As the title says, I haven’t been here is 316 days. The last time I posted was upon returning from a foreign holiday, expressing my desire to return to sobriety, after a week long binge that I hated myself for. Some good news is that I did. I spent the best part of 9 months sober, I enjoyed every day of it. As someone who has always had issues with mental health, achieving longer periods of sobriety, exercise and routine are the only things that keep my mind in check.
Well, if you view my last couple of posts here, you will see there’s quite the pattern. Drinking on holiday. Twice this month I have trips outside of my country and both times I have slipped up. The first time I was away for 4 days with my closest friends. None of them pressured me to drink, they understand and offer me support in my issues. However, I cannot expect them to stop me, as I am a grown adult apparently. I made it through the first day fine, the second day started amazingly, I got to tick off visiting somewhere special to me and despite it not being that interesting to my friends, they all tagged along and had a great time too. After that we went for lunch and around a few bars, I started getting the itch to drink. We were out for around 3 hours, them enjoying a leisurely drink, me feeling envious but not showing it. I walked to the bar and saw a selection of my old favourites and lied to myself saying I could just have a few afternoon drinks and be back to our hotel for the evening and all would be fine…
Obviously, we all know how that story goes. 4 hours later, I am completely blackout drunk, vomiting in a family friendly bar, ruining other people’s day with my obnoxious behaviour and getting kicked out. Most of my friends had returned to our hotel before this point to relax before evening plans, one friend had stayed with me, also someone who has an issue with alcohol. We walked for a while before finding somewhere else to let us in and continued drinking until I was vomiting again. You would think this would be enough to get me to call it a night but once back at our hotel after 9 hours of drinking, I proceeded to stay in the hotel bar until closing. Luckily my pace had slowed by this point but I was still acting extremely obnoxiously, the bar was empty and the only employee was very understanding when I apologised for my behaviour the next day.
My 3rd day away was ruined. I managed to get up for a few hours for prearranged plans, but other that I was bed bound. On one hand, at least I wasn’t drinking, on the other what a waste.
I got home, got back to normal life and hoped it was a one off. However, I was due a week abroad again, which I am currently 5 days into. It is a family holiday, no big drinkers, siblings, cousins and their children at a family friendly resort. Surely, I could manage this? Wrong, of course.
The first day, the first hour we arrive and I’m ordering alcohol. My excuse? I didn’t have much sleep, a few won’t hurt to take the edge off. As history repeats itself, 10 hours later I have been drinking all day and I’m asking if anyone wants a night out, by this point I can already taste vomit coming back up on me.
Well my brother in law, a notorious light drinker takes me up on the offer to go out. After drinking rum all day, we head out at 10pm, I continue to drink for another 4.5 hours (at an increasingly fast pace, like I always do) before he heads back to our hotel. I didn’t realise he was leaving at the time and I was quite angry when I figured it out. Looking back, we had a miscommunication and I forget that despite his limited time drinking, he was also very drunk. I felt he had abandoned me, drunk, somewhere I did not know and figured my only solution was to find a club that was open until morning. As it turns out, nowhere was open that late, so I wonder the streets asking people for an after party. During this period, I managed to lose my phone, my hotel key card and my credit card. I don’t realise this until I have found someone going back to party so my drunken mind says who cares, I may as well carry on now.
I got back to their hotel, where let’s just say we all indulged in other things beyond alcohol. I don’t usually do this and it caused me to go off at the deep end, they said I lost my mind a little, accused them of trying to keep me against my will and then start kicking all the doors on their floor until they calmed me down. Somehow these people were still fine with me afterwards and as the alcohol wore of we talked all night and I explained my issues with alcohol and how I’m so embarrassed by my behaviour. I was so grateful for these people taking me in because I could have ended up in a very dangerous situation without them. They helped me get home the next morning and I wasted another day of another holiday in bed.
I came round on the 3rd day and of course, I need something to take the edge off. I have 3 drinks, I start talking myself into going out again, just for a quiet one. Luckily my siblings called me on my bull shit and shut that possibility down. I stopped at 3 and now hopefully I can see the rest of the week out. My mindset has changed back to how it was before this month now, I am ready to get back disciplined and I feel like I have managed that in day to day life now but my next trip away is in 4 months and I know I need to improve my mental strength and discipline before then. I can’t not travel for the rest of my life, it is the thing I enjoy most each year but I need to find a way to stop it leading to these downfalls.
I appreciate you all and well done if you have made it this far. I mainly have wrote this to refer back to when I have any thoughts on drinking again, to hold myself accountable and remind myself how I behave when under the influence. It obviously has not helped the last few times but I suppose it does not hurt to keep trying. I can put previous successful streaks down to actively reading here everyday and that’s something I am going to commit to doing again.

Young Pecos Bill and the Legendary Birth of Bitcoin

Young Pecos Bill wasn't your average Texas teenager. Born under a sky as wide as his imagination, Bill had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He wasn’t roping tornadoes or wrestling with mountain lions just yet. No, Bill had his sights set on something far more elusive: the world of technology. It was the late 20th century, and the digital frontier was as wild and untamed as the Old West had ever been.
Bill had always been a curious kid. While other boys were learning to ride horses and shooting tin cans off fences, he was tinkering with old radios and broken computers he scavenged from the local junkyard. By the time he was sixteen, he could hack into just about anything. But Bill wasn’t looking for trouble; he was looking for a way to change the world.
One hot summer day, as the cicadas droned on outside his makeshift garage-turned-laboratory, Bill had an idea. What if there was a way to create a new kind of currency, one that didn't rely on banks or governments? A currency that was as wild and free as the Texas plains themselves? Bill's eyes sparkled with the kind of mischief that only a young genius can muster.
Bill's parents were as supportive as they could be, though they didn’t quite understand what he was up to. “Bill, why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?” his mother would say, peering into the dimly lit garage where Bill was surrounded by a sea of wires and screens. But Bill was too engrossed in his latest project to heed her advice.
He dove into his work, fueled by nothing but black coffee and dreams of digital gold. Bill knew he needed a name, a moniker that would disguise his true identity. He couldn't very well go around calling himself Pecos Bill in the world of cryptography. So, he looked around his garage for inspiration. There, amid the piles of circuit boards and soldering irons, he saw names like Nakamichi, Toshiba, and Motorola. They danced before his eyes, forming a strange but harmonious symphony of syllables.
"Satoshi Nakamoto," he whispered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. It was perfect—mysterious, exotic, and entirely fabricated.
Bill got to work. He coded through the night, writing line after line of what would become the Bitcoin protocol. He saw it all in his mind’s eye: a decentralized ledger, secure transactions, and miners who would keep the whole system running. By the time the sun rose, he had created the first cryptocurrency, a digital miracle born from the mind of a teenage cowboy.
Of course, Bill knew he couldn't keep this up forever. Texas wasn't exactly a tech haven, and sooner or later, folks would come asking questions. So, he released his creation into the wild, letting it take on a life of its own. Bitcoin spread across the globe, from tech-savvy circles to the mainstream, each transaction a testament to Bill's genius.
Despite the attention Bitcoin garnered, Bill remained in the shadows. He watched as the world speculated about the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto. Some said he was a lone genius, others claimed he was a group of developers. Bill chuckled at the theories, knowing the truth was stranger than fiction.
As Bitcoin grew, so did the scrutiny. Governments and financial institutions were baffled and intrigued by this new form of money. But Bill stayed one step ahead. He had designed Bitcoin to be resilient, decentralized, and anonymous. Even as experts tried to dissect the code, they found no clues to Satoshi's identity.
Bill's teenage years passed in a blur of code and covert operations. He managed to keep his identity a secret, even as Bitcoin's value soared. He communicated with other developers through encrypted emails, always careful to maintain his alias. His parents, blissfully unaware of their son's double life, continued to support his "hobby," thinking he was just another tech-savvy kid.
As the years went by, Pecos Bill's legend grew. He rode the digital waves just as he once dreamed of riding tornadoes, always one step ahead of those who sought to uncover his true identity. And while the world speculated about the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto, Bill was content to let them wonder.
In the end, young Pecos Bill had done what he always set out to do. He had tamed a new kind of frontier, not with a lasso, but with lines of code. And in true Texas fashion, he did it all with a wink and a smile, leaving behind a legacy as enduring and mysterious as the Lone Star State itself.
One day, long after Bitcoin had become a household name, Bill sat on the porch of his family’s ranch, sipping a cold glass of lemonade. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the dusty landscape. He thought about the journey he had taken, from a curious boy in a garage to the mastermind behind a global financial revolution. He had outgrown the need for recognition, finding satisfaction in the quiet knowledge that he had changed the world.
As the stars began to twinkle in the vast Texas sky, Bill felt a sense of peace. He had woven himself into the fabric of history, not as a mythic cowboy, but as a digital pioneer. And that, he thought with a smile, was a tale worth telling.

Getting married near warrington/doyletown and wondering a good bar that wont mind ~50 people showing up in suits around 1130pm. Possibly more divey/punk is appreciated but hey ill take what i can get.

Partner lost his bag late last night after some drinks. Black pleather crossbody satchel with a black wallet and set of keys with a millennium falcon keychain. Lost downtown we think after leaving Kensington burger bar. Any help would be amazing!

At the time of this post 145 thousand people are still without power going on almost 6 days without power. Tornado wiped out our power grid in select areas throughout Texas. Here's some things I learned and a situation report of my experience living with a very large family of mixed ages.
Context: We had been getting hit with some pretty gnarly weather, however business as usual in Texas. I didn't think much of it, usually when our grids down they're pretty quick to respond minus the snow storm years back. So when I heard there was a storm brewing, didn't even flinch I always keep some very very basics, battery's, lights, water, 2 weeks minimum of non perishable foods, self defense protection, and ammo, etc. But I hardly consider myself a prepper anymore, but I know some people don't even have that.
I use to be really on top of my preps overtime, however my stockpile had dwindled, as did my thirst for knowledge and hands on experience/training. I just honestly wasn't on top of my game anymore, and quit taking this as serious years ago. This tornado really brought me back to reality, so this post is mostly for entry level preppers looking at some practical advice from a 5 day experience, I fully regret the fact I quit taking this serious years ago.
**First Day:** Around 6pm, emergency alert on phone stating Tornado in your area, seek shelter immediately. Thought ok let's shelter in the master bedroom closet. Wind rocked the house pretty good, could hear limbs from tree's falling, within about 10 minutes the power shuts off, and glancing outside within a hour the streets flooded. The storm had died down, as did the flooding, and it was time to asses the damage in the immediate area. Got in the car, power had blown out pretty much every store/house within a several mile zone. Found one square zone with a few places that had power, got some fast food but waited about 30 minutes because everyone went there.
What I wish I had on day one/ and general notes:
Rain boots: The streets had not only flooded but was blocked by limbs in the roadway. Luckily our flooding wasn't too severe but had it been I wish I did have rainboots so normal shoes didn't get soaked. or some type of beach sandals, etc.
Chainsaw, electric saw, axes, regular saw: Would of come in handy if the limbs in our area blocking the road were any bigger.
Higher up vehicles: Some vehicles couldn't make it through the flood due to being so low to the ground, so take into account your vehicles.
More variety of quality flashlights: Electric Lanterns came in clutch, but wish I had more handhelds, head mounted, and higher end lanterns.
Battery Inventory checks: Wish I had not only more batteries cause you really do burn through these quick, but wish I had checked all my lights battery condition, and stored new batteries in waterproof containers.
Alternative sources to battery's: Not a huge fan of candles due to fire risk, but some not scented beeswax or soy based candles would of came in handy to help ration battery supply. Maybe glass lanterns as well for safety and ease of transport. Glowsticks would of been great option too.
Car chargers: believe it or not some of us didn't have car chargers for our cell phones cause we mostly charge our phones at home, although we were able to share, wish we had this on day one for all our phones.
Fully charged portable battery bank, or portable phone chargers: If we had this we wouldn't of been out in our cars late at night charging stuff putting us at more risk for being possible victims to crime.
Quality of cell phone, and cellphone provider: Have a POS phone but keep putting off upgrading it? Don't. Luckily mine was good but some of our cellphone providers carriers had better signal then others, some of are phones were in bad shape and it was noted we wish we didn't put off upgrading it sooner. You can't predict how well your provider will do but maybe do your research, unsure how this works but now I can do my research and learn from it. I had 0 issues with boost mobile but other family members weren't so lucky.
Cash: This is obvious but due to us moving towards a cashless society its pretty uncommon, but this would of came in handy due to how many places didn't have power. You can do so much with cash.
Battery powered or rechargeable camping fans: I did have one of these, it even had a light but wish I had more.
Larger ice chest: Now we had a few, but they were smaller. We lost everything in our fridge/freezer besides canned drinks, I mean everything. We had just bought grocery's too, lesson learned.
OTC sleeping medication: We had melatonin, and Tylenol pm, but it was so quiet you could hear a mouse sneeze a block over, until the generators turned on. First two are OK options but given its only going to be cool at night, and we knew tomorrow would be hot, we took kratom to sleep. Check your area some states it's illegal, not recommending it but it's what we used. I wish I had stockpiled more kratom, I took it when I got the flu on top of C word to relieve body aches and found out it really helped me sleep and ease pain/stress. Usually cycle this 3 days on max, one day off to prevent habit forming.
This is really for day two + but ill post this here cause I noticed it on day one:
Backup supply of my personal vices or quitting personal vices: I know this may sound stupid but I am fully addicted to caffeine, and nicotine. I picked my poison and know what I signed up for. Caffeine really? yeah really not sure if you know this but for some people caffeine withdrawal can make you really suffer, and I mean really suffer check out decaf. I was in the process of lowering my caff intake to 1 cup of tea a day, and quit soda. Was one month off soda before the storm came in, but had to relapse due to us not carrying high caff tea on supply.
But yeah stock up on your vices so you aren't going through withdrawals during an emergency. Was on 3mg per ml of nicotine and had to dish out 30$ for a disposable vape thats 50mg per ml at a gas station on day two to prevent withdrawals. So I was on way higher dose of nic then usual due to only being able to purchase what I could find, for reference 50mg per ml if you use that in 10 days thats about a pack of ciggs worth of nic per day. So yeah either quit your vice or stock up, I don't advocate hard drugs at all so this isn't for that but this is mainly aimed at coffee/caff use, etc. Instant coffee packs may be great for some people.
Battery powered radio: Can't stress enough how mentally taxing silence can be long term. We had one, but the battery port crapped out. Lesson learned, test your preps.
Backup food for your pet friends: Luckily I was pretty good on pet food but imagine if I wasn't, and this was more severe.
Water situation: Had a decent amount of drinking water, we had running water. If we didn't I would say I wish I had filled up the giant jugs I bought for flushing the toilet/doing dishes or running through a berkey water filter if we ran out of drinking water. I had bought 5 gallon blue jugs specifically for this years back. However I cleaned them out, and didn't refill, Lesson learned.
**2nd Day** We were able to cook some stuff on a gas stove, luckily. People at gas stations were stocking up on ice, filling their gas cans up for their generators, and shelves were getting empty at stores with power only on some things though wasn't too bad cause the power outage was scattered some had power, others didn't. Mostly a waiting game at this point, most of the preps I wish I had on this day were the same as day one, but ill toss in some stuff I wish I had. Obtained a portable battery powered radio, the morale boost was real for everyone, even the dogs.
What I wish I had on day two/ and general notes:
BBQ style lighters to light gas stove, we had two but recently tossed em out due to being empty. Realized I had no bics, and only had one box of matches, feels bad man.
Entertainment: Board games like checkers, board games for kids, chess, basic poker set, etc. These would of been awesome and a great way to keep the kids entertained and the adults, the boredom was real. We hit local goodwill's that had power to look for radios, and cheap prep supplies and games, but no luck.
**Third day** By then reality set in for most people, neighbors who could afford to do so booked hotels or bugged out to places with power. The generators really started up by day three, everyone was buying gas for them and you could hear them in almost every direction. Pretty sure some people had it from the start but noticed them more by day three. A lot of people were sitting outside the front of their homes trying to escape the heat. Ice from most places were completely sold out, so you had to really shop around to find any.
Finding news about the power outage day 1-3 was kind of hit and miss, KHOU news updates were pretty short and it took us some time to know how severe the storms damage actually was, cause we were focused on trying to get stuff done around the house and conserving battery. I believe at one point CenterPoint's actual website went down. Mostly resulted to local news channels, and nextdoor app. We couldn't watch live news and had to rely on when KHOU posted youtube videos.
Private security company's hired guards and they started patrolling certain stores that could afford the security, obviously to deter looters. Traffic everywhere was insane in every which direction during peak hours more then usual, PD presence was pretty high, more then usual.
What I wish I had on day three/ and general notes:
Generator: Pretty obvious why, had no experience with them but wish I did, and wish I bought one pre-blackout when I was more into prepping and took time to learn about them and how to use and maintain them properly.
Ham radio: Or something to pick up on local freqs to monitor radio comms for information regarding the storm and local activity if any. I think this may of been better then waiting on local news to post videos.
**Day Four** Buddy had power so he dropped off his generator and gave me quick instructions on how to run it, how far away to place them, etc. By day four the temps really ramped up, and this thing definitely kept us cool. When you think of bartering you think of some post apocalypse stuff, but no. In reality you can barter during any emergency, buddy dropped it off free of charge but was able to offer some booze as a thank you. So even if you don't drink stock up on booze/ciggs to barter, never know what you might trade it for. Times are tough in this economy and I honestly didn't have much money to spare, family had to pool our funds together to get last minute preps to survive this, cause we didn't know how long this would really last. In certain areas they said it could be weeks. However the alcohol was a small thank you that I could afford and he was happy so all worked out.
Gas cans were sold out, and extension cord supply's were looking extremely low at local hardware store. From what I overheard they also completely sold out of generators. Honestly wish I knew more about electrical stuff but my buddy gave me a small crash course in wiring everything. You can't just plug it in and pray for the best. Bought the best gauge extensions cords I could afford for our needs, and the distance and hooked it up.
We ran one bedroom AC unit, fans for the dogs, wired a light, and a charging station. Also don't cheap out on gas cans it's not worth blowing your face off or starting a fire, or having it leak. If you get a generator do your research on how to properly run it, and safely fill it. Crime in this area can be fairly high we've had a few drive by shootings and other not so good police involved things. Read this book along time ago about post collapse security, so I blacked out our windows so when we turned lights on no one knew we had power. You may hear the generator, but from the street we look like we don't have anything going for us. My biggest fear was looters from people who were less fortunate or really down bad. We near a common site for homeless people as well so they foot traffic the area.
Generators are very loud, between that and listening to the radio 12 hours a day, I was beginning to audio hallucinate lyrics that weren't there with the radio off, and suffered from heat exhaustion. That and the fact we had homeless in our area and tweekers who might loot I was running off adrenaline a bit. 24 hours almost that night without sleep, and didn't even feel tired. Slept near my firearm until my family woke up at daylight and when daylight hit I knew we were in the clear and I passed out.
What I wish I had on day fou and general notes:
Knowledge of generators.
Knowledge about electricity/wiring them safely.
Some type of physical alarm bell to put on the door like metal door knob alarm bells so it jingles if anyone enters to alert the dogs, had to keep the door slightly cracked so the wires hooked up to the generator would fit. So we couldn't lock the door, which is probably where my anxiety of tweekers coming in came from.
**Day Five** Same shit different day, power came on that evening.
Conclusion: Just cause it doesn't look like societal collapse or WW3 prep your shit for emergency's native to your area or go beyond, idc but prep. They ain't coming to help for awhile, or at all if it's very severe...so it's up to you and your community to pull through. This was a wake up call, thanks for coming to my prep talk.

Me (25f) and my boyfriend (30m) have been together for roughly 2.5 years and distance from the very start. Since then we've managed to see each other rougly every 6 weeks but with both our financial situations being not great (I'm a full time student and we live in separate countries) it's generally hard to predict when we will be able to see each other, we very often say goodbye without a date for another meeting. At the moment I know we will be seeing each other in 3 weeks, then after 2.5 months apart we will be living together for 4 months roughly, during my semester abroad which he is joining me for. After that, we don't know when we will close the gap, but at some point after I graduate I guess, is the rough plan.
I've been struggling with my mental health, mostly with depression I guess, since before we met, and it's had a toll on the relationship. Conversely, the relationship has also had a toll on my mental health. Not being able to see each other, saying goodbye without knowing when we will see each other next, to him it isn't a big deal but to me it leaves me in bits for days after every meeting we have and I tend to pick fights while we're together because of the impending feeling of missing him and feeling bothered that he is so much more chill about this.
What makes it so much worse for me is the fact that my boyfriend isn't a caller, and I need calls to feel close. I've asked him many times to call me more often (in some kinder and in some decisively unkind ways, I'll admit), and his reply is that he doesn't think of it because it isn't his natural inclination (he doesn't like calls with anybody and is very introverted) but he will try, and basically that I should lower my expectations and be grateful for what we have, which is constant communication through text and sending each other things on instagram. It's true that we have very regular communication, we talk throughout everyday, say good morning and goodnight without fail, but for me this just isn't enough to feel the relationship closeness. He doesn't get it, and every time he says he would try, most of the time, he doesn't call me anyway. I'm always the one to initiate the calls, and every once in a while he will suggest a movie night or a study session over video call together but it's rare. He says that as it's something that is important to me and not him, I should be the one to make sure it happens.
The past couple of months have been particularly rough for me and I've been struggling a lot in the past weeks. I've been extremely depressed and having a really hard time coping, and I don't think he even realises just how hard it has been despite me telling him. Usually I'm not exactly happy to always be the one initiating calls but these days it's hard for me to even do that. I really am not well at all, and I wish he would be more supportive in this sense. We talked about it again today and he said he would try, but I don't trust that he will because it's the exact same thing he has always said and never done.
He is a lovely, caring and attentive person most of the time and I have no doubt that he loves me, but this aspect of our relationship is a real struggle for me and is making me feel worse in an already tough time. I've been crying almost every day for weeks and I wish I just had my boyfriend call sometimes just to have a short chat without me asking him to - I know it isn't his responsibility to take care of my mental health, but it would really make a small but significant difference to how I feel. I know you need to pick your battles in a relationship, but I fear letting go of this one will leave me in a place of feeling perpetually unhappy/unsupported for the rest of our long distance duration. I don't want to break up with him, but the fact is that right now the nature of the relationship is a rather large contributor to my poor mental state.
I'm not really sure how to approach this situation any longer, because I'm stuck between understanding that he simply doesn't enjoy calls and won't naturally do something he doesn't generally enjoy, but also being convinced that if your partner impresses upon you that something is important to them you should make an effort to do that thing, within reason (which I feel this is). I also feel guilty of asking him for more on the basis of helping my mental health as, as I said, it's not his responsibility, but again, the distance does make it harder to cope when you're already struggling.
Sidenote: I'm not currently in therapy but will be starting in a month or so.

Hey there!
So, I absolutely love talking to people. It doesn't really matter who you are, where you're from, what you look like, or anything like that. I'm always excited about finding out how other people think or what they're interested in.
Because of this, you can talk to me about pretty much anything. Whether it's giving advice on how to handle any problems you're currently going through in life, or something as simple as just suggestions for the best snacks to make late at night, I'm your guy.
I also am totally open to taking things wherever they lead. If we only talk for one night and everything is great, but you don't feel like talking again afterwards? No problem. Want to talk every day for the rest of our lives? Also, no problem. It's all entirely up to you!
Looking forward to hearing from you(:

Have been looking into The Earl in Clarendon and it's right behind that bar strip where Spider Kellys, Don Titos, the Ballroom, etc is. Is the sound proofing good there? I really like the place but am concerned about getting a good nights rest and being able to sleep.

I hit 600 hours yesterday and figured I should post about my experience thus far - hopefully it will be helpful for all of you, but also will be fun to look back on myself, later on.
Background: I took a couple semesters of Spanish in high school as well as university over a decade ago, but never gave more effort than just trying to get a decent grade. A year ago, I decided to try and learn Spanish for real. I went down the normal Duolingo track, then found Paul Noble audiobooks and Language Transfer. I became really interested at this point, and eventually came across Dreaming Spanish. At first, I would do like 15 min a day of Dreaming Spanish while “studying” with my other time, until sometime around July 2023 when I realized I was getting more out of DS, and went “all in”. I put 70 hours as my total input up to that point (although since then even though I’ve had other sources, I haven’t added any more “outside hours” along the way, so technically I have 530 hours of pure DS now).
Reasons for learning Spanish: - It’s simply something I’ve always wanted to do, but never really committed to it - My family and I love to travel, and want to be able to communicate much better - We spent 6 weeks in Spain late last year which was partially why I dove in, but even before the trip I realized I would for sure keep going after the trip (I now wish I had started DS way before that trip, of course!) - I have two young daughters, who will be going through the Spanish Immersion program (100% spanish through elementary and then it gradually balances between Spanish and English into middle and high school) in our district! My older gal starts kindergarten in the fall. - There is a hosting program within the immersion program where families can host a teacher assistant (someone completing Uni or just graduated) from a spanish speaking country. It would be a semester of hosting the TA at our house. We’ve talked to others who’ve hosted and they had a great experience. Some have since visited the TA in their home country. We aren’t signed up to do this for the coming year, but my wife and I would love to in the next couple years potentially.
Listening: 90% input from DS. Half the time I go from just the easiest Intermediate/Advanced video remaining (around level 58) and half the time I just pick a video that looks Interesting (BeginneIntermediate/Advanced). Sometimes I’ll speed up the easier videos. In general, I understand anything 60 and below very well, 60-70 is comprehensible and enjoyable but challenging, 70+ varies. I find Pablo, Sandra and Alma, and Agus much easier. I find Tomás and Edwin difficult, for example. But overall I’m still really enjoying DS. Currently half the time Im watching, and half the time I’m listening with headphones. A few times a week I’ll watch some super beginner / beginner videos with my daughter - she loves Calcetín videos and the Michelle cooking videos. Ive seen the “Find Wally” videos about 8 times…haha
I also have listened to a lot of Español Con Juan, which I enjoy too. I mix in YouTube videos sometimes as well. I’ve watched some native Ted Talks and found some of them too hard, but also found some that I’ve almost fully understood, which was encouraging. On the other end of the spectrum I put on the movie Society of the Snow in Spanish without subtitles and I was completely lost haha. No huge surprise. Overall, I’m happy with progress but have days where I’m frustrated too. Loving the journey though.
Reading: I haven’t done a ton of reading but doing more now. I ready a handful of Olly Richards books around 300 hours and enjoyed overall. I read Harry Potter book 1 at 400 hours. I really liked it, although it was a bit too difficult, but having read them in English many times it was often still comprehensible. I’m now reading a bunch of the “Diario de Greg” books and they are great haha. Love being mid 30’s guy at the coffee shop posting up with one of those books. Challenging but comprehensible and fun. I also read a bunch of picture books in Spanish to my girls. My older gal is picking up a decent amount of words.
Writing/Speaking: Haven’t done a ton of writing other than occasionally texting a buddy who knows Spanish. But found it to be not too bad.
We were in Spain as a family when I had around 300-350 hours I think. It was super helpful to have that under my belt but also I generally couldn’t follow conversations between native speakers. I had conversations with people at the park or elsewhere if people were patient or spoke slower, and it was super rewarding. I made a lot of mistakes (including mistaking a verb and asking a guy at the beach in front of his family if he wanted “to touch me” instead of me taking a photo for him haha. He silently walked away. But also talked to an old woman about my kids and she talked about being envious of my parents as she never had grandkids and was very sad about it. I tried to comfort her. Moments like that make the whole journey worth it.
Also I should note that between 100-300 hours I was doing Baselang speaking lesssons. It is expensive, but I really liked the platform and had some great recurring teachers. I may re-sign up after 1000 hours. I would’ve held off but I also wanted to be able to communicate a bit better in Spain. Maybe it will have end up harming my progress, I’m not sure.
TLDR: hit 600 hours. Have a long way to go but seeing progress and loving the journey. Averaging around 2 hours per day now. Will re-start speaking around 1000-1500 hours. AMA.
Thanks!

I am reaching out to present a lucrative investment opportunity in the heart of Manhattan. I am seeking a partner or partners to invest in a high-potential deli store located in one of Manhattan’s bustling neighborhoods such as SoHo, Bowery, or Tribeca. This venture promises significant returns, driven by high foot traffic from office workers, locals, and university students.
Business Concept
The grocery store will be a quick deli that offers fresh meals, convenience items, drinks, coffee, bakery, Beer and ready-to-eat salads. The concept is designed to cater to the fast-paced lifestyle of Manhattan residents and workers, providing a convenient and high-quality food option.
Market Opportunity
Manhattan, especially areas like SoHo, Bowery, and Tribeca, is known for its high foot traffic and diverse population. These neighborhoods are frequented by:

• Office workers seeking quick, healthy meal options • Local residents looking for everyday grocery needs • University students who require convenient food choices 

Unique Selling Points

1. Location Advantage: Placing the store in a high-traffic area ensures a steady stream of customers.
2. Product Variety: Offering a mix of fresh meals, bakery items, beverages, and groceries to cater to a wide range of needs.
3. Quality and Convenience: Prioritizing fresh, high-quality products and quick service to meet the demands of busy customers.
4. 24/7 Open: the store will be open all days. To ensure we capture sales from late-night shopper and early risers alike.

Financial Projections
Based on market research and initial assessments, the store is projected to achieve:

• Annual Revenue: $1.5 to $2 million • Profit Margins: Expected to be strong due to the high demand and strategic location • Return on Investment: With a 60% stake, your investment is projected to more than triple within the first year 

Investment Details

• Required Investment: The total funding required is [$300k-400], covering initial setup costs, inventory, lease of a retail store,working capital. • Ownership Structure: 60% for the investor and 40% for myself. • Management: I will handle all day-to-day operations, leveraging my experience in managing one in the past. This allows you to benefit from the investment without any operational involvement. 

Why Invest?

1. No Operational Involvement: As an investor, you will not be required to participate in any day-to-day operations. I will manage all aspects of the business, drawing on my extensive experience working in a family-owned grocery store. This hands-on experience has equipped me with the skills needed to efficiently run the store from the ground up. 

1. Experienced Management: With my background in a family-owned business, I bring a deep understanding of store operations, customer service, and community engagement. This experience ensures the business runs smoothly and efficiently, maximizing our potential for success.
   
2. High Demand: The chosen location guarantees a steady customer base due to the high foot traffic from office workers, locals, and university students. This demand is key to driving consistent sales and profitability.
   
3. Significant Returns: The business is projected to generate annual revenues of $1.5 to $2 million. With a 60% stake in the business, your investment is expected to more than triple within the first year, providing substantial financial returns.
   
4. Transparency: I guarantee complete transparency with all funding. Every dollar invested will be accounted for, and you will receive detailed reports on how the funds are utilized, ensuring you are always informed about the financial health of the business.
   

This investment offers a unique opportunity to be part of a profitable venture in one of the most dynamic markets in the world. With your financial backing and my operational expertise, we can establish a successful deli grocery store that meets the needs of the local communit
I am confident that this venture will be rewarding for both of us. I look forward to discussing this opportunity further and addressing any questions you have.
(Video of a store I manage) ⬇️ https://vimeo.com/948807788

I never thought much about the dark web. To me, it was just a spooky corner of the internet, filled with urban legends and exaggerated tales. But last month, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to explore.
I had always been tech-savvy, so accessing the dark web was easier than I expected. I found forums, marketplaces, and bizarre sites that looked like something straight out of a horror movie. But one night, I stumbled upon something that still haunts me: a chat room called "The Abyss."
The description was cryptic: "Talk with those who truly see." Intrigued and a bit naive, I clicked the link and entered the chat. The interface was basic, just a black screen with a list of usernames on the side and a chat window in the center.
The usernames were strange—EbonShade, SoulSeeker, _WhisperingVoid_—and they immediately started messaging me.
EbonShade: Welcome, new traveler. What do you seek?
SoulSeeker: Knowledge? Power? Or perhaps, something darker?
I hesitated before typing, "Just curious. What is this place?"
WhisperingVoid: This is a place where truths are revealed. But beware, not all truths are meant to be known.
I felt a mix of excitement and unease. Before I could respond, a new message appeared.
EbonShade: Would you like to see something truly enlightening?
My heart raced as I typed, "Yes."
A link appeared in the chat, ominously labeled "Enter the Abyss." Against my better judgment, I clicked it. My screen went black, then filled with a montage of disturbing images: old, decaying buildings, people performing strange rituals, faces twisted in terror. It was overwhelming, like a nightmare unfolding before my eyes.
When the images stopped, I found myself back in the chat room, but it was different. The usernames had changed to real names—David, Claire, Michael—and my webcam had turned on, displaying my own horrified face in the corner of the screen. Panic set in as I realized I couldn't close the window or turn off my computer.
David: Now you see. There's no turning back.
I frantically tried to unplug my computer, but the screen remained on, showing my terrified expression and the cold, emotionless faces of the others in the chat.
Claire: We know where you are.
My heart felt like it was going to explode. I grabbed my phone to call for help, but it wouldn't turn on. Suddenly, my screen flickered, and a new video feed appeared—my own apartment, seen from a perspective I didn't recognize. It was as if someone was inside, watching me.
Michael: You invited us in. Now we are everywhere.
In a frenzy, I ran to my front door and threw it open, only to be met with the empty hallway of my apartment building. No one was there. I checked every room, every closet, but I was alone.
When I returned to my computer, the chat room was gone. My screen was back to my desktop, as if nothing had happened. But I knew better. My phone buzzed, and I saw a notification for a new email from an unknown sender.
Subject: Welcome to the Abyss
Body: We are always watching.
I haven't been the same since that night. I moved to a new city, changed my name, even got a new job, but the feeling of being watched never leaves me. Sometimes, I'll catch a glimpse of a shadow in the corner of my eye, or hear a whisper when I'm alone.
One night, about a week after I moved, I woke up to the sound of my computer booting up. I had left it off, but there it was, the screen glowing in the darkness. The chat room was back, but now, the names were different: John, Emily, _Sarah_—all people I had known in my life, all who had passed away.
John: Why did you leave us?
Emily: You can never escape.
Sarah: We are part of you now.
I unplugged the computer, but the screen stayed on, showing their faces, twisted in agony and anger. I screamed and threw the computer out of my window, watching it shatter on the pavement below. The screen finally went dark, but the terror remained.
I replaced my computer, thinking it would end the nightmare. But then, the texts started. Unknown numbers, always the same message: "We are watching."
I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. I see them everywhere now, in reflections, in crowds, in my dreams. If you ever find a chat room on the dark web called "The Abyss," don't enter it. Some doors, once opened, can never be closed.
One evening, as I was walking home from work, I felt someone watching me. I turned around, but no one was there. Quickening my pace, I hurried to my apartment. When I entered, my phone buzzed. Another unknown number.
Text: We are here.
The lights flickered, and the temperature dropped. My breath came out in visible puffs. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen, my hands trembling. As I backed into the living room, the shadows seemed to move, coalesce, forming shapes that were almost human.
I don't know if it was a hallucination or something worse, but I heard their voices, whispering my name, promising I would never be alone again. I dropped the knife and ran to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. The whispers grew louder, more insistent.
Desperation set in. I decided to document my experience, to warn others. I started typing out this story, but the words are running out. The whispers are too loud now. I can't think. They're here, with me, in the room.
If you ever find this post, heed my warning. Do not go looking for "The Abyss." It will find you, and once it does, there is no escape.

I have been working at a big company for 1.5 years now part time while doing my master's. My job is software development. This is my first professional job.I'm particularly good at the frontend side of things and find myself do my tasks quite well. I obviously make mistakes here and there but that's part of the job. I try nonetheless to polish my skills and I have learnt lots of stuff in this job and grew some confidence in my craft. The team I work for basically tries to solve or support in new ideas in form of design, POCs, MVPs and other stuff. Our development team is small. We are four who actually code and one tech lead with a decade of software development experience. He doesn't code anything though but just reviews code and is very opinionated. He always wants to have winning word. I'm constantly being asked by him to wear different hats. I find myself thrown on AI, backend, DevOps or frontend work. Sometimes I get tasks that are really difficult that I soend days and never get anything when I ask him he also doesn't know. He asks me to work in stuff that I have expressed multiple time I'm not interested in. In my view, I want to be focused on something so that I can good at it. Then I can explore other things. He recently asked to take mentor new commers and take more responsibility. Is this normal part time work or is it too much for someone my experience. I don't know what to do. I can't tell you how many times I doubted myself because I'm being assigned tasks way out of experience. I successful finish them most of the time but I take so much time resulting in me working until late at night. I can't quit I need money for now.

Freestyle comedy is a free weekly show at the Bowery Electric featuring comics from Late Night , Netflix, Comedy Central, and HBO. Tix are free with RSVP! Doors at 7:30 Show at 8.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freestyle-comedy-at-the-bowery-electric-tickets-901700649917?aff=ebdshpsearchautocompleteLink

Hi everyone. I'm 25f. I've been wanting braces for a long while now as not only am I self conscious about my smile & face shape, my teeth/bite are a source of discomfort. My upper palete is narrow and I have teeth coming inwards too much that bite down on my tongue, I also have jaw pain and tension headaches which I feel could be due to my crossbite.
The issue is, my teeth and oral health is awful, and I don't have hope for them lasting longer than 20 years before I need dentures. My parents didn't ever enforce dental hygiene or ever take me to the dentist as a child. I started brushing consistently around 13 years old but I think it was too late by then, by 16 I had numerous cavities, and at the current point in time I have a filling on more or less every tooth, one extracted molar, 3 root canals (one of which is my top front tooth! This scares me a lot).
Between 2018-2023 I had an extensive treatment plan with my dentist (which is arguably not resolved as I still haven't got permanent fillings). Despite one tooth being seen to at the end of last year, I already have a new cavity on it. Despite brushing x2 a day with an electric sonic toothbrush, flossing, using a waterpik, using xylitol gum, etc I still managed to get a new cavity in 6 months so clearly something is wrong. I have CFS and POTs so I think my oral health might be tied to that/have some sort of autoimmune origin? I do have dry mouth too which I'm trying to combat with xylimelts at night.
I saw an ortho who quoted me £6000 and said I'd also need to pay extra for my dentist to remove 4 teeth, the 4 teeth they'd remove include some of the only teeth in my mouth without fillings/cavities...
Now I'm wondering, is it worth paying £6k+ for my teeth when I may not even have any in 20 years?
Here's some photos of my teeth: https://ibb.co/album/Zpk8Bm
TLDR: My oral health is horrendous despite my best efforts to look after my teeth. Is it worth paying 6k and losing some of my only healthy teeth for braces, in an effort to hopefully relieve discomfort & pain?

Hi everyone. I'm 25f. I've been wanting braces for a long while now as not only am I self conscious about my smile & face shape, my teeth/bite are a source of discomfort. My upper palete is narrow and I have teeth coming inwards too much that bite down on my tongue, I also have jaw pain and tension headaches which I feel could be due to my crossbite.
The issue is, my teeth and oral health is awful, and I don't have hope for them lasting longer than 20 years before I need dentures. My parents didn't ever enforce dental hygiene or ever take me to the dentist as a child. I started brushing consistently around 13 years old but I think it was too late by then, by 16 I had numerous cavities, and at the current point in time I have a filling on more or less every tooth, one extracted molar, 3 root canals (one of which is my top front tooth! This scares me a lot).
Between 2018-2023 I had an extensive treatment plan with my dentist (which is arguably not resolved as I still haven't got permanent fillings). Despite one tooth being seen to at the end of last year, I already have a new cavity on it. Despite brushing x2 a day with an electric sonic toothbrush, flossing, using a waterpik, using xylitol gum, etc I still managed to get a new cavity in 6 months so clearly something is wrong. I have CFS and POTs so I think my oral health might be tied to that/have some sort of autoimmune origin? I do have dry mouth too which I'm trying to combat with xylimelts at night.
I saw an ortho who quoted me £6000 and said I'd also need to pay extra for my dentist to remove 4 teeth, the 4 teeth they'd remove include some of the only teeth in my mouth without fillings/cavities...
Now I'm wondering, is it worth paying £6k+ for my teeth when I may not even have any in 20 years?
Here's some photos of my teeth: https://ibb.co/album/Zpk8Bm
TLDR: My oral health is horrendous despite my best efforts to look after my teeth. Is it worth paying 6k and losing some of my only healthy teeth for braces, in an effort to hopefully relieve discomfort & pain?