(note: this is an extremely self-absorbed and long-winded post centered on comparing my upbringing to my husband's upbringing and it contains mentions of eating disorders and lots of whining. This is word vomit, is not of value, and I will probably delete this soon).
Sometimes it's the little things that make me realize how... slightly different my upbringing was... in comparison to people who grew up with healthy siblings. For me, it was nostalgic school pizza.
I ate school lunch every day. Packing? Lol, no. My husband? He told me tonight that he never, like as in never ever, ate school lunch. His mom packed for him every single day - he got special sandwiches and casseroles and even sushi once or twice. Therefore, he has no nostalgia for school pizza, whereas I do, and I am about to spend $50 on some brand of pizza that apparently tastes just like it.
My husband was raised differently than me. He was raised by upper middle class parents, including his mom being SAHM for his entire life, and he and his sibling were both healthy their entire lives. My parents both worked in law enforcement/social work adjacent jobs, both working nights sometimes, and they had city and nonprofit pay, aka we were probably lower middle class. I also had an extremely ill sibling for the duration of middle school and the first year of high school.
As a child, my husband was never left alone. He didn't stay home alone until he was 14. He never had to stay alone for days and weeks like I did. We lived in a rural area too, so I was far from town and couldn't go anywhere. While my sibling was hospitalized two hours away or at various appointments, they'd come home late at night most days. There were weeks in the summer where they were home maybe 6 hours a week and I was alone with neighbors and my aunt checking in every other day. Sometimes they sent me to day camp in the summer and I'd be the last one picked up. I always went to day camp because I suspect overnight camp cost too much - my sibling's illness was expensive. If I wasn't at day camp, I was alone all the time during summer and after school. This lasted four years.
Honestly, it wasn't that bad at the time. I felt like it was my house and I walked the dogs and stayed up late and ate frozen foods and went swimming in our above ground pool. I had two close friends in the neighborhood and I'd spend time with them when I could. I got a job when I was 15 and my friend's mom picked me up and drove me back and forth from work until I got my license. I was online A LOT and was in chat rooms and meeting randos on message boards as young as 12. I even got into web design and taught myself a few basic programming languages. Honestly, I was kind of raised by the Internet
I also ate school lunch every day. I know how to poke a milk bag perfectly. I am constantly nostalgic for the nuggets, pizza, and Bosco sticks of my middle and high school cafeterias. My parents would give me money at the beginning of the week and I'd map my school lunch plan out. Lunch was the highlight of my day for awhile. I ate a lot of Bosco sticks. My school also had a vending machine, so I drank lots of Dr. Pepper too. I honestly got pretty fat. Until I wasn't, because somehow (the Internet), I calculated the calories of everything at my school cafeteria, and then only nutrigrain bars and an apple were safe. I ate Bosco sticks at least weekly though - I craved them even when I was starving myself. I just didn't usually keep them down and I'll leave it at that.
School pizza though. School pizza isn't tainted like Bosco sticks. It was different pizza every week in high school so I never knew the calories. Thus I didn't eat it after first semester of high school. Even after I was "recovering" and my sibling got better, meaning suddenly I wasn't being raised by the Internet anymore, I avoided school pizza. The memories I have are from 2000 and pizza day at my elementary school stands as a consistently pleasant memory. I make pizzas now. Good pizzas. I love pizza. I've made it for my husband, parents, and sibling.
Never school pizza though.
I want to try $50 nostalgic pizza.
My husband says it's probably gross and not worth $50.
He never had to do meal planning when he was 12 and alone for weeks at a time though.

The Great War of 2077 left the world devastated and depleted of life. The great cities of the world were reduced to piles of bone and ash -much like Ash Valley (formerly Phoenix AZ). Those that were fortunate survived in the great underground vaults, but most were not that fortunate. By 2291, the effects of the Great War were still felt across the world and the last of the vaults were beginning to open.
Gadsden Campaign

• The campaign will be played weekly at 9PM EST online.
• LGBTQ+ welcome.
• It will take place in the southwestern United States in the year 2291.
• This is going to follow the events of the Fallout TV show.
• It will take place between Yuma AZ and Tombstone AZ with a focus on Two Sun AZ.
• The campaign is a short-term campaign which is open-ended, but designed to last for around 10 weeks.
• The system is TBD and we will discuss as a group.
• Looking for lore junkies interested in crafting a shared story within the fallout universe.

Hi my name is ZenDND (he/him, 35) and I am looking to gather some interested folks for a short-term Fallout campaign. I run a inclusive table open to all players. Primarily looking for folks with an interest in fallout and willing to commit to a 10 week campaign that explores the southwestern U.S.
If you are interested then feel free to drop me a line on reddit with some information about your play style and interest in Fallout. Thanks.

i found this blog post interesting and come out to share it with you:
I've seen a lot of discussions around making money online, and I thought I'd share my journey and what I've learned along the way. A while back, I was searching for ways to earn some extra income without having to leave home. After trying out various methods, I've managed to find a few that really worked for me. Here are some tips and insights based on my experience:

1. Freelancing: There are tons of platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer where you can offer your skills. Whether you're a writer, designer, or developer, there's always someone looking for your expertise. I started by offering writing services and gradually built up a steady stream of clients.
   
2. Online Surveys and Market Research: This isn’t going to make you rich, but it’s a good way to earn some pocket money. Sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Vindale Research pay you for sharing your opinions.
   
3. Affiliate Marketing: If you have a blog or social media following, affiliate marketing can be quite lucrative. It involves promoting other people's products and earning a commission for every sale made through your referral link. There are many programs available, such as Amazon Associates or ShareASale.
   
4. Creating and Selling Digital Products: If you're good at something, never do it for free! I started creating e-books and online courses about topics I was passionate about. This passive income stream has been quite rewarding.
   
5. Starting a Blog: This has been a game-changer for me. Blogging can be a great way to share your knowledge and eventually monetize your content. You can start by choosing a niche you're passionate about, providing valuable content, and using SEO strategies to drive traffic. Over time, you can monetize through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.
   

The concept of blue zones is usually distorted by carnivore advocates who claim all the blue zones were based on diets high in animal fats and proteins or nonsense from keto quacks like Steven Gundry who claim it is because the old people in these zones were smoking or drinking sheep's milk.
The truth is, there isn't any scientific evidence to support the blue zones concept, the idea has never been embraced by the medical and scientific communities. The blue zones was a research project not a scientific study, modern diet influencers promoting this idea on social media are unaware about how the concept was developed. If you read the original papers, the idea of diet hardly came up.
There are no controlled studies, no long-term epidemiological studies. Much of the evidence is anecdotal due to lack of records and is second-hand taken from interviews of relatives.

The problem with trying to determine how many very old people are alive in an area is that the further back you look to verify ages, the worse the records get. It’s reasonably easy to figure out where and when a person was born if they are 80. But when we’re talking about 110-year-olds, the records are decidedly patchier. (The supercentenarians at the start of the Blue Zones study were born in the late 1800s.)

https://slate.com/technology/2023/11/centenarian-blue-zone-health-long-life-netflix.html
In regard to alleged supercentenarians in these zones, there is a recent article that notes the likelihood of fraud

These pockets of extreme longevity seem to occur in areas with “greater poverty, higher illiteracy, higher crime rates, and worse population health” than the norm, according to Oxford scientist Saul Newman. Data from the United Nations even suggests that Cambodia was a blue zone of sorts during the genocide of the Khmer Rouge. These hotspots can be chiefly explained by welfare fraud, identity theft, name-saking and criminal abuse of the pension system, or by genuine confusion over dates or lack of birth certificates. Some are banal in any case.

https://archive.is/d9beK
Another issue is the abuse of the pension system

“Whenever you get an investigation of the pensions system, the rate of centenarians suddenly collapses. That is what happened in Greece after the financial crisis,” said Dr Newman, now at Oxford University’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.
The Greek labour ministry concluded that 200,000 pensions were being paid to fraudulent claimants. Most of the country’s 9,000 centenarians were dead. The same happened in Japan in 2010 after the mummified corpse of Tokyo’s “oldest” man was discovered. His family had been drawing the pension from his bank account for 32 years. The inquiry discovered that 238,000 people listed as aged 100 or more were unaccounted for. Some had died in the Second World War.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018708179/dr-saul-newman-debunking-the-blue-zone-longevity-myth

Only 18% of ‘exhaustively’ validated supercentenarians have a birth certificate, falling to zero percent in the USA, and supercentenarian birthdates are concentrated on days divisible by five: a pattern indicative of widespread fraud and error. Finally, the designated ‘blue zones’ of Sardinia, Okinawa, and Ikaria corresponded to regions with low incomes, low literacy, high crime rate and short life expectancy relative to their national average. As such, relative poverty and short lifespan constitute unexpected predictors of centenarian and supercentenarian status and support a primary role of fraud and error in generating remarkable human age records.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/704080v3
Saul Newman who wrote the above received a lot of abuse for questioning the blue zones.
The blue zones concept is mostly a marketing myth to sells books and ideas about diets. Dan Buettner is most well known for this. There was a recent series on Netflix about the blue zones.
Michel Poulain who originally proposed the blue zones published a paper in 2011 in which he was unable to verify the claims of longevity in Okinawa due to lack of records surviving WW2.
https://www.demographic-research.org/articles/volume/25/7/
Since 2011 no new evidence has come to light.
If we actually look at the oldest people in the world right now whose birth certificates have been validated
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_living_people
They are mostly from Japan, Spain and Brazil. None of these are blue zones.
I realise that all sorts of diet gurus promote the blue zones online but if you go looking there isn't any good scientific evidence to support this concept. The concept has now just become a marketing myth to promote diets.
If you read Michel Poulain's original research he hardly mentions diet, it's literally mentioned twice in passing yet online influencers only talk about this topic.
https://web.archive.org/web/20200302043123/http://austriaca.at/0xc1aa500e_0x00307bb6.pdf
Interestingly if you read Poulain's work, he says

In Okinawa, as elsewhere in Japan, the individual validation of age is based on the koseki, a family register containing records of all members of a family, including gender, dates and places of birth, names of parents, dates of marriage and divorce if any, date and place of death. Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, data extracted from the koseki such as birth and death records are only accessible by directly asking the relatives of the concerned persons or for official legal proceedings.

In conclusion the blue zones lacks scientific evidence. The concept is best explained through welfare fraud, pension abuse, identity theft and confusion due to lack of birth records.

Howdy! My english bad sorry for that but are you know what mod are crashing game? When I create new world game crashes.
---- Minecraft Crash Report ----
// You're mean.
Time: 2024-05-19 04:57:47
Description: Exception in server tick loop
java.lang.BootstrapMethodError: java.lang.RuntimeException: Mixin transformation of com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train failed

`at com.simibubi.create.content.trains.GlobalRailwayManager.loadTrackData(GlobalRailwayManager.java:94)` `at com.simibubi.create.content.trains.GlobalRailwayManager.levelLoaded(GlobalRailwayManager.java:83)` `at com.simibubi.create.foundation.events.CommonEvents.onLoadWorld(CommonEvents.java:171)` `at net.fabricmc.fabric.api.event.lifecycle.v1.ServerWorldEvents.lambda$static$0(ServerWorldEvents.java:34)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.redirect$coo000$fabric-lifecycle-events-v1$onLoadWorld(MinecraftServer.java:4870)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_3786(MinecraftServer.java:360)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_3735(MinecraftServer.java:324)` `at net.minecraft.class_1132.method_3823(class_1132.java:69)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_29741(MinecraftServer.java:646)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_29739(MinecraftServer.java:265)` `at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:833)` 

Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: Mixin transformation of com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train failed

`at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.getPostMixinClassByteArray(KnotClassDelegate.java:427)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.tryLoadClass(KnotClassDelegate.java:323)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.loadClass(KnotClassDelegate.java:218)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassLoader.loadClass(KnotClassLoader.java:119)` `at java.base/java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:525)` `... 11 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.throwables.MixinTransformerError: An unexpected critical error was encountered

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:392)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinTransformer.transformClass(MixinTransformer.java:234)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinTransformer.transformClassBytes(MixinTransformer.java:202)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.getPostMixinClassByteArray(KnotClassDelegate.java:422)` `... 15 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.throwables.MixinApplyError: Mixin [create_interactive.mixins.json:MixinTrain from mod create_interactive] from phase [DEFAULT] in config [create_interactive.mixins.json] FAILED during APPLY

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.handleMixinError(MixinProcessor.java:638)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.handleMixinApplyError(MixinProcessor.java:589)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:379)` `... 18 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.throwables.InvalidMixinException: u/Overwrite method findCollidingTrain in create_interactive.mixins.json:MixinTrain from mod create_interactive was not located in the target class com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train. Using refmap create_interactive-fabric-refmap.json

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachSpecialMethod(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:436)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachOverwriteMethod(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:416)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachMethods(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:346)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attach(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:299)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.createContextFor(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:277)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinInfo.createContextFor(MixinInfo.java:1289)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinApplicatorStandard.apply(MixinApplicatorStandard.java:294)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.TargetClassContext.apply(TargetClassContext.java:422)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.TargetClassContext.applyMixins(TargetClassContext.java:403)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:363)` `... 18 more` 

A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- System Details --
Details:

`Minecraft Version: 1.20.1` `Minecraft Version ID: 1.20.1` `Operating System: Windows 11 (amd64) version 10.0` `Java Version: 17.0.8, Microsoft` `Java VM Version: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Microsoft` `Memory: 2679414400 bytes (2555 MiB) / 4932501504 bytes (4704 MiB) up to 34359738368 bytes (32768 MiB)` `CPUs: 16` `Processor Vendor: GenuineIntel` `Processor Name: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700K @ 3.60GHz` `Identifier: Intel64 Family 6 Model 167 Stepping 1` `Microarchitecture: Rocket Lake` `Frequency (GHz): 3.60` `Number of physical packages: 1` `Number of physical CPUs: 8` `Number of logical CPUs: 16` `Graphics card #0 name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080` `Graphics card #0 vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)` `Graphics card #0 VRAM (MB): 4095.00` `Graphics card #0 deviceId: 0x2216` `Graphics card #0 versionInfo: DriverVersion=31.0.15.5212` `Memory slot #0 capacity (MB): 16384.00` `Memory slot #0 clockSpeed (GHz): 3.20` `Memory slot #0 type: DDR4` `Memory slot #1 capacity (MB): 16384.00` `Memory slot #1 clockSpeed (GHz): 3.20` `Memory slot #1 type: DDR4` `Virtual memory max (MB): 38777.41` `Virtual memory used (MB): 14516.93` `Swap memory total (MB): 6144.00` `Swap memory used (MB): 0.00` `JVM Flags: 9 total; -XX:HeapDumpPath=MojangTricksIntelDriversForPerformance_javaw.exe_minecraft.exe.heapdump -Xss1M -Xmx32G -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:G1NewSizePercent=20 -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=32M` `Fabric Mods:` `ad_astra: Ad Astra 1.15.18` `javazoom_jlayer: jlayer 1.0.1` `alloy_forgery: Alloy Forgery 2.1.2+1.20` `antique-atlas: Antique Atlas 2.7.2+1.20` `folk_sisby_kaleido-config: kaleido-config 0.1.1+1.1.0-beta.3` `surveyor: Surveyor Map Framework 0.4.3+1.20` `appleskin: AppleSkin 2.5.1+mc1.20` `archers: Archers (RPG Series) 1.2.1+1.20.1` `com_github_zsoltmolnarrr_tinyconfig: TinyConfig 2.3.2` `ranged_weapon_api: RangedWeaponAPI 1.1.0+1.20.1` `structure_pool_api: Structure Pool API 1.0+1.20.1` `architectury: Architectury 9.2.14` `artifacts: Artifacts 9.5.5` `cardinal-components-base: Cardinal Components API (base) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-entity: Cardinal Components API (entities) 5.2.2` `expandability: ExpandAbility 9.0.4` `step-height-entity-attribute: Step Height Entity Attribute 1.2.0` `azurelibarmor: AzureLib Armor 2.0.3` `balm-fabric: Balm 7.2.2` `bclib: BCLib 3.0.14` `wunderlib: WunderLib 1.1.5` `bettercombat: Better Combat 1.8.5+1.20.1` `betterdeserttemples: YUNG's Better Desert Temples 1.20-Fabric-3.0.3` `org_reflections_reflections: reflections 0.10.2` `betterdungeons: YUNG's Better Dungeons 1.20-Fabric-4.0.4` `betterend: Better End 4.0.11` `betterendisland: YUNG's Better End Island 1.20-Fabric-2.0.6` `betterfortresses: YUNG's Better Nether Fortresses 1.20-Fabric-2.0.6` `betterjungletemples: YUNG's Better Jungle Temples 1.20-Fabric-2.0.5` `bettermineshafts: YUNG's Better Mineshafts 1.20-Fabric-4.0.4` `betternether: Better Nether 9.0.10` `betteroceanmonuments: YUNG's Better Ocean Monuments 1.20-Fabric-3.0.4` `betterwitchhuts: YUNG's Better Witch Huts 1.20-Fabric-3.0.3` `bookshelf: Bookshelf 20.1.10` `bosses_of_mass_destruction: Bosses of Mass Destruction (Beta) 1.7.5-1.20.1` `maelstrom_library: Maelstrom Library 1.6.1-1.20` `multipart_entities: MultipartEntities 1.5-1.20` `botarium: Botarium 2.3.3` `team_reborn_energy: Energy 3.0.0` `cardinal-components: Cardinal Components API 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-block: Cardinal Components API (blocks) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-chunk: Cardinal Components API (chunks) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-item: Cardinal Components API (items) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-level: Cardinal Components API (world saves) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-scoreboard: Cardinal Components API (scoreboard) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-world: Cardinal Components API (worlds) 5.2.2` `carryon: Carry On` [`2.1.2.7`](http://2.1.2.7) `charmofundying: Charm of Undying 6.5.0+1.20.1` `spectrelib: SpectreLib 0.13.15+1.20.1` `cicada: CICADA 0.7.1+1.20.1` `cloth-config: Cloth Config v11 11.1.118` `cloth-basic-math: cloth-basic-math 0.6.1` `crawl: Crawl 0.12.0` `mm: Manningham Mills 2.3` `create: Create 0.5.1-f-build.1417+mc1.20.1` `com_electronwill_night-config_core: core 3.6.6` `com_electronwill_night-config_toml: toml 3.6.6` `com_google_code_findbugs_jsr305: jsr305 3.0.2` `flywheel: Flywheel 0.6.10-2` `forgeconfigapiport: Forge Config API Port 8.0.0` `milk: Milk Lib 1.2.60` 

dripstone_fluid_lib: Dripstone Fluid Lib 3.0.2

 `porting_lib_brewing: Porting Lib Brewing 2.3.2+1.20.1` `porting_lib_models: Porting Lib Models 2.3.2+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_model_loader: Porting Lib Model Loader 2.3.2+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_obj_loader: Porting Lib Obj Loader 2.3.2+1.20.1` `porting_lib_tags: Porting Lib Tags 3.0` `reach-entity-attributes: Reach Entity Attributes 2.4.0` `registrate-fabric: Registrate for Fabric 1.3.62-MC1.20.1` 

porting_lib_data: Porting Lib Data 2.1.1090+1.20
porting_lib_model_generators: Porting Lib Model Generators 2.1.1090+1.20
porting_lib_model_materials: Porting Lib Model Materials 2.1.1090+1.20

 `create_interactive: Create: Interactive 1.0.2-beta.2` `create_jetpack: Create Jetpack 4.2.0` `flightlib: Flight Lib 2.1.0` `createbigcannons: Create Big Cannons 0.5.4-nightly-8b9cea6` `ritchiesprojectilelib: Ritchie's Projectile Library 1.0.0-369e88d+1.20.1-fabric` 

porting_lib_utility: Porting Lib Utility 2.1.1127+1.20
porting_lib_gametest: Porting Lib GameTest 2.1.1127+1.20

 `creativecore: CreativeCore 2.11.28` `net_minecraftforge_eventbus: eventbus 6.0.3` `creeperoverhaul: Creeper Overhaul 3.0.2` `distanthorizons: Distant Horizons 2.0.4-a-dev` `do_a_barrel_roll: Do a Barrel Roll 3.5.6+1.20.1` `fabric-permissions-api-v0: fabric-permissions-api 0.2-SNAPSHOT` `mixinsquared: MixinSquared 0.1.1` `dsurround: Dynamic Surroundings 0.3.3` `org_openjdk_nashorn_nashorn-core: nashorn-core 15.4` `eatinganimationid: Eating Animation 1.20+1.9.61` `elytraslot: Elytra Slot 6.3.0+1.20.1` `endermanoverhaul: Enderman Overhaul 1.0.4` `endrem: End Remastered 5.2.4` `fabric-api: Fabric API 0.92.0+1.20.1` `fabric-api-base: Fabric API Base 0.4.31+1802ada577` `fabric-api-lookup-api-v1: Fabric API Lookup API (v1) 1.6.36+1802ada577` `fabric-biome-api-v1: Fabric Biome API (v1) 13.0.13+1802ada577` `fabric-block-api-v1: Fabric Block API (v1) 1.0.11+1802ada577` `fabric-block-view-api-v2: Fabric BlockView API (v2) 1.0.1+1802ada577` `fabric-blockrenderlayer-v1: Fabric BlockRenderLayer Registration (v1) 1.1.41+1802ada577` `fabric-client-tags-api-v1: Fabric Client Tags 1.1.2+1802ada577` `fabric-command-api-v1: Fabric Command API (v1) 1.2.34+f71b366f77` `fabric-command-api-v2: Fabric Command API (v2) 2.2.13+1802ada577` `fabric-commands-v0: Fabric Commands (v0) 0.2.51+df3654b377` `fabric-containers-v0: Fabric Containers (v0) 0.1.64+df3654b377` `fabric-content-registries-v0: Fabric Content Registries (v0) 4.0.11+1802ada577` `fabric-convention-tags-v1: Fabric Convention Tags 1.5.5+1802ada577` `fabric-crash-report-info-v1: Fabric Crash Report Info (v1) 0.2.19+1802ada577` `fabric-data-attachment-api-v1: Fabric Data Attachment API (v1) 1.0.0+de0fd6d177` `fabric-data-generation-api-v1: Fabric Data Generation API (v1) 12.3.4+1802ada577` `fabric-dimensions-v1: Fabric Dimensions API (v1) 2.1.54+1802ada577` `fabric-entity-events-v1: Fabric Entity Events (v1) 1.6.0+1c78457f77` `fabric-events-interaction-v0: Fabric Events Interaction (v0) 0.6.2+1802ada577` `fabric-events-lifecycle-v0: Fabric Events Lifecycle (v0) 0.2.63+df3654b377` `fabric-game-rule-api-v1: Fabric Game Rule API (v1) 1.0.40+1802ada577` `fabric-item-api-v1: Fabric Item API (v1) 2.1.28+1802ada577` `fabric-item-group-api-v1: Fabric Item Group API (v1) 4.0.12+1802ada577` `fabric-key-binding-api-v1: Fabric Key Binding API (v1) 1.0.37+1802ada577` `fabric-keybindings-v0: Fabric Key Bindings (v0) 0.2.35+df3654b377` `fabric-lifecycle-events-v1: Fabric Lifecycle Events (v1) 2.2.22+1802ada577` `fabric-loot-api-v2: Fabric Loot API (v2) 1.2.1+1802ada577` `fabric-loot-tables-v1: Fabric Loot Tables (v1) 1.1.45+9e7660c677` `fabric-message-api-v1: Fabric Message API (v1) 5.1.9+1802ada577` `fabric-mining-level-api-v1: Fabric Mining Level API (v1) 2.1.50+1802ada577` `fabric-model-loading-api-v1: Fabric Model Loading API (v1) 1.0.3+1802ada577` `fabric-models-v0: Fabric Models (v0) 0.4.2+9386d8a777` `fabric-networking-api-v1: Fabric Networking API (v1) 1.3.11+1802ada577` `fabric-networking-v0: Fabric Networking (v0) 0.3.51+df3654b377` `fabric-object-builder-api-v1: Fabric Object Builder API (v1) 11.1.3+1802ada577` `fabric-particles-v1: Fabric Particles (v1) 1.1.2+1802ada577` `fabric-recipe-api-v1: Fabric Recipe API (v1) 1.0.21+1802ada577` `fabric-registry-sync-v0: Fabric Registry Sync (v0) 2.3.3+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-api-v1: Fabric Renderer API (v1) 3.2.1+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-indigo: Fabric Renderer - Indigo 1.5.1+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-registries-v1: Fabric Renderer Registries (v1) 3.2.46+df3654b377` `fabric-rendering-data-attachment-v1: Fabric Rendering Data Attachment (v1) 0.3.37+92a0d36777` `fabric-rendering-fluids-v1: Fabric Rendering Fluids (v1) 3.0.28+1802ada577` `fabric-rendering-v0: Fabric Rendering (v0) 1.1.49+df3654b377` `fabric-rendering-v1: Fabric Rendering (v1) 3.0.8+1802ada577` `fabric-resource-conditions-api-v1: Fabric Resource Conditions API (v1) 2.3.8+1802ada577` `fabric-resource-loader-v0: Fabric Resource Loader (v0) 0.11.10+1802ada577` `fabric-screen-api-v1: Fabric Screen API (v1) 2.0.8+1802ada577` `fabric-screen-handler-api-v1: Fabric Screen Handler API (v1) 1.3.30+1802ada577` `fabric-sound-api-v1: Fabric Sound API (v1) 1.0.13+1802ada577` `fabric-transfer-api-v1: Fabric Transfer API (v1) 3.3.4+1802ada577` `fabric-transitive-access-wideners-v1: Fabric Transitive Access Wideners (v1) 4.3.1+1802ada577` `fabric-language-kotlin: Fabric Language Kotlin 1.10.20+kotlin.1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-reflect: kotlin-reflect 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib: kotlin-stdlib 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib-jdk7: kotlin-stdlib-jdk7 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib-jdk8: kotlin-stdlib-jdk8 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_atomicfu-jvm: atomicfu-jvm 0.24.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-coroutines-core-jvm: kotlinx-coroutines-core-jvm 1.8.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-coroutines-jdk8: kotlinx-coroutines-jdk8 1.8.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-datetime-jvm: kotlinx-datetime-jvm 0.5.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-cbor-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-cbor-jvm 1.6.3` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-core-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-core-jvm 1.6.3` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-json-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-json-jvm 1.6.3` `fabricloader: Fabric Loader 0.15.11` `mixinextras: MixinExtras 0.3.5` `fallingtrees: Falling Trees 0.12` `farmersdelight: Farmer's Delight 1.20.1-2.1.1+refabricated` `porting_lib_accessors: Porting Lib Accessors 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_base: Porting Lib Base 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_entity: Porting Lib Entity 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_fluids: Porting Lib Fluids 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_mixin_extensions: Porting Lib Mixin Extensions 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_transfer: Porting Lib Transfer 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_client_events: Porting Lib Client Events 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_config: Porting Lib Config 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_extensions: Porting Lib Extensions 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_attributes: Porting Lib Attributes 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_common: Porting Lib Common 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_lazy_registration: Porting Lib Lazy Register 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_core: Porting Lib Core 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_loot: Porting Lib Loot 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_networking: Porting Lib Networking 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_recipe_book_categories: Porting Lib Recipe Book Categories 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_registries: Porting Lib Registries 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_tool_actions: Porting Lib Tool Actions 2.3.4+1.20.1` `figura: Figura 0.1.4+1.20.1` `com_github_figuramc_luaj_luaj-core: luaj-core 3.0.8-figura` `com_github_figuramc_luaj_luaj-jse: luaj-jse 3.0.8-figura` `com_neovisionaries_nv-websocket-client: nv-websocket-client 2.14` `firstperson: FirstPerson 2.3.4` `framework: Framework 0.6.27` `org_javassist_javassist: javassist 3.29.2-GA` `friendlyfire: FriendlyFire 18.0.6` `geckolib: GeckoLib 4 4.4.4` `com_eliotlash_mclib_mclib: mclib 20` `goblintraders: Goblin Traders 1.9.3` `graveyard: The Graveyard 3.0` `guardvillagers: GuardVillagers 2.0.9-1.20.1` `midnightlib: MidnightLib 1.4.1` `healthindicatortxf: Health Indicator TXF 1.20.1-1.2.3-fabric` `configlibtxf: ConfigLib TXF 4.2.1-fabric` `horizontal_glass_panes: Horizontal Glass Panes 2.0.0` `indium: Indium 1.0.30+mc1.20.4` `inventoryprofilesnext: Inventory Profiles Next 1.10.10` `iris: Iris 1.7.0+mc1.20.1` `io_github_douira_glsl-transformer: glsl-transformer 2.0.0-pre13` `org_anarres_jcpp: jcpp 1.4.14` `org_antlr_antlr4-runtime: antlr4-runtime 4.11.1` `irisflw: Iris Flywheel Compat 0.2.5` `ironchest: Iron Chests 2.0.2` `libgui: LibGui 8.1.1+1.20.1` 

jankson: Jankson 6.0.0+j1.2.3
blue_endless_jankson: jankson 1.2.3
libninepatch: LibNinePatch 1.2.0

 `itemphysic: ItemPhysic 1.7.1` `jade: Jade 11.9.2+fabric` `java: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 17` `jei: Just Enough Items` [`15.3.0.4`](http://15.3.0.4) `jeresources: Just Enough Resources` [`1.4.0.247`](http://1.4.0.247) `jewelry: Jewelry (RPG Series) 1.3.0+1.20.1` `kiwi: Kiwi Library 11.6.2` `lambdynlights: LambDynamicLights 2.3.2+1.20.1` `pride: Pride Lib 1.2.0+1.19.4` `spruceui: SpruceUI 5.0.0+1.20` `libipn: libIPN 4.0.2` `lithium: Lithium 0.11.2` `minecraft: Minecraft 1.20.1` `mobsunscreen: Mob Sunscreen 3.1.0` `modmenu: Mod Menu 7.2.2` `mythicmounts: Mythic Mounts 1.20.1-7.4` `naturalist: Naturalist 4.0.3` `nethersdelight: Nether's Delight 1.0.0` `disable_custom_worlds_advice: Disable Custom Worlds Advice 4.1` `notenoughanimations: NotEnoughAnimations 1.7.3` `notreepunching: No Tree Punching 7.1.0` `nyfsspiders: Nyf's Spiders 2.1.1` `opf: Modern Online Picture Frames 1` `owo: oωo 0.11.1+1.20` `paladins: Paladins & Priests (RPG Series) 1.2.0+1.20.1` `pandalib: PandaLib 0.2.1` `passablefoliage: Passable Foliage 1.20.1-fabric-8.2.1` `patchouli: Patchouli 1.20.1-84-FABRIC` `fiber: fiber 0.23.0-2` `player-animator: Player Animator 1.0.2-rc1+1.20` `polymorph: Polymorph 0.49.3+1.20.1` `presencefootsteps: Presence Footsteps 1.9.4+1.20.1` `kirin: Kirin UI 1.15.6+1.20.1` `puffish_skills: Pufferfish's Skills 0.12.1` `reeses-sodium-options: Reese's Sodium Options 1.7.2+mc1.20.1-build.101` `repurposed_structures: Repurposed Structures 7.1.15+1.20.1-fabric` `resourcefulconfig: Resourcefulconfig 2.1.2` `resourcefullib: Resourceful Lib 2.1.24` `com_teamresourceful_bytecodecs: bytecodecs 1.0.2` `com_teamresourceful_yabn: yabn 1.0.3` `runes: Runes 0.9.11+1.20.1` `simplyswords: Simply Swords 1.55.0-1.20.1` `sit: Sit 1.20-24` `sliceanddice: Create Slice & Dice 3.2.1` `snowrealmagic: Snow! Real Magic! 10.4.3` `sodium: Sodium 0.5.8+mc1.20.1` `sodium-extra: Sodium Extra 0.5.4+mc1.20.1-build.115` `caffeineconfig: CaffeineConfig 1.3.0+1.17` `crowdin-translate: CrowdinTranslate 1.4+1.19.3` `spell_engine: Spell Engine 0.14.3+1.20.1` `spell_power: Spell Power Attribute 0.10.2+1.20.1` `travelersbackpack: Traveler's Backpack fabric-1.20.1-9.1.12` `travelerstitles: Traveler's Titles 1.20-Fabric-4.0.2` `trinkets: Trinkets 3.7.2` `valkyrienskies: Valkyrien Skies 2 2.3.0-beta.5` `visuality: Visuality 0.7.1+1.20` `vs_eureka: VS Eureka Mod 1.5.1-beta.3` `watching: From The Fog 1.9.2` `water-erosion: Water Erosion 1.1.6` `waterdripsound: Drip Sounds 1.19-0.3.2` `waystones: Waystones 14.1.3` `wizards: Wizards (RPG Series) 1.2.0+1.20.1` `yet_another_config_lib_v3: YetAnotherConfigLib 3.4.2+1.20.1-fabric` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-image: common-image 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-io: common-io 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-lang: common-lang 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-core: imageio-core 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-metadata: imageio-metadata 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-webp: imageio-webp 3.10.0` `org_quiltmc_parsers_gson: gson 0.2.1` `org_quiltmc_parsers_json: json 0.2.1` `yungsapi: YUNG's API 1.20-Fabric-4.0.5` `yungsbridges: YUNG's Bridges 1.20-Fabric-4.0.3` `yungsextras: YUNG's Extras 1.20-Fabric-4.0.3` `Loaded Shaderpack: (off)` `Flywheel Backend: GL33 Instanced Arrays` `Server Running: true` `Player Count: 0 / 8; []` `Data Packs: vanilla, fabric` `Enabled Feature Flags: minecraft:vanilla` `World Generation: Experimental` `Type: Integrated Server (map_client.txt)` `Is Modded: Definitely; Client brand changed to 'fabric'; Server brand changed to 'fabric'` `Launched Version: fabric-loader-0.15.11-1.20.1` 

TL/DR version: Dr. wanted me on low dose of statins (Diagnosis = Familial hypercholesterolemia - FH). I said give me 6 mo. I drank green kale juice almost daily and substantially reduced sugaalcohol intake. Moderate exercise 1-3x a week. Cholesterol improved. Avoided medication (statins) for now.
Longer version: In 2018 I was walking about 2-3 miles a day at work and on my feet almost the entire time. This was giving my heart a decent workout 4 days a week. Lipid panel was ok.
In 2023 my lipid panel levels worsened and lifestyle factors were part of the reason (imo). My alcohol intake increased and between 2020 - 2023 and I was probably consuming several drinks a week on average (hard alcohol) and my tolerance was only improving with time which meant it was easier to drink more if I wanted. Also, I became more sedentary. My exercise/walking routine stopped.
During my doctor's visit in 2023 he suggested I take a low dosage of statins for my FH. I wanted to try lifestyle changes first and he said 'ok, come back in 6mo.' He admitted to me, right there on the spot, that he didn't think the lifestyle changes were going to lower the cholesterol.
In addition I find the following extremely interesting...over the summer of 2023 I consumed a lot of sugar in the form of movie theater candy (going to the movies a lot) and I remember my skin breaking out (upper torso and arms). I self diagnosed Eruptive Xanthoma. I'm not a doctor but from what I learned online this is exactly what I had over the summer and up to the doctors appointment in December of 2023. I think that a culmination of poor lifestyle choices (diet in particular) led to my cholesterol levels increasing to a point where I had visible symptoms on my skin. This condition comes and goes for me over the previous decade or so and I've also been diagnosed with psoriasis in the past. The psoriasis is managed by my diet and right now I have zero symptoms.
During all of this my heaviest weight was 183 pounds and now I'm down to 158 pounds.
Also, I intermittently took milk thistle, magnesium, and vitamin c.
https://preview.redd.it/z30ho6p3991d1.png?width=2796&format=png&auto=webp&s=5e4ba6d1a9323cf6f7a7394685032ef68d933fe2

Hi everyone – I’ve recently been building a weekly business newsletter called Pulse of Progress and got my first 1,100 subscribers in just 14 days!
The best part? I used zero paid ads. All of my subs were completely free!
Here’s how I did it.
But first, let me provide some context…
For the last 6 months, I’ve been testing out different side hustle / business ideas. I have a running list of ideas that I test on forums like Reddit and Indie Hacker to get a pulse on what the public thinks. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to validate an idea before investing any money or serious time into it. If it gets some traction or interest in the first few days, you know you have something. If not, its time to move on.
I start by generating some interest on social platforms and freelance websites (side note – I’ve come up with a method that helps me do this and get tangible results. So, if this is something you want to learn more about, let me know. I’ll make a post around this too). It’s an approach I’ve developed and tested over the last year with other ideas, so I just do the same with all other ideas I want to test / validate in the future. I want to see results fast, not waste time on non-value add activities.
Here are some of the business ideas I’ve tested:
1. Newsletter sponsorship marketplace – created a platform connecting newsletter businesses with potential advertisers. The marketplace allows the businesses to post their content and advertisers to find and book ad slots
2. AI based email marketing optimization tool – developed an AI tool that analyzes email marketing campaigns and provides optimization suggestions to improve open rates, click-through rates, and conversions
3. Remote language exchange facilitation – pair individuals looking to learn each other’s languages and facilitate their language exchange sessions online
I shut all of these down. I couldn’t get the momentum I wanted or hoped for to consider them a success. The AI based email marketing optimization tool went viral on Hacker News and Indie Hacker, but it was because I was able to generate some hype around it for a short period of time. But the hype faded fast…real fast. I had about 100 people sign up for the service. As for my other businesses, I had a few signups here and there but nothing worth keeping the business alive and investing more of my time into it.
Something I want to call out at this point: all of the businesses I tried starting in the past were bootstrapped. I never used money I made from the sale of my other businesses. I sold one business (a virtual event planning business that took off during the pandemic. We organized and managed virtual events, think webinars / workshops / conferences, for specific interest groups and professional communities). I never touched the proceeds from that sale to start the company I currently run. The reason I bring this up is because I think your business, regardless of what it is, needs to stand on its own. If it couldn’t, I knew it was time to move on. I didn’t want to give myself a false sense of hope that it would work by continuously throwing money at it.
The reason I started a business newsletter…
A newsletter was perfect. It was easy to start and required no money to get it up and running. The purpose behind the newsletter was centered around the idea of creating something that informed and educated people but was entertaining to read. Reading in general, news or not, can sometimes feel like a chore (at least for me). This was the opposite. This was something you genuinely looked forward to reading, the things that influence your world and the decisions you make on a daily basis.
The biggest issue I had with everything else out there was that the content was around things I didn’t care about. Not to mention it put me to sleep half the time. And that’s when it hit me – create a platform that genuinely helped people stay ahead in this information heavy world. Filter out the nonsense, deliver on high-value content.
The test phase…
I spent a couple hours looking up any Facebook group that was related to starting side hustles, escaping the 9-5 grind, online businesses etc. Once I came up with a small list of about 8-10 groups, I spent the next few days posting about the newsletter. One caveat for me when looking for which groups to post in: they needed to have more than 50K users. I wanted my posts to have some reach and didn’t want to waste my time in groups that were smaller and were barely active. I also designed some GIFs (I drew inspiration from the early Milk Road days when they posted funny GIFs / memes about their newsletter all over social media) but that didn’t work. Like at all. So, I shifted gears.
The first day, I posted about the newsletter in 8 different groups and got about 45 subscribers the next day. Over the next two weeks, I spent a couple of hours each day making similar posts within these groups and tried finding other groups I can post in. This proved to be successful. Making consistent posts got people engaged and subscribing to the newsletter. It was starting to gain some steam. And this is what lead to my first 1,100 subscribers in the first 14 days.
Why this worked…
1. Value creation: The best ideas appeal to what people want, and more importantly, need. It helps solve a problem. And in this case, people want high quality content that helps them make informed decisions, educates them along the way and is a joy to read.
2. Helps identify trends before they happen: Understanding emerging trends and market dynamics is crucial for staying ahead. This knowledge allows people to adapt quickly, innovate effectively, and capitalize on new market opportunities.
3. Sparks innovation and creativity: Exposure to different perspectives and new information sparks innovation and creative thinking. Staying informed about global trends, tech advancements, and industry breakthroughs inspires new ideas and approaches.
Things to keep in mind…
What I’ve realized is that you want your ideas to generate a “natural pull” from the world. It shouldn’t be something you “push” onto people. Trying to convince people they need something that doesn’t help improve their lives or satisfy a need is a waste of time. Listen to what people want. And build from there.
I’ve had multiple profitable businesses and the common theme between them all is that they cost me less than $100 to start and get product / market fit. I won’t lie, sometimes I let my ego get in the way when I put an idea out there and it got rejected. And trust me when I tell you, that’s happened more often than I’d like to admit. I spent way too much time and money putting something together even when I knew it wasn’t worth pursuing.
How does that saying go…the one about Thomas Edison and his attempt at building the first light bulb after trying and failing 1000 times. “I haven’t failed. I just found 1000 different ways how not to build a lightbulb.” And that’s just it…who cares if the idea didn’t work. Hate to break it to you, but most will. Instead, focus on the skills you’ve picked up and learned along the way while building this business and apply it to the next.
Anyways, I hope this post helps at least one person grow their business, subs count, social media presence. Now that I’ve grown my audience to over 10K subscribers organically, I’m looking into using paid ads to grow even more from here. The problem is I have no idea how to do that! So, if anyone has any tips or tricks, I’d love to hear them.
Good luck my friends.

Hi everyone – I’ve recently been building a weekly business newsletter called Pulse of Progress and got my first 1,100 subscribers in just 14 days!
The best part? I used zero paid ads. All of my subs were completely free!
Here’s how I did it.
But first, let me provide some context…
For the last 6 months, I’ve been testing out different side hustle / business ideas. I have a running list of ideas that I test on forums like Reddit and Indie Hacker to get a pulse on what the public thinks. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to validate an idea before investing any money or serious time into it. If it gets some traction or interest in the first few days, you know you have something. If not, its time to move on.
I start by generating some interest on social platforms and freelance websites (side note – I’ve come up with a method that helps me do this and get tangible results. So, if this is something you want to learn more about, let me know. I’ll make a post around this too). It’s an approach I’ve developed and tested over the last year with other ideas, so I just do the same with all other ideas I want to test / validate in the future. I want to see results fast, not waste time on non-value add activities.
Here are some of the business ideas I’ve tested:
1. Newsletter sponsorship marketplace – created a platform connecting newsletter businesses with potential advertisers. The marketplace allows the businesses to post their content and advertisers to find and book ad slots
2. AI based email marketing optimization tool – developed an AI tool that analyzes email marketing campaigns and provides optimization suggestions to improve open rates, click-through rates, and conversions
3. Remote language exchange facilitation – pair individuals looking to learn each other’s languages and facilitate their language exchange sessions online
I shut all of these down. I couldn’t get the momentum I wanted or hoped for to consider them a success. The AI based email marketing optimization tool went viral on Hacker News and Indie Hacker, but it was because I was able to generate some hype around it for a short period of time. But the hype faded fast…real fast. I had about 100 people sign up for the service. As for my other businesses, I had a few signups here and there but nothing worth keeping the business alive and investing more of my time into it.
Something I want to call out at this point: all of the businesses I tried starting in the past were bootstrapped. I never used money I made from the sale of my other businesses. I sold one business (a virtual event planning business that took off during the pandemic. We organized and managed virtual events, think webinars / workshops / conferences, for specific interest groups and professional communities). I never touched the proceeds from that sale to start the company I currently run. The reason I bring this up is because I think your business, regardless of what it is, needs to stand on its own. If it couldn’t, I knew it was time to move on. I didn’t want to give myself a false sense of hope that it would work by continuously throwing money at it.
The reason I started a business newsletter…
A newsletter was perfect. It was easy to start and required no money to get it up and running. The purpose behind the newsletter was centered around the idea of creating something that informed and educated people but was entertaining to read. Reading in general, news or not, can sometimes feel like a chore (at least for me). This was the opposite. This was something you genuinely looked forward to reading, the things that influence your world and the decisions you make on a daily basis.
The biggest issue I had with everything else out there was that the content was around things I didn’t care about. Not to mention it put me to sleep half the time. And that’s when it hit me – create a platform that genuinely helped people stay ahead in this information heavy world. Filter out the nonsense, deliver on high-value content.
The test phase…
I spent a couple hours looking up any Facebook group that was related to starting side hustles, escaping the 9-5 grind, online businesses etc. Once I came up with a small list of about 8-10 groups, I spent the next few days posting about the newsletter. One caveat for me when looking for which groups to post in: they needed to have more than 50K users. I wanted my posts to have some reach and didn’t want to waste my time in groups that were smaller and were barely active. I also designed some GIFs (I drew inspiration from the early Milk Road days when they posted funny GIFs / memes about their newsletter all over social media) but that didn’t work. Like at all. So, I shifted gears.
The first day, I posted about the newsletter in 8 different groups and got about 45 subscribers the next day. Over the next two weeks, I spent a couple of hours each day making similar posts within these groups and tried finding other groups I can post in. This proved to be successful. Making consistent posts got people engaged and subscribing to the newsletter. It was starting to gain some steam. And this is what lead to my first 1,100 subscribers in the first 14 days.
Why this worked…
1. Value creation: The best ideas appeal to what people want, and more importantly, need. It helps solve a problem. And in this case, people want high quality content that helps them make informed decisions, educates them along the way and is a joy to read.
2. Helps identify trends before they happen: Understanding emerging trends and market dynamics is crucial for staying ahead. This knowledge allows people to adapt quickly, innovate effectively, and capitalize on new market opportunities.
3. Sparks innovation and creativity: Exposure to different perspectives and new information sparks innovation and creative thinking. Staying informed about global trends, tech advancements, and industry breakthroughs inspires new ideas and approaches.
Things to keep in mind…
What I’ve realized is that you want your ideas to generate a “natural pull” from the world. It shouldn’t be something you “push” onto people. Trying to convince people they need something that doesn’t help improve their lives or satisfy a need is a waste of time. Listen to what people want. And build from there.
I’ve had multiple profitable businesses and the common theme between them all is that they cost me less than $100 to start and get product / market fit. I won’t lie, sometimes I let my ego get in the way when I put an idea out there and it got rejected. And trust me when I tell you, that’s happened more often than I’d like to admit. I spent way too much time and money putting something together even when I knew it wasn’t worth pursuing.
How does that saying go…the one about Thomas Edison and his attempt at building the first light bulb after trying and failing 1000 times. “I haven’t failed. I just found 1000 different ways how not to build a lightbulb.” And that’s just it…who cares if the idea didn’t work. Hate to break it to you, but most will. Instead, focus on the skills you’ve picked up and learned along the way while building this business and apply it to the next.
Anyways, I hope this post helps at least one person grow their business, subs count, social media presence. Now that I’ve grown my audience to over 10K subscribers organically, I’m looking into using paid ads to grow even more from here. The problem is I have no idea how to do that! So, if anyone has any tips or tricks, I’d love to hear them.
Good luck my friends.

Thank you in advance if you happen to read all of this; I know it’s super long but no one around me seems to understand what I’m going through.
For years I’ve had issues with my sinuses, asthma, food allergies, and flushing. About 2 years ago all of these things seemed to increase.
My pulmonologist has been treating my asthma aggressively. I was on 60mg of prednisone for about 6 months and was eventually able to taper down over 2 years to 15mg (going up and down during flares) after adding new inhalers and Dupixent for awhile (am on Tezspire now, Dupixent caused too many side effects.)
It seems like the lower my prednisone goes, the more asthma/allergy exacerbations I have. Over the last month everything has gotten progressively worse as I’ve been trying to stay around 9-10mg of prednisone. A week ago I had multiple anaphylaxis-like symptoms when eating cheese bread so I assumed maybe I developed a wheat allergy. The symptoms went away after awhile (besides the lymph node area swelling) after taking more Zyrtec and Benadryl and using my inhalers. After talking to my allergist he said that a random wheat allergy was extremely unlikely, and when I was talking about tachycardia and flushing (especially after eating) he brought up MCAS.
I had heard of it before but that was about it, so I did some research and I’m just…. I don’t know I guess, sad? I have almost every symptom you can think of, and it would explain why I can’t seem to lower the prednisone dose without reactions. Over the last 6 months I’ve also developed new allergies to azithromycin, Augmentin, and fluconazole which I have taken for years with zero problems and that was also a red flag to my allergist.
Right now the only foods/drinks that don’t seem to cause flushing and the facial/neck puffiness are Boost drinks, Carnation Breakfast Essentials, milk, cheese, peach juice, Sprite, and potato chips.
He has ordered a bunch of labs that I need to get done and had me increase my Zyrtec to twice daily, along with adding Pepcid twice daily which seems to be helping. I’m already on Singulair and he said to keep taking that as well. I take Benadryl when needed during the day but it makes me so tired that I just feel useless. I do have an epipen thankfully because of several anaphylaxis episodes (some to foods I know I’m allergic to and 2 random ones that seemed to happen out of nowhere.)
I’ve been reading the subreddit and info online and feel kind of hopeless. Is it possible to live normally with something like this? I don’t care much about not having a wide range of foods to choose from but the thought of anything causing an allergic reaction freaks me out.
I decided to make this post after my husband’s cooking (I think smell maybe) caused allergy symptoms for the millionth time. Could these things just be something else maybe? My doctor seems to think that this must be the issue for all of my symptoms, especially since a lot of them don’t go together (joint pain, narcolepsy that developed around age 18, allergic reactions, temperature change intolerance, random rashes, GI issues, asthma/allergy exacerbations when super stressed, etc).
Sorry for the length! I just wanted someone to vent to that understands these things. 😔

Ironically, I’m living my exes dream of being told I have it. She used to blame everything on her adhd and autism that she’s never been tested for or even told she should be tested for.
I always get videos from ‘adhd tiktok’ even though I don’t knowingly interact with that content, because on those videos, apparently doing so much as putting cereal before milk means you have it. Correlation is not causation. People act like it’s some interesting quirk or superpower on there or, if you’re like my ex, use it as a get out of jail free card for being an insufferable, toxic person.
I don’t care if I do have it but I’m clearly not that severe that it ruins my life (some obviously do). Life may be easier without it sure but it’s not like it’s my whole life. I don’t feel like I need special treatment for it. I have severe BPD that did rule my life and I don’t even ask for special treatment for that.
I’m tired of certain chronically online people acting like it’s a personality trait and they make me embarrassed to potentially have it.

Photos

• Initial Unboxing
• After 1 month and conditioning

Context

I've had my eye on a pair of R.M. Williams chelsea boots for around 2 years, and I finally decided to take the plunge. I'd call myself a beginner in the welted shoe world, but recently, I've been getting into higher quality, resoleable pairs of shoes.
I live in San Francisco, where casual style is the norm, but I'm not a huge fan of the Patagonia-and-sneakers look, so I've been purchasing better-quality and "dressier" shoes. I wouldn't go as far as saying any of these shoes are an investment, but I do consider the long-term environmental benefit of buying high-quality shoes that can be repaired.
This pair represents a few firsts for me:

• My first chelsea boots
• My first wholecuts
• My only pair with yearling leather (I have calf leather shoes from other brands)

Purchase & Sizing

I waited until a recent trip to London to purchase these shoes. RMW has had a store in New York, and I go there several times a year, but they are a bit cheaper in the UK once you consider the exchange rate and tax. The price was £399, VAT included, which came out to $497.75 when I purchased them. The price in New York City would be $539 + tax (8.875% or $47.16), bringing the total to $586.16. Since I knew I would be traveling to London and not declaring much else to customs when reentering the U.S., it made sense to wait.
All my other shoes have laces, and I just wasn't confident about how chelseas should fit, so I wanted to have someone size me in person. The sales rep in the London Soho store said there should be just a bit of heel slip initially, and you shouldn't feel any discomfort. This matches the fit guidelines on the RMW website.
My Brannock size is US 9C. Even though I have a narrow Brannock measurement, the best fit was an 8H in R.M. Williams' UK-based sizing. H is their wide size—I felt 8G was squeezing my toes. These shoes have a narrow chiseled toe box, so going wider makes sense.
I also tried 7.5H, and my heels "clicked in" to the shoes at that size, but they were not as comfortable overall as 8H.
For comparison, here are some other shoes I own that I believe are sized right:

• Grant Stone Plain Toe Bluchers: 8.5D (US sizing)
• Beckett Simonon Morgen Trainers: 9 (US sizing)

The store threw in free shoe bags and a magazine. I'm not sure if you would get the shoe bags when ordering online.
The store initially sent me home with a pair that had definitely been tried on a number of times, as there was some creasing, and it looked like they had been conditioned too. I wasn't concerned as I would be creasing them in short order, but when I got them home, I noticed one of the shoes was wobbling a lot when placed on a flat table, and there was excess edge dressing on both shoes. Perhaps something that didn't totally pass QC but was good enough for sizing.
I returned to the store the next day explaining the wobbling and excess edge dressing. No questions asked, they got me a pair that had definitely never been worn. I could tell because there was no creasing and the leather finish was very matte. The initial pictures album is from the second pair I got after returning to the store.

1 Month Experience

My UK trip lasted for about a month after purchase, and I wore the Comfort Craftsmans approximately every other day, alternating with my Beckett Simonon Morgen trainers. I walk a fair amount, so I've already put a lot of miles on these shoes.
Fit: The shoes initially felt loose compared to what I normally wear. I am in the habit of tying my shoes pretty snug, and you have no control over this with chelseas. The heel slip did mostly dissipate after a few wears, and I definitely think these are the right fit now. Walking around, they are still a tad looser than I am used to, but I feel that any tighter would cause discomfort. The leather has rolled and creased a bit now, and I think it looks good.
Comfort: Everyone describes these shoes as comfortable, but what does comfort even mean? Comfort Craftsmans have a rubber sole and memory foam insert. They feel a lot like wearing sneakers, but more plush (For reference, I mostly wear gum/cup sole sneakers and haven't tried anything like Adidas Ultraboost). Walking in them all day, my feet definitely still get tired, but never painful, unlike basically any other pair of shoes I've owned.
The leather is relatively soft and flexible on these shoes, although I don't feel it's any more supple than my Grant Stones or Beckett Simonons. Overall, the fact that the leather is so flexible and decently supple seems like a good choice for Chelsea boots.
Long-term, I wonder whether shoes with stacked leathecork soles that have molded to my feet (such as the Grant Stones) will actually be more comfortable, but there was never any period of pain associated with break in on the R.M. Williams, a far different experience from the Grant Stones. The only time I felt discomfort in these shoes was on the 10-hour flight to the US, where I felt the toe box was getting a tad tight. Normally, feet swell on planes, so this is acceptable.
Care: I used a small Allen Edmonds horsehair brush daily, spot cleaned with a damp cloth when necessary, and used these shoe trees starting a few days after purchasing the shoes. I was surprised how well the trees with the flexible spring work in these boots, because the trees "push up" on the instep instead of just inserting straight into the boot. You can see this in the 1-month album.
I conditioned the boots with Bick 4 after about a month. They are a tad shinier now with the conditioning, and I think they look good now, but they are still relatively matte compared to my other leather shoes.
I got a very small scuff on the front of one shoe from concrete stairs. And I tend to scuff the inside quarter panel against the opposite shoe when walking. They are hardly noticeable at a distance. Conditioner smoothed the scuffs, especially the front one, but they are still visible, so polishing may be in order. However, these shoes toe the line between dress and casual, get-them-dirty, so I might just leave the scuffs until I get a worse one.

Value

I was fortunate enough to attend the Super Trunk Show in London, and I was speaking to a vendor that offers very competitively-priced shoes. He commented on my R.M.s, saying they are great shoes but are milking it on the price these days.
For what they are, I totally agree that they are on the expensive side. You are definitely paying for the brand and the fact that they are made in Australia. You can absolutely find pairs of equal quality at a lower price, or more refined pairs at a similar price.
But long-term, I don't think it matters too much. They will clearly last a long time. R.M. Williams offers repairs and resoles using their original parts, and of course, a local cobbler could also work on them.
These shoes are such an easy choice to just throw on without thinking too much. You'll look decently smart and feel comfortable. The overall cost per wear will be very low.
So, that's my one-month impression of the R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions. And any tips are appreciated. Thanks.

My baby is 3 weeks old and every day since my milk came in has been hell.
I heard that you should collect your colostrum before the baby is born, so about 3 weeks before my delivery I started pumping for colostrum every few days. I didn't know anything about pumping so I always did the highest level I could bare for as long as I could bare. Some days I did the highest level and some days I couldn't go above level 1. Some days I did for an hour, and some days I couldn't go longer than 3 minutes.
After my baby was born I wanted to stay with him and start breastfeeding but I live in South Korea and they wouldn't allow me to be with the baby. He had to stay in the nursery 24/7 except every 3 hours I could meet him in the nursing room to feed him.
When I went to the nursing room for the first time the nurse told me my nipples are inverted so I need to get a nipple guard if I want to breastfeed, and in the meantime I should just give him bottles of formula. So the next day I bought nipple guards and met with the lactation specialist at the hospital.
The specialist told me that my nipples aren't inverted, they're great for breastfeeding, and my milk will come soon. She told me I don't need nipple guards, what I need to do is pump every 3 hours for 5 minutes on each side twice, at level 3-4, to help my milk come in. So that's what I did. I tried the nipple guards with my baby and he didn't like them. I tried breastfeeding and he couldn't latch and no milk was coming. I pumped like she said every 3 hours, and kept giving him bottles of formula every 3 hours.
After I got home from the hospital my milk finally came in and I was so excited, but the excitement soon wore off. My breasts were extremely painfully engorged every day, and my nipples hurt so much whether I pumped or breastfed that I had to bite down on a towel on my knees and cry to get through the pain that lasted the entire time, not just in the first few minutes. My baby would suck extremely painfully but stop and cry right away, so I kept pumping every 3 hours like the hospital told me, giving him bottles of breast milk, getting more and more engorged.
After a few days of extreme pain I went to a lactation specialist. She told me my nipples are short so my baby is stretching them out, and that's why it's extremely painful. She said it will continue to be extremely painful for 1 week - 1 month, until he finishes stretching them out, and then they'll be stuck like that. She said I had a lot of cuts (chapped?) on my nipples probably from bad latches which was also making it more painful. She said my baby is too young and weak to empty my breasts so even though I have enough milk to satisfy him, he isn't strong enough to help my engorgement or get full off my breasts, so I should keep pumping. She said every 3 hours I should breastfeed with him 5 minutes on each side twice in a cross-cradle position, up to 30 minutes, then pump for 5 minutes on each side up to 20 minutes, but I should pump as little as I can if I want to breastfeed, so I should only pump until the pain is bearable. She said if the nipple pain is too bad, I can use a nipple guard. Never use heat or massage my breasts as it will make more milk, ice both breasts in between feedings, and put Advil cream on my nipples in between feedings. She also said don't wear anything tight on my breasts, don't try side-lying position as it can clog my breasts, and only sleep facing up. She then gave me a 90 minute breast massage to get rid of all the old milk in my breasts.
After 2-3 days of trying to follow the specialist's advice my breasts were more engorged and nipples more in pain than ever before, and I was spending more than half my day breastfeeding and pumping. Her advice seemed so different to anything I learned from America, so I paid an American doctor online for consultation. The American doctor told me practically the exact opposite. She said stop pumping, stop switching sides, just breastfeed with the baby all day. Don't switch sides until the baby wants to switch sides. Use hot packs to help the milk come out. Try side-lying position or other positions to see what's comfortable. Wear sports bras to make less milk.
After 2-3 days of trying to follow the American doctor's advice my nipples felt like they were going to fall off. Every time my baby fed it was so painful I asked my husband to squeeze my leg for some counterpressure. My baby was drinking way better than before, but started choking on my milk, which I learned might be from oversupply and heavy let down, so I researched and found out about block feeding. I tried block feeding for 2-3 days. My engorgement went almost completely away, but my nipples were in so much pain I was dizzy and nauseous all day, and my baby was still choking on my milk. I tried using nipple guards to slow the flow, which seemed to work at first, but he rejected them. It was so painful I tried to pump just a little, but the next day I was back to being painfully engorged.
That's everything until now. Now I'm trying to block feed again to get rid of my engorgement, and I started using Earth Mama nipple butter at a friend's recommendation. I'm mostly using side-lying position, but also trying koala, football, laid-back, cross-cradle,... But my baby keeps rejecting my breasts. 30% of the time he takes a breast and drinks perfectly and falls asleep and everything is great. 30% of the time he starts drinking and starts choking and then crying and then no matter how much I calm or burp him or try different positions as soon as he starts drinking he'll choke again until I give up and give him a bottle. 30% of the time he just doesn't want my breasts at all and he'll cry regardless of position until he gets a bottle, which he'll take perfectly.
I've been crying so much because I want this to be a beautiful bonding experience for us but so far he's happily taking bottles and bonding with everyone else in my family but with me he's crying and screaming and I feel like if we're bonding it's trauma bonding. I hate being the only one in his life that makes him cry. Today I saw his first tears and it was because I couldn't calm him with breastfeeding when he woke up.
My goal is to be able to breastfeed without engorgement or nipple pain and without him choking, for him to get full from my breasts, and maybe for me to have 1-2 bottles of breastmilk in the fridge for family to babysit when I need to go out. I'm pretty sure it's possible, but I really don't know how. Can anybody help?

I had no idea how chronically online and prevalent this movement was until I started digging through some of the older posts on their subreddit and falling down the rabbithole of how this shit developed. What a lot of people don't realize is that the modern trans community is a product of Usenet, and the internet at large.
There are historical examples of trans people throughout history, but there is almost no line someone can draw between Elanor Reikner and modern trans people. These people and their history was discovered in retrospect by later writers and scholars, not built off of to our modern position. Because let's be honest, no dipshit Twitter junkie's position is informed by native american theology.
An uncomfortable amount of trans terminology and philosophy came from the internet. This nonbinary shit didn't emerge out of some prevalent psychology papers or underlying breakthroughs in human brain scans. It was a bunch of chatrooms larking about on some bullshit and from there it spread. Cisgender was literally a Usenet term that got repeated over and over until it broke into the mainstream. Cisgender - Wikipedia
This egg cracking shit started back then too, and I have no idea why I never knew this.
And these people weren't that well informed on any of the matters either. since they didn't even agree on what the fuck their condition even was. Even back then, people were fighting over this xenogender and nonbinary validity.
But somehow, these groups dominate every online community. The majority of the mods, active posters, and contributors in these communities are trans in some way. But they make up less than 1% of the population? How does this make sense?
I've seen the same threads looped on this sub over and over, and I can't even explain how Gender Dysphoria as a condition doesn't completely contradict the idea of Self-ID. Or how gender is a spectrum that can manifest in a billion different ways, but trans healthcare almost entirely revolves around passing as the opposite gender. It's also messy as hell to anyone on the outside to see this shit, because the entire concept of transness was never established coherently.
It bent and twisted as people posted to these forums and now it is so far removed from the actual psych papers that get thrown around that I wonder what the point of the label is now?
The trans issue a package deal for a lot of disaffected people looking for meaning. The same way religion was:

• A self-justifying worldview that cannot be refuted.
• A narrative of oppressors and victims
• Revolves around seeking forbidden truth/ Self Discovery
• Community that provides validation and acceptance

I think Destiny was more right than he knew when he said that Trans issues need to be more than a social media movement. Because there is a widening gap between the actual healthcare and studies, and these modern social media groups.
These are mostly my own ramblings.

The Power and Benefits of Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja
Introduction:
The Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja is one of the most revered rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva. Known for its powerful healing and protective properties, this puja is performed to seek blessings for health, longevity, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. In this blog, we explore the significance, process, and benefits of the Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja.

1. Significance of the Mahamrityunjay Mantra:

The Mahamrityunjay Mantra, also known as the "Death Conquering Mantra," is a powerful Vedic chant that invokes Lord Shiva's grace and protection. It is believed to bestow immortality and ward off untimely death and severe ailments.

1. Benefits of Performing the Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja:

• Health and Longevity: Regular chanting and puja are believed to cure chronic diseases and extend life.
• Protection: Shields from negative energies and evil forces.
• Mental Peace: Calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety.
• Spiritual Growth: Aids in achieving spiritual enlightenment and moksha (liberation).

1. The Process of the Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja:

• Preparation: The priest or devotee purifies themselves and the pooja space.
• Sankalp: A vow or intention is taken to perform the puja for specific benefits.
• Invocation: Lord Shiva is invoked through prayers and rituals.
• Jaap (Chanting): The Mahamrityunjay Mantra is chanted 108 times or in multiples of 108.
• Offerings: Offerings such as water, milk, flowers, and fruits are made to the deity.
• Aarti: The puja concludes with an aarti (ceremonial worship) and distribution of prasad (consecrated food).

1. How to Book a Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja:

• Online Booking: Many temples and spiritual organizations offer online booking services for this puja.
• In-Person Booking: You can also visit the temple and book the puja directly with the temple authorities.
• Hiring a Priest: If you prefer, you can hire a qualified priest to perform the puja at your home.

Conclusion:
The Mahamrityunjay Jaap Mantra Puja is a powerful ritual that offers immense benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. By understanding its significance and following the proper process, you can invoke Lord Shiva's blessings and lead a healthier, longer, and more peaceful life.