There's one thing I've felt and realised that no matter how many friends we surround ourselves with in real life, there are moments when loneliness can still creep in and take hold. That's when this wonderful world of internet comes in handy, and I guess it's finally the time for me to give this a try.
I'm a 22 year old Indian guy who is currently pursuing his masters degree in Italy. And being in an entirely different country on my own sometimes takes me to that loneliness territory. I'm a 6'1" tall guy (if that matters to you) and I crave those funny & deep conversation that are something more than just being shallow. You know the conversation, where every text makes you more elevated, and you can't help but just cherish that wonderful moment. The conversation flows naturally, and you keep on talking to each other irrespective of the time that has passed.
Love is one of the most exquisite things in this world, and it can hold different meanings for different people. But love for me, is all about care and affection that you show to your partner, that rock-solid assurance that no matter what, you've always got their back. It's when you eagerly anticipate their texts and feel like the luckiest person once it pops on your screen, when their presence, whether online or in person, gives you the reason to start your day with a huge smile. And I've seen my own shares of ups and down in my love life, but that doesn't make me lose any hope, and hopefully I'll soon find my ONE.
A little more about me: I mostly spend my free time analyzing or studying the movies, shows or the music. I appreciate this world of entertainment a lot because they are like my escape from this reality. So, if you're the same, then we can nerd over our favorite movies & music. I also like to write about stuff sometimes, mostly about entertainment or some story/thought that popped into my mind.
But recently, I have been reading a lot of true crime stories. So, if you have some recommendations or insights into this genre, then you better hit me up, I'm always open to know more about this.
What am I looking for: I'm looking for a like-minded lady who is around my age (20-24 years old) and shares my passion for meaningful conversations. I'm interested in getting to know someone who enjoys talking about their day, what have they been up to, their dreams, their ambition, basically everything they feel comfortable sharing. If you're looking for a partner who is genuine, respectful, and eager to build a meaningful connection, then let's start talking! We can begin with a conversation on Reddit and if we both feel comfortable enough, let's move to some other platform and see where this takes us.
What can you expect from me: You can expect a genuine and understanding guy who is truly interested in getting to know you. You can also expect a funny and deep conversation, I'm a good listener and enjoy hearing different perspectives, so feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with me.
I can be a bit flirty sometimes if I feel like we have a genuine connection, so I hope you wouldn't mind that. I believe that a little bit of banter and humor can go a long way in building a connection, so don't be surprised if I try to make you laugh or catch your attention with a cheesy joke or two. However, I also respect boundaries and will never push beyond what makes you feel comfortable.
I'm a private person, so I'm NOT much inclined towards sharing pictures right away. I like to make sure that we both have trust and confidence in each other, and once we have established that, then we can definitely exchange photos and more.
Oh damn, I've just realized that this has become a very long post, so if you've read this in its entirety, give yourself a pat on the back. Out of so many things you could have read in this time, you chose to read my paragraph, and I already appreciate you for that. So, if any of these loong lines makes sense to you, please message me, and let's have some great conversation. I'll be waiting, and I hope you have a wonderful day. You deserve that.

I first heard about Binary Domain when I finished Vanquish and wanted more games like it. At a surface level, I suppose you can consider it like Vanquish. They're both published and developed by Saga and a Japanese team, they're both 3rd person shooters, they're both about robots and have futuristic elements. But the actual gameplay is so different. It's hard to see any similarity past these elements.
Now I'll be honest, my first hour with Binary Domain was really dull and underwhelming. This game screams 360-era 2010. The visuals, the very fact that it essentially feels like a Japanese attempt at Gears of War. Everyone loved that shit and wanted a piece of it. But here in 2024, I didn't think the shooting was enough to pull the me through to the end. It just looked like a generic shooter man. Many of it's unique aspects really haven't aged too for a 2024 audience.
You have a weird chargeable pulse shot in your rifle. I barely used it. You can shoot off robot body parts. Nice but nothing special. There's this really weird voice command feature. I swear I felt like I forgot to plug my Kinect in. I tried it at the start but it just didn't feel right and eventually I turned it off. It only seems to read specific phrases and you only ever really have very limited, one word options. They felt very disconnected from the actual conversation at times. Plus, reading out the lines made me feel like a corny cringy anime protagonist. I just had to turn that shit off. Something with potential but very gimmicky in the state it's in. It doesn't jive very well with the rest of the game anyway IMO. Dan is a voiced protagonist with a set in stone personality. Why do we suddenly have choices and dialogue options? I'm not sure if these things were really crazy enough to put Binary Domain out there in 2012 but none of these things so far felt very interesting here in 2024.
After this hour, I told myself I'd cut my losses and rush through the rest of the game. We then meet the rest of our crew. Each member had just enough personality to keep them interesting and you get to pick your group members when you need to split up. Something I think affects the plot but I'm not sure considering I just finished 1 playthrough. Your crew members also have a reputation and skill system. Their disposition and responses change based on how you play. Again, nothing groundbreaking but good enough
You also get to upgrade your guns turning your peashooter into a proper formidable rifle. You'll start to transition from peeking from cover to gunning through rooms. Paired with the robot parts falling off, it really starts to feel satisfying. Binary Domain actually started being fun now. You also get a nice variety of bosses with surprisingly good music.
As for the plot, as expected, nothing special. AI, robots, sentience and humanity. In alot of ways, it reminded me of Fallout 4's synths with very similar plot themes. Basically you're a rust crew sent to ""'''''covertly'''''''''' (blowing their way through half of Japan) investigate whether a Japanese robotics company has violated International Law by producing robots so advanced, you can't even tell the difference between them and humans. All quite run of the mill and tbh, it never really feels like it's going anywhere - more like an excuse to keep the game going than anything. Until this one cutscene plays out where a poor guy gets dragged and beaten around wondering why he's being treated so badly till he realizes he's a robot himself. Poor dude then goes apeshit, gets an existential crisis and kills himself.
The plot was so lackluster then this cutscene came out of left field and slapped me across the face. Something about it's dramatic vibe really hooked me. Well directly after that a 15 year old character says your cute and you're asked whether you'd like to date her. Anyway. Things go back to being lackluster till the last hour with crazy twists and explanations. Turns out the guy your hunting down had his work stolen, he then decided to pursue sentient robots as his new lifework. But then the AI gets too sentient and develops fear. It realizes being exposed to the world would kill him so he traps his creator and eventually puts itself into a robotic body that looks just like him. This robot then believes it needs to replicate itself and reproduce. Eventually leading to weird fully biological human-robot hybrids. And it turns out one of your teammates is one of these human robot hybrids! It's pretty cool considering you fight and develop around these characters and they grow on you. Suddenly what was a beloved teammate suddenly becomes the enemy.
I don't think such concepts had been executed to this level in a game after. In many ways it's like the Danse plotline of Fallout 4. Videogames are an interactive medium with unique potential over a book or a movie but it never feels like devs use it to It's fullest potential. There's a dissonance between gameplay and story
It's why I think Spec Ops feels so interesting. In other games, you'd just be in the event. Never meaningfully affecting it. You're just a drone following a pointer like a robot. Typically you're just a silent observer who sees these things happening to other characters youve only known for a few minutes. You don't really care about them and it's never really gripping. Take the Diamond City scripted event where a guys brother tries to kill him. The brother ends up being a synth but it's never really that bothersome. You don't care that much about this random npc. It happens and then it goes.
In Binary Domain, you feel the same and you don't really out much though to it. They're just machines that need to go. You never really feel for it. Dan (and you as the player) suddenly feel abit more conflicted having to kill your own team member. And it's played out like a decision. What're you going to do? Stick with your team and get rid of all the robots or let your feelings cave in and kill your own human friends to protect your robot-human hybrid gf thing. Well, it all falls flat on its face when the damn cutscene moves on and you just progress back into a linear bossfight. What the fuck was all that for then? After this, Dan kills the hybrid but actually not. You kill off the sentient robot that started all this in the first place. You then need to take out the AI behind the sentient robot. But your HQ boss decides to swoop in and take control of the AI for the US instead. And your childhood friend betrays you too! And you got nukes headed your way! But then you kill bad HQ man and the nukes were stopped by the AI when it took control awhile back.
All this happens in the span of 1 hour btw. Pacing is a major problem. Why not just have all these major plot points slowly ease in as you progress through the story? There's hardly anything interesting happening in the first 8 hours.
All in all, Binary Domain really felt like a generic run of the mill 3rd person shooter - a product of its time - but fuck it, being generic isn't all that bad if the final executions satisfying enough. Eventually the team moved on and gained fame with their Yakuza games leaving Binary Domain in the dust.

Good afternoon! It’s just another day of looking for some new friends and chatting buddies. I’m at work right now so I will respond when I get the chance to, I just wanted to get some chats lined up for later hehe. I’d love someone I could talk to daily, maybe we could even watch some movies and shows if we like the same stuff :)
So a little about me: I love to write books, usually literary fiction. If you’re into hearing someone talk on and on about the same old thing, then you found that in me! I’m happy to talk about my stories with you. I’m also into reading (just bought a bunch of new books at a sale), art, games, environmentalism, and a lot more. I’m pretty much a jack of all trades, so if you don’t have the same hobbies as me, I’ll still try your passions or listen to you talk about them
Now, what about you? I’m a chatty person when you get me started so I hope you’re able to say more than a few words to me so I have something to work with. It would be nice to talk to people around my age (20-27) in the US too (if you’re in MN def hit me up so maybe we can hang…?)
Anyway… what are you waiting for? If any of this interests you, hit me up! Make sure to give me a general introduction about yourself too. I hate when someone just says “hey” but doesn’t tell me about themselves so I know what to expect. See ya in my chats!

So I just took my biochem final and did… not great on it, meaning my current grade in the class is a C. Thankfully the professor lets you retake it and he just counts the higher one.
I’ve also been quite literally a straight A student my entire 4 years of undergrad. Assuming I don’t do better on the retake my final GPA will be 3.83/3.64. My sGPA is being dragged down by the fact that I transferred a whole bunch of science prereqs in the form of AP credits, so I have less credits to soften the blow. Otherwise, pretty much my entire transcript is A’s and A-‘s all the way down. I think I got a B+ on some random core writing class a few years ago but that’s about it.
I know trying to read adcom’s mind is frowned upon here, but my concern is this C is gonna stick out like a sore thumb and invite questions from them. And I really don’t have anything to say about it other than “I put forth my best effort and this is what I have to show for it.”
What do you guys think?

any idea on how i can find brands direct ppartnership email id’s?
i run a small startup where i share stories about founders, ceo’s, artists and many more talking about how they found their passion + what they’re doing now!
i was thinking to expand it and write about brands too - maybe reviews or have a conversation with the founder about how he/she built the brand! i’ve around 1K+ visits as of now.
if you could help/provide guidance, please comment - thanks!

Let's clear some misconceptions, I hope all of you remember this post. Apologies for the long wall of text and history rant. I don't wish people to repeat inaccurate things and stereotypes.
1.Rome is not just Greece 2.0- while ancient Rome did get influenced by ancient Greece, truth is their deities already existed and were similar due to being common Indo-European archetypes. The Romans conflated the Greek deities with theirs when they conquered Greece, however their versions were different (e.g. Ares was a bully, dumb brute, coward and jerk; while Mars was kind, brave, calm and wise). The Romans also conflated other cultures' deities with their own- e.g. the Egyptian Isis has shrines build in Rome while Anubis got syncretised with Hermes, resulting in Hermanubis. They also conflated Celtic and Germanic deities with their own. However ancient Rome had unique deities without Greek counterparts- one such example is the double-faced Janus. Lastly if Romans ever get added in AOM, they could also use minor deities not present in the Greek and Atlantean ingame civilizations- Eris, Thanatos, Cupid, Nike, Themis, Charon, Pan, etc. Don't get me started on the cultural aspects either- the Romans had Centurions and Legionnaires warriors, the Greeks didn't have those.
2.Celts and Slavs are not just Norse ripoffs- yes, there are similarities due to all of them having the same Proto-Indo European origin, but they are culturally distinct. The Norse are Germanic people and ingame are portrayed as medieval vikings. The Celts are one of the oldest indigenous European cultures and they have several unique aspects (e.g. druids and woad raiders). The Slavs are harder to pinpoint, but they also have unique aspects which could be incorporated with proper research. However I must admit that Norse, Celtic and Slavs are unified by one problem- they didn't write down their pagan polytheistic mythology after they were converted into Christianity in the Middle Ages. Therefore, all written records of their myths come from biased second and third-hand accounts (various Christian monks living in secluded monasteries) therefore alot of their mythologies are open to speculation. The Celts and Slavs have multiple cool and unique mythological creatures which could be added, however listing them all would require a separate post dedicated just for themselves.
3.Mesopotamia and Persia are not one and the same- Mesopotamia (the place in the Middle East between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers) is various tribes connected by the (mostly) same pantheon of multiple deities. This includes names like Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Pazuzu, Tiamat, Ishtar, Dumuzid, Nergal, Ereshkigal, Marduk, Kingu, Ninurta, Ninhursag and many others. Mesopotamia includes the Sumerians, Assyrians, Akkadians, Babylonians and others. Persia's religion was monotheistic- they practiced Zoroastrianism, which dictates there are 2 supreme gods with multiple lesser spirits which serve them. The good one is Ahura Mazda, while the evil one is Angra Mainyu. People are meant to worship only Ahura Mazda, thankfully Angra Mainyu is prophesied to eventually lose and get banished from the Universe. The Persians have some connections with ancient Vedic India, they created a large empire which was the most successful of its time before Alexander the Great from Macedonia destroyed Persepolis. The Zoroastrian Persians way before that brought the fall of Babylon and Mesopotamian polytheism in 540 BC, they also liberated the ancient Jewish. Zoroastrian Persians in may ways were progressive for their time, sadly today the religion is very rare (less than 50,000 followers) and most of them live in modern India where they are venerated as wise holy people.
4.Before Judaism and Christianity existed there were Canaanite- I have seen plenty of people here suggest Judaism, Christianity and Islam for AOM pantheons which is controversial (imagine Muslim terrorists attacking Microsoft for depicting the prophet Muhammad) and impractical, since these 3 religions are monotheistic (just 1 supreme god) instead of having a pantheon of multiple deities where 3 can be used for AOM's major deity mechanic. While Islam has taken some inspirations from Judaism and Christianity, it's mostly it's own separate thing. However, Judeo-Christianity are their both directly related to the older Canaanite religion. This was worshipped by ancient Carthage, Phoenicia, Hebrew Palestine, Jerusalem, and others. The pantheon has deities like Elohim, Dagon, Anahita, Hadad, Baal, Adonis, Mot, Yam, Astarte and others. Some of these deities have counterparts in Mesopotamia (e.g. Astarte and Ishtar), however after Yahweh became the supreme monotheistic deity the others were literally demonised- e.g. Baal Zebub became Beelzebub the demon fly of decay and gluttony.
5.Mayans, Aztecs and Incas are not one and the same- the Mayans are closest related to the Olmecs which are the oldest known civilization in the Americas (in particular Central America). The Aztecs are related to the Mixtecs, Toltecs and Zapotecs which are invaders from the north. While it's true they share similar deities (e.g. Kukulkan and Quetzalcoatl the feathered serpents), it's a case of archetypes and syncretism akin to Proto-Indo European thunder gods (Zeus-Jupiter-Indra-Thor-Perun-Taranis-etc). The Mayans have more detailed artstyle which shows the muscles of the human body (akin to ancient Mesopotamian carvings) while the Aztec are more abstract and stylized, resembling comic books (akin to ancient Egyptian paintings). The Mayans rarely practiced human sacrifice, infact they were more prone to self-mutilation to appease their gods. The Aztecs meanwhile are infamous for their capturing of enemy tribe prisoners and gruesomely sacrificing them. Granted, the stories are exaggerated by European Christians upon seeing them and so the surviving remnants of Central/Mesoamerican culture/mythology are written by biased sources (but the Aztecs were indeed more aggressive and militaristic compared to otheprevious Mesoamerican cultures). The Incas aren't connected with the above cultures at all, they lived only in South America (in the Andes mountains). They are the only indigenous Americans with pack animals (llamas), they rarely perform human sacrifice (they are more inclined to throwing away food and gold for religious practices), and instead of writing they use "Quipu"- a bunch of strings and knots. Ironically the Incas are the only indigenous Americans which have invented the wheels but only use them on children's toys, because mountain terrain is harsh.
6.Perfect Sub Saharan African candidate for AOM- I have seen many people here wanting an African culture (besides Egypt) added in AOM, with several suggestions being Zulu. However, the perfect candidate already exists- the Yoruba people of West Africa. They have ancestry in the ancient Nok culture (although they lack writing and instead preserve their history/mythology via oral tradition), they have metallurgy and could use dinosaur cryptids (Mokele Mbembe, Kasai Rex, Emela Ntouka, Muhuru, Kongamato, Mamlambo, etc) to give them more of a unique flair. West and central Africa have dense jungles. The Yoruba have multiple lesser deities (called Orishas) which serve as the middlemen between mortal humans and the one supreme god- Olorun (actually three gods fused in one), who rarely interacts with the physical world. However while Yoruba does have connections with Voodoo and other African diaspora, please do not conflate them. Seeing Anansi and Baron Samedi alongside Shango and Yemoja would be very weird and culturally inaccurate. Presumably AOM is a game intended for a USA playerbase audience, with many people in that country being of African origin (called Afro-Americans). Well, if you like this game want to be represented by AOM then I suggest you start asking Microsoft to do some research and include an Yoruba civ in AOM Retold.
7.Japan is not China 2.0- same reasons as above. Japan did adopt some cultural aspects of ancient China, however it's unique in many ways (e.g. shoguns, daimyos, samurais, ninjas, etc). Japan being the second biggest media producer after USA, has created alot of pop culture (games, comics, cartoons, etc) and many of that is influenced by its native religion. Granted the portrayals are often inaccurate and stylized for several reasons, therefore please take them with a pinch of salt. Gotta mention one important thing- Japan syncretised its local religion (Shintoism) with Buddhism, imported from China. The god Bishamon isn't Japanese, it's a Bodhisattva imported from mainland Asia. The Japanese in AOM (assuming they ever get added of course) should only use Shinto deities and creatures, without any outside Buddhist influences to keep it culturally unique, distinct and pure.
8.India is neither polytheistic nor monotheistic, it's pantheistic- Hinduism has multiple branches based on different interpretations, many of which are mutually exclusive. The religion is all encompassing of many doctrines (Shaktism, Jainism, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, etc), it's not a single unified religion with just one canon. There are presumably over 330 million deities, though Hindus claim that many of them are incarnations (avatars) of one another, and ultimately everything is a part of the Brahman (not to be confused with Brahma, the creator god of the Trimurti). Explaining all and everything of Hinduism is impossible. And of course, the religion has changed throughout its history- ancient Vedic India is much different than the modern day country. Infact, the differences between the different branches are often sources of disputes and conflicts between the people, but obviously the country tries to keep all people together peacefully. Admittedly it's difficult (but not impossible per se) to have a Hindu pantheon/civilization added in AOM, so Microsoft will have to do some heavy research and consultation. If there is ever a Hindu faction in AOM, the 3 major deities will be the Trimurti for thematic reasons (Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the DestroyeRe-creator); I am aware that Brahma is barely worshipped IRL unlike Vishnu and Shiva however this is one artistic liberty AOM can get away with for the sake of thematic reasons. AOM already has several inaccuracies for the sake of gameplay- e.g. Horus being a minor god for Seth despite the 2 being arch-enemies. PS: Hinduism is AFAIK the 3rd biggest religion (after Christianity and Islam) in the world, having over 1 billion followers, therefore it's considered a huge living practiced religion and not just a small cult.
9.Sadly not all cultures and religions are possible for addition in AOM- I don't mean to be disrespectful but as I already stated above, monotheistic religions cannot be added in AOM because of controversy, gameplay mechanics and other issues. This means no Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Gnosticism, Voodoo, etc. Also not every mythology is popular and marketable enough. Gotta be honest- do you expect Microsoft ever adding a Finnish civilization with Väinämöinen in AOM Retold? Personally I doubt it will ever happen because this culture and mythology isn't popular and profitable enough. PS: fun fact- this was one of Tolkien's inspirations for his Middle Earth legendarium. Dude was an expert on various European cultures and mythologies (Greco-Roman, Celtic, Norse, etc).
10.Avalon, Mongolian and Polynesian factions are possible but much harder- these and other cultures are honorable mentions for AOM inclusions. They have several problems with their potential addition- e.g. lacking armor, cavalry, pack animals and siege engines (Polynesians). The Mongols have cool unique culture but they are nomads living in temporary huts and mostly spend their lifes travelling on horses (or camels, yaks, etc). They did conquer half the known world at one point due to their intelligence and brutality however they lack siege engines and other things (which they took from ancient China during their conquests). The Avalon (king Arthur myths) is also hard to implement- besides the anachronism (medieval armored knights vs ancient Greeks and Egyptians), the Arthurian mythology is heavily connected with Christianity and creating a pantheon out of knights and sorcerers would be cool but weird. That and they are basically a "modern" version of the ancient Celtic people. These problems is even worse for "primitive" tribal cultures (e.g. Inuit, Lakota, Tupi-Guarani, Zulu, the Aboriginal Australians, etc) so they are even harder for any potential addition in AOM Retold.

I'm not sure if my statement is completely correct, but in terms of success, isn't it getting harder with each day passing, to break into the market as a newcomer?
There are hundreds of millions of books by now, and even if older books aren't getting any marketing and not as many new readers as they used to (because many ppl have read them already), they're still competing with your book.
But unlike in other competitions, the amount of competitors only goes up.
Let's say you want to write a story about a magic school (or whatever generic stuff); well there are already thousands of that. But 30 years ago there weren't. Now one could say that you just have to be smart and invent something new etc. but you're still MUCH more limited as let's say 50 years ago, bc ppl have been writing that much.
It's a first world problem, I know, and I also know that self-publishing is something that makes it easier, but I'm feeling like it's just hard to make something new without trying too hard to do so. And also it makes me sad that it's just so unlikely to be successful with something generic even if it's well written bc the competition is too established already.
I'm also wondering how it's gonna look like in the future, like, really far away future. At some point there will be so much to chose from, that it's going to be near to impossible to attract new readers, unless you're writing something that's absolutely brilliant. Why else would someone read a book of a nobody if they can chose from millions of past authors that have created great books already?
This is half a rant, half a vent and I don't know what kind of responses I'm expecting. It's not like anything about this is unfair or I want something to change. It's just that it seems kind of hopeless.
Maybe you have some arguments that prove me wrong. Yes, please prove me wrong. Or whatever you feel like needs to be told, say it.
(I'm not using this as an excuse btw. I havn't published anything yet. But I'm starting to think about how I could become successful when I do, which is how I arrived at these thoughts and they are both scaring and demotivating me.)

I’m a 3rd year student who gets good grades. I’ve recently got an admission into institute and would like advice regarding whether I go or not. My parents really want me to go so I can skip TY and “save a year” (my current school has TY mandatory). Now I somewhat agree with this, but I am dreading the thought of institute. My current group of friends are very different to the people you’d find in the institute. I feel like I’ll become extremely isolated and hate every academic day. I feel like I won’t fit in with the types of people there, and I know that’s a very very broad assumption, but I just don’t think I’ll enjoy it. Academic wise, I think it will benefit me and maximise my leaving cert points. Socially, I am quite a sociable person. I don’t find it hard making friends and such but the environment I’m used to and the people I’m surrounded by would be very different to that of the institute. Especially with how my school operates, there’s a very community aspect with it. I think I will take a long time to adjust to the environment, and probably lose friends along the way, given that my current friends will be having the time of their life in TY. If anyone is a current or past pupil of the Institute, and may have been in the same shoes as me, please shoot me a text as I’m currently lost.

Hello
I had some building work done 18 months ago (England). At the time of finishing the work there was some water pooling on a flat roof. I tried to get the builder to do more and he said it was normal and if it leaked it would be a problem. Should have pushed it but was fed up with him after months of bad project management (and nailing my pet cats under a floor, but that’s a different story).
It is now leaking.
The company is still active on companies house but the builder no longer runs it and it’s dormant as far as I can tell. It is run by a shell company that runs tons of other companies. A bit of googling suggests this is a method to try and avoid insolvency and there are a few media articles and LinkedIn posts about this dubious practice.
Either way - I want compensation to fix my roof.
I am planning on writing to this new director of the company -I’m trying to work out if it’s a fool’s errand - or whether I’ve got any chance on the small claims track with this (operational) limited company but with a weird director set up.
Any advice on the legal appreciated on how to approach the situation. Sorry if my terminology is wrong. Happy to clarify if I can!

Hi! I have read a lot of fanfiction about Shinsou and still haven't get enough of them.
I would appreciate some recommendations. Mostly, I'm looking for something that has Aizawa and Shinsou mentor-student relationship and that particularly concentrates on Shinsou. I don't want any fanfiction that has for example, Izuku and Shinsou as the main characters. Yes, the other students can appear but the story has to be about Shinsou.
I don't mind any specific ships, so as long as they aren't the main plot - all is good.
I would love for some interaction between Shinsou and some villains as Shigaraki or Stain but it's not necessary.

In the digital age, sharing memories with loved ones has become easier and more enjoyable thanks to photo-sharing apps. These apps not only allow us to capture moments but also to share them effortlessly with family and friends. In this blog, we'll explore the top photo-sharing apps that are perfect for creating and sharing memories with your loved ones.
The Importance of Photo Sharing: Photos hold a special place in our hearts as they capture precious moments that we want to cherish forever. Whether it's a family vacation, a birthday celebration, or a simple gathering with friends, photos help us relive those moments and keep our memories alive. Photo sharing is not just about sharing pictures; it's about sharing experiences, emotions, and stories that connect us with our loved ones.
Choosing the Best Photo Sharing Apps: With so many photo-sharing apps available, choosing the best one can be overwhelming. However, certain features and qualities make an app stand out in terms of usability, privacy, and sharing options. Let's delve into some of the best photo-sharing apps that cater to families and friends:

Kwikpic:

Purpose: Designed specifically for families to share and preserve memories.
Features: Unlimited storage, automatic organization by date, easy sharing with family members, and private sharing options.

• Why It's Great: Kwikpic focuses on privacy and family-centric features, making it ideal for sharing photos of children and family events.

Google Photos:

Purpose: Offers a comprehensive platform for organizing, editing, and sharing photos.
Features: Unlimited storage (with some limitations), powerful editing tools, automatic backup, and easy sharing options.

• Why It's Great: Google Photos integrates seamlessly with Google's ecosystem, making it convenient for users who use other Google services.

Instagram:

• Purpose: A social media platform primarily focused on photo and video sharing.
• Features: Filters and editing tools, Stories, direct messaging, and public/private sharing options.
• Why It's Great: Instagram is popular among younger users and offers a more social and interactive experience for sharing photos and moments.

Dropbox:

Purpose: Offers cloud storage and file sharing, including photos and videos.

• Features: File syncing across devices, collaborative sharing, and customizable privacy settings.
• Why It's Great: Dropbox is versatile for both personal and professional use, allowing easy sharing and collaboration on photos and other files.

Flickr:

• Purpose: A photo-sharing platform known for its community and photo organization features.
• Features: High-quality photo storage, photo organization by albums and tags, community groups, and public/private sharing options.
• Why It's Great: Flickr is great for photographers and enthusiasts who want a platform focused on photography and community engagement.

Benefits of Using Photo Sharing Apps:

Preserve Memories: Photo sharing apps help preserve memories by storing photos securely in the cloud.
Easy Sharing: Share photos instantly with family and friends, regardless of their location.

• Organization: Apps like Google Photos and FamilyAlbum automatically organize photos by date or location, making it easy to find specific memories.
• Privacy Control: Most apps offer privacy settings to control who can view your photos, ensuring your memories remain private.
• Collaboration: Apps like Dropbox enable collaborative sharing, allowing multiple users to contribute to albums or projects.

Tips for Effective Photo Sharing:

Organize Your Photos: Use albums or tags to organize your photos for easier browsing and sharing.
Use Privacy Settings: Review and adjust privacy settings to control who can view your photos.

1. Share Responsibly: Respect others' privacy when sharing photos, especially if they are in the photo.
2. Back Up Your Photos: Regularly back up your photos to avoid losing them in case of device damage or loss.
3. Share Memories, Not Just Photos: Share stories and memories along with photos to make the sharing experience more meaningful.

Conclusion: Best Photo sharing apps play a crucial role in helping us connect with our loved ones and preserve precious memories. By choosing the right app and following best practices, we can unlock the full potential of these apps and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether it's a family reunion, a milestone celebration, or a simple day out, photo sharing apps make it easier than ever to share and cherish moments together.

Reading a recent release from president Oaks about how to approach the problem of apostates. I thought I would try my hand at AI revelation to see how it compares. Comment below to see who can better hear and communicate the voice of the Lord to us lowly sinners?
*For comparison Leadership article from Oaks
*Facebook AI prompt: "write me a 3 paragraph scripture on how to get apostates to return to the Mormon fold. Written in the voice of Jesus Christ using only non-actionable platitudes."
*AI response: Here is a 3-paragraph scripture on how to help individuals return to the Mormon fold, written in the voice of Jesus Christ, using non-actionable platitudes:
"My children, those who have strayed from the path are not lost forever. With compassion and understanding, we can create a safe haven for them to rediscover their faith. By embracing them with love and acceptance, we can foster an environment where they feel welcome to explore their spirituality once more."
"As you reach out to those who have wandered, remember that every soul is precious in my sight. Listen to their stories, and acknowledge the struggles they have faced. By doing so, you will demonstrate the empathy and kindness that defines my teachings."
"Let your love be a beacon of hope, shining brightly for all to see. Through your unwavering support and patience, you can help guide those who have strayed back to the fold. Trust in the power of redemption, and never give up on those who have lost their way."

If you did mini-IVF, what was your protocol/dosage amounts? How did it work for you? How did it compare to prior standard cycles if you've done other protocols?
I've done 2 retrievals with what my clinic considers "min-stim", which was Clomid 150 CD 2-6, and Menopur 225 CD 4-trigger. I used Cetrotide to prevent ovulation and a Novarel trigger. I got 2 eggs each round. 1st retrieval was straight forward, 2 follicles responded, 2 eggs retrieved. 2nd was more complex, I had 2 leads, but a cohort of 6 or so smaller ones behind it and my clinic convinced me to go for the second cohort (bad decision as it turned out) and the smaller ones took a really long time to grow... when I went in for my retrieval I had 11 follicles, but expected to get 5-6 eggs... and we got 2, the doc told me I must have ovulated the rest before retrieval. From each round I got 1 good graded blast - 1st round was euploid but it didn't implant, 2nd round was aneuploid.
I'm probably switching clinics for a variety of reasons, one of them being that my clinic seems pretty rigid with protocol. We were about to start our 3rd retrieval without a single change to protocol. I talked to my doc about mini-IVF and when I told him I had seen a lot of anecdotal evidence of women getting good results from doses between 50-150, he told me that those results were exactly that- anecdotal- and the lowest dose he'd consider is 150. He straight up said no to micro-Lupron flare because it's "not for women with DOR" even though I've read so many stories of it working for us. My clinic has high SART scores, so I'm sure part of it is protecting the clinic, and I'm sure they'd rather me go elsewhere than stay and hurt their stats.
I'm getting new bloodwork in a few days, but last May I had AMH .58, FSH 13.3 (brought down from 16.8 after using wheatgrass), and AFC 4. I turn 40 this summer, and I'm on alllll the supplements, and also do acupuncture.
(Also posted to DOR.)

I wish there was a website where teachers could post inside information on their schools. I am going to be looking for a new school in a couple years. I am quitting this one and plan on subbing for a year or two before I sign myself into a contract with another school. I would love to have the inside scoop of teacher info before that happens.
The review I would write for my current school.
School Name Here
Students are highly motivated and will do the work you give them. However behavior is terrible and you will have no support to correct it. Parents only care about grades, they don’t give a crap what the behavior is like. Admin is weak and will not back you up.
You have nowhere to send the kids when they get out of line, such as the front office. Teachers here band together to let problem children be sent to other teacher classrooms. Furthermore the behavior expectations from admin are ridiculously high. Middle school students are expected to be SILENT, no talking at all, for all classes.
The pay is low compared to nearby schools. You will be expected to do many things that extend your hours.
Example 1: each teacher is expected to test new incoming students. Testing takes hours.
Example 2: weekly all staff meeting regularly run till 5-5:30. You are contracted to be at work by 7:30.
You will not get to have an input on the curriculum. It was designed by a teacher who worked here years ago that everyone still loves. If you have questions about it you can call her. She lives in another state now but is happy to make sure you are following her curriculum, even though she won’t give you all her materials.
There is no copy room. No one who does copies and the school does not like you using the computers. You are expected to make hundreds of copies on your own, plus buy your own ink. Not a one-to-one school. Admin and parents do not like you using technology although they will tolerate it for some things, such as tests.
As a final note, I would warn whoever wants to take this job that parents here are malicious. Watch yourself. I have had many parent complaints for simply doing my job. They did not talk to me, they emailed the principal directly. Complaints for -assigning homework -calling out students bad behavior when other teachers don’t -putting in too many grades
Good luck! You’ll need it.

hey guys! so i’m an igcse student but i thought coming to the A level subreddit would make more sense. So i just finished my math paper 4 today which is the last math paper i will ever do but the problem is i totally failed it. I think im going to get like an F in math and i wanted to know if i can do A level with this math grade. I don’t want to do anything relating to math, my A level subjects are going to be: History, Political Science, Global Perspective and either Law or Philosophy. i’m thinking about going the law or diplomat direction and for all i know those don’t require math. can i still do A levels, go to university and get a job if i get an F in math?

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Welcome to the headcanon sharing circle! Each week we post a few creative prompts for character development and share our OCs.

Sponsor the weekly thread!

We take turns picking the questions every week, so please volunteer to host if you enjoy the weekly posts!

• Mention your interest in the comments – this week's host will tag the next person.
• Then just copy and paste this pre-formatted pastebin text with any 2 questions of your choice.
• Browse, add, and get ideas over at the list of prompts.
• There is the OC Emporium that houses many of the OCs, feel free to put your OC there!
• Don't forget there is an OC wiki Discord server and we welcome everyone who wishes to join and share! (Linked on the front page of the Wiki)

May 14
May 21
May 28 – u/student_in_cave
June 4- u/spinbobbin

THE PROMPTS:

(You can answer just one or both, with as many characters as you want. Pictures and character summaries are fine. Short answers or novel-length walls of text are fine.)
Prompt 1

What is the first thing others notice about your character's appearance? Do they have any scars or tattoos? Does their look change as the story progresses?

Prompt 2

Did your character have a formal education? What types of knowledge does your character possess? How has their education or lack of education effect them?

And don't forget to take the time to read and comment on other people's posts! The comments, questions and chats are what make the thread so much fun.

It is my niece's first communion this weekend. IATA for forgetting that we were invited and went ahead and made plans for mother's day with my wife and our two kids.
That much is clear and I accept that I royally fucked up. I received the invitation through text a couple months ago, read it while I was in the middle of something, and foolishly forgot all about it. We initially declined going after we were reminded of it the other day, but have since rearranged our plans last minute so we can attend. We know that it is important to my niece and we will rearrange our plans to be there even though my immediate family and I are not religious. I want to have a relationship with my nieces and nephews, and most of all, I want my kids to know their cousins. I did not have that opportunity growing up.
My father shamed me when I said we were not going. This was before we changed our plans around. He said, and I will quote, "You are not going to your niece's communion? What would your mother think of this?"
And that comment from my dad as sent me spiraling down a path of self reflection, and it is the heart of my AITA.
Mom died last year. We did not have a great relationship. I am proud and she was a narcissist. Not a good mix. We fought constantly, even over stupid things. I was no angel in the relationship. I was downright mean and dismissive to her sometimes, but even the worst of it did not hold a candle to her greatest hits ... sabotaging my wedding (she get rip roaring drunk and was openly hostile toward my wife' family... had a full on psychotic episode at the rehearsal dinner, etc), spread lies to extended relatives and friends about my wife and I, and regularly pitted my brother and I against each other when we were kids all the way through adulthood. She claimed that her grandkids (my children) did not know her and that it was my fault, that my brother is a better son because he "let her" watch his kids "all of the time."
Which is true. She essentially provided free daycare for them and put my wife and I down for paying "strangers" to watch our kids at daycare.
Dad was complacent and enabled mom's behavior. I often confided in him but eventually stopped when he fought with me about the same things, too.
We kept my parents at arms length mostly because of my mom's unpredictable behavior. Sometimes she was totally fine, even loving, and others she was downright cruel and combative. She was jealous of many people, but none more than my in-laws. We spent more time with my wife's family when my kids were really little as my wife is super close to her folks and her siblings. This was used as ammunition against me as mom would call me up a day or two after an in-law gathering to scream at me about it, and about how I was a traitor to the family, didn't love her, that I should change my last name to my wife's maiden name, and that my baby pictures were thrown away. How did she know? My wife has a private instagram account that she shares with only certain people. She posts pictures all the time of the kids, especially ones with her family. My mom did not have instagram, and yet she would always somehow know when we saw my inlaws. We suspected that my SIL and my brother were showing the pictures to my mom because they had access to it. My wife "unfriended" them along with a slew of other relatives on my side after we suspected that they were feeding my mom intel, and wouldn't you know it, the harassment from my mom after in-law events ceased. When mom was sick, she admitted to what we already figured, that it was my brother and sister in law who told her and shared the pictures with her. Shocker, I know.
And even in light of all of that, I still love her. I miss her. I forgive her. She had a miserable childhood and had no idea what unconditional love was. We (mostly) healed our relationship when she was diagnosed with a rare and malignant illness. I practically lived in the hospital with her as she deteriorated for a couple of months and eventually died. I was touched when she gave me my baby pictures and reflected on how proud of me she was, that I was a "wonderful father and son" (I am a little choked up even typing that tbh.) Dad was there in the hospital, too. Even some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, family members I never knew that well because mom feuded with them for decades. Everyone got along so well... I am upset that it took death for everyone to get along, even if it was temporary.
My brother was nowhere to be seen while mom was dying. I think he and his wife were in denial. They told my mom after she got sick that she needed to continue watching their kids or they would not be able to afford their mortgage, that she was not that bad. Shit like that. My brother was starting a new sales business when mom went into the hospital and her health started to spiral downward. I tried to tell him a couple of times that mom was really not looking good, that this was probably an end of life situation, that he might want to consider stopping by to spend time with her before it was too late. He blew it off until my mom was practically in a vegetative state. Mom asked for him all the time when she was coherent the few weeks. She even thought I was my brother a few times, and I went along with it so she would feel comforted by the fact that both her boys were there for her. My brother eventually went with his wife one day, along with my dad. My SIL claims that she fought with doctors to have my mom fed because "she was starving", and what wonderful conversations she had with my mom. These are obvious bullshit lies because my mom couldn't even speak the last few days that she was "alive", if we can even call it that, and yet everyone she tells this heroic story to just eats it up. Whatever. Everyone has their way of handling grief I guess.
I guess I'm still mad at my brother about it even though, again, everyone handles grief differently. My dad seemed to think it was fine that my brother was never there. My brother and I... well, I was really shitty to him growing up. We are close in age. I would take my insecurities out on him regularly when we were young by making fun of him, and just generally being an insufferable piece of shit. Taking his toys. Picking on him. It's one of my life's biggest regrets and I've tried for decades to make up for it. The dynamic has since flipped. My brother enjoys putting me down, especially in front of an audience. He's subscribed to this ultra right-wing cut-throat, self righteous view of the world where he can be an asshole to anyone and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him. My interactions with him are limited because he's just not fun to be around. I probably played a part in that and I'll never make that right. It kills me knowing that.
My brother and my dad are very close. Dad now watches his kids and helps him with his new business. I guess I am jealous of that. I check in of dad regularly but if I do not pick up the phone and call, then I never hear from him.
So, to answer my dad's question? What would my mom think of not going to my niece's communion? Nothing good. We are going but, wow. That comment hurt.
But... I am also at a point where I just do not want to put in the effort anymore. I am exhausted. My wife is too. Has been. I confide so much in her, and she is wise beyond her years and has the patience of a saint, yet she also bias. She claims that nothing in my family of origin is normal, and that "everyone is just a shit excuse of a human", but I think every family has some crazy in it. She comes from an unusually supportive and loving family (which has always been strange to me even after over a decade and I've still wondered for years what the catch is), so it's obvious that I need to look outside for objective opinions on my inner conflict.
I want to set a good example for my kids and break the cycle. We teach them that family is everything, but then here I am, about to give up on my own family of origin. I do not think I can have any meaningful inner peace and a clear path forward without reflecting first if... I am actually the asshole.

Last November, an elevated PSA 4.x ng/mL triggered the prostate cancer "lifestyle" for me. MRI showed an anterior apical lesion PI-RADS 4. TRUS fusion biopsy at the end of January didn't find anything in the PI-RADS 4 lesion but low grade Gleason 3+3 in a PI-RADS 2 zone.
Because of the discordant pathology, the urologist ordered a MRI guided biopsy, which I had today. This one is done directly in the MRI tunnel where they can directly visualize the needle and not rely on a software fusion process.
I never saw anyone describe an MRI guided biopsy experience on Reddit so I though I might as well write one.
Compared to the TRUS fusion biopsy, which was in a clinic with two health care workers performing the procedure, the MRI guided biopsy was a much bigger production. It was done in a hospital setting where I had to go through the admission process, followed by two nurses taking vitals, setting an IV line, injecting antibiotics and administering an enema (check all modesty at the door).
After prep work, the radiologist explained the procedure and off I went onto the MRI table. Positioning was a lot more involved than for the mpMRI that just did imaging. They placed me face down (with my face in an opening similar to a massage table) and then two MRI technologists spent a lot of effort positioning my butt correctly (one really has to be comfortable exposing himself to strangers). Then they inserted a robotic contraption into my rectum that can adjust the needle guide to hit the spot based on the 3D MRI pictures.
An hour of loud MRI noises followed. They injected Midalozam through the IV which made me sleepy. There was no lidocaine like with the TRUS fusion biopsy. After the baseline images were taken, the robotic thingy started to adjust, which was an awkward feeling, followed by verification of the needle guide with more MRI noise.
Then they slid the table out of the MRI tunnel and injected Fentanyl and told me they'll take the first sample in a minute. The Fentanyl made me not care about anything and the sample didn't hurt at all. Just a little pinch. They left the needle in and moved me back into the MRI tunnel, where they took pictures of the needle in the lesion. This process was repeated 3 times.
Then they explained what not to do the next few days, took vitals for half an hour and discharged me.
Waiting on the pathology results now.

Well, being a girl who dreams about having a disney worthy life is getting quite difficult for me. I do have unrealistic expectations from the guy I'd date . I want my guy to post pictures of us with cute captions, Call me with cute names, get me flower everytime we meet, clicks my picture/video randomly whenever he finds me pretty, gives me attention and can handle my tantrums. I know that's a lot to expect from a guy but why can't a guy do it for me. If he says he loves me, he'd do that without even asking. I've seen all these qualities in my dad. Let me tell you how, I was just checking mg dad's phone and apart from me being in his wallpaper and my birthdate as his password and pin for his cards, I saw a folder in his phone with just my pictures in it and he even putted the most recent one in his story with the caption my beautiful daughter 🥹🧿 I feel so blessed to have him and hope to get a guy who'd so the same.

I’m posting this because before I applied I was really apprehensive since my grades are significantly lower than the average LSE applicant.
For context, I applied for BSc Politics and I’m a home student. My AS grades are AAB and predicted is A* A* A.
I have 6 GCSEs which are grades 887776. (Maths 7 and English Language 7, the 6 is in Single Award Science). LSE does not care about GCSEs as much as it is made out to be.
If you’re reading this and debating whether or not to apply because of your GCSEs, do it. Apply. I know how competitive admissions have been this year so if I can do it, so can you.
With a good personal statement, work experience etc, you will still be a strong applicant. Ofc I can’t speak for the most popular courses such as econ but I see a lot of negativity on this sub about LSE and thought that someone may need to hear something a bit more positive 🫶🏼