Wade held Jasmine in his arms as he flew a low height down the long road to another section of the staryard, Tina on his back and Nathan and F right behind them in the air. Together, the five glided across the base grounds, taking care as to not irritate the aerial security during their search for the meeting room. Being outside for the flight, the group considered it a blessing that Wade's 'enhanced cooling unit' allowed his body to tolerate the breaching sun in the still cloudy sky, which, according to F, was dangerous to drones like her due to the inefficient cooling she and disassembly drones like her suffered from. Given F's physical fault, she had to fly under shady areas in order to safely traverse the base at day.
Originally, Wade and his friends had planned to walk to the meeting zone, but after running into a trooper experiencing a health mishap, the group did what they could to help the distressed officer. By the time he was brought to the medical ward by other soldiers, Wade found that him and his team would be at least a few minutes late if they kept on their way with their walk.
Deciding to speed things up, Wade, understanding the concern for performing such an effort, opted to carry the Fowleys around the base to the meeting area. Reluctantly, F decided to come along, carrying Nathan in a similar manner that Wade was carrying Jasmine. Taking notice of the time on his HUD, which read, "9:47 AM", Wade scouted for the building he and his friends were directed to. "8072" He said to himself, the number being for the building that would house the imminent meeting.
"They said it was down here, right?" Wade asked aloud to Tina before stopping himself in mid-air, the girl holding onto him tightly as he tried to speak over the growing sound of a retrofit Apache flying overhead.
Looking about, Tina nodded as she spotted the target building. "Yes, I believe that's the one over there!" Pointing past his head, Wade followed her finger to a large building ahead at his right. The structure was moderately tall, only about two stories high, with several soldiers and officers going in and out of the building. Wade smiled as he noticed the target number, as well as the big, bold words describing the building's designation. "8072, Briefing Center B"
"Good eye, honey. Hang on!" Continuing his low glide, Wade zoomed towards the building's entrance before stopping just meters above the ground, his two friends close behind as they slowed down as well. The troopers around them initially looked startled by the sudden arrival of Wade and his group, but quickly regained their composure as Wade hovered still above them.
"At ease! Just visitors." One of the soldiers declared as they identified the newcomers, who touched down before Wade let Jasmine down to her feet, Tina hopping onto the ground along with her.
Putting his hands up, Wade apologized for his swift surprise. "Sorry for the scare, we got delayed for a meeting we're invited to."
The soldier gave an understanding nod as he replied to the former worker drone sternly. "I can see that, just be a bit more careful next time, Mr. Carter. You gave the boys here quite a scare."
Wade returned the gesture in embarrassment as F put a hand to his back, chuckling at his efforts as Tina questioned the officer. "Is Mrs. J in there? She's the one who called for us."
The guard gave his reply as Wade and Tina pulled out their IDs for clearance. "Yes she is, Miss. The meeting's set to begin in under ten minutes." Checking the two drones' IDs, Jasmine and the others pulled out theirs as well, the watchman motioning another trooper over to verify the group. Once the guard finished checking the five's cards, he nodded in approval as the watchman spoke once more. "You're clear to enter."
"Thank you Sir, again, sorry about that spook back there." Wade replied with a smile as the trooper gave one of his own, the disassembly drone and his allies making their way towards the office door before stopping upon the call of a voice.
"Hey, Felice!" Wade turned to find the origin of the voice, F doing the same as the two quickly spotted a quartet of soldiers walking excitedly towards F. The disassembly drone glanced to her friends with a smile before turning back to the approaching entourage.
Wade examined the four troops as they got closer: Two human men, one woman, and a male worker drone. One of the male soldiers had short, blonde hair, and a small scar to the right side of their face. The second man bore a tan skin tone and had black hair, with blue strips that went down slightly in a mullet style. The woman bore a set of long, dark green hair, with the hair going down and over her left shoulder. As for the worker drone, he wore the standard green soldier helmet, single eye visor and all. He had no hair on him from what Wade could tell, and bore a pair of whiteish purple eyes on his visor.
As F walked over to the soldiers, the same one that called to her spoke again. "Felicity, I didn't expect to see you around here today! Where you been?"
The girl soldier interrupted his initial chatter. "Hang on Carlos, do you even know if she remembers us?"
"Aye, don't she have one o' them memory locks, or sumthin?" The drone added in a heavy Scottish accent.
F waved her hand as she replied to the group. "Easy, everyone. Thankfully I still got my memories, courtesy of my technician back at Central." Lowering her hand, F let down her usual persona as she gave a wide smirk to the soldiers, clearly pleased to see them. "Good to see you guys around here."
The soldiers gave light cheers to F as they all embraced her, the group having a surprise reunion as Wade and the others watched in surprise. These must've been F's old colleagues from when she was in the service, Wade thought. Quite the coincidence for them to be here at this base of all places.
Not bothering with the convenience of the matter, Wade shook the thought off as he and his friends watched F and her old friends breaking the hug, Tina wrapping an arm around her boyfriend as the second male human spoke to her in what the two discerned as Spanish. "Ay, who your new friends, F?"
"Oh, these guys?" F replied in the same language, quietly startling Wade and the others as they had never heard her speak like that until now. Glancing over to Wade, F motioned him and the others to come over. "Everyone, these are some friends I made in the past few days. Wade, Nathan, Tina, and Jasmine." She pointed her hand to the four as she said each of their names. "I met the boys here during my time on Ceres. Jasmine and Tina here are sisters."
The four soldiers gave various forms of excitement, ranging from hearty laughs to low woops and even a whistle from one of the guys. As F stood next to her old teammates, they each introduced themselves to Wade and his friends. The blonde soldier went first. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you all, name's Carlos, Lieutenant Marksman."
"I'm Private Alvaros, good with close-range and stealth operations." Said the tan soldier with a salute.
"Sergeant Lucia Vasquez, usually the one who leads this bunch around these days." The female warrior stated with a humorous smirk.
"And Corporal Duncan Wallace, at your service!" The soldier drone stated proudly as he saluted to the bunch in front of him, who gave warm smiles as Wade shook his hand.
"Quite honored to meet you all, seems you have quite the history with F." The former worker drone said as Carlos patted F on her back.
"Oh, we do! She's the one who took charge when we didn't! Did you all hear of the Pasting of Nola VI?" Jasmine and Tina gave nods of affirmation while Wade, not as familiar with such history, held his hand up in a questioning manner.
"I think, wasn't that the battle where the Navy just barely held the outpost in that system? From the Stryker Clan?" Wade asked as Carlos nodded approvingly to him.
"That's right, and if Felice weren't there, WE would've been the ones getting pasted!" Carlos' statement brought victorious cheers and "oorahs" from the group, F letting a blush loose as she chuckled at her team's praise of her efforts.
"Well, that's not wrong." Although she didn't want to break off from her friends and discuss the past few years since they'd last met, F remembered the briefing. Clearing her throat, she continued. "And as much as I'd like to chat about the good times, I've been called to a meeting here, as have Wade and his crew."
The soldier group gave understanding looks to F as Lucia spoke up. "Thought so, Carl here was real eager to see you, though."
"Maybe we can talk after the meeting?" Nathan proposed as the soldiers collectively nodded in agreement, F readying a smartcomm attachment before turning to face her friends again.
"We're probably getting low on time, you all go in, I'll catch up in a sec." Wade nodded in acknowledgement before taking Tina's hand, the lover drones continuing towards the briefing center as Jasmine and Nathan followed behind them.
Passing through the door, the four guests observed a short hallway, which seemed to split into two paths as they came closer to the other end. Looking to a sign on the wall above, they saw arrows pointing to two separate areas, "Primary Briefing Room; Main Lobby + Secondary & Tertiary" Going to the right, they entered the moderately active lobby, several officers walking and standing about in mass chatter. Walking over to the desk up against the wall to their left, Wade and his group waved a hand to the occupying attendant.
"Welcome, what do you need?" The desk attendant asked as Tina raised a finger to reply.
"We're here for a meeting, Mrs. J called us here."
The attendant nodded in understanding before directing an arm towards the other end of the room, where a single door stood. "She should be in the second briefing room down that way."
"Thank you." Tina replied warmly before she and Wade began walking towards the door, their friends behind them as they proceeded into the room.
The room beyond the door was quite sizable, a large circular table occupying the middle with several chairs surrounding it. The walls went up a few meters, with four whiteish blue lights illuminating the room. On the wall opposite to Wade and Tina were three monitor screens, all of which showed the USN in bright blue. In several of the seats were faces both familiar and unfamiliar, several men and women in varying styles of uniforms conversing about quietly or taking notice of the recent visitors. Standing up near the monitors were three people: A decorated officer whom Tina identified as a ship captain, and the so-called operatives, Tessa, albeit as a hologram, and J.
Walking slowly into the room, Wade gave a low wave of his hand as he tried to hide his nervousness. Noticing his shyness in front of the officers, Tina held his hand and rubbed his arm comfortingly while returning a pleasant smile to the staff in the room.
"Ah, Wade, Tina. Glad to see you all here." J stated with a smile as she scanned the group, raising a digital eyebrow as she noticed one missing guest. "Or, most of you, I see. Did F run off somewhere?"
Wade shook his head as he replied to his fellow disassembly drone. "Oh, no. She just ran into some old friends, she should be back-"
"Right now." F finished aloud as she entered the room, seemingly having heard Wade speaking about her absence. The warrior drone fast walked to Wade's team, taking a seat near them as they prepared to do the same. "Not too late, are we?"
"Not at all." The standing officer answered as the group took their seats, Wade and Tina sitting next to each other as they got comfortable. The captain examined the lot for a moment, glancing to J as he asked about them. "So, these are the ones you helped rescue from the Mojave?"
"Yes Captain, and they helped us out greatly in turn. This is Wade Carter, one of the captured drones whom became a disassembly drone before we could mount the rescue. The luckiest one, if you ask me." Motioning her arm over the others, she continued. "And there's his girlfriend, Mrs. Tina Fowley, and her sister Jasmine." Smirking to F and Nathan, she finished her friends' introductions. "And these two are Serial Designation F and Mr. Nathan, whom I've heard were once under your ranks."
The military captain gave a welcoming smile to the five as they returned the gesture, eyeing F and Nathan specifically before speaking to them. "Indeed they were, we still have records on their contributions to the colonies." Eyeing F, he continued. "Though, in Mrs. F's case, I won't blame her if she doesn't remember us. We've been very well aware of JCJenson's 'memory suppression' protocols when it comes to their DDs."
F laid back in her seat with a smug look as she replied to her former superior. "Well, my friend on the station's a good tech gal. She's... waived that hindrance from me."
"I see, that means your still with us, am I right, Mrs. Lee?" Unlike her friends next to her, F was not startled by her original name being said aloud, rather smiling proudly as she saluted to the captain. "Good to see you again."
"Pleased to be here, Sir." F replied as she lowered her arm, glancing to her companions next to her as J spoke up.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Captain Preston Mitchell, commander of the USNV Vickers down at the stardock."
Wade gave a respectful salute to Preston as he spoke first. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Carter. I've heard about your efforts from J, you did an admirable job back there, son." Wade failed to hide an embarrassed blush from the compliment, but it quickly faded as a beep sounded from a small device on the table. It was swiftly silenced by the captain as he tapped a button on the small, pyramid shaped timer, then facing Wade's group before continuing. "Though, as much as we could use some small talk, it'll have to wait till later."
"Indeed, we're running late at this point." Said another officer, a highly decorated member of the base with dark skin, dark grey hair and a thin beard. He immediately won the attention of everyone in the room as he spoke up. "I'm General Hugh Hood, overseer of this base. I'm certain you know some of the reasons you're here with us, correct?"
Wade nodded as he spoke to Hood. "Yeah, it's cause of those rogue agents from the JCJenson corporation." Glancing to J, the corporate drone nodded in affirmation before speaking herself.
"Tessa and I spent the last hours of yesterday evening clearing up the matter with General Hood, along with several other officials stationed here." She stopped as the middle monitor behind her flashed with a banner at the top, reading, "INCOMING TRANSMISSION", and in place of the USN emblem was a textless version of the JCJenson logo. Below the profile image was another two lines of text. "N. Jenson (Company Exec); Comms Source: Yottrite IV"
"And also told our boss about what happened here too, he wanted to give his say on this ordeal." Looking to the general, J asked him, "May I put him on?"
Hood only gave a nod of approval to the corporate drone before she picked up a remote on the table and tapped a button, accepting the call as the picture shifted to show a middle-aged man in a pristine-looking business suit on the screen.
Wade and Tina glanced to each other before J introduced their guest on the screen. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the CEO of JCJenson: Mr. Noor Jenson."
Jenson gave a pleased nod to his subordinate as he spoke to J. "Thank you for the pleasantries, J. I see we are ready to discuss our plans on dealing with this 'recall' disaster I've bore witness to on the news this morning?"
J nodded as she replied to her boss. "Indeed, I've explained to General Hood here about our efforts yesterday, and, as of recent, we've just received a message from a source we believe to be close to the company."
Mr. Jenson looked down to J attentively as he spoke to her. "Well, that's quite intriguing news, J. Do you have this message available for us to view?" J and Hood both nodded in affirmation, but didn't get an immediate reply as Jenson gazed to Wade and his friends. "...And I presume these are some of the drones rescued from one of the factories?"
Again, J nodded to her superior before explaining her colleagues. "Yes Mr. Jenson, the two drones at the front in particular were among those taken by the Administrator and their subordinates." Pointing an arm to Wade and Tina, she introduced the drone couple. "The disassembly drone here is Mr. Wade Carter, a brother to his-technically speaking-owner, the late Ron Carter. The latter helped us recover Wade during an initial raid inside the Nevada facility." When bringing up Ron, J gave an apologetic look to Wade as to show she did not mean to be offending on him and his brother's relationship. "And this is his romantic partner, Mrs. Tina Fowley. I heard she and her sister Jasmine are pilots."
Jenson looked over the two drones as his obedient employee described them to him, quietly sighing as Wade and Tina returned the gaze with nervous smiles. Once J finished, Jenson spoke to Wade. "I... would say it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter. But, given recent events, I don't hold fault to you for feeling frustrated at me for my... former subordinate's actions."
Wade shook his head lightly, taking Jenson's light apology with a faint smile as he replied to the CEO. "Actually, I don't. The only person I have such feelings put towards is," He hesitated for a moment, his anger at Dr. Halloway returning for a short moment before he eased himself. "..That bastard Halloway."
"The feeling's mutual, Mr. Carter. Dr. Halloway has been trying my patience for years now, especially with you and your fellow disassembly drones." Looking to J, then F, he returned his gaze to Wade before questioning him on his new body. "I don't know if J has told you of this, but if there's one truth my company has admittedly not held up to for a while, it's our quality. Recently, some of my research staff here made blueprints for an upgraded variant of the disassembly drone design. It's intended to fix several faults we expected to be nonexistent previously, most notably that atrocious cooling unit."
As a schematic pulled up on the left monitor, everyone glanced to the improved design before F spoke up about it. "If I may ask, Mr. Jenson, how big of an improvement is this new cooling unit supposed to be?"
"Good question, F. Frankly, it's supposed to do away with the issue entirely. Saves us from sacrificing enormous supplies of oil for the poorly built unit in the previous iterations. We even tested it with a repaired drone just a few days ago, and it worked flawlessly." Then, glancing to Wade again, he questioned the former worker drone on his new form. "Speaking of, how does your enhanced body feel, Mr. Carter? I'm certain it feels better to not have to-"
"Actually, Mr. Jenson," Wade interrupted, pulling out one of his canteens as he answered the CEO on his upgrades. "I guess Halloway changed up the blueprints, cause unfortunately this new cooling unit didn't cure the overheating problem. I... kinda learned that the hard way." Wade glanced to Tina apologetically, still feeling bad from her seeing him eat the corpse of the dead murder drone back at the factory.
The corporate CEO grimaced in frustration as he took in Wade's statement, already intolerant of the head researcher's actions as he replied. "...I was worried about that, Edgar always likes to run things his own way, making excuses for that 'Administrator' he watches over." Taking an agitated breath, he continued on with his spew on the two culprits of yesterday's events. "It was only because of all the very impressive creations and enhancements she and her research team provided that I tolerated them for so long, but this..." Sitting up straight in front of the camera, Jenson finished sternly. "J said the Administrator... Cyn, I believe? She was apparently something worse than we presumed originally, and I'm very inclined to believe so after yesterday."
"As well as the program tied to the Administrator, the AbsoluteSolver." J clarified before receiving an agreeing nod from Mr. Jenson, standing corrected on his placing of blame.
Raising a hand, Nathan asked about the supposed plans. "Yeah, about this "Solver Project", what do we plan to do about that?"
"Good question, Nate." Tessa replied as she crossed her arms before looking to Jenson and beginning her explanation. "Initially, we were going to investigate the other factories spread across Earth in order to get some more info on the Administrator before things get worse. But, just this morning, it seems someone else saved us the trouble." Just as Tessa neared the end of her sentence, J held up the remote again, tapping a few buttons before the left monitor shifted to show a slightly grainy video onscreen.
The video only showed a single being, a worker drone, dressed in a chrome suit and bearing a set of yellow eyes. Behind them was what appeared to be a vacant room, a few shelves holding many books within them standing still in the back. The drone's visage indicated they were filled with immense anxiety, terrified of being caught as they spoke quietly to the camera.
"I can only hope someone gets this in time, they're gonna be on me once they find out the transmitter screens are down!" Turning the camera, he showed what appeared to be a large factory room, several more of the mysterious conveyor belts like at the factory slotted next to each other. It was hard to discern every detail due to not only the window reflection, but also the dark lighting in the inactive conveyor room. Filming the room beyond, the drone continued. "Dr. Halloway's a madman, he's got more of those stolen drones being brought here and he's going to be overseeing it in the afternoon tomorrow! I've seen what happened back in Nevada, I can't take this any longer! I'm at coordinates ##.######, -###.###### Please, send someo-"
The suspicious, partially scrambled transmission immediately cut off to static, leaving Wade, Tina, and their friends with confused expressions as Tessa spoke up. "Yeah, that caught me by surprise too."
"So, that guy says they got more drones being sent 'there', but... where is there, exactly?" Jasmine asked with immense curiosity.
"I was hoping you'd ask that, Mrs. Fowley." The technician replied as she glanced to J, who tapped a few more buttons on the remote before speaking over her boss-friend.
"While the transmission itself isn't much to work off of, our friends from Comms over here managed to intercept the signal earlier, and even better, discern where it originated from." As J started her explanation, the screen shifted once more to show a large city, with one skyscraper highlighted in red as it was zoomed towards on the screen. "That scrambled audio wasn't a simple glitch, it was intentionally done so as to hide key information for us to uncover. Upon cleaning up the message, we managed to recover a set of coordinates, which direct to this structure here, in San Francisco."
Wade and his friends stared at the building in shock, examining the tall structure as it stood over the shorter buildings in the city. Tina broke the silence in her gaze. "So, this is another factory? It looks... terribly different from the one we got out of."
"Not exactly, Mrs. Fowley." Mr. Jenson answered, Tina and the others looking to him as he continued. "THAT is the Administrator's main laboratory, its location was kept on the down low so other authorities and terrorist groups wouldn't find out what the buildings true purpose was." Sighing, Jenson completed his reply. "But, with this recent mistake of Halloway's, that place has lost all purpose for us at the company."
Wade raised a hand to speak. "So, we're going to pounce on that place? Get Halloway before he runs off again?"
"Exactly." General Hood replied as he looked up to Mr. Jenson. "This whole 'recovery/recruitment' effort has gotten out of hand all across Sol. We've gotten countless reports of people being killed because of this, be it the brutal robberies here in Nevada or the bloodbath on Ceres. Even if Mr. Jenson refuses to cooperate, this has become a dire matter for us now. One way or another, this insanity will be stopped with due haste."
The CEO nodded in acknowledgement before explaining his own plans for the mission. "Speaking of cooperation, upon seeing what was happening at Earth, I ordered a detachment of our corporate starships in orbit at the time to depart for Sol in order to help with investigating the situation. They're not warships, but they are well-armed. I'll dispatch them to your authority upon concluding this call." Glancing to Wade and his team for a moment, Jenson continued. "As for the mission, I may not have much of a say, but let it be known that you have my blessing to do whatever it takes to end this madness. I don't care what you do with Halloway or any of his lackeys, or what happens to that facility down there... I want that program shut down."
"Thank you for the extra hands, Mr. Jenson. We'll make sure this Administrator is dealt with." Hood replied gratefully as Wade sat firm in his seat, Tina and the others following suite.
"General?" The former worker drone said aloud, catching Hood's attention before he made his request. "I know I'm not a soldier, but I want to help with dealing with Halloway and his grunts. After what he did, after losing my brother, I can't rest until I see that man stopped."
Tina raised a finger as well. "As do I, Wade could use a hand with those people, and given how we did during our escape run out of that place, I think the two of us make quite the duo." She glanced to Wade with a smirk as she referenced their combat prowess when flying together.
Nathan and F stood up before the latter gave her own request. "Sir, I wish to take part in this mission as well. I can also recommend Wade for you too, as I fought alongside him during the factory raid."
"Wouldn't mind giving a hand myself! And I'm sure my pal Kurtis would love to help, he's here at the base too!" Nathan added with a confident smirk, the group's determination encouraging Jasmine to stand up as well.
"I'd like to help too." She stated simply, a smile on her face as the general and his companions observed the five guests.
Admittedly, Hood knew it would be a bit absurd to allow these people to take part in an operation which would certainly involve bloodshed, especially considering most of them merely had civilian status at the moment. But, upon careful evaluation of the five, their desire to see this problem dealt with, and the fact that some of them had experience on the field...
He paused his train of thought as Captain Mitchell spoke to him. "General? I read up on the Fowleys' files when we recovered Mrs. Jasmine here, they provided service in their early careers." He smirked to the pilot sisters as he finished adding his say. "And to be frank, we need more people like them here. The records we have of them showed them to be damn fine pilots."
Tina blushed at the praise from Mitchell as she spoke to the general. "That is true, we uh... did get discharged for our... 'fancy maneuvering'."
"Sir?" Jasmine said, the general's attention on her as she added to the conversation. "Even if our flying is a bit out of protocol, Tina saved a lot of people on that starjet a few days back. I can promise you, she's an excellent woman to have at the wheel."
Glancing to Wade again, Hood took in his face, one of begging desperation as he spoke once more. "Please, Sir. My brother, the troops he brought from the Coalition, Halloway's gotten them all killed cause of this. I want to do this. I HAVE to do this, at least for them."
The good general took a deep, quiet breath, considering his decision once more before finally revealing it to Wade and his friends. "Mr. Carter, Fowleys? I'm probably making myself a fool for saying this, but you're permitted to assist us in this mission."
The drone couple contained their gratefulness in the form of ecstatic grins as Wade replied to the general. "Thanks, General. We won't let you down."
"And Mrs. Lee?" Hood said as he glanced to F, who returned the gesture as he told her, "You're technically under Mr. Jenson's authority, whatever his answer is, it's mine as well."
Bringing her yellow-orange eyes to her CEO, F awaited Mr. Jenson's answer. "F, yes? I heard Mr. Hood call you by a different name just now, I assume you have some experience with the army?"
The warrior drone nodded as she explained herself. "I once inherited the name of Felicity Lee, Mr. Jenson. I served under the USN Defense Forces before joining the DD Division." Then, glancing to the military staff near her, she finished with, "I had hoped to provide my enhancements to the Force one day."
Jenson gave a hint of a proud smile as he finally gave his decision. "Well, it seems you'll finally get that chance. From now on, even after this mission on Earth is over with, you're hereby dispatched to serve under the USN."
F admittedly couldn't hide her excited smirk as she flung a salute to her now former boss. "Thank you Sir!"
Looking up to Jenson, General Hood asked the CEO, "Mr. Jenson, how long until your ships can reach Earth?"
Jenson glanced down at his communication console as he answered the military leader. "At max speed, their Ion drives should be able to bring them into orbit in as little as one to two days. I believe there should be some ships within the system that could help as well."
"Signal them when you can, Mr. Jenson. We could use all the help we can get from them." The CEO nodded to Hood as he stood firmly to the viewer, the general turning to face Wade and his colleagues. "And Mr. Carter? We'll be mobilizing our forces immediately after this meeting concludes. It'll be a minute, but I want you to gather whatever items and belongings you'll need for this operation. Be ready to head to the flight pads in no more than three hours."
"Understood Sir!" Wade said with a salute, Tina, Jasmine and Nathan giving their own as Jasmine raised a finger.
"What about the area around the lab? That place looks like it's in the middle of the city."
J raised a finger as she told Jasmine and the others about their resolution of the civilian obstacle. "Shortly after reporting our findings on the transmission, Hood told us that they were sending in some teams to clear out the civilian population within several miles of the facility. Once we get there, it should be of no concern."
Jasmine sighed in relief as Tina spoke up. "So the people should be safe from any sort of danger?"
"Correct, Mrs. Tina." Preston answered before continuing. "Given the resistance Halloway and his men showed during the Coalition's raid, they most certainly won't hold back there."
"One more thing, Sir." Nathan asked. "The Coalition's going to help us out with this too, right?"
"You can count on it, Mr. Nathan." The Vickers' captain replied as he looked to J, then to Jenson as he spoke further. "I met the leader of the Coalition's detachment working with us when I was introduced to J and Mrs. Elliott here, they intend to see this conflict finished. I highly doubt they're willing to sit back and let us do this by ourselves."
"And their help will be much appreciated." Hood added, everyone's attention returned to him as he looked to Tessa, curious eyes scanning her holographic form. "And Mrs. Elliott, if I may. Do you mind heading down here to assist us in our investigations later on?"
"Funny you say that, General. I'm almost done with my own snooping around on the JCJ up in orbit, Cyn has some small departments of hers aboard, and I thought I'd gather some more intel before coming down." Glancing to Mr. Jenson, she saw him giving an understanding nod before returning her gaze to the military staff. "I should be down there by the evening, judging by where you're located."
"Do what you must, Mrs. Elliott. We could use whatever you find." Hood replied firmly as he turned once more to the JCJenson CEO. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Jenson. We will get to the bottom of this."
"It's my pleasure, General." Glancing to J and Tessa, he spoke to them once more. "J? Contact me when you've finished with Halloway and his Administrator."
"It'll be done, Mr. Jenson." The obedient servant answered before saluting firmly, receiving a final nod from her boss before he ended the transmission.
With their off-world guest out of the way, Hood looked to Wade and his friends, J, Tessa and Captain Mitchells sharing the gaze with them as the general spoke to them in finality. "Well, you know what comes next everyone. You're all dismissed for now. And remember, landing zone by 1300."
"We'll be there Sir." Wade said with a nod as he and his friends stood up, pushing in their chairs before making their way out to the door.
As they neared it, Wade stopped for a moment as they heard Hood call to one of his friends. "And F?" The soldier drone looked to the general as he continued. "Before we depart, would you mind changing your uniform? I believe it could help with identifying you from the other disassembly drones more easily." Glancing to J, then back to F, he finished with, "I recall hearing about the most formidable drones having clones prepared, yes?"
"Correct, Sir. I'll stop by the nearest barracks while I can." F replied before turning back to the door with her colleagues, Wade opening the door for them all as they passed through. After them, Wade passed through himself, shutting the door to the meeting room as he returned to the lobby.
Walking about together, F spoke to Wade and the others. "Well, that went smoothly. I'll be heading down to the barracks, then head over to your place to help out."
"Actually," Wade replied, raising a finger up as he asked his fellow murder drone, "You think you could bring your friends over? We could get to know each other while we're getting ready."
F glanced to Nathan with a smile before returning her eyes to Wade. "I could see about that. You're gonna like them, I can promise you that."
Taking Tina's hand, Wade walked with his girlfriend alongside Jasmine and the others, nearing the hallway they came through as they prepared for the walk back to the apartment.

Two years ago my best friend invited me to his university graduation in july, and even asked me to be in his photos beside his family (we had been friends for seven years at that point). I was very honored, but he invited his boyfriend too.
Now, I had never met his boyfriend before, but I knew my friend loved him to pieces so I tried my best to get along with him (I'm not very socially skilled). We got along great, but I think I tried too hard because after my friend graduation he started being very cold with me.
I think it's important to say I moved away for university after high school (We live 3 hours away) and the only form of communication we shared was through texts, and I'm a bad texter but I have always tried my best for him.
After his graduation he started being cold with me. His answers to my texts were short and icy for months until he stopped answering me. I think maybe I talked to his boyfriend too much, or I didn't pay him the right amount of attention in his graduation, but I'm not sure because when I asked him what was wrong, that he could tell me what did I do he insisted that everything was fine. That nothing was wrong.
That year (2022) he started ghosting me in september and then started texting me pictures and videos about cutting bad people from his life and resenting others in the first days of february of 2023. Which were very obviously things he thought about me. To this day I don't know what I was supposed to answer to those texts (I only sent back sad faces).
And then that month in valentine's day he suddendly started acting normal again. And he even asked me why I hadn't send him a Happy Christmas and New Year text in december (which I had been doing since we were sixteen). Honestly, I cried of anger that day because I had actually grieved our friendship already.
I went to visit him somewhere that year for his birthday in May, to test how he acted in person. We went out to eat but it was a very tense hang out. After that, thinking about fixing our friendship and about what should I say and what not (to not upset him) made me so anxious that I ghosted him after May until October(not my best move)
He started sending me again passive agressive images about bad friends but started talking to me again anyway. In December I went to visit him and the two of us went to his town fair. It was less tense, but our relationship still felt very stilted.
After that we texted until early february, and then he ghosted me almost two months until the end of march to wish me happy birthday. Which I answered with ghosting him until this month to wish him happy birthday too.
I feel very guilty about ghosting him but my mental health has been a mess this year, and thinking about texting him has only made me anxious since his graduation. I don't know what to do anymore, or how to talk to him. I don't even know if we are still friends.

Warning, very long and confusing post ahead:
On 4/20 I found out im pregnant with my second, after taking a test at home. (first is now 8, almost 9). Without all the details, I am not in the same place mentally, emotionally, etc that I was while pregnant with my first. I was younger and not in a healthy relationship, but I did have more help from friends and family, and financially I was in a better place. I was scared then too, but no where near as unprepared and scared as I was finding out this time. Of course I’d hoped I would be in a better position in life and stronger and better and all the things.. if I ever had another child, but to put it lightly, life throws curveballs, and all that… and the last two years especially, taught me that life is not a linear, continually uphill path. There will be some tumbling back down and starting over… so to speak. So without going on and on, I ended up deciding to seek help with figuring out what I wanted to do because I was very unsure.
my periods have been irregular for well over a year, I had attributed it to stress. I only took a test because I had some symptoms, I’m not on birth control, so I knew it was a possibility. (please refrain from judging/ lecturing. The how and why is very complicated, and this story is going to be long enough.. and I’m doing what I need to, to address it all) but I wasn’t doing a great job of tracking anything and I’m embarrassed to say I wasn’t and am still not exactly sure how far along I might be. I had routine care while I was pregnant with my first, but found out early, because my period was like clockwork then, so 2 days late I had tested positive. I went to one of the only places available in my area at the time, and I didn’t have a great experience, but I also didn’t really question whether I was going to go through with the pregnancy, and just went straight to prenatal care. I had blood testing done finding out I was 3-4 weeks initially, and then a normal ultrasound at 8 weeks, and regularly from then on.
So this was my first experience with abortion/ family planning clinics and my first time being unsure of when I actually got pregnant, which left me both nervous and driving myself insane with scenarios. And the other stress in my life is just amplifying it.
The day of my appointment (4/29) I was running late and so I called to let them know. I quickly googled the number of the place, when I realized I couldn’t find it in my phone, from scheduling it the week before. A woman answered, she was friendly but told me I wasn’t in their system or scheduled for that day. I quickly realized I called the wrong number, and started to apologize. The two clinics are on the same street. She was still being very nice and started telling me they could see me anyway, that day, and even started saying they could do an ultrasound if I wanted, I didn’t even need to worry about having insurance. I said no thank you. I was suspicious, but not fully aware yet of who I had even accidentally called. I told her no thank you and-hurried and called the correct office, that I had initially booked an appt with. they were overbooked that day as it was, and apologized, but they couldn’t push my appt any later and had to reschedule for a couple days later.
My anxiety, and desperation to get some answers, coupled with pressure on myself and stress, led me to call the other clinic, back.
They were happy to get me in, and I showed up. I started putting pieces together on the way over, and confirmed my suspicions when I walked in and saw the Bible verses on the walls. I started to change my mind and was preparing myself to leave but started convincing myself maybe these clinics weren’t as corrupt as I had heard, and that maybe the horror stories were just that. Maybe I was being dramatic, I was just stressed, these women were nice, etc blah blah
They asked for a urine sample and the woman who introduced herself as a nurse and another woman, appeared, but didn’t introduce herself, and had me sit in a room, them across from me, like an interview. They had notepads and internally I start freaking out at this point and I am about to get up and leave because everything now feels incredibly off, but the woman asks if I took a home test, I say yes. She looks at me , smiling “How did you feel, when you saw that positive test.?” I was already visibly nervous and upset at that point and so when she asked that it felt very invasive. I started to explain that I wasn’t oblivious to what they were doing and said I’d like them to stop. They backed off some and started back tracking, asking if I wanted to just get the ultrasound done, for my peace of mind. I definitely should have left, but like I said, my headspace was STRESSED and extremely anxious and I just WANTED to KNOW something. It didn’t even occur to me they might lie about what was on the ultrasound, or anything. I don’t know why it didn’t, but I know I wasn’t thinking clearly at all, and while I had started accepting that they would pressure me into keeping the pregnancy, I started trying to rationalize that I didnt think it was legal for them to do an ultrasound, a medical exam, if they weren’t qualified to do so?…. I still have so many questions and didn’t realize how little I knew about my own rights, and the legal aspects surrounding these things, until now.
I was showed a screen, (not the one the nurse used, she kept that turned to get the entire time) and showed me a normal enough seeming ultrasound. She did one on my stomach and one internally. I didn’t see a noticeable baby, just a sac… I did think I saw flickering, like when I saw my firsts heartbeat, at one point, but she moved the wand away and didn’t speak almost the entire time, never pointing anything out. I know this sounds so stupid but I assumed it was another organ? Or glitching maybe I don’t know…she apologized for being quiet, said she “had to concentrate.” She finally tells me what feels like 5 years later, I look to be 5 weeks 0 days. I take her word for it. I’m pretty overwhelmed. The other woman, (counselor, nurse, stranger????) was in the room the entire time, sitting behind me. Again I’m realizing how absurd this is now that I’m replaying it, and I’m mortified, but it happened and now here I am. Looking back they were uncomfortably quiet, and offered no reassurance really. But then as I’m preparing to leave, while I’m just going through the motions and lost in my thoughts, they tell me they want to try to hear the heartbeat next week, they’re sure they’ll be able to then. They’re almost like, giddy, lose any air of “professionalism” and hand me a box wrapped in a pink bow, that I opened at home and found out had a newborn onesie inside, that said “best gift ever.”
I’m still reeling. This was 2 Weeks ago. I’m upset. I feel stupid. I’m confused and feel like I was taken advantage of, in a way. And worst of all, I am now second guessing everything I thought I “found out.” The ultrasound picture they gave me, was cut off at the top. There is no date, time, name or gestational weeks.. I didn’t go to the follow up appointment, and instead scheduled an appointment with the office I went to for my first pregnancy. But I didn’t tell them what happened or that i had an ultrasound done already, I just told them the date of the positive test, and last suspected period. (Even though, with suspicious clinic saying 5 Weeks- that would mean I had a “period” after I was already pregnant- which is what led me to wonder if I was further along) couldn’t get me in until next week, when, if I go off of the ultrasound, would make me 9 weeks. Normal timing to be seen but I have been on a mental rollercoaster.
I feel like I’ve “popped” this past week, I have a noticeable bump, and everything just feels very off. I have been so depressed and confused I haven’t tried to get any help sooner because I’m just ashamed. But it is worrying me to death that maybe they lied, and my ultrasound was a fake, and I’ve now waited too long to have a choice. I think I decided I want to go through with this anyway, but I now wonder how much of my decision is being influenced by what happened? Pregnancy hormones are already difficult, my life has been chaos and while I think I’m making the decision based on my own choice, I’m not sure I can even trust myself and my decision making anymore after all this confusion… I really need any advice, guidance, support I don’t know. Am I being paranoid? Am I losing it? Is it unlikely a pro life clinic would really go that far?… I’m under too much stress to know what may just be me overreacting, and what is genuinely a concern, and what to do about it all either way. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Update I’m not sure how Reddit works, but I will simply make a new post.
A lot has happened since my original post.
I know a lot of people were against this, but I went through with the pregnancy and I am forever thankful for my beautiful baby. I had originally planned to get an abortion, but I found myself unable to go through with the appointment. (I am pro-choice and always will be. Just because I chose to keep my baby doesn’t mean another woman/girl should be forced to keep a pregnancy they do not wish to continue. Everyone has a right to their own bodies.) My parents were very upset with me and my whole family disowned me. I listened to what some of you said about letting the father know (will be referring to him as ‘D’), after many failed attempts to reach out to him I decided to go in person. D was not happy when I showed up at his place but when I told him why, he agreed to talk with me. D let me know that he’d officially ended things with his ex and wanted to go no contact with me because I was another tie to his past with her, but he was willing to try and figure out a co-parenting plan with me if I agreed to a paternity test first. I of course felt a bit bad about the paternity test part but agreed to it since we both had only been acquaintances that bonded over our trauma. Everything was honestly easy cruising until I started to spot around the 26 week mark, my OBGYN explained that while spotting is normal while pregnant, mine was heavier and my blood sugablood pressure also both worried them because of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia risk.
After a few nights of D insisting on sleeping on my couch, I had him help me move some of my things to his place since he lived closer to the hospital. I am very thankful I decided to semi-move in with him when I did bc I went into premature labor at 32 weeks. I am very thankful to have had D and his family as my support system; his mom would come and switch out with him at the hospital and advocated for me whenever I felt washed out or unheard, she helped me both emotionally and physically and stood by me. D’s mom also helped me work through my emotions when all I wanted was my mom (she and my dad had gone no contact with me after I decided to keep and have my baby). D’s mom was an absolute godsend also because she’s a retired nurse (she started in OB, went to NICU and eventually later settled into lactation before retiring) and explained things to me when we found out that my baby had respiratory problems and had SUA (single umbilical artery) and that it could’ve been a factor into why I went into premature labor. She stayed with D and I so she could help me with pumping since I wasn’t able to produce milk and encouraged me when I felt like such a failure for not being able to take care of my son when he needed me most, she drove me to and from the hospital while my son was in the NICU because I was healing and so mentally/physically exhausted. I really and truly believe that I didn’t fall into deep postpartum depression because she held me and helped me with each step and was always so patient with me, even when I wasn’t with myself. D’s mom would constantly remind me that nothing was our fault and no one did anything wrong, it just that everyone is faced with hardships in life and this was one we’d work together to get through.
My son graduated from the NICU and came home a month after I did, D’s mom visited us often and helped with him since D and I are first time parents. D’s dad joked that he felt like she and I had the baby together and he and D were both just background characters that make guest star appearances every now and then since D was working so much in order to build more PTO and his mom wouldn’t bring his dad along when she’d come visit since she didn’t want him to disturb me and the baby with his loudness (D’s dad is hard of hearing and can sometimes be unaware of his volume so he took no offense to it).
D’s siblings and family members posted a lot about our son because he was the first grandchild and first baby in a long time, D’s youngest cousin is 17 (turning 18 this year). Somehow someone must’ve shared a photo or something, but pictures of us reached my family and my parents demanded I let them meet my son. D was supportive of whatever I chose to do and said he’d agree to them meeting him if that’s what I wanted. After thinking about it for a few days I decided that I wanted to talk to my parents before I let them meet my son; when we met up to talk, my parents were offended that I didn’t bring my son with us and left him with D’s parents, they said some really hurtful things and then my dad started to question on when D was going to ask him for permission for us to get married since we didn’t already have a shotgun wedding while I was pregnant. I was okay with them insulting me since I’d grown up with it and was used to it, but once my parents put their target on D and his family I became upset and decided it was time for us to leave.
My parents did try to petition for legal visitation rights (honestly, before this whole ordeal, I did not even know that grandparents rights existed), but were denied because my son is still very young and because both D and I are very much on good terms, are living in the same household, and they couldn’t find or prove that there was any danger to our son’s wellbeing. My family did try to reach out to us and claim that we were horrible people for denying my parents their grandchild, but no one ever seemed to be able to make a peep when D’s family would defend us and point out that my family had been the one to disown me and that no one cared to see if I was okay until after I had the baby and everything was handled. D’s mom and my mom got in a verbal (almost physical) altercation after my mom had made false reports to cps and called the police to do multiple welfare checks on us, my mom was given a warning by the police for harassing us after one specific incident where she threw a tantrum and caused a scene when the police found nothing wrong in the welfare check and refused to listen to her demands to have my son temporarily taken away from us and put in her custody ‘for his safety’. D and I currently have restraining orders pending against my parents and certain family members.
One of the reasons I decided to update is because about two months ago a friend of D’s asked him out to have some drinks and they ran into his ex-fiance who later messaged him to tell him that she regretted the way they ended and how she was very hurt when she heard that we had a baby together, especially with it being so soon after their relationship. D wouldn’t talk to me about how he felt, and when I asked him he just brushed me off or switched the conversation onto a topic about our son that he knew would distract me. I noticed D pulling away from me and how our relationship became a bit awkward and strained after their run in and her message because I know he still has feelings for her and I am afraid that he might feel trapped with me and our son. I also noticed that the drama with my family has made D and his family less patient with me and my son, during Mother’s Day I overheard a few of his family members make comments to D about me being at their family barbecue since ‘I was just my son’s mom’ and ‘not really’ part of the family, D just shrugged and said I didn’t have anyone else to spend the day with.
With how tense things have been, I have been thinking about moving out and back into my place. I stayed with D at his place after I gave birth, but now that our son is slightly older and I am healed, I want to give D back some space so that he can start dating again if he wants to and to give him back some more ‘bachelor’ time when I have our son. I want to find a way to approach me moving out and us making a coparenting plan without making making things more awkward or possibly ruining the relationship I have with D and his parents, I don’t want them to feel like I’m not grateful or anything, but I do want to go back to work and get my life back on track so that I can provide my portion of needs for my son and not want to depend on his family for more than appropriate.

Cawthon, Scott. The Bobbiedots Conclusion: An AFK Book (Five Nights at Freddy’s: Tales from the Pizzaplex #5). Scholastic Inc, 2023. 

So tonight I had dinner with my family and we were having homemade brats. Yum! Except after an hour I was so bloated that my stomach was basically distended, and I barely even noticed (because I used to live like this all the time before I thought better of it and gave up gluten). I'm not going to include a picture but if you just imagine a woman in her early 3rd trimester of pregnancy, thats what it's looking like right now. I don't think I've been this bloated in months. The kind where it hurts to stand up straight.
I looked it up after eating and discovered that breadcrumbs or flour are commonly used as a binder in sausages. Should've known better, but oh well.
But it got me thinking, because I still haven't taken the celiac test, and have been putting it off. I can pinpoint a few times I've been cross contaminated since giving up gluten, and one time I thought I might've had a slight reaction, and the other time I didn't really notice anything. But this is the first time I can say I think I've ingested gluten, even though it was probably only a small handful of breadcrumbs or flour. Maybe I'm overthinking all of this too and it's not related (I still have imposter syndrome). But is severity of bloating a 'tell' for Celiac? Or does this happen to everyone, Celiac or not?

Hi everyone,
(Pictures in comments, I don't know how to use reddit)
After trying to print a sort of pot (not in vase mode), I'm having the problem seen in the first picture.
From what I can tell, this happend when printing thin walls with a loop in the middle (as shown in Cura in the second picture). When it was printing, the nozzle would stop in the middle and extrude a large blob, before hopping to the next, rince and repeat.
I also have some big Z seams zits but I could live with that.
I'm looking into it, but if you had the problem, it'll be faster and less costly in tests. And in anyway, the more brains the better!

Settings:

Printer: Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro (always in "stable" mode)
Filament: Anycubic PLA High Speed
Slicer: Cura

Temps:

- Initial layer:

• Bed: 60°C
• Nozzle: 210°C

- Other layers:

• Bed: 50°C
• Nozzle: 205°C

Speed: 150mm/s (I think? It's the "stable" setting of the printer, I don't set it myself)
Flow: 99%

Retraction:

• Rectraction Distance: 8 mm
• Retraction Speed: 80 mm/s
• Retraction extra prime amount: 1.0 mm³
• Retraction min travel: 0.5mm
• Combing mode: All
• Retract before Outer wall: true

If Any other settings are needed, I'll provide them as requested (I can also provide the settings profile file if wanted)
Thanks in advance!

One of the hardest questions to answer on this subreddit is when people ask what their itinerary should be, followed by questions on what an appropriate budget would be, and then suggestions on hidden gems.
The TL;DR is that all three questions need more details if you want them to be answered.
"But kmrbtravel!" you say, "I need an itinerary if I want a budget, and a budget if I want to make an itinerary! It's all so overwhelming, and I don't know where to start! Oh but I also want to find places that have little to no tourists and are your secret hidden gems, just for that variety!"
I'm hoping this post will be a good starting point for the people above but also to let people know that for the vast majority of us, the 'basic' things recommended on Google and YouTube will be perfect! Travelling Japan is fun because there are so many things to be distracted by, and you will be spending a lot of your time wandering and trying things out, even without a detailed itinerary.

About Me

I write this spiel every time, but I'm a 25F solo traveller with friends I stay with in Japan. Played a Japanese martial art for years, and I visit Japan 3-4x every year (usually 1-2 weeks in April, 1 week in September, 1-2 weeks in late Oct/early Nov, and 1 month in December).
I'm currently on a mission to visit all 47 prefectures across Japan, and I'm at 9 right now (Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Shimane, Mie, Hiroshima, Okayama, Hyogo, and most recently Nagoya). You can read about my biggest and craziest trip here (especially if you're looking for suggestions outside of Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka!)
I speak and understand very basic and noob Japanese. Enough for me to get around, barely enough for me to talk to random obaasans in the onsen who are curious about my travels. I can read hiragana/katakana, and kanji still eludes me (but we'll get there!)
One thing to note about me is that I'm mostly temple/shrine oriented when I travel Japan, so I personally cannot answer questions regarding things like museums/amusement parks/etc.

What Makes Planning a Japan Trip So Hard? (And why is it harder for us to answer your questions?)

Out of any other country that I've visited, I genuinely believe that Japan has the most variety in terms of what you can do and see and can cater wildly to different kinds of people, which sometimes makes it very difficult for us to give you detailed answers. While we all have the same goal of 'exploring Japan,' I personally want to give the best answers possible. I will have different suggestions (and routes!) depending on if you can walk 30,000 steps/day, if you have young kids, if you like anime, if you like martial arts, if you like nature and hiking, if you like shrines/temples, if you don't mind crowds, if you want to just do what everyone else is doing, if you want to do more traditional things, etc. etc. This is why general questions on 'what should my itinerary be' can never fully be answered. We are not mind readers, but we're happy to help with more information.
'They all sound good to me though, and that's why I can't choose!'
Unfortunately, the reality is that you will have to choose by some point. Japan is so much fun because there is an endless amount of things to do, and you have to pick what sounds the most entertaining to you. After 9 prefectures and multiple visits to Japan, I have very, very little things that I personally didn't enjoy. We do not know who you are, and we do not know your preferences. You need to either pick for us, or give us that guidance so we can suggest appropriate itineraries for you.
In harsher terms, for the vast majority of us, an AI-made itinerary, or suggestions from Google or YouTube will satisfy your trip. What us humans can do on Reddit, is to give you specific suggestions, but we cannot give specific suggestions if you do not provide us with (somewhat) specific questions.

1. The Budget Question

I have travelled Japan with less than ¥2000/day, and have travelled with more than ¥20,000/day. The great thing about Japan is that you have the option to do both. Are you broke after plane tickets + hotels? No worries, there are tons of free sightseeing options and you can konbini or street food breakfast/lunch/dinner for very little. Do you want to splurge because this is your 'once-in-a-lifetime-trip?' Don't worry! There are tons of ways for you to sink your money in.
But to be more helpful, I'll break it down just a bit further. After hotels/planes, these are the biggest money sinks:

• Transportation: while transit isn't groundbreakingly expensive, if you're moving a lot and jumping around stations, it can add up. I usually charge around ¥10,000-20,000 per trip (for day-to-day transportation)
  • The big bank-breaking transportation though is of course, the Shinkansen. If you are moving between cities via the bullet train, you need to keep this in mind and weave it into your budget.
  • Other options include:
    • Night bus: pros (usually cheap), cons (you basically waste a day because you're EXHAUSTED the next day)
    • Local subway lines: pros (faster than the bus), cons (do not come on with big luggage and there is a very real chance you may have to stand 3+ hours if it's a busy line—which happened to me in Hiroshima)
    • Day bus: pros (cheap and you don't have to force yourself to sleep), cons (you literally waste a day travelling to get to your location)
• Food: while I'm personally not a fan of Japanese food myself, I still find all sorts of ways to open my wallet with cool cafes, street food, AYCE BBQ, and just general meals.
  • I've found most meals cost between ¥500-2500, though you can do cheaper with konbini-only or street stall foods. Japan is great because even their cheapest options tend to be pretty high quality.
• Tickets/experiences: renting kimonos, Ghibli museums or parks, TeamLabs, amusement parks, Shibuya Sky/Tokyo ToweSkyTree, (some) temples/shrines, gardens, castles, etc. all cost money. We have no idea what you want to do, so you'd need to provide this sort of information for us.
• Ryokans: I know I said 'excluding hotels,' but if you want a traditional ryokan experience, these tend to be much costlier than most other cheap hotel options. I personally still travel like a broke university student and rarely pay over ¥5000/night for a hotel, unless it's peak travel season, so a ryokan is out of my budget. But if you want to experience one, put it in your estimate!
• Souvenirs: if you're bad with money like me, you will be purchasing a lot of souvenirs. As a Canadian, I cannot fathom what on earth people would even want from Canada minus a bucket of maple syrup, but there are tons of options in Japan, all of which adds up quite quickly.
  • Goshuin: I am writing a massive post on goshuin/goshuincho, but Himekat has some great guides if you're not sure what they are.
  • Snacks: great, cheap gifts to get for friends and family. You're lying to yourself if you say you're not going to blitz through a Donki (Don Quijote—a chain of budget/discount stores across Japan that has everything you can possible want) for souvenirs. (It is a scarring but necessary experience for all those visiting Japan).
  • Omamori/omikuji/ema: omamori are those charms (I'm personally wearing a beaaaautiful one from Asagaya Shinmeigu) that are sold at temples and shrines, omikuji are the luck/fortune draws, and ema are those wooden tablets where you can write down a wish. I personally always write one at Meiji Jingu (Tokyo) and Itsukushima Jinja (Hiroshima)!
  • I've personally never shopped at Uniqlo, but I heard it's cheaper in Japan(?). Stationery fans will also be headed towards Loft and Tokyu Hands, I'm sure.
• Arcades: In North America, arcades are those money-wasting things you take your kids to every once in a while and a sure way to lose $1-2 each time. In Japan, arcades are everywhere and you can actually win prizes (a lot of them!) I usually average around ¥2000-4000 per prize. I know some people are totally turned off by anime and don't want any figures or prizes of the sort, but many of us will find ourselves plastered between a cute plushie and the windows inside of a blinding GIGO. Plan some wiggle room, because I find this to usually be an unexpected money sink!
• Gacha: you will be spending money on some gacha machines. You've been warned.

I'm probably forgetting things (and will update as I remember them), but Japan is REALLY good at chipping away at your wallet little bits at a time. It's not like Europe or North America where your cost is just expensive food + an expensive experience. Japan is a lot of cheap, little things that adds up quickly.
Some prices are baked in/unchanging (e.g. TeamLabs tickets or Shinkansen tickets), but many of those 'smaller things that adds up' can be quite random. I always add up my expected costs, subtract it from my total budget, and divide the remainder with the days I will be in Japan for.

• E.g.: 10 day trip to Japan, total budget left: $1000 CAD (after Shinkansen, plane, hotel, Ghibli museum, USJ, SkyTree, etc.) = $100 CAD/day. I also give myself a $200 'emergency shopping fund' for something I REALLY want that's outside of my budget.

2. The Itinerary Question

There are tons of great itineraries on YouTube and Google and I promise you, most of them are good enough for you to just copy/paste and experience. Use us for specific questions you may have in regards to them (e.g. I'm planning on going to xyz on abc dates, is there anything to keep in mind?) (and then we can inform you of any closures, tips, tricks, etc.).
As someone who travels a lot, I want to point out that hotspots are hot for a reason and the ones in Japan are all worth going to unless you can somehow tell it's not going to be your thing (and that's ok!) or you have a serious aversion to crowds.
How one makes an itinerary is always varied, but as someone who's good at going with the flow when travelling (and often plans very last minute), this is how I usually rumble:
0. BRING AN EMPTY SUITCASE: I usually have a slightly smaller suitcase inside of my big suitcase, and the smaller suitcase has all of my clothes + shoes. If you do this, please cover or cushion the wheels of your smaller suitcase inside. I have no idea what happens in the cargo, but I've smashed the wheels of two small suitcases (even though they were fine when they're not inside the larger suitcase). I usually just put some shoes/scarves/dark hoodies for cushioning.

• 1. Pin your itinerary on Google Maps or My Maps: this is my #1 tip for all travellers!
  • This allows you to visualize which areas you will be staying at the most. It allows for you to group your days based on distance (excluding ticket-oriented events with specific dates), find a suitable place for accommodation, and allows you to estimate the distance for your travels.
  • Google Maps: sign into your account, go to Google Maps, and click on the location of your itinerary → Save → New List (if you want) → make a list for your trip! The points will be visible next time you open a map.
  • My Maps: I use this more for archival purposes, but can be useful too :)
• 2. Pick a hotel: your home base. I prefer accommodations that are close to a station. While I never go back to the hotel to drop things off/refresh, I've found that I really didn't enjoy walking the 10-15 minutes back 'home' after 20-30k steps. On the flip side, there are genuinely really nice and more affordable hotels if you don't mind walking that distance.
  • Architecturally, Japan's buildings tend to be much smaller (narrower) compared to North American structures. For Tokyo especially, many budget hotels have very little floor space, which can make opening your luggage and packing really difficult. I've found hotels near popular stations to be smaller and more expensive, but convenient. Hotels some 10-15 minute walk away (which may not sound like much, but I promise you will feel after travelling Japan) tend to be slightly larger and slightly cheaper, but I've also been to a few that did not have any konbinis nearby (a very first world problem, but I live and breathe konbinis)
  • Outside of Tokyo though (even in Osaka/Kyoto), I've had less issues with hotel floor sizes.
  • You should also choose a place that is close to your itinerar(ies), if possible. This is more a 'winter travel tip' than a spring/summer one, but when daylight is tight and you want to get as many things done with limited sunlight, you do not want to waste daylight commuting if you can help it. Obviously some limitations.

My itinerary recommendations are nothing special as I literally pick things off Google. But hotspots are hot for a reason, and these were some of my favourites for Tokyo and Kyoto!

• Tokyo:
  • Nippon Budokan (for my martial arts fans!), Akihabara (for my weebs!)
  • I usually lap Meiji Jingu, Takeshita-dori, Yoyogi Park, and sometimes Omotesando (for shopping) togetheon the same day as they are all right next to each other! Going from the bustling streets of Harajuku/Takeshitadori to the peaceful forest of Meiji Jingu will always give me whiplash.
  • Shibuya, Shibuya Sky, Shibuya 109, Hachiko Statue, I personally didn't find Shibuya Crossing too special but whatever, along with the Nintendo Store + Pokemon Centre + Jump Store + Capcom Store. There's also Loft/Tokyo Hands for my stationery fanatics. Shibuya is massive and can take more than a day to explore if you really enjoy shopping.
  • I also usually walk from Sensoji to SkyTree, but your feet may hate you. You'll also be able to pass by the Asahi Beer Hall (affectionately called 'The Golden Poo' by my Japanese friends).
  • TeamLab Planets was probably the one non-sightseeing touristy thing I did, and I loved it!
  • Ikebukuro: I personally don't think you need to go out of your way for Ikebukuro but if you develop a gambling addiction from the gacha machines there, Sunshine City has the most gacha capsule machines in the world! (They also have tons of other stores like a Mugiwara Store, Crayon Shin-Chan, Pokemon stores, etc.)
• Kyoto:
  • MY HOME BASE (as it is where my best friend lives) and also my favourite city as I am a shrine enthusiast!
  • Fushimi Inari: I climb this place every trip to Japan without fail. There is nothing view-worthy at the top so feel free to turn around at the viewpoint/halfway point! If you hate yourself like me, you can reach the top and pray for safe passages :)
    • This is my biggest pet peeve: PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE PATH TO TAKE PICTURES. I PROMISE you, it looks exactly the same at the bottom as it does in the middle and the top. Unless you have some sort of physical ailment that only lets you explore the bottom, PLEASE KEEP MOVING AND STOP BLOCKING THE PATH.
  • Kiyomizudera: along with Ninnenzaka and Sannenzaka is always busy and chaotic, but I still very much enjoy it and you'll definitely get the feeling of 'wow, I'm in a really traditional part of Japan!'
    • Two suggestions that I don't see as much love as Kiyomizudera, but is still close is Yasaka Jinja and Chionin. I personally think Yasaka Jinja looks stunning at night with all its lanterns. At Chionin, everything looks sarcastically large (the gate, the steps, the temple) but I still really love it!
  • Kinkakuji: I will never understand why people say it's not that great when I've seen it 3+ times and I still think the gold looks incredible. Where else are you going to see a fully gold temple?! Sure it's a little out of the way, but I still think it's worth it. The gold is beautiful on a clear blue day. I know there's 'not much else to do and the loop is short' but the gold is still amazing to me (more below)
  • Ginkakuji: a really peaceful, beautifully designed pavilion. It was actually my first time visiting in my last trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The path leading up feels like a mini-sannenzaka, with smaller stores and eateries.
  • Arashiyama: one of my favourite places of all time in Kyoto although I do not recommend the bamboo forest and it is ironically my least favourite part of Arashiyama. Instead, I recommend:
    • Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum: cute music boxes, I personally have one of Yonezu Kenshi's Lemon!
    • Nisonin Temple and Seiryoji: you may not appreciate it as much as I do if you don't love temples, but if you're not a fan of crowds I find these two way less busy (but also much more walking to get to). If you visit Seiryoji, there is a garden at the back of the temple (take the slippers and open the door). Nice cool breeze there always!
    • Monkey Park: monkeys! A bit of a hike.
    • Tenryuji: honestly not my favourite place in the world but people seem to like it
    • I usually do not have food recommendations for Japan, BUT I personally believe Arashiyama has some of the best eats!
  • Kinkakuji / Ryoanji / Ninnaji: okay I know I already mentioned Kinkakuji, but the complaint I hear the most is 'it's so far out of the way and there's nothing else there!' WRONG, if you want be stuffed full of awesome temples, I highly suggest the Kinkakuji → Ryoanji → Ninnaji route!
    • Ryoanji: is famous for its stone garden. One of my favourite gardens to study architecturally and design-wise (search up why before you go, and test it out!)
    • Ninnaji: definitely not visited as much by foreign tourists BUT I personally think it has one of the best indoor loops with long walkways and a gorgeous garden that it loops around. If I had a 'hidden gem' for foreign tourists, this would be the one I'm willing to share! (Also a 3 min bus ride from Ryoanji).
  • One place I do NOT recommend minus sakura season is Philosopher's Walk. I passed through it multiple times until someone pointed out it's actually a popular tourist attraction (??) I would not go out of my way for this at all. It looks like any other road in Japan. I don't even know if I'd recommend it during sakura season because there are so many beautiful streets for them everywhere.
  • Other places to check out are Kyoto Station (sick architecture), Tofukuji (especially during fall), Shijo-Kawaramachi (the downtown area of Kyoto), Shimogamo Jinja (another one of my 'hidden gems'—it's an extremely famous and popular shrine, but I rarely see foreign tourists for some reason), and Kitano Tenmangu (if you're a student—this is the studying god!)

3. The 'Hidden Gem' Question

If this is your first trip to Japan, you don't need hidden gems (unless they're food-specific). The major sightseeing attractions are popular for a reason and will be more than enough unless you're literally here for months.
Secondly, and more importantly, I've realized that 'hidden gems' are pretty personal to an individual's tastes. For example, I revealed a few of my hidden gem shrines and temples a few months ago, and immediately got immediately told that it's not actually very great. Well yeah, but that's why it was a hidden gem for me, because I loved it. We will not know what a 'hidden gem' means for you unless you specify the type. Are we looking for hidden gems that are about food? Temples? Specific anime references?
I can promise you that 99% of places worth going to are already spread across social media, and they're popular for good reasons. I personally don't think it's worth travelling far or trying spend so much time and effort looking for that 1%, especially on a first trip.
Lastly, I personally do not reveal my hidden gems unless I know you in person or it's a small business that may appreciate more support. While you may disagree, I think overtourism/overcrowding is pretty real in Japan right now, and I'm hesitant to put smaller places up on public platforms.
With that being said though, for tourists who have already been to Japan and want 'hidden gems' beyond Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka, I highly recommend the Kyushu/Chugoku region trip that I did back in January. I don't have specific itinerary 'hidden gems' but I definitely have 'hidden prefectures' that I loved (and even preferred) to Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka! (They're not actually hidden, just less visited compared to the trifecta).
Full itinerary/trip report here.
My itinerary for these prefectures are nothing special and none of them are 'hidden gems' as they're literally the most popular attractions for each place. But a. I think this proves that the 'top search' on Google is perfectly fine (because that's what I did, and I had an amazing time), and b. the popular attractions are very much worth going to.
There is a special promotion for foreign tourists that lets you take the bus to and from Shimane to Hiroshima for only 1000 yen, and the bus is only around 3 hrs from Izumo to Hiroshima! You can either start in Kyoto and move down, or start in Hiroshima and move up. I did all in 6 days which I do NOT recommend because I had to rush / clocked 30k+ steps in every day / thought I was going to die by the last day / was in a new prefecture every day.

1. Kyoto → Osaka → Kobe → Himeji → Okayama → Izumo → Hiroshima
2. Hiroshima → Izumo → Okayama → Himeji → Kobe → Osaka → Kyoto

Other prefectures nearby that are worth checking out are Nara and Mie.

Thanks for reading!

If you made it to the end, thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful. I definitely don't know everything about Japan and tons of people have amazing tips (that I still learn from every day). This was hopefully to help address some of the more common issues / repeated questions that people had. The TLDR is really just that we need specifics on who YOU are for us to answer your questions better, especially if you're looking for 'hidden gems' that are specific to your interests.
Have an amazing trip, everyone!

Embark on Your Amazon Reselling Adventure

Step into the dynamic realm of Amazon reselling, where opportunities abound, and innovation drives success. This comprehensive guide will reveal the strategies to navigate guidelines, overcome restrictions, and master best practices for unparalleled achievements.
Picture a vibrant marketplace where your entrepreneurial dreams can take flight—a space where small and medium-sized businesses thrive. In 2022, independent sellers in Amazon’s U.S. store sold over 4.1 billion products, with average sales reaching an impressive $230,000. This isn't just an aspiration; it's a reality waiting for you to grasp.
Your journey begins with essential questions: Where can you source items to resell on Amazon? How can you turn branded products into profitable ventures? This guide serves as your roadmap, offering a step-by-step approach to building a successful reselling empire in the expansive Amazon marketplace.

Understanding Reselling

Reselling goes beyond a mere business model; it's a refined craft. It's about unearthing valuable items from unexpected sources and offering them to eager buyers. Here’s your strategic guide:

1. Research Product Demand:
   • Market Analysis: Dive deep into current market trends and consumer preferences. Use tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, and Google Trends to identify products with high demand and low competition.
   • Competitor Analysis: Study your competitors to understand their pricing strategies, customer reviews, and sales volumes. This will help you identify gaps in the market and potential opportunities.
   • Seasonal Trends: Keep an eye on seasonal trends and upcoming events that could boost demand for specific products.
2. Procure the Products:
   • Reliable Suppliers: Establish relationships with reputable suppliers and wholesalers. Websites like Alibaba, SaleHoo, and local trade shows can be excellent sources.
   • Quality Control: Always inspect the quality of the products before purchasing in bulk. Request samples if possible to ensure they meet your standards.
   • Negotiation: Don't hesitate to negotiate prices and terms with suppliers to maximize your profit margins.
3. List the Products Online:
   • Product Listings: Create detailed and compelling product listings. Use high-quality images, thorough descriptions, and relevant keywords to improve your visibility on Amazon.
   • Competitive Pricing: Research the pricing strategies of similar products and set competitive prices. Consider using dynamic pricing tools to adjust your prices based on market conditions.
   • SEO Optimization: Optimize your product listings for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords, bullet points, and customer reviews.
4. Handle Shipping and Fulfillment:
   • Self-Fulfillment: If you choose to handle shipping yourself, ensure you have a reliable system in place for packaging, labeling, and dispatching orders promptly.
   • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Alternatively, you can use Amazon’s FBA service, where Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping. This can save you time and provide faster delivery options to your customers, but consider the costs involved.
5. Manage Inventory and Customer Service:
   • Inventory Management: Keep track of your stock levels to avoid overselling or stockouts. Use inventory management software to automate the process and forecast future needs.
   • Customer Service: Provide exceptional customer service by responding to inquiries promptly, addressing issues efficiently, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Positive reviews and ratings can significantly impact your sales.
   • Returns and Refunds: Have a clear policy for returns and refunds. Handle returns professionally to maintain a good reputation and build trust with your customers.

By mastering these aspects of reselling, you'll be well-equipped to transform your business into a thriving venture on Amazon.

Decoding Profit Margin

Profit margin isn’t just a figure; it’s the heartbeat of your reselling venture. It determines whether your business merely survives or truly thrives. Here’s how to strike the perfect balance between competitive pricing and maintaining a healthy profit margin to ensure your reselling dreams stay afloat:

1. Understanding Profit Margin:
   • Gross Profit Margin: This is the difference between the selling price and the cost of goods sold (COGS), expressed as a percentage. It reflects the profitability of your products before accounting for other expenses.
   • Net Profit Margin: This includes all expenses, such as shipping, fulfillment fees, advertising, and other operational costs. It's the true measure of your business’s profitability.
2. Calculating Your Profit Margin:
   • Formula:
     • Gross Profit Margin = [(Selling Price - COGS) / Selling Price] x 100
     • Net Profit Margin = [(Selling Price - Total Expenses) / Selling Price] x 100
   • Example: If you sell a product for $100, and the COGS is $60, your gross profit margin is 40%. After including $20 for other expenses, your net profit margin would be 20%.
3. Balancing Pricing and Profit:
   • Competitive Pricing: Research your competitors to set a price that is attractive to customers while still allowing you to make a profit. Avoid the temptation to underprice your products significantly, as this can erode your profit margins.
   • Value Proposition: Justify higher prices by emphasizing the unique value your products offer, such as superior quality, better customer service, or additional features.
4. Reducing Costs:
   • Bulk Purchasing: Buying in larger quantities can lower your COGS due to discounts from suppliers.
   • Streamlined Operations: Use efficient inventory management and fulfillment processes to reduce operational costs.
   • Shipping Options: Explore various shipping methods to find cost-effective solutions that do not compromise delivery speed.
5. Monitoring and Adjusting:
   • Regular Reviews: Frequently review your profit margins to identify trends and make adjustments as needed. This could involve tweaking prices, negotiating better deals with suppliers, or finding ways to cut operational costs.
   • Dynamic Pricing: Consider using dynamic pricing strategies that adjust based on market demand, competition, and inventory levels.

By carefully managing your profit margins, you ensure that your reselling business remains profitable and sustainable in the long run.

Is Reselling Your Calling?

Reselling appeals to those with a keen eye for lucrative opportunities, particularly in the following areas:

1. Limited-Availability Items:
   • Scarcity Power: Capitalize on the limited availability of certain products. When demand outstrips supply, prices can soar, allowing you to turn a tidy profit.
   • Examples: Limited-edition sneakers, concert tickets, or special collaboration items.
2. Exclusive or Rare Items:
   • Rare Collectibles: Seek out and sell rare collectibles, vintage treasures, and unique artworks. These items often attract discerning buyers willing to pay a premium.
   • Examples: Antique furniture, rare coins, vintage clothing, and limited-edition art prints.
3. Seasonal Products:
   • Seasonal Waves: Leverage the high demand for seasonal items, such as holiday decorations, outdoor gear, and summer accessories. Timing is crucial to maximize sales during peak seasons.
   • Examples: Christmas lights, Halloween costumes, summer camping gear, and winter sports equipment.
4. Clearance or Discounted Items:
   • Discounted Deals: Purchase items on clearance or at a discount and resell them at market value. This strategy allows you to profit from the price difference.
   • Examples: End-of-season clothing, overstock electronics, and discounted home goods.
5. High-Demand Products:
   • Trending Items: Maintain a steady supply of trending products that are in high demand. Selling these items at competitive prices ensures a consistent flow of sales.
   • Examples: Popular tech gadgets, fitness equipment, beauty products, and fashionable accessories.

If you possess the knack for identifying these opportunities, reselling could be your calling. It’s about recognizing value where others might not and delivering that value to eager buyers, ultimately transforming your skills into a profitable venture.

Setting Sail with an Amazon Seller Account

Embark on your reselling adventure by choosing the right Amazon seller plan to suit your needs:

1. Individual Plan:
   • Cost: $0.99 per product sold plus applicable selling fees.
   • Ideal For: Those just starting out or selling in smaller quantities.
   • Advantages: Low upfront cost, making it perfect for testing the waters without significant financial commitment.
2. Professional Plan:
   • Cost: $39.99 per month plus applicable selling fees.
   • Ideal For: Sellers with higher sales volumes or more extensive inventory.
   • Advantages: Access to advanced selling tools, eligibility for top placement on product detail pages, and the ability to sell in restricted categories.

Choosing the Right Plan

Evaluate your inventory size and sales expectations to determine the best plan for you. Here are some key considerations:

• Sales Volume: If you plan to sell more than 40 items per month, the Professional Plan may be more cost-effective.
• Advanced Features: The Professional Plan offers additional features like bulk listing, detailed sales reports, and promotions.
• Category Restrictions: Some categories require a Professional Plan to list items.

Utilize Amazon’s Tools

To maximize your profitability, leverage Amazon’s free tools:

• Fulfillment Cost Calculator: Use this tool to estimate your revenue potential by calculating fees for storage, fulfillment, and shipping. This helps you make informed decisions about pricing and profitability.

By carefully selecting the right seller plan and utilizing Amazon’s resources, you can set sail on a successful reselling journey, navigating the vast Amazon marketplace with confidence.
The Art of Retail Arbitrage
Retail arbitrage is the thrill of the hunt, buying low and selling high. Navigate this path with care, adhering to Amazon’s selling guidelines and securing necessary documents like invoices. Calculate margins meticulously to ensure your efforts yield treasure, not toil.

Launching Your Reselling Business: 6 Steps

1. Gauge Product Demand

To ensure your product offerings resonate with your target audience, it's crucial to stay ahead of market trends and continuously adapt. Here’s how to gauge product demand effectively:

Stay Ahead of Trends

• Monitor Trends: Regularly track market trends to understand the evolving desires of your target audience.
• Adapt Offerings: Be flexible and ready to adjust your product lineup based on the latest insights and trends.

Market Research Tools

Use a variety of tools to gain comprehensive insights into product demand:
Google Trends:

• Track Search Interest: Utilize Google Trends to monitor the popularity of different products over time.
  • Trend Analysis: Identify upward or downward trends in search interest to forecast potential demand.
  • Comparison: Compare search trends for multiple products to determine which ones are gaining more interest.
  • Spikes and Trends: Identify spikes in interest that may indicate growing popularity.
  • Regional Insights: Understand where certain products are more popular geographically to tailor your marketing efforts.

Social Media Analytics:

• Platform Insights: Leverage analytics tools available on social media platforms to see what's trending.
  • Instagram Insights: Analyze engagement metrics, popular posts, and trending hashtags related to your niche.
  • Facebook Analytics: Track audience demographics, post reach, and interaction rates to understand what content resonates most.
  • TikTok Analytics: Monitor trending videos and hashtags to identify emerging product interests.
  • Trending Hashtags: Track popular hashtags related to your niche to discover emerging trends.
  • Influencer Posts: Observe what influencers in your industry are promoting and which products are receiving the most engagement.
  • Audience Insights: Use analytics tools on social media platforms to gain insights into audience demographics and preferences.

Industry Reports:

• Comprehensive Market Insights: Review detailed reports from reputable sources to get a broader understanding of market dynamics.
  • Statista: Access a wide range of statistics and reports on various industries and consumer trends.
  • Nielsen: Gain insights into consumer behavior, market performance, and emerging trends.
  • IBISWorld: Utilize industry reports to understand market size, growth prospects, and competitive landscapes.
  • Market Analysis: Read reports from companies like Statista, Nielsen, and IBISWorld to understand broader market trends.
  • Consumer Surveys: Look for surveys and studies that reveal consumer preferences and buying habits.
  • Product Performance: Identify which products are gaining traction and why, helping you to make informed decisions about your inventory.

2. Competitive Analysis

Conducting a thorough competitive analysis is essential to understand the landscape of your niche and to carve out your own space. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Study Top Sellers

• Identify Leaders: Find the top sellers in your niche by browsing Amazon’s best seller lists and top-rated products.
• Analyze Listings: Examine their product listings to understand what makes them successful. Pay attention to:
  • Titles: How they structure their product titles for SEO.
  • Descriptions: The level of detail and key points they highlight.
  • Images: The quality and variety of product images used.
  • Pricing: Their pricing strategies and how often they change prices.

Identify Gaps

• Product Offerings: Look for gaps in the market where top sellers may not fully meet customer needs. This could be in terms of product features, variety, or price points.
• Customer Feedback: Read reviews on competitors’ products to identify common complaints or suggestions. These insights can reveal opportunities for improvement.
• Niche Segments: Explore niche segments within your broader market that are underserved or overlooked by major competitors.

Learn Best Practices

• Effective Tactics: Incorporate successful strategies from top competitors into your own approach.
  • Listing Optimization: Use similar high-impact keywords and structure your product listings based on the best practices you observe.
  • Marketing Strategies: Adopt effective marketing tactics such as targeted ads, promotions, and social media engagement.
  • Customer Engagement: Implement customer service strategies that resonate well with buyers, like prompt responses, clear return policies, and follow-up emails.
  • Inventory Management: Learn how top sellers manage their inventory to maintain stock levels and avoid stockouts.

3. Source Products to Sell

Finding the right products to sell is a critical step in building a successful reselling business. Here’s how to source quality items effectively:

Vet Manufacturers and Suppliers

• Quality and Authenticity: Thoroughly vet potential manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the products meet your quality standards and are authentic.
  • Background Checks: Conduct background checks on suppliers, including reviews, ratings, and business history.
  • Certifications: Verify any certifications or licenses the supplier claims to hold.
  • Samples: Request product samples to inspect the quality firsthand before committing to large orders.

Wholesale Suppliers

• Bulk Purchasing: Establish relationships with reputable wholesalers to buy products in bulk at lower costs, improving your profit margins.
  • Networking: Attend trade shows and industry events to meet potential wholesalers and establish direct connections.
  • Negotiation: Negotiate terms and prices to get the best deals possible.
  • Reliability: Ensure the wholesaler can consistently supply the quantities you need and meet delivery timelines.

Liquidation Sales

• Overstock and Returns: Purchase overstock or returned items from liquidation sales at reduced prices, which can offer substantial savings and higher profit margins.
  • Reputable Sources: Use trusted liquidation platforms and sources to avoid low-quality or damaged goods.
  • Inspection: Inspect items closely to ensure they are in good condition and can be resold at a profit.

Online Marketplaces

• Unique Products: Use online platforms like Alibaba, eBay, and Etsy to find unique products and reliable suppliers.
  • Alibaba: Great for sourcing bulk items directly from manufacturers, with options for custom orders and private labeling.
  • eBay: Ideal for finding deals on individual items, overstock, and liquidation products.
  • Etsy: Perfect for sourcing handmade, vintage, or unique items that can differentiate your product offerings.
  • Supplier Verification: Utilize marketplace verification features and read reviews to ensure supplier reliability.

4. List Products for Sale Online

Effectively listing your products on Amazon is crucial for attracting customers and driving sales. Here’s how to make the most of Amazon’s tools to optimize your product listings and pricing:

Utilize Amazon’s Tools

• Amazon’s Resources: Take advantage of Amazon’s robust suite of tools designed to help sellers enhance their listings, manage pricing, and improve visibility.

Product Listings

• Detailed Descriptions: Craft comprehensive and engaging product descriptions. Highlight key features, benefits, and any unique selling points to help potential buyers make informed decisions.
• SEO Optimization: Use relevant keywords strategically throughout your product titles, bullet points, and descriptions to improve your search ranking. Research popular keywords related to your products using tools like Amazon Keyword Tool or Helium 10.
• High-Quality Images: Invest in professional-quality images that clearly show your product from multiple angles. Ensure images are high-resolution and adhere to Amazon’s image guidelines.
• Strategic Keywords: Identify and incorporate high-impact keywords in your listings to enhance discoverability. Use backend search terms to capture additional relevant keywords without cluttering your descriptions.

Pricing Tools

• Automate Pricing: Utilize Amazon’s Automate Pricing tool to keep your prices competitive. This tool allows you to set rules for automatic price adjustments based on various factors, such as competitor pricing and market trends.
  • Dynamic Pricing: Adjust prices in real-time to stay competitive without the need for constant manual updates. This helps ensure your products remain attractive to potential buyers while maximizing profitability.
  • Competitive Edge: By automating your pricing strategy, you can respond quickly to market changes, maintain a competitive edge, and potentially increase your Buy Box win rate.

5. Handle Shipping and Fulfillment

Selecting the right fulfillment method is crucial for the efficiency and success of your reselling business. Here are the two primary options:

Choose Fulfillment Method

Merchant Fulfillment:

• Overview: You handle all aspects of storage, packaging, and shipping yourself.
• Advantages:
  • Control: You have complete control over your inventory, packaging, and shipping processes.
  • Customization: You can customize packaging and include personalized notes or branding materials in your shipments.
  • Cost Management: Potentially lower costs if you have an efficient system and low overhead.
• Considerations:
  • Time and Effort: Managing fulfillment can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially as your business grows.
  • Scalability: As order volumes increase, handling fulfillment in-house can become challenging.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA):

• Overview: Amazon takes care of storage, packaging, shipping, and customer service on your behalf.
• Advantages:
  • Convenience: Amazon handles the logistics, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.
  • Prime Eligibility: Products fulfilled by Amazon are eligible for Amazon Prime, which can increase your sales by attracting Prime members.
  • Customer Service: Amazon provides customer service and handles returns, improving the overall customer experience.
  • Scalability: FBA can easily scale with your business, handling large volumes of orders efficiently.
• Considerations:
  • Fees: FBA comes with storage and fulfillment fees, which can add up, especially for low-margin items.
  • Less Control: You have less control over the packaging and shipping process, which might affect how your brand is presented.

6. Drive Sales

To boost your sales and make a mark in the competitive Amazon marketplace, follow these key strategies:

Differentiate Yourself

• Know Your Audience: Take the time to understand who your customers are, what they want, and how they shop. Use this knowledge to tailor your product offerings and marketing efforts.
• Stand Out: Use advanced ecommerce tools and unique selling propositions (USPs) to set your business apart from the competition. Whether it’s exceptional customer service, unique product features, or a compelling brand story, make sure your business has something special to offer.

Amazon Advertising

• Sponsored Products: Increase your product visibility by investing in Sponsored Products ads. These appear in search results and on product detail pages, helping you reach more customers.
• Sponsored Brands: Showcase your brand and product portfolio with Sponsored Brands ads. These banner ads appear at the top of search results, highlighting your brand and multiple products.
• Sponsored Display: Use Sponsored Display ads to target customers both on and off Amazon, keeping your products in front of potential buyers as they browse the web.

Social Media Marketing

• Instagram: Share visually appealing posts and stories about your products, engage with followers through comments and direct messages, and use Instagram Shopping to make it easy for users to buy directly from your posts.
• Facebook: Create a Facebook Page for your business, post regularly to keep your audience engaged, and use Facebook Ads to target specific demographics.
• TikTok: Tap into the viral potential of TikTok by creating fun and engaging short videos that showcase your products. Collaborate with influencers to reach a wider audience.

Customer Reviews

• Encourage Reviews: After a purchase, kindly ask customers to leave a review. Highlight the importance of their feedback in improving your products and services.
• Enhance Credibility: Positive reviews build trust and credibility, making potential buyers more likely to choose your products.
• Respond to Feedback: Engage with customer reviews by thanking them for positive feedback and addressing any concerns or issues raised in negative reviews. This shows that you value your customers and are committed to providing excellent service.

Embark on Your Reselling Adventure
Reselling on Amazon isn’t just about making money; it’s an adventure waiting to be explored. Whether you're just starting out or you’ve been in the game for a while, the journey is full of excitement and potential. Here’s why you should dive in and how to make the most of it:

• The Thrill of Discovery: There’s nothing quite like the excitement of finding that perfect product at a great price and knowing you can sell it for a profit. Every day brings new opportunities to uncover hidden gems, from rare collectibles to trending items.
• Profit and Growth: With smart sourcing, great listings, and the right tools, you can turn reselling into a highly profitable business. Many sellers achieve impressive revenues, turning their side hustles into full-time successes.
• Build Your Own Brand: Think about the long-term benefits of creating your own brand. It’s not just about selling products; it’s about:
  • Building Customer Loyalty: When people trust your brand, they keep coming back.
  • Increasing Profits: Branded products often yield higher profit margins.
  • Generating Passive Income: Enjoy steady income from repeat customers and subscriptions.
• Leverage Amazon’s Power: Amazon’s vast reach and powerful infrastructure can help you scale your business. Here’s how:
  • Brand Registry: Protect your brand with Amazon’s automated protections, get access to detailed reports, and benefit from dedicated support.
  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Let Amazon handle the heavy lifting of storage, packaging, and shipping, so you can focus on growing your business.

So, what are you waiting for? Your reselling journey on Amazon is an exciting path filled with opportunities for growth and success. Jump in, explore, and make the most of what Amazon has to offer. Your adventure awaits—grab it with both hands and enjoy the ride!

Hey everyone! This is my 2nd post about my affair with Dustin, a 26 year old, married, captain on staff while I was a newly arrived 18 year old private at my first duty station.
I hope you enjoy Part 2, and as always, I'm welcome to receive any constructive feedback you may have about my writing or if you just want to talk! If you're just here to bash me for having an affair with someone, save your breath, I'll just block you. Without further ado, Part 2 of my affair with Dustin! <3 Hannah
First, a little about me. I'm 5'5ish, 135ish depending on the day, and have dark brown hair that falls part way down my back with brown eyes. My mom is a Crow (Native American) and my dad is Italian so the olive complexion genes are active in my family. I've got a fairly petite/athletic build with a 32B chest and a toned butt. My nipples are dark brown, on the smaller side, and I shave everywhere. I'm a fan of tattoos and have a feather on my foot, flower pieces on my right hip into my lower ribs, left shoulder, and lower back, a small script piece in my left side bra line, a green carebear in my left bikini line and a large dream catcher down my left ribs. If there's a detail I've left out, feel free to ask ;)
I sat alone in my barracks room the morning after my first in person experience with Dustin, the officer I'd met on Bumble who turned out to have a wife going to school out of state. I'd ignored any thought of walking away from this potentially messy situation and now found myself waking up alone in my room, the morning after letting a married officer cum all over my face and chest while i fingered myself to orgasm kneeling in front of him. I admitted two simple truths to myself: it had been the biggest rush of my life, and i absolutely needed more.
I checked my phone and saw 4 new messages from Dustin, all expounding on the fact he wished we didn't have to go to work today and how he wished I was there with him. As I got dressed for the daily workday routine of morning physical training, I snapped him a pic in just my maroon sports bra and black athletic thong and sent it to him, telling Dustin how I wished I could do PT in his home gym in just this. The buldge pic I got in return told me he liked the sound of that as I slipped back to reality, put on my PT uniform and joined my platoon for the usual Monday run. This was the rush. The dual life I craved and what drew me to Dustin. One minute I was sending sexy snaps to a man I shouldn't be with, living in the world of secret meetups and fun and the next, I was out joining my platoon for a normal daily routine workout. The world of the rush was addicting and I'd only just dipped my toes (mouth) in.
My day to day world of learning about fuel tankers, learning to drive them under NVGs, how to test fuel quality to ensure adequate grade for the type of unit I was supporting and all manner of tactical skills that would help me integrate into a complex military operation was genuinely rewarding and occupied my attention fairly easily. But then I'd find myself longing for a breakout. Longing for the rush of excitement I'd only just tasted. Each message from Dustin became a small dose of "you shouldn't but you will" and I wanted more.
Dustin had a busy schedule at the staff he worked on, but always took a moment to ask "how's my beautiful Private doing? Need anything from the Exchange?" We had had one intimate in person encounter and already this was taking on more than just a hookup from a dating app. We both recognized that actively developing a relationship behind the back of one partner's spouse automatically made this more than "just sex"....which we hadn't even had yet.
Between his work schedule and mine, we found it difficult to meet up the week following our evening of watching football with a side of a blowjob. Didn't stop me from letting him know I wanted more. I dropped all the hints. I sent him pics of choices of underwear for the day, letting him choose from a few options I was comfortable working in and then sending him quick snaps from the bathroom at work, proving his Private really wore what he'd asked her to. I also introduced him to a pink, 6 inch, anatomically correct dildo I typically used in the evening when I craved him desperately. I showed him that just like with his similarly sized shaft, I could force my lips to reach its base as the tip slid into the back of my throat. I also laid it on top of the underwear he had chosen for me one day, a simple pair of boyshorts that looked incredible with a pink phallis on top, illustrating just how far into my petite frame it/he would go if I would just slip them to the side and insert it/him.
I kept him wanting more. You can see my underwear, but only laid out on my bed, or on me, not tossed to the side showing you underneath. You can see my small collection of sex toys in my drawer or in my mouth, but the camera stops before they get to where they're the most fun. By Thursday, Dustin was desperate for the week to end so we could be together. He sent me a video of him teasing himself with pictures of me on his laptop and I thought it was the hottest thing ever to watch a man who definitively out ranked me choosing "his beautiful Private" over his wife. By Saturday we were going to go wild if we didn't take the next step.
There's different types of duty in the military, from a barracks desk to an installation watch office and every echelon in between. Saturday Dustin had duty for his brigade, which normally meant not a lot of time sitting at a desk, but a lot of time going around inspecting important places in his unit and making reports of what he found. I couldn't wait any longer and neither could he. I told him he should just add me to his list of inspections and quickly have his way with me during his rounds. Not the fairy tale special first time but the raw, I need you now and I'm tired of waiting, that two deprived lovers seek.
He agreed and said he would have time to "run home for dinner" if I would be ready and waiting for him. Ready and waiting in your bed. Quicky to satisfy this urge and let me plan something more while I wait. Yes. Dustin agreed to leave his side door unlocked so I could let myself in while he was at work. Apparently despite our lack of intimacy, our constant stream of communication built a trust that I wouldn't rob him blind lol seriously though, I respected his trust and didn't take an opportunity to go through all his stuff or leave a letter for his wife or anything crazy in between.
Instead, I drove over in late afternoon in a pair of black Nike soccer shorts with a built-in liner, so I went sans underwear, and continued the trend with a pink tshirt and matching hoodie without a bra, letting my small, 32B chest bounce a little as I let myself in, walked past the couch I'd kneeled in front of to receive a facial at the previous weekend and made my way towards Dustin's bedroom upstairs. I found aa spacious king bed that occupied the majority of the fairly small room in military housing, leaving a small walk way on either side, wide enough for matching his and hers nightstands on either side of the bed and space at the end of the bed where the room flowed into the master bathroom sweat complete with walk in closet, linen closet and 2 sink bathroom with a nice deep tub.
I set my purse down on what was clearly his wife's nightstand and quickly stopped out of my comfy clothes I'd worn to my visit. I plopped down naked in his bed, with a condom and lube laid out on her nightstand next to my purse. I sent Dustin a nude selfie of me on his wife's side of the bed, with a caption letting him know I was ready for our quicky. A quick reply let me know I had 15 minutes. I was immediately slick with anticipation. I set a pillow in the center of the bed and scooted my butt towards the edge of the bed as I spread my legs wide and began to tease light circles around my clit as I began to tease myself in preparation for the quick coupling that was minutes away. As my breath quickened and my heart raced, I dabbed a small glob of lube onto two of my fingers and I slowly stretched myself, my inner walls relaxing to recieve one, two, three fingers as I continued to rub my clit, my body as desperate to be with Dustin as my heart was.
A rattling of keys in the front door let me know my time was up as I removed the 3 fingers currently satiating the desperate urges of my core. Racing footsteps up the stairs found Dustin at the door in seconds, with his beautiful Private spread eagle on the edge of the bed waiting for him. I looked up at him in his uniform, totally unashamed of my nude and vulnerable position and told him his Private was ready for his inspection.
In a flash his camo jacket was tossed aside, the brown undershirt following behind and he rushed to undo his belt and soon had his pants and briefs around his ankles. In a moment he was leaning down on top of me, hungrily kissing my lips as his firm shaft pressed against my core as I pulled him into a tight embrace between my wide spread legs. As we passionately kissed, our tongues breathlessly intertwined, I paused and asked him if he wanted the condom off his wife's nightstand. I reminded him I was on the shot for BC, but it was his choice either way.
He pulled away to look over at her nightstand and instead of grabbing the condom, took the lube and generously applied a coat to his entire six or seven inch length. I needed him now. Standing between my legs, which I held wide open for him with my butt to the edge of the bed, Dustin teased the tip of his firm shaft between the lips of my freshly shaved vagina. He ran the tip between my spread lower lips, from my clit to my soaking wet and lubed entrance. With only a moments pause with his tip aligned with my eager hole, Dustin firmly pushed his entire length into me as he moaned my name and my soft inner walls welcomed him deep inside me as I gasped at the feeling of sudden fullness and a desperate need for more.
Buried to the base of his shaft inside me, Dustin leaned down to kiss me passionately. I wrapped my legs behind his butt, pulling him deep inside me as he began to thrust in a steady deep rhythm that drove me to the edge. I breathless begged for him to fuck me as I scratched lines down his back with my nails as I desperately held my man between my legs, his thrusts stimulating every inch of my inner walls and the friction of our bodies urging my clit to find release. Dustin broke our embrace and soon I found myself with two strong hands holding my legs open wide nearly in the splits on the edge of the bed as he thrust into me deeper than I'd ever felt before. I was breathless, calling out for more. Please don't stop Dustin. Please don't stop as his pace quickened and I could feel his balls slapping against nearly my butthole as he pounded into me, using my vagina for his release. I took one hand and found my clit, matching my rhythm to his and I soon found the waves of release that had building to the edge as Dustin gave me more, more, more. My inner walls clenched tight as the dam broke and my orgasm shook through my body in a release of ecstasy. Dustin continued to fuck me through my own release, my body desperate for him to find his own release.
I looked up at the passion and hunger in his eyes as I became keenly aware of the bouncing of my small breasts as I laid there riding the wave of my massive orgasm moaning in pleasure as the stimulation deepend, quickened and in a moment, I could feel Dustin swell and find his release deep inside me, ropes of cum filling me as my body clinched around him, holding him inside me as a second wave of pleasure pulsed through my core. We laid there for a long moment, a tight sweaty embrace with my handsome man on top of me, showering my neck and lips in kisses as we both breathlessly came down from our collective orgasms.
Dustin stood up, his softening length sliding out of me along with a mix of his cum and lube and my own release. I stood up and followed him to the bathroom, me completely naked, with his uniform pants pulled half way back up. I took hot washcloths and cleaned both of us between our legs, getting him ready to go back to work and for me to clean the mix of cum and lubed that was now running down my inner thigh. I asked him if I'd passed his inspection and he laughed, smiling and kissing me saying that indeed I had. He told me I could spend the night here if I wanted, he had to get back to duty but his place was a little more awesome than my barracks room.
I agreed and put back on my Nike shorts and tshift with it fairly obvious that I wasn't wearing a bra, which admittedly wasn't really an issue for Dustin at all. I followed him downstairs and kissed him goodnight as he headed back to work. I made myself at home and made a simple dinner and fell asleep watching tv under a blanket in his living room, which is where he found me when he came home at the end of his shift in the morning. I followed him to bed and we spent most of the day napping in eachothers arms before it really was time for me to go home and get ready for the next work week. I continued to tease him on snap and told him that we had sooooo much more still to do and his response made it readily apparent that he agreed.
Thank you for reading this chapter of my affair with Dustin! If you liked it or have something in my writing you'd like to see improved, feel free to let me know! My writing only gets better if you tell me what you'd like to see! Thanks for for sticking with me, I truly hope you've enjoyed! <3 Hannah

Just took the CA Grade 5. Not sure if I passed but I guess I'll know soon! I think I got around passing, give or take. I had a hard time getting prepared for it and had also seen other people post some questions so I thought I'd give a little feedback and prep help.
Overall, for being a state run exam, I thought it was a pretty good/well written exam. It had a wide range of topics. The only poorly written questions were 2 or 3 questions that could have has an answer option written clearer, asked you which of these options would NOT help the issue. A-D options were possibilities, option E said "None of these apply". If I select E am I saying that options A-D would all NOT help the issue, or by selecting E am I saying A-D could all help the issue. Ultimately, pretty insignificant and only a couple of mix-up words that could have been clearer in an otherwise very well prepared Exam I'd say.
Equation Sheet: They provide the new and old one, but it's in a weird window on the screen that makes it not very easy to scroll through. New sheet is up top and you have to scroll down to the old one. That being said, being the Grade 5 you have to go through so many practice questions to prepare I think you should go into the exam having memorized the basic equations, and mostly memorized the rest to where you know where to scroll through the funky window they provide.
My suggestion: Have the equation sheet in front of you when you do practice questions and you'll make patterns on where they are when you take the test. Also, make your own equation sheet that has all the conversions and equations that aren't provided, like the Pounds formula or %Recovery or things like that. Write them in ways that fit you and you won't need the equation sheet they provide.
Essays: This is largely why I wanted to write this since there isn't much info on how these questions are laid out after they changed the exam. Similar to before, they present you with essentially a treatment plant and a situation/status, then they ask you how you would handle it, what actions would help/hurt/make no difference. Grade 5 level, the questions were appropriate to that level: construction plans, permit, making big picture operational changes to how things are done, cost analyses.
My suggestion: To best prepare for this, rather that having an okay knowledge on a lot of things you need to have a very good knowledge of the main/key items in todays WW Treatment. Troubleshooting different types of treatment plants, how everything affects each other or what DOESN'T affect a certain system. An example of something that really helped me from Drive Folder 2: ORWA Process Control And Trouble Shooting - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tayEhYYY7PheRuIlUMN-ilyo-ouIPzi6 . Studying stuff like this is the best way to prepare for this section
What also helped me a lot with this section was to go through a bunch of practice multiple choice questions and make notes on answers that they provide. Easy example (this wasn't on the exam): Grit Flow can be 0.7 to 1.4 ft/s, but ideal is 1.0ft/s. Writing down and memorizing those standard values will help in the essay section so when you're asked about a grit channel with 2.0ft/s velocity you have a hard number to rely on to support your answer on why you need to put another channel on to reduce velocity.
Math: Everyone's favorite. Study by Repetition, and when you study write everything out even when you know it. This is a folder from Drive Folder 1 that has a bunch of math questions and helped me a ton. Even though they're repetitive, you go through the same question 10 times in a row and you have it locked in. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19mrhyB2UJmc30GV7SmmxlL59-dx6yslF
My suggestion: I see a lot of courses/instructors that use tricks to getting to math answers fast. My suggestion is to not do that if it can fit the math part of your brain to just rely on good 'ol equations and units. It might take a while writing it all out over and over but it pays off on test time. All of the equations are basically derivations of the Pounds Formula and Mass Balance (exaggeration but not really). Dive into the equations enough and you'll be able to react fine with they through you a curve ball and you need to make adjustments to the formula.
Not sure if that helps or if I'm just rambling, I'm tired.. but these are all things I wish I knew 2 weeks ago haha Hope it helps. Below are the 2 Google Drive folders that have everything you need and more that have been shared a lot in this subreddit but need to get shared more haha. These were posted by 2 awesome individuals, Thomas and John you guys are heroes and I can't thank you enough.
Drive Folder 1: u/Thclemensen put together this folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hdTgSbOKluUaQxdR6y_jt1BD3gkUwcoI
Drive Folder 2: u/DirtyWaterDaddyMack put together this folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FCcqfjpBKqUqd4_yfoPOuS8_EbAyB319

The last three years of my life have been pretty tough, but I really thought I had come through the other side. I (M39) decided to go back to school, as I was not very happy in my former field. It was an extremely tough thing to do, as I would be taking a pay cut for the foreseeable future. My ex-girlfriend and I had been together for almost three years at this point and owned a house together. She said she supported my decision and understood my time would become limited considerably while I was in my program. Well that was a fucking lie. Almost immediately she started complaining about me "not taking her out" like I used to, or not doing as many projects around the house. The program I was in was already anxiety-inducing enough. To cut a long story short (because this isn't event what this post is about), I came to see our relationship was transactional, developed severe anxiety, and started to suffer health-related problems like high blood pressure. By the skin of my teeth I passed my program, became licensed, but had lingering issues around everything that had gone down in that span of time.
Over the last six months I have put in a lot of work and truly felt very hopeful for my future. I saw a therapist, got on some medications, lost 20 lbs. and got into great shape. Starting this new field has been a challenge, but also rewarding in the way I was looking for. I met a girl at work which I was very hesitant about d/t setting and some lingering anxiety issues. There was common interest, and I really explained what I had gone through and where I felt like I was. We both agreed to take things VERY SLOW. Hiking, lunch, movies, very casual for the first month. We finally had our first "serious" date - a fancy late night dinner and tickets to a show. We had some wine at her house after, and after some light touching and kissing, we had the conversation of getting tested because we were very much both interested in pursuing more. She had an ex give her chlamydia and had an upcoming OB/GYN appointment and was planning and getting a full workup. I thought "Well I've only slept with two women in the past eight years and have had no issues," but knew I hadn't been tested since 2016, which had shown I was clean.
I got my results back last Friday. HSV II. I'm fucking stunned. I mean I couldn't fucking breath. Full blown panic attack. I have never had any issues with my penis at all. Never any pain urinating, nothing. All the anxiety that I had worked so hard to get rid of came back and crushed me over this last weekend. It was all I could do to to get through my 12-hour shifts. I immediately hit up both of my ex's to figure out who the hell had given me this, as there was no other way. Last ex proceeds to tell me she had been tested about six months ago when she started dating her new boyfriend. I confirm she's clean for HSV II. She proceeds to berate me for being an idiot and a near 40 year-old with a disease now. I'll admit I'm not very proud of this, but she assumed I had caught something after her and I did not tell her that that left only the possibility of my relationship before her passing this to me.
So on to the title and why I'm so devastated. I'm really racking my brain on how I could have this but never see anything wrong with my penis. Then I read something that was my 'getting struck by lightening' moment. It was a post that is very similar to mine. Guy gets tested, guy gets HSV II diagnosis, perplexed at no previous penis symptoms. But he does get pretty bad cold sores from time-to-time. His Dr informs him that it's very possibly to get HSV II on your face. Now I never thought I had a cold sore before, but I remember back in 2017 getting an infected hair follicle in the hair right below my bottom lip after shaving. I went to the Dr, he looks at it and says "Yup, looks like an infection," give me antibiotics, but it doesn't go away for about two weeks. About two years after that, same thing happens: I shave, my follicle gets infected, I get more antibiotics from the Dr, and though it's not anywhere near as bad as the first time it still takes about two weeks to heal. Then almost exactly a year ago the same thing pops about, but this time I haven't shaved. Call my Dr, gives me antibiotics without even looking at it. I start looking at HSV II outbreaks in the same area as I was getting my infected follicle. I find a few pictures that look dead-on from what mine looks like. I at least though "Well, it's on my penis, condoms exist," but I'm not exaggerating in the least when I tell you after my realization I felt like the hopeless protagonist at the end of an HP Lovecraft novel where he realizes there is indeed a fate worse than death.
I'm finally able to get ahold of my ex from back in 2016. She confirms to me that she indeed has HSV II, but didn't think to tell me because we hadn't spoken in years. "I figured if you didn't reach out then we were good." This confirms she cheated on me because we were tested together. I don't even care about that now. Now my focus shifts to the girl I'm currently dating. She knows something is up. So I just started at where we work and on the other hand she's been there for six years. She is like family to most people on the floor. I'm the annoying new guy who barely knows anyone. She has her OB/GYN appointment today and I realize I need to tell her that not only do I have HSV II, that it's on my face and there is possibility she might have it on hers' too. She is very calm about it but I can tell in her voice that she is shook. I hope to beyond all fucking hope that her test comes back all clear. I'm also legitimately contemplating put in my resignation at work, a job I just fucking started. There's no way this doesn't get out at work and I don't become ostracized. I don't know how I'm going to approach this in the future, I don't see any romance in my life anymore. And this is so fucking selfish, but if I gave this to her I am legitimately scared on how this will make ME feel. I'm scarred that that guilt will cripple me and I'll be doomed to live in constant anxiety. I don't feel any better writing this all out, in fact I feel worse. I have no idea why the fuck I'm posting this.

I'm not too keen on dealing with electricity, especially if it has the potential of frying you like an egg. But on Friday afternoon I found out that my AC unit was not working. I placed a call with the local HVAC business who promised they could be out to my house on Thursday, unless I wanted to pay an expedite fee, in which case they could get to me on Tuesday.
I bitched and moaned to my best friend a day later, and he suggested that the cause of the issue (fan unit was short cycling) sounded like a capacitor issue and that I should check out Youtube to see how easy it was to replace and save a ton of money.
I went online and watched a video, and with a level of confidence that I hadn't felt in some time when dealing with electric I removed the circuit from the work access panel and then opened up the back of the fan unit, disconnected the wires (after checking to make sure the capacitor was discharged, of course) and pulled it out. Made sure to take pictures before disconnecting because the unit was in a corner against my house and difficult to access.
Went online to Amazon and ordered a couple replacement capacitors this morning, had them delivered by 5pm my time. Temp in the house was at 84 degrees F, but in 10 minutes I had the new capacitor installed and the fan unit running again.
Was very quiet and I was afraid I hadn't fixed the issuer at all, but the vents were blowing out cold air, and in an hour the house was down to 81 degrees F. Nearly 4 hours later and the house is at a balmy 78 degrees.
My best friend came over with a multimeter and we tested the old capacitor and it was definitely faulty. I suspect it was going bad last year, because I could hear when the compressor would kick on. Now it's whisper quiet and I feel like a real homeowner now.
There's something to be said for being able to do something around the house that teaches you a new skill and saves you some serious money. And calling to cancel the HVAC service call was pretty satisfying too.

Cawthon, Scott. The Bobbiedots Conclusion: An AFK Book (Five Nights at Freddy’s: Tales from the Pizzaplex #5). Scholastic Inc, 2023. 

I wanted to make this post to put some positivity out there for anyone who may be really nervous about taking a cert exam at home.
After reading so many negative reviews, and being a pretty anxious person as is, I was VERY reluctant to take my Project+ at home. I have done the A+, Net+, Sec+, and Cloud+ at testing centers because I like the controlled environment. Due to time constraints it just wasn't an option this time.
To check in, I clicked a link in my email. I downloaded the Pearson Vue software and ran through its system test. I was presented with a QR code to scan, then was prompted to take 7 pictures with my phone. 2 of my ID, one of my face, and 4 of my testing area at different angles. All in all it probably took me 10 minutes to check in.
After check in, I was placed in a queue. I was second in line and waited maybe 5 minutes before my exam started. After my wait, the exam just started right up. I didn't even have to interact with anyone. After I was done with the test I waited on the "you're done" screen for a minute, just out of paranoia, and closed the program. Again, didn't even have to speak with someone.
Anyone who's real nervous about testing at home, just remember most people who have decent experiences move on with their life without writing about it. You CAN and most likely WILL have an alright time.

https://preview.redd.it/wgaw66jxon1d1.png?width=1091&format=png&auto=webp&s=4b0e24116dade9773b274d16fd8bd87db79b7bf3
Here are three contraptions that automatically detect the beginning of a raid wave exploiting the villagers’s panicking behaviour.
It started as a quest aimed at designing a device that would stop a raid if a distracted player accidentally entered a village with bad omen. Unfortunately i have not been able to make a raid suppressor handy enough to be useful in survival but i hope someone could find theese of some interest and make something out of them.
All these models work and have been tested for at least 30'000 raids each (>10 hours tick warp), but have a small chance to not detect a raid in time (in less than 15 seconds) mainly due to villager AI reasons.
FALL-BASED RAID DETECTOR
https://preview.redd.it/7vwnk9ssan1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=d7d0b2d39aa585cf7e5c53f7b1a326c9a0d10559
https://preview.redd.it/z28av8ssan1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ec40c9c0124e4b55ecf22d8ac5dcec69d45dc42
https://preview.redd.it/hubvdbtwan1d1.png?width=1030&format=png&auto=webp&s=792f997ae26ed277e1f5b65f43e3fc660c97beb2
This is the cheapest of all three devices and quite reliable: it has a 0,11% chance of not detecting a raid and a 0,56% chance of not activating within 9 seconds from the start of the wave.
The villager inside the machine can walk along the glass corridor without ever falling down the trapdoors, however when a raid starts the villager panicks and moves faster so at some point (about 3,4s average) will get too far from the trapdoor’s edge and find itself on top of the pressure plate at the bottom (wood or stone) giving out a redstone signal.
At both sides there are a dispenser with a water bucket inside, an observer and a stripe of redstone powder that work as the machine reset: the water will make the villager be able to exit the hole.
Besides the output line there is a 6,6s pulse extender that acts as the antispam (the villager jumps on the pressure plate causing multiple signals).
The layer of solid blocks separated by a non-solid blocks stripe (can be air) 6 or 7 blocks under the block the villager is standing on is required for the villager to be able to pathfind. Blocks at the sides and underneath/above the corridor should be non-solid.
SOUND-BASED RAID DETECTOR
All glass blocks represent wool blocks
https://preview.redd.it/zuzb5na4cn1d1.png?width=811&format=png&auto=webp&s=8396c5696a8ce930043261069b143ef57eaca84d
https://preview.redd.it/68hj1oxbcn1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=68a10c0de727d8795e321df849f1047b8945320c
https://preview.redd.it/xx6hupxbcn1d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=1fa9ddd54ad9eae9b32424d683cf249e289ddfcf
This is the simplest and most reliable (yet the lamest imho) of the three models. It has about 0,01% chances of not detecting a raid and about 0,14% chances of giving out a signal after 9 seconds. The average activation time is about 2,1s.
The contraption mainly conststs of a villager, a bell and a sculk sensor surrounded by wool. When the raid starts, the villager will ring the bell (through the wall) and the sculk sensor will ativate. The comparator nearby will detect it activating and will send out a signal first carried by the antispam’s observer and then sent out off the redstone lamp.
The piston with the observer on top is the antispam (the villager can ring the bell several times while the raid bar charges). The pictures show a model where the output can be taken from the front of the machine and another where it comes from the back.
The workstation near the villager is required to avoid false-alarms if beds are within 128 blocks from the detector. (Due to some weird villager behavior, after successfully interrupting a raid the villager will ring the bell in the morning -2000t- of the next day or in the afternoon even though there is no raid happening). Also the piston near the bell and on top of the workstation are required if your objective is to suppress the raid.
SPEED-BASED RAID DETECTOR
https://preview.redd.it/1syr17ofdn1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=c50e6a7277c3a502e0af4ef0cd45e103baf34486
https://preview.redd.it/lzvs2yokdn1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=cdd48ae47f7adb20703673bc8c1edd5624d4ecbe
The composter and the villager in it are used as the village to test raid suppression and are not part of the detector.
First idea i came up with, second for reliability, last for cheapness and compactness but most interesting to me. Has about 0,39% chances of detecting a raid too late and about 0,15% to not detect it at all. 3,3 s average reaction time.
The machine consists of a walkway with a start and an arrival point (unlike the fall-based detector that is symmetrical and can be activated from both sides). When the villager walks away from the starting point, which is the observer block with a tripwire (highlighted by the purple arrow) and a fence stick on top, an 8gt timer starts (the two observer on top of the detatched piston) and if the vilager does ot run fast enough, the solid block through which the detector’s output would pass will be retrieved by the piston and no signal will come out from the machine. Idle villagers walk at a max speed of about 2,7 blocks per second, not enough to win the race. But during raids villagers reach a max speed of about 6,1 blocks per second and will be able to send an output in time by walking on the pressure plate (can be gold or iron) on top of the piston at the end of the corridor that will allow the observer underneath to send an output through the redsone lamp (can be any solid block).
The slime block sends the villager back to start. The fence on top of the tipwire is necessary to prevent machine breaking (the villager may exit the tripwire and then pathfind back to it too soon causing the observer underneath to fire only once and invert the position of the redstone lamp beneath the machine). Packed ice is required for the same purpose but for different reasons.
The two trapdoors on the side and the non-solid pathway around the machine is required because the villager can reach the maximum speed only if he thinks he can pathfind to blocks at least 4 blocks away from the machine’s corridor (need further testing to see if it is exactly 4). The trapdoors prevent the villager from actually escaping but will make he think he could. For the same reason a 24 blocks long and 21 blocks wide layer of solid blocks with a hole in the middle (shaped as the detector) centered on the machine’s corridor (the start, the two blocks in te middle and the pressure plate) is required because the villager chooses the direction to pathfind to selecting a radom solid block with air on top in a 15 tall x 21 x 21 blocks cuboid center on the block the villager is standing on (it can walk on 4 blocks so the lenght becomes 24 not 21). Further testing could be beneficial to optimize pathfinding conditions.
This model has a 3,5s pulse-extender to act as antispam.
The villager has just been sent back at start by the slime block. There is a tripwire on top of the observer on the left.
There is also an even more compact model that works the same but has a more strict output window: it only activates when the villager has reached max speed and sends out the signal the same gametick the redstone lampi s moved away, thus becoming a villager-based zerotick pulse generator lol. This model has about 0,4% chances of not detecting a raid and 3,4% chances of doing so after 9 seconds or more.
WAVE COUNTER
https://preview.redd.it/4e9k8sg5in1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=45d0560bd983e1d152c8bec6b450d850d03d4e9b
https://preview.redd.it/bjqdbug5in1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=70e09e08064a5d18ba3f14a522cc51259de25b3b
Here is a picture of a raid wave counter. It can be hooked to a speed-based or a sound-based detector. The detector’s antispam, of course, should be reset at each wave, after not less than 30 seconds from the first activation (the villager needs time to stop panicking or ringing the bell even after the raid is suppressed or the bar is fully charged. Unfortunately the villager in the fall-based raid detector can in rare cases need up to 7 minutes to exit the hole). The lectern selects how many waves one wants to fight before giving out a redstone output (likely to some defense mechanism) and will self reset to zero when triggered. In te picture the two droppers are facing each other.
RAID SUPPRESSORS
Raids can be interrupded if all claimed POIs (beds, workstations and the bell) are destroyed, unclaimed or if all villagers die.
Beds and bells can be destroyed by pistons and some workstations, when moved, are unclaimed by villagers so pistons are the simplest raid-blocker. Unfortunately they don’t work with tile entity workstations (lecterns, barrels, brewing stands, smokers, blast furnaces, grindstones), which are immovable. Those can however be blown up by TNT allowing a player to stop a raid in a village with any type of point of interest.
Zombification is another strategy that can effectively suppress a raid, although it works only on hard difficulty. Zombified villagers can turn other villagers into zombies too and a contraption that exploit this exponential reaction can suppress a raid in no time without destroying any POI.
I have not tested any other mechanic.
If a raid is suppressed before the raid bar is fully charged (15s) it will never spawn any pillager. If it is suppressed too late only the first wave will spawn but the raid will end in defeat and no more waves will come.
TNT and zombification suppressors take some time to work (e.g. min for TNT is about 4 seconds) and that’s why i chose <9s to be a conventional acceptable time for a detector to output the signal if connected to a suppressor.