I'm not sure if this is the best subreddit but here I go. This is also my first post ever on reddit so I hope I don't screw anything up lol
I'm in my final year of my English major (I'm also minoring in Artistic Studies, purely for my own enjoyment), in a country from the EU. When I first decided to study languages and literatures I intended to, afterwards, pursue a masters (and eventually a job) in the publishing industry, as I have always loved books and reading.
As I progressed into my studies, I guess some professors took an interest in me and I was invited to participate in a mobility program in which I could study in the UK and take part in an interdisciplinary research project, I presented a research paper in an event, I helped out during two different academic conferences, I organised a book club for my department etc etc which made me interested in joining academia and proceed into a more research-focused master's degree.
However, as time passes and I become more and more aware of the choices I have to make, I can't help but feel claustrophobic - I have been thinking about pursuing a masters in publishing (I can do so without any debt or anything), but I know that it's incredibly incredibly hard to get a job in publishing and that even if I'm able to get one I will probably be overworked and underpaid; I also am interested in some research masters, as I would like to put my academic experience to use, but I know that academia is a dead end, extremely oversaturated and getting a job after the phd is like winning the lottery; finally, I have been thinking about pursuing a teaching masters, as there is a big teacher shortage crisis in my country and I think I would like the pedagogical side of it and I think I would like to work with kids, but both my parents are high school teachers and I can see everyday how exausted and absolutely overworked they are + the current conditions for young teachers aren't great (hence the teacher shortage crisis).
I have applied to work as an Erasmus trainee at an art gallery in Italy during the next year which would buy me some time to think about my alternatives, but it's kind of sad for me to see all my hardwork and accomplishments during these last few years to not matter at all and it makes me feel very powerless. I'm not sure what kind of advice I'm looking for - it's impossible to predict the future and, unfortunately, there's not much any of us can do to change the state of these industries. I guess I would just like to share my thoughts with people who might be going through the same thing and if anyone has any wisdom they could share, I would desesperatly appreciate it at this time of need.

22 Blue in 2022: 'THE LIST'

Build Supermajorities of Democrats in the US House and US Senate

Here’s “22 Blue in 2022: ‘A Quick List’”:

1. Florida 2. Ohio 3. Kansas 4. North Carolina 5. Kentucky 6. Arizona7. South Carolina 8. Georgia 9. Texas 10. Michigan 11. Nevada 12. Pennsylvania13. Missouri 14. Wisconsin 15. Iowa 16. Arkansas 17. Oklahoma 18. Indiana19. Colorado 20. Alabama 21. South Dakota 22. North Dakota

The 2022 Midterm Election is the most important midterm of our lifetime.Democrats must behave as if our lives depend on this midterm, because our future depends on the outcome.
”We the people” must deny the Republican party political power at every level of government for decades to come “in order to create a more perfect union.” With 48 States having some statewide contest(s), November 8th, 2022 is our best chance the Democrats will get to do that for the rest of this decade, at least.
”The List” encourages the election of a Democratic Supermajority in the US Senate in 2022. This is the best chance we will have to create a Democratic Supermajority in both Chambers of Congress for the remainder of this decade. This midterm could be a devastating loss for the democrats if good patriots ignore this election. If Americans of good conscience band together instead, we could could begin the exile of the Republican party from power, not for years, but for decades to come.
“The List” is a set of suggestions about where to focus collective activism today.
The election of Democratic Supermajorities to both chambers of the US Congress is the best outcome we can strive towards in the 2022 Midterm Election for many reasons. Among them: breaking the decade of gridlock in Congress, supporting President Biden’s agenda, and his re-election in 2024. My personal favorite is that this could commence the decades-long political banishment of the GOP from power, which the Republican Party so richly deserves.
The Republican party has proved itself treasonous on many levels. They are traitors to Humanity by supporting Trump. Traitors to the Nation for supporting Putin. Traitors to the government and betrayers of the constitution through their apologies for the 1/6/21 insurrection. To safeguard our country and the world, we must block the Republicans from power at the ballot box, at all levels of government, for at least a generation.
Political game playing may be inevitable among humans. Change the numbers, and then change the rules, if not the game. Cynical refusal to play at this time in history cedes power to NAZIs manipulated by Active Measures. That is a surrender to crypto fascism, not radical thinking, mere cynicism, or hipsterism.
In 2022, Patriots must unify to crush the Republican Party at the ballot box. We can defeat them in every State, at every level. We need the biggest turnout at the voting booth of any Midterm ever. We need to raise more money for candidates and organizations than we did during the entire 2020 campaign season if we are to accomplish this. We need to do this in the next six months.
This is what a “Blue Tsunami” REALLY looks like.
Electing a Democratic Supermajority in Congress is our hope for the future and retribution for America’s enemies. “22 Blue in 2022” is a roadmap to the beginning of that journey. “22 Blue in 2022” is our war plan. ”22 Blue in 2022” is our electoral battle cry. “22 Blue in 2022” is a way forward out of gridlock, a way to non-violently thwart those who would poison the body politic with their hate.
If we don’t try this hard in 2022, Trump will go unpunished and metastasize by 2024.
Resist In Power, my sisters, my brothers, and my others.
Resist Together, and elect a Congressional Supermajority in 2022!
See The “FULL 22 Bue in 2022 List”, With Dozens more links to the organizations and candidates that you can support to help Create a Democratic Congressional Supermajority in 2022!
National Democratic Organizations
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2022 Senate Republican Target Races: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2022senatetargets
​
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Calendar Details:2022-06-17 18:30 UTCArma 3 Operation Lions of Tazri

Operation Lions of Tazri

INFO:

When? 18:30 UTC
Get the mods through our mod downloader, Swifty
Want more info? Our documentation
Join our Arma unit: https://units.arma3.com/unit/themisfitcompany
Recommended reading: http://ttp3.dslyecxi.com/
If you have any issues with mods or teamspeak, do not hesitate to contact the event host or any of the helpers on teamspeak or Discord. DM on Discord and Reddit PM are the easiest way to get a hold of the event host.
Map required:

North Takistan - https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829330653

• Cup core required

Mods required:

• Foxholes https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2979746496
• DCO Toolbox https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2861437473

RECOMMENDED CLIENT SIDE MOD:
Medical system tweaks:
tl;dr: Splints, stitching and PAKs enabled.

Settings	Change
Limping	Limp on open wounds
Fractures	Splints fully heal fractures
Advanced Bandages	Enabled and can reopen
Clear trauma after bandage	Disabled
Epinephrine	Anyone
Surgical kit	Medics only; Anywhere + self surgery enabled
PAK	Doctors only; Anywhere + self paking enabled
Blood	Medics and Doctors
CPR success chance	Increased to 55%

ACE Settings	Change
ACE Fatigue Performance factor	Increased to 1.8
ACE Fatigue Recovery factor	Increased to 1.8

Pole settings:

• Teleport to squads enabled.

Other changes from our usual mission setup:

• Non-Zeused op - I will have access to Zeus, but will be only used for bug/ Arma fixing.

Non MC framework scripts used:

JEBUS by DreadPirate; Light Advanced Vehicle Respawn by Fiddi; Timber Corp Reinforcements by Geelik and Dagger; MIL_CAS by beno_83au

Briefing

Situation

Intel Package - click me!
June 20xx, Duchy of Takistan, Kingdom of Sahrani
Sahrani Liberation Army has used the recent drought to incite peasant uprising in North Takistan. Their combined forces have allowed them to capture Mantiq, besiege Kushak and start pushing south to Takistan proper.
Queen has despatched RMEF (Royal Marine expeditionary force) to delay SLA, before rest of army arrives.
Key role plays town of Tazri, whoever holds it, can cut supply lines of the other.
For that reason RMEF will assault Tazri before SLA reinforcements will arrive and then hold it.

Criticisms about historical accuracy should be shouted down an empty can of microwave noodles.

Enemy Forces

Takistani Peasant Uprising - Infantry, Technicals. Location: Town of Tazri.
Sahrani Liberation Army - Infantry, Mechanized, Armour, Air, AA assets. Location: North East of Takistan.

Player Forces

Royal Sahrani Marines - Mechanized Platoon. Location: FOB Rusty
Royal Sahrani Marine Aviation - OV-1D Mohawk (Callsign MUFASA). Location: Kharu Airfield

Friendly Forces

3x 105mm Field gun - Callsign Pumba. Location: FB Kevin
2x 155mm Field gun - Callsign Timon. Location: FB Kevin
1x 203mm Howitzer- Callsign Rafiki. Location: FB Kevin
MEDEVAC - Location: Kharu Airfield
Logistical Airdrop - Location: SE of AO

Civil/Terrain/ Weather considerations

Terrain - Hills, sand, sand women, sand children. Urban areas.
Civil - Civilians present across AO. Limit collateral damage
Current weather - overcast, mild wind, morning fog, 17°C
Forecasted weather - overcast, mild wind, no fog, light rain 29°C

Mission Objectives

1) Assault town of Tarzi

Try to prevent collateral damage to town. Use of artillery support is not recommended within town.

2) Prepare defences

Depending on how long you take to assault, expect already streaming in SLA reinforcements.
You have access to digging equipment and limited fortify supply, use them well, use them fast.

3) Hold town of Tazri

SLA understands the value of Tarzi, do not expect them to give it up easily.

Execution

Rules of Engagement: Avoid causing collateral damage.
Mission starting time: 07:00 (already daylight)

Mission makers notes

All players, including pilots are starting at FOB Rusty. Pilots have dedicated transport to get themself to Airfield.

Slotting:

Use this in your slotting comment:

IGN: Discord Name: Slot: Alpha A1 AR 

CO, squad leaders and special roles (all roles in bold letters) should join the teamspeak 30 minutes before the event starts for planning the mission.
If this is your first event with us we would also like to ask you to join 30 minutes early for a quick introduction to MC.

Slots

This list is not guaranteed to be up to date! Do a quick look through the comments to make sure your slot hasn't already been claimed.
You need to have played at least three events with us for all leadership and special roles like pilots or vehicle crew.
Limited Arsenal provided at Starting Point.
Pilots - are trained to treat themself and repair.

All Rada IR guided weapons are forbidden from use. Dumb and laser guided are allowed.
Sole exception: AIM-9M Sidewinder
Confirm you've read this part by adding to your sign up post: Scar did nothing wrong.

JTAC - To be able to call Support modules, you have to be inside BMR-600 HQ vehicle. Make sure you protect it, once it's gone, it's gone.
Group TOW - are trained repairmarines

Callsign/Role	IGN
Zeuskana	Oriskana
MUFASA	OV-1D Mohawk
Pilot	lottery
Copilot	lottery
Group Command	BMR-600 HQ
CO
JTAC
Group Medical	BMR-600 MEDICAL
Chief Medic
Medic
Medic
Group TOW	BMR-600 TOW
Vehicle CO
Driver
Gunner
Group Alpha	BMR-600 M2
Marine Squad Leader
AR Marine
Marksmarine
AT Marine
Ammo Bearer Marine
AA Marine
Marine
Marine
Marine

Reserve: aWeisGuy

Probably an uncommon take but I feel like the core game of rimworld is hot garbage - not because the content is bad, but because the mechanics are bad.
The combat is simple and unfun: You put your guys in their positions and the enemy puts their guys in their positions and then you shoot at eachother until one of you is dead - You're punished for moving (Which makes sense but is unfun) because then you get shot to shit because you're out of cover. The set up for combat is entertaining (The planning and designing of your defences) but once that's done it's over.
Colonists are pre-sentient because you are meant to micromanage the shit out of them with zones and drafts; they have no sense of self-preservation whatsoever.
The story-tellers are kinda retarded - Normal ass classic storyteller sending multiple seperate packs of manhunting animals at the same time is absurd.
The idea that random bits of steel from destroyed objects spike my wealth is also ridiculous and makes mountain bases far more of a liability than they should be. Uniquely infestations are usually not much of a problem for me but I do use both Windows and now Run and Gun - both of which heavily lessen the threat of melee enemies. This doesn't personally bother me. It's not the dificulty that I have a problem with it's how stale combat is without modded mechanics.
I've mentioned in a previous post how stupid raiders are: They just burn shit and cook themselves instead of taking the things they should.
A lot of stuff is inaccessible to you without grabbing a lottery ticket: Components and Plasteel are huge bottlenecks that require you to go out and find a place that sells them and there's no guarantee that you'll have one nearby. This wouldn't matter if moving around the world-map wasn't as uninteresting as it is. I had a run where I just made a bunch of food and then watched as my caravan walked its ass over to the crashed ship - no interaction whatsoever required and even if I was attacked it'd be another sit behind some rocks and wait style combat.
Maybe I've just been ruined by other games but after getting Sidearms/Run and Gun/Giddy Up/Psycasts Extended and seeing just how much better the base game is with a little bit more interactivity I just feel like mods are a REQUIREMENT to enjoy Rimworld.
I know there are people who like it vanilla (Which runs completely contradictory to my core point) but I feel like those people are far and few between. Maybe I'm just missing something and all of this is completely wrong.
I've got 2000 Hours in this game so Clearly these issues haven't exactly been a nail in the coffin but I find that they come up a lot.
Little things like doctors going half a mile to grab medicine, Caravans taking a million years to setup because some guy decided to go to sleep even though everyone is ready to go, Pawns targeting enemies a million miles away instead of the guy charging at them with a spear or the absolutely absurd accuracy calculations really mess me up when they happen.
Is the average person really that bad at aiming that with an LMG they miss every single shot against a lion?

Motivation : Body Swap Motive
I think I deleted nearly half of the rules of Danganronpa.
It is worth mentioning that:

• role is random
• No Monokuma that everyone hates as host, replaced by a character I made myself
• No motivation, instead unnatural events
• there may not even be a mastermind in it
• The moderator has no intention of interfering with the students
• There is still killing, there is still despair, but despair is not the goal of this 'game'
• ... (and possibly others, but I can't think of any)

​
I modeled this fan motivation by using a random roulette to draw 10 people. Also I plan to only write stories from when the motive is revealed to when someone dies.
The reason for only writing ten people is: this motivation will be more complicated if there are too many people, but it should be relatively easy for the ten people selected with distinctive personalities.
​
●In response to motivational needs (called unnatural events in this story), if A becomes B, it is shown as
A(B) :
If you're wondering, read on and you'll know what I'm talking about.
​
Character :

• Leon Kuwata (Main POV.Of course, by lottery)
• Kiyotaka Ishimaru
• Kyoko Kirigiri (Dr1)
• Kazuichi Soda
• Chiaki Nanami
• Sonia Nevermind (Dr2)
• Rantaro Amami
• Kokichi Oma
• Angie Yonaga
• Himiko Yumeno (V3)

...
The explanation at the beginning of the story: Leon, the Ultimate Baseball Star, wakes up in an unknown place with 15 other students Leon doesn't know. Here they are trapped, in a seemingly abandoned town center. A translucent wall traps them here. The center of this small town should be the place with the most resources, which may be one of the reasons why they are there. They were told the rules of this place by an artificial intelligence named Kokokuka (they can't attack Kokokuka, not because the attack will kill, but because Kokokuka is a projection, they can't touch it, and they can't find the projected place)
"You have to kill to be the only way out of here, but you have to participate in death debates, go undetected and be voted to get out of here. If you choose the right person, he will die; if you vote for the wrong person, that person will die, and the murderer can leave. Every time someone dies, no matter what the ending, new places open up and the better your chances of finding the truth, that's your second condition for leaving. This is the rule of this place. And, during this time you will encounter various events that may or may not entice you to kill, I call it unnatural events, when all the survivors are in the same place, I will detail when you encounter that event. As for any potential regulations here, I can tell you that there are none, but I suggest you not go out at night. After 10 o'clock, it is safe indoors, but not necessarily outdoors."
It's been a while since they woke up from this strange place, and besides the 10 mentioned above, the other six... are dead. It could be that one of them has a reliable [detective], or it could be that they don't want to kill innocent people, so they help the case as much as possible, and that's why no one has escaped from here yet.
They once asked Kokokuka a question: "Are we in a virtual world? Because that wall is not something that would appear in real life..." Kokokuka's answer was: "This is the real world, the unreal real world ."
Note: In this story, everyone actually knows the rules of this killing game, under normal circumstances. Because this is a story that happened after Dr1, 2 and V3, but they are the same age. That is, they know Momokuma. But those three killing games had a very vague impression on them. No one remembered that they killed or were killed, and even if they remembered, they were not among them. Everyone remembers people differently, which leads them to think they're in 16 different killing games.
Now, the story begins!
Midnight. Leon lay on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened.(For me, if I don't explain the previous story well, I will be very sorry.)
Leon: "Damn it, someone died again yesterday, what the hell is going on?"
Leon: "In my understanding, even if it is a killing game, three people will not be killed by the same person at the same time! This is because the damn Kokokuka didn't set the rules!...Although it is so, Kyoko said that the two died The cases are all because of those unnatural events...otherwise no one would die at all...why..."
Yesterday, Leon made a friend and they swore to escape together, but, he died.Not just him, but many others.
If there were no unnatural events... would none of this happen? But it's impossible...
Leon fell asleep sad and angry. Nothing should happen in a short time, right? Leon thought. But this place doesn't seem to give them a chance to rest at all.
Seven forty the next day. Leon woke up, but normally he didn't need to get up until after eight o'clock. Eight o'clock in the morning, this is the time they should have woken up in the previous killing game. But since Kokokuka doesn't call them and has no rules, it doesn't matter what time they sleep. However, to avoid accidents, Ultimate Moral Compass usually wakes everyone up during this time, and his voice is very loud, which is not a problem.
"Had a bad dream..." Leon thought, rolling over and looking at the clock. (Is that clock weird?) "Wait a minute, that guy Taka is coming to call us, alas... I can't sleep, let's get up and wash up first."
Leon got up, wait, what was he wearing? Leon looked at what he was wearing now in disbelief. A princess outfit.
Leon: "AHAHAH!!! WHAT THE FUCK!?...HOW IS THIS!?!?"
A crisp female voice sounded. He knew the dress and heard the voice. To be precise, very familiar. Sonia Nevermind, Ultimate Princess, the girl who met in this killing game, the same age. She's cheerful and well-mannered because she's a princess, right?
Undoubtedly, he became Sonia.
Of course Leon didn't believe it, he rushed into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and there was a panic-looking "Sonia" inside.
Leon(Sonia): ". . ."
Leon(Sonia): "Damn."
Leon screamed inwardly. It took him a while to get used to not having pants and being a girl.
Now, Leon was faced with a challenge. He had to tie up Sonia's hair, which, as he remembered, was partly braided and the rest flowed slightly to the left. And she has a green and black ribbon in her hair. It wasn't hard to find that ribbon, the hard part was tying it. After a while, Leon finally fixed his hairstyle, which was simpler than imagined.
??? : "Everyone! Time to wake up!"
Another female voice rang out, it's eight o'clock. The voice sounded familiar, but she didn't seem to speak like that. The voice is familiar, but the tone has changed.
Leon(Sonia): "No way...everyone..."
Leon opened the door cautiously and looked out. He saw a familiar figure, it was Kyoko Kirigiri. Kyoko Kirigiri, Ultimate Detective, is a clever and mysterious girl, thanks to her talent, we were able to find the killers... Now, Leon was looking at Kyoko, watching her trying to wake everyone up with her throat, and Kyoko didn't notice him.
Leon(Sonia): "Although I have a bottom line in my heart, I still can't be sure if other people are like me..." Leon tried to pose Sonia's usual graceful movements, which was very difficult because Leon NOT a princess.
Leon pretends to be nonchalant and walks out of his room, well, it should be Sonia's room. And he just ran into Kyoko. (Is this just a coincidence?)
Kyoko(?): "Good morning! Ms. Sonia!" Suddenly, Kyoko(?) paused, "Would you agree...I call you Ms. Sonia?" It seems that Taka has indeed become Kyoko, Leon thought.
"I don't disagree, but I do mind."
Leon(Sonia): "I think I know who you are..." Kyoko(?): "Rea...really?" This was probably the most surprising Leon had ever seen Kyoko, well, if she was Kyoko.
Kyoko(?): "..." Kyoko's face seemed a little red. Kyoko(?): "Okay, okay! I'm Taka! Are you satisfied?"
Leon(Sonia): "Ah! Uh...I didn't mean to...I apologize if I upset you. And...I'm...Leon." Leon found himself going a little too far.
Taka(Kyoko): "Well, I'm not used to it yet, I'm too impulsive. But, why is it like this?" Leon(Sonia): "Needless to say, there must be some incident." Taka(Kyoko): "Then we Should we meet up with the others first? So that AI can explain it to us..." Leon(Sonia): "Maybe? But it might take some time for others to get used to it."
Leon(Sonia): "By the way, have you been to other places?" Taka(Kyoko): "Oh, yes, uh, did I mention that the place where Sonia live is the last place I came to?"
Actually, they don't live in the same hotel, some are in the residential area, some are in the hotel. Since Sonia's hotel is farthest from where Taka lives, when Taka comes to wake Sonia up, it's normal , everyone else is awake. And now Leon is Sonia.
Leon(Sonia): "You haven't met anyone else?" Taka(Kyoko): "Yes...but I promise, my voice will be enough to wake them up." They arrived at the restaurant where they usually gather.
Empty.
Leon(Sonia): "What do you think, how long do we have to wait here for all to arrive?" Taka(Kyoko): *sigh* "Hard to say."
...
Leon(Sonia): "Hey, Taka, let me ask you, is the talent we have now still there? I mean, is the talent we have now the original one, or the current body?" Taka(Kyoko): " I don't know. " Leon(Sonia): "..." "It doesn't matter, just try it and find out!"
Leon left Taka, and when he came back, he had an extra tennis ball in his hand. Taka was still wondering, but Leon had already assumed the pitching posture of a baseball pitcher. Taka(Kyoko): "Hey you... what are you---" The tennis ball flew past Taka at an extremely fast speed, and the air current caused by the tennis ball blew up Taka's long lavender hair. (There will be a mismatch between the appearance and the name, that is.)
Taka was shocked.
Taka(Kyoko): "..." "So fast...Wait, Leon! Do you know if you do this, you will attack other people? Please stop your behavior!" Leon(Sonia): "Sorry~ But I can be sure that the straight ball I throw will not deviate from the target by more than five centimeters!" "One more thing I noticed, you know? I threw that ball with all my might." Taka(Kyoko): "Of course...so it's fast... " Leon(Sonia): "No, it's too slow, my top speed is 160 km/h speed pitch, I can see it." Taka(Kyoko): "Hmm... back to the question you just asked me, I have an idea." Leon(Sonia): "What?"
Taka(Kyoko): "I think we may have two talents now, but both are weakened. Um...let's say you're a football player and you become a helicopter pilot. You can play football because you remember the skills and tricks of playing football, but due to physical factors and other reasons, you can't perfectly show your original talent. And you are a helicopter pilot now. When you come into contact with things related to flying a helicopter, you will find that you are somewhat familiar with this thing, so you can fly a helicopter. But if it is a proportion, the original talent will remain more. I guess."
Leon(Sonia): *puff* Leon laughed. Taka(Kyoko): "Uh? So...so...what's up? I...just speaking my mind! I'm just guessing..." He was a little flustered. Leon(Sonia): "It's okay, it's okay, what you said is very reasonable, very reasonable. I just see Kyoko in you." Taka(Kyoko): " ? "
...
Taka(Kyoko): *Walking around* "I already went to call them! Why aren't they here yet? They're already late!!!" Leon(Sonia): "As I said, they might need a little time--" Taka(Kyoko): "It's been a long time!" Leon(Sonia): "..." *sigh*
Taka(Kyoko): "I want to find something to do..." Leon(Sonia): "I'm hungry..." Taka(Kyoko): "Oh? Uh...yes! I can...try to make breakfast for Her Majesty the Princess!" (He didn't make breakfast)Leon(Sonia): "I'm not Your Majesty...but you can call me that if you want." Taka didn't hear it. Leon(Sonia): "Taka has never been to the kitchen...But Kokokuka took a bunch of recipes before, it should be okay?"
Ten minutes later...
???: "Good morning~~~Your Majesty Sonia~~~" A high-spirited, enthusiastic and lively male voice sounded. Oh no, Leon wanted to laugh again. ???: "Oh? Is Her Majesty Sonia the only one here?" Leon(Sonia): "Ah, and Kyoko, but she went to the kitchen." Leon was holding back his laughter, he still didn't want to ruin Sonia's demeanor. ???: "Really? (she looks excited) I'm going to her!" Leon(Sonia): "Ah! Wait--" He goes. Leon(Sonia): *poof* Leon laughed again. He probably knew who he had met.
Yes, Angie is inside Taka's body.
Angie Yonaga, Ultimate Artist. She's supposed to be the most poised of them all, she almost always has excitement and a big smile on her face, and she's not afraid to die. Leon guessed she didn't care about face, because she usually came out in nothing but a white ruffled bikini top and a yellow cover-up. So Leon was a little surprised when he found that the person in front of her was Angie. He didn't expect Angie to be able to wear Taka's military-style white school uniform and black lace-up boots.
Leon(Sonia): "I think... there is a good show to watch..." Leon looks to the kitchen, and
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was a very high-pitched, piercing scream.
Leon(Sonia): "Uh...?"
Looks like something happened in the kitchen.
After a while, Taka and Kyoko came out from the kitchen. The former had a big smile, while the latter had a helpless expression.
Leon(Sonia): "What happened?" Leon knew that the voice just now belonged to Taka.
Taka(Kyoko): *sigh*
--- (review) ---
Taka is in the kitchen now. Taka(Kyoko): "What am I going to make for breakfast? Well, I haven't been in the kitchen at all." Taka held a cookbook, thinking. At this time, a voice he was very, very familiar with sounded.
??? : "Kyoko~~~ you are here, right?"
Then came Taka's scream.
--- (end of review ) ---
Angie(Taka): "Sorry~ I didn't expect you to be scared so easily!"
Taka(Kyoko): "I seem to have become less courageous... Do you know that what you said just now is really scary!?"
Angie(Taka): ":)"
Oh no, I found that I typed too many things, so I gave up typing all of them before posting, because it would take a lot of time for me to type this story. This is just the beginning of this motivation, if I could I would hit it to the point where someone dies. But this will be very long, please forgive me.
As for why there is a spoiler warning at the beginning of the character introduction, because some characters have not yet appeared. :)

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CannaCribs is kicking off its 5th season at the largest Missouri owned & operated cannabis facility. You guessed it: Flora Farms!
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In this Season 5 premiere, host Nate Lipton visits Flora Farms deep in the middle of the Ozarks.
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Watch Live, Chat Live, June 13th @ 4 pm cst.
📷
Watch the Flora Farms CannaCribs episode live on YouTube and chat along live on Instagram with Host Nate Lipton. This is going to be epic!
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stolen from fb to post here if anyone is curious.
I AM NOT AN EMPLOYEE FOR FLORA NOR AM I AFFILIATED

I keep seeing posts talking about who has the highest ceiling or who has the highest vertical, but I want to think in the opposite direction.
Which lottery or borderline lottery pick has the lowest ceiling?

Preamble
This draft ranking does not reflect who I believe will be taken at each draft position, nor which player fits best with each team at each draft position. This draft ranking is solely a reflection of who I think should be taken in each draft position based on their most likely (read: median or 50th percentile) outcome. My draft philosophy generally values players based on how well I think they would do on a typical NBA championship contending roster. I typically value shooting a lot, because historically it matters a lot.
TLDR:

1. Wemby
2. Scoot
3. Brandon Miller
4. Taylor Hendricks
5. Kobe Bufkin
6. Cason Wallace
7. Anthony Black
8. Brice Sensabaugh
9. Gradey Dick
10. Jordan Hawkins
11. Amen Thompson
12. Jarace Walker
13. Cam Whitmore
14. Derek Lively

Long form:
1. Victor Wembanyama: I think he has a very clear path to be the greatest defensive player of all time. His improvement on the defensive end this season from Game 1 to Game 48 was utterly remarkable, and I think he profiles to be a top 5-10 Centre in the league as a rookie on the back of this ability alone. I think his offense needs a lot of work, and while it’s possible he could become an unstoppable force on that end, I don’t really see him reaching the heights of KAJ or Hakeem or Shaq. He doesn’t really have any moves to get him easy points, and NBA teams will soon figure out that undersized PFs with a strong and low centre of gravity (PJ Tucker, Al Horford, Draymond Green, OG Anunoby types) can get into his body and completely take him out of the game. He never really figured out how to overcome these defenders this season in France, whereas he improved in every other respect. Aside from that, I think the shooting will become very good with time, and I think it will be a privilege to watch his career. Oh, and I have no real injury concerns, nor would they change my evaluation of him when his ceiling and floor are both this high.
2. Scoot Henderson: I think he’s going to be a franchise PG, simple as that. Will he reach the top echelon (top 5-10 player in the league) or not, I don’t know. However, I need a PG who has a good handle, who has athleticism, who has good vision and playmaking, and who can shoot off the dribble. While most will not be impressed by his 3P shooting numbers, he shot 31% from 3P off the dribble (NBA 3P line), and 42% on small volume catch and shoots. He also shot 38% from midrange on the highest volume in the entire class, which would be 4th best behind Sensabaugh, JHS, and Cason Wallace. If he can hit C&S 3s, and he is a great midrange pull-up shooter, I believe the pull-up 3P shooting will come around. He’s also a rock defensively when he’s engaged. This is not really a discussion imo.
3. Brandon Miller: I’m lower on Miller than some, but I still think it’s impossible to deny what he accomplished this season. I like his premium shooting, positional size, and the fact that he has no glaring holes. I think there is very little argument for him to be above Scoot, because he just does not have on-ball juice as a lead handler. He has a good handle for his size and he can make basic reads, but he’s not going to be a guy who can get to the rim 20 times a night like Scoot can. Yes, he has a high floor because he will always have his shooting, but a 3 & D player or #2/3 option is much less valuable than a star lead handler (Ja Morant is more valuable than Khris Middleton).
4. Taylor Hendricks: Taylor Hendricks has three major strengths – high level rim protection (especially as a secondary rim protector), excellent switchability and versatility, and excellent shooting for the PF position. In today’s NBA, on a contending team, that literally the only three things you need from your perfect PF role player. Unlike many of the players I’ve ranked lower, Hendricks only has to continue to do what he already does well in order to be a valuable player for a contending team. His weaknesses – on-ball creation, handle, iffy-but-passable finishing on layups – are not things I NEED from him to feel good about him. If you told me those things will not improve for him until his 5th or 6th year of his career, it still wouldn’t change my mind. As long as his strengths translate (and I think they will), he will be a top 5-10 PF in the league for a long time IMO. That’s worth a top 5 pick to me, even if he won’t be a lead creator.
5. Kobe Bufkin: For me, Bufkin and Hendricks are neck and neck, and I would be fine with either one being #4. With Bufkin, Michigan was +10 with him on the floor and -11 with him off this season. He shot 40% from 3P after his first 5 games this year, and he shoots 85% from the line. He shoots 70% at the rim, and 66% at the rim in the half court. These are all elite numbers. He also shot 37.5% from midrange pull-ups, which is Scoot-tier (albeit on half the volume). Lastly, he shot 34.5% on pull-up 3s, which is solid and very valuable for a guard prospect. I also love that Bufkin just has amazing hands, I liken him a bit to Kyrie, though of course he isn’t that level. Defensively he is a rock, he’s got good positional size, he’s a solid athlete, his passing vision is good-not-great but he’s a score-first guard, and he’s freshman-aged despite being a sophomore. Overall, I guess I just think he’s possibly the most skilled guard in the class, and he has everything else.
6. Cason Wallace: Wallace has been miscast as a “defense-first” guard IMO. He offers excellent defense at the guard position, but he’s also just a great point guard. I think people underrate his shooting – 35% from 3P, including 33% on pull-ups and a staggering 45% on midrange pull-up 2s. At the rim, he shoots 65% which is excellent, and 56% on halfcourt layups which is not quite Bufkin-tier, but the same as Scoot. Essentially, I have no concerns about Wallace’s scoring ability in the NBA – the 3P shot will improve and he’s already great everywhere else. I think his passing vision is a good even if not elite, and he makes the right reads almost everytime. His defense is better than Bufkin’s but I also think he’s become overrated – he doesn’t have the physique to be a Marcus Smart or Jrue Holiday. He’s just going to be a solid POA defender, get steals, get blocks, and make smart rotations on defense while giving you some switching. I understand the qualms about his shot creation ability because he doesn’t really pop off the page, but I think it’s being overstated – he can drive and get to the rim, even through the bad spacing he had to deal with. Also, realistically, most guards use a screen in today’s NBA anyway.
7. Anthony Black: AB has two elite skills – perimeter defense, and vision/playmaking. If you haven’t seen the Maui invitational, I highly recommend – specifically his 4th Q performance against Creighton. This guy does not miss any reads. He’s an absolute gifted passer, and he’s over sized. I think on a team with a good roll man, he is going to be a devastating PnR passing threat. He’s got good athleticism to get to the rim and he’s a monster on defense. The shooting will always be a question with him, and I am not optimistic. If I felt better about his ugly ass form and ability to hit 3s, I might even have him at #4. Unfortunately, pull-up 3P and 2P shooting matters a lot for NBA guards, and I’m not sure how good he can really get at those. Still, I think his game is extremely similar to Josh Giddey except more athletic and much better defensively, so I think he has a good role to play in today’s NBA.
8. Brice Sensabaugh: I think it has become lost on us how elite Sensabaugh is as a shooter and scorer. He shot a blistering 52.6% on pull-up 2s on high volume, and shot 40% from 3 (only 26% on pull-up 3s, which I cannot explain other than the fact that it was low volume). He is a gifted scoring prospect, and these are KD/Derozan tier numbers. His defense is bad, but if you watch the film, it’s largely when he’s not engaged/focused. Doesn’t get into his stance, doesn’t pay attention to rotations, etc. However, late game and early game (i.e. when he is focused), I was surprised at how adept he was as a post-defender and I would even say he had decent lateral movement when he was in his stance. I think the offensive upside is so high that he merits a pick here, and a bet that he can be a focused defender in a more limited role playing less minutes. AJ Griffin was a similarly horrific defender last season in addition to being a highly skilled scorer, and his defense has been totally fine this past year. I think at #8, the upside you get if you can coach him to be engaged defensively like Griffin is worth the swing. To be clear, if he was a plus defender, I’d have him over Brandon Miller at #3.
9. Gradey Dick: Everyone knows about the elite shooting with prospects like this. The question is always “what about the defense and the rest?”. To me, Dick is actually a plus defender, I don’t understand why his defense is so hated. He moves his feet excellently, he’s got good positional size, he’s scrappy, and he gets steals. Ultimately, this is your SG – there’s only so much you can ask of defense from that position. He is an adept cutter, plays with a high IQ, he’s athletic, finishes well at the rim… I honestly don’t know what there is to not like. He takes the odd midranger and attacks closeouts well too. This type of player is never going to be a star, but I view him as a Kevin Huerter-type. If he puts on muscle, I could even be convinced that he could be better than Huerter. Kevin Huerter is easily worth a #9 overall pick.
10. Jordan Hawkins: Hawkins is probably the best shooter in the class IMO. He is also a plus defender, probably better than Dick. The reason I don’t have him above Dick is because I don’t think his IQ is as high as Dick’s. He’s not the same level cutter, he isn’t as good at making the next pass or attacking closeouts, he’s not gonna crash the class and get a clutch rebound the way Dick does, and he’s a year older. Still a valuable role player.
11. Amen Thompson: Flat out – I put >50% chance Amen is going to be a bust. I buy his athleticism, but that’s about it. I agree he has some passing vision, but it’s super overrated IMO. A lot of it is transition (near worthless to me), and within the halfcourt he has some flashy highlights, but I don’t even know if he’s a smart decision-maker in the PnR, because we didn’t really see him face good PnR defenses in OTE. I don’t see him finishing around 7 footers, or making difficult passes to the roll man. Despite his athleticism, if you watch the OTE Finals series, he actually struggles to beat his defender in crunch time, which makes you wonder how that’ll go in the NBA. The shooting is broken as hell, I don’t think itll ever come around since he’s been working on it for 2 years and it hasn’t improved. The handle is loose, the motor is not high and he didn’t exactly dominate OTE… he’s older too. I just think he’s going to bust, simple as that. On the off-chance I’m wrong about his passing, and he sorts out his aggressiveness issues and puts more pressure on the rim in the NBA, I think he’s worth a flyer in this range. I think he’s a huge mistake as a top 5 pick though, he’s not an NBA player today or in the near future.
12. Jarace Walker: Some will be confused as to why I have Walker so far behind Hendricks. I think Walker has a high chance of busting, and I don’t consider them to be the same caliber of prospect. To begin, he is not a great point-of-attack defender, unlike Hendricks (despite Walker being smaller). He gets blown by way too often, and this will only get worse in the NBA. Interestingly, when Caitlin Cooper did a breakdown of his game, I noticed she didn’t mention or notice this at all but I care about this a lot. For this reason, despite being smaller than Hendricks, he’s also not as switchable (Hendricks is the better lateral mover). I do agree he is a breath-taking helpside rim protector, so that makes up for it a little. I also think he has good IQ on both ends which helps. Offensively though, I think people will be disappointed. The shot just doesn’t fall for him, and FTs are an issue too. He has the perfect physique to play bully ball and put guys under the rim, but he just doesn’t. He plays remarkably soft for a guy with his build, it almost reminds me of Deandre Ayton – a guy who should be physically dominant but just doesn’t want to be. His handle is good for a PF/C, but certainly not good enough to be a ball handler in any capacity. Yes he can pass, but when is he going to use that skill if he can’t shoot and you’re not going to be running sets for him? I cannot imagine taking the ball out of a lead point guard’s hands to give isolation or PnR reps to Jarace Walker lol. People talk about the Draymond role all the time, but that’s a pipe dream. There have been 100 prospects since Draymond Green who we think will work as well as Draymond does, and they never do. Especially not Jarace, since he has some defensive flaws with his slow lateral movement, while Green is near flawless as a defender and played with the greatest shooters of all-time. Personally, I think Walker can be attacked on defense or in the PnR, and I think you can help off him because he isn’t a credible shooting threat, so I think he has significant bust potential.
13. Cam Whitmore: This is another guy I think has high bust potential. Cam’s elite skill is that he is an explosive one-footed leaper, and he can be a big threat driving to the rim in a straight line. Unfortunately, you need a lot more than that to be a real NBA player. For a guy who makes his living at the rim, for some reason he has a really low FTr which I can’t explain. His biggest red flag is his ball stopping nature and his lack of feel for the game/BBIQ. IF you’re going to be a ball stopper, you gotta be absolutely elite at scoring. He just isn’t. The shot looks good but his misses are so awfully bad, I have to believe he has a long way to go before he becomes a credible 3P threat, given that the NBA line is 2 feet further away. I think his top end outcome is basically Norman Powell, and I don’t think he will become good enough of a shooter or dynamic enough to get to the level of a Miles Bridges-type. On the off-chance his shooting comes around, he’s worth a swing in this range imo.
14. Derek Lively: I view him as a prospect who you feel confident in defensively, but the question will always be his role on offense. I like his defense so I think at worst he can be a bench Centre for a long time in the NBA, but you’d like more than that from a lottery pick. His finishing numbers are solid, so hopefully it’s a good sign.

1. A well-written post will increase your chances by a minuscule percentage but only luck determines how many responses you will get.
2. If the conversation gets too hot too fast, either you won a jackpot or you are being catfished it's usually the latter.
3. When you get an immediate response to a F4M post, it's your lucky day and you should buy a lottery ticket.
4. Just because the conversation is going well for 2 days don't get too hopeful, it can crash and burn anytime.
5. Just because the conversation is going well for 5 days don't get too hopeful, it can crash and burn anytime.
6. Just because the conversation is going well for 10 days don't get too hopeful, it can crash and burn anytime.
7. Just because the conversation is going well for a month, by now you get the idea.
8. If you find your AP is getting too busy all the time, it's time to say goodbye and start looking again, which is what I am doing now.
9. If you keep hearing a lot of "what about you" it's time to invest your time and energy in another person.
10. It helps to clearly mention

• Who you are - 47 male living in IL, brilliant father, husband, fit and a terrible bathroom singer.
• What you want - Someone who could be an emotional cushion, and really make my grey cells happy.
• What your limits are - Goes without saying cant leave the marriage, abbreviated responses(hbu, hru, wbu etc), people who consider conversation as an interview where they just reply to the questions.

1. If you did find a good AP thank your stars, most people don't get so lucky.
2. Lastly remember, there is a person on the other side with real feelings and a heart that can break just likes yours, we are all a little broken to be here so pls be kind.

It was a long trip. This is a long post. Apologies in advance.
HIGHLIGHTS (Days 1-14 of 28) KYOTO--Kiyomizu temple; Nanzenji temple; Nijo Castle; Sanjusangendo temple; Shugakuin Imperial Villa; Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion); Fushimi Inari shrine; 184th Kamogawa-Odori geisha show HIMEJI-The castle and garden. NARA-Todaiji temple UJI-Byodoin temple IZU KOGEN--Jogasaki Coast nature trail
TOKYO, Monday 5/8
We arrived mid-afternoon at Tokyo/Haneda, right after Golden Week ended. It turned out to be, coincidentally, the day when the Japanese government officially downgraded the Covid pandemic to the level of a seasonal flu.
Fresh off a 13-hour flight and experiencing Japan for the first time, we went from touchdown to hotel check-in in something like 90 minutes, braving an almost-rush-hour crush on the Keikyu Line train from the Terminal 3 station.
Experience has taught us that meticulously planning every step of arrival in a new country is crucial to avoiding confusion, getting lost or simply wasting time.
Pre-loaded Suica cards on our smartphones led us straight to the train without standing in any lines.
We' chose the Shinagawa Station area of central Tokyo to spare our jetlagged selves another leg of indeterminate length--four or five hours at least--to reach our Kyoto base. Shinagawa is a straight shot--no transfers--from Haneda and a great place to catch a bullet train.
It was a geezer move that gave us plenty of time to familiarize ourselves with the layout and operation of one of Japan's busiest train stations.
Before crashing for the night, we'd taken care of some business by getting cash from an ATM and picking up reserved seat tickets for a post-Kyoto leg. We used a JR Railway ticket machine to print out the tickets, using QR codes emailed to us the previous month when we bought the tickets online directly from JR-East railway (we avoided costly middlemen in all our travel and entertainment purchases, something that requires planning but is easily doable from abroad). Like all our electronic machine transactions in Japan, there was an English language option on the touch-screen.
A machine also checked us in at the Prince Hotel Shinagawa, part of a modern high-rise development, chosen mainly for convenience. It's a one-block walk from the train station and was perfect for a couple jet-lagged Japan newbies. What we got, for the princely sum of $116 USD, was a spacious (by Japan standards) room on the 34th floor with a dead-on view of Tokyo Tower. Dinner was carryout sushi from the Queen's Isetan department store on the opposite side of the station, plus beer and sake from a convenience store, all consumed in the hotel room with Tokyo's skyline at our feet.
KYOTO , Tuesday 5/9
On the advice of an old Japan hand, we made Kyoto our base for the first two weeks. It worked well. We explored a fabulous city, took three day trips (Himeji/Osaka; Nara; Uji) and left town wishing we'd had time for more.
We expected our first full day to be a blur, due to jetlag, but it wasn't too bad. Following advice from this sub for first-time shinkansen travelers, we got to the station an hour early.
We bought far enough in advance on the Smart EX app to get a slight discount. We booked back row seats on the right-hand side for easy luggage storage but discovered that both our bags (including my larger one, which measures 142 cm [L+H+W]) also fit on the overhead rack. We never had luggage problems on trains during our trip.
Our train to Kyoto had great Fuji views, our first. After depositing the bags in a Kyoto station storage locker (rented with the smartphone Suica card), we made our first sightseeing stop: Toji Temple, a quick subway ride and walk away.
About picking hotels
We used triangulation to pick hotels; that is, cross-checking information from various sources to give us the best possible chance of getting a good place at a decent price. Sources included a handful of guidebooks from the public library, Trip Advisor and this sub.
Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier ($221 USD per night with massive breakfast buffet, best of the trip) turned out to be a great base. We paid extra for a room facing the Kamo River, a popular gathering spot for locals, tourists and joggers. We benefited from early booking (more than six months in advance, shortly after Japan began opening up). Inflation and other factors have since raised the price of the same room by about 10 percent.
The newish (opened in 2017) hotel attracts mainly Japanese/Asian travelers who, like me, enjoyed the onsen in the basement. We also put the coin-operated washedryers to good use.
KYOTO, Wednesday 5/10
Up and out, thanks to jetlag, shortly after 5 a.m., walking deserted streets to the foot of magical Kiyomizu temple, arriving just as it opened at 6 a.m. We were back at the hotel for breakfast by 8, after walking down the picturesque, cobbled streets of Sannenzaka, shops still closed, with more tourists starting to trickle in.
About choosing sightseeing spots
I'm a sucker for ratings, assuming they're done well. So, guidebook must-sees, like DK Eyewitness's or Lonely Planet's, star ratings in the Michelin Green Guide to Japan or in the downloaded Gateway to Japan guide (a steal at $10 and in your pocket for free on Kindle app) and, finally, Japan Guide's recommendations helped guide our steps.
That's how we ended up spending the afternoon at Nanzenji, a must-see Zen temple, which, like Kiyomizu, is laid out at the foot of the mountains east of town.
Lunch this day was at Junsei, a yudofo (boiled tofu) restaurant we stumbled onto near the temple. We used wooden sticks to skim the surface of an iron vat filled with simmering soy milk, that was set before us over a gas flame.
About finding restaurants
If you've never been to Japan but lurk on this sub, you've already heard that it's practically impossible to get a bad meal. We booked a handful of places before leaving home but agree with others that you rarely need to do that to eat well. If you're determined to hit a place that's highly popular, often with deep-pocketed foreign tourists, reservations may be required.
We're foodies, up to a point, but Japan's profusion of starred Michelin restaurants was wasted on us. We've learned over the years that we seldom enjoy paying the inflated cost. Over four weeks, we ate once at a Michelin one-star, chosen for other reasons.
That said, Michelin's Bib Gourmands (good, affordable restaurants) never disappointed us. They are plentiful in Japan, especially in Kyoto and Tokyo, and worth seeking out. Most of the time, though, we picked places to eat by cross-checking Google (asking for "soba noodles" near me, for example) and Tabelog, the indispensible crowd-sourced Japanese website (we looked for places in the 3.5 range).
Non-speakers of Japanese can have a hard time making reservations. We found that we could make them in advance from abroad through services like TableCheck (and an apparently expanding number of others aimed at tourists, usually charging a fee; sometimes small, sometimes steep). On the ground in Japan, we sometimes reserved for free through Google and Tabelog (at random places which you can find on Google or Tabelog restaurant listings); they were always honored. We also asked hotel reception desks for reservation help on occasion. We went to a couple restaurants in person and booked a table for later. But the easiest and often best way to get in is simply to arrive on the early side for lunch (by 11:30 or so) or dinner (between 5 and 5:30). More than once, we walked right into a place and were seated, only to discover lots of people waiting in line outside when we left. That said, if you're looking for an above-average meal on a Saturday night, especially in a popular location, you might want to book in advance.
Konbinis (convenience stores) are cheap, good and extremely reliable sources of takeout. And though we liked what we got there (mainly onigiri), we wound up relying on them less and less as the trip went along. The same was true of department store basements, which lived up to their reputation as fantastic food sources, for locals and tourists alike. We learned that we could often eat for the same amount or less in restaurants geared to locals or foreigners on limited budgets, rather than chowing down in our hotel room.
KYOTO, Thursday 5/11
We hit Nijo Castle in the morning and Sento Imperial Palace, one of several attractions we reserved in advance through the Imperial Household Agency. All were well worth it (and free of charge). The agency website explains the rules, which vary somewhat from site to site. We also toured Kyoto Imperial Palace.
About navigation
Just as the Google Translate app (and similar devices) have broken down language barriers, several travel apps have vastly simplified the business of getting around. Google Maps was our basic navigational tool and it rarely failed us. Another app that helped work in concert with Google Maps was Navitime's Japan Travel guide. Both provide alternate routes, detailed information on trains and stations and much more. Sometimes, when we popped out of subway station, we'd check the compass app on the smartphone to make sure we were heading off in the right direction. It doesn't hurt that public transit throughout the country increasingly uses English or romaji to translate Japanese. Over four weeks, we only found one place where we had trouble deciphering the destination signs on buses (oddly enough, in Himeji, a tourist magnet).
KYOTO, Friday, 5/12
A busy day started at Katsura Imperial Villa. Like other Imperial Household venues, a guided tour (in Japanese, but with free English audio guide) is the only way to see the place and its beautiful gardens.
We also caught a kabuki for beginners show at sumptuous Minamiza Theatre--tickets purchased online in advance--after briefly stopping by bustling Yasaka-jinja shrine down the street.
Dinner was our priciest splurge: Itoh, a serene, traditional style steak house in the atmospheric Gion neighborhood. We hadn't initially planned on eating Kobe beef, since we've pretty much given up beef in our everyday lives, but we were persuaded by a family member who correctly posed the question: If not now, when? Worth the steep tab ($264), not least because our table overlooked the tiny Shirakawa canal, the service was great and now we can say we know what Kobe beef is all about. Like buttah.
KYOTO, Saturday 5/13
We were at Sanjusangendo when it opened and glad we'd gone. The display of 500 life-size, gilded 1000-armed kannon in Japan's longest wooden structure was unforgettable.
We're museum people--either you are or you ain't--and the special exhibition at Kyoto National Museum on the 850th anniversary of the founder of Shin Buddhism was well worth it. Unfortunately, like most Japanese museums, photos were prohibited inside. In this regard, technically advanced Japan lags much of the civilized world; even Old Europe has greatly loosened such restrictions in recent years. Smartphone cameras can be a nuisance to other visitors, but they are a quick and easy way of capturing what you've seen and preserving it for later study.
Lunch was at Vegan Ramen Uzu Kyoto, a Bib Gourmand and the weirdest place we ate. Expanded availability of vegetarian ramen is a promising, healthier trend, and we enjoyed it at several places in Tokyo and Kyoto. A TableCheck reservation, made well in advance, got us seats at this cutting-edge spot. Dining is at a polished black surface in a darkened room bathed by the illumination of a giant, swirling teamLab artwork. Pricey but good.
KYOTO, Sunday 5/14
We're horseplayers and enjoyed a day at recently reopened Kyoto Racecourse, capacity 120,000. Betting is easy; just stop by the information desk for instructions in English.
Dinner at Tiger Gyoza Hall was lively, inexpensive and delicious. It was the only restaurant on our trip that we visited twice; reservable on Google.
KYOTO, Monday 5/15
No place put us through more hoops than Kokedera, better known at Moss Temple. It was well worth the difficulty of getting a needed reservation; if you do it by mail from abroad--the least expensive way to go--you need a couple months head start (and an International Reply Coupon, which you have to buy online from the Swiss Postal System). We got there and back via city buses. Along the way we crossed Togetsukyo Bridge in the very congested tourist hotbed of Arashiyama. It didn't make us regret our decision to skip the area.
Afterward we visited Ninnaji temple. Ryoanji temple and its famous rock garden (where noisy fellow tourists made a Zen experience impossible) and Kinkakuji, the incredible Golden Pavilion. The place was jammed but crowd control is excellent and we're glad we made it.
KYOTO, Tuesday 5/16
Shugakuin Imperial Villa, a vast imperial property of gardens and buildings (which you cannot enter) on the northeastern outskirts, was our favorite Imperial Household Agency site. We felt fortunate to get advance tickets through their lottery but saw that same-day tickets were also available there and at other Agency sites; it would be a long way to go, however, if all tickets were gone on the day you wanted to enter. Since we made a conscious decision to visit Japan after the cherry blossom and Golden Week crowds were gone, we have no idea what things are like during busier times.
We strolled the Philosopher's Path after lunch. Perhaps if it had been a quiet early or cherry blossom time, we might have been blown away. Instead, it was a rare disappointment. It struck us as a very conventional touristy trail; nothing special at all.
On the other hand, Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), near one end of the path, lived up to the hype. We capped the day by off by catching the procession of Aoi Matsuri, or Hollyhock Festival, one of Kyoto's three big annual festivals. The parade of hundreds of elaborately costumed people, some on horseback, highlighted by a pair of ox-drawn carts, was a hoot. What surprised us was the absence of music or any sort of percussion.
HIMEJI and OSAKA, Wednesday 5/17
A shinkansen whisked us to Himeji for a tour of the incomparable castle and impressive gardens. We took advantage of the unique Himeji Castle English Speaking Guide service, which generously provides personal tours with an area resident, in English, at no cost (book online in advance).
Lunch was at Mentetsu, a very good ramen shop at a mall located between the train station and the castle. Recommended.
We finished the excursion at Osaka's famous, crazy Dotonburi neighborhood, a cross between Times Square and Disney. Dinner was our first okonomiyaki, deliciously prepared at Okonomiyaki Mizuno (a Bib Gourmand). We're allergic to standing in line---life is too short--and we never waited more than 30 minutes for a table on our trip. They took our order at Mizuno while we were in line, and it was prepared before our countertop seats shortly after we got in. Oishī!
UJI, Thursday 5/18
Uji is renowned for its tea and Byodoin temple, best known for its elegant phoenix hall, which is pictured on the back of the 10 Yen coin. It was a great day trip, including lunch at a traditional local soba shop that served cold noodles sobayu style; you pour hot soba stock--the cloudy water the noodles were boiled in--into what's left of your soy-based dipping sauce and drink the (supposedly) healthy brew. Definitely the way to go. Mampukuji, a Zen temple, was a worthwhile stop before we caught a train back to Kyoto.
NARA, Friday 5/19
Our first day of heavy rain failed to dampen the visit to one of the best places on our trip. The town, a tourist favorite because, or in spite of, the overpopulation of overly friendly deer, is well-described elsewhere. We toured Todai-ji, with its giant Bronze Buddha, had lunch at the cute and delicious Pizzeria Trattoria Magazzino (Bib Gourmand) and checked out Kohfukuji temple, too.
KYOTO, Saturday 5/20
Fushimi Inari shrine, on almost every Kyoto must-see list, lives up to its reputation. We followed good advice from this sub and arrived early, a few minutes before 8 a.m. Already, crowds were building. We detoured from the main path through thousands of torii gates and wandered instead up an almost totally deserted sylvan trail on the south side of Mt. Inari, past bamboo groves, a few minor shrines and some houses. After about 45 minutes, we reached a set of stone stairs to the summit. From the top, we took the main path down, dodging the stream of fellow tourists as best we could and gaping at the gates and the view from the halfway point. We highly recommend this alternative way of seeing the best of two Fushimi Inari worlds.
We celebrated our last full day in Kyoto, and our 40th wedding anniversary, with a memorable kaiseki lunch at Hana Kitcho, a Michelin one-star booked weeks in advance from home. The beautifully decorated private room, attentive service, imaginative presentation, museum-quality stoneware and delicious food were certainly up to one-star standards.
The minute that advance online tickets went on sale for the 184th Kamogawa Odori, I jumped on them. The tourist-oriented geisha dance performance is held in May at a theater that overlooks the Kamo River. We were lucky to have been given seats in the front row and when one of the geishas tossed a white cloth package in my direction I snatched it. I now have an unexpected souvenir, a cloth banner autographed by the geisha herself. The fantastic show will remain in memory.
IZU KOGEN, Sunday 5/21
We left Kyoto for the Izu Peninsula and what turned out to be the best single night of our trip. Hanafubuki, a modern ryokan I learned about on this sub, was everything we could have wanted. It features 9 private outdoor onsens on beautifully landscaped property and elegant guest rooms with fluffy futons for sleeping on tatami mats. The ten-course dinner was exquisite. Breakfast, a seven-course feast that featured whole grilled horse mackerel and golden-eye sea bream, was simply amazing.
IZU KOGEN, Monday 5/22
A short walk from the ryokan is the scenic Jogasaki Coast nature trail, a rugged stretch of rocks and pounding surf. A guy I met there who introduced himself as Zeus, a Japanese native currently living in California and in town to visit his parents, compared the coastline to Monterey Bay. We could have used another night to allow us to explore the trail at greater length.
Lunch was at a great local restaurant, walking distance from the train station, Honke Maguroya, featuring local fish and top-grade tuna. The wasabi rhizome, which you grate yourself, is a tipoff to the quality of the sushi, but the prices are extremely reasonable. Recommended.
From there we headed back to Tokyo and the remainder of our trip. Highlights and a full (too full?) final report coming soon.

So, here's the story.
I studied economics, finished on time (which is a thing in Greece, don't know about other countries) and with a good grade. I was interested in the field, so I thought a masters in economic theory fit me just right and open opportunities in academia, which I preferred knowing the difficulties, as well as the business sector, which I was open to, and thought of as a fallback.
I have to admit that when I started the program I was pretty overwhelmed by the course. The instructors, even though they were great scientists, weren't very good teachers. I was kinda managing until covid hit and online classes forced me to quit nearly a year into the program. That was a year completely wasted.
For the next year I had to fulfill my military service.
Which brings us to 2022. An acquaintance helped me get an internship in a shipmanagement company, I immediately took the chance and it was nice but didn't lead somewhere. To keep the post short I'll leave the details out.
I tried my luck sending resumes and got a couple of interviews but it is quite difficult to get a job without a masters in the field in Greece and I didn't want to waste too much time sitting around. I eventually got a job in a coaching school preparing students for their university admission exams. The job is great but offers very fluctuating pay and is by no means secure especially for economists. I did it for a year and it is what I'll probably do for the foreseeable future. But while I was very unmotivated last year, I think it's time I changed something.
One option is to return to the same program next time I get the chance. But I'm hesitant because I found it difficult back then and now I've been out of school for more than 2 years and my math is not that good.
Another postgraduate program that suits my interests is International and European studies. It is a change in career but I think it's a good thing. This is the option im leaning to. What worries me is the career opportunities (not which jobs I could get but if they are currently in demand). Greek redditors, any experiences? I'd be willing to move to another country If needed but let's not consider this for the time being.
A third option would be to try my luck again in the business sector. Honestly, unless I hit the lottery I don't see much prospect ( I mean, in something a little better than a basic wage job) since the labor market is heavily geared towards masters holders but I could get lucky.
I'm good with foreign languages and computers. The latter is good at any career. But how can I use languages as a skill? Are translation jobs in demand? Are they even a safe choice seeing how translation algorithms are evolving?
Anyway, that's it. Thanks for reading all this even if you don't have advice.

I have worked as an admin for a relatively large cannabis company for the last two years and recently have been feeling stagnant in my position and uncomfortable with the practices going on at the company. I live in missouri and micro licenses applications open this month. I’ve read the eligibility and scoured the dhhs regs around microbuisnesses but I still have a few questions and don’t want to ask my boss so not to create issues with me planning to leave just yet. Wondering if you guys can help.
So for a “proposed” location which is required in the application, do I have to fully own this property at the time of application or is it more of making sure I set up in my congressional district and do not violate local zoning. Like could I have just an offer in at the time of application?
There is 3 rounds of the lottery, once each year, do I need to submit applications for each lottery or one single application and I will be entered into the next 3 years lottery?
Should I obtain my llc before the application or can I wait until the refund period following the lottery?
If the license was awarded, would it be possible to transfer the license holder or sell majority ownership to a person other than who it was awarded?
Might have more but those were the questions I feel weren’t answered while reading the regs, maybe I just didn’t dig deep enough but any help is appreciated!

22 Blue in 2022: 'THE LIST'

Build Supermajorities of Democrats in the US House and US Senate

Here’s “22 Blue in 2022: ‘A Quick List’”:

1. Florida 2. Ohio 3. Kansas 4. North Carolina 5. Kentucky 6. Arizona7. South Carolina 8. Georgia 9. Texas 10. Michigan 11. Nevada 12. Pennsylvania13. Missouri 14. Wisconsin 15. Iowa 16. Arkansas 17. Oklahoma 18. Indiana19. Colorado 20. Alabama 21. South Dakota 22. North Dakota

The 2022 Midterm Election is the most important midterm of our lifetime.Democrats must behave as if our lives depend on this midterm, because our future depends on the outcome.
”We the people” must deny the Republican party political power at every level of government for decades to come “in order to create a more perfect union.” With 48 States having some statewide contest(s), November 8th, 2022 is our best chance the Democrats will get to do that for the rest of this decade, at least.
”The List” encourages the election of a Democratic Supermajority in the US Senate in 2022. This is the best chance we will have to create a Democratic Supermajority in both Chambers of Congress for the remainder of this decade. This midterm could be a devastating loss for the democrats if good patriots ignore this election. If Americans of good conscience band together instead, we could could begin the exile of the Republican party from power, not for years, but for decades to come.
“The List” is a set of suggestions about where to focus collective activism today.
The election of Democratic Supermajorities to both chambers of the US Congress is the best outcome we can strive towards in the 2022 Midterm Election for many reasons. Among them: breaking the decade of gridlock in Congress, supporting President Biden’s agenda, and his re-election in 2024. My personal favorite is that this could commence the decades-long political banishment of the GOP from power, which the Republican Party so richly deserves.
The Republican party has proved itself treasonous on many levels. They are traitors to Humanity by supporting Trump. Traitors to the Nation for supporting Putin. Traitors to the government and betrayers of the constitution through their apologies for the 1/6/21 insurrection. To safeguard our country and the world, we must block the Republicans from power at the ballot box, at all levels of government, for at least a generation.
Political game playing may be inevitable among humans. Change the numbers, and then change the rules, if not the game. Cynical refusal to play at this time in history cedes power to NAZIs manipulated by Active Measures. That is a surrender to crypto fascism, not radical thinking, mere cynicism, or hipsterism.
In 2022, Patriots must unify to crush the Republican Party at the ballot box. We can defeat them in every State, at every level. We need the biggest turnout at the voting booth of any Midterm ever. We need to raise more money for candidates and organizations than we did during the entire 2020 campaign season if we are to accomplish this. We need to do this in the next six months.
This is what a “Blue Tsunami” REALLY looks like.
Electing a Democratic Supermajority in Congress is our hope for the future and retribution for America’s enemies. “22 Blue in 2022” is a roadmap to the beginning of that journey. “22 Blue in 2022” is our war plan. ”22 Blue in 2022” is our electoral battle cry. “22 Blue in 2022” is a way forward out of gridlock, a way to non-violently thwart those who would poison the body politic with their hate.
If we don’t try this hard in 2022, Trump will go unpunished and metastasize by 2024.
Resist In Power, my sisters, my brothers, and my others.
Resist Together, and elect a Congressional Supermajority in 2022!
See The “FULL 22 Bue in 2022 List”, With Dozens more links to the organizations and candidates that you can support to help Create a Democratic Congressional Supermajority in 2022!
National Democratic Organizations
Democratic National Committee (DNC): https://democrats.org/Donate Directly to the DNC: DNC DIRECT DONATIONS
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC): https://www.dscc.org/Donate Directly to the DSCC: DSCC DIRECT DONATIONS
2022 Senate Republican Target Races: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2022senatetargets
​
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC): www.dccc.orgDonate Directly to the DCCC: DCCC DIRECT DONATIONS
Democratic Governors Association (DGA): https://democraticgovernors.org/Donate Directly to the DGA: DGA DIRECT DONATIONS
ALL Links are to party organizations, candidates, voter groups, voting information, and navigation within this site. There may be additions or subtractions over the course of the campaign. No portion of any donations to any of the candidates or organizations listed above goes to “22 Blue in 2022.” We take none of it! All donations through “22 Blue in 2022: The List” will be tax deductible unless otherwise noted at the destination site.
WITH THESE EXCEPTIONS: The “Donate” button at the top right of each page (“Donate” is Substack’s designation, not in my control) AND these links below, which each Support “22 Blue in 2022”:
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