Italics = advisor feedback

1. Congratulations Don Jr., after a contentious primary with Matt Rosendale and Greg Gianforte, you have emerged victorious in the Republican primary. What will be your opening statement as you pivot towards the general Montana senate election with Jon Tester?

• Why screw up this thing. I’ll run a low-risk campaign and cruise to victory. After all, my dad is the Republican nominee for president, so I can certainly ride his coattails to victory “This might work but don’t underestimate Jon Tester, he’s quite popular in Montana”
• I want to nationalize this race as much as possible and attack Jon Tester relentlessly, Tester has voted in lockstep with Biden and Pelosi “This might work, but most Montanans are more focused on state issues rather than national issues”
• I want to appear with my dad, Donald Trump, as much as possible as I campaign “People want to see you differentiate yourself from dad occasionally, and this doesn’t help much”
• I want to denationalize this race as much as possible. I want to take pictures of myself on my Montana ranch and focus on the farmers and workers in this state “nationalizing this race is your best chance, considering that your father is the Republican nominee for president”

​

1. Due to the rural nature of Montana, the average Montanan spends more on gas than almost any other state in the country, and as gas prices continue to rise, what would you do to lower them?

• I would work with Senator John Thune to construct the Dakota Access Pipeline, which will transport gas faster and thus drop the price of gas, unlike Biden and the Democrats who want to shut down the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline “This is good in that it criticizes the Democrats while also offering a different solution.”
• The way you lower gas prices is by getting Biden and the Democrats out of the office and putting in Trump and the Republicans, as gas prices were nowhere near as high as they were when Trump was president “This attack somewhat damaged Biden, but the damage is limited because people want to know what you would do differently from him.”
• One thing we could do to lower gas prices is to switch sides in the Russia-Ukraine war and side with an oil-rich Russia, rather than siding with oil-poor Ukraine, and we could get more oil through deals with Russia “Are you insane?”

​

1. RNG. Your father, who is running for president from within a prison cell, has asked if you could attend one of his rallies that are being held from just outside his prison cell where he will be visible to the large crowd through the window of his prison cell in New York. Would you like to attend this rally outside the prison?

• Yes, I would “Good news, the rally outside of Trump’s prison cell was just the right size, in that it was large enough to fire up Trump’s base in Montana, but not so large that it would grab the attention of the liberal media. Good job”
• Yes, I would. “Bad news, the rally outside of Trump’s prison cell had a lot of both trump supporters and protestors and the two groups quickly turned violent and it drew an enormous amount of media attention and you are getting badly hurt by the controversy.”
• No, I wouldn’t “Good news, the Montana people respected your ability to be removed from national politics of a rally outside of Trump’s prison cell.”
• No, I wouldn't “Bad news, Trump’s base is furious at you for not showing up to your father’s rally from outside of Trump’s prison cell.”

​

1. Inflation continues to ravage the nation. How will you put an end to it?

• We’re gonna stop handing out money and stop all this nonsense spending. “This has fired up your core supporters, but most independents are worried about this kind of messaging.”
• I would like to reduce tariffs and remove regulatory barriers “Trump’s tariffs are popular with the Trump wing of the Republican party, but this answer should win over more libertarian-minded Republicans”

​

1. The destructive conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to go on. How will you put an end to it if at all?

• I will urge for American neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war “You’ve pleased your diehard base, but most independents want America to side with Ukraine during this destructive conflict”
• I will keep the current path of issuing sanctions against Russia “This is probably the best answer to please the majority of Montanans.”
• I will urge America to get involved on Ukraine’s side against Russia “This wins over independents at the expense of winning over your base.”
• I will urge the UN to create a demilitarized zone on the Ukraine-Russia border and urge Ukraine and Russia to come to a comprehensive peace treaty “This wins over the neocons in your party at the expense of the Trump wing of your party.”

​

1. China has repeatedly made threats against Taiwan, and there have been fears that China might invade Taiwan. How will you prevent this from happening?

• This is Taiwan’s problem, not ours “This wins over the hardcore isolationists in your party at the expense of mainstream Americans”
• We will issue sanctions against China if they choose to invade Taiwan “This is probably the best answer to please the majority of Montanans”
• I urge America to intervene in this conflict against China “Are you insane, no one wants war with China!”
• I will urge China and Taiwan to create a demilitarized zone between them and a comprehensive peace treaty “This might be a good strategy”

​

1. There continue to be migrants and drugs that are flowing across the southern border. What would you do to stop this from happening?

• We need to strengthen our border security and build a wall “This is a good solution to win over the hard-core Trumpsits in your party”
• Look, this is Montana, we are nowhere near the southern border. Do we need to campaign on this issue? “Fair enough”
• We need a compromise solution of granting the illegals in this country a pathway to citizenship in return for building a stronger immigration enforcement system “This is a good way to win over independent voters”

​
8. Jon Tester, despite being a senator from Montana, one of the most pro-gun states in America, strongly came out in favor of gun control after the Uvalde shooting. What is your opinion on gun control?

• The Democrats are using school shootings as an excuse to take away our 2nd amendment rights “This attack is mildly successful, but the damage is limited because people want to know what you would do differently to stop school shootings”
• We need more armed guards at the front of schools to prevent these shootings, not to take away guns “This is an interesting solution”
• We need to spend more money on mental health clinics to treat these dangerous individuals “This wins over the Trump wing of social conservatives, but many fiscal conservatives are uncomfortable talking about this much government spending”

​

1. Abortion has become an increasingly important issue throughout America, how will you deal with this issue

• I will pass a law that will ban abortion nationwide “This fires up your base at the expense of independents”
• This isn’t our problem. We will let the people of each state decide that for ourselves “This fires up independents at the expense of the base”
• We should pass a law that bans travel from one state to another or traveling from one country to another to receive an abortion “This should meet the fine line of appealing to your base while also winning over independents.”

​

1. Now onto more state-centered issues. The state of Montana has an enormous amount of agriculture, farms, and ranches, and the amount they make has been decreasing. How will you plan to deal with this

• I will fight for Montana exports in trade deals “ an unusual position for a Republican to take, but this could work”
• This isn’t a problem we can solve, this is for the free market “This is a more traditional platform to run on as a Republican, but not a popular one amongst the Montana people.”

​

1. RNG Will you agree to debate Jon Tester?

• Yes I will “You won”
• Yes I will “You and Tester tied”
• Yes I will “You lost”
• No, we have a massive lead “People don’t trust you if you don’t debate, expect this to hurt you badly”

​

1. RNG You are meeting with Libertarian candidate Rick Breckenridge, to see if you can convince him to drop out and endorse you.

• I hope he drops out "Good news. He dropped out."
• I hope he drops out "Bad news. He doesn't drop out."

​

1. There's no way around it. Although you own a ranch in Montana, Montana is not your state of permanent residence and many view you as a carpet bagger. How do you plan to respond?

• I will counter-attack by showing Tester as a DC insider who is out of touch with Montanan values "This doesn't work well, as Tester routinely tours the state"
• I will tout my outsider credentials as an advantage, as I can reform Montana from the outside to Make Montana Great Again “MMGA”

​

1. Which Montana Republican would you like to go on tour with today?

• I would like to go on tour with Montana’s governor, Greg Gianforte “Well this didn’t work out well, as many are still angry about the incident that Greg Gianforte caused in 2017 when he ran for the house and bragged on social media about how he was so far ahead in the polls that he could beat up a reporter and still win, then proceeded to beat up a reporter and still narrowly won. Expect to take a dip in the polls.”
• I would like to go on tour with Montana’s incumbent Republican senator, Steve Daines “This worked out well, as Steve Daines is broadly popular amongst conservatives and independents”
• I would like to go on tour with Matt Rosendale, who ran for the Montana senate seat in 2018 and lost “Campaigning with Matt Rosendale offends no one, but pleases no one either”

​

1. News has broken out about how your girlfriend, Kimberly Gilfoyle, has been fired from Fox News for sexual harassment. How do you want to do damage control?

• As much as I love my girlfriend, I have no control over her behavior and I condemn this incident of behavior completely “This is probably the best you could do given this bad situation”
• Who cares, this is my girlfriend’s sexual harassment case, not mine “Well, you’re the one who’s dating her, so this makes you look bad.”
• I condemn my girlfriend completely for this behavior and I am breaking up with her for it “This is a strong answer which could win over women voters, but this only draws more attention to an incident that already looks incredibly ugly”

​

1. How would you like to attack Jon Tester if at all?

• We need to emphasize that Jon Tester has voted with Joe Biden 91% of the time. Jon Tester pretends to distance himself from Biden, but Tester is just one of Biden’s puppets who happens to be in a Trump +16 state “That’s it, hit Tester where it hurts!”
• We need to emphasize that Jon Tester is out of touch with Montana values lives in Washington DC and constantly votes in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and votes for drag queens and transing the kids “This attack doesn’t win over independents, but it sure does fire up the base”
• We should run compare and contrast ads between Kyrsten Sinema and Jon Tester, showing how Sinema is in a bluish-purple state and constantly stabs Biden in the back while Jon Tester is from a deep red state and constantly votes lock step with Biden “This ad was incredibly effective”
• We should run ads of gas prices soaring under Tester and Biden, while gas prices were falling under Trump Sr. and will continue to fall under Trump Jr. “This ad was mild to moderately effective, but voters want to know what specific policy you will implement to lower gas prices

​

1. One interesting idea that has been proposed by many Democrats is to put abortion clinics on Native American reservations, as their lands aren’t governed by the US. Montana has some of the most native reservations in the country. What are your thoughts on this?

• This is an abhorrent practice that will lead to more children being killed as a loophole around the Dobbs .vs. Jackson's case allowed each state to choose whether or not to allow abortion “This answer fires up the base but hurts you with independents”
• I don’t care either way, this is up for the leaders of the native reservations to decide themselves “This might be the best you can do with a difficult question like this”
• Small government means small government, therefore lands that are not on American soil should be allowed to build abortion clinics to serve the public, as we are the party of small government that favors bodily autonomy “This answer helps with independents and hurts with the base”

​

1. Not to talk too much about abortion, but a new bill has been proposed in the Montana State House that would criminalize pregnant Montanans for traveling out of state or out of the country to receive an abortion elsewhere. What are your thoughts on this bill?

• I think Montana should ban all abortions within its borders, but banning Montana residents from traveling out of state or out of the country to receive an abortion elsewhere is too harsh “No one loves this answer, but no one hates it either”
• Being pro-life means being all the way pro-life, which means that we should criminalize out-of-state and out-of-country travel to receive an abortion elsewhere “Your base eats this up, but this stance makes independents gag”
• As a Republican, I naturally believe in making government as small as possible, meaning that native american reservations should be allowed to have abortion clinics and that people should be allowed to travel out of state and out of the country to receive abortions “Independents are lining up behind you, but your base is threatening to stay home”

​

1. RNG. The Montana state legislature has just passed new laws banning Tribal ID cards and requiring you to present your address to vote, which Native Americans on reservations don’t have as a way to stop Native Americans, who disproportionately vote Democrat, from voting. What are your thoughts on this?

• This should help me win “Good news, Native Americans aren’t getting the new IDs and addresses necessary for voting for Tester, so this will help you.”
• This should help me win “Bad news, Native Americans are now turning out in higher numbers than ever before and are getting the new IDs and licenses necessary to vote. Expect this to hurt you.”

​
20. You have talked about reducing the amount of money that we spend to reduce inflation. Where would you like to make cuts in spending

• I don’t know, everywhere maybe “This is not specific enough, and Jon Tester’s mediscare strategy is working eerily well”
• First, cuts will be made to foreign aid “In general, if you have to cut anything, cut foreign aid first, then again, most Americans are supportive of Ukraine in their war against Russia, so this might also backfire”
• We should cut farming subsidies and allow farmers to properly partake in the free market “Montana is a very agricultural state, so this doesn’t play well”

​

1. Jon Tester has attacked you with an attack ad of you speaking with your father and Rudi Giuliani at the Save America rally on January 6th where you tell the crowd to stand up and fight as they proceed to walk towards the capital and invade it. How will you react

• This was a poor choice of words for me. Although I said the word fight in a physical sense, what I meant to say was fought in a metaphorical stance by protesting the certification of the 2020 election “This might be the best thing you can say to keep your base on your side while not angering independents”
• I played no role in causing the violence that most people did on January 6th as I meant to fight in a metaphorical sense, not in a literal sense. It should be noted that only a small portion of people that attended that rally on January 6th broke into the capital “Most voters believe that you played a role on January 6th, and this answer doesn’t help”
• These people who entered the capital were brain-dead idiots who thought this would be a good idea. Why should I be responsible for their actions “You were the one who encouraged them to do it.”

​

1. Montana has one of the slowest internet speeds in the country due to its rural location. Would you be willing to spend government money to increase the internet speed in Montana?

• I understand the urge to help Montanans with slow internet, but this is a function best served by private companies, not the government “This helps with the base, but hurts with independents”
• We need to spend government money to help Montanans with slow internet “This helps with independents but hurts the base”

​

1. Do you plan to pass more laws to engage in culture wars and ban drag story hour, and critical race theory

• No, these culture wars about drag story hour just distract from the main issues at hand “Some sense a missed opportunity to win points amongst the base, but others appreciate you for not constantly attacking”
• Yes, we need to protect our children from drag story hour and critical race theory “This will win you points amongst your base but hurt you with independents and libertarian-minded voters.”

​

1. What will be your ending message as this campaign draws to a close?

• Don’t let Jon Tester fool you, he’s no moderate and he votes for Biden 91% of the time. Tester is Biden, and Biden is bad. Tester is Biden’s puppet. Make sure to vote for my dad for president and me for the senate. “This is probably a good strategy considering how Tester votes for Biden 91% of the time, and although Tester is somewhat popular in the state, Biden is not.”
• I want to hold a big rally in a field in Billings with a jumbotron where my dad is presented on the big screen from prison. My dad Trump Sr. will carry Montana by double digits, so all I have to do is ride his coattails to victory “Your dad is popular in Montana, so tying yourself to him as closely as possible might be a good idea.”
• I want to nationalize this race as much as possible. A vote for me is a vote for my dad who is running for president, while a vote for Tester is a vote for Biden “This is a good strategy, as you will need your dad’s momentum to gain victory in this senate race.”

​

1. Where in Montana will you spend your last days campaigning

• I will campaign in the Helena area around Lewis and Clark and Cascade counties. Tester may have won them in 2018, but Trump won them in 2020, so with one last push, we should flip them red
• I will campaign in the rural eastern parts of the state to maximize conservative turnout such as in Custer and Prairie counties
• I will expand my appeal by campaigning in the rural northern parts of the state with Native American reservations such as Glacier County
• I will campaign in the Missoula area, a traditionally liberal area and college town in Missoula County

Hello, Fellows.
I'm the son of a narcissistic father. He was never formally diagnosed, like most narcissists, and I can't prove that he's a narcissist in strict accordance with the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, in the sense that I can't distinguish two very proximate cities in Eritrea, although I'm completely confident that they're located within the African continent.
I'm also an analytic philosopher, one of whose interests is in the philosophy of psychology. I've long studied narcissism both from an unwanted personal perspective and a theoretical perspective. Psychologists and psychiatrists generally aren't strong on theory. Their focus is applied. Philosophers are critical and all about theory, but dealing with narcissism is a lived experience, the stresses of which create an urgency that demands solutions because of so much active harm being done.
Both within myself, and in reading the heart-wrenching stories of other victims, I find a common thread. Despite a lifetime of abuse that inevitably causes lasting damage to us, few of us seem to have the emotional wherewithal to go no-contact with the narcissist. Paradoxically, even if we distance ourselves from a narcissistic parent, we still find ourselves connected, and ongoingly harmed in direct proportion to the strength of that connection, until the narcissist dies or becomes functionally incapacitated and no longer capable of actively abusing a son or daughter through gaslighting, rage as a mechanism of intimidation, belittlement, creating double binds, or physical violence.
I maintain a distant connection because of my mother. My parents are elderly. She deserves better than what she got in life, but there's no practical way to help her, other than to stay connected and talk with her.
I've pondered the nature of the paradox that a narcissistic parent harms a son or daughter over the course of decades, and, indeed, a lifetime, while the victim, despite realizing, often with great insight, the nature of what's happening is unable to free himself or herself from the abuse by going no-contact. I believe that the key to understanding this is attachment.
As vulnerable babies, we rely on parents for survival. An attachment mechanism keeps both a baby and his or her mother attached to one another. This expresses itself through care, and the experiencing of positive emotions. As the baby develops into a child, the attachment mechanism remains active. The parent provides the exploring child a sense of safety, while the child's curiosity draws it into the environment to interact and learn through play. Should anything frighten the child, the attachment mechanism acts as a homing beacon to point the way back to safety. Eventually, the child grows up, and normally establishes at least a semi-independent life away from the parents.
Here, confounding variables come into play, such as the values of the culture in which the child grew up, and constraints that impinge upon an adult's time, such as job and marital and parental responsibilities. While it's difficult to make any categorical statements, in most cases, the attachment mechanism seems to exert a lifelong effect.
If the child grows into an adult and manages to go no-contact with a narcissistic father, he still suffers in various ways. Emotionally, he's never fully able to separate himself from the past, which remains active in his thoughts and conditions his behavior in new situations, often profoundly shaping how he sees the world, as one full of demons in human skin. If the adult maintains contact with the narcissistic father, he continues to be actively abused. It seems that no matter what he does, he never achieves true freedom, only, perhaps, a less harmful or more harmful outcome, depending on his choice to go no-contact.
I posit that the attachment mechanism simultaneously traps the victim in this seemingly inescapable situation, and gives the narcissist a metaphorical attack surface through which to exploit and victimize the son. Even if the son goes no-contact, the primal emotional attachment to a parent, combined with memories of a long history of abuse, cause ongoing difficulty in navigating life due to mental illness created by the narcissist.
It's difficult to imagine any type of relationship to which the word "evil" can more aptly be applied than this, which amounts to the lifelong (of the narcissist) abuse of a son or daughter. The narcissist seems to get away with it, while the child is damaged for life.
Most of us were raised in a value system broadly consistent with that promoted by the New Testament. Whether we're religious or not, Christian values permeate society, and promote ideas such as forgiveness. Unfortunately, we have to really stretch or unnaturally modify any defensible meaning of the idea of forgiveness to urge a victim to forgive his victimizer, who is eager to continue his abuse. I think that Christian—or, more broadly, religious—values, developed in a very different and distant social environment from the one we inhabit today, further entrap the victim.
For instance, Exodus 20:12 states: "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." In a society free of narcissists, this encourages altruism and is consistent with what the attachment mechanism would tend to facilitate. But in a world where there do exist parental narcissists, this is a horrific expectation that, because it's such a widespread value in society, further entraps the real victim of the narcissist, the son or daughter, who the narcissist is all too happy to complain about to anyone who will listen for being a bad son or daughter for refusing to have anything to do with them. The reputational threat of being thought badly of by others causes the victim to think twice, thrice, and many more times about the feasibility of going no-contact.
Our social world simply wasn't built to account for the existence of narcissists. To the contrary, it was built in such a way that readily facilitates the narcissist's ongoing abuse of victims. This seems to lead to a state of ongoing torture and inescapable injustice for the victim. Even when the narcissist dies, the echoes of the harm caused within the victim remain, and reverberate through the victim's often pathological interactions with the world as he struggles through mental illness.
It is a paradox that the narcissist is the abuser, yet the child, turned adult, is made out to be a bad son or daughter. It's not only a paradox, but an outrage, yet this outrage is made possible by the narcissist's successful, and all too easy, manipulation of others within the proximate social environment of the victim to keep the victim entrapped. In this sense, the narcissist resembles a virus that coopts the reproductive machinery of a cell to create additional viral cells, that go on to create still more, in an Absurd (in the Camusian sense) process that damages and crushes the victim over time.
For the sake of protecting ourselves, it seems clear that as a society, we can't meekly turn the other cheek in the face of devastating abuse, but need to defend ourselves. It's unclear to me how this might be possible when confronted by a narcissistic parent, for even if we escape, anyone around the narcissist will be abused, yet we don't jail narcissists. They're far freer than their victims, and as long as they live, they cause some of the cruelest destruction of others' lives that anyone can imagine.
We can't turn our attachment mechanism off through volition, psychotropic drugs, or psychotherapy. Barring medical and genetic breakthroughs unavailable to us today, what morally defensible solution is there to the great evil of narcissistic abuse?
I want to believe that some form of ultimate justice and a solution will at some point become available to us, but I find myself reflecting on Kafka's famous letter to his narcissistic father, with the knowledge that Kafka preceded his father in death and his father got away with his behavior scot-free.

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

• I'll be gaming at 1440p 170hz. Primarily AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption, Battlefield, etc.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

• I'd like to keep the PC as cheap as possible while still giving me a good experience at 1440p with a good framerate, but not skimping out on it to the point where it. Basically just a good value PC that will last me a while and will be easy to upgrade 3 to 4 years down the line. I'd like to keep the PC itself not including any other peripherals $1200 or under, but the current build I have is a little over $1300 (I could remedy that by getting a use GPU).

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

• I'm planning on building my PC about a month from now, and I'll try to update the initial build at that point if needed.

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc\)

• The PC only.

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

• The United States. I'm lucky enough to have two microcenters within a half hour drive of me, and I've included a cpu, mobo, and ram bundle within my current build.

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

• None.

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

• I'm not too heavily interested in overclocking but definitely wouldn't mind it.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

• I'd like to have a 2tb nvme. I'd also like to run a Minecraft server off of my PC to play on with a couple of friends, but I'm not sure what sort of hardware that would entail.

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

• I'd like to keep everything ATX. I definitely want an ATX case but don't mind a microATX mobo. I don't want to waste unnecessary money on rgb but don't mind having it either.

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

• No, I'm fine with using the free version of windows.

Extra info or particulars:

• I'll be gaming on a 1440p 170hz monitor and would like to play at a consistent 90+ fps on high to ultra settings. I want this PC to last me a solid 3 to 4 years before any major upgrades but will probably upgrade the graphics card sooner. I included a 6800 xt in my current build as that seems to be the sweetspot for high refresh rate 1440p gaming right now without breaking the bank. However, I've found an insanely good deal on a used 6700 xt for $200 and I'm not sure if spending $300 more on a 6800 xt is worth it right now.
• I'm pretty much set on getting the 4000d airflow. I've had my eye on it for a while because it's an amazing looking case with great thermals and because I'll have my PC on my desk I want something nice to look at. I've been debating whether or not to get the lancool 216 though, because it's similarly priced, comes with two 160mm fans at the front (can move larger amounts of air at lower speeds so should be quieter), and has better thermals from what I've seen so I'd appreciate any input on that. I just like the aesthetics of the 4000d airflow more.
• Also I've decided on getting the Gigabyte M27q Pro for $300. It's not at that price right now as stock has been quite low but the price should hopefully come down soon. I'd appreciate any 1440p monitor suggestions from you guys as well!

​
This is the build I came up with: https://pcpartpicker.com/usePcGoBoom/saved/#view=YgWK7P
(I'd like to go ryzen 7000 btw so that I can upgrade to a better cpu down the line ~maybe 3 to 4 years~, without having to replace my entire motherboard.)
Thanks for reading!

Quick things: We are both saved and walking Christians, members of the same church. We are about a month away from our 1 year anniversary.
My girlfriend (28F) and I (29M) have sexual history. I slept with a long time girlfriend, one person (over ten years ago). My girlfriend has multiple sexual partners in her past, in her time in college she had 3 separate sexual relationships, along with multiple one night stands. (six years ago)
First. I do not value her any less because of her past. Period. I love her dearly! Second. She has expressed regret regarding her past and has made it clear, her past is behind her and she has no interest in living that life again.
But... It still bothers me and I'm just looking for advice on how I personally can move past this to focus on loving this wonderful woman.
I struggle with thoughts of her past... Wondering what she did and with who and if her past might come back to affect her and possibly me. I struggle taking my thoughts captive and imagining her with other guys... I want to ask her for details about her past, but I don't know if I really want to know the answers... I also want to respect her and not ask her questions about something she wants nothing to do with.
I was in a relationship for 2.5 years, the relationship was sexual in nature from very early on, but we didn't have intercourse for the first 2 years (if that even matters). We both ended up going to different colleges and she ended up cheating on me (in truly horrific fashion) in her second semester leaving me with severe trust issues I'm still healing from.
Because of the damage of that past, I'm worried about my current girlfriend possibly returning to the life she lived in college... Not necessarily now, but later in life. Say we get married, and the two of us are in a session of being apart or we fall apart or something... She could easily turn back to Tinder... That being said, what's saying I don't do that too... I can be tempted too. I'm not trying to take a high road of "I'm better" I wish to take the perspective of "I love this woman and I want to put her past in the past and trust in the lord and not in my understanding and fear" I'm really just looking for encouragement and guidance on how to take my thoughts captive and how to renew my mind and my perspective on her and her past. To put the past in the past and love her.
TL;DR We both have sexual past, I have one previous partner, she has multiple. Her past makes me uncomfortable and I want to move past it and love her, but I'm having thoughts and imaginations of her past and I'm struggling to come to terms with it. I WANT to move past and love her! Seeking advice and guidance.

I (18F) have been dating my gf (18F) for a month. Officially. We had a thing 6 months ago that she broke off because she said she was still in love with her ex.
I was respectful and we stopped talking, then she asked me to a dance and things kinda kicked off from there. I wasn’t sure if it was platonic or romantic so I just kinda let her lead…it was very confusing though, one day it seemed she wanted to be a couple and the other she was happy I wouldn’t make anything “weird” out of what happened?
We went to the dance, fun night, I invited her to the afterparty my friends were having. She doesn’t drive so I drove her. She has to go home- so I do, we get to her house, she says, “Are you gonna make me say it?”
I was confused? “Say what?” “Well, ask you to kiss.” It felt like it was expected of me I guess. We did and it was not fun for me…she talked about the idea of us being a couple, and i said she should think about it for a couple of days and we could talk about it in a day or two.
She was super respectful about my physical boundaries, told me I could lead on that! Very awesome of her I appreciated it
When we talk she asks me why I asked her to be my girlfriend…which just never happened? I feel like this happens a lot, these things are like expected from me? Like we were texting one time and she starts talking about how she always wanted to go cliff diving but I “never asked so she never got the opportunity to talk about it” That kinda stuff just irked me?
She is very serious about our month long relationship and honestly I am just not. She values constant communication and that’s been difficult for me to adjust to. I have no doubt put in effort, but I’ve definitely slipped up- I didn’t text her for two days and she sent me a very long paragraph how I was intentionally trying to create space between us. I know that’s shitty that I did that, but I’m just an idiot and forgot to text…I just can’t give her that physical and emotional connection she wants, so it feels like we’re more friends than anything.
It’s difficult because like all things it’s not black and white. She’s an awesome person, funny as hell, but I struggle with having to constantly reassure her about us when I don’t really feel 100% in
I think I need to break it off. She wants to have a date, a real date on tuesday, but I’m planning on breaking up with her that day. I feel horrible about it. She likes me much more than I like her and I feel so much guilt about leading her on but I need to get this weight off my shoulders.
I’m going to do it right, in person. It’s going to suck and be uncomfortable but I know I have to…Im just scared honestly
bleh!

2011 Mazda 3 s grand touring, 102k miles, clean title, clean Carfax, 2 owners, $12k + taxes and fees. I've already been pre-approved for a loan through my bank and I'm going to see the car tomorrow. Only point of concern I see so far is that the Carfax shows regular maintenance up until 60k miles. No maintenance until 90k when it's listed for sale as an online listing then 6 days later it's listed as a dealer vehicle that sold at an auction. After that it shows a dealership having it for a month before selling it to I'm guessing an auction company because it says it was sold by an auction to the dealership who has it now. 10k miles were added between the two dealerships and that was about a 10 month span. It's also weird because it's shows the first dealership that got the car as still under the first owner and shows the second owner as the dealership who has the car now. They gave me the green light to get the car inspected. $12k is the market value of these cars in my area and it's been in Southern Cali all it's life so not really worried about flood damage. I would like talk them down to 11k OTD given that it's in mint condition. What should I offer first? Will it help if I put cash down? Looking to put 5-6k down. Also, is there an average amount I should expect to pay in taxes and fees? He listed off a few to me that added up to like $150 but he mentioned something about tax depending on where I live, any idea how I would figure that out? I'm in California if that helps at all. Thanks.

[First] [Previous] [Next]
Memory transcription subject: Illia, Federation Communications Technician
Date [standardized human time]: October 21, 2136
Kiran and I embraced for what seemed like forever, idly sitting on the rainbow grass that colored the forest floor while huddled together in the darkness. The campfire near us was still full of life somehow, and provided a good amount of illumination throughout the campsite.
It was quite difficult to sit on my haunches upright, with nothing supporting my back. Despite that, It was well worth it and I would sympathize with her for as long as was needed. I remained alert, with my weapon still in my grip in case the human decided to return for round two. I gently massaged the girl’s back with one of my forehooves, hoping that my attempts at soothing her would ward away the trauma she had experienced.
“Illia..” Kiran sobbed into my chest, drenching the fabric of my jumpsuit. “T-thank you, thank you. I was scared that you didn't m-make it.. I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t. P-please don’t leave me.” She pleaded.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart, don’t worry.” I replied, my voice a faint whisper. “The only thing that matters now is that you’re safe. You don’t have to worry about that.. thing anymore. It’s gone.” I consoled her, wiping the still-wet tears off of her ruffled feathers. “More importantly, are you hurt?” I checked her over, examining her lithe body from multiple angles.
She thought about that for a little while, then sat up, stretching a wing. She let out a cry of pain once it was half-way extended and brought it back down gingerly, wrapping a wing around her upper shoulder. I reached forward out of sympathy, my maternal instincts moving me to comfort her.
“Oh, Jild.. L-Let me see, honey.” I crooned. She heavily reminded me of my eldest, only daughter, and it was amusing how alike they were, despite being of different species.
I tenderly prodded the dull side of my hoof-paw against her supposed injured appendage, trailing it up towards her shoulder, which earned a startled chirp from her, followed by a slight jump away from my touch. The area of where her wing met her shoulder was bruised a deep purple, visible even beneath her feathers from where she collided with the tree. I was beyond grateful that nothing had broken, or even shattered. That would require extensive care, and we were lightyears away from the nearest hospital.
“How d-does it look, Illia? W-Will I be ok?” She sniffled, caressing her discolored limb while being mindful of its positioning. Sadness etched itself across my face, but I forced a hopeful look in Kiran’s favor. Thankfully, the bruising was the extent of her injuries, none of which were life threatening, though were still in need of urgent medical attention. The most I would be able to do would be to give her painkillers and make a sling for her.
Our best option now is to find Orsik and the rest of the crew.
“It’s.. fine, honey. Don’t you worry. I’ll get you fixed up, and you’ll feel all better, ok?” I said while rummaging through my bag for my first aid kit. I had a thorough understanding of how to dress wounds, as well as the proper medical procedures that came with it. Kiran would need her arm immobilized so that any further injury could be avoided. We’d better find help soon, I can only help her so much. I internalized.
Pulling out the kit, I took out a bottle containing the painkillers and a small, square-shaped piece of cloth, which unfolded into a much longer strand of fabric. I cautiously draped the cloth along her shoulder, positioning her arm along her abdomen much to her discomfort, and tied it off. Her arm was now fully supported, and the risk of worsening the injury had decreased. Feeling satisfied with my work, I grabbed the vial of painkillers, urging her to take one. I then grabbed one of the large bottles of water from my pack, holding it a distance away from her beak. “Drink, sweetie.” She welcomed the fluid into her mouth, tilting her head back as I poured the bottle. She eagerly chugged down the substance in record time, unmistakably parched. It had probably been a while since her last drink of water.
I leaned back and returned the now empty bottle to my bag, and observed her checking out my handiwork. Her gaze met the ground suddenly, and she froze, her eyes glossing over. I waited for her to say something, anything. Her abrupt silence was starting to worry me.
“Sweetie?” She gazed off into the distance, no doubt reliving her near-death experience. “Are you alright?” I nudged her, snapping her attention back to me. Tears began to bubble in those wide eyes of hers again; her grip on my jumpsuit tightened, and her hackles raised. She was visibly shaking.
“It.. it came out of n-nowhere. I could feel it w-watching m-me, even before I s-saw it. It.. I knew it w-was there, and th-then.. She whimpered. T-there was so m-much blood, and I-I.. Her voice was hoarse, describing her contact with the predator. “I-I was.. Was so s-scared.. I-I’ve never been more scared b-before in my life..” She choked the words out. “I didn’t know what to do, I-I couldn’t m-move.”
I lay my head gently on top of her own. “That’s just your instincts kicking in, honey.” I assured her. “Everyone has them.” I felt her rapid heartbeat slow gradually as she listened to my words. “You’re safe. Relax, my sweet.” The corners of my mouth turned up in a smile. “I am very proud of you, setting up camp all by yourself. You’ve proven to be very strong and capable out on your own.” My smile died down a bit. “I’m sorry that I didn’t come sooner, but I didn’t forget our promise.”
She released her tight grip on me, reeling back and looking at me with one eye. She swallowed. “Neither did I. I-I knew you would come, so I w-waited.” There was a pause after that, the both of us glad to be in each other's presence. “Thank you, Illia.”
I flicked my ears toward her, and my grin grew wider. “Of course. Let’s get out of here.” I stood up on my hind hooves with a grunt, stretching out my tired muscles. I extended my paw downward towards her, and she took it with her uninjured wing. I helped the virtually weightless girl to her talons, and hefted my backpack over my shoulders. My poor spine ached in protest, practically begging for a break. “Ready?” I turned my head towards her.
“Illia?” She spoke after a moment, craning her neck up towards me.
“Yes, Kiran?”
“That thing, the h-human.. Did you k-kill it? Where did it go?” A worried look crossed her avian features, waiting for my response. I wouldn’t want to worry the poor girl, but I don’t want to lie to her, either.
I inhaled sharply after a moment, inadvertently giving away the answer to Kiran even before my admission. Her brows upturned slightly with worry. My own eyes latched onto hers, and I breathed a sigh, confirming her suspicion.
“Y-you.. You didn’t kill it?! It’s still out there?! Oh, Inatala..” Her feeble legs wobbled, and I kept her from falling over. “W-why? Illia.. Y-you should have killed it when you had the chance! How is it e-even here? Did it f-follow us?!” The distraught avian squawked in alarm, and my ears flattened in response from the sudden change in pitch.
The loud krakotl girl was likely to attract unwanted attention, with how boisterous she was currently. I gently clasped a hoof-paw around her beak, attempting to silence her. “Hey! Calm down, sweetie. Deep breaths. We’re not on Nishtal, or anywhere else. Remember? There’s bound to be predators around here, so we have to be quiet.” That silenced her instantly. “Please, for both of our sakes.” I concernedly whispered. Her frantic chirping died down, and I released my paw.
I inhaled deeply, my lungs pulling in the night’s chilly air. I’d have to answer the many questions that she has bombarded me with now, lest her little heart stops.
A long breath escaped my lips. “I hesitated. I.. I couldn’t pull the trigger, knowing that I would be ending the life of a sapient, living creature. Killing is wrong, regardless of whether it’s prey or predator. I refuse to stoop down to its level.” I explained my actions. “As to how it got here, we must have picked it up somewhere around the time when we boarded the bomber ship. I had a suspicion earlier, I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.” I was sorely tempted to put the murderous bastard out of its misery then and there, but it didn’t sit right with me.
She clicked silently to herself, the gears slowly turning in her head.
“I-I thought something was wrong, on the ship, with how you were staring at the door. I was w-worried..” She nervously fidgeted, her talons puncturing the surface she stood on. “Uhm, why.. W-why does the human want to k-kill me? What d-did I do?” She timidly met my gaze again, glancing up at me with watery eyes.
I snorted, raising a four-digit paw and setting it down gently on her uninjured shoulder.
“It isn’t you, Kiran. Killing is in a predator’s nature, their bloodlust drives them crazy. They can’t help it even if they tried, that’s why we can’t live in peace.” I snorted, angering myself over my own rant. “I just wish that we had finished the job.” I muttered, referring to erasing humanity from existence.
Something else was plastered on her face now, something not dissimilar to a look of betrayal. “Illia?” She gulped. “D-do.. do you have predator disease?” Her voice was unsteady, but at the same time, nothing but a faint whisper.
Those words rekindled a flame in me that I thought to be snuffed out a while ago. I snorted angrily, outraged that she would even ask me such a thing, after I had saved her life. She would be dead if I hadn’t intervened, but here she was, accusing me of being the very thing that I had saved her from.
The adrenaline in my system dissipated as I stared into her frightened eyes, and I restrained myself from throwing a fit. Kiran was young, and couldn’t comprehend that predator disease wasn’t an actual illness, but instead was a way for the Federation to retain its chokehold over its citizenry. Though, I wasn’t about to berate the girl over flawed conspiracy theories. She clearly knew nothing of the pain it caused, as naive as she was.
But I knew it well.
She was as stiff as the trees surrounding us, eyeing me expectantly. I felt a pang of sadness as I noticed that she even stepped back a few paces, away from my reach. The Federation had indoctrinated her far beyond the point of recovery with their nonsensical rhetoric. It was insane to think that one misguided accusation was all it took to break apart the bond between two people. There was no use reasoning with her, but I could try.
Is that how she saw me? A predator? That caused me more pain than any weapon could physically inflict, especially coming from her. Where did this even come from? I was nowhere close to matching the Humans’ brutality, or even the Arxurs’, and yet, she still regarded me as one of them.
I released a snort, dismissing the indirect insult. “No.” I said sternly, clearly heartbroken, as much as I tried to mask it. “Honey, we’ve known each other for quite a while. If I truly had.. ‘Predator disease’, don’t you think I would have shown signs of it by now?” I left the question in the air as Kiran attempted to make sense of my reasonable statement. “Well?”
“T-That makes sense..” Her voice cracked.
“Don’t you trust me, Kiran? Why would you ask such a thing?” My own voice wavered as my heart split down the middle, waiting for her reply. Although, I knew what it would be.
“I do.” She squawked a little while after, catching me completely off-guard. “It’s just.. I-I heard you, threatening the p-predator. Y-You were so b-brave, and instead of running the other way, you just.. held it at gunpoint, and shooed it away from me. You weren’t s-scared at all, even when it wanted to kill you.” She gulped.
“Of course I was scared. I was terrified.” I pleaded. “But I couldn’t just stand back and do nothing, not while your life was at stake. I had to be strong, whatever the cost. It would forever haunt me if I had left you to die, to save myself. I would n-never, I c-couldn’t..” I whimpered through ragged breaths, a dam of emotion bursting through my guise of strength. “I have known nothing but pain and anguish since I set hoof on this planet. I’ve already lost so much, and losing you would absolutely destroy me.” I sobbed, gasping for air. I felt embarrassed, having Kiran see me in my current state. I had tried so hard to be strong for her, but the events of this past week have finally caught up to me.
I wept, hiding my tears in the crook of my elbow. I felt a warm touch caress my upper arm, and I moved my arm away from my eyes. Looking down, Kiran had moved closer to me with a comforting smile on her face. It would seem that she had discarded the ‘sulean predator’ claim after witnessing the humiliating waterworks display in front of her.
“I believe you.” She smiled with her eyes. Relief washed through me instantly. She was the one person in the Federation who had wanted to be my friend, let alone even talk to me. Despite being on a mystery planet with a slim chance of escape, she was a light in the darkness. I hope she knows what she means to me.
I grew a smile of my own and latched onto her in another embrace, being careful not to disturb her shoulder. I snorted through my nose contentedly. “Thank you.” I sniffed. Although startled at first, she returned the hug, squeezing me tightly. While embraced, for a brief moment all of my worries had faded away, replaced by a feeling of adoration and hope. We departed from each other, our bond reinstated.
“See? I’m not foaming at the mouth, am I? Guess I’m not a predator after all.” I joked, hoping it would be well received. I gently tickled her side with my hooved manipulators, causing her to giggle.
“Ok, ok! I trust you! The little one laughed, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes. Her breathing returned to a calm pace. “So. Where to now?”
“What do you mean, little one?” I inquired. “It’s pitch black out there, surely you’re not thinking of heading out now, are you? The human is still out there, and it probably isn’t the only thing we have to worry about.” Wandering through the wilderness in the dead of night wasn’t the best idea, with the looming threat of predators. We’d have to make do here, where our chances of surviving the night were slim enough as it was.
“O-Oh, yeah, you’re right. I-I’m just.. scared that it may come back.” She sheepishly admitted.
“Listen to me.” I met her frightful gaze. “I will not let that thing hurt you ever again. Not while I’m still here.” A motherly tone painted my words, although sounding a bit too harsh.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” I smiled. “Is there only one tent?” I switched the subject.
“Uh, y-yeah, sorry. Is it ok if we share?” She asked while walking up to the circular formation, opening it up.
“Of course.” The exchange was awkward, but we had to make do with what little we had. I climbed inside of the tent after her after taking out my floodlight, switching it on and setting it down directly in front of the tent’s flap, facing towards the shadowy trees. That’d provide us extra security, I hoped. I set my bag down onto the tent’s floor, feeling much better now without it weighing me down.
I plopped down onto my natural state on all fours. I had been ambling on my hind hooves for most of my stay on this planet, and had forgotten the comfort of having my weight equally distributed throughout my body. The muscles in my back ached, and I slid down and rolled onto my side, being able to relax at long last. I scooted my backpack towards me, intending to use it as a makeshift pillow. I released a snort of contentment as I rested my skull on the surprisingly comfortable rucksack. , the tent floor being surprisingly comfortable. A tired yawn escaped me, and my tongue lolled out of my mouth on autopilot as I felt my eyelids droop.
As much as I had wanted to sleep, I wouldn’t be able to, not with the threat of danger still lurking in the forest. We were most vulnerable while sleeping, especially while it was still dark outside. The fire was still going and was fairly close to our tent, but I wouldn’t trust that it would completely protect us from predators. I groggily sat up from my makeshift restplace and shook myself awake, followed by a tired groan. I grasped my forehooves around the weapon that I had clumsily discarded onto the tent’s floor, checking the railgun’s ammunition. Dread hit me with the realization that I was down to a singular bolt. That didn’t make me feel entirely secure, but it was better than nothing at all.
I looked to Kiran, who was already tucked in and ready for the next day. She lay down on a blue sleeping bag, completely enveloped inside of it, except for her head. I chuckled to myself while watching the adorable child snuggle inside of the bag that was far too big for her size.
She caught me staring at her. “Illia?” She spoke, cutting out the crackling of burning wood for a moment.
“Yes, dear?” I yawned again, the tiredness taking over me became unbearable at this point.
“W-What’s the plan for tomorrow?” She asked me with an inquisitive inflection in her voice.
“Well, I would imagine that we’d try to find Orsik. That’s really the only option we have right now. That way, you can be treated by an actual doctor, and not a silly sulean.” I quipped.
“I-I don’t think you’re s-silly..” She admitted meekly.
I faced her, flattered by her comment. I smiled. “Thank you, sweetie. That is very nice of you to say.” A light in the darkness. I crawled over to her, resting on my side next to where she lay. I had my weapon at the ready with a forehoof resting on top of it. I looked down at her adoringly as she shuffled inside of her covers. “Sweet dreams. I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go looking for everyone else tomorrow.”
“What about the ship? Shouldn’t we go there?” One of her blue eyes studied me.
“I came from there, it’s nothing but a smoking heap of metal now.” I yawned. “We shouldn’t move too far away, Orsik said he’ll come to us. Besides, we’re safer here than out in the dark, right?”
Kiran whimpered, not satisfied with my answer. “Remember our promise?” I asked.
Her deflated look withered away. “Y-yes, I do..” She breathed. “O-ok, only if that means that we can leave as soon as they f-find us.”
“Of course. We won’t stay here longer than is absolutely necessary. I’ll get a signal started in the morning.”
“A-Aren’t you worried about predators? What if they come while w-we’re sleeping?”
I lay my head down onto my satchel. “I am.” I admitted. “And I would prefer not to meet them anytime soon. I think it’s a great sign that we haven’t already.” I gave a dismissive snort, hoping that was the last of her questions. “They won’t bother us, at least not tonight. The floodlight should keep them away, no worries.” I reassured her.
“Oh, ok. Good night, Illia.” She chirped.
“Good night. Sweet dreams, little one.” I caressed her feathers, then committed myself to watching the tent’s opening for the rest of the night.
- - -
I awoke, cursing after realizing that I had been asleep. I didn’t expect myself to be awake for the entire duration of the night, but I was still upset with myself for giving in to my fatigue. Something could have happened, but I was glad nothing did. I was still tired, having stayed awake for most of the night watching over Kiran. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes with a forepaw. My railgun was still grasped in my other forepaw, and I brought the gun up to my hip, holstering it.
Some of my worries over the human still being out there somewhere had faltered; perhaps it lost interest after witnessing my display of superior strength? Predators preferred a challenge when hunting, but their small brains understood when the odds were not in their favor. This human in particular probably saw our small group as easy pickings, and had developed a taste for krakotl flesh. That’d explain the blood spattered all over it, almost as if it were a trophy.
I looked at Kiran, who was still sound asleep. The beautiful orange of this planet’s sun filtered in through the translucent barrier surrounding us; its angelic rays permeated throughout the tent and casted a wondrous shine onto her dull blue feathers.
I yawned, standing up on all fours and leaned into a stretch. The soreness had worn off, and I was ready for another long journey, this time with the presence of my avian friend. I had another long day of strengthening my hind legs, no doubt. I just hope that the rest of the crew were close.
I unzipped my dirty jumpsuit, checking my small cuts. They seemed to be in relatively good shape and had scabbed over, leaving a soreness behind. After confirming that the wounds weren’t infected, I zipped my uniform back up.
I gently shook the sleeping Kiran awake. “Good morning, sleepy. It’s time to head out.” I whispered softly. She stirred and sat up. “Are you hungry? I have some rations.” I reached for my pack, snatching two cans of processed vegetable bars and handed one to her. “You need to eat to keep your strength up, honey.” I dug into my own helping quite quickly, stowing away the empty can. It wasn’t the best tasting thing in the galaxy as it was made specifically for the krakotls’ sophisticated palate. “How did you sleep?” I spoke between mouthfuls. She ate hers bit by bit, to the best of her ability. I imagine it would be difficult to eat something with a beak as narrow as hers was, so I patiently waited for her to finish.
“I slept well, actually.” She faced me, full of youthful vigor. It was almost as though her self confidence had drastically improved overnight. She stretched her good wing out, and checked the sling on the other. Once she was done with her helping, she got up, brushing her manipulators through her feathers. “How about you, Illia?”
“Good! I’m glad. Me, I slept like a fawn.” I fibbed, stifling another yawn. “Oh, let me take that from you, sweetheart.” I motioned to her empty vegetable bar container. I collected the tin from her, tossing it along with the other. I reached for my bag, leaving the heavy non-essentials inside the tent. I slugged it over my shoulder once more, my spine thanking me for lightening the load. The pack’s weight felt far more manageable than it did before. I might even be able to actually walk around with it this time. I wondered.
“Are we ready to go?” I stood in front of the tent, raising a forehoof to unzip us to freedom. The krakotl girl chirped her affirmative after checking herself over, and we both exited the tent, ready for another adventure. Upon leaving, I was extremely surprised to see that I didn’t even have to reignite the fire, as it was still burning, although not as strong as yesterday. The crimson tree that Kiran had made the campfire out of was highly flammable, if I had to guess. That would explain the randomly scorched trees throughout the landscape that I saw earlier. I was relieved that none of them combusted while we were asleep.
“Alright. Let’s head this way, shall we?” I plucked some of the damp yellow moss from a neighboring tree with a spare piece of fabric in between my hooves in case it was an irritant, which was smart thinking on my behalf. I chucked the large bundle into the blaze, smothering the few flames that remained. The fire choked for a moment, then began eating away at the moss, emitting a white column of smoke that snaked towards the light orange of the morning sky.
We checked if we had everything, then started on our expedition. I wasn’t sure where we’d go first, but it would have to be relatively close to where the campfire was in case anyone was nearby. I eyed the skyline before us, the mountains in the distance were a wonderful gradient of bright reds, purples, and yellows, perfectly blending together.
I breathed in the fresh morning air. This would have been a delightful trip, were we on a civilized planet. It still was, to an extent. The native organisms of this untouched wonder of a planet were truly a sight to behold, regardless of its many dangers. From the vivid colors of the flora to the deep red sky watching overhead, everything about this world was eye-catching.
We ventured throughout the crimson woods, encircling the campsite while keeping an eye on the smoke signal so that we wouldn’t veer off-course too much. I also was wary of the tall grass and dense shrubs around us, concentrating on even the slightest noise or movement. Today was particularly windy, so my efforts were in vain. We kept to the more open areas, even if that meant making sharp detours around areas where a predator could be concealed in.
Every now and then we would stop for a break, as I had done before. Kiran fared well during our hike, if not even better than I. We stopped underneath the shade of some crimson trees for another rest after a long while. I unpacked one of our water bottles, taking a small swig before handing it to Kiran. We rationed our supplies as best as we could, but we were quickly running out of food. We would soon have to resort to checking if the local flora were edible.
The smoke signal was still in my sight, and we only had a small distance to go in order to complete our full circle. I had thought about calling out into the woods, but decided against it, as it was likely that we would attract unwanted attention. I felt extremely uncomfortable within the dark woodland, despite having a firearm in my possession.
I lay on the grassy floor on my side, attempting to cool myself off. Kiran was doing much of the same, though in a sitting posture. I lifted my head up, snorting through my nostrils to get her attention.
“Having fun?” I smirked playfully. She clicked her beak together with amusement.
“I would be, if the sun wasn’t burning into my feathers.” She squawked between pants. She rested her head against a rock that put even the brightest of rainbows to shame.
“It’s not all bad, is it? It's all about perspective; look at the positives! You have to learn to appreciate the little things in life.”
“Ok, I appreciate..” She glanced around her surroundings, looking for something of value. “I appreciate this rock, does that count?” She gestured behind her. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It is quite the rock, isn’t it?” She giggled in response. I adored bonding with the girl, she was almost an extension of my own child, in a way.
I didn’t find it odd or strange at the time to fawn over the beauty of an inanimate object, as we both admired its various colors. “Alright, that’s enough geology for me, I think.” I stood, dusting myself off. I heard a faint snapping sound, and my eyes traveled back to the avian, who now looked absolutely petrified, a lone eye focusing on me. She looked almost as scared as she had been when the human attacked her, but this is far worse. Is she looking at me?
I tilted my head in confusion. “Honey? Y-you’re scaring me.” I chuckled nervously. “What’s wrong?” She gave no response. I suddenly felt a massive surge of anxiety wrack my brain, and my ears perked up. The same feeling that haunted me on the ship returned for a comeback, and this time, my question didn’t have to be answered. I heard shuffling a good distance away from me, and I whipped my head in that direction, following her blank stare. My ribcage tightened as I struggled to breathe. I watched the tall grass adjacent from our position, waiting for something to happen.
The first thing I saw were its horrible forward-facing eyes with slit pupils, instantly recognizing it as a predator. They both were dilated, intent on feasting on our bloody flesh. The feral predator observed me with its piercing golden orbs as it slunk closer. It stalked towards us with its head low to the ground, stray droplets of drool spilling out of its long, gaping maw of which were lined with dozens of razor-sharp teeth capable of effortlessly crushing bone.
I didn’t know what exactly I was looking at, but I knew it was there. The beast prowled out of the tall grass in short strides with its ghastly head low to the ground, drooling over our new and alien scent. The lengthy blades of grass combed over its rainbow-colored hide as it revealed itself. Both it and the grass were a near match in terms of coloration, as I strained my eyes to focus on its appearance.
As it moved further into the light, I was able to get a better glimpse of it. The creature itself was covered in skin instead of fur, which was odd. The upper body of the animal was speckled with various bright colors that mimicked the grass, only for it to darken as the pattern stretched towards its underbelly, and morphed into a full jet black where it reached its clawed feet. I had never feared death before as much as I did right now.
I snapped myself out of my terrified stupor, jumping up to my hind hooves and quickly yanking my railgun out of its holster, jabbing it towards the thing with shaky hooves. I gasped for air as my lungs felt heavy, staring down the freak of nature. My heart sank even further and nearly burst out of my chest as I saw two other predators just like the first emerge from behind it. Oh, fuck. The weapon in my hoof suddenly seemed insignificant.
My eyes widened. We have to go, now. I grabbed Kiran without a word, pulling her along rather roughly. I dashed as fast as my legs could take me while gripping around the length of Kiran’s wing. I didn’t look back once, only focused on making it back to the tent. There was no guarantee that the fire at the campsite would dissuade them from indulging in their hunger at all, but what other option did we have? I glanced back, and was horrified to realize that the reason why they didn’t already tear us apart was because they were giving us a head start. The monstrous things were playing with their ‘food’, for fun.
I looked down to Kiran, then up to the smoke rising from the campsite. We wouldn’t make it in time. I had to make a choice. I swallowed with teary eyes. ‘’G-go.” I flicked an ear towards the campsite. “Now!” I squealed. She obeyed my order without hesitation, and fluttered over that way.
I was not at all prepared for what I was about to do, and doing so would most definitely result in my death. Weeping, I stood in place as the grayish-blue feathered girl escaped to safety.
“H-hey!” I bleated at the top of my lungs while hopping around vigorously, doing everything in my power to attract the predator’s attention towards me. “Over here!” My voice was hoarse, filled with a mixture of emotions. I hope Kiran will be able to forgive me.
All three of their large heads whipped towards me, my diversion evidently working. I holstered my weapon and turned tail, speeding the opposite way and galloping wherever my legs would take me. I leaped through twisted trees only large enough for me to fit through, and hopped over large rocks, hoping it would slow the monsters down.
Just when I thought I was clear, my hind leg unfortunately latched underneath a root peeking out of the ground, forcing me into a halt. I stopped moving instantly as my momentum ceased, and a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I yelped in distress, my upper body smacking onto the dirt with a hard thud. I whined as my weapon was flung out of its holster, landing in front of me. I crawled towards the weapon with all of my remaining strength.
The predators sauntered over, a threatening growl reverberating through the pack’s leader. I crawled towards my last chance at living, finally reaching it. I fitted my fumbling fingers around the weapon as the predator leader charged toward me while I turned around, leveling the weapon with the rainbow demon’s skull. I expelled a single and final shot as the round soared through its nose, expelling a fountain of brain matter behind it as it fell limp, a couple of feet away from me. The other two creatures were taken aback at first, but were now furious that I had dispatched their leader. I was hit with the horrific realization that I had just used the last of my ammunition.
They slowly pressed onward as I lay on my back, a hideous expression of hunger plastered on their flesh-eating faces. I shut my eyes tight, bracing for an excruciating death. Is this it? Is this how I die? At least I can rest well knowing that Kiran is safe. Please, don’t let my death be for nothing. I prayed to whatever deity was listening. Let my family I lo-
My thoughts were interrupted by a sickening crack, followed by the predator closest to me snapping its head back and toppling over, painted by its own viscous blood that spilled out of a gaping wound in its skull. It had taken a clean shot to the side of the head, dying as soon as the projectile had landed. The third predator scampered away after hearing the loud noise, staring daggers into whatever it was that ended the lives of its friends. It tucked its tail between its legs in submission, hissing towards my savior before retreating back to where it came from. What on Jild just happened?
I turned my head to my side slowly, still wary of my surroundings. Right next to me was the same human whom I had spared earlier, with its signature metal pipe still strapped to its back. Its arm was outstretched towards the dead predator, with a terran-made weapon grasped in its paw. It lowered the gun down to its side, and I screamed as it began stomping towards me, intending to claim its stolen kill. “O-Oh, Jild, no! P-please, don-don’t eat me!” I cried, trying to reason with the predator. Without thinking, I mindlessly raised the spent railgun up to the thing in an attempt to shoot it, and it retaliated, wrapping its gloved fingers around my own. It effortlessly ripped the useless gun away from my grasp with a mighty paw, tossed it to the side, and wrapped its paw around my body.
My nightmares were coming true. I would be eaten alive, without remorse. I would much rather have died at the fangs of the feral predators instead of the human’s. The human would take its time, and enjoy every second of my suffering.
I was lifted up slightly with incredible strength while screaming my head off, struggling to worm away from its mighty grasp. I squirmed violently, not having enough air in me to continue screaming. The murderer held the gun’s muzzle up to my neck and uttered a single sentence with a deep, growling rumble: “Stop fucking moving.”
My translator implant belted out the meaning to me and I stupidly followed its orders. I shut up, both terrified and surprised that it could understand me or even articulate comprehensive words. I was fully expecting it to sink its fangs into me, but instead, the masked figure slipped the straps of my bag off of my shoulders, dropping me onto the ground and taking my satchel. It began to search through it diligently, tossing out what wasn’t to its liking. The human took out the last of my water supply and interestingly enough, a few of my vegetable bars. It tossed my near-empty bag back to me and slung its own massive bag around, stuffing the supplies inside.
I could only watch as it stole what little supplies I had left. For a moment, I was filled with pure, unbridled rage, replacing my fear with anger. “You m-monster!” I stood on my hind hooves, ignoring the pain burning through my right ankle and attempted to make myself appear as big as I could. “Y-you killed them!” I shouted at the emotionless predator. It had ripped my colleagues to shreds until they were unrecognizable, and it would pay. It in turn slightly tilted its mask towards me, unimpressed. I shrunk back down as its gaze fell upon me, and my ears flattened to my skull.
A low rumble came from it, which my translator picked up on as a chuckle. It was laughing. How dare you?! I snorted angrily. “You.. you’re.. Laughing? Wh-What is wrong with you?!” I yelled at the deranged predator. At that moment I wished I could go back in time and pull the trigger.
“I’m the monster. That’s funny.” It sadistically remarked. “I’m not the one who bombed an entire planet full of billions of innocent women and children.” It turned to face me fully, stalking over to me. My posture tightened as I cowered in fear; its hulking shadow loomed over me, being closer to me now than ever. It could probably smell the copious amount of fear that my body was producing.
“I should kill you right fucking now.” It growled, practically spitting venom. It gripped its weapon tightly, threatening to break it. The being relented, apparently deciding against it. Wasn’t it going to eat me?
It stood there, staring down at me, unmoving. “W-why?” I whined. “Why did you.. k-kill them?!”
“You’ll have to be more specific.” It taunted me. My anger only grew.
“The.. the forest. Admit it! You killed them! I s-saw, I was there! Only a predator can do what you d-did!” I gasped, not meeting its gaze.
“Forest?” It scoffed. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
What?! That made no sense.. Assuming it really didn’t know what I was referring to.. Had it not killed that group of krakotl? No, that can’t be. Is this a case of predatory deceit?
“Wh-wha..” I stammered, confused.
“If you’re referring to the ship, that was me.” It spoke of the murderous act almost as if it was proud of it, which sickened me to the core. “I enjoyed every second of watching those featherfucks gasping for air, pawing at the airlock. I’d do it again, if I could.” Its grating voice resonated through my bones.
I was enraged at the monster’s admittance of murdering the bomber ship's crew. I felt a wealth of emotions coursing through me, none of which I could openly express. I could only stand there, waiting for its next move. I heard my name being called in the distance, but absent-mindedly ignored it.
It leaned forward until I could see my own reflection in its reflective face mask.
“I’ll give you one last chance: you stay far away from your friends, especially that fucking bird, unless you want to die. If I see you again, next time I won’t hesitate to kill you.” It proclaimed with a gravelly voice. It unfolded upward, straightening its spine. It then turned, walking away with its bounty into the wilderness once again, leaving me alone and confused.
Why on Jild did it save me? That made no sense whatsoever, and went against everything I had been taught. Did it really hold back its bloodlust just to taunt me over how much it loved killing? Why didn’t it eat me while I was vulnerable?
Multiple questions flooded my mind, and I had developed a headache that was worsening by the second. Today was quite the adrenaline booster, I would need a long rest after all of this.
With the human gone, I was left to my own devices. I picked up the scattered contents of my pack, recollecting them.
I heard the rustling of leaves across from me, and I faced the source of the noise. I was spent emotionally, the constant adrenaline rushes taking its toll on me. I could do nothing but lean against a lone stump as I accepted my fate.
I had a good run.
- - -
V V V [STORY IS CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS!!!] V V V
[First] [Previous] [Next]

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

• I'll be gaming at 1440p 170hz. Primarily AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption, Battlefield, etc.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

• I'd like to keep the PC as cheap as possible while still giving me a good experience at 1440p with a good framerate, but not skimping out on it to the point where it. Basically just a good value PC that will last me a while and will be easy to upgrade 3 to 4 years down the line. I'd like to keep the PC itself not including any other peripherals $1200 or under, but the current build I have is a little over $1300 (I could remedy that by getting a use GPU).

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

• I'm planning on building my PC about a month from now, and I'll try to update the initial build at that point if needed.

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc\)

• The PC only.

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

• The United States. I'm lucky enough to have two microcenters within a half hour drive of me, and I've included a cpu, mobo, and ram bundle within my current build.

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

• None.

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

• I'm not too heavily interested in overclocking but definitely wouldn't mind it.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

• I'd like to have a 2tb nvme. I'd also like to run a Minecraft server off of my PC to play on with a couple of friends, but I'm not sure what sort of hardware that would entail.

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

• I'd like to keep everything ATX. I definitely want an ATX case but don't mind a microATX mobo. I don't want to waste unnecessary money on rgb but don't mind having it either.

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

• No, I'm fine with using the free version of windows.

Extra info or particulars:

• I'll be gaming on a 1440p 170hz monitor and would like to play at a consistent 90+ fps on high to ultra settings. I want this PC to last me a solid 3 to 4 years before any major upgrades but will probably upgrade the graphics card sooner. I included a 6800 xt in my current build as that seems to be the sweetspot for high refresh rate 1440p gaming right now without breaking the bank. However, I've found an insanely good deal on a used 6700 xt for $200 and I'm not sure if spending $300 more on a 6800 xt is worth it right now.
• I'm pretty much set on getting the 4000d airflow. I've had my eye on it for a while because it's an amazing looking case with great thermals and because I'll have my PC on my desk I want something nice to look at. I've been debating whether or not to get the lancool 216 though, because it's similarly priced, comes with two 160mm fans at the front (can move larger amounts of air at lower speeds so should be quieter), and has better thermals from what I've seen so I'd appreciate any input on that. I just like the aesthetics of the 4000d airflow more.
• Also I've decided on getting the Gigabyte M27q Pro for $300. It's not at that price right now as stock has been quite low but the price should hopefully come down soon. I'd appreciate any 1440p monitor suggestions from you guys as well!

​
This is the build I came up with: https://pcpartpicker.com/usePcGoBoom/saved/#view=YgWK7P
(I'd like to go ryzen 7000 btw so that I can upgrade to a better cpu down the line ~maybe 3 to 4 years~, without having to replace my entire motherboard.)
Thanks for reading!

For the past month and a half I’ve been going through the process of applying and interviewing for a position. It started with a recruiter reaching out to me on LinkedIn and I have a boundary for myself that I won’t even make a phone call with a recruiter unless I know that the position is within my desired salary range and has the same amount of WFH days that I have in my current position, if not more. I am open to being fully in office as long as it pays more. So I always ask from the beginning what’s in budget for the salary and if the job is remote/hybrid/in person. In this case I was told the salary, that they are flexible about the amount, and that the role is hybrid with two days in office. Since this role has the same amount of WFH days as I currently have and pays more I proceeded with the process.
I went through multiple phone calls, multiple interviews, an employment verification, and a credit check and they extended the job offer to me. I’ve been working with a professional career coach this entire process and she helped me with my response and helped me initiate negotiation.
The offer letter didn’t include if the job was hybrid so I asked about that (even though we did discuss hybrid in my interview). They told me that training is 100% in person and after I’m done I would be ELIGIBLE for the hybrid schedule that MOST the office is on. I also found a job posting on indeed that says the position is in person. I got the feeling that they would keep me 100% in office the entire time I work for them. It’s also an hour drive each way so an extra three days a week makes a huge difference and for the salary they were offering I would be losing money. However, I did not call them out on this in my negotiation.
I handled the negotiation properly. In my interview I made sure to ask what important skills they are looking for and cited that I have those skills in my negotiation, plus years of industry experience. I also cited various websites with the average pay for this position and used that to provide a number to negotiate with. Their offer was below even the low end of the salaries I saw. I stated that I would be okay with an alternative such as a starting bonus, additional PTO days, or another incentive. And I reiterated that I was excited about the job opportunity and phrased it as a request and not a demand. This was not an entry level role. I didn’t throw out a ridiculous number. I never mentioned a number before it came time to negotiate. I was told they were flexible. I was professional and enthusiastic. I didn’t mention any personal reasons about how I need the increase in salary. I swear I handled this the proper way. (And before anyone comes for me, no, it is not greedy to negotiate. Companies do not provide sufficient raises to retain their talent so the time to get the salary you want is in the beginning when you’re negotiating for a new job. This is part of advocating for your value.)
They responded and let me know they not only couldn’t meet my negotiation, but that they were also withdrawing the original offer.
“After much consideration for your proposed changes to the terms in the original offer letter, we are unable to meet your salary requirement of XX nor any of the additional proposals for starting bonus, additional vacation days or other incentives. Therefore, it is with great disappointment that I inform you we must regretfully withdraw your job offer for the position at Company. This email serves as formal communication to let you know that our job offer is no longer available with our company. Company is under no obligation to give you compensation or employment moving forward. Our initial job offer did not serve as a binding contract, as this job offer was at-will. We wish you the best in your future endeavors and hope you can find a role that serves your interests.”
I understand there is a risk to negotiating but this came off so petty! Usually companies are willing to participate in some sort of negotiation or at least say that their original offer was the best they could provide. My career coach thinks this company wanted a yes man and freaked out when I came back to them with research and to advocate for my value. I had a weird gut feeling about this company ever since my interview with the hiring manager so I most likely dodged a bullet with this one. But I am pissed off that they lied about hybrid and wasted hours of my time on interviews, paperwork, etc. I really want to blast them on Glassdoor. And honestly I feel so discouraged with my job hunt now. I was told companies rarely ever rescind offers like that but is this the new norm? Has anyone been through this?
Tl;dr: I received a job offer and negotiated properly. The company also lied about the role being hybrid and didn’t tell me until I had a job offer. After I initiated negotiation the company immediately rescinded their offer.

Talking to Kids About Money Australia I Familosophy
Family is (hopefully) for life. If the family business starts to interfere negatively with the relationships in the family, then there is imbalance. Family businesses are challenging because of the overlapping of family, business and ownership (known as the “three circle model”). Researchers from Harvard have extended this into four “rooms” by adding in the board room.
Because family members wear multiple hats, are in multiple circles, or sit in multiple rooms, they need an awareness of how those roles influence the decisions they need to make. Father or boss? Director or cousin? Manager or owner?
It’s most important to be able to have open and trusting conversations about needs of the business and expectations of the family. Those are underpinned by the core values and the common values across both personal and professional life. Each successive generation should ask why they are in the business. Successful family businesses foster a sense of stewardship among all members of the family (no matter what their specific roles).
Making multiple roles work requires setting boundaries between work time and family space. Conflict will happen, so rather than “fake harmony” (see previous article), the ability to communicate, deal with issues, and have “constructive conflict” is essential.
Some kind of a conscious separation of ownership and management is very helpful. Avoid having “too many chefs in the kitchen”. Family members who work in the business should be recruited and evaluated with the same criteria as anyone else. And “don’t hire whom you can’t fire”.
Consider This: Do family members involved in your family business understand the different hats they wear? Have you ever had to performance manage a family member employee? Do you have the governance structures to deal with conflict?
Are you looking for advice on how to make your family business in Australia (https://davidwerdiger.com/) operate better? David Werdiger is the number one choice when it comes to Australia family owned business protocol (https://davidwerdiger.com/) help. Mr. Werdiger is helping hundreds of family owned businesses pass the torch using his famous Australia Familosophy techniques (https://davidwerdiger.com/)
His market in Australia is two-fold:
Scenario #1: The older generation wants to work with the younger generation, bring them into the company, teach them how to run things, and then retire from the office, but not the income.
Scenario #2: The younger generation wanting to jump into the family business, but to be able to contribute and be heard, and not having to “wait their turn” before they can begin to help run the business.
Visit David’s Website at: https://davidwerdiger.com/ or his GMB site at: https://goo.gl/maps/YiKUeBhXzapPAYyP6
Purchase the Familosophy book at https://www.transitionbook.co/international-free-book-1
Learn more about Familosophy at https://bizcourse.transitionbookbonus.com/sales-promo
For a Free Newsletter, You Can Sign-up at : https://www.transitionbook.co/transition-membership-sign-in30017592?page_id=30017593&page_key=whxfyu954qo6hpph&login_redirect=1
Source: https://davidwerdiger.com/2023/03/owners-managers/

Below are list of free agents i hope the warriors will consider, and seek you guys’ opinion, and feel free to add on who you guys think can provide value to the warriors for another title run (or two, or three) (Is it possible to waive JMG and Lamb too? They just don’t work for us)
Demarcus Cousins Is it just me or am i the only one who thinks we should sign Demarcus cousins? Always been a huge fan of his game, and bringing him once again to the bay can allow us to switch in between Looney and Cousins, and as a true number one big a few years ago i feel he still has a little of his prime juice in him, as clearly seen from his highlights in the PR league ( sure it doesn’t compare to the NBA, but still impressive nonetheless)
Yuta Watanabe A 6’9 wing with hunger to find a permanent home? A UFA we can get for vet minimum contract? A lights out shooter with better shooting percentages than steph at some point last year? Good hustle for rebounds and decent defence might earn him a roster spot, and i sure hope so
Christian Wood/ Jakob Poetl/ Mason Plumlee/ Naz Reid and Thomas Bryant Size size and size, though Lacob will have to dig into his pockets a lil
Anyone else worth considering?

Trying to figure out if I should keep the house or the rental properties. The house is only a few years old in an urban metro that is highly desirable and is basically impossible to do a new build in (I got lucky). If I keep that I maybe get one rental property if I get lucky. If I don’t keep it I probably get most of my rental properties. I have two little kids (6 and 1) so part of me wants to keep the home as it’s their home and safe spot. I also am assuming if I keep the rental properties I’ll have to pay her more in child support every month so kind of like a double whammy. On the other side of the coin if I keep the rental properties it will help me rebuild faster, although I’d probably have to live in one of my rentals for a few years as I rebuild and I’m not necessarily looking forward to that again at 43 years old. What do you guys think? Mom moved out to an apartment so I’m in the house now until this gets settled. I’m 55/45 custody agreement now with our temporary arrangement.

Just made it through my first year without a prostate. I have a PSA and exam coming up in two weeks so there's some anxiety there despite undetectable values so far. I have another cancer so there's always that lurking in the background. My surgeon said that 90 per cent of his patients are dry after the first year but I seem to be in the unlucky 10 per cent despite a bladder physical therapy program. Also, erections seem to be gone for good. Hopefully, my upcoming labs and exam will be negative but it's been a rough and frustrating year and I can't help but wonder about the other options I had. I guess it's a success if I remain cancer free but the impotence and incontinence (2-3 pads a day) are big negatives. My local urologist said he's never seen a patient dry up after the first year and this is likely my status quo in terms of continence. I don't have that much to complain about compared to the issues other people here have (more advanced disease, lack of treatment options, metastatic disease, etc) but it's still a pain. I don't know what I would have done differently but one can't help but wonder if there was some way to have had a better outcome. It's a drag always carrying pads around and wondering where the nearest bathroom is.

I feel that the super empath (who was often the scapegoat with their own narcissistic parents) had their empathy cultivated to an exceptional degree, as our excessive empathy suited our abusers. As a result, we compulsively make decisions as adults that are not within our best interests, because our empathy compels us to do so.
Golden children are more likely to become narcissists, whereas scapegoats are more likely to become super empaths. I think that these two outcomes are predetermined by both our environment as well as our genetics. So in a way, the super empath is in some ways more similar to the narcissist that they are to normal people.
If a normal person sees an animal running around loose in the road while its owners try and catch it, the normal person will slow down their driving, possibly try and alert other drivers, and do their best not to hit the animal. They will then go on with their day.
Not so for the super empath. Nope. We’re the ones who will stop our cars, get out and start redirecting traffic, and help herd the scared dog away from the busy street and onto a much safer side street. This is what I did a few nights ago, while coming home from the gym. It felt compulsive to me, and my brain automatically switched into problem solving mode in order to assess how to best avoid having the dog get hit. It didn’t feel like a choice to me.
I think that we’re more similar to narcissists than other people, but with an extreme amount of empathy instead of none. Maybe this is why we understand them so much better than people who weren’t raised by them. We share some of the same thinking patterns as narcissists.

So if trans women can't play with cis woman because of fairness then would trans men not be able to play with cis men? So would we play with the cis woman, then how is that fair once again?
Why do I never see us being acknowledged in sports i feel like we deserve it because it's very much two sides of the same coin type of thing.... Sadly I think most people just don't wanna say they don't want trans people in sports in general at least not integrated like that
If anyone has any good articles/podcasts focusing on all trans people in sport lmk

Qobuz sounds the best. Amazing. On my PC. Even on Android. It is the middle of 2023, and when I want to play music in the background on the XBox series X it ALMOST works, but still stops after ever track. It is not hard (hire me if this seems too wild for you, Qobuz), but if you want more subscribers... If you want more ANYTHING, you don't use MQA, the Xbox can handle it without any intermediary, just build an app. If you don't know how hire me or literally anyone that freelances. Next week you will have an app that literally beats EVERY OTHER SERVICE. I have Deezer because it is the only true Hi-fi and it is a scattered, sad mess of a service, but at least the ONE WITH CD QUALITY. And sadly, that isn't good enough because Qobuz sounds amazing, not just on the PC, but even one song at a time in XBOX Seeies X.
Qobuz, You are compatible, and be the first to offer not just Hi-Fi but actual hi-res without caveats in the fine print. All the others.. high quality but. It even hifi. And I tried running it through ever media server and connection possible and the best I can get is one song and then a nightmare to get to the next.
Qobuz, you might not have the biggest market share, but if you want it not in two years or two months, but two weeks, YOU GOT IT. We want it. Don't even have a meeting and delay, just do it already. It is Qobuz's SHOT, no matter the endgame, if you deliver, your goal will. E delivered.
And the fact that the technology for my phone to the Xbox didn't play one song and then maybe another song if I try hard enough at the exact bit rate means that you are perfectly capable of making an app native to Xbox or even webOS (I specifically want your music by my games but literally anything)….. The tech is real available to do it before someone else does because no one likes Deezer. It doesn't sound as good but it's the only actual CD quality available and anyone who's tried your service knows that yours sounds even better at high res.
And it is infuriating to watch a company that actually has all the goods squander it I mean maybe you want to be sold to someone else I don't know but I'll tell you what, you'll be of more value if you actually do what I'm just suggested by multiple X's.
Alternatively if anyone really figured this out please just tell me so I can pay less when Qobuz is forever reason doesn't do a damn thing.
It is 2023 HELLO, no one wants to buy more equipment that half works, regardless of my specific use case. We.habe all had it because all can be don't for all.of us with software. And you would make a lot more money in subscriptions then exclusive deals with a limited number of manufacturers where you don't even know how many people that use those manufacturers is actually going to use your service.
I digress but please contact me or contact you ever you got it'll take a week and it's not just you it's every service and the fact that I have to use dessert to get literally CD quality while I'm playing a game never mind that when I'm at my computer I want the best quality or I can't control anything with Amazon echo or get it in my car like it's 2023 and if I misspoke and I can do one of the things I just said I shouldn't have to do a ton of Google searches find nothing and then buy a piece of equipment or not but have someone walk me through it...
You sound better than all the others and we're talking about Spotify Amazon whatever So act like it. I won't even go into the other issues that pelpel have experienced forever. We still subscribe because the audio quality is astounding. Make the whole experience match what you offer, and watch Qobuz exlpooad...in the right way. :)

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 55%. (I'm a bot)

Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes that China's paramount leader is more of a long-term threat to democracies around the world than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Xi Jinping is a much more long-term, serious threat than Putin," Harper said, as per the outlet Globe and Mail, which obtained a recording of his speech.
His comments came days after the special rapporteur appointed by the Government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to investigate Chinese interference in the elections stated that while foreign governments were attempting to influence voters and candidates, there was no need for a public inquiry.
The special rapporteur was appointed on March 6 after a series of reports in the outlets Globe and Mail and Global News that Beijing may have tried to influence Federal elections in Canada.
On February 17, the Globe and Mail noted, "China employed a sophisticated strategy to disrupt Canada's democracy in the 2021 federal election campaign as Chinese diplomats and their proxies backed the re-election of Justin Trudeau's Liberals - but only to another minority government - and worked to defeat Conservative politicians considered to be unfriendly to Beijing." That report was based on intelligence documents.
An even higher number, 57 per cent, felt Trudeau and his Government had "Been evasive on the matter of foreign interference." Two-thirds of those sampled believed China "Likely tried to interfere in Canadian elections."

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: Harper^#1 election^#2 Government^#3 Canadian^#4 Trudeau^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

Hey there!
I'm Reed, I'm a 27-year-old guy from Orlando, Florida. I'm looking for a real, meaningful connection with someone seeking someone to enjoy life with. I'm really looking for a life partner and someone who is looking to get more out of life. I recently played a game where we were asked to use two words to describe each other, the words that were used to describe me were silly and compassionate. Empathy is a core tenet in my life and something I believe strongly in. I love to laugh and have fun but never at the cost of making someone feel left out or unincluded though I do have a VERY dark sense of humor and would love to find someone that can match my energy.
About me
I work a full-time job but also have a side hustle writing, I promise this is not nearly as exciting as it sounds but it is an increasingly lucrative thing that I'm looking to make my full-time focus sooner than later, still figuring out when sooner is though. I'm 5'7, about 140 lbs, Here's a recent picture of me: reference. And as I recognize this is important to some people, I do not drive, my eyesight is very poor and as a result, I cannot legally drive, this, however, does not stop me from living an entirely independent life, most people don't actually know/can't tell until I tell them that I cannot drive.
My Interests
I'm a big nerd and learning is my ultimate passion, I'm always reading about something or watching a YouTube video about a topic that interests me, I am a wealth of all kinds of knowledge, some useful and some not. I love all things artistic though I am not an artist, Art to me is passion + self-expression but my personal favorite art forms are film and music. Horrocomedy are my two favorite genres of film, the Shrek series has a very special place in my heart. Music wise I listen to a little bit of everything, and I mean everything, there is yet to be a genre where I haven't found something I like but some of my personal favorite artists right now are Lana Del Rey, A$AP Ferg, and Lil Peep. I enjoy PC gaming from time to time though I have less and less time for it but I'm always down to play something with you if you're a gamer yourself, I'm naturally competitive but not overly so, I enjoy winning but I don't mind losing. I also LOVE hanging out with friends and the best moments of my life have been spent in the presence of others, while I am certainly an introvert/homebody I love to get out and explore new things with people that I know, be that checking out random oddities at a thrift store (I've found some real goodies, ask and I'll show you) eating some great food or just sitting around somewhere nice when it isn't too hot, I'm typically down to get out of the house. I do not drink or smoke, totally cool if you do as long as it's in a responsible manner. I stay physically active in more fun ways but have also recently started back at the gym.
The Person I'm looking for:
I'm looking for a life partner, I'm looking for a woman who knows what she brings to the table and isn't afraid to be herself. Age is unimportant to me as long as you're 21+. Ideally, you would also be in Orlando but this is far from a dealbreaker. I don't have a type and I think all women are beautiful in their own ways but what is important to me is that you take care of yourself. At the end of the day I'm looking for a meaningful connection, I'm looking for someone to enjoy life with, to handle hardship with, to cherish and enjoy every moment just a little bit more with. I'm someone with a lot of love to give and I'm looking for a person to love me. This obviously will not be an overnight thing we will have to build our connection over time but I value clear communication and making my intentions known is important to me, and hopefully, you're the same in how important communication is to you. Emotional intelligence is the sexiest thing in a partner to me. I want someone who has my best interest at heart, and I there's. I'm looking for a best friend and more.
Thank you for taking the time to check this out, reach out if you'd like to talk and see where things go. Have a great weekend!
Reed

Hey there!
I'm Reed, I'm a 27-year-old guy from Orlando, Florida. I'm looking for a real, meaningful connection with someone seeking someone to enjoy life with. I'm really looking for a life partner and someone who is looking to get more out of life. I recently played a game where we were asked to use two words to describe each other, the words that were used to describe me were silly and compassionate. Empathy is a core tenet in my life and something I believe strongly in. I love to laugh and have fun but never at the cost of making someone feel left out or unincluded though I do have a VERY dark sense of humor and would love to find someone that can match my energy.
About me
I work a full-time job but also have a side hustle writing, I promise this is not nearly as exciting as it sounds but it is an increasingly lucrative thing that I'm looking to make my full-time focus sooner than later, still figuring out when sooner is though. I'm 5'7, about 140 lbs, Here's a recent picture of me: reference. And as I recognize this is important to some people, I do not drive, my eyesight is very poor and as a result, I cannot legally drive, this, however, does not stop me from living an entirely independent life, most people don't actually know/can't tell until I tell them that I cannot drive.
My Interests
I'm a big nerd and learning is my ultimate passion, I'm always reading about something or watching a YouTube video about a topic that interests me, I am a wealth of all kinds of knowledge, some useful and some not. I love all things artistic though I am not an artist, Art to me is passion + self-expression but my personal favorite art forms are film and music. Horrocomedy are my two favorite genres of film, the Shrek series has a very special place in my heart. Music wise I listen to a little bit of everything, and I mean everything, there is yet to be a genre where I haven't found something I like but some of my personal favorite artists right now are Lana Del Rey, A$AP Ferg, and Lil Peep. I enjoy PC gaming from time to time though I have less and less time for it but I'm always down to play something with you if you're a gamer yourself, I'm naturally competitive but not overly so, I enjoy winning but I don't mind losing. I also LOVE hanging out with friends and the best moments of my life have been spent in the presence of others, while I am certainly an introvert/homebody I love to get out and explore new things with people that I know, be that checking out random oddities at a thrift store (I've found some real goodies, ask and I'll show you) eating some great food or just sitting around somewhere nice when it isn't too hot, I'm typically down to get out of the house. I do not drink or smoke, totally cool if you do as long as it's in a responsible manner. I stay physically active in more fun ways but have also recently started back at the gym.
The Person I'm looking for:
I'm looking for a life partner, I'm looking for a woman who knows what she brings to the table and isn't afraid to be herself. Age is unimportant to me as long as you're 21+. Ideally, you would also be in Orlando but this is far from a dealbreaker. I don't have a type and I think all women are beautiful in their own ways but what is important to me is that you take care of yourself. At the end of the day I'm looking for a meaningful connection, I'm looking for someone to enjoy life with, to handle hardship with, to cherish and enjoy every moment just a little bit more with. I'm someone with a lot of love to give and I'm looking for a person to love me. This obviously will not be an overnight thing we will have to build our connection over time but I value clear communication and making my intentions known is important to me, and hopefully, you're the same in how important communication is to you. Emotional intelligence is the sexiest thing in a partner to me. I want someone who has my best interest at heart, and I there's. I'm looking for a best friend and more.
Thank you for taking the time to check this out, reach out if you'd like to talk and see where things go. Have a great weekend!
Reed

I need help deciding something, so I was bored, and I wrote kind of a Director script of an anime I also have an illustrator’s guide and a voice actor script, but the more I read it the more it sounds like a book. I was wondering if anyone could help me decide if I should turn it into a book or see if I should try to make it into a animated series if a Japanese company does not get involved if it is successful. and if anyone would donate to this “Anime” So here is the first episode, and or chapter. You can vote at the bottom.
———
Scene 1: A Serene Morning - Masaru's Home
Setting: A cozy tatami-floored dining area with low tables and cushions. Soft morning light filters through sliding shoji doors, creating a peaceful ambiance. The room is adorned with minimalistic decorations that reflect a blend of traditional and modern Japanese aesthetics.
Characters: - Masaru Hiroshi: A young man in his late teens, radiating a calm and focused aura. He is dressed in casual attire, ready to start his day.

• Mom: Masaru's caring and nurturing mother. She moves gracefully, serving breakfast dishes that showcase the flavors of Japanese cuisine.
  
• Dad: Masaru's supportive and wise father. He wears a relaxed expression, engaging in conversation with his son.
  

Scene Description: The scene opens with Masaru entering the dining area, greeted by the comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea and the subtle fragrance of traditional Japanese breakfast dishes. He smiles warmly at his parents.
Masaru: (cheerfully) Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad.
Mom: (with affection) Ohayou gozaimasu, Masaru. Sit down, breakfast is ready.
Masaru takes a seat on a cushion, appreciating the spread of tamago (Japanese omelette), tsukemono (pickled vegetables), and miso soup on the table.
Mom gracefully gets up and reaches for the teapot, pouring steaming tea into Masaru's cup.
Dad: (casually) Masaru, have you decided what you'll be doing today?
Masaru: (thoughtfully) I'm considering helping Mrs. Tanaka with her garden. She could use an extra pair of hands.
Mom returns to her seat, her eyes filled with pride.
Mom: (supportive) That's wonderful, Masaru. Helping others is a true reflection of your character.
Dad: (nodding) Remember, son, the willingness to lend a hand cultivates empathy and strengthens our bonds with the community.
Masaru: (grateful) Thank you, Mom and Dad. Your guidance means the world to me. I'll make sure to assist Mrs. Tanaka to the best of my abilities.
They share a moment of shared understanding, savoring the tranquil morning and the comfort of their familial bonds.
Masaru finishes his breakfast, expressing his appreciation to his parents before preparing for the day ahead.
Masaru: (grateful) Thank you for the delicious meal, Mom. Thank you for your wise words, Dad. I'll see you both later.
End of Scene 1.
Scene two
Scene 2: Masaru's Morning Routine - A Day Begins
Setting: Masaru's bedroom, a reflection of his personality and interests. The room has a blend of traditional and modern elements, with minimalistic decor. The morning sunlight filters through the shoji screens, casting a gentle glow on the room.
Characters: - Masaru Hiroshi: The main character, a young and determined individual. He is dressed in comfortable pajamas, carrying his clothes for the day and wearing a robe. - Inu: Masaru's loyal and playful Shiba Inu dog. Inu looks up at Masaru with adoring eyes.
Scene Description: The scene opens in Masaru's serene bedroom. The room exudes a sense of tranquility, with light wooden flooring and sliding shoji screens allowing soft rays of morning sunlight to illuminate the space.
Masaru stands by his bed, a platform-style bed with a pristine white sheet. He is dressed in comfortable pajamas, the fabric loosely hugging his form. In his hands, he holds his clothes for the day, neatly folded and ready for wear.
With a determined yet calm expression, Masaru carefully selects his outfit, meticulously considering his choice. He slips out of his pajamas, revealing a glimpse of his physique, before smoothly sliding into his daytime attire.
Feeling refreshed from a good night's sleep, Masaru walks towards the en suite bathroom adjoining his room. The bathroom features a modern design, with clean lines and a glass-enclosed shower area.
Inside the shower, the warm water cascades over Masaru's body, rejuvenating him for the day ahead. The sound of water droplets creates a soothing ambiance, as he takes a moment to cleanse both his body and mind.
After his invigorating shower, Masaru steps out of the bathroom, steam lightly clinging to his skin. He reaches for a comfortable robe hanging by the door, slipping it on with a smooth motion. The soft fabric envelopes him, providing a sense of warmth and ease.
Returning to his bedroom, Masaru walks over to a corner of the room where Inu eagerly awaits him. He kneels down, gently petting the Shiba Inu's head, exchanging affectionate glances.
Masaru: (warmly) Take care, Inu. I'll see you later.
Inu barks softly, their bond evident in their connection.
With a sense of readiness, Masaru stands up, his gaze sweeping across the room to ensure he has gathered everything he needs for the day. A desk with a few books and a small shelf housing a collection of samurai figurines catch his eye momentarily.
Satisfied that he has all he requires, Masaru turns his attention towards the door. He takes a step forward, pausing briefly to appreciate the familiarity and comfort of his personal sanctuary.
Masaru walks out of his room and makes his way downstairs, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the hallway. As he descends, he catches glimpses of his parents in the living area, each engrossed in their morning routines.
Masaru: (casual) Mom. Dad.
Mom looks up from her activity, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
Mom: Masaru. Have a great day!
Dad glances up from his newspaper, his expression reflecting a mix of pride and support.
Dad: Take care, son. Make it count!
Masaru nods appreciatively, acknowledging their words of encouragement. He continues his stride towards the front door, a subtle determination in his step.
Closing the front door behind him, Masaru steps out into the world, greeted by the embrace of a new day. The possibilities stretch out before him, and he's ready to seize them with
Scene 3: Masaru's Serendipitous Discovery
[The scene begins with Masaru leaving his house, his destination being Mrs. Tanaka's garden, which lies beyond the city market. He walks along the familiar path, lost in his own thoughts.]
Masaru (muttering to himself): Alright, time to head to Mrs. Tanaka's garden. Gotta take this route through the market. Wonder what kind of chaos awaits me there today.
[As Masaru walks, he notices a side street veering off from the main path. Intrigued by the allure of the unknown, he decides to deviate from his usual route.]
Masaru: Huh, a different path this time. It seems less traveled, yet there's something enchanting about it. Let's see where it leads.
[He ventures down the narrow street, leaving behind the bustling sounds of the city market. The path meanders through a lush landscape, revealing a tranquil pond adorned with cherry blossom trees. A sense of peace envelops Masaru as he gazes in awe at the breathtaking beauty before him.]
Masaru (whispering to himself): A hidden gem amidst the hustle and bustle—a peaceful pond embraced by cherry blossoms. Its serene atmosphere captivates my senses, drawing me further into its charm.
[In the heart of the pond, a small bamboo forest emerges, creating a magical scene that feels like a secret sanctuary. Masaru stands in awe, marveling at the harmony between the delicate cherry blossoms and the sturdy bamboo stalks, as if nature itself has crafted a wondrous masterpiece.]
Masaru (amazed): Such a beautiful combination of grace and strength. How is it that this hidden oasis remains undiscovered by so many? It's like stepping into a realm untouched by the chaos beyond.
[As he walks along the path surrounding the pond, Masaru's sharp instincts guide him towards a rare and elusive creature—a magnificent rabbit with fur as white as freshly fallen snow. With his exceptional stealth and agility, Masaru silently approaches the rabbit, capturing it with impressive dexterity.]
Masaru (whispering to the rabbit): Your elegance matches the serenity of this hidden pond. Allow me to admire your presence for a brief moment.
[Examining the rabbit in his hands, Masaru takes in the intricate patterns of its fur, the gleam in its eyes, and the gentle rise and fall of its breathing. His admiration for the creature grows as he realizes the rarity of such an encounter.]
Masaru (in awe): The world holds its breath when you appear, a living testament to nature's beauty. I am grateful to have crossed paths with you.
[With great care, Masaru releases the rabbit back into the freedom of the surrounding landscape. As it bounds away, disappearing into the lush foliage, Masaru smiles, his heart filled with gratitude for the connection he shared with the creature.]
Masaru (grateful): Farewell, my exquisite friend. May your journey be filled with endless wonder and the allure of unexplored paths.
[Inspired by his encounter with the rabbit and the hidden wonders of the pond, Masaru continues his journey towards the city market, anticipation filling his heart. He moves forward, eager to uncover the stories and encounters that await him in the vibrant marketplace.]
Masaru (determined): The city market beckons, a realm of vibrant energy and untold tales. But the memory of this hidden sanctuary will forever be etched in my mind—a testament to the extraordinary wonders that lie just beyond the beaten path.
Scene 4: The City Market
[INT. CITY MARKET - DAY]
Masaru finally arrives at the bustling city market. The atmosphere is lively, filled with colorful stalls, chattering merchants, and the aroma of various foods. He walks through the market, nodding and waving to familiar faces, engaging in small talk with store owners.
MASARU Morning, Mr. Suzuki! How's business today?
MR. SUZUKI Masaru! Good to see you, my boy. Business is steady, thanks for asking. Say, have you seen those new spices I brought in?
MASARU Oh, I haven't checked them out yet, but I'll swing by later. They must be quite something!
Masaru continues his leisurely stroll through the market, enjoying the vibrant sights and sounds. He passes by a fruit stand and strikes up a conversation with the FRUIT MERCHANT.
MASARU Good morning! Those peaches look juicy today. How are they selling?
FRUIT MERCHANT Masaru, my friend! These peaches are flying off the shelves. Can't resist their sweetness. Want to try one?
MASARU Sure, I'll take one. Takes a bite Mmm, delicious as always.
As he walks further, he spots a SHOE VENDOR arranging a display of colorful shoes.
MASARU Morning! Any new styles in stock?
SHOE VENDOR Masaru, my man! Just got these sleek leather boots. Want to give them a try?
MASARU Maybe next time. They look impressive, though.
Masaru continues his journey through the bustling market, exchanging greetings and engaging in short conversations with various merchants. Their words blend with the lively ambiance, creating a tapestry of voices and activity.
As he walks, Masaru catches sight of a signpost indicating the direction to Mrs. Tanaka's garden. The familiarity of the garden tugs at his heart, reminding him of past visits filled with enchantment and tranquility.
MASARU (to himself) Ah, Mrs. Tanaka's garden... Always a haven of beauty and wonder.
With a renewed sense of excitement, Masaru quickens his pace, eager to reconnect with the serenity that awaits him in the familiar garden.
[END OF SCENE]
Scene 5: The Garden Conversation
[Setting: Mrs. Tanaka's Garden. Masaru enters the garden, greeted by the serene beauty and Mrs. Tanaka's warm presence. They sit down at a small table with cups of tea.]
Mrs. Tanaka: [Smiling warmly] Masaru, my dear, before we start working, let's take a moment to enjoy some tea together. So, have you given any thought to what you want to do for your future career?
Masaru: [Sipping his tea, thoughtful] To be honest, Mrs. Tanaka, I'm still unsure. There are so many possibilities, but none of them feel quite right. I've been volunteering to explore different paths, but I know that volunteering doesn't bring money.
Mrs. Tanaka: [Nodding understandingly] Ah, the practical side of things. It's true that we need to consider financial stability as well. However, let me share a different perspective with you. Money is important, but it should not be the sole measure of our success or fulfillment.
Masaru: [Curious] What do you mean?
Mrs. Tanaka: Volunteering may not bring immediate financial rewards, but it can enrich your life in other ways. It helps you develop skills, gain valuable experiences, and build connections with people who share your passions. Sometimes, the true value of a career lies in the impact we make and the joy it brings to our lives.
Masaru: [Contemplative] I've never thought about it that way. I've always been focused on finding a career that brings financial stability, but maybe there's more to it than just money.
Mrs. Tanaka: [Encouragingly] Indeed, Masaru. Follow your heart, pursue what brings you joy and fulfillment. Remember, a fulfilling career is a combination of your passions, values, and the positive impact you can make in the world.
[They continue their conversation over tea, delving deeper into Masaru's interests, dreams, and aspirations, as the tranquil garden surrounds them with its beauty and wisdom.]
Scene 6: The Garden
[The scene is set in Mrs. Tanaka's garden, where Masaru and Mrs. Tanaka are working together, collecting Kubocha squash. They have a pile of squash beside them. They both pause for a moment, catching their breath.]
Mrs. Tanaka: [Wiping her forehead] Ah, the Kubocha squash harvest is coming along nicely, Masaru. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Masaru: [Smiling] It's my pleasure, Mrs. Tanaka. I'm glad to be of assistance.
[They both resume their work, collecting more squash, their movements synchronized.]
Mrs. Tanaka: [Breaking the silence] Masaru, may I ask you a question?
Masaru: [Curious] Of course, Mrs. Tanaka. What's on your mind?
Mrs. Tanaka: [Thoughtful] Do you know what you want to do for your future career? Have you discovered your true calling yet?
Masaru: [Pausing, contemplating] Honestly, Mrs. Tanaka, I'm still uncertain. I haven't found my path yet.
Mrs. Tanaka: [Nodding] I understand. Sometimes, finding one's purpose can be a challenging journey. But let me tell you about one of my grandchildren. He's grown up to become one of the world's greatest swordsman.
Masaru: [Surprised] A swordsman? That sounds incredible. But how does one become a swordsman?
Mrs. Tanaka: [Smiling warmly] It's not just about swinging a blade, Masaru. It's a path of discipline, dedication, and protection. As a swordsman, you learn to wield a blade with precision and skill, defending what you hold dear.
Masaru: [Intrigued] I never thought of it that way. Tell me more.
Mrs. Tanaka: [Eagerly] Being a swordsman means more than just fighting. It's about protecting your beliefs, your village, and the people you care about. It requires physical strength, mental fortitude, and a strong sense of justice.
Masaru: [Absorbing the information] That's fascinating. But where would I even start?
Mrs. Tanaka: [Encouraging] I'm glad you're interested, Masaru. I happen to know the best swordsman master in history, renowned for his wisdom and skill. If you're willing, I can arrange a meeting for you. He can guide you on this incredible journey and teach you the ways of the sword.
[They continue working, picking up more squash, but now there's a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air.]
View Poll