Boise housing market 2022

I stay in the SF bay area and the prices of houses here are very high compared to the rent. Eg. We pay a little under 2% the value of the house we rent.
Given that and factoring in all the additional costs (taxes, maintenance, current interest rates, closing, etc) my calculations show that investing in equity would lead to a much much better outcome over the next 10-15 years. I took a comparison of tech stocks vs the bay area housing market but it's similar if we take national averages vs overall index.
Are we missing something? Or is the conventional wisdom of housing always being a good investment rooted more in emotional needs vs financial outcomes?
Would love to see some calculations or hear some advice too.
Thanks!

“I just had an idea pop into my head about something to do this coming weekend, and I wanted to bounce it off you two before it slips my mind” My friend Natasha said those words as the three of us sat on my couch one afternoon. I found myself sitting up slightly. Normally, Natasha was the last of our group to suggest things to do, letting Vinny, the third member of our group, or I come up with the plans to keep our free time occupied. The fact she was about to suggest something intrigued me. “What have you got in mind?” I asked her. A smile played over her face as her brown eyes seemed to flash. “How about a little ghost hunting?”
I felt Vinny sit straight up beside me. She had clearly grabbed both our attention now. The three of us were what you might call amateur ghost hunters, using very basic items we bought offline to visit some of the spookier places in the area and posting our adventures on YouTube, sort of like a crappier version of Ghost Adventures. “Now that’s one hell of a good idea” Vinny said, before a puzzled expression spread over his face. “But, I mean, where? We’ve already done most of the places around town. The Tioga building won’t let us in after that…well, what that one resident claims we stirred up in the old ballroom, and I’m not about to make the hours long drive to the Wolf Creek Inn” Natasha’s smile grew wider. “No, we don’t have to even go out of town for this one” she said, her voice dropping low, “What I’m suggesting, is we check out…” her voice trailed off, letting the suspense grow for a few seconds before finishing, “The Egyptian Theatre”
Instantly, Vinny let out a harsh bark of laughter. “HA! Now that’s a good one. You know damn good and well that the society that runs the theater won’t allow us in after hours to ghost hunt. As far as I know, they’ve never allowed any paranormal teams into the place” He pulled a face. “So, how exactly do you propose we get in there? You flutter your eyelashes for the night janitor and use your feminine charms to get us in?” Natasha still grinned, but rolled her eyes at our friend’s quip. “No, actually, I was thinking about using my lock picking skills to get us in” she declared. It was my turn to give her an incredulous look. “You’re joking, right?” I asked. She shook her head. “Nope, I’m dead serious” I let out an incredulous, almost baffled snort of laughter and pulled my glasses off my face, rubbing my eyes.
The country, and, to a large extent, the entire world, became gripped in an interest, sometimes bordering on obsession with all things Egyptian when King Tut’s tomb was discovered over a century ago. Many things came out of this, including the classic 1932 monster movie The Mummy. But, one thing that also came of this fever gripping the country was a desire to build many Egyptian style buildings. And one of the buildings which took this design and ran with it, were the movie theatres. A decade after the legendary discovery, over a hundred theatres had gone up all around the country, their interiors clad with fake temple columns, paintings of sphinxes and Egyptian gods such as Anubis decorating the walls, and hieroglyphs adorning the archways. People flocked in droves to them, both to watch movies, and live performances. But, like all trends, eventually, the interest began to wane, and as the late 20th Century approached, many began to shut down and be either remodeled, or straight up demolished. Today, there’s only between five and eight Egyptian style theatres left in the entire country.
And one just so happens to be right in the town I live in.
When I moved to Coos Bay, Oregon nine years ago, I immediately fell in love with the place. Even though it’s the largest coastal town on the Oregon coast, it’s a place which is more or less perpetually frozen in time, still looking pretty much as it did between thirty and seventy years ago. And, as someone who is not exactly into the modern world, it made a perfect place for me to live and escape away from the 21st Century. I began exploring right away, driving every street of it and the town neighboring it, North Bend, along with walking every alley and back road I could to learn the layout. That’s how I learned about the supernatural element to the town.
There are many places in town which people claim supernatural occurrences take place. From the remains of the old logging buildings on the estuary, to the old Tioga Hotel which has been remodeled into apartments, there is no shortage of ghostly tales. There was even the old McCauley Hospital, which had once been the focal point of the town’s annual ghost walks until it was demolished in 2018. As a side note, I heard a rumor that a couple people broke into that place right before it got torn down. Something sure spooked them, because a friend of mine on the police force told me they gave him a fright, bursting in the night before Easter and rambling about something. I always wondered what they saw in there.
But, for me, the place in town I always loved the most, and enjoyed the most hearing about the ghostly accounts told, was the Egyptian Theatre.
Originally built as a garage in 1922, it was renovated by a man named Charles Noble into a movie theatre in 1925, where it drew in droves of people from around the area to watch films, and enjoy live vaudeville performances. It continued to operate almost to the end of the 20th Century, when other theatres began to attract younger moviegoers, and for a while, it almost seemed as though the historic building might even be closed for good and gutted. But, thanks to the efforts of local preservation societies, it was saved, and now operates as a theatre once again. They mostly play only older movies, along with live performances.
And, of course, it draws curious people for the paranormal rumors surrounding it.
For years, people have reported strange occurrences happening inside the building, both when it’s open, and after hours. Patrons and employees alike have spoken about a pervasive feeling of being watched inside the building, but finding no one there when the place was searched. There have been reports of being touched by invisible hands, a few even pushed slightly. Beyond physical interaction, employees have reported the sounds of old film projectors playing and unseen audiences laughing after hours, along with the eerie playing of the theatre’s Wurlitzer pipe organ, along with a host of other occurrences. No ghost hunting team has ever gone in to try and document these events. And to Natasha, that was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Legal, or not.
“Are you freaking nuts?!” Vinny exclaimed, “Do you have any idea how much trouble we’d be in if we got caught breaking and entering? The cops around here are already a bit twitchy with the druggies and the homeless. You wanna give them a reason to throw us into jail alongside them?” Natasha held up a finger, flipping her black hair over her shoulder. “They won’t find out, because I have not one, but two aces in the hole here. The first is that thanks to being friends with Scott, I know the nighttime police sweeps, where they’re going to be and everything. There’ll be an hour long window where they’re not anywhere near the alley where the back door to the theatre is. We can get in and out with no threat of being spotted at all. And the second is, did you forget I’m dating Dylan now?” The realization washed over me like a wave; she had started dating the man who helped the preservation society run the theatre a month or so ago. Damn, she’s been planning this one for a while, I thought.
Vinny had a thoughtful look on his face, his green eyes darting around rapidly, but not seeing. “Hmm” he muttered, then looked at Natasha. “And you’re sure that there’s no chance of us getting caught?” he asked slowly. “Absolutely none” she said, then looked at both of us. “So, how about it?” For a few moments, there was silence, and then Vinny let out a chuckle. “What the hell, why not? The most exciting thing we’ve done the last few weeks is go down to the farmer’s market. This could shake things up a bit” I suddenly became aware that the two of them were looking at me, waiting for me to make my decision. I was always the most sensible of the three of us, doing all I could to keep us out of trouble with others as well as the law. But, I always had one nasty Achilles Heel ever since I had been a child, and that was peer pressure. So, despite the overwhelming feeling that I should tell them no, that I should say we should just find something else to do, I nodded. “Alright, let’s do it” I said simply, causing grins to break out on both of my friend’s faces.
I wish to God in retrospect that I’d just had the damn spine to stand up and say “No”
The rest of the week seemed to pass by faster than usual. Before I knew it, the weekend had arrived. We’d decided that late Saturday night would be the best time to do this, as most places downtown closed up between eleven and midnight, aside from the bars and strip club. To say I felt anxious about breaking the law, something I wasn’t used to doing at all, would be like calling a Megalodon a goldfish, but my worries about disappointing my friends ended up outweighing it. And so, at eleven-thirty, the three of us piled into my beat up Chevy Tahoe, and made our way towards downtown. As I drove us down Ocean Boulevard, which connected the two sides of town, something settled over me. I can’t exactly place it, even to this day. But it was the most uneasy feeling I’ve ever experienced. But I did my best to push it away. It’s nothing, Troy. It’s just because you’re, understandably, worried about this. Plus, the road being deserted isn’t helping much.
My mental chiding seemed to help center me a bit, which was a good thing. The road was now angling downward, and a moment later, we drove into downtown. The darkened shapes of the closed stores seemed to rise up higher on either side of us than they looked during the daytime. We’d decided to cruise by the front entrance first, just to see if anyone were still inside. As I turned the truck onto the main drag, the sign for the theatre rose high above us, a depiction of an Egyptian pharaoh next to the yellow and white letters which proclaimed its name to everyone who drove through town. I spared a glance as we passed it. The lit up marquee windows showed that The Blues Brothers and Jaws would be shown soon. For whatever reason, though, I couldn’t bring myself to look through the glass doors that showed the building’s darkened interior. The uneasy feeling had returned, and, for a moment, it felt as though if I did look, I would see someone, or something staring back out at me. And then we passed it, taking the next right and looping back around to Anderson Ave.
I turned the truck into the narrow alley drive which ran along the back of the theatre and neighboring buildings. Parking right next to the rear doors would be extremely conspicuous, so I pulled up a bit further and parked in a carport like area. Shutting off the engine, I turned to my two friends. “Well, this is it” I said, “Last chance to turn back if anyone’s having second thoughts” I’d hoped that either Vinny or Natasha would’ve gotten cold feet in the last few minutes, allowing us to go do something else. But there was no such luck. “Are you kidding me?” Natasha said from the passenger seat, “We are far too close to back out now!” Vinny grunted from behind me. Well, shit. Resigning myself to the fact they were determined to go through with this, I let a deep breath out through my nose and nodded. The others opened their doors and hopped out. A moment later, I followed.
The night air was cool and crisp on my skin as we slowly walked back down the alley to the rear of the yellow-ish, tan building. Three different sets of red double doors were built into the back of the theatre. Natasha pulled something out of her coat pocket, and I realized, with a small pang of surprise, that it was a lock pick set. A legitimate lock pick set. “Where the hell did you get that?” I whispered to her. She shrugged and smiled. “I have my ways of getting things” she said simply, then pointed to the far right set of doors. “We’ll have a bit of cover from that electrical box. You two keep an eye out while I deal with the lock” And with that, she scurried forward, bending down in front of the door handles. Vinny and I stood guard, each of us looking down both ends of the alley. As the soft sound of Natasha messing with the lock filtered over to me, I realized just how quiet it was. And how eerie hearing downtown so quiet was. Aside from a few distant booms and bangs, and the far off sound of a dog barking, all I could hear was the whistle of the wind as it whipped between the old buildings.
An involuntary shiver cascaded up my spine, and I tried again to reason myself back to a relative sense of calm. “Get a grip, dude, you’re gonna be fine” I whispered under my breath. But this time, it felt as though I weren’t able to entirely convince myself. I suddenly became aware of a creeping sensation, one which made me shoot a look around. Nothing moved in the stillness, no indication of anyone besides us being in the alley. And, yet…I was overcome with the distinct feeling of being watched. Not by either of my friends. But…by someone else. Before I had a chance to even think about it, I heard a rather loud click, and Natasha let out a soft laugh of triumph. “We’re in, ladies and gentleman!” she declared, standing up and pulling on the door. It opened silently, the streetlight in the alley casting a small shaft of light into the darkness beyond. Turning, she waved an arm at Vinny and I. “Come on, let’s get inside”
Before either of us could say anything, she turned and disappeared into the dark. I shot a look at Vinny, who simply shrugged. “After you, my man” he whispered. I let out a deep sigh, and then moved to the door. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the small flashlight, and then pulled on the heavy metal, slipping inside, Vinny right behind me. The darkness swallowed us as the door closed. For a moment, a small rush of panic from not being able to see flashed through me, before a light appeared beside me. It wasn’t from a flashlight, though; instead, a small, orange flame flickered beside me. “Don’t turn on your flashlights yet, just follow me” Natasha said, the flame making her face seem to dance and move behind it. She turned and headed away, leaving us no choice but to follow. I listened to her and didn’t turn on my flashlight. But every fiber of my being was screaming at me to. Because the feeling of being watched out in the alleyway? Had quintupled in here. The best way to describe it, was that we were angrily being stared at. And I didn’t like the sensation one bit.
Natasha led us up a flight of steps and pushed open another door. “We’re here” she said, still keeping her voice low, “You can turn on your flashlights now” Thank you, God, I silently said, snapping mine on and casting a bright white light into the room we’d entered. A moment later, so did my two friends’ lights. The beams played around, and I heard Vinny let out a bit of a gasp. “Ho-lyyyy shit” he muttered.
Natasha had guided us into the main theatre. The ceiling rose high above our heads, almost out of sight of even the flashlights. Rows upon rows of red movie seats stretched out and away from us, seeming almost unending in the shadows. The walls were all covered in hieroglyphs, all still original from the 1920s. To our left, the second story, which housed a smaller row of seats, along with the projection room rose about twenty feet above us. And to the right, was the stage itself. It was flanked by two huge columns, the screen rolled up and revealing a mosaic of an Egyptian building on the back wall, with two men clutching staffs sitting on either side. Directly in front of the stage sat the organ, its seating bench tucked beneath it.
“Okay, this is a trip to be in at night!” Natasha exclaimed excitedly, then pulled the backpack she’d been wearing off her shoulders. Dropping it into a seat, she unzipped it and began pulling items from it. “Guys, here” she said, holding them out. Vinny stepped forward and grabbed the camcorder from her; as someone who’d had a lifelong dream of being a filmmaker, he was our resident cameraman. I stepped forward and took two items from her: an infrared thermometer and an EVP recorder. The rest, she placed on the ground, and then faced Vinny. “Alright, tell me when you’re recording” He fumbled with the camcorder for a second, then shot her a thumbs up. Instantly, she took on a somber, eerie expression, giving an admittedly creepy look at the camera. “Well, well, welcome back to The Three Ghostkuteers, everyone. I hope you all have been well since our last trip. Tonight, you join us in a very, very special place, and one close to home for us. We are currently in the Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay, Oregon, one of the last remaining in the country. It was built in the 1920s by a man named Charles Noble-“
I turned away, tuning her out as I did. The woman really, really enjoys being in front of the camera. Better her than me. Shining my light around, I looked up at the balcony. I could see the small hole in the projection booth where the movie projector would shine out onto the screen. Something caught the beam’s light, reflecting off it slightly, and I aimed the light at the wall. It was a wrought iron light fixture, one which had been shaped into the figure of a King Cobra, poised to strike. Gazing around, I saw they adorned much of the walls. I let out a small shudder at it. God, do I hate snakes. Thankfully, though, the feeling of being watched I’d had in the alley and the darkened back of the theatre had seemingly disappeared. Yeah, see, what’d I tell you, Troy? Nothing but your nerves.
Natasha had finished her opening monologue and moved to the edge of the stage, on which she placed the small, square spirit box. “And now, let’s see if anyone would like to speak with us” she said, flicking it on. Instantly, the silence of the theatre was shattered by the sound of static, intermittently interrupted by quick snippets of radio shows being picked up. “Is there anyone here who’d like to talk to us?” she called out into the huge room. The static and snippets were the only sound to answer her. After a minute, she tried again. “Are there any spirits who’d like to communicate with us?” There was still nothing. Vinny panned the camera from the box to Natasha as she paced back and forth for a few minutes. A small look of disappointment flooded over her face, but she instantly plastered it over with the same look she’d given the camera before. “Well, it looks like the spirit box isn’t gonna work tonight, so we’re gonna have to try something else” She pulled out an EVP recorder identical to mine and switched it on. “Let’s try this instead, shall we? Remember, by the way guys, if you’re new here and want to see more, to like and subscribe-“
I turned away again, feeling a small pang of irritation flow through me. This is freakin’ ridiculous, man. The longer we stay in here, the more chance we have of getting caught. Truth be told, as much as I enjoyed ghost hunting, I didn’t even really believe in the paranormal. In all the years the three of us had filmed together, not once had we caught anything, on tape or otherwise. In fact, many times we’d had to fake spooky occurrences in order to make sure our videos got any views at all. This is your own fault, man, I silently chided myself, you’re the one who couldn’t stand up to them and say no. You really, seriously need to grown a spine and learn how to say no. The mental self lecture was furthering my rotten mood, and I began to feel a wave of anger at my two friends, as well as myself boil up.
“Hell with this” I finally muttered, then turned and began walking up the aisle. “Troy, where the hell are you going?” I heard Natasha call out behind me. I stopped, not looking over my shoulder, but quietly aiming my voice behind me and allowing a hint of irritation to seep into it. “I’m gonna go check out the second floor balcony, okay? I don’t exactly like just standing here” For a moment, there was silence, and then her voice came, soft and almost apologetic. “Okay, go ahead” Before she could say anything more, I strode away, walking to the open doorway which led out of the theater and into the concession area. I hooded my flashlight beam with one hand to make sure it wouldn’t accidentally shine out of the glass entrance doors into the street and looked around. The lobby and concession stand took up most of the front area, the darkened shape of it stretching along the far wall.
Taking a few steps ahead, I turned and looked up at the wall above me. Large, blue letters stretched out from one side of it to the other. Through these doors pass the most wonderful people. I snorted softly. “Yeah, unfortunately, not tonight” I shook my head, then looked around. And nearly jumped out of my skin. Something also seemed to jump back. I felt my heartbeat begin to race in my chest and my breath quickened. “Shit…” I let out weakly, then slowly moved forward. After a few steps, I suddenly realized what I’d seen and let out a soft laugh of relief.
“Your own damn reflection, you fucking pussy” Shaking my head, I turned away from the glass wall and headed for the stairs to the second floor. At the base of them, I stopped and shone my flashlight up. “Ooh, boy” I said quietly. Sitting next to the stairway like a sentry, was a huge, golden statue of a pharaoh. It towered over me, and I estimated that, were it be standing straight up, it’d easily be between eight and ten feet tall. It stared straight ahead at the wall ahead of it, and I couldn’t help but let out a small shiver as I stared at it. It just seemed so damn eerie in the dark, and I quickly moved past it, heading up the stairs and stepping out onto the second story balcony.
I shone my light around. Red seats again surrounded me, though this time far fewer. Ahead of me, I could see the balcony’s edge and the hulking shape of the main stage beyond. I could also see the beams of my friends’ flashlights playing over it, and hear both of their voices speaking softly. Deciding while I was up here to at least check out the projection booth, I strode over to the door and tried to turn the handle. It was locked. Feeling my irritation bubble over into exasperation, I jiggled the handle in some stupid attempt to open it. But the door stayed shut. I turned away and rubbed my eyes, again hearing the voices of my friends softly filtering up to me from down below.
“Hey, if there really are any ghosts, or spooks, or specters, or whatever in here? If you’re actually real, could you appear to us, please?” I whispered to no one, “That way my friends can get what they want and I can go home” I received only silence in reply. I hadn’t really expected anything, anyways. You know what? Screw this, I’m going back down there and telling them I’m going home, with or without them. This is beyond stupid, I just broke the law for what? For nothing! For something dumb as hell. And with that, I turned to walk away. But I hadn’t even taken a single step when something crashed into me like a wave. The breath was driven from my lungs as I felt a massive chill shoot through me, as though I’d been doused with ice water. “What the fuck?!” I hissed through gritted teeth, then froze, my eyes going wide. The feeling of being watched had returned with a vengeance, and it had seemingly been ramped up in its intensity. I shot a look around, but saw nobody.
Still, the feeling remained, and with each passing second, it almost seemed to grow stronger. Chill after chill rolled up my spine, and even though I didn’t really believe, something deep inside me told me that it was time to get out. Okay, time to leave, I said in my head, and headed quickly for the stairs. As I reached the head, I turned to look back one final time. That’s when I saw something. It disappeared when I aimed my flashlight at it, but I swear a second earlier it had been the outline of a person, standing in the shadows and watching me. The split second sight catapulted me into motion, and I hurried down the steps, shining my light every which way but loose. Believer or not, I knew something wanted us out. I’d planned on jumping off the second to last stair and running for the main theatre floor. But as I reached the bottom, I froze.
For a moment, I couldn’t place why. And then, the realization fell over me like a tsunami. I let out an involuntary gasp, and fear like I’d never felt before surged through me. I didn’t want to turn around and look. I wanted to pretend I hadn’t seen it. I desperately wanted to. But, like a dumbass character in a horror movie, I couldn’t help it. I needed to look. I slowly turned, aiming my flashlight back up. And I couldn’t help but let out a strangled scream, falling backwards over my own feet as I began to backpedal rapidly.
The statue of the pharaoh still sat where it had. It still towered over me, looking as imposing and eerie as ever. But it’s carved and painted eyes were no longer staring straight ahead at the wall. Instead, they had somehow moved. And when I’d turned, I’d come to find they were staring directly at me.
I scrambled to my feet, snatching the flashlight from the floor where I’d dropped it and aiming it at the statue again. It stared straight out at nothing again. But I knew what I’d seen. It hadn’t been a trick of my mind, or the light. The freaking thing’s eyes had moved to watch me as I passed down by it. I began to stammer out as I backed away from it. “Okay, that’s it, no no no no, we’re done here, fuck this shit, I’m officially a believer, we’re leaving, right now” I kept backing towards the doorway to the theatre, never taking my eyes off the statue. I was terrified I’d seen it suddenly stand up and turn to lumber after me like Boris Karloff or something.
The blaring sound of the theatre’s organ slashed through the silence, causing me to let out another strangled scream and jump almost a foot off the ground. I whipped around, thinking I would see my moronic friends tinkering with the instrument. Instead, I froze again. The theatre was no longer dark. Both of my friends had seemingly vanished from the room, as I could no longer see them. The movie screen had somehow been pulled down, and above me, I heard the whir of the movie projector playing. An old, black and white movie, one which had no sound, played on the screen, occasionally changing to show dialogue being displayed in white letters.
It was also no longer empty.
The entire theatre was packed. I saw people sitting at almost every single seat in the huge room. I could only see the backs of their heads as they watched the movie playing. At the edge of the stage, what looked like a man now sat at the organ, playing it in time with the film. A slapstick moment came across the screen, and the audience began laughing. In any other situation, it would’ve been a comforting sound. But at that moment, it was the most spine chilling sound I’d ever heard. Especially as another wave of realization crashed into me. From the little I could see, everyone in the theatre looked to be dressed in long passed fashions.
That’s when the voice, low and quiet, came from behind me. “Good evening, sir” it said. It sounded like a man’s voice, one rather low and deep pitched, but something about it paralyzed me on the spot. The voice continued, putting on an air of pleasant politeness. “We’re so glad you could make it, it’s been so long since we’ve had new patrons arrive at a showing. If I could just see your ticket, please?”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. Then, I managed to squeak out two words. “Uh, ticket?” The tone of the voice seemed to change somewhat. “Yes, your ticket. That’s the only way you could’ve gotten in. Please, let me verify it and show you to your seat” Ohhh, shit. Whoever, or whatever the voice belonged to, thought I had shown up like a regular moviegoer. The voice’s tone became less polite. “You do have a ticket, right, sir?” I was beyond terrified to answer, but I was more terrified to remain silent. For a moment, I considered lying. But I feared what might happen if I did. So I told the truth.
“I….uh, I, uh….I don’t have a ticket, sir” I stammered out, my voice barely above a whisper. Instantly, all sound stopped in the room like someone had flipped a switch. “You…don’t have a ticket?” the voice said, all pretense of manners vanishing from it, “Then how did you get in here for the late night showing?” Oh, god. I forced myself to speak, still unable to say anything except the truth. “My…my friends and I….broke in…through the back door…to…ghost hunt…” There was silence for a few moments, and then a heavy hand dropped onto my shoulder. My head swiveled to look at it. Oh, fuck me sideways. It wasn’t a regular hand. It was a fucking claw. One with black skin, tipped with what looked like razor sharp nails. It sat there for a moment, then tightened; almost painfully so, making me let out a small whimper of pain.
That’s when I looked up. Everyone in the theatre had turned to look at me. My initial thought had been correct; they all wore clothing from almost a century ago, and not the stuff cosplayers wear, either. They also had very angry expressions on their faces, as if they’d just noticed the intruder among their midst. The voice finally came again, almost directly behind me. Its tone lowered, almost sounding guttural and animal, making my legs almost melt into jelly from the fear. “Then, might I make a suggestion to you and your trespassing little friends?” My breath came in rapid, ragged gasps, and I barely managed to force out the one word. “Yes?”
“LEAVE”
At the single word reply, which now more closely resembled a growl than a word, I did something I will forever wish I hadn’t. I finally turned and looked up at who was addressing me. The only way I can describe what happened is, my mind shattered. The next thing I remember, I was crashing into the back doors of the theatre into the night.
And I was screaming.
That was a month or so ago. When I’d stumbled back into the alley, I’d turned and, in what I can only call blind fear and panic, bolted for my truck. I hadn’t even heard my friends chasing after me. Not until Vinny caught up to me as I scrambled with my keys, grabbing me from behind and turning me to face him. He said the look I’d had on my face scared him and Natasha more than anything ever had before. I’d been pale as a sheet, my eyes wider than they ever thought a human’s could be. I'd been babbling softly. I’d been saying the words “They want us to leave” over and over. They didn’t ask me what had happened. They just pushed me into the backseat of my truck and drove away from there. It was clear, as I found out later on, that both of them hadn’t seen anything. As far as they were concerned before seeing me dash to the rear doors, it was just an empty theatre. Neither one of them ever asked me what I saw that night. And for that, I’m thankful. Because I could never utter from my lips what I did see.
But I’ve had nightmares since then. Horrible ones. Ones that’ve been so bad, I had to let out what happened to me, deciding to just post it here, regardless of whether people believe me or not.
Nightmares about being back in that theatre after hours. About seeing that pharaoh statue’s eyes flick in its painted sockets to look at me. About seeing all those people, people long since dead, sitting and watching the films they did when they were alive. About seeing that hand fall on my shoulder, hearing that voice, telling me not to come back until I have a ticket.
And about turning to see who the hand and voice belonged to.
The Egyptian Theatre will be celebrating its centennial this year. People are planning to show up in 1920s cars, dressed in period clothing. They’re even going to show an old, silent film as part of the festivities. But I won’t be attending it. I won’t ever go anywhere near it again. The one time I tried, a week or so ago, I started trembling with fear. And the mental image played over and over in my head.
The image of turning to see that horrible canine head attached to the human-like body, red, glowing eyes glaring down at me as it’s sharp teeth glinted in the light.
I pray to god I never will end up with a ticket to one of its late night showings.
But I can't help but fear that, like those packed into the theatre, sooner or later, we all will.

June 4 International gold market comprehensive research and judgment reference
Significant events: On May 31 EDT, the House of Representatives passed a bill on the federal government debt ceiling and budget, and the Senate passed it the next day, under which government spending would be subject to upper limits until about the end of 2024, but a debt default could be avoided. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that non-farm payrolls rose by 339,000 in May, the 29th consecutive monthly gain, after adjusting for seasonal factors. The unemployment rate was 3.7% in May, compared with 3.50% expected and 3.40% previously. The probability of maintaining interest rates at the current level by July is 32.1%, the cumulative probability of a 25 basis point hike is 53.5%, and the cumulative probability of a 50 basis point hike is 14.4%.
Trend analysis: last week the gold market volatility is intense, gold prices in general showed first up after the plunge of the inverted V-shaped reversal trend. Gold prices in the week lasted four trading days after a strong rebound in the oscillation, on Friday retracted most of the week's gains, the weekly k-line closed a long upper shadow of the positive cross, showing a serious divergence between long and short. In particular, Friday's selloff constituted a serious blow to short-term long confidence. Debt ceiling negotiations successfully landed, the U.S. debt ceiling crisis lifted, and at the same time the non-farm clerk constituted a big negative, the market turned to focus on the pace of the Federal Reserve rate hikes in June up, making the market again into pressure. At present, the market is still in the downtrend since May. Short-term long counterattack declared failure, short or again down to challenge the previous wave low near $ 1940, to test whether the buying can still resist.
Timing analysis. 4 hours KD curve on Friday directly from 80 scale straight to below 20 scale, close to 0 degrees, indicating that the short sentiment reached the freezing point. There may be a reversal signal for an oversold rebound today.

LPI (LP Information)' newest research report, the “Railway Vehicle Braking System Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Railway Vehicle Braking System sales in 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Railway Vehicle Braking System sales for 2023 through 2029. With Railway Vehicle Braking System sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Railway Vehicle Braking System industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Railway Vehicle Braking System landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Railway Vehicle Braking System portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms' unique position in an accelerating global Railway Vehicle Braking System market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Railway Vehicle Braking System and breaks down the forecast by type, by application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Railway Vehicle Braking System .
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Railway Vehicle Braking System market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
https://www.lpinformationdata.com/reports/729985/railway-vehicle-braking-system-2029
The main participants
Nabtesco
Knorr-Bremse
Mitsubishi
New York Air Brake
Hanning
Voith Turbo
Benia Satrap Padideh Company
Wabtec Railway Electronics
Yujin Machinery
Dako-CZ
Siemens Mobility
Beijing Tianyishangjia
Tedrail
Greysham International
Huatie
JSC MTZ Transmash
Amsted
Segmentation by type
Air Brake System
Electro-pneumatic Brake System
Segmentation by application
Bus
Truck
Others
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Railway Vehicle Braking System market?
What factors are driving Railway Vehicle Braking System market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Railway Vehicle Braking System market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Railway Vehicle Braking System break out type, application?
What are the influences of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war?
LP INFORMATION (LPI) is a professional market report publisher based in America, providing high quality market research reports with competitive prices to help decision makers make informed decisions and take strategic actions to achieve excellent outcomes.We have an extensive library of reports on hundreds of technologies.Search for a specific term, or click on an industry to browse our reports by subject. Narrow down your results using our filters or sort by what’s important to you, such as publication date, price, or name.
LP INFORMATION
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Website: https://www.lpinformationdata.com

Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm Market Size, Growth Rate, Industry Opportunities 2023-2029
Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm Market Analysis, Competitors, Growth Rate 2023 SLB, Cynergy Ergonomics, Ergonomic Partners
Global Info Research announces the release of the report “Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm Market 2023 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2029” . The report is a detailed and comprehensive analysis presented by region and country, type and application. As the market is constantly changing, the report explores the competition, supply and demand trends, as well as key factors that contribute to its changing demands across many markets. Company profiles and product examples of selected competitors, along with market share estimates of some of the selected leaders for the year 2023, are provided. In addition, the report provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War Influence.
According to our (Global Info Research) latest study, the global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market size was valued at USD million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD million by 2029 with a CAGR of % during review period. The influence of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War were considered while estimating market sizes.
Key Features:
Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market size and forecasts, in consumption value), sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market size and forecasts by region and country, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market size and forecasts, by Type and by Application, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market shares of main players, shipments in revenue, sales quantity, and ASP, 2018-2023
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries
To assess the growth potential for Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm
To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market
To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
This report profiles key players in the global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market based on the following parameters - company overview, production, value, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments.
Request Free Sample Copy Or buy this report at:https://www.globalinforesearch.com/reports/1535202/hydraulic-cylinder-manipulator-arm
The Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market is segmented as below:
Market segment by Type
Manual Control Auto-control
Market segment by Application
Chemical Industry Medical Food Electronics Other
Major players covered
SLB Cynergy Ergonomics Ergonomic Partners TXMR Vinca Dalmec Atis Yaplex Movomech Indeva Ingersoll Rand Binar Pronomic TAWI Manibo Wuxi Leijie Top Star
The Main Contents of the Report, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year. Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm from 2018 to 2023. Chapter 3, the Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast. Chapter 4, the Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value and growth by regions, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value and market share for key countries in the world, from 2017 to 2022.and Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2024 to 2029. Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, Porters Five Forces analysis, and Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. Chapter 13, the key raw materials and key suppliers, and industry chain of Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm. Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion.
The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our report on the Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market covers the following areas:
ü Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market sizing
ü Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market forecast
ü Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm market industry analysis
ü Analyze the needs of the global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Armbusiness market
ü Answer the market level of global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Arm
ü Statistics the annual growth of the global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Armproduction market
ü The main producers of the global Hydraulic Cylinder Manipulator Armproduction market
ü Describe the growth factor that promotes market demand
Global Info Research is a company that digs deep into global industry information to support enterprises with market strategies and in-depth market development analysis reports. We provides market information consulting services in the global region to support enterprise strategic planning and official information reporting, and focuses on customized research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and top industry services. At the same time, Global Info Research is also a report publisher, a customer and an interest-based suppliers, and is trusted by more than 30,000 companies around the world. We will always carry out all aspects of our business with excellent expertise and experience.
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Introduction
Tele marketing business giveaways are of extreme importance for business companies. They help logo merchandise and corporate gifts through giveaways ensure smooth relations between the customers and the company. The custom tradeshow giveaways include giveaways of different corporate gifts that also include tech products, decoration pieces, and daily use items. Let us take a look at the top 10 corporate gifts to use in custom tradeshow giveaways.
The custom tradeshow giveaways help in spreading the word about a particular company and brand.
Let us take a look at the best corporate gifts to use for logo merchandise. Corporate gifts are for use in tele marketing business giveaways.
Top 10 Corporate gifts
Small Plants
The tele marketing business giveaways can include promotional and good-looking items. Small plants are one of them. Small plants are helpful inside the rooms and make the environment look clean. Some plants can grow in shady and cold places like rooms. You can also place a small plant on your study table as your companion..
Why are they the best gift?
Small plants are attractive to watch, and the pots can be helpful in logo merchandise.
Plants look clean and decorative. As a result, they can increase the beauty of the place where they are kept, making them one of the best corporate gifts.
Plants are the best gifts for customers as they give out a fragrance of freshness and good spirit.
Customized Table Mats
Customized table mats are also a great source of logo merchandise. Whenever a customer uses the table mat, the embroidered name of the company reminds them of the company; that is an excellent way of making your clients remember you as corporate gifts are all about ensuring good relations with the customers.
Why are they the best gift?
Customized table mats are great for logo merchandise.
They are one of the best gifts in corporate gifts because of their usage. Frequent usage and seeing the logo of the company reminds the customers about the company
Table mats are attractive and an excellent addition to your dining table.
Premium Sweets
Sweets are a perfect gift for happy occasions. The tele marketing business giveaways can also use premium and rare sweets as corporate gifts. The customers tend to remember the sweetness of the deals while enjoying the premium sweets with a customized message.
Why are they the best gift?
Premium sweets are the best gift for celebrations and festive occasions.
Premium sweets are sweet, just like the relation between the company and customers
Premium sweets promote good relations and are a good source of logo merchandise.
Gift Cards
Gift cards tend to make people happy. They give out the feeling of gratitude and love. Just what a customer wants from the company that he buys from. A little regard can bring a smile to the face of the loyal customers. As partners, companies should also make little effort, such as gift cards, to make them smile.
Why are they the best gift?
Small and easy to give
A feeling of compassion and regard
Great for birthdays and company anniversaries.
Pen Holders
Every house has tables, so why don't you go with the corporate gifts that can increase the table's beauty? A pen holder, for example, a stylish, customized pen holder that has the company's name engraved on it, can increase the beauty of the table and act as an tele marketing tool at the same time. Pen holders are needed in houses and offices on the study and work desks.
Why are they the best gift?
Compact and easy to use
All the pens safely in one place
A good source of decoration and brand awareness
Clothing
Clothes are one of the best corporate gifts that can be fantastic logo merchandise. The custom tradeshow giveaways can include apparel with the name of a company engraved on them. Tshirts can be a great source of logo merchandise, mainly if your company deals in clothing.
Why are they the best gift?
It can be used at custom tradeshow giveaways
Helpful in wearing as regular clothes
Good source of logo merchandise
Keychains
Customized keychains are known to be a great source of logo merchandise. Indeed one of the best corporate gifts that help people in keeping their important keys safe. They are also used at custom tradeshow giveaways for the effective promotion of the brand or company.
Why are they the best gift?
Brilliant gift for people to use in daily life
Compact gift easy to give away at custom tradeshow giveaways
Personal Diaries
Personal diaries are always a treat for a company's clients as they feel obliged about being remembered by the company. In addition, personal diaries are suitable for tele marketing business giveaways. Therefore, they are a decent gift to give and a good source of logo merchandise.
Why are they the best gift?
Suitable for educational clients, a companion to write thoughts.
A decent gift to use for kids and elders.
A customized diary that follows a cool theme is even more attractive
Calendars
Calendars are indeed great to use in tele marketing business giveaways. A charming calendar with a good image of nature at the top and the company's name serves perfectly as a calendar and logo merchandise on the wall. Customized calendars which follow a movie theme can look even more attractive.
Why are they the best gift?
Calendars help people follow their schedules efficiently
Customized calendars can be more fun
An excellent decoration for any wall
Wine Glass
The wine itself is a premium drink. The wine glasses are ideal for giving away at custom tradeshow giveaways. Everyone that drinks in the customized wine glasses consisting of a company's name automatically serves as great logo merchandise. Wine glasses are one of the most premium gifts given to VIP clients on suitable occasions.
Why are they the best gift?
One of the most premium gifts to give to clients
Impose a long-lasting bond
Excellent source of logo merchandise
Conclusion
Telemarketing business giveaways are done to create brand awareness, logo merchandise and oblige the customers. The customers become happy on receiving gifts from the companies. Client and company relation is deeply affected by gifts and custom tradeshow giveaways. We took a look at the top 10 corporate gifts to give away. All these gifts are valuable and pretty handy to giveaway to clients.

LPI (LP Information)' newest research report, the “Ship Host Remote Control System Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Ship Host Remote Control System sales in 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Ship Host Remote Control System sales for 2023 through 2029. With Ship Host Remote Control System sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Ship Host Remote Control System industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Ship Host Remote Control System landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Ship Host Remote Control System portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms' unique position in an accelerating global Ship Host Remote Control System market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Ship Host Remote Control System and breaks down the forecast by type, by application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Ship Host Remote Control System .
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Ship Host Remote Control System market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
https://www.lpinformationdata.com/reports/729984/ship-host-remote-control-system-2029
The main participants
Nabtesco
Sea Machines
Kongsberg Norcontrol
SELMA Ship Electric Marine Control
Kobelt
Dockmate
Nantong Navigation Machinery Group Co.
DNV
Rolls-Royce
Wartsila
Segmentation by type
Pneumatic Remote Control System
Electric Remote Control System
Microcomputer Remote Control System
Segmentation by application
Military Ship
Civilian Ship
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Ship Host Remote Control System market?
What factors are driving Ship Host Remote Control System market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Ship Host Remote Control System market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Ship Host Remote Control System break out type, application?
What are the influences of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war?
LP INFORMATION (LPI) is a professional market report publisher based in America, providing high quality market research reports with competitive prices to help decision makers make informed decisions and take strategic actions to achieve excellent outcomes.We have an extensive library of reports on hundreds of technologies.Search for a specific term, or click on an industry to browse our reports by subject. Narrow down your results using our filters or sort by what’s important to you, such as publication date, price, or name.
LP INFORMATION
E-mail: [email protected]
Add: 17890 Castleton St. Suite 369 City of Industry, CA 91748 US
Website: https://www.lpinformationdata.com

Selling some watercooling stuff. Timestamps, notes, asking price as follows:
All parts were used by a previous owner for ~1.5 years. I bought these in mid-2022 but never did end up doing any watercooling projects. Exception is the Optimus blocks, which are brand new, purchased in late-2021. Was planning to use these at some point but life got in the way.
The three GPU blocks fit all EVGA FTW3 3080, 3080Ti, 3090, 3090 Ti models.
ALL TIMESTAMPS: https://imgur.com/a/V4TlsBq

Item	Asking	Notes	Status
CPU Block: EK-Classic CPU Water Block 115x/20xx D-RGB	$25	Liquid metal marks on the coldplate.	Available
GPU Block: EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 D-RGB Nickel + Acetal	$100	Includes a black backplate. Used condition, all mounting hardware included. Purchased with gpu+block installed from previous owner, but I uninstalled and put the air cooler back on, so it's been sitting in box for ~1 year.	Available
GPU Block: Optimus FTW3 Blemish Block, Silver backplate + raw copper	$200	2 Available. Best FTW3 block on the market. Purchased from Optimus but never used. All installation hardware included. "Blemish" refers to cosmetic defects per Optimus' description	Available
Radiator: EK-Coolstream PE 360	$50	Used, working	Available
Radiator: 240 mm	$25	Not sure what brand this is.	Available
Pump: EK-Quantum Inertia D5 PWM D-RGB Plexi	$75	Used, working	Available
Reservoir: EK-RES X3 250	$50	Used, working	Available
Fittings: Various soft-tube fitting	$30	Combination of EK (Classic STC 10/13 Nickel) and Bykski (B-FT3-TN) for 3/8-inch soft tubing.	Available

Shipping price not included, should be ~$25 on top for most major cities. Discounts possible for more than 1 item purchased. Preference for local and/or bulk buys.
Feel free to let me know if prices are off-base, based on previous posts/sales/etc. Just looking to get rid of everything asap.

I (29 f) and my younger brother (27m) purchased a home together in 2017.
Mid March - early February 2021 was a really difficult time for my family. My dog had gotten out of the yard and when later found, she had a broken leg. She ended up having to get a partial amputation. The next few days after my dogs incident my grandpa passed away and then a week later my step dad had passed away to lung cancer. So during this difficult time, I decided to stay with my mom to help her cope.
I work from home so I am back and forth between both houses. So I have my office set up at my house where I work for about 8-9 hours depending on my schedule, and then I go to my mom's to stay the night. That is my week day schedule.
Sometime in 2022 my brother met a girl (kat 26) on a dating app. After a few months of them dating my brothers car had broken down. So kat started to take him to work while he was getting his car fixed. She moved herself into our house because it was more convenient to take my brother to and from work. Which I thought that was nice at the time. But as the months passed she completely took over the house. She leaves dishes piled for weeks, dirt and food all over the floor, she does not flush the toilet, leaves chunks of hair everywhere, and smokes inside my home. I have gotten into countless of arguments with both of them because of the conditions my house is now in. (Mind you that this is just a few of the incidents I have had with her).
Now I have always paid my half of all the bills. Recently I decided to move my office to my moms house. My brother and I are not on good terms anymore, but I had texted him to met up with me because we needed to discuss somethings. I told him that I am fully moving in with my mom and that kat is going to have to start paying rent. I told him that I would pay the next 3 months so they can get everything situated on their end. I also told him that I would give him $200 every month so I can use my own bedroom as storage. And that i would still come by so I could feed my dogs.
He told my that I can't charge kat rent because she only makes $10 an hour. And that if I move I can't use my own bedroom. He says that Im an ass for dumping my responsibility on her.
I informed him that I have not lived in my home for close to 2 years. And that I am extremely uncomfortable with living in a filthy house. Kat is a grown woman. If she cannot afford to pay rent then she needs to get more hours, change her job, or needs to move out. I am not paying for a home where I do not reside in. Especially when she smokes and sleeps all day because she only works 4 hours a day 4 times a week.
Now my brother is threatening to sue me and that I broke his heart over this. AITA for charging his girlfriend rent?

In the current landscape of the housing market, it seems that the plight of landlords remains woefully misunderstood. Their struggles and challenges are often overshadowed by the incessant demands and entitlement of tenants. It's time to shed light on the harsh realities that landlords face and the injustices perpetrated against them on a daily basis.
Gone are the days when tenants upheld their end of the bargain and treated rental properties with respect and care. Nowadays, greed and inconsideration have become the norm, with tenants pinching every penny and disregarding their contractual obligations. From unpaid rents to property damage, landlords bear the brunt of tenants' irresponsibility, left to pick up the pieces of their shattered investments.
But the story doesn't end there. The oppressive weight of regulations suffocates landlords, leaving them gasping for air and struggling to maintain their livelihoods. Rent control policies, eviction moratoriums, and never-ending inspections have turned the role of landlords into a thankless task. The dream of building a successful rental business has become a nightmare, as landlords find themselves trapped in a web of bureaucratic restrictions that stifle their financial freedom.
Yet, who speaks up for these silenced victims? The narrative of tenant rights dominates the discourse, while landlords are left to navigate the treacherous waters alone. The cries for fairness and compassion seem to fall on deaf ears when it comes to the struggles faced by landlords. It's time to recognize their humanity, their investment, and their right to protect their livelihoods.

https://watchers.news/2022/12/18/meteor-explodes-over-zhejiang-broken-windows-and-street-lamps-reported-meteorites-found-china/
There were two houses hit with small meteors, doing a bit of damage within 2 months of each other this year. & Now, This reported June 4, Chunghua.
Not as serious as Chelyabinsk, but caused some injuries and damages. Now this event 10 yrs. later. A trend is forming.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-was-the-chelyabinsk-meteor-event
Let's see The AMS bolide sighting records. We suspect there is a correlation with far, far more sightings by some 20 fold since 2008.
https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_fireball_stats/
Yep, two houses hit, a major first; and a major asteroidal impact fragments in only a few months.
The Skies contrary to Airline ads are NOT always Friendly. Now all we need is a jet brought down by one, and then this will get more attentions.
We can see it now. to Clerk at airline counter. Sir, do you sell meteor insurance?
We can predict more of those will recur, now.

LPI (LP Information)' newest research report, the “Gynecological Irrigator Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Gynecological Irrigator sales in 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Gynecological Irrigator sales for 2023 through 2029. With Gynecological Irrigator sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Gynecological Irrigator industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Gynecological Irrigator landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Gynecological Irrigator portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms' unique position in an accelerating global Gynecological Irrigator market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for Gynecological Irrigator and breaks down the forecast by type, by application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global Gynecological Irrigator .
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Gynecological Irrigator market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
https://www.lpinformationdata.com/reports/729983/gynecological-irrigator-2029
The main participants
BOENMED
Trans Africa Medicals
Berry Global
Narang Medical Limited
IndoSurgicals Pvt. Ltd.
HEMC Medical
Desco Medical India
GPC Medical Ltd.
Cliniva Healthcare
AdvinHealthcare
Segmentation by type
Medical Polyethylene
Medical Polypropylene
Others
Segmentation by application
Hospital
Clinic
Household
Others
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global Gynecological Irrigator market?
What factors are driving Gynecological Irrigator market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do Gynecological Irrigator market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does Gynecological Irrigator break out type, application?
What are the influences of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war?
LP INFORMATION (LPI) is a professional market report publisher based in America, providing high quality market research reports with competitive prices to help decision makers make informed decisions and take strategic actions to achieve excellent outcomes.We have an extensive library of reports on hundreds of technologies.Search for a specific term, or click on an industry to browse our reports by subject. Narrow down your results using our filters or sort by what’s important to you, such as publication date, price, or name.
LP INFORMATION
E-mail: [email protected]
Add: 17890 Castleton St. Suite 369 City of Industry, CA 91748 US
Website: https://www.lpinformationdata.com

Based in Fl October 2022 1 week after hurricane ian. My internet was perfect no connection issues pre hurricane. Post hurricane my internet drops connection (Xfinity)
The light on modem/router goes through a cycle of orange blinks/ green blinks/ and white until it is able to establish a connection and then drops again repeatedly doing this for either 5 min or knocks it out for the entire day.
I have already replaced the routemodem because we where having the same issue with the old one so i thought it might be a hardware issue, but we continue to have the same problem.
I hired someone replace the coax line running through our house because (Xfinity) doesn’t do that they only cover outside the home to the NID. We contacted (Xfinity) to get a new line ran underground and they said that they did.
So this should cover all 3 component’s that needed to be replaces (both underground/inside lines and the hardware). i have replaced the hardware and the line and I’m having the same problem.
We also made sure that no wired or wifi device was connected that could be causing the problem and we where still having outages.
I need help i dont think that our service provider replaced the line but it could also be another bad modem.

I have had a day now to reflect on the last month. A major relapse on my over a decade long battle with compulsive gambling. Now at 30 and with a higher salary the total monetary value of the losses in this episode is much higher. But I can end it today in a position that I can recover from.
There have been many times over the last 10 years where I have gambled away every dollar I had and had to live off a shoestring or cash load or pawn shop to survive to the next paycheck. There was even an episode of stealing from my parents. All though my losses at the time were in the hundreds or the low thousands it was everything I had. I can't think of a time back then where I had 10k to my name.
In the last couple of years I got a much better job than I had back then and I nicer salary. More importantly I have not been gambling. I managed to save 80k. My problem is sports betting. In the last month I wiped away half of that. That represented my 15k in savings 10k in spending account. And a further 15k in my credit card. With my next paycheck and selling my 10k crypto portfolio I was able to payoff credit immediately. That just left my 40k stocks portfolio which luckily for me would take time to sell and has been enough of an inconvenience for me to need to stop and think about what I was doing.
After the first 2 weeks I was 20k down and just could not let it go. I had to make it back. And here we are now. Down another 20. My bet size for sports bets and multis is much larger now than it had been in the past. I was placing a lot of 2 or 3k bets with roughly 3x payoffs and of course missing. One betting agencys responsible gambling division even contacted me and I agreed to letting them block my account. I managed to lost another roughly 4k through other agencies since then but now I have closed all those accounts.
It's pretty fucked and very disappointing. You all know the feeling. I was vaguely looking into getting into housing market as my net worth approached 100k. That is now set back at least 6 months. On top of the money my health and performance at work took a huge hit. For me compulsive gambling and binge eating go together plus poor sleep and lack of interest in my job.
Anyway I know the only way out now is to completely stop and let go of the money I lost. I am very grateful not to be in debt and to have money for rent and food. I have a new girlfriend and it's early enough that she did not know my financial situation. So no one to explain a missing 40k to.
I only hope it is not a black mark that will mean I won't be able to get a home loan In the future.
In these next few months I am going to put my head down and focus on saving and getting in awesome physical shape. Plus try to focus on learning some new skills outside of work that will help me with my career and something else to hopefully be passionate in.
Something is out of wack with my outlook on life when I can free fall like this so willingly. Putting all my hard work at stake. Why do I act like I have nothing to lose. Like my future is not worth building towards. Or that it's something worth risking. Good things take time and effort. Gambling is a quick, cheep, empty and a sham shortcut.
This is day one for me and I plan to use this post as a diary for weekly updates to keep me motivated and focused.
Tldr: I lost half my 80k life savings in a month at 30. Thankfully no debt or dependents and as much as this sucks I am going to turn my life around starting now.

Notes:

• I will include a TL:DR at the end for those who don't want to read the full essay.
• This will be posted to both OntarioLandlord and OntarioTenants (as soon as I get permission to post) as I am looking for all sides of the discussion.

A Brief Introduction
Good day everyone, this is going to be a monster of a post so I apologize in advance for the lack of brevity in my arguments. To set the scene properly, I am currently a tenant in my early 20’s. I have been working as an accountant for realtors and landlords for the past year or so which has taught me a lot about this market. It seems that every time I look into the rental market, the environment continues to worsen. Housing availability is constantly on the decline and prices are skyrocketing. Amateur landlords are often unsure or not knowledgeable of their rights and responsibilities and tenants usually pay the price. Then you have certain property management companies who act unprofessionally or cruel towards their tenants. On the other hand, there are many crappy tenants out there whose actions will cost their landlords an unreasonable amount of money.
Obviously things need to change. The question is what and how? The goal should be to allow individual investors to continue to own property while members of younger generations are given more opportunities to get real estate of their own. There should also be a large push to ensure both landlords and tenants are being held to more strict conditions with better access to the LTB for problem solving. I fully believe the following ideas would contribute to a far better real estate market for Canadians. Of course, the goal is not to make these exact changes, but to make changes in the same spirit.
Purchasing Real Estate On a Tier System
I will admit, this first point may be considered the most “unreasonable” but I fully believe in the potential it brings. Currently, houses are bought in bidding wars where everyone eligible can throw their hats in. As a family, buying their first home, there is always a chance that the beautiful starter home they want will get snatched up by some real estate investor, looking to get a quick flip.
This idea frightens me because younger people/families rarely have the financial power or freedom to compete with a full time real estate investor. The easiest solution in my eyes is to introduce a tier system that prioritizes which party has the greatest buying power in these bidding wars. Ideally, the tier should be somewhat like the following (1 being the highest priority and 4 being the lowest):

1. First time home buyers (no prior PR and no RE investments)
2. The moving home buyer (is selling their prior PR for a new one)
3. Individual RE investors (They already have a PR and are looking to rent/flip)
4. RE Corporations and larger RE investors (Those who already own a great deal of RE investments)

Say, for instance, a home is being sold for $800k. In the first week of the property being listed, two offers are received by prospective buyers. A first home buyer is looking to buy at the asking price while an RE investor, trying to get a quick sale, offers 10k over asking. In this scenario, the first time home buyers’ offer is taken at the highest priority.
Despite the investor’s offer being larger, the property should be offered to the buyer who has a greater need for the listing. Competition will now be between members of individual priority levels. Let's say that after a couple weeks, there are no high priority offers (1 or 2 level priority). Then the RE investors and RE corporations can bid between themselves. This gives far greater opportunities for those looking for a principal residence. While RE investors will have a large backlog of listings which they can compete amongst each other for the best prices. I have not yet given this idea as much thought as the next few ideas so I am always willing to adjust it to potentially make it more reasonable/clear.
Renovating the LTB - Licensing
From what I have seen, the biggest threats facing tenants today are uneducated, amateur landlords and greedy, dishonest property management companies. These next few points are proposed to put more responsibility and accountability for the worst landlords in Canada.
If this idea is implemented, all starter landlords must acquire a license before renting out a property. Furthermore, all existing landlords will be unable to renew their current leases or sign new ones until they also acquire the license. The landlord license will act as a certificate, showing that you actually know the law and understand the severity of acting unlawful towards your tenants.
The license will be acquired through a written exam hosted by the LTB. The exam will consist of a series of identification and application questions regarding the rules and responsibilities for both landlords and tenants. Exam attendees will be given access to a virtual or physical textbook which includes all the information needed to breeze through the exam. The textbook will be available in a variety of languages, allowing both domestic and foreign investors to take the test.
The point of the test is to properly assess how one will react to unique or troublesome activity within their rental properties. It isn’t meant to be a hard test. In fact, ideally, it will be quite simple and quick. Once the test is completed and marked, if the landlord fails, they will be given the opportunity to take it again at a later date. If the landlord passes, they are given their license.
In my ideal world, the license would have to be renewed on an annual basis but the period can increase to be more consistent with other professional licenses. I truly do not think this is reasonable. If you are in a position where you have power over the livelihood of another person, you should have some sort of proof that you are capable of maintaining a reasonable level of quality for them.
Renovating the LTB - Inspections
Upon the acquisition of one’s license, I believe there should then be an inspection of the rental properties. These inspections will be thorough and act as proof that the landlord is ready and capable of maintaining the quality mentioned previously. The inspection will be scheduled soon after passing the licensing exam. Landlords can choose to be present or absent during the inspection, depending on their preference and availability.
The inspector will review each room that the tenants will have access to. They will be looking for items that may be unsafe or in need of repairs/renovations. These items and include and go beyond the following examples:

• Broken or unusable appliances
• Cracked or broken windows
• Rotting floorboards and stairs
• Mould around the inside and outside of the house
• Exposed wiring/potential electrical issues
• Lack of cleanliness or sanitation
• Bug or rodent infestations

All violations recorded by the inspector will be photographed and logged in their report. The inspector will then share their findings with the landlords. If any issues were discovered, it is then up to the landlord to ensure the issues are fixed by the time tenants are set to arrive at the property. The importance of the repairs depend on the type of issue discovered. In most cases, there will only be small amounts of maintenance necessary. Landlords will then fix the issues, saving their receipts and taking updated photographs to prove to the LTB that the issues are resolved.
However, if the inspector uncovers issues that threaten the health and safety of future tenants, the process gets more strict. The landlord will be unable to even list the property for rent until the issues are resolved. The landlord is responsible for resolving the issue and contacting the LTB upon completion. When contact has been made, a second inspection will be scheduled. The second inspection may uncover other smaller issues but the main purpose is to confirm the dangerous areas have been fixed. If everything has been fixed, the landlord gets the okay from the LTB and they can finally allow tenants to move in.
If the landlord decides to lease tenants without an inspection or without clearing inspection issues, they will face fines. The fine’s amount will be made in comparison with the severity of the issues presented.
After tenants have moved in. The option to schedule an inspection will remain available. However, additional inspections will have a cost associated. These inspections can be requested if either the landlord or tenant has an issue with the property, tenants, or other such items. Hopefully, the possibility of an additional inspection will ensure that both landlords and tenants are motivated to maintain the property under the requirements set out by the law.
If issues are uncovered on these new inspections, the responsibility will be put on those accountable. If it is proven that tenants are damaging the property, the landlord will have the option be reimbursed for the maintenance costs. Depending on the severity of the issues, the landlord or tenant will also be given the option to pursue the issues in more depth with the LTB (i.e. evictions, fines, hearings, etc.). This system keeps both tenants and landlords accountable for their actions.
Renovating the LTB - Reliability
While all of my previous points will most likely be viewed and argued differently by tenants and landlords, I feel that everyone will agree with the following statement. The LTB is not that reliable. Complaints take months and months to be processed and the procedures may not always be clear. The LTB should be given more resources so they can handle all issues and procedures within a reasonable time frame. There should also be more emphasis put on unlawful or dishonest activity. There should be no scenario where a tenant can go multiple months without paying rent. If this happens, the landlord should have access to lease terminations and disciplinary actions (i.e. removal of tenant from premises). The same goes for landlords. If a tenant is being endlessly harassed by their landlord or threatened. They need quick access to assistance. There are many issues that may not be inspection worthy, but still need recognition (i.e. slander, threats, unnotified entrance of the rental property, illegal surveillance, etc.). Ideally, these items should be handled within a couple weeks of submission. This is an issue more with the current management of the LTB and it might require a full re-evaluation of the LTB’s systems and resources which is definitely beyond my scope here.
In Conclusion
To end off this essay, I want to say that these are all ideas. This is also my first draft. Items you may disagree with are subject to change and other areas will be focused overtime. I don’t believe this will single handedly “fix” the Ontario real estate market, but if more people were to give out their ideas, we can potentially help one another get through this period of inflated prices and high costs of living. I will do my best to remain active with all comments left on this post. Let me know if you hate it, if you liked it, or if you think something needs to be changed. This is simply a post made by a worried citizen, wanting their country to get better. Thanks to everyone who read through the entire post, and I hope you have a nice week!
TL:DR

1. When purchasing real estate, higher priority should be given to first time home buyers as they are in more desperate need of a home
2. There should be some form of licensing for landlords to ensure rental properties will be held to proper standards
3. Inspections should take place before the rental period starts to ensure no repairs or dangerous areas are left untreated
4. Inspections can be requested after the rental period starts if new issues with the property arise.
5. The LTB needs a restructuring. Issues for both landlords and tenants need to be addressed quicker and with more importance
6. These are all opinions being posted to simply start a discussion. These should be taken more as suggestions with room for improvement rather than proposed solutions

I recently came across a post about an expat who participated in a night wedding. After reading the accounts I began to do research on my own. Not because I believe in any of that stuff. I'm a magician after all. Illusion is my bread and butter. And I can detect trickery better than most. Which in my line of work has its benefits. But old traditions are the best places to pick up new techniques. Old ways that are new to others that delight and even scare people. Because, if I can make them afraid. Make them look away. For even a second. I can pull off some astounding magic.
My gig at the cruise line was coming to an end as we neared the port of Shanghai. And for my last several shows, where I'd normally start to include my greatest tricks in order to leave a lasting impression. I developed a new act that I called "The Sneaky Bride", it involved a mannequin in a wedding dress, a beautiful train, veil, flowers on the ground - the whole nine yards some would say. The trick was that the bride would sneak bites as my assistants who are dressed as servers pass by with their trays.
I begin the trick by placing a mannequin center stage for all to see so that they know it's a dummy. I show them there are no holes, and the entire thing is solid. Then we dress it up and set the stage for a wedding. And with a bit of lighting, another assistant switches places with the mannequin and is being fed under the veil. We later changed it to more slight of hand techniques as the assistant complained she wasn't able to chew fast enough as the items of course have to get larger and larger for comedic effect as the guests were wowed by the disappearing act as the fake wedding progressed.
At the end we even invited the unmarried men up to the stage and then threw out a fake bouquet, and watched them clamber over each other in good fun to catch it. The act was an instant hit and had the crowd roaring every night. Which was why I decided to take a firsthand look at the original, and see if there were any other staging techniques I could learn from this old tradition.
With some help from Bing and its ChatGPT features I was able to get a relatively good idea of where it was practiced. So I booked the next flight out to begin my quest for a real night wedding.
Upon arrival at my hotel, I asked the concierge for information about the local practice.
"Yes. I know of this one. We practice it often for children who were taken too early."
"But they are all scams?"
The concierge smiled, "In most cases the pouches mean no harm, and they're simply for families who want to provide peace for themselves and to complete a lasting tradition. Sometimes the dowries are quite lucrative as well, and it is the families who are scammed by those who go and collect these ghost wives as concubines. We call it a blue procession for the trail of ghosts the husband leaves behind wherever he goes." He leans in, "But between you and me? They're mostly all scams."
I laughed, and I can't stress this next part enough, tip your concierge! Which I did. "Thank you, and also. Do you know where I could get a good start on finding more information about these ghost dowries? Or even find one of these pouches myself?"
"The temple down this first street to the left, about half a kilometer, would be a good place to start. But finding a pouch is a bit more difficult as they pop up sporadically. However, if traditions are to be believed it is the pouch who chooses the spouse."
I thanked him again and began to make my way through the early morning rush toward the temple. The streets were lined with open markets full of food from local farmers, which were common in the morning in this part of the world. They would disappear before the afternoon and then return again to sell wares at night when it was cooler. It made the city feel as if it were breathing as the locals rose and ebbed outside with day and night.
On my way, I searched the ground and around alleys for loose pouches. But I had no such luck by the time I arrived at the temple. Large red pillars that were thicker than any tree I've personally had the pleasure of meeting held up the high ceiling. Inside, the locals were already starting to disperse as the work hours were amongst us. Which left me nearly alone in this temple at about 8:00 in the morning.
A monk or priest was kneeling on a mat in front of a wooden shrine, throwing pieces of wood in the shape of dumplings on the floor. I waited patiently for him to finish. Taking in the sights and the delicate features of the temple. When he rose I approached him.
"You don't speak English by any chance do you?"
He smiled.
"What about the middle tongue?" I asked in Mandarin.
"Oh," he seemed surprised. "Yes. How may I be of assistance?"
"What were you doing just now?"
He held out his hand and showed me two red wooden pieces that were, with closer inspection, in the shape of moons. "Jiaobei," he told me. "We use these to seek divine guidance."
"How does it work?"
The monk shows me the two sides, one was smooth and flat, the other side rounded. "You ask a question and then throw it on the ground. One block flat and one block round, means yes. Both blocks showing round means no. Or depending on the question. Anger from the Gods. Or crying in sadness as it is commonly known. And finally, both blocks showing flat means laughter. Which could mean a number of things." He hands them to me, "You throw it three times to get a better answer."
"I'm guessing if it's the same all three times, the answer is definitive?"
The monk nodded.
"Will I..."
"Ah ah ah, in silence."
I didn't want my first question to be too convoluted or difficult. So I kept it simple and asked if I was a good magician. Then I threw the Jiaobei on the floor. It clattered and rolled on its rounded back, showing two flat sides.
The monk smiled.
"That usually happens the first time anyone tries Jiaobei. But in my experience, it generally means you asked a pure question."
"What happens if I didn't ask a pure question and it came back as angry?"
"The gods will remember it. They will remember you."
"No bad first impression then huh," I whispered under my breath. "Okay. Do I need to throw it two more times or can I ask a different question?"
"You may ask a different question or throw it twice more."
"What is my name?" I threw it on the floor. And to my surprise, as the ends are pointed and difficult to balance, one of the damn things stood tall and erect.
The monk bowed to the pieces. "Truly you have been picked by the gods to be answered. Lijiao or a standing answer like this is uncommonly rare. The gods generally choose to laugh at a nonsensical question. And often get angry if you throw it two more times. And rarely do they ever answer ones asked aloud."
I bent forward, skeptical, though a temple this was, at how the thing worked. In my head I could only think that the switchboard guy was quick on his feet. But looking around I couldn't find any cameras. Though in this day an age, they're made smaller than a fly. So it was difficult to tell. I picked up the pieces, feeling for any sense of magnetism, but there were none.
I asked one last question before I left that day. I asked their gods, would I find the real deal? And I threw it on the ground three times. All three times it came up yes. But for two months I scoured the city, and the country side. And I did chance upon several pouches. Some were obviously scams as I watched each bag carefully before approaching. Especially noticeable are the ones in the city which would be laying on the sidewalk, filled with bills for people passing by. But I observed that if a local went to go pick it up, two or three men from around the corner would come and threaten him to put it back. But if a foreigner picked it up, an old man or woman would come and start calling them son before leading them away.
There were of course others that were genuinely following tradition. I chanced upon several of them and was married several times. But each one was playful almost. And performed by their parents in the day. Leaving me with several small bags of pocket change, a good dinner, as I went on my way.
During one of these fake night weddings I even saw a child playfully munching on a corn cob in the corner under one of the tables as I fed the effigy they constructed of my fake bride. Which was when I think I decided to call it quits. Believing that I'd never find the real deal. Although I did learn a lot as tradition can be translated by me into performance. Which helped me ground 'The Sneaky Bride' act further. All in all, this was time well spent.
My visa was coming to an end and I had mostly been enjoying the sights, the city, and their way of life. When on one the last day, as I was leaving from a faraway eatery that the concierge had recommended, that I saw a red pouch made of silk with a thick yarn around its throat, stuffed full of money. I looked around and didn't see a single person there, nothing except flat farmland and water gullies for miles.
Odd, I thought to myself, as it looked truly abandoned.
For a second I played with the idea of picking it up. Wondering if somehow a relative of the deceased would pop up magically next to me and I could change the world of magic by studying their technique. But I didn't want to spend my few hours chasing ghosts. I wanted to enjoy my time. So I kept walking.
I got back to the city and spent the remainder of my day eating and drinking, meeting new friends at the bar, newfound lads who I invited a hundred times to visit me in Melbourne one day. Who all agreed that if fate ever brought us back together we would drink until the sun rose. So yeah, I was fairly drunk when I got back to my hotel room, and didn't believe what I saw when I opened the door. It was a red pouch sitting on my coffee table.
"Someone's trying to play a trick on me," I mused. "They must have heard me talking at the bar." I circled the table studying the pouch. Any magician worth his smoke, likes a good bag. So there was no doubt to me that this was the same one I saw earlier. Which made me start putting two and two together. "It must be the concierge. He's the one who sent me out that far." I laughed and picked up the bag, even though I knew the rules. I opened it and thumbed through the bills. "It's much more than what I tipped him. Much more." Curious, I wondered what he would have done if I didn't return this to him. It must have been quite a few months worth of wages. I threw the bag up in the air and caught it as if I were juggling before I tossed it on my nightstand. "I'm going to let him sweat for a little bit and pretend I didn't find it tomorrow as I check out," I mused as I went to go take a shower.
I opened the door and felt the words stick to the roof of my mouth as the bag appeared on the counter next to the sink. I shot a glance back to the nightstand and indeed the bag I had just thrown on there was missing.
"This is a good fucking trick. That, or I'm drunker than I thought." I started questioning did I somehow fall asleep beforehand? Or walked into the bathroom and put it there as I mused my little scheme of making the concierge nervous at the lost pouch? Had I somehow in my drunken state done something without realizing it? No. That couldn't be it. I touched my chest to check my heart rate and put my fingers on my face. A bit flushed, but heart rate adequate. I was fine for the most part. Just drunk.
I looked at the pouch on the counter, and peered gingerly into the bathroom as if I've never stepped foot in one, before deciding to grab the bag and close the door. "Okay," I said loudly. "Whoever's doing this. Come on out." Of course no one appeared, not that I expected them to because the credo I lived by is that a good magician never reveals his trick.
"Okay, let's see how good you guys really are," I mused. Going over to my closet and placed the pouch on the shelf. Closing the door. Then I went back to the bathroom and opened the door. It was empty. I checked the nightstand drawer, mpty. I looked all over, and it was still mty. I breathed a sigh and went over to the closet door, "I guess you're just a bag after all." Except when I looked inside. MT. I couldn't find the bag behind any other nook or cranny. I know, I checked them all. And they were all .
I stumbled backwards and looked around, glancing at the ceiling corners in case someone had crawled up there. And even looked under the bed. But there was no one else here. I felt my chest tighten as I tried to make sense of what was happening. "Its got to be the walls I reasoned." And so for the next half hour I scoured the entire room with my hands, pushing, pressing, pulling anywhere and everywhere I could. Using all my years of experience to figure out what was going on. But there was nothing.
I couldn't stay in that room another minute so I rushed outside and nearly stepped on it! The bag! It was right at the foot of my doorstep.
My mind tried to wrap around how that was possible, "It's got to be a dupe. They've got more than one bag. I've been had, that has to be it. And the furniture inside, they have secret compartments. God, they really put a lot of effort into this," I laughed. "I have to know how this trick is done." So I opened the pouch and pulled out the note inside.
The notes generally contained their name, their current would-be age (she was 20 this year, older than most), what time they were born (8:07), a picture if they had one (she did), and how old they when they died (5). If the deceased were a bit older, perhaps a tidbit from their family is included about their personality. But most importantly, it always contained their address.
I looked at my watch, it was late and my flight was in the morning but perhaps I could still make it. So I gathered the rest of my things, my luggage, the mannequin for my act, and other bag of tricks in case I needed to go to the airport right after. "Come on," I yelled out loud to my pranksters. "Let's go see what other tricks you have up your sleeve."
I went down to the lobby and had the front desk call me a cab. I looked around for the concierge but he was nowhere to be found. So I left a note for him. And then left.
The cab drove until the city faded away. We were practically on the other side of the island by the time its tires skipped to a stop. I got out and knocked on the giant half circle doors of the address. I noticed that we were deep in the countryside. There were hardly any lights dotting the night.
I knocked several more times before I heard shuffling behind the door. And then it opened. An old man stood in front of me in his drawers.
"What do you want," he asked angrily. "Do you know what time it is?"
"I'm sorry for disturbing you at such a late hour. But," I pulled out the pouch. And his eyes widened up.
"Meju-eh. You're back." He looked at me up and down. "What are you supposed to be," he asked but then shook his head. "No, no. Come in. Come in, please."
"I don't have much time," I told him. "I have to leave in the morning."
"Sit, sit." He ushered me to a chair in the courtyard.
I placed the bag on the table next to it, "I have a flight in the morning, so if we're going to do this. We have to do it now."
Instead of fighting me, he nodded, "Yes. I agree. I don't have much time either. And Meju-eh is older than most ghost brides. The bull demon might not let her through his gets if she gets any older. And then she'll be a husbandless spinster for eternity." He ushered around, "We don't have many living relatives either. So it shouldn't be too troublesome to hurry this along." He called into the house and a young woman came out, "This is my granddaughter. Ah-ahn. Meju-eh's older sister. They were close as children."
Ah-ahn was quite beautiful. I almost couldn't take my eyes off of her.
"Go and start preparations and rouse anyone you can get a hold of. We must have the wedding tonight. Even if it isn't grand as I would like."
"Will we make it in time," I asked. "It's a lot of work for one person. Perhaps I could help?"
The old man nodded, "That's a good idea. But forgive me, I must retire for now. Or else have no energy for the wedding." He turned to his granddaughter, "Fetch me when the preparations are ready." As he left us alone in the courtyard.
"What can I do," I asked her.
"We're going to need flowers for decoration."
I pulled a rose out from behind her ear, "I happen to have a case of these on hand at all times." I put the flower in her hair.
She smiled, "Thank you."
"What else?"
"Um, we already have tables for family gatherings. There should be enough food in the freezers that we can just heat up. I need to call my aunt to come help. And wake up some of the kids. Also...we kind of need a statue of some sort, as a stand-in for my sister."
"Statue? I think I have just the thing."
Hours went by and it was the dead of the night, but watching all the people bustling around the courtyard, the kids in excited whispers, you'd never guess that all of us should have been sleeping. Soon the tables were set, the food was hot, even the decorations were strung, and I had procured my mannequin from my luggage and a few of the menfolk were putting it together inside the main living room.
Several times I found myself laughing and having a good time with the others, although chasing that hen made me look quite ridiculous, and several times I bumped into Ah-ahn and we would talk and exchange a few words. In the beginning she talked mostly about her sister. How she was troublesome as a child. Always hiding things. I told her about the pouch appearing and disappearing in my hotel. And we both had a good laugh. Eventually we talked about ourselves. I learned she wanted to get away from here, "To see the world," she told me. The more we talked the closer we got. I could feel it. Soon we were bumping into each other just to feel our bodies touch. But before anything else transpired the wedding preparations were complete.
The old man was retrieved from his bedroom and everyone gathered outside in the courtyard, looking into the main living room. There was a wooden shrine in the back of the room and the mannequin had been traditionally dressed. From an old box the grandfather retrieved several personal items that belonged to Meju. And I was then asked to enter the living room.
The grandfather said a few words, and then gave us his blessing. Ah-ahn handed me a bowl of sticky rice ball soup. I had been through this process before and knew what to do. I ate one of the pink balls and then went to go feed my new bride.
Now I've traveled with this mannequin for some time. Seen it at a dozen of my own shows. Slept with it in the room. Knew that it was in fact a dummy for all intents and purposes. However, as I started moving my spoon toward it. I swear I saw it's chest rise as if it were breathing.
I couldn't tell if it was from the alcohol ebbing away from earlier or a trick of the light. But even its shoulders looked softer than usual. My hand started shaking as it got closer to her mouth. It was like watching an out of body experience as the spoon inched under her veil. And then the CRUNCH. It scared the fucking shit out of me. I looked around hoping to see some kid in the corner playing a dumb joke. But there were none. And I didn't believe what I was seeing even as the veil started moving as her jaws chewed the sticky material back and forth.
"No way," I shook. "There's just no way." My hand was so close to the veil. "Oh God. Please. I have to know how this is done." I ripped off the veil.
Meju looked very much like her picture. But older. And then older. And older. As if her face was starting to rot away as it contorted. People behind me screamed. The lightbulbs we had strung popped. Kids were running around and the grandfather fell to the floor clutching his heart.
I backed away, the spoon clattering to the ground as I watched the mannequin crick and crack as its arms and legs bent in a tangled mess until it was walking on all fours!
The thing grabbed the bent down to the grandfather and started chewing!
I turned around and saw the other guests were piling out of the courtyard. The tables were upturned and only the dim crescent light of the moon bore down on us. Everyone was screaming trying to get out. I ran and bumped into Ah-ahn. She whirled terrified and then realized it was me. She yelled, "You never! Look at the bride before it's time!"
"I'm so sorry! I didn't know. I thought it was a trick!"
She grabbed her face, her nails leaving streaks behind as she clawed at her skin, "Now she's going to kill every living blood relative. And then you." Ah-ahn laughed manically. "She's going to torture you!"
The people kept pushing around us until we got separated. Her final words still ringing in my ears as I took to the dirt road outside and started running. I ran for nearly a mile before I spotted a cab sitting outside of someone's house. I banged on their door and then begged them to take me to the airport. Throwing at them all the money from the dowry.
When I arrived at the airport I hurried through the TSA. Relieved at the lights and normal looking people. I boarded my flight. Tapping my foot nervously the entire time, staring out the small squarish window as we prepared to take off. The sun was starting to rise as the engine roared. I took one last look at the island as we flew away. Still trying to catch my breath at what I had just caused.
My mind was reeling as I heard two knocking noises, they sounded oddly familiar, and for a second I thought that Meju had finished with her family and had somehow come boarded. But then I realized the noise was coming from my carry-on. I reached inside and pulled out two red shaped crescents that the Monk at the temple had given to me. And I realized that if I ever needed any form of divine guidance this was it.
So right there in the tiny aisle. I asked the gods if I had escaped and threw the Jiaobei.
No.
I asked the gods if I would be safe.
No.
I asked them would Meju kill me.
Both flat.
Both flat.
Both flat.
s

Global Info Research announces the release of the report “Global Cylinder Manipulator Market 2023 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2029” . The report is a detailed and comprehensive analysis presented by region and country, type and application. As the market is constantly changing, the report explores the competition, supply and demand trends, as well as key factors that contribute to its changing demands across many markets. Company profiles and product examples of selected competitors, along with market share estimates of some of the selected leaders for the year 2023, are provided. In addition, the report provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War Influence.
According to our (Global Info Research) latest study, the global Cylinder Manipulator market size was valued at USD million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD million by 2029 with a CAGR of % during review period. The influence of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War were considered while estimating market sizes.
Key Features:
Global Cylinder Manipulator market size and forecasts, in consumption value), sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Cylinder Manipulator market size and forecasts by region and country, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Cylinder Manipulator market size and forecasts, by Type and by Application, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Cylinder Manipulator market shares of main players, shipments in revenue, sales quantity, and ASP, 2018-2023
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries
To assess the growth potential for Cylinder Manipulator
To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market
To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
This report profiles key players in the global Cylinder Manipulator market based on the following parameters - company overview, production, value, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments.
Request Free Sample Copy Or buy this report at:https://www.globalinforesearch.com/reports/1535200/cylinder-manipulator
The Cylinder Manipulator market is segmented as below:
Market segment by Type
Manual Control Auto-control
Market segment by Application
Automobile Consumer Electronics Packing Machinery and Instruments Other
Major players covered
TXMR Vinca SLB Dalmec Atis Yaplex Movomech Indeva Ingersoll Rand Binar Pronomic TAWI Manibo Atis Top Star Wuxi Leijie
The Main Contents of the Report, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Cylinder Manipulator product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year. Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Cylinder Manipulator, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Cylinder Manipulator from 2018 to 2023. Chapter 3, the Cylinder Manipulator competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast. Chapter 4, the Cylinder Manipulator breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value and growth by regions, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value and market share for key countries in the world, from 2017 to 2022.and Cylinder Manipulator market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2024 to 2029. Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, Porters Five Forces analysis, and Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. Chapter 13, the key raw materials and key suppliers, and industry chain of Cylinder Manipulator. Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Cylinder Manipulator sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion.
The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our report on the Cylinder Manipulator market covers the following areas:
ü Cylinder Manipulator market sizing
ü Cylinder Manipulator market forecast
ü Cylinder Manipulator market industry analysis
ü Analyze the needs of the global Cylinder Manipulatorbusiness market
ü Answer the market level of global Cylinder Manipulator
ü Statistics the annual growth of the global Cylinder Manipulatorproduction market
ü The main producers of the global Cylinder Manipulatorproduction market
ü Describe the growth factor that promotes market demand
Global Info Research is a company that digs deep into global industry information to support enterprises with market strategies and in-depth market development analysis reports. We provides market information consulting services in the global region to support enterprise strategic planning and official information reporting, and focuses on customized research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and top industry services. At the same time, Global Info Research is also a report publisher, a customer and an interest-based suppliers, and is trusted by more than 30,000 companies around the world. We will always carry out all aspects of our business with excellent expertise and experience.
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