A sweet and lovely coming of age story that seems to have translated well to the screen. Based on Judy Bloom’s 1970 novel of the same name, the story involves Margaret- an average, yet charming middle schooler who is trying to negotiate her way through puberty, self-identification, and a search for belonging.
While Bloom is known as a children’s author, this story deals with complex issues. Not only is Margaret wondering if her body will ever change, she must deal with the fallout from her parent’s interfaith marriage. Her father’s Jewish and her mother was raised a devout Christian, which leaves Margaret’s religious affiliation largely up to her (though she’s tugged at from all sides).
The entire story is narrated largely through Margaret’s inner conversations with God, which illustrates yet another complicated relationship. While we see her wrestle with her spirituality, this is not strictly an example of the faith based movies that have recently come to market. At its heart, it is not a movie about Margret and God, but how Margaret ultimately sees herself.
The film is well acted. Margret is brought perfectly to life by young actress Abby Ryder Fortson. Rachel McAdams is superb as Margret’s conflicted mother, who’s undergoing her own journey of personal development. And the great Kathy Bates steals every scene she’s in as Margaret’s wise, nurturing and highly entertaining grandmother.
The film uses some great visual metaphors and is well edited. There are no dull moments. It’s a great story well told.
I’m fact, Judy Bloom said “I love the movie, and how many authors of the book can say ‘I I think the movie is better than the book?’”
A solid film with a unanimous group thumbs up.

If you could change talents, which ones would you change? I feel like there are a lot of useless ones that should be buffed so they're more interesting or more likely to get used.
Backpack Talents

• Energize - Have it give +2 Skill Tier and grant overcharge if you're at skill tier 5+.
• Calculated - Either grant this effect to allies, increase the cooldown reduction to 25% or both.
• Leadership - Make it 25% bonus armor, 50% if in 10m of an enemy and have it last 20s instead of 10s.
• Versatile - Remove the requirement that weapon types be different.
• Composure - Either have it apply to nearby allies as well or increase it to 20%.
• Concussion - Have it increase to at least 20%/25% otherwise why wouldn't you use Opportunistic which is multiplicative or Vigilance which is 25%.
• Clutch - Remove the "If you are below 15% armor" requirement.

Chest Talents

• Tag Team - Marked enemies take 5% increased damage from all sources.
• Kinetic Momentum - Increase stacks to 20 from 15.
• Explosive Delivery - Merge this with Mad Bomber and make the damage scale from 100-200% concussion grenade instead of 25-100%.
• Overwatch - Remove the time component and make it just "If in cover".
• Vanguard - Make the bonus armor more like 20% and reduce the cooldown from 25s to 5 or 10 seconds.
• Protected Reload - Grant the bonus armor for 5 seconds on reload instead of only being during reload. It's useless as it is now because you should be in cover or have a shield up when reloading.
• Gunslinger - Merge with Reassigned, make Reassigned give the special ammo to your other gun instead of your sidearm.
• Spark - Increase to 20%.
• Trauma - Reduce cooldown from 30s to 15s.
• Tamper Proof - Remove the arm time so you can use it similar to explosive delivery.

Weapon Talents

• Preservation - Increase to 20% with a bonus 20% on headshot kills.
• Ranger - Make it 3m and 2m for Perfect. Distances aren't long enough in this game 90% of the time for this talent to be relevant.
• Steady Handed - Switch it to 50 stacks instead of 100. Maybe leave it 100 for LMGs.
• Future Perfect - Reduce stacks from 3 to 2. Make it mark enemies and if they die they gain the +1.
• Near Sighted - Reduce the -35% Optimal Range to -15% Optimal Range. It's a quality of life talent, since it doesn't give damage it'll never be the best one, so why not buff it?
• On Empty - Merge On Empty and Overflowing.
• Pumped Up - Make it 5% per reload and stacks 5 times. The end result is the same, but it's a bit easier to achieve.

Named Talents

• New Reliable, Invisible Hand, Railsplitter, etc - All of the guns that have talents that are just stat increases, double them or make them a unique attachment or something. These guns suffer from not being able to have the damage talents you'd normally use. The only exception would be Rock'n'Roll and that's just because it's only used to build stacks.

If you’re planning on moving to Texas, you’re not alone. With its low cost of living, booming economy, and diverse culture, Texas has become a popular destination for people from all over the world. However, moving to a new state can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. In this guide from the Moving Truck Driver website, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know to have a successful relocation to Texas, including tips for finding housing, navigating the job market, and making the most of your new home.

Tips for Finding Housing in Texas

When it comes to finding housing in Texas, it’s important to start your search early and be prepared for the competitive market. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect place to call home in the Lone Star State:

1. Research the Area: Before you start looking at specific properties, take some time to research the areas you’re interested in living in. Look for information on crime rates, school districts, transportation options, and local amenities like parks, shopping centers, and restaurants.
2. Use Online Resources: There are many online resources available for finding housing in Texas, including popular sites like Zillow, Trulia. These sites allow you to search for properties by location, price, size, and other factors, making it easy to narrow down your options.
3. Hire a Realtor: Working with a local realtor who is familiar with the area can be a great way to find the best properties that fit your needs and budget. They can also help you negotiate lease terms and provide valuable insight into the local housing market. Moving Truck Driver has relationships in most areas of the country, working with countless realtors throughout the years. If you would like a recommendation for finding a the right realtor for you, please let us know and we will be happy to make the connection.
4. Attend Open Houses: Attending open houses is a great way to see properties in person and get a feel for the local real estate market. Be sure to bring a list of questions to ask the agent or landlord, such as details on the lease agreement and any additional fees or deposits.
5. Consider Roommates: If you’re looking to save money on rent or want to live in a larger property than you could afford on your own, consider finding a roommate or roommates. There are many online resources for finding compatible roommates, such as Roommates.com.
6. Check Social Media Groups: Social media groups can be a great resource for finding housing in Texas, particularly in larger cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Look for local groups that cater to renters or those looking for roommates, and be sure to ask for recommendations from members.

Popular Cities and Locations to Consider

Texas is a vast state with many popular cities and locations to choose from. Here are some of the top destinations that you may want to consider when moving to Texas:

1. Austin: Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin is a vibrant city that offers a diverse culture, outdoor activities, and a thriving tech scene. It’s the state capital and home to the University of Texas at Austin.
2. Houston: The largest city in Texas, Houston is a hub for business and industry. It’s also known for its world-class museums, restaurants, and performing arts scene.
3. Dallas-Fort Worth: This metropolitan area is home to two major cities, Dallas and Fort Worth. Dallas is known for its shopping, dining, and nightlife, while Fort Worth is famous for its Western heritage and cowboy culture.
4. San Antonio: This historic city is home to the Alamo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the famous River Walk, which features shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
5. El Paso: Located on the border with Mexico, El Paso has a unique culture that combines Mexican and Texan influences. It’s also home to the University of Texas at El Paso and the Franklin Mountains State Park.
6. Corpus Christi: This coastal city is known for its beaches, fishing, and outdoor activities. It’s also home to the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay.
7. Galveston: Located on an island off the Gulf Coast, Galveston offers historic architecture, beautiful beaches, and a vibrant arts scene. It’s also home to Moody Gardens, a theme park and nature reserve.

These are just a few of the many popular cities and locations to consider when moving to Texas. Each one offers its own unique culture, attractions, and lifestyle, so be sure to research them thoroughly and choose the one that best fits your needs and preferences.

Navigating the Job Market in Texas

One of the first steps in navigating the job market in Texas is to research the industries that are thriving in the state. Texas is known for its strong energy sector, with a large number of oil and gas companies based in cities like Houston and Dallas. Additionally, the technology industry is growing rapidly in Austin, which has been dubbed “Silicon Hills” due to the high concentration of tech companies in the area.
Once you have identified the industries that interest you, it is important to start networking with professionals in those fields. This can include attending industry conferences and events, joining local professional organizations, and reaching out to people in your network who may have connections in Texas.
Another important aspect of navigating the job market in Texas is to tailor your resume and cover letter to the local market. This can include highlighting any relevant experience or skills that are particularly valuable in Texas industries, as well as using language and terminology that is commonly used in the local job market.
Finally, it is important to be flexible and open to opportunities in different parts of the state. While certain industries may be concentrated in specific cities, there are often job opportunities in other areas as well. By keeping an open mind and considering a variety of job options, you can increase your chances of finding a job that is both fulfilling and financially rewarding.

Making the Most of Your New Home in Texas

Texas has a lot to offer, from its diverse culture to its unique geography, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy your new home. Here are some tips for making the most of your new life in Texas:

1. Get to know your community: Texas is a state with a strong sense of community, and getting involved in your local neighborhood can help you feel more connected to your new home. Attend local events and festivals, join a community group or club, or volunteer for a local charity to meet new people and become more engaged in your community.
2. Explore the outdoors: Texas is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the country, from the rolling hills of the Hill Country to the rugged canyons of West Texas. Take advantage of the state’s many parks, hiking trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities to stay active and explore your new surroundings.
3. Embrace the culture: Texas has a rich cultural heritage, from its cowboy and ranching history to its vibrant music scene. Take in a live music performance, visit a historic site or museum, or attend a local rodeo or county fair to experience the unique culture of your new home.
4. Try new foods: Texas is known for its delicious cuisine, from barbecue and Tex-Mex to kolaches and pecan pie. Sample the local cuisine and try new restaurants and food trucks to discover your new favorite dishes.
5. Take weekend trips: Texas is a big state with plenty to see and do, so take advantage of weekend trips to explore different cities and regions. Whether it’s a beach trip to Galveston or a wine tasting tour in the Hill Country, there’s always something new to discover in Texas.

Why Choose a Moving Service that Specializes in U-Haul and Penske Trucks

Choosing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks has several benefits. Firstly, U-Haul and Penske trucks are known for their reliability and durability, making them ideal for long-distance moves. These trucks are regularly serviced and maintained to ensure they are in top condition, which reduces the likelihood of breakdowns and delays during the move. Secondly, these moving companies, typically have a large fleet of trucks available in different sizes, allowing you to choose the truck that best suits your needs. This is especially important if you have a large household or need to transport heavy or bulky items, as you can select a truck with a higher capacity.
Moreover, moving companies that specialize in U-Haul and Penske trucks often have experienced and well-trained drivers who can handle the logistics of a move efficiently. They are knowledgeable about the best routes to take and the regulations that need to be followed when transporting goods across state lines. They also have the necessary equipment and tools to load and unload your belongings safely, minimizing the risk of damage or loss. Additionally, many of these companies offer additional services such as packing, loading and unloading, and storage solutions, making the entire moving process more convenient and stress-free.
Overall, choosing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks can help ensure that your move to Texas is a smooth and successful one. With a reliable truck and experienced drivers, you can focus on settling into your new home and starting your new life in this exciting and dynamic state.

A Practical Checklist for Moving to Texas

With a practical checklist, you can make the process much smoother. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your move to Texas is successful:

1. Plan Ahead: Make a detailed plan for your move, including the date of your move, the items you need to pack, and any services you may need, such as a moving truck, packing supplies, or professional movers.
2. Declutter and Donate: Before you start packing, declutter your belongings and donate any items that you don’t need or want anymore. This can save you time and money in packing and moving unnecessary items.
3. Change Your Address: Be sure to change your address with the United States Postal Service at least two weeks before your move to ensure that your mail is forwarded to your new address.
4. Update Your Utilities: Contact your utility companies and inform them of your move, so that they can discontinue service at your old address and start service at your new address.
5. Research Local Services: Research local services in your new area, such as schools, healthcare providers, and grocery stores. This can help you feel more comfortable and settled in your new home.
6. Prepare Your New Home: Make sure your new home is ready for your arrival. Clean it thoroughly, unpack essential items first, and set up necessary utilities and services.
7. Meet Your Neighbors: Introduce yourself to your new neighbors, join community groups, and attend local events to get involved in your new community and make new connections.

Conclusion

Moving to Texas can be an exciting and life-changing experience. Whether you are relocating for a new job opportunity or simply seeking a change of scenery, the Lone Star State offers a unique blend of culture, diversity, and natural beauty. However, it’s important to be well-prepared for the transition and to take steps to ensure a successful relocation. By utilizing the tips and tricks outlined in this ultimate guide, such as utilizing a moving service that specializes in U-Haul and Penske trucks like Moving Truck Driver, researching popular cities and locations to consider, navigating the job market, finding housing, and making the most of your new home, you can make your move to Texas a seamless and enjoyable experience. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to embark on a new adventure in the Lone Star State!

This list is in no particular order and most of the names are my own creation and therefore not canon.
The Kick: The Kick is a secondary weapon. Like grenades, it can be used while holding another weapon. Unlike the grenades, the Kick doesn't make your enemies explode on impact. It can be used to kick enemies away from you, which can be useful when it gets too crowded, but that's it. And honestly, that's a-okay with me. This is not Fallout, after all, so I dont expect to set off a nuclear blast when destroying people's nuts in this game.
The Sickle: The Sickle is your standard FPS melee weapon, meaning will its ammo is unlimited, because it doesn't need any, the same can't be said for its usefulness. It can only really be used to kill mice, bats, and maybe the lesser newts, everything else would take way too long. But, like any standard FPS melee weapon, it is perfect to destroy containers and other things in the environment, getting you some goodies without wasting bullets.
The Pistol: Also known as the Makarov, this is one of only three weapons (the other ones being the Sawn-Off and the Hussite Handcanon) in this game that has to be visibly reloaded, which is something I only see done with double-barreled shotguns in Boomer Shooters. Why the developer gave the need to reload to the standard FPS pistol of all things beats me, because otherwise, it is just that: a standard FPS pistol. Its fire rate is in the mid-range and its damage is rather low. But luckily, there is a saving grace for the Makarov. Double the gun, double the fun, as they say.
Double Pistols: While one Makarov is only serviceable, two are just extremely fun to use. I guess it's the higher fire rate paired with the fact that you use Akimbo pistols, which feels instantly awesome. Also, I kinda like the reload animation. And with two pistols, reloading makes also more sense, because you could argue that it is here for balancing reasons because otherwise, the pistols would replace the Machine Gun without having any bullet spread.
The Soviet Shotgun: Or just Shotgun. If you ever played Doom, Doom 2, or Quake, you know what to expect. The damage depends on how many pellets can connect with your target. The closer you are, the more pellets will hit. The Shotguns fire rate is slower than most weapons, which is counteracted by its steady damage output. Shotguns in Boomer Shooters are often described as the working horse, meaning they are not special, but they get the job done, a tool good for most situations. But I would argue, I used the following weapon much more, making it the working horse.
The Double-barreled Shotgun: The Double-Barreled Shotgun, also known as Sawn-Off Shotgun is a mainstay in FPS games since Doom 2 almost 30 years ago. 30 years! That's like a millennium in Internet time! My Goodness, I'm old! Where was I? Ah, yeah, the Sawn-Off in HROT. I used this weapon more frequently than the Soviet Shotgun as soon as I could get my hands on it. I mean, it shoots two shells at once and its reloading time is not that much longer, so using it is a no-brainer to me. The only situation where I preferred the Soviet Shotgun over the Sawn-off was when I got the speed powerup because slam firing at mach-10 speed is just too fun and efficient to not do it.
The Submachine Gun: The perfect example of a weapon in an FPS that does its job perfectly, but because I prefer other tactics, I seldom use it. The Submachinegun bleeds bullets like nobody's business, but that comes at the cost of low damage per hit. In general, a very good weapon against crowds, if I wouldn't prefer to kill most enemies as soon as possible and be done with it. I only find myself using the Submachinegun against the flying Stalin heads and maybe groups of the gasmaskers, but otherwise, I had to force myself to use it for the sake of variety. Good gun, just not for me.
Landmines: Full confession, I mostly used them to break walls with secrets behind them when I was low on grenades. I get the concept, you are supposed to lay traps with them, but honestly, in most situations, I was too preoccupied with imminent survival to hatch any kind of elaborate schemes. Also, you can't use them while using other guns, which makes me use them even less.
Grenades: I never used grenades as a primary weapon, because they are more useful as a secondary weapon or as ammo for the grenade launcher.
The Hussite Handcannon: Also known as the Grenade Launcher, this gun takes your grenades and shoots them in a straight line at your target, making this thing HROTs equivalent of a rocket launcher. Its only downgrade is that you lose the bounce of the thrown grenades, so you can't throw them around corners anymore, but I personally prefer a more controlled method of delivery anyway. Essential when fighting against bosses, especially because grenades can be found in abundance throughout this game.
The Crossbow: The Crossbow is HROTs sniper. Its bolts fly far, have almost no drop-off, and the fire rate is a bit slow, almost on the same level as the Soviet Shotgun. Perfect to kill enemies in high places or on the other side of an arena separated by water or something else.
Wine: Yes, Wine is mostly used as a portable medkit, but if you use the right click, you throw the bottle like a Molotov on the cost of one swig. I actually only learned that this is possible near the end of the game, so I never used it, but I appreciate the mere existence of this feature.
The Tesla Gun: The Tesla Gun is with the Wine the most creative gun in the game. It spouts out lightning, that doesn't only damage its original target but also sparks over to enemies around them. So perfect for room clearing. The way you get ammo for this gun is also very unique: you can either destroy cars and take their batteries or let yourself get zapped by transformer boxes. Also, you can't use it underwater, because you would electrocute yourself, which is just a very nice detail, even though I dont want to know how many beginners it killed.
The BFG: Uses the same ammo as the Tesla Gun (I think), but instead of shooting one spark, it shoots a whole lightning ball that kills everything in the room, white atomic afterglow inclusive. I can't really talk about this beast, because I got it only once, which was in the newt level, but yeah... it's just fair that this thing is insanely rare.
Conclusion: The weapons are well-designed, all be it nothing new, with few notable exceptions. But then again, total originality was never HROTs goal. Like most Boomer Shooters, it doesn't bring many new things to the table, but mostly takes old things, updates and improves them, and puts its own spin on them. In this case, it took Quake and put it into a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-esque, Soviet Prague. I wouldn't call the arsenal a mere re-skin of Quakes gun though, more so a reiteration of FPS weapon archetypes, which Quake had a hand in establishing. While HROT doesn't do anything new with most of these archetypes, it uses them well in its gameplay and gives the setting more immersion through their appearances. The only real complaint I have about the arsenal is that there is no AK-47, which says a lot, given that most FPS games have at least one big stinker in their arsenal (looking at you, Snark from the original Half-Life!). In the end, HROTs arsenal is the old reliable of Boomer Shooters: it doesn't do anything crazy, but is consistently satisfying to use.
But seriously, why is there no AK? I still feel robbed and I DEMAND answers!

Fallout 1:
Pros:

• Best tone of any Fallout game. Perfect mix of light touches of dark comedy but a very serious vibe overall.
  
• Rich with all juice from the RPG golden era of the late 90s and early 00s.
  
• Fantastic writing and worldbuilding. Really top class.
  
• Believable and well-thought out world. Stands up to scrutiny.
  

Cons:

• Dated and clunky.
  
• Poorly balanced in many ways. Some skills are useless. Others are near mandatory.
  

Fallout 2:
Pros:

• Similar to Fallout 1 in many ways but expanded.
  
• Some of the most interesting quests and locations in all of Fallout. New Reno, Vault City, etc.
  
• The first half of the game is peak Fallout.
  

Cons:

• Too whimsical and jokey in many ways compared to the first. The tone is not as good.
  
• The final act of the game is kind of weak.
  
• Shares same issues with being dated and clunky as FO1.
  

Fallout 3:
Pros:

• Great fun to explore. Basically built as a post-apocalyptic theme park to get lost in.
  
• More modern and inclusive design which is nice for some. Interesting to see Fallout in 3D.
  
• Cool setpieces and atmospheric storytelling is top tier.
  
• Put Fallout into the mainstream.
  

Cons:

• The world doesn't make much sense. All logic of the world breaks if you stop to think about it even for a second. The famous example is the lack of food but everything that this question represents is an issue.
  
• Overall poor to mediocre writing.
  
• Buggy (mods are near mandatory).
  
• Can come off a bit juvenile with the binary morality and with the tone in general.
  
• Arguably disappointing reimagining of previously complex factions. BOS generic good guys. Super mutants mindless orcs with guns, etc.
  

Fallout New Vegas:
Pros:

• Good mix of 3D Fallout and old Fallout RPG design.
  
• Great writing and quest design.
  
• Highly ambitious game.
  
• Rich worldbuilding. A lot of effort has clearly been spent on imagining how a realistic world would look under this premise and which issues would plague such a world.
  
• Complex dilemmas and interesting concepts. Overall quite sophisticated.
  

Cons:

• Less fun to explore for many. Less of a "go have an adventure" game than Fallout 3.
  
• In the same vein: dungeon design is often boring.
  
• Buggy (mods are near mandatory).
  
• Feels undercooked in some areas. It's clear that Obsidian didn't flesh out everything they wanted to. This is the downside of the "Highly ambitious game" point. Caesar's Legion for instance is a clear example of a faction that needed more development.
  
• Balancing issues in some ways. Speech is way too good for example.
  

Fallout 4:
Pros:

• Much improved combat. Best in the series.
  
• Many technical improvements.
  
• Fully fledged out crafting system.
  
• The "pick a direction, go on an adventure and explore" theme park strength of Fallout 3 remains.
  
• Much better companions than Fallout 3.
  

Cons:

• Departure from RPG to instead move into more of an open world adventure game / RPG hybrid. An improvement to some, a big step back for me.
  
• Very strange design choices: Voiced protagonist, 4 wheel dialogue system, etc.
  
• Little to no smaller settlements. Basically every location is a somewhat generic enemy spawn.
  
• Weak main quest.
  
• Very big departure from the original tone of Fallout.
  

(reuploaded to fix typo in title since titles can't be edited).

I ran into a bit of writer's block writing the next part of Secret Chord. It wasn't helped by this weird anthology rattling around in my head. So, I decided to write it down to get it out of the way. I hope you enjoy it, or even take it as a series of possible writing prompts. I only had more ideas about the bootlegger of the story, so we'll just say everyone else is up to interpretation and imagination. Let me know what you think.
And yes, I do have a strong fascination with music. Why do you ask?
---------
Radio is a beautiful thing to Jack Rushing. The ability to reach the common man wherever he may be and bring to him the comfort and pleasure of music, the up-to-date latest news of the wider galaxy, or the simple human connection of Jack’s interludes. Now it wasn’t radio exactly, but the semantics were unimportant. What was important was broadcasting out to the galaxy at large wherever humans may be. To bring together those lonely souls adrift in the wider-
A crash brought Jack out of his reverie. His short fik assistant dropped a box after tripping over a wire. “Careful with those! We haven’t saved those yet!”
“Yes, yes! Sorry.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose Jack replied, “It’s fine. You’re doing fine, Kos. Just watch where you’re going. Now bring those here, we’re about to go live.”
Kos recovered the spilled cardboard sleeves and deposited the box on the small table beside Jack. He stood and thumbed through the selection. This box alone could buy a new cargo hauler, and the cramped studio held crates of these black-market treasures. Kindly donated by a mysterious benefactor.
He drew out a couple records and a tape then handed them to Kos. “Alright we’re gonna start with ‘Sixteen Tons” he said pointing to each song number, “Then ‘Pride and Joy’, ‘Midnight Rider’, ‘East Bound and Down’ and we’ll end with…” He dug around and exclaimed, “Ooh, this.” He handed the vinyl to the fik trying to juggle everything who shuffled into the next room. Jack could see through the glass as Kos began to set everything up, while he put on his headphones and adjusted the mic. The per-recorded program from the night cycle was ending.
With a thumbs up from Kos, Jack punched a few buttons on his console before the vintage “On Air” light blinked to life.
“Good morning, O’ wayward souls, I’m Jack Rushing back again with another slew of songs once thought lost to time. Our generous benefactor, Mr. Suit-and-Tie, continues to comb the seedy underbelly of the galaxy at large to bring you nothin but the best. Meanwhile, me and Kos, my stalwart companion, are broadcasting live from beautiful downtown Nondescript. This is the Spirit of Radio bringing you ‘Sixteen Tons’ by Tennessee Ernie Ford.” Jack pointed through the glass to signal Kos to start before muting the mic.
*****
Cooking was an art as much as a skill. Bo had cooking in his blood. History was repeating itself, as Bo’s ancestors worked as a ship’s cook to gain passage across the Atlantic, so too did Bo book passage across the sea of stars by working as the ship’s chef.
Some people say a man is made out of mud, A poor man’s made out of muscle and blood…
Bo adjusted the volume on his pad so he could hear it as he worked. He was finishing up cleaning after the ship’s dinner and moved on to his special project. He promised Mephla a specially made dinner for two. The felinoid had taken an interest in his cooking. She enjoyed watching him cook as much as eating what he made. He knew she’d arrive any minute, so he set out on some prep work.
Finding ingredients was a novel challenge, but not impossible. A passable replacement was possible with just about anything, but it took Bo the better part of a year and half seeking them out. Salt was salt, thank God, but others he had to be a bit more creative. It seemed the galaxy preferred lard to butter. Probably due to the ursdains or the mostly carnivorous population, but he could work with it. He was most proud of his most recent discovery of a little root-bulb that mimicked garlic damn near perfectly. He’d been jonesing for garlic-bread for years now, and now he could finally scratch that itch.
He began setting up his mies en place and pre-heating his oven and prized possession. Well, one of them anyway. His father always said all he needed in the kitchen was a chef’s knife and a cast-iron skillet. Turns out he was right. Those two have taken Bo from one side of the galaxy to the other. The damn electric stove-tops still irked him, but he could manage.
Just as he was finishing up breaking down the…bird of some description, The calico felinoid entered and leaned against the doorway. She didn’t say anything, just watched with a self-satisfied smile. Or maybe that was just how her face always looked. God, he loved that face.
Bo was particularly proud of the little mound of pasta he’d created. It was too labor intensive to serve the crew at large, but he’d made a little batch just for tonight. Maybe one day he’d be the one to introduce dried pasta to the galaxy, but for tonight it was a special treat for a special woman.
*****
Curiosity is what drew Mephla to the diminutive human. She saw him duck into the kitchens of the ship one day and had to know what he could possibly know about food. Peeking in reviled a pleasant scene of a craftsman in his element. The way he felt or smelled each ingredient before staring off into space or closing his eyes. He once told her he could picture how a dish would taste just from the smells of the ingredients. Of course, this didn’t stop him from sneaking tastes of each step while he worked.
Yeah I love my lady, She’s long and lean, You mess with her, You’ll see a man get mean.
She loved to watch him work; from cutting and slicing veggies, herbs, and meat to how he juggled different pots and pans to combine, split up, then recombine the food in some ritual of flavor. One of his favorite phrases was “Don’t waste flavor.” Whatever that meant, it worked. He busied himself with roasting what he called “the star of the dish” while simultaneously preparing the “landing spot” of the plate.
He began slicing the fowl and placing it over some sauce covered…something. She’d eaten enough of his food to trust him. Humans (at least this one) enjoyed meaty, fatty flavors. This suited Mephla just fine.
“Oh. Almost forgot. How could I forget?” He turned and retrieved some buttered-bread concoction and placed two on each plate. It smelled divine. She entered his temple and stood behind him, holding him tight from behind.
Nuzzling the top of his head she said, “You keep cooking like this I’ll end up as big as an ursdain.”
She’s my sweet little thang, I’m her little lover boy.
*****
Freedom was a dangerous business. Bill Elliott stared at the representation of the guard cutter currently scanning and searching every ship passing through this jump point. Not normally a problem. Not unless you happen to be haulin’ a couple tons of human contraband bound for less-than-legal ports. The next system over had the hyperspace lane entrance that’d set Bill home-free.
But I’m not gon’ let ‘em catch me, no I’m not gon’ let ‘em catch the Midnight Rider.
“I’m tryin’ buddy. I really am.” He grumbled at his radio. He adjusted the number nine cap on his head then climbed out of his seat. His rig was a supped-up cheap cargo hauler. It’d fit in just about anywhere in the galaxy, but it was packing a drive big enough to rival…well a guard cutter.
He clambered to the cargo hold to take another count of what he had. Most of the crates and pallets were labeled in code. It’d be just about the worst code one could come up with for fooling humans, but luckily the Galactic Community didn’t seem to recognize names like Marlboro or Jack Daniels. Bill’s world as a bootlegger was made of these not-so-subtle code names, including his own name.
Finishing taking stock, including the smaller cases labeled “Colt” under the floor panels, he checked on the hulking drive core awkwardly crammed in the engine bay and bleeding out into the cargo and extra crew bays. With no epiphany found Bill walked back to the cockpit and fell back in his seat.
His options were limited. He could turn around and make a few extra jumps and extend his delivery by who knows how long. Which would also be suspicious as all Hell trying to avoid a GC cutter. Or he could gamble and pass through the checkpoint, hoping beyond hope they don’t decide to pick his ship apart bolt by bolt.
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’, We’re gonna do what they say can’t be done.
Bill chuckled, “Yeah. Let’s watch this ol’ Bandit run.” He waited for the last ship in line to jump out of system before warming up his drive. This is what the burner tags were for after all. He got the green light then put the hammer down.
*****
Enterprise is the lifeblood of any organization or business. Rohan Singh thought of himself as quite the enterprising human. As humanity was cast to the four winds, Rohan wept for the lost spirit and culture, and would do anything and everything he could to seize back control of humanity’s spirit.
Rohan eased back in his chair, propping his feet up on his desk. He pulled a cigar out of his coat pocket and lit it. The Galactic Community was no stranger to financial wheeling and dealing, however the human had a couple perks to leverage. First was a fresh perspective. A stagnate market was one just begging for any flashy new enterprise. Which led to the second: adaptability. So rote was supply and demand that any upset could cripple an unsuspecting business. And upset he did. With an army of felinoid lawyers and ssypno investors Rohan quickly build company after company within shell company after shell company.
It started simply with human-made chachkies and knick-knacks sold for inflated prices, but quickly built capital for larger ventures in ship flipping and Rohan’s favorite: casinos. There is no better cash cow than the scientifically perfected art of mass gambling. With a large influx of cash, he had the freedom to invest in…less reputable opportunities. Tobacco, alcohol, and guns sold the galaxy over. Keeping his plantations and stills secret was an ever-present challenge, but one that paid dividends. Guns on the other hand were a harder business to stay in. Oh sure, human “slug throwers” were quickly becoming popular. The demand was there, but Rohan couldn’t keep a steady supply. It seems most of the humans with the know-how simply went into business for themselves. Rohan could respect that, but he’d need one with loose scruples on the payroll. Then was the matter of drugs. How did human drugs react to alien physiology? That could open a whole new-
This next song goes out to Mr. Suit-and-Tie.
Money Money Money Money… Money!
Rohan grinned. Sure, his wealth was reward enough, but there was still his goal of humanity’s spirit. He rose and was about to key his intercom when it buzzed to life.
“Sir, the Spirit of Fortune is pulling in, and Mr. Liberty is here to see you.”
He keyed, “Send him in.” He stood then went to face the window behind his desk. It showed a view of the cyan gas giant the small station orbited. As if on cue the Spirit of Fortune began to slide into view. The massive casino ship was the first of what Rohan hoped would be a fleet. It was a cruise ship on steroids. He could imagine a Las Vegas of various ships drifting from sector to sector generating unimaginable wealth. And of course, cleaning up some of his less-than-sterling cash-flow.
He turned back to watch the approaching man pass the mirrored water features lining Rohan’s opulent office. Mr. Liberty wore a fitted suit and smart glasses and handed Rohan a pad.
“Sir, we’ve found another ring. This one operating at the edge of ssypno space.”
Taking and reviewing the pad Rohan answered, “Perfect! Do we know their source?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“I see. That’s alright. Buy whoever you can and once you have an account of everyone tip off the GC through the usual channels. I’ll put a personal bonus on every human you and your people liberate.” He handed the pad back.
“Of course, sir.”
“Good. Get going. No time to waste.” With a nod, Mr. Liberty strode back out through the front doors.
Rohan turned to observe the Spirit of Fortune once again before crushing out his cigar and keying the intercom, “Hold all my calls and meetings. I’ll be in the vault.”
“Yes, sir”
He walked to the side of his office where a hidden door was. Opening the side panel, he placed his eye up to the retinal scanner and pressed his thumb to the DNA analysis needle. With a silent hiss the door slid open, and he descended the stairs to the heavily armored room. Inside was a vast collection of human paraphernalia.
Paintings, sculptures, and general artifacts lined the walls and adorned pedestals. This quite possibly was the largest collection of human relics. Stolen and sold on the black market, Rohan made it his mission to ensure every piece of humanity’s spirit, its soul, was once again in human hands.
He slowly walked the aisles until stopping at a small sculpture of the Buddha.
“Greed is bad, eh? If that were true, you’d still be a ssypno trophy.” He slowly gazed around at his collection. He could picture the museum of humanity and its accomplishments. A vast temple that the dispersed humans could visit, and remember who they were. Know their true nature and heart. The preservation of its soul. “I’m not proud…” he spoke to the Buddha, “But it must be done.”

Finally got around to playing the DLC.
First off, I realize it’s totally optional to use. However, game djimmi caps your grade to B+ if you use him, and that’s just 4 extra HP. Why would they do this? To preserve the challenge of getting higher ranks right? It would be too easy with game djimmi, otherwise they wouldn’t bother with capping it.
Idk to me the relic can be FAR more powerful than game djimmi’s extra HP. Your starting health is 3, but you get the smoke dash, whetstone, heart ring, and even a slightly better coffee (5.2% charge per second, vs the default 4%), all at once. To me all these benefits added together blow game djimmi out of the water. You could argue the weapon randomization can be difficult to manage sometimes, and evens things out. But this hardly applies to plane levels.
Like the title says I feel flying levels are hit the hardest; the weapon randomization is almost a non-issue given there’s only 2 weapons on the plane, so you’re left with all the benefits. With a few good parries the main challenge becomes maintaining at least 3HP. I struggled with trying to S-rank Hilda Berg for a few months, with the relic I got it in one try. It feels cheap, like I cheated somehow.
I just feel like the relic should be capped like game djimmi, in the spirit of preserving the original challenge of the S. I also generally feel like getting hit at all should disable the S rank. It wasn’t anywhere near perfect, I got hit 3 times and had several big buffs. If the relic was extremely hard to obtain in the first place, perhaps I’d feel differently, but I got it fully upgraded in a couple hours. Though the DLC has been out a while, I doubt they’re gonna change much at this point.
I guess I’ll have to start a new save file and S rank it all without even buying the relic, just to have the flex that I did it the OG way. I wish there was a way to do the DLC without getting the astral cookie, for similar reasons

 Q P O U X G L S M Z Y I E A H C T R N B J , ; . / K D W F V 

I’ve made one post something like this before and I was convinced otherwise. It went…
Because doctors do such a bad job at treatment I approve of universal healthcare. I partially changed my mind there. But still had some lingering doubts. This was months ago.
Today I was going to a random job for contract work and ran into this girl and was just chatting with her and she brings up her medical history. I hadn’t said a thing about mine. She has the same diagnoses as me and more. Man I felt bad for her and it put some things in perspective for me.
The thing is I’d never met anyone like me before. Usually when I speak of medical issues most don’t understand chronic long term problems with being under a doctors care. That’s what convinced me. If your the only one with an opinion most likely you yourself are wrong.
But here was a girl of 23 talking about problems I’d been going through for a decade and it hit way too close to home.

1. She spoke of doctors not wanting to treat her. They feared for her liability. She had a really rare diagnosis on top of everything else I had. Everyone refused. Except Kaiser where her dad worked. Even then only infectious disease would try and she had to sign a bunch of liability waivers far beyond the norm because all treatments were experimental.

A- my iteration of this. Even months ago when I made that post o was saying my doctors will not treat due to comorbidities and the thing I hear above all else is “my liability, I can’t help, not my job, I’m not comfortable,go ask X physician”. I’ve never met someone else who had the same complaint. Everyone else says their doctors are amazing.

1. She spoke of all the times she had been to the hospital for weeks and months on end. The process there is always slow. Nothing happens fast. Unless your literally dying that moment. The medicine they gave that had terrible S/S. But mds don’t particularly care…. It’s indicated and therapeutic. It doesn’t matter if your so loopy you can’t walk or it causes bone pain.

A: my version. I’m non compliant as hell. I tell my doctors this is out of self preservation. The stuff they give me… autoimmune medication, anti rejection drugs, steroids, were doing all the above and the first time I took them outside the hospital walked into work. They thought I was on drugs…. Lucky me I had all 15 of my prescribed meds in my backpack so o could show them. Or other times when I took steroids and gained 20lbs in 2 weeks and walked like an old man…. My bones hurt. Years and years…. I finally just stopped taking them told my doctor no and they bitched, yelled, called me no compliant…. I told them you take it first go through that then I will. Doctors cannot put their money were their mouth is. They don’t mind inflicting on someone else… but I doubt they would go through this themselves.
3: she spoke of her finances. How so many hospital visits had wrecked them. How she could never build a safety net. She was always broke. How she wouldn’t bother advancing in her career because there way no medical support and she didn’t think she would make it through the course. How she only had 20-30 more years to live so fuck it. No point.
A: my version for the last 10 years. Always broke. Had a 1.2 gpa in college. Kicked out because I couldn’t stay awake/too many days out at the hospital for blood transfusions or whatever. I finally bought modafanil online 10 years later and graduated with a 3.9 gpa. I could stay awake. I went to the hospital 4x during my 13 month program they wanted so badly to hold me back terms but I studied in the hospital did well on tests and threatened lawsuits. I would not graduate if I was held back. There was no physician support. Just mine. I told her that. They are useles. You need to take some initiative.
Quality of life: it’s sad. At her age I didn’t think of that. I just ignored shit and kept going. But there she was parroting my lines back at me. Her illness had become her world. Outside her daughter…. She was so limited in what she could do. She looks healthy to me. But it’s all internal… I always hear that when nurses or doctors read my history (unless I’m in something really acute) that I’m too young for this and I look really strong and energetic. I am till I’m not. Ditto for her.
Die to length restrains I need to cut short but there was so much more… I never told her anything about my own history. But she was so happy to have someone finally listen. I’m willing to bet my life quite literally that her doctors never do.
To reemphasize… having met some one like me for the first time. And her mother who picked her up. Who had the same thing , made my opinion stronger in the sense, but also changed how I view it. This sub and other showed me that for general medical everything is not perfect but workable. I can believe that. What I am looking to see if my mind can be changed on is that at a certain point when doctors will not treat due to liability and the patient is somewhat functional but not on hospice, because of concerns for quality of life patients should have the right to override their doctors in treatment and create the aims of it with only the advice of their doctor. Absent liability to them from patient and family.

Before we discuss our apple pie recipe and explain how to make apple pie – let’s explore what this pie is made of. An apple pie is made up of two main components: the filling and the crust. The filling is typically made by combining thinly sliced apples with cinnamon. The apples are then coated with sauce typically made of butter, sugar, and flour.

apple pie crust recipe

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Chilling: 1 hour
Nutritional Value: Mentioned above in apple pie calories

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (~185gm) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• ½ cup (~115gm) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• ½ cup ice water

Instructions:

1. Add sugar, salt and flour to a bowl, whisk well to combine.
2. Mix the butter pieces also with the rest. Using your fingers, make pea size crumbs of the butter.
3. Gradually add the ice water and as you continue to mix it. Pinch the dough to check if it’s sticky enough. Don’t add too much water.
4. Split the dough into 2 halves and shape each into a disk.
5. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour before using them in your apple pie recipe.

To checkout in detail and get all your answers while making an apple pie recipe here.

For the record. It is an amazing arc and croc-sensei did spectacularly on it. I just think it didn't reach its peak potential. Structurally I think some of the battles should be reorganized. In my rewrite most of the arc will stay the same, though there will be new sequences and new characters.
Hashira training arc preemptive rewrites:
In order for my Infinity castle rewrite to work I'll have to add a character that's introduced in this training arc. Though the rewrites here aren't that extensive so it's just a small section.
First off, I didn't like how the Demon Slayer corps didn't even attempt to fill in the empty spots for Hashira left behind by Kyojuro and Tengen. So here I am introducing a new character that is going to be Rengoku's former Tsuguko and now the current Flame Hashira as she has replaced Rengoku after his death. I don't wanna put too much thought into names or this will come off as fanfiction so I'll just call her Yurei for convenience sake.
The basic character profile is that she was student under Kyojuro after he saved her from a Demon that killed her family yada yada. She always lived in the shadow of her fellow senior disciple-mate Mitsuri Kanroji who was also a student of Kyojuro's and originally the first pick to be his Tsuguko. That was until Mitsuri decided she wanted to be a Hashira herself and entered the ranks without replacing anyone. So the Tsuguko position fell to Yurei being the second choice for Rengoku's succession. So there's a bit of jealousy between this new character has Mitsuri.
She is teaches one of the rounds of the Hashira training that takes place before Mitsuri. It focuses on [insert cool anime martial art aspect here]. The point here is that Tanjiro isn't liked by the new Hashira and is purposefully and unfairly withholding him from progressing to the next round. Stemming from jealousy that Tanjiro was there in Rengoku's last moments and she felt like he valued him more as an apprentice despite never officially being his master. The goal here for Tanjiro would be to resolve this inferiority complex and show that Tanjiro is just a nice dude that doesn't want to steal other people's mentors.
She stops hating on Tanjiro but tells him to make sure he completes Mitsuri's training round faster than he did her's to prove her regimen is more difficult that Mitsuri's. That's it for Hashira training.
Muzan's conversation with Kagaya Ubuyashiki Rewrite:
This entire scene in the Infinity Castle arc I thought was perfection and really no need for changes. This is simply my alternative version that includes some cool ideas. So if you don't want to hear it and just want to see my rewrites for things I thought could be improved, you can skip this section.
So my alternative for this scene keeps basically all the dialogue in the exact same way it was depicted in the manga but has a new scene after it. Instead of Kagaya kamikazing his own home, he unsheathes a family heirloom sword with a pitch-white blade. Now I know what you're thinking. Kagaya isn't a fighter, and that's part of his charm that you don't need to be physically strong to be a good leader. But hear this out.
I am going by logic that since the Ubuyashiki family were the first victims of the Demon scourge and leaders of Demon Slayers, it would be hard to believe they didn't have any in family defenses. In my rewrite I have them be the progenitors of a new type of breathing, Light breathing.
This breathing style has 15 forms total, second most behind Moon breathing, and not a single one of these forms are used for attack. Yep, heard that right. In this rewrite, Light breathing is an evolved version of basic recovery breathing utilized to its maximum potential. In the lore it would've been used for seemingly inhuman feats of healing and regeneration from physical trauma and disease. It would also make sense that this style would be created by the Ubuyashiki family during efforts to find ways to mitigate their curse. And although it has no effect of canceling out curses or magics, Kagaya uses it to temporarily heal the physical effects of his curse.
Thinking Kagaya wants to fight, Muzan instantly unleashes a fury of attacks. And this scene we get to see full destructive utilization of all Muzan's blood demon arts, not limited by any poisons or miracle medicines procured by Tamayo yet. Kagaya doesn't attack, but instead, in his new temporary healthy state, uses Light breathing to deflect attacks, continuously mend wounds, and temporarily blind/stun Muzan. Kagaya won't throw a single attack the entire fight, thus preserving his Buddha like nature.
In reality, the confrontation is to stall for time until the demon slayers arrive. Using his mystical foresight, Kagaya skillfully calculates how to evade each of Muzan's destructive attacks. Muzan realizes this and thus procures situations where even if Kagaya can forsee different ways of how he evades in the future, all options will involve him being fataly injured. But even after he is gravely mutilated by Muzan's attacks, the Light breathing forms he uses in response heals all wounds and poisons completely.
Another fact about Light breathing is that, the breathing method itself is derived from Wisteria plants' respiration and transpiration of chemicals. So in a sense it mimics the qualities of Wisteria. Thus including another added affect. Any demon in close proximity of someone using Light breathing has their Blood Demon Arts temporarily weakened at an exponential level and so is their regeneration slowed down massively. This comes into play when Kagaya thinks he's stalled enough and then detonates his house, killing him and his family. Muzan doesn't die but since he regenerates almost instantly, it was essential to be in proximity to the Light breathing so Tamayo could have time to insert the medicine and give the Hashira an advantage.
The sequence of events immediately before and during entering the Infinity Castle stays the same.
First Round Infinity Castle Battles - Shinobu vs Douma Zenitsu vs Kaigaku:
Nothing changes from the manga. Perfection. Just think, it should be more apparent that they take place semi-simaltaneously.
Second Round Infinity Castle Battles - Tanjiro & Giyu vs Akaza Urokodaki, Tengen Uzui, Shinjuro, & Nezuko vs Jigoku Uzui (New Upper Moon 5):
The events of the Akaza fight are not changed and neither are the events surrounding it.
Simply adding another battle that takes place at the same time. This battle is with the former Hashira and certified Nezuko protection gang, fighting against Tengen Uzui's brother and current demon shinobi, Jigoku Uzui. I chose the name because Tengen means heaven and Jigoku means hell.
(Flashback) After the dispatch of Gyokko in the swordsmith village, Akaza was tasked with finding a good candidate to replace him. He stumbled upon the ruthless shinobi culture cultivated by the Uzui family. Seeing how they're a group of efficient warriors that don't hold any ethical qualms, Akaza challenged both Tengen's father and Jigoku to combat at which they fought him at the same time. If Akaza won they'd agree to become demons, and they'll keep they're clan but as long as they're loyal to Lord Muzan. But if father Uzui and Jigoku won, Akaza would leave them alone. The fight devolves and eventually involves Jigoku's children joining in. Akaza defeats Jigoku and kills his father as well as a few of his children. Recognizing the ones that have survived as strong and Jigoku as a worthy adversary, he gives him and his surviving children Muzan's blood to be turned to demons. The Uzui clan is now loyal to Muzan and Jigoku Uzui has been nominated as Upper Moon rank 5.
(Current) I think it will be an interesting dynamic with Tengen encountering his brother again and this time as a Demon. It will make for lots of drama as well as an interesting fight between two shinobi and two swordsmen. Nezuko would stay asleep most of the fight with Urokodaki directly protecting her. Speaking of, in this rewrite Jigoku was sent by Muzan to directly collect Nezuko and bring her to him.
Now about Jigoku's Blood Demon Art. I decided he should have the full arsenal of basic shinobi weaponry like Tengen and his wives, however his main weapon and instrument of the Blood Demon art is that of a double sided kusarigama. Basically a staff with dual sickles on each end and a chain holding a miniature mace extending from the staff's center. The blood demon art entails rapid spinning of the dual sided kusarigame of which blood tendrils extend from the ends causing extreme destruction while boosting speed.
At first, Jigoku is overwhelmed by the pure skill of these three master former Hashira. Even though they're rusty techniquewise, their coordination is perfected through endless battle experience. Jigoku's head is severed but wait, it's not over. Three more demons sprout from his neck and seperate. Jigoku's sons/Tengens nephews turned demons. Jigoku regrows his head and the real battle begins.
The fight plays out as a team battle with constantly switching opponents and locations around the Ubuyashiki estate. When it comes to the oldy swordsmen, Shinjuro is almost a mirror image of his son Kyojuro when Tengen sees him in battle, warming his heart. The only difference is that the sincerety that once inhabited the former flame Hashira is gone and has been replaced with a new layer of ferocity when fighting. Shinjuro isn't only fighting to protect or for honor, but to utterly crush his opponent in raging fire. Urokodaki still has that veil of sympathy and sincerity but his fighting style is different from Giyu's. The former fights in the style of a raging river controlled yet violent, while Giyu's is more calm and feeling, using current like movement to use the energy of the attacker back at them.
The 3 Uzui demon brothers all have Upper Moon 5 on their eyes despite not being the main threat. From strongest to weakest, there's the eldest brother, the youngest brother and the middle brother.
In the second half of the battle Nezuko wakes up and realizes she has limited time as a Demon left as she is slowly reverting to being a human. So she participates in the battle aiding the former Hashira. I thought this would be a good parallel to take place at the same time as the Akaza fight as it would be brother and sister fighting different Upper Moons simultaneously. She would also use her exploding blood to make Urokodaki's blade turn red.
At the climax of the battle Tengen manages to get a Demon Slayer Mark over his right eye with a series of parallel curved lines, increasing in size the further up the forehead they go. This is supposed to mimic soundwaves. Eventually all heads are severed with Jigoku's specifically being cut off by a marked Tengen. But one of the Demon brother's head was instead ripped off by Nezuko and not by a nichirin blade. So they don't disintegrate, which gives headless Jigoku enough time to surprise attack Shinjuro, stabbing him through the heart with one of the broken off kusarigama blades, killing him. Tengen avoids the attack of the headless Jigoku because he's also a Shinobi and Nezuko protects Urokodaki. Nezuko uses one last push of power to use her exploding blood to completely disintegrate the body of one of the headless demon brothers before any of them can reattach their heads. Now all demons left are headless by nichirin blades, they disintegrate.
Last Note: probs gonna continue into multiple parts. Don't really care if anyone reads the whole thing. Only for my personal peace of mind so I don't forget. Sorry if this is too long. If you do end up enjoying, thanks.

So I have 2 pcs and a Gustard X16/H16 stack. The dilemma i have is how do i connect it to both pc's in such a way that the inputs into the dac's input so that I can listen to whatever happens on both pcs AT THE SAME TIME. I've read tons of stuff about mixer this and that, but I can't seem to find a satisfactory solution so here i am asking.
My requirement is that I'd like the digital signal to go from both pc's into the Gustard X16 so that the dac can do the processing properly as opposed having a mixer's dac and amp do the processing. ive seen the idea of routing audio to the other pc to let the pc do the mixing but my issue with that is latency. I have one pc already outputting audio over hdmi to an elgato capture card along with video signal but that is already creating more latency than id like.
My question is how do i merge the digital signals without it going through other dacs and amps before hitting the X16 so i preserve as much of the original audio signal quality as possible while maintaining as low a latency as possible?
I have some ideas but I'm not entirely sure it would work. Please provide feedback on possible solutions or ask questions about things im running and stuff. If all else fails, im perfectly fine with just using my Gustard stack for music and enjoyment and running a "work" setup combining signals through my mixer and out to a separate set of headphones for when im gaming and stuff. Id just prefer if I could use the Gustard stack with an HE1000 all the time if possible. just makes things a bit more enjoyable.proposed solutions:

1. use a usb hub. run a usb from both pcs to a usb hub and then run the hub to the dac where the two pcs are considered inputs and the output is the dac. problem is will the dac be recognized on both pc's as an audio output source or will i have to find a workaround to force the signal through the usb output.
2. run two usb to xlr cables from the pcs to a xlr mergereverse splitter and then run that to the xlr digital input on the dac. problem is will the pcs recognize the usb to xlr cables as audio outputs or will i need to find a work around solution to force the audio through the usb outputs on the pcssdsd

please suggest more or feel free to tell me im an idiot and to stop trying to do this niche solution. like i said above, im perfectly happy to listen to the stack and attached headphones separately when im just trying to enjoy music but certainly would love to be able to use them for whenever im using either or both pcs.

There are a number of people who will say terrible things to you because they themselves are upset.
There are number of people who will say terrible things to you for your own benefit. To speak more exactly, it is not the content of their words that is to your benefit but the fact that the words upset you. If you ask them the right questions they will recognize your immovable mind and you will find them pleasant to talk to.
There are yet another class of people, most rare of all, who even I am unable to scrutinize. It appears that they say terrible things for its own sake, but as I said before, their motives are beyond my scrutiny. It could be said that they are having fun. Even to me they say, “Worthless dog, go die in a hole”. When I enthusiastically agree, “Indeed, I am a dog,” what do they do but stubbornly continue their assault? “Stfu dog. I didn’t ask you.” They act angry, but I see that they are not, or that their inner state is beyond my understanding.
What can be done? I raise my hands in surrender. I appear to be putting myself last, but really I am in the foremost place, having preserved the sanctity of my Temple.
I call on you to apply the alchemical principles and transmute the worthless into the valuable. When upon you comes a feeling, such as anger, transmute it by the power of your will.
If it helps, think to yourself, “This is an opportunity to demonstrate my perfect immunity to assault. I feel anger, but I don’t know the motives of the one asking me to be angry. I don’t want to feel anger, so I choose not to. I exercise my divine right and what I will is made manifest.”
Wield your divine powers over the Laws of this world. Call the air to your lungs, and it will come immediately to calm your heart. As a Child of Light, you and your brethren Lord over that which is below. Breathe deeply, and be at peace in the Holy instant.
Even if the entire world says that you are wrong, I have seen your perfection in eternity. Do not doubt this in yourself, no matter the reason. I have ordered that the past should not be held against you, for in the holy instant there is only now.
Remember this love I have shared with you, and let us surrender our anger as we see it.
I bid you well.

Timestamps
Hi, this is Kevin from Kevin W Studio Lube Service. I started my lube and film services in the second half of 2021 as a relatively small operation but have invested heavily in it after receiving so much positive feedback from the mechmarket community members. Thank you very much to everyone who has purchased from me; I am very grateful for your trust!
In addition to lubes, films, brushes, etc., I have invested in an ultrasonic cleaner for deep cleaning switches that come from the factory pre-lubed. The end result is a much more consistent sound and press feel. I carry a large variety of lubed and filmed switches in stock; please check out the descriptions for each switch to see what lube+film was used and whether or not the ultrasonic cleaner was used.
All orders will be shipped in ziplock bags inside a box. SHIPPING IS CONUS ONLY. I am unfortunately not set up to fulfil international orders yet; apologies for the inconvenience.
Switches, Lubes and tools
I have received questions regarding my experience, so I would like to share that and a few of my philosophies when it comes to lubing and filming switches:
I have lubed and filmed over 40,000 switches for other people since the middle of 2021.

• There is no single lube method that works perfectly for all switches because many switches have minute differences, and they all have their own sound signatures and press feels.
• Preserving the switch's sound signature and press feel should be a high priority. 205g0 is great for linear switches, but it is very easy to overlube with it, which produces a homogenous sound signature and press feel, making linear switches sound and feel similar, e.g., Lavenders/Banana Splits/etc.
• Deep cleaning is necessary to produce a consistent sound and press feel for some switches because factory pre-lube can be inconsistently applied.
• No single film works for every switch because housing tightness varies greatly. When I receive a new switch that I have no experience with, I test every combination of lube and film I can to find what works best for that particular switch.
• Film is not always a good thing; if the top housing is pretty tight, it can turn the linear switch to tactile or tactile to linear, significantly impacting the feel, so I only film the switches when necessary.
• Why mix 205g0 and 105 for linear switches? In order to eliminate switch noise and preserve the switch's original sound signature and press feel, I found this mixture to be optimal after extensive testing.

** Please note that you cannot confirm sales here as this is considered a bulk purchase under mechmarket rules.
** Please PM me with the quantity of switches and your PayPal email, and I will send the invoice.
** The price list below includes PayPal fees and shipping unless described in price column.
Lubricants
Finally got time to distribute lubricants into glass jar, sorry there is no small jars, but the price are roughly at wholesale price + materials/shipping I paid, should be cheaper than any other stores you can find online.

Lube	Description	Quantity	Price
Krytox 205g0	50g per jar, roughly 25~30ml, for switches	15 -> 8	$45 + shipping, shipping waived with lubed switch purchase
Krytox XHT-BDZ	20g per jar, for stabilizer wire	20 -> 17	$50 + shipping, shipping waived with lubed switch purchase
Krytox XHT-BDZ	50g per jar, for stabilizer wire	7 -> 5	$100 + shipping, shipping waived with lubed switch purchase

Linear switch

Switch	Description	Quantity (Pack)	Price (90 switches per pack if not specified otherwise)
Lubed Banaba Split switches	Ultrasonic cleaned on top house and stem, air dry for 48 hours, Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 3	$120 per pack shipped
Lubed Owlab London Fog Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 1	$115 per pack shipped
Lubed Owlab Neon Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 3 -> 2	$115 per pack shipped
Lubed Zaku Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 13	$115 per pack shipped
Lubed Vertex v1 Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 1	$100 per pack shipped
Lubed Prevail Epsilon	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 17	$115 per pack shipped
Lubed Durock POM Piano Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring, housing is pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 22 -> 18	$115 per pack shipped
L + F Gateron Ink Black V2	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm Durock Switch Films.	90 * 6 -> 4	$115 per pack shipped
L + F Gateron Box Black Ink v2	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm Durock Switch Films.	90 * 4	$120 per pack shipped
L + F Gateron Box Pink Ink v2	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm Durock Switch Films.	60 * 1	$80 shipped for 60 switches
Lubed Panghu Giant V5 Switches	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film.	90 * 2	$110 per pack shipped
Lubed Cherry MX Hyperglide Black	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Housing pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 7 -> 5	$100 per pack shipped
Lubed NK Cream	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 5 -> 3	$110 per pack shipped
L + F Durock L5 Linear Teal (Smoke) 67g	Ultrasonic cleaned on top house and stem, air dry for 48 hours, Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm durock Switch Films.	90 * 3	$95 Per pack shipped
Lubed Gateron Milky Yellow	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film.	90 * 16	$70 Per pack shipped
L + F Gateron Pink	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm Durock Switch Films.	60 * 1	$70 shipped for 60 switches
Lubed Mauve Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Housing pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 2	$105 per pack shipped
Lubed Lilac Linear	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Housing pretty tight, no film is required.	110 * 1	$130 for 110 switches shipped
Lubed TTC Red Linear switch	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Housing pretty tight, no film is required.	90 * 1	$70 per pack shipped
L + F Gateron CJ	Lubed with mixed Krytox 205g0 and 105 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. Filmed with 0.15mm Durock Switch Films.	60 * 1	$80 shipped for 60 switches.

Tactile Switch

Switch	Description	Quantity (Pack)	Price (90 switches per pack if not specified otherwise)
Lubed TTC Holy Panada v2 Tactile	Lubed with tribosys 3203 on bottom housing and stem, mixed 205g0 and 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 2	$115 per pack shipped
Lubed Durock Koala Tactile 67g	Lubed with tribosys 3203 on bottom housing and stem, mixed 205g0 and 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 2	$100 per pack shipped
Lubed Durock Dark Amber T1 Tactile	Lubed with tribosys 3203 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 3	$110 per pack shipped
Lubed Shogoki Tactile Switch	Lubed with tribosys 3203 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 2	$110 per pack shipped
Lubed Tecsee Coral Tactile Switch	Lubed with tribosys 3203 on bottom housing and stem, 105 on spring. No film is required.	90 * 1	$90 per pack shipped

Stabilizers
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Stabilizers	Description	Quantity (Pack)	Price (90 switches per pack if not specified otherwise)
Lubed TX Stabilizers (Rev. 3) - 1.2mm PCB, WKL(7u), Black	Lubed TX Stabilizers, Krytox 205g0 on the stem and housing, Krytox XHT-BDZ on the wire, 4 * 2u + 1 * 7u spacebar wire.	5	$30 shipped per set with at least one pack of Lubed switches.
Lubed TX Stabilizers (Rev. 3) - 1.2mm PCB, WK(6.25u), White	Lubed TX Stabilizers, Krytox 205g0 on the stem and housing, Krytox XHT-BDZ on the wire, 4 * 2u + 1 * 6.25u spacebar wire.	4	$30 shipped per set with at least one pack of Lubed switches.

Local pick up available, zip code: 95035.

I’m by no means religious. However I like the lifestyle and aesthetic that encompasses the “life of the cloth.” Cute cozy robes, make preserves, and live chastely. The whole selfless servitude mentality is great for self-worth and belonging. The perfect balance of discipline. The relative isolation is nice too. Perhaps, I just watched “the sound of music” one too many times, but the sisters at the abbey got such a vibe going on. Honestly hate the part when Maria gets married, and succumbs to “love”.... laaaame.
Asexual Nuns all the way.
That’s about it.
Perhaps some of you can relate, perhaps not, but I felt like sharing this thought before going off to sleep.

As a 25 year old, I’ve loved Bethesda games for as long as I can remember. When I first moved states at age 10, I played Oblivion and Fallout 3 religiously for months and months. I went to the midnight release for Skyrim in 2011. I got as close to perfect in New Vegas and its DLC’s as you can get. I had a dog named after your companion Benjamin in Operation: Anchorage. I’ve gone back and played the OG Fallouts and Elder Scrolls. Not to mention the games they’ve published like Dishonored and Wolfenstein
That said, with the “meh” level of Fallout 4 and Elder Scrolls Online (I’m sure that’s a hot take) and the abysmal impression Fallout 76 had on me, Bethesda has fallen somewhat from grace with me. Other new games have been sort of interesting for me to look into (Gotham Knights, Suicide Squad, Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, etc), but none have made me hyped enough to preorder. But along comes Starfield. The gameplay trailer was more than enough. But the rumors. The exploration. The planets. The setting. All of it. I’m back excited and ready for September 6th. Preorder will be coming. And if a deluxe edition (or collector’s) is announced, you bet your tail I’m gonna get it. LFG, Bethesda and Godd Howard. Make this “just work”

ROSLIN

Runestone, the eleventh month of autumn.
She had been born in winter, though it was not a season Roslin could at all recall. Unlike her cousin Rodney she did not possess the same skepticism of its coming. On some level subconscious Roslin was aware that the relationship between her family and heat was as complex as the passions exchanged between her parents; her father's face, both of complexion and expression, in the firelight implied a past of pain more than had been regaled to her in girlhood. It was further a fate bygone that she was not brave enough to pry upon sensing it a subject sensitive. Yet for the cold she was utterly without context.
While she saw the excess of layers when venturing out the keep to have been a fortunate though mostly fashionable happenstance it was serving to ward away the encroaching frost. Though Ros paid not much mind to it, nor even the rosiness of her own cheeks until her mother was insisting upon a set of gloves. Half thrusting them over Roslin's wrist despite her insistence that she was perfectly able to put the pair on herself. The both of them well aware that left to her own devices Roslin would have done no more than tuck the gloves into her belt and, inevitably, complain later of aching fingers as she asked after tea. Please mum, she would say as she grasped some exposed strip of flesh to prove her point; and, were those tactics ineffective, might well repeat the insolence on little Rowena when mother had turned her eyes elsewhere.
Instead of any overt preparation by her elders that reinforce the reality of the changing seasons it was, quite simply, the wilting of the flowers on the window sill that caught Roslin's attention. That no matter the tending it was ever on its decline. Ros was not so sure of her trimming efforts, in distress for the plant she had watered it and then drowned it in attempt to offer its roots respite. All these efforts were in vain as life must subsist on sunlight and there was little of it to go around. Even when she had lugged the little vase up the steps to the fifth floor where resided raised windows on every wall--an anomaly in Runestone's design as it had only been expanded after the coming of the Andals and the instilling of the Maesters to facilitate correspondence when the bronze crowns had been broken. All the same, the life had waned from the bushel; Ros, to the deep discomfort of Maester Vorsel, did nothing to diminish the despair felt of what had transpired irregardless of the man's well meaning explanations of decomposition. Having seen the flower from seed to sapling, to bright and verdant bouquet Roslin had assumed to be perennial. No more prepared for the death of a plant than anyone was to lose their loved one; in the absence of her father who had shown her how to plant the seeds in the first place the two felt interchangeable in her ailing heart.
She had sulked for a week in full afterward. Peering from puffy, tear stricken eyes as plants all abound Runestone did dwindle as hers had done. Auntie Ayla had bid the harvest be brought in though as the year drew toward its end the quality of the crop had ventured from passable to subpar. This, too, Vorsel explained as an inevitability dictating that there was little that was able to persist in the shifting of the season; the roots embedded in the soil incapable of penetrating through the onset frost. That which was not able to be preserved would be condensed, scattered to the growing fields to act as fertilizer before snow's first fall. Mulch, her uncle Rohan called it, though it reeked as much a manure.
"When will the spring come again?" She had queried, miserably. It had summer for several years. Stretching on long enough that Roslin was able to ruminate on the spring that had preceded it, unsure of if she remembered it in full.
Unhelpfully, Maester Vorsel did no more than shrug.
Far from satisfied, Ros leered at the man with a degree of distain only a child was capable of. Tossing down her notes from his lecturing as he did aim to amble on, realizing eventually that the young Lady Royce would resist his teaching outright if he did not provide her with adequate answer lamenting his years of study in the southern Citadel where not a single soul need be convinced into an orderly curiosity.
With a breath, "No one knows in certainty," he began, gladdened that it was only the Princess Alicent's daughter in attendance that afternoon. The heir of Runestone and his suspicions bid on a task concerning his would-be-wives rather than latching to the admittance from the learned man, "Not even the Citadel, my Lady. Mind that we manage an admirable estimate of its arrival none can say until the cold winds blow and the burrows are buried beneath snow."
Roslin found this response no more reassuring than the last though she seemed accept it when prodding the Maester more elicited no retort finer than the first. Then why are we expending resources on a festival? she could not complain in the least it was only that the ominous warnings of her elders did suggest that this was an unwise indulgence. Supposing then that it was not only her parents stricken by passing bouts of insanity, as it had been auntie Eugenie to reveal that auntie Ayla was following a tradition of Roslin's grandsire who had long ago accepted the expense of supporting the fief and wider kingdom as perpetual. And necessary, as the peasants too were to be provided with sustenance and celebration their own in addition to the festival being arranged for the nobles. The Lady Royce dictating that they would feed their own for the fruit of their labours prior to dispersing their due prosperity unto friends and foreign lordlings.
Selfishly, the smallfolk felt to Ros irrelevant as her focus fell to the potential of such a gathering, "He'll come home," she murmured as she had dragged Rowena and her mother into the bailey to expend her excess energy, having in habit halted before the heart tree… or had it called to her? It stood unhindered, unlike all the other plants Roslin had been obsessing over, with white branches brimming with crimson leaves. Only some of which had shed to the flagstones underfoot. Not one of them brittle either.
There was a catch in her voice as she embraced the wierwood. Or as much of it as she was able to. Roslin felt no fear of the twisted face it bore nor found its red sap tears off putting; in fact its mangled visage was to her soothing as it reminded her of the man to whom she was alluding. She had cried many of her own tears in this place, tucked along the tangled roots of the tree in which she imagined a kinship with, "He has to," she had not the capacity to outright ask her mother as she had meant to, justifying her vision of her family despite all evidence of otherwise, "Father never misses a tournament. And… and the bones. He is fond of staring at them, along with the glitter of the scales. As I am."
No small amount of which Roslin had for herself pilfered. An act of insolence she saw as admirable, wanting for the dragon scales in those occasions only when her sire was not available to offset her distress. Of late, his absence had been extended without so much as a raven to explain. Roslin had sent one or two of her own to Ser Royland as the weeks had turned to months though no reply was returned. It must have been that the letters had not made their way to the Knight Inquisitor's desk in these few attempts as Roslin was unable to muster any adequate reason for why her correspondence was otherwise being ignored. Even when she had scrawled a little lizard on the parchment to garner his attention (as she had not left enough room to depict the wings of the dragon as she had first intended).
With a sense of looming inadequacy, Ros pressed her forehead to the alabaster bark of the heart tree. Unmoving in her prayer that had been the same for many a moon now, as like to be ignored as all the rest had been. Fearing the family she so yearned to reunite with was insufficient on its own to appease her father, that she was herself not enough.
Ros ground her cheek against the wierwood. The grit of it a distraction she was well in need of, her melancholy a miasma of late. Asking her mother, or mayhaps the Gods themselves if they were inclined to answer, "Does he not miss us, mum?" Pausing for a breath, "Is he waiting for us? If he doesn't visit, we could go to the Gates…"

idk if i’ll be alive for much longer but below is what i wish my life looked like.
In my dreams i am a wife. I wake up next my best friend in the whole world every single day. We aren’t morning people so we don’t do much talking as much as 5 minutes of cuddling before it’s time to see him off for the day. In my dreams I send him on his way with a light lunch of grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar dressing and bocconcini (he doesn’t like anything too heavy bc it weighs him down, he’s blue collar and can’t get too tired from a heavy lunch), water, a slice of peach crumble cobbler i made the previous day, and a secret note with a stupid joke written inside. he says they’re corny but i know he secretly loves them. In my dreams, i send him off with a kiss.
In my dreams my marriage is happy - not perfect. I’m forgetful and i lose things and sometimes it makes us late to outings. sometimes he leaves his clothes on the bathroom floor instead of the hamper. but in my dreams we laugh so hard our stomachs cramp and i have to leave the room because just looking at him will keep me laughing, we hold one another’s hands during difficult conversations, and we spend time together separately: him reading, me painting - together but separate. in my dreams we have a healthy sex life. at least 3 times a week; it doesn’t feel performative or like a chore. we kiss, we giggle, we lose ourselves in the moment, we sigh and sweat, and moan into one another’s mouths. in my dreams we satisfy each other.
In my dreams we have community. i don’t have family as i grew up in a toxic household but i have my chosen family/friendship. i’m close with his mother and his little brother comes over to hang out with him because he looks up to him. in my dreams we host dinners every few months with our loved ones. the lighting is low, the record is a jazz vinyl, everyone’s telling stories and listening intently, his hand is on my leg under the table.
in my dreams, i am a mother. i get to spend my time at home with my kids(s) 2 maybe 3. but i’d be happy if it were just one. i’d be lucky. in my dreams we are making mud pies outside and talking about the sensory aspects of it: cold, wet, gritty. in my dreams we take walks to the brook and hop along the rocks and use our binoculars to watch birds and squirrels in the trees. in my dreams, i get to watch my kid(s) be kids. to run, jump, play, scream, laugh, cry. i get to put bandaids on their knee caps and teach them to ride a bike. in my dreams we finger paint during rainy days and sing karaoke in the car on the way to the grocery store. i read bedtime stories from the books i saved in my closet from my childhood. they like the same stories but also have their own favorites. in my dreams, i do night checks: all clear, no monsters! i’ll leave the door cracked in case you call for me. in my dreams there’s matching PJs on Christmas morning and hot cocoa on the stove.
in my dreams my husband, my best friend, my rock, life partner, my mountain of a man yet also my sensitive sweet man returns from work. i kiss him like i haven’t seen him in 3 days (i’m wearing the perfume he likes). he hands me flowers (white roses and pink gladiolus). i made beef ribs that had been cooking for 3 hours with mashed potatoes and grilled broccoli. in my dreams our child(ren) reach for him and they share highlights of their day with one another. i watch lovingly from the doorway. in my dreams we sit down to eat as a family and talk about maybe adopting a rescue pup this weekend.
in my dreams we clean up the kitchen and watch a little TV before bed, we get through two episodes of our current show. we turn out the lights, i check for monsters and leave the door cracked. we head to bed, we giggle and sigh and satisfy. we fall asleep and begin to dream. in my dreams…. (start from the top)