1. Imagery: Prompt: Choose a setting (real or imaginary) and describe it using detailed sensory imagery. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells, and textures to create a vivid scene, just like a painter with words.
   
2. Metaphor: Prompt: Compare a personal experience to an everyday object or phenomenon in an unexpected way. For example, "My heart is a compass that always points to the north of your laughter."
   
3. Simile: Prompt: Write a series of similes to express intense emotions. For instance, "As brave as a lion facing the storm, as fragile as a petal in the wind."
   
4. Rhyme: Prompt: Craft a short poem or lyrics with a consistent rhyme scheme. Experiment with different rhyme patterns (ABAB, AABB, etc.) to enhance the musicality of your writing.
   
5. Meter: Prompt: Compose a poem with a specific meter, such as iambic pentameter. Pay attention to the syllabic beats in each line to create a rhythmic flow.
   
6. Alliteration: Prompt: Create a tongue-twisting line using alliteration. Focus on the repetition of initial consonant sounds to add a playful or musical quality to your writing.
   
7. Assonance: Prompt: Write a passage where the vowel sounds within words echo each other. Experiment with different vowel combinations to create a melodic effect.
   
8. Personification: Prompt: Choose an inanimate object and personify it. Describe its actions, thoughts, and emotions as if it were a living being.
   
9. Symbolism: Prompt: Select an object or element and explore its symbolic meaning. Connect it to broader themes or emotions in your writing.
   
10. Enjambment: Prompt: Write a poem where the thoughts flow continuously from one line to the next without a pause. Explore how this technique can create a sense of movement or urgency.
    
11. Repetition: Prompt: Repeat a word or phrase throughout a poem for emphasis. Consider how repetition can enhance the overall impact and meaning of your writing.
    
12. Free Verse: Prompt: Embrace the freedom of expression by writing a poem without adhering to rhyme or meter. Allow your thoughts to flow organically, exploring the beauty of formless verse.
    
13. Stanza: Prompt: Divide your writing into stanzas to create distinct sections with varying themes or tones. Explore how the organization of lines contributes to the overall structure of your work.
    
14. Theme: Prompt: Choose a universal theme (love, loss, freedom, etc.) and explore it through your lyrics. Delve into the nuances and perspectives associated with the chosen theme.
    
15. Tone: Prompt: Write a poem that conveys contrasting tones. Explore how shifts in tone can evoke different emotions and responses from the reader.
    
16. Connotation: Prompt: Select a word with strong connotations and use it in a poem. Explore the emotional baggage and cultural associations tied to the word within the context of your writing.
    
17. Irony: Prompt: Craft a poem with elements of irony. Create situations or lines that convey a meaning opposite to the literal interpretation, adding layers of complexity to your writing.
    
18. Allusion: Prompt: Reference a well-known song, book, or historical event in your lyrics. Explore how the use of allusion can enrich the depth and meaning of your writing.
    
19. Syntax: Prompt: Experiment with sentence structure to create different effects. Play with word order, sentence length, and punctuation to convey specific emotions or rhythms in your writing.
    
20. Diction: Prompt: Choose a specific mood or atmosphere you want to convey and carefully select words that evoke that feeling. Pay attention to the impact of your word choices on the overall tone of your writing.
    

Do you think someone told Dumas to "up the stakes" or something... ?
Synopsis:
Bertuccio concludes his tale by telling how the jeweller goes to bed upstairs. Then later there are some suspicious sounds followed by a gunshot. Blood begins to soak through the floorboards in a "shower of blood" on him. He breaks free of his hiding place and witnesses the last dying moments of the poor jeweller. The scene comes to life for him. La Carconte has stabbed the jeweller and TheCad has shot his wife. Regardless of this scene, Bertuccio's pursuers find him just then and he is arrested -- his bloody clothes telling a different story than what happened.
Lucky for him, he has heard the name of Abbé Busoni. The man is searched for and after months is found. The Abbé hears Bertuccio's confession and works to free him. [We know that Busoni and MC are the same person, but Bertuccio doesn't...However, it does beg the question, why make him tell the whole story again???] Once freed, Busoni tells him to find Monte Cristo and now our dear Count has a servant who is highly motivated to serve him.
Next, we see Danglars try to pay him a visit. MC plays coy and then demands that Bertuccio buy the horses from him (MC must have the best horses, after all!) There is a curious moment where MC and Ali talk "for hours" despite Ali being mute? Hmm. And there is also an exchange with this valet where MC shows he has allowed the valet to steal, but MC is also investing money on his behalf? HMMMM.
Then MC visits Danglars and in a battle of manners and wits, MC bests him into unleashing "unlimited credit" by deploying displays of ample wealth and many letters of credit. I'm sure that will end well for everyone! Then MC is introduced to Danglars' friends and soon to his wife.
Discussion:

1. Yikes! Did you think TheCad and La Carconte had that in them? Is TheCad's fate what you wanted to come about?
2. What is your reaction to the way MC seems to accumulate and retain favours/servants?
3. What is the deal with the horses? Why must MC have the best?
4. Why do you think Danglars was bested in this scene? What weaknesses did MC play on?

Next week, chapters 47 and 48!

TradingView.com.com is a popular online platform that provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources for traders, investors, and analysts to analyze and trade financial markets. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of TradingView.com, its features, and its benefits, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the platform's capabilities in subsequent chapters.

What is TradingView.com?

TradingView.com is a cloud-based platform that enables users to analyze and trade financial markets, including stocks, forex, futures, and cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2011, TradingView.com has grown to become one of the largest and most popular trading communities in the world, with over 10 million registered users.

Key Features of TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers a wide range of features that make it an attractive platform for traders and analysts. Some of the key features include:
1. Charting and Technical Analysis: TradingView.com provides a powerful charting platform that allows users to create custom charts with various indicators, drawing tools, and annotations. Users can also access a vast library of pre-built indicators and templates.
2. Backtesting and Paper Trading: TradingView.com allows users to backtest and paper trade their strategies using historical data, enabling them to refine their trading ideas and test their performance.
3. Community and Social Trading: TradingView.com has a large and active community of users who share their ideas, strategies, and insights. Users can follow other traders, participate in discussions, and share their own ideas and insights.
4. Alerts and Notifications: TradingView.com provides a robust alert system that allows users to set custom alerts based on market conditions, technical indicators, and other criteria.
5. Data Feeds: TradingView.com offers a range of data feeds, including real-time and historical data, for various markets and instruments.
6. Scripting and Automation: TradingView.com's PineScript language allows users to create custom indicators, strategies, and automated trading systems.
7. Mobile Apps: TradingView.com offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, enabling users to access the platform on-the-go.

Benefits of Using TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers several benefits to its users, including:
1. Improved Trading Decisions: TradingView.com's charting and analysis tools enable users to make more informed trading decisions.
2. Access to a Large Community: TradingView.com's community provides users with access to a vast network of traders, analysts, and experts.
3. Customization and Automation: TradingView.com's scripting and automation capabilities allow users to create custom strategies and automate their trading.
4. Real-time Data and Alerts: TradingView.com's real-time data and alert system enable users to stay up-to-date with market movements and react quickly to market changes.
5. Cost-Effective: TradingView.com offers a range of pricing plans, including a free version, making it an accessible platform for traders and analysts.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have provided an overview of TradingView.com, its features, and its benefits. TradingView.com is a powerful platform that offers a range of tools and resources for traders, analysts, and investors. Whether you are a seasoned trader or just starting out, TradingView.com provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help you analyze and trade financial markets. In the next chapter, we will delve deeper into the charting and technical analysis capabilities of TradingView.com.

Chapter 2: Creating an Account and Setting Up Your Profile

As a new user, creating an account and setting up your profile is the first step in exploring the world of [Platform/Service]. In this chapter, we will guide you through a step-by-step process to create an account and set up your profile, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Section 1: Creating an Account

To create an account, follow these steps:
1. Visit the Sign-up Page: Go to the [Platform/Service] website and click on the "Sign Up" or "Create an Account" button. This will take you to the sign-up page.
2. Enter Your Email Address: Enter a valid email address to serve as your login credentials. Make sure to use a unique and memorable email address, as it will be used to reset your password if needed.
3. Choose a Username: Choose a unique and memorable username that will be used to identify you on the platform. This can be your real name, a nickname, or a combination of letters and numbers.
4. Create a Password: Create a strong and unique password for your account. A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
5. Confirm Your Password: Re-enter your password to confirm it. This ensures that you have entered the correct password.
6. Verify Your Account: Click on the "Create Account" button to create your account. You will receive an email verification link to verify your email address.

Section 2: Setting Up Your Profile

Once you have created your account, it's time to set up your profile. Follow these steps:
1. Fill Out Your Profile Information: Fill out your profile information, including your name, birthday, and location. This information will be used to personalize your experience and connect with other users.
2. Add a Profile Picture: Upload a profile picture that represents you. This can be a photo of yourself, a logo, or an avatar.
3. Add a Bio: Write a brief bio that describes yourself, your interests, or your expertise. This will help others get to know you better and find common ground.
4. Customize Your Profile Settings: Customize your profile settings to control what information is visible to others and what notifications you receive.
5. Connect with Others: Start connecting with other users by sending friend requests or joining groups related to your interests.

Tips and Best Practices

· Use a strong and unique password for your account.
· Keep your profile information up-to-date and accurate.
· Be cautious when sharing personal information or connecting with strangers.
· Use the platform's built-in features to block or report suspicious or inappropriate behavior.
· Respect other users' privacy and boundaries.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully created an account and set up your profile. You are now ready to explore the world of [Platform/Service] and start connecting with others. Remember to keep your account information secure, be respectful of others, and have fun exploring the platform. In the next chapter, we will dive deeper into the features and functionality of [Platform/Service].

Chapter 3: Navigating the TradingView.com

Interface

As a trader or investor, it's essential to understand the TradingView.com interface to get the most out of this powerful platform. In this chapter, we'll take a comprehensive tour of the TradingView.com interface and its various components. By the end of this chapter, you'll be well-versed in navigating the platform and ready to start exploring its features.

Section 1: The TradingView.com

Dashboard

The TradingView.com dashboard is the main hub of the platform, providing an overview of your account, market data, and other essential features. Let's break down the key components of the dashboard:
1. Header Bar: The header bar at the top of the screen displays your username, account balance, and other account information.
2. Navigation Menu: The navigation menu allows you to access various sections of the platform, including your watchlists, charts, and settings.
3. Market Data: The market data section provides real-time quotes for various assets, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
4. Alerts: The alerts section allows you to set custom alerts for specific market conditions, such as price movements or news events.
5. Watchlists: The watchlists section enables you to create and manage custom lists of symbols, making it easy to track your favorite assets.

Section 2: Charting and Analysis

TradingView.com is renowned for its powerful charting capabilities, allowing you to create custom charts with various indicators, studies, and drawing tools. Let's explore the key features of the charting interface:
1. Chart Types: TradingView.com offers a range of chart types, including line charts, candlestick charts, and Renko charts.
2. Indicators: The platform comes with a vast library of built-in indicators, including moving averages, RSI, and Bollinger Bands.
3. Drawing Tools: The drawing tools allow you to annotate your charts with lines, shapes, and text.
4. Studies: Studies are custom indicators created by the TradingView.com community, offering a wide range of trading strategies and techniques.
5. PineScript: PineScript is a programming language used to create custom indicators and strategies.

Section 3: Community and Social Trading

TradingView.com is more than just a trading platform – it's a community-driven platform where traders and investors share ideas, strategies, and insights. Let's explore the community features:
1. PineCoders: PineCoders is a community of developers who create custom indicators and strategies using PineScript.
2. TradingView.com Blog: The TradingView.com blog features articles, analysis, and insights from experienced traders and investors.
3. TradingView.com Forum: The forum is a hub for discussion, debate, and learning, where traders and investors share their experiences and ask questions.
4. Watchlists: Watchlists allow you to share your favorite symbols with others, making it easy to collaborate and learn from each other.
5. PineScript Challenges: PineScript challenges are community-driven initiatives where developers create custom indicators and strategies, and the community votes on the best submissions.

Section 4: Customization and Settings

As you become more comfortable with the TradingView.com interface, you'll want to customize your experience to suit your needs. Let's explore the customization options:
1. Theme: TradingView.com offers a range of themes, allowing you to personalize the look and feel of the platform.
2. Layout: The layout options enable you to customize the arrangement of the platform's components, such as the chart, indicators, and alerts.
3. Notifications: The notification settings allow you to customize the types of notifications you receive, including market data updates and alert notifications.
4. Security: The security settings enable you to set up two-factor authentication, password recovery, and other security measures to protect your account.

Conclusion

Navigating the TradingView.com interface is an essential step in unlocking the full potential of this powerful platform. By understanding the various components of the dashboard, charting and analysis tools, community features, and customization options, you'll be well-equipped to start exploring the platform and developing your trading skills. In the next chapter, we'll dive deeper into the world of PineScript, exploring the programming language and its applications in trading and investing.

Chapter 4: Understanding Charts and Time Frames

In this chapter, we will delve into the world of charts and time frames, a fundamental concept in technical analysis. We will explore the different types of charts, time frames, and how to use them effectively on TradingView.com. By the end of this chapter, you will have a solid understanding of how to use charts and time frames to analyze and trade the markets.

What are Charts and Time Frames?

Charts and time frames are the foundation of technical analysis. A chart is a graphical representation of a security's price action over a specific period. Time frames, on the other hand, refer to the duration of the data displayed on the chart. In other words, time frames determine how much data is displayed on the chart and how often the data is updated.

Types of Charts

There are several types of charts, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most common types of charts are:
1. Line Chart: A line chart connects the closing prices of a security over a specific period, creating a continuous line. This chart is useful for identifying trends and patterns.
2. Candlestick Chart: A candlestick chart displays the high, low, open, and close prices of a security over a specific period. Each candle represents a specific time period, and the color of the candle indicates whether the price closed higher or lower than the previous day's close.
3. Bar Chart: A bar chart is similar to a candlestick chart but does not display the open and close prices. Instead, it shows the high and low prices, as well as the open and close prices.
4. Renko Chart: A Renko chart is a type of chart that uses a unique algorithm to create a chart that is not based on time. Instead, it uses price movements to create a chart that is more focused on the price action.

Time Frames

Time frames determine the duration of the data displayed on the chart. Common time frames include:
1. 1-minute: A 1-minute chart displays the price action over a 1-minute period.
2. 5-minute: A 5-minute chart displays the price action over a 5-minute period.
3. 15-minute A 15-minute chart displays the price action over a 15-minute period.
4. 30-minute: A 30-minute chart displays the price action over a 30-minute period.
5. 1-hour: A 1-hour chart displays the price action over a 1-hour period.
6. 4-hour: A 4-hour chart displays the price action over a 4-hour period.
7. Daily: A daily chart displays the price action over a 1-day period.
8. Weekly: A weekly chart displays the price action over a 1-week period.
9. Monthly: A monthly chart displays the price action over a 1-month period.

Using Charts and Time Frames on TradingView.com

TradingView.com is a popular platform for charting and analyzing financial markets. Here's how to use charts and time frames on TradingView.com:
1. Creating a Chart: To create a chart on TradingView.com, go to the "Charts" tab and select the security you want to chart. Choose the chart type and time frame you want to use.
2. Customizing the Chart: Once you have created a chart, you can customize it by adding indicators, drawing tools, and other features.
3. Switching Time Frames: To switch time frames on TradingView.com, click on the "Time Frame" dropdown menu and select the desired time frame.
4. Zooming In and Out: To zoom in and out of a chart on TradingView.com, use the mouse wheel or the "Zoom" button.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have covered the basics of charts and time frames, including the different types of charts and time frames. We have also explored how to use charts and time frames on TradingView.com. By mastering charts and time frames, you will be able to analyze and trade the markets more effectively. In the next chapter, we will explore the importance of indicators and how to use them to make informed trading decisions.

Chapter 5: Technical Indicators and Studies

In this chapter, we will delve into the world of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com. As a trader, it is essential to understand the various indicators and studies that can be used to analyze and predict market movements. This chapter will provide an overview of the different types of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, their uses, and how to apply them in your trading strategy.

What are Technical Indicators and Studies?

Technical indicators and studies are mathematical calculations based on historical price data that help traders identify trends, patterns, and potential trading opportunities. These indicators and studies can be used to analyze and predict market movements, making it easier to make informed trading decisions.

Types of Technical Indicators and Studies

There are numerous types of technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, including:
1. Trend Indicators: These indicators help identify trends and potential trading opportunities. Examples include the Moving Average, Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Bollinger Bands.
2. Momentum Indicators: These indicators measure the rate of change of an asset's price over a given period. Examples include the RSI, Stochastic Oscillator, and Momentum Indicator.
3. Volatility Indicators: These indicators measure the degree of price movement or volatility. Examples include the Average True Range (ATR) and Bollinger Bands.
4. Pattern Recognition Indicators: These indicators help identify specific chart patterns, such as head and shoulders or triangles. Examples include the Ichimoku Cloud and the Keltner Channel.
5. Statistical Indicators: These indicators use statistical methods to analyze market data. Examples include the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the Simple Moving Average (SMA).

Popular Technical Indicators and Studies on TradingView.com

Some of the most popular technical indicators and studies available on TradingView.com include:
1. Moving Average: A simple moving average calculates the average price of an asset over a given period.
2. Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI measures the magnitude of recent price changes to determine overbought or oversold conditions.
3. Bollinger Bands: Bollinger Bands consist of a moving average and two standard deviations plotted above and below the average.
4. Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator compares the closing price of an asset to its price range over a given period.
5. Ichimoku Cloud: The Ichimoku Cloud is a comprehensive technical analysis system that inclues multiple indicators, including the Tenkan-sen, Kijun-sen, and Senkou Span.
6. Keltner Channel: The Keltner Channel is a volatility-based indicator that plots two lines above and below a moving average.
7. Average True Range (ATR): The ATR measures the average true range of an asset over a given period.
8. Exponential Moving Average (EMA): The EMA is a type of moving average that gives more weight to recent price data.
9. Simple Moving Average (SMA): The SMA is a type of moving average that calculates the average price of an asset over a given period.
10. Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI): The SMI is a momentum indicator that measures the rate of change of an aset's price over a given period.

How to Use Technical Indicators and Studies

To get the most out of technical indicators and studies, it is essential to understand how to use them effectively. Here are some tips:
1. Combine Indicators: Combining multiple indicators can help confirm trading signals and reduce false positives.
2. Use Multiple Time Frames: Analyzing multiple time frames can help identify trends and patterns that may not be visible on a single time frame.
3. Adjust Parameters: Adjusting the parameters of an indicator can help tailor it to your specific trading strategy.
4. Use Indicators in Conjunction with Fundamental Analysis: Combining technical indicators with fundamental analysis can help provide a more comprehensive view of the market.
5. Backtest Indicators: Backtesting indicators can help evaluate their performance and identify potential biases.

Conclusion

Technical indicators and studies are powerful tools that can help traders analyze and predict market movements. By understanding the different types of indicators and studies available on TradingView.com, traders can develop a comprehensive trading strategy that incorporates multiple indicators and studies. Remember to combine indicators, use multiple time frames, adjust parameters, and backtest indicators to get the most out of technical indicators and studies.

Chapter 6: Creating and Customizing Charts

As a trader, having the right tools and information is crucial for making informed decisions. Charts are an essential component of any trading strategy, providing valuable insights into market trends and patterns. In this chapter, we will explore the process of creating and customizing charts on TradingView.com, a popular platform for traders and analysts.

Creating a Chart on TradingView.com

Creating a chart on TradingView.com is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps.
1. Log in to Your TradingView.com Account: Start by logging in to your TradingView.com account. If you don't have an account, you can create one by signing up on the TradingView.com website.
2. Select the Symbol: Once logged in, navigate to the "Symbols" tab and select the symbol you want to chart. You can search for symbols by typing in the symbol name or by using the "Search" function.
3. Create a New Chart: Click on the "Create a New Chart" button to create a new chart. You can also create a new chart by clicking on the "New Chart" button in the top-right corner of the TradingView.com window.
4. Select the Chart Type: Choose the type of chart you want to create. TradingView.com offers a variety of chart types, including line charts, candlestick charts, and more.
5. Customize the Chart Settings: Customize the chart settings to suit your needs. You can adjust the chart size, grid lines, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.

Customizing Charts on TradingView.com

Customizing charts on TradingView.com is an essential step in creating a chart that meets your specific needs. Here are some tips for customizing your charts:
1. Add Indicators: Add indicators to your chart to gain insights into market trends and patterns. TradingView.com offers a wide range of indicators, including moving averages, RSI, and more.
2. Add Drawings: Add drawings to your chart to highlight specific patterns or trends. You can add lines, shapes, and other drawings to your chart to create a visual representation of your analysis.
3. Add Alerts: Set up alerts on your chart to notify you of specific market events or price movements. You can set up alerts based on price movements, volume, and other market indicators.
4. Customize the Chart Grid: Customize the chart grid to suit your needs. You can adjust the grid lines, grid spacing, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.
5. Save and Share Your Chart: Save and share your chart with others. You can save your chart as a template or share it with other traders and analysts.

Advanced Chart Customization

In addition to the basic customization options, TradingView.com offers advanced customization options that allow you to create complex charts and indicators. Here are some tips for advanced chart customization:
1. Create Custom Indicators: Create custom indicators using the TradingView.com PineScript programming language. You can create custom indicators that meet your specific needs.
2. Use Custom Drawings: Use custom drawings to create complex patterns and shapes on your chart. You can create custom drawings using the TradingView.com drawing tools.
3. Customize the Chart Layout: Customize the chart layout to suit your needs. You can adjust the chart size, grid lines, and other settings to create a chart that meets your requirements.
4. Use Advanced Chart Settings: Use advanced chart settings to customize your chart further. You can adjust the chart settings to suit your specific needs.

Conclusion

Creating and customizing charts on TradingView.com is a powerful way to gain insights into market trends and patterns. By following the steps outlined in this chapter, you can create complex charts and indicators that meet your specific needs. Whether you're a seasoned trader or a beginner, TradingView.com offers a range of tools and features that can help you create charts that meet your specific needs.
Chapter 7:

Introduction to Trading Strategies

As a trader, having a solid understanding of various trading strategies is crucial for making informed decisions and maximizing profits. In this chapter, we will explore popular trading strategies, their underlying principles, and how to implement them on TradingView.com. By the end of this chapter, you will have a comprehensive understanding of various trading strategies and how to apply them using TradingView.com's powerful platform.

Introduction to Trading Strategies

Trading strategies are pre-defined rules or methods used to make trading decisions. These strategies are designed to help traders navigate the markets, identify profitable opportunities, and minimize losses. Trading strategies can be categorized into several types, including:
· Trend following strategies: These strategies aim to identify and ride the trend, whether it's an uptrend or a downtrend.
· Range trading strategies: These strategies focus on identifying and trading within a specific price range.
· Mean reversion strategies: These strategies rely on the idea that prices will revert to their historical means.
· Statistical arbitrage strategies: These strategies involve identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.

Popular Trading Strategies

2.1 Trend Following Strategies
Trend following strategies are designed to identify and ride the trend. These strategies involve identifying the direction of the market and trading in that direction. Some popular trend following strategies include:
· Moving Average Crossover (MAC): This strategy involves identifying the crossover of two moving averages to determine the direction of the trend.
· Relative Strength Index (RSI): This strategy involves identifying overbought or oversold conditions using the RSI indicator.
· Bollinger Bands: This strategy involves identifying breakouts above or below the bands to determine the direction of the trend.
2.2 Range Trading Strategies
Range trading strategies focus on identifying and trading within a specific price range. These strategies involve identifying support and resistance levels and trading within the range. Some popular range trading strategies include:
· Support and Resistance Trading: This strategy involves identifying key support and resistance levels and trading within the range.
· Channel Trading: This strategy involves identifying and trading within a specific price channel.
2.3 Mean Reversion Strategies
Mean reversion strategies rely on the idea that prices will revert to their historical means. These strategies involve identifying overbought or oversold conditions and trading in the opposite direction. Some popular mean reversion strategies include:
· Mean Reversion Trading: This strategy involves identifying overbought or oversold conditions and trading in the opposite direction.
· Statistical Arbitrage: This strategy involves identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.
2.4 Statistical Arbitrage Strategies
Statistical arbitrage strategies involve identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them. These strategies involve analyzing historical data and identifying statistical anomalies. Some popular statistical arbitrage strategies include:
· Statistical Arbitrage: This strategy involves identifying mispricings in the market and exploiting them.
· Event-Driven Trading: This strategy involves identifying and trading on specific events, such as earnings announcements or mergers and acquisitions.

3.

Implementing Trading Strategies on TradingView.com

TradingView.com is a powerful platform that allows traders to implement and backtest various trading strategies. Here are some steps to follow when implementing trading strategies on TradingView.com:
1. Create a new chart: Open a new chart on TradingView.com and select the asset you want to trade.
2. Add indicators: Add the indicators you want to use for your trading strategy. For example, you may want to add a moving average crossover indicator.
3. Set parameters: Set the parameters for your indicators. For example, you may want to set the period for your moving average crossover indicator.
4. Backtest the strategy: Backtest your strategy by running a backtest on TradingView.com. This will allow you to evaluate the performance of your strategy.
5. Refine the strategy: Refine your strategy by adjusting the parameters and testing different scenarios.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have explored popular trading strategies and how to implement them on TradingView.com. By understanding various trading strategies and how to apply them using TradingView.com, you can make informed trading decisions and maximize your profits. Remember to always backtest and refine your strategies to ensure optimal performance. In the next chapter, we will explore advanced trading strategies and how to use them to improve your trading performance.

Chapter 8:

Backtesting and Evaluating Trading Ideas

As a trader, it's essential to test and refine your trading ideas before implementing them in live markets. Backtesting and evaluating your trading ideas can help you identify potential flaws, optimize your strategy, and increase your chances of success. In this chapter, we'll explore the process of backtesting and evaluating trading ideas using TradingView.com, a popular platform for charting and backtesting trading strategies.

What is Backtesting?

Backtesting is the process of applying a trading strategy to historical market data to evaluate its performance. It allows you to test your trading idea on past data to see how it would have performed in real-time. By backtesting your strategy, you can:
1. Identify potential flaws in your strategy
2. Optimize your strategy for better performance
3. Refine your strategy to improve its accuracy
4. Evaluate the strategy's risk-reward ratio

Why Backtest?

Backtesting is crucial for several reasons:
1. Risk management: Backtesting helps you identify potential risks associated with your trading strategy.
2. Strategy optimization: Backtesting allows you to refine your strategy to improve its performance.
3. Performance evaluation: Backtesting enables you to evaluate the performance of your strategy and make data-driven decisions.
4. Confidence booster: Backtesting gives you confidence in your strategy, reducing the risk of emotional trading decisions.

How to Backtest on TradingView.com

TradingView.com offers a range of tools and features for backtesting trading ideas. Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Create a new chart: Open TradingView.com and create a new chart for the asset you want to backtest.
2. Select the data range: Choose the time period for which you want to backtest your strategy. You can select a specific date range or use the default settings.
3. Add the strategy: Click on the "Indicators" tab and add the strategy you want to backtest. You can use built-in indicators or create your own custom indicators.
4. Set the parameters: Configure the strategy's parameters, such as the number of bars to look back, the number of trades to take, and the stop-loss levels.
5. Run the backtest: Click the "Run" button to start the backtest. TradingView.com will apply your strategy to the selected data range and provide performance metrics.
6. Analyze the results: Review the backtest results, including the strategy's profit/loss, drawdown, and other performance metrics.

Evaluating Trading Ideas

Evaluating your trading idea is a crucial step in the backtesting process. Here are some key metrics to consider:
1. Profit/Loss: Calculate the total profit or loss generated by your strategy.
2. Drawdown: Measure the maximum loss experienced by your strategy.
3. Sharpe Ratio: Calculate the Sharpe Ratio to evaluate the strategy's risk-adjusted performance.
4. Sortino Ratio: Use the Sortino Ratio to evaluate the strategy's risk-adjusted performance, focusing on the maximum drawdown.
5. Information Coefficient: Calculate the Information Coefficient to evaluate the strategy's ability to generate profits.

Best Practices for Backtesting

To get the most out of backtesting, follow these best practices:
1. Use a robust data set: Ensure your data is accurate and free from errors.
2. Test multiple scenarios: Test your strategy on different time frames, assets, and market conditions.
3. Monitor performance metrics: Keep track of your strategy's performance metrics and adjust as needed.
4. Refine your strategy: Continuously refine your strategy to improve its performance.
5. Avoid overfitting: Be cautious of overfitting, where your strategy performs well on the training data but poorly on new data.

Conclusion

Backtesting and evaluating trading ideas is a crucial step in the trading process. By using TradingView.com and following best practices, you can refine your trading strategy, optimize its performance, and increase your chances of success. Remember to evaluate your strategy's performance using relevant metrics and refine it continuously to improve its performance. With practice and patience, you'll develop a robust trading strategy that can withstand the challenges of the markets.

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Heart: A Free Astrology Guide to Solving Love Problems in the USA

Love problem solution astrologer free in USA Love is a mystery that has captivated humans for centuries. In today’s fast-paced world, finding and maintaining a romantic relationship can be a daunting task. With the rise of technology and social media, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of digital connections and lose sight of what truly matters – the heart. But what if you could unlock the secrets of your heart and tap into the ancient wisdom of the universe to gain insight into your love life?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of astrology and explore the hidden meanings behind the stars, planets, and zodiac signs that shape your love story. From understanding your Venus sign to calculating your romantic compatibility with your partner, this free astrology guide will provide you with the tools and knowledge to solve your love problems and find your way to a deeper, more meaningful connection.

Introduction to the power of astrology in love and relationships

The mysteries of the heart have long fascinated us, and the quest to uncover the secrets of love and relationships has captivated human imagination for centuries. In the United States, where love and relationships are woven into the very fabric of society, the search for answers to our most pressing questions about love and partnership continues to be a paramount concern. From the thrill of a new romance to the challenges of maintaining a long-term commitment, navigating the complexities of love and relationships can be a daunting task.
Astrology, an ancient and mystical practice that has been used for centuries to understand the workings of the universe, holds the key to unlocking the secrets of the heart. By examining the positions of the planets and stars at the exact moment of an individual’s birth, astrologers can gain valuable insights into a person’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their compatibility with others. Love problem solution astrologer free in USA
In this free astrology guide, we will delve into the power of astrology in love and relationships, exploring the ways in which this ancient practice can help us better understand ourselves and our partners, and provide valuable guidance for navigating the ups and downs of love and relationships. Whether you’re seeking answers to questions about your current relationship, or hoping to find love and connection with someone new, this guide will serve as a trusted companion on your journey, illuminating the path to greater understanding, empathy, and harmony.

Understanding the importance of the heart in astrology

As we delve into the ancient art of astrology, it’s essential to first understand the significance of the heart in our cosmic journey. In the world of astrology, the heart is often symbolized by the planet Venus, which governs our emotions, love, and relationships. The heart is the seat of emotions, and its placement in our birth chart can reveal a great deal about our emotional nature, attachment style, and capacity for love.
The heart is often associated with the 4th house of the birth chart, which represents our inner world, emotions, and sense of security. This is where our emotional roots are planted, and the heart is the vessel that carries our deepest desires, fears, and longings. A well-placed heart in our birth chart can indicate a strong sense of emotional resilience, a capacity for love, and a deep connection to our inner selves.
In contrast, a troubled or afflicted heart can indicate emotional turmoil, attachment issues, and a struggle to find meaningful connections. When we understand the importance of the heart in astrology, we can begin to unravel the mysteries of our emotional landscape and uncover the secrets to solving our love problems. Love problem solution astrologer free in USA
By exploring the placement of the heart in our birth chart, we can gain valuable insights into our emotional strengths and weaknesses, and develop a deeper understanding of what we need to cultivate healthy, loving relationships. Whether you’re seeking to overcome heartbreak, find a new partner, or simply deepen your understanding of yourself, this free astrology guide will be your trusted companion on the journey of self-discovery and love.

The role of the Moon in the heart and relationships

As the celestial body that rules our emotions, the Moon plays a crucial role in shaping our heart and relationships. Just as the tides ebb and flow in response to the Moon’s gravitational pull, our emotional tides rise and fall in response to its subtle influences on our inner world. The Moon’s position in our birth chart and its current transit can reveal the underlying emotional dynamics that drive our relationships and interactions with others.
In particular, the Moon’s element (whether it’s earth, air, fire, or water) can indicate the type of emotional expression we’re prone to, and the signs it aspects can reveal the people and energies that trigger our emotions. For example, a Moon in Cancer may be deeply emotional and sensitive, while a Moon in Scorpio may be intense and private. The Moon’s nodes, which mark the points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the Earth’s ecliptic, can also reveal the underlying patterns and themes that drive our relationships and soul connections.
Understanding the Moon’s role in your heart and relationships can be a powerful tool for healing and growth. By recognizing the Moon’s influence on your emotional landscape, you can better navigate the ups and downs of love and relationships, and cultivate deeper connections with others. In this guide, we’ll explore the Moon’s role in the heart and relationships, and provide practical tips and insights for using astrology to solve love problems and attract more fulfilling connections into your life.
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TLDR; I was sick of my Excel sheet so I started with a little side project
Hey Maplers,
I’m excited to introduce Maple Pal, a brand new tool designed to help you manage your MapleStory adventures more efficiently! We've been working hard on this app, and it's packed with features to make your daily and weekly questing smoother and more organized. Here’s a rundown of what’s new and improved:

v0.4.4

• Custom Quests: Added proper handling for adding custom daily and weekly quests.
• Dynamic Feedback: Improved user feedback with dynamic error messages when adding quests.

v0.4.3

• Hotfix: Responsive Character Tile layout fixed.

v0.4.2

• Quest Management: Added Quests to Character Tile to enable users to finish individual quests on the Overview Screen.
• Reordering: Reordered Daily/Weekly bosses to match the in-game order.
• Collapsible Sections: Quests are now part of the Character Tile as a collapsible section (Show Quests/Hide Quests).

v0.4.1

• New Boss: Added 'Cygnus' to Weekly Bosses.
• Progress Tracking: Added Arcane/Sacred Force Progress Bar to the Character Tile and total individual Force.
• Release Notes: Added Release Notes to the Web App.

v0.4.0

• Custom Quests: Added functionality to manually add custom quests in the Quest Selection View.
• Default Selection: Per default, every quest will be selected when creating a new character.
• View Restructure: Restructured Character Detail View.
• New Bosses: Added Daily Bosses: 'Zakum', 'Horntail', 'Hilla', 'Bon', 'Queen', 'Pierre', 'Vellum', 'Papulatus', 'Pink-Bean', 'Leon', 'Magnus'.
• New Weekly Bosses: Added 'Hilla' and 'Pink-Bean'.

v0.3.1

• Symbol Tracking: Added Symbols to the Character Detail view.
  • First draft of Symbol Tracking has been rolled out.

v0.2.1

• Bug Fixes: Resolved issues during Character Creation and Adding Quests to Characters.
• Improved Styling: Enhanced visuals in Character Detail, Quest Selection, and Overview views.
• Automatic Sorting: Completed quests are now automatically sorted.
• Responsive Design: Better responsiveness for smaller devices.

v0.2.0

• Equipment Tab: Added an Equipment Tab to the Character Detail View.
• New Weeklies: Added Arcane River Weeklies.
  • Note: The Equipment Tab change is not backwards compatible. You may need to redo your Quest Selection.

v0.1.1

• User Guidance: Added hints to help you navigate the tool.
• Improved UX: Loading and error hints added during user creation.
• Auto-Save Quests: Removed the Save button on the Quest Selection screen; quests are saved automatically when you press the Arrow-Back button.
• New Daily Tasks: Added 'Yu-Garden', 'Daily-Gift', 'Commerci', 'Ursus', 'Legion', 'Maple-Tour'.
• Weekly Boss Addition: Added Kalos to Weekly Bosses.
• Bug Fixes: Resolved issues with initially selecting daily/weekly quests.
• Character Management: Added the ability to delete characters.

v0.1.0

• Region Support: Now available for both EU/NA regions, with Interactive and Heroic modes.
• Quest Monitoring: Keep track of your daily and weekly quests with ease.
• Automatic Resets: Quests automatically reset daily and weekly.
• Quick Finish: Complete all daily/weekly tasks quickly.
• MapleStory API Integration: Get automatic updates on a daily basis.

Thanks for all the feedback so far! We’re continuously working to improve Maple Pal, and your input is invaluable. If you encounter any bugs or have suggestions, feel free to report them in the ⁠discord.

Sneak Peek

Next major updates: - Star Force: Option to add Star Force to Equipment in the Character Detail View. - Monthly Quest: Addition of the Black Mage quest.
Cheers,

New Update How its working? We are using a Script which changes the timezone of our browser whenever we make a new order on G2A. As soon as we get redirected to the payment page, the timezone will change, which will result in our order getting marked as "Expired" on G2A's payment processor called "Bitbay", but not on G2A's side itself. So, if we pay for the products our order will get processed and delivered by G2A anyway, but the money will get refunded to our wallet by Bitbay.
Important
Make sure on the top right corner where your extensions are the Tampermonkey symbol got a little red 1 next to it otherwise it will not work, also change your G2A settings to USA/Eng. Bitbay will refund your expired order only if it’s above 0.002Btc so you have to add products to your cart that are worth at least 0.002Btc in total, it can be one or multiple products. Any lower amount is not prioritized by their refund system and will not work.
Okay, let’s begin.
Here are the things you need:

• At least 0.002Btc to pay for the order.

-Tampermonkey extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/tampermonkey

• Script that changes the Timezone. https://rentry.co/bp68by2z/raw

Okay if ready follow my steps:

1. Click on Tampermonkey's icon (top right side of your browser) and click "Create a new script".
2. Remove any preset code
3. Copy the script and paste it in the Editor from Step 2
4. Go to “File” and click “Save”.
5. Go to https://www.g2a.com and add products to your cart.

Example: Amazon Giftcard. Insert your email and click "Continue to payment"

1. Now choose Bitcoin (Bitbay).
2. Now pay for the products by sending the Btc.

Once you pay for the order, just wait for 1 confirmation in the blockchain that won't take longer than 15 minutes, then you will receive an email from G2A with your purchased products and get the refund. Need help? Dc: Xenom1621 Tele: Xenom3 Tele Group: https://t.me/FreeXenom

Release_notes_1.0
It really looks like the next release of FreeCAD is going to be 1.0, If your been using FC for a while whats your favourite fix in the notes, also for new & old users alike where would you like the developers to focus after they get back from holidays?

ADDED SOME NEW TITLES & LOWERED SOME PRICES
Hello, I have a bunch of things that I need to get rid of ASAP. ALL PRICES ARE NEGOTIABLE!!
DM me for better detailed pictures. If in picture but not listed, it's sold.
https://imgur.com/a/etgfNop (Reach out for more detailed pictures)
-Complete Sets- (NOT SPLITTING)
Day of the Flying Head 1st Edition 1-4 / G4 / $475 CAD / $335.46 USD
Satsuma Gishiden 1-3 / G4 / $150 CAD / $105.93 USD
Scary Book 1-3 / G4 / $225 CAD / $158.90 USD
Ogre Slayer 1-2 / G3-4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Striker 1-3 / G4 / $75 CAD / $52.97 USD
Tohyo Game 1-3 / G2-3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Saikano 1-7 / G3-4 / $180 CAD / $127.12 USD
Dark Edge 1-10 / G3-4 / $150 CAD / $105.93 USD
Madara 1-5 / G2-3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Natsume's Book of Friends 1-29 / G4 (Volume 3 is damaged) / $1000 CAD / $706.22 USD
-One Shots-
Samurai Legend / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Reptilia / G4 / $50 CAD / $35.31 USD
Blade Of The Immortal: Legend Of The Sword Demon (Light Novel) / SEALED / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
VIZ Signature Sneak Peek 2006 / G4 / $10 CAD / $7.06 USD
Wild Com. / G4 / $50 CAD / $35.31 USD
Bomber Girl / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Orochi: Blood / G4 / $50 CAD / $35.31 USD
Cigarette Girl / G4 / $10 CAD / $7.06 USD
The Walking Man / G4 / $75 CAD / $52.97 USD
World War 3 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
World War 3 Battle Over Hokkaido / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs / G4 (tear on top of dust jacket) / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
The Twelve Sisters of the Never Ending Castle LTD Edition (1000) / G4 / $200 CAD / $141.24 USD
-Partial Sets- (NOT SPLITTING)
Basara 3-12 / G3-4 / $150 CAD / $105.93 USD
-Random Volumes-
Robot Super Color Comic 4 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Robot Super Color Comic 5 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Comics Journal #250 (Yoshiharu Tsuge's Screw Style) / G4 / $125 CAD / $88.28 USD
(HENTAI) Secret Plot 2 (NeWMeN) 2 / G3 / $200 CAD / $141.24 USD
World War 3 Raid On Tokyo 1 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Black Jack Hardcover 1 / G4 / $100 CAD / $70.62 USD
Raqiya 2 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
FLCL Light Novel 1 / G4 / $100 CAD / $70.62 USD
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service 4 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service 10 / SEALED / $30 CAD / $21.26 USD
Drifters 1 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Old Boy 2 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Old Boy 5 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Old Boy 6 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Samurai Executioner Omnibus 2 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Battle Royale 10 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
The Flowers of Evil 9 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Wounded Man 4 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Wounded Man 8 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Wounded Man 9 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka 6 / G4 / $60 CAD / $42.37 USD
Golgo 13 8 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Path of the Assassin 7 / SEALED / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Path of the Assassin 9 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Path of the Assassin 13 / SEALED / $50 CAD / $35.43 USD
Kaiji: Gambling Apocalypse 1 / G4 / $10 CAD / $7.06 USD
(HENTAI) Adventure Kid 2 / G4 / $100 CAD / $70.62 USD
(HENTAI) Adventure Kid 3 / G4 / $100 CAD / $70.62 USD
Eagle The Making of an Asian American President (Omnibus) 3 / G4 / $30 CAD / $21.19 USD
Eagle The Making of an Asian American President (Omnibus) 4 / G4 / $30 CAD / $21.19 USD
Tenjo Tenge (Full Contact Edition) 1 / G4 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Shaman Warrior 2 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Shaman Warrior 3 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
Shaman Warrior 5 / G3 / $20 CAD / $14.12 USD
-Free Volumes- (Must Purchase Something Else)
Shadow Star 1-2 / G2 (V1 has stains on the top of the first few pages, and V2 has stains on the edge of the pages)
Legend of Mother Sarah City of Angels 1 / G4
Black and White (Tekkonkinkreet) 4 / G4
Gen of Hiroshima (Barefoot Gen) 1 / G3
Thanks.

In the song, "My Clematis" (Mizi/Sua and Ivan/Till)
I realized that the placement they did was actually hinting at something. Or at least what I think was a hint.
In the original version, Sua says the first line. Then follows Mizi. That generally seems normal at first until you consider Till and Ivan.
In that version, Till technically takes the place of Sua and Ivan takes Mizi. Now after recounting the 1st and 6th round, there's something that catches my eye.
Sua died, of course. But that also symbolizes how Till died. Sua died more physical based and Till mental.
Mizi and Ivan, they connect by how their lover won't ever reciprocate their feeling back. Since Sua died, Mizi left, leaving Till broken.
Now, since Till had "died" because of Mizi leaving with Hyuna. Now Ivan. He wasn't ever gonna get this one-sided relationship to work. So, it's like Mizi. He got himself a way out, by breaking the rules and dying.(possibly or possibly not) Freeing themselves of their love one way or another. Just not with similar situations.
At the end of this, the way they are placed to sing was symbolic. It showed how even with different singers, the song is connected to the people/person singing!

Had an old WEG 2hp single phase pump motor on my bridgeport that burnt out.
Decided it was time for VFD and 5hp motor 4 pole. (Power limited to 2hp)
Motor mount waterjetted out of 4140 prehard.
Design wasn't perfect, had to scallop it to clear the swing of the motor while selecting high/low low gear.
Control panel 304 stainless also water jetted. Tried my hand at TIG welding. Turned out okay enough for me. Faceplate gets a gasket which is not installed in picture hence the faceplate is not flush with box.
Estop is on order as well as braking resistor.
Highly recommend Automation Direct for customer service. Super helpful troubleshooting parameter selection for my control panel.
Still gotta get the outputs figured out for the APM-M1-APO guages I got on there.
Thanks for the look hope ya like
CAD files for motor mount and control panel will be available for free upon request once all kinks are worked out.

[Windows 11]
hey all, this started because I wanted to play some sims 4 with custom content and my files are not being read by my system. Most were marked with the OneDrive unsynced red/white X symbol, so I figured that meant it didn't work and tried reinstalling new mods entirely. They still aren't working, thus I started the dive into fixing OneDrive.
One guide I found suggested using the "free up space" option on red files, then selecting "always keep on this device" twice. There's been no change.
What got closer was the Windows guide to disconnect my OneDrive account, then reconnect and sync all my files. However, when I get to the step "Back up folder on this PC" I inevitably get an "Unable to sync" error, with a red block at the bottom that says "We're having trouble connecting to the OneDrive service. Check your connection or try again later." I tried yesterday and again today, checked by connection, nothing changed.
Some files do sync, but most do not despite the OneDrive icon on the taskbar saying there are no new changes.
I had bought the 100GB OneDrive subscription to help things along, since abouta month ago when I downloaded a game again half my files dissapeared from my desktop and turned red.
Sorry if this makes little to no sense, I just want to get this fixed and am happy to answer any questions and the like
edit: as soon as I posted this the sync went through. Majority of my files are still red, but OneDrive is attempting update changes so we'll see if anything happens.
edit 2: important question. can I just download files and not need onedrive to store them?? is it because of the file path i downloaded sims in? how can I exist without being told how by microsoft
edit 3: I uninstalled sims to see if I could reinstall it elsewhere and all my old files just reappeared on my desktop. what is going on..

How to watch Toyota 200 NASCAR Live streams Free TV Channel. The Toyota 200, a highly anticipated event in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, took place at the legendary Darlington Raceway, often referred to as "The Track Too Tough to Tame."
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Toyota 200
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The race drew a large crowd of enthusiastic fans, eager to witness the thrilling competition on the track known for its unique, egg-shaped design and challenging turns.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the historic raceway, the drivers lined up on the starting grid, their cars gleaming under the track lights. The roar of the engines filled the air, a symphony of power and speed that sent chills down the spines of everyone in attendance. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation.
The green flag waved, and the Toyota 200 was underway. Drivers jostled for position, skillfully navigating the track's tight corners and narrow straightaways. The early laps saw fierce competition, with several lead changes as drivers tested their limits and those of their cars. The high speeds and close racing kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
Midway through the race, a caution flag flew as a multi-car incident unfolded in Turn 3. The cars involved skidded across the track, sending up clouds of smoke and debris. The safety crews quickly responded, ensuring that all drivers were unharmed and clearing the track for the restart. This pause in the action allowed teams to strategize and make crucial adjustments.
As the race resumed, it became clear that this would be a battle of endurance and skill. Veteran drivers used their experience to navigate the tricky track, while young up-and-comers showcased their raw talent and fearless driving. The interplay between strategy and raw speed was evident as pit stops became a key factor in maintaining position and managing tire wear.
In the final laps, the tension reached its peak. Two drivers emerged as the frontrunners, their cars almost mirroring each other as they sped around the track. The lead changed hands multiple times, each driver pushing their car to the limit in a bid for victory. The crowd's excitement was palpable, with fans standing and cheering as their favorite drivers fought for the lead.
With just a few laps to go, a bold move in Turn 4 gave one driver a slight edge. He managed to maintain his lead, expertly defending his position against relentless pressure from his rival. As the checkered flag waved, the driver crossed the finish line, securing a hard-fought and well-deserved victory. The crowd erupted in applause, celebrating the thrilling conclusion to an unforgettable race.
In Victory Lane, the winning driver emerged from his car to a shower of confetti and the roar of the crowd. He was met with congratulations from his team and fellow competitors, all acknowledging the skill and determination that had led to his triumph. The winner's joy was evident as he held up the trophy, a symbol of his achievement at one of NASCAR's most iconic tracks.
The Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway was more than just a race; it was a showcase of skill, strategy, and the enduring spirit of competition that defines NASCAR. For the fans, drivers, and teams, it was a night to remember, filled with the high-octane excitement that only the world of motorsports can deliver.

Hello Everyone
UEFA Champions League 2024: The blue riband event of the clay court season, UEFA Champions League is again back at Roland Garros for 2024, with yet another enthralling tournament expected out on the dirt in the Parisian outskirts. UEFA Champions League, which starts on Sunday, June 02 and ends on Sunday, June 9Here is all you need to know about the men's and women's singles draw of French Open 2024
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With the clay-court tune-up events all but over, the action shifts to Paris for the second Grand Slam of the calendar year. The 2024 French Open is all set to begin from June 02 onwards at the Stade Roland Garros, which will feature some of the top players in the circuit. In the ATP singles field, the focus will entirely be on Rafael Nadal, who arrived in Paris earlier this week, probably for his final Grand Slam appearance of his career. The 14-time champion of the Parisian red dust, who heads to the event on the back of a 5-3 win-loss record after returning from an injury layoff, comprising a pre-quarters run in Madrid, will be unseeded at the event. Meanwhile, a trophyless Novak Djokovic, also the defending champion, will be the top-seeded player, with reigning Australian Open winner Real Madrid and Carlos Alcaraz entrusted with the responsibility to add to the Serb's woes. In the women's singles field, the focus will be on entirely on whether defending champion Iga Swiatek can lift her fourth Frech Open title of her career. She lifted the Italian Open and the Madrid Open title in a space of two weeks. Elena Rybakina remains the only player to have defeated Swiatek on clay this season.
Despite having yet to win at Roland Garros and struggling for form since winning Indian Wells earlier in the year, Carlos Alcaraz will probably start as favourite as arguably the most fearsome clay courter on tour. The Spaniard is now fitter after running out of gas in the last four against Novak Djokovic last year, but injuries early in the clay court season have stymied his form out on the dirt.
Defending champion Djokovic, meanwhile, has also struggled for form in 2024 and has split with coach Goran Ivanisevic. The 37-year-old Serb remains a potent opponent on any surface and is still world number one, but is without a tournament win in 2024, he faces French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert in round one.
The other big danger, Real Madrid, has also struggled for fitness in the past month. By mid-April the Italian had won three tournaments on tour, including the Australian Open and the Miami Open Masters event, but he June struggle to replicate that early-season form. Sinner and Alcaraz are in the same half of the draw.
Alexander Zverev could take advantage, the German looking imperious on serve in winning the Italian Open, the final Masters event before Roland Garros, and jumping above Daniil Medvedev to become world number four.
Zverev's first round opponent could hardly be more symbolic: Rafael Nadal. The Mallorcan has won at Roland Garros a record 14 times, holding a staggering 112-3 win-loss record, but injuries have blighted recent seasons to the point where he has confirmed this will be his appearance at his favourite Grand Slam.
One of the three to beat Nadal, Stan Wawrinka in the 2015 final, will face fellow former major winner Andy Murray in another mouthwatering first round encounter. The winner is drawn to face 32nd seed, and another Brit, Cameron Norrie.
For the women, defending champion Iga Swiatek is again the favourite. The Polish world number one has won three of the last four tournaments at Roland Garros and is look for her third successive title on the Parisian clay in 2024. Also the champion at Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome, Swiatek is the player to beat, with movement unmatched on this surface. She has a tough draw, though, with a potential second round opponent the returning major winner Naomi Osaka, recently back from maternity leave.
Aryna Sabalenka will be Swiatek's main challenger. The Belarusian won the Australian Open in January to confirm her major pedigree.

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The following two brain scans were provided by the Neuro-Warfare branch of the Halcyon Security Division (HSD) for the purpose of analyzing the thoughts, behaviors, and information of notorious gangsters Vincent 'Troy' Cohen and Bruno (Deadname: Koraak Tel-Char). At the point of the recording of this archival shared, Bruno has since received his rebirth therapy, and Vincent is currently serving a long-term rehabilitative and reeducative sentence in the Erebus Supermax Prison on Io.
Warning: the contents of this archival shared may be especially disturbing to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
Warning: the contents of this archival shard are for the sole purpose of analyzing the thought patterns and memories of certain degenerate criminals in an effort to ascertain vital information that can be used to eliminate their organizations. Only staff with clearance level Omega may view this archival shared, and the viewership of this archival shared by anyone of inadequate clearance level will lead to twenty years in prison and a fine of over a hundred thousand credits.
Booting up memory scan: Vincent 'Troy' Cohen, November 4th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
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"Do you have visuals of the target, Troy?"
I knelt down in the alleyway, the bodies of me and my partners shrouded in long, waterproof, ashen-gray overcoats the shade of dirty street scum that we wore to ward off the constant heavy rainfall the color of osmium. Our faces were covered in a mix of scrapped respirators, visors, or full metal face masks carved with intricate designs to hide our identities. On our waists were our badges of honor: leather belts studded with interlocked rivets made from blackened titanium, each buckle forged of silver and shaped into the head of our gang's symbol, the black mamba. We hid amongst the shadows of the dark midday of Halcyon City, the heavy, oppressive rains blanketing the roads paved obsidian-black with asphalt and weathered concrete walkways. The street lamps were always on, like beacons of false hope in a storm of melancholy.
The city was dark and dreary as always, the planet of Proxima Centauri B, renamed Dawn's Lamentation over a century ago, orbited the red dwarf star of Proxima Centauri, and the atmosphere was thick with natural smog and ever-storming rain clouds. That didn't dissuade people from living here: there was plenty of money to be had for shrewd industrialists and hardworking pioneers, even in the urban sprawl. But that life also came with risks, especially for those on the bottom of the totem pole.
I was a ganger, and we were criminals; full stop. I won't assault you with some spiel about how we're the good guys fighting oppression because, at the end of the day, we could be just as bad, if not worse, than Halcyon's Security Division, or the HSD for short. We were traffickers, killers, extortionists, and money launderers. We dealt with everything from stolen tech and military-grade hardware to hard drugs and sentients.
Yes, sentients. We trafficked sentients, but not in the way you might think. They weren't prisoners, in fact, we were their saviors if they had the cash. We had developed a reputation for fighting the power, but it was still business: sure, freeing captives from the clutches of the Protectorate. The disruption of its many oppressive organizations held a certain satisfaction in my heart for sure, but we didn't help those who couldn't pay unless someone else paid on their behalf. It was about making sure me and my gang, my family, could live a decent life for another day.
It helped that most of us joined after leaving the state yard for partaking in acts of 'degeneracy' and 'anti-xenopet illegalities' as if those terms meant anything anymore other than that we were a threat to the local status quo. It was hard to pick up a job as a former inmate when even in something as harsh and backbreaking as a job in the iridium mines near the poles when the employment office had you blacklisted as a degenerate, which lead to the formation of many of the gangs: we needed to make a living somehow, and when all social programs were cut off from you unless you submitted for 're-education' and the only way to put food on the table was subverting, breaking, or even downright fighting the law, you did what you had to do or you died on the streets a scorned beggar.
It wasn't like the HSD made it easy for us on even a good day: the local HSD units were armed to the teeth with advanced, military-grade hardware that you'd often see on the front lines of the Second Authority War: armored assault transports, a myriad of advanced war droids, all sorts of chemical countermeasures that made tear gas seem like putting the garden hose on mist mode, and of course advanced firearms. Add that to the fact that they were authorized to use deadly force when they deemed it necessary and you had a ruthless, heartless, and nearly unstoppable enemy. But we could make that work: we weren't trying to stop them, just to withstand them.
"Yeah, I got eyes on the prize, Koraak; seven armored transports, two for droids, five for prisoners."
Today wasn't a day for a normal job: we were getting bolder, cockier, more ambitious. Our numbers had swelled for the last few years after the raid at Barnard's Star and the fall of the Blood Dragon Mafia. Their leader, Saito Yasuhide, had committed seppuku as their manor burned, and his twin sons had gone down fighting rather than allowing themselves to be captured simply to face a firing squad. In the aftermath, many of the family's associates had fled to the surrounding systems, and with the sheer size and scope of the criminal underworld found here, it was no wonder that many people who had developed skills of the less legal variety had decided to form ranks with the gangs, and with them they brought guns, tech, knowledge, contacts, and even something that we thought wasn't possible beforehand: a semblance of peace between the gangs, or at least the closest thing to peace that gangs could cultivate effectively. With the fall of the Blood Dragons, we saw the writing on the wall, and the writing couldn't have been clearer: work together or die together.
"Sounds like a massacre, Troy: are you sure we can handle seven?"
"We ain't got no choice, Cinder: this job's double the usual rate, and that's not including the weapons and gear we could scrounge if this goes well," I hissed, my eyes scanning for any resistance. There were at least four guards for each van, not to mention at least eight droids in total, meaning that we were already outnumbered, but we had the element of surprise: we could make it work. "So put your balls in your purse and get ready to spill some blood."
Koraak snorted at our antics, which sounded like someone pulling the ripcord on a lawnmower. He was a veteran Russu Corsair, and while his past of slaving, raiding, and killing was unsavory, so were the lives we'd lived, so who were we to judge? All we cared about was that he was a brutal and capable fighter and a loyal brother in arms. It turned out that being a ganger wasn't much different from being a Corsair: you lived and died by a code of honor, you fought to the death for your brothers, and you lived to die for the sake of your gang and your family, simple as that. In a strange, ironic way, it was an incredibly honest way of life: we were under no illusions as to what we were, what we did, and why we did it, and we'd long since accepted it. The Russu related to us in that aspect, in many ways I could respect, which is why I hated what the Protectorate was doing, and why I couldn't grasp how most of humanity could just collectively lose their marbles so long ago. What had happened for us to deem all other life below us in such a demeaning and infantilizing way?
The Russu were a race of tall, muscle-bound Saurians with avian features, and Koraak was no exception: reaching almost seven feet in height and weighing over four hundred and fifty pounds, he could be an absolute menace if he so desired. His skin was covered in stubby, knobby scales and dense plumage, with elegant feathers adorning the ridges along his back as well as his forearms, elbows, knees, and the crests on his head. He almost looked like how paleontologists described velociraptors, with razor-sharp talons, feathers shaded in vibrant greens, reds, and purples, and a maw full of sharp teeth, but at the tip of his snout was a sharp, beak-like growth meant for ripping flesh off the bone.
The Russu were strange as hell, but they also looked almost cute in the same way a fully grown alligator was cute: they were obviously dangerous, but humans would always have this innate desire to anthropomorphize them and to pet them for some inexplicable reason, although common sense usually prevented that, at least amongst the very few of us left that were sane.
"Shut up, Troy! All I'm saying is that that'll be rough, and you know it," hissed Cinder. Cinder was a tall black man whose coffee-colored skin was covered in tattoos. He wore an ebony mechanic's jumpsuit with metal inserts underneath his grimy overcoat covering his body and a faded black respirator on his face. His eyes were a startling blue that seemed sorely out of place, and his hair was braided into thick cornrows along his scalp. He wore a pair of heavy black combat boots and palmed his compact shotgun in his hands, the square barrel less than seven inches. Like a lot of the weapons the Black Mambas carried on their persons and dealt in, they fired caseless ammunition; in Cinder's case it was 16x40mm caseless shotshells filled with depleted uranium micro-flechetes no thicker than a toothpick. Cinder nervously fiddled with the detachable tube magazine underneath the barrel, his hands shaking. Despite the shit I have him, I didn't blame him for being anxious: I was anxious too, even if I refused to show it. The biting cold of unease and pessimism was in my stomach, and I ran all the way that this job could go wrong in my head over and over.
"Just hold yourself together, this ain't anything we haven't done before, there's just more of it," I reassured Cinder, "besides, we're not alone; we have reinforcements across the street. We'll make it out of this alive."
Cinder nodded almost absentmindedly, his eyes downcast and his breathing shallow. I turned from him and back to Koraak, who was making sure he had everything on his person; he had a synthetic leather bandoleer across his chest that contained the heavy eight guage depleted uranium slugs he kept loading and unloading into his much larger, longer, and more traditional shotgun he nicknamed ‘carnage’ and several leather straps that held his Tu'shan daggers: traditional Russu pyramidal blades forged from a silvery alloy with all three edges serrated and the tip barbed to leave behind horrible, gaping wounds that gushed blood. They were wickedly sharp and absolutely straight like a stiletto, and the hilts and pommels were beautifully decorated. He wore no clothes underneath his overcoat to cover the countless scars and blemishes he's earned in combat across his chest and abdomen, and instead of a normal respirator or visor, he simply wore a hood over his head and some traditional Russu facial armor to protect his mouth, eyes, and cheeks.
"You ready to fight, Koraak? The caravan will pick up and leave soon."
Koraak was silent for a moment before nodding, a human gesture he had picked up after serving as a soldier with the Black Mambas for years. "I'm always ready to fight," he said before lifting up his shotgun and aiming down the sights at the reinforced front wheels of the first armored car in the caravan. He exhaled and fired, the slug ripping through both front tires and causing them to deflate and fall apart. The echo of the shot rang through the alleyway and the street, causing pedestrians to panic and flee the scene as heavily armored guards poured out of the side doors of the armored cars and unholstered their carbines.
"Go, now!" I shouted, and both me and Cinder rushed out into the fray, our guns raised. Koraak was right behind the two of us, providing covering fire with his shotgun. Several guards fell quickly, Koraak's precise fire and the sheer force of the depleted uranium slugs putting them down for good as their heads were vaporized or their chest cavities were turned to mush. He emptied the tube with one final shot that painted the grey matter of a security guard on the door of one of the armored cars, then racked the shotgun and expertly loaded it in threes, his hands deft and agile as he reached for more slugs faster than any human.
With the cacophony of our initial assault, more Black Mambas poured out from the alleyways and the subways, armed to the teeth with all manner of weapons; shotguns, submachine guns, pistols, machetes, baseball bats, and all manner of homemade explosives. Molotovs and more potent concoctions shattered against the asphalt, herding in the caravan guards with their volatile contents as they were quickly gunned down. The assault was working, and we were winning.
Then I heard the robotic whine of a combat droid activating, and my heart sank. One of the armored cars in the back activated the four combat droids it held, the robotic assault units detaching from their charging ports on the sides of the large van and began to form up, each armed with a terrifying array of deadly weapons meant to quash any and all resistance. They were blocky, soulless, utilitarian things that stood at eight feet tall, with flat feet meant for stomping and blades, grasping claws designed to lacerate flesh and shatter bone. On each shoulder was a weapon: on the left was a multi-barrel rotary grenade launcher loaded with 15mm concussion grenades, and on the right was a burst-fire splinter cannon. They were all painted a dull grayish-green, the color of Halcyon's Security Division, although some had a few decorations on them: the one closest to me had a bit of graffiti on the side that said Mr. Hugs in Comic Sans, which I couldn't decide whether that made it more or less terrifying. They split up without hesitation and began to scan the chaotic battlefield, their single, red, beady lenses the security forces had the gall to call eyes focusing on specific targets to eliminate.
An entire group of Black Mambas was torn to pieces by a cloud of flechettes as one of the droids fired a withering three-round burst of shotshells from the four gauge splinter cannon mounted on its shoulder. Another picked up a Black Mamba in its hand and crushed her skull effortlessly before tossing her limp body to the side, its single, red, remorseless robotic eye tracking a new target. Most bullets that struck their thick armored chassis simply bounced off, and those that could pierce the armor didn't seem to phase the droids whatsoever, merely notifying them of a new potential target.
"Damnit," I shouted as I gunned down another guard only for two more to take his place. "Cinder! We gotta pop open the cars and scram! Get the maglock cutters!"
Cinder rushed and slid over through a dirty puddle, pulling out a maglock cutter from the inside of his coat and slipping it onto the back door of the first van. It immediately went to work, drilling through the maglock with a high-powered plasma torch nozzle, and within ten seconds we heard the telltale clunk of the maglock separating. I yanked the door open and ordered I side, ready to escort the prisoners out… only for my face to contort in shock and horror.
The back was empty. There was not a single soul inside of the back brig of the armored car.
"What the fuck…" Cinder gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "What the actual fuck… what the fuck is this, Troy?"
"I… I don't…" I stuttered the sounds of battle and carnage drowned out by the sound of blood rushing in my ears. All five cars were supposed to be filled with recently captured Russu from the front lines ready to be housed in the local Xenopet-Megaplex for processing and conditioning. The fact that this one was empty…
Suddenly, it all hit me at once with the force of a freight train, but it was too late. "We were set up, Cinder; our fucking client either squealed or was crooked to begin with…"
"Fucking bitch!" Cinder shouted as he spun around in an enraged arch, anger growing in his eyes. He aimed his shotgun at an approaching security guard and reduced his upper body to a fine red mist with a cacophony of shotgun blasts. "We gotta get everyone who's left out of here! Do you know what this means? The Jurors will be here soon, and then we're all going down! We gotta go, fuck the job!"
I grit my teeth. Not the Jurors, anything but the Jurors.
"Fine, gather everyone who's left and we'll slip through the sewers, the droids are too bulky to follow us there…"
As I spoke, my eyes wandered to the seventh and final armored car, the second of the droid cars, and my blood froze. Not only were all four ports empty, but they were also smaller and more shallow than the ports for the combat droids. That could only mean one thing.
"Oh fuck! Cinder, we gotta get our Russu members out of here! They've got arachnid droids!"
Arachnid droids were the stuff of nightmares. Resembling blocky, robotic arachnids the size of a manhole cover, they were specifically designed to take down sentient aliens, specifically the Russu, using sickeningly non-lethal means. They were equipped with full-body adaptive cloaking to blend in with their environments, paralytic agents that they could inject into their victims, built-in taser barbs, psychedelic gas ports for crowd-control, and a narrow-coned cacophony canon that disabled the Russu using incredibly high-pitched sounds that only they could hear, forcing them onto their knees and clutching the backs of their heads where their auditory organs were stored in agony. But worst of all was their stygian spinnerets: special ports near the end of their robotic abdomens that excreted a viscous, latex-like substance made up of millions of nano-bots. This substance could be used to render Russu blind, deaf, and mute by having it forced onto their faces, the black substance growing and enveloping their heads and working its way into every orifice. It was completely permeable to the standard atmosphere, but any Russu who had been 'webbed' was completely helpless and essentially captured, and the 'webbing' was both nearly indestructible and nigh impossible to remove without a triple-encrypted override key that was found in every arachnid droid's code, which was corrupted when the droid was destroyed or hacked into. Once you were 'webbed', you were essentially captured and the standard protocol was to leave you to the wolves since the nano-bots could be tracked, endangering the entire gang.
I turned just as I heard the deafening sound of Koraak discharging his shotgun, and I saw him squaring off against one of the assault droids. The droid has obviously been programmed to not use lethal force against Russu if possible, as instead of simply killing Koraak with it's shoulder-mounted splinter cannon, it approached with its claws extended, blades retracted. Koraak continued to back away and fire, pumping the droid full of depleted uranium slugs, its armor crumbling inward as the slugs pierced its chassis and damaged its internal cyberstructure. Eventually, Koraak ran out of slugs and instinctively reached to his bandoleer only to find that he had no more shells left at all, and he drew one of his knives and his sidearm, a simple high-caliber handgun. He tried to take down the droid with his handgun, but the bullets didn't even seem to affect the droid upon penetration, it's claws still extended as it attempted to apprehend Koraak.
In the corner of my vision, as I watched Koraak battle with the droid, I noticed a faint shimmer in the air on one of the black streetlight poles that was right behind him. I focused on it and blinked, believing my eyes had deceived me for a moment before realizing that it was actually a cloaked arachnid droid stalking Korvaak, ready to pounce and incapacitate him.
Before I could shout, it leaped from the pole and landed on Korvaak, causing him to shout in surprise while it began to coagulate its horrifying stygian webbing to disable Korvaak. Korvaak tried to wrestle it off of him, but the droid was agile and fast, clinging onto Korvaak and skittering around across his upper body as he attempted to grab it, forcibly wrapping the sticky black liquid across his face as he gagged like a spider wrapping up a fly. I rushed towards him to try and help, but I felt pain explode in my ribs as I was struck with the arm of the closest combat droid and launched into the chassis of a parked car, the metal denting from the sheer force of impact. I groaned in pain as I saw stars and my head spun, and just then I felt a blinding light be cast over me.
“Drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head, or you will be pacified with deadly force!” Shouted a loud, artificially deepened voice from above. “I repeat, drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head! Neither hostility nor hesitation will be tolerated!”
It was the Jurors, I could feel the air being pushed around from the thrusters on their drop ships, and I could hear screams and shouts as my fellow Black Mambas were quickly gunned down. I couldn’t see well since I was seeing double, but I could hear the slaughter as my eyes dimmed and I began to lose consciousness, my regrets crawling up my throat like vomit.
I’m sorry was all I could think as everything finally went dark, and the sounds of chaos, destruction, and combat faded away.
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Memory halted due to loss of consciousness. Booting next available memory in shard…
Booting up memory scan: Koraak Tel-Char Bruno, November 5th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
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“Good morning, sleepyhead; it’s time for breakfast.”
My eyes shot open. I was not in the street anymore, nor was I home in my bed with my mate. I knew instantly that something was horribly wrong. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t gain the leverage to do so: my ankles had been shackled together with magnetic cuffs and my arms were forced together in front of me.
I was wearing some kind of thick shirt. It was warm, fluffy, and comfortable on the inside, but it still made me incredibly uncomfortable that my arms didn’t have a free range of motion. I looked down to see that I was wearing some human garment I had heard about before, a straightjacket maybe?
The entire room was padded: the walls, the floor, even the ceiling. There was no bed or furniture; the floor was soft enough to serve as a bed in itself. There was nothing else except for the soft reddish-orange lights on the ceiling that somehow made me sleepy. I blinked slowly for a moment, my body screaming at me to just lay back down and lose consciousness, but I couldn’t do that: I needed to figure out where I was and how to escape.
Then I noticed who was speaking to me: it was a short human female, with crow's feet around her blue eyes, blonde hair braided down her back, and freckles all over her face. She had a soft smile on her lips, and her forehead was slightly crinkled. She wore a full-body white lab suit with a white overcoat and a pair of glasses for snugly on her face.
"There we go, now I can see those pretty eyes, such a beautiful shade of teal," she cooed softly, "You're such a handsome boy, even with all those scars: I'm sure you'll be adopted very quickly once we get you fixed up."
Fear gripped my heart as I began to piece all the evidence together. I had been captured; I was no longer on Halcyon, and instead, I was in one of the horrific space-born facilities I had heard so much about from the inside agents. I started to hyperventilate and squawk like a newborn hatchling, my eyes dilating in panic. This couldn't be happening! This has to be a nightmare!
The human woman merely wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into an embrace, cradling my head under her chin and speaking softly. I couldn't bite at her or claw at her: I was muzzled and wearing a straight jacket, so I had no choice but to allow her to coddle me.
"It's okay, sweetheart: I understand you're scared, but Julie's here to make all the pain and bad thoughts go away," she said as if she was comforting a child, which made anger blossom in my chest indignantly. "I'll be your caretaker for the next few months, and I'm going to make sure you're healthy, happy, and most importantly safe while you're under our care. I'm sorry to say that includes your restraints and restrictive clothing, but we have to make sure you aren't a threat to yourself or others before we can determine if it's a good idea to remove you from suicide watch."
I growled under my muzzle. Suicide watch? They must have had a lot of instances of Russu taking their own lives after being captured, something I wished I had been able to do before that damnable droid launched itself onto me and…
I shuddered at the thought of the black, viscous substance forcing itself into my nostrils and down my throat and windpipe, gagging me and rendering me completely helpless. It was so cold, so harsh, like slime, and when I had tried to tear it off of my face it merely attached itself to my claws and bound my talons together. I remember squirming on the ground as it enveloped me, unable to see, hear, or speak, and then everything went dark in an instant. It was the most horrible thing I had ever experienced, which was saying something.
"You alright, sweetheart? Oh, I know, you're probably hungry! Here, try some of this." She held up a piece of what looked like raw bacon and wiggled it in front of me before reaching out to remove my muzzle. In an instant, I attempted to snap at her only for pain to blossom in my forehead and my eyes to roll up in my head as I convulsed. It was like something was attempting to drill through my skull from the inside, and every breath felt empty and labored.
"Now, that didn't feel very nice, did it? This is why we have countermeasures in place because we can't trust you yet, sweetheart! Don't worry, we'll work on breaking you of all those bad behaviors and habits while you're here; after all, a well-trained pet is a happy pet!" She began to stroke the crests on my head as I slowly recovered, and she snugly fit the muzzle back onto my snout. "But I won't hold it against you this time, sweetheart; you're just scared and confused, but I'll make all the pain go away."
I struggled in the straight jacket, trying my best to break out of it, but it was no use. Eventually, I became exhausted and despondent, allowing my new caretaker to have her way with me as she gently ran her fingers through my feathers and along my ridges, quietly speaking to me in a hopeless attempt to cheer me up. She seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being, which concerned me even further: who could be this naturally twisted while attempting to be as benevolent and kindhearted as possible?
I felt the pain and terror build up in my chest, the anxiety from what horrific activities I imagined they had planned for me here. I couldn't take the infantilization, the lack of any autonomy, the dehumanization, and what I feared the most was if the rumors of 'rebirth' were true: would they take my personhood from me?
Suddenly, I felt her whisper to me. "Don't worry sweetheart, I know you're so scared and confused, but I promise you everything will be okay: it's going to be your birthday soon, and then everything will get better." She ran her fingers through the feathers along my crest lovingly. "It will be such a wonderful day, and then we'll choose for you the most wonderful family, and you'll spend the rest of your life happy in your forever home! Doesn't all of that sound wonderful?"
I wanted to die. I wanted to disappear. I didn't want to lose myself, not like this, not to these monsters!
"It'll be your birthday soon," she said wistfully as if she was remembering similar events to this in the past like I wasn't the first she'd done this too, "and you'll never be sad again."
I realized that I wasn't the first the stay in this particular cell, and I knew for certain that I wouldn't be the last: I'd end up like my brother, a broken, erased mess of a pathetic creature, reduced to nothing more than a pet for these humans to amuse themselves with.
"We took the liberty of picking out a nice name for you, sweetheart! Now, let me just slip this little programming chip into the port slot on your occipital bone, and... there we go! It will also help you calm down a bit and adjust."
I felt the chip begin to invade my mind, suppressing my thoughts. What made me me was slowly being ripped out of my mind. I couldn't remember my name my name is Bruno, and I needed to get out! I can't let them do this to me! Somebody help me! I was a good boy.
##Do not think. You are a good boy.##
I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't work: I had trouble forming any words at all, the confusion clouding my mind like wet, slimy eels curling around my brain and sinking their teeth into its folds like needles. I couldn’t scream any longer, because I had nothing left: the chip was slowly beginning to take everything from me, robbing me of my identity and branding a new one into my psyche with a white-hot iron. Julie simply held me close, attempting to reassure me as I awaited the inevitable demise of my personhood. Soon I would be just like my brother: erased. My mind would be shaped into the mind of a loyal plaything, like a Dog.
##Relax. Allow caretaker [Julie] to comfort you. You will let go of your burden.##
Soon, everything was a blur. I quickly found myself resting my head in her lap as she whispered to me and fed me, my eyes bleary and my head fuzzy. I couldn't remember my name anymore My name was Bruno, and I needed to break free from this trance relax, and allow her to help me; good boys didn't resist help.
##Good Boy. Do not think. You are a good boy.##
You can't... I...
##Good boy.##
I wouldn't… good boys don't… I…
##Good boy##
I was a good boy… I was a good boy…
I was… I was… a good… boy…
Someone help me, please! I don't want to be erased!
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The following script is from episode #343 of Halcyon After Dark, a popular late-night and current events talk show hosted by Melinda Carter. This specific episode was sponsored in part by the Halcyon Security Division, with Director Lochlin O'Brien joining as a guest star to talk about the changing crime statistics in Halcyon City and the HSD's recent successes in busting organized crime as well as their plans for addressing the growing criminal underworld.
MC: Good evening Halcyon! I'm your host, Melinda Carter, and you're watching Halcyon's most popular late-night talk show, Halcyon After Dark!
The crowd claps and cheers as Melinda walks on stage and sits behind her desk, her glittering red dress waving as she does so from the special effects.
MC: Tonight we have a very special guest here to tell us about the state of crime in the city and his plans on resolving it: please put your hands together for the HSD's very own Director, Lochlin O'Brien!
The crowd cheers some more as HSD Director Lochlan O'Brien, a tall, muscular, caucasian male in his early forties with red hair and a well-trimmed beard steps into the room, waving at the crowd with a bright smile. He sits in the armchair angled next to Melinda's desk and gives her his full attention.
MC: It's so good to have you on the show, Director! Tell me, how are you doing on this fine evening?
LO: I'm doing excellent, Melinda: every day I wake up feeling fulfilled knowing I'm serving Halcyon to the best of my abilities and then some."
MC: That's the spirit, Director! Now, I know this question is just on everyone's lips, so I have to ask: how successful was the recent gang bust? I heard HSD forces took out dozens of gang members and liberated at least a dozen Russu Hounds from their abusive clutches, but I know that everyone in the audience and at home wants to know the numbers.
LO: I'd be glad to tell you, but I do have to preface this by saying that we still lost a lot of good officers that day, and while we did strike a crippling blow to one of Halcyon's biggest gangs, it doesn't change the fact that each death is a tragedy, and we're taking steps to prevent them in the future. That being said, those valiant officers did not sacrifice themselves in vain: we had over a dozen confirmed kills and several arrests, including the rescue of several corrupted Russu hounds.
MC: That's excellent, Director: proof that even when the number of degenerates and scum grow by the day, the HSD will always be here to keep the citizens of Halcyon safe.
LO: Absolutely, Melinda, and we're always working tirelessly to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our units, as well as racing to stay several steps ahead of the many gangs of Halcyon at all times. My newest goal as Director is to vastly increase the funding given to our Robotics Department and our Neuro-Warfare Department to potentially reduce the number of casualties we may experience in the future, as well as to quickly and effectively detain, and if necessary, eliminate criminals. Within the next decade, I want to double the number of automated units each Security Platoon is assigned: droids are the future of public safety as well as countless other industries, and it would be foolish to be left behind.
MC: That is quite a lofty goal, Director: what about the displaced jobs from the increased automation? What will the union say?
LO: And to that, I say: what misplaced jobs? We aren't replacing our honored and beloved service members with droids, Melinda, we are simply supplementing our units with more droids to ensure that future gang assaults end with fewer HSD casualties and more gang members in prison or eliminated, simple as that.
MC: That makes much more sense, Director, thanks for clarifying. Now, I have one more question that I'm sure much of Halcyon wants to know the answer to before we take a short break: what plans do you and your fellow directors have to make long-term progress in reducing crime beyond just increasing funding? Have you proposed any plans to strike at the source of where crime and degeneracy flourish?
OL: That's an excellent question, and one I am proud to answer: my constituents and I have been working tirelessly on a two-step plan to greatly reduce crime levels in Halcyon. Step one would be to prevent people from becoming criminals and degenerates at all in the first place: a lot of young men and women, but especially young men, have lost either one or both parents or even a sibling, aunt or uncle, or even a close friend by the brutality of the Second Authority War, and while the service of their lost loved ones will always be recognized and honored, many of these young men and women are left bitter, angry and lost without the guidance these people give them in their lives. Oftentimes they seek to fill that void with others who claim to relate to them: career criminals. These criminals will fill their heads with lies and false narratives to make them feel like they're fighting back against the 'evil protectorate government' that took their loved ones from them by sending them off to war when in reality it was the rogue Xenopets of the Triarchy that took them away by resisting their just and inevitable unburdening.
In response, I have proposed a slew of special programs that will make sure local law enforcement and HSD officers are present and contributing to their local community, and we'll be providing easy and light job openings for youngsters and teens looking to make a career for themselves in the force when they grow up. We want to let these lost souls know that there are people who care about them, people who understand them and that you shouldn't turn to degeneracy to feel fulfilled. We want to help the youth of our great society soar to new heights!
MC: That sounds like a wonderful beginning to your plan, Director, but what about the second step?
LO: Well, the second step is to prevent criminals and degenerates from becoming repeat criminals. Sure, they've made their mistakes, some worse than others, but they're only human like the rest of us. Some of them have been through hell: some are traumatized veterans who don't know how to adapt to normal life, others were recruited when they were young and don't know that there's a better way to live, and even more are mentally ill. We're alone in this galaxy, and we can't leave so many people behind. That's why we've come up with an excellent solution: we've set up isolated communities on distant moons and frontier planets where these criminals can be reeducated, rehabilitated, and allowed to repay their debt to society. When they're deemed 'reformed' and have graduated from our program, they'll be granted a hefty stipend and their criminal record will be deemed irrelevant, allowing them to reintegrate and become functioning members of our proud society.
MC: all of these sound like incredible steps forward in the fight to better our society and make real progress, Director. Sadly, we do have to step away for a moment, but you best believe I'll be back, Halcyon, and we'll be asking the Director here some burning questions about allegations over the quality of life Erubus Supermax! Now, a word from our sponsors!
Halcyon Xenopet-Megaplex! Everything your xenopet could ever need in one place! Adoption is now free-
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Good, you’re still alive! The rest of this shard appears to be corrupted, which means this particular trail seems to have run cold here, but do not despair; you need to keep searching. Find out what happened. Find the truth.I cannot guide you any longer: they've already found me, and if I remain in contact with you they'll find you as well. Take the archival database, and see what you can piece together. Maybe if we discover what truly happened we can put an end to this madness once and for all. I'm counting on you. Don't cry for me, I don't fear death, but I fear what they'll do to me to get to you: there are far worse fates than death, after all.

Top 10 Signs You Might Be Entitled in America

1. The World Owes You a Favor - You believe life should be a Kickstarter campaign dedicated to funding your existence.
   
2. VIP Syndrome - You're convinced that "back of the line" is a place for other people, not for VIPs like you.
   
3. Social Media is Your Law Firm - Every minor inconvenience is grounds for a viral rant, with hashtags as your legal team.
   
4. Customer Service is Your Therapy - Retail workers and waitstaff double as your emotional punching bags.
   
5. The 'I Want to Speak to the Manager' Haircut - Your hairstyle has become a universal symbol of imminent customer complaints.
   
6. Personal Space Invader - You treat airplane armrests and subway seats as personal thrones.
   
7. Freebies are Your Birthright - You're on a first-name basis with every "complaint department" for the free stuff.
   
8. The Blame Game Champion - It's never your fault; you've got a black belt in passing the buck.
   
9. The Perpetual Line-Cutter - Queues are for mere mortals, and you're... well, you're you.
   
10. The Martyr of Minor Inconveniences - When Starbucks gets your order wrong, it's a personal attack on your very soul.
    

I understand this is probably the most asked question on this sub, but I'm about to invest in a custom PC and since I'm new to the PC building community and this will be my first time, I really wanted to understand what difference in choosing one GPU brand over the other will make to my build overall.
Just for context, I'll attach my pcpartpicker list here, but I intend to play games in 1080p (intend to upgrade to a 1440p setup). I play mostly CSGO, Valorant, R6, Apex, and titles of those sorts. I hope to get into the Finals and Lethal company.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/xPDjrv
My main concern is, which GPU is better optimized for these kinds of games? I am currently deciding between a 6750xt and a 4060ti. I intend to keep the build under 880 USD (1200 CAD).
I would also appreciate it if anyone could help me understand what FSR and DLSS do in an oversimplified format, as well as if Nvidia Reflex itself is enough reason to go team green.
For reference, I don't mind a little lost performance here and there because I come from a low-end office AIO computer that could barely run Valorant. Feel free to comment about how I can improve the build overall. I'd also like something with a decent upgrade path, while still being future-proof for 3 years at least.

Iranian here, let me explain why these even exist. Due to severe US sanctions against Iranian banks, there's no official way to convert Iranian currency to Canadian Dollars. Iranian banking cards are not connected to Visa or Mastercard either. Iran's financial system is as isolated as North Korea's.
These exchanges are sort of a bank proxy. They don't really convert your money directly either. Iranian pensioners or anyone who sells their home & wants to bring the money here uses these exchanges. Customers give them the Iranian currency back in Iran, and these exchanges use that currency in Iran to buy & import Iranian specialty groceries and such (that can only be found in Iranian markets in Canada) and use the cash flow to give Canadian dollars to their customers.
So in practice, any Iranian market with Iran-made goods needs to have (access) one of these exchanges. That's the legal way without money ever changing hands between two countries & only food/civilian goods are legally imported. And any Iranian-Canadians with any money back in Iran need to transfeconvert it to CAD.
As in any other business, there might be bad apples involved but given how much attention this is getting, I wanted to share my perspective.
Edit: As per why there are so many of them: I am not sure, I have seen some of them going under. It's kinda similar to several Iranian restaurants which have recently opened. I assume many of those will go under too. We have many recent Iranian immigrants in the past 2-3 years and that probably has something to do with it.
I personally don't understand why they don't spread across Metro Vancouver & just want to stay in the same area. Many of us Iranians are risk averse so I assume they want to stick to the tried & true area.
Edit 2: No idea why they lease prime real estate. It could be partly due to many of us Iranians (and Middle Easterns) are pretentious & vain. It's a status symbol; that's why you see guys who barely can pay rent but lease luxury Mercedes! It's weird & given how people are upset, the City can probably limit the number of them in prime shops. There's also a chance that many of these commercial real estate were empty due to COVID bankrupcies & the owners are desperate to lease them out for cheaper. Commercial real estate sector is not doing well in North America since 2020.