I'm about to finish my 11th and final year as a public school elementary music teacher. I spent most of my years at a very high needs school with extreme behaviors. I'm moving on to teach private music lessons in my home.
Today I wrote the terms and conditions for my music lessons website, and it was incredibly freeing. I added a discrimination and harassment policy, and the ability to terminate lessons for cause. Cause includes student or guardian being difficult or disrespectful to the space or teacher. I know that I'm truly lucky to get to go this route, and that it is a risk. It just feels so amazing to put up my own boundaries and have the ability to enforce them.
Good luck fellow teachers looking for something different. May we all find something that let's us live more on our own terms and conditions.

I've noticed that anytime I am alone and not out, I need constant stimulation to be on task most of the time. I have YouTube, music, or a podcast on nearly all times. It's just so tiring if I don't, I don't know if it's an ADHD thing or if I need to do a reset in my life and cut out all the stimulation. I'm out most of the time so I am fine, but as an 18 year old high school senior, I will be entering college soon and as summer approaches and I enter a new era of my life, I want to be as mentally health as possible. It is difficult for me because it is a big norm at my age to spend a lot of time on your phone and TV, and I feel like I either have to never watch it or only watch it. I am not struggling much from this, I have good grades and a good life, I just don't want it to become a problem in my future because I honestly want to do more than just the things that are required in my life, I'd love to start lots of hobbies and side gigs that I always procrastinate too much to get to.
TLDR: I don't know when to draw the line where stimulation is simply too much.

So we rent out this place little house quiet neighborhood, we been here for as a long as I can remember i was going into high school when we moved in now 30.. so short story lady next door sold her house new people showed up but the complain about everything they take picture of what we do gets the property management involved they even said they regretted talking to them because it’s always something… can I do something about this we try to keep it down if we have gatherings no pass 9pm with music if my dogs bark we run out quick to shut them up even tell my kids to keep it down.. hate living like this

With the splatfest being over and everything. It reminded me of why I love the game, the franchise, the community. I grew up with this game and it's brought me so much joy that it couldn't be understated enough.
I remember "learning" about the game when I was visiting my cousin--the coolest person I know-- and seeing so many colors and shapes on the screen. It was the first ever splatfest announcement, "Cat vs. Dog". I wanted to play but it was time for me to go home. I never knew the name of the game but it always stuck with me.
A few Yeats later, I was in 5th grade and I discovered the game splatoon via YouTube. I BEGGED my mom to buy the game, since I had the WiiU. And from there it grew. My love for the franchise just continued to swell and swell
Throughout all of my cornerstones of my life. I could probably tie it to whatever weapon I was gaining during the time lol. I'm a long way from 5th grade though, I'm going to be a senior in highschool next year and I'm more worried about what I'm going to do after school.
The reason why I specifically brought up this after the splatfest ended is because of the music that plays after. The day break of the splatfest. I've NEVER heard of it until today and it brought tears to my eyes.
It reminded me of all of the memories I've had of the game so far and why I loved the franchise. The franchise is so, so, SO dear to me because of all of the memories it was able to bring me. I'm never going to find another franchise that can bring me close to the joy that Splatoon can being me.
As a wanabe composer myself, the music was THE highlight of the franchise. The culture that is built around music was just pure cocaine to me. Splatoon gives me hope for what I can do in the future. Because when I always think that my creativity won't get me nowhere. I look towards Splatoon. The game that started with Tofu, is now one of the most popular IP's Nintendo has.
I may not be a kid, but I still feel the same joy as one whenever I listen in on the splatcast, wondering what awaits me next. (As long as it's not clam Blitz that is)
TLDR: I genuinely cannot express how much I love Splatoon I to a comprehensible though.
And thanks for reading my mess of a Ted talk if you read through it🦑💖🐙

This happened 3 days ago. Prom was happening and it was a pretty fun time, our school is a little smaller so our prom had the entirety of high school attend. There were about ~150 people at the venue. My girlfriend and I are both seniors, and we get voted from prom king and queen. I'm not your typical super popular prom king. I'm kinda just a scrawny guy who is goofy and people generally like cause I'm funny. I'm also one of the only 3 people in the grade who is dating someone who is both a senior and goes to our school. Either way I'm really happy.
The way my prom venue is structure is that there is this stage, and then a raised walkway that goes from the stage to around the end of the room. Well anyways, when we walk up to the stage, I'm obviously pretty happy. I walk up, I kiss her on the cheek, and all is good. The announcers tell us to make a speech now that we got voted, and honestly I didn't really have anything planned, and neither did she. So we kinda make an awkward speech that was fine cause it was one of those "its funny cause its awkward" kinda situations, and it really wasn't that bad.
Anyways, we walk down the runway, and when we get off the runway, slow dance music starts playing. We get cheered on to slow dance. So, we get back on the runway and we begin dancing. I do not know how to dance like at all, and im kind of stiff but all in all its ok all things considered. I was expecting other people to join us on the runway and slow dance with us, but nobody did for a good minute. So it literally was just us dancing and everyone just watching us. I wasn't really that worried about it, and it didn't feel awkward because I was much more focused on being infatuated by my girlfriend haha. After a minute, people finally started getting on the stage on stopped being pussies, and everything was chill. A few more fun songs play, and its overall a pretty fun time, and now everyone is on the runway jamming.
So far, there may have been a few awkward moments but overall it was a really fun time, and the awkward moments really weren't that glaring cause people were more focused on how cute the moment was. However, when I the dancing ends and we wrapped up, I went to talk to a few of my friends, and they joked that I was "getting that gyatt" while I was up there. I'm confused, and they show me a video of us dancing, and there is this 5 second segment really embarrassing segment.
During the dance, my hand was on her back most of the time, but for some reason, I decide to move my hand down to her leg, then readjust back up to her ass. My hand stays on her ass for a second, and then for some reason my hand MAKES A SQUEEZING MOTION. After the squeezing motion, my hand then readjusts to back to her back. On the video it literally looks like I just put my hand on her ass and decided to get a nice grab for a second. Its like really bad. This was during the minute where there was no one on stage too, and everyone was just watching us. I swear I do NOT remember doing anything like that during the dance, and I had zero intention to be grabbing her sexually during the dance. Either way, there is literal video evidence and I can no longer deny the allegations.
I talked to my girlfriend, and she said she also got a few comments from a few of her friends that I grabbed her ass while we danced. She said she didn't want to specify which friends made this comment. She said it was funny, made fun of me and said it wasn't that big of a deal, but I'm still really embarrassed about it. My friends are also making fun of me, saying how it was a "great place to have your hand" and how I was "groping her gyatt, nyash".
The only saving grace I have is that during that 5 second segment, her back was facing a corner of the room without many people, so I think only about 15% of the venue would've seen me grab her ass live. Either way, the fact that my gf and I did get prom king and queen does kind of overshadow the embarrassing moment, and I'm overall pretty happy about that prom night, but its still mfing embarrassing as hell.
TL;DR: Grabbed my gf's ass during our prom dance as prom king and queen, where it was just us on stage and everyone was just watching us. My friends and her friends are now making fun of me for doing that, and I'm pretty embarrassed.

Live Music

• Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Mill Top Tavern, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Bill Sabo, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Stu Weaver, Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

STAAA: Monday Night Figure Drawing

• The St. Augustine Art Association hosts the Monday Night Figure Drawing studio session every Monday at their gallery in Historic Downtown.
• This non-instructional studio time enables aspiring and accomplished artists to capture human form through various art mediums. This foundational practice helps to build a strong sense of anatomy, proportion, structure, and human movement.
• The St. Augustine Art Association encourages artists to work in the medium of their choice -- each artist is responsible for bringing their own supplies while essential studio furnishings such as easels, tables, and chairs are provided. The Monday Night Figure Drawing sessions are open to artists 18 years and older and to young artists with written parental consent.
• Admission: STAAA members pay a $10.00 admission fee while non-members pay $15.00.
• When: Every Monday Night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Where: St. Augustine Art Association's art gallery at 22 Marine Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

Ribbon Cutting: Culvers of St. Augustine North

• Ribbon cutting event to celebrate new location opening.
• Culvers of St. Augustine North, 2620 Stratton Blvd, St. Augustine, 32084
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM#

Live Music

• Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Mill Top Tavern, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Bill Sabo, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Stu Weaver, Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

STAAA: Monday Night Figure Drawing

• The St. Augustine Art Association hosts the Monday Night Figure Drawing studio session every Monday at their gallery in Historic Downtown.
• This non-instructional studio time enables aspiring and accomplished artists to capture human form through various art mediums. This foundational practice helps to build a strong sense of anatomy, proportion, structure, and human movement.
• The St. Augustine Art Association encourages artists to work in the medium of their choice -- each artist is responsible for bringing their own supplies while essential studio furnishings such as easels, tables, and chairs are provided. The Monday Night Figure Drawing sessions are open to artists 18 years and older and to young artists with written parental consent.
• Admission: STAAA members pay a $10.00 admission fee while non-members pay $15.00.
• When: Every Monday Night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Where: St. Augustine Art Association's art gallery at 22 Marine Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

Ribbon Cutting: Culvers of St. Augustine North

• Ribbon cutting event to celebrate new location opening.
• Culvers of St. Augustine North, 2620 Stratton Blvd, St. Augustine, 32084
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

Live Music

• Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Mill Top Tavern, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Bill Sabo, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Stu Weaver, Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

STAAA: Monday Night Figure Drawing

• The St. Augustine Art Association hosts the Monday Night Figure Drawing studio session every Monday at their gallery in Historic Downtown.
• This non-instructional studio time enables aspiring and accomplished artists to capture human form through various art mediums. This foundational practice helps to build a strong sense of anatomy, proportion, structure, and human movement.
• The St. Augustine Art Association encourages artists to work in the medium of their choice -- each artist is responsible for bringing their own supplies while essential studio furnishings such as easels, tables, and chairs are provided. The Monday Night Figure Drawing sessions are open to artists 18 years and older and to young artists with written parental consent.
• Admission: STAAA members pay a $10.00 admission fee while non-members pay $15.00.
• When: Every Monday Night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Where: St. Augustine Art Association's art gallery at 22 Marine Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

Ribbon Cutting: Culvers of St. Augustine North

• Ribbon cutting event to celebrate new location opening.
• Culvers of St. Augustine North, 2620 Stratton Blvd, St. Augustine, 32084
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM#

Live Music

• Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Mill Top Tavern, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Bill Sabo, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Stu Weaver, Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

STAAA: Monday Night Figure Drawing

• The St. Augustine Art Association hosts the Monday Night Figure Drawing studio session every Monday at their gallery in Historic Downtown.
• This non-instructional studio time enables aspiring and accomplished artists to capture human form through various art mediums. This foundational practice helps to build a strong sense of anatomy, proportion, structure, and human movement.
• The St. Augustine Art Association encourages artists to work in the medium of their choice -- each artist is responsible for bringing their own supplies while essential studio furnishings such as easels, tables, and chairs are provided. The Monday Night Figure Drawing sessions are open to artists 18 years and older and to young artists with written parental consent.
• Admission: STAAA members pay a $10.00 admission fee while non-members pay $15.00.
• When: Every Monday Night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Where: St. Augustine Art Association's art gallery at 22 Marine Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

Ribbon Cutting: Culvers of St. Augustine North

• Ribbon cutting event to celebrate new location opening.
• Culvers of St. Augustine North, 2620 Stratton Blvd, St. Augustine, 32084
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

Just finished my 1L year and recently came to the realization that I could have some C&F issues. Very stressed and hoping to resolve them now before I get deeper through school.

1. Sex work Since 2020, I have received a substantial part of my very little income (I am and have been a student) from sex work sites. Nothing crazy and not OF, but around $7-10k each year. I did not list this on my law school application, as it has been a secret from almost everyone in my life. I recently realized that this is on my tax returns, under a general company name, but easily discoverable through a quick google search. I haven’t found much about this online, but since it’s on my tax returns i’m assuming I’ll need to disclose this? I was thinking about listing it as self-employment because it was a 1099 job, and putting that it’s “entertainment.”

Also, just to preface, there is no information connecting my real name or face to this online. I no longer do this work and I have hired copyright people to scrub anything out there (but was not connected to my name ever)

1. Taxes A consequence of this 1099 work is that taxes were not taken out. I owed $600 to the state and $1500 to the federal government. I currently owe $300 to the state on a payment plan and got an extension for the federal government until October. Will this be an issue with character and fitness? I am adamant about paying this off and and hoping as long as I abide by the extension and payment plan, nothing will come up on C&F.
   
2. Credit score Since being in law school and making barely enough money to get by, my credit card debit has been steady at $3000. My credit score has constantly gone down and is now around 680. Will this cause any issues? I am doing everything I can to pay this off, including working 3 jobs this summer, but just feel like I am drowning.
   

Overall, I am not even sure who to talk to about these issues. I am afraid to go to my school because I am embarrassed about the sex work and do not want people to be aware of this. I am considering hiring a C&F attorney, but obviously I have financial concerns about that as well.

Mia Estelle is a fresh and exciting artist to look out for. Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Production caught her attention in early high school, and while her friends went out to the lakes of Wisconsin, she stayed in, trying every plug-in on Logic Pro.
Her music stems from a patchwork of emotions like love, nature, and navigating early adulthood. Based in Stockton, CA, the heart of Mia’s work is the freedom and late nights spent in overpacked houses, the grass, and the earth.
Coming out with her new song "Want From You" THIS FRIDAY. Drawing inspiration from the “Indie Sleaze” era and influenced by the styles of Sky Ferreira and Indigo De Souza. “Want From You” exudes a captivating blend of indie electro production over the lyrics of an emotional breakup. Produced in her dorm room, there is a DIY ethos meticulously honed over five months in Logic Pro. Originally conceived on piano, it blossomed into a vibrant composition through the integration of MIDI synthesizers and electro-R&B drums.
For now, before her song comes out, here is a link to pre-save her song in the meantime.
https://orcd.co/want-from-you
Saving this would mean a lot not only for her but for the rest of the team behind her.
​

Demographic: Asian Female, Tennessee
Intended Major: Either Political Science or International Relations, idk yet, I’m a rising senior
Might minor in music or art, I’m pretty indecisive ngl
Academics: GPA- 3.8 UW, 4.1 W APs- 5 (my school has 2 semesters that are 4 periods each) DE- 1
taking 2 more APs and 3 more Dual Enrollment classes senior year
ACT Score- 34
Class rank- around 40 out of 400
Extracurriculars:
Band- played alto sax for marching season, oboe for concert season, piano for jazz band. Was former Media Officer, currently historian and Drum Major. All 4 years of HS
Founded my own club, “Cultural Appreciation Club” , current president, been president ever since I started it in my sophomore year, organized annual event at school which was kind of like a “Culture Fair”
National Beta Club- Joined sophomore year, Vice-President in junior year, competing at nationals in summer
Speech and Debate- probably my weakest. Teacher retired and the only teacher that could teach it did so during Band Period, so I dropped it after sophomore year. Though, I did compete at nationals.
Started nonprofit for healthcare in the Philippines, my home country, but it’s still growing
Awards:
I’m kind of weak with this part
-2nd in the state for Costume Design
-won multiple competitions for local speeches but i assume they dont count in college apps lol
-Ap Scholar (might go up to honors, took 3 APs this year and I havent failed any from previous years. We’ll find out in July)
(Hopefully with Beta nats in the summer this will improve)
This summer im trying to get an internship and im starting a part-time job in retail next week 😭
Anyways, I’m applying ED to Vanderbilt. That’s my dream school and I really, really want to get in. I’ll apply to the ivies, and some other T20s (I’m aware it’s an unlikely reach lol) and I’m applying to other schools around Tennessee (UTK, MTSU) and also some in Florida (UOF, FSU) where I have family. Chance meeeee

Welcome to the latest Monday Megathread, where you the community get to ask your questions and share your knowledge.
Need help against a certain champion? Unsure how and where to ward? Looking to improve your csing? This is the place to ask. This weekly thread is a place for new players to ask questions and get help/advice from more experienced players. So, don't hold back, get your game related questions ready and post away, and hopefully someone can answer them!
Previous threads
If you wish to just view top level comments (ie questions) add ?depth=1 to the end of the page url.
Looking to chat with people live? Come check out our discord channel here! We also have the channel #new-player-help if you want to ask questions there.
If you are willing to learn, /SummonerSchool and its respective discord are always willing to teach.
Basic Mechanics explanation in our Wiki
New Player Guide by The-All-Tomato
Riot's New Player Guide
LolEsports New Viewer Guide
Other:

• Check out our related subreddits section for champion mains, teams, and other subreddits.
  
• Visit /lolstreams for all your streaming needs.
  
• Visit /lolesports for everything esports.
  
• Visit /leagueoflegendsmeta to discuss the meta game.
  
• Visit /leagueofmemes because dank memes cannot melt scuttle crab dreams.
  

Please sort this post by new, so that you can see the newer, unanswered questions.

I need to preface this by saying that I am not interested in having a back-and-forth in the comment section. If you are interested in speaking with me, kindly message me in DMs.
I'm told women want a man who knows what he wants, so here's the whole nine yards. If there is anything here that you are not willing to accept, then don't. You will not change me now or years down the line. Obviously I intend to grow and mature (as one ought to), but I have decided who I am and what I want out of a relationship.
I am looking for a woman that I can make a permanent covenant bond with; I have no interest in flings or "long-term relationships."
I don't intend to come across as bitter or angry with any of this, just clear and up-front. It makes things easier for both of us.
Age gap is not mandatory. Don't be put off contacting me if you are closer to my age.
A bit about me:
My faith in Christ is paramount in my life. I would not be where I am without him. In taking interests in various things, I've learned a lot about God's character and design. Each new thing I learn fills me with more worship of him and wonder at his works. It is very important to me that you share this admiration of God.
I have a full-time job that I am very satisfied with, but what I feel truly passionate about is art and storytelling. To be honest, I've hit a bit of a block lately as far as my output. But I've been trying to find my feet so I can make something valuable to share with the world. I think that art and stories are a fundamental part of being human, not just a luxury. So pretty much any kind of art will spark passion in me, be it music, cinema, video games, literature, video essay, sculpture, etc. I could go back and forth for hours on a lot of things. My hope is that you and I will be able to enjoy art together and create some of our own.
I frequently spend time with another gentleman from my Church and we enjoy conversations about personal projects and contemporary issues, along with walks along beaches and park trails. He is a very important friend in my life, and I am lucky to know such a kind soul. Things aren't well with my family, so I really need that kind of presence.
While I rely on my bicycle for transport (no car), it's not a problem for me. I've been riding bikes since I was in elementary school (maybe even before). It would be really nice to ride down some trails with you.
What I expect from you:
-You need to be a follower of Jesus Christ. God needs to be an active part of your life because I intend to raise our children under Biblical values.
-You need hobbies and interests apart from me. I'm fine with helping you find things you like.
-You need to be a virgin.
-You must be humble and respectful. "Boss babe" attitudes are not attractive to me.
-You cannot have any tattoos or piercings, or have undergone any kind of surgery that affects your reproductive organs (reassignment, colpocleisis, FGM, tubal ligation, etc). I am not a doctor, so I don't know every situation that could require surgery. If you've had to undergo surgery or medication because of circumstances beyond your control, please let me know; I'm willing to hear your side of things.
-No cosmetic products. It's not good for your body and I am attracted women, not makeup. This includes fake nails and fake eyelashes. I don't need you to look "pretty." You character is more important to me.
-Related to the previous, no use of image filters in photos. I do not like the type of people who are vain and vapid enough to feel the need to use filters on their photos.
-Again related to the previous, you need to have a limited social media presence. If you have a business or post something of value (like art, for example), then I have no problem. What I'm talking about is having an Instagram or Facebook account where you make random posts to nobody in particular to "update" the internet on your life or post tons of pictures of yourself online. Basing your self-worth on the comments and likes from strangers on the internet is unhealthy, and I find people's obsessive need to take pictures of themselves very unattractive and vain.
-If we marry, I expect you treat me as the head of the house. There can't be two leaders in a household because one will have to defer to the other.
-I expect you to view marriage as something that you put work into. Marriages are a team effort, so I expect you to be a help meet.
-You need to treat me like a partner, not an adversary. Getting into arguments and nagging me helps neither of us. You must have conflict-resolution skills and a solution mindset.
-You need excellent communication skills. This means understanding yourself, putting your thoughts into words other people can understand, and verbalizing things rather than expecting me to read your thoughts.
-You cannot play games with me. Telling me about other guys to make me jealous or planning dates for specific days to pressure me into committing to you are wicked and manipulative.
-While we are dating, you cannot have a "backup plan." I expect you to not be splitting your attention between me and other men. This includes spending time outside of work with other men (family excluded).
-You must be in shape. Don't be dishonest with yourself about your weight; check your BMI. This includes being underweight, anorexic, and bulimic.
-You cannot have taken any COVID-19 vaccinations from any provider.
-No smoking, drugs, or drunkenness.
-I expect you to completely renounce fast food if we date or marry. We will never feed our children McDonald's.
What you can expect from me:
-While we are dating, I will not be speaking to other women.
-I cannot meet your height, money, or attractiveness expectations. I am simply an average dude. I am critical, abstract, and imaginative in my thinking though.
-I will not ask you to do something that is unreasonable or demeaning. I will only ask of you what I expect from myself. No relationship is going to be 50/50 100% of the time, but I will put forth the effort I am able to. I expect the same out of you.
-I will not raise my hand against you. My hands will be a safe place for you.
-I will be available to listen to your troubles and help you bear through them.
-I will not demean you or humiliate you, whether or not you are in the room.
-I will show leadership in our house and exercise restraint with a mild temper.
-I will cherish you and treat you as my own body.
-I will devote myself to displaying my love for you in a language you understand, even if I am feeling distant from you because of troubles we face. I expect the same from you.
-I will not turn to another woman and betray you.
-I intend to keep every promise that I make with you.
-I will treat our children with patience and kindness, but diligently discipline them and instruct them appropriately.
Please tell me a bit about yourself and what you expect out of a relationship, but be practical and clear. A list of platitudes like "loyal, honest, etc" does not help me understand what you're looking for. Think about what your expectations look like in a tangible, everyday way.

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

• Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:
  Around $1500 (give or take $200), USA
  
• Are you open to refurbs/used?
  Open to refurbs, not used
  
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?
  Ultrabook preferred. Mostly looking for performance in rendering and CAD.
  
• How important is weight and thinness to you?
  Unimportant
  
• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.
  At least 15.6in
  
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.
  CAD, Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, StudioOne
  
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?
  Mid/High settings, 60FPS
  
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?
  32gb RAM, preferably intel i9 but i7 would probably work, RTX
  
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.
  This laptop will mostly be used for schoolwork in architecture. I need a powerful chip and graphics card to make high res renders. My school recommends the ThinkPad P16v gen 2, but this could be because they have a partnership with Lenovo, and I feel like I can get a similar laptop for cheaper. I would also like to record music.
  

I'm told women want a man who knows what he wants, so here's the whole nine yards. If there is anything here that you are not willing to accept, then don't. You will not change me now or years down the line. Obviously I intend to grow and mature (as one ought to), but I have decided who I am and what I want out of a relationship.
I am looking for a woman that I can make a permanent covenant bond with; I have no interest in flings or "long-term relationships."
I don't intend to come across as bitter or angry with any of this, just clear and up-front. It makes things easier for both of us.
A bit about me:
My faith in Christ is paramount in my life. I would not be where I am without him. In taking interests in various things, I've learned a lot about God's character and design. Each new thing I learn fills me with more worship of him and wonder at his works. It is very important to me that you share this admiration of God.
I have a full-time job that I am very satisfied with, but what I feel truly passionate about is art and storytelling. To be honest, I've hit a bit of a block lately as far as my output. But I've been trying to find my feet so I can make something valuable to share with the world. I think that art and stories are a fundamental part of being human, not just a luxury. So pretty much any kind of art will spark passion in me, be it music, cinema, video games, literature, video essay, sculpture, etc. I could go back and forth for hours on a lot of things. My hope is that you and I will be able to enjoy art together and create some of our own.
I frequently spend time with another gentleman from my Church and we enjoy conversations about personal projects and contemporary issues, along with walks along beaches and park trails. He is a very important friend in my life, and I am lucky to know such a kind soul. Things aren't well with my family, so I really need that kind of presence.
While I rely on my bicycle for transport (no car), it's not a problem for me. I've been riding bikes since I was in elementary school (maybe even before). It would be really nice to ride down some trails with you.
What I expect from you:
-You need to be a follower of Jesus Christ. God needs to be an active part of your life because I intend to raise our children under Biblical values.
-You need hobbies and interests apart from me. I'm fine with helping you find things you like.
-You need to have no mileage.
-You must be humble and respectful. "Boss babe" attitudes are not attractive to me.
-You cannot have any tattoos or piercings.
-No cosmetic products. It's not good for your body and I am attracted women, not makeup. This includes fake nails and fake eyelashes. I don't need you to look "pretty." You character is more important to me.
-Related to the previous, no use of image filters in photos. I do not like the type of people who are vain and vapid enough to feel the need to use filters on their photos.
-Again related to the previous, you need to have a limited social media presence. If you have a business or post something of value (like art, for example), then I have no problem. What I'm talking about is having an Instagram or Facebook account where you make random posts to nobody in particular to "update" the internet on your life or post tons of pictures of yourself online. Basing your self-worth on the comments and likes from strangers on the internet is unhealthy, and I find people's obsessive need to take pictures of themselves very unattractive and vain.
-If we marry, I expect you treat me as the head of the house. There can't be two leaders in a household because one will have to submit to the other.
-I expect you to view marriage as something that you put work into. Marriages are a team effort, so I expect you to be a help meet.
-You need to treat me like a partner, not an adversary. Getting into arguments and nagging me helps neither of us. You must have conflict-resolution skills and a solution mindset.
-You need excellent communication skills. This means understanding yourself, putting your thoughts into words other people can understand, and verbalizing things rather than expecting me to read your thoughts.
-You cannot play games with me. Telling me about other guys to make me jealous or planning dates for specific days to pressure me into committing to you are wicked and manipulative.
-While we are dating, you cannot have a "backup plan." I expect you to not be splitting your attention between me and other men. This includes spending time outside of work with other men (family excluded).
-You must be in shape. Don't be dishonest with yourself about your weight; check your BMI. This includes being underweight, anorexic, and bulimic.
-You cannot have taken any COVID-19 vaccinations from any provider.
-No smoking, drugs, or drunkenness.
-I expect you to completely renounce fast food if we date or marry. We will never feed our children McDonald's.
What you can expect from me:
-While we are dating, I will not be speaking to other women.
-I cannot meet your height, money, or attractiveness expectations. I am simply an average dude. I am critical, abstract, and imaginative in my thinking though.
-I will not ask you to do something that is unreasonable or demeaning. I will only ask of you what I expect from myself. No relationship is going to be 50/50 100% of the time, but I will put forth the effort I am able to. I expect the same out of you.
-I will not raise my hand against you. My hands will be a safe place for you.
-I will be available to listen to your troubles and help you bear through them.
-I will not demean you or humiliate you, whether or not you are in the room.
-I will show leadership in our house and exercise restraint with a mild temper.
-I will cherish you and treat you as my own body.
-I will devote myself to displaying my love for you in a language you understand, even if I am feeling distant from you because of troubles we face. I expect the same from you.
-I will not turn to another woman and betray you.
-I intend to keep every promise that I make with you.
-I will treat our children with patience and kindness, but diligently discipline them and instruct them appropriately.
Please tell me a bit about yourself and what you expect out of a relationship, but be practical and clear. A list of platitudes like "loyal, honest, etc" does not help me understand what you're looking for. Think about what your expectations look like in a tangible, everyday way.

I’m sorry if this is long but I’m really confused as to why I got ghosted and wanted to add as much detail to hopefully give the full picture.
I (19f) just recently went through a break up. My boyfriend of what I consider 10 months (he says 4 bc we never had the official talk but that’s another story) called me a week after the summer started and dumped me. After a couple weeks of crying and listening to the same five songs on repeat I went out with some friends. They convinced me to find a rebound but I told them I wasn’t down to sleep around this summer but I don’t want anything official. They said to try and find someone who wants something similar. I wasn’t sure if I could actually find someone who is down to be monogamous with sex yet free to talk to whoever else. I feel like most men want to be able to sleep with someone if they are putting in the effort to flirt with them. Anyways so I put up a tinder profile and started getting matches and voila I was back in the dating pool. I matched with a guy we’ll call Z (23M). We texted on tinder I got his number we sent pictures of our IDs and everything was great. There was a lot of flirting on his end especially with the nicknames. When we facetime called we got along great but the conversation didn’t flow exactly. At times it felt kinda forced but I chalked it up to nervs. During the call I asked him what he was looking for and I was surprised to hear him describe almost exactly what I was looking for. The next day we set up a date and met at a museum. Again we got along great and everything seemed to be going well. He was 10x more attractive in person. I was so nervous but played it cool, I hope. However at time the convo dragged and it was hard to find things to talked about. It felt like in person we didn’t click like we did over the phone. I was kind of getting worried thinking that maybe he didn’t find me as attractive in person but he would say little things during the date that definitely made it seem like he was into me. He saw another girl glaring and staring at me and he said it looked like she was jealous. Later we walked past the same girl and she intentionally got in my face as we walked past. I was like “bro wtf did you see that” and he responded with something along the lines of “dude I know but she can be jealous I’m yours” I was liked damn okay type shit I really got it like that. Then we went back to his car and I’m not exactly proud of this but he was parked in a pretty secluded area. And of course it was a tinder date so I’m sure you can all imagine what happened next. After we left we hit of a DQ and ate the ice cream in the car and drove home vibing to music and holding hands. I’ll admit for someone who talks a lot we really didn’t converse that much. However I really liked him and felt like there was so much to get to know about him. I know I don’t want anything serious right now but Z seemed like the perfect guy to have a fling with. He dropped me off home and texted me that night with
Made it home a lil bit ago. Thank you for tonight. It was cool getting out fr and meeting you in person. I fw your energy fr😌 I’m about to head to bed though so goodnight. Sleep well🌌🙂
I said goodnight and the following morning he texted me good morning and we talked for a bit throughout the day. Everything up to this point seemed like it was going great. He had even made comments about packing a bag and staying a weekend with me while I was at school (he made this comment during our ft and our date multiple times). Then 6pm rolls around and he stopped responding. I text him at 9pm and ask about his day and nothing. Then I texted him again today at 12pm and nothing.
Honestly I’m really confused. I really thought we were hitting it off but apparently not? I just don’t know what happened and I really don’t want it to happen again. I took this as a sign to take more time to myself before getting back out there. If anyone has any ideas as to what this could be about I’m ready to hear anything.

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Bio
Name: Taylor Bennett Armstrong	Date of Birth: 04/03/2024
Age: 15 years old	Gender: Demiboy (he/his, they/them)
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual	Nationality: Canadian
Ethnicity: Irish-Jewish	Languages: English, French, Japanese
Hometown: Toronto, Canada	Demigod Conundrums: ADHD

Family:

Name Relation Age Occupation Relationship ------------
Benjamin Armstrong Father 42 years old Artist Taylor shares a special bond with his father, Benjamin Armstrong. Despite being a single parent for much of Taylor's life, Benjamin always made sure to provide a loving and nurturing environment for his son. He recognized Taylor's unique talents from a young age and encouraged him to explore his creativity without limitations. Benjamin's own passion for art and innovation served as an inspiration for Taylor, shaping his worldview and igniting his love for invention. Benjamin supports Taylor's dreams and ambitions wholeheartedly, even if he doesn't always understand the mechanics behind his son's creations.
Eliza Armstrong Stepmother 43 years old Graphic Designer She brings a different perspective to Taylor's life. As a graphic designer, she values precision and order, which sometimes clashes with Taylor's more spontaneous and chaotic approach to creativity. However, despite their differences, Eliza cares deeply for Taylor and wants what's best for him. She worries about Taylor's safety and well-being, especially when his inventions go awry and cause unintended chaos. She often finds herself playing the role of the voice of reason, urging Taylor to think things through more carefully before diving headfirst into his next project. Despite their occasional disagreements, Eliza recognizes Taylor's potential and admires his boundless imagination and ingenuity.
Rachel Armstrong Half-sister 10 years old Student Rachel Armstrong, Taylor's half-sister, adores her older brother and looks up to him with wide-eyed admiration. From a young age, she was fascinated by Taylor's inventions and artistic talents, often trailing after him like a curious puppy, eager to learn and explore alongside him. Taylor sees Rachel as the most precious angel in the world and is very protective of her. He takes great joy in teaching her how to sketch, build, and code, fostering her own love for art and invention. Rachel, in turn, idolizes her big brother and cherishes their time together.

Appearance

Faceclaim: this Picrew Voiceclaim Walter from Spies in Disguise

Features	Description
Height	5’8 feet
Weight	157 lbs
Hair	Ginger
Eyes	Blue
Skin	Tan
Build	Lean, slim
Scent	Ink, paint, oil
Attire	Gamer Aesthetic

Overview: Ginger Hair: One of Taylor's most noticeable features is his vibrant ginger hair, which seems to have a life of its own. His locks cascade in untamed waves around his head, framing his face in a fiery halo. Despite occasional attempts to tame it, Taylor's hair always manages to retain its wild, rebellious spirit, reflecting his own untamed nature. Taylor's eyes are a mesmerizing shade of blue. They sparkle with curiosity and intelligence, constantly darting from one point of interest to the next. Across Taylor's nose and cheeks are scattered a constellation of freckles, like tiny stars dotting the canvas of his face. Despite his intelligence beyond his years, Taylor's face retains a youthful charm and innocence. His features are soft and rounded, with a hint of boyish mischief lurking behind his bright smile. There is a sense of wonder and curiosity in his expression, as if he is forever on the brink of discovering something new and exciting. Taylor's fashion sense is a reflection of his personality, blending comfort with a hint of geeky flair. He favors graphic t-shirts adorned with characters from his favorite video games, showcasing his love for gaming and pop culture. His hoodies are oversized and well-worn, providing both warmth and a sense of familiarity. Taylor's cargo pants are practical and utilitarian, offering plenty of pockets to store his tools and gadgets for tinkering. His sneakers are his constant companions, scuffed and worn from countless adventures and late-night gaming marathons.

Personality

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” Dorothy Parker
Quality Traits Positive Optimistic, Creative, Kind-hearted, Spontaneous, Resilient Neutral Naive, Chaotic, Impulsive, Eccentric, Idealistic Negative Gullible, Overbearing, Impatient, Inattentive, Stubborn
Overview: Taylor radiates an infectious positivity that lights up any room he enters. He greets each day with boundless enthusiasm, seeing every challenge as an opportunity for adventure and growth. His optimism is unwavering, even in the face of adversity, and he has a knack for finding the silver lining in the darkest of situations. Taylor's sunny disposition makes him a joy to be around, and his genuine smile can brighten even the gloomiest of days. Taylor marches to the beat of his own drum, embracing his individuality with gusto. He has never been one to conform to societal norms or expectations, preferring to chart his own course through life. Taylor's free-spirited nature is reflected in everything he does, from his spontaneous inventions to his unconventional approach to problem-solving. He thrives on the freedom to express himself creatively, unbound by rules or conventions. Taylor's energy is boundless, and he approaches everything he does with an infectious sense of excitement and wonder. He is easily captivated by new ideas and experiences, often bouncing from one project to the next with the fervor of a child in a candy store. Taylor's excitable nature fuels his insatiable curiosity, driving him to constantly seek out new challenges and adventures. Despite his youthful exuberance, Taylor possesses a keen intellect far beyond his years. He is a natural problem-solver, able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to even the most daunting of challenges. Taylor's mind is a whirlwind of ideas and possibilities, constantly buzzing with new inventions and artistic endeavors. His creativity knows no bounds, and he revels in the thrill of bringing his imagination to life. Taylor's intelligence and creativity have instilled in him a healthy dose of confidence, bordering on cockiness at times. He knows his worth and isn't afraid to show it, often speaking his mind with a brashness that can catch others off guard. However, Taylor's confidence is tempered by his humility and genuine humility. He is quick to acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them, never allowing his ego to overshadow his humanity. At the core of Taylor's personality is a deep well of kindness and empathy for others. He genuinely cares about the people around him and goes out of his way to help those in need. Taylor's compassion knows no bounds, and he often puts the needs of others before his own. He is quick to offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, and his unwavering support has endeared him to many. Beneath Taylor's cheerful exterior lies a vulnerability that he often tries to conceal. He is sensitive to the opinions of others and fears being rejected or misunderstood. Taylor's insecurities stem from a desire to be accepted and valued for who he truly is, flaws and all. Despite his outward confidence, he struggles with feelings of loneliness and self-doubt, yearning for genuine connections and validation. Taylor's drive for excellence can sometimes border on perfectionism, leading him to be overly critical of himself and his work. He sets high standards for himself and is often disappointed when he falls short of his own expectations. However, Taylor's perfectionism is tempered by his resilience and determination to persevere in the face of failure. He sees each setback as an opportunity to learn and grow, refusing to let obstacles dampen his spirit. Taylor has a gift for communication, able to express his thoughts and feelings with clarity and sincerity. He is a natural storyteller, captivating audiences with his animated anecdotes and infectious enthusiasm. Taylor's ability to connect with others on a deep emotional level makes him a trusted confidant and valued friend. He listens intently to others, offering words of encouragement and wisdom when needed. Taylor approaches life with a sense of adventure, always eager to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of what is possible. He thrives on the thrill of discovery, relishing in the excitement of unknown possibilities. Taylor's insatiable curiosity drives him to seek out new experiences and embrace the unknown with open arms. Whether embarking on a daring quest or simply trying out a new recipe, he approaches each adventure with the same sense of wonder and excitement. Taylor has a playful sense of humor that often borders on mischievousness. He loves to joke and laugh, finding joy in the absurdities of life. Taylor's playful nature brings levity to even the most serious of situations, helping to ease tension and lift spirits. He delights in pulling harmless pranks and sharing witty banter with friends, always with a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face. Taylor is incredibly adaptable, able to thrive in any environment or situation. He approaches change with a sense of curiosity and excitement, eager to embrace new challenges and opportunities. Taylor's ability to adapt to different circumstances has served him well throughout his life, allowing him to navigate the complexities of both the mortal world and the realm of the gods with ease.
Preferences
Favourite... Item Food Macaroni and cheese, mango milkshake Colour Electric Blue Season Summer Weather Sunny, warm, clear skies Music Pop, rock, orchestral, jazz, celtic Animals Bunnies and Cats Book/Movie Genre Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance, Slice-of-life, Adventure, Action Media Avatar: The Last Airbender, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Zelda, Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, Pokémon, a scary amount of anime, etc…
Hobbies:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Crafting
• Sewing
• Video Games
• Cosplay

Demigod Info

Powers

Name	Type	Description
Psychometry	Domain	The ability to glean information from a particular object relevant to the parent's domain, especially its material make-up and method of creation. (Crafts, Mechanics and Art)
Enhanced Skill Proficiency	Domain	A trait where one is naturally adept in the skills lorded over by their parent. (Crafts, Mechanics and Art)
Summon Tool	Domain	The ability to summon any small tool. (Once every 5 minutes or per turn.) (Duct Tape or Superglue)
Machine Communication	Minor	A trait where one is able to understand and communicate with automatons and machinery (includes code).
Electrical Resistance	Minor	A trait where one is able to resist electricity to a such degree that they are able to withstand badly interacting with small appliances.
Machine Manipulation (Technokinesis)	Minor	The ability to directly control mechanisms, machines and automatons.
Basic Enchantment	Major	The ability to imbue weapons, crafts, machinery and automatons with magical properties (modmail for specific enchantments). Options: Weapon Transformation—into a mundane item; Monster Hunting Proficiency for a) Fleshy Monsters—Sharpness, b) Armored Monsters—Bludgeoning, c) Ghosty Monsters—Absorption

Weapon of Choice: Bastard Sword
Fatal Flaw: Naivety Taylor's fatal flaw lies in his inherent naivety, stemming from his trusting and optimistic nature. Despite his intelligence and creativity, Taylor often lacks the worldly wisdom and discernment needed to navigate the complexities of the world around him. His naivety makes him vulnerable to manipulation and deception, as he struggles to see the darker intentions lurking behind the smiles of others.

Items and Equipment

Name	Age	Description
Sketchbook	7 years old	Taylor always carries a sketchbook with him, filled with doodles, sketches, and designs inspired by his vivid imagination.
Art Supplies	3 years old	As someone who enjoys art, Taylor keeps a collection of art supplies like pencils, markers, and colored pencils, allowing him to bring his creative visions to life wherever he goes.
Tool Kit	5 years old	As a budding inventor and tinkerer, Taylor carries a compact tool kit with him at all times. It contains essential tools like screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, and a mini soldering iron, allowing him to repair gadgets, fix mechanical issues, and work on DIY projects on the fly.
Nintendo Switch	2 years old	Taylor never leaves home without Nintendo Switch. He keeps a selection of his favorite games in his backpack, ready to play whenever he has a spare moment to indulge in his love of gaming.
Music Player	3 years old	Music is a constant source of inspiration and motivation for Taylor, so he always carries a portable music player loaded with his favorite tunes.
Cat Headphones	1 year old	High-quality headphones that allow him to escape into his own world of music whenever he needs a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They are cat-themed for no reason other than Taylor felt like it.

Trivia

• Zodiac Sign: Pisces
• MBTI: ESTP-T (The Entrepreneur)
• Enneagram: Type 7 (The Enthusiast)
• Love Languages: Words of Affirmation (receive); Acts of service (give)
• Quirk: Doodling on almost every surface he sees when bored.
• Fears: Hurting People, Big Animals

Backstory

“There is no innovation and creativity without failure.” ***Brené Brown*
Taylor Bennett Armstrong was born into a creatively vibrant family. His father, Benjamin Armstrong, was a dedicated artist who often spent hours in his studio, painting and sculpting. Benjamin's work was deeply inspired by classical art, and his studio was filled with references to mythological themes and ancient techniques. This environment planted the seeds of creativity in Taylor from a very young age.
Taylor’s biological mother was Techne, the goddess of art, craft, and invention, but he had no knowledge of her divine heritage. His mother left shortly after his birth, leaving Benjamin to raise Taylor on his own. Despite the absence of his mother, Taylor's early childhood was filled with love and encouragement from his father.
When Taylor was five, Benjamin met Eliza, a talented graphic designer, at an art exhibit. They quickly bonded over their shared love for art and soon married. Eliza embraced Taylor as her own, though she struggled to understand his unique, often chaotic way of thinking and creating.
Even as a young child, Taylor showed remarkable intelligence and creativity. By the age of six, he was building simple machines and drawing intricate designs. His father was both amazed and slightly concerned when Taylor began to take apart household appliances to understand how they worked. While Benjamin encouraged his son's curiosity, Eliza worried about the constant mess and occasional accidents that resulted from Taylor's experiments.
Taylor’s half-sister, Rachel, was born when he was five. She looked up to her big brother with admiration, often following him around and watching as he created his various inventions. Despite the occasional mishap, Taylor and Rachel shared a close bond, with Taylor frequently making small toys and gadgets to entertain her.
School was both a blessing and a curse for Taylor. His intelligence allowed him to excel academically, but his unique way of thinking and his constant tinkering often got him into trouble. Teachers labeled him a "problem child" due to his inability to sit still and follow conventional methods. Taylor's inventions occasionally caused disruptions, further cementing his reputation.
Socially, Taylor found it hard to connect with his peers. His enthusiasm and intelligence often intimidated other children, and he was frequently taken advantage of by classmates who used him to boost their own grades. These experiences left Taylor feeling lonely and self-conscious about his naivety, although he never let it dampen his cheerful spirit.
Taylor's life took a dramatic turn when he was 15 years old. One day, while working on a particularly ambitious project in his makeshift workshop, he was visited by Oleander, a satyr sent by Camp Half-Blood. Oleander had been observing Taylor for some time, noting his extraordinary abilities and his connection to the divine.
Oleander revealed to Taylor the truth about his mother, Techne, and his demigod heritage. At first, Taylor was skeptical, thinking it was some sort of elaborate joke or fantasy. However, Oleander's ability to demonstrate his satyr powers and his deep knowledge of Taylor's unexplained talents eventually convinced him.
Explaining the situation to his family was a challenge. Benjamin, who had always suspected that there was something special about Taylor, took the news in stride. Eliza, though worried and confused, ultimately supported the decision, understanding that Camp Half-Blood could provide Taylor with the guidance he needed. Rachel was both excited and scared for her brother, worried about the dangers he might face and she would miss him.
Thankfully, despite the huge distance he and Oleander had to travel from Toronto to Long Island went calmly, for the most part, with not many delays or monsters attacking them.
Well, at least until they reached New York. After that, the whole “calm journey” was out the window. It almost seemed like all the monsters decided to wait until they were close to their destination to suddenly appear one after the other. First they had to somehow avoid a cyclops. Then they were attacked by dracanaea. And finally, they were chased by harpies until they crossed the border of Camp Half-Blood.
By some miracle, they were still alive.
What a way to be introduced to demigod life.

Present Day

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun” Mary Lou Cook
Taylor's arrival at Campbell Half-Blood was… something, alright.
You know, being chased by monsters from New York to Long Island, passing out in between attacks and then waking up in the Medic Cabin feeling like you've been hit by a truck and maimed by a cat at the same time was, in short, not fun. It also didn't help the fact that he had to stay in bed to get treated for what, hours. Which, for someone like Taylor, was absolute torture. Good for him then that demigods, apparently, had magic healing and he didn't have to stay for days instead. At least Oleander was around to explain every detail about the world he's been thrust into now that he was out of danger. And as a plus, he was also claimed, so yay! He had no clue who Techne was, but he was sure he would learn soon enough.
So, what does Taylor do after getting patched up? Does he wait and rest for a bit just to make sure everything is okay with him? Does he stop for a moment to process everything that has happened to him in the last 24 hours?
No! Of course not! This is Taylor, after all. Him staying put for more than 10 minutes would be a miracle already.
Instead, he just went off on his own to see what this Camp Half-Blood was all about. He just had to get to his cabin first, which would be relatively easy with Oleander's instructions, and then he could explore this place to his heart's content!
Hopefully, Camp Half-Blood would be ready for the chaotic force Taylor would prove to be.
[OOC: Hello, everyone! Say hello to my new character, Taylor! Feel free to interact with him literally anywhere at Camp, he's probably going to be there at some point anyway lmao. Thanks for reading;)]

I'm 37 from Massachusetts, I'm looking for someone who shares the same interests as me start things slowly and see where this road will take us. I don't like to force things nor do I have expectations I would like to find my player 2 but, I am more than comfortable with just having new friend's. Distances doesn't matter as long as the end game is to see each other.
I am looking for someone who has some of the same Interest as me. I am an avid gamer. I play all kinds of game's sandbox, rpg, platformer, mmorpg's WoW, FFXIV, New world, Diablo. Shooter's, battle royals, etc. Titles like 7 days to die, Valheim, the forest, Resident evil, Battlefield, dying light, the Witcher 3, kingdom hearts, uncharted, the last of us, Final Fantasy etc. I am currently hooked on survival games would be cool to have someone to play them with or any Co-Op games in general.
I listen to music a lot. I listen to almost every thing minus country and pop. There are a few songs from those genres that I think are pretty good, but overall I don't really listen to them. I mainly listen to rock, metal, indie, emo, punk and subgenres of rock. I am also very big with EDM, not dubstep, not a fan of it. More into house, Trance and Vocal trance mainly artist like Tiesto, Dash Berlin, Axwell, Alesso, to name a few. If you like trance then I promise I will love you forever!!
I am also a big movie junkie. I am up to watching almost anything. I enjoy a lot of action movies and comedies. I am a big fan of old school action movies. Die hard, Terminator, Predator, Lethal weapon, Rocky, Rambo and etc. I am also into Star Wars and Lord of the ring's I also enjoy all DC and MARVEL.
I enjoy reading manga and watching anime but I am really behind on that. I've been very busy with work and when I'm not occupied with work I would usually chill and watch a show or game. I am a huge bleach fan and currently really enjoying demon slayer and my hero academia.
My DM's are open feel free to reach out to me. I prefer voice chatting, texting is just as fine. I have discord if you prefer to use that.

I'm 37 from Massachusetts, I'm looking for someone who shares the same interests as me start things slowly and see where this road will take us. I don't like to force things nor do I have expectations I would like to find my player 2 but, I am more than comfortable with just having new friend's. Distances doesn't matter as long as the end game is to see each other.
I am looking for someone who has some of the same Interest as me. I am an avid gamer. I play all kinds of game's sandbox, rpg, platformer, mmorpg's WoW, FFXIV, New world, Diablo. Shooter's, battle royals, etc. Titles like 7 days to die, Valheim, the forest, Resident evil, Battlefield, dying light, the Witcher 3, kingdom hearts, uncharted, the last of us, Final Fantasy etc. I am currently hooked on survival games would be cool to have someone to play them with or any Co-Op games in general.
I listen to music a lot. I listen to almost every thing minus country and pop. There are a few songs from those genres that I think are pretty good, but overall I don't really listen to them. I mainly listen to rock, metal, indie, emo, punk and subgenres of rock. I am also very big with EDM, not dubstep, not a fan of it. More into house, Trance and Vocal trance mainly artist like Tiesto, Dash Berlin, Axwell, Alesso, to name a few. If you like trance then I promise I will love you forever!!
I am also a big movie junkie. I am up to watching almost anything. I enjoy a lot of action movies and comedies. I am a big fan of old school action movies. Die hard, Terminator, Predator, Lethal weapon, Rocky, Rambo and etc. I am also into Star Wars and Lord of the ring's I also enjoy all DC and MARVEL.
I enjoy reading manga and watching anime but I am really behind on that. I've been very busy with work and when I'm not occupied with work I would usually chill and watch a show or game. I am a huge bleach fan and currently really enjoying demon slayer and my hero academia.
My DM's are open feel free to reach out to me. I prefer voice chatting, texting is just as fine. I have discord if you prefer to use that.

Open Access Scientific Literature

There are multiple movements and sources for open access to scientific literature.
This thread is a resource for open access. Please list links to open access scientific literature. This dynamic is certainly changing, but there is clearly literature that is still pay wall restricted.
Here is a solid opening story by Radiolab

APR 7, 2023
The Library of Alexandra
How much does knowledge cost? While that sounds like an abstract question, the answer is surprisingly specific: $3,096,988,440.00. That’s how much the business of publishing scientific and academic research is worth.
This is the story of one woman’s battle against a global network of academic journals that underlie published scientific research. In 2011, Alexandra Elbakyan had just moved home to Kazakhstan after a disappointing few years trying to study neuroscience in the United States when she landed on an internet forum where a bunch of scientists were all looking for the same thing: access to academic journal articles that were behind paywalls. That’s the moment the very simple, but enormously powerful, website called Sci Hub was born.
The site holds over 88 million articles and serves up about a million downloads to people in practically every country on the globe. We travel to Kazakhstan to meet the mysterious woman behind it all and to find out what it takes to make everything we know about anything available to anyone anywhere, for free.

Special thanks to Vrindra Bhandari, Balázs Bodó, Stephen Buranyi, Ian Graber-Stiehl, Joel Joseph, Noorain Khalifa, Aparajita Lath, Steve McLaughlin, Marcia McNutt, Randy Scheckman Tanmay Singh, Deborah Harkness, Joe Karaganis, Lawrence Lessig, Glyn Moody, and Steven Press.

Episode Credits: Reported by - Eli Cohen Reporting help from - Karishma Mehrotra, Emily Krumberger and Norihelys Ramos Produced by Simon Adler with help from - Eli Cohen Original music and sound designed by - Simon Adler Mixing by - Jeremy Bloom Edited by - Alex Neason
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sources and resources for open access
scihub https://www.sci-hub.pub/#google_vignette
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/competitions/finding-and-accessing-scientific-papers
https://www.nnlm.gov/about/DOCLINE/OpenAccessResources
https://www.twas.org/open-source-scientific-information
https://library.purdueglobal.edu/library/oa
https://about.jstor.org/oa-and-free/
https://libguides.cmich.edu/web_research/oa
Please feel free to add resources, links comments etc.

...and it was heaven. My brother and I are starting a new "industrial adjacent" project and I've had the idea of a big hollow-body in my head for a bit of anachronistic fun, but I hadn't played one in an age and definitely didn't know if the low end would hold up in context. So I packed up my amp modeler and hit the closest music shop. Thankfully they had the exact model I'm considering, so I pulled it off the wall and plugged it in.
Ladies and gentlemen, goddamn. Crisp crunchy lows, sharp leads, and shimmering clean tones. Absolutely blown away. I had headphones in, so I'm sure everyone that walked by was perplexed by the metal wank coming from a jazz/rockabilly guitar, but it fit so well.
I've got a decent arsenal at home, but haven't felt this inspired by a guitar since I bought my LP Studio 25 years ago fresh out of high school. Totally expected to be disappointed but left gobsmacked. Unreal.

I know the title sounds a little dramatic and it probably is. But this issue I have with my best friend has been going on for over a year now and I honestly don’t know how to feel anymore. I (23 female) and my best friend (29 female) have been friends for almost 4 years now. I understand that that is not a very long time, however there is a backstory here. 4 years ago I moved to the Boise area to get away from my past life and start new. I decided I didn’t want to go to school at the time and I had wanted to just figure life out as I headed into my 20s. I got a steady job, got my own apartment, and was really living on my own for the first time. The only thing that had sucked about moving was leaving all my friends behind. But this is when I meant my best friend, let’s call her Clara. Clara and I had met through work, and we had soon became close friends outside of work. We had clicked so fast, like no other friendship I have had before. Being on my own, and away from everyone I knew, it was so nice to feel comfortable around someone again. We would do everything together. Go to the movies, listen to music, hang out after work, ect. After a while we starting calling each other best friends, we were truly inseparable. That was until one day everything switched. Clara had told me she had started seeing someone, and I was so excited for her because it had been a minute since she was in a relationship and I knew how lonely she had been romantically at the time. She talked and talked to me about her partner for hours on the phone every night, and it was super fun getting all the details about their relationship. I was so thrilled for her, truly. But if I am being honest, I was starting to miss her. We had gone from talking everyday to only talking about her new partner whenever I was able to see her. I understand that when someone is in the honeymoon stage of a relationship they tend to put themselves all in at first, and I had assumed that that is what was happening. But I started to feel like I was invisible around her. I had mentioned this to her and had explained to her how happy I was for her and her new relationship, but I missed her, and I was hoping we could have a day where it was just us girls, and to maybe not focus so much on our love life, more specifically hers. At first she got a little defensive but then realized what my intentions were. She apologized for being so distant and explained that she was just really excited to have someone be so into her again. We had planned a day for it to just be us. I had bought movie tickets for this film she had been wanting to go see and we had planned on lunch and a nice afternoon out shopping. We both had the day off so it was perfect. I had gotten up that day. Got ready, did my hair, my makeup, got super cute for a fun girls day. I text Carla at around 11 since we had planned on meeting up at 12 and asked. “Hey I’m ready when you are, did you want me to meet you at your place? I had waited for about half an hour and no reply. I texted again. “Hey girl, everything okay?” Another 30 minutes went by and nothing. It wasn’t like her to not reply back, so I got worried. Thought something was up. I called her. Nothing. Another hour rolled by and she finally texted me back. “Hey I’m at “partners” house, maybe we can meet up later…” I was taken aback. I stared at my phone confused. Then it hit me. She was blowing me off. AGAIN. I huffed and texted back saying. “What about our plans?” No reply again for another hour. At this point I had lost all hope. We had missed lunch, and by this rate we were going to miss our movie. I cancelled the tickets. She texted me back hours later and said “hey I’m sorry bout today, I promise next time I won’t bail.” Oh but that’s just the start. She kept bailing. Every time I would plan something, she always found a way to skip out. Eventually her and her partner broke up. She only got more distance because now she was depressed. I didn’t want to abandon her because I knew she was hurting, but I was ALSO hurting and had been hurting for months. One night I went over to her place and we just talked about things, and the way life was treating us. I was honest with her and told her that I have felt abandoned completely by her while she was in her relationship, and now only after she was single again did she feel the need to come back to me. Instead of hearing my pain, she decided to get defensive. She told me that she didn’t need me and that I was too much for her sometimes anyways. The only time she genuinely felt happy within the past few years was when she was with her partner. This absolutely gutted me because at that moment it felt like she was telling me that our friendship meant nothing to her. That I never made her laugh, smile, and feel safe. I started to cry and she just stared at me. She got really overwhelmed and told me to leave. When I refused, because I wanted to talk about this, she rolled her eyes and said “fine, I’m going to bed” she went to her room and closed the door behind her. I felt like I just got punched in the chest. I know we hadn’t known each other as long as others, but when we met it was like we had known each other our whole lives already. And to go from that kind of connection to this. And over some person she was dating less than 6 months. I was so heartbroken. Me being the person I am, I decided to forgive her anyway, because I was so lonely, I was scared to take a step back in fear of being alone again. And for the past year now its like things have never been the same. We now live together and it feels like the issue has grown into something much larger than it was before. I started going to therapy to talk about my feelings with someone, and I suggested the same for Clara. But she didn’t want to do that. She has stayed in the same depressive cycle for the past year. Ignoring all friends and family and pushing everyone close away. Eventually I had had enough and exploded one day. I told her that she couldn’t just sulk for the rest of her life. I understand that life is hard, but eventually we have to move on. I figured some tough love would snap her out of it, but oh was I wrong. She actually told me that I was a terrible friend and was not patient enough with her. This coming from her really sent me over the edge. I exclaimed to her that I had had it. “I’m not patient enough? Are you kidding me! You have been sulking over the same things for over a year and through all of the push back and hurtful words, I stayed for you because I believed one day we would get back to how happy and fun we used to be. But I’m not patient enough?” I started to cry. “I’m a bad friend? For what? Staying by your side through thick and thin. And even though you had distanced yourself from me I had let you have your space because I knew that it was you needed at the time? But I have feelings too! Not everything is always about you Clara.” Her face got hot and she had started to shut down. She told me that she didn’t want to be my friend anymore and that I expected too much from her. If wanting basic communication and understanding from your best friend is too much, then I must be on the wrong planet. But there is a part of me that feels crazy too. Like am I really a bad person for wanting some recognition in this friendship too? For wanting my needs to be considered too? I don’t know if I am being gaslighted or not. I told her that I hated her, and I didn’t want to say it, but the words just left my lips without a thought. I was so hurt by her words, so I fired back, but regretted it immediately. She started to cry too. I didn’t want to hurt her, but a part of me was glad she was feeling how I had been feeling for months now. The truth is I don’t really hate her, I just hate the way she treats me. I probably should have said it that way instead, but I couldn’t help it. I am not sure what to do now. I don’t want to loose my best friend. Even if it has only been a few years, I truly feel like we are platonic soulmates at times. But then again, I feel like this friendship is obviously not as important to her as it is to me. If she cared as much as I did, she wouldn’t have put me in multiple situations where I would feel abandoned and under appreciated as such. I don’t know what to do, friendship break ups are so hard.