I just grabbed the deluxe edition and on the download screen I see 2 versions. One ps5 at 88 gb and one ps4 at 43.
Does this mean I can install d4 on my ps4 upstairs and swap the rooms I play in? I wasn't aware there is a ps4 version. Why is it half the size?
This is huge for me if true! I have 2 gaming rooms and tend to use my ps4 one semi often still as it's near my bed.
Sorry I never ever buy digital games so this is new to me!

Hey everybody, I hope you all are doing well and staying safe!
First off, this will be a bit of a long post, so thank you all for taking the time to read this and for your support!
Right now, I am a third year undergrad in university, and this summer, I have the opportunity to do one of the two. I've been stuck on what to do honestly and was wondering if you all might have input, I'd really appreciate it!
My options for this summer are to either work in a New England city or do a summer online job in my hometown and pursue research on my own.
​
Summer job in New England
Pros:

• +I'll be only an hour or so away from my favorite city, which I'd be super excited about. I've also wanted to visit the city I will be working in my whole life, so it'd be a cool opportunity.
• +The city I'm in has really good public transportation, so on my day off, I'd get to explore it a lot.
• +A lot of my friends also live here, so I'd get the chance to see them.
• +The pay is pretty good and since they're covering my room and food, I don't have to worry about rent, which is super nice, and a great opportunity to be in a city I like.
• +I'll be helping people in my job, and helping people is something I really value and gives meaning in my life.
• +I only work for around 2 months, so even if it does get hard at some point, it'll end quickly.

Cons:

• -I'd be working almost 70 hours each week. I have worked 50 hours per week, and it was very painful, and I'm starting to second guess if I'd be able to manage 70.
• -My Amtrak to this city was cancelled suddenly, which means I now have to book a flight and an extra hotel night, which would cost me nearly 1/6 of my entire salary for the summer, which definitely would suck.
• -If I quit from this job, it'll cause the organization massive problems as they start in a couple of weeks. This is the biggest reason I am hesitant to take the other option because I'd feel extremely selfish and horrible if the program became messed up because I left, and we wouldn't be able to help as many people as we could have if I stayed.

Spending my summer doing online WFH and my own research
Pros:

• +I've been doing this job on-campus, so I'll have a lot of experience doing it and will likely make less mistakes.
• +I'll still be helping people with my job like the other option, which is nice!
• +I have the chance to use some of the free time from not having to work as long to create my own research paper to prepare for grad school and fellowship apps. I unfortunately have had bad luck with research as every professor who agreed me to work me ended up having to back out as they had to move away. Since research is important for grad school, this could make/break whether I can get a PhD someday.
• +More free time and relaxation in general.
• +I get to be home which means I get to spend time with my younger sister and help her out as she is going through a lot right now.

Cons:

• -The pay is a bit worse than the other option.
• -Since I'm working less, I'd be helping people not as frequently as I would for the other job.

Thank you all so much for your advice, I really appreciate it, and I hope you all have a good day/night!

I have been with my boyfriend for 9 years. He was married before. Earlier in the relationship he said he would be willing to remarry one day but with a prenup which has always been ok with me. Now he doesn’t want to get married, not with a prenup either. Fast forward to now, I am starting to have anxiety about the future. What if something happens to him? Will I not be able to visit him in the hospital? Make decisions for him if he can’t? (He doesn’t have a reliable family) What if he passed away suddenly? Would I be homeless? Unmarried but he wants kids? I have no rights to the house I’ve called home for almost 9 years. I’ve brought this up to him several times saying it isn’t about his money or his house—it’s about security.
I want to make it clear that I am NOT asking for my name to be put on the deed of the house—I am asking him to create a game plan for what happens in the event he passes away. I am not asking for him to give me his house that he paid for. I am just asking for him to consider what could happen and to make a plan. The way I was raised and the way I feel, if you love someone you do things to look out for them and to help them.
His answer was argumentative and hurtful. Today I asked him what he would have happen to the house if he passed away and he told me he would want it to go to probate. Not me (and not even anyone in his family.) He doesn’t want his family to receive anything from him either. I was really hurt by this. Why? If you love someone shouldn’t you want them to be secure if something were to happen? He says he wants to spend his life with me.
He makes more than three times as much as I do and I have only had a half-decent paying job for a few months after I finally recently graduated college that I paid for myself while working. In 2023 it is hardly a livable wage, arguably not. Real estate and rent where we live is not affordable to many people and I don’t know if I could get by. He acts offended when I bring this up to him and said he might consider willing the house to me if I start making “better gestures” and “contributing more”. He makes so much more than me and has been making so much more for so long. He bought his house (which is paid off) long before he met me with his first wife (who was on the deed of the house and took nothing from him in the divorce) and is giving me grief that I did not help him pay his mortgage. I have been helping him with other things and expenses which I will mention below.
He has no debt and is not struggling financially at all. For most of our relationship I made no more than $15/hr and spent a considerable portion of my days cooking and cleaning and still do. I work a full-time job and come home and cook dinner every single night, and I did the same while I was in college with homework and working 12-hour shifts getting home at 10pm. Meanwhile I have been paying for and taking care of my childhood, senior dog who has significant medical expenses. My boyfriend also literally never cooks. Never. I often buy groceries multiple times per week which he eats. I have been the sole one who cleans the house. He never has done that either. I do most of the yard work and have spent a lot of time and money on improving the yard and the house.
A real estate agent came to the house once and she mentioned that the property value had improved due to the improvements I had made. I cleared half of the property and essentially doubled usable space of the yard, planted shrubs, got grass growing, did stonework, the list is endless. I am about to pay half with him to get the porch screened in because insects are so bad this time of the year where we live and it is posing a health hazard. I am having reservations about investing any more money into a property that is not mine and for someone who’d rather it go to auction than to his long-term partner who has lived in it and taken very good care of it for nearly a decade.
I am hurt and confused. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I do and have done so much and to be told that not only he would have the house I have called home for almost 9 years and wanted to spend forever with him in be given over to probate (not even anyone in his family) if he were to pass away, but according to him that I don’t contribute anything, is heartbreaking. It’s not about the house itself or money but the principle, I feel like he just doesn’t care what would happen to me and “our” dog who I thought he cared about as well. It isn’t about the house itself but I am afraid of what might happen.
I asked him what does he think might happen to me (or if we had kids which he wants) if something happened to him and he said “You’ll figure it out”. I had a rough childhood and was homeless for a short while and the thought of that happening is terrifying especially if I had children or I am caring for my dog. He says he wants to be with me forever. I am clearly not understanding something. Someone please help me. I have no one to turn to and really need some advice. Thank you for taking the time to read this

So short backstory. We've been together for 12 years, have 3 children together and have built a decent life for ourselves. We both work full time and when we're not working, we're spending time with our kids.
We've been at our breaking point due to my actions in the past (not being there emotionally or physically, verbally abusive, didn't show her any support). I was sick with a horrible disease for a few years and I know it's not an excuse, but I was trying to take care of myself during that time while still working to pay the bills.
Things have gotten to the point of being damn near perfect in the last few months and we've been the happiest we've been in years. I started a new career and we're both doing well except for my mental health. Mentally I'm insecure, jealous and basically self conscious due to a surgery I had.
So recently, this guy at her work has been flirting with her (I heard a conversation they had while I was on the phone) and I asked her if he knew she was in a relationship and she said she doesn't know. She tells me when she talks to him and trys to go into detail about their brief conversations but I feel like stuff is intentionally left out.
They leave work and drive down the road and he rides a motorcycle and goes out of his way to ride up next to her car and talk to her. It makes me jealous because he doesn't even know she's in a relationship! She told me that she is starting to get feelings for him and that if things were better between us years ago, she wouldn't even entertain him now.
I'm so lost and heartbroken. We've got couples counseling set up and I think she wants to try and work through this together but I don't know if that's even true. I don't know what to do with myself. She is everything to me.
Where do I go from here?

Hi. I'm hoping to gain a near-enough comprehensive understanding of techniques as well as understanding the effects of the techniques. I mean, to use basic examples, I know what a metaphor is and I know what iambic pentameter is, but I don't understand why I might want to use or not use either, I don't understand what they do. Or, to put it another way, I don't understand the difference between Full of sound and fury signifying nothing, and Full of fury and sound signifying nothing. Can anyone recommend me a book or two? (Just to be clear, I've used "old" examples but I of course want to be uptodate)

My son is nearly 12 years old, and his father has been absent the entire time. We were together from 17-19, 19 is when I had my son. My ex was a drug addict at the time and emotionally abusive. My parents forced me to get a restraining order which in reality was the best option to keep us safe and that was that. He isn’t on the birth certificate and I don’t receive child support. We connected when my son was 5, he stated he wanted to be his dad, and take responsibility but nothing grew from there, after the phone call ended, I never heard from him again. He’s 100% out of our lives, and yet the often reoccurring dreams are vivid, always him wanting to be a father and a husband, we’re always happy in the dream and then I wake up feeling depressed. I do feel like I wish we could’ve tried to be a family but I know that how things unfolded were the best outcome for myself and my son. I just don’t understand why this dream keeps happening and it’s been nearly 12 years since I’ve seen him! The dreams occurs usually when I’m in a stressful situation in my waking life, but sometimes they just occur randomly. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Buying my first home directly from the builder.
The builder is asking for me to pay RPR fee as the closing date is nearing.
It was a pre-construction that I booked and now it's almost complete.
Who pays for RPR fee for a brand new home purchased- is it the builder or buyer? What is this fee for?
Is this fee optional?

Here is the most important information, and related articles, from this article.
Published on 2023-06-02 at 14:00, this article is written by emmet lyons and published by cbs news. (4 minutes)
Save 4 minutes of reading with this summary:

The "Starvation Mobile Justice Team team," from the Global Rights Compliance human rights law firm, which is working in partnership with the office of Ukraine's prosecutor general, said Friday that its investigation had focused largely on "starvation tactics" allegedly used by Russian forces in Chernihiv, a northern region that came under siege during the first three months of the invasion. "From our initial investigations into Russia's starvation crimes in Ukraine, the evidence is pointing towards a deliberate plan carefully designed to undermine and attack the very foundation and societal fabric of Ukrainians, subjecting them to inhumane living conditions," said Catriona Murdoch, a British lawyer who led the team. Russia has previously been accused of deliberately targeting Ukrainian food supplies and production, including during the siege of on the key port of Mariupol, and Murdoch told CBS News her team's findings were "just the tip of the iceberg in Putin's calculated plan to terrorize, subjugate and kill Ukrainian people." Murdoch told CBS News her team had analyzed high quality drone imagery of the area from just before the attack, and "you can see very clearly the queuing up of civilians, that they clearly look like civilians — they don't look like a military formation — you can see very clearly that this was a clear distribution point outside of a supermarket." "It is imperative that these crimes are fully investigated so that we can create a bedrock of truth and a historical record which can be used both to counter Russia's lies, and to find justice for Ukraine's victims and the survivors of these crimes," she told CBS News.

Keep reading with 3 related articles: CBS News (2022-05-07 at 15:43) How Russia is using hunger as a weapon in Ukraine CBS News (2022-04-05 at 17:00) Bucha massacre: CBS News finds evidence of atrocities near Ukraine's capital as Russia is accused of war crimes CBS News (2023-05-23 at 13:14) Russia's Wagner Group accused of using rape and mass-murder to control an African gold mining town
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Hey all, it's me again! I've tapered down from 20-25 mpd, down to 3 mpd in less than 2 weeks. Not going to lie, there's times where I feel like I could crawl out of my body. The stomach pains aren't near as bad as the anxiety for me.. It's been nice to feel some raw emotions, instead of feeling numb constantly.. even though some of the emotions aren't pleasant... it's good to feel. My question is... when I was at my peak, I was taking about 4 doses a day.. now I'm down to 3 mpd, and I'm only taking 1 dose of 3mg whenever I cannot bear the WD symptoms any longer... so basically holding out until I can't anymore. Past few days I've been anywhere from 24-30 hours between my 3 gram doses.. Should I be braking that 3mg down into doses through out the day? I noticed when I take the 3mg I get the euphoria and warm feeling for about an hour and then I start feeling sickish. (must be the withdrawals starting right back up) only reason I'm tapering so quickly is because I cannot stand to do this stuff any longer, it has taken enough away from me and my life. I am so done with this shit. If it means I have to suffer more to meet my goal quicker, I'm okay with that. But also don't want to WD to the point I can't work, or function. I barely been scraping by at work, but i been pushing through. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I got diagnosed with BPD while in the Army and tried the medicated route. I felt like they prescribed more than they listened and after trying all different concoctions & getting out I decided to deal with it on my own. Fast forward 7 years later I’m nearing my 30s and still so depressed. So I went back to the VA to start this journey again and hopefully feel better. I now have a different perspective on psychiatric disorders now. I was prescribed Duloxetine yesterday but I’m anxious to try it based on the doctor letting me know that if I don’t take it at the same time daily I will start to have withdrawals if I am not regulated & based on past medications from this medication. It kinda MAKES me be accountable which is what I want but I’m nervous. What if I’m not the same? Medications sometimes make me feel somber and empty with no emotion. I don’t want to loose myself but I also deserve the best shot at giving myself a healthy and happy life. I’m tired of being so sad & lonely because I’m sad. Or having to be a great pretender because So many ppl love me and care for me. They tell me I’m so good with people and should work on that type of field but how could I do that when I can’t even keep my mood stable? Sorry to blurrrb I just needed to get these thoughts out to people who actually may read this and know the feeling..

there is a used elvie at a rummage sale near me tomorrow. i messaged the gal selling it and she said she’d hold it for me.
i told my husband about it and he is leery about buying secondhand. she wants “$200 at least” for it and to him that’s a lot for not knowing what you’re getting.
so what do you think? would you buy it? what questions should i ask when i get there? she said it worked when she last used it 8 months ago but i’m not sure how to check if it works now.

This mini series of sort is inspired by a few sources, most notably the "Alien invasion" things made by a few Pivot Animators as well as Warhammer 40K in some way that will become apparent later.

Date: April 6, 2408 POV: Ambassador Ra-Kakon of the 6th Cigadreth Dynasty [Description of the Cigadreth: Reptilian, 3.11 ft tall average, 20~ kg average, bright yellow to dark red colored scales, 2 side facing eyes, bipedal with long tail for movement support and balance] Location: Andromeda Galaxy

10 years ago, we have started to recieve some weird transmissions and signals from the Western fringe of the galaxy. A Kolshif colony, which was the closest to the origin of the signals was ordered to keep listening to them and report on their findings. The signals was so garbled that it was almost as if it was written by a Cigadreth hatchling. [Description of the Kolshif: Insectoid, 4.10 ft average, 40~kg average, yellow to red head carapace, purple to velvet thorax and mid carapace, 4 eyes(2 side facing, 2 front facing), quadrupedal(4 legs and 4 arms)]
We brought this up with the Graddath Council, a galactic organization that consists of 20 space faring species, and after much deliberation and squabbling, we ordered the colony to keep on listening but it took us a few weeks to realize that, 'maybe a sub-par reciever of a colony world is not the best equipment to use in this endeavor.' and so we decided to start construction of a listening post. The station itself was not that big, only being about 100 x 200 x 100 meters big but it will do the job once it was finished which took about 3 years due to unexpected delays and random budget cuts by sector officials.
When the station was done and activated, the first signal we recieved shocked us.

"???: Andromeda Expeditionary Force, status update.
"AEF: Doing good Sol, colony reached 1 billion inhabitants a few weeks ago. Grandbattlefleet Acasta is detecting more signs of extraterrestrial life that isn't just plants, wildlife and flat-out hostile.
"Sol: Avoid initiating First Contact, let them come to us first. Last time we did that it plunged the Milky Way into war.
"AEF: We observed them making a listening post because of us flinging transmissions to God knows where. We'll report on any activity from these natives.
"Sol: Acknowledged. Make hell if they fire first. End conversation."

They knew! They knew all along! Its a good thing that the whole galaxy was listening in on the situation, its hard to cover up the sudden construction of a station near a colony world of 14 billion, let alone the random signals they were flinging into the void. Now we can't just stand there and do nothing.
An emergency meeting was called into session with all representatives of the council.
"Due to sudden events and findings from LP-4," High-Speaker Kohdrin of the Sal'reth Empire began "What is our course of action? Should we send them a greetings or should we leave them be?" [Description of the Sal'reth: Avian, 3.9 ft tall average, 30~ kg average, bright blue to dark green colored feathers(royal purple for nobles), 2 side facing eyes, long beak with colors ranging from charcoal black to metallic gold, bipedal]
There was a long silence with only a few murmurs between allies and the occasional exchange of looks between representatives. Even the Kolshif guards themselves look angsty by their nervous swaying and movements.
"What shall we do fellow representatives?" Kohdrin said suddenly, quickly stopping the murmuring in the chamber "Shall we send a signal of greetings?"
"I say we shall, High-Speaker." Ambassador Nihje of the Shai Republic "After all, they already know that we exist and it seems like they have been waiting for some time now." [Description of the Shai: Mammalian-Feline, 3.8 ft tall average, 50~ kg average, yellow to red orange short fur with with black or red rings, 2 front facing eyes, quadrupedal/bipedal, long tail for balance]
"Any objections?"
The chamber was silent.
"No words from the Fal'riths? Not looking for a squabble Suler?"
"I uh... N-no High-Speaker." Fal'rith Representative Suler replied "For all we know, the aliens are probably listening in on us right now. No need for a petty squabble that will lead to nowhere!" [Description of the Fal'rith: Aquatic based species, 6 tentacles, colors vary from family to family, though nobles are always a tint of yellow, 4 eyes(positioning doesnt matter because the author is one tired bastard)]
This kind of surprised me. You see, Suler was always that kind of petty bastard who likes himself a good screaming match. Almost everything brought up in the chamber is somehwat influenced by him. I leaned my head onto my right arm as I look at my pad to see if there were any updates to the station, but like the old days in school, the High-Speaker took notice like my history teacher.
"Anything you want to say Ra?"
"No Kohdrin, just seeing if there were any updates on LP-4."
Almost as if on cue, all of our pads lit up in unison. It was a message from LP-4.
"Khodrin, may I read it aloud?" asked Ambassador Kal'Re of the 2nd Rakatoth Republic. [Description of the Rakatoth: Rodent, 2.10 ft tall average, 60~ kg average, dark brown to orange fur, 2 front positioned eyes, short snout, quadrupedal]
"Go on," replied the High-Speaker "Read it louder for the others at the back."
"Very well," he replied. He stood up on his two hind legs and read the message for all of us to hear.
"Dear representatives of the council, we apologize for interrupting your meeting for there is some urgent news. The aliens have been detected slowly moving towards us, almost as if like they are getting ready to do a warp directly into the capitol system.
"We beg of you for the lords on high for speedy decision making in order to defuse the situation and seek for a more peacful route in this quagmire of a galaxy. Also its a contingent of 2 humongous ships and they look like they are itching to pull the trigger."
When the last word was said, Kal'Re was still standing to see the reactions of everyone present, there was a few seconds of silence as we are digesting the information fed to us.
The short few seconds felt like an eternity and once that was over, everyone in the chamber started talking erratically.
"What do they mean by 'humongous'?" Nihje said confused at the situation.
Normally, the High-Speaker would bang on the gavel for silence in the chamber, but the situation was so surreal that she watched in stunned silence seemingly forgetting her position in the council. After a while and the talking starting to get louder, Khodrin remembered where she was and squawked "Silence!"
"My fellow Ambassadors!" I spoke aloud, "Make your decision for this situation is starting to go sideways!"
"Ra is right!" said Ambassador Lilia of Curtel Prime from inside her shell, "Leaving them alone is soon going to be an impossibility because they are slowly moving towards us!" [Description of the Curtels: Mollusk, 1 ft tall average, 30~kg average, dark green to light yellow shell, 2 side facing "eyes" on a small "head" from within the shell)
"Its better now than later!" Nihje chimed in "Later is looking sketchy!"
"All in favor of sending a message of peace?" Suler said, surprisingly.
The whole room errupted in confirmation and with a few button presses from Khodrin the message was sent.
I hope it makes it to them before it they make it to us. I thought to myself, Hopefully we continue the 100 cycles of no needless bloodshed.
We recieved a message from the Cigadreth colony world Za-Kai 2 about how "2 oddly shaped large cargo haulers failed to respond to the hails". We recieved a follow up message that the 2 ships stopped beyond the orbit of the Gas Giant designated 'Ra-998b'. Scans to reveal more about the ships were unsuccessful due to some "weird electronic interferences".
Everyone let out one shaky sigh of relief, though the ships stopped, they were still in council territory. We recieved another message from the colony stating:

"Forwarded from one SVS-Living Litany:
"Dear representatives of the Graddath Council, we are humanity. This is Rear-Admiral Johnathan Beckett. We would formally like to invite all of you aboard the SVS-Sol's Might for a diplomatic meeting and proper introduction of all the species in your care.
"Terra Lives On."

The High-Speaker opened her beak once more to speak but before anything came out a violent shaking rocked the station. This kind of shake was no meteor strike or some ambassador's transport bumping into the station, this was like-
"A SHIP HAS WARPED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE STATION!" Shouted a Kolshif guard on the PA system.
Rude.
I helped Nihje get up on her feet and as I was dusting her off, a few of the council started murmuring profanities at the event that happened. We heard a scream from a Rakatoth staff member down the hall, we saw her running by the doorway and before a brave Kolshif can investigate, 5 aliens came into view.
They looked like they were bipeds, clad in grey armor with grey helmets and blue visors as well as pouldrons varying from white with blue trim to purple with blue trim. Their chest piece displays a blue and green marble(which I assume is their cradle world) surrounded by a blue ring and a golden laurel. Each step they take into the council chamber is taken with pride and confidence.
One of them stands out from the others. It has a purple pouldron and its main armor is like that of the ontourage but it wears a sache colored with blue, red and white with a roundel leading to the shoulder. It does not carry any visible weapon. The ontourage carry weapons of unknown class.
The Kolshifs were aiming their weapons at them yet the aliens look like they don't care at all. The High-Speaker ordered them to stand down but they never took their hands off their pulse rifles.
The aliens stood in front of doorway. The one with the sache turned its head slowly from one end of the chamber to the other, and once it was done it spoke. We heard its real voice, loud, almost like a roar though muffled by its helmet. Then the translator cracked to life.
"My name is Ambassador Wilhelm of the Terran United Federation. 11 years ago, we sent a colony fleet to this galaxy for better pastures for our own galaxy is growing smaller for our explorers and more hostile to its inhabitants. We only ever encountered another extraterrestrial race though when we approached them first, it sent our galaxy spiraling into a hundred year long war that saw said race be wiped from the universe." It spoke in Graddath Standard.
Right, don't tick them off. I thought to myself.
"They used to call themselves Ostrens, and when we first saw them we were happy and relieved to know that we were not alone in this universe. That joy and excitement was quickly snuffed out when they attacked one of our colonies. We are once again happy to know that there are more intelligent life in the nearest galaxy over, but due to lingering xenophobia, we never made the first move until one Rear-Admiral Beckett decided to push his luck by moving both of his large ships closer."
Ah, that's nice. Big boys with big toys. Better make sure this Beckett doesnt touch our things.
"We would like to apologize for the inconvenience that those ships may impose on that colony, but we would also like to know if all of you would join us aboard the TIES-Endurance."
We all looked at each other to see who would make the first move. It was then I felt the Kolshif Ambassador, Indrex, slowly push me towards the aliens. I cursed under my breath and as I slowly walked towards them, it felt like it was warmer. When I closed the gap, Ambassador Wilhelm suddenly extended his hand towards me, realizing what he did, he quickly put it back to his side.
"Sorry," he spoke softly, almost like a whisper "force of habit, never met another culture that didn't take the gesture as a sign of peace and greeting."
Damn, I should've took his hand, now I kind of feel bad.
One by one the other ambassadors took up the invitation, a Rakatoth had to carry Lilia because of the fact she had no limbs for movement. Wilhelm almost seemed happy and relieved when the last of us finally joined in.
"Very well then," Wilhelm said startling a few of us "follow Sargeant Macaraig over there. Macaraig, show us the way."
Macaraig nodded and lead the way, the station guards were trying to stop them but seeing as we were willingly following them they decided to stay. We all shared nervous glances with one another, its not everyday we get to encounter intelligent life, let alone an advanced one at that. The silence in the hall where we walked was almost deafening, only broken by the clanking of the alien soldiers' armor and sabatons.
It was then we saw their ship on the window. It was huge, probabaly bigger than the station itself. Its guns were bristling with energy and they made no attempt to hide the cannons. A wierd bulb was mounted at its bottom, it didnt look like it served a purpose. An alien saw my confusion and shook its head.
What? Why? It doesnt look like a weapon. I thought to myself, Better ask questions later.
We arrived to a docking airlock which was seemingly blasted open. Wilhelm saw what we were looking at and assured us that "some idiot got lazy and used an explosive instead of opening it manually." I gulped nervously, Nihje was suspicious at their intentions judging by her nervous tail swaying, Khodrin was a little worried with a few of the feathers on her back seemingly ruffled, and Suler was growing anxious.
When we took a look inside the airlock, we saw an alien with a black mask next to a weird trapezoid shaped object with a blue light flickering on top of it. The alien seemed to be doing something judging by the fact that both its hands are sticking into an opening. This alien was not wearing any armor and instead some thick, heavy fabric covered in oils of some sort. Wilhelm coughed which made the oily alien flinch.
"Is it done lieutenant?" Wilhelm said calmly.
"Just a few more minutes," the alien replied "some bits of shrapnel are jammed in the inner workings. Nanites are helping me so it should work as it is intended to."
Nanites? How advanced is this race we are facing?
The lieutenant closed the opening on the trapezoid object. He took a look at all of us. I'll admit, it was a little uncomfortable. He then took a look at the object and let out a groan. He kicked said object and the light on it turned green.
Almost in an instant, I saw the alien guards dissappear with a green flash, and then Wilhelm, then us. I was the last to go but before then I tried to run, with my instincts taking over.
I felt myself slamming on a cold metal floor.
LP-4: Listening Post - 4 SVS: Sol's Venerable Ship TIES: Terra's Indefatigable Escort Ship [Note from the Author: First time poster here, some gaps may have formed whilst writing this, so ask in the comments for clarification. Will probably attach an illustration to each story of this mini series when I see it fit and the situation calls for it or when I feel like it lol.]

[←Chapter 52] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 54→]
Efrain woke, and with consciousness reasserting itself came a pain unlike any he’d ever experienced. It was a lugubrious sensation that stretched over the entirety of his body like a giant bruise. It took a further moment to remember that this was not normal, and in fact was quite alarming. He tried to gauge where he was, but found only blackness to greet him.
So I’m blind as well? He thought, with all the dispassionate annoyance of a man finding a favoured tool lost.
He could still feel his feet and fingers, wrapped in cloth as they were, so that was a comfort. Reaching for his head, he found the cold stone of the mask still there, though it lacked a lot of the curse that gave it its ‘hungry’ quality. Tugging it, he felt it resettle into a more natural position, and with it light came in to show his surroundings.
There was canvas arcing over a ribcage of wood, which rocked with every turn and bump in the rode. A gentle sunlight managed to penetrate the cloth, flickering with the passage of leaves. Efrain gripped the wooden frame and drew himself up to sit, trying to remember how he’d gotten here. His groan at the effort attracted the attention of Innie, who was sitting by the open slit near the front.
“Efrain?” she asked, hesitatingly.
“Yes, yes. It’s me,” he said, the words feeling foreign and slippery on his non-existent tongue.
“Efrain?” she asked again.
“Yes! Yes. It’s me. Here, somehow. What the hell happened?”
“You… you absolute fool!” she half-screamed, “you nearly got yourself killed!”
“I-” he said, the phrase ‘got yourself killed’ stirring something of a memory within. It was very distant, without much cohesion, like a memory of childhood. Still, there was enough there to remember some definite sensations, a sight and sound or two-
“You know what,” he said slowly, “I think I might’ve actually been dead, at least for a little bit,” he said, pulling at his hood.
“What?!” she gasped, “how could you possibly know that?”
“I was… somewhere else. I can barely remember, but it was so strange. I had my body again, I think, and it was…” he started trying to piece together the fragments flitting about the edge of recollection.
Her expression suggested that she was actively considering the potential that her partner had gone completely insane.
“It was someplace I don’t think I’ve ever been before, but it was still familiar,” he said, “I think I met somewhere there. Or multiple people. I definitely saw- there was something that-”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“It was- it was very strange,” he said, further efforts to find other words failing him, “well, in any case, I’m back. I think so, anyway.”
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been dashed against a cliffside,” he laughed, “I thought I wasn’t supposed to feel pain in this form. That was supposed to be one of the advantages.”
“You scared me. The only reason I didn’t think you were fully dead was that your bones retained their shape, even though you were unconscious.”
“Huh…” Efrain murmured, raising an arm to inspect it, “that shouldn’t be possible. The enchantments holding me together should’ve fallen apart as soon as I went under.”
After a cursory inspection to verify all of his limbs were present and more-or-less correct, he looked over at the cat.
“However it happened, it would appear that I’m not done yet,” he said slowly, only half-sure in the conviction.
There was something different about how he experienced himself, just in the background, but definitely there. It was a sense of disconnection, like he was floating just behind or above his body, experiencing what he did from an outside perspective.
“Well, I suppose that’s… good,” said Innie.
“Don’t cry too much for me,” he said, “anyways what happened? I don’t remember anything after the crypt, other than the fire.”
“We did it,” she said, “more-or-less, the creatures were largely incinerated, good riddance. Unfortunately a defender or two got caught up in the blaze, as well.”
“Oh dear,” Efrain said.
“Are you really surprised? It wasn’t our power, and we certainly didn’t know how to control it. I’m surprised we didn’t burn ourselves in the process.”
“Not an experience I would care to undergo again, that’s for sure.”
Innie’s shiver indicated that she thought much the same.
“Right, right,” he continued, “so then, how did we get from there to here, then? And where is here?”
“A wagon, travelling with the train of troops, heading south for Karkos. The commander offered you a slot, unconscious as you were.”
“I would’ve thought burning a few villagers would’ve soured his disposition.”
“Apparently not. Efrain, I don’t know this man, but he’s clearly playing his own game, and it involves you.”
“I see,” he said, tugging at his robe so that it hung around his shoulder more naturally, “I assume you acted on my behalf while I was… gone, for lack of a better word.”
“I did what I could, which wasn’t much. I was fully expecting them to fall upon us after that, especially you, defenceless. But no, he came to me and proposed that we come with him.”
“He… treated with you?”
“He said that we probably wouldn’t find much welcome among the villagers, and the paladins were not inclined to let us go either. His soldiers, on the other hand, would follow his orders, and he could personally guarantee our safety all the way to Karkos if we chose to come.”
“And you went with him,” Efriain sighed.
“What else was I supposed to do?” None of your ‘friends’ were nearby, and Naia was right about the villagers, to say nothing about the paladins. I don’t use money, nor would most treat a cat given the choice. Did you want me to drag you out into the wilderness and run into a wildling looking for a chew toy, or worse?”
“All right, allright,” he said, raising his hands to placate the wisp mother, “I don’t begrudge you anything. It sounds like you made the right choice.”
There was a silence, in which Efrain clearly perceived that Innialysia was apprehensive.
“Efrain he… and I want you to understand, even with all the things I said earlier, I was still going to refuse him. I didn’t and don’t trust him still but he told me that… that the River had told him that he needed us.”
The revelation was one that ran along his spine, and threw the captain into an entirely different light. Using the River’s words as a bargaining chip, or even just reassurance spoke to a knowledge of the magical world that far surpassed most in his lands. He must’ve known that Innie was loath to speak to the ignorant, and tempered his speech accordingly.
“Well, we’re at his mercy, for better or worse,” Efrain said, “where on the trail are we and how long have I been out?”
“Three nights, so roughly four days of travel,” she said, cocking her head, “I think that puts us two or three days from the city proper. I’m not sure, I’ve rarely come down this way.”
Efrain tried to recall the geography of the region, without much success. After a few minutes though, the aimless maps he drew in his head began to resolve with some clarity. They would be reaching the edge of the forests in a day or two, and entering the outlying highlands of the coast. From there, they’d rapidly come across the farmlands owned by the city that flanked its outskirts. The pain was beginning to subside now that he had started to move his limbs cautiously. To his joy, he could find no fault in them or their function, as far as he could tell.
“Well then,” he said “I guess I should meet with the commander and get a read on what he wants. Do you know where Tykhon is?”
“I think I saw it wandering behind the train, a far distance. It doesn’t want to get too close.”
The wagons had begun to slow, the light outside taking on a reddish hue as the sun began to dip. Obviously they were breaking for camp, which suited Efrain just fine. When they’d come to a full stop and Efrain drew himself up to go outside, he was taken aback by the sudden appearance of a face through the flap.
“Oh!” Aya said, in a half-squeak, “You’re awake!”
“I forgot to mention,” said Innie, “she’s been coming around every now and then.”
“Right, then, yes,” Efrain said, straightening, “how can I help you?”
“Well, I was just coming to chat with the madam,” she said.
“Madam?” Efrain said, looking at the cat who was conspicuously staring elsewhere.
“I didn’t realise that you were awake, I- I’ll just go and come back later. You probably have a lot on your mind,” said Aya, withdrawing through the break in the fabric.
“Well, that was a way to wake up,” said Efrain, listening to her footfalls fading into the distance, “right so… commander! Yes. Just need to get my bearings.”
Outside was slightly foggy, although Efrain gave much praise to gods he didn’t believe in that it wasn’t the unnatural, fear-laced apparition that had plagued them. The trees were less large and intimidating than the ancient northern conifers, the bowes of them dense and green. The breeze that wafted through them was noticeably warmer as well, though it still carried a northern chill.
“Right then,” Efrain said as he clambered down past the hitchings to the ground.
It didn’t take long to find a spirited young man, riding along behind them.
“Would you happen to know where your commander is?” Efrain said, erring on the side of politeness.
“Good evening lord Efrain,” he said, “the commander ordered you to be sent when you awoke. You’ll likely find him near the top of the line, or at the centre of camp, depending on how set up he is.”
He pointed up through the line of horses and various pages and servants. Most were beginning to set up tents and firepits, or leading the mounts to be tied off. Efrain thanked the man and set off in the direction he indicated, weaving between the various groups that were forming. It didn’t take long for him to find Naia’s small tent, the standard bearer in front alerting the commander within.
Naia sat before a small table, furiously scribbling at a scrap of parchment. At his left was Damafelce, still in her riding gear, though she was currently attacking a bowl of something creamy with vigour. Efrain stood in silence for a few moments, watching as the knight pointed out something to the commander and murmured a correction. Both of them looked up as he cleared his throat, and Naia issued one of his sly smiles.
“My, lord Efrain, a delightful surprise,” he said, “in truth, I was beginning to worry we’d lost you for good. It would be an ill thing to carry a rotting body around all the way down to Karkos. Damafelce, you are excused, although I would like you to have that talk with Lethsoco. He’s been getting too eager recently.”
She nodded, and draining the last of her bowl, departed from the room. Efrain was offered a small stool, which he gratefully sank into before the commander.
“I’m sorry if jumping into business immediately might not be to your tastes,” said Naia with a genuine note of regret in his voice, “but there’s some conflicting reports I simply must sort out.”
Efrain laid his elbows on the table and laced his fingers, waiting for the commander to begin.
“Some are from my own soldiers, some are from the paladins, some are from others. I personally have my own beliefs, but I think it’s better to hear it from the horse’s mouth, as it were. Would you mind telling me what happened after I rode away from the village?”
Efrain took a moment to gather himself, and piece together what spare memories he could, before beginning to relay the general account of what had happened. Over the course of the next half-hour, Naia interrupted him constantly, asking clarifying questions, or for more detail on this incident and that.
“Lillian told me that you attempted to burn down the church,” he said, “is that true?”
Efrain caught a distinct impression that the captain already suspected the truth, yet was encouraging him to proffer a lie.
“Well, I can understand why she might believe that,” he began diplomatically, “but no, that wasn’t my intent. The magic I was using was difficult to control, and I had to improvise quite a bit. Desperate times, desperate measures.”
“So the damage to the church was merely incidental,” Naia said, his eyes settling, “would that you could convince the paladins otherwise. They seem quite intent that you were trying to kill all of them.”
“I’m not holding out hope to curry favour with those two.”
“Implying that you might wish to do so elsewhere,” Naia said, the glimmer returning, “although I’ve had my fair share of headaches with those two, they’re more reasonable compared to others. They’re still young, they’ll probably settle with time and the right guidance.”
“They’ll have to learn not to be afraid of things they can’t control, if the children are any metric,” Efrain said, not interested in mincing words.
At that, Naia leaned forward, regarding Efrain with such intensity that the older man felt uncomfortable.
“‘Something they can’t control’...” he said, repeating the words with purpose, “but I do imagine you have some things to ask me, don’t you?”
“Several things,” Efrain said, “but I’ll stick with one for now. Why did you save me? Do you need me for something?”
Naia’s silence was full of purpose, cast in the shadows that flickering candles cast on his face. Without a word, he got up, and left through the front of the tent, exchanging words with the standard bearer outside. Efrain heard footsteps receding as Naia reappeared, sat down, and leaned in to lower his voice.
“I would say I believe I owe you a debt, or at least, that’s what I would say if you were stupid enough to believe that,” he said, “given I’ve already used that justification, I wouldn’t blame you if you were suspicious.”
Efrain leaned in himself, wondering where this apparent candidness had come from.
“If you really want to know, then the truth is simple,” he said, “I was taught from my earliest days that only a fool dismisses talent based on superstition. You might notice that many of my own ranks would be dismissed, if not outright laughed at by others. Damafelce, a knight, and what’s more a right-hand? A woman from the barbarous jungle of Nieth?”
He began to tap his quill on the desk.
“Tools, lord Efrain. I want, and have great need of them. I am not the paladins - my words on this parchment could command a garrison to be built, or a man to be cut down in his home. Creation, destruction, good, evil, all dependent on the whims of the wielder. Magic is the same.”
“And which variety would you prefer me to be?” Efrain asked.
“Both, as the need may take it. I did not get this far without being flexible, and neither will you,” said Naia, “and while we’re on the subject, let me offer you something.”
Efrain would’ve held his breath, but settled for stiffening to attention.
“I want you to come with me, to Karkos and beyond. I want you to serve under me, with all the obligations, and privileges, that implies.”
Efrain was struck genuinely speechless. He had, somewhere in the back of his mind, idly conjured the vision of such an offer, but it was a silly fantasy, not something to be believed, let alone desired.
“I understand if you are hesitant,” Naia said, spreading his hands, “but fate has dropped one opportunity into my lap, and I’m inclined to see if I can secure another. Call me greedy if you wish, but I was also taught to not let such things slip by.”
“I don’t- why would you-” Efrain began, trying to form a sentence to describe the whirlwind of shock within him.
“Consider this, Efrain - a young, up-and-coming commander with a good record. Rather unorthodox in his choices of subordinates, enough for some to whisper in the dark, enough even perhaps, to close off some opportunities for promotion.”
A smile flickered at the edge of his lips - he was clearly enjoying this pantomime.
“Now consider, that the man returns, safely bearing a paragon of the church, who’s been sought for over sixty years, through trial and tumult. His warriors and he are lauded for their ability and leadership, despite their odd origins. What could be in store for such a person? Respect, certainly, but what about promotion?”
“So, you want to be a general,” said Efrain.
Naia smiled and bowed his head, humbly presenting himself.
“And you need me because… why? Please don’t think I believe this whole screed on ‘talent’. You’re doing that to appeal to my own sensibilities about the church.”
Naia laughed openly at that, though it wasn’t the most pleasant sound.
“I see you’ll need more cajoling than that. There are other reasons a mage would be valuable to me, this is true. But I wasn’t lying about talent being valuable to me. All I ask is that you think about this offer, and if you’ll accept it, I’ll tell you the rest.”
Efrain sat in silence for a while, wondering at the strange offer. Listening to the wind whistling through the trees, his hand unconsciously crept up to scratch at his forehead. Naia was looking at him expectantly, perhaps hoping he’d jump into it impulsively to reveal the mystery, but Efrain was intent on gauging the motives of this man.
“You do know,” Efrain began, “that inferno up on the roof. It would be difficult, probably impossible to do it again. And, if I tried, there’s no guarantee it wouldn’t cause significant damage to your own side.”
“I guessed as much, and no, I wouldn’t expect a display like that,” Naia said with a wry smile, “you wouldn’t be of much use to me dead, Efrain.”
So he wants me alive to do something, something with magic? Or something else? Efrain thought. He began to think about what else had changed throughout the last few days, and tried to recall what exactly Naia would know from his reports.
Certainly he would probably have at least a neutral appraisal from his soldiers, but that couldn’t be it. And mages could be found to do all sorts of magical tasks, even in Angorrah, if one was willing to seek them out. So was it for some unique power or ability then? He had shown him the River, but that was also an accident. And he didn’t expect him to use the flames of the Wisp Matriarch, or so he said.
What did Efrain offer to Naia, something that he only, or at least only a few others, could offer him? What had changed the offer of cooperation from simple guidance to something more long-term and involved? Efrain furiously reflected over the last few days, and suddenly he had it.
And with that, a whole web opened up before him, glistening with many unknown strands.
“Commander, before I say anything, I would like to ask just three questions. Quick ones, I would think.”
“Please.”
“You are a commander, aren’t you? I was given to understand that they managed much larger forces than this company. Over whole regions, in fact. That would normally be your duties, no?
The man nodded.
“Usually up to a thousand, though circumstances demand otherwise on occasion. Still, this is the smallest force I’ve wielded for a while now. My trusted and favoured.”
“And tell me, the children, they’re usually guarded by a retinue of paladins, I would assume, back in the holy city?”
“Indeed. Dozens of them.”
Naia’s eyes were glittering.
“And you were heading to do what all that way up north?”
Efrain of course knew the answer to this question, but he needed the cover if he could get it.
“Subjugating a castle, filled with undead, or so the tales go,” he said, “they made quite a big deal of it, back in the castle.”
Efrain sat, slotting pieces into place as he studied the man’s face.
“There’s indeed something you’re not telling me, commander.”
“Oh?” Naia said.
It was a game to him, Efrain was sure of it. A game of guesses and knives in the dark.
“So,” he began, “the church talks up a mission to the far north, all the way across the continent. Some terrible beast, holed up in some old castle. Well, of course, they couldn’t finance a full contingent. Only a hundred measly men. No one wants to take the deal, I assume, so they offer something to sweeten the pot, a crusade, with the two most sacred figures of the church at the head.”
Naia offered the slightest nod and opened his mouth to speak.
“Only, that’s not the real reason,” Efrain quickly interjected, deciding to take his chances, “I was there at the Frozen Vale, laying to rest the evil spirit you claim. And there were undead, weak, of poor craft, but numerous. Enough to man the battlements effectively if the spirit so chose.”
The momentum of the lie carried him onwards to his conclusion.
“So, tell me, why did you have few men, no siege equipment, and little stores? And why were the two most important people in the faith there with two bodyguards between them?”
The darkness of Naia’s eyes reflected the candle, twin flickers of flame and serpentine consideration.
[←Chapter 52] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 54→]

First, I want to say that if you are here reading this, it's because you, too, just lost your pet—my deepest sympathy to you. I know what you are going through. I lost my sweet boy Tuesday morning. The last time I saw him alive was around 4 am. I found him dead around 6:15 am. He was an 11-1/2 y.o. Labrador. We knew he was dying and were planning to bring him in to be PTS that morning. But I'm somewhat glad that he passed at home with us, in his favorite spot. I don't think he was experiencing a lot of pain, though I know death is never easy.
I'm the type of guy that never cries, and I'm old enough that I've lost a lot of close friends and family over the years. But I just can't stop crying and keep getting choked up (like now, as I try to write this).
I think we hurt so bad when we lose a pet for a couple of reasons. We rub their bellies and fur daily as we pet them and show them our love. We look into their eyes in a way that we don't with other people. Close contact and touching create a very powerful bond.
I keep asking myself if I could have prevented this. He was very sick two years ago and was in complete liver and kidney failure. We had brought him to the best specialist in our state. He told us the chances were very slim that he would survive. But he did, and eventually, his bloodwork numbers came back close to normal. But it did a lot of damage. He was on eight different meds, which eventually dropped to six. But still, tons of meds. Then weight gain and lethargy. In the past three months, he really started having a tough time getting around. Then a month ago, his bloodwork showed high ALT and neutrophil. Everything else looked good. Our vet said not to worry about it. It was normal and caused by the prednisone he was on.
I wish I had not taken my vet's advice because I now think he went into sepsis, which killed him. I can't place too much blame on the vet. They only see him for a few minutes every month or two. It's my fault for not demanding more follow-up tests. Plus, I just thought he was coming to that point, getting near the end. His breed only lives 10-14 years, and I know the liver and kidney disease knocked at least two years off his lifespan. His quality of life was not great, but it wasn't awful either.
I'm filled with regret. The silence in my home and knowing that he isn't here and is gone forever is tearing me apart. The stronger the love, the deeper the pain.

I typed all of this up right as I woke up from this dream so I apologize for any and all grammatical errors.
Had a dream that I went to a high school to work on something and all of the high schoolers were doing the thing they normally do when they see someone new. I basically showed them I was there for work and didn’t really care what they did. One kid had came up to me and was wondering what I was doing so I showed them that I was trying to put together some sort of presentation. I saw others putting together tables and they were going to need the tv so I started to try get my stuff together and get out of the way. They all started singing what seemed to be some song to do with their school spirit, and this one person who I thought was a student sat next to me and was clearly trying to impress the stranger they had just meet with singing. They kept looking over to me and singing and I just kept awkwardly smiling and nodded with approval so they didn’t feel weird about singing near a stranger. After a while I realized this was a teacher then the presentation started, the lights dimmed and everyone was watching whatever was on the tv that I was trying to use, which for some reason was crooked. I spotted all my things and started trying to gather them when the teacher sort of suggestively asked me if I had done Rocky horror picture show. To her, it seemed she knew who I was and she was trying to remember, while also sounding like she wanted me to remember as well. I explained that I hadn’t done that show with her because I was not from there, at this point the teacher was a very small (like smaller than a water bottles size small) and was not happy when I said that Rocky Horror isn’t a good high school show. She insisted it was and I insisted it was her own selfish opinion that made her think that. I explained that there was suggestive themes such as sex, death, and cannibalism that just was safer left not done in a school, but she insisted. I started to try and gather all of my things but I couldn’t find all of my parts to my pc. I tried not to worry about her constantly trying to reason with why she thought it was ok to do the show and look for my computer and peripherals so that I could leave and be out of the way of everything going on and get back to work. At this time, I kept losing track of where this tiny woman was while I was talking to her, my focus would shift from a rogue popcorn, to a doll on the ground, and then finally to her when I could spit her (this for some reason felt normal). I couldn’t find my monitors and all my things were scattered. I found my small bag but, nothing was in it. I started picking up things and putting them in the bag as I moved around looking for my stuff. I managed to pile together my pc and some other things but strangely while I was putting stuff in my bag I could feel something strange happening and my underwear came out of one side of the leggings of my pants. Embarrassed, I tried to hide them back in my pant leg because this teacher and I had been back and forth arguing about the Rocky Horror thing. I slid them back up my pant leg trying to get out as fast as I could but upon passing an area with a whole lot of electrical lost and found items, I searched for my monitors. In looking I picked up a few things that I found interesting like a GameCube controller which I thought was cool, so I picked it up and started seeing how well put together and how quality it was. One of the students noticed this and shouted that I was trying to steal it. I placed it back down and kept trying to search for other things of mine so I could leave asap. I found my old iPad that I haven’t used in years and I remember thinking “why is this here?” right before the now full sized teacher grabbed it out of my hands. Her now towering over me, I claimed that it is mine and she asked if I could prove it and I was confident I could find some proof that this is my old iPad. I grabbed it from her to show her and she asked if I was “some kind of professional” to which I replied that “I was”. I spoke to her explaining my level of expertise and why this iPad and equipment was mine and how I could prove it, while at the same time walking back to the other side of this cafeteria toward where my pile of stuff had been, trying to look through emails or any other way to prove my legitimacy. Once I got to my pile of stuff, all but my monitors were there, but there was now a sword on top of my computer. Staring at the sword, puzzled, I looked back across the room towards the teacher and she had grown bigger once again but this time an upwards of 9 feet. She started moving towards me and as she did her legs turned to something snake like and she began slithering toward me as her upper body began to change. I grabbed all I could and went towards the door that when opened, showed a swirling blue void that seemed unending. I decided to take my chances jump. I eventually fell into a similar but much older looking room. The walls were constructed of bricks and the lunch tables now long dining benches. Candle lights lit the room and a lady came to me and asked if I was ok but all I could think to ask was “where are my monitors?”. She looked extremely puzzled at my question and I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about. I took a closer look around and I immediately started to realize that I had traveled to the past.
Lmk what you think! -My thoughts are that the two places where the same but in a different period of time. The fantasy in my wants to believe I went back to the origin of the shapeshifting snake lady. How do y’all interpret this?

I can buy back my firstborn son? When the Time comes, teach me how, but let it be catholic. Jesus can do it for me.
Imprisoned I am, Gershon with a crown in Austria. I thank Jesus of Nazareth for he died, so I don't have to.
What is this world, burning in the sun, so many countries. Those not near the ocean do not have a way to desalination. Mad I am, I lived life away from the jewish people, now here I am having to teach them. As I am studying Exodus. I find G-d angry at the anointed one at times. I learned recently how he became truly. The gossip of me, it is not good. I saw how a friendly man wished me a happy weekend with his eyes closed, he didn't mean it. Anti-Semitism, who could end it? There used to be the belief it would never exist again after the holocaust. The troubles of my life, the troubles of what people want of me. I am a king who fulfils no wishes, less you do good to me.

So I am wrapping up the 100% completion of RDR2. I have done all challenges, story, side activities, collectables and such. I have even done Gambler challenge 8 and 9 which took me about 7 hours total, but the Duchesses and Other Animals, A.K.A Algernon Wasps’ Exotics is way harder and infuriating. I have been searching for no less than 10 hours and all that I have found is a single Little Egret Plume. I have gotten about 50 Heron, Spoonbill, and Roseate plums but for the life of me cannot catch a single Egret Plume. They literally don’t spawn anywhere, not in Lagras, not near Kamassa River, not on the tiny islands north of Saint Denis, not the islands east of Shady Belle, nowhere! I honestly am considering just leaving it at 97%…

Troubleshooting Help:

Parts list (from Great Intel Build by PCPartPicker.com. The prices were a bit cheaper when purchased ~1 week ago)
PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-12400 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor	$173.00 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler	$39.90 @ Amazon
Motherboard	*ASRock B660M Pro RS Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard	$94.99 @ Newegg
Memory	*Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory	$29.97 @ Amazon
Storage	MSI SPATIUM M450 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	$37.99 @ Newegg
Video Card	MSI MECH 2X OC Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB Video Card	$453.42 @ Amazon
Case	Phanteks Eclipse G360A ATX Mid Tower Case	$84.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply	Corsair CXM 750 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply	$169.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$1099.25
	Mail-in rebates	-$15.00
	Total	$1084.25
	*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-02 11:21 EDT-0400

Problem description
This is my first build. Any help would be appreciated - I've been trying to get this PC work work for a lot of hours now :(
There's two different problems (for both problems, the fans and some LED lights turn on).
The first is I get a DRAM light on the motherboard. This happens when I have 1 stick of Ram in the A2 spot (only works with 1 particular RAM stick - if I use the other in the A2, I get a different error). I've also tried changing the placement as per some people online, so I'll also get a DRAM light when I put 1 stick into B1 and the other stick into B2.
I also get the VGA and Boot lights turning on when using the other stick into the A2 spot, or when I use both sticks (A2 and B2 slots).
What I've done in attempt to diagnose or fix the problem.
From this link, I've tried the following:

• Made sure the 8x socket was plugged into the CPU plug near the CPU (was 8 pin to 8 pin)
• Didn't install standoffs, but they were pre-installed
• Took out the video card and put it back in a couple times. Also, I tried this without the video card, since I read the intel cards without an "F" at the end should be able to run without a dedicated GPU
• Attached two 6+2 connectors from the PSU to the GPU. Also tried it without the GPU.
• Tried with 1 stick of RAM. Have two sticks, one by itself gives me a DRAM light. The other gives Boot+VGA lights.
• Took the RAM sticks out and re-inserted them. Not sure how to check if they're all the way in, but the pins snap back to their original placement.
• Using the A2+B2 RAM slots (also tried each stick one at a time into the A2 slot, and then the RAM sticks into the B1+B2 slot - even though it says it will slow it down if it is plugged into B1+B2, I read that it can help it get past the initial errors)
• Checked the plastic guard (it's in a box, not on the CPU)
• CPU fan is running when the box turns on
• Tried resetting the CMOS 2 times

Hey Reddit!
I'm about to make a big move back to the States, specifically to Chicago, and I'm feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. As a young woman, it's important for me to gather all the information I can to ensure a smooth transition. I'll be attending Columbia College Chicago as a film student and would appreciate any advice or resources you can share about moving, finding apartments, and staying safe in the city.
One of my concerns is apartment hunting on a limited budget. Since campus housing is quite expensive, I've been exploring other options, but haven't found anything yet in the South Loop area. If any of you have suggestions or resources for finding affordable apartments near Columbia College, I would be immensely grateful.
Another concern I have is transportation. I won't have a car, so I'll be relying on public transit, specifically the CTA and lots of walking. Is it reliable and safe for commute and walking alone, including trips for groceries and other errands? I would love to hear your experiences or any tips you might have in this regard.
Lastly, I've heard mixed opinions about living in the US, with some advising against it. As I'm making this important step into my new life, I want to hear from you about your thoughts on living in Chicago, attending Columbia College, and any advice you may have on staying safe as a young woman living alone.
Any resources, opinions, or personal experiences you could share would mean the world to me. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Pastel Community Update (June 2, 2023)
The next generation NFT focused blockchain. Certifiable authenticity. Permanent storage. Negligible fees. Build, secure, and scale your Web3 ecosystem with Pastel.
The Pastel Team has been extremely busy with a number of major development updates, partnership rollouts, and product releases. Check back here each week for new developments
Check Pastel channels for:
⭐ Weekly community snapshots shared across our various channels.
🐾 Quarterly updates released via our newsletter.
☎️ Weekly community town halls / AMAs directly with the Pastel team. Come prepared with your questions, comments, and feedback!
📣 Monthly Twitter Spaces with u/doodlestone and u/panthony
Key Updates:
🚨Contests🚨
Our team has been busy developing, testing & refining innovative network features like the Monet 1.2 release & SmartMint upgrade. To celebrate these milestones, we're launching exciting community events for everyone to enjoy! Check out what's in store for May: More info to come this week. Check our socials!
SmartMint Art Contest
-Are you ready to unleash your artistic talents and make a splash in the world of crypto art? Look no further! We are excited to announce the SmartMint Art Contest.
-By participating in this contest, you stand a chance to win fantastic prizes of up to 150 USDT, free mints, and so much more! To learn more about the contest and how to participate check out this Medium Article. CONTEST EXTENTION: JUNE 7th
Quizzo Discord Referral Campaign
-Exciting news! Introducing our Referral Challenge for our Bi-Weekly Quizzos in our discord! You have the opportunity to invite up to 5 friends to join our Discord and take part in any one of the upcoming 4 Quizzos. Earn additional rewards: $5 USDT for each referred friend, with a maximum of $25!
Check out this Medium article to learn more!
-We're kicking off the month of May by introducing our Bi-Weekly Quiz competitions, Quizzos! Put your Pastel knowledge to the test, covering videos, articles, & tweets. Learn more about our project and show off your expertise. We will be airdropping the top 3 winners PSL!
-Like solving puzzles? Don’t miss our Monet 1.2 NFT Puzzle Event to kickoff the Monet Mainnet Release! We’re giving away exclusive Pastel NFT Puzzle Pieces with corresponding PSL airdrops to those who answer daily Q?s! 🚀 Keep an eye out for additional NFT, PSL, & USDT bonuses.
🚨Twitter Space on the Current State of Web3 and NFTs🚨
Tune in to our Twitter Spacewith @blueznft. We will be diving into all things NFTs, ecosystems, marketplaces, and more. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion! #NFTs #Marketplaces #TwitterSpace
Pastel Network joined WOMENverse to discuss tech features that support empowering men and women in web3
We hosted an incredible conversation about on-chain infrastructure, the current market, and more! Listen to our Twitter Space with @endaomentdotorg
🚨Final phase of Monet 1.2 Testnet Release is now live🚨
Monet 1.2 represents a critical milestone among several other planned releases for 2023. This release brings substantial enhancements to our Supernode infrastructure, major updates to Cascade (our permanent NFT data storage solution), and Sense (our duplicate detection technology).
Specific upgrades include:
-Integration of Supernode Storage Challenges to Cascade -Activation of Cascade’s Self-Healing capability -Activation of Supernode Health and State Challenges -Stabilization of Sense Protocol -Release of the OpenAPI Gateway
More details on the specific features of Monet 1.2 and upcoming plans for the Mainnet release available here
Are you curious about the latest Monet 1.2 Test Net release? We've got you covered! We hosted 2 AMAs, Reddit and Discord where we answered all your burning questions. If you have more, please reach out to us on any of our social media.
🚨Collaborations🚨
In case you missed it, listen to our Twitter Space with BearBrains.eth (@NateBear). We discuss his exciting drop/giveaway, Brightz, and his journey in the Space.
Check out our latest artist spotlight! This amazing piece entitled “Nostalgia” was minted on SmartMint by @thealvinboss
Exciting artist collaborations are on the horizon with: @IanSoi_ @K_JRobotsCo, @Numo_0 @abahassanart
We are always seeking talented artists to collaborate with, so please reach out to us on any social media platform. Let’s create something amazing together!
🚨Pastel Progress🚨
-Reddit AMA- Always excited to answer the community. If yout still have burning questions, please find us on one of our socials
-Partnership with Astar Network: Pastel Network is excited to announce that it will be working with @AstarNetwork, a layer1 parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem. Learn more on Medium.
SmartMint on Twitter: It is our great pleasure to announce that SmartMint will now have a Twitter presence. The SmartMint twitter account has officially launched.
-Addition of Status Page: We recently released a Status Page so you can monitor the performance of our infrastructure & services in real time. Check it out here!
-Wrapped PSL:Wrapped PSL or wPSL exists to transfer tokens across platforms. wPSL is available on Uniswap. Watch our video and learn more here
-Pastel Testnet Faucet Release: Our Testnet Faucet is now live. The launch of this independent network enables users to obtain LSP (Pastel Testnet Tokens) to experiment with and develop in the Pastel Testnet environment. This gives users the ability to experiment with Pastel features without having to spend valuable PSL on the mainnet.
Learn more about Pastel's Testnet Faucet.
-Becoming a Supernode Operator: Become a Supernode operator today & gain increased credibility in the validator community & earn exclusive rewards from the foundation, such as PSL or NFT airdrops, in addition to receiving Block & Transactional Rewards.
🚨Cascade Protocol🚨
Cascade has numerous concrete advantages over competing systems such as IPFS & Arweave, particularly when it comes to censorship resistance, data permanence & data accessibility.
Check out our technical paper on Cascade, Pastel's storage layer. Cascade is an extremely powerful & robust storage system for true data permanence that is both completely decentralized & highly scalable. Learn more here.
🚨Sense Protocol🚨
Sense is a Near-Duplicate NFT detection protocol powered by the Pastel Network. Assess the relative rareness of a given NFT against near-duplicate metadata on networks like Ethereum, Solana, etc to prevent prevalent scams or theft. Try it yourself here and watch it work here.
🚨2023 Roadmap and Review of 2022🚨
Pastel released its 2023 roadmap, including a review of 2022. Pastel Network 2022 in review and roadmap for 2023 shows great progress made in the previous year and much promise for the year ahead.
🚨News and Developments🚨
-Pastel in the News
💡Anthony Georgiades joins KitCo News to talk about how Bitcoin benefits as businesses lose trust in the dollar
🥝Check out what Anthony Georgiades has to say about the market in this The Block article.
😁Anthony Georgiades talks about a possible financial crisis in this CoinDesk article
⌨️Co-founder Anthony Georgiades discusses Solana and crypto smartphones in this Fortune article
⚓Check out this Cointelegraph article where Anthony Georgiades discusses the importance of filling a market gap.
-Pastel News-
📱Check out our latest Youtube live video where u/panthony discusses Q1 NFT Trends & Pastel updates!
🖌️ Listen to our Twitter space where we host @Endaoment and discuss chain infrastructures and more
🍧Check out this Twitter Space with the @agoric and @kryha_io teams discussing decentralized systems
🌸Check out this Twitter Space with u/gameofskills discussing Web3 gaming and much more
💡 Check out this Medium article on how Sense is revolutionizing NFT provenance written by Ima-Abasi Pius Joseph
-Pastel Archive
🚧We released a Builder’s Guide for ecosystem partners integrating w/ Pastel. Come build with us here.
🌯wPSL or wrapped is explained in this video and
🚧Pastel is completely open-source. Check out what we are working on here.
🌀Testnet tutorial video
🏆Learn more about Sense and Cascade
🔦Want to try out Sense for yourself? Upload your NFT here to obtain the rareness score of your NFT.
📹Check out this youtube demonstration showing what happened when we compared OpenSea’s new duplicate detection system to Sense Sense Comp Analysis
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to join our growing community base:
🐓 Follow Pastel on Twitter
🙉Follow Smartmint on Twitter
👾Join Pastel's Discord Server
👽Join Pastel on Reddit
✈️Join Pastel’s Telegram
🖥️Subscribe to our Youtube channel

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/june-1-2023
Late tonight the Senate passed H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, suspending the debt ceiling and cutting certain federal spending. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it tomorrow, preventing a government default. Forty-four Democrats and two Independents—Angus King (I-ME) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)—voted yes, along with 17 Republicans. Four Democrats and Independent Bernie Sanders (I-VT) voted no, along with 31 Republicans. The final tally to pass the measure was 63 to 36.
“Democrats are feeling very good tonight,” Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “We’ve saved the country from the scourge of default.”
Republicans brought the nation to the brink of default with their insistence that they opposed runaway government spending, but their demands did not square with that argument. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that the $21 billion cut in funding to the Internal Revenue Service, for example, will result in $40 billion in lost revenue, increasing the deficit by $19 billion.
In other economic news, the Biden administration today announced actions designed to address racial bias in the valuation of homes.
This sounds sort of in the weeds for administration action, I know, but it is actually an important move for addressing the nation’s wealth inequality. In 2019 a study from the Federal Reserve showed that white American families had a median net worth of $188,100, Hispanic or Latino families had a net worth of $36,200, and Black American families had a median net worth of $24,100.
Homeownership is the most important factor in creating generational wealth—that is, wealth that passes from one generation to the next—both because homeownership essentially forces savings as people pay mortgages, and because homes tend to appreciate in value.
But a 2021 study by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, more popularly known as Freddie Mac, showed that real estate appraisers are twice as likely to undervalue minority-owned property relative to contract price for which the home sells, than they are to undervalue homes owned by white Americans.
The story of lower valuation came to popular attention after a Black couple living near San Francisco applied for a loan and received an initial valuation far too low for them to qualify for that loan. Shocked, since the same house had been appraised at almost a half a million dollars higher the year before, the couple removed all traces of their ownership of the house and asked a white friend to stand in as the owner before a new appraiser evaluated the worth of the property. That new appraisal came back a half a million dollars higher than the lowball one.
(The couple sued, and the case was settled in February 2022).
Two years ago, the Biden administration announced a sweeping effort to “root out racial and ethnic bias in home evaluations.” Today it bolstered those efforts to “ensure that every American who buys a home has the same opportunities to build generational wealth through homeownership.” They call for fixing algorithms to ensure that home values are accurately assessed, creating pathways for consumers to challenge low assessments, and increasing the numbers of trained appraisers.
There is a reason that the administration has centered its housing policies on June 1. This is the anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, when in 1921 white gangs destroyed the prosperous Greenwood district of that city, which was home to more than 10,000 Black Americans. It wiped out 35 blocks with more than 1,200 homes and businesses and took hundreds of Black lives, robbing Black families of generational wealth and the opportunities that come with it.
In 1921, Greenwood, known as “Black Wall Street,” was estimated to be the richest Black community in the United States. The destruction of May 31 to June 1, 1921, changed all that. Residents of Greenwood filed $1.8 million in damage claims—more than $27 million in today’s dollars—against the city, but all but one of the claims were denied when the city was found not liable for damages caused by mobs. (A white pawnshop owner was compensated for the guns stolen from his store.) Insurance didn’t help, either: insurance companies claimed that damage caused by “riots” was not covered by their policies.
In a 2018 article in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Chris M. Messer, Thomas E. Shriver, and Alison E. Adams estimated that the destruction in Tulsa might well have amounted to more than $200 million in today’s dollars.
Greenwood’s Black residents nonetheless pooled their resources and rebuilt the district, despite the system of “redlining” by mortgage companies that deemed parts of Greenwood to be credit risks and made it impossible for residents to get mortgages. “Urban renewal” then destroyed the area again in the 1960s through the 1980s as white city planners rezoned the district, built highways through it, and took property through eminent domain.
Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged the destruction of Greenwood today in a call with reporters. Noting that “[h]omeownership is one of the single most powerful engines of wealth-building available to American families,” she explained that ‘[m]illions rely on the equity in their homes to put their children through college, to fund a startup, to retire with dignity, to create intergenerational prosperity and wealth.” But “for generations, many people of color have been prevented from taking full advantage of the benefits of homeownership.”
The inequalities of the past have persisted in the home appraisal system, Harris said. “[B]ecause their homes are undervalued, Black and Latino people often pay more for their mortgage, receive less when they sell, and are less able to get access to home equity lines of credit—all of which widens the racial wealth gap and deepens longstanding financial inequities.”
“Today,” her Twitter account said, “our Administration is announcing new actions to root out racial bias in home valuations to ensure that all hardworking families can realize the true value of their investment and have a fair shot at the American dream.”
Jonathan Lemire, Adam Cancryn, and Jennifer Haberkorn of Politico reported today that White House officials urged allies to downplay their substantial victory on the debt ceiling crisis and the related budget negotiations, afraid of sparking Republican opposition and eager to be seen as the adults in the room.
But they needn’t have worried. Today, President Biden tripped over a sandbag left in his path as he was jogging away from the center stage of the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado after giving the commencement address. He appeared fine after the fall, but it is dominating right-wing social media, the debt ceiling crisis already forgotten.
—
Notes:
https://twitter.com/ArthurDelaneyHP/status/1664395512382996483
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/01/senate-debt-ceiling-bill/
https://www.readynest.com/homebuyer-stories/what-role-does-homeownership-play-in-generational-wealth
https://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20210920-home-appraisals
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/09/1162103286/home-appraisal-racial-bias-black-homeowners-lawsuit
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/01/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-sweeping-action-to-address-racial-bias-in-home-valuations/
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/kamala-harris-new-rule-will-tackle-racial-bias-home-valuations-rcna87313
https://www.okhistory.org/research/forms/freport.pdf
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ajes.12225
https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-true-costs-of-the-tulsa-race-massacre-100-years-late
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/29/case-reparations-tulsa-oklahoma#_Toc41573965
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/06/01/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-in-a-press-call-on-addressing-racial-bias-in-home-appraisals/
https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/scf20.pdf
https://twitter.com/VP/status/1664358084125290497
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/01/just-dont-boast-how-biden-world-sought-to-ace-the-debt-ceiling-standoff-00099671
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/politics/biden-us-air-force-academy-trip/index.html