I am a straight girl who has been single my whole life. Despite this, I have witnessed many relationships and marriages, which have given me valuable insights. I know what I want and have high standards. I am considered good-looking and possess qualities like being a good listener, kind, smart, witty, and cute (according to those around me). While I’m not perfect, I believe I have a good combination of looks and personality.
Recently, I connected with a guy online, and we hit it off very well, unlike other guys I know at university. We share the same interests and sense of humor, and he understands and cares about me. We study in the same field, and he seems to be a "walking green flag," even though I’m not fond of that term. Despite our youth, especially his as guys generally take longer to mature, he is already talking about taking our relationship to the next level and planning to visit my country to see me. Conversations with him feel like I manifested him.
However, there is one downside: he isn't my type. I can't find him attractive, no matter how hard I try, and this blocks me from fully embracing the relationship. I've tried to focus on his rare qualities, but it’s impossible for me to overlook this aspect. I am lost.

’m unsure if they’re as valuable as the seller says but I thought it was cool that there are lots of coins for sale on this random auction seemingly only a handful of people know about. I’ve seen coins pop up many times over the past few weeks. Thought I’d share. I can’t really buy them all the time but it’s cool to look. Does anyone know the value of these coins? Just curious there are others I was going to ask about, they’re in the same page. But some I’m not too interested in after all.

For those who are buying people’s food stamps- HOW?!
Like is there a sub Reddit for it? Do you just approach the unhoused and ask if they want to sell their ebt?
If you do buy someone else’s ebt what’s stopping them from canceling the card and leaving you with nothing?

Going between stamped concrete and pavers for a new patio. Pricing is ALL over the place but the pavers just seem to have a nicer “Richer” look but maybe that’s just me as I’ve had stamped concrete before and I might want something new. Here is one of the quotes we got…thoughts on price?
-Install Unilock Steps and Patio​​ $9,600 for Hollandstone/Camelot pavers
​​​​-Excavate for proper base and drainage ​-Install and compact a minimum of 6” of 304 crushed limestone ​-Install Pisa steps according to design ​-Steps will have Pisa coping ​-Screed out bedding sand ​-Install pavers according to design (383 ft2) ​-Install snap edge around the perimeter of the pavers where required ​-Sweep polymeric sand into the paver joints ​-Repair any lawn damage

“Dr. M is a witch.” I told my mother.
Mom didn't believe my doctor was turning all of his patients into bad kids.
It started with Blondie.
She stamped on road-kill, pulling insects apart.
Dr M’s therapy sessions consisted of my least favorite game.
Prick the Princess.
He held out a needle, and one by one, we each reached out, poking the end.
Always the same question, which drove me crazy.
“Does it hurt, Children?”
Yes.
It ALWAYS hurt.
It stung!
“I don't think it hurts!” Blondie squeaked.
The boy next to her rolled his eyes.
After the game, we were given candy that made us forget everything.
When I started spitting it out, I remembered the witch’s game.
I remembered the needle, and I remembered that none of us were really sick. But Mom didn't believe me, and even worse, when I forced her to confront the witch, his eyes lit up, like he enjoyed my frustration and anger.
He winked at me.
“Joseph is suffering from delusion,” he told my worried mother. “Which, of course, is a common side effect of your son’s neurological condition.”
When Mom wasn't in the room, he grabbed my shoulders, squeezing them hard enough to hurt. When I squeaked, his eyes hardened. “No, Joseph,” Dr. M breathed, “You're not feeling pain, are you, hmm?” He let out a real, witch-like cackle. “You feel happy.”
Slowly throughout the years, Dr. M was right.
I killed my Mom, under his order, plunging a knife through her skull.
I screamed when her blood splattered my face, warm and wet. But it felt good. I didn't feel… sad. I felt happy.
“Does it hurt, Joseph?”
The knife slipped from my fingers, my head spinning around and round.
I felt electroshocks, like my body was writhing with electricity.
“No, Dr. M.”
Instead of backing away, I watched my Mom’s flickering eyes.
I watched her die.
I watched her suffer.
And it was enough to send me to my knees, giggling.
When I was sixteen, I lay, strapped to a bed in Dr. M’s office, my body writhing, trembling, giggles sputtering from my lips. Dad’s body hung over me, his face was blue, eyes wide, all of the air choking from his lungs. I laughed harder.
I wanted Dad to feel just like me.
I painted the walls at home with Mom’s blood, and she suffered.
It was so fucking beautiful, the images were stuck in my head, stuck on repeat.
“Does it hurt, Joseph?”
Dad’s body hit the floor with a wet sounding smack, and my body jerked.
Instead of screaming, I laughed harder, hard enough to send me toppling off of the bed, rolling around on the floor.
At seventeen, I shot the president dead, leaving his five year old daughter.
I shot her too, in the perfect place to make her feel it.
“It's okay.” I told the world, with a smile.
Next to me, Dr. M’s other patients shared my maniacal grin.
“It doesn't hurt.”

Before the 1960’s, women put a head covering on when praying in almost all Christian denominations (Protestant & Roman Catholic)

This idea came to me in college and I've sort of played around with it over the years. I would appreciate any constructive criticism, especially focused on the prose and characters. This would be the introductory chapter of one of the main characters, Karl Klug, who is an important noble in his country. I hope you enjoy!
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KARL 1
Three men stood beneath a great oak branch, hands bound and nooses pulled tight around their necks. The branches connected to a mighty tree, old as the mountains themselves. The men were all silent, as were the other corpses gently swinging in the morning breeze. The air was still cold from the dew, not yet banished by the still rising sun.
“If you have anything left to say, now would be the time.” Karl Klug, Lord of the Wald said as he eyed them with disgust from the back of his chestnut horse destrier. He sat tall in the saddle, his close cropped brown hair and clean shaven face a far cry from the ragged appearance of the condemned. His heavy, black, woolen cloak was pulled tight, the hood up to block out the wind. Under the cloak he wore a simple brown doublet, with a crest bearing the black tree on a green field that was the sigil of his house. Karl always made sure to represent House Klug when acting as Lord, as was his duty.
These men were thieves, rapists, and murderers. They attacked travelers on the roads of the Wald, and it was Karl’s duty, as Duke of the Wald and Lawspeaker to the King, to keep those roads safe. The law demanded only one punishment for their transgressions. Their fate would serve as a warning to other would-be bandits.
The first man, a stern face and hard eyes, said nothing, but spat on the ground. The second man, fat and whimpering, managed to speak out in between choked sobs “Please m’lord. Mercy! They made me do it!”
The last man, a boy no older than fifteen, barked at him to be quiet. “We’re done for Ozzy. Go to the Wainman with some dignity, would you?” Such bravery in one so young. What could he have become if he followed a different path?
With that, Karl nodded to Jorivs, his household Resolver, who pulled hard on the ropes, them each one by one into the air, sending them kicking and choking into the Beyond. The second one, Ozzy, screamed and begged for his mother before the rope cut him off. Jorivs tied the final line off to a stake, while Wolter, his barber-surgeon companion, scribbled something down in a book. “They go to their doom in all different spirits, yet they all dance the hangman’s jig just the same.” He said as he turned a page.
“Amazing the lessons they teach at Spierpont.” Jorvis chuckled as the last pair of legs stopped kicking. “Shame Lemba couldn’t join us.”
“The Elf has seen his fair share of death. Let him enjoy his peace.”
“I only jest, my lord.” Jorvis said as he took a sip from his canteen. He motioned for Wolter to take a drink, but the older man was too busy furiously scribbling in his notebook to notice.
Karl looked to the east. The dawn was still cresting the horizon. “I’m off to the woods. I will not be disturbed.” Matilda and the children will still be sleeping. Best not to wake them with my return.
His pages nodded and replied in unison “Yes my lord.” By Karl’s standing order, Jorvis was peeling the boots of the dead men, better they should shoe a pauper than rot on the condemned. Wolter sketched the hanging men in his book, taking special care to note the lolling tongues and soiled breeches. Jorvis had the boots in a loose pile when he pulled a knife and a small pouch from his belt. “The eyes,my lord?”
He nodded grimly. “Hain will have his due.” Jorvis took a small stool and set to work, all six organs removed in a few quick flashes of the blade. Jorvis placed the grim package in its usual place on Baldur, Karl’s horse. With the bloody sack tied to his saddle, Karl rode off towards the thick forest nearby, a page in tow to hold his horse.
The page started to speak, and then stopped himself. He was a small boy, ten or eleven at the most. He had been to several executions before and not once had he been troubled by the sight of death.
Karl noticed the indecisive boy and helped him along.
“Something bothering you, Wiglaf?”
“The” came a squeak. Wiglaf cleared his throat and tried again. “The Resolver grumbles, lord. He grumbles that it would be easier to take the eyes before hanging the condemned.” He said meekly
“I know he grumbles. I know. But this is the way things are to be done. Taking their eyes before they hang is not the punishment for their crime. These men had their trial, and I sentenced them to die, not to be tortured. Do you understand, Wiglaf?”
“Aye, my lord. I understand.” Wiglaf nodded.
Wiglaf. So eager to learn but so nervous to offend. I’ll talk to his father the next time we meet.
This was the first time in months he had a chance to take in the forest. The influx in banditry in the past year had been a great source of woe not only to Karl, but to the Waldish people as a whole. They had enough to be fearful of without their fellow man adding to their problems. It had kept Karl up many nights, as he racked his brain trying to figure out the cause.
He had built roads, sick houses, held fairs, endorsed the Bard’s college, done all in his power to keep the people happy and content and quiet, and yet, there were some who still turned to crime. Why? No. Not now. Not here. Karl decided that he needed to rest his mind from constant affairs of state, and allow himself to relax before he made his offering.
They reached a clearing, and Karl dismounted. “Hitch up Baldur and rub him down. Have something to eat from my pack if you get hungry. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time.” The page nodded. Wiglaf, a good lad, if a bit timid at times. Weather had concealed his typical path into the great forest, but muscle memory lead his way.
He enjoyed his solitary walks in the woods, it gave him a chance to forget the woes of rulership, the frustrations of fatherhood, and the horrible curse that befell his bloodline. Now that things had quieted down with the bandits, Karl hoped he might have more time to be a husband to his wife, Matilda, and a father to their children. His three children, though nearly adults themselves, still tended to make a commotion. What they need is a firm hand. Their mother will spoil them rotten if she has her way. Karl laughed to himself. She always gets her way.
His feet knew where he was going, even if his mind did not. He always returned to the same place, no matter what direction he turned. Are the woods themselves magic, or just the creatures that inhabit it? He wondered as he found the well worn dirt path covered by a tunnel of tree limbs. The branches must have kept this clear from storms after all.
Few who entered the Wald came back alive, save for the Elves and their slaves, who usually came out in one piece. Most who walked too far past the tree line simply vanished. There were rumors, of course. Even his own grandfather had claimed that he was, in fact, the same Helm Klug that had vanished without a trace in the winter of 542. He had fallen through a tree hollow and into the myth shrouded realm of Cunnan, where time flows differently, or so the stories go. As such, though ninety-five years had passed from the time of the vanishing, Helm had only aged ten years or so.
Karl’s realm was a dangerous one, even without the recent rise of the highwaymen. To an outsider, walking alone in the duchy of the Wald was like strolling past a dark alley with coins jingling loudly. To Karl Klug, Lord of the Wald, it was like walking into his own bedroom. He had grown up here, he knew that danger lurked behind every tree, above every branch, and below every root. Not once had he seen anything like what Grandfather Helm had rambled about. No fairies or witches or traces of Hain. Still, one had to tread carefully here. Even Karl would not dare to venture in some parts of the forest, for an ancient force still had power in the dark parts of Bordrim.
I hope Hain will be pleased with my tribute. To survive here, one had to know when to fight, when to run, and when to submit. Some might call that heretical, going against the word of the church, But that was not something he wished to think about now, not when he was trying to be at peace.
The fresh air cleared his head and refreshed his spirit. Karl took a long, deep breath filling his lungs with the cold morning damp. He knew he would not be distrubed here, as none but the Duke of the Wald may travel to this part of the woodland.
He had been Duke ever since the death of his father when he was just four years old, though he had not ruled in his own right until he was fourteen. In that time, he had learned much from his regents, and his mother, who was far more capable than many made her out to be. She had taught him that most men, however pure their intentions may seem, nearly always had some ulterior motive that they wished to advance. Karl remembered that as his most valuable lesson, and it had assisted him greatly as he came of age. My father’s sycophants did not last long when I ruled in my own right.
The sound of rushing water came to his ear as he walked by the River Cember where his father had drowned. He used to intentionally go out of his way to avoid being near it, but now he barely gave it a second glance. I used to be so afraid of the water, until I understood why Father died. But by then, Mother had the Court Elf Lembe throw me in Sillac Pond. How I thrashed! It didn’t seem so scary after that. Fate is far more terrifying than any danger and far more comforting than any joy. Once you have been through the worst, everything else can be done with ease.
Karl heard a branch snap in the trees to his right, and his hand slipped to the silver coated dagger at his hip. He stood still as the trees around him, slowly moving his eyes from right to left as he looked for the source of the noise. Funny. I was afraid of harmless water for so many years when there were very real threats all around me the entire time. As long as I stay on the path, no beast would dare harm me.
There were no further noises, and judging by the humming of insects and the singing of birds, there was no real threat. Probably a stag or maybe one of Grandfather Helm’s Fae creature having a laugh at my expense. He continued walking for some time, climbing up small, rolling hills and ducking under fallen tree trunks, before reaching a final, gentle incline which led to Hidden Hill. That was where they found his older brother, Jasper, hanging from the tree at the top. That was the day his father had told him about the curse that stalked their family.
He made his way up the slope, as he had countless times before. The top of the hill was clear, save for one tree, planted by Karl’s grandfather Helm upon regaining control of the Wald after decades of Gaunt rule. His family adopted that tree, and made it part of their heraldry. A great black tree, sounded by the green of the forest.
The air seemed to resist being pulled into his lungs now. He had to unclench his teeth, relax his shoulders. He looked down at his fingers. He had scraped away the flesh near the nails on his thumbs and middle digits. How long have I been at it this time? It is difficult to relax when I am surrounded by some many painful reminders of the past. No matter how deep in this forest I walk, I cannot escape the memories that tears at me.
He kept his eyes low. Karl enjoyed seeing the blooming flowers and vibrant weeds that grew along the path he always walked. One particular group of plants caught his eye. A clover patch. The old folks said that in every clover patch, there was one particularly special sprout. And so Karl made a point to look over each and every patch he saw, even if only a passing glance.
What’s this? He said to the tiny green sprout as he crouched down for a closer look. A clover with four leaves. Lucky, lucky. Karl smiled as he plucked the clover and put it in his coin purse. And a good omen too. I know Otto will love this.
Karl continued up the path, and sat beneath the great black tree, looking out onto the castle that stood proud below in the clearing. Grey Hallow, it was called, and it was among the oldest in Bordrim, predating even the great fortresses of the Empire that many great houses now called their own. With two rings of thick, tall walls and towers covering every angle of approach, no enemy had ever successfully stormed the walls. Though a knife in the back is sometimes better than a ram at the gate, as history has proved.
Karl grabbed the now wet sack that Jorvis had provided. He quickly found a small knothole and stuffed the grisly offering side. The Dule clasped his hands together and bowed his head. “Haim, please take this offering that we may know quiet peace.” He sighed. Was Haim even real? Or just another story to make obedient children?
As Karl reclined in the unearthed roots of the black oak, he smiled. *Real or not, offerings to Haim aren’t all terrible.*This was the tree that he had married Matilda under, after he came back from the Siege of Hammerring, the last remaining Imperial stronghold in Bordrim. He had made a fortune by securing the ransoms of important Imperials, bringing House Klug from the embarrassment of near bankruptcy to extreme wealth in a single day. He had spent coins like a drunken gambler blessed with immovable luck that night, and from then on men had begun to say he was the richest man in the kingdom. I don’t know about any of that. But riches aren’t just measured in gold. Karl thought as he ran his fingers along the black bark of the tree.
Searching through the leather pack he took from his saddle, Karl grabbed the cloth that held the dried venison and cheese he had carried along for his breakfast. The castle will just be coming to life now. He thought as the sun began to climb higher in the sky. After he had broken his fast, he pulled a quill, a tightly sealed ink pot, and a piece of parchment from his sack. He began to write.
“Your smile, a joy
Your laugh, a pleasure.
When we are together,
Troubles are light as a feather.”
Karl would have a servant hide that among Matilda’s things, where she would discover it later. Even after fifteen years of marriage, Karl loved to create these little surprises for his wife, just as she loved finding his cumbersome gifts and clumsy poetry.
A long, steady drumming sounded over the tops of the trees, booming from the direction of Grey Hallow, but far beyond. In the west, birds squaked and scattered to the wind. By the cadence of their beat, Karl knew it was the Elves, come to pay their respects and receive letters of safe passage as required by the Pact. A little earlier than expected. No matter. I prefer early to late. No doubt my Chamberlain, Aldred, will have everything prepared. Karl sprang to his feet, dusted off his trousers, and rolled the dried parchment. He followed the path back to the castle at a quick pace, humming a song his Bard had sung the previous night while they slept under the stars.
The day had well and truly begun upon his return. Servants wearing the green and black of his house dashed about as their duties required. Men stood guard wearing the Great Black Tree of the Klugs on their livery. The halls were alive with chatter and the scuffing of feet. Karl knew a long line of petitioners awaited him in his hall, but everyone knew that an audience with elves took precedence over the squabbles of men. They had all heard the drums, and they would be pressed together like bees in a hive just for a glimpse of the pointy eared outlanders. Every year, young elves Elves embarked on a great journey that they called *THING* or “The Taste” in the Imperial tongue. They spent anywhere from one to one hundred years living among the mortals, learning their ways and customs. Some spent the rest of their millennia-long lives among the mortals, watching dynasties rise and fall, technological marvels stun the world, and should they be unfortunate enough to make friends or find lovers, they witness death on a scale previously unimaginable.
Lemba is due to return home by the end of the year. After seventy years of service to my family, he’s earned his rest. Perhaps one of the newcomers would like a position at court. I would very much like to continue my lessons. Karl flexed his fingers at the mere thought of magic. Outlawed in most realms of men, Karl had insisted on instruction. The training was hard and the consequences if discovered by the Church would be dire, but in a land as dangerous as the Wald, every advantage counted.
The drums boomed, growing louder as the elves approached closer. I must hurry. I cannot insult them by wearing the same clothes I just wore to an execution. Karl jogged down the path from whence he came. Wiglaf was holding Baldur by his reigns, and he snapped to attention the moment he saw Karl approach. “The drums my lo-”
“I heard. Ride ahead and have your father prepare clothing for court.”
“Right away, my lord.” The page said as he galloped away. Karl followed at a quick but more relaxed pace. No sense in appearing sweaty and exasperated for my guests. He reasoned as he rode down the winding path.
His servants were waiting at the gate for him. They grabbed their reins from Baldur, and Karl climbed down from the horse. “Andred has selected your clothing, m’lord. Right this way, if you please.” Onna, the fat seamstress said and she beckoned him to follow. She led him to the laundry, where Karl pulled the dirty articles he had worn for the execution and picked up the courtly clothing she had laid out. He pulled the white linen tunic on first and fasted it was a leather belt inlain with a large silver buckle. His slipped into brown wool trousers next and grabbed a pair of light leather boots. While I won’t appear filthy in front of my guests, high fashion is not something I care to waste my gold on.
Karl sat in his finely carved chair on the dais at the end of the hall. It sat to the right of an identical, but smaller chair where his wife sat*.* She wore a black and green dress with a modestly cut v-neck which exposed her pale skin. Her golden hair lay in one long braid along her shoulder. and her piercing blue eyes smiled back at Karl’s own green. This was the women he had fallen in love with the moment he first spoke to her. She had been less convinced, at first. While he had been the highest born of her many suitors, he had not been her first choice.
“I thought you were boring!” She would tease him later. “You barely said a word the first three times we met.”
“I was nervous.” He would reply. “You captured my heart and my wits that day in High Hibaltia.”
“Well, that wit is what won me. Perhaps I just borrowed it for a time.” She smiled.
Cleverness, justness, kindness. These are the things that make me love you.
The couple held each other's hands as they looked over the court. The chamberlain, Aldred, was quickly giving some last minute instructions to his son and another page, and they immediately scrambled to their work. Guards stood firmly at attention in front of the doors, knowing that they would be facing a hallway full of eager onlookers at any moment.
Their three children stood to the side, talking amongst themselves. Grimbold was the oldest. And doomed to die young, as my brother and uncle have. He was tall, taller than Karl even. He had the arms of a blacksmith’s apprentice and Karl’s own brown curls. He shared his mother’s sky blue eyes and slender nose, as well as her quick temper. He’ll want more responsibility soon. I’ve already denied him a squireship. Perhaps a minor position at court would assuage him.
Next to Grimbold was Charlotte, their only daughter. She too had Karl’s curly brown hair, but she wore it in a long braid, like her mother. She was just like Matilda, in fact. They were both skilled with numbers, and Charlotte’s fascination with bards rivaled Matilda’s own obsession. The two of them often pleaded with Karl to hire this performer or that one, and Duke Karl Klug, Lawspeaker of Bordrim, would not resist his girls, especially Charlotte. She had just turned fourteen, and would be expecting suitors soon. I doubt any of them would be worthy of her. The two of us share a thin patience for stupidity and love makes fools of us all. Especially this false, courtly love the Pawley’s have been peddling these last centuries.
And then there was Otto, the youngest of the three. He stood in between his brother and sister, obviously uncomfortable and being talked over. Nervous and shy, Otto had trouble making friends with children his age. He got along well enough with Wiglaf, but the two never actively sought each other out for play. Probably waiting for the other to make the first move. Karl thought to himself.
“Otto!” Karl yelled. The boy snapped nearly to attention. “Come here, lad. I have a surprise for you.” The boy warily came before his parents.
“Close your eyes and stick out your hands, Otto.” Matilda gently urged.
Otto did as he was told. “Karl dug around in his coin purse and pulled out the clover and a gold coin. He placed the two in Otto’s open palm.
His eyes beamed just before the rest of his face lit up. “Is it real?” He asked as he squealed at his gift.
“Just found it this morning. I figured, with you as my son, I already have all the luck I need.” Otto grinned wide, his missing baby teeth apparent in his otherwise toothy smirk. “Now, with that coin, I want you to find a book that we can read together. Would you like that?” “Yes, father! Yes, yes!” Otto exclaimed, almost shaking with excitement.
“Now get back to your place. The Elves will be here soon.:
“Yes, father!” Otto slipped the clover and coin into his own purse and hurried back to his siblings.
Matilda leaned over and kissed Karl on the forehead. “You’re a good man, Karl Klug.” His mind raced back to dawn, and the creaking of ropes. “I try to be, my love.” He kissed her forehead back. There was a commotion behind the doors to the hallway. It started as a low murmur, and then grew in size, becoming a roar of excitement.
Lemba, Karl’s tutor and resident Elf, took
The Elves had arrived.
Two figures, hooded in dark crimson cloaks, approached the dais. Less than a quarter of what I was told to expect. Behind them were six large, muscular, green skinned orcs bound together at wrist and ankle. Less than a tenth of what I had prepared for. Some Orcs had obviously suffered wounds in the recent past, black blood welling up through tightly wrapped bandages at shoulder, scalp, or thigh. Karl knew from past experience that were these wounds even a slight inconvenience to the Elves, the Orc would be killed with no more pity than lame donkey.
The two cloaked figures marched in a praticed cadence as they moved towards the Duke and Duchess. They all move like that in this room. Is it tradition? Or something more calculated? Lemba, can you enlighten me?
“In due time.” The elf’s voice answered in Karl’s mind. “For now, let us see who has survived the journey.
Karl cast a quick and silent spell to identify the travelers, his only tell was a twitch of the nose, which may have been mistaken for an aborted sneeze.
Viksna and Piske Dun Beske, twin siblings of a prominent Orhani family. Lemba leaned and whispered into Karl’s ear. “The youngest children of a powerful family of sorcerors. T
“Viksna and Piske you illuminate my land with your presence.” Karl’s voice boomed across the hall. It had been so long since he had shouted without magical amplification that he wondered if his throat could even yell anymore.
The two outsiders removed their hoods and stood with clasped hands and bowed heads. Their hair golden, their ears pointed, they were both of a similar height and build, shorter than most men in the room, and Karl could tell they were thin even under their robes.
“And you honor us with your hospitality, Lord Klug.” The pair said in unison.
“You’ve arrived sooner than expected. Was your trip pleasant?”
“We ran into some trouble with monsters, I’m afraid.” Piske said, matter of factly.
“ They devoured quite a few of our slaves.” Viksna added. And of course, the Shadow King must have his due. Our traveling companions were not to his liking. We two and The six Orcs you see behind us are all that is left, I’m afraid, out of the seventeen souls we departed with. Ah, yes. The older races call Haim by his title and dare not refer to him by name. A superstitious bunch, the Elves.
Three slaves for each of us is hardly fitting.” Piske scoffed.
“A shame. I will see that they are tended to. And my servants shall make up for your deficit. See these creatures to their quarters.” He ordered with a wave of his hand.
Guards cautiously herded the six chained beasts on the points of spears, but the broken creatures simply did as they were told and offered no resistance, not even a scowl. They were broken in mind and spirit, they simply existed to do as they were told. Even still, they looked as if they could crush a man’s skull without much effort, and so the guards insisted on caution. I cannot say I blame them.
The instant their slaves were gone from the room, the elves both went down to one knee, each pulling a small bundle from their cloaks. In unison they spoke. “We have come to pay tribute to the Lord of the Wald. Bordermaster, River Watcher, Upholder of the Pact. We offer these small tokens to you, Great Lord.”
Karl pushed up from his seat on the dais and walked towards the pair, gesturing them to stand. This well rehearsed speech never fails to delight my courtiers. “You have left your great capitol of Orhani to live amongst the lesser lived. You have endured freezing cold and driving rain. You have crossed river and mountain, field and fell, and traversed the Wald itself. You have fought beast and monster and seen many things that Man fears in his dreams. You have lost friends and companions along your way, and for that, you have our sympathy. However, all is not lost, and these deaths have not been in vain. You have proved yourselves worthy of fellowship through your very deeds. I bid you stand, as friends of Men.” The two figures stood, pulling back their hoods as the ritual demanded. They both looked as beautiful as painted godlings, young as if in their prime, though each must have seen a hundred years come and go.
The two approached, stepping slowly, deliberately, in unison to the dais where Karl sat. Piske stepped forward, leaving his sister still as a statue with her bundle still in her hands.
“For you, my lord. A gift.” He bowed and handed the package to Karl.
“Thank you, Piske.” Karl exchanged a rolled parchment for the gift. The container was small, and light. It could have been empty if Karl did not know better. He pulled the string holding everything together, and opened the paper wrapping. Inside was a ring, small and green, with all manner of beasts carved intricately on the sides.
“This is remarkable, Piske. You have my thanks.” Karl said as he turned the ring over in his hands. He spied an eagle, a fish, a rat, and a bear amongst the throng of creatures on the metal.
Piske looked to Lemba, eyes practically screaming for help. Lemba chuckled to himself for a moment and then cocked his head in Karl’s direction.
“May I approach, my lord?” the Elf asked in the elegant Elvish tongue, hands out stretched. Karl nodded his approval and he came forward. Piske leaned forward, taking the ring from the Lord’s hand and slipped the emerald ring onto his own left pointer finger.
“This ring is rather...peculiar, my lord. Observe.” The Elf cleared his throat and began to shout “Will one of you fellows come out? We’d like to make introductions.”
A heavy silence, followed by quiet, confused muttering amongst the onlookers. Then a shriek came from the rear of the crowd, growing louder and closer by the second.
That’s when it appeared before Karl’s eyes. It came forward at a run. Sharp claws, huge black eyes, and jagged yellow teeth.
“The ring summons rats?” Karl answered in Elvish in between laughs.
“Or maybe it makes the wearer forget his manners.” came a perfect Elvish reply from the rat. Karl’s eyes shot wide. Bhalik’s Maw. Did that rodent just speak? He regained his composure and looked around his court. Everyone was staring up at him. Had they all heard too?
“They can’t hear me, you big oaf. Only the ring bearer can.” Karl glanced at the green band around his finger. “My name is difficult to pronounce, but for the sake of simplicity, call me Ymaut. Piske tells me you have a rather large network of informants. How would you like to expand?
“We’ll discuss another time. Thank you, Piske. You honor me.”
Piske bowed. “Of course, my lord. My sister has brought you a gift as well” gesturing to his companion. He stepped back to take her place, while Viksna approached, bowed and held out her tribute. The thing she brought was bigger and heavier than her brother’s gift. When Karl had finished unwrapping it, he understood why.
“A Grimoire.” he said quietly.
“May I approach, my lord?” Karl nodded absently as he flipped through the pages.
Viksna whispered. “I am told you enjoy practicing magic. I would be happy to teach you, if you’d like.”
“This is too much to trade for a mere letter of safe conduct. Anything in my power to give you is yours, if you but name it.”
Viksna thought for only a brief moment. “Should there be an opening for a position in your court that I may be suitable for, I would like to enter your service.”
Lemba is leaving my service, to return to Outland. If you would care to remain here and assume his role upon his departure, I would welcome the company.” Karl said as he struggled to tear his eyes away from the book. That will be all for today. My servants will show you to your chambers. Should you want for anything at all, you need only ask and it is yours.”
The two bowed low. “You honor us, my lord.” the two Elves said as one. As they slowly walked from the hall, Karl’s Chamberlain, Aldred, whispered in his ear. “My lord, Sir Vanya has come to charge Baron Stevers as an oathbreaker. My duty calls. Karl thought, the grimoire still open in his hand.

Hey Reddit community,
I wanted to share some thoughts on the importance of relationships in various aspects of our lives, including business, family, and support groups. I believe that relationships are the foundation upon which we build success and happiness. Here’s why:

1. Business Growth and Success

• Networking Opportunities: Building strong relationships within your industry opens doors to networking opportunities. Connections with the right people can lead to partnerships, collaborations, and valuable insights that can propel your business forward.
• Trust and Credibility: Establishing trust with clients, partners, and employees is essential. Strong relationships foster trust, which in turn builds credibility and a positive reputation for your business.
• Support and Mentorship: Having a network of supportive relationships can provide guidance and mentorship. Experienced mentors can offer advice and share their knowledge, helping you navigate challenges and make informed decisions.

2. Family Strength and Stability

• Emotional Support: Family relationships provide a foundation of emotional support. Knowing that you have loved ones who care about you unconditionally can boost your confidence and mental well-being.
• Shared Responsibilities: In a family, tasks and responsibilities are often shared. Strong relationships ensure that these responsibilities are handled cooperatively, leading to a more harmonious household.
• Legacy and Values: Through strong familial bonds, we pass down values, traditions, and life lessons to future generations. This continuity helps in preserving a sense of identity and belonging.

3. Support Groups and Personal Growth

• Sense of Belonging: Being part of a support group provides a sense of belonging. Knowing that others share similar experiences can be comforting and reduce feelings of isolation.
• Collective Wisdom: In support groups, members can share their experiences and strategies for coping with various challenges. This collective wisdom can be incredibly valuable for personal growth and overcoming obstacles.
• Empowerment and Encouragement: Support groups offer a platform for encouragement and empowerment. Positive reinforcement from others can motivate individuals to pursue their goals and aspirations with greater determination.

4. Overall Well-being

• Mental Health: Strong relationships contribute to better mental health. Regular social interaction and emotional support can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Physical Health: Studies have shown that individuals with strong social ties tend to have better physical health and longer lifespans. The support from relationships can lead to healthier lifestyle choices and better adherence to medical advice.
• Happiness and Fulfillment: Ultimately, relationships are a key component of happiness and fulfillment. Sharing life’s joys and challenges with others enriches our experiences and makes life more meaningful.

In conclusion, whether it's for professional success, family cohesion, personal growth, or overall well-being, relationships play a pivotal role. Investing time and effort in building and nurturing these connections can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life.
What are your thoughts? How have relationships impacted your life in these areas? Share your experiences and insights!

Welcome to Occupational Anxiety, a safe and supportive community for sharing experiences and finding support related to workplace depression and anxiety. Whether you're struggling with a difficult work environment, dealing with burnout, or just need someone to talk to, this is the place for you.
Why We’re Here:

• Share Your Stories: Feel free to share your personal experiences with workplace anxiety and depression. Your story might resonate with others and help them feel less alone.
• Offer and Receive Support: This is a place for mutual support. Offer advice, encouragement, and empathy to fellow members.
• Learn Coping Strategies: Discover and share tips and techniques for managing workplace stress and anxiety.

Community Guidelines:

1. Be Respectful: Treat all members with kindness and respect. We are here to support each other.
2. Confidentiality: Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal information without consent.
3. Trigger Warnings: Use trigger warnings where appropriate to protect members from potentially distressing content.
4. No Harassment: Harassment, bullying, or any form of negativity will not be tolerated.
5. Encourage Professional Help: While peer support is valuable, remind others that seeking professional help is important for severe anxiety and depression.

Let’s build a positive and supportive community together. Share your story, ask for advice, or simply connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Your voice matters here.
Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to supporting each other!
Warm regards!

So, there is a, what I would say light rumour about Halo: CE to Halo 3 being remastered and released within one package, using Unreal Engine. And with the more robust speculation of the next Halo game leaving the Slipsace engine behind and being made using Unreal Engine, its not so hard to believe that this may be something in the works. There was a post on X about it and understandably a lot of people thought that it was a bit pointless and would rather MCC get continued development, adding mod support for console and all that. But there were also some who liked the idea, Halo: CE through to Halo 3 remastered and looking graphically amazing is a very alluring thought. I agree with both perspectives.
I 100% think that MCC should get continued development, adding mod support for console, bug fixes and server renting options being the big-ticket items. But for this to be possible, the game needs to make money, and I think a PlayStation release along with purchasable Spartan Points would be the way forward.
So if MCC gets continued development, it definitely opens the gate for this Unreal Engine remake of the Halo Trilogy. If MCC were not to get any substantial development, with the various ideas, wants and beliefs of the Halo community there would be many upset fans. Either way, I have thought about it, and there is a path that would make this potentially a very good, rewarding, and beneficial game for 343. With its contents and sandbox not being isolated to one single-player package.
When you first read it, Halo Trilogy remade in Unreal Engine, the first thing you think of, at least for me, is just the graphical upgrade that you would get from it. And that’s exciting. But then you think about the enemies and the sandbox for each game, would they be bespoke for each title? Or would they use the same enemy models and behaviour, the same functioning weapons and models across all of the games? The later would not do the games justice. But the bespoke rout would require a lot of extra work and development. Costing money, and all this for a single player game? Doesn’t seem like something that would get the green light. So how would 343 solve this conundrum? To incorporate all of this content into the next main Halo instalment, that’s also built on Unreal Engine, in a very significant and impactful way. Making the development of this breadth of content far more cost effecting and valuable to 343 on multiple levels.
Okay, back to the Halo Trilogy remake and what I personally think would be a good execution for it, before we move onto the next Halo instalment and how the Trilogy content would be incorporated into it.
So lets talk first about the menus of the game briefly. Simply put I think there should be a game selection menu when you first boot it up, letting you choose which game you want to launch into. And yes, this means we get the classic menus for each of the games back, updated to support new features and looking amazing. And now onto what I was talking about earlier, the sandbox for each title.
So to clear something up, this Halo Trilogy I would imagine it to be a remake, and not a remaster. So things throughout each of the games would not be completely accurate to their original counterpart. But not deviate so much like the Halo: Combat Evolved remaster in terms of atmosphere. As stated, each game in the Trilogy will have their own unique sandbox, meaning that across the board, enemies, weapons, vehicles, and allies will, look, sound, behave, and feel similar or identical to that of their original counterparts. And the same treatment for the environment, bespoke textures for unique structures and all that. But what about you, the player? I think that the movement for each game should be consistent and stay the same. Also the same physics for each. So all the games run on the same engine but the sandbox elements are what’s different and provide a unique experience.
A little visualisation for a moment. If your having trouble picturing what unique enemy and weapon models with really high graphical quality would look like in a Halo: CE remake, just think of the Halo Infinite Mark V armour.
Now onto a more exciting aspect of a Halo Trilogy remake in Unreal Engine, and that for me is the prospect of being able to play “remixed” campaigns. Once you have played through the standard campaign, you can now play a version that has extra or entirely new enemy encounters, new areas to explore, new weapons or even entirely new missions on the more extreme side. A good example would be Ruby’s rebalanced Halo: CE, or for the more extreme, Halo SPV3, for those people who are aware. I think this would be absolutely awesome. And a quick note, built using Unreal Engine so say goodbye to the annoying lag that plagues MCC co-op campaign (something that I would really like to see fixed) because it uses peer-to-peer networking. I am getting incredibly excited just thinking about having a new experience playing through a remixed campaign with my best friends and no lag! And also 4-player co-op for Halo: CE and Halo 2, yes please!
But now onto how this substantial breadth of content can be effectively utilised in the next main Halo game. Giving effective justification to its creation in the first place. So what I mean by the next main Halo game is one that has the next campaign that continues on from Infinite, and has the extensive multiplayer offerings, that would be in the form of a free-to-play live service. Now I know there will be a lot of people who groan at the thought but if done right, again, if executed correctly and released when ready would be good for Halo and the best way to get the highest amount of players. Being on Unreal Engine and on every available platform.
Now back on point, some people may have guessed this but the engine used for the Halo Trilogy remake and the engine for the main Halo game, let’s call it Halo 7, are the same. So the obvious way that 343 can utilise the content can be through providing the numerous weapons and vehicles as variants for players to use in game, like Halo 5: Guardians Warzone mode. Or for modes that don’t incorporate all these variations, players could unlock the models to use on the standard weapons and vehicles, just changing the aesthetics. You could rock the classic Halo: CE Warthog look! And these models can be obtained through various ways. Through ranking up the progression system, buying from the store, or completing commendations. Now it could be confusing for players to determine if they have the actual real variant or just the model, but the real thing would have unique sound, feel, damage, and all that. Also the modes in matchmaking that use the variants should be segmented and obvious.
Forge would also greatly benefit from having all this content available. With the different enemies and vehicles, players could creat very genuine throwback campaign missions. There is just so much potential. Now this leads nicely into what I think is the big justification for this content, and that is to do with the campaign for Halo 7. Halo Infinite introduced a new species called the Xalanyn, or “The Endless”. And it is believed/hypothesised that they have the ability to manipulate time.
Now, I’m not the most imaginative person so I would not be able to explain why, but as you play through the Halo 7 campaign, you travel back to different time periods. And this is where the usefulness of the different enemies, vehicles, weapons, and allies come into play. And I think this would be a great way to visit significant locations and time periods from the books, and experience different perspectives from familiar battles and locations. There’s just so much that could be done! I’m sure there are lore fans that would just have their minds explode with possibilities.
But, the question is, how far back may we go? Players have been accustomed to and expect there to be a slate of Forerunner weapons to use, and in Halo 4 the Prometheans were introduced. May we side with the Xalanyn and undo the grand sin of the Forerunners? Travelling back 100,000 years to the time of the Forerunner-Flood war, and even earlier…
A story that encompasses the entire Halo timeline and executes it well would be magnificent. And at a time when Halo is possibly moving away from its classic Blam engine and into new territory that is Unreal Engine, while also being available to the most amount of players than ever before by releasing on PlayStation. This could potentially be the turnaround for the franchise that all Halo fans dream of.
Until then, silentium…

We are approaching 2024, and it's definitely going to be an exciting time for React developers! The entire ecosystem of React will continue to thrive with a superabundance of libraries and frameworks that not only enhance but also make the development process more aligned.
In this segment, we'll explore the top 21 React libraries and frameworks to watch out for in 2024. Each of these tools brings its unique strengths to the table, contributing to an even more powerful and flexible React ecosystem.

1. Material Tailwind - React

Material Tailwind is a popular design system and component library. When combined with React, using this library becomes a powerful tool for creating stunning and responsive web applications.
This library seamlessly merges the Material Design aesthetic with the utility-first approach of Tailwind CSS. It provides a wide array of pre-designed components, UI elements, and styles, that helps developers to build modern and visually appealing interfaces with ease.
Material Tailwind for React is a practical addition to the toolkit of developers who aim to deliver user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing web applications while leveraging the efficiency of the Tailwind CSS utility classes.
Features

• Tailwind CSS with Material Design
• Prebuilt components
• Easy customization
• Responsiveness built-in
• Dark mode support

2. Redux

Redux is a state management library that remains essential in the React community. It provides a strategic way to manage the state of the application while making it easier to handle complex data flow.
With a mature ecosystem of middleware and tools, Redux ensures that the React applications maintain clean, scalable, and efficient state management.
Features

• Predictable state container
• Easy debugging
• Middleware support
• Time-travel functionality
• Community plugins

3. Create a React App

Create React App is a development tool that aligns the process of setting up a new React project. This tool offers a pre-configured environment with a development server, build scripts, and other essential tools, allowing developers to start coding right away without any hassle of configuration.
As the React ecosystem evolves, Create React App continues to receive updates, making it a convenient choice for quick project setups.
Features

• Zero-config setup
• Built-in best practices
• Hot-reloading
• ES6+ and TypeScript support
• Service worker integration

4. Rebass

Rebass is a React component library that simplifies building responsive and consistent user interfaces.
With a focus on design procedure principles and minimalism, Rebass provides a set of UI components that are highly customizable and themeable. It's an excellent choice for creating aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly React applications with ease.
Features

• Functional React UI components
• Theming support
• Minimalistic
• Extendable
• Highly composable

5. React Admin

React Admin is a framework developed for building admin interfaces and dashboards. It helps streamline the overall procedure of developing data-heavy applications, offering features like CRUD operations, and data handling.
React Admin is an invaluable tool for developers working on applications that require robust data management and user management functionalities.
Features

• Easy CRUD operations
• Pluggable architecture
• Data validation
• Internationalization
• Customizable UI

6. Ant Design

Ant Design is a popular UI library that offers a comprehensive set of well-designed components for building sleek and user-friendly applications.
With a wide range of customizable components, including forms, tables, and navigation elements - Ant Design facilitates the creation of optimal yet rich-functional React applications with ease.
Features

• Enterprise-level UI components
• Theme customization
• Rich icons set
• Locale support
• Mobile responsive

7. Grommet

Grommet is another React UI component library known for its accessibility and simplicity. It provides a set of ready-to-use components designed to focus on responsiveness and accessibility.
This Grommet library has signified itself for Javascript developers who prioritize creating web applications that are user-friendly and adhere to accessibility standards.
Features

• Accessibility-first components
• Themable
• Responsive design
• Dark mode
• Server-side rendering

8. Material UI

Material UI is a well-established UI framework based on Google's Material Design guidelines. It offers a bunch of precisely designed components that make it easy to create visually appealing and responsive user interfaces.
Material UI's popularity and extensive community support continue to make it a top choice for React developers looking to adhere to the Material Design aesthetic.
Features

• Google Material Design
• Component customization
• Utility classes
• Rich icons set

Also, have a look at some of the best Material UI Templates

9. React Spinner

As the name determines itself! React Spinner is a library designed to add loading spinners and animations to React-based JavaScript applications. It simplifies the process of incorporating loading indicators. It provides a variety of customizable spinners to improve the user experience, especially when waiting for data to load or processes to complete.
With React Spinner, you can enhance the visual appeal of web applications and keep users engaged during loading times while reducing the bounce rate.
Features

• Easy to integrate
• Customizable appearance
• Lightweight
• Pure CSS
• Smooth animations

10. React Bootstrap

React Bootstrap combines the power of React and the popular Bootstrap framework to streamline the creation of responsive yet visually engaging web applications.
It offers a set of Bootstrap components adapted for React, making it easier to build mobile-friendly, consistent, and well-designed user interfaces.
Features

• Bootstrap 4 components
• Mobile-first
• Customizable
• Large community

11. Semantic UI React

Semantic UI React is a React integration of the Semantic UI framework, known for its clean and intuitive design language. It provides a comprehensive set of pre-designed components that adhere to semantic HTML conventions.
This library benefits in simplifying the process of creating modern and aesthetically pleasing web interfaces, making it a favorite among developers who value semantic and responsive design.
Features

• Human-friendly HTML
• Intuitive JS
• Debugging support
• Theming
• Build tools

12. Blueprint

Blueprint is a React-based UI toolkit that includes a set of meticulously designed components for building elegant and responsive web applications. This toolkit basically focuses on simplicity, functionality, and a united design language.
Blueprint's components cover a wide range of UI elements, from buttons and forms to data visualizations, ultimately making it a valuable resource for developers aiming to create polished and professional web applications.
Features

• Designed for desktop
• Customizable
• Rich component library
• Theming
• TypeScript support

13. React DnD

React DnD, short for React Drag-and-Drop, is a powerful library for adding drag-and-drop functionality to React applications.
React applications that involve reordering items, managing file uploads, or creating interactive user interfaces - find this library very helpful in simplifying the complexity of drag-and-drop interactions. Moreover, React DnD offers both flexibility and ease of use in managing drag-and-drop operations.
Features

• Drag-and-drop
• Extensible backends
• Flexible rendering
• Multi-backend support
• Debugging utilities

14. Styled Components

Styled Components is another library that allows developers to write CSS within their JavaScript components. It promotes the use of component-level styling, improving code maintainability and reducing the risk of styling conflicts.
With Styled Components, the developer can create dynamic and responsive designs while keeping the styles organized within the React components.
Features

• Dynamic styling
• Theming support
• Server-side rendering
• CSS-in-JS
• Native support

15. React Fabric

React Fabric is a set of responsive and accessible UI components for building web applications. Developed by Microsoft, it adheres to the Fluent Design System, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing user experience.
React Fabric components are specifically designed to work well with various web platforms and browsers, making them a solid choice for creating web applications with a polished and modern look.
Features

• Office UI components
• Accessibility support
• TypeScript support
• Regular updates

16. React Virtualized

It’s time to get introduced to one of the most powerful React libraries! React Virtualized renders the large lists and tabular data in React applications. It employs techniques like windowing and virtualization to optimize performance when dealing with extensive data sets.
React Virtualized library is especially valuable for developers working on projects that involve displaying extensive tables or lists, where rendering efficiency is critical.
Features

• Large lists and tabular data
• Performance optimizations
• Windowing
• Flexible styles
• Scroll syncing

17. React-Motion

React-Motion is a library for creating smooth and interactive animations in React applications. It offers physics-based animations enabling developers to bring life to their web interfaces.
With React-Motion, you can achieve fluid, interactive animations that enhance the user experience, making it a valuable tool for projects that require engaging visual effects.
Features

• Spring-based animations
• Configurable
• Interpolations
• Optimized performance
• Animation stacking

18. React Intl

React Intl is a library for internationalization and localization in React applications. It provides a set of tools for formatting dates, numbers, and strings, as well as handling pluralization and translations.
This library is indispensable for developers looking to create web applications that cater to a global audience by offering content in multiple languages and adhering to regional formatting conventions.
Features

• Formatting numbers
• Date and time formatting
• Pluralization
• Currency support
• Message extraction

19. React Desktop

React Desktop is a library that empowers developers to create cross-platform desktop applications using React. Using this library, you can build native-like desktop applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
With React Desktop, you can leverage React skills to create powerful desktop software, making it a game-changer for projects that require a desktop application presence.
Features

• macOS and Windows UI
• Cross-platform components
• Native behaviors
• Blurring support

20. Evergreen UI

Evergreen UI is a design approach and component library for building clean and modern user interfaces. It offers a set of customizable and accessible UI components that align with contemporary design trends.
This component library simplifies the process of creating aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly web applications, making it a valuable asset for developers who aim to deliver a modern and consistent user experience.
Features

• macOS and Windows UI
• Cross-platform components
• Native behaviors
• Blurring support

21. MobX

MobX is a simple and scalable state management library for React applications. It provides a straightforward way to manage the application state, making it easier to keep data in sync with the UI and ensuring smooth reactivity.
MobX is a versatile choice for developers who want to manage the state of their React applications efficiently, especially for projects with complex data flows and interactions.
This list of React libraries and frameworks represents each diverse solution that caters to specific development needs.
Features

• Observable state
• Derived values
• Reactions
• Easy debugging
• Middleware support

As you step on your React projects in 2024, consider these tools to streamline the development process, enhancing the quality and user experience of your web applications.

Conclusion

Hence, React JS remains a dominant force in web development even in 2024. This React ecosystem will be brimming with exciting libraries and frameworks. These tools serve various requirements and aid developers in creating dynamic and user-friendly web applications.
The top 21 React libraries and frameworks for 2024, as discussed in this article, offer a rich source of solutions. From state management with Redux to UI design with Material UI and internationalization with React Intl.

I’m a (comparatively) heavy traveler for leisure. Average close to one domestic flight a month and I have gotten 10 stamps in the last 8 months.
Amex Platinum, Amex Gold & Sapphire Reserve have been the core of my travel set up. I usually book a FHR & HC stay with my Platinum and I have always gotten upgrade internationally. I put lots of value on that so it’s definitely a keeper. The Gold is used domestically often and primarily my dining card.
The Sapphire Reserve is my back up card while traveling. I use the travel credit no problem and I easily get a ~$400+ of value out of the PP restaurant option it has. Unfortunately that benefit will be disappearing soon.
So I’m looking for suggestions on a card that would be great for a person that travels a lot. I had no problem using the transfer partners that Chase & Amex had in common to complete a redemption. It doesn’t necessarily even have to have transfer partners. I’m looking for something I’ll get plenty of value out of it.

The first actor and the beginnings of an insane career!
Please be gentle. You're my first Actress!
When I was, but a mere child of 12, I watched a B/W movie on TV; on the farm.
It was, 'The Collector'- 1965, with Terence Stamp and the beautiful young Samantha Eggar.
Needless to say my little brain was enthralled with this film. You have to watch it!
Again, needless to say I was, once more, enthralled with this actual chance of meeting Samantha. And me, somewhat older, somewhat wiser (I guess), yet, still a farm boy.
The assignment; I was to be Sam's Transport Specialist 24/7, while she was here in town. Palpitations grew as the day of 'prep' closed in.
The project, 'Curtains', was a 'Cheesy Slasher Film' shot, mostly, north of Toronto in 'Cottage Country'.
The year was 1983. I had, not so much as, a 'marsupial's' inkling about the show nor any idea what a 'script' looked like.
I had been a P.A. (Production Assistant) on commercials, with Mike, for a few years. Humping cable, props buying and more of the humping cable. Every now and again I would get picked up, at home, by a fancy car and driver (impressed the hell out of our Farmer Landlord, I'd say). So, with 'finished commercial footage' in hand and with instructions to 'hand deliver' to the client I, subsequently, joined the 'Jet-Set crowd' and flew off to Chicago, Detroit or some other exotic destination.
Now it was time for me to spread my steering wheel(s) and fly, again.
This time into the 'Wild Blue Wonder' of 'The Abyss of the Biz!
I had learned from my experiences, as a school bus driver; for children of all ages and human behaviour, that once you meet someone new, you have about two minutes to pull them into your corner. How do you do that in two minutes, you ask?
Humm
More to follow....................................................................

My coworker (23F) and I (23M) have been best friends from elementary school. We've been through middle school, high school, and college. We even got accepted into same college and also got into the same company after graduating, although we work in different fields. It was great because we could have lunches together, also it was nice having my best friend at work. We dated different people in our life but never each other, although I did come close to asking her out a few times but never got the courage to do so.
A couple of weeks ago, I did somehow muster up the courage to ask her out because I genuinely thought over the past few months there was some tension building between us and we were both single so I thought I would give it a shot. But she seemed slightly shocked that I asked her out, and asked if we could just remain friends because the friendship was really valuable. I was genuinely hurt and she could probably see it in my face and she apologized but I told her it was ok and that there was no need to apologize.
The next day however, I wasn’t feeling too great and when I saw her at work and when she said hi, I just ignored her and went to my desk. I didn’t have lunch with her that afternoon, and ignored a couple of her texts. This carried for the next couple of days where I just ignored her, but after that, she stopped saying hi to me. I have noticed her looking at me a few times, but it’s like we’re complete strangers now.
AITAH?

When will I be able to post and comment in the PoppyGarden?

• The PoppyGarden is aiming to launch by Wednesday, May 29th. We want to make sure the community is everything we want it to be from the beginning - that means resources need to be compiled, while guides, stickies, and community FAQs need to be authored. And we also just want everything to work as intended, and that takes work. We also have zero mod experience, so we're learning as we build this community.

Can I be a moderator for the PoppyGarden?

• The PoppyGarden is currently looking for experienced moderators. However, it's crucially important that the intended ethos of the community is upheld. In that spirit, potential moderators must show proof of past gardening experience and agree to operate strictly within the bounds of the sub's rules. If you can meet these criteria and wish to become a moderator for the PoppyGarden, please reach out by mod mail.

What is a trusted gardener and how do I become one?

• A "Trusted Gardener" is a member of the sub who harbors exceptional knowledge through experience, and who exemplifies what it means to be a mentor and community leader. These pillars of community will be easily distinguished by their flair. We plan to take this designation very seriously - these won't simply be handed out to friends of mods or anyone who asks. The goal is to have these badges mean something. To become one, a member will have to ask, at which point the mods will comb through their post history and any relevant material supplied by the sub member to determine whether the "Trusted Gardener" badge should be awarded.

Do you have beef with other poppy subs?

• There’s no beef. However, a combination of banning valuable members, policing what should be considered free speech, (mentioning vendors) and disallowing all discussion of one of the most vital aspects of harm reduction within the community (processing and consumption) has led to a degradation of quality so great that the only option is start anew. That’s how we feel. But we’re also excited to watch this garden slowly grow. Even if we only have 50 members, I know it will be a close-knit community of people who are truly passionate about poppies like we are.

Hi everyone!
I’m a graduate design student from Stanford University, currently researching immersive experiences. Meow Wolf’s creations have always fascinated me, and I’m eager to learn more about them from those who truly appreciate their work.
If you’re a fan of Meow Wolf and would be willing to chat about what you love about their experiences, I’d love to hear from you! Your insights would be incredibly valuable for my research.
As a thank you, I’m offering a $20 gift card for your time. Please DM me if you’re interested!
Thanks so much!