I'm currently developing an idea for a game that has two major layers: a space shoot em up layer and a strategy layer.
In the strategy layer the player can harvest/mine raw resources, move them around by managing supply chains, craft intermediate products from recipes, and assemble major spaceship components into a completed drone that launches the shooter layer.
In the shmup layer the player plays a classic top down shoot em up with waves of progressively harder enemies. The player can loot the enemies and other rare resources but has limited inventory available and faces a risk/reward analysis for when to send the loot home and write off the expendable drone before it is destroyed by enemies that are too strong for the player.
As a solo indie dev I have some concerns with scope but I really like the idea of enabling the player to manage the pacing and excitement of the game by building and using the expendable spaceships in spurts of action. My major concern is developing the strategy layer to be an interesting and engaging experience. My main inspirations for it are Factorio and the Anno series which I have found to be amazing in terms of supply chain management but I'm hesitant to copy them too closely and have been hung up on trying to inject some originality into the design.
So my question is, what are some ideas for a supply chain management mechanic that captures the wonderful complexity of the double-sided belts, robotic arms, and train systems in Factorio and/or the exercise in spatial reasoning the Anno series brings to the table. Any tips, tricks, or feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Disclaimer: I am reposting this so more people get a chance to see the post! If you applied to the previous post, no need to apply again! :)
Hello there! This will be a long post but I do encourage you to read all of it so you have an idea what kinda game you are applying for. This would be a long-term campaign, so be willing to commit to the game! Have fun reading!
Game details:
We play using both Discord for voice and video and Foundry VTT for maps and character sheets! Webcams are mandatory since we all have been using them and it helps a lot with roleplaying when you can see the other people! Make sure that your PC or laptop is capable of running Foundry, here is a link to the Foundry system requirements: https://foundryvtt.com/article/requirements/
Do note that you don't need to buy or download anything! How Foundry works is that I send you a link and you'll join through there so no need to worry about that!
We are here to make the story together so while there is a main plot for you to follow, there will be distractions along the way and of course, things that relate to your characters and what they might find interesting!
During session 0 we will go over the initial plot hooks, how your characters might know each other, safety rules, and so on!
The available days are listed in the questionnaire. The start time for the session regardless of the day would be at 9 pm GMT+3 and when a day has been chosen, we would play consistently on that day every week!
RP to combat ratio:
I would say 50-50 since you as players can with your decisions affect how much combat or roleplay there is going to be but I as a GM, am geared more towards weighting narrative but that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be some cool combat set-pieces ;).
There might be moments in the game where we focus more on the social aspect of the game, interacting in character with the world around them and then there might be some more action-oriented sessions where you get to sit at the edge of your seat!
I will say that how I like to run games, I like to focus on characters and what their motives, goals, and flaws are. This would be a more character-driven game so be ready for that and don't be afraid to get into character and have fun while doing so!
How to apply:
All that I require from you is that you read the whole post and then fill out the questionnaire to the best of your ability. I pour a lot of time into making sure that the sessions are good and that everyone is having fun and you can contribute to that by being genuinely interested in the game!
Here is the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/TAnUSBRAoEpKe1Ra8
Basic rules of the campaign:

• Be consistent: I know that emergencies can happen and sometimes life throws a curve ball. Those happen to me too but if it does, I expect you to let me know ASAP when you know that you are not going to be able to join for the session. The general rule in my table is that as long as we have four people playing, we will continue with the game.
• Cinematics: I like to inject some cinematic in the game and I will let you know when there is a cinematic. This happens usually at the end of the session to show you what happens somewhere else where your characters are not necessarily present.
• Campaign may have mature themes: I like to run narrative games and they usually lean towards a more serious tone and while there are moments of lightheartedness, it's not what I am going for this campaign. This is not a campaign for joke characters or happy-go-lucky characters. I will NOT include SA or intense torture roleplaying in my games and there is no tolerance for that. These will be discussed more during the session 0!
• Be attentive during the sessions: During the session, I would like you to feel that you want to be there so I do put a lot of time into prepping the sessions with maps, NPCs, music, etc. So as a player, all I require from you is to know the basic rules, how your character works, and just generally be respectful towards everyone on the table!
• Don't be a dick: Don't rage quit if the dice don't go your way or if you do something in the game that can result in a bad consequence to your character and then it happens. No PvP, unless both agree to it and it needs to have a good reason! Just be respectful and be able to communicate and I am sure we will get along very well!
• There is always a possibility of death: We are here to make an awesome collaborative story together that we can look back to years later with fondness! This however doesn't mean that I am going to pull my punches in combat so that's why I roll in the open. If the dice decide that it's time for your character, then that's how it's going to be. Of course, sometimes there is something that can save you but those are rare. Also, I am not going to go out of my way to kill you and I will make sure that you always know what kinda situations your characters are going to.
• Have a good mic and connection: Having a good mic is important because most of us use headphones so if your audio quality is so bad that it makes our ears bleed then that would be a dealbreaker :D. Bad mics can also negatively just impact the flow of the game if they keep cutting out!

The most important rule is to: HAVE FUN! We are here to play a game and make a story together and everyone's comfort is important to me! If you have doubts or if something feels off, you can always come to talk with me!
Game Rules:

• Write "One Piece is real" in the final questions so I know that you read this far ;)
• Ability scores are determined using point buy with 28 points or a standard array.
• Death saves are rolled in secret
• We are starting from level 2
• Criticals are maxed damage + die rolls
• If you go down, you get a wound up to a maximum of 3 when you get up again. On your third one, if you fall, you die

The reason for Banned spells is that I like to make mysteries and that players need to think. For example, Remove curse would make a situation where you can get cursed not that tense. I like to make curses into plotlines so thus banning the spell gives us that opportunity.
Here are the banned spells:

• Identify
• Detect Thoughts
• Locate object
• Zone of Truth
• Remove curse
• Goodberry
• Silvery Barbs
• Geas
• Legend lore

Banned subclasses:

• Twilight cleric
• Eloquence bard
• Peace cleric

Races from Eberron, PHB, and MPMM are available minus Tortle, Fairy, and Centaur. Also, flying races are not allowed
Here is a little bit of info about me!
My name is Michael, 22 years old. I have been a GM for 3.5 years now! I have enough experience so I won't fumble around but obviously, I don't know everything.
Something about myself is that I have been a huge fan of TTRPGs ever since I started 3.5 years ago. In that period, I have had the pleasure to play multiple systems such as 5e, pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, cyberpunk RED/2020, mothership, City of Mist, etc. So I have quite a lot of experience and I know the ropes! I also like to draw, write stories, do worldbuilding, play video games, and watch movies and anime.
I am a huge fan of One Piece, it was also an inspiration for this setting so if you are a fan, you'll notice some subtle references here and there!
I do enjoy Eberron as a setting and have read quite a bit on it! Still, while it's an established setting with its lore, that means that there will be things that I might be unaware of or I might change things here and there. I like to stick to the established lore since it's quite expansive and really good but expect changes at some points!
Final words
Thanks for reading this long-ass post and I do hope that you can see that I am putting my all into this! I hope you do too so feel free to fill out the application! Take it slowly and don't rush it since I am using it to gauge how interested you all are to join in! I will keep the post up for a few days and conduct interviews before Sunday. If you have questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer when I have time!
I hope all of you have a nice day/evening and I hope to talk to you later!

Disclaimer: I am reposting this so more people get a chance to see the post! If you applied to the previous post, no need to apply again! :)
Hello there! This will be a long post but I do encourage you to read all of it so you have an idea what kinda game you are applying for. This would be a long-term campaign, so be willing to commit to the game! Have fun reading!
Game details:
We play using both Discord for voice and video and Foundry VTT for maps and character sheets! Webcams are mandatory since we all have been using them and it helps a lot with roleplaying when you can see the other people! Make sure that your PC or laptop is capable of running Foundry, here is a link to the Foundry system requirements: https://foundryvtt.com/article/requirements/
Do note that you don't need to buy or download anything! How Foundry works is that I send you a link and you'll join through there so no need to worry about that!
We are here to make the story together so while there is a main plot for you to follow, there will be distractions along the way and of course, things that relate to your characters and what they might find interesting!
During session 0 we will go over the initial plot hooks, how your characters might know each other, safety rules, and so on!
The available days are listed in the questionnaire. The start time for the session regardless of the day would be at 9 pm GMT+3 and when a day has been chosen, we would play consistently on that day every week!
RP to combat ratio:
I would say 50-50 since you as players can with your decisions affect how much combat or roleplay there is going to be but I as a GM, am geared more towards weighting narrative but that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be some cool combat set-pieces ;).
There might be moments in the game where we focus more on the social aspect of the game, interacting in character with the world around them and then there might be some more action-oriented sessions where you get to sit at the edge of your seat!
I will say that how I like to run games, I like to focus on characters and what their motives, goals, and flaws are. This would be a more character-driven game so be ready for that and don't be afraid to get into character and have fun while doing so!
How to apply:
All that I require from you is that you read the whole post and then fill out the questionnaire to the best of your ability. I pour a lot of time into making sure that the sessions are good and that everyone is having fun and you can contribute to that by being genuinely interested in the game!
Here is the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/TAnUSBRAoEpKe1Ra8
Basic rules of the campaign:

• Be consistent: I know that emergencies can happen and sometimes life throws a curve ball. Those happen to me too but if it does, I expect you to let me know ASAP when you know that you are not going to be able to join for the session. The general rule in my table is that as long as we have four people playing, we will continue with the game.
• Cinematics: I like to inject some cinematic in the game and I will let you know when there is a cinematic. This happens usually at the end of the session to show you what happens somewhere else where your characters are not necessarily present.
• Campaign may have mature themes: I like to run narrative games and they usually lean towards a more serious tone and while there are moments of lightheartedness, it's not what I am going for this campaign. This is not a campaign for joke characters or happy-go-lucky characters. I will NOT include SA or intense torture roleplaying in my games and there is no tolerance for that. These will be discussed more during the session 0!
• Be attentive during the sessions: During the session, I would like you to feel that you want to be there so I do put a lot of time into prepping the sessions with maps, NPCs, music, etc. So as a player, all I require from you is to know the basic rules, how your character works, and just generally be respectful towards everyone on the table!
• Don't be a dick: Don't rage quit if the dice don't go your way or if you do something in the game that can result in a bad consequence to your character and then it happens. No PvP, unless both agree to it and it needs to have a good reason! Just be respectful and be able to communicate and I am sure we will get along very well!
• There is always a possibility of death: We are here to make an awesome collaborative story together that we can look back to years later with fondness! This however doesn't mean that I am going to pull my punches in combat so that's why I roll in the open. If the dice decide that it's time for your character, then that's how it's going to be. Of course, sometimes there is something that can save you but those are rare. Also, I am not going to go out of my way to kill you and I will make sure that you always know what kinda situations your characters are going to.
• Have a good mic and connection: Having a good mic is important because most of us use headphones so if your audio quality is so bad that it makes our ears bleed then that would be a dealbreaker :D. Bad mics can also negatively just impact the flow of the game if they keep cutting out!

The most important rule is to: HAVE FUN! We are here to play a game and make a story together and everyone's comfort is important to me! If you have doubts or if something feels off, you can always come to talk with me!
Game Rules:

• Write "One Piece is real" in the final questions so I know that you read this far ;)
• Ability scores are determined using point buy with 28 points or a standard array.
• Death saves are rolled in secret
• We are starting from level 2
• Criticals are maxed damage + die rolls
• If you go down, you get a wound up to a maximum of 3 when you get up again. On your third one, if you fall, you die

The reason for Banned spells is that I like to make mysteries and that players need to think. For example, Remove curse would make a situation where you can get cursed not that tense. I like to make curses into plotlines so thus banning the spell gives us that opportunity.
Here are the banned spells:

• Identify
• Detect Thoughts
• Locate object
• Zone of Truth
• Remove curse
• Goodberry
• Silvery Barbs
• Geas
• Legend lore

Banned subclasses:

• Twilight cleric
• Eloquence bard
• Peace cleric

Races from Eberron, PHB, and MPMM are available minus Tortle, Fairy, and Centaur. Also, flying races are not allowed
Here is a little bit of info about me!
My name is Michael, 22 years old. I have been a GM for 3.5 years now! I have enough experience so I won't fumble around but obviously, I don't know everything.
Something about myself is that I have been a huge fan of TTRPGs ever since I started 3.5 years ago. In that period, I have had the pleasure to play multiple systems such as 5e, pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, cyberpunk RED/2020, mothership, City of Mist, etc. So I have quite a lot of experience and I know the ropes! I also like to draw, write stories, do worldbuilding, play video games, and watch movies and anime.
I am a huge fan of One Piece, it was also an inspiration for this setting so if you are a fan, you'll notice some subtle references here and there!
I do enjoy Eberron as a setting and have read quite a bit on it! Still, while it's an established setting with its lore, that means that there will be things that I might be unaware of or I might change things here and there. I like to stick to the established lore since it's quite expansive and really good but expect changes at some points!
Final words
Thanks for reading this long-ass post and I do hope that you can see that I am putting my all into this! I hope you do too so feel free to fill out the application! Take it slowly and don't rush it since I am using it to gauge how interested you all are to join in! I will keep the post up for a few days and conduct interviews before Sunday. If you have questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer when I have time!
I hope all of you have a nice day/evening and I hope to talk to you later!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGRTRt2NWZg
OK, so there's a long theory here that got deleted while I was on my phone while posting this, but I'll summarize briefly...
Kanako is The Key to Monsterkind's Salvation using Determination Extract, Because Determination is In The Ketsukane Household's Names that describe the 3 routes: "Devoted, Decisive, Determined", meaning that The Ketsukane Family is not too dissimilar from Humankind, what with their roots being based in Kitsune Folklore & Whatnot.
That aside, I think I know why...
When the Determination Extract was leveled enough to be put into Kanako at an extractable level capable of not harming a monster, Chujin had almost perfected the perfect serum to protect Monsterkind against Becoming Amalgamates when they have too much Determination in their body, the keyword being "Termination", whereas "De-termination" is the eradication of...something, depending on what, it eradicates it, "Terminating" it as if it were a terminator of sorts. I am not saying that all humans are terminators, rather that "Determination" itself is a terminator by it's own proxy of it's own usage in how it is actually used, the keywords being, "Determined", as in, willing to go the distance to accomplish your own goals, as a Player.
However, something struck me as odd when Kanako got hurt by the bubble impact by the Needle not having the air pushed out of it properly... When the air impact struck, it likely hurt Kanako the same way as if a bullet were to accidentally hurt Clover or Frisk, since Bubble Impacts CAN kill, if inserted into a normal, living being!
Such to the point where it can kill, if not handled correctly!!! There's a lewd "1000 Ways to Die" episode that explains how she died was because the woman in that episode was so horny, that a huge air bubble impacted her veins, & suffocated her using her own veins against her, ceasing bodily functions from not having enough oxygen to the brain.
Now, if Monster's Organs work anything like Monster Magic Do, it's probably because they are made out of Monster Magic, but that is a topic for another day at another time or so ago later on today probably. Right now, we need to analyze Kanako's Critical Condition of Being An Amalgamate.
The fan-animation explains that Kanako did not Melt strangely enough, & I explained why: Because Ketsukanes, much like Humans, are Determined. Determined, being a reference to UT Vanilla's "Determination", which also likely means that Kanako's Experiment Ceroba knew next to nothing about when researching Chujin's Analysis on his Experiments, likely means That Chujin Almost Found A Cure to Stop Monsterkind from Becoming Amalgamates with too much Determination! And I think I know what happened next...
Deltarune, happened, or some sort of AU of Undertale where Monsters DO IN FACT BLEED, From Being Lightners. Lightners, being, The Gods of The Darkners as well, since all Darkners are objects that exist somewhere in Deltarune. "Why am I bringing this up?", you may think I am asking myself. To answer that, we first have to Analyze What Happens to Monsterkind once the cure serum is created...
MONSTERS. BLEED. Yes, you heard me right! With enough of a minimal amount of Determination, Monsters CAN IN FACT BLEED, which would explain why Sans bleeds in Undertale as well, since Deltarune & Undertale are likely a Timeloop of events that keep unfolding & surrounding each other, if Deltarune isn't actually a type of AU Sequel to Undertale as well. The main point being that which, we as Monsterkind have an obligation to fulfill that All Monsterkind is Looked After While Being Experiments on. Meaning, The True Lab is actually a type of Hospital for Amalgamates. I can already hear many people typing as soon as they've read this far saying "But Talon! That isn't what happened! We see Monsters DIE in The True Lab!" Not really, since they are more than likely resting, since even Snowy's Mom, Snowdrake dies probably long after Undertale, as indicated by Deltarune. However, you can talk to her before beating The Pacifist Route in UT Vanilla by going back through The Underground & Talking to Her & Her Family about what's going to happen next for them right away as well!
Things are...going grimly for Snowdrake, so much that she will die if nothing is done: The context right there is the key, that "Determination... Can Kill too as well."
[Insert Genocide Determination Theory Here As Well] The point being, that when taken to the extreme, Determination CAN Kill. We also see that Clover's Level of Violence is one that is from rage, a Deadly Sin. However, it raises an interesting point in us as humans... Can we get too angry that we gain temporary Levels of Violence? Depends on how VIOLENT you are being in UT Yellow. By that I mean, COMPLETELY SLAUGHTER MONSTERKIND IN A GENOCIDE ROUTE. Otherwise known as... The Vengeance Route. Vengeance being an unlawful for violent revenge used as justification for fulfilling a sense of Justice that just "feels deserved" when done right in UT Yellow, since it feels so earned as well. In UT Red & Yellow, Clover first depletes our Hopes by Half, & then Justice Blasts us so hard, our game crashes, & our save file is erased from existence, except that Now, Clover wants us to try a Pacifist Route Instead, & calls us out when we do it again over them.
By this point, Clover is clearly trying to steer us on the right path of our own Determination using Justice, which also means that Clover only wants what's best for everyone as well, Justice for Monsterkind using Pacifism in the True Pacifist Route of Undertale R&Y or UT Vanilla as well.
Meaning that regardless of whether Clover knew about Ceroba & Kanako, one thing remains certain... With Enough Determination, Monsterkind can potentially become somewhat normal & also mortal in Deltarune, as we also see in several versions of Deltarune Yellow as well, which also means that since Kanako lives in that timeline from no Amalgamates existing, Amalgamates weren't created because The Experiments were a complete success!!! Which also means that in Deltarune, Chujin actually made the perfect Serum that Ceroba tested on Kanako to make sure if Chujin's work efforts were correct or not, regardless of if she disobeyed Chujin's Instructions to use Another Boss Monster Instead, or even just by being convinced by Kanako that IT WOULD WORK... Almost.
Kanako does not change forms as an Amalgamate, Alphys explains. She stayed the same, likely because Ketsukane's Are "Determined", meaning they have Determination! The Ketsukanes are The Key to Monsterkind's Salvation, once Kanako was discovered that she neither died nor changed forms, & remaines stable, because NOW we know that Kanako can provide a Clue as to How Much Less Determination that Monsterkind would have needed!!!
Looking again at Snowdrake, Snowdrake Monsters are actually quite large, so you'd think she'd have a lot of Determination injected into her, right? Well, you're right about that, but the key-wording is "how much", since we also know that Snowdrake, Snowy's Mom was also injected A LOT OF TIMES with A LOT...of DETERMINATION as well. Which also means that depending on the size of the mass, it must be proportional the size of the monster, just like in-real-life medicine would be applied to conduct experiments on people & animals as well, because we all know that science provides experiments with human test-subjects, which also explains Why Kanako Needed Less Determination than What She Was Given to Become More Like a Human & Be able to bleed, & also become more like a Deltarune Monster.
• • • TL:DR: Uh Oh, Spaghettios, Kanako had too much Blue Determination Lasagna for lunch, & now has a bad tummy ache from almost dying & choking on an air bubble by becoming an Amalgamate after almost dying...!
Yes, these are 4 sentences explaining what happened very shortly to Kanako in my theory, why do you ask? Thank you for reading. Hope you like my theory! ^w^

Hi. I’ve been on T for about 2 and 1/2 months at this point. I’ve been using the gel. I’ve noticed a bunch of changes, including fat redistribution, facial changes, voice changes, bottom growth, heightened libido, hair growth, and I think that’s about it.
Ive seen a bunch of people on here talking about how they started on gel, then later switched to injections and immediately saw a boost/appearance in these changes. I’ve looked it up numerous times and on numerous sources, as well as being told by multiple doctors that there is absolutely no proven difference between the effectiveness of the gel vs. injections.
But now, after seeing everyone on here talk about their different experiences, I’m worried that I’m not getting all the changes that I could be if I were to be doing injections. Honestly the last thing I want to do is injections. I’d be fine if I would be able to go into a clinic or something to get it done for me or if I were to have an auto injector, but neither are an option for me.
I guess I just need someone to assure me that I’m just being paranoid? Or tell me that I’m being lied to? Idk, whatever yall can give me lol.
Thank you for reading and commenting if you do! :3

Episode 1: Oh god no, my marijuana patch! (Farmer)
Episode 2:We here at team four star do not condone child violence. We do however find it hilarious.(Kaiser)
Episode 3: Mahogany! (King Yemma)
Episode 4: Alright Maggots listen up! Popo's 'bout to teach you the pecking order. It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo. (Popo)
Episode 5: DODGE! (Piccolo)
Episode 6: I’ll tell you where they’re not, safe! (Popo)
Episode 7: I’m not a Pokémon! I’m Chiaotzu! CHIAOTZU! (Chiaotzu)
Episode 8: “Vegeta! I can fly” (Nappa)
Episode 9: "9 minutes and 18 seconds" (Vegeta)
Episode 10: “What’s the opposite of Christopher Walken? CHRISTOPHER REEVES!" (Vegeta)
Episode 11: “Yep, this baby gets 10,000 miles to the soul.” (Popo)
Episode 12: "No! What are you:stupid? We are doctors, scientists! Now inject this man with some SCIENCE! Delicious, magical SCIENCE!" (Some Freeza Grunt)
Episode 13: "Could you speak up? I'm not wearing any pants" (Roshi)
Episode 14: "QUACK!" (The Space-Duck)
Episode 15: "Muffin Button" (Goku)
Episode 16: Face down with another man beating your ass. Is it Wednesday already, Zarbon? (Vegeta)
Episode 17: I'm coming Zarbon! Quick, grab my balls!
Episode 18: " I don't know. Maybe you could've bitched at him, how 'bout that? That's all you appear to be good for these days. Huh? Used your bitch-fu on him? Bulma the mistress of bitching, that's what they should call you. Seriously, five ancient sages of bitchdom all gathered together one day on the peaks of Mount Bitch to proclaim your birth. And a hundred years later, when all the bitch stars had aligned, you were born and made everybody's life around you a living hell because you are such a bitch!" (Krillin)
Episode 19: "Son of a gum-chewing funk-monster! Why the fruit does all this funny stuff happen to me?! Forget my life! Always surrounded by miserable failing clods! Like this whole world just likes to *bend* me over and FIND ME IN THE ALPS! Like I'm some sort of shlock receptacle! Well as far as I care, these miserable cows can have a fancy barbecue with a goddamn pig!!" (Vegeta)
Episode 20: "BECAUSE THE NAME'S RECCOOME! IT RHYMES WITH DOOM! AND YOU'RRRRRE GONNA BE HURTING ALL TOO SOON!!! (Reccoome)
Episode 21: I can't believe we came all the way out here and spent a week in the Space Boonies for nothing! Seriously, I'm surprised we didn't hear banjos on the way, because everyone is inbred and LOOKS THE F***ING SAME! Not to mention I lost Dodoria and Zarbon, the latter of whom spent 400 credits making long-distance calls to his girlfriend, WHO I AM CONVINCED IS NAMED CHUCK! (Freeza)
Episode 22: Did you tell him to work the shaft? (Super Kami Guru)
Episode 23: This is easily the 2nd worse hole I’ve ever had in my chest. It’s gonna take like, a million mommy kisses to make it better. (Goku).
Episode 24: "Oh ho ho ho no, don't mind me. By all means, g̶̢͘í̸͖̈̕͝v̶̢̹͠ͅe̸̮͆̋̽ ̷͙͔͙̲̏͛ḿ̸̨̲̦̤͒͑ẹ̴̜͚̰̉̂ ̵̩͈͍̯̠́͂s̷̝͓͍̑o̷̢̲͙̅̍̐̔͠m̷͔̂e̸̪͊̂̐̕͠ͅ ̵̛̱̣̣̱̎̅i̶̍̒͂ͅd̶̡̲̟̔̉̏ȩ̸̙̭̺̑̊̃͠ä̸̧̱́̅s̴̙͚̯̯̩̾." (Freeza)
Episode 25: "Oh good. I'll stop by there on the way home. Pick up some space eggs, some space milk, and BLOW IT THE F*** UP! Oh, I'm sorry, I'm usually far more composed. I'm just a little bit A B S O L U T E L Y L I V I D." (Freeza)
Episode 26: “That’s right, I’m your White Mage, & Nobody fucks with the White Mage” (Little Green)
Episode 27: " Imma deck ya in the schnozz!" (Goku)
Episode 28: “Good Lord I traded Vegeta for this” (Freeza)
Episode 29: Oh, come now. If I'm really as evil as you say I am, then let God strike me down where I stand. *lightning zaps* HA! Nice try, jackass! Next time, give it your A-game! (Freeza),
Episode 30: “I am the hope of the omniverse! I am the light bulb in the darkness! I am the bacon in the fridge for all the living things that cry out in hunger! I am the Alpha and the Amiga! I am the terror that flaps in the night! (starts powering up) I am Son Gokū! and I am a Super (Death beam to forehead) Saiyan” (Goku)
Episode 31: "Why aren't you upstairs sleeping with your girlfriend like everyone else?" (Turtle)
Episode 32: "Gohan when you've had a man inside of you; you know when he's coming." (Krillin)
Episode 33: "Oh a momma's boy huh? I'll be your mommy" (Bulma)

The bloom is off the rose and I’ve about had it with this $1200 bike.
The latest issue is somehow after changing the brake pads on the front, I got air into the line. I bought a bleed kit, watched videos and after 3hrs, modifying the bleed kit, a lot of cussing and 75% of the mineral oil ending up EVERYWHERE but in the bike, I managed to get it done. All was well for a couple of weeks. Then my brakes started feeling squishy again.
I just tried to fix them again, this time, watching a Nutt-specific brake bleed video, but somehow it ended up even worse than the first time. Brake fluid got everywhere, including on my brake pads, which apparently now need to be replaced after being contaminated, and now I’m out of fluid, my bike is covered in it and I have absolutely no front brake power. People say the procedure is “basically” the same for scooters and bikes, but I disagree.
Now, I like to think I’m a reasonably intelligent person, but I cannot for the life of me figure this out. How are you all bleeding your brakes? I’ve got fluid gushing out of the top handlebar area, draining back out the side hole in the caliper. What am I doing wrong? How am I supposed to inject fluid into a hole that doesn’t exist? How am I supposed to hold the calipers sideways and simultaneously push the plunger into the hole that dors exist? Can someone direct me towards bleed kit and a video that gives very specific instructions?
Last month, I had to take the bike into the shop because the back brakes had issues, I’ve had several stripped screws so I can’t adjust or change things like my shifter or my twist throttle, (which I’m probably either going to have to invest in a drill and bits to drill it out or cut them off and pay to replace them, then figure out how to reinstall) gears slip, etc. I love my bike but all these issues after owning it less than six months are beginning making me regret buying it.
I’d really like to learn to fix the problems myself because I can’t afford and don’t have the time to run to the bike shop clear across town and wait for 5hrs to have something fixed every time it breaks or malfunctions.
Sorry for the part-rant, part plea. There’s a lot going on in my life at the moment and I just really need to figure this out. Thanks.

I’m lost. Feeling helpless. My son is 10. He’s ADHD, ASD, with suspected DMDD—although we may be dealing with “video game dependency”/addiction.
We see frequent outbursts, mood swings, lack of emotional regulation, and also a loss of interest in things. Walking on eggshells. Our family is falling apart because my husband and I are so exhausted and stretched then from trying everything to help our son cope. But we always tell him: I/we won’t give up on you.
Not to mention, I’m sick with worry.
I am also filled with guilt with all the meds he’s on so our family can somewhat function if it reduces the intensity of his behaviors. He’s on Methylphenidate LA + Abilify + Guanfacine.
Focalin made him crumble with more emotional breakdowns. Abilify seems to be working decently after 6 weeks—but I heard it’s a strong cocktail. We also still see some mood issues (which is a side effect).
My question is: What else can I try? Different meds? What else can I do besides meds? Any alternative treatments besides therapy?
Is there a support group for parents?
Thank you!

Happy Wednesday, Barkada --

The PSE lost 49 points to 6634 ▼0.7%

Shout-out to Jing for alerting me to the crypto pump, to Rat Race Running for knowing that when talking about FILRT it's all about the context, to Atot for the positive feedback on Raymund's "would you rather" question on DDMPFILRT, to ApCap for simply laughing at FILRT, to Bestpupever for remembering MVP's botched Skycable deal, to grinsken, princessybyang, VodkaMartini_007, and Nv21 for the happy bday wishes, and to arkitrader for the accurate Tuesday meme.

▌In today's MB:

• VREIT Q1 div drops 23% q/q
• Ayala Land sells P3.2-B block of AREIT
• Figaro confirms "double-digit growth" plan
• Alliance Global injects P2.6-B into Megaworld

▌Daily meme Subscribe (it's free) Today's email

▌Main stories covered:

• [DIVS] VistaREIT Q1 dividend drops 23% q/q... VistaREIT [VREIT 1.75 ▲0.6%; 0% avgVol] [link] declared a Q1/24 dividend of ₱0.04132, payable on June 27 to shareholders of record as of June 5. The dividend has an annualized yield of 9.4% based on the previous closing price, which is considerably smaller than VREIT’s pre-dividend yield of 12.3%. The total amount of the dividend is ₱310 million, which is 100% of the ₱310 million in distributable income that VREIT declared for the quarter. Relative to VREIT’s IPO price, the div increased VREIT’s total stock and dividend return to 18.55% (up from 16.19%). The VREIT Q1 dividend is up 5.4% y/y, but down 23.2% q/q.
  
  • MB: I don’t know enough about VREIT to understand the quarter-on-quarter drop. This is the first dividend decrease in VREIT history, so we don’t have a past narrative of a Q4 to Q1 dip to gain comfort that this is just part of the regular business cycle for a malls-based REIT. Last year, VREIT’s dividend actually increased 1.5% between Q4/22 and Q1/23. But a 23% drop? *FILRT** be like: VREIT, I owe you an apology, I wasn’t familiar with your game. Does anyone have context to help me understand this one?*
• [UPDATE] Ayala Land sells ₱3.2-B worth of AREIT in block sale... Ayala Land [ALI 29.00 ▼2.4%; 121% avgVol] [link] disclosed that it sold 98 million common shares of AREIT [AREIT 33.00 ▼3.4%; 848% avgVol] in a private placement block sale at a price of ₱32.45/share. ALI said that the transaction was two-times oversubscribed at the clearing price, which was 5% under AREIT’s closing price from the previous day. The transaction raised ₱3.18 billion for ALI and increased AREIT’s public float to facilitate the planned property-for-share swap between ALI and AREIT.
  
  • MB: While I didn’t know exactly when this second block sale would happen, I did know that it was going to happen and I speculated back in January that it would probably come as a surprise and at a discounted price to AREIT’s market price at the time. Here’s a link to that analysis if you’re interested. At the end of the day, the first sale was at a 7.2% discount whereas this one was only at 5.0%, and the public float is now prepped to handle the SEC’s eventual approval of the transaction (whenever that happens) without plunging AREIT’s shareholders into chaos and confusion like what happened to *SP New Energy** [SPNEC 1.05 ▼0.9%; 85% avgVol] when the SEC approved its share swap and caught Leandro Leviste’s management team flat-footed.*
• [NEWS] Figaro confirms ₱1-B FY24 capex and “double-digit growth” target... Figaro [FCG 0.75 ▲1.4%; 95% avgVol] [link] confirmed statements made by its Chairman, Justin Liu, in an interview with Manila Bulletin. In that interview, Mr. Liu said that FCG’s FY24 capex target is ₱1 billion, that they’re looking to open 70 to 80 new stores this year, and that he expects this expansion effort to push earnings to grow “double-digits” this year. FCG confirmed all those statements. FCG’s indicated that it would expand from 150 stores at the end of 2022 to 300 stores by the end of 2029.
  
  • MB: According to its Q1/24 press release, FCG ended 2023 with 203 stores after adding 68 stores that year. If FCG were to put up another “70 to 80” stores this year, that would leave it with 273 to 283 total stores by the end of 2024, and give FCG plenty of time (5 years!) to complete the remaining 127 to 117 stores. Usually in the quick service restaurant world, periods of intense growth don’t correspond with periods of great profitability, so the “double digit” earnings growth target is what stands out to me the most. FCG net income was up 7.2% y/y last quarter, and that’s actually considerable given the previous year’s expansion and the current expansion, but that’s not double-digit growth. One thing that confuses me, though, is that in its Q1/23 quarterly report from a year earlier, FCG said that it ended 2022 with 150 stores. If it had 150 stores at the end of 2022 and then added 68 stores in 2023, shouldn’t it have 218 stores by now, not 203? I know, I know: 15 stores isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe it’s just a miscommunication between marketing and operations. Maybe there was a little bit of internal pressure to count 15 nearly-completed stores as completed stores in order to hit that IPO prospectus goal of 150 total stores by the end of 2022, and then they double-counted those 15 stores as part of the 2023 completes? I don’t know. I’m just going by the info they tell me. Any readers have any insight?
• [UPDATE] Alliance Global injects ₱2.6-B into Megaworld... Megaworld [MEG 1.89 ▼0.5%; 156% avgVol] [link] clarified the recent subscription of its parent company, Alliance Global [AGI 9.30 ▼2.8%; 185% avgVol], to 1.375 billion common shares at ₱1.90/share to say that it is part of a plan to increase MEG’s outstanding authorized capital stock by ₱5.5 billion (from ₱40.2 billion to ₱45.7 billion). MEG explained that it “intends to submit its application for increase in authorized capital stock... by around June 2024”, and will list the shares issued to AGI once the full payment of the subscription price is received. MEG said that the purpose of the sale and the larger transaction is for “supporting growth and future business expansions of [MEG] in line with [MEG’s] strategies and directions.”
  
  • MB: Once approved, this will give MEG’s management team 4.125 billion common shares that it can sell to fund its ambitious capex for FY24 and beyond. If MEG sold the remainder at the same ₱1.90/share price, that would bring in an additional ₱7.8 billion. If I were a shareholder, I’d be less concerned by the details of the transaction as I would be about the meaningless word salad of the rationale behind it. I know many MEG shareholders who are frustrated with the stock’s laggard price performance. MEG just recently touched a 12-year low, and is trading at prices that the stock has not seen since early 2012. It’s down 4% year-to-date, down 8.7% over the past 12 months, down 34% over the past 3 years, and down 69% (not nice) from its all-time high that it set back in July 2019. What’s the plan? So far it seems all I hear is “townships townships townships” but that “strategy and direction” hasn’t been profitable for shareholders for almost 5 years now.

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Hello. I have a question: What are the best practices for connecting to a database in FastAPI?
To provide some context, I want to write code to connect to a MongoDB database using Motor. My idea is to create a single connection and use it in all the controllers that need it through Dependency Injection, but I am not quite sure how to do it. So let me show you a simple code example to illustrate this idea in a nutshell:
database.py:

from motor.motor_asyncio import AsyncIOMotorClient, AsyncIOMotorDatabase from dotenv import dotenv_values class Database: _client: AsyncIOMotorClient None = None _db: AsyncIOMotorDatabase None = None @staticmethod def connect() -> None: config = dotenv_values(".env") Database._client = AsyncIOMotorClient(config["ATLAS_URI"]) Database._db = Database._client[config["DB_NAME"]] @staticmethod def close() -> None: if Database._client is not None: Database._client.close() else: raise ConnectionError("Client not connected") @staticmethod def get_db() -> AsyncIOMotorDatabase: if Database._db is not None: return Database._db else: raise ConnectionError("Database not connected") 

main.py:

from fastapi import FastAPI, Depends import uvicorn from database import Database from contextlib import asynccontextmanager from motor.motor_asyncio import AsyncIOMotorDatabase @asynccontextmanager async def lifespan(app: FastAPI): Database.connect() yield Database.close() app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan) @app.get("/") async def main(db: AsyncIOMotorDatabase = Depends(Database.get_db)): await db["books"].insert_one({"hello": "world"}) return "Done" if __name__ == "__main__": uvicorn.run("main:app", reload=True) 

As you can see, i have a Database class that is designed to manage the database connection. In main.py, within the lifespan function, we start the connection to the MongoDB database before the app starts running and close it when the app stops. Finally, as an example, we have a small endpoint that obtains the database instance through Dependency Injection and creates a simple document in a collection called 'books'.
The idea is to divide the code in the future into Models, Controllers, and Services to create better code. However, this isn't the focus of the current question, so I've chosen not to provide an example code.
I would like to know what you think about my solution. Are there any ways to improve it? Am I following the best practices? Can you identify any potential issues? Any suggestions are welcome. If you have another approach, feel free to share it.
Thank you so much for reading :D

Completely out of curiosity and purely as a hypothetical! I’m sure many of you have seen the new non hormonal male birth control called Plan A among other names that injects vasalgel into the vas deferens that blocks sperm from entering the ejaculate!
So in theory, couldn’t this be used in a similar fashion for women who aren’t ready for kids? Considering our eggs are bigger in size, and getting your tubes tied often preserves ovaries anyway, why hasn’t this been explored as an option yet?
The only issue I could think of off the top of my head is trouble with flushing out the gel once you wish to conceive, or perhaps the vasalgel byproduct being harmful to developing foetuses?
I recognise that for it to be used in women, it would likely have to be done via a small keyhole surgery, but considering it lasts for 10+ years, it’s completely non hormonal, and with keyhole, at least you’re unconscious for it 🥴 (which can’t be said about most other invasive birth control options)
Like for 10 years of non hormonal peace of mind it almost seems worth it? (Costs and non public healthcare system of some of the world aside)
Is there any other reasons it hasn’t been researched yet? I’m keen to learn more if anyone has any insight!

Basically there’s this endpoint that looks exactly like this “en/404”. It essentially showcases a custom 404 page and you can change the language of said 404 page by changing the language acronym which in this example is “en”.
I discovered that changing the acronym to any random text returns a broken 500 page.
The page seems to be querying the language acronym inserted into the url, and if it doesn’t recognize the acronym, it returns 500.
I honestly think there’s something odd going on in the backend because a simple querying script for the languages would probably suffice to, at the very least, handle this problem blindly, but I haven’t found any injection opportunities or anything worthwhile that might give more insight on what’s going.
It seems that sentry resources are being used in the background as this 500 status code page returns a sentry public key along with other sentry data related to this incident.
Anybody got any ideas? Or am I just looking too deeply into this?

Underdosed for about 3 weeks while on E monotherapy. (Cut my og dose in half) I got slight hot flashes when sleeping, and my mood was a bit off, however I've verified that E can not convert to T.
So for those 3 weeks, was my T just high as well as my E? Or was my T suppressed with low E? I can't tell if I've masculinized or if it's dypshoria. This is the main question because I'm hoping my E was just low.
And I have fixed the issue so my levels are normal now and I can't test for it. Just want to know if it's dysphoria or if it's possible that I've really gone backwards from halving my dose. On injection monotherapy btw. EV once a week.
I was on 0.25 ml per week which is what was halved. Think the concentration was 100 mg per ml but I don't remember.
As for the conversion issue:
Essentially, armoatase converts test into estradiol by adding a hydroxyl group to form an aromatic A-ring. Here, the C19 methyl group needs to be removed to form the aromatic ring. This process is difficult to reverse, and would require alot of energy and a specific enzyme that has not yet been identified.
You’d need to sequester both the carbon that is being removed and the hormone in the same enzyme, entropy is the primary culprit for why this is not favorable. A reactions free energy is dictated by enthalpy and entropy. You can look up the nuances between the two.
The shorter version is It's just less thermodynamically favorable to get E to turn to T than the inverse, so it would take more energy to do it in the reverse. I imagine more energy than it is for the body to simply synthesize more testosterone naturally.

Extension
=========manifest.js=========
{
"manifest_version": 1,
"name": "Font Changer",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "An extension to change fonts of web page for better readability",
"browser_action": {
"default_popup": "popup.html"
},
"permissions": [
"tabs",
"activeTab",
"storage",
"webNavigation",
"contextMenus",
"cookies",
"identity"
],
"background": {
"scripts": ["background.js"],
"persistent": true
},
"content_scripts": [
{
"matches": [""],
"js": ["override.js"],
"run_at": "document_idle"
}
],
"icons": {
"16": "icons/extn_icon.png",
"48": "icons/extn_icon.png"
}
}
=========background.js=========
// Listen for tab activation
chrome.tabs.onActivated.addListener(function(activeInfo) {
// Perform actions when tab is switched
console.log("Tab switched:", activeInfo.tabId);
});
// Listen for page navigation
chrome.webNavigation.onCommitted.addListener(function(details) {
// Perform actions when page starts loading or refreshing
console.log("Page navigation:", details.url);
});
// Example of storing and retrieving data
chrome.storage.local.set({ "key": "value" }, function() {
console.log("Data stored");
});
chrome.storage.local.get("key", function(result) {
console.log("Retrieved data:", result.key);
});
// Example of message passing
chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener(function(message, sender, sendResponse) {
console.log("Message received:", message);
// Perform actions based on the received message
// You can also send a response back if needed
sendResponse({ "response": "Message received successfully" });
});
=========override.js=========
// Inject CSS once when the content script is executed
chrome.tabs.insertCSS({
code: `
* {
font-family: 'Georgia', sans-serif !important;
font-size: 8px;
color: white;
text-rendering: optimizeSpeed;
}
`,
runAt: 'document_start', // Inject CSS as soon as possible
allFrames: true, // Inject CSS into all frames of the page
matchAboutBlank: true // Inject CSS into about:blank frames
});

Something is wrong with my code and don't know where. It should all work and the extention should be persistent but it isn't. If possible I can use some guidance.

I practically have a pharmacy from all the medications I’ve had to try for chronic illness over the years. I know it’s incredibly hard to OD without hard drugs. But this is also the only thing left I’m motivated to do. I’ve always been stubborn and determined…but everyone has a limit.
I only keep getting worse physically. I’ve scraped through with daily SI since last fall after a prescription injection really messed me up, and I can’t do this anymore. I’ve had chronic major depression for two decades. The past couple of years I keep losing more and more. I’ve already been so ill the past few days with no real cause. I don’t think it’d take much at this point.
For all I hate that my illness has stolen my career, makes each day so painful, that no doctor has made a dent in my illness, I think that would be bearable.
But I miss my wife so goddamn much. I want to see her again. Just a fleeting thought of her sets me off. It’s been six years and it will never be long enough.
I’ve fought so goddamn hard. She’s the only one who would understand how difficult it’s been. People say you should “push through” for family and friends. I’m estranged from most of my family. The ones I’m not will do fine without me. They have so far. I’ve seen first hand how easily most people move on.
My wife was brighter than I ever was, and look how people have moved on after she died. Even my pets would be better off without me. I can’t physically care for them the way they deserve.
My wife and I had something special. No one will ever get me the way she did. Everything since has been a flimsy substitute.

History of steroid cycles years back, finally jumped on TRT at 36. I first thought I'd do TRT+ and started with 105 test, 350 hCG and 35 primo a week. This put my total test at 800. The primo worked amazingly as an AI, but I concluded I did not want to ongoingly run a non-hormone in my system, and didn't like the shedding.
I ended up raising hCG a bit with some ball atrophy, as well as raising my test ending up at 122.5 test and 500 hCG a week (which likely has me quite a bit beyond the 800 total test the last dosage combo had me at). Problem is, when the primo cleared I started aromatizing like... An unreasonable amount.
What I mean by that is requiring 5mg of Aromasin **daily,** otherwise I am ending up with the swelling doom anxiety I get with high E2. I.e., something terrible is happening that I can't put into words. I know what high E2 and low E2 feel like very well from my cycles years back.
A 5mg aromasin dose knocks back the dread for like 12-14 hours, then it returns. It is completely obvious it's high E2 because (a) aromasin treats it (b) it began as the primo cleared and as I raised my hCG and (c) low E2 makes me feel depressed, killed libido and achy jointed, whereas this is anxious, wet and worried — my classic high E2.
Important stats: 21% bodyfat, injecting test EOD and hCG EOD (on staggered days). Eating very clean, currently cutting with goal of <15% to reduce/eliminate AI usage. Lifting and cardio 5x a week. In great health.
How the hell and I needing DAILY Aromasin?! Perhaps I am underestimate what 21% bodyfat can really do. Or maybe the primo clearing has a rebound effect. Either way, this isn't sustainable.
My questions: What levers would you change in my shoes? Do some people just get smoked with E2 from hCG to the point they need to just accept small balls? It's wild to both having bal shrinkage and get high E2 from hCG at the same time, if that's what's happening.
My plan right now is to drop back to a humble 105 test a week and drop the hCG and get a handle on aromatising, then attempt to re-introduce hCG with each 3% or so bodyfat I shed.
Any eyes on my blindspots appreciated!
EDIT: Thank you u/paul_apollofitness for a new lead. I had several rounds of bloodwork 4 weeks back and prior, however since then I was on a number of liver harsh meds. This correlates with when the severe 'aromatization' started. I did not realize the liver is what clears estrogen. I suspect I have compromised my liver values and that is what is creating this log-jam vs. just pure aromatization. I am going to dro hCG for the meantime, steer clear of anything that touches the liver and let my system clear out. I'll re-introduce hCG down the line.

The use of wigs for men has become increasingly common, not only as a solution for hair loss but also as a fashion statement. However, with the adoption of 门mens toupees comes the responsibility to maintain proper scalp health. Understanding potential scalp issues is crucial for those who wear wigs regularly.
Allergic Reactions: One of the first concerns is the possibility of allergic reactions to the materials used in mens hair replacement system. Synthetic mens wigs can sometimes cause irritation due to the chemicals used in their production. It's important to choose high-quality men hair systems and to monitor for any signs of an allergic reaction, such as itching, redness, or swelling.
Heat and Moisture: Wearing a toupee for men can trap heat and moisture against the scalp, creating a warm and damp environment that may lead to issues such as fungal infections or acne. It's essential to allow the scalp to breathe by removing the wig periodically and ensuring good ventilation.
Scalp Hygiene: Maintaining good scalp hygiene is vital. When wearing a mens toupee, the scalp may not receive the same level of cleansing as it would without a wig. Regularly washing the scalp with a gentle, medicated shampoo can help prevent the buildup of oils and bacteria.
Pressure and Friction: The pressure from a tight-fitting mens toupee or the friction caused by the human hair wig's movement can lead to scalp irritation or even hair thinning over time. It's important to ensure that the wig fits comfortably and does not exert undue pressure on the scalp.
Hair and Scalp Conditions: If you have existing hair and scalp conditions, wearing a toupee for men may exacerbate these issues. Conditions such as psoriasis or eczema can worsen under the occlusion of a men hair system. Consultation with a dermatologist or a trichologist is recommended to manage these conditions effectively.
Proper Wig Care: The care of the human hair mens hairpiece itself can also impact scalp health. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the mens wig can prevent the buildup of dirt and bacteria that could otherwise affect the scalp.
Sun Protection: Just as the skin on our bodies needs protection from the sun, so too does the scalp. When wearing a mens wig outdoors, consider using a hat or a wig with a built-in UV protection layer to shield the scalp from harmful UV rays.
Regular Check-ups: Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can help monitor the health of your scalp and address any issues before they become serious. Early detection and treatment can prevent long-term damage.
In conclusion, while human hair piece for men can offer a boost in confidence and a change in appearance, it's important not to overlook the health of the scalp. By being aware of potential issues and taking the necessary precautions, men can enjoy the benefits of wearing wigs while maintaining good scalp health.
https://lyricalhair.com/

so yesterday was my first day on T, insta muscular at the 0.2ml dose..
i was not expected for my period; rather, i just got over it like a week or so ago and i am bleeding vaginally.. its not super heavy. it was lighter this morning, its 5pm and its a little heavier now.. just wondering if anyone else has experienced this after just starting the IM injection because i can’t find any articles discussing the testosterone inducing your period immediately the day after, even though you just went through your cycle
someone pls help me i’ll love u forever

TL;DR: Mahogany balusters are softening and some splitting due to water exposure. Looking for ideas/advice
Hi- hobbyist woodworker here, but this falls outside of my area of expertise. Hoping someone here can help.
Our house is a 1874 townhouse in a landmark district. We had the stoop (which had rotten off and been dismantled long before we moved in) rebuilt in 2003. Unfortunately it was before I had any woodworking or construction knowledge, and when the contractors assured me that pre-primed finger jointed pine boards would hold up just fine..well, you know how that story ends. Slowly I've replaced rotted trim boards and poplar moldings with PVC/Azek (forbidden by the Landmarks commission) but this balustrade is going to need some more tactical attention.
Several of the mahogany balusters have softened where they meet the horizontal member. The north side of the staircase is usually in full shade (nothing I can do about it) and after rain is very slow to dry. As there are close to 60 balusters I'm not eager to replace them. I've considered removing them, cutting off the bases and doweling them to new bases made of laminated PVC boards, but this frankly seems like a tremendous pain in the ass and maybe won't work anyhow?
Another idea is drilling multiple holes through the bases and injecting some sort of stabilizer, then bondo and repaint. Again, I have very little experience with exterior woodworking and 'wood stabilizers' in particular. If anyone has any ideas or advice I'd greatly appreciate it.

It was a stop motion video I found whilst watching YouTube one day maybe 5 or 6 years ago and it's been in the back of my mind ever since. I can only remember a short part of the video so I'll do my best to describe it:
A man is taken into some sort of genetics lab and given an injection that causes him to turn into a giant gorilla that looks similar to King Kong. The gorilla then starts climbing up buildings before being shot down and turned back into a regular human with emotional music playing in the background.
I'm not too sure, but I believe it was a parody/recreation of the arcade game 'Rampage'

TW for anatomical terms!
I am pre-everything and decided I wanted to freeze my eggs prior to starting T. The reasons I chose to do so are because I am sure I want biological children in the future and I am sure I want to start T, so I did not want to go through the emotional whirlwind of getting off T, going through the process, and then back on T. I’m also 27, I don’t think I’ll be ready to have kids for at least another 5 years, and they say the earlier the better. The biggest factor was that my insurance plan covers pretty much all of the first cycle for people who have a gender dysphoria diagnosis, and one is all I needed. I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone was thinking about it or curious in general.
Cost: The way American insurance works is I order for the insurance company to start paying for your medical expenses, you have to meet what is called a deductible. Mine is $500. I paid that basically after my first visit to the fertility clinic. After that there were some fees that weren’t covered by ANY insurance. This ended up being $1000. I also had to pay a copay for my medication of $120. Altogether one cycle cost me $1620. The pros of this is that I have met my deductible for the year and am close to spending my out of pocket max, which will bode in my favor for top surgery (consultation is in July!!!)
Process: My first appointment was to meet my doctor and she legit gave a PowerPoint presentation about the entire process from start to finish. My doctor was Dr. Milroy from UNC Fertility. I cannot recommend her and her staff enough, I was never misgendered or deadnamed once from day one. Everyone from the front desk to reception were incredibly kind and welcoming. After this first appointment it was about a month before I ordered all my medication and started the process. Being a trans patient, they made sure all of my monitoring appointments were done via ultrasound instead of transvaginal which was amazing for my mental health. This is how it works: you have a period, then start taking birth control pills. I started birth control on 4/24. On 5/7, I had a monitoring appt (ultrasound and bloodwork). Injections started on 5/11. I had two shots I took to my belly once a night at the same time. I had another monitoring appt on 5/15. Then one more shot was added, so I was doing 3 every night instead of 2. I then had a monitoring appt on 5/17 and 5/19. I didn’t take any of my normal shots on the 19th, instead I took what’s called a trigger shot, which is a single shot of a different medication taken at a very specific time (mine was 9:45). I then had bloodwork appt yesterday just to confirm the trigger shot worked. After that I was all done - retrieval was today so the process is officially over.
Physical/emotional effects: I definitely felt way more sensitive the week of my injections, and overall way more tired by the end of the day. Other than that, I felt normal. The injections didn’t hurt /bother me either. I was definitely very uncomfortable yesterday and this morning, I just felt very bloated and crampy, but this is to be expected since my ovaries were so enlarged. I was completely knocked out for the retrieval, and I was prescribed oxy for the pain so I’m feeling pretty good right now. I got 14 eggs total which is great, and now I can finally start T! Going to give myself ~2 weeks to recover and let my hormones level out but I’m honestly just so happy it’s over. I finally get to physically transition and have the peace of mind of knowing my genetic dna is up for grabs whenever I’m ready.
Overall I am glad I did this and recognize how lucky I am to be able to afford it. I had a good experience overall but I’m so happy it’s over so I can continue with my transition. I wrote this on mobile so hopefully the format isn’t complete shit. If you have any questions feel free to AMA!