Travel cases

Hey yall. First time traveling to Bangkok! How much USD is sufficient for a comfortable (not frugal and not luxurious) 9 days stay? I’d like to bring at least a couple grand (maybe 3-5) but my significant other thinks we should play it safe and bring just a grand in case we lose the money/get mugged, etc. Is it better to just bring less and just use an ATM or bring more and go to a money exchange service. thanks in advance!

After 3 months of taking Escitalopram (Lexapro) and the fact that I have been traveling in very spiritual contexts for the last two, I can definitely say that my life has changed for the better. This is one of those cases where solely attributing the positive changes in my life to the antidepressant would be unfair. However, I can see (more like, feel) how Escitalopram has allowed me to be more present in the moment during my travels, joyful, more confident, less doubtful and above all with my sleep patterns slowly coming back to normal. Escitalopram is definitely helping me be my best self. In the very beginning I experienced erectile dysfunction but not anymore. I plan to slowly discontinue it with the help of my psychiatrist as soon as my sleep is fully back to normal, but I have no rush.

I'm curious: why is the US public transportation system so bad? In Europe, you can practically travel everywhere using the public transportation system but this is not the case in the US. Why does the govt not invest in public transportation infrastructure?

Hi all! I am travelling with my partner in Indonesia. We are tourists from the Netherlands. And we are currently staying in Makassar. My partner had a bad fever, was shaking, has muscle ache etc. So we want to get him checked out for Malaria. Rather be safe than sorry.
But we do not know which hospital to pick, or is there any private clinic reccommended for internationals. We do not speak bahasa.
It would be very helpful to get some infomation or tips for which hospital to pick in this case. Thanks in advance!!!

Late 2022 64Gb model upgraded to 1Tb
Recently bought the OLED model so planning to sell my old LCD. Has some minor scuff and small gap on right side, little hard to notice, but still in good condition. Has screen protector and will Include original case and charger. Will also throw in Spigen Travel Case, Rugged Armor, and Spigen Charger if you wish.
Looking to sell for $200 local around 85224 and 85225 area code or around Gilbert
Timestamp - https://imgur.com/a/YB9QDwE

Timestamp $120 shipped. RGB backlighting. Comes with original packaging and hard travel case. Shipping only to Lower 48. Please comment before PM or chat.

Hi,
Have been a film enthusiast for the longest time. Life happened and need to sell big part of my collection.
GRIIIX
https://imgur.com/a/WXimjk3
You know the drill. First owner. Come with boxes, battery and charger.
Shut count ~7500
Small cosmetic user condition, but I baby my camera. Overall excellent.
Looking for 850 flat.
Ricoh GT-2 & GA-2
https://imgur.com/a/W3dYOwt
Selling because parting with 3x.
Excellent condition. Didn't use much
Looking for 220 flat.
Minolta TC-1
https://imgur.com/a/SH3FpHj
My special occasion camera, hard one to let go.
Come with OG boxes, manual, og strap and case. and a special hard leather case as well
Work really well, never fail on me, take it out at least every 3-4 months.
Small scratches at the front and back (see pictures) LCD/ LCD light work.
Looking for 850 flat
Leica C1 zoom
https://imgur.com/a/HMVyqsv
Compact travel camera. Does come with the "Leica" color. (sample pic per request)
Come with original custom hardshell case.
Good user condition. Work really well. Lens cover leave a small gap at closing. Small flaw on this beautiful camera.
Looking for 250 flat
Pentax Espio mini
https://imgur.com/a/hG9Wsqp
Nice cheap fixed focal length P&S camera. Its my yashica T4 without the t4 price tag.
Just the camera, lens is clear. Flash works.
Looking for 150 flat
Pentax LX late version
https://imgur.com/a/2AM7t0N
Got it from here a while ago. Robust and reliable. Just trying to switch out from Pentax.
It's the late version, no prone too sticky shutter. User condition but reliable.
Looking for 250 flat
Pentax k 28mm 3.5
https://imgur.com/a/2AM7t0N
Legendary lens. Just look it up.
Lens is clear, no paint chip off.
Not easy to find a mint condition like mine. It is gonna to be a collector item.
Looking for 100 flat
Fourth Third 25mm pancake lens
https://imgur.com/a/ObxI3u5
Smallest Fourth third lens, if you are still in love with the Olympus CCD sensor. Don't miss out
Small Fungus on the front element. Do not affect image quality. AF work perfectly.
Looking for 150 flat
Light Lens Lab 50mm LTM to M mount.
https://imgur.com/a/5nBoIBH
Brand new condition.
Looking for 25 flat
Detail & sample picture per request. PayPal G&S prefer.
F&F is acceptable with more than 10 trading history or reference.

Evergreen, a rather welcoming name. Perfect for a land full of calm, peace and beauty. Evergreen in this case is the name of a vast kingdom. This kingdom is an incredibly complicated but majestic land and its people as well. Now sit back, relax and enjoy as I tell you about Evergreen.
First of all, where did Evergreen come from? Well the most early evidence of anyone living here was over 8000 years ago though if you truly think about it it could be as far back as 50 000 years. You see, the oldest trace of civilization in the kingdom is a large ancient hotel in the center of Heatherlea. No other building outdated this and that record is still held up to this day. The actual date of foundation of the kingdom is completely unknown and absolutely no one can tell when it could ever be because of the incredibly vague amount of information on anything before the recorded history of Evergreen. Though not everyone is so clueless, one person may know the answer on the timeline and that is The One Hundred.
You may be asking who this One Hundred person is. He is the oldest person in Evergreen and supposedly some sort of God. Very little is known about him but all that is known is whoever this person is, they are the most powerful in the kingdom.
Now I think you’ve heard enough about the kingdom itself and the basics on it now why don’t we get to work on actually unraveling this massive mystery. But with so many things to explain, how can this ever have an order? Well that’s very easy to do, this is a catalog of everything to know on the topic of Evergreen. Let’s begin.
Cities of Evergreen
Evergreen is the main city of the kingdom, it is used as a capital as well as the largest megalopolis of the city. Though in Scriptorium, the language of Evergreen, they don’t have terms for city, megalopolis or metropolis. So to them everything is a settlement, village or town. In this kingdom the size of a village does not matter only its population and Evergreen having over 1 000 000 people living in it, it’s considered the largest village in the kingdom. Which is quite a fitting label for the capital of such a large kingdom. Though not only Heatherlea contains an important building. Evergreen has the Main Hall and Steffy’s Mansion, both constructions are very important because they contain Aletine. Aletine is a rare gem that will be explained later on but for now all you need to know on Aletine is that it is very rare and very precious. The buildings each have an arch constructed fully of this material.
The whispers of Evergreen
Not everyone in Evergreen is happy with what they know about the kingdom. Certain things are very secretive and though on the outside it seems like a perfect place it is shrouded in mystery and entangled in a web of unknown like a huge tapestry of mystery. The people of the villages are mostly happy with how everything is going except for one thing. They want to know more about the village’s origin. You see, Steffy, The One Hundred, Heathotel and Aletinian do not want too much information to escape into the public’s hands. A disquiet hums beneath the seemingly idyllic surface of Evergreen. Whispers flit through bustling marketplaces, hinting at an enigmatic past shrouded in secrecy. Kept under lock and key by Steffy and the other main powers of Evergreen, the population never ceases to speculate what they could be hiding. Is it a secret civilization before us? Or could it be that Aletine is the secret to the lost time? No matter what the citizens say not one word has been spoken by anyone in control. And there is a good reason behind all of that which will be explained later on.
Architecture and style of Evergreen and it’s settlements
A warped image of Evergreen is fabricated when you dig deeper than what’s on the idyllic surface of Evergreen. But the kingdom is still a majestic land. Its architecture is primarily biomimicry as the villagers are very connected to their surroundings and the flora that they share the world with. The respect for nature in Evergreen is reflected everywhere, in the architecture, in the culture, celebrations and many more subtle depictions. The style that the land has adopted over the millenia is a very calming one, they believe in living life to its fullest so the architects try to make things as pleasant to live in as possible in almost every way possible. You will never find any hostile architecture in the city as its capital status means that it must show a good example for the other settlements to follow. However, the pervasive calmness of Evergreen's architecture raises questions. Could this serene aesthetic be a deliberate ploy? Is biomimicry a way to mask the secrets hidden beneath the tranquil surface? The One Hundred, with their knowledge of the lost civilization and the interdimensional threat, may have a vested interest in maintaining this facade of idyllic peace. Steffy, with his atmosphirec gem of unknown origin, might also find solace in the calming influence of these biomimicry structures. No one can know for sure but until more is learned why not enjoy centuries of perfected design and let the peacefulness wash over you as you stroll through the markets and quiet neighborhoods of the town.
The rest of the settlements
Evergreen does not have that many large towns, only about 4 main ones, Evergreen, Azalea, Heatherlea and Islafield. Those main towns are surrounded by much smaller ones but the main focus is on the four towns above.
Islafield
Islafield is, as the name suggests, mostly for farming hence the ‘field” in its name. The town is near a lake also named Isla The lake is used for fishing as well as a way to water the crops of the town. This majestic town is the main source of nourishment for the entire kingdom with 60% of its land consisting of fields and crops. The kingdom contains 5.6 million inhabitants which is a vast amount of mouths to feed and according to the way Steffy wants to run the kingdom, everyone should have the same chance with life per se he just doesn’t want anyone to starve or die before their time that is the primary reason why he allowed Islafield to become such a large producer of food. He would usually want people to get their produce from the same town in which they live in though since he has 5.6 million people to feed he made the exception that Islafield can export its harvest to the other towns. Other than the beautiful fields of flowers and crops Islafield doesn’t really hold much interest in the eye of the population of Evergreen. Though it is considered the most naturally beautiful town in the kingdom, its beauty does not help it much with population, it has been on a decline ever since the vault of Aletine became public knowledge. Perhaps the Aletinians, a secretive cult entrusted with crafting tools made of Aletine, might hold knowledge about this strange and sudden decline. Despite the dwindling population, Islafield remains a vital part of Evergreen. However, its idyllic facade now masks a layer of intrigue, begging the question: is Islafield truly just a farming town, or is it a cornerstone in a larger, undisclosed operation of the Aletinians?
Heatherlea, a town of beauty and intrigue
Heatherlea, nestled in Evergreen's north, throbs with a unique energy.This bustling town transforms into the kingdom's prime tourist destination during warmer months, welcoming an influx of 700,000 visitors. The undeniable allure? The enigmatic Ancient Hotel, an 8000-year-old structure, the oldest human-made wonder in Evergreen. However, Heatherlea's charm extends beyond the Ancient Hotel.,underneath the ancient hotel hides a vault. The most secure place in the entire kingdom. Inside of that vault is a supply of Aletine. Since Aletine is only found in that singular spot underneath the hotel a vault was built around the mine to keep everyone out of there given how precious Aletine is.Other than its main attractions, its marketplace features the kingdom's tallest stand, showcasing the rare blue and orange Heatherberry. Yet, the exclusivity of these berries in Heatherlea raises questions. Found primarily in the south, their presence here seems curiously deliberate. Is it simply a marketing ploy, or could it be part of a larger scheme? Heatherlea's vibrancy and tourist appeal are undeniable, but a disquieting question lingers: is it a genuine haven, or a meticulously crafted facade designed to distract from the secrets buried beneath the surface?
Azalea, a town shrouded in floral mystery
Azalea is known for one reason, if you look closely at its name you will notice that it contains the name of a flower. Azalea is named after the rhododendron by the same name, Azalea. This specific flower only grows in the town for unknown reasons and once again the reason for the flower's appearance in this one part of the kingdom is gatekeeped by the main powers The One Hundred, Steffy with his atmosphirec gem, and the Aletinians, each with their vested interests in the mysteries of Evergreen, all seem particularly invested in keeping the reason for the Azalea's exclusivity under wraps. Intriguingly, Azalea attracts a disproportionate number of Aletine sellers, who use the flower's beauty to showcase their wares. Why this specific town, rather than a more prominent location? Could there be a connection between the Azalea's unique properties and the Aletine gem? The motives of the sellers remain shrouded in secrecy, adding another layer to the mysteries swirling around Azalea and deepen the mystery of Evergreen.
Shadows in Evergreen: Unveiling the Kingdom's Cults
Evergreen's power structure extends beyond the readily apparent figures like Steffy and The One Hundred. Shrouded in secrecy, a network of cults weaves its influence through the kingdom. While some, like the Aletinians, maintain a relatively benign presence, crafting tools from the enigmatic Aletine, others operate with a more veiled agenda. The Heathotels, shrouded in mystery themselves, stand out for their potential hostility. Their enigmatic purpose and unknown connection to the Aletinians, an exclusive society rumored to possess knowledge on the craftsmanship of Aletine weapons, fuel speculation about their true motives. Do they cover the Aletine's power for their own gain, or are they safeguarding Evergreen from a yet-unknown threat? The secrecy surrounding these cults casts a long shadow, leaving the question unanswered: are they guardians or hidden dangers lurking within the kingdom's idyllic facade? The Heathotels: Enigmatic guardians of the ancient stone The heathotels are a mostly harmless cult. They are in charge of the protection of the Ancient Hotel and are the only ones who have full access to the vault containing all the Aletine. They seem to worship the hotel itself and treat Aletine adorned objects with the same respect as they would do to Steffy himself. They are highly secretive with the reasons on why they respect the precious stone so much and what connection they seem to have with the ancient hotel. While the other power players, like The One Hundred and Steffy himself, strive to keep the Heathotels' activities shrouded, their efforts only heighten the intrigue. This raises the question, if the Heathotels are truly a benign force, why such a concerted effort to conceal their practices? The Heathotels' enigmatic presence throws a long shadow, leaving the question unanswered: are they protectors of the Aletine and the Ancient Hotel, or are they guardians of a far deeper secret? The Aletinians: Sworn Crafters of Aletine Wonders Among Evergreen's enigmatic factions, the Aletinians occupy a distinct position. Eschewing the rigid structure of traditional cults, they follow a oath instead of a set of rules.The specifics of this oath remain a closely guarded secret, fueling endless whispers and speculation. The Aletinians, as their name suggests, possess a unique bond with Aletine. Interestingly they do not worship the Aletine but instead they treat it with reverence, viewing it less as an object and more as a potent material.The true purpose of the Aletinians is to forge everything that is created out of Aletine. They are hand picked, allegedly to safeguard the kingdom's precious Aletine supply, to ensure the safety of the kingdom’s supply of this majestic gem they can only be of a certain sanity. Once again the villagers have their own theories, whispers abound about an Aletine-infused substance used in the selection process, a method to ensure only the "worthy" wield the gem's power.Though to be granted the incredible privilege of handling Aletine directly is very prestigious as only 30 people have the privilege of handling the precious Aletine. But many things are still unclear with them as well. Why do these artisans operate outside the Ancient Hotel, traveling all the way to Azalea to practice their craft? And why, despite their seemingly benign nature, does Steffy strive to keep them hidden from the public eye? The Aletinians remain a captivating enigma, their purpose and connection to Azalea hinting at a deeper role within Evergreen's veiled secrets. The Nevergreen: Shadows Reaching for Forbidden Power In stark contrast to the Aletinians, who utilize Aletine for crafting, stands the enigmatic Nevergreen cult. Driven by a sinister agenda, they seek to weaponize the gem's power, a truth known only to Steffy and The One Hundred. Whispers abound of their attempts to breach the Aletine mine's containment, a reckless act that some speculate triggered a deadly conflict, the War Of Gods, shrouded in secrecy. Steffy himself, it seems, remains unaware of the Nevergreen's potential role in this ancient war. He and The One Hundred instead attribute it to a nebulous embodiment of darkness. The Nevergreen also strive to make the deepest secrets of Evergreen public knowledge. They are the reason why the Aletine vault became known to the villagers of Evergreen. The One Hundred and Steffy tried to cover it up by saying that the villagers deserved to know the truth of where the Aletine came from. But in reality it was an elaborate plan birthed by the leader of the Nevergreen. The identity of the Nevergreen's leader is a captivating mystery. Villagers whisper of a connection to Steffy's ancient enemy, this enigmatic embodiment of darkness. They are also rumored to have connections to the mysterious interdimensional threat looming over the kingdom, a danger only The One Hundred seems fully aware of. This raises the question, if The One Hundred knows everything about Evergreen, why do they still remain passive? Are they truly guardians, or are they somehow entangled within the complex web woven by the Nevergreen?
Gleams of Forbidden light and beauty Aletine, gem of untold power Aletine, a captivating gem shrouded in mystery, sits at the heart of Evergreen's enigmatic power structure. Its existence fuels whispers, speculation, and a fierce struggle for control amongst the kingdom's secretive factions. Here, we delve into the mystery concerning this precious stone. First of all, what are the origins of Aletine? Evergreen's bustling streets are rife with speculation regarding Aletine's origins. Villagers, known for their colorful theories, theorize that it is a form of interdimensional material, arrived here at the mysterious cataclysmic event that destroyed everything. Rumors abound of a ripped veil between dimensions, spewing Aletine into Evergreen while leaving devastation in its wake. While most of these village tales are dismissed as mere flights of fancy, the recent revelation of the Aletine vault beneath the Ancient Hotel has given some credence to the notion of an extraordinary origin. However, the truth remains shrouded in secrecy. Only Steffy and the other powerful factions possess any concrete knowledge about Aletine's arrival in Evergreen. Unveiling Aletine: Myth and Reality Clash The truth behind Aletine shatters some village myths while confirming others. While not interdimensional as some theorized, the gem undeniably originates from beyond Evergreen's reality. Its arrival coincided with the cataclysmic event that reshaped the kingdom, a truth only The One Hundred truly understands. This revelation validates a part of the villagers' extravagant theories, a devastating event did occur. However, it disproves the notion of a dimensional tear bringing Aletine here.The gem's origins remain shrouded in secrecy, fueling speculation about the civilization it hailed from. Unveiling the Secrets of Aletine Aletine is the most precious and most protected thing in all of the kingdom. The amount of secrecy surrounding Aletine is almost enough to rival the secrecy surrounding The One Hundred. With so much secrecy surrounding the gem you might be wondering why it is such a big secret. Well as explained before Aletine is hidden under the ancient hotel, the oldest building in Evergreen. Located beneath the ancient hotel, the oldest structure in the kingdom, Aletine predates all other known resources. The exact date of its arrival remains locked away in the archives of The One Hundred, who possess the sole understanding of its properties. Historically, they reveal information only in dire circumstances to safeguard the kingdom. Steffy's mansion and the main hall boast massive Aletine arches, a testament to the gem's power: repelling dark energy and matter. Steffy had the arch built in his mansion after the battle with The Embodiment of Darkness. The gem releases an aura around it stopping anything that contains darkness from passing through whatever it is built in. The shape of the arch is also a key detail to securing the room at the maximum. The arch shape lets the aura bounce off of it and spread to the rest of the mansion but in smaller quantities. Steffy and The One Hundred are the only two who possess this key information about Aletine. Aletine's potential extends beyond this defensive ability. Could it hold further, untapped properties? The possibility of weaponizing this powerful gem remains a question with potentially far-reaching consequences. Aletine’s connections Aletine is not only known to Steffy and The One Hundred. The public knows about this gem as well but so do all the cults in Evergreen. The Heathotels’s archives contain the largest collection of knowledge on Aletine other than what Steffy and The One Hundred know. A single, crucial truth about Aletine's connection to an interdimensional entity eludes even Steffy. Only The One Hundred and the enigmatic leader of the Heathotels are privy to this knowledge. Aletine is connected to some other worldly being. Since its roots can be traced to outside of Evergreen’s world, there must be some other civilisation that made contact with the gem before the Great End. Another thing to take into perspective is that Aletine is one of the oldest substances in the world. Its age could suggest a lost civilization predating the cataclysmic "Great End." Could this civilization have been the first to harness Aletine's power? The gem's connection to another world fuels this speculation. Aletine has undoubtedly passed through countless hands over millennia. Are the Aletinians, with their oath of secrecy, truly in control? Or is Steffy merely a pawn in a larger game? Perhaps a hidden organization, like a rogue faction within The One Hundred or a descendant of the lost civilization, manipulates events from the shadows. The question of who truly controls Aletine lies at the heart of Evergreen's mysteries. Aletine’s potentials Aletine reigns supreme as Evergreen's most potent gem, rivaled only by the enigmatic atmospheric gem. It has many magical properties,Its most celebrated property being the fact that it can repel dark energy and dark matter which came in handy during the War Of Gods. It can also be used for a multitude of different things. One of the most outstanding creations with Aletine is the arches in the Main hall and Steffy’s mansion. They are guarding the archives which contain precious and secretive documents on Evergreen as well as artifacts that have not been exposed to the public. With so many possible uses for Aletine only a select few are actually used. The Aletinians have been told only 6 times in the last century to forge weapons out of Aletine. With those orders coming straight from Steffy himself. With the looming interdimensional threat it is highly likely that a war will start in the next millennium. Who will be the 2 sides is still a mystery. Steffy is also worried about a rebellion, Aletine has caused unrest in the villages which have caused small riots and raids of the libraries and archives yet all of them end in failure. It is another very likely possibility that a civil war will start in the next few hundred years. The main powers may be aware of this and are preparing to defend themselves if this possibility becomes a reality. Yet, the question lingers: with Aletine's apparent defensive capabilities and no documented harm to Evergreen, why such secrecy? Are the powers hiding something more sinister? Could they be preparing for a threat far greater than a civil war, a threat hinted at by the whispers of an interdimensional entity connected to Aletine? Lempty, a gem of mysterious beauty Lempty gems, with their captivating light blue hue and characteristically rough, quadrilateral edges, are a ubiquitous presence in Evergreen. Lempty is not much of a very interesting gem. It is mostly used for decorative purposes and not very much in weapon smithing.Though it has a lack of properties, It has very famous use, Steffy himself has a 5000 year old Lempty encrusted egg. It is originally made out of the bedrock of Evergreen, Eslud, with a few pieces of Lempty embedded in it’s surface. Even with such a useless facade with no redeeming qualities, it is still widely used in architecture especially in the northern villages to portray the cold and the snow that those villages usually experience. Lempty can be found in almost every mine in Evergreen, since it is very widespread it has a very small value. Compared to Aletine it is 7 000 000x less valuable. Since it is so cheap it can be found in almost every piece of jewelry and almost every building contains even a bit of Lempty. Rumors of Lempty's untapped potential for healing pique curiosity. Though currently as mere folklore, such mystery raises intriguing questions. Is Lempty truly just a decorative gem, or is there more to its story? Perhaps Steffy's undying devotion to the Lempty egg holds the key to unlocking its secrets. The parasitic presence of Lempty throughout Evergreen hints at a potential significance waiting to be discovered. Eslud, the foundation of Evergreen Eslud reigns supreme as the most common stone in Evergreen. It literally forms the foundation of the world, as the very mines themselves are carved from this versatile material. Eslud is used most commonly in construction since it can resist high temperatures and immense amounts of pressure. The only interesting property of Eslud is that no matter how much pressure is on it, it stays flexible allowing for buildings made out of it to withstand high winds and earth-shattering quakes. It is also the stone of choice when making heirlooms since it can withstand so much damage keeping the heirloom good as new for generations. The most famous example of this is the 3000 year old Eslud box that has been passed down as the Retule family heirloom. More than just a common stone, Eslud embodies the resilience and unwavering spirit that lies at the heart of Evergreen itself. Atmospheric gem, a power of nature The atmospheric gem is the true rarest gem in Evergreen as it is only found in one place, on the tip of Steffy’s magical staff. It has the power to control the atmosphere hence the name atmospheric gem, thanks to its power to control the atmosphere, Steffy chose this gem as his crystal of choice to harness its magical properties. Though Steffy never found this gem in nature since it is a mix between Aletine, Lempty and Celusi. The exact process of how the Atmospheric gem came into existence is still a closely guarded secret with only Steffy and The One Hundred knowing how the gem was fabricated. The exact origins of the Atmospheric Gem remain a closely guarded secret. While Steffy acknowledges the possibility of finding such a gem naturally in a faraway corner of the universe, he downplays the chances of it existing on Evergreen. It takes intense heat and pressure to let it form correctly and there were many failed attempts to create Atmopsheric with the failures themselves playing a crucial role in the final product. It is quite obvious what Atmospheric does, however, how it achieves this control remains a mystery. Steffy and The One Hundred keep the details shrouded in secrecy. This secrecy fuels speculation: what truly powers the gem, and what drove Steffy to dedicate over a century to crafting it for a seemingly limited ability to control the weather? Could there be a grander purpose behind its creation, a power yet to be revealed? Celusi, the geriatric gem of Tyrlosuh Celusi is one of the rarest gems in the kingdom rivaled only by Aletine. It can only be found in Heatherlea, usually near a patch of heatherberry; studies have shown that the heatherberry benefits from the light residue that emanates from the Celusi. The major families of Evergreen usually have a reserve of Celusi to pay the more hefty fines as well as create new heirlooms for each generation. Unlike the highly sought-after Aletine, Celusi possesses no outwardly magical properties, at least to the casual observer. Steffy and the other major powers seem largely uninterested in the gem. Yet, a single, magnificent purple Celusi, a rarity in its own right, resides with the Tyrlosuh family, one of Evergreen's wealthiest and most prominent lineages, containing almost 250 current living descendants and over 10 generations are currently in the lineage which means they’re are 140 year old people in the family. Botinelosi, is the oldest person in the family standing at 164 years old and is the first person to ever use Celusi in the art of crafting. He stumbled across it while mining in the outskirts of Heatherlea near the village where the family originated, affectionately also named Tyrlosuh. Steffy originally seized control of the mine where Botinelosi found it. The quick seizure of the mine raised suspicion on the properties of Celusi. Steffy eventually allowed Botinelosi to have full control over the mine. Rumors spread through the kingdom like a wildfire, Botinelosi's silence on the matter, coupled with the Tyrlosuh family's secrecy, fuels the rumors. What truth are they hiding? Could Celusi's beauty mask a more significant purpose, a power that rivals even Aletine's? Polompty, a concoction of nature Polompty, a breathtaking gem with an allure unlike any other, shimmers with the colors of Lempty, accented by veins of Eslud embedded deep within its interior. It also comes from the same location as Celusi, near the Tyrlosuh village. By taking its location into consideration it may lead you to believe that Polompty is simply an underdeveloped version of Celusi, which is what Botinelosi originally believed when first discovering it in the abandoned Reveras mine right near the Tyrlosuh mine. Polompty was originally put under extensive studies to discover more information on it, all the studies ended up coming with one answer: Polompty is a marvel of nature, a harmonious blend of 6 different stones and gems. Which explains the presence of Eslud in its core as well as the colors of Lempty. Since it has such a strange yet intriguing beauty it captivated crafters's curiosity which caused an influx of its use to fabricate jewelry. However when Lomi, daughter of Botinelosi, became head of the family the mine was closed off to the public and all sales of Polompty stopped causing shockwaves in the gem market, sparking the infamous Polompty rush. The Polompty rush, a desperate search After Lomi shut down the mine, the supply of Polompty slowly trickled to a stop. Lomi's aged father, Botinelosi, allowed his son Bisel to sell the remaining stones stored in the Tyrlosuh archives. With the Polompty market back on its feet, the family had satiated the market’s hunger. However, Lomi had a different vision for the family's future. She declared her son, Utigo, as her heir, bypassing Bisel's claim. Bisel sadly accepted to avoid being ostracized by the family ending the power struggle for the leadership of the Tyrlosuh lineage. The gem market, unable to sway Lomi, eventually turned its attention elsewhere. It wasn't long before the Retule family, sworn rivals of the Tyrlosuh family, discovered a small grove of Polompty near their Heatherberry fields. With the supply restored, markets everywhere flourished and the Polompty rush ended. This new source rekindled the market for three years, until this supply dwindled as well. Now, with both sources depleted and demand still high, a question lingers: Why did Lomi close the mine, causing economic turmoil? Does she possess knowledge of a hidden danger associated with Polompty, or is there a deeper secret to this extraordinary gem's origin? Families of Evergreen, cults in disguise Tyrlosuh family, from gemstone guardians to fallen shadows The Tyrlosuh family is the largest and wealthiest family in the entire history of the kingdom, they originate from Heatherlea and their family founder is Botinesoli and his loving wife Temorla Tyrlosuh who had 2 children, Lomi Tyrlosuh and Bisel Tyrlosuh. Bisel was originally the next heir for the head of the Tyrlosuh family but after Lomi took power as the first heir she decided to declare her son Ugito as the next heir. Bisel accepted his fate to never be head of the family to avoid being exiled by Lomi. With her decision she completely bypassed Bisel’s bloodline from the lineage, completely extinguishing any chance for any of his descendants to ever ascend to the title of head of family. Though this has never been done in the family, Lomi received backlash from both family members as well as the public as this was seen as an unforgivable act of treason to her own blood. With her destructive decision she removed over 30 descendants from having the last name Tyrlosuh. Bisel’s new family line, the Bisenoty, decided to declare a familial war against the Tyrlosuh. Sparking the Biserlosuh familial war. The Biserlosuh Familial war After Bisel declared a familial war against the Lomi, the population of Azalea and the, affectionately named, Tyrlosuh town, started to pick sides. At the time Bisel had the most support by the villagers considering Lomi was the cause of the Polompty rush. Which brought both fortune and misfortune, and had threatened to burn villager’s houses unless they followed her orders as their new leader, which sowed distrust between the populace. The war was not particularly disastrous since it was between 2 armies of around 400 people. Though the amount of lives lost caused an impact in the surrounding area and sent a shockwave in the gem trade market since the Tyrlosuh family were the largest exporters of stones and gems. Both families ended up losing a combined 86 members, 21 from the Bisenoty family leaving only 13 people left and the rest were from the Tyrlosuh family. This disaster would leave over 1300 civilians injured and over 700 dead, it also caused the partial destruction of the town of Tyrlosuh and the complete destruction of the Bisenoty town. Though not only the family’s town were left in ruin, entire neighborhoods of Azalea were utterly ravaged thanks to the supporters of the 2 families. With Evergreen on the brink of a civil war, Steffy himself had to step in and end the war. Though his attempts failed and the war continued for another 2 years before Lomi and Bisel decided to end the battle for the safety of the kingdom as more and more supporters began to sprout and begin fighting in the other towns. With Evergreen on the brink of absolute and utter chaos, Evergreen’s main entrances were shut down and the capital went into lockdown as protests arose, those protests leading into more chaos with the 2 sides arguing and fighting right outside the Main Hall. The Tyrlosuh archives were burned, the Tyrlosuh and the Reveras mines caved in in certain parts and the majority of the Tyrlosuh made jewelry was either sold to another crafter or destroyed entirely sending hundreds of thousands of objects into the Gray Realm causing a widespread jewelry shortage as well as worries on the safety of the Gray realm. After the war ended the Tyrlosuh family was fined 400 pieces of Celusi and their entire Polompty fortune was seized by the Heathotels. Downfall of the Tyrlosuh After the end of the Biserlosuh war, the Tyrlosuh family lost control over the Polompty mine, the majority of their Celusi hoard, their archive was burned to the ground and their hometown was partially in ruins. With Lomi’s dictatorship over the family and her undying hate for the Bisenoty family as well as the Retule family, she forced the Bisenoty family, which was ravaged by the war, to merge back into the Tyrlosuh family name, unifying the rivals and stopping any further familial civil wars from happening. Bisel decided to step down from the lineage and instead become the first person in the history of Evergreen to not be part of a family, whether it is big or small. With Bisel now gone Lomi had no one to challenge her in her dictatorship of the Tyrlosuh family. Until Botinelosi, founder of the family, decided that the lineage had embarrassed itself enough and removed Lomi as ruler. But Lomi refused and since Botinelosi was in his early 160s he couldn’t fight back against her and allowed her to continue her rule. The public had already lost interest in the family and was now fully against it destroying any hope of any new ruler to repair the damage caused by Lomi’s reckless decisions. The Tyrlosuh family, once revered, now exists as a cautionary tale. Their fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the devastating consequences of family discord. However, whispers still linger. Is Lomi truly broken, or is she biding her time, waiting for the opportunity to reclaim her lost glory? And what secrets lie buried beneath the ashes of the Tyrlosuh archives? The answers to these questions may hold the key to the Tyrlosuh family's redemption or their complete downfall. Retule family, fruit fanatics or fantasy fighters? The Retule family stands as a beacon of peace in the often-turbulent world of Evergreen. Unlike their gem-obsessed counterparts, the Tyrlosuh, the Retules view conflict with a deep aversion. Witnessing the devastation of the Biserlosuh War solidified their pacifistic stance. They famously disarmed themselves, donating all their Aletine weaponry to the Aletinians. But they still needed to make a profit, so their founder, Ruservi, created the Reveras mine right near the future area for the Tyrlosuh mine. Ruservi was the first person to explore and exploit that part of the kingdom since it was usually used as a tourist attraction for the rest of the towns to visit the lovely northern flora. He eventually discovered a cave which led into a large cluster of Celusi, which eventually led him to create the Reveras mine to mine out this new source of gems for the kingdom. After extensive testing his scholars noticed that Celusi had positive benefits to Heatherberry and enhanced its growth which led Ruservi to found the largest Heatherberry farm in the history of the kingdom. He led the family into a fruit empire for 140 years until he grew too old to lead the family anymore, at his 178th cycle he decided that his son Rymo would become the new leader of the Retule family. This decision came after the end of the Biserlosuh war which started a large change of ruler in many sections of the kingdom, families were giving way to new rulers and the cults were discussing the leaderships. Steffy decided to join in the massive leadership change adding new managers into the departments and a new Head Librarian into the archives. By the end of the leadership changing era Ruservi had already been ruler of the Retule family for a few months, during those few months he had commissioned the construction of a new town for the Retule family and everyone else who wanted to live there. Though this new project was a cover up for a more devious plot, he was in fact commissioning the Aletinians to forge Lempty weapons for his descendants, which caused distrust in the family after news of this plan came into the light. This revelation cast a shadow over the family's pacifistic ideals. Was Ruservi preparing for a war he alone foresaw? Or was there another, undisclosed reason for the clandestine weapon production? These questions continue to plague the Retules, a family caught between their commitment to peace and the shadows of a hidden agenda. Gatosi family, shadows of the kingdom Hidden within the bustling kingdom of Evergreen lies the Gatosi family, shrouded in secrecy and wielding a power unseen. The Gatosi are in charge of the safety of the archives which explains their secrecy and low popularity amongst the populace of Evergreen. They do not have any famous appearance nor have they ever participated in a war since their founding 3000 years ago. Their founder, Guvn, created the family after he noticed the amount of hate that the concealed archives would get from the public. Forever haunted by the everlasting threat of misuse in the archives. He decided to found a new family that would be in charge of protecting these archives and maintaining their secrecy. But considering the fact that Guvn founded the family over 3000 years ago it means he is long dead, he was 343 at the time of his death which leaves him as the longest serving Head Of Family in the history of the kingdom. They originally were treated with hate because the archives were seen as a threat thousands of years ago. But nowadays the archives are a staple in the culture of Evergreen. Captivating the public’s knowledge on what could be hiding in those labyrinth-like buildings. Now, nestled away in the secluded neighborhoods of Islafield, the Gatosi cultivate their unique Yoern vegetables, rumored to enhance mental clarity, a necessity for navigating the labyrinthine archives. While whispers of their reclusive nature follow them, the Gatosis family silently fulfills their role, the shadows of the kingdom their only companions. Fruits of Evergreen, source of nourishment and mystery Heatherberry The humble heatherberry is a ubiquitous presence in Evergreen's northern villages, especially Heatherlea, its namesake. This incredibly common fruit harbors a rare variant, the purple and orange heatherberry found only in one singular farm in Heatherlea. The farm’s owner has kept their identity to protect this incredibly rare variant of heatherberry. The whispers of Evergreen have always condensed into a wide array of conspiracy theories, in this case they believe that the heatherberry is a mystical edible stone that was brought to the kingdom from the forgotten civilization before Evergreen. Despite repeated debunking. A plethora of people still believe that this outlandish theory is true. The purple and orange heatherberry has been widely known for its rarity but also for its properties. The purple and orange heatherberry has been subject to multiple tests, including Eshwar Mestec’s famous 7676AGE experiments. Controversy and mystery cling to the heatherberry, yet it remains the kingdom's beloved snack, a daily indulgence for an impressive 96% of the population.
If you took the time to read everything please give me feedback or some sort of constructive criticism please

OVERVIEW
The Wall of Sheep would like to announce a call for presentations at DEF CON 32 in Las Vegas, NV from Thursday, August 8th to Sunday, August 11th. Packet Hacking Village Talks goal is to deliver talks that increase security awareness and provide skills that can be immediately applied after the conference. Our audience ranges from those who are new to security to the most seasoned practitioners in the security industry. We are accepting submissions from individuals and organizations on any of the topic areas, including, but not limited to, the following technologies and applications:

• AI and Machine Learning in Security: Impacts on network and operating system security; use in deploying and defending networks.
• Awareness: Security awareness program success and failure stories.
• Cloud Security: Hacks and tricks for assessing and testing services.
• Compliance: How to use regulatory compliance requirements in your favor to enhance your overall funding and security posture.
• Networking and Cybersecurity: The latest hacks, trends and technologies in networking and cybersecurity.
• Spy-level makeup art (e.g., wigs, prosthetic noses, etc.)
• Supply Chain Security: Building security into the supply chain process to reduce risk.
• Threat Defense: Advanced techniques for defending networks, systems, and services from cyberthreats.
• Tools, Techniques, and Procedures: network sniffing, intrusion detection, monitoring, forensics, DFIR log analysis, collection & visualization, threat hunting, EDR telemetry, lolbin's for defense, detecting download cradles, using the ATT&CK framework for defense, Incident response process and procedures and/or recovery, automation

DEF CON attracts a wide range of technological skill sets, presentations need to be accessible, with explanatory information to help the audience understand.
The Wall of Sheep will not accept product or vendor related pitches. If your talk is a thinly-veiled advertisement for a product or service your company is offering, please do not apply! We will also not accept talks that have been given elsewhere, including at DEF CON / Black Hat / BSides.
All accepted talks will be announced, recorded, and published by Aries Security, LLC. and DEF CON Communications, Inc. Please see our YouTube channel for all talks from previous years: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnL9S5Wv_dNvO381slSA06w and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Om9kAkl32dWlDSNlDS9Iw.
The Call for Presentations will close on Friday, May 31st at 11:59 PM PST. The list of talks will be finalized and published on Friday, June 7th.
SPEAKING FORMAT --UPDATED FOR DEF CON 32
Each presentation slot is 1 hour maximum, including time for Q&A. If we have time and it is in line with our goals mentioned above, then there is a good chance you will be selected.
Presentations will be part of DEF CON's new "Creator Stages". Although presenters will not receive a DEF CON speaker badge, they will receive a human badge and additional identification as village speakers. Presentations will also be recorded and shared on DEF CON's media servers and YouTube. Additionally, we do not recommend live demos. Pre-recorded demos are preferred.
To submit a presentation, please provide the following information in the form below to cfp2024[at]wallofsheep[dot]com
Primary Speaker Name:
Primary Speaker Title and Company (if applicable):
Primary Speaker Email Address:
Primary Speaker Phone Number (to contact you if necessary during the conference):
Primary Speaker Twitter name (if you want it known if you are accepted):
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Additional Speakers' name(s), titles, and social information:
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Name of Presentation:
Length of presentation: (20 minutes or 50 minutes)
Abstract (100 words MAXIMUM, absolutely necessary for printing purposes):
Your abstract will be used for the website and printed materials. Summarize what your presentation will cover. Attendees will read this to get an idea of what they should know before your presentation, and what they will learn after. Use this to inform about how technical your talk is. This abstract is the primary way people will be drawn to your session. CFP reviews like to see what tools will be used and what materials you suggest to read in advance to get the most out of your presentation.
Has this talk been given anywhere before? YES or NO
Speaker's Bio(s) (75 words MAXIMUM per bio):
This text will be used for the website and printed materials and should be written in the third person. Cover any professional history that is relevant to the presentation, including past jobs, tools that you have written, etc. Let people know who you are and why you are qualified to speak on your topic. Presentations that are submitted without biographies will not be considered.
Detailed Outline:
You must provide a detailed outline containing the main points and navigation through your talk. Show how you intend to begin, where you intend to lead the audience and how you plan to get there. The outline may be provided in a separate attachment and may be as simple as a text file or as detailed as a "bare bones" presentation. The better your outline then the better we are able to best review your presentation against other submissions (and the higher chance you have of being accepted). SUBMISSION NOTE: Presentations that are submitted without abstracts, outlines, or speaker bios (e.g., that have only PDFs, PPTs, or white papers attached or only point to a URL) will not be considered.
Supporting File(s):
Additional supporting materials such as code, white papers, proof of concept, etc. should be sent along with this email to cfp2024[at]wallofsheep[dot]com. Note that additional files that may help in the selection process should be included. We are not asking for a complete presentation for this initial submission. That will only be required if you are selected for presenting.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting you agree to the Terms and Conditions below. Please read and accept these terms by inserting your name in the appropriate area, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete and returned to you.
Grant of Copyright Use
I warrant that the above work has not been previously published elsewhere, or if it has, that I have obtained permission for its publication by DEF CON Communications, Inc. and Aries Security, LLC. and that I will promptly supply DEF CON Communications, Inc. and Aries Security, LLC. with wording for crediting the original publication and copyright owner. If I am selected for presentation, I hereby give DEF CON Communications, Inc. and Aries Security, LLC. permission to duplicate, record and redistribute this presentation, which includes, but is not limited to, the conference proceedings, conference CD, video, audio, and hand-outs to the conference attendees for educational, on-line, and all other purposes.
Terms of Speaking Requirements

1. I will submit a completed (and possibly updated) presentation and a reference to all of the tool(s), law(s), Web sites and/or publications referenced to at the end of my talk and as described in this CFP submission by noon PST, July 30th, 2024. Please note this is a hard deadline as presentation and details need to be sumitted to DEF CON.
   
2. I will submit a final Abstract and Biography to the Wall of Sheep by noon PST, July 30th, 2024. Please note this is a hard deadline as presentation and details need to be sumitted to DEF CON.
   
3. I will include a detailed bibliography as either a separate document or included within the presentation of all resources cited and/or used in my presentation.
   
4. I will complete my presentation within the time allocated to me --not running over the time allocation.
   
5. I understand that I will be responsible for my own hotel and travel expenses.
   

Yes, I, (insert primary speaker name), have read and agree to the Grant of Copyright Use.
I, (insert your name here), have read and understand and agree to the terms as detailed in the Agreement to Terms of Speaking Requirements.
In the case that a speaker is a child under the age of 13 years old: in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) regulations, http://www.coppa.org, any child under age 13 must have parental consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of that child's personal information by a website. Parent/Guardian Consent: I (insert parent/guardian's name here) am the parent or guardian of the minos named above. I have read and understand and agree to the terms as detailed in the Agreement to Terms of Speaking Requirements.

I will start with a red flag about my application, I am a 30 year old single Indian male applying for a short stay business visa to enter the Netherlands for work related training.
This is my third time travelling to a schengen country. First time I travelled to Sweden for a 40 days visit in 2015 for vacation, second time I was a student in Sweden for a year in 2016.
I have a valid B1/B2 visa to the US as well, and have travelled to US once for 2 week long vacation in 2016. Also one visit to Kuwait for business and vacation.
I work from home from my parents' home in India for a company in the Netherlands since Nov 2022, they invited me for in-person and on-site training, all expenses are sponsored by them. Duration of the training is from 1st June till 1st August. I am a mechanical engineer with a master's in engineering from Sweden.
I applied on 30th April with the following documents, and they reached the embassy for processing on 1st May.

1. Cover letter explaining, what I do and why I am invited. Along with details about my personal finances, I have around 7000 Eur in cash, and another 7000 eur in credit card balance. Two personal account statement that showed movement of 9000 eur in each in a period of 4 months. Credit card statement showing I spent aroud 2000 EUR the previous month, no dues, or loans in my person or family.
2. I also mentioned in the cover letter that I handle all my father's businesses in India, as he lives in Kuwait and doesn't visit often. This arrangement began in 2014. Since he has gotten older, I also am starting to visit Kuwait from this year onwards to help him one month every year in August (it's a holiday in the Netherlands for my company in August).
   • I attached a letter from my father narrating how I am the primary caretaker in India and manages all his business. And also saying that I indeed work from his home and that I am invited to Kuwait after my visit to the Netherlands.
     • To show a simple evidence of his claim I have attached two of his bank statement.
     • One account statement showing a total sum of 28,000 eur withdrawn by me from his account through several cheques in a span of 2 months in 2014. A charity amount of 1000 eur sent to the PM of India, same year. This statement also shows that during this period of 2 months he has spent around 90,000 eur.
     • Another account statement showing a total sum of 110,000 Eur spent in a span of 3 months in 2022-2023.
3. I showed all documents requested in the checklist viz,
   • ITR's
   • Paid flight tickets. India to Amsterdam, and Amsterdam to Kuwait.
   • Home address verification docs like Property tax payment, Electricity bill.
   • Vehicle Registeration doc
4. An invitation letter written in Dutch by the company I work for narrating my visit, guarantee of sponsorship, their financial documents, company registeration doc and accomodation for me booked by them. And a proof of sponsorship form filled and attested at their muncipality.
5. I showed three pay slips of 2,300 EUR each as salary of the past three months that I earned from the company inviting me.

I still have a nagging feeling deep down saying there is a chance it might get rejected. I don't know why. I checked with the Swedish embassy via email just in case if there is any fault in my past records, they said that my passport is fine and I can apply for visa if I need to and everything is clean. I just wanted to prevent a huge loss on my boss' part in case if there is an issue in my records.
I also added in the cover letter that I have worked as a volunteer for several registered NGO's helping out in Ukraine and that I am aware how generous and kind the EU is towards poor people who deserve it, hence I won't ever dishonour EU rules or regulations out of respect and honour.
The VFS tracking site says "System is facing some issue please try after sometime" since the past 2 days.

Most of the airlines I've flown with (e.g. Jetstar, Qantas around Australia) didn't allow a guitar on board. Is there are case that is suitable for checked in?

First post, prompted by a separate Hermione discussion.
Since I was little, the Grangers' role in the series has just haunted me. Not just because of the memory wiping in DH, but also Hermione's entire relationship (or lack thereof) with them up until that point.
She's still young, after all, and she genuinely seems to love them. All we know about the Grangers from the books is that they are muggles, dentists, able to travel, and supportive enough that they take Hermione to Diagon Alley. But then they disappear.
(Yes, yes, I know it's because the books don't have time to develop two more parents, but I'm interested in in-text reasons.)
In PS, Hermione chats about her mum & dad a lot and goes home for Christmas. In CoS, they hang out with Arthur Weasley in Flourish & Blotts. Do we think they had more contact with the Weasleys after that point? If so, it's strange that no Weasleys find out about the memory tampering. And if not, why? The Weasleys basically have their kid for the next 5 books. One would expect the parents to correspond, at least to confirm
After CoS, there's a decrease in mentions of the Grangers. Hermione goes to Diagon Alley alone (although 14) and stays with the Weasleys almosr every holiday from then on. Considering she's at boarding school all year, that's very little face to face contact with her family.
We learn that Hermione planned to skii with her parents in OotP, but she doesn't sound excited about it or seem regretful that the visit was cut short. She says her parents were "disappointed," but understood. How much did she share with them? Are they patient saints who never try to curb their daughter's freedom, even if it means they never see her again?
In HBP, Hermione spends almost the entire summer at the Burrow. No emergency. It's just normal to her. She seems to go home for Christmas, but only because she's mad at Ron, & she's uninterested in telling Harry about it.
This is a bit chilling, right?
I can easily see why Hermione stops talking about home after the "m*dblood" incident in Chamber. (Dean also stops making muggle references.) But I'm curious to hear how fans think this relationship with her family developed.
In DH, Hermione specifies that she's told her parents a lot about Harry, enough to put them in danger, "unfortunately," which suggest that this isn't just a case of parental neglect. If she regrets telling them about her life, then at what point in the series did she stop sharing things with them? If she confided a lot about Harry, why did they never show concern that Hogwarts was dangerous?
Another redditor pointed out that Hermione is quite private. Even though she's constantly with Harry, there's a lot he doesn't know about her. Her muggle family, for example, seem to be something she compartmentalizes into smaller and smaller spaces until she finally erases herself from their lives completely, and I'm struck by how inevitable that moment feels after the previous books.
I did ramble. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. What did you attribute the Grangers' nonexistence to when you read the books?

Hi all,
My residence visa will expire in a few days and my flight out was supposed to be on the same day as expiry however I've been informed by my company (the ones buying the tickets) that they got me new tickets for 2 days AFTER my residency visa expires.
Now my question is, do I bother with the Omani visa run for just 2 days (I've looked at the costs and with an EU passport they are still high) or do I just bear the cost of 2 days fine?
Some of the information I'm finding online is also conflicting. Few sources say that under my citizenship I don't need a visa to either Oman or UAE for 90 days others say I need to apply just in case and that I need proof of accommodation arrangements and further travel.
Any advice will be appreciated, thanks!

I'm planning on doing a bit of travelling, just assuming that 95% of the time the case will be checked in. (international)
(Sorry for re-post from 3 months ago, I made a typo in the title)

I 40F come from a very strict matriarchal family. My parents divorced when I was very young, which lead to a very shitty childhood where I was SA’d by various men in both households. At one point I had to continue to live with my abuser for years until I got married and moved out. My mom is the obedient dutiful daughter, because whatever my grandma says goes. My aunt and uncle were the black sheep, because they defied her. My grandma who I can best describe as highly volatile, manipulative, quick to anger, controlling, and money hungry, was recently diagnosed as bipolar. She created a shit storm at the house and in her home country that she traveled to two months ago. I should add, my mom never left the nest and to this day still lives with my grandma, my step-grandpa, my stepfather, and my brother. My mom has always been teased that she refused to cut the umbilical cord, but it’s the truth. She leaves in fear of having any regrets if something happened to my grandma. She lived under my grandma’s thumb all her life, she has sacrificed her life, marriage, and kids for my grandma. In our culture respect means, not talking back, doing everything your elder tells you to do, and keeping your mouth shut. My mom was more opened minded with my upbringing, but these beliefs still held true during my upbringing.
I’m 40, married, with my own family, but I’m still expected to abide by these set of rules. I recently moved back to my home state (where my family lives) temporarily due to work, I’ll be moving again soon. My mom and her sister had to travel to my grandma’s country to go and handle the shit storm she had created, because people couldn’t deal with her anymore. I have been the person my mom and everyone relays on for everything…for years. I moved out of the country for a few years and somehow I was still the person they would go to for EVERYTHING. Mind you, my mom has my brother to relay on for help and my aunt has her son (both adults), but somehow it’s always my responsibility. I am also, the person my mom vents to about all her issues, especially those with my grandma. Over the years it’s been one issue after another, it never ends. Through my grandma’s manic episode, I’ve been the one who has to be there for her for support and everything else. Anyhow they are due back really soon, and my stress levels and anxiety levels have been through the roof. I have so much resentment towards my mom, my grandma, and aunt (it’s all related). Resentment that has built up throughout the years, resentment of the expectations they have put on me, resentment because I have always felt like my mom has always put my grandma over me (ex: I had to continue to live with my abuser, because my mom refused to leave my grandma). Their household is very toxic, but it’s all they know, so it’s considered normal. What I’ve mentioned on this post is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much to unpack with my family.
Anyhow, my mental health has been taking a toll, I’m always anxious, stressed, and angry. My grandma has created a heck of a shit storm, we are left to pick up the pieces and clean up after her….as it is always the case. Anyhow, I finally reached my limit. To add, my aunt is mad at me for calling her out, which I’m fine with. I’m just tired, I’m so done, I feel taken advantage of because as they have previously said, “(my name) always listens and does what we tell her to do.” Well I’m DONE and with their impending return, I decided to temporarily go no contact, I don’t want to deal with the drama anymore. Mentally I’m drained from the never ending vents, it feels like a broken record, because nothing ever changes. I’m questioning my own sanity, because I feel like the AH. I don’t live near them, but I’m expected to be available at all times for whatever they need. This has been my life for years, and I’m tired, drained, and feel like I can’t give anymore without it affecting my marriage. Thankfully, my husband is very supportive of me, but I also have a child to think about. I would never think of putting this much stress on him. Which is another point of contention (how I’m raising my child). I feel like an ungrateful daughter and bad for temporarily going to no contact. But I can’t keep having anxiety and dreading my family. So tell me, am I the AH?

I hate travel. I keep doing it. And I keep agreeing to travel ideas. But I hate it. So much. I thought I was so smart, booking my family and friend travel together. I’d only have to do the flying stuff for one round trip and get both things done basically for half the cost too! I really felt so smart and I should just never trust that feeling. Now all I want is to be home and I have more than a week left before my return flight. I’m not even through part one (family) of the trip and I have no idea how I will survive. I will because that’s like the only thing I do well. I live, not in a big fun since but just survival. Even when I try not to I still live. So I will survive. I know this even tho my insides feel like acid and I can’t see straight from crying. Silent crying. Because I can’t let anyone here know that I’m not okay. That would be worse.
I vented earlier, but now I think that was a mistake. Three of the people didn’t respond so idk if I upset people. But I can see now how sharing my immediate experience without asking if that was okay or if people had space might be bad. My little brother might just not really be… I know he has close friends who are queer and trans, but maybe I assumed to much about his real feelings when I vented about our other brother and our mom’s casual homophobia. I didn’t even say that word. I just said they were all very much not being allies and doing so loudly and I wanted to escape. But maybe that was too much. I know my friends that I vented to have their own family dynamics, it’s why I talked to them, they’re both queer with conservative families and would get it. I wish I had asked, but everyone is always saying to open up more and I’ve been trying and now that habit is hard to pull back on in the moment.
How do people do that? Have such good control of their emotions that they can make a choice in the moment to not close off but also not to just share immediately? And if I can’t, is just closing off the better choice? I don’t want to burden people and now that I’m slightly removed from the moment, I can see that’s what I did. But then those same people say to open up and let people be there for me. Maybe it’s fine and they’re busy but it’s been long enough and they’re both phone addicts (no judgment, most of us are) so I’m guessing this was too much. Maybe this is one of those autistic moments where I’m just supposed to know that when people say to share more, they don’t really mean it?
And while I’m worried about if my poor emotional control has ruined 3 relationships, I’ve been ignoring that my ceiling caved in. The cat sitter let me know yesterday and I did call maintenance, but they said it wasn’t a big deal or a concern really, just a thing that happens. That’s obviously bs, but what can I do? I don’t even know what I’d do if I were home. I feel so helpless. The cat sitter let me know more of the ceiling came down and that one of the cats peed on the floor. They’ve never done that. I don’t even know if they did or if it’s from the ceiling. I don’t know anything except that my home is not a great space for them, they’re anxious because I’m gone and because parts of the ceiling keep falling down. And no one in maintenance is doing anything about the ceiling. And unless I really break and just move my flight up and go home, which comes with a whole other set of problems, I can’t be there to make them feel better.
And when I decided to stop sitting in a stupor staring at my phone freaking out about the latest apartment/cat update, I went into the bathroom to see that my mom’s dog got into the trash. I had my period so there were tampons and liners in there and the dog definitely ate some of the plastic applicators as well as the cotton stuff. She just said, “oh well he’ll have to poop it out, nothing we can do now”. No vets will be called. So, I may have just killed a very nice dog.
I guess I’ll see my little brother and one of the friends I’m worried about over sharing with in a few days. Unless I totally fucked up in a bigger way than I know. So hopefully even if I did fuck up a little we can talk about it and be okay, but who knows.
I know I will survive this. But I can’t even send my therapist an honest message to ask for advice or anything because the honest truth is… I don’t entirely want to in this moment. And despite what everyone says about opening up, I can’t about this. If I tell my therapist, she has legal and professional obligations. I’ve already talked too much to friends and I know the issue I’m worried about is that I should have asked if they had space first, but how do you ask someone if they have space for this? Because asking is telling in that case. (“do you have space for me to talk about feeling like maybe being alive is not the best choice?” kind of gives the heaviest part away) And god forbid my mom knows how I feel, she’d probably just cut me out of her life again for the... fourth? fifth? time. So, I’m crying silently.
Actually I forced myself to stop crying and hide the tissues because it’s almost her bed time and she might come over here to say goodnight or whatever. I don’t know that I’ve been able to hide everything well enough all day. I was really not okay during lunch after everyone was just so casually homophobic….
She did come in just now. I’m really proud of me. I forced myself to make eye contact and smile and even laughed at a thing about pillows. All very good masking. She doesn’t need to know I’m autistic so even though I’m already struggling, I need to get better about masking. I didn’t make eye contact much at all during lunch. Strangely enough I think the only person other than my little sister I’ve been normal pleasant (not forced strained fake pleasant) is my mom’s husband. I’m not going to get into why it’s weird but it’s to do with my childhood and trauma, so ya know, not my favorite dude overall. But I have to mask better or all the shoving down the pain to avoid conflict will have been useless. Last time I saw my mom, before I even knew I was autistic, I said something that must have triggered that thought for her because she literally yelled “you’re not autistic!”. I didn’t even suspect I was at the time, so it really felt quite weird. Now I get it. But at the time it was very bizarre.
When I started typing this, I just wanted to vent to no one, but I realized I actually could use some advice. Especially on how other people handle the part where they share in a better, healthier way. I just can’t seem to find any middle ground. It’s like either I word vomit in the moment, or I go numb and can’t stand to talk about it at all after. So in the hopes that random internet strangers might be willing to read my rant and offer that advice, I’m going to make a reddit account and post this. If you are reading this, thank you for listening and sorry it was so poorly written. Also sorry if I did anything wrong in the posting of this, it's my first time posting something and fucking shit up seems like my main skill today.

I wanted to throw my hat into the ring of countless suggestion, and suggest something related to a feature that's not even in the game yet. Mounted Warfare.
1 - Types of Mounts.
Horses. Pretty obvious and the standard mount type. Much faster than human movement, but is greatly slowed by sand and arcane desert biome, and can't traverse hills.
Pegasi. Flying horses basically, not as fast as regular horses and other mounts, but still faster than foot travel. Great benefit is that they are unimpeded by terrain, so they can fly over hills, mountains, and bodies of water.
2 - Combat
Wars in worldbox are rather simple, and when it comes to attacking, typically units stop in place and then do their thing. I was thinking for units on horseback, they would constantly be moving and still be able to attack. Perhaps they can perform a charge where they dash in a straight line and hit everything in front of them. Of course, horse back units are not invulnerable to being hit themselves while charging. Those with bows on a horseback don't need to charge, but they can still fire their arrows while moving, giving them great flexibility ideally and able to evade a volley of attacks from standard archers.
Pegasi riders on the other hand, must descend from the sky if they wish to attack anyone on the ground, assuming they don't have a ranged weapon like a bow or magic staff. In addition, attacks from arrows automatically deal x2 damage to those that fly on a pegasus.
3 - Organization
I was thinking on this one for a bit, and in the case of horse back, I think there should be a separate leadership unit that leads horseback. Like how the warriors follow the banner lord (or general as I like to call them), I think there should be something like a "knight captain" or "cavalry commander" or such that would lead all the horse back units separately from the general.
4 - Equipment
I was thinking about this one for a bit, but I find myself unsure. Either way, I'll still bring it up.
Those one horseback and riding a pegasus use a different type of weaponry compared to the standard. Great Swords instead of swords, Lances instead of Spears, Halberds instead of Axes, and Great Hammers instead of Hammers. These weapons are slightly more powerful compared to their standard variants, but are slightly more expensive to make. In addition, mounted warriors can only use these weapons, while infantry can use regular weapons or these variants. Essentially, this would make mounted warriors a powerful, but also expensive for a kingdom's resources.
Mounts can also have armor, and if they are ridden by a mob, then they bestow that armor onto the rider. As an example, let's say a fully decked out adamantium armor wearing warrior has 50% armor, and the horse has 15% armor. Then the total armor is 65%. Ideally, mounted armor would be much weaker than standard armor.

Hi!
I am in the early stages of mapping out a trip for 5 families with 9 kids among us (one 4 year old, five 8 year olds, two 10 year olds, and one 11 year old) for next April. Just to note: yes, we’re crazy — but we are also great travelers! We all did Paris together last fall and it was a blast!
We know for sure that we are doing Oahu for a few reasons: (1) military connection - visiting friends who are stationed there and also a desire to see Pearl HarboUSS Arizona; (2) Disney resort for a few days, as it’s a bit of a tradition with our travel group. We’re a but split on the second island. I am advocating for Big Island, for a completely different vibe from Oahu, but others are making great cases for Maui or Kauai- I know we can’t go wrong however we choose.
I hope to use this sub as a resource throughout planning, so in this very initial stage, here are my first few questions:

• what would be your “can’t miss” on each island with kids these ages?
  
• on Oahu - we’ll probably spend the vast majority of the trip here. I’m envisioning 2 full resort days at Aulani and a day at Pearl Harbor. Drive up to Hale’iwa, stopping at Dole on the way. Would also like a day at PCC and a day at Kualoa. I don’t want to change hotels every evening, so would it make sense to make the North Shore a “home base” for Hale’iwa/PCC/Kualoa? Other specific places to look at for places to stay? Would you add on a day in Waikiki/Blow Hole? Swap meet in Honolulu?
  
• on Big Island - I’d really like to stay at Volcano Village for two or three nights. If we’re only staying on BI 3-4 days, should we just plan on staying there the whole time? Skipping out on Kona? What other than HVNP should we try seeing on the east side?
  

THANK YOU for all tips, tricks, and help with the fun ahead!

So to start off, I'm a Jeep guy, and have been for the last roughly 30 years. In that time, I haven't not owned a Jeep, regardless of whether it was my daily driver.
My kiddo totaled my 2018 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk last month and I've really really struggled to replace her. I know I want another Jeep, and I actually thought about going out and finding another 2018 Jeep GC Trailhawk. My two boys and I travel a ton together - concerts, zoos, outdoor stuff, and we go out West once or twice a year to Utah/Idaho/Wyoming/Montana. The Trailhawk was perfect for that - great on the highway, super stable, fast, enough punch to pass anything, but comfortable enough for my kids or my wife to take a nap in in the back at night. My kids and I have probably been to 100 concerts in that Jeep, and we had lots of really great memories in that thing. I know; it's a hunk of metal, rubber, and plastic. It's stupid to get attached to it, but I did.
So yesterday, my youngest and I were out and we decided to test drive a few Jeeps., and we ended up driving this 2020 Gladiator Sport around town for a bit with the sales guy and I liked it a lot, so I bought it. It was close to closing time, and so I went and picked it up this morning and drove it home. As soon as I got on the Interstate, I thought, "Holy cow, I'm gonna end up in the other lane if I hit another bump." I was doing 72 MPH. I'm normally a 80-95 MPH driver on the Interstate, traffic allowing. You couldn't pay me to do 85 in a Gladiator.
Is it normal for a Gladiator to feel so "floaty" and bounce around? She's got aftermarket tires and rims - maybe 31" or so. They're grippy offroad tires in almost new condition, but I had virtually the same tires on my Dodge Ram Quad Cab a few years ago and they didn't feel floaty and unstable like that. I have bumper to bumper warranty on it, or worst case, I can take it back and get something else - or even nothing at all. I work from home and the only time I really drive is to go to shows and out to the desert or mountains, but holy crap I cannot imagine driving the Gladiator across the country.
Is my expectation unrealistic? I think it probably is. I think I should just probably suck it up and buy a newer Jeep or see if I can find an older Trailhawk again. I don't know.
Thanks in advance for help, advice, mockery, or you're welcome to laugh along with me at me.