The days are short, the nights are extensively long. Those who survive, do so thanks to the endless charity of the ruling class, but none thrive. Those who are mighty, get inducted. Those who are a threat, get ended. Bounty hunters are aplenty, and all those who are scorned from all corners of society are welcomed under the embrace of Lenssle's darkened skies.

Campaign Info

• Scheduling - Scheduling is fairly flexible around GMT timezones. 5 PM GMT and after is generally the go to. Thursdays/Saturdays/Mondays are the available days. The time is fairly flexible, and the day/time of sessions will be determined based on the availability of attendees, that's to say, once the players are decided, we'll figure out a consistent schedule.
• Requirements - A working mic, a computer, and time.
• Campaign - The campaign is set in a homebrew city adjacent to Faerun. It's a city cursed with ancient, inexplicable magic that forces it to only ever get about two hours of shitty sunlight a day, and the rest is just clouds and general darkness. This has made it a haven for all those rejected by society, whether due to taboo or due to their nature or afflictions. It's ruled by a set of noble vampire families, a mercenary company, and a family of cutthroat werewolves. The city serves as a central location for bounty hunters, loreseekers, and those interested in arcane arts that are banned everywhere else.
• Rulings - As a DM, I'm incredibly flexible with game rules as I tend to favour fun a lot more. I also have a habit of homebrewing absolutely insane magic items for my players and my general goal is to let each player "do the cool thing" so to speak. I don't actually give much of a damn about official rulings if they get in the way of people enjoying the game.
• Questions - If you have any further inquiries, feel free to either leave a comment or text me directly. I will respond to things as soon as I can, however do not expect a very swift response.

________
The Setting:
The setting is largely centred around subverting the general themes of what you'd expect from a high fantasy campaign. This isn't exactly dark fantasy, but it leans very heavily into the themes. There is also an aspect of cosmic horror attached at higher levels.

• The City - The central focus of the campaign. Technically there is a main storyline to follow, however if the party doesn't wish to stick with that, there's a quest board and a bounty board. The environment is highly reactive, and the goal is to build a narrative centred around the PCs and not the other way around.
• The Story - Beyond the introductory quest that gets everyone together, the story follows a web of lies, questions, and secrets untangle themselves as the PCs explore. The idea is that each portion of the city has its own reasons to tie into the story, so ultimately the experience wouldn't be lost, but a lot of angles are provided to come at the story from.
• The People - Most NPCs aren't meant to be generic. Everyone in this city has a story and a reason to be here. Be it that they were born here, escaped a previous life, or have chosen to settle down somewhere less temperamental than the average village or city within Faerun. Each family has its own history and lore, however I'll only dive into those if asked. Lore dumping isn't to be expected unless prompted.

The campaign will likely stay within the confines of the city, but I'm open to suggestions about going beyond at higher levels.
________
About me: Name's Yusuf. I'm 23 years old. I live in Egypt. I've been running 5e consistently (1/2 sessions a week save for skips) for the past 4.5 years, and have experimented a lot with other systems. The reason I like 5e is because it offers a lot of flexibility for both player and DM, allowing a curated experience outside of the Intended Game Design™ of most TTRPGs. Having said that, it comes with an ungodly amount of jank that you have to weave through. Funnily enough, that is a very fair description of me as well, since I have a fairly fringe sense of humour but I do dabble into most things in life if just to try them. Ultimately, I don't judge anyone for doing anything long as it isn't too degenerate or outright criminal.
Application link: https://forms.gle/MddwwowQ5m9otW7BA

I recently reactivated my instagram and now i regret it. I deactivated it because i dont like that people can perceive me and i also wanted a break to focus on myself. I have a really private instagram with only 3 people on there and thats where i feel comfortable but after reactivating im getting anxiety. I'm not sure why but i feel uninteresting. I think that may be why. I'm thinking about deactivating again lol

If you are already exploring HOWL stack with HTMX you might give Datastar a try. It's got reactivity built in (signals), easy to add plugins and only 11kb before tree shaking!
https://data-star.dev
More people are getting into HOWL stacks. Datastar is a single CDN include that gives you the ability to make real-time hypermedia apps with less code and a unified model.
We are starting to get more developers involved and that's wonderful. Datastar's originally intent was to be a plugin framework for creating declarative hypermedia. Seeing more active involvement on Github and Discord has been amazing.
Major changes this release are...

1. We have TESTS! Pete took on the major effort to integrate Playwright and start writing tests. It's already found regressions and will help make Datastar release more more battle tested going forward.
2. Plugins are now better about how/when to cleanup on an idiomorph merge. Some were killing themselves and others (like on page load) weren't cleaning up signals completely.
3. We now support multi-line HTML fragments! This is a problem with the SSE spec. Since we work directly from the event/text-stream primitives we can handle this better. It means easier integration with hand written HTML and native support for formats like CSV within a fragment's attributes.
4. Signal regexp could have issues if calling a function on a signal. data-text="$input.toUpperCase()" would be interpreted as a nested signal instead of a method call, fixed.
5. data-scroll-into-view got more modifiers about exact placement, animation, and ability to focus the element as well. Led to removal of data-focus as it's redundant.
6. More examples based off questions from Discord and Github issues.
7. Delete SSE events no longer need any html fragment.
8. New $$clipboard action
9. We have our first plugin developed by another! Thanks Patrick for his work on data-fetch-signal plugin and $isLoading signal.
10. A Haskell back-end example was provided by Henry. It's great to see as many back-end example as possible!
11. Redirect simplification
12. Deleting an element was flaky and is fixed with tests

If you start getting into more complicated UIs where fine-grain signals and a more robust plugin framework makes sense but want to keep it declarative please give it a try and give us a Github star

If you are already exploring HOWL stack with HTMX you might give Datastar a try. It's got reactivity built in (signals), easy to add plugins and only 11kb before tree shaking!
https://data-star.dev
More people are getting into HOWL stacks. Datastar is a single CDN include that gives you the ability to make real-time hypermedia apps with less code and a unified model.
We are starting to get more developers involved and that's wonderful. Datastar's originally intent was to be a plugin framework for creating declarative hypermedia. Seeing more active involvement on Github and Discord has been amazing.
Major changes this release are...

1. We have TESTS! Pete took on the major effort to integrate Playwright and start writing tests. It's already found regressions and will help make Datastar release more more battle tested going forward.
2. Plugins are now better about how/when to cleanup on an idiomorph merge. Some were killing themselves and others (like on page load) weren't cleaning up signals completely.
3. We now support multi-line HTML fragments! This is a problem with the SSE spec. Since we work directly from the event/text-stream primitives we can handle this better. It means easier integration with hand written HTML and native support for formats like CSV within a fragment's attributes.
4. Signal regexp could have issues if calling a function on a signal. data-text="$input.toUpperCase()" would be interpreted as a nested signal instead of a method call, fixed.
5. data-scroll-into-view got more modifiers about exact placement, animation, and ability to focus the element as well. Led to removal of data-focus as it's redundant.
6. More examples based off questions from Discord and Github issues.
7. Delete SSE events no longer need any html fragment.
8. New $$clipboard action
9. We have our first plugin developed by another! Thanks Patrick for his work on data-fetch-signal plugin and $isLoading signal.
10. A Haskell back-end example was provided by Henry. It's great to see as many back-end example as possible!
11. Redirect simplification
12. Deleting an element was flaky and is fixed with tests

If you start getting into more complicated UIs where fine-grain signals and a more robust plugin framework makes sense but want to keep it declarative please give it a try and give us a Github star

If you are already exploring HOWL stack with HTMX you might give Datastar a try. It's got reactivity built in (signals), easy to add plugins and only 11kb before tree shaking!
https://data-star.dev
More people are getting into HOWL stacks. Datastar is a single CDN include that gives you the ability to make real-time hypermedia apps with less code and a unified model.
We are starting to get more developers involved and that's wonderful. Datastar's originally intent was to be a plugin framework for creating declarative hypermedia. Seeing more active involvement on Github and Discord has been amazing.
Major changes this release are...

1. We have TESTS! Pete took on the major effort to integrate Playwright and start writing tests. It's already found regressions and will help make Datastar release more more battle tested going forward.
2. Plugins are now better about how/when to cleanup on an idiomorph merge. Some were killing themselves and others (like on page load) weren't cleaning up signals completely.
3. We now support multi-line HTML fragments! This is a problem with the SSE spec. Since we work directly from the event/text-stream primitives we can handle this better. It means easier integration with hand written HTML and native support for formats like CSV within a fragment's attributes.
4. Signal regexp could have issues if calling a function on a signal. data-text="$input.toUpperCase()" would be interpreted as a nested signal instead of a method call, fixed.
5. data-scroll-into-view got more modifiers about exact placement, animation, and ability to focus the element as well. Led to removal of data-focus as it's redundant.
6. More examples based off questions from Discord and Github issues.
7. Delete SSE events no longer need any html fragment.
8. New $$clipboard action
9. We have our first plugin developed by another! Thanks Patrick for his work on data-fetch-signal plugin and $isLoading signal.
10. A Haskell back-end example was provided by Henry. It's great to see as many back-end example as possible!
11. Redirect simplification
12. Deleting an element was flaky and is fixed with tests

If you start getting into more complicated UIs where fine-grain signals and a more robust plugin framework makes sense but want to keep it declarative please give it a try and give us a Github star

I went from a jobless art school dropout to banking $9.8 million (profit) in just four years.
Recently, I sat back to reflect on what advice I'd give myself if I could go back in time to chat with 21 year old me, when I was starting my first company.
Disclaimer: yes, the points below are high level. This isn't meant to be a recipe book where I say, I did exactly X, to produce Y. The reason for this is the specifics are different for every business, and my goal with this exercise is to give my younger self directional guidance, not a recipe book to recreate the exact same businesses.
I'm happy to unpack any of these in more detail, feel free to ask.
Lastly, the trolls usually come out when I mention profit numbers openly because they've been burnt too many times by fake "gurus" or ppl trying to sell them courses with bogus numbers. I've got nothing to sell anyone (my agencies sell to VC backed tech companies who don't hang out on here), so really just sharing this for the reasons I mentioned above (lessons for my younger self) since I know there are a ton of first time entrepreneurs on here who could benefit.
Alright, enough with the disclaimers, let's do this:

1. Time Commit Goals: First up, decide how many hours you're ready to grind each week. I capped mine at 25 hours to avoid burnout. It's amazing how much you can get done if you proactively block your calendar.
   
2. Financial Goals: Define how much you want to earn. My initial target was $40k/month within the first year (ended up blowing past that target).
   
3. Timeline: Set a clear timeline for your financial goals. As mentioned above, I aimed to hit $40k/month within the first year.
   
4. Role Definition: Decide early if you’re going to be hands-on or oversee the big picture. It makes a huge difference. There's a great book called Traction that talks about the difference between a Visionary and an Implementer. I found it necessary to be both in the early days, but have since transitioned out of "Implementer" mode.
   
5. Brand Legitimacy: Build the most legit brand you can — within a week. Overthinking it is your enemy. Too many people wax poetic about their brand, website, etc. Yes, it's super important an it can make you look more legit than you actually are in the early days, HOWEVER - many people spend too much time on this step, months even, and then never launch, or when they do, they have a false expectation that simply by launching their biz will do well. This couldn't be further from the truth. Building your brand and site is the fun part. Once you launch the real work starts ;)
   
6. Start Selling Immediately: Hit up your network, face regular rejections, and learn from each "no."
   
7. Your First Customers: These folks will help shape your business more than anyone else. Listen closely and adapt. The product idea you launch with - most likely is not the product that's right for the market. But you won't know what needs to change until you launch and start landing early customers.
   
8. Price Sensitivity Testing: Start low, then increase as demand builds. I go into a ton of detail about exactly how I do price sensitivity testing in this video.
   
9. Scaling Decisions: I used to think scaling was the only option. Go big or go home. If you're not growing like crazy you're a loser. But I was wrong. And dumb. That's a silly idea. There are many paths to success. Some want to go big, fast. Others want to go smoothly, slowly. Scaling isn't mandatory. I've done both and prefer somewhere in the middle of fast and slow.
   
10. Master Hiring: Good hiring isn't luck; it’s a skill and crucial for growth. My companies are both services businesses (a marketing agency and a design agency) and so the quality of our hires is the quality of our product offering. This also means getting good at firing. It's just part of the job.
    
11. Setting the Pace: Lead by example (duh). I’m all in when I work, ensuring I’m focused and driving progress. The team will draft off your pace, and the folks who can't keep up will make it clear they're not a good fit.
    
12. Team Management: I use the EOS (entrepreneur operating system) methodology to manage my teams—it’s a game-changer for accountability and clarity. It's free to learn, and easy to implement.
    
13. Proactive Marketing: Share every win. If you don’t champion your successes, no one else will.
    
14. Empower Customers: Turn clients into advocates. Strong relationships lead to referrals, which are (literal) gold.
    
15. Streamline Offerings: Keep your services tight and focused. Simplicity scales.
    

.... ok this post is getting too long. I was going to share 20 but this is turning into a novel. I shared all 20, along with a bunch of specific details in this video, feel free to check it out if the first 15 resonated with you. https://youtu.be/Gwqjljmr_pU
Curious - for those who have done a few startups before, do these resonate with you?
And for those who haven't yet - did you already have all of these on your radar? Anything you're interested in trying yourself?

I have a 4-5 yr old Chihuahua terrier that I rescued a couple years ago. He started to show reactive behavior a couple of weeks after I adopted him, at first it was just barking at people and other dogs but he is now a bite risk for anyone new (old people and children included) and even for people who are in my house frequently. My dog loves me, tolerates my parents and one or two of my friends but that’s about it.
I’ve researched and read and watched and paid dumb amounts of money to trainers. Everyone has an opinion and it feels like it’s always conflicting. He’s on fluoxetine right now but I don’t think it’s helping. I’m unemployed and I really can’t afford another trainer or ridiculously expensive “program”.
I don’t know how to train him or myself to make anything stick.
I’m so overwhelmed and sad. I feel like I’ve failed my dog and I’m starting to resent that I can’t live a normal life with him. I don’t have a good enough support system for a dogsitter if I want to leave town and even if I take him with me, I’m stressed the entire time.
I keep thinking that maybe we’d both be happier if he was living with someone else.
I’m so scared that he’ll end up back in a shelter if I try to rehome him.
I love my dog like he’s my own child but I don’t know how to keep living like this.
I’m open to ideas but I also just needed to let my sadness out.

Common Channeling- 29 Ways Demons Enter

1. Ouija Board-Reputable spiritual leaders and experts have long warned against using Ouija Boards and their variants, as they can potentially expose individuals to malevolent forces. The idea of “safe” communication with angels through these boards is often a deceptive marketing ploy.
2. Angel Boards—While proponents may claim that Angel Boards provide a safe and spiritual way to connect with the divine, these devices can open the door to potential dangers. The use of such boards has been linked to occult practices and the summoning of entities that may not have our best interests in mind.
3. Consulting spiritual mediums—Spirit mediums claim to communicate with the dead. In a world of uncertainty, many people turn to spirit mediums for guidance, closure, and a connection to the beyond. These individuals claim to be able to communicate with the dead, see into the future, and uncover hidden truths. But are these abilities genuine or merely an elaborate illusion? However, the validity of these claims has long been a subject of skepticism and debate.
4. Consulting psychics – Delving into the realm of the occult, where demonic forces are said to hold sway, carries with it a weight of spiritual and moral consequence that should not be taken lightly. As rational beings, we must carefully examine the claims made by those who purport to possess the ability to peer into the future and question the true source of their knowledge.
5. Demon Teleaphaty – The mechanics of this demonic telepathy are not fully understood, but it is believed to operate on a metaphysical level beyond the normal bounds of the physical world. The demon’s consciousness somehow intertwines with the host’s, allowing for the seamless injection of foreign thoughts and urges. This creates an intimate, parasitic connection that the victim may be powerless to resist or expel.
6. Spells – These carefully crafted incantations are more than words – they are the fabric of enchantment, woven together to manifest desired outcomes.
7. Curses – These spoken words of harm or punishment, imbued with the power of magic, have the potential to wreak havoc on the lives of their targets
8. Fortunetelling – Whether through interpreting dreams, reading tarot cards, or analyzing astrological patterns, the art of foretelling offers a unique perspective on the unfolding of events.
9. Spirit guides – Through channeling, we can summon spirit guides that are aligned with our unique needs and highest good. These guides come in many forms – from departed loved ones to angelic beings to ascended masters – each offering a distinct perspective and specialized knowledge.
10. Satanism – Satanism is not about worshipping a literal Satan but rather an extreme form of individualism and self-worship. Satanists believe in taking responsibility for their own actions and pursuing their desires without guilt or shame.
11. Witchcraft involves harnessing the natural energies of the world around us and using them to manifest our desires. Whether casting a spell to attract abundance, performing a ritual to enhance personal growth, or simply connecting with the earth’s rhythms.
12. Automatic handwriting involves the spirit or energy of a deceased individual taking control of the subject’s hand and guiding the pen across the page to convey their thoughts and wisdom.
13. Astral Projections -This out-of-body experience allows the astral body to explore the spiritual dimensions beyond our physical world.
14. Generational Demons – These “generational demons” are dark patterns and destructive tendencies that seep into our lives through our bloodline. While it may feel like an inescapable fate, we have the power to break these cycles of darkness.
15. Spiritual Husband or Wife – plaguing unsuspecting individuals – the rise of the “spirit spouse” or “spirit husband/wife.” This demonic entity assumes the identity of a person’s spouse, infiltrating their lives and relationships with the sole purpose of spiritual and emotional destruction. Sexual demons
16. Physical sex-straight or gay

—

Negative Emotions

Negative emotions can serve as a gateway for demonic influences to take hold in our lives. It’s essential to be aware of how these toxic feelings can open the door for malevolent forces to infiltrate our existence.
Emotions like anger, fear, resentment, and jealousy can act as conduits for demons to enter and wreak havoc. Unresolved trauma, addictions, and unhealthy attachments also make us vulnerable to potential demonic possession.
We must be vigilant in addressing and overcoming these negative emotional states. Failure to do so can pave the way for dark energies to take root and cause untold damage. By cultivating positivity, self-awareness, and spiritual fortitude, we can safeguard ourselves against the insidious influence of demonic forces that seek to prey upon our weaknesses.

Understanding the Connection Between Demons and Negative Emotions

By understanding the connection between negative emotions and demonic presence, individuals can take proactive steps to safeguard their mental and spiritual well-being. Cultivating positive thoughts and emotions is crucial to creating a protective shield against these malevolent forces. Through forgiveness, mindfulness, self-reflection, and spiritual practices, we can fortify our defenses and reclaim our lives from the grip of these unwanted entities.
Anger, fear, resentment, jealousy, and other toxic feelings open the door for these malevolent forces to infiltrate our lives. Unresolved trauma, addictions, and unhealthy attachments also make us vulnerable to demonic possession.
By understanding the connection between negative emotions and demonic presence, individuals can take proactive steps to safeguard their mental and spiritual well-being. Cultivating positive thoughts and emotions is crucial to creating a protective shield against these malevolent forces. Through mindfulness, self-reflection, and spiritual practices, we can fortify our defenses and reclaim our lives from the grip of these unwanted entities.

Common types of negative emotions intensified by demons:

1. fear (all types)
2. Suicide
3. Jealousy
4. Bitterness
5. Strife
6. Depression
7. worry
8. pride
9. fatigue
10. Addictions
11. Gluttony
12. Generational bloodline Detecting these generational bloodline demons is no easy task as they remain hidden, subtly shaping one’s emotional state over time. The transfer of these demons through bloodlines perpetuates a cycle of negativity that persists until confronted and cast out. Understanding and addressing these vulnerable moments is crucial in breaking free from their grip and reclaiming emotional well-being for oneself and future generations.

Christians Can Have a Demon

Christians have a Demon because they sin. What are some other reasons Christians can have a demon?
In addition, Christians can have a demon if they invite a demon to direct communication. Christians participating in channeling activities can have demons because they have violated a very important spiritual law. This spiritual law states God does not want anyone to communicate with other spirits.
This is a common reason that all Christians have a demon because they sin and do not repent. In reality, many Christians can have demons because they do not believe in the devil or know how to protect themselves from the devil.
God does not force Christians to follow Him alone. If a Christian invites a demon to communicate, God will permit the demon’s entrance. Even if the person wants the demon to leave, the demon will stay unless it is cast out by self-deliverance (for Christians), self-exorcism, or exorcism with a deliverance team.

Hi All. Recently got PMP (yayy!!). Here's my cover letter and resume for your quick review. Current experience managing agile projects = 7 years. Targetting Senior Project Manager roles.
Cover letter
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am writing to express my interest in the Project Manager position at [Company Name]. With more than 7 years of experience in project management, I am confident in my ability to drive successful outcomes for your team.
In my current role at [], I am leading a cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget, consistently exceeding expectations. My skills in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and risk mitigation make me a strong candidate for this position.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise to [Company Name] and contribute to its success. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background aligns with the needs of your team.
Sincerely,
https://preview.redd.it/1zqmt0gp4h1d1.png?width=660&format=png&auto=webp&s=3bbe59bfedc1f7c72c72f9948af71da6d04cacf7
https://preview.redd.it/v6or2hkr4h1d1.png?width=712&format=png&auto=webp&s=0774f50b99bff5afa5721dce9bf21e4af771e22c

This is mostly a very opinionated post, but not for a lack of experimenting. I've played with some of these stratagems enough to know what needs fixing, and what I feel would be the best course of action. You're free to disagree, but that's not my problem. I like sharing ideas, and this is gonna be a long post.
The Spear - Despite popular opinion (I think), I believe the Spear needs some improvements in regards to its damage as much as it needs improvements to its lock-on. Improvements: Increase the Spear's damage to 1-shot Chargers, Tanks (Obliterators and Shredders), Hulks and Automaton Buildings regardless of where it hits. Reduce the Spear's lock-on reticle so it can be more accurate to what you're trying to lock onto, and reduce the effects of foliage and fog. Reasoning: The Spear is an amazing anti-super heavy unit weapon, but it lacks that similar treatment against regular Heavies. While it can 1-shot a Charger, Tank or Hulk, you need to somehow aim the rocket in a way that it hits them in their weak spots, otherwise it merely scratches them, or leaves them hanging on a limp. For a weapon that is this slow to use and inspired by real anti-tank technology, it's disappointing that an anti-tank weapon can't actually just destroy tanks.
Orbital Gatling Barrage - Arguably the most unused stratagem next to the Smoke Strikes. I'm almost certain everybody uses it just once and goes "Eh, I prefer this other thing." Improvements: Increase the rate of fire of the gatling barrage as well as the total amount of rounds fired, increase the affected area (not the explosion radius, just the spread of the bullets) and increase damage on direct impact. Reasoning: While currently mediocre, I believe the idea behind the Orbital Gatling Barrage is to be a medium entity handler. It's a suppression tool that's made to clear out light-medium units while damaging heavier units, if not kill them if you get a few lucky hits in. That being said, as it is, the Gatling Barrage doesn't fire fast enough to have the desired effect, and the damage is too low to deal significant damage required to actually clear medium sized targets clearly, like Warriors, Hive Guards and Hive Commanders.
Orbital Railcannon Strike - Despite its popular usage, I still believe this stratagem could be made better and more fitting of a playstyle that is more skirmishy and hit-and-run. Improvements: Reduce the cooldown to 120s (108s with Ship Module upgrade) Reasoning: While it's an amazing anti-heavy stratagem, that's almost exclusively what it is. It's a single, high-powered shot that will usually 1-shot almost everything it shoots. However, the cooldown is far too high to be useful when compared alternatives that can do the same effect just as fast, more consistently and/or with less hassle over a cooldown. Reducing the cooldown makes the Stratagem fit more in builds that are more reactive than proactive, as I believe it was intended to be.
Orbital Smoke Strike & Eagle Smoke Strike - If I had to guess, both of these are probably the most unused stratagems in the game. This is by virtue of the fact that they really don't work as people would expect them to. Improvements: Increase the power of the smoke strikes by confusing enemies when it lands. If the smoke strike blocks enemy LOS on Helldivers (players), then it should stop them from acting against players until LOS is reestablished. This includes shooting for Automatons, and chasing for Terminids. Reasoning: I don't think you need to be a mega-genius to understand that Smoke Screens are mostly use to cover approaches and retreats. They're extremely defensive by design and help to confuse enemies more than anything. By that virtue, I believe that the intended usage of this stratagem is to be both proactive and reactive, to help players get into range on an objective, or escape a tricky situation.
Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods - Another stratagem that is deceptively strong, but in practice is actually almost useless. Improvements: Increase the accuracy of the Rocket Pods so that they're practically guided onto the target, rather than being a high-powered and highly focused strafing run. Add an aiming reticle similar to the Railcannon so players can expect where the rockets are aiming for. Reasoning: While the damage is currently quite insane (it can 1-shot a Bile Titan), the reliability of this stratagem is extremely poor. It almost always misses, is incredibly hard to actually land on a desired target and there's no actual indication of where your rockets are going. Improving responsiveness by making the rockets more accurate and giving players an idea of where the rockets are going would make this stratagem more popular, if a little bit overpowered unless they nerf the damage so it can't just 1-shot Bile Titans.
Shield Generator Relay - Next to the Smoke Strikes, I believe this is one of the least used stratagems in the game, and for good reason. Improvements: Increase the duration from 30s to 60s if we're feeling ballsy) and give it the ability to block enemies from entering the shield. Reasoning: The Shield Generator Relay feels to me like a reactive "oh shit" stratagem, used particularly in defensive missions or in situations where you really need a spot to reload, heal and return fire without being at risk of getting killed in the process. Increasing the duration of the shield and giving it the ability to block enemies would go a long way in improving its usability and situational utility.
Anti-Personnel Minefield & Incendiary Mines - While I don't think either of these stratagems are extremely bad, I think their usage is just generally confused in the eyes of many who tried to use them, besides the fact that they're amazing at killing teammates more than they are at killing enemies. Improvements: Increase the APM's direct damage to enemies that step on mines, while keeping the explosion damage similar, if reduced. Increase the Incendiary Mines' explosion radius to cover more enemies in flame, and increase the flame DOT slightly if necessary. Reasoning: Now I'm not sure what the developers' intention was with these two, but here's my idea: the Anti-Personnel Minefield should be an amazing anti-medium stratagem. Giving it increased direct damage on explosions can make it an amazing stratagem against swarms of Warriors, Hive Guards and Hive Commanders, while less desirable against lighter units. On the flip side, Incendiary Mines should have a greater blast radius to increase its effectiveness against lighter units, given that they are the weakest to being burnt to death.
"Guard Dog" - Yes, the Liberator one. The reason I think people use Rover over the 'normal' variant is because Rover is just more efficient: it doesn't reload as often, it can kill enemies just as well as the 'normal' Guard Dog can, and it's less at risk of accidentally killing you instantly. Improvements: Increase the "Guard Dog" weapon's armor-piercing capacity and increase its damage, giving it the ability to kill Hive Guards and Hive Commanders more quickly. Remove its ability to lock on to light enemies other than Hunters. Reasoning: Very similar to my argument about the Anti-Personnel Minefield and Incendiary Mines, I believe that both "Guard Dogs" should fill niche roles. The Rover should fill the anti-light niche, where it deals with scavengers, spitters and hunters most effectively, but struggles against Warriors and Hive Guards. Meanwhile, the 'normal' variant has increased firepower against medium enemies, but lacks the lock-on required to shoot lighter enemies, so you can focus on taking are of those.
Rocket Sentry - Unfortunately, this little guy suffers too much in underrelevance compared to the bigger, badder sentries. Compared to the Gatling Sentry and the Autocannon Sentry, it just lacks the fire rate, turn speed and general firepower of both to be worthwhile. Improvements: Rework the Rocket Sentry to have lock-on rockets. Reasoning: I don't believe the Rocket Sentry can compare to the Autocannon Sentry and Gatling Sentry. It has a better turning rate than the Autocannon Sentry, but lacks its insane firepower. It also doesn't have a fire rate fast enough to rival the Gatling Sentry, so there's nothing special there; it's just a worse version of the two. My idea is to give it a role that is direly needed in Helldivers 2 right now: Anti-Air. Giving the rockets the ability to track their target will give it the ability to deal with those pesky gunships and shriekers better than any other turret currently can. It also increases its accuracy and will potentially make it more useful in general situations where sentries tend to be less than desirable in accuracy.
I'm avoiding to mention the Ballistic Shield Backpack because... really, this thing doesn't belong in the game.
Let me know what you agree with, disagree with, really like or really dislike about my ideas. I'd love to have a proper discussion with some of you.
Also, yes, I'm completely aware that all of this is hypothetical and very unlikely to make it into the game. Like I said at the beginning, I just like sharing things.

I suspect lettings agent lying to me about my tenants due to his own prejudices - what to do?
So sorry for this very long post but am so confused at the moment... TLDR: I suspect my estate agent seems to be applying his own prejudices re: my tenants.
Hi, I inherited a house last year and put it out to rent - I work in the States quite often, so I hired a local estate agency to do full property management.
Soon, the agent starts complaining about the tenants, saying they're persistently late with rent, that they need too many repairs, that they're certain the tenants are damaging the property, that they are in £450 of arrears, telling me I should pay them (the agency) for all the repairs the tenants are insisting on, to a total of £1500 plus. This is on top of the £1000 I gave the agency for adhoc repairs. They also ring me each time they think the tenants are late on rent, often calling relentlessly.
I was really confused. Tenants didn't seem like bad sorts when I first met them, they're a couple, both young journalists in reputable places (but early career, which I assume is why they're renting). Really didn't fit any nightmare tenant profile.
Anyway I was in the states for months on end while all this happened and when I got back I arranged to meet the tenant at the house, and the agent tried to strongly discourage it and said it should all go through him. I made the appt regardless, expecting the worst after everything the agent said. However, place is totally spotless (and not in a rushed-clean way), they have nice furnishings in, no smell or any damage whatsoever. So I started to smell a rat with the agent, and I asked the tenant, the woman, some questions about all the complaints. I was shocked at the response:
1) Late Rent: tenancy agreement says rent due on 25th, tenants asked at start of tenancy if they can pay on 30th as that's their payday. I said no problem, and informed the agency in writing and they have it on file that I gave permission.

2. £450 arrears: this was entirely my fault and the agency didn't say a word to me, acting like the tenant was deliberately not paying. Basically I forgot to pay a maintenance ground charge and the grounds company came to the door and claimed it off the tenant (they're not supposed to, it's my responsibility, but they did). Hence tenant took it off rent and asked agent multiple times to inform me. Agent did not do that. 3.Repairs. Some work needed to be done to the exterior of the fence - again, my responsibility and I was NOT INFORMED and my £1000 that I already paid the agency for repairs was untouched. And here's the kicker, or the worst part: the agent told the tenants I was purposely withholding the repairs due to the arrears. Obviously, it wasn't. And this is the fact that made me hit the roof: the tenants proactively completed all the repairs themselves (aka they hired people) and paid them out of pocket. I feel so angry and so embarrassed about this, as all 3 of the repairs they needed were 100% my responsibility as noted in our agreement. The agent had gone on and on about them being "problem tenants" while in reality they spent hundreds fixing someone else's house that they'll leave in 2 years, just because they didn't want the place to have severe damage (fence was going to fall). 

The agent also put in his inspection report a couple months ago that property was "filthy and stinking of cooking" BTW, and sent that email to the tenants too. House seemed very clean to me, and the lady was cooking at the time but she was making brownies, not boiling piss. Again, he SENT THE TENANTS the same report calling the house filthy, when tenants probably knew full well it wasn't... and of my details were not passed to tenants so everything goes through the agency.
I know I know it sounds like a hesaid shesaid situation, or "why would the agent do all this", but I immediately got my answer when I googled the agent to check on his phone number. His FB page came up, I clicked on it (pure curiosity lol) and the bloke is a complete EDL racist, swastikas and all, and in his profile every 10th post was anti race mixing and how he thinks it's not right that Asian foreigners come here and "dilute the British gene pool", taking homes and jobs away from Brits etc. Genuinely deranged stuff, way beyond normal conservatism, he literally used the term "crossbreed" and "mongrel" to refer to dual heritage kids.
Reddit, the tenants are a mixed race couple.
I am appalled and just humiliated, I didnt think all this was happening and I feel awful for not checking with the tenants all of last year to hear their side. I have no idea what to do, the tenants are to be there for 2 more years so I can't exactly fire the agency can I? What would I even say to them? I don't think the FB posts would fly as they'll probably argue that's his personal view and has nothing to do w his professionalism, but believe me when I say those posts are not the product of a normal mind and I am convinced after seeing them that his view colours how he views my tenants and clearly wants them out. Especially as I need to be back in the states soon as well. Just at such a loss, any advice at all will be really helpful.

(This is really long)
We havent filed yet due to money, but it will happen. For most of the marriage ive just been easily frustrated, irritated, not a partner to him. It really went downhill after buying our dream home (i paid for it with inheritance) . But the last 3-4 years have sucked the life out of me. We both have been shit to each other, emotionally distant, resentful, given up; me more than him.
We’ve always been opposites. Im an introvert who is selective who im close with (i have only 3-4 friends). Im not a type of person who socializes a lot since marriage. I barely call friends. Socializing (and life in general) makes me feel on the outside of the circle. Too much socialization wears me out.
Now he’s the opposite. He makes friends at the drop of the hat. He could socialize every day, which does mean drinking, sometimes a lot. He’s a hyper, loud person who dismisses feelings, crosses boundaries. Ive never been the first person he discusses plans with. He does that with others THEN tells me after its a done deal. So im in a forced to socialize situation or be the bitch who tells him no and he should tell his friends no. We are even talking big vacays. I have to beg him for “us” time.
I never felt emotionally safe with him. He does not understand depression. He does not understand being tired a lot. He does not understand alone time. He does not understand low (now zero) libido. He knew about my depression from day one. He tries to cheer me up. But if we are having a fight, he has said some crushing things you do not say to a depressed person. (Youre unstable, etc). Things a spouse or a parent should never say. If it were s friend? Id tell them to f off and not be hurt. But my husband? Its like a knife to the heart. Anything else like libido? Its up to me to fix it like im defective and doing it on purpose. Ive had every test under the sun. Its just who i am. But its also because he non stopped complained about sex and has cheated our entire marriage. He refuses to admit it. But i have tangible proof.
Hes lazy and adhd with chores. Fun comes first and i barely had any help. Im so overwhelemed that i can no longer to the housework top to bottom in one day like i used to. There are weeks/months where i dont fold, put away clothes. They are clean, but i just put them in a clean pile. And if i started to get mad that he didnt help, he would protest and say now hes not doing it at all.
He does have moments of bullying, harassing, wearing down style of arguing until he gets what he wants. He told my therapists that its right to do because it works. Over time i became disgusted by this behavior. His way of listening to feedback is to deny the behavior or flip it to how i am. Yes i get frustrated easily and zero patience. But thats after 23 years. And ive been struggling with everything like tasks, organizing, being proactive for years.
We have a son. He’s the only thing we are 95% on the same page. But he has some verbal/personality actions where i felt we needed to get our son into therapy. He has a hot cold relationship with my husband. My son and i are very close. This makes my husband zealous. Always has. But he does love him to death and is a good father. Hes just a low emotional mature adult and its hard.
Yesterday was the first time ive heard him fine and encouraging a divorce. Im the one that has said it many times. Yelled it. Been cold, distant, etc. but looking at old pics made me realize that everything we did together, i was always irritated by him. Either cutting me off when talking to our friends, drinking a LOT, being dismissive of people’s feelings/boundaries…including our son. I just couldnt fully be happy in the moment and now, all of those fun, special happy times are gone. Our son isnt a child/baby. Hes a teen. More independent. Will eventually move and have his own life. I know my husband has talked and more with women. Escorts have been involved. He denies it but i have proof. And i know his excuse will be the dead bedroom and my resentment where he has received zero intimacy.
So it hit me this is it. He will carry on with dating. Is getting our dream house. Will do whatever he wants with nobody saying anything. Company over daily. Pool parties. Wining and dining, treating another woman super special (hes good at it). Essentially living a new life in happiness.
Ill be in my own new home. Alone.being aware that im not like everybody. Having fun and feeling it is hard for me. I dont really socialize. I dont want to date because im afraid to and with no libido and im not affectionate, no-one will want to be with me. I just feel that i have never been “normal”. Life has been realllyyy difficult for me despite love, a son, meds, therapy. My mental health and how i am gets in the way and it always has. He says i can change. But i cant force a libido. I cant wish depression away. I cant remove my wants in a relationship…i did that the first 10 years, thus me becoming more irritated/angry with him over time.
Im going to be divorced, small/newer home, and pretty much alone. Like severely alone physically and mentally.
And yes that does mean suicidal thoughts. Its not because of him. Its strictly because im hyperaware i dont fit in. I cant fix these things. Some people shouldnt have been born. I really believe that.
He said he will never desert me, always be here for him and he will always love me. I told him his new whomever would not want that and doing so is truly unnecessary. I wanted this divorce. I couldnt be who he wanted. I couldnt feel joy. Dont even think about me. There really is no point to waste his energy.

Finding's after CT ABD+PEL W CON:
IMPRESSION: 18 x 13 x 11 mm lobulated soft tissue nodule in the right lower quadrant small bowel mesentery. Although this most likely represents a reactive mesenteric lymph node, an early mesenteric carcinoid cannot be excluded. Lab tests to rule out carcinoid tumor, described above are suggested including urine collection for 5-H IAA measurement
FINDINGS: LOWER CHEST: No pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is identified. Lung bases are clear. ABDOMEN/PELVIS: HEPATOBILIARY: No focal hepatic lesions are demonstrated. The gallbladder appears unremarkable.There is no evidence of significant biliary dilatation.
SPLEEN AND RETROPERITONEUM:The spleen is normal in size. No focal splenic masses are demonstrated.The pancreas appears normal without evidence of mass or inflammation.No adrenal masses are demonstrated.In the distal small bowel mesentery near the ileocecal artery and vein there is a small lobulated soft tissue lesion measuring 18 mm transverse dimension with a craniocaudal dimension of 12.6 mm and an anteroposterior dimension of 10.9 mm. Differential diagnosis includes an enlarged mesenteric lymph node (most likely) or small mesenteric carcinoid (less likely) . In favor of an enlarged lymph node is the presence of other scattered mildly prominent lymph nodes in the small bowel mesentery. This does not have the appearance of mesenteric adenitis but could simply represent reactive mesenteric lymph nodes to a current gastrointestinal illness. I recommend performance of lab tests for detection of serotonin, chromogranin A and urinary 5-HIAA to exclude carcinoid or other neuroendocrine tumor. Additionally, a follow-up CT the abdomen and pelvis in 3-6 months is suggested to determine if this soft tissue lesion remains present or regresses in the interval. Spontaneous regression would indicate a benign reactive lymph node.
The inferior vena cava is unremarkable. The aorta is normal in caliber. BOWEL AND PERITONEUM: There is no evidence of abnormal bowel dilatation or bowel wall thickening. There is no evidence of significant free fluid or free intraperitoneal air. The appendix is normal. PELVIS:The bladder appears unremarkable. No pelvic masses or abnormal fluid collections are demonstrated. No pelvic or inguinal adenopathy is evident. MUSCULOSKELETAL AND EXTRA-ABDOMINAL SOFT TISSUES: Within normal limits for age.
I'm 32M (Just turned 32 yesterday actually).
I know this is a lot but it's been quite the year for me:
I had an awful bout of covid in March/April and actually had to go to the ER (had scans because my lungs, chest and ribs were killing me) - they were all clear and then a covid test came back positive. Also had awful coughing fits almost constantly for over a week.
Then in late April (around the 24th) I had a chunk of a rotted molar fall out (wasn't able to financially take care of a cavity previously), went to the dentist and was put on a round of antibiotics for infection (3x a day for 7 days) - bad fatigue /brain fog started around this time and was only recently getting a little better. Had that tooth pulled on May 3rd + and am over a few weeks in recovery at this point.
Saw doc for checkup back in January and had elevated/high blood pressure (which runs in my family). At this point I was 214lbs and eating awful everyday...I'm talking fast food, ice cream daily, junk food, no veggies, etc.
Immediately overhauled my diet (which looking back I don't think was a good idea - should have eased into things) and went from a sedentary lifestyle to eating lots of vegan options + exercising almost daily. Started drinking way more water. Dropped down to 186-189lbs in about 3 1/2 months.
Saw doc a few days ago and was down to 172lbs - give or take a few pounds (42 days after last weight check). I am now trying to course correct a little and up my calorie intake because I don't think I've been getting proper nutrition (enough protein specifically + calories per day). Still physically active.
I got the CT scan in the first place because of off and on pain I've had since Covid19 (on the opposite side of where the nodule was found mind you)
I have a family history of Crohn's disease (mom said at least 6 people) and IBS/gut issues (my mom and grandma and several aunts) - immediate family is on meds for their issues. We also all have hemorrhoids.
Also had a colonoscopy when I was 15 because of tummy issues I was having
I have no symptoms like bloody stool, vomiting, diarrhea
Except now I'm extremely anxious (diagnosed anxiety disorder) so that's for sure effecting my stomach. Also haven't slept much the past few days.
I just wanna know if anything I've experienced this year could explain this..and also a better understanding of the findings. It appears the surrounding organs and everything else is fine. I think?
Trying not to google too much. I'm making an appointment with Oncology tomorrow

What is Flexafen?

Flexafen stands as an innovative and comprehensive solution in the realm of joint health. Addressing the prevalent concern of joint pain and discomfort, Flexafen goes beyond conventional remedies to provide a holistic approach that aims to alleviate discomfort and enhance overall joint well-being.
At its core, Flexafen acknowledges that joint pain isn't solely a result of aging, but rather a complex interplay of factors including nutrient imbalances, diminished collagen levels, and heightened inflammation. This groundbreaking solution redefines the approach to joint health by offering a unique blend of nutrients carefully curated to target these underlying causes.
By incorporating a synergistic blend of ingredients, Flexafen focuses on promoting collagen production, which is vital for maintaining joint structure and function. Furthermore, its anti-inflammatory components work harmoniously to reduce inflammation that contributes to joint discomfort.
The revolutionary nature of Flexafen lies not only in its potent formula but also in its approach to overall well-being. This holistic solution doesn't just provide symptomatic relief; it aims to restore the body's natural balance by bridging nutrient gaps and fostering joint vitality.
Embarking on a journey with Flexafen means embracing the opportunity for renewed comfort and improved mobility. By making Flexafen a part of your daily routine, you're taking a proactive step towards enhancing your joint health and experiencing life with newfound vitality. Say goodbye to the limitations of joint pain and welcome a more active, vibrant, and pain-free future with Flexafen.

How Does Flexafen Work?

In this section, let us look at the working of the Flexafen joint wellness formula. According to the official website, this Flexafen joint pain relief supplement targets the root cause of joint pain and discomfort which is low levels of synovial fluid and collagen.
Before getting into the working of the Flexafen formula, here is a short note on synovial fluid and collagen. Synovial fluid is a thick fluid that plays a vital role in reducing the friction between the articular cartilages of synovial joints. This fluid also lubricates the joints thereby supporting easy movement and comfort.
Collagen is a protein that is present in the connective tissues and it also supports joint health. When we age, the levels of synovial fluid and collagen reduce resulting in joint discomfort, decreased mobility, and decreased mobility. Due to this, the body begins to conserve energy thereby worsening the pain and discomfort.
Now, the Flexafen supplement works by increasing the levels of synovial fluid and collagen in the body to improve joint health and deliver temporary relief from joint aches and discomfort. The scientifically-backed ingredients in the supplement work in synergy to provide pain relief and support mobility.

Flexafen Ingredients

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

African tree bark extract traditionally used for prostate health, reduces inflammation, and improves urinary flow.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

HA acts as a cushion for your joints. Studies show HA reduces pain scores by a whopping 57%! What’s more, further studies have a 100% success rate in improving joint pain. Best of all, MRI scans show that taking HA rebuilds 51% more cartilage!

Collavant n2 Type 2 Collagen

A fundamental building block of joints, collagen plays a pivotal role in maintaining cartilage and supporting joint structure. Flexafen incorporates targeted collagen support, fostering joint flexibility and resilience.

White willow bark

Mother Nature’s Aspirin” is 100% natural. In fact, one study showed that the majority of people who took White willow bark ended up completely pain-free!

Boron

Studies show Boron reduces pain by 62%, in just 28 days! The majority of patients who took Boron, ditched their pain-killer drugs for Boron instead. Best of all, Boron is safe to take and is a natural trace mineral found in many foods!

Benefits of Flexafen

Joint Comfort: Flexafen's holistic approach alleviates joint discomfort, allowing you to move with ease.

Enhanced Flexibility: Regular use of Flexafen promotes joint flexibility, aiding in daily movements.

Stronger Joints: Flexafen supports collagen production, strengthening joint structures.

No Side Effects: Flexafen's natural formula minimizes the risk of adverse effects.

Active Lifestyle: By reducing joint pain, Flexafen encourages an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

Better Joint Lubrication: Flexafen helps maintain joint lubrication for smoother movement.

I just finished the RBC Brooklyn Half yesterday, after a 12-week training program. I’d built up a lot of expectations for the race, for a whole host of interrelated reason (that I’ll unpack in the body of this thing); all those expectations, unfortunately, caused me to get carried away, and made my experience of the race overall 1) unenjoyable while I was running and 2) disappointing after I finished.
I’m a teacher, and I frequently relay this paraphrasing of a Confucius quote to my kids: “We can either learn how to act by imagining consequences and reflecting, which is best; or by watching others make mistakes, which is hard (though not for us). The most difficult way to learn is through experience, but if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes.” One of my top-upvoted comments of all time is in this sub, telling people to not ruin a race for themselves by over-fixating on time-goals at the expense of enjoying their race.
And yet—

Race Information

• Name: RBC Brooklyn Half
• Date: May 18, 2024
• Distance: 13.1 mi
• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Time: 1:38:2X

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	Sub or Equal 1:32	No
B	Sub 1:35	No
C	Finally Pace Myself Properly	No

Splits

Split	Pace	Time
5k	7:04	21:55
10k	7:20	44:42
15k	7:12	1:07:03
20k	8:23	1:33:03
Finish	7:55	1:38:2X

Background Context

I started running in Oct of ‘22, and caught the bug. I ran a half in April of ‘23 in 1:47, and loved the distance. I built base over the summer to ~30-35 mpw, and then trained for the Philly Half in Nov of ‘23. Ended up getting a 1:38:0X in that race, which was really exciting. More exciting was that I approximately even-split that race — my second half took ~30 seconds longer than the first. I left that race feeling exactly how I wanted to — like a washcloth wrung out completely. I felt like that race & time represented the absolute best of my ability, given my current level of fitness; and I felt like I tried my best the whole way through.
Last important piece of context re: diagnosing this race’s disappointment: between Oct of ‘22 and Nov ‘23 I went from ~240 lbs avg to ~195 lbs average. My lowest weight dipped to the high 180s, but I stabilized around 190 pretty quickly.

Training

I used Runna to train for Philly and really enjoyed the experience. My organizational skills are pretty lacking, and I spend 100% of them in other areas of my life — so I enjoy using an app that offloads some of that cognitive lift for me, fully worth the sub during training blocks.
As far as milage, I managed:

Week	Miles (Ran / Goal)
1	25 / 33 mi mi (missed 2 runs from travel)
2	32 / 36 mi (missed 1 run b/c travel)
3	38 /38 mi
4	12 / 20 mi (deload, missed 2 runs from illness)
5	28 / 38 mi (missed 2 runs from illness carried over from previous week)
6	40 / 40 mi
7	43 / 43 mi
8	23 / 23 mi
9	50 / 43 mi (extended 2 easy runs by ~3 miles apiece)
10	43 / 40 mi
11	29 / 35 mi (missed 1 run due to illness)
12	23 / 23 mi (including race).

As I’m sure you can already see, I missed a meaningful amount of runs due to illness/other life interruption. Concurrent with all this is the fact that my wife is due with our 2nd child in, well, like a week and a half from now; so a lot of the missed runs in weeks 1-5 also reflect a dramatic net increase in my responsibilities b/c of my wife feeling out of it / not being able to get as much done as normal (no shade at all; she’s literally building a new human that wasn’t there before). Overall I got ~92% of all milage done, running 388 miles during these 12 weeks. Mistake #1: I didn’t adjust my time goals in light of missing workouts; I figured if I just worked harder to “catch up,” I would be fine.
The plan included 2 quality sessions a week — 1 tempo run and 1 interval session, and the weekend long run frequently had pace thrown in. I vastly prefer tempo to interval running — personally, I cite being ~200 lbs as the reason. Once I get going, it’s easy to keep going, but frequent stops & starts just burn energy that I can’t afford to lose. Mistake #2: as I trained, my weight went from the high 190s to the high 200s, and I raced at ~207 lbs. I wasn’t consistent w/ nutrition during training, and the associated stress of my job, as well as parenting & chores usually handled by 2 people being done mostly by me — I often used lil’ snacks as a quick dopamine fix (adhd heads out there, you know what I’m talking about.)

Pre-Race

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to run the race in the first place — my first daughter (now 7) was born at 36 weeks, and I anticipated my second needing the same (choleostasis enjoyers, rise up). Instead, though, this baby seems primed to go the distance — so I got equal parts excited and nervous to be able to deliver on all my training.
I’d cut my time by 9 minutes from my first to the second half, and tried to be conservative in aiming to cut ~5 minutes between these cycles — so I aimed to run 7:00-7:05 for the race, dipping into the 6:55s if I felt good at the end of the race, and set my A goal for 1:32, and my B goal for 1:35. Mistake #3: I didn’t have any serious qualitative goals, and my quant goals were made too far in advance to be realistic. I also wasn’t proactive in adjusting my goals based on how training was going — despite advocating for that same thing in posts on this sub.
Man, it’s so easy to say smart things, and so hard to actually do them.
About 10 days before my race, I came down with a cough thing that sapped a bit of my energy. Kept me up at night, and sapped ~10-15% of my energy on a given day. The Wednesday before my race I asked my wife, “Do you think 3 days is enough for me to be back at 100%?” And I want to say to other runners out there: if you’re having to ask that question, go ahead and adjust your goals. We’ll tag that as Mistake #4.

The Race

Gorgeous morning. I live ~1.5 miles from the race start, so I walked over to Franklin and then jogged the remaining ~1 mile to the start as a warmup. Skipped bag dropoff for the same reason I don’t like checking bags while flying, did a quick pee (quick pee, long portapotty wait time), and went over to the corral.
My whole “thing” as a runner is that I’m deceptively fast — that is, that I’m most commonly the least-fit looking person out of the people running equivalent paces to myself. When I started running, that gave me a bit of imposter syndrome; any more, I draw on it for motivation. So as I was waiting in Corral C to start, I realized I felt a lot of pressure — to be able to deliver on being fast, to prove that I’m actually fit, whatever. No one outside of myself cares, obviously. But that’s now how this stuff works.

The First 10k — Would’ve Been Great If This Was a 10k

My pacing plan was as follows: don’t exceed 7:00 pace at any point in the first 7 miles; aim for ~7:30-7:45 going up Prospect Park’s big hill; use the downhill at 10k to catch my breath; and use the last 7 miles down Ocean Ave to winch down on speed if I was feeling good, or just hold around 7:05 if I was spent.
I was able to hit the first half of this plan pretty well, as my splits up top suggest. But I could tell, starting as I ran around GAP and into the park, that I was working too hard — the effort I was expending was too much. As I reflect on it now, I realize I was probably in ~1:35 shape (~7:15 splits); but I stubbornly refused to drop down in pace. I noticed my heart rate was in the high 170s as I ran through Prospect Park, where my HM pace usually puts me at 165 on the dot. I tried to tell myself it was race excitement + caffeine. [Arrested Development Narrator Voice: It wasn’t.]
I hit the 10k mark at 45 minutes pretty much on the dot. My 10k PR is 44:0-something. This is when I realized my pacing was probably a bit on the screwed side. I’m fairly capable with distance, and am better at medium-exertion-long-distance than I am at hard-exertion-short-distance (my 10k predicts a slightly better 5k time than I currently race). I thought to myself: “Well, you can always just drop down a bit and hold. What’s the worst that can happen?”

The Worst That Can Happen: AKA You’ll Feel Pretty Silly When You Try to Tell Your 38.5 Week Pregnant Wife That Your Last 6 Miles Were Quote “Unimaginable Suffering” And It “Felt Like It Would Never End”

I had been under the impression that Ocean Ave would be a “gentle downhill,” but had never run it prior to the race. This, dear reader, is a lie. Somehow, the last 6 miles of the race are entirely uphill; or at least, that is what it’ll feel like if you go out 5% over your current level of fitness.
The sun really started to get to me; and while I’d had water & nutrition, my gut wasn’t enjoying it, and I didn’t feel energized or like any second wind was coming. I specifically remember that Mile 9 felt like it took 20 minutes to finish; the last 5k of the race simply wouldn’t arrive.
I pulled off to the side to slow down; first to 7:30, then 7:45, then 8:00, with no respite. My legs were heavy despite feeling fueled — I was just dyin’ out there. My wife had been texting encouragement during the race, and I managed to send her back from my watch at mile 9 “all goals are now out the window,” and it was just about finishing — first, to finish without walking. But I took 2 30-second walk breaks when the fatigue felt unendurable — pulling off to the side and counting down from 30, while getting passed.
That was another feature of the race that made it so challenging — that same dynamic of “being deceptively fast” that I mentioned above came back to bite me, as I got passed continuously by people who’d raced their fitness, rather than their goals, in the first half of the race. That demoralized feeling was incredibly difficult to handle. I hadn’t, before today, understood why someone would quit a race; and now, even though I didn’t quit, I get it.
As I passed mile 11, I realized that, while my initial goal was fully out the window, I could still PB the race, even though my pace between miles 9 and 11 was more than a minute off my goal pace; I’d just need to hold approximately 8:00 pace, and I’d be right up against my prior PB. That didn’t make anything any easier, but it did make me feel like the suffering had a point.
Got an encouraging text from my wife, found some other folks at ~8:00 pace, and tried to lock into that pace next to them. And then I just sort of suffered to the finish line. I don’t know what the views looked like; I’m not sure what the race atmosphere was like. I wish I’d paced myself better so I could have experienced that fully.

Post-Race: Why Don’t They Tell You That You Have to Walk Up Stairs To Get Out of Cyclone Stadium BEFORE You Go Into the Stadium?

Got medal, got water. Drank about 5 consecutive cups of water, and then exited the boardwalk. Texted my wife that it’d been really hard but I finished, and right as I did, a critical mass of finishers arrived such that cell service got knocked out for everyone. Thus began the Long Night of The Soul for me at Cyclone stadium.
I walked in, walked around, realized there wasn’t anything I wanted to do in there, and then tried to go back out; at which point I was told “Exit is out that way,” and I said, “I can’t just go back out? I gotta go upstairs to leave, after running a race? That’s the rule?” The guy who told me didn’t deserve my sass; and I deserved to not go up stairs. Oh well.
I managed to get up the stairs without cramping up (though it was close). I went and looked out over Surf Ave, at everyone walking to and from the race, and just got to sit with my thoughts for a bit. I got myself a bit choked up & had a very dignified little cry at this realization, which I think does fully distill my feelings about the race: “I feel like I tried my hardest, but I don’t feel like I did my best.” I think that we often treat those two statements like they’re interchangeable, but there’s actually a bit of space between those ideas, and my race fell into the gap between them. I both tried very hard the entire time, but also, I could have done a better job pacing myself and picking target times. That disappointment is rough.

To Do Better Next Time

So to conclude this whole long sad love letter to learning: some takeaways, ranked from Most Transferrable (re: life skills) to Most Specific.

1. Actively listen to ya dang body, fool

Self-explanatory: by setting a goat at the outset of training, and then sort of driving toward it without respect for a lot of recently-added stressors in my life, I didn’t end up running any faster — I just made the running I did do kind of miserable. Next time I intend to use HR & Effort (together!) as a better indication of the pace my body feels comfortable running during the race. We say so much “Trust the taper,” and I think here I’d benefit from reminding myself, “… buuuut the taper doesn’t make impossible things possible.”

1. Don’t invest so heavily in the quant goal

I got very invested in how proud I would be if I managed to achieve the goal, and that forward-projecting is part of what caused me to overshoot the goal in the first place. Next time around I want to have a process goal to the tune of “Enjoy the race while trying to wring out your body like a washcloth.” Or something; I have time to plan.

1. Lose 15-20 pounds.

I’m 5’9; I’m strong and I’m heavy. My running has kind of been those two vectors pointing against each other the whole time. But I think I’m at the point where, if I want to be able to sustain 7:00 speeds for more than a 10k, I need to lose some of the excess weight I’m holding onto. I could also do strength training, but I’ve got a baby on the way; heart tells me that getting 7-10% lighter will be a lot easier than getting 7-10% stronger.
So that was training, goals, and next steps. Hopefully, by seeing my mistakes, you’ll be able to avoid them yourself in the future. Hopefully!
Made with a new race report generator created by herumph.

Hello! I am in a little bit of a tough situation. My dog is 3 years old and I have had him for almost two. I adopted him from a local rescue where he had no reported behavioral issues reported. For a while I generally noticed some anxiety and reactivity. I took him through quite a bit of training and made sure I maintained everything I learned in our home. I always had this..feeling that even though nothing had happened I worried there was an unpredictable side to him. I always proceeded with caution when having him around others (I would keep him leashed, close to me ect.).
First incident: we moved into a house with a fenced yard for him. He could get his front legs up on the fence we shared with some neighbors and would frequently say hi to them and it would always go well. But still made me nervous. The neighbors/ my husband always assured me he was fine. One day the neighbors landlord was over to fix a part of the fence and he jumped up and was letting them all say hi. I was holding onto him but then suddenly snapped at this landlord and bit his hand and tried to lunge up to his face I think. I immediately pulled him away. He did not break skin.
After this my anxiety around him interacting with others completely skyrocketed. Never had people over, rarely let others say hi. My husband is much more comfortable initiating those interactions and usually it would go well if he ever saw new people with him. I will also add he goes to a structured daycare twice a week and has a dog walker the rest of the days. So he is exposed to others. But anything outside of that always made me nervous.
Second incident: my husband’s friends invited us for a camping trip. He wanted to show me that the dog would be just fine. Everyone was able to assure me that incident 1 was somehow related to the fence (i.e., dogs can be wired about their fences/ property that’s probably what it was). Most of the trip had gone very well. He met lots of new people and had a lot of fun. Then, a family with two kids showed up. Everything was going well and I tried to maintain distance from the kids. Didn’t want to take any chances. However, when my husband had him on the leash he allowed a 4 year old to pet him. The child was petting him very appropriately and it seemed to be doing well for a minute. I noticed my dog just staring at the kid for a little longer than I would have liked/ looked a little stiff. When I noticed that it happened. He lunged towards the kid and bit. My husband and I immediately pulled him away Again, the bite didn’t break skin but it did rip a hole in the child’s shirt. I worry both of these instances could have been worse had we not been there to pull them away.
I am so so so crushed that this happened. It’s been my worst nightmare for the past two years. I worry our home is not equipped for this. We have a lot of children in our life. Plan to have kids in the next two years. And not to mention my husband is being deployed for a year starting this July. How do I handle this? Can I rehome a dog with this history? We need help.

Well here's a post where I'm almost inviting everyone to roast me for free, but it's reddit so I don't care. These are my negative opinions are whatever champions I have in this game (as of patch 5.1). I'll try to avoid problems due to 'damage creep' but due to 'design/game experience' problems. I would actually love if someone could share some insights that could change my opinions on any of these champions. Or you could be that angry redditor in the comments screaming away at me willing to die on a hill for your champion. Eithers fine.
You'll notice there's a general theme of "uninteractive", "there is no counterplay in XYZ scenario", and "effort-reward ratio" which equals to "This is not fucking fun to play against"
Tryndamere: Rework his ult. It's design is one of the most braindead and toxic things to deal with ever. It's not actually that bad in-game as I'm describing it because most champions have some gap closecc, it's just from the receiving end experiencing it I don't think anyone will describe it as 'it felt fun'. His ult design is basically a "I'm going to die, so let me try and turn on you for 5s and try to kill you." And since he takes ghost and flash, it either plays out as after a series of extremely good trades and well plays on your end, he suddenly turns on you and kills you, OR he plays extremely badly and gets a free get-out-of-jail card and runs away. Yes he still loses a massive amount of gold to the turret, but the universal response to dealing with a champion in this game is KILLING them, and tryndamere is the only champion that violates that. It's a really toxic and cheap design for an ult.
Singed: His entire playstyle is about avoiding interaction and wasting everyone's time as much as possible. It's just not conducive to the game design based on how the rest of the champions was designed; based on INTERACTION.
Sett: I can't say anything bad about sett I just strongly dislike how stupidly high his low his skill floor to impact ratio is. The most newbie player can just run at any tank, press ult, E, W and win his team the entire fight. Again, I'm not saying he doesn't require skill. He's actually a very hard champ to get good at. It's only that the worst players can pick him up and impact the game way bigger than they should be ever able to at their skill level.
Camille: Not a negative opinion but my own perference. Undo her rework, like, all the way to on-release. I stopped playing her because I enjoyed her difficult kit but she got oversimplified. Basically her old kit Q used to require re-tapping the ability to reactive, W only had bonus applied on the outer half instead of the entire cone (and I think no healing or no slow? I can't remember), and E had no cd refund and atkspd buff if you missed hookshot.
Yone: Please just delete this champion from this game. This guy for me is just riot's golden boy for the 200years meme. I don't care if his numbers were actually balanced, it's everything IN his kit that is just overloaded beyond saving. Hybrid damage, true damage, max health dmg, on demand shield, double crit, 2 abilties reduced by atkspd, 2 knockups, 3 gap closers, AOE on 3 abilties, zed's ult on a basic ability. He's also known for missing everything and still killing you because even if he misses his E and Ult, he can just gap close with 3rdQ and wail on you with Q and W for the same threat damage. Like wth?
Yasuo: I'm a yasuo main but even I won't defend his windwall. I think the rest of his kit is fine (especially since he has only 2 main damaging abilities, one gated behind a condition, and not 4 unlike yone which require 0 setup), but just something about his W being able to block entire ultimates and affect EVERY SINGLE ranged champion on the enemy team for FOUR seconds is just not right. Like there's just no counterplay. They don't even get to play the game. He definintely needs some sort of ranged peel since he is a melee adc but his windwall needs to be reworked in some way
Teemo: If you're a melee champion who has to deal with his camouflage lasting indefinitely in lane, it is some of the most degenerate playstyle I've ever experienced. There's just no counter to it. Every 25s, he just goes invis, blinds you, shts on you for 3 seconds, then dashes and runs away. This is if you're melee because you can't hide under tower and cs.
Lux: Undo her rework. Braindead as all hell. Too effective for how braindead she is, it's mindblowing. But her skin sells right
Kayn: His damage. It doesn't even matter what form you choose anymore. Well not that it did since his red form got buffed like 8 months ago
Evelynn: In soloQ, where you get punished for your team's mistakes, if you ever had to deal with a fed evelynn while you're playing adc....i think i would rather ff then have to put up with it. Especially when she reaches the point where she doesn't even need charm to kill you. Oh right, and if she takes electrocute she can do it lvl5 so she doesn't even need to be fed.
Yi: Draft diff. SoloQ. No CC = Depression. Like sometimes you first pick/second pick and then your team screws you over in champ select by not picking any CC even though the jungler blindpicks master yi. Like what do you do? Also has some really cheesy and cringe strats where the enemies can just turbo buff him with lulu/yuumi/shen and it is just SO turbo cringe to play against if your team has no HARD CC. Soft CC doesn't work (slows) . It must be exlcusively on-demand fast stuns, roots, taunts, etc. Not something like urgot's E beause it's too slow.
Ziggs: It's mostly about the laning experience for his opponents. Most uninteractive and degenerate playstyle I've experienced. You just sit 10 miles back, avoid any interaction, and lob bombs at the enemy. The only saving grace is that he is designed to be really punishable in-game by having a really low early mana pool so you can zone him away from minions. Oh and it you play any assassins you can give him ptsd. I know he's an artillery mage but it's just how low his interaction is in his intended gameplay design that really gets me...
Syndra: Same thing it's the laning experience for her opponents. Don't get me wrong, she has some really bad matchups. But, I'm talking if you play a short ranged champion, it's Ziggs 2.0 but worse. Except now you can't hide behind minions because her Q is a point and click, baiting it is almost pointless since you'll have to deal with it AGAIN in another 7s, she has a non-punishable mana pool so it doesn't matter if she spams every ability, which she does, and spams QE on cooldown to poke then stun you for free with no counterplay, and for all that she scales into an oppressive late game champion for free. Like, for how safe her laning is she doesn't get punished like Asol or Vlad AT ALL. Even if she misses, she doesn't get punished because she's 10yards back. If she misses her orb on E, the knockback is far and long enough that she can walk away perfectly fine. And if both hits, she ults you, procs electrocute, and kills you for free. The worst part is that with electrocute her ult damage early is actually significant enough that even you play any assassin you can't run at her and kill her for free unless you are at full health, which you will never be if you lane against her. Like, I think at least ziggs is fine since the counterplay is at worst you hide behind minions and stay even, but with syndra most of her abilties are point and click so if that specific case what do you do?
Zoe: Degenerate playstyle. She's actually decently hard to play given how easy she gets one shot by everyone in this meta but it's the fact she can 100-0 you from 2 screens away on cooldown. Maybe I just hate artillery mages.
Jayce: This might a wildrift damage problem thing and nothing to do with his kit, but his damage....just everything about his damage is wrong. The fact that he can unironically one shot you at level5 with just boots, has a gap closer and a disengage, and that he is allowed to spam his stupid AOE shockblast (so he doesn't even need to aim) that deals 100000damage on cooldown is just not right... He's basically a one-shot melee assassin but also gets to play ranged and spam his 10000million damage shockblock for free. Oh right, but he has a negative winrate because new players find him too difficult so they keep buffing him...
Samira: It's wildrush reset on takedown. You know how everyone hates katarina? Well her ult is a katarina ult that is MOVING. Meaning that you can be punished for your teammates mistakes which were not even your fault because she can now dash towards you. Imagine your frontliner just wanders in by himself, dies, and suddenly now samira flash ults into your face and wipes your team for your dumb teammate's mistake. She's really punishable into CC but drafting is something that no one does in soloQ. and if you just happen to play into a game where your team has no CC on boy does it feel so bad...
Tristanna: Too safe, scales for free. You know how people consider xayah an amazing soloQ champion because of her self peel? Yeah, tristanna ult may not be as good but he actually has 2. So unless you actually one shot him he's fine. And he scales even harder.
Pyke: The idea of a carry support is just fundementally wrong. Supports are not meant to carry because they are gold starved. So if you design a support to carry you better bet his kit is overloaded as all hell. And for pyke that's mainly that his ult resets. I hate reset champions. Just the threat that one ult can execute the entire enemy team below a certain threshold and MORE than DOUBLE the gold value is just not right.
Soraka: Undo her rework. Braindead healing bot.
Sona: I don't like her ult rework. It's just no fun to play against in teamfights because her ult has no counterplay. It's an on-demand AOE stun that remains in a zone for 3.5s. It's like TF's stun card but for everyone. It's like naut's ult but except instead of a delay it's instant. Instead of targetting just a single person it's an entire massive zone that basically forces you to face check it because it's so god damn big it ACTUALLY takes more time to walk around it than to get stunned for 1s. Your team could play around avoiding a teamwide AOE stun, but SOMEONE still has facecheck sona eventually to get her to use her ult. And when that happens there is NO counterplay to whoever's on the frontline (or whatever class they are most times not being an actual tank) getting separated from his entire team for 3.5s. So as long as you have a numbers advantage when you cast ult (which you will because it will separate the entire team) it might as well be a on-demand death sentence.
Yuumi: Delete this champion. Or here's a suggestion from vars that I agree with: Make her cost an inventory slot on her allies when attached, and nerf her hp into oblivion because she should NOT be allowed to be an actual champion for negating what every single other champion in the game has to deal with: POSITIONING To any yuumi mains, I apologize for what I'm about to say. Like, if you want to make a braindead champion that is lowkey meant for gfs to pickup to play with their bfs, fine, I have no problem with that. But don't make the champion as OP and effective as it is for how brainless you need to be to play her. She should be at A tier, max. Not S/Broken for I don't even know how many updates straight. The fact that like 2 of the top15 last season were yuumi only mains that were clearly riding off duoQ with their adc who probably actually sweated to get to challenger really bugs me.

I am sooooooo excited!!!!
For our longer afternoon walks, I've been taking Toccio down this lane of back alleys that tend to have very few people in them, certainly fewer dogs! They're a bit ram shackle, but that too has its advantages. (Once, in order to avoid a trigger, I diverted us to a very comfy, clean looking couch! We had a little snuggle, and then went on our way.)
It leads us to a lovely, quiet, dead-end residential street, (so beautiful right now with everything in bloom), and there are lots of escape options. It's also the route we now take to the vet.
Today, we skirted up a connected alley quite early in our walk to avoid an approaching couple. We've done this before, but never explored it much. So I thought we'd see where it led.
As we went along, we saw no dogs or humans, heard only bird song. I saw green up ahead, and the backs of houses. When we reached the end of the road, we found ourselves in an abandoned lot covered in violets and motherwort.
It took me a while to realize the significance of this discovery. We investigated it, Toccio checking out the smells, while I looked for broken glass, stinging nettles and burrs. I found nothing but greenery.
And then it truly hit me- nobody comes here!!! (aside from the people who drive the cars in the garages that line the alley). Because it's a dead end, no one uses it for traffic free short-cuts. And it's too far from the main drag for people looking to do things in the dark.
We had a 30 minute walk with NO reactivity!!! there was nothing to react to! I nearly cried for joy!
For now, it's going to make our walks soo much easier! We could only go out for a few minutes at a time yesterday cause everywhere we turned, there were people, and dogs, and more people, and more dogs.
But my mind raced ahead, as it often does, and I saw so many training possibilities!
Wheeeeeeeeee!!!!!

i don't understand why I can't just be happy. i have a partner and i have friends, those are things many people don't have. but whenever my partner travels i feel achingly lonely. i notice that with everyone in my life i'm the person who reaches out 90% of the time. it used to be more even, maybe 70% my initiation, until friends got busy with work and their partners, and my partner isn't as proactively responsive when traveling. i set up plans with my friends to distract myself but as soon as they leave i'm lonely again. i can't stop crying and it got to the point where i started slapping my legs hard enough to bruise. i feel like i have no one to talk to, i tried talking to my partner about it but they said they can't be there for me all the time. i'm not asking for all the time, i just wish someone, anyone cared enough to comfort me when i'm crying and breaking down, which generally happens once every few months when i hit a breaking point of loneliness and self-hatred, or when i feel like someone has been very inconsiderate towards me and doesn't care about trying to be considere towards me. this month it's happened twice though because of an incident that felt extremely inconsiderate towards me earlier this month. i know it's exhausting and an emotional burden comforing someone who's going through it. i know this as someone who is frequently there to comfort others even when i'm also hurt and exhausted. but it just feels so unfair to me that i'm willing to drop everything for someone in crisis, especially a close friend or partner, and no one does the same for me. ii feel like i have to keep my happy sunny disposition around my friends so i don't burden them. they're going through enough in their own lives and don't need to hear how much i'm suffering. i don't want me being lonely to make them feel like they're not good enough. but i was hoping my partner would at least understand that it's okay to express these hurt emotions between us since my partner has also expressed hurt feelings to me and i've comforted them through it without taking it personally. but the response i got was that they needed alone time and couldn't always be there for me. i guess my expectations of a partner always being there for me and putting my feelings first when i'm in crisis are unrealistic, even though that's something i always do. i'm not important enough to anyone for them to consider my feelings. and who would want to be there for me anyways, i'm a worthless fat fuck who can't make positive long-term change in their life no matter how hard they try. my motivation to do anything but scroll on my phone dwindles every day. i can't muster up the strength and motivation for hobbies anymore unless with friends. i'm a shell of a human who only matters when other people are in the room. i can't even do the things i enjoy anymore, let alone things that would be good for me like workinf out or learning other helpful life skills. i guess i always support others but am not there to support myself and that's whay makes me a shell of a human. i'm just going through life surviving but i don't feel like i'm here. i'm just typing this into the void in case anyone feels the way i do so i'll know i'm not alone. also as a disclaimer i have no intention or desire to kms because of how it would affect my loved ones. i of course intrusively wonder if they would miss me or wish they prioritized me more if i did pass, but it's only in passing and not something i would ever carry out. if you've read this far i commend and thank you. hope you have a nice day

To preface this is a narrative of the fallout lore both established in all the fallout games and many of the popular mods created for both new Vegas, fallout 3 and fallout 4 and a subsequent idea for a fallout 5 title that I wrote and wanted to get opinions on.
If you think this is cool lmk, if you think this sucks lmk. I’m just interested in sharing my own ideas with the wider fallout community.

 From Lone-wanderer to the courier (TTW tie in) 

After the events of Fallout 3, the Lone Wanderer, having no family and no place left to truly call home, gathered up his companions and headed west to start a new life. Over the next 4 years, the Lone Wanderer lived in the west with many of his former companions going their separate ways. The Lone Wanderer began working as a courier, known as Courier 6. There, he had a particularly bad run-in with a man named Benny, who introduced him to a bullet. The damage done to the Lone Wanderer caused him to lose his memories of his past. Thus, he became the courier.
After the events of Fallout: New Vegas, and the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, the NCR's military and infrastructure were severely weakened after destroying the Legion. Sensing an opportunity for mutual benefit the West Coast Brotherhood of Steel reached out to the Mojave chapter, where, under the leadership of Elder McNamera, the NCR and Brotherhood reached an agreement and official peace pact between the two groups, which culminated in the brotherhood becoming an official autonomous part of the NCR.
The West Coast Airship docks within the Strip, which was under the control of the Courier and member of the Mojave chapter. The West Coast reintegrated the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel and uses the Strip as a base of operations. Leveraging their advanced technology and military prowess, they quickly gain the upper hand in engagements against the remaining enemies of the NCR.

 The Coming Storm (Dust tie in) 

Some time after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam and the BOS occupation of the strip joint expedition teams of the BOS AND NCR discovered the Sierra Madre Casino, as well as the mysterious and deadly cloud. The NCR and BOS scientists conducted experiments with the Cloud, bringing both massive samples of Cloud Residue and corpses of Ghost People back to the Mojave. Many of these experiments were conducted in a makeshift laboratory set up in the lobby of the Lucky 38 casino. Though the full nature of the experiments are unknown, it is implied that the participants involved were considered criminals to the NCR and the nature of the experiments were brutal, sadistic, and inhumane.
Around the same time, the BOS received reports that a massive sandstorm was approaching New Vegas. They did not share this information with the public, and instead began to outline evacuation procedures.
Five years after the expedition and experiments something went terribly wrong. It is implied that a disgruntled Vault 21 custodian may have intentionally sabotaged the Lucky 38 laboratory, causing a new Cloud to form over the Strip. This cloud was far more lethal and corrosive than the Cloud of the Sierra Madre. The corrosive capabilities even hindered the BOS power armor as the metal would be gradually eaten away by the cloud.
As the Cloud descended upon New Vegas, panic engulfed the Strip and Freeside. Riots and violence broke out. Miss communications between the directives of the BOS and NCR resulted in troopers executing innocent civilians in the streets. In response, the Kings rebelled against the NCR, while also aiding in an evacuation of Freeside, saving countless lives. The Followers of the Apocalypse were forced to abandon the Old Mormon Fort. The Airship of the Western Brotherhood attempted to evacuate all BOS personnel and any relevant technology from the strip before returning to Lost Hills. This resulted in some squads of the BOS being forced to take up residency within the casinos of the strip and vault 21. The NCR locked the gates to the Strip, with all civilians inside. The rebels led by the kings were forced out of and under the city, to the Sewers below. The BOS left in Vault 21 have been desperately trying to chisel away at the concrete within the vault in the hopes of tunneling back to Hidden valley.
NCR troops then dumped radioactive waste into the Sewers to kill any survivors, before fleeing the city themselves. Eventually, the situation became so bad that NCR General Lee Oliver ordered an evacuation of all NCR personnel from New Vegas via the Strip Monorail.
These events nullified the BOS and NCR treaty resulting in BOS forces seizing locations across the Mojave that had the capability to keep them safe from the cloud while also engaging in Guerilla warfare tactics against the NCR.
The city would ultimately fall to the Cloud and to the dust storms that blew in from the West. While some survivors attempted to take shelter in the Strip's casinos they were met with the business ends of BOS laser rifles. Those who did not head for the casinos were not so lucky, as anyone who wasn’t immediately killed by the Cloud became Ghosts and cloud victims, while others died slowly of radiation poisoning and exposure.
While New Vegas fell to the Cloud, a massive radioactive dust storm engulfed the rest of the Mojave Wasteland, causing widespread devastation. Whole settlements and towns were evacuated or otherwise destroyed. One settlement in particular, Goodsprings, was struck by an unknown form of plague, killing most of its residents and turning the once-prosperous community into a Ghost Towns.
Other areas, such as Boulder City, attempted to protect themselves with the same suits worn by Ghost people in Vegas and the Sierra Madre, ultimately becoming trapped themselves. To make matters worse, the Tunnelers from the Divide eventually burrowed through to the Mojave Wasteland, As predicted by Ulysses. causing even more death and destruction. The dust storms blotted out the Sun, allowing the Tunnelers to hunt by day, killing off most of the native animal population in the Mojave.
The effects of the Fall would spread as far out as Zion Valley, where spore carriers from Vault 22 ran wild, alongside another strange, terrible creature, dubbed the Wendigo by the tribals within the valley.
After the fall, little remained of the old Mojave Wasteland. Once-powerful factions such as, The Great Khans, and Powder Gangers were either wiped out or dissolved into roaming gangs of Tribals and Survivors. The Western Brotherhood which had resided in the strips cohesion collapsed as its members lost contact with the surrounding Casinos and vault 21.
Cannibalism became rampant, as people did whatever they could to survive. The NCR remained in control of various locations such as Camp Golf, Hoover Dam, Camp McCarran and Nellis AFB. Those fortunate enough to evacuate the Mojave mostly wound up at Camp Adytum, an NCFollowers refugee center in the Boneyard, however they were quickly drafted and sent to the now ongoing BOS and NCR conflict.
The NCR would eventually launch expeditions into the ruins of New Vegas, presumably to acquire materials left over from the Lucky 38 laboratories. However, none of these expeditions were successful, and the NCR soon abandoned all attempts to return to New Vegas, with only the Royst-Bernard Expedition consisting of rogue NCR scientific and military personnel returning in an attempt to succeed, where regular NCR failed.

 The Patriot at Heart (America Rising 2 tie-in) 

In the aftermath of the events of Fallout 3, the remnants of the Enclave fled north into the Commonwealth where they waited in hiding for 10 years. After the events of Fallout 4, the Lone Survivor helped revive the Enclave and ultimately forced the Institute into being folded into the Enclave, bringing their advanced technology and expertise in synth creation under one banner.
The Enclave embarked on a bold experiment, merging their iconic power armor technology with the synthetic advancements of the Institute. The result was the creation of a new breed of soldiers: Power Armored Synths or PAS.
These hybrid warriors combined the resilience and strength of power armor with the versatility and adaptability of synthetic intelligence. Clad in imposing power armor suits, these Synths were capable of executing complex military maneuvers, engaging enemies with precision and force.
Under the banner of the Enclave, this new army of PAS’s became the vanguard of their expansionist ambitions, striking fear into the hearts of any who knew of their existence. The Enclave took a page from the Institute by beginning to kidnap high-ranking members of the Railroad, Brotherhood of Steel, and Minutemen, replacing them with Synth sleeper agents who would corrupt the organization of the Commonwealth and East Coast Brotherhood to weaken them for an Enclave assault. This culminated in the Enclave assault on the Prydwen, forcing Elder Maxson to retreat back to the Capital Wasteland.

 Fallout 5: Tactics 

The year is 2300, 13 years after the events of Fallout 4.
A squad of the Chicago-based Midwest Brotherhood intercepts a transmission from the East Coast Brotherhood, calling for aid from the West Coast Brotherhood in a last-ditch effort to defend the Capital Wasteland from the Commonwealth-based Enclave assault.
Our character, a Midwest Brotherhood Paladin dubbed the Major, must traverse the Midwest, gaining new allies and attempting to mend the fractured Midwest Brotherhood to aid in the coming conflict. Our character must also fix up a convoy to traverse the wasteland of the Midwest in order to make it to the East Coast. Various quests and side quests will provide the character with allies and further supplies for the coming conflict and further cement the Midwest Brotherhood's position within the region.
Once the player believes they have gathered their small army sufficiently and created their convoy, they embark on a journey towards the East. Along the way, they are intercepted by Enclave and Super Mutant forces. Upon entering into the Capital Wasteland, the general's forces link up with what’s left of the East Coast Brotherhood who have been hiding out in Rockopolis after the Citadel was infiltrated and taken over by the Enclave. DC now acts as the front lines of a war yet again between the Enclave, Brotherhood, and a new faction in the wasteland called the Behemoths, an organized and somewhat intelligent super mutant group led by an intelligent mutant named Osiris, who was once a member of the Master's army. Osiris united the D.C. Mutants and launched his own series of attacks on the Brotherhood when the Enclave took hold of the Citadel.
Along the way, we meet a one-armed Three Dog who barely survived the Enclave bombing of the GNR building but has since set up shop in Broadcast Tower KTB with a small contingent of Brotherhood Paladins who aided against the Enclave, rescuing Three Dog.
As the Major and the elders plot out a plan to assault the Enclave at the Citadel.
Mid west Factions: 1. Brotherhood of Steel (Midwest Chapter): - The player's faction, focused on preserving pre-war technology and knowledge. - Known for their advanced technology and power armor. - Initially, they prioritize their interests but may assist others if it aligns with their goals.

1. Midwest Brotherhood Outcasts:
   
   • A splinter faction of the Brotherhood of Steel, formed due to disagreements over the main Brotherhood's leadership or ideologies.
   • They may possess similar technology and resources as the main Brotherhood but operate independently, sometimes in opposition to their parent faction.
2. Reavers:
   
   • A ruthless raider group terrorizing the Midwest wasteland.
   • Known for their brutality and willingness to pillage and plunder.
   • Considered a major threat to the stability of the region, often in conflict with other factions.
3. The Vikings:
   
   • A raider group modeled after the historical Vikings (with a mixture of the football Minnesota Vikings.)
4. Gammorin's Army Remnants:
   
   • A militant faction once led by the super mutant Gammorin.
   • Composed primarily of super mutants, they seek to establish dominance over the wasteland through force.
   • Viewed as a formidable enemy by other factions due to their strength and aggression.
5. Vault 0:
   
   • A vault inhabited by a powerful supercomputer known as the Calculator.
   • The Calculator once sought to expand its influence and control over the wasteland, posing a significant threat to other factions; however, it was reprogrammed by someone named the Warrior in the year 2197. This effectively deactivated and left the army of robots dormant and sealed away within Vault 0. Their advanced technology and military capabilities make them a formidable adversary and an equally valuable ally if they can only be reactivated and reprogrammed.
6. Tribal Communities:
   
   • Various tribes and communities scattered throughout the Midwest wasteland.
   • They may have their own customs, traditions, and conflicts.
   • Depending on the player's actions, they could become allies, enemies, or neutral parties.

As the player ventures further into the capital wasteland they find that it is now far greener than in the past and wild punga fruit now can be found around the wastes, if the player makes a detour to oasis they will find that Harold has rapidly grown and from the Potomac River (death law sanctuary) in the west to temple of the union in the east is now a lush paradise (that is if it weren’t for all the deathclaws and raiders who stalk the forest.) As Harold/Bob spread, the brotherhood eventually sent out missions to learn more about it, after encountering Linden, they made a formal treaty with the poplars, in which the poplars were given water in exchange for the fresh fruit from the oasis. The brotherhood also helped encourage the trade of Punga with the Poplars to be grown within the oasis to help aid soil development and remove radiation. The poplars now tend the forest and have become somewhat of a nature inspired farming/fire fighting force, having a couple of villages throughout the forest network. However raider gangs also set fire to the trees, (if the player investigates they’ll find out that the enclave is paying the raiders to burn the trees and fight their way in to help destabilize the brotherhoods food supply and trade routes)
If the player chooses to side with the poplars/ Brotherhood the trees will continue to spread at a rate of 1 mile for every 24 real world hours that pass in game.
If the player helps the enclave they will be tasked with infiltrating the original Oasis and burning Harold alive, and the trees will dwindle at the same rate until the oasis is fully gone.

For a little over a year, we've lived in an apartment unit a couple of flights up from another reactive dog, a chihuahua mix. (Our own dog is reactive mostly to unfamiliar dogs but occasionally some people.)
We always try to make space for the neighbors, especially when we're out with our own dog. The neighbor's dog usually reacts to our dog when we happen to be outside at the same time as them.
The neighbors have had a couple of incidents where another very leash reactive (it screams loudly when seeing other dogs from any distance) dog they sometimes watched has slipped away from them and either ran up to us or another dog. (Luckily, nothing happened.)
Today, my husband was walking down the stairs (without our dog), and he didn't see that on the ground floor, the chihuahua mix's leash was not being held by the owner. It ran up to him and bit him. Luckily, he was wearing jeans, and it doesn't look like there was a mark made on his skin. The owners didn't seem to notice the dog made contact with him, and my husband didn't say anything to them.
We really don't know what to do now. We don't want there to be another incident of their dog getting off leash and getting to us again or our dog. But we also don't want to report our neighbors because we don't want them or their dog to be forced to leave their apartment, and we also don't want any confrontation with them. Although we manage our dog really well and she has no bite history, we also empathize with how hard it is to own a reactive dog and know things can happen, and we would hate to be in their shoes.
Any thoughts on what, if anything, we should do?