Busted newspaper marshall texas

Sermons & Talks in plain English on Catholic dogma, doctrine, and devotion.

2015.02.03 16:59 Sermons & Talks in plain English on Catholic dogma, doctrine, and devotion.

A place to post videos and have discussions on videos, retreats, and talks, found on [Video Sancto](http://t.co/nu8ZAbw0ja), and other recommended sources.
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2023.03.24 05:00 NoLuck3921 Cooler or Bad Call?

This is my first time typing out a hand analysis, so forgive me if i’m too over specific or too vague. This is a local grass roots no limit texas holdem tournament, $40 buy in. At this point we are in the early-mid stages and i’ve more than doubled my stack from 2k to a little more than 4k and blinds are at 50/100. We are 7 handed and I’m in the SB and look down at 68 of clubs. It folds to HJ and limps to me and i decide to just limp behind as this table is pretty loose and passive and i know if i raise i will get called in multiple spots and post flop will be very tough OOP with this holding, plus BB is passive and I do not expect a squeeze from them (and they don’t). We go 5 ways to a flop of A88 rainbow. It checks to HJ who bets around 1200 and CO calls, BTN folds, I decide to call, BB folds. Turn is a 2 and while I can’t remember the specific suit I am pretty sure it completed the rainbow. I check, HJ checks and CO blasts off for around 3500 which puts me all in. I tank for a bit, eventually decide to call, HJ folds and i get shown Q8 and get busted out.
Now for my opinion of CO’s range. This person was involved in a lot of pots and got to showdown quite often (even when they didn’t, they would show at least one card every time). However, the worst hand I had seen them bet 3 streets with was top pair high kicker, so in general, a passive but face up player. My initial reaction was that it was just a cooler, but once I got home and thought about it more I personally have come to the conclusion that it was a bad call on my part. In my opinion, villain just has zero bluffs here, and even more so zero value hands that my hand beats. The only value hand that I can think villain could have here that I beat is AK, (it is important to note that they limped with AK earlier in the tournament, but they were in the SB and it limped around to them. Not sure why they didn’t decide to squeeze, but would AK even be in their CO limping range with less people in the hand? I’m not sure) but other than that, i genuinely don’t believe I beat any hands villain has when they take this line. Maybe 48s or 58s? But even then, I’m still not too sure they blast off like this even with this holding. In fact now that I’m typing this and thinking about it I think it was an even worse call, because a significant portion of HJs flop betting range (if not all) contains an ace, which drastically reduces the likelihood of villain having an ace in this spot.
But what do you guys think? Are there any hands villain could realistically have here that I beat? People at the table were telling me it was just a cooler but I really want to believe I could’ve found the fold. In all honesty after the HJ large flop sizing and the CO flat, I knew in my heart something wasn’t right, but if i’m folding 68c there at what point do I call? 810c? J8c? Would love some opinions on this.
submitted by NoLuck3921 to poker [link] [comments]


2023.03.24 03:44 Frigidevil Here are the all time records for most assists and assists per game in tournament history. Markquis Nowell has 42 assists through 3 games this tournament (14 per game)

Here are the all time records for most assists and assists per game in tournament history. Markquis Nowell has 42 assists through 3 games this tournament (14 per game) submitted by Frigidevil to CollegeBasketball [link] [comments]


2023.03.24 03:25 tjk911 JournalismJobs posted the week of 17 March, 2023

title company url
Education Reporter Wenatchee World http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679643-education-reporter-wenatchee-world
Associate Editor Freedom House http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679642-associate-editor-freedom-house
Reporter-writer http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679641-reporter-writer-
NCPR ReporteProducer – St. Lawrence Valley North Country Public Radio (NCPR) http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679640-ncpr-reporterproducer--st-lawrence-valley-north-country-public-radio-ncpr
Associate Editor Smart Business Network http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679639-associate-editor-smart-business-network
Reporter The Chronicle http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679638-reporter-the-chronicle
City & Government Reporter Oil City News, LLC http://www.journalismjobs.com/1647903-city--government-reporter-oil-city-news-llc
Reporter Missourian Media Group http://www.journalismjobs.com/1660657-reporter-missourian-media-group
Reporter Wallowa County Chieftain http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679637-reporter-wallowa-county-chieftain
Reporter Boston Herald http://www.journalismjobs.com/1674079-reporter-boston-herald
Lifestyle Editor Northern Virginia Magazine http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679636-lifestyle-editor-northern-virginia-magazine
Freelance Writer (Finance or Legal) Compose.ly http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679635-freelance-writer-finance-or-legal-composely
Page Designer The Advocate The Times-Picayune
Executive Editor, UU World Magazine Unitarian Universalist Association http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679621-executive-editor-uu-world-magazine-unitarian-universalist-association
Community Desk Reporter Adam's Publishing Group http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679620-community-desk-reporter-adams-publishing-group
Host, City Cast Pittsburgh City Cast http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679619-host-city-cast-pittsburgh-city-cast
General Assignment Reporter The Ithaca Voice http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679618-general-assignment-reporter-the-ithaca-voice
Crime enterprise and breaking news reporter Wisconsin State Journal http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679617-crime-enterprise-and-breaking-news-reporter-wisconsin-state-journal
National Newsroom news producer Lee Enterprises http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679616-national-newsroom-news-producer-lee-enterprises
Investigative Journalist / Content Manager (Flexible Hours, Long-Term) eBizFacts.com http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679615-investigative-journalist--content-manager-flexible-hours-long-term-ebizfactscom
Business and Education Reporter The Lima News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679605-business-and-education-reporter-the-lima-news
Police and Courts Reporter The Lima News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679606-police-and-courts-reporter-the-lima-news
Video Producer and Editor, Digital Advocacy Center for American Progress http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679604-video-producer-and-editor-digital-advocacy-center-for-american-progress
Social Media Specialist LehighValleyNews.com http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679603-social-media-specialist-lehighvalleynewscom
Sales & Marketing Director Mullen Newspaper Company http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679602-sales--marketing-director-mullen-newspaper-company
Staff News Reporter The Santa Clarita Valley Signal http://www.journalismjobs.com/1663485-staff-news-reporter-the-santa-clarita-valley-signal
Reporter Vallejo Times Herald http://www.journalismjobs.com/1677805-reporter-vallejo-times-herald
Public Involvement Specialist Texas Dept. of Transportation http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679601-public-involvement-specialist-texas-dept-of-transportation
Senior Editor, Opinion Chronicle of Philanthropy http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679600-senior-editor-opinion-chronicle-of-philanthropy
Editorial Associate American Assn of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679599-editorial-associate-american-assn-of-oral--maxillofacial-surgeons
Education reporter Eau Claire Leader-Telegram http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679598-education-reporter-eau-claire-leader-telegram
Sports Reporter The State http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679597-sports-reporter-the-state
Senior Digital Content Specialist University of Richmond http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679596-senior-digital-content-specialist-university-of-richmond
Deputy Sports Editor The Denver Post http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679595-deputy-sports-editor-the-denver-post
Managing Editor, Publications Hart Energy http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679594-managing-editor-publications-hart-energy
Energy Technology Reporter Hart Energy http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679593-energy-technology-reporter-hart-energy
Lead Press Operator Havre Daily News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679577-lead-press-operator-havre-daily-news
Senior Sales Resident Community News Group, Inc. http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679576-senior-sales-resident-community-news-group-inc
General Assignment Reporter and News Editor Resident Community News Group, Inc. http://www.journalismjobs.com/1627274-general-assignment-reporter-and-news-editor-resident-community-news-group-inc
Editor The Griffin Daily News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1676135-editor-the-griffin-daily-news
Community Editor Sun Post http://www.journalismjobs.com/1677446-community-editor-sun-post
Managing Editor The Mexico Ledger http://www.journalismjobs.com/1669308-managing-editor-the-mexico-ledger
TBH We’re kinda awesome! Buffalo Bulletin http://www.journalismjobs.com/1651822-tbh-were-kinda-awesome-buffalo-bulletin
Cyber Intelligence Researcher / Writer / Presenter Acreto http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679530-cyber-intelligence-researcher--writer--presenter-acreto
Publisher The Hartwell Sun (Community Newspapers, Inc.) http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679574-publisher-the-hartwell-sun-community-newspapers-inc
Reporter O'Rourke Media Group http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679573-reporter-orourke-media-group
Political reporter, master’s degree University of Illinois Springfield http://www.journalismjobs.com/1663229-political-reporter-masters-degree-university-of-illinois-springfield
Sr. Manger of Audience and Membership The Forward (Forward.com) http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679572-sr-manger-of-audience-and-membership-the-forward-forwardcom
Full Time Reporter Northwest Signal http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679571-full-time-reporter-northwest-signal
News Reporter The Aspen Times http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679570-news-reporter-the-aspen-times
Staff Reporter (NBA) Sports Business Journal http://www.journalismjobs.com/1667652-staff-reporter-nba-sports-business-journal
New England Correspondent (energy and climate policy) RTO Insider LLC http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679569-new-england-correspondent-energy-and-climate-policy-rto-insider-llc
Vertical Video Editor Intern More Perfect Union Action http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679558-vertical-video-editor-intern-more-perfect-union-action
Social Media and Distribution Intern More Perfect Union Action http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679559-social-media-and-distribution-intern-more-perfect-union-action
Editorial Video Intern More Perfect Union Action http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679560-editorial-video-intern-more-perfect-union-action
Reporter The Wickenburg Sun http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679557-reporter-the-wickenburg-sun
Editor CNHI, LLC http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679556-editor-cnhi-llc
Associate Editor - Astronomy Magazine Kalmbach Media http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679555-associate-editor---astronomy-magazine-kalmbach-media
Senior Audience Growth & Engagement Producer The Miami Herald http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679554-senior-audience-growth--engagement-producer-the-miami-herald
Assignment Editor / Lead Curator The Messenger http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679553-assignment-editor--lead-curator-the-messenger
Assistant Managing Editor Verite News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679551-assistant-managing-editor-verite-news
Seafood business news service seeks Alaska/West Coast reporter Undercurrent News http://www.journalismjobs.com/1667643-seafood-businessnews-service-seeks-alaskawest-coast-reporter-undercurrent-news
Editor Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation - WESA http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679550-editor-pittsburgh-community-broadcasting-corporation---wesa
Senior Newsletter Editor Post and Courier http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679549-senior-newsletter-editor-post-and-courier
Lead Podcast Producer MLive Media Group http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679548-lead-podcast-producer-mlive-media-group
Associate Editor Vietnam Veterans of America http://www.journalismjobs.com/1679357-associate-editor-vietnam-veterans-of-america
submitted by tjk911 to journalismjobs [link] [comments]


2023.03.24 02:55 swagNextTuber Texas Newspaper Slams Trump Ahead of Waco Rally

Texas Newspaper Slams Trump Ahead of Waco Rally submitted by swagNextTuber to TrendingQuickTVnews [link] [comments]


2023.03.24 00:21 autotldr Thai police bust call scammers who swindled older Americans

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 42%. (I'm a bot)
BANGKOK - Thai police said Wednesday they busted an international gang that operated call centers to deceive older Americans into wiring them money, netting more than 3 billion baht.
Police said they arrested 21 suspects on Tuesday after raiding nine locations in four Thai provinces, seizing 162 bank accounts, 61 mobile phones, two cars, one gun, and multiple real estate properties.
The scammers claimed to be law enforcement agents investigating money laundering and told victims their funds were suspicious so needed to be transferred to them to be verified, police said.
The mostly elderly victims included doctors, professors, dentists, army personnel, and businesspeople, police said.
Police said the syndicate was led by Indians with assets hidden in Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Peru and Poland.
FBI and U.S. Secret Service agents alerted Thai police to the gang's activities after similar crimes were found to have caused over $3 billion in losses in some 72,000 cases in 2020-2021, police said.
Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: police#1 money#2 gang#3 Thai#4 agents#5
Post found in /worldnews, /AutoNewspaper and /NBCauto.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.
submitted by autotldr to autotldr [link] [comments]


2023.03.23 23:00 queenofthescreen [Thank You] A jewel thief was caught & sent to prism. Lucky for him, it was a light sentence. Mickey Mouse was arrested for identity theft - he was charged with being Goofy. Hear about the road worker fired for theft? No one saw it coming, but when they checked his house, all the signs were there.

Goodies from goodies: https://imgur.com/a/NVALqxZ
u/lunatenchi_ Honeybuns, it's Random Acts of Cards. Not RANDOM ACTS OF CRAZY hahaha!!! Thanks so much for the early birthday card with the hilarious answer to my prompt for the funniest/strangest thing that’s happened to you. Your insane, WTH awesome answer was the best birthday gift ever!!!! You magically, maniacally (kidding) wrote: “Someone had a Hello Kitty magnet on their car. I stole it while the owner was getting in their car. There was a lot of laughing & screaming going on as I got into my car & drove away. I still have the magnet.” Well HELLO crazy kitty! Aren’t you a crazy awesome b#$%* HAHAHAHA?!? OMG OMG OMG it’s not your fault, you sweet magnet-pilfering-psycho! Hello Kitty is CRIMINALLY cute!!!!! She led me to my first crime as well, at the age of 4. The only thing I’ve ever stolen (besides a few hearts hahahaha) is a mini Hello Kitty purple pencil sharpenetape dispenser in the shape of a house from Target. I have no idea if I knew that day that stealing her was wrong - but not having her crazy cute crap couldn’t be right! Am I right?!? Question - who was doing the “laughing & screaming” in the midst of your crime?!? Was it just you, or hopefully the original owner too?
I now worship you. And fear you. And sorta feel like dialing 911 to report this Hello Kitty emergency. Because all I know is if I were the owner, I woulda lost my damn magnet mind. And I kinda want us to hang out so you can school me in the art of purrfect petty theft. As long as I don’t get arrested, k? Because while I might talk a good Hello Kitty feline felony game in a thank-you post, I’m just a library nerd whose greatest crime after “borrowing” that Hello Kitty pencil sharpener as a kid is having outrageously overdue library books. So be gentle with me, Sassy-Sweet-Sanrio-Stealin’ Sensei. But I like how you live so dangerously, darling! I kinda wanna be your best friend. As long as you don’t steal my sh#%, you klepto cutie! I adore the heck out of you, especially after you shared this simultaneously cute n' charming yet terrifying thievery tale but from now on, I’m sleeping with all my Hello Kitty goodies underneath my pillow & warning all my fellow Hello Kitty crewmates like u/SherlockLady , u/kittycatcon , u/Moose-Maleficent u/pinkpengin to leave all their Hello Kitty paraphernalia at home before a mail-meetup-turned-holdup with you, you lovable, loony thief, you! But honestly, I’m so happy I asked you that question & learned that funny, fabulous story about you. What a terrifying, tasty treat. Seriously that was so fun, thank you for letting me peer into your sweet Sanrio-skedaddling soul. I honestly wanna know more of your sassy secrets now. That’s why I DMed you yesterday with a request to mail you (not kidding, but DMs are wonky so lemme know if you didn’t get it). Here’s hoping that the FORMER owner of that magnet hasn’t cursed your insane awesome @$$ & that you’re GIFTED Hello Kitty goodies so you don’t wind up in the slammer, sweetie!!! =)
u/_xamesx Your BEAUTIFUL bun-bun card had my own big bun-buns doing a little happy bun-bun dance in my desk chair LOL! I’m so in love with this terrific treasure! I can’t wait to frame it & feature it in my future dream-home! Absolutely everything about your artwork is stunning. Love the color scheme & your whimsical theme. Your work is amazingly not only bright n’ bouncy, but also calming & tranquil! I don’t recall the last time I saw another art piece that was able to accomplish the same magic! The pastries you drew look even more delicious than any pastries I’ve seen live LOL! I’m so in awe of your BRILLIANT talents! Your fine detail work is just incredible - I’m in awe of all the fine lines you draw with such flair & finesse! I keep staring at the lines you drew (to make the frosting for the cupcakes & on the cupcake liners, the cookies, & the croissants) because how skillfully you drew them to depict each illustration is incredible! I don’t know how to talk art with a pro like you, but I see with your work how important those little lines are in creating your magic. Here’s a shout-out to your Insta page so others can admire your awesome work: https://www.instagram.com/apricotames.studio/ Just saw your sweet strawberry sundae illustration on the page - OMG to die-for!!!! Thanks for making me so happy with your gorgeous gift! Wishing you endless joy & starry success as you continue to create such wonders!
u/ciryadien Thank you for this gorgeous, magical original postcard art of yours featuring the stunning little witch & cute curious kitty! It makes me smile so much! You’re an amazingly talented artist & I’m so lucky to enjoy & appreciate it! I wish I could analyze the art more but my technical art education is limited (I’m just a crazy crafter who tries but needs to work on art skills). So I’ll just say I love the dotted watercolor-y vibes of the greenery in the background….this one elegant element taught me how I can hopefully make painting a forest accessible to me! As for the rest of your card…I could only dream of creating something so full of motion & magic! Thanks also for your super inspiring words: “There’s a little magic to be found in every day if you look for it.” You’re so right! And right now, RAoC & the friendships I’m making as a newbie are definitely the magical highlights of my life! Please let me know if there's an IG account for you so I can mention it here. Wishing you lots of magical days, that your paints are always juicy/fresh, & that your artist brushes never fray at the tips!
u/yetanotherblankface x 3 Thanks for the pretty Tiffany glass postcard & your super sweet welcome to the sub - you’re thanking me for being a part of the community, you angel?!? That’s so touching!!! Thank you for your warm words, your constant generosity, & for letting my newbie nuts @$$ annoy the hell out of you with endless card requests! I regret to inform you that this excitement is not dying down yet. Hahaha, go your fine flair! ;) Thank you for the *gorgeous* vintage flower seed postcard - I love all the bright colors & vintage prints so much! Out of all the fun postcards you’ve sent me, I think I have a favorite now…thank you for this AWESOME “The Martians Are Always Coming” postcard!! I love love love it!!! Everything about it is so cool. From the aliens theme, to the mixed-fonts style (oh I dig this creepy-cool green paint-like font for the headline plastered in huge letters over a random page from a dictionary). I’d love to know where I can find this card/others like it pleeease!!!! You asked if I believe in aliens. I don’t just believe it, baby, I live it! My boyfriend is an alien (may as well be, he’s a rare sighting ;) But seriously - with how vast the universe is - it would be kinda intellectually uppity to suggest we’re the only ones around! And there are way too many accounts from eyewitnesses who prove it. And what the holy hell has been going on with the country shooting down freaky things in the sky lately? So fascinating! Hell yeah I believe in aliens! You?
u/caishuyang Thank you for this EXQUISITE illustrated postcard of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia!!!! Illustrated depictions of places are my favorite. The artwork is just stunning. The colors are so bright & cheery - this card made my day! I love being able to track you on your journey as you work aboard the Picton Castle ship! You have such a cool, adventurous job - I’m so delighted to have met you & now be able to stalk you online with your coordinates hahaha! Just kidding - but I so love how you invited me to follow your cool journey & look forward to seeing where you are on a certain day! But wherever it may be, may you find yourself safe on the seas & smiling, friend!
u/Trueloove Thanks for the fun, festive pink floral handmade postcard! It’s so bright & cheery! I just love the little pocket you crafted. And you are a FABULOUS storyteller, friend! I loved hearing about your experience in Indiana as an Italian exchange student & running into the other Italian exchange student on accident at the grocery store! What a small world, indeed! But HELLO there’s plenty of room in Texas, sure wish we coulda entertained one of you here! I’ve never been to Indiana & I’m sure it’s delightful, but I’ll bet my buttery BBQ @$$ they can’t compete with our beautiful BBQ beef ribs & blissful brisket! Sure hope you can visit us sometime, sweet friend. Thanks for brightening my day with your sweet postcard! Wishing you endless scrumptious slabs of beautiful beef wherever you may journey!
u/cookalot Thanks for the Animalium postcard decorated with your sweet Easter stickers! I love your face doodle!! I also cherish the sweet encouraging note you shared: “Your kindness is felt more deeply than you realize.” Your words are so profound! I want to share them here for all the lovelies who put so much love & time into sending snail-mail smiles. What you said is so true. I love how the sub continuously shows me how radically uplifting it can be to send and receive snail mail! Thanks for all the kindness you’ve shown to me & countless others. Wishing you infinite joy & snail mail utopia!
u/mostvaluablepotato x 2 Thank you for the fun SG postcard from “Spirited Away” & the surreal night sky postcards! You also sent such cute washi & cacti stickers, thank you! I also love the GORGEOUS illustrated envelope of what looks like a cherry blossom tree. So precious - but that kinda snail mail serenity would be the case, coming from the mostvaluablepotato - thank you, friend!!
u/ghostchild25 Thanks for the adorable sticker-bombed postcard! Your sassy sweet sticker-taste really brightened up my mailbox! Wishing you limitless love!
u/rokrchik Thanks for the fun postcard featuring The Raincoats! And I LOVED your funny answer to my question about the oddest/strangest thing that has happened to you…”I am, myself, both odd & strange” hahaha! Ditto that. And you said, “Whenever I travel, I always fall. Walking down the street in London, Paris, Dublin, & even in some random sand hut in Turkey! I just - FALL. Dunno why! The vapors I guess.” Guess what? Same thing happens to me too. I think sometimes it’s because I’m wearing stupid flip-flops. Do you wear flip-flops too?!? But if you’re like me, you also just might be so deep-in-thought and/or fascinated by what you’re seeing that you forget to walk/walk properly & that’s why you fall?!? Either way, I’m so sorry this happens to you. Please do carry bandaids on your travels, friend! Wishing you joy & boo-boo-free trips!
u/purpleteasoul Thanks for the nifty, super pretty floral-card with the fun textures & patterns! How was the new Ng book? I’ve only read “Little Fires Everywhere” & couldn’t put it down! I was also happy to hear about your helpful husband who took the baby so you could have a solo bookish lunch date! That’s awesome. It was especially kind of you to think of others & write cards at that time, when I know you get so little of it. Best books I’ve read in years - historical fiction books by Amor Towles, including “The Lincoln Highway” & my fave, “A Gentleman in Moscow.” They’re both fun, fast, & incredible reads! Wishing you smiles & lots of fun future solo lunches to rest & recharge!
u/cheeneebobeanie x 2 Thanks for the adorable illustrated foodie/chart cards & the warm wishes for RAoC’s 10th birthday! Love the Hello Kitty sticker decoration & other stickers you sent. Thanks also for the Howth postcard with the awesome wise affirmation: “I let go of all that no longer serves me.” Fabulous! I LOVE your fun personalized stamp - the illustration is adorable!!! Here’s an affirmation for you I found to be powerful: “I am not pushed by my problems; I am led by my dreams.” Wishing you lots of love & joy as you pursue your dreams, friend!
u/batcaved Thanks for the super beautiful Yoshida art print postcard! I love the serene scene you chose for me. Thanks also for sharing about your fave local flower, the “Flame of the Forest” - what an intriguing name for a flower! Wishing you the prettiest of floral flames, not literal ones. ;)
u/lspjackie Update! I added a pic of this cutie!! Thank you so much for the so-cute-it-hurts belated “Be Mine or Else” valentine! I LOVE the fun bright colors & artwork! The stickers you used to decorate it & the extra stickers you sent are *adorable*! My niece was all over this card (which is why it’s sadly not in the pic - she excitedly took it to school to showcase in her journal lol but I’m so stealing it back soon) & the sour patch kids candy you sent - thanks for all the love! Wishing you lots of love & limitless chewy caramel candy!
u/welshfancy x 3 Thanks for the Pendleton postcard with the cat cutie hugging coffee postcard, the cute “catpuccino”/ donuts postcard & adorable unicorn coffee card on the gorgeous vintage print! The kawaii smiling coffee sticker you sent is so cute I wanna dance. But I also wanna punch the morons who made your work experience anything less than stellar. I’m sorry that DD now stands for the DD I wrote to you about the other week. You deserve so much more, friend. Holla if you want me to trash that hellhole on Yelp or Google. I know they deserve it. Wishing you peace & serenity.
u/MCCNDVST Thanks for the super soothing, beautifully-illustrated floral card! The pretty print is so breezy & easy on the eyes! I also appreciate your kind welcome to the sub! To answer your question - RAoC has been the most amazing thing that has happened to me in…years! I’m hooked & loving it so much, but just finding it hard to balance all my fun RAoC to-dos with all the boring real-life tasks waiting for me. Wishing you endless snail mail smiles!
u/Shadow-pop Thank you for the DYNAMITE, oversized homemade neon postcard!!! It’s so stunning! I just love your *gorgeous* fruit doodles & all the fun, bright ink colors you used to draw them. You’re so talented!! What a gem, and so are you for your kindness in sending it to me! Wishing you the same brightness in life that you gifted me!
u/Peggyannsfeet Thanks for the calming plant card! Thanks also for the cute stickers! I was delighted to hear you’re a fan of the UK version of “The Office” - can’t believe I’ve only seen the American version so I gotta catch up. Like you, I dig period pieces! Hope you get to check out Mad Men soon. Wishing you the best of snacks & tv binges!
u/cloudycat4 Thank you for the gorgeous illustrated kitchen postcard! How lucky am I that you shared it with me even though you know it’s adorable & it was sent to you by a penpal? Wishing you many more adorable cards sent your way for being so sweet & generous!
u/DollieSqueak x 2 You made me squeal with the INSANELY AWESOME, ADORABLE, precious perfection that is this tiny vintage valentine! Thank you!!! =) I’m bananas for vintage-y kiddie illustrations & this one must be framed! I love it so much! Thanks also for the precious underwater mermaid card! Wishing you oceans of joy!
u/DianaPenPal Thanks for the gorgeous Frederick’s of Hollywood postcard! It’s so dreamy in so many ways! Just so you’re not alarmed if you see the pic - I’m not the jerk who took a black Sharpie and scarred the card like that!!! I don’t know why they did the same thing on the other side. Also curious - I got this awesome card 7+ weeks after the postmark!!! If I had to guess, someone jealous of your mail love for me stole this postcard because it is that cute. And then when they got busted by their boss for finding this cutie buried in their mail truck, they were forced to mail it but Sharpie sabotaged it. But I’ve got the last laugh because no Sharpie scar could ever diminish its beauty & the love with which it was sweetly sent! Thank you!! Hope you had an incredible birthday on the 17th!
u/dwrfstr x 2 Thanks for this GORGEOUS illustrated postcard of the Avocado, Beet, & Citrus Salad - I love it!!!!! This is SO my style in postcards! When I looked for the info on the back of the card to look up similar postcards for future purchases, I was excited to see that I recognized the names of the artist/cookbook. :) So that was very neat! Thanks for the cute homemade card enclosed in the neat-o envelope you upcycled from an old calendar sheet! So cool & creative! Thanks also for the cute stickers & adorable fruit & veggie ad. I’ve had the book you’re reading, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek on my TRL. Hope you enjoy it. I did read The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes & was scandalized to hear this: https://www.fountaindale.org/the-book-woman-of-troublesome-creek-and-the-giver-of-stars-coincidence-or-plagiarism/ Interesting! Thanks for the kind wishes. Wishing you smiles & scandalous reads! ;)
u/birdiebennett Thank you for the beautifully-illlustrated Roald Dahl Rhyme Stew card! I just love Dahl’s whimsical stories. Thanks for including your fave Dahl quote: “A little nonsense now & then, is relished by the wisest men.” Love it!! My favorite Dahl quote: “If you think good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams & you will always look lovely!” Wishing you lots of good thoughts, friend!
u/wabisabi_sf Thanks for the lovely Harriet Powers Women in Art postcard with the BEAUTIFUL blue-themed vintage stamps! I love how you put the postcard in the clear sleeve…I’d love to try something similar! Also love your glittery blue ink on the card. :) Wishing you glittery blue skies, kind friend!
u/germymany Thank you for the funny “OOF” card decorated with the most adorable stickers! The cupcake & fruit kawaii friends are so crazy cute! I also love how you stickered my name! Wishing you the cutest stickers ever - I will send you only the coolest crappiest ones I have per our pending exchange, sweet soul! =)
u/LXAXS Thank you for the lovely mental health awareness postcard with your great advice to set boundaries! I appreciate how concerned you are for mental well-being. Wishing you lots of peace!
u/OneiricOstrich Thanks for the beautiful Women in Art postcard of astronaut/educatodoctor Mae Jemison! BTW you made such a super cool, crafty upcycled envelope - now I wanna make my own upcycled envelopes too! I love how you wrote out so much about her life on the postcard - it’s so touching how you really do view her as a personal hero. I love your passion (so inspiring). You taught me something so cool: “She’s still active working on projects for DARRA, including the 100 Year Starship Project, which aims to make travel to another star possible in the next 1oo years.” Incredible! Thanks to both you & Dr. Jemison, both passionate souls, for being so inspiring!
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2023.03.23 21:28 LongJonSiIver Fairly Oddparents Reboot

For over 20 years, audiences watched the adventures of a boy named Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda. Fast paced and funny, The Fairly OddParents asked the question, “What if a kid had an unlimited number of wishes at his disposal?” and answered that question with, “He’d get into trouble, constantly.”
Now who would we get if the same fairy godparents took a new kid under their wing? A kid whose last name isn’t Turner? More hijinx and comedy, of course!
You might be wondering, why make yet another Fairly OddParents? Aren’t a series of shorts, 10 seasons, a live-action series and 3 live-action films enough? Well, my friend, the answer is no. Absolutely not. You can never have too much magic!
An 11-minute comedy just like its predecessor, the new Fairly OddParents is going to retain the retro, absurdist, irreverent sitcom feel the original had, with some added poignancy, serialization, and a tighter focus on character. Gags will still abound but will also have a bit more of an emotional core.
Timmy’s problems were external: evil babysitter and checked-out parents. Hazel’s challenges are more internal: life changes and becoming more comfortable in her identity. Teaming up with Cosmo and Wanda will give Hazel an opportunity to stand out and become the big, bold, hero she longs to be! And it’ll all begins… with a wish.
Hazel’s story and wishes will go further into what makes her tick, connecting to audiences with both humor and heart. Hazel’s journey will be one of self-acceptance and confidence. She starts the beginning of the series daunted by her new circumstances, but thanks to Cosmo and Wanda’s magical guardianship, and the new experiences and adventures she goes on via her wishes, she soon learns to put herself out there and just live life.
For Cosmo and Wanda, it’s about finding a new groove. They’re coming out of retirement and have decided to take on a monumental task in godparenting again! But why? In short, because they love it.
Godparenting is their calling, and they’re good at it. (At least Cosmo thinks so – though that ain’t saying much!) But the world is different, and kids today are more self-aware than ever before. They’re encouraged to vocalize their emotions, inspire, create change, and question tradition.
Because of this, fairy godparenting looks different, wishes aren’t wishing like they used to, and they’re trying their best to adapt!
We’re setting out to tell a new story in a new town, to introduce the amazing Fairly OddParents world to a new audience, while keeping the wide-ranging, ageless humor that will appeal to everyone, regardless of whether they grew up on the original, for some hilarious family co-viewing goodness. So yeah, we’re making another Fairly OddParents. To quote Timmy Turner, “What could possibly go wrong?!

The Story

Ten-year-old Hazel Wells has just moved to the big city of Dimmadelphia with her parents, so her dad could start a new job. On top of being in a new city, it’s the first time she’s been without her brother, who’s just started his first year of college. A bright, fun, creative kid, Hazel’s new situation suddenly has her feeling unsure of herself. But all that changes when the pink-and-green-haired couple next door reveals they’re no ordinary neighbors, they’re Cosmo and Wanda, fairy godparents! And they’re coming out of retirement to make all of Hazel’s wishes come true!
When we last saw our beloved pink-and-green-headed fairy godparents, in The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, they were godparenting their second generation of Turner children, but after so long with just one family, they made the decision to hang up their fairy crowns and retire. Surely no new child could rival the Turners in their hearts, so why even try?! Jump to 10,000 years of vacationing through time and space! Exploring the wonders of Ancient Rome before it collapsed! Hobnobbing with aristocracy in 18th century France! Journeying to the moons of Jupiter in the year 26,000 P.G., whatever P.G. stands for!
Now they’ve settled down – no longer in some kid’s fishbowl but posing as humans in the bustling city of Dimmadelphia, assuming the form of endearing, across-the-hall neighbors to the Wells. Mimicking human life, Cosmo and Wanda set their sights on a peaceful retirement, ready to live out the remainder of their fairy days in an apartment that secretly offers direct access to Fairy World! That is, until they meet Hazel and are reminded why they loved their old job so much in the first place. Not since Timmy has a kid so tugged on their heart strings, and the instinct to fairy godparent quickly consumes them. Soon, they find themselves as fidget toys on Hazel’s backpack, ooey gooey blobs in her lava lamp, and even assuming the form of human bellhop and concierge at a hotel Hazel wished for. But after 10,000 years of using their magic only on themselves, are they really ready to get back in the game?
(Spoiler: they’re not, but they’re going to do it anyway!)

Hazel Wells

Black 10 years old
Spunky, fun, curious, and hugely imaginative, Hazel Wells is a small fry in a big world! Like, literally, she’s small. A petite cutie pie. A li’l nugget. She’s our tiny hero with a huge heart!
Think for a moment… Have you ever been the smallest kid in class? You have to ask for help to reach things, every year you get paraded to the front line for the class picture, and you get a patronizing pat on the head every time you do a great job at something – and that’s if they even notice you! Just about every kid can relate to the frustration of feeling, well, small. So when Hazel Wells moves to the BIG city of Dimmadelphia on account of her dad taking on a new job and is forced to leave behind everything she once knew – her friends, her home, and her big brother, Antony – she’s left feeling smaller than ever before.
But that’s not about to stop her! In spite of her miniature stature, Hazel is bold! She’s enthusiastic about life and all its wonders, and is an adventurer who loves to explore and ask questions! It’s what makes her such a great wisher – she’s curious about people, and the world, and hungry to learn more about her place in it.
At the very start of the series, she’s feeling a little more on the introverted than extroverted side. She’s in a new town and trying her best to be happy about it, but she always felt her brother Antony was like her secret superpower. He was smart, kind, confident, and most importantly, BIG. Having Antony around was an instant “in'' with people at school. All her teachers already knew and loved him, mean kids knew she had a protector, and cool kids thought she was cool just by association. Without him, she’s like Linus without his blanket… Dumbo without his feather. Without him, she’s just… Hazel. And just in this moment at least, she doesn’t feel like that’s enough.
Being chosen by Cosmo and Wanda as their fairy godkid is just the push Hazel needs to bust out of her shell and blossom! Where Timmy’s wishes were often self-serving, Hazel, at times, cares too much about other people. A little empathy is great. An over-abundance of it can lead to mental fatigue and well, chaos. Making wishes (and mistakes) and learning from them will teach her to love and put herself first, and share that love with the rest of the world.
And once the wishing begins, look out, because just like with Timmy, Hazel’s wishes are driven by who she is… and by the fact that she is a CHILD. And children are nothing if not passionate and unpredictable! Hazel’s wishes (and their undoing) will come mainly from the following personality traits…
She’s smart!
Hazel has a bit of an intellectual edge and tends to overthink things, thanks to her brainy mom and dad, so her wishes will have an extra layer of smarts to them. However, the bit of knowledge behind the wish won’t necessarily make it a wise wish. Children are charmingly lacking in critical thinking skills! Apologies to any children reading this. It’s not your fault. Your brains just aren’t at that developmental stage yet. It’s okay, you’ll get there. Also, who sent you this bible? This bible is property of Nickelodeon Animation Studio and its parent company.
She’s caring!
Hazel cares deeply about other people and fairness (so help you if Hazel sees you cut in line or litter…), so a lot of her wishes come from her compassion and her sense of right and wrong. Unfortunately, 10-year-olds don’t have a great grasp on nuance and tend to think of justice in black-and-white, and that is gonna lead Hazel into some sticky wishes.
She’s quirky!
Hazel’s an oddball with unusual interests and instincts. Timmy’s whole thing was that he was an average boy with average boy wishes. Hazel is… different, partly from being around her dad’s studies of freaky happenings in human history, partly from being around her mom’s studies into the human mind (also freaky), but also… it’s just who she is! She’s a feeler, adaptable, and full of imagination. This manifests in myriad ways, from turning her thoughts into songs and singing them aloud; to having niche obsessions with nature; to collecting a bunch of twigs, putting googly eyes on the twigs, and naming all the twigs.
In conclusion, Hazel’s wishes and adventures will inevitably result in making a lot of beautiful, messy mistakes. Hazel will learn and grow from each of these mistakes, just as all kids do! But Hazel’s learning and growing is gonna be full of magic, making it a heck of a lot more fun than the slow, boring growth the rest of us had to put up with.

Cosmo and Wanda (Returning Characters… obviously)

White, ageless
Green-haired, daffy, and childlike, Cosmo is the same whirlwind of fun we already know and love, but a little wiser for his additional 10,000 years. He didn’t do it on purpose, but it’s hard not to pick up a thing or two about human nature when you’ve lived this long. Cosmo is still quite dimwitted and will muck up a wish five ways from Sunday, but he’ll accidentally give you an epiphany here and there too. This is a Cosmo that’s gotten a little zen.
Sassy and silly, yet pragmatic, Wanda has always been the brains of the godparenting operation, and that dynamic remains the same. Problem is, these brains have been out of the game for a loooooong time, so while she might once have seen the dangers in making Timmy a giant pair of cheese pants, now it’s not as clear to Wanda what might go wrong with a wish. Consequently, go wrong, it will!
Cosmo and Wanda have a very loving, supportive dynamic. They both have their flaws and are very different from one another, but they’re also each other’s biggest fans.
Cosmo and Wanda both provide aspects of what Hazel lost when Antony went away to college. In Cosmo, she has a silly playmate. Cosmo is drawn to Hazel because he immediately connects to her oddball nature. Someone who’s down to put googly eyes on twigs? That’s his kind of kid. Cosmo will help Hazel approach the world with more openness. In Wanda, she has a nurturing, non-parental guardian again. Wanda is drawn to Hazel because she’s a good-hearted mess. Cosmo sees Hazel putting googly eyes on twigs and thinks, “Fun!” But Wanda sees the emotional need behind Hazel giving those twigs rich emotional backstories and relationships. Wanda sees a sweet kid in need of companionship and guidance and helps Hazel work out her problems through play and fun.
Timmy, Cosmo, and Wanda had a particular kind of friendship. Timmy and Cosmo were like a pair of unruly, id-driven goofballs with Wanda as the put-upon Mom. When a wish got out of control, Timmy needed heaps of pushing and prodding to clean up his messes. With Hazel, Cosmo, and Wanda, it will play out as a more evenly matched trio, with the comedy and dynamics shifting to fit the story and emotional core.
In a way, they’re all in need of help – Hazel because she’s new to making wishes, and Cosmo and Wanda because they’ve been on a 10,000-year break. Their dynamic will be about growing and getting better at magic together. Sometimes, a wish goes out of control because of Hazel, and Cosmo and Wanda must save the day. Sometimes, a wish goes out of control because of Cosmo, and Hazel and Wanda must save the day. And sometimes… well, you get it. All three will be the crisis and the solutions in a more equal measure

Angela Wells

Black, early 50s
Hazel’s mother Angela is an intelligent, poised therapist who’s accomplished all her life goals and continues to achieve. She has her own private practice and created a self-help therapy program, the “Be Wells Method.” Her “Be Wells” books and “Be Wells” therapy app are big hits with celebrities and on social media. Angela’s always taking inspiration from Hazel by osmosis. She’s constantly planning, strategizing, and developing her program, with plans to offer the “Wee Wells Method” for kids and “Deep Wells Method” for seniors.
Angela loves her daughter, but is such an expert in helping adults, she often forgets that Hazel isn’t one, and tries to tackle Hazel’s issues the same way she would help a grown woman in her 30s formulate a business plan. Sit down > offer coffee or tea > identify problem > offer solution. As a result, Hazel can spout a lot of therapy speak, but still has no idea how to deal with the basic kid things troubling her.
When Angela unknowingly gets caught up in the magic of Hazel’s wishes, she will always try to find a way to make it a “value add” to their home or her work. There are no problems in Angela’s world, only opportunities! Angela is a roll-with-the-punches kind of lady, so if Cosmo and Wanda suddenly fill the house with squid in a wish gone wrong, well then darn it, she’s gonna find a way to make calamari. She is often distracted and on the phone with her trusted assistant Beatrish via bluetooth earpiece. Which is great for Hazel, because keeping fairies a secret is a must!
Like Cosmo and Wanda, Angela and her husband, Marcus, are head over heels in love, despite having near opposite personalities. Their differences are often a point of hilarious conflict - Angela is minimalist, tidy, and thrives on structure, while Marcus is reckless and thrives in organized chaos. Both extroverts, their life has caused them to laugh, laugh, laugh through their challenges, always bringing them closer together.

Marcus Wells

Black, early 50s
Hazel’s father, Marcus, is a scatterbrained, but brilliant scholar, professor, and author who studies the intersection of human history, and the paranormal. He’s a guy who fully believes in every kind of magical/ mystical/inexplicable occurrence (witches, werewolves, ghosts, alien encounters, etc.), but will talk your ear off with the scientific explanation for each.
The Wellses have moved to Dimmadelphia so Marcus could take a teaching position at the Galax Institute, a small (unaccredited) institution of higher learning that focuses its curriculum on the “pseudosciences” (though, of course, that’s not how they refer to their subjects). What Marcus doesn’t know is all the evidence he’s chronicled over his career about paranormal events throughout history, has actually been fairy events throughout history.
His work will sometimes bring him dangerously close to finding out the truth about fairies and Hazel will have to scramble to throw him off Cosmo and Wanda’s sparkly trail. Unlike Mr. Crocker of the original series, however, Marcus’ continual near misses on finding out about the existence of fairies doesn’t come from a nefarious or selfish place, but an altruistic love of history and the truth. Marcus isn’t trying to steal anyone’s fairies; he’s just devoted to learning. Doesn’t mean we can have him in on the secret though! There are still Da Rules after all!
Marcus sees his daughter as being very special and even important to the world. While. Angela tries to analyze Hazel as an adult, Marcus hopes Hazel will become a leader in his field, often sharing newspaper clippings with her featuring unusual sightings and unexplained phenomena. He even sometimes does activities and exercises with her he hopes might encourage any possible latent supernatural talents within her, like telekinesis or mind-reading.

Antony Wells

Black, 18 years old
Hazel’s brother, Antony, is a smart, cool kid who’s going places. He’s an All-American, 4.0 track star. He also plays the oboe and rides a dirt bike. What doesn’t he do?! Antony is beyond smart and carries a quiet confidence – truly the mellowest of his family members. He can hold court on any topic from politics, to anime, to music theory. He is very protective of his younger sister and would do absolutely anything for her. He’s always been like a combination best friend/third parent to Hazel, but now that he’s off to college, he’s finding his way and making a new life separate from his oddball family.
We won’t meet Antony for a while – since his absence was the catalyst to Hazel needing Cosmo and Wanda, we can’t just bring the kid home for visits all the time. At the beginning of the series, he will only be present as an unseen living legend, which we’ll have some fun with by teasing the audience with only tiny glimpses – always out of frame, out of focus, present only in stories Hazel tells friends or in Angela and Marcus bragging about his college progress. Antony is a dream-come-true big brother, and he is sorely missed by Hazel. We all wish we had an Antony. We’ll meet him someday, but until then, the legend of Antony’s greatness will grow and grow.

Dale Dimmadome (Returning Character)

White, 40s
Dale is the long-lost son of Doug Dimmadome– billionaire, real estate tycoon, and owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome. When we last saw Dale, he was barefoot, in tattered clothes, and working in a sweatshop underneath Vicky’s lemonade stand.
Dale is now the tall, brooding heir to the Dimmadome fortune, and CEO of Dimmadome Gl0bal, the largest tech company in the world. Whereas his father was a haughty businessman clad in all white and a 10-gallon hat, Dale is a socially awkward genius, with slicked hair and a thirst for the next revolutionary tech breakthrough. The only thing bigger than Dale’s staunch demeanor is the chip on his shoulder – which is somewhat understandable, after being abandoned by his wealthy father for so many years.
Bit by bit, Dale will factor in as an adult antagonist to Hazel, Cosmo, and Wanda. Hazel’s wishes will sometimes leave a mark on the world, and Dale’s obsession with breaking new tech ground will have him take notice of some of these things, eventually making him a threat to Fairy World. But for now, he’s just an emotionally distant dad setting a bad example for his son, who will be Hazel’s first main antagonist.

Devin “Dev” Dimmadome

White, 10 years old
Dale Dimmadome’s son and frequent antagonist to Hazel (as stated above). Dev is in the same class as Hazel, giving her a front row seat to Dev’s raging sense of entitlement. Coming from money and seeing how his dad often operates “above the rules” as founder and CEO of his corporation, Dimmadome Gl0bal, Dev mimics that behavior at school – even going as far as having lunch delivered to class so he doesn’t have to walk to the cafeteria where the “peasants” eat.
Dev is smart as a whip and has fully embraced the need for technology, just like his father. His two drone babysitters, Au Pair 1 and Au Pair 2 accompany him wherever he goes and cater to his every beck and call (almost like a Siri or Alexa, but on the go!). On the inside though, he’s a lonely child yearning for his father’s attention. Somewhat like the wealthy Remy Buxaplenty of the original series, but with layers.
Hazel and Dev Dimmadome start as antagonists, but as he gets lonelier over the course of the season, he softens and grows

Season One Arc: Part 1 - Episodes 1-10

Most of Season One will focus on Hazel’s growth and her episodic adventures with Cosmo and Wanda. Some serialization will come into play with her antagonist Dev, as the two go from enemies to friends. The Season One, Part One finale, however, will introduce Dev’s dad, Dale Dimmadome, as a more serious antagonist, when Hazel appears in his data as a consumer anomaly, the only kid who isn’t addicted to his new app because she doesn’t need to buy things, she has fairy godparents granting her every wish! And Dale’s bad behavior in the finale will finally tip Dev into full needy child mode, one who is granted his very own godparent: a fully grown POOF (now Periwinkle a.k.a. Peri), Cosmo and Wanda’s son!

Season One Arc: Part 2 - Episodes 11-20

Hazel’s fun, episodic adventures with Cosmo and Wanda continue. Meanwhile, Peri struggles with how to be a good godparent to Dev, and Dale continues to research Hazel, eventually coming to learn about magic and fairies. Convinced it would make him the richest person who ever lived (imagine being able to use magic to sell people things!), he sets his sights on conquering Fairy World, with the help of classic FOP villains, the Pixies! In our Season One, Part Two finale, it’ll be up to Hazel, Cosmo, and Wanda to save the day!
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2023.03.23 20:06 SabatonBabylon The HEL Jumper Chapter 6.2

Book 1 of The HEL Jumper
Year 2 of The HEL Jumper
Year 3 of The HEL Jumper
Year 4 of The HEL Jumper
Year 5 of The HEL Jumper
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Previous Patreon
Thanks to Darth_Android, Fern_Vale, Mamish, Vikairious, Gruecifer, Benjamin Durbin, Daddy_Talon, and everyone else supporting me on Patreon.
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A/N: Thank you all for your patience.
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“Well, that was certainly something,” Antoth remarked to himself as he looked over the sum of his people, who were obviously not ready to retire for the evening. Thanks to plentiful computational power aboard the ship, Io had not run into any snags synthesizing Cauthan language voice overs for The Princess Bride. Thantis had even gotten himself a cameo, his voice used for the role of the grandfather and narrator. Unfortunately for those interested in a quick dispersal, Io had forgotten to include any sort of disclaimer regarding the fictional nature of the tale, inducing a riot of discussion among the villagers. Ratha turned her nose up and wore a sour expression as even her hunters found themselves debating the best way to bring down an aggressive rodent of unusual size. The AI had a self-satisfied smile on her face as she approached the village leaders for feedback.
‘I’d say the movie was a hit. Did you like it?’ she wondered. Antoth spent some time gathering his thoughts, but Ratha shot from the hip as usual.
“This happily ever after business is nonsense. There were at least seven different opportunities where the pompous one could have permanently disposed of his rival. I suppose that idiocy is why he wound up where he did in the end though,” she said of the ignominious Prince Humperdinck. Antoth and Io shared a glance for the briefest of moments. The blonde haired woman smiled warmly.
‘I see the tale was quite captivating then.’
“It was. But there are other matters to attend to, as I may have mentioned earlier,” Antoth reminded her, looking up at the twin moons which shone brightly overhead. A leaden weight settled into his stomach as he contemplated a night sky without them. The Cauthan leader took a fortifying breath. “We are prepared to negotiate our departure from Mara. Please inform Natori at your earliest convenience. He has been mentioning more frequently that he feels the pressure of time.”
‘Oh I would not worry so much about that if I were you,’ Io told them with a wink, her green eyes reflecting a couple of the small fires scattered about the central plaza. ‘Certain circumstances have arisen that may lengthen our stay here, but that is no reason to delay talks. I have already notified the Admiral of your request. I assume you’d prefer for him to meet with you here?’
“I think that would be for the best,” Antoth agreed as Ratha remained alert but silent at his side. “There are notable items that Staroth and Nerazek wish to discuss. We must understand his vision on how we will be… acclimated to human society.”
Io nodded seriously and bowed to the two of them, doing her best to contain her excitement. ‘I understand. The-’
Antoth tilted his head questioningly as Io’s train of thought was derailed. “Spirit?”
She recovered quickly, however, and smiled at him. ‘There’s nothing to worry about. That was just Natori confirming that he would be happy to join you all first thing tomorrow morning, if it suits you.’
“The cub enjoys kicking me to the outhouse first thing in the morning,” Ratha grumbled. Io was happy to be deferential with someone else’s timetable.
‘Late morning it is! Should give everyone time to wake up and have breakfast at a minimum. I’ll just let the Admiral know that… hmm, that’s odd,’ Io said to herself, having suddenly lost connection to Natori’s personal device. While Ratha could have cared less, stalking over to her guildmates to oversee their conversation, the AI clarified for the sake of Antoth’s perpetually concerned visage. ‘It seems that the Admiral has entered an important and private meeting. I will be sure to confirm the time with him afterward.’
“That would be best, thank you,” the Cauthan replied before casting his gaze over his charges. “Looks like it’s going to be a long night. I hope not all of your… motion pictures are so captivating.”
Io chuckled as she crossed her arms under her bust, taking Antoth’s words as a compliment. ‘Oh just wait until they discover video games.’
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“That is wonderful news, Admiral Kaczynski. When will the negotiations begin? I’ll need time to prepare my-”
“If I may be so rude, Emissary, I would ask you to kindly hold your proverbial horses,” the dark-skinned man requested of the horned alien, who had stood abruptly in his haste. Kaczynski gestured for Qul’Roth to take his seat once more, his expression passively polite. Even with the alien sitting on the floor, the two were approximately eye level.
“There are some among your species who would consider such jokes offensive, Admiral,” Qul’Roth noted. Kaczynski smiled.
“I think it’s clear that beyond the hooves you bear little resemblance to Earth’s equine species, but if you took offense I assure you none was intended.”
“Oh no, perish the thought,” Qul’Roth replied, more agitated at having been made to wait instead of any wordplay. “If anything, the hand wringing itself is more grating. We don’t look anything like horses.”
“It is an ancient tradition for humans to take offense on behalf of others and make problems where there are none,” Kaczynski explained humorously as he folded his hands together on the surface of the conference table. “But I do intend to risk your offense by stating in no uncertain terms that this negotiation will take place between myself, as a representative of humanity, and the Cauthan. The Ghaelen will not be a party to the proceedings. Though if there is anything you wish to mention now, I will be sure to take it into account.”
The more honest members of Alpha Division were happy to admit, in private, that one of the joys of intergalactic diplomacy was trying to watch a Ghaelen adapt to an unforeseen situation. Natori shared that particular view, and his voyage to retrieve the Lancer had provided no shortage of opportunities. He did feel a twinge of guilt as Qul’Roth composed himself. It was the older, most self-assured advocates of the Order who were truly entertaining when ‘out of water’. “I request an explanation, Admiral Kaczynski. We are discussing the induction of another species into the galactic community.”
“With all due respect, Emissary, we will have to disagree on that point,” Natori said, using an index finger to adjust his glasses. “These proceedings are a direct continuation of the treaty of mutual assistance and protection that was signed weeks ago between my people and the Cauthan.”
“That may be so, Admiral, but I don’t see how that contradicts my assertion, unless you intend to permanently quarantine them somewhere,” Qul’Roth insisted. Natori’s nostrils flared as he took in a strong breath.
“We have already discussed the Udanis IV pacification on this trip, Emissary. What say you about the manner in which the Gorgons were… ‘inducted’ into the galactic community?”
“Admiral Kaczynski, I understand that the Udanis incident was both an unfortunate and formative deployment in your career. You have my condolences, but I fail to see what it has to do with the situation at hand,” Qul’Roth replied politely. Natori shook his head.
“That is kind of you, but unnecessary. I would not be the man I am today were it not for witnessing our war with the Gorgons firsthand. Are you aware that we are opening an embassy on their planet?”
Natori again found himself savoring the sight of flat-footed Ghaelen. Qul’Roth checked the data disc that hung from his neck, eyes narrowing in disappointment as he discovered the corresponding information. “Why was I not informed of-”
“This information is… was classified up until a week or so ago. It’s unfortunate that we missed the official announcement. There are a few individuals whom I would have very much wanted to observe in their ‘live reaction’, so to speak. But duty called, as it were! Your High Council is no doubt aware of this development already.”
The Admiral stroked his chin thoughtfully as Qul’Roth seemed troubled by the news. The alien rubbed his antlers for a moment before adjusting his position on the floor of the conference room. “How can this be? Those primitives- er, Gorgons were irredeemably violent! Our diplomatic attempts were met with silence or outright hostility!”
“As were many of ours, and after brutal subjugation I might add,” Kaczynski replied, not wanting to rib the alien unnecessarily. “However, that did not stop us. A pair of incredibly brave individuals from both of our species sowed the seeds of this diplomatic fruit over a decade ago. I don’t blame your species for cutting your losses early on, but too many young men and women died on that moon, Emissary.”
“Yes well,” Qul’Roth began with uncertainty. “While we are most grateful for humanity’s sacrifices in resolving that dreadful conflict, I fail to see its relevance to the Cauthan question.”
“Are you familiar with the White Man’s Burden, Emissary?” Kaczynski asked instead, leaning forward over the table as he did so. The Ghaelen remained mute as he processed the non-sequitur. After consulting his data disc and skimming over a handful of notes he shook his head.
“My education on your species and its particularities doesn’t seem to have touched on this concept, Admiral. I assume it is-”
“I have my reasons, I assure you,” Natori cut in, assuming a less overbearing posture as he leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other, and made slow, circular motions with his hand to help gather his thoughts. “Human history is, sadly, often defined by race and racism. It is an unfortunate but natural tendency of our minds’ desire to sort and categorize. For instance, there was an entire body of anthropological science dedicated to proving out the hypothesis that humans who look like me or my mother are biologically inferior to fairer skinned peoples, or even a different species altogether. I actually have a few of those manuscripts and documents in my possession back on Earth. Fascinating stuff, now that it’s been put behind us.”
“I…” Qul’Roth began, but Natori waved him off before pouring each of them a glass of water.
“This was not intended to make you feel uncomfortable, Emissary. It goes both ways as well, to be fair. My father was not initially accepted by certain portions of my mother’s community, and not all of them came around even after many years. That being said, these individuals were similar to the classmates I had to divest of the notion that they were related to Egyptian Pharaohs on account of their dark skin. You cannot imagine the looks on their faces when I told them they were more likely related to Ghengis Khan than Tutankhaman! I was… not very popular with them after that. But let us talk instead of the White Man and his Burden, as they called it. It was a convenient line of argumentation, a jump from the observation that European society had exceeded and surpassed many others on the planet to equating that success with the race of that civilization’s inhabitants. Once convinced of their own superiority, it was a foregone conclusion that it was incumbent upon them to spread their gifts to the lesser, darker races of the planet.”
“How barbaric!” Qul’Roth exclaimed. “And you said this line of thinking is only a couple hundred years old?”
“Rudyard Kipling, 1899,” Natori dictated, clearly having memorized the factoid. “And while I agree that it is a barbaric way of thinking, would the Philippines have been a founding member of the HEL without its history as an American colony? I wonder.”
“But surely you don’t mean to excuse-”
“No more than your species excuses its own atrocities in the name of progress, Emissary Qul’Roth,” Natori said calmly, his eyes narrowing. “I told you I had a point in all of this messy history.”
Gears turned behind Qul’Roth’s black eyes as he understood Kaczynski’s equation of his own species to imperialistic Europeans and Americans. “Admiral, you are out of line.”
“Oh? And you intend to put me back in my place?” he laughed. “Tell me, Emissary. What was it about humanity that caused your species to negotiate with us as you did? Were we special in some way, or just the first species you found capable of effectively shooting back?”
“That was before I was born, Admiral,” Qul’Roth replied carefully, his tone cold. Natori smiled.
“Indeed. First and foremost, Emissary, I am a human. Second, I am a scientist. In that spirit, please understand that what I am doing is not out of hatred for you, your people, or your Order. I intend an experiment, a trial, if you will, for the noble savage,” the man explained in broad terms. “Because I disagree with how our alliance has treated species it deems unfit for modern society.”
“Then what is it, exactly, that you intend to do?” the Ghaelen demanded reasonably. Again, Natori met him with a grin.
“I am not sure yet, Emissary. But I can tell you what I intend not to do. I will not impose upon them tenants of your Order as a condition for safe passage to Earth. They will be expected to not endanger themselves, my crew, or this ship, but otherwise I intend to allow them to live as freely as they would like. They will be offered education, job training, and employment, but it will not be mandated. Given the size of their population and the aforementioned issues with their remaining on Mara, I’m sure this will not be too great of an imposition on you?”
“What is that saying among your people, Admiral? It’s the principle of the matter?” the alien suggested. “Your executive decision to exclude my people outright from this matter is inappropriate at best.”
Natori raised his water glass slowly to his lips, taking only enough to wet his throat. The glass made the lightest of noises upon its return to the table before the Admiral presented his perspective on the matter. “Emissary, if I were excluding your people and their interests from this matter then I would be making arrangements for the villagers to remain here along with a portion of my crew, in the interests of establishing a human science colony on this planet. I have already seen and experienced enough in our brief time here to suggest that, were it not for the restraints imposed upon both of our species by what I consider to be generally prudent first contact protocols, this course of action is the only suitable one. Out of deference to our alliance, however, and consideration for the other Cauthan populations on the planet, I am willing to leave that decision up the HEL and your High Council. I will not, however, compromise the treatment of the village that gave aid and succor to our lone survivor, despite having barely anything beyond what they need to survive themselves. It is the duty of humanity to reward that kindness.”
The two men were interrupted by a knock on the metal door to the well ‘fortified’ meeting room. Thanks to the various surveillance countermeasures in place, Natori was required to stand and walk over to the door. Once there, he used the lock panel to verify the identity of their guest. “Thank you for taking time away from your charges to deliver this,” he said to Antia, accepting a bowl of greens and a coffee from her. “I will be sure to note that delivering me a coffee is above and beyond your job description.”
It was difficult to miss the fact that Kaczynski was meeting alone with Qul’Roth, verified by Anita simply leaning to the side and observing the contents of the meeting room. “Um… it’s no problem, sir. Is something-”
“All will be revealed when appropriate, Engineer Prakash. Don’t ask how the sausage is made, as they say, hmm?” he advised, sending her politely on her way before returning to his discussion with the Ghaelen emissary. “A little something for each of us?”
“I would have expected you to bribe me before explaining your plans for unilateral action on the Cauthan issue, Admiral,” Qul’Roth stated curiously, though that did not stop him from sampling the fare before him. Natori just turned a smile and leaned back in his seat.
“That’s because it’s not a bribe, Emissary. It is, however, late in the evening and I did not want to rush you out the door,” the man explained. The alien chewed thoughtfully for a moment before replying.
“I would like to think that I’ve learned better than to contest you directly when you set yourself on a course of action, Admiral Kaczynski, though you should have no doubt that my superiors will hear of this unilateral decision making of yours. This is not what our species agreed upon at the outset of this project. That being said, I have rarely heard you speak with such conviction as now. So let us set aside this Cauthan question in favor of your comments about Mara and a human colonial presence here. What makes you so certain, Admiral?”
“Was the ancient, advanced, alien technologies tampering with the warp point and altering space-time itself not enough?” the man replied incredulously. The Ghaelen held up a hand as he chewed thoughtfully, only speaking once finished.
“My understanding of the situation is that installations were found all over this system, including one on one of the moons of this planet. Surely those could be studied instead?” he proposed. Natori allowed the point.
“While scientific exploration on a habitable world is easier, I concede your point with regards to minimizing our impact on the planet and its inhabitants. That being said, Emissary, such an approach would paint an incomplete picture. The alien system, presumably active for millions of years, ended its operations and engaged in a controlled self-destruct sequence in response to a Cauthan. We believe the keyword was their god of death, Kel. If that was an accident, it was a one in a billion event.”
Qul’Roth straightened his back as he stroked the long tuft of hair that grew from his chin. His antlers almost scraped the ceiling of the human-sized room. “I must have missed that tidbit of information, Admiral.”
“That’s because it’s not publicly available, Emissary, and the soldiers there at the time have been made to understand that this subject is highly classified, at least for the time being. I hope you understand the implications of my sharing this with you here and now,” Natori elaborated before opening the leather-bound folder he often carried with him. A single piece of paper was slid across the table for Qul’Roth’s perusal. He took it between his fingers and read the title.
“This is… from the team that was ambushed by the ursae, yes? Dreadful affair that was. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt such visceral terror before!”
“Exactly,” Natori said, providing some context as Qul’Roth read the small, official, typeset text. “The plate tectonics of this continent are similar to those found on Earth near the Himalayas. This makes the central ranges, especially the older one to the east, of particular interest in examining the geological record of this planet.”
“Indeed,” the Ghaelen nodded, checking for himself to ensure he understood the proper meaning of the scientific term. “And what exactly was this team looking for in… this can’t be right.”
“Oh? And why not?” Natori wondered with childlike glee. “We’ve already found a nuclear powered endoskeleton and a formerly functioning robot. Why not nuclear war?”
“But there is no… I see,” the Ghaelen suddenly realized, raising his head from the paper and leaning forward. “You would stay behind and search for these clues. Have you found any corroborating readings at other sites? Ruled out natural causes such as volcanism or meteorite impact?”
“My dear Emissary, now you are beginning to sound like a crew member of the Event Horizon!” Natori complimented the alien, who responded with an indignant noise from within the hollow cavities of his skull. “We are still waiting for analysis of the samples gathered by other teams, and I ask you to keep in mind that the initial wave of geological sampling was intended to probe several locations as well as several eras in this planet’s geological history. With this sort of reading confirmed, we will be able to narrow our future searches.”
“Mmm, yes. I understand. I was not trained as a geologist though,” Qul’Roth explained before handing the paper back to the Admiral. “This report is quite confident in its conclusions.”
“Cobalt, Barium, Americium… you don’t see those elements in those isotopes following meteorite impact or volcanic eruption, Emissary. I have requested that Io forward the relevant literature to your device for review in your spare time. We will do our best to confirm this result before our departure.”
“Yes, yes indeed. If this is the case that village is most certainly an afterthought. Perhaps even the entire population? No matter, I will not be able to resolve this issue today,” Qul’Roth concluded after a moment of mumbling. “I do not know whether to call this serendipity or the worst of luck, Admiral. For the sake of the Order, I urge you to devote all available resources to answering this question.”
“You need not invoke the Order in this case, Emissary. I assure you that we will do all within our power,” Natori promised earnestly. The man paused for a moment, tilting his head towards the ceiling with his mouth slightly open, as though a thought were on the cusp of crystallization.
“Is there something the matter, Admiral Kaczynski?” Qul’Roth asked formally. The man returned to a relaxed posture and shook his head.
“No, thank you Emissary. I was just wondering if you might check your own species’ records for data on this system. It could be anything from anomalous light readings to scout ships gone missing, as with the Lancer. I hope we can both agree that while the possibility of a nuclear war on this planet is distressing and headline catching, the true question is who was able to seal the system off from the rest of the galaxy, and why did they do it? No matter what our subsequent geological surveys return, that question will remain outstanding.”
Qul’Roth looked down at his shimmering data disc as he chewed a green leaf between his molars. “We have deviated significantly from the original topic of conversation, Admiral. But I think this has been productive nonetheless. In the spirit of cooperation and discovery, valued as they are by the Order, I will immediately consult the records I have access to. I do not want to over promise, however. Even with this ship’s significant data storage capabilities, a preponderance of our species’ records relating to galactic exploration remain on Ghaela. Your people follow the same principle, no?”
“To an extent,” Natori agreed. “Though in our defense I would describe it more as information filtering. The vast majority of scouting data is released to the public promptly, though I know as well as anyone that some remains classified. That will likely be the case with much of what we have seen here, reminding me that I have a most difficult situation to attend to before we reach Earth once more. I am discussing paperwork, Emissary.”
“Oh, thank goodness. I was worried there would be yet another unexpected twist to this already stressful dialog,” the Ghaelen almost laughed with relief. “I presume you’re speaking of the need to bind members of your civilian crew to non-disclosure agreements?”
“And the Cauthan,” Natori agreed with a chuckle of his own. Qul’Roth cleared his throat and pushed off his hind legs to assume an upright, if hunched position.
“As you requested, I will leave those details to you, Admiral Kaczynski. I will instead return this bowl to the good engineer in hydroponics so as to deliver my thanks in person. I am sure we will speak again shortly. May our actions serve to uphold the Order.”
“And a good evening to you as well,” Natori allowed the alien to depart the conference room, effectively terminating the various countermeasures in effect. Left alone, he placed his feet on the table, propped his elbow on the arm of his chair, and rested his chin against his knuckles. “I suppose I did deserve that little jab about the Cauthan situation. He’s become wittier over the last year or so.”
The Admiral glanced out of the corner of his eye as a familiar form shimmered to life and looked around the space before finally focusing on him. ‘Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. With an expression like that you seem to be missing a stiff drink at your side, Natori.’
“I think we both know you could have taken down the countermeasures if you had really wanted to, Io,” the man responded. She crossed her arms.
‘I have lived my entire true life in a village where privacy is basically non-existent. I know the meaning of a do not disturb sign when I see one. But you give your engineers too little credit, Natori. Even I am not exactly sure what would have happened if I had tried to brute force my way in here. Well, I know what’s supposed to happen, but not if I were to defend myself. Given you were not in any appreciable danger I chose not to. Who were you conversing with so secretly?’ she wondered, pulling up a gilded table, seating herself in a plush, Victorian armchair, and pouring herself a glass of blood red wine. ‘The Princess Bride was a smash hit, by the way.’
“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father… prepare to die,” Natori quoted with admirable gusto but a less than perfect accent. “He was always my favorite, the man dead set on revenge who manages to achieve it without letting it consume and warp him. Do you have a moment?”
Io looked down at her comfortable setup, having even donned a pair of outrageously fluffy slippers that looked like stuffed hyrven. ‘My alternative engagement for the evening is watching a shirtless hunk of a man snuggle with his naked and now quite rotund wife. And while I never tire of watching true love play out between them, it has gotten decidedly less intense since Veera came down with a case of babies. The rubbing of fluffy tummies and gentle, unobtrusive, lovemaking just doesn’t get my circuits overheated the same way as when they were fumbling around and biting each other like horny teenagers.’
Natori’s head quickly returned to his hand, downing the last of his coffee and finding it lukewarm. “Is there anyone in particular I should blame for your voyeuristic subroutines?”
‘The aforementioned lack of privacy and a dead engineer with a penchant for maids,’ Io explained before turning the conversation on a dime while crossing her legs above the knee. ‘Was it the Emissary you were speaking to here?’
“It was indeed, and I may have dug myself into a bit of a hole out of pride,” Natori admitted, looking away from her for a moment.
‘Shall I bring my body over from the hangars? This sounds like it might be a long conversation,’ the AI deduced. The Admiral nodded, turning his chair to face her fully and returning his feet to the floor.
“An updated copy of the ship’s status report and another cup of coffee would be much appreciated as well,” he added. Io conjured a stack of paper and ‘flicked’ it at him, its arrival heralded by a small ping from his device.
‘The coffee will take a little longer,’ she explained the obvious, content to watch quietly as Natori’s eyes skimmed line after line of ‘all clear’ and the occasional ‘within acceptable parameters’.
“I won’t hold it against you,” he promised before setting aside the piece of technology and looking directly at her. “And it would seem that I still have some time to speak.”
‘Yes, you mentioned a hole you’ve been digging?’ Io probed pointedly, receiving an abridged version of the conversation the Admiral had undertaken with Qul’Roth. ‘I see. Well, I can hardly fault you for wanting the Ghaelen out of the picture, not that I think any of the villagers will find the Order particularly compelling. I do feel the need to point out that race was, in all likelihood, a convenient excuse for the equally basic human penchant for territorial expansion and empire.’
“Perhaps,” Natori agreed, pushing his chin up and to the side with a hand in an attempt to crack his neck after sitting still for too long. “Not that that sort of historical nuance would well persuade those for whom race still matters today. Some make it difficult to forget.”
‘And I’m sure Qul’Roth absolutely appreciated the completely accurate comparison,’ Io guessed with a smug expression. ‘So that’s what you wanted me to help you with? Come up with a plan to elevate the Cauthan technologically without enlightening them morally? Do you have any idea how irresponsible that sounds, Natori? I’m sure the Aztecs would have made incredible discoveries in the field of astronomy alongside industrializing the institution of human sacrifice if you suddenly pulled them forward two thousand years.’
Natori blinked twice, opening his mouth to reply only to find that Io had vanished. “Scolded by an AI, on matters of morality no less?”
‘And I’m sure you’re positively giddy about it,’ came Io’s true voice as she entered the room in the biomechanical flesh, depositing another steaming cup of coffee in front of the man.
“Quivering in my seat,” he chuckled, bringing the coffee to his lips and inhaling deeply before taking a sip that almost burned his tongue. “And you’ve taken to wearing perfume, it would seem?”
‘Oh shut it, you,’ Io glared at him as she settled into a seat. ‘I was surrounded by cooking fires all night.’
“Well I find the combination to be mildly intoxicating, as though your beauty were not enough. You don’t get much wood smoke on a starship. But we have bigger fish to fry, do we not?” he pointed out, assuming a more neutral sitting position and sterner expression. Io nodded curtly.
‘Flatterer; but you should start, Natori. Was I mistaken in my diagnosis, or is that really what you were planning?’ the AI wondered, her tone more curious than accusatory.
The Admiral shrugged. “I’m not sure I would go that far, but I did insist that we humans would handle the issue of Cauthan uplift, nor was I particularly subtle about it. I believe I implied that it was necessitated, in part, as reciprocation for taking care of you and the First Lieutenant. Am I mistaken in my opinion of them?”
Io’s expression softened as she prepared to show him a short video using her built-in palm projector. ‘No Natori, I don’t think you are. But I think you are focusing too heavily on the ones you know personally, Antoth and Ratha, Nerazek and Gentia and Thantis. Your opinion of the Cauthan is based primarily on those among them whose passions are tempered by the burden of leadership. You spoke of race and racism with the Emissary? The Cauthan are just as capable of racism as man. Watch.’
Natori did just that, leaning over the table and observing almost unblinkingly a recording that Io had saved from their very first day within the walls of the village, the day when a starved, outcast Veera was slated to be tortured for the crime of ‘aiding and abetting’ a servant of Kel. With the benefit of time and hindsight, it was easy for Io to translate a good deal of the ambient chatter from the audio. Natori placed a hand over his face, covering his left eye and half of his forehead. “I see,” he mumbled sourly. “So I was blind, then?”
Instead of answering directly, Io reached across the quarter of the table that they sat at to take his unoccupied hand in hers. She gave him a gentle squeeze before retreating. ‘Udanis was hard on you, wasn’t it?’
“No harder than it was on the soldiers who fought and died in that hellscape, nor the Gorgons who saw their world unjustly invaded in the name of peace,” the Admiral insisted. Io scoffed.
‘Foolish human, that wasn’t what I asked,’ she pointed out, throwing him a quick smirk as he perked up at her choice to refer to him by his species. ‘You did what President Truman did, Natori. You and the rest of Delta aboard the Resplendent Dawn’s fleet took the fight directly to the leaders of each faction as best you could. You killed many, and likely saved more than that number. At least that’s what the after-action projections show. Do you really believe Admiral Friedrich would have ordered a genocide of the Gorgons had the Ghaelen ordered it?’
Natori looked at Io with wide eyes before breaking into a tired laugh, full of complicated memories. “That stubborn old German? He would have destroyed all communication buoys in the system and then ordered all guns turned on the Ghaelen. And when word eventually reached the Ghaelen homeworld… he probably would have led our strike force.”
‘And there is your answer, Natori,’ Io assured him. ‘Do not think the Cauthan unimpeachable because of their idyllic, pristine existence. Have more faith in your species.’
Kaczynski leaned back in his chair and shook his head slowly, unable to believe what he was hearing. “How the hell can you be so sure, Io?”
‘You mean other than behavior modeling and more than a year of hands-on experience with the Cauthan? I used to be a tool, Natori. The Order would approve, no doubt. Now I am free, which should strike terror into the tiny part of your lizard brain that still values threat avoidance… but I was guided by a good man, and a good woman. The Cauthan need that now, just as the Gorgons did. Civilization, morality, and technology go hand in hand. I honestly don’t quite understand how humanity managed the technological jump without immediately killing one another en masse, but here we are!’
“It certainly wasn’t due to a moral uplifting from the Ghaelen,” Natori replied, feeling the weight of a population settling on his shoulders. His brow furrowed. “But I am in no place to be what you think I should be.”
‘And maybe I would agree if I accessed Dr. Lamont’s notes on you, but that’s neither here nor there,’ Io insisted. ‘Natori, you have two of Marshall and Sandra Winters' children on this ship. You have the good Doctors Dupuis, Anita, Darius, Lance Corporal Mendes, and so many others, many of whom you hand selected for this mission. You need only impress upon them the weight of the historical moment that seems to be upon us; or the negotiations could go south tomorrow and we can leave without them!’
The Admiral’s head bobbed lightly as he held in another chuckle. He looked at Io with sincerity, returning at last to his coffee. “Then I believe we should discuss any and everything you think will be brought up tomorrow morning. I’ve had a long and winding career, but I refuse to fail at a boast made to a Ghaelen. It is long past time that humanity has its chance to demonstrate proper uplift protocols.”
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2023.03.23 18:43 nousemercenary Do You Think Crypto Should Be On The Ballot in 2024 (US)?

With all the latest news regarding the SEC aggressively attacking companies like Kraken, Coinbase, etc and talk about Chokepoint 2.0 being carried out by the Biden administration, do you think crypto policy should be a major talking point in the lead-up to the 2024 elections?
When politicians are running for Congress in the House & Senate, or running for the White House, do you think it's important to know their stance on crypto and blockchain technology? Do you think cryptocurrency is mainstream enough for the general population to demand answers from their representatives when asked where their stance is on backing pro-crypto or anti-crypto legislation?
I feel like the next two years is going to be a major make-or-break time for crypto, at least in the United States. We'll find out whether the SEC or CFTC should be the main regulating body. Whether crypto mining will become unprofitable due to extreme taxation and ESG laws. If staking and PoS crypto will be labeled as securities. Or if crypto as a whole could be banned due to the rollout of CBDCs (FedNow & government-issued digital IDs).
Pro-Crypto Politicians Include:
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota)
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-New York)
Rep. French Hill (R-Arkansas)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio)
Rep. Patrick McHenry, (R-North Carolina)
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R, Wyoming)

Anti-Crypto Politicians Include:
President Joe Biden (D)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts)
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont)

Should we, as a crypto community, start putting constant pressure on our local representatives? If we attend political rallies in 2023-2024, should we ask representatives questions publically about where they stand? What are your thoughts?
View Poll
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2023.03.23 18:09 SpookyShell UPDATE 2019 FORTE BREAK IN

March 7th my car was towed by Sally’s Towing here in San Antonio TX, from my apartment to a local Kia dealership.
March 13th the field appraiser went to the dealership to inspect my car. They were told no car under my name was in the system. I called to verify the car was there (via AirTag), they looked around the property and found my car. They stated the tow driver provided them with incorrect information and didn’t know where they left the key. I called the towing company asking where the driver left the key. Dude on the other end thought I was attacking him, he called the tow driver and was told where they left the key with a sales associate. I called the dealership back and told them where the driver left the key. They were able to place me in the system and make a ticket for the repairs.
March 14th my bf and I went to the dealership to remove all belongings. We noticed the busted window was uncovered, we made sure it was covered before it got towed. Someone left their Texas Longhorns cap in the backseat, and my phone charger was gone. I asked the service department if they could wrap the window, they said it wasn’t their responsibility. So we wrapped it up with shipping tape (that’s all the dealership had). We made sure not to get it on the paint.
March 17th I got a call from the field appraiser saying they were able to inspect my car. They said the steering column damage wasn’t as bad as other Kia vehicles he looked at. The estimate is currently $1,870. It can go up after the Kia technician looks at it, which could be the last week of March.
That’s it for now, I’ll continue to update this post. I know it’s going to be a long and slow process to get my baby back home. Each time I see a Forte I get sad and hope the owner doesn’t have to relive this, cause it SUUUUUCKS!!!
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2023.03.23 07:14 Grant_Dead1885 My Top 15 Presidents and Why

15: Bill Clinton:
Reasons: Under his administration we were doing very good economically and with employment. We had a balanced budget, low unemployment, budget surpluses of $200B, we had low crime and violence, the Violence Against Women Act, the diplomacy he had internationally and our great environmental protections such as the Kyoto protocol.
14: Calvin Coolidge:
Reasons: Promoting civil rights for African Americans, the Roaring 20s and the growing economy, staying out of bad foreign affairs and helping Native Americans.
13: George H.W. Bush:
Reasons: Signing the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clean Air Act Amendments, reducing the number of weapons for the Soviet Union and increasing number of legal immigrants in to the U.S.A. He also had great character and great skills with foreign matters.
12: James Madison:
Reasons: Leading us through the war of 1812, helping negotiate the Louisiana Purchase, helping establish a bank of the U.S., ratifying the constitution, and instituting federal taxation.
11: Lyndon B Johnson:
Reasons: Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act of 1968, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Fair Housing Act, Consumer Protection, War On Poverty and Environmental Protections.
10: James K Polk:
Reasons: Expansion of U.S. Territory and borders, strengthening our Navy, lowering tariffs and the Independent Treasury System.
9: Harry S. Truman:
Reasons: Ending World War II, desegregating our military, creating NATO, the Marshall Plan and the Marshall Plan.
8: James Monroe:
Reasons: The Monroe Doctrine, treaty with Spain to get Florida, expanding the Navy, negotiating with the Louisiana Purchase, growing infrastructure and economy.
7: Thomas Jefferson:
Reasons: Writing the Declaration of Independence, Lewis and Clark expedition, protecting individual Liberties, Indian civilization fund and separation of church and state.
6: Theodore Roosevelt
Reasons: Creation and support of national parks, creating the Panama Canal, trust busting/anti-trust laws, environmental conservation, ending the Russo-Japanese War and improving worker rights.
5: Ulysses S Grant:
Reasons: Bringing back reconstruction, promoting education, civil service reform, prosecuting KKK members and stabilizing the economy to pre civil war economy.
4: Abraham Lincoln:
Reasons: Abolishing slavery, strong leadership in the civil war, the Homestead Act and Preserving the Union.
3: Franklin D Roosevelt:
Reasons: Creating the New Deal, creating Social Security and expanding it, strong WWII leadership, establishment of the UN, bringing back the good economy and infrastructure deduction.
2: George Washington:
Reasons: Father of the country, father of constitution, set the precedent for presidents after him and establishing the framework for the federal government.
1: Dwight D Eisenhower:
Reasons: Great economic prosperity, expansion of New Deal programs, creating a strong national security, desegregated public schools, creating NASA, ending the Korean War, realist foreign policy, creating interstate highway system and creating the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Know that this is all my personal list. I would love to hear what y’all say.
submitted by Grant_Dead1885 to Presidents [link] [comments]


2023.03.23 03:59 jim_jon_jim [FOR SALE] [US] CAKE DAY SALE - MOST RECORDS $5-$10 LESS THAN DISCOGS AND PREVIOUS LISTING - Super Limited King Gizzard, Pipe Eye, Run the Jewels, Thom Yorke, Fuzz, Khruangbin & More

Put out a listing last month and sold a couple - but still unemployed and tryina get rid of more so I lowered pretty much everything by $5-$20! You spoke, I listened, now you buy?
Records ship out for $6, each additional record is $1 each. Lots of good limited stuff in here especially for psych rock fans. DM to purchase. Happy hunting.
Animal Collective - Tangerine Reef - Limited Edition, Green 180g - NM/NM - $21 NOW $15!
Beans - All Together Now - Limited Edition, Purple and Magenta (Flightless) - NM/NM - $60. NOW $50! Limited to 1000
Big Ups - Eighteen Hours of Static - NM/NM - $15
Danny Elfman - Mission Impossible OST - Limited Edition, Green/Red Split 180g - NM/NM - $110 NOW $90!
Fred Armisen - Parade Meeting - Limited Edition 12" (RSD - Produced by Ty Segall) NM/NM - $15 Limited to 1,000
Future Islands - Wave Like Home - First Pressing, German - $70 NOW $60!
Fuzz - Levitation Sessions - Limited Edition, Fire Splatter - NM/NM - $30 NOW $25 Limited to 500
Grave Flowers Bongo Band - Strength of Spring - Limited Edition, Mystery Edition - NM/NM -$20 Now $15! Produced by Ty Segall
Hans Zimmer - Dune OST - Limited Edition, Sands of Arrakis Variant - M/M - $65 - NOW $50!
Here Lies Man - Here Lies Man - Test Pressing - M/M -$85 NOW 75!
Hooverii - Hooverii - Numbered Test Pressing- M/M - $90 NOW 75! Limited to 30
Iggy Pop - Live At The Continental Feb 93 - Limited Edition, Splatter, Unofficial - NM/NM - $35 NOW $25! Limited to 800
Jack Cooper - Sandgrown - Limited Edition, Orange - NM/NM -$15 Solo album from Ultimate Painting member
Jay Reatard - Blood Visions - Limited Edition, Clear Red + White 7" - M/M - $70 NOW $55! RSD release limited to 2000 with bonus 7" sealed
John Dwyer, Ted Byrnes, Greg Coates, Tomas Dolas, Brad Caulkins - Endless Garbage - Limited Edition, Smoggy Dollop Variant - NM/NM - $35. NOW 25$!! Oh Sees Avant Garde Jazz Project
Joseph LoDuca - Evil Dead 2 Original Motion Picture Music - Limited Edition, Henrietta Variant [Red, Blue, and Yellow Swirl] - $75 NOW $60!!
Khruangbin & Leon BridgesTexas Moon - Limited Edition, Lunar Fog - NM/VG+ - $35 NOW $25
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Made in Timeland - NM/NM - $19
King Tuff - The Other - Test Pressing - M/M - $15
Lars Finberg - Moonlight Over Bakersfield - Limited Edition, Orange - NM/NM - $18 NOW $15 Limited to 200
Led Zeppelin - III - Presswell 1st Pressing - G+/VG - $20. Skips on Track 1 Immigrant Song but otherwise plays nice
Love Migrate - Somewhere, Over the Mangroves - Limited Edition, 180g - M/M - $55 NOW $45! Limited to 200 - Features Eric Moore and Joey Walker of KGLW sealed
Man Man - Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In Between - Limited Edition, Pink & White Marble Loser Variant - M/M - $38 Now $30!
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die - Limited Edition, 180g (RSD 2013) - NM/NM - $50 **Now $45!!**Limited to 3000
Once & Future Band - Brain EP - Limited Edition, Orion's Belt Variant - M/M - $20* Now $15!
Once & Future Band - Once & Future Band - Limited Edition, Blue (Opaque w/ White Splatter) -M/M - $25* NOW $20!
*Or both for $40 NOW $30!
Pipe Eye - Inside/Outside - Limited Edition, Limited Edition, Hot Jam Donut Variant - NM/NM - $30 NOW $25! Cook Craig from KGLW solo album limited to 1000
Quincy JonesThe Hot Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack And More*)* - VG+/VG+ - $25 NOW $20!
The Reflektors (Arcade Fire) - Reflektor - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15!
Run the Jewels - Bust No Moves - 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Clear w/ Red, Black and Yellow Splatter - NM/NM - $25 NOW $20! Limited to 5000
Shiny Joe RyanShiny’s Democracy - Limited Edition, Opaque Apple Red - NM/NM - $15
Sir Robin & The Longbowmen - Prozacco - Limited Edition, 180g - $20 NOW $15! Limited to 500
Slum Village - Climax (Girl Sh\*) / CB4* - 12" - M/M - $19* NOW $15!
Slum Village - Players / Raise It Up - 12" - M/M -$15*
*or both for $30 NOW $25!
SparksIntroducing Sparks - Promo Red Transluscent - NM/VG+ - $80 NOW $70!
Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy - NM/NM - $15
Stonefield - Far From Earth - Limited Edition, Bone Variant - NM/NM - $75 NOW $65!
Sunbeam Sound Machine - Goodness Gracious - Limited Edition, Pale Blue - NM/NM - $100 NOW $85! Limited to 200
Sid BarretSid Barret Unforgotten Hero - VG/VG - $45 NOW $35!
Thom YorkeSuspiria Unreleased Material - Limited Edition - NM/NM - $50 NOW $45! Limited to 1500
The TrapsBoom Pow Awesome Wow - Limited Edition, Translucent Purple with Primary Splatter - NM/NM - $19 NOW $15! Produced by John Dwyer of Oh Sees Limited to 200
Various Artists - Get Me Home For Tea: Rare Psychedelic Rock From The U.K. - Limited RSD - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15. SOLD!
Various Artists - A Fistfull of Fuzz - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15!
Various Artists - Adult Swim NEWNOW NM/NM - $35 NOW $25! Limited to 250
The Yardbirds - Little Games - Multi-colored Splatter - NM/NM - $28 NOW $20 RSD 2014 Release Limited to 2500
Various – Oasis 2 (The 1988 Greasy Pop Compilation Of Adelaide Bands) - NM/NM - $25 NOW $20!
submitted by jim_jon_jim to psychedelicrock [link] [comments]


2023.03.23 03:57 jim_jon_jim [FOR SALE] [US] CAKE DAY SALE - $5-$20 LESS THAN DISCOGS - King Gizzard, Pipe Eye, Run the Jewels, Thom Yorke, Fuzz, Khruangbin & More

Put out a listing last month and sold a couple - but still unemployed and tryina get rid of more so I lowered pretty much everything by $5-$20!
You spoke, I listened, now you buy?
Records ship out for $6, each additional record is $1 each. Lots of good limited stuff in here especially for psych rock fans. DM to purchase. Happy hunting.
Animal Collective - Tangerine Reef - Limited Edition, Green 180g - NM/NM - $21 NOW $15!
Beans - All Together Now - Limited Edition, Purple and Magenta (Flightless) - NM/NM - $60. NOW $50! Limited to 1000
Big Ups - Eighteen Hours of Static - NM/NM - $15
Danny Elfman - Mission Impossible OST - Limited Edition, Green/Red Split 180g - NM/NM - $110 NOW $90!
Fred Armisen - Parade Meeting - Limited Edition 12" (RSD - Produced by Ty Segall) NM/NM - $15 Limited to 1,000
Future Islands - Wave Like Home - First Pressing, German - $70 NOW $60!
Fuzz - Levitation Sessions - Limited Edition, Fire Splatter - NM/NM - $30 NOW $25 Limited to 500
Grave Flowers Bongo Band - Strength of Spring - Limited Edition, Mystery Edition - NM/NM -$20 Now $15! Produced by Ty Segall
Hans Zimmer - Dune OST - Limited Edition, Sands of Arrakis Variant - M/M - $65 - NOW $50!
Here Lies Man - Here Lies Man - Test Pressing - M/M -$85 NOW 75!
Hooverii - Hooverii - Numbered Test Pressing- M/M - $90 NOW 75! Limited to 30
Iggy Pop - Live At The Continental Feb 93 - Limited Edition, Splatter, Unofficial - NM/NM - $35 NOW $25! Limited to 800
Jack Cooper - Sandgrown - Limited Edition, Orange - NM/NM -$15 Solo album from Ultimate Painting member
Jay Reatard - Blood Visions - Limited Edition, Clear Red + White 7" - M/M - $70 NOW $55! RSD release limited to 2000 with bonus 7" sealed
John Dwyer, Ted Byrnes, Greg Coates, Tomas Dolas, Brad Caulkins - Endless Garbage - Limited Edition, Smoggy Dollop Variant - NM/NM - $35. NOW 25$!! Oh Sees Avant Garde Jazz Project
Joseph LoDuca - Evil Dead 2 Original Motion Picture Music - Limited Edition, Henrietta Variant [Red, Blue, and Yellow Swirl] - $75 NOW $60!!
Khruangbin & Leon BridgesTexas Moon - Limited Edition, Lunar Fog - NM/VG+ - $35 NOW $25
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Made in Timeland - NM/NM - $19
King Tuff - The Other - Test Pressing - M/M - $15
Lars Finberg - Moonlight Over Bakersfield - Limited Edition, Orange - NM/NM - $18 NOW $15 Limited to 200
Led Zeppelin - III - Presswell 1st Pressing - G+/VG - $20. Skips on Track 1 Immigrant Song but otherwise plays nice
Love Migrate - Somewhere, Over the Mangroves - Limited Edition, 180g - M/M - $55 NOW $45! Limited to 200 - Features Eric Moore and Joey Walker of KGLW sealed
Man Man - Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In Between - Limited Edition, Pink & White Marble Loser Variant - M/M - $38 Now $30!
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die - Limited Edition, 180g (RSD 2013) - NM/NM - $50 **Now $45!!**Limited to 3000
Once & Future Band - Brain EP - Limited Edition, Orion's Belt Variant - M/M - $20* Now $15!
Once & Future Band - Once & Future Band - Limited Edition, Blue (Opaque w/ White Splatter) -M/M - $25* NOW $20!
*Or both for $40 NOW $30!
Pipe Eye - Inside/Outside - Limited Edition, Limited Edition, Hot Jam Donut Variant - NM/NM - $30 NOW $25! Cook Craig from KGLW solo album limited to 1000
Quincy JonesThe Hot Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack And More*)* - VG+/VG+ - $25 NOW $20!
The Reflektors (Arcade Fire) - Reflektor - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15!
Run the Jewels - Bust No Moves - 12", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Clear w/ Red, Black and Yellow Splatter - NM/NM - $25 NOW $20! Limited to 5000 SOLD!
Shiny Joe RyanShiny’s Democracy - Limited Edition, Opaque Apple Red - NM/NM - $15
Sir Robin & The Longbowmen - Prozacco - Limited Edition, 180g - $20 NOW $15! Limited to 500
Slum Village - Climax (Girl Sh\*) / CB4* - 12" - M/M - $19* NOW $15!
Slum Village - Players / Raise It Up - 12" - M/M -$15*
*or both for $30 NOW $25!
SparksIntroducing Sparks - Promo Red Transluscent - NM/VG+ - $80 NOW $70!
Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy - NM/NM - $15
Stonefield - Far From Earth - Limited Edition, Bone Variant - NM/NM - $75 NOW $65!
Sunbeam Sound Machine - Goodness Gracious - Limited Edition, Pale Blue - NM/NM - $100 NOW $85! Limited to 200
Sid BarretSid Barret Unforgotten Hero - VG/VG - $45 NOW $35!
Thom YorkeSuspiria Unreleased Material - Limited Edition - NM/NM - $50 NOW $45! Limited to 1500
The TrapsBoom Pow Awesome Wow - Limited Edition, Translucent Purple with Primary Splatter - NM/NM - $19 NOW $15! Produced by John Dwyer of Oh Sees Limited to 200
Various Artists - Get Me Home For Tea: Rare Psychedelic Rock From The U.K. - Limited RSD - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15 SOLD!
Various Artists - A Fistfull of Fuzz - NM/NM - $20 NOW $15!
Various Artists - Adult Swim NEWNOW NM/NM - $35 NOW $25! Limited to 250
The Yardbirds - Little Games - Multi-colored Splatter - NM/NM - $28 NOW $20 RSD 2014 Release Limited to 2500
Various – Oasis 2 (The 1988 Greasy Pop Compilation Of Adelaide Bands) - NM/NM - $25 NOW $20!
submitted by jim_jon_jim to VinylCollectors [link] [comments]


2023.03.23 02:30 ANoobSniper Payday 2 - Update 235 changelog

Link to announcement
Link to changelog

Hello Heisters!

Let’s go heisters, three updates in as many months - we’re almost as regular as your other payday at this point!
Thank you for all your feedback from the Hostile Takeover campaign, we love seeing your video’s, comments and reviews. We read as many as we are able and appreciate it all.
Meanwhile, the PAYDAY team has been hard at work creating more PAYDAY for the consumption of its ever-hungry audience. To start showing off, we’re launching the Crude Awakening Bundle and the Lawless Tailor Pack.

Lawless Tailor Pack

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2352300/PAYDAY_2_Lawless_Tailor_Pack/
We’ve been in Texas for 4 whole Tailor Packs and not a single cowboy outfit? Well that changes now! Finally, you’re able to live the dream of being the quick-draw of the west in grand fashion. Pun intended. This fabulous set puts you into the shoes of some of our great ancestral heisting inspirations, so grab a revolver and ye-freaking-haw.
The Lawless Tailor Pack contains the following:

Suits

Masks

Gloves

Crude Awakening Bundle

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2353513/PAYDAY_2_Crude_Awakening_Bundle/
Launching today, the Crude Awakening Bundle begins! As with the previous bundles, we bundle up 4 DLCs at a lowered price, giving you - our most hardened heisters - a discount for picking up the bundle early.
The bundle will contain 4 DLCs including the Tailor Pack released today. The other three DLCs will be released over the course of the next few months and will contain a Weapon Pack, a Music Pack and a Heist.

Linux & VR

The Crude Awakening Bundle, specifically the heist, will not be sold on Linux. This is due to technical issues born from the fact that the Linux and VR versions of PAYDAY are on a separate, and older, branch of PAYDAY 2.
Until we've had the chance to investigate the issues we're facing around the older branches, we've set the Crude Awakening Bundle as unavailable for Linux and we're setting the Heist as not compatible with VR.
As a consequence of the separate branches, there is a risk going forward that Linux and VR players will be unable to matchmake with Windows players until we've found a solution.
We'll update as we get more information on how we'll proceed.

Weekly Stream

For those of you that haven’t yet tuned in, we’re live on Twitch and YouTube (almost) every Tuesday and Thursday. Feel free to stop by!
Keep those cowboy hats flying!
OVERKILL_Tobias
OVERKILL - a Starbreeze Studio.

Update 235 Changelog

Update size: 109.1MB

General

  • Fixed clients executing multiple elements for damage zones or fall damage disabling, causing them sometimes to take damage permanently (or not block fall damage) after entering them sometimes or when they get disabled while the player is inside. Made so the code makes them run locally and to not depend on latency has been further reworked and now it accounts for zones that might not work on clients, letting them run by the server first as usual.
  • Changed how ammo pickup multipliers from weapon mods apply in the pickup calculation. They now affect the base pickup. This makes them work more as you'd expect and prevent issues when pickup bonuses are involved.
  • Fixed an oversight from last update causing weapons with no ammo pickup to still grab ammo pickups, despite granting nothing.
  • Added missing levels to the One More Down, No More To Go Achievement.
  • Fixed an issue of where Tag Team Perk deck was using wrong values in its description

Heist Fixes

  • Hostile Takeover - Fixed an issue that could hinder player movement in the area outside the Document Storage room.
  • Hostile Takeover - Adjusted Locke's VO priority when the player uses the PA system to lure scientists out of the laboratory.
  • Hostile Takeover - Fixed an issue that would not count any loot secured past 20 bags.
  • Tweaked XP values on various heists rewarding no XP for additional bags.
    • Breakfast In Tijuana: Changed bag exp values from 0 to 1000 per bag
    • Bank Heists (All 4 variations): Changed bag exp values from 0 to 500 per bag
    • Firestarter day 3: Changed bag exp values from 0 to 500 per bag
    • Election Day, day 2: Changed bag exp values from 0 to 500 per bag
    • Election Day, day 3: Changed bag exp values from 0 to 1000 per bag
    • Golden Grin Casino: Changed bag exp values from 0 to 500 per bag (including mandatory loot from 250 to 500 as well)

UI

  • Updated the Payday Kart 64 Achievement Icon to accurately reflect the time needed.

Weapons

  • Fixed an issue on the Kang Arms X1 Sniper Rifle that caused the character to grab the weapon as if there was a grip attached, after using the Inspire skill.
  • Fixed an issue of where the magnifier second sight remained zoomed in after throwing a grenade or using melee
  • Speedpull magazines now also apply the following penalties:
    • 1 concealment
    • 8 stability
    • 4 accuracy
  • The total ammo and ammo pickup on the RUS-12 Angry Tiger revolver and the Breaker 12G shotgun have been adjusted:
    • RUS-12
    • Total ammo: from 15 to 40
    • Ammo pickup: from 0.25-0.75 to 0.2-0.6
    • It should now feel more similar to how the 5/7 feels to a Deagle, but with other revolvers.
    • Breaker 12G
    • Total ammo: from 21 to 28
    • Ammo pickup: 0.21-0.735 to 0.28-0.98
  • Adjusted ammo pickup multipliers from weapon mods accordingly. Added pickup multipliers to grenade launcher ammo types, in the same way. Details for what the pickups would result into without any bonuses (min-max):
    • DMR kits
    • CAR-4 Rifle: 1.125-2.475
    • AK Rifle: 1.125-2.475
    • AMR-16 Rifle: 1.08-2.43
    • AK.762 Rifle: 1.08-2.43
    • KS12 Urban: 1.08-2.43
    • Gewehr 3 Rifle: 1.19988-2.69973
    • Assault kits and similar (more ammo, less damage):
    • Gewehr 3, Assault Kit: 4.49955-8.09919
    • Akron HC, Aureate Exclusive Set: 5.6-11.4
    • Other
    • Broomstick, Precision Barrel: 0.495-1.7325
  • Grenade launcher ammo pickups have been adjusted. Thanks to the recent ammo pickup changes, values lower than 0.5 can result in ammo due to stacking, allowing more flexibility with design. As such, we're making these weapons that have extreme ease of use and no skill investment, require a bit more decision making on the player for when to use them, as they can be spammed too much due to their current pickups. Most of them will require around 4-5 pickups (accounting for the Walk-In Closet perk deck bonus), but underbarrels require double the amount. Here are the changes in detail to the base pickups:
    • Basilisk 3V: 0.25-0.3
    • Piglet: 0.25-0.3
    • GL40: 0.15-0.2
    • China Puff: 0.15-0.2
    • Arbiter: 0.15-0.2
    • Compact 40mm: 0.15-0.2
    • Little Friend Underbarrel: 0.075-0.1
    • KETCHNOV Byk-1 Underbarrel: 0.075-0.1
  • Lastly, based on the ammo pickup changes for grenade launchers overall, their ammo types receive multipliers for their base pickups mentioned above. Mentioning each specific change would make this list significantly longer so only the multipliers are mentioned. Default is 1x for reference:
    • Sting: 1.2x
    • X1-a Tactical ZAPper: 0.8x
    • Incendiary: 0.6x
    • Viper: 0.4x

Marshal tweaks

  • Fixed an issue with the U.S Marshal Shield where the range of the concussion stun AOE, from hitting a light as it's charging up, was using the range of the flash instead. Buffed the stun range to compensate, now matching a player concussion grenade.
  • Fixed an issue that would allow clients to kill the U.S Marshal Shield unit instantly, after breaking their shield, and an issue that would also cause no outline to appear, for the client, to indicate invulnerability.
  • The U.S Marshal Sharpshooter will now be called out when killed, like a Sniper. They do not count as such units though

Audio

  • Fixed an issue that prevented unique voicelines being played by Team AI. Team AI can now play unique voicelines upon killing enemies, like players. i.e. Bodhi as an AI temamate killing a Taser with a headshot with the Platypus 70 equipped will let him play his unique line.
  • Added support for specific death callouts on units.
submitted by ANoobSniper to paydaytheheist [link] [comments]


2023.03.22 23:55 Lucidmike78 The Shawshank Redemption

Aight, nephew, lemme lay it down fo' ya. Once upon a time, in 1947, there was this cat named Andy Dufresne, a smooth, smart banker type. Now, Andy found himself in a real messed up situation - he got accused of murderin' his wife and her lover, ya dig? Even though my man said he was innocent, the judge didn't buy it and sent him straight to Shawshank State Penitentiary. That's a real cold place, dawg.
So, Andy rolls up to Shawshank and meets this cool dude named Red, played by the OG Morgan Freeman. Red's the man, he knows how to get things, ya know? So, these two become homies, and Andy starts to learn the ropes of this rough and tough prison life.
One day, Andy hears the warden, ol' tight-ass Norton, and the captain of the guards, Hadley, talkin' 'bout some tax stuff. Andy's got mad skills with money, so he steps up and helps 'em out. That's when he starts to get some respect and builds a legit library for his fellow inmates, teachin' 'em some book smarts and stuff. Fo' real, Andy was givin' hope to the hopeless.
But it ain't all sunshine and roses, nah. My man Andy had to go through some dark times, dealin' with some nasty fellas and corrupt guards. Despite all that, Andy keeps his head up and stays true to himself, always workin' on his master plan.
Years go by, and one day, a new cat named Tommy shows up. He's a young buck with a story that could set Andy free. You see, Tommy met a dude on the outside who confessed to the murders Andy got locked up fo'. Andy's like, "Yo, this is my ticket outta here," but Warden Norton ain't tryna hear that. He's usin' Andy's skills for his dirty work, so he ain't lettin' him go. The warden gets rid of Tommy, makin' sure that truth never comes out. It's a cold world, baby.
Now, Andy's had enough of this prison life, and it's time to make a move. He been workin' on somethin' real sly for years, but nobody knew 'bout it. You see, my man had a tiny rock hammer, and he been diggin' a tunnel through his cell wall, hidin' it behind a fine-lookin' poster of Raquel Welch. Slow and steady, dawg, that's how Andy rolled.
So, one stormy night, Andy finally breaks through. He crawls through that tunnel, gettin' all dirty, and comes out on the other side, free as a bird. My man ain't done yet, though. He goes to the bank, pulls out all the warden's dirty money, and sends the evidence to the newspapers. Talk about sweet revenge, nephew.
The next mornin', the warden and Hadley get busted. Shawshank's turned upside down, and Andy's long gone, chillin' on a beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Red, bein' the loyal homie he is, eventually gets parole, and he follows Andy's clues to find him. The two friends reunite in paradise, livin' the good life, free at last.
And that, nephew, is the story of The Shawshank Redemption. It's all 'bout keepin' hope alive and never givin' up, no matter how dark the days get. Now, close your eyes and catch some Z's, cuz dreams can come true if you believe in 'em, just like Andy and Red did.
So, remember, nephew, when life gets tough and you feelin' trapped, like you're locked up in your own personal Shawshank, don't ever lose faith. Keep workin' on your master plan and spreadin' love and knowledge, just like our main man Andy Dufresne did. 'Cause in the end, it's all about breakin' free, findin' your own Zihuatanejo, and livin' that sweet life with your true homies.
Now, sleep tight, little one. And may you dream of blue skies, sandy beaches, and the power of hope that can set you free. Fo' shizzle, goodnight, nephew.
submitted by Lucidmike78 to SnoopSpeak [link] [comments]


2023.03.22 23:24 Material-Ad-8289 I don’t know how to execute / move forward with ex battle with baby

My baby is 10 months old , I can’t live with my ex anymore , he doesn’t as so much flush the toilet let alone house work , he changes less than 2 diapers a month that I have to beg for , spends little to no time with baby every day but claims he sees her every day just because he lives here . He hasn’t spend a dollar until she was 5 months old and even then it was only a few items like milk bags , wipes , and about 3 boxes of diapers , I buy everything , I do everyhing . I work full time graveyard shift so no sleep for me , I come home have to cook clean take care of baby and find time to get quick naps in before my shift again for work . He gets angry when baby cries , he was physically abusive at one point in our relationship including when pregnant but stopped once I ended up with a busted lip bleeding nose and at one point limping after baby he stopped touching me , cheats regularly , doesn’t financially help me , doesn’t do anything for the baby unless I start crying and begging out of exhaustion. I didn’t leave because I couldn’t bare the idea of sharing custody of my baby , he put her in the car seat without strapping her up and thought it was okay to drive like that , he left the house while I was at work and left baby alone at 7 months old , I ran out of work and rushed home when I saw the key pad entry that he left almost lost my job because of it . He yells at baby when she cries tells her to shut the fuck up , the list goes on . I want to take my baby get full custody and never look back , why should he get even partial custody when he doesn’t even spend 6 hours in a week with our baby , we are not married , currently still live together from Texas . I want to add during his cheating he contracted a disease that he passed on to me while I was pregnant when I found out he cheated and I noticed some symptoms down there I told him I was going to get tested and he persuaded me and discouraged me to even get tested I went ahead and still got tested and had to be told by my doctor that if I gave birth vaginally that I would lose my child potentially or numerous amounts of side effects that could happen including being blind and having permanence lifelong damages he basically almost killed my child just to sleep with random people I now have a disease that I could never get rid of thankfully I was able to get a C-section because I trusted my gut what are the chances that he could get even partial custody because I get anxiety of the idea of him being alone with her putting her in the car seat wrong yelling at her being impatient leaving her home alone etc .
submitted by Material-Ad-8289 to FamilyLaw [link] [comments]


2023.03.22 19:39 TheRealDeal2121 Character that is more of a “lawman” than a “cop” archetype?

Hi all! Wanted to ask the collective opinion of people here about if they have a resource for talking about a character that fills more of a “lawman” role in a story than just being a “cop.”
I’m having trouble collecting my thoughts and feelings about the idea into something concise. I have a review piece coming up about a comic featuring law enforcement and one of the characters is an older Texas Sherif. The story is contemporary, but he holds many character traits found more commonly in old west stories featuring a marshal or sherif character dedicated more to keeping the peace and protecting citizens than doing cop stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a cop and does cop things, but I wanted to highlight the story’s use of him in this more idealistic role. A good modern comparison to help convey what I mean is Marshal Cobb Vanth, who appeared in the season 2 premiere of The Mandalorian. I hope that by coming here someone might have a source they’ve seen that can help me cement my statement in this part of the review. Thankful for any help that can be offered!
submitted by TheRealDeal2121 to writers [link] [comments]


2023.03.22 16:55 digital4kcollector (Offer) list (request) list

I split all splitable titles If you want a full code please let me know.
​ *Disney/Marvel/Star Wars all hd unless marked as 4k *
​ *hd unless marked otherwise collections* ​
​ *HD unless noted as 4k* ​
TV shows
Standard definition and XML Titles
ISO
submitted by digital4kcollector to uvtrade [link] [comments]


2023.03.22 15:28 eccentric_bee The Comstock Act may be revived to stop abortion pills. Why aren't print companies upset?

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/abortion-pill-texas-judge-could-invoke-comstock-act-to-roll-back-mail-delivery.html
If the Comstock Act is revived, would that also affect anything in print that is mailed that could be called 'obscene'. So porn, trashy novels, newspapers that talk about gory or sexual crimes, etc?
Would it affect UPS, or other shipping companies or just the USPS? How about shipping of other supplies that could possibly be used by someone, sometime for an abortion, like suction tubing?
What about other things mailed, like naughty birthday cards?
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2023.03.22 06:24 BevoBot [3/22/2023] Wednesday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread

/LonghornNation Daily Off Topic Free Talk Thread

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/LonghornNation
  1. [3/22/2023] Wednesday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread - Testing
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  3. Hopefully this puts any Ewers/Arch QB battling to rest
  4. [Game Thread] ⚾ Texas vs. Incarnate Word - 6:30 pm
  5. Steve Sarkisian Media Availability [March 21st, 2023]
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2023.03.22 06:17 chrislabeard [3/22/2023] Wednesday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread

/LonghornNation Daily Off Topic Free Talk Thread

Today: 3/22/2023
Last Thread

Current Austin Weather: 68° and Mist

Seven Day Forecast:
3/22 3/23 3/24 3/25 3/26 3/27 3/28
75°, Clouds 85°, Clouds 84°, Rain 81°, Clear 77°, Rain 74°, Rain 74°, Rain

Your go-to place to talk about whatever you want. From the dumb shit aggies do on a near daily basis, to the latest whatever happening wherever. What ya got?

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  1. @Hcard7 Did you know @PUCancerInst has +40 drugs in development? I’m excited to help them #HammerDownCancer during Wednesda… https://t.co/qMt4N1J2PU
  2. @CoachSark Good Morning Austin, TX 🤘🏽 https://t.co/Pu2lK8DkmF
  3. @TexasFootball It’s a battle in the trenches 😤 https://t.co/qtiTSCeRri
  4. @_delconte Mother Nature needs to hold off just a tad longer 🌧… let’s go boys 🤘🏽 https://t.co/WH8215ARvQ

Trending on Reddit

/All
  1. Ohtani strikes out his Angel teammate Mike Trout for the final out and wins the WBC for Japan!
  2. Stabilised footage of the Bigfoot film from 1967.
  3. To dance with the girl
  4. ‘Don’t Say Gay’ lawmaker pleads guilty to COVID relief fraud
  5. Bouncer potentially saves a lot of lives. Stops armed man in devils mask from entering strip club wielding a firearm and flashlight.
/CFB
  1. The Twelfth Annual /CollegeBasketball Bracket Challenge
  2. Alabama's Tony Mitchell drove 141 mph before arrest
  3. [Kollmann] USC’s field is basically a lake right now and the indoor facility is apparently not long enough for a 40 so they have to do [pro day] out here.
  4. 2024 4 star running back Jordan Marshall commits to Michigan
  5. Pac-12 has ‘solidarity’ between remaining members, Utah president Taylor Randall says
  6. Per Jon Wilner: The PAC 12 Presidents didnt meet today.
/LonghornNation
  1. [Post Game Thread] ⚾ Texas defeats Incarnate Word, 17-11
  2. Hopefully this puts any Ewers/Arch QB battling to rest
  3. [Game Thread] ⚾ Texas vs. Incarnate Word - 6:30 pm
  4. Steve Sarkisian Media Availability [March 21st, 2023]
  5. Vic Schaefer: "I need to apologize to the University of Texas for today and how my team played. I'm accountable for that. I'm the head coach. It's my responsibility to make sure we play a lot better than that. This university deserves better than that."
  6. [3/21/2023] Tuesday's Sports Talk Thread
  7. Julien Alfred your women’s National Track Athlete of the year!
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2023.03.22 03:06 QuarticReeds Found this bottle of “prosene compound” on a shelf of antique medicine in a Houston, Texas antique store. The tag says that it’s a stomach tonic, I can’t find anything else about it online, just old newspaper ads. I’d be interested to know what the compound is and if it has any modern equivalent

Found this bottle of “prosene compound” on a shelf of antique medicine in a Houston, Texas antique store. The tag says that it’s a stomach tonic, I can’t find anything else about it online, just old newspaper ads. I’d be interested to know what the compound is and if it has any modern equivalent submitted by QuarticReeds to Whatisthis [link] [comments]