Hi! First and foremost, thanks for your interest and I apologize in advance for how long this is, I like to be thorough. I want to start this off with some important things regarding playing at my digital table. My games are all inclusive both OOC and IC, that means both the players and the inhabitants of the game world will be varied. There will be cultural and ethnic diversity, there will be people with physical disabilities, there will be LBGTQ+ characters, the game may very well (see: likely) explore mental health, gender identity, and any number of things. My games are a safe place and I take that promise very seriously. I cannot stress this enough; bigotry of any kind will not be tolerated. There won’t be a warning, there won’t be a compromise, you’ll be out of the game, period. If you can’t manage this, then please save everyone some time and just don’t read further.
Now with that said, let’s discuss the beautiful game of D&D and this campaign and how I DM my games. My games are presented less as a static sequence of events and more of threads in the world that can be followed in any order. In a shorter campaign like this one there has to be a little more structure than a longer campaign, but this is not a railroad. Whatever ending we find to this campaign, we will find it together. Whether that’s the traditional fight the BBEG, talk them down, or join their side and plunge the world into chaos, it’s all on the table.
This campaign is set in the homebrew world that I have created and in truth I am using the campaign to explore individual parts of the world and hopefully expand upon the lore, add new NPCs, sure up any shortcomings, etc. Not because I’m publishing an adventure or anything, just because I really enjoy worldbuilding and having player choices affect the world going forward.
I like to incorporate backstories into the plot, I want everyone to have a chance to really feel a part of the story, not just along for the ride. This is also limited in a shorter campaign like this, but we can work together to give you something to identify with in this world. Whether it be directly connected to a figure in your backstory or just incorporating a theme or dynamic that resonates with your character, let’s find a way. If you give me something to work with, I promise I will find a way. This is a collaborative story, let’s create something hauntingly beautiful together.
There will be a session 0 to go over lines and veils, character creation, as well as just getting comfortable with one another. If there is a need for it to go over additional character creation, getting more acquainted with one another, or anything else we can also have a session 0.5. The point is that we are all comfortable when we begin play. Without any further ado, let’s finally get to the campaign details!
Campaign: Homebrew
System: D&D 5e
Players Needed: I already have some players, looking for 3-4 more.
Ratio: My games tend to lean more towards the RP heavy side of things though I do mix in combat. There are very few potential combat encounters that can't be solved in another way via talking, parlaying, or creativity. The amount of combat is dependent on the group as a whole. I would say in terms of planned potential combat that it will be a 60:40 or even 70:30 lean towards RP.
Scheduling: Bi-Weekly Wednesday 7pm-11pm CST, for 6-12 sessions. There is a chance this goes longer depending on RP, but I believe it will fit into 12 sessions. There’s no hard start date, just when we get the right players we will start scheduling, but it will be within a few weeks.
Software: Discord for voice, Foundry for VTT, D&D Beyond for character creation.

Character Creation:

• This campaign can work with players starting at level 3 or level 5. It will be decided by a group vote on which we start at. This allows for the characters to have some level of experience and renown but not be adventurers of legend (yet).
• All characters get a free feat. The caveat here is that if you pick a newer background that grants a feat, you don’t get an additional feat.
• Play the character you want, don’t worry about party composition. It’s my job as DM to worry about balancing the game, items, and encounters around party composition.
• Interparty conflict is fine and makes for good RP, deliberately obtuse characters designed for the sole purpose of being antagonistic to the party are not.
• All official content is allowed and most 3^rd party content is as well. If you want to use some homebrew content, send it to me so I can review it to ensure it’s balanced.
• We roll for stats. 4d6kh3, drop the full set if under 72 unless you just want to keep them. Rolled in D&D Beyond. I trust my players to not lie about rolls or to try to re-roll 20 times for ideal stats. If I find that I can’t trust you to be honest then we just can’t play together.

Setting:

Welcome to Elysiia, the year is 756 PSC - or Post-Second Cataclysm - and Elysiia is a vibrant planet. Long gone are the days of the Primordials’ dominion over the lands, gone also is the War of Gods, sealed away thousands of years ago. From the ashes of a bygone era has risen a thriving land with many diverse people. From the displaced Feylands of Remcourt - home to fey descendant creatures and prison to incorporeal creatures unfortunate enough to be caught behind it's barrier - to the Flying City of Arigon, floating among the clouds interweaving magic, nature, and technology.
Our story, however, begins in the lands of Morroch, born after the splitting of the worlds by the World Serpent. It is said that Morroch was a point of direct impact of the World’s Serpent’s bite, leaving behind the most diverse array of biomes on Elysiia, much of it incorporated with serrated mountains and rolling hills. There is much to explore here including the northern region belonging primarily to the Stone Giants of Thulkna who call the Crimson Peaks – given their name because of the reddish color of the soil – home. Let us not forget the western seaboard of the Tilltona Coast, cliff-lined coasts with treacherous waters and frequent storms, home of the Storm Giants of the nation of Salleria.
For this story, we explore the Decayed Heights of the western region of Morroch. A brutal and unforgiving arid desert dominated by three powerful tribes: the Jeswye, renown for their connection to fire and abilities as blacksmiths and warriors; the Sandstriders, Lizardfolk who traverse the vast desert with ease, trading, and maintaining the fragile peace; and the Ironhoof Tribe, fierce warriors who thrive in the storm-battered coastal regions of the Decayed Heights.
Recently, the long-standing tension between the Jeswye and the Ironhoof has escalated to the brink of war, threatening the stability of the entire region and crucial trade routes that allow for safe passage through an otherwise inhospitable region. The campaign will begin in the floating bustling trade city of Vespera, located off the coast of the Decayed Heights. Here the characters have received a request from a representative of the Merchant’s Guild to meet to discuss a lucrative opportunity that is for the betterment of the world.
More world info and campaign info will be given before character creation and upon request (I will never turn down an opportunity to talk about lore and worldbuilding).
Who am I? My players typically call me Hex or simply Chris (he/him)

• 33
• DMing for 4 years
• I work in tech so I like to try to do cool tech shit with my VTT.
• I’m a power nerd and love a bit of everything. Anime, comics, rp, tech, ttrpg (obviously), video games, writing, wrestling.
• For me D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience. I’m not out to murder your PCs or make things overly difficult for the sake of making you sweat.
• If I had to rate my skillset as a DM I’d say I’m very good at improv and storytelling but I don’t have a huge vocal range so I won’t be mesmerizing you with a unique voice for each NPC. I do what I can.
• These games are designed for me to experiment with technology, new in-game locales, cultures, etc. and as such some aspects are generated on the go or in the case of technology might experience some technical difficulties.
• Rule of cool. Yes the rules have a place, no we won’t be throwing them completely out. But if something is creative and feasible to at least attempt, yeah you can roll for it. If it’s not feasible I won’t even ask for a roll.

In closing, I’ve attached a google form below to fill out. I hate forms that make trying to get into a D&D game feel like a job interview so I’ve tried to stray away from that as much as possible. I don’t care how much experience you have, be it you’re entirely new or a 20 year vet. But comments, messages, and chat requests can often get missed so this helps me make sure I’ve seen everyone’s submissions. If you've made it this far, thank you so much for your time and patience.
If the post is not marked closed, I am still reviewing submissions.
https://forms.gle/5E1Qm2ghAU73gNGN8

Playing in a western-themed game soon and my character has a stunning intelligence stat of 6, so I thought it’d be funny if he had a bunch of one liners or catch phrases you’d normally hear from a cowboy character except they’re all wrong

My hypothesis is that Freud's patients, who were mainly wealthy women in arranged marriages, did not find their husbands attractive. Modern life backs this up: as soon as women began to have opportunity to break away from societal restrains surrounding sex, they virtually all display sexual hypergamy: this appears to be a biological fact, which was restrained by virtually every society. It is not a surprise that virtually every society independently came up with rules surrounding sex and curbed female sexual freedom to at least some degree: it must be that these societies recognized the biological sexual hypergamy and the threats it could pose to society. Since radical 4rth wave feminism was implemented in the modern West about a decade ago we have seen how Western civilization has suddenly began its demise. In about 10 years, 1000s of years of civilization have been undone.
Back to Freud's patients: again, they were upper class wealthy women in arranged marriages, and so by virtue of simple statistics, since there are only so many highly attractive men, the majority of these women did not find their husbands attractive, but could not openly talk about this due to societal restrains. This gap caused distress, which then manifested in hysteria. That is why when they were able to do talk therapy and get out their repressed thoughts, their physical symptoms of hysteria were reduced. In addition, it is pretty much a fact that women are much more sensitive to guilt (my hypothesis for this is: as the physically weaker sex, women are more dependent on society for survival, so are more sensitive to acting anti-social, which is what guilt helps stop) than men (and due to the societal restraints they likely felt ashamed for wanting better than their husbands), and so this likely also played a part in creating a disconnect so strong that it caused neurological symptoms.
EDIT:
I had no idea of the cases below when I made this hypothesis. My hypothesis was based on: a) most of his patients were upper class/wealthy women b) most had unexplained neurological/physical symptoms c) sexuality was at least partially a theme in most cases. I combined that with the observed sexual behavior of women I see today, as well as my observed theme of women being much more sensitive of guilt and shame compared to men. But I just skimmed the cases and found some support for my hypothesis:
There were 5 women with case studies. 1 of them (Anna O.) does not appear to fit the pattern of my hypothesis, but she was not mainly treated by Freud, rather, by Breuer. Though it appears that the whole "penis envy" thing largely stemmed from her case. In summary, she appeared to have resentment over her brother, because she was smart but was not given the same academic opportunities due to being a girl. However, I can't seem to find anything about her sexual life.
Number 2: Anna von Lieben (Cäcilie M.)
There seems to be reasonable support for my hypothesis in this case.
https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/291492/1/291492.pdf
According to the above, appears that at 19, shortly prior to marriage, she started to have symptoms, relating to either a sexual experience or fantasy, and she kept it inside and did not tell anyone the details (likely due to shame?).
https://www.costumecocktail.com/2017/03/06/anna-todesco-ca-1865/
According to the above, she was wealthy, and at age 21 married a very wealthy older man.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/cacilie-m-case According to the above:

She had an intuition of a future state that led her to remark, "It's a long time since I've been frightened of witches at night," the night before she experienced this fear.

We all know what witches were associated with at that time: sexual promiscuity.
Number 3: Fanny Moser.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/freuds-patients-serial/201207/fanny-moser-1848-1925
According to the above, she was born in a wealthy family, and at age 23, married a wealthy 65 year old. Then when she got older she divorced, and fell in "love" with a much younger man, who robbed her of some of her fortune, and her daughters stopped speaking to her due to her irrational "love" for this much younger man. Again, my hypothesis is that she was not sexually fulfilled by her 40+ year older husband, and she fantasized about more attractive men, and the shame and guilt from this manifested in physical symptoms. Then she couldn't handle it and gave in and went the other extreme and married a much younger more attractive man who was clearly using her for her money. Again, due to protect herself from the shame/guilt from this action of hers, she projected and shifted her blamed at her daughters.
Number 4: Miss Lucy R.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/lucy-r-case
Another wealthy woman, she was in "love" with the man whose chlidren she cared for, and she was in denial about this (again, shame?).
Number 5: Katharina
https://www.pbs.org/youngdrfreud/pages/analysis_fears.htm
According to the above, at the age of 16 she developed symptoms after witnessing her father having sex with her sister, and her father apparently made a pass for her 2 years prior. While this case has nothing to do with her own marriage, a potential hypothesis is that she was a virgin at that time, and at that time a 16 year old female virgin likely had no access to men except her fantasy, and by that age one would be developed enough to have sexual desires. So perhaps she was turned on momentarily when she saw that scene, and this caused moral disgust and shame in her, and this manifested in physical symptoms.

Unsurprisingly this comment was censored elsewhere, so I am trying it here.
My hypothesis is that Freud's patients, who were mainly wealthy women in arranged marriages, did not find their husbands attractive. Modern life backs this up: as soon as women began to have opportunity to break away from societal restrains surrounding sex, they virtually all display sexual hypergamy: this appears to be a biological fact, which was restrained by virtually every society. It is not a surprise that virtually every society independently came up with rules surrounding sex and curbed female sexual freedom to at least some degree: it must be that these societies recognized the biological sexual hypergamy and the threats it could pose to society. Since radical 4rth wave feminism was implemented in the modern West about a decade ago we have seen how Western civilization has suddenly began its demise. In about 10 years, 1000s of years of civilization have been undone.
Back to Freud's patients: again, they were upper class wealthy women in arranged marriages, and so by virtue of simple statistics, since there are only so many highly attractive men, the majority of these women did not find their husbands attractive, but could not openly talk about this due to societal restrains. This gap caused distress, which then manifested in hysteria. That is why when they were able to do talk therapy and get out their repressed thoughts, their physical symptoms of hysteria were reduced. In addition, it is pretty much a fact that women are much more sensitive to guilt (my hypothesis for this is: as the physically weaker sex, women are more dependent on society for survival, so are more sensitive to acting anti-social, which is what guilt helps stop) than men (and due to the societal restraints they likely felt ashamed for wanting better than their husbands), and so this likely also played a part in creating a disconnect so strong that it caused neurological symptoms.
EDIT:
I had no idea of the cases below when I made this hypothesis. My hypothesis was based on: a) most of his patients were upper class/wealthy women b) most had unexplained neurological/physical symptoms c) sexuality was at least partially a theme in most cases. I combined that with the observed sexual behavior of women I see today, as well as my observed theme of women being much more sensitive of guilt and shame compared to men.
But I just skimmed the cases and found some support for my hypothesis:
There were 5 women with case studies. 1 of them (Anna O.) does not appear to fit the pattern of my hypothesis, but she was not mainly treated by Freud, rather, by Breuer. Though it appears that the whole "penis envy" thing largely stemmed from her case. In summary, she appeared to have resentment over her brother, because she was smart but was not given the same academic opportunities due to being a girl. However, I can't seem to find anything about her sexual life.
Number 2: Anna von Lieben (Cäcilie M.)
There seems to be reasonable support for my hypothesis in this case.
https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/291492/1/291492.pdf
According to the above, appears that at 19, shortly prior to marriage, she started to have symptoms, relating to either a sexual experience or fantasy, and she kept it inside and did not tell anyone the details (likely due to shame?).
https://www.costumecocktail.com/2017/03/06/anna-todesco-ca-1865/
According to the above, she was wealthy, and at age 21 married a very wealthy older man.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/cacilie-m-case
According to the above:

She had an intuition of a future state that led her to remark, "It's a long time since I've been frightened of witches at night," the night before she experienced this fear.

We all know what witches were associated with at that time: sexual promiscuity.
Number 3: Fanny Moser.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/freuds-patients-serial/201207/fanny-moser-1848-1925
According to the above, she was born in a wealthy family, and at age 23, married a wealthy 65 year old. Then when she got older she divorced, and fell in "love" with a much younger man, who robbed her of some of her fortune, and her daughters stopped speaking to her due to her irrational "love" for this much younger man. Again, my hypothesis is that she was not sexually fulfilled by her 40+ year older husband, and she fantasized about more attractive men, and the shame and guilt from this manifested in physical symptoms. Then she couldn't handle it and gave in and went the other extreme and married a much younger more attractive man who was clearly using her for her money. Again, due to protect herself from the shame/guilt from this action of hers, she projected and shifted her blamed at her daughters.
Number 4: Miss Lucy R.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/lucy-r-case
Another wealthy woman, she was in "love" with the man whose chlidren she cared for, and she was in denial about this (again, shame?).
Number 5: Katharina
https://www.pbs.org/youngdrfreud/pages/analysis_fears.htm
According to the above, at the age of 16 she developed symptoms after witnessing her father having sex with her sister, and her father apparently made a pass for her 2 years prior. While this case has nothing to do with her own marriage, a potential hypothesis is that she was a virgin at that time, and at that time a 16 year old female virgin likely had no access to men except her fantasy, and by that age one would be developed enough to have sexual desires. So perhaps she was turned on momentarily when she saw that scene, and this caused moral disgust and shame in her, and this manifested in physical symptoms.

1. Prophecy Twist: A prophecy is fulfilled in an unexpected way.
2. Supernatural Detective: Investigator solving crimes with a paranormal element.
3. Love at First Sight: Characters fall in love instantly.
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth: Characters explore the unknown depths.
5. Mysterious Virus Outbreak: Epidemic with mysterious origins.
6. Femme Fatale: Seductive and cunning female character.
7. Cursed Bloodline: A family with a history of supernatural curses.
8. Magical Artifact Hunt: Quest to collect powerful magical items.
9. Cyberpunk Rebellion: Uprising against a dystopian, tech-driven society.
10. Split Personality: Character exhibits distinct and contrasting personas.
11. Fated Rivals: Characters destined to be each other's adversaries.
12. Locked Room Mystery: Crime occurs in a confined space, creating intrigue.
13. Dreamscape Adventure: Story unfolds primarily within dreams or nightmares.
14. Post-Apocalyptic Road Trip: Characters navigate a desolate world on a journey.
15. Animal Transformation: Characters morph into animals or vice versa.
16. Ticking Time Bomb: A race against time to prevent a disaster.
17. Cursed Town: A place plagued by supernatural occurrences.
18. Island Survival: Characters stranded on an isolated island.
19. Space Colony: Humanity establishes colonies on distant planets.
20. Alternate History: Historical events unfold differently from reality.
21. Conspiracy Thriller: Characters uncover a complex web of conspiracies.
22. Magical Genetics: Powers inherited through unique bloodlines.
23. Alien Invasion: Extraterrestrial beings threaten Earth.
24. Reincarnation Romance: Love story spanning multiple lifetimes.
25. Moral Dilemma: Characters face difficult ethical choices.
26. Space Western: Western themes set in a futuristic, space environment.
27. Tech Noir: Blend of futuristic technology and classic film noir.
28. Invisible Protagonist: Character with the power of invisibility.
29. Cursed Weapon: A weapon with a dark history or magical influence.
30. Virtual Reality Escapade: Characters immersed in a virtual world.
31. Genetic Engineering: Manipulation of DNA leads to unforeseen consequences.
32. Fey Realm Intrusion: Interaction between human and fairy realms.
33. Eldritch Horror: Unearthly and incomprehensible cosmic entities.
34. Mummy's Curse: Ancient curse affects those who disturb a mummy.
35. Historical Mystery: Solving mysteries set in specific historical periods.
36. Multiverse Travel: Characters move between parallel universes.
37. Haunted Mirror: Mirror with supernatural properties or entities.
38. Pirate Adventure: High-seas escapades with swashbuckling characters.
39. Pandemic Thriller: Race against time to contain a deadly virus.
40. Magical Prodigy: Young character with extraordinary magical abilities.
41. Space Diplomacy: Negotiations and conflicts in an interstellar political landscape.
42. Cursed Performance: Artistic endeavors haunted by a malevolent force.
43. Eco-Thriller: Environmental issues play a central role in the plot.
44. Detective with a Past: Investigator with a troubled personal history.
45. Space Exploration: Characters discover new worlds and civilizations.
46. Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Alien entities replace human beings.
47. Immortality Seeker: Characters pursue eternal life through various means.
48. Monster Romance: Romantic involvement with supernatural or monstrous beings.
49. Quantum Paradox: Time-travel-related paradoxes and complexities.
50. Robot Companion: Human-like robots providing companionship and assistance.

Introduction

Aesthetic gifts that make a home seem better are always appreciated, whether for a housewarming party or a special event. Well-selected pieces of gifting may provide any living area beauty, cosiness, and individuality. If you're looking for ideas to gift your loved ones with items to decorate their home, consider these delightful gift ideas to add an aesthetic appeal to any home.
Discover fashionable pieces that instantly elevate any house, from trendy accessories to cosily decorated rooms. With these essential house presents; you may give your home a stylish makeover.

Top Gift ideas to give your home an aesthetic appeal

Decorating your home can be a real pain, but with this blog it doesn't have to be! If you're looking to gift some one special an aesthetic gift, check out these easy gift ideas that'll have your place looking magazine-worthy in no time:
1. Shivaji Maharaj On Singhasan in Black by Satguru’s- A brave Maratha king named Shivaji Maharaj repelled the Mughal invasion of western India in the sixteenth century BC. Check out the beautiful Shivaji statue seated on Singhasan. This striking resin statue of the Maratha king has a sleek black finish, giving it a regal look that is perfect for home décor. The beautiful piece is a symbol of pride and caution. Bring back history and traditional touch to your home with this statue of Shivaji Maharaj by enhancing a sophisticated touch to your interior design.

1. Ganesh idol By Satguru’s- A Ganesh idol for a gift can significantly improve a space's aesthetic appeal when added as a gift for the house. An intricately carved Ganesh figurine placed in a central location, such as a mantelpiece or side table, may instantly provide spiritual energy and a feeling of cultural depth to the space. These elaborate statues are available in various materials, from shiny brass to delicate porcelain, so you may select one that precisely matches the current décor. In addition to being extremely beautiful, a Ganesh idol can act as a daily reminder to the owner to remain upbeat, concentrated, and receptive to new experiences.

3. Brass Elephant Urli By Satguru’s- Any space's aesthetic appeal can be immediately enhanced by adding brass hanging diyas. These ornamental oil lamps offer vintage beauty and a warm, comforting glow. The brass's deep golden colour immediately draws the eye and gives the surroundings a hint of refinement. With an elephant structure welcoming, these hanging diyas can be hung in alcoves, stairwells, and entryways to create a captivating atmosphere that instantly sets the tone. They may also be eye-catching accents that improve a room's overall design. Brass-hanging diyas add a touch of classic sophistication and mix effortlessly with modern and traditional living spaces.

4. Mudra Buddha In Orange Finish by Satguru’s- A meditating Buddha statue can significantly improve any space's aesthetic appeal. These sculptures create an ideal relaxing atmosphere by instilling a sense of mindfulness and tranquillity. Placing a Buddha statue in your living room, bedroom, yoga studio, or even outside your garden brings an instant touch of elegant Eastern design. The Buddha figure's delicate craftsmanship and serene demeanour immediately grab your attention and beckon you to take a moment to relax and discover your core. Furthermore, the statue's warm, earthy tones go well with various decor themes, from rustic bohemian to modern minimalist. It's easy to bring some zen into your area and make it feel like a sanctuary.

Wrapping Up

Giving presents that improve a home's visual appeal is a way to express gratitude and help your loved ones furnish a place that suits their tastes and individuality. Many options include wall art to beautify their walls, charming and cozy decorative accents, and valuable products that encourage functionality and organisation.
With a variety of gift shops online nowadays, Satguru's is a must-visit online store for all your gift needs.
https://satgurus.com/

This is the story of a woman who has always longed to be alone so she can do whatever she wants, whenever she wants.
Mei has always done the right thing by her family. She got married, had two kids and lives a quiet existence doing what is expected of her in country Western Australia. One day, her overbearing parents and siblings die in an unexpected accident. Mei and her husband decide to take a year to themselves to travel the world, leaving their sons behind. Based in Amsterdam, they lean into a debaucherous, hedonistic lifestyle of sex, drugs and partying. Making many mistakes and discovering who they are without familial expectations. A secondary tragedy and a secret revealed post mortem throws her life in disarray. But what happens when we make selfish decisions at the expense of those we love? And what happens when we are left truly alone, do we actually do the things that we have always wanted?
Content warning: offensive language, sex scenes, drug use, self-harm & suicidal themes.
First chapter link
This is the first novel that I have ever written, I have read and reviewed it countless times, put it aside for weeks and then gone through the editing process again. I am looking for feedback on my general writing style and the plot of the book. I am interested to hear about any pacing issues, if the story gets boring in any areas. I am also looking for feedback on any events being too explicit or inappropriate.
Most of the stories told are heavily based on my own life and travels during my 20’s so I am reluctant to ask friends or family to read my work as it is semi-autobiographical. Any general feedback in regards to the story and/or my writing would be much appreciated!
Thank you for your assistance!

Saturday 18 May 2024
Today in Philosophy of History
Further Elaborations on the Coming Coeval Age
My essay “The Coming Coeval Age” has appeared in Isonomia Quarterly for summer 2024. Last year I contributed an essay to the initial number of the journal. As with my recent paper in the Journal of Big History, “A Complexity Ladder for Big History,” this most recent essay isn’t narrowly about philosophy of history, but there are many philosophy of history themes in it.
The journal’s interest in the theme of isonomia was my point of departure for considering the institutional structure of civilization at the largest conceivable scales. What is isonomia? There is a passage in Book III of Herodotus known as the constitutional debate in which three speakers argue for the best form of government, with these three being monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. Here is the first of three speakers in Herodotus advocating for isonomia:

“Otanes urged that they should resign the government into the hands of the whole body of the Persians, and his words were as follows: ‘To me it seems best that no single one of us should henceforth be ruler, for that is neither pleasant nor profitable. Ye saw the insolent temper of Cambyses, to what lengths it went, and ye have had experience also of the insolence of the Magian: and how should the rule of one alone be a well-ordered thing, seeing that the monarch may do what he desires without rendering any account of his acts? Even the best of all men, if he were placed in this disposition, would be caused by it to change from his wonted disposition: for insolence is engendered in him by the good things which he possesses, and envy is implanted in man from the beginning; and having these two things, he has all vice: for he does many deeds of reckless wrong, partly moved by insolence proceeding from satiety, and partly by envy. And yet a despot at least ought to have been free from envy, seeing that he has all manner of good things. He is however naturally in just the opposite temper towards his subjects; for he grudges to the nobles that they should survive and live, but delights in the basest of citizens, and he is more ready than any other man to receive calumnies. Then of all things he is the most inconsistent; for if you express admiration of him moderately, he is offended that no very great court is paid to him, whereas if you pay court to him extravagantly, he is offended with you for being a flatterer. And the most important matter of all is that which I am about to say:—he disturbs the customs handed down from our fathers, he is a ravisher of women, and he puts men to death without trial. On the other hand the rule of many has first a name attaching to it which is the fairest of all names, that is to say “Equality”; next, the multitude does none of those things which the monarch does: offices of state are exercised by lot, and the magistrates are compelled to render account of their action: and finally all matters of deliberation are referred to the public assembly. I therefore give as my opinion that we let monarchy go and increase the power of the multitude; for in the many is contained everything’.”

The three forms of government—monarchical, oligarchical, and democratic—are a perennial theme of Greek political thought that continues to echo through the history of Western civilization. Book III of Aristotle’s Politics goes into this in some detail.
After sending my essay off to Isonomia Quarterly I realized that one of the fundamental ambiguities about the idea of isonomia—and I would have included a footnote on this if I had thought of it sooner—is the ambiguity implicit in speaking in terms of the same law. What is it that is “the same” when we speak of the same law? “The same law” could mean that every particular law would apply to every particular person, or “the same law” could mean that the totality of the law, that is, the whole body of law, applies to the totality of the population. A body of law might involve different laws that apply differently to different persons, so that the second of the two senses does not entail the first of the two senses. If you read my essay you’ll find that I argue that the Greeks understood isonomia in the latter sense, so I won’t repeat that argument or the sources I cite for it here. But the fact that we might interpret a fundamental political idea in different ways poses the question of how these fundamental ideas outlined in antiquity apply to us today, if they do apply, and how they ought to apply now and in the future.
How will these traditional ideas be interpreted in future iterations of human society that might differ quite considerably from the world that we inhabit? How are we to understand isonomia within the context of a spacefaring civilization? For that matter, how are we to understand any classical Greek political theory in the context of future changes to society? For Westerners, this is our heritage, and how this tradition adapts or is adapted to changed conditions will give shape to the ongoing tradition of Western civilization.
In my essay I suggest that, on Earth to date, the expansion of political regimes has constituted what I call synchronic isonomia, when societies are distributed synchronically, that is to say, when they interact in the present across geographical distances. In a specifically legal context, this means the iteration of a body of law across a region of space. The possibility of what Frank White calls Large-Scale Space Migration would initially constitute synchronic expansion on a scale greater than that possible on Earth, but, if continued, it would eventually cross a threshold of diachronic isonomia, that is to say, when societies are distributed diachronically over time. In a specifically legal context, again, this means the iteration of a body of law, the same law, over a period of time. The strange, seemingly paradoxical aspect of this way of thinking is that the human scale of time could be distributed over a much larger cosmological scale of time while retaining its character as distinctively human history. I will try to explain how this could come about, but first I want to point out a peculiarity of terrestrial history that we haven’t seen as a peculiarity.
We are familiar with the idea that we see the universe form a peculiar point of view because we see it from the surface of a planet. Our planetary perspective has been the focus of the Copernican revolution, which has taught us that our apparently centrality in the universe is an artifact of our limited and parochial perspective. The Copernican revolution taught us to transcend our planetary perspective and to see the universe from a non-terrestrial perspective, but there is another aspect of the Copernican revolution that we haven’t yet explored, and that is seeing history from a non-terrestrial perspective. Part of this non-terrestrial perspective is simply to understand that, just as we are not in the center of space, we are also not in the center of time. But there’s more to it than this.
Einstein’s theory of relativity has made it possible for us to see time in a new way, and this can change the way we see history. In many of my episodes I have talked about the need to address the disconnect between philosophies of time and philosophies of history. History is constructed out of time, so a radical reconceptualization of time suggests a radical reconceptualization of history. The theory of relativity is such a radical reconceptualization of time, but many of the influences of relativity and gravity upon time are usually not noticed on a terrestrial scale, and all human history to date has occurred on terrestrial scale.
We can see the effects of relativity when we look out into the cosmos and use instruments to observe cosmological distances over which relatively is relevant, and to observe bodies so dense that they change the structure of spacetime. To date, our technologies have allowed us to measure the relativity of time under the influence of acceleration and gravitation, but we may, at some point in our history, develop technologies that allow us to interact with the universe at a scale at which relativity will change our history. When this eventuality comes to pass, we will eventually be forced to notice things about our history that hadn’t previously been problematic.
Our history to date has been the simplest possible history because it has all transpired on Earth. Earth is our sole inertial frame of reference for all historical events. There are relativistic effects within this inertial frame of reference, but they can only be detected by instruments of extreme precision because the influence of relativity lies below the threshold of human perception. For example, every planet drags its spacetime around with it as it rotates, which is known as frame-dragging. And even the relatively crude instruments of the nineteenth century could detect the perihelion precession of Mercury, which is an observable relativistic perturbation of the orbit of Mercury. This was first observed and noted to diverge from Newtonian predictions in 1859. These relativistic effects are, however, well below the threshold of impacting human history.
Technologies could change this. Relativistic space travel would be such a technology. This has been made famous by the so-called “twins paradox.” The twins paradox is invoked with greatest effect by the use of individuals to illustrate the difference between two clocks in different inertial frames of reference—usually a set of twins. This was called a paradox because it was initially thought to be impossible. We also saw this use of individuals to demonstrate the poignancy of time dilation in the film Interstellar. Here it is a father and daughter who are separated, with the father experiencing an accelerated inertial frame of reference, so that he returns, still a young man, to find his daughter dying as an old woman. This is great for drama, but this isn’t how any relativistic space settlement effort is going to play out, unless someone purposefully arranges something like this as a stunt.
Let us consider a simple example of what is more likely to occur. Suppose a settlement on another world established by several thousands of individuals, maybe tens or hundreds of thousands, like a small city, who travel to another planetary system, tens or hundreds or thousands of light years from Earth. The passengers on the starship in their accelerated inertial framework will experience time dilation, and they will preserve the cultural milieu of Earth has it was upon their launch. When they establish their settlement, there will be two human histories that bifurcate at the point in time when the interstellar settlement initiative was inaugurated.
However, the larger population on Earth will continue to drive cultural evolution at a far faster rate than in the settlement, while, in the settlement, human beings will be subjected to radically different selection pressures than prevailed on Earth, and they will also be a small community likely to retain the cultural milieu they possessed when they left Earth. We would then have two human histories, offset in time by the discontinuity of the relativistic travel time from Earth to the location of the settlement. For example, if the Earth and the settlement are a hundred light years apart, there would be a temporal discontinuity of a century. Life would go on at Earth, and a century later things would be different, but a century later the settlement would just be founded on the basis of Earth’s culture of a century before. This is a kind of historical complexity that we do not have today, but which could happen in the future.
Now imagine not one settlement, but a hundred or a thousand such settlements, each representing a temporal discontinuity from Earth’s history. A hundred settlements of ten thousand persons each would be an effort involving only a million persons, which is a very small proportion of the total human population; Earth wouldn’t even notice the absence of a million persons. Further, imagine travel among these settlements by relativistic spacecraft, and then the history of those who travel between settlements will be even more complex. In this context, depending upon the location of settlements relative to each other, and the date at which the settlement initiative was undertaken, an individual could effectively time travel into the past by traveling outward from Earth to a settlement that preserves the historical milieu at Earth at the time of its departure. You could not return to Earth without finding yourself accelerated into the future, but you could travel further outward to a settlement established from earlier in Earth’s history.
We get a similar, if slower result, if we substitute sub-relativistic spacecraft in conjunction with artificially induced torpor or hibernation—space arks, if you will. A slow boat to the stars would likewise preserve the culture of Earth from the time of its departure, with settlers being roused and resuming their lives once they reached the end of their journey, effectively cut off from a return to their familiar terrestrial milieu, but they would be able to visit other historical peer milieux if they take another slow boat further out into the cosmos.
The kind of distributed temporality that I am describing would achieve its greatest extent, and its greatest historical complexity, in the case of interstellar expansion. However, something similar could be realized on Earth at a smaller scale. Imagine a large scale hibernation project on Earth, such that about 10,000 persons are involved, enough so that there could be a rotating crew of a dozen or so that stays awake to tend the rest to make sure this continues to operate as intended. At some appointed time in the future, the whole community could be brought out of their hibernation and they would bring with them the culture of Earth from their date when they entered into hibernation, now displaced into the future. This would make it possible for temporally distributed communities to appear on Earth, without travel to other worlds or the use of relativistic technology. There are several science fiction stories with something like this as their approximate premise.
Whether through relativistic travel or human hibernation, historical communities could be preserved from all eras into some indefinite future, and in that indefinite future, these distinct historical communities would be synchronically present. This is what I call coevalism, when all ages of history are equally accessible. The idea of coevalism occurred to me many years ago, and not in connection with relativistic travel; I was thinking about the increasing fidelity of recording technologies. Written language is the most rudimentary form of recording technology, and is allows us the most rudimentary form of time travel, by being able to share the thoughts of those long dead. Since the industrial revolution, technologies have become much more sophisticated, with photographs, film, and sound recordings, with always-increasing fidelity to the original.
The rapid growth of computer technology and telecommunications in recent decades has made us aware that, if this arc of technological development continues, we will have nearly-perfect fidelity recordings. But in addition to recordings, we could generate states-of-affairs that never existed in fact, as in fantasy and science fiction, or we could generate the milieux of the past, both with a degree of fidelity equal to that of the present. Computers are already sufficiently sophisticated to generate simple films, and the reconstruction of past milieux can be done without computers as well.
In the original Westworld film on 1973, a past milieu was re-created using robots. Robotics hasn’t yet achieved this level of realism, but we could do this today with human actors, and we may yet do so someday with robots. In fact, we do this in a limited way. Theme parks re-create fantasy worlds populated with actors who make fantasy characters come to life. So coevalism can be realized at smaller scales than sparefaring civilizations, but it would be in a spacefaring civilizations with relativistic space travel in which the possibilities of coevalism would come to their fullest expression, and in which history would achieve its greatest complexity.
History is already extraordinarily complex, but I said earlier than our terrestrial history is the simplest history possible given the spacetime structure of the universe. It is when we begin distributing our civilization in cosmological time that historical complexity will cease to be a single linear continuum. The possibilities of spacefaring histories will be both facilitated and limited by our technology. These possibilities will also be facilitated and limited by the actual spacetime structure of the universe, which is a function of the distribution of matter in the universe. Just as terrestrial history has been shaped by oceans, mountain ranges, and rivers, cosmological history is shaped by stars, gravitation, and expansion, and human history that takes place within this cosmological context will be shaped by these forces. The point I want to make is that, while human history is complex, we are not necessarily limited by the complexity of the single inertial frame of reference of our homeworld.
When multiple inertial frames of reference are available to us, and travel between then is possible, the possible structures of history will dramatically expand, and with these possibilities human experience will dramatically expand, and I hope you can see how this can give a whole new meaning to the idea of speculative philosophy of history. In the conventional distinction between analytical philosophy of history and substantive philosophy of history, analytical philosophy of history is, according to Danto, “…philosophy applied to the special conceptual problems which arise out of the practice of history,” while substantive philosophy of history is a philosophical account of the historical process itself. This same distinction has also been called the distinction between critical and speculative philosophy of history by William Dray, and the distinction between formal and material philosophy of history by Maurice Mandelbaum. Here I emphasize speculative philosophy of history as that which reflects uon the actual historical process.
In addition to the speculative philosophy of history that considers the historical process, we can also imagine a speculative philosophy of history that concerns itself with the implications of speculative states-of-affairs upon history yet to come—historical processes not yet realized, but which may be realized someday. Many of the speculative states-of-affairs I can imagine involve human exploration and expansion into the cosmos. The speculative states-of-affairs we might encounter in the wider universe could involve scientific discoveries not yet made and technologies not yet constructed, the histories of life on other worlds and the histories of alien civilizations, as well as the histories that we will create for ourselves. It’s a big universe, and we might discover any number of unlikely or unprecedented existents.
In my episode on a complexity ladder for big history I argued that there may be distinctive emergents from historical knowledge, that is to say, the quantitative growth of historical knowledge may pass a threshold to become a qualitative change in historical understanding. What kind of emergents could these be? For example, an increase in the knowledge of our own history can change our understanding of ourselves. We are seeing this with the use of the genetic record to reconstruct the sequence by which human beings distributed themselves across Earth. In this way, epistemic emergents reshape our past and our understanding of ourselves.
In addition to these emergents from knowledge of our past, there may yet come emergents that arise from a temporally distributed civilization and the advent of coevalism. A temporally distributed civilization could also give rise to emergents in historical knowledge. The dawning realization of epistemic emergents yet to come in the future will shape our conception of what we can become (in contradistinction to increased knowledge of the past shaping what we are), reshaping our future, and we will need these epistemic emergents from a history of a greater order of complexity so as to understand the more complex world coming into being, and which our descendants will inhabit. Without these epistemic emergents we would not be able to understand the more complex world arising out of these novel technologies and the world they will bring into being. The future of philosophy of history has never been brighter, as we see that it will come to grappled with ever-larger and more complex problems.

Video Presentation

Youtube: https://youtu.be/fvmCoRrBiEs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7IUqNAtSgQ/
Odysee: https://odysee.com/@Geopolicraticus:7/the-coming-coeval-age:d

Podcast Edition

Spotify: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xkVzIKAcIJb
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a31b8276-53cd-4723-b6ad-a39c8faa4572/episodes/de1bbc0c-a72f-452b-a20d-40ccd56889e0/today-in-philosophy-of-history-the-coming-coeval-age
Iheartradio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-today-in-philosophy-of-his-146507578/episode/the-coming-coeval-age-177527570/
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When considering how Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are related to previous games in the Official Timeline, the most credited theory among fans seems to be that both games take place after a merge occurs between the three Timeline branches. This post proposes how such a Merge could have occurred and the ongoing effects from it that set up the Era leading into both games.
It's important to detail the foundation of this theory. Before BoTW's release, the only game that the Devs could tell us came concretely before it on the timeline was Ocarina of Time. Skyward Sword was clearly concretely before that, as evidenced by the existence of the Master Sword, Goddess Statues, and three Springs. The Devs also stated that game specifically took place after Ganon(dorf) had been defeated and revived numerous times. Throughout the game's lifespan, this seemed to automatically mean that it couldn't follow the Adult Timeline as Ganondorf was only defeated twice, and at no point was revived. Then came Fujibiyashi's fated comment, which gave this theory its first bit of credibility. When asked which game or timeline BoTW followed after, he simply stated that it took place in a future so distant that it took place after all of them.
Upon the release of ToTK, what seemed to be a major contradiction was resolved. When making their statement that BOTW takes place in a timeline where Ganondorf had been defeated and revived numerous times, the Adult Timeline didn't seem to fail that essential criteria. Given that ToTK's Ganondorf comes into the world after all the previous games and not before (as evidenced by the fact that Hyrule Castle had remained untouched since the Distant Past), the Adult Timeline can be reconciled as he counts as a "reincarnation" or "revival" of Ganondorf's spirit.
What that does seem to preclude, though, is the idea that the "Era of the Wild" takes place in an alternate timeline that branches off from Skyward Sword. While an interesting concept, the idea that ToTK's Ganondorf is the first occurrence completely contradicts all the previously mentioned statements made by the Developers. It's easy to see why people think this may be the case, especially considering all between parrelels to OoT's plot and ToTK's. Indeed, one may even be tempted to say that "OoT" still precludes BOTW because ToTK is somehow just a more accurate retelling of OoT's story. Those parrelels will be explained in-depth (ba dum tiss) later on while still respecting the other statements made by the Devs.
The latest major statement made by the Devs is that a previous Hyrule could have been destroyed and thus its history with it. The dubious nature of the statement makes it much easier to leave that fact undecided and thus leave it up to the fans if they want to believe that. Specifically acknowledging the idea in the first place is major, when considering that there was no conversation or concrete discussion of this concept prior. Just entertaining the idea alone seems to create some serious inferences about Hyrule's lore.
One major theme tackled by ToTK is "rebirth". The evidence of Chinese influence on Zonai architecture is extremely obvious, and one of the most telling uses of iconography is the use of the Lotus. Throughout their architecture, Lotus Buds and Blossoms are ubiquitous. Within Ancient Hyrule Castle, the stained gladden window situated highest within the thrown room shows an unmistakable White Lotus. What might not be obvious to players (especially in the West) is the significance of that symbol.
In ancient Chinese mythology, the symbol of the upcoming Buddha was the White Lotus. During a specific uprising, fanatics even believed that a specific revolutionary was that very Buddha. When referring to this specific Buddha, this religious sect even used the Honorary Title ascribed to the foretold Buddha, "The King of Light", to describe the movement's leader. "The King of Light" is an obvious way to describe Rauru, too. He is literally a King who commands power over Light. As a parrelel to Buddhas in the sense of being those who lead the world out of perennial dark ages where civility is remiss; Rauru, too, seems destined to return civility back to a world that is experiencing a Dark Age of its own.
Given all that, how does BoTW's Zelda know of supposed events from ages past if they're from seperate timelines and that history was destroyed? ToTK's answer to this is Recall. Sonia is very explicitly referred to as a Priestess, and her talent is one shared by all of those who share her bloodline. As described by Sonia, Recall is the act of, "coaxing an object; asking where it is, where its been, and how it got to where it is. Then making it retrace its steps back in time." This would explain the gradual renesscaince over the eons of information, specifically glimpses into events from several different timelines as mentioned in Link's Knighting Ceremony. Those gifted with Recall would pull information throughout the land in said "glimpses", never having a full enough picture to realize that the events seen had taken place in different timelines. It would also explain how vivid imagery of the Triforce exists, despite the fact the Triforce seems to have played no role throughout this era's history.
The fact that so many souls exist in The Depths and that the Poe Collector Statues had their powers sealed away at some point seems to be greatly important. Despite the fact that characters directly mirroring those from OoT seem to have made their way into the world, one notable archetype missing is the Spirit of The Hero. What I'm proposing is that the Poes beneath are all lingering souls who were around during the occurrence of the Merge that were already dead, physically succumbed due to changes in terrain, or passed after being subjected to great confusion from the resulting Merge. The Statues would exist for the sheer purpose of ferrying this new excess of souls to the Pure World, but then Hyrule was left with a major problem. As foretold by Princess Zelda, Link bearing the Spirit of the Hero would emerge later on and pose a threat to the Demon King. If the Statues were allowed to go on unchecked, its likely that the precursors to the Shiekah had feared that its possible that The Spirit of The Hero would be lost to the Pure World instead of reincarnating. This explains the Statues having had their powers being sealed, and why at some point one of the Statues decided to sap the life away from one of the Yiga.
Another issue reconciled by the idea that all the timelines have merged is the Recorded History of Zora's Domain. The King of Hyrule and of the Zoras were said to have built the Great Zora Dam some 10,000 years ago in response to periodic floods that affected both Zora and Hylians. This allowed for the thereafter creation of the Zora's Domain that we see in BoTW. I took major issue with this being the canonical explanation for the creation of Zora's Domain, as BOTW was said to take place an unfathomable amount of time after OoT. The Zora King from OoT was said to be the 16th in a line of succession by Hyrule Historia for crying out loud! Calamity Ganon's previous resurgence itself is said to have taken place approximately 10,000 years ago, and yet again he has come back several times throughout Hyrule's history. If we take the creation of Zora's Domain to specifically mean a version specific to the Era of the Wild, this would alleviate the glaring inconsistencies in their tale. The Zoras in fact seem nothing but keen on keeping accurate historical records.
Of great interest to me is ToTK's new Stone Tablets. In one of them, Sidon specifically states that in a tale passed on by the Zora that the mountain range that now make up their home was long ago driven upward with so much force that it pierced the clouds above and caused torrential downpours to occur. These downpours are what created the Lanayru Wetlands, and I'm also assuming why Central Hyrule was depicted as a floodplain in the Forgotten Temple's Map Room. The later creation of the Great Dam would then have logically occluded enough water flow to allow Central Hyrule to dry back up, and allow the Zora to build their Domain. Behind the Waterfall that cascades from the pool that makes up the current Domain is a cave that roughly matches the shape of OoT's Domain, albeit much smaller and less detailed in features. It's within this cave that Vah Rutah's Helm is found.
Given the magnitude of force needed to cause the Lanayru Mountain Range to rise, one can only assume that an event of great magnitude had to have occurred to trigger this. Given Akkala's resemblance to the 1st TLoZ's map, it doesn't seem out of the question that the original landmass was more separated and that a collision between the Akkalla and Lanayru regions caused the shift. If the cave behind Zora Waterfall was the original Domain, then the lake its now built upon would have been previous the apex of the mountain range and former home to Jabu-Jabu. The major rifts in the north and western regions of Hyrule also seem to go without explanation, with the Forgotten Temple likely been built at ground level before their opening caused its collapse. The idea that the Merge was the cause of these events is conjecture, but it would give a satisfactory reason for the change.
While I could go on I would be curious to hear your thoughts. What do you think?

Preface: In a lot of these trades you could add or subtract a pick or two based on how you view certain guys, please don't get too caught up if I had a guy traded for 2 1st and you think it should be 3. We see plenty of trades in the league be holy overpays or teams moving off guys for a lower price than we as fans anticipated. Also, a good bit of these trades have big names in them and are just fun/what-if scenarios.
Detroit Pistons

• Pistons Receive: Draymond Green & 2029 1st Round Pick Swap via GSW
• Warriors Receive: Troy Brown Jr, 2027 2nd Round Pick via BKN or DAL, 2029 2nd via MIL

Pistons bring back the hometown guy. Help set some semblance of a culture in Detroit. Get a 1st Round pick swap when Cade should be peaking and Warriors are in their post-Curry era.
Warriors focus should be flexibility, would likely have to attach pick(s) to clear cap space, retool around Curry either in free agency or at the next trade deadline cycle (move on from CP3 and others), and could use 2nds to grab other role players.
Washington Wizards

• Wizards Receive: Duncan Robinson, Jordan Hawkins, 2025 1st Top 3 Protected via NOP, 2026 2nd via LAL, 2027 1st via MIL, 2029 1st Swap via MIA
• Heat Receive: Brandon Ingram & Kyle Kuzma
• Pelicans Receive: Jimmy Butler

Wizards are in the asset collecting stage. Whether or not it is the Pelicans/Heat that will trade their guys— the Wizards should look to have their hand in any mid-to-large level trades that take place this offseason and take on cap for assets. It doesn’t move the needle for them now but gives them more ammo later.
While Pat Riley may stand firm on his word and keep Jimmy, there is still a chance he gets moved this offseason. Getting back two wing players on relatively good contracts (Ingram expiring) and Kuzma making a fair $23M, which is a good salary-matching number for trades, might be a better alternative than extending Jimmy Butler. The Heat would also maintain a relatively good fit around Bam and see if BI can be a more consistent contributor under Spo-- then decide to extend him or let him walk after the season.
Brandon Ingram has been shown to take a backseat in the playoffs, and the West is only getting more competitive. While Jimmy isn’t a prolific shooter he would help stabilize their offense and take their defensive potential to the next level. They should seek more shooting even with the emergence of TM3 to feed off the slashing style of their top guys. The Pelicans would have to extend Jimmy and their cap situation would get tighter but their next goal should be moving McCollum off the books anyway. I'd make that move and figure everything else out later.
Charlotte Hornets

• Hornets Receive: Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, 2024 1st via HOU (#3), 2025 1st via OKC or BKN, 2026 1st via BKN, 2027 1st Swap via BKN
• Rockets Receive: LaMelo Ball, Grant Williams & 2024 1st via CHA (#6)

Consider this a thought experiment on which side of the fence you are on about the health of Lamelo Ball. Yes, this is a trade that could easily get you fired if he consistently plays 65+ games instead of the ~30ish he has in the last two seasons. I’m not saying it should happen but if you’re on the side of it probably being a consistent theme that he'll be missing the majority of a season every other year this would be an interesting haul for the Hornets. Swap picks this year and get the future Brooklyn picks which as a franchise seem very lost right now— plus it gives you some freedom to push to compete knowing you'll probably have some good picks to fall back on. The Hornets hope to have Jalen Green become a more efficient scorer and get to pair Whitmore's massive frame alongside Brandon Miller which would be intriguing.
Rockets are meddling in that play-in tier. Alperen is him but you may have to take a gamble on another “him” to move into that next echelon. The Rockets would be insanely good at playmaking inside and out pairing Sengun and Ball. Move off the Dillion Brooks overpay and get you a guy that if he plays 65+ plus games you might be in the running for the 4-6 seed every year, if he’s hurt you didn’t give up your own picks to do it.
Toronto Raptors

• Raptors Receive: Karl Anthony-Towns
• Timberwolves Receive: Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, Jalen McDaniels, 2026 1st via IND 1-4 Protected & 2028 1st Swap via TOR

I never really know what the Raptors intend on doing each transaction cycle but with the Timberwolves cap situation forcing them to make some decisions— the Raptors might be able to poach KAT for a reasonable price. They can buy a high-level shooting big to play off Scottie and RJ. I could see Masai fighting tooth and nail to only give up 1 moderately protected 1st round pick here.
YES, the Timberwolves have just made the WCF, and if they make it to the finals and win they may bite the bullet and be willing to have one of the highest payrolls in the NBA for years to come. But let's say they don't... they may look to avoid some of the constraints that come along with being over the aprons. They could potentially get under the tax aprons with this move, and get some rotational guys that could play and contribute in a competitive Western conference.
Brooklyn Nets

• Nets Receive: 2024 1st via BKN, 2025 1st via OKC or BKN, 2026 1st via BKN, 2027 1st via BKN Swap, Dillon Brooks
• Rockets Receive: Mikal Bridges

Nets get your picks back. I don’t care if they didn’t accept the Rockets offer, run it back. Or send Mikal somewhere else (Cleveland?) to get those picks back.
I'll give you another Nets trade if you're tired of the Mikal talk.

• Nets Receive: Devonte Graham & Zach Collins
• Spurs Receive: Ben Simmons

The Nets get rid of basketball squatter, Ben Simmons, which is a win in my book. Focusing their time and resources on their other guys.
Spurs finally get someone who will pass the ball to Wemby. The Spurs are no strangers to letting guys rest and fully rehab. Simmons most likely won't ever be that all-NBA level defender and distributor again— but as a rebuilding team, you might as well see what you can salvage. Also, Simmons is in the last year of his contract-- they could resign him if he shows signs of being a guy who wants to play basketball or use his vacant salary to round out their roster around Wemby.
Atlanta Hawks

• Hawks Receive: Marcus Smart, 2024 1st via MEM (#9), and 2026 1st via OKC, HOU or LAC
• 76ers Receive: Dejounte Murray
• Grizzlies Receive: Clint Capela, 2024 1st Pick via PHI (#16) & 2027 2nd via MIL

Atlanta has one of the more intriguing offseason decisions coming up with them now owning the first overall pick in the draft. They have a plethora of tradable contracts and only one true untouchable in Jalen Johnson. They could run it back with Sarr or Risacher added in but I believe Murray will be shipped out of Atlanta to "recenter” their team around Young, Johnson, and whoever the first overall pick. They get to try their hand at the other renowned defensive guard over the last 8-years to put next to Trae Young. They could also pick up a fake first in 2026 to attach with players in future deals. The Sixers would hope to get Murray back to displaying the defensive tenacity he showed on the Spurs (he has been less locked in as of late) while still maintaining the ability to go after a high-end free agent(s) before extending Maxey. The Grizzlies get an expiring contract and high-level rebounder in Capela after moving on from Steven Adams to put next to JJJ. Losing Marcus Smart would be a tough pill to swallow, he’s the guy you never want your team to get rid of when they have him but the Morant, Smart, Bane lineup is less than optimal— especially when you can move Bane back to the 2 and slide G.G. Jackson into the 3. Moreover, moving from #9 to #16 may not be that much of a drop off in talent in this year's draft and the Grizz could either stay put and draft or trade that pick for a rotational guard.
Chicago Bulls

• Bulls Receive: Chris Paul, Gary Payton II, 2026 2nd via ATL
• Warriors Receive: Zach LaVine

Bulls bring in CP3 as a mentor for Coby White, they hope to flush out the MIP runner-up potential to the fullest. They could also flip GP2 or buy him out later down the line as they have a solid backcourt rotation already. Get off of LaVine's contract.
For the Warriors, they would hope that LaVine can return close to all-star form, he feels like a guy who would fit into the Warriors movement shooting philosophy. Also, feels like he would become a fan favorite in San Francisco.
Miami Heat

• Heat Receive: Collin Sexton & Omer Yurtseven
• Jazz Receive: Tyler Herro

It's time for the inaugural Tyler Herro mock trade. If you're the Heat you give Danny Ainge a ring and see if he's still interested in Herro. Check the DARKO DPM, Sexton or the sexGod is coming-- He had a very efficient season in fewer minutes this year in Utah. Get a dog and bring Yurt back for the vibes. Heat could include Duncan and take a gamble on Spo's ability to resurrect Collins or Clarkson.
I don't know why the Jazz would do this. I don't know why Danny Ainge does half the things he does, good or bad. All I know is Danny Ainge likes Herro a lot and maybe likes his ceiling a touch more than Sexton.
I'm picturing Ainge and Riley sitting in a sauna turning the temperature knob up and seeing who submits first... winner gets a pick-swap.
Philadelphia 76ers

• Sixers Receive: Deni Avdija
• Wizards Receive: Paul Reed, 2024 1st (#16), 2026 1st via OKC, HOU or LAC, 2027 2nd Round Pick via MIL

A dream scenario here for the Sixers as they need to fill the spaces between Maxey and Embiid. Avdija has great length which shows up on the defensive end and has excellent rebounding efficiency from the 4 spot. His shooting improved this last year and would be a massive payoff if it cracked the 40% percentile on 4-5 3PA per game for the Sixers. Wizards likely view Deni as a cornerstone piece (I just really want him on the Sixers).
The Wizards could fetch a higher price for Avdija by holding onto him for one more year and letting him improve (which I believe he will do). The sell here is you get more 1st Round Pick equity to spend while you’re still searching for a legit franchise cornerstone and a solid rotational big in Reed after losing Gafford (Gafford is better than Reed). The Wizards reportedly want 3 first-round picks this year which the Sixers could supply plus additional capital to sweeten the deal.
Indiana Pacers

• Pacers Receive: Luke Kennard
• Grizzlies Receive: Jalen Smith, 2025 2nd via CHA, 2025 2nd via IND & 2028 2nd via DAL

The Pacers move on from a guy who has fallen out of their playoff rotation and snag Kennard who fits their run-and-gun style of play. Grizzlies pick up Smith to bolster their frontcourt depth and could pair his length with JJJ to make for some nasty interior defense.
Orlando Magic *unserious\*

• Magic Receive: Robert Williams & Jevon Carter
• Trail Blazers Receive: Nikola Vucevic
• Bulls Receive: DeAndre Ayton

The Magic are in big need of a real rim protector and Robert Williams is a high-level rim defender. His biggest detriment to the Magic would be his spacing as he'd occupy driving lanes for Banchero and Wagner. The other side of this trade is more of a funny scenario to me as I think the Bulls front office would do this trade to prop up a former #1 pick as a sign to the fans that they are serious about contending, which they aren’t.
Cleveland Cavaliers

• Cavs Receive: Lebron James (Sign-and-Trade) & Kelly Olynyk
• Lakers Receive: Darius Garland & Georges Niang
• Raptors Receive: Jarrett Allen, 2024 1st via CLE (Draft Night #20), 2025 2nd via MIL, 2027 2nd via DEN

Preface: This only works if Lebron wants out. The Cavs get to roll organically into the Lebron farewell tour and try to retain Mitchell long-term by pairing him with Lebron. Lebron, Mitchell, and Mobley have a very similar feel to the Lebron, Wade, and Bosh Heat… not quite as good of course but the archetypes are there. Also, pick up a stretch five in Olynyk which Lebron would appreciate. The Lakers have limited leverage because Lebron can opt out, so they might as well get an All-Star level talent in return for him. Raptors just try to get in the mix, by picking up a young center and some draft capital.
Milwaukee Bucks

• Bucks Receive: Cody Martin
• Hornets Receive: Pat Connaughton & Andre Jackson Jr

Don’t have much to say here. Pat Connaughton is probably the one contract they could/should move to snag a veteran who’s a bit younger than Pat but with more versatility at the wing spot, they’d pray for Cody Martin to pop off their bench. I just don’t see Doc playing young guys unless his hand is forced. Hornets take a flier on Jackson. You could toss in some protected seconds to the Bucks to replenish their draft stores.
New York Knicks

• Knicks Receive: Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III & 2025 2nd via CHA or MIN
• Trail Blazers Receive: Bojan Bogdanovic, 2025 1st via MIL, 2025 1st via WAS (will likely convey as 2 seconds in 2027) & 2025 2nd via BKN

Who knows how a 36-year-old Bojan recovering from a foot injury will look next year? They'll likely lose Hartenstein in free agency (if they don't use his bird rights) and will need someone who can play a similar role. Get some athletic freaks and depth that Thibs can use to carry out his war crimes.
Trailblazers eat the Bogdanovic contract for draft capital.
Boston Celtics

• Celtics Receive: Corey Kispert
• Wizards Receive: Jaden Springer, Neemias Queta, 2024 1st via BOS (#30) & 2027 2nd via POR or NOP

There’s something about Kispert that feels like he should be a Celtic… I don’t know what it is. The C’s need win-now contributors and could look to move the 30th pick. Kispert is a solid rotation guy that the Wizards like and would be somewhat hard to pluck him from them. I think it’d be worth a shot for the C’s to kick the tires and find out his value.

beauty
which i have now
fades so quick
i can’t even grasp it
actors and actresses
statues looking at you
only the garb changes
one of the strongest emerging social trends that arise as a consequence of increased longevity is a necessity to think about slowing cognitive decline in the over 50’s which means attention to diet and supplements, exercise , general fitness and "wear and tear", alcohol and drug consumption
my feeling is we are going to see sharp divides between subcultures in this respect and a lot of individual variation
also, a lot of the public health advice and cultural opinions are wrong minded or ill-informed, you have to do your own research and experimentation
a way of looking at the covid public health debacle (which continues despite the cardiovascular and cancer risks of boosters) was to trade off a reduced death rate in the elderly for an increased vaccine injury problem for the young
a verse by touzi on #3 of master fushan’s sixteen themes translated by suru
the death within life
birds clench the falling blossoms before the emerald cliffs, every word responds to conditions, spreading throughout — they ask of coming west, pointing to the cypress in the yard, but how could the passage through the lush mountain peaks be shut ?
活中死。鳥銜華落碧嵓前。對境皆言到處傳。人問西來指庭柏。豈關蒼翠嶺頭穿。
my reply:
what cannot be shut
is always open
but to avoid the common herd
it is disguised
why write things people understand ?
they just make your life a misery with their missionizing of a contrary view
to confuse them is better
they can’t target you
no "master"
except the claim
fantasies about reality
seek a center
its doesn’t exist
non-existence or otherwise
ed. zen is full of fake claims to authority by the appellation of "zen master", same with any religion and its "pooh-bahs"
that’s the trouble with writing
its lasts forever
so
necessarily
you are writing forever
i am appreciating the philosopher gilles deleuze more
the untranslated portion at the end goes
so you understand, when you have such an idea, the important is not to know whether it is true or false
the question is to know if it is important, if it is interesting, and if it is beautiful
and it is the same in science, it is the same in philosophy, you know
waterslipt
a furball
widening ripples on
the smooth surface
of a reflective river
a platypus
ed. i was having lunch at a clearing on the bank of the mersey rivestream near the eastern end of bridle track road, the day was amazingly clear and windless and the river smooth and i noticed a platypus working its way feeding on the bottom to surface occasionally for breath then go back down again
this morning i serendipitously put on a shirt and trousers that "matched", i have always been sceptical of the concept, but since there are clothes that don’t match, there must be those that do match, though what constitutes the female sense of this, i still cannot fathom
the abdication of the duke of windsor was in fact a surface effect of a deeper political struggle, would britain become a client state of germany or would it resist ?
the outcome was not as obvious as you might think
taking actors as real
and a set as reality
is it any wonder
the dissembling mess
collapses ?
the circle of the contemporary
rubbish generating more rubbish
stay there at your own risk
sharing the same road for a while
but later
looking at the forks and branches
i realise
we are apart
inscribed on the tower at veneration monastery
in cold spring, a hundred-foot tower
i climb up alone, and then back down alone
who can manage such distances of the heart ?
david hinton
classical chinese poetry
the poet is tu mu (803 to 853 a.d.) with a bio on page 378 of the "classical chinese poetry" pdf link
definitely medieval with the mention of a functional tower
an interesting thing about frieda hughes is she did not have her mother’s talent, of course neither did ted
there is just a remarkable depth to sylvia plath’s work and this was despite all the obstacles, what genetic quirk created her or would , if her parents had more children, they have a similar talent ?
this prosaic world
because its written in prose of course
its not a poetic world
because its not written in poetry
if you take away the "zen master" or saint or prophet as an authority figure, what do you then have ?
Regulus replies:
People acceptant of the existent reality
my reply:
the monk asked zen master regulus "what is required to be enlightened" ?
zen master regulus replied "be accepting of existing reality"
the monk was left speechless
lee smolin doesn’t like jonathon oppemheim’s stochastic gravity approach
its interesting to watch lee talk with the constant gesticulatory body movements, almost tourette's, but he is using them to think, they are part of his cognition process
how simple is the world ?
its not that simple
and certainly not as simple as the way we view it to be
insight
takes you back
and obviates
some future lives
the brain
is
a
quantum
machine
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t
be
fooled
.
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t be fooled
so much knowledge
everywhere
each branch opens up exponentially
drowning in detail
its pursuer
i guess i have got so interested in hearts because of hunting and looking at them, in one animal, it beat for minutes cut out from the body; never seen any that had human like aging diseases
i think as a society we have lost touch with our own raw "viscerality", i hunt for my own meat; the killing, butchering and eating does bring one back in touch with that, the commonality with our homonin history
heart and lungs animation
the number of people who have no understanding of what even moderate levels of drinking does to their lives and long term health
you have won the existential lottery where the odds are so small of winning, no number covers it and to chip away at brain function with drugs and alcohol like that . . .
you want to experiment with doing some translation yourself with google and you will realise how its possible to construct almost any sense out of the chinese, its actually not meaningful to do any commentary without going back to the chinese, the variance is so large, translators follow their own biases to create a narrative that suits them
“ continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way ”
wordsworth’s famous poem which he wrote based on notes by his sister dorothy was in effect co-authored by her
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
of unwanted distance
.
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
unwanted distance
ed. looking at a photo of my sister, niece and brother in law who are all very much changed since i last saw them notions of exile are not common in western literature, but are certainly there in the chinese
lost roads
can’t be recovered
what we have travelled
always
takes us
to
a different place
i love a sotherby’s auction , vast sums spent for my entertainment, all free, it don’t get slicker, a living made from networking skills and being personable
i was about to go negative on the painting by lucy bull, but on looking further i quite like her work
you have to be careful, auctioneers like these can talk the money out of your wallet
xu qiyao’s advice to his son on being successful in CCP politics
“ the path of understanding requires objectivity and experience ”
ed. the above is my reworking of the first lines of the xinxin ming which, amongst its more "normal" translations is
“ the great way is not difficult, just avoid picking and choosing ”
the xinxin ming is an abridged version of the mind inscription
心性不生何須知見
“ reality is either itself or not. is there any point to understanding this ? ”
ed. my translation of the first line of the "mind inscription"
"don’t interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake" — napoleon
i think in the context of divorce , what people find difficult is the necessity of switching to the extreme mindset of being at war and all that entails because that is what is immediately required
billie and finneas o’connell discuss how they created the "what am i made for" song for the film "barbie"
billie in her own words describes the process
“ Dr. Raszek provides insights from his participation in a comprehensive review concerning the utilization of synthetic uridines in mRNA vaccines (ed. covid) and their potential implications for cancer development
The discussion delves into the intricate mechanisms that could be at play, exploring how these synthetic components might inadvertently suppress the body's innate immune system, induce frameshifting phenomena, and contribute to the production of IgG4 antibodies, all of which could potentially influence cancer growth ”
my comment
i think we can expect an upsurge in cancers, especially amongst the elderly as a result of the misguidedly intensive "booster" campaign, though it may take a while to show
the forward momentum
of habituation
leading
to
habits
that
become
unbreakable
the fallacy of "negation"
its not this, its not that
but its what its not
negation is a stylised buddhist rhetorical technique, nāgārjuna of course and you get it in dogen, they’ll say something then walk it back through its negation
but having walked it forwards, there is a sense in which it can’t be walked back or it could not be walked forwards another way of putting it is there is no ontological unity, everything is constantly splitting apart
zen masters and the authority they carry are literary constructs
buddha is a literary construct
jesus, muhammad and moses are literary constructs
the egyptian book of the dead is a literary construct
does it bother you that your advice is so bad ?
no
the blindness of narcissism

The Legacy of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: An In-Depth Analysis of His Music and Influence

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) was a Russian composer whose works have become some of the most beloved in classical music. Known for his ballets, symphonies, concertos, and operas, Tchaikovsky's music is characterized by its emotional depth, melodic richness, and masterful orchestration. Here’s an in-depth analysis of his musical characteristics, compositional techniques, cultural impact, notable works, and a theoretical doctoral analysis.

Active Years

Tchaikovsky's active years spanned from the early 1860s until his death in 1893. His career included periods of intense productivity and innovation, resulting in a vast and diverse body of work.

Musical Characteristics

Emotional Expressiveness: - Lyrical Melodies: Tchaikovsky’s music is renowned for its beautiful, expressive melodies that convey a wide range of emotions, from joy to despair. - Dramatic Contrast: His compositions often feature stark contrasts in mood and dynamics, heightening the emotional impact.
Rich Orchestration: - Colorful Instrumentation: Tchaikovsky was a master orchestrator, known for his lush, vibrant orchestrations that make full use of the symphony orchestra’s capabilities. - Innovative Use of Instruments: He frequently used instruments in novel ways to achieve unique timbres and effects.
Structural Clarity: - Balanced Forms: Tchaikovsky’s works typically adhere to clear formal structures, such as sonata-allegro form, which he used to great dramatic effect. - Symphonic Development: His symphonic works exhibit sophisticated development of thematic material, blending traditional forms with his own innovations.
Russian Folk Influence: - Folk Melodies and Rhythms: Tchaikovsky often incorporated Russian folk melodies and rhythms into his music, giving it a distinctive national flavor. - Cultural Themes: Many of his works reflect Russian cultural themes and stories, contributing to the development of a national musical identity.

Cultural Impact

• Ballet Music: Tchaikovsky's ballets, such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, revolutionized the genre and remain central to the ballet repertoire worldwide.
• Global Popularity: His music's emotional accessibility and melodic appeal have made Tchaikovsky one of the most popular classical composers globally.
• Influence on Russian Music: Tchaikovsky played a crucial role in establishing Russian classical music on the world stage, influencing subsequent generations of Russian composers.

Notable Works

1. Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" (1893): His final symphony, noted for its profound emotional depth and innovative structure.
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 (1875): One of the most famous and frequently performed piano concertos, known for its powerful opening and lyrical second movement.
3. Swan Lake (1876): A ballet score that has become a cornerstone of the ballet repertoire, renowned for its beautiful melodies and dramatic music.
4. The Nutcracker (1892): Another iconic ballet, especially famous for its suite, which includes the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and the "Waltz of the Flowers."
5. Violin Concerto (1878): A virtuosic and expressive concerto that is a favorite among violinists and audiences alike.
6. Symphony No. 4 (1877): Known for its dramatic intensity and use of the "Fate" motif, reflecting Tchaikovsky’s personal struggles.
7. The Sleeping Beauty (1889): A lavish ballet score that showcases Tchaikovsky's gift for melody and orchestration.
8. 1812 Overture (1880): A concert overture written to commemorate Russia's defense against Napoleon, famous for its use of cannon fire and Russian folk themes.
9. Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1880): A symphonic poem based on Shakespeare’s play, noted for its beautiful love theme and dramatic structure.
10. Serenade for Strings (1880): A graceful and lyrical work for string orchestra, beloved for its elegance and charm.

Doctoral Theory Analysis

Introduction Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s music embodies a blend of Western classical traditions and Russian folk elements, characterized by its emotional expressiveness, structural clarity, and masterful orchestration. This analysis explores the theoretical aspects of his compositions and their broader implications.
Harmonic Language - Chromaticism and Modulation: Tchaikovsky's harmonic language often features rich chromaticism and bold modulations, contributing to the dramatic tension in his music. - Dissonance and Resolution: He skillfully uses dissonance to heighten emotional impact, resolving it in ways that amplify the music’s expressive power.
Melodic Structure - Lyrical Melodies: His melodies are long, flowing, and highly expressive, often built on simple, folk-like motifs that are developed in sophisticated ways. - Thematic Transformation: Tchaikovsky employs thematic transformation, where themes are altered in rhythm, harmony, and orchestration to reflect different emotional states.
Rhythmic Techniques - Syncopation and Cross-Rhythms: His use of syncopation and cross-rhythms adds complexity and drive to his music, creating rhythmic vitality. - Dance Forms: Tchaikovsky frequently incorporates dance forms such as the waltz, mazurka, and polonaise, infusing his music with rhythmic variety and national character.
Textural Elements - Orchestral Color: Tchaikovsky’s orchestration is renowned for its rich colors and textures, achieved through inventive use of the orchestra’s sections. - Layered Textures: He often uses layered textures to build intensity, with different instrumental groups playing complementary lines that enhance the overall sound.
Conceptual Innovations - Programmatic Elements: Many of Tchaikovsky’s works are programmatic, telling a story or depicting a scene, as seen in his ballets and symphonic poems. - Emotional Narrative: His music often follows an emotional narrative, taking listeners on a journey through contrasting moods and themes.
Conclusion Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s contributions to classical music are monumental, blending deep emotional expression with technical mastery. His innovative use of harmony, melody, rhythm, and orchestration set new standards for composition and influenced countless musicians. Tchaikovsky’s ability to merge Russian folk elements with Western classical traditions helped shape a distinct Russian musical identity. His enduring popularity and the continued performance of his works attest to his lasting impact on the world of music. By examining the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Tchaikovsky’s work, we gain a deeper appreciation of his genius and his pivotal role in the evolution of classical music.

I already posted this about a month ago, but my budget has gone up, so I’m asking one more time.
—> What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.**

• I need Premiere to work flawlessly with 8K+ footage (Arri Alexa DNxHD as well as HDR Red footage), and when I’m not using it during the day to edit, it needs to process still images overnight, sometimes up to two-thousand 50 megapixel images through Lightroom Classic. And then it goes right back to editing in premiere at 9am. Also, it needs to be able to render up to 500gb scratch disk (external?) color corrections and process large-scale exports (through Premiere).

—> What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?**

• $5k.

—> When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.**

• Now

—> What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)**

• Everything

—> Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?**

• I can do Atlanta, Las Vegas, San Diego, or Seattle, you guys tell me where the taxes/shipping are best.

—> If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.**

• Nothing. Please build me a workhorse from the ground up!

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?**

• Yes please, any/all, as long as it pertains to photo/video editing.

—> Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)**

• I already have a large bank of external hard drives (mix of GDrive, Western Digital, Seagate), comes out to roughly ~50tb external space (most of it used). I maintain about ~10tb at a time of “working space” on externals (scratch disk for Premiere/Photoshop). I’m not worried about ExFat/Win32/MacOSJournaled, been dealing with that shit for years…

—> Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?**

• Don’t care. Literally not a factor. I’d make it out of unpainted IKEA particleboard if it was the cheapest/least flammable option.

—> Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?**

• Yes please! Whatever works best with the Adobe suite (the latest thing I’m assuming?)

—> Extra info or particulars:**

• Alright, so I posted here about a month ago, but I had to travel for a few weeks for work, and now my budget has gone up by about $500, so I’d like to ask one more time for the community’s advice before I pull the trigger (I literally have parts in my cart ready to order)

Anyway, here’s what’s up. I’m a professional Cinematographer, and I’m finally in the headspace to make the switch to PC. I shoot with a Red camera, and it literally takes days to process footage with ye olde Macintosh. I need a machine that will (ideally) literally never cease to push the boulder up the hill; a 24/7 automaton that can be set up to think like me and do my bidding while I’m away. This will be built within the next week; can’t wait to ditch the long lineage of Mac’s that have shat out on me in crux moments.
Thanks!