This post likely won't get many up votes, and will die in new. I might check back in a week or two when I remember it
Anyways, I had looked at the wiki for Fallout 3's Pip Boy, and read that the dial was on the left side. That got me thinking, why would RobCo release a Pip Boy that's not ergonomic? Why it have different versions? It would be like it Apple sold the Iphone 4, Iphone X, and Iphone 15 or whatever we're on in different regions. INB4 Bethesda / Black Island didn't design them earlier, so Rob Co couldn't make them. I also haven't played 1, 2 so I'm going off the wiki. Lore wise, Vault Tec took decades to make the vaults. So Rob Co had time to keep developing them, if the war ended they'd get sold as a product (The House really does always win, I guess. Vault Tec would have made useless bunkers for a war that didnt happen with experiments that were evil, and Rob Co would have a wearable computer that's a terminal you wear) But the main vaults of the games would have influenced the design and usage of every Pip Boy Rob Co gives you. For my explanations, I'll refer to the experiments as "pranks" because it's funny
Fallout 1, 2, 76: The Pip Boy 2000 being the big bulky early version Rob Co wouldn't want to sell to the public. Vault Teks pranks were broken water chip for Fallout 1, Start in the village for Fallout 2, and Fallout 76 opens early. I think Fallout 1's vault wasn't intended to be opened, but they wouldn't bother to upgrade their devices across a hundred vaults. For 76, if you're going to open it early, why bother to give them a recent version. Eventually they had Radios, Geiger Counters, Tape Decks, all kinds of stuff surface dwellers need. The life data sensors wouldn't needed for if the vault gets opened, because how do you even collect that data then
Fallout 3, New Vegas: The Pip Boy is less bulky, but has the dial on the left side. Considering your right hand controls the dial, it blocks the screen. Most importantly, the Biometric lock. For whatever reason, 10 year olds get them. They wouldn't be fully grown, so their arm size wouldn't make that work long term. There must be some way to open it, like Doctor Mitchell did to switch out the foam, rubber inserts or whatever is in there. But, Vault 101 was never intended to be opened. Vault Tec would want them to have them on as often as possible, in order to gather data. To make then inconvenient to discourage constant usage, they move the dial. That keeps people doing whatever you do in a vault instead of messing around on their wrist mounted computers
Fallout 4, and TV Show: They both use the same model 3000, but one has a paint job. However, Vault 111 only had a single one. Since that vaults purpose was to freeze people, they didn't need everyone. Since Vault Tecs prank for that vault was freezing people, and then locking like 8 in there without much food or water, the Pipboy was only in there for the scientist to close the door. Even the overseer didn't get a Pip Boy. That brings up something I forgot to mention. Admin vs Regular versions. The scientists Pip Boy would be a version with fully unlocked capabilities, for opening doors and such. Vault Tec would hate for any vault dweller to be able to just open the door and kill everyone from radiation. For other vaults, maybe it's the areas that Vault Tec decides what version that would best suit the experiments? Obviously its beceause Bethesda wants to make only one Pip Boy model instead of making multiple for random people. In the show, everyone has a silver metal looking Pip Boy. If I had to guess, that's probably next to final version Rob Co would have designed. At that point, they'd have perfected something they could sell to the public. Once the swapped out the Geiger counter for, a flash light or something. The average Vault dweller could play Holotapes, check the radio, stuff like that. Certain ones would be equipped with the door key,and they would have a secret stash of admin Pip boys somewhere (Please don't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the show)
Fallout 5: Bethesda seemingly has perfected the Pip Boy. Aside from a flash light, I can't think of much else they'll need. Walkie Talkie Voice Chat maybe? Well, a key board would probably be something Rob Co should add if it's going to be a computer instead of a highly advanced heart beat monitor. I read a good idea somewhere, a traveling salesman who sells you different versions from the games that work as the player menu. But that would mean he had been traveling across the entire country, and has a way to keep finding Pip Boys
Edit: I realized what Rob Co could swap out. Since it wouldn't always be needed, that white plug thing on the back. Or maybe that plugs into a keyboard while you just remember the words you typed. Or it could flip the screen sideways to make it easier to read.
Edit 2: Vault Tec did have a stand for it in Vault 76. A real company made a replica of it for the replica Pip Boy from 76. Aside from the small screen, that would be a great product for use on a desk​ like a computer

Ah where to start lmao. Like most people in this reddit I’ve struggled with the pain of having a tarsal coalition basically my entire life. I’ll start from the beginning and am only going to use my experiences and tell y’all my options so take everything I say with a grain of salt because again it is my OPINION.
So to trace back how I got my tarsal coalition if I were to guess I specifically remember twisting my ankle very very bad in PE in elementary school. I was always a very athletic kid and I remember just limping my way through school and playing kickball and everything else basically on one foot for few weeks and eventually the pain went down and I had no other indications of anything really bad. I played travel baseball, and basketball as well as various outside activities all the way up through middle school. I really noticed the pain occasionally on elementary school after running the bases really hard and fast and then noticing I would be in pain afterwards but that would be it, completely bearable and about a 3 on the pain scale so noticeable but bearable. I really started to get bad pain when i was in 7th to 9th grade. 7th grade I stopped playing baseball and switched to basketball full time. Basketball being a very lateral side to side sport, I am guessing that is why I started getting worse pain. I remember days after 2 hour practices or playing and coming home and having pain about a 6-7 on the pain scale. So in 9th grade after my parents took me to a doctor to see what was wrong because I had just twisted my ankle really bad and was having extreme pain while juggling being on my feet for my job I worked at, playing basketball, and playing football all in a week, I was diagnosed with a tarsal coalition. Keep in mind up until this point I was still able to play basketball at a high level and was not having the pain hinder my play too bad. athens only time the pain was unbearable was after being in my ankle a lot and I would come home in tears because I wouldn’t be able to even put wait on it or just sit with it still without it having pain. Yes it would have been nice for more mobility in my left ankle but I was managing fine enough and it was just an annoyance and lingering concern at this point after excercise. Anyways after being diagnostic with tarsal coalition we started looking at treatment options. The first one was I had a plastic insert made for my shoes that was molded to my foot to try to limit the side to side lateral mobility and keep those bones from rubbing against each other. This insert into my shoe I found very helpful and did alleviate the pain in everyday walking but did nothing for playing the high impact sports. I did not wear the plastic insert in my basketball shoes when I played because it caused pain when I played because of the lateral nature of the sport and I also did not wear it in my cleats when playing football. I also started going to PT to try and increase ROM about 2-3 times a week. This I will say did no help and if anything doing the PT excercise yes gave me more range of motion but just caused me to be in pain afterwards. In 10th grade I was getting recruited for basketball and quit football to pursue basketball full time along with working out in the weight room. The more basketball I played, the more pain I started to feel afterwards everyday. I was popping 4 ibuprofens before games to manage. At this time I started to also notice that after excercise the more sitting still and letting it rest, it would tighten up more so I would think of it as just getting through whatever I had to for the day and keep it moving and then managing the pain afterwards. There were some days where the pain was excruciating and then my coach suggested getting steroid shots. So my junior year, my best year in terms of pain, I got a shot. The shot getting it in was extremely painful but those next 3-4 weeks were the most normal I ever felt. I was able to play and not have pain afterwards as well as play on the court without pain at a very high level. Eventually the steroid did start to wear off and the pain slowly came back to where it was beforehand after about 3 months. Then my senior year of high school I started going to a different PT and their treatment was much different and this is where I learned the best way to manage the pain. Thought my senior season immediately after practices and before games I would go in for “treatment” which would be the compression boots, massaging on the leg and foot, and ice bath immersion. This really made me be able to play a lot better and while the pain was still there it was so low it was almost not noticeable. At the end of senior year I twisted that ankle so bad I had to wear a walking boot for 3 months. At this point I decided I wasn’t going to play in college so I got surgery my senior year summer going into college. I did not get a fusion because I still wanted the mobility to be able to play sports and do the physical activities I wanted to. So they removed the coalition and replaced it with tissue or muscle out of thigh. I was in a hard cast for like a month, I really can’t remember how long to be honest, and then was in a walking boot for a couple months while going to PT to strengthen and get ROM back. After about a year I started to play physical activities again and it was like I was restarting with a new coalition again. Pain after physical activities but now I learned how to make it very bearable to where I am today. Whenever I play a sport or know I am going to have pain as soon as I’m off my feet I immediately ice bath or full submerge my foot in ice water for anywhere from 5-20 minutes. Doing this has really helped a ton because my belief is it immediately reduces inflammation and then as soon as I take it out I massage it and work on range of motion. I found that the next day the pain was almost at 2 max. Even after doing lots of physical activity and doing it again the next day, as long as I ice it the pain isn’t bad. Of course I know the pain won’t ever go away but for me it’s mostly about making it bearable to do the things I love. Eventually I think I will get a fusion but I am currently a personal trainer and a basketball coach and I don’t really have bad days unless I don’t ice my foot after being on it. I will get a fusion later in life once I’m able to give up playing basketball and completing in sports as hard as i can because eventually I would like to walk and do normal things without worrying about pain the next couple days and going through a recovery if I do. But for now I’m managing and enjoying the things I love. Getting a fusion would only mean giving up doing something I love but one day I have accepted that I will have to. If you read that all feel free to message me or comment and I can answer any questions y’all have. I wish I had a community like this earlier because like you all know it is hard to deal with the pain after doing normal things most people can do and also having to explain to them what’s wrong with you and by you have pain.

Item #: SCP-5229
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5229, known as "Joel," is to be contained in a standard humanoid containment cell at Site-17. Due to SCP-5229's anomalous effect, personnel assigned to SCP-5229 must undergo weekly psychological evaluations to monitor for any undue attachment or emotional influence. Interaction with SCP-5229 should be limited to necessary interviews and evaluations. Personnel are to rotate out of their assignment every 30 days to minimize long-term exposure to SCP-5229's influence.
Any personnel who report having memories of SCP-5229 prior to his appearance in the facility are to be immediately referred to the on-site psychiatric team. All records of SCP-5229 are to be monitored and any unauthorized dissemination of information is to be prevented.
Description: SCP-5229 is a male humanoid, approximately 6'2" in height, with brown hair, green eyes, and a light stubble. He possesses chiseled cheekbones and a striking haircut. SCP-5229 typically wears a red and black plaid flannel shirt, well-worn jeans, and a pair of work boots.
SCP-5229 spontaneously appeared within the Site-17 facility on 03/14/20██. There are no existing records or documentation that verify SCP-5229's existence prior to this date. SCP-5229 himself has no memory of how he arrived at the facility or any events leading up to his appearance.
The primary anomalous property of SCP-5229 is the effect he has on human memory and perception. Any individual within approximately 10 meters of SCP-5229 will begin to experience the formation of fond memories involving SCP-5229, despite having no prior interactions with him. These memories often include mundane activities, such as shared meals, conversations, and other social interactions, all characterized by a sense of nostalgia and emotional warmth.
These fabricated memories appear to be detailed and specific, often incorporating elements of the individual's real past experiences, seamlessly integrating SCP-5229 into them. This effect has been confirmed through extensive interviews and psychological evaluations of affected personnel.
Addendum 5229-A: Incident Report
On 04/25/20██, Dr. ██████, a researcher assigned to SCP-5229, reported a vivid memory of celebrating his 30th birthday with SCP-5229, despite records indicating that SCP-5229 had only been present at the facility for six weeks. Dr. ██████ was subsequently reassigned, and a full psychological evaluation was conducted, confirming the presence of implanted memories.
Efforts to uncover the mechanism behind SCP-5229's memory-altering effect are ongoing. Researchers are investigating potential connections to known memetic or cognitohazardous entities, but no conclusive links have been established.
Interview Log 5229-1:
Interviewed: SCP-5229
Interviewer: Dr. Elena Martinez
Date: 05/10/20██
Dr. Martinez: Good morning, Joel. How are you feeling today?
SCP-5229: I'm doing alright, Dr. Martinez. Just...a bit confused, I guess. I still don't understand how I got here.
Dr. Martinez: That's what we're trying to figure out. Can you tell me anything about your life before appearing here? Any details that might help us?
SCP-5229: I wish I could. It's all a blur. I have these flashes of memories, but they don't seem real. Like...like they're someone else's.
Dr. Martinez: What kind of memories?
SCP-5229: Just normal stuff. Hanging out with friends, working on some project, having dinner with family. But every time I try to focus on them, they slip away. It's like trying to hold onto water.
Dr. Martinez: I see. And how do you feel about the people here? The staff you've interacted with?
SCP-5229: They're nice. Really nice. It's strange, though. They all act like they've known me forever, and...I feel the same way. Like, I have this warm feeling when I talk to them, even though I know we just met.
Dr. Martinez: Thank you, Joel. We'll continue to work on this. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
SCP-5229: No problem, Doc. I just want to understand what's happening.
Note: Further research is required to determine the origin and full extent of SCP-5229's anomalous properties. Containment protocols are to be reviewed regularly to ensure the safety and mental well-being of Site-17 personnel.

PRESENT
This is Part 2 of 3, the Present, in game events we see! Onwards!
The Protagonist is some sort of content creator, one that goes to abandoned or forgotten places and "searches" them, as can be gleaned from the cameras facing the protagonist on his desk, and his conversation with a certain Laura, or LSparks53 (there's also an error in this Harmony tab, with one of the messages from Laura reading as from LauraSparks53 instead of LSparks53. Just a note). This Laura helps our protagonist, who goes by the username of eEnsign. His profile picture are the letters UF, which is weird, since it doesn't match the username, nor what Laura calls eEnsign: Ed. Anyways, I digress. From now on, I'll call the protagonist Ed as well. Laura helps Ed get footage of these places as per the conversation.
eEnsign: "Hey Laura! I'm doing another search this weekend! Wanna come with me?"
LSparks53: "The last few times I've gone with you SUCKED LMAO."
eEnsign: "Remember that old theme park we went to see as kids? Indigo Park?"
LSparks53: "yeah? I kind of forgot about that place? Been closed for a while, right? how would you even get in?"
eEnsign: "Honestly, I don't know. I'm not even gonna bring my equipment. Jump a fence of something? We've done worse lol”
LSparks53: "aight, well just be careful. I'm gonna pass on this one. if you can get in i'll go with you to help record some other time. i'm looking it up now and there's like NO info online about it. probably swarming with cops too."
eEnsign: "I guess we'll find out! I'll check it out, maybe we can go together next week?
Lsparks53: "just be careful, Ed. I don't want to be paying your bail."
And with that conversation, we learn that these two are like a dynamic duo of sorts, having some sort of channel or website where they post footage of places lost to time and "search" them, breaking laws of trespassing and such, apparently also having "done worse", whatever that means. Maybe they took a few things from the place, so burglary? It's never specified. Probably burglary, though, considering that Ed has taken to collecting all sorts of plushies and such from Indigo Park.
What I want to point out is how weird this Laura person acts. As soon as Indigo Park is mentioned, Laura instantly seems to dislike the idea, but never directly says it. Instead, she becomes reluctant to go with Ed, despite having done worse, as Ed puts it. Perhaps she's just cautious, and based on her last sentence, they haven't been caught before, or else she would have said "I don't want to be paying your bail again."
However, I don't think that's the case. Remember when Laura said she looked up Indigo Park and found nothing? Well, we know the website is still up and running, or at the very least, Ed used some sort of service like the Wayback Machine to pull it up on the right most monitor on his desk, which can be seen in the opening cutscene. On it, there's even an option to purchase tickets still, which is incredibly weird, which I'll also go into later on. Why would a defunct theme park need a still running website? After all, if you evacuate everyone from it with no explanation, wouldn't you want to get rid of all evidence of it? If not destroy the property outright, then at least take the website down. Again, digressing, the point is that Laura didn't find this website ... or she did, but didn't say anything.
Again, this is purely speculation at this point; I mean, the two of them have broke into a few places trespassing and recording and documenting abandoned places at least a few times for the internet, and maybe she really is just that cautious, worried about being imprisoned and charged for trespassing, and even attempted burglary.
And it seems like Ed is asking the same questions we are. Behind the Harmony tab is a notes tab with several questions such as "Why did it close?" and "What is left?", among a few others that are cut off. The next question seems to ask "Is it still" something. Seems like Ed and us are in the same boat. Hopefully we can help each other out.
Regardless, Ed ends up climbing the fence and enters the closed off Indigo Park, where dozens of crates stamped with the Indigo Park logo, along with trash, can be seen. Walking around, the main gates are closed off, and one of the doors seem to open on their own, allowing Ed entry into the Registration Center, a desk with a few monitors where a Rangler would sit and check Ed in.
Inside, the Rambley AI comes to life, noting that Ed is the first person there in just over eight years, before directing us to the previously mentioned Registration Center. It is revealed here that AI Rambley has access to the cameras (both computer cameras and CCTV cameras), where he notes that Ed isn’t on the guest list, probably because he snuck in, and didn’t pay for his tickets. However, what stands out as odd is that Rambley doesn’t recognize Ed at all, asking if he was here for the first time. We know that it’s most definitely not Ed’s first time here, but it’s unclear if AI Rambley doesn’t recognize Ed because he grew up, or the registration process requires a photo upload.
Rambley AI: "Hm, I don't seem to have your face in the guest list. Is this your first time here in the park? Or did you just get plastic surgery?"
From here, Ed’s directed to go through the gates, but both AI Rambley and Ed realize that the gates are not open and are instead sending an error message. Going back to the Registration Center, Ed finds and replaces a missing gear, and the gates finally open, from where Ed is free to explore. He’s directed to the Critter Corner, where he receives a Critter Cuff to enter certain areas, and the park, from where he’s directed to Rambley’s Railway to get to know most (poor Salem) of the characters. A massive statue of Isaac Indigo and Rambley can be seen at the entrance.
As Ed makes his way through to Rambley Railway, it’s clear that the park is not in the best condition. Ransacked gift stores, empty cafes with rotting food and festering drinks, tunnels collapsing at the drop of a hat, and weeds spouting everywhere even disconcert the AI Rambley, who tries to shrug off the state of the park by claiming renovations, but it’s clear he’s unsettled with how empty and broken the park is. We’ll cover that later as well.
On this ride, Rambley introduces us to everyone, except for Salem, indicating he’s friends with everyone except her and Lloyd, for whom he has … let’s a bit of distaste for. He’s shown to be sarcastic and snippy with Lloyd, but even his supposed friends aren’t safe from his occasional jabs.
Rambley when speaking to Mollie Macaw: “You sure are [the best pilot you ever saw], Moll! Why, you only crashed into six barns this week!”
Mollie: “I’m not crashin’, Rambley! I’m barnstormin’!”
Rambley: “Haha! What’s barnstorming?”
Mollie: “It’s crashing, with style! I-it barely hurts at all!”
The stutter in Mollie’s audio is what interests me. It could be interpreted as a glitch, which is certainly possible. The park hasn’t been maintained in eight years, and it is falling apart. But it could also be interpreted as Mollie losing her characteristic confidence, upset that Rambley seems to be so keen on pointing out her failures in her hobby sphere.
Rambley, when speaking to Finley the Sea Serpent: “Why the long face? And body? … Oh Finley, you should come out of YOUR shell!”
Finley, in response. “How about YOU come into it instead?”
I would also like to note AI Rambley’s interaction with Finley’s plushie.
AI Rambley: “Ooh, you found my buddy Finley! You know, he’s really shy, like, TOO shy, like OBNOXIOUSLY shy, but he’s got a good heart.”
I want to point out the fact that when Rambley speaks about how shy Finley is, he doesn’t seem to be doing it in a jesting way. In fact, he seems genuinely annoyed with how introverted Finley is, to the point where you can hear it in his voice, and he also uses his annoyed model with slanted eyes when mentioning it.
There’s also a note here that, apparently, Rambley and Finley have known each other for over 100 years, though it’s unclear if this is actually real information, or just something the creators of the ride decided to include for the fun of it.
And another thing. At the very end of the Finley section, Finley hopes that the rider will actually visit him and Oceanic Odyssey, because he’s lonely. Why should he be lonely? He’s friends with Rambley and Mollie, at the very least. Is it because he lives on the bottom of the ocean? Or for other reasons?
Ed then reaches Salem’s area, which is noticeably, horrifically destroyed, a splatter of something bright red front and center. This is where the ride breaks down, and Ed’s required to go and fix it, before continuing onto Lloyd’s area.
I’d like to stop the story to consider the state of Salem’s area; why is it so destroyed? I’m going to avoid thinking of the red splatter as blood, to be honest, but we do know that the Mascots bleed red, thanks to Mollie Macaw. In my mind, there are three potential perpetrators.
The first two are noticeably weak connections, and the reasoning isn’t 100%, so take it with a grain of salt. We know that all the characters received Mascots, so there are three of them that, in my mind, are capable.
The first is, admittedly, a bit weird: the Mascot of Salem. We know she despises Rambley and his friends (her relationship with Lloyd remains a mystery), so it’s possible that Mascot Salem was the one to sabotage her area, as a way of getting back at Rambley. Why her area only is admittedly a bit weird, so she’s not the strongest match. Another piece of evidence would be the smashed animatronic of Mollie. Again, we do know that Salem has used Mollie before by dumping her potions onto her and making Mollie Salem’s minion. Could she also have smashed the animatronic bird?
The second suspect is Mascot Mollie. She can be seen following Ed throughout the ride, and the whole park, for that matter, and we do know there is some bad blood between her and Salem because of the arcade game Rambely Rush. It would give motive for Mascot Mollie to do such a thing, and she’s the only Mascot running about Indigo Park that we know of; Lloyd remained in his theater, not pursuing Ed when he leaves. At the end of the chapter, when Ed enters Oceanic Odyssey, it’s unclear whether a robot or Mascot Finley appears in the aquarium, but he’s likely confined there as well. Mascots Rambley and Salem aren’t even mentioned once.
Now, this one is also kind of a stretch, but the only character that would have more reason to hate Salem more than Mollie is Rambley. They are clear nemeses (again, Rambley Rush), and have been for quite some time. While the AI Rambley is generally benevolent, but still with a sharp tongue, it remains to be seen what exactly the Mascot Rambley is like. His Mascot is still likely here in Indigo Park somewhere, one of the remaining two (Mollie being dead, unless there are several of each Mascot present, in which case this elevates the terror a few notches. Imagine being chased by seventeen Mascot Lloyds) besides Salem. He could very well be the perpetrator. However, I do have a bit of trouble explaining why he would wreck the Animatronic Mollie. Maybe because he knows it’s just a fake, and not the real Mascot Mollie?
However, there is one convenient detail that I have not mentioned. Remember the smashed Animatronic Mollie, and how we were questioning why she was wrecked in the first place? Well, she does offer us one clue. When Ed approaches the bird, Mollie flickers to life momentarily, her voice garbled and distorted until finally, she says this:
Animatronic Mollie: “Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!”
After that, poor Animatronic Mollie finally shuts off for good, her painted eyes devoid of the life she once had. Well, this certainly got interesting, didn’t it? Rambley hurts Lloyd? How? I mean, think about it! How would a raccoon actively hurt a lion? This isn’t like a honey badger situation; raccoons are much more vulnerable and weaker than honey badgers. What’s also interesting is her words themselves. Why would someone program an Animatronic Mollie to say this? We eventually find out that Mascot Mollie will memorize and be able to repeat words or phrases she’s heard, if Ed has the misfortune of being caught by Mascot Mollie later down the line. Is it possible that the same is true for the animatronics? And if so, does that mean that Animatronic Mollie was shouting bits and pieces out of context, or was it supposed to be something she was never meant to hear, and was thusly wrecked?
And even if this was out of context, that still opens up a major can of worms. Even if Rambley never hurt Lloyd, who is this ‘He’ that did hurt Lloyd? Keep this in mind until we reach Lloyd’s attraction.
Anyways, onto Llyod’s area. It’s clear that Lloyd and Rambley both don’t like each other, quite possibly because Rambley hates how Lloyd used to be number one, and Lloyd possibly because he’s not happy that he was replaced by Rambley as head honcho. Rambley, for his part, doesn’t really try to antagonize Lloyd, just wearily going through the ride and trying to get out as fast as possible here.
And that’s essentially it for the ride, AI Rambley suggesting Ed go visit Jetstream Junction. Careful observation would yield the fact that Mascot Mollie has been stalking Ed, studying him from behind the scenes, though she won’t end up being an antagonist until later on.
What’s interesting to note is that at the end, AI Rambley says this: “So, whatddya think? Pretty fun, right? Now you know all about my friends! And Lloyd …”
We know that Rambley cannot stand Salem, Rambley Rush made it quite clear. So, why refer to Salem as a friend? Why is her area so wrecked? Is it possible that AI Rambley has no reason to hate her, because he’s not aware of how often he’s pitted against her in media? But that would also mean that AI Rambley would have to be quite unaware of the media surrounding him, but he seems to know a lot about the history of the park. He still dislikes Lloyd, after all. And then that would beg the question if Mascot Rambley actually dislikes Salem enough to destroy her area in his ride. Too many questions that, unfortunately, there are no answers for. We can’t even see AI Rambley’s thoughts on Salem through a plush or anything, because there are no current collectibles in Chapter 1 that refer to her.
This is actually why I think one of the more intriguing aspects of ‘Birds of a Feather’ is Salem, and her ambiguous presence within the game. There aren’t even any posters in regard to her, unlike Lloyd or Rambley or Mollie or Finley. She’s just so wrapped up in mystery … anyways.
After finding out Jetstream Junction is locked away, AI Rambley sends Ed to Lloyd’s Main Stage Theater, where Ed first catches a glimpse of Mascot Lloyd, dozing on the stage. When Mascot Lloyd notices Ed, he runs into the back, and unfortunately, that’s where Ed has to go.
When Ed reaches the stage himself, AI Rambley tells Ed to be careful, because he has no vision of the backstage area, which is weird. AI Rambley seems to have access to the rest of Indigo Park, why is this area so special? It’s just storage, for the most part … and Mascot Lloyd, but AI Rambley still thinks they’re just as good as they were in their hay day, so he has no reason to be wary of the Mascots themselves until later. It’s true that it’s a Ranglers Only area, and we haven’t really seen AI Rambley in these areas before, so that could be it? Maybe because of his dislike for Lloyd? But then why give AI Rambley access to the stage at all? I don’t know, to be honest. Yet another question. However, AI Rambley does say something interesting.
AI Rambley, to Ed, regarding the behind the stage area: “Hey buddy. I got eyes all over the park, but I can’t see anything behind the stage. If you’re going back there be careful. Your Critter Cuff is not yet able to resuscitate you.”
Why should a Critter Cuff be able to resuscitate a person? From what I understand, it’s supposed to be like those Disney Bands that you can wear at parks, giving you access to different rides and such, even having complementary features of being a pedometer, mood ring, and a heartbeat sensor. This could either be a sort of tease to future upgrades Ed might be able to get in future chapters … or implies something darker. These Critter Cuffs were given to regular guests, for what purpose should they be able to revive someone from being unconscious?
Anyways, as Ed makes his way backstage, Lloyd makes some appearances, even once trying to attack Ed before being foiled by the massive boxes landing on him, causing him to slink away. Along the path, however, is something interesting. Binders, pages, even notebooks are scattered, almost like a bread crumb trail. I was never able to make out what they say besides some months like January, or vague Table of Contents with no explanation. Just thought it was weird. Food for thought. Grabbing the keys, Ed heads back, finding the door locked behind him. Trying to open the door yields an attack by Lloyd, who is strangely repelled by a high-pitched noise.
Now, from all that I have read, there seem to be two theories as for why Lloyd flees. The first cause is that Mascot Lloyd is driven away by the high-pitched beeping from the Critter Cuff. The second, and arguably more intriguing theory, is that someone blows a tamer’s whistle. A tamer’s whistle is a whistle used by tamers to direct animals, usually in settings like circuses where the animal has to perform some sort of trick or feat of athleticism. As it’s used more and more often, the animal learns to recognize the pitch, or duration of the shrill sound, associating it with a certain action that needs to be performed. In this case, the theory states that the tamer’s whistle caused Lloyd to fall back, before fleeing.
Now, while I think the tamer whistle theory is cool in concept, I don’t know who would be able, or more importantly, willing to save Ed from Mascot Lloyd. AI Rambley is not able to see what’s back here, nor should he understand what’s happening, so that removes him from the picture. Mascot Mollie is a possibility, perhaps wanting to save Ed for herself, as she’s seen stalking and watching Ed ever since Rambley’s Railroad, and even appears briefly in the hallway when Ed exits the theater backstage, but why want Ed for herself? They probably don’t need food, else they would have died, sweet pastries and sugary drinks present or not. They were left alone for eight years, after all. The thrill of the hunt would be the only explanation. And then there are our two unknowns, running about the park: Mascot Rambley and Mascot Salem. Could they have been the ones to do it? But why assume they’d act differently towards Ed? Surely they’d still be hostile?
And if the Critter Cuff was the savior, why was it ineffective against Mascot Mollie? Could it be because of the physiological and biological differences between Mascots Lloyd and Mollie? And why did it go off only when Lloyd was nearby? After Lloyd is repelled, the noise stops, after all. Was it the elevated heart rate that tipped off the defense mechanism? But again, surely it would have done the same when Ed would be chased by Mascot Mollie?
Remember what Animatronic Mollie told Ed with her dying breath? ‘Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!’ Could this be what Mollie was referring to? After all, Lloyd didn’t just run away; he collapsed a few feet away from Ed for a brief stint, paws pressing against his ears as Lloyd curled up into a fetal position, only running away when the high-pitched sound ended. Mascot Lloyd genuinely seemed in great pain, and was only able to run away, quite hastily, may I add, once the sound stopped. Was Rambley, AI or Mascot, the one who abused such a feature? Or was it someone else?
Remember, we have no idea why the Mascots turned hostile. Possibly due to a lack of exposure to humans, and thus claiming certain territories for themselves. After all, Mollie didn’t attack Ed until he entered her designated area. But then that brings into question Mascot Rambley. Where was he all this time? Rambley Railroad is his place, after all. But this isn’t Rambley’s only attraction in Indigo Park. At least one other location that we find that bears Rambley’s name is ‘Café de Raton Laveur’, which is French for Raccoon Café. Does that mean that Rambley owns other attractions, and is stalking those? It’s unclear.
Anyways, want to know another possible reason why there was a sudden evacuation with no explanation? What if the Mascots rebelled against the humans because of mistreatment? Think about it, Animatronic Mollie says ‘Not Rambley! He hurts Lloyd! He hurts Lloyd!’ What if Animatronic Mollie wasn’t referring to Rambley hurting Lloyd, but someone else? Someone who would want to design a special feature built into his Critter Cuff that he could activate and subdue, if not straight up hurt Lloyd? And who is the only other male character that we know of besides Rambley, Lloyd, Finley, and Ed?
That’s right, Isaac Indigo himself. This could very well be a case of mistreated creatures rebelling against the horrors they endured. Think about it, when in stressful situations, the mind, both human and not, is much more willing to go into fight or flight, is much more likely to punch first, question later. Is it possible that this Animatronic Mollie caught a snippet of a conflict that arose between the Mascots, when Mascot Mollie was trying to mediate? While this does go against the theory that Animatronic Mollie was destroyed by Mascot Rambley to silence her, it’s still a possible theory, no?
Again, these theories are very much a stretch, I just wished to lay them out on the table and offer them up for people to see and debate.
After grabbing the keys, Ed goes to Jetsream Junction, where Ed goes about exploring and solving some puzzles in order to progress further into the building, as it seems to be the only other place that isn’t falling apart and seems to be in somewhat stable condition. Inside one of the rooms is the Rambley Rush arcade game, and there is something interesting that Salem says in here.
Salem, speaking to Rambley: “Meet the new and improved Marley Macaw! Now with none o’ that ‘friendship’ garbage stopping her from tearin’ you to pieces. I wonder what she REALLY thinks of you now? Have fun finding out!”
Now, this could just be me overanalyzing this thing. It’s our only reference to Salem, and some of the things I cite as evidence could very well just be regular dialogue for an arcade game. However, on the off chance that this means something, I was very interested in what Salem said about what Mollie thought of Rambley. She makes it seem like Mollie is under some sort of illusion in regard to Rambley, like he’s a villain masquerading as a good guy, but has everyone around him convinced he’s good. This could tie in with the broken Animatronic Mollie, as if Mollie found out about some truth in regard to Rambley. After all, her broken, jittering speech made it seem like Rambley was actively hurting Lloyd. Could she have gone to someone to get help, but that other someone suggested Rambley as an ally? That could explain why Mollie felt the need to emphasize that ‘He hurts Lloyd’ twice, like she’s genuinely freaking out that her best friend actively hurt others he didn’t like.
Putting that theory aside, Ed goes through the area, heading up to Mollie’s ride, only to find it inaccessible due to major chunks of broken debris. AI Rambley seems sort of horrified to find the place so broken and calls up a repair technician. It’s no surprise that the line is discontinued, due to most Ranglers likely being laid off after the closure of Indigo Park.
From here, AI Rambley, still somewhat jarred by the wreckage he’s seeing, encourages Ed to go and visit Mollie’s Landing Pad, strangely acting as if Ed had just finished his journey on the attraction, when he couldn’t even step onto it. From there, Ed goes and solves some puzzles, making his way deeper into the building. He spots Mollie a few times as she gets away from him, hiding. What’s an interesting note is that some sort of liquid seems to be dripping from Mollie. When you encounter her in one of the tubes, she leaves behind some sort of reddish grime that disappears once her animation is done. Her eyes, also, aren’t the way they’re usually portrayed. They’re similar to Lloyd’s in that there are white pinpricks of light in dark sockets, Lloyd’s being thin ovals in dark sockets.
As Ed finishes up the puzzles, he goes deeper before he’s attacked by Mascot Mollie herself, fleeing through the numerous tubes and tunnels, before eventually leaving it all behind and entering some sort of Ranglers Only Area.
Before we continue, I’d like to point out something. When being chased, Mascot Mollie occasionally rehearses some lines she once heard, repeating this.
Finely, to Rambley: “You’ve known me for 100 years.”
Reasonable enough; she was there when Ed was in the Rambley’s Railroad attraction. No, what concerns me are two other lines, identified by SuperHorrorBro in his analysis of chapter one.
Mascot Mollie: “Get back in your cage, bird.”
And finally, this.
Mascot Mollie: “Get up you stupid freak!”
Remember, Mascot Mollie only repeats what she has once heard. She doesn’t actively make her own dialogue. Remember the theory I had about the Mascots having enough of their terrible living conditions, and rebelling against the staff? It seems like this is the right direction to go in. Lloyd and Mollie do not attack immediately. While Lloyd runs away, Mollie observes, watching, biding her time. She follows you to Lloyd’s theater, and what does she see, or, rather, hear? Lloyd being pushed further and further back into his domain, the one place he should be happy, before being forced into a corner, and where he lashes out. Even though Ed ends up leaving, he ends up claiming a piece of Lloyd’s territory, and Lloyd goes back onto his instincts, to hunt. However, when he gets too close, that blasted, accursed Critter Cuff lets out its horrible whine, Lloyd collapsing, consumed with nothing but pain. Once the sound ends, he flees, like a terrified animal.
And what does Ed see when he leaves? Mascot Mollie, observing Ed. She’s seen that, yet again, a human encroaches, pushes their bounds, eventually hurting Lloyd to get what he wants. And then, he goes to Mollie’s home, the Jetstream Junction, a place she’s been locked out of due to needing a Critter Cuff, but she wouldn’t dare touch one. She saw what happened to Lloyd, who knew what sort of anguish it would inflict upon Mollie?
She enters behind Ed, stalking him, fury building as she watches Ed run about like he owns the place. How dare this man, this human, walk upon her domain whenever he wants, but she has to wait until she’s let in, like some sort of caged bird. Well, she’s not a caged bird, and she’ll make Ed see that.
At first, when AI Rambley sees Ed, he wishes to stop Ed, but seeing a towering Mascot Mollie chasing him, he opens the door, slamming it shut behind Ed just as Mascot Mollie’s head enters the room, killing the Mascot instantly as blood sprays all over the metallic door and floor. AI Rambley attempts to act like nothing happened, but fails, sighing.
He explains that he didn’t realize the danger of Indigo Park and its inhabitants due to being stuck in that early Reception Center for all of those eight, lonely years, unable to see or interact with anything inside. He was just so excited to finally see an actual person that he pushed Ed into this tour, realizing that, with the way things were, there was no way Ed would come out unscathed, and the AI seems genuine in his sorrow. However, he asks for Ed to help restore the park to the former glory, and, miraculously, Ed agrees. However, before Ed leaves, AI Rambley drops this one last piece of vital information.
AI Rambley: “Whew! That was exhausting to say that whole spiel, but Rambley’s Ranglers (registered) is a registered trademark … that expired yesterday.”
Okay, so couple things. From my impression, I had the feeling that somehow, someway the Indigo Company as a whole was alive and kicking. I mean, look at what Ed has to say when he interacts with the Rambley Raccoon plushy.
Ed: “Ah, there’s my buddy. Kinda feels like Rambley has a whole empire now, being the main man of Indigo and all.”
Ed gives us the distinct impression that not only is Indigo still around, but it’s also positively thriving, yet they allow their trademarks to expire? Trademarks essentially last forever, but you have to fight, in court, to let them continue every ten years or so. If Indigo is based on Disney, the stingiest, largest entertainment company, why would they let their trademark expire, and give access to others? Well, this might have to do with the initial terms.
You see, in order to keep a trademark, you have to defend its usage every ten years. Well, okay, then why didn’t Indigo do so? One of the terms for renewal is that you have to continuously use that trademark. You can’t just claim one and never use it again, that’s basically an infraction upon free speech. Sure, you can fight for its ownership, but there are rules and regulations to these kinds of things, you can’t just trademark something like ‘Oof’ or ‘Lmao’ and keep it without at least saying those phrases occassionally.
And, so far as we know, there are no other places such as Indigo Park owns. Ranglers are synonymous with staff in the park, so obviously, it would be hard to justify keeping a trademark when you never expect to use it. So, that’s my theory on why the trademark did indeed expire the day previously, October 6^th, 2023 (apparently, the creator confirmed the game takes place in 2023, so, that means that Ed arrives on October 7^th, 2023, and the last person to enter park left on October 7^th, 2015).
Anyways, after that, AI Rambley leads Ed to Oceanic Odyssey with the intention to get it back up and running, as it has been closed due to repairs, something that AI Rambley hopes Ed can assist with. As Ed exits, he tries entering a hallway, which AI Rambley blocks.
AI Rambley: “Uh oh. That Rambley’s Ranglers room is only accessible by Royal Ranglers. Maybe you’ll grow up big and strong enough to enter it! But for now, don’t.”
This is the first instance of hierarchy within the Ranglers that Ed has been introduced to so far, and the dark undertone AI Rambley takes when he tells Ed not to go there is somewhat concerning. What exactly is AI Rambley hiding back there? Well, I have a few hunches.
Let’s point out the obvious regarding our friends, the Mascots; they’re not regular animals. Obviously, regular animals don’t have dark orbitals with thin white slits, or have turquoise noses, or have macaws the size of cassowaries. However, they are still animals, creatures of flesh and blood that act like their regular animal counterparts; Lloyd is an ambush predator, stalking until he himself is presented with an opportunity to attack. However, lions are known to just straight up attack if they are discovered by accident, especially if the prey is weaker and slower than them. Lloyd runs away instead of attacking.
Similarly, Mollie follows Ed warily, unsure of what to think of him for most of the time. She never aggresses until he enters her territory, and even then, she’s surprisingly lenient with Ed, straight up until he finishes those color-coded symbol puzzles. Only then does she attack. And even then, this is a behavior reflected in regular macaws as well, as these birds are fiercely territorial of their area.
So, these Mascots didn’t pop up straight from the ground, did they? They had to be bioengineered at the very least, mutated regular animals becoming the Mascots guests once knew and loved. They are, however, animals at their core, animals that do not attack for no reason. They try to deescalate the situation, as Lloyd does when he runs backstage, and when Mollie pulls herself back through the tunnels, away from Ed, and striding through the corridors, until she eventually loses patience and chases after Ed through Jetsream Junction.
I’d like to propose the theory that these Mascots were created in that area of Jetstream Junction, hidden underground and away from prying eyes. This is also where the Mascots were likely mistreated and abused, called horribly names at the very least, and endured beatings and humiliating acts at their worst. This is also likely where the Mascots originally snapped. After all, literally not a single guest understands why they were evacuated. Unless the guests who saw what happened were silenced, there should have been something floating around the Internet, on some obscure forum.
Now, why would AI Rambley hide this? Because he now understands that these Mascots are dangerous, a risk he cannot allow, since he enlisted Ed to bring the park back from the dead. AI Rambley realizes that Ed doesn’t have the tools to survive that area; perhaps because one of the Mascots lurks in there, locked away, or because he doesn’t want Ed to flee, horrified as to the scientific process that allowed for the mutated abominations to roam Indigo Park.
Regardless, Ed finally makes his way to the entrance of Oceanic Odyssey, home of the Mascot Finley. In fact, we actually get to see a glimpse of Finely’s actual size in one of the aquariums as his large head and long torso appear, before the chapter ends. I don’t believe that this is an animatronic, as electricity and water do not mix, especially animatronic with running current of electricity in water.
And that’s where Chapter 1 of Indigo Park, ‘Birds of a Feather’, ends off. Chapter Two will likely revolve mostly, if not totally, around Oceanic Odyssey and Mascot Finley.
So, I have two predictions as for where the next chapter might go. Based on the reactions Mascots previously had to Ed, I believe that Mascot Finley will not be attacking immediately. He’ll likely be observing, like Mollie, at least for a certain amount of time, until he proceeds to attack and harass Ed around his attraction. Ed will eventually get Oceanic Odyssey up and running, and have to leave Mascot Finley behind, as he’s still hostile and very much a danger to Ed.
The alternative to this is that once Mascot Finely realizes what Ed is trying to do, he stops being aggressive, and might instead become a temporary ally, allowing Ed to reach certain locations with his knowledge of the place.
Regardless of Mascot Finley’s ultimate fate, Oceanic Odyssey being powered on will likely catch the attention of Indigo. Based on the information we know so far, Indigo is still a well known, public entity. It’s possible that Indigo abandoned the theme park route, instead focusing exclusively on media such as cartoons, movies, and merch, or they might have other sister locations to Indigo Park. It’s unclear.
Whew. In the words of AI Rambley, this is a lot of information. Almost nine thousand words in, and we finally finish covering Chapter 1. So, let’s proceed to the Conclusion I draw regarding the story Indigo Park tries to tell, and the future events that might transpire.

So, as the title suggests, this is my idea for the Indigo Park Timeline and Lore, including the time before, and the game's events. This will be one of three parts due to character limitations, this part dealing with the time before the events of the game.
BEFORE THE GAME
So, this game is clearly based loosely on Disney, if it wasn't obvious enough: a man by the name of Isaac Indigo opening Indigo Park (Walt Disney, Disney World, self-explanatory), starting out with cartoons in the early 1900s.
Mr. Isaac Indigo started out his business ventures in the cartoon sphere, specifically with Lloydford L. Lion, or more commonly known as Lloyd the Lion. The reason that it's Lloyd specifically, and not anyone else, can be seen when interacting with the Retro Lloyd Plush, both from the protagonist and Rambley the Raccoon, the modern day representative of Indigo Park.
Protagonist in regard to the Retro Lloyd Plush: "Lloyd obviously had an older look in the classic Indigo cartoons, but I'm not sure it looked like this. I guess nostalgia sells..."
Rambley AI in regard to the Retro Lloyd Plush: "Ugh...I don't get why we even have those. And why did they only make one of LLOYD? Is it because he's the loudest? I CAN BE LOUD TOO! WHERE'S MY LIMITED-EDITION THROWBACK PLUSH?! WHERE'S MOLLIE'S? WHERE'S FINLEY'S?"
Protagonist in regard to the Lloyd Plush: “I feel like as a kid, Indigo used Loyd a lot more.”
If it wasn't obvious enough by Rambley's rather frustrated demeanor regarding the plush, only Lloyd received this sort of plush, while none of the others received such a collectible. Well, it's possible Salem the Skunk received one, since Rambley didn't mention her, but that might be more representative of his intense dislike for Salem, something that will be discussed down the line. Another thing to note is that this plush does not look like the original Lloyd Lion, which is a detail I will discuss in depth towards the end.
Anyways, over the years, the other mascots we know and love, Mollie the Macaw, Finley the Sea Serpent, Salem the Skunk, and Rambley the Raccoon are added. I would like to put forth the idea that Mollie, Salem, and Rambley were all added in the same general time period, thanks to the Rambley Rush Arcade Game.
The quick rundown of the game is thus: Mollie Macaw crashes somewhere in the depths of Rambleberry Woods, and Rambley goes to find her. Along the way, he must jump across rivers and pits, collecting Rambleberries, and stomping upon evil purple squirrels, eventually reaching Mollie, who is still near her crashed plane. When she gets up, she claims that she crashed because her vision became rapidly obscured, at which point Salem Skunk appears and takes credit for that, claiming that she needed better test subjects for her potions than a bunch of squirrels. Infecting Mollie with the potion, Salem flees, not before Rambley and Salem exchange some barbs. Rambley eventually knocks Mollie out by stomping on her a few times, and the game glitches and crashes.
This arcade game is important for several reasons, one of which is that it introduces us to the dynamic that Rambley and Salem have: one of enemies, different than with Lloyd, because Rambley is merely jealous of the fact that Lloyd came before him, and was the main character for a long period of time. There is also the fact that Salem's area in the Rambley Railroad is completely destroyed. Not even Lloyd's area is so damaged.
From my basic understanding of early black and white television, based on the Chapter 1 opening cutscene of Isaac Indigo, Indigo Park opens somewhere in the 1940s to 1950s, as the grainy, blurry footage and somewhat muffled audio is reminiscent of such times. All sorts of rides and attractions are available for families to explore, such as Rambley's Railway, Jetstream Junction, Oceanic Odyssey, and Lloyd's Main Stage Theater. Again, interesting to note that Salem doesn't have such an area dedicated to her, though that might just be a way of putting off that area for later in the game. People in costumes (note, not called Mascots themselves, as I will use the term to address the replacements of these costumes) roam about the place, likely acting like modern day Disney Cast Members do today, interacting with guests in character.
After a long period of time, and possibly into the early 2000s, the focus is drawn away from Lloyd and onto Rambley, and specifically after the park was open, and not before, because in that same commercial that I dated to approximately the 1940s or 50s, the front gates are decorated with artwork of Lloyd, which is different than in game, where the Lloyd artwork has been replaced by art of Rambley. The reasoning for this is unclear, though I do have a few speculations. It is noted, both by the Rambley AI and the protagonist when interacting with the limited Golden Rambley Plush, that the idea is kind of cheap.
Protagonist: "So wait. They were so money hungry that they just recolored a regular Rambley plush and called it a new product? Kinda lazy don't you think?"
Rambley AI: "... Seriously, our employees had to clean up SO many stray teeth and nails. Hard to believe that there was all this demand for a regular Rambley Plush we blasted with gold spray paint..."
The idea of cutting corners and lowering costs comes up a fair bit. This might be the reason that they swapped main characters, after all: it's easier to animate a cute, small raccoon with a bandana than a large lion in a full on suit. This might also be the reason that the park transitions from costumed staff members, or "Ranglers", to Mascots.
Another reason for the change could have been growing awareness of animal welfare issues at the time, with many circuses and zoos facing criticism for how they treated their animals, lions and elephants specifically, and is an issue that is still ongoing, so perhaps Indigo Park didn't want the negative press to come to them, so they swapped. However, it is important to note that these are purely my speculations, and no concrete reason for the swap was ever introduced in Chapter 1 (to my knowledge).
A third possible reason could be in reference to what Indigo Park represented, at least in the time that it was built. According to Isaac Indigo:
Isaac Indigo, giving a press conference outside Indigo Park: “Indigo Park offers a slice of the American dream to call your own. In this place, echoes of days gone are brought back to life as a new generation captures a glimpse of the exciting potential of Tomorrow. Indigo Park pays homage to the values, dreams, and unwavering truths that gave rise to our great nation.”
Let’s take a step back. Remember how I dated the opening of Indigo Park to the 1940s or 1950s? If that was true, that means that Indigo Park opened in the shadow of the Second World War, the deadliest human conflict ever recorded, with a death toll of over 50 million people, both soldier and civilian. After the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, it was eventually public knowledge that the USA still decided to drop the second one, even after Imperial Japan had surrendered after the first one had been cast.
It's entirely possible that Indigo Park was, in some way, propaganda. Think about it, Lloyd the Lion was the mascot. And what do lions represent? Strength, power, unity, leadership. Lloyd could have been a symbol to the American people that proclaimed themselves as leaders, people who thought of the future, while trying to sideline the negative press the USA received.
After a while, however, there was no need to justify their victory. People, for the most part, accepted their victory, and as the world headed into a Cold War, there was no need to justify themselves; many people were afraid of the Communists, the Red, and the influence it may have. Clearly, the USA and its allies were the good guys. Communism was a threat to democracy, everyone knew that! So there was a switch to a more child friendly character, Rambley, as the main man himself.
That might also explain why the retro plushie doesn’t look like how Lloyd did in the old cartoons, as stated explicitly by the protagonist; perhaps that older Lloyd was more mature, older, and signified some much darker. There’s no need to stir up bad memories of WW2, so they changed his design to be softer, younger, much more unassuming.
The Protagonist, regarding the Retro Lloyd Plushie: “I always find it weird when companies make merch that’s supposed to look old. Lloyd obviously had an older look in the classic Indigo cartoons, but I’m not sure Lloyd looked like this.”
There’s also a case to be made that Disney also participated in some good old propaganda of their own, mocking Nazi Germany and their ideals.
Now, disregarding politics, because that thing is a minefield to safely navigate, this is just my theory. I am not trying to radicalize the game, and if you hate this theory, you can go about ignoring it! I personally don’t think it’s the correct answer, just a potential answer.
Another change that soon occurred was the change from costumed "Ranglers" to living, breathing, flesh and bones Mascots, introduced to us in the Rambley AI interaction with the Rambley mask.
Rambley AI, playing an old tape in the database in regard to the costumes: "First Person - Hey Jackson! You hear about the new mascots? Jackson - Yeah, you think it will put us out of a job? First Person - I think so, Old Sport, and right after we got this damn raccoon costume."
An important note to this is that this interaction is considered an Easter Egg to a FNAF fan game called Dayshift at Freddy's, alongside some other references such as the Golden Rambley being a reference to Golden Freddy, and the Poodle Plush being a reference to another FNAF fan game Playtime with Percy. Despite this, these items seem to carry a bit of significant lore in them, something that I think is an interesting way of hiding it. It opens up the possibility to state that it should be disregarded, since it's supposed to be an Easter Egg to something else, but I don't think so.
This quote makes me think that the switch from costumes to Mascots happened quite early on in Indigo Park's lifetime, considering it's said that the Mascots should appear quite soon after the introduction of the costumes, perhaps yet another clue that Indigo Park was looking to cut costs. After all, why pay people when you can have Mascots roaming about, doing just the same, if not better, of a job?
And everything seems to be going fine for quite a while. The protagonist notes several times that his family, and especially his mother and himself, were avid fans of the place and characters, his mother liking Mollie Macaw the most, while the protagonist favored a few, such as Lloyd the Lion, while disliking Finley due to his large size, which was revealed when interacting with a few different collectibles.
When the protagonist interacts with the Lloyd the Lion plush: "I feel like as a kid, Indigo used Lloyd a lot more. He was always one of my favorites."
When the protagonist interacts with the Mollie the Macaw plush: "I remember when my mom took us to the parks one summer. Her favorite was always Mollie, so when they first opened new Mollie Meet & Greet in Jetstream Junction, we were some of the first in line."
When the protagonist interacts with the Rambley Ears: "My dad promised me he'd buy me a pair when we went."
When the protagonist interacts with the Souvenir Rambley Cup: "When I was a kid they used to have free unlimited refills on those things. I once drank so much Bird Up that I got sick and threw up while riding Rooftop Races. That poor kid behind me..."
Anyways, we got the point: the family went there often and were huge fans of the park. What could go wrong?
Well, apparently a huge evacuation and closure of the park with no explanation whatsoever, to the point where the authorities also were not able give any reasoning or answers.
This comes from the newspaper we see in the beginning cutscene, after the old video of Isaac Indigo introducing Indigo Park. So, let's theorize a bit. Out of everything in the park, what could possibly lead to such a drastic evacuation of a place so well loved? Oh, I don't know, maybe the killer Mascots that try to kill you in Chapter 1 ...
What isn't so clear is what happened to them. Clearly, they were well behaved and safe to be around, even for small children, as the park remained open for 50 years (minimum) without issue, and almost as long with the actual mascots themselves. Obviously, they went rogue, as can be seen when the protagonist has to run away from Lloyd the Lion's attempts to attack and have the Rambley AI save the protagonist from the Mollie the Macaw by killing the Mascot with a metal door. I don't think it had to do with resources such as food, since the Mascots remained by themselves in the park for 2920 days, exactly eight years, and only seemed feral. Besides that, we see a bunch of vendor stations and a few cafes, still with food in them. Moldy, perhaps, and expired, but there's still food. There's also water (possibly) available in those self serve drinking fountains. The last time the park was operational was October 7th, 20XX (with the exact year being a mystery), and the reason I say operational is because of an announcement seen on one of the Rangler monitors in the reception area.
Announcement: "Attention Ranglers. The date is October 7th, 20XX. Charge guests the SATURDAY pricing indicated in your Rookie Rangler Handbook! Thanks! - Management."
What jumps out immediately is the way Saturday is so bold. So, what can we assume? The last operational day we have knowledge of was Saturday, October 7th, somewhere in the 2000s. Unless this is the future (which we have no reason to believe), we can assume this Saturday occurred somewhere between 2000 and 2023 (2023 and not 2024 because the creator, in a livestream, ended up giving a vague message of the game taking place in 2023). Looking up old calendars and looking specifically for an October 7th that lands on a Saturday reveals a couple potential years: 2000, 2006, and 2023. We can discount 2023, as we know the park was closed for 8 years. I did try to find a date on those three monitors the protagonist uses in the opening cutscene, but only found the time, 7:32 pm. Unfortunately, Harmony, a knock off of Discord (antonyms) also doesn't have a date, or even a time, for that matter. And besides, we know that we're the first actual person to visit in quite some time. So, we're left with 2000, and 2006. Assuming this game takes place in 2024, I have a feeling the year it closed is actually 2006.
First foremost because of the Rambley AI. Having AI Rambley be as advanced as he is makes it seem like the park was closed in 2023, but again, there is no evidence to say the game takes place in the future. And AI's back in 2000s and 2010s eras were good, but nothing like we have today. They were capable of basic object identification, and navigation, but the capabilities were limited, compared to today. And in 2000, it was much more basic. Image recognition consisted of identifying edges. That's it. Edges, not distinct features, and even then, the accuracy was pretty bad. At the time, AI was mainly used for data retrieval and predictive modeling, mostly for things like language translation, text classification, and such. They were basically office assistants.
Of course, that's assuming that the AI was introduced back then. It is entirely possible, and likely plausible, that the AI was introduced later. After all, the park may have closed, but Ranglers were still visiting the place as late as 2015, which was the last time the AI Rambley notes an actual person arrived. So, if that's true, then I am still not too sure as to which of the two years the park closed.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. And the present of the game and my conclusions shall be posted in separate posts, as there is a 40k character limit. Leave any theories of your own in the comments, and I'll be happy to theorize regarding and questions or concerns yall have!

Age 36
Sex female
Height 5'5"
Weight 227lb Race White Duration of complaint 5 years Location South Carolina Any existing relevant medical issues No Current medications None Include a photo if relevant
I have problem swallowing for 5 years now. All tests done 5 years ago and they said everything is fine. But I still had that issue. So last month I decided I want to revisit my problem. They sent me for barium swallowing test. So according to test I can swallow but somewhere in my cheast food slows down and stay there for 30seconds then after additional swallow it goes down. I'm terrified to death that every time I eat food will get stuck. They ordered endoscopy but this appointment is in 30 days!!! And I'm so scared of eating I starve myself...my doctor said I can eat just take small bites and drink water. Please someone help me understand how to live like that untill endoscopy I'm afraid food will get stuck. Here are my results
Impressions: No evidence of oral and pharyngeal dysphagia Swallow function deficits: Oral Phase- None Pharyngeal phase- None noted Evidence of esophageal deficits included- Esophageal retention Evidence of Functional Deficits: Oral phase WNL. Pharyngeal phase WNL. Esophageal clearance was screened in the upright position with a single 5mL bolus of both mildly/nectar thick (IDDSI Level 2) liquid and puree (IDDSI Level 4). Esophageal screening showed retention with puree bolus. Material cleared after 30-45 seconds with 3-5 additional swallows. Penetration/Aspiration: None Dysphagia therapy is not indicated at this time. Prognosis is good based upon patient motivation, positive receptiveness to education/information provided today, recent onset of symptoms, and patient's desire for change.

Okay so I’m new at world building and I made this world and I was wondering if I could get some people’s thoughts on it anything I should/could do to make it better or if there’s anything I should ad anyway this is my world
Time Period: 20th Century Key features of this time period include: * Economic Changes: The century experienced profound shifts in economic structures. The Great Depression, World Wars, and the Cold War influenced economic policies and global relations a lot. * Global Conflicts and Decolonization: The 20th century being marked by two World Wars, the Cold War, and numerous regional conflicts. Decolonization movements led to the independence of many nations in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, reshaping global political dynamics. * Cultural and Intellectual Movements: The century would wines diverse cultural and intellectual movements, from Modernism and Postmodernism in art and literature to existentialism and structuralism in philosophy. Popular culture flourished with the rise of cinema, television * Political Revolutions: Various political revolutions and movements occurred, including the Russian Revolution, the rise of fascism and Nazism, and numerous anti-colonial and independence movements. These events reshaped nations and ideologies, influencing global politics. Technology/World State: Diesel-punk/Arcanepunk * Diesel-Punk Aesthetic: The world is characterized by a diesel-punk aesthetic, reminiscent of the early to mid-20th century. Futuristic like Industrial machinery, steam-powered engines, and diesel-fueled vehicles dominate the landscape, giving the world a gritty, industrialized feel. * Arcanepunk Elements: In addition to diesel-punk technology, the world is infused with arcanepunk elements, where runes and arcane forces coexist with technological advancements. Runes, enchanted artifacts, and mystical creatures and races populate the world alongside steam and or diesel-powered machines and industrial innovations. Runes are integrated into everyday life, influencing everything from household appliances to warfare. * Societal Structure: The society within this world is often stratified, with distinct social classes based on wealth, power, and access to technology and magic. The wealthy elite may control advanced technology and wield powerful magical artifacts, while the common folk struggle to survive in the industrialized cities or rural villages. Architecture: focusing on diesel-punk style from the 1910s-1950s * Industrial Architecture: Industrial buildings, such as factories, warehouses, and power plants, dominate the urban landscape. These structures are characterized by their utilitarian design, with large open spaces, exposed steel beams, and functional layouts. The emphasis is on efficiency and productivity, reflecting the industrialization of society. * Gothic Revival: Gothic Revival architecture continues to influence buildings, particularly churches, cathedrals, and government buildings. Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and intricate stone carvings evoke a sense of medieval grandeur and religious symbolism. * Brutalism: Emerging in the mid-20th century, Brutalism is characterized by its raw, concrete construction and stark, minimalist design. Buildings in this style often feature exposed concrete surfaces, geometric forms, and rugged textures. Brutalist architecture reflects a sense of social idealism and functionalism, with an emphasis on honesty in materials and structural expression. * Urban Planning: The urban landscape undergoes significant transformations during this period, with large-scale urban planning projects shaping the layout of cities. Modernist principles of efficiency and rationality inform the design of neighborhoods, transportation systems, and public spaces. The concept of the "city of the future" inspires architects and planners to create visionary urban environments that accommodate the needs of a rapidly growing population. * Magic System Description * Foundation: Runes harnesses the inherent mana that’s in all matter through intricate symbols called runes. * Activation: Runes are activated by infusing one's own mana into the symbol, causing it to absorb surrounding mana to perform the desired function. * Deactivation: follows a similar process, with individuals withdrawing some mana from the symbol to cease its effects. * Versatility: Runes can be inscribed onto any surface including parchment, stone, metal, or even living beings. Once activated, they can produce a wide range of effects, limited only by the complexity of the rune and the skill of the Runecaster. * Applications: Runes can be used for offense, defense, enchantments, day-to-day tasks and more. Each rune represents a specific concept or action, and combinations of runes can create complex magical effects. * Training: Runecasters undergo rigorous training to understand the intricacies of rune construction, activation, and manipulation. Mastery of rune magic requires years of diligent study and practice. * Science vs. Art: Runes are considered a science rather than an art, adhering to precise rules and principles governing their construction and usage. While some individuals may have a natural affinity for rune crafting, anyone can learn to make runes with sufficient dedication and training. * Limitations: Improper use of runes can lead to unintended consequences or backfiring effects. The complexity of rune construction means that creating advanced runes requires considerable expertise. * Changed People/Parts: A rare genetic disorder afflicts approximately 25% of the population, resulting in random body parts being transformed into a durable metal that functions just like the original part but with anomalous properties. These affected parts grant individuals elemental powers/magic associated with their respective element. * Changed parts: Any body part/parts ranging from a single muscle fiber to entire organs can be affected. The affected area becomes a metal that resembles the original body part but possesses enhanced durability and elemental affinity. * Elemental Powers: The type of elemental powemagic granted is completely random but what ever the affected body part is they’ll gain total control over that element the only limits being their imagination and power level. * Types of Elements: Individuals with changed parts can manifest a variety of elemental powers. The different elements and the chance of having it is as follows: 15% lightning, 22% fire, 25% air, 10% water, 10% earth, 5% spirit/soul, 5% combustion, 1% space, 1% time, 3% light, and 3% darkness. * Power Utilization: You can control the element you get through your changed part however, you want(kind of like bending, but without the need for the martial arts) the only limitation being your power level and your imagination your power level dictating how much of your element you can create how strong your control over your element is and how much of that element you can control and imagination dictating how you control your element * Power Levels: The strength of an individual's elemental powers/magic is indicated by the brightness of the glow emitted by the transformed body part when it’s used. A brigh glow signifies a high power and proficiency in utilizing there elemental abilities. Your power level goes up the more you use your changed part like a muscle the more you use it that gets. * Awareness: In most cases, individuals and even medical professionals are unaware of the presence of changed parts until the affected individual begins using their elemental powers/magic. The only changed parts, that are visible are ones like changed eyes or skin which are obviously immediately noticeable. * Monsters: a small amount of monsters/folklore creatures/mythical creatures exist but they’re specific to the region where they’re mythology/folklore comes from so let’s say Japan they would have creatures/monsters from there mythologies/religions/folklore * Gods * Artifacts of Power: Each god in every religion or mythology is sealed inside the item they’re associated with the most. These items can be anything these items possess a small part of the god sealed inside them * Connection to Mortals: Mortals who wield one of these items gain a fraction of the god's power, although they are not on par with the deity itself. * Divine Projection: Gods have the ability to astrally project from their artifacts, manifesting in the mortal realm. However, to avoid driving mortals insane with their true forms, gods typically possess a random mortal to interact with the mortal world.

Please read this first before booking your stay at the Grand Sirenis. My hope is to save you some similar difficulties and disappointments. There are great resorts in the Cancun area, this isn’t one of them. Keep reading to understand why this place deserves half a star, at best.

1. At check-in, I was “greeted” by a rude and dismissive employee. She gave me no information about the hotel and was clearly annoyed at my questions. She scanned my passports, gave me my room keys, my arm band, and gave a brief gesture toward a map on the counter to show where my room was located. No other info was provided and she quickly dismissed me away. This was the first time I had the thought that I was not a guest here, I was a nuisance. This continued with nearly every staff interaction I had during my vacation (to be fair, there were a few exceptions).
   
2. Within minutes of getting to our room, we discovered that our toilet wouldn’t flush. Since it was already late, we waited until first thing the next morning to notify the staff. They brushed us off by saying someone was on their way (this was also a recurring pattern throughout our stay). It would be several hours before our toilet was fixed. We had to use the toilet at the pool instead.
   
3. Restaurant reservations are required, which is very normal. I typically check with concierge the evening of my arrival to arrange reservations for my whole stay, so that’s exactly what I did. I was promptly told that there weren’t any reservations available for our group size, but he would check with his supervisor and let me know in the morning. So first thing the next morning, I checked in again because I understand the importance of reservations. He told me that he checked with his supervisor and was told there were no reservations available. I pressed further (as did others in my group with difference concierge staff), saying we were happy to split up our group and even do different times. We told them we were available for any restaurant on any day. In other words, we weren’t trying to be picky. Over the next day and a half, we were told multiple times that there were no reservations available. We finally secured a reservation for our last night, but that’s the only restaurant they would give us for a whole week. Their website says they guarantee 3 a la carte restaurants per week. Somehow they had no space available for anyone in my group and we only got one restaurant meal.
   
4. Another question I had for the concierge was concerning refilling the minibar. We had run out of water and coffee. I was promptly told that it would be an extra charge to get these things so I again walked away frustrated. After looking again at the website and booking confirmation email, I found where it says that they would refill the minibar daily. So I went back to the same concierge and asked why he told me it would be an extra charge and he said, “Yes, it’s complimentary between 9am-3pm.” I had asked at 3:30pm the day before. Why wouldn’t he simply explain that to me when I asked instead of rudely telling me it’s an extra charge and letting me walk away frustrated?
   
5. There are some exceptions, but for the most part, the food is bad. Most all inclusive resort food isn’t anything to write home about, but this was extra bad.
   
6. Our room wasn’t cleaned for the first 2.5 days because we didn’t know to put some obscure sign on our door indicating we wanted it cleaned. Again, no one bothered to give us a basic rundown of how the hotel works. Again, we were treated like a nuisance, not a valued guest.
   
7. One positive note to end on: The pool was big and fun. My two year old had a great time and he’s too young to notice or care about all the bad things. But it’s worth noting that the kid pool area is currently closed (not sure when it will re-open, but if my notes above haven’t deterred you and you have kids, it’s worth at least calling and asking before you book).
   

Go at your own risk. As for me and my family, this is one that we will not return to nor refer our friends to. There are plenty of resorts to choose from in the Cancun area.

I bought a Spin Touch as a present to myself. We have a Salt Water 36k gallon pool. Makes testing so easy. Not cheap. And I tested side by side with indicator drops to see if I thought it was accurate. It has been good. There are times the disks are bad and it’s obvious because you get like 10 on Hardness or a pH of 0. It happens rarely (3 times in last 3 years). But otherwise I love my Touch Spin. So easy to test the water. And tech support has been good the few times I’ve needed them.

I have a selfish father and when i was a child he really did cared about me and loved me. Now our relationship only is trivial stuff and it comes to a point that he never really cares for me and continue being selfish. (Wanted to watch frieren with him and said just one episode (25 minutes) and the entire episode he belittled the anime and compared it against his indian movies) the moment episode ended he pushed me a indian movie one which is 156 minutes total. The point is that he only ever agree upon watching or listening what i recommend to justify his push me indian movies and stuff.
It doesn't end there however he also look down on my music taste and always belittles. No matter what i recommend to him, he doesn't "really" listens to it and calls it bad or doesn't say anything at all. But later down those weeks he discover a shiny new music group and belittle me for not listening those types of music (but the truth was that i did showed him that group and he didn't really cared) not to mention he's now a old guy who grumble over every little thing it's tedious
Now i know he's making me feel worthless as his son and raising with love from a father no longer loving his son is a harsh thing.
It's not just my father I didn't had any love from my mother ever she would always push me when i try to hug her as a kid and to this day it hurts to have a mother that yells and swears while you are helping her clean the house. It hurts even more when you see her ironing your dads clothes and after she finishes she scolds you for using the iron machine.
Not to mention my boyfriend crazy sister who doesn't even cares about me and only her little tiktok world where her whole dream is a fucking iphone 15 pro max (we're living on a third world country and for a iphone 15 pro max u have to work for 7 months without spending 1 penny)
I'm really am going crazy by this family setup it's really sad to see your average friends having meaningful relationship with their parents while me having to deal with a crazy sister who drop water to my switch dock and laptop just cause we had an argument and father said she was wrong. (How fragile her ego is to go for going damaging property route)
Tl:dr I have a self-centered father who always make me feel worthless, a mother without any affection, a bipolar crazy sister how can i keep myself away from them while enduring this loneliness and lovelessness. (I'm a second year university student who wishes to work on summer break to save some money)

A couple days ago Uber started indicating I need to update my app, but that would require updating my phone’s OS, which I cannot do due to software requirements of legacy apps which I use for my job.
Is anyone else seeing this problem? It’s occurred more frequently including with Amex and NY Times, but forcing an upgrade to iOS 16 shouldn’t be required for a mobility app.
I’ve been using Lyft since, but when is this going to be fixed? I need to be able to update to a version which is compatible with my OS. My fiancé uses an old school iPhone SE (the small one) and still can use the service because her handset literally cannot upgrade, so there is a version that still works with their system. I’ve been a user from the beginning and this seems nonsensical.

Thanks to pancakesnpugs for the link: https://sidewalknature.com/2022/05/08/mosquito-bucket-of-doom/.
Here's my attempt. Will report back with any success/failures. I'm no pro so assume user error as a contributing factor.

I don’t know about any of you but through my life I’ve had this feeling that eating and excreting what we eat and drink was just tedious and so I just got a vision on that and that is a sign of where we are I mean, what is spiritual consumption I mean, that’s a thing of the demiurge or whatever you call it is not the constant creation of life so I mean that right there tells you what this canonical deception of being born in sin is, it is simply being born into a state.

We have to realize that you are consuming life in death no matter what you eat to tell you where you’re at but a litmus test because you can see that then you might be able to open the window to the world around you on what is really this is and this is the place where the urge has had control so reality check and this is also the place where The spirit of God source is also heavily present foods can heal you and the beauty of things in the world and things of that nature.
This is the realm in which both things happen simultaneously and it is so so you know one from the other, you can learn to discern one from the other so that you discernment can carry you into a higher place of perception Can be carried into place perception and spirit or getting sucked into the flesh as being the only thing and shift, spiritual perception, wisdom that we consume to maintain our lives is a key indicator of what really doing the station that we are really at.
gotta love iphone dictation right? Im doing the beer pretzels and peanuts thing so i thought id make it faster and easier. it actually wasnt bad this time but yeah youre consuming the living made unto death, and it could probably be that a mass awakening just decides it wants to create life and life alone, i dunno maybe some of you will get visions on this, thats just the third or 4th phase of visions for the day. This Trump thing i think ramped up the necessity of things to be seen and known. Precipice meets precipice visions you have to be ready.

I haven’t seen much information on the Dark Horse Track Attack online, so I figured I’d write up my experience. Sorry in advance for the long post.
Background: When you buy a new Dark Horse, Ford offers a free one-day event at the Ford Performance Racing School (FPRS) where you can learn more about your car and how to drive it well. I optioned to pay for a second day to get more drive time. I had zero experience driving on track before this event.

Location: The event took place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The track was set up in a variant of the Roval configuration.
Students: There were about 20 people in my class. There were 16 drivers and 5 non-driving guests. This will come as a shock to no one, but the average driver was a 40-50 y/o white guy. Anecdotally, a good portion of the owners also owned a Ford truck.
Staff: The staff could definitely make or break the event, but everyone there was very kind and knowledgeable. It seems like all the instructors got their start in karting as kids, and they all seemed to have professional racing careers in the past. The student to instructor ratio was about 3:1, and the student to staff ratio was about 1:1.
Cars: We were each assigned our own cars. On day 1, it was a basically stock DH, except for a half cage, 4-point harness, and radio. The radio plugged into your helmet and was super helpful for all the events. On day 2, it was a more modified car with a full cage, and still had a 4-point harness and radio. It was great that we got our own cars so we could set up the seat and wheel and not worry about for the rest of the day. If you’re doing the math, this means they had over 40 Dark Horses at the facility. Also, all the cars had the handling pack. However, they all ran Pilot Sport 4S tires instead of the Pirelli Trofeo R tires. My understanding for the change that the PS 4S’ had slightly less grip, but were way easier to warm up.
Day 0: The night before the class, we had an introductory meeting and free private dinner at The Speedway Club. We went over the history of FPRS and a general overview of the next two days with a Q&A at the end.
Day 1: We met at the FPRS HQ at the speedway. We were given a racing suit, helmet, and HANS device. Then there was maybe an hour or two of class time, where we went over track rules, flag colors, and the basics of weight transfer and racing lines.
Next, we drove our cars out to a giant lot and were split up to do three separate events.
1. We learned how to feel for and control oveundersteer. This was done with an absolute unit of a Ford Five Hundred with hydraulically actuated outriggers front and back. While we drove through a small course, the instructor would take weight of the front or back wheels so we could feel it losing grip. The exercise was surprisingly helpful for the track sessions to come, and by far the most fun you can have in a Five Hundred at 18 mph.
2. We learned how to use the drift brake. Before this event, none of the students in my class ever tried it. The course was a small oval that they watered down (with a water tank towed by a Raptor). We would go out one at a time and an instructor would coach us over the radio. I over-rotated constantly and I’m perfectly fine never using this feature again.
3. There was an autocross course set up. It included a long straight-away, a few curves and chicanes, and a stop-box. A good time on the course was about 36 seconds. We did the course in normal, sport, and track mode to feel the difference. We also practiced using launch control and the no-lift shift. I didn’t like the no-lift shift since it was contrary to general shifting muscle-memory, so I didn’t use it much.
Then back to the classroom for lunch, which was sandwiches, chips, salad, cookies, etc.
In the afternoon, we finally went to the roval. We used a building in the in-field as a home base. We did 3 lead-follow sessions getting progressively faster. We stayed in 3^rd and 4^th gear for the whole course. The groups were one instructor and up to 3 students. The instructor talked us through each corner in real time on the radio: what to look for, where to hit the apex, etc. Each lap we swapped places so we each got a turn right behind the instructor to follow their lines. In between each session, the other half of the students went out while we hydrated and debriefed with the instructor (e.g. “none of you hit the apex at turn 4, and here’s why”). Lead Follow Video
At the end of day one, we each got a “demo lap” in the passenger seat while an instructor drove. It was WILD how much faster they were. Corners where I was going 60, they were going 80. On the straight, I was going 115 and they were going 130+. The tires were chirping the whole lap. The demo lap gave me confidence to push it a bit harder on day 2.
We then travelled back to the classroom where we “graduated”. We got a certificate and shirts, stickers, a koozie, etc. We also received a diecast FPRS Dark Horse. There’re going to ship us trophies as well.
Day 2: Day 2 we were essentially on track all day. There were a couple lead-follow sessions in the morning, but with the “hairpin” track configuration. Looking at the track map I posted above, they changed the back chicane into a hairpin turn that puts you back at turn 3. I liked this configuration a lot as it was just turn after turn after turn.
We also got in a van and walked the track at important turns, discussing track camber, bumps, dips, etc.
Lunch was the same as day 1.
In the afternoon, the track was converted back and we had a “slow” demo lap with an instructor on the first configuration where they drove us through at like 50% and discussed their thoughts in detail. Afterward, it was on to two open sessions.
For the open sessions, the instructors told us to build up to a fast but safe pace and just don’t crash. They staggered us out so there was minimal bunching up, but there were two designated passing areas where the slower person in front had to indicate and initiate the pass. I’m by no means fast, but I was able to pass people, and no one passed me, so that was great. Also, no one crashed. These two sessions alone were worth the second day.
Facilities: The facilities were top notch. Everything was new and clean. Everywhere we went, they had cold water, snacks, and bathrooms available. The instructors had iPads they could cast onto TVs and sketch out lines on the course. Also, all the cars were clean, always fueled up, and in perfect running condition.
Options and Cost:
Day one: Free
Day two: $1,795. 100% worth it.
Non-driving guest: $179/$219 (one day/two days). I didn’t bring anyone, but probably not worth it in my opinion. You get to ride in the car a few times, but you’re mainly just watching from a distance. Most people did bring a non-driving guest.
Driving guest: $1895/$3690 (one day/two day). A driving guest is treated exactly the same as an owner. It seems steep but I’d say it’s worth it, especially if you and your guest split the cost of the first day.
Insurance (optional): $225/day. You go from being liable for the total cost of the car, to a max of a $6500 deductible. Seems lame to me this isn’t included, but I purchased it for peace of mind. I felt like I was ok pushing the car harder with less money on the line.
Roadkeeper (optional): $179/day. You get a video of every time your car was on. On the track, it overlays your speed, a view of the driver, and where you are on the course. You can also hear what people are saying on the radio. It required no effort on my part. An SD card just showed up at my classroom seat at the end of each day before we got back. Definitely worth it.
TL:DR The Dark Horse Track Attack was an awesome experience. If you ever have a chance to do one of the Ford racing schools, do it. Let me know what questions you have!