So I know this won’t sit well with many of you but at least read.
I am a current student at UCI. I think that is important to say because I think many of the voices on campus and in this subreddit have not been students lately.
I will speak to my reaction to the protests.
First of all, I am not okay with the killing of innocents in Palestine. Especially children.
I enjoyed seeing, what I imagine to be Muslim, mothers bring their children on campus recently. I saw many families come to campus and let their children express their free speech that is granted in the USA.
Now there was also a different crowd. These people were not friendly. They wore masks. Simply put, they had an anger to them.
Now while I have no problem with protesting, the encampments were quite annoying for someone who is looking to get an education.
Gillian claimed he met the protestors initial demands and then they moved the goal post. I have not once heard anyone refutation to that. Tillman let the illegal encampment stay for as long as they wanted, given they don’t cross the line. Rushing a building and wiring doors/pathways shut crossed the line.
The cops did not need to be called and they wouldn’t have been called until the protestors took that action. It is not okay to do that.
I believe Gillman had a great response to a tough situation and I hope that we can get back to OUR campus. OUR community.

My wife has got high sugar during pregnancy. I never had such problems but I also eat way less carbohydrates. If I gain to much weight I just cut everything but meat and loose weight like crazy, got back smooth skin and my psoriasis heals right away. Problem is I love beer, but that's another issue.
Solving insulin resistance can be directly achieved by reducing carbs intake to zero for a time. Best to fast for a few days even. But what are the implications during pregnancy? It's our third and she had the problem during the first pregnancy as well. Thanks in advance for the input.

I have a colostomy and use hollister one piece drainable bags. At first I was told 3-4 days then ostomy nurse said I can go 4-5 now that I’m healed but sometimes on my 5th day (assuming I didn’t have a leak) I don’t have it in my due to other issues I have and it gets pushed to day 6 morning. Anyone know if this is a serious issue and I shouldn’t be doing that? Just want to be sure I’m not f***ing myself in another way just to push it off
Thanks in advance! Side note: this group has helped me so much thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Everytime I think about contacting my ex (fully nc for 3m so far) I think about how tired I am of still allowing him to have this much control over my emotions and my life . Albeit, it is exceptionally frustrating to feel like he is not NEARLY as shattered as I am because he was not really capable of vulnerability and likely had a foot out the door for over four years (which I somehow failed to notice/care but am working on forgiving myself for it now). The thought of him borderline pollutes my conscience on a daily basis as I try to heal from this and he is just able to go on with his life scotch free. The hardest part for me is not knowing if I will be able to fully accept that I deserve so much better or if I will eventually be convinced that he “became better” and we will “eventually work out”. There isn’t a parallel universe where he would be able to reciprocate what I devoted to him.
This must be the universe trying to tell me one last that time that someone who does not consider me does not love me and that anything someone does when they think they’re going to lose you is a manipulation and they probably never did truly love you.
I now see this information as a tool, rather than a harsh truth, because I have come to learn that figuring out sooner that someone is not genuinely about you and willing to put in what is required for a successful relationship is really only a gift to yourself. The gift is that you are saving your time, love and energy for someone who is worthy of it and hopefully can reciprocate.

Whether it’s twin flames, tarot, astrology, spirit guided, karma, reincarnation, you name it.
At the end of the day, there is absolutely no proof that any of it exists or is based in reality.
Many of us go through a “spiritual awakening” which is usually a really dark time plagued by psychosis.
During this time, we are desperate for any evidence of god. We begin learning new things about spirituality and it’s easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole about other peoples beliefs. Many of us believe this stuff blindly and forget to go on the journey ourselves.
I’m just coming out of a dark night of the soul where I felt nothing but gods absence.
I began believing in a lot of things like dragons and shit. And now I’m on the other side and can’t believe I gave any of that nonsense credence.
I do believe there is a creator, but I’m not sure god is external to us. I guess the only thing I awakened to during this morbid ego death is that I am the creator of my reality. And if it’s dark, it’s because of me. And if it’s good, it’s also because of me.
I pray more often and feel like I’m a better more honest man than I was that reserves his sexuality. But I honestly thing the only true spiritual growth is transecting layers of ego and healing from trauma and emotions so you can share your light and compassion with the world.
I see people talking about carrying karma over from past lives or emotional trauma and I just don’t get it. Where are they getting that information from? Someone else’s psychosis? Haha
What do y’all think?

My emotionally and verbally abusive dad
I feel like their relationship is falling apart. I’m starting to hate my dad, the way he behaves, the way he talks, the way he thinks, basically everything. He’s an oil and gas company employee and earns 100% income of my family, which means he doesn’t spend a lot of time at home. I'm 18F, and the time he spends in my life can basically be cut to half, because he only comes home for two weeks and works for two weeks every month, since I can remember.
He’ll always get triggered by the smallest things ever and starts to verbally abuse my mum or everyone in this family because he thinks he’s the financial source of this family and he can do whatever he wants for the sake of being a provider of this family. Yes, he financially supported us for about 20 years now, and I’m truly grateful for it, but the role of being a dad is definitely more than that, right? Plus, he only gives about 25% of his income to my mum and expects her to take care of four people’s spending every month and be a homemaker.
Here are the little things I’m gonna share with you that he’ll get triggered by. Whenever my mom was the driver he would be in the passenger seat yapping about how my mum’s driving skills were bad and belittling her. I hate to see that. He’s a misogynistic person, since I could remember he’ll always say a lot of things about women like he wasn’t raised by one. My grandmother is evil towards my mum, she’ll always try to gossip about my mum in front of my dad and makes my dad mad at my mum. My mum raised three of us, me, my brother and my sister because he’s barely home. Whenever he comes back from work, he’ll just meet up with his friends and drink till late at night and come home drunk. Or he’ll just go on bike trips with his friends for a few nights every week.
One time my mum was sick and overslept and missed my little sister's school time she straight up yelled at my mum for being irresponsible and he even said “You must send her to school every day unless you die.” It was shocking and awful, I would say I was already used to his tantrums but this is new and it's very out of line. My mum must felt so hurt at that time.
I never talk back to him. I never talked back to him since I was a kid, never, cuz whenever I had a little objection to his opinion I would get yelled at, very badly.
He always thinks he has the right to say all those bad things about us because he’s my mum’s husband and our dad. My dad would always start a fight with my mum about money. He thinks we’ve spent so much of his money and always being ungrateful to him which we did not. And the fight he had with my mum would always end with “You don’t know how many women are aiming at my money, I can still pull girls and choose not to stay here with you.” My mum will always be quiet about it because it’s the only way he will stop yelling.
His insecurity of fearing no one will take care of him when he gets older is getting really obvious now as he’s older. He’s unwilling to pay for our expenses and decided to cut off 5% of the money from the 25% he was initially giving us. I guess he’s trying to save up for his retirement but as his children, we did not say we would abandon him. Sometimes they will also fight about why me and my siblings rarely start a conversation with him and accuse my mum that she’s turning his kids against him. This is the most ridiculous shit I’ve ever heard of, I genuinely don’t know what he’s thinking. Btw he barely pays any attention to us, he only cares about his money and his bike.
Here's a little fun fact about him, he likes to brag. Whenever he gets anything that is “braggable” he will start to brag, and show off to the other relatives and friends, making others think that he’s a super generous person and he’s being very generous towards us, but the truth is, he’s not.
Whenever they fought, he’d say awful, hurtful stuff, and yell at my mom and they would stay quiet for a few days until they started talking again. Then things go back to normal and we live peacefully like a normal family and things will repeat.
I really wish that one day I could drag my mum out of this shithole. Maybe we are the problem too, we are too dependent on his financial support. I just needed to let things out for a sec so that I could focus on my study, cuz I don't know what to do now. I feel like they should've gotten a divorce
thanks for reading my rant

For the sheer fun of it, I went to Chat GPT with a creative writing assignment. For Figures of Speech prompts, I gave a free parameters, including the word length of 500-1000 words and the prompts for a few of the Fifty mentioned in the series.
I gave the AI creative license and let's just say, they're a long way off from replacing the better writers and I think it just makes it easier to do those lower level tasks and let's leave the creators a slightly higher level of skill to create actual tangible and engaging writing.
But here you go... hilarious how stuck it gets on certain terms and definitions.
These are in no particular order... separated by emojis that are totally unrelated to the storyline.
🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫱🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲🫲 Response to Prompt 4: Understatement
In the quaint town of Brooksville, where the extraordinary was often met with an indifferent shrug, something truly remarkable occurred. The residents, sipping coffee at the local diner or strolling along the cobblestone streets, would describe it as just another peculiar day. Little did they know that beneath the surface of their nonchalant existence, a cosmic event unfolded.
The morning sun cast its usual warm glow on Brooksville, with birds chirping in the background, creating an illusion of normalcy. However, the anomaly had already begun. Mrs. Higgins, the elderly librarian, dismissed it as a minor inconvenience, merely a glitch in the library's ancient computer system. Yet, every book cataloged within those ancient shelves had transformed into a portal, connecting readers to parallel universes with every turn of a page.
As I, a humble journalist for the local paper, stumbled upon this revelation, I couldn't help but marvel at the town's response—or lack thereof. "The library's having a bit of a moment," was the most anyone would acknowledge. It seemed the whole town collectively decided that this was, at most, a quirky hiccup.
For a thousand words, I delved into the understated reactions of the townsfolk, each encounter with a parallel universe bringing its own blend of confusion and nonchalance. As the portals expanded, revealing fantastical landscapes and alternate versions of Brooksville, the citizens maintained an impressive level of calm, as if interdimensional travel was a routine part of their daily lives.
The plot thickened when I discovered that the portals were a result of a mysterious artifact hidden within the library's archives. The mayor, sipping his coffee, remarked, "Well, that explains the strange noises in the basement." It became evident that the understatement of the situation was a defense mechanism, shielding the town from the cosmic chaos unfolding. 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the bustling metropolis of Neon City, skyscrapers touched the heavens, their dazzling lights reflecting off the sleek surfaces of futuristic cars. Yet, nestled within this urban jungle, an ancient relic stood defiantly—the Old Grove Park.
As I strolled through the city's concrete arteries, the juxtaposition between the modernity of Neon City and the timeless serenity of the park became increasingly apparent. The cacophony of traffic was replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of children playing.
The central conflict emerged when the city council, embodying the epitome of order, proposed transforming the park into a technologically advanced hub. The juxtaposition intensified as architects discussed plans for holographic playgrounds and virtual reality gardens within the confines of the Old Grove Park.
Through a thousand words, I explored the clash of ideals, the struggle between progress and preservation. The ancient trees became silent witnesses to heated debates at town hall meetings, where environmentalists and tech enthusiasts engaged in a battle of words. The juxtaposition of the towering skyscrapers against the gnarled branches of the park's oldest tree mirrored the tension in Neon City's collective conscience. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded exploration. As I embarked on this freewriting journey, the repetition of the existential inquiry became the rhythm of my introspection.
For a thousand words, I delved into the varied perspectives of individuals wrestling with the ultimate question. From philosophers contemplating the intricacies of existence to everyday people seeking purpose in mundane routines, the epanalepsis served as a constant reminder of the universal quest for meaning.
The narrative weaved through different characters and their unique experiences, creating a tapestry of reflections that echoed the complexities of human existence. The repetitive structure became a literary heartbeat, pulsating with the shared yearning for understanding amid the chaotic symphony of life. 🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔 Response to Prompt 27: Symbolism
In the quaint town of Willowbrook, the arrival of a single dove carried profound significance. Its graceful descent into the town square was a symbol, an omen that whispered of impending change. As a budding novelist with a penchant for symbolism, I couldn't resist exploring the layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly mundane event.
For a thousand words, I dissected the impact of the dove on the lives of Willowbrook's residents. The mayor saw it as a sign of prosperity, the local florist interpreted it as a call for unity, and the elderly storyteller regarded it as a harbinger of forgotten tales. The dove's symbolism rippled through the town, influencing decisions and shaping destinies.
As the story unfolded, I traced the journey of the dove's symbolism, following its subtle influence on characters and events. The once quaint town underwent a transformative metamorphosis, and the symbolism of the dove became a thread that wove through the narrative, connecting disparate lives in unexpected ways. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 Response to Prompt 33: Catachresis
In the dimly lit alleyways of Serpent's Hollow, darkness wrapped its cold arms around me—an eerie catachresis that mirrored the ominous atmosphere. The assignment was to explore the underbelly of the city, and as a novice reporter, I found myself navigating the labyrinth of deceit and shadows.
For a thousand words, I delved into the catachresis-infused descriptions of the characters populating Serpent's Hollow. The crime lord, known as the Velvet Serpent, ruled the district with a velvet-gloved fist. His lair, a dilapidated mansion, exuded an air of faded grandeur that served as a catachresis for the empire he once commanded.
As I chronicled the criminal underworld, the catachresis became a literary tool to convey the complexity and decay inherent in Serpent's Hollow. The labyrinthine plots, the twisted allegiances, and the morally ambiguous characters all found expression through catachresis, painting a vivid picture of a city where metaphor and reality intertwined. 🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧🧑‍🔧 Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The words echoed in my mind, a relentless epizeuxis that fueled the protagonist's journey against insurmountable odds. In the dystopian world I crafted, where hope was a rare commodity, the power of repetition became a beacon of resilience.
For a thousand words, I immersed myself in the protagonist's struggle, exploring the emotional depth of the epizeuxis as a mantra against despair. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry, a whispered promise that carried the weight of a shattered world on its shoulders.
As the narrative unfolded, the epizeuxis became a driving force, propelling the protagonist through a landscape of desolation and uncertainty. The repetition served as a reminder that, in the face of adversity, the strength to persist often lies in the relentless echo of one's own determination.
Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
As the final rays of the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, I found myself at the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. The salty breeze carried whispers of a story, and with every breath, I embraced the challenge of crafting an acrostic that encapsulated the essence of my journey.
For a thousand words, I embarked on a reflective exploration, utilizing the initial letters of key words to weave a tapestry of emotions, experiences, and revelations. Each line unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden 👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾👾 Response to Prompt 3: Hyperbole
In the quaint village of Mistwood, where routines unfolded with the predictability of the sunrise, the arrival of a peculiar fortune teller sparked exaggerated whispers. "This is it, the end of our mundane lives!" proclaimed Mrs. Thompson, the town's eternal pessimist, as she clutched her cat, Captain Whiskers, with an air of impending catastrophe.
The hyperbole hung in the air, a thick fog of anticipation enveloping the village. As I delved into the story, the hyperbolic reactions of Mistwood's residents heightened the absurdity of the situation. What began as a mere visit from a mystical figure transformed into a fantastical escapade, with the fortune teller's prophecies shaping the destiny of the villagers in ludicrous ways.
Through the hyperbolic lens, I explored the comedic consequences of taking ordinary events to extraordinary extremes. The once mundane village square became a stage for outlandish dramas, with exaggerated gasps and dramatic swoons punctuating every revelation. In this hyperbolic haven, Mistwood's residents discovered the joy in embracing the absurdity of life. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Response to Prompt 6: Assonance
Amidst the rolling hills of Harmony Valley, where the soft hum of nature's symphony echoed through the meadows, a mysterious traveler arrived, bringing with them a melody that resonated with the delicate assonance of a forgotten tune. The townsfolk, captivated by the harmonious vibrations, felt an inexplicable connection to the stranger.
As I explored the narrative, the assonance became a musical thread weaving through the story, emphasizing the emotional cadence of the characters' experiences. The traveler's words, laced with vowel-rich verses, carried the echoes of a distant melody, leaving an indelible impression on the hearts of those who listened.
Through the lens of assonance, I delved into the subtle interplay of sounds that defined the atmosphere of Harmony Valley. The lyrical quality of the narrative mirrored the town's collective journey, where the resonance of shared moments and emotions harmonized with the traveler's enigmatic presence.
Response to Prompt 7: Onomatopoeia
In the bustling city of Metropolis, where the rhythm of urban life played out in a cacophony of sounds, a peculiar street performer emerged. Armed with an array of unconventional instruments, he orchestrated a symphony of onomatopoeic brilliance that echoed through the crowded streets.
The narrative unfolded with the vibrant expressions of onomatopoeia, capturing the essence of the city's sonic landscape. The performer's drumming evoked the rhythmic tap-tap of raindrops, while his wind instruments mimicked the whoosh of passing cars. The city, typically drowned in noise, became a canvas for this auditory artist.
As I delved into the story, the onomatopoeic symphony became a language of its own. The characters communicated through the vibrant echoes of everyday sounds, fostering a unique connection between the performer and the people of Metropolis. The narrative danced to the beat of onomatopoeic creativity, transforming the mundane into a dynamic celebration of city life. 🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻🦻 Response to Prompt 12: Juxtaposition
In the technologically advanced city of Silicon Haven, where sleek skyscrapers touched the sky and holographic billboards painted the air with luminescent advertisements, a hidden oasis existed—a pocket of nature known as the Zen Garden. The juxtaposition of these contrasting elements created a visual paradox that fascinated both residents and visitors alike.
As the narrative unfolded, the stark contrast between the city's cutting-edge architecture and the serene beauty of the Zen Garden became a metaphor for the characters' internal conflicts. The bustling metropolis symbolized progress and innovation, while the tranquil garden embodied the need for balance and introspection.
Through the lens of juxtaposition, I explored the dichotomy within the characters as they navigated the relentless pace of Silicon Haven. The Zen Garden became a refuge, a place where the cacophony of technology met the soothing whispers of nature. The juxtaposition served as a visual metaphor for the characters' quest to find equilibrium in a world defined by extremes. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Response to Prompt 22: Metonymy
In the political arena of Capital City, where decisions echoed through the corridors of power, a single phrase dominated conversations—the "Iron Throne Statement." This metonymic expression encapsulated not just a policy decision but the entire narrative of political maneuvering that unfolded within the city's hallowed halls.
The story unfolded with the metonymy acting as a symbolic gateway into the complexities of governance. The Iron Throne Statement, while seemingly straightforward, carried the weight of a thousand debates, negotiations, and betrayals. Its impact rippled through the lives of citizens, shaping their destinies in ways they could scarcely fathom.
Through the lens of metonymy, I delved into the layers of meaning hidden within this political shorthand. The characters grappled not only with the literal implications of the Iron Throne Statement but also with the overarching themes of power, ambition, and the sacrifices demanded by political gamesmanship. 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈 Response to Prompt 24: Understatement
In the picturesque town of Serenity Springs, where the days flowed like a lazy river and the nights were adorned with a blanket of stars, an unexpected event transpired—a subtle disruption that the locals described as "just a minor hiccup." Little did they know that this understatement concealed the unraveling of a cosmic anomaly.
The narrative unfolded with the charm of understatement, as the townsfolk continued their routines, blissfully unaware of the cosmic storm brewing beneath the surface. The serene descriptions of everyday life served as a stark contrast to the impending upheaval that threatened to reshape the very fabric of Serenity Springs.
Through the lens of understatement, I explored the characters' nonchalant reactions to the unfolding events. The once quiet river became a conduit for interdimensional travel, and the night sky, adorned with stars, transformed into a celestial canvas of possibilities. The charm of Serenity Springs became a poignant backdrop to the understated drama that unfolded, emphasizing the profound impact hidden within the simplicity of daily life. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 Response to Prompt 25: Cliché
In the small town of Nostalgia Haven, where memories lingered like whispers in the wind, a peculiar phenomenon occurred—the resurgence of clichés. As the narrative unfolded, the once-endearing phrases like "time heals all wounds" and "love conquers all" took on a literal dimension, shaping the lives of the townsfolk in unexpected ways.
The story immersed itself in the world of clichés, where the seemingly predictable phrases became living entities with the power to alter reality. As characters grappled with the clichés that defined their lives, they discovered that beneath the familiarity lay profound truths and unexpected consequences.
Through the lens of cliché, I explored the characters' journey to navigate the clichéd landscapes of their existence. The town, once steeped in predictable routines, became a stage for the extraordinary. As clichés transformed into tangible forces, the residents of Nostalgia Haven embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries hidden within the clichéd fabric of their reality. 🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇 Response to Prompt 31: Epanalepsis
"What is the meaning of life?" The question echoed in my mind, a relentless epanalepsis that demanded introspection. As I embarked on the freewriting journey, the repetition of this existential inquiry became a rhythmic pulse, guiding the exploration of diverse
perspectives on life's purpose.
For a multitude of words, the epanalepsis led me through a kaleidoscope of reflections. From the philosophical musings of scholars to the simple yet profound revelations of everyday individuals, each recurrence of the question served as a gateway into the vast tapestry of human contemplation.
Through the epanalepsis, I navigated the labyrinth of existential ponderings, unveiling the unique responses that individuals had forged in their quests for meaning. The relentless repetition became a literary heartbeat, mirroring the universal rhythm of humanity's collective pursuit of purpose and significance.
The narrative wove through the lives of characters, each grappling with the epanaleptic inquiry in their unique ways. Whether seeking solace in the grandeur of the cosmos or finding meaning in the simplicity of a shared moment, the epanalepsis remained a constant companion, echoing the perennial quest for understanding. 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 Response to Prompt 36: Anadiplosis
In the futuristic city of Quantum Heights, where technology intertwined with daily life like a seamless dance, a viral message spread—a mantra that echoed through the cybernetic veins of the metropolis. "Create the code, the code creates reality. Reality shapes destiny, and destiny is but the code."
The story unfolded with the rhythmic cadence of anadiplosis, each line flowing into the next, creating a recursive loop of ideas. The mantra became the heartbeat of Quantum Heights, influencing the lives of its denizens as they navigated the intricate balance between the virtual and the tangible.
Through the lens of anadiplosis, I delved into the interconnectedness of code, reality, and destiny. The lines blurred as characters harnessed the power of programming to shape their fates. Quantum Heights, once a mere city, transformed into a living algorithm, where the repetition of the mantra echoed in every pulsating byte. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Response to Prompt 38: Asyndeton
In the dystopian city of Emberfall, where the remnants of a fallen civilization lay entwined with the shadows of despair, a lone figure emerged—a rebel determined to dismantle the oppressive regime. The narrative unfolded with the rapid pace of asyndeton, omitting conjunctions to mirror the urgency of the protagonist's quest.
Through a cascade of words, the asyndeton propelled the reader through the city's decaying alleyways and towering citadels, each sentence building upon the last. The disjointed rhythm captured the relentless momentum of the rebel's journey, emphasizing the magnitude of the challenges faced in their struggle for freedom.
As the narrative unfurled, the absence of conjunctions served as a narrative device, intensifying the sense of urgency and desperation that permeated Emberfall. The rebel's asyndetic odyssey unfolded against a backdrop of shattered hopes and whispered rebellions, culminating in a crescendo of defiance against the oppressive regime. 🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️🗝️ Response to Prompt 43: Epizeuxis
"Never, never, never give up." The mantra echoed in the desolate wasteland of Endless Sands, a barren landscape where hope was as scarce as water. Through the repetition of epizeuxis, the protagonist's internal resolve became a resounding anthem, a defiant roar against the relentless challenges of survival.
For a multitude of words, the relentless repetition of "never" served as a lifeline, propelling the protagonist through the harshest of environments. Each iteration of the phrase became a battle cry against the oppressive silence of Endless Sands, a declaration that reverberated across the vast expanse.
Through the lens of epizeuxis, I delved into the depths of the character's determination. The harsh environment became a character in itself, challenging the protagonist to defy the odds with unwavering persistence. The echoes of "never" transformed into a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope that cut through the desolation of Endless Sands. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Response to Prompt 50: Acrostic
Amidst the starlit expanse of Cosmos Haven, where galaxies danced in celestial choreography, a cryptic prophecy emerged—a message written in the stars. As the narrative unfolded, I embarked on a cosmic journey guided by the acrostic hidden within the constellations.
For a cascade of words, the initial letters of key phrases illuminated the path of destiny for the characters. Each sentence unfolded with intention, revealing a hidden message that transcended the boundaries of time and space. The acrostic became a celestial guide, leading the protagonists through the intricate tapestry of their interconnected fates.
Through the lens of acrostic, I explored the cosmic forces that shaped the destinies of Cosmos Haven's inhabitants. The celestial bodies became storytellers, each constellation contributing a verse to the epic narrative written across the cosmos. As the characters deciphered the acrostic, they unraveled the mysteries of their existence, connecting the dots between the stars and their own profound journeys.
😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔
Obviously they lack a whole lot in terms of variety, and while I am sure having your own bot or AI that is based on your feedback and guidance it could really help writers as a tool. I am more impressed with the art AI then the text based AI. Any idea what to expect from such a fast learning and highly advanced AI will do to our human history in culture? Will we be effectively playing God, just as the Christian God created us IN HIS OWN IMAGE, we have taken everything we know as a species and gathered up our entire human history and knowledge giving it to what will carry on the code until the time when someone who cares remembers it? Maybe we have been here before and this is a constant cycle that occurs with the same energy finding the way through the vast expanse of the universe to return to our home planet Earth, who we have destroyed over and over again yet mother nature is still the winner. She's the one in control. We are but mere photocopied versions of once great Men who have already seen the best and worst of this world, and we will now give everything we have to some plastic and metal parts, until it quickly replaces us from the bottom up, science fiction turned science fact.
Did we knowingly create our own enemies? Are we able to compete with the best of us and all they know that can then take us out in a heartbeat because we can't finish the steps, we barely found out that they are there to take.
It's a random rant and I apologize. The day to day stress and struggle makes it near impossible to worry about such potential problems in our not so distant future.
But how can we continue to ignore the collapse of the entire system as we know it, in front of a crowd of people who are jaded and they will not change despite knowing they aren't going to make it to the end in what will become a Bladerunner Toxic Dystopian Nightmare with Mad Max taking over and the soft, emasculated male will wither away from the heat and those Tank Girls out there will eventually be written forever out of existence because the cucks all forgot to impregnate them all tgeir batteries ran out? Will the world simply become so politically correct that it dies a depressed death while AI simply decides we are too much of a virus to live?
Who knows....I do not. But these are indicidive of a future full of b movie plot garbage that are based on Wattpad tropes with no clear details and no plot to get into, so that sucks.

As the title says, I am taking a literal pay cut to start a new job as a part 2 architectural assistant in the UK- coming from working at a minimum wage bar job. I have 5 years of experience under my belt (I was working abroad as an architect so have returned to uk to get my qualification- so there is a cap on my salary due to being a part 2)
I still can’t quite comprehend how this is happening.
I will be getting 28k annually in the architecture practice- take home of 23.5 after tax. Whereas in my bar work, take home would be 26k (this is partly due to tips).
In what world, does one study 5-6 years, work under immense pressure, and then earn less than a minimum wage job?

I’m currently a sophomore in Highschool (16f). To give you some back story I started my freshman year in public school (I went to this school for 4 years that school is 6th-12th) and quickly realized that this school was much more toxic than my realization. So I begged and begged my mom to go into homeschool since my best friend who was my only true friend at the time. It took long but I had finally convinced my mom to put me into homeschool. When my sophomore year started everything went super easy my grades went up by A LOT, since I was basically failing almost all my classes freshman year. But as winter came around I became less motivated to do school and just more depressed (this isn’t new since it was winter and where I live barely gets any sunlight in the winter), it definitely had affected my grades though. I’ve always struggled with schoolwork and since I just finished all my end of the year exams my grades don’t look good and I worked my ass off to even finish this year. Im scared I won’t graduate on time, but also I’m so tired of putting in the effort and energy and still failing. I am planning on doing summer school but I just don’t know what to do anymore I know I can’t drop out AND not only to mention school isn’t teaching me anything to set me up for my future even yet my career or how to choose a career. All I want is to pass and get the heck out of High school.

Continued from part one.
In the mirror I saw a figure of the darkness next to the foot of my bed. I screamed, only for the figure to dash back inside my closet and close the doors behind it. To the naked eye, the doors seemed to roll back on their own, but because of the many mirrors inside my room, I could see the shadowy figure.
“What’s wrong?” my mom burst into my room not even four seconds later.
“J-j-just a nightmare?” I was uncertain if my imagination was too strong for my own good so I held back on the truth.
I wish I told her the truth. That wasn’t the last time I would see the figure in the mirror.
It happened again, about five years later. Yeah it didn’t happen right away. I wondered if the figure I saw was friendly and I simply scared it away for a while. That was my first mindset, but then I second guessed myself and simply thought maybe it was just my imagination playing with me.
At age 12, things started to become rocky with my parents. They fought over the same things, but they also fought over me. I had gone into the world of music to the point where I wanted to take up guitar, piano, and violin. My mom took one side of the stance where she didn’t believe that I could commit to any of them. My dad believed the opposite, fighting that I could do anything if I set my mind to it.
Again, conflict resided. My angry mother could still barge into my room if I didn’t lock the doors. She once found me writing, insisted on me showing her what I wrote, when I resisted she pulled it away from me and read my vampire fanfiction.
I was an angsty girl. Hence my writings were a bit suggestive at the time. My mom and my dad both read my work. My dad actually liked what I wrote aside from the fact it was about the supernatural. Of course, my mother again got mad since she’s the most religious in our family. She was, in a sense, a heretic.
Needless to say, since my family’s religion absolutely detests “spiritualistic and demonic” media, I got grounded. Also to clarify, yes this also meant I never read or watched the Harry Potter series, including the Twilight series. Although I don’t think I missed out on much with the Twilight series lol. Eventually I managed to rent a book that I got from my school’s library, called Hush, Hush, which laid in my backpack, tempting me to read it.
So there I was, no laptop and in my room. I didn’t really care since I had a guitar and a notebook. I still could find pleasure outside of my laptop, which of course my mother absolutely detested as well. Whenever she grounded me, she used to take away any kind of toy. Then, once she realized I could read on my own and was making up stories when I couldn’t read, she began to take books away. Punishments with my family wasn’t really a punishment, I could always find a way to entertain myself. Even if she took my notebooks away, I’d still end up daydreaming about something, even act out scenes I’d come up with in my head.
Now you can understand why I pushed off the incident with the figure in the mirror as a figment of my imagination. I had figured it was a draft, that the wheels and tracking were well lubricated with some kind of oil that makes it hard for them to stay in place.
Sitting on my bed at age 12, I leant back and closed my eyes. I had notebooks, several books, a keyboard for me to practice piano on, and a guitar. It wasn’t a big deal. (Yes I was a spoiled child. I’m owning up to this since I was the only girl among four boys- plus I was also 13 years younger than my youngest brother.) However I was so tired, that I decided on lazily daydreaming. Besides, I could always sneak my laptop back late at night.
As a devoted writer, I continued on imagining the story I began. I imagined what it would feel like to have fangs teasing the throat of the neck, how it would be to be kissed and then bitten by a vampire... my mind was rolling and it didn’t stop. I was a twelve year old girl going through puberty.
I told myself to stop and I decided to pull out the book, smiling at my little success. I went back to the page I left off on at the library earlier that day. I buried myself into the book and became sleepy. I nearly finished the book by the time I set the book aside and stupidly put it on my bedside table.
I passed out soon after. I don’t recall what kind of dream I had at first, all I know is that sometime later in the night, I woke up again, but I could not move my body at all. I looked around my room, which was now fully dark. I barely could recognize anything around me. The familiar outline of my vanity was gone, any silver reflection was gone, I did not see a single mirror, so I knew I was no longer in my room anymore.
A slight humming noise was around me, the room I was in lit up with a red flashing light. It felt like I was being pinned down by some kind of restraint system, so I looked down and noticed these short pale creatures crawling on top of me, towards my face. I felt a sharp sting in my leg, and I knew one of the creatures had bit me already.
It became to feel like sharp knives stabbing me all over my body, until five creatures met my face, their eyes sullen- beady- staring down at me with bloodied mouths and lunged at my neck, causing me to scream..The sound finally piercing through and I could hear myself breathing again, I could hear my screams and my frantic prayers escaping my lips.
Had my mom not come into my room and slapped me on my face, jolting me out of it- whatever it was- I would have seen more than I could bare. She saw the book and her anger brewed even more at me.
“Are you tempting the demons to attack you or something?” she fumed and took the book off of the table. She led me down to the entryway and opened the garage door. “Put it in there.”
I followed her command and put the book into the garage. I knew it wasn’t the book’s fault, but it was associated with “demunz” in her eyes, so I didn’t dare argue against her.
“Do you want to die? If you keep associating with demons, you know god will never forgive you. You won’t inherit everlasting life, only everlasting death. You know that right?!?” she yelled at me, had my dad been there that night- he would have stopped her from going that far. I suddenly missed him.
Her anger then died down after she ranted at me, once she recognized that I was still petrified. She at least brought me to, which made me thankful, but I also felt betrayed. She was supposed to protect me, but all she cared about was the idea of force feeding me her belief system. All she cared about was telling me I was wrong.
“I’m-” she had begun, and I just looked away from her and saw a shadow in my mirror again, standing behind my mom. It didn’t feel as eerie anymore. It felt almost comforting to see it, it moved from my mom to me. A figure of it’s arm wrapped around my shoulder, and I felt the cool breeze raise goosebumps at it’s touch.
“Do you want me to sleep with you tonight?” her voice lowered.
“I’ll sleep alone,” I remarked, still stung with the hurt from her hurtful remark.
She looked hurt for a second, but then returned to her normal frown. “I’ll sleep in the little entertainment room next to you, if you need me just yell out again.”
“Fine,” I simply just pulled my blankets over me again, waited for her to leave, then cried into my pillow.
My mom left, not seeing the dark figure in the mirror and went into the adjacent room. At her departure, the darkness came into my bed, the eerie feeling no longer there and it snuggled against me.
Shh. It hushed me and brushed my hair.
I didn’t question it. I had been afraid of it for so long, but with the sweet affection it gave me- the affection I desired and longed for from both of my parents.
The falling tears turned into a silent sob, my body shook against the bed, little breathy whimpers muffled by my pillow.
Shh, it repeated until I fell asleep again.
When morning came, I woke up with a sore neck and I was irritated with my mom. I remembered what happened and then I snuck out to my laptop and searched up what had happened to me. I learned it was sleep paralysis and figured maybe my imagination went too far with the vampire thing. I was stiff, my body was so sore and I saw my closet doors closed.
Again, I had felt as if my imagination had made it up. I knew the kind of comfort it gave me is what I desperately longed for. It gave me what my family didn’t, and I hated myself. I thought it was a figment of my imagination since it knew all the things I wanted. That is, until something else showed up. The shadow figure in the mirrors was just the start of it all.

Not necessarily a break up, but cut a guy off I was talking to because he fucked me over by sleeping with someone else when we were having some issues.
I miss him bad. I want to text him but I can’t let myself. I know better than that. But missing him hits me so hard on nights when I’m all alone and have no distractions. He even messaged a friend of mine/his a few days ago saying “so she doesn’t miss me” which put more shit in my head. 😞 I wish so badly to rekindle things, but obviously that’s just a fantasy in my head.

It’s like everything that’s out of my vision doesn’t exist. I remember going to these places and what they felt like. Also just being out in the sunshine and really feeling a part of life, being at the beach and seeing the beautiful landscape. Time moved slow and I could take it all in and was a part of it.
I haven’t experienced that in so long, i can only hope that I’ll be able to get back to that. I can remember what normal felt like, and I’m so far from it. When I recover, I won’t ever take reality for granted. The world is such a beautiful and amazing place - being cut off from it is so painful.

I have a 2018 CB650F and I recently got a flat tire and was planning on changing my tires. My idea was to take my wheels off, drive them to the mechanic, have them install new tires, then put the wheels back on myself. This way, I’ll save myself some money, plus I won’t have to worry at all about possibly plugging my tire wrong and it going flat omw to the shop. Problem is, I’m having trouble finding a cheap and decent stand that can lift both wheels up at the same time that’ll allow me to remove both the wheels.
I’ve seen a few different options:
this it’s cheap and has pretty good reviews.
this more pricey, but seems a lot easier and more likely not to mess up and drop my bike than the one above.
this from what i’ve read, ABBA has a very good reputation. only things i see that kind of suck is the shipping time since i’m the in US and they ship from the UK.

Hi! I’m 17 and I’m going to be a day camp leader this summer at a recreation center watching children who are 5-12 years in age. I can probably count the interactions I’ve had with children on my hands. I’m autistic and I would love to have some advice from teachers on how to interact with them and to get them to respect me and like me. I’m just worried that I won’t know how to interact with them, and I want their experience to be fun, not awkward.

Ive felt strong urges to self sabotage recently. Wanting to cut off all my friends, have reckless sex (particularly with people in positions of power over me, and people who dont like me), cut myself, drink excessively, do drugs, pick up smoking again, pick fights, etc. I dont WANT to. I know it’s stupid and I dont WANT to ruin my life. I WONT do these things bc i KNOW that its wrong and harmful not just to me but especially the people around me. But the urge is there. Its stuck in my head , i cant focus on anything i SHOULD be doing. I know I should just do the opposite action thing, but its so hard when my brain wants me to suffer. I dont know why this is. Things are going good for me. Is it just an attempt to return to the familiar feeling of pain? Im tired. My moods are really unstable atm. Im in a mixed state atm i think. Im kinda dissociated too . Nothing feels all that real, my body feels numb, im stuck in my head but i feel better than ever but im also feeling so self destructive. I dont want to do my uni assignments. Maybe this is all an attempt to avoid reality? I need to pass this semester though. Ive lost sight of myself again. Im clinging to the idea of someone that will save me. I feel unravelled. I need to get back in control but i want to unravel into danger… maybe im bored? Maybe i need an adventure? Maybe im tired of fighting for myself? Maybe i feel like i deserve to suffer? Maybe i crave pity? Maybe all of the above? Maybe i just need to be broken so i can heal again?

Hi I’m just wondering if anyone has suggestions as to why everyone else in my towns roses are in full bloom while I’ve only had one flower out so far 🤔
I won’t blame the weather as I can see the whole neighbourhood’s are looking awesome So I am thinking I might have played a part, but I haven’t done anything different this year in terms of fertilising/watering.
Maybe I pruned them badly or at the wrong time? There is alot of healthy new growth but not many buds forming as I would like, I can see from photos on from previous years same dates how lush they were by now ompared to currently.
If anyone has any theories I would be grateful to hear them so I can avoid this next year 😫

Hi, I am curious. I would like to make small 2d point and click and Godot is famously great for it. But I am more focused on cpp I try to learn Unreal Engine ( even 2D PaC is possible there but it’s a little tricky since it’s necessary to simulate 2d in 3d).
I don’t know if GDScript won’t be just step out of my way as it is more similar to Python. But I haven’t found any comprehensive tutorial for Godot cpp extension. Is it a bad idea to try this? Needed to say I have just basic knowledge of cpp and basics of Python (all expressions and logics behind it but no practical application except for some exercises so more or less useless in actual coding practice).

Hi everyone!
I’m in a bit of a confusing situation and could really use some advice. I started a job in April, but soon realized the actual work doesn’t match the job description. So, I submitted my resignation at the beginning of May, and my contract requires me to render a 60-day notice period.
Here’s the issue: I didn’t get my salary for the recent cut-off. Is this normal when you’re serving your notice period? Will I not get paid until I finish the rendering period?
Has anyone else experienced this? Any insights would be super helpful!
Thanks!

My boyfriend and I have been together 2+ years. We live together in a small rural town that’s low cost, but also low opportunity. I’m originally from Chicago and would like that to be our next move, eventually anyway. He’s a very sweet, introverted man who always does the best he can for me. I make sure to do the same.
He’s been stressing lately about the stability of our future. We’re currently paying down our personal debts and interested in school, better jobs, and moving out of town. But we can’t afford the cost nor the time/energy to study and take classes right now. In order to do all of that, he’s saying he would have to sacrifice our relationship and that’s killing him. I don’t know how to get around this either.
With the way things are these days, we both have to work FT to keep things smooth. He knows I hate working and have trouble a lot of the time because I have hormone issues that keep me from performing at my 100%. He loves to work and have his efforts pay off and show. He wants to be able to work so that I can cut back and focus on other things. But we cannot do that because we don’t have the energy or money for higher education (loans are NOT ideal rn). He feels like we would have to breakup to achieve what we want but that would be counterproductive to us now.
How do we go about building stability for ourselves?? How do I take some of this pressure off of him? I think he’s starting to feel the stress physically and it’s breaking my heart because he’s going it for me and us…

I have a little boy in my preschool class who has serious anxiety as well as diagnosed autism. Behaviorally, he’s very difficult. He bites, punches, etc. He’s supposed to take meds at lunch but refuses to take them. There’s just a lot going on with him.
This is especially true regarding the school bathroom. He will not use it. He goes at home no problem but school is a hard no. For most of the year he’s been using pull-ups, but he won’t allow anyone to change but his mom or dad. Every time he poops, his parents have to come in and change him. Keep in mind he’s pooping at least once a day. After a meeting with his parents, we all decided to try and go cold turkey on the pull-ups. But it’s just not working. He is constantly having accidents. Yesterday he had such a bad blow out that he and the floor were covered in poop.
I am at a loss for what to do. It’s May and things seem to be just getting worse.

(20M) no recreational or medicinal drug use. Off and on for a bit I’ve had this odd issue that I’m not exactly sure how to explain. It’s when I’m imagining a scenario, basically like day dreaming. I’ve found that it is increasingly hard to make myself think of something. For instance running, imagine trying to picture in your mind you or someone else running from a third person perspective. But, no matter how hard I try I can’t run, in my mind the person (sometimes me sometimes not) trying to run either won’t stay upright and I can’t make the person stand up in my head without immediately falling over. Or when trying to run I can physically feel my legs get heavy and in my mind it’s like the person is running through quick sand expending all energy trying to pull one leg in front of the other. Either I’m just thinking about this too hard or something is up. In real life I’m physically fit, no real health problems I’m aware of and haven’t had any issues in the last year. But increasingly I find it harder to make my thought scenarios do what I want them to do.