Idk if the last airbender is technically anime but then it’s the second I’ve watched. I had weird associations with the anime fanbase and a certain ‘popular’ bad view on it. But when i as bored I decided to just check one out. I didn’t want to start with one with like hundreds of season so I went for this one. And It was GREAT, the story is very good and the characters are awesome, I like Laios and Marcille the most. I really like how they fleshed out the characters and gave everyone individual challenges to overcome or adapt to. It felt kinda sad that in the first episodes everyone just ignored marcille magic, but then it all made sense character wise. I am glad that in a 2024 show the men could be badasses and weren’t overshadowed by the woman. The characters all felt very natural and relateable. I do have a different view of anime as a whole now, they make better shows than Hollywood these days.

An observation from someone who plays both family and victims. Most of victims just play this game to terrorize the family players and don’t even try to escape and the grappling game is completely broken and totally victim sided and if you think it isn’t you are lying to yourself. Now as for the family side you guys most of you are just straight up toxic and quit and disconnect when things don’t go your way. That leaves sometimes 2 or even one person to deal with grief from the victim players who without end run up as many points as they can. I left the game for a few months and it is a complete mess. The lobby penalty is the only good thing now. This double XP weekend is terrible because of the players. I even played one match as family with hackers where my character laid down while everyone escaped. You blame the developers and they are trying you could help by not exploiting every problem to death. The victims know the grappling game favors them and they are abusing it.

I was just approached by two Korean girls, who started by asking me if I lived/studied here and knew any good places to eat. They were from a neighbouring city.
After I told her I was just travelling she kept asking questions; like where I have been, what I’d like to do here. She also asked questions about if I have traveled before and where; this opened a story of me going on an exchange program.
Most of these questions I answered and threw back at her, to give the quick rundown about her:

• She had lunch with a friend in Seoul and were now just walking around, she told me she does accounting and has an intrest in psychology and the Korean mindset, and talks with strangers more often, foreign and non-foreign, to quote “i like the experiences it brings, as I cannot see the back of my own head”

This whole conversation took 45 minutes+ everything felt very genuine.
Eventually she starts reading my feelings about who I am, and starts asking difficult questions like; how do you experience life, and what I would like to change about it. There were so many more questions but due to the accent and the crowded streets I found it difficult to understand every 100% correctly.
Alarm bells were already ringing at this point; because of the questions she was asking and the fact one of the two girls hasn’t said a word yet, we were talking for about an hour at this point.
Eventually I state that life just is really flat to me, and don’t experience and ups and downs anymore; she asks why I think that is, and what the last time was that I did.
I give basically no answers because I honestly don’t know.
She then begins to tell about traditional korean ceremony, where they think about their ancestors, write down a wish on a piece of paper, and burn it. (She gave a more in depth and descriptive version of what I said here)
It just happened to that one of those ceremonies one was taking place in about 30-ish minutes and was 30 minutes away by subway.
I declined, after some prodding as to way i decline, I said it was instinct, not wanting them to feel bad, more making it look like I didn’t trust them.
She uses more psychological powers in order to convince me, but I denied again.
She then felt sorry for me that I denied, and asked me that if i were given the option again I would say yes, I promised her I would do so, and went of.
Was this an elaborate scam or did I just deny myself a cool experience?
PS I have experienced being accidentally indoctrinated by a Japanese cult thing
PSS: I hope my lackluster storytelling is understandable.

I was just reading a very good smut fic and everything was going well until the writer referred to a dick as a "Wintery meat". I've heard lots of bad words for cock before but this is probably the most bizarre.
It even tops that one time an author referred to a penis as a "corporation". Couldn't even finish that fic because they just kept doing it

So we're both in our early 30s and it's safe to say my life isn't going very well at the moment.
I've been out of work for a year - but not due to lack of trying. The job market is absolutely atrocious at the moment where I'm from and despite being certified and fully qualified, I'm receiving tons of rejections because the competition is just too fierce. I've tried everything, spoken to recruiters, refreshed my resume, the lot.
Sadly, nothing is working and I have no idea how much longer this will last.
Not only that, but I'm living at my mum's house. I have no place to call my own because of my lack of job. My mum also has cancer and is going in for a life saving surgery this week. I'm the only one here to take care of her.
Whereas my girlfriend's life is on the up. She has a solid job with good pay. And I just helped her find her own apartment to rent out which she is excited about.
My girlfriend pointed out to me last night that I could be unemployed for yet another year and that she is of course thinking about our future together.
I obviously cannot provide her with stability, predictability and consistency right now because my life is an actual dumpster fire and I have no clue when I'm going to catch my break, find work and get my life sorted out.
I'm trying to be brave and positive during this long limbo but it's hard. I have no idea when my feet will finally land on the ground.
I said to her if she wants to find someone who can offer this then I understand. She's now incredibly upset, saying I'm "throwing her away" when really I'm trying to be selfless and let her go so she can find stability with someone else who has a job, their own place etc. Something I unfortunately cannot provide her with and I believe she deserves.
My girlfriend deserves more, so I think I leave her. So what should I do? Has anyone else been in this predicament? Anyone else who has had to let their partner go because your life is a total mess?
Thanks for your help.

Here me out- I literally cannot wake up in the morning. I will set alarms across the room and on the first one I’ll just get it and hop back into bed with no recollection and then my alarms go off for hours. My alarm snoozing has been affecting every part of my life, and I’ve realized the only way to get a hold of things is if I tackle my morning with good habits. I made a very strict morning routine that I stick by. I realized if I concentrate the night before, the next morning on the first alarm I can manage to get myself into the bathroom brushing my teeth (that I set out the night before). It’s weird, because I sorta gain consciousness brushing my teeth but this is the only way that works. After that I will wash my face and do my makeup for >30 minutes, and then give myself 1hr of me time to sit uninterrupted before I take >15 minutes to get dressed (also picked out the night before). This has been sooooo hard for me. I typically just need a lot of sleep but unfortunately my workload doesn’t allow for it. I swear, only a certain group of people will understand the struggle and I’m hoping it’s here. I downloaded this sobriety app because the urges and the struggle to go back to sleep are so strong. But- I am on my fifth day in a row of not snoozing alarms, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself.

Need few tell a tale signs, I have met three people back to back- time wasters tbh.
They were all charming, smooth at lying (took me years and long months to figure out), and good at gaslighting.
All of them were cheating..
I really want to come out of this pattern because at this point I am losing all trust from men. I know it has to do with me largely, I must have missed some tell a tale signs or ignored red flags too.
And I am done entertaining them for even a minute, how can I be sure I am not meeting such people again and instead meeting loyal ones?
I seriously have major trust issues.
Please leave a detailed answer, you girl is tired af. Let me know what helped you guys out.

Morning hombres ✌️. A season at an end then - with it: A Big Pile of Fucking Failure 😭. Quite stunning it's been, the lack o' owt positive... an ongoing shitshow it's alas continued to be. Difficult to surmise without it sounding like a big pile o' excuses - but ach, tis what it fucking tis ✌️. Those final few weeks become a hazy wodge of probables, rather than a nice 'n' neat stack of definites. Dad tbf hasnae had much dealings thus far with the preferred combo of the Definites & The New Era of DWT.
Other than that one that felt as close to perfect as one could get during this time (DWT204), it for sure could be argued that some o' the selections maybes wouldnae be firing on all cylinders. Still frustrating but - the odds suggested there was still much to believe in terms o' being confident o' correctness. Yet here we are, a good long way away from prepping for out second stab at the Fabled Double-DWT. A shame. But here: willnae take that much to get up to those heights. A wee purple patch'll make a stunning difference 🍀
Despite the sufferings, DWT went through a good spell o' positivity this week, with hombres signing up 'n' T-Shirts being posted 👍. Dad still believes v strongly, that the foundations being built here, will eventually support a throbbing structure, spilling o'er with heroes 'n' hosting parties 'n' gatherings aplenty 🥳. No saying it'll happen with any kind o' immediacy or owt - but Dad's Confident, that by this time next year, Shite'll be Better... a whole bunch better 👍. Nowt etched in stone o' course... but if one was to judge potential on feelings alone - alls the Mind's Eye can see is a place filled wi' joy 'n' love 💝
So aye - on we march then into the Summer Period... unknown quantities a-fucking-plenty - which lands shalt we plunder in search o' much needed riches. As it stands - Dad isnae overly sure. The mind is allowing itsel' room to breathe, hoovering up the wee titbits as they are unearthed. The trust in oneself in discovering goldmines is ne'er lessened, despite the ongoing frustrations. In a way - it's the sense o' progression despite the ongoing frustrations, that really cements the belief. If Dad's able to continuously muster interest with the product in its current guise, imagine it after enjoying a prolonged spell of wonder? Be fucking exciting sure 🙌
See yous next week - same DWT time, same DWT channel 😎

NOTE: I drafted this before reddit slashed its allowable post size and decided it was unpublishable at that point. A friend strongly recommended I post whatever reddit will allow and if people wanted to see more, I could post more of it. So here's the first segment of it.
Therapeutic memory reconsolidation has a dark side. It's not something typically discussed outside of the coffee rooms of the lab-rat and clinical-practices sets, where the tedium of the current work occasionally gives rise to darkly humorous dystopian speculations.
This dark side is not simply the stuff of mad-science speculation and dark fantasy. In fact, its existence predates even the discovery of the MR process itself. And it has already resulted in mild-to-catastrophic negative consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. (Depending on your perspective, it's conceivable that the current victim count could be in the tens or even hundreds of millions ... we're notorious for undercounting casualties of previously-unrecognized catastrophes. Fair disclosure: I'm one of those casualties.) It's an aspect of MR that I believe is worth knowing about for anyone seeking to exploit MR in therapy either as a practitioner or as a client.
For almost as long as the transformation (i.e. MR) phenomenon has been recognized, there have been tales of sordid applications of this effect. Religious sects, particularly the charismatic ones, have been exploiting the MR phenomenon for thousands of years, typically labeling it as either divine healing or proof of faith. Not that the results aren't beneficial for the individual. In most cases they are. But reconsolidation is only a part of the whole process of restoring health to old psychic wounds. The inducement of therapeutic MR in an individual not ready for the experience can be among the most brutal tortures imaginable, but most of the harm that comes from misapplication of the MR phenomenon can be traced to opportunistic exploitation of the setup for, and aftermath of, the transformational experience, and it's my belief that most of this harm is done by individuals and/or groups with little or no sense of the risks involved in
Keith Raniere's NXIVM organization is probably the most widely-known example of a cult founded largely on a MR-consistent methodology bent to less-than-humane ends. It made national news for years in Canada based on allegations of financial wrongdoing and sexual scandals, its leader was indicted in the US in 2018 and was sentenced to 120 years, and in 2020, not one but *two* major exposé miniseries/docuseries aired on streaming services.
"The Vow" (Mark Vicente's story)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vow_(TV_series))
Vicente's series orients around his involvement in the growth and promotion of NXIVM, and isn't afraid to get into the weeds around how Raniere strategized and developed the organization's techniques and tactics.
"Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult" (India Oxenberg's story)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduced:_Inside_the_NXIVM_Cult
This series centers more around IO's personal journey with the cult, and the people who were caught up in its darkest aspects.
"The Vow", first to be released, was not a fun watch for me. Thirty years prior to this, I had been ensnared by another cult, closely affiliated with the Unity Church of Today in Warren, MI at that time. Both of these cults exploited phenomena surrounding therapeutic memory consolidation as their primary lures years before we even knew that MR had a scientific footing.
The two organizations had shockingly similar modi operandi. So similar, in fact, that I still suspect that NXIVM's founder might have gotten much of his basic training from CoT's Pavillon resort in Quebec, whose month-long "therapeutic retreat" programs were a clever and completely unabashed cult indoctrination program. Ok ... well ... nearly completely unabashed ... during the month that I attended, we were only told that we were being groomed for the cult on the third-to-last day, by which time they surely knew who was ripe for the picking and who wouldn't be swayed, and were pretty confident of no open objection to such an announcement.
I want to make clear that this is not a word of exaggeration. The head of the "clinic" literally told us that if it felt to any of us like we were being recruited for a cult, he assured us that yes, we were. Nobody gasped, nobody even giggled. And as if to prove that this wasn't just dark humor, the director assured us that it was all fair play on their part since his was "the only cult that matters". That is exactly how confident Pavillon were of their methods. (Or at least they were in mid-1989 ... Pavillon appears to have vanished in the mists of history. Not every great cult idea grows up to make it to the big leagues.)
Neither "Seduced" or "The Vow" actually get under the hood and explain the psychology underlying the cult's success, let alone in context of therapeutic memory reconsolidation. In fact, I'm pretty sure that MR was never mentioned in either series. But right from the introductory/demo sessions presented in the first episode of "The Vow", most readers of this sub will instantly recognize that NXIVM leveraged the benefits and relative simplicity of MR-consistent transformational therapies to capture the attention, loyalty, and ultimately the wealth of prospective cult members.
But that's not nearly enough to lead us to a real understanding of how this happens. If either of these series' had been able to achieve that, this post could effctively end here. It's my belief that those of us who are consumers of MR-consistent services, or who work with consumers, do need this understanding. When the mechanics of the seduction are understood, it doesn't just help us to identify how malignant influences were brought to bear on potential victims, or provide us with a degree of immunity from those influences. It can also help us to better identify and relate to individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to these influences, and not just in therapy cults, but in all cult-like cultural groups, and get a better sense of how we can best communicate with people living under less-than-virtuous influence.
Fortunately, it doesn't appear to be all that difficult to acquire this understanding. Simply knowing basic MR theory and therapeutic application takes you halfway to mastery in a world still largely ignorant of how transformative change works. And the successes of Pavillon and NXIVM, coming as they did well before the general public even knew that MR was a "thing", pretty much proves it. But solving the remainder of the problem appears to involve first understanding how the application of MR-consistent methods could lead to cult exploitation in the first place.
MR-consistent transformational phenomena were relatively common knowledge back as far as the early 1980s in new-age/psychotherapy circles, and were even well-understood by certain inner-circle dwellers. And it was clear at least a decade earlier that certain disciplines practiced in a certain way were capable of producing remarkable therapeutic effects, even if no one could quite explain how or why. All Raniere and Pavillon needed to do was to refine techniques already known to be highly effective and they could reproduce those results. Which is exactly what happened, and this gave these two groups a powerful enticement, or a free sample product if you prefer, for people interested in living better, happier lives. Whatever else they did that we would likely view as objectionable or even evil, they both figured out how to get people to transformational moments in ways which were a lot easier than Erhard Seminars Training (EST), more efficient than religious or mystical practices (Transcendental Meditation, kundalini yoga, visionquesting, etc.), and less exclusive/expensive than a stay at Esalen or a year or two of the "talking cure".
So whatever we may think/feel about their methods, credit where due: they knew a good thing when they saw it and they got the transformational part right. So how did techniques which we rely upon to free us from exploitation by our own nervous systems become tools for THEIR exploitation? On the surface it seems like using MR to coerce and enslave people makes about as silly as trying to poison someone with multivitamins. But there's a clever logic to it, and to understand this we need to look beyond the bounds of MR and the transformational phenomenon, and at how the entire transformation process is managed. (And there's the operative word: managed, not facilitated.
We know MR as the process that underlies transformation. But transformation isn't healing, but only a subprocess within a greater restoration process. Healing doesn't usually even end the process, either. Following transformation, stress must be managed until the subject's next full sleep cycle or treatment efficacy is substantially impaired. Even beyond that, the structure of post-traumatic adaptation leaves the individual vulnerable to retraumatization in the wake of treatment, meaning that in perhaps a majority of cases, the triggers which activate PTS symptoms need to be kept to a

i’ve become obsessed with wanting to prolong wrinkles, and not get skin cancer (good obsession to have if you ask me) so i apply sunscreen every day of the year. i do wear makeup though sometimes and i’m looking for a good sunscreen that doesn’t mess with skincare/makeup and is good for oily skin, and i’m also wondering how it’s supposed to be applied throughout the day after i’ve put makeup on?
also, i don’t burn or tan, i usually stay the same unless i haven’t put sunscreen on and have been outside for a long time then i will burn but i’ve never had mega bad sunburn tbh. i THINK i have the capability to tan the tiniest bit (if i’ve been in the sun for weeks and obviously wear sunscreen lol) as i have come home from holidays with the tiniest bit or colour sometimes, so i don’t want to prevent the tiniest bit of tan i get, so what’s a good sunscreen for me, both for body and face? one that actually absorbs and doesn’t feel too sticky because that drives my crazy when my clothes and hair cling to me! i’ve been using SPF15 and just applying regularly but wondering if i should go up? the only reason i’m using 15 is that’s all that’s in my house currently.
side note, it’s crazy how many people aren’t educated on this in terms of aging and cancer. my friends that tan easily and remain somewhat tanned year round swear they don’t need sunscreen because they hardly burn, so they think that means they won’t get skin cancer and won’t get wrinkles?! i try inform them but they don’t listen so, guess I’ll just look after myself haha

I have a lil theory that the curse on the DADA job not only ensures that no one can remain in the position for more than a year but that the way they get outed from their role is through the thing that would hurt them the most (cause Voldy extra cruel) hence why;

1. Quirrell ends the year dying and unable to get the stone for his master.
2. Lockhart loses his memory and fades into anonymity.
3. Remus is outed as a werewolf, almost attacks people he cares about and sets the course to Peter finding Voldemort.
4. Fake Moody is outed as a fake, half fails in his mission and receives the dementors kiss (which would be his fear after living in Azkaban).
5. Umbridge is attacked (and potentially worse) by what she considers as half-breeds and lesser creatures which would be a fear of hers and she fails to prevent uprisings.
6. Snape has to kill his only true friend/believer in his goodness and be seen as a traitor to everyone he knows. After having a hand in Lily’s death, assisting someone with their death would be a cruel fate for him.
7. Carrows - their dark lord dying and their imprisonment for Azkaban.

The way in which their final month in the DADA position plays out makes me think anyone who took up this position lost it through their worst fears for themselves. What do you guys think?

I live in a country where it's extremely difficult to find silence. In Brazil the party / noise culture is everywhere, pretty much all the time. Even in isolated farms there is a risk of some neighbor throwing massively loud parties with questionable-taste Brazilian country music.
I believe that this lack of self reflective moments is one of the reasons why people here struggle to evolve. Been thinking of moving somewhere where silence is more valued (Germany and Portugal are OK) (Spain, Italy, Mexico, definitely not).
Any good recommendations?

Considering the career options in the title. If I were to do these together at RMIT would that be good? Anyone who is doing both or just either one of them, how are the subjects?

I apologize if this is a dumb question I've only been playing a few weeks. I'm really interested in competitive online link battles so I want to get really good :)
So we were playing normal rules where everyone is level 50, it's only a casual battle.
My garganacl has decent stats l, I've trained him well and his HP is 343, defence 286, special defence 214, he's level 100( but I appreciate levels get put at level 50 for all pokemon with these rules).
Something happened that I don't understand. My special ability is being unable to be knocked out by one KO as garganacl has a sturdy body. I terasteralized him against my opponent who was also terasteralized. I had FULL HP on top of all this.
He went at me with Iron Head and I fainted immediately. (Sorry I don't know what his pokemon was it looked like some kind of khaki green dinosaur on its hind legs).
So my question is, if my ability is unable to be beaten with one KO, and I'm Rock type and I was terasteralized, how did this happen? If my defence against physical moves is 286 and regardless I'm not supposed to faint after one move?! I'm just really confused and my initial feeling is they must have been cheating and it's put me off
If they weren't cheating can you tell me what my best way to defend this move is please. I'm just really not going to play online battles if people are going to be spoil it with cheating :(
Thanks in advance

this year, my friend and i (both sec 4) was an ogl, and this sec 3 guy (Z) caught my friend's attention cause he has a deep voice, looked smart and well-behaved. i noticed him too cause we had to do reflections after each orientation day, and had to stand infront of 80+ ogls to share, and his voice was deep compared to the other boys in his cohort. after the orientation, she realised that his fg sat beside our fg during recess. for 1-2 weeks, she was talking abt him like how he always buys milk after eating (like 小奶狗) and saying he quite good looking. i honestly didn't understand why she was so hyped about him until we had this ogl appreciation lunch. so basically after that lunch, Z was our shared eye candy lol. for the next 1-2 weeks, we will be very excited when we see him. then out of nowhere, she stopping simping for him???? like it made me felt weird to simp for him alone cause he's younger than us. i was lowkey mad at her but i just forgot abt it. so this eyecandy continued for another few months, and at first (when she already stopped simping for him), she was still responsive to my simping and delulu thoughts (which were all jokes, ik he has no interest in me). like if she saw him during her cca (we from different cca), she will send me a para of what she saw. then 1 week ago, whenever i talked about him, she just responses really drily. then we had this student council investiture rehearsal, i was absent and both of them were there. but i didn't get a para or even a message like "he did that, he did this" from her (not saying i expected to her to spy on him, but at least a short sentence on what he did). i think i'm starting to bore her with my simping but she's the only one who knows abt it (our other friend dk cause we know she will judge real bad, my sibling knows but idw to talk abt my simping with in full details to them). she also initiates the convo abt Z by sending his friend's story that he is in. and it's not like i only talk about him, we also talk about other stuff that's not boy related topics. i just kinda feel like because of my simp we lowkey drifted? we are definitely still close but not as close before, and i only felt this way recently. i feel like this post is going nowhere lol cause i'm just yapping. so like any solutions to help save this friendship of mine? i ended this post rather awkwardly lmao.... (i also think she's dry af now cause chinese olevels coming, so she doesn't really want to talk abt boys)

hey,
im looking for a tinted mineral spf which is suitable for rosacea prone skin (cant have niacinamide in as im allergic).
has anyone found any good ones which are under £25?

Good day everyone. I'm afraid I can't stop posting on this subreddit because I simply can't help myself 🤭it's nice to share my perspective with my fellow Nigerians and I hope this rant finds you well ^{⁠_⁠^}
We're well aware that double standards is prominent in Africa,but I'm going to come down to our country Nigeria. Being a young girl brought up in a Nigerian household made it very clear to me that men can do what they want but us women are subjected to submissiveness (I speak for myself and many others. Though I know not every woman was brought up this way).
My brother (who is a bit older than me)is allowed to interact openly with females and even declare publicly that he has a girlfriend, whereas my mother forbids me from even mentioning the name of a man in her presence. My brother is allowed to whore around and everyone knows but in my case, she'll always harshly remind me that I'll be useless if I allow men ruin me at a young age. I know this is her way of caring for me,but why does she give my brother free reins while I'm constrained in such a way? Don't we deserve equal treatment?
Why should my actions be limited because of my gender?
My female friend was just telling me what her mother had told her recently. Her mother advised her to be decent for when she gets married and my friend countered, saying that she expects the same decency from her husband but her mother reminds her that a woman should not expect such from her husband,rather she's the one that has to be virtuous?
This thought process is twisted, and very common among African homes too.
It's not ok!!!
Double standards is an unfair and unequal treatment which can jeopardize one's life and it mainly affects us females. The social conditioning that females are inferior and must be submissive to men has resulted in the issue of early marriage, depression and lack of freedom.
Let us see all individuals as the same, regardless of sex.
Thank you (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠).

Winter not only brings the beauty of snow-covered landscapes but also a host of challenges, particularly for homeowners. Among these challenges are frozen door locks, which can be a significant inconvenience, especially when you're in a hurry. Using a motor lock kit is the best option to overcome the conditions more easily without taking much time. This guide explores various practical methods to unfreeze your door lock quickly and efficiently, ensuring you can access your home without trouble.

1. Use WD-40

WD-40 is an excellent preventative measure for door locks. Spraying your locks with WD-40 can prevent ice from building up within the lock mechanism. To apply, insert the nozzle directly against the lock opening and spray for about five seconds. For best results, treat your locks with WD-40 twice a week during cold weather to maintain their condition.

2. Cover the Lock Opening

On the other hand, the unfreezing door lock must play an important role, and it must be repaired easier. Protecting the lock opening can significantly reduce the likelihood of freezing. One simple method is to place a strong magnet over the lock. The magnet covers the lock opening, reducing the room for moisture to enter, which is a primary cause of freezing. If a magnet is not available, an alternative is to use a wool sock. Make sure it is snug around the lock to provide sufficient insulation.

3. Apply Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly

Applying a coat of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to your door lock can block moisture and prevent freezing. Smear a small amount onto your key and insert it into the lock, coating the internal mechanism as thoroughly as possible. This method is particularly useful for both traditional and combination locks, providing lasting protection throughout the winter.

4. Utilize Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is an effective tool for unfreezing locks due to its alcohol content, which lowers the freezing point of water. Simply apply a small amount of hand sanitizer to your key and the lock mechanism. This method not only thaws ice quickly but also helps prevent future ice formation.

5. Keep a De-icer Ready

Always have a bottle of de-icer handy during the winter months. Similar to WD-40, spray the de-icer directly into the keyhole to dissolve any ice within the lock mechanism. Regular application can ensure your locks remain functional even in freezing temperatures.

6. Pour Hot Water (With Caution)

Pouring hot water over a frozen lock is a quick fix that can melt the ice. However, this method requires caution to avoid burns and potential damage to the lock mechanism. Use this method as a last resort and dry the lock thoroughly afterward to prevent refreezing.

7. Use a Hairdryer

If you have access to electricity near the door, using a hairdryer can be a safe and effective way to thaw a frozen lock. Hold the hairdryer a few inches away from the lock and allow the warm air to blow directly onto the frozen mechanism. This method is safe for both home and commercial locks and can unfreeze a lock within minutes.

8. Create Your Own De-icer

Mixing isopropyl alcohol with warm water creates an effective homemade de-icer. Apply this solution directly to the frozen lock to melt the ice. This mixture not only acts as a de-icer but also serves as a cleaning agent, helping maintain the lock in good condition.

9. Explore Advanced Solutions: Nanoparticle De-icers

For those seeking a high-tech solution, consider de-icers that utilize nanoparticle technology. These products are designed to prevent re-freezing and offer protection down to extremely low temperatures. Always check the product details to ensure compatibility with your lock.

Conclusion

Dealing with a frozen door lock is a common winter nuisance, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be easily managed. Whether you choose a simple mechanical method like using WD-40 or a more sophisticated approach like nanoparticle de-icers, the key is to prepare in advance and apply these solutions before the onset of severe weather. By following these tips, homeowners can ensure that their door locks remain accessible and functional, no matter how cold it gets.

I (23F) have struggled with depression and anxiety officially for 6 years. I should be happy. I have recently returned home from exchange and was planning to chill out whilst I finish off my degree (online) until I recover from burnout/fatigue that I had built up from working to save for my travels. But since I was so exhausted for months (got blood tests and everything was fine) I couldn't leave my bed much and I felt so guilty I wasn't making use of my free time at home. I deleted a lot of my social media because I was feeling FOMO but as a result I think I might have unintentionally isolated myself. It was during my time overseas that I had an opportunity to reflect more on my life and started to realise the possibility that I could be austistic. I have started to see a new psych in order to figure this out and it turns out the masking I have been doing may also be a result of childhood issues. For context, my parents always fed me and provided for me financially, they are not drug addicts nor would I consider them abusive other than the 'typical' boomer domestic discipline, and I believe they love me, but unfortunately they have fucked my sister and I up emotionally. One of the main issues I struggle with is feeling like I'm overreacting when something upsets me. but I can't help but feel like I am. I'm not austistic enough to be discriminated against or perhaps even diagnosed yet I still feel like an alien. I haven't been abused enough to have significant trauma yet I'm a mess. Because of executive dis function I struggle to even grow my hobbies while at home which makes me feel even more worthless. I have foundmyselft wishing I was never born because I feel like I haven't been able to help and add to people in my life. especially since in the past I have definitely leened on my friends too much for support when I was struggling mentally and no one has lent on me in a way. I'm getting very close to graduation and some friends have even reached out to me to hang out but I justfeels too ashamed to leave my house. I should be job searching but I feel like I'm not good enough and I'm scared people will pin me as weird and exclude me like they have in previously. I want to see my friends but idk what to say if they ask what I've been up to. In the past I tend to just say everything that's on my mind because it takes a lot of effort for me to lie so I like to plan things to say before hand. I'm so scared of saying something wrong when I don't mean to. I feel stuck and stupid for letting myself slip into this spot because I know it's because I don't have a routine. I just feel so pathetic that I can't seem to ever be normal and am so fucked upwheni there is nothing that has happened to me that seems to warrant it. maybe I am as dramatic as I am afraid of.
Sorry for the brain dump, any advice would be appreciated

I (25M) matched with a girl (24F) on hinge. We were texting each other once every day or so for just over a week then organised to go on a date. The date went great - she did mention that she has accounting exams coming up soon with her job so she was going to be busy the next couple of months. But we both had a great time and I had no doubts we wanted to see eachother again after the date - she even gave me her umbrella to take home as it was raining and she got a taxi home.
We continued texting once a day - finding out more in common and I mentioned that I’m a fan of Mexican food and she said she is too and she said that could be our next date idea. She then asked when I was free and I booked a restaurant (2 weeks after the first date as she was busy due to a family wedding the weekend after the first date). She also mentioned that as it’s September now, it’s go time in terms of revision.
We met up at the restaurant and the date went fine, again no doubts and lots in common. She mentioned that due to a health condition she doesn’t like to drink alcohol when it’s super hot so she ordered a mocktail instead with her food.
We then went to a rooftop bar afterwards which I’d booked as the weather was really warm. When we got to the rooftop, the girl said it feels hotter up here than it does downstairs (which it did) and she asked me to push a button on my side of the table (I think she assumed it may have been connected to a fan). But when I pushed the button the outdoor heaters turned on which was quite embarrassing and the people in the bar started laughing. I laughed too but it did throw me off and make me feel awkward. The girl did apologise to me and them and was laughing too.
But we sat down and continued chatting - I felt the conversation wasn’t flowing as well due to the awkwardness but there were no awkward silences. I ordered a cocktail but the menu was a little limited for mocktails - I did ask her if she wanted to go somewhere else but she said don’t worry it’s ok. She ended up just having water.
Once i finished my drink, she said she’s going to head off so we walked to the train station together - we didn’t stay at the rooftop for very long. I was still feeling awkward as the last part of the date didn’t go how I’d hoped but I asked if she wanted to go out again and she said yeah definitely so I gave her a quick kiss and said bye.
I messaged her on instagram while I was on my way home and just gave her my phone number and said let me know when you’re home.
She texted me that evening and said ‘hey thanks for dinner tonight - honestly next time you have to let me get the bill! It was v good to see you again. Hope you got home okay x’.
I replied that Thursday evening and said ‘hey no worries it’s all good, but you’re organising the next one’. She then reacted to that message with a little heart on Saturday and said ‘how’s your Saturday been, sorry for the late reply been super busy my sister is visiting😂’ - she did mention that her sister was visiting before we went on the second date. I replied on the Sunday with general convo. She replied on the Monday as usual, being communicative, telling me about her weekend and all the things she did and also asking me more about what I was doing. She also said ‘so not a productive weekend in terms of revision😭’
I replied on the Tuesday, making general conversation again. I didn’t hear back from her on Wednesday, Thursday (which was when I started to get anxious) or Friday. I assumed she had a busy week with work and revision so I’d hear back Friday evening. I also noticed that at some point after the second date she changed one of her prompts on her hinge dating profile - a small change from ‘give me travel tips to Thailand’ to ‘give me travel tips to Miami’. She didn’t update any pictures or anything else and as we’d only been out twice I’m guessing this is normal? She also mentioned on the second date that she’d booked her Miami holiday.
I still didn’t hear back from her and then made a massive mistake Saturday morning and sent her another message which said ‘if you weren’t interested why not just say. You’re a bit of an arsehole to say you wanna go out again, pay and all that then just ignore me’. She responded an hour and a half later and said ‘I wasn’t trying to ignore you - I was genuinely busy this week. But you calling me an arsehole is so uncalled for and tbh I don’t want to see someone who’s going to call me names so I’d rather just call it a day’. I called to try and apologise but she didn’t pick up so I messaged ‘I get you’re busy with exams. Like I fully understand that but it takes 2 seconds to say hey I’m busy right now I’ll get back to you. Tbh it comes across like you’re not interested and a bit rude. So I’m sorry I called you an arsehole but I called you as I wanted to chat to you quickly’. She replied and said ‘sorry missed your call - I’m out. Yeah fairs I get that but the exams are my priority. I feel like I’ve said what I need to say and think it’s just best if we leave it here’. I messaged again trying to sort it out but she didn’t reply. I gave it three weeks and apologised more sincerely and she said it’s all good no hard feelings but she’s got a lot on right now so she doesn’t think it would be best to give it a second chance. I said if it’s the exams I don’t mind if you wanna speak again after they’re all done, but she didn’t reply to that message.
I reached out again after a couple months as I saw her on the same dating app and her profile was updated with new pictures and she said she just doesn’t see this going anywhere and good luck with everything - she then blocked me. I’m assuming she was finished with her exams by this point.
I fully understand that I was completely in the wrong with the way I reacted and I’ve learnt the lesson and won’t ever speak to anyone like that again - I regret it so much because I could see myself liking her and she honestly seemed like the most perfect girl, although we only went on 2 dates and spoke for a month. But do you think it was me calling her an arsehole that caused her to end it (completely valid if so) or if she just wasn’t feeling it before this and I gave her an easy way out?