I'm 45, SINK, sort of coastfire atm looking to be done by 50 or sooner. I own what I'd call a middle class 3b2ba home in a suburb of a small city in the midwest. Home was built in 2006, and has appreciated on average about 5.5% annually during the 12 years I've owned it, and about 9% annually over the most recent 5 year period.
It needs some work to make it rentable, or I suppose sellable as well. Flooring and deck for now, roof in the next 2-5 years probably. With repairs/updates done, I think it should sell for around $290-$300k. I owe approximately $95k on the mortage, with a 2.625% fixed rate mortgage for another 25 years on it. In no rush at all to pay off a cheap fixed rate mortgage. Rental rates for similar homes nearby have recently been around $1800. Maybe give it a range of $1600-$2000 depending on how nice of updates I make and such.
Whether I rent or sell, my next residence would be to a guest house at my parents. They are in their 80's and starting to need more help with things. I would probably pay my own utilities there, but nothing else.
I would probably hire a property management company here to manage this if I make it a rental. They want 10-12% depending on the company plus other miscellaous fees. The 10% company has a waitlist I've been on for a couple of months. The 12% company has a lot of fees for just about everything and just sort of turns me off with them because of that.
Pros of renting: I think it would generate probably $250-$450 per month positive cash flow even with setting aside 15% of rent for maintenance/capital expenditures. Based on $1800/month rent, property taxes are about 27% of rent amount, mortgage interest about 11.6%, say 14% on property management (12% + other fees), 15% maintenance/updates, 7% on insurance, and 11.6% principal payment on mortgage.
In total, about 74.6% of rent as expenses, 11.6% mortgage principal reduction, and 13.8% free cash flow. Maybe 7% price appreciation on average?
Pros of renting I see are:
Having house if I want/need to move back into it eventually.
Hopefully getting more growth in value than the 2.625% I'm paying on the 95k mortgage. Whatever appreciation there is (or isn't) I could leverage that cheap mortgage rate and earn a return (hopefully) on the bank's $95k.
If selling in the next 3 years, exempt from first $250k of capital gains (lived in it the first two years of the 2-in-5 year period if I understand that rule right).
Cons: Headache/hassles/expenses of renting
Possible vacant periods with expenses to cover out of pocket. Just realized I didn't account for vacant periods in my above expense calculations... not sure what to peg that at.
Having to finance initial repairs/updates over a longer period of time. If selling I could pay those expenses off right away.
Anything I'm forgetting to factor in? Is renting worth it in your experience, or too much trouble for too little return?

These are some headcanons I have about the Hashira. spoilers for manga through the end, character death, and canon marriages. Things in square brackets are stuff I read elsewhere and is canon IIRC, but everything else is just headcanon
Sanemi

• very good at telling hours left until sunrise from the moon and stars. It was essential knowledge during his days as a rogue demon slayer
• His trainers frequently scolded him for going ‘marechi mode’ while fighting and tried to get him to rely on his blood less
• [The breathing forms were preserved as dances] Was onboard with the plan to pass on breathing forms as dances, but still bristled when people described what he did as dancing
• Proficient at unarmed fighting when his opponents are human
• Did a lot of traveling with the remainder of his life, to actually spend time enjoying all the places he had gone for work

Giyuu

• asked Kiriya to arrange a marriage for him after the final battle. Kiriya is the closest thing he has to a head of family and Giyuu is too awkward to do it himself. Kanata and Kuina were taken by the idea and offered Kiriya lot of dubiously helpful input
• Has the other two halves of his haori stitched together and stashed somewhere but doesn’t know what to do with it
• Moved into a smaller house after the final battle, but actually made this one into a home
• Kanzaburou died in his arms shortly after the final battle. Giyuu wasn’t too sad, he thanked his crow for seeing things through to the end and promised he would be ok from now on
• Has old man hobbies like bonsai and rock gardening
• Kept a Nichirin sword in serviceable condition for the rest of his life- just in case

Tengen

• He and his wives experimented with making semi functional hand prosthetics for him. They offered to bring Giyuu into the project but he declined on account of having much less arm left than Tengen
• Laid down a hard boundary early on that his wives had to settle their own disputes among themselves because of Suma and Makio’s bickering. The two of them worked things out and now most of their arguments are play fighting
• Of all his wives, worries about Hinatsuru the most because she’s very dutiful and will shoulder too many burdens without saying a thing
• His understanding of music and musical theory is intuitive. He felt his way through learning music and doesn’t have the words to describe how he understands it
• Never told his descendants that they came from a shinobi clan. His grandchildren loved to make up wild stories about how he and his wives got all their seemingly random (read: shinobi) skills

Gyomei

• offered useful advice for Kagaya to adapt as he lost his vision. Helped Kagaya and his family figure out what he would, and equally important, wouldn’t need help with as a blind person
• [Gyomei went blind as a child due to illness] Sometimes compares notes with Kagaya on their experiences with going blind
• Has never adopted a cat, but many cats have adopted him
• Sometimes while he’s meditating, he’s still for so long wild animals become used to his presence and will come close enough to touch. Gyomei never does touch, but he is aware of their presence
• Genya asked him not to meddle, but Gyomei did try one time to ask Sanemi about their relationship. He didn’t make any suggestions or pass judgement, just asked questions that would make Sanemi think

Shinobu

• keeps an herb garden for her pharmacology practice but isn’t much of a gardener. Aoi takes care of it when she’s away
• She made a unique butterfly hairpin for each of her tsuguko and butterfly girls

Mitsuri

• [Mitsuri keeps bees] adores fat fuzzy bumblebees and will sometimes pet the ones in her garden
• The plants in her garden were mostly curated with the bees in mind
• Dabbles in handicrafts and likes making little outfits and toys for her cats
• Indiscriminate in fawning over cute animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Even fawns over Kaburamaru sometimes. It’s yet another reason Obanai likes her
• Inadvertently ended up playing matchmaker to various people she met during her time in the corps, including fellow slayers and civilians she helped
• A known fan of sweets. Her friends and family frequently gift her any unusual or foreign treats they come across

Obanai

• Kyoujurou is the only Hashira who knows what’s under his bandages, because they were introduced shortly after Shinjuro saved him.
• Has experimented with making smoothies so he can drink his meals through a straw without taking his bandages off. Gave up because it was more trouble than it was worth
• Kaburamaru’s behavior has a few tells to his emotions. Sanemi and Mitsuri are the only ones who can read it to any degree, and Mitsuri has a few misconceptions because she doesn’t realize Obanai is in love with her.
• Kaburamaru hides in his haori sleeves while molting, and Obanai constantly has bits of molted snake skin in his clothes like other people have lint
• Instead of petting Kaburamaru, he’s soothed by the feeling of the snake slithering across his body

Kyojurou

• had a few private identity crises over being a copy and paste Rengoku flame Hashira. Considered developing his own derivative breathing style and look, hoping that might earn his fathers respect
• Wanted to move Senjuro out of the family home, but thought his father wouldn’t put up with it. Never had romantic feelings for Mitsuri but sometimes dreamed of the three of them living together and her as his platonic partner in taking care of Senjuro
• Tried to befriend Obanai once they became Hashira, never realized that Obanai saw him as a romantic rival

Muichiro

• feels more affection and loyalty for Amane specifically, compared to the other Hashira
• He’s still not clear how many children Kagaya and Amane have. Thought it was only two until he saw three in the same place at the same time. If one were to ask, he’d guess anywhere from four to eight.
• Unaware of Inosuke’s tendency to mangle people’s names. His attempts are close enough that Muichiro clocks them as the correct name
• Unless someone reminds him, will forget to eat until he’s ravenous

Bonus- Honorary Hashira
Tanjiro

• in his later teens, began to live his life under the assumption he would die by 25
• Kept up the new years Hinokami Kagura for the rest of his life. Nezuko took over after he died, until his children were old enough to do it
• He and Nezuko were familiar with many of their mothers recipes, but there were a couple they never felt like they could replicate accurately
• Tanjiro’s crow became a pet and household nuisance (affectionate) post-canon. He loved gathering and sharing gossip, and is credited as the main reason there were no secrets in their home, for better or worse

Inosuke

• wore the boar head less as he got older, to prevent wear and tear. Would play with his children while wearing it, but only once they were old enough to know to be gentle with it.
• Acorns are his favorite snack on the go and he always has a few in his pockets
• Remained resistant to wearing shirts for his whole life
• His marriage proposal to Aoi included gifting her an animal pelt

Zenitsu

• took up music after the final battle. Would sometimes practice playing with Kanata Ubuyashiki. She developed a crush on him in her teens but never told anyone.
• Proposed to Nezuko in a peach orchard where he spent a lot of time while training under Kuwajima
• Loves going to flower viewing parties. They’re his favorite type of date and he adores the sight of Nezuko against a backdrop of blooming flowers

Kanao

• Tanjiro had to teach her how to voice her disagreement. They’ve never had a proper fight, only disagreements that Tanjiro had to guide them through resolving
• Has no sense of fashion or style, so indecisive about buying clothes that Tanjiro and Nezuko pick for her
• Her garden has a lot of plants that attract butterflies. Every year they get dozens of chrysalises

Bonus bonus- Ubuyashiki siblings

• All three were somewhat anxious about the possibility Muzan’s defeat hadn’t broken the family curse. They kept constant attention on their health going into their teen years, looking for any sign of illness among any of them.
• Kuina decided to never marry. After losing her parents and sisters so young, she couldn’t bear the thought of anything keeping her from her remaining siblings. She was prepared to share Kiriya’s fate if the curse wasn’t broken. She lived to a ripe old age and was a beloved Aunt to many.
• Kiriya was emotionally comfortable dressing as a girl and liked the bright colors and patterns. He ended up preferring the physical comfort of boys kimono, the relaxed fit, and the simplicity of putting it on

As the title says, I just graduated high school and I currently have no job, a few friends I never have the energy to hang out with, and a boyfriend that isn't really allowed out of the house more than once a week.
I have plenty of things that I could spend my time doing and WANT to do, like learning how to play my bass guitar thats been rotting in my basement, making art with some markers I just bought, playing games that have been neglected in my steam catalog for ages, or even just going outside. But instead, I take five hour naps, scroll in bed for the time that I'm awake and then go to bed for the night adding up to 19 hours of sleep a day. I just feel tired all the time and nothing excites me, despite being fully medicated for my anxiety and depression.
This is the only time in my life I've ever had time for anything as my other summers have been chock-full with Kumon/summer classes, practice for sports and band, summer camps, and friendships I'm no longer in contact with, etc. and now I have all this time to spend alone. I'm not used to being this free and I've never built up any real hobbies or skills outside of things connected to extracurricular activities, school, or my parents.
I've never really enjoyed anything I've done, and don't find joy in any of the things that I have laid out for me. even though I've been told that it's probably due to my anxiety and depression for being pressured by parents all these years, it makes me feel guilty because they put in so much effort into the all these hobbies and set up everything for me so I wouldn't have a moment to myself, and when it comes time for me to finally find my own hobbies, I'm stuck and don't know how to get over being angry at myself for not being immediately good at a new hobby. As mentioned before, I'm fully medicated and going to therapy, so what's the next step that I have to do so I can start liking new hobbies on my own?

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So, we need a scenario, where some Skalgans are rescued before the Federation gets too far into their plan.
As discussed on the discord today... shout out to my fellow idea-mongers!
Suppose there is a faction of Farsul, The Hidden Path, that disagrees with the Kolshians' plans for the galaxy, after observing the activity performed on/with the Krakotl.
This faction goes into silent rebellion, and works in secret to preserve all sapient cultures, as they are, by abducting just enough of each to ensure genetic viability and delivering them to a hidden colonies.
And they have been doing this ever since.
Now you have a viable undiscovered source of many of each type of every race, with pre-federation culture intact.
...commence with the hijinks you envision.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:00 PM Mileau is all Mesas, with Slot canyons in between; the mesas all extend above breathable atmosphere.
I made that sht up. No one has ever described the surface of Mileau except me. Hah!*
uktabi (Clear Skies, Foxholes) — 02/29/2024 1:08 PM its canon now mileau has a thin atmosphere and a fast spin. it throws off basically all atmosphere except for what gets trapped in the slot canyons. idk anything that im talking about
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:13 PM THe canyons are 2-3 km wide, and llike 10 km deep; agriculture happens in the canyons that run "east" to "west". Most of the food grows on tree vines that climb up the walls of the canyon; these have trunks bigger than redwoods at the base. WHen you look at Mileau from above, the entire surface looks like a dried lake bed.
uktabi (Clear Skies, Foxholes) — 02/29/2024 1:15 PM if theyre photosynthesis, plant life in canyons would probably have HEAVY bias in evolving to compete for sunlight
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:15 PM hence the growing up the walls.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:16 PM the north south canyons are barren. most of the water lies underground, and it's movement forms huge cave systems at that level.
uktabi (Clear Skies, Foxholes) — 02/29/2024 1:16 PM they'd probably have all sorts of like, choking out competitors. specialized tendrils that try to choke out competitors. evolutionary arms race and all
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:17 PM so, there is also cave ecology going on at a grand scale as well.
uktabi (Clear Skies, Foxholes) — 02/29/2024 1:18 PM hmmm are dossur adapted to low light environments?
The ☴☴° — 02/29/2024 1:18 PM I think that they would have some.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:19 PM Yes. But also... Mileau's star is a very large one, so the habitable ring is 5 times further out; the cycles are 5 years long, and winter is a full year. so they have a long hibernation period every 5 years.
uktabi (Clear Skies, Foxholes) — 02/29/2024 1:20 PM a cave system being a consistent environment despite seasons might help temper that though
The ☴☴° — 02/29/2024 1:20 PM Large stars have exponentially shorter lives, just a warning.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:23 PM It's not like it's Y-Scuti.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:24 PM THey eveolves to remember everything they hear while they "sleep" so, if you were to search the ventilation systems at the School of the flora, you'd find dossur sleeping near every vent by the lecture halls. "They are in the walls" is a true statement.
The ☴☴° — 02/29/2024 1:26 PM They'd better have good taste in poetry. As they drive next generation's minds into predator disease.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:26 PM This is why they've come from stone-age to space age in under 100 years. THey pick up every class, all day long. then they go test out at the end of the semester, CLEP style, and run off with a degree after 8 months. they also record everything, and take the recordings back to Mileau; the next round of sleepers is in a cave containing thousands of Dossur there. It's a knowledge factory.
Mecha Kid (Solar Wind, Spec Ops) — 02/29/2024 1:31 PM Suddenly happy I never defined the surface features of Mileau in Spec Ops Also, concussions are a bitch, right @Julian Skies (Blackriver Cases) ?
Julian Skies (Blackriver Cases) — 02/29/2024 1:33 PM Acroyear's version of the dossur would find like souls in the Consortium
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:34 PM Since Mileau has so little livable space (from the Federation's perspective) the Federation ignores it. Most of the land receiving sunlight is completely dedicated to raising the crops, and the Dossur live in tiny caves drilled into the mesas.
Ben_KenoBEEG (NoA) — 02/29/2024 1:38 PM I just realized, could the Dossur possibly have a planet with over 100 billion people on it, considering their size and how little of a carbon footprint they leave
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:40 PM they've only come up from the stone age in the past 100 years or so... having spent most of that time eliminating the natural predators of Mileau... (which happen to look a Lot like... Krakotl).
"The silver mountain descended from the heavens on pillars of white fire... and death himself rode in it."
dankboy9000 — 02/29/2024 1:43 PM Ah yes, the Man on the Silver Mountain
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:43 PM More like the bird. in any case, the Dossur have harnessed the winds that flow through the canyons as an energy source, and have started building Giant solar farms on the mesa tops, now that they have space technology.
dankboy9000 — 02/29/2024 1:46 PM Arizonacore
Spectralstorm — 02/29/2024 1:59 PM Dossur "re-education" programme where they just yell "predators are bad" over and over while the dossur are hibernating
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 02/29/2024 1:59 PM It's another fic, that's all. The feds don't know that this is how it works. It's part of the Dossur conspiracy. That's why no one has ever seen a Dossur that's not ginger colored. In my head-canon, there are also white ones, brown ones, blond ones, spotted ones, roans, and of course... black ones! and... FLying ones!
The ☴☴° — 02/29/2024 2:08 PM This is why they attacked Mileau.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 6:12 PM I have this image of the Dossur colonizing every park and forested area throughout the federation... ...in secret, of course.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 6:09 PM Have we been told how many colonies there are? I know of at least one, where Veln originated from.
Thirsha (Tight Money) — 11/30/2023 6:10 PM no
Killsode-Slugcat — 11/30/2023 6:26 PM the planetary thoughts Egg has is that there's big oceans on the dayward side that evaporate and then send water back to the nightward side where its then frozen, depositied on glaciers that then progressand melt, creating rivers that feed back into the oceans thus sustaining a full water cycle of course, there's also spots of rain along the way, and if there was a mountain range in the right spot it'd be rained on nearly non-stop on the dayside
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 6:23 PM I also Recall a beach scene from another Fic I read recently, but I don't remember it. It was up near the burning.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 6:29 PM Yeah, based on pure physics, the twilight and green likely get a ton of precipitation from the night. The day and burning get few to no rainstorms and are probably sustained by the rivers and desalination of the oceans
Killsode-Slugcat — 11/30/2023 6:29 PM well, not sure if they'd get it from the night god the weather patterns would be alllll over the place @Brick we really need your help on figuring those out.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 6:30 PM I think there's mention of Heavy Monsoon activity due to the wobble.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:17 PM What was the question
Killsode-Slugcat — 11/30/2023 7:17 PM ah, the weather patterns of VP, and how the hell the atmopshere moves
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:18 PM My god
Killsode-Slugcat — 11/30/2023 7:18 PM since uh, if there's constant wind coming from the sunward side, atmosphere somehow has to get to the sunward side to replace it.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:18 PM Without geography Uhhhhhhh
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:18 PM Not quite according to the paper I posted earlier the surface flow would come from the night rather than the day
Killsode-Slugcat — 11/30/2023 7:19 PM going with the idea that the water cycle is power by oceans near the sun side the bring water to the night side where its then deposited and flows back to the oceans?
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:19 PM Surface flow favors convergence at the hot side ad divergence on the cold side meaning the surface flow overall would be from the cold to the warm but at upper levels it's reversed But this is overall geography, location of oceans, planetary rotation and more would make this much more complex
OmegaMon02 (NoC,TTS,MiM,GE,PoT) — 11/30/2023 7:20 PM Air cools on night, blasts the venlil, warms in the day, travels on top of cold wind, big wind storms deep into the day and night
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:20 PM Were it so easy...
Beyonce what I can think about without a pencil, paper and other things.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:21 PM SO, on Skalga... not much daily rotation.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:21 PM In terms of tropospheric dynamics I really can't say right now On the other hand If VP is on a tilt That raises a whole set of other issues For example places where the sun sets for half a year and raises for the other half It is not easy to make any educated judgments without having a cannon geography.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:23 PM THere's the whole Paw wobble bit, but I don't think you'd get much variation off of it.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:24 PM Yeah axis wobble is something on MUCH longer time scales up towards thousands of years iirc
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:24 PM it feels like the axis of the planet points at the Sun for the most part.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:24 PM Meanwhile a tilted spin axis will cause seasonal sunsets that last different amounts of time beyond certain latitudes The axis of the planet has nothing to do with the sun, at one point it will face away from the sun and half a year later it'll.face towards That's why we get seasons and differential day length on earth
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:25 PM right, but with Skalga being tidally locked...
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:25 PM Nothing to do with it That is a manner of rate of rotation not axial tilt The rate of revolution is equal to the rate of rotation meaning one side faces the star at all times But a tilted axis can cause the area to essentially shift up and down
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:28 PM so depending on the tilt of the access, those parts of Skalga would have day, and night cycles that last for about half the year.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:28 PM Yup Think of how the solstices work on earth. Provided you're at a latitude that experiences them just, more extreme The further into the light side you go the shorter the "night" lasts
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:30 PM 👍 We were considering what the sizes of the oceans were.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:30 PM Weather is dictated a lot by geography as well as overall circulation I haven't figured out if there would be a jet or something different
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:31 PM yes, windward and Lee sides of mountain ranges would make a difference. I was thinking heavy monsoon winds.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:32 PM Yes while the windward side would be very dry the leeward side would experience in my current opinion almost constant rain It really depends on how well heat exchanges But I can't get too deep into this now. Btw this is what I study at university.
Btw this is what I study at uni
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:32 PM Perhaps I got my terminology backwards I am become atmospheric scientist.
Brick — 11/30/2023 7:33 PM Good chat sorry to jet.
Julian Skies (Blackriver Cases) — 11/30/2023 7:35 PM Bahaha, jet!
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:35 PM Hey, being near water is not the same as being IN water.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:35 PM I mean the planet is like this ☀️ 🟥🟨🟩🟪🟦 (I'm trying my best) cold weather brings rain or snow. So @Brick is right, lots of rain moving from twilight to green. Less in day.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:36 PM depends on what the source of the water is. if there are oceans on the day side, that would provide moisture in the upper levels. where the convection moves in the opposite direction.
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:37 PM oceans have to exist at some point if there's enough water to sustain global-spanning life.
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:38 PM Also, I have a reason for each of the coastal locations. Muller's Bay is found upon illict activities. Stepping Stones basically had no choice but to exist due it being an island chain. Mellowgale is an rare mountainous type of coastal, hence the Greek vibes.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:39 PM the day side may have giant, untapped aquifers. not much written about it, so I don't really know. but I could see the venlil living under ground in the hotter parts.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:41 PM I can see that a nice portion of the rivers from colder half flow underground. Could sustain lots of people and crops
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:41 PM sort of a Coober Pedy situation. for about the same reasons.
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:42 PM imagine having the Green double in size during the timeskip due to humanity interventing. oof, both good and bad.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:42 PM depends on what kind of geo-engineering is done, if any.
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:43 PM mostly geo-engineering for preventing Sahara-ification.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:43 PM yeah, permaculture water harvesting would definitely be a thing. if they can build a planet encircling maglev, they could build some major pipelines runninlg along the meridians as well.
DankTerminus (SINYL, NOPAW(?)) — 11/30/2023 7:45 PM They DID build an maglev ring, you're right.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:45 PM with the right kind of valves and insulation, they could use antifreeze to act as a giant heat pump.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:45 PM I bet they have biiiig wells to use for cities or for watering plants.
Animesh — 11/30/2023 7:46 PM Wait. Is the entire venlil prime just The Line (tm) project?
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:48 PM Possibly. I don't know the full particulars on the Line, so can't answer that. but I could see them doing a lot of Al Baydha-like projects. btu again, that is dependent on the landforms, and where the water flows to and from. I mean, BiasMushroom has Frozen Mountain set up as a city in the Nightside, close to the terminator. it you get some form of heat loving trees with deep, deep roots, then it's possible that they might shade areas of the burning enough to be survivable. so that gets back to the questions about where the water bodies are.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:56 PM I think they could form in the day but dry up in the burning.
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:56 PM yes, but what about under the dayside, where the aquifers may be.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:57 PM Probably near rivers but could realistically be anywhere I mean, there are aquifers all over earth so really it's hard to disprove any specific location
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:57 PM a lot of it depends on how the water flows, and what geological formations there are. a karst type of situation could lead to lots of caves with chimney windows and underground jungles.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 7:58 PM Hell in the southwest US, sandstone cliffs and mountains are aquifers. They are stuffed full of water. Without specific info, it's really up to us to decide. Which is neat!
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 7:59 PM a hard layer of earth over a soft limesone layer, with water flowing, would lead to huge cave systesm. there could be entire, undiscovered biomes like that, possibly housing pre-federation Venlils.
Verified Threat to Fish (LiH) — 11/30/2023 8:03 PM Perhaps. Though I worry for how they'd live
Giant_Acroyear (Dossur?) — 11/30/2023 8:04 PM if there's flowing water, then there's probably fungi, and things eating the fungi. Anyway, I leave the speculations here, for your consideration.
Thirsha (Tight Money) — 11/30/2023 9:08 PM massive cave systems with underground rivers and a lot of life that lives in the dark but due to the presence of predators, venlil are afraid of them and since they are hell to clear out, the exterminators try to keep the predators in the caverns instead only killing them when they wander too close to the settlements.
I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have!

I’ll do my best to be brief about the last 10years. I started out in a bad high school with abusive parents. I almost didn’t graduate but with hard work I caught up and got myself into community college. I intended to transfer to a four year college to study Architecture. I spent 3 years at community college studying art and design and left with a graphic design associates degree and a 4.0 gpa. I decided to go to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) which was a huge mistake. Originally, I thought it would be a good option as it’s a highly respected art school. When I got in I quickly learned that I would be struggling badly financially as the professors would tell us to leave class and go buy supplies and be back in an hour, not leaving me anytime to scour for the best deal or find a free option. The other students were wealthier than I could have imagined. That’s okay, I was there to work hard. I soon after learned that their Architecture program was their least funded and it showed. The classes were awful and the professor pulled me out of class one day to ask me for advice. He said I was the only one who understood the assignments and what did I think was wrong with my classmates. The school began warning me that something was wrong with my loans and that if it didn’t get resolved I wouldn’t be able to attend class anymore. I was too young to take out the loan, it was under my mom’s name so she had to be the one to sort it out. I still to this day don’t know what happened but I got booted from school because my mother is evil. I was struggling not to be homeless as I was dependent on the loan money for housing. Many years later I now think my mother gambled my loan money away as it was a private loan that could be used for anything. But I don’t like the idea of being a victim as it leaves me powerless. I blame myself for not working harder and taking advantage of the privilege I had. My next mistake, I moved back in with my parents assuming that’s what parents were for. I could figure out what my next steps were. Wrong. My family situation blew up, the detail’s irrelevant to this question. I was now fearing homelessness and was no longer in Chicago where I atleast had two part time jobs and friends. So I sort of panic made the decision to move in with some roommates off craigslist and I found a job at a hair salon. I began working really hard at the salon working the front desk. I started at $10/hour and in 3 months was making $16. I put so much effort into this job. I was always interested in hair so I started working on getting my hair license, all paid by the salon owner. I suddenly got very sick from both the chemicals at the salon and probably not taking care of my physical health. I spent a year without doctors knowing what was wrong with me and ruling out blood clots, for awhile we thought I could actually die. Once again, I lose my living situation but then the pandemic hits. I started working at a retail shop where the owner agreed to not use chemicals that make me sick or even sell perfume that make me sick. Again, I worked really hard and I’m now the manager. I’ve grown the business. I have a lot of power as I’m not sure the owner would survive without me but I’ve always told him my plan is to leave. 4-5years have flown by and I’m still at this job. It’s not a place that can afford to pay me much. But I’ve spent over 10 years literally just adapting and surviving that I don’t know what I want or what I like. I don’t feel strongly about anything as it hasn’t been an option to in so long. I now realize how important money is because I have no safety net. I have to become strong. The idea of going back to school scares me… the financial burden, the political climate, my health needs, the failure for a well respected school to meet their promises for a great education.
But I want more out of life. I can’t live like this. Currently I’m still on the edge where one wrong move could slip me into homelessness. I’m capable of hard work but I don’t fully know what it’s like to follow through on a solid idea.
I feel like my life is wasting away. My health issues are still a factor otherwise I would have went back to hair.

for some context: I (18F) am on a gap year to travel and relax a bit before university. During my gap year, I've travelled to many countries, but mostly European ones (such as England, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and a few more). I'm also the only one of my friends to be taking a gap year. I've been going back and forth, so id spend 2-4 weeks in a country or city, fly back home for about a week and fly to another destination. I admit it's extremely expensive, but it works for my parents (who are paying the bulk) and I.
Now onto the main issue; last week I came back from a 3 week trip to Madrid and Barcelona. After coming back, my friends wanted to see me so we could catch up and they could ask about my trip. I have known these friends for years now, some since primary school, others I met at boarding school, It's safe to say most of us are well off, well acquainted with the finer luxuries in life. I say most of us, because one of my friends from boarding school (lets call her M) wasn't as well-off as the rest (think lower middle class and she was there on scholarship).
So, we met up at a bar in the city, got a few drinks and the girls excitedly asked me about my trips, and I asked them questions about which uni they were committed to (most of my friends are committed to Ivy Leagues or International equivalents like Oxford), where some would have to move for uni etc. One of my friends is going to Harvard, and being a Yale legacy (both my parents went) I made a joke about the rivalry the two schools had and how it "wasn't up to my family's standards), everyone laughed at the joke because they know my parents, older sister and brother all went to Yale. I realized M had been silent, so I asked her directly which uni she was planning on. She scoffed and said "Not one that would be up to your standards". I look confused and jokingly said "Oh God, don't tell me you're going to Harvard too.". She then glares at me and scoffs again. The entire table goes silent and another friends changes the subject to my travels. I can see M roll her eyes when I start talking, so I ask her what her problem is. She then explodes and says that it's annoying that I constantly flaunt about my trips (I post about them on my story etc) and that I'm always rubbing it in her face, and that everyone in the group was rubbing it in her face that she was 'poor'. She went on a 10 minute tirade basically calling all of us lazy, entitled, spoiled and that those who got into Ivy Leagues, only got in because of their parents' money. She then stormed out and we all went home a little after.
Now I do admit, I am spoiled, I do talk about my trips a lot. But she has been my friend for years, even in high school, I would ski in St-Moritz in the winter and spend summers in the French Riviera; My trips and travels are nothing new. I do not understand why she blew up. I texted her the next day to ask if she was ok and if we could talk and she has yet to respond (it's been a few days). I asked my parents for their advice, they said she was probably just envious that I was in a position where I could take a year off to travel and then come back and know I'd go to an Ivy League, but I still feel bad. So AITA for rubbing it in her face?

Hello! This is actually one of the plot twists in my life. When I was in elementary and junior high school, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer—because I saw an article before saying that it would provide me with a higher salary (as someone who is from a lower-class family, I somehow craved for financial stability ). Things changed when I moved to Pasig City, and it was like I woke up on a normal day and suddenly thought of being part of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). This was actually right after I took UPCAT. I put programs aligned to law, but literally after taking the exam, I asked myself if I was really for law. I think my question was answered right away, as when I was talking to another UPCAT taker, all I could talk about was the science part (specifically in biology and chemistry). I just realized that maybe it was already a sign that I am for another "thing." Medicine. I started reading Philippine doctor stories on different online platforms, especially here on Reddit. I started watching movies or vlogs about medicine. I started studying anatomy and physiology. Ang hirap pala. Hindi pala ganoon kadali maging doktor. Ang gastos. Nakakabaliw. Walang tulog. Walang pahinga. Mababa ang sweldo. I do not know, but my will to become a doctor became stronger. Summer vacation came, and I reviewed for other upcoming college entrance tests. Every time I review, I would cry out of nowhere. Kung bakit, 'yon ay dahil naisip ko na naman ang pagiging doktor. Napamahal na ako. Every time I lose motivation to study, I just look for documentary videos showing the current state of our country's healthcare. After watching, iiyak. Haha. For other Big 3 Philippine universities, I put programs aligned to medicine. Yet, I am really eyeing UST, as they are focused on the mentioned field. Hindi ko pa sigurado kung anong "pre-med" program ang ilalagay ko. Haha. Sa dulo, I put BS in Pharmacy as my priority program, while a BS in Psychology is my alternative. I prayed to God na kung para ako sa medisina, ipasa Niya ako sa UST (BS Pharmacy). Kung hindi naman, then para ako sa iba. I can still remember how I cried so hard around 2 a.m. on April 28 (to the point where nilagnat ako pagkagising) because ilalabas na raw 'yong results that day. I woke up at exactly 10 a.m., and the results were out. The results were released around 9 a.m. Sa group chat namin wala nag-message kung nakapasa sila or hindi, akala ko tuloy ay biro lang na nilabas na. I still checked the portal at mayroon na nga. Hinanap ko agad 'yong application number ko. Unlike UPCAT results (mas nauna siyang ilabas), my hands didn't shake as I open it. Pagkabukas ko, QUALIFIED. At iyak na naman. While crying, I looked above and thanked Him. Maybe I am really for medicine. Malayo na, pero malayo pa. Marami pang iyak (at gastusin) bago maging isang ganap na parmasyutiko, doktor, at parte ng PGH. Addition: - Haha! Because of medicine, nawala na takot ko sa mga multo at dead bodies.

I experienced an intense porn addiction throughout early high school, leading me down a path of unspeakable deviance and despair. I knew my lifestyle was wrong, yet breaking free seemed impossible. I felt isolated and extremely outcast, and became convinced that if there was a hell, I was destined for it. No one knew what I was going through, because I forced myself to put a smile on all the time, hiding this area of my life as much as possible. Though I was raised Christian, for most of my life God was merely a concept to me; I didn't understand His Love, but a part of me longed to know if He truly existed. In my quest for truth, I prayed fervently, yearning for a sign of His presence. I remember crying out to God every day for years, yet largely feeling nothing. I vividly recall one desperate prayer, where I said something along the lines of "God, if you're real, show me. I want to serve you but don't know if you're real. Grant me you're healing, strength, and joy, and I will serve you the rest of my life. When you reveal yourself to me may the song Above All play so that I know it's you." Months passed with no response, and I began to lose hope, contemplating abandoning my faith altogether.
Some time goes by, and I attend a church service on Sunday. The church had just finished a 20-day prayer fast, and had a visiting speaker who delivered a message I will never forget. He opened up with saying how there is someone here who has been sinning in sexually deviant ways, and how they have felt condemned to hell and isolated, having no one to confide in but God, and that God has heard their cry, and is giving this person strength. Before he was even finished saying the words "God is giving this person strength," I felt a strength so real I can't begin to describe. I knew it wasn't a physical strength (though it felt like I could do any physical thing in that moment), but a spiritual one. Instantly my whole being felt alive, and all my typical doubts and questioning suddenly became impossible in that moment. The speaker proceeded to say that God had also seen my swear, and that I should not make vows to God (the day before, for the first time I vowed to God I would never again give in to my depravity, and broke the vow that same night). After saying these things (and other things that made me know I was the one he was speaking of) he called people up for prayer. The only time I ever went up for prayer was if my parents forced me, so I reasoned that if I went up this time on my own volition, my parents might think he was talking about me. In light of this, even though I felt called to go up, I decided not to, and asked God in my heart to find another way to reach me. After the speaker prayed for others that went up, he paused for a moment with an expression that seemed taken aback, and then proceeded to ask everyone to pray for the person next to them. My dad was sitting next to me, but because my dad didn't know my situation, I wondered what we would speak over me. He whispered a prayer over me in words not of English, yet somehow I felt I knew the language, only could not comprehend it in that moment. After everyone was done praying, the church moves on to praise and worship, and the first song that plays is Above All. As soon as the song started playing, I instantly recalled my previous prayer months ago where I had requested this. Throughout this experience, not only did my body feel radiant with spiritual strength, but also Love. Love was what I dominantly felt, but it didn't feel like any love I was used to, but one that was unconditional, and indescribably deepemystical. No love (or any feeling for that matter) I had felt up to this point came even close to what I felt in that moment. I remember at one point my body even began to quiver, no matter how much I tried to stifle it. At this point, all doubts about God's existence were gone with the wind, for I recall experiencing a deep knowing that extended beyond my human understanding.
The following week was the best week of my life. All my addictive tendencies and perverse thoughts were completely gone. Not a single depraved thought entered my mind. Not only this, but I distinctly recall the amount of joy I felt in those days. I had the biggest smile on my face which I could not hide, and all my depression was wiped clean without a trace. There was also this intense feeling of deep connection with everything, even nature. One experience in particular that sticks out to me to this day was when that week I was waiting at the bus stop like I usually do, and I began to stare at the tree in front of me. This is the same tree I had seen a million times before, but as I stared at it this time, suddenly the tree became vivid before my eyes, full of intense life and color--colors and beauty which didn't seem physically possible. In that moment I remember saying to myself, "nature is praising God with my soul", and didn't think much of it in the moment, as it appeared to be an obvious, unquestionable reality. I remember going to class that day and having multiple friends and teachers pull me aside and ask what was wrong with me, and that I had a different "glow" about me, and that they haven't seen me with this much joy before. I felt reborn, like I was truly seeing life for the first time. I felt complete in God/Love, and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced. After the week had passed, I suddenly felt like my "normal" self again--not in terms of feeling depressed and returning to my depravity, but rather that it felt like my mind was in control again instead of the True mind. I now had to consciously work to control my thoughts, find joy, etc., but it was easier to do still, given that I remembered the state from which I previously came. I remember feeling that life on earth was simultaneously pointless while also not. All of this happened a decade ago, so lots has happened since then, but this is an experience I will never forget. I still struggle with life of course just like everyone else, but I'm in a much better place now then where I used to be, simply because of God's Love. Any time life tries to get to me, I look back to this time in my life.
I say all these things not to boast in myself, but to boast in God. There is nothing inherently more special about me, nor was any of what I experienced my own doing. I simply decided to put my faith in God because that was all I had, and God answered, giving me what I needed at the time, and I am confident he will do the same for anyone in similar circumstance who places their faith in Him. I'm also slowly growing past the point of arguing with people about this or that when it comes to God. If you want to know God, seek Him, and He will answer. On that day, all arguments will be brought to nothing, for if God is Truth, will He not eventually answer you in the Truth of Himself? If you have any questions feel free to dm me, and I'd also love to hear any comments. Other than that, thanks for taking the time to read :)
With peace and love,
Anonymous

In which this ficnapping first-timer tackles An Introduction to Terran Zoology by u/Still_Performance_39. I'm still a newbie author, so imagine my surprise when I'm handed one of the most popular stories on the sub. One that's received the rare honor of being approved by the fifteenth holy knight of space himself. No pressure I guess lol.
I knew what I wanted to write about, at least. I've been waiting for this series to cover the ocean, so this was the perfect opportunity to do it myself! I had to think hard about what to include; the ocean is a big place after all. See if you can guess the secret (really obvious) theme I went with! Fingers crossed I did this story justice! (Shoutout to Wikipedia btw)
Memory transcription subject: Rysel, Venlil Environmental Researcher
Date [standardized human time]: Idk sometime after Cilany’s broadcast
Brahk, brahk, brahk!
I tore across the campus, sprinting for the Terran Zoology lecture hall as fast as my legs could carry me.
I can’t believe I overslept! Of all days, it had to be today.
Dr. Bernard had teased today’s topic last time. “By now we’ve learned about animals from all over Earth, and through our simulation exercises you’ve seen for yourselves how intricate Terran ecosystems can be.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Everybody’s simulated ecosystems had failed catastrophically on their first attempts. It’d taken a herd of paws for everyone to accept how necessary predators were to maintain balance in Earth’s ecosystems.
“With what we’ve learned so far, we are ready to finally tackle one of if not the most complex and vibrant ecosystems on Earth: the coral reef. This lesson even has some direct relevance to us here on Venlil Prime. You might have heard the recent news about those biologists exploring Venlil Prime’s oceans not far from here. Well, the region they’ve been studying shares many things in common with Terran coral reefs. Learning about reefs on Earth could be a useful reference point for uncovering the secrets of your own oceans. I hope to see you all tomorrow!”
I’d been so excited I could barely fall asleep. I’d also completely forgotten that Milam was away visiting family. Why did that matter? Well, without the raucous squawking of her alarm, I’d overslept, and now I was about to be late!
My lungs and legs burned, but I pressed forward. There, the lecture hall’s door was still open! I dashed inside and scrambled to my seat, gasping and wheezing as I tried to still my beating heart. I’d made it.
“Wow, Rysel, you’re right on time. That’s the latest you’ve been yet!”
I glanced to my right and saw Sandi chuckling heartily at my expense.
“I -hrrf- over -hrrf- slept,” I wheezed, “didn’t -huff- want to -huff- miss this -huff- though.”
“Hmph. Rysel, of all Venlil, oversleeping for one of the Doctor’s lessons. Never thought I’d see the day,” Kailo scoffed from my left, snuggled deep into his duvet. I supposed it was technically an insult, but there was no hostility in his tone. I knew what real anger and hostility sounded like from him, and he hadn’t done or said anything like that for some time. No, this was just Kailo being Kailo.
I flicked my tail at him in a friendly greeting. “Good paw to you too, Kailo.”
He huffed and turned away, but I didn’t miss his tail swishing under his seat.
Kailo’s changed so much since our first day. It’s like he’s a different person. Honestly, I sometimes feel like a different person too.
I’d come a long way from being scared of humans and enrolling in the exchange program for money. Now, these classes were the highlight of every paw, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to do anything else.
My reminiscing was cut short by a familiar series of sharp knocks on the doorframe. My tail whirled with glee at the sight of the familiar figure.
“Good morning everyone! How’re we all doing on this very fine paw?” Dr. Bernard greeted us with a beaming smile.
Most of us beeped out a cheery hello in response. I glanced around the room, warm contentment welling in my chest. We were no longer the nervous, skeptical, and borderline hostile class Dr. Bernard had to put up with on the first day. Now, even the shyest participants flicked a friendly greeting in his direction.
“Excellent! I’m always delighted to hear your enthusiasm. Now, just to remind you, today we’ll be taking our first proper look at one of the most beautiful biomes Earth’s oceans have to offer. I always enjoy chatting with you all, but we do have a lot to get through today. Would anyone object if we skipped the banter this time and dive straight into the material?”
Yes, I’m ready! Let’s go!
The rest of the class echoed my sentiment, beeping with varying levels of excitement and curiosity. Bernard smiled as he glanced over everyone, his gaze lingering on me. “I’m happy to see that everyone’s excited for today’s lesson.”
It was at this point that I noticed that in my excitement, I’d jumped out of my seat and lunged onto the table. Sandi was chuckling merrily, and I heard a cough from Kailo underneath his blanket cocoon. Did I say that out loud? I slowly slid back into my seat, my ears blooming hot orange from embarrassment. I knew at this point that Bernard wouldn’t take offense to my outburst, but that didn’t make it any less embarrassing for a grown man to be jumping up and down like a pup.
“Since everyone seems to be on board,” Bernard said, graciously distracting everyone from my faux pas, “let’s dive right into our ocean lesson, shall we?”
His pun was met with scattered beeps and groans, though most of the class let out merry bleats to express their excitement for the lesson. The classroom’s monitor flickered to life, and gasps echoed throughout the room. The image showed a rocky seabed covered with what looked like strangely shaped rocks in a wide array of bright colors. The fish swimming among the rocks, many of them as colorful as their environment, stood out against the deep blue background of the ocean water. Of all the gorgeous pictures of life on Earth I’d seen, none had ever been this vibrant, this full of color. It almost felt like I was looking at an art exhibit.
Wow… this develops naturally_? It’s so pretty! I wonder how the rocks form those bright colors._
“There’s really only one way to start a lecture about coral reefs, and that’s with the animals that give them their name. Coral!”
Bernard changed the screen to a close-up of the weird rocks.
“Now, at first glance, these may just look like a bunch of weird rocks.” Wait, they’re not? “But they are actually colonies of living creatures.”
Confused beeps and whispers broke out in the audience, as people tried to wrap their heads around how the objects on the screen could possibly be animals. My mind went back to our first day, when we classified a bunch of Earth creatures as prey or predator. There had been quite a few aquatic animals, and several of them hadn’t looked anything like animals. Maybe this was something like that?
It seemed my seat neighbors had come to similar conclusions, as both of them looked relatively unfazed by Bernard’s reveal, Milam instead flicking her ear in thought while Kailo leaned forward with intense focus.
“Each of these colorful formations is made up of hundreds of tiny, genetically identical individuals called polyps.”
The screen changed to a close-up shot of what at first glance looked like a fleshy plant that had grown roots into the rock, but the diagram next to it had labels that read things like “tentacle,” “mouth,” and “stomach.” Animal parts, not plant parts.
“This is an individual polyp. They are very small, typically only a few millimeters in diameter and a few centimeters in height. They anchor themselves in one place by secreting an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate from their base. From their anchored spot, they catch and eat any food that drifts by with the tentacles by their mouth. The exoskeleton they make gets left behind, allowing new generations of the colony to build on top of it. Thus, over many generations, the colony can build a skeleton like the ones you saw in the previous photo, up to several meters in size.”
So that was how it worked! It made sense once he explained it. Colonial organisms were an uncommon but familiar concept in the Federation, though they mostly consisted of various small insects. The idea of invertebrates secreting an exoskeleton was also a known concept. This was the first time I’d seen both traits in a single creature, though.
“These skeletons are the structure upon which the reef ecosystem grows, providing shelter for thousands of different species. Even though they occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean area, they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species, making them one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.”
With the truly staggering variety of species on Earth, 25% was no small number. My ears tilted back in awe at the pictures of the reefs on screen. They were like… underwater cities! Living cities that built themselves and teemed with all kinds of wonderfully fascinating creatures.
Bernard glanced around the room, wearing his “I’m about to ask a question” smile. The question arrived soon after. “Would anyone like to guess what corals’ diet consists of?”
Let’s see… they grab things with their tentacles, but they don’t move, meaning that they have to subsist on whatever floats by. Hmmm, why does that sound familiar…
The images from our first day still floated around in my mind. Wait! That’s it! I raised my paw.
“Yes, Rysel?”
“Is it like the jellyfish from our first day? Snagging small creatures in their tentacles and pulling them into their mouths?”
Bernard grinned widely. “Excellent conclusion, Rysel. You are right, coral polyps do indeed have similar feeding habits to those of jellyfish. Both coral and jellyfish belong to the phylum Cnidaria, so you were correct to draw parallels between the two. Obviously, due to their size, any prey they catch must also be microscopic.”
My tail wagged proudly at his praise. The feeding behaviors of jellyfish had horrified me back then, but now I could take it in stride. The fact that I could even remotely navigate the humans’ complicated classification system gave me even more satisfaction. I glanced around the room. A few classmates seemed a bit uncomfortable at the mention of coral’s predatory nature, but most remained fascinated and engaged. It’d taken months, but we were finally beginning to appreciate predators as something more than monsters, even if they had to be predators that didn’t even look like animals.
“However, while corals do feed with their tentacles, that isn’t actually where most of their energy comes from. You see, most corals have evolved a symbiotic relationship with certain types of algae that live in their tissues, which they acquire from the surrounding environment. The algae produce energy through photosynthesis, which the coral can then use. Algae also aid the coral in calcification for the coral skeleton and waste removal. The algae, in turn, benefit by having a safe place to live, and by consuming the coral’s carbon dioxide and waste products as nutrients. Truly an excellent example of two species coming together for the mutual benefit of one another.”
I knew what symbiosis was, of course. Traditional Federation classes loved to highlight how different prey species united together to benefit one another. It was considered a major part of the innate empathy in prey species that predators lacked. Not only was Bernard showing us a symbiotic relationship involving what would traditionally be considered a predator, but said predator was allied with a plant, of all things!
Was this phenomenon unique to Earth, or was this yet another thing the Federation hid from all of us?
“The coral reef is filled with mutually beneficial relationships like this. Take, for example, one of the most iconic reef creatures, the sea anemone.”
With the push of a button, the screen changed to show a creature that loosely resembled a coral polyp, only bigger, more colorful, and with longer tentacles.
“Now, sea anemones are close relatives of coral, and they share many similarities. They feed in much the same way as coral, snaring prey with their stinging tentacles and drawing it into the mouth. Their diet mainly consists of small fish, crustaceans, and other appropriately sized organisms. Despite its predatory nature, the sea anemone is often considered the poster child of mutualism in the ocean.”
Bernard’s words prompted hushed murmuring throughout the classroom. I was a bit unsettled by the anemone’s predator status, but those feelings were overwhelmed by my sensation of curiosity. What was it about anemones that made their relationships so notable? I just had to know!
I turned my ears to the conversations around me. Some classmates were saying that any mutualistic relationships an anemone could have must be predatory in nature: a union with other predators to hunt and kill more efficiently. Others argued it could be something else, like the coral and algae from before. Someone suggested that the humans were wrong about them, but that notion was quickly shot down.
Everyone’s reactions made me realize just how desensitized we’d all become to “predatory” things. While the term was still uncomfortable, Bernard had, through his lessons, patiently instilled in us the idea that predators were more than wanton bloodlust and violence. There existed predators like that, of course, but with such a broad and diverse class of animals, one would expect some horrible ones due to sheer statistics. Likewise, there would be plenty of good ones.
Sea anemones are predators, yet they’re famous for their mutually beneficial relationships with other lifeforms. If someone said something like that to me months ago, I’d never have believed them. I was so certain that I knew the fundamental mechanisms of ecosystems like the back of my paw. I chuckled to myself. Stars, so much has changed since then.
“First of all, many sea anemones form symbiotic relationships with algae in the same way corals do, benefiting from their photosynthesis while offering shelter and protection in return. But that’s hardly the only relationship they’re known for.”
Bernard changed the screen to a video of an anemone. Bright orange fish with white stripes swam around its tentacles. My heart skipped a beat as one brushed up against the tentacles, but the fish seemed unaffected by the anemone’s venom, much to my relief.
“This right here is one of the most famous symbiotic relationships on Earth: the sea anemone and the clownfish. These small, colorful fish have adapted to the anemone’s stinging tentacles, allowing them to nestle among them. The anemone protects the clownfish from predators, functions as a safe nesting site, and provides food from the leftover scraps of the anemone’s meals. The clownfish, in turn, defend the anemone from its predators, provide nutrients through their excrement, and circulate the water around the anemone, improving its respiration.”
As Bernard talked, the fish on the screen frolicked around their tentacled friend, the adorable sight eliciting pleased mewls from several audience members.
They protect each other, they feed each other, and they play together too! Who knew that two wildly different species could have such a beautiful friendship, even when one of them doesn’t have a brain!
Vlek spoke up, his voice skeptical. “Excuse me Doctor. You said that clownfish feed off of anemones’ meals. They are predators as well, then?”
“One could make that argument,” Bernard replied, “clownfish are omnivorous, and primarily feed on ambient zooplankton, with their diets supplemented by their anemone’s scraps and algae. The microscopic organisms they eat are so abundant that they don’t really need to hunt; they can just munch on whatever happens to drift by.”
“Like their anemone friends!”
“Yes, Rova, like their anemone friends!”
The class seemed to have mixed feelings about the clownfish’s diet. Zooplankton being tiny, simple creatures made it easier, but some still squirmed at the thought. Personally, I didn’t think it took away from how fascinating this duo was. As I’d come to learn with most predators, their diets weren’t what defined them; they were just one of many facets of their nature.
Bernard changed the slide to a photo of a different fish. “While clownfish are the most famous species to form mutualistic relationships with sea anemones, they are hardly the only ones. Take this cardinalfish, for example…”
Bernard went on to highlight several more species with special relationships with sea anemones, each one fascinating in its own way. Fish that laid their eggs among their tentacles. Snails that used them as shelter from predators. Crabs that mounted them on their shells for defense. One type of crab even attached anemones to its claws, using them as living weapons!
Such a simplistic creature, yet it’s evolved a rich network of relationships with so many different species. No wonder Bernard called them iconic.
Kailo fidgeted next to me. Something was obviously bugging him, but he seemed hesitant to speak up.
“Before we move on, does anybody have questions?” Bernard asked smoothly. He probably noticed Kailo’s uncertainty too. He had a teacher’s eye for that sort of thing.
Kailo huffed with determination and raised his paw. “Yes, Kailo?”
“Um, all the animals you’ve talked about so far have been pred– carnivores and omnivores. Where are all the pre– herbivorous fish?”
Bernard grinned. “That’s an excellent question, Kailo. There are herbivorous fish that graze on the algae of the coral, such as the parrotfish and the rabbitfish. That said, true herbivores are relatively uncommon in the ocean. After all, there aren’t many plants around besides algae and seaweed, and a lot of the algae that is there is integrated into the bodies of coral polyps. Thus, thanks to natural selection, most underwater species consume flesh in some form.”
A few months ago Kailo would’ve exploded in anger and denial at that response, but now his ears just tilted in confusion. “But… how can that work?? How can an ecosystem with so many pred– meat eaters sustain any sort of population, let alone the vast numbers you told us?”
Several sets of ears flicked in agreement at Kailo’s question.
“Of course, given what we know about land ecosystems, it makes sense to assume that the base of the food chain would be mostly herbivores. Under the sea, however, plants are much less abundant, so that role is filled by other animals. Some creatures derive nutrition by filtering food from the water or sand, much like a plant would pull sustenance from the air and ground. Many species, especially smaller ones, reproduce frequently and in large quantities, allowing them to sustain significant populations even when predators regularly hunt them. Finally, and this is a good transition into our next section, not all carnivores are predators.”
Wait. Huh? How does that even work? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
“Well, technically they are predators to the microscopic organisms they feed on, but they certainly aren’t predators in the traditional sense.”
A new set of images appeared on the monitor, showing off a handful of small fish and crustaceans.
“Now, as I’m sure you all have noticed, most fish don’t have hands or paws.” My brain conjured an image of a fish with furry Venlil arms. I stifled a whistle at the silly thought.
“This means that they can’t groom themselves. Dead skin, infected tissue, and nasty parasites can just accumulate on their bodies, and there’s nothing they can do about it. What’s a poor fish to do? Well, that’s where these guys come in. These are cleaner fish and cleaner shrimp. They are carnivores whose diet consists of dead or infected skin and parasites from the bodies of bigger fish, like so.”
He switched the screen to two photos: the left showed a fish (the parrotfish he mentioned just now?) floating by some coral with two cleaner fish picking at it. One was nipping at its scales, the other nestled all up in its gills. On the right, a cleaner shrimp mounted the back of a different fish, presumably using its claws to pluck things off its skin.
“These cleaners congregate in areas called cleaning stations, and animals from all over the reef swim to them to get cleaned. The cleaners remove parasites and dead skin from all the hard-to-reach places, like their gills and even inside their mouths!”
The monitor now showed a video, the contents of which elicited several gasps from the audience. The spotty fish in the video had its mouth open, revealing rows of sharp, mean-looking teeth. Side-facing eyes notwithstanding, this was definitely a predator. And a cleaner fish was swimming into its mouth. On purpose. And the predator just let it. We watched for a tense moment, waiting for those jaws to clamp down, but the cleaner swam out of the mouth with no issue, and the predator fish just… left, revealing a surprisingly long body to the camera as it did.
“That was a moray eel, considered an apex predator of the coral reef. Despite that, it allowed that cleaner wrasse to clean its mouth safely, and the wrasse clearly wasn’t concerned about being eaten. Would anyone care to guess why?”
Silence filled the room as everyone thought, until Sandi raised her paw. “Well, the eel wanted to be cleaned, and it couldn’t be cleaned if it ate the cleaner, so it resisted the temptation.”
As usual, Bernard paused to allow us to digest the answer before replying. “You pretty much got it! Even predators like the moray need cleaning, and eating the cleaners is a good way to get refused service from the rest of their kin. One minor correction, though. The average customer is not tempted to eat the cleaners, even when it’s a predator. There are exceptions, of course, but customers generally aren’t hungry when they show up for cleaning, or else they’d be out hunting instead. Moreover, the cleaner’s size makes for a poor meal; hardly worth the cost of being refused service at the cleaning station in the future.”
A chatter of discussion erupted after Bernard finished his explanation. It made sense, but it was still so… odd, to think about. I listened to the scattered conversations around me.
“How could a predator ever not be hungry? Sure, humans aren’t like that, but they’re sapient! An animal couldn’t possibly control…”
“...such a beautiful relationship. To think these cleaners get their food by helping others…”
“...wonder if there are others like them?”
The chatter hadn’t yet died down when the break bell rang.
“Ah, looks like we’ll have to end our conversation here for now,” Bernard chuckled. “Not to worry, though! Part 2 of this presentation will be after lunch, in which I will talk about humanity’s relationship with reefs and highlight some more of the amazing features of reef creatures. See you in a claw!”
Aw come on, you can’t just tease us like that! I have so many questions!
Coral reefs were so cool! I’d always thought the ocean was a dark, scary place where incomprehensible terrors lurked in the depths. Who knew the seas could be so lively, colorful, and fascinating?
I can’t wait to learn more!

Grab a snack if you want to reads this lol, this is a long one.
I’m sure a lot of people are curious about the lives of intl sch ppl, and haven’t seen this kind of post before. While this won’t be a comprehensive look at everything, it’s just my experience in the last 6 months. There’s a chance someone here could recognise me based on what I say, but if anyone does, please don’t reveal.
I suppose the first question would be why. It’s the most sensible question after all. Why not do the ‘usual’ route. Unfortunately that decision was never mine to make. A bit of background on me would be helpful first. You could say I come from an elite/good sec school in express stream. My grades, especially from sec 3 onwards, weren’t fantastic. By mid years of sec 4 I had a whopping l1r5 of 39. Fearing for the toll of jc work on me, they decided to start the application process to the intl sch around the same period. Without telling me. Kind of a dick move if you ask me. They informed me around the June holidays, and we had quite a few discussions over the next few days.
The next question would be “Why didn’t I just say no?”. My parents had already put down the initial deposit that is part of the application process, and they would only get back a small % of it if they forfeited my place. And since we're talking about intl schools here, its obviously no kopitiam coffee fee. Even though they applied me to one of the three local intl schs (HCI intl, ACS intl, SJI intl), it still was sizeable, and I didn't want to put another burden on my parents (my sister's in uni). And yeah you can call me rich or wtv, idrc at this point. So now I was pressured to keep to this path. But I wasn't going down without a fight though. I had worked so hard to get into my sec sch, and my teachers were really dedicated to getting the best out of us. Same goes for my tuition teachers. Even though my results said one thing, everyone could read between the lines that I was improving. Everyone except the people it mattered to the most. So I made a compromise with my parents. If I score below 10, I could join the jc's of my choice. As you can see, that didn't happen.
Please don't see this as me being insolent towards people who worked hard to get into any jc. They made a point about my older sister's experience. My sister had an unpleasant time during jc (She did her A's right smack in the middle of covid in 2020). Unpleasant chers, uncooperative pw group mates, council slackers, yk the usual. I guess what pushed them over the edge was that these weren't isolated events, she's had to deal with a fair number of them over the years. And combined with me being on a similar trajectory (I had a terrible math cher in sec 1&2, and a terrible cca teacher in charge), I guess it led them to believe I would go through the same things. I don't blame them for caring about my well-being, but I think they overreacted. For one thing 2020 was an unprecedented year, for all of us, and no one could've predicted the way things went. Also my sister would've had a much different teenage experience coming from an all-girls school to a co-ed jc, as compared to me going from an all-boys. So there would've been things she found weird or uncommon that I would find perfectly normal. But they did say a lot of nasty things about jc and a levels as whole that really irked me. "Anything above 10 is a step down from the IB". Granted it's not entirely wrong, but to completely disregard it is unacceptable. For all its flaws, which there are many, the A levels is still a really good form of education. I don't think a lot of us realise how privileged we are to have our own exam system that is internationally recognised, and can be put against the likes of the American and British system. A lot of teens here strive to get one of those coveted spots, and a lot don't make it.
So then I wanted to get below 10. I guess this is where the problem lay. Instead of proving to myself what I could do, I was working to prove them wrong. Because it hurt, to me it was like they didn't believe in me. And that's the last thing a parent should do, make their child feel as though their parents have no hope for them. In the end I got 14-2=12. While I did lower it by three times from mid years, and twice from prelims, I was still crushed. Cause now I was going to an unfamiliar environment, and all of my friends were moving on, while I was left thinking what if. To add insult to injury, my parents still had the nerve to comfort me and say I still had a choice. Literally 2 months ago they were slamming the system and the school I was posted to (CJC science). No no no no, if I went to cjc and struggled, they're the kind to slander me for the next 2 years.
Now the part you've all been waiting for, my experience. It's only been six months, so anything I say is still quite limited/unfinished. I'll make another post at the end of next year for a better look back on my time here. I'll do things chronologically. Orientation (if you can even call it that), was kinda like getting to know your new class at the start of sec 3. There were only 26 new students coming in this year, so I figured we wouldn't be much of a priority either way. Everyone already knew each other, so I was left to my own devices for the day. And it was only one day anyway, it was more of a sports day tbh. The first few days was just trying to find my way to classes. I had missed a school tour in august last year cause it was right smack in prelims. I had to rely on my timetable and some help from my form classmates. Speaking of which, they're nice people individually, but we haven't had any good moments together apart from one time when we went to Bounce @ Grange rd. And even that was a mandatory event that all classes had to organise themselves.
Before going in I had a lot of assumptions and generalisations of intl sch ppl, a lot of which came from being in the local system. After 6 months in, I won't say they're wrong, but they haven't been completely disproven yet. Yk the usual lah, snobbish, out of touch, don't care about grades. But if there's one things my parents got right out of this whole ordeal, it was choosing the correct local intl sch. At least at the one I'm currently in, there's a lot less of those kind of people than I expected. There's a fairly big sg/pr population here too, which means ns boys hehe. But even the ones of different nationality, and those who have bounced around a fair bit, have been welcoming of me. I've even made a few friends here (playing football every day helps). So life's better that I thought it would have been. I genuinely thought I would've offed myself by know. That's how bad my mental state was at the start of the year. Add to the fact that they start in Jan, so I didn't get my extra 1 month break >:( But yeah life's been ok.
But it's not always been ok. One of the preconceptions I had of intl schools was the overinflated drama, which I unfortunately got from Hollywood. But I never expected it to be true, and somehow on a worse level than sec sch. Honestly I can't even keep track of things at times, and I've even been in the crossfire of a few. Things spread around like wildfire here, especially when everyone's known each other for 5 years+. I thought that after surviving an all-boys school, where people would wrestle half naked, nothing would faze me. But it gets quite extreme sometimes, from what I've heard. The more the money the more the drama ig.
Speaking of which, lifestyles are quite different here. Not in a bad way, it's just something I'm not used to. Everyone is used to each other and can spontaneously just do stuff like pop over to someone's house with zero warning. Leisure back in the hood would be the boys pulling up for a game of footie or a late night gaming session. Here there's a lot of travelling, brands, going out and spending kind of things. Stuff that I've never been accustomed to doing and never been comfortable doing, even when I could. Not saying that doing those sorts of thing is bad. If you have money you can and should use it, not everyone is as fortunate as we are. I don't mean to sound patronizing, this is just new to me, being surrounded by a lot of these people, whereas elsewhere it was just me and maybe just one or two other guys. I've had many friends, close friends who have looked at me solely on who I am, and not the numbers in my parents bank account.
Speaking of numbers, grades are an interesting subject (pun intended). There are your usual mix, the hard workers, the average ones and the slackers. I have classes with several of all, and I try to avoid the slackers, because I knew from the stary that I would be irritated by them. Dyk how many people will kill to be in their spot? And they're doing nothing but rotting on their asses. For some reason, working hard is kind of looked down upon. I guess at this point in the course of the Diploma, there's nothing much to worry about, but that doesn't mean you should be failing. It baffles me, as a person who used to fail constantly, now being top in my class for several subjects. Like I said before, 6 months is not an accurate representation of people's entire lives, but I expected some dignity at least. If there's one trait that's the most different between home and here, is that at home the value of hard work is appreciated and is a common struggle. Somehow me doing the bare minimum here (In my eyes) is seen as impressive, which is something I've actually been told. A lot pf people told me they'd die if they tried the O's.
Friends is another thing. I was fortunate to make a few, but not everyone was as lucky as I was. There was one guy in my form class who joined this year like me, but made 0 friends, so naturally he gravitated towards me, having also come from the local school system. In fact there were more than than just the 2 of us. There are about 7 (from the ppl I've met), including one who was from my sec sch that I met on ori day, which was a nice surprise. I didn't know him too well in sec sch (we were in different classes but played recess footie) , but we've become closer in the past months. We all sort of understood each other in terms of shared experiences, but we made different friend groups, except him. I saw him sitting by himself a lot, be it eating or studying. Eventually he left for poly. (My mum would've dropped dead if I wanted that). He told me that the diploma wasn't for him, which I can understand. I used to think that too (still do sometimes). But I wouldn't be surprised if that had played a part in his decision to leave. Some other kids were more fortunate than me, as they did what I wanted to do, leave after getting their O lvl results. He also mentioned el (they call it langlit over here) as part of the problem, which I also agree with. It's actually my worst subject rn, mostly because I dropped lit in sec 2 and didn't want to deal with it, another reason why I didn't want to do the diploma.
Final thoughts for anyone who's bothered to make it this far: Thanks for bearing with me lol. I have one more week before the school goes on the six week summer break (June hols essentially). Yes the term hasn't ended and yes the term dates are weird. I'm most probably going to lepak in my room the entire time, cause honestly I need it. I don't know what to make of my time here so far, it's felt more like a dream at times, but I'll just go wherever the river takes me.
Edit: can’t believe I forgot to mention this, but one of my childhood friends joined said intl sch in sec 3, she had a topsy turvy sec 1&2, didn’t like school cultures and you know how girls can be sometimes. She described going here as the best decision she ever made. Which is the catch I guess. You can either get a cohort that pushes you to do your best and welcomes you into their family, or the opposite.

To cultivate a meaningful practice with Oracle Card Spreads, start by choosing a deck that resonates with you. Establish a sacred space for your readings and set clear intentions. Regularly cleanse and charge your cards. Develop a connection with each card's symbolism through meditation and reflection. Practice various spreads to enhance your interpretive skills. Trust your intuition and incorporate journaling to track your insights.
Consistency and openness are key to deepening your understanding of Oracle Cards. Oracle cards are a divination tool similar to Tarot cards, consisting of a deck with unique images and symbols. Unlike Tarot, Oracle cards don't adhere to a standardized structure, allowing for greater creativity in design. These cards are used for intuitive guidance, self-reflection, and spiritual insights. Each card carries a specific meaning or message, and users often draw cards randomly or lay out spreads to gain insights into various aspects of their lives or seek answers to specific questions.
Oracle cards are embraced by individuals seeking personal growth, inspiration, and a connection to their intuition.
Oracle cards are diverse, covering themes like angels, animals, mythology, or affirmations. Users interpret the cards based on intuition, imagery, and personal associations rather than a fixed set of meanings.
The practice involves shuffling the deck, posing a question, and drawing cards to receive guidance. Some use Oracle cards for daily inspiration, while others turn to them during pivotal life moments.
The open-ended nature of Oracle cards encourages users to explore their spirituality, fostering a unique and personal connection with the deck.
Regular use enhances one's intuitive abilities and deepens the bond with the cards.To deepen your Oracle card practice, consider exploring different spreads that cater to specific inquiries or areas of your life.
Develop a ritual around your readings, such as grounding exercises or meditation, to enhance focus and receptivity. Engage with the imagery on the cards through visualization and contemplation, allowing your subconscious to contribute to the interpretation.
Maintain a journal to record your readings, insights, and feelings, fostering a reflective process that helps track patterns and personal growth over time. Remember, the essence of Oracle cards lies in personal connection and intuition, making each reading a unique and enriching experience.
Experiment with combining Oracle card readings with other spiritual practices like meditation, crystal work, or rituals to create a holistic experience.
Join communities or online forums to share experiences and insights with fellow practitioners, gaining new perspectives on card interpretations. Periodically cleanse and recharge your cards to maintain their energy.
Embrace the evolving nature of your practice, allowing it to adapt as you grow spiritually. As you become more attuned to your intuition, you may find that Oracle cards become a powerful tool for self-discovery, guidance, and empowerment.
Consider integrating Oracle card readings into a mindful routine, incorporating them into moments of introspection, gratitude, or goal-setting. Explore different spreads or design your own to tailor readings to specific aspects of your life. Share your insights with others or use Oracle cards in group settings for collective guidance.
As you progress, don't hesitate to explore advanced techniques, such as combining multiple decks or creating your own cards to personalize the experience further. Ultimately, the key lies in cultivating a practice that resonates with you, fostering a deeper connection with the spiritual insights Oracle cards can offer.
To further enrich your Oracle card practice, delve into the symbolism and history behind the specific deck you're using. Understanding the cultural or spiritual context can deepen your appreciation and interpretation of the cards. Explore different spreads for specific purposes, such as love, career, or personal growth.
Additionally, regularly revisit and reassess your personal connection to the cards, allowing your evolving perspectives to influence the readings. Continuously expand your knowledge by exploring diverse decks and attending workshops or classes on Oracle card reading. This ongoing exploration ensures a dynamic and evolving practice tailored to your unique spiritual journey.
Grounding exercises help anchor you in the present moment and connect with the physical world. Here are a few simple grounding techniques:

1. Deep Breathing: Take slow, deep breaths. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Focus on the sensation of your breath to bring your attention to the present.
   
2. Body Scan: Sit or lie down comfortably. Pay attention to each part of your body, starting from your toes and moving up. Notice any tension and consciously release it, bringing awareness to each body part.
   
3. Mindful Walking: Take a slow walk and pay attention to each step. Feel the ground beneath your feet, notice the movement of your body, and observe your surroundings. This helps shift your focus from thoughts to the physical experience.
   
4. Grounding Objects: Hold onto an object with texture or weight, like a stone or a piece of fabric. Pay attention to its features, temperature, and the way it feels in your hand, bringing your awareness to the present moment.
   
5. Visualization: Imagine roots extending from your body into the ground, like a tree. Envision these roots grounding you and providing stability. Connect with the Earth's energy as you visualize this grounding process.
   
6. Five Senses Check: Engage your senses by identifying five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This exercise brings you into the immediate sensory experience.
   
7. Affirmations: Repeat positive affirmations or mantras to center your thoughts. Affirmations can help redirect your focus and bring a sense of calmness.
   

Experiment with these grounding exercises to find what resonates best with you, and use them whenever you need to center yourself or alleviate stress.
To incorporate crystals and rituals into your Oracle card practice, consider the following steps:

1. Crystal Selection: Choose crystals that resonate with your intentions or the specific energy you want to enhance during your Oracle card readings. For example, amethyst for intuition, rose quartz for love, or clear quartz for clarity.
   
2. Cleansing Crystals: Before each reading, cleanse your chosen crystals to remove any previous energies. You can use methods like smudging with sage, placing them in moonlight or sunlight, or using other crystal-clearing techniques.
   
3. Crystal Placement: Position your crystals around your Oracle card deck or spread. You can place them in a pattern or intuitively position them based on the energy you want to enhance. Trust your instincts and the energies of the crystals.
   
4. Setting Intentions: Before beginning your Oracle card reading, set clear intentions for the session. State your purpose and what guidance or insights you seek. This helps align the energy of the crystals and cards with your intentions.
   
5. Ritual Elements: Create a ritual around your Oracle card practice. This might include lighting candles, playing soft music, or incorporating specific colors or symbols that hold personal meaning. Consistency in your ritual can create a conducive environment for your practice.
   
6. Meditation with Crystals: Meditate with your chosen crystals before starting the Oracle card reading. This helps attune your energy to the vibrations of the crystals and enhances your intuitive connection.
   
7. Crystal Grids: Experiment with creating crystal grids around your Oracle card space. This involves arranging crystals in a specific pattern to amplify energy and intention. Grids can be simple or complex, depending on your preference.
   
8. Closing Ritual: Conclude your Oracle card session with a closing ritual. Express gratitude for the insights received, release any energy that no longer serves you, and cleanse both the cards and crystals. This helps maintain a clear and positive energy space.
   
9. Crystal Charging: Periodically recharge your crystals to maintain their energy. You can do this by placing them in the sunlight, moonlight, or on a selenite charging plate. This ensures that the crystals remain potent and ready for your Oracle card sessions.
   
10. Incorporate Elemental Energies: Align your practice with the elements. For example, use earthy crystals for grounding (e.g., hematite), airy crystals for mental clarity (e.g., clear quartz), watery crystals for emotional insight (e.g., moonstone), and fiery crystals for passion (e.g., carnelian). This adds a elemental dimension to your readings.
    
11. Create Ritual Symbols: Develop symbols or gestures that act as anchors for specific energies during your Oracle card readings. For instance, drawing a particular symbol in the air or using hand gestures can amplify your intention and focus.
    
12. Moon Phases and Oracle Readings: Leverage the energy of different moon phases for your Oracle card readings. Perform readings during the new moon for new beginnings, the full moon for clarity and manifestation, or the waning moon for releasing and letting go.
    
13. Crystal Elixirs: Create crystal elixirs by placing crystals in water under moonlight or sunlight (ensuring the crystals are safe for water). Use the elixir to anoint your cards or drink before a reading, infusing the energy of the crystals into your practice.
    
14. Dedicated Sacred Space: Designate a specific area for your Oracle card practice and crystal work. This sacred space can be adorned with meaningful items, creating an energetic container that enhances your connection with the divine and your intuitive abilities.
    
15. Intuitive Crystal Pairing: Trust your intuition when combining crystals with Oracle cards. Allow yourself to be drawn to certain crystals based on the energy you sense or the guidance you seek. Intuitive pairings can deepen the resonance of your readings.
    

Continuously explore and adapt these practices to align with your evolving spiritual journey. The synergy of crystals, rituals, and Oracle cards can create a powerful and personalized experience, enriching your connection with your inner wisdom and the energies around you.

This is a segment from their most recent 8-K at the close of Friday. I'll summarize for you before you pretend like your were going to read it. 183,370 shares have been sold which diluted the float to 294,000. Then warrents of 550,110 which can be redeemed instantly to a further 844,120. So we have been effectively diluted by 87%. Ouch. And they have to wait 15 days to issue any more shares. The good news is they have close to $800k in cash now but we are about to see more dumping by the company. Now there's benefits to that but we are here for the squeeze and not the long haul. Current valuation is soon to be $2,990,000. My guess is most likely Tuesday.
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
As previously reported, on December 4, 2023, Smart for Life, Inc. (the “Company”) issued warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of 250,572 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.64 per share to certain accredited investors, of which warrants for the purchase of 183,370 remain outstanding (the “Existing Warrants”).
On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into warrant solicitation inducement letters (the “Inducement Letters”) with the foregoing holders of the Existing Warrants (collectively, the “Exercising Holders”), pursuant to which the Exercising Holders agreed to exercise the Existing Warrants for cash at a reduced exercise price of $4.25 per share, or for gross proceeds of $779,322.50 in the aggregate. In consideration for the immediate exercise of the Existing Warrants for cash, the Company agreed to issue to the Exercising Holders new warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of 550,110 shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $4.25 per share (the “New Warrants”). The New Warrants will be immediately exercisable and have a term of exercise equal to eighteen months. The closing of this transaction is expected to be completed on June 3, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Pursuant to the Inducement Letters, the Company agreed to file a registration statement providing for the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the New Warrants as soon as practicable, and in any event, on or before July 15, 2024, and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within 30 calendar days following the filing of the registration statement or, in the event of a “full review” by Securities and Exchange Commission, the 60th calendar day following the filing of the registration statement. In addition, for a period of 15 days after the closing date, the Company agreed that neither it nor any of its subsidiaries will (i) issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of, any common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or (ii) file any registration statement or any amendment or supplement to any existing registration statement (other than the resale registration statement referred to above).
The foregoing summary of the terms and conditions of the Inducement Letters does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Inducement Letter attached hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Hello
I’ve scanned the sub but can’t see much about activities for ADHD kids. My son has inattentive ADHD. We haven’t got him on any meds as he’s yet to be “formally” diagnosed but the support teams we work with agree he’s textbook ADHD. He’s so full of energy and loves things like monkey bars and just RUNNING. I honestly think he’d thrive at an activity that gets him moving but the inattention / focus thing has hampered him in the past. Any parents on here found THE class for their kid? I know everyone is different but I was wondering if martial arts/some kind of gymnastics would be good for him? Parents - hit me with what worked for you.

I was the one that brought you SMFL AT 3.07. Now I have some bad news.
This is a segment from their most recent 8-K at the close of Friday. I'll summarize for you before you pretend like your were going to read it. 183,370 shares have been sold which diluted the float to 294,000. Then warrents of 550,110 which can be redeemed instantly to a further 844,120. So we have been effectively diluted by 87%. Ouch. And they have to wait 15 days to issue any more shares. The good news is they have close to $800k in cash now but we are about to see more dumping by the company. Now there's benefits to that but we are here for the squeeze and not the long haul. Current valuation is soon to be $2,990,000.
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
As previously reported, on December 4, 2023, Smart for Life, Inc. (the “Company”) issued warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of 250,572 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.64 per share to certain accredited investors, of which warrants for the purchase of 183,370 remain outstanding (the “Existing Warrants”).
On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into warrant solicitation inducement letters (the “Inducement Letters”) with the foregoing holders of the Existing Warrants (collectively, the “Exercising Holders”), pursuant to which the Exercising Holders agreed to exercise the Existing Warrants for cash at a reduced exercise price of $4.25 per share, or for gross proceeds of $779,322.50 in the aggregate. In consideration for the immediate exercise of the Existing Warrants for cash, the Company agreed to issue to the Exercising Holders new warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of 550,110 shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $4.25 per share (the “New Warrants”). The New Warrants will be immediately exercisable and have a term of exercise equal to eighteen months. The closing of this transaction is expected to be completed on June 3, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Pursuant to the Inducement Letters, the Company agreed to file a registration statement providing for the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the New Warrants as soon as practicable, and in any event, on or before July 15, 2024, and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within 30 calendar days following the filing of the registration statement or, in the event of a “full review” by Securities and Exchange Commission, the 60th calendar day following the filing of the registration statement. In addition, for a period of 15 days after the closing date, the Company agreed that neither it nor any of its subsidiaries will (i) issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of, any common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or (ii) file any registration statement or any amendment or supplement to any existing registration statement (other than the resale registration statement referred to above).
The foregoing summary of the terms and conditions of the Inducement Letters does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Inducement Letter attached hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.