Currently in 2033 with Leverkusen, took over two seasons ago after leading Crystal Palace to glory. Bayern had won the league 19 years in a row (!!!) until I stepped in and took Bayer to the top (But not after losing the league on the last day in the 93rd minute to a Wolfsburg equaliser, not joking my most heartbreaking FM moment ever).
We just won the league but are massively in debt. We had 6 rotation players leave on a free to other clubs and I’ve just sold my starting right back to Saudi to raise some more funds to replace players. I do however have the best regen striker in Europe and an unbelievable winger and CB who are all under 21 and 4* plus.
Probably the furthest I’ve got in an FM save in a good while, and all I can think about at work is how I’m going to rebuild in the summer and try bounce back with a much weaker squad. It’s a fantastic challenge and my head canon is going crazy with all the storylines I’m thinking of.
Anyone else any fun saves going on? Tell!

Kadillac Kirk had been a good friend of mine for several years. I had met him through friends from The Spring Stage; and he never had anything to do with The Imp, which is why he didn’t appear in the Married Mary saga. Mary would have totally thrown herself at him, and Kirk would have definitely “thrown it in her.” He loved the ladies and often remarked that there was no such thing as an unappealing woman, nor was there anything sweeter than finding the pearl of passion in an outwardly plain dame. Fortunately for Kirk, he never met Mary. This was probably fortunate for Mary as well, seeing as Kirk was a confirmed bachelor and he would have probably broken her fat heart.
Kirk was an older guy. Not MOE old, though. He was in his early forties, but he easily passed for a carefree dude in his 30s... not that he lied about his age. I only mention this trait to juxtapose Kirk’s genuine youthful air with Moe’s unconvincing youthful farce. Kirk dressed normally, avoided stupid jargon, and never busted out gimmicks like tarot cards or spells. He just existed, behaved affably, and people liked him for it.
He drove a classic 1962 Cadillac El Dorado convertible with red leather interior, and he lived in a charmingly quaint (and ridiculously expensive) neighborhood. How he made his fortune remained a mystery, but he never bloviated about his wealth. He just threw spectacular parties and people showed up. And, to my knowledge, he never tried to lure women into bed with his money (although I’m sure he got his fair share of boom-boom thanks to his digs and his wheels, even if the gold-diggers denied their monetary agendas).
Kirk was legitimately handsome. He was a drummer, he had a full head of black hair, he was clean-shaven, he worked out, and he knew all the hidden gems in Wellsprings. So why hadn’t I tried... or even desired to date him? I don’t know. I just didn’t feel drawn to him like that. He felt like a cool uncle and he had, thus far, never done anything to change my perception. Plus, the age difference weirded me out a little. Kirk didn’t look forty; but knowing that he had so much more life experience than I did created a power imbalance that would have creeped me out if we’d been dating. As buddies, I just felt supremely cool riding in his Cadillac, smoking Fantasia cigarettes, and hitting the speakeasies and jazz clubs I would have never known about if it weren’t for Kirk’s connections.
And he had been a good person to talk to about my romantic woes. He never lecherously suggested that I should date him, and he gave the type of tempered advice that only comes with lived experience. But he often lightly mocked me for my crush on Dennis and he did a hilarious impression of Smegal popping too soon over his “precious.” So when Mary “got me back” by doing whatever she did with to Dennis, I called Kadillac Kirk and told him the drinks were on me if he’d be my designated driver for the night.
Why hadn’t I called Whisky??? Well, A) Kirk was way more fun to hang out with, at least from my past experiences up to that point. And B) I needed to bitch about a boy, something I couldn’t do in good conscience in front of a guy I was dating. So I put on the sexiest plunging halter dress I owned, applied heavy eye makeup and spikey accessories, braved a pair of stilettos, and sashayed out to Kirk’s convertible. I felt like a badass rock star. I probably looked like a try-hard hooker.
Kirk: Daaaaay-um! Somebody really did do a number on you, huh? I know you said you were upset, but the gents are gonna be writing thank you notes to that fat girl and that butt-fucking hobbit.
Me: I just need to feel pretty and numb. And I trust you to keep me from making a fool of myself.
Kirk squeezed my shoulder. “I’ve got you. You do whatever you need to do to get rid of these demons.”
He sparked up a J and offered me the first puff. I gladly accepted. He took one puff of his own, but said that the rest was mine since he didn’t want to drive stoned. See? He was responsible! Weed wasn’t legal in California yet, so I got a little bit baked before I stashed the sativa in the glove box and wrapped a scarf around my hair like a starlet from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Kirk sped out of the parking lot and said he was taking me to a downtown hotel that was hosting a party that night in their lush lobby.
Kadillac Kirk pulled up to the main entrance, paid the valet, and then opened my door. I was wobbly from the weed. And I had stupidly decided to wear heels. You can get high or you can wear high (heels). You can’t have both. Not if you’ve repeatedly injured both ankles (as I have). I had to take Kirk’s arm to keep from keeling over. “Can people tell I’m stoned?” I whispered. Kirk replied, “Nobody’s paying any attention to anyone else’s intoxication. I promise you that much.” I nodded, steadied myself, and strutted alongside my very cool friend, feeling a little more confident.
A live jazz orchestra was playing Cole Porter as we entered the lobby. Everything sparkled. The music was even more intoxicating than the spliff had been. “Just One of Those Things” brought tears to my eyes since the lyrics hit every raw nerve regarding the Dennis debacle. But I smiled. It might sound mental, but being distraught over a trash fire of a one-sided romance was exhilarating. Immature, for sure. But also exhilarating. You see, that kind of sadness doesn’t hurt. Not really. It stings. It leaves little bruises, but it’s very safe to wallow in because you haven’t actually lost anything. Melancholia over that which you never had is as sweet as it is bitter; and that type of twisted splendor is rivaled only by Stendhal.
“Here's hoping we meet now and then. It was great fun, but it was just one of those things.” I sang along with the band, and a fat tear rolled down past my melancholic smile and onto my chin. Kirk brushed it aside. “Too close to home?” I wiped away the remnants of the tear’s journey from eye to chin and smiled a more genuine smile. “The perfect distance from home. Shall we get drinks? Remember, I’m buying.”
Kirk: No, no. This is your time to heal. And I’m here as your pal, not your chauffeur. What would the lady like?”
I pretended to barf. Kirk knew I hated it when he got overly formal and overly attentive. So he did it just to mess with me. “Shot of vodka,” I replied.
Kirk: How many?
I thought briefly. “FIVE.”
Kirk: Five to one, baby. One in five...
Me: No one here gets out alive.
Kirk: Are you able to hold yourself upright, or should you come with?
I took a seat on an ornate, damask-upholstered chaise lounge. “I’ll be okay. And I was kidding about the five shots.”
I sat there lost in the music for a while. I thought very little about Dennis. Even less about Mary. And not at all about Whisky (whom I had shagged less than a week ago). My mind danced through the ornate lighting in the hotel lobby, and I suddenly felt the need to join the hoity-toity guests on the dancefloor!
Kirk returned with four shots of vodka. Two for him, two for me. That was quite reasonable of him. He knew damn well that I couldn’t handle five shots, but he also knew that I was in a... state. One that called for more than a single shot. I raised a both miniature glasses to “No more ninnyhammers or hairy-footed lovers.” Kirk did his hilarious Smegal impression, we double-toasted, and downed the shots. The band launched into “Let’s Misbehave,” and I kicked off my stilettos and made a beeline for the dance floor.
“There’s something wild about you child that’s so contagious. Let’s be outrageous! Let’s misbehave.” Kadillac Kirk swept me up, twirled me around, and dipped me as we both sang along with the lyrics. I wasn’t swooning for him, but I was enthralled by the moment. The music, the dancing, the combination of booze and bud... so I kissed him as he pulled me back to my feet. And he kissed back. In a way that Dennis never had. In a way that Whisky’s beard wouldn’t permit. I didn’t feel the visceral sensations that I’d felt when Dennis had kissed me, but it felt nice to feel desired. And then I noticed that other guests were watching us and applauding. Now, that was a dopamine rush if ever there was one!
I gently broke away from the embrace, high-fived Kirk and returned to the chaise lounge to put my stupid shoes back on. He followed me and smashed his face back onto mine. I pulled away and laughed. “It was a moment,” I told him. “I appreciate the dance, and that kiss was the perfect finale. But it’s not happening again.”
Kirk: Not to worry, Valerie. I know you. I knew all along that we were performing, and I was more than happy to be your scene partner.
Me: And dance partner! Those were some excellent moves! I didn’t know you had ballroom training.
Kirk: You name it, I’ve mastered it. Another drink for the lady?
I pretended to barf again. “Not yet. I’m not sad right now. Do you mind if I just sit here and enjoy the music?”
Kirk: Ah. My kisses do have healing properties...
I flipped my hand up at him. “Knock that shit off, bro. I wanted to hang out with you because I trust you not to get weird. Even if I get weird, I know you have the maturity to balance me out.”
Kirk: Are you calling me old???
Me: No. I’m calling you rational, responsible, and respectful.
Kirk: Well, now. If you can articulate an alliterative statement that fluently, then you clearly aren’t drunk enough!
I dismissed this comment as a joke. And he did indeed knock off the flirtation. We had a perfectly pleasant time chatting and dancing (no more kissing, though). And then I noticed a girl I knew from Into the Woods entering the lobby. She’d played Florinda and I’d played Little Red. I called her name and waved enthusiastically. She waved back. And then her date entered. It was D.E.N.N.I.S. I sank into the chaise. Kirk caught on immediately. “The hobbit???” he asked. I nodded silently. “You wanna make out again?” he enthused. I shook my head. I had to go say hello to Flo. And I had an idea...
I crossed the lobby, smiled, squealed, and hugged her.
Florinda: Lil’ Red! It’s been forever! So glad to see you!!! This is my friend, Denny.
Dennis was shifting uncomfortably. I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you. I know your date from Into the Woods. I bet she could tell you some entertaining stories about that show...” Flo laughed out loud, well aware of the many misadventures to which I'd referred. Of course, she might have been laughing because Dennis never, ever listened to anyone else's stories. He was too busy telling, re-telling, slightly altering, and exaggerating his own.
Dennis: C’mon, Val...
Me: Oh, you’ve heard of me? Small world! You guys picked a great night to come here. They’re playing Cole Porter, and the band is delovely!
Florinda (appearing oblivious to the iciness between me and Dennis): Have you seen Prince Big Bad (Scumbanger) lately?
I laughed. “Last time I saw him, he was hitting on some nasty fat chick at The Imp.”
Flo and I both scoffed at the pervy pest. Into the Woods was where I’d initially met Scumbanger. He played The Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince. Again... typecasting. There’s a whole essay in my brain about my first encounter with the pest, during which he quoted the song that he sang to me in the show, “Hello, Little Girl.” But it gets into some pretty uncomfortable territory because he made me feel excited. Well, excited and scared. Nothing of note happened during Into the Woods, but our odd interactions did kind of set the stage for some extremely regrettable events during that Cats cast party.
I excused myself, saying that I needed to get back to my friend. And then I leaned in and said in a hushed voice to Flo, “Watch your ass with that one. If he’s the Denny I’m thinking of...” I gave her a look that only another female would be able to read. Her eyebrows shot up and she nodded. Dennis continued to shift as though he were trying to hold in a massive dump. “BABE! Uh...”
Flo apparently answered to that moniker as well. “What is it, Denny? Don’t worry. That was just telepathic girl talk. You apparently have a reputation...”
Dennis: Different Denny. I assure you I’m a pious gentleman.
Me: Ah. My mistake. Well, then. You guys have a good time! Nice to meet you, Denny. Great to see you, Flo!
I hugged Flo again, gave Dennis a curt nod, ignored the scent of mandarins and mountain air, and returned to Kirk.
I collapsed on the chaise lounge, exhausted from holding back the rage. I had no right to be mad at Florinda. I hadn’t seen her in three years, so how was she supposed to know that I’d had a thing with Dennis? Hell, I couldn’t even be mad at Dennis because the last time he and I had spoken in any meaningful way, I’d told him that I was no longer entertaining my crush on him. So why was I surprised to see him dating??? And why had he never taken ME out on a date like this??? And why wasn’t I smitten with Kadillac Kirk who HAD taken me out on a date like this, was an objectively excellent kisser, and a bona fide BALLER? What was wrong with me???
Kirk suggested going down the street to a quaint little bar and then sobering up at a diner closer to my apartment. I numbly nodded and followed him in silence for a few blocks. He assured me that I had “turned several heads” on the way to the new location, but I neither cared nor believed him. This wasn't the type of numbness I'd been aiming for. Now I needed to get schnockered. “Five shots of vodka, please.” Yes, I was serious.
Kadillac Kirk, my reliable designated driver, ordered only a beer and watched in something across between astonishment, concern, and delight as I slammed all five shots in rapid succession. I half expected to immediately retch all over the bar. But I felt fine. I half expected to immediately lose consciousness and wake up in the hospital. But I remained coherent. How I’d managed to take in that much hard liquor and suffer no direct consequences, I’ll never know.
I think I wanted to suffer. I wanted to either feel nothing at all or to feel a sickness bad enough to distract me from the scorching sting that pulsed through my being when I realized that I had lost the abstract notion I’d been addicted to this entire time. Hope. It wasn’t Dennis himself I couldn’t quit. It was that drug called hope. The hope that maybe, just maybe Dennis would give our romance a fair chance. The hope that maybe, just maybe he would make peace with himself, get his mind out of his crotch, and enjoy some agenda-free togetherness. The hope that maybe, just maybe he would stop bloviating about his admittedly impressive accomplishments for five fucking minutes and ask about my life. I had my own reasonably impressive accomplishments, even if they paled in comparison to his. A proper suitor would have enjoyed hearing about them.
But seeing him out with another woman, a woman who had no reason to parade her Dennis escapades before me as some means of revenge, a woman he was clearly courting of his own volition... My hope had died. It died before I’d had time to wean myself off it. Now I had to mourn the loss of hope, which is a very tricky brand of grief to navigate. Vodka wasn’t the answer, but it was what I had to work with. So it would have to do.
After enough time had passed without vomiting or collapsing, I asked Kirk to bring his car around to the bar so that I didn’t have to walk two and a half blocks drunk and in heels. He nodded and dramatically leaned in for a kiss. I recoiled. “DUDE! I told you. The moment has passed.”
Kirk: I beg your pardon. I misread your eyes. Thought I saw a green light...
Me: It’s fine. I just want to go home while I’m still feeling okay.
Kirk: Of course. Your chariot will be here soon.
He skipped off to fetch his Cadillac and I noticed that the lights in the bar were beginning to dance a bit. This should have been concerning. But then I realized that I was giggling. Wait... What? Oh shit. Sure, I was drunk from those shots. But what I was feeling in that moment wasn’t drunkery. It was stonery. Kirk probably misread my face because my pupils were dilated. Not from desire, but from drug use.
Some of you might be thinking that I was a bad friend for not introducing Lucy, an old dude connoisseur, to Kirk. Well... I did. Several years before the events of this story. He adored her. She, on the other hand, thought he was immature. And she wasn’t wrong. Lucy was astute when it came to sussing out a person’s true nature. Far more astute than I. Her initial assessment that Kirk was immature is about to be vindicated. Stretch those cringe muscles! It’s almost time for pie...
I somehow managed to get to his car. I honestly don’t recall how I got there. Did one of the bartenders carry me? Did some kind patron allow me to lean on him? Had Kadillac Kirk carried me out? I’m not sure. But my memory ceases to be fuzzy about halfway to the 24-hour diner. It might have been the very same 24-hour diner where Mary pulled her... shenanigans. I’ll never know.
Kirk: Would you say that you’re more drunk or more stoned?
Me: STONED. Definitely stoned.
Kirk made some sort of grunty noise and reached for my thigh. I slapped his hand.
Kirk: Stoned but not amorous? That’s rare.
I started laughing rather unkindly. “You’re a fucking horndog! I thought you were my safe straight male friend, dammit.”
Kirk: I solemnly swear that your safety is my primary concern, my stoned beauty.
I pretended to throw up.
Kirk: So... You’re not horny. But are you hungry? The diner I’m heading to makes this Maple Walnut Pie with the most sumptuous... sensual cream and exquisite drizzling of...
Me: Ew! Stop trying to bang the pie. Bro. Are YOU stoned? (Then I remembered the question.) Yes, I’m hungry. But I don’t like nuts. I’ll have banana cream.
Kirk made that repulsive grunty noise again. “Uhhhhh... Mmmmmm. Cream. Yessssss. Yes, we’ll be there in just a minute.” He was squirming in the driver's seat.
Me: GROSS, DUDE! If you’re gonna be like that I’ll just order HASH brows. Get it? Hash??? (I giggled uncontrollably.). You can’t make that sound nasty.
Kirk: Forgive my jokes. I think my blood sugar’s a bit low.
As Kirk parked, I began to wonder how I might get away with walking shoeless into the diner. The stilettos had to get off my feet. At least while I was walking. And Kirk was kind enough to give me his socks and wear his loafers “island style” into the establishment. Okay, that was gallant of him. Maybe he was going to behave himself for the rest of the evening.
I wasn’t terribly talkative as we sat down, and he expressed concern for my emotional well-being. I wasn’t coherent enough to explain what was happening to my emotions and I wasn’t sure I trusted him with my deep, dark secrets at that point. So I shrugged like a sulky teenager, ran my hands over my messy, windblown hair, and mumbled that I was “just hungry.” And right on cue, a very kind, slightly older waitress with a sweet southern accent stopped by to take our order.
Kirk: Ah, yes. We’ll have two cups of black coffee. And we’ll share a slice of that delectable Maple Walnut Pie.
Waitress: Oh, honey. That pie is scrumptious! I take it you’ve been here before?
Kirk: I have. This will be her first time to taste the splendor.
I hated to be a killjoy, but I interrupted and said to the waitress, “Ma’am? I’m sure the Maple Walnut is excellent, but could I please get a slice of Banana Cream? And a big glass of ice water?
Waitress: Sure, hon! Banana Cream’s just as yummy! I’ll be right back with those coffees and that big water.
Kirk was sucking on the tip of his forefinger and shaking his head a bit. “You’re passing up so many sensational... sensual...”
I put my forehead on the table and growled. “You swore you’d stop being nasty!” I held this #headdesk pose for quite some time before I finally lifted my head... only to see that Kirk was still sucking his fingertip and staring at me like a wild animal. “Pleeeeeease be normal,” I whined. “It’s been a really weird night for me.”
Kirk: Indeed. Many surprises. You know... You’re like titanium. Your flame burns so fast and so bright, if a guy doesn’t get in there while the iron is hot, he’ll never get another chance. I was too slow.
What the...? I was pretty sure he was wrong about titanium burning quickly. I’m no chemistry wiz, but my dad and my oldest brother are both big-brains when it comes to physics and chemistry. So I picked up some things just listening to them talk. Accurate or inaccurate, Kirk was being creepy again. He’d never been creepy towards me before, although I’d seen him act like this with other women. Usually with staggering success. Why????? His money. It had to be his money. Kirk was a nice-looking man, but holy shit... No amount of good looks could save this creep show.
And then, our sweet waitress sat down our coffees, my water, and the two slices of pie. After I gulped down a whole bunch of water, I grabbed a fork, prepared to quell my munchies... and then I froze. Kirk was quickly flicking his finger back and forth across the top of his pie. And moaning. He noticed my wide-eyed stare, smirked, sucked the tip of his thumb, picked up the plate with both hands, and began flicking his tongue across the tip of the triangular pie slice. And moaning some more. Well, there went my appetite.
Kirk took his middle finger and jabbed it into the crustless vertex of the pie slice, then he began pumping it in and out like a piston, and flicking his thumb across the increasingly demolished top layer of whipped cream. He gasped this time. People were starting to stare. His pointer finger joined his middle finger in the piston action, and he replaced his thumb with his tongue. Between flicks of the tongue, he groaned, “Oh yeah, baby... Let me taste you,” but it was kind of hard to understand him.
And I was either about to run to the back office, tell them that I was in danger and needed a police escort home... OR I was about to burst out laughing at the spectacle. Kirk continued... He removed his fingers and gregariously licked pie filling off of them. And then he started sucking his fingertips again, switching from middle to pointer, middle to pointer and emitting a delighted little, “Mmmmmm” with every suck.
Finally, he jabbed his fingers back into the utterly destroyed pie, lowered his face into the mess and lapped loudly and passionately, moaning, grunting, and mumbling “Come on, baby. Come on. Mmmmmm. Come on.” I could see the waitress and some dude in a suit heading over to the table, so I sank down in my seat, partially covered my face, but continued to watch the train wreck. At last, Kirk shuddered violently, he splatted his entire hand onto the plate and rubbed furiously. And then he locked eyes with me. He sucked the tip of his thumb one final time and said, “You...” There was a long pause during which Kirk lovingly stroked the mess he’d made. “You... are the pie.”
I don’t hang out with Kadillac Kirk anymore. But he’s still a bachelor, ladies!

TL;DR: Found out tonight that the guy I've been flirting with and made out with is married.
I've been building terrariums, including 2 new ones for tadpoles that are about to become frogs. So, I've become a regular at a local terrarium shop, and struck up a very flirtatious exchange with the owner. I asked him if he or any of his customers would be interested in getting frogs, because otherwise I'm going to release most of them where I got the tadpoles. We were flirting for a few weeks, and then he came over to check out my set-up and arrange the logistics for exchanging frogs. He was very physically affectionate and flirtatious. My partner was home, but he left us alone. I walked him out and we made out on the sidewalk for a good bit. It was hot and awesome. I was really excited about having a summer fling! Still flirting via text, still had plans this week to do terrarium frog stuff. I asked him if he wanted to meet for a drink after work tonight, and he said he plans but then changed them last minute and met me at a bar near my work.
He asked me about ENM, we talked about my relationship with my partner and how it worked. I told him about how I had been in a relationship that ended because the dude's partner didn't know about me, and how it devastated me and I was just finally getting over it.
And then disclosed that he was married, had been for 19 years, and had 6 kids.
Then told me that he had cheated on his wife a year and a half ago, and it broke her heart. But that he needed to tell me before we got together this week, because he knew he would not be able to control himself. That he wanted me and was trying to "not go down that road."
His wife is distant, and doesn't have a high sex drive. He said in 19 years, he'd kissed 3 women. His wife, the woman he cheated with, and me.
I told him he didn't need to worry about that, because the road was closed. I would not participate in anything that would hurt someone the way myself and the other woman was hurt. We discussed the chemistry we had and the immediate attraction. That it would, in fact, be very hot. I asked him where his wife thought he was. He said he needed to tell me before we met later this week, because he knew things would progress. He needed to be honest. I "jokingly" told him that if I'd found out he wasn't in an ENM marriage after we'd messed around, that I'd throw a rock through his shop window.
I could tell that he was trying to get me to relent, I told him we would just be frog friends. He kept saying that he was trying to not be tempted, and I told him that it didn't matter, because, again, I wouldn't participate. We only had one drink, and he tried to walk me to my car. As we were walking, he asked me if he could kiss me one last time. I said no, that integrity was doing the right thing when no one was watching. We hugged goodbye, and he was reluctant to let go. He tried to kiss my neck, and I pulled away.
All in all, it was a very positive event. We had a great conversation. I'm writing this partly because oh my goodness the gall, but also to confess that it was a very stubborn, conscious decision not indulge in something that would have been undeniably amazing. The attraction between us was immediate from the first time we met and the chemistry was atomic when we kissed. I mentioned at some point during our conversation that spending time together (outside of frogs, or alone) would be dangerous because the "forbidden" aspect makes everything that much hotter.
Because while I said all this to him, clearly stated my boundaries, completely adjusted my body language, there was part of me that was thinking "you're saying this because it's the right thing to do but it's dishonest let this guy ravage you."
Friends, I'm not asking for a pat on the back. I did the right thing but good lord was I tempted. I'm debating whether or not to even keep our plans to get together for frog related stuff. I don't think I'm a saint for standing my ground. I'm grateful that I was able to stick to my scruples, but I need y'all to brutally help me maintain my resolve.

Tigers @ Royals - 07:40 PM EDT

Game Status: Scheduled

Links & Info

• Venue: Kauffman Stadium
• TV: Tigers: Bally Sports Detroit, Royals: Bally Sports Kansas City
• Radio: Tigers: 97.1 The Ticket, Royals: KCSP 610
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

	Probable Pitcher (Season Stats)	Report
Tigers	Casey Mize (1-2, 3.50 ERA, 43.2 IP)	No report posted.
Royals	Alec Marsh (3-1, 2.43 ERA, 37.0 IP)	No report posted.

ALC Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Cleveland Guardians	31	17	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Kansas City Royals	30	19	1.5 (113)	2	+5.0 (-)
3	Minnesota Twins	24	23	6.5 (109)	3	- (-)
4	Detroit Tigers	23	24	7.5 (108)	7	1.0 (114)
5	Chicago White Sox	14	34	17.0 (98)	12	10.5 (104)

Division Scoreboard

NYM @ CLE 06:10 PM EDT
MIN @ WSH 06:45 PM EDT
CWS @ TOR 07:07 PM EDT
^{Posted: 05/21/2024 05:00:02 AM EDT, Update Interval: 5 Minutes}

Tigers @ Royals - 06:40 PM CDT

Game Status: Scheduled

Links & Info

• Venue: Kauffman Stadium
• TV: Tigers: Bally Sports Detroit, Royals: Bally Sports Kansas City
• Radio: Tigers: 97.1 The Ticket, Royals: KCSP 610
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

	Probable Pitcher (Season Stats)	Report
Tigers	Casey Mize (1-2, 3.50 ERA, 43.2 IP)	No report posted.
Royals	Alec Marsh (3-1, 2.43 ERA, 37.0 IP)	No report posted.

ALC Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Cleveland Guardians	31	17	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Kansas City Royals	30	19	1.5 (113)	2	+5.0 (-)
3	Minnesota Twins	24	23	6.5 (109)	3	- (-)
4	Detroit Tigers	23	24	7.5 (108)	7	1.0 (114)
5	Chicago White Sox	14	34	17.0 (98)	12	10.5 (104)

Division Scoreboard

NYM @ CLE 05:10 PM CDT
MIN @ WSH 05:45 PM CDT
CWS @ TOR 06:07 PM CDT
^{Posted: 05/21/2024 04:00:01 AM CDT, Update Interval: 5 Minutes}

Padres @ Reds - 06:40 PM EDT

Game Status: Scheduled

Links & Info

• Venue: Great American Ball Park
• TV: Padres: San Diego Padres, Reds: Bally Sports Ohio
• Radio: Padres: XEMO 860 (es), KWFN 97.3, Reds: WLW 700
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

	Probable Pitcher (Season Stats)	Report
Padres	Joe Musgrove (3-3, 6.37 ERA, 41.0 IP)	No report posted.
Reds	Andrew Abbott (2-4, 3.06 ERA, 50.0 IP)	No report posted.

NLC Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Milwaukee Brewers	27	20	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Chicago Cubs	26	22	1.5 (114)	2	+2.0 (-)
3	Pittsburgh Pirates	22	26	5.5 (110)	6	2.0 (112)
4	St. Louis Cardinals	21	26	6.0 (110)	9	2.5 (112)
5	Cincinnati Reds	19	28	8.0 (108)	10	4.5 (110)

Division Scoreboard

SF @ PIT 06:40 PM EDT
MIL @ MIA 06:40 PM EDT
ATL @ CHC 07:40 PM EDT
BAL @ STL 07:45 PM EDT
^{Posted: 05/21/2024 05:00:01 AM EDT, Update Interval: 5 Minutes}

Giants @ Pirates - 06:40 PM EDT

Game Status: Scheduled

Links & Info

• Venue: PNC Park
• TV: Giants: NBCS BA, Pirates: SportsNet-PIT
• Radio: Giants: KNBR 680, Pirates: KDKA-FM 93.7
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

	Probable Pitcher (Season Stats)	Report
Giants	Logan Webb (4-4, 3.03 ERA, 59.1 IP)	No report posted.
Pirates	Martín Pérez (1-3, 4.86 ERA, 50.0 IP)	No report posted.

NLC Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Milwaukee Brewers	27	20	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Chicago Cubs	26	22	1.5 (114)	2	+2.0 (-)
3	Pittsburgh Pirates	22	26	5.5 (110)	6	2.0 (112)
4	St. Louis Cardinals	21	26	6.0 (110)	9	2.5 (112)
5	Cincinnati Reds	19	28	8.0 (108)	10	4.5 (110)

Division Scoreboard

SD @ CIN 06:40 PM EDT
MIL @ MIA 06:40 PM EDT
ATL @ CHC 07:40 PM EDT
BAL @ STL 07:45 PM EDT
^{Posted: 05/21/2024 05:00:01 AM EDT, Update Interval: 5 Minutes}

The book is James Hinton’s Selections from Manuscripts. There are four of them in total, with each being 600-800 pages.
Here is the download link from Internet Archive: https://archive.org/search?query=%22selections+from+manuscripts%22
I have been reading this series of four books for three months now. I feel the title I give is not exaggerating at all and a necessary means to grab the attention of indifferent people who may be overwhlemed by the quantity of information on the Internet.
And one of the reasons that such a phenomenal work is obscure to the public eyes is that James Hinton chose to publish them for private circulation only.
And for those who are sensitive to this kind of works containing a substantial amount of Light, it will only take a few minutes for you to recognize the value of them. Because THROUGHOUT these books are profound claims and you could just pick a random page to see if what I say is true.
Regarding questions such as why do we have suffering, the nature of pleasure, the nature of this world as we now perceive it, consciousness, Love, creature/creation, Being/non-Being, this book gives answers to them under the framework of Christian mysticism. Though this book has not penetrated to the ultimate layer of whyness of everything, it did to a significant degree.
Here are some quotes:

1. There can be no 'not' without where there is no 'not' within ; the only way of perceiving or being affected by 'not' is having it within. In fact it comes to this : all evil is merely formal, and touches not the fact; and this formal evil is the means of Being, is part of the progress of creation. All the evil is worth while, for it only means that there is a 'not' in the Being who perceives it. The 'not' is its own punishment ; it makes evil all around it, puts a man in hell. This is heaven ; but we do not see it. It is darkness to us. If a man is not to see the light, make him blind. This is casting us into outer darkness —the sinner casts himself there. There can be no evil to love. The 'not' is not evil to love ; it is only the scope and sphere of its self-sacrifice. Is it not essential to the very Being of love, which exists in giving. So the 'not' of the creature is the very Being of God, is His self-sacrifice for them. Love turns all into the opposite, redeems all not in time only, but eternally. Where love is there no evil comes ; ' He that loveth is in God.'
2. Talent is doing, genius is suffering. This puts suffering in its right light. For see : it is genius does the work of the world ; talent exists only for it, is of no use save as laying a basis for the work of genius. So man's work is done, not by doing but by suffering. It is by what we bear the world is redeemed ; our doing is very unimportant, in itself of no value ; but it is in our suffering God's work is fulfilled ; for suffering the world exists ; then we are used; God's work is done in us; in our suffering is the Being of the universe. Christ was a sufferer, not a doer. What He did was of little moment comparatively, and of little efficacy ; its use was not for itself but to reveal the true meaning and value of His suffering. In delirium tremens, both sight and touch may be under illusion. Is it not disease that makes us perceive that which is not ? so we, perceiving matter, are diseased. And Christ, in saving us, raises us to a new state, gives us a life not physical, and giving us new Being, necessarily gives us new perception.
3. Is not this beautiful: to think that we are to have an altruistic Being, a true personal own feeling of 'man'—feeling as good to me, as my own actual happiness, that which is good to 'man'; no more as now feeling it opposed to my good. Then I have a direct and personal interest and concern in more than that which concerns 'me,' in that which concerns 'man.' All that concerns him is my good, in a literal sense. I am not bound as I seem to be ; that is error and illusion and false feeling.—Then in suffering for the good of man (and all suffering is such), I am suffering strictly for my own good, for a good that will be my own. Even selfishness thus is turned round, and made servant to her conqueror, Love. In suffering I do not lose ; it will be my own joy.—Surely thus one embraces that reward—the future happiness to recompense suffering—which is in the ordinary faith. It will be altruistic happiness : in being made thus 'conscious' the happiness will be given. Yet observe: that is, and must be, a spiritual change: radically moral, not physical: it will be a consciousness according to truth, actual, not phenomenal.

I feel it urgent to widely disseminate these four books before negative people notice this and maybe secretly tamper with the scanned files.

⟳ f-droid.org from Sat, 18 May 2024 06:27:18 GMT updated on Tue, 21 May 2024 07:00:45 GMT contains 4410 apps.

Added (4)

• Mindfulness Meditation: Selection of audio guides for mindfulness meditation
• Swiss Bitcoin Pay: 1 minute to accept Bitcoin in your business.
• Frigoligo: Keep your links fresh!
• Lab+ for Gitlab: Your unofficial Companion for Gitlab

Updated (68)

• Conversations (version 2.16.0+free): Encrypted, easy-to-use XMPP instant messenger for your mobile device
• BoB (version 1.3.0): Baby on Board is an application of pregnancy tracking that respect your privacy
• Green: Bitcoin Wallet (version 4.0.28): Blockstream Green Bitcoin wallet
• Notesnook - Private notes app (version 3.0.6): A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking app
• Wulkanowy (version 2.6.8): Client for the Polish school register VULCAN UONET+
• Funktrainer (version 1.4.0.1): This app will ask you the official questions of the German ham radio (amateur ra
• wX (version 55892): Weather app geared towards storm chasers, meteorologists and weather enthusiasts
• HTTP Request Shortcuts (version 3.13.0): Submit HTTP Requests from Shortcuts on your Home Screen
• Mill (version 4.8.0): A Mill Game which supports many rule variants, written in Flutter
• Cams (version 2.3): Simple RTSP viewer for IP cameras
• Unciv (version 4.11.13): Open source 4X civilization-building game
• Blazed Cloud - Encrypted Storage (version 1.5.1): Minimal & Open sourced Cloud Storage
• Extirpater (version 1.6): A free space eraser
• Voyager for Lemmy (version 2.10.0): Join the discussion
• Aria for Misskey (version 0.8.1): Dive into the interplanetary microblogging platform 🚀
• Insular (version 6.4-66cd8034): Isolate your Big Brother apps
• Unstoppable Wallet (version 0.38.4): Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi
• GPN 2024 (version 1.64.0-GPN-Edition): GPN Schedule
• Quicksy (version 2.16.0+free): JabbeXMPP with Easy Entry and Easy Discovery
• Shattered Pixel Dungeon (version 2.4.0): A roguelike game based on Pixel Dungeon
• droidVNC-NG (version 2.4.0): VNC server app that does not require root privileges.
• Shiori (version 1.31): Android app client for Shiori
• SimpleX Chat (version 5.7.3): SimpleX Chat - e2e encrypted messenger without any user IDs - private by design!
• Flexify (version 1.0.82): Track gym progress, visualize graphs, enjoy offline support & timers
• Orion Viewer - Pdf & Djvu (version 0.92.4): Orion Viewer is pdf, djvu, xps, cbz and tiff file viewer
• Al-Azan - Prayer Times (version 1.17.9): Privacy focused open-source muslim Adhan (islamic prayer times) and qibla app
• Yubico Authenticator (version 7.0.0): Generate OATH codes with YubiKey NEO over NFC
• Asteroid's Revenge (version 0.10.6): Endless survival bulletHell (highscore based).
• Stroke Input Method (筆畫輸入法) (version 1.2.10): A minimalist Chinese keyboard.
• Nextcloud Dev (version 20240515): Synchronization client
• aFreeRDP (version 3.5.1): FreeRDP is a free remote desktop protocol client
• disky - Find your biggest diskspace thieves! (version 1.1.0): A filesystem analyzer that can show you the usage of your storage!
• FairEmail (version 1.2182): Fully featured email client. Neat, intuitive user interface. Privacy friendly
• Immich (version 1.105.1): This is a client app for the self-hostable Immich Server
• K-9 Mail (version 6.803): Full-featured email client
• neutriNote CE (version 4.5.1d): A hub of written thoughts in fast searchable plain text
• My Leaf (version 2.3.2): Remote control and information for your Nissan Leaf
• RE:INSTEAD (version 0.9): Interactive fiction games
• Table Habit (version 1.12.5): Boost your own habit growth with charts.
• VCMI (version 1.5.1): Engine recreation for Heroes of Might and Magic III
• Ricochlime (version 1.4.2): Satisfying monster shooter
• Podcini - Podcast instrument (version 5.3.0): A feature-rich open-source podcast manager and player
• Mattermost Beta (version 2.16.0): Secure, self-hosted workplace messaging
• Kingdomino Score (version 3.2.2): Calculate your "Kingdomino" and "Kingdomino Age of Giants" score easily
• 37C3 Schedule (version 1.64.0): Conference program app for the Chaos Communication Congress
• Petals (version 3.23.0): Take control of your weed consumption
• Clock (version 2.2): Alarm, clock, timer, stopwatch and bedtime mode
• Quote Unquote (version 4.39.0-fdroid): A Quotes / Quotations / Affirmations App Widget.
• Tuner (version 1.56): Musical instrument pitch tuning
• auth (version 3.0.1): None
• Carrion (version 1.19): Block spoofed calls
• freeDictionaryApp (version 1.6.4): a simple app for Free Dictionary API
• mensen (version 1.1.0): Access the menu of Dresden's canteens.
• Kotatsu (version 7.0.1): Manga reader with online catalogues
• Cuscon (version 4.0.2.8): This icon pack adds variety and dynamism to your Home screen
• timeto.me - Personal Productivity Tools (version 2024.05.15): Pomodoro, checklists, goals, tasks, repetitive, calendar, time-tracker
• Tuta Mail (version 229.240514.1): Encrypted email & calendar service - easy to use, secure by design.
• Les Pas - Photo Album for Nextcloud (version 2.9.10): A photo album that saves all your precious memory in your private cloud
• PeerTube Live (version 1.2): Stream your device camera to your PeerTube channel!
• Saber (version 0.23.1): The notes app built for handwriting
• Mercurygram (version 10.10.1.2): Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security.
• Helio (version 3.13): Music sequencer, designed to be used on all major platforms
• Swatch .beat clock (version v1.2.7): Internet Time clock and converter
• Bimba (version 3.3.0): FLOSS public transport passenger companion; a timetable in your pocket.
• Kepler-App (version 2.1.4): App only in German! - App for the JKG Chemnitz with all important info
• Suntimes (version 0.15.15): Sunlight and moonlight times (and alarms)
• Copy SMS Code - OTP Helper (version 1.15.2): an open-source app that can detect and copy any code for you
• Tailscale (version 1.66.3-teae73f821-g63a2bbc8e71): Mesh VPN based on WireGuard

^{2024-05-21T07:26:29Z}

Exploring the vibrant streets of Delhi can be an exciting experience, but navigating its bustling roads can often be overwhelming, especially for visitors. Renting a car with a driver provides a convenient and stress-free way to explore the city's attractions while enjoying the comfort of a chauffeured ride. Avis India, a trusted name in the car rental industry, offers a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of travellers. Whether you're visiting Delhi for business or leisure, it provides seamless solutions to rent vehicle in Delhi with a driver, ensuring a hassle-free journey from start to finish.

Here are the steps for Renting a Car with this company:

1. Online Booking: Begin by visiting their website or mobile app to browse their fleet and select your preferred vehicle category. It boasts a diverse fleet of well-maintained vehicles, ranging from compact cars to luxury Sedans, Toyota Innova Hycross, and more.
2. Choose Your Package: It offers flexible rental packages, including hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly options. Select the package that best suits your itinerary and budget.
3. Specify Driver Requirement: During the booking process, indicate your preference for a chauffeur-driven vehicle. It ensures that all drivers undergo rigorous screening and training to have in-depth knowledge of Delhi's roads and traffic patterns. Courteous and reliable, they prioritize customer safety and satisfaction.
4. Confirmation and Payment: Once you've finalized your booking details, proceed to confirm your reservation and make the payment online. You get a 100% confirmed booking with no last-minute cancellations.

They offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees. The quoted rates include all applicable taxes, insurance, and fuel costs, providing peace of mind throughout your journey. If you are lucky, you might get up to 40% off too.

Renting a car with a driver in Delhi offers the perfect blend of convenience, safety, and flexibility for travellers seeking to explore the city at their own pace. With their reliable cab service in Delhi and well-maintained fleet, you can embark on a memorable journey through Delhi's enchanting streets, confident in the knowledge that your transportation needs are in capable hands. Choose them for your next adventure in Delhi, and experience the ultimate in comfort, convenience, and customer satisfaction.

First, Product innovation of Chainless systems

Leave a Comment / By WeishaZhu / November 2, 2023

Enter the white paper series
We start today to unveil the mystery of the chainless system and introduce the relevant contents of the white paper. Many programmers have had close encounters with Bitcoin and ended up empty-handed. We are destined to meet each other and believe your wealth is proportional to your cognition. Our airdrop design does not require you to spend money, but you must spend time reading articles to improve your cognition and contribute to your strength; otherwise, you will miss wealth. Interpreting the innovation of chainless systems” is divided into five sections.
Introduction
The WEB3.0 chainless financial platform is referred to as the chainless platform. Its design breaks out of the constraints of the blockchain, and there is no limit to the impossible triangle of the blockchain. Cryptocurrency is better than advanced ideas, but its development is slow. According to statistics from PANews, at the end of 2022, there are 1,259 active DAPPs in Ethereum, which is really pitiful. The chainless platform adopts the idea of ​​cryptocurrency and designs a transparent and centralized platform. The external characteristics are no different from the blockchain ledger. It is also a platform that implements openness and fairness and cannot be tampered with. Only in this way can the design compete with the ease of use of Web2, be popularized on a large scale, and make the number of DAPPs jump by an order of magnitude. Chainless design has no technical innovation and uses mature technology; it has unique innovations in products, incentives, communities, and core teams. This series has 5 sections in total. One is product innovation; the second is production relationship innovation; the third is business model innovation; the fourth is the role of the core team; and the fifth is the Interesting Reads Chainless Platform.
First, Product innovation of chainless systems
Innovation in unilateral accounting methods
Projects that adopt blockchain accounting methods, without exception, use multi-party accounting and centralized ledgers. Its ledgers are all balance ledgers. The so-called balance ledger means that unspent tokens are recorded in the ledger. All improvements in blockchain are improvements in accounting methods. The purpose is to improve ease of use while ensuring the accuracy of the ledger. This accounting method is blameless as a currency issuance system, but it has two flaws as an accounting system:

1. The fastest accounting time is no less than one second;
   
2. Sky-high accounting costs.
   

With the Bitcoin and Ethereum systems already serving as the root of credit, it would be unwise for any application-focused project to use multi-party accounting. Because any account page can be hashed, and the hash value is on chain to the credit root, thus ensuring that the ledger cannot be tampered with. The running account corresponding to the hash value is public. Even if there is no multi-party accounting, the account book can be verified by any party and is, therefore, credible. The root of credit means that the data that enters the root of credit cannot be tampered with. Readers who have difficulty reading this can refer to “What Satoshi Nakamoto didn’t think of, what he didn’t say… Series 2: Openness and transparency are the core, but decentralization only summarizes less than half of it.” The Road to Innovation in Cryptocurrency” Series 1-11 (chainless.hk).
Account Verification
The flaw in the third-party verification of Bitcoin design is that if A transfers tokens to B, B may not receive them if the address is wrong. Bitcoin’s third-party verification is only formal, regardless of whether B gets it. As a centralized ledger, the transfer from A to B is an internal transfer of the “bank.” It is very easy for A and B to confirm the transfer. After A and B confirm that the transfer is correct, the chainless system will confirm it again, and there will be no dispute. It is very easy to achieve this improvement in Bitcoin, but there is no threshold for transfers for technicians, so they do not think there will be operational problems here.
Index general ledger to ensure ledger balance
All personal sub-ledgers constitute a reconciliation with the general ledger coin indicator, and the sum of all sub-ledger coins is always equal to the data of the general ledger indicator. This point is the point of invention and the starting point of general ledger innovation.
The hash value of the journal is uploaded to the chain
Chainless calculates the hash value of an account page in one minute, then uploads it to the Bitcoin system, and the account is made public. The transaction confirmation time is not the account page formation time but the three-party confirmation time of A, B, and the chainless system. This confirmation time is in milliseconds. It is consistent with the speed of centralized transfer systems.
Multiple signatures and multiple backup wallets
It is equivalent to the user controlling an online multi-sign project by himself. Multi-signing is more troublesome. Chainless has designed multi-signing grading, so small quantities do not require multiple signings.
Inherit
With the multi-sign and multi-backup functions, inheritance is realized by the way. The inheritance time can be modified, and inheritance can be automatically started when the time is up.
Support real-name and anonymous
The chainless data format is a public key and private key system, with real names grafted onto anonymity. If real names are not supported, it is impossible to integrate with real finance. The right to disclose privacy lies with the user.
The user controls external transfers
When the chainless system makes an external transfer, the chainless system and the user jointly control the multi-signature. If the user does not sign, the chainless system’s signature will be invalid and cannot be transferred; even if the user signs, the chainless system will not make an external transfer if the verification exceeds the user’s number of coins. When making an external transfer, the user must use his mobile phone to confirm twice.
Contract accounts and deposit accounts are not directly related
Ethereum accounts can be driven externally or by contracts. They are on the same account, which is inconvenient when designing applications. Chainless separates contract accounts and deposit accounts, allowing flexibility in contract design.
Issuance of decentralized currency DW20
The issuance principle of DW20 is the same as that of Bitcoin. It is ownerless and has no management team. It is a transaction token of a chainless system. Used to implement Bitcoin standards. DW20 is different from stablecoins. In addition to the white paper, readers can refer to series 1-4 of “Comparison of Decentralized Standard Currency DW20 with Bitcoin, Stablecoin DAI, and Standard Currency USD”. (chainless.hk)
Issue chainless system token CLY
CLY represents the value of the chainless system and is an equity token.
Advances beyond blockchain
In short, the chainless system captures the essence of cryptocurrency ideas, achieves the payment speed of centralized systems, and aligns with the views of Web3. The chainless system inherits the technical advantages of Web2, with meager accounting costs. The accounting system can automatically expand on demand, and the throughput is not limited. Smart contracts are easy to write and upgrade, and the wallet is safe and easy to use. The ease of use is the same as that of centralized wallets.
The chainless system combines the ideas of Bitcoin and hopes to become an effective payment platform and the infrastructure of Web3 to make up for the payment deficiencies of the Bitcoin system.
The chainless system began to be conceived in 2018, a preliminary plan was formed in 2019, a patent was applied for in 2020, the first draft of the white paper was produced in 2021, and implementation of the plan began in 2022. Open source after public beta. After open source, quoting the code within 18 months requires the written consent of the project team.
https://chainless.hk/2023/11/02/first-product-innovation-of-chainless-systems/