Penn state engineering scholarships

Need advice (product management). Bad mental state
Need some advice. Having some mental issues
New account to post this. I am in TX, have ~6 YOE operating in general management / analytics / product roles. Have been playing more of a traditional product role the last 2 years. Work at a very large public company. Have been at the same company for 6 years and have been a consistent top performer earning multiple promotions over the years.
I lead 2 product teams consisting of ~20 engineers, some designers, data engineers, data scientists and have a few product managers under me. Base salary is ~$170K with $20K bonus. Product I own is a portion of the user facing website.
I am not a traditional product manager. I was thrown into this position some time back due to being in the right place at the right time and the scope has grown significantly over the two years. All of that was fine until the last few months where macroeconomic factors are putting a ton of pressure on talent and we are pretty much forcing out the bottom 15%. It’s been a real punch in the gut sitting through these performance review sessions with stack ranking. Usually it’s pretty obvious who the bottom performers are, now the bar is arbitrary (but “rising”… whatever that means). We’ve started to hire Amazon execs in our product org and I can feel the culture shifting.
Here is my worry - I browse this subreddit and I am not like many of the folks here. I am not passionate about product, I don’t obsess about it. I am good at it, in my opinion due to my analytical skills & strong soft-skills & business judgment which usually leads to strong results. But now I’m starting to worry our culture is shifting and we will start bringing in talent that is just better than me. Maybe I am over reacting , but with the current economy I can’t help but look at our roadmap and wonder if any of this really even matters at year end, because if it doesn’t generate a bunch of money, who cares? It’s never really felt that way before.
All this to say, I’ve been working probably 70 hours/ week for the last year managing this department. Generally I am not very happy at work, but it hasn’t always been this bad in my 6 years.. who’s to say it won’t turn around once the economy is better (?). It’s gotten so bad that I had a pretty bad mental breakdown recently and I am starting to question my entire career path. I have talked with my manager and my performance is actually still very good, but at the cost of what? And will it be good enough going forward? It’s a lot of pressure. I used to be very happy at this company. The money is nice, it provides a nice life for me and my wife. But I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth it.
I have started to talk to my manager about switching to software engineering within the company. I have programmed on the side for a while now, but I would expect to be demoted quite a bit. Probably bringing my base salary down to ~120-130K. I have no doubt if I can build the technical skills that I can move up in tech as in product my life is filled with meetings, presentations, stakeholder management. Etc.. all things our engineers get constant feedback on that they need to improve. I also notice the WLB of our engineers is much better, most don’t work more than 40 hours per week. I like programming, it’s fun building things and I don’t have to think about business strategy and how to generate millions of dollars on a daily basis.
This is all probably just stress and I need to vent. I don’t know. I have never felt unsure and incompetent about my abilities before, but I don’t feel great right now.
If you read this whole story - thanks for taking the time
EDIT: I originally wanted to post this in product management but couldn’t. So references so see to that sub are because of that.

Demographics: Asian Female, Large Public High School, Queer, lower middle class
Intended major(s): Public Policy and Computer Science (specifically Data Science)
Academics: SAT: 1560 Class rank: school only does unweighted GPA so I am unfortunately 48 UW/W GPA: 3.99 UW / 4.48 W Coursework: AP world, AP calc AB, AP comp sci, AP English, AP us history, AP physics, AP calc BC (next year planning on taking: AP statistics, AP gov/psych, self study AP politics, AP english)
Awards:
1). won international app pitch comp (worked with software engineers to develop application centered around the intersection of public policy and app development)
2). Microsoft rising CS award in my State
3). NCWIT awardee x2
4). Regional voted best singles tennis player 3x
5). Won scholarship for activism work
6). national Yale essay competition #1 winner
7). awarded embolden scholarship for entrepreneurship
8). Top 16 in state for tennis and 2nd in district
9). Outstanding Woman Award in School District
10). Pi day top 100 women in STEM
Extracurriculars:
1). Founded Student Led Computer Science Organization that is Policy Driven - created 15+ code.org approved curricula for middle school students, consistently works with 5 schools across state, led and organized a group of student lobbyists to advocate for CS education, wrote bill that is being sponsored by state rep to get CS into every school in state. started district wide program for a week of code
2). Winner of international app pitch contest, pitched a public policy / public health app and ran a large social media campaign reaching over 5M people. Led college students to develop the app. Collaborated with Software Engineers from SAP and Kode with Klossy and coded and self published app on app store. Blue Ocean Competition top 100 w/ Transparent.
3). School Board Rep - position on multiple committees, led the first ever AI/Mechanical Engineering equity policy in district, organized focus groups, led student organized survey collection process, founded and run two subcommittees on district (equity council and youth advisory board). started peementorship process, created a credit for future student reps to make a meaningful impact, created the policies for long lasting student impact
4). City Council Student Advisory Board Founder - co founded first student advisory board in city, work with city council to draft policy, lead the policy development of council, hired consultants and lead training sessions with prospective advisory board members, run board instagram account
5). Climate Action Club President (participation all four years of high school) - organized and lead club meetings, organize projects such as state wide climate conference, waste reduction policy in school that reduced hundreds of plastic in upcoming years, led fundraising efforts (1000+), partnered with local community college to start scholarship program
6). Varsity Tennis Captain (2 years): #1 on team since freshman year, qualified for state every year, top 3 in districts every year, lead fundraising, organize bonding, design team clothing, lead team trainings and conditioning
7). National Youth Activism (MLK principles) Advisor - was a scholar for two years learning non violence activism, eventually was hired to be a mentor to teach scholars around the world on activism projects, attended National Activism projects, spoke at and organized webinars
8). International Non Profit Instructor Assistant: paid data science instructor for young girls around the world, led 2 week sessions, organized scholars, taught curricula, facilitated projects, handled communications
9). Lobbyist - student lobbyist for lobbying group in state, lobbied multiple times for Education, Transportation, Special Education, Free Lunches, organized Lobby days with multiple lobby companies across the state
10). Internship at Capitol in DC - recommended by state senator to intern with U.S. Senator, basically carried around papers for a week, got to meet VP, speaker, learned about National Gov Process
​
Schools: (by priority)
TOP CHOICE: stanford
going to apply to all ivies except for dartmouth, georgetown, UW CS, NYU, northwestern, JHU (legacy), MIT, Wellesley, duke, USC
Question/Comment: I've seen a lot of posts online saying that regular decision is easier than early. Should I apply early for stanford or early for yale and regular stanford?

Let’s say theoretically I get a full ride or really good scholarship to a law school in New York or California. I heard it’s so damn expensive in both of these states and considering I would have no help from family or friends and I would be all alone, I’m trying to see if it’s worth a shot at least applying. What do y’all think? I know loans are kind of expected but I’ve never taken one out before and don’t want to go overboard. It’s not that important to me to be a lawyer in CA or NY but it sure would be nice.

I know its long but I noticed you (the Devs) actually read the posts here so I hope you take the time to read this one too 😊. or you can just read the very short list of Quality of Life ideas at the end.
I've been playing for a long time, not since the PC version was still live, but the game was completely abandoned in both platforms (PC+Mobile) when I found it. Some time after, you started working on the game engine change and later announced updates on mobile and lunched the (almost useless...) monuments update (monuments doesn't gives enough belief to be worth the gems) as part of this update you gave us the One and only real Quality of Life update (the ability to move shrines)
Since than you released mostly bug fixes (with no change-log to be heard of) than came a little graphics improvements update (I checked vs an old version of the game, had to really look to notice what was changed/improved), and lastly the shaman update.
I've been following closely for a while, reading the answers you gave the player base here on reddit and it really seems you read and understand what the players want. You said in one of your answers that now you are mainly working on new content to engage new players.
So as this is not your main focus right now I will only share my Top 3 QoL hopes. I will do this in a the form of a change-log. hope you will use that too from now on when you update the game.
Added: you can now choose the level of powers and shrines (I don't always want a meteor to destroy EVERYTHING, some time level 1 meteor is enough)
Fixed: Rivers/Waterfall mechanism, its now possible to easily manipulate rivers to add beauty to your world. (Rivers are almost impossible to manipulate at the current state)
Added: a way to know a building has reached full belief
(The bubbles are really confusing and its annoying to click on a settlement with max of 2000 belief and get only 600 instead.) you can simply make the first tap to only show the building status bar and the second tap collects belief or sends a builder out.
P.S. a change-log will be a great way to rebuild some trust with the community about updates... in most of the updates all you say is bug fixes and improvements (that means noting...)
Looking forward for an answer.

Making this road trip in few weeks. Any stops advice or suggestions? Thank you

Demographics: Rising senior, first gen, Latino male living in LA county with a below-average hs, and eligible for free-lunch
Intended Major: Aerospace Engineering
SAT: 1450 (retaking and aiming in the ballpark of 1500+... not too worried since my target/reach schools are test optional or test blind)
UW GPA and Rank: 65/611... I'll put my 2nd Sem GPA for each year since it best represents how much I was able to make of a given year:
9th - 2.8, 10th - 3.86,11 - 4.0
Hook: Without getting into the personal details, I experienced some devastating family issues when I was little that left my family super financially unstable until about 2 years ago and it resulted in me growing up without my dad and although I did well n middle school, I collapsed from academic exhaustion my freshman year. I then transferred to a different hs sophomore year where I got my bearings and set myself up for when I transferred to a new high school and started developing my passion for math. It got to the point where I finished my prerequisites for Calculus in the same summer and joined Calculus at the third high school I transferred to. I've never had much, but I'm still squeezing water from stone with every chance I get.
TLDR: comeback story where reaching for oppurtunities helped me discover improve and my interests(of which I left a lot out to keep this from paragraph from dragging on too long).
DE:
10th: College Algebra, Trig/Precalc (both in summer)
11th: Statistics (Spring), Intro to Info Sci, Geology (both in summer)
12th (planned): Multi Var Calc, Differential Eqs, and Linear Algebra
AP:
10th: CSP (5)
11th: CSA, Calc BC, Spanish Lang, Chem
I was forced to self study CSA, Spanish, and Chem since the teachers either quit or didn't care to teach the material fast enough to be ready for the AP test. Chem was the worst cuz the teacher had only made it to unit 2 of 9 by the end of the first semester TwT
12th (planned): Gov, Lit, Physics 1
Awards: I only have sports related ones like CIF (swim and cross country) and recognition for placing in the top 5 for my swim events in my league.
Extracurriculars:
Church Volunteering: 1000+ hours total between two churches. Most of it was in the church I grew up in and I started doing it in January 2020 after the last guy stepped down. To keep in accordance with COVID policies once the pandemic kicked up, I'd stay for 3 services all day every sunday before things tapered into 2 services a day and eventually into the regular 1 service. I'd also be volunteering at the Friday mini-services every week and prepping things for the main service. I was essentially the IT guy for my church, being the first responder for issues with the church's hardware (ie projector and computer) and software (the propresenter used to control the preacher's slides and lyrics during the first part of the service). I was also the "guy in the chair" responsible for actually controlling which slides/lyrics would be displayed during services. Aside from the main services, I was regularly setting up events for all sorts of events in the church like helping my mom decorate for the kids' church camps or setting up and taking down supplies for conferences taking place at my church. After I moved away from that area and to a new church, I was recommended by my original pastor to my new one and I'm performing the same role, albeit differently since I'm rotating with other people every Sunday, but I'm still responsible for training new people and I've pushed the new church to improve it's software to propresenter from their software that hasn't been updated in years and I'll also be responsible for training people in using it. I'm also going to be responsible for doing lyrics + slides control during bigger district services which include people from all over the county. This is the longest EC to explain since it's the one I've invested the most into by a light-year and what I've made the biggest impact with.
Swim: 2 seasons (JV in 10th, Varsity in 11th, Captain in 12th)
XC: 1 Season [11th] (I was only with them for ~2 weeks because of the timing of my transfer to this high school, so I was only JV, but I still qualified for CIF and would've been varsity had I been able to join earlier)
CyberPatriot: Co-Captain of the team in it's first year and made it to the states round
Robotics: Programmer and team made it to Worlds (FRC)
Mathlete: smaller club I joined to participate in local competitions
Tutor: Mostly in Trig and Algebra 2
LOR: My Calc teacher is going to be most helpful for Caltech since she herself is a Caltech alumni and she'll be able to brag about me a fair bit since I was the only junior in her BC class (everyone else was a Senior and it took some convincing to my counselor to let me skip AB, which is what every other junior was doing for Calculus). I'm also going to try getting one from my pastor at the church I grew up in since he's been like a dad to me and he's a pretty big figure in the Apostolic Assembly (the national organization my church is a part and of which my pastor's been the president and is currently the secretary).
Schools: UCLA, USC, Caltech, MIT, CSULA, CSUB, CSULB

TLDR: what if the The Flintstones and The Jetsons exist in the same world at the same time, but separated not by time, but rather a caste system that similar in nature to Brave New World. I've had this notion since I read Brave New World when I was 11 and ChatGPT has helped me flush out the idea, anyone who wishes to expand upon this is welcome.
The Flintstones and The Jetsons exist in the same world, with The Flintstones representing a lower caste living in a reservation-like environment while The Jetsons represent a higher caste living in a technologically advanced society: 1. Socioeconomic Divide: In both The Flintstones and The Jetsons, there is a clear socioeconomic divide. The Flintstones depict a primitive Stone Age society where the characters live in modest stone houses and rely on animals for technology. On the other hand, The Jetsons portray a futuristic world where the characters reside in elaborate skyscrapers and enjoy advanced technology. This stark contrast in living conditions suggests a significant disparity between the two groups. 2. Limited Mobility: The Flintstones are depicted as being geographically confined to the Stone Age setting, often referred to as Bedrock. They have no access to advanced technology or the ability to travel beyond their prehistoric surroundings. In contrast, The Jetsons live high above the ground, relying on flying cars and other futuristic means of transportation. Their ability to move freely and explore different locations indicates a greater level of privilege and access. 3.Technological Advancement: The Jetsons possess highly advanced technology that simplifies their daily lives, such as robotic helpers, flying cars, and instant food preparation. In contrast, The Flintstones rely on rudimentary tools and animals for their day-to-day tasks. The stark difference in technological capabilities further supports the idea of a segregated society, with The Jetsons benefiting from advanced technology while The Flintstones are left behind. 4. Social Stratification: The Flintstones and The Jetsons both exhibit clear social hierarchies. In Brave New World, social classes are rigidly divided, with each caste having predetermined roles and functions. Similarly, The Flintstones' society resembles a lower caste living in a simpler, less technologically advanced state, while The Jetsons represent a higher caste enjoying the benefits of futuristic advancements. This parallel suggests that both shows explore the concept of caste systems, albeit in a less explicitly dystopian manner than in Brave New World.

1. Fred Flintstone - John (The Savage): Both Fred Flintstone and John are portrayed as individuals who question and challenge the norms of their respective societies. They exhibit a sense of individuality and struggle to conform to the rigid expectations placed upon them.
   
2. Wilma Flintstone - Lenina Crowne: Wilma Flintstone, like Lenina Crowne, can be seen as a character who represents the ideals of her society. They both adhere to the societal norms and expectations placed upon them, although they might experience occasional moments of questioning or rebellion.
   
3. Barney Rubble - Bernard Marx: Barney Rubble and Bernard Marx share similarities in their experiences of feeling like outsiders in their respective societies. They both struggle with their self-perception and seek validation or a sense of belonging.
   
4. Betty Rubble - Fanny Crowne: Betty Rubble and Fanny Crowne can be linked in the sense that they embody the conventional values and expectations of their societies. They are portrayed as adhering to social norms and being content with their assigned roles.
   
5. George Jetson - Mustapha Mond: George Jetson, as the patriarch of the Jetson family, can be compared to Mustapha Mond, the World Controller in Brave New World. Both characters hold positions of authority within their respective societies and are responsible for upholding the established order.
   
6. Jane Jetson - Linda Lysenko: Jane Jetson and Linda Lysenko share similarities as wives and mothers who navigate their roles within their respective societies. They are depicted as conforming to societal expectations while also experiencing occasional moments of dissatisfaction or longing for something different.
   
7. Elroy Jetson - Reuben Rabinovitch: Elroy Jetson and Reuben Rabinovitch can be seen as young characters who are curious and have a potential for challenging the status quo. Although their roles and circumstances are different, both characters exhibit a certain level of intellectual curiosity.
   --- Main Story.
   

In a distant future, Earth is divided into two distinct societies: the advanced and technologically superior world of the Jetsons and the primitive reservation-like society of the Flintstones. However, these societies are not separate entities but rather different levels within the same global structure.
The Jetsons, residing high above in their futuristic utopia, are part of an elite caste that enjoys all the comforts and conveniences of advanced technology. Their lives are carefully controlled, with social roles predetermined and individuality suppressed. Soma, a potent substance, keeps the Jetsons docile and content.
Unbeknownst to the Jetsons, their society is intricately linked to the existence of the Flintstones. The Flintstones, representing a lower caste, live in a secluded area called Bedrock, akin to a reservation. They are intentionally kept in a primitive state by the ruling class, who view them as a source of nostalgia and a reminder of the past.
The protagonist, Fred Flintstone, becomes disillusioned with his confined existence and yearns for something more. Through a series of events, Fred discovers a hidden passage that connects Bedrock to the Jetsons' world. Intrigued, he ventures into the futuristic society, where he encounters George Jetson, who secretly questions the monotony of his life.
Fred and George form an unlikely alliance, determined to uncover the truth about their shared world. They navigate the complexities of their respective societies, exposing the dark underbelly of control, manipulation, and inequality. Along the way, they encounter other characters from both worlds who struggle with their roles and seek freedom.
As their journey progresses, Fred and George learn about the origin of their society, discovering that it was intentionally engineered by a powerful ruling class to maintain control and prevent societal upheaval. They face moral dilemmas, make alliances, and confront the harsh realities of their world.
Together, Fred and George rally the disillusioned members of both societies, initiating a revolution that challenges the oppressive systems in place. Their goal is to bridge the gap between the castes, dismantle the control mechanisms, and allow for individuality, choice, and genuine human connections.
The story culminates in a climactic confrontation between the ruling class and the united forces of the Jetsons and the Flintstones. Themes of rebellion, sacrifice, and the search for true freedom resonate throughout the narrative, as characters from both worlds join forces to shape a new society where individuality and humanity can thrive.
As the revolution gains momentum, resistance spreads throughout both the Jetsons and Flintstones societies. The characters from both worlds start to question the predefined roles assigned to them and challenge the oppressive systems that have kept them divided.
Wilma Flintstone and Jane Jetson form a powerful alliance, embodying the strength and determination of women in their fight for freedom and equality. Together, they inspire others to break free from their prescribed roles and contribute to the movement.
Meanwhile, Elroy Jetson and Pebbles Flintstone, two young and curious individuals, uncover a hidden truth about the origins of their world. They stumble upon ancient documents that reveal a forgotten history, exposing the manipulative tactics used by the ruling class to create and maintain the caste-based society.
As the revolution gains traction, the ruling class retaliates, using their technological prowess to suppress the uprising. They deploy their advanced gadgets and employ psychological tactics to suppress the rebellion and maintain their grip on power.
However, Fred and George, driven by their determination and the hope for a better future, rally their comrades and develop ingenious strategies to counter the ruling class. They leverage the primitive yet resourceful skills of the Flintstones and the innovative technology of the Jetsons to outwit their oppressors.
The battle reaches its climax as the revolutionaries breach the fortified barriers between the two worlds. The Flintstones and Jetsons unite, demonstrating that their shared humanity and resilience are more powerful than any technological advantage the ruling class possesses.
In a final showdown, the revolutionaries expose the truth to the masses, revealing the manipulations and lies that have perpetuated their divided existence. The people, awakened to the possibilities of genuine freedom and self-determination, rise up as a collective force.
Together, they dismantle the oppressive structures and establish a new society that embraces the values of individuality, compassion, and cooperation. The remnants of the ruling class are held accountable for their actions, and measures are put in place to prevent the reemergence of a caste-based system.
The story concludes with the Flintstones and Jetsons, once separated by a vast divide, now living together in a harmonious society that integrates the best aspects of both worlds. The triumph of the revolution signals a new era where the potential of humanity is unlocked, free from the shackles of an oppressive past.
In the aftermath of the revolution, the integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons faces the daunting task of rebuilding and redefining their world. They embark on a collective effort to establish a fair and just governance system that safeguards individual freedoms while promoting equality and mutual respect.
Drawing upon the wisdom and experiences of both the Flintstones and the Jetsons, the new society embraces a balanced approach to progress and technology. They recognize the importance of preserving the simplicity and connection to nature from the Flintstones' world, while also harnessing the transformative power of advanced technology from the Jetsons' world to enhance their quality of life.
Education becomes a cornerstone of the new society, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. The people strive to learn from the mistakes of their past and actively work to cultivate an inclusive and compassionate culture that values diversity and encourages open dialogue.
Fred and George, as respected figures who played pivotal roles in the revolution, assume leadership positions to guide the transitional period. With their shared experiences and understanding of both worlds, they become advocates for unity, collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of a better future for all.
The new society also recognizes the importance of honoring and preserving their history. They establish museums and cultural centers that celebrate the unique heritage of both the Flintstones and the Jetsons, fostering a sense of identity and connection to their collective past.
Over time, the integrated society flourishes, with advancements in technology and social progress benefiting all its inhabitants. Collaboration and cooperation become the norm, as individuals from diverse backgrounds work together to address the challenges that arise.
However, the memory of the oppressive past remains a reminder of the fragility of freedom. The society remains vigilant, nurturing a culture that values individual rights, personal growth, and community well-being. They understand that maintaining a balance between technological advancement and human connection is crucial for the longevity and sustainability of their newfound harmony.
The story concludes with a sense of hope and optimism for the future, as the integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons embraces their shared humanity and collective potential. They stand as a testament to the resilience and transformative power of individuals coming together to challenge the status quo and shape a brighter world for generations to come.
As time passes, the integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons thrives, embracing the principles of equality, freedom, and harmony. Their collective journey becomes an inspiration for neighboring societies still grappling with similar issues of oppression and social stratification.
The integrated society reaches out to these neighboring communities, sharing their experiences and offering support and guidance in dismantling oppressive systems. Through peaceful exchange and dialogue, they foster a network of interconnected societies committed to building a more equitable and inclusive world.
As the integrated society continues to evolve, they recognize the importance of sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. They invest in clean energy technologies, conservation efforts, and the restoration of natural habitats, working hand in hand with the land and embracing a more balanced relationship with their environment.
Culture and the arts flourish in this integrated society, as creativity and expression are celebrated and valued. Artists from various backgrounds collaborate to weave together the rich tapestry of their shared heritage, creating works that reflect their journey and inspire future generations.
Education remains a cornerstone of their society, evolving to meet the changing needs and challenges of the world. They prioritize comprehensive education that nurtures critical thinking, empathy, and global citizenship. By empowering individuals with knowledge and fostering a lifelong love of learning, they ensure the continuous growth and progress of their society.
Throughout the integrated society, there is a deep sense of community and interconnectedness. Social support systems are strengthened, and individuals actively participate in civic life, contributing their unique skills and perspectives to the betterment of society as a whole. Collaboration and cooperation are not just buzzwords but integral values that guide their interactions and decision-making processes.
Fred and George, who played pivotal roles in the revolution, gradually transition from positions of formal leadership to become respected elders and mentors. They pass on their wisdom and experiences, helping to shape future generations and ensuring the continuity of the society's principles and values.
As the story comes to a close, it is evident that the integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons has created a lasting legacy. Their journey from oppression to liberation serves as a beacon of hope for other societies, inspiring them to challenge existing systems and envision a future where all individuals can thrive.
The story ultimately highlights the transformative power of unity, empathy, and the shared pursuit of a more just and compassionate world. It reminds us that the strength of humanity lies not in our divisions but in our ability to overcome them, forging new paths towards a future defined by cooperation, respect, and the celebration of our shared humanity.
With the integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons serving as a shining example of progress and unity, their influence begins to spread far and wide. The neighboring societies that once struggled with oppression and inequality are inspired by their success and embark on their own journeys of transformation.
Leaders from these neighboring societies seek guidance and collaboration with the integrated society, recognizing the wisdom and experience they possess. Through partnerships and exchange programs, knowledge is shared, and cooperative efforts are established to address systemic issues and foster sustainable development.
Together, these societies form an alliance, known as the United World Coalition, committed to creating a global community that upholds the principles of equality, justice, and environmental stewardship. They work collaboratively on a range of initiatives, including eradicating poverty, ensuring universal access to quality education and healthcare, and promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity.
The United World Coalition becomes a powerful force for positive change, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and challenging oppressive systems wherever they exist. By leveraging their collective resources and expertise, they actively work towards creating a world free from discrimination, prejudice, and social inequality.
As the Coalition expands its influence, it faces resistance from those who seek to maintain the status quo and perpetuate division. However, their shared vision and unwavering determination allow them to overcome these obstacles, forging a path towards a more equitable and sustainable future.
In this global movement, Fred and George, revered as visionary leaders, assume vital roles in guiding the United World Coalition. Their experiences and wisdom earned from the revolution serve as a guiding light for this unprecedented endeavor, inspiring unity and collective action on a global scale.
Through ongoing collaboration and the exchange of ideas, the member societies of the United World Coalition continue to learn from one another, adapting their policies and practices to foster greater harmony and prosperity. They prioritize the well-being of all people and the preservation of the planet, recognizing the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental issues.
As the Coalition progresses, they leverage advancements in technology and innovation to tackle complex challenges. Sustainable energy solutions, responsible resource management, and breakthroughs in healthcare and agriculture become key focal points, ensuring the well-being of present and future generations.
Education remains at the heart of the Coalition's mission, with a renewed emphasis on fostering critical thinking, empathy, and global citizenship. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate an ever-changing world, they empower them to actively participate in shaping their communities and contribute to the greater good.
As the story concludes, the United World Coalition stands as a testament to the transformative power of unity and collaboration. Their collective efforts have created a world where societal divisions have been replaced by a shared sense of humanity, where differences are celebrated, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.
The integrated society of former Flintstones and Jetsons, once confined to their own worlds, played a crucial role in igniting a global movement towards a more just and sustainable future. Their journey from oppressive systems to a harmonious and inclusive society became the catalyst for change, inspiring countless individuals and communities to join the collective effort.
The story leaves us with a profound sense of hope, reminding us that by transcending divisions and embracing our shared humanity, we have the power to shape a world where equality, freedom, and compassion prevail. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity and the boundless potential that lies within us all.
..End of Line

I've been dating my current girlfriend for almost four years now. When we started dating, she was perfect. She was studying to be an aerospace engineer, knew three languages, got scholarships, and was part of the mountain biking team, ski team, and a CrossFit gym. As someone who is really attractive to intelligence, drive and passion, she was incredible. And for the first two years of our relationship was also incredible. I'm not going to waste anyone's time by telling every single date we had or explain every single amazing moment, but I think the biggest reason we lasted so long was because she gave me the opportunity to change. Instead of just jumping ship whenever I did or said something I didn't mean, she talked to me about it. With her, I was able to get over a lot of issues I had, chief of which was an anger problem. She helped and waited and understood like no one else did for about a year, and I can't explain enough how much it meant to me.
However, over the past year or so, I've started to notice her change. I started to notice as she let her diet go a bit and gained some weight. She also stopped skiing, mountain biking and weight lifting. I wanted to be extremely understanding and helpful, just like she was to me. So about a year ago, I sat down with her and asked if she'd like to make a diet and workout plan with me. I thought if we did it together, it would be good for us. She agreed, and thanked me for understanding. Unfortunately we rarely were able to go to the gym at the same time, but I did my best to hit the gym as I promised. However, as the semesters rolled on, I noticed her kinda slacking off. There was always some kind of excuse or reason she couldn't go, and I always tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, she is studying aerospace engineering! However, I started to notice her slacking off in her studies as well. She'd spend hours and hours playing games on her computer or phone during the time that she reserved for studying. She'd try to get everything done last minute, and would frequently turn in incomplete assignments. As I did before, I tried to help her. We talked about why she wouldn't study, or how she studied. I tried to help her make plans and stick to them. But no matter what I tried, she would rarely even start. I didn't know what to do anymore, and she ended the last semester with a failed class and gained five pounds.
I'm trying my best to understand her, and talked to a few of my friends about it. Luckily, I think I found exactly what's wrong. When she was a kid, she was diagnosed with ADD, but was never treated for it because she was able to get A's in all her classes. What I think is happening, is that her ADD is finally catching up with her. It lined up with all the issues she has, even the tiny things I didn't include in my story. So I encouraged her to find a therapist that can re-diagnose her and help her through it. However, she's struggling to do it! Again, I know it's because of the ADD but I can't help her through this part. She needs to do it herself.
Now my moral issue. I'm worried that it won't help. For whatever reason, I'm worried that the new changes in her are ones that might not be able to change. Even if she does get diagnosed and treated, will it help her grades? Will it help her weight? Will she start texting me again (which is suddenly very dry and rare)? Will she be the person I originally fell in love with? Or have I wasted a year trying to help her without her taking the initiative to help herself?
I still have two years of college left (some classes didn't transfer and it messed everything up), should I spend it continuing trying to help her? Or should I learn to move on?

In the dev post on the forums, Nate has replied to a question about how the patch of the orbital decay bug will work and to an accusation of upselling games.
On orbital decay patch: Forum user

But what if a collision with another object happens? A stage separation? A vehicle being affected by an exhaust of another vessel? I really hope the system in question here is not as primitive as described.

Nate

Excellent question. Actually, there is an analogous system in KSP1 that works similarly. Off the top of my head, I don't know how it handles decoupling or other non-propulsive physics events. This may require a scalable solution that can be expanded to include edge cases (for example, the effects of stage separation), but the current effects of which are so profoundly game-impacting that a simpler approach gets us to more stable footing sooner. My short-term goal for this feature is KSP parity. That said, I'll bring up your concerns the next time I chat about this with an engineer.

On upselling games: Forum user

You have to remember that virtually everything Nate has said or written except very close to an actual release has turned out to be a huge upsell. He's marketting when he speaks to us.

Nate

It is my job, both within the team and outwardly to the public, to create and communicate goals. Another one of my jobs is to look at the current state of the game and talk about where we stand with respect to those goals. Those goals have not changed.
We have shown footage and screenshots of as-yet unfinished features for years. That is a part of the goal setting and communication process. Have I sometimes thought we were closer to the finish line than we really were? That's a matter of public record.
Given that I'm both a fan of KSP and an enthusiastic person, I often can't wait to share a cool thing I've experienced with other fans. Is that marketing? If "marketing" means "misrepresenting for profit," I don't think it is. Is it unwise to show off something before it has reached a shippable level of polish? Sometimes it might be, but when I think back to how much I enjoyed hearing about upcoming features back in the HarvesteR days, it's hard not to err on the side of oversharing. It is very nice to be the bearer of good news.
As I've mentioned here before, the parts and environment art teams are always ahead of the other teams, just by virtue of how the pipeline works. That means that some updates will include new parts. This is not meant to obscure any uncomfortable realities. Those who have the expertise to fix trajectory or decoupling bugs are fully devoted to fixing them. Those who have the ability to design and implement parts are putting their hearts and souls into that work.
One thing I do not have direct control over is velocity. Our team has learned quite a lot over the years, and I think both our production processes and our ability to communicate with one another have improved tremendously. But it is a learning process, as you've seen from the evolution of these forum posts.
I understand that the community would like all of these planned features to arrive as soon as possible. Everyone on this team is doing everything they can to improve efficiency so that we're able to take the most direct path to those big roadmap goals. But we also are learning to measure twice and cut once, to reduce tech debt, to improve our testing protocols, and to improve communication between feature teams - all with the goal of making sure that when those roadmap features go live, that they are stable and performant.
The goals remain the same, and the thing that keeps me going is the thought of one day driving a resource collection rover out of a colony VAB on an extrakerbolar planet. On the day I finally do this, I'll probably sublimate into a gas, my work on this planet finally having been completed.

Forum user

Well it's great to get a direct reply. But...
Your words are reasonable taken in isolation, but comparing where you're at to what you've delivered - it's clear that its a consistent pattern of upselling everything. Think back - has there every been a SINGLE thing that you projected to the community that would be done in X time and it was actually done in less than X time? Or was literally everything you talk about delivered late and/or in worse quality than you initially spoke of it in (not counting things that were shipping in a week or two).
You say you're communicating 'goals' and you're not responsible for velocity (yet you keep giving us dates). So basically you're agreeing that you are someone who's job isn't to communicate with us accurately, because you will set the highest goal you can and don't really know when it'll be finished. I don't see how that's different from me saying you upsell things.
Also - I dunno if you've worked for a manager before that perpetually set unrealistically high goals and then left it up to the team to try and meet them - but it's not a great situation. Is the 'high morale' you spoke of a few weeks more of a goal as well?

*Edit: included reply of forum user

Context: purdue is very expensive for me and I get in state tuition plus an academic and athletic scholarship to wichita. Did I Make a mistake choosing to not go to purdue?

I was accepted into W&M's online MSF program for 2023. The education counselor informed me that the university does not offer scholarships, neither financial nor need-based, for online programs. I recently moved to the United States and don't have sufficient financial resources for my studies. Since I need to buy a home for my family and I am the sole provider, I want to avoid taking student loans. Unfortunately, my employer does not offer any educational support to employees. I am wondering if there is any department or organization within the university that provides scholarships. This opportunity is crucial to me as a first-generation immigrant, and I don't want to miss out.

I am writing this in hopes for some help and to guide others to not have the same fate as me. I think I have made the biggest mistake of my life. It has been 5 months since it happened and I haven't been able to fix it. This phone is the only connection to the realm of my birth. My original world. I probably cannot undo my mistake but I can guide future players.
My phone it's Android. It has an IR blaster, the only reason I bought it, and for some reason, this phone can hold its network through dimensional change. As if it's a loophole, a glitch in the broken matrix that i was facing. Not that i could actually make any use of it because I am still here.
The people here look like us. They all do. They are very sapient. They look just like us. But my bones know that they don't have the same origin as I do. They are good though. Have the same societal issues, the same intolerable governing body, protestors, and unrealistic agendas, the left wing and right wing at each other's throats. People who should touch some grass have podcasts. People who should have podcasts enjoy their lives. They are humans, just like us, but they are not us.
The rules stated by the urban legend still strike the same to this day if time and space follow the same routine, follow the floor number pattern, pay no heed to the lady that enters the elevator on the 5th floor, leave the building immediately if you return to floor 1, etc. I followed them all correctly, but the rules are no guarantee as to whether you will be safe or alive after your elevator journey is done, the rules only make sure the procedure is correct.
Hey you know what I will write down the rules in short, for your reference to my guidelines but the rules should always be memorized to your bones and spine, this is your SOS and your key. You will find the set of rules on any website. I suggest visiting multiple of them before you start your endeavor. Because each of them gives you different kinds of warnings, something the successful players learned from their own experience. And take this advice of reading through all of those points from this unsuccessful player.
One thing the rules on blog sites don't mention is the choice of which world you want to enter. Because most players enter an identical world with no electronics and no living thing around them. Only a red crossed window that's far stretched away from where ever you look and keeps on moving further away from you. My case was vaguely different.

1. So firstly all you do is enter a building with more than 10 stories.
   
2. Enter the lift via the first floor and only by pressing the "up" button
   
3. Follow a pattern of floors, press 4 then 2 then 6 then 10 then 5.
   
4. On 5 a lady shall or shall not enter your floor. Then press 1
   
5. When you press 1, you will either reach 1. or you will reach 10.
   
6. If you reach 1, get the f out of the building and don't come near it, not in 6-7 months i suggest.
   
7. If you do reach 10 congratulations. your first part of the journey is a success
   

now Something, about the lady. Do not interact with her at any cost because of course she is not a lady, no matter how pretty she looks, oh you looked at her? alas, that's also a grave mistake. don't look at her, don't talk to her. Just ignore her total existence. If you know of the elevator game you are already aware of how you should not interact with the lady and all. But one thing is often left blurry is that what you should do if she does not enter. This was my case.
So my advice here: If the lady on the 5th floor does not enter. Then just hope that you do return to the 1st floor after you press it. if you do no then, and start ascending. continuously press any and every floor button for it to stop, or maybe the emergency or call button so that the staff can stop the elevator. Because if you end up reaching the 10th floor, good chances are you get to meet me and we make a cute therapy consult group for people who can't return back. :)
I remember everything from that night so vividly. I did your usual pattern follow. I entered the lift when no one was using it. I entered 4. went up there, meh nothing happened. Then again I pressed 2. I felt a vague chill around me. As if the mechanism of the ritual was understanding my intention. I pressed 6, then after it reached 6, I pressed 2, then 10 then 5. Oh, 5. The elevator door opened. And there she was, standing with all her glory. I did not look at her. but of course, i could see her from waist to bottom. She was dressed in Russian traditional clothing. not something i was expecting from an urban legend that became popular in Korea and japan. I think her wardrobe is a good collection from all cultures. or maybe there's more like her? Who knows?
I could feel it in my spine she was looking at me. She stopped the elevator with her foot so that the doors don't close and asked, "Baby which floor are you going?"
I followed the rules, did not look at her, did not reply to her, and completely ignored her.
She said, "Not much of a speaker eh? no worries have your ride. I hope you have a better life."
I have no idea why she said that. Looking back I think she knew what was going to happen to me. She knew that I was not going to end up in the world most player venture into. "Better life," she said.
She did not enter the lift and I pressed 1. The ritual, now tainted because she did not enter, worked. I reached the 10th floor. And when the doors opened, it was like nothing changed. The building I entered was a hotel. The housekeeping staff was running around. I heard children crying. Some Karen was screaming at a worker because her coffee, which she made from their amenities tasted bland. It was very confusing for me. I think I assumed the ritual did not work. And the lady was just another lady who could have been high. I walked out of the elevator and I felt great.
"those silly online urban legends, such lies" I probably had muttered to myself.
I took the lift again, reached the ground floor, and walked out of the building. Everything was going well until my head started hurting and spinning. and i was slowly passing out. and that's the exact moment i remembered from one of the posts of an earlier player "Do not at any chance lose your consciousness. and if you do, no matter where you wake up, return to the building, re-follow the exit ritual pattern and return to your own world."
My head felt dizzy as I woke up. In my very room. I thought to myself, was it all a dream? Did I search so much about some damn urban legend that I had such a deeply engraving dream? For heaven's sake. I jerked myself up and got down from my bed. Even my clothing is same as the last evening. I didn't know what was more weird, that i was wearing the clothes from my dream or that i remember the dream so vividly that i can even recall the outfit i was wearing. Also my phone was in my pocket. This is something i just never do. No matter how sleepy i am. i keep my phone on the other end of my table, in case it might just blast if the lithium goes through a thermal runaway.
AND! That is when i noticed. My table. It was completely on the opposite side. No no, it is right beside my bed, just like every day but the bed, and the entire room, its opposite. As if it were mirroring the room i know. Also, It wasn't just a complete mirror. my room was smaller, just a bit in breadth. One wouldn't notice it even if they visit my room on a weekly basis. But it's my damn room of course i would know even if a fly moved differently. Lo and behold, that extra loss on my room, was added to my washroom. Again, one wouldn't just notice it right away.
In a nightmare-like urgency, I rushed down the stairs to call complain my mother, and that is when the realization hit me that I did, in fact, play the elevator game. My dad was there. In the kitchen. Alive and happily married. Figuratively much different from how I remember him. I stood there in shock with my mouth wide open. How could this be? I remember my father. The last time I lived with him was until I was 9. When my parents parted ways. The last time I saw him was when I was 11, when he died. Not that I cried, he was far from what a father is supposed to be. I am 25 now.
"Good morning Sweetie!" His voice sounded oddly different. I was utterly petrified by this moment. There was a quirky yet calming nature to his sound which creeped me out even more. I dashed out of the house while grabbing my backpack from the sofa. I could hear him call out my name in my concern. This is it. This is definitely it. I crossed the borders of the unknown realm. But why are people here? Isn't it supposed to be dark with no one in it? No electricity and all ? But there is everything. This is a whole other world, what went wrong?
I had to return to my world. I ran through the roads and traffic to the hotel. Hotel Sunset. As I crossed the roads I could see it all. Cars stopping at the orange light. People walking in blue. I mean they are still following basic physics by using orange, longer wavelength for stopping cars. but does Red not exist in this world? not it does, OH MY GOD, the road lines are red.
I hurried through the crowd to reach the hotel. I pulled out my phone, which was surprisingly working perfectly. Internet, gps everything. It said i reached my location. "Hotel sunset"
I looked up, it said "Hotel Moon shine". I am surprised it wasn't named "moon rise", it'd would have been the cherry on top then.
I walked in, the Interior looked the same. I waited and waited and waited for the evening to hit and the horde to lessen. I stood up and walked to the lift. I repeated the entire process.
The lift stopped at 5. Instead of the lady, someone else entered. I of course didn't look up, but they entered hurriedly, screaming my name and i had to look up, i was already freaked out at this point. It was me. I was looking at me. she, well me, or wait she? she held the lift by her foot. What's up with women in the elevator game to hold the elevator by the foot?
"what did you do!? " I - I mean she said, one that looked like me.
"what did i do?" i replied back. . Whoever this doppelganger was. sure i was petrified. but here i was.
"DID THE LADY ENTER YOUR LIFT ?" she screamed at me.
"wha?" i was trembling at her screeching was. the white portion of her eyes started to redden.
"OH MY GOD DID SHE OR NOT ENTER WHEN YOU DID THE RITUAL?" she again proclaimed.
"she didn't." i replied and slowly lost my leg strength and somewhat collapsed while sitting down.
"why? why did you complete the ritual then? did you not read before you did? you are supposed to be me, you are supposed to be smart. heck, aren't you supposed to be smarter? oh my god. is that my backpack or yours?"
I just shook my head and handed her the backpack, it was hers definitely. I never put on any anime pins on mine. Speaking of anime pins, naruto here has pink hair. Isn't that cool?
she took out her phone and said "If you want to go back home go to this tumblr account and download the app. The account is called buihotline.tumblr.com "
And she left.
Was that the me of this universe? do we have counterparts in every universe? How many universes are there? are these even universes the way our science teaches us universes?
The lift started to quake. the light started flickering and I could hear some noise. soft noises that slowly grew louder and louder until they became uncontrollable screams. my ear drums were hurting beyond control. until it all stopped and the lift door opened. I stepped outside. Yet I was still there at "Moon shine hotel".
I tried the ritual again. I ended up back here. To floor 1 and I went back "home" to my "dad" and "mom". For the next 7 days, I kept on going back to the elevator, trying the ritual continuously and failing. On my way, I noticed new and new things about their world. These people like to greet each other in a very weird way. They grab each other's throats and smile. Almost sadistic. Language is very similar, but there are a few words and phrases here and there that have changed with customs and traditions. Honey here tastes like metal. Cows don't Moo, and birds chirp, but the sounds are unfamiliar, dogs don't exist. cats are the only domestic animals here. I read similar things in some blogs, but never did I think I would get to experience them for real.
Either way. On every failed ritual, I reached floor 1 and went back home. and repeated the cycle Until the 7th day, I got so fed up, that I kept on trying multiple times. but all I did was end up on floor 1. But I saw the weirdest thing.
Well, I can fill in on what happens if you immediately don't leave the building after playing the elevator game and ending up on floor 1. You see, well better than seeing failing grades or not being able to return to your own world, ghosts. Yep pretty much. Deranged souls that roam around the building. That is exactly what you see. And once they notice your existence, god save you. If there is any.
Mine was rather sarcastic. They did infact noticed me. They all came running towards me, looked right at me, smelled me and then slowly moved away and kept on about roaming. My heart intensified so much, it felt like I just lost a marathon I almost won.
I saw a man, maybe a bit older than me, in his 20s, walk down the entrance come and sit beside me. "They won't attack someone who's like them. You are of no use to them. They used to belong here, but don't anymore. and you never did."
I looked at him with a frightening shock. I took my bag and ran back home. Only when i came back home i realized he could have had answers. But i was so terrified at the moment, the only thing I could think of was getting away from him. I needed answers. I need to enter the website the other me mentioned. I got a new phone from this world. they didn't have Google, but I tell you their search engine is much better, it has AI integrated within. The account never opened from the new phone. Tumblr did. but that account never did. Then I tried my own phone and voila! The page had nothing. A heading, a two-liner bio, and a link. Link to download the app. Tumblr happens to be one of the only few apps that do work in other dimensions. Apparently, it has something to do with the first person who jumped dimensions, not only did they jump, but they also jumped through time and made sure every world had Tumblr. It's kinda funny they could have chosen Reddit, it's much more effective.
I loaded the app. Its a 2010's forum-based app. There are discussion topics under which you make threads. You got a chat box to interact with other users. the main discussion had a guide. I searched through it and finally came to the part "how to enter and leave a mirror world" aaand its blank. well not totally. A couple of reasons saying why you should not enter it. A bullet point that said download this pdf to know how to return back to your own world. I hurriedly clicked on it and boom the file did not open. I have never been so disappointed in my life.
There are so many dimensions else than the one with red cross and mirror dimensions. it is almost like aliens exist because some "humans" look so different. some people probably might even have ended up on my world as well. I wonder how they are taking it.
Apparently, only devices of one world present in another world, or at least have been in a few can open the website and run the apk file. Only androids work across dimensions. There's a conspiracy theory that the creators of android have got something to do with the entire interdimensional rituals and breaking the laws of space and time.
Either way, hoping to get some results I posted on the site wishing for some advice on opening the file or someone just copy-pasting the rules I guess.
I received a DM saying, "Since you have successfully crossed a mirror dimension You are capable of much more than you can imagine. But you should know how to use them, you have to be responsible for every move you make"
Good lord, I am not Spider-Man. The user further said, " I do not know where you are from, but I am from dimension 17391, go to the universal map translator and put the location, "Kairo office main building, st. red 22209". It will automatically give you a few building locations of your world." But the interface is very slow. Because it's not a singular place that has a counterpart in every dimension, there is one in every 4 hours of journey. It's an arbitrary location. It will take some time. maybe days. But you will reach."
I asked the user a dozen questions, how do I find the translator map, how many universes are there, and what do I do when I reach there? Why does everyone speak English? But they never replied. But now I have something, hope. A twinge of hope.
I searched around the app and found the map feature, build within the forum. It was on the top layer, but a confused me couldn't find it right away.
Ever since I found the map It has been nothing but a dilemma. 5 months. 5 months of intense searching and nothing. The first time I entered the location and searched, it landed me at the coordinates of a graveyard. The Irony. The second time, a fish market, the third, 3-storey guest house with the most normal Karen.
I can't even venture out every day. I have a "life" here that I have to maintain. This me had a similar job. Marketing manager at a pretty good company. The pay is almost the same. A bit lower here, but hey cost of living is also lower here. Putting those two together I probably have the exact same pay. But they have more facilities. Better vacation leaves. That is exactly what i took right after i downloaded the app, to understand the world better, and the changes here and there.
Morning, I go to work. where I sort out the place I will visit. and after work, i leave. Some places were nearby, some were far. One was in the neighboring country, luckily, the passport here is strong. But none of them work. I think I have broken the "not your universe? not the place? click again" button. Sundays and Saturdays are for long-distance locations. Also every day i cannot afford to go, even though the pay is good. In my world I used to live alone with Mum visiting me now and then. She and I had a family business along with my job, so all was good. Here I don't have a place of my own. And I gotta pay the bills around the house and sometimes take care of the business as well. Things are so similar yet different. I feel likeIi live in a deja vu.
By now i have crossed out almost 75 locations within 5 months, all of them being complete failures. I have crossed out 60 universes that aren't this one. I have made multiple posts on that app, describing my condition, where i am, and which universe it might be. If i even know this universe number and input it, the map translator will work much much better. I describe my original universe in the posts expecting someone to understand me and maybe send me a picture of my mother and friends, but all i have received are words of sympathy and hopefulness.
A few more people have send me their "kairo" addresses but they all can send only one to two messages before the chatbox stops. One of them managed to message me that i have to enter my universe number in the settings for the interface to work better. I also haven't been able to find the man from the hotel on the app or at the hotel either.
what do I do? Any piece of advice?

Heyo, I have a few hundred on SE and I love this game and the minecraft-like creative freedom that the game has. I've seen countless videos and posts talking about "Space engineers 2 is coming!" but with no hard proof. Does anyone here have an actual statement from KSH stating that SE2 is in the works? or even some hints they've given out about it's creation? Thanks.

I want to GM Pathfinder 2e, but I have some questions first that aren't clear to me—regarding exploration mode and skill usage.
I have been reading AON, but I have not yet bought the Core rulebooks. I have bought the Beginner Box.
My background comes from D&D, but I then dabbled in PbtA and Blades in the Dark. I learned a lot of lessons from those games that I want to incorporate into the trad game of Pathfinder 2e. But I am also reminded of the careful balance put by the devs in the game; balance that might clash with the established lessons learned from Apocalypse engine games and Blades.
So I don't really know what to do. Redditors of the internet, I ask of you these questions thee. Please help me.
Most of these questions have a between-the-lines question attached that I would want to have answered: "what is the intent here?"

• I assume in a regular game session, you switch continuously between Encounter Mode and Exploration Mode. The default mode is Exploration Mode, you encounter enemies and enter Encounter Mode. Finishing up combat, you go back to Exploration Mode, until you encounter another set of enemies and enter Encounter Mode again. You are not staying in Encounter Mode exploring an entire dungeon. Are my assumptions here correct?

If my assumption is not correct, may I assume instead there is this floating free-form roleplay happening, with sometimes the game zooming in to Encounter Mode and sometimes going to a defined Exploration Mode, after which you return to the free-form no-explicit-mode roleplay thing?

• The game rules have a paragraph about failing forward. This is contrasted by many Skill actions (such as Climb) that have blank fail states. Should I fill these blank fail results in with narrative Consequences?

"As you try to climb this wall, you accidentally grab a part of a loose rock. It crumbles and falls down, revealing a small cavern. Inside, a group of bats and behind them, a treasure chest. As the loose rocks fall down, they make noise, waking up the bats. Roll initiative. Yes, while climbing."

I do understand that in Encounter Mode, nothing happening means you still lose an Action. Which might mean the enemy can get an extra turn in and attack you. There is still risk, even without immediate consequence. My question refers to Exploration mode here.

• Should consequences, if added, always have to relate to the skill itself? Rock climbing and loose rocks. As an alternative, the environment can take an action as a consequence instead; separate from the actual skill check made. Rock climbing and as a consequence, a guard noticing the PCs climbing.
  
• Should I also add consequences to a critical fail, even when they are defined and in addition to their effects? E.g. "You fall down."
  

A fail can be interpreted as a partial success rather than a miss. You do what you want to do, but there is a consequence. This partial success is in reference to a fail often meaning you still deal half damage, rather than no damage.

When I speak of consequences, I have a policy to never ever make it seem like a PC does something stupid, like many fumble card rules seem to imply. This is often achieved by pure narrative. A sword does not slip out of the PC's hands. Instead, the PC makes an accurate attack, but the goblin flicks the sword out of the PC's hand at the last second. The PC is a competent combatant, but sadly for them, so is the goblin.

• The Beginner Box asks the GM to have players roll skill checks. Reading AON, there seems to be a bigger focus on Skill actions, almost to the point that one can read that skill checks don't even exist and it's Skill actions only. What is the intended idea here?

• Are Skill checks/actions intended as a fiction-first move or a mechanics-first action?

In this context, with fiction-first play I mean that a player tells what they do in the fiction first and conveys their intent, then the GM tells them what they should roll based on what they do and with which intent.

Player: "I want to climb on top of this Giant to get to the top of the wall."
GM: "That sounds like a Climb action to me."
Player: "I want to climb on top of this Halfling to squash them with my weight."
GM: "That sounds like a Strike action to me."

In mechanics-first play, the player chooses the Action they want to take first, making what happens in the fiction fluff that can be ignored.

Player: "I attack the goblin. Does a 17 hit?"

Especially with Skill actions, are they intended to be triggered from fiction or are they chosen by players as actual actions?

• Before a roll is made, are take-backsies and back-and-forths with the GM possible?
  
• Can players choose the Skill check/action or is the GM the decider of the roll made? In the next example, the GM sets the DC, but does not choose the skill check.
  

Player: "I'm using Acrobatics to climb swiftly on this wall."
GM: "Okay, make a DC 20 roll."
Player: "That sounds like a lot. How about I just be careful and use Athletics instead?"
GM: "Okay, then make a roll against DC 15 instead."

• Are there any guidelines for GM moves as improvised consequences? Like "Deal 1d6 damage is fine, 10d6 damage is too much. Never split the party as a consequence. You may take away a resource, such as a torch, or a spellbook, but only temporarily."

• Should all lethal fights be happening in Encounter Mode? Or can I assume when the Rogue assassinates the Guard from the shadows, they can do so as a single action in Exploration Mode; keeping Encounter Mode for the big fights and boss battles only? If not, I assume trying to kill the Guard always sets up Encounter Mode and initiative is rolled.

Failing the assassination might make the Guard ready for combat as a consequence, and still trigger Initiative rolls. In which the Guard is most likely going to call for backup.

• Bonus question: Can Encounter Mode be used for other things than physical combat? I am thinking of using it as an interrogation, with Strikes be representing telling facts, and the victim being at 0 hp representing them finally giving up their secrets; while still being alive and well. Or hp representing the trust the public has in the politician as you talk down the politician in a political debate.

Or is Encounter mode specifically reserved for physical usually-lethal combat?
Thank you all for reading. My apologies for the strange sentence structure; English is not my first language.
Any questions answered, even if not all, will still be a big help.