I (US Citizen) just found out that my wife's (AU Citizen) case has been approved for I-130/I-485!
Timeline:
Feb 9, 2024 - USCIS received applications for I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131
Feb 13, 2024 - USCIS (NBC) sent receipt notices for all 4 applications.
Feb 14, 2024 - USCIS (NBC) sent biometrics notice for appointment at USCIS ASC Omaha, NE for Feb 28, 2024
Feb 15, 2024 - USCIS (NBC) sent RFE for I-485 requesting medical (I-693)
Feb 23, 2024 - Sent response to RFE
Feb 28, 2024 - Biometrics Appt
March 2024 (Early March, don't have exact date) - USCIS approved I-765, issued EAD and SSN card
Apr 12, 2024 - USCIS (Omaha) sent RFE for I-130 requesting additional evidence of bona fide nature of marriage since the date of our wedding (July 2023)
May 9, 2024 - Sent response to RFE
May 29, 2024 - Online case statue changed to I-130 and I-485 approved and notices sent in mail.
May 31, 2024 - Attorney notified us of approval
We did use an attorney, which took a lot of the stress off us. Our attorney advised against using the online account, which we chose to follow. Means that we were left wondering most of the time what was happening, but it worked out. Now just waiting on the notices and GC to come in the mail. We filed a I-129 to do a fiance process back in 2022 but then decided to go ahead and get married in 2023 while waiting on adjudication, so we withdrew the 129 in October 2023. Wife came to US in November 2023, filed for Adjustment of status February 2024.
​
For all who are still waiting from long before us, my prayers are with you.

I have been on a kick of sad or ambiguous endings lately. I have recently finished Till the End of the Moon, Hello Dear Ancestor, and My Journey to You. I'm in the mood for a bona fide happy ending.
I have watched many dramas that have them - the Story of Kunning Palace, Destined, New Life Begins, Who Rules the World etc... I'm beginning to think I have used up all my good karma on the ones I have watched. I'm open to anything although I have seen most of the modern romances. Please recommend to me some NOT modern romance heavy dramas that end with real happy endings. I don't need a marriage or epilogue (although that is nice). I just need something more concrete than Tantai Jin smiling as his love and son are in the real world and he is trapped for now. Thanks!

Date: 05/30/2024

Reading time: 9 minutes, 1826 words

🪖 Military

The government denies the publications about surrendering positions in Gegharkunik

The government denies the publications about the promise to hand over some defense positions in the Gegharkunik Marz to Azerbaijan. The information spread in the media is completely false information, the RA government said.

CivilNet

EU Mission in Armenia inaugurates Liaison and Support Office in Yerevan

The workspace will facilitate exchange and increase coordination with the stakeholders in the Armenian capital. To date, EUMA has conducted over 2300 patrols in Armenia.

ArmRadio, Head of EU Mission in Armenia visits Sev Lake area

France could announce sending military instructors to Ukraine – Le Monde

Le Monde: French and European instructors could be sent to Ukraine in a matter of weeks or days. French authorities looking to set up coalition of willing countries to train Ukrainian forces besieged by Russian army. There is talk of training deminers, deminers and even training soldiers for a new motorized brigade.

Armenpress

EUMA head visits Sev Lake area

Head of Mission Markus Ritter, went to Syunik and met with EUMA staff in Goris. EUMA also visited Lake Sev located on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. To date, EUMA has conducted over 2300 patrols.

Armenpress, Head of EU Mission in Armenia visits Sev Lake area

🏛️ Politics & Government

Armenian government besieged by protesters

Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government.

PanArmenian

EU calls on Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners

The European Union calls on Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights.

PanArmenian

Border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan important for regional stability - Zakharova

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Russian Federation is following the border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. She said the process is of great importance for establishing stability in the region. Russia is ready to continue maintaining the same full, friendly relations with the Armenian people.

Armenpress, Russia’s Foreign Ministry: Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation ‘important for regional stability’

Armenian MFA extends congratulations to Croatia on Statehood Day

Armenia congratulates Croatia on the Statehood Day, expecting to strengthen cooperation with Croatia. The message reads as follows: “Looking forward to strengthening our cooperation based on mutual respect and sympathy between our peoples, both bilaterally and within the framework of Armenia-EU partnership.”

Armenpress

Agreement reached with Russia to rebuild flood-damaged railway in Armenia

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said an agreement was reached with Russia regarding the construction of the railway damaged by floods in Lori and Tavush regions. "It seems that an agreement has been reached with Russian partners," he said.

Armenpress, Armenia to establish temporary cargo route in flooded region amid railway devastation, Russia ready to help Armenia in restoring flood-affected areas – Zakharova, Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods

Essential goods delivered by ropes to 141 residents of Alaverdi Sanahin station district

456 rescue workers were involved in efforts to eliminate the consequences of the floods in Lori and Tavush regions. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, stated at the government session that the rescuers delivered everything with ropes. He summarized the work of the emergency management operational staff.

Armenpress

Prime Minister extends condolences to families of flood victims

Floods occurred in Lori and Tavush regions as a result of heavy rains and overflowing of Debed, Aghst and Tashir rivers. The government declared a disaster zone in the settlements affected by floods.

Armenpress, Rescue service to carry out rehabilitation work in Armenia's disaster zone for another week, Lori governor: roads, bridges being repaired in flood-stricken areas, Armenian Prime Minister has been reported on the consequences of flooding in Lori and Tavush

‘Delimitation means that Azerbaijan must withdraw’: French Ambassador Olivier Decottignies

Olivier Decottignies, the French Ambassador to Armenia, talks to CivilNet about Armenia's political situation and relations with France. He discusses issues including demarcation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He says the French-Armenian friendship between the diaspora and Armenia has seen military support, as well as financial aid at different levels.

CivilNet

Moscow views political processes in Armenia as internal affair of the country

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that political processes in Armenia are an internal affair of this country. She noted that Russia seeks to develop friendly ties with the people of Armenia.

ArkaAm

Armenia to spend 791 million drams on enumeration of goats, sheep

Armenian government introduced mandatory enumeration of goats and sheep that is supposed to work the same way as cattle enumeration. The Armenian government approved a program for enumerating and recording cattle in 2020. A total of 791 million drams (roughly $2 million) is expected to be spent.

ArkaAm

Armenian and U.S. Customs Authorities Agree on Cooperation

Armenia and the United States will sign an agreement on cooperation of customs authorities. Agreement will specify sectors of cooperation, procedure of information exchange within the framework of combating smuggling and other customs violations. The document also envisages simplification of procedures for bona fide businessmen.

ArkaAm, Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal

Russian and Armenian deputy prime ministers discuss integration cooperation

The Eurasian Economic Commission board discussed certain areas of integration during a videoconference meeting. The sides considered issues related to development of the union’s legislative base, improvement of regulatory mechanisms. The chair congratulated participants on the 10th anniversary of signing the EAEU.

ArkaAm, The Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia discussed issues of integration cooperation

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Turkey wants deal after “positive developments”

Turkey hopes “positive developments” in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will lead to an agreement.

PanArmenian

Slovenia's Government recognises Palestinian State

Slovenian government approves decision to recognise an independent Palestinian state. Prime Minister Robert Golob: "Today the government has decided to recognise Palestine as an independent and sovereign state"

Armenpress

EFES: Swiss and German health guarantees already in Armenia

EFES Insurance Company continues its activities by concluding significant international contracts. New health insurance products were approved during the Board Meeting as well. The sale of new services is to be launched from the 1st of July, and the Company accepts preliminary orders.

Armenpress

Pashinyan received the Executive Chairman of Libra Group

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received George Logothetis, Executive Chairman of Libra Group. The company operates in alternative energy, investment, aviation, service and other fields. The interlocutors discussed the perspectives of cooperation, as well as the "Crossroads of Peace" project.

Armenpress, Global Libra Group to discuss projects in Armenia, “Libra Group” ready to discuss implementation of investment projects in Armenia

We strive to normalize citizens' lives quickly - governor of Lori

Governor of Lori Aram Ghazaryan spoke at a press conference in Alaverdi, Lori, Armenia. He said the works to eliminate the consequences of the flood, a natural disaster that happened a few days ago. The governor called on some people not to post on social networks about lack of food, clothes or other items.

Armenpress, Lori governor: roads, bridges being repaired in flood-stricken areas, Armenian Prime Minister has been reported on the consequences of flooding in Lori and Tavush

Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Ayrum-Bagratashen highway is closed

Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Ayrum-Bagratashen highway is closed, reported Road Department. A partial collapse occurred in the pedestrian section of the bridge near Getapnya village of Ararat region. The bridge leading to Khashtarak and Lusahovit villages is closed.

Armenpress

Reverend Bagrat held a demonstration with his supporters in Republic Square

Rev. Bagrat calls on citizens to come to Republic Square after 18:00 after the end of the working day to obstruct Pashinyan's exit from the government building. Reverend Bagrat announced in Republic Square that 100 protesters will continue to stay near government building, the others will march.

CivilNet

Erdogan believes that Armenia will get closer to peace if it gets rid of "the shackles of foreign forces and diaspora".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that Armenia will get closer to peace if it is freed from the shackles of foreign forces and diaspora. Erdogan has reaffirmed the idea he expressed many times before that after the Karabakh conflict, a historic opportunity for stable peace has opened up in the region.

CivilNet

Armenia bans whitefish roe exports for six months

Armenian government bans whitefish roe exports for six months. The estimated biomass of whitefish in Armenia’s Lake Sevan grew from 2,668 to 4,700 tonnes between 2019 and 2022. However, the growth of the whitefish population still remains insufficient, government says.

ArkaAm

Government more than triples allowances for Armenian athletes who qualify for Olympic Games

The amount of allowance of athletes who qualify for the Olympic Games from the current 300 thousand drams to 1 million drams. The decisions comes into force from June 1, 2024. The rise will be an additional incentive for athletes to achieve the ranking required for participation.

ArkaAm

Police urge to abide by the law as protesters flock to Republic Square

Police urge protesters to abide by the law and obey the legal demands of the Police. Protesters have been holding rallies and staging acts of disobedience in Yerevan since May 9. They are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister.

ArmRadio

Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone

The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran.

PanArmenian

💵 Economy

Graduates of Armenpress School of Photojournalism receive long-awaited certificates

The Photojournalism School of Armenpress State News Agency has been giving young people the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of photojournalism. In 2023-2024, 13 participants attended the classes; they are free. In today's rapidly developing world, the visual aspect of materials becomes more impactful and targeted.

Armenpress

Unibank has become a regular member of the BACEE

"We at BACEE shall be able to co-operate with the further development of the country’s economic community" "We hope to contribute to the development of our new member banks," says IACEE.

ArkaAm

🧪 Science & Technology

Cloud AI, industry trends: SADA and Google Cloud hold the first "Google Cloud AI & Innovation Forum" in Yerevan

SADA, an Insight company, and Google Cloud organized the first and unique "Google Cloud AI & Innovation Forum" in Yerevan on May 21. The forum presented the latest cloud technologies, industry trends, and the impact of artificial intelligence on companies in Armenia and the region. The goal of the event is to introduce Google Cloud and SADA services to IT companies.

Armenpress

🎭 Culture

Armenia a guest of honor at Paris-Philex 2024 philatelic event

From May 30 to June 1, Armenia participates in the major Paris-Philex 2024 philatelic event as a guest of honor. Within the framework of the fair, Armenia’s postal operator Haypost will present itself in a separate booth, displaying the best samples and collections of Armenian philately depicting the sights of Armenia and the Armenian alphabet.

ArmRadio

Armenia’s Teryan Cultural Center among winners of 2024 Europa Nostra Awards

Armenia’s Teryan Cultural Center has been named one of the winners of the European Heritage Awards. The awards are co-funded by the European Commission and the European Union.

ArmRadio

⚽ Sport

Armenia's Futsal EURO 2026 qualifying round opponents revealed

Armenia placed in the 6th group of UEFA Futsal Euro-2026 qualifying round. The Armenian national team will face Albania, Denmark and Kazakhstan. The top 10 teams in the groups qualify for EURO 2026, along with the finals hosts Latvia and Lithuania.

Armenpress

Donations to Armenia:

Himnadram
ServicemenFund
Armenian Wounded Heroes
ArmeniaFund

I recently posted my RB rankings w/ write-ups and wanted to share my TE rankings as well. Link to RB post: https://www.reddit.com/fantasyfootball/comments/1d2ktpa/rb_rankings_with_data_and_player_writeups/
There are a few key things we need to remember when analyzing TE stats to try and predict future performance:

• In order to break into the top 10 at the TE position you will likely need to be at least the 1st or 2nd highest targeted player on your team
• TE's are more reliant on TD's for weekly production than WR's
• There is no statistical evidence that rookie QB's favor their TE's more than veteran QB's
• Target share “sticks” with 0.695 correlation year over year for TEs
• We should emphasize per-game production in regards to TE's over season long production
• The next most important stat after yards, TD's, and receptions is going to be routes ran
• After target share, route share (routes run divided by team dropbacks) is the second-most “sticky” volume stat year over year

Article going over some of the important metrics that are relevant to the TE position: https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/fantasy/te-stats-that-matter-fantasy-football/
*Target Share % is the percentage of their target share for the entire team
*Route % is the percentage of snaps in which the TE ran a route rather than blocked

Rank	Player	PPG	PFF	Rec	Yards	TD	Target Share %	Snap Share %	Route %
1	Kelce	14.6	78.6	93	984	5	20.2%	77%	66%
2	LaPorta	14.1	76.5	86	960	10	20.9%	83%	48%
3	McBride	10.7	76.3	81	825	3	19.6%	69%	53%
4	Andrews	13.5	80	45	544	6	12.8%	70%	60%
5	Kittle	12.7	87.6	65	1020	6	19.1%	89%	48%
6	Kincaid	9.4	67.2	73	673	2	16.7%	63%	69%
7	Engram	13.5	71.6	114	963	4	23.6%	79%	70%
8	Pitts	8.1	68.1	53	667	3	17.7%	64%	65%
9	Njoku	12.6	68.4	81	882	6	20.6%	82%	55%
10	Ferg	10.4	71.9	71	761	5	16.9%	74%	60%
11	Bowers
12	Hock	14.6	78.8	95	960	5	21%	79%	63%
13	Schultz	10	72.8	59	645	5	15.5%	73%	56%
14	Goedert	9.7	73.3	59	592	3	15.8%	85%	56%
15	Kmet	10.7	73.7	73	719	6	18.9%	77%	46%
16	Conklin	6.8	65.6	61	621	0	15.5%	70%	58%
17	Muth	6.4	65.3	32	308	2	9.7%	63%	58%
18	Chig	6.7	62.1	54	528	1	16.1%	66%	55%
19	Luke M.	6.8	63.7	34	352	1	8.2%	66%	57%
20	Sinnot
21	Henry	8.6	69.3	42	419	6	11.3%	75%	51%
22	Sanders
23	Juwan	7.5	58.8	37	368	4	10.2%	65%	55%
24	Otton	6.9	52.1	47	455	4	12.2%	96%	50%
25	Likely	5.9	66.2	30	411	5	8.4%	44%	56%

** I am not including Darren Waller because it seems likely he will retire or Taysom Hill because he is the worlds most irritating anomaly
Travis Kelce

• Kelce once again finished as the TE1 in PPG, but was the TE3 overall due to missing 2 games
• Weeks 2-8, prior to his bye week, Kelce was averaging 19.5 PPG. However, after the bye week he only averaged 11.7 PPG the rest of the season
• This is what I think caused concern for Kelce owners and why his ADP is expected to be lower this season as well as contributing to the belief he may be reaching the end of his stretch of consistent TE1 dominance
• Some people believe that the Chiefs were making a concerted effort that stretch after the bye week to save Kelce for the playoffs and why his fantasy production took a large dip, however none of the metrics (snap % and routes run per game) would seem to attest to that being true
• All that being said, I still believe Kelce is the top TE in fantasy, and his 2 year contract extension leads me to believe the Chiefs have no doubts he can maintain this absurd stretch of dominance
• I believe the Chiefs offense as a whole will be better this season, where Kelce will see less double team coverage with the WR talent being better around him, and we will see some of his metrics (Total Yards and TD's) return to his averages for the years prior

Sam LaPorta

• LaPorta had one of if not the best rookie TE seasons of all time, and will remain one of the best receiving options on the Lions offense in 2024 (it still haunts me I lost a FAAB bid on LaPorta by a few dollars, which was the difference between my team being a middle of the pack fringe playoff team and a championship one it turned out)
• The only real concerns we may have in regards to LaPorta finishing outside of the top 3 for TE's are small in my opinion
• Those concerns could be his route percentage per snap being unusually low for how great his receiving stats were, but he still maintained a more than solid target share regardless
• We may see some TD regression as he had a league high 10 TD's in 2023, and we may see a slight uptick in target competition if the Lions really do plan on unleashing Jameson Williams as their bona fide WR2
• LaPorta is still a very safe pick where his ADP is going, and another thing I keep in mind in regards to Lions receiving options is that Goff historically plays much better in indoor stadiums, in which he will do so 14 out of the 17 games next season

Trey McBride

• I am likely higher on McBride than others, but I absolutely love watching this guy play and think he has the makings of a top 3 TE in this league for years to come
• Once Ertz was relinquished of his long standing TE1 role on this team (week 8) we saw McBride average nearly 15 PPG, along with several "boom" performances of 20+ PPG
• If you extrapolated that ten-game sample over a full season, McBride would have finished with 144 targets, 112 receptions, 1,114 receiving yards, and 6 TD's
• I think the addition of MHJ may actually benefit McBride, in that he can run more freely with less attention from DB's/LB's as the main slot receiver while MHJ does his damage on the outside
• There is also belief that Murray will be fully healthy this season and has the potential to finish top 10 where we see him return to 2021/22 form where he had nearly 4,00 yards passing and 25 passing TD's
• If Kyler even improves markedly on his stats from last season we should see a jump in some of McBride stats (receptions/TD's/yards) given his target share in this offense already
• This team also has a winning formula for fantasy purposes, a potentially high powered and explosive offense with a bottom tier defense in the league, allowing for high scoring games or the need for them to throw the ball 40+ times playing from behind

Mark Andrews

• An ankle injury in week 11 cut Andrew's season short, in which he was seeing decent fantasy production up to that point and was clearly the top receiving target for Lamar, especially in the red zone
• Weeks 2-10 we saw what Andrews is still capable of, in terms of being a top fantasy TE (15.6 PPG in that span)
• Although Andrews has been nowhere near his 2021 dominating fantasy season the last 2 years, I still have belief he is capable of finishing as the TE1 in fantasy if he can stay healthy for a full season
• We saw proof last season that the new OC, Todd Monken, did implement a more pass friendly offense, as Lamar had career highs in pass attempts, competitions, and passing yards in 2023

George Kittle

• Kittle has averaged 13.6 PPG his entire career, and never been lower than 12 PPG in a season (lowest was his rookie year in 2017)
• I think for the TE position, you are still more than comfortable with his volatility because of the positional advantage he gives you over your opponent. We are in a period where there are very few TE's that have an impact week in and week out, and Kittle rarely loses you a week compared to the majority of TE's in the league, while also being one of the very few that can score 20+ easily
• His target share the last few seasons have been decreasing, but we know how efficient he can be with limited touches, as he does most of his damage after the catch and on big explosive plays
• He will always see a large snap share percentage on this high scoring offense due to his top tier blocking ability as well
• He was 1st in deep targets, 10th in red zone targets (among TE's) and ranked first in YPRR (2.42)
• He's the highest PFF graded TE in the league with an insane snap percentage of 89%. Although his route percentage is low at 48%, he still had a respectable 19.1% of total team targets in 2023

Dalton Kincaid

• Kincaid is one of the players that is expected to take the biggest leap in fantasy next season considering the Bills have 241 vacated targets with Diggs and Davis leaving for the Texans and Jaguars respectively
• He had some very productive stretches last season, weeks 7-12 & 17-18 specifically, in which he was playing at a TE1 level averaging nearly 15 PPG in those spans
• In Weeks 7-18, he ranked seventh in target share (19.0%), ninth in receiving yards per game (50.5) and first-read share (21.0%), and 12th in YPRR (1.85)
• There is some concern that a healthy Dawson Knox will have a negative impact on Kincaids snap count, as we saw when Knox came back around week 14 and the following games Kincaid saw a significant drop in his snap percentage and overall fantasy production
• Regardless, Kincaid still had the 2nd highest target share on this offense last season, and with the large number of vacated targets, I believe Kincaid should compete for the number 1 target on this offense

Evan Engram

• Engram finished the 2023 season as the TE2 with an absurd 143 targets, and from week 13 on was averaging 19.3 PPG in fantasy
• What I think people may forget is that the reason we saw this massive jump in target share and fantasy production was due to Christian Kirk getting injured, who played in the slot and is one of Engrams biggest competition for targets in that regard
• We also have to take in consideration not only Kirk being healthy in 2024 and returning to the slot, but the Jaguars adding Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. who will both eat into Engrams target share
• The way Engram was utilized in 2023 is still very encouraging, as he had the highest percentage of his snaps as a route runner out of all TE's at 70%
• I think Engram is still a very solid TE and will see 100+ targets on the season, but I think people need to temper expectations that he can perform as well as he did at the end of the 2023 season

Kyle Pitts

• Here we go again with the devil tempting us with an "inevitable" Kyle Pitts breakout season for the 4th year in a row
• In all seriousness, if you were finally going to take a chance on Pitts to break into the top 5 for fantasy TE's, this is absolutely the year to do so
• In his first 3 seasons Pitts has seen abysmal QB play, lack luster offensive fire power, and horrible coaching
• Nearly all 3 of those trends are likely to change with a new coaching regime as well as a more than competent QB at the helm, who we've seen have a tendency to throw to his TE more often than other QBs
• We should also expect his snap share percentage to increase with Jonnu Smith no longer on the team
• Although Pitts PFF grades have been diminishing over the years, 80.1 in his rookie season to 67.2 in 2023, we likely saw diminished play due to his knee injury in 2022 (MCL & PCL) that likely lingered into 2023
• People also believed that Pitts looked slower last season, and that his route running was not as crisp and explosive as the previous years
• This may be confirmed by the fact he had the lowest yards of separation per route run out of any TE in the league at a measly 2.4 yards
• I believe he should be fully recovered for the start of the 2024 season and still has the ability to be a top receiving target on this new offense, plus his metrics all point towards a jump in production with the expectation we see a significant boost in pass attempts, TD's, and yards with Cousins at QB

David Njoku

• This is one of my favorite TE's to target in this years draft, but that does not mean he is without risk
• From week 7 onwards last season he was one of the focal points of this offense averaging 15.3 PPG in that span, with 2 boom performances of 20+ PPG, and only 1 game under 10 PPG
• The concerns are that some of his best games came with Flacco as the QB and we still do not know if Watson can return to a top 10 QB in the league on top of not knowing if he will target Njoku in a similar fashion
• Regardless, we have heard in the offseason from the coaching staff that they want to utilize Njoku as a focal point of this offense like he was those final 10 weeks of the 2023 season
• I think Njoku's athleticism, his play last season, his lack of competition for targets (Cooper mainly), and snap share (82% last season) make him a candidate to out perform his ADP

Jake Ferguson

• Ferguson is one of my favorite TE candidates to take another leap in fantasy production this season as Prescott's 2nd favorite target and as he heads into his 3rd season in the league
• Although his fantasy performances were somewhat volatile week in and week out (only 1 boom week and 8 weeks under 10 PPG), he ended the season on a very respectable 102 targets and 10.4 PPG
• We saw his snap share percentage increase throughout the season as well as a more consistent target share each game the final stretch of the season
• The reason I have him inside my top 10 is because the sizable leap he took in fantasy production from his rookie season to last year, the fact the Cowboys added no new target competition, and he has shown he is a top red zone target for Prescott and they should continue to build on that chemistry as the 2nd most targeted player on the team

Brock Bowers

• A generational TE prospect who was absolutely dominant in college at Georgia and one of the picks I was most curious to see in terms of his landing spot in the 2024 NFL draft
• I think the Raiders is one of if not the worst possible landing spot for Bowers for several reasons: we don't know who the starting QB will be and if it will remain consistent throughout the season, regardless it likely won't be high end QB play. This offense will be a run first unit and the competition for targets will be high for Bowers (Adams & Jakobi will likely be 1st and 2nd in targets). Also their OL is atrocious so I doubt the QB even has much time for routes to develop, along with the fact the Raiders have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL
• The positives are that Bowers will immediately be one of the most talented players on this offense and the Raiders drafting him despite taking Michael Mayer early last year makes me believe they full intend on utilizing him as a prominent receiver in this offense
• His draft profile highlights: An agile steamroller who is incredibly hard to bring down. He was 2nd among all TE's in missed tackles forced in 2023 in college. He can be utilized all over the formation and has a well developed route tree and can make solid adjustments to all kinds of throws. He can find the soft spot in coverages and bully linebackers that match up with him in man coverage. He is proficient when it comes to blocking which likely means he should have a secure snap share percentage as a rookie
• There is definitely a risk to drafting a rookie TE, especially one in this situation, and although opinions in that manner may be skewed due to what we saw from rookie TE's last season like LaPorta and Kincaid, but Bowers is better than all of them and may be worth the risk based on his talent alone

TJ Hockenson

• Hockenson was an absolute monster prior to his week 16 ACL/MCL injury as the #1 TE in the league averaging 14.6 PPG
• Although I think that Hockenson is a top 3 TE and can easily finish #1, there is doubt he is ready to start the 2024 season and rumors he may not even be ready the first 4-6 weeks
• We also have to take into consideration the severity of his injury, and how players are often out of form the year following this kind of knee injury
• The Vikings will also have a rookie at QB and despite Hockenson being a focal point of this offense regardless of who the starting QB was last season, we don't entirely know what this offense will look like or what his target share will be
• However, I think Hockenson may very well be the toughest player in the league and if his ADP drops or nobody wants to risk stashing him he could be very well worth it if you are getting 10+ games played from him in 2024 especially if those 10 games include the fantasy playoffs

Dalton Schultz

• Schultz was fairly volatile last season, 6 games in between 10 and 20 PPG, 1 over 20 PPG, and 8 games under 10 PPG
• The positives are the fact he is on one of the most high powered and exciting offenses in the league, has a solid snap share percentage at 73%, and is a decently favorable Red Zone target for Stroud
• He did earn a nice contract extension and is clearly important to this team, however with the addition of Diggs there are an exceptional amount of mouths to feed on this offense so it is unlikely that Schultz can finish much better statistically in 2024
• I do favor TE's that have the ability to score over 15 PPG and contribute to you winning your fantasy week rather than the vast majority of TE's who are inconsequential week in and week out
• Although he may not be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd on this team in targets, he should see some decently high scoring weeks

Dallas Goedert

• Fairly similar to Schultz in terms of fantasy production, volatility, PFF grade, and situation
• He is on a high powered offense, with a fair share of competition for targets, and like Schultz he does have the ability to score over 15 PPG in any given week, which can turn the tide of a fantasy matchup
• Seeing 80+ targets and an 85% snap share is enticing from a fantasy perspective and he is a very serviceable TE where you know almost exactly what you're getting
• He's had some injury concern, missing 14 games due to injury over the last 4 years
• Considering this offense is also not particularly pass heavy, even if another target hog on the offense gets injured, Goedert's ceiling will not be very high

Cole Kmet

• Despite the Bears having a low end passing attack last season, Kmet was able to finish as the TE8 with 6 TD's on the season
• His week-by-week performances were incredibly volatile, where he could finish with multiple TD's or not record a single point in fantasy
• His metrics are interesting. Solid PFF grade of 73.7, a decent snap percentage of 77%, but only 46% of those snaps was he running a route, yet he had an average separation of 4.1 yards per route which was the best for any TE last season
• There are a lot of variables that could hurt or help Kmet in Fantasy. Almost entirely new offense with a rookie QB, the addition of two potentially "elite" WR's in Keenan and Odunze, and competition at his position in Gerald Everett
• Cole Kmet does not run routes often on his snaps (46%) and relies pretty heavily on his red zone TD prowess, making me a little worried about his role in this offense next season if he remains TD dependent
• The plus is that we expect, even if there is a rocky start, that Williams will throw the ball significantly more than what we've seen from Bears QB's on this team in years prior

Tyler Conklin

• This is my favorite TE to target in the later rounds as somebody who could break into the top 10
• The stats I want to focus on for Conklin for last season are his target share percentage (15.5%), total targets (87), route percentage on snaps played (58%), and total TD's (0)
• The Jets offense last year was the 3rd worst in fantasy scoring due to atrocious QB play and the majority of the stats in the previous bullet point are either likely to increase or lead to an increase in fantasy production in 2024
• With Rodgers leading this team, almost every offensive player, especially WTE will see a massive boost in fantasy potential, and Conklin could be the 2nd most targeted player on the team and should see a few TD's throughout the season
• I think if you adjust Conklin's metrics last season to what we can likely expect from the Jets offense this season, we see him finish with a similar stat like to that of Ferguson, Schultz, or Kmet

Pat Freiermuth

• I think Pat is another solid candidate to out perform his ADP and have a bounce back fantasy season after averaging only 6.4 PPG in 2023
• There are significant changes to this Steelers offense, beginning with 87 targets being vacated by Diontae Johnson leaving to the Panthers
• I think Pat has a realistic path to be the 2nd most targeted player in this offense, as I don't think rookie Roman Wilson or new signing Van Jefferson are likely to surpass Pat in that regard
• We also have to think about the upgrade we are seeing at QB on this team in Russell Wilson, who should lead to more fantasy production for every receiver on this offense including Muth
• Lastly, we have Arthur Smith at OC, who with the Falcons showed a proclivity for getting the ball to his TE's, with 160 targets combined between Pitts and Jonnu Smith in 2023
• I think Muth is more talented than his metrics for last season showed, and definitely talented enough to finish ahead of where his expected ADP is going to be

Chigoziem Okonkwo

• I think Chig was favored as a potential breakout candidate last season based off how talented/athletic he looked towards the end of the 2022 season
• We did not see that happen, but that was likely due to the incredibly poor QB play throughout the year
• He only scored more than 10 points one week in 2023, the week he had his lone TD, and there was not much to attest to the idea Levis will be a better QB in 2024, but he could not be much worse
• The metrics that give me hope for Chig are his total targets (77), percentage of targets in this offense (16.1%), route percentage on snaps played (55%), and his yards of separation on routes run (3.8)
• I think the talent is there, and there is an opportunity for increased fantasy production if we see Levis take a jump in year 2, however I expect volatility because it is unlikely Chig is the 2nd or even 3rd most targeted player on this offense
• He is less likely to take a significant jump than players ranked above him because he is competing with Ridley, Hopkins, Boyd and Spears/Pollard for a significant target share within this offense

Luke Musgrave

• Musgrave looked great many moments throughout his rookie season and could take another leap his sophomore season
• However, there are many concerns for me in regards to him being a viable fantasy starter week in and week out
• There are a lot of mouths to feed in this Green Bay offense, and Musgrave only had an 8.2% total target share
• I am less concerned with Tucker Kraft than I think others will be, as Kraft had a lower snap percentage, lower target share percentage, and lower route percentage per snap than Musgrave
• I think based off his talent alone, and that his metrics favor him being used as a receiver more than Kraft, along with his absurd 4.3 yards of separation per route, make him worthy of stashing on your bench on the hope he can increase his target share percentage in this offense

Ben Sinnot

• I loved this landing spot for Sinnot, and although the Commanders did add Ertz, I think Sinnot has a realistic opportunity to be the 2nd or 3rd most targeted player in this offense
• His draft profile highlights: He has a strong lower half that serves him well as a blocker and a receiver. He forced the 3rd most missed tackles among TE's last season. He has decent speed and is a solid athlete overall who has the speed to threaten down the seam as well as be an underneath option
• The fact he is a solid blocker as well as a receiving threat, ninth in YPRR and receiving grade, makes me believe he can see a significant snap share his rookie season
• We also have a rookie QB leading this offense, which I think has the potential to be more explosive than it was in year prior with Kingsbury as the OC
• His competition for targets is not overwhelming, as McLaurin will lead the team per usual, but he is only competing with Jahan Dotson who was disappointing in almost every regard last season, Ertz, and fellow rookie Luke McCaffrey

Hunter Henry

• Henry had solid stats across the board, but my biggest concern is how the Patriots offense is expected to look this season
• They were the 2nd lowest scoring fantasy offense in 2023, and now debut a rookie QB, new HC/OC, and several new receiving weapons (Polk/Baker) with their already lackluster and confusingly crowded WR room
• Henry still has a decent snap share percentage and is a solid red zone threat, but his overall route percentage and target share on this offense is not great
• He did ink a 3 year deal in the off season, and if Maye turns out to be at least a little bit better than the horrible starting QB's we've seen for the Patriots since Brady left, Henry could have some upside
• Given he is rated well for a TE at 69.3, and should see his fair share of snaps and red zone looks, he is fine to stash as a potential weekly plug in

Ja'Tavion Sanders

• For most people, Sanders was considered the 2nd best TE prospect in the 2024 draft class and the Panthers are a decent landing spot for dynasty purposes, but I am not very confident he makes a huge impact year 1
• His draft profile: Very fast, can stretch the field, but is not an elite route runner. Mostly saw screens and straight line shots down the seam. Plays through contact well and is great at the catch point. Great physicality which should translate well into the NFL along with his great hands, as he had little to no drops in college. He needs to work on his blocking, which could limit his snap share percentage in the NFL early on
• With Hurst gone, and Tommy Tremble being Sanders only competition at the position, there is always a chance Sanders sees fantasy relevancy as a rookie
• However, the Panthers are still looking to take that major leap offensively, and even though they have a new HC/OC and bolstered their OL and offensive firepower in the draft/offseason, they may be a year or two away from that happening still

Juwan Johnson

• This was a player I thought would take a leap in 2023 and one I took late in my draft last year as I decided to "punt" the TE position, which did not work out for me
• Johnson struggled with injuries throughout the year and was not rosterable until the final 4 weeks, in which during that span he averaged about 14 PPG in that span
• Once again, people may be enticed to draft Johnson based on those final 4 games at the end of the season when he is healthy, but I would still be wary
• The upside potential is there, as the 3rd most targeted player on this offense is up for grabs (1. Olave 2. Kamara 3. Shaheed/Johnson/Perry?)
• His snap share and route percentage was decent, but even last season with the lack of competition for targets, Johnson only had a 10.2% target share
• His yards of separation per route (2.8) and PFF grade (58.8) were bottom tier for starting TE's in the league
• Overall, in deeper leagues he is worth a bench stash if you don't feel confident about your starting TE

Cade Otton

• Cade is on the field more than any other TE in the league, with a whopping 96% snap percentage, however he spends about half of those snaps blocking
• This, along with his abysmal PFF rating of 52.1, leads me to believe he does not have much upside in terms of increasing his target share percentage of 12.2%
• His yards of separation per route are solid for a TE 3.4, but his utilization rate of 6% (rate in which he gets targeted or "utilized" as a receiverunner) leads me to believe we will not see fantasy relevancy from Otton outside of the occasional red zone target
• The only upside for Otton is that he is on the field the majority of plays, but with Godwin moving back to the slot, I doubt Otton is target much more than what we saw in 2023

Isiah Likely

• It always feels weird saying this, but Likely is the top and only rosterable TE handcuff in the league
• It is a shame someone with his talent is behind a top 5 TE in the league, but unless Andrews gets hurt again, Likely will not be fantasy relevant
• Weeks 14-18, in which he was the starting TE, he averaged 15 PPG and a TD a game
• If you are an Andrews owner and have enough bench spots, it's hard to argue against stashing him just in case, as he puts up numbers just as solid as Andrews does as a starter

No I am not including Fant in my top 25 who has a 51% snap share and 7.9% target share on an offense in which he is the 5th best receiving option
(Edit for Diggs being changed to Keenan for Kmet's write-up)

Hello everyone, I have a question about the marriage based GC, I'm engaged to an about to be USC, and she doesn't have a good relationship with her dad, they don't talk, and we are also not looking for a big wedding, just something simple, her dad probably wouldn't come to the wedding, her mom lives in another country, my question would be because we have to prove to USCIS the bona fide marriage, wouldn't they question why her dad wasn't at the ceremony? I barely know her family side in person, despite trying to talk about it, I respect her space, would him not coming be a bad thing ? she knows my family well and they get along, just wanted to get a light on what to gather as evidence for the process to come thank you :)

Hey friends! I’m looking for some beta readers for my romantic war drama, set in the fictional nation of Kuusuoma, inspired by Finland. I am looking for eyes on the first book of the trilogy. Book two is also completed. I got some great feedback from my last round of beta readers so I'm looking for another go around! I'll tell you what specific feedback notes I'm looking for when we reach that stage. My general progression is the first 5 chapters, since a whole book can be intimidating, then you tell me if you want the whole thing after that!
Here's a pitch for you:

Princess Camilla isn't stupid; she's always known one day she'd be sold off into marriage to strengthen a strategic alliance, and she's made her peace with it. She's determined to make the best of an unfortunate situation, no matter what.
That is, until her darling betrothed is the bloodthirsty military dictator of the police state to her north. But when she meets him, he's nothing like she expects. Charming, handsome, caring, a father-figure to his young brother, the Crown Prince, and exactly the type of person she can see herself falling in—
"Your Majesty, Federal troops have slaughtered a tribal village on the eastern border."
And that fairytale romance will have to wait...
When Camilla and her promised are shipped off to the frontlines of a brutal conflict to the east, the Emperor's military experience may be the only thing keeping her from a knife in the back. But the perfect picture of the kind and caring Emperor Camilla is presented with will begin to unravel as she uncovers the dark secrets of his history, his military, and his own mind.
But this charming, caring–if a little arrogant–man with the dazzling smile can't possibly be the ruthless killer, the “Black Butcher” the stories warned her of...
... right?

Please feel free to reach out if this sounds like something you'd be interested in! My DMs are always open :)
Sample chapter for your amusement

Sorry if this is a silly question, but as someone who’s just started this process, what is the reason some people’s applications can take years, such as those who filed in say, 2021 and are only just getting their I-130/I-145 (and others) approved and those who applied earlier this year and are approved within a matter of months?
I’m just curious as to whether it’s random or there’s a system in order, or something else, like the amount of evidence you provide, the use of a lawyer, whether they’re a US citizen or green card holder etc etc.
My partner is a US citizen. We’re using ‘Boundless’, and I did my medical prior so I could send it off at the same time. We have affidavits from both sides of the family, and his parents are sponsoring due to the annual income situation. We have plenty of photo evidence to showcase a Bona Fide marriage and all that jazz. I know it’s hard to say but will this help me get approved quicker?
Good luck to everyone waiting, and congrats to everyone who have been getting their approvals lately! It gives me a lot of hope.

Hello everyone, I have a question about the marriage based GC, I'm engaged to an about to be USC, and she doesn't have a good relationship with her dad, they don't talk, and we are also not looking for a big wedding, just something simple, her dad probably wouldn't come to the wedding, her mom lives in another country, my question would be because we have to prove to USCIS the bona fide marriage, wouldn't they question why her dad wasn't at the ceremony? I barely know her family side in person, despite trying to talk about it, I respect her space, would him not coming be a bad thing ? she knows my family well and they get along, just wanted to get a light on what to gather as evidence for the process to come thank you :)

I’m very nervous and anxious on how to start this all so I’m sorry if my grammar and spelling is bad.
Me and my husband are newly weds, we were dating for 2-3yrs previously long distance. I only visited once and then I waited a month I visited a second time that is when he asked me to marry him so I decided to stayed, I am a Canadian citizen and he’s American. We are starting our green card journey. We have a lot of proof through text messages and discord and gifts but we dont have a lot of evidence of living together besides joint bank account, phone bill and I’m being put on he’s car insurance. We live with he’s parent as of right now.

I was talking to a friend yesterday and he was asking about the marriage process here in Vietnam, saying I should post a run-down on one of the FB groups as a way of giving some up-to-date information. I tend to avoid them like the plague, though (too many bitter old men), so figured I’d post it here as reference for anyone who might be thinking of doing the same. Note, I’m a British national so some things might be different for people from other countries. Also, my wife is from Dak Lak, so YMMV depending on how efficient/corrupt the government officials are in other provinces. Anyway, this will probably be a long one, so here goes.
First, you’re going to need your affidavit of Marital Status from the embassy. I live in HCM so that was at the British Consulate in D1. Fairly painless process, really, but they don’t offer many appointment slots. I had to wait ten days for the first available slot. Download the form from the gov.uk website, fill it out and take it with you along with your passport and anything else they list. They never mentioned needing any information from my wife, but thankfully she came along anyway as they also wanted to see her ID. Swear on the bible, read from the placard they hold up and pay your £50. They’ll give you the signed and sealed affidavit back along with a map to a Vietnamese government building a short distance away to get it translated and stamped. We went there, they took the form and told us to come back in three days and pay 600k.
It gets a bit messy for this next part, so don’t make the same mistake we did in believing what some government officials tell you. We flew to my wife’s home town and she went to get her single status sorted at her local government office (she also needed my affidavit in order to do this). They told her the marriage process was easy, could be done in half a day, and once we had some passport-sized photos done we had everything we needed. On a previous visit before we got the ball rolling, they told her we didn’t need health certificates to get married there. That’s how easy it is. Sounds too good to be true? It was. She gets her papers and we head into town to the government building we were told to go to. They send us to a different building about ten minutes away. We get there, they go over our documents, then tell us we need health certificates and my passport translated. Good news, though, they agreed that the marriage process would be quick, so that was something. Off we go.
We head to the nearest city to the psychiatric hospital. A mental health hospital in the central highlands looks exactly as you’re probably picturing. Not a fun experience. We fill out form after form, give blood and urine samples, then they take us up to a room and do two separate tests which involved placing some headgear with metal diodes on us. Remember John Coffey at the end of The Green Mile? Yeah, not too dissimilar. Thankfully it was only hooked up to a computer. After that we were seated down and made to do an IQ test, which was just a multiple choice of patterns/shapes as the next logical step to the starting diagram. Once we finished that we had to wait for our blood work result, which never came to fruition. After about forty minutes the tech came out and said the machine was broken and signed us off anyway, so it was back downstairs to fill out more paperwork before being told to come back in a couple of hours because it was break time.
Upon returning we had more paperwork to fill out, blood pressure taken and height/weight recorded before being told to wait some more. I don’t like hospitals at the best of times, but it’s especially unnerving when the entire waiting room and staff are staring at you. If you’re sensitive about your weight, beware that there’s very little privacy (at least in that hospital). Just give them an estimate if you’re unsure, otherwise it’s on to the scales in front of the crowd while one doctor shouts the number across the room to the other. Eventually we were called back and taken to the top floor for the director, who kindly told me I look older than 37, to sign off the paperwork and have them stamped. Done and dusted, but took the better part of the day. Advice: if you’re in a big city like HCM/Hanoi, just get it done beforehand. Saves messing about. I don’t remember the total price, but I’m going to say around 1mil for the both of us. Also, we had to get the photo studio nearby to send over more photos because apparently the hospital forms required a size we didn’t have on us. Get multiple sizes if you can.
So now it’s time to get my passport translated. We get the main passport page photocopied and head to the city again to the Department of Justice. Short wait before being told that they need the ENTIRE passport photocopied. Every page. Why they need to see visa stamps from several years ago, to a completely different continent, I don’t know. My wife handled the rest of this so I don’t have much information. She got the photocopies done, took it back and had it translated by a man who apparently offered me a job. Anyway, all set and we head to the other town to the second government building we visited. They go over all the paperwork before sending us back to the first building ten minutes away. Remember when I said we were told by two officials that it would take half a day to finalise? Yeah, bullshit. When we got there we had to apply to get married, and the wait time was up to thirty days. The missus greased some palms and managed to get them down to fifteen days (they actually called us to come back after ten days).
Fast forward and we were back on a flight to her province, we pick up the paperwork and are sent to the other government building again after paying the fees. At this point I don’t even remember how much it was as it felt like I’d just been handing money over non-stop, between the 40+ km taxi rides from the town and the city, the government officials, the processing fees. I wanna say a mil and a half. Somewhere thereabouts. Anyway, we head to the other building expecting the goal posts to be moved once again as we were getting a bit disheartened with all the running about at that point. Fortunately the final part was quick and easy. We signed the paperwork, they stamped it and voila… legally married.
TL;DR:

• Needs to be done in your spouse’s home province.
• Single status papers for both of you (with the foreigner’s being translated).
• Multiple passport photos each.
• Medical certificates for both of you.
• Photocopy of foreigner’s entire passport, translated and stamped.

Sounds so much more simple when you break it down into five things, but expect to visit a number of government buildings, be told contradicting things and some flat-out lies. Also a lack of information about some of the documents you need (passport photocopy being an example).
TRC is thankfully a lot easier and your Vietnamese spouse can handle all of that themselves. Fill out and sign the forms, pay the $150 and give them your passport. They’ll keep hold of it for about 3-5 days while it’s being processed. Probably the most painless part of the whole thing.
Anyway, that was my (admittedly) long-winded experience of getting married in Vietnam. Also, if you happen to be doing it in Dak Lak, don’t make the mistake we did of doing it during the hottest month in recent memory. The whole ordeal might have been more manageable without the 38 degree weather, in non-air conditioned hospitals and government buildings. All this probably wouldn’t have fit in an FB post anyway...

Hi,
I’m currently on my conditional 2 year green card, however I’m seriously considering divorcing my wife. We love each other however things have changed and our views on having a family has changed (I want multiple kids earlier, and she wants 1, and not until she’s over 45), as well as she has just stopped being interested in doing things together such as playing/watching sports, and just things I like to do in general. We got married bona fide and were together before getting married for almost 4 years. I’m just fearful because I love what I do here in the states (I’m a Youth Support Specialist at a local Children’s Home) and I know that if we get divorced she will in no way shape of form help me obtain my 10 year green card (she won’t even entertain marriage counselling. I don’t want to get removed from the states as I do want to settle here, but based on numerous articles I’ve read of the same situation as me, they almost always get their Form I-751 rejected. Any help is deeply appreciated, and even who to talk to about it. I’m in no way shape or form wealthy enough to afford an immigration/divorce lawyer though to consult. Thank you!

Nice write-up for Something About Her! There are also some pictures of the sandwiches included, and it seems like as many suspected, the offerings at the soft openings were sample-sized. I think the presentation looks great.
https://la.eater.com/2024/5/22/24162723/something-about-her-ariana-madix-katie-maloney-sandwich-shop-opening-los-angeles-vanderpump-rules
"The menu: The sandwiches are named after famous women in film and are priced between $14 and $19. Each sandwich is generously portioned and served with a pickle spear and a bunch of grapes on an aluminum tray.
The Meg, which comes with a Greek salad, tzatziki, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, and romaine lettuce on lavash, is refreshing — the crisp greens contrast nicely with the tzatziki’s tang. The baguette on the Diane is a bit tough, but its Sicilian tuna salad is serviceable and makes the extra effort to tear off a bite worthwhile.
The Cameron is a bona fide Italian sandwich with pesto garlic aioli, salami, soppressata, mortadella, and roasted red peppers. Taking a bite requires almost unhinging one’s jaw. The Viola, a smoked turkey and chipotle mayo panini on grilled sourdough, is a favorite with its spicy-rich profile."

[Deleted immediately and reposted after realizing copying and pasting had led to formatting issues - sorry!]
Hear me out.
If you search 'gay' on this subreddit there's a litany of posts from the past decade with guys describing how when they're on streaks they start feeling a little attracted towards other men, and many other men chiming in to say that it's normal and it's just your body trying to get you to get back to the porn, or some other cope.
See this post for a typical example: https://www.reddit.com/NoFap/comments/qruzsg/homosexual_thoughts/
So here's the thing. I'm a gay man - or comfortable identifying as a gay man. Honestly, I'm a little bisexual. If I haven't gotten off in awhile I do feel a little attracted to women. And I'd be comfortable sleeping with a female friend whether or not the attraction is there, just because I think sex is a fun way to connect with friends (gay culture is a wild ride, gentlemen). But I don't expect that to ever come up. Women rarely pursue and I'm not interested in them enough to do that on my own when men are so much easier and I'm more into them in the first place. So, I usually just call myself a gay man.
In the same sense - there's a lot (and I mean probably most) of straight men who are similarly inclined. We know a couple of things from infamous sexuality research in the twentieth century:
(1) In single sex boarding schools and universities, phenomenally high rates of men reported that they had had homosexual experiences by the time they graduated. We're talking more than half. This included mutual masturbation, oral, sometimes even all the way.
(2) The famous book Tearoom Trade was an investigation into cruising culture in the 70s, where a sociologist tracked down men he saw hooking up in public bathrooms, locker rooms, etc. and gathered demographic info from them after knocking on their front door posing as a health department worker doing a community survey. It turns out that vast majority of the men doing this sort of hooking up were typically masculine straight identifying guys who had wives and children - mechanics, construction workers, lawyers, office workers, and so on.
(3) Not the twentieth century, but we know that many cultures, like ancient Greece, had societally normalized homosexuality between men - as in, most men could be assumed to have or have had a casual sexual relationship with some other guy (usually older or younger) in addition to their otherwise monogamous marriage.
Cruising culture mostly fades away with the advent of digital pornography - or moves onto apps like Grindr. So does most of this sexual experimentation between high school and college age men. We still have remnants of it in our cultural mythology, like jokes about circle jerks or how everyone in the Navy is gay while they're at sea for months at a time.
It doesn't actually happen all that often anymore, though. Today, men don't need to get sexually pent up and frustrated, they just grab their phones and lock their bedroom door for a few minutes. Like when was the last time you heard of a straight guy participating in a bona fide circle jerk with a bunch of other guys?
In the few single sex environments where men don't have access to porn that remain - I'm thinking prison, here - there is still a large theme about straight men becoming 'prison gay' and picking up same sex lovers for the duration of their sentence, and then going back to being straight once they get out.
There's a large variety of bisexual behavior among men that used to occur but no longer does because those feelings of attraction causing that only occur in most men once your libido and sexual frustration reaches a certain point.
I don't think if this happens to you that you're a hypocrite if you don't start calling yourself a bisexual man and coming out to your friends and family. But I do think there's no need for insecurity or justifications about how actually you're still 100% straight. We live in a sexually liberated age - take advantage of it if you feel the inclination, grindr doesn't require a profile picture. If you have friends who do nofap, they're probably feeling the same things as you, so explore that if you want. And if you're open to doing anything with other men, sex is much easier to obtain, and a lot of the skills and bedroom confidence and charisma you pick up there translate to being with women. Just be safe and STD conscious.
Tl;Dr there used to be a lot more bisexual shenanigans happening between men. Men today aren't any less bisexual. Pornography has just altered the sociosexual dynamics so that it doesn't come up.

1. Courtesans and the Crown: I will be playing M! I am also open to potentially playing a MxM version. (1530s) Benjamin, the illegitimate son of a King, lives a life of luxury without any of the consequences that come with royal blood. He indulges in fine clothing, gambling and is a frequent patron of brothels. At sixteen, he met a courtesan named Antonia, who was five years his senior. Unlike the other women he had encountered, Antonia was beautiful, kind, and captured his heart. While they both share a deep love for each other, they face their own challenges. Benjamin is still learning the ways of the court at the age of eighteen, while Antonia holds a great deal of influence over him due to her life experience. From encouraging him to invite her to tea to spite his royal parentage and even convincing him to petition for legitimation to take his sister's throne, she is ready to shake things up, disguising their power-hungry nature as love. What started as a quiet and humble relationship has now turned them into vicious antagonists towards themselves and others, but their love for each other remains strong. Even though the character's name is Antonia, feel free to create your own character with a courtesan theme. I even encourage it!!!
2. Our Father, who art in Heaven: I can play M or F! (1450s) Through a combination of extortion, torture, and occasional bribery, Pope Castello has ascended to the Papal throne. Despite his vow of celibacy, his illegitimate offspring roam freely in the town, behaving as though they were the offspring of a monarch. His son, in particular, plowing through any woman with a pulse, loses vast sums of money gambling, and harbors his own dark secrets. Meanwhile, his father strives to elevate him to the rank of cardinal. However, what will happen when his son encounters the same fate as his father? Will he fall in love with a noblewoman and violate his church oath? This woman has her own secrets and a father who is eager to marry her off to the wealthiest suitor available. The resulting whirlwind will leave blood on the floor and lipstick stains on collars, reminiscent of The Borgias, but without the incestuous undertones.
3. Of course, Your Majesty: I will be playing M! (1500s) Your protagonist is the eldest child of a powerful monarch, destined to become the next Queen. During her childhood, she formed a close bond with the son of a Lord who was a bit older than her. As they grew up, their feelings for each other became more than just friendship, prompting them to explore a romantic relationship. However, it is the heavily religious 1500s, and fearing that their relationship would compromise her purity and jeopardize her chances of marrying another royal, the Lord's son was sent away to a chateau. Despite the distance, they kept in touch through letters and other means. But, a dramatic shift in the court's dynamics has brought him back, much to the chagrin of your character's father. He is willing to disrupt the status quo for the sake of love and occasionally for his own gain.
4. The Lost Princess: I will be playing F! (1480s-1520s) Princess Margery was adored by her subjects and set to ascend the throne one day. However, her fate changed drastically when, at the tender age of four, her carriage was attacked by bandits. In a desperate bid to survive, Margery pretended to be dead in the frigid snow of the forest. She wasn't certain what happened next, but she eventually found herself in the care of two kind-hearted parents who renamed her Elizabeth and raised her as their own daughter. As Elizabeth came of age, she began searching for potential suitors. But what happens when a young man uncovers her true identity? How does she make her way back to the castle, and what challenges await her upon her return? Most importantly, where do you fit into this tangled web of intrigue and deception?
5. For Our Kingdoms: I am open to playing M or F! (1530s) An arranged marriage between a prince and princess from neighboring kingdoms looms on the horizon. Is she a timid princess, suddenly thrust into the role of heir apparent, seeking a partner to bolster her claim to the throne? Or is she merely a commodity being sold off to the highest bidder? Regardless, what happens when two royals who are less-than-enthusiastic about the arrangement are forced to wed for the betterment of their kingdoms? With an unkind and brash prince making every quip in the book as he rises to the throne, she must find a way to make her marriage work. Will they find common ground, or will they be at each other's throats? Only time will tell.
6. Shadow in Stage Lights:I will be playing M! I am also open to potentially playing a MxM version. (Post-WWII 1940s) In the smoky haze of post-war Hollywood, where dreams are traded like currency and the past casts long shadows, Jack Turner returns from the frontlines of battle a shattered man. Once hailed as a literary luminary, he now struggles to find his place in a world that has moved on without him, haunted by memories he can neither escape nor forget. Enter your character, a radiant starlet whose ascent to fame is as swift as it is dazzling. Cast as the lead in Jack's latest play, she embodies the very essence of the character he once envisioned, igniting the stage with a brilliance that eclipses his own. But as the spotlight shines ever brighter on YC, Jack finds himself consumed by a bitter resentment, his heart seething with anger at the injustice of it all. In a world where shadows lurk behind every smile and fame is but a fleeting illusion, Jack and YC must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition, forging a path forward that leads them out of the darkness and into the light.
7. The West was Wilder: I will be playing M or F! (1830s) A young man is a moonshiner and owner of a notorious saloon in a small frontier town. With a reputation for brewing the finest illegal whiskey in the region, he walks a fine line between outlaw and respected member of the community. Meanwhile, a young lass is new to town and is seeking change. She has a tough exterior, but there is a vulnerability that draws folks in. As their paths cross in the dusty streets and dimly lit saloons of the Wild West, sparks fly between them. Whether it's a fiery confrontation over a poker game gone wrong or a chance encounter in the dead of night, their chemistry is undeniable. But with danger lurking around every corner and secrets waiting to be uncovered, their burgeoning romance is anything but smooth sailing.
8. Underneath the Bald Cypress: I will be playing F! (1930s) Amidst the sultry streets of New Orleans, the daughter of a wealthy sugar cane baron, finds herself torn between societal expectations and her own desires. Engaged to a controlling man of her father’s choosing, she longs for true love. Her path collides with your character, a jazz singer, a man of color, or something else entirely, sparking a forbidden romance that defies family secrets. As their love blossoms amidst the city's vibrant nightlife, she must choose between the safety of convention and the allure of a life filled with passion and uncertainty, where forbidden love and hidden truths threaten to unravel the world she knows.
9. Revolution or Run: I will be playing F! (Fallout Fandom) In Vault 47, life appears idyllic, with its inhabitants blissfully unaware of the horrors unfolding beneath the sterile corridors. Your character, recently assigned to a coveted scientist position, stumbles upon a hidden lab deep within the vault, where ghastly experiments are conducted on unsuspecting fellow dwellers. Amidst it all, your character finds help in a resourceful maintenance worker with a knack for uncovering secrets. With the weight of responsibility heavy on their shoulders, they must navigate a treacherous path, torn between loyalty to their community and the pursuit of justice.As tensions escalate within the vault, they must decide whether to ignite the flames of rebellion from within or to venture into the unforgiving wasteland beyond the vault's walls.
Linked here is my writing sample and lore explanation.
I am also open to sending a master list of my current OCs with their vague descriptions!
When you DM me, please send me the answers to these questions!

1. What is your name and pronouns?
2. What RP are you interested in?
3. Are you comfortable playing on Discord?
4. What gender are you interested in playing? (for scenarios 2, 5, and 7 only!)
5. What are your hard boundaries for writing? (i.e. unwilling to write gore/abuse/etc)
6. What is your biggest roleplay pet peeve?
7. What is your paragraph min/max?
8. What is the most important thing to you in RP?
9. Are time zones important to you? If so, what is yours?
10. Is ooc essential to you?
11. Are you okay with a fade-to-black romance style?
12. What is your typical romance speed? Slow/Medium/Fast Burn?

I will answer these questions back! Thanks for reading!

I-130

• Cover page
• Form G-1145
• Check
• Two passport type photos of Petitioner
• Two passport type photos of Beneficiary
• Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative
• Form I-130A: Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary
• Copy of US Citizen (Petitioner) passport
• Copy of US Citizen (Petitioner) birth certificate
• Copy of the Beneficiary’s Passport (biography page + visa page + stamps)
• Copy of the Beneficiary’s birth certified certificate + translation
• Copy of marriage certificate + license
• Supporting evidence of a bona fide marriage

I-485

• Cover page
• Check
• Form G-1145
• Two passport type photos of Beneficiary
• Form I-485: Application to Register Permanent Residence
• Form I-864: Affidavit of Support: Sponsor's 2022 Tax Return Transcript and U.S. passport
• Form I-131: Application for Travel Document
• Form I-765
• Form I-693: Medical Examination
• Copy of the Beneficiary’s birth certified certificate + translation
• Copy of the Beneficiary’s passport (biography page + visa page + stamps)
• Copy of EAD
• Copy of Beneficiary’s most recent I-94
• Copies of Beneficiary’s issued I-20’s and DS-2019
• Copy of Marriage certificate + license

I-765

• Cover page
• Check
• Form G-1145
• Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization
• Copy of beneficiary previously issued EAD Card
• Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94
• Copy of beneficiary Passport Biographical Page + Visa + Stamps
• Two passport-style photos of beneficiary
• SIGNATURES

I-131

• Cover page
• Check
• Form G-1145
• Form I-131
• Copy of beneficiary previously issued EAD Card
• Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94
• Copy of beneficiary Passport Biographical Page + Visa + Stamps
• Two passport-style photos of beneficiary

Form I-864

• Cover letter
• Form G1145
• Form I-864
• 6 months of pay stubs for petitioner
• 2021-2023 tax transcripts for petitioner (no W2 or 1099 or copy of tax return)
• Copy of petitioner’s passport
• Copy of petitioner's birth certificate

I have to confess that I spend way too much time on this subreddit but it’s been very helpful to read all your posts and experiences.
I came to the US under a J-1 Visa and then I changed my status to an F-1 (my now husband was my sponsor for it).
We got married a week ago and I'm trying to get all my paperwork together to start my GC process, so far this is what I have:
• Financial: Joint bank account, we are both authorized users of each other's credit cards, he is my financial boarding and school sponsor for my visa and he sends me money every month for my expenses.
• Joint ownership of a car and shared insurance.
• Proof of living together: We lived together for a couple of months and we have DL matching, mail, a lease under his name on that address, and all my previous documentation for USCIS was under that address. We were doing long distance for 6 months but we have flights tickets and photos to prove that we were seeing each other. Now we have a new address and we have a matching DL all our documentation is under the same address and a joint lease + Amazon orders etc.
• Proof of Bona Fide relationship-marriage: + 50 pictures (not that many with family or friends) but we do have some trips together, wedding and honeymoon pictures, and different events like soccer games, dinners (and reservations for it). Couple of social media posts, call logs, facetime screenshots, and screenshots of our conversations since we started dating (one for each month). We also have itineraries for our trips, hotel bookings, gift receipts, expensive dinner recepicts, Spotify, Amazon, and Instacart shared accounts, BFF on Snapchat screenshots.
• 4 Affidavits from friends (I heard that USCIS doesn't like family affidavits).
It will that on top of the forms and the other type of paperwork that is mandatory.
What do y'all think is this enough or do I need to consider something else?

Hello everyone! I have to confess that I spend more time in this subreddit than I would like to admit lol.
I came to the US under a J-1 Visa and then I changed my status to an F-1 (my now husband was my sponsor for it).
We got married a week ago and I'm trying to get all my paperwork together to start my GC process, so far this is what I have:

• Financial: Joint bank account, we are both authorized users of each other's credit cards, he is my financial boarding and school sponsor for my school, and he sends me money every month for my expenses.
  
• Joint ownership of a car and shared insurance.
  
• Proof of living together: We lived together for a couple of months and we have DL matching, mail, a lease under his name on that address, and all my previous documentation for USCIS was under that address. We were doing long distance for 6 months but we have flights tickets and photos to prove that we were seeing each other. Now we have a new address and we have a matching DL all our documentation is under the same address and a joint lease + Amazon orders etc.
  
• Proof of Bona Fide relationship-marriage: + 50 pictures (not that many with family or friends) but we do have some trips together, wedding and honeymoon pictures, and different events like soccer games, dinners (and reservations for it). Couple of social media posts, call logs, facetime screenshots, and screenshots of our conversations since we started dating (one for each month). We also have itineraries for our trips, hotel bookings, gift receipts, expensive dinner recepicts, Spotify, Amazon, and Instacart shared accounts, BFF on Snapchat screenshots.
  
• 4 Affidavits from friends (I heard that USCIS doesn't like family affidavits).
  

It will that on top of the forms and the other type of paperwork that is mandatory.
What do y'all think is this enough or do I need to consider something else?