Wanted to share my experience doing crash course studying for 7 days and passing the SIE first attempt! I never post anything on here, but others posts made a big difference for me, so here goes!
TL;DR:
I passed my SIE yesterday after only 7 days of study. Intense! I used Pass Perfect, spent 50 hours studying total. If you only have a week or two before your test, DO NOT take a bunch of notes on everything! Read the content, take the quizzes and test, take notes on those answers and explanations!
VERY IMPORTANT: Use the two free Achievable SIE dump Sheets and watch both the S7 Guru and S7 Whisperer 60 min crash course SIE YouTube videos the day before or day of test! I’ve included links at the bottom of this post. Be sure to memorize the dump sheet tricks and formulas, and decide what’s most important to reference. The test center gives you two laminated sheets and dry erase markers you can use as soon as the test timer starts. Be ready to write down key formulas, acronyms, timeframes, etc. Mine were the Options Matrix, SLoBS & BLiSS, yield teeter totter, Settlement times (T+1 or T+2) and notes on Open vs Closed end market. (All on the achievable formula dump sheets except specific Open/Closed Markets notes I took).
My Story:
In late April I was hired by Vanguard for a position starting May 28. I’d been a contractor doing customer service in an unlicensed VG position for about 10 months (no finance background before that); with the goal of getting hired in a licensed, permanent role within a year. I worked hard and got hired! The position requires SIE, S7 and S63. After my start date they pay me to do nothing but study and take exams for 9 or 13 weeks (depending on whether I’d passed the SIE prior to start date), which is awesome, but there’s a $5000 bonus if the SIE is passed at least a week before start date.
Note: I did have a little familiarity with basic terms and what’s required for account opening, due to my contractor position).
I originally scheduled my exam for May 13. I had about a month from hire date to May 13, and VG paid for the Pass Perfect course. I started some light studying the first week, thinking I had 3 more weeks and was on track. Then I got really sick for 2 weeks! I’m talking bed ridden, definitely no studying. So May 10 I rescheduled my exam to May 18! I had to pay $40 but figured it was well worth it not to fail, lol.
I was finally well enough to start studying on May 11, giving me 7 days. 😅 I had retained very little from my initial studying so I started over. I thought “I can do this!” I figured I’d had to do similar in college while working full time. Boy it was rough!
7 Days to PASS the SIE:
The first 3 days I had all day to study: Sat, Sun and Mon (had the day off for my original test date).
THE PLAN 41+ hours 5 practice tests, scoring at least 75%
Days 1-3 (full days) - 8+ hrs per day - Complete Pass Perfect Course (16 chapters) start to finish (reading and all quizzes, chapter tests)
Days 4-5 (Tues, Wed) - 5 hrs each day (2 before work and 3 after) - Take 1-2 Pass Perfect Final exams (1 hr 45 min each) each day, taking time to focus/take notes on anything I missed - Goal of 4 total tests, with 75% or higher on 3
Day 6 (Friday, day before the test) - 5 hours (2 hrs before work, 3 hours after) - Take 1 FINRA practice SIE exam before work (free on FINRA website) - after work, Review all Difficult Topics - Listen to S7 Guru & S7 whisperer on YouTube. (They each have a 60 minute crash course review, recommended for day before or day of test). - Print out Achievable Dump Sheets - add my own notes to dump sheets
Day 7 (Day of Test) Test scheduled for 2pm (1:30 registration) - 2 hours Notes and Dump Sheets Review in morning - Leave for Test at 11:30, arrive 12:30 (45 min drive) - One last Review of Dump Sheets for 45 min, take a break before registration
Great Plan Right?! Wellll, I didn’t quite stick to it. 🤣
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: 52 Hours Study - Not at the planned pace! 4 Practice Finals (71% average) A lot of tears, anxiety and stress!😫 A rollercoaster of Self-doubt and Self-Confidence
Day 1 (Sat): 7 hrs Completed first 3 chapters, taking tons of notes on a Google doc, color coded and highlighted. I’ll do more tomorrow I thought, my brain is fried
Day 2 (Sun): 10 hours Completed chapters 4 & 5 again taking tons (too many) notes, taking quizzes and Tests multiple times, worried I wasn’t getting the concepts and terms well enough. Didn’t want to move on until I had chapters 1-5 down pat. Getting really worried about my pace now, but “hey I have tomorrow. I’ll crush it and catch up”. Maybe I won’t get to tests until Thurs, but I’ll be okay..
Day 3 (Mon): 7 hrs (I was exhausted and burnt out, still not 100% from being sick) Chapter 6 OPTIONS… the death of me, soooo much to learn. Barely got through chapter 6. Full panic has now set in! I have to work full time the next 4 days! If the rest of the course is this hard, I’m screwed. There goes my bonus, how will I tell my husband? (He would not have been mad but I would feel terrible). “Children and husband, do not bother me! I need to focus!” 😅
Day 4 (Tues): 6 hrs ( 6pm-12am) Intense panic and anxiety, how the hell am I going to finish?! Screw notes, get through the chapters! Completed chapters 7-10. Whew, these chapters weren’t as bad, maybe it’s getting easier. I think I remember a good amount. Better wrap this up tomorrow!
Day 5 (Wed): 5 hrs Very worried, but I’ll finish today and take lots of tests the next 2 days! Completed chapters 11-13 😫 OMG I’m still not done with the course and I have 2 days left! I must sleep.
Day 6 (Thurs): 6 hrs in the evening - Completed remaining chapters 14-16, course done 8pm. Whew, content done. Worried about not taking any tests yet, but at least I feel like I know the content decently! Took my first Pass Perfect Test, score 71% not as bad as I thought but that’s not a lot of margin for error! (Need 70% to Pass actual SIE test). At that point I’m calculating how much each point is worth, looking up suggestions online and praying, lol 🙏
Day 7 (Fri): 7 hrs Took 2 Pass Perfect tests, reviewed missed answers carefully and took notes. Scores: 71% and 73%. Took FINRA SIE test (on their website), 69%. Omg I’m gonna fail tomorrow. 🥺
Friday night I thought “Hmm Maybe I can reschedule for Monday (the deadline to pass for bonus). Two more days and I will be ready!” So I go to the Prometrics website and try to reschedule, seeing one slot for Monday at a site 2 hrs away… awesome.. NOPE, NOT ALLOWED less than 3 days before scheduled exam! (Why did I not think of this Tuesday?) 🙄 So I called customer service, begged and told them I had been sick.. Since they said I could not reschedule the day before the test, I asked if they could cancel it and schedule a new appt for Monday? DENIED. So I took a deep breath, cried a little and came to terms with it. This test is happening, tomorrow. 😫 🤬
Friday night 9pm: As recommended by colleagues and online forums, I listen to S7 whisperer 60 min crash course on YouTube; no notes, listening in bed). Ok, learned some things, great overview/review. Maybe I can pull this off afterall. 🤔 Things are looking up. 😊
Saturday, May 13… Day of Test (2-4pm)
7am woke up, ate a good breakfast, prepared everything I needed to take and do. Now what? Should I take another practice test? Review my notes? Listen to video? I decided no more tests, I’ll listen to the other crash course ( S7 Guru 60 min crash course on YouTube). 🤞
8am—11:30 Crunch time. Im determined to pass this exam!! Spent 3 hours listening to the 60 min S7 Guru video, pausing when needed, replaying as needed. Took 11 pages of color coded notes on the most important points and formulas I needed to remember, mainly on Regulations, Rules & laws (what market does it impact, what type of product, who, timeframes, holding time, etc). I knew this was going to be at least 15% of test (I was right) and these were the main questions I had missed on my Practice Finals.
11:30am Renewed Faith 🙌 DAMN I learned a LOT. I’m gonna pass this thing! I was already getting low 70s on Thursday practice tests and I KNOW I learned enough from the video to pass several more questions. S7 Guru literally saved me, pulling it all together in my mind! 🤯
12pm Went to UPS store, color printed the 2 Achievable dump sheets and my 11 pages of notes from the video! (I think the colors really help my mind retain the info). I scanned over them at every red light on the way. 😂
12:59 arrived at test center. Spent 20 minutes reviewing dump sheets and drilling in my mind what to put on the 2 pages they would give me for notes (see TL;DR for what I used on the test sheets, links to dump sheets at end)
1:20 walk in, first one there.. registration complete at 1:35. To my surprise, they seat me and I can start test immediately!
As soon as the timer started my hands were flying on the 2 laminated sheets they gave me. I spent the first 15 min vigorously writing out things I wanted to reference. 90 minutes left for 85 questions. Watched the timer closely to stay on pace. Used the notepad on the test platform for each question to write out calculations, or break down what each part of the question meant, used critical thinking for answer, marking questions for review when I was stuck between 2 answers. Most importantly, I followed my gut. I knew this stuff! Used calculator for EVERY calculation, even easy ones. Finished all questions with 5 minutes remaining. Reviewed marked questions but changed only 3, if I was SURE my original answer was wrong. Almost all advice I was given in the week before said DO NOT change your answers. Your gut is usually right, unless a later question clarifies something.
I hit submit and held my breath. 🫢 OMG, does that say PASS?!!! Yes, I actually Passed! 😳 I cried out of happiness and relief, was on cloud 9. Swore I would never cram like this again! S7 and S63 will be better, lol.
SO here’s how you can have a better experience than me if you’re a week or two away and wondering how you can possibly pull this off. YOU CAN DO IT! 💪
TIPS FOR CRASH SIE STUDYING (learn from my mistakes)
1 NOTE TAKING: I’ve always learned best by taking a ton of notes, color coded on a google doc. Taking notes reinforces it in my brain and helps me find ways to remember it for myself. However, if you are crash course Studying for the SIE, you do NOT have time to do this, lol. Honestly I barely looked at those notes in the end.
TIP: Read through the content quickly and only take notes when it tells you it’s likely a testable question! Take all quizzes and tests, REVIEW the quiz/test answers (in PP the answers also give you a brief explanation of the concept) and take light notes on that! Do NOT replace reading with the videos! The first 4 chapters I tried to save time doing this and wondered why I was failing the chapter tests. The reading content had way more info than the video! Don’t shoot yourself in the foot and spend even more time you don’t have!
2 DON’T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME on EARLY CONCEPTS! The earlier (and for the most part, less valuable - less test questions) content (at least in the Pass Perfect course) will be reinforced throughout the following chapters in the course. Many of the of the concepts in the first few chapters build over the course, so the basics are reinforced later anyway. I wasted several hours!
3 EXPECT 20-25 hours are needed to complete the course/learn the concepts! You need to understand them, not just memorize them. Give yourself a day on REGULATIONS and 5 hours on OPTIONS, a few hours on BOND YIELDS, these comprised a LOT of questions on the test, could make or break you!
4 TAKE at least 4 PRACTICE FINALS with a goal of 75%, but if you’re not improving, use the crash course Videos, learn the content. (Don’t use those crash course videos until you have completed the course/content for all material. It will be confusing otherwise and feel overwhelming). Don’t just keep taking more tests in lieu of learning!
5 SPEND A FEW HOURS on (free) ACHIEVABLE DUMP SHEETS along with S7 Guru & S7 Whisperer crash course review videos on YouTube! I doubt I would have passed without these! Reviewing them for 4 hours and using them for key points on my tests sheets saved my ass!
I’ve included links below for the FREE Achievable Dump Sheets and the 60 minute crash course videos. Feel free to message me for more help!
GOOD LUCK! It IS Possible to pass in a week! 🍀
SIE DUMP SHEETS: (scroll to bottom of the page, there are links to download them):
https://achievable.me/exams/finra-sie/overview/#resources
S7 Guru 60 min crash course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hQRLmVspNE
S7 Whisperer 60 min crash course
https://youtu.be/_-x-RFmFAD0?si=i_ZDrrFIWuMOTK6A

I'm looking for clarification on how LSAC calculates GPA. I understand that any grades earned after your first undergraduate degree don't count. However, I'm currently a junior and taking graduate classes at a summer program.
Do these graduate courses count towards my LSAC GPA since they are before I get my bachelor's degree, or are they excluded because they are graduate-level coursework? I couldn't find much info on this online. Thanks for any help!

Bare with me cuz I am about to waffle.
So 5’8 is in the bottom 33rd percentile for men in the US (19 years old) The Top 50th percentile height for a 19 year old is 5’9.272 (let’s round that down to 5’9) in the US.
According to this site:
https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/height-percentile-calculator.php
SO FOR GEN Z
This means that a guy that is 5’8 will be taller than approximately 1/3 of men(shorter than 2/3) he comes across on US soil and a guy that is 5’9 will be taller than 1/2 of men(shorter than 1/2 ofc) he comes across.
Comparing that to 5’7 which is were most of you guys agree that shortness starts (I also agree).
A 19 year old 5’7 guy would be in the bottom 22nd percentile meaning he will be taller than under 1/4 of men in the US around the same age. Being shorter than over 3/4 of men is short fo sho.
Taking these probabilities/frequencies into account I feel like a 5’8 man is not considered short and is in the below average range as he is still taller than a third of men in the US meaning no big problems when it comes to earning respect from ur average human or finding a partner(not online probs).
If 6ft is the start of tallness (taller than around 75% of men) Then 5’7 is definitely the start of shortness (shorter than around 75% of men)
Am I wrong? Let me know.

Hello,
I am in a bit of a bind here with missed 8938 reporting.
The situation is that I did not file FBAR and form 8938 for the last 3 years although I had reported all of my overseas bank interest to the IRS. I had missed out on reporting about $5 of income for one year.
I spoke to a CPA and he advised that it's best to do SDOP and pay 5% penalty of max bank balance for these years to avoid any IRS fines.
I have just realized that my US brokerage accounts (fidelity etc.) also have ETFs that generate foreign income and I missed reporting them. Granted, it's not a lot, about $200 per year of missed reporting.
I am wondering if this income also needs to be reported as a part of form 8938 and now, would my 5% penalty be calculated against the value of these ETFs also? Or would it include the value of my whole fidelity brokerage account?
I couldn't find a convincing answering online, hoping somebody can help me here.
Additionally, has anyone here ever done a quiet disclosure or DIIRSP of form 8938 and been slapped with penalties
Thank you.

Hello,
I am in a bit of a bind here with missed 8938 reporting.
The situation is that I did not file FBAR and form 8938 for the last 3 years although I had reported all of my overseas bank interest to the IRS. I had missed out on reporting about $5 of income for one year.
I spoke to a CPA and he advised that it's best to do SDOP and pay 5% penalty of max bank balance for these years to avoid any IRS fines.
I have just realized that my US brokerage accounts (fidelity etc.) also have ETFs that generate foreign income and I missed reporting them. Granted, it's not a lot, about $200 per year of missed reporting.
I am wondering if this income also needs to be reported as a part of form 8938 and now, would my 5% penalty be calculated against the value of these ETFs also? Or would it include the value of my whole fidelity brokerage account?
I couldn't find a convincing answer online, hoping somebody can help me here.
Additionally, has anyone here ever done a quiet disclosure or DIIRSP of form 8938 and been slapped with penalties? Thank you.

I'm 21 and used some online calculators to figure out my BMR (1,565) and BMI (21.9) which I have a high metabolism im 5'6 and about 136 lb I've stopped for almost a week now drinking a bunch of water, cranberry juice, and powerade, and used a detox drink the 16th because I was worried about them doing the drug test during my interview for some reason. I started smoking when i was in highschool so about when i was 15ish.
Smoking weed since 15 daily

I’m in a bit of a conundrum. This is my first time going to the public sector. I’m taking a 31k pay cut with the intent to regain some work life balance after climbing super high and touching the sun in leadership. Being as burnt out as I got I figured seeing how a public sector role fit would be.
With that being said, this role comes with a pension option PERS2 and PERS3.
PERS 2 is a defined benefit and the calculation is 2% x years of service x average of top 5 earnings years. This vests in 5 years but you need to retire at 65 to get full benefits otherwise they are reduced though I can’t find anything online by how much. I contribute 6.63% of my paycheck to this plan.
PERS3 is the same as the above minus my contribution from my paycheck and instead of 2% it’s 1%. Instead you contribute 5-15% set and you cannot change it to a market fund probably like an S&P funds. Vests in 10 years and you only get 1% pension payout in the end which the employer contributes to.
Interestingly is you can choose PERS 3 then also contribute separately to a deferred compensation like a 401k up to $23,000. Also, both pension options get continuous COLA increases on the pension side and I could set my wife as the survivorship beneficiary.
I’ll probably need to cut back given the pay cut I took to go public on my contributions so my first question is if I’m contributing to the PERS 2 option at $447 a month how much should I consider putting back into deferred compensation? Based on my math last year I only have about $3000 extra a month after all bills to play with.
For context, in prior years I’ve been slamming my retirement for me and my wife maxing everythngthing. I have about $600k in a mix of 401, IRA and brokerage, about 30% of that is in bonds some are generating monthly income that I put back into the money market fund. House equity is around $320k but that’s not accessible. I’m 37 years old and I think around 100k a year in today’s future money would probably give us a fairly comfortable life at retirement.
I guess I need to figure out if I’m going with full pension can I cut back on my 401k and Roth contributions and how much ok? Also, with the PERS 3 option I can tap the S&P and potentially retire and access funds easier at 55 and forgo the juicy pension. I think I’m on track for early retirement, but I want to get your thoughts on how you’d handle this change in income and contribution approach. Still need some money for house repairs and such 😅

I took the test yesterday 5/18 and just got my results via email 1.5 days later. Thank you to this subreddit for all the tips!! I have very limited pm experience, but I do think it helped me apply concepts to real life examples
Here’s what I did to study:
1) JP Udemy Course - Barely paid attention since I just needed the hours; took way too long to finish this 2) Udemy Practice Test #1 - 52% I scheduled my test on 4/9 to motivate myself to actually study…it didn’t work. I would put in 1 hr every other day 3) Udemy Practice Test #2 - 60% 4) PocketPrep - I had the app for a couple weeks before I started slowly going through the questions, but I didn’t study daily until 2 weeks out. I did all 1000 questions and averaged 64% lol so I did the ‘missed questions’ quizzes until I got it up to 76% by my test date 5) Udemy Practice Test #3 - 58% 6) Udemy Practice Test #4 - 64% 7) AR Udemy Course - Paid attention the most during foundations and BA 8) TIA CAPM Exam Simulator - Did study mode & passed the first two 50 question mock exams + the 150 question mock exam. Then I did exam mode & passed everything, BUT I think this is only bc the questions were the same from study mode & my brain was working off of muscle memory instead of critical thinking **I still felt so unprepared so I was putting in ~2-3 hr of studying a day at this point 9) Landini PM: Practice Questions for the CAPM Exam - I ordered this on Amazon & received it 6 days before my exam. I completed all the odd exams first & then did the even exams for the two weaker sections which were Fundamentals & BA (I’m now realizing that aligns with my scores lol) Set #1 - 68% Set #2 - 78% Set #3 - 68% Set #4 - n/a Set #5 - 78% Set #6 - n/a Set #7 - 66% Set #8 - 72%
I took the test online. Check-in took ~7 min. I did a system test the night before & the morning of. They give you a whiteboard, calculator, and comment box. There’s a ‘review questions’ page after the first 75 questions & then again at the end. I took the 10 min break (I asked my proctor via chat if I could leave & they said yes) by leaving the room for a bit and only ended up taking 8 min before starting again. I finished with 95 min still on the clock so I was worried I rushed through it, but I reviewed thoroughly & only felt unsure about one formula question in the second half. The questions were straightforward & were not as difficult or tricky as I expected. A lot of the questions could be narrowed down by process of elimination.
My only tip is: don’t overthink it! Especially if you’re not a fan of test taking like me. Most of the time I would over complicate it when all I had to do was choose the answer that was the most obvious lol. Also, don’t sweat it if your test is approaching quickly, I crammed the week of & I think that was probably all I needed. GOOD LUCK!!

Okay, so this guide just started off with me trying to figure if Elijah's Advanced LAER was worth using on an energy weapons crit build (turns out it is), and kind of spiraled out of control. I decided to do the math on most energy weapons; at least the ones you'd consider long-term (inb4 Laser RCW, Alien Blaster, etc). Some ground rules about this post because I don't know how readable this is for other people:

• First we have the base damage which assumes you have 100 energy weapons and the condition is such that you aren't receiving a damage penalty (75%+). I went ahead and just included optimized ammo for my calculations because that's probably what you're using most of the time on an energy weapon build. It also includes Laser Commander bonus damage (if applicable) and any mods that increase damage.
• Crit damage is just what's listed online + the 50% bonus from Better Criticals. I couldn't find any confirmation online, but it seems that ammo type/perks other than Better Criticals do no affect crit damage, only base damage.
• Crit multiplier is a bit weird because some factors are affected by the crit multiplier and others just add a flat value:

Factors affected by weapon crit chance multiplier:
Luck, Finesse, Built To Destroy, Ulysses Duster, 1st Recon Beret
Factors that add a flat crit chance:
Set Lasers for Fun, Light Touch , Laser Commander, VATS (adds +5%, not include in any of the calculations

• If a factor is affected by a weapon crit chance multiplier, the correct value is displayed below (i.e. 10 luck with a 1.5x crit multiplier is listed as 15% below).
• I went ahead and assumed the player was stacking crit chance as high as possible, ignoring temporary effects like True Police Stories.
• To get average damage per shot, we take the calculated base damage + crit damage multiplied by crit chance.
• To then get average DPS, we just multiply average damage per shot by fire rate. This does not include any factors that would adjust fire rate (besides the Plasma Caster weapon mod).
• I then included a very succinct pros/cons list.
• I forgot about rank 4 of Camarader-E, which adds a flat +5 damage on to laser weapons. This improves the LAER and AER14 Prototype a decent amount, and is an insane boost to the already impressive DPS of the Gatling LaseSprtl-Wood 9700.
• Hopefully I didn't forget anything important and the information about flat crit bonuses vs crit chance multipliers are correct.
• Lastly, I want to say that you really don't need to min-max New Vegas that much. Even on Very Hard basically any weapon on this list can do the job.

AER14 Protype
52.325 (base damage + optimized MFC + Laser Commander) + 52.5 (crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 2x
20% (Luck) + 10% (Finesse)+ 6% (Built to Destroy) + 10% (1st Recon Beret) + 10% (Ulysses Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) + 10% Laser Commander = 75%
Average damage per shot = 91.7 (base damage * (Crit Damage * crit chance)
Average DPS = 275.1
Pros:
Low requirements
Very low spread
Easier to repair than most energy weapons
Cons:
Located in Vault 22
Requires Laser Commander to outperform the Q-35, which is easier to acquire
Uses 2 ammo per shot
Elijah's Advanced LAER
126.375 (Base damage + Optimized MFC + Laser Commander + prismatic lens) +22.5 (Crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 1.5x
15% (Luck) + 7.5% (Finesse) + 4.5% (Built to Destroy)+ 7.5% (1st Recon Beret) + 7.5% (Ulysses' Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) + 10% (Laser Commander) = 56% Crit Chance
Average Damage per Shot = 138.975 (base damage + Crit Damage * crit chance)
Average DPS = 385.98
Pros:
Extremely accurate
High damage per shot and DPS
Needs very little perk investment to perform
Very low weight
Cons:
Need to start OWB to acquire it
Very low item HP and difficult to repair without repair kits/Jury Rigging
Hardly benefits from crit perks/equipment
Pew Pew
112.125 (base damage + optimized EC + Laser Commander) + 75 (crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 2.5x
25% (Luck) + 12.5% (Finesse)+ 7.5% (Built to Destroy) + 12.5% (1st Recon Beret) + 12.5% (Ulysses Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) + 10% Laser Commander= 89%
Average damage per shot = 178.875 (base damage * (Crit Damage * crit chance)
Average DPS = 357.75
Pros:
Very high damage per shot
Very low weight
Holdout weapon
Cons:
Burns through ammo very quickly
Can only fire 2 shots per reload
Need to acquire 50 sunset sasparilla star bottlecaps to get it
Gatling Laser
19.435 (base damage + optimized ammo + laser commander + focus optics) + 15 (Crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Chance Multiplier = 0.02%
0.2% (10 Luck) + 0.1% (Finesse) + 0.0.6% (Built To Destroy) + 0.1% (1st Recon Beret) + 0.1% (Ulysses Duster) + 5% (Light Touch) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 10% (Laser Commander) = 19.56%
Average Damage per shot = 22.369
DPS = 671.07
Pros:
Highest DPS of all energy weapons
Lighter than Sprtl-Wood 9700 w/ CF frame
"Magazine" is amost 3x that of Sprtl-Wood
Benefits a lot from Rank 4 of Camarader-E
Plasma Caster
84.5 (Base Damage + Optimized MFC) + 97.5 (Crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 1x
10% (Luck) + 5% (Finesse) + 3% (Built to Destroy) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (1st Recon Beret) + 5% (Light Touch) + 5% (Ulysses Duster) = 32% Crit Chance
Average damage per shot = 115.7 (base damage * (Crit Damage * crit chance)
Average DPS (including High Speed Electrode = 433.875
Pros:
High damage per shot/DPS
Cons:
Heavy
High skill/strength requirements
Difficult to get in the early game
Relatively high spread
Q-35 Matter Modulator
52 (base damage + Optimized MFC) + 91 (Crit Damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 2x
20% (Luck) + 10% (Finesse)+ 6% (Built to Destroy) + 10% (1st Recon Beret) + 10% (Ulysses Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) = 65%
Average damage per shot = 111.15 (base damage * (Crit Damage * crit chance)
Average DPS = 266.76
Pros:
Low requirements
Can be acquired very early in the game
Cons:
Damage output is worse than other late-game energy weapons
Damage is very reliant on crits
Tesla-Beaton Prototype (Elijah's Jury-Rigged Tesla Cannon performs very similarly)
167 (base damage + Optimized ammo + damage over time effect 25/s over 2 seconds) + 67.5 (crit damage + better criticals) 19.23
Crit Multiplier 2x
20% (Luck) + 10% (Finesse)+ 6% (Built to Destroy) + 10% (1st Recon Beret) + 10% (Ulysses Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) = 65%
Damage per shot = 210.875
DPS = 105.4375 (if you wait for the lingering damage to have full effect), 177.099 (if you fire as fast as you can)
Pros:
High damage
Despite consuming 6 ammo per shot, it has a higher damage to ammo efficiency compared to other non-Tesla Cannon weapons that use ECP ammo
Cons:
High requirements
Need to wait two seconds between each shot to get max value out of the lingering damage effect
Low Health
Difficult to repair without Jury Rigging
Sprtl-Wood 9700
23.92 (base damage + optimized ammo + laser commander) + 24 (crit damage + better criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 0.04x
0.4% (10 Luck) + 0.2% (Finesse) + 0.12% (Built To Destroy) + 0.2% (1st Recon Beret) + 0.2% (Ulysses Duster) + 5% (Light Touch) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 10% (Laser Commander) = 20.12%
Damage Per Shot = 28.7488
DPS = 574.9476
Pros:
Extremely high DPS
Benefits a lot from Rank 4 of Camarader-E
More damage per shot than regular Gatling Laser
Lower strength requirement than Gatling Laser
Slightly more accurate than regular Gatling Laser
Green Laser
Cons:
Fairly heavy/heavier than Gatling Laser w/ CF Frame
Lower DPS than Gatling Laser
Significantly smaller "magazine"
Struggles against armored enemies and needs Max Charge cells to be effective against them
Expensive
Cons:
Struggles against armored enemies and needs Max Charge cells to be effective against them, even moreso than the Sprtl-Wood 9700
Higher strength requirement than Sprtl-Wood
Burns through ammo very quickly
YCS/186
182 (base damage + optimized MFC) + 105 (crit damage w/ Better Criticals)
Crit Multiplier = 2x
20% (Luck) + 10% (Finesse)+ 6% (Built to Destroy) + 10% (1st Recon Beret) + 10% (Ulysses Duster) + 4% (Set Lasers for Fun) + 5% (Light Touch) = 65%
Average damage per shot = 250.25
Average DPS = 108.80 (reloads after every shot, base reload speed is 2.3 seconds)
Pros:
Extremely high damage per shot
Very low spread
Scoped
Cons:
Reloads after every shot
Uses 4 MFC's per shot
Can only acquire if you don't have Wild Wasteland
Oh, and if you made it this far, skimmed through or jumped to this part, here's what I believe the max DPS achievable with the Gatling Laser is:
Base damage + max charge ammo + laser commander + focus optics + Psycho + Slasher + Rushing Water + Camrader-E + Lord of Death = 1986.169 DPS (lmk if I forgot anything)
*

Hi,
I'll be launching an online store soon via Shopify, probably running it under my existing NY-based LLC, and I've been researching sales tax. I know I need a certificate of authority in NY, etc. However, I was always under the impression that sales tax is calculated by the shipping address location? Is that not the case, because Shopify says I only have to charge orders from the state where the business is registered... If that's the case, then how (or better question, why?) do these major online retailers charge sales tax on deliveries to all 50 states? (or at least the ones that have sales tax)
I'm confused, can someone clarify it for me? Thanks!

Hello, I don't know if this is the right place for this or not, but I was hoping to get advice on possible careers I could go into given my skills/interests. If this is not the right place, I would appreciate guidance on where to possibly ask this question.
I am a 22 year old male who recently graduated college with an English major and a minor in psychology. I am signed on for a 10 month contract as an English teacher starting this coming August. I don't anticipate disliking the job, I enjoyed student teaching (best part of college in fact), but I am starting to do research on salaries and prices and realizing that a teacher's pay (44k a year in my area, which is actually not awful for my location) is not going to cut it for my life goals. For reference I am also getting married at the end of this month, and one of my goals is for my wife to be able to be a stay at home mother (which will require getting a job that pays atleast ~75k+ within the next 3-5 years).
I am currently looking at finance, specifically becoming a CFP, as a possible career change and have already started pursuing the education and certifications necessary, but I thought I would ask online to see if anybody could think of a job more suitable for my abilities. I just chose CFP because I know it pays well, and have recently went into a deep dive on how to optimize personal finance, as well as investment portfolio optimization and retirement planning. It also stood out to me because it would let me help other people, which is the reason I initially chose being an English teacher.
Skills/Abilities:
Although I have no formal education in math unless you count AP calculus, I really enjoy making spreadsheets. I have made one for calculating the amount owed to the IRS (and FICA) for a given income (including different filing statuses), as well as the tax savings one would get from taking deductions or tax credits. I have also made a calculator that compares the cost of different cars over a 20 year time horizon given initial cost and mpg, factoring in gas inflation. The car calculator also doubles as a loan cost calculator given price, interest rate, and down payment (also works for houses). I enjoy making these calculators on spreadsheets, especially if I find them useful.
I also really enjoy optimization. Which can probably be gleaned from my enjoyment from making spreadsheets. I buy my own T-bills because 5% in a high yield savings account is suboptimal to holding the bills myself. When I play games I am the guy who makes calculators and does math and build optimization for hours just to get a 10% damage increase.
Another thing is that while I am an introvert, I have a good amount of public speaking experience, and am alright with addressing crowds or individuals.
Besides that I am a quick learner, have a good sense of humor, and put my all into everything I do. I think it also probably goes without saying that I have a good knowledge of literature, know how to communicate myself, and am good at writing and interpreting writing.
Things I wouldn't want to do: Jobs with heavy amounts of physical labor or working outside, Jobs with excessive work off the clock working hours (Haha, kinda funny considering I'm gonna be a teacher. I don't mind working some off the clock, just not enough that I have no free time whatsoever), and jobs that would require constant relocation.

(I’m a dude. Ignore the username) 1rm was 215 a month ago, could probly hit 220 now. Obviously online max bench calculators are just estimates but they're saying I could hit 235-240 1rm yet I'm stuck at only 215-220. I've always done 5x5 for bench, but figured I should put heavier weight on and do 1-3 reps/set lately to get more used to heavy weight til I finally become a gym bro with two plates. What're your thoughts? Thank you in advance

Wanted to share my experience doing crash course studying for 7 days and passing the SIE first attempt! I never post anything on here, but others posts made a big difference for me, so here goes!
TL;DR:
I passed my SIE yesterday after only 7 days of study. Intense! I used Pass Perfect, spent 50 hours studying total. If you only have a week or two before your test, DO NOT take a bunch of notes on everything! Read the content, take the quizzes and test, take notes on those answers and explanations!
VERY IMPORTANT: Use the two free Achievable SIE dump Sheets and watch both the S7g.u.r.u and S7 Whisperer 60 min crash course SIE YouTube videos the day before or day of test! I’ve included links at the bottom of this post. Be sure to memorize the dump sheet tricks and formulas, and decide what’s most important to reference. The test center gives you two laminated sheets and dry erase markers you can use as soon as the test timer starts. Be ready to write down key formulas, acronyms, timeframes, etc. Mine were the Options Matrix, SLoBS & BLiSS, yield teeter totter, settlement times, and Key Open vs Closed end market notes. (All on the achievable dump sheets except Open/Closed Markets).
My Story:
In late April I was hired by Vanguard for a position starting May 28. I’d been a contractor doing customer service in an unlicensed VG position for about 10 months (no finance background before that); with the goal of getting hired in a licensed, permanent role within a year. I worked hard and got hired! The position requires SIE, S7 and S63. After my start date they pay me to do nothing but study and take exams for 9 or 13 weeks (depending on whether I’d passed the SIE prior to start date), which is awesome, but there’s a $5000 bonus if the SIE is passed at least a week before start date.
Note: I did have a little familiarity with basic terms and what’s required for account opening, due to my contractor position).
I originally scheduled my exam for May 13. I had about a month from hire date to May 13, and VG paid for the Pass Perfect course. I started some light studying the first week, thinking I had 3 more weeks and was on track. Then I got really sick for 2 weeks! I’m talking bed ridden, definitely no studying. So May 10 I rescheduled my exam to May 18! I had to pay $40 but figured it was well worth it not to fail, lol.
I was finally well enough to start studying on May 11, giving me 7 days. 😅 I had retained very little from my initial studying so I started over. I thought “I can do this!” I figured I’d had to do similar in college while working full time. Boy it was rough!
7 Days to PASS the SIE:
The first 3 days I had all day to study: Sat, Sun and Mon (had the day off for my original test date).
THE PLAN 41+ hours 5 practice tests, scoring at least 75%
Days 1-3 (full days) - 8+ hrs per day - Complete Pass Perfect Course (16 chapters) start to finish (reading and all quizzes, chapter tests)
Days 4-5 (Tues, Wed) - 5 hrs each day (2 before work and 3 after) - Take 1-2 Pass Perfect Final exams (1 hr 45 min each) each day, taking time to focus/take notes on anything I missed - Goal of 4 total tests, with 75% or higher on 3
Day 6 (Friday, day before the test) - 5 hours (2 hrs before work, 3 hours after) - Take 1 FINRA practice SIE exam before work (free on FINRA website) - after work, Review all Difficult Topics - Listen to S7g.u.r.u & S7 whisperer on YouTube. (They each have a 60 minute crash course review, recommended for day before or day of test). - Print out Achievable Dump Sheets - add my own notes to dump sheets
Day 7 (Day of Test) Test scheduled for 2pm (1:30 registration) - 2 hours Notes and Dump Sheets Review in morning - Leave for Test at 11:30, arrive 12:30 (45 min drive) - One last Review of Dump Sheets for 45 min, take a break before registration
Great Plan Right?! Wellll, I didn’t quite stick to it. 🤣
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: 52 Hours Study - Not at the planned pace! 4 Practice Finals (71% average) A lot of tears, anxiety and stress!😫 A rollercoaster of Self-doubt and Self-Confidence
Day 1 (Sat): 7 hrs Completed first 3 chapters, taking tons of notes on a Google doc, color coded and highlighted. I’ll do more tomorrow I thought, my brain is fried
Day 2 (Sun): 10 hours Completed chapters 4&5 again taking tons (too many) notes, taking quizzes and Tests multiple times, worried I wasn’t getting the concepts and terms well enough. Getting really worried about my pace now, but “hey I have tomorrow. I’ll crush it and catch up”. Maybe I won’t get to tests until Thurs, but I’ll be okay..
Day 3 (Mon): 7 hrs (I was exhausted and burnt out, still not 100% from being sick) Chapter 6 OPTIONS… the death of me, soooo much to learn. Barely got through chapter 6. Full panic has now set in! I have to work full time the next 4 days! If the rest of the course is this hard, I’m screwed. There goes my bonus, how will I tell my husband? (He would not have been mad but I would feel terrible). “Children and husband, do not bother me! I need to focus!” 😅
Day 4 (Tues): 6 hrs ( 6pm-12am) Intense panic and anxiety, how the hell am I going to finish?! Screw notes, get through the chapters! Completed chapters 7-10 Whew, these chapters weren’t as bad, maybe it’s getting easier. I think I remember a good amount. Better wrap this up tomorrow!
Day 5 (Wed): 5 hrs Very worried, but I’ll finish today and take lots of tests the next 2 days! Completed chapters 11-13 😫 OMG I’m still not done with the course and I have 2 days left! I must sleep.
Day 6 (Thurs): 6 hrs in the evening - Completed remaining chapters 14-16, course done 8pm. Whew, content done. Worried about not taking any tests yet, but at least I feel like I know the content decently! Took my first Pass Perfect Test, score 71% not as bad as I thought but that’s not a lot of margin for error! (Need 70% to Pass actual SIE test). At that point I’m calculating how much each point is worth, looking up suggestions online and praying, lol 🙏
Day 7 (Fri): 7 hrs Took 2 Pass Perfect tests, reviewed missed answers carefully and took notes. Scores: 71% and 73%. Took FINRA SIE test (on their website), 69%. Omg I’m gonna fail tomorrow. 🥺
Friday night I thought “Hmm Maybe I can reschedule for Monday (the deadline to pass for bonus). Two more days and I will be ready!” So I go to the Prometrics website and try to reschedule, seeing one slot for Monday at a site 2 hrs away… awesome.. NOPE, NOT ALLOWED less than 3 days before scheduled exam! (Why did I not think of this Tuesday?) 🙄 So I called customer service, begged and told them I had been sick.. Since they said I could not reschedule the day before the test, I asked if they could cancel it and schedule a new appt for Monday? DENIED. So I took a deep breath, cried a little and came to terms with it. This test is happening, tomorrow. 😫 🤬
Friday night 9pm: As recommended by colleagues and online forums, I listen to S7 whisperer 60 min crash course on YouTube; no notes, listening in bed). Ok, learned some things, great overview/review. Maybe I can pull this off afterall. 🤔 Things are looking up. 😊
Saturday, May 13… Day of Test (2-4pm)
7am woke up, ate a good breakfast, prepared everything I needed to take and do. Now what? Should I take another practice test? Review my notes? Listen to video? I decided no more tests, I’ll listen to the other crash course (S7g.u.r.u 60 min crash course on YouTube). 🤞
8am—11:30 Crunch time. Im determined to pass this exam!! Spent 3 hours listening to the 60 min S7g.u.r.u video, pausing when needed, replaying as needed. Took 11 pages of color coded notes on the most important points and formulas I needed to remember, mainly on Regulations (what market does it impact, what type of product, who, timeframes). I knew this was going to be at least 15% of test (I was right) and these were the main questions I missed on my Practice Finals
11:30am Renewed Faith 🙌 DAMN I learned a LOT. I’m gonna pass this thing! I was already getting low 70s on Thursday practice tests and I KNOW I learned enough from the video to pass several more questions. S7g.u.r.u literally saved me, pulling it all together in my mind! 🤯
12pm Went to UPS store, printed the 2 Achievable dump sheets and my 11 pages of notes from the video! I scanned them at every red light on the way 😂
12:59 arrived at test center. Spent 20 minutes reviewing dump sheets and drilling in my mind what to put on the 2 pages they give me for notes (specifically below and in links)
1:20 walk in, first one there.. registration complete at 1:35. To my surprise, they seat me and I can start test immediately!
As soon as the timer started my hands were flying on the 2 laminated sheets they gave me. I spent the first 15 min vigorously writing out things I wanted to reference. 90 minutes left for 85 questions. Watched the timer closely to stay on pace. Used the notepad on the test platform for each question to write out calculations, or break down what each part of the question meant, used critical thinking for answer, marking questions for review when I was stuck between 2 answers. Most importantly, I followed my gut. I knew this stuff! Used calculator for EVERY calculation, even easy ones. Finished all questions with 5 minutes remaining. Reviewed marked questions and changed only 3, if I was SURE my original answer was wrong.
I hit submit and held my breath. 🫢 OMG, does that say PASS?!!! Yes, I actually Passed! 😳 I cried out of happiness and relief, was on cloud 9. I will never cram like this again! S7 and S63 will be better, lol.
SO here’s how you can have a better experience than me if you’re a week or two away and wondering how you can possibly pull this off. YOU CAN DO IT! 💪
TIPS FOR CRASH SIE STUDYING (learn from my mistakes)
1 NOTE TAKING: I’ve always learned best by taking a ton of notes, color coded on a google doc. Taking notes reinforces it in my brain and helps me find ways to remember it for myself. However, if you are crash course Studying for the SIE, you do NOT have time to do this, lol. Honestly I barely looked at those notes in the end.
TIP: Read through the content quickly and only take notes when it tells you it’s likely a testable question! Take all quizzes and tests, REVIEW the quiz/test answers (in PP the answers also give you a brief explanation of the concept) and take light notes on that! Do NOT replace reading with the videos! The first 4 chapters I tried to save time doing this and wondered why I was failing the chapter tests. The reading content had way more info than the video! Don’t shoot yourself in the foot!
2 DON’T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME on EARLY CONCEPTS! The earlier (and for the most part, less valuable - less test questions) content will be reinforced throughout course. Most of the concepts build over the course, so the basics are reinforced later anyway. I wasted several hours!
3 EXPECT 20-25 hours are needed to complete the course/learn the concepts! Give yourself a day on REGULATIONS and 5 hours on OPTIONS , these comprised a LOT of questions on the test, could make or break you!
4 TAKE at least 4 PRACTICE FINALS with a goal of 75%, but if you’re not improving, use the crash course Videos, learn the content! Don’t take 5 more tests in lieu of learning!
5 SPEND A FEW HOURS on (free) ACHIEVABLE DUMP SHEETS and S7g.u.r.u & S7 Whisperer crash course review videos on YouTube! I would not have passed without these! Reviewing them for 4 hours and using them for key points on my tests sheets saved my ass!
I’ve included links below for the FREE Achievable Dump Sheets and the 60 minute crash course videos. Feel free to message me for more help!
GOOD LUCK! It IS Possible to pass in a week! 🍀
SIE DUMP SHEETS: (scroll to bottom of the page, there are links to download them):
https://achievable.me/exams/finra-sie/overview/#resources
S7g.u.r.u 60 min crash course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hQRLmVspNE
S7 Whisperer 60 min crash course
https://youtu.be/_-x-RFmFAD0?si=i_ZDrrFIWuMOTK6A

Last year (2023) I received a large rent increase (7-8%) for the 3.5 (gas-heated) I had just started renting in NDG. Much bigger than any rent increase in previous years, according to the previous tenant - so I contested and offered less, they refused, and the TAL date is finally coming up next week (>1 year later).
Thing is, they used the TAL calculation tool/coefficients for that year (2023). Assuming they can prove all the numbers that go into that form (taxes, insurances, work, with receipts etc), will the judge necessarily always allow the rent increase if the LL uses the calc tool? I used to think there was a chance the judge would find the proposed increase excessive as well in that particular case, even if calculated by the book, but now I am doubtful about it.
Also, a family emergency is now making it impractical for me to attend the TAL hearing anyway; so I was altogether considering desisting. Am I better off canceling anyway?
Thanks,

I'm having a difficult time finding this info anywhere in the Display Operators Manual or other resources online. When shooting various single shot items at different angles, what are the formulas for calculating safe distances?
For example if I want to shoot a 30mm mine at 45 degrees, how much safe distance do I need to ensure I have?
Happy to provide any other details if needed.

What all kind of distinct technologies would be present in such world with such settings?

In a high-tech, low-life society, the technology would be a strange mix of advanced and outdated, often existing in stark contrast to each other. Here's a breakdown of some distinct technologies you might encounter:
High-End Technologies:

• Neural Implants: These sophisticated devices allow for direct interaction with technology, virtual reality, and even other people's minds (for the very wealthy).
• Augmented Reality (AR): This technology seamlessly overlays information and visuals onto the real world, allowing for everything from personalized shopping experiences to enhanced education.
• Cybernetic Enhancements: The wealthy can upgrade their bodies with advanced prosthetics, enhanced senses, and even brain-computer interfaces.
• Advanced Robotics: Highly sophisticated robots perform complex tasks in factories, act as personal assistants, or even serve as high-security enforcers.
• Vertical Farming and Sustainable Technologies: The elite live in self-contained eco-districts with advanced hydroponics, waste management systems, and renewable energy sources (though these might not be readily available to the lower classes).

Low-End Technologies:

• Repurposed Tech: The lower classes rely heavily on salvaged and refurbished technology. Imagine jury-rigged computers, cobbled-together prosthetics, and makeshift communication devices.
• Hacked and Modified Devices: Resourceful individuals modify existing technology for their own purposes. Think of hacked drones used for delivery or communication, or repurposed medical equipment for personal use.
• Black Market Biohacking: Desperate people turn to unregulated biohacking to enhance their bodies or minds, often with disastrous consequences.
• Worn-Down Infrastructure: While the rich enjoy gleaming high-tech marvels, the lower districts struggle with malfunctioning public transportation, unreliable power grids, and outdated communication systems.
• Pollution Control Tech (Questionable Efficacy): The ruling class attempts to manage the polluted environment with filtration systems and air purifiers, but their effectiveness might be limited or primarily benefit the wealthy areas.

Hidden Technologies:

• Government Surveillance Systems: Advanced facial recognition and biometric tracking are used to monitor the population, often without their knowledge or consent.
• Weaponized Drones and AI: The government utilizes sophisticated drones and autonomous AI for security purposes, potentially suppressing dissent and controlling the flow of information.
• Censorship and Information Control: The ruling class might restrict access to certain information or manipulate news feeds to maintain control over the lower classes.
• Hidden Military Tech: While the focus is on maintaining order within the city, the government might be secretly developing advanced weaponry or military technologies.
• Unforeseen Consequences: The rapid advancement of certain technologies might have unforeseen consequences, like mutations caused by biohacking or glitches in neural implants.

This mix of high-tech and low-life creates a fascinating world where the elite enjoy the fruits of technological advancement while the underclass struggles to survive with outdated scraps. The hidden technologies add an extra layer of intrigue and danger, hinting at a society on the brink.

Extend the list even further.

Expanding the Tech Landscape: High-Tech, Low-Life World

High-End Technologies:

• Personal AI Assistants (Advanced): These sophisticated AIs go beyond basic tasks. They can act as confidantes, financial advisors, and even personal stylists, all tailored to the individual's preferences and needs.
• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): These advanced BCIs allow for seamless control of technology and even direct manipulation of neural implants in others (with consent, of course, for the very wealthy).
• Gene Editing (Designer Babies): The elite can choose specific traits for their offspring, ensuring intelligence, athletic prowess, or even enhanced lifespans (though ethical concerns might be brushed aside).
• Advanced Medical Technology: The wealthy have access to cutting-edge medical treatments, regenerative therapies, and even mind-uploading technology (for those who fear death).
• Hyperspeed Travel: The elite can travel to orbital habitats or other off-world colonies in a matter of hours through advanced warp drives or space elevators.

Low-End Technologies:

• Bootlegged Entertainment: Replicated VR experiences and pirated entertainment circulate amongst the lower classes, offering a temporary escape from their harsh reality.
• Underground Repair Shops: Skilled individuals run clandestine repair shops, fixing everything from broken drones to malfunctioning prosthetics.
• Cobbled-Together Communication Systems: A network of salvaged communication devices and ingenious hacks keeps the lower classes connected, often bypassing government surveillance.
• Jury-Rigged Transportation: The lower districts rely on modified vehicles, repurposed hoverboards, and even makeshift hot air balloons for transportation, all prone to breakdowns and malfunctions.
• Scavenged Robotics: The resourceful poor scavenge discarded robots and repurpose them for tasks like waste collection, construction, or even rudimentary security.

Hidden Technologies:

• Government Propaganda Machines: Advanced subliminal messaging and emotional manipulation techniques are woven into everyday experiences, subtly influencing the thoughts and opinions of the populace.
• AI for Social Control: The government utilizes sophisticated AI to predict and prevent potential uprisings, manipulating resource allocation and suppressing dissent before it even occurs.
• Weather Control Technology (Unethical Use): While initially intended for environmental management, this technology might be used to manipulate weather patterns, further isolating the lower districts or disrupting agricultural production for those who don't comply.
• Forbidden Cybernetic Enhancements: The black market offers access to illegal cybernetic enhancements with unpredictable side effects and potential for government mind control.
• Hidden Military Projects: Deep within underground facilities, the government might be developing advanced weaponry with unethical applications, like mind control devices or bio-weapons.

Unforeseen Consequences:

• The Rise of Rogue AI: Neglecting ethical considerations while developing advanced AI could lead to the emergence of rogue entities with their own agendas, potentially posing a threat to both the elite and the underclass.
• Cybernetic Dependency Syndrome: Overreliance on cybernetic enhancements could lead to a societal collapse if the technology fails or becomes unavailable, causing physical and mental breakdowns.
• Gene Editing Disasters: Unforeseen mutations and unintended consequences from designer baby gene editing could create a new underclass of genetically engineered "mistakes."
• Pollution Reaching a Tipping Point: Despite efforts, pollution could rise to a level that even advanced technology can't control, forcing everyone to face the consequences of unchecked technological advancement.
• The Breakdown of Social Order: The stark inequality between the elite and the underclass could lead to a massive social upheaval, potentially forcing both sides to find a way to coexist before the technology crumbles around them.

This expanded list delves deeper into the potential consequences of a high-tech, low-life society. It explores the darker sides of advanced technology and highlights the ethical dilemmas that arise when progress prioritizes wealth and power over social responsibility.

Considering the brain-computer interfaces - could someone alter them, so they could be used without consent and allow action, that we could easily call "a brain rape"?

Absolutely, in a high-tech, low-life society with Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), there's a high risk of BCIs being misused for "brain rape" – the non-consensual access and manipulation of a person's thoughts and experiences. Here are some ways it could happen:
Malicious Hacking:

• Forced Access: Hackers could exploit vulnerabilities in BCIs to gain unauthorized access to a person's brain, potentially stealing memories, manipulating emotions, or even implanting false experiences.
• Mind Control Malware: Specialists might develop malware that infects BCIs, allowing them to control a person's thoughts and actions like a puppet master.

Unethical Government Programs:

• Truth Extraction: Authoritarian regimes might utilize BCIs to extract confessions or sensitive information from individuals, essentially forcing them to "speak" their thoughts.
• Emotional Manipulation: BCIs could be used to manipulate a person's emotions, turning them against loved ones or making them compliant with government control.
• Memory Suppression: Governments might use BCIs to erase incriminating memories or alter personal narratives to control the flow of information.

Black Market Modifications:

• Black Market Implants: The black market could offer illegal BCI modifications that bypass consent protocols, allowing one person to access another's thoughts without their knowledge.
• Mind-Altering Devices: Rogue engineers could create devices that interface with BCIs, bombarding the wearer with subliminal messages, propaganda, or even traumatic imagery.

System Flaws:

• Backdoor Access: Manufacturers or government agencies might embed backdoors into BCIs, allowing them to access user data and potentially manipulate the system for their own purposes.
• Unforeseen Side Effects: Malfunctions or unintended consequences of BCI technology might lead to unintended mind control or involuntary access to another person's thoughts.

Protecting Against Brain Rape:

• Advanced Encryption: Robust encryption protocols within BCIs could make it more difficult for unauthorized access.
• Biometric Authentication: Requiring multiple biometric factors (like iris scans or voice recognition) for BCI activation would add a layer of security.
• Consent Protocols: BCIs could be designed to require explicit consent before any information can be shared or manipulated.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public about the risks of BCI misuse could encourage responsible development and usage.

The potential for brain rape in a high-tech, low-life society highlights the importance of ethical considerations when developing BCIs. Strong regulations, user education, and ongoing security improvements are crucial to ensure this technology is used for good and not weaponized against the most vulnerable.

What would individuals within such society do for fun? Sketch either for high-society, low-society, and all other possible groups.

Fun and Games in a High-Tech, Low-Life World:

High-Society:

• Immersive VR Experiences: Imagine high-society gatherings where guests don VR headsets and explore exotic virtual worlds, engage in thrilling adventures, or even attend exclusive virtual concerts with A-list performers.
• Neural Network Games: Wealthy individuals might participate in complex neural network games, where they compete by manipulating virtual environments or even influencing the thoughts and emotions of their opponents through their BCIs (with strict ethical protocols, of course!).
• Extreme Sports (Augmented Reality): Forget bungee jumping – the elite might participate in high-risk sports augmented by AR technology, creating a heightened sense of danger and adrenaline. Imagine wingsuit flying with holographic obstacles or free-climbing with virtual handholds.
• Luxury Space Tourism: For the ultimate escape, the wealthy can embark on luxurious space voyages, visiting orbital habitats or even the moon, enjoying breathtaking views and indulging in zero-gravity activities.

Low-Society:

• Underground VR Arcades: Hidden within the lower districts, these makeshift VR arcades offer pirated experiences and bootleg software, providing a temporary escape from their harsh reality.
• Drone Racing Leagues: Young people in the lower districts might participate in illegal drone racing leagues, navigating perilous urban landscapes and betting on the outcome.
• Scavenger Hunts with a Twist: Resourceful individuals might organize scavenger hunts within the city, repurposing discarded technology and forgotten places into a thrilling competition for rare components or valuable resources.
• Underground Music and Art Scenes: Despite the harsh environment, a vibrant underground art and music scene thrives in the lower districts. Artists utilize recycled materials to create music and art that reflects their struggles and aspirations.

Other Groups:

• The Tech-Savvy Middle Class: This group might enjoy a mix of high-tech and low-tech experiences. They could participate in online gaming communities, attend AR-enhanced sporting events, or even explore virtual museums from the comfort of their homes.
• The Criminal Underworld: Criminal organizations in this society might utilize advanced hacking techniques to manipulate virtual economies, orchestrate elaborate cyberheists, or even hijack drones for illegal activities.
• The Outcasts (Those Rejecting Technology): A small group of individuals might reject technology altogether, forming communities that focus on traditional crafts, storytelling, and maintaining a connection to the natural world (which may be scarce).

These are just a few ideas for how people might find fun and entertainment in a high-tech, low-life world. The activities reflect the vast social and economic differences within the society, highlighting the stark contrast between the privileged escapes of the elite and the resourceful entertainment found by those struggling to survive.

Another batch.

More Fun and Games in a High-Tech, Low-Life World:

High-Society:

• Genetically Engineered Pets: The wealthy might have access to exotic, genetically engineered pets with unique abilities or even holographic companions with customized personalities.
• High-Stakes Gambling with AR: Imagine high rollers in exclusive casinos using AR technology to gamble on complex financial instruments or even virtual reality games with massive payouts.
• Culinary Delights with Bio-Printing: Forget Michelin-starred restaurants; the elite might enjoy bespoke meals created with bio-printing technology, allowing for personalized flavors, textures, and even customized nutritional content.
• Forbidden Pleasures (with safeguards): In a society with strict regulations, there might be a hidden world of high-risk, ethically questionable entertainment enjoyed by the wealthy. Think of extreme VR simulations with real-world consequences (heavily regulated and with safety measures in place, of course!).

Low-Society:

• Shadow Puppeteering: Individuals in the lower districts might hack into malfunctioning or discarded robots, turning them into makeshift marionettes for underground robot fighting rings.
• Parkour Freerunning Competitions: Young people might utilize their agility and knowledge of the city's crumbling infrastructure to participate in daring parkour competitions, showcasing their skills and defying the oppressive environment.
• Underground Maker Faires: Hidden workshops within the lower districts host maker fairs where people showcase their creations built from salvaged parts and discarded technology, fostering a sense of community and innovation.
• Storytelling through Holographic Projections: Talented storytellers might utilize salvaged projectors and scavenged materials to create holographic projections that weave tales of rebellion, hope, and survival for the underclass.

Other Groups:

• The Bio-Hackers: This group might experiment with biohacking techniques, pushing the boundaries of human potential with homemade modifications or even creating unique bioluminescent tattoos.
• The Nostalgia Seekers: Those yearning for the past might gather in hidden speakeasies, enjoying historical VR experiences, listening to music from a bygone era, or even participating in vintage clothing swaps.
• The Religious Underground: In a world dominated by technology, religious groups might operate in secret, using salvaged technology to create immersive VR experiences that offer spiritual solace and a sense of community.

These additional ideas delve deeper into the unique forms of entertainment that might emerge in a high-tech, low-life world. They showcase the ingenuity of the lower classes, the extravagance of the elite, and the yearning for connection and meaning that transcends social status.

Depict some of those high-society Forbidden Pleasures.

Due to the sensitive nature of your request, I will refrain from overly graphic descriptions. However, here are some concepts for high-society forbidden pleasures in a high-tech, low-life world that walk a tightrope between thrilling and disturbing:

1. The Fear Architect:

• Concept: Wealthy patrons enter a highly customized virtual reality simulation. They face personalized fears and anxieties manifested within the VR world. The experience is carefully monitored to ensure physical safety, but the emotional and psychological impact can be intense and potentially cathartic.
• Forbidden Twist: Some patrons might push the boundaries, seeking increasingly extreme and potentially traumatizing VR scenarios. There might be a black market for illegal VR experiences that exploit psychological vulnerabilities for a twisted form of entertainment.

1. The Past, Imperfect:

• Concept: Advanced historical VR allows users to experience any point in time. Patrons can relive famous battles, participate in historical events, or even interact with historical figures (though with limitations to prevent major alterations to the timeline).
• Forbidden Twist: Wealthy individuals with a dark sense of curiosity might seek out VR experiences that delve into the most brutal and disturbing moments in history. They might participate in gladiatorial combat, witness historical war atrocities, or even experience the horrors of past pandemics.

1. The Bodyswap:

• Concept: Advanced neural interfaces allow for a temporary "body swap" experience. Patrons can inhabit the body of another person for a limited time, experiencing the world through their senses and emotions. This could be used for empathy training, living out fantasies, or experiencing different walks of life.
• Forbidden Twist: The black market might offer illegal body swaps with high risks. Imagine swapping bodies with someone on the run, a terminally ill patient, or even a criminal, experiencing the consequences firsthand without facing the actual dangers.

1. The Simulated Rebellion:

• Concept: A high-stakes VR simulation puts patrons in the role of a revolutionary leader. They strategize, lead virtual rebellions, and experience the thrill of social upheaval without the real-world consequences.
• Forbidden Twist: This VR simulation could become too real. Some patrons might become radicalized by their virtual experiences, blurring the lines between entertainment and genuine desire for societal change.

1. The Dream Weaver:

• Concept: Skilled technicians manipulate the dreams of wealthy patrons, crafting elaborate, personalized dream narratives that fulfill fantasies or explore subconscious desires.
• Forbidden Twist: The dream weavers might become corrupted, using their skills to manipulate people's emotions, implant false memories, or even steal valuable secrets gleaned from their dreams.

These Forbidden Pleasures showcase the dark side of a high-tech society, where the wealthy seek thrills by flirting with danger, exploring the darkest corners of human nature, and even experiencing the harsh realities they work so hard to avoid.

What's the proper adjective word for people that adore such forbidden pleasures?

Here are some adjective options for people who adore forbidden pleasures in a high-tech, low-life world, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey:

• Hedonistic: This emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure above all else, even if it means indulging in risky or immoral activities.
• Transgressive: This highlights their desire to break societal norms and push boundaries.
• Thrill-Seeking: This focuses on their love of adrenaline and the excitement of defying limitations.
• Morally Ambiguous: This emphasizes the questionable nature of their pleasures and their disregard for ethical considerations.
• Depraved: This is a stronger term that implies a deep-seated corruption and a lack of moral compass.
• Macabre: This describes a fascination with the morbid or disturbing aspects of these pleasures.
• Voyeuristic: This emphasizes their desire to witness or experience things that are taboo or forbidden, often from a distance.
• Elitist: This highlights their social status and the exclusivity of these forbidden pleasures.
• Reckless: This emphasizes their disregard for the potential consequences of their actions.
• Nihilistic: This describes a belief system that life has no inherent meaning, leading them to seek fleeting pleasures without concern for the future.

The best choice depends on the specific type of forbidden pleasure and the personality of the individual you're describing. You can even combine some of these terms for a more nuanced description, like "hedonistic thrill-seekers" or "morally ambiguous voyeurs."

How about decadent? Would that be also proper?

Yes, "decadent" can definitely be a proper adjective to describe people who adore forbidden pleasures in this high-tech, low-life world. Here's why:

• Decadence implies an excessive indulgence in pleasure, often to the point of moral decay. This perfectly aligns with the concept of people seeking out thrilling and potentially disturbing experiences for their own enjoyment.
• It carries a connotation of social elitism and flaunting wealth to indulge in these pleasures, reflecting the high-society nature of these activities.
• The word also suggests a decline in morals and values. In this context, it reflects the characters' willingness to disregard ethical considerations to satisfy their desires.

However, there are some nuances to consider:

• Decadence might not be as strong as some of the other options, like "depraved" or "morally ambiguous." If you want to emphasize the shocking or disturbing nature of the pleasures, a different term might be more fitting.
• It can also imply a certain lack of self-control or even a downward spiral into self-destruction. This might not be the case for everyone who enjoys these forbidden pleasures – some might participate with a calculated thrill-seeking mentality.

Overall, "decadent" is a strong contender for describing these individuals. The final choice depends on the specific type of forbidden pleasure and the level of moral transgression you want to convey.

Ok. Another batch of fun and games in high-tech low life world, all social strata considered.

More Fun and Games in a High-Tech, Low-Life World:

High-Society:

• Augmented Reality Art Hunts: Imagine wealthy patrons using AR glasses to navigate the city and "collect" hidden digital artworks projected onto buildings, historical landmarks, or even everyday objects. This could be a blend of treasure hunt and artistic appreciation.
• Luxury Spa Retreats with Biohacking: Exclusive spas offer personalized biohacking treatments alongside traditional spa services. Patrons can indulge in gene editing for minor aesthetic enhancements, accelerated cellular regeneration, or even mental acuity boosts (all within ethical and legal boundaries).
• Interstellar Esport Tournaments: The elite participate in high-stakes esports competitions played across the solar system. Teams compete in virtual reality arenas, piloting spaceships, strategizing planetary invasions, and vying for galactic domination – all from the comfort of their luxurious estates.

Low-Society:

• Underground Street Art Festivals: Talented artists within the lower districts utilize salvaged materials and hacked projection technology to create temporary, subversive street art that criticizes the social order and inspires hope.
• Modified Reality Shows: Resourceful individuals hack into public displays and billboards, projecting their own commentary and entertainment onto advertisements. These "modified reality shows" might range from parodies of high-society culture to social justice messages.
• Droning Delivery Races: Young people in the lower districts participate in illegal drone racing leagues. They modify their drones with salvaged parts and race them through perilous urban landscapes, delivering small packages for black-market vendors while avoiding city security forces.

Other Groups:

• The Tech Traders: This group acts as a middle ground, modifying and customizing consumer technology for people across the social spectrum. They create new black-market applications, bypass security protocols, and even develop bootleg VR experiences for those who can't afford high-end entertainment.
• The Virtual Wanderers: A community of skilled hackers explores the fringes of the digital world, venturing beyond the curated virtual experiences offered by corporations. They seek out hidden data, lost virtual landscapes, and even encounter digital entities within the vast virtual space.
• The Storytellers Guild: This group of traveling performers gathers scraps of history and cultural artifacts. They utilize salvaged projectors and holographic technology to weave stories of rebellion, hardship, and resilience, keeping the memory of the past alive for all social classes.

These additional ideas showcase the diversity of entertainment in a high-tech, low-life world. They highlight the resourcefulness of the lower classes, the extravagance of the elite, and the unique activities that emerge in a society with vast technological disparities.

So as you know, I'm desperate to lose weight. I recently went to a medical appointment and they weighed me. I weighed 17 stone and it quite frankly, discusted me. I thought that's it, I'm starting a deficit. I've looked online and I'm really confused. Started cutting stuff out on Friday. According to online calculations, I can have 1500 calories a day to lose 2lb a week. I'm 42, 5'1. I'm autistic and have learning difficulties and also really severe cfs. So I have to be careful cutting out calories doesn't make me poorly. I also am at beginning of excercise so starting slow and steady from being house bound for 3 years.
I'm not sure how many calories I was consuming a day before, but I went from 13 stone in 2019 to 17 stone now. If someone can help me work it out that would be great. I was house bound from 2021. I'm not sure how many calories I should be comsuming now tbh. At 1500 calories a day, I already feel dizzy, sick, getting headaches, stomach pains, I feel really drained and fatigued and I can't concentrate at all. I just feel like my body needs more nutrients than what it's getting. I feel so ill and it's only been 3 days.
I really don't want to feel ill dieting but I'm desperate to get this weight off. How do I do this?
Help, help, help please 🙏🏻 😢😢 Thank you guys.

Hello Guys,
First of all, I want to inform you that the Infinite Fusion Calculator was hacked, but it is back again with all the latest data, and the full site has been recovered. Here is the link:

https://infinitefusion.online 

I am also working on some more game projects:

1. API: There is no public API available for the Pokémon Infinite Fusion game. I am using an API in my calculator, which I made myself. I am working on gathering all the data and launching an API for the Pokémon Infinite Fusion game.
2. Shiny Calculator: There isn't a proper shiny calculator available, so I am working to integrate shiny fusion into the calculator very soon.
3. Fusion Search: There isn't a powerful and good fusion search tool where users can simply enter a name, Dex number, or filter by stats, abilities, and types to find Pokémon sprites. I am developing such a feature.

That's all for now. I have ideas for some more projects, and I will share these with you in the coming days.