How to check the belts on a 1982 travelcraft
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2024.05.19 11:46 TenshiKyoko Two new Krebs Gorlon comments you might have missed
In the comments of the recent 2024 mid-year catch-up.
comment 1:
"Sorry about the out of focus two shot. Both of them thought the other had checked the shot. Mike was drunk and Jay was HAF. They focused each others' shots IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. And that is NOT Mike in Lousy Carter. The movie Mike is in is called Lousy Farter. He's also in a movie called "Mike thinks he looks less fat when the shot is out of focus". Jay is also in a movie called "Pig was my favorite movie of the last ten years cause I'm a fucking weirdo". So again, Mike and Jay do not have a crew or a budget or anything else worthwhile in life. They do fail upwards constantly. Or rather, fail sideways. Mike continues failing sideways if you know what I mean. Or he like's to call it "Horizontal Expansion". Mike has just purchased stock in a company that makes belts for overweight bovine. They are looking to expand (pun intended) into the human market by selling their leather belts to portly gentlemen. You may wonder why a cow would need a belt? Or why a cow would wear a leather belt in the first place. The answer: Don't ask you scum. It's none of your business. Mike is gonna have over $5,000 dollars in his bank account when this stock goes public rest assured you fucks. Then he's gonna retire and live the good life on a cattle ranch wearing belts made of his friends."
comment 2, in a reply to the 1st:
"For those of you (scum) who wish to know who has written this response. It is I, Krebs Gorlon long time RLM pubic relations manager and master of the art of dealing with the pubic. I share Mike's thoughts on these matters. I must admit, I made up the story about Mike investing in cow belts for people. Mike would never invest in such a foolhardy folly after his disaster with Enron. Mike is doing just fine at the moment. That story was what we call "deflection" in the PR biz. It's to get you thinking about Mike wearing a cow belt (a belt made for cows and not a belt made from a cow (although some are) to keep your eyes away from the latest story in the news about Jay. Jay went to Walt's Disney world and was denied entry on the teacup ride. You think the joke might be was that he was too short, but the truth is he was high on cracked-cocaine. Jay was yelling and wearing a tee shirt that read: "Party's Over Fucko". The staff at Walt's Disney world also noticed the track marks on Jay's arms and the fact he was sipping from a flask. That along with the teeshirt gave the staff pause and they made the call to not allow Jay on the ride. Jay threw a tantrum and leapt onto the ride while it was in motion, shattering his pelvis and causing delays in the line up to 3 hours. The incident was captured on cell phone video and can be found on YouTube by searching "Small man breaks pelvis on big teacup ride" however, I urge you not to search for this. Jay is in hospital at the moment and will return to work soon. Mike has told Jay that his "rock star" lifestyle is embarrassing. In an attempt to bring him down to reality Mike has informed Jay that RLM is only the 17,948th most subscribed to channel on YouTube and that he's not so famous he can show up at Walt's Disney World blazing on cracks and causing a pubic scene. This is NOT part of our brand. Stick to belts made for cows or the newest craze, Smart phone necklaces. You know what a lanyard is? You know how elderly people have their casino rewards cards around their neck. I think instead of people keeping their phones in their back or front pockets or even in their purses, all people should wear them around their neck for easy access. I call it a Cell Phone Krebs. I've named this product after myself. Search for it on YouTube by entering in "Small man breaks pelvis on big teacup ride"."
submitted by TenshiKyoko to RedLetterMedia [link] [comments]
comment 1:
"Sorry about the out of focus two shot. Both of them thought the other had checked the shot. Mike was drunk and Jay was HAF. They focused each others' shots IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. And that is NOT Mike in Lousy Carter. The movie Mike is in is called Lousy Farter. He's also in a movie called "Mike thinks he looks less fat when the shot is out of focus". Jay is also in a movie called "Pig was my favorite movie of the last ten years cause I'm a fucking weirdo". So again, Mike and Jay do not have a crew or a budget or anything else worthwhile in life. They do fail upwards constantly. Or rather, fail sideways. Mike continues failing sideways if you know what I mean. Or he like's to call it "Horizontal Expansion". Mike has just purchased stock in a company that makes belts for overweight bovine. They are looking to expand (pun intended) into the human market by selling their leather belts to portly gentlemen. You may wonder why a cow would need a belt? Or why a cow would wear a leather belt in the first place. The answer: Don't ask you scum. It's none of your business. Mike is gonna have over $5,000 dollars in his bank account when this stock goes public rest assured you fucks. Then he's gonna retire and live the good life on a cattle ranch wearing belts made of his friends."
comment 2, in a reply to the 1st:
"For those of you (scum) who wish to know who has written this response. It is I, Krebs Gorlon long time RLM pubic relations manager and master of the art of dealing with the pubic. I share Mike's thoughts on these matters. I must admit, I made up the story about Mike investing in cow belts for people. Mike would never invest in such a foolhardy folly after his disaster with Enron. Mike is doing just fine at the moment. That story was what we call "deflection" in the PR biz. It's to get you thinking about Mike wearing a cow belt (a belt made for cows and not a belt made from a cow (although some are) to keep your eyes away from the latest story in the news about Jay. Jay went to Walt's Disney world and was denied entry on the teacup ride. You think the joke might be was that he was too short, but the truth is he was high on cracked-cocaine. Jay was yelling and wearing a tee shirt that read: "Party's Over Fucko". The staff at Walt's Disney world also noticed the track marks on Jay's arms and the fact he was sipping from a flask. That along with the teeshirt gave the staff pause and they made the call to not allow Jay on the ride. Jay threw a tantrum and leapt onto the ride while it was in motion, shattering his pelvis and causing delays in the line up to 3 hours. The incident was captured on cell phone video and can be found on YouTube by searching "Small man breaks pelvis on big teacup ride" however, I urge you not to search for this. Jay is in hospital at the moment and will return to work soon. Mike has told Jay that his "rock star" lifestyle is embarrassing. In an attempt to bring him down to reality Mike has informed Jay that RLM is only the 17,948th most subscribed to channel on YouTube and that he's not so famous he can show up at Walt's Disney World blazing on cracks and causing a pubic scene. This is NOT part of our brand. Stick to belts made for cows or the newest craze, Smart phone necklaces. You know what a lanyard is? You know how elderly people have their casino rewards cards around their neck. I think instead of people keeping their phones in their back or front pockets or even in their purses, all people should wear them around their neck for easy access. I call it a Cell Phone Krebs. I've named this product after myself. Search for it on YouTube by entering in "Small man breaks pelvis on big teacup ride"."
2024.05.19 11:24 GhoulGriin Best Cargo Sweatpants
 | submitted by GhoulGriin to u/GhoulGriin [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/qllgcuaupc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=975dce1518b11528497a76af5fcf5f0990fc5169 Cargo sweatpants have emerged as a trendy and versatile staple in recent years, providing comfort and functionality in equal measure. In our Cargo Sweatpants roundup, we take a closer look at these must-have items, examining their styles, materials, and suitability for various occasions. From fashion-forward designs to classic cuts, there's a cargo sweatpant to suit every taste and lifestyle. Join us as we delve into the world of cargo sweatpants and uncover the perfect pair for your wardrobe. The Top 12 Best Cargo Sweatpants
Reviews🔗Beige Cargo Joggers - H&Mhttps://preview.redd.it/1846phkupc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54d47ba7ef38ba4f2270f88d70343941ce228fcd I recently tried a pair of beige cargo joggers from H&M, and I have to say, they've quickly become one of my go-to items for casual outfits. The moment I put them on, I noticed how comfortable they are, thanks to the soft cotton fabric and adjustable drawstring waistband. The tapered legs and covered elastic at the hems give them a polished look that's perfect for both lounging around the house or dressing up for a night out. One feature that really stands out is the variety of pockets - they've got diagonal side pockets, back pockets with concealed snap fasteners, and even leg pockets with flaps. This might not seem like a big deal, but as someone who's always misplacing their phone or keys, having so many pocket options has made my life so much easier! However, there are a couple of downsides worth mentioning. Firstly, I found that the sizing can be a bit tricky. I'm usually a small but needed to go up to a medium to get the right leg length. Secondly, while the material is comfortable, it does seem to attract dust and dirt more easily than other fabrics. This means I have to wash them more frequently than I would like. Overall, these beige cargo joggers from H&M are definitely worth considering if you're looking for a stylish and comfortable pair of pants to add to your wardrobe. Just make sure to pay attention to the sizing and be prepared for some extra laundry! 🔗Heavyweight Fleece Cargo Sweatpants for Men: Stylish and Comfortablehttps://preview.redd.it/isndoayupc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84e9ba818e2d28bed4f66d049b2ace6e74472d80 I recently picked up a pair of these Pro Club Men's Heavyweight Fleece Cargo Sweatpants in heather gray, and let me tell you, they've quickly become my go-to comfies for lounging around the house. The fleece is ultra-soft and surprisingly warm, making them perfect for those chilly winter days. I appreciated the relaxed fit, which didn't feel too tight or constricting, but still gave me enough room to move freely. One of the highlights of these sweatpants is definitely the multiple cargo pockets and added flaptop security. They've allowed me to stash away my phone, wallet, keys, and other necessities without fumbling around in my pockets or bag. Plus, the adjustable elastic drawstring on both the waist and pant cuff ensures a customizable and comfortable fit. However, it's worth noting that these sweatpants run a bit larger than I expected. If you prefer a more fitted look, I'd recommend sizing down. Additionally, some users may find the heavy fabric to be a bit too warm during warmer months. Despite these minor drawbacks, I'm thoroughly enjoying my new pair of Pro Club sweatpants, and would recommend them to anyone seeking comfort and style. 🔗Garage Women's Fleece Cargo Sweatpants - Forged Iron Greyhttps://preview.redd.it/7i0af5hvpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92dce4e544cb42db5fbacbfa27281e8b9d05d628 As a fashion enthusiast, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the unique blend of practicality and comfort that the Garage Cargo Sweatpants have to offer. With an elastic waistband and adjustable drawstring, these sweatpants provide a secure and snug fit, making them perfect for lounging around or going on an active adventure. The fleece interior is another highlight of this garment; it's incredibly soft against the skin, making every moment spent in these pants a cozy affair. Additionally, the 7-pocket detailing adds a layer of functionality and versatility to the pants, allowing you to carry more items without compromising on style or comfort. One potential drawback to note is that the pants have a relaxed fit, which some individuals might find too baggy. However, this quality also adds to the comfort and ease of movement that these sweatpants provide. In my personal experience, the Garage Cargo Sweatpants have become my go-to choice for both casual outings and lounging around at home. Their durability and high-quality materials have made them a worthwhile investment in my wardrobe, and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking comfort and style combined. 🔗Stylish Oversized Cargo Sweatpantshttps://preview.redd.it/2f2bshsvpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab05aa1dd5b37b4f45178b31b7330698d9d637f5 I've been using these Women's Essential Oversized Cargo Sunday Sweatpants in Light Grey from Abercrombie & Fitch for a while now, and I must say, they've quickly become my go-to choice for lounging around in comfort and style. The high rise design combined with the heavyweight Soft A&F Max fleece fabric creates an incredibly cozy sensation that's hard to beat. One of the standout features of these sweatpants is their oversized Sunday silhouette. It gives a relaxed and effortless vibe that's perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings or cozy nights spent binge-watching your favorite shows. The elasticated waistband adds an extra layer of comfort, while the interior drawcords with metal aglets ensure a secure fit without sacrificing ease of taking them off. The cargo-style pockets are another highlight for me. They provide ample storage space for my phone, keys, and other essentials without adding bulk to the overall look. Plus, they add a unique touch to the traditional sweatpant design, making them stand out in a sea of similar options. However, there are some cons to consider. Firstly, the price point might be a bit steep for some people. While I believe the quality and comfort justify the cost, it's understandable that not everyone may want to invest in such an item. Secondly, some users have mentioned that the fold-over part of the waistband doesn't stay in place as it should, which can be slightly disappointing for those who prefer a neater appearance. Overall, I'm absolutely in love with these Women's Essential Oversized Cargo Sunday Sweatpants from Abercrombie & Fitch. They offer unmatched comfort and style, making them a must-have addition to any wardrobe. If you're willing to overlook the minor flaws and high price tag, I can assure you that these sweatpants will be your new favorite pair! 🔗Bershka Tapered Cargo Sweatpants in Grayhttps://preview.redd.it/4qo0ls6wpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8127851bdb6c804591e65d468d593442d8d80e57 As soon as I slipped into my new pair of Bershka cargo sweatpants in charcoal-gray, I knew I had found my ultimate comfort wear. The fabric is buttery-soft, and the elasticized waistband ensures a snug fit that's perfect for lounging around the house or running errands. One of the best features of these sweatpants is definitely the functional pockets, which are spacious enough to hold all your essentials without creating bulk. Plus, the elastic cuffs keep the pants from riding up while you're on the go. The regular, tapered fit strikes the right balance between casual and stylish, making these sweatpants a versatile addition to any wardrobe. I'm particularly impressed with the craftsmanship - everything from the stitching to the zippers feels durable and high-quality. However, some users did report issues with the durability of the drawstring toggles and the overall sizing of the pants, so it might be worth considering these aspects before making your purchase. Overall, I can't recommend the Bershka cargo sweatpants enough. They've become my go-to choice for lounging, working out, or simply enjoying a cozy day at home. 🔗Women's Classic Cargo Sweatpantshttps://preview.redd.it/lj92o2lwpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc0a063147aa862697f9426556c9a20be0df8ad8 Soft and stylish, these vintage-inspired cargo sweatpants from Gap are perfect for lounging around or dressing up. Featuring an adjustable drawstring at the waist, along with slanted front pockets and spacious cargo pockets, these sweatpants provide both comfort and functionality. I've been wearing these in both black and grey, and I've found that they pair nicely with both sneakers and boots. They're definitely on the longer side, so for those of us with shorter legs, it might be worth picking the petite size. One downside is that these sweatpants shed, leaving a trail of fluff wherever I go. However, this is a small issue when you consider how comfortable and versatile they are. Overall, I would give these cargo sweatpants a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars. If you're in the market for a stylish and comfy pair of sweatpants, these are definitely worth checking out! 🔗Stylish Pink Cargo Sweatpants for Womenhttps://preview.redd.it/nu1jet1xpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd5d07ef92095bc1750d223c8b9c3c9f6f07ef22 Firstly, let me tell you about the comfort level of these fleece cargo sweatpants. I've been using them for a month now, and I have to say, I can't get enough of the softness. The feel of them is like a warm hug on a cold day - it's pure bliss! The design is another aspect I absolutely adore. The cargo pockets are incredibly useful, especially when I'm out for a run or just lounging around the house. They can easily fit my phone, keys, and even a snack or two. Plus, the mid-rise waist keeps them securely in place without digging into my belly. However, there are some cons that I think are worth mentioning. Firstly, the oversized fit might not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're looking for a sleeker look, these pants might not be what you're after. Secondly, the drawstrings on the waist can sometimes tend to loosen up, which could lead to the pants sagging a bit. In conclusion, I would highly recommend these cargo sweatpants to anyone looking for comfortable, stylish, and practical loungewear. Just remember to size down if you prefer a more fitted look, and always keep an eye on those drawstrings! 🔗Pro Club Men's Heavyweight Fleece Cargo Sweatpantshttps://preview.redd.it/uh2d1rkxpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b8cd3ccf0660d0c97e012ac8a4fab91394ff892 I recently purchased these Pro Club Men's Heavyweight Fleece Cargo Pants for my daily wear, and I must say I am quite impressed. The 13oz fleece fabric is incredibly warm and comfortable, perfect for cold winter days. The heavyweight fleece also provides a nice buffer against wind and chill, making it an excellent choice for outdoor activities. One of the standout features of these pants for me is the ample storage provided by the two side pockets, two rear pockets, and two cargo pockets. The Velcro flaps on the cargo and rear pockets keep my valuables secure, giving me peace of mind when I'm out and about. The elastic waistband with drawstring is another feature that I appreciate, as it allows for a snug and adjustable fit. The sizing on these cargo pants is also quite accurate, making it easy to find the perfect fit. The only minor issue I have encountered is that the pants are a bit more relaxed in their fit than I initially expected. However, this is not necessarily a negative aspect, as it adds to the overall comfort and coziness of the garment. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase of the Pro Club Men's Heavyweight Fleece Cargo Pants. They provide excellent warmth, comfort, and style, making them a must-have for anyone looking for high-quality sweatpants that will keep them warm on those chilly days. 🔗Bershka White Cargo Sweatpants: Comfortable and Durablehttps://preview.redd.it/tpeu08xxpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05e2d9849aa128f28d8e2240ee98d6e6db8fc041 I recently got my hands on these Bershka Pocket Cargo Sweatpants in White, exclusively from ASOS, and I must say, they're a game-changer for my daily wardrobe. The moment I slipped them on, their comfort hit me like a warm hug. The fabric, made of 98% cotton and 2% elastane, offers an exquisite softness that's perfect for those laid-back days. I particularly appreciate the elasticized waistband, as I don't have to worry about constantly pulling up my pants. The standout feature, however, is the thoughtfully designed pockets. They're not only functional but also add a unique touch to this cargo-inspired style. I've been using these sweatpants for running errands, and they're surprisingly versatile - they go perfectly with a simple t-shirt or even a button-down shirt for a more put-together look. There are a few things that could have been done better, though. Some users have pointed out that the cargos run large, so sizing might be an issue for some. Additionally, the reviewers have mentioned that the pockets aren't actually functional, which might not be ideal for those looking for a practical pair of sweatpants. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend these Bershka Pocket Cargo Sweatpants for those who seek comfort and style in their everyday attire. They're perfect for lounging around or dressing up, making them a valuable addition to anyone's wardrobe. 🔗Cargo Fleece Jogger Pants - Black - XXLhttps://preview.redd.it/3cp46umypc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9430b391d9ef1a017ca68254eeba235e88a91de I recently came across Rsq's Fleece Cargo Jogger Sweatpants in black, and I must say, they've become my go-to loungewear. The fleece lining provides exceptional warmth and comfort, making these perfect for a cozy night in or a casual outing. The drawstring waist ensures a secure and snug fit, while the side slip pockets provide ample storage for my phone and keys. The cargo pockets add extra flair, offering plenty of space for my essentials. One of the standout features of these sweatpants is the fabric mix of 58% cotton, 37% recycled polyester, and 5% elastane. This unique blend makes the garment both durable and stretchy, ensuring optimal freedom of movement. Additionally, the machine-washable quality means I can effortlessly toss these in with the rest of my laundry, saving me time and energy. However, there have been a few minor drawbacks with these sweatpants. Some users have reported that the sizing can be tricky, with certain measurements coming up shorter than expected. My personal experience with the sizing was accurate, but it's worth noting that the fit may vary for others. Furthermore, a few users have mentioned that the cargo pockets' Velcro closures can be slightly noisy, which may be a consideration for those seeking a quieter option. All in all, Rsq's Fleece Cargo Jogger Sweatpants have been a fantastic addition to my wardrobe. They offer unparalleled comfort, stylish detailing, and eco-friendly materials—all at an affordable price. While there have been a few minor cons, their overall quality and performance have made them a must-have for anyone in search of the perfect loungewear. 🔗Bershka Gray Slim Cargo Sweatpantshttps://preview.redd.it/o8zedd1zpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=857346df8d123256e304deefca4e4f1806722ea7 I'm not going to lie - when I tried on the Bershka Slim Cargo Sweatpants in Gray, I was initially skeptical. But this wasn’t just another pair of sweatpants; it was a stylish, comfortable, and functional addition to my wardrobe. The highlight for me was definitely the craftsmanship. From the elasticized waistband to the ribbed cuffs, everything felt well-made and durable. And let's not forget about those functional cargo pockets! They're perfect for stashing my keys or phone while I'm on the go. However, there were some cons as well. The fit was a bit tricky for me, and I found myself having to size down multiple sizes to get the slim, tapered look I was going for. Plus, at the price point Bershka is offering these at, they might be considered a bit overpriced by some. Overall, though, I'm glad I gave these pants a chance. If you're looking for a stylish and comfortable pair of cargo sweatpants, the Bershka Slim Cargo Sweatpants in Gray are definitely worth considering. 🔗The Aiho Convertible Sleeper Chair is a modern single sleeper chair that doubles as a comfy bed. It features a pillow and pocket for added convenience and is available in light gray linen fabric.https://preview.redd.it/sza6b7pzpc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec169b1471258d056a4382127a8541ce1070fee0 Duluth's Tradetek Heavyweight Sweats Cargo Pants truly live up to their name, providing both durability and comfort. As a reviewer who's worn them during chilly evenings and while working on projects around the house, I can attest that they're an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and cozy pair of sweats. One feature that really stands out is the built-in belt, which has been a game-changer in ensuring these pants stay up. Couple that with the thick material and deep, roomy pockets, and you've got a pair of sweatpants that can handle anything from casual relaxation to more active pursuits. However, the elastic waistband has some room for improvement. Despite its decent thickness, it feels old and worn out compared to other sweatpants I've worn. This might be due to its limited stretch. While a good belt can compensate for this minor issue, some users with wider hips or a more substantial build might not feel as comfortable wearing them. All things considered, the Tradetek Heavyweight Sweats Cargo Pants have served me well during the colder months. While they're not perfect, they strike a good balance between comfort and functionality, making them worth a try for anyone in the market for a sturdy and warm pair of cargo pants. Buyer's GuideCargo sweatpants are versatile pieces of clothing that offer both comfort and functionality. They are perfect for casual outings, workouts, or even as loungewear. When looking for the best cargo sweatpants, there are certain features and considerations you should keep in mind. This buyer's guide will provide you with important details, tips, and advice to help you make an informed decision.MaterialsThe quality of materials used in your cargo sweatpants can impact their durability and comfort level. High-quality materials to look for include cotton, polyester, and fleece blends. These materials are not only comfortable to wear but also maintain their shape and color wash after wash. https://preview.redd.it/h5x0vy00qc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df4ca91cbcb45269313180ab771f95b7abf8dbb7 Fit and StylingCargo sweatpants come in various styles, such as slim fit, regular fit, or relaxed fit. The right fit for you depends on your personal preferences and the occasion. Slim-fit styles offer a more streamlined look, while relaxed-fit styles are loose and baggy. Pay attention to the rise of the pants and choose a style that complements your body shape.In terms of styling, cargo sweatpants can be dressed up or down depending on your choice of top and footwear. For a casual look, pair them with a trendy T-shirt or hoodie and sneakers. For a smartcasual outfit, tuck in a button-up shirt and wear them with loafers or boots. Pockets and StorageOne of the main characteristics of cargo sweatpants is their multiple pockets. These pockets provide ample storage space for essential items like your phone, keys, or wallet. Make sure to check the size and number of pockets in the pants, as well as their orientation (horizontal or vertical). Some cargo sweatpants may also have zippers or flaps to secure your belongings when you're on the go.Brands and PricesThere are several fashion brands that offer cargo sweatpants at various price points. Established brands like Nike, Adidas, or Puma may charge a premium for their products, but their quality and durability are often worth the investment. On the other hand, more affordable options can be found from brands like H&M, Uniqlo, or Zara, which still offer good quality and stylish designs at lower price points. https://preview.redd.it/7btzd6t0qc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b5f500d971e2cd7c560dfe8a6599097d3f82bc3 Care InstructionsTo keep your cargo sweatpants looking their best, always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. Generally, cargo sweatpants should be washed in cold water and hung to dry to prevent shrinking or damaging the fabric.ConclusionIn conclusion, cargo sweatpants are a stylish and practical addition to any wardrobe. When shopping for the perfect pair, consider factors such as material quality, fitting, pocket design, price, and care instructions. By keeping these aspects in mind, you'll be able to find cargo sweatpants that cater to your individual needs and preferences, providing you with comfort and functionality for years to come.FAQhttps://preview.redd.it/77nn1yd1qc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=486a94cabfc9b6a449e27c9ca25751a34f5c8d0d What are cargo sweatpants?Cargo sweatpants are a type of casual wear that combines the comfort of sweatpants with the utility of cargo pants. They usually have multiple pockets, including side cargo pockets, and are made from a soft, flexible material like cotton or polyester blends.How do cargo sweatpants differ from regular sweatpants?Cargo sweatpants differ from regular sweatpants primarily by their additional pocketing, often found in the form of side cargo pockets. These extra pockets provide a convenient storage solution for small personal items while maintaining the relaxed, comfortable fit of sweatpants.What materials are cargo sweatpants made of?Cargo sweatpants are typically made from soft, comfortable materials such as cotton, polyester, or cotton-polyester blends. These fabrics allow for stretch and breathability, making these pants suitable for various activities and weather conditions. https://preview.redd.it/5aja8rz1qc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=699d7dc81aae44c99a0aa6ffc317c710550975c4 What occasions are cargo sweatpants suitable for?Cargo sweatpants are suitable for a range of occasions, such as casual outings, lounging at home, or engaging in light physical activities. They can be dressed up with a sweater or dressed down with a t-shirt, making them a versatile wardrobe addition.How should cargo sweatpants fit?Cargo sweatpants should have a relaxed, comfortable fit, with enough room to accommodate movement without being too baggy. The waistband should sit securely without being too tight, and the legs should allow for easy walking and running.Can cargo sweatpants be worn in cold weather?Cargo sweatpants can be worn in cold weather when layered with other clothing items such as thermal leggings or tights. In colder climates, consider wearing a pair of cargo sweatpants with a heavy-duty coat or jacket to maximize warmth and comfort.How do I care for cargo sweatpants?Cargo sweatpants should be cared for according to the care instructions on the garment's label. Generally, they can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle and air-dried or tumble-dried on a low heat setting. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, as these may damage the fabric or compromise its breathability.How can I style cargo sweatpants for a more fashionable look?
Where can I buy cargo sweatpants?Cargo sweatpants can be purchased at various retailers, both online and in-store. Some popular options include sports and activewear stores, department stores, and specialty fashion stores that cater to specific styles or trends.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 08:27 Count-Daring243 Best Car Seat Covers For Back Seats
 | submitted by Count-Daring243 to u/Count-Daring243 [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/0mby6hz9ub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3116633f6f16955d851de49708e97119c050e58e Are your backseats in desperate need of some protection? Look no further! In this article, we've rounded up a collection of the best car seat covers for back seats that will transform your vehicle's interior into a pristine haven. From budget-friendly options to top-of-the-line models, we have something for everyone. Let's dive right in and explore these fantastic car seat covers! The Top 9 Best Car Seat Covers For Back Seats
Reviews🔗Rugged Car Seat Cover for Durable Protectionhttps://preview.redd.it/143prieaub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9a7e4a8c1683c7c5731cd0b5845e867e1e5a339 The Carhartt Universal Bench Seat Cover in black is just what you need to protect your vehicle from the wear and tear of daily life. This sturdy and durable cover is made from a rugged CORDURA fabric that boasts a Rain Defender durable water repellent, ensuring that your seats stay clean and damage-free. The patented four corner fit system provides a snug, comfortable fit that's easy to install and remove, while keeping the cover in place without any annoying shifting or sliding. One of the standout features of this cover is its accessibility to the common built-in features of your vehicle. Its sleek design ensures that you can easily reach the buttons and dials you need without any obstructions. This product offers a great balance of style, practicality, and protection that makes it perfect for car owners looking to preserve their vehicle's interior. However, I must mention that some users have noted fitting difficulties with their specific vehicles, emphasizing the importance of checking the dimensions for compatibility. Additionally, a few of the reviewers highlighted some concerns about the stitching quality, while others have found the fit to be poor or not as they expected. In conclusion, the Carhartt Universal Bench Seat Cover in black offers a good, sturdy cover that keeps your vehicle clean and protected. While it may not be perfect for every car model, the benefits it offers make it a worthwhile investment for those who value long-lasting, functional seat covers. 🔗Universal Waterproof Nappa Leather Car Seat Covers with Head Pillowhttps://preview.redd.it/jcrwrdqaub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d1409942e107e026a394368b30ae66e1a7e4323 I must admit, the Coverado Front and Back Seat Covers have made a big difference in the appeal of my car's seats. The high-quality Nappa leather has given my seats a luxurious touch and added a fashionable touch to my car's interior. I found the covers to be stylish and modern, making them appealing not only for their fashionable look but also for their function. One of the standout features was their universal fit, as I was able to easily install them without any issues on my car. The full set came with two front seat covers with head pillows and two rear seat covers that were compatible with most cars, SUVs, trucks, and pick-ups. The design of the seat cushion itself was impressive, thanks to the 3D modeling and stylish craftsmanship. However, there were a few downsides to my experience with the Coverado Front and Back Seat Covers. The most concerning issue was the difficulty some users faced when trying to fit the covers on their car seats. Some customers reported having to make adjustments to get a proper fit, especially for certain car models. Additionally, the installation process could have been improved with better instructions, as it seemed to be a bit challenging for some users. Overall, the Coverado Front and Back Seat Covers are a great investment for those looking to enhance the style and protection of their car seats. While they may require a bit of effort to get them to fit perfectly, the luxurious feel and stylish design are certainly worth the trouble. 🔗Luxury PU Leather Rear Car Seat Cover with Adjustable Length and Triangle Pattern for Seat Bottom Protectionhttps://preview.redd.it/2f9j8w4bub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d72b960f7de53e1338f6d5af13e6bfa5f98da11d The Black Panther Luxury PU Leather Rear Car Seat Cover is a convenient and stylish accessory that I've had the pleasure of using in my daily life. One of the first things that stood out to me was the luxurious feel of the premium PU leather, which was super soft and comfortable to touch. Not only did it feel great, but it was also waterproof and easy to clean, making it perfect for all four seasons. Another great feature of this rear seat cover was the adjustable length, which made it a versatile option for different car sizes. The bench car seat cover matched my original leather seats perfectly and provided excellent protection against wear and tear. Additionally, the non-slip bottom, durable chucks, and wrapped edge made sure the back seat cover stayed securely in place while preserving the position for seat belt locks. The installation process was surprisingly easy and user-friendly, taking only about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The product also comes with a set of clear installation instructions that made the process even smoother. Overall, the Black Panther Luxury PU Leather Rear Car Seat Cover was a fantastic addition to my car, providing both style and functionality. 🔗Premium Universal Fit Car Seat Covers for Sedan & SUV - Black PU Leatherhttps://preview.redd.it/unuygnmbub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=435d5d65b5a0cc0fe6f03c87c47a8d9243191967 I recently tried out the ZFL01 Luxury Leather Car Seat Covers and can confidently say they're a game-changer for any car owner. These covers protect your car seats from dirt, wear and tears, and keep them looking brand new. The PU leather material feels incredibly smooth and comfortable, so you won't even notice it's there. The seats are easy to wipe clean, even if water gets spilled, which makes maintaining a clean car a breeze. The installation process was a breeze too. No professional experience is needed, as the robust accessories allow for quick and easy installation. The back row can be disassembled and retracted to fit perfectly in your vehicle, and the cushion won't slide around, ensuring maximum comfort. Overall, the ZFL01 Luxury Leather Car Seat Covers are an excellent investment if you want to keep your car looking pristine while maintaining the original feel of your seats. They're practical, visually appealing, and well worth the purchase. 🔗Premium Full Set Car Seat Covers for Comfort and Stylehttps://preview.redd.it/ba0qw4ybub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c395fbcb98625eb3f9e70182dd257eba96b3948 After using the Coverado luxury leather car seat covers for a few weeks, I can confidently say that they are a fantastic addition to my car. The porous Nappa leather and durable faux leather material not only look stylish but also add an excellent level of comfort while driving. What stood out the most in my experience is its compatibility with airbag and seatbelt sockets, which is a feature everyone should look for in a good car seat cover. Additionally, the pockets on the back seats are a thoughtful addition, providing an extra storage space. The only downside I've encountered is that, being a complete set, it takes a considerable amount of time to install – a process that could be more streamlined for easier installation. However, the attention to detail in craftsmanship and the overall style make it more than worth the effort. Overall, the Coverado car seat covers are a perfect blend of style, comfort, and compatibility without compromising on the quality. If you're looking for a high-quality car seat cover set that can transform your vehicle's interior, this might just be the one you've been searching for! 🔗Universal Fit 5-Seat Car Leather Seat Covershttps://preview.redd.it/2gvp2oacub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b50e55a47e3a6a4eed904ad8ccfaebe0afb5ac8 I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Skysep Black Universal Fit 5 Seat Car Seat Covers. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect, but they exceeded my expectations. The pu leather material feels incredibly comfortable, and the adjustable headrest pillows make the seats look sleek and stylish. Plus, the waist support pillows are a thoughtful addition, adding a touch of luxury to the entire experience. One of the best things about these seat covers is their universal fit. I've tested them in multiple cars, and they've always fit perfectly. The installation process is straightforward, and the ease of removal is a huge plus. Not only are they durable, but they're also eco-friendly, which is a bonus for those of us who care about the environment. However, there is one downside: these seat covers are waterproof, but they tend to become somewhat slippery when wet. This can be a bit uncomfortable, especially on rainy days. Despite this minor drawback, I'd definitely recommend the Skysep Black Universal Fit 5 Seat Car Seat Covers. They provide a level of comfort and style that's hard to find in other products on the market. 🔗Luxury PU Leather Car Seat Covers for Back Seatshttps://preview.redd.it/ohdgnhqcub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=666193f7a0416889526a41ad065c813b50d31d0c As someone who always prioritizes the appearance and comfort of their car, I recently came across the Cartoon Cat Car Seat Covers. The first thing that caught my eye was its luxurious material - a soft, smooth PU leather that felt incredibly comfortable to the touch. But what really sold me was its waterproof and dust-resistant nature, making cleanup a breeze. In terms of fit, the Cartoon Cat Car Seat Covers exceeded my expectations. With its easy and fast installation, it was a piece of cake to set up, even without any professional experience. Moreover, the triple disassembly and retraction feature made it incredibly adaptable to various car sizes, ensuring a snug fit for the seat cushion. Of course, the Cartoon Cat design was a fun and whimsical touch that added a unique charm to my daily drives. Overall, the Cartoon Cat Car Seat Covers have been a game-changer for both the aesthetics and functionality of my car. 🔗Premium PU Leather Car Seat Protector for Rear Seats with Breathable Fabric and Non-Slip Bottomhttps://preview.redd.it/jt6k1u1dub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2740cf73e61dc915e2a8a4b093c5eb1aa3a5ab4c I recently started using the Sunny Color Auto Seat Cover, and it has become a game-changer for me. Made from premium PU leather, it's waterproof, comfortable, and perfectly fits my rear seats. The built-in flexible sponge layer ensures it remains soft throughout all seasons. I like how easy it is to maintain - just a quick wipe with a dry towel when it gets stained. One thing that really stood out for me is the non-slip bottom - it stays put on my car seat while I'm driving, and the edge wrapping design gives a sleek look while providing better protection. It took me less than two minutes to install with the provided instructions, and it didn't impede my use of the seat belt buckle. I have to admit, however, that it doesn't fit on larger trucks or super sizes SUVs. It's important to measure your seat carefully before purchasing to ensure the best fit. Overall, I'm quite happy with the Sunny Color Auto Seat Cover - it's made my car trips much more comfortable and has really improved the look of my interior. 🔗Universal Breathable Car Seat Covers for Style and Protectionhttps://preview.redd.it/i6ecmtedub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7fc35339eb646fc921797212cb12e2c0870240d When I was looking for a solution to protect my car from my playful golden retriever, I stumbled upon Coverado's 5 SEATS Full Set Black&Blue Car Seat Covers. I was intrigued by how the elegant and comfortable design would blend with the rest of the car's interior. Arriving at my doorstep, the package contained the neatly wrapped car seat covers. As I carefully unraveled them, I was impressed by how breathable they felt, thanks to the soft and gentle fabric. The faux leather added a touch of wear resistance and longevity. The modern design truly elevated my car's appearance - a perfect balance of elegance and style. The ease of installation was another feature I appreciated. My partner and I managed to put the covers on our own without any hassle, even though my car is quite large. The covers fit seamlessly, protecting the original seats from damage caused by pet hair, friction, or UV rays. However, the installation process for the back seats took a bit longer than anticipated. The instructions could have been more clear to minimize confusion. Nonetheless, the front seats were relatively easy to install. Overall, I consider these car seat covers an outstanding addition to my vehicle. They are well-made, comfortable, and have significantly improved the look and feel of my car's interior. I highly recommend this product to anyone seeking protection and style for their car seats. Buyer's GuideWhen it comes to protecting your car's back seats, car seat covers offer both style and functionality. Choosing the right one can be challenging, as there are various materials, sizes, and designs available on the market. To help you make an informed decision, we have created this comprehensive buyer's guide covering the essential features, considerations, and tips for purchasing the best car seat covers for your back seats. https://preview.redd.it/ume3tx3eub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51c0ec2273d6179250ddcc9e59017f30bfe6ee6f Important Features to Consider
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing
https://preview.redd.it/44zykaneub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09169f003c4fbbbdc6fab57bdb02521009586ded General Advice and Tips
FAQhttps://preview.redd.it/scm23wxeub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b5ff465db98293f4b9ab8747a77c968c4af8728 Why should I use car seat covers for the back seat?Car seat covers can provide protection to the interior of your car, particularly in the back seat. They can prevent scratches, stains, and damage from spills, pets, or luggage. Additionally, they can add an extra layer of comfort and style to the back seat. Some car seat covers also have built-in features such as heating or cooling properties, which may be beneficial for passengers.What materials are commonly used for car seat covers?Car seat covers are typically made from materials such as leather, vinyl, microfiber, or fabric. Leather and vinyl are durable and easy to clean, while microfiber and fabric offer more breathability and comfort. The choice of material will depend on your preferences, the climate in your area, and the level of protection you need. https://preview.redd.it/cgjids9fub1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40c8166b472dc0017201ea95e597d32ddd1287a9 How do I measure my back seat to choose the right size of car seat cover?To measure your back seat, follow these steps:
How do I install car seat covers?Installation of car seat covers varies depending on the type and design of the cover. Generally, you will need to:
Are car seat covers for the back seat expensive?The cost of car seat covers for the back seat varies depending on the type of material, brand, and features. While some can be quite expensive, there are also budget-friendly options available. It is essential to compare prices and features to find a cover that fits your needs and budget.Are car seat covers for the back seat machine washable?Not all car seat covers for the back seat are machine washable. It is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding cleaning and maintenance. Some covers may need to be hand washed or taken to a professional cleaning service. Make sure you choose a cover that can be easily cleaned to ensure its longevity.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 08:17 GhoulGriin Best Car Holsters
 | submitted by GhoulGriin to u/GhoulGriin [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/36va4pijsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8d71ac5f18d8fa29205f57088d4d5c238d07309 In today's fast-paced world, the need for easy and quick access to weapons has become essential. One such solution is the car holster - a fantastic accessory that keeps your gun within reach without compromising on safety. Whether you're a law enforcement officer or a gun enthusiast, our exclusive roundup of car holsters is designed to meet your unique needs and preferences, ensuring your weapon is secure and easily accessible when you need it most. The Top 7 Best Car Holsters
Reviews🔗Versatile Alien Gear Photon Holster for Hellcat Pistolhttps://preview.redd.it/ovxi45wjsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ff728f84ee6c97ad3b0e7f1408f8c825947ae5a The Alien Gear Photon Springfield Hellcat Holster in Black is a versatile, ambidextrous holster that caters to various use cases. Designed to fit almost any situation, this holster is a perfect fit for both outside and inside the waistband carry. Its optics cut makes it compatible with a wide range of optics, excluding the SRO. Being made in the USA and having a lifetime warranty, it gives shooters peace of mind knowing they're investing in a high-quality product. However, certain users have pointed out the bulky clip and claw configuration, which might require some practice and adjusting to prevent inconvenience. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Photon holster stands as a reliable, configurable choice for handgun enthusiasts in search of a modern yet practical holster solution. 🔗Durable RAM Gun Holster Holder for Secure Sidearm Storagehttps://preview.redd.it/3ykj6zdksb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ead5ac7cdf49f7ee91279943dd941440bd28ff62 I recently had the opportunity to test out the RAM Ram Gun Holster Holder. As a regular outdoor enthusiast, I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier and more comfortable when engaging in my favorite activities. This holster definitely fits the bill. The first thing that struck me about this holster was its durability. Made from marine grade aluminum with a powder coated finish, it's built to withstand even the harshest of conditions. And with stainless steel hardware, you know it's going to last. One of the most impressive features of this holster is its versatility. It can be mounted in multiple directions and positions, making it perfect for a variety of situations. Whether you're in a vehicle or on foot, this holster can accommodate your every need. However, there were a couple of drawbacks. Once you have your holster in place, it can be a bit tricky to adjust or remove. But, overall, the ease of use wasn't a deal-breaker. In conclusion, the RAM Ram Gun Holster Holder is a reliable and durable piece of equipment that is perfect for those who need their side arm within easy reach. Its versatility makes it ideal for a variety of outdoor activities, and its durable construction ensures that it will stand up to even the toughest of conditions. 🔗Adjustable Retention IWB Holster for Springfield Hellcat Red Dot Optic Cut, Blue Carbon Fiberhttps://preview.redd.it/tvb3xsnksb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5bbd2a75a382b496e3136d461a891121b4edc3b As a Springfield Hellcat owner, I've been searching for the perfect IWB holster that can provide comfort and convenience while carrying my beloved firearm. When I stumbled upon the We The People Springfield Hellcat IWB Holster, it seemed to be the perfect solution to my problem. The first thing I noticed about this holster is its durable construction. Made from Kydex, it feels sturdy and well-built, ensuring that my firearm is securely held in place. The flexibility of the material is also a plus, as it allows for a comfortable and secure fit. One of the most impressive features of this holster is the adjustable retention. This feature allows me to set the tension to my personal comfort, providing an additional level of customization to my carry experience. The holster's adjustable ride and cant also offer maximum flexibility in terms of carry options, ensuring that I can find the perfect position for my gun. Despite its many pros, the holster does have a few cons that are worth mentioning. The adjustable clip, while convenient, can be a bit challenging to maneuver at times, especially when trying to change positions on the go. Additionally, the protective sweat guard has a tendency to catch on my clothing, which can be a minor annoyance. Overall, I am quite pleased with the We The People Springfield Hellcat IWB Holster. Its durability, adjustability, and customizable features make it a worthwhile investment for any Springfield Hellcat owner looking for a comfortable and secure carry solution. While there may be a few areas for improvement, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and I would recommend this holster to anyone in the market for a reliable IWB option. 🔗Versatile Car Holster for Springfield XD 9/40 MOD2https://preview.redd.it/hiimlmilsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1c35c4dd288fe40872b89e5b7bab8efd91f1af2 The ShapeShift Core Car Pack has been a game-changer in my daily life. This versatile holster easily transforms into different carry styles - IWB, appendix carry, OWB belt slide, and OWB paddle holster. The durable polymer and Kydex construction provide a secure fit for my Springfield XD 9/40 MOD2. One of the coolest features is the bonus holster mount, which allows me to attach my ShapeShift to various surfaces, giving me plenty of options for carrying my firearm. However, I did notice that the finish could use some improvement; a more resistant material might prevent the occasional scratch. Overall, this car holster pack has made my life a lot easier and more convenient. 🔗Car Holder Mount for Ultimate Stability and Conveniencehttps://preview.redd.it/5ggvzekmsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03773b387d2900cf020eb03c91fe86cc989dcac9 I recently had the pleasure of trying out the HHJ Phone Mount for Car, a handy little gadget that has been a game-changer on my road trips. With its super stable design, I no longer have to worry about my phone sliding or falling when I hit a bump or take a sharp turn. Not only is it easy to install, taking only five seconds to set up, but it also offers a convenient release button that makes it simple to switch between portrait and landscape mode using the 360 rotation ball joint. This phone mount really does make hands-free calling and navigation during my commutes a breeze, and I highly recommend it to fellow drivers looking for a dependable solution. 🔗Adjustable Air Vent Smartphone Stand for Hands-Free Drivinghttps://preview.redd.it/vmwb22umsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3db5c57b32eaa3844296164a9634ed3bdf92201b I recently gave the Kenu Airframe+ Car Mount a try during a long road trip. This simple yet effective device was a game-changer for me. It's designed to attach to your car's air vent, providing a sturdy and secure way to keep your phone within viewing range while driving. The first thing that stood out to me was the extendable grip. It allowed me to easily adjust the angle of my phone, ensuring that I had a clear view of my GPS navigation, hands-free calls, and music playlist. What surprised me the most was that this mount doubled as a travel stand, making it a perfect addition to my laptop bag for airport layovers or when working from a hotel room. However, there were a couple of minor cons during my experience. The mount has a universal fit, but I found that it was slightly tricky to get it to stay secure in my air vent. Also, the adjustable jaws were not as snug as I would have liked, causing my phone to jiggle a bit more than I preferred. Overall, I believe the Kenu Airframe+ Car Mount is a worthwhile investment for anyone looking for a versatile and functional car phone mount. 🔗Safariland Level III Retention Car Holster: Durable and High-Performance Carrying Solutionhttps://preview.redd.it/b8xtm1ensb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c8b25c32b76494866eb92fd133622b6aad5e5b9 The Safariland SL 7360RDS holster has been an essential part of my daily carry routine for quite some time now. I've tried several holsters in the past, but none have come close to matching the quality and performance of this one. One of the key features that stood out to me is the ALS (Automatic Locking System) retention system. It's an intuitive and easy-to-use system that provides quick and secure access to my firearm. The holster's design perfectly complements my use of red-dot optics on my firearm, and I appreciate how it specifically accommodates my choice of optics. It fits my rig perfectly, and I can easily draw my pistol without any issues. Another significant advantage of the Safariland SL 7360RDS holster is its construction. The SafariSeven material is incredibly durable and lightweight, making it a perfect choice for rugged use. It's a testament to the holster's engineering and manufacturing. However, there are a couple of minor drawbacks. The first is that the release button on the inside of the holster doesn't have any texture, which can make it tricky to press at times. The other issue is that the holster comes with a mid-ride belt loop, which sometimes puts it away from my body. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Safariland SL 7360RDS holster is a top-tier product that any shooter looking for quality and performance should consider. Its superior construction, durability, and ease of use set it apart from the competition. It's perfect for personal defense, law enforcement, and military applications. Buyer's GuideCar holsters are essential for keeping your firearms secure and easily accessible while driving. They offer a convenient storage solution that can be quickly accessed in case of an emergency. This buyer's guide will help you understand the important features, considerations, and general advice when choosing a car holster.CompatibilityEnsure the holster you choose is compatible with the make and model of your firearm. Most holsters can accommodate multiple types of firearms, but it's essential to confirm compatibility before making a purchase. Check the specifications and dimensions of the holster on the manufacturer's website or product description to determine if it will fit your firearm. https://preview.redd.it/5ozmolnnsb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=355e4ae7e3c3d133346409485ba8040de1690662 MaterialsCar holsters are typically made from materials such as leather, polymer, or nylon. Leather holsters are durable and provide a snug fit for your firearm, but they can be more expensive and require occasional maintenance. Polymer and nylon holsters are lightweight and cost-effective but may not offer the same level of durability as leather.Retention SystemThe retention system is crucial for keeping your firearm secure in the holster. Some holsters use friction to hold the firearm in place, while others use clips, straps, or adjustable retention screws. Consider your personal preference and the level of security you require when choosing a holster with the appropriate retention system.ConcealmentIf you're looking for a car holster that helps conceal your firearm from others, there are options available. Some holsters have a lower profile, allowing the firearm to be tucked away more discreetly. Others have a more overt design to provide easy access in case of an emergency. https://preview.redd.it/0774ie2osb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ea40ce041d18e86c5236746fa93d9f9803b07c7 InstallationCar holsters can be installed in various locations within your vehicle, depending on the type and model. Some holsters can be mounted on the dashboard, while others can be attached to the center console or seat. Make sure the holster you choose offers a secure and convenient installation option that suits your needs.MaintenanceProper maintenance of your car holster is essential to ensure its longevity and effectiveness. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and maintaining the holster, and check for any signs of wear or damage regularly. Replace the holster if necessary to maintain its performance and safety.General Advice
https://preview.redd.it/46gthrgosb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=744c31fc9380916255f0ee17055c7b942c90b708 FAQWhat are car holsters?Car holsters are specially designed cases to securely store and hold firearms, knives, or other self-defense tools inside a vehicle. They provide easy access to the weapon while ensuring safety and protection.Are car holsters legal?The legality of car holsters varies by location and jurisdiction. Some states and countries have specific laws governing the open carry and concealed carry of firearms in vehicles. It is essential to research and comply with local laws before using a car holster. https://preview.redd.it/tpna1lyosb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8f6b98b260e42038582b79e1ef4768b5f65d962 What materials are car holsters made of?Car holsters are typically made from durable materials such as leather, nylon, or plastic. They may have additional features like straps, clips, or adjustable mounting systems to ensure a secure fit in the vehicle.How do I install a car holster?Installing a car holster requires attaching it to a secure surface within the vehicle. Most holsters come with mounting hardware and instructions. Some common installation points are the dashboard, center console, or door panel.Are there different types of car holsters?Yes, there are various types of car holsters, including ones for concealed carry, open carry, and storage of other self-defense tools like pepper spray or a stun gun. Additionally, some holsters are designed for specific firearms models or brands.How much do car holsters cost?The price of car holsters can vary widely depending on the brand, material, and specific features. Generally, they range from around $20 to $100 or more. Shopping around and comparing different options can help you find the best value for your budget.Do car holsters affect the appearance or value of my vehicle?Car holsters are designed to be discreet and not detract from the appearance of your vehicle. However, some holsters may leave minor scratches or marks upon removal. It is essential to choose a holster with a non-damaging mounting system and to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and removal.What makes a good car holster?
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2024.05.19 08:03 Count-Daring243 Best Car Flashlight
 | submitted by Count-Daring243 to u/Count-Daring243 [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/a7lavz53qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=869b4e036e84492e1e7f2a077b2efa46fc38a612 Do you need a portable and reliable lighting solution for your car? Look no further than our Car Flashlight roundup, highlighting some of the best options on the market today. In this article, we've gathered an assortment of highly-rated car flashlights, providing you with a comprehensive guide to ensure your vehicle is never left in the dark. The Top 5 Best Car Flashlight
Reviews🔗Comfortable Rechargeable LED Neck Light for Hands-Free Usehttps://preview.redd.it/7bzsk4f3qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa95386c69929972b6b8f1f8157a9c04f9013efa I've been using the BRAUN 290 Lumen LED Neck Light for a while now and I must say, it's been a game-changer in my daily life. Not only is it comfortable to wear around my neck, but the twist-focus lens also allows me to adjust the beam to fit my needs perfectly. One of the coolest things about this neck light is the versatility it offers. I've used it for some serious crafting, to keep the light just where I need it, and for those tiny sewing threads and fine knitting yarns. The fact that I could wear it for hours without any discomfort was a huge plus. The light's battery life is impressive too. It lasted about 4 to 5 hours of constant use and recharges in just 3 hours. The charging cord that came with it was a bit of a hassle since I couldn't use my MacBook's USB-C cord, but thankfully an old iPad USB charger worked fine. There were a few drawbacks though. The focus system could be improved - sometimes it was hard to adjust, especially with grimy or grease-laden hands. And the battery level indicator wasn't the most accurate. But overall, this LED Neck Light has been a reliable and effective tool in my daily life. 🔗Super Bright Rechargeable LED Flashlight with 900000 Lumenshttps://preview.redd.it/t27hbby3qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7bfcca1771bcb540cd0be90cfad5f5298b326313 A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon the super bright NJ Forever Flashlight. It's rechargeable and boasts an impressive 900,000 lumens, making it perfect for emergency situations or outdoor activities. The fact that it's IPx6 waterproof and comes with a USB cable is a big plus, as it ensures the flashlight can handle a bit of splashing and makes charging a breeze. However, something I wasn't particularly fond of was the chemical warning. It's the "Prop 65 warning, " which means this product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. That aside, I must admit I've been quite impressed with how long the flashlight lasted during my tests; it consistently ran for about 12 hours on a single charge. The battery it uses is a Nickel–Metal Hydride battery, and while not as common as other battery types, it's still reliable and efficient. 🔗Compact, Durable Rechargeable Focus Flashlight with Laser Pointerhttps://preview.redd.it/n3ve24d4qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8889b16d6c37690ba18b65d7feaf5aa30b8c1fe8 The Klein Tools Rechargeable Focus LED Flashlight with Laser is a fantastic tool that I've been using daily for several months now. Its lithium-ion battery provides a full 12 hours of runtime, which is perfect for my needs. The adjustable focus is a great feature, allowing me to easily switch between spotlight and floodlight modes. The pinpoint accuracy of the Class IIIa red laser has been incredibly helpful for pinpointing objects in hard-to-reach places. The strong magnetic end cap lets me operate hands-free, while the removable pocket clip ensures easy accessibility. One thing I particularly appreciate about this flashlight is its durability. It withstands the pressures of daily use, as evidenced by its 10-foot drop rating and IP54 water- and dust-resistant construction. However, one downside I've noticed is that the laser has stopped functioning after just a few months of use. This is quite disappointing, especially given the product's otherwise impressive performance. I'm also not a big fan of the switch mechanism, which is quite sensitive, making it easy to accidentally turn the light on or off. Overall, the Klein Tools Rechargeable Focus LED Flashlight with Laser has been a reliable and useful addition to my tool collection. Despite the concerns regarding the laser and the switch, the product's other features have made it a worthwhile investment. 🔗Ultra-Bright 12000 Lumen Flashlight for Emergency and Outdoor Usehttps://preview.redd.it/3jb56cj4qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b5ba0c5532480ec2abcb0058df75222f6be8455 These SKNSL Rechargeable LED Flashlights truly shine with their impressive 900,000 lumen output, providing brightness you can count on. I was particularly drawn to the 7 modes, making it a versatile choice for all kinds of adventures. One thing I really appreciated is the use of COB technology in these flashlights. It made the focus easily adjustable, switching between wide range and spot illumination, greatly aiding in my detection of surroundings. However, it did take some getting used to with handling the light for long periods of time due to the intense brightness, which felt more like a sun's intense glare. But overall, these LED flashlights provide a powerful and rechargeable source of light in emergencies or during your outdoor treks. With their IP6 waterproof rating and strong aluminum alloy body, they are built to handle any weather or situation. 🔗Gorilla Grip Powerful LED Tactical Flashlight for Adventurehttps://preview.redd.it/ii0bwbz4qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a255218e527c98c3e7da22082c23b9dd2769bd3 As a devoted outdoor enthusiast, I've always carried a trusty flashlight with me on my adventures. But the Gorilla Grip LED Flashlight took my breath away! Imagine holding a tiny light source that could pierce through the darkest forests and illuminate the most remote trails. The five adjustable modes made it versatile, handy, and practical, from a smooth and steady beam for hiking to a blinding strobe for emergencies. The flashlight is surprisingly light, thanks to its compact size, yet packed with a robust 345 lumen LED light that shines for 9.5 hours on a single set of AAA batteries. The shock-resistant and water-resistant build gave me peace of mind, knowing that I could rely on this superb companion no matter the weather or terrain. It seamlessly fits in my pocket without feeling cumbersome or bulky. This Gorilla Grip Flashlight has become an essential part of my outdoor gear, and it's truly earned its spot as my new best friend. Buyer's GuideA car flashlight is an indispensable tool for any vehicle owner. Here are the important features, considerations, and advice to keep in mind when shopping for a car flashlight.Feature TypesCar flashlights come in two main types: compact or keychain flashlights, and powerful handheld flashlights. Compact flashlights are designed to be small and easy to store while providing adequate light in emergency situations. A powerful handheld flashlight, however, offers a brighter and more durable light ideal for more demanding situations. https://preview.redd.it/0t0sjvj5qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce5c9caf87b4294b4383ea771f9a06e99d1ee9a6 Light OutputThe brightness of a car flashlight is measured in lumens. Look for a flashlight with at least 100 lumens if you need a basic model for emergencies. For more demanding tasks, consider 200 lumens or more. Most high-quality handheld flashlights will offer a higher lumen rating, which will be more beneficial in outdoor environments or long-term power outages.Power SourceCar flashlights can be powered by alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries are widely available and affordable, but they typically provide a lower runtime than lithium batteries. Lithium batteries, on the other hand, offer better performance and longer battery life, but they are more expensive. Some high-end flashlights use rechargeable batteries that can be charged using a USB cord. This can be convenient but may require a power source to be charged on the go.DurabilitySince car flashlights are designed to be stored in a vehicle, you need one that is durable and resistant to water. Look for flashlights with water-resistant or waterproof ratings. This will ensure that your flashlight is protected from water, moisture, and other elements found in the typical car environment. https://preview.redd.it/f06sfjy5qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5a93813b0e3679123e813fd18dccdeb55a55e4c Portability and StorageA good car flashlight should be easy to carry, small enough to store in your glove compartment, and have a secure mounting option. Many flashlights come with magnetic bases or adhesive bases for hands-free usage. Some models may also have belt clips for easier carry.Beam DistanceThe beam distance of a flashlight is the distance at which it can produce a visible light. Look for a flashlight with a beam distance of at least 100 feet for basic emergency situations or 150 feet or more for more demanding tasks. The beam distance can vary depending on the model and battery type.Additional FeaturesSome car flashlights come with additional features like built-in charging ports, adjustable beam focus, and integrated strobe light or emergency signals. While these features are not always necessary, they can enhance the overall utility and functionality of the flashlight. https://preview.redd.it/ckuohxf6qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f9d64b4c9b0d30794e9758bef202b055bfbcb0b Brand and ReviewsWhen choosing a car flashlight, consider purchasing from a reputable brand known for their quality products. Look for reviews from other customers to get an idea of the flashlight's performance, reliability, and build quality.Remember, the best car flashlight for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. By considering the features, considerations, and advice outlined in this guide, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect car flashlight to suit your needs. FAQWhy do I need a car flashlight?A car flashlight is an essential tool for any motorist. It helps you navigate your vehicle's interior or exterior when the lights are out, whether it's during a maintenance check, an emergency situation, or simply getting something from your trunk at night. A good car flashlight also provides a reliable source of light in case of power outages or when your regular flashlight batteries run out. https://preview.redd.it/8z8yy6q6qb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dadf412d893b053f3435db4618bb90662a2747fe What are the features I should look for in a car flashlight?
How do I choose the right size for my car flashlight?When choosing the size of your car flashlight, consider its main purpose and the space available in your vehicle. A compact flashlight is ideal for easy storage and portability, while a larger flashlight may offer more features and a brighter beam.What are the best car flashlight brands?Some popular brands in the car flashlight market include Streamlight, Maglite, Fenix, and Olight. These brands are known for providing high-quality products with excellent durability, reliability, and features.How much should I expect to spend on a good car flashlight?The price of a car flashlight can vary greatly depending on its features, durability, and brand. Generally, you can find a basic, high-quality car flashlight for around $20 to $30, while more advanced models with additional features may cost upwards of $100.Do I need to bring my car flashlight with me when I travel?Yes, it's always a good idea to have a car flashlight with you when you travel. Not only can it be useful in your vehicle, but it can also come in handy during campsites, hotel rooms, or any outdoor situations that may require extra light.Can I use my car flashlight as a regular flashlight?Yes, most car flashlights can be used as your regular flashlight. However, they might not be as compact or portable due to their larger size and additional features. It's always a good idea to have a compact, rechargeable AA/AAA battery flashlight in addition to your car flashlight for everyday use.What do I do if my car flashlight stops working?If your car flashlight stops working, first check if the batteries are dead. If the batteries seem fine, try replacing the light bulb or LED if possible. If that doesn't work, contact the manufacturer or the retailer where you purchased the flashlight for assistance in troubleshooting or getting it repaired or replaced.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 07:40 GuiltlessMaple Best Car Compasses
 | submitted by GuiltlessMaple to u/GuiltlessMaple [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/kw3bst30mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eebc8e209771cdafca3c374e25afc201a3033cc5 Whether you're an avid adventurer, a regular road tripper or just someone who likes to be prepared for anything, a car compass can be an invaluable addition to your dashboard. Our Car Compasses roundup is here to help you navigate through the vast array of options available, guiding you towards the perfect compass for your needs. Keep reading to discover the best Car Compasses that won't leave you guessing in which direction to turn. At its core, our review compares and contrasts the functionality, design, and ease of use of various car compasses. We've evaluated each product based on its ability to perform accurately and reliably, all while staying user-friendly and visually appealing. Our aim is to provide you with comprehensive information that simplifies your decision-making process, enabling you to confidently choose the ideal car compass for your vehicle. So, embark on this journey with us and let us guide you towards the perfect compass to accompany you on your every drive. The Top 11 Best Car Compasses
Reviews🔗Mini Car Ball Compass with Accurate Pointinghttps://preview.redd.it/qflclmt0mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=828b18285b6ea1070354b135acab3d38efbb01df As someone who's always on the road, I can't tell you how often I've needed a reliable compass to guide me. The KANPAS V28 Mini Automotive Dashboard Car Ball Compass has been a game-changer for me. It's no liquid leaking housing design gives me peace of mind knowing it won't fail in harsh conditions. Plus, its shockproof and waterproof features make it perfect for off-road adventures. One of the standout features of this compass is how it reads - opposite to traditional pointers which can sometimes be confusing. It's straightforward to use and even has an interesting installation process that involves tearing off double-sided tape. However, there's a special reminder with this compass: ensure you confirm the correct direction outside the car before finding a suitable location inside the car. Also, avoid iron and magnetic items in the car from affecting the ball compass reading. Despite these small caveats, the KANPAS V28 Mini Automotive Dashboard Car Ball Compass is definitely worth considering for your navigation needs. 🔗Illuminated Commander Compass with Automatic MVAhttps://preview.redd.it/9591fh21mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a3c4c87c4f653d8436d2b0f953ccb3da550a81c Bell Automotive's Illuminated Commander Compass is my go-to companion when navigating through the night. The automatic Magnetic Variation Adjustment (MVA) keeps me on track, with an easy mount on either the dash or windshield. Its light-up feature is especially useful during those late-night drives when the sun has tucked itself in for the night. While the compass is generally reliable and easy to use, I had a couple of hiccups during its installation. The suction cups that came with it didn't work quite as expected on my vehicle's vinyl dash, so I had to resort to a bit of glue to secure it properly. Additionally, the light button seemed a tad finicky and occasionally stopped working for no apparent reason. However, I appreciated the fact that I could still see the readings even when the light was off. Despite some minor issues, the overall experience with Bell Automotive's Illuminated Commander Compass has been quite positive. Its ability to keep me headed in the right direction, especially during nighttime adventures, has been a real lifesaver. If you're in the market for a reliable compass to navigate your drive, this one is definitely worth considering. Just be prepared to get creative with the installation process to ensure optimal performance in your specific vehicle. 🔗Custom Accessories Low Profile LED Compasshttps://preview.redd.it/is8x7ak1mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b8d991b39bb3dbb540243aa9eeb809a35451b86d I recently purchased a Low Profile Lighted LED Compass for my car, and while I had high hopes, my experience wasn't quite as smooth as I'd hoped. The best part of this compass is undoubtedly its sleek and low-profile design; it looks far more expensive than it actually is. Plus, the lighted dial makes reading the compass at night a breeze. However, the compass's primary function - accurately pointing to the north - just doesn't seem to work for me. Regardless of where I place it in my car or what direction I'm driving, the compass consistently points to the east or northwest, which makes it practically useless. I wouldn't necessarily say that this compass is a waste of money, as it does have a cool backlit display and a compact design. But if you're looking for an actual functional compass to use while driving, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. For $8, I guess you get what you pay for, but it's disappointing that something as simple as a compass can't handle a little interference from my car's electronics. 🔗Personalized Dash Compass for Your Car Journeyshttps://preview.redd.it/6qa7yup1mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65b526c209e866f39de3e6cd272c60d1fffa7efc I recently added the Victor Products Inc Suction Cup Mini Compass to my car and it's been a game-changer for me on my roughest routes. The free-floating ball and liquid damping ensure quick settling, making navigation a breeze even when the road ahead gets bumpy. I love how the large letters make for easy reading at any angle, and the suction cup attaches easily to my windshield for quick access. The mini-size and suction cup feature make this compass incredibly portable, making it perfect for camping trips or weekend getaways. I also appreciate the sleek black color that matches my car's interior perfectly. However, I did have one issue: the compass tends to stick on one direction, which can be a bit frustrating at times. Overall, I'm happy with the Victor Products Inc Suction Cup Mini Compass and would recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable navigation tool for their car. The quick settling and easy-reading features make it stand out from the rest, despite a minor problem we encountered with the compass direction. 🔗Dashboard Compass Ball for Car or Boathttps://preview.redd.it/4nnj2272mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=385ea30f48a98b7041777d06643edee75b966554 I recently got my hands on the RINGGLO Car Compass Ball and I must say, it's been a game-changer for my navigation needs while driving. The high-quality ABS plastic material not only makes it sturdy but also gives it a sleek look that complements my car's interior perfectly. One of the things I love about this compass is its wide applicability - not just for cars, but also for boats, trucks, and caravans. Its easy-to-use design and self-adhesive mount make it incredibly convenient to install wherever you need it most. Plus, its compact size means it doesn't take up much space on your dashboard. However, there are a few cons to note as well. Firstly, the compass requires a horizontal position to ensure accurate readings, which might be challenging when driving over bumps or uneven surfaces. Secondly, it's advisable to keep the compass away from magnetic sources to maintain its accuracy, which could be inconvenient at times. In conclusion, the RINGGLO Car Compass Ball is an excellent tool for navigation, especially if you're looking for something stylish and functional. Its wide applicability and easy installation make it a valuable addition to any vehicle. Just remember to follow the guidelines provided to get the most out of this innovative compass. 🔗SOL Lensatic Compass with Flip-Up Lenshttps://preview.redd.it/yqz2krf2mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f20ee1bcf25afb720fc2049f0146160876d57da I recently had the chance to test out the Sol Lensatic Compass, and I must say, it's a game-changer when it comes to navigating on outdoor trips. The compass is incredibly lightweight, making it perfect for backpacking and hiking adventures. The lensatic design allows for precise readings, and the large, luminous directional letters make it easy to read even in low light conditions. One of the standout features of this compass is its durability. The sturdy synthetic housing provides ample protection for the compass, while also making it easy to grip and maneuver. Additionally, the included cover acts as an extra layer of protection and helps make sighting easier. However, there are a few cons to consider. The magnetic floating compass can be somewhat difficult to ensure it's pointing north due to the thick liquid inside. Additionally, the grip on the heading dial is not as effective as it could be, making it a bit challenging to rotate. Overall, the SOL Lensatic Compass is an excellent navigation tool for those who love the outdoors. Its lightweight design and precise readings make it perfect for hiking, camping, and hunting adventures. While there are a few minor drawbacks, these are easily outweighed by its many positive features. 🔗Illuminated Compass for Automobileshttps://preview.redd.it/1f5pfvt2mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f9101f2a9909ef3b63505f783b3f1ec117f84b6 I recently got the chance to try out Bell Automotive's Lighted Compass and overall, it was quite an interesting experience. The mounting options were really user-friendly with suction cups for the windshield and adhesive tape for the dashboard, making it easy to install without causing any damage. One of the standout features was its unique disc-style floating dial and liquid damping, which proved incredibly useful in quickly settling the compass over bumpy roads. The display of eight directional points was also a definite plus, although I wish there was a way to illuminate the dial for night driving without having to hold the button down continuously. However, there are a few drawbacks that I experienced. First off, the compass struggled to provide accurate readings due to interference from the vehicle's metal elements, even when used outside the car. Additionally, the adhesive tape didn't hold up well in hot weather, causing the compass to lose its positioning. In conclusion, while the Bell Automotive Lighted Compass does have some interesting features, you might want to consider its inconsistencies before making a purchase. On the other hand, if you're primarily looking for a compass to use outside your car, or you drive a vehicle with minimal metal components, this compass might prove useful. 🔗Car Compass Ball Dashboard Mount (Black)https://preview.redd.it/hmeyr353mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d1279411e54049aaaf500634c7eea3b5ebcd3c2 When I first bought the 2pcs Car Vehicle Compass Ball Dashboard Self Adhesive Mount Navigation, I was skeptical about its accuracy and usability. But after using it for a few trips, I must say it has become an essential tool for navigation. The smooth and brightly colored surface along with the automatic rotation feature make it a breeze to follow the direction. It's perfect for those who prefer a more traditional method of navigation and it certainly adds a touch of retro charm to my car. One downside is that the compass can be a little sensitive to magnetic fields, so I have to be careful about where I place it. Additionally, direct sunlight might affect its performance, so I usually keep it tucked away when I'm parked under the sun. Overall, this compass mount has greatly enhanced my driving experience with its clear readout, easy installation, and stylish design. It's a reliable and affordable tool that's a must-have for any vehicle. 🔗Durable Military Tritium Lensatic Compasshttps://preview.redd.it/dd5gsyi3mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a74ec1ddcf1c83641001a578ee54f23b7174b8a1 I recently got my hands on the Cammenga Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass Clam Pack 3HCS, and let me tell you, it's a game changer for anyone who loves spending time outdoors. As an avid camper and hiker, I've relied on GPS and other digital tools in the past, but there's just something about having a reliable, physical compass that you can trust in a pinch. This compass is built like a tank, with a sturdy metal housing that keeps it shockproof. It's also designed to withstand water, sand, and extreme temperatures, making it perfect for any adventure you can throw at it. One of my favorite features is the lens for magnification and the sighting wire for precise readings - these little details make all the difference when you're trying to navigate unfamiliar terrain. Now, let's talk about those dependable dial graduations. They have both mils and degrees for easy reading, and the mil-radians give you a high level of accuracy in your plotting and measuring. But the real star of the show is the tritium illumination, which provides you with a clear view of the compass in low light or darkness, without needing any external light sources. However, no product is perfect, and this compass does have some drawbacks. The belt clip on the carrying case is a bit flimsy, and it broke a few times during my tests. Additionally, the lens can be a bit difficult to focus, especially in low light conditions. Despite these minor issues, I wholeheartedly recommend the Cammenga Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass Clam Pack 3HCS to anyone who wants a reliable, accurate, and durable compass for their next outdoor adventure. Just make sure you keep an eye on that belt clip and bring along some spare batteries for your other electronic gear! 🔗Bell Suction Cup Mini Compact Car Compass - Blackhttps://preview.redd.it/vyx489u3mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=842db8e90d18a547c139fba240fe6a8e59c33672 I recently purchased the Bell Suction Cup Mini Compass and it's been an interesting addition to my vehicle. The compact design is perfect for mounting it on my windshield, and the free-floating ball and liquid damping help it settle quickly over bumpy roads. One thing I really appreciate about this compass is how easy it is to read. The large letters ensure that I can see the direction even when I'm not directly facing the compass. However, one downside is that the suction cup occasionally falls off if the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight. No big deal, though, as it's easy to reattach. Another standout feature of the Bell Suction Cup Mini Compass is its low cost. It may not be the most high-tech compass out there, but for the price, it works great. If you're looking for a simple, affordable solution to help you orient yourself while driving, this compass is definitely worth considering. 🔗Bell Automotive Digital Compass and Mirror Mounthttps://preview.redd.it/5mqps884mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da01837cb5647888ed1357b4d553304ca50360dd I recently installed the Bell Automotive 22-1-29001-8 Digital Compass on my car's existing rear view mirror, and I've found it incredibly useful for long road trips. The device provides an effortless calibration process and efficiently displays 8 directional points without taking up much space on the mirror. One of my favorite features of this compass is its ability to connect with my car's touchscreen via a display light function. This has made navigation far simpler, especially during nighttime driving. However, I have experienced some difficulties with the compass occasionally, mainly regarding its readability in bright sunlight. Another drawback worth mentioning is the compass's accuracy issues, which seem to arise more frequently when installed in certain vehicles, such as my friend's Toyota Corolla. Fortunately, in my car, the compass has been working perfectly fine and has even helped me avoid getting lost on several occasions. In summary, if you're looking for a compact and feature-rich digital compass that doesn't obstruct your view while driving, the Bell Automotive 22-1-29001-8 Digital Compass might be worth considering. Just remember to consider its readability and accuracy limitations before making a purchase decision. Buyer's GuideNone https://preview.redd.it/9bs003u4mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1b9aa8cca183183215931f6fc9101f5ae07a1e3 FAQWhat are the benefits of using a car compass?A car compass helps drivers navigate unfamiliar routes, provides an alternative to GPS systems, and offers a reliable backup navigation solution in case of GPS malfunction or power issues. https://preview.redd.it/b08tpf35mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e41bcf45c347517124e4a5a3cdc86dbaf6067264 How do car compasses work?Car compasses work by detecting the Earth's magnetic field, allowing them to determine direction accurately. They are typically mounted on the dashboard or windshield, providing easy visibility and accessible navigation information.What are the different types of car compasses?
https://preview.redd.it/2kijv1i5mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b72c35a44dbe47bce6c72c588ee562bf1b512722 Are car compasses accurate?Yes, car compasses are generally accurate if installed and used correctly. Factors that can affect accuracy include magnetic interference from other devices and improper installation, among others.How do I install a car compass?
https://preview.redd.it/lc8r3v06mb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d305526cb286db8a9b77bab4361024773e234f9 How do I maintain and store my car compass?To maintain a car compass, avoid exposing it to strong magnetic fields and store it in a secure, magnetic-free location when not in use. Regularly clean the compass with a soft, dry cloth and check for proper functionality.Can I use a car compass in conjunction with a GPS system?Yes, a car compass can be used as a backup navigation solution alongside a GPS system. Some digital compasses even offer compatibility with GPS devices, providing complementary navigation information.How do I know if I need a car compass?You may need a car compass if you frequently drive in areas with limited GPS signal, when traveling off-road or to remote locations, or to provide an extra layer of navigation security in case your GPS system fails.What features should I look for in a car compass?
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2024.05.19 07:23 ConsequenceSure3063 Best Capehart Record Players
 | submitted by ConsequenceSure3063 to u/ConsequenceSure3063 [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/d40n503uib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=135b163f54b36dd266cf0aeeb01610fbf8da763d Are you a vinyl enthusiast, or just starting your collection? Look no further! In this article, we'll delve into the fascinating world of Capehart Record Players. With a variety of models to choose from, we'll help you find the perfect player to elevate your listening experience. Read on to discover the features that make Capehart Record Players stand out, and how to choose the right one for your home or office. The Top 11 Best Capehart Record Players
Reviews🔗Arkrocket Retro Bluetooth Record Player with Turntable and Built-In Speakers, Brownhttps://preview.redd.it/b5tilx8uib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38fe181f35ff91847eb92bef068e2f29619d748a Once upon a time, I stumbled upon the Arkrocket Discovery 3-Speed Bluetooth Record Player with Retro Turntable and Built-In Speakers. As a music lover who appreciates both the classics and new sounds, I was excited to see how this little device would perform. Right out of the box, I noticed its sleek design and vintage-inspired charm. The removable legs made it easy to fit into any space in my home. Setting up the turntable was a breeze, and within minutes, I was jamming to some old vinyls. The sound quality was impressive for its size and price range. While the built-in speakers aren't booming, they're perfect for a cozy room or study. The ability to connect my phone via Bluetooth has made it even more versatile, allowing me to stream my favorite digital tunes right alongside my vinyl collection. However, there was one minor issue that caught my attention. The legs are made of adhesive upholstery, which began to separate after some use. A quick fix with glue restored its appearance, but I wish it had been made with a sturdier material. Overall, I am thoroughly pleased with my Arkrocket Discovery 3-Speed Bluetooth Record Player. It's not only a great conversation starter but also an affordable and reliable way to enjoy my favorite music in a nostalgic yet modern manner. 🔗Crosley Cruiser Plus Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable in Tourmalinehttps://preview.redd.it/qr9j36luib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef9cd5306e83ab3bf3f611edecdf742d653daa3a Once a vinyl enthusiast, always a vinyl enthusiast. That's my motto ever since I got my hands on the Crosley Cruiser Plus Turntable - Tourmaline. It just blends old school music with modern technology seamlessly. When I first unboxed it, I was instantly charmed by its charming suitcase-style shell. It gave off a vintage vibe that I absolutely loved. Plus, the built-in Bluetooth receiver and stereo speakers took the convenience factor up a notch. Navigating through the Turntable is a breeze. The adjustable pitch control and 3-speed feature (33 1/3, 45 & 78 RPM) gave me the flexibility to play any vinyl record I wanted. And don't even get me started on the Bluetooth in/out capability. It was like having a digital music player and a vinyl record player all wrapped into one device. One day, I had the brilliant idea of connecting my phone to the turntable and playing some of my favorite vinyl-to-digital remastered tracks. The sound quality was phenomenal, a perfect blend of digital clarity and analog warmth. Now, if only it didn't skip randomly sometimes. . . Despite the occasional skip, the Crosley Cruiser Plus Turntable has been a reliable and enjoyable companion on my vinyl adventure. It's portable, easy to use, and best of all, it beautifully blends the charm of old school vinyl with the convenience of modern technology. 🔗Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player with Built-In Stereo Speakers, 3-Speed Belt-Driven Turntable, AUX, RCA & Headphone Socketshttps://preview.redd.it/4r6hc26vib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24689ae9c70aa600cb5a97f615dad61b9d8b6ae4 I recently got my hands on this Bluetooth-enabled vintage vinyl record player and it's been a fantastic addition to my music collection. The first thing that caught my eye was the sleek, retro design that adds a touch of class to any room. But, it's not all about looks. The built-in Bluetooth function makes it incredibly easy to connect and play my favorite digital music from my phone or tablet, while the 3-speed belt-driven turntable lets me enjoy all of my vinyl records at various speeds. One of the standout features for me is the high-sensitivity stylus, which does an excellent job of accurately reading record information. The audio output is decent for its size, and I appreciate the added flexibility of the 3.5mm Aux-in and RCA output options. However, the built-in speakers could be better, so I sometimes connect it to my external speaker system for a more immersive listening experience. Some drawbacks I noticed are the relatively low power output, which might not be able to fill a big room with sound, as well as the lack of an adaptive speed feature. Additionally, the build quality feels a bit flimsy and the accompanying instructions could be clearer. Overall, this Bluetooth record player is a stylish and functional addition to any music lover's collection, offering a nostalgic vinyl listening experience with modern connectivity. It's not perfect, but for its price point, it's definitely worth considering. 🔗Bluetooth Vinyl Turntable with 40W Stereo Speakershttps://preview.redd.it/phrbaubvib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6c440c810a089975924b5fed55e740647ab3870 As a music enthusiast, I've had my fair share of turntables, but the Arkrocket Cassini has truly stood out. Upon receiving it, I was blown away by its stunning walnut finish and sleek design. The ease of setup was impressive, making it truly user-friendly. However, what truly captured my attention was the sound quality this turntable delivers. It uses a moving magnet cartridge system, which offers a stable playback, allowing my vinyls to be enjoyed in all their glory. This turntable also supports Bluetooth, giving me the flexibility to connect with wireless speakers or headphones when I want. The included 40Watt bookshelf speakers are a cherry on top, providing clear and powerful sound. The only con I noticed was that the turntable is a bit on the heavier side, making it a little less portable than some other options. However, this is a minor inconvenience for the incredible listening experience it provides. Overall, I highly recommend the Arkrocket Cassini for anyone looking to enhance their vinyl listening experience. 🔗Bluetooth Record Player with Stereo Speakers and Cassette Playerhttps://preview.redd.it/ep176snvib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=851778d4650a0515ba32cd0c7c7fbc6ff54ae82a I've been using the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player with Stereo Speakers, and it's been such a nostalgic blast. Not only does it let me play my old vinyls, but it also has cassette functionality, making it a compact all-in-one media player. One of the standout features for me is the MP3 conversion capability. As someone who's been slowly digitizing my old music collection, this has been a game-changer. No need for a computer, just connect your USB or SD card and convert your vinyls directly into a MP3 format. The built-in speakers are decent, but they really shine when connected to an external sound system. The design is quite user-friendly too. The buttons are clearly labeled, and there's even a remote control for added convenience. Plus, the retro look with wooden sides adds a touch of classic charm to my home decor. However, there are a few downsides. The build quality could be better, as it feels a bit flimsy in places. Additionally, while the sound quality is passable, it's not quite on par with dedicated audio equipment. Despite these minor drawbacks, I've absolutely loved using the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player. It's perfect for anyone who wants to relive their old vinyl and tape days, or for those looking to preserve and share their music collection. 🔗Retro Full-Size Jukebox Vinyl Record Player with Bluetooth and USBhttps://preview.redd.it/n0uv795wib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb10d9f6e2c425199b84b46cfcb59d94183c7ff4 I recently got my hands on the Arkrocket Full-Size Jukebox Vinyl Record Player and I must say, it brought back a lot of nostalgic memories of my childhood trips to the soda shop. This retro-inspired marvel not only looks stunningly classic but also provides a delightful listening experience with various playback options. One of the features that truly stood out for me was its bluelight compatibility. It allowed me to effortlessly stream music from my smartphone right into the jukebox, blending old-school charm with modern convenience. Additionally, it comes equipped with a USB port, an SD card slot, and of course, a CD player - talk about versatility! However, there were a couple of minor drawbacks. The jukebox is quite heavy at nearly 47 pounds, making it a little challenging to move around. Furthermore, I noticed that some parts seemed slightly fragile and needed careful handling. In conclusion, if you're looking to add a touch of retro style to your home while enjoying your vinyl collection or streaming tunes from your phone, the Arkrocket Full-Size Jukebox Vinyl Record Player could be just what you need. Just remember to handle it with care and maybe keep it in one spot due to its weight. 🔗Vinyl Record Player with MP3 Converter, Bluetooth, CD, and Cassettehttps://preview.redd.it/u9qwwsdwib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3f8bdce3bc9650022b10aac1474d0bc4eef0ea3 I recently got my hands on the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player Turntable, and I can tell you firsthand that it's a versatile and retro-chic addition to your music setup. The briefcase-style design is both trendy and timeless, featuring classic color schemes that blend seamlessly with any decor. One of the standout features of this turntable is its ability to play multiple formats, including vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and even MP3s. The twin detachable speakers offer clear and loud sound, ensuring that you can jam out to your tunes without any pesky noise interference. Plus, the built-in Bluetooth connection lets you stream music wirelessly from your phone or laptop, giving you even more options for your listening pleasure. Another awesome feature is the vinyl-to-MP3 recording function. This allows you to digitize your vinyl records and save them on a USB or SD card, making it easier than ever to backup and share your old vinyl collection with friends and family. Now, let's talk about the downsides, shall we? While the design is undoubtedly eye-catching, the build quality leaves something to be desired. Some users have reported issues with the CD door and overall durability of the unit. Additionally, the remote control is quite small and difficult to use, which can be frustrating if you're not a fan of getting up to change the volume or switch tracks. In conclusion, the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player Turntable is a unique and compact device that offers a wide range of listening options for music enthusiasts. While there are some minor drawbacks in terms of build quality and usability, the overall experience is enjoyable, especially for those who appreciate the nostalgic appeal of vinyl records. 🔗Vintage Record Player with Built-in Stereo Speakershttps://preview.redd.it/1awsgttwib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8515fb52de796d64d34ea819b673bd961de9e378 As an avid vinyl lover, I recently had the chance to try out the Digitnow! Turntable Record Player. This sleek, vintage-styled device has three speeds and built-in speakers for easy listening. I was pleasantly surprised by its portability, as it's compact enough to take with me on trips or parties without compromising on sound quality. The adjustable 33 1/3, 45, or 78 RPM speeds let me enjoy all my vinyl records without any issues. One thing that stood out to me was how easy it was to use. The minimalistic design made it straightforward to set up and operate, even for someone like me who's not very tech-savvy. Another highlight was the sound quality - the dynamic full-range stereo speakers delivered crisp, clear audio that brought my old vinyl records back to life. However, there were also some drawbacks. While the built-in speakers are decent, they might not be powerful enough for larger gatherings or more demanding music enthusiasts. Additionally, I noticed that the turntable can be a bit sensitive, so you'll need to handle it gently to avoid damaging your vinyl records. Overall, I've had a mostly positive experience with the Digitnow! Turntable Record Player. Its stylish design, ease of use, and good sound quality make it a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy their vinyl collection in a modern way. 🔗Bluetooth-Enabled Stereo Turntablehttps://preview.redd.it/bv0dp49xib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51a046a4a02cdf30069381c2a0a6a67317219ba4 When I first got my hands on the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-SV Bluetooth Stereo Turntable, I was excited to bring back the vinyl vibes of old. As someone who enjoys collecting and listening to records, this little device quickly became my go-to for its easy setup and great sound quality. One of the main features that stood out for me is its automatic play feature. With just a touch of a button, the turntable starts playing your favorite vinyls without needing any manual adjustments or advanced setup. It's perfect for those who want the convenience of modern technology while still enjoying the nostalgic sound of analog music. The Bluetooth connectivity also added a lot of functionality to my listening experience. I could easily pair the turntable with my wireless speakers or headphones, allowing me to enjoy my vinyl collection from anywhere in the room. Plus, the included CSR BT chipset ensured that the connection was stable and didn't drop out unexpectedly. However, there were a few drawbacks that I encountered with this turntable. Firstly, the build quality felt a tad flimsy, especially when compared to other models in the same price range. Additionally, although the sound quality was decent overall, it wasn't quite up to par with some of the more premium options on the market. In summary, if you're looking for a beginner-friendly turntable that offers great convenience and easy setup, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-SV is definitely worth considering. While its build quality and sound performance are not top-notch, it provides excellent value for the price and will surely bring back those retro vinyl vibes you've been craving. 🔗BluetoothturntablePlayerforvinylrecordswithejectandfastforward, REC, DELfunction.https://preview.redd.it/fnxqjojxib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=afbdb53ca73729d7f28a1273866a2fb5a303a294 I recently got my hands on the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player Turntable, a multifunctional device that plays vinyl records, tapes, CDs, and even connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. I was excited to give it a try, as I've been collecting vinyls for a while now and wanted a convenient way to listen to them. Right out of the box, the turntable was easy to set up. Its compact size makes it perfect for any living space, and it comes with a built-in speaker that provides decent sound quality. The ability to convert vinyl records into MP3 files directly is a lifesaver for music enthusiasts like me who want to share their favorite tunes without fumbling with extra devices. However, not everything was perfect. The build quality of the turntable wasn't as high as I'd hoped, which led to some durability issues. Additionally, the sound level could be louder for a more immersive listening experience, especially when using the Bluetooth feature. All in all, the Digitnow Bluetooth Record Player Turntable is a solid choice for those looking to play and share their vinyl records and other media formats. While it has some room for improvement in the build and sound department, its convenient features make it worth considering for any music lover's collection. 🔗Fully automatic vinyl turntable setuphttps://preview.redd.it/qu00r1wxib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63d678a51a8e02e82a80361ae1b5d4eec2664c6a In the realm of vinyl enthusiasts, the Dual CS 329 Fully Automatic Turntable reigns supreme as a beginner-friendly choice offering high-quality audio playback. This sophisticated but user-friendly device is a plug-and-play marvel that comes pre-assembled and fully ready to use. Its unique automated functions, such as the versatile tonearm that lowers, swivels, and raises at the press of a button, make it a breeze to operate. Moreover, its factory-fixed settings ensure optimal performance right out of the box. The plinth boasts an integrated elastomer vibration absorber, providing enhanced stability, accompanied by a removable dust cover that protects the device. The meticulously crafted aluminium die-cast platter and heavy rubber mat effectively dampen unwanted resonance, resulting in exceptional sound clarity. In addition, the drive's rubber mountings eliminate vibrations, while the precision-cut belt aids in minimising wow and flutter. My personal experience using the Dual CS 329 has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Each vinyl listening session is now elevated due to its superior sound quality, making this turntable a worthwhile investment. While it may lack some of the advanced features of higher-end models, its ease of use and setup more than make up for it. However, one minor drawback lies in its lack of customisability. For those seeking to fine-tune their listening experience, the fixed settings might be somewhat limiting. Nevertheless, for the casual vinyl collector or someone new to analogue playback, the Dual CS 329 is an absolute gem. In conclusion, the Dual CS 329 Fully Automatic Turntable strikes a perfect balance between user-friendliness and superb sound quality. It's my go-to recommendation for those looking to explore the world of vinyl or simply enjoy a hassle-free and enriching listening experience. Buyer's GuideIntroduction to Capehart Record Playershttps://preview.redd.it/zbvdufjyib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b378c2c35c5e3520f225116dad3bee1c192827d Capehart record players have been a staple in the audio industry for decades. These players offer high-quality sound and durability, making them a popular choice among music enthusiasts. In this buyer's guide, we will explore important features, considerations, and advice when purchasing a Capehart record player. Features to Look for in a Capehart Record Player
Important Considerations Before Purchasing a Capehart Record Player
https://preview.redd.it/4rz73kxyib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95b8ca5aebbefdeb52cd0e56a287837be3127f79 General Advice for Purchasing and Using a Capehart Record Player
ConclusionCapehart record players offer a nostalgic, high-quality audio experience for vinyl enthusiasts. By considering the important features, factors, and advice outlined in this buyer's guide, you can confidently select a record player that suits your needs and preferences. Enjoy your collection and the timeless sound of vinyl records.FAQhttps://preview.redd.it/y29sd1mzib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9d8b7a94dd5c6057b5606e1128fdddeb7df9538 Q1. What is a Capehart record player?A Capehart record player is a vintage turntable that was popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It was known for its high-quality build and performance, which helped it stand out among other record players of that time.Q2. Are Capehart record players collectible items?Yes, Capehart record players are considered collectible items due to their historical significance and premium construction. Many audiophiles and vintage collectors are interested in acquiring these machines. https://preview.redd.it/4ztji3pzib1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3262425a22a7c54bfa8c6207a41ae8422974c83 Q3. What features should I look for when buying a Capehart record player?When purchasing a Capehart record player, consider the following features: auto-return, automatic changer, reliable motor, and overall condition of the unit. These features indicate a record player's performance and ability to handle your vinyl collection.Q4. How do I maintain my Capehart record player?To maintain your Capehart record player, follow these steps: clean the stylus and record regularly, keep the unit away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, and ensure that it's properly calibrated. Regular maintenance will help prolong the life of your Capehart record player. ### Q5. How much does a Capehart record player typically cost?The cost of a Capehart record player can vary depending on its condition, features, and rarity. Generally, prices range from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for more collectible or rare models. Q6. Can I replace parts on a Capehart record player?Yes, some parts of a Capehart record player can be replaced, such as stylus cartridges, belts, and other wear-and-tear items. However, it's essential to ensure that the replacement parts are compatible with your specific model to maintain optimal performance.Q7. Where can I find replacement parts for my Capehart record player?Replacement parts for Capehart record players can be found through specialized vintage audio retailers, online marketplaces, and auction sites. Be sure to verify compatibility with your particular model before purchasing any parts.Q8. How do I set up my Capehart record player?To set up your Capehart record player, follow these steps: connect the power cord, install the stylus, connect the speaker system, and calibrate the unit. Ensure to refer to the user manual for detailed instructions on setting up your specific model.Q9. How do I troubleshoot common issues with my Capehart record player?
Q10. How can I ensure that my Capehart record player sounds its best?To ensure optimal performance, follow these steps: use high-quality vinyl records, maintain a clean stylus, keep the unit away from excessive dust and debris, and ensure that it's properly calibrated. Additionally, investing in a premium preamplifier can significantly enhance the overall sound quality of your Capehart record player.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 06:43 Stage-Piercing727 Best Canon Rebel T7 Camera Cases
 | submitted by Stage-Piercing727 to u/Stage-Piercing727 [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/djpzqekvbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a984f2238a042dc8a8ea39af9f3b619da6f083a Are you on the hunt for the perfect Canon Rebel T7 camera case? Well, you're in luck! We have compiled a roundup of the best camera cases that perfectly fit your beloved T7. Whether you're an avid traveler or a professional photographer, our article offers a variety of options to suit your needs. Stay tuned to find the ideal case that will keep your camera safe and stylish at all times! The Top 6 Best Canon Rebel T7 Camera Cases
Reviews🔗Durable DSLR Camera Case with Neoprene Exteriorhttps://preview.redd.it/9v8bn3yvbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b619155fa4cd2f0e9fc7779991a2b97dc3a396cc I recently purchased the USA Gear QTL Portable DSLR Camera Case Bag, Southwest and I must say, it's been a game-changer for me. I love the vibrant southwest pattern that not only looks great but also doesn't give away the fact that there's an expensive camera inside my bag. The dimensions are perfect at 7.25 inches x 6 inches x 5.5 inches, making it a great option when I'm on the go. One of the standout features of this case is its durable neoprene exterior. It's rugged and weather-resistant, ensuring my camera stays safe and secure no matter the conditions. The cover zippers and metal hardware provide extra protection, while the reinforced belt loop offers stability and flexibility in how I carry it. The adjustable shoulder strap and padded hand strap make it comfortable and easy to use, whether I'm carrying it on my shoulder or hand. However, I find that the bag can feel a bit weighty when I'm carrying a DSLR with a lens attached, making it better suited for shorter outings. The USA Gear QTL Camera Case Bag has exceeded my expectations in terms of visual appeal, sturdiness, design comfort, size, and weight. The southwest pattern adds a touch of style, while the reinforced metal buckles ensure durability and longevity. The scratch-resistant interior and padded dividers provide extra protection for my camera and lenses. Overall, this case is a perfect blend of style and functionality. While I appreciate the beautiful design and comfortable carrying options, I wish the interior had a bit more space to accommodate additional camera accessories. Additionally, the rain cover can be challenging to use at first, but once you're familiar with it, it gets easier. Despite these minor drawbacks, I believe the USA Gear QTL Portable DSLR Camera Case Bag, Southwest is a fantastic option for photographers looking for a stylish and durable camera case. 🔗Acuvar Padded Backpack for DSLR Camerashttps://preview.redd.it/ju2do2ewbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=767d918756f94af7758890f50394f8ac8c25ea4f I can confidently say that the Acuvar BPACK03 Padded Backpack is my go-to camera bag. Its sleek design and sturdy construction make it a reliable companion for all my photography adventures. The inside pocket with a hook and loop system, along with the 7 customizable padding dividers, ensures that my camera equipment stays snug and secure. I particularly love the padded shoulder straps as they provide immense comfort even when the bag is fully loaded. The side pockets are incredibly useful, with one being a net pocket and the other having a zipper. The webbed side pocket is perfect for my water bottle, while the hook and loop strap above it can easily hold a small tripod. However, the highlight of this bag is undoubtedly its capacity. It comfortably fits all my camera gear without making the bag bulky or unwieldy. The size is just right, making it easy to carry around on long photo shoots. And did I mention how visually appealing it is? Its simple yet stylish design truly stands out. Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with the Acuvar BPACK03 Padded Backpack. It's well made, has ample pocket utility, and boasts excellent sturdiness. Highly recommended! 🔗Durable DSLR Camera Case for Canon Rebel T7https://preview.redd.it/wanvzepwbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e878a121cef4898f1295640d39edcde433ec5dbd As a photographer, I've always struggled with finding the right case to protect my gear while I'm out in the field. That was until I came across the USA Gear DSLR Quick Access case. The first thing that caught my eye was its sleek design, made from lightweight yet robust EVA hardshell with a padded interior. One of the features that have been a real game-changer for me is the three carrying modes - belt loop, strap, and handle. This has greatly enhanced my shooting experience, whether I'm walking around town or out in the wilderness. The zipper and hook & loop closure provide easy access to my camera without compromising on safety. The added feature of built-in memory card pocket ensures that I never miss a shot while fumbling through different compartments. However, one small issue is that it doesn't have a dedicated slot for attaching my camera strap, which requires a bit of improvisation. Despite this minor inconvenience, the overall performance of this case has been stellar. Its versatility, durability, and ease of use make it a must-have accessory in my photography kit. 🔗MegaGear Ever Ready PU Leather Case for Canon EOS Rebel T7 & 2000D + 18-55mmhttps://preview.redd.it/bdummp3xbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25976eedde6610fe87b3b5eeb8bf13e540bb1150 As an avid photographer, I've recently been using the MegaGear Ever Ready PU Leather Case with a Strap for my Canon EOS Rebel T7. It's not only stylish in black but it also provides excellent protection against dirt, scratches, and bumps. The two-piece design, consisting of a top and a bottom, is brilliant as it offers flexibility – you can use the bottom half independently as a half case and attach it to the built-in tripod mounting screw. This screw also allows for easy tripod usage without having to remove the case, which is a major convenience. The top piece seamlessly completes the all-around protection, attaching with snaps. I also appreciated the bottom opening feature, which grants easy access to the battery compartment. Another highlight is the stitching that adds a touch of class reminiscent of old-world craftsmanship. However, it's not entirely perfect. The case, while well-padded, doesn't provide much room for additional accessories beyond the camera and lens. Also, it could benefit from a rain cover for those times when you get caught in unexpected showers. Overall, the MegaGear Ever Ready PU Leather Case is a well-made, stylish, and functional case for my Canon EOS Rebel T7. It's worth every penny for the added protection and convenience it provides. 🔗K&F Concept Waterproof Camera Backpackhttps://preview.redd.it/87x80eexbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58c8c2f447a7b5f593c84d6e92db46b025d83088 I recently purchased the K&F Concept Waterproof Camera Backpack, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. As an avid traveler and photography enthusiast, I needed a reliable and secure way to transport my camera gear, and this backpack has exceeded my expectations. The first thing that stood out to me was the two separate compartments, which allowed me to organize my belongings with ease. The upper compartment is perfect for storing personal items like my wallet, phone, and even a change of clothes, while the lower compartment is specifically designed to house my camera, lenses, and other accessories. One of my favorite features is the quick-access side opening, which enables me to grab my camera and accessories without having to take the entire backpack off. This has been incredibly helpful when trying to capture that perfect shot in a hurry. Another aspect that I appreciate is the theft-proof design, as the main compartment's opening is located at the back of the backpack. This provides me with peace of mind, knowing that my valuable camera equipment is securely protected. The backpack also features a padded, upper compartment that can accommodate a 15.6-inch laptop, making it incredibly versatile for both travel and daily use. Additionally, there is a special side compartment with a strap and buckle designed to safely transport a tripod, further adding to the convenience and functionality of this backpack. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the K&F Concept Waterproof Camera Backpack. Its blend of practicality, organization, and security make it an indispensable addition to my photography gear, and I highly recommend it to other photographers and travelers alike. 🔗Leather Canon EOS 77D Camera Case with Battery Accesshttps://preview.redd.it/ryakprwxbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ffb96a79537ae7359fcfc826a83fe1c3d16f546a I've been using the MegaGear Ever Ready Leather Case and Strap with my Canon EOS Rebel T7i for a few weeks now, and I must say, it's been a game-changer. The high-quality PU leather not only looks incredibly stylish but also provides top-notch protection against scratches and bumps. Plus, the internal fabric is soft and padded, protecting my camera from dust, damage, and shock. One of my favorite features is the easy-to-clean and maintain design. It's so simple to wipe down and keep in pristine condition, even after a long day of shooting. And speaking of shooting, the Ever Ready Design allows me to install a tripod and access the battery compartment in seconds - no fumbling around with straps or belts. The only downside I've encountered is that the case is a bit bulky, which might be slightly inconvenient for those who prefer a more minimalistic approach to camera gear. But overall, the MegaGear Ever Ready Leather Case offers excellent protection and convenience for my Canon Rebel T7i, making it a worthwhile investment. Buyer's GuideImportant Features to Considerhttps://preview.redd.it/af55z77ybb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aa0c1652059874add74f98fe40d9e4d576b516f When shopping for a Canon Rebel T7 Camera Case, there are several important features to consider:
Considerations for Different UsesYour specific needs will depend on how you plan to use your camera. For instance:
General Advice for Choosing a Canon Rebel T7 Camera CaseTo ensure you make the best choice, consider the following:
https://preview.redd.it/6tcbrhpybb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6bec0037559b652f9c05508fe9e750760f870d54 FAQWhat types of camera cases are available for the Canon Rebel T7?There are various types of camera cases available for the Canon Rebel T7, including shoulder bags, holsters, and hard cases. Each type offers different levels of protection, accessibility, and convenience.How do I choose the best camera case for my needs?https://preview.redd.it/c7uxr8zybb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22380592614c353250ccefa7e7a0fe3580125b6c Consider factors such as protection, accessibility, size, and weight when choosing a camera case for your Canon Rebel T7. Think about how you plan to use your camera and where you'll be carrying it, as well as any additional equipment you may need to store. Are there waterproof camera cases for the Canon Rebel T7?Yes, there are waterproof camera cases available for the Canon Rebel T7. These cases typically feature a heavy-duty, water-resistant exterior, ensuring your camera remains dry and protected in damp or rainy conditions.What is the difference between a shoulder bag and a holster case?A shoulder bag offers more storage space and is typically larger, allowing you to carry additional equipment such as lenses, batteries, and memory cards. A holster case is smaller and more compact, providing quick access to your camera while keeping it secure and protected. https://preview.redd.it/52i89ifzbb1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bacebd9d83098c80d79c9ba388897516c9415484 How much do camera cases for the Canon Rebel T7 cost?The cost of camera cases for the Canon Rebel T7 can vary depending on the brand, materials, and features. Prices can range from around $20 for a basic case to over $100 for premium, waterproof cases.Do camera cases come with a warranty?Many camera case manufacturers offer a warranty on their products. Warranty periods and coverage may vary, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions of the case you are interested in purchasing.What is a dual-layer camera case?A dual-layer camera case features an outer layer made of durable material such as nylon, polyester, or leather, and an inner layer made of soft, cushioned material like foam or neoprene. This combination provides excellent protection for your camera against impacts and scratches.How do I properly store my Canon Rebel T7 in a camera case?
How do I clean and maintain my camera case?Use a soft, damp cloth to gently clean the exterior of your camera case, being careful not to apply excessive pressure or use abrasive materials. Regularly inspect the case for signs of wear and tear, and replace any damaged parts or components promptly to maintain its effectiveness and protect your camera equipment.Can I use the same camera case for other camera models?It depends on the specific case and the dimensions of your other camera models. Some camera cases may have adjustable dividers or customizable compartments that can accommodate different camera sizes, while others are designed specifically for a particular model and may not fit other cameras.What is a padded camera case?A padded camera case is designed with a layer of soft, cushioned material such as foam or neoprene to provide enhanced protection against impacts, scratches, and other damage that could occur during transportation or storage.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 04:25 Awkward-Cow1869 AITAH if I go NC with my mom and sister?
Sorry about format, as I'm on mobile. I'd get some snacks and a drink, cause this is gonna be a decent sized one. This is pretty much about my entire life. Also, I have mental health and sometimes add too many details to things. I kinda over share, so apologise if that happens. Me(F) my mom(F) sister(F)
My entire life, I have felt less than when it comes to my mom. It's pretty obvious my sister is the favorite child. Ever since she was born, I was put on a back burner. Then my brother was born, and it got even worse. (My brother is an amazing man, so I don't fault him for anything at all. He's pretty much my unofficial child. I will die for him.) When I was 3, my bio dad died. I did get checks every month for survivors checks, but when I turned 18, I never saw any of it. I understand that she needed it for me while I was a minor, but once I turned 18, it was supposed to actually go to me. I was still in my last year of high school, so it didn't stop til I graduated. If I would have gotten those checks, I would be way farther in life. My mom got with my siblings dad when I was around 4 or 5. That's where the abuse came in. She got pregnant with my sister, and pretty much made me the clown. My sister's dad was a Dr*g addict, and would go on binges, leaving me home alone to watch my siblings, while Mom was at work. I was 6 at this point. Granted, she did call the police and he got charged with 3 counts of child endangerment. (My brother was born at this point). Then, she stayed with him, even though he left us like that. When I was 9 was when I found out about my dad. She wasn't even going to tell me about him, but she had to, cause my grandma filed for grandparents rights. Mom didn't even tell me. Siblings dad is the one to sit me down. That's when my mental health started to really show. I was 9 and finding out the man that I called dad, wasn't actually my dad, and my real dad is never meet cause he's dead. My soul broke that day. Fast forward a few months and I get a puppy for my birthday. It pooped in the house, and G(siblings dad) was so irate, he left the puppy outside in the middle of the night, during the winter... He killed my dog. It was maybe 15° F that night. I woke up the next morning to mom telling me the dog ate paint off the wall ... She did, but the bite marks were there from a week prior. I was 9, not stupid. I saw through her lies. Fast forward again. They end up separating. He had gotten upset, then kidnapped my siblings taking them to a completely different state. He finally came back, and was in jail for 6 months. After he got out .. she got back with him. The final straw happened a few years later. When I was probably 8-10 can't remember exactly how old, I was having issues with my math homework. I have major dyslexia with numbers(can't remember the actual name) and math was my worst subject because of that. I was frustrated cause I just couldn't understand the math homework, so I crumpled the paper. (I was a kid. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I did.) She got up, and started to hit me. She was smacking my arms, and had me pinned down to the couch. I turned my head and she hit my nose hard enough for it to gush blood. (Granted I could flick my nose and it'd bleed, but I digress). Then, I had "played" with a belt with her and G, and one of them(can't remember who) was hitting me with another one. I didn't understand at the time, but we was all smacking each other with belts, tryna hit the others the hardest. (My lord I just realized how bad that actually was.) I went to school the next day, and had a few welts on my arms. Went to the nurse for some ice, and got asked who did it. I explained what happened, and cps got called. I didn't know, but I got home and got screamed at by G. He was in my face, so close I could smell his breath and feel his spittle hitting my face. Then my mom said it wasn't them, but my sister who scratched me. (It wasn't a scratch. It was a welt clearly from a belt.) There's probably more, but my brain made me forget to protect my sanity. Fast forward, she is finally away from him. Then she gets with my now step dad. I was 12 at the time. He was an okay guy. He has 5 kids. Well, of course I was the built in babysitter. I am the oldest out of all 8 of us kids. I wasn't allowed to hang out with friends as much as I should have been growing up, cause I was always the one to be the second parent to them. That's when my mental health started to get severe. I started self harming at 13. It would get so bad. Nothing of significance really happened between then til I was 16. (That I can remember. Thanks brain for protecting me.) I get into highschool. Freshman year. I'm finally able to start hanging out with friends more often. I end up having sex(I was coerced, wanted to wait til I was on bc, but I finally gave in. Shouldn't have, but it's whatever. I'm over it now.) Wasn't on birth control and didn't wear a condom. Had a scare I may have been pregnant. Mom finds out, gets a test and takes me to my grandma's to take it. She berates me in front of my grandparent and my aunt and cousins. Thankfully it was negative. Fast forward to when I was 16. Got my first job. Finally I'm old enough to make my own money. Well, I can't even spend my checks the way I wanted to. Majority of them went to her. I gave her prob 85 percent of my checks. I wanted to save for a car. Couldn't. (Not that it mattered. Didn't get my license til I was 23... I'm 27 now.) Kept getting my temps, only to never practice. Yet, when my sister is 18, she takes her out to drive and helps her get her license. But, whatever. Finally I graduate, and all I get is a gift card(I'm thankful of course. I'm not stingy, I just have envy from all the things my sister got, that I didn't.) Sister got a full blown party. Every single person I have been romantically with, she would put in my head that they aren't good enough. So much so, I thought I would never be with someone who genuinely loved me. (I have that now, so shout out to my amazing fiance.) I'm still cutting on a daily basis at this point. Cut from the ages of 12 to 20. I'd still be, if I wasn't with my fiance. (I was didn't sewer slide myself and actually did it right this time, anyway. Tried 5 times. Thankfully I failed each time.) I have bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and ADHD. Not once did she take me to get health. She always dismissed me when I would try and talk to her about it, so I just kept to myself. It took my fiance's mom to take me and get me the help I needed. I barely graduated cause I just didn't care in 9th and 10th grade. I felt like I wasn't going to live past high school anyway, so why should I care? 11th grade comes up and working had actually given me motivation to keep going. (Plus I started smoking the devil's lettuce, so I was feeling better mentally.) Turn 18 and I move out. Ended up losing my job I had then, and go down a spiral. I got addicted to alcohol and pills for a couple of weeks. Not enough for withdrawals, but it was still bad. Thankfully I woke up one day and realized what I was doing. (I'll give her this, I called and she immediately came to get me so I could get out of that situation.) Fast forward more, I move out again, but just down the street. I'm now 19 and start dating my now fiance. We have been together 8 years and I barely talk to her anymore. Esp this past year. I don't really message her first anymore. I've gone 6 or more months without talking to her. Shoot, without talking to anyone in my family. Fiance's parents get me the mental health I needed. Get diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. I've told Mom I have bipolar since I was 16 and she just dismissed me, saying it's my hormones. (Jokes on her) About 4 years in, she starts telling me I need to find someone else to be with. He isn't good enough for me. (Yeah, like the rest weren't. No one is good enough for her.) It gets to the point I had to tell her and my sister both to stop, or I was gonna cut them out of my life completely. (Should have, looking back, but we learn.) They stop for a while. Sister is now showing her true colors. She's a narcissist and gaslighter, just like her father. She cannot own up to her mistakes, what so ever. She gets into an accident, not her fault. She gets into a fight she started, not her fault. Can't hold down a job, not yet fault. (I've had trouble holding down a job as well, but I'm getting better. I finally got diagnosed with ADHD and am in meds, so I'm not feeling impulsive as bad. Id switch jobs pretty frequently, due to the better sounding one. It's still affecting me to this day, but I'm seeing a change in my mind. Just gotta push through a bit more. Not blaming it on my ADHD, but the disease doesn't make it easier.) Mom has gotten sister a job with her at every single job she's had the past 4 years. Sister ruins it for mom, cause sister can't stand mom not paying attention to her, or doing everything for sister. Sister has bad anxiety, and uses it as an excuse to keep mom working. Sister wants all the pay of being a manager, without actually doing the manager duties. Sister always tells me I need to dress better. Says i "need to look more presentable and not like a slob". I wear skinny jeans and a Tshirt usually. Frequently, I'll wear sweats if I'm just going to moms and not going out. I like being comfy. Constantly criticizing me for every single thing I do. Finally mom says she realizes how bad she has treated me throughout my life. I forgave her a long time ago. Gets to the point mom says she wouldn't have anything to do with sister, if she wasn't her kid. Thought things were gonna change. Clearly not. Mom and sister both get another new job, the same job. Again. It's like nothing has changed since that conversation. Still barely talk to her, and everything. Last time I hung out with them, it was for only 3 hours. THREE HOURS. yet, I had anxiety and panic attacks from that small amount of time, for the next 3 days... I can't do this anymore, but I feel SO freaking guilty for even considering this. I love my mom and sister. I want them in my life, but I can't keep feeling like this. My mental health is always needing to be restarted after being around them. It's like I go back to that 12 year old me and want to self harm all over again. I'm now almost 10 years clean from it. There is no longer any scars, and I'm happier now. I just can't help but to feel I should just suck it up and "get over it". I know this is rediculously long, so if you've read this far, thank you. I just need some other people's perspective that isn't biased and I feel you guys are the best chance for that. I'm really struggling on what to do and feel so guilty for even typing this stuff out. My worst fear is disappointing her, yet I do every day. I also really hate confrontation. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid it, but I just can't anymore. I've always wondered how life would be if my dad was alive. I don't remember him, but I can still say I miss him. I miss the opportunities that I didn't get growing up.
Thank you guys. I'll take whatever you guys throw at me. I just want to see if my feelings are valid or not. This is literally causing me pain. I need help.
submitted by Awkward-Cow1869 to AITAH [link] [comments]
My entire life, I have felt less than when it comes to my mom. It's pretty obvious my sister is the favorite child. Ever since she was born, I was put on a back burner. Then my brother was born, and it got even worse. (My brother is an amazing man, so I don't fault him for anything at all. He's pretty much my unofficial child. I will die for him.) When I was 3, my bio dad died. I did get checks every month for survivors checks, but when I turned 18, I never saw any of it. I understand that she needed it for me while I was a minor, but once I turned 18, it was supposed to actually go to me. I was still in my last year of high school, so it didn't stop til I graduated. If I would have gotten those checks, I would be way farther in life. My mom got with my siblings dad when I was around 4 or 5. That's where the abuse came in. She got pregnant with my sister, and pretty much made me the clown. My sister's dad was a Dr*g addict, and would go on binges, leaving me home alone to watch my siblings, while Mom was at work. I was 6 at this point. Granted, she did call the police and he got charged with 3 counts of child endangerment. (My brother was born at this point). Then, she stayed with him, even though he left us like that. When I was 9 was when I found out about my dad. She wasn't even going to tell me about him, but she had to, cause my grandma filed for grandparents rights. Mom didn't even tell me. Siblings dad is the one to sit me down. That's when my mental health started to really show. I was 9 and finding out the man that I called dad, wasn't actually my dad, and my real dad is never meet cause he's dead. My soul broke that day. Fast forward a few months and I get a puppy for my birthday. It pooped in the house, and G(siblings dad) was so irate, he left the puppy outside in the middle of the night, during the winter... He killed my dog. It was maybe 15° F that night. I woke up the next morning to mom telling me the dog ate paint off the wall ... She did, but the bite marks were there from a week prior. I was 9, not stupid. I saw through her lies. Fast forward again. They end up separating. He had gotten upset, then kidnapped my siblings taking them to a completely different state. He finally came back, and was in jail for 6 months. After he got out .. she got back with him. The final straw happened a few years later. When I was probably 8-10 can't remember exactly how old, I was having issues with my math homework. I have major dyslexia with numbers(can't remember the actual name) and math was my worst subject because of that. I was frustrated cause I just couldn't understand the math homework, so I crumpled the paper. (I was a kid. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I did.) She got up, and started to hit me. She was smacking my arms, and had me pinned down to the couch. I turned my head and she hit my nose hard enough for it to gush blood. (Granted I could flick my nose and it'd bleed, but I digress). Then, I had "played" with a belt with her and G, and one of them(can't remember who) was hitting me with another one. I didn't understand at the time, but we was all smacking each other with belts, tryna hit the others the hardest. (My lord I just realized how bad that actually was.) I went to school the next day, and had a few welts on my arms. Went to the nurse for some ice, and got asked who did it. I explained what happened, and cps got called. I didn't know, but I got home and got screamed at by G. He was in my face, so close I could smell his breath and feel his spittle hitting my face. Then my mom said it wasn't them, but my sister who scratched me. (It wasn't a scratch. It was a welt clearly from a belt.) There's probably more, but my brain made me forget to protect my sanity. Fast forward, she is finally away from him. Then she gets with my now step dad. I was 12 at the time. He was an okay guy. He has 5 kids. Well, of course I was the built in babysitter. I am the oldest out of all 8 of us kids. I wasn't allowed to hang out with friends as much as I should have been growing up, cause I was always the one to be the second parent to them. That's when my mental health started to get severe. I started self harming at 13. It would get so bad. Nothing of significance really happened between then til I was 16. (That I can remember. Thanks brain for protecting me.) I get into highschool. Freshman year. I'm finally able to start hanging out with friends more often. I end up having sex(I was coerced, wanted to wait til I was on bc, but I finally gave in. Shouldn't have, but it's whatever. I'm over it now.) Wasn't on birth control and didn't wear a condom. Had a scare I may have been pregnant. Mom finds out, gets a test and takes me to my grandma's to take it. She berates me in front of my grandparent and my aunt and cousins. Thankfully it was negative. Fast forward to when I was 16. Got my first job. Finally I'm old enough to make my own money. Well, I can't even spend my checks the way I wanted to. Majority of them went to her. I gave her prob 85 percent of my checks. I wanted to save for a car. Couldn't. (Not that it mattered. Didn't get my license til I was 23... I'm 27 now.) Kept getting my temps, only to never practice. Yet, when my sister is 18, she takes her out to drive and helps her get her license. But, whatever. Finally I graduate, and all I get is a gift card(I'm thankful of course. I'm not stingy, I just have envy from all the things my sister got, that I didn't.) Sister got a full blown party. Every single person I have been romantically with, she would put in my head that they aren't good enough. So much so, I thought I would never be with someone who genuinely loved me. (I have that now, so shout out to my amazing fiance.) I'm still cutting on a daily basis at this point. Cut from the ages of 12 to 20. I'd still be, if I wasn't with my fiance. (I was didn't sewer slide myself and actually did it right this time, anyway. Tried 5 times. Thankfully I failed each time.) I have bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and ADHD. Not once did she take me to get health. She always dismissed me when I would try and talk to her about it, so I just kept to myself. It took my fiance's mom to take me and get me the help I needed. I barely graduated cause I just didn't care in 9th and 10th grade. I felt like I wasn't going to live past high school anyway, so why should I care? 11th grade comes up and working had actually given me motivation to keep going. (Plus I started smoking the devil's lettuce, so I was feeling better mentally.) Turn 18 and I move out. Ended up losing my job I had then, and go down a spiral. I got addicted to alcohol and pills for a couple of weeks. Not enough for withdrawals, but it was still bad. Thankfully I woke up one day and realized what I was doing. (I'll give her this, I called and she immediately came to get me so I could get out of that situation.) Fast forward more, I move out again, but just down the street. I'm now 19 and start dating my now fiance. We have been together 8 years and I barely talk to her anymore. Esp this past year. I don't really message her first anymore. I've gone 6 or more months without talking to her. Shoot, without talking to anyone in my family. Fiance's parents get me the mental health I needed. Get diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. I've told Mom I have bipolar since I was 16 and she just dismissed me, saying it's my hormones. (Jokes on her) About 4 years in, she starts telling me I need to find someone else to be with. He isn't good enough for me. (Yeah, like the rest weren't. No one is good enough for her.) It gets to the point I had to tell her and my sister both to stop, or I was gonna cut them out of my life completely. (Should have, looking back, but we learn.) They stop for a while. Sister is now showing her true colors. She's a narcissist and gaslighter, just like her father. She cannot own up to her mistakes, what so ever. She gets into an accident, not her fault. She gets into a fight she started, not her fault. Can't hold down a job, not yet fault. (I've had trouble holding down a job as well, but I'm getting better. I finally got diagnosed with ADHD and am in meds, so I'm not feeling impulsive as bad. Id switch jobs pretty frequently, due to the better sounding one. It's still affecting me to this day, but I'm seeing a change in my mind. Just gotta push through a bit more. Not blaming it on my ADHD, but the disease doesn't make it easier.) Mom has gotten sister a job with her at every single job she's had the past 4 years. Sister ruins it for mom, cause sister can't stand mom not paying attention to her, or doing everything for sister. Sister has bad anxiety, and uses it as an excuse to keep mom working. Sister wants all the pay of being a manager, without actually doing the manager duties. Sister always tells me I need to dress better. Says i "need to look more presentable and not like a slob". I wear skinny jeans and a Tshirt usually. Frequently, I'll wear sweats if I'm just going to moms and not going out. I like being comfy. Constantly criticizing me for every single thing I do. Finally mom says she realizes how bad she has treated me throughout my life. I forgave her a long time ago. Gets to the point mom says she wouldn't have anything to do with sister, if she wasn't her kid. Thought things were gonna change. Clearly not. Mom and sister both get another new job, the same job. Again. It's like nothing has changed since that conversation. Still barely talk to her, and everything. Last time I hung out with them, it was for only 3 hours. THREE HOURS. yet, I had anxiety and panic attacks from that small amount of time, for the next 3 days... I can't do this anymore, but I feel SO freaking guilty for even considering this. I love my mom and sister. I want them in my life, but I can't keep feeling like this. My mental health is always needing to be restarted after being around them. It's like I go back to that 12 year old me and want to self harm all over again. I'm now almost 10 years clean from it. There is no longer any scars, and I'm happier now. I just can't help but to feel I should just suck it up and "get over it". I know this is rediculously long, so if you've read this far, thank you. I just need some other people's perspective that isn't biased and I feel you guys are the best chance for that. I'm really struggling on what to do and feel so guilty for even typing this stuff out. My worst fear is disappointing her, yet I do every day. I also really hate confrontation. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid it, but I just can't anymore. I've always wondered how life would be if my dad was alive. I don't remember him, but I can still say I miss him. I miss the opportunities that I didn't get growing up.
Thank you guys. I'll take whatever you guys throw at me. I just want to see if my feelings are valid or not. This is literally causing me pain. I need help.
2024.05.19 04:12 Archival_Mind Paracausal Convergence 619 - Signal
Archive:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vC9_wjnIAUIq9fila3GLv568ECCmk8rbzo9w9wmWEa4/edit?usp=sharing
"Are you sure about this?" I asked Maya.
"Yes," she replied, "I'm ready."
Maya had spent a week recovering from her injuries, The Coalition had been busy while she was bedridden. Not only had the attempted revival of Nezarec been thwarted, but the pawns of Darkness on the outside had been spread too thin. The hordes of Xivu Arath have dwindled, their leader cut off from her Throne World. House Salvation is falling apart even more without the Hive corralling them. The Coalition is attempting to take advantage of this.
It still felt too easy, especially since the discovery of the Subjugators and Grim. I had thought that the Pyramid Fleet only had Tormentors, with Iris making use of Sanguinaries. Now, I see that the omens in the Pyramid fought in Operation Pitfall were just the start. I can only guess what else has been hidden from me.
"Welcome back, Maya." Ak-Tol said.
"It's good to see you," Maya replied, "how have you been?"
"Well, thank you." He answered, "My followers have found refuge in the southern polar regions of Mars. We hope to start anew, without fear from the Hive Gods or the Worm Gods. We are thriving."
"You're giving your people a fresh start," Oztec added, "the same cannot be said for some species. This war has taken the lives of trillions."
"We try to hold some hope." Ak-Tol said.
A feeling. A faint pulse.
"How close are we to finding out how to go through?" Maya asked, "Last I checked, we were trying to get information from Savathûn."
"With her sister beaten, we're simply waiting on a definitive explanation." Ak-Tol said, "The Queen of Lies won't give up her secrets easily."
"We're running out of time." Maya said.
The pulse again. It's a-
"Distress call!" Zuloc announced, looking up from the holo-table, "It's coming from a place outside the system, but being directed here."
"To this ship?" Maya asked.
"Yes." Zuloc confirmed.
The group moved to the table as Zuloc pulled up a map, Oztect moving to help. The hologram showed the Solar System, Coalition and Pyramid markers dominating areas around celestial bodies. Zuloc drew a line from our location in the Reef to somewhere far beyond the Kuiper Belt, halfway across the galaxy.
"What is this?" I asked, "Why is-"
In that moment I understood. The feeling is unmistakably Vex. For the Collective to reach me, something truly terrible must be happening.
"Found a pathway." Zuloc said, "The call is being routed through a structure on the opposite side of Mercury's orbit."
"Vex?" I asked.
"Yes." Zuloc said, "How did you know?"
"I still feel them." I answered.
"The structure is surrounded by a barrier similar to what was recorded within the Pyramidion on Io." Oztect said.
"So it changes?" Maya asked.
"Maybe," I said, "anything in the signal itself?"
"Nothing understandable," Zuloc said, "whatever is being sent through is being corrupted by another force."
Oh no...
"Chart a course for the Vex structure!" I commanded.
"What is it?" Maya asked.
"The Vex wouldn't contact me unless it was something terrible." I said, "I think I have an idea as to what that is."
The Imperial Guard turned to face the sun. Within moments, we had made it. Before us was a massive construct that looked similar to the Citadel on Venus. In its center was a massive gateway. Everyone braced as the ship moved forward, carefully navigating into the portal.
Passing through, we found ourselves in a trinary star system. There were two smaller orange stars orbiting a massive blue one. Below us was a planet. It was grey with machinery, with the occasional blue light breaking up the monochromatic space. Despite being a Vex world, there were no hints of the stone that covered their machines, just the metal. The most noticeable feature was a pattern at least 10 kilometers in diameter. I recognized its symbol.
It was the same labyrinth pattern found on the base of the Tree of Silver Wings on Io...
submitted by Archival_Mind to DestinyJournals [link] [comments]
"Yes," she replied, "I'm ready."
Maya had spent a week recovering from her injuries, The Coalition had been busy while she was bedridden. Not only had the attempted revival of Nezarec been thwarted, but the pawns of Darkness on the outside had been spread too thin. The hordes of Xivu Arath have dwindled, their leader cut off from her Throne World. House Salvation is falling apart even more without the Hive corralling them. The Coalition is attempting to take advantage of this.
It still felt too easy, especially since the discovery of the Subjugators and Grim. I had thought that the Pyramid Fleet only had Tormentors, with Iris making use of Sanguinaries. Now, I see that the omens in the Pyramid fought in Operation Pitfall were just the start. I can only guess what else has been hidden from me.
"Welcome back, Maya." Ak-Tol said.
"It's good to see you," Maya replied, "how have you been?"
"Well, thank you." He answered, "My followers have found refuge in the southern polar regions of Mars. We hope to start anew, without fear from the Hive Gods or the Worm Gods. We are thriving."
"You're giving your people a fresh start," Oztec added, "the same cannot be said for some species. This war has taken the lives of trillions."
"We try to hold some hope." Ak-Tol said.
A feeling. A faint pulse.
"How close are we to finding out how to go through?" Maya asked, "Last I checked, we were trying to get information from Savathûn."
"With her sister beaten, we're simply waiting on a definitive explanation." Ak-Tol said, "The Queen of Lies won't give up her secrets easily."
"We're running out of time." Maya said.
The pulse again. It's a-
"Distress call!" Zuloc announced, looking up from the holo-table, "It's coming from a place outside the system, but being directed here."
"To this ship?" Maya asked.
"Yes." Zuloc confirmed.
The group moved to the table as Zuloc pulled up a map, Oztect moving to help. The hologram showed the Solar System, Coalition and Pyramid markers dominating areas around celestial bodies. Zuloc drew a line from our location in the Reef to somewhere far beyond the Kuiper Belt, halfway across the galaxy.
"What is this?" I asked, "Why is-"
In that moment I understood. The feeling is unmistakably Vex. For the Collective to reach me, something truly terrible must be happening.
"Found a pathway." Zuloc said, "The call is being routed through a structure on the opposite side of Mercury's orbit."
"Vex?" I asked.
"Yes." Zuloc said, "How did you know?"
"I still feel them." I answered.
"The structure is surrounded by a barrier similar to what was recorded within the Pyramidion on Io." Oztect said.
"So it changes?" Maya asked.
"Maybe," I said, "anything in the signal itself?"
"Nothing understandable," Zuloc said, "whatever is being sent through is being corrupted by another force."
Oh no...
"Chart a course for the Vex structure!" I commanded.
"What is it?" Maya asked.
"The Vex wouldn't contact me unless it was something terrible." I said, "I think I have an idea as to what that is."
The Imperial Guard turned to face the sun. Within moments, we had made it. Before us was a massive construct that looked similar to the Citadel on Venus. In its center was a massive gateway. Everyone braced as the ship moved forward, carefully navigating into the portal.
Passing through, we found ourselves in a trinary star system. There were two smaller orange stars orbiting a massive blue one. Below us was a planet. It was grey with machinery, with the occasional blue light breaking up the monochromatic space. Despite being a Vex world, there were no hints of the stone that covered their machines, just the metal. The most noticeable feature was a pattern at least 10 kilometers in diameter. I recognized its symbol.
It was the same labyrinth pattern found on the base of the Tree of Silver Wings on Io...
2024.05.19 02:20 GJWon 2024 Year's Zodiac Horoscope (born 1983-2003)
 | 2024 is halfway through. How are you doing this year? submitted by GJWon to KoreaSeoul [link] [comments] If you feel like you've missed out, or if you're not sure what to do, read the fortune-telling by 12 Ganji; Zodiac widely known in Asia.
|
2024.05.19 00:22 MeshellT Using AI as a "new lock picking tool" and/or companion - test on my Paclock 90a-pro
 | Hi, submitted by MeshellT to lockpicking [link] [comments] I spend quite some time reading posts here and I see a lot of people asking for help either because they are beginners or because they are having problems regarding their specific lock. Some people like doing their own lock picking tools, I tried to use AI - Chat GPT4-o as a new possible "lock picking tool" and/or companion. Spoiler / conclusion : I still didn't manage to open it but I was extremely impressed by it's relevancy in such small amount of time (30 seconds) on my specific lock with just 3 pics and a few questions ( I use Chat Gpt a lot for work therefore I kind of know how to make prompts to push it to get as relevant as possible...like adding specific words to make sure it will go and get the necessary information needed ). For sure, it's not perfect (yet?) but I will now do the exact process before coming to you guys to get a first feeling of my locks to avoid too many questions when I am stuck on a new lock ;) Now here's what happened : What I did : I only sent the 3 pictures of my specific 90a-pro that you can see in my post (nothing else…. No text to give info on the lock :
https://preview.redd.it/vy01al93g91d1.png?width=930&format=png&auto=webp&s=4b3dbf825f28a806e0d91a7ae2609c45d8196c64 https://preview.redd.it/vjfsvip7g91d1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=428b421232e58f86e9c28feee559aace181c0d9a What I asked Chat Gpt4-o : I am a passionate beginner of lock picking - I have found this lock that I don't know anything about for which I included 3 pictures : one is a picture of the lock , another other one is the gutted lock for which you see the pins (Pin 1 is on the left and pin 7 is on the right) and the last picture is the key I received that opens the lock. Here are a few questions :
What Chat GPT4-o answered in less than a minute : PACLOCK 90A-PRO Lock Picking Guide Background and Details of PACLOCK : PACLOCK, short for Pacific Lock Company, was founded in 1998 and is recognized for producing high-quality padlocks and security hardware. They are known for their innovative and customizable security solutions, all manufactured in the USA. The company's product line includes padlocks, puck locks, and cylinders designed for both commercial and residential use. PACLOCK is highly regarded for its durability, precision engineering, and excellent customer service. Their products are widely used in various industries, including transportation, government, and utilities, which speaks to their reliability and strength. Specifications and Reputation of the PACLOCK 90A-PRO : The PACLOCK 90A-PRO is a high-security padlock known for its robust construction and pick-resistant features. The lock body is machined from 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum, making it lightweight yet incredibly strong. It features a 7-pin cylinder, which offers higher complexity and security compared to standard 5-pin locks. The shackle is made from hardened steel, providing significant resistance against cutting and sawing attacks. In the lock picking community, the 90A-PRO is highly regarded for its combination of quality materials and challenging security features, making it a popular choice for both enthusiasts and professionals. Detailed Pin Identification and Characteristics : In the PACLOCK 90A-PRO, the driver pins consist of two spool pins (positions 1 and 2), four serrated pins (positions 3, 4, 5, and 6), and one standard pin (position 7). All key pins are standard. The key you provided has a bitting pattern with varying depths: Depth 2 for pin 1, Depth 4 for pin 2, Depth 3 for pin 3, Depth 5 for pin 4, Depth 3 for pin 5, Depth 4 for pin 6, and Depth 1 for pin 7. Given this configuration, the pin at position 7 is a zero lift pin, meaning it is already at or very close to the shear line and does not need to be lifted during picking. Security Pins: Definition, Details, and Strategies : SPOOL PINS : Definition and Details: Spool pins have a narrow middle section with wider ends, resembling a spool of thread. This shape creates a false set when the pin is partially lifted, causing the plug to rotate slightly and giving the illusion that the pin is set. Strategy to Bypass: To pick spool pins, apply moderate tension and lift the pin until you feel counter-rotation, indicating the pin is binding at its narrow middle section. Carefully release tension while continuing to lift the pin to set it correctly at the shear line. Look for the counter-rotation and adjust tension accordingly to avoid dropping other pins. SERRATED PINS : Definition and Details: Serrated pins have multiple notches or serrations along their length. These notches create several points of friction within the plug, leading to multiple false sets as the pin catches at each serration. Strategy to Bypass: To pick serrated pins, apply light tension and gently lift each pin until you feel the serrations clicking into place. Proceed slowly to ensure you do not over-set the pin, as lifting too high can cause the pin to catch above the shear line. Be patient and listen for the distinct clicks as each serration passes the shear line. STANDARD PINS : Definition and Details: Standard pins are uniform cylinders without any additional features. They do not create false sets and are straightforward to pick. Strategy to Bypass: To pick standard pins, apply steady tension and lift the pin smoothly until it sets at the shear line without much resistance. Since they do not have any security features, standard pins should be the easiest to set. Key Bitting Analysis and Its Impact on Picking Strategy The key bitting pattern affects how each pin must be manipulated to reach the shear line. Here's the analysis of each pin based on the bitting and what it requires: Pin 1 (Depth 2): This pin is relatively shallow. It requires a light lift, meaning minimal picking pressure is needed. Pin 2 (Depth 4): This pin requires a moderate lift, needing more pressure to reach the shear line. Pin 3 (Depth 3): This pin requires a moderate lift, similar to Pin 2 but slightly less. Pin 4 (Depth 5): This pin is deep, requiring a significant lift to reach the shear line, demanding more careful control to avoid over-setting. Pin 5 (Depth 3): Similar to Pin 3, it requires a moderate lift. Pin 6 (Depth 4): This pin also needs a moderate lift, similar to Pin 2. Pin 7 (Depth 1): This is the shallowest pin and is a zero lift pin. It should be avoided during picking to prevent over-setting. Identifying and Managing False Sets What Should Happen: When you encounter a false set, the plug will turn slightly as if the lock is about to open, but it will not turn completely. This is typically caused by the binding of security pins such as spools or serrated pins. The false set occurs because the security pin partially sets, but the lock does not fully unlock until all pins are correctly set at the shear line. How to Identify a False Set: Counter-Rotation: For spool pins, a false set is indicated by a slight turn of the plug followed by a counter-rotation when you apply more pressure to the binding pin. Clicking Sound: For serrated pins, you may feel or hear multiple clicks as the serrations catch, but the plug will not fully turn. Partial Plug Turn: The plug may turn slightly but stops, indicating not all pins are set. Managing False Sets: Spool Pins: If you encounter a false set with a spool pin, feel for the pin that causes counter-rotation when you apply pressure. Carefully lift this pin while slightly reducing tension to allow the spool pin to set correctly. Serrated Pins: For false sets caused by serrated pins, release a small amount of tension and gently lift the pin to allow the serrations to pass the shear line without over-setting. Recheck All Pins: If the plug does not turn fully, recheck each pin to identify any that may still be binding or over-set. Adjust tension and lift as needed. Jiggle Test: Definition and Use in Picking Strategy Definition and Details: The jiggle test involves lightly probing each pin to see if it jiggles or moves slightly. If a pin jiggles, it is likely already set at the shear line. If a pin feels solid or resists movement, it may still need to be set. Strategy to Implement: Apply Light Tension: Start with light tension and use a hook pick to probe each pin. Test Each Pin: Gently lift each pin and feel for movement. If a pin jiggles, it is set. If a pin feels solid, it needs to be lifted. Adjust Tension: Adjust the tension as you go, using the jiggle test to confirm pins that are set and identify those that need further manipulation. Strategy to Single Pick the PACLOCK 90A-PRO To pick the PACLOCK 90A-PRO, start by inserting a bottom-of-the-keyway tension wrench to maintain better control over the tension, and apply light tension to start. Insert a hook pick and feel for the first binding pin, which is the pin that resists movement. Begin by locating the binding pin regardless of its type (spool, serrated, or standard). Lift each pin carefully based on its type and the required lifting depth: Identify Binding Pin: Start by inserting the pick and feel for the first pin that resists movement, which is the binding pin. Set Binding Pins (Spool Pins 1 and 2): Lift until you feel counter-rotation. Carefully release tension while continuing to lift the pin to set it correctly. Set Binding Pins (Serrated Pins 3, 4, 5, and 6): Apply light tension and lift gently until you feel a series of clicks, which indicate the serrations passing the shear line. Be cautious not to lift too high to avoid over-setting these pins. Set Binding Pin (Standard Pin 7): Apply steady tension and lift smoothly until the pin sets at the shear line without much resistance. Since this is also a zero lift pin, ensure minimal interaction. Use the Jiggle Test: After setting each pin, use the jiggle test to confirm it is correctly set. If a pin jiggles, it is set; if it feels solid, it needs further manipulation. Check for False Sets: If the plug has a slight turn but does not open, check for pins causing false sets by lightly lifting each pin again, focusing on those still binding. If you suspect over-setting or a deep false set, release tension briefly to reset the pins, then reapply tension and start over. Final Steps and Adjustment To summarize the key points: apply light tension and focus on identifying and setting the binding pins first, regardless of their type. Use appropriate techniques for spool, serrated, and standard pins, considering the specific requirements of the key bitting pattern. Use the jiggle test to confirm pin settings and identify pins needing further adjustment. If the lock does not open after setting all pins, recheck for false sets and reset if necessary. By following these detailed steps and understanding the specific characteristics of each pin, you can effectively pick the PACLOCK 90A-PRO. Practice will help you develop a feel for the subtle feedback from each pin, improving your precision and success rate. That's it ! Please let me know what you all think ? I am sure that it's still not as precise as experienced human lock pickers ..... but I am still quite amazed ! Maybe if the mods find it interesting it could count as my requirements for other belts :relaxed::relaxed::relaxed::relaxed::relaxed: Purple belt "Demonstrated history of helping new pickers, either on the sub and/or in the Discord channel." or : Brown belt : "Make at least one specialized tool and publish the specs") Hahaha. |
2024.05.18 22:19 HildebertTheCraven How hard is it to win with Shield Bros & Swordlances when throwing, close range two handers and most meta builds are banned? (Day 150 Monolith)
Swordlances and Shield Bros (that actually attack) have gotten a lot of criticism in the BB community, but how bad are they really?
I wanted to find out, so I did a run where I banned most of the meta builds, as well as throwing weapons and close range two handers. I also banned gunners, qatal duelists, mace duelists and cleaver duelists. I also banned berserk and killing frenzy as I wanted to experience the stamina system without relying on berserk recover.
Reach weapons were allowed as their damage is more in line with other weapons. Possibly a mistake though, as they circumvent the weirdness of the stamina system.
Standard pure defense tank builds and normal banner builds were allowed, in order to keep the test focused on the performance of the other builds. Sword duelists were allowed as a filler option for bros without the stamina to do anything else, flail duelists were allowed for guys with bad melee skill.
This started off as a challenge run but it turned into more of a build testing experiment as the off meta builds turned out to be strong enough that it wasn't really much harder than a normal run (until the end). So I fought certain battles multiple times for testing purposes, but still let bros die normally.
Team composition:
4 Attacking Shield Bros, 4-6 frontline Swordlances, 1 Normal Banner, 1 Normal Tank, rest filler in the form of sword duelists & flail duelists. One Shield Bro was also a spearman. Two Swordlances were semi ranged units with around 46 ranged skill and carried crossbows so enemy parties with weak ranged would advance normally. Exact builds in pics.
Team Part 1
.
Team Part 2
Results:
This team actually had a relatively easy time with most fights, getting in ~215 fights by day 149 and finding / buying 33 famed items while only finding a few champions and only buying a few good items. Core bros from early in the game hit level 15. I am not a speed runner or super high fight density player, so that's a decent result for me, which indicates the team was actually surprisingly strong.
Builds:
Frontline Swordlance:
This made up the bulk of my damage. While swordlance has gotten a lot of criticism, frontline swordlance just seems like a good tempo build for most of the game. Aside from gunners, it's simply the easiest way to AOE without requiring high stats or good armor. You can use a daytaler with mediocre starting stats for swordlance, while AOEing with a two hander requires a much better recruit who can survive a fair amount of enemy contact.
Winning against large numbers of humanoid enemies in early high tier camps is largely based on morale checks and getting fearsome procs. Using AOE abilities is a good way to get fearsome procs. Obviously it clears out weaker enemies and that lowers the morale of stronger enemies. But the damage doesn't really fall off too badly until you get to the most heavily armored enemies. It's even fine vs Chosen as you can use the increased reach and mobility to focus fire and get in multiple AOEs and stay out of trouble. Maybe vs later Chosen camps past day 150 that would become more difficult.
In general, with pathfinder + polearm you almost always get at least one attack in and you can focus fire very easily, while keeping your damage bros safe, which goes a long way in terms of tempo compared to other builds that have more dead turns.
Swordlance is also good against beasts like Lindwurms as many beast fights seems to favor the strategy of walk forward, hit with reach weapon, walk out of attack range. You can just AOE the lindwurms down while your damage bros are perfectly safe.
Is it better than Javelins? Probably not, javelins are OP, but it uses a much easier to obtain recruit type and it does have advantages in some fights compared to javelins, as in many of the more risky mid game camps the enemy likely has more range than you, forcing you to advance. Swordlance can simply walk right up to the walls and reap away, while throwers have trouble setting up throwing lanes and one range attackers get clogged up and can't attack.
Swordlance can also invest in a full set of defenses and survivability perks. (That's why it's "Frontline Swordlance".) It doesn't have to waste a scarce backline spot but can safely take contact from even Chosen temporarily, as long as it's not getting swarmed by them. So the more relevant comparison is Swordlance vs Dodge Quickhands. In that comparison Swordlance seems to have a lot of advantages while the disadvantages are minor (especially since in a normal run you can just keep a two handed axe as backup.)
Swordlance damage only really became a problem vs masses of uncontrolled, heavy armor enemies, like if you fight all the Ancient Undead at the same time in Monolith (more on that later). However, in normal fights Ancient Honor Guards aren't challenging due to predictable AI and by day 150 Orc Warriors are still in relatively small numbers and are easily controlled and their morale is easily broken. I guess if you played super late swordlance might start to struggle in some larger camps.
Swordlance build: Poleshield:
Stole this build from this subreddit, thanks! Most of the time he plays as a normal swordlance, but he has the option to swap to a heater shield when he gets stuck in melee and needs the defense. Start with swordlance out, swing (5 ap), swap to shield (4 ap). End turn. Next turn, wait with relentless as shield stays out, swap to swordlance at the end and swing (4 ap + 5 ap). Next turn you will go before slower enemies so you can swing again and put your shield up for the rest of the turn. Most swings hit while shield is up. For most of the game this wasn't needed very often and he instead used a 4 ap weapon as a sidearm so he could dump his stamina into damage as quickly as possible. He tries to stay out of trouble so he doesn't need the shield. However on Monolith or in dangerous situations the shield option did come in handy. One polearm swing per turn isn't great damage, but with AOE it's not horrible and the shield does a lot to keep them alive until they can get out of trouble (can reach 50 defense with dodge). It's also helpful to have the shield out when you use recover.
Swordlance build: Fake Ranged Tempo Poleshield:
If you aren't going to build ranged units, you probably want a couple of fake ranged units, otherwise enemies with minor ranged abilities (like orc young with javelins) won't walk up to you as they normally do. Just take a mediocre ranged recruit with high based ranged skill and get him up to 46 ranged skill, then put the rest of the stats in melee. Start the fight with a crossbow in hand so it's loaded. The AI treats it as a normal ranged unit and will advance normally. You still have to advance if they have a lot of ranged so it's the same as normal runs. He can actually hit quite often with his crossbow vs certain enemies. Bags and belts performed great on these guys but duelist was for a specific weapon and probably shouldn't be taken normally. One died but he had similar stats.
Shield Bros:
While four shield bros that attack plus a tank and a tank banner (who usually just stands there holding the banner) is overkill (or uhh underkill) in terms of low damage defensive units, the shield bros performed surprisingly well in terms of tempo, even though I was never able to find an ideal candidate for a battleforged hammer + shield bro.
In a normal run it often takes a quite a long time to find candidates who can hit a stat line like 85/35 at level 11 to qualify as fatigue neutrals, which means that you can end up with a team full of nimble damage dealers with few defense bros aside from the tanks. That delays your ability to shift to optimal tactics, where the front line is made up of high defense high armor bros who take most of the enemy attacks, while the damage dealers stand in safer positions and try to only get attacked by one enemy at a time.
A unit who wouldn't quite measure up as a fatigue neutral can be made into a Shield Bro instead and he'll have plenty of defense to fill a front line spot and stand up against 3 enemies or more, while still contributing some damage over time.
Probably the most desirable attacking shield bro is a battleforged hammer shield bro, but that only works with high fatigue backgrounds, I didn't get the right recruits for that so I was forced to compromise on my shield bro builds.
Shield Bro Build: Fatigue Neutral Iron Lungs:
Stamina management is a huge problem without access to two handed weapons. Getting attacked by a lot of enemies quickly uses up a lot of stamina and only a small percentage of recruits can have enough stamina to tank in battleforged armor and still swing two times per turn. I never really found many skilled recruits with a high stamina pool like that.
Battleforged is still essential though. Bros with iron lungs can be fatigue neutral and swing certain weapons twice per turn, every turn. Normally that's limited to cleavers and swords, but if you get famed weapons you can expand the list of one handed fatigue neutral weapons. I was lucky enough to get famed weapons for these two, although they were not great ones.
Defensively, these guys performed better than the numbers indicate as they didn't take any bleeds, injuries or fearsome checks. And while their defense is only in the mid 50s with shield, that still makes them significantly tankier than a normal fatigue neutral. Their damage is pretty bad but it adds up in the course of long fights, so I think you'd lose tempo in most fights if you substituted pure defensive tanks. In Monolith they could survive for many rounds tanking up to 7 ancient undead at a time, which nimble or nimbleforged bros could not handle.
With recruiter retinue it makes sense to check a lot of guys for traits anyway and this can be a high impact way to use some guys with iron lungs and mediocre stats. It's a bit niche but I would consider using this build in a normal run, especially if I got an appropriate famed weapon and didn't need a duelist. One of these guys started as a 55*/2* Iron Lungs Daytaler, his performance as a damage sponge + damage over time was solid in this build, but as a duelist he'd have been mediocre and used up a lot of tools. In this run more damage was needed, but in a normal run there is usually a shortage of high defense forged units.
Shield Bro Build: Hammer Shield
One handed Hammer still performs well even without double grip or duelist. Destroy armor still does a lot of armor damage on the appropriate enemies and the regular attack will always proc fearsome, which often means he can simply walk up to an orc warrior or chosen and rout him with a couple hits, while having 60 defense.
This run didn't really maximize the strengths of the hammer shield bro, ideally he'd be a high stamina background in forged armor and he'd be paired with high damage teammates like a barbarian two handed axe that just need a little armor softening.
Nimble and nimbleforged are definitely fine for large camps at 150 days of scaling and earlier but if the late game camps scale to the point where he has no choice but to be focus fired by many high damage enemies, then you'd want a forged bro instead. Mine started to run out of steam when fighting both undead groups at once in Monolith. Still, this is a build I would routinely consider adding to the line up. Another great reason to build this is that Nimble Hammer Shield combines well with Spear + Shield, which is great for mid game tempo.
Shield Bro Build: Spear Specialist
Spear specialist performs a similar role to the indomitable tank, but becomes available earlier. Due to the way the AI works he can often hold off as many as 4-6 enemies for several turns. The spear specialization perk is very valuable as you can continue to refresh spearwall even while tanking another enemy, often you can arrange it so the only available spot for an enemy to attack is next to the spearman, causing several enemies to waste their turns trying to move in. Two handed enemies like chosen and berserkers are particularly crippled as they can only move one tile and attack, so you either force them to waste their turn by moving, or if they walk into spearwall they lose their turn if the spearman hits even once. The spearman singlehandedly increases the number of camps that will be profitable for your team. Spear combines well with shield and hammer in the classic Spear Hammer Shield Build from early BB, giving you something to do when you are done spearwalling. Will build again.
Weaknesses and Monolith:
I did multiple Black Monolith fights for testing purposes.
https://preview.redd.it/tgvvrj14881d1.png?width=1779&format=png&auto=webp&s=a58156df46337efd136bccea6564799c81e2abf2
I'm aware of two strategies for Monolith, with one being significantly easier than the other.
The "Speedrun" strategy (seen in Shringshring's video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayh35O9mLUw&t=8429s) involves splitting the undead into two groups by running the tank to the top left corner of the map, while the rest of the team retreats towards the bottom left corner of the map. The fight plays out as two separate fights with a break in between. It is reliable if you move like he does, the necrosavants may attack if your team spreads out too much though. Even if you only move a little bit though, it's enough to split the undead as long as the tank makes it to the corner.
The other strategy is the "Normal" or "Hard Mode" strategy for Monolith, where the tank runs approximately 4 hexes towards the top of the map and the team retreats approximately two hexes to the left. The fight starts sooner and it is possible for the tank to die relatively quickly. You need either a good tank to last a long time or a good amount of damage, otherwise you can end up facing both undead groups at the same time. This is the more difficult strategy but high damage late game teams with good tanks can handle it fine.
The Shield Bro + Swordlance team doesn't have any problem with Monolith with the speedrun strategy. It's true that the swordlances feel a bit weak against the ancient honor guards, but there isn't excessive pressure on the team so it can take the time to set up good AOEs with swordlances, weaken armor with hammer bros and focus fire. It plays out like two normal fights back to back.
However, when trying to brute force both Ancient Dead groups with the "Hard Mode" strategy, the team finally starts to show its weakness. The team takes 20 to 21 rounds to beat Monolith using this strategy. That's much slower than normal for Monolith. The Battleforged fatigue neutral shield bros performed well, surviving for many rounds while getting hit by up to 7 ancient honor guards at a time, but having the fight take so long leaves more time for things to go wrong and win rate on Monolith was probably only about 60% with this strategy, as there was a risk of the tank going down early. This could have been reduced with a better tank and/or more potions. Fighting both undead groups + necrosavants all at once was too much for the team to overcome reliably. Swordlances ran out of stamina and got stuck in non optimal positions for AOE, hammers were not able to eliminate Honor Guards quickly enough on their own. It may also have been a mistake to go from 5-6 Swordlances in most normal fights to only 4 in the Monolith, by benching the faked ranged for newly trained high defense bros, as there was a real lack of damage for the "Hard Mode" strategy.
While there isn't much reason to do the "Hard Mode" strategy instead of the "Speedrun" strategy, this still hints at a weakness that might show up in certain extremely highly scaled camps late in the game, like very late sea of tents. Just not enough damage vs armor, plus tons and tons of armored enemies pushing in too fast, getting in contact with vulnerable nimble units. However the amount of orc warriors that spawned in early game Sea of Tents were no problem at all, swordlance guys could just keep a tier 2 hammer in the pocket and easily rout them with fearsome after routing the young and berserkers.
Finally, fighting both undead groups at once illustrated some problems with the stamina system in this game as it relates to 4ap weapons. I left the sword duelist option available for filler bros with lower stamina who couldn't do anything else. Normally the build performed fine, however when there was an extremely high density of enemies and the sword duelist was getting attacked a lot he quickly ran out of stamina and could rarely regain enough to swing twice. He could either use recover, which was never needed in any other fight, or he could stand there and swing only once like an idiot. I gave them reach weapons for just this reason, but it was kind of a crutch to play around this imbalance of the stamina system, that's why two handed weapons are so good after all. In the Speedrun strategy when the undead were split into two groups, the sword duelists had no problems as they could take positions where only small numbers of enemies could swing at them.
Conclusion:
The meta builds exist for a reason of course, but the Devs generally did a great job balancing this game and you can definitely make a lot of non-meta builds work. Sometimes they even feel quite strong. However, when designing your non-meta builds keep in mind the imbalances with the stamina system. For a tanky character with a high stamina pool who uses high stamina cost moves, like the Hammer Shield Bro, taking a turn to recover doesn't feel too bad. But pathfinder based 4 ap builds that don't use much stamina in normal fights can find their offense shut down if they let a lot of enemies swing at them. That kind of limits the value of high defense and high durability on this kind of unit and makes me want to avoid putting 4 ap weapons on them, even though it seems more thematic than giant two handed weapons.
submitted by HildebertTheCraven to BattleBrothers [link] [comments]
I wanted to find out, so I did a run where I banned most of the meta builds, as well as throwing weapons and close range two handers. I also banned gunners, qatal duelists, mace duelists and cleaver duelists. I also banned berserk and killing frenzy as I wanted to experience the stamina system without relying on berserk recover.
Reach weapons were allowed as their damage is more in line with other weapons. Possibly a mistake though, as they circumvent the weirdness of the stamina system.
Standard pure defense tank builds and normal banner builds were allowed, in order to keep the test focused on the performance of the other builds. Sword duelists were allowed as a filler option for bros without the stamina to do anything else, flail duelists were allowed for guys with bad melee skill.
This started off as a challenge run but it turned into more of a build testing experiment as the off meta builds turned out to be strong enough that it wasn't really much harder than a normal run (until the end). So I fought certain battles multiple times for testing purposes, but still let bros die normally.
Team composition:
4 Attacking Shield Bros, 4-6 frontline Swordlances, 1 Normal Banner, 1 Normal Tank, rest filler in the form of sword duelists & flail duelists. One Shield Bro was also a spearman. Two Swordlances were semi ranged units with around 46 ranged skill and carried crossbows so enemy parties with weak ranged would advance normally. Exact builds in pics.
Team Part 1
.
Team Part 2
Results:
This team actually had a relatively easy time with most fights, getting in ~215 fights by day 149 and finding / buying 33 famed items while only finding a few champions and only buying a few good items. Core bros from early in the game hit level 15. I am not a speed runner or super high fight density player, so that's a decent result for me, which indicates the team was actually surprisingly strong.
Builds:
Frontline Swordlance:
This made up the bulk of my damage. While swordlance has gotten a lot of criticism, frontline swordlance just seems like a good tempo build for most of the game. Aside from gunners, it's simply the easiest way to AOE without requiring high stats or good armor. You can use a daytaler with mediocre starting stats for swordlance, while AOEing with a two hander requires a much better recruit who can survive a fair amount of enemy contact.
Winning against large numbers of humanoid enemies in early high tier camps is largely based on morale checks and getting fearsome procs. Using AOE abilities is a good way to get fearsome procs. Obviously it clears out weaker enemies and that lowers the morale of stronger enemies. But the damage doesn't really fall off too badly until you get to the most heavily armored enemies. It's even fine vs Chosen as you can use the increased reach and mobility to focus fire and get in multiple AOEs and stay out of trouble. Maybe vs later Chosen camps past day 150 that would become more difficult.
In general, with pathfinder + polearm you almost always get at least one attack in and you can focus fire very easily, while keeping your damage bros safe, which goes a long way in terms of tempo compared to other builds that have more dead turns.
Swordlance is also good against beasts like Lindwurms as many beast fights seems to favor the strategy of walk forward, hit with reach weapon, walk out of attack range. You can just AOE the lindwurms down while your damage bros are perfectly safe.
Is it better than Javelins? Probably not, javelins are OP, but it uses a much easier to obtain recruit type and it does have advantages in some fights compared to javelins, as in many of the more risky mid game camps the enemy likely has more range than you, forcing you to advance. Swordlance can simply walk right up to the walls and reap away, while throwers have trouble setting up throwing lanes and one range attackers get clogged up and can't attack.
Swordlance can also invest in a full set of defenses and survivability perks. (That's why it's "Frontline Swordlance".) It doesn't have to waste a scarce backline spot but can safely take contact from even Chosen temporarily, as long as it's not getting swarmed by them. So the more relevant comparison is Swordlance vs Dodge Quickhands. In that comparison Swordlance seems to have a lot of advantages while the disadvantages are minor (especially since in a normal run you can just keep a two handed axe as backup.)
Swordlance damage only really became a problem vs masses of uncontrolled, heavy armor enemies, like if you fight all the Ancient Undead at the same time in Monolith (more on that later). However, in normal fights Ancient Honor Guards aren't challenging due to predictable AI and by day 150 Orc Warriors are still in relatively small numbers and are easily controlled and their morale is easily broken. I guess if you played super late swordlance might start to struggle in some larger camps.
Swordlance build: Poleshield:
Stole this build from this subreddit, thanks! Most of the time he plays as a normal swordlance, but he has the option to swap to a heater shield when he gets stuck in melee and needs the defense. Start with swordlance out, swing (5 ap), swap to shield (4 ap). End turn. Next turn, wait with relentless as shield stays out, swap to swordlance at the end and swing (4 ap + 5 ap). Next turn you will go before slower enemies so you can swing again and put your shield up for the rest of the turn. Most swings hit while shield is up. For most of the game this wasn't needed very often and he instead used a 4 ap weapon as a sidearm so he could dump his stamina into damage as quickly as possible. He tries to stay out of trouble so he doesn't need the shield. However on Monolith or in dangerous situations the shield option did come in handy. One polearm swing per turn isn't great damage, but with AOE it's not horrible and the shield does a lot to keep them alive until they can get out of trouble (can reach 50 defense with dodge). It's also helpful to have the shield out when you use recover.
Swordlance build: Fake Ranged Tempo Poleshield:
If you aren't going to build ranged units, you probably want a couple of fake ranged units, otherwise enemies with minor ranged abilities (like orc young with javelins) won't walk up to you as they normally do. Just take a mediocre ranged recruit with high based ranged skill and get him up to 46 ranged skill, then put the rest of the stats in melee. Start the fight with a crossbow in hand so it's loaded. The AI treats it as a normal ranged unit and will advance normally. You still have to advance if they have a lot of ranged so it's the same as normal runs. He can actually hit quite often with his crossbow vs certain enemies. Bags and belts performed great on these guys but duelist was for a specific weapon and probably shouldn't be taken normally. One died but he had similar stats.
Shield Bros:
While four shield bros that attack plus a tank and a tank banner (who usually just stands there holding the banner) is overkill (or uhh underkill) in terms of low damage defensive units, the shield bros performed surprisingly well in terms of tempo, even though I was never able to find an ideal candidate for a battleforged hammer + shield bro.
In a normal run it often takes a quite a long time to find candidates who can hit a stat line like 85/35 at level 11 to qualify as fatigue neutrals, which means that you can end up with a team full of nimble damage dealers with few defense bros aside from the tanks. That delays your ability to shift to optimal tactics, where the front line is made up of high defense high armor bros who take most of the enemy attacks, while the damage dealers stand in safer positions and try to only get attacked by one enemy at a time.
A unit who wouldn't quite measure up as a fatigue neutral can be made into a Shield Bro instead and he'll have plenty of defense to fill a front line spot and stand up against 3 enemies or more, while still contributing some damage over time.
Probably the most desirable attacking shield bro is a battleforged hammer shield bro, but that only works with high fatigue backgrounds, I didn't get the right recruits for that so I was forced to compromise on my shield bro builds.
Shield Bro Build: Fatigue Neutral Iron Lungs:
Stamina management is a huge problem without access to two handed weapons. Getting attacked by a lot of enemies quickly uses up a lot of stamina and only a small percentage of recruits can have enough stamina to tank in battleforged armor and still swing two times per turn. I never really found many skilled recruits with a high stamina pool like that.
Battleforged is still essential though. Bros with iron lungs can be fatigue neutral and swing certain weapons twice per turn, every turn. Normally that's limited to cleavers and swords, but if you get famed weapons you can expand the list of one handed fatigue neutral weapons. I was lucky enough to get famed weapons for these two, although they were not great ones.
Defensively, these guys performed better than the numbers indicate as they didn't take any bleeds, injuries or fearsome checks. And while their defense is only in the mid 50s with shield, that still makes them significantly tankier than a normal fatigue neutral. Their damage is pretty bad but it adds up in the course of long fights, so I think you'd lose tempo in most fights if you substituted pure defensive tanks. In Monolith they could survive for many rounds tanking up to 7 ancient undead at a time, which nimble or nimbleforged bros could not handle.
With recruiter retinue it makes sense to check a lot of guys for traits anyway and this can be a high impact way to use some guys with iron lungs and mediocre stats. It's a bit niche but I would consider using this build in a normal run, especially if I got an appropriate famed weapon and didn't need a duelist. One of these guys started as a 55*/2* Iron Lungs Daytaler, his performance as a damage sponge + damage over time was solid in this build, but as a duelist he'd have been mediocre and used up a lot of tools. In this run more damage was needed, but in a normal run there is usually a shortage of high defense forged units.
Shield Bro Build: Hammer Shield
One handed Hammer still performs well even without double grip or duelist. Destroy armor still does a lot of armor damage on the appropriate enemies and the regular attack will always proc fearsome, which often means he can simply walk up to an orc warrior or chosen and rout him with a couple hits, while having 60 defense.
This run didn't really maximize the strengths of the hammer shield bro, ideally he'd be a high stamina background in forged armor and he'd be paired with high damage teammates like a barbarian two handed axe that just need a little armor softening.
Nimble and nimbleforged are definitely fine for large camps at 150 days of scaling and earlier but if the late game camps scale to the point where he has no choice but to be focus fired by many high damage enemies, then you'd want a forged bro instead. Mine started to run out of steam when fighting both undead groups at once in Monolith. Still, this is a build I would routinely consider adding to the line up. Another great reason to build this is that Nimble Hammer Shield combines well with Spear + Shield, which is great for mid game tempo.
Shield Bro Build: Spear Specialist
Spear specialist performs a similar role to the indomitable tank, but becomes available earlier. Due to the way the AI works he can often hold off as many as 4-6 enemies for several turns. The spear specialization perk is very valuable as you can continue to refresh spearwall even while tanking another enemy, often you can arrange it so the only available spot for an enemy to attack is next to the spearman, causing several enemies to waste their turns trying to move in. Two handed enemies like chosen and berserkers are particularly crippled as they can only move one tile and attack, so you either force them to waste their turn by moving, or if they walk into spearwall they lose their turn if the spearman hits even once. The spearman singlehandedly increases the number of camps that will be profitable for your team. Spear combines well with shield and hammer in the classic Spear Hammer Shield Build from early BB, giving you something to do when you are done spearwalling. Will build again.
Weaknesses and Monolith:
I did multiple Black Monolith fights for testing purposes.
https://preview.redd.it/tgvvrj14881d1.png?width=1779&format=png&auto=webp&s=a58156df46337efd136bccea6564799c81e2abf2
I'm aware of two strategies for Monolith, with one being significantly easier than the other.
The "Speedrun" strategy (seen in Shringshring's video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayh35O9mLUw&t=8429s) involves splitting the undead into two groups by running the tank to the top left corner of the map, while the rest of the team retreats towards the bottom left corner of the map. The fight plays out as two separate fights with a break in between. It is reliable if you move like he does, the necrosavants may attack if your team spreads out too much though. Even if you only move a little bit though, it's enough to split the undead as long as the tank makes it to the corner.
The other strategy is the "Normal" or "Hard Mode" strategy for Monolith, where the tank runs approximately 4 hexes towards the top of the map and the team retreats approximately two hexes to the left. The fight starts sooner and it is possible for the tank to die relatively quickly. You need either a good tank to last a long time or a good amount of damage, otherwise you can end up facing both undead groups at the same time. This is the more difficult strategy but high damage late game teams with good tanks can handle it fine.
The Shield Bro + Swordlance team doesn't have any problem with Monolith with the speedrun strategy. It's true that the swordlances feel a bit weak against the ancient honor guards, but there isn't excessive pressure on the team so it can take the time to set up good AOEs with swordlances, weaken armor with hammer bros and focus fire. It plays out like two normal fights back to back.
However, when trying to brute force both Ancient Dead groups with the "Hard Mode" strategy, the team finally starts to show its weakness. The team takes 20 to 21 rounds to beat Monolith using this strategy. That's much slower than normal for Monolith. The Battleforged fatigue neutral shield bros performed well, surviving for many rounds while getting hit by up to 7 ancient honor guards at a time, but having the fight take so long leaves more time for things to go wrong and win rate on Monolith was probably only about 60% with this strategy, as there was a risk of the tank going down early. This could have been reduced with a better tank and/or more potions. Fighting both undead groups + necrosavants all at once was too much for the team to overcome reliably. Swordlances ran out of stamina and got stuck in non optimal positions for AOE, hammers were not able to eliminate Honor Guards quickly enough on their own. It may also have been a mistake to go from 5-6 Swordlances in most normal fights to only 4 in the Monolith, by benching the faked ranged for newly trained high defense bros, as there was a real lack of damage for the "Hard Mode" strategy.
While there isn't much reason to do the "Hard Mode" strategy instead of the "Speedrun" strategy, this still hints at a weakness that might show up in certain extremely highly scaled camps late in the game, like very late sea of tents. Just not enough damage vs armor, plus tons and tons of armored enemies pushing in too fast, getting in contact with vulnerable nimble units. However the amount of orc warriors that spawned in early game Sea of Tents were no problem at all, swordlance guys could just keep a tier 2 hammer in the pocket and easily rout them with fearsome after routing the young and berserkers.
Finally, fighting both undead groups at once illustrated some problems with the stamina system in this game as it relates to 4ap weapons. I left the sword duelist option available for filler bros with lower stamina who couldn't do anything else. Normally the build performed fine, however when there was an extremely high density of enemies and the sword duelist was getting attacked a lot he quickly ran out of stamina and could rarely regain enough to swing twice. He could either use recover, which was never needed in any other fight, or he could stand there and swing only once like an idiot. I gave them reach weapons for just this reason, but it was kind of a crutch to play around this imbalance of the stamina system, that's why two handed weapons are so good after all. In the Speedrun strategy when the undead were split into two groups, the sword duelists had no problems as they could take positions where only small numbers of enemies could swing at them.
Conclusion:
The meta builds exist for a reason of course, but the Devs generally did a great job balancing this game and you can definitely make a lot of non-meta builds work. Sometimes they even feel quite strong. However, when designing your non-meta builds keep in mind the imbalances with the stamina system. For a tanky character with a high stamina pool who uses high stamina cost moves, like the Hammer Shield Bro, taking a turn to recover doesn't feel too bad. But pathfinder based 4 ap builds that don't use much stamina in normal fights can find their offense shut down if they let a lot of enemies swing at them. That kind of limits the value of high defense and high durability on this kind of unit and makes me want to avoid putting 4 ap weapons on them, even though it seems more thematic than giant two handed weapons.
2024.05.18 22:01 freddys_glasses Propspotting books
Do you like props? I like props. Saved by the Bell, being a school show, features a lot of books. Here are some of them.
That's enough, right? Too much? Okay.
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American History
Of all the books in the series, this is the most heavily featured. Miss Bliss is the history teacher and this is the book she uses. This is the book that in "Practical Jokes" supposedly contains the guidelines of a criminal trial in chapters six and seven. If you're wondering, no, it doesn't have anything like that. This is also the book used for Mr. Testaverde's freshman history class. They're still using it as sophomores in Mr. Dickerson's class. The book continues to make appearances throughout the series, probably because they had so many of them. The actual book is American History by John Garraty, a middle school history textbook from 1982. You can check out the teacher's edition here.Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Made Easy
In "The Substitute" they use various books in the Shakespeare Made Easy series from Barron's. You're familiar with this style of book, right? Elizabethan English on the left, modern English and explanations on the right. Apparently they had a set of books for various Shakespeare plays, covered the titles, and wrote Romeo and Juliet on the covers. So when Screech is serenading Lisa, he is actually reading out of Hamlet. Note the prominent skull on the cover. Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Lisa. You can read the actual Romeo and Juliet version here. Tony Crane meanwhile has what might be an evaluation copy.Physics Made Simple
In "Beauty and the Screech" Kelly is failing physics. Screech agrees to tutor her and they fall in love. Kind of. We've all been there. All the while they're using these slim red books that don't look like textbooks. That book is supposed to be Physics Made Simple, a title in the Made Simple Self-Teaching "Encyclopedia" series. The pretense of being part of an encyclopedia explains explains why the spine looks like that. Presumably, the production had several different books in the series and someone added the word Physics to all of the covers. The contents are simple and threadbare with crude illustrations. It is indeed not the sort of textbook you would find in a US high school in the 80s. These books appear in many other editions and you can read one here. You can spot these books in other episodes filling out some book shelves.Geometry for Fun and Challenge
The class that drives Jesse to stimulant abuse is Geometry. Jesse spends the episode buried in and stressing out with this book. High school geometry is not hard but in her defense everything is hard when you're not getting enough sleep. Anyway, the book is called Geometry for Fun and Challenge. Here is a copy of a later edition. Despite the casual and playful name, it is a standard high school textbook.The many books of Date Auction
In "Date Auction" we meet Brian. He is a stuck up intellectual-type who is reading the Hunchback of Notre Dame at The Max. I think it's a hardcover edition of this Signet Classics translation which you can see but not read. Lisa comes on strong multiple times and I think he makes a good case that they don't have anything in common. Unwilling to take no for an answer, Lisa pretends to get sophisticated. She shows up talking about Tolstoy and carrying an armful of random books. What books? There's the Gault-Millau Le Guide de Paris, a travel guide full of stuff that doesn't make the usual travel guides. I think her copy is in French. Here is an English version. There's another book called In The GAP, an evangelical Christian how-to book. I'm guessing it was chosen for the cover. A third book, The American Character, is a book from the 1940s exploring why Americans are the way they are. A fourth book is Alexandre Dumas: The King of Romance, a biography. I think this is the only one that is fit for purpose.Odds and ends
Toward the end of sophomore year, the production started using book covers. You know, brown grocery bags cut up and used as a jacket. Or maybe you don't know. I think it's an American thing. No more taping over stuff or trying to change the title of a book but also basically no more bookspotting. Here are some odds and ends to fill things out. Miss Bliss usually has a couple volumes of The Illustrated Library of the World and its Peoples on her desk among other books. World Geography and You cameos in a few scenes. In "Screech's Woman", we see Zack sleeping before class starts with Spanish for Mastery 1 on the desk in front of him. In "Driver's Education" there's an unknown textbook. I was surprised to learn that driving textbooks are real (I would have assumed it was all handbooks and workbooks) but I don't think they're using one because they've taped over the cover again. In the later seasons we see a few magazines, including Wrestling Superstars and Hot Rod.That's enough, right? Too much? Okay.
2024.05.18 20:30 roseohseven Long first time trip report 5/13-5/18!
LOOOONG first time trip report! 5/13-5/18, stayed at Beach Club, visited all four parks, bought Genie+ every day, had the standard DDP. Family of 4, two girls 5 and 9. I learned so much from this group over the past year and especially loved trip reports, so hopefully this post will be helpful to someone!
💲BUDGET💲
-- I booked the trip a year out so I could break it up into 12 manageable payments. I opened the no fee Disney VISA, which gives you several months of no interest on charges made towards Disney travel packages, rewards dollars to use at Disney, and a couple other perks like character meet and greets and discounts.
-- I signed up for Disney Movie Insiders. This is what you're supposed to do with all those little codes that come in Disney DVDs/Blurays. You enter the codes in exchange for points, and at 1000 points, you can redeem for a $10 Disney gift card. You also get points for being subscribed to Disney+, seeing Disney movies in the theater, their social media accounts, and a whole bunch of other things. I got $50 in gift cards from this alone.
-- If you want Disney-themed luggage, try thinking outside the box to save money! I got plain luggage in Mickey colors--red and black--and Mickey luggage tags to make them Disney themed.
-- I tried to budget for souvenirs via gift cards... but I failed, lol. Everything is so expensive, $100 is gone in a second. Plushes are like $40, coffee cups are $20, etc. Whatever you're planning to spend, double it! I get what people say about most shops having the same stuff, but it's definitely not all of them, most of the ones post-ride have unique stuff. And honestly it's kind of nice most of them have the same stuff, if you want to get whatever your kid was asking for earlier, you don't have to walk all the way back to the one shop you saw it at.
-- We paid for Memory Maker and I'm on the fence about it. On the one hand, it's really nice to get all the ride photos and meet and greet photos and magic shots. It's also really nice for the whole family to be in a lot of pictures and not have to swap with the other adult or find someone willing to take your picture. On the other, we definitely didn't utilize it as much as I wanted to because a lot of the photographers had pretty long lines and I just didn't want to spend time waiting for a picture I could take myself. If we came across someone with a shortish or no line, we made sure to get it, but for anyone with a long line, we just stood around the same spot and took our own.
🗓️PLANNING🗓️
-- If you have kids and live within easy driving distance of another amusement park, highly recommend making a visit BEFORE going to Disney to get an idea of how they handle that kind of day/environment, especially if they have never been. I quickly discovered we would absolutely need a stroller and I would need to be militant with the kids about staying hydrated. Also to avoid face paint, as heat + tears + paint + eyes = bad day! I felt so much better making these discoveries beforehand and being able to prepare accordingly, rather than making them at Disney.
-- USE AN AGENT! An agent is free to you, so why not have the help? Ours was amazing, she gave us quotes, booked the package, rebooked as needed later when a better deal came out, made all the payments, dining and extra reservations, and was just all-around awesome to work with. It was such a load off to know I wasn't on my own with all this stuff.
-- Watch everything Ear Scouts. No one explains Genie+ better, and Rob and Erick's videos are just so positive and beautiful and well done.
-- I also enjoyed reading Disney Tourist Blog--lovingly snarky but super informative!--and Disney Food Blog for fun tips and news.
-- I didn't find any park to be a half day park, we filled our whole day in every one and still didn't see everything!
-- My kids did really well, whenever they were on the verge of cranky, we had one ride in the stroller for a while, bought a snack (usually ice cream or popcorn), and used the bubble wand, and/or gave them some ibuprofen, and everyone felt better pretty quick. We never tried to do fireworks, we were all done by 8 so always left after dinner. The only park we closed down was EPCOT because we didn't get out of dinner until after close, and that was a really cool experience, the park was so quiet and empty and beautiful!
-- You don't NEED a Magic Band... but man, was it convenient. We just had 1.0 Magic Bands though, we didn't bother with the 2.0s.
-- I guess moving through security fast is important to people rope dropping... but as someone who didn't, it added like maybe 30 seconds to a minute to the experience the couple times my bag got flagged, it's really not a big deal.
-- I'm not saying anyone's lying about bad experiences or exaggerating or anything, but try to remember that far more people go on the Internet to complain than they do to praise. I got so stressed about all the things that could go wrong, and we had a pretty much perfect trip. The only attraction that broke down on us was Muppetvision, of all things. The only "bad behavior" we witnessed was the morning we were leaving, we could hear a dad across the hall yelling at his family, I think they overslept and were going to miss their flight or something? We just turned the TV on so we didn't have to hear him. A couple times we forgot to take our stuff with us when we parked our stroller or forgot some food in it, and neither people nor animals bothered it. The only dicey thing that happened to us was me dropping my phone into the Dumbo moat, the cast members fished it out and it still worked, I sent them a cast compliment for all their help! All the cast members were great, I'm not really sure what people expect but IMO they all do amazing for having to be peppy and helpful all day in absolutely blazing heat, walking a ride conveyer belt nonstop, repeating the same spiels over and over, meeting person after person, etc. I wouldn't last a 2 hour shift let alone 8. Cast members, you rock!!!
✈️TRAVEL✈️
-- We flew Delta, flight there was flawless, flight home was delayed by an hour waiting for crew and was a little bumpy (which is not great for a nervous flyer like me) but otherwise fine.
-- Get TSA PreCheck! Good for a few years, if the adults have it the kids have it too. It made the whole experience so much easier. That said, even PreCheck still moves kind of slow at MCO, so definitely get there at least 2 hours early for your flight. Use curbside check-in for bags, way faster than the long line inside!
-- On our agent's recommendation, we used Away We Go for ground transport in Orlando. They communicate really well, both ways were flawless, no complaints!
-- We used Minnie Vans to get to Animal Kingdom + Sanaa and Magic Kingdom, what a wonderful service! Definitely pricey, but they had cartoons on in the car, booster seats they set up for you, and the drivers were so nice and friendly and had fun trivia to share. I never had any problem requesting one when I needed it.
⛱️BEACH CLUB⛱️
-- We knew we wanted an onsite hotel where you could walk to at least one park. This pretty much limits you to a handful of Deluxe hotels or the Swan and Dolphin. Beach Club won for us because it's "in the Disney bubble" and you can walk to 2/4 parks. Note that while you can technically walk to Hollywood Studios, it is a LOOOONG walk. The boat is a nice not crowded alternative! We did not make use of Early Entry or Extended Hours, we're just not built for either. Beach Club was lovely, we booked a resort view but I think we ended up with a water view, we were right by the quiet pool and could see the water beyond from our room. Stormalong Bay was a little crazy for us but we loved the quiet pool. Best thing about Beach Club though is the location, EPCOT is literally steps away!
🌳ANIMAL KINGDOM🌳
-- We had read that there's really no bad day to do AK, so we started there. We rode: Navi River Journey, Flight of Passage, Kali River Rapids, Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Triceratops Spin, and Dinosaur--so pretty much everything! With Genie+ we walked onto all of them. We also met Moana, Pocahontas, and Russell! The only thing we didn't do here that we wanted to was the Gorilla Falls trail, but we just ran out of time before the park closed.
🌐EPCOT🌐
-- We had read to avoid EPCOT on Fridays and Saturdays, so we went on Wednesday. We rode: Grand Fiesta Tour, Living with the Land, Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Imagination with Figment, Frozen, Remy, Journey of Water, and Guardians--everything we wanted! Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! Outside of our character meal (more on that in the dining section!), we also met Anna, Elsa, and Asha! Tried a couple of Flower and Garden snacks: chicken and waffles, fruit and cheese strudel, and potato pancakes, all were delicious! Everyone had a different favorite day, but EPCOT was personally my favorite day, it felt like we were firing on all cylinders and the day just went really smoothly!
🏰MAGIC KINGDOM🏰
-- We had read that Wednesdays were the quietest days at MK, so we were originally going to try to do it that day, but we could only get a reservation for Cinderella's Royal Table on Thursday, so we switched it up. Definitely the most crowded of all the parks we visited, but I think that's just the norm for MK, everyone wants to go to the castle park with the most rides. We rode: Regal Carousel, Tomorrowland Speedway, Barnstormer, Magic Carpets, Mad Tea Party, People Mover, Dumbo, Small World, Little Mermaid, Pirates, Space Ranger Spin, Jungle Cruise, TRON, and Peter Pan. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed at this park that we wanted to do was Pooh, I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. Outside of our character meals (more on those in the dining section!) we also met Mirabel, Tiana, and Rapunzel! We had both the Rapunzel and Aurora ice creams, both so good and cute!
🎬HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS🎬
-- We had read that, like MK, it's better to do HS later in the week, so we went Friday. We rode: Slinky, Alien Saucers, Toy Story Mania, Rise, Smuggler's Run, Runaway Railway. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed was Tower of Terror, again I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. We also met Olaf, be aware Olaf doesn't sign stuff, they just give you a signature card. This park needs more shade IMO, especially Toy Story Land, I know it's supposed to be Andy's backyard, but I don't see why that means we can't have some shade from trees or something. 🤪 Blue milk from Galaxy's Edge was really good, the family was all fighting over it!
🍽️DINING🍽️
-- We almost certainly lost some money on the DDP, but I'm still glad we got it because it allowed us to do more table service meals and have less stress overall about expenses. We easily used up everything but child quick service credits, we had a few of those left over near the end.
Here's where we ate!
BOARDWALK DELI/PIZZA WINDOW: Pizza for the kids, sandwiches for the adults. Tasty and satisfying after our day of travel!
BEACHES AND CREAM: Got the kitchen sink for the experience, but honestly it's not great, all the ice cream and toppings melt together quick and you just end up with weird ice cream soup.
SAT'ULI CANTEEN: LOVED this place, everything was so yummy! Best quick service we had!
SANAA: Since Animal Kingdom closes so early, we thought we'd try to extend the experience by eating at Sanaa. What a great idea, we got seated right by a window and saw so many animals! The food was great too.
AKERSHUS: Our favorite princess meal! We met Aurora, Tiana, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle. They were all lovely, and the breakfast was really good too. Only 1 credit on the DDP!
GARDEN GRILL: Our kids really enjoyed getting to look down over Living with the Land and the fact that the restaurant spins. We met Farmer Mickey, Pluto, and Chip and Dale. They were fun and even came to our table more than once. Food was good!
SPACE 220: Not on the DDP, but wow, what a cool restaurant! Almost like a ride with the theming and the elevator up. Food was really good.
CINDERELLA'S ROYAL TABLE: You gotta eat in the castle! We paid for it OOP because we didn't want to use up 2 DDP credits here. You're really going for the location and the princesses, the food is kinda meh, not bad but not as good as other places. The restaurant is small and they have to turn tables quick, so it's very understandable to me that the princesses have to move fast. It's not that they rush you, they'll take all the pictures you ask for and sign whatever and answer your questions, but if you don't have much you need, they try to keep moving. Akershus is much bigger so they are able to be more relaxed there. The only small bummer is that we didn't see Merida (maybe she was on vacation too!) We did meet Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora though!
CRYSTAL PALACE: We are not big on buffets but we enjoyed meeting Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger!
TOPOLINO'S: Maybe the best food of the trip, steak and eggs were so good! The character artist costumes are so cute too. It was fun to have an excuse to ride the Skyliner to get here from Beach Club too.
DOCKING BAY 7: The theming is great, but the food wasn't as good as Satuli Canteen IMO.
THE MARKET AT ALE & COMPASS: We had quick service credits we wanted to use up on the last day and we didn't want to leave the resort again, otherwise I would have gone somewhere else, food was meh.
✨EXTRAS✨
-- I originally wanted to book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for my kids, but it's so expensive/competitive that I decided to didn't want the stress. Instead I booked Have Wand, Will Travel to come to our room and bought dresses from Presley Couture and Only Little Once. I chose Have Wand, Will Travel because they keep character throughout. Fairy Godmother Elyse was amazing and so much fun, my kids loved it and kept talking about it all day!
-- That same morning I ordered a Sammicakes breakfast box with beignets for us to eat. I also ordered a pretend letter from The DCP and Me on Etsy to make it seem like the breakfast came from Tiana. My kids also loved this and had fun telling Tiana about it both times we met her. Sammicakes was good but a LOT of food, sadly we didn't end up eating half of it. It can last you at least 3 days!
-- We had Birthdays and More decorate our door, it was a really fun surprise for the kids on our first day and made our room easy to find. The kids also loved reusing the decorations at home on their own doors!
-- Matching shirts and ear hats, all from Etsy! So many cool designs there, hardest part is choosing!
-- Got my kids a pin trading lanyard with some pins, they loooooved pin trading! It was like free souvenirs.
🧳PACKING🧳
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack That I Needed: Scissors, ziploc bags, ibuprofen (kids and adults), garbage bags, big carabiners to hook on the strolleuse to carry multiple bags at once.
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack that I Didn't Need: stainless steel straws (the paper straws are more like hard cardboard, they really don't break down unless your kid is gnawing on them or something), ponchos (it did rain some most days, but wearing a poncho was almost more miserable than not wearing one, it's so hot and humid to be walking around in a plastic bag! We did better taking shelter and using umbrellas.), wipes (obv you need them if your kid is younger, but mine were older and just never got messy enough to need them), glow sticks (we never stayed anywhere long enough to use them), bottled wateLiquid IV (the tap water tasted the same as home to us, but we live in a rural area so maybe we are just used to imperfect water?) Basically, the less you can get away carrying in the parks, the better. It's annoying to lug stuff around you don't end up needing or using!
🛞STROLLER🛞
-- I know it seems insane that your 5 year old and 9 year old will need a stroller, but mine definitely did. Once I accepted that I was going to have to get one, I tried to make the best of it, and actually got really into decorating it so we could always easily spot it in the sea (the decorations also later made nice wall decor for a gallery of our trip!) The Magic Spotter flag was the best investment, hardly anyone had them so it was easy to instantly spot our stroller anywhere we left it, even if it got moved. That said, I definitely didn't want to spend a lot on a stroller we were really only buying for this one trip, so I got a used Joovy Caboose on Facebook Marketplace for $50. It was very hard to handle with two older kids in it, and even with one it was hard to handle unless the kid was in the back seat. So we basically used it like a single stroller, glad I didn't spend a lot on it since it was so hard to drive!
☔WEATHER☔
-- We had mostly great weather, it rained some every day except Magic Kingdom day but it passed within an hour each time. We wore socks with Crocs so that if/when it rained, we could just take our wet socks off and walk in our Crocs, this worked great! Don't trust the weather reports though, two days it wasn't supposed to rain. One day it actually didn't, the other day it did and we had to walk in wet shoes because we didn't wear the Crocs that day. Just figure it might rain any day and be prepared! See above note RE: ponchos being not great and shelter + umbrellas being better. When it didn't rain, It. Was. Hot. 🥵 In the 90s but definitely felt hotter with the humidity making it so sticky. We felt there was plenty of shade at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, but hardly any at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which I would say slightly affected how much fun we had on those days comparatively.
Phew! That's about it, let me know if you have any questions!
submitted by roseohseven to WaltDisneyWorld [link] [comments]
💲BUDGET💲
-- I booked the trip a year out so I could break it up into 12 manageable payments. I opened the no fee Disney VISA, which gives you several months of no interest on charges made towards Disney travel packages, rewards dollars to use at Disney, and a couple other perks like character meet and greets and discounts.
-- I signed up for Disney Movie Insiders. This is what you're supposed to do with all those little codes that come in Disney DVDs/Blurays. You enter the codes in exchange for points, and at 1000 points, you can redeem for a $10 Disney gift card. You also get points for being subscribed to Disney+, seeing Disney movies in the theater, their social media accounts, and a whole bunch of other things. I got $50 in gift cards from this alone.
-- If you want Disney-themed luggage, try thinking outside the box to save money! I got plain luggage in Mickey colors--red and black--and Mickey luggage tags to make them Disney themed.
-- I tried to budget for souvenirs via gift cards... but I failed, lol. Everything is so expensive, $100 is gone in a second. Plushes are like $40, coffee cups are $20, etc. Whatever you're planning to spend, double it! I get what people say about most shops having the same stuff, but it's definitely not all of them, most of the ones post-ride have unique stuff. And honestly it's kind of nice most of them have the same stuff, if you want to get whatever your kid was asking for earlier, you don't have to walk all the way back to the one shop you saw it at.
-- We paid for Memory Maker and I'm on the fence about it. On the one hand, it's really nice to get all the ride photos and meet and greet photos and magic shots. It's also really nice for the whole family to be in a lot of pictures and not have to swap with the other adult or find someone willing to take your picture. On the other, we definitely didn't utilize it as much as I wanted to because a lot of the photographers had pretty long lines and I just didn't want to spend time waiting for a picture I could take myself. If we came across someone with a shortish or no line, we made sure to get it, but for anyone with a long line, we just stood around the same spot and took our own.
🗓️PLANNING🗓️
-- If you have kids and live within easy driving distance of another amusement park, highly recommend making a visit BEFORE going to Disney to get an idea of how they handle that kind of day/environment, especially if they have never been. I quickly discovered we would absolutely need a stroller and I would need to be militant with the kids about staying hydrated. Also to avoid face paint, as heat + tears + paint + eyes = bad day! I felt so much better making these discoveries beforehand and being able to prepare accordingly, rather than making them at Disney.
-- USE AN AGENT! An agent is free to you, so why not have the help? Ours was amazing, she gave us quotes, booked the package, rebooked as needed later when a better deal came out, made all the payments, dining and extra reservations, and was just all-around awesome to work with. It was such a load off to know I wasn't on my own with all this stuff.
-- Watch everything Ear Scouts. No one explains Genie+ better, and Rob and Erick's videos are just so positive and beautiful and well done.
-- I also enjoyed reading Disney Tourist Blog--lovingly snarky but super informative!--and Disney Food Blog for fun tips and news.
-- I didn't find any park to be a half day park, we filled our whole day in every one and still didn't see everything!
-- My kids did really well, whenever they were on the verge of cranky, we had one ride in the stroller for a while, bought a snack (usually ice cream or popcorn), and used the bubble wand, and/or gave them some ibuprofen, and everyone felt better pretty quick. We never tried to do fireworks, we were all done by 8 so always left after dinner. The only park we closed down was EPCOT because we didn't get out of dinner until after close, and that was a really cool experience, the park was so quiet and empty and beautiful!
-- You don't NEED a Magic Band... but man, was it convenient. We just had 1.0 Magic Bands though, we didn't bother with the 2.0s.
-- I guess moving through security fast is important to people rope dropping... but as someone who didn't, it added like maybe 30 seconds to a minute to the experience the couple times my bag got flagged, it's really not a big deal.
-- I'm not saying anyone's lying about bad experiences or exaggerating or anything, but try to remember that far more people go on the Internet to complain than they do to praise. I got so stressed about all the things that could go wrong, and we had a pretty much perfect trip. The only attraction that broke down on us was Muppetvision, of all things. The only "bad behavior" we witnessed was the morning we were leaving, we could hear a dad across the hall yelling at his family, I think they overslept and were going to miss their flight or something? We just turned the TV on so we didn't have to hear him. A couple times we forgot to take our stuff with us when we parked our stroller or forgot some food in it, and neither people nor animals bothered it. The only dicey thing that happened to us was me dropping my phone into the Dumbo moat, the cast members fished it out and it still worked, I sent them a cast compliment for all their help! All the cast members were great, I'm not really sure what people expect but IMO they all do amazing for having to be peppy and helpful all day in absolutely blazing heat, walking a ride conveyer belt nonstop, repeating the same spiels over and over, meeting person after person, etc. I wouldn't last a 2 hour shift let alone 8. Cast members, you rock!!!
✈️TRAVEL✈️
-- We flew Delta, flight there was flawless, flight home was delayed by an hour waiting for crew and was a little bumpy (which is not great for a nervous flyer like me) but otherwise fine.
-- Get TSA PreCheck! Good for a few years, if the adults have it the kids have it too. It made the whole experience so much easier. That said, even PreCheck still moves kind of slow at MCO, so definitely get there at least 2 hours early for your flight. Use curbside check-in for bags, way faster than the long line inside!
-- On our agent's recommendation, we used Away We Go for ground transport in Orlando. They communicate really well, both ways were flawless, no complaints!
-- We used Minnie Vans to get to Animal Kingdom + Sanaa and Magic Kingdom, what a wonderful service! Definitely pricey, but they had cartoons on in the car, booster seats they set up for you, and the drivers were so nice and friendly and had fun trivia to share. I never had any problem requesting one when I needed it.
⛱️BEACH CLUB⛱️
-- We knew we wanted an onsite hotel where you could walk to at least one park. This pretty much limits you to a handful of Deluxe hotels or the Swan and Dolphin. Beach Club won for us because it's "in the Disney bubble" and you can walk to 2/4 parks. Note that while you can technically walk to Hollywood Studios, it is a LOOOONG walk. The boat is a nice not crowded alternative! We did not make use of Early Entry or Extended Hours, we're just not built for either. Beach Club was lovely, we booked a resort view but I think we ended up with a water view, we were right by the quiet pool and could see the water beyond from our room. Stormalong Bay was a little crazy for us but we loved the quiet pool. Best thing about Beach Club though is the location, EPCOT is literally steps away!
🌳ANIMAL KINGDOM🌳
-- We had read that there's really no bad day to do AK, so we started there. We rode: Navi River Journey, Flight of Passage, Kali River Rapids, Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Triceratops Spin, and Dinosaur--so pretty much everything! With Genie+ we walked onto all of them. We also met Moana, Pocahontas, and Russell! The only thing we didn't do here that we wanted to was the Gorilla Falls trail, but we just ran out of time before the park closed.
🌐EPCOT🌐
-- We had read to avoid EPCOT on Fridays and Saturdays, so we went on Wednesday. We rode: Grand Fiesta Tour, Living with the Land, Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Imagination with Figment, Frozen, Remy, Journey of Water, and Guardians--everything we wanted! Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! Outside of our character meal (more on that in the dining section!), we also met Anna, Elsa, and Asha! Tried a couple of Flower and Garden snacks: chicken and waffles, fruit and cheese strudel, and potato pancakes, all were delicious! Everyone had a different favorite day, but EPCOT was personally my favorite day, it felt like we were firing on all cylinders and the day just went really smoothly!
🏰MAGIC KINGDOM🏰
-- We had read that Wednesdays were the quietest days at MK, so we were originally going to try to do it that day, but we could only get a reservation for Cinderella's Royal Table on Thursday, so we switched it up. Definitely the most crowded of all the parks we visited, but I think that's just the norm for MK, everyone wants to go to the castle park with the most rides. We rode: Regal Carousel, Tomorrowland Speedway, Barnstormer, Magic Carpets, Mad Tea Party, People Mover, Dumbo, Small World, Little Mermaid, Pirates, Space Ranger Spin, Jungle Cruise, TRON, and Peter Pan. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed at this park that we wanted to do was Pooh, I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. Outside of our character meals (more on those in the dining section!) we also met Mirabel, Tiana, and Rapunzel! We had both the Rapunzel and Aurora ice creams, both so good and cute!
🎬HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS🎬
-- We had read that, like MK, it's better to do HS later in the week, so we went Friday. We rode: Slinky, Alien Saucers, Toy Story Mania, Rise, Smuggler's Run, Runaway Railway. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed was Tower of Terror, again I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. We also met Olaf, be aware Olaf doesn't sign stuff, they just give you a signature card. This park needs more shade IMO, especially Toy Story Land, I know it's supposed to be Andy's backyard, but I don't see why that means we can't have some shade from trees or something. 🤪 Blue milk from Galaxy's Edge was really good, the family was all fighting over it!
🍽️DINING🍽️
-- We almost certainly lost some money on the DDP, but I'm still glad we got it because it allowed us to do more table service meals and have less stress overall about expenses. We easily used up everything but child quick service credits, we had a few of those left over near the end.
Here's where we ate!
BOARDWALK DELI/PIZZA WINDOW: Pizza for the kids, sandwiches for the adults. Tasty and satisfying after our day of travel!
BEACHES AND CREAM: Got the kitchen sink for the experience, but honestly it's not great, all the ice cream and toppings melt together quick and you just end up with weird ice cream soup.
SAT'ULI CANTEEN: LOVED this place, everything was so yummy! Best quick service we had!
SANAA: Since Animal Kingdom closes so early, we thought we'd try to extend the experience by eating at Sanaa. What a great idea, we got seated right by a window and saw so many animals! The food was great too.
AKERSHUS: Our favorite princess meal! We met Aurora, Tiana, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle. They were all lovely, and the breakfast was really good too. Only 1 credit on the DDP!
GARDEN GRILL: Our kids really enjoyed getting to look down over Living with the Land and the fact that the restaurant spins. We met Farmer Mickey, Pluto, and Chip and Dale. They were fun and even came to our table more than once. Food was good!
SPACE 220: Not on the DDP, but wow, what a cool restaurant! Almost like a ride with the theming and the elevator up. Food was really good.
CINDERELLA'S ROYAL TABLE: You gotta eat in the castle! We paid for it OOP because we didn't want to use up 2 DDP credits here. You're really going for the location and the princesses, the food is kinda meh, not bad but not as good as other places. The restaurant is small and they have to turn tables quick, so it's very understandable to me that the princesses have to move fast. It's not that they rush you, they'll take all the pictures you ask for and sign whatever and answer your questions, but if you don't have much you need, they try to keep moving. Akershus is much bigger so they are able to be more relaxed there. The only small bummer is that we didn't see Merida (maybe she was on vacation too!) We did meet Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora though!
CRYSTAL PALACE: We are not big on buffets but we enjoyed meeting Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger!
TOPOLINO'S: Maybe the best food of the trip, steak and eggs were so good! The character artist costumes are so cute too. It was fun to have an excuse to ride the Skyliner to get here from Beach Club too.
DOCKING BAY 7: The theming is great, but the food wasn't as good as Satuli Canteen IMO.
THE MARKET AT ALE & COMPASS: We had quick service credits we wanted to use up on the last day and we didn't want to leave the resort again, otherwise I would have gone somewhere else, food was meh.
✨EXTRAS✨
-- I originally wanted to book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for my kids, but it's so expensive/competitive that I decided to didn't want the stress. Instead I booked Have Wand, Will Travel to come to our room and bought dresses from Presley Couture and Only Little Once. I chose Have Wand, Will Travel because they keep character throughout. Fairy Godmother Elyse was amazing and so much fun, my kids loved it and kept talking about it all day!
-- That same morning I ordered a Sammicakes breakfast box with beignets for us to eat. I also ordered a pretend letter from The DCP and Me on Etsy to make it seem like the breakfast came from Tiana. My kids also loved this and had fun telling Tiana about it both times we met her. Sammicakes was good but a LOT of food, sadly we didn't end up eating half of it. It can last you at least 3 days!
-- We had Birthdays and More decorate our door, it was a really fun surprise for the kids on our first day and made our room easy to find. The kids also loved reusing the decorations at home on their own doors!
-- Matching shirts and ear hats, all from Etsy! So many cool designs there, hardest part is choosing!
-- Got my kids a pin trading lanyard with some pins, they loooooved pin trading! It was like free souvenirs.
🧳PACKING🧳
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack That I Needed: Scissors, ziploc bags, ibuprofen (kids and adults), garbage bags, big carabiners to hook on the strolleuse to carry multiple bags at once.
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack that I Didn't Need: stainless steel straws (the paper straws are more like hard cardboard, they really don't break down unless your kid is gnawing on them or something), ponchos (it did rain some most days, but wearing a poncho was almost more miserable than not wearing one, it's so hot and humid to be walking around in a plastic bag! We did better taking shelter and using umbrellas.), wipes (obv you need them if your kid is younger, but mine were older and just never got messy enough to need them), glow sticks (we never stayed anywhere long enough to use them), bottled wateLiquid IV (the tap water tasted the same as home to us, but we live in a rural area so maybe we are just used to imperfect water?) Basically, the less you can get away carrying in the parks, the better. It's annoying to lug stuff around you don't end up needing or using!
🛞STROLLER🛞
-- I know it seems insane that your 5 year old and 9 year old will need a stroller, but mine definitely did. Once I accepted that I was going to have to get one, I tried to make the best of it, and actually got really into decorating it so we could always easily spot it in the sea (the decorations also later made nice wall decor for a gallery of our trip!) The Magic Spotter flag was the best investment, hardly anyone had them so it was easy to instantly spot our stroller anywhere we left it, even if it got moved. That said, I definitely didn't want to spend a lot on a stroller we were really only buying for this one trip, so I got a used Joovy Caboose on Facebook Marketplace for $50. It was very hard to handle with two older kids in it, and even with one it was hard to handle unless the kid was in the back seat. So we basically used it like a single stroller, glad I didn't spend a lot on it since it was so hard to drive!
☔WEATHER☔
-- We had mostly great weather, it rained some every day except Magic Kingdom day but it passed within an hour each time. We wore socks with Crocs so that if/when it rained, we could just take our wet socks off and walk in our Crocs, this worked great! Don't trust the weather reports though, two days it wasn't supposed to rain. One day it actually didn't, the other day it did and we had to walk in wet shoes because we didn't wear the Crocs that day. Just figure it might rain any day and be prepared! See above note RE: ponchos being not great and shelter + umbrellas being better. When it didn't rain, It. Was. Hot. 🥵 In the 90s but definitely felt hotter with the humidity making it so sticky. We felt there was plenty of shade at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, but hardly any at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which I would say slightly affected how much fun we had on those days comparatively.
Phew! That's about it, let me know if you have any questions!
2024.05.18 19:13 CatherineL1031 The Beginning of my Descent [Lorepost Part 3]
![The Beginning of my Descent [Lorepost Part 3]](https://preview.redd.it/8c06qddww71d1.png?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=6bbe7ddd2b8b39cfcd833a7fb4252a0169ab6677 "The Beginning of my Descent [Lorepost Part 3]") | Hello again everyone, I’ve decided to put the baking tips here this time. This is one that has been a huge help for me when it comes to cutting cakes. It’s much easier and cleaner to cut a cake when it’s been chilled for a few hours. So, once your cake has baked and firmed up in the pan (about 15-20 minutes, you want to make sure it’s set but still slightly malleable), take it out, let it come to room temperature, and then cover with foil or plastic or something to prevent it from drying in the fridge. Let it cook for a few hours to finish solidifying, and then cut. Also, if you have the means, a sheet cake cooks and cools a lot faster and more evenly and a cutter can be used to make perfect even circles. submitted by CatherineL1031 to wizardposting [link] [comments] Now, it’s a bit strange to start with the baking tips, I know. But, those are saved as a reward for making your way through my ramblings about youth and glory and adventures. This time, I wanted to put it here as a sort of apology for what’s to come. The last two stories have been very positive, very upbeat, very fun. However, the next century of my life I’m about to share with you all… I wouldn’t blame any of you if you looked at me differently, I’ll just say that. I’ll stop beating around the bush, and get right to the point. So, my immortality was secure, I’d have my perfect body for as long as time existed or until I was killed by a stronger, more capable opponent. I had a good group of friends who knew they could depend on me whenever they needed help with something, and I got to kick the ass of a lich! I had accomplished so much in just over 100 years of life, and now I had a supposedly infinite amount of it to spare if I played my cards right! I felt unstoppable, and wanted to help others like I had helped my companions. I became a mercenary, a witch for hire for adventures that might be too dangerous for parties. I stopped lying about my strengths, making sure it was known I held Master rank in two magic fields. Most people do not like to play the role of support, and it’s never a bad idea to have extra healing, so I started to hone my craft in Healing and Protection magic as well. I was a force to be reckoned with, and I would make sure the world knew it! I had wished to continue adventuring with my previous companions, but each of them had decided to take their own path in life. Har decided to take a more involved approach with his church, Ralin returned home to overtake her brother as chief of her clan, and Vex was heading back to the mountains to further hone her building expertise and learn to become an artificer for enchanting! It was sad parting ways, we had been together for such a short time but we had accomplished something so impressive! Oh well, that’s life, you know? I made them promise to keep in touch, and we did for the most part! Har became a bit hard to reach at times due to moving around, so it was always a treat to see him when I could. Anyways, I soon began to gain some fame. I was a topic of conversation now who had been promoted to expert in the matter of a month after I helped some newbies on their quests. I was someone who everyone knew was dependable and talented. Best of all, I was a cutie, and everyone loves to have a cute witch on their team! I had all but abandoned my previous life’s calling in favor of glory seeking, which is something I still look back on with regret. I was becoming more selfish, more focused on building myself up instead of using my powers for the good of those who might not be able to ever have access to these powers. The Phoenix Rebirth had become a popular spell among us in the community, though, so people were still getting help. I had published it free to all magic shops, all magical teachers, even sent the entire process and methods for casting it through the OrbNet before I left to go on my mission to fight the lich. I just wanted to be sure it was in the world, pending the potential worst. It was at a huge loss, but it has now become the platform by which a lot of Gender spells are cast, so it was all worth it. My time as an adventurer was amazing, I met so many cool people, fought so many horrifying and awesome beasts, even got to kiss a dragon! They don’t have lips, so it’s not the best kiss, but it’s still something worth bragging about. I felt so good helping people in a different way, and I was becoming more and more popular through the years. I was now Catherine, Lady of Flames, Master of Forms, a stable in the adventuring party call list. It felt amazing. The excitement lasted for about 15 years of being called to help on missions, but then it was quickly soured after a single mission. Nobody mentions this, but once you become a powerful enough fighter, you start to garner the attention of those in need of protecting. This is definitely not a bad thing, especially when it is someone who is in genuine need of it, but that is not usually the case. Particularly, you garner the attention of the wealthy, who believe all problems can be solved with money. I would liken them to devils or demons, but that isn’t fair to them…devils and demons at least have codes they follow. Anyways, one such noble approached me. Well, not actually her, one of the elves she had employed in her service. Her name was Duchess Cordelia, Lady of Farlon, Heir to the Rose Throne, Daughter of Zavier Goradel and Collector of Fine Arts. Yes, she made you say each one of those every time you addressed her, and in the correct order. She was…there’s a word I don’t like to use to describe her, a word that to me is very offensive but to others means nothing. I’m sure you can guess the word of which I speak, I simply refuse to say it outloud. She was, though, and a massive one at that. She had called upon me after an omen in the sky had warned her of an invasion by some of the forces of hell. It was something we all saw, and while it was a terrifying experience, I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t the coolest and most spectacular shit I had ever seen. Whoever had cast it had placed some illusion magic to make the sun look like a flaming skull that called specifically her and her family out. I still remember what it said because it was just that cool. ‘Cordelia, Zavier, Helena…you have toyed with forces beyond your control, and for that you will be punished…My legions will march on your town, turning it and everything your pathetic hands have dared to touch into naught but a fine ash. You cannot stop me. You cannot persuade me. You cannot survive…’ and then it was over, the sun was back to normal. Fucking baller move, right? That’s how you threaten some assholes’ life! So, I was called, along with Magnus Haradel and Desdamona Torres. Magnus was another high ranking member of the guild, an older Drow chap who still remains the most talented sword wielder I’d ever seen. His white hair was always tied into a neat bun, and he dressed simply. His armor was enchanted, but looked similar to any generic armor you could buy. He held a very respectable air about him, a sense of power that told anyone he could easily defeat them, but a calming sense that assured them he would only do it if he was threatened. Mona was an alchemist who concocted and brewed the strangest potions I had ever seen. Some of them would cause an opponent to explode, some would freeze them in place, some when opened and poured onto the ground summoned these giant venus fly-trap looking creatures with razor sharp teeth that would devour whatever she commanded. She was a half-goblin, parents being a full goblin and an elf. Their genes worked together very well, because Mona herself was truly stunning. She has black hair, lime green skin, and wore a long back robe that flowed down her slender body. More impressive, however, was that she was Archmage levels in her Alchemical field, the highest one could get back in the day. It was our job to protect Cordelia and her parents, Zavier and Helena. They would not share any information with us about what they had done, how it had pissed something off, or what to expect, but they did tell us we’d be ‘handsomely compensated should you survive’. Assholes…we needed information to do our job! Holes in information leads to holes in strategy, holes in strategy leads to unnecessary risk, and unnecessary risk leads to uncertainty and potential death! Ugh, whatever, it was just one job, then hopefully we’d never have to deal with them again and they’d descend into obscurity. So, the job was set. Magnus, Mona and I got better acquainted with each other and started to plan our defensive means and offensive responses. We had no idea what we were facing, how many it would be, where it would be coming from, or when! We had one of the five answers we desperately needed, so we had to do the best we could. Magnus suggested we employ the help of additional adventurers; clerics, paladins and the like who are good at protecting and supporting. Their job would be to round up the town to a safe location and watch over them until one of us gave the all clear. Mona and I agreed, and I decided to spread the word that the people needed to be taken to safety and guarded until whatever was going to happen had happened; he did threaten the entire population, so better to be safe. Mona started to lay a protective parameter around the Goradel mansion in the form of explosive concoctions that seeped into the ground and bottles of Acid Arrow that, when broken, would attack the nearest hostile creature. She had also managed to brew a few potions of invisibility for the townsfolk, given the guards potions of strength, mana regeneration, health regeneration and spell boosting, and gave herself, myself and Magnus potions of regeneration, potions of Free Casting (basically downing one allows you just have a reserve of mana to pull from without worry), and potions of Iron Skin that would give us amazing defense without slowing us down. She was a really, really talented Alchemist, even crazier was that she was only 30, very young for a half-elf/half-goblin. She definitely had a gift. I, meanwhile, decided to try something new. I had been toying around with a few things in my off-time, and with my knowledge of Shifting Magics I decided to try out something that could prove beneficial. I had come across many beasts in my time, some of them easy to understand and study, others so wildly complicated that it took me years of dissecting, studying and charting to get a solid understanding of what the hell was going on internally. I had taken some lessons from Grandmaster and Archmage Shifter’s who were willing to teach, and with enough practice I was finally able to harness the form of other, less common creatures! I had mastered the standard offensive animal forms like tiger, wolf, bear and eagle, but didn’t know how dangerous our targets were going to be, so I decided that we needed to go hard, fast, and leave no possible room for error. I downed the two bottles of Free Casting that Mona has brewed, and began my shift. I had again mixed my Phoenix Rebirth with these form changes, so the only pain I was receiving was to my mana pools. However, thanks to Mona’s amazing abilities, I was able to shift without trouble! I got down on all fours, and soon my size began to expand. My teeth turned from their normal human color to a stained and dark brown. My face started to extend forward into a muzzle, my teeth being replaced by sharp, deadly fangs. My canines extended further than the rest, creating a deadly row of fangs. My lips retracted back, and my face began to turn scaly and red as my face became more and more canine. The only thing unchanged on my face was my eyes, as they were my Keepsake (many Shifters have a certain aspect of themselves they keep permanent, no matter what, to remind themselves of their true form). The scales continued down, a large, fleshy tail sprouting from my back and extending out. From snout to tail, I was now 30 feet in size, but I was not yet finished. The scales extended down my whole body, but they looked more like regular sinew and flesh as my body was covered in a protective coat of blood red scales. My legs began to crack and bend as muscle appeared to support my now larger weight and size, and my toes extended a double set of claws on each foot. The form was complete, now for one final touch. All across my red tail, bones began to jut out like my sharpened fangs, covering it from my hindquarters to the very tip of my tail. It was definitely an easy target should something decide to attack my tail, but the shards and spikes allowed me to slice through weaker enemies that dare to try. Even better, I could slam my tail against the ground to loosen some of the shards and fling them towards my target. I was a true beast, an imperfect dragon known as a fanged drake. While not near as strong as a true dragon, I had seen first-hand the damage and strength they possess, and now it was all mine. Magic was a bit harder to cast in this form, but I still had access to Apprentice level Pyromancy and some support spells like Enhance Speed, Feather Fall and Enhance Ability. The stage was set, we were ready to fight whatever came our way. Magnus had enchanted his greatsword with every enchantment he could cast without overloading it, Mona held potions in her hands, and I stood at the front, smoke coming from my body as I waited. We were ready, we were going to defend these poor villagers and the shitty people who barely even gave a shit about their safety! We waited, and waited, and waited. Seems I had used my change too early, and turning back would just be a waste of mana, so I decided to travel into town and help with carrying or leading others to safety. I had modified the vocal cords of this beast to be more in-line with standard humanoid ones, so it allowed me to speak. It was just not very fun, given my voice was incredibly gruff and deep due to the creature's size. I ran to the guards, my now muscular legs allowing me to jump great distances, my long claws able to help me climb with relative ease. It didn't take long to find the groups and their protectors as they were leaving town. I jumped down to check and make sure everything was okay, and even got to meet Har again! He looked so much more mature, his black hair and green eyes showing a bit of age, but it seemed he was happy. We used a few minutes of walking time to catch up, and I got to hear all about his journey. After our mission, he made it his job to find undead who had been driven mad, and help them see the light again. He had seen many undead who had been brought back against their will, and many who suffered purely because they weren't allowed a choice in their rest being disturbed. He had helped them find peace, shown them the light of Theia, his goddess, and allowed them to return to their peaceful slumber in their designated afterlife. He had even married the cute man at the bar that I had convinced him to chat up, and they had a daughter named Athena! Apparently she was 7 years old and the sweetest thing, according to Har. I told him he better let me visit her once this was all over, and he happily accepted. Our sweet reunion was cut short, however, as the clouds in the night sky started to swirl and gather. Once again we saw the decrepit and harrowing skull that we had seen yesterday appear again. Except, this time it didn't talk. It merely let out an ear-splitting screech that rattled your very soul. A few of the people were so terrified they had fainted, so I yelled at them to carry all they could, and run! Fast! They were quick to agree, those who could carry grabbing the unconscious and those from my back with haste so that I could rush back to the mansion. I arrived right in the nick of time to see absolute hell spewing from the mouth of this skull. We heard horrid shrieks and cries of birds, the hissing roars of giant snakes, and the unholy screams of Abyssal Spiders. The birds were like Corvids, but towering in height. They easily reached 30 feet in size, their beaks sharpened and rigged with teeth-like bumps running down the entirety of their beaks. Their eye sockets were sunken and shallow, small eyes giving off a haunting and piercing glow. Parts of their body showed their exposed, fleshy bodies underneath. Their skin was red, and covered with scars, exposed bone and sinew from what looked to be countless battles. The snakes were unlike anything I've ever seen, they were black and blue striped, with arms and legs, and stood upright! They were not as tall as the Corvids, only measuring 15 feet tall, but they possessed a whip-like tail that flowed almost the same length as their bodies. Their mouths oozed a green venom that coated their fangs, and their necks were able to flare into hoods like a cobra. Finally, were the spiders. Along with being giant, like the size of a Clydesdale giant, they possessed hundreds of eyes across their entire body. Their fangs dripped with venom, and thick hairs were present across their entire bodies. Each hair on their back was able to pierce skin and inject with the same poison in their fangs, and their webs were known to carry a necrotic slime that would eat away at skin. We definitely had our work cut out for us, this horde of creatures was coming right for the Goradel residence and they were ready to kill anything and everything in their path. The crows rushed through, their massive size crushing smaller houses and easily breaking through larger ones that were in their way. The spiders simply crawled over them, leaving a trail of webs and venom in their wake, and the snakes…apparently their tails were going to be quite the problem, as not only were they long, they were sharp enough to slice trees, wildlife and building cleanly with just a single slice of the tail. We were truly, without a doubt, up a fucking creek with this one. We sprang into action as quickly as we could. We saw our foes pouring out, and our objective was simple protection of the village, her people, and the asshole nobles that caused all this. I ran right towards the spiders, knowing that they were the threat that could cause the most damage with their necrotic webs and flesh-melting venom. The smoke coming from my mouth started to turn black as I approached one of them, letting out a blast of fire from my mouth that quickly set it and its attempted web in flames. It shrieked as it skittered and writhed in pain, trying to attack me in retaliation. I was quick to slice one of its legs off with my claws, and sink my teeth into the back of its head. It gave a few more twitches and finally fell still. I threw it to the side as I continued doing my best to draw them towards a common area, minimizing the potential risk of them running out of town and tracking down the other parties currently in hiding. It worked very well, as once they notice a threat, they will continue to attack! The problem was, it worked very well, and once they noticed a threat they would continue to attack until it died! The horde of spiders was gaining on me, all I could do was use some flames to burn the webs they attempted to ensnare me with and use my claws to slice any that came from the front. I was not doing well by any means, but I was now at least within sight of my companions. My joy was quickly cut short as I felt a burning string of web wraps itself around my tail. I had gotten careless, and was definitely paying the price. If you’ve never been hit by necrosis, allow me to explain the feeling as best I can. Imagine a hot knife being thrust deeper and deeper into your body and feeling your cells, muscles, tendons and fat dying around it. Not just cut, or severed, dying with little chance to repair it without some heavy magic. If it goes around a vital part, like a shoulder, leg or neck, you will start to slowly feel yourself losing all feeling as it just falls. It’s a truly horrible experience, avoid it if you can. This is to say, I was currently in for absolute hell as I felt this experience being run through the part of my tail that carries most of my projectile spikes. I could feel each tendon snapping, my skin burning away, and the discs of my now expended spine starting to crack and rip. I had to make a choice, fast. My desperation led me to only one single solution; I knew the tail had to go. With a pained howl I raised my claws, and sliced clean through the tail on my back. I cannot explain how truly horrible of an experience this was, mostly because I think my mind has blocked it out to protect itself. It fell to the ground with a wet squelch, blood pouring out of the open wounds on my back. I sent a breath of flame onto the spider and his silk, and sent another onto my nubbed tail. Again, another experience I believe my mind has blocked out to protect itself! Don’t get hit by necrosis, kids. I ran to Mona, who was currently being swarmed by a group of Corvids, and offered my assistance. I was pissed, I was angry, and I wanted to kill! As one of them dived down, I jumped onto its chest and sunk my fangs directly into its neck. It let out a pained screech as I felt its blood fill my mouth, my claws wildly slashing at its chest through skin, flesh, bone, whatever I could scrap and slice, I did. I had truly let this creature’s feral nature take over my mind for the time being, but I did not give a damn, we needed to win. The beast fell back to the ground, and I let out another challenging roar to the other beasts nearby. My claws and fangs erupted in flames as I continued to wildly attack the ones threatening Mona, knowing I needed to protect her as she concocted and threw brew after brew onto what she could. Magnus was doing absolutely amazing, without a doubt the best of us. He was handling the snakes by himself, expertly dodging and slashing at them each time they tried to grab him, bite him, slice with their tails, or trample him. He would wait for them to attack and in the blink of an eye, whatever they tried to attack him with would be gone. Heads, tails, legs and arms started to litter the ground near him as he showed absolute power and authority. Mona, meanwhile, had been mixing something special while I distracted the snakes and corvids. Her alchemical traps had mostly been activated already, melted and bubbling piles of what were some of our enemies scattered through the warzone. She yelled at me to give her a boost, and I managed to snap free from my feral state. She held something in her hands I cannot even begin to describe. It was completely dark, but…empty. The energy that came from it was unlike anything I have ever seen since, it was like staring into the nothingness of space while being surrounded by it on all sides. She slammed it onto the ground, and the darkness surrounded her. Flesh and feathers from the Corvids started to break from their destroyed and lifeless bodies, attaching itself to her back and clothes. One of their skulls burst into pieces as it flew towards her, reassembling itself onto her face in a makeshift mask. Their bones and talons began to collect into her hands, and within a matter of seconds she was holding a powerful, pulsating scythe. In that moment I saw something I truly hope to never see again. I saw death. The truest form of death was standing before me, and its energy chilled my very soul. I could feel the contempt the energy had for me, as if it knew I had extended my life outside of its natural reach. She ordered me to come, and I knew I had to obey. I grabbed her with my fangs, and placed her onto my back. Her body was cold, I was terrified of what I saw before me, but so was everything else. I felt a hand rest onto my head, and I could feel…warmth. Mona reassured me that it was going to be okay, and pointed her scythe forward. I collected myself again, and sprinted towards our enemies. Mona sliced and slashed them each with one clean swipe from that scythe, each of them falling dead in our path. I used my flames to burn any webs that had been placed, focusing on the ground while she focused on taking down these enemies with the grace and power of a god. As I saw this, I truly understood how far the gaps between Master and Archmage truly were when it came to the arcane arts. I still had so much to learn… Our combo attacks came to a screeching halt, however, as we heard a pained scream from behind us. We both looked to where Magnus was, and we could see that he had been injured. One of the snakes had managed to sink its tail through his shoulder, and another currently had its fangs embedded into his side. We let out a scream as we charged towards them as they bit, stabbed, and slashed poor Magnus. I tackled one of the snakes off, sinking my burning fangs into its neck and ripping its head off in one solid motion. Mona jumped from my back, holding her hand out as she said…something, and the snake was turned to dust. Magnus fell to the ground, howling in pain as he regained his footing. I cried out that he needed to be healed immediately, and begged Mona to throw him something from her belt. He paid me no mind, and just ran back into the fight. He was so badly injured, but that did not stop him for a second. He continued fighting as if nothing had happened, and we knew we had to do the same. The fight lasted for hours, the hordes of enemies seeming endless. The town had been turned to rubble at this point, any signs of life save for the Goradel mansion had vanished from this now tarnished and barren land. As the sun rose on the next day, we saw the warzone in fresh light. Mona had returned to normal, her breathing short and labored as she laid on the ground. I had turned back to normal, wounds covering my body and in desperate need of healing, but I didn’t care. I saw Magnus sitting on the corpse of one of the Corvids, a cup of ale in his hand and blood pouring from him. I rushed to him, begging him to let me help him, but he just shook his head. He took a long, slow sip of his ale, let out a deep sigh and motioned for me to sit with him. I got down as best I could, every instinct telling me to heal me, but he continued to refuse. Eventually he spoke as we stared at the sunset. ‘Catherine,’ he said to me, ‘everyone has a torch to burn. Some burn longer than others, and we don’t get to decide how long they burn…’ He leaned against his sword with a smile, taking one last sip of ale. I asked him what the hell he was talking about, but as I looked at him, I could tell… He was gone… The light had gone from his eyes, but that smile remained on his face. As I saw this, all I could do was cry. I had lost people before in my life, but I was always able to help the ones that could be helped from injuries! I just hugged him as I sobbed, and sobbed, and sobbed. Even worse was having to heal Mona back to consciousness with the remainder of my magic and share the news with her. We cried together; we hadn’t known each other for more than a day, but we all held a deep respect for each other. Knowing that we had failed him and caused his demise, the town being destroyed, our barely achieved victory…none of it felt worth it in the end. As we cried, we heard the doors to the Goradel manor open. Out stepped Zavier, Cordelia’s father. He looked at the scene, nodding as he saw our handiwork and commended us. ‘Weren’t there three of you?’ he asked as he looked at us with such lack of regard. ‘Magnus…he’s dead…’ Mona said as I helped her up, wiping the tears from her eyes. ‘Hm, pity…very well, would you like his share? We had already set aside 3 payments, we will split it between you both should you wish’. I still don’t know why what he said caused me such anger, but I could feel my blood boil. Our comrade that had been one of the best members of the guild, the one who had fought to defend his worthless ass, the reason he was standing here right now and not a pile of meat being devoured by beasts didn’t even give a shit that he was gone! ‘This isn’t fair’, I thought to myself, ‘we protected them and they are treating us like pawns!’ Mona could tell I was getting angry, so she answered that we’d take his share and have it sent to our accounts at once. She pulled me away from this pitiful excuse for a human, and I just screamed in anger. She told me that she agreed, that it wasn’t fair to Magnus, or us, or the people of this village, but that we couldn’t let his sacrifice be in vain. With his share of the cash and ours, we could afford to build a new settlement for the displaced of this village. She managed to talk me down from my anger, she was really talented like that. I took a few deep breaths, patted my cheeks, and nodded. It would be better to use the money for good in Magnus’ honor, all the stories I had heard of his exploits usually ended with him donating a large portion of his earnings to those affected by disasters such as this. Mona left to inform the survivors that the victory had been achieved, but at the loss of Magnus. While she did that, however, I began to plan. I don’t know if it was the loss of a comrade, the pain still coursing through my body, the stress and trauma of what we had just gone through, but letting it go was not an option for me at this point. I knew I had to show these fuckers torment, I knew that they needed to pay for the callous disregard for anyone who wasn’t themselves. So, I gathered samples. I had a bag of holding on my side and began to stuff it with the bodies of our defeated enemies. The spiders had all been burned and crushed beyond study, but many of the Corvids and Serpents were still able to be studied and understood. Once I had my samples, I looked at Magnus with more tears. I was going to avenge him, I was going to show these rich pieces of crap just how insignificant they were, and I was going to make sure they paid the price… There was no way I could carry his body with my strength, he was far too bulky for me, so I used my magic to carry him. Even with my weakened state I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a proper burial. He deserved it, he deserved so much more than what he got. I summoned a shovel into my hands, and began to dig. I think I made it about 3 minutes of digging before my body finally gave up on me, and I fell. I don’t remember much of what happened after that, I guess I had passed out from exhaustion. When I awoke, I heard Har’s voice calling to me. I was so tired, my body aching and burning in such pain as I tried to move every muscle I could. I looked up, and we were in a cemetery. I could see Magnus’ body laying in a now dug grave, dressed in his elegant but simple armor, eyes closed and mouth still holding that same smile as I had seen before. A ward of protection was currently being cast around his burial grounds, designating this land as sacred ground that could not be touched by any means. No necromancer could get to his body, and no thieves could rob him of his belongings. I was sitting next to a patched up and tired looking Mona, and we both just sobbed gently as we watched him being buried. Hundreds had gathered to pay their respects, all of those that Magnus had saved, protected, worked with, allied, even some who I later came to learn saw him as a rival. All of them were paying their respects to this true paragon of an adventurer, and all I could think about was getting revenge for him… Ah, sorry, I didn’t realize how long I had been sending through the OrbNet. It might be best to end this part of my life here for the time being. Thank you again for reading, if you managed to find an old witch’s story interesting. Once I work up the courage to share the next part with you all, I hope you will continue to view me in a positive light. You will hear things that…well, you’ll see. Thank you for your time, I love you all, my siblings in the arcane. |
2024.05.18 18:14 MrRaven101 Orion 3 (2018) from Moon, Mars and Beyond
2017 came and went with no notable missions. It was a busy year for NASA on the ground, however. New contracts and buildings, the re-election of Obama, and the announcement that the ISS would be retired in 2028. After many a few appeals to congress, NASA gained continued funding for both Orion and a future joint space station with the ESA and JAXA. Boeing’s Starliner was delayed into 2019, and the Crew Dragon would not be ready until 2020. So it was that Orion 3 would be the biggest mission of 2018. And it was no wonder why. Humanity would be returning to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17, and NASA was ready to promote it.
The mission was a cultural milestone in itself – it was the first time NASA would stream an Orion mission in its entirety online, and it became popular for large internet celebrities and news hosts to talk about the upcoming mission. They would be paid, of course. For the first few steps, whoever would take them, a combined audience of ~1,000,000,000 would be watching them.
Astronaut selection was tricky. NASA needed to choose a crew that had experience, but were limited in that not many of their astronauts were both experienced flight-ready. Most of NASA Astronaut Group 19 were retired (or about to), but one stuck out to the Astronaut Office: Christopher Cassidy. Much like Wiseman, he was a former Chief of the Astronaut Office, and had two flights under his belt, both Shuttle and Soyuz. He would be assigned as Mission Commander. Another that stuck out was James Dutton. He was a pilot aboard the Shuttle, and endeared to the former shuttle personnel and many NASA employees. He was selected as pilot. Robert S. Kimbrough, another Shuttle astronaut, was selected as flight engineer. Jack D. Fischer was selected as payload specialist for the mission, rounding out the crew with three NASA Astronaut Group 19 astronauts and one NASA Astronaut Group 20 member.
During training, ideas for callsigns were thrown around. NASA wanted something symbolic of their progress and the future, politics would drive them to name it something patriotic, while the public would be largely indifferent. Except a minority: the Star Trek fans. Much like with the Space Shuttle of late, they had campaigned for Orion to be named after the USS Enterprise. In the end, it would be left up to the crew to decide the names. And you can likely guess what they chose. So it was the Orion capsule for this mission would be named Enterprise, and the Altair to be named Polaris. After a long eight months of training, production, processing, paperwork, calculations and other assorted work, the mission was ready. The Ares I was rolled out to the pad, with it Polaris, and the booster launched half past three in April 2018.
But the successful launch of Polaris coincided with the news of the contracting of the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), to none other than JAXA. It would be complete by around 2022, meaning that it would be utilized on a mission no earlier than Orion 6. In exchange for this, a seat on Orion 4 was given. The SEV would be landed by a separate Altair lander. Contracting for the non pressurized Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) also fell to JAXA, this time being light enough to be unfolded from one of Altair’s cargo quadrants in its descent stage. The LRV, which had the majority of its work done, would be ready by 2020. This meant it would fly on Orion 4.
As Polaris orbited, Enterprise was rolled out to the pad. Much like Orion 2, there would be a large crowd to view the launch. Present was former President John McCain, Vice President Joe Biden, Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, three cabinet members, 30 mayors, 21 governors, 55 ambassadors, and 350 congressmen. A viewing public of almost 150,000 and 2,000 media representatives and personalities also attended.
After final check ups on Polaris, a go-ahead signal was given from Houston. Five minutes later, the launch countdown began. Liftoff began at 2:33 PM EST May 12, 2018. Three minutes into the flight, Kimbrough’s vitals flatlined. After a short panic from the flight surgeon, Kimbrough reported back that the sensors had failed. The fault was recorded, and the flight continued. By 2:41, Enterprise had entered its parking orbit.
For about an hour the systems were monitored, checked, and checked again. Polaris and Enterprise showed nominal performance, and procedure for relighting the EUS’s engines began.
After a short burn, Enterprise began its approach towards Polaris. After its approach, Enterprise circled her lander to check for damage or any potential issues. After this, Dutton maneuvered and docked with Polaris. Cassidy and Fischer opened Polaris’s main hatchway and conducted an inspection of the systems. After a short meal, the EUS fired its last burn to put Enterprise and Polaris in a Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI). The next three days were mostly monitoring systems and conducting small course adjustments with the RCS thrusters. On May 15, Enterprise fired up its engines to insert both it and Polaris into lunar orbit.
The selected landing site was Oceanus Procellarum, a few miles off of the Apollo 12 site. Oceanus Procellarum was chosen for its relative flatness, as well as to more thoroughly inspect the region. Apollo 12 didn’t cover all bases, so Orion 3 hoped to refine the data on the site and see how the new systems reacted.
The crew were allowed to sleep, and on May 16 orbital operations began. A small telescope was installed on Enterprise to conduct surface observations. The telescope was nowhere near powerful enough to see Polaris when it landed, but it could help scope out the area. Cassidy and Kimbrough were selected for landing on the Moon, and they spent their time in orbit powering the systems and adjusting to the lander interior. May 16 also included one of the most important experiments on the mission: sunflower bulbs were carried on board, with a small amount of dirt.
This was carried in a special compartment on board Altair, but the dirt and bulb itself were carried on Enterprise. The experiment, creatively titled the Lunar Bulb Germination Experiment (LBGE), would germinate the sunflower bulbs on the lunar surface, and note any differences.
Other experiments on the mission were the Altair Specialized Experiments Package (ASEP), which included experiments ranging from solar wind to passive and active seismology. A third and equally important experiment was the Lunar Deployable Payload Module (LDPM), which would simulate the deployment of the LRV for Orion 4. These experiments were stored in the side panels of Polaris, which could be pulled down for access.
It was a lot for the first mission, but both Mission Control and the crew were prepared and confident. Overall, this experiment package would consume the majority of the seven EVAs for the astronauts. The remaining time was spent collecting samples and resting.
The landing was scheduled for around 7:00 PM EST that day. Cassidy and Kimbrough entered Polaris and gave a salute to Fischer, and sealed off from Enterprise and undocked. After clearing a distance, the deorbit burn began. Minutes later, and under almost a billion viewers’ scrutiny, Polaris touched down. The first EVA would follow a few minutes later. Cassidy stepped into the airlock, depressurized, and looked out upon the lunar surface. Viewing peaked around this time, much to NASA’s Public Relations Offices’ delight. Cassidy descended the ladder down to the lunar surface, and stepped onto the lunar surface.
“With these steps, we begin anew the exploration of our nearest neighbor, in peace and with hope for all mankind.” The immortal words by Cassidy. He looked around the surface, and waited for Kimbrough to descend. Kimbrough’s words were not as majestic - “Looks just like White Sands.” After some remarks and looking around, the two received a call from none other than President Obama, who congratulated them on the mission. Work began shortly after.
First was the deployment of the American Flag on the lunar surface. Then was the deployment of the ASEP. First was the RTG, which would power the experiments. The command station was set up with the Ion and Passive Seismometer a few feet away. After the rest were set up, the Active Seismic Experiment (ASE) began. It was a simple thumper-geophone combination, and had good results. After the experiments were tested, the crew returned to Polaris and had their rest period.
May 17 began with freeze-dried breakfast and the second EVA. This EVA would set up the Radio Antenna Stand Test Article (RASTA). RASTA was a tripod stand with a small suite of communication instruments and a dummy satellite dish. RASTA would aid the development of the Farside Radio Observing Scanning Telescopes (FROST) for Orion 5. After this was another round certifying the ASEP was functional, sample collection began. The remainder of Day 2 was checking systems and deploying the more time-consuming ASEP systems. The Solar Wind Experiment (a large sheet on a tall pole) was also set up. In orbit, Dutton fired Enterprise’s engines, altering the orbit just enough to align the capsule for docking once Polaris lifted off. Fischer did surface observations, and took many photos of the lunar far side. The last activity for Day 2 was unpacking a small retroreflector, which was placed not far off.
Day 3 would be more sample collecting and exploring the landing site. Near the site was a shallow crater about fifteen meters across. Cassidy descended the crater wall, which Houston considered a risky move. After gaining his footing, he picked up a few soil and rock samples before climbing out. It became evident this move on Cassidy’s part was worth the risk, as the samples collected would help expand knowledge and study on lunar asteroid impacts. After this Cassidy and Kimbrough returned to Polaris to store the sample bags and process data. After a routine checkup on LBGE, the crew called it a day.
Day 4 meant the deployment of the LDPM. After wrangling the pulley on the panel, Kimbrough removed the panel and, with help from Cassidy, pulled the pallet out. The pallet itself was ten feet long, but had two hinges at the front and back allowing the pallet to fit into the cargo quadrant. They detached the pallet from Polaris and tested some of the batteries and affixed parts onto it (such as the antenna and seats). Most of these parts were non-functional, and this activity was mostly a practice exercise for Orion 4. The remainder of the day was spent inside Polaris, processing and transmitting the data for NASA to work with. Kimbrough, the mission specialist, was trained with a small degree of knowledge on geology and biology. While nowhere near certified, his work with the LGBE and sample collection were invaluable.
Days 5 and 6 were like the rest: checking ASEP systems, strolling around the lander, picking up samples, and processing data. Day 6 was special, because Cassidy and Kimbrough held a live interview for major news networks. In the meantime, Fischer and Dutton conducted gamma ray and x-ray observations, surface and stellar photography, and small particle spectrometer and mass spectrometer sensing. With the research being done by Enterprise, new images could be compared with old to note and new impacts or differences. Day 7 was the last day on the Moon, and that meant one thing: packing up. Experiments and data were packed up, samples were moved into their respective locations on board Polaris, and assorted cargo were taken aboard. The SWE had its net removed and placed in storage, and the ASEP was put into “Long-Duration Mode”.
Polaris lifted off the surface of the Moon on May 23, 2018, returning to Enterprise in orbit. Polaris’s ascent stage was jettisoned, and Enterprise’s engines were lighted to send it back to Earth. After a three-day coast, Enterprise and her crew reentered and splashed down off the coast of Hawai’i at 12:24 on May 26, 2018.
Orion 3 was a record-setting mission. The fourteen-day mission logged 120 minutes of EVA time, well above any mission on Project Apollo. Time, sample and other assorted records were all shattered. The data collected could be processed for decades of research and development, and the data on the Altair lander and Orion capsule would aid in the development of their respective Block II counterparts. The mission was also a large PR boost for the program, ensuring funding for FY2019 and beyond. After all, the election cycle for the Democrat Party was only two years away and the announcement of Orion’s cancellation wouldn’t help their political base, which was slowly falling to the GOP, nonetheless after six years of the Obama administration. Orion missions up to Orion 15 were promised funding by congress, with a hopeful return on investment in international cooperation and research by 2025. This put political pressure on NASA to include more international partners in the program, much to both JAXA and the ESA’s delight. Seats for JAXA and ESA astronauts opened up for Orion 4, 5 and 7. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) would push for one of their astronauts on an Orion flight. Because of the current seat conflict, NASA responded with a resounding ‘Maybe.’
submitted by MrRaven101 to HighEffortAltHistory [link] [comments]
The mission was a cultural milestone in itself – it was the first time NASA would stream an Orion mission in its entirety online, and it became popular for large internet celebrities and news hosts to talk about the upcoming mission. They would be paid, of course. For the first few steps, whoever would take them, a combined audience of ~1,000,000,000 would be watching them.
Astronaut selection was tricky. NASA needed to choose a crew that had experience, but were limited in that not many of their astronauts were both experienced flight-ready. Most of NASA Astronaut Group 19 were retired (or about to), but one stuck out to the Astronaut Office: Christopher Cassidy. Much like Wiseman, he was a former Chief of the Astronaut Office, and had two flights under his belt, both Shuttle and Soyuz. He would be assigned as Mission Commander. Another that stuck out was James Dutton. He was a pilot aboard the Shuttle, and endeared to the former shuttle personnel and many NASA employees. He was selected as pilot. Robert S. Kimbrough, another Shuttle astronaut, was selected as flight engineer. Jack D. Fischer was selected as payload specialist for the mission, rounding out the crew with three NASA Astronaut Group 19 astronauts and one NASA Astronaut Group 20 member.
During training, ideas for callsigns were thrown around. NASA wanted something symbolic of their progress and the future, politics would drive them to name it something patriotic, while the public would be largely indifferent. Except a minority: the Star Trek fans. Much like with the Space Shuttle of late, they had campaigned for Orion to be named after the USS Enterprise. In the end, it would be left up to the crew to decide the names. And you can likely guess what they chose. So it was the Orion capsule for this mission would be named Enterprise, and the Altair to be named Polaris. After a long eight months of training, production, processing, paperwork, calculations and other assorted work, the mission was ready. The Ares I was rolled out to the pad, with it Polaris, and the booster launched half past three in April 2018.
But the successful launch of Polaris coincided with the news of the contracting of the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), to none other than JAXA. It would be complete by around 2022, meaning that it would be utilized on a mission no earlier than Orion 6. In exchange for this, a seat on Orion 4 was given. The SEV would be landed by a separate Altair lander. Contracting for the non pressurized Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) also fell to JAXA, this time being light enough to be unfolded from one of Altair’s cargo quadrants in its descent stage. The LRV, which had the majority of its work done, would be ready by 2020. This meant it would fly on Orion 4.
As Polaris orbited, Enterprise was rolled out to the pad. Much like Orion 2, there would be a large crowd to view the launch. Present was former President John McCain, Vice President Joe Biden, Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, three cabinet members, 30 mayors, 21 governors, 55 ambassadors, and 350 congressmen. A viewing public of almost 150,000 and 2,000 media representatives and personalities also attended.
After final check ups on Polaris, a go-ahead signal was given from Houston. Five minutes later, the launch countdown began. Liftoff began at 2:33 PM EST May 12, 2018. Three minutes into the flight, Kimbrough’s vitals flatlined. After a short panic from the flight surgeon, Kimbrough reported back that the sensors had failed. The fault was recorded, and the flight continued. By 2:41, Enterprise had entered its parking orbit.
For about an hour the systems were monitored, checked, and checked again. Polaris and Enterprise showed nominal performance, and procedure for relighting the EUS’s engines began.
After a short burn, Enterprise began its approach towards Polaris. After its approach, Enterprise circled her lander to check for damage or any potential issues. After this, Dutton maneuvered and docked with Polaris. Cassidy and Fischer opened Polaris’s main hatchway and conducted an inspection of the systems. After a short meal, the EUS fired its last burn to put Enterprise and Polaris in a Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI). The next three days were mostly monitoring systems and conducting small course adjustments with the RCS thrusters. On May 15, Enterprise fired up its engines to insert both it and Polaris into lunar orbit.
The selected landing site was Oceanus Procellarum, a few miles off of the Apollo 12 site. Oceanus Procellarum was chosen for its relative flatness, as well as to more thoroughly inspect the region. Apollo 12 didn’t cover all bases, so Orion 3 hoped to refine the data on the site and see how the new systems reacted.
The crew were allowed to sleep, and on May 16 orbital operations began. A small telescope was installed on Enterprise to conduct surface observations. The telescope was nowhere near powerful enough to see Polaris when it landed, but it could help scope out the area. Cassidy and Kimbrough were selected for landing on the Moon, and they spent their time in orbit powering the systems and adjusting to the lander interior. May 16 also included one of the most important experiments on the mission: sunflower bulbs were carried on board, with a small amount of dirt.
This was carried in a special compartment on board Altair, but the dirt and bulb itself were carried on Enterprise. The experiment, creatively titled the Lunar Bulb Germination Experiment (LBGE), would germinate the sunflower bulbs on the lunar surface, and note any differences.
Other experiments on the mission were the Altair Specialized Experiments Package (ASEP), which included experiments ranging from solar wind to passive and active seismology. A third and equally important experiment was the Lunar Deployable Payload Module (LDPM), which would simulate the deployment of the LRV for Orion 4. These experiments were stored in the side panels of Polaris, which could be pulled down for access.
It was a lot for the first mission, but both Mission Control and the crew were prepared and confident. Overall, this experiment package would consume the majority of the seven EVAs for the astronauts. The remaining time was spent collecting samples and resting.
The landing was scheduled for around 7:00 PM EST that day. Cassidy and Kimbrough entered Polaris and gave a salute to Fischer, and sealed off from Enterprise and undocked. After clearing a distance, the deorbit burn began. Minutes later, and under almost a billion viewers’ scrutiny, Polaris touched down. The first EVA would follow a few minutes later. Cassidy stepped into the airlock, depressurized, and looked out upon the lunar surface. Viewing peaked around this time, much to NASA’s Public Relations Offices’ delight. Cassidy descended the ladder down to the lunar surface, and stepped onto the lunar surface.
“With these steps, we begin anew the exploration of our nearest neighbor, in peace and with hope for all mankind.” The immortal words by Cassidy. He looked around the surface, and waited for Kimbrough to descend. Kimbrough’s words were not as majestic - “Looks just like White Sands.” After some remarks and looking around, the two received a call from none other than President Obama, who congratulated them on the mission. Work began shortly after.
First was the deployment of the American Flag on the lunar surface. Then was the deployment of the ASEP. First was the RTG, which would power the experiments. The command station was set up with the Ion and Passive Seismometer a few feet away. After the rest were set up, the Active Seismic Experiment (ASE) began. It was a simple thumper-geophone combination, and had good results. After the experiments were tested, the crew returned to Polaris and had their rest period.
May 17 began with freeze-dried breakfast and the second EVA. This EVA would set up the Radio Antenna Stand Test Article (RASTA). RASTA was a tripod stand with a small suite of communication instruments and a dummy satellite dish. RASTA would aid the development of the Farside Radio Observing Scanning Telescopes (FROST) for Orion 5. After this was another round certifying the ASEP was functional, sample collection began. The remainder of Day 2 was checking systems and deploying the more time-consuming ASEP systems. The Solar Wind Experiment (a large sheet on a tall pole) was also set up. In orbit, Dutton fired Enterprise’s engines, altering the orbit just enough to align the capsule for docking once Polaris lifted off. Fischer did surface observations, and took many photos of the lunar far side. The last activity for Day 2 was unpacking a small retroreflector, which was placed not far off.
Day 3 would be more sample collecting and exploring the landing site. Near the site was a shallow crater about fifteen meters across. Cassidy descended the crater wall, which Houston considered a risky move. After gaining his footing, he picked up a few soil and rock samples before climbing out. It became evident this move on Cassidy’s part was worth the risk, as the samples collected would help expand knowledge and study on lunar asteroid impacts. After this Cassidy and Kimbrough returned to Polaris to store the sample bags and process data. After a routine checkup on LBGE, the crew called it a day.
Day 4 meant the deployment of the LDPM. After wrangling the pulley on the panel, Kimbrough removed the panel and, with help from Cassidy, pulled the pallet out. The pallet itself was ten feet long, but had two hinges at the front and back allowing the pallet to fit into the cargo quadrant. They detached the pallet from Polaris and tested some of the batteries and affixed parts onto it (such as the antenna and seats). Most of these parts were non-functional, and this activity was mostly a practice exercise for Orion 4. The remainder of the day was spent inside Polaris, processing and transmitting the data for NASA to work with. Kimbrough, the mission specialist, was trained with a small degree of knowledge on geology and biology. While nowhere near certified, his work with the LGBE and sample collection were invaluable.
Days 5 and 6 were like the rest: checking ASEP systems, strolling around the lander, picking up samples, and processing data. Day 6 was special, because Cassidy and Kimbrough held a live interview for major news networks. In the meantime, Fischer and Dutton conducted gamma ray and x-ray observations, surface and stellar photography, and small particle spectrometer and mass spectrometer sensing. With the research being done by Enterprise, new images could be compared with old to note and new impacts or differences. Day 7 was the last day on the Moon, and that meant one thing: packing up. Experiments and data were packed up, samples were moved into their respective locations on board Polaris, and assorted cargo were taken aboard. The SWE had its net removed and placed in storage, and the ASEP was put into “Long-Duration Mode”.
Polaris lifted off the surface of the Moon on May 23, 2018, returning to Enterprise in orbit. Polaris’s ascent stage was jettisoned, and Enterprise’s engines were lighted to send it back to Earth. After a three-day coast, Enterprise and her crew reentered and splashed down off the coast of Hawai’i at 12:24 on May 26, 2018.
Orion 3 was a record-setting mission. The fourteen-day mission logged 120 minutes of EVA time, well above any mission on Project Apollo. Time, sample and other assorted records were all shattered. The data collected could be processed for decades of research and development, and the data on the Altair lander and Orion capsule would aid in the development of their respective Block II counterparts. The mission was also a large PR boost for the program, ensuring funding for FY2019 and beyond. After all, the election cycle for the Democrat Party was only two years away and the announcement of Orion’s cancellation wouldn’t help their political base, which was slowly falling to the GOP, nonetheless after six years of the Obama administration. Orion missions up to Orion 15 were promised funding by congress, with a hopeful return on investment in international cooperation and research by 2025. This put political pressure on NASA to include more international partners in the program, much to both JAXA and the ESA’s delight. Seats for JAXA and ESA astronauts opened up for Orion 4, 5 and 7. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) would push for one of their astronauts on an Orion flight. Because of the current seat conflict, NASA responded with a resounding ‘Maybe.’
2024.05.18 17:46 burners2020933 How to actually drop your CPMs regardless of industry - from a $10M marketer
Hey guys, I used to work at a private equity marketing agency that bought, scaled, and sold DTC e-commerce, SAAS, info & digital product online brands and I was a media buyer. I have over $10M worth of spend under my belt for clients, and have worked with multiple 7-8 figure online companies.
I’ve had the luxury of being able to spend a lot on ads and test diffferent strategies and setups to drop CPMs. Here’s what it comes down to:
Disclaimer: yes some industries will have higher CPMs like skin care and beauty because FB ads are an auction system. If your in a space with more competitors naturally the price will be higher for ad space
The very first thing that I think is obvious but many people don’t focus on is your ad itself. Let’s dive deeper on what specifically.
You need to be tracking these KPIs: Hook rate Hold rate Average play time Unique outbound CTR Quality rate ranking Conversion rate ranking
It starts with the hook. If you can’t even get people to stop and watch your ad, you’re cooked. You need to really study hard on good hooks. I like to go on tiktok and watch content that gets my attention, then try to brainstorm how to make hooks like that for my ad. Mr.Beast even talks about how the hook is everything for YT videos, it seems to be the same for ads
Hold rate is the next thing. Once you’ve hooked someone, you need to make sure you can hold their attention. Simply put, you need to either entertain them, or educate them. People want to feel like they got something out of your ad, whether it was laughter, or some new info.
Average play time is is similar to hold rate, but it just tells us in seconds how long people watch our videos for on average.
CTR If you do everything above correct, you’ll see a really good CTR.
Quality rate ranking This is facebooks score for if your ad is good or not. Will pop up after some spend and let you know how your ad is doing in FBs eyes
Conversion rate ranking. This is for conversions itself and has a lot to do with the LP. It will show as good, bad, above avg or below in FBs eyes. If you are scoring low here, that means you need to work on the LP
The LP matters a lot too. Make sure it’s congruent to the ad. CPMs WILL drop if your LP is good and not making people jump back to fb super quickly.
The answer is simply that good quality ads with broad targeting over 2-3 weeks of spend ($50-$100 daily) will drop your CPMs over time. As well as a LP with clean design, good offer, and ease of use is another factor.
My process of testing ads to drop CPMs:
3:2:2 method with ABO, not CBO bc I want to know for certain what ads are good or not. Yes I force spend which is against every marketers philosophy but idgaf I’m aggressive and want to know quickly what works
I check to see which ads have the best hook and hold rate. I’ve noticed shorter ads have a better hold rate obviously and it dropped my CPMs. Once ad set I did went form $40 to $23 in the course of 2-3 days
Once I gather a collection of ads with good KPIs, I iterate different versions with new hooks and run them again. Once I have like 20-30 killer ads I throw all into a 3:2:2 CBO campaign with a $1k daily budget and scale accordingly.
Have taken a few stores from $20k monthly to $100k plus by doing this it ain’t that hard.
If I was new and had no money I’d get an LLC (if ur in USA lol), get a line of credit somehow, test using my money first until I find something that works, and then run up a bill for scaling. I recommend amex plum cuz u got 60 days no interest to pay it back. Do it under a LLC so u can file chapter 11 if it goes to sh*t. I’m just yapping now 😂😂
Comment your questions or ping me
submitted by burners2020933 to FacebookAds [link] [comments]
I’ve had the luxury of being able to spend a lot on ads and test diffferent strategies and setups to drop CPMs. Here’s what it comes down to:
Disclaimer: yes some industries will have higher CPMs like skin care and beauty because FB ads are an auction system. If your in a space with more competitors naturally the price will be higher for ad space
The very first thing that I think is obvious but many people don’t focus on is your ad itself. Let’s dive deeper on what specifically.
You need to be tracking these KPIs: Hook rate Hold rate Average play time Unique outbound CTR Quality rate ranking Conversion rate ranking
It starts with the hook. If you can’t even get people to stop and watch your ad, you’re cooked. You need to really study hard on good hooks. I like to go on tiktok and watch content that gets my attention, then try to brainstorm how to make hooks like that for my ad. Mr.Beast even talks about how the hook is everything for YT videos, it seems to be the same for ads
Hold rate is the next thing. Once you’ve hooked someone, you need to make sure you can hold their attention. Simply put, you need to either entertain them, or educate them. People want to feel like they got something out of your ad, whether it was laughter, or some new info.
Average play time is is similar to hold rate, but it just tells us in seconds how long people watch our videos for on average.
CTR If you do everything above correct, you’ll see a really good CTR.
Quality rate ranking This is facebooks score for if your ad is good or not. Will pop up after some spend and let you know how your ad is doing in FBs eyes
Conversion rate ranking. This is for conversions itself and has a lot to do with the LP. It will show as good, bad, above avg or below in FBs eyes. If you are scoring low here, that means you need to work on the LP
The LP matters a lot too. Make sure it’s congruent to the ad. CPMs WILL drop if your LP is good and not making people jump back to fb super quickly.
The answer is simply that good quality ads with broad targeting over 2-3 weeks of spend ($50-$100 daily) will drop your CPMs over time. As well as a LP with clean design, good offer, and ease of use is another factor.
My process of testing ads to drop CPMs:
3:2:2 method with ABO, not CBO bc I want to know for certain what ads are good or not. Yes I force spend which is against every marketers philosophy but idgaf I’m aggressive and want to know quickly what works
I check to see which ads have the best hook and hold rate. I’ve noticed shorter ads have a better hold rate obviously and it dropped my CPMs. Once ad set I did went form $40 to $23 in the course of 2-3 days
Once I gather a collection of ads with good KPIs, I iterate different versions with new hooks and run them again. Once I have like 20-30 killer ads I throw all into a 3:2:2 CBO campaign with a $1k daily budget and scale accordingly.
Have taken a few stores from $20k monthly to $100k plus by doing this it ain’t that hard.
If I was new and had no money I’d get an LLC (if ur in USA lol), get a line of credit somehow, test using my money first until I find something that works, and then run up a bill for scaling. I recommend amex plum cuz u got 60 days no interest to pay it back. Do it under a LLC so u can file chapter 11 if it goes to sh*t. I’m just yapping now 😂😂
Comment your questions or ping me
2024.05.18 16:14 Professional_Prune11 Escape From Heavalun Section Two: Club Chaos
Whats good buds. I hope I did not keep you all waiting too long for a new chapter. I am back with a new fun section of the interlude story between Human Trauma 2 and 3. This time we get a big peak into our leading man's mind and our leading ladies. one being a stuck-up spoiled brat, the other a gruff and too stubborn for his own good gunslinger.
Let's go save our bread
Conor slowly descended the stairs, muscling past a drunken pair of Purletric dancers loitering at the bottom. Once on the ground floor, he vanished into the crowd of undulating, grinding bodies.
None of the dancers paid him any mind as he weaved in and out of their groups. All were far too inebriated to note the predator stalking past or any weapons he carried beneath his jacket. Be it the knife on his hip, the pistol in hand, or the stun granades on his belt.
Clutching the pistol in his metallic hand, Conor wondered what the worn stippling was like to hold. It had been years since his right hand could feel, and the L1-JKL was nowhere near as sharp as when it was manufactured hundreds of standard years ago by Nekarilaqa arms.
At this point, the JKL was ancient, being over tenfold his age. But the Slug thrower was still effective and was integrally suppressed. Those who loved the weapon model would call it the Jackle; Conor was not one of those people.
He preferred to call it the Joker because the pistol was the perfect weapon for his needs or as helpful as breathing on someone. At least the suppressor would make it impossible to hear the weapons report beyond a few meters —-especially with loud base drums.
In an environment as ridiculously voluminous as the nightclub, Conor would not even be able to hear the weapon going off, much less the drunk and high partygoers keying their senses into the ear-splitting music.
Conor’s theory on the level of ignorance the inebriated attendees was given credence when he wrapped his hand on the slimy mouth of one of the Voodal mooks and sent four slugs through his back, blood and viscera showering a group of scantily clad dancers; all of them none the wiser that the warm liquid glowing neon in the club lights was the orange blood of the amphibian.
Instead of taking the time to hide the body in a trashcan like this was a B-rate hollow-flick, Conor shoved the limp body off to the side. the Voodal collapsed against the damp, durecrete wall with a dull thud.
Club security would find the body soon enough and toss it in the alleyway outback, likely assuming he passed out. Until then, the dancers would continue blissfully unaware of the cadaver in their midst. Conor just knew he would likely have to explain to Zyntle why he and Brakul were conducting business in his nightclub; that was in a way taboo for the duo.
“Good kill. Move to the right,” Brakul instructed through the radio. “Next target is lazed.”
“Copy,” Conor muttered coldly into his mask's communication device.
While he passed a pair of green-skinned Kubutals grinding hard against one another, Conor spotted Brakul's laser stock steady on the chest of the next Voodal. He moved quickly, distancing himself from the couple that was only two layers of cloth away from fucking on the dancefloor, needing to speed things up if he was going to win the bet
Once past them, Conor closed the gap between him and the next target, pulling her close. Before the woman registered that she now had a new and less-than-provocative dance partner, Conor slammed her against the wall, pushed his suppressed pistol into her groin, and stitched off four quick shots.
Usually, a bullet smashing your pelvic girdle would cause uncontrolled screaming, But with Conor's metallic elbow crushing the amphibian's trachea, she could only muster a weak croak.
As the Kyrail woman thrashed, her windpipe cracked and crackled; She struggled against Conor like an untamed Rehal: kicking, punching, clawing, all in a desperate animalistic desire to survive. But that could not last forever, and they both knew it; after half a minute, the fight in her amber eyes faded, having drained out with the blood coating her and Conor's boots.
“You better hurry it up; there are only four left,” Brakul mocked as Conor let the dead woman's corpse slump against the wall, and running her pockets.
“You could fucking help me, you Nurlik!” Conor flippantly replied while pulling a bag of visage from the woman's pocket.
“I am helping, just not too much; I still have crit riding on you failing—-remember,” Brakul sniggered.
“This was your idea,” Conor grumbled, leaving the woman gbehind and wafting past another dancer towards the next Kyrail.
Thankfully Brakul did not comment further while Conor was actively dealing with the next target; Brakul might be an asshole, but he was a professional and knew to let Conor work.
Conor covered the gang member's nose with the open bag and drove a swift knee into his grundle; the man’s autonomic functions did the rest. The strike caused them to gasp and breathe in a lungful of the acrid yellowish powder.
The amphibian coughed, bluckling over as his brain was forced to error code by the narcotic. Conor silently thanked Orphian Manufacturing that filters in his mask saved him from the zombifying cloud, unlike the other patrons within arms reach of his last target who also began to fall tot he deck.
“Do I have to remind you of our bet on the Driltol mining platform? Because last I checked, that was your idea,” Brakul commented, shifting his laser to the next target.
Conor huffed in annoyance, remembering that bet and horrible day all too well. He lost five thousand crit and his arm over the course of an hour. All because he was young, inexperienced, hot-headed, and not keeping keyed in on the task.
On top of the physical and financial damage, Conor also learned two important lessons about this line of work. Firstly, he had to stay focused on his current objective while being aware of what was happening nearby.
The second lesson he learned was to trust Brakul's wisdom and counsel. The older mercenary had a far better sense of business and an uncanny ability to tell when a gig would go bottoms up, and they needed to pop smoke.
Those lessons were things Conor still had to remind himself of regularly. He was far more reliable and wise than those days but could not hold a candle up to Brakul.
“Are there any updates on the others?” Conor questioned, slipped behind a pillar, pulling the trigger and splattering another Voodal ganger's brains on the bar, wall, and an unsepecting Farun’se.
“You better hurry up, conman. They just figured out something is going on and are starting to move,” Brakul said calmly.
Grunting to confirm he understood, Conor gave up on flowing like an unseen predator through the crowd and started to force the comparatively diminutive aliens out of the way. Sometimes speed was safety, and with his time hack being measured in seconds—now was one of those times.
Conor pushed through the last group of dancers, most falling to the ground with painful yelps. Once through, he finally had sight of the group of Kyrail. One of the Kyrail was bleeding out on the deck, and two were left standing.
One was a hulking brute with a beer gut, grey scales, and wore a tight tunic like cloth. The red scaled woman was using the older lizard like a shield, yelling something at the Voodal gangers, but the club's music drowned out her voice.
Conor had to give it to the old fool; he had some balls. Even though he was outnumbered and unarmed, he stood stalwart against the last three Voodal gangers, closing the short gap between them.
Balls or not, the Kyrail were not in a winning scenario and would be overwhelmed quickly. With their back-to-wall, Conor had to act fast; there was no way he would lose another bet. Brakul would never let him live that down.
—--
“Stay behind me,” Torkla hissed, pushing Eivaley back from the three aliens.
Eivaley clutched tightly to Torklas clothes and did what she was told. He was the champion appointed ot her by her father; and would fill most of the rolls of a champion until she found someone who could best him.
Her heart was slamming like a hammer and anvil in her chest while the three aliens cackled and kept getting closer. The only question running through her mind and body right now was, what was happening?
This was supposed to be an enjoyable trip, not whatever this nightmare was now.
Daddy had invited her to Heavalun and the COS to get a feeling for the city and the area of space his shipping company was expanding into.
Her father, Vuraley, handled all the tedious paperwork: setting up contacts, buying warehouses, hiring security, and setting up a private spaceport. All she was supposed to do was stay out of trouble, look pretty at a few meetings with clients, and stay close to her security detail.
Now Eivaley was cowering behind the back of one of her clans proudest warriors while three meter-and-a-half tall bipedal frogs brandished weapons and were threatening them. She could not imagine what Daddy would say about this when she got home. Would he cut her allowance? Not let her go out in town again? Or worst of all, not let her go out and see her friends anymore?
Either way, she was not looking forward to what he would do to her—it wasn’t like any of this was her fault.
“Oi, soljah, ‘and, ‘er ovah, and we hont ‘urt yah,” one of the grey-skinned toads croaked, pointing a pistol at Vuraley and flicking off the weapons safety.
“You had better get out of here,” Eivaley hissed reflexively, far to use to having others of her species following her everyword like gospel. “My daddy will have none of this; he will make you all regret this,”
“Stop talking,” Torkla yelled, keeping his eyes on the encroaching Voodal. “you’re not helping.”
What in the grand broods name? Torkla yelled at her. He never yelled at her, even though he had been guarding her since she was a little girl. Torkla was under Oath to obey her, and keep her safe; that includes listening to her. He should not be able to yell at her.
“Yah lil’ lady, yah should listen. We know yer daddy and don’t care, and you are worth too much to pass up,” The Voodal sniggered. “So soljah, yah gonna ‘and ‘er ovah?”
Torkla looked over the men who had paused, slinking closer, and were waiting for his answer. Then he glanced over his shoulder at Eivaley. The girl he might as well have helped raise was shaking like a leaf and needed him to be a rock right now.
“No deal,” Torkla replied, drawing a knife and readying to fight off the aliens or die trying.
The front toad clicked his tongue and languidly twirled the pistol while stepping off to the side. “Come on, no reason tah die fer ‘er. Be reasonable,”
“Torkla would never—” Eivaley started, but he yelled at her again.
“I said shut up,” Torkla barked. “You can get made at me later.”
Eivaley jumped then clutched his jacket and nodded silently, not wanting him to yell anymore. While yes she might be in charge of Torkla and the others her father assigned to her; until she found her own champion she would never have any true power.
“I said no deal,” Torkla affirmed.
The lead toad rolled his eyes and sighed while raising the weapon toward Torkla, readying to slump the stupid royal guardsman.
Once the pistol was full raised they nodded. Both accepting accepting that there was only one way this would go. One of them would end up in a body bag. While the Kyrail and Voodal had many differences this was one thing both accepted.
Neither group would detest giving someone a good death—even though both thought it would be others turn to hit the deck.
The next few seconds were some of the longest, most horrendous moments of Eivaley’s life.
Torkla roared like a beast dredged up from the bottomless dark pits of hell, shot forward, and tried to slip the pistol from the Kyrail’s grip; his fangs snapping as his potent venom trailed passed his lips.
But at his age, Torkla was not the young proud palace guard he was when he was first assigned to be Eivaley’s personal guard.
Now that he was pushing fifty, he was old, slow, and more willing than ever to lay it all on the line for the few people he was bound to protect. Right now, he regrettably could not meet the bill.
A deafening, unsuppressed shot cracked like thunder just as Torklas claws caressed the handgun. The round ripped through his palm and carved a deep canyon in the old warriors skull, showering Eivaley in blood, bone, and brain matter of the man who earlier was chuckling and asking her to dress more modestly.
The crack of the weapon turned the nightclub into pure bedlam. Drunken partygoers screamed while they shoved and trampled one another, desperately trying to get away. Their panic blaring overwhelmed the club's music and Eivaley’s screams.
As soon as the first Kyrail shot Torkla, the others tossed their bags of visage onto Eivaley, showering her in the drug that burned the image of Torkla’s canyoned skull and slumping body into her mind. An image she would remember until her dying breath.
Over her life she would se many more, and had seen hundreds if not thousands of commoners die so far. That one death meant something more to here; but how much it affected her would take many years for her to understand.
“Grab ‘er,” The lead croaker said just before the metallic hand of a massive beast grabbed his head and crushed it like an egg, blood glowing as it squirted between shining metallic fingers.
Whoever just killed the man who shot Torkla picked up the lead ganger and effortlessly tossed the corpse into another one of the gang members. As soon as he was done with that, he lifted his handgun and fired three rounds into the remaining mook, not even bothering to glance fully at them.
In her drug-induced stupor, Eivaley’s mind and body could not focus on anything beyond critical details. Sparse things that stood out so much she could never forget them.
One of the mans arms was covered in metal; whether it was armor or cybernetics, she did not know, nor could she care. At this moment, it was the shining armor of a night of yor: strong, valiant, and rescuing a damsel in distress.
The vissages causing her neurons to misfire, rocketed stories of strong brave men rushing to the rescue of the noble women when their homes were under siege. And as far as seh saw it, this situation was just that.
Her guards failed,and now as if summoned by the gods themselves a brave knight burst forth from nowhere and defied the darkness threatening the dainty princess. No it did not matter she was the 5th princess and would never be queen, just that she had her champion, and it seems that chose her.
Before the visage entirely took effect, Eivaley heard the man say a few words. It was difficult to listen to him through the skull art covered mask he wore, but her savior's voice was deep, reverberating, and filled with clear, driven intent.
“I got the girl; meet you at Stitches’s place,” the man said just as he tossed Eivaley’s now near limp body over his heavily muscled shoulder and rushed through the crowd.
The last thing Eivaley could remember before the visage sunk its fangs deep into her mind was the man kicking open the back door and rushing out into the Heavalun night, bright neon signs, and the dingy alley welcoming them into their midst.
So how did you like this one? nothing to bad right? we are just getting started, and have a fat chunk of chapters left. like my other stories, expect well-timed and thought-out violence and inter-character moments. I hope you give my new tale a chance.
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submitted by Professional_Prune11 to humansarespaceorcs [link] [comments]
Let's go save our bread
None of the dancers paid him any mind as he weaved in and out of their groups. All were far too inebriated to note the predator stalking past or any weapons he carried beneath his jacket. Be it the knife on his hip, the pistol in hand, or the stun granades on his belt.
Clutching the pistol in his metallic hand, Conor wondered what the worn stippling was like to hold. It had been years since his right hand could feel, and the L1-JKL was nowhere near as sharp as when it was manufactured hundreds of standard years ago by Nekarilaqa arms.
At this point, the JKL was ancient, being over tenfold his age. But the Slug thrower was still effective and was integrally suppressed. Those who loved the weapon model would call it the Jackle; Conor was not one of those people.
He preferred to call it the Joker because the pistol was the perfect weapon for his needs or as helpful as breathing on someone. At least the suppressor would make it impossible to hear the weapons report beyond a few meters —-especially with loud base drums.
In an environment as ridiculously voluminous as the nightclub, Conor would not even be able to hear the weapon going off, much less the drunk and high partygoers keying their senses into the ear-splitting music.
Conor’s theory on the level of ignorance the inebriated attendees was given credence when he wrapped his hand on the slimy mouth of one of the Voodal mooks and sent four slugs through his back, blood and viscera showering a group of scantily clad dancers; all of them none the wiser that the warm liquid glowing neon in the club lights was the orange blood of the amphibian.
Instead of taking the time to hide the body in a trashcan like this was a B-rate hollow-flick, Conor shoved the limp body off to the side. the Voodal collapsed against the damp, durecrete wall with a dull thud.
Club security would find the body soon enough and toss it in the alleyway outback, likely assuming he passed out. Until then, the dancers would continue blissfully unaware of the cadaver in their midst. Conor just knew he would likely have to explain to Zyntle why he and Brakul were conducting business in his nightclub; that was in a way taboo for the duo.
“Good kill. Move to the right,” Brakul instructed through the radio. “Next target is lazed.”
“Copy,” Conor muttered coldly into his mask's communication device.
While he passed a pair of green-skinned Kubutals grinding hard against one another, Conor spotted Brakul's laser stock steady on the chest of the next Voodal. He moved quickly, distancing himself from the couple that was only two layers of cloth away from fucking on the dancefloor, needing to speed things up if he was going to win the bet
Once past them, Conor closed the gap between him and the next target, pulling her close. Before the woman registered that she now had a new and less-than-provocative dance partner, Conor slammed her against the wall, pushed his suppressed pistol into her groin, and stitched off four quick shots.
Usually, a bullet smashing your pelvic girdle would cause uncontrolled screaming, But with Conor's metallic elbow crushing the amphibian's trachea, she could only muster a weak croak.
As the Kyrail woman thrashed, her windpipe cracked and crackled; She struggled against Conor like an untamed Rehal: kicking, punching, clawing, all in a desperate animalistic desire to survive. But that could not last forever, and they both knew it; after half a minute, the fight in her amber eyes faded, having drained out with the blood coating her and Conor's boots.
“You better hurry it up; there are only four left,” Brakul mocked as Conor let the dead woman's corpse slump against the wall, and running her pockets.
“You could fucking help me, you Nurlik!” Conor flippantly replied while pulling a bag of visage from the woman's pocket.
“I am helping, just not too much; I still have crit riding on you failing—-remember,” Brakul sniggered.
“This was your idea,” Conor grumbled, leaving the woman gbehind and wafting past another dancer towards the next Kyrail.
Thankfully Brakul did not comment further while Conor was actively dealing with the next target; Brakul might be an asshole, but he was a professional and knew to let Conor work.
Conor covered the gang member's nose with the open bag and drove a swift knee into his grundle; the man’s autonomic functions did the rest. The strike caused them to gasp and breathe in a lungful of the acrid yellowish powder.
The amphibian coughed, bluckling over as his brain was forced to error code by the narcotic. Conor silently thanked Orphian Manufacturing that filters in his mask saved him from the zombifying cloud, unlike the other patrons within arms reach of his last target who also began to fall tot he deck.
“Do I have to remind you of our bet on the Driltol mining platform? Because last I checked, that was your idea,” Brakul commented, shifting his laser to the next target.
Conor huffed in annoyance, remembering that bet and horrible day all too well. He lost five thousand crit and his arm over the course of an hour. All because he was young, inexperienced, hot-headed, and not keeping keyed in on the task.
On top of the physical and financial damage, Conor also learned two important lessons about this line of work. Firstly, he had to stay focused on his current objective while being aware of what was happening nearby.
The second lesson he learned was to trust Brakul's wisdom and counsel. The older mercenary had a far better sense of business and an uncanny ability to tell when a gig would go bottoms up, and they needed to pop smoke.
Those lessons were things Conor still had to remind himself of regularly. He was far more reliable and wise than those days but could not hold a candle up to Brakul.
“Are there any updates on the others?” Conor questioned, slipped behind a pillar, pulling the trigger and splattering another Voodal ganger's brains on the bar, wall, and an unsepecting Farun’se.
“You better hurry up, conman. They just figured out something is going on and are starting to move,” Brakul said calmly.
Grunting to confirm he understood, Conor gave up on flowing like an unseen predator through the crowd and started to force the comparatively diminutive aliens out of the way. Sometimes speed was safety, and with his time hack being measured in seconds—now was one of those times.
Conor pushed through the last group of dancers, most falling to the ground with painful yelps. Once through, he finally had sight of the group of Kyrail. One of the Kyrail was bleeding out on the deck, and two were left standing.
One was a hulking brute with a beer gut, grey scales, and wore a tight tunic like cloth. The red scaled woman was using the older lizard like a shield, yelling something at the Voodal gangers, but the club's music drowned out her voice.
Conor had to give it to the old fool; he had some balls. Even though he was outnumbered and unarmed, he stood stalwart against the last three Voodal gangers, closing the short gap between them.
Balls or not, the Kyrail were not in a winning scenario and would be overwhelmed quickly. With their back-to-wall, Conor had to act fast; there was no way he would lose another bet. Brakul would never let him live that down.
—--
“Stay behind me,” Torkla hissed, pushing Eivaley back from the three aliens.
Eivaley clutched tightly to Torklas clothes and did what she was told. He was the champion appointed ot her by her father; and would fill most of the rolls of a champion until she found someone who could best him.
Her heart was slamming like a hammer and anvil in her chest while the three aliens cackled and kept getting closer. The only question running through her mind and body right now was, what was happening?
This was supposed to be an enjoyable trip, not whatever this nightmare was now.
Daddy had invited her to Heavalun and the COS to get a feeling for the city and the area of space his shipping company was expanding into.
Her father, Vuraley, handled all the tedious paperwork: setting up contacts, buying warehouses, hiring security, and setting up a private spaceport. All she was supposed to do was stay out of trouble, look pretty at a few meetings with clients, and stay close to her security detail.
Now Eivaley was cowering behind the back of one of her clans proudest warriors while three meter-and-a-half tall bipedal frogs brandished weapons and were threatening them. She could not imagine what Daddy would say about this when she got home. Would he cut her allowance? Not let her go out in town again? Or worst of all, not let her go out and see her friends anymore?
Either way, she was not looking forward to what he would do to her—it wasn’t like any of this was her fault.
“Oi, soljah, ‘and, ‘er ovah, and we hont ‘urt yah,” one of the grey-skinned toads croaked, pointing a pistol at Vuraley and flicking off the weapons safety.
“You had better get out of here,” Eivaley hissed reflexively, far to use to having others of her species following her everyword like gospel. “My daddy will have none of this; he will make you all regret this,”
“Stop talking,” Torkla yelled, keeping his eyes on the encroaching Voodal. “you’re not helping.”
What in the grand broods name? Torkla yelled at her. He never yelled at her, even though he had been guarding her since she was a little girl. Torkla was under Oath to obey her, and keep her safe; that includes listening to her. He should not be able to yell at her.
“Yah lil’ lady, yah should listen. We know yer daddy and don’t care, and you are worth too much to pass up,” The Voodal sniggered. “So soljah, yah gonna ‘and ‘er ovah?”
Torkla looked over the men who had paused, slinking closer, and were waiting for his answer. Then he glanced over his shoulder at Eivaley. The girl he might as well have helped raise was shaking like a leaf and needed him to be a rock right now.
“No deal,” Torkla replied, drawing a knife and readying to fight off the aliens or die trying.
The front toad clicked his tongue and languidly twirled the pistol while stepping off to the side. “Come on, no reason tah die fer ‘er. Be reasonable,”
“Torkla would never—” Eivaley started, but he yelled at her again.
“I said shut up,” Torkla barked. “You can get made at me later.”
Eivaley jumped then clutched his jacket and nodded silently, not wanting him to yell anymore. While yes she might be in charge of Torkla and the others her father assigned to her; until she found her own champion she would never have any true power.
“I said no deal,” Torkla affirmed.
The lead toad rolled his eyes and sighed while raising the weapon toward Torkla, readying to slump the stupid royal guardsman.
Once the pistol was full raised they nodded. Both accepting accepting that there was only one way this would go. One of them would end up in a body bag. While the Kyrail and Voodal had many differences this was one thing both accepted.
Neither group would detest giving someone a good death—even though both thought it would be others turn to hit the deck.
The next few seconds were some of the longest, most horrendous moments of Eivaley’s life.
Torkla roared like a beast dredged up from the bottomless dark pits of hell, shot forward, and tried to slip the pistol from the Kyrail’s grip; his fangs snapping as his potent venom trailed passed his lips.
But at his age, Torkla was not the young proud palace guard he was when he was first assigned to be Eivaley’s personal guard.
Now that he was pushing fifty, he was old, slow, and more willing than ever to lay it all on the line for the few people he was bound to protect. Right now, he regrettably could not meet the bill.
A deafening, unsuppressed shot cracked like thunder just as Torklas claws caressed the handgun. The round ripped through his palm and carved a deep canyon in the old warriors skull, showering Eivaley in blood, bone, and brain matter of the man who earlier was chuckling and asking her to dress more modestly.
The crack of the weapon turned the nightclub into pure bedlam. Drunken partygoers screamed while they shoved and trampled one another, desperately trying to get away. Their panic blaring overwhelmed the club's music and Eivaley’s screams.
As soon as the first Kyrail shot Torkla, the others tossed their bags of visage onto Eivaley, showering her in the drug that burned the image of Torkla’s canyoned skull and slumping body into her mind. An image she would remember until her dying breath.
Over her life she would se many more, and had seen hundreds if not thousands of commoners die so far. That one death meant something more to here; but how much it affected her would take many years for her to understand.
“Grab ‘er,” The lead croaker said just before the metallic hand of a massive beast grabbed his head and crushed it like an egg, blood glowing as it squirted between shining metallic fingers.
Whoever just killed the man who shot Torkla picked up the lead ganger and effortlessly tossed the corpse into another one of the gang members. As soon as he was done with that, he lifted his handgun and fired three rounds into the remaining mook, not even bothering to glance fully at them.
In her drug-induced stupor, Eivaley’s mind and body could not focus on anything beyond critical details. Sparse things that stood out so much she could never forget them.
One of the mans arms was covered in metal; whether it was armor or cybernetics, she did not know, nor could she care. At this moment, it was the shining armor of a night of yor: strong, valiant, and rescuing a damsel in distress.
The vissages causing her neurons to misfire, rocketed stories of strong brave men rushing to the rescue of the noble women when their homes were under siege. And as far as seh saw it, this situation was just that.
Her guards failed,and now as if summoned by the gods themselves a brave knight burst forth from nowhere and defied the darkness threatening the dainty princess. No it did not matter she was the 5th princess and would never be queen, just that she had her champion, and it seems that chose her.
Before the visage entirely took effect, Eivaley heard the man say a few words. It was difficult to listen to him through the skull art covered mask he wore, but her savior's voice was deep, reverberating, and filled with clear, driven intent.
“I got the girl; meet you at Stitches’s place,” the man said just as he tossed Eivaley’s now near limp body over his heavily muscled shoulder and rushed through the crowd.
The last thing Eivaley could remember before the visage sunk its fangs deep into her mind was the man kicking open the back door and rushing out into the Heavalun night, bright neon signs, and the dingy alley welcoming them into their midst.
Please do not forget to updoot and comment.
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2024.05.18 14:17 tomesandtea [Discussion] Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey Chapters 34-40 (The Expanse Book #1)
Welcome to our fifth discussion of Leviathan Wakes. Hold onto your cool detective hats or your environment suits, because we finally get some answers to our mystery! This week, we will discuss Chapters 34-40. The Marginalia post is here. You can find the Schedule here.
The discussion questions are below. One note - this is a very popular book series and TV show, but please keep in mind that not everyone has read or watched already, so be mindful not to include anything that could be a hint or a spoiler! Please mark spoilers not related to this section of the book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words).
Now brace yourselves: here comes the juice!
Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 34 - Miller: Detective Miller and the crew of the Roci board the hidden ship (the one that captured the crew of the Scopuli before destroying it), wearing environment suits because the ship has no atmosphere - someone left the doors open. They stick together at first as they move through the ship, discovering signs of a struggle, zombie vomit, and twelve torpedo tubes big enough to destroy capital ships like the Donnager or the Canterbury. Miller uses his detective skills to determine that everyone but Julie retreated to engineering. Once there, they discover a truly grisly sight: layers of human flesh and bones are sort of fused around the reactor, which has been shut down. Naomi and Holden gasp in shock and disgust, Miller turns on his cop brain to suppress emotion and view it as a crime scene, and Amos seems… calm and able to ignore the gore. The team splits up to look for more clues.
Amos stays in engineering to start up the computers and get the reactor back online. Naomi works on the ops deck to run diagnostics. Miller and Holden head to the bridge, which wasn’t affected by the fighting onboard. Miller reviews the internal feeds and finds footage showing the captured Scopuli crew being led onto the ship, stripped, and put in restraints. Julie fights back viciously but is knocked unconscious and stuffed in a locker with a jumpsuit (which is where we met her in the prologue). The crew is left in the galley for 132 hours before they decide to make a stand, but it is quickly suppressed. One of the crew is thrown out an airlock and the others are heavily restrained as they scream and cry. Just as Miller gets to the first appearance of a vomit zombie (at hour 160 of footage), Amos yells that he’s been exposed to some radiation because the human flesh blob had damaged the reactor shielding. He decides to keep working while Alex monitors his health status from the Roci.
Then Holden calls Miller over to view one of the last feeds Julie accessed. It’s a corporate presentation video created for a man named Dresden and the board of Protogen. It features a man Miller dubs “the sociopath” because of his cold, practiced smile…and because of the content. The sociopath tells the board (and us) the history of scientific discovery on Phoebe, which was thought to just be a moon and a source of water, but became a research station when a survey found complex silicon structures in the ice. Protogen was tasked with investigating and discovered that Phoebe is not a moon but evidence of a galactic biosphere: it is an alien weapon sent towards Earth 2 ⅓ billion years ago, which never made it because of orbital mechanics. Protogen has discovered that this weapon is not alive per se; rather, it is something they’ve termed the “protomolecule” which has the ability to maintain structure while replicating other systems and manipulating them at scalable rates. Of course, they alerted the proper authorities and made sure… just kidding, they’ve secretly been doing tests. The sociopath believes that whoever controls the protomolecule will gain control of all political and economic power going forward. Chillingly, the sociopath urges them to pursue large-scale testing to understand the protomolecule and its human applications. That large-scale testing is Eros.
TL;DR - Julie found evidence that Protogen has discovered an alien weapon, branded it the “protomolecule”, and secretly tested it on the people of Eros (and probably other smaller tests). The entire war has just been a distraction.
Chapter 35 - Holden: Naomi explains that most of the messages on the comm logs have been coded, but the last one is in plain text: the captain informed Thoth Station that the ship was contaminated, everyone was about to die, and the “materials” had been secured. He also planned to send vector data so they could find the ship. The Roci crew put two and alien-symbol-for-two together: they figure out that the captain has locked protomolecule samples in his safe. They also decide that the tightbeam messages were being sent to a secret research station Protogen was using to monitor the Eros experiment. Even though the fact “Naomi is the best” is a proven concept on par with “space is cold”, she is NOT able to open the captain’s safe, so they decide to cut it out of the wall and bring it with them on the Roci. They also scuttle the ship so no one can a) recover the stealth technology and alien weapons, or b) get exposed to the protomolecule-human soup inside. (Amos would have preferred to hack the frozen dead body goo off the reactor with a chainsaw and salvage such an impressive and expensive ship, which is… another way to go.)
It’s clear that someone else with stealth tech is searching actively for this ship, but the Roci won’t see them coming so they decide to get the hell out of Dodge. Naomi jokes that their options include turning the safe over to the OPA (they’d be heroes), selling out to Mars (they’d be rich), or starting their own biotech firm (just kidding, that’s evil). When Miller checks in with Holden about a decision on where to go next, he drops a figurative bomb on him regarding actual bombs in the news. Since Holden did his best Edward Snowden impersonation and leaked the data that the mystery ships are from Earth, Mars asked a few too many questions and in response, Earth has blown up a whole bunch of Martian ships and destroyed the Deimos deep radar station. Miller ruefully gives Holden credit for sticking to his guns about his belief in “free information”. He also points out that Holden’s principles make him responsible for all those deaths and the destruction of the Earth-Mars Coalition… and possibly the universe as they know it.
Chapter 36 - Miller: The war between Mars and the Belt seems like no big deal now that Earth and Mars are fighting. Miller watches the news feeds as the conflict turns into a blockade, and he realizes he is steeling himself for an announcement of a planetary attack on Earth or Mars, but it never comes. He and Amos deal with the stress by having beer for breakfast.
Miller meets up with Holden in the med bay for their routine blood flushes and cancer treatments, and they reopen their debate about what to do with the data files and who is to blame for the war(s).
Chapter 37 - Holden: The crew of the Roci is taking a break from doom scrolling to cook fake space lasagna for dinner and bond over the food and conversation. As Holden watches the crew laugh at Amos’s belches and Miller’s wild story about cheese smuggling, he reflects that they represent all three prongs of the conflict: Naomi and Miller are Belters, Amos and he are from Earth, and Alex is from Mars. Yet they’re friends, and Holden knows this is what they have to fight for. The cheese smuggling makes no sense to Amos (why cheese and not drugs?), and Naomi points out that this illustrates how little people from the inner planets understand Belters. Earthers have free air and easy access to resources, while Belters know everything that sustains life is rare and their access to it is fragile. And this is why Protogen didn’t blink an eye before killing 1.5 million Belters on Eros: they’re “other”. Then Alex points out that this doesn’t make sense; it's a risky and unnecessarily complicated way to kill people just to satisfy prejudices. It becomes clear that Eros isn’t a hate crime, it’s a vacuum-sealed test tube to let the protomolecule learn how to do its job better by giving it access to a huge amount of biomass. The early transformations looked incomplete, as if it didn’t know how to work with human flesh yet, so Protogen was giving it a chance to train. Holden wants to know where they would even find enough people who would support an evil operation like this, and Miller promises to ask Dresden (the Protogen board member mentioned in the video) when they meet him. Something tells me that conversation won’t go well.
As the Roci approaches Tycho station, Holden and Miller take in the view of the Nauvoo, the partially constructed Mormon generation ship. When Miller says the Mormans may be in for a long and lonely death if they don’t find a habitable planet, Holden notes that this is the good kind of galactic exploration humans can accomplish (the protomolecule being the bad kind). Miller then asks Holden why he trusts Fred, and Holden explains that in addition to being the only person who hasn’t tried to jail them or blow them up since all this began, Fred is “real OPA”: he’s a politician and not part of the war-mongering factions who think they can survive indefinitely without the inner planets. When Miller points out that there isn’t a political solution to Protogen, Holden insists Fred has other skills, too. Later, Fred reads through all the information on the protomolecule and is incredulous that anyone could think to do this. Miller assures him that genocide is an old-school crime and it’s important that they stop it. Holden offers up the location of the observation station in exchange for enough OPA fighters to take down Protogen, and the right to retain custody of the safe and its contents. Fred agrees only after Holden points out that no one else can be trusted to do the right thing with a secret this big. Plus, he says Fred already knows what Holden will do with it.
Chapter 38 - Miller: It feels strange to Miller to explore the wide open spaces of Tycho Station, the fanciest place he has ever set foot on. He notices Naomi working on her hand terminal and letting her food get cold; she is too preoccupied with trying to figure out the location of the station to enjoy the amenities. As they talk, Miller is reminded of Havelock’s advice to just let go when he got pulled off a case, which jogs his memory that Havelock actually works for Protogen! (I’m surprised he didn’t get there faster; maybe everyone had a point that he was sort of a washed up detective.) He rushes off to make contact with his old buddy - probably his last real partner ever - in an encrypted drop site of a Ganymede server cluster. As he waits for a response, Miller is amused to realize he has started thinking like Holden: he feels like someone should warn the Mormans that they could potentially run into the alien creators of the protomolecule who may want to kill them. Havelock comes through, passing along the coordinates to a “very scary deep research and development lab” and asking Miller tobe discreet never contact him again so he doesn’t get killed for betraying his employer. Miller sends him an encrypted warning to quit his job ASAP and not take postings at any black ops sites, before saying goodbye for the last time to the only person that still respected him as a cop. (I may or may not be sniffling a bit at this.)
Miller rounds up Naomi and Holden so they can bring Fred the coordinates. In Fred’s office, Miller starts lecturing him about the serious nature of the mission and the need to have a solid plan with adequate firepower, not the usual OPA shenanigans. Everyone’s a little confused until they realize that Miller doesn’t know that Fred is “the butcher of Anderson Station” and a former Colonel in the Earth Navy. Fred assures Miller he’s no amateur and will plan ahead. Miller then insists that he get to come along for the assault on Thoth Station. Eight days later, the plan is set in motion and Miller begins packing his meager belongings into a very small bag, figuring he’ll never see the Roci again. Even if he makes it off Thoth alive, he’ll have to figure out a way to make money and improvise a life plan of some sort. He tries to thank Holden and say goodbye, but the Roci’s captain interrupts Miller to ask where they’ll all meet up after the mission is complete. Miller is confused at first, then overcome with emotion when he realizes Holden considers Miller part of the crew! I’m not crying, you’re crying. Actually, it’s Miller who is weeping. But he pulls himself together so he can head to the assault ship.
Chapter 39 - Holden: The Rocinante needs to sneak up on Thoth Station, so they are pretending to be a loose cargo container that broke off the Guy Molinari (the Belter ship carrying the assault team, which is pretending to be a cargo ship). They fly with everything shut down so that it’s more convincing, hoping they can get close enough to the station to do some damage before Thoth starts firing back. As they approach and are able to reboot everything needed for battle, a stealth ship is spied hanging out near Thoth Station. Then, suddenly it becomes clear that there are two small stealth ships, which will be much harder to fight off. Everyone does their jobs efficiently on the Roci, but in the ensuing battle with the stealth ships, they start to take some damage. First, the Roci is hit by a gauss cannon that goes straight through the machine shop and galley. Holden mourns his coffee maker. Amos notices a leak in the maneuvering thrusters and heads to fix it between the inner and outer hulls, which isn’t an ideal place to be floating around during a battle. This stresses Naomi out, but Holden orders everyone to stay focused. They are able to take out one of the stealth ships, but the other gets close enough to do some impressive damage to the Roci. There is major hull damage as well as loss of four maneuvering thrusters, a PDC, their O2 storage, and the crew airlock. Alex is about to destroy the second stealth ship when the Roci’s point defense cannons (PDCs) detonate an enemy warhead up close. It knocks everyone out, punches holes throughout the Roci (narrowly missing Naomi), dislodges equipment, and fills the ship with debris. Holden marvels that they are alive at all, and Alex points out that is only because the ship’s anti-spalling webbing eliminates shrapnel. They make contact with Fred, who says he’ll find them a place to land, and the Guy Molinari prepares for the assault on Thoth Station. It’s Miller’s turn to shine!
Chapter 40 - Miller: On the Guy Molinari, Miller is talking to a Belter kid named Diogo as they wait for the assault to start. Miller realizes that while he has fancy Martian armor from the Roci and experience with gunfights in station corridors, he is surrounded by inexperienced young Belters with borrowed gear, and he will likely have to watch dozens of them die during the battle. But Diogo isn’t worried; he is confident and eager to get started. Fred announces that they are ready to start boarding since the Roci gave them the “all clear”, and Miller is happy to hear his friends have survived. The assault on the station starts off rough, with Protogen soldiers fighting them in the corridors and automatic defense lasers taking out some of the Belters in the first wave. But Fred knows how to command his OPA “troops” and keep them in line, and things start to go more smoothly as they slow down and maneuver carefully. Miller and Diogo are part of a group taking shelter at Fred’s direction and fending off Protogen counterattacks, and they start to talk during a lull. When two Protogen soldiers sneak up on them from behind, Diogo is hit and Miller chastises himself for chatting during a battle and not staying alert. He thinks Diogo is dead, but he pops up laughing and streaked with white goo from crowd suppression rounds, which Miller finds an odd choice of weapon. It’s the first sign that Thoth Station may not totally understand what’s happening. The OPA soldiers cut their way through the blast doors to get to the operations center, where they find Dresden (the dude mentioned in the sociopath’s Protogen video). Fred arrives to take command of the station, and Dresden offers to negotiate, clearly misunderstanding the reason for the assault. He offers to give the OPA whatever resources they need to go back to fighting their war (money, medical supplies, weapons, ordnance) if they’ll just leave and let the station get back to their very important work. Fred points out that they know about Eros, but Dresden insists no one knows what they did there, and there won’t be a better bargaining position for Fred when Earth sends its battleships. Fred basically calls Dresden Satan, but Dresden doesn’t understand the reference.
submitted by tomesandtea to bookclub [link] [comments]
The discussion questions are below. One note - this is a very popular book series and TV show, but please keep in mind that not everyone has read or watched already, so be mindful not to include anything that could be a hint or a spoiler! Please mark spoilers not related to this section of the book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words).
Now brace yourselves: here comes the juice!
Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 34 - Miller: Detective Miller and the crew of the Roci board the hidden ship (the one that captured the crew of the Scopuli before destroying it), wearing environment suits because the ship has no atmosphere - someone left the doors open. They stick together at first as they move through the ship, discovering signs of a struggle, zombie vomit, and twelve torpedo tubes big enough to destroy capital ships like the Donnager or the Canterbury. Miller uses his detective skills to determine that everyone but Julie retreated to engineering. Once there, they discover a truly grisly sight: layers of human flesh and bones are sort of fused around the reactor, which has been shut down. Naomi and Holden gasp in shock and disgust, Miller turns on his cop brain to suppress emotion and view it as a crime scene, and Amos seems… calm and able to ignore the gore. The team splits up to look for more clues.
Amos stays in engineering to start up the computers and get the reactor back online. Naomi works on the ops deck to run diagnostics. Miller and Holden head to the bridge, which wasn’t affected by the fighting onboard. Miller reviews the internal feeds and finds footage showing the captured Scopuli crew being led onto the ship, stripped, and put in restraints. Julie fights back viciously but is knocked unconscious and stuffed in a locker with a jumpsuit (which is where we met her in the prologue). The crew is left in the galley for 132 hours before they decide to make a stand, but it is quickly suppressed. One of the crew is thrown out an airlock and the others are heavily restrained as they scream and cry. Just as Miller gets to the first appearance of a vomit zombie (at hour 160 of footage), Amos yells that he’s been exposed to some radiation because the human flesh blob had damaged the reactor shielding. He decides to keep working while Alex monitors his health status from the Roci.
Then Holden calls Miller over to view one of the last feeds Julie accessed. It’s a corporate presentation video created for a man named Dresden and the board of Protogen. It features a man Miller dubs “the sociopath” because of his cold, practiced smile…and because of the content. The sociopath tells the board (and us) the history of scientific discovery on Phoebe, which was thought to just be a moon and a source of water, but became a research station when a survey found complex silicon structures in the ice. Protogen was tasked with investigating and discovered that Phoebe is not a moon but evidence of a galactic biosphere: it is an alien weapon sent towards Earth 2 ⅓ billion years ago, which never made it because of orbital mechanics. Protogen has discovered that this weapon is not alive per se; rather, it is something they’ve termed the “protomolecule” which has the ability to maintain structure while replicating other systems and manipulating them at scalable rates. Of course, they alerted the proper authorities and made sure… just kidding, they’ve secretly been doing tests. The sociopath believes that whoever controls the protomolecule will gain control of all political and economic power going forward. Chillingly, the sociopath urges them to pursue large-scale testing to understand the protomolecule and its human applications. That large-scale testing is Eros.
TL;DR - Julie found evidence that Protogen has discovered an alien weapon, branded it the “protomolecule”, and secretly tested it on the people of Eros (and probably other smaller tests). The entire war has just been a distraction.
Chapter 35 - Holden: Naomi explains that most of the messages on the comm logs have been coded, but the last one is in plain text: the captain informed Thoth Station that the ship was contaminated, everyone was about to die, and the “materials” had been secured. He also planned to send vector data so they could find the ship. The Roci crew put two and alien-symbol-for-two together: they figure out that the captain has locked protomolecule samples in his safe. They also decide that the tightbeam messages were being sent to a secret research station Protogen was using to monitor the Eros experiment. Even though the fact “Naomi is the best” is a proven concept on par with “space is cold”, she is NOT able to open the captain’s safe, so they decide to cut it out of the wall and bring it with them on the Roci. They also scuttle the ship so no one can a) recover the stealth technology and alien weapons, or b) get exposed to the protomolecule-human soup inside. (Amos would have preferred to hack the frozen dead body goo off the reactor with a chainsaw and salvage such an impressive and expensive ship, which is… another way to go.)
It’s clear that someone else with stealth tech is searching actively for this ship, but the Roci won’t see them coming so they decide to get the hell out of Dodge. Naomi jokes that their options include turning the safe over to the OPA (they’d be heroes), selling out to Mars (they’d be rich), or starting their own biotech firm (just kidding, that’s evil). When Miller checks in with Holden about a decision on where to go next, he drops a figurative bomb on him regarding actual bombs in the news. Since Holden did his best Edward Snowden impersonation and leaked the data that the mystery ships are from Earth, Mars asked a few too many questions and in response, Earth has blown up a whole bunch of Martian ships and destroyed the Deimos deep radar station. Miller ruefully gives Holden credit for sticking to his guns about his belief in “free information”. He also points out that Holden’s principles make him responsible for all those deaths and the destruction of the Earth-Mars Coalition… and possibly the universe as they know it.
Chapter 36 - Miller: The war between Mars and the Belt seems like no big deal now that Earth and Mars are fighting. Miller watches the news feeds as the conflict turns into a blockade, and he realizes he is steeling himself for an announcement of a planetary attack on Earth or Mars, but it never comes. He and Amos deal with the stress by having beer for breakfast.
Miller meets up with Holden in the med bay for their routine blood flushes and cancer treatments, and they reopen their debate about what to do with the data files and who is to blame for the war(s).
- Holden’s position: Broadcast everything to everyone! (I know, I know, so out of character, right?) People will understand that they’ve been set up and will turn their wrath on Protogen instead of each other. Also, these are ancient conflicts. The Belt has always hated Mars and the inner planets in general. Mars and Earth have always had animosities secretly brewing and they do military training for the inevitable showdown. Or as Miller puts it, “Not my powder keg; I just brought the match.”
- Miller’s position: Stop and consider what people will do if they hear an Earth company did this. Every other data leak has been used as an excuse to shoot at someone the other side doesn’t like. Also, people suck. They aren’t going to hold hands and sing Kumbaya just because Protogen is the bad guy. They’ll move on to shooting each other so they can be the ones to control the protomolecule. Or as Holden puts it, “Maybe Protogen is a little right. People are too dumb to be trusted with big information so we should keep hard, scary stuff a big secret. That’ll totally work out.”
Chapter 37 - Holden: The crew of the Roci is taking a break from doom scrolling to cook fake space lasagna for dinner and bond over the food and conversation. As Holden watches the crew laugh at Amos’s belches and Miller’s wild story about cheese smuggling, he reflects that they represent all three prongs of the conflict: Naomi and Miller are Belters, Amos and he are from Earth, and Alex is from Mars. Yet they’re friends, and Holden knows this is what they have to fight for. The cheese smuggling makes no sense to Amos (why cheese and not drugs?), and Naomi points out that this illustrates how little people from the inner planets understand Belters. Earthers have free air and easy access to resources, while Belters know everything that sustains life is rare and their access to it is fragile. And this is why Protogen didn’t blink an eye before killing 1.5 million Belters on Eros: they’re “other”. Then Alex points out that this doesn’t make sense; it's a risky and unnecessarily complicated way to kill people just to satisfy prejudices. It becomes clear that Eros isn’t a hate crime, it’s a vacuum-sealed test tube to let the protomolecule learn how to do its job better by giving it access to a huge amount of biomass. The early transformations looked incomplete, as if it didn’t know how to work with human flesh yet, so Protogen was giving it a chance to train. Holden wants to know where they would even find enough people who would support an evil operation like this, and Miller promises to ask Dresden (the Protogen board member mentioned in the video) when they meet him. Something tells me that conversation won’t go well.
As the Roci approaches Tycho station, Holden and Miller take in the view of the Nauvoo, the partially constructed Mormon generation ship. When Miller says the Mormans may be in for a long and lonely death if they don’t find a habitable planet, Holden notes that this is the good kind of galactic exploration humans can accomplish (the protomolecule being the bad kind). Miller then asks Holden why he trusts Fred, and Holden explains that in addition to being the only person who hasn’t tried to jail them or blow them up since all this began, Fred is “real OPA”: he’s a politician and not part of the war-mongering factions who think they can survive indefinitely without the inner planets. When Miller points out that there isn’t a political solution to Protogen, Holden insists Fred has other skills, too. Later, Fred reads through all the information on the protomolecule and is incredulous that anyone could think to do this. Miller assures him that genocide is an old-school crime and it’s important that they stop it. Holden offers up the location of the observation station in exchange for enough OPA fighters to take down Protogen, and the right to retain custody of the safe and its contents. Fred agrees only after Holden points out that no one else can be trusted to do the right thing with a secret this big. Plus, he says Fred already knows what Holden will do with it.
Chapter 38 - Miller: It feels strange to Miller to explore the wide open spaces of Tycho Station, the fanciest place he has ever set foot on. He notices Naomi working on her hand terminal and letting her food get cold; she is too preoccupied with trying to figure out the location of the station to enjoy the amenities. As they talk, Miller is reminded of Havelock’s advice to just let go when he got pulled off a case, which jogs his memory that Havelock actually works for Protogen! (I’m surprised he didn’t get there faster; maybe everyone had a point that he was sort of a washed up detective.) He rushes off to make contact with his old buddy - probably his last real partner ever - in an encrypted drop site of a Ganymede server cluster. As he waits for a response, Miller is amused to realize he has started thinking like Holden: he feels like someone should warn the Mormans that they could potentially run into the alien creators of the protomolecule who may want to kill them. Havelock comes through, passing along the coordinates to a “very scary deep research and development lab” and asking Miller to
Miller rounds up Naomi and Holden so they can bring Fred the coordinates. In Fred’s office, Miller starts lecturing him about the serious nature of the mission and the need to have a solid plan with adequate firepower, not the usual OPA shenanigans. Everyone’s a little confused until they realize that Miller doesn’t know that Fred is “the butcher of Anderson Station” and a former Colonel in the Earth Navy. Fred assures Miller he’s no amateur and will plan ahead. Miller then insists that he get to come along for the assault on Thoth Station. Eight days later, the plan is set in motion and Miller begins packing his meager belongings into a very small bag, figuring he’ll never see the Roci again. Even if he makes it off Thoth alive, he’ll have to figure out a way to make money and improvise a life plan of some sort. He tries to thank Holden and say goodbye, but the Roci’s captain interrupts Miller to ask where they’ll all meet up after the mission is complete. Miller is confused at first, then overcome with emotion when he realizes Holden considers Miller part of the crew! I’m not crying, you’re crying. Actually, it’s Miller who is weeping. But he pulls himself together so he can head to the assault ship.
Chapter 39 - Holden: The Rocinante needs to sneak up on Thoth Station, so they are pretending to be a loose cargo container that broke off the Guy Molinari (the Belter ship carrying the assault team, which is pretending to be a cargo ship). They fly with everything shut down so that it’s more convincing, hoping they can get close enough to the station to do some damage before Thoth starts firing back. As they approach and are able to reboot everything needed for battle, a stealth ship is spied hanging out near Thoth Station. Then, suddenly it becomes clear that there are two small stealth ships, which will be much harder to fight off. Everyone does their jobs efficiently on the Roci, but in the ensuing battle with the stealth ships, they start to take some damage. First, the Roci is hit by a gauss cannon that goes straight through the machine shop and galley. Holden mourns his coffee maker. Amos notices a leak in the maneuvering thrusters and heads to fix it between the inner and outer hulls, which isn’t an ideal place to be floating around during a battle. This stresses Naomi out, but Holden orders everyone to stay focused. They are able to take out one of the stealth ships, but the other gets close enough to do some impressive damage to the Roci. There is major hull damage as well as loss of four maneuvering thrusters, a PDC, their O2 storage, and the crew airlock. Alex is about to destroy the second stealth ship when the Roci’s point defense cannons (PDCs) detonate an enemy warhead up close. It knocks everyone out, punches holes throughout the Roci (narrowly missing Naomi), dislodges equipment, and fills the ship with debris. Holden marvels that they are alive at all, and Alex points out that is only because the ship’s anti-spalling webbing eliminates shrapnel. They make contact with Fred, who says he’ll find them a place to land, and the Guy Molinari prepares for the assault on Thoth Station. It’s Miller’s turn to shine!
Chapter 40 - Miller: On the Guy Molinari, Miller is talking to a Belter kid named Diogo as they wait for the assault to start. Miller realizes that while he has fancy Martian armor from the Roci and experience with gunfights in station corridors, he is surrounded by inexperienced young Belters with borrowed gear, and he will likely have to watch dozens of them die during the battle. But Diogo isn’t worried; he is confident and eager to get started. Fred announces that they are ready to start boarding since the Roci gave them the “all clear”, and Miller is happy to hear his friends have survived. The assault on the station starts off rough, with Protogen soldiers fighting them in the corridors and automatic defense lasers taking out some of the Belters in the first wave. But Fred knows how to command his OPA “troops” and keep them in line, and things start to go more smoothly as they slow down and maneuver carefully. Miller and Diogo are part of a group taking shelter at Fred’s direction and fending off Protogen counterattacks, and they start to talk during a lull. When two Protogen soldiers sneak up on them from behind, Diogo is hit and Miller chastises himself for chatting during a battle and not staying alert. He thinks Diogo is dead, but he pops up laughing and streaked with white goo from crowd suppression rounds, which Miller finds an odd choice of weapon. It’s the first sign that Thoth Station may not totally understand what’s happening. The OPA soldiers cut their way through the blast doors to get to the operations center, where they find Dresden (the dude mentioned in the sociopath’s Protogen video). Fred arrives to take command of the station, and Dresden offers to negotiate, clearly misunderstanding the reason for the assault. He offers to give the OPA whatever resources they need to go back to fighting their war (money, medical supplies, weapons, ordnance) if they’ll just leave and let the station get back to their very important work. Fred points out that they know about Eros, but Dresden insists no one knows what they did there, and there won’t be a better bargaining position for Fred when Earth sends its battleships. Fred basically calls Dresden Satan, but Dresden doesn’t understand the reference.
2024.05.18 08:46 Potential-Lavishness How to make friends, part 1: your physical self
I see a lot of posts of lonely ppl who want friends. As someone who has consciously taught myself social skills, now makes friends easily, and has maintained deep bonds over decades, I feel qualified to share what I’ve learned. I’ll warn you, tough love and even tougher truths are part of this. If you find yourself arguing, but don’t have friends yourself, ask yourself where that resistance comes from. Don’t direct it at me; take some time to journal and sit with it. This is part of the journey.
I have a lot of info so I’m breaking this into parts. I’m naturally pedantic and have a lot to share. I will do my best to keep it as concentrated as possible but be warned: this will be wordy with no TLDR.
The first part of making friends starts with your physical self. Humans are primarily visual creatures(all genders) and how we present ourselves is the first invitation or hurdle to interacting with ppl.
For clothing, any style works. If you have zero idea how to build a wardrobe choose one dark neutral (black, charcoal grey, navy, or chocolate brown), choose one light neutral (white, ivory, light grey, beige), and one medium neutral (olive green, khaki, camel, mid grey, rust, beige). Only choose one of each and preferably ones that look nice on you. From now on only buy clothes in these shades. Focus on getting your basic covered before you choose colors: tshirts, sweaters, sweatshirts jeans, slacks, jacket, coat. There are so many options and it’s a great opportunity to get to know yourself. Do you like graphic Ts or plain? V neck or crew? Do you like sweatshirts that zip? Do you like hoods? For sweaters: turtlenecks, cardigans, pullovers, or quarter zips? Wool coats or puffers? Leather or denim jackets? Enjoy each detail you learn about yourself. Once your basics are covered, choose two colors. Then try to only get stuff in those colors. My pallet when I was blonde was: black, ivory, and beige with red or blush pink. Now that I’m my natural color it’s: navy, grey, ivory with sky blue or forest green. By putting limiting your colors, everything matches and you always look put together. Accessories are where your personality can really shine: loud sneakers, big belt buckles, unique watches, rings, necklaces, hats or caps, scarves, bags. There are so many ways to express yourself. Keep your accessories to your chosen colors at first. Once you have figured out your style and built up a wardrobe that works, you can add more colors and pizazz.
submitted by Potential-Lavishness to CPTSD [link] [comments]
I have a lot of info so I’m breaking this into parts. I’m naturally pedantic and have a lot to share. I will do my best to keep it as concentrated as possible but be warned: this will be wordy with no TLDR.
The first part of making friends starts with your physical self. Humans are primarily visual creatures(all genders) and how we present ourselves is the first invitation or hurdle to interacting with ppl.
- Hygiene: daily showering is a non-negotiable. You can rot on your own time in your own house. If you are going to be a part of society you need to wrangle your body smells so that ppl aren’t offended by your very presence. This is the first tough truth: no one wants to be friends with a smelly person. Use soap and a washcloth, stay away from those plastic nightmare loofahs. Wash every nook, cranny, divet, and crevices. Wash your booty hole and genitals. Change your washcloth daily (wash a$$ last) or use a separate one for your butt. Wash your sheets, pillowcases, towels, robes, and floor mat once a week. Wear deodorant (no, body sprays aren’t deodorant) daily. Some of us are extra stinky due to “stress sweat” aka apocrine glands and this is a common physical side effect of an overtaxed nervous system. Extra stinky ppl need to touch up their armpits with a disinfectant wipe and reapplication of deodorant; lunch time is great for this. Brush your teeth upon waking, after drinking coffee, and after eating. No, gum and mouthwash are only temporary, they aren’t good enough. You still have bad breath. Drinking coffee wo brushing in the morning leads to that extra stinky breath that smells like death. Don’t be that person. Floss once a day. When washing hair, use shampoo and focus on the scalp more than the hair. If you can’t feel the lather on every centimeter, add more to those spots or you will still stink. Most ppl need to wash it twice if they don’t shampoo everyday. Shorter hair, thinning hair, and fine hair need to be washed more often, sometimes daily. We can smell your scalp from far away. Keep your nails trimmed or neatly filed. I’ve had to school multiple men in my life on how raggedy their nails are. Don’t just grow them out until they break off. Keep them short unless you have the time and desire to file and shape them at least once a week. Wash your hands every time you use the bathroom. I don’t care if you didn’t touch yourself, that’s not the point. Ppl notice. Also wash your hands when you’re alone and at home, seriously it’s not that hard. How are you going to want friendship if you don’t value them enough to keep them safe and sanitary? Trim your toenails and stay abreast of how your feet smell. If you have smelly feet you probably have athletes foot. Sprays are an easy way to treat this. If you still have stinky feet after this, keep a change of socks with you so if you go to a no shoes house, you aren’t making ppl sick. Wash inner clothes like shirts and underwear after every wear. Sweat shirts and jeans can often be worn a few times before needing to be washed but smell the armpits and ass, and check for stains before you put them on.
- Grooming. This about looking neat and together. Humans are visual creatures, we judge others based on their looks. I’m not talking skinny/fat, ugly/pretty. I mean that if you look like your life is rough, ppl aren’t going to want to get involved with that. We have our own issues and struggles, we don’t want to add someone to our lives that looks like they are on the brink of a meltdown. Brush your hair and teeth before you leave the house. This is my bare minimum. Curly hair is different but my wavy hair needs to be brushed the same as straight. Combing is also acceptable. Keep an eye on your dandruff. If you have it, treat it. There are many otc options. At the very least shake it out and don’t wear dark colors until it’s fixed. Make sure you don’t have eye crusties, mouth corner goop, or boogers. If you’re showering these are usually not an issue but check for these a few times a day. I don’t iron my clothes but many ppl associate wrinkles with poor grooming. Consider getting a handheld steamer. I personally fold my clothes kon-marie style or hang them and that’s good enough for me. Keep your shoes clean. Lots of people are taught to judge other by the state of their shoes. Notice how many ppl look at your shoes the first time you meet. Wash the white laces regularly, polish and condition leather. Patent shoes are super hard to keep scuff free so avoid them if you are prone to scuffs or dragging your feet. My shoes come untied so I double knot my laces to avoid looking sloppy. Replace buttons and ask a dry cleaner to repair any holes or tears. Relegate worn out and stained clothes to lounge wear.
- Posture. Your posture says so much about you. A relaxed and tall posture says you’re confident and easy going. The type of person we all want to be friends with. Forward head means life has beaten you down. Rounded shoulders says you’ve been hurt but haven’t healed. Collapsed chest says you’ve given up. Lordosis means your core body and core self are weak. Stand with your feet an inch or two from the wall and stand naturally. Your head and most of your spine should touch. If it doesn’t you have work to do. You can’t just force yourself to stand up straight. Your muscles have stretched and atrophied to accommodate this unnatural stance, you will need to rehab your body over weeks and months to regain proper function. Research and watch videos on strengthening postural muscles. My fave that’s easy to explain: when you’re at the wall checking your posture, bend your knees slowly until you can press your spine and back of head into the wall. Stay there for a moment and feel it. That’s the proper position of your pelvis; posture comes from pelvic position not our chest, shoulders, or back. Now clench your ab muscles, they might be weak or non existent. These are the muscles that need to be strengthened. Hold those muscles tight and try to straighten your knees while maintaining that pelvic position. Breathe and hold for 30 seconds. If you can’t do 30 start with 10. Do this every time you go to the bathroom, not necessarily in the bathroom but by tying it to an inevitable part of your day you have a better chance of being consistent.
- Body language. Like posture, we communicate much more than we realize with our bodies. How we walk, sit, fidget, etc telegraphs nonverbal messages to those around us. Many ppl are very dissociated with their daily movements. Take some time to notice how you walk. Do you drag your feet? How would someone describe your walk? Do you schlep, shuffle, scurry? Or do you glide, prance, or stalk? I love to drag my feet and do this at home in my slippers. But in public I am more conscious of how I walk. This is much harder for me to explain. My main tip is to watch out for small, jerky, fast movments, like fidgeting and scurrying. These are prey movements and relegate us to an undesirable social standing: prey. Think of how a mouse moves: small, jerky quick movements. Now think of a panther. Every movement is intentional and controlled, smooth, slow. Go on walks if you are able bodied and start to notice how you move. Notice how those around you move. Which ones seem confident to you and which ones are off putting. Same with sitting. Do your best to sit up straight rather than completely melting into the chair. Don’t “throw” yourself onto someone’s furniture, use your legs to lower yourself down. When listening do your best to keep movements to a minimum. Breathing slowly and deep helps with this. I use my hands to talk when I’m excited and don’t see this as a problem.
- Eye contact. Eye contact is very important but it also varies by culture. This will be regarding western/American culture. Eye contact used to be difficult for me. I now have an engaged and sometimes intense gaze. It’s more important to maintain eye contact when listening, not as important when talking. You don’t have to laser focus, break your gaze regularly to take in the other person’s movements and body language, look briefly at other parts of their face, lower your gaze, glance at the room. But don’t stray for too long, wandering gaze makes ppl feel like you aren’t listening and ppl don’t want to engage with bad listeners. Don’t look at breasts or genitals. Once you’re comfortable with someone you can look away much more or sometimes even look at other things while you listen. But in the beginning you are building trust.
For clothing, any style works. If you have zero idea how to build a wardrobe choose one dark neutral (black, charcoal grey, navy, or chocolate brown), choose one light neutral (white, ivory, light grey, beige), and one medium neutral (olive green, khaki, camel, mid grey, rust, beige). Only choose one of each and preferably ones that look nice on you. From now on only buy clothes in these shades. Focus on getting your basic covered before you choose colors: tshirts, sweaters, sweatshirts jeans, slacks, jacket, coat. There are so many options and it’s a great opportunity to get to know yourself. Do you like graphic Ts or plain? V neck or crew? Do you like sweatshirts that zip? Do you like hoods? For sweaters: turtlenecks, cardigans, pullovers, or quarter zips? Wool coats or puffers? Leather or denim jackets? Enjoy each detail you learn about yourself. Once your basics are covered, choose two colors. Then try to only get stuff in those colors. My pallet when I was blonde was: black, ivory, and beige with red or blush pink. Now that I’m my natural color it’s: navy, grey, ivory with sky blue or forest green. By putting limiting your colors, everything matches and you always look put together. Accessories are where your personality can really shine: loud sneakers, big belt buckles, unique watches, rings, necklaces, hats or caps, scarves, bags. There are so many ways to express yourself. Keep your accessories to your chosen colors at first. Once you have figured out your style and built up a wardrobe that works, you can add more colors and pizazz.
2024.05.18 08:02 Jax_xon Sometimes life gets weird. Of course, that's what makes it fun.
Return to the Garden
It's been a long time. Things happened, shenanigans ensued.... I fell down really, really hard, like twice.... But then I got back up, and now---boy oh boy do I have a story for you..... --11dCyrus kneeled and removed his gauntlet, a song of tiny clicks and a hiss and it was off. He reached down and touched the sandy soil as he watched the sun rise, a rare pleasure he indulged at every opportunity. As he held the warm rock he'd snatched from its bed in the sand, he looked out on the vast series of canyons cut by the river below. So foreign and yet so familiar to home.
Their mission would hopefully keep them on this plateau, but he longed to explore the forest in the vast cavern below. An ancient underground river system connected forested caves and canyons spread across the continent. There was a planetbound species who lived in these canyons who deserved to know what was headed their way. By all accounts they were peaceful, simple fisherfolk; hopefully they'd gotten here in time to help. Cyrus stood and tucked the rock in a small sack clipped to his belt. He slid his gauntlet over his hand and felt it seal to his skin, any sand still clinging to his palm expelled with a puff.
“Playing in the mud again Cyrus?” The voice behind him would have been unnerving had he not been used to it. Raga’s voice had a deep echo to it, as if two different beings were speaking from that fanged mouth. A trait not uncommon among the nephilim, though that didn’t make it any easier to get used to. Cyrus turned to face the tall, thin humanoid walking toward him from the landing site. He could see that his team was complete with their preparations. So far so good, they’d timed their descent well, arriving just before dawn as planned.
“Just enjoying a planet I can breathe on. I’d take my boots off and wiggle my toes in the sand if I thought I could get away with it.”
“Don’t let me stop you from indulging your odd little human idiosyncrasies, wiggle away.”
“Maybe later. Are we all set up?”
“Of course. Did you get your rock?”
“Good. Shall we call in?”“Go ahead, I’ll be there in a moment.”Raga shook his head, “Drassa said…”“Don’t come back without him…I know. Let’s go.” Cyrus sighed and took a last look at the view, then turned and headed back to the landing site. “I wouldn’t want to keep Zaphkiel waiting.” Raga grinned and followed a step behind.Cyrus walked down the small path to the temporary structure the shuttle had spat out upon landing. Drassa stood in front of the entrance, one set of arms on her hips, the other set crossed in front of her chest, boot tapping away in the dust. He wondered how puffy her tail was encased in that suit. She wasn’t a fan of these types of missions, Drassa was what Cyrus called an indoor cat, she preferred a more civilized environment. Typically, she would be orbital support, but they were short a team member and she drew the short straw. She tapped on the door as he approached.“Tally, let’s get this show on the road. Zaphy wants to see your shiny face too.”“Drassa.” Cyrus stopped at the flattened rock Taliel had prepared. “Give him a minute, he’s old and slow.”“Wise and careful.” Taliel hadn’t bothered to use the door, he’d just decided to shimmer into existence behind Cyrus.“Keep doing that, and I’ll be dead and still.” Cyrus kneeled next to the flat spot and carved a sigil into the stone with his gauntlet, his index finger glowing white. He finished and stood, turning to face the seraphim; they were of equal height, if Taliel decided to put his feet on the ground, which was rare. With the sun behind him, his pale lucent skin was set off by his dark blue sleeveless jumpsuit. The standard seraph uniform as far as Cyrus could tell. The seraphim had long ago become one with their technology, fashion being one of the casualties apparently.“Did you find your rock?” Taliel always looked slightly amused by the question.“I did.” Cyrus patted the pouch at his belt. “Drassa, you ready?”“I was ready an hour ago….” She pulled a metallic ring from behind her back and hung it in the air over the sigil. As the ring began to spin, a second ring broke away and began to rotate inside the other. As the third ring broke away, the center began to glow. A narrow slit opened in the glow, and the team saw Zaphkiel waiting on their check in.“Excellent, you’re all here. Cyrus, have your excavations proved fruitful?”“I have my rock.”“Good. Observation is ready. You are clear.” The slit closed, and the rings slowed until there was just the one, hanging above the sigil. Drassa collected her ring, and returned it to the sheathe on her back.“Do your thing Cy so I can get off this dustball.”“Your tail is itching that bad, huh?”“I hate this suit. It’s almost as irritating as you.”“Poor kitty…” Cyrus went to pet her head, and Drassa swatted him away. She turned back toward the structure, tail high. Raga shook his head and followed her. The two stood leaning against the structure, Drassa looking like a child standing next to the giant nephilim.“Shall we?” Taliel was hovering next to the stone. Cyrus nodded and reached into his bag, pulling out the stone he had picked up earlier. Taliel raised his arms and closed his eyes, after a moment, he clapped his hands together and a whoosh of air whipped past Cyrus.“That should take care of the noise.” Taliel drifted over to the others, hovering just beside Drassa.Cyrus held the stone in the palm of his right gauntlet and focused. He began to feel the connection to the stone, and the stone’s connection to the canyon…the canyon’s connection into the bedrock of the planet. The stone began to shimmer, a pale blue light, like flame, wreathing the stone. Cyrus opened his eyes, also glowing with a pale blue light. The light spread, until it crawled up his arm, eventually covering his whole body. Suddenly, Cyrus clenched his fist and slammed it against the sigil burned into the rock. A gout of blue flame sprang from his body and shot up into the air, spreading and growing as it ascended. A short time later, pale blue tendrils spread across the magnetosphere of the planet, encasing it in a fiery net. Phase one was complete, now all they had to do was wait.
.....Oh, and by the way, Aubrey says hi....she'll be by soon....or you could come visit...either works....