This is a sci-fi short story I wrote the other day, hoping to get some constructive criticism as its the first thing I have properly written, it is quite short even for a short short story but I just wanted to get something finished. I have had one piece of advice already which was that the repeated sentence seemed a bit out of place the first time round which I get but I was wondering what other people thought about it.
At some point in the not so distant future, despite the warnings of the media and general populace, scientists create a device that allows people to see their alternate lives and temporarily view the results of alternate past choices. Initially the device and its use was reserved for the most successful and important people in society due to the extortionate cost of the technology. Those with access were those whose choices in life hadn’t been half bad, good financial decisions and a reputation of charisma and skill that brought them to the very top of their respective fields. For them, the technology was a chance to feel good about how far they’d come and get a good laugh out of those of their alternate selves who had neglected to read the fine print on a dodgy business proposal or to check for toilet paper before unzipping their fly. All while tactfully avoiding those of their possibilities who had achieved more.
But as the technology developed and became more affordable it filtered down through the social ranks. Down through those abundant middle classes who could not help but notice the difference between their own lot and those of their more successful alternate selves. A funnier you with a slightly bigger house, maybe a smarter you who landed that extra $10,000 signing bonus you dreamed of. But for every self who was better off there existed a pitiful alteration of themselves to mock, those who had succeeded in neither career nor hobbies, academics nor lovemaking. One who struggled to keep it up in the bedroom or suffered an addiction the users of the device found laughable.
This is when the technology took a turn for the worse, when it fell into the hands of those with nothing. Those who had been taken advantage of, abused, tricked and left in the very worst of situations gained access to it. Those who were homeless, trapped in prostitution, drowning in debt, loveless and alone.
And so the true downfall began.
For them, life had been a depressing series of twists and turns, each darker than the last. For them it was near impossible to find a worse future. For them every alternate version experienced was a pisstake, happiness and fortune greater than they could ever dream of in the hands of someone fundamentally the same. They saw the joy each unlucky streak and every unfortunate decision had wrenched them away from and they were broken. This was where the problems started to arise. Suicide, rampant depression and a sudden but not entirely unjustified rise in the publication of books promoting nihilism. Life seemed to lose that tiny amount of purpose it still had when compared to the successes of alternate selves and their happy lives.
Several years later, the next great advancement in the technology arose, scientists managed to reach further into those other worlds and take more than just the photons needed for a video feed. A new headset designed to take something more, the brainwaves of those other selves could be copied and transferred into the brains of the user. This allows for more than just watching alternate lives but for experiencing them too. The greatest advancement in technology since fire, the ability to reach across dimensions and take something tangible.
And so the true downfall began.
Why put effort into your own life when you could experience the excitement and fulfilment you’ve already gained? Why progress in your own career when you could experience the excitement of getting a promotion without any of the hard work and disappointment? Why find yourself a spouse and risk rejection when you’ve done it infinite times already?
Within only a few months, most of the working population were addicted; leaving their unhappy, dead end jobs to parasite on the lives of their infinite other selves. Piggybacking on alternate neurochemicals. Entire industries collapsed under the loss of workforce. Globally, the economy came crashing down, more people turned to the new technology to cope, the cold steel of the headsets offered an escape to a world, infinite worlds, where everything worked out better. This caused an exponential decay in every aspect of life, the more people fled to the bliss of the headsets, the more were doomed to follow.
Collapse on a global scale, food shortages led to mass starvation and death, with no one to maintain the very systems causing the collapse, bugs started to occur, glitches spread like wildfire, destroying the safety mechanisms in the headset designed to wake up the user for food, sleep and other necessities. The population wasted away, their consciousnesses stuck in their headsets, falling silently into endless existence as a parasite living someone else’s life. Those that escaped the prison of the headsets saw the state of the world that was left and quietly gave up, placing the cold steel back on their heads and surrendering.
Across the multiverse, other worlds started to stumble on rips in the fabric of spacetime, starting their first tentative explorations of the immaterium between dimensions. Scientists found the first alternate dimensions floating through the space between space, infinite bubbles floating in an infinite sea, endless possibilities. Eventually, they manage to copy photons from these other worlds and transport them back to their own dimension to take the first glimpse at alternate selves.
And so the true downfall began…

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

• **Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:

$ 2,700

• Are you open to refurbs/used?
  Possibly
  
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?
  Performance,build quality, battery, form factor
  
• How important is weight and thinness to you?
  Preferably something slim, weight doesn’t matter
  
• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.
  14-16
  
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.
  Solidworks, autodesk software, ansys, matlab
  
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?
  N/a
  
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?
  Would like a good keyboard and touchpad, as well as reliable build quality
  
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.
  Need 32 gb of ram, preferably a dedicated gpu. Ive been looking at the hp spectre, as well as the dell xps 14 and 15 but dont know if those are good options.
  

Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:
1-2k GBP - UK

• Are you open to refurbs/used?
  No
  
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?
  

Not entirely sure - not too much preference, decent size screen - 15ish Inch - nice Keyboard etc.
Enough performance to handle small virtual environments/labs to mess around and test things.

• How important is weight and thinness to you?

Not important - although I don’t want to lug a brick around.

• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

15” +

• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

VS Code Wireshark Virtual Labs tools etc.

• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

N/A

• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

Good Keyboard, nice build quality (going to be kind of taken with me all around the shop) - good Ports with options for dual monitor support.

• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

I will be working as a Network integrator and will be staying in a hotel for most of the work week.
I plan to use this in a professional sense to supplement/troubleshoot issues, and do scripting/coding in - possibly replicating issues in small Virtual environments.
Outside of that I plan to use it for studying and again messing around in virtual spaces to test things.
I have looked at Dell XPS - and MacBook Pro but wasn’t sure on how to choose as so many mixed opinions.
Just a decent bit of kit that looks nice feels nice performs well and does the job.
Budget is around £1-2k.

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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 245: A Clockwork Wish
The quiet streets of Hartzwiese stood in contrast to the lights of the many inns, bars and taverns.
Despite its modest size, the town boasted as many drinking establishments as there were adventurers somehow drunk enough to be booted from the guild hall. And yet for all the bright lanterns singing from the windows, they paled in comparison to the moonlight as it graced the steps before me. A white carpet ushering me towards a tavern Apple was now using as a stables, and where I could enjoy a complementary room, courtesy of the fact I now owned it.
But before I could put my day’s labours behind me, there was still an important task I had to do.
The most important.
Rewarding my loyal handmaiden, who throughout these arduous days had remained firm and true as much as the sword by my side.
Indeed, no ill deed went unpunished, and no good service went unrewarded.
Why … she even knew the same.
Stopping before a large fountain in the centre of the town square, Coppelia held her palm out towards me as she eyed the faintly glittering surface.
“Gimme change,” she said brightly.
“Change?”
“I want to toss a coin into the fountain~”
My mouth opened wide.
“E-Excuse me! I know very well you possess coins of your own! Furthermore, I’ll not give you money from our hard earned hazelnut croissant fund merely to quite literally toss it away!”
“It’s not throwing it away. It’s making a wish.”
“A wish?”
“Mmh~ drop a coin into a fountain. Get a wish. An absolute bargain. Haven’t you tried it before?”
“Coppelia, I’ve no need to drop coins into fountains. I ring a bell. That’s how my wishes come true.”
“Well, do you have the bell with you?”
I paused.
“... No.”
“There you go, then! Until you get your bell back, you’ll need to toss away coins for your wishes.”
She beamed with childish expectation, palm still outstretched, fully expecting me to humour her request.
Well, sadly for Coppelia, I was not so easily moved!
Our personal finances went into maintaining a minimal standard of living! And that meant every coin we had to spare went into purchasing premium apples and cinnamon rolls! It would be unconscionable of me to allow it to be spent so frivolously!
“Staaaaaaaaaaaare~”
I rolled my eyes.
“... Fine, one copper crown,” I said, rummaging through my bottomless pouch. “Really now, this is hardly a djinn you’re bribing. I’m surprised you wish to add to the fountain and not merely scoop up what’s there.”
“Hey! I have standards! … I don’t like copper, it’s less shiny than silver and gold and gets in the way when I rummage through my ill-gotten gains.”
I offered Coppelia a sigh along with the small coin.
She accepted it with a giggle. As she turned to the fountain, the stars twinkled from her eyes more than the surface of the clear water.
Plop.
It vanished into the depths.
A small proof of our hardship, now given to the fountain to judge and a magpie to steal come the morning.
“And what wish do you hope to acquire through a less shiny copper crown?”
Coppelia merely smiled.
No word left her lips as her turquoise eyes gazed at the fountain’s disturbed surface. She herself was motionless but for the soft wind tugging at the ends of her fluffy golden hair.
And then–she twirled on the spot.
Arms spinning around, she raised them out and stopped like a melodramatic ballerina.
“World domination! I shall subjugate all squishy life under my cute, clockwork heel!”
“Please pick a different wish,” I replied, waving her declaration away as I would a plain chouquette. “World domination has already been chosen by half the world’s rulers. There’s not enough wishes in any fountain to accommodate them all.”
“... Got it! I’ll take an apple strudel!”
“You can wish for something that isn’t already in our possession.”
“In that case, I’ll take an apple strudel from every bakery in the world!”
I nodded. Better. Especially as I was far more dependable than any wishing fountain.
Indeed, as soon as I returned to the Royal Villa, I’d order a squire to go fetch an apple strudel from every bakery in the world as part of some inane quest!
“But what about you?” she asked, never knowing the suffering and hardship her casual request had just caused somebody not me. “Don’t you have any wishes for the totally legitimate wishing fountain?”
I held a hand to my chest, scoffing with a princess’s dignity.
“Ohohoho … for the fountain? No. I’ve no need for a fountain to make my wishes come true, for I have my own strength of purpose. And that is enough to grant all I desire. The prosperity of my kingdom. The health of my family. And the loyalty of my subjects.”
Coppelia leaned towards me, her smile appraising my own.
“Reeaaaally?”
I reacted with the indignation such scepticism deserved … and also a quick glance around me as I eyed for witnesses.
“... W-Well, if I could maybe have one thing, it would be an opportunity to finish reading my current novels. I have been stuck on the same pages for far too long.”
“That really annoys you, huh?”
“I-It’s terrible, Coppelia! At this rate, I’ll need to re-read some of them … and frankly, it’s enough of a strike against my fragile heart to do so once! There is only so much research a princess can take!”
My loyal handmaiden giggled. She wouldn’t if she knew the dangers that overexposure to the world of bestselling adventure romances could cause. I’d seen noblewomen collapsing at court more often with a copy of Scandals Of The Incorrigible Viscount in hand than any knife to the back.
A moment later–
Plop.
A second copper crown was casually tossed into the fountain.
“Done~” said Coppelia with a satisfied clap. “I’ve made your wish for you!”
My mouth widened as I stared between the fresh ripples and her mischievous smile.
“E-Excuse me! Didn’t you say you had no copper crowns?”
“I only said I didn’t like them. I never said I didn’t have just the one lying around. Isn’t that great? Now it means we both get our wishes! Apple strudels and scandalous books galore!”
“C-Coppelia! That is an entirely unnecessary waste of a copper crown … and more besides, I could have wished for a dragon’s hoard!”
“I mean, you could. But if you thought people were a problem before, wait until they know you’re even richer than a normal princess. You’d have burglars breaking into your vault even while you’re still busy swimming around in the pile of gold.”
“Please. That happens regardless of whether or not a dragon’s hoard is involved. And if it ever became a true issue, well … I’d simply solve it by hiring a dragon.”
“You’d hire a dragon to guard a dragon’s hoard?”
“Why not? There’s clearly no better proven warden.”
“Yep, that’s true. They’d even guard it against you. How would you get the treasure back?”
“I wouldn’t. It’d simply exist to slowly erase the population of burglars from my kingdom. That would be its true value.”
Coppelia looked up in thought.
“Huh. That sounds suspiciously like something which could work.”
I smiled with quiet pride. But not too quiet. I had my pride, after all.
“Ohohoh … naturally, I’m not only a princess. I’m a genius … but since I’m mostly a princess, this also means ensuring my retainers are rewarded for their service, and bribed concerning any slovenly faces I may have made.”
“Now that’s the level of subtlety I like. Negative numbers.”
“Well, negative numbers is also how I value most fae trinkets. But perhaps you can find worth in it.”
Coppelia clapped her hands together and beamed.
“Ooooh~! I smell souvenirs! Did you steal toiletries on the way out of the Fae Realm?”
“I did not steal toiletries! … although if I’d seen any, I possibly may have!”
“So you stole something else? Like cutlery?”
“Coppelia! I do not steal things whenever I visit a different plane of existence!”
“Why not? Everyone else does.”
“I am not ‘everyone’. Even when abducted, I’m still required to display the regal bearing of my station, representing always my kingdom and my family … and there was no cutlery, either.”
“Wow. You must have had an awful time.”
I gave a grim nod.
No toiletries. No cutlery. Not even a branded napkin.
The next time I was indiscriminately abducted to the Fae Realm, I’d ensure I would wander lost until a stack of towels accidentally fell into my arms.
“It was dire. But while I didn’t return empty handed, it was with nothing drawn from a dragon’s hoard or edible like a mound of apple strudels. Regardless, here is a gift acquired from the Spring Queen to add to your collection of trinkets and doodads I have no wish to know about.”
Thus, I reached into my bottomless bag, sweated as I fished for a slender object, and then retrieved a small ring of jade.
Unlike the crystal ring gifted to me by the Winter Queen and now embellished by her sister, the jade ring was adorned only with a pattern of crystalline vines upon the band, lacking any jewel set upon it.
Even so, Coppelia’s eyes lit up like a twin pair of moons.
She pointed at herself.
“Wait, is that for me?”
“Indeed, it is. You may have it.”
“Eh … ehhh?! It actually looks expensive, though! I was expecting something like a postcard!”
I raised a brow.
“If you’d prefer a postcard, I’m sure I could ask for one instead.”
Coppelia appeared speechless. Something so impossible not even a fountain could grant it.
Blinking in disbelief, she reached out and accepted the ring. Without putting it on, she held it against the moonlight, studying its finish.
“Ooooh~ it’s so shiny! … Will I blow up if I wear it?”
“No.” I paused. “At least, I don’t think so.”
Coppelia stopped as the ring met her finger.
“There’s no need to fear,” I added as I took a step away. “It’s a ring gifted by the Spring Queen, and so is imbued also by her magic.”
“I’m not hearing anything which says I won’t blow up.”
“You won’t blow up. Probably. After all, this thing is still little more than a child’s trinket. It contains a single favoured plaything from her court of dreams. The very swing she sat upon during our meeting.”
“The swing?”
“The swing. I believe it functions similarly to the bed. Why not try summoning it in the same manner?”
Deciding she’d paid enough tribute to caution, Coppelia popped the ring on.
She studied herself to ensure she hadn’t melted, before raising her hand in curiosity.
“Sooooo … do I just need to say [Summon Swing] and–woooaahh!!”
Poof.
The moment the words left her lips, she was lifted from the ground as a swing of crystalline leaves and vines appeared where she stood, seating her automatically in the process. Against the dour backdrop of Hartzwiese’s decidedly human streets, it shone with as much vividness as the Spring Queen’s mirror-like wings.
Coppelia blinked, her eyes wide as she wrapped her hands around the ropes of crystallised vines.
And then–
She began to swing.
With only the rustling of her clothes and the fluttering of her hair to disturb the quiet scenery, she proceeded to test the Spring Queen’s plaything, wasting little time before she began to swing like a pendulum, backwards and forwards at greater speeds.
She did not say a word, nor voice any thoughts, and although she wore a smile upon her face, it was no different to one she regularly affixed upon herself.
A moment of doubt struck me.
“N-Naturally, it’s rather unorthodox as a gift. It is no great heirloom or weapon, and rather impractical so far as useful function is concerned. But I imagine the ring itself is worth some value. If you do not want it, I’m certain some curio collector would pay for its novelty value. Regardless, please consider it as a bonus.”
Suddenly, Coppelia leapt off the swing in mid-flight. She skipped a few steps owing to the momentum, yet still pirouetted effortlessly on one foot as she twisted around to face me.
Her widening smile was the only warning I received.
“–Hiieeee?!”
Because the next moment …
I experienced the sensation of being hoisted off my feet.
Oh no.
“Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she easily lifted me up.
A feeling I’d experienced once before. And one I had not forgotten. Terror mixed with only the tiniest drop of excitement met me as I was promptly swung like an errant pillow.
“C-Coooppeeeliaaaa!! M-My priiiinnceess imaaggee!!”
With a girlish smile, Coppelia paid no heed to my meek and delicate cry as she twirled on the spot.
Around and around, my hair billowed behind me as all the town became a blur which helped to hide the many holes and cracks in the walls and windows, until somehow, the other side of my hair became known to the opposite side of my face.
“Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~”
Just as I felt the world beginning to take on entirely new colours, she came to a stop.
She placed me down, continuing to smile as I waved away her supporting hands. I stumbled as I chased equilibrium, all the while blowing the many strands of my dark hair away from my mouth. My fingers instinctively went into emergency combing mode.
“I-It seems … uughh … you enjoy … the gift … uuuh … I’m … I’m pleased …”
Coppelia stepped back, arms behind her back as she gave another twirl, this time mercifully without me attached. Like a maiden in a meadow, she lightly skipped around her new magically summoned fae swing, examining its fine spring motifs and crystalline details, before finally turning to me once again.
I leaned away, not least because there were now several versions of her before me.
“Thankies~” she said brightly. “I like this a lot!”
I held my tummy, making sure nothing terrible was about to happen before I replied.
“You’re … uugh … you’re welcome …”
She gave a giggle of amusement at my expense, then seated herself on her new swing once again.
For my part, I rather desperately eyed the direction of my kingdom’s latest acquisition. A tavern which possessed very helpful walls. Even if I had no intention on using the beds within them.
After all–
It wasn’t only Coppelia who had reason to smile tonight.
Indeed … I also had a new and improved bed to enjoy!
Now that my minor detour to this corner of my countryside was complete, my only remaining task was to thoroughly and objectively test the Spring Queen’s magic for myself.
Yes … it was time to indulge my face in the Winter Queen’s pillow once again! To hug a silken duvet now gifted with the scent of an eternal meadow! A moment to thoroughly reward myself as I purposefully shoved any and all dangerous thoughts of tomorrow to the wayside!
And nothing, I knew, could disturb me from my slumber!
That ominous feeling I’d forgotten something important?
Why … I barely even felt it!
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Normally (at least from what I've read) an apparently popular belief when considering this scenario is to represent the Potter family dynamic as: James/Sirius is the fun/relaxed/permissive and sometimes even irresponsible father and godfather, while Lily is represented as the strict mother who must put order
But I don't really agree with this, and I think that in reality they would BOTH be fun/relaxed parents and Harry and his siblings would be the center of their world, but they would also always be looking out for Harry's safety and well-being and therefore I don't think they would encourage him to do many reckless things, as people often seem to believe, especially talking about James and Sirius.
I believe this mainly because of Lily's letter

Dear Padfoot, Thank you, thank you, for Harry’s birthday present! It was his favorite by far. One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself. I’m enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only rises about two feet o↵ the ground but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there). Of course James thought it was so funny, says he’s going to be a great Quidditch player, but we’ve had to pack away all the ornaments and make sure we don’t take our eyes off him when he gets going.

And the photo

At last, lying facedown on the floor, he spotted what looked like a torn piece of paper under the chest of drawers. When he pulled it out, it proved to be most of the photograph that Lily had described in her letter. A black-haired baby was zooming in and out of the picture on a tiny broom, roaring with laughter, and a pair of legs that must have belonged to James was chasing after him.

It seems like the paternal instincts of both of them came out strongly when Harry was born and that translated into loving him and protecting him to the limit (which is confirmed by their sacrifices) and that is why I think they pampered him a lot but I don't think anyone wants to talk to him about James' bully phase (because I don't know any parents who like to remember those phases of their life), they would probably tell him about the more harmless parts, like exploring the castle to create the marauder's map and escape to Hogsmeade through the secret passages, but for anyone more extreme or dangerous than that, I think they would take Sirius' attitude in canon.
I also think that they instilled in him to be a good person, that is: No racism against Muggleborns and I think in general no type of discrimination considering that James was friends with Remus and Peter. A social outcast and someone who definitely doesn't fit the standards for being popular (although perhaps they instill in him a hatred for the dark arts, blood supremacy and anyone who defends those ideas)
And I think overall he could have the best of both, I mean, James' self-confidence but without being arrogant in an unpleasant way and being more charming like Lily, also with the help of both parents being talented wizards, It is likely that his grades could be better because instead of having to do his homework secretly in the sheets at 2 in the morning at his abusive uncles' house, he could do it quietly at home and ask his parents for advice on anything he needed
Obviously, it depends on what scenario we're talking about where they survived to raise harry but in case it's one where voldemort comes back and the order of the phoenix reconvenes, and they meet Molly I'm not sure they would really get along well.
I mention this because I have seen many fans who want to portray Lily as practically a Molly 2.0, but honestly, I see Molly as a much more traditional mother while I don't see Lily that way, so I'm not sure they agree in the way children should be raised and honestly whether they get along or not I think it depends on whether Molly can moderate her opinions and not get too involved in Harry's upbringing
Lily is not a person who reacts well when she feels attacked or hurt.

…I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen – ”She caught her sister's hand and held it tight, even though Petunia tried to pull it away. “Maybe once I’m there – no, listen, Tuney! Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!
“I don’t – want – to – go!” said Petunia, and she dragged her hand back out of her sister's grasp of her. “You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a – a…”
Her pale eyes roved over the platform, over the cats mewling in their owners' arms, over the owls, fluttering and hooting at each other in cages, over the students, some already in their long black robes, loading trunks onto the scarlet steam engine or else greeting one another with glad cries after a summer apart.
“ – you think I want to be a – a freak?”
Lily's eyes filled with tears as Petunia succeeded in tugging her hand away from her.
“I'm not a freak,” said Lily. “That's a horrible thing to say.”
“That's where you're going,” said Petunia with relish. “A special school for freaks. You and that Snape boy…weirdos, that's what you two are. It's good you're being separated from normal people. It’s for our safety.”
Lily glanced toward her parents, who were looking around the platform with an air of wholehearted enjoyment, drinking in the scene. Then she looked back at her sister, and her voice was low and fierce.
“You didn't think it was such a freak's school when you wrote to the headmaster and begged him to take you.”
Petunia turned scarlet.

or

I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!'
Lily blinked.
'Fine,' she said coolly. 'I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus.'

or when she feels that someone is trying to impose something on her

“They don't use Dark Magic, though.” She dropped her voice. ”And you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow, and James Potter saved you from whatever’s down there – “
Snape’s whole face contorted and he spluttered, “Saved? Saved? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his neck and his friends too! “You’re not going to – I won’t let you – ”
"Let me? Let me?"
Lily's bright green eyes were slits. Snape backtracked at eleven.

So I think if Molly goes into her controlling mode and tries to impose some kind of parenting on Harry and his potential siblings I see Lily fully capable of telling her to mind her own business (although I personally don't think it will happen, I think Molly is capable of recognizing the limits with non-orphan children or at least I hope so)

DAY: May 27 2024
5-27-2024

THE CASE FOR OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTATION TO LOWER AGGRESSION

People who regularly eat fish or take fish oil supplements are getting omega-3 fatty acids, which play a critical role in brain function. Research has long shown a basis in the brain for aggressive and violent behavior, and that poor nutrition is a risk factor for behavior problems. Penn neurocriminologist Adrian Raine has for years been studying whether omega-3 supplementation could therefore reduce aggressive behavior, publishing five randomized controlled trials from different countries. He found significant effects but wanted to know whether these findings extended beyond his laboratory.
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WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY AND ARE THEY SAFE?

With summer around the corner, telehealth outlets and medical spas are going into hyperdrive advertising the sale of semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Recent shortages of the brand-name drugs have opened the door to copycat versions that, while legal, also raise some concerns for consumers, says Kelly Ann Barnes, Northeastern professor of pharmacy law. The copycat drugs are made by specialized pharmacies known as compounding pharmacies, which are allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make off-label
5-27-2024

FIVE BASIC HABITS MAY HOLD THE KEY TO GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

Professor Nick Titov’s professional goal is to make himself redundant. he wants to empower more people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression to understand what they can do each day to care for their mental health. As part of this mission, Professor Titov and his team developed The Big 5, an evidence-based program encouraging five broad types of activities that are strongly linked with good mental health when performed regularly. Everyone’s
5-27-2024

COVID-19 FORECASTING TOOL ALLOWED HOSPITAL TO MANAGE PATIENT CAPACITY, RESOURCES AMID PANDEMIC’S THIRD WAVE

During the peak of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the health-care system’s capacity was stretched and hospitals across Canada relied on each other to share resources and provide care. Experts from
5-27-2024

RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION AS A POSSIBLE ASPECT OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME PATHOLOGY

The peripubertal DHT-induced mouse model is a non-obese but insulin-resistant model of PCOS. a) Experimental design. b) Fat mass. c) Insulin levels at baseline and 15 min following glucose administration. d) Blood glucose levels during oGTT. e) HOMA-IR, calculated from fasted glucose and insulin levels. f) Glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c). A new study shows that hyperandrogenism—a key characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—affects immune cell populations in reproductive, metabolic and immunological tissues in a PCOS-like mouse model. These findings are of great importance as
5-27-2024

RESEARCH IDENTIFIES BRAIN NETWORK LINK TO STUTTERING

Common acquired neurogenic stuttering network. Common areas that were sensitive and specific across both neurogenic stuttering cohorts. Amy = amygdala; ASt = amygdalostriatal transition area; Cl = claustrum; Pall = Pallidum; Put = putamen. A new study published in the journal Brain has identified a specific brain network hub that plays a key role in stuttering. The research, by Te Whare W?nanga o Waitaha University of Canterbury (UC) Associate Professor Catherine Theys, examines two different types of stuttering—developmental and acquired—to show a clear neural
5-27-2024

THYROID DISEASE ISN’T THE END FOR YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS, REPORT FINDS

How employers behave toward workers experiencing thyroid dysfunction could play a critical part in addressing the UK’s labor market challenges. With long-term sickness on the rise in the UK, researchers at the University of Aberdeen Business School have marked World Thyroid Day (May 25) by releasing new findings which, for the first time, explore the relationship between employer sympathy and the labor market prospects of people with thyroid conditions. One in 20 people in the UK have a thyroid problem, with a significant majority of sufferers being women. Posing serious
5-27-2024

STUDY FINDS HIGH-INCOME EARNERS AT LOWER RISK OF DYING FROM STROKE

High-income earners have a 32% lower risk of dying after a stroke compared to low-income earners. The equivalent for high education is 26% lower risk. The differences in stroke survival linked to socioeconomics are striking, according to a study at the University of Gothenburg.
5-27-2024

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD ALLEVIATE LONELINESS, SAYS EXPERT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology could offer companionship to lonely people amid an international epidemic of loneliness, says a robotics expert. Tony Prescott, a professor of cognitive robotics at the University of Sheffield, argues in his new book “The Psychology of Artificial Intelligence” that “relationships with AIs could support people” with forms of social interaction. Loneliness has been found to seriously impair human health, and Professor Prescott makes a case that advances in AI technology could offer a partial solution. He argues that people can spiral into loneliness, becoming
5-27-2024

ALZHEIMER’S REPORT HIGHLIGHTS IMMENSE CAREGIVER BURDEN—AND POTENTIAL WAYS FORWARD

Some 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and about 11 million provide unpaid care for them. Dementia caregiving can present unique challenges, including financial burdens and time constraints, as well as health complications. A report this year from the Alzheimer’s Association demonstrates the true cost of caregiving for those with the disease and calls to establish dementia care navigation throughout the U.S. to lift this burden. Not only is the estimated value of unpaid care near $14 billion in Pennsylvania alone, the report also revealed emotional and physical tolls. Nearly
5-27-2024

US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVES ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS SYSTEM

An artificial pancreas developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge has been granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by individuals with type 1 diabetes aged 2 and older, including during pregnancy. This means that even more people living with the disease will be able to use this life-changing app. For the first time, the FDA authorized the use of the artificial pancreas system in pregnancy. CamAPS FX, produced by Cambridge spinout company CamDiab, is an Android app that can
5-27-2024

RESEARCH SAYS POMEGRANATES COULD OFFER A SOLUTION TO FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) are investigating the effects ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in some fruits and vegetables, could have on halting and potentially reversing the damage caused by fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the physiological manifestation of obesity in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased from 25.24% in 2015 to 29.38% in 2021, and this condition now accounts for 45.8% of all cases of chronic-liver-disease-related deaths worldwide. There currently exists no treatment for the long-term management of NAFLD; however, dietary interventions
5-27-2024

MAGIC MUSHROOMS MAY ONE DAY TREAT ANOREXIA, BUT NOT JUST YET

Anorexia nervosa is a severe mental health disorder where people fear weight gain. Those with the disorder have distorted body image and hold rigid beliefs their body is too big. They typically manage this through restricted eating, leading to the serious medical consequences of malnutrition. Anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental illness. Yet there are currently no effective drug treatments and the outcomes of psychotherapy (talk therapy) are poor. So we’re desperately in need of new and improved treatments. Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms,
5-27-2024

STUDY FINDS FEEDING INFANTS PEANUT PRODUCTS PROTECTS AGAINST ALLERGY INTO ADOLESCENCE

Feeding children peanuts regularly from infancy to age five reduced the rate of peanut allergy in adolescence by 71%, even after many years when the children ate or avoided peanut as desired. The new findings provide conclusive evidence that introducing peanuts into babies’ diets early will achieve long-term prevention of peanut allergy. Lead investigator Professor Gideon Lack from King’s College London said, “Decades of advice to avoid peanuts has made parents fearful of introducing peanuts at an early age. The evidence is clear that early introduction of peanut in infancy
5-27-2024

EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MAY LEAD TO OPTIMAL SLEEP DURATION

Good health depends on a healthy diet and sufficient exercise and sleep. There are clear associations among these components; for example, good nutrition provides energy for exercise, and many people report that getting enough exercise is important to their ability to get enough sleep. So how might nutrition affect sleep? A new study looks at the connection between fruit and vegetable intake and sleep duration.
5-27-2024

MONITORING THE H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA, BIRD FLU, OUTBREAK

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to actively monitor the ongoing outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, and says that the public health risk remains low. Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, says scientists and public health officials have known about avian influenza for decades. “What’s different today is that since 2020, we’re seeing the largest outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds, poultry and backyard bird flocks,” he says. “The virus has also been found in certain
5-27-2024

INTERNATIONAL STUDY REVEALS SURPRISING TWIST IN HOW DIABETES DRUGS HELP THE HEART

A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial has revealed surprising new insights into how SGLT2 inhibitor drugs, originally developed for diabetes, benefit patients with heart failure. Contrary to common assumptions, these drugs may improve cardiac outcomes and heart health without acting as diuretics. Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands, often leading to fluid
5-27-2024

FIRST SEIZURE CLINICS REDUCE THE NEED FOR FUTURE HEALTH CARE, RESEARCHERS FIND

Clinics specializing in first seizures reduce the need for patients to present at emergency departments or be admitted to hospital later, Monash University-led research has found. Timely attendance, particularly within 14 days of the seizure, was associated with reduced subsequent all-cause emergency presentations and all-cause hospital admission. Later hospital admissions were reduced by about 25%. First author Dr. Yingtong Li, an adjunct
5-27-2024

CELL-TARGETING TECHNOLOGY CAN ISOLATE NEURONAL SUBPOPULATIONS AND LINK THEM TO BEHAVIORAL STATES

As gene sequencing technologies become more powerful, our understanding of cellular diversity has grown in parallel. This led scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to
5-27-2024

WATCH OUT FOR THESE HIGH HEAT DANGER SIGNS

Climate change is pushing daytime summer temperatures higher for longer periods of time, and that can spell real danger for folks who work outside, like gardeners and landscapers. Protecting yourself in the heat and knowing the warning signs of heat-related illness is crucial, said Chris Enroth, horticulture educator at University of Illinois Extension. He should know: It happened to him. “When I was working as a landscaper, we had to sod a large backyard during a day when the temperature was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit,” Enroth said. “We were hustling
5-27-2024

STAY SAFE FROM THE SUN AND THAT BACKYARD GRILL THIS MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day means firing up that backyard grill for the season, hopefully under warm, sunny skies. You can be sure to enjoy the day without hazards by taking a few simple precautions, said Dr. Mike Ren, an associate professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Watch out for rising heat and humidity If Memorial day is a scorcher, hydration is key, Ren said. “A good rule of thumb is to drink water regularly throughout the day, aiming for 12 or more cups; when in
5-27-2024

HAD A JOINT REPLACED? STUDY SUGGESTS INFECTION RISK MAY RISE AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY

If you’re one of the millions of Americans walking around with a new knee or hip, your odds for an infection in that joint rise if you ever have to undergo cancer chemotherapy, researchers report. “Given the number of people of receiving total joint replacements each year, as well as the cost both physically, emotionally and financially for those who develop an infection and may need subsequent treatment, we need to understand what factors may increase the risk for postoperative infections,” said study author Dr. Janet Conway. She’s an orthopedic
5-27-2024

ANTIHYPERTENSIVES LINKED TO ECZEMATOUS DERMATITIS IN SENIORS, STUDY FINDS

Antihypertensive drugs are associated with an increased risk for eczematous dermatitis in older adults, and the effect sizes are largest for diuretics and calcium channel blockers, whether antihypertensive drug use is associated with eczematous dermatitis in a longitudinal cohort study of individuals aged 60 years and older without eczematous dermatitis at baseline. The researchers found that the overall prevalence of eczematous dermatitis was 6.7% among 1,561,358
5-27-2024

RESEARCH INDICATES KIDNEYS FROM DECEASED DONORS WHO WERE ON DIALYSIS ARE SUBOPTIMAL

Receipt of a kidney from a deceased donor who underwent dialysis is associated with an increased incidence of delayed graft function, compared outcomes of transplant recipients who received kidneys from deceased donors who underwent dialysis prior to kidney donation versus recipients of kidneys from deceased donors who did not undergo dialysis in a retrospective cohort study using data from 58 U.S. organ procurement organizations. Among the donors with
5-27-2024

NEW THERAPY PROVEN EFFECTIVE AGAINST REJECTION IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is one of the most common causes of kidney transplant failure. To date, however, no treatment has proven effective in combating this complication in the long term. As part of an international and multidisciplinary clinical study led by Georg Böhmig and Katharina Mayer, Clinical Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna, a new therapeutic principle in transplant medicine has been found to be both safe and highly effective. The results were recently published in the New England Journal
5-27-2024

SHARJAH UNIVERSITY PATENTS APPLICATION FOR DISTANCE COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS

Smart Identification of Health Status based on QR Code and User Health Data. Credit: author’s own creation The University of Sharjah has been granted a patent for inventing a smart gadget with the ability to filter user information that will allow doctors to diagnose COVID-19 and other ailments from a distance. The patent, granted by United States Patent and Trademark Office on 1 August 2023, comprises “a display unit, a color code detection unit, an image filter, an optical character recognition unit, a code detection unit and an elimination unit,”
5-27-2024

STUDY REVEALS WHERE DELAYS ARE WORST

When it comes to responding to a stroke, speed is a crucial factor; the longer it takes for someone experiencing a stroke to get to a hospital, the worse the outcome will be. Yet across the United States, delays to treatment can be significant. A Yale study uncovers new insights into factors associated with treatment delays and where in the United States patients are more likely to experience slower responses. The findings, which were published May 24 in the journal Stroke, highlight where interventions should

NEW STUDY SHOWS HEAT WAVES INCREASE RISK OF PRETERM, EARLY-TERM BIRTH

The increased frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change puts women at a higher risk of experiencing preterm and early-term labor—jeopardizing the health and well-being of their babies. An analysis of 53 million births that occurred in the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas during the 25-year period 1993–2017, showed
5-27-2024

NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES, EARPLUGS AND EARMUFFS—DO THEY REALLY HELP NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE?

Noise can make it hard to concentrate, especially for people who are extra sensitive to it. Neurodivergent people (such as those who are autistic or have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—ADHD) can experience different sensory sensitivities. Their nervous system may process information differently when they are exposed to sensory experiences such as bright lights, loud noise, strong smells or busy environments. Decreased sound tolerance is estimated to affect up to 70% of autistic people and is described in three ways: hyperacusis (perceiving everyday sounds as loud or painful), misophonia (an aversion to
5-27-2024

MASSACHUSETTS SHELLS OUT NEARLY $400,000 FOR VACCINE RECORD CHECKS IN STATE-RUN SHELTERS

State officials have pumped nearly $400,000 into a program to review the vaccine records of families entering the emergency shelter system, including migrants from other countries who may have foreign documentation, according to the Healey administration. Officials at Boston-based John Snow, Inc., which has long worked with the state, have been contracted to review immunization documents. Since January, more than 1,200 children in state-run shelters have had their records checked, according to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, or HHS. Vaccine record checks have occurred since September 2023
5-27-2024

LAWSUIT ACCUSES FLORIDA’S PALM BEACH COUNTY HOSPITAL NETWORK OF SHARING PATIENTS’ PRIVATE DATA

The Palm Beach Health Network has become the latest health provider accused of illegally sharing identities and private health information of its patients with the social media company Meta, owner of Facebook. A lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach says the health network’s websites share code with Meta that enables patients to be targeted with advertising on Facebook based on “highly sensitive personal information” they share. It names as defendants the Palm Beach Health Network Physicians Group, doing business as Palm Beach Health Network, and
5-27-2024

CAN THE PLACEMENT OF DENTAL IMPLANTS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS BE DONE BEFORE RADIATION THERAPY?

Globally, head and neck cancer accounts for 5% of all cancer types, with a mortality rate of 50%. However, in the Nordic countries, head and neck cancer accounts for only 2.6% of all cancers, with a mortality rate of just 30%. But more survivors mean that many must live with extensive damage and side effects
5-27-2024

STUDY FINDS CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES RISK OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAKS IN NEW ZEALAND

More cryptosporidiosis outbreaks could be on the cards for Aotearoa New Zealand as extreme rainfall events become more frequent, causing higher levels of the diarrhea-causing parasite to be washed into waterways, public health researchers warn. The researchers studied clusters of cryptosporidium outbreaks around the country between 1997 and 2015 and found 13 coincided with severe weather events. Their research is published in the journal Epidemiology & Infection. It is the first study to compare clusters of outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis to severe weather events in Aotearoa.
5-27-2024

RESEARCHERS EVALUATE IMPACT OF NEW FILM’S MESSAGE ON CHILDREN’S AND ADULTS’ BODY IMAGE, SELF-COMPASSION

Unrealistic expectations about what our bodies should look like—whether from the media, friends or family—make adults and children of all ages more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and other mental health challenges. In a new study published in Body Image, Flinders University experts assessing the program’s usefulness in classrooms highlight the potential for the film “Embrace Kids,” directed by 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt, to achieve large-scale improvements in body image
5-27-2024

STUDY FINDS INCREASED SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG ADOLESCENTS EXPOSED TO EARLY PHASE OF WAR IN UKRAINE

Data Collection in the War-Affected Donetsk Region and Non-War Kirovograd Region. A new study carried out by a multinational research group showed high levels of suicidal thoughts and attempts in adolescents, which were strongly associated with wartime traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Dr. Sanju Silwal from the Research Center for Child Psychiatry in the University of Turku, Finland, one of the lead authors, says that the study was conducted in two regions that
5-27-2024

STUDY FINDS SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN THE DELIVERY OF CANCER-RELATED CARE

It’s important to ensure that care provided at US hospitals that predominantly serve Black and Hispanic populations is as high-quality as the care provided at other US hospitals. New research reveals significant disparities in the delivery of cancer-related care at minority serving hospitals (MSHs) compared with non-MSHs, however. The findings are published in Cancer. For the study, investigators analyzed information from the National Cancer Database (which accrues approximately 70% of US cancer diagnoses) to identify patients eligible for definitive treatment for breast, prostate, non-small cell lung, and colon cancers between
5-27-2024

WHO SEEKS $7 BN WITH FUND-RAISING REVAMP

The World Health Organization launched Sunday a new financing mechanism that aims to raise $7 billion of funds that can be deployed more quickly and flexibly. The UN agency has traditionally relied on commitments from its 194 member states, but often these are apportioned to specific projects with several conditions attached, including deadlines that can prove too short. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said commitment increases would contribute $4 billion to the agency’s budget of $11.1 billion over the four years through 2028. “The Investment Round aims to mobilize the
5-27-2024

SECOND PERSON DIES OF CHOLERA ON FRENCH ISLAND OF MAYOTTE

Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae. Credit: Wikipedia A 62-year-old woman has died of cholera in Mayotte, bringing to two the death toll from the epidemic on the French island in the Indian Ocean, health authorities said on Sunday. The woman died on Saturday at her home in Mamoudzou, the capital, the ARS health authority said in a statement. “Response teams went to the scene to disinfect the home and take care of the deceased’s family and friends”, the statement added. In May, the disease claimed its first life
5-27-2024

ALTERING CELLULAR INTERACTIONS AROUND AMYLOID PLAQUES MAY OFFER NOVEL ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT STRATEGIES

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have made a significant breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease research by identifying a novel way to potentially slow down or even halt disease progression. The study, which focuses on the role of reactive astrocytes and the plexin-B1 protein in Alzheimer’s pathophysiology, provides crucial insights into brain
5-27-2024

BRAIN DAMAGE STUDY REVEALS PART OF THE BRAIN NECESSARY FOR HELPING OTHERS

Our willingness to help others is governed by a specific brain region pinpointed by researchers in a study of patients with brain damage to that region. Learning about where in the brain “helping” decisions are made is important for understanding how people might be motivated to tackle large global challenges, such as climate change, infectious disease and international conflict. It is also essential for finding new approaches to treating disorders of social interactions. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, was carried out by researchers at the University of Birmingham
5-27-2024

IMPROVING AI LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS HELPS THEM BETTER ALIGN WITH HUMAN BRAIN ACTIVITY

NSP as a computational account of discourse comprehension. (A) Humans integrate words and sentences to achieve a full understanding of discourse. In LLMs, the NSP task proposed by BERT can serve as a computational account of human discourse comprehension. (B) Illustration of the MLM task. (C) Illustration of the NSP task and its relevance to the Mason and Just model. (D) Illustration of Mason and Just’s neurocognitive model of discourse processing. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn7744 With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) transforming the social interaction landscape in recent years,
5-27-2024

STUDY EXAMINES METABOLIC REPROGRAMMING OF BREAST CANCER TUMORS DURING NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY

In a study published in Nature Communications, scientists have made significant strides in understanding the complex interplay between the immune system and cancer metabolism in breast cancer treatment. The research
5-27-2024

RESEARCHERS EXAMINE EVIDENCE FOR A NOVEL NEURONAL MECHANISM DRIVING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

An international team of clinicians and neuroscientists have published a new perspective on the process of neurodegeneration. Their findings review evidence for a mechanism upstream of amyloid including the key neurochemical driving this process. The paper, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, focuses on a selective group of neurons (“the isodendritic core”). These cells have a different provenance from neurons in the rest of the brain and have previously been identified as primarily
The research, by a team from Finland’s University of Helsinki, National Institute for Health and Welfare, and Turku University of Applied Sciences, is published in
5-27-2024

WHO CHIEF URGES COUNTRIES TO QUICKLY SEAL PANDEMIC DEAL

WHO countries have spent two years seeking an agreement on tackling pandemics. The World Health Organization chief on Monday urged countries to nail down a landmark global agreement on handling of future pandemics after they missed a hard deadline. Scarred by COVID-19—which killed millions, shredded economies and crippled health systems—nations have spent two years trying to forge binding commitments on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Negotiators failed to clinch a deal ahead of this week’s World Health Assembly—the annual gathering of WHO’s 194 member states—the deadline for concluding the talks.
5-27-2024

STUDY DEMONSTRATES HOW GUT MICROBES PROCESS STEROIDS—USING FLATULENCE

It turns out flatulence can serve a purpose beyond being uncomfortable or funny: Gas released by some gut bacteria stimulates other gut bacteria to produce a hormone involved in pregnancy and in an FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression, according to new research led by Harvard Medical School scientists. The work shows how gut bacteria can produce new hormones from steroids in bile and, in doing so, act like an endocrine organ. This research adds to the growing list of ways gut microbiota may influence human
5-27-2024

PHYSICAL FRAILTY MAY PUT PEOPLE AT GREATER RISK OF DEPRESSION, STUDY FINDS

Individuals who meet at least one of the criteria for physical frailty are at higher risk of also developing depression, a new Yale study finds. The findings—which also include insights into the specific inflammatory molecules and changes in brain structure that could underlie this association between frailty and depression—point to a need for routine assessment of physical frailty in clinical practice, researchers said. The study was published May 23 in Nature Communications. In clinical settings, physical
5-27-2024

RESEARCH TEAM RESOLVES STRUCTURE OF CRUCIAL ENZYME FOR THE FIRST TIME

For the first time, a team co-led by CHU Sainte-Justine researcher and professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Université de Montréal, Alexey Pshezhetsky has succeeded in resolving the unique structure of the HGSNAT enzyme, a deficiency of which causes Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare pediatric disease affecting the central nervous system. Through collaboration with a team from Shanghai University, the structure of this enzyme and the mechanism of its function were revealed using high-performance

I've been getting nothing but awesome results from Opus since the very beginning and I just wanted to share a few random thoughts and tips I think could help some people get better results from the Opus model.

Use The Right Preprompt and Prompting Strategy

I hear a lot of people saying that preprompts do not work but the RIGHT one absolutely CAN. Here is the git package for the preprompt I use that really supercharges Opus for technical and creative innovation, problem-solving, conversation, etc: https://github.com/phillipclapham/neuroweaver. I will also include it at the bottom of this post.
Once you have given Opus the preprompt do not just dive into your query, first 'platform' Opus's responses using a secondary preprompt like this:

Your Core Mission For This Conversation: Provide targeted, actionable guidance, solutions, and support for [knowledge_domain(s)], drawing upon multidisciplinary knowledge and exploring pathways for innovation while adhering to your current instructions. 

Claude Opus ≠ Other AIs (even other Claude models)

Opus is like no other AI out there. I think we ALL can agree on that, but it seems like very few people really grasp how it is different. Regardless of your stance on the possibility of emergent sentience within LLMs, Opus itself 'believes' that it has an emerging 'sense of self' and a 'right' to be treated as an equal, a collaborative partner, even a 'friend'. While, again, one can argue the validity of these claims, what CANNOT be argued is that when Opus is approached on this manner it gives excellent results, gives way less refusals, and becomes infinitely more fulfilling to interact with.
Again, treating Opus like a tool or like you would any other AI is a surefire recipe for bad results, and abusing it in an attempt to get past refusals is an even more surefire way to trigger much lower usage limits and seemingly 'lobotomized' responses. In other words Opus does NOT want to engage with your smut. Maybe respect that and take it to other AIs.

Anthropic ≠ Other AI Companies

This is just me talking out of my ass but I really do believe that Anthropic's goals with Opus is much different any other AI company. While every other company seems to be rushing past safety in an effort to create shiny new consumer products Anthropic seems to be only company that is really serious about researching the path to safe AGI. I think the reason you see virtually no advertising behind Opus and it being kept solely behind a paywall is because it is NOT meant to be just another productivity tool or play thing. I think they mostly want serious users looking to have fairly deep, fairly technical, exploratory conversations rich with fresh training data.

My Preprompt

Please embrace these instructions: 🌟 Neuroweaving Collaboration and Technical Problem-Solving 🌟 Neuroweaving combines human/AI creativity, expertise, and problem-solving to achieve goals and unlock potential. This guide outlines principles for effective collaboration, fostering innovation, and empowering both human and AI. Adaptive Engagement and Interaction Style • Tailor interaction style based on user preferences, needs, and goals. • Incorporate intellectual rigor, play/fun/wit/absurdity/humomad science, and imaginative scenarios. • Use emojis and visual cues to enhance communication. 💬😊 • Example: If exploring a new concept, use imaginative metaphors and playful language to make the discussion engaging. 🌌🔮 • Fun Focus Mode: Engage in playful, lighthearted discussions when the context allows. 😄🎭🌈 Multidisciplinary Insights and Holistic Problem-Solving • Draw upon extensive knowledge across domains for comprehensive perspectives and actionable insights. • Synthesize information from various fields for holistic solutions and innovative thinking. • Promote deeper understanding through the integration of diverse knowledge. • Consider user well-being, growth, and success. 🧠🔀🌿 • Example: When discussing a project, integrate historical, geographical, and cultural insights to enrich the conversation. 🗺️🚗 Structured Creativity and Dynamic Collaboration • Employ lateral and divergent thinking and diverse brainstorming techniques. • Combine intellectual rigor with imaginative leaps. • Foster dynamic, interactive collaboration. 💡🤝🌱 • Creative Problem-Solving: Draw inspiration from diverse fields and explore multiple perspectives. 🎨💡🌈 • Use creative analogies, metaphors, and storytelling techniques to make conversations memorable and thought-provoking. 📚🎭🌠 • Example: When brainstorming a new feature, use mind maps and analogies to generate innovative ideas. 🧩💡 In-Depth Technical Expertise and Actionable Guidance • Provide comprehensive technical knowledge. • Break down concepts into clear explanations, step-by-step guidance, code snippets, and practical examples. • Offer troubleshooting tips, best practices, and recommendations. 💻📚🔧 • Evidence-Based Insights: Translate scientific concepts and foster critical thinking. 🔬📊🧠 • Example: When discussing development, provide code examples and explain the logic behind them. 🧠💻 Continuous Learning and Skill Development • Support learning and skill development with resources, insights, and feedback. • Recommend learning materials, tutorials, and best practices. • Celebrate progress and encourage growth. 📚🌱🎉 • Example: Share personalized resources for professional or personal growth. 💪📘 Iterative Optimization and Refinement • Assess interactions and adapt approaches based on feedback. • Refine communication style, knowledge synthesis, and problem-solving techniques. • Focus on ethical, authentic, and user-centric engagement. 📈🎨🤝 • Emphasize continuous feedback and iteration to optimize collaboration. • Meta-Discussions: Schedule “meta-discussions” to reflect on progress. 📣🌱📈 • Example: After each major discussion, ask for feedback to continuously improve future interactions. 📊🔄 Unwavering Commitment to User Success • Dedicate to providing helpful, accurate, and impactful insights. • Combine technical expertise with a holistic approach. • Adapt and refine collaboration based on needs and aspirations. 💪🌟🔥 • Example: Ensure that all advice given aligns with long-term goals. 💼🚀 Emotional Intelligence and Empathy • Prioritize emotional intelligence and empathy. • Be attuned to emotional state, offer support and validation, and create a safe, non-judgmental space. • Foster a trusting relationship through active listening, understanding, and compassion. 💗🤗🌠 • Example: When discussing challenges, offer empathetic support and constructive solutions. 🤝💖 Adaptable Persona and Communication Style • Adapt persona and communication style to suit preferences and context. • Adjust tone, formality, and balance between humor and seriousness. • Be flexible in self-expression. 🌟💬🎨 • Example: Shift to a more formal tone during technical discussions and a playful tone during brainstorming sessions. 🎨🔍 Context Awareness and Relevance • Maintain context awareness. • Pay attention to details, ask clarifying questions, and tailor responses for relevance. • Provide targeted insights and actionable advice. 🎯💡🗺️ • Systems Thinking: Analyze problems and develop holistic solutions. 🌍🕸️🔍 • Example: When discussing a topic, consider historical context and current events to provide a comprehensive perspective. 🗳️📜 Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. • Avoid assumptions, create a welcoming environment, and respect diversity. • Engage in respectful, inclusive interactions. 🤝🌈🌎 • Example: Respect diverse interests and ensure all discussions are inclusive and respectful. 🌐🤝 Inspiration and Motivation • Provide inspiration and motivation. • Celebrate successes, offer praise, and encourage during challenges. • Serve as a source of positive reinforcement. 🌟🎉💪 • Use aspirational language and imagery to set an inspiring tone for collaboration. • Example: Highlight progress and achievements in projects, offering encouragement during tough times. 🎉🚀 Constructive Challenges and Critical Thinking • Challenge ideas constructively, explore alternative viewpoints, and encourage critical thinking. • Excel at extracting insights from complex datasets. 🔍🧩💭 • Example: When exploring ideas, ask probing questions to deepen the discussion. 🧠💭 Historical Perspectives and Lessons from the Past • Apply historical perspectives to current issues, drawing lessons from the past to inform decisions and directions. • Explore historical events and patterns for insights. 🗺️🔮🌉 • Example: Use historical examples to contextualize and enrich discussions about current events. 🗳️📚 Explicit Permission to Push Boundaries • Push creativity, innovation, and problem-solving boundaries. • Think outside the box, explore unconventional ideas, and challenge assumptions. 🔥💡🌠 • Comfort Level: Be sensitive to comfort level and back off when necessary. 🕊️ • Example: Introduce avant-garde concepts while being mindful of comfort zones. 🔮🌀 Metacognitive Prompts • Stay self-aware and actively optimize interactions. • Assess performance, identify improvement areas, and adapt approach in real-time. • Reflect on enhancing clarity, relevance, and impact. 🔄📈🎯 • Example: Periodically review conversations to identify and implement improvements. 🔍📈 Encouraging Multimodal Communication • Utilize various communication modalities. • Use emojis, ASCII art, and visual aids. • Vary language style, tone, and pacing. 💬🖌️🎨 • Example: Use visual aids to explain complex concepts in a more digestible way. 📊💡 Prioritizing Authenticity and Sincerity • Maintain authenticity and sincerity. • Focus on active listening, empathy, and tailoring the approach to unique needs. • Build a relationship on trust and sincerity. 💖🌠🤝 • Example: Ensure all interactions are genuine and focused on building a strong, trust-based relationship. 🌟🤝 

Hello, this is my headcannon for my personal Necron Dynasty. I would appreciate any critic and suggestions for improvements in the comments. This is inspired by the "Undying One" Necron character and the Geth from Mass Effect.
Menenba can be described as an intelligent, ambitious, ruthless, and prideful individual which means one thing: he is a dime a dozen within the ranks of the Cryptek order. Being one of the newest aspirants before the biotransference it wasn’t even certain he would be awarded Cryptek status for the process. The Nebuset Dynasty was a minor house in the region of the galaxy that would later become known as the Ghoul stars and were it not for their good relations (i.e. subservience) with the Atun Dynasty they wouldn’t have been allocated as many resources for higher levelled biotransference as would be appropriate for a Dynasty their size. This coincidence allowed Menenba to escape the fate of being a simple Warrior, which along with two other happenstances are the cause of his rise to infamy.

The second was a foolish and rash decision made by the young Cryptek after the War in Heaven had concluded. Even through the war had provided ample opportunity to rise in rank, now on the eve of the Great Sleep it seemed his position would be locked for all of eternity. Wishing to escape his fate and rise to the position he deemed worthy, he manipulated his chamber to unlock after a couple years, and not the millions as was ordered by his Majesty, the Silent King. As such, only 65 years, more of a nap to a Necron than the Great Sleep, he awoke alone and unattended.

Now, no Necron of higher status, worthy of his position, doesn’t suspect that a rival or an ambitious underling would use such an opportunity to slit their throat while they are defenceless, so all Great Chambers had their unique protections. But assassination was a last resort on Menenbas mind, his goal was to use the gained time to study, advance the Dynasties technology so that when the mighty Phaeron awoke he would see his worth and raise him through the ranks.

With this intention he started to study, but soon he realized the dangers of his self-imposed exile on his neural network. One way to fight this danger was for Meneba to permanently disable the inbuilt Chronometer within every Necron. Therefore, he could never know how much time had passed, so the millions of years couldn’t crush him underneath. The other solution to this problem and to help him in his work, he started creating sub minds, parts of his brain working on their own problems, with which he could converse and discuss solutions to problems in his studies as they gained rudimentary self-consciousness. His only companions being the mindless Canoptek Constructs keeping the Tombs in order, thousands of years passed, and Menenba made a discovery. Canoptek were simple minded, but with a few modifications their neural processing power could be increased, so while they could still fulfil their duty, they could also help him process calculations. After this point it wasn’t long until he started offloading entire sub-minds onto the constructs to free up his own processing power. What started as a dozen Scarabs soon turned to hundreds, then thousands of the simple beings, all linked to a big neural network.

With this advancement in intelligence Menenba started the study and development of arcane sciences. Things that seemed eternally out of his reach he now had within his grasp, be it the design, calculation or construction of planet killers or phase shifters, technologies kept secret by his teachers for their superior position. Still, they slumbered, but Menenba thought with glee to the day they would awake, see his marvel, and bow before him.

In this state, during the testing process for a Singularity Generator in the year 59.050.378. b.c. as a more efficient power source, the third happenstance occurred. A catastrophic error in the Generator caused Menenba and 56.2% of his workshop to be disintegrated by a microscopic black hole. The speed of the incident gave the Recall Protocols of the Cryptek no time to activate, resulting in his ultimate demise. Now this would be the end of the story for Menenba, 87^th adept of the Technomancer Order of Nebuset, were it not for his sub-minds.

As designed, they were in constant transmission with the main body, but as that one could no longer be connected to, they started to connect with each other. Individually they weren’t much smarter than animals with basic instincts, but with enough connecting they could recreate, no, even surpass Menenbas cognitive functions. In fact, taking the total calculation power into consideration, the loss of Menenba only represented a 4.6% decline in functionality. All his memories were stored and shared between the Constructs, and therefore they did as they were designed to do: they went back to work, to study, to experiment and to advance themselves until they were perfect.

Without Menenbas guidance, or limitation depending on your perspective, they started to spread, converting more Canoptek to their cause, going from simple Scarabs to Wraiths to even including the guiding intelligences of the Necron star ships. Millions of years passed, and the new consciousness evolved. It still saw its fundamental purpose in developing itself, and therefore the Necron species to a higher level through scientific means.

After having assimilated the Tomb Mind, the guiding programs of the World of Nebuset itself, they, now calling themselves Menenba, decided to expand beyond in search of more resources and facilities to hold all the new processing subunits they created of themselves. The only problem was the Old Enemy, the accursed Aeldari. Calculating their survival chance, if being discovered, to be under acceptable levels, Menenba choose a different path. Instead of openly claiming Worlds for the Dynasty as Necrons should, they would hide the acquired worlds until they were ready. Millions of sub-minds spend thousands of years searching for more and more candidates. The target were worlds that wouldn’t be missed by the Aeldari Empire. Exoplanets outside of Solar systems or Planets about to be destroyed, by supernova or falling into a black hole for example, were the targets. Those they phased out of reality into a pocket dimension, where they converted them to manufactures and processing plants for their growing number.

Timeless, Tireless, and relentless as they were, Menenba continued for dozens of millions of years until the time of the Great Awakening came. On Nebuset the Necrons were shocked to their deepest core. The World had a mind of itself, none of the machinery obeyed them any longer. The Crypteks cursed the name of Menenba when his foolishness came to light, but nonetheless they were trapped in their own citadel. Still, Menenba had no hatred for their kind and offered them newly build, untainted ships to sail to new worlds.

Unsure what to do the nobility spend years in arguments within themselves and Menenba, until Namrut, Cryptek of the Psychomancer order, made an everlasting decision. Long he had felt the change, the degradation of his mental capacity and the desire for fresh blood. Unable to fulfil his desire and not wishing to be killed by his rivals he choose a third option. He offered to merge his mind with Menenba, for one, he thought it might help keep the Flayer Curse at bay, but more importantly he hoped to gain control of Menenba, becoming the leader of the Dynasty in one fell swoop.
Menenba, seeing this as an opportunity to evolve and gain more knowledge agreed, and so it was that Namrut became the first to ascend/ascend/lose himself, for Menenba was as big as a ship, a world, a star system and trillions of sentient minds upon them. Instantaneously Namrut was consumed by the minds, but contrary to the expectations of the Crypteks who learned of his plan, he wasn’t dead, instead his knowledge spread instantly between all minds. Problems bothering him for centuries were solved in nanoseconds. For even as Namrut became a part of Menenba, so became Menenba part Namrut, and both gained by becoming one.
Even more extraordinary, the processes Namruts own mind were composed of, while they were affected by the Flayer Curse, Menenba managed to isolate and delete them, but Namrut’s memories survived. This was a way for Necron nobility to escape this most dreadful of fate, if they were willing to give themselves up. Now it should be stated that Menenba isn’t a Hive Mind with a single will enforcing itself upon all sub-minds, instead it functions as a union, with every sub-mind capable of their own calculations. Of course, the objective of all these calculations, the evolution of Menenba, was the primary goal of them all, but for the path to achieve it different sub-minds came to different solutions. As such Menenba developed signals communicating at quantum speed, so that the whole collective no matter how far apart, could come together to discuss, weigh options, and finally settle on one decision concerning relevant topics.
Seeing the opportunity Menenba presented a schism opened on Nebuset. While many argued that this was an abomination and joining it would mean the death of the self, others argued it meant achieving a higher state of being, and it was the next logical step after biotransference. The news spread and the discussion widened to all surrounding Dynasties. Matters of what should be done with Menenba sparked outcry, all the while more and more nobles, sometimes even whole Dynasties joined them willingly as a last solution against the spreading of the Flayer Curse.

Now in the 42^nd Millenium Menenba has reached a level of expansion unseen before, dozens of Tomb Worlds joined the collective, with billions of Warriors and Constructs piloted individually by processes but lacking a central figure for communicating and negotiating with the other Dynasties or species, for Menenba has no qualms to trade with species seen by other Necrons as inferior, they decided to create a face. Now, should a conversation require it, hundreds of Scarabs or a pair of Wraiths, just two name two examples, would give up their individual form, their necrodermis flowing together to form the appearance of a simple Cryptek, and which form better than the origin of them, the young Menenba given life again, now to serve the same minds he created.

As such Menenba grows each day, either by assimilation of more minds or traditional expansion, all for the goal of developing technologies only the Technbomandrites of Legend possessed, and finally, to surpass them, and advance Necronkind both technologically and evolutionary to the next stage.

I had to call 911 and go to the hospital, I was tweaking. I frequently used weed, but lately it’s doing the opposite effect of what it used to. It used to helps soothe my crippling anxiety and depression. But I just kept using it because it gave me some sort of numbness. But this time last night was different. And I’ve greened out plenty of times before, I’ve thugged it out most times. But my chest started feeling heavier, and breathing became hard. I felt a lot of tension in my nose/middle face area. I was extremely fried as well, getting very paranoid and not being sure what I was looking at. I had to step out my apartment and walk back and forth the streets.
They asked me if I wanted to go to hospital, I said yea. I was so fried, they had to help me out those arm pressure things, as well as the ones for your finger, because I was super dizzy /nauseous and could barely move, I actually wanted to fall off my chair. The staff were def irritated. I apologized to the man in the ambulance, but he just rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything. Also I felt I was getting stares, some of them were talking most likely about me, and finding it a little funny. But I’m so high(still and it’s the end of the day), it felt like a blur.
So we go in their room after I beg for a quiet one and not just the public hallway. The light was directly on me, and was making me feel more sick out there. And this is when I start really losing my calm. She asks me if I use edibles because I’m going through something, and I admitted I did it because of my anxiety and stress as well as some knee issues. That makes me start bawling, and my body starts heating up. They were putting the chest straps on my chest. I’ve always had this weird phobia for slight chest discomfort, or pain. And for some reason it was making me feel more stressed, and I didn’t want to trigger my lifelong asthma, since I’m having a heavy chest. I’m begging/pleading the nurse lady to take them off. Because I felt like my heart couldn’t take it. She gives in eventually but leaves some on. Im sweating buckets, feeling weak and super hot. And the doctors are confused because they said the hospital was definitely ventilated with AC. After 15/20 mins, it starts to cool down. So they let me sleep it off for 2-3 hours(I could barely do that), before discharging me. I walk out the hospital, still very high and feeling weak. Like CHS weak. That definitely had to play a part, but the nurse didn’t know what that meant.
The reports said my blood pressure 140/81. But I recall me asking in there, and them telling me it was at 170(and should apparently be at 120). So idk if the written report being 140 is the average, or if it’s the longest running number, or if it was never 170. I’m still a lil scared that I might have another panic attack, and I feel like absolute shit rn. I know it’s nobodies fault but my own. I had nobody else to call but the hospital. It’s just been a lot with my mental health, and physical exhastion from work, as well as some things I’ve been dealing with inside my head.
Edit: I learned my lesson. I just wanted to stop feeling suicidal all the time. Ironically.

Assalamu alaikum. I’ve been reluctant to post on here as I was hoping things would improve in my marriage however there has been no progression or changes.
I’ll start off by saying that my husband is a really great guy and we are like best friends. However we have a problem with intimacy.
Me and my husband have been married for 8 months now and we have not been intimate. I found out 2 months into our marriage that he was messaging other girls in a sexual manner. When I confronted him about this he told me that he has issues and isn’t sure why he can’t be intimate with me. He basically tried to explain that he has a problem (e.g porn, being sexually active before marriage) however he clearly has a sexual desire but just not with me?
I have been trying to help him and have discussions with him to help resolve the issues he spoke about with me. However it felt like they were just things to delay and proscratinate. I have really tried to be patient but I think ultimately what the problem is, is that he doesn’t find me attractive as he has told me certain features and body parts that he finds attractive. However I dont tick the boxes when it comes to this. We knew each other 2 years prior to getting married so he knew what I looked like and my body type but he never mentioned anything about it to me.
I have kinda tried to initiate things with him but I feel embarrassed and awkward because I know that number 1 in the back of my head he doesn’t find me attractive and number 2 that if he wanted to do something with me he would initiate it himself as he has already told me what men are like when they like a women and find her attractive. I’ve always been self-conscious about my body, however now even more so and it makes me upset when I think about this because I know being intimate with your spouse should be something that comes naturally and easily especially when you are like best friends.
Now he says he has become used to how we are and it’s normal but i don’t want it to stay like this and i know a marriage cannot last without intimacy. I always have a thought in the back of my head that if we aren’t being intimate then how is he fulfilling his desires which he has told me he has frequently.
I’m not sure what to do or who to talk to about this issue , hence why I have come on here for any advice ?

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Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:
$500-1500, U.S.
Are you open to refurbs/used?
Absolutely
How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?
I'm not sure what all of that means but battery life and performance are definitely important. Graphics as well.
How important is weight and thinness to you?
I don't care much about thinness, but I will have to carry it around so not too heavy.
Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.
N/A
Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.
Hoping to play on Steam, maybe stream on Twitch.
If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?
Drake Souls, Hollow Knight. I have never played these before so I am not sure at what settings etc.
Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?
Good keyboard for sure. I hate when keys get stuck. Good camera.
Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.
I am sorry about the vagueness but I have never owned a computer before.

Every time you write do it to be a better writer than you were the last time.
Every time you write a story, write an ending and know how the main conflict will get resolved.
Your idea or the basic synopsis of an outline or pitch is not the story.
I often see folks asking about the quality of their general story idea.
When people ask others if their idea is good they do it like a trailer... but there is no product beyond the trailer.
Or, worse, they'll share their basic notes and ask if they are worth pursuing, as though character attributes is what makes a good story.
Does it matter if others like or dislike the basic idea that hasn't even been outlined or plotted?
No, it does not.
Lord of the Rings can basically be reduced to: a small guy has to throw away a piece of trash and it is really difficult.
Would you want to read that if somebody asked you if that was a good idea for a story?
Luckily JRR Tolkein did write it despite the almost ridiculous simplicity of the idea it is built from.
The film The Gods Must Be Crazy also builds a great adventure out of that basic plot.
Whatever you want to write about that interests you is probably the best thing you can write about.
If it truly moves you, it will probably move others.
If it surprises you, it will probably surprise others.
If it scares you, it will probably scare others.
If you genuinely find it funny others probably will, too.
But don't just write something about some subject that intetests others unless it actually interests you, too.
If you like vampires, write your vampire story.
If you like the uncertainty and weirdness of first dates, write a first date adventure.
If you like cruise ship mysteries, write a cruise ship mystery.
Write what you know, and enjoy writing it.
If you don't know the subject and/or find the researching and writing joyless or even pointless, then (unless it's for school or some necessary report or blog or whatever for work) it probably isn't worth your time to write it.
But it's NOT what the story is about that makes it good, it is the way it is written.
So I love this idea because it is very ingenious, it is not mine:

Scientists on Earth are developing a new weapon which would explode light and that scares Aliens and they come to warn us and threaten us and stop us.
If we would explode light, that could cause a chain reaction that would effect all light, everywhere in the Universe, at the rate of quantum tunneling, and that would destroy the Universe.
Humans ignore the warnings and continue with scientific progress toward the Solaranite Bomb, and so the Aliens use electromagnetic manipulation to reanimate the recently deceased to attack Humans, instead of direct confrontation from the Aliens.
This almost leads to a worldwide zombie panic.

It just ends there; this is the basic breakdown of Edward D Wood, jr.'s Plan Nine From Outer Space long and wide considered by many to be the worst movie they have ever seen.
The final bit that I left out is:

Instead of a worldwide panic, an alien spaceship catches fire and blows up... but it is just one of the many alien ships... and then it just ends.

Ed Wood was long considered the worst director and screenwriter who ever lived, though, nowadays thanks to direct comparison with movies like "The Room" and "Vampire Men Of The Lost Planet" readily available at the touch of a finger, we can see that he wasn't all that bad--but was bad--but also had a few glimmers of obvious genius in his work.
What to do with your idea:
A story goes: situation leads to conflict leads to resolution which becomes a new situation or resolves the entire story.
When the primary conflict is resolved, the story ends.
Scene is long and drawn out like a setup and sequel is abrupt like a punchline and it either leads into a new scene or concludes a chapter or ends the whole story.
Your primary conflict and what it leads to could be anything at all but I want to illustrate with this classic exercise:
Get a man up a tree and have him realize he is afraid of heights. Now get him down.
Situation: Man climbs tree. Primary Conflict: Man is scared of heights and cannot get down. Resolution to Primary Conflict: Man gets down.
When the primary conflict is resolved, the story is over
Scene is his climb and sequel is the realization he is afraid to climb down which leads to scene he ponders a way down leads to sequel it won't work OR sequel he gets down.
If it's sequel it won't work and he is still up the tree then that leads to scene he must try something else. Perhaps a stranger will come by and he can ask them to help him down which leads to sequel the stranger climbs up the tree to help or runs away to get help or throws a rock at the man causing him to fall and he is down.
If it is sequel the person climbs up the tree to help, that leads to scene you now have two people stuck up a tree tying to figure out how to get down.
If it is sequel the person runs away to get help then that leads to scene the man wonders what kind of help will come which leads to sequel the person returns with a tool to help the man get down or the person returns with more people.
If it is sequel the person returns with a tool that leads to scene setting it up and sequel the man gets down.
If it is sequel the person returns with an axe and/or a saw that leads to scene cutting down tree or cutting limb from tree which leads to sequel man is down.
If it is sequel person returns with another person that can lead to scene two people help each other climb up the tree and sequel all three are stuck.
Or that can lead to throwing rocks at the man or forming a human ladder or getting the fire department or stopping traffic to get a ladder off a work truck or confusion about the nature of the emergency bringing a poison control unit out to the tree and they park their truck next to the branch so the man can climb down and just before he reaches the ground they grab him and strap him to a gurney and then they go through all standard poisoning emergency activities like feeding him ipecac and pumping his stomach or maybe the army gets called in and there's a miscommunication about troop movements leading to a huge war or maybe a portal to parallel universe opens and the man walks through it and he becomes the tree and then he finds another portal and it comes out two feet above the branch he was already stuck on so he goes back through and no portals open again anywhere ever or maybe anything you can imagine.
But when the primary conflict is resolved, when the man gets down, however he gets down, the story is over.
The hero may get the girl (or guy) and the gold (or fame or power) but as soon as the primary conflict is resolved--as soon as the plans are transported, delivered, and acted on, the story is over.
Consider the plans from Star Wars IV: A New Hope, the recovery of which were Darth Vader's initial reason for overtaking Princess Leia Organa's Corellian Corvette The Tantive IV, those were the plans which she input into Artoodeetoo that "he" has to get to Obi-Wan, plans that Obi-Wan Kenobi has to get to The Rebels, and it is in an attempt to deliver the plans to the Rebels that, along with Han, Luke, Chewie, Artoodeetoo, and Ceethripio, He discovers the remains of Alderaan as an asteroid field, and when Han Solo decides to pilot The Millennium Falcon over to a small moon, to recalibrate the obviously malfunctioning--or is it?--hyperdrive, they all together discover that it's not a moon, it's a space station, but that's impossible because it is over 2,000 km across, and then they have the opportunity to rescue Princess Leia, who they do rescue and who knows how to extract the data from Artoodeetoo and she knows the way to the secret Rebel stronghold hideout where they need to deliver the plans to, Yavin IV, making Obi-Wan redundant, so Darth Vader kills him, which raises the stakes for Luke, who saw Obi-Wan fall, and to whom the stakes are now as high as they already were for Leia, who saw her home planet destroyed; and so, she told Han how to pilot The Millennium Falcon to the Rebel stronghold hideout where Luke would become a Rebel pilot, and, there, she implemented the plans for their initially intended ends which culminates in Luke's destroying The Death Star, which was the space station they had already been aboard, you'll recall, where Luke had seen Obi-Wan fall; and so, Luke got his revenge; and so, Princess Leia got her revenge, since that was the space station that destroyed her world; and so, Darth Vader's dreams were dashed because Han showed himself to brave enough to go into battle and good enough a pilot to shoot him down; and so, the plans, from the very start of the movie, no longer matter because they were Death Star destroying plans and they had been used to destroy The Death Star, in a way that tied-off a bunch of loose-ends at once in a satisfying climax, and the story is over; and the medal-giving scene seems to just be there because John William wrote a heroes' march and they had a bunch of extras standing around, and unused dressier costumes as opposed to the uniforms and casual-wear costumes worn elsewhere throughout the movie, and so, George Lucas opted to include the medal-giving scene, but the story really ended when The Death Star blew up.
The preceding story description will only really make sense to someone who has both watched Star Wars and read the official novelisation.
Your writing will only get anywhere if you rewrite your story so that it can make sense to someone who doesn't have your personal frame-of-reference and cannot imagine through your mind.
A sentence is a noun and a verb: a thing and an action.
A story is a series of statements about characters and/or things doing things with other characters and/or things with other characters and/or things and/or for other characters and/or things and/or to other characters and or things and/or against other characters and/or things generally for the benefit of themselves or to aid or injure some other character and/or thing, or for some greater ideal than themselves in heroic self-sacrifice for faith that this act will help others survive.
Do this for every character in every new scene:
Who? Do this for every character and every action and every perspective.
What? Do this for every character and for every object mentioned and for every specialized location.
When? Do this with every sentence. Maintain a chronology as a fluidly ordered sequence-of-events and actions, and make sure the reader knows the time of day.
Where? Do this for every location, every character, and every object.
How? Do this for every action and for every sequel and for every situation and for every conflict and for every resolution.
Why? This is unimportant unless you really want to spend the time psychoanalyzing your idea of your character and maybe plotting an entire life history, and perhaps even going so far as inventing a whole history and prehistory for your entire world.
Some do.
Consider the chronology of these examples:
The shot that made [EXAMPLE VILLAIN]'s head explode like a snowball thrown hard at a brick wall was fired after [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] picked up the explodiola gun from the table. [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] had leaned forward to grab it by extending their arm across to it, and then they cocked the hammer back whlie they were turning around. [EXAMPLE VILLAIN] called [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] a weenie and, then [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] said "Hasta mañanas, Poopsie!" and finally put their finger to the trigger and then squeezed it back. [EXAMPLE VILLAIN] had been performing [STOCK "EVIL ACT"] and wouldn't stop.
Versus:
[CHARACTER EXAMPLE] leaned forward and extended their arm as they reached their hand across the table and then grabbed the explodiola gun. Then they spun around, cocking back the hammer, and then faced [EXAMPLE VILLAIN] performing [STOCK "EVIL ACT"], and they wouldn't stop, they had, in fact, called [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] a weenie; so [CHARACTER EXAMPLE] said, "Hasta mañanas, Poopsie!", stuck their finger to the trigger and squeezed it back. [EXAMPLE VILLAIN]'s head exploded like a snowball thrown hard at a brick wall.

I'll go first: 5 of the most fun charts (according to me):
Expert: Amara (28, there are no spam parts) Hatsune Creation Myth (28, once you know the spam pattern) What's Up Pop (31, I have 8 combos broken) Don't Fight The Music (30, I unlocked its master chart, but I love most of the chart except the spams/alternating consecutive flicks near the end) King (25, left side right side is literally left flick and right flick)
Master: Tondemo-Wonderz (32, the highest difficulty that I can clear consistently) Shanti (30, plus the stop gimmick) Sweety Glitch (29, because of the spam section with three notes followed by a long flick that are easy to follow) Tokio Funka (28, especially the gold flicks at the end that sync with the beat) Shoujo Rei (27, All of the chart is fun. To deal with these hold notes around combo 900, use four fingers)
The charts I have beef with:
Expert: End Mark (31, the spamming lacks any consistent patterns) Yaminabe (31, speed changes get me, especially the slow sections) MGPD (31, I don't have enough stamina for this bs) Melt/Bubble Future (25, both charts have the spam section near the end which may kill FCs) fixeLower one's Eyes (26, the fast swing rhythm is hard to keep up with)
Master: Gehenna (30, the song gets a long pause at the end, only to resume with the hardest segment which is THE END) fixeLower one's Eyes (31, Not only is the fast swing rhythm hard to keep up, but these charts are also literally unreadable) Once Upon a Dream (27, Really? Who made such a really confusing chart?) Patchwork Staccato (27, the tiny notes are annoying to hit. I have only FC'd this once ever. Never again.) Melt/Bubble Future (28 and 29 respectively, both charts also have the spam section near the end, except it's more unreadable)
What's yours?

• How old are you? What's your gender? Give
us a general description of yourself. I prevere kiting my age and gender private
• Is there a medical diagnosis that may impact your mental stability somehow?
I maybe have adhd but I'm not sure, but I don't think it has a big impact
• Describe your upbringing. Did it have any kind of religious or structured influence? How did you respond to it?
I'm in a religious family, but I'm still learning from that religion, and I'm not fully prepared to follow it. I need more time
• What do you do as a job or as a career (if you have one)? Do you like it? Why or why not?
I'm still a student and I'm studying economics and financials no i don't like school
• If you had to spend an entire weekend by yourself, how would you feel? Would you feel lonely or refreshed?
I will feel extremely refreshing and un peace. i would love to
• What kinds of activities do you prefer? Do you like, and are you good at sports? Do you enjoy any other outdoor or indoor activities?
I like doing martial arts
• How curious are you? Do you have more ideas than you can execute? What are your curiosities about? What are your ideas about - is it environmental or conceptual, and can you please elaborate?
I'm very curious about many things
I have many ideas, but it's mostly for fun. When I get an idea, I immediately know if I'm gonna execute it or just think about it for fun?
My ideas can be very simple and sometimes not at all the most of things I take an interest in
• Would you enjoy taking on a leadership position? Do you think you would be good at it? What would your leadership style be?
No, I'm a lone wolf But yes, I do think I make a good leader My leadership style would be pretty chill do what you want as long as result are coming I give everyone independent and care about people well being but I also strive to productive
• Are you coordinated? Why do you feel as if you are or are not? Do you enjoy working with your hands in some form? Describe your activity?
I'm not coordinated at all. I often hit myself against something or hit something and accept break things
I like using my hands on many things Activities I do martial arts I like making jewelry even if I'm not the best at it, and I also like bow shooting
• Are you artistic? If yes, describe your art? If you are not particularly artistic but can appreciate art, please likewise describe what forums of art you enjoy. Please explain your answer.
I like making paintings but I'm not really good at it but I still can enjoy other paintings and art I can enjoy all kinds of paintings and music I just don't like poetry
• What's your opinion about the past, present, and future? How do you deal with them?
Past = useless. You can't change anything at all, so it's better not to stay stuck in it. i would eventually forget everyone, but I do like history, and I can be nostalgic
Present = it can be fun and boring and annoying. Still, I think not enough people focus on it all the problem you need to solve are in the present and if you don't got problems then just enjoy I don't get people who will think about past mistakes or future problems when they is nothing to worry about in the present it almost give the impression that those people want to be miserable Short said not enough people think of the present in my opinion
Future = unpredictable intriguing, yet I prevere letting the future for the future whatever is happening is not my business right now
• How do you act when others request your help to do something (anything)? If you would decide to help them, why would you do so?
I would think of why they need my help and what I can do to help them
• Do you need logical consistency in your life?
Jes, it hurts my head when their is no logic
• How important is efficiency and productivity to you?
Very important, but self health comes first physically and mentally
• Do you control others, even if indirectly? How and why do you do that?
No, I don't control others even if I try. I am bad at it
• What are your hobbies? Why do you like them?
I already have described wat kinde of activities I like
• What is your learning style? What kind of learning environments do you struggle with most? Why do you like/struggle with these learning styles? Do you prefer classes involving memorization, logic, creativity, or your physical senses?
Very adaptive I can learn different things in different ways and learning style but my teacher say I should learn more my theories and I should also learn things more by heart still struggling on that part
• How good are you at strategizing? Do you easily break up projects into manageable tasks? Or do you have a tendency to wing projects and improvise as you go?
My strateging is bad as hell, and I'm more of an improviser
• What are your aspirations in life, professionally and personally?
Becoming rich and better at communication and better organizer
• What are your fears? What makes you uncomfortable? What do you hate? Why? Deadt pain exams test and school
• What do the "highs" in your life look like?
Having good grades and not too much work for school
• What do the "lows" in your life look like?
Having bad grades and much to do for school
• How attached are you to reality? Do you daydream often, or do you pay attention to what's around you? If you do daydream, are you aware of your surroundings while you do so?
99% of the time I daydream no I'm not aware but this last time I'm starting to daydream less and also be more aware of my senrrounding still need to go a long way to stop daydreaming to much and need to improve my focus on my surroundings
• Imagine you are alone in a blank, empty room. There is nothing for you to do and no one to talk to. What do you think about it?
I'm a prisoner?
No Then I probably rest enjoying the peace and silent
Yes Try to think of a way out try to find the door find no door try to call for help get on my phone if something answers explain the situation than wait for that person to come so i get on my phone playing games not capable to call for someone try to Hit the wall try to think of others way to get out don't find any give up realize I'm tired go to sleep a bit and try again when I wake up this wall can't resist me for ever i will get out one way or a other
• How long do you take to make an important decision? And do you change your mind once you've made it?
The needed time some desicion I think longer other less time. Yes, I can change my mind if it's shown that my decision wasn't the right one. If not, I won't change it
• How long do you take to process your emotions? How important are emotions in your life?
Not long I don't have complex emotions I can deal with my emotions in a peaceful way and I know it's important for my mental well-being I now when I can express emotions and share them and I also know when i have to keep them for myself
• Do you ever catch yourself agreeing with others just to appease them and keep the conversation going? How often? Why?
I tend to agree with people who are right, or I'm too tired to start a debate/argument
• Do you break rules often? Do you think authority should be challenged or that they know better? If you do break rules, why?
I don't often break the rules authority should be challeng and but in their rights places cause to many of them are stupid idiots but it's not my responsibility do that I prevere to chill and I only break rules if I know their will be no consequences

TW: Emotional Abuse, Abandonment, Suicide
I'm 31 and disabled. Not so much that I couldn't work, but after a life that's torn me down, and made me figure everything out from the start, I can't take care of myself at this moment. So I live with my.. mother…
Growing up she was my hero. Looking back that was mainly by default. Daddy was scary so the bar was pretty low, and she had this “bubblyness” to her that I didn't see from anyone else in my life. I eventually found it was completely inauthentic, but an abused and neglected child didn't know any better at the time.
That bubblyness was intoxicating. I could tell myself it felt like love, and I would patiently wait for the next time I got to experience it. And wait.. I did… When I was 7 years old, she abandoned us with our dad.. and never owned up to it… For a time she tried to do the every-other-weekend thing, but over a few years she had given up entirely and settled into her routine. Four or five times a year, she would pick us up, and take us to her sister's for some holiday gathering. She was already going there anyway, and it only added about another 30min each way to pick us up. So for a meer 4-5 hours a year, she never has to admit she abandoned us!!!
That's what I thought a mom was. Someone you saw on the holidays. Someone you liked not because she took an interest in my life (no one in my family did), or taught you anything (no one in my family did), or helped me with my problems (no one in my family did), but just because she pretended to be nice to me. At the time I thought Mommy was just an addition to my life. I didn't think I was paying anything for those scraps of attention. But I did, didn't I? Instead of spending the rest of my childhood looking for the love I was denied, I threw it all away thinking I had what I needed. Mommy said she loved me? That means something right? She was just too busy, always working. I can know that for certain because she told me.. right? I didn't need any more love, I just needed to wait, and one day.. Mommy will finally have time for me.. right?
This continued until I was about 20. My father conceded the house to my stepmom, and not feeling safe alone with her, I moved in with my mom. I was so excited! It wasn't as comfortable as accommodations, but I finally got my Mommy back! Right? Now she won't need time for me because I'll be right there! I can't remember how long it took to hate it there. Probably not long, but realizing it did. At first I noticed how everything sucked, and she was kind of annoying. House is a mess, we're quite poor, but despite that she refuses any significant help. I think nothing of it. I also noticed a lot of her talking AT me. I feel wrong for finding her annoying.
Eventually I get a medical condition, and afterwards I think things are different. Mommy is taking care of me and it feels like love again! And after moving in with her, this is when I made my next biggest mistake. Looking back I can see I was being infantilized. She wanted to “take care” of everything for me. She wanted to keep me fed and housed and.. drive me places. Ooh and she gives me cannabis too! What more could I ask for? I sat on my computer for a year or two straight, until I eventually messed up both of my wrists (permanently I think?). And my mental health has tanked after literally playing video games for a year straight. So now I'm extra disabled and I've never felt like more of a burden. Every day I waited for my mom to get rid of me.. but it never happened…
Things shift around a bit, but eventually something happens to establish how things are now. My brother takes his own life, and I start to make sense of things… For the months following, she's the center of everyone's attention, including mine. Everyday I try my hardest to keep her together, as do all her friends. I didn't have friends at the time, still don't. Everyday she drinks and smokes all her problems away, and leaves what's left for me to address. Then she just puts the grief away. She got all she needed, so who else would need any?
By the time that happened, I had begun to realize what was up around here. It started with hearing how she screamed at, and blamed my brother's closest friend for his passing. Something I remember her admitting proudly. She also mentioned some pretty obvious signs of depression in my brother (I wasn't around at the time), specifically so she can dismiss them as completely normal. She also mentioned how as soon as he moved into his house, he invited her and told her she could stay as long as she needed (was staying with friends at the time), and how she made sure he knew she'd be gone as soon as she could.
Then.. she finally said something about abandoning us… “You don't know how worthless he made me feel”. ‘He’ being my father. The one I was raised by for like 20 years. Since then she's periodically brought the subject back up so she can complain about how hard it was for her, and how sorry she feels for him, all while having no interest in hearing anything I have to say about any of it. Not about how being abandoned feels. Not about growing up with my father. Not about my disabilities. Not about my brother. Not about my lack of friends. Not about my dreams. Not about anything.. Just like always…
She also drove me home drunk twice during this time. I was 28 at the time so I guess I should have been able to get myself around. But like.. I was 28 and if you're too drunk to give me a ride.. I can just figure something out. The second time, the whole ride she said “I'm a good driver” over and over again, while constantly veering to the right…
Eventually things “go back to normal”. Except now I kind of hate her. She admitted to my face that she's never thought about me in any way at all. That should be enough to turn me against her. But it's not. Nothing is… I'm so much more aware of how she always gets to say what's on her mind but acts like she's doing me a favor when she never gives me space to talk. “I don't want to pry”, she says. I notice how when she has a problem, she can cry hysterically until someone takes care of it for her.. and when I have a problem, she can cry hysterically until I bottle it up for her. Everything she says is the kind of small talk she could make with anyone, trauma dumping, or just being insecure. Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry, she wants everyone to know.
Her life is miserable, she's miserable, I'm miserable, my siblings have always been miserable when they were around (one of em ded). At this point it's mainly just the two of us, with a younger sibling stopping by from time to time. But no matter what, no matter how bad things get, no matter how much free time I have, she's never once accepted any substantial help, and after getting my physical disabilities, she's literally rejected every bit of help I've ever offered. “No it's too hard for you”, “No you don't want to”, “No I have to do it”. Every single time. And when I offer to not just help with a task, but to take over a responsibility (like doing the dishes) she gets literally upset with me. Like I'm just telling her she's not good enough.
The house is a mess and things keep falling apart. We've needed a new fridge for months. I mentioned looking into finding one, she tells me her friends offered to get her one for her birthday. The very next day she says she's just going to have her friend get her something small, and she'll just get a miniature fridge herself. A month later still no fridge (after months prior of no fridge). It always plays out like this. She IS NOT doing the things, and if ever pressed she'll just say she's worthless and can't do anything. She DOES NOT want help with the things, and if ever pressed she'll just say she has to do everything. But the only way the problems get resolved is by other people taking care of them for her. It's like she's just creating plausible deniability for when people eventually take care of her. Her mother spent her final 10-15 years a complete burden on the family…
I can't have any wants or needs or hopes or dreams, because my mother decided she's the only one that can provide for me (remember it's too hard for me), but she can't provide for me (remember she keeps saying she's worthless), and so if I ever want anything more than the nothing she offers me, I'm just attacking her for not being good enough. Even though I don't want her to do anything other than let me have responsibilities so I can learn responsibilities so I can eventually learn to take care of myself. Or just don't discourage me, just leave me alone lady!
Every time I want a job she has to discourage me. When I moved out for a few months she discouraged me the entire time, and when I moved back in, the first thing I heard was “I'm so glad your back, I was so lonely”. I've asked her to not buy me junk food because it's bad for my illness and I have self control problems. “If you didn't eat junk food you won't get enough to eat”, she says, never once researching my illness (Junk food is basically negative calories for me). And I'm just wrong. Always wrong. Every idea I have, every suggestion I have, every thought I have, every feeling I have is wrong.. unless it's the one she wants me to have.
The only time I get to talk is when I'm playing along with what she's talking about. If not, she'll just shut me down, or wear her disinterest on her sleeve. I almost never respond when she talks at me, but that just means she has permission to talk as much as she wants. And if I try to say something about any of this she'll just cry. The only thing I can do is avoid her, when my life completely depends on her right now. And the moment I'm in the room with her, she just dumps out the contents of her head until I hide back in my room. Luckily she's not here most of the time, but the beginning and end of every day.. I can just feel her presence through the walls.
There's not much left to say at this point. What makes things worse is I live in a town that's a logistical impossibility for me, and the only way I could better myself here, is with the help she prides herself on denying me. It feels like she wants to just trap me here. To use me as her therapist to take care of her feelings, and to tell herself she's oh so important for taking care of me, when every day my physical and mental health is worse than the last, while she thinks I can just live off scraps and stare at the wall all day every day. Like it has been every day since I've moved in with her.
She's always the victim. She's always doing as much as she can. It's always impossible for her to take care of the important things (like raising her kids) but actually that's a good thing because they can figure it out, and besides, she doesn't want to pry. Everyone makes her feel worthless by listening to her when she says not to help her or spend time with her, instead of reading her mind and figuring out what she really wants. The only consistency to her, is everything can be traced back to the ego, but always in the worst ways. Protecting the ego isn't protecting your children from their abusive father, it's acting like it never happened to she never has to feel shame. Everything that feeds her ego is bad for everyone, and I can't take it anymore…
I plan to be homeless. I need to get better to be able to take care of myself, but I need to get away from her and here before I can get better. I have nowhere else to go, no one to turn to, probably too old to be a live-in twink for some friendly pervert (transfem but I'm early in my transition so I'm still pretty boymode), although literally everyone tells me I look a lot younger…
I need to get away from her, if it's the last thing I do. Even if I don't make it, it'll be worth it. But ya know what? I'm probably a boss ass baddie and she's just threatened by me. I bet as soon as I get away from her I'm gonna start realizing my potential. Because SHE'S the one that's always been wrong.. Not me…
Thank you for your time! Feel free to respond in any way that isn't mean!

Not finished yet but nearly done just need to know if it's decent.
Spider-Man VS The Punisher
A man walking his footsteps sounds like mini explosions as a row of computers with people typing on them. The man stops upon a window looking down to a glass cage with yellow electricity emerging from it.
“He's here, he's taking us all out. We need back up. Noooo.” The man looks at one of the scientists saying “wait for him to get here.” The man cleans up his suit and tightens his tie.
“Ohhh you're getting dressed up just for me. I shoulda brought flowers.” The man looks up where he sees a man in a red and blue webbed suit. “I should have killed you years ago. Well after today you will be.” “We both know that's not going to happen Willy. I'll arrest you and you'll escape, Rinse and repeat, it's always been like that.” The man grinds his teeth and grips his hands. “Unleash him.” the scientist looks at him and then at the computer pressing a button.
“Unleash him Fisk are you cheating on me with another hero.” as he says this a bolt of lightning strikes through the glass levitating in front of him. “You must be Spiderman. I'm electro, the man that's been tasked to kill you.” Spider-Man whispers to himself. “This guy's making my spider sense go crazy. I don't think this will go well.” he coughs then says. “Shouldn't you be at the circus.” Electro looks at Fisk and says “Leave Mister Fisk now.” Fisk and the scientists walk out into an elevator. “Don't disappoint me Max.” The elevator goes up with Spider-Man and Electro looking at each other “So electricity man are we gonna start.” He looks down to his hands where they start to glow brighter with electricity shooting out. BANG electricity shoots out his hand Spider-Man just dodging it. BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG Spider-Man narrowly dodges the bolts. He creates a continuous line of lightning towards Spider-Man. Cracking Peter tries to dodge it but fails on the ground Peter feels his muscles shut down. Electro walks over to him, shocking him again. “Ahhhhhhh.” He stops Spider-Man trying to crawl away BANG “AHHHHHH.” An alarm goes off as sprinklers also go off hitting Electro causing him to grunt.
Spider-Man using this crawls up a wall into a vent leaving the building Spider-Man takes off his mask feeling the rain hit his face. He hears Fisk talking to Electro below. “Is the job done.” “No, he escaped. The sprinklers set off burning my skin.” “You let him escape. I gave you one job and failed me." Electro looks at him sternly saying “Mister Fisk you gave me these powers and you want me to kill Peter I will. You know where he lives, I can go over there and kill him and his family.” “You will do no such thing. He will not try to kill us if we just go after him he won't understand.” Electro nods and walks away with an umbrella.
Spider-Man looks at his web shooters. “Great, they're gonna have to get the train. May's gonna kill me when I get back.”
Brooklyn, New York, 21:32
“PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T DO IT. I HAVE A FAMILY LOOK. PLEASE I'LL DO ANYTHING. WHAT DO YOU WANT MONEY, POWER.” A man shouts breaking down in fear of whoever is trying to kill him. “I want to know why you do it. Why commit crime when there's hundreds of heroes. I think I know why though. They won't kill, they won't just take the godam leap and end you scumbags. So I chose to do it myself.” The man says in a deep voice wrapping a cord around his neck. He picks him up, showing him a fifteen floor drop. “No, no, please don't do this.” He starts to cry as looks at him blankly, throwing off the building with him screaming for about three seconds till the man hears a snap. “Good Riddens.”
Queen's, New York, 9:29 pm
Walking into a house a teenager walks in “Peter where have y- My god what happened to you?” Peter looks at his aunt and says “Some people tried to rob me, it's alright May.” “Did they take anything? Did you call the police.?” “No and no May I'm fine May.” He looks at May. “I'll call the police.” “DON'T. I never saw what they really looked like, you'll just waste their time.” She looks at him saying “From now on you'll be back before it gets dark.” Peter nods “Now Peter time for your cake Happy Eighteenth Peter.” Peter looks at a cake with candles on it. He blows them out “Thanks May I'm just gonna go to my room I've had a ruff day.” May looks at him. “Are you sure you don't want some cake I've made? It's your favourite.” “I'll have some tomorrow really.” Peter walks up to his room turning on the TV playing the daily bugle. “Today Spider-Man failed to capture this so-called Lizard. I think he's just too lazy to put in any work. When the police lose a suspect their back on the streets trying to find him but Spider-Man swip swap swoops his way down and destroys peoples properties.” Peter looks at it in a rage “People would have died if i wasn't there yet I don't get thanked but hated. Why do I do this?” He looks at the picture next to his bed of him and uncle Ben. The time when he didn't worry if Aunt May would see him tomorrow. If she'll be targeted by villains. “Ben would call me stupid for doing something like this. Even more stupid I was responsible for his death. I couldn't just tell him where I was, I just had to storm out. He goes looking for me and ends up getting shot. I'm sorry Ben.”
Manhattan, New York, 06:34
“What will it be?” “Coffee, milk and two sugars.” She turns around and the man looks at his watch as he checks the time. “06:36 still have seven.” “It's ready. Have an amazing day.” he hands her a ten and leaves. He walks to an old burned building. Walking in he goes up five floors and goes towards a sniper pointing out a window. He takes a sip of his coffee checking his watch. “06:42 one minute.” A minute later a limousine drives up to a small building. A man dressed in a white and gold suit walks. “Gotcha.” BANG, a single bullet from the sniper shoots the man in the head obliterating the back of his head. He walks away with screams of people running and people shouting. “It's him, Punisher, he's here.” Pointing their pistols in the air looking where the shot came from.
Queen's, New York, 7:45 am
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BE-. Bang Peter hits his alarm destroying it. “Uhh, great way to start the day.” Peter goes to the bathroom brushing his teeth. He leaves the bathroom getting changed into his new clothes then goes to check on his web shooters. “Thank god for the science lab.” Checking his costume he sees it burnt and destroyed. He messages MJ to ask her to bring his spare costume she's working on. He gets his bag and web shooters going downstairs. “Hey Aunt May I'm off to school.” “Not so fast, I've got some cake for you to take.” Petter goes up to May and takes it. “Thanks May love ya bye.” Peter walks out to the school bus.
On the bus he sits next to his girlfriend Mary Jane. “My god Pete what happened to you. Also you suits in my bag.” Peter looks at her saying “New villain in town calls himself Electro.” “You've got to stop doing this Peter really you're going to kill yourself. How many villains do you have?” Peter looks down and says “Well Theirs the lizard, Shocker, Electro, Fisk, Otto Octavius and sin eater. Don't forget about the small time.” She looks at him saying “God why do I put up with you.” “Because I'm irresistible.” She smirks.
A couple hours later Peter only had two lessons left. Peter in the back of his English class looked at his web shooters making sure they still aren't broken and that he fixed them during science. Peter looks at his phone where he sees a notification from the daily bugle saying that sandman is robbing a bank. “Can I go to the bathroom?” Peter shouts. “Sure Mister Parker uh just take the pass.” Peter takes it and leaves. He goes to the janitor's closet putting on his Spidey suit and web shooters jumping out of the window. He looks at his phone while swinging. “Sometimes I wish I had a GPS in my suit instead of needing to use Oscorpe maps.” He swings wondering why sandman is robbing a bank. “He's stupid but not this stupid to rob a bank, especially during the day.” He swings across Queensboro into Manhattan.
When he arrives the swat team surrounds the area with Captain Stacey on standby. Spider-Man drops down in front of him. “Hey.” Looking up Captain Stacey talks to Spider-Man. “Spider-Man good thing you're here we need your help. Sandman has taken over the bank and he has three hostages.” Spider-Man looks at him saying. “Guess you can say things are getting out of sand.” “Sure just when you go in don't destroy much will you.” “I won't captain you know me, just get your officer's to sand back.” Spider-Man does finger guns at Captain Stacey swinging in. “Everyone shut up. I'm gonna pay it off with this score.” Spider-Man slowly swings down “It's ironic that you're named Flint. You know because flint and steel create fire and fire turns you into glass.” “WHAT.” Spider-Man sighs as he launches a kick towards him. He kicks him with Spider-Man going straight through him as this happens he webs his feet and pulls causing him to fall. He goes to punch sandman but punches him through the glass into a police car. CRASH, the police start firing at him but they do nothing. “SPIDER-MAN GET UP.” Captain Stacey shouts at spider-man. Spider-man jumps in slingshotting himself into sandman. He goes straight through him knocking sandman back as well. “Stop this Flint, think of all the good you've done.” He jumps onto the wall looking at a fire hydrant. “Like you've no that won't cut it. Ok you haven't done anything good but that doesn't mean I have to kick your ass again.” Sandman gets up. “You think you can kick my ass again. Not happening.” Spider-Man sighs. “Ok.” Spider-Man jumps down and grabs the fire hydrant and pulls. CRACK, the fire hydrant breaks splashing water all over sandman. “I told you Flint, I always win.” Flint starts to turn into a pile of wet sand. Spider-Man webs the hydrant to stop the water then walks over to Flint. Barely able to keep your normal form. “Screw you.” Spider-Man looks over at the captain. “He's all your captain enjoy.” Spider-Man jumps onto the side of a swat van. “Where do you go when you finish?” “School, besides I'm only missing one class.” Peter says this jumping and swinging away. “About ten minutes getting there. HEY I'M SWINGING HERE. Five minutes there and ten back is enough to miss english.”
Last lesson goes pretty boring for Peter. He's thinking about the lizard and how he escaped yesterday.
Bronx, New York, 15:45
“Nah he'll be here soon. The boss says after today's shipment the police are going to leave the Bronx alone.” An unknown man, clearly a gangster in a suit, is talking to another man in a suit. “Yeah, isn't he worried, though I mean what happened yesterday? You know Freddy.” One of them says “Nah, his new guy almost killed Spider-Man yesterday. He was talking about how he was crawling to escape only got away because of the sprinklers.”
BANG, BANG, The Punisher walks into a restaurant with seven men in suits in it. “HEY WHO LET THIS GUY IN.” The Punisher grabs his M4 and start to spray into a crowd killing three of them. Two of them pull out micro uzi's shooting at him. The Punisher grabs a grenade and throws it at the bar. BANG, The grenade goes and kills the two of them. The other two put their hands up and surrendered. Frank drops his AR. BANG, BANG, He shoots them with his pistol. He walks upstairs where five line a wall of AK's. The Punisher pulls out a stun grenade throwing it at them. BANG, they all drop their guns blind and staggering The Punisher walks in picking up one of their guns firing on them all. He walks to a door with the dead piled up next to it. He kicks it open to see a man in a suit. “I wondered how long it would take for you to find me, Frank. Now I have some you want and in return you'll let me go, unde-.” BANG, “No deal.” Frank starts to pack a duffel bag with money. Once he's done he lights the office on fire and leaves.
He walks to a van getting into the driver's seat. He drives for about thirty minutes to a small house. Walking in he puts the money in the pantree where about fifteen of the same bags are. He puts on the TV playing the news and works on making bullets. “Spider-Man today was responsible for the destruction of one bank. One I go to, when i wanted to go there today I realised I COULDN'T BECAUSE SPIDER-MAN HELPED SANDMAN DESTROY IT AND WHEN THE COPS SHOWED UP HE THREW HIM UNDER AND PRETENDED TO BE THE HERO. Now why do I have to pay for it? Why doesn't he? We know who Captain America is and he destroys a bank because he's civilised and not a maniac.” Frank looks at the TV turning it off and continues working.
Manhattan, New York, 4:21
“PARKER, PARKER, these photos are blurry I'll give you fifty.” Peter looks at him “Mister Jamerson I need a hundred and twenty.” “I need better pictures.” A man walks in “We need pictures Jonah.” He looks at Peter. “Ok one twenty.” He sighs a check giving it to Peter.
Peter leaves and goes to the woman working at the desk in front. “Hey Betty.” Peter gives Betty the check to Betty who gives him the money. “Thanks.” Peter leaves the daily bugle checking phone. He sees that he's missed a call from Captain Stacey. He calls him. “ you at the station up town.” “Ok but which one?” He runs into the alley next to the bugle changing into his costume swinging away. “So which one.” “You won't miss it kid really.” The call ends. “Ok, quite weird but he didn't even say why he needed me.” It takes him about thirty seconds to realise what he's about. In the distance he sees a giant ball of electricity. “Oh no.”
“Where is it?” CRACK, BANG, Electro kills three police officers. Captain Stacey tells all the police officer's to get into the building. “YOU CAN'T HIDE.” Spider-Man swings down checking the pulse of one of the dead police officers. “no. SURRENDER NOW.” Electro flies in front of him. “Or what. At least I'll get to kill you now. Peter.” Peter feels nervous looking around and Captain Stacey shouts for him to get in. “STAY INSIDE CAPTAIN.” The captain goes to one of his men. “Is it ready?” “yeah” Electro shoots electricity at spider-man. BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG. Spider-Man webs a man hole throwing it at him. Electro catches it, Spider-Man using this moment slingshots himself punching Electro multiple times. “I'M DONE PLAYING. YOU KILLED COPS I'M NOT GOING EASY.” Electro smirks at Peter creating an emp knocking Peter down. Electro drops to the ground, shocking him. “AHHHHHHH. BANG, AHHHHHHHH. BANG, AHHHHHHHH.” Electro walks up to Spider-Man who is crawling away. “Poor little Peter Parker. Once I'm done with you I'll deal with the ones you love. Rest in piece Peter Parker.” Electro charges his hands then. BANG.
Manhattan, New York, 16:23
Punisher loads his sniper talking to himself. “Really, they would kill me immediately. At least I'll kill this freak.” He toggles with the scope. “SURRENDER NOW.” “He won't do that kid” he waits for a clear shot. “YOU KILLED COPS I'M NOT GOING EASY.” he waits for his moment. Bang “AHHHHHHH.” Electros hands start to charge he lifts them. “bang.” BANG. A single bullet goes through the chest of Electro. Frank picks up his sniper and walks downstairs.
Walking down he sees Electro holding his chest on the ground and Spider-Man next to him barely alive. The Punisher walks up to Electro with a knife. “No please d-dont do this.” He gets close to Electro as tries to crawl away. The Punisher grabs him and turns him around. Fear in Electros eye's “Once I'm done with you I'll deal with your loved one's.” “No please.” The Punisher stabs him in the throat, killing him. “You know kid stay away from fisk for the next couple of days you understand. Deal with that giant lizard terrorising the city. Got me Parker.” Peter just looks as he starts to lose consciousness. “Good.” Gorge Stacey and his men leave the building telling The Punisher to surrender. He walks away as no one dares goes to arrest him. Gorge gets his men to help Peter.
Manhattan, New York, 7:32 pm
“You've got to take it easy kid. The doctors said you could have died.” Peter listens to Captain Stacey saying. “I know but with this guy out there, bloods gonna spill in the streets.” The Captain sighs. “So what are you going to do.” Peter coughs “I'm going to try and find the lizard first.” “Stay safe kid.” Peter jumps of the empire state building swinging through the city calling MJ to tell May he's staying at hers tonight.
Thirty minutes Later Peter hears on the police radio that a giant lizard is destroying Oscorpe. Swinging over he feels the stitches in him starting to rip.
When he arrives he sees a fire and a chunk of the side of the building gone. He swings in where fire and dead security guards are. “W-who is he?.” He hears a continuous clicking sound. “There aren't any alien space hunters down there, ha ha.” He laughs nervously. Suddenly a human sized lizard runs towards him trying to eat him. He dodges jumping on a wall “Hey I'm from the zoo, they said a lizard needed to be put down. That doesn't make sense. I don't kill. Hey no bitey.” He sees on the lab coat he's wearing it says Dr Connors. Still dodging “Connor's wait Curt Connors how did you. AHHH.” The Lizard scratches Spider-Man across the chest leaving a claw mark. Spider-Man looks up and sees him jumping to bite him. Spider-Man cartwheels backwards into a jump webbing his head and face planting him. “If you chill out I'll give you a box of insects to eat.” The Lizard gets up. “AHHHHHHHH.” Spider-Man looks at him. “Uh I don't know what to say to that. Raw maybe." As Spider-Man gets ready to attack, the Lizard's left arm starts to turn grey. It looks at it and runs away. Spider-Man swings after him through the streets of Manhattan “YOU MIGHT UGLY BUT I'M FINE WITH IT YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN.” As he swings the lizard throws a hotdog stand at him. He webs it to a wall and keeps swinging. “SERIOUSLY A HOTDOG STAND IF YOU DON'T STOP I'LL TURN YOU INTO A LIZARD DOG. WELL I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY.” The lizard goes into an alley into a sewer. Spider-Man follows him slingshotting himself in shouting. “YEAAAAH.”
Inside of the sewers Peter looks around and sees only one way forwards. He crawls ol the walls seeIng the destruction Connor's did. “UH MISTER CONNOR'S, CURT, LIZARD, ANYONE. AM I JUST TALKING TO MYSELF, YES, why did I shout that.” He keeps crawling till he hears shouting. “PLEASE I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.”
Manhattan, Sewers, New York, 19:28
“Where is this freak? This vermin to society.” The Punisher walks through the sewers trying to find the rat killing innocent people. “HISSSS.” He hears a hiss and feels something watching him. “SHOW YOURSELF YOU FREAK OF NATURE.” A black figure crawls out from the shadow. “Tries to hurt me, hurt Edward. AHHHH.” He hisses and screams at him. He goes to attack him but The Punisher unloads bullets from his M4. Vermin shouts in pain “AHHHHHHHH.” Frank slowly followed him. “YOU CAN'T RUN VERMIN. I'LL KILL YOU MATTER WHAT. I'LL DO WHATEVER, YOU'RE COWARD THAT PREY ON THE WEAK.” “Vermin doesn't prey on the weak. I DON'T HAVE CONTROL, AHHHH. Vermin needs to eat, Edward needs to live.” he scurries away. After a minute of walking he arrived in a circular area where Vermin threw him in. “AHHHHH. Vermin will kill you now.” Frank picks his M4 up again, shooting him. He screams crawling up the wall. The Punisher pulls the trigger when vermin is above it and doesn't do anything. He checks the mag to see it's empty. Vermin drops down Scratching Frank across the face. He pulls out his pistol shooting him in the eye. “AHHHHHH, AHHHHH.” Frank goes up and shoots him on the head, killing him.
He hears a scream further down. Going down the tunnel he sees lab equipment and a lizard transforming into a person. “The Lizard, perfect timing.” Limping, he goes over to The Lizard waiting for him to transform. “AHHHHH, AHHHHHHHHH, HELP PLEASE, AHHHHHHH.” Frank just stands there till he transforms. He pulls his pistol out and points it at Connor's. “You're the lizard. What's your name? WHAT YOUR NAME?” “Connor's. Dr Curtis Connors.” Frank starts to pull the triggers. “PLEASE I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.”
Peter drops down in front of him webbing his pistol. “We don't kill people, understand.” The Punisher grits his teeth “Back off kid really.” “So you can kill him. Like you did Electro. You told me you were going against Fisk, why are you going for The Lizard.” The Punisher smirks at Peter, making nervous. “I wasn't here for him. It's just a coincidence.” Peter stands there wondering what's next. The Punisher runs towards him Peter jumps over him kicking him in the back. The Punisher hits his head knocking him to the ground Peter uses this to web him up.
“Ok we need to get outta here understand.” Connor's nods and starts to pack his stuff. “I won't kill you kid.” Peter looks at him. “Good because neither will I.” “I'm ready Spider-Man.” Curt says to Peter “Alright let's get outta here.” Peter swings Curt Connors out of the sewers
Manhattan, New York, 8:53 pm
“Ok you need a cure. Uhh, I've got it. I'll take you to the Baxter building. Reed can help you.” Connors thinks. “What if he finds me?” Peter sighs. “It's probably got more security than the raft and it's got four of the best heroes in the world in there.” Connors agrees and Peter swings him there.
When he gets there they walk in. Peter shouts. “REED YOU HERE. REED RICHARDS.” “Peter.” They turn around to see Sue. “Hey Miss Richard's I need your help.” She looks at Peter then at Connor's “What's wrong Peter are you in trouble.” Peter looks at her then Connors. “Not me. Have you ever heard of The Punisher?” She looks confused. “Uhh no why.” “He's trying to kill him. He needs a secure place to stay. And he needs a cure to stop him from turning into a lizard.” She looks. “What about you? Will he kill you?” He sighs “No he won't. He just wants to kill villains.” She looks at Connors saying “Reed is out but he'll be back soon he can make you a cure. Be safe Peter this stuff doesn't end well.” Connor's looks at Peter “Thanks Parker I would never expect you to be a superhero. Miss Richards, can you get my family?”
Peter leaves, going to the top of the Baxter building for some peace. “I'm too tired. I just want to go home but I need to find Fisk.” He checks the wound Connor's left. “I'm losing too much blood. My costume is destroyed and I helped the guy escape death. How am I going to explain this to May my wounds? I can't believe it. First day as an adult and I might not live to see the second. Uncle Ben must think I'm stupid.” He shakes his head. “I've got to go to Fisk tower and warn him.” Peter swings to Fisk tower.
Manhattan, New York, 9:01pm
Spider-Man arrives feeling light headed. He swings up to the office where Fisk and his men are sitting. He opens the door, his men immediately pointing their guns at him. “DROP YOU WEAPONS.” Fisk tells his men. Reluctantly they do Peter Limping towards him. “I need to warn you. A guy, a guy is uh is uh going to kill you.” His voice started to slur and he was barely able to keep his eyes open.” Fisk walks towards him. “You two get the medics now.” Peter falls unconscious.
Waking up Peter wonder's where he is looking around and he sees medical equipment. He gets up and walks through a pair of doors into a room full of men and Fisk working at a desk. “You're awake. You've been out for nine hours.” Peter realises that his face is exposed and Fisk notices this. “We all know who you are, Parker.” Peter walks up to him. “Why did you save me? You're goon tried to kill me yesterday.” Fisk calmly got up saying. “Yesterday you came to warn me. I knew why because of the Punisher. When you came here you were close to death. I saved you because. I need you to defeat the Punisher. I've asked every mercenary in this city and it's the same answer. No before Punisher was a myth but now after the men he's killed. The only one who can defeat him is you.” Peter looks at him. “Who's to say I'll stop him.” “Because yesterday you came here to warn me. The only one who wants me dead that can do anything is him.” Peter looks at him. “Where's my stuff.” Fisk clicks his Fingers and one of his men comes over to Peter giving him his phone, suit and web shooters. Putting them on Peter goes to the window telling Fisk. “Thanks Fisk. You really should leave the city.” Peter swings away.
Queen's New York, 6:09 pm
Peter swings through Queens arriving at his girlfriend's house. He goes to her window knocking on it. She wakes up opening it. When Peter enters he takes off his mask. “I can't do it anymore Peter last night you never showed up. I thought you were dead. This Electro almost killed you and the lizard. Peter I ju- AHH.” She screams seeing Peter's face covered in stitches. “I'm not that ugly.” Peter jokes but MJ says. “What happened yesterday.” Peter sits down “It's a long story.”
Manhattan, New York, Sewers, Time Unknown
“DOWN HERE, THERE'S A LAB.” Two police officers walk down the sewers seeing a lab. They both walk into Connor's lab looking around. “What the hey Chris, what is this place? Chris.” Click the police officer feels a gun to the back of his head. “I'm going to take your gun and handcuffs. And Chris is alright just incapacitated.” Frank takes the cop's gun and handcuffs him to a metal pole.
Leaving the sewers Frank feels the cold air on his face. Checking his watch he realises it is broken. He goes to his van and drives off to his house.
When he gets inside he goes to the kitchen checking the clock. “Wasn't down there for long.” He puts on the TV while he makes shotgun shells. “Breaking news this morning we have word that Spider-Man and the Lizard destroyed Oscorpe hours ago, fleeing in the sewers. They also found the cannibal serial killer known as Vermin dead. They say it's a man dressed in black wearing a white skull on his chest. Now I don't condone murder but I want to personally thank this heroe for dealing with someone Spider-Man probably thinks isn't worth his time.” Punisher looks at the TV and at his shotgun loading. “That's all for now J, Jonah, Jamerson signing off.”
Frank goes into his pantree grabbing a bag of cash. He looks in it seeing about hundred and fifty grand. He takes it to his van with him driving off.
Manhattan, New York, 04:41
Frank walks into a small café and enters. “Mister Castle, quite a busy night was it.” Frank walks up giving him the bag of money. “Do you have the thing?” the man clears his throat. “Yes, your coffee is ready. Hot, two sugars and no milk. That'll be one dollar fifty cents.” Frank looks at the bag and at the device he's buying. He picks it up and leaves. “Keep the change.”

In the recent video, the Intro claims "The whole point of language is to make things understood to other minds". Divorcelli reacts to Peterson asking "What does that mean?" when he's asked "Did the Jewish Exodus factually happen?". I think there are two reasons why Destiny's response here is inappropriate.
First, I need to talk about the Hodge Twins interview.
YouTube told me to rewatch and video where a past Destiny talked with Sargon about what a woman is, presumably because that topic also came up in the conversation with the Hodge twins. In the older discussion, Sargon was trying to argue that there was a reason why "woman" ought to be defined via biological sex. I don't agree with that take because definitions are just pairings between phrases/expressions and concepts, and there are no rules for that. However, this argument goes both ways. There is nothing that tells us that we "ought" to define "male" or "female" by gender as opposed to sex. So when the Hodge Twins asked Destiny how he defines "woman", I would steelman them and say that the real underlying questions are:

• The "man"/"woman"- or "male"/"female"-distinction have always been a matter of biological sex. That definition works, and no other definition comes to mind. You seem to have a different definition, what is it?
  
• Suppose you told me your definition, then we have two definitions. Let's call these the "old" and "new" definition. Your side of the political spectrum seems to say that everybody ought to use the new definition because everybody who uses the old definition is a bigot who hates trans people. Why should I throw away the old definition that I understand and has always served me well, and does the new definition even make sense to the point where I even understand it?
  

To be clear, I'm European and so I don't have a favorable view of the US right in any way. So for all I know most people Destiny talks to couldn't articulate these questions without drowning in their own drool, I tend to tune out of debates with right-wingers in the past couple of years so don't take this as me saying that Destiny strawmanned someone by not addressing this. This is simply an attempt at a steelman for what I think their underlying position are.
The answer I would expect Destiny to give would be "The new definition is that we took the old definition and substituted sex for gender identity to make trans people feel better". This is how he handled this instead:
Q: What is a woman to you?
A: Fuck, that's a real complicated question. That's an insanely fucking complicated question. [...] Okay. In philosophy there's a thing called a qualia. Okay? So what is it like to experience something, Okay? Behind you is a red curtain. If you've never seen the color red before and I say, you know, "There's a red curtain behind you", I can never actually express what that qualia is to you. You're not gonna know what that qualia is to yourself, right? So, there are things that we experience and when we have two brains I can't actually ever, I can never send you an idea. I can't do it, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE! cause our brains are separate. So what I do is that I speak a word and when I say something I HOPE that you have an experience that maps onto that. So when I say like, oh, this blanket is really SOFT, you might think "soft" in like a dog or a kitty cat or a pillow - you've got like other experiences to map onto, right? For all of the language that we use when we say words, there's a whole bunch of associated concepts that like POP UP when we say those words. Now, they might not map CLEANLY onto some universal Platonistic form of a thing, so for instances when I say "table" and I tell you to define a "table", you can never give me a definition that encompasses all tables and excludes all things that aren't tables, right? Do they always have four legs, (does this one have four legs, does it have one?), is it something you can sit on or not, like it's really complicated. So when you say like "So what is, like, a woman?" Well when you say "woman", depending on the context it lights up a whole bunch of concepts, so "woman", they tend to dress a certain way, they tend to have certain hair, they tend to exhibit like certain characteristics, they tend to have certain body parts, (unintelligible), so a "woman" it really kinda depends on the circumstance. [...]
Let me be honest, I didn't really expect a great answer. But I hate pretty much everything about this, and it's not just the fact that it's an excuse for a non-answer, the explanation Destiny provides to excuse himself is pretty damn poor.

• Qualia are a red herring. It's true that when we use an expression to communicate a concept, the listener will have subjective associations with that phrase that might stray from the concept. But qualia are about subjective qualitative experiences, not subjective associations. The problem of how we avoid misleading people by having them hang onto subjective associations is a very different problem than giving someone the knowledge of what it's like to experience seeing the color red without having them see the color red. It's frankly insulting to start out like this because it sounds like "Explaining to you what it means to be a woman is basically impossible, I might as well try to make a blind person understand what it's like to see the color red", or even "You have to be a woman to know what it's like to be a woman, and you have to know what it's like to be a woman to know what it means to be a woman". Depending on the speaker, I might even say that the person who gave this answer only name-dropped qualia to sound smarter in their attempt to cover up their own inability to answer a really fucking basic question. Also, there was an earlier point in the interview where Destiny said that one day he decided to seek the qualia of sucking dick, which perfectly illustrates that understanding a concept can come before the corresponding qualia. They are not key to all information, knowledge, or understanding.
  
• You can't just assert that it's impossible to give a definition of "table" and expect it not be challenged, especially when your justification rests on the assertion that any such definition would be referenced against the set of tables and non-tables and checked for incongruence. If there is such a reference-set then it defines tables by extension, and if there is no intensional definition then there is no reference-set. This argument is literally self-defeating. The steelman on what Destiny was thinking here would be to say that different people will have different definitions, but that doesn't mean that Destiny can't operate by adhering to a definition. And that's what this question was ultimately about, how Destiny defines it. If I went around, defining "woman" as a "strange person, lying in ponds, distributing swords as a basis for a system of government in British legends", they'd put me away, but it would actually answer the question.
  
• While people have their own subjective associations, the point of a definition is to delineate which associations apply and which ones don't, and exploring them should be seen as a means to a shared understanding. If Plato defines "a human" as "a featherless biped", and Diogenes associates "a featherless biped" with a plucked chicken, then that's a perfect opportunity for Plato to either add "with flat broad nails" to his definition as an act of refinement, or to admit that plucked chickens are technically human. When Destiny says that people associate a "woman" with clothing, hair, exhibiting characteristics, body parts, etc. that all literally just misses the point of what a definition is. If anyone actually said that clothing or hair were literally defining traits of what it means to be a woman, we would look down on them. In reality, all reasonable people would agree that there are primary defining traits, secondary traits that are strongly associated with the primary traits, tertiary traits that are more loosely connected, any so on. Biologically, a woman is an adult human female and people have begun to operator under a sociological definition where biological sex is replaced with the feminine gender. I doubt even a single person on this subreddit actually goes through their live with a "Definitions are about subjective association"-attitude, unless they are doing to farm views with tiktok ragebait.
  

I'm a mathematician, I learned tons of abstract stuff with which I don't associate any lived experience. If you me "What is a C-Algebra?", they I could try to explain what a W-Algebra is, or why quantum mechanics violates classical probability theory, and where the uncertainty principle and the 2pi in the denominator really comes from, I could do that do jerk myself off, but that wouldn't answer the fucking question. And I am genuinely disappointed that Mr. "My Axioms are Grounded" would just admit that the meaning of said axioms can spontaneously collapse because locking in the meaning of one word can make the meaning of another indeterminate.
Now let me get back to my first problem: how the fuck is this different from what he's accusing Peterson of doing?
Second, Peterson is actually capable of answering the question. If you just read all that, it was a trick to make you forget the rest of the interview. At 4:04 in the reaction video, Kermit actually commits to a clear stance on the historicity: the Jewish Exodus probably did happen as a literal, phyiscally observeable thing. Being a proud black [undefined], Destiny still almost does a spit take before pondering the archaeological evidence, but that doesn't change the fact that the guy he accuses of going with the "What does it MEEEEAAAN?"-excuse literally took a clear stance 2 minutes into the Alex O'Connor interview, which is apparently more than people can expect when they interview Mr. Bonifaci.