman’s “American God’s” sits unfinished on my dresser but weighs heavily on my mind. This movement feels like the New God’s fighting the Old Gods. Operating software being forcefully updated to keep up with growing technology. It’s still big business and time is money.
Wednesday, Odin’s day of magic, The Braves played the Boston Red Sox and won 5-0 but there was an ill feeling in the air as the message above was broadcast on all the tv’s in the stadium including the big screen over centerfield and for those of us watching from home. Feels like a message was being sent but something caught my eye in the very first sentence. “Bankruptcy”, Cohencidence #1. I started asking myself questions and the most important was, “Who, own’s Bally network?”. The Sinclair Group and Allen Media Group.
The Sinclair Group wasn’t really eye catching for me until I saw Dr. Ben Carson is on the board of directors. Cohencidence #2 as he’s close to Trump, who’s potentially part of this new entity being created. I could taste the tin foil slowly twisting my brain like a hamster named Algernon running non-stop on a hamster wheel, while high thinking “why am I running?”. I click on the about page and see this:
Our Values
Love What You Do
Be inspirational
Be communicative
Be part of something important
Make a difference
Live What You Do
Be a person of integrity
Be customer focused
Be transparent
Drive results
Embrace What You Do
Be forward thinking
Be adaptive
Be a strategic thinker
Challenge the status quo
This really opened my eyes as it reminded me of GameStop’s motto:
Power to the Players (Love What You Do)
Power to the Creators (Live What You Do)
Power to the Collectors (Embrace What You Do)
I click on Interactivity and see that they have a NFT Marketplace. This message pops up:
“Through Sinclair’s OWNMINE store, NFTs and physical goods can be purchased on Shopify, with no digital currency required.”
Shopify? They work very closely with Flexport, who’s potentially handling the new companies shipping. Shopify also has a commercial that has a neon rocket blasting off on the wall and ice cream. Cohencidences #3.
Allen Media Group is owned by Byron Allen. Yes, the owner of The Weather Channel. Byron, successfully sued AT&T, Comcast and Charter Communications seperately in a Racial Discrimination Lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court for the Comcast case.
I overheard a Braves Fan say “the owner’s of Bally Sports Network don’t like CNN”. Why? Who own’s CNN?
Warner Bros. Discovery and they own all the good entertainment shows. HBO, Cartoon Network, TNT, TBS, etc.
Here’s an article from January 25, 2024 talking about Comcast potentially merging with Warner Brother’s Discovery. The CEO of Comcast denies of course but the owners of Warner have made it known that everything is up for sale. America’s for sale. The way this country has been run economically has got everybody’s money “fucked up” and people are pissed. Which is hard to fathom, when it comes to people who have way more money than the combined generational wealth accumulated by your family.
One such man is Ted Turner. Like Ryan Cohen, he learned lessons from his father, who built a successful billboard company. He started off with CNN before turning into a media mogul and then he bought, The Atlanta Braves. He managed the team for one day May 11, 1977. He owned all of Atlanta’s sports teams at one time. Time Warner would eventually sell off the teams. He’s been through economic downturn before as he watched the company he built be sold off after making decisions to merge with Time Warner in the 90’s and AOL-Time Warner in 2001. It’s estimated the deals cost him 7 Billion dollars. I wonder who advised him.
Ted is a philanthropist. At one time Ted was the largest private landowner in the United States until John C. Malone surpassed him in 2011. Ted brought Buffalo back from dwindling numbers. What once was 30k now boasts numbers well over 400k. He knows how to take things, create something new and make them grow. He’s a 2013 recipient of the Lone Sailor Award, given to Sea Service veterans, who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service. Another recipient of this award, President Theodore Roosevelt at the turn of the millennia in 2000. Cohencidence # 4
My acting teacher often said “There are two types of people. Creators and takers.” There has to be balance otherwise there’s not enough to go around.
Still, the question remains, who would buy Warner Bros?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbcuniversal-plus-warner-bros-discovery-comcast-ceo-1235806791/amp/
I wonder who would be interested? Jeff Bezos, nope he has a “small” position in Diamond Media Group, a subsidiary of the previously mentioned Sinclair Group, who runs Bally Sports. Is he hedging a Bet on a company going through bankruptcy?
What does Comcast have to do with this? Comcast/NBC Universal has headquarters at The Battery, where the Braves Play. A friend, of my friend, is my friend. Right?
Lets zoom out:
Well, that’s weird. These two neighbors can’t get along. In fact Comcast responded to Bally Sport’s message with their own:
"Bally Sports chose not to exercise a right to extend their contract and they declined multiple offers so now we no longer have the rights to their programming," Comcast said in a statement to the News earlier this week”- Per the Detroit press.
That statement sounds an awful lot like someone chose to turn the buy button off. Like they’re making a point. But why point to Comcast? What do they own?
Comcast owns NewsCorp and so much more.
It doesn’t get interesting until you scroll down to “Former Assets-Divested” under Warner Brothers Discovery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Warner_Bros._Discovery
Five bullet points down you’ll see the Atlanta Braves:
WTF?!
With renewed vigor, I keep going.
Who the hell is Liberty Media? Why were the Braves transferred and not sold?
John C. Malone started Liberty media and he’s been dubbed “Darth Vader” in business dealings, allegedly by Al Gore. Makes that Dumb Storm Troopers line hit differently from RC. Malone and Ted Turner are really good friends with similar ideals. Malone has said “I would never step on his toes” for the sake of business. Both have a contentious relationship with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, founder of News Corp. Ted and Rupert have beef from a boating incident and of course John has his good friends back. So, much so, that he starts buying up shares of News Corp. I keep searching until I find these two paragraphs on Liberty’s Wiki page:
[“In June 2002, Liberty Media acquired Wink Communications, a maker of set-top boxes founded by Brian P. Dougherty (of GEOS) fame), for $100 million.[33] Liberty Media subsequently spent $5 billion on nine German regional cable networks. Apart from television distribution it held major interests in other groups. For example, it was the largest shareholder in News Corporation (though the founding Murdoch family owns more voting shares), and had a 4% stake in Time Warner. In June 2005, Liberty Media International combined with UnitedGlobalCom, creating Liberty Global. In May 2006, Time Warner acquired Liberty Media's 50% stake in Court TV, for $735 million.[34] On May 16, 2006, IDT sold its IDT Entertainment division to Liberty Media "for all of Liberty Media's interests in IDT, $186 million in cash and the assumption of existing indebtedness". IDT Entertainment's assets and Starz Entertainment Group's line of premium television channels combined to produce content for all distribution platforms, and IDT Entertainment was later renamed as Starz Media.[35][36]
Liberty negotiated an asset swap with News Corp. and Time Warner that would give it control of DirecTV and the Atlanta Braves baseball team.[37] On February 12, 2007, the deal was completed with Time Warner wherein Liberty would receive the Atlanta Braves and a group of craft magazines, along with $1 billion in cash in exchange for 60 million shares of Time Warner stock (valued at $1.27 billion as of market close on February 12, 2007).[38] The deal was approved by Major League Baseballand then completed on May 16, 2007.[39] On February 20, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission approved the exchange of 16.3% of News Corp. for 38.4% of DirecTV, an $11 billion deal that also gave Liberty sports networks in Denver, Pittsburgh and Seattle plus $550 million in cash.[40]”]
Did you catch that Honey Nut Cheerio??
February 12, 2007 The deal was done for the Braves but wasn’t completed until May 16, 2007, once approved by the MLB.
This article published April 3, 2007 talks about the asset swap but makes no mention of the Braves as an asset but it does talk about Murdoch:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/technology/03iht-liberty.4.5133859.html
Why did it take MLB so long to approve the sale?
https://www.savannahnow.com/story/sports/2007/05/17/mlb-approves-sale-braves/13801856007/
You know who else has a problem with Comcast other than Allen Media Group?
https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/03/01/trump-attacks-comcast-vows-to-destroy-their-image.cnn
Thanks to Edwin Barnes it all begins to make sense. He was the first to mention the connection to Trump and $DJT, which allowed me to question everything. He often says MGGA=MAGA, which does nothing to reinforce what I’m trying to drive home until I realize, The Atlanta Braves were once, The Boston Braves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Braves
“The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). Then in 1966 they were relocated to Atlanta, where they were renamed the Atlanta Braves.^\5])
During its 82-year stay in Massachusetts, the franchise was known by various nicknames, including the Red Stockings, Red Caps, Rustlers, Bees, and "Braves”.”
Red Stockings, Red Caps. What about Red Coats? Thus sparking a whole new dig.
“The Boston Tea Party was an American political and mercantile protest on December 16, 1773, by the Sons of Liberty in Boston in colonial Massachusetts. The target was the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, which allowed the British East India Company to sell tea from China in American colonies without paying taxes apart from those imposed by the Townshend Acts. The Sons of Liberty strongly opposed the taxes in the Townshend Act as a violation of their rights. In response, the Sons of Liberty, some disguised as Native Americans, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company.
“Foley, sees the Tea Party as a movement of principles over politics. She identifies three “core principles” of American constitutional law that bind the decentralized, wide-ranging movement: limited government, unapologetic U. S. Sovereignty, and constitutional originalism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party
Liberty Media Group makes more sense now. But why? What are they up to?
This:
https://www.libertymedia.com/news/detail/502/liberty-media-corporation-completes-split-off-of-atlanta
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) (Nasdaq: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, FWONA, FWONK) announced that it completed the split-off (the “Split-Off”) of Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (“Atlanta Braves Holdings”) (Nasdaq: BATRA, BATRK) at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, today. As a result, Liberty Media and Atlanta Braves Holdings are now separate publicly traded companies. Atlanta Braves Holdings Series A common stock and Series C common stock will begin trading on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, under the symbols “BATRA” and “BATRK”, respectively. Atlanta Braves Holdings Series B common stock will be quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol “BATRB.”
Liberty Media’s Liberty SiriusXM common stock and Liberty Formula One common stock will continue trading following the Split-Off until the completion of its previously announced reclassification of its existing common stock and the creation of the new Liberty Live common stock on August 3, 2023 after market close (the “Reclassification”). For additional details regarding the Reclassification, please see the press release issued by Liberty Media earlier today, July 18, 2023.
IS RC REALLY TRYING TO BUY ALL THE STOCKS, I MEAN GOT DAMN THE YOUNGEST HOTTEST TEAM IN BASEBALL….YEAH I’LL TAKE A COUPLE THOUSAND SCOOPS PLEASE!!!!
Once you start down this path you can’t unsee it. I feel like Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia pointing to the map meme. Once again, Why Atlanta? It’s the same thing I thought when the PP seeds show came to town. The same thing I thought when I saw Trump on TV at my local gym while walking thoughtlessly on the treadmill for a nice warmup. The tv next to him is showing an image from the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s, whose theme this year is “Alice In Wonderland”. Follow the white rabbit indeed. The exhibit is from May 11- September 15.
Yes, Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world. Yes, Atlanta Is becoming the Hollywood of the South. But Why Atlanta? The answer comes to me as I turn around:
Remember 84 years ago when GameStop was shipping Diet Coke along with packages. I’m reminded of Quincy, Florida, a small town that at one time had the most millionaires per capita because of Coca-Cola. Whose home is Atlanta, Georgia. Also, founded in Atlanta on May 8, Odin’s Day 1886.
But why did they choose The Braves? I mean I’m sure the Yankees are worth more. I look on Fidelity and I can’t find them. What about the Los Angeles Dodgers? Can’t find them either. I google how many baseball teams are publicly traded? The Braves. Just the Braves. It’s the WuTang Album dividend all over again. We did it!!!!
I truly know what it means to be a “GMErican”. I look forward to doing my part in making this country great again.
Last question: Why the bread crumbs? Because the people are needed. Yes, you and me. Progressive thinkers who can make shit happen and aren’t afraid to take a chance on something new. Whether, your ancestors were born here, immigrated here or forcefully brought here, were all here and have the opportunity to take advantage of this once in a generational opportunity.
The Braves won 5-0. The number 5 represents the center point which unifies these four extremes.
1 - Unity
2 - Dualism and multiplicity
3 - The unity between two extremes
4 - Multiplicity in two directions, like the cardinal directions.
Someone asked “What song would you play when you knew it was done?” Here’s another cohencidence for you, on May 8, Odin’s day, 1970 the Beatles released the album “Let it Be”. From Wiki:
“Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock ’n’ roll configurations.” Sounds a lot like trying to make something great again.
I think I’ll do the same while vibing to the albums single “Let It Be”.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!!
Updates as I edit: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
This was published the morning after the Braves game and you know what they say, once it hits the news it’s already too late.
Allen Media Group has made several bids to purchase Paramount, which means they’re for sale: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
Another cohencidence, I stopped counting LOL. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a bunch of companies going through bankruptcy that will soon emerge better for us all.
P.S. - If I made you smile and you want to make a donation to this struggling artist please DM me because rent is past due and if you think I need to pull myself up by the boot straps ill be slanging drinks all day Monday and Tuesday for Burn By Rocky Patel, at the Battery, where the Atlanta Braves play.
P.P.S. I think we go this week. No way I find this without them being ready.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You to my loved ones, who put up with me wile I worked through this.
Links:
Sinclair Group: https://sbgi.net/who-we-are/
Sinclair Group Sale: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
Ownmine NFT Marketplace: https://shopownmine.com/collections/john-cole-baseball-nostalgia-collection/Nostalgia
Allen Media Group Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
Own Mine https://shopownmine.com/collections/nfts
Liberty Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Media
Liberty: https://www.libertymedia.com/about/company-history
Liberty asset swap: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/technology/03iht-liberty.4.5133859.html
Boston Tea Party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party
Boston Braves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Braves
Warner Bros: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Warner_Bros._Discovery
Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbcuniversal-plus-warner-bros-discovery-comcast-ceo-1235806791/amp/

If two people play 100 matches. Player A uses irl money. Player B doesn't.
Both players have exact same stats. Same survival rate. Ex: 50%
So. let's say, for the sake of the example, both loot 200k in average per raid.
Player A survives 50 matches where he wins 200k. That's 10M.
Player B survives 50 matches where he wins 200k. That's 10M.
Player A died 50 matches, but he was capable of using safe container to storage specific items. (Bullets, Golden necklace, quest items.
How much % that would be? Right now in PC version 120 PP 5.45 bullets are 21k, let's say he manages to save just his x2 60 stacks for PP ammo. He saved 21.000x50 = 1.050.000 Now let's remember that there are 2x1 / 2x2 / 2x3 containers, which increase even more the economy difference.
Conclusion: Player A has now 1M more than Player B in exactly same circumstances, and I'm being really "soft" about how much more money you can save with your secure container. Probably is x5 because i used PP ammo as an example instead of actually T6 ammo. That goes for 10x higher.
So Player A at worst has 1M extra every 100 raids, while Player B needs to spend 1M extra just to keep up with Player A. Which translates to more time trying to farm money, instead of going to Armory or meta places.
Now what happens if Player A also likes to spend every week 100USD? He probably is going 5 raids with FULL T6 kit, while Player B needs to spend time farming money. If they engage under those circumstances, who do you think is going to win? Out of 10 engagements, who will prevail? We said they were exactly the same in stats, so probably the person with the better equipment.
I know Get Gud you can go SMG dum dum and spam legs, what about Long distance battles? Are you also going to spam SMG leg meta from that distance :D?
Economy means = better equipment, better sights, better heals, better everything. Real life teach us that technology is the most important factor to survive in a war. People that spend IRL money have the better chances of surviving.
Don't lie to yourself. AB Mobile is PAY TO WIN.
Now let's try to make some noise, so PC version is not THE SAME.

I decided to play all the Uncrank’d Game Jam games and give them a personal ranking. I just want to say that all of the submissions are impressive for such a short window of time, and I don’t want to make it seem like I’m ragging on any of these by placing them low on this list. I have something positive to say about all of them, and I think everyone who submitted something should be proud. All the games are free on itch.io (possibly with a suggested donation), so I encourage you to check them all out on your own (but maybe not crammed into a two day period like I did).
Note: I didn’t include “Thought Bubble” because I couldn’t get it to run.
26) Torpedo Trouble - A game where you use the crank to control a boat and avoid incoming torpedoes. The controls work well and the graphics look nice, but I soon found that you could just point the ship downwards and none of the torpedoes could ever catch me. So, needs some fine tuning.
25) Blown Away - A pretty simple flappy-birdian game where you crank to keep your airplane up. It’s very difficult. I appreciated the idea of blowing into the microphone to give speed (very Cooking Mama), but I was never able to get it to work. I think the placement of the mic on the playdate just makes that very awkward? Shield Arena also used that mechanic as pretty much the Start Button, so then it was easy enough to turn the playdate and blow into it and then turn it back as the game was starting. Pressing A works instead of blowing, but you unfortunately lose the illusion of blowing onto your paper airplane when doing it that way.
24) Obol Trobol - Full credit to the dev for making a game that uses the accelerometer. It’s a pretty uncommonly used feature based on what I’ve played on the system. The game itself was a bit confusing to get the hang of, although I did eventually have one decent run. Not a lot there after one or two runs, but I did like the premise of tricking Charon in order to ferry souls.
23) Safety Diver - You drive around a little submersible and try to collect circles while avoiding blocks. You score points when you return circles to the surface, and the game ends if you ever return to the surface without any (also you lose all circles when you hit a block. Actually now that I write it out this is very “Sonic the Hedgehog” and I should probably be calling them rings). The controls and physics are both solid, and could be the baseline for a fun game from the dev in the future. There’s not a lot to the gameplay here though, and I felt like I pretty much had it down in a few minutes.
22) Cloudly Aware - A metroidvania style game (I’m guessing made in pulp) where you are a depressed man exploring the clouds. Eventually you get tools that let you traverse new areas. I like the overall vibes, but I did struggle to know when things would injure me or not (there were some sections where it was impossible not to hit lighting… and sometimes I would lose health and sometimes not), and using the propellor hat was weird because there was no visual cue for when you were using it.
21) Cooking for Crabtopia - A short little (pulp, I’m guessing?) game where you help your crab friends make a soup. There are a few different mini-games to collect the various ingredients. It only takes about 5 minutes, but it made me smile.
20) Rorschach - A funky little tool that lets you draw your own symmetrical ink blots using either the D-Pad or tilt controls. Wasn’t much there for me, but might be worth it for the more artistically gifted out there. If nothing else it can lend some inspiration for cool things you can make with the system.
19) Number One Fan - A puzzle platformer where you move a balloon around with multiple fans throughout a room. Works pretty well, but I got stuck on the second level and eventually gave up. Maybe my own fault, but that’s where we are. Also I got unreasonably mad at the fact that if the balloon’s string touches a spike the whole balloon pops. That’s not the relationship between string and balloon! Sorry. It’s a fun concept.
18) House - One of two games in this jam about a ghost solving a mystery. Weird. This one is a bit buggy (when you get the broken necklace it multiplies endlessly in your inventory) and I’m not sure if I actually finished it or not (I submitted a solution and the house just started shaking a lot, and I was unable to try solving again), but there was a lot of effort put into it and I do enjoy an adventure game.
17) Pappyshow - You control a man who is being mirrored and livestreaming it. You move and rotate him and his bodyparts to create various monstrous visions. There’s some element of gameplay here where your number of viewers goes up and down based on what you’re making him do, but I never quite figured out how that worked. Mostly it’s just a fun little kaleidoscope style toy, and the graphics are quite nice, but it only kept my attention for a few minutes. The game’s store page shows Pappy wearing a wig at one point, so it’s possible there’s a bit more depth in this game than I was able to find.
16) Masterworks Inc. - A very cool idea where you use the crank to draw a line and you have to try to match what is being drawn by the AI on the other side of the screen. Not a lot there and I was done with it in a few minutes, but a solid base concept. I was very bad at it. I did three play-throughs and never got out of the 300s.
15) Floaty McFloatface - Really only kept my attention for a few minutes, but the art was very nice. The controls are simple but also purposefully imprecise (I think?). I can see some people getting really into seeing how long they can stay afloat.
14) Reflektor Jam - Looks nice and the gameplay of rotating mirrors to redirect lasers was kind of fun. Maybe better suited to level based puzzles instead of the time attack type game that is here, but fun for a few minutes. I popped 30 balloons.
13) Lake Hero - Plenty of levels on this one if you enjoy the gameplay. It’s a simple “collect objects and don’t hit obstacles” kind of game. Could definitely be fleshed out into a fun game with some more time, but it is one of the few games here I didn’t finish because I eventually got frustrated.
12) Boatload - A claw-game style game where you pick up moving boxes and place them on moving ships. Drop three boxes and the game ends. The controls and gameplay on this felt very clean. Feels like it could be a mini-game within a larger game as-is. Adding some elements to add variety and difficulty, and maybe some levels instead of just a score-attack, could give this potential to be a full fledged game.
11) One Man Threat Ops - A top down shooter where you complete various single screen stages. I like that there was a variety in the objectives so each stage didn’t feel repetitive. I also like the idea of the two gun types, but in reality I couldn’t really get the bouncing or wall-floating-over mechanics to matter since the enemies moved so fast and usually only spawned when they were in your sight lines. Also the controls are pretty rough. The fact that B is move and A is shoot means that you can’t really shoot and move at the same time. That might be intentional, but I found it pretty frustrating.
10) Shield Arena - A pretty fun little game; sort of an inverse twin stick shooter where you move a shield with the crank to deflect bullets. Rough around the edges, but a lot of potential if the dev decides to keep working on it.
9) Montgolfier Test Flight - Very simple one-button style game, but the music and graphics are both beautiful and it feels responsive and snappy. Reminds me of a lot of flash games I burned many hours on in my youth (Dino Run, Rainbow Unicorn Attack, etc).
8) Siege of Syracuse - A classic defend the castle style game that also reminds me of a bunch of old flash games. You use the crank to direct a beam which burns and sinks ships as they come in. It’s a wave based system, and you choose upgrades between waves and try to survive through wave 7. Pretty short and nothing revolutionary, but solid and fun for 15-20 minutes. Also there’s a sweet intro narrated by Bruce Campbell (or maybe William Shatner?).
7) Prop of the Class - Maybe the most “complete” feeling game in the jam, with an opening cutscene, a cutscene for the tutorial, multiple save states, a name input screen, etc. Also plenty of levels if you’re into the gameplay. I made it about 15 levels in, but got a bit tired with it. If you like “lander” style games there could be a lot here for you.
6) Dragon Flagon - A cozy little game with impressive production values for such a short window. I didn’t find much to bring me back after one playthrough, but I’d be very interested in seeing more from this dev (after writing this I looked up the Dev and realized they made Reelistic Fishing, which was already my favorite game on the platform. Makes sense).
5) The Crystal Bay - There have been a few 3D style games on the system, but it’s very impressive to see one made so quickly. Took me a bit to figure out what I was doing, but I did eventually have a nice time exploring the map and finding those crystals.
4) Duck Game - Short, but a ton of work must have gone into this in such a brief window. The gameplay is really just experimenting with the number of ducks you can get to follow you to see all the endings (also just swimming around in order to see all the funny dialogue from the people standing in the pond, or listening to all the quack based parody songs). Kind of lovely.
3) Life’s too Short: On Reflection - I’m a sucker for bite-sized adventure games. This one is charming and very wholesome. I never played the original, but I’m going to make a point of it now. Was this made in pulp?
2) Jelly Float - A decidedly nifty little game. You use the crank to rotate a fish around a jellyfish, and then use B to blow the Jelly in the right direction without hitting walls or obstacles. There’s a sizable maze here, and I think I spent about a half hour with the game (there’s a timer at the end when you get the jelly back to its family, but I think that might have been off, or maybe reset when I hit the depths)? There are some genuinely difficult sections, but with enough checkpoints to never get into rage-game territory (not that that would be a bad thing).
1) Quack Magic - Probably the game here I would be most interested in seeing fleshed out into a full release. The gameplay is immediately rewarding and it looks great. There’s only a few levels and it finishes just as the puzzles are starting to get a bit challenging, but being left wanting more is pretty good for a game made in a few days.

TLDR: The Atlanta Braves baseball team is the only publicly traded baseball team.
I am not a smart man. Just a man, who thinks too much. Even now, I should be getting my last minute Mother’s day gifts together but this won’t leave my brain. Neil Gaiman’s “American God’s” sits unfinished on my dresser but weighs heavily on my mind. This movement feels like the New God’s fighting the Old Gods. Operating software being forcefully updated to keep up with growing technology. It’s still big business and time is money.
Wednesday, Odin’s day of magic, The Braves played the Boston Red Sox and won 5-0 but there was an ill feeling in the air as this message was broadcast on all the tv’s in the stadium including the big screen over centerfield and for those of us watching from home:
" Bally Sport is no longer available. The owner of Bally Sports is in bankruptcy proceedings and we have offered them multiple options to continue carrying their networks. They have declined each one and we no longer have the rights to continue carrying their content. As a result, we'll be issuing proactive monthly credits to customers for the loss of this network."
That statement sounds an awful lot like someone chose to turn the buy button off. Feels like a message was being sent but something caught my eye in the very first sentence. “Bankruptcy”, Cohencidence #1. I started asking myself questions and the most important was, “Who, own’s Bally network?”. The Sinclair Group and Allen Media Group.
The Sinclair Group wasn’t really eye catching for me until I saw Dr. Ben Carson is on the board of directors. Cohencidence #2 as he’s close to Trump, who’s potentially part of this new entity being created. I could taste the tin foil slowly twisting my brain like a hamster named Algernon running non-stop on a hamster wheel, while high thinking “why am I running?”. I click on the about page and see this:
Our Values
Love What You Do
Be inspirational
Be communicative
Be part of something important
Make a difference
Live What You Do
Be a person of integrity
Be customer focused
Be transparent
Drive results
Embrace What You Do
Be forward thinking
Be adaptive
Be a strategic thinker
Challenge the status quo
This really opened my eyes as it reminded me of GameStop’s motto:
Power to the Players (Love What You Do)
Power to the Creators (Live What You Do)
Power to the Collectors (Embrace What You Do)
I click on Interactivity and see that they have a NFT Marketplace. This message pops up:
“Through Sinclair’s OWNMINE store, NFTs and physical goods can be purchased on Shopify, with no digital currency required.”
Shopify? They work very closely with Flexport, who’s potentially handling the new companies shipping (Teddy). Shopify also has a commercial that has a neon rocket blasting off on the wall and ice cream. Cohencidences #3.
Allen Media Group is owned by Byron Allen. Yes, the owner of The Weather Channel. Byron, successfully sued AT&T, Comcast and Charter Communications seperately in a Racial Discrimination Lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court for the Comcast case.
I overheard a Braves Fan say “the owner’s of Bally Sports Network don’t like CNN”. Why? Who own’s CNN?
Warner Bros. Discovery and they own all the good entertainment shows. HBO, Cartoon Network, TNT, TBS, etc.
Here’s an article from January 25, 2024 talking about Comcast potentially merging with Warner Brother’s Discovery. The CEO of Comcast denies of course but the owners of Warner have made it known that everything is up for sale. America’s for sale. The way this country has been run economically has got everybody’s money “fucked up” and people are pissed. Which is hard to fathom, when it comes to people who have way more money than the combined generational wealth accumulated by your entire family.
One such man is Ted Turner. Like Ryan Cohen, he learned lessons from his father, who built a successful billboard company. He started off with CNN before turning into a media mogul and then he bought, The Atlanta Braves. He managed the team for one day, May 11, 1977. He owned all of Atlanta’s sports teams at one time. Time Warner would eventually sell off the teams. He’s been through economic downturn before as he watched the company he built be sold off after making decisions to merge with Time Warner in the 90’s and AOL-Time Warner in 2001, which resulted in him losing the majority vote to the board. It’s estimated the deals cost him 7 Billion dollars. I wonder who advised him.
Ted is a philanthropist. At one time Ted was the largest private landowner in the United States until John C. Malone surpassed him in 2011. Ted brought Buffalo back from dwindling numbers. What once was 30k now boasts numbers well over 400k. He knows how to take things, create something new and make them grow. He’s a 2013 recipient of the Lone Sailor Award, given to Sea Service veterans, who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their service. Another recipient of this award, President Theodore Roosevelt at the turn of the millennia in 2000. Cohencidence # 4
My acting teacher often said “There are two types of people. Creators and takers.” There has to be balance otherwise there’s not enough to go around.
Still, the question remains, who would buy Warner Bros?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbcuniversal-plus-warner-bros-discovery-comcast-ceo-1235806791/amp/
I wonder who would be interested? Jeff Bezos, nope he has a “small” position in Diamond Media Group, a subsidiary of the previously mentioned Sinclair Group, who runs Bally Sports. Is he hedging a Bet on a company going through bankruptcy?
What does Comcast have to do with this? Comcast/NBC Universal/xfinity has headquarters at The Battery, where the Braves Play. A friend, of my friend, is my friend. Right? Well, that’s weird because these friends can’t get along.
But why point to Comcast? What do they own?
Comcast owns NewsCorp and so much more.
I started looking through the investments of Warner Bros and Comcast. It doesn’t get interesting until you scroll down to “Former Assets-Divested” under Warner Brothers Discovery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Warner_Bros._Discovery
Five bullet points down you’ll see the Atlanta Braves.
WTF?!
With renewed vigor, I keep going. Who the hell is Liberty Media? Why were the Braves transferred and not sold?
John C. Malone started Liberty media and he’s been dubbed “Darth Vader” in business dealings, allegedly by Al Gore. Makes that Dumb Storm Troopers line hit differently from RC. Malone and Ted Turner are really good friends with similar ideals. Malone has said “I would never step on his toes” for the sake of business. Both have a contentious relationship with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, founder of News Corp. Ted and Rupert have beef from a boating incident and of course John has his good friends back. So, much so, that he starts buying up shares of News Corp. I keep searching until I find these two paragraphs on Liberty’s Wiki page:
[“In June 2002, Liberty Media acquired Wink Communications, a maker of set-top boxes founded by Brian P. Dougherty (of GEOS) fame), for $100 million.[33] Liberty Media subsequently spent $5 billion on nine German regional cable networks. Apart from television distribution it held major interests in other groups. For example, it was the largest shareholder in News Corporation (though the founding Murdoch family owns more voting shares), and had a 4% stake in Time Warner. In June 2005, Liberty Media International combined with UnitedGlobalCom, creating Liberty Global. In May 2006, Time Warner acquired Liberty Media's 50% stake in Court TV, for $735 million.[34] On May 16, 2006, IDT sold its IDT Entertainment division to Liberty Media "for all of Liberty Media's interests in IDT, $186 million in cash and the assumption of existing indebtedness". IDT Entertainment's assets and Starz Entertainment Group's line of premium television channels combined to produce content for all distribution platforms, and IDT Entertainment was later renamed as Starz Media.[35][36]
Liberty negotiated an asset swap with News Corp. and Time Warner that would give it control of DirecTV and the Atlanta Braves baseball team.[37] On February 12, 2007, the deal was completed with Time Warner wherein Liberty would receive the Atlanta Braves and a group of craft magazines, along with $1 billion in cash in exchange for 60 million shares of Time Warner stock (valued at $1.27 billion as of market close on February 12, 2007).[38] The deal was approved by Major League Baseball and then completed on May 16, 2007.[39] On February 20, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission approved the exchange of 16.3% of News Corp. for 38.4% of DirecTV, an $11 billion deal that also gave Liberty sports networks in Denver, Pittsburgh and Seattle plus $550 million in cash.[40]”]
Did you catch that Honey Nut Cheerio??
February 12, 2007 The deal was done for the Braves but wasn’t completed until May 16, 2007, once approved by the MLB.
This article published April 3, 2007 talks about the asset swap but makes no mention of the Braves as an asset but it does talk about Murdoch:
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/technology/03iht-liberty.4.5133859.html
Why did it take MLB so long to approve the sale?
https://www.savannahnow.com/story/sports/2007/05/17/mlb-approves-sale-braves/13801856007/
You know who else has a problem with Comcast other than Allen Media Group?
https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/03/01/trump-attacks-comcast-vows-to-destroy-their-image.cnn
Thanks to Edwin Barnes it all begins to make sense. He was the first to mention the connection to Trump and $DJT, which allowed me to question everything. He often says MGGA=MAGA, which does nothing to reinforce what I’m trying to drive home until I realize, The Atlanta Braves were once, The Boston Braves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Braves
“The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). Then in 1966 they were relocated to Atlanta, where they were renamed the Atlanta Braves.^\5])
During its 82-year stay in Massachusetts, the franchise was known by various nicknames, including the Red Stockings, Red Caps, Rustlers, Bees, and "Braves”.”
Red Stockings, Red Caps. What about Red Coats? Thus sparking a whole new dig.
“The Boston Tea Party was an American political and mercantile protest on December 16, 1773, by the Sons of Liberty in Boston in colonial Massachusetts. The target was the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, which allowed the British East India Company to sell tea from China in American colonies without paying taxes apart from those imposed by the Townshend Acts. The Sons of Liberty strongly opposed the taxes in the Townshend Act as a violation of their rights. In response, the Sons of Liberty, some disguised as Native Americans, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company.
“Foley, sees the Tea Party as a movement of principles over politics. She identifies three “core principles” of American constitutional law that bind the decentralized, wide-ranging movement: limited government, unapologetic U. S. Sovereignty, and constitutional originalism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party
Liberty Media Group makes more sense now. But why? What are they up to?
This:
https://www.libertymedia.com/news/detail/502/liberty-media-corporation-completes-split-off-of-atlanta
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) (Nasdaq: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, FWONA, FWONK) announced that it completed the split-off (the “Split-Off”) of Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (“Atlanta Braves Holdings”) (Nasdaq: BATRA, BATRK) at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, today. As a result, Liberty Media and Atlanta Braves Holdings are now separate publicly traded companies. Atlanta Braves Holdings Series A common stock and Series C common stock will begin trading on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, under the symbols “BATRA” and “BATRK”, respectively. Atlanta Braves Holdings Series B common stock will be quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol “BATRB.”
Liberty Media’s Liberty SiriusXM common stock and Liberty Formula One common stock will continue trading following the Split-Off until the completion of its previously announced reclassification of its existing common stock and the creation of the new Liberty Live common stock on August 3, 2023 after market close (the “Reclassification”). For additional details regarding the Reclassification, please see the press release issued by Liberty Media earlier today, July 18, 2023.
IS RC REALLY TRYING TO BUY ALL THE STOCKS, I MEAN GOT DAMN THE YOUNGEST HOTTEST TEAM IN BASEBALL….YEAH I’LL TAKE A COUPLE THOUSAND SCOOPS PLEASE!!!!
Once you start down this path you can’t unsee it. I feel like Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia pointing to the map meme. Once again, Why Atlanta? It’s the same thing I thought when the PP seeds show came to town. The same thing I thought when I saw Trump on TV at my local gym while walking thoughtlessly on the treadmill for a nice warmup. The tv next to him is showing an image from the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s, whose theme this year is “Alice In Wonderland”. Follow the white rabbit indeed. The exhibit is from May 11- September 15.
Yes, Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world. Yes, Atlanta Is becoming the Hollywood of the South. But Why Atlanta? The answer comes to me as I turn around:
Remember 84 years ago when GameStop was shipping Diet Coke along with packages. I’m reminded of Quincy, Florida, a small town that at one time had the most millionaires per capita because of Coca-Cola. Whose home is Atlanta, Georgia. Also, founded in Atlanta on May 8, Odin’s Day 1886.
But why did they choose The Braves? I mean I’m sure the Yankees are worth more. I look on Fidelity and I can’t find them. What about the Los Angeles Dodgers? Can’t find them either. I google how many baseball teams are publicly traded? The Braves. Just the Braves. It’s the WuTang Album dividend all over again. We did it!!!!
I truly know what it means to be a “GMErican”. I look forward to doing my part in making this country great again.
Last question: Why the bread crumbs? Because the people are needed. Yes, you and me. Progressive thinkers who can make shit happen and aren’t afraid to take a chance on something new. Whether, your ancestors were born here, immigrated here or forcefully brought here, were all here and have the opportunity to take advantage of this once in a generational opportunity.
The Braves won 5-0. The number 5 represents the center point which unifies these four extremes.
1 - Unity
2 - Dualism and multiplicity
3 - The unity between two extremes
4 - Multiplicity in two directions, like the cardinal directions.
Someone asked “What song would you play when you knew it was done?” Here’s another cohencidence for you, on May 8, Odin’s day, 1970 the Beatles released the album “Let it Be”. From Wiki:
“Concerned about recent friction within the band, Paul McCartney had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler rock ’n’ roll configurations.” Sounds a lot like trying to make something great again.
I think I’ll do the same while vibing to the albums single “Let It Be”.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!!
Updates as I edit: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
This was published the morning after the Braves game and you know what they say, once it hits the news it’s already too late.
Allen Media Group has made several bids to purchase Paramount, which means they’re for sale: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
Another cohencidence, I stopped counting LOL. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a bunch of companies going through bankruptcy that will soon emerge better for us all.
P.P.S. I think we go this week. No way I find this without them being ready.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You to my loved ones, who put up with me wile I worked through this.
Links:
Sinclair Group: https://sbgi.net/who-we-are/
Sinclair Group Sale: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/09/sinclair-explores-selling-30percent-of-broadcast-stations.html
Ownmine NFT Marketplace: https://shopownmine.com/collections/john-cole-baseball-nostalgia-collection/Nostalgia
Allen Media Group Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
Own Mine https://shopownmine.com/collections/nfts
Liberty Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Media
Liberty: https://www.libertymedia.com/about/company-history
Liberty asset swap: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/technology/03iht-liberty.4.5133859.html
Boston Tea Party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party
Boston Braves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Braves
Warner Bros: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Warner_Bros._Discovery
Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbcuniversal-plus-warner-bros-discovery-comcast-ceo-1235806791/amp/

Kinda sucks. Really good people that i grew up with seemed to have gone through some period of addiction. I went out to the bars last night and caught up with people. Ima just bullet point this post cause im hungover and its easier:

• both my best friends from when i was still in town had huge coke problems. Almost lost their very good union jobs over it. One friend got whipped into shape by his saint of a girlfriend. The other says hes better? Idk, he showed up with white powder in his nostrils and the both of them were doing coke in the bathroom.
  
• I was chatting up with drop dead gorgeous bartender and eventually invited her out and got her number. (She was not fat even though ive been praising thick babes lately, who are still welcome to DM me) We kept chatting and eventually she revealed she had a meth problem that made her quit the bar for like a year. Literally so suprising she looked flawless. She also had a crazy ex she was still living with so i didnt hit.
  
• Even my two good friends that got Tech jobs and moved to the “big city” (about 300k people) apparently were hooked on fentanyl for years. These guys were like living in lofts downtown and driving fancy cars and shit. They both lost their jobs over the addiction and one passed out at a stop light with a bunch of shit in the car and got busted.
  
• everytime i catch up with people i hear about a new person that died and od’ed. Inevitably its always fent or drugs laced with it
  

-one time when i was visiting i approached a girl in the park cause she was cute. Upon getting closer, she had no teeth and told me all about getting clean from “weed.” She was younger than me . I did not bang her i sware
-a kid i went to high school with approached me at the gas station. He was homeless and seemed unstable. I was shocked and all i could do is look away and say im on my way out.
The town i grew up in is a rust belt industry town so i guess its par for the course. Just sad. Does anyone else experience this? I cant imagine this happens in PMC communities the same way.
Sorry for the bummer guys

So, back in August 2022, I started revising ID songs, with only 2 breaks. The first one being from October-November 2022 because I wasn’t feeling motivated to make more revisions, and the second time after Christmas in 2022, when my current depression struggle that I’ve had for 17 months straight started happening, but I continued in January 2023, and my revisions temporarily concluded in February 2023 because everything was revised… but not for long!
Since Loom is releasing in June, I’m going to have some time to think through every chord and beat. So I added Season 8 and Season 9 for my revisions series. But since Loom is a short album, I didn’t want those seasons to feature just one album. So I decided to add the 2008 demos, Dan’s Twitch demos, my solo version of Sucker for Pain (using Dan’s voice using AI) and many more. Since I revised Curtain Call (in place of Clouds, since revising the 2010 version of it was hard), I’m going to add the 2008 version of Clouds to Night Visions. Some songs will be added to Evolve and Origins, Children of the Sky will be on my revised LOOM, and Dan’s Twitch demos I put into a new revised EP, serving as an interlude between Mercury - Act 1 and Act 2. Enough blabber, here’s the new discography for my revisions series
SPEAK TO ME

1. Speak to Me
2. Volume Drops
3. Boots
4. Pistol Whip
5. Off to War
6. The Pit
7. Living Musical
8. Bottle of Coke
9. Clouds
10. Curtain Call
11. February
12. Unseen

IMAGINE DRAGONS EP

1. I Need a Minute
2. Uptight
3. Cover Up
4. Curse
5. Drive
6. Hole Inside Our Chests

HELL AND SILENCE EP

1. All Eyes
2. I Don’t Mind
3. Hear Me
4. Selene
5. Emma
6. Easy

IT’S TIME EP

1. It’s Time
2. Amsterdam
3. Tokyo
4. The River
5. Leave Me
6. Pantomime
7. Look How Far We’ve Come
8. America
9. Dolphins

CONTINUED SILENCE EP

1. Radioactive
2. Demons
3. On Top of the World
4. Round and Round
5. It’s Time
6. My Fault

NIGHT VISIONS

1. Radioactive
2. Tiptoe
3. It’s Time
4. Demons
5. On Top of the World
6. Amsterdam
7. Hear Me
8. Every Night
9. Bleeding Out
10. Underdog
11. Nothing Left to Say
12. Rocks
13. Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older)
14. Working Man
15. My Fault
16. Round and Round
17. The River
18. America
19. Selene
20. Fallen
21. Cover Up
22. I Don’t Mind
23. Tokyo
24. Love of Mine
25. Bubble
26. Destination
27. 30 Lives
28. Darkness
29. Curtain Call
30. Clouds

SMOKE + MIRRORS

1. Shots
2. Gold
3. Smoke and Mirrors
4. I’m So Sorry
5. I Bet My Life
6. Polaroid
7. Friction
8. It Comes Back to You
9. Dream
10. Trouble
11. Summer
12. Hopeless Opus
13. The Fall
14. Thief
15. The Unknown
16. Second Chances
17. Release
18. Warriors
19. Battle Cry
20. Monster
21. Who We Are
22. All for You
23. Lost Cause
24. Ready Aim Fire

EVOLVE

1. Next to Me
2. I Don’t Know Why
3. Whatever it Takes
4. Believer
5. Walking the Wire
6. Rise Up
7. I’ll Make it Up to You
8. Yesterday
9. Mouth of the River
10. Thunder
11. Start Over
12. Dancing in the Dark
13. Levitate
14. Not Today
15. Roots
16. Sucker for Pain (Solo)
17. I Was Me
18. Skipping Stones

ORIGINS

1. Natural
2. Boomerang
3. Machine
4. Cool Out
5. Bad Liar
6. West Coast
7. Zero
8. Bullet in A Gun
9. Digital
10. Only
11. Stuck
12. Love
13. Birds
14. Burn Out
15. Real Life
16. Born to Be Yours
17. Heart Upon My Sleeve

MERCURY - ACT 1

1. Enemy
2. My Life
3. Lonely
4. Wrecked
5. Monday
6. #1
7. Easy Come Easy Go
8. Giants
9. It’s Ok
10. Dull Knives
11. Follow You
12. Cutthroat
13. No Time for Toxic People
14. One Day

MERCURY - INTERLUDE EP

1. Take My Heart Away
2. Speechless
3. So Many Voices
4. Man in The Moon
5. Imagine Dragons (Ragged Insomnia)
6. Hole in My Heart
7. Caught Up in My Feelings

MERCURY - ACT 2

1. Bones
2. Symphony
3. Sharks
4. I Don’t Like Myself
5. Blur
6. Higher Ground
7. Crushed
8. Take it Easy
9. Waves
10. I’m Happy
11. Ferris Wheel
12. Peace of Mind
13. Sirens
14. Tied
15. Younger
16. I Wish
17. Continual
18. They Don’t Know You Like I Do

LOOM

1. Wake Up
2. Nice to Meet You
3. Eyes Closed
4. Take Me to The Beach
5. In Your Corner
6. Gods Don’t Pray
7. Don’t Forget Me
8. Kid
9. Fire in These Hills
10. Children of the Sky

I wish I could have told the paramedics when they pulled me from my wrecked car, that I could have the nurses as they rolled me past his hospital room, that I could have told the doctors before the MRI pulled my grandfathers bullet to its long-awaited mark.

We need to remember that Zone has many residents, and not everyone goes there for the same reason.
"I was collecting bottles, one after another, and they led me here... Ha-ha! I'm kidding, man! Truth is, there was no place for me in that other world, it didn't want me. In the end, I came here... first to the Zone and then to Clear Sky. The guys here are alright, and I'm needed here. They come back after a mission, I pour them a drink, tell a few dirty jokes and my job is done - simple, but effective. By the way, they call me Cold around here."
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/DhqrJN.jpg
"The Zone enchanted me. I was just passing by, kind of like a tourist, and got hooked. The thing is, the people here are real, be they friend or foe. The danger, the feeling that death lurks behind every corner - that's what makes us city slickers feel alive! And I enjoy every minute of it." - Dialogue of Random Cordon Loner in Clear Sky
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/KC5fdN.jpg
"I listened to a bunch of fairytales about the Zone and was foolish enough to believe them. But, as I quickly learned, it's a lot different when you're on the inside. I turned out to be a softer cookie than I thought. Dying is easy here, and collecting artifacts is not. But what's really killing me is that there's not a peaceful spot in the whole damn Zone. Even when I fall asleep, half of me stays awake." - Another dialogue of Random Cordon Loner
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/n2PtFZ.jpg
"You mean what do I do in the Zone? I'm hiding from some nosy former pals of mine. Back on the outside they would go on and on with their questions and lectures on life... So we had an... altercation. I hope you're not here to start all that morality shit again, are you? No? Good, then just keep walking." - Dialogue of Random Garbage Bandit in Clear Sky
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/NtL572.jpg
"I was doing backstreet business back in the Soviet Union when I got caught on a major deal. I did my time like a man, made some good buddies and connections with the underworld crowd, and when I got out I started buying up goods from burglars. I got nicked again and did some more time, but when I got out the Soviet Union was dead and buried. I never managed to adjust to the changes - I was broke and living a shit life... but then the Zone appeared, and I bolted here right away. This place immediately reminded me of the good old days, so I became a trader without a second thought." - Dialogue of bandit trader Tooth
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/WaeYgA.jpg
"What do you mean, "someone like you" Sure, I didn't graduate from no damn academy but I've got the hands for this kind of work - I was the best specialist at my plant, with medals, commendations and all. I would celebrate that kinda stuff with my friends over some drinks until our boss reported us and we all got fired. That son of a bitch! That plant was real high-profile 'cause we were working for the defense industry. After that, I got a job as a technician at the local housing office. They always came to me if something happened 'cause I was the only pro around. Some people slipped me a little cash or poured me a good drink and things were sweet... until I had a little fight with a plumber over a bottle - it got a bit heated and I stabbed the bastard with a screwdriver. He lived, but I got a stretch in a penal colony, and by the time I got back my crib was empty - the wife left me... I got real depressed and got me a case of jimjams. I lost the house through pure stupidity and became homeless. That's when I made my way here. And you know what? They treat me right in this place 'cause I know what I'm doing. And I'm the same, sometimes I even accept a good bottle as payment for work... keep that in mind." - Dialogue of Limpid
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/SY2B8N.jpg
"I'm looking for adventure in the Zone, and I get plenty of that here in the Dark Valley. I have the opportunity to do that thanks to Freedom, and I don't care how pompous that may sound." - Dialogue of Random Dark Valley Freedomer
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/SQMzO3.jpg
Dialogue of Freedom barman Ganja, while not directly stating the exact reason why Ganja came to the Zone, does says that it was a real negative story:
"You're not asking the right question, bro. You should be asking how Ganja the barman, Ganja the hookah man, Ganja, the man who partied with all sorts of friends in all sorts of places, ended up in the Zone. But I ain't answering that, bro. That's a negative story and I'm a positive kind of guy. I found myself here. That's the way the cookie crumbles. I was on my own and I felt cosmic loneliness, bro. Yeah, man, it was real bad. But then I felt positive vibrations...coming from Freedom. I knew they were my kind of people. I had a choice, but my doubts were gone. I found my freedom - now I live a better life than most people in that crazy world outside the Zone. Here I have enough to drink, enough to smoke, I have the Zone and people who share their stories about it with me...Damn, this local weed is just pure suckage!"
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/YJwrv7.jpg
"Me, I'm from a small town. Finished high school, served in the army. Got out - no jobs, no use going to college... Make a long story short, I got through the boot camp and landed right here. Actually, I served at the Cordon at first. Once a colonel of ours decided he needed a rare artifact to heal him up. Didn't like the idea of hiring stalkers, so our squad got the "job." The map they gave us was thirty friggin' years old. Those bastards... Less than a few hours in half our guys were already gone from anomalies. Then the dogs, then the bloodsuckers. Before the day was done it was just sarge and myself. Thank God we had our medkits, so we managed to crawl over to Duty's base. My leg got all hacked up - I was lucky to keep it after all that. Anyway, Duty folks put us back on our feet and showed us the way back. They're real men who live a good, simple life, and I've made a lot of friends during my stay. Anyway, soon as service was over, I grabbed my things and came right back into the Zone. I found Duty's base and asked to join, and hey, they took me in." - Dialogue of Kolobok
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/rbzkaU.jpg
"I'm just your average Joe, no different from anyone else. I've always been a rolling stone though. When I was ten I took off for China to study Shaolin martial arts. They took us off the freightliner three days later, and my dad gave me a real good thrashing. When I got older I spent all my time travelling - hitchhiked across Europe, spent a winter with chukchas. Then the Zone emerged. At the time I was friends with one girl Leska - also a thrill-seeker, like me. Well, she thought we were friends, though I felt a little different... Anyway, one day I was looking for Leska and some friends told me she'd gone to the Zone. Right away I get my things, grab a pistol with some rubber bullets and head straight here. I made it thanks to all my travelling experience. I spent months searching for her, carrying her photo and showing it to everybody. Finally a stalker told me some international troops apprehended Leska with some pretty boy near the Zone's border. Gave the two a lecture and sent them home. So, I thought, God bless you, Leska, God bless. I didn't go back home then. And now I'm just kind of stuck to the Zone." - Dialogue of Orest
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/fum7AJ.jpg
"I've always been drawn to new territories. I mean, I came to the Zone because I got tired of monotonous routine on the outside, and in these parts there are always secrets to uncover. The other thing is the cash. You need food and ammo, but you can only get coin for loot. I'm also hoping someone finds a way of getting past the Scorcher, 'cause as soon as they do I'll be the first one to the center of the Zone. I've only got one sacred wish - for the Zone to disappear." - Dialogue of Random Army Warehouses Loner
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/pTsN2A.jpg
"I wish I knew something old about it. We're mercenaries, buddy. We go into the Zone to complete a specific mission, and rely on careful planning and outstanding preparation to achieve our objectives." - Dialogue of Hog's merc(s)
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/Z5bkBI.jpg
"Bes's my name. I came to these parts three years ago. Like many of the guys in the Zone I'm a fugitive, wanted for two murders and GBH. A few years ago a friend of mine got battered pretty bad - they had to literally stitch him back together at the hospital. So I paid the bastards who did it a little "visit". When the coppers showed up I had to shoot one of them and jump out of a third-floor window - I've been here since. I've done well in this place but the list of my crimes has got a little longer too. I try to fight the lawless just as I did on the outside. I train up rookies and teach them to survive in the Zone." - Dialogue of Bes
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/pchRZm.jpg
"Where do I begin... I guess it goes back to high school. I had a good buddy, a best friend, if you will. We hung out together, smoking, drinking and whatnot. Only he wanted more and more thrills. He got into drugs: some weed at first, then smach and then coke, when he started getting some coin. I told him, "You gotta get off this shit, Tolyan, before it's too late." But he didn't listen. He scored some bad shit one day and that was that. I found his dealers and got even for my buddy... Got my picture took and all hell broke loose - the slammer, the gang fights, the shiv in the belly... Got out, started a business, got busted again... When I got out again, I left all that shit behind and set my sights on the Zone. Spent a couple months toughing it out, then got promoted. So now I'm in charge here, upholding the local law." - Dialogue of Sultan
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/fL49Ce.jpg
"When I worked at the surgeon clinic, it was easy to cover up. There was always a surplus of donor blood to be had. But the Zone was different... I thought that this harsh environment would push my condition to the sidelines. But I was wrong. I experienced the most terrible explosion of all and just couldn't think of anything else. I decided to make the killings look like bloodsucker attacks. I usually picked targets that were already wounded." - Dialogue of Tremor
Additional proof: https://snipboard.io/NzmA7n.jpg