Hello everyone 👋🙂 Would it be better to order an I Pad Pro (2024 model) through the Apple website or go to Best Buy & buy it directly? Is it a higher risk to have it delivered to my home due to the box might be thrown in transit?

Parents living in Paschim Vihar, this article is here to help! Choosing the best Public school for your child can be difficult. We are here to help you make it easier. This article highlights the factors to consider when choosing a Right public school, such as the academic standards, school building, sports and other activities, support services available for children and the school environment. With detailed information and tips, our aim is to help you choose a school that will give your child the best education and prepare them for the future.Paschim Vihar, the western district of Delhi, has fast become an important hub of education. The area is known for its high-quality education, modern facilities, and a wide range of activities. With a mix of traditional and modern educational institutions, Paschim Vihar provides an ideal environment for all-round education. Schools in Paschim Vihar are equipped with modern facilities, including computer labs, modern science classrooms, large playgrounds and excellent libraries. It also has some of the top government schools in Delhi, which attract students from all over the city, creating a vibrant and competitive educational environment.

Importance of Choosing the Right Public School

Choosing the right public school for children is one of the most important decisions parents make. The public school environment greatly influences learning, social development and overall growth of children. A good public school in paschim vihar not only provides good education but also promotes the development of children, instills good values ​​in them and prepares them for the challenges of life.The right school can arouse curiosity in children to learn, increase their confidence and help them excel in every field. Therefore, choosing a public school in paschim vihar that meets their needs and your educational expectations is important for your child's success and happiness.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Public School

• Academic Reputation

You should consider a school's learning atmosphere before making your decision. You can observe how the school's pupils fare on competitive examinations such as the board exams for classes 10 and 12. A concentrated study atmosphere and consistently strong performance show that the school is giving the students a quality education.Research the curriculum the school offers to make sure it matches your educational goals and your child's learning style.

• Good teachers:

Make sure that the teachers in the school are experienced and have good degrees. Also, they should be interested in teaching. Such teachers can make the child's studies better. Also, see if the school helps its teachers to learn new things.

• Safety of the Surrounding Area

School safety is important to your child's safety. Verify whether the school is located in a safe and convenient area. Verify that safety precautions are in place, including controlled entry points, CCTV cameras, and vigilant security personnel. Also take into account the general safety of the neighborhood, taking into account traffic flow and the presence of walkways.

• Infrastructure and Facilities

Children can learn more well in an environment that is more modern. Examine the classrooms, labs, library, and outdoor areas of the school. Large, well-lit classrooms with contemporary technology are ideal. Children who have access to a modern computer lab and a strong library are more likely to achieve academically. Playgrounds and recreational areas should be available at the school to encourage kids to get interested in sports.

Best Public School in Paschim Vihar : Doon Public School

Located in the heart of Paschim Vihar, Doon Public School is a great example of excellence and innovation in education. The school not only excels in academics but also develops them in an all-round manner. With facilities like large and bright classrooms, well-equipped library, modern science and computer labs, and playgrounds, Doon School provides children with a rich learning experience. Doon Public School provides education with the holistic development of the child in mind. Experienced and continuously learning teachers provide individual attention to the children. Participation in activities such as sports, art, music and drama helps children develop leadership skills, teamwork and important life skills. Overall, this school is dedicated to giving children a strong foundation and helping them succeed. Facilities like counseling, special education programs and regular health checkups are also available. Overall, Doon public School is committed to giving children a strong academic foundation, honing their talents and making them successful and responsible global citizens.

Why Choose Doon Public School?

• Academic Excellence

Doon Public School takes great pride in its outstanding academic performance. The methods of instruction used here have shown to be quite successful. Our pupils' regular success in both board exams and other competitive examinations serves as evidence of this.We ensure that our students are fully prepared for further studies and success in life. Hence, we follow a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity and practical knowledge.

• Highly Qualified Faculty

Doon Public School takes great pride in its committed and experienced faculty! These educators serve as mentors and role models for the kids in addition to being subject matter specialists. These educators support each child's talent development by giving them their full attention and encouragement.These teachers instill a curiosity in the children to learn so that they are always eager to learn new things. The teachers themselves are constantly learning and teach using modern methods so that children get the best education. Small class sizes allow the teachers to pay individual attention to each child, identify their strengths and weaknesses and teach according to their learning style. The Doon School teachers are not just teachers but also friends, counselors and guides to the children.Teachers at Doon public School are not just teachers but also friends, counselors, and guides to children. In addition to being educators, the teachers at Doon Public School serve as mentors, friends, and counselors for the students.

• Modern Infrastructure and Facilities

The campus of Doon Public School is equipped with new technology for the qualitative development of children. The school has modern classrooms with smart boards and interactive equipment. Also, the science and computer labs are state-of-the-art. The library is full of books and a storehouse of knowledge. Apart from playgrounds, courts and space for various sports are also available. All these facilities give children the opportunity to grow in sports and other activities along with studies.

Conclusion

Choosing the best Paschim Vihar public School is very important for your child's educational success and general development. When choosing a school, there are many things to keep in mind, such as the education criteria, teachers' credentials, facilities, safety and adjunct activities. Doon Public School is one of the top institutions, renowned for providing students with the best education, comprehensive development and state-of-the-art facilities. The Doon public School provides children with a comprehensive learning experience that prepares them for the future, including qualified teachers, a safe environment and a wide range of activities. By taking all these aspects into consideration and doing your research, making an informed choice that will improve your child's future can be achieved. Choose wisely and take care of your child's education .

SOMEONE--ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I COULD NOT WATCH THE RAYS/ORIOLES GAME ON MY XFINITY MLB EXTRA INNINGS PKG LAST NIGHT. I KNOW COMCAST FKD THINGS UP WITH BALLY SPORTS WHICH CARRIES THE RAYS. BUT THIS GAME WAS IN BALTIMORE SND BROADCAST THROUGH MASN-TV 😡SO I'M NOW PROHIBITED FROM WATCHING THE ORIOLES EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A HOME GAME AGAINST THE RAYS. WHY DOESN'T COMCAST JUST CALL ITSELF THE FKG MAFIA AND GET IT OVER WITH? THEY HAVE THE WORST BUSINESS MODEL IN AMERICA. SIMPLY TERRIBLE !!! Doug T Sarasota, FL

MS-ISAC CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY
MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER: 2024-065
DATE(S) ISSUED: 05/31/2024
SUBJECT: A Vulnerability in Check Point Security Gateways Could Allow for Credential Access
OVERVIEW: A vulnerability has been discovered in Check Point Security Gateway Products that could allow for credential access. A Check Point Security Gateway sits between an organization’s environment and the Internet to enforce policy and block threats and malware. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for credential access to local accounts due to an arbitrary file read vulnerability. Other sensitive files such as SSH keys and certificates may also be read. Depending on the privileges associated with the accounts, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Local accounts that are configured to have fewer rights on the system could be less impacted than those that operate with administrative rights.
THREAT INTELLIGENCE: Check Point is aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-24919 exists in the wild and is being actively exploited. Additionally, the cybersecurity organization mnemonic has reported observing threat actors extracting ntds.dit, a store of Active Directory hashes on a Domain Controller, from compromised customers within 2-3 hours after logging in with a local user.
MS-ISAC CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY
MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER: 2024-065
DATE(S) ISSUED: 05/31/2024
SUBJECT: A Vulnerability in Check Point Security Gateways Could Allow for Credential Access
OVERVIEW: A vulnerability has been discovered in Check Point Security Gateway Products that could allow for credential access. A Check Point Security Gateway sits between an organization’s environment and the Internet to enforce policy and block threats and malware. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for credential access to local accounts due to an arbitrary file read vulnerability. Other sensitive files such as SSH keys and certificates may also be read. Depending on the privileges associated with the accounts, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Local accounts that are configured to have fewer rights on the system could be less impacted than those that operate with administrative rights.
THREAT INTELLIGENCE: Check Point is aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-24919 exists in the wild and is being actively exploited. Additionally, the cybersecurity organization mnemonic has reported observing threat actors extracting ntds.dit, a store of Active Directory hashes on a Domain Controller, from compromised customers within 2-3 hours after logging in with a local user.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

• Quantum Security Gateway and CloudGuard Network Security prior to R81.20, R81.10, R81, R80.40
• Quantum Maestro and Quantum Scalable Chassis prior to R81.20, R81.10, R80.40, R80.30SP, R80.20SP
• Quantum Spark Gateways prior to R81.10.x, R80.20.x, R77.20.x

RISK: Government:

• Large and medium government entities: High
• Small government entities: High

Businesses:

• Large and medium business entities: High
• Small business entities: High

Home users: Low
TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
A vulnerability has been discovered in Check Point Security Gateway Products that could allow for credential access. The vulnerability affects Security Gateway products making use of the IPsec VPN or Mobile Access. Exploiting this vulnerability can result in accessing arbitrary files on the system including /etc/shadow which contains password hashes for local accounts on the Security Gateway. The hashes can be cracked and allow for the attacker to authenticate as those users, allowing for lateral movement and the potential to gain domain admin privileges. Details of the vulnerability are as follows:
Tactic: Credential Access (~TA0006~):
Technique: Exploitation for Credential Access (~T1212~):
Arbitrary file read vulnerability (CVE-2024-24919)
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for credential access to local accounts due to an arbitrary file read vulnerability. Other sensitive files such as SSH keys and certificates may also be read. Depending on the privileges associated with the accounts, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Local accounts that are configured to have fewer rights on the system could be less impacted than those that operate with administrative rights.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:

• Apply the updates provided by Check Point to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing. (M1051: Update Software)
  • Safeguard 7.1 : Establish and Maintain a Vulnerability Management Process: Establish and maintain a documented vulnerability management process for enterprise assets. Review and update documentation annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.
  • Safeguard 7.2 : Establish and Maintain a Remediation Process: Establish and maintain a risk-based remediation strategy documented in a remediation process, with monthly, or more frequent, reviews.
  • Safeguard 7.6 : Perform Automated Vulnerability Scans of Externally-Exposed Enterprise Assets: Perform automated vulnerability scans of externally-exposed enterprise assets using a SCAP-compliant vulnerability scanning tool. Perform scans on a monthly, or more frequent, basis.
  • Safeguard 7.7 : Remediate Detected Vulnerabilities: Remediate detected vulnerabilities in software through processes and tooling on a monthly, or more frequent, basis, based on the remediation process.
  • Safeguard 16.13 Conduct Application Penetration Testing: Conduct application penetration testing. For critical applications, authenticated penetration testing is better suited to finding business logic vulnerabilities than code scanning and automated security testing. Penetration testing relies on the skill of the tester to manually manipulate an application as an authenticated and unauthenticated user.
  • Safeguard 18.1 : Establish and Maintain a Penetration Testing Program: Establish and maintain a penetration testing program appropriate to the size, complexity, and maturity of the enterprise. Penetration testing program characteristics include scope, such as network, web application, Application Programming Interface (API), hosted services, and physical premise controls; frequency; limitations, such as acceptable hours, and excluded attack types; point of contact information; remediation, such as how findings will be routed internally; and retrospective requirements.
  • Safeguard 18.2 : Perform Periodic External Penetration Tests: Perform periodic external penetration tests based on program requirements, no less than annually. External penetration testing must include enterprise and environmental reconnaissance to detect exploitable information. Penetration testing requires specialized skills and experience and must be conducted through a qualified party. The testing may be clear box or opaque box.
  • Safeguard 18.3 : Remediate Penetration Test Findings: Remediate penetration test findings based on the enterprise’s policy for remediation scope and prioritization.
• Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services. Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack. (M1026: Privileged Account Management)
  • Safeguard 4.7: Manage Default Accounts on Enterprise Assets and Software: Manage default accounts on enterprise assets and software, such as root, administrator, and other pre-configured vendor accounts. Example implementations can include: disabling default accounts or making them unusable.
  • Safeguard 5.4: Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts: Restrict administrator privileges to dedicated administrator accounts on enterprise assets. Conduct general computing activities, such as internet browsing, email, and productivity suite use, from the user’s primary, non-privileged account.

REFERENCES:

MS-ISAC CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY

MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER: 2024-065
DATE(S) ISSUED: 05/31/2024
SUBJECT: A Vulnerability in Check Point Security Gateways Could Allow for Credential Access
OVERVIEW: A vulnerability has been discovered in Check Point Security Gateway Products that could allow for credential access. A Check Point Security Gateway sits between an organization’s environment and the Internet to enforce policy and block threats and malware. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for credential access to local accounts due to an arbitrary file read vulnerability. Other sensitive files such as SSH keys and certificates may also be read. Depending on the privileges associated with the accounts, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Local accounts that are configured to have fewer rights on the system could be less impacted than those that operate with administrative rights.
THREAT INTELLIGENCE: Check Point is aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-24919 exists in the wild and is being actively exploited. Additionally, the cybersecurity organization mnemonic has reported observing threat actors extracting ntds.dit, a store of Active Directory hashes on a Domain Controller, from compromised customers within 2-3 hours after logging in with a local user.

28F Asian-American seeking a serious relationship. My ideal guy has a sweet, kind, and silly personality. He has similar interests and good open communication skills. I have a preference for short, clean-shaven East Asian guys and guys on the asexual spectrum. Open to passing trans guys too! I'd prefer someone close to East Coast US and not wildly far apart from me in age. I would want to meet up often if we click.
About me: I'm asexual. I don't have interest in sex. If you're looking for sex, it's better to hit up someone else's DMs. I would be willing to try it with a long term partner, but only later if I caught strong feelings. Moving on...
I'm a friendly introvert who can get along with almost anyone. People describe me as funny, genuine, insightful, and a good listener. My top interests are good food, anime/donghua, RPG video games, and learning new things. I'm a romantic. When I have a crush, they're practically all I can think about! My love languages are quality time and acts of service. I like the idea of cuddling and physical affection, but I don't know if that's true in reality yet. I've also been sharing more words of affirmation lately.
Appearance: I'm short, plus size, with glasses, black hair, and dark eyes. I like to dress casually and comfortably at home, but sometimes "go goth" when I go out. Other than going goth, I don't typically wear makeup. I look decent though I'm not a model. I get lots of compliments from random people when I dress up.
More details/conversation starters: I've been obsessed with Baldur's Gate 3 lately. I'm cautiously waiting for the next Dragon Age game. My favorite types of music are rock, pop, electronic, and folk. I listen to some international music. Some of my favorite music artists are Studio Killers, Ludo, and CRUISR. I enjoy psychological/analog/found footage horror. I used to do martial arts but no longer actively practice. It's something I'm interested in picking back up, if time and money permit!

I'm Armaan from Frostwood Interactive (Rainswept, Forgotten Fields) currently working on an unannounced first person survival horror game. I'm currently building the prototype for funding, and am looking for an animator to create animations for 2 "monster"/ creature character models. The concepts for these are currently under development by the concept artist, but the designs will be something non-humanoid - claws, tentacles, multiple heads, possibly some cloth as well. The animations I'm looking for are mostly idle, walk, run and primary and secondary attack. The game is being made in Unity.
As this is for a prototype for funding and there is no external funding yet, the budget and timelines are a bit tight. I'm looking at something around the $300-400 per character range. The 3D models (rigged) will be ready by mid/late June, with mid July being the deadline for the animations. Once funding is secured, we can possibly discuss taking this further for remaining models at different/ higher rates.
Get in touch with me via DMs or leave a comment here if this sounds good!

https://www.voanews.com/a/un-refugee-chief-114-million-have-fled-homes-because-nations-fail-to-tackle-causes-of-conflict-/7637224.html?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral

UN refugee chief: 114 million have fled homes because nations fail to tackle causes of conflict

UNITED NATIONS —
The number of people fleeing their homes because of war, violence and persecution has reached 114 million and is climbing because nations have failed to tackle the causes and combatants are refusing to comply with international law, the U.N. refugee chief said Thursday.
In a hard-hitting speech, Filippo Grandi criticized the U.N. Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, for failing to use its voice to try to resolve conflicts from Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to Congo, Myanmar and many other places.
My thoughts.
As many as 10,000 refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region are dying from disease and violence every month, all we see on the news is Gaza.
WHO wants more money and climate change is coming like a freight train.
April 2024 was the warmest month on record, 126 F in New Delhi, 124 in Mexico.
What to do? Pray for rain? Then we have floods. Migrate north or south?

I'm getting analysis paralysis from looking at all of the tool brands, battery systems, sales, models... It's too much!
I have resisted buying battery tools because I don't want to deal with a bunch of batteries. I'm a weekend warrior and DIYer that works on rusty old trucks, home repairs, and occasionally builds something off my wife's honey do list. This time around it's repairing/replacing/adding onto our privacy fence. My 16 year old Milwaukee 12v screw gun made it through a couple panels. Sure, a new battery will help but I think it's a good excuse to buy an impact driver. And hey, I have other projects that'll benefit.
This is where my confusion comes in. The Milwaukee is the only cordless tool I own (that matters). I use air tools for the vehicles or corded stuff for wood working. I think it's time to bite the bullet and buy some cordless. I'm not brand loyal. I like to buy for life when I can but I've bought cheap before when I'll never use it again.
My local options are (ordered by distance) Harbor Freight, Menards, Rural King, Ace, Lowe's, and Walmart. No Home Depot for the Ryobi fans. So I'm trying to pick a brand that has some basic options (if I need to grab a battery compatible tool on a Sunday evening, well, you understand) and will last.
I've read through a lot of posts here, watched videos, read the articles, looked at the retailers, and I can't really decide. Ryobi is usually recommended for home users but that goes with a close Home Depot (over an hour away). I can get the usual brands like DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Metabo HPT locally. I'm also looking at store brands like Hercules, Kobalt, and Masterforce. With the sales, I can pick up an impact driver with a battery or two for $100-150. Some also have a drill or Kobalt is throwing in a free second tool of my choice.

I'm looking at upgrading from my google home to home assistant for all of the obvious reasons. I'm looking at using a Raspberry Pi 4 and wondering which RAM size i should get? I'm thinking getting the 4gb middle of the road one but would it be worth it to go for the 8gb model? my only issue is its almost double the price for 2gb RAM.
Any and all advice welcome, and thanks :)

I've recently upgraded my android phone.
I'm trying to download the Film+ apk, from the what I think is the "official" website, https://filmplus.app
But I can't access the website I'm getting a Cloudflare protection page.
" Sorry, you have been blocked You are unable to access filmplus.app Why have I been blocked? This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. "
I've tried from different IPs (home wifi or mobile data), same thing.
Is it just me?

I don’t feel satisfied with my current amps. As the subject says I have those two amps now. I mostly use the Fender at church and the Katana at home. However, the power situation at church is less than optimal, and the Super Champ is a bit sensitive to that. Also it hasn’t been possible to make use of the modeling ability for years since the software was discontinued. The Katana is quite nice, of course, but I’m not really using the modeling aspect of it. Instead I have a multi-effects pedal (NUX MG-400) that has more flexibility than the Katana. The NUX has more memory slots, for example. I’m not going to go into which is better here since I’ve pretty much decided it works better for me this way.
I like to leave the Fender at church most of the time just to spare the lugging back and forth. But, I can’t really dial in a sound at home when I do that. I don’t really have a good space to keep it at home all the time, either.
So my decision is what to do with these two amps.
My current line of thinking is to trade both in and get two of the same, or close to same, amps so I can have one at home and one at church. That way I can get a sound I like at home and easily replicate at church. Having the multi pedal helps with that, and is much less cumbersome to carry. My local used shop has a few Orange Crush Pro 60s and a 35RT. I was considering getting one of each, with the 35RT for home and 60 for church. I also like the analog signal line on the Crush amps.
I could also see getting another Katana to leave at church. However, that feels less optimal to me given I don’t use the modeling of the amp itself. The 100 is also a bit cramped at home due to space limitations. If they made a 50 with fx loop, that’d be an easier decision. Both the Orange models do all I want, and the 35RT would fit better at home.
Am I crazy for wanting to trade in the Fender and Katana for a medium and large Crush? Something else I should consider instead? I do prefer solid state over tube (don’t judge me, please), so suggestions in that category would be useful.

I must be confused. I want to do home security cameras. Did some research, ended up buying a tapo c425 as my first camera. Loved the mount, the fact that it didn't need a base station, and didn't need a subscription. All wins in my book.
I got this for my backyard. Mounted it in the corner of the house so I can see the whole backyard in one shot. Probably 50-70ft of space from one side to another. It works great and shoots in 2k which is awesome.
Here's my issue. The motion detection is terrible. Probably gets less than half of my backyard despite clear views to the entire space. That wouldn't be a problem except it only saves recordings to view later where motion is detected.
So right now you could walk through half my backyard and I wouldn't even know and there would be no footage to review for me to even find out.
What I wanted was a camera with better motion detection or that would record 24/7.
What should I have gotten??

My boyfriend (23M) hasn’t contacted me in almost two weeks. And this isn’t the first time. He’s very prone to isolation and withdrawal when he’s depressed. I love him but it’s frustrating. And part of the reason why it’s so frustrating is because he knows I’m a patient and understanding person, yet he decides to suppress his emotions anyway and shut down completely.
It’s important to note that he’s definitely going through some emotional turmoil right now, with his brother (whom he’s very very close to) leaving the country to study abroad. Now he’s home alone whenever he’s off work which I can’t imagine helps much with the feeling of loneliness. And I’ll also admit, I haven’t been a great girlfriend and I haven’t made him feel emotionally secure or safe in terms of my faithfulness to him (which I’m working on). That’s actually what I wanted to apologize for before he started avoiding me like that. He’s very sensitive when it comes to love, he doesn’t show it, but I know him well. I feel terrible for my behavior recently, but I do have jealousy issues that I project onto him.
Sometimes I feel like he’s cheating but he hasn’t given me a reason to believe so. I always think of the worst case scenario and I don’t react rationally.
How would you guys handle this situation? Input would be highly appreciated.

I'm in the early stages of boat shopping. I thought I was looking for a Jon boat or a bass boat but I've had 2 salesman at 2 different dealers tell me that I should be looking at a small pontoon. I've been reading, researching, and flip flopping for months trying to figure out if they're right. I'm hoping you all can give me some first hand, life experience insight.
I grew up with my dad and grandpa always having bass boats and Jon boats. I've been on large rental pontoons but never known anyone who owned and trailered one. I have a wife and kids now (8 and 10 year olds) and they really want a boat. So, I'm looking for something that 4 people can fish comfortably on. We're not skiing or partying, just enjoying family time and fishing. The lakes we frequent within a 1 hour drive all have either electric/trolling motor only restrictions or 9.9 restrictions. The dealers have me eyeing a 16' Lowe and a 16' Tracker Bass Buggy. I have a Ford Maverick AWD truck with a 4,000 pound tow capacity. I tow a 2,500 pound camper no problem with the Maverick but I have never tried pulling a boat out of a slippery ramp with it. Other people in the Ford Maverick sub-reddit are pulling bigger pontoons with their Maverick and claiming no problems. I drive an F-350 for work and tow regularly with it, plenty of towing experience just not with a boat on a wet ramp. Whatever boat I buy would be towed to and from my home every trip and stored in my backyard or possibly under a metal building or carport in the future.
My main concerns on the pontoon are the size and price. Even the 16' pontoons look way bigger than the 16' Jon or bass boats. It'll look like a monster behind my tiny Mav and from what I've read, pontoons can be a pain to tow. Also, there are zero 16' used pontoons near me. When I search for used models nationwide, they are not much cheaper than a new one so I think I'd buy a new one if I go the pontoon route. As for price, I planned on putting $10,000 down for whatever boat I buy. I can afford $25,000 for a 16' pontoon, I just don't know if it's worth it compared to what I can get for $10,000 used or $18,000 new in a bass or Jon boat, especially when I'm going to be limited to a trolling motor or 9.9.
I realize that this is a decision that my wife and I have to make. I'm just hoping to get some advice or thoughts from those with experience here instead of a salesman making commission.

I am so fucking tired of suffering housing insecurity. I made 70k+ the past 3 years and now clear 6 figures in a new role. I shouldn't be suffering housing insecurity.
I'm not even talking buying; obviously I should be able to afford to buy but low 6 figures gives you no real buying power in this market. Or period in New England.
I'm talking rentals. I've been forced farther and farther from Boston, which okay I guess fair enough but rents went up 50% in less than 2 years. Now you can't even find a place for less than 2k/m without housemates. And even when you FIND an amazing place where you're finally approaching feeling safe with good people, the landlords in MA are such cunts they'll rip the carpet right out from under you (Kelly Ryan Real estate; refused to renew the lease after I asked for a heads up if someone is entering the home after they sent two teenagers over unannounced and I found them rummaging through our stuff. They sure showed me how meaningless I was and how powerful they were. Housemate warned me the family had extreme anger issues. I was too scared of home invaders to remember that.)
If you're not dual income you're fucked. Even if your single income clears most dual income households. I make too much to qualify for any programs to help with housing security, but to little to keep a stable home.
I'm in bed nerves completely raw because the current landlord sold the house with a month and a half notice to fuck off. My current best bet is renting from a guy who is larger than me, a combat veteran with guns. I'm a 130lb woman. I'm scared shitless. I want to believe people are good and that I won't get raped or murdered. But christ I just want a safe home.
My literal logic is it's safer to take this risk than the risk of living in my car where I will be very exposed and explicitly targeted.
I just hate that this housing crisis has been at minimum in development for 10 years, I was frustrated a decade ago by my lack of buying power. I remember using the term housing crisis as early as 6 years ago. Nothing has been done! Even with it being a big political buzzword right now and we'll past boiling over, I do not trust the american government to do anything.
I'm just bone tired exhausted of moving multiple times a year to avoid being evicted or to escape violent situations. I'm just trying to keep rent under a paycheck like grandpa always taught me. That's $1,555, and that's not enough to live safely alone. I also haven't been able to hit that goal for 3 years, WITH housemates (prior to this job 25% was 1k).
I get that so many people have it worse and that I am "fortunate" but it pisses me off so much that the quality of life in America has plummeted to the point my situation is fortunate.
I've worked so hard and I'm still laying in bed right now, chest feeling raw, electric and shot from nerves, because once again I'm being forced to move in a hurry against my will and I'm scared for my safety.
I haven't felt "home" in 4 years, since moving to MA. It has taken a massive toll on my mental health and emotional wellbeing. I don't trust anything to last anymore. I'm exhausted. I can't imagine a world where everything is okay and I'm safe.

[INDEX]
I banked the fire and stared into the golden eyes of Beatale before I crept into my makeshift tent.
I still had my auric vision running and couldn’t help but notice the thin silver cord that ran from me to Horse. Firming up my aura, I reached out with my hand and grabbed it. I could feel the nearly imperceptible vibration between my fingers as I used my mind to probe at the thread. I could feel a bright spark of intellect, a light at the end of a tunnel. Pushing with my mind, I slid down the thread until the spark grew larger and eventually filled my inner vision with a hazy white light. Horsey thoughts nudged at me curiously.
I slid into the haze and immediately lost all sense of direction. If it wasn’t for the silver thread, I’d have no idea how to exit this shifting white fog. Horsey thoughts got stronger as I followed the thread while the haze thinned and cleared to reveal an endless prairie of green grass. I found myself standing before a naked man wearing a horse mask and I stared in shock. It was obviously me wearing a cheap costume horse mask — there was no mistaking my tattoos.
“What did you expect?” Horse neighed at me. “I am you and you are me and we are all together. Goo goo ga joob.”
Horse made a shooing motion with his hands and I accelerated backwards through the white haze and slammed into my own body with a gasp. I stared at the tarp overhead for a long minute, processing this new revelation. Horse was a part of me, a piece of my spirit. Whatever psychic stuff I did with that silver cord lead me into a house of mirrors where I got to look at myself pretending to be a horse. I can’t even deal with that right now.
Rolling into my blankets, I dropped off to sleep.
*Ding*
-=- - Welcome to the Dreamworld - Included in the Psychic Skills pack, the Inner Sanctum is your psychic domain. It is the mental fortress that you must secure and maintain to defend against psychic and spiritual assaults. All of your neurosis and fears are symbolised in this realm and must be defeated or subjugated before you can become master of the domain. Good luck. -=-
I banished the pop-up and looked around. I knew I was asleep, but everything was just as real as when I was awake. I was breathing, I could feel the floor under my feet, and if it weren’t for the pop-up, I would have sworn I had been teleported. The room I was in resembled an oversized luxury prison cell, maybe a thirty foot cube. No windows. Rough stone walls with thick mortar. Large brass wall sconces were set directly into the stone and suffused the room with a warm, golden light provided by glowing rocks. The stone floor had colourful Persian rugs tastefully placed. A high plaster ceiling was painted with a rendition of Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’, depicting me as both Adam and God.
There was a comfy sofa in front of a large screen television that hung from one wall and an ornate grandfather clock ticked loudly in the corner. It was currently 10:08 PM. Another wall was a floor to ceiling bookshelf, stuffed with books of varying sizes. The third wall was covered with pictures and I could see at a glance that they were images from my life. The fourth wall had a thick riveted steel door on the right side, a full sized mirror on the left, and a computer workstation in the middle.
The picture wall was my first target. A few were quite large, nearly life sized, while others were tiny prints no larger than the palm of my hand. Scenes of my life were displayed in each one. The largest was me riding Horse with a shit-scared expression, shooting at a pack of wolves. Others were smaller, each with different frames. Some ornate gold or silver, others plain wood, a few wrapped in briars or barbed wire. Nanny Ramsey holding me as a young child. My dog Jean with a red ball in his mouth. My parents, screaming at me. I turned my attention to the books. Books are safe. Books don’t judge you.
The sweet, musty scent of a used book store filled my nostrils as I drew close to the honey coloured shelves. Hundreds of volumes filled the wall from floor to ceiling, with a ladder that could be rolled along a rail to access the top. I smiled at the sight. I had always wanted a library like this. I pulled a book at random and read the title, “Confused Fantasies about Joseph Harris, part XXIV of the Middle School Years”.
I slid the book back onto the shelf. Let’s see what’s on TV.
The remote was a slim, futuristic looking affair with a minimum of buttons. I pointed it at the television and moments later the huge screen came to life and presented me with a simple menu for movies, divided into six categories: Happy, Surprised, Afraid, Disgusted, Angry, and Sad. I scrolled through the offerings for a minute, reading the titles and reviews about the movies of my life. It really bothered me that there were so few selections in the Happy section.
The number of Sad movies increased by one.
I walked over to the mirror and noticed there was a small sticky note pasted to it. “Astral Realm. Experienced users only.” I shoved the note in my pocket and stared at my image. Sturdy black boots, black denim jeans and shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, deep brown gun belt slung at my hip, red bandanna and black felt hat. All I needed was a pencil moustache and I would look like the stereotypical villain in any spaghetti western. At that very moment I decided to grow out a goatee. I’d rather be mistaken for a bad guy than a victim.
So how does this astral realm thing work?
The mirror appeared to be nothing more than a mirror. It was cold, smooth glass surrounded by a wrought iron frame, and reflected my image. I didn’t necessarily want to go walking into danger, but I wanted to know how it worked. I pushed and prodded the glass in frustration until I noticed my image grinning at me. I jumped back in surprise and it doubled over in silent laughter.
“Hilarious, dude. You got me,” I huffed. “So how do I get in?”
My mirror-self tipped his hat and stepped to side.
I reached up to the mirror again and my hand passed through, vanishing as if cut off. Okay, just a quick peek and we’ll explore the rest of the room. I stepped through and the world shifted around me. I was standing back at the campsite. My body was insubstantial as a ghost and the tarp was a wisp of substance running straight through me. Non living things don’t seem to have much presence in this realm. Glancing down, I saw my sleeping body rolled up in the blankets, a thin silver thread running from it to me, and another thread running to Horse.
Looking around, I surveyed the campsite. My astral vision seemed to be on and had an unlimited range. I could see the life all around me, the distant forest was a sea of greenish-gold, grasses and brush nearby glowed with spectral light. Tiny ghost insects scurried while ghost mice nibbled at whatever ghost mice nibble on. Ghost seeds and ghost insects, I suppose. I turned my attention overhead and gaped at the sight of a monstrous serpentine spirit flying through the inky void. I dropped back through the tent and rolled inside my body. That was plenty enough for now.
I rolled through the mirror and landed flat on my back, staring at the fresco on the ceiling. Vinnie-God winked at me and Vinnie-Adam grinned. Climbing to my knees, I brushed non-existent dust from my trousers and watched mirror-me doubled over in soundless laughter.
“Hey, laughing-boy!” I yelled at him. “You’re like the guardian or something, right? You got it covered?”
Mirror-me stood and saluted with a smile, then gave me two thumbs up. A moment later, his face took on a serious expression and he wriggled his right hand in the ‘maybe’ motion. Then he pointed at me, tapped his wrist, and then a finger to his head.
It all depends on how fast I learn stuff, I guess.
Two thumbs up and a winning smile reflected back to me.
A large cork board was mounted to the wall over the computer and a small note was pinned to it. “Note to self: Don’t fuck with the Elvish womens.”
The computer screen featured a screensaver of me as Vitruvian Man doing callisthenics over the words ‘HumanOS’. I tapped the spacebar and was rewarded with the sound of powerful fans kicking to life as the computer emerged from sleep mode and prompted me for a password. Should I assume it’s the same as the password on the computer I pawned in my previous life?
Password: *******esi
I was rewarded with a sweet R&M desktop and a couple of icons. System, NeuralNet, My-Tunes, My-Movies, My-Office.
System was just what I expected, lots of .dna files and other confusing scariness that allowed me to tweak my physical body and mental state. My-Tunes was a collection of every song I’d ever heard and My-Movies was a collection of every movie I’d ever seen. Not that I’m complaining, but it would have been nice to have “My-Games” so I could play RDR. My-Office was a clone of the popular software by a similar name. I have no idea what I’ll ever need a spreadsheet for in this world.
NuralNet opened up a search engine called Me-Seeks, featuring a familiar blue guy.
I typed in “beer” and several thousand results were displayed, anything I’d ever read, heard, or watched about beer, including how to make it. This right here made the price of admission totally worth it, access to an exact copy of everything I’d ever read, and I was a voracious reader. Sadly, most of the stuff I read was futurology — solar panels, electronics, biotech advancements, quantum computing. The material for steam engines, blacksmithing, farming and the like, were slim pickings. That’s okay though, I could still reproduce the Gutenberg press, the cotton gin, simple internal combustion engines, and basic batteries along with some sketchy knowledge of metal alloys, acids, bases, and other things I had read over the years. All that wasted time watching “How Things Work” was finally going to pay off. I copied a few likely money makers to My-Office, saved the file, and exported to my Notes, just in case they didn’t exist on Aerth.
A popup covered the screen.
📱 [New Upgrade Available!] 📱
🎉 Enhance Your Experience with the Latest HumanOS Features! 🎉
🌟 Features Include:

• 🧠 Memory Booster: Increase your Memory for smoother multitasking and improved performance.
• 🔋 Energy Optimizer: Extend your battery life with advanced power-saving techniques.
• 🛠️ Utility Upgrades: Access new apps and utilities to enhance your daily life and adventures.
• 🗺️ Advanced Mapping: Never get lost again with enhanced GPS and location tracking.

🔥 Special Offer: Only 2000 credits for version 2.0 or 5000 credits for version 3.0! 🔥
[Upgrade Now ✅] [Remind Me Later ❌]
Apparently I could upgrade myself, which reduced the cost of using my Utilities while providing other minor benefits. My Utilities would level up as I used them, which would increase their battery cost, so if I didn’t keep pace with an update to the OS they could become prohibitively expensive to operate.
Stupid pay-to-win world.
So, do I pay 2000 credits for version 2.0 or 5000 credits for version 3.0?
I selected version 3.0 and klicked [Install]. After watching it download the update, it popped up another screen that asked if I wanted to update now, or wait until Midnight for the mandatory update.
I selected [No] just as the grandfather clock chimed 10:30 PM. I wondered if time ran slower in here, because it seemed like I had spent a lot more time on the computer than 15 minutes. Walking over to the imposing steel door, I noticed a bronze key with a thin chain in the lock. There was another sticky note on the door. “Subconscious. Please keep the key with you at all times.”
That’s not scary at all, is it?
I unlocked the door with a loud clunk and pulled it open to reveal a bedroom straight out of some royal castle. I could tell immediately that it had seen better days. The tapestries on the wall were frayed and fading. The canopy over the bed had a few holes in it. A thin layer of dust covered the mantle of a small fireplace set into the wall. There was a window letting in bright sunlight and I moved over to look outside.
I was on the third floor of a keep surrounded by the walls and turrets of a modest castle. A castle that had fallen into serious disrepair. Did this represent the state of my inner mind? One tower was shattered and the curtain wall under it damaged. The lower bailey was full of litter. I could see a few soldiers walking around the allure, keeping watch.
I have people in my subconscious?
Someone behind me cleared their throat.
Whirling, I discovered a familiar old man standing in the door of the bedroom. What was left of his hair formed a white halo around his head, his face was unshaven and covered with several days of growth. He was dressed like a poor and tattered manservant, but carried himself with a dignified air.
“Woodhouse?”
“It’s nice to see the master at home,” He said with a proper English accent. “There are many matters that require the master’s attention.”
“Uh, sure,” I said, hanging the key around my neck and tucking it in my shirt. “And who are you again?”
“Your personal manservant, of course” he said with a slight bow. Walking over to the steel door, he pulled it closed and it locked with a solid thunk. “Master should always keep his inner sanctum closed. One never knows if something nasty will creep in.”
“Thank you, uh, Woodhouse. I’ll remember that,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “So what needs tending and how do things work around here?”
He smiled and beckoned me with a white gloved hand. “If master would be so kind as to follow me, I’ll introduce him to the staff and explain the duties and obligations of his domain.”
I’m 99.9% certain that everyone here is just me wearing a mask, so I shrugged and followed Woodhouse out of the bedroom and into the rest of my subconscious.
Five minutes later I was on the ground floor and seated on a shabby throne with the cast of a popular —and probably very copyright protected— animation in front of me. Woodhouse was the head butler and my personal manservant. Pam was the cook and demanded that I start importing sugar and alcohol before she was shushed by Woodhouse. Carol was a maid. Krieger was chancellor and Cyril was the steward. Archer and Lana were in charge of security. Ray was the marshal in charge of everything from the stables to the blacksmith.
I stared in disbelief at the motley crew kneeling in front of me. No wonder my inner mind was in such shambles. I was overcome with an irrational sense of anger at myself.
“Arright, listen up,” I barked, my voice echoing around the room. “I swear to God that I will fire every single one of you and hire circus clowns to replace you if you keep fucking things up. No joke. Circus clowns, got it?”
I ran a hand over my face as Ray pissed himself. “The only reason I’m not putting a boot in your asses right now is because I realise that you’re aspects of me, and the people you represent are pretty damn good at their jobs when they give enough of a shit to actually do them. As a team, you’re dysfunctionally fantastic and always seem to come out ahead no matter the odds.”
Heaving a sigh, I continued. “Things have changed and I need to get my shit together. I’m going to need every one of you to pull your weight and help me help you. Get back to your duties, I’ll meet you one on one later.”
My subconscious caretakers scurried out of the room.
“I’ll have one of the maids tend to the piss,” Woodhouse assured me.
“Never mind that,” I snapped. “I honestly had no idea my mind was such a shit show. I’m very disappointed in myself.” I pictured the Angry, Sad, and Disgusted counters on my personal movies clicking up. “Show me what needs to be done and let’s get started.”
During Woodhouse’s walking tour, everything clicked into place. This was some altered version of Bodiam castle, a location that was on my bucket list of places to visit. The royal council room, located behind the throne room, contained a “living” tapestry on the wall that showed the castle and surrounding land in real time. The castle was located in the middle of a small lake, and a single wood bridge led to the mainland. A small town surrounded the lake and a wall encircled the town. Outside the wall, the land was an irregular patchwork of forest and field, with a stinking swamp to the south. The entire “kingdom” was maybe ten miles across, surrounded by impassable mountains with innumerable creeks that fed the lake which drained into the southern swamp.
“Zombies are the problem, sir.” Woodhouse said, as I surveyed the living tapestry of my mental domain.
“Zombies?” I prompted.
“Yes sir, Zombies” Woodhouse continued. “Nasty bitey things that come in from the mountains and harass the peasants. They’ve gotten especially worse over the last few months. The soldiers do what they can, but they seem to have lost all motivation. Probably because they haven’t been paid.”
“And who pays them?”
“Typically chancellor Krieger is in charge of financial matters, although Steward Figgis has taken over the duty, sir.”
“Then let’s make Figgis our first stop.”
“Very good, sir.”
The office of the steward was run by Cyril Figgis, who managed the kingdom in my absence. It was overflowing with paperwork and charts, books and scrolls piled high on every flat surface. Cyril was desperately attempting to tidy things when Woodhouse and I walked in.
“Yo..you..your majesty,” Cyril stuttered, bowing low. Scrolls fell from his overloaded arms, spilling across the floor. He dropped to his knees and scrambled to gather them up. “I didn’t expect you to visit so soon. Please forgive the mess, housekeeping has been slacking…”
This was the guy who ran things while I was conscious.
“Shut up, Cyril” I said. “You’re responsible for everything in this office. That includes keeping it organised and tidy.”
“Y..yes milord.”
“It’s my understanding that you’re in charge of making sure everyone gets paid. So why aren’t we paying people?” I asked.
“We’re nearly out of Fuks, your majesty. I’ve been saving them for emergencies.”
“Fucks?”
“Fuks,” Cyril explained, pushing a pile of books off a large chest and opening it. Reaching inside he pulled out two small bags and emptied them on top of his cluttered desk. “Gold and Silver Fuks, the currency of the kingdom. I can’t maintain the kingdom when I have no Fuks to give.”
Behold the subconscious kingdom of Vincent J. Carter, it runs on Fuks.
“So how do I get more fuks?” I asked, examining one of the coins. It had an image of me on one side and symbol on the other that could be interpreted as “peace among worlds”.
“You kill the zombies, your majesty.”
Of course I do.
Woodhouse and I left Cyril’s office and headed towards the office of the chancellor where Krieger worked. It seemed that Cyril took over financial matters when Krieger became erratic and proposed luring all the zombies into the city and setting it on fire. Not sure how that corresponds to my own self-destructive behaviour, but I’ve had some dark thoughts over the last couple of months and I’m sure they’re reflected here.
Krieger’s office was much neater in comparison to Cyril’s, but it wasn’t by much. Shelves lined the walls and were filled with an array of questionable items, including a still snapping zombie head in a jar. While the office of the chancellor was supposed to be in charge of financial matters, it looked more like a dodgy rummage sale.
Krieger was launching sword blades at a pig carcass when we walked in.
“What exactly are you doing?” I asked, standing in the doorway.
“Hm? Oh, your majesty!” he said, turning around and bowing deeply. “I’m testing a new invention. It’s a spring loaded hilt that shoots sword blades. Very useful for our soldiers.”
“Stupidest idea ever,” I snapped. “I hate everything about it.”
“Okay,” Krieger said, tossing the hilt into a nearby pile of junk. “But don’t blame me when you need to shoot a sword at a zombie and don’t have one.”
“So why aren’t you managing the financial affairs? Collecting taxes, paying people, stuff like that?”
“Because the population has declined so much none of that matters?”
“What do you mean?”
“Wellll, the population represents things you care about,” Krieger said, going into lecture mode. “And the zombies and other monsters are real or imagined problems in your way. Since you don’t care about too many things the population has shrunk to just what’s needed to keep everything running on the bare minimum of fuks. And since you don’t seem to have any long or short term goals, there’s no need to kill off the zombies and get more fuks. Everything is fine just the way it is.”
“No, it’s not Krieger” I said, grinding my teeth. “My mind is in a shambles. It’s a joke. I want it fixed. No, I want it better than fixed. I want it improved.”
“Oh! I’ve got just the thing for that!” He said, digging around in his pockets, “It’s a spring-loaded hilt that shoots swords!”
Pam and Cheryl were hanging out a gallery window jeering at Archer and Lana sparring in the inner courtyard.
“What the hell are you doing!” I snapped
They whirled in surprise and then dropped into deep curtseys.
“Your majesty!”
I took a deep breath, trying to regain my centre. “Get to work cleaning this place up. Find a room, clean it, and move on to the next. Start with my bedroom, then the throne room and the council chamber, then everything else.”
Cheryl spoke up. “Can’t do it. We got no fuks to clean with.”
“You need fuks to clean?”
“Gotta buy stuff,” Pam said. “Cleaning supplies, food. You wanna eat, you’re gonna have to spend some fuks.”
“Talk to Cyril,” I ordered. “Tell him I said to get you supplied.”
They ran off in the direction of the stewards office.
I watched Archer and Lana bashing each other enthusiastically through the window.
Several minutes later the sparring couple stopped and bowed when Woodhouse and I stepped into the inner courtyard.
“Your majesty”
“My liege”
“Enough,” I said. “If you have enough energy to smash each other, you have enough energy to smash zombies. Tell me what I need to know so I can start gathering fuks.”
Archer shrugged and spoke first. “You just kill the zombies and other monsters. They drop fuks.”
“Anything special about the zombies?” I asked. “Are they fast? Do people get turned into zombies when bitten?”
“Nope,” Lana said, resting her wooden sword on her shoulder. “Most of them are slow shamblers and just need a good wack to the head to kill them.”
“Some are special,” Archer interjected. “Occasionally you’ll have some fast ones, or those that need holy water to kill. They’re just bad memories, figments of your personality that need to be eliminated. Some are worse than others.”
“The zombies are bad memories?” I asked, imagining all the bad memories that I had.
“Memories, thoughts, insecurities, metaphysical mumbo-jumbo,” Woodhouse supplied. “They are endless, but constant vigilance can keep them under control.”
“So let’s get started,” I said. “Lead the way.”
Lana and Archer lead me up to the parapet over the front gate where I looked over at the dozens of zombies milling about aimlessly in front of the entrance to my mind. Pulling out my gun, I began to pick them off, easy as shooting fish in a barrel. The crack of my spell pistol attracted more zombies and I dispatched them with ease until no more were left around the gate. As I fired each shot I could feel some sort of existential energy flowing from me, draining some hidden reserve.
“Gather up the Fuks,” I commanded. “And Lana?”
“Mi’lord?”
“There’s no excuse for this. From now on, I expect the walls to be clear of all zombies.”
“Yes mi’lord,” she said, giving me a small bow.
Turning to Archer, I shook my head. “You’re obviously my personal narcissism, so just try to stay out of Lana’s way, or better yet - try to kill more zombies than her. If you think you can.”
Archer scoffed. “No contest. I took top marks in sharpshooting.”
“That means I should expect to see results by tomorrow. I look forward to it.”
Archer looked panicked for a moment then smiled. “Sure, I can give you results.”
Turning back to Woodhouse I said “Show me what else need attending.”
Woodhouse led me through the town that represented my mind, pointing out each business that had fallen into disrepair, suggested others that needed improvements, and additions that would benefit me. In the distance, I could hear Lana and Archer shooting at the crowd of zombies and with each echoing shot I felt a tiny bit better about everything.
[INDEX]