I'd expect the vast majority of the people who oppose what Israel is doing in Palestine are not loudly chanting at protests.

Again, you're entirely ignoring the point. If something is chanted by thousands, it's either a common belief, or at least one propagated by the leaders of the movement. Just because it doesn't fit with your perspective doesn't mean you can dismiss it.

Then why does the article I linked clearly show leaflets advising civilians to evacuate to the area where the strike occurred?

Did you look at the map? The leaflet very clearly says The Humanitarian Area, which extends into northern Tal As Sultan. The map pretty clearly shows that.

Do you not think it at all suspicious that Israel have a recording of the event that would very clearly exonerate them, and yet have not released it or even claimed that their recording shows this?

Jesus christ my guy, they literally did release the footage. Just because you refuse to look it up doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
They literally did release footage of the strike itself. Footage in which you can see that the aerial map they released is correct, as the buildings surrounding the area in the video are the same as the ones for where they claimed the strike is in the map they released. In the map, btw, you can see that the area of the strike is removed from the tents. All of this is in the articles I linked.

don't think you've quite appreciated the difference between "footage" and "footage that shows X".

Just because you refuse to do any sort of personal deliberation and expect to be handed every piece of information on a spoon doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

We do know it was one of those small munitions, as I already said. Another thing we simultaneously know is that those small munitions could start a fir

And another thing we know is that the area where the strike occoured is removed from the tents. In fact both claimed locations of the strike are removed from the tents; both the IDF's and even Hamas' claims for where the strike occoured show them over 100 meters from where we know the fire started. Why do you drop that piece of information?
The IDF's claimed location is even entirely removed from the tents by an open area, and Hamas' claim has the entirety of the UN facility between the strike and the tents- a UN facility which didn't catch fire. So unless the fire somehow managed to spread across 100 meters of open field, or go around an entire aid distribution facility without anyone noticing, it's pretty safe to say that the bomb didn't start the fire.
Again, all of this is in the articles I linked. Just because you refuse to do any deliberation of your own doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

From where those tents were, sure. That doesn't mean there wasn't flammable material lying around that could have triggered a fire that reached those tents. Fuel, for example.

For 100 meters straight? And around a UN facility- but without it catching fire? And no one thought to mention it anywhere? That's some amazing fuel!

Then why have you decided that it is true, when the footage from those Palestinians does not show a secondary rocket explosion, and when the Israeli footage would show this if it had happened that way?

The footage from the Palestinians only started after the fire. And I'm not claiming it's true, I'm explaining to you why Israel is still investigating the matter, because you claimed that "if they claimed this then they should have all the footage!" When they aren't the ones who made that claim. Just like you and I, they are also investigating the fire.
Also, I brought them up because you were literally just dismissing that information because it came from Israel, even when it literally came from Palestinians.

Not even the Americans trust Israel to deliver aid

I'm sorry but you seem to have an entirely incomplete image of how the aid distribution works in Gaza. No, the Americans do trust Israel to coordinate aid. But that's just that, Israel doesn't deliver the aid, it coordinates it. What does that mean? Israel gathers all the aid donations, loads them unto trucks, and brings those trucks to Kerem Shalom or Erez. From there, the trucks are picked up by the UN and NGOs who then distribute them.
The problem with Gazan aid was distribution, as a lot of aid failed to reach its destination, and Israel refused to get involved in distribution. Israel literally had a backlog of hunderds of trucks which they already vetted, but we're waiting to be picked up by the UN.
The pier was opened because the US believed it would make distribution easier. But what happened after it opened? Did you intentionally leave that piece of information out?
I'll tell you.
70% of it was stolen. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20658/gaza-aid-stolen
Because the problem wasn't with Israeli coordination, it was with distribution. Those are two different things.

Yes, the conditions the population of Gaza were forced into for the past eight months were indeed extremely bad

Again, are you intentionally ignoring the point or are you just missing it? Yes, the situation of Gazans is dire. You still fail to explain how Rafah having houses for 171k people somehow makes it better for the remaining 1.5 million over a zone specifically designed to house large numbers of displaced people.

A few ideas - instead of bombing absolutely everything, focus attacks on clear military targets.

Thank you man! Why didn't they think of that?
I swear that people with no military experience will act like they're the chief of the Pentagon when it comes to this conflict.
I actually was in the military, so let's set a few things straight. when fighting guerilla warfare, there are no clear military targets. That's literally the definition of urban guerilla warfare. Embedding yourself within the urban environment and within civilians to fight against a stronger enemy. It isn't like there's buildings marked as "HAMAS HEADQUARTERS" that Israel can just attack and leave everyone else alone. Hamas very intentionally and very openly hides themselves within the civilian population and areas, hence why to attack them, you have to remove the civilians from the region via evacuation. That's literally how every urban conflict against a guerilla force in history was done. It was how the US fought against the Taliban in the cities of Afghanistan, it's how Iraqi forces fought against ISIS in Mosul, and its how the coalition fought against ISIS in Raqqa.
In fact, Raqqa and Mosul both saw far more destruction than Gaza did; with Gaza's figures suggesting 70% of the buildings were damaged to some capacity, where in Mosul some estimates go up to 80% or even 90%. When an enemy embeds themselves in a civilian population, there's no easy way of fighting them. Urban guerilla warfare is quite literally the ugliest form of combat.
As you mention the bombs, you seem to be under the impression they are just dropped for funsies. Like, "Oh, I feel like dropping a 2000 lbs bomb today! How about we do that here?"
It shows complete ignorance of military doctoring and combat. 2000 lbs bombs are also known as "bunker busters". Can you guess why? Because their impact is powerful enough to burst through the ground and collapse underground bunkers. Which might be useful when, oh, I don't know, your enemy has 500 Kilometers of tunnels weaving under your feet?
Lastly, you bring up the World Kitchen strike as some sort of Gotcha, but it perfectly encapsulates your cognitive dissonance. You're amplifying one incident over thousands of other successful strikes, and an incident even the head of World Kitchen said was a mistake. A mistake for which two of thw IDF's top generals were fired.
You're not the first person I say this to, and sadly, you won't be the last. But if you have no knowledge of military, don't try to act like you do. It just makes it seem like you're under the dunning Kruger effect.

First/Previous
Since I knew there was a time before, I’ve wanted it, but that was child’s hope; even as a boy I wanted a dream. I wanted some divine being to enter from heaven and tell us all how it should be, but that wasn’t something I could ever count on—of course. Is there a god? I think so. I’ve seen those things and if they exist, then surely there’s a maker on the other end of it—god made both the light and the dark if the word’s to be believed and all we can hope for is a glimpse of the former. Even for a second.
The streets were soaked with blood and so many artillery rounds were fired into the sky—many I witnessed missed Leviathan—that I forgot what silence was like (not to mention the screams and there was a lot of that).
In the scrambling, I found I was reentering deeper into Golgotha and that wasn’t good. There was the ever-present thought that Maron was around every corner; the man had haunted my thoughts for longer that he should have and every time it was like an overwhelming force. It was simple enough after all, he was a piece of the past, a piece I could theoretically reach out and touch and that was what kept me to him.
In the fray of bolting citizens, I pressed myself to the exterior of a wall—I’d neared the stairs which once led to my apartment—and I kept out of the way of those that mindlessly went; some of those which rushed from the onslaught were those afflicted with skitterbugs and many of them either hobbled on blackened legs or—and this was rare—comrades or family helped to carry those which could not carry themselves. It was a baffling sight. A man carried a woman like a child (her toes had fallen off and her legs were black to the knees) and though he strode on with her, his own boots were caked with a mixture of blood and earth. An older girl led a young boy from the whirlwind of dust which was kicked up in the square; the boy’s eyes were whited, and his hands were curled to his chest, discolored. People, whatever duality there is, cared. There was not a drop of the apathy I’d learned and encouraged in myself.
I chewed like a mad dog through my bindings, and it was of little use; I yanked at the cord which secured my hands together and received rope burn in return. “Bitch!” I cussed the thing, but the flames in the sky were so loud, the bangs and vibrations from the artillery consumed all so it was like yelling in a barrel. I swung my hands out in front of me, feeling useless and felt a sudden urge to try again. I bit into the cord and repetitively motioned my jaw against the pressure of the cord, like I was going to saw through it with my teeth. Ha! Another yank is what brought my left hand free, but not without tearing a triangle of skin away from my wrist.
The cord dropped to my feet, and I looked around; a woman brushed past me, nearly toppled over my foot and I caught her by the wrist before she went head-over. She violently thrust from my grasp and screamed something at me. Another bout of flames burst from Leviathan’s maw as it circle-dove overhead. The heatwave from the blast exploded across my face so that I recoiled from the sky itself till I was on the ground, and I pushed myself from the earth and ran half dog-like from my place there at the wall. Where? It was hard to say where when every person that touched-by seemed to send me in another direction; in the madness, it was impossible to tell my course.
With time and effort, I found my way to the opening where the hydro towers were, three pillars which rose above Golgotha’s skyline, each one a testament to human resilience—engineers laborers toiled untold hours under Lady’s father to construct them. The hydro towers exploded into rubble as Leviathan slammed into them. Rock rained down as cutting shards and destructive boulders. A man lay beside my feet where he'd been pinned by the onslaught—white concrete kept him there by his chest—he gasped for air and blood already formed around him. In a moment, I looked away at the dying man, his half-whited eyes bulging at me. Meat hung from the left side of another man’s face as he cradled his head in his hand and moved like he was stoned and sat among the stomping feet; he slumped into the spot he sat and did not move till others came by him in a hurry and he simply fell onto his side like a toy animal.
The screams were too much. I looked to the towers, the nubs which had broken away like bad teeth against the red sky, and whole people fell alongside the rubble, limbs and showers of blood and Leviathan latched atop the towers and rocked its massive body so that the structures slipped directly from their foundations and tumbled over like pins. I ran and again there was nothing but chaos, nothing but mind-numbing wilder thoughts—it was grim and there wasn’t a place for coherency; it was all snaps of images.
In the mess of bumbling limbs, I pushed through to the hall of Bosses and there were people there already, rushing the stairs; the ground shook and I assumed it must’ve been the towers. The things demolished all in their path, and briefly, I saw the ramshackle structures which normally stood in their shadows come slanting over and people leapt from those places too and landed poorly and there was a cacophony of tremors through the earth—it felt as though hell should open.
The steps at the base of the hall were flooded and it was a fight to climb them as legs came high up from ahead and swiped at those behind and I kept my hands ahead of me to block whatever foot may come my way.
Wall men stood ready with their rifles at the tops of those steps and fired their weapons indiscriminately into the crowd. Bodies, big and small, piled atop the steps after a brief bullet dance and it came that I wasn’t only climbing stairs, but corpses; the warmth of their flesh as I clawed ahead remained and blood fog hung in the air. That grouping of wall men, casually lined before the doors of the hall were overtaken and they disappeared, their rifles cackled and came alive with muzzle flashes and the animal hands of the horde brought them to ground.
Us, the horde, funneled through those front doors and for a moment, in the thick walls of the hall, the outside world audibly disappeared; the blood and dust remained, but it was quieter save the shuffling feet and cusses of passersby I was carried deeper.
Those that worked the underground went quickly and I followed, and those ignorant followed for the sake of survival and it was not long till we stumbled into the Boss’s lair. With room, people dispersed like water through the tunnels and found dark recesses to tend their wounds or mourn whatever was lost and the explosive open air had been fully replaced by the quiet black oppressive mumbles of people taking stock of all those that had died. And all those that would. Every few moments, the walls shook, and dust fell from the ceiling fixtures.
A few haggard folks moved to the doorway which led to the damp room which led to the kitchen, and they slammed the door shut and latched it and began to check adjacent rooms for things to barricade the way.
“Stop!” said a man in the dim flickering underground light—I was surprised to see the man was me, “Leave it open! Others might need help.” I retraced my steps to the small faction that’d gathered there at the doorway. “You can’t just let them die out there. Let them in.”
“Shut up!” a skinny girl with her hair pulled back on her malnourished skull spoke gruffly; she choked, coughed—dust clung to her clothes—she’d been near the collapse of the hydro towers if I guessed. “Step off, or I’ll—
“Or you’ll what?” I shouted.
The girl put up her fists, two lumpy stones, and in stupid response I closed the distance between us. With speed, her fist met my nose, and I stumbled back on my heel.
Without hesitation, I brought up my own hands and landed a blow to her stomach. She craned forward, gasped on repeat, and took a knee.
Blood wet my upper lip, and I wiped it away with my forearm.
“Move,” I said to the others by the door; there were two: a woman and a boy that was nearly a man.
The boy charged headstrongly, attempted a kick and I easily shoved his small frame against the tunnel wall; the hard metal sounded a meaty thud against his body and the woman launched unseen at me, raked her nails down the back of my neck, and tore at my collar. I kept a forearm to the boy’s throat and rocked his head with my free elbow. Once he wept and spit red, I let him go; the boy slid into a sit and I spun on the woman, shoving her away. My left leg began to give, and I used the wall over the boy’s head as support. I swung at her with a wild claw and my fingertips grazed her nose as she fell away to the opposite wall.
“Stop it!” I shouted.
She launched at me, and my leg gave out under her tackle, and I stumbled half-on the boy, my feet kicked helplessly at her, and the boy regained his composure and began to crawl towards me. We wrestled and then the girl I’d knocked in the gut rejoined the fray. I was done. They had me pinned and spat curses at me and took turns shoving my head into the floor.
“You’re going to get us killed,” shouted the woman, “Are you stupid?”
I grinded my teeth and tried to throw them off; I was overpowered and easily pressed down again.
The overhead lights flickered with another deep earthy vibration and the trio let go of me in an instant—I came up swinging my arms like crazy and as I went to kneel before propelling myself to stand, a hand rested on my shoulder. I spun on the hand and was met with the black mouth of a 9mm pistol—that froze me fast.
The owner of the weapon—a wall man by the look of her fatigues—motioned for me to stand and I did. Her eyes were far off and nervous and the metal shook in her outstretched hand. “Against the wall!” she barked at us; she was small-framed and youthful but full grown, and I could easily push her out of my way if not for the pistol. We went to the wall, and she moved to the door while keeping the gun drawn on us. She watched us and glanced at the door. “It’s latched! Who latched the door?” She asked.
No one spoke. The other three looked to their feet; I initially refused to rat, and snorted blood—my nose throbbed and by touch I could tell it swelled already.
“Well? Why’s it closed?” she asked the question more like a desperate child than a person with control. “C’mon!” The 9mm rolled limply on her wrist as she said the word, like she was attempting to draw the confession from us with the motion.
“There’s an attack. They’re killing everyone,” said the boy.
The girl and woman nodded.
“Who?” asked the wall man.
“Demons, muties,” said the boy, “Big stuff. Everyone’s dying.”
The ground shook as if to emphasize his point.
The wall man studied us for a moment, lingering last on me and for the longest and she took a long breath and let the sigh out dramatically slow. “I know you,” she motioned at me with the gun, “You’re that maniac. The one that tried to murder everyone.” Her eyes fell then returned and she put her weight on the door while maintaining the barrel of the gun eye-level in my direction.
“I ain’t gonna’ hurt anyone,” said. I briefly thought about smiling but decided that’d look worse.
“How do I know that?” she asked.
“Yeah,” said the boy, “He tried to kill us already!” His voice cracked with adolescence; the blood I’d spilled from his mouth coated the front of his holey shirt.
The trio nodded all together—everyone agreed that I was a maniac killer.
“They latched it,” I said, “Cowards.”
A thump came from the other side of the door which frightened the wall man and she leapt from the spot she’d leaned—it took several full seconds to realize her gun went off; there was a flash, and my ears rang. I stumbled from the knot of people and slunk a couple of feet from the space by the door. The girl—the one I gut-punched—collapsed to the floor while holding the right side of her face. The women crowded the girl, panicked, the boy sprinted past me and disappeared deeper into the underground, and the wall man stood there with a wretched blank expression. There was a long moment which hung in the air; I could not hear and then it came back, and it was the girl’s screams I heard first.
Upon stepping to them, I saw the prone girl had been shot just so—through the cheek. Her eyes rolled from likely spinal damage; whatever the angle, it seemed to have ripped through irreparable nerves and she bled a lot. There wasn’t any hope for that girl.
“Well,” I said to the wall man, “Finish it. No reason to make her suffer.”
The girl on the ground writhed unnaturally and caterwauled while the woman by her side attempted to calm her.
Greater became the sound of the belabored hands on the other side of the door; then a hollow-sounding gunshot came from the other side; were they shooting the door? Or each other? Another round—human screams.
The wall man shook her head. “I didn’t mean it. It was an accident.”
I tried to hold the wall man’s gaze, but she didn’t seem able.
With speed, I moved to the wall man, reached for the gun which dangled helpless by her side—her initial response was to flinch, pull the weapon from my reach; our eyes locked and I clenched my jaw. She could’ve killed me. There wouldn’t have been surprise from me if she had.
She let go of the gun and I nodded, and she nodded and the woman kneeling by the girl threw herself over her. “Please,” protested the woman, “Please don’t!”
With the aid of the pistol, I was given space, and nothing was said. I mentally prepared myself for the ringing which accompanied gunfire in small spaces, even tilted my head away with my free palm up and took aim and the girl jerked once then went still.
With the ringing going and sound returning, the drumming on the door returned, as well as the quiet weeps of the woman; she crawled to the wayside of the hall, pressed her back against the wall and rested her chin on her knees with her arms around her shins. She didn’t rock to or fro and hardly made any noise at all. But the small and quiet sobs remained faintly there.
First/Previous
Archive

Hello, I am in a weekend program in the USA and I work a little to help myself pay for rent and bills. I put all my ducks in a row before entering my grad program but life happens and now I’m facing issues when it comes to housing. I do not have a place to go once my lease is over in August. I am thinking of:
Option 1) Renting a room: My credit isn’t enough to qualify for an apartment and I do not have savings. They are still asking for lots of money (security deposit, month and a half ahead, etc) and I’ll live with strangers. To be honest, I don’t know how things will be (environment wise), I’ll share bathrooms and kitchen etc.
Option 2) I am being offered in-campus summer housing for the month of August. The security deposit is minimum and to be honest, it isn’t that expensive. I’ll have a double bedroom so I guess I’ll share. If I do this, I may be able to be considered more for in campus housing moving forward but I’m not sure how does that work with a grad degree and financial aid + grad loans, meaning: Is it possible??? Do I qualify?? I’m also out of state currently so I don’t know how that will work.
My questions are: What’s the smartest thing to do? Get a room close to work (25 mins max driving) and focus on work and school OR maybe take advantage of loans (I don’t know if they will give me $$$ or help me, or cover it) and drive 45 mins for work but not pay rent and take all the money I do for work and save it.
Either way I’m fucked financially. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense, I ’m anxious.

Hello,
I've been thinking about getting high-end blender that will last for years, but it's not easy pick for me as I am from europe and high end blenders brands such as vitamix or Blendtec are not common here and their prices are different here than in US, so I feel like "just get the vitamix" advice is not really in point (Because they are more expensive here so their price to what you get ratio is not that good). I am from Poland and vitamix is like 2x more expensive than in the US, Blendtec has it's own EU domain and can ship to Poland meaning it may be better choice (but it's still like 1.5x more expensive than in US). Another choice is Kitchenaid, which is quite popular here in EU, but not common here in Poland, meaning it's more expensive here in Poland (It has the same price as vitamix blenders), BUT because it's popular in EU in general I can order it from example from germany and it will be actually cheaper than vitamix and I am speaking about their Power Plus Aristan Blender.
At this point I can get 3 models I am interested in for almost the same price:

1. Kitchenaid Power Plus Aristan
   
2. Vitamix 3500i
   
3. Blendtec 650
   

I really like the design of Kitchenaid Power Plus Aristan and the fact it's build from metal, I see it has more power than blendtec and vitamix. In my eyes it's more premium looking than vitamix and blendtec and I would go for it, but I feel like vitamix and blendtec are actually mainstream ones and I hear good things about it when kitchenaid blenders are not popular and I feel there's lack of reviews and comparision to vitamix and blendtec.
Is KitchenAid Power Plus good choice compared to vitamix 3500i and blendtec 650? It looks like it's most powerful and has the best build quality, but I am unsure.

ik its not that low in general terms but i def feel like my UW gpa could hurt my app a lot
Demographics: Male, Asian, Texas, Regular public school, high income no aid needed
Intended Major(s): Econ/Finance
ACT/SAT/SAT II: 1600 (literally my only hope)
UW/W GPA and Rank: 3.88 UW/ 4.44 W, top 10% of my class, no specific rank given
Coursework: AP Subjects (5s on all): Calc BC, Statistics, Comp Sci A, Comp Sci Principles, Chemistry, Biology, APES, Physics 1, 2, Physics C EM/M, Psych, APHUG, WHAP, APUSH, Euro, Government, Comp Government, Macroecon, Microecon, Seminar, Research, Lang.
Senior Courseload: Multivariable Calc, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, , AP art history, Organic Chemistry, 2 off periods
Awards: 2x Presidential Service Award Gold, ICDC Finalist, 3x State debate tournament competitor (broke to outrounds), 2x National debate tournament competitors, 3x District Sci Oly Winner
Extracurriculars:
300+ volunteering hours helping out at my local soup kitchen + food bank
VP of deca chapter (will most likely get president next year) Captain on school speech and debate team (most likely will get pres), VP of science Olympiad (will get president next year) President + cofounder of: south asian students association, Stock market and Trading Club
Founder of non-profit, where we teach disadvantaged kids in underserved communities good financial habits
job at a local coding place, teaching kids ages 5-13 languages such as scratch up to things like java and python, also designed part of the advanced curriculum
Owner of company that designs websites for local businesses
Founded a Commodities trading firm which started out with 50k in capital, grew fund to over 800k in a year and a half, 10 employees
Sneaker reseling business where I resold sneakers and other popular items in person and through reputable selling platforms, made over 25 k doing on and off
3 Econ research papers on the commodities market published in collaboration with a T10 business school professor
Essays/LORs/Other:
Calc BC teacher told me that she would wrote my rec letters (before I even asked her to lol), they should be really good as I do very well in her class and am very passionate about math in general
Asked my boss at work to write me a letter of rec, I've been working there for over 3 years and i attended the same place as a student for years before that, so I've known her for a long time and she knows how passionate I am about Comp Sci, especially the algorithmic and mathematical part of it (which was the part that I helped design), so should be pretty good
Counselor Rec: Should be pretty good, Ive been in contact a lot across my years of high school, always trying to improve academically and take more and harder courses, so she knows how good I am at Math and also how dedicated I am at my extracurricular activities, so this should be a good letter as well.
Schools:
all undergrad business schools
ED: UPenn Wharton (dream school mannn)
EA: MIT, UCB, UMich, USC
RD: NYU, UT Austin, CMU, Cornell, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, UNC, UVA, Emory, Georgetown, Northwestern, Northeastern, Boston College, Texas A&M
side note: is it worth applying rea to some of those ivy leagues?
thx for reading, pls tell me ur thoughts!

When we bought our current house 16 years ago we bought a Bosch dishwasher. It worked well for 16 years and finally died. We went and looked at and bought a Bosch 800 series dishwasher. This is a piece of junk. We were told by the store that although it is wifi equipped, we do not have to install the wifi. My wife likes rinse and hold and the only way you can use the rinse feature is to use the app. I called support about programming my favorite key to make it a rinse key and they said that I could and I could use the app to dit. They were unable to help me with this so I muddled through it on my own and now the favorite key is a 12 minute rinse.
However, my old Bosch was designed so that the timer digits remained on (on zero) when a cycle was complete so you knew that the dishes had been washed. The new Bosch turns the display off when finished so if you open the dishwasher door, you have no idea if the dishes are clean and ready to be removed, dirty, or just rinsed. Bosch just told me that there is no option to leave the display on after the cycle is finished.
Today I received a special offer from Bosch where I can pay $165.00 a year and have a maintenance contract. Did Bosch sell me a machine that they think will break down. My next dishwasher will be a Kitchen Aid.

For those in Blacksburg, here's a rundown of 28 local events you can enjoy in Blacksburg and throughout the New River Valley as June arrives.
Weekend Rundown of Local Fun: 1. Matt Holloman in Concert Rising Silo Farm Brewery, Blacksburg Friday, May 31, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Born and raised in southeastern Virginia, Matt Holloman has been playing around Virginia for more than 25 years. Growing up on his older brother’s blues collection, Matt mixed the likes of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters with the experimental sounds of songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Frank Black, creating a style all his own. Always interested in reinventing his live performance, Matt uses a looper so he can improvise and manipulate layers of sound not usually heard from an acoustic performer. You can also expect simple, but memorable songs, reminiscent of storytelling songwriters like John Prine and Bob Dylan. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777075
2. Friday Nights at the Farm with Music from Jim Korb Beliveau Farm Winery, Blacksburg Friday, May 31, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Jim Korb is an acoustic musician and guitarist based in Southwest, VA and a member of the band Stonehouse. "Just a singer; a natural-born guitar ringer, playing and singing a mix of Classic Country, Eagles, CCR, Skynyrd, and a little bit of everything else from John Denver to The Blues." Beliveau welcomes a special musical guest every Friday night with live music from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM and sing along to all of your favorite classics. Enjoy delicious food from their full service kitchen until 8:30 PM and chat over a glass of wine during our extended bar hours until 9:00 PM. Get a $5 Beliveau Buck to use during your next visit for every $50.00 you spend on Friday nights from 6:00-9:00 PM. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777450
3. Pizza Roll (Bike Ride) Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Friday, May 31, 2024, 6:00 PM - TBD Admission: Free The New River Valley Bicycle Association (NRVBA) presents a Pizza Roll starting at the Blacksburg Library. Enjoy a five mile bike ride on the Huckleberry Trail and through Virginia Tech's campus, followed by post ride pizza at Benny's provided by Trek Blacksburg. This is a NRVBA ride, meaning waivers are required and can be filled out on site. If you have never ridden with NRVBA before, your first ride is free. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777778
4. The Grascals in Concert Little River Bluegrass Barn, Radford Friday, May 31, 2024, 7:00 - 10:00 PM General Admission: $30.00, Reserved Tickets: $35.00 Great musicians will always find a way to make good music, but for great musicians to make great music, they must form a bond – one that, more often than not, goes beyond the purely musical to the personal. For The Grascals, that bond has been forged at the intersection of personal friendships, shared professional resumes and an appreciation for the innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music that has been a hallmark of the Nashville scene for more than 40 years. Their cutting-edge modern bluegrass is delivered with a deep knowledge of, and admiration for, the work of the music’s founding fathers. Timely yet timeless, The Grascals make music that is entirely relevant to the here and now yet immersed in traditional values of soul and musicianship. It’s a unique sound that has earned three Grammy® nominations and two Entertainer of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, as well as national media attention that seems to perpetually elude acts entrenched in niche genres. Such appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fox & Friends, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and CBS’ The Talk. The Grascals have over 200 guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry to their credit and have also performed on the revered stages of Radio City Music Hall, the Ryman Auditorium and the Kennedy Center as well as music festivals such as MerleFest, Stagecoach, and the CMA Music Festival. In addition to performing across the United States and Canada, the awarding-winning band has traveled the world to take bluegrass music to Japan, Greece, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Belgium. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777777
5. Line Dancing at Sinkland Sinkland Farms, Christiansburg Friday, May 31, 2024, 7:00 PM - TBD Admission: $10.00 Join Sinkland Farms for a fun-filled night of line dancing. All types of music and all levels of experience welcome. Energetic, enthusiastic instruction begins at 8:00 PM. Adult beverages and food truck will be available for purchase. Weather permitting, there will be outdoor dancing as well. This event is fun for all. Ages 16 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778214
6. 2024 Pulaski County Spring Flea Market New River Valley Fairgrounds, Dublin Saturday, June 1, 2024 and Sunday, June 2, 2024, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Admission: $2.00, Kids 6 and Under: Free The Dublin Lions Club presents the 2024 Two-Day Pulaski County Spring Flea Market celebrating 49 years. With over 20,000 visitors and 800 vendors spaces, more than a dozen different food vendors offering varied food options and the chance to eat a few of the famous "Lion Dogs", you will not want to miss this event. Check out vendors with crafts, antiques and more at the semi-annual Pulaski County Flea Market. Expect to have a ton of fun hunting for that rare items or the deal of the century. Although over 100 spaces are under roof, it is a largely an outdoor event. All proceeds go to the Dublin Lions and their numerous community causes such as eyeglasses for the needy and hunger relief in the community. This is their primary fundraiser each year. The event is rain or shine and parking is free. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778201
7. Benefit Ride for Bubba Williston's Family KFC, Christiansburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM $15.00-$20.00 Donation per vehicle. The Benefit Ride for Bubba's Family will start and end at KFC. Registration begins at 9:00 AM with kickstands up at 10:30 AM. Help raise money for Bubba Williston’s family. Bubba lost his life on Thursday, April 11th after saving his boys. Bubba leaves behind a wife, Danielle and three small children, Brantley, Kyler and Aubree. Let’s come together as a community and help ease the financial burden. There will also be door prizes, raffle and 50/50 raffle. Lunch will be served following the ride and returning to KFC. All bikes, cars, trucks and all vehicles welcome. Snacks will be provided on ride and lunch and drinks afterward. All proceeds benefit Bubba's wife and his three children. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778242
8. Cabin Fever 12: Six Band Charity Event Cabin Fever, Pilot Saturday, June 1, 2024, 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Adults: $10.00, Kids 13 & Under: Free Cabin Fever Charity Events presents their semi-annual charitable musical fundraiser event Cabin Fever 12 benefiting the Floyd County Humane Society in honor of Kevin Dodson. A family style buffet and t-shirts will also be available for purchase and there will be both a live and silent auction featuring donations from local businesses and our line-up of seven performers. 100% of the proceeds from all items will be donated to the Floyd County Humane Society. Music Performers include Chris and Chelsea, Seph Custer, Jake and Jess, The Good Ole Boys, The Flying Doves, Hoppie Vaughan and the Ministers of Soul and By All Means. The family style buffet is highlighted by the world class pulled barbecue provided by Cabin Fever friend Hamp Maxwell is $10.00 per person. Credit cards and personal checks will be accepted the day of the event. Pets and children are welcome. Bring your dog and a $25.00 donation will be made on your behalf. All donations made to Cavin Fever Charity are 100% tax deductible. The event is BYOB and lawn chairs are welcome. Parking is free. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778240
9. Summer Reading Kickoff Event Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Admission: Free Grab your chalk and head to the library to kick off our summer reading program. Enjoy activities like a chalk walk, face painting, bubbles, and a sweet treat. Available while supplies last. All ages are welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777959
10. Ride-A-Rescue Cornhole Tournament Bisset Park, Radford Saturday, June 1, 2024, 11:00 AM - TBD Tournament Entry: $25.00 per team, Spectators: Free Ride-A-Rescue and Winterfrost Farm presents their Ride-A-Rescue Cornhole Tournament. Ride-A-Rescue is a local, non-profit, equine rescue that is holding an epic Cornhole Tournament throwdown to raise funds and awareness for their rescue's operation and rescue horses. The Cornhole Tournament is a double elimination tournament and open to all ages. There will also be a Kids Corner open all day and food vendors on site. First, second and third place teams will win big prizes. Teams can battle back in the Losers Bracket for another shot at the championship. All participating teams will also be entered in a drawing for awesome bonus prizes. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=776144
11. Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer JBR Vineyards LLC, Pearisburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 12:00 - 5:00 PM and Sunday, June 2, 2024, 1:00 - 5:00 PM Admission: Free Wine Pricing: Tasting: $5.00, Glass of Wine: $5.00, Bottles of Wine: $15.00-$20.00 plus tax Experience the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer with a delightful afternoon of wine tasting. Savor fine wine in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Stroll through the vineyard with a glass of your favorite wine. Credit cards and cash accepted. Dogs and kids welcome. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778155
12. Annual Loyalists in the Backcountry Event Wilderness Road Regional Museum, Newbern Saturday, June 1, 2024 and Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:00 - 4:00 PM Admission: Free Join the Wilderness Road Regional Museum for the Two-Day Annual Loyalists in the Backcountry Event and learn about both the Patriots and Loyalists in the Backcountry of Southwest Virginia during the Revolutionary War. There will be some mischief afoot. Living history will be presented by the Fincastle Company on both days. Members of the Fincastle Company Living History group will share the history of the complicated interactions of the Patriots, "rascally" Loyalists, Tories, and those trying to stay "unaffected" during the American Revolution. On Sunday, there will be expanded programming including kids activities and a mock round up of the Tories to recreate some actual events in and around the Newbern area during the Revolutionary timeframe to include conspiracies, counterfeiting, and rounding up of the rascals. The event is free, but donations are always welcome and appreciated. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778165
13. 2024 New Town Festival Gospel Sing St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 12:00 - 6:00 PM Admission: Free The Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation presents the 8th Annual New Town Festival Gospel Sing. The afternoon will be filled with dancing, singing and fellowship as five local groups and soloists perform their favorite current and old-time gospel favorites. Kirk’s BBQ will be onsite with food available for purchase. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778231
14. Speed Friending Program for Ages 20-45 Christiansburg Library, Christiansburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 PM Admission: Free Are you interested in meeting new people? Want to make friends in the area, but find it hard to make time? Join the library for a fun and free way to connect with others in the community. Speed Friending will start with a speedy round of conversation starters. Yes, similar to speed dating, questions and conversation will be available for those who need it. Hang around after to chat, enjoy snacks, play games, or make plans with new friends. There will also be door prizes. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778081
15. Saturday Afternoon Music with Leslie Brooks New River Vineyard & Winery, Fairlawn Saturday, June 1, 2024, 2:00 - 5:00 PM Admission: Free Leslie Brooks is a singer-songwriter, performing solo with guitar, playing jazz, folk, blues, rockin' country and popular favorites originally from Kentucky now resides in Virginia. She has played the best venues in a 16-state area, as well as in Norway and Monte Carlo. Opened for Heart, James Taylor, Bob Margolin and Willie Nelson to name a few. Feel to free to select your favorites from her 300-song music menu. Seating is first come, first served. No reservation required. Guests can bring a blanket and/or chair. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778088
16. Spring Garden Day and Flower Art Opening Montgomery Museum of Art & History Gardens, Christiansburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Admission: Free This event will feature the "Flower Art in the Garden" Theme Show, showcasing the creativity of local artists. Participants were tasked with decorating "flat flower" templates, thoughtfully crafted by students at Blacksburg High School, which will be placed throughout the site. Participants were encouraged to incorporate native southwest Virginia plants into their artwork, resulting in a vibrant display that celebrates the region's natural beauty and artistic talent. In addition to the art exhibit, Spring Garden Day offers a wonderful opportunity for attendees to explore the Museum Garden with gardeners on-site to answer any questions. Visitors will also have the chance to engage with the Virginia Native Plant Society's plant clinic, Virginia Master Naturalists, and Virginia Master Gardeners, as several booths will be set up to provide information and insights into the rich botanical heritage of Southwest Virginia. Note: This event was originally scheduled for Saturday, May 4th, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778241
17. Summer Arts Festival Free Classic Movies: Wizard of Oz Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 3:00 - 4:45 PM Admission: Free The 2024 Summer Arts Festival kicks of the Free Classic Movies series featuring "The Wizard of Oz". The classic "Wizard of Oz" was originally released in 1939 with a rating of PG and stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley. Synopsis: Dorothy Gale along with her dog Toto is swept away from a farm in Kansas to a magical land of Oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest with her new friends to see the Wizard who can help her return home to Kansas and help her friends as well. The Summer Arts Festival is presented by Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778205
18. Grand Opening in Blacksburg J.H Bards Spirit Co., Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 4:00 - 9:00 PM and Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:00 - 6:00 PM Admission: Free J.H Bards Spirit Co. has moved the distillery from Fairlawn to Blacksburg and can't wait to show you their new completely renovated digs. On Saturday, last call will be ~8:40 PM and on Sunday ~5:30 PM. Parking is available in the Kent Square parking deck, on-street anywhere downtown, or in the municipal lot directly across Washington Street from us. Enter the distillery off of Draper Road. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778076
19. 2024 Oldtown Nights Concert Series Kickoff featuring Miller Holler Band Oldtown Fields (Shawsville Middle School Rec Area), Shawsville Saturday, June 1, 2024, 5:30 - 9:00 PM Adults: $5.00, Ages 12 & Under: Free The Eastmont Community Foundation presents the 8th season of the Oldtown Nights Concert Series Kickoff featuring the Miller Holler Band with a large open green space that is family and children friendly. Miller Holler is a country rock band with southern roots and a hunger for going against the grain and stirring up the music industry in Nashville, Tennessee. Concessions and drinks including adult beverages for those ages 21 & up will be available for purchase. Please bring cash for tickets and beer sales. Only limited credit card sales available. Please bring your own chairs and/or blankets. No tents or umbrellas allowed. Ages 16 & under must be accompanied by an adult. No outside drinks and no pets permitted. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=774327
20. The Wild Wood Band in Concert Long Way Brewing, Radford Saturday, June 1, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Wild Wood is based in the New River Valley performing country, classic rock & country, folk, bluegrass and originals. Enjoy an old school sound and a very eclectic catalog of music with your favorite sing-along ballads and originals. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778071
21. Baxter Briefly in Concert Rising Silo Farm Brewery, Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 6:00 - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Baxter Briefly is a Roanoke, VA musician performing unique and original music in the alternative rock, nu-funk and indie realms. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778232
22. Stand Up Comedy Show with Headliner Heather Joyce Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill, Blacksburg Saturday, June 1, 2024, 8:00 - 9:30 PM Admission: $7.00 Comedians Gone Rogue presents a Stand Up Comedy Show with Headliner Heather Joyce in the Banquet Room. Headliner Heather Joyce will be joined by other amazing comediennes from across Virginia and one very strong and independent man. Other performers include: Andrew Gustafson, Katherine Rogue, Christinia Tynes, Chelsea McCreight and Amanda Fitz. The cover goes directly to the talent. For ages 18 & up. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778246
23. 2024 Huckleberry Jam Point-to-Point 8.1 Mile and 1.75 Mile Run / Walk Runabout Sports, Blacksburg Sunday, June 2, 2024, 6:45 - 11:00 AM 8.1 Mile Run: $40.00 (through June 1st), $45.00 (after June 1st) 1.75 Mile Run: $29.00 (through June 1st), $32.00 (after June 1st) Return Shuttle: $5.00 Runabout Sports presents the 4th Annual Huckleberry Jam Point-to-Point 8.1 Mile and 1.75 Mile Runs on the Huckleberry Trail with the 8.1 Mile Run starting at RunAbout Sports in Blacksburg, VA and the 1.75 Mile Run starting on the Huckleberry Trail in Christiansburg, VA at the gate by Uptown Christiansburg's Kohl's store with both runs finishing at the Christiansburg Rec Center. Race Day Registration & Packet Pickup is from 6:45-7:45 AM. The 8.1 Mile Race starts at RunAbout Sports at 8:00 AM. The 1.75 Mile Race starts on Huckleberry Trail near Kohl's side of Uptown Christiansburg at 8:30 AM. Both race distances are point-to-point courses finishing at the Christiansburg Rec Center. Two aid stations will provide water and Gatorade along the way. RunAbout Sports will be donating all net proceeds to the Friends of the Huckleberry Trail. The group uses 100% of donations and funding for the engineering and construction of the Huckleberry Trail and the amenities along the trail. Participants may purchase an add-on shuttle ticket for $5.00 per person when registering. If you have a ride from the Christiansburg Rec Center, you are not required to purchase a shuttle pass. All finishers will receive an engraved rail-road spike finisher award with overall awards for the top three male and female finishers. The top two finishers in each age group also receive awards. Spectators and those picking up runners from the finish may park in front of the Christiansburg Rec Center and walk to the back where the race finishes. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778200
24. 2024 Check Farm Trail Downtown Check, Check Sunday, June 2, 2024, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Admission: Free Floyd Country Tourism presents the 3rd Annual Check Farm Trail at seven participating farms and businesses throughout Check, Virginia. This family-friendly experience is an up-close chance to learn about agriculture through demonstrations, tastings and farm tours including plants & animals and more. Food and/or products will be available for purchase at most of the farms and businesses. Carpooling is encouraged and please leave pets at home. Note: Times and hours vary by farm and tour stop. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=778239
25. Youth Spaghetti Fundraiser Blacksburg United Methodist Church, Blacksburg Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:00 - 6:00 PM Admission: $10.00 The Youth Ministry at Blacksburg United Methodist Church (BUMC) hosts a Youth Spaghetti Fundraiser. This fundraiser will offset cost associated with summer youth mission trip. BUMC’s youth will venture to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Camp Occohannock on the Bay this summer. During the weeklong mission trip, the youth will work with Chesapeake Housing Mission. Grab lunch from 12:00-2:00 PM or dinner from 4:00-6:00 PM. The menu includes one serving of spaghetti (with or without ground beef), salad, garlic bread and choice of cookie (chocolate chip, sugar or snickerdoodle). For those unable to dine in, carryout will be available. Pre-ordering is available online. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777765
26. Free Outdoor Acroyoga Class and Jam In Balance Yoga Studio @ VTCRC, Blacksburg Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:30 - 2:30 PM Admission: Free Learn about the playful practice of Acroyoga in a safe environment. Acroyoga is a physical practice that combines yoga and acrobatics typically involving a base, a flyer, and spotter. No experience or partner is necessary. The first hour will be guided learning, followed by free form jam for an hour. This event will be held outdoors at the corner of Pratt Drive and Kraft Drive. The rain location will be In Balance CRC studio. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=777994
27. Book Club: Mr. Brightside's Italian Adventures with Discussion and Tasting Blacksburg Wine Lab, Blacksburg Sunday, June 2, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 PM Admission: $40.00 Join the Wine Lab Book Club tasting & discussing featuring Mr. Brightside's Italian Adventures by Ryan Jacobson. After the success of his first humorous travel memoir, "The Adventures of Mr. Brightside", in which he traveled around the world exploring each country he visited on three different budget levels, Ryan Jacobson has now decided to tackle the country of Italy. Ryan travels to all of the Italy's twenty unique regions and splits his time in each by spending half his time on a low budget and half on a luxury budget before moving on to the next. Through the use of his humorous storytelling, Ryan shares what makes each of the regions so special and worthy of visiting. Reservations are required. Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=776425
28. Sunday Mountain Music Series Kickoff with Victor Lawson and the Boogie Chillin Band Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke Sunday, June 2, 2024, 4:00 - 6:00 PM Free Admission Mountain Lake Lodge presents their Sunday Mountain Music Series Kickoff with Victor Lawson and the Boogie Chillin Band. Victor Lawson and the Boogie Chillen Band have forged an identity as a good-time party band that plays the real deal blues and down in the mud rock ‘n roll and funk music as well. The tight three-man band takes their name from the song, “Boogie Chillen” which was made famous by late Delta blues icon, John Lee Hooker. From Tennessee to Virginia to West Virginia, in bars and saloons and restaurants and festivals, Victor Lawson and Boogie Chillen’s exuberant, joyful music has made the band one of the area’s premier attractions. Stop by Salt Pond Pub every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 4:00-6:00 PM and enjoy live music along with food and drinks. Perfect for relaxing with the whole family (furry friends are welcome too). Link: http://www.nextthreedays.com/FeaturedEventDetails.cfm?E=776813
For all the 65+ big events happening this weekend, check out: • http://www.nextthreedays.com/featuredevents.cfm
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

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I originally played Wrathfinder up to Blackwater, where the enemies there made me stop playing and just never pick up the playthrough again. As many people will say, the encounter balance is kind of janky as hell and leads to situations like....well like Blackwater.
The biggest issue with encounters I had was that frankly, enemy spell resistance and AC could vary wildly and often would spike far too much to the point that an encounter became less like trying to win a CRPG fight and more like trying to break a coconut with a kitchen drawer of questionable implements. Like for instance, I had a reasonable time through most of Drezen but then I have to spend like 20 minutes trying to kill >! Joran Vhane !< simply because his AC is high enough I'm basically swinging at the world's most agile piñata. It's not like I don't like difficulty, I played BG3 on the hardest difficulty, most other CRPG or related games I've played on Hard or above. Unfortunately, Wrath's balancing is weird to say the least, thus, I must ask for aid.
How can I balance the difficulty settings, or install mods, or otherwise reduce the AC and Spell Resistance shenanigans of Wrathfinder without butchering the difficulty entirely? I'm also open to tactical suggestions but if its "Get outflank and use this specific necromancer lich build", that's not what I'm looking for.

We just got the kitchen aid ice cream attachment and it couldn’t be better! The first ice cream we made was a typical base with cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. We added Oreos. It was really good but as my husband said “not life changing”. How do we get some more flavor in there? I really do not want to use sweetened condensed milk or any added gums but I’m fine with some flavoring recommendations. Please drop any recipes here!

I have few stuff that can bring along:
Kitchen equipments: (Gas stove and cylinder, mixer grinder, toaster, all major cooking utensils.)
Hisense 43in smart TV.
I drink and smoke, a vegetarian though, will occasionally have friends stay over.

Well, the title really lists the problems. Please bare with me as this post will be quite long. First I'll introduce the problems a little more in-depth and then I will do my best to explain everything we have tried already.
I went to my local County shelter just kind of looking. My dog had passed away earlier that April (the one that just passed) and I was thinking maybe, if a dog really felt right, I would think about getting another. Truthfully my heart wasn't in it. I looked at dog after dog, but kept coming back to one. No, he's not the one I would up with. I thought he was going to be, but his dog aggression was too much for me to handle. I had raised aggressive and reactive dogs my entire adult life up to this point and simply didn't want to make the life style adjustments and changes anymore. I didn't want that level of commitment, responsibility, and training again so ultimately I decided against the one I really had my heart set on. The staff kept insisting they knew the dog I would love, so I caved and agreed to meet him. The connection was instant, but I didn't want to pull the trigger based only on that. the shelter does a "Dog Day Out" program where you fill out some paperwork and take the dog out for a day. So that's what I did with him. He did exceptional. His brother had been foster-to-adopt just a few days earlier.
With him being heartworm positive, I was unsure of adoption because I know heartworm treatment is pricey. I can afford what he needs, and a little extra, but I'm not made of money. I plan on just getting dog insurance to cover big things and emergencies. Anywho, the shelter does a foster-to-adopt program for dogs who are heartworm positive. Basically you just have their dog so that they have a place while they are getting healthy. I agreed to do this with the end goal of adopting him when he is healthy.
So I took almost two weeks of work to help get him adjusted to the house and kennel train him. I want him to be a free-about-the-house dog, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen for quite some time. His strength is tremendous and he can do quite a bit of damage- even to metal. So I kennel trained him in increments. Followed the basics to a T. The whole have the door open, toss treats in, step away, gradually increase time, graduate to closing door, blah blah blah. It was going VERY well and he was even going in there to nap. He was perfect in the kennel for hours on end but here's the catch, I was home. I started leaving a little at a time and that was okay until it wasn't. I ran out of time and had to go back to work, but he was so stressed and destructive that I put him in a dog day care near me. Not the traditional kind that you're thinking, but a different one where he gets his own indoor outdoor area and is mostly left alone, which he prefers. We did that while trying to continue his kennel training after work and on the weekends.
Well, I'm tapped out financially. Day care is $25 a day and it's just not sustainable so I had to rip the band aid off. He was on the max amount of Trazadone and Gabapentin so I thought it would go better than it did. It did not go well at all. I usually put him in the kennel at different times, just so he doesn't always associate the kennel with me leaving. And like I said, he does great when I'm home. When I leave it's game over. He lost his mind for 6 hours in the kennel and worked himself up immensely which is horrible for the heartworm treatment. I called the shelter and explained what happened, and they were just as surprised as I was that such a sedated dog would have so much stamina and energy. They gave me a third medication that we tried out today and while he's not being self-destructive he's still just crying for the entire day and not really settling. I have no help at home and no family here, so I have to go to work and pay my bills. I do not have a yard, but I do have a tie out and a collapsible fence I put out for him when I'm home to safely enjoy outdoor time while in our duplex.
I have also tried calming chews, diffusers, kongs, toppls, lick matts, stuffed bones, games, puzzle toys, treats, peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, hot dogs, you name it. He isn't food motivated so none of this has had the intended effect. It's quite the dilemma. I tried skipping breakfast, giving his meds, and then giving breakfast in his kennel and he still refused to eat. I tried to give dinner in his kennel that same day and he didn't eat again.
We go on long, calm walks as that's all we can currently do but it is clearly not enough, and I don't know how to provide mental enrichment for a dog that has no food or toy drive. He LOVES praise, but I can't train him with that while I'm not home. He also loves one-on-one time where I play fetch with him, but again, activity is limited.
I also tried setting up a sort of safe area in the house. I noticed that his favorite place is underneath the kitchen table, so I tried to make the kitchen the area where he stays during the day while I'm not home. That won't be working, which brings us back to square one.
The poor guy is absolutely miserable when I'm not home. He's not great about having strangers come into the home, so even if my neighbor offered to help me I don't know if that's a risk I'm willing to take. I've had him for a month now. I am not renewing this lease and am looking for a place with a yard to move to.
Any other ideas as to how we can get around and train through this? I am ALL ears!
He is a 4 y/o Anatolian Shepherd. No, I did not know anything about the breed when I got him. Yes, I have researched since then but can't really do anything for him as he undergoes this treatment. No, I do not want to give up on him but agreed that I would surrender to a better foster with the land for him. No such one has come forward, and I hope they don't. I want this to work and will have a yard for him, Lord willing, by the end of the year. Yes, i actually live entirely alone and no neighborhood kids cannot help. that does not feel safe. These are just common questions I've been asked haha.

I got hearing aids again after a long time last year. First 6 months were great, I adjusted to them, soon enough I could even wear them on road trips and the car on the road can be a bit loud.
Fast forward to October, what I think is the origin of what happened, I had a work function in a large kitchen. I couldn’t hear anyone. There was a lot of noise, buzzing, clanking glasses. It was my first time in that kind of environment with the hearing aids. I adjusted them higher, and higher and higher but still nothing. Mind you they were set pretty low usually and the maximum I could put them at was what was really recommended. I had no sensitivity to sound from doing that. It was all in comfortable range but I still couldn’t hear anyone. I can’t believe I went that high because I had damage from noise before!
But I have suffered from tinnitus and sound sensitivity ( hyperacusis) all my life, to the point of fainting.
2 weeks later after this event I got louder tinnitus in one ear again. But this was really bad. I pretty much lost hearing in it. I thought it’s an infection. But it wasn’t. Within another month it cleared up. Then in January (2 months later) it randomly came back again after eating in a restaurant with them on. It was so bad that I had to wear noise cancelling headphones for 1.5 months on and off to calm the tinnitus. Doesn’t help I have loud birds at home. I had to completely protect myself from them. In December however in between these flare ups I travelled by airplane and that didn’t bother my ears!? I played loud karaoke too. It’s just so strange.
Finally it went away long enough, and now it’s late May, it’s returning after what I think was leaving them on by accident when passing a kitchen fridge.
Less and less is needed to set off my ear buzzing and hearing loss.
What is this? All these events are assumptions. Idk if even these caused it. I tend to get migraines with these flare ups. An MRI showed lesions but opposite ear…
Can you become sensitive to HAs? I only have been wearing them in quiet office environment until I recover from this.
I had my birds scream, went on road trips, played music without the HAs and notably that did not affect my tinnitus this much meanwhile. I just can’t stand certain noises with them in!? I can’t even say all loud noises bother me. It’s specifically coming dishes or fridge buzzing. I can trace all my flare ups to something in the work kitchen/food environment!? Then during a flare up I specifically can’t listen to my phone or talk on the phone

My dishwasher will start, but quickly powers off.
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to tell if it is an electrical issue or a dishwasher issue?
I’d love to avoid paying for two separate repair visits if I choose wrong.

My 1980's

Although life seemed dreary and bleak it wasn’t, I just got a brand new pair of roller boots. It took me a while then I got the hang of them I was one of the first in my street to get a pair so there were all the neighbors' kids wanting a go on them. I let some of the people play with them I charged them 10 pence and got myself my own lunch in school for a week I felt like a had a job. My mum was in wonder all the time, I was pulling out money in all directions and she couldn’t put food on the table. So I done the right thing gave her last four pounds I managed to save and we had a hearty meal for about three days. If she was happy I was happy. My sisters were jealous of all the new friends I made because of my roller boots. They devised a plan that would leave me hurt and embarrassed. Dyane took a screwdriver from the kitchen drawer and went out to the landing. She had to be very quiet because the full close echoed and you didn’t want to wake up Maggie Murphy, she stayed on the top floor and mum said if we were bad in any way we would need to go to Maggie Murphy’s house and live. Truth be told we never actually seen Maggie we just heard how bad she was usually just after we got caught being mischievous. Dyane took the screwdriver and took out four screws from the wheel and soul of the boot. This was dangerous and silly but sibling rivalry in our home wasn’t rare. Me having no idea about the looseness of the skates would go out on them tomorrow to show off, because I was great at the stopping and starting. Dyane tiptoed back down the hallway putting the tool back in the drawer and sneaking to bed, I heard a noise but thought nothing of it and as quick as I reacted I was asleep. The morning time hit and it was Saturday, I loved Saturday me they always seemed to go on forever and some of the best times you had my age are on a Saturday, So my dad used to say anyway. Now four people at my bit had roller boots and we wanted to go do something like a skating trip to the loch six miles away, we would walk up and then skate around a few times, it was only six miles away near Coatbridge. My dad used to say we should move to Coatbridge he said that’s where all the catholic family’s stayed. My dad was one of them activist people you hear about fighting for the cause he called it. I don’t really understand what that meant but I grew up with him so what he did I copied naturally. We arrived at the loch a whole hour later, the reason we got there late is that my mate Richey saw an ice cream van driving about and we wanted some sweeties and chocolate for a picnic we thought since we’re going to the loch we might as well get hyper on all the chocolate. When we got to the ice cream van we heard music coming from it. “ A band called wham” the guy said it was impressive. I didn’t get know what a jitterbug was but I sure wanted one after hearing that song. We bought all this sugar filled sherbet and chocolate for the park of course most of it was gone by the time we got there. It was quite chilly at Drumpellier Loch that day. In fact it’s always cold I don’t ever remembering it being warm in the slightest. Maybe I should have learned and brought a coat. But I am young what can I do? That’s what mum used to use an excuse when I did bad stuff like smash Mrs Roberts’s window with a frog that time. I know it sounds weird a frog. How the hell? Basically I went to the burn one day in my wellies to get tadpoles, caught loads of the things I was well chuffed. I left them in a tub under my bed, forgetting about them they grew eventually to frogs. I smelt this horrible smell one day and went under the bed; a place mum dare not go. There were four small frogs they must have eaten the smaller frogs to survive. I was happy but scared in case mum found out no doubt she’d get Maggie down to shout as me or I’d have to see her my mum says her face has scars and she’s a real rough hooker, or looker. I cant remember what she said that well. I threw the frogs out the back window not knowing my mum was there I screamed and she turned her head I tried to lob the frog over the bin area walls onto the grass behind before she realised that I wasn’t just popping my head out to say hello. She continued hanging the washing unaware that I just threw a frog through Mrs Roberts’s window and she was now chasing a frog about her kitchen screaming. Shortly my mum noticed a distress and went over to see what was going on by this time she had got a lot of attention, she was still in pursue of the hopper her Zima frame couldn’t keep up with the feisty cannibal frog. My mum turned around and gave me THE STARE. This was meant for really bad times its as if just in that moment when she realises what you have done, death posses her looks straight at you, the saying goes” if looks could kill” My mums looks wouldn’t just kill they would torture, slap you with the big ring hand and chase you with a belt until you said sorry. Then kill you. We sat around the loch looking at the evil swan monster from the side cautiously “because they can kill you with one wing”. Richey said. The loch was nice and we seen all the baby ducks they were lovely better pet than frogs but the park ranger said we couldn’t lift them up because they weren’t ducks they were baby swans and that was the reason the big mum swan was hissing at us. We ran away. Two other guys we were with, whose names escape me left the two of us about an hour later Richey and me stayed and eventually put our boots on and started skating. “My feet feel weird man,” I said twice rolling down the biggest hill. Suddenly and without warning one of my Skates broke, the back wheel went flying and so did I. Right into the loch.. Richey stopped looked in shock and came chasing after me. I was in the water I couldn’t swim I was being pulled out into the middle, apparently underground suction pipes cleaned the water its been known before for people to get caught in these pipes and drown, so the stories say. I was scared and screaming. Miles from the rubber ring thing and Richey leaped in and swam toward me in a daze of water and faintness. The last words I remember speaking were “Please don’t let me die. My life flashed before my eyes. It showed me my family, my mum and uncle tam, my dad and sisters the two of them. I collapsed into the water. Blurry vision and a sore head I awoke in a hospital bed. My sister was crying.”Dyane why are you crying are you okay? Who died?” I said. “You nearly died. You and it was my fault I was jealous of the attention. I broke your skates please! Oh please don’t tell mum,” she replayed. I made a promise never to speak of it again because I loved my sisters and this is beyond Maggie Murphy bad this was like adoption bad. That was when these people who you don’t know come to your house and take your kids away. I saw it happen to Mr Higgins on my street. After his wife died of alcohol abuse or aids I forget what one. He was left with his two daughters and mum said “freaky going on in that house son I tell ye.” Later that week they took his daughters to a far away place, called Paisley. I never heard of it. My mum was still in shock and I was still in bed recovering now at home. Richey came to see me. He was always talking about the loch and what happened I didn’t like hearing about it because I was still a bit shaken up, even worse than that time I was dangled with my feet over the top flat veranda as a dare. When I got better mum made her lovely soup she did in the big pot, that’s when you know the family is coming. To see me apparently, because of what happened. I ate my soup so fast because I never had anything decent to munch in when I was bed resting except fruit, oh and did you know? Tomatoes are a fruit. I learned that when the doctor told me to eat healthy to regain stealth and fitness. For the next couple of weeks the house smelt like damp, it was cold and we thought the roof was going to fall in so we had to be moved out to number 65 at the top of the road before anything serious happened. A month later still nothing heard. A whole Three months went before it happened. “BOOOM” our old house roof blew right off. A gas explosion the papers said. I thought getting the damp was lucky meant where not dead. Mum seen this as a sign and my sisters where pretty hurt because they said they wanted to grow up in that house until they could leave. Mum seen this as a curse she said we didn’t go to Chappell enough and that’s what god does to protestant houses. Time past, three years in fact I left school and got myself a job working on the Glasgow building site near Easterhouse. I used to have to walk through a bad area known at Toi. Barlanark and Toi fought every weekend in a gang fight. I tried not to take part but sometimes you get caught in the middle and the anger builds up and you just burst into this infuriated madman and punch and kick and even throw glass bottles. Gang fighting at my bit was notorious, crazy and violent. I remember getting a taxi home one night and I said Barlanark please. The taxi driver looked at me like a just spat on his wain and said,” bit rough there is it no” “ if you know the right people life goes by without trouble.” I said to him. He locked the taxi doors and rolled up the windows thinking I wasn’t going to pay because the area I live in. I paid him the fair but no tip and headed down the badly lightened lane toward my door. I saw a couple of shadowy figures at My Close wondering what was going on but being sly and not letting them see me. One of the men came into light and I recognised him from Toi. This wasn’t a good sign. They had a petrol Bomb. My mum and dad are in that house; my sisters are away on a school trip thankfully. I didn’t want anything to happen to my folks because of something I did stupidly getting involved with a gang fight. Then it occurred to me they aren’t going to throw that in my house. They were after Richey. He got into some trouble with a drug dealer and couldn’t pay him for whatever reason and this was his revenge. I needed a distraction to help out my mate. “ OI the polis” I shouted. The thugs then lit the petrol Bomb and threw it toward his window “Catholic junkie scum” I heard them shout. The bomb missed the middle floor flat of the close and Landed at the bottom of the stairs. I shouted up to him to bring down water then looked down. I was on fire. “Stop drop and roll stop drop and roll,” I kept saying so I did I had to take of my jeans and stomp on them. They where ruined. In the midst of all the smoke and fire the whole street appeared to see what the commotion was. Richey ran down to see if I was okay. The police arrived. Sectarianism and gang fighting was major in Barlanark. Tensions were always high in the local pub. I’ve witnessed a chair going through the window more than once. Tension mounted because of the football game. The Winners cup, the final round. Celtic v Rangers. Celtic won. Rangers and Celtic fans everywhere caused mayhem. Our street once again divided between religions. What religion had to do with football I don’t know but the hatred between these people, once friends now enemies because of a football team. All I heard was I.R.A, U.D.A. it was nothing new that’s all you got in the news papers as well for four years there’s been non stop terror. Because of religion. Living in Glasgow in this time is like living in Ireland. There was so much temptation going on around me it was just a matter of time before I got sucked in to a fight or three. Dad died, man it was a hard time. Depression hit my mum hard, my sisters now lived in a flat in Castlemilk. Apparently it was the new up and coming council housing area, two times the size of Easterhouse. I was still in Barlanark with My mum after the funeral. She was getting to that age she needed me more than I needed her and if I went it would break her heart. So I lived with her and we where happy. I know this may seem rude but when dad died it was like mum became this new person. Like a weight had been lifted. The depression lasted a whole four weeks then she said “ what am I doing at this cooker I’m not a ball and chain anymore.” I laughed to lighten the mood. Mum was right she could fulfil her dreams now. They weren’t exciting but she could work now. Dad never let her work “ I’m the bread winner.” He used to shout when she brought it up in discussion. Now my uncle Tam can get her a job cleaning in the school, he was the janitor. They always needed an extra hand at the old primary. My mum aged forty and me aged nineteen lives was finally going in the right direction. The eighties have nearly passed. And the nights are filled with laughter in my house. I have grown up and I know what is wrong and what is right. I didn’t know before but now I do. It was 1989 and I decided to celebrate my 21st birthday in style at a club called McKinley in Shettleston.. I invited Richey I’ve not spoken to him since he got off drugs but his dad told me he was much better and life for him was promising. We left my house and went to the pub before the club to get a round in, as it was my birthday I didn’t pay it was ace. Mum was all chuffed and in her best gear for the night ahead. Everyone had their cameras out for a night to remember. “Richey mate how’s life?” I shouted at the bar when he walked in. “happy 21st man” he replied. It’s not long till Richey turns 21, a couple of months. He looked healthier after a bad turn in the winter the night before. Walking into the club there was balloons and banners all pre set. It was the best’ nothing could ruin this night. The drinks kept flowing and the laughter echoed through the night until about 2 o’clock in the morning. “Mate, mate I know its your day but I have news. You want to come outside for a fag and I’ll tell you,” said Richey. “ Ay mate no worries wait out side I’m just saying bye to my mum she’s heading home.” I replayed. The cold air hit you when you left the club and the streets where filled with siren noises and muffled conversation. We sat and he looked it me with a worried look on his face. I knew this look. I remembered this look. “I saved your life once and you saved my house from burning years ago. We are best mates and nothing ever going to change that. I’m sorry I’ve not been there for you man. I’ve been ill. It wasn’t drugs man I wasn’t on drugs the paleness the injections the staying in the house all the time, my dad said it was drugs but its not. My dad said it was a Poofs illness and I was never supposed to get it. I have aids.” He cried. I never said a word I looked at him. I hugged him. I never knew anyone to get aids before except Freddy Mercury. “So does that mean you’re a gay?” I asked not knowing much about the disease. “ No mate woman carry it to!” he said calmly. “ I wont make my 21st so I’ve been celebrating with you tonight., sorry I didn’t tell you, the chick you seen me with she’s not my girlfriend she’s a nurse. It’s a good distraction thought mate she’s sexy.” I laughed sobbingly and told Richey that his secret was safe with me and we continued to have a blast until 4am. Hangover kicks in and I ask myself if it was a dream, “did Richey actually tell me that stuff last night.” He did I know he did, damn. Months pass and time grows shorter for the lad down the road. Richey moved to a hospice near Airdrie. That’s where he would die. I never visited. I couldn’t. Even the thought of me going there and seeing him in some state killed me inside. A week later I was carrying the coffin of my once best pal. Who saved my life once? He did. I saved his life too. He was there for me; I’ll never forget him never never never……… New year 1990, “a toast to Richey in heaven” I yelled.” to Richey” they all said. My 1980's
December 04, 2011

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As always, thank you to u/SpacePaladin15 for the wonderful universe that is NoP! Thank you to u/cruisingNWfor proof reading and helping me make this chapter as good as it can be, you're the man! Honestly LoM wouldn't have gone very far without him! If you haven't you should absolutely go read Foundations of Humanity! It's very good! :D
A big thanks to u/Saint-Andros for helping with proofreading! He writes Out of Our Elements which is a very good one! If you like a good fic in the wilderness and a pair of cute 'friends' ;) you'll love OOE!
Also thank you to u/brotanics! For this wonderful fanart of Taisa. And this one! She's so cute I'm gonna die
And thank you to u/Jimdandy117! For this adorable fanart of Chris and Renkel! Dear god help he's adorable I love him so much
Thank you u/SlimyRage, or AsciiSquid on Discord, for makin' Vengineer Taisa Gamin'. She's absolutely adorable, I love her lil' workers apron. She looks so excited to get to work!
Thank you u/Braquen! For this astounding Pixel Art of Taisa after a few range day dates with Chris! Her little hat and gunbelt are absolutely astounding!
Thank you u/VeryUnluckyDice! For this Artwork of Taisa and Chris as characters from One Piece! I've never seen or read it before but it's incredibly cute!
Thank you to u/creditmission for their wonderful work of several LoM fanfics!
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Memory Transcription Subject: Taikel, Venlil Farmer, Venlil-Human Exchange Host
Date [Standardized Human Time]: October 18th, 2136
Polani guide her light… please.
My heart hurt as I awoke to the familiar clatter of the window’s auto blinds snapping me to consciousness, rousing me from my sleep as golden twilight rays filled the room, forcing me to follow through. Everything felt tighter, stiffer, more painful as I slowly rose upright, my paws finding and pressing into the tension at the base of my neck, my eyes squeezing shut as I did everything I could to push past the tide of reality falling on my shoulders.
Rensa laid at my side while her occasional muffled beep drifted from her as she was lost in whatever dreams her medicine had brought to her mind this time. She’d cried into my shoulder when she’d broken from them after the accident, wailing about the horrid events and images she’d been forced to endure, or relive, in the nights of her dreams. All I could hope was that her stillness was a good sign that she wasn’t haunted by those horrors again; old, or new.
The heavy weight hanging on my eyelids beckoned me to give in, to turn over and bury myself back into the covers, to hide from the thought of what we’d los-
No. Not yet.
The thought of losing them. The UN hadn’t confirmed anything and wouldn’t for a few more paws - or ever, Stars willing - but Taisa’s silence set ice in my veins. Until then, I had to push forward to help Rensa and to keep Renkel’s spirits up. Even if it meant I’d have an even farther fall.
And if they are gone, they wouldn’t want you to sit and rot away in bed. Keep everything together, gray coat, for them-
A tight, high whimper from my love, my life beside me all but shattered my heart.
And for her.
I leaned over, gently licking Rensa’s cheek before tucking the blankets a little tighter around her and slipping myself free from beneath their enticing embrace. I wasn’t entirely alright; wouldn’t be until I knew, for better or worse. Until then… Until then I’d do everything I could to make them proud.
The wood beneath my paws let out a long, sighing creak as I rose from the bed, pushing myself out into the hall before gently sliding the door closed behind me. This waking, for Renkel at least, would be no different than any other waking he had off from school. Not if I had anything to say about it.
The stairs were silent as I descended, turning into the open living room and staring at the hearth for a long moment, doing my best to keep my attention off of Chris’ empty room and onto the task at hand. I let out a long sigh, flapping my ears to try and batter the thoughts away as I padded into the kitchen. Warm pops and wet hisses of my cooking soon filled the air as I set about making first-meal with a hearty helping of Human vegetables.
Before I knew it the soft click-clack of pup-claws sounded from the stairs as Renkel followed his tongue to find a steaming bowl of scramble waiting for him.
“Good waking, Rekan.” I whistled, doing my best to shear the melancholy from my voice as he clambered up into his seat, clutching one of his Human ‘Animal Encyclopedias’ close to his chest. “How was your rest?”
“Good! I dream’d’d of fishies!” He exclaimed before thumping the book on the table and flicking it open to a page with the dull, speckled flanks of some massive fish that dwarfed the Human swimming next to it. “That one! It’s my favorite!”
A small titter of amusement slipped from my snout at the fickleness of a pup’s interests. “Oh really now? I thought you said the Manta Ray was your favorite!”
“Muh-uh! Whale sharks is way cooler! Look how big it is! And it swims around with its mouth open like the manta but way bigger!” Renkel groaned, tossing his arms as wide as his maw in imitation of the gargantuan fish.
“Well you’ll have to tell me all about them!” I whistled in return, serving myself a steaming bowl of the mix before knocking the heat down to keep it warm for Rensa… whenever she woke up.
“What’s wrong, Papa?” >Alright?< My son asked with his, curious, worried eyes staring up at me past the wisps of steam drifting from his food. “Is Mama ok?”
“She’s… She’s alright, son. Her leg’s hurting her a lot lately. Everything going on has got her real worried, is all.” >Everything Fine.< I answered, my voice sounding far more sure of the words than I felt as I paused for a moment. >Eat Up!<
His attention hung on me for a few moments longer before he let out a happy, satisfied beep and launched into an explanation of everything he found interesting about these ‘Whale Sharks’, only pausing to breathe and stuff whole skewers of vegetables into his mouth. The enthusiasm of a pup never did fail to amaze, and Renkel certainly had enough to go around! Our bowls were soon finished and empty, but Renkel kept going, happily whistling on about how their gills worked and how their coloring was to protect them from predators. Before long the dishes were cleared and in the sink, all except for one.
She needs to eat.
“Tell ya what, Rekan, you find yourself a few more facts and you can teach me even more about them after I give your Mama her first-meal. How’s that sound?”
“More fishie facts!” He exclaimed with glee, his paws in the air as he rocked back in his chair before plunging straight back into his book. My paw slipped beneath his bowl, scooping a fresh serving into it before gently nuzzling the studious pup’s crown on my way to the stairs. His happy whistles faded as I plodded up the old wooden steps, stopping for a moment at the door to mine and Rensa’s room, my paw hovering above the door-slide as I listened for any sign that she’d stirred.
I didn’t hear any.
The door whined as I gently slid the door aside and found her awake, staring at her cupped paws with a vacant expression. Her ears swung in my direction as I stepped in, only for a moment, while I did my best to keep my voice positive as I approached with food in paw. “Good Waking, Sweetheart.”
A small, grumbled ‘Good Waking, Love’ was all she could muster for me as she stared at the black bead cradled in her paw.
So soon?
“Your leg feeling any better?” I whispered as I set the bowl of scramble and glass of water on the bedside before gently taking my place at her side.
“Not really.” She hissed, her voice distant as an unladen paw kneaded at the border of her wool and the leg’s interface plate, squeezing her eyes shut and drawing in a long breath before shaking her head, her tail bobbing a succinct >Not at all.<
“Maybe some food will help.” I whispered, gently trading the bead for her bowl and skewer and setting it on the bedside before softly pressing my snout to her’s.
She was quiet, staring into her food for a long moment, her eyes puffy and orange. >Don’t think so. Gone.<
Tears pooled at the corner of my eyes, burning like firefruit oil as I twined my tail around what little of hers hung over the side of the bed, squeezing tight as I could to ground my wife to what of this world, of our family, we had left. Her paws moved, slowly poking the skewer into the food before raising it to her mouth, and then again and again before the bowl and glass were empty.
“I…” Rensa let out a small sigh, setting the bowl on the old bedside with a loud clunk before her tail squeezed, weakly, back into mine. “Th-Thank you, Love.”
“It’s ok, Sweetheart.” I replied, leaning into her side and soaking in the silence that stifled the space between us. She sucked in a pained gasp as her free paw found its way back to the remains of her leg, clutching the wool tight. “W-Were the meds helping any, last paw?”
>Yes.< Her tail flicked slowly, almost reluctantly as I watched tears gather in the folds of her squinted eyes.
I rose, gently nuzzling her crown with a forlorn mewl before guiding her paw back to mine for a moment, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be right back.”
I hate to see her like this, more than I hate seeing her drifting a while. At least then she’s not crying from the pain. Not suffering…
I rushed to the bathroom, ripping open the closet and retrieved the damned bottle. A single pill tumbled into my paw, the remainder clacking noisily against the sides as I slipped them back into the box they had been stowed in. The little tan capsule churned my stomach as I looked down at it, horrid memories sprouting in my mind. The memories of the paw of the accident and the herds after it where she was despondent, from the pills and the loss of her career.
If those two are gone…
My tail shuddered, trying to shake the creeping vines of despair free from my heart at the thought before I drew in a deep breath, steeling myself and stepping back into the bedroom. Rensa stared up at me as I approached, her eyes filled with worry as I settled back down on the bed beside her, holding the pill out on my paw. She hesitated, her tail curling as her attention slid from me down to the proffered pill before her eyes squeezed shut and her paw seized as hard as her leg, digging her claws into her pads with a low, pained mewl.
“Please, Sweetheart…” I trailed off, my paw sliding over hers to try and calm her squeezing claws from hurting herself further. I’d seen her draw her own blood far too many times.
A soft gasp sucked into her mouth as she leaned forward, wrapping her paws around me with a stifled cry before accepting the pill and downing it with a sip from her glass. “I-I’m sorry, Love.”
“It’s ok, Sweetheart.” I soothed, pulling her close to me as I ran my paws through her wool, doing my best to drive the sorrow burrowing in my heart away. “It’s ok…”
Her sobs began to fade as the medicine took hold, her arms slackening around me a little before she let out a harrowingly familiar, relieved sigh. “Thhhank you, Taikel…”
I couldn’t bring myself to answer in kind as I pulled her closer, fighting away the tears pooling at the corners of my eyes. Instead I settled on easing her back on the bed before gently nuzzling her snout, receiving a passive mumble of acknowledgement as I stood from the bedside, stopping to stare down at the black bead on the bedside, quietly pawing it before I padded through the door to the upper landing. I paused. Took a breath. And another. Willing myself to stifle the rattle in my throat before I faced my son again. There was little more I could do for her right now; at least the meds might let her sleep for a while longer.
The stairs beneath my paws clicked and creaked between the amazed whistles and beeps of Renkel still at the island meeting my ears; most certainly still enamored with his book. Quietly I found my way to the hearth, doing my best not to alert the pup as I gently opened the Heartwood box Rensa and I had made when we’d married, staring down into the void-black padding at the singular circle of white, Amarek wood at its center.
When we’d made it her father had insisted that, according to tradition, this was where it was meant to be, in the middle of everything else in your life. That the chest that held your darkest days should live with the rest of your joy until it would in turn join the others in the tapestry of your life.
We’d only ever used one since we’d married… I had hoped we wouldn’t need anot-
No. Not until you know.
My ears battered away the despair sprouting in my chest as the bead slipped into place, standing in stark contrast to the brilliant wood encircling it like an eye peering back up at me while the lid slowly closed over it, shielding the burrow from the pain it held. I pulled in a quiet breath before turning, squeezing my eyes shut again to hold back the tears I knew were just one bad assumption, one errant thought, one horrid message away from spilling forth.
The pup whirled around as I stepped behind him, peering over his shoulder to see what new tidbits of information he was foraging for this time. A new picture of the massive fish was spread across the page, this one taken from above the water looking over the side of some vessel staring down at the animal through glimmering, crystal clear waters.
“I wonder if Chris has ever seen a whale shark! That’d be so cool!” Renkel exclaimed, his tail zipping back and forth excitedly as he tapped at the page. “I bet he’s been all over the carry-bean!”
A pang of grief flashed through my heart at the mention of the missing pair, the feeling festering for a long, gut wrenching moment before I whispered to him over his shoulder. “I’ll bet he has, son, and I bet he’ll be happy to tell you all about it when they get back!”
Then if they c- When. WHEN they come home, I’m going to give them both ears so full the stars above will hear everything I’ve got to say.
And then some.
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Memory Transcription Subject: Taisa, Venlil Starship Engineer, Crystal Star Shipping Co-Owner
Date [Standardized Human Time]: October 19th, 2136
Another paw of sun-scorched hell. Stars, I hope Mama and Papa are alright….
The pad in my paws was still harrowingly silent as I gazed down at the screen, a trail of my own messages dotting their way up the screen had gone unanswered these last two paws. Letting them know that we’d made it out safe, what we’d been doing, when I thought we’d be home…
Polani shook and shuddered as Chris brought her around again, shaking me from my thoughts as we passed over charred, smoldering tracts of forests on the eastern side of the crash site that looked like little more than blasted ashen sticks. It’d been a sleepless night as we rushed to help quench the fire the Glorious Pyre and the Twilight Star’s drives set when they’d crashed. The U.N. had leapt to invoke our contract again, putting us to work shuttling material, equipment and water to put out the inferno that threatened Chris’ home and the surrounding areas. Thankfully they hadn’t sent any Arxur for us to shuttle!
The fact that they were here. That they were helping. That they’d even showed up to Humanity’s defense in the first place was… it was unthinkable!
Every stray glance I was forced to see them, every plodding step they took, every reverberating growl of their horrid language and every time I caught one of them staring at me like I was little more than a cut of meat to hunt, to chase, to toy with… Sent shivers down my spine and out my tail.
I hated it.
Hated them.
Hated what I’d seen them do on the Cradle, what one of them had done to me. What one of them had made Chris do to protect me. Hated what they’d made us have to see, hear, and live through. It didn’t matter what they were here for, it bought no good will of mine. Chris promised to protect me again if we got assigned to moving any of them, that he’d happily put another bullet in one of them before chancing the possibility of losing someone else.
Annabelle.
He, and the rest of his family, were still holding out hope that they’d find her and the rest of her bunker beneath what little was left of what had been the outskirts of London. I wanted to be hopeful with them, to pray and call and beg to every star I could see, every star I could name for her to have been spared but… but the pictures didn’t look good. The scattered rubble that had once been so many Human cities left the bitter taste of bile and sorrow in my mouth as I thought about the millions of lives the federation I’d once believed in had snuffed out in a flash.
The monsters I’d once championed had tried to take everything from Chris, from his Family, from all of us. From Me. They’d stolen parents from their children, shattered families, people, communities and cultures that they’d turned to ash in the wake of their failure. So much gone, so much destroyed, so much lost, so much taken.
Taken.
Because of their fear. Because of their hatred. Because of their cowardice.
Because of their weakness.
“At least the fires are out.” Chris sighed, the long, forlorn sound gently pulling me from the anger simmering in my chest. “Ma, Pa, an’ Ryan’ll be alright, so long’s the Peacekeepers actually do their job with trackin’ down those… stragglers.”
“Let them burn or let them rot for all I care.” I grumbled, staring out the viewscreen down at the devastated countryside below; images of Chris’ family, tears in their eyes as they huddled around their TV looking for any information they could find about Annabelle. “It’s the least they’d wanted to do to us.”
“‘Much as they fuckin’ deserve it…” His voice cracked as a flash of concern passed over his face while he glanced over at me, hesitating for a moment before responding. “Probably for the best we don’t reinforce what everyone the arm over already thinks of us.”
>Fair.<
“‘Specially not the new friends we picked up, doubt the Zurulians would be particularly big fans of Humans doing… that to prisoners.” He sighed, righting Polani from her bank before guiding her nose around, across the horizon, and back towards Blacksburg, the hum of her thrusters building to a mournful, crackling wail as they pushed us onward. “For now though, let's get some food in us; Ma’s bound to have something good.”
My tail twitched at the idea of a belly full of Darlene’s wonderful red beans and rice to try and take my worried mind off of the world of ash and fire smoldering around us as a meek mewl slipped from my mouth. “Thank you, Love.”
I swear to the stars above:
I’ll get even for what they’ve done.
[Advance Transcription by Time Unit: 1.5 Hours]
The comfortingly warm weight of Darlene’s cooking settled in my stomach as I sunk back into the chair, my tail wrapped tight around Chris’ leg. Darlene stared through the window out at the pasture beyond, passively scrubbing grime and grit away from the white pot in her hands as the sound of running water filled the air.
“Where’s Ryan now?” Chris grumbled as he scooped another mouthful of meat, beans and rice from his bowl.
“Out ‘helping’ ‘gain.” Darlene sighed, setting the pot on her drying rack with a ringing clang as she turned to point a wooden spoon at an empty plaque on the wall. “At least Cobb’s gon’ go out with ‘im.”
“Boy went out an’ got hisself hurt on ‘nother planet and now he’s damned well set to go on ‘n get hurt again on this’n.” Michael grunted, anger in his voice as he flicked through article after article on the pad sitting on the counter in front of him. “‘Tween those fire-crazy exterminators and these god-damned lizards I ‘on’t find myself thinkin’ this shit’s hardly a good idea.”
“Pa’, come on, you know how he fe-” Chris started, swallowing his food as he leaned forward over the counter, his response cut short by the ringing chimes sounding out from both of our pads.
TO: CRYSTAL STAR SHIPPING
FROM: THOMAS ASHFORTH
NORFOLK AID PICKUP
Your services are required to move the personnel and material listed in the attached manifest from the subject port to the following aid sites:
U.N. COALITION NEW YORK AID AND RESCUE CAMP - 06
U.N. COALITION NEW YORK AID AND RESCUE CAMP - 11
U.N. COALITION NEW YORK AID AND RESCUE CAMP - 14
Thank you,
Thomas Ashforth
U.N. Logistics Coordinator
A manifest was attached, listing off everything from pallets of food, medical supplies, material for expanding the aid camps, a pawful of Zurulians and U.N. staff an-
Oh Stars.
My blood ran cold as my tail tightened around Chris’ ankle, a small, weak, terrified mewl weeping from my snout at the sight of the final thing on the list.
Arxur Volunteers.
A low growl built at my side as Chris stared down at his pad, his fists tightening around the pad until his knuckles were white with the strain. “Rat fucking bastards.”
>We have to.<
He nodded, his mouth tight with anger as the scrape of his stool sounded across the room while he rose to his feet. His hair tossed about as he shook his head, doing his best to drive off whatever thoughts were raging behind his eyes as he looked over to me, gently slipping his leg free from my tail before he marched to his room, Roscoe’s wagging tail close at his side. The comforting, familiar thump of his boots on hardwood marked his return just as fast as he’d left, the glint of his pistol holstered across his chest and the soft shine of the rifle hanging from his shoulder telling me everything I needed to know.
“Together?”
“Together.”
---
Memory Transcription Subject: Rensa, Venlil Farmer & Ex-Exterminator, Venlil-Human Exchange Host
Date [Standardized Human Time]: October 20th, 2136
Fire’s gone. Pain. Gone. Daughter. Taisa. Gone.
My mind swam as I stared at the stars high above the Warren, drifting in a sea of white, black, and gray, feeling little but the chill of the glass of gin resting in my paw alongside the whispering cold of twilight’s winds. The occasional drift of odd colors floated through the air, harvesting my attention from the morass of nothing that had filled this paw and the one before it. Warbling sound filled my ear, vibrating the left side of my vision and sending new waves of kaleidoscopic colors across the sky.
I was hallucinating again. It’d been a while.
Dr. Poreth had told me a long time ago not to mix; it hadn’t stopped me then and it certainly couldn’t stop me now. Besides, they were a far better distraction than anything else I had right now. So instead I sit and stare at the sky, watching the pretty colors.
They were just as real as anything else.
A tide of messages from Taisa had bolted through my pad early this waking, from before the bombing. Each one the last I’d ever hear from her. The last words I’d ever see from my darling daughter. Renkel still didn’t understand, the pup happily chirping away about when they’d be back, about his next paw at school and about going with Taikel to one of the shelters in a claw or so to try and help ‘keep their spirits up’. Through the haze I envied him, wishing and pleading to Polani that I could have that same youthful hope.
Even if it would just be cut down by the scythe of the real world.
The glass in my paws slips away as the wavering rays of the sun are blocked, quickly replaced by another, and a soft nuzzle on my crown. Taikel’s wavering voice floated across my ears, still filled with mournful sorrow. I can’t make out the words but Renkel’s upbeat whistles tell me enough; they’re off to the shelter.
Barely seems worth it with them gone.
I weakly return the nuzzle, barely leaving my chair with my leg feeling like little more than juicefruit pulp as Taikel’s shadow slips past me, Renkel asking something I can’t quite make out past the fog.
So strong, stronger than me.
The rumble of the truck’s engine shuddering to life sends waves of green across my vision, accompanied by the crunch of gravel following after it before it fades into the distant hum of tires on the road. Alone again. The fog falls back in around me, stifling the sounds of nature that had begun to creep in at the edges of my mind. I sink again, staring up at the sky, watching the drifting colors and clouds as I sip at the liquid fire in my glass.
At least it helped smother the fire eating my leg and dull the storm in my mind.
The sound of my pad letting out a painfully familiar chime on the table split the air, stirring me from my stupor to clumsily paw at it to go silent. The offending sound faded, replaced by the isolating silence that I’d craved; at least in it I didn’t have to think about what I’d lost.
About the tricks my mind was playing on me.
A long, deliberate sigh fell from my snout as I pressed my paw into the thready wool near the stump that’d once been my leg, trying to push the pain away as best I could before reaching, once again, for my gin. Before my paw met the star-slicked glass flanks my pad bleated out the same, mocking chime.
A growl built in my throat as I grasped at it, angrily hurling the offending electronic phantom what few tails my numb shoulder could manage.
Another trick of my mind
Another message from Taisa’s ghost.
Another claim that the Arxur were ‘helping’ them.
Another promise of them coming home when they were done.
Another mote of hope sprouted before being ripped from my grasp.
Another paw of despair.
Another river of tears.
Another dose.
---
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