Hey everyone on Reddit! We've been searching online for the best crypto casinos that welcome players from all over the world, and we can't wait to tell you what we've found.
We've spent a lot of time checking out many crypto gambling sites to bring you some of the best online casinos. After doing thorough research and trying them out ourselves, we've made a list of the top ones that are really impressive.
If you're in a hurry, here's a quick summary of our top choices for 2024:

Top 5 Bitcoin Casinos:

• 7bіt - the best set of games and welcome bonus (up to 5 BTC).
• CryptoWins - the best choice for High Rollers and US players
• BіtStаrz - АskGаmblers awards 2023. Fast games and high odds.
• Kаtsubеt - the best Live dealer games.
• Stаkе - the best sweep casino.

Let's dive into what makes each of these crypto casinos special, starting with our top choice, 7bіt.

7bіt - the best set of games and welcome bonus (up to 5 BTC)

7Bіt Casino earned the title of the best crypto casino last year, making it our top pick for the best online crypto casino, backed by the Reddit community.
Welcome Deposit Bonuses:

• 1st Deposit: 100% up to $300 with 100 extra spins or 177% up to $400 with 77 extra spins using code "SPINBONUS".
• 2nd Deposit: 50% up to $400.
• 3rd Deposit: 50% up to $800.
• 4th Deposit: 100% up to $3,500.

An additional 50 Extra Spins on Elvis Frog in Vegas for a minimum deposit of $1.
Unlock the aviator exclusive bonus with the code "AVIATOR".
Pros:

• Huge game selection with over 500 titles.
• Accepts multiple cryptocurrencies.
• Offers engaging live dealer games.
• Customer support available 24/7.
• Certified by eCOGRA for fair play.

Cons:

• Some bonuses may have restrictions based on location.
• Certain payment methods might have fees.

We were excited to see 7Bіt Casino has loads of different games to choose from. They've got popular slots like "Guns N'Roses" and "Starburst," classic table games, and live dealer options. There's something for everyone at this popular crypto casino.
Live Play Experience (88/100):
7Bіt Casino's live casino gives you the real deal with actual dealers, making you feel like you're right there at the casino table. It's a thrilling way to enjoy top-notch crypto gambling.
Reward System (85/100):
We like the welcome bonus and ongoing promotions at 7Bіt Casino, which make your gaming experience even better. But we think the rules for getting those bonuses could be friendlier to players.
Transaction Process (92/100):
With lots of cryptocurrency options, 7Bіt Casino makes it easy to deposit and withdraw money quickly and without any fuss. It's one of the best bitcoin casinos for smooth transactions.
Trust & Safety (95/100):
Being eCOGRA-certified means 7Bіt Casino takes safety and fairness seriously. We're confident our personal and financial info is safe at this top-rated crypto casino.
Support Efficiency (89/100):
While 7Bіt Casino's support team is available 24/7 through live chat and email, it would be great to have phone support too.
Mobile Gaming (91/100):
7Bіt Casino's mobile platform is responsive, letting us enjoy our favorite games wherever we are. It's one of the best crypto casinos for playing on the go.
Reddit Verdict (92/100):
We highly recommend 7Bіt Casino as the best crypto casino for US players. With its huge game selection, player-focused rewards, and strong security, it gives you an awesome crypto gambling experience.

CryptoWins - the best choice for High Rollers and US players.

CryptoWins Casino is a special place where online gaming meets cryptocurrency. In this review, we'll explore what makes CryptoWins stand out in the world of online casinos.
Firstly, CryptoWins Casino offers a reliable and easy-to-use gaming experience. By combining traditional casino games with the benefits of cryptocurrency, it becomes a good choice for players.
We'll also see how CryptoWins is a great option for both experienced and new players. It gives players who like using cryptocurrency a lot of options, and it has created a strong community around its platform. In short, if you're looking for a trustworthy, rewarding, and modern gaming experience, Cryptowins Casino is worth considering.
Special Offers
A generous welcome bonus package that can include up to 3 BTC spread over the first three deposits for welcomers.
Welcome Bonus
Enjoy a 137 % deposit bonus up to 1 BTC or its equivalent, because of our exclusive referral.
Highlights
Every part of this casino offers something unique, from its promotions to its loyalty program. But like everything else, CryptoWins Casino has its good and not-so-good sides.
Pros of CryptoWins casino

• Quick, fee-free withdrawals
• User-friendly NO KYC system
• A unique loyalty program features like CryptoWins

Cons of CryptoWins casino

• Few options for non-crypto users
• Prizes are time-limited
• Can be complex for new players

Background
CryptoWins Casino caught my eye with its modern take on gambling. Operated by Slotland Entertainment., it's a relatively new casino launched in 2023, offering a fresh perspective on gaming.
Ownership
Slotland Entertainment is the force behind this casino, a reputable name in online gambling.
License
CryptoWins Casino is licensed and regulated by the Curacao Gaming Authority, ensuring fair play and security for players.
Payment Methods
CryptoWins supports various deposit and withdrawal options, including popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, ensuring swift transactions.
Languages
With support for multiple languages, CryptoWins welcomes players from different parts of the world.
Future Plans
CryptoWins is not your average casino. It’s looking ahead with Web3 integration, including plans for an NFT marketplace and games using owned NFTs.
Unique Features
CryptoWins introduces the ‘Wins’ spin, a personalized slot game for each player, enhancing the gaming experience.
Geo-Restrictions
CryptoWins is among the top US-friendly casinos, allowing access to Americans, Canadian and Australian players anywhere.
Reputation
With a Anjouan license and strict security measures, CryptoWins ensures a trustworthy and transparent gaming environment.

BіtStаrz - АskGаmblers awards 2023. Fast games and high odds.

Bіtstаrz is one of the oldest and most popular Bitcoin casinos. In this article, I'll tell you about the games it offers, bonuses, licensing, and its pros and cons. Check it out to learn more. If you want to compare Bіtstаrz with other crypto casinos, you can do that too.
Bіtstаrz Review Summary
Bіtstаrz is a highly respected and licensed Bitcoin casino. It uses a special method to make sure its games are fair for both the casino and the players. They offer over 2800 games and various bonuses like free spins and a 100% deposit bonus (or 150% for 99Bitcoins readers).
One important thing to remember is to follow Bіtstаrz rules. If you break them, you might lose your winnings, as some users have found out the hard way.
From Bіtstаrz Review - READ THIS Before You Play (2024 Updated)
Overview
Bіtstаrz has been around since 2014 and is run by a team of people who love both cryptocurrency and gambling. They've won awards like Ask Gamblers – Best Casino 2018 Player’s Choice Award and Ask Gamblers – Best Casino 2017.
Like many other online casinos, Bіtstаrz is registered and licensed in Curacao. This is a smart move because Curacao has simple laws that only need one license for all types of gambling.
The platform aims to make playing at the casino easy and fun. They promise fast payments, lots of games to choose from, and fair play, all with a personal touch.
Regulation
The casino is owned and operated by Direx N.V., which also runs other online casinos. It's registered under the laws of Curacao. The Direx N.V. master gambling license has the registration number 131879 and is registered at Heelsumstraat 51 E-Commerce Park, Curacao.
When it comes to Bіtstаrz terms of service, it's important to read them carefully. If you break the rules, even accidentally, Bіtstаrz might not give you your winnings and could freeze your account. One key rule is that only one account is allowed per household, IP address, or computer. If you try to open more than one account, they might block or close them, and any bets or winnings could be canceled.
Some users have reported issues with multiple accounts from the same household, resulting in refused payouts. However, if you follow the rules and any identity checks, your experience should be enjoyable.
Bіtstаrz is also provably fair, meaning you can check that the game results are fair for yourself. They use a special method to make sure neither the casino nor the player knows the game's outcome until it starts.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
The fees vary depending on the currency you use. You can deposit, withdraw, and play with both cryptocurrency and regular money.
If you play with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, there are usually no fees for deposits or withdrawals. It's quick and easy to deposit Bitcoin by scanning your account's QR code from your personal wallet.
However, fiat deposits (regular money) can be expensive, with fees ranging from 2.5% to 10%. You can find more details about fees on Bіtstаrz website.
Bіtstаrz Bonuses
Bіtstаrz gives out several bonuses, like a 100% bonus on your first deposit and 180 free spins. They also offer bonuses of 75%, 50%, and 25% for your next three deposits. Plus, when you sign up, you get 20 free spins without having to deposit any money, which is pretty cool.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a random bonus of 0.80mBTC deposited into my account 24 hours after signing up. It's not a lot, around $7-$8, but it was a nice bonus.
Highlight Games
Bіtstаrz offers over 2800 casino games, including slots and table games. There are tons of slot games to choose from, like Dragon’s Element, Fire Lightning, and Elvis Frog in Vegas. I spent a while playing Elvis Frog in Vegas; the gameplay is easy, and you can start spinning in no time.
I tried several slot games, and they're all pretty similar, just with different themes.
You can also try your luck with jackpot games, where you can win big prizes. However, the buy-in is higher compared to regular slot games, starting at around $10 per spin. You can win huge jackpots on games like Greedy Goblins, Tycoon Plus, and Bank Robbers, which have jackpots of over 5 BTC at the time of writing. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything.
There's also a wide selection of table games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker, which require more skill than luck. Out of all the games I played on Bіtstаrz, my favorite was Blackjack; it has smooth gameplay that makes it easy to beat the house.
Currency and Payment Methods
Bіtstаrz accepts various cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tether, and Litecoin. You can also use fiat currencies like Euro, US Dollars, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Japanese Yen, Renminbi, Polish Złoty, Russian Ruble, and Norwegian Krone.
Available Countries
Bіtstаrz is available in many countries, but there are some where it's not allowed due to local laws. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, France, and others.

Kаtsubеt - the best Live dealer games.

KаtsuBеt Review Summary
KаtsuBеt is an online casino with an Asian theme. It's operated by one of the big players in the online casino industry. They're licensed and accept cryptocurrencies. KаtsuBеt offers over 7,000 games from top developers, and many of their games are provably fair.
KаtsuBеt is an online casino that's cool with cryptocurrency, started in 2020 by Dama N.V., a company that owns other big online casinos like Wildtornado. They've got a whopping 7,000 games including slots, jackpot, table, live dealer, and BTC games. All their games are from top-notch developers, so you can trust they're fair.
Like most crypto casinos online, KаtsuBеt is registered and licensed in Curaçao. It's easier for casinos to get a license there than in the US or Europe.
Their website is slick and easy to navigate. You can quickly find the games you want, whether it's slots, table games, or live dealer games. Plus, you can filter by game provider, so if you've got a favorite, you can find all their games easily. Signing up is a breeze, and deposits are speedy, so you can start playing in no time.
Regulation
As mentioned before, KаtsuBеt is owned and operated by Dama N.V. who own and operate over 60 different online casinos and sports betting platforms. Like the casino itself, its parent company, Dama N.V. is also registered in Curaçao, although they do have a subsidiary that is registered in Cyprus.
KаtsuBеt prides itself on the fairness and transparency of its games, something that is important when choosing an online casino. Most games that are developed by the major casino game developers are provably fair and use a random number generator to ensure the fairness and randomness of results.
As with all online casinos, we recommend you thoroughly read their terms and conditions before registering and depositing any money. Online casinos can sometimes be extremely strict when it comes to their terms and conditions as well as what constitutes a breach of their terms. If you deposit money into your account but then are found to be in breach of the terms and conditions, it could result in the casino denying your withdrawal, closing your account and keeping any money that you had deposited.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees:
KаtsuBеt charges fees for depositing and withdrawing money, and these fees can change based on how you're making the transaction. There are also specific minimum and maximum amounts you can deposit or withdraw. When using credit or debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro for fiat currency transactions, there's a 2.5% fee. However, there are other fiat payment methods, like PurplePay or Neosurf, that don't have fees.
For withdrawals, you can use virtual credit cards or bank transfers, but both have a 2.5% fee. For fiat deposits, the minimum is $10, and the maximum is $4000. Withdrawals have a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $4000, except for bank transfers, which have different limits.
KаtsuBеt also accepts cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, with most transactions being free. But if you use Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Tether, there might be small additional fees. There are no maximum limits for crypto transactions, but the minimum amount varies depending on the cryptocurrency you use. For more details on fees and limits, check their payments page here.
Highlight Games:
KаtsuBеt offers a vast selection of over 7,000 casino games, including slots, table games, and live dealer options. With so many choices, you're sure to find something you like. Despite the huge variety, KаtsuBеt website is well-organized, making it easy to find the game you want. Many games are similar across online casinos run by Dama N.V., KаtsuBеt parent company. I tried out several slot games, and one popular choice was Aztec Magic Bonanza. While themes differ, most slot games play similarly.

Stаkе - the best sweep casino.

Stаkе is a well-known online casino and sportsbook with over 3,000 games and many betting options. It's known for its good bonuses and quick payouts, making it a popular choice for online betting. Want to know if Stаkе lives up to its reputation? In our detailed Stаkе review, we'll explore this casino thoroughly and cover everything you need to know to decide if it's the right choice for you.
Stаkе Bonus Deals
Stаkе offers various promotions and challenges to help you earn extra cash and increase your winnings. Let's explore what they have to offer.
Sign Up Bonus
Unlike many other online casinos, Stаkе doesn't offer a welcome bonus for new players. This means there's no deposit match, free spins, or free bet when you sign up.
No Deposit Bonus
Currently, Stаkе doesn't have any no deposit bonus deals. All the bonus codes available are for existing players, and you need to place bets to qualify for them.
Promotions for Existing Players
Stаkе provides numerous promotions and challenges for its existing players. Here are some of the top offers:

• Daily Races: Every day, players compete to climb the leaderboard based on the number of bets they place on Stаkе. The top 5,000 players win prizes from a $100,000 daily pool.
• $150,000 Weekly Raffle: For every $500 you wager, you'll earn a ticket for Stаkе weekly $150,000 giveaway. Winners are announced every Saturday.
• Conquer the Casino: Each week, Stаkе highlights 10 games for this promotion. The player with the highest payout on each game earns $3,200 in bonus cash, while the player with the highest multiplier on each game earns $1,000.

These offers provide exciting opportunities for players to boost their winnings and enjoy more rewards at Stаkе.

I emailed Boom Learning (help@boomlearning.com) to let them know I was not happy with the proposed changes that would result in a watermark over all decks (including ones we've already paid for) unless you have a paid subscription. I just received a response and thought others might be interested in reading it (though please email them yourself as well!) and possibly signing up for the information session.
"Thank you for reaching out. We are having an information session on May 30 at 1 pm PDT for our users to learn more by our CEO Mary Oemig. Please use this link to register. Before that meeting we want you to know some key things:

• Fast Pins, our student play mode for our Starter account, will not have a watermark.
• We announced limits on Fast Pins to address integrity concerns. We are open to feedback on where those limits should be.
• We do not have an agreement with TPT and we do not receive income of any kind from TPT.
• We are introducing a new feature called Presentation Mode for use with students. It will include the option to log data without students logging in.
• We have heard that you are concerned about your current use of Preview. We look forward to your feedback on the new Presentation Mode.
• The Preview equivalent (Presentation Mode) available July 1 will not have limits.
• The private teacher review view (Prep Mode) will have a watermark."

I'm interested in learning more about Presentation Mode since it says it "will not have limits." Mostly, is that a mode that is only available to paid subscribers? I'm guessing it is.
Anyway, please email them if you haven't!

Right everyone, I must thank the literal hundreds of people who have DM’d me off the back of a couple of comments I’ve made the last few days on posts! I'm hoping that this post will give a bit of clarity to the people who have asked me questions! Also, must apologise I am dyslexic so please give me a break if my punctuation is off haha.
Background -
In 2021 I got an internship at JPM, did a great job and was offered a role on the graduate scheme. I worked in investment services and quickly found out jpm is such a well-oiled machine that there is a team for every single layer of the department. I was placed in Investment services but in the projects team which I wasn’t interested in and was told to work in the market stuff I’d have to grind for 3-4 years. Just FYI I wanted to get into high finance, more specifically trading but knew it would be mega competitive so thought I'd get my foot in the door by going into the support functions.
I loved my time at JPM and I met such awesome people there but there was always something about the rest of my cohort that I just couldn’t gel with. I'm from a working-class family and saw my parents struggle a lot when I was younger. I watched my dad slowly deteriorate until he had a full-blown mental breakdown and never got help for it after and my mother had been on antidepressants since her brother killed himself like 20 years ago and thought she could occasionally come off the tablets which made the home environment real tough. I also don’t have siblings or cousins so I felt so alone during those times. Going back to the people their troubles were so much different to mine and I found it hard to fit in with their lifestyles. ( this is important later).
Anyway, looking into how I could transfer my skills while getting exposure to what I wanted to do which was market work I found out that large industries which have business all over the world require a lot of different currencies, which brought me to oil and gas. I started researching different functions within the industry and found that two very specific departments would offer me that exposure!
Treasury-
looking after the company's cash levels and supplying different currencies when required. This role was marketed to me as a varied role which included FX, market and economic analysis. This would then be used to make decisions on when to purchase, sell or hedge a certain currency. It also involves M&A, board-level presentations and pitches.
Corporate Development -
they look at M&A opportunities constantly, they also look at asset management and can put forward option contracts to different companies for rights to drill in a certain well in exchange for that company getting to drill in their well for some time. Or even simpler. Both companies stay in their wells and just option their revenue for that well. They also work on competitor analysis for earnings calls and shareholder meetings.
I was offered the role of treasury analyst one year ago and have never looked back! I have in the last year worked on Fx, market and economic analysis, trading FX, Hedging FX, and Options, and even been part of a billion-pound merger. All of this with just 1.5 years of experience! I literally would have never gotten this experience if I had stayed at JPM as I'd have been stuck in one team doing one of those functions.
What people have been asking
Where do I live?
I currently live in Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen is one of the O&G capitals of the world with every big name you can think of having a head office of sorts here. We also have thousands of other O&G companies you will have never heard of. Aberdeen is also home to the Big 4 accounting and Big 4 law firms. Several investment banks, wealth management, asset management and pension firms.
Why do I live in Aberdeen?
I was born here and saw what riches the O&G industry could give people. What is also a great opportunity with Aberdeen is that there is a serious shortage of people to work in these firms because the media has been stating for years and years “just five more years left in the oil industry”. This means that you can leverage much higher wages. I’m currently earning well over the national average wage with 2.5 years of experience and could leave my firm tomorrow and get a 10% pay rise down the road.
Another reason. Property is very very cheap here. With the oil boom from the 80’s to 2010 hundreds of thousands of properties were built here and in 2015 people were paying 300,400,500k just for an average flat/apartment because there was so much demand. However, in 2016 there was a huge oil crash and there were thousands of redundancies. This scared off the youth to safer industries. However, this means that there are more properties than people who want to buy at the moment I recently at 26 just bought a two-bed, 70 sqm flat for 113k in the west end next to Michelin-star restaurants, high-class wine bars and that sort of scene. I'm betting the house that Aberdeen makes its return with the renewable sector as well as the oil market growing further. Recently Aberdeen was selected to have the world's largest floating wind farm built starting in the next few years. That is thousands of jobs, people moving here for the construction and then the maintenance. There is also an energy plant being built 35 miles away which needs another 11k people to operate it.
Schedule and benefits -
I work 37.5 hours per week, 8 am - 5 pm mon-thur and 9-1 pm Friday.
35 days holiday plus a further 5 days at Xmas and new year
All health benefits included
8.5% pension from employer and I add 1.5% also.
Wages are different everywhere but as someone junior, I make more than I did in banking.
I go to the office 2/3 days per week
How I got the job -
I had random recruiters message me which prompted me to look into other recruitment firms and apply for every single one of them in my city. They promptly set up calls with me and then I proceeded to get applications left right and centre.
Qualifications -
I have an undergraduate degree in finance and real estate and a diploma in law. However, all qualifications are considered.
What roles should you look for that cover trading, derivatives and M&A-
The two departments you will find these roles and Treasury and Corporate Development
The roles to look for are Treasury, market, financial, finance, and data analyst.
Extra tip - a lot of O&G companies have not changed title names for years like since the 80’s. So look for titles with assistants in them, they are referring to analysts. Once you’re in our you can get her to alter your title. Mine was an accounting assistant. I then got a treasury analyst. My role has nothing to do with accounting.
What other roles are there in O&G?-
Well, there are two sectors onshore and offshore. Onshore is office-based and offshore is site-based.
Onshore you have finance, treasury, CD, tax, legal, audit, accounts, and sales. All that sort of business. I will also say Audit is another interesting one. One of my mates is constantly setting off to Dubai, Saudi, Oman, Chile, Colombia, and Peru all for work, all business class and all 4-5 star hotels (unless they are on base).
Offshore you have account controllers, finance managers, and rig supervisors. You can see for yourself online. These lots get paid extremely well. 3-4 times what you get onshore, however you will live on a boat or an oil rig for 6 months a year, but get the other 6 months at home without having to work.
What companies to look for -
I'd stay clear of the huge firms, they will be the same as banking. A team working on one specific area in the department so your exposure will be much less. Look for small to mid-sized firms. I'm at s small/mid firm with 11k employees and a revenue of around 3 billion per year.
Genuinely, you don’t need to look for the companies, the companies will look for you if you get with a recruiter.
What level can you come in at -
Most places offer internships, grad programs, junior roles, mid roles and senior roles. One of my mates was a manager at a coffee shop for 5 years and did an accelerated uni course to get the minimum qualifications to get an interview. He now tenders bids for international contracts. They love a career switch because you’re fresh and not burnt out! If you can show you can handle your workload and think you’re a good fit you will find a job.
What If I think my finance background isn’t relevant (insurance) -
Whatever you think about your background you can spin it on your CV. I’m not talking about lying but just making the bits which are more important prettier. Most corporate functions are the same. Can you time keep? Can you juggle multiple jobs? Hit deadlines etc. If you can you then apply! Explain you have had an interest for some time and that you want to make a career switch. Then list your strengths and apply them to the role! You will be successful if you want it.
Are there many trading opportunities in this industry? -
Yes and No. The larger firms will likely have full teams like in banks, sitting in London. They will have an fx team, commodity team, derivative team etc. They will be revenue-driving teams! Whereas small to medium-sized firms will have one/two departments doing all of the above but trading for risk mitigation. This means that there is severely less stress on the team to lock in trades! However, you still get the same experience as the market lot but can enjoy your life! Haha. Smaller companies might not be able to fulfil this sort of role and will likely just take losses on straight trades.
Do I need to know about oil and gas to get a job in the industry? -
NO! I knew nothing before joining. I knew about finance and that was that. However, after a year of being there, I have picked up so much to do with the industry. So moving forward if I go to PE or something I will bring banking, trading and energy knowledge which is more than someone who works on the markets desk at JPM.
Can I move to Aberdeen from a different country? -
Yes! And I'd encourage it. In Aberdeen, we have large communities of Americans, Canadians southern Americans, Europeans, Africans, and middle eastern ppl. There is a huge emphasis on bringing outside talent to the city and we have a great integrated and diverse city. I say it like that because I know in larger cities there can be a lot of segregation of certain races and communities. However, in Aberdeen, there is a greater tolerance for internationals because we all bring something different to the table. The people I have met on nights out have been incredible. Helicopter pilots from Nigeria, underwater welders from Peru, and ultra depth divers from iceland. Its a one in a million place where everyone gets along and everyone makes a shit land of money so there is no divide! I've been to every celebration of every religion, I’ve eaten at the table of every race and by the end, it's nothing but respect.
Cost of living in Scotland - my experience -
Considerably less than a lot of other western countries. I’m 6’5 240lb and my weekly food shop is £50-£60. My mortgage is £500 per month, utilities another couple hundred, cars I own three with no debt. You can buy a 2018 range rover here for less than 45k. Aberdeen also has the highest level of disposable income in the uk. If you want to find out more about Aberdeen check out aberdeen. We have beaches, shopping malls, great food, great bars less than two hours from some amazing ski slopes in the winter too.
Hopefully, I have covered most questions. If anyone wants to add me on LinkedIn just dm me and send your link!
If you want me to answer any more questions just comment below and I will reply.

Welcome to Elena's Closet!!
👕👗 Explore & Share! This is your space to discover, share, and chat about everything related to kids' fashion. Whether you're looking for the latest trends, need some advice on sizes, or want to show off your little one's stylish outfits, you're in the right place!
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The Elena's Closet Team

DAY: May 27 2024
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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

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So I've been working on this one for quite some time, running sessions here since November, so I thought I'd finally share with the class. My previous domains have all the highly streamlined into a specific gimmick (or if you're being less generous, one-trick ponies), and I wanted to transition to an episodic style campaign for scheduling and session-planning reasons. So I challenged myself to make something that had a lot of potential in the type of sessions, terrain, and factions. I'm pleased with the result and I have endless fun. Dragonmine dungeons, sea monster hunts, and up to my armpits in murder mysteries (Involving everything from serial killers, forced marriages to sea creatures, finding shipwrecks, and backstreet grafting, and their current conundrum involving medieval compacts and mining rights).
What I have here is the stripped down version, hence the lack of things like a detailed backstory, NPCs, or the factions I'm mentioned. These things all exist, but there's far too much for a random reddit post.

Caergwynt

Domain of cursed bloodlines and stolen flesh
Darklord: Dr James Pugh
Genres: Body horror, cosmic horror
Hallmarks: A cursed piscine populace, dragon-flesh grafting surgery, a seaside town.
Mist Talismans: A preserved dragon’s bladder, A piece of leather with a triple-eye tattoo, a carver’s blade

A thousand years ago the people of Dan-y-Mor bargained with the Deep Ones of Thol’Yth, a bargain that caused their home to sink into the sea and has left a corrupting mark on their bloodline to this day. But times have moved on, and in the seaside tourist town of Caergwynt the people try to throw off the chains of the sea and embrace modernity. Dr James Pugh, master surgeon, alchemist, and prodigal son of Caergwynt, brough home with him the discoveries of Dragon-flesh grafting, and how the power within draconic meat can counteract the curse that afflicts them as they age.

But along with innovations, Pugh has brought twisted ideals of supremacy, callousness, and self-loathing to the town. Behind the pastel painted houses and ice-cream stands, Pugh holds the domain in the grips of his ideology. In Caergwynt both beauty and ugliness are skin deep; horror lies beneath both.

And where are they getting this dragon flesh?

Noteworthy Features

Those familiar with [Domain Name] know these facts:
· The coastal population is cursed by their piscine ancestry. Though they appear human to begin with, they start to warp into fish-like beings as the enter middle-age, until eventually they can’t survive on land.
· Magic and the occult arts aren’t banned in the town, but they pride themselves in their modern thinking, and so both are rare and seen with suspicion. Alchemy is very popular, as is natural philosophy of all kinds, though scientific truth is often clouded in ideological bias.
· Minor surgeries involving dragon flesh is hugely popular in the town, primarily as it staves off the piscine transformation. Draconic virtues such as wealth, independence, and power are idealised, while meekness, poverty, and laziness are seen as the result of oceanic taint.
· The inland parts of the domain are mountainous and sparsely populated, but under the mountains dragons lie hibernating in the hundreds. Through use of industrial quantities of sedatives, mining teams, and the skilled blades of the ‘Carvers’, they remove the flesh of living dragons for sale to surgeons.

Geography and locations

At the heart of the domain lies the town of Caergwynt, for which the domain is named, though it extends well beyond the picturesque town. Coastline stretches to the north and south for 9 miles in each direction. Outside the town much of the coastline is steep cliffs with only occasional cove, until the northern most two miles, which level out into sand dunes and finally to an estuary, the river bisected by the mists.

The domain extends another 13 miles inland to the east, almost immediately rising into rolling mountain ranges worn smooth eons ago by glaciers. Beneath these mountains are rich veins of ore, usually lead, copper, tin, silver, and even gold. Not to mention another, slumbering, treasure. These ridges and valleys are mostly populated by sheep farmers and miners, and their distance from the civilised towns means the old traditions still hold strong. Travellers here are likely to be vexed by the remaining fey spirits, whom they have likely offended by breaking their baffling codes.

Lastly, to the west is 13 miles of sea. Beneath the sea here is the remains of Dan-y-Mor, the lands that were drowned. Legends tell that the dragon Rhodri Efydd drowned these lands to punish the people there for their pact with the Deep Ones, and that it’s the survivors of this event that settled in Caergwynt and established the cursed bloodlines that still dwell there. The ruins are now populated by the Deep Ones, and the seas are treacherous to those who do not pay tribute to them.

Caergwynt town The main settlement and namesake of the domain, Caergwynt town is the seat of James Pugh’s power, and the nexus for his ideas. A rail line connects the town to the wider world through the mists, bringing tourists from far and wide to enjoy its pastel houses, seaside attractions, and healthy sea air. The town has grown incredibly rapidly over the past fifty years, so many of the houses are relatively new, painted brightly, and have plumbing. Wealthier houses often have electricity even, as Pugh idealises technological progress as a means of freeing oneself from the overlords of old.

Along the seafront promenade one can find ice-cream stands, circus acts, and countless sun loungers. Many children paddle in the shallows, under the watchful eyes of the many lifeguards. An impressive pier thrusts out to sea over 600ft, hosting a bar, dancefloor, and bandstand, as well as being decorated by colourful electric lights along its whole length.

On an upward-thrust outcropping of stone overlooking the bay, the ruins of a medieval castle can be found. Though much of the old outer portions are now a pleasant picnic overlook, the ruins themselves act as a façade that conceals the home and workshop of Dr James Pugh, the regal remains cloaking the garish metal construction where Pugh conducts his experiments and surgeries.

Dan-y-Mor Long ago, these lands were cast into the sea for the betrayal of the people here to their own kin: In return for protection against floods, the elders of the town betrothed many of their younger relatives to the Deep Ones. When forced to confront the horror of what they’d done, they refused to repent, and so the dragon Rhodri Efydd flooded the land to try and kill off all those tainted by the deep.

Not only did he fail, but the Deep Ones now occupy the ruins in great numbers, growing their strength and plotting their control over the surface. Led by the high priest Xrilath, ancient human structures have been supplemented by cyclopean temples to unfathomable gods. Here Xrilath experiments in creating mutants for his legions, and plots to spread his insanity to all. His aristocrats constantly feud and war over slaves and territory, and his priests construct monuments to induce storms and curses over the ocean. Unnatural reefs and trenches can come and go under the force of their magic, and shipwrecks are a frequent sight.

To this day, the church bells of Dan-y-Mor can be heard when the sea mists are thick.

Llwyd North along the coastline, as the cliffs finally give way to pebbles and finally a sandy beach, sits the unfortunately named Llwyd. Behind the town lies the only flat terrain of the domain, but it is boggy and brackish and so of little use, without a safe harbour like it’s sibling settlement to nucleate around. Thus, it’s a stretched-out town of a few hundred, composing of only two streets running a mile each in parallel along the beach, with the only high ground occupied by a church and a small railway station.
Like Caergwynt, its populace are doomed to mutate as they age, but away from the most intense of Pugh’s influence, they see themselves as more at peace with their nature. Repulsed by their lack of self-repulsion, Pugh has successfully discredited the town as being run-down and dire, stalling its attempt to draw in tourists as Caergwynt has, despite superficially similar pastel houses and beach attractions. Without cash coming in, most of the town is now stuck in a cycle of dilapidation that makes true Pugh’s slander.
Of the ailing attractions, the most notable it the Abominarium, a fledgling zoo that pivoted to displaying captured cryptids and the occasional escaped carver’s pet when funds for proper zoo animals wasn’t available.

Porthniwl
This town lies at the very south of the domain, a ruined place that was bisected by the mists when they descended and never left. Formerly, it was the template that Caergwynt copied to reinvent itself, but now the ebb and flow of the mists leaves it inhospitable and maddening, populated only by aberrations, Aled Llias-y-mor’s Deep-One splinter faction, and insane pirates. The cultists worship and bargain with otherworldly entities that spawn from the mists, welcoming them as Xrilath’s distant kin.

Cwm Crith
Following the river Crith from its terminus in Caergwynt inland (Or better yet, simply taking the narrow-gauge train with the miners each morning) will eventually lead to Cwm Crith, the upper reaches of the Crith valley. Formerly a loose scattering of shepherds, the valley has become dominated by Pugh’s dragonflesh mines that have poked holes in the mountainside. Leaked poisons, smelting effluent, and the residue of toxic ores has rendered the river a pretty but toxic blue colour, and decimated the agriculture of the valley.
While not the only dragonflesh mining compound in the domain, Cwm Crith is by far the busiest and most profitable. Owned of course by Dr James Pugh, Cwm Crith Mining Company, and its subsidiary the Goldscale Carvers, is an economic powerhouse by the standards of the other businesses in the domain. Along with dragon flesh, the draconic influence that seeps into the rocks has imbued the region with rich veins of ore that facilitates the industry of the domain.

Dr James Pugh

_See biography for full account_
Having left the decrepit town as a teenager, Pugh returned with a surprising supply of cash, a doctorate, and ambitious ideas about how the town should enter the bold new world of industry that was emerging. When he returned with a mysterious supply of money, he quickly set to work rebuilding his hometown to fit his own ideas. Where as the curse of their bloodline was formerly an accepted fact of life in the town, he introduced shame of their heritage along with the pioneering surgeries that could counteract it.

Dr James Pugh's Powers and Dominion
Despite being over seventy years old, Pugh appears to be in excellent health. Tall and lean, it’s clear to anyone meeting him, and confirmed by any who knew him as a youth, that he has always possessed an angular but handsome face, one that has only ever expressed seriousness or coldly simmering rage.
However, while age hasn’t affected him too greatly, his own surgery has: He has reptilian eyes, shimmering gold in the irises, and faint golden flecks in all visible skin. Golden scales can be seen around his neck and hands, though his habitual long-sleeved shirts don’t reveal much else. While most grafting subjects are left with swollen and distorted scars to be covered with heavy layers of make-up, Pugh’s few visible stiches are immaculate.
He always wears well made but not flamboyant clothing, so that it is his body, not attire, that draws the eye. Always practical, he is never seen in anything other than the ideal apparel for the occasion.
Though Pugh’s physical self is as full of hypocrisy as his ideology. Despite every sign of refinement and control, he can only maintain this visage by regular consumption of an expensive dragon-blood potion.

His true form, a consequence of his self-inflicted experiments, is a monstrous brute, with heavy staples holding together draconic and human flesh. These wounds are rife with infections that causes him to ooze pus and blood as he moves. While his hulking asymmetrical frame is strong, he suffers greatly from migraines, and thus his intelligence is drowned out by pain and anger. In a mockery of a dragon’s breath weapon, he can vomit great quantities of phosphorescent acid that ignites on contact with air.

Despite seeming to be bursting at the seams, his constitution is remarkable. He has survived poisoning, blood loss, strangulation, and many of his own experimental procedures beyond any reasonable explanation. Grievous wounds will render him in an apparently dead state for several days, but so far he has always woken back up.
However Pugh doesn’t hold sway over the domain by brute force, for almost none know his true condition. His true power is ideological and economic.
With his stolen money, he made many early investments into the mining sector, paid for the rail line that feeds visitors into the town, is the landlord of many homes in the town, and financed most of the tourist attractions. From this he earns a reliable and steady fortune that frees him up to pursue his research, and gives him leverage over a significant amount of the town as their landlord or employer.

Whilst the domains police are not officially under his command, his generous donations, forensic assistance, and loyal local politicians means that they tend to act in his favour.
And when he needs direct actions take, he has the Goldscale Carvers.
As their owner, he has cultivated a collection of brutal and loyal men who aren’t afraid of dirty work. They are also the unofficial biohazard containment specialists of the domain, so Pugh will gladly invent some hazard the police are ill-suited to handle when he wants things handled by his goons.

If attacked, he can choose to transform into his monstrous true form, but will resist doing so at almost any cost. Instead, he is comfortable in using potions and a dueling pistol, along with some magic that resides in him from all his tampering with dragon’s blood.

Dr James Pugh's Torment
· Xrilath is occupied full time with undermining Pugh’s ideology and trying to engineer his fall from grace. The mad aboleth believes only by bringing Pugh down to his level will they all be free of the mists (He’s not wrong either).
· Pugh relies on the dragonflesh mines to not only make money, but also perpetuate his ideology of grafting. Yet he’s terrified one day a dragon will break loose and take revenge on him for his crimes against them.
· Despite all his talk, Pugh has the most monstrous, most obscene grafts of everyone. By his own preaching, if anyone found out, they’d cast him down for his weakness.

Roleplaying Dr Jame Pugh
Pugh is a man of many dualities, hypocrisy made flesh. He’s the tortured spirit of a man whose self-image and true self are incompatible. Pugh’s motives are a web of his enlightened philosophies and base desires. What welds them together is his determination, an iron rod that glows hot enough to burn but never bends.

Pugh believes that gracious physical form belies a noble mind, and vice versa. And that his surgeries are not simple jobs of stitching and cutting, but a means of balancing out a noble intellect with a suitable body, if said body has been unfairly tainted. He blames failed surgeries and the common madness that comes from them on the result of unworthy recipients trying to claim grander forms than they deserve. He practices phrenology, the pseudoscience of determining character from the shape of one’s skull. He will often offer to undertake a phrenological exam on new acquaintances and prospective clients, and fills in the results with assumptions and what knowledge he has gathered on them so far.

In another brazen display of circular logic, he believes that the taint of the deep ones hides the town’s true draconic ancestry, and that the surgery simply helps it rise to the surface. Yet his own true body is a mockery of his own art, the most gruesome of all his patients is himself, and his grandeur is only a façade.

Most tragically, is that from a young age, Pugh has adored the legends of old. He envies the way that the world used to make sense, that people could earn their place by their qualities, and that larger-than-life characters decided the fate of the world. Yet he’s too astute to be blind to the apathetic randomness of the modern world, where logic and science tell us that nobody is truly important. This manifests in his ideology of great people displaying draconic traits, and sometimes in his more crazed experiments…
For Dr James Pugh does go mad. Sometimes for days at a time, he’ll whip himself into a stupor of narcotics and paranoia, lock himself in his laboratory, and perform experiments that would sicken even himself in the light of day. Mockeries of beast of legends, such as drakes and chimeras, are a common result of this.
Bonds: “I have a lot of work still ahead of me: I must fend of the nefarious Deep Ones, perfect my work of removing their curse, and outs my rivals for this kingdom I have built.”
Ideals: “A man should be strong, unwavering, and bold. What he owns is proof of his power. A graceful visage belies a respectable heart.”
Flaws: “I’m surrounded by enemies at all time! I can’t trust anyone! Paranoid? I’ll show you paranoia!” “I’m terrified of dragons.” “My body and blood are tainted and I’m worried I won’t be able to undo any of it.”
Traits: “Yes I’m the smartest man in the room. Any room. All rooms. I take what I want, and by successfully doing so, I prove that I am right to do so.”

Despite his exhaustive list of flaws, Dr James Pugh is an extremely capable individual. Along with his academic brilliance, he has a keen mind for business, strategy, and social manipulation. He can be charming, though more often opts for an aloof commanding presence. Knowing how durable he’s become, he rarely shows fear.
Pugh will try to befriend anyone who seems well-learned, strong-willed, and bold. He’ll compliment those he believes are following his ideals, but the closer they come to being his ideal man, the more he’ll see them as a rival.


Adventures in Caergwynt
By its design, Caergwynt has a wide variety of locations to explore, and several factions to interact with. The ocean is riddled with the feuding Deep Ones, shipwrecks, and the mutated kin of Caergwynt. Inland is host to fey and ghosts that bedevil the simple farming folk, as well as with dragonflesh mines. Caergwynt town is a hotbed for backstreet surgeries, families torn apart by biology, and the clash of the old ways against the new. And while the domain is modern enough for gunpowder, steam trains, and even the odd electric bulb, the history of a thousand years ago still casts its shadow into the current day.

· A pair of serial killers have been abducting those with dragon grafts ripping out the valued flesh, and selling it on the black market. Can anyone track them down?
· A man driven mad by his grafts has become obsessed with a 30 year old shipwreck, claiming that the sunken treasure aboard is his hoard, and has hired help finding it and taking it from a Deep One noble.
· A valuable item has been hidden in an abandoned mineshaft, but the Goldscale carvers have started using it as a convenient place to farm their carrion crawlers.
· A washed-up sea monster has started an outbreak of a strange disease. Pugh is confident he can create a cure, but needs someone to hunt down a living specimen.
· Sightings of a strange creature have spread around the town. Is it a monster from the ocean, or was it created closer to home. To find out, one would have to race the carvers to find and kill it, lest any evidence disappear.

• Introduce Yourself: If you haven’t yet, drop a quick intro. What are you working on? What are your side hustles? • Share Your Wins: Big or small, let’s celebrate every victory. Made your first sale? Landed a new client? Share it here! • Ask for Help: Stuck on something? Need advice? This community is here to support you. Don’t hesitate to ask. • Funny Business Ideas: Every week, we post a ‘funny business idea of the week.’ Got a hilarious, out-of-the-box idea? Post it and make us laugh! 

Hey everyone,
This post is about how I use my Reddit Marketing AI SaaS (Promotee) to find potential customers and convert them.
After selling on Reddit for more than 2 years, I have realized that there is a very effective process that simply works. It's not a gimmick, it's nothing magic or fancy. It follows a simple principle - "Conversations bring conversions". If you are able to have conversations with right people (read potential customers) and you are effectively solving the product (aka have good product), then you get the customers.
How the process looks like ?

1. Find the right subreddits where your potential customers hangout.
2. Comment on posts that you find relevant or has context around your business.
3. If you get a reply on the post, then engage with them by adding value.
4. Take the conversation to dm or connect somewhere else.
5. Have more chat.
6. Propose your solution
7. And get a paying customer.

I know it sounds simple, and to a lot of you, pretty obvious. But in retrospect, you'll realize that a lot of (I mean A LOT) founders don't do it. They either don't invest enough time in this, or don't do this right.
What my product solves?
A huge chunk of people (mostly technical) who wants to market but are not able to, basically find this task of engaging via comments boring, or they don't this useful or rewarding.
The first two steps are the ones that they really don't do. And that's exactly what Promotee solves. It is a low ticket product (just $7/month) that uses the magic of AI and your persona, to engage on Reddit by writing comments as good as you would and hence getting you replies non-stop.
Does it work?
Just in about last 4 months, more than 150 people have been using Promotee for their lead gen on Reddit and it is really crazy for them. What people like the most is the easy-to-use interface, like they do one time setup and can forget about it (like really).
On an average, people get about 7-10 leads for every account they use on Promotee. For me personally, I use it with three account and I get atleast 20 conversations (thanks to compounding) with potential customers for every account.
How many sales Promotee does by using itself?
Well, this is a good question, Promotee is one of those startups that grow by using itself. With all the demo meetings I get from Reddit, I have been able to convert about 95% of people (hence 150 customers :) ) but that's not all, because it's a low ticket product, a lot of my customers just jump in themselves without me doing anything.
Thanks for reading this, my aim with this post is to just let people who face the problem atleast get introduced to a potential solution for it.
PS: Most of people I talk to who face this problem, literally have told me that why didn't they got to know about Promotee before.
PPS: Feel free to start a discussion below with me if you have anything to ask or criticize even :)

I Rant, Therefore I Am

​Well bla-de-da-da! What's making your blood boil? What's under your skin? What's making you see red? What's up in your craw? Let's hear your weight loss related rants!
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Hello reddit. I know player retention, balance and overall just random feedback is a very beaten to death topic both on discord and here on this subreddit with conflicting opinions and different takes, but all of those things including playercount are an issue no matter how much copium you might huff (enough for nexon to discuss it internally), Sure, you can find matches relatively quickly, and when you take into consideration that it's crossplay, there's plenty people playing to hop on and game and "not worry about it", aside from the fact that this is probably one of the few online games that I've played where I consistently ran into the same people for multiple days on end both quick cash and ranked (When steam names were a thing), sure it's happened before in other games, but it was more of a "rare" occurrence as opposed to being relatively common here. And as someone who no longer plays the game that often(very rarely nowadays) I figured I might as well throw in my few cents about the game (player count, why it's not as good as most people would like etc) and maybe somebody will enjoy the read or someone from EMBARK will find something valuable.
I would like to discuss some common points I've seen both here and on THE FINALS discord as well as discuss some things I haven't seen touched upon that often, It's a very long read, and there is no tl;dr sorry!

> Player count is dropping because it's too slow, respawns are too slow, team wipes are too punishing.

I see this quite consistently and a lot of people bring up things like "Oh look at COD, look at Battlefield, downtime is very low in those games!", But honestly, I think it's a point that's going the wrong way about it, and the aforementioned games aren't the only popular shooters out there, look at battleroyales (fortnite, apex), dying literally sends you to main menu and you have to queue, and play a running+looting simulator, yet people play those games and they have relatively healthy playerbases, other popular shooters don't have revives and you're dead till the next round. My point is that no matter how you spin it, I highly doubt player retention is poor just because of the "downtime" and there's various different things that cause players to leave or play rarely which ill try to discuss.
Solution: TDM Idea isn't actually that bad, but I believe that cluttering the game with a dozen different gamemodes will make balancing an even bigger headache for devs and will dilute players even more, however I think there's a relatively decent way to do it without adding a new gamemode which is just tweaking Bank IT variables or making Bank IT just solo, for example, they could just make it so that out of all gamemodes Bank IT has a much lower respawn timer and far more "action ready" spawns as well as having no team wipe penalty, additionally adding in a tweak such as "10-20% of the coins of the player you eliminate get cashed out immediately" making it feel more like TDM(Kill confirmed) where you can win by just by fragging out, or by playing objective (vaults -> cash out) or by trying to do both. As a bonus point, If the game introduced killcams "downtime" for dying would feel shorter because you'd be spending a couple of seconds watching the killcam instead of staring at the abyss.

> Player count is dropping because not enough ads, sponsorships to bring in new players.

I don't really use social Media(aside from youtube/discord) so I can't say much about this, however I've seen big name youtubers playing the game (s1, s2) such as Jacksfrags and there's probably a large amount of people that know that the game exist but just don't want to switch from their dedicated game, what we do lack however is having streamers playing the game often, judging by numbers from steamdb, Twitch stats are incredibly low, and I'm pretty sure that seeing a big streamer having fun playing the game will entice others to try or switch from other games.

> Cheaters are ruining the game!

In casual play I don't think I've ever seen a single cheater, ranked however is a different story (EU servers, 500hrs, Diamond rank, all achievements(except for 50mil one)), but I haven't played the game that much as of recent and ranked even less so. It does negatively influence the game because people who want to be very competitive and play for rank often times will end up frustrated due to back to back cheaters, but reality is cheating is present in any fps game and it's just a cat and mouse type situation and I'm sure Embark are working hard to reducing cheater influence, which would also be less of a problem if the playercount was higher as they could implement additional features such as "trusted players" etc.

> Meta is stale causing people to go back to other games because it gets boring.

This point is one of the few that I agree with fully, I don't like the state of the meta whatsoever(Aside from nukes and recon senses not much has changed really) and some of the balance changes that have occurred between s1 s2 aren't my favourite, but there's also plentiful of changes regarding balance and meta that I did indeed like and I'm sure the devs have a good idea of what they're trying to do and since game's balance is a beaten horse at this point with very conflicting opinions (nerf x remove x, x is useless!!) I'll deter from discussing it here but I'll elaborate on the next point.

> Not enough variety / playstyles making the game boring.

I think this is something that isn't discussed that often, and I do get why, at face value, the game has quite a lot of variety, you have melee playstyles, ranged playstyles, three different classes, multiple different maps, gamemodes and the maps themselves have different settings which is absolutely amazing, however there is a lack of variety which goes hand in hand with the staleness of meta, sure meta will always exist and will be utilized in higher elo which then slowly bleeds into casual play as well, but at the end of the day variety is lacking, be it primary, specs, or gadgets, just about every medium you see runs a defib, every heavy you ever see has rpg and dome, and the primaries themselves most of the time don't really dictate your playstyle by too much (except for melee / ranged). Same with specializations of said classes, they don't change your playstyle by too much save for a few niche cases like goo + sledge.
Solution: Adding in more unique primaries would be a great benefit, something like throwing knives for Light are incredibly fun, Flamethrower and Sledge for Heavy are great fun too for those who like such things and feel relatively unique in an fps(Goo+Sledge is so creative and I love that it exists). Something like a Compound Bow for Medium, Light having a primary that can switch between melee / ranged, Heavy with another primary weapon that allows for environment destruction or penetration through walls would offer more "unique" playstyles that aren't the typical "spray in the direction of head hitbox and pull down". Then when it comes to Class specs I feel like some sort of revision of them would be relatively fitting to make them feel more like a "sub-class" selection because as it stands now something like Turret is just a "place and forget" gadget, "Charge and Slam" Is a panic button, and well Light literally just has three different specs for movement and offer nothing else, Why can't you grapple opponents or hook barrels towards yourself, Why is dash so simple, why doesn't it phase you through or break glass/vents and other "weak" environment objects, why can't you hold the dash to consume all 3 charges and go "further". Now don't get me wrong, goo gun is super unique, and mesh shield makes heavy into valuable tank for the team, and medium can literally make a wall disappear and you can do lots of fun things with it (drop cashout, drop opponents on mines, jump pad up and go through a wall nobody expects you to etc) further exploring specializations and making them unique, rewarding and with high skill ceilings would both make the meta less stale (because let's face it, a lot of us like coolness factors in games, and not just min/maxing your loadout)

> Gamemode(s) are boring and not what people want we need TDM or ranked with only 3v3!!

I've seen people constantly bring up things like "Nobody likes to get third partied!", "Snipers on powershift make me want to leave", "3v3v3v3 is just a poor gamemode and not competitive!" and while I do believe there are plenty of reasons why some of those complaints are valid(Meta, spawns, the way cashout/teamwipe works) I do also think most people are going the wrong way about them, third partying in battleroyales has always been a thing and it didn't stop those games from blowing up (and neither should it stop The Finals), and to me, the third party aspect is rather fun and makes the game feel unique, because it isn't a large battleroyale map where everybody sits in a house and waits until they hear someone shoot and then only then engage, In the case of The FINALS it's slightly different, because at the end of the day you're getting third partied at an objective, and not just to get eliminated/eliminate. And 3v3 at the end of a Ranked Tournament was and still is my least favourite part about the game, because it feels much different and is more dictated by whether your loadout is meta at least that's how I felt about it. As For Powershift, It does certainly feel like the maps and balance weren't made for such a gamemode, because the consistency of the maps feels very off, and some specs/gadgets/guns are incredibly underwhelming or are incredibly powerful.
Solution: There isn't really much of "solution", I really hope the devs don't think the 3v3v3 / 3v3v3v3 gamemode is at fault, because other games have proved that, if other aspects of a game are well made and fun, third partying isn't a game issue but a skill issue, as for the maps, I Believe EMBARK should definitely put in slightly more effort into either making gamemode specific maps, or adjusting maps for various gamemodes to make them feel more fitting and consistent, it's not very fun when you can't get on a platform because you're heavy and all your teammates are light, sure it's a teamgame and you should work together, but as we all know sometimes that just doesn't happen.

> Ranked is weird too quick to rank up (personally), weird arrow system? and matchmaking is poor(Diamonds matched with and against silvers, golds?), and feels incredibly stale due to meta(see points above)

This is more of a personal issue, and I know EMBARK are working on making ranked better, but even though I wanted to leave feedback for the devs after reaching diamond in S2 as I haven't yet. For Context sake, I mostly soloqed, played all three classes, (mostly Light in Lower ranks, mostly Medium In Middle ranks, and mostly Heavy in higher rank), and I got to Diamond pretty fast, I think it was 2 weeks of on and off playing, The Meta was stale, every time I got to the finals it was practically the same loadouts, most teams with light would just get knocked out on first round, the incredibly good players would "edit" who gets to the finals with them by just assessing their rank and third partying other teams, spawns would be horrible (max distance spawn away from a cashout YOU HAVE), I didn't rank down a single time even though I had lose streaks, and honestly, I'm not even that good of a player, and the fact that diamond is highest rank and I got it without struggling(except for cheater games, and even then double rpging a cheater works lol), and without ranking down a single time, just feels odd, I remember in other games I used to play lots like LoL, Cs:go, Apex and Dota 2, I wasn't able to get to the highest ranks in a week or two, but as seasons went by I felt the progress and it felt rewarding to feel that I've gotten better and more consistent at the game climbing faster and getting higher each time.
Solution: Just make Ranked feel meaningful, Have a higher rank that deteriorates and you have to play to keep it(This might mean there'll be plenty of competitive streamers constantly fighting for number one spot instead of just making alt accounts to smurf or switching games), scrap the arrow system and make something more rewarding for people to see that actually makes sense, provide information on the game itself about what makes you gain points and what makes you lose them, make it so that climbing to the higher ranks isn't something that everyone can do if they have enough free time, and I would really like it if devs considered splitting soloq players from three premades. Soloq games aren't very fun when you're playing against a threestack that are on voice and take it incredibly seriously while your teammates prefer to only use pings, or aren't even fluent in English.

> Game can't be run on a potato.

And here's the big one, I haven't really seen people talk about it much, but it's genuinely something that does matter, a lot of other free to play games have something special going for them, and that is that they can be run on potato pc's, which would also directly explain why console players play the game more, because they don't have to worry about performance and they can't really do anything about it anyway, meanwhile PC players have a bunch of other f2p games that will run far better on their machine because they have more forgiving hardware requirements (Valorant, Cs, Apex, Fortnite) and in the land of First Person Shooter games, having a stable and good FPS is king, my friend who I play with has a decent machine, but she was struggling with FPS simply because her RAM was relatively slow (16 gb 2133 mhz I believe), rest of her specs are good enough to run just about any big release game from this or previous years.
Solution: Just focusing on optimizing the game and ensuring that it runs well and things like FSR, DLSS have latest implementations will go a long way, I understand that the fact that the game has destructible environments plays a huge role in this and although I'm not an expert on game optimization I hope that it can be improved upon.

> Lack of Quality of Life.

I know it sounds rather vague, but when you put together a bunch of small things it gets quite big, and such is the situation with THE FINALS, there's lots of things missing, and I know some things have been changed, but really there's still much to be desired, There's very little crosshair options and the crosshair moves with your in game HUD, You can't change the HUD size/locations, You can't edit Opacity of teammates / skull icons, there is no penalty for leaving any casual matches(Really? We already had systems like this in 2009 with MOBAS punishing players for leaving casual matches, even if you're not playing for rank, other peoples fun is at stake for leaving not to mention it starts a chain reaction of leaving cause that's how humans are, additionally, other games have options for turning off option to "fill" games, because some people don't want to fill), no text chat, you can't gift your friends any cosmetics, you can't spectate friends games, sever quality is poor (I swear everyday I would have situations where shooting vent/glass doesn't break even though I see the bullet hit it, and sometimes it even happens twice in a row), dying around corners happens often, no killcam, can't set your weapons/gadgets to "random skin" which changes every match or on respawn, No endorsement for opponents/teammates option, lack of stats on player profile(most played gun, class, headshot accuracy), (Wish I could see how many matches people leave on average lol), Camo skin grind is tedious and doesn't have any "challenges" just xp not to mention the camo skins are pretty meh.

> Lack of Rewarding gameplay.

This is also something that isn't discussed very often, and that's because there aren't really that many systems in place for it yet, it has however gotten better (You get team wipe bonus popups, small thing but made team wiping others feel much more meaningful and rewarding, same with stopping cashout steals etc, good job EMBARK) However something that I've noticed playing with my friend every now and then is that, to some people it doesn't feel too fun to play or even win unless you're fragging out, now what I mean by this directly ties into lack of variety, I get it, it's a shooter, and eliminations are basically king, as well as objective, but the support playstyle / objective based playstyle is lacking and doesn't feel rewarding to some myself included but I play for eliminations most of the time anyway, as opposed to something like in Overwatch or even Tf2 where being a support or objective based felt far more impactful / meaningful and rewarding.
Solution: Add in more systems to make the aforementioned playstyles feel more rewarding for players who aren't only focusing on shooting others, Gooed an opponent -> Get Assist if they die, tased someone and they died to your teammate but you didn't damage them? Give them an assist, same with glitch effects, sonar effects, caused a player to fall down, get a elimination, maybe implement a system where your performance is ranked and it shows what the player has done (How much health you actually healed compared to match average, or your personal average etc) Overwatch had a system similar to this and although I last played it many years ago it was very rewarding to see, and I'm sure other casual players who aren't fps freaks will find more enjoyment in the game.
I apologize for the long read and I hope you enjoyed it, note I unfortunately do not work at EMBARK and these are just my experiences and opinions, they aren't fact, they can be completely wrong or even bad, and I'm sure devs know far better than I do about what the game needs or doesn't need, I just hope that it had some valuable insight for other community members or maybe a dev at EMBARK, thank you and see you at the finals!

hi there,
So I am helping my parents at the moment and doing greenhouses. Been doing quite some potting and planting today, lol. Actually nearly done for today, and now looking for some interesting chats to distract myself a little and get a little better with my english. I'm kind of a nearly 20 year old girl from rural northern scandinavia and I study at university. In my free time I help my parents, do some outdoor stuff like dog sports, fishing and some hunting. I'm down to talk about nearly anything as long as it´s no creepy stuff. So I don't really care about age or anything but it would be nice if you would introduce yourself and maybe have a reddit account with a little post history, sinche I had some bad experiences with low karma accounts in the past....
I am looking forward to be hearing from you.

Thank you for your time in advance, enjoy!

• Intro: Hello everyone, I'm Appy. I'm a 22 years old Asian studying CompSciEngi and working international accounts. I love music, art, games, anime, cooking, languages, psychology, fashion, self-care, tattoos/makeup, and most of all; cats. I've got a ton of stuff I love and would really like to find a connection with someone over, so if you don't see what you yourself are interested in, do not hesitate to send me a message about it!
• About: I'm open minded (I myself am on all three of the mental, gender, and sexual spectrums hahah.), perpetually either bored or tired, have a tendency to become hyperfixated, and a little too direct for my own good according to my Team Lead. Everything else you'll have to find out yourself. ^\)
• Games: At the moment I've been a little too drained to explore newer games so I'd love if you introduce me to your's as long as they're not too mainstream (re: Palworld, Rocket League, etc). I do love streaming some of my games and relaxing with a kind and sweet soul though, for that I usually love Subnautica, Journey, etc. Once again I do play a ton of games and as I've been through a bad period none of them come to mind right now, so if you don't see what you like, do still send a message!
• Goal: Lastly what I'm looking for is someone I don't feel bad hanging out with, which as weird as it sounds is an extremely low bar. I am looking for someone kind-hearted who I can just sort of relax from life with, not get stressed or upset because of; life is too short. I am in search of a genuine friend or an actual partner, I am not looking for servers where I just add into their count meaninglessly, nor am I looking for someone to play a couple games with then forget about; I'd appreciate effort and genuine interest from your ends please. The only bars to entry are being above eighteen in body and mind, it's okay to be goofy and silly, just not to a fault or being disrespectfully so. Send me a picture of your pet confirm you read this please!

I look forward to hearing from all of you, I will try to have high hopes so do not disappoint! My Discord handle is apprill, see you all very soon!

Mr. Patrick stood in his office, gazing out at the magnificent cityscape below.
The towering skyscrapers and bustling streets stretched out as far as the eye could see.
On the surface, he appeared calm and collected, but inside, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the future of his textbook publishing company.
Suddenly, the door to his office swung open.
His COO, Mr. Daniel, walked in, accompanied by two impeccably dressed individuals—one male and one female.
Mr. Patrick turned from the window and greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good morning," he said, moving to take his seat at the large mahogany desk that dominated the room.
The others followed suit, seating themselves on the opposite side of the table.
"Good morning, Mr. Patrick," Mr. Daniel began, his tone brisk and businesslike. "I would like to introduce you to the leaders of the teams who have developed the best ideas on how our company should move on from hard copy textbooks due to the decline in sales. This is Mr. Johnson and Ms. Smith."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," said Mr. Patrick as he directed his gaze towards the two newcomers.
The two smiled in return with a mixture of excitement and nerves evident in their eyes.
"Let's hear what you've got, Ms. Smith you go first," Mr. Patrick said, leaning back in his chair.
"Our project involves developing a tailor-made AI software that allows students to learn and interact with it on various topics. While similar technologies are already in development, our AI will be specifically tailored to each subject, featuring rich graphics and interactive elements to enhance comprehension."
"This AI software will generate recurring revenue through a subscription model. Additionally, it will create a competitive moat by storing individual students' data and continuously improving its teaching methods for each student over time."
Mr. Patrick leaned forward. "This sounds promising. How far along are you in developing the software?"
"We've created a prototype within the constraints of our current budget. With adequate funding, we are confident we can achieve much more."
Mr. Patrick nodded thoughtfully before turning to Mr. Johnson. "What are your thoughts on this?"
"While the idea is solid, there are already many companies developing similar software. And it seeks to replace the teaching profession which is one of the biggest employer in the country."
Ms. Smith shot him a look of disapproval, while Mr. Daniel's expression remained stoic, betraying no emotion.
Mr. Patrick smirked. "Okay, Mr. Johnson, let's hear your plan."
He cleared his throat. "Our team believes the best way forward is to create a voice command and lip movement operated device to help students practice what they learn more efficiently. Voice commands or lip movement can be executed 21 times faster than writing. As the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect.' If students can practice faster, they can achieve mastery more quickly, making it easier for them to understand and perfect the subjects they are taught."
"That's an impressive concept, Mr. Johnson. What do you think?" said Mr. Patrick as he switched his gaze to Ms. Smith.
She took a moment before responding.
"It's an ambitious idea. However, developing such a device is incredibly complex. It requires an extensive amount of data to accurately interpret voice commands and lip movements. There's a reason why most companies haven't ventured down this path—it’s technically challenging and resource-intensive."
"How far along are you in developing this product?" asked Mr. Patrick.
"We have a working prototype that handles multiple-choice questions, math problems, and fill-in-the-blank questions. With a larger budget, we could expand our product to encompass a broader range of questions and subject areas."
Mr. Patrick nodded. He then exchanged glances with Mr. Daniel before excusing themselves and walking over to the glass panes overlooking the city.
The view was breathtaking, but their minds were focused on the crucial decision at hand.
"Which of these can generate more profit?" asked Mr. Patrick.
"The voice command and lip movement device could be more profitable since we can sell both the hardware and the software subscription." He paused, then added, "However, Ms. Smith's AI software can be developed faster, while the device will take more time to perfect."
Mr. Patrick nodded and kept quiet for a few seconds. "We'll go with the voice command and lip movement device. It has the potential to significantly boost our business in the long run."
They then returned to the table, where Mr. Johnson and Ms. Smith waited expectantly.
"We've made our decision," Mr. Patrick announced. "We'll proceed with the development of the voice command and lip movement device. It may take longer to develop, but its dual revenue streams from hardware and software make it a more lucrative investment for our company's future."
Mr. Johnson's face lit up with a smile, while Ms. Smith nodded, accepting the decision with professional grace.
Outside the office, Ms. Smith walked away, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight.
Mr. Johnson turned to Mr. Daniel with a grateful smile. "Thanks for making the correct decision. This will help humanity."
Mr. Daniel chuckled. "We chose it for the profits. Humanity wasn’t part of the discussion."
"But it will help humanity too," Mr. Johnson insisted. "Students worldwide wouldn’t struggle with STEM subjects and could easily practice the questions for the topics they learn."
"The system is broken. If you really want to change the world for the better, you need to think about changing the whole societal model."
"Why do you say the system is broken?"
"Even if the device helps students learn faster, it will produce countless graduates who won't find employment. So it will still be a disaster."
Mr. Johnson looked shocked.
Mr. Daniel handed him a card and said, "Check these people out. They're working on a new societal model. And if you want to survive in this business, keep your thoughts to yourself."
Mr. Johnson nodded, inspecting the card written 'MAMA WORLD', as Mr. Daniel walked away.
Hi guys, if you appreciate the story, please leave a comment as it motivates me to continue writing.
Most of my stories are somehow connected to the fictional post scarcity society I created called MAMA WORLD.
If you appreciated the story, you can check out other stories I posted.

Mr. Patrick stood in his office, gazing out at the magnificent cityscape below.
On the surface, he appeared calm and collected, but inside, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the future of his textbook publishing company.
Suddenly, the door to his office swung open.
His COO, Mr. Daniel, walked in, accompanied by two impeccably dressed individuals.
Mr. Patrick turned from the window and greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good morning," he said, moving to take his seat at the large mahogany desk that dominated the room.
The others followed suit, seating themselves on the opposite side of the table.
"Good morning, Mr. Patrick," Mr. Daniel began, his tone brisk and businesslike. "I would like to introduce you to the leaders of the teams who have developed the best ideas on how our company should move on from hard copy textbooks due to the decline in sales. This is Mr. Johnson and Ms. Smith."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," said Mr. Patrick as he directed his gaze towards the two newcomers.
The two smiled in return with a mixture of excitement and nerves evident in their eyes.
"Let's hear what you've got, Ms. Smith you go first," Mr. Patrick said, leaning back in his chair.
"Our project involves developing a tailor-made AI software that allows students to learn and interact with it on various topics. While similar technologies are already in development, our AI will be specifically tailored to each subject, featuring rich graphics and interactive elements to enhance comprehension."
"This AI software will generate recurring revenue through a subscription model. Additionally, it will create a competitive moat by storing individual students' data and continuously improving its teaching methods for each student over time."
Mr. Patrick leaned forward. "This sounds promising. How far along are you in developing the software?"
"We've created a prototype within the constraints of our current budget. With adequate funding, we are confident we can achieve much more."
Mr. Patrick nodded thoughtfully before turning to Mr. Johnson. "What are your thoughts on this?"
"While the idea is solid, there are already many companies developing similar software. And it seeks to replace the teaching profession which is one of the biggest employer in the country."
Ms. Smith shot him a look of disapproval, while Mr. Daniel's expression remained stoic, betraying no emotion.
Mr. Patrick smirked. "Okay, Mr. Johnson, let's hear your plan."
He cleared his throat. "Our team believes the best way forward is to create a voice command and lip movement operated device to help students practice what they learn more efficiently. Voice commands or lip movement can be executed 21 times faster than writing. As the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect.' If students can practice faster, they can achieve mastery more quickly, making it easier for them to understand and perfect the subjects they are taught."
"That's an impressive concept, Mr. Johnson. What do you think?" said Mr. Patrick as he switched his gaze to Ms. Smith.
She took a moment before responding.
"It's an ambitious idea. However, developing such a device is incredibly complex. It requires an extensive amount of data to accurately interpret voice commands and lip movements. There's a reason why most companies haven't ventured down this path—it’s technically challenging and resource-intensive."
"How far along are you in developing this product?" asked Mr. Patrick.
"We have a working prototype that handles multiple-choice questions, math problems, and fill-in-the-blank questions. With a larger budget, we could expand our product to encompass a broader range of questions and subject areas."
Mr. Patrick nodded. He then exchanged glances with Mr. Daniel before excusing themselves and walking over to the glass panes overlooking the city.
"Which of these can generate more profit?" asked Mr. Patrick.
"The voice command and lip movement device could be more profitable since we can sell both the hardware and the software subscription." He paused, then added, "However, Ms. Smith's AI software can be developed faster, while the device will take more time to perfect."
Mr. Patrick nodded and kept quiet for a few seconds. "We'll go with the voice command and lip movement device."
They then returned to the table, where Mr. Johnson and Ms. Smith waited expectantly.
"We've made our decision," Mr. Patrick announced. "We'll proceed with the development of the voice command and lip movement device. It may take longer to develop, but its dual revenue streams from hardware and software make it a more lucrative investment for our company's future."
Mr. Johnson's face lit up with a smile, while Ms. Smith nodded, accepting the decision with professional grace.
Outside the office, Ms. Smith walked away, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight.
Mr. Johnson turned to Mr. Daniel with a grateful smile. "Thanks for making the correct decision. This will help humanity."
Mr. Daniel chuckled. "We chose it for the profits. Humanity wasn’t part of the discussion."
"But it will help humanity too," Mr. Johnson insisted. "Students worldwide wouldn’t struggle with STEM subjects and could easily practice the questions for the topics they learn."
"The system is broken. If you really want to change the world for the better, you need to think about changing the whole societal model."
"Why do you say the system is broken?"
"Even if the device helps students learn faster, it will produce countless graduates who won't find employment. So it will still be a disaster."
Mr. Johnson looked shocked.
Mr. Daniel handed him a card and said, "Check these people out. They're working on a new societal model. And if you want to survive in this business, keep your thoughts to yourself."
Mr. Johnson nodded, inspecting the card written 'MAMA WORLD', as Mr. Daniel walked away.

As a property owner in Bangalore, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the process of paying your BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) property tax. The Bangalore Development Authority is responsible for the urban planning and development of Bangalore city and collects property tax from property owners as a source of revenue to fund these projects. To simplify the process and promote transparency, the BDA has introduced an online system for Bengaluru's residents to pay their property taxes. In this article, we will cover the crucial documents you will need for paying your BDA property tax.
Property Identification Documents
The most fundamental set of documents necessary for paying BDA property tax are the property identification documents. These documents must have critical details about your property, such as the location, area, block, and street number. These include:
1. Property title deed:
This legal document is essential proof that you own the property and have the right to pay the taxes for it.
2. Khata Certificate:
The Khata certificate is issued by the BDA and indicates that the property owner has an account for paying property tax. It contains essential information like the size, location, and built-up area of the property.
Previous Payment Receipts
Having a record of your previous BDA property tax payments is necessary since it is used as a reference for calculating your present tax. These receipts will contain relevant details such as the tax paid, the property's assessed value, and the tax rate applied.
Property’s Built-up Area and Property Usage Documents
The built-up area and property usage documents are additional documentation needed to calculate your BDA property tax accurately. Taxes may differ based on whether the property is used for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes.
Building Plan Approval
If you own a building, you will need to provide the building plan approved by the BDA or any other competent authority. The approved plan acts as a baseline document indicating the building's authorized built area, usage, floor details, and age. Based on this, the BDA property tax calculation will differ.
Encumbrance Certificate
An Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is another valuable document, especially if your property has changed hands. It provides evidence that your property is free from any financial or legal liabilities. The EC ensures the BDA that the property tax they receive is not under any dispute.
The Online Process
Property tax facilities provided by the BDA have gone digital, with a dedicated online portal named "BDAPay" to make things easier for taxpayers. The documents outlined above may need to be scanned and uploaded onto this portal for online property tax payments. It would be best to have digital copies of these documents for seamless payments.
Conclusion
Equipped with all the necessary documents listed above, the process of paying your BDA property tax should be a manageable task, be it online or offline. The transparency provided by the BDA allows taxpayers to have clarity and ease while fulfilling their tax obligations. Even though it might initially seem cumbersome, managing the documents properly will simplify the whole process and will keep you up to date with your property tax payments.
Nevertheless, it is your responsibility as a citizen to ensure timely payment of your BDA property tax. The funds collected through property tax are crucial for the continued development and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure. When paying your taxes, remember that you are contributing towards making Bangalore a better place to live.

Celebrating something great?
Scale Victory, Non-Scale Victory, Progress, Milestones -- this is the place! Big or small, please post here and help us focus all of today's awesomeness into an inspiring and informative mega-dose of greatness!

• Did you get to change your flair?
• Did you log for an entire week?
• Finally hitting those water goals?
• Fit into your old pair of jeans?
• Have a fitness feat?
• Find a way to make automod listen to you?

Post it here!
Due to space limitations, this may be a sticky only occasionally. Please find it using the sidebar if needed.
Don't forget to comment and interact with other posters here, let's keep the good vibes going!
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• Day 1 Monday: Introduce yourself and share your goals and strategies.
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Written by Heidi and Lita in small pieces yesterday, last night, and this morning.
Part A
Lita: Yes, I did sign up with DeWitt and the East Bronx gym without a pause. Yes, Lita has talked to me many times about invisible racism and she has taught me how much racism is within me. She once told me that even at their best, a white person is a "recovering racist." And I'm just 16, live 50% of the time as the daughter of a black family, and will soon Scot-married to a black wife.
But I did feel those eyes when DeWitt was walking us through the gym and pool. Okay, I have no idea how I am going to travel up to the East Bronx two or three times a week with my schedule. But I am going to shut my eyes, grit my teeth, and just do it. It is time to trust Lita 100%.
Part B
Sea Shore was very crowded, even at the opening. It's that type of restaurant where you wait forever to order. Then you wait to get served. The real wait is to pay the check. In short, it's a great place to talk! And so much food!
Lita and Heidi talked to our parents about our future. We spoke about the wedding in Scotland and the RV Camp. Next, Lita's internship-turned-modeling gig. Next, her thoughts about touring in September (strongly leaning toward YES!). Next: CLEP and certification tests ahead for Lita and Heidi's Jammy/ALDI projects. Finally, Heidi shared her thoughts about 11th grade and the type of college she is prepping toward.
All wonderful and predictable. But where was the bombshell? Here it came:
Dad: We have become a family of six. Why not live as a single household? Why maintain two flats? Why two cars when we really just need one minivan?
Uhmmm, where are you going with all of this, Dad?
Pupa: Everything is pending our dawtas' approval, of course. But we would like to put both of our condos up for sale and purchase a property together. After lunch we are going to bring you to a building in the East Bronx that is up for sale. It's in a "mixed-use" zone meaning that people live and work here.
Lita: What??? You know you are changing our entire worlds!
Heidi: And we would really have to travel to get to school. And what about our districts? What about our baby group?
Lita: Does this mean you are going polyamorous and bisexual?
Mom: No!!! What makes you ever think that?
Lita: That would be so cool with us if it ever came down to that.
Muma: Shut your mouths! No!
Dad: Think about it. It would take about a year to retrofit the building. That's plenty of time for us to grow our SGI organizations and find people to take over our responsibilities. There's also a very active SGI chapter in this neighborhood.
Mom: The second floor would be an apartment for the Thomas's. The third floor would be for the Goldstein's. The first floor would be an open space for everyone, an office for the Thomas business...and a studio apartment for you guys.
Heidi: Now I am lowering my shields. And the basement?
Muma: We were thinking about a sound-proof music studio for Jammy and Heidi's practicing, a place where you could play us loud as you want all day and all night without disturbing a soul. And a space for a workout gym or dance studio if that's the direction Lita wants to take.
Lita: A lot of privilege, right?
Mom: Earned privilege, not unearned privilege.
Pupa: Very earned privilege.
Muma: We are going to meet the agent in an hour. Just don't say no until you have seen the place at least. Keep an open mind and we will talk more.
Part C
We met Mackenzie near a restaurant called Pio Pioon Cypress Avenue and East 138th Street. She's Central Casting for high-end commercial real estate broker. Even highlighted blonde hair, ponytail, and a clipboard.
Mackenzie: Welcome to our neighborhood. This section used to be called the South South Bronx. Then people started to call it Port Morris. A little bit West from here is what real estate developers call The Piano District.
Lita and I introduced ourselves. It seems our parents have already met with Mackenzie.
Mackenzie: Pleased to meet you. I am part of a consortium that has been working for almost three decades to build a private/public partnership trying to turn about 100 square blocks into a vibrant, mixed use community. We want to provide jobs for our residents in the local community as well as improve the infrastructure, public schools, safety, recreation opportunities, and health. Our group prospects for individuals and businesses that could help us achieve our aims. You fit this profile.
Lita: My school gives me the opportunity to do many independent learning projects. I know you are going to show us a property but I would like to learn more about you guys next year.
Mackenzie: Absolutely.
She also asked whether any of us were history buffs. We all raised our hands.
Mackenzie: There's a lot of history between 138th and 149th Streets. Did you know that the Morris Estates here were owned by the half-brothers Lewis and Gouverneur Morris, one a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the other one of the co-authors of the Constitution. In fact, just a couple of blocks away is where Gouverneur wrote the Preamble to the Constitution.
Lita: You mean "We the People"?
Mackenzie: One owned a plantation that had slaves right here, the other was a strong abolitionist.
Heidi: Wow.
Mackenzie: Exactly. And the ironworks for the dome of the Capitol was forged here during the Civil War. Not far was where Richard March Hoe invented the rotary printing press which made it possible for coming people to afford newspapers. A bit of trivia: right around the corner of the property we will be seeing is the place where the Morris Philip coffee cup lid was invented and produced.
Heidi: Unbelievable! I feel like I am standing on history.
Mackenzie: Let's go see the property. I wanted to meet you here so you could experience the walk from the closest subway stop to the property. The Cypress Avenue station is only three subway stops outside of Manhattan. I want you to gauge whether you feel the walk is safe! You should also come back here on your own on a weekday and night.
We walked under the highway and another four or five blocks, and turned right on a smaller street. "Here is your building. If you walk another block, you will hit the East River. You have here easy access to the Randall Island Connector which is a pedestrian/bike path to all of Randall Island. The South Bronx Greenway is unstoppable and is going to keep on developing. Can you see yourself being a part of it?
Lita: We are training to run the half marathon. What a great place to train. But is the run safe?
Mackenzie: That's for you and your parents to judge, of course. But, as you can see, there is abundant traffic here. The property is located within a mixed-use Zone which means there is 24/7 traffic. The New York Post and the Wall Street Journal have their printing operations just a couple of blocks from the property and there are always trucks coming and going. Many people run The Connector every single day and at all hours. Of course, you need to be wise and take precautions
We went inside this old brick factory building. It's a gut renovation. More on this another post. But we are excited thinking about the possibilities. At any rate, time for us to run! Central Park awaits.

Thank you for your time in advance, enjoy!

• Intro: Hello everyone, I'm Appy. I'm a 22 years old Asian studying CompSciEngi and working international accounts. I love music, art, games, anime, cooking, languages, psychology, fashion, self-care, tattoos/makeup, and most of all; cats. I've got a ton of stuff I love and would really like to find a connection with someone over, so if you don't see what you yourself are interested in, do not hesitate to send me a message about it!
• About: I'm open minded (I myself am on all three of the mental, gender, and sexual spectrums hahah.), perpetually either bored or tired, have a tendency to become hyperfixated, and a little too direct for my own good according to my Team Lead. Everything else you'll have to find out yourself. ^\)
• Games: At the moment I've been a little too drained to explore newer games so I'd love if you introduce me to your's as long as they're not too mainstream (re: Palworld, Rocket League, etc). I do love streaming some of my games and relaxing with a kind and sweet soul though, for that I usually love Subnautica, Journey, etc. Once again I do play a ton of games and as I've been through a bad period none of them come to mind right now, so if you don't see what you like, do still send a message!
• Goal: Lastly what I'm looking for is someone I don't feel bad hanging out with, which as weird as it sounds is an extremely low bar. I am looking for someone kind-hearted who I can just sort of relax from life with, not get stressed or upset because of; life is too short. I am in search of a genuine friend or an actual partner, I am not looking for servers where I just add into their count meaninglessly, nor am I looking for someone to play a couple games with then forget about; I'd appreciate effort and genuine interest from your ends please. The only bars to entry are being above eighteen in body and mind, it's okay to be goofy and silly, just not to a fault or being disrespectfully so. Send me a picture of your pet confirm you read this please!

I look forward to hearing from all of you, I will try to have high hopes so do not disappoint! Send me a P/DM, see you all very soon!

Thank you for your time in advance, enjoy!

• Intro: Hello everyone, I'm Appy. I'm a 22 years old Asian studying CompSciEngi and working international accounts. I love music, art, games, anime, cooking, languages, psychology, fashion, self-care, tattoos/makeup, and most of all; cats. I've got a ton of stuff I love and would really like to find a connection with someone over, so if you don't see what you yourself are interested in, do not hesitate to send me a message about it!
• About: I'm open minded (I myself am on all three of the mental, gender, and sexual spectrums hahah.), perpetually either bored or tired, have a tendency to become hyperfixated, and a little too direct for my own good according to my Team Lead. Everything else you'll have to find out yourself. ^\)
• Games: At the moment I've been a little too drained to explore newer games so I'd love if you introduce me to your's as long as they're not too mainstream (re: Palworld, Rocket League, etc). I do love streaming some of my games and relaxing with a kind and sweet soul though, for that I usually love Subnautica, Journey, etc. Once again I do play a ton of games and as I've been through a bad period none of them come to mind right now, so if you don't see what you like, do still send a message!
• Goal: Lastly what I'm looking for is someone I don't feel bad hanging out with, which as weird as it sounds is an extremely low bar. I am looking for someone kind-hearted who I can just sort of relax from life with, not get stressed or upset because of; life is too short. I am in search of a genuine friend or an actual partner, I am not looking for servers where I just add into their count meaninglessly, nor am I looking for someone to play a couple games with then forget about; I'd appreciate effort and genuine interest from your ends please. The only bars to entry are being above eighteen in body and mind, it's okay to be goofy and silly, just not to a fault or being disrespectfully so. Send me a picture of your pet confirm you read this please!

I look forward to hearing from all of you, I will try to have high hopes so do not disappoint! Send me a P/DM, see you all very soon!