hello. ill try to keep this to relevant information but i think youll all understand when i say i tend to give more information than needed. im posting this half for advice in general and half because im curious as to if anyone else has made a big move like this and how it impacted your functioning concerning your autism.
ive been going through a lot of changes recently and it has been taking a huge toll on my mental health. to keep things easy to keep track of, ill provide an order of events to summarize:

• get married at 20 years old, move from my east side home state to a western state bc my new husband is in military
• move 8 hours north after 2 years in western state
• really like it in new state. live here for 2 more years before changes start happening. entire time im unemployed. im a homemaker, so i do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc while husband works. mental health is constantly up and down, but mostly up. i can recover when im down and i get better quickly. im happy, husband’s happy. we’re poor but ok with it bc we’re happy
• start attending therapy in july 2023. get on antidepressants/anti anxiety med. work through past hangups. going well, i love my therapist
• october 2023, husband is medically retired. he wants to take a break before finding a job, i agree that he deserves a break after working so hard to the point he has multiple medical problems. i start looking for a job. -november 2023, i start my new job. my job is very client-facing, and i have a lot of anxiety. im stressed -december, im depressed a lot. house chores are slipping through the cracks. husband agreed to take on my duties but doesnt maintain the apartment to the level im used to, so i have a lot of anxiety about being home. he forgets things a lot due to a mix of adhd and a semi-recent tbi that never healed to the state his brain was before. my therapist wants to get me an autism evaluation. my meds are increased to the maximum dose possible
• february 2024, due to increasing depression and suicidal ideation, i relapse in self harm and make a plan for suicide. i have a complete breakdown. my therapist has my husband take me to a psych ward. they dont admit me because they (rightfully) feel im no longer a danger to myself and that admitting me into a strange environment with none of my familiar deescalation comforts would cause more harm than good mentally. i get a formal autism evaluation. i decide then that i want to move back to my home state as soon as physically possible. my therapist says she doesnt think long term employment is possible for me.
• march, my results come back. im officially diagnosed at age 24 with level 2 autism, adhd, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and major depressive disorder (moderate, recurrent episodes). my therapist tells me shes changing jobs and will be gone by the end of the month. i take all this in. work keeps getting harder and harder to do. -early may, the suicidal ideation gets so bad its honestly incredibly scary. i almost take my happy ass to the psych ward myself on multiple occasions. every time i have to go into work i think of death. i spontaneously quit on a random tuesday morning after multiple meltdowns in the previous days. i still dont have another therapist yet.

which brings us to now. im absolutely in burnout, still struggling with suicidal ideation and executive functioning. self care is out the window. my husband is starting a new job that will pay much more than i was getting. lease is up august 1st. plan is to move into my in laws house until steady employment for my husband is reached and we can financially find a place of our own again. i have 5 years of stuff to somehow sort through and condense so we can drag it back across the country.
but now that i have a lot more headspace free, i keep thinking about how happy we were here before all this started. how nice our apartment was and how i love the mountains and all the small businesses we grew to frequent all the time, and how before all this happened i was dead set on just living here permanently. im so torn because all i wanted in my darkest moments was to go back to the quiet countryside my family lives in in my home state, and i do think a quieter area would help. sometimes my husband and i lean over the cricket containers at pet stores to listen to them chirp because summer nights in the south are all crickets and frogs croaking and train horns, and we have none of that here. the southern countryside has an air of peace i have yet to match anywhere else.
im just so lost and scrambling to get my feet under me again. now that my biggest stressor is out of the picture i feel guilty that i dont have my shit together yet. im also really curious as to what the autistic side of me would benefit most from. has anyone had experience with this kind of location change impacting their functioning concerning their autism?
thanks.

(Only Europe, Please) - short note - If you're not into reading or receiving long messages,don't read any further + Please If you don't want to read everything because of my post being too long for you & instead of reading It all - ..skip some parts - find another person to talk to.Let's respect each other and our free time. All people criticizing/making fun of me & other people - will be blocked.Pretty much as people questioning my post and giving me unsolicited advice.I'm not here for any conflicts and I know I can't please everyone - I know I never will.. However It's me who should feel comfortable in my new potential friendship & obviously someone who wants to be my friend - not the whole world.. which is why I don't need any advice from people who don't even want to be a part of my life. The amount of rude people on Reddit always criticizing others and making fun of them is unbelievably high but let me tell you something - NEVER let anyone make choices for you and criticize you only because you're different! Always fight for your dreams and never let anyone make you think you're worthless! It's your life and you're the one deciding what's best for you - If you want to judge me despite not even wanting to talk to me or give me advice better block me! I'm an adult woman and I make all decisions on my own.I'm not trying to "fit in" and be like everyone else - just to get more attention.Accept me for who I am or let go - is my motto.
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Hello guys! 🙂 (read everything before you decide to send me a message) Please send me a message ONLY If you're in the same situation and If your expectations are the same as mine.I want to find like minded people from Europe (Why Europe? Read my post to find out) I'm looking for something permanent (remember - you can feel lonely even If you're surrounded by others - If there's no emotional bond) I'm fed up of meeting people who never make time for me & only text me once or twice a week to ask me "what are you up to?" Out of boredom.I don't want to meet people asking others a million of questions like "what's your favorite movie?" Just to give them one word answer and ask them another question "and music? Your favorite song?" I'm looking for something "deeper" & different 🙂
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What kind of friend would I like to find? Someone to talk to on a daily basis - Someone who needs It & wants It just as much as me
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What are my expectations? I would like to meet someone in a similar situation – why? Because I honestly feel like only a person with the same expectations and a similar outlook on life would get along with me & because I feel more comfortable talking to people like me..Friendless people who need a strong bond - people without friends and partners.. Don't get me wrong…Most people deserve to be happy and It's good to have friends but people who have friends or families in real life are usually more focused on them (which is completely understandable) & have less time for others + I simply don't want to be replaced by anyone..I kind of envy people who can call others , true friends given I don't have an emotional bond with any of my acquaintances. Please send me a message only If you're not In a relationship and don't have friends for the same reasons I've already mentioned before
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Whenever I hear that others have friends I simply get sad because (believe it or not) If I had to choose between 20 people to talk to (acquaintances) and one special person - I'd choose that one special person without any hesitation .
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I also want to talk to others every day because..I want to see someone’s effort & be someone's first choice - not another person to have random conversations with..some people ask me "Why do you want to talk to people from Europe?" Well..Because I would like to see someone I'd get along with - In the far future - face to face :) + I don't want to wait any longer than 6 hours to receive a message - waiting 6 hours to receive a message is more than enough
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I'm by no means criticizing people who don't want to talk to others often / People who really are super busy & People who want to find someone to have unimportant conversations with - I'm aware that not everyone has the same expectations which is why everything you're reading now - is here for a reason :) All I'm suggesting is - I don't want anything temporary and I don't want to be the one always giving more than receiving.Listen people - I used to ignore being..ignored by others..always being just an option to talk to during tough times or moments of boredom.I was too young to realize that I was never important enough for most people that were a part of my life. I don't know who needs to hear this but..No one is too busy to make time for you! People make excuses to avoid others because they prioritize everything and (maybe) everyone..over them. It's true that most people are busy - but It takes only a few seconds to start a conversation (If you're into short messages) and a few minutes (1-10/15) to type a long message . Don't let anyone lie to you.
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Truth is that most people either don't like you enough to make time for you or just simply - feel no need to talk to others often but are they too busy? No..You don't need to send me a message just to ask me and tell me "Do you really want to talk every day? I like long messages but I can't promise to contact you often" If you really are unsure please don't send me a message.I don't need more acquaintances aka people to talk to - occasionally.
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I'm not trying to sound rude but conversations once or twice a week wouldn't be enough for me and I don't need them... Let me tell you one thing – A true friend would never just give up on you for no reason :) It’s always possible to find someone to have a random conversation with – someone willing to send you one message once or twice a week..but..It’s almost impossible to find people willing to make more time for you.
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I’m not asking a busy person to make time for me by changing some plans! Absolutely not! I’m here to find someone who wants to talk daily (throughout the day or maybe even night) of one’s own will.Someone looking for the same kind of connection.Strong friendships are based on mutual support. One of the best things you can do for a friend in need, is just to be there for them when they want to talk.I often see posts from people who always say how friendless they are because they don't feel loved or appreciated by their "friends" remember! A true friend - someone who truly likes you or someone who wants to get to know you - will always find time for you.
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I'm not interested in small talk/short messages - I love long and meaningful conversations. It's so easy to find someone who loves abbreviations and questions like "How are you?" How was your day? Or what are you interested in? But so hard/almost impossible to find a person who knows how to keep a conversation going & show others some effort.Building and maintaining friendships takes time and effort.Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relations with other people.Close friendships are so important to us because they are so difficult to form + Having friends can help you feel as if you belong to something that brings purpose and connection to your life
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• I do NOT respond to any „Hey,hmu” or „u want to talk?” type of messages (super short messages or messages full of abbreviations – I literally can’t stand abbreviations and acronyms in text messages) ALL messages full of abbreviations will immediately be ignored.I also don't like it when people ignore everything I say in private messages just to focus on a random question or? When they start talking only about themselves and don't ever ask me anything. I love conversations with people referring to everything I say...I want everything I say and do - to be reciprocated
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• No NSFW profiles (checking mental health subreddits NOT included as I'm a huge empath and always try to understand others) - Please! I'm not looking for anyone to flirt with and I'm not looking for a partner either. I always check people's profiles (even comment history) - To avoid guys, trying to get inappropriate pictures from adult women or? flirt with them + I don't want to see you with no clothes on so If you're on Reddit only because you want others to see what's underneath your clothes - I'm not for you! I just simply don't want to see any s e x related activity on your profile If you want to talk to me.
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• If both of us (you and I) are from the same country (I live in a non-English speaking country) - I want to communicate with you in our first language! No - Not because I don't understand English - because as you see - I do. Why then? English is simply overrated and people don't appreciate other languages as much as they should. So.. If we're from the same country and you want to talk only in English (which is quite common on reddit) - Talk to someone else. I just don't want to talk to a person from the same country as mine - in a foreign language as It's just something I don't understand even If all you want is to improve your language skills
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• Please only adult people 18-36 (age range) It doesn't matter to me If you're younger or older than me (as long as you're not underage) So.. don't worry! I just want to have discussions with emotionally mature people :)
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• I don’t respond to messages I don’t find interesting even If they're long - If after receiving and reading your message I don't feel comfortable or think "I wouldn't get along with him/her" I simply do not respond (what I’m suggesting is that I don’t always respond to someone’s first or second message because..sometimes you just know If you’d get along with someone or not- I’d never ignore anyone after days or weeks of daily conversations though) just because I don’t want to do anything forcefully & because I don’t want to lead anyone on. I read all messages but I definitely don't respond to all of them! I want to make it clear because I don't want to be accused of not responding and not reading people's messages! - Some people don't message me back as well and even If It's a bit disappointing I'm ok with that! - as long as there's no emotional bond - Not responding to someone's first or second message Is completely OK! If people think they wouldn't get along with a stranger - is there a reason to start a conversation? I don't think so. I can't stand being ignored after days or weeks of daily conversations and seeing people changing priorities over time.. but that's something different - something I don't want to go through ever again for real. If I'm really interested in someone's message it's impossible to hear from me "I'm too busy" because I know myself and If I had no time for others - I wouldn't be here. I don't want to pretend someone I'm not and always try to find some cheap excuses to avoid others. (unlike most people who don't want to talk to others)
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• Don’t ask me “Can you tell me something about yourself?” If you really want to get to know me - you can ask me questions :) I'm an open book.
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• It would be better If you guys were into emojis - like me - to describe your emotions In text messages. Two emojis - 🙂 and 🙁 are completely enough! I just don't like emotionless conversations.I also don't like it when people say "yeah" or yea"as it sounds dismissively. First impression Is everything to me! I want to see your kindness even in a text message - Emojis are very helpful to express your emotions.I don't want to meet people who say "crying Is a weakness" - It's OK to cry even If you're a guy!
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• I want to talk on reddit first (just to make sure If I'd get along with you) before moving to Discord or some other app
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• I would rather talk to a homebody - not another person who always has something to do as people who are very busy don't even have time for daily conversations
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• If you're another person interested only in "childish conversations" such as "HEYOOO! I'M BORED! Ya like Pizza or cheese? xDDDD 🤣" I'm begging you! Don't send me a message.I'm not a child anymore and such messages don't make me smile or laugh.I'm looking for someone interested In serious discussions - not another person just seeking some entertainment out of boredom . Conversations with sarcastic undertones (even when It comes to some emojis such as 🤣😂) are not for me. Your typing style matters to me! Why? when It comes to online conversations with someone new - It's not always possible to know If someone Is laughing at you.. or with you. Let me tell you something else! Jokes about cancer, disabilities and death are UNACCEPTABLE to me. If you find joy In someone else's misfortune you are not a person I want to know.
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• Time response matters to me a lot! I would never ask anyone to be online all day long and I'm NOT asking any of you for any instant messaging as I'm someone who would rather wait an hour or two to receive a proper response instead of some short and pointless messages but I'm interested only in daily conversations and I don't want to wait any longer than 6 hours to get a message from you.I don't need unbelievably long messages either! Messages as long as the second paragraph of my post - are completely enough. If you like longer messages? you can send me a longer message, but If you want to send me one word or one sentence as a response to my post - don't expect a reaction from me. I don't want to come across as rude - I just don't want to waste your time
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• I'm strongly AGAINST picking on people you don't even want to chat with - and making fun of them! I can't stand people who criticize others publicly or make fun of them! (only because they disagree with someone they don't even know) There's no place In my life for someone using Reddit, to hurt other people
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• I'm not into foul language and I definitely don't want to talk to people who swear a lot...
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• I want to meet assertive people who know what they want and always stand up for their friends
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• I want to meet someone willing to call me In the future, someone spontaneously sending me pictures of animals or food, et cetera. I want more than just text conversations.. 🌻
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Why can’t you see any of my hobbies listed down below? Because what really matters to me is..who you are (If you’re honest, talkative ,understanding, caring and trustworthy – for example) just simply – It matters to me what you’re like! not what you like.Don’t get me wrong – you can tell me what your hobbies are but from my point of view - people's hobbies are important - If you want to find a gaming buddy or If you want to meet someone to hang out with in real life and..go bowling for example.What most people seem to care about are other people's passions – I don’t. I get along with other people despite having completely different hobbies but I absolutely don’t get along with people way different than me (different expectations and outlook on life – way different sense of humor or personality traits – It’s just an example) It doesn't make ANY DIFFERENCE to me If you're a gamer or? Someone interested in photography! It doesn't make any difference - > as long as you're talkative and kind and If you also want to find someone willing to stay in your life..for good - But If you're into small talk and all you want is to...type and receive super short messages or If you're here only because you're bored and don't know what to do + If you're a very sarcastic person - I'm definitely not for you! I don't get along with overly sarcastic people turning everything into a joke. Friendships should be natural – not forced. I wouldn't get along with people who laugh at everything.. In my opinion most people are way too sarcastic.. It's quite sad... Sarcasm can also be another form of passive-aggressive behavior.
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People who want to be to friends should feel comfortable and have something in common. No - not necessarily a similar taste in music or movies but something else..Most friendships don't fizzle out because of people not having the same hobbies but..because they just simply have different expectations when It comes to something important.I'm not here out of boredom and trust me - I'm not here to meet as many people as possible.I choose quality over quantity.I highly value myself and my time & Sometimes one person but a person who makes you feel comfortable and understood - is more than enough :) We ALL can choose what kind of people we’d like to talk to and maybe even become really good friends with and I? I don’t want anyone to be disappointed.We all have some expectations after all.I know that people don't have to talk as often as possible in order to become friends but I'm interested only in daily conversations. If you really need someone to talk to due to loneliness and If you have time to talk to me daily (throughout the day and maybe even night) I always make time for others.I'm literally always available.I could even stay up all night long only to talk to someone important to me. I’m ready to commit but only If there’s some chemistry between me and someone else.I don’t do anything forcefully.
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If you want to talk to me tell me your story - tell me why you're here, what kind of friend would you like to meet :) Et cetera.Such messages are way more interesting to me than...someone's long list of hobbies. I know! It's unusual on reddit but I don't make friends based on hobbies..I want to meet someone with the same mindset as mine to finally feel understood and get close to someone new. You can share your problems with me - I absolutely don't mind "complaining" as I've been through a lot in my life.What do people usually tell you when you tell them that something's wrong? "Don't complain" or "Life's not over yet - one day you'll be happy" or "There are worse situations than yours" and..obviously "Find a therapist" Life's not a fairytale and sometimes things don't go as planned.Emotions shouldn't be bottled up.I'm sick of people always telling others "everything's gonna be ok" move on " & more..Trust me people - not everyone wants to hear "Just believe in yourself and everything's gonna be ok" Some people take it as reassurance - but others? They would rather hear something different 🙁Imagine being told that things will be okay, only for them to get worse..Do you guys know why telling someone "everything's gonna be ok" Is wrong? Because you can't see the future.
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You can't guarantee others that one day they'll finally be happy + when It comes to social interactions - We're responsible only for ourselves - not others & as you guys know people let us down quite often (sometimes even when there's no reason) so instead of telling people how they should move on, forget everything and be happy or asking them to find a therapist - be there for them! Always be willing to listen to them If you really like them or want to get to know them & don't suggest everyone in a tough situation to find a therapist because even the best therapist won't ever replace a true friend + It's quite normal to be disappointed If people always do something to hurt you. Sharing your hardships with other people in a very similar situation or exactly the same one - is VERY helpful If the other person understands you & wants to start all over by just letting it all out! Feeling emotional support instead of always hearing some "positive quotes" or someone saying "Stop complaining let's talk about something else - Is very important! "Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on. I appreciate sensitive people who always try to understand others. If after hearing a sad story all you want to say is "forget the past and move on" you're not for me. It's important to be a good listener and provide emotional support to others
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Please - If you're a completely different person than the described type of person I'm looking for (If you love abbreviations,If you don't need a stable friendship, If you're sarcastic and quiet) or If you simply disagree with my post - don't force yourself to send me a message.I want my new potential friendship to be natural which is why I want you to contact me only If your needs are the same - I don't want you to pretend someone you're not - only to please me - Pretending to be someone you're not - is the worst.I want to finally be happy again & find someone "always" wanting to talk - sending me random pictures throughout the day - food pictures or pictures of some animals. What is the most important to me? I want to find people who value online friendships as much as they would value real life ones as there's another human being on the other side
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No comments please.Only Private messages and chat requests 🌺
I know It's possible to meet people with exactly the same expectations as mine but It's just not easy because most people are Interested In temporary and entertaining conversations. People like me are just "different" I really want to finally find someone who loves emojis as much as I do.. someone who loves sweet, warm and serious discussions at the same time. Emojis really do - change conversations 😊

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Hi everyone,
I'm really interested in learning more about what life was like for Muslims in Central Asia during the Soviet era. I've come across a lot of conflicting information. Some things I've read say that people weren't allowed to practice their religion and suffered a lot because of it. Others say that there was religious freedom and that people were happy and could go to mosques and religious schools without any issues.
I’d love to hear from anyone who lived through this time or has stories from their family about it. Specifically:

1. Were people actually free to practice Islam, or were there big restrictions?
2. How did people feel about the Soviet government’s policies on religion?
3. Do you think Western sources are fair in their portrayal of this period, or do they exaggerate the negatives?

Your personal stories and thoughts would really help me understand this better. Thanks so much for sharing!

Frank could have slept in the trailer, but he preferred being in the van under current circumstances. He could scare off anyone who got a bright idea to try and steal the vehicle, for one thing. And if something happened in the motel room, if Jenna and Mike needed help, he was closer.
Not that any of that seemed likely; this place seemed dead as hell.
The motel was a not-too-busted-down place. The town it sat at the edge of was a wide-spot-in-the-road type. An out-of-the-way hamlet, some might call it. To Frank's parents, the town would have seemed ideal. Small enough to seem homey and friendly — and Christian, of course — but large enough to have the basic amenities: a pool of suckers for Mama's MLM sales and other schemes, people looking for someone like Papa who could at least seem to fix anything for cheap, and an attitude that led people to mind their own business, even with new folks and strangers, leaving no one too inclined to call in Youth Services or the equivalent at every sign of a bruise or a scrape or bleeding backs or broken limbs.
They'd done a lot of midnight runners out of places where people showed some level of neighborly concern. Left a lot of things behind in rented houses and apartments.
The best time had been when Frank was between the ages of five and seven. They lived with Grampa and Gramma Schnedeker then, and all the kids who were old enough got to go to proper school for a while, like school-school. Grampa Schnedeker needed a lot of looking after, and Gramma wanted the kids out of the house at least a few hours a day so as not to disturb him too much.
Since they got to go to school, Frank and his siblings right on either side actually learned to properly read and do the beginnings of math and such. Mama said all they needed to read was the Bible, and Papa said math was only important as far as helping him measure and cut lumber and pipe for projects, but still, the kids learned. And when Grampa Schnedeker died and the family moved on, the kids who had got school for a while tried to keep up and to teach things to the little ones.
That got stopped pretty quick, and Mama took over the "lessons," which really just meant she handed the kids their little workbooks every morning after breakfast and left them to work — QUIETLY as she always demanded — while she went and schmoozed sales or whatever. All the boys stopped having any "lessons" after 10 years old. That was when they would start going to work with Papa.
All the boys besides Frank, anyway. But that was before anyone besides Frank even knew that Frank was a boy.
And boy, had that been Hell on Earth when he finally outright told them he was a boy. Mama went to scream-praying like she tended to, and Papa tried to beat Frank to death, and then he did other things that really almost did kill Frank, but luckily Susie called 911.
It was Hell after, too. All that time in the hospital, and the stuff was on the news, and then Frank was sent to foster parents practically across the country. Those first ones were okay, except they also didn't believe Frank was a boy. They just tried to send him to a conversion therapist, who somehow luckily realized that there was no converting Frank and tipped off the social workers. Frank got new foster parents who accepted him, helped him get a name change, and even let him stay with them after he aged out of the foster system, until he could get his GED and see about college.
And then there was college, with his new name and his new clothes and finally being himself, and then the year of college, he met Jenna, and everything since then had been almost golden.
He could not sleep, crunched up in the driver's seat of the van with his head full of memories, so instead he just let it all play, the good and the bad, until it was almost sunrise and he needed to piss like a racehorse.
Then he got out of the van and went to knock at the door of the motel room. After he peed, he would ask Jenna if she minded taking the first shift driving today.
Gotta be up early and get everything together. Danna hated cooking, so Derick made breakfast, got the kids settled, and carried a plate back to his wife, still ensconced in the big bed in the back of the RV.
God had said that the wife should be the one to tend to the home and children, had he not? And yet, if the wife was unable to do some part of that, surely the man, in his free moments, should try and help. Thus, Derick would cook and would see that the children had breakfast, since Danna had such trouble sleeping, and then had trouble waking in the morning, especially when she was pregnant.
And if Danna's mother had never taught her to cook, well, that was the sin of Peggy Lynn Sooks, not her daughter. God would punish Peggy for her failures as a wife and mother.
Other than the sleeping trouble and the aversion to some of the arts of housewifery, Danna was excellent. She was really smart, figuring out how to put together all the social media stuff. And she was always ready to go whenever God told Derick they needed to pick up and move on. She greeted each trip, long or short, with joy, and she treated her other wifely obligations with equal joy.
Perhaps too much joy, sometimes. Danna, for example, took great joy in the act of procreation. That was good, of course, for they were to be fruitful and multiply and spread their family over the Earth to carry the Truth of God's message.
But the act of procreation, sacred and holy as it might be, was never something Derick greatly enjoyed. He did not, as he knew some husbands did, press his wife to fulfill her duties every night. In fact, their marriage had not been conssumated for nearly two months after the wedding, simply because Derick was disinclined. It took Danna reminding him that God's holy word also said a husband should satisfy his wife, and then they finally joined fully in their union.
Still, they did not do it often, unless Danna pressed Derick. As the years went on, she did so more and more, and so he let her have her desire. It was his duty as a husband.
Today, they would stay here. God had said they would be here about a week. Danna seemed happy with that, and the children seemed pleased as well.
They always seemed happiest when the family stopped wandering a while.
Derick had tried to explain to the children why they moved around so much, and why they must keep doing so. He thought perhaps the oldest two boys were beginning to understand. The little ones were still far from such wisdom, but there was time yet.
There was time.
3 Table of Contents

Since the earthquake, I've had trouble sleeping. It's not just the earthquake; I live in constant anticipation of a disaster that humanity is unprepared for. I don't want to be caught off guard; I don't want to be caught asleep at night, so my whole body resists sleep. So, I pray.
Ya-Sin; like a key that opens the gates of heaven
...
The dream mentioned in the preface of Kronmatron X seems to be coming true. Intense solar flares have begun. The northern lights have descended south. Power outages are expected. A sudden pole shift is imminent.
“Magnetic pole reversal is a change in a planet's magnetic field such that the positions of magnetic north and magnetic south are interchanged, while geographic north and geographic south remain the same. The land area on Earth alternates between normal polarity periods, where the magnetic field's direction is the same as the present direction, and reverse polarity periods, where the magnetic field is opposite to the present direction. These periods are called chrons. The intervals of these chrons are randomly distributed, and most are found to range from 0.1 to 1 million years. The last one, the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal, occurred 780,000 years ago and could have happened very quickly over a human lifetime.
A short reversal known as the Laschamp event occurred just 41,000 years ago during the last ice age. This reversal lasted only about 440 years, with the actual pole shift taking around 250 years. During this change, the strength of the magnetic field weakened to as low as 5% of its current strength. Short disruptions that do not result in a full reversal are called geomagnetic excursions. (Wikipedia)
In the early days of COVID, I had a series of dreams. In the last one, my family, friends, and everyone else were gathered in a square like Judgment Day. Then my mother pointed to the green lights in the sky, and someone shouted, "The poles have shifted!" At that moment, there was a flash of light, and we bowed down as if in prostration. I didn't feel bad for myself. I was ready. Back then, this topic wasn't talked about much. I told my acquaintances. They laughed it off. Then everyone focused on COVID.
The last of my apocalyptic dreams ended with this cataclysmic polar shift dream. Or rather, I felt this was the end of many things. Otherwise, I still have disaster dreams almost every day. Although their intensity is increasing...
...
I believe the Great War dreams I've had since childhood have already come true. The Israel-Palestine conflict has turned into a massacre. Blood is spilling everywhere. Aside from that, natural disasters will probably peak with a sudden pole shift. Massive tsunamis, floods, droughts, famines, earthquakes, storms, pandemics... In short, I expect all kinds of calamities.
Child sex trafficking scandals are erupting everywhere. I can no longer eat because of the stomach-churning news of many disgusting, perverted organizations and cults; I’ve lost sleep. That is, I eat a little, yes, and I don’t have trouble falling asleep but only because I have to. If it were up to me, I could walk around hungry and sleepless. Unfortunately, the body has needs. I said “the body” has needs, not me.
So, "I" am not the body...
...
As we age and face the reality that all of us will die one way or another, I still struggle to reconcile in my mind the idea that a person can reach divine consciousness and be freed from pain forever, thus extending into eternity. At the same time, I must come to terms with the fact that this world we live in has become unbearable.
End, eternity, and pain... They cannot coexist in the same mind. One must also free oneself from the mind.
Then there are emotions... They are more subtle. One must be free from all of them.
Anyway... I was thinking about these things again while drinking my coffee on the back balcony. Then I got bored with myself.

So with all those real life classifications of poekmon, do you think there is also any invasive pokemon species? Like, is one of the pokemon that shows up every gen like Psyduck secretly an invasive species? Is the reason that Unova initially didn't have any previous pokemon in it because its so far away and so its hasn't had any invasive pokemon show up yet? I had this idea after a friend asked me if Pikachu was an invasive species, and it's been living rent free in my mind ever since.Just curious if anyone has any thoughts, theories, or headcanons.

For some context, a tech-priest has discovered a Genestealer Cult on a Mechanicus world and has decided to use them for his own ends. He tells them that he will wipe them out unless they perform an uprising during the national "Ascension Day" celebrations, where he will use the chaos they create to seize power for himself.
The Magus of the cult Claress is old and decrepit, she feels that they missed the time they were actually meant to rise up decades ago and the cult has atrophied since then. Worse, after a series of failed raids their best fighters were killed or imprisoned. She knows they have no chance against the crack Mechanicus troops who have pressed the world for generations but facing no other option the Cult begins its preparations and sends messages to the uncorrupted workers unions and factories that have pledged their support if an uprising against the Mechanicus happens (not knowing that they're dealing with a cult).
I like this section as while it falls into the modern 40k novel habit of listing a bunch of codex units and describing how they fight, I think that it does a good job of portraying the awkward beginnings of an uprising, where nobody actually knows what will happen that spirals into the Genestealer Cult suddenly realising that if they work together they might have a chance.

‘This is the end of us,’ she hissed. ‘The priest will use us, and then he will destroy us. Or imprison us in his jars and make us his experiments. All our ways, our traditions, our faith. He will melt it out of us. There will be nothing left but his science.’
‘Child…’ Claress repeated.
‘We should flee,’ Davien almost shouted at her. ‘All of us, each to a different hole. We should abandon this city. We should carry our words and our blood to other places. We’re finished here! I’m sorry, magus, I’m sorry.’ And she was simultaneously weeping and incandescent with rage. At herself, at Triskellian, at Claress. ‘I have ruined us! I’m a traitor. Punish me, magus. Destroy me.’
‘You have listened to the lies of the enemy, it is true,’ Claress said softly. Her hand fell on Davien’s shoulder, a husk of a thing, no weight to it. ‘And you may be punished in time, that is also true. But for now, you are one of us, and you must play your part in what is to come.’
‘But it’s a sham!’ Davien exclaimed. ‘It’s some Taskmaster plan, some infighting between them. It isn’t the time!’ Struck by a sudden hope, she searched the old woman’s face. ‘Is it? Is all this… the Emperor’s plan for us? Can it be?’ And before she could hear any empty comforts, she rushed on. ‘Tell me truly, magus. Please tell me.’
The sad calm on Claress’ face was heartbreaking. ‘I don’t know, child. I wish I could give you all the grand certainties in the world. I wish I could give you the words of fire and faith I’d speak in the chapel, of the Many-Handed Emperor and His angels. But that is what faith is for, Davien.’ She sagged, sinking in on herself a little more. ‘Take me to my chamber. I must rest before tomorrow.’
‘You can’t take to the streets, magus. Not you.’
‘I must. We all shall play our part. We shall triumph together, or we shall fall. I do not want to be left alone if my kin are taken from me.’
Davien led her deeper into the maze of cellars. All around, the Congregation were in a frenzy of preparation. The building was haemorrhaging the faithful as they rushed out to carry the magus’ words across all the poor districts of the city. Out there, all Davien’s distant kin would be arming themselves. And the others, all those who weren’t blood but who had suffered beneath the crushing iron boot of the tech-priests, they’d be gathering too. All of them cast against the iron walls of the Hollow Men.
When she had Claress back to the old woman’s bed, she helped her lie down, hearing joints click and crack. The magus lay there, staring at the low ceiling, then shifted her head to look at the painting of the Emperor on the far wall. It was flaking now, half-obscured with grime. A depiction from the time of the Great-Aunts and Uncles, when the blood of the Emperor was stronger in them, so that none of the Congregation could show their faces for fear of being known for what they were. A figure with four arms: two human hands and two with radiant claws like crescent moons. An elliptical head split by a great benevolent smile that was all teeth. The eyes were beatific, murderous, inhuman. Davien had stared at the image often, feeling out its contradictions, letting them speak to the human and the inhuman within her. It frightened her; it inspired her.
‘I hear them singing to me.’ Claress’ dry voice rose to her. ‘The angels. They throng the cold void. And I sing back. I tell them, We are here. We are faithful. We’re waiting for you. And their great wings carry them across the freezing spaces, through the perilous labyrinth of the warp. They are coming, Davien. They tell me, We hear you. We come for you. Only have faith, and you shall become part of us. The Blessed Union, child. Our destiny.’ She laughed softly, coughed, shuddering with each dry convulsion. ‘They came from the stars, our ancestors. The first on Morod to bear our blood was an angel’s child, and so we are children of angels. But weaker, each generation. I lack the strength of the Aunts, the might of the Great-Aunts. I am too human to be truly strong. But I hear them, Davien. They are so beautiful. There is nothing on this ugly world to compare to them. I need to see them with my own eyes, before I grow too old.’
And Davien, one of the diminished survivors of a younger generation still, thought about how thin her own blood was, how little of the angel remained. ‘Do you think the priests’ Ascension Day will be our ascension too? Or will all our blood just end up on the streets and in that priest’s laboratory?’
Claress’ yellow gaze switched to her. ‘Faith is all that we have, when the machinery of this world comes to crush us. I hear the angels. They come to us, but space is vast and the warp is a trickster. All we can do is believe that the Many-Handed Emperor will not abandon His faithful in their time of need. That He is a true divinity, beyond the enthroned corpse the machine-priests worship. Our god lives, Davien. Our god is life, life in all its many forms and guises. Theirs is dust and ancient mechanisms. We must prevail, or we give the universe over to entropy and death. Only by our truths can life eternal survive and spread throughout the cosmos. Do you understand me, child? Do you have faith?’
And Davien thought, We are going to die tomorrow, on the streets and in their arena. This is not the true uprising we were promised, it is some priest’s gambit. But she couldn’t hold to those thoughts against the old woman’s rustle of a voice. It got under her skin. It spoke to all those services in the buried chapel. It spoke to her blood.
Easy to have faith when you were strong, after all. And what was the value of it, then? But they stood under the steel hammer of the tech-priests, and they would rise up nonetheless. Let Triskellian think it was all to his plan. The Congregation would rise because it was their time. Who said that he was using them? And even though, intellectually, she knew the truth, she still felt that fire in her, that burned away all doubt.
‘I believe, magus,’ she said fiercely. ‘Tell me what I must do.’
The next dawn, even as the tech-priests were attending their early Ascension Day devotions, the streets of the South Chasm districts erupted into armed uprising.
Davien saw it from the rooftops, crossing from building to building by the gantries, bridges and ropes that the skitarii periodically brought down but the locals always strung up again. All night the Congregation’s messengers had been running like sparks through the poorer districts of the city, seeing which claves would catch their fires. All of the true faithful rose up without question, of course. Right now she could only see the more inarguably human of them, those marked only by a pallidity of skin, patches of chitinous scales, unblinking yellow eyes perhaps. No unusual traits on as poisonous a world as this. Behind and within the walls of the tenements, though, the older generations of the god-touched would be stirring; would be eager. They had waited all their long lives, after all. They had hidden away as their younger offspring had busied themselves in the world, unable to show their distorted faces. They had known only the burning fire of their faith, and now that faith told them, Rise!
The streets were thronging with people, just ordinary people. And yet, not ordinary, for in many of those bodies a few drops of divine blood ran. But they were not the superhuman figures of Imperial myth. Not the Adeptus Astartes that had been made into little gods; not the tech-priests, elevated by machinery until they had forgotten what it was like to have two living feet on the ground. People, with nothing but their faith, and what tools and weapons they could scavenge or make themselves. And today they would attempt to wrest control of their destiny from those who had ordered and limited their whole lives.
And they would die, she knew. Heavy-hearted she watched them muster, factorum workers clapping each other on the shoulder, hard greetings called across the crowd. There were banners there, and some were of the Many-Handed Emperor Scattering His Angels Upon the Faithful, but there were others, too. Crude standards celebrating this ward or that factorum, this mining crew, even one for the staff of a workers’ refectory. There was an air of festival, just as if they were celebrating the damned Ascension Day after all.
And then the first skitarii came into sight. Davien knew she should be away by now, off on the errand that Claress had given her, but she couldn’t. She had to see if the whole venture would collapse into tragedy.
A wedge of red-clad cybernetic soldiers ordered itself precisely across the street ahead of the gathering mob. Behind them, a pair of dragoons stalked in, towering over the soldiers’ heads. Their riders couched forked lances snapping with sparks, even as the servitor beneath them, merged with the workings of the machine, directed the Ironstrider’s jerky motions. The crowd stilled, seeing all those carbines levelled at them, knowing more would be on the way.
The skitarii alpha called out, voice amplified until it rattled Davien’s skull like thunder. ‘By the order of the Fabricator General, you are required to disperse. There will be no second warning.’
And Claress stepped forwards from the ranks of the crowd, standing ahead of them, raising her staff. Somehow her high, clear voice carried even to Davien. ‘Faith and freedom! Faith for the true Emperor’s blood! Freedom from the yoke!’
The skitarii opened fire.
Davien screamed when they did it, curled away from the blaze and heat of it, knowing this was surely the end even as the uprising began. But in the echo of the shots she dared look, and saw Claress somehow untouched, standing with bodies to her left and right, the faithful who had put themselves in harm’s way. And not so many bodies, even, not compared to the vast mass of humanity that was packing the street. Angry humanity, crammed with grievances.
Claress’ voice called out again, and now she was sounding the charge. Davien saw members of the Congregation break into a run on either side of her, funnelling through the streets in a great rush, wielding hammers and prybars and power-cutters, emptying their shotguns and automatics into the skitarii wedge. The dragoons were in motion instantly, striding over the heads of their human-sized allies, accelerating into a counter-charge with lances lowered. Davien saw the first connect, its huge iron feet sending insurgents flying even as the lance swept an arc through the crowd, charring and burning. Then an eye-rending beam of light seared into it. One of the mining crews had a rock laser set up on the rooftop across from Davien and they drew lines of molten steel across the dragoon’s chassis before striking something vital.
In an instant the walking machine flashed incandescently and exploded, laying waste to the nearest fighters in a horrible toll of shrapnel and shredded flesh. For everyone left standing, though, that was the signal to rush forwards. Moments later the skitarii were giving ground, shooting and falling back. Or just falling, dragged down by the crowd who saw them as nothing more than the tools of their oppressors.
And then Davien was off, roof to roof, eyes open for when the tech-priests’ more subtle instruments decided the higher reaches were their territory. There would be rangers up here sniping down at the crowd soon enough. There would be the murderous rust-stalkers trying to flank the Congregation to bring down its leaders with their blades and claws. She had to be ahead of all of that. She had work to do, a task entrusted to her by the magus herself.
She shadowed the forerunners of the mob until they exploded out before Nilhetum Square, where the rail depot was. More of the Palatium’s troops were disembarking even as everyone arrived, hurriedly evacuating the train and taking up position to defend it. And if the Congregation wished to reach the Palatium, they needed to control the train line, and they needed to take it swiftly before the tech-priests began destroying their own infrastructure to deny it to the rebels.
There were more than just skitarii out there. She saw the low, trundling shapes of Kataphron servitors grinding down ramps from flatbed carriages, armoured human head, torso and arms set into a mechanised assault vehicle that was also their lower body. Davien felt a flare of rage at the tech-priests and their meddling. They took the divine flesh and carved it and pared it down, merged it with their devices. Nothing could be left alone. Nothing had any value until it was incorporated into their machines. And, on a grander scale, no individual lives had worth unless they were components of the wider priestly engine that spanned the human universe and enslaved everything it touched to their cold metal vision.
The Kataphron were terrors, nigh invulnerable to the weapons the foot-soldiers of the Congregation had brought, but by now the rioters had been given the chance to bring in their own big guns. With a choking roar and a belch of smoke one of the big quarry trucks raced out of a side street, already up to its lumbering top speed. It was a heavily armoured Goliath model, its entire front given over to rock-grinding blades that would chew hungrily on skitarii machine-flesh or the armour of the Kataphron. And, in its wake, a flurry of robed figures bearing a banner showing that familiar many-armed figure. The Aunts and the Uncles had come out from their cellars and holes, from their forgotten wall-spaces where they had waited for generations. Even as the Goliath powered forwards, meeting the lead Kataphron head-on and making a jagged mess of its armour, the elders were leaping around and over it, brandishing knives, pistols, or just their own hooked talons. And there was more. Davien felt a voice in her head, then. A singing so pure and beautiful that she thought it must be the angels, come at last. All the Congregation must have heard it, from the way they redoubled their pace and closed joyously with the skitarii and the machines.
A great figure, head and shoulders over the rank and file, had come into the square – a Great-Aunt, one of the true elders, shrouded in streamers and rags of cloth that could not hide the divinity of her form. She sang, and the Congregation echoed her, voices upraised in prayer and praise. In one of her three hands was a banner, not the crude handmade things the crowd had spent last night creating but something ancient, preserved for this day over generations. It showed not the expected Imperial visage, but an emblem with that same long-jawed head and a trailing cog-backed body; a serpentine shape curled in upon itself, one end a hooked claw, the other hungering jaws ready to devour the tech-priests and all their works.
The skitarii turned their weapons on her, blasting away, but the banner had electrified the Congregation so that they were swarming the lines, clambering over the Kataphron, braving the massed fire of their foes. Davien saw explosives go off, mining charges devastating bodies on both sides. She saw brutal knots of knife-work and bayonets and the bludgeoning butts of carbines, no quarter given.

This is about how I wanted TrackMania to become more popular and mainstream

I'm not speaking for everyone here, but I wanted Nadeo to focus on launching a new game with a strong marketing strategy rather than focusing to continuing updating TrackMania 2020.
I'm not hating on TM2020, in fact I'm happy that TM2020 still has a dedicated fan base and continues to receive updates and support from its developers. But did you know TM2020 used to lack popularity when it was first announced?
Why TM2020 is not popular in the first place?
When TM2020 first announced, only most TM community knew about it, barely anyone outside heard of this game (The views in the trailer of TM2020 speaks for itself), this means the game barely had any marketing or promotion at all. Not to mention it adds controversies among players in the TM community. Though ofc there are some excitements, but we will discuss what had happened to TM2020 when its first announced:
The Subscription model controversy
The biggest talking point surrounding the release was NADEO decision to adopt a subscription-based model, which required players to pay a 10$/year to access new content and features. I Myself have no problem with the subscription due to how ridiculously low the prices are, but the thing is that if people found out that the game use Subscription-based model, they will blindly hate the game and won't looking to deep further which means even if how low the prices are they are not going to care about it because at its core it's still a Subscription game.
TM2020 got popular thanks to YouTube and Twitch, I see no problem here
Of course, they helped the game to increase awareness and generate excitement around TM2020 the most. Most new players know about this game thanks to Youtubers like Wirtual, Scrapie, Spammiej,... But did you notice that TM2020 only gets most amount of attention from old TM YTbers and not those popular YTbers like PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, VanossGaming,... Then what if I say that people who watch those TM YTbers often stayed for their content and not play the game for themselves (Yes they said they don't like racing games and stayed for the content but still majority of them didn't bother playing TM2020 which is of course the Subscription model). That said it did give TMNF more attention and alot of people who were introduced to TM usually play TMNF first.
What was your idea for a new TM game?

TrackMania 2 (2026)

• Free-to-Play Model. Before any of you ignorant straight up threaten me without reading the text below, please LISTEN FIRST. This actually brings more Accessibility and larger player base because its free, and also this is the one that gives the company the most profit so they could sustain ongoing development and updates through microtransactions, this ensures the game remains fresh and engaging over time. Free-to-play games are more likely to be shared and recommended by players to their friends and social networks due to their accessibility and low barrier to entry so they can contribute to TM2's popularity and growth over time. And I know that you are concern about Pay-to-win mechanics but judging how NADEO lower their prices for their subscription model. I can safely say that NADEO would most likely carefully making a balance between monetization and player experience so they can create a positive and sustainable free-to-play game.
• Featured all of 4 environments and vehicles from old TM2. but with redesign to match with modern look of TM2020. Even though TM2 cars are pretty drivable, they need to be revamped because of the *features* in transitions between terrains. TM2 cars (excluding stadium) have a problem with entering other surfaces that if you try to steer while you are on between the 2 surfaces, your car will snap and lose control of your car immediately, especially going from drift to grip.
• Integrate ManiaExchange to TrackMania 2. This is fairly simple yet effective idea which is to make it easier and faster for players to find a new or good map right inside the game without having to open a browser or through ManiaExchange Plugin.
• Customize your car like NFS or Forza. If NADEO wanted to ban custom 3d cars, then they need to add car customization parts to their car like adding different types of body kits, spoiler and hood without affecting the gameplay too much.
• Add ShootMania as a separate gamemode. I know this sound funny, but I think it's a pretty cool idea to add SM to TM2 so to add more variety and probably gain some attention from FPS gamers.
• A proper tutorial for beginners. The Tutorial Campaign in TM2020 was mostly just bare bones of what the game has to offer without teaching the mechanics of the Stadium Car and what do those surfaces do, you have to figured it all by yourself or from a YTber.
• Cross-platform availability. Consider making the game available on multiple platforms (PS5, XBOX, PC) at launch with build-in Openplanet on consoles as to provide a consistent experience for players regardless of their preferred platform.
• Improve marketing and promotion. Invest in targeted marketing campaigns across various channels, including social media, gaming websites, and streaming platforms. Highlight the unique features of TrackMania 2, such as its amazing track editor, competitive gameplay, and vibrant community.

That's all for now, if you have any more ideas that could be put into TrackMania 2 I'm happy to hear it. That said if you have criticism or concerns, please provide it in detail.

So currently I’m on the longest streak I have ever had in my adult life. Previous best was 2 weeks. I attribute this to being totally fed up of my situation in life, not having confidence, feeling shame about myself etc., and I just don’t want to live like that anymore and I want to do something about it. So now just the thought of masturbating is totally anathema to me, and I am not tempted to make myself orgasm or come whatsoever. That said, I have had some difficult urges, which I have squashed by trying to be as aware of myself, my mood etc. as possible. I am gradually getting better at not peeking, although it still happens, and I still have some very sexualising thoughts about women which I am careful just to try and limit and not indulge in.
Here are the benefits I have experienced so far:

• less shame and an improved self esteem being around others
• much easier to make contact, to the point where it is actually almost enjoyable (almost)
• more consistent energy levels
• reduce pain in testes. I was developing a varicocele, and my epididymis (the duct that carries sperm from testes) was quite enflamed probably from years of misuse. Both are of much less concern to me now and seem to be improving. (I got both checked by a doctor to ensure there was nothing else more serious to worry about)
• a freeing up of healthy male self defending aggression. I used to take an awful lot of shit from people, particularly from members of my own family, and I was developing anger issues from not being able to defend myself properly. I now instinctively want to defend myself more, and find myself saying things that the old confrontation-avoidant me would have shied away from.
• more interested looks from the opposite sex. I am starting to feel more desirable around women and I am beginning to enjoy that flirtatious energy, which previously only used to make me feel very stressed and anxious.
• more motivated creatively. I am a musician and enjoy drawing, and have found myself much more motivated to spontaneously practise and start drawing recently.

Things it hasn’t helped with: - I have emotional regulation problems which run quite deep to childhood, but at least I’m not using PMO now to self regulate, like I have been since I was a child. This will take more work. - eyesight. I have floaters in my eyes which annoy me, and I was kind of hoping it would help reduce them, but nothing yet. - occasional headaches/migraines, possibly as a result of not having PMO as a mood stabilising crutch. Only indirectly related.
Goals for the next 30 days: - I would like to work out more this month, and see if it helps with urges and helps lift my self confidence in addition to nofap. - I am planning on doing some more intermittent fasts because I want to lose some more weight and I feel that will help keep me disciplined mentally. - I have some messed up self beliefs that I am worthless and unlovable, which I am going to continue to work on letting go of and shifting away from them. - it would be great if I meet someone I like and start dating, but I am in no hurry to. I am quite worried about the chaser effect after having sex again, but will have to deal with it when I get there.
Currently on track for 90 days a few days before my 33rd birthday. Let’s do this!

Hi there, I'm desperately looking for some advice and direction, so anything is much appreciated. For some context, I'm a med student currently in Hong Kong. I have been an immigrant for my whole life, and actually am from India. I have always LONGED to move abroad, and that desire has gotten stronger after getting into university, because I never feel like I belong to this city, and language barrier has been the bane to my existence. I have learned the local language since I immigrated, about 12 years, yet I struggle so much, and I realize even if I gain fluency, I will never be apart of the culture or accepted by the locals. So despite being a local, I feel like an outsider and this has caused my family a lot of serious issues too...so I just know I have to leave and move to a better place. I don't have much roots, my parents are very antisocial so dont have much friends or relatives or anything in this city, though my parents are my everything. And wherever I move, I would want them to come along, even if it takes a few years. (I know it may not be something everyone agree one, but when you've had no one in your life other than 2 important precious people, you would not want to lose them)
So as I am a medical student, it complicates things by A LOT, like the whole licensing process especially. I have only been looking into English-speaking countries, so that makes it US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Any country which's main language isnt English is off-limits, because I'm done with that, Hong Kong was an experience enough. So here is somethings I think about each country, now if you have any advice, any remark, I would really really appreciate it. If you know someone that pathway or smth, that would be incredible.
USA - I am definitely appealed by the american dream but really not sure it exists. Hong Kong has been an extremely safe place so safety hasnt ever been an issue but with my research, I'm quite concerned about the issues revolving gun possessions, school shootings, and also insane medical expenses (the privation threatens basic human rights) also the work culture which isnt that big of an issue but docs have poor lifestyle. As for the licence, I will have do to many exams (USMLE Step 1-3) and more, and residency is gonna be tough, but after that the salary is great and so I can afford things like house and my parent's retirement so I'm happy with that. But MY UTMOST MAIN CONCERN aside from guns and all, is the visa procedure, I can probs get green card over time but it will take more than a decade for my parents to ever get green card. And my parents will age, so it wont be worth the wait. I have researched as much as I could, but if you know any other pathway to which this wont be such an issue, please let me know.
UK - The lifestyle is much better and way safer than USA, near Europe too so cheap travels. But the salary for NHS doctor, truly sucks like its so poor, I don't think I could buy a house or you know be able to have some basic posessions. The work-life balance is great, but if I can't have a decent pay that I'm not sure how survivable it is. As for the visa thing, I don't think its as bad as US and there is some way I can bring my parents, but it makes no sense if I don't have money to even bring them.
Australia - This is something only recently I have considerently. Haven't done much research as a result, but general consensus is the pay is great (similar to HK where I live). But this is so incredible stupid to say, but I am so so so terrified of wildlife, the spiders and snakes get to my nerves (this is the only irrational fear I have, and it runs deep). I know its so stupid but pls tell me what you think.
New Zealand - THIS IS MY TOP CHOICE RN, again I'm in an uncertain place but so far this has seemed the most realistic and appealing. Docs' salaries are decent like about USD $5k monthly, isnt good nor as bad as UK. But the cost of living is quite high because its located so secluded from the whole world. Travelling is going to be so costly and so is living cuz grocery shopping is insane, though I do think in time I will be able to buy a house, and the living is slow-paced, the healthcare is free or at least not as costly in general. My main concerns are travelling issues (because I still would want to travel once a year back to my hometown or some vacation), and high cost of living (to pay for my parent's living, buy a house, perhaps have a family in the future).
The licensing isnt the biggest concern for others compare to USA, because if I want to pass those exams, I need to start studying like from this year (and I just finished the first year of medical school, and 5 more years to go). That is why I am thinking about it, I don't know and have got no one for guidance. Just know that mainly my parents are a big priority to me, and I want them to move with me, I want to have a good pay so I can afford a house and also again my parents can live with me, the only luxury I truly want is just a house and enough money to go to vacation once a year (could be hometown India, or somewhere Europe). The salary here in Hong Kong is so awesome for docs, even the starting one so it concerns me a lot that I am taking it for granted but literally I am so alone and isolated and medical school has really put it into perspective that I am always an outsider despite my attempts. Having a direction or doing research onto this plan so I can start preparing is the only thing going me.

I have a bunch of tech already available and some ideas what I want to do in the future, but no experience to put it all together. If this sub is not the correct one please guide me in the right direction.
Things I have:

• Desktop PC in the office, mostly used for games and general media consumption (via streaming).
• Mesh Network across the whole apartment for stable wireless connection.
• Raspberry Pi 4B connected via LAN to the router, no wireless module. The PI has a base setup (Raspbian) but does not do anything currently.
• Pixel 8 smartphone + old LG smartphone (Android 10 I think) not in use anymore.
• Various bluetooth speakers without smart functionality.
• Old-ish TV in the living room that allows limited casting of YouTube, Netflix & Prime video.
• Laptop connected to the TV via HDMI. It's setup to autostart in Steam Big Picture mode for game streaming. I control BPM via Xbox controller. I also have a wireless keyboard & mouse combo connected to the laptop.
• WiZ smart bulbs allowing changing of light temperature & brightness.
• Dreame vacuum robot.
• Google Home setup which currently includes the light bulbs & the vacuum.

What I'm thinking about, but have not really looked into further:

• Home Assistant. I'm aware it exists, but currently I have no need to switch from the google ecosystem yet. Open to it though
• Some use for the Pi. PiHole, RetroPi, server of some kind? Can it run PiHole + other things in combination?
• Some use for the old phone. Can it be used as a display / control panel for some other stuff?
• A way to make the couch experience with TV & laptop more fluent. If I want to stream something that the TV does not support (let's say Twitch) I have to switch the input to HDMI, leave big picture mode, use keyboard & mouse to open the browser and watch it that way. Ideal setup would be controlled all via phone (casting) or controller.
• A way to connect multiple audio devices (TV, bluetooth speakers, maybe PC speakers) to all play the same music and control them on one central place.
• Google Pixel tablet for media consumption. I saw that the base station includes a speaker & the tablet allows casting, might be interesting.
• More smart lights. I saw IKEA has some things but it looks like they have their own locked down ecosystem.

What I don't want / need:

• Voice commands, rather use an app.
• Large-scale media storage.

If you guys have any ideas how my plans could fit together or anything else that might be interesting to me feel free to share them. If there's any other wild projects I could do I would also be interested, I'm new to the whole world but curious.
Edit: Also I'm renting so I can't really pull any wires through the wall or install new switches etc.

Edit: DO NOT message me a simple hi or hello, with no information about you, Put some effort in to your message like i have, come on. Day+Attempt#192
Hello everyone, Thank you for taking the time to read, I know its long, I know - I know. But its worth the read, Trust me. I appreciate you immensely.
Here's a bit about me,
My name is Jay, I live on the East coast of the US. I'm looking for love - like everyone else on here.., but you may not believe or even be doubtful that I've never had a GF before with me being 26, but its true. I'm simply just not willing to "be with" just anyone and I'm very picky. I want us to be a match, more than just have similar things in common.
One thing I have always been told is that I'm a "Real Catch, I'd be extremely lucky to have someone like you" - WELL THEN TAKE ME. I'M FREE. LOL.
About me:
Physically -
~I'm a semi-tall guy, around 5'10.
~I'm thin but muscular.
~I have dirty blonde/ brown hair.
~Changing colored eyes.
~A voice nice enough to melt all your safeguards and get right into your heart and weak spots.
~I do not have any tattoos or piercings. Though I would like to get some eventually.
If you'd like to see a picture of me just ask and I'll show you - IF I may see you as well, I simply just don't want a picture of me out there for anyone to see.
-If there's anything else you'd like to know just ask.
Otherwise -
~I do have 3 pet bunnies I would be more than happy to show you, they are extremely cute.
~I'm a very honest and down to earth guy.
~I'm very patient and easy going.
~I'm very curious and inquisitive. I will try to ask everything I can to learn all about you haha.
~I'm Very VERY Kind & Caring, I will probably ask how you are feeling a bajillion times a day, simply out of care for you.
~I can get pretty clingy, and will always want your attention and to be talking with you. If i have someone im interested in i wont want to talk to anyone else🤷‍♂️
~I'm very trustworthy - you can confide in me, and entrust your deepest secrets and I wont tell a soul.
~I'm a HUGE hopeless romantic, im old fashioned and will always try to impress you.
- I'm, a BIG softie even though I may look a smol bit intimidating, but I'd do just about anything to see you smile or laugh. And yes.., I do mean anything.
~I'm a big goof - I will get up to some silly shenanigans ALL the time, I will crack dumb jokes and send you memes and tik toks just to make you happy, even if its from across the room I'd wait to see your reaction lol.
~I'm extremely loyal, and would never even think of cheating.
~I will cook for you, and clean up too, even around the house, I'm very self productive and don't ask for much. Just don't forget to kiss the cook.
~I'd also love to just cuddle up and watch a movie or read a book together, anything to get us closer. Id try to take you out on dates whenever possible haha. I have a million SUPER romantic date ideas I have but have never had anyone interested enough in me to take out. Here's your chance ;)
~I will always want to share stuff I find interesting with you, and try to share every moment of every day with you. I'm not looking for someone who can only talk for a small amount of time, I want someone who's willing to put in all the effort I put into them back into me, it goes both ways. If I'm "with" someone you are my TOP priority nobody and nothing else would be. You would be the only person I'd truly want to talk to, so rest assured I would NEVER cheat, even more so because no one is interested in me - Hence why I'm here hahaha.
I'm sure there is more to me than this snippet but I cant think of more at the moment haha, so get to know me and find out more about me.
Some of my interests are: Engineering- I'm a nerd. I admit it. I love being technical and hands on, I love building things. All kinds of things, from furniture, machinery, and reverse engineering anything I find. I love learning how things work and trying to improve things.
Music - I prefer music with a very fast pace, or with some very meaningful lyrics I can relate to. I love to sing along to music and songs that have a deep meaning behind it I can sympathize with makes it all the better. Some bands I like are: Bad Omens, Beartooth, Demon Hunter, MIW, I9K - The list goes on. I'm a bit of a metalhead unfortunately.
TV Shows & Movies - I love watching shows, and I'd love to stream some shows and have some E-dates with you, to get to know you, or if you are close to me, maybe we could do it in person. Some shows I like or more of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Comedy, Action, stuff like: National Treasure, Halo, BattleBots, Rick and Morty, AHS, Anything Marvel or DC, The Witcher, Wednesday, The Sandman, The Magicians, The Umbrella Academy, ETC.
Gaming - Yes yes I know, Basic guy likes basic stuff. But gaming has been a thing for me since forever. I know most of you wont care or want to hear that, but I'll leave out the specifics on this part unless you are interested in that, MEGA Bonus points if you are.
Here's a lists of Cons to dating me-
~I'm not Ryan Reynolds. Disappointing, I know.
~I will fight you on what goes on pizza lol.
~I'm not rich.., Yet.
~I can't pronounce Worcestershire.
~I'm slightly forgetful, but with good reasoning.
~(Not really a con but- some might disagree) I still have ALL of my firsts, Do with that what you will c:
~I've got an endless pile of love and affection and no one to give it to! What a dilemma! Help me fix it?
Other than that I'll save the rest for a bit more of getting to know each other.
Here's a bit of what I'm looking in you:
~Preferably someone with lots of free time, and loves to chit chat. I'm seriously not interested in getting 1 message a day. Though I understand people get busy, I personally am not willing to try to learn about you and form something with 7 responses a week. Effort gets reciprocated and I appreciate the time you put in me.
~Physically: -I’m not personally attracted to anyone who’s “curvy/ chubby”, I apologize. Not a shallow thing, I just dont have the attraction chemical in my brain for that, I’m sorry. -If you’re shorter than me, thats a plus to me. -I love dimples, if you have those when you smile, bonus points 😊 - I’m not sure what else to put.., but as for nsfw wise find out😂
~I'm a sucker for a different accent other than American, and if you have an Posh English accent you have already won my heart.
~I'm also only really looking for someone within the ages of 18-35. I don't want anyone old enough to be my mom lol.
~I'd prefer (But not a must) people NOT on the other side of the world, as other time zones SUCK. I don't expect to find anyone who also has never had a boyfriend either, but that would be a real plus. I also don't mind a LDR, but I don't want that forever. But it gives us time to get to know each other.
But as for attributes I'm looking for in you:
~Someone who is above all else very very Loyal and would never cheat.
~Someone who is Honest, and will tell me the truth over a little white lie.
~Someone who is Kind & Caring, who'd constantly check on me, and accept me for who I am & help me improve day to day.
~Someone who is trustworthy, and I can count on to keep my secrets safe, or even just help me remember things.., I do tend to be somewhat forgetful.
~Someone who is very Patient and wants to see me succeed and will help me do so, just like I would help you. Even if its small day to day things, I would appreciate your company ANY time.
~I want a partner who is Affectionate, can reciprocate, and loves to snuggle and talk about their day, and what their interests are, and what makes them happy.
~Someone who can admit they get clingy or overprotective is a bonus.
~A partner with good communication is key, if something wrong we have to be able to talk about it.
~A partner who likes to game with me or at least watch me play would be a plus but not a requirement.
~Someone with a good sense of humor and like to joke around, I am a big goof after all and I love to joke around. Sending memes is always appreciated and good to cheer people up too!
~I'd prefer someone with the same music taste, but not a requirement, Plus if you wouldn't mind if I send you love songs occasionally that's a bonus, or sending me some back haha.
~Being willing to voice call is a must, Texting forever is not the way to go. I have to know what your voice is like haha, later on we can video call if you are comfortable with that. I prefer chatting on Discord because Reddit messages of any kind I'm sure you know are unreliable and sucky in general. So please send me your discord if you have one :)
~I would LOVE to see picture of your pets if you have any. Bonus points if it includes your beautiful self haha.
I'm sure there is more I'm looking for but I cant think of it right now haha, I will have to edit this when I think of it.
Please tell me about you as an opener! I told you a good bit about me, now its your turn haha.
Tell me some things like -
~What's your name?
~Where are you from?
~How old are you?
~What are your hobbies / interests?
~What about my post interested you?
~Where is my TV Remote?!
~Selfie? Pet pics?
~Hit me with your best joke or meme :)
~What's your favorite candy?
I'd LOVE to get to know you, and see where things go.
But yeah, I know it was long I'm sorry haha. Send me a message and lets get to know each other! :)

Hey there!
I'm a 27-year-old from the UK, currently living in Central Europe for work. I'm looking for a long-term relationship with someone who clicks with me, ideally in a similar time zone, but I'm open to making it work at distance ir we connect.
I work as a project manager at a software company, and although I studied communications at uni, I enjoy programming and try to incorporate it into my job whenever possible, usually to make my work easier. In my free time, you'll find me enjoying football and F1, working on coding projects, playing badminton, hiking (I'm really looking forward to more outdoor adventures this summer), hanging out with friends, gaming, and practicing my art skills to add some flair to my coding projects. My music taste is pretty varied, though I tend to lean towards pop.
I'm hoping to find someone who shares some of my interests, values personal growth, and has an ambitious spirit. It's important to me to have a partner who can challenge me to be better and whom I can support in return. It might sound lofty, but I believe having a shared mindset is key to mutual support and achieving goals together. I am also happy to gaze at each other.
For a quick snapshot: I'm slim, of average height, with light brown hair. I think I'm fairly attractive, and while I try to dress well, you'll often find me in a football shirt when I'm at home. Physical attraction is important in a relationship, so feel free to ask for a picture—I'm happy to share!
If something in my post caught your eye, drop me a message and let me know what stood out to you. Let's see where the conversation takes us!

Hello, I am searching for a little clarity on this situation from an outside perspective.
Currently, my husband, baby, and I live with my parents in their home. My parents are snowbirds, so they're only here about half the year. They are well off, and do not charge us rent, which allows me to stay home with the baby. In exchange, we look after the house and do the majority of housework, and just generally try to be helpful and agreeable roommates.
Last week was my birthday, and my parents were in town for it. A few days beforehand, my mom started hinting that she had gotten me something big. She seemed really excited.
The day came, and we had a small party at home. Ordered takeout from my favorite restaurant, and my husband had gotten me a couple nice things I'd been wanting. Finally my dad brought out a large box, and my mom was practically jumping up and down. I was getting excited to. Then I opened to wrapping to find... a KitchenAid stand mixer. The mixer and accessories, all together, cost about $500.
Here's the thing. I hate cooking. I know how to do the basics, and I do my fair share of cooking in the home, but I get no joy from it. My mom knows this. We've talked about it many times. But my mom loves to cook. And she loves to bake. In fact, she's been talking about wanting one of those mixers for years.
I guess she could see the disappointment on my face, because she started trying to convince me how amazing the mixer was. She went on about all the attachments and accessories, and how it's top of the line. I tried to feign interest. I smiled and thanked my parents for getting me something so nice. But my mom was now noticeably disappointed by my reaction.
We moved on to the cake, and after dinner I was focused on getting the baby ready for bed. The next day, the mixer was still in the box, and mom started giving me a hard time about it. She kept making comments about how you'd think I'd be more appreciative of a $500 gift. And that if someone had spent $500 on her birthday gift she would've pulled it out and started using it right away.
I went ahead and got it out and set it up just to appease her. But I still haven't used it. Honestly I don't even know what to do with it. I don't bake. I told my mom that she should feel free to give it a test drive, but she responded that it was mine, not hers.
Now she's saying that she and dad might go back to their beach house earlier than planned.
I'm just not sure what she expected. She clearly thinks I'm being an AH, but it's just so obvious that she bought that gift for her, not for me. I would've rather her spent way less on me, and gotten something I could actually use. But maybe I'm just acting like a spoiled brat. I grew up pretty privileged, so maybe my perspective is skewed.
So reddit, and I being an AH here?