Modern life can often feel like a constant juggling act. With the conflicting and competitive needs of work and home life, coupled with a relentless 24-7 media culture and the always-on phone habit, finding the time to really look after yourself can prove difficult.
For many, the daily plate spinning can lead to feelings of stress – and a study by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) in 2018 found that in turn our physical health can suffer as a consequence.
Whether it’s worrying about work, frowning about finances, or stressing about how we look, the knock-on effect can often be a binge on booze or a trip to the takeaway to lift our moods.
In fact the online poll by the MHF – the largest known study of stress levels in the UK – revealed 46 per cent of respondents reported they ate too much or ate unhealthily due to stress and 29 per cent reported that they started drinking or increased their drinking.
The question for many of us then is how to find the balance. How can we keep stress at bay, improve our mental and physical well-being and fit all of that into a work-life schedule already bursting at the seams?
It might sound like a task worthy of Tom Cruise in the next round of Mission: Impossible films but even the most crammed of calendars can make room for some personal TLC.
Don’t worry, we’re not talking marathon training or taking on a triathlon here.
But here are some of our tips for quick, easy and efficient changes you can make to your lifestyle to give you a physical and mental boost no matter how busy your day is.

Go for a walk

It costs nothing, you can do it anywhere, and you can start right now without the need for any equipment. So what’s stopping you?
According to researchers at the University of Cambridge, a 20-minute walk every day cuts the risk of premature death by almost a third.
And studies in Canada have shown a quick stroll can also help with brain function – and could help to reduce the risk of dementia in the future. Walking can also help your heart and improve your mood.
It can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop or two earlier or just swapping surfing social media on your lunch break for a lap of the local park.
Fancy something a bit more challenging? With sales of Fitbits, Smartwatches and other fitness trackers staying strong why not set a workplace walking challenge?
There are plenty of sites online that can help you set it up. And you can even raise money for a good cause in the process.

Make a connection

We might be able to reach into our pockets and contact a Facebook friend in a matter of seconds but what about real-life conversation?
We’re better connected than ever before thanks to smartphones and social media, but human beings are still hardwired for old-school face-to-face interaction.
Meet a friend for lunch, turn the TV off and play a game with the children or make a phone call rather than sending another text. The science says all of it is better for our mental wellbeing than a tweet, a like or dropping your dinner snaps onto Instagram.
A study found the average Brit checks their phone 28 times a day. Yet a digital detox has been linked with improved sleep, better concentration and less stress.
And with the Screen Time tools Apple introduced for the iPhone, or the Digital Wellbeing dashboard that Google produced for Android, it’s easier than ever before to monitor your time online and take a break.

A high five for fruit and veg

Health and well-being advice is constantly evolving and ever-changing. But sometimes olden is golden.
Five has been the magic number for portions of fruit and veg in our daily diet since 2003. It’s advice still favoured by the NHS – and advice based on a 1990 World Health Organisation report that concluded eating more than 400g fruit and vegetables per day was linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
Some studies say we should eat more fruit and veg. Yet more evidence says most of don’t eat enough – even those of us that do hit the favoured target of five.
In Australia, the advice is five to six servings of veg PLUS two servings of fruit. And in Japan, the experts suggest as many as 13 portions of veg each day (plus four of fruit).
Don’t get too tangled up though. What is clear is that the more fruit and vegetables you put into your diet, the greater the potential health benefits.

Water works

While five-a-day of fruit and veg still seems to be solid advice, opinions are more divided when it comes to water.
A long-accepted mantra of aiming for eight glasses a day has come under fire from lots of experts, many who point out that we are hydrated by food as well as water. Cauliflower and aubergine, for example, are 92 per cent water.
A one-size-fits-all approach has also attracted criticism, with many suggesting a simple drink-when-thirsty approach is best due to the many variables from one person to the next.
Where there is more agreement, is that regular water intake can mean less of the bad stuff – the fizzy drinks, the alcohol and the sugary snacks.
Even mild dehydration can lead to poor mental and physical performance so what can you do to make sure you’re water wise? Thirst aside, the experts point to the bathroom. Having light yellow (or colourless) urine usually confirms an adequate water intake.
Every journey starts with a simple first step. And perhaps these easy options can inspire you to more in the future.

PARENTAL TALK: MEETING OF MIYAMURA’S AND HORI’S PARENTS
And thus, Kyosuke died…
It was Summer and as they had graduated from high-school, Izumi, Kyoko and gang had went to the beach as once proposed by Remi. Using this opportunity Kyosuke and Yuriko decided to pay a surprise visit to Izumi’s parents – Iori and Naozumi. They had decided to go early evening around the time when the bakery closed, to visit them at the bakery so that they won’t interrupt their business. But there was a small problem….. Kyouske…..
“AAAAAAH!!!! WHERE IS THAT BAKERY!!!!!”, he screamed in agony as the 45th minute of him trying to locate the bakery passed. But to his rescue came, the one and only, the myth, the woman, the legend – Yuriko Hori! Giving a great speech (lecturing Kyosuke), taking the map from him (taking his phone) and seeing through the mist of traps and codes on the map (trying to understand the weird font Kyosuke uses) she declared -
“We passed the turn to their bakery twice before and we have been walking in the complete opposite direction, darling (you idiot).”
“Yuriko, I can’t wait anymore, I will run towards it, you can come as fast as you want.”, saying Kyosuke took off causing a sonic boom as he ran faster than sound leaving behind all the pleas of Yuriko to stop.
Meanwhile at the Miyamura bakery –
Iori stood behind the counter with a notepad, counting the remaining cakes and going over the day’s transaction once again. Naozumi came back from toilet and asked, “I think you are almost done, I will go and sort everything at the back, I have to set new supplies too….. aaaaah so much work!!”
“Now, now, don’t complain a lot.”, Iori replied.
As she completed her task she someone at the door; customer….. but her mind was bamboozled as she saw a “tall ash colour haired smoking man with a lot of sweat who looks like a mafia” (her interpretation).
Confused, she approached cautiously, she was greeted with a question, “Is this the bakery where Miyamura Izumi works?!”
“Yes…”
“Ah I see, he must not be home, we are the reason after all (he is with kyo-chan)”
Stunned Iori stood frozen, only one thought spread in her mind – HE HAS KIDNAPPED IKKKUN!!!!
“Is Izumi’s father here?”, he asked.
“Yes…” OH GOD HE IS GOING TO ASK FOR RANSOME OH GOD PLEASE NO!!!!
She was about to lose all hope but again, came the great savior Yuriko and said, “Dear, you must not scare your daughter’s boyfriend’s parents like this.”
Daughter’s boyfriend’s parents…. Wait does that mean…
Soon the misunderstanding sorted and Iori took them both to her house, telling Naozumi come from behind. She also packed a few cakes.
Back at the Miyamura household’s living room, Kyosuke sat near the center table staring out the large window trying to light a smoke. Iori and Yuriko were chatting and preparing tea and cakes to be brought out. But before Kyosuke can finish lighting his smoke a cold voice from behind stopped him, “No smoking in the house.”
As he looked back he saw a man with brown hair and familiar blue eyes that screamed only one thing – This is Izumi Miyamura’s father!
They both sat face to face at the center table with and awkward silence surrounding them. Kyosuke took the initiative, “So you know, you have a very brave son, he has been able to survive with Kyoko this long, living with her is like living with a dragon, you never know when you get attacked.”
He said it very casually but saw Naozumi thinking very seriously over it. He got scared for a second thinking how he might react but to his surprise he got a, “You know, Iori is not like that, but I was friends with a girl like that in High-school.”
And so the two past high-school popular boys began discussing with great interest, concentration and dedication – the girls they knew back in high-school. Only to be stopped by the intense stares of their wives.
As the great discussion came to an end and they all sat down and started discussing about everyday things.
Yuriko said, “You know these days we don’t get time at all. That day I saw a picture of mine and Kyosuke when we once went to search for clovers with slightly elder kids. Such great days they were.”
Kyosuke laughed, “I remember, that brown-haired guy who was with us got so angry that he couldn’t find any.”
Iori said, “I used to go hunting for clovers all the time. I met Naozumi during one of my trips.”
Yuriko intervened, “You know the elder girl with us had similar hair to yours…”
Iori said, “oh really, you also mentioned brown-hair, Naozumi has brown hair too, such coincidence….”
They all stopped talking for a second.
Naozumi said in a calm voice, “I bet I can beat you all in finding clover if we went head on today.”
Everyone instantly realized the situation and Kyosuke screamed, “You bet! I can beat you anytime!”
They all started laughing.
“Ahh.. they were such good days. Just carelessly enjoying out time.”, said Iori with a smile.
“Yes, and now we have to worry about our kids.”, added Yuriko.
“I know! I didn’t even know Ikkun had a girlfriend, his friend told me.”, said Iori
“They all grow up so fast, I remember when Izumi was still a child, crying every time he fell.”, sighed Naozumi.
“I don’t know about crying but Kyo-chan sure made Sengoku’s kid cry a lot!”, joked Kyosuke.
Everyone laughed and soon with their tea and cakes their talks ended too.
After a pause of silence Naozumi said, “I love how Izumi blushes every time I mention him marrying Kyoko.”
“I know right! Kyo-chan starts blushing too, though she also starts shouting how we are embarrassing him. I am sure Izumi-kun doesn’t do that, he is such a quiet kid.”, said Kyosuke.
“Oh not at all, he runs away all embarrassed too!”, laughed Iori.
Before they could continue further, they heard the door open and up came Izumi and Kyoko back from the beach, hands filled with bags, a slightly tanned skin and with lots of fun memories. They had decided to come here first and give the souvenirs to Miyamura’s parents, and then proceed to her house. But they were surprised to find all the elders together.
“What are you two doing here?”, asked Kyoko surprised.
“Nothing, just meeting Miyamura’s parents. You know, to discuss your marriage.”, teased Kyosuke.
“Our…. Our…. Marriage?!!”, they screamed together.
Izumi stood blushing at the door confused while Kyoko dragged Kyosuke a out who were followed by Yuriko saying farewell to Izumi’s parents.
“I will give them the souvenirs later! I need to deal with Kyosuke!!”, Kyoko screamed as she went away.
The great parental talk ended with laughs and warmth (and some screams and confusion).
THE END.

Demographics: Male, Caucasian(Middle Eastern), Michigan, Public Magnet High School, Suburban, Low Middle Class (Low income for some colleges)
Intended Major(s): Computer Science or Applied Mathematics (depends on which major I would most likely get in with because computer science is very competitive)
ACT/SAT/SAT II: Don't have one yet but have been doing practice tests with 1530+, so rn assume Test-Optional please (worst case scenario)
UW/W GPA and Rank: UW: 4.0/4.0, W: 4.87/5.0, Class Rank: 1/330
Coursework: 17 AP Classes (Took all offered at school), 4 Dual Enrollment Courses
9th: AP USH (3), AP HUG(4), Algebra 2, Health/Wellness, Biology, Spanish 3, English 10
Summer: Pre-Calculus @ local community college
10th: AP CALC AB (5), AP STATS (4), AP ES (4), AP WH(4), AP LANG(3), Honors Chemistry
11th: Dual Enrollment courses - CIS-100 and Elementary Spanish I, AP CALC BC, AP CHEM, AP GOV, AP CAPSTONE SEMINAR, AP ECON (MACRO/MICRO)
Summer: Calculus 3 @ local community college ~~~if not accepted into summer program
12th: AP BIO, AP PHYSICS 1, AP LITERATURE, AP CAPSTONE RESEARCH, AP PSYCHOLOGY, Dual Enrollment courses - Calculus 3 (if not summer) and Linear Algebra [if i do take calculus 3 in the summer then linear algebra and differential equations]
Awards:

1. 2022 Congressional App Challenge: Programmed an app about the future of AI/ML and was invited to U.S. Congress to present app
2. FIRST Robotics: District 2021 Impact Award, District 2023 Impact Award, District 2022 Engineering Inspiration Award, State 2022 Engineering Inspiration Award, First-Time World Championship Qualifier
3. 2x GLOBE IVSS Symposium 4-Stars, Top 1% of Research Papers submitted (international)
4. AP Scholar with Distinction
5. Tennis: 4x District Gold Medal, Rookie All Star, Coach's Award, 4x All-Conference Award
6. idk lol im lacking

Extracurriculars: Include leadership & summer activities

1. GLOBE Research: 2x published research; Added Atmospheric Arduino Sensors (particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ultraviolet light, and sound) onto NASA-sponsored; 2 year long project with 2 research papers.
2. FIRST Robotics: Lead Programmer; Programmed the drive and autonomous period; First-Time World Qualifier
3. Class President: 4 years; organized city-wide parades, homecoming, snow-coming, and senior prom; raised over $15,000 through fundraising
4. National Honor Society: Parliamentarian (11) -> managed school courtyards and organized school-wide pink out and blue out raising a combined total of $14,000; Vice President (12) will be organizing community-wide blood drives and awards for 100+ members
5. Key Club: Co-Founder; Media Director (10) -> created club website through HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT; Secretary (11) -> handled all members attendance and hours; Vice President (12) -> organized district-wide events with multiple service projects
6. Science Club: President (12) -> created 5 student-led research groups; organized science equipment; helped groups on scientific procedures; raised funding for 10+ symposiums
7. Varsity Tennis: Team Captain (11-12) -> 4-year varsity; lead team practices and drills; 1 Singles
8. Independent Research Project: Emotion Detection through Euclidean distances on facial features; published; through summer program of Inspirit AI
9. Community Religious Organization: Organized city-wide events with 50,000+ participants; (i don't wanna say the stuff bc i don't wanna dox)
10. Independent Research Project: ChatGPT accuracy on different levels of difficulty of 5th grade subjects; published
11. (for uc applications) Watershed Committee; Organized community-wide events to rehabilitate rain gardens

Essays/LORs/Other:
Personal Statement: don't know because I didn't write it yet but aiming for 10/10 :)))
Assuming from past applicants
APES TeacheResearch Advisor : 10/10. She is the best person in the world. She is the only reason why I am on this Earth, truthfully. Our relationship is amazing. She is known for amazing letter of recs in the past.
AP CHEM/Honors Chem: 7/10. Had for 2 years. Have a good student-teacher relationship. She allows use to basically 'write' our own but she changes it drastically because of FERPA
Counselor: 7/10. She uses the same format of letter of rec for every other student she has so there really isn't that much diversity. But, I am talking to her more to make sure my story really comes across.
AP Calculus AB/BC: 6/10. Had for 2 years. Was a sophomore taking ab and junior taking bc so I tried to engage myself in the classroom more with him. We have a good student-teacher relationship. Although he writes his letters of rec in under 2 hours (...LMAO) ik this from past students.
Schools: List of colleges, ED/EA/RD, etc
REA/EA:
University of Michigan -Ann Arbor (in-state)
Georgia Tech
Michigan State University
...more local/state universities
Harvard University
RD:
MIT
All ivies
Stanford
All UCs
Carnegie Mellon University
USC
​
I am only a junior so I have a long way to go. Genuinely, please chance me. I know people with better stats than me and get rejected hardcore. My AP scores are lacking big time so I am studying hard to hopefully get all 5s. Similarly for my Awards, does anybody have any advice to receive awards that are computer science base? Because all of them that I find are coding competitions and unfortunately i suck at those (trauma from 9th grade USACO training). Also, ik the SAT is weighted much more from the past years as TO applicants rise so having a good score makes your stand out more, that is my goal.
I will be deleting this post later today. Thank you.

Reality Dating Show

In search of a marriage partner, hyperrealist dating begins where singles gather and struggle to find love.

Details

[From KOCOWA description]

Six men and six women, who desire to get married, are invited to Solo World, which is arranged on an enormous scale. The singles of "I am Solo," who are no celebrities, show off their charms to find their partner and date on this real dating program. An all-time romantic yet shocking love story, way more heart-fluttering than a melodrama that will provoke everyone's passion for love, will be revealed.

Panel

• Defconn - thugdefconn
• Song Ha Na - songhaena
• Lee Yi Kyung - luvlk89

Cast of Season 13

Men

Name	Age	Notes
Young Soo	39 ('85)	Doctor (GP - Botox/Laser treatment @ plastic surgery clinic). Moved to Seoul from Busan 1 year ago. 183cm. likes Busking
Young Ho	38 ('86)	Public financial institution in "Intake Department". Seoul. Hobby: Piano at an Academy for Adult students.
Young Sik	37 ('87)	Weight lifting instructor at a sports high school. Busan. Former member of Weight Lifting National Team (1yr). Won Gold in Asian Club Championship. Graduated Korea National Sports University (Masters in Exercise Physiology). Former Strength & Conditioning coach for the National Bobsled & Skeleton team.
Young Chul	31 ('93)	Oriental Orchid farmer (100K pots, 4 farms in Cheongju, 2 farms in China). Family was victim of $5m USD robbery which affected his university plans. Graduated Yonsei University. Played golf since middle school, prepared to become a Pro Golfer, but canceled due to injury.
Kwang Soo	35 ('89)	Software engineer, Samsung Electronics, Cell Phone division. Self-professed weirdo.
Sang Chul	35 ('89)	Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Chiropractor.

Women

Name	Age	Notes
Young Sook	33 ('90)	Pharmacist from Busan. Opened her pharmacy 2 years ago.
Jung Sook	32 ('91)	Organist & Music Teacher (Adjunct Prof at a university). Yonsei undergrad, MFA & Ph.D. in Music (Munich)
Sun Ja	35 ('88)	Cloud Engineer at Amazon. BS Computer Engineering. Worked in Shanghai (3 years), 12 years total. Hobbies: Crossfit, Pilates, Gaming (Cyberpunk 2077, PUBG)
Young Ja	33 ('90)	Corporate Accountant. Section chief Tax/Accounting team (Doosan(?) affiliate). Fan of IAS since "Couples", Hobbies: Weight training, Hiking
Ok Soon	33 ('90)	Cabin Attendant (domestic airline, probably Hi-Air). 170cm (unconfirmed). Previous media appearances list. DOX: 심효정 (Shim Hyo-Jeong). Hobbies: Staying at home, drinking wine.
Hyun Sook	29 ('94)	VIP Marketing Team for a department store (started as Network planner). Electrical Engineering (Double-E). Instagram/Influencer. Originally from Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Lots of hobbies.

Notes

• Opening filmed in Cheongju.
• Cast info will be updated when it becomes available.
• Ages are from the subtitles, so Korean age (+1 from international age).

Links

Info	Link	Notes
Stream	Kocowa	Subs +24h from broadcast

Previous S13 Discussion Posts

Episode
S13E01
S13E02
S13E03
S13E04
S13E05
S13E06

NOTE: This discussion post may (and probably will) contain spoilers

To promote free and flowing discussion, spoiler tagging is not required in this discussion post.

It has astounded me how people have failed to take into doctrinal considerations when speaking about aircraft weapons systems. This is especially a problem for the A-10 as most of the reason for its "poor" service record was not so much due to the airframe but the tactical and strategic employment of the A-10.
NOTE: I may be the idiot here because i have not checked for other posts defending the A-10. Please do NOT notify me if I'm just repeating stuff (just let me be dumb).
Sources:
https://info.publicintelligence.net/MTTP-JFIRE.pdf (JTAC stuff)
https://irp.fas.org/doddidod/jp3_09_3.pdf
https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/27/2001329817/-1/-1/0/AFD-100927-066.pdf(main source)
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-134/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-134.htm
https://www.ausairpower.net/TE-PGM-ODS-92.html
https://www.aftc.af.mil/News/On-This-Day-in-Test-History/Article-Display-Test-History/Article/2482833/february-26-1974-live-firing-tests-of-a-30mm-gau-8-cannon-mounted-in-a-10/
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Volume-06_Issue-1-4/1992_Vol6_No3.pdf
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA251803.pdf
https://gulflink.health.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm (friendly fire incidents)
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/126323/training-communication-key-to-success-for-a-10-pilots/
A MK82 500lb bomb, the smallest in common US inventory at the time of desert storm has a minimum 100% kill radius of 32 METERS. This only counting the 100% lethality radius, the actual danger radius can extend out to 100 meters. Factoring bombing accuracy issues (for the MK84 1000lb) could result in a deviation of up to 200ft (49 meters). These factors were known to Command from pre war exercises and testing. Bombs would most often be dropped from high altitude either from dives, CCRP using the ground radar. Note this ground radar (on the f-16) could Not distinguish the Vehicle type or had any sort of IFF.
Visual spotting was completely the norm back in the 1990s. Pilots were expect to train with visual spotting and were more than expected to regularly use visual spotting as a final means of target recognition and PID if at all possible. It has been a thing for the past century. However due to the ground fire threat of desert storm only the A-10 is mentioned as having the specific mission type of "Look and See" Given the rest of the more vulnerable aircraft that were less suited for low altitude flight remained at high altitude. This wasn't just of out ground fire concerns either, With the F-16s and F-15s having significantly lower efficiency at lower altitude compared to the A-10 which did not suffer as much at low altitude. Weather you think "Look and see" missions were a tactical error or not has little do with the aircraft flying the sortie. The fact is if an F-15 or F-16 flew similar missions regularly would have likely had similar if not worse performance or not than the A-10.
LGBs in desert storm were relatively rare being only 6.7 percent of weapons employed in desert storm. Only the F-111 and F-117 were configured to carry LGBs at the start of the war. A trivial amount of F-15Es were equipped with pods for LGBs (only 6 pods were available for F-15Es). The F-16s in desert storm were only equipped with the AAQ-13 Nav pod and not the AAQ-14 targeting pod.
A small side note A-10s ended up firing the most AGM-65 mavericks out of any aircraft in desert storm. firing 4,801 AGM-65s of all variety. This accounts to about 90% of all maverick's fired in DS and overall with pretty decent effectiveness. High explosive variants were not widely in service at the time of DS with only 35 of the AGM-65Es being supplied to the USMC. I'm not sure why flying fast=better platform for CAS but in this case i can guess that flying at lower altitudes at slower speeds helped A-10s find and target better than faster F-16s.
So if you aren't familiar with USAF doctrine, Ground troops don't willy nilly call in CAS missions. This is a job for JTACs or Joint Air tactical air controllers. These men are more than familiar with an aircrafts weapons systems and capabilities. They require specific parameters in order to employ and direct aircraft onto targets. One of these key parameters is the danger close range. JTACS typpicaly dont call in stikes that may violate mission parameters.
The 500lb bomb has a danger close radius of 230 meters, A gbu-12 has a danger close radius of 170 meters, And the "inaccurate" "friendly killer" "dangerous" GAU-8 has a danger close of 65 meters. Hell even the apache's and cobras 20mm and 30mm had limits of 75 meters (300M increasing to 85 at 1000M) and 70 meters (at 500m increasing to 75m at 1000m). The M-151 unguided rocket (launched from helicopter) having a danger close zone of 140m (300m) up to 405M (3 kilometers). the M-229 (launched from helicopter) having an accuracy of 145M-410M (300M-3 kilometers respectively). For aircraft launched rockets this was 365m at med alt and 225m at low alt (individual rocket types not given). Funny enough the "less accurate" M61 Vulcan only has a danger close radius of 60m. However it is to be noted that the M61 is less effective than all above listed weapons and is significantly less capable against armor than the GAU-8. The GAU-8 30mm DU having reportedly 14 times more kinetic energy than an 20mm M61 Vulcan round and more explosive mass (for HE rounds).
So where does this leave us? What do i mean? Wham am i trying to say? The A-10 In desert storm was one of the most capable CAS aircraft in theater. It is unfair to compare the A-10 to F-111, F-16, and F-15 because The A-10 was often tasked with missions these other aircraft simply did not do. These missions being inherently more hazardous and more prone to human error than other more "planned" missions assigned to strike aircraft. The A-10 is a fundamentally different aircraft than the F-16 and F-15 and should not be judged by the same standard.
The Strike fighters (F-15,F-16, and F-111) could not do The A-10's job of CAS better than it can, on the contrary the A-10 can perform strike missions just as well as the strike fighters can. The A-10s use in close in CAS missions throughout its service life brought it closer to friendly troops than the strike fighters were allowed to go. The nature of its mission set being inherently more prone to blue on blue and blue on green incidents than other mission types. Most of its friendly fire incidents in desert storm weren't even due to the inaccuracy of its weapons system but more due to misinformation and lack of coordination with command. The most notable Blue on blue incidents occurred in "Kill boxes" where the A10s were more or less allowed to shoot on sight. Again tactical error or not, The A-10 is not responsible for the inherent weaknesses of the mission assignment/type.
But why not the helicopter? Apparently the helicopter is supposed to be better than the A-10. Helicopters for a number of reasons are significantly more vulnerable than the A-10. Helicopters are slow enough to be vulnerable to SACLOS ATGMs and AAMs given the right circumstances. Helicopters generally fly pretty low to the ground exposing them to ground fire and non radar AAA fire for the duration of the mission. These were well known issues with the employment of helicopters and led to the underusage of helicopters (the AH-64 specifically). AH-64s were only assigned 88 missions during desert storm and only flew 652 flights. The A-10 on the other hand is only really vulnerable to automatically guided MANPADs (IR) leading to the A-10 taking over a fair portion of AH-64 duties. The A-10 was more than capable of flying at medium altitude and was considerably faster and more responsive than attack helicopters while retaining loiter time. The A-10 ended up flying over 8000 sorties so comparing the two kind of doesn't make sense.
The issue of cost for the A-10 is also kind of irrelevant in the case of the gulf war. Being cheaper is a nice bonus to have but as the A-10 was more or less the only fixed wing aircraft designed for close in CAS missions it made sense to optimize the A-10 for its role in the future.
I will probably making a similar post responding to Lazerpig's video on the A-10 and for specifically detailing the A-10s in Afghanistan.

Formula 1 is a funny (70-year) old business: For all its secrecy, very little remains secret for long.
The reason is simple: F1 is a global sport which ultimately relies on a small world centred around an arc running west from Silverstone (Aston Martin) to Brackley (Mercedes) and Banbury (Haas) to Enstone (Alpine) and Wantage (Williams) before heading south to Woking (McLaren) and east to Milton Keynes (Red Bull).
Virtually all players are on first-name terms, having variously crossed paths along the way and most are eager to whisper about their successes since they parted ways with Team A to join Team C, with B having been where they worked with XYZ.
If they don't spill the beans while at the local hardware shop on (non-race) weekends, their wives surely do so while awaiting the 4pm school bell…
Thus, no sooner had we revealed progress made to date by the four candidate teams - including the Saudi-backed Formula Equal hopeful - who plan to enter F1 by 2026 under the FIA's Expression of Interest process, than various sources divulged details about Hitech GP's nascent project.
What these sources collectively shared with RacingNews365 about progress made to date by what is code-named H26 is nothing short of astonishing.
Indeed, one of our sources indicated that so far advanced is the project that wind tunnel testing is already underway using the former Mercedes (50%) facility situated in Silverstone and currently used by that team's Mercedes Applied Science advanced engineering division.
All this makes sense as another source suggested that Hitech is focused on a Mercedes powertrain (PT) partnership, which could see Hitech replace the upwardly mobile Aston Martin Racing operation as the de facto Mercedes 'B' team.
Relations between Mercedes F1 CEO Toto Wolff and Aston owner Lawrence Stroll are said to have soured, a situation not aided by the Green Team's current form using the same PT.
H26's aerodynamic preparations are understood to be focusing on 2022/23 models to verify data ahead of release of the first 2026 regulations – due in June 2024 as per the FIA's International Sporting Code, which demands that regulations "which affect the balance of performance between automobiles" are formalised at least 18 months before the start of an applicable season.
Equally, H26 has commenced design of a F1 chassis based on known crash test and load factors, with side intrusion panel, deformable structure and a roll hoop design allegedly also in process.
According to a H26 team member, the plan is to ensure the team are ready to hit the ground running once (if?) the FIA grants the green light once the selection process is complete.
Target date is 30 June, although some deadlines, including the closing date for EoIs are said to have slipped, the latter from 30 April to 15 May, 2023.
Whatever, said team member was adamant H26 have lodged all registration formalities well ahead of deadline.
H26 is headed by Dave Greenwood, an ex-Ferrari performance engineer with widespread F1 and WEC experience, with Mark Smith, formerly with Renault, Red Bull Racing and Caterham, as Technical Director.
Keith Barclay (also ex-Renault/RBR) is Chief Designer, with James Knapton (various F1 teams) as Head of Vehicle Science. Such folk do not come cheap…
The eventual plan is for H26 to operate out of a purpose-built 40-acre campus in Bicester – for which planning permission is said to have been granted.
Until the facility is completed, the 60-head-strong H26 operation is working out of two units in Silverstone, namely Hitech's former F2/3 base which became vacant after the feeder series team moved into bespoke facilities in Silverstone. More hires are said to be imminent.
Hitech team principal Oliver Oakes (pictured above with George Russell in 2016), world karting champion in 2005, has long eyed a move to the big league, much as Jordan, Williams, McLaren and Stewart (now Red Bull) did: one formula at a time.
Hitech was originally funded by Dmitry Mazepin (below) father of one-time F1 driver Nikita; however, sources close to Oakes are adamant the two split, albeit on friendly terms, even before the Ukraine invasion.
This, of course, begs the questions: Where does the funding to sustain at least 60 highly qualified (and expensive engineers) for three years come from; how to fund the entire operation going forward until it washes its own face?
Wolff recently opined that it now costs about a billion bucks to get a team up and running until it qualifies for prize monies in its own right.
Oakes is said to have sourced the requisite backing – one of the backers listed on the team's website is an Emirati oil company – and, while suspicions abound as to the source(s) of Hitech's funding, forget not that the ultimate beneficiary owner(s) of Williams is also secret.
Yes, Dorilton Capital owns Williams, but who owns Dorilton?
When the BBC in late 2021 wrote in its Frank Williams obituary that Dorilton "is led by [Guernseyman] off-shore banker Peter de Putron" these references were removed post haste.
Too close to the truth or totally wide of the mark? Who knows, but the fact remains that the source of the Williams team's funding is secret.
Under the circumstances the FIA and F1 would be hard pushed to disqualify H26 on that basis.
This leaves the FIA/F1 with the unenviable task of sifting through four candidate teams – Andretti, Formula Equal, H26 and Panthera – all of whom have unique selling points, then decide which, if any, qualify for two vacant slots.
Consider this: two Middle East-linked teams, one with a 50/50 gender split and the other working its way up motorsport's team ladder, Andretti/Cadillac which ticks US boxes, plus Asia-linked Panthera.
Either way, at least two will have blown enormous sums of cash on their dream of entering F1…
RacingNews365 has contacted Hitech and Mercedes F1 for comment.
Join Balve Baines, RacingNews365.com journalist Michael Butterworth and Dieter Rencken, Editorial Director of RacingNews365.com, to discuss the key talking points ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
Source: https://racingnews365.com/plans-for-new-british-based-f1-team-revealed

Hello from Canada. I am a seller seeking input and advice. Well over a month ago I started listing on Marketplace. The success rate is thus far abysmal. Out of 13 items, only one sold. I took high-quality photos, wrote detailed descriptions, and listed the items in all conceivable Buy/Sell groups on FB. People click / share in silence. I also crosslisted on Kijiji. Same situation, which is odd given that I sold pets and furniture before.
My wife suggested that my prices are too high for the platform. Really!? Does everyone on Facebook expect find art sculptures, vintage glassware and pricey pottery to go for $20!?
Let’s take the elephant sculpture as a prime example. After going broke to get it, my gift recipient rejected the elephant. Not their style. Subtracting the outrageous shipping puts the actual price at $1500. Price too high, eh? Consider the details: 12 x 12 inches, carved with unprecedented detail on Red Jasper stone, by an award-winning artist. Why would I sell RARE GENUINE ART below its value after pouring that much money into it!?
Another example: the large Precious Moments sculpture that also wound up a costly gift reject. I paid $260 for that thing (excluding shipping), hence the price. The box was never opened. It’s as new as the day it arrived on my doorstep plus a collector’s item. Why sell lower than its actual price, given its pristine condition!?
Even the used items are expensive. Those vintage flute glasses cost Mom a LOT back in the day. Perfect condition, large, impossible to find anymore and there are 12 OF THEM. Why not sell the set for at least $250?
Must I become an eBayer to get rid of these items for an appropriate price? I loathe eBay’s fees.
FYI my only sale was a small taxidermy alligator head for $45. Over 30 eager customers inundated my inbox before FB banned my listing for breaking a ‘no animal products’ rule that I didn’t know exists. Riiiight. You can (try) to sell a half-eaten cookie Covid hazard, but not a professional souvenir from New Orleans. Makes perfect sense. face palm The alligator’s ‘forbidden’ nature is likely the only reason that it sold.
Suggestions, please? Is there a Marketplace secret that I am unaware of? If the platform is only good for cheap sales, where can I properly sell valuables? Many thanks to all who answer.

Below is the official communicaiton of the PuP ! I record official devs saying we were missing some points, so here their actual communication :)
April Update - Build #79888 This build contains:

• Small Trees and Idle Villagers as in-game settings

Balance Changes: * Eagle Scout, Eagle Warrior, and Elite Eagle Warrior cost increased from 20 food and 50 gold ▶ 25 food and 50 gold * Long Swordsman upgrade research time decreased from 45 seconds ▶ 40 seconds * Two-Handed Swordsman upgrade research time decreased from 75 seconds ▶ 60 seconds * Champion upgrade research time decreased from 100 seconds ▶ 85 seconds * Pikeman upgrade research time decreased from 45 ▶ 35 seconds * Pikeman upgrade cost decreased from 215 food and 90 gold ▶ 160 food and 90 gold * Supplies research time decreased from 35 seconds ▶ 20 seconds * New technology: * Gambesons --- Militia-Line +1 Pierce Armor: * Follows Supplies * Cost 100 food and 100 gold * Available in the Castle Age * 25 seconds of research time * Gambesons Available -- (Note: Civs gaining gambesons are also called out in the civ specific balance changes)Aztecs, Bengalis, Bulgarians, Burmese, Byzantines, Celts, Dravidians, Franks, Japanese, Koreans, Malay, Persians, Portuguese, Saracens, Sicilians, Slavs, Spanish, Teutons, Vikings * Gambesons Disabled --Berbers, Bohemians, Britons, Burgundians, Chinese, Cumans, Ethiopians, Goths, Gurjaras, Hindustanis, Huns, Incas, Italians, Khmer, Lithuanians, Magyars, Malians, Mayans, Mongols, Poles, Tatars, Turks, Vietnamese

• Fishing Ship collision size reduced from 0.5 ▶ 0.4
• Trade Cog collision size reduced from 0.5 ▶ 0.3
• Elite Steppe Lancer pierce armor increased from 1 ▶ 2
• Heavy Scorpion upgrade cost decreased from 1000 food and 1100 wood ▶ 800 food and 900 wood
• Murder Holes research time decreased from 60 seconds ▶ 35 seconds
• Sappers upgrade cost changed from 400 food and 200 gold ▶ 400 food and 200 wood
• Sappers upgrade now also adds +3 bonus damage vs rams for villagers
• Developer Note: “In practice this means +3 damage against Armored/Siege Elephants and Trebuchets, +2 against Capped Rams and +1 against Siege Rams.”
• (Elite) Elephant Archer train time decreased from 34 seconds ▶ 30 seconds
• Elite Elephant Archer upgrade cost reduced from 1000 food and 800 gold ▶ 800 wood and 500 gold
• Siege Elephant upgrade cost increased from 650 food ▶ 850 food
• (Elite) Genitours affected by Recurve Bow, Tower Shields, and Byzantine skirmisher discount
• Cannon Galleon Adjustments:Developer Note: “These changes simplify the damage of Cannon Galleons by removing it's numerous bonus damages vs almost all units and increasing the base damage accordingly. Also fixed a bug where Cannon Galleons sometimes wouldn't damage the targeted unit. Added a little bit of splash damage to the projectile as a small buff against clumped units.”
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon damage increased from 35 (45) ▶ 50 (60)
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon bonus damage vs Infantry, Archer, Cavalry and Mamelukes decreased from 15 ▶ 0
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon bonus damage vs Siege decreased from 40 ▶ 25
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon accuracy increased from 50% ▶ 100%
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon blast radius increased from 0 ▶ 0.25 (0.3)
• (Elite) Cannon Galleon receives attack ground ability
• Fixed an issue where Cannon Galleons sometimes wouldn't damage the targeted unit.

Civilization Specific Changes
Aztecs * Receive Gambesons * 50 extra starting gold is received after completing the first Town Center
Bengalis * New Bonus - Melee Cavalry gain +2 bonus damage vs skirmishers * Mahayana effect now also applies to monks * Gain Supplies, Receive Gambesons
Berbers * Villager movement speed bonus adjusted to 5% in Dark Age and 10% in Feudal Age
Bohemians * Hussite Reforms research cost reduced from 800 food and 450 gold ▶ 500 food and 450 gold
Britons * Team Bonus decreased from 20% ▶ 10% faster working archery ranges * Fixed an issue where the Town Center cost discount was not reducing the cost of repairing.
Bulgarians * Receive Gambesons * Stone discount does not apply to starting Town Center
Burgundians * Flemish Militia cost decreased from 60 food and 25 gold ▶ 50 food and 15 gold * Flemish Militia production after researching Flemish Revolution moved from Town Center to Barracks * Flemish Militia HP decreased from 75 ▶ 60 * Flemish Militia damage decreased from 12 ▶ 11 * Flemish Militia pierce armor decreased from 1 ▶ 0 * Flemish Revolution cost changed from 1200 food and 650 gold ▶ 200 food +10 food per villager converted and 150 gold +5 gold per villager converted
Burmese * Elite Arambai upgrade cost adjusted from 1100 food and 675 gold ▶ 1000 food and 750 gold * Receive Gambesons
Byzantines * Greek Fire now additionally provides 5 splash damage to bombard towers * Receive Gambesons
Celts * Stronghold effect increased from 25% ▶ 33% attack speed to towers and castles * Stronghold now additionally heals allied infantry near castles by 30 HP per minute * Receive Gambesons
Chinese * Start changed from +3 villagers and -200 food ▶ +2 villagers and -150 food
Dravidians * New Bonus: Siege units cost -33% wood * Receive Gambesons
Ethiopians * Team bonus effect changed from towers and outposts +3 line of sight ▶ outposts +3 line of sight and stone cost removed * Royal Heirs effect changed from Shotel Warriors trained 100% faster to Shotels and Camel units receive -3 damage from Mounted Units * Elite Shotel Warrior train time decreased from 8 seconds ▶ 4 seconds
Franks * Receive Gambesons
Goths * New Bonus: Hunt lasts 20% longer
Gurjaras * Kshatriyas cost increased from 200 food and 400 gold ▶ 500 food and 450 gold * (Elite) Shrivamsha cost increased from 70f 20g → 70f 30g * (Elite) Shrivamsha reload time increased from1.75 → 2.0 (1.9)
Huns * Atheism cost decreased from 500 food and 500 gold ▶ 500 food and 300 wood
Incas * Andean sling now additionally provides +1 damage to slingers * Fixed an issue where Slingers incorrectly gained attack speed from thumb ring * New Bonus: Military units cost -15/20/25/30% food in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial * List of affected units: Militia-line, Spearman-line, Eagle-line, Skirmisher-line, Slinger, Kamayuk, Genitour, Condottieri, Petards and Xolotl Warriors. * Lose access to supplies * (Elite) Kamayuk cost increased from 60 food and 30 gold ▶ 65 food and 30 gold * Slinger cost increased from 30 food and 40 gold ▶ 40 food and 40 gold * Bonus Removed: Start with a free Llama * Team Bonus effect changed from Spearman and Skirmisher +2 line of sight ▶ Start with a free Llama * Stone discount does not apply to starting Town Center
Japanese * Now have access to Hoardings * Kataparuto cost reduced from 750 wood and 400 gold ▶ 550 wood and 300 gold * Receive Gambesons
Khmer * (Elite) Ballista Elephant elephant armor changed from -2 ▶ 0, cavalry armor from -2 ▶ 0, siege armor from -2 ▶ 0Developer Note: “This fixes various bugs where Ballista Elephants would receive additonal damage even from units which had +0 attack vs siege or cavalry armor (all infantry units, chu ko nus, steppe lancers...)The addition of the Hussite Armor will cause them to receive more damage from siege such as Mangonels or Bombard Cannons.” * (Elite) Ballista Elephant gain Hussite wagon armor with a value of +20
Koreans * Elite Turtle ship range increased from 6 ▶ 7 * Receive Gambesons
Lithuanians * Bonus for starting with 150 food changed to each Town Center providing 100 food
Malay * New Bonus: Receive infantry armor upgrades for free * Receive Gambesons
Malians * (Elite) Gbeto HP increased from 35 (45) ▶ 40 (50) * The 30% longer lasting Gold Mines bonus changed to villagers drop off 15% more gold * Tigui additional arrows changed from 5 ▶ 8 * Wood discount does not apply to starting Town Center
Persians * Receive Gambesons * 50 extra starting food and wood are received after completing the first Town Center
Poles * Villager regeneration bonus now starts in Feudal Age
Portuguese * (Elite) Organ Gun damage 16 ▶ 7 (20 ▶ 9) * secondary damage changed from 2 flat to same as main projectile * (Elite) Organ Gun total projectiles 5 (5) ▶ 6 (7) * (Elite) Organ Gun accuracy 50% ▶ 0% * (Elite) Organ Gun attack dispersion 0.75 ▶ 0.25 * (Elite) Organ Gun Bonus vs Infantry 0 ▶ 1 * Elite Organ Gun Bonus vs Buildings 0 ▶ 1Developer Note: “The aim of this change is to more accurately realize the vision of this unit being effective against groups of units.Instead of one high damage projectile and additional mostly cosmetics bullets, the damage of the unit is spread equally across all its projectiles.” * Elite Caravel upgrade cost adjusted from 750 food and 475 gold ▶ 700 food and 525 gold * Receive Gambesons
Saracens * Zealotry cost reduced from 500 food and 450 gold ▶ 400 food and 400 gold * Receive Gambesons
Sicilians * Castles and Town centers built 100% faster changed to Castle build 50% and Town Centers build 100% faster * Donjon affected by Hoardings * Donjon can now train Spearman-line * Donjon now functions as a prerequisite for Archery Range and Stable * First Crusade effect reduced from 7 ▶ 5 Serjeants per Town Center * First Crusade cost adjusted from 300 food and 600 gold ▶ 400 food and 300 gold * Serjeant HP increased from 45 ▶ 50 in Feudal Age * Serjeant HP increased from 65 ▶ 75 in Castle Age * Serjeant Elite upgrade cost reduced from 1100 food and 800 gold ▶ 800 food and 675 gold * Serjeant build/repair 25% slower in Feudal Age * Receive Gambesons * 100 extra starting stone is received after completing the first Town Center
Slavs * Boyar cost adjusted from 50 food and 80 gold ▶ 60 food and 70 gold * Druzhina cost reduced from 1200 food and 500 gold ▶ 900 food and 500 gold * Receive Gambesons * Free Supplies bonus also includes Gambesons
Spanish * Inquisition also gives Missionaries +1 range * Conquistador -1 Pierce Armor (Elite Unchanged) * New Bonus: Gain 20 gold for each technology researched * Receive Gambesons * Build speed bonus does not apply to starting Town Center
Tatars * (Elite) Keshik train time increased from 16 (14) ▶ 17 (15)
Turks * Artillery cost increased from 450 wood 500 gold ▶ 600 food 650 gold
Teutons * Receive Gambesons
Vietnamese * Paper Money cost reduced from 600 wood and 350 gold ▶ 550 food and 200 wood
Vikings * Chieftains effect now also provides infantry with gold generation while attacking villagers, trade units, and monks. This is in addition to infantry gain bonus damage vs cavalry * 5g per villager, 20g for Monks and Trade units * Chieftains cost reduced from 700 food and 500 gold ▶ 600 food and 450 gold * Berserkergang replaced with Bogsveigar (650 food and 500 gold): Archer-line and Longboats +1 Attack * (Elite) Berserk healing increased from 20 hp per minute ▶ 40 HP per minute * Elite Longboats Bonus vs Ships 11 ▶ 10, vs buildings 8 ▶ 7 * Receive Gambesons
source : steam link

[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PsVD9r)
​
TypeItemPrice
:----:----:----
**CPU** [Intel Core i3-12100F 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/grhFf7/intel-core-i3-12100f-33-ghz-quad-core-processor-bx8071512100f) $106.92 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** [ASRock B660M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4ZPQzy/asrock-b660m-hdv-micro-atx-lga1700-motherboard-b660m-hdv) $81.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** [Patriot Signature Line 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL19 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/W8fFf7/patriot-signature-line-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3200-cl19-memory-psd416g3200k) $36.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** [Western Digital Blue SN570 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/9FH7YJ/western-digital-blue-sn570-500-gb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds500g3b0c) $32.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** [PowerColor ITX Radeon RX 6500 XT 4 GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DxjBD3/powercolor-radeon-rx-6500-xt-4-gb-itx-video-card-axrx-6500xt-4gbd6-dh) $149.99 @ Newegg
**Case** [Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zL3gXL/fractal-design-focus-2-rgb-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-c-foc2a-04) $66.98 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** [Thermaltake Smart BM2 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xQpmP6/thermaltake-smart-bm2-550-w-80-bronze-certified-semi-modular-atx-power-supply-ps-spd-0550mnfabu-1) $53.98 @ Newegg
**Monitor** [Acer XV320QU LVbmiiphx 31.5" 2560 x 1440 144 Hz Monitor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hyhFf7/acer-xv320qu-lvbmiiphx-315-2560x1440-144-hz-monitor-umjx0aav01) $219.99 @ Newegg
**Speakers** [Creative Labs Pebble 2.0 4.4 W Speakers](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fwjJ7P/creative-labs-pebble-20-44w-2ch-speakers-51mf1680aa001) $24.98 @ Newegg
**Custom** [Antec F12 - High Performance with Low Noise Case Fan, Value Pack (120mm 3-pin 5 Packs)](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/9DCD4D/antec-f12-high-performance-with-low-noise-case-fan-value-pack-120mm-3-pin-5-packs) $19.98 @ Amazon
*Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts*
Total (before mail-in rebates) $799.79
Mail-in rebates -$5.00
**Total** **$794.79**
I know it says an RX 6500XT, though I only keep that as a placeholder while I actually get a used 6600XT around the ~150$ price mark. I mainly plan on playing Rainbow Six Siege and Civilization 6 on this, does this set-up work well for those games specifically?

To All of Our Nature Loving Backyard Wildlife Feeders & Captive Squirrel Caretakers
I know it’s hard to imagine that peanuts and corn could be bad for squirrels; after all, they do LOVE them soo much: how could they be? The answer isn’t short, but begins with the fact that our squirrel buddies are essentially lifelong toddlers (and will definitely exclusively eat junk foods that will kill them) …and this situation is riskiest when wildlife are able to rely on their human friends to provide more than they could ever need of the wildlife equivalent of junk foods.
While most true nuts are fine for squirrels; peanuts are not really a type of nut at all. In fact, they are legumes. Most people do not realize that peanuts/legumes are a type of food that has incredibly poor nutritional content…It is acceptable to feed them one peanut (unsalted and roasted) occasionally, but it is crucial to check the shell for any signs of toxic mold growing and doing so must be in extremely limited quantities (if you care about your yard visitor’s and resident’s health).
Squirrels (like many small mammals and avian species) are very prone to a disorder called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). The effects of MBD are ultimately fatal and cause some horrible symptoms including partial or full paralysis and seizures. Squirrels (and other animals) get MBD when they have too much phosphorus and not enough calcium in their diet. Squirrels specifically require their overall daily diet to ultimately result in a total of twice as much calcium as phosphorus in order to prevent them from being susceptible to MBD. Without at least two parts of calcium to every part of phosphorus in their diet then the body will get the additional required calcium to process that phosphorus from within the body… which ultimately means that the feeding of anything that does not have a 2:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio will result in that required calcium coming from the squirrel’s bones (where the body has the most calcium stored) which weakens the bones. Over time this weakening can result in bones breaking and the high phosphorus of the body (prior that calcium being collected from the squirrel’s bones) leads to problems with other systems of the body, but especially the metabolism and brain.
Peanuts have over 4 times as much phosphorus as calcium (so instead of 2ca:1ph squirrels require look like 0.24ca:1ph)… so to put it in daily terms that are realistic: if one were give a squirrel one peanut; then in the tiny amount of food that squirrel would still consume for today the animal would need to have foods with a bare minimum of 2:0.5 ca to phosphorus ratios to make up for that one legume in order not to ultimately cause long term damage to the animal (& 2ca:0.5ph ratio barely exists to the point that essentially this squirrel would need to be fed with something like beet greens -exclusively- for the rest of the day …with the obviously problematic caveats that beet greens are not available in every yard, all year round to consider)
And unfortunately for people because it’s cheap and for wildlife because it’s harmfulness isn’t well know: Corn is even more unhealthy for wildlife, like squirrels. Corns can grow the same type of toxic mold as peanuts (which can kill our little friends quickly); but approximately has only one part of calcium to 45 parts of phosphorus (meaning it’s ratio looks like 1:45 when the health requirements of a squirrel are 2:1) so is a good choice that will kill less than slowly even if it isn’t contaminated with mold…
If you’d like to help your local squirrels consider adding in a regular supply of antlers and cuttlebones to your shopping lists (so that they have easy access to the calcium they need to compensate for the birdseed and true nuts that most have unfettered access to and can rarely resist)

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My mom died when I was 2, so I have no recollection of her. I was left in the care of my grandmother and my mom's brother. They were both heavily addicted to drugs and hoarders. The house was almost uninhabitable, with endless junk and at least 20 cats contributing to the filth. For as far back as I can remember, I was severely abused and neglected. Four times, child protective services were involved, but they closed the case each time. I was 14 when I attempted to take my life and left there for good after telling someone.
I am now 22 and it's a constant battle with the trauma. I've begun to really struggle with the pain of never having that parental love and affection. I was given small details and stories about my birth mother throughout my childhood. I was only 10 when my mom was murdered, and my grandmother refused to talk further about her and withheld any pictures or personal items. I was finally given a picture of her during a supervised visit shortly after my attempt. The only other things I've been able to find are a vague obituary and 2 high school yearbook photos.
I look at her photo often and am deeply confused by my feelings. My mother, this stranger that carried me and gave birth to me, My name, listed as her daughter on the obituary, is the only evidence of she and I together. There are no pictures or videos of her holding me or looking at me affectionately. I can't remember a single detail like her voice, her smell, or her touch. I often find myself picturing these things and wondering how she felt about me.
It leaves me confused and hurts more than anything to miss her. There's nothing to miss about her, so it must be that I miss the idea of her. I wonder what could've been had she been there. I imagine a clean home where there was love and kind words. I imagine being comforted and admired by her. I imagine hugging her and how it would feel to be held by my mother. but I also know that it could've been completely different than I imagine.
I long for her almost every day. When I'm sick, I want her comfort. When I do good things, I want to show her. When the holidays come around, I want to be with her. When i'm struggling mentally, I want to call her.....all of these things that can't be replicated. I get so jealous seeing how close my best friend and her mom are. She's 23 and tells her mom everything, calls her at the grocery store to ask what spaghetti sauce to get, orders for her at restaurants....... And people say, "Well, one day you'll have your own family and be a mother." ... and i'll be there, and i'll love my children, but deep down, I'm still just a child who wants her mom too.
It's so hard to cope with this because there is no solution. I'm stuck with nothing but what-ifs and a longing that’ll never be satisfied.

Happy to provide pics of anything you might be interested in.. Most of this stuff I would like to move ASAP. If you would like to buy see my GameSale post!
If you are local to the Sacramento area I might be willing to do a local meetup. Cash/Paypal also acceptable on either side to help even out a trade.
Thanks for looking! Happy trading!
​
[HAVE]

PLAYSTATION
Playstation	Legacy of Kain Collectors Edition Triple Pack	SEALED Hard to value.. I don't see this very often at all.. There is one other one on eBay right now for $369 in similar condition.. This one does have some minor wear to the corners/seal as seen in the pics.. I would really like a big item from my list for this..
Playstation	DarkStalkers 3	CIB - Minor Staining
Playstation	GranStream Saga	CIB
Playstation 2	Final Fantasy X Brady Games Strategy Guide	Very worn. Has tear in front cover. No poster.
Playstation 2	Final Fantasy X -2 Brady Games Strategy Guide	Moderately worn. Has smaller tear in back cover. Includes Poster.
Playstation 2	Dual Shock 2	Silver - Works - Normal Wear
Playstation 2	Dual Shock 2	Translucent Blue - Works - Normal Wear
Playstation 2	Guitar Hero II	BL - CIB
Playstation 2	Guitar Hero Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80's	BL - CIB
Playstation 2	Myst III Exile	BL - CIB
Playstation 2	RPG Maker 3	BL - CIB
Playstation 2	24 The Game	BL - CIB
Playstation 2	Wheel of Fortune	BL - CIB
Playstation 3	Ace Combat Assault Horizon	BL - CIB
Playstation 3	BlazBlue Continuum Shift Extend	Limited Edition Big Box - CIB - Includes Soundtrack, Art Book, and Calendar. Box has heavy wear. Everything else is pretty minty. Game case has some minor shelf wear.
Playstation 3	Dark Souls II	BL - CIB
Playstation 3	Diablo III	BL - CIB
Playstation 3	Yakuza Dead Souls	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	500 Million Dual Shock 4 Controller	Loose - Has crack in center but otherwise pretty minty.
Playstation 4	7 Days to Die	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Call Of Duty Infinite Warfare	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Dead Cells [Action Game of the Year]	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Evolve	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Final Fantasy XV Deluxe Steelbook Edition book w/Slipcover	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8	BL - CIB - Spine damage/tear
Playstation 4	Middle Earth Shadow of War	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Nascar Heat 3	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Overwatch Origins	BL - CIB
Playstation 4	Resident Evil Village Deluxe Edition	BL - CIB
Playstation 5	Babylon's Fall	Sealed
Playstation 5	Death Stranding	Sealed
PSP	PSP 1001 - Loose. PSP ONLY	Body and screen are pretty scratched up, includes a rubber grip cover and I can include a white replacement shell... Charge port can be touchy sometimes so it also includes a replacement port. No charger. PENDING
PSP	Tekken 6	BL - CIB
PSP	PSP 3000 Box and tray only - No PSP included	Box has moderate to heavy wear with some creasing.
PSVITA	Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus	Loose
PSVITA	Wipeout 2048	Loose

​

XBOX
Xbox	Blowout	BL - CIB
Xbox	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban	BL - CIB
Xbox	Indiana Jones and The Emperors Tomb	BL - CIB
Xbox	Pac Man World 2	PH - CIB
Xbox	Return To Castle Wolfenstein Tides of War	PH - CIB
Xbox 360	4GB - 360 Slim Console	Includes OEM power supply and controller. I can probably include an HDMI cable if needed.
Xbox 360	250GB - 360 Slim Console	Includes OEM power supply, controller and Kinect. I can probably include an HDMI cable if needed.
Xbox 360	Dead Space 3	PH - CIB
Xbox 360	Dragonball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi	BL - CIB
Xbox 360	Fable 2 Limited Edition	BL - CIB* (No special features disc)
Xbox 360	Fable 3	BL - CIB
Xbox 360	Forza 4	BL - CIB
Xbox 360	Grand Theft Auto 5	BL - Boxed w/map
Xbox 360	Halo 3 Limited Edition Steel book w/sleeve (minor damage)	BL - CIB - Includes manual, but no book..
Xbox 360	Hitman HD Trilogy - Premium Edition w/ slipcoveartbook	BL - CIB - Moderate wear
Xbox 360	Mortal Kombat	BL - Boxed (No Manual)
Xbox 360	NBA Live 2010	BL - CIB
Xbox 360	NBA 2K18	BL - CIB
Xbox 360	Portal 2	BL - Boxed (No Manual)
Xbox 360	Test Drive Unlimited	BL - CIB
Xbox One	Battlefield 4 Steelbook Edition	CIB
Xbox One	Dark Souls 3	CIB
Xbox One	Madden 22	CIB
Xbox One	Prototype BioHazard Bundle	CIB
Xbox One	Rare Replay	CIB
Xbox One	Skylanders Trap Team	CIB
Xbox One	UFC 3	CIB
Xbox One	Watch Dogs 2	CIB
Xbox One	Wolfenstein The New Order	CIB

​

NINTENDO
NES	Vintage Nintendo of America Letter	w/ Official Nintendo Envelope, Cover Letter, Nintendo Power order form, service center list, Game Pak Directory, Replacement parts list, Nintendo history. Great little piece. Definitely shows some wear and a few markings but the order forms are blank. Not sure how to value this
NES	Bart vs The Space Mutants	Manual Only
NES	Gradius	Manual Only
NES	Mega Man 1	Manual Only
NES	Mission Impossible	Manual Only
NES	NES Advantage controller	Manual Only
NES	Zodas Revenge	Manual Only
NES	Kung Fu	Loose
NES	Ninja Gaiden II	Loose
NES	Skate or Die	Loose - Worn/snagged top label
NES	Wizards and Warriors III	Loose - Worn/torn top label
NES	GAME GENIE	Loose
SNES	DOOM	CIB** - Might be willing to trade box/contents separately.
SNES	Rockos Modern Life	CIB - Box is worn, includes insert, manual and warning slip.. both have some wear, Cart is in great shape! Might be willing to trade box/contents separately.
SNES	Yoshi's Safari	CIB** - Might be willing to trade box/contents separately.
SNES	Buster Busts Loose	Manual Only
SNES	Hey Punk! Are You Tuff E Nuff?	Manual Only
SNES	Lawnmower Man	Manual Only
SNES	Mega Man X	Manual Only
SNES	World Heroes	Manual Only
SNES	GAME GENIE	Loose
N64	Standard N64 Console	Includes OEM expansion pack.
Wii	Red Steel	BL - Boxed (No Manual)
Wii	Trauma Center Second Opinion	BL - CIB
Wii U	The Legend of Zelda Windwaker HD Edition Wii U	Complete in box** - Super Hard trade - Probably the item I'm least likely to trade right now.
Wii U	The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD	SEALED - I am considering having this one graded.
Wii U	Super Mario 3D World	NS - CIB
Switch	Red and Blue V2 Switch Console	Includes everything but the box. Decent condition with a few blemishes. Everything works. PENDING
Switch	Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Edition OLED Switch	NEW
Switch	BloodRayne Fresh Bites	Sealed - w/card
Switch	Fire Emblem Three Houses	CIB
Switch	Great Ace Attorney Chronicles	CIB
Gameboy	Ren and Stimpy Veediots	Manual Only
NDS	Red Super Mario Bros 25th Anniversary Edition DSi XL	Loose - With charger. Does have some minor wear and teascuffs on corners PENDING
NDS	Mario Party DS	Sealed - (Has some knicks/tear in seal.)
NDS	Pokémon Heartgold	CIB - NFR case, no big box or Pokewalker - Only considering trading this so I can upgrade.. Would also trade FOR the big box..
NDS	Spiderman Shattered Dimensions	Loose
NDS	Spyro The Eternal Night	Loose
3DS	Animal Crossing New Leaf	CIB
3DS	Bravely Second End Layer	CIB - Minor damage to case/art
3DS	Legend of Legacy	Sealed
3DS	Super Smash Bros. 3DS	Loose

​

SEGA
Saturn	Model 2 Console	Loose - Includes power cord + OEM controller
Saturn	Street Fighter Alpha 2	CIB
Dreamcast	Crazy Taxi	Loose

​
[WANT]
SOME specific items I'm after:

• Attack On Titan 2 or Final Battle PS4
• Baten Kaitos - Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
• Castlevania Curse of Darkness - PS2
• Castlevania Lament of Innocence - PS2
• Castlevania Dracula X
• Conkers Bad Fur Day
• Chocobos Dungeon
• Clock Tower (all)
• Drakengard 2
• Earthbound
• Evil Dead Games (PS1-PS2)
• Geist - Gamecube
• Grandia Xtreme
• The Legend of Zelda Four Swords - Gamecube
• Majoras Mask N64
• Mario Party 6 - Complete only
• Mario Party 7 - Manual only
• Marvel vs Capcom 1 and 2 PS1/PS2 or Dreamcast
• Misadventures of Tron Bonne
• Mega Man 64 - Cart or CIB
• Paper Mario TTYD - Complete and NON Players Choice/Best Seller
• Parasite Eve II - Manual only
• Pokemon Crystal, Emerald, Ruby, and Silver
• Pokemon White, Black, HGSS (Big Box), Alpha Sapphire, Moon, Y, Ultra Sun/Moon
• Resident Evil - Saturn
• Resident Evil - PS1 Long Box
• Resident Evil Code Veronica - Gamecube
• Resident Evil Dead Aim (Also looking for other light Gun games like Point Blank, Time Crisis, House of the Dead..)
• Resident Evil Survivor
• Resident Evil Darkside Chronicles - Highly Prefer the Gun Bundle Version.
• Saga Frontier 2 PS1, Unlimited Saga PS2
• Shadow Hearts - PS2
• Shadow Hearts From the New World - Disc only
• Silent Hill Origins and Shattered Memories - PS2
• Suikoden, Suikoden II and Suikoden Tactics
• Tekken Long Box
• Twisted Metal Long Box
• Valkyrie Profile PS1
• Wario Ware/World - Gamecube
• Xenosaga Episode III - PS2 - Complete only. Lenticular preferred.
• PS2 Multi Out (

[General Wants]

• I'd like to bulk up my Gamecube and Sega collections; Dreamcast, CD/Saturn and Genesis.. I don't really need any hardware at the moment. But a CDX or Nomad would be cool though!
• PlayStation 5 games. Official Sony dual controller charger - CIB or New
• PS1 - PS4 Heavies
• PS Vita Games and maybe certain Vitas.
• PSP Games
• PSVR Games
• PS1 Long Box games
• PSX Console
• Special Edition Sony/PlayStation stuff.
• Switch games, SE Pro controllers
• Gameboys
• DS/3DS games

** Your lists/offers. I am not interested in loose discs or any sort of Greatest Hits, Platinum Hits, Players Choice, etc. Black Label/first print only. Most Carts are ok loose with the exception of games that came in plastic cases such as DS/Vita. If it had a cardboard box I can do without.

Issue 1: Lack of fights.
This issue is apparent when low pop hours occur. We have very open fields meaning vehicles prowl for sunderers, reducing infantry fights or forcing then into open field infiltrator slugfests. Solution 1: Add a variety of extra cover assets around areas to help facilitate sunderers. Solution 2: Give the corsair the ability to deploy. This would not only give new purpose to naval combat, but also allow unique flanking options for players via the catapult, reducing boring stalemates.
Issue 2: Lack of proper bases
This issue in particular is created by 2 major factors: High amounts of construct bases and largely unenjoyable, campy underwater gameplay.
Solution 1: Construction mechanic improvements, already on the map from the looks of it. Solution 2: underwater combat major improvements, here is my list: - While using the divers propulsion device, you can use your sidearm. Reason: This turns underwater into a more fast paced movement shooter "minigame" rather than a "who shoots first" minigame. Example from Star Wars Clone Wars - add more cover to bases. Self explanatory.
Issue 3: Stale vehicle play. This is created by yet again 2 factors: 1. Bridges become massive chokepoints, while underwater travel is hindered by steep hills and slow movement. 2. Lack of cover.
Solution 1: make vehicle traverse speed underwater 0.9 times their original speed (IE a 100kph vehicle would go 90 underwater). This allows vehicles that arent the magrider to effectively move around and find flanks, breaking boring stalemates. Solution 2: add additional cover on the open areas so vehicles have more gameplay depth.
With all these changes implemented, i believe oshur could work a whole bunch better.
Some miniscule, more biased changes for me would include more buildings on Mirror Bay, additional flank options on Interlinks (perhaps some form of staircase from the spawn door leading to the roof? :).) and Collosus access for high tier artillery.
Feedback much appreciated, upvotes too <3

All values in USD.
Assets and Debt
Retirement Balance: nope because I'm planning on leaving the US (for my bf) after finishing school. Not sure how retirement balance works across countries.
Equity: nope but almost bit and bought a house in the middle of the insane housing price crisis? windfall?? in 2021. Boy would my life be different rn
Savings account balance: zip but 90k in bonds
Checking account balance: 60k
Credit card debt: nada, and using a debit card in Europe
Student loan debt: nothing, because my parents (bless them) paid for my (subsidized, bless FAFSA + need based scholarships) college tuition, and I got a free masters (thanks to my advisor + TAships) and am currently doing a free (aka on my advisor's bill again lmao + TAships) phd
Income
Income Progression: a string of tech internships (every single summer except freshman and masters and first year of phd) with pay from between 5500/month to 11000/month (pre-tax, adjusted for bonus and currency exchange rate) That high end was from a fancy startup and pre-brexit lmaoooo. Low end was gov work. And my current phd income is 2500/month, so this is actually an income regression lol
Main Job Monthly Take Home: Current internship is 5000/month but my overall taxes are low because I'm not here long enough for it to bump up my income taxes more than one rung. So keep in mind I make like 1700/month the rest of the year
Side Gig Monthly Take Home: I wish! Once I get my big girl job I'm going remote and setting up a ceramics studio, a grocery store, and then volunteering and making games. Work can go stuff itself. Honestly the more and more I work the more and more I feel like I want to turn stage left exit society, tyvm. People meme academia as being abstract and useless (and sometimes toxic...that one's deserved maybe) but unless you are at a specific type of company, corporate research can be equally "useless" but by way of having insanely short (as in, to production by year's end) deadlines so you're kind of forced to "fit a square peg into a round hole" eg work on a business problem that you (or your higher up) did not spend enough time defining and then somehow make it look like research when maybe the most cost-effective solution was something else entirely...sorry for rant
Do your parents pitch in monthly? Been financially independent since last year...to my great surprise. I used to be financially independent since undergrad graduation but apparently my mom started sneakily paying off my CC debt again in my phd so I had to change the linked bank account back. My mom thinks I'm poor lmao...I'm not
Expenses
Rent (includes utilities): 2000 ouch (Europe) + 500 (US) monthly
Transport: bike (free after fixed costs, yay!) and bus (free with school)
Renters insurance: none. Getting renter's insurance is like wearing my retainer...everyone tells me to do it (including myself) but I make up a million excuses as to not
Savings contribution: whatever's left in the month. Usually 400+-100
Investment contribution: is the stock market even real? I'm just kidding. But I don't really understand my finances, and I feel embarrassed about that, but at the same time I feel like after factoring in all my personal considerations, I'm better off not doing anything other than guaranteed bonds.
Debt payments: no. college is done, no house, no car
Cellphone: Prepaid in Europe, like 5 a month. But my US phone is actually on my parent's family plan. So I guess I'm still not financially independent...
Subscriptions: Occasional magazines 50 annually, school union 100 annually
Regular therapy: None. Therapy has been a hit and miss for me
Paid hobbies: Art supplies like 100 a year, books like 300 annually, audio like 100, bike stuff 100, kitchen stuff...400, fancy specialty ingredients...800, clothes 400 but my mom gifts me a lot over the holidays like 500-1000 worth, and gifts for f&f I budget around 800 a year
[Money Diary]
[Tuesday]
7am: wake. super groggy. Drink two gulps of fanta to actually wake and immediately regret it
8am: on the bus to work. Today is going to be a slow day which is nice.
8:30am: grab a rhubarb and rose yogurt for breakfast ($2). Delicious. Have to order this somehow when I'm back in the states.
12pm: Brought eggplant and bolognese for lunch. Eat with another intern and talk random stuff about our phds.
4:30pm: leaving early cuz today is my bf's last night in the country. I head to a bakery and grab a croissant and pretzel and baguette ($7) for him as an apology for an argument we had yesterday. I also head to a grocery to grab a pumpkin ($10) for curry later. I race to the bus! Almost miss it. Everyone is looking at me because I'm panting and I feel that strange awkwardness you get from being caught running without gym clothes.
6pm: Back home. We heat up leftovers (ramen for me and bolognese for him) and watch a chill video about balancing in gaming. It was either this or a math video and the math video was too long.
7pm: I ask him about when he's coming back to see me so I can let my mom know if my schedule fits my family's June paris trip or not (my mom's extremely hyped about this so I would like to come.) Because he's been dragging his feet figuring out his schedule we get into another argument, which then carries back into our argument from yesterday.
9pm: Answer some emails and book a flight for my return trip because my sister is going to her dream college and I want to be with her on visit week ($156)
10pm: I'm trying to read my paper for tomorrow's meeting but it's not going well because we are still talking about our problems
12pm: We cuddle and sleep. Argument's not resolved because neither wants to give
Total: 19 (Food) + 156 (Plane)
[Wednesday]
6am: wake. notice that it's 6am and go back to sleep
7am: wake and wake up bf. He's leaving today and so we cuddle, but like sadly (LDR, whats new.) Eventually I get hungry so I go and munch on plums. I am a bit distracted because I have a lot of meetings that I'm not well prepared for.
8:30am: catch bus. We joke a bit about yesterday's argument. Eventually, say goodbye when I transfer trams. I watch a video to prepare for my first meeting on the tram. Then I have a meeting, read to prepare for next meeting, rinse, repeat. Go out to eat with coworkers ($18)--conversations are so awkward (because of me. I don't have the extra mental capacity to try socializing with overworked dudes 4 years older than me and I've lost a concerning amount of EQ over the course of my phd.)
2:00pm: After a particularly stressful meeting (went well, thanks to my clutch skills) I decide I need to take a walk outside as a break. I go to the bakery to buy a chocolatine and apple danish ($5). I am not even hungry. I am just retail theraping and desserts look cute and smell good. Head back and have string of meetings until the end of the day. Very angry about my schedule
5:30pm: say fuck it cuz my brain is shot and go home. Why am I the only one who leaves before 6? Isn't this supposed to be Europe? I hate working a 9-6.
6pm: eat dinner (ramen), shower with rice on the stove (no rice cooker), rice burns omg now the bottom of the pan is burnt. I soak the pan overnight and leave my personal pan out for people to use.
7pm: reddit as revenge procrastination. I make a note to buy steel wool for the burnt pan
9pm: start writing money diary. Have wayy too much fun writing money diary while snacking on Comte and aloe vera water
11pm: realize its late and I have to finish reading a paper for Friday. I read a bit of the paper
1am: sleep
Total: 23 (Food)
[Thursday]
6am: Wake and look at random stuff on reddit for an hour and a half. I don't feel that hungry so I head out to work.
8:30am: I am very sleepy for some reason. I don't have a lot of meetings today, so I check emails, slack, and find a manageable task for the day. I end up getting distracted dealing with administrivia (ugh visa work!) I see that I have a seminar I want to attend the night and mark that down too.
10am: I decide I should try doing something productive so I start brainstorming. It doesn't really get anywhere, but I've realized that I probably need to read another paper to get a better idea of what I should do.
12pm: Head out to eat with other interns. I get shawarama ($16.) Delicious. Head back for more meetings. I try to read a bit but my focus is pretty shot so I start doing a more chill writeup instead.
7pm: We are having drinks at a bar tonight, and it takes time for people to get ready so I work late. We head out to the bar, which is crowded. I order a burger and soda because I don't want to make my sickness worse ($20.) We have a good time chatting and I get closer with some coworkers I didn't know well.
7:45pm: I say goodbye and leave early. As I'm scrolling through my phone on the late night bus, I realize that I've missed the seminar. I'm legitimiately devastated. I was thinking this seminar would help a lot with me pushing through a huge bottleneck in my thesis that's been stressing me out for the last year. I panic message my labmate to ask if the seminar was recorded, and thank the fucking lord, buddha, allah, hayao miyazaki, yes. It was recorded. My pants on fire are doused, my soul is saved. I cannot wait to fucking graduate.
9pm: I get back and notice the cleaning lady's cleaned the burnt pan. I feel a bad but grateful. After showering I am tired as hell. I really can't work today, but I stubbornly stay awake thinking that if I lay in bed scrolling through eBay long enough I might recharge. It doesn't work but I find some really nice stuff (cool architectural glass vase from a designer whose stuff I usually hate, secondhand clothes from one of my fav designers, suitcase from a brand with a style that I love but quality that is absolute trash for its price, and a gift for my college friend for her next bday) that I want to bid on.
11pm: Sleep
Total: 36 (Food)
[Friday]
6am: Wake and look at videos but now with zen. I have come to terms with my laziness. I get out of bed at 7:30 instead of 7:45 (progress!) and I snack on the chocolatine from two days ago. I finally find the time and motivation to deal with some administrivia and I head to work. On my morning bus trips, I like to press my forehead against the cool window glass and zone out to stripes of greenery but today I'm thinking about eBay and how I might travel to go visit my favorite eBay stores in person lol. A quick google search shows that a roundtrip ticket is $200. Interesting.
12am: Nice lunch with coworkers at a bakery. I get a croissant sandwich ($6) and a gift for one of my coworker friends ($14).
4pm: I wrap up writing a draft and go chat and review some stuff for school and then catch up with my coworker friend to give her the gift. 6pm: Head to the grocery for a dinner salad, plums, and some orange-mango juice ($13). Look for steel wool but there is none???
6:30pm: shower because I feel a little under the weather.
8pm: call my bf and tell him some juicy gossip at work. He gets bored around the 1 hour mark.
11pm: I start working on my writeup for school. I message the dude who is receiving the writeup that it's gonna be late. He is really nice about it but I feel like I'm taking advantage of his kindness because I am always late. Disappointed in myself but not sure how to change.
1am: sleep
Total: 33 (Food)
[Saturday]
6am: wake. Seriously not motivated to continue the writeup. I waste time on eBay and youtube for 5 hours.
11am: get dressed, brush teeth, and look alive. I've been planning out my day a bit so I call my bf while I clean my room and check up on my fridge. I toss out a quarter kg of ground beef that I forgot to finish, it is two days past expiry. I take stock of what I need for meal prep this week (carrot, onion, meat, steel wool) and load up my laundry before heading to the grocery. I end up also getting a lightweight aluminum bowl (it says stainless steel though??) for washing, blueberries, dried mangos, mushroom medley ($35.) I make curry with rice for next week and rice balls to add to miso soup later.
4pm: Eat curry. I call my bf after and try to write my writeup but I get very frustrated over trying to understand a paper and complain to my bf
7pm: I head over to my friend's place for a going-away party. I feel a bit ambivalent about attending because I still have my writeup but I had already agreed to come and I will miss these people when they leave. I want to aim to leave around 9pm. The host's house is lovely and we have some great food.
9:40pm: I head back home, shower, and work on my writeup.
11pm: sleep
Total: 35 (Food)
[Sunday]
7am: wake. My wakeup time is off from normal but then I remember that today is daylight savings in Europe. I still feel tired so I end up watching some dumb videos on youtube. I bid on two items on eBay ($70...tentatively). My friend from uni messages me about meeting up to chat tonight. Hyped.
11:45am: I remember my clothes are still in the dryer. The landlord wants the laundry room free between 11am and 3pm for airbnb reasons. I rush down to grab them. I got there right on time because the landlord has 3 minutes on the washer left.
12pm: Heat up curry and eat it with an apple, some Comte, and a plum. I take a supplement with water. I've been forgetting to do that.
12:30pm: Start working on writeup. I am determined to finish it before there is no sun left so I can enjoy the outdoors a little this weekend. Have my bf on vc.
4pm: One of my bfs jokes lands the wrong way and we have to talk about it. I'm fuming mad because I'm wasting time here.
6pm: Facetime with my friend from college! It's been awhile so we catch up for a long time. 9pm: Heat dinner (curry) and eat. Then I go and read a bit more.
11pm: I have a bit of a mental breakdown because I can't finish the writeup by the weekend, and it's not because I don't have time, but because I have bad mental health around it. I have a long heart to heart with my bf over the phone. I cry a little. Life is sometimes hard and everyone's life is really hard at some point. At some point I just start rambling about nothing. I fall asleep at 1:30am.
Total: 70 (eBay)
[Monday]
4am: wake. I have a bit of a shitty morning because my eyes are still swollen. I woke up early to work on this writeup but tbh I'm barely awake and not in the mood. This was a bad idea. I intermittenly wake and sleep between 4am and 6am, of which at tail end I realize that I'm just playing myself for a fool and then I actually sleep for a good hour or so.
7:15am: Wake for real and get ready.
8:30am: Arrive at work. I buy yogurt ($2) and eat a banana while checking emails. I decide to use company time to work on my writeup because I'm blocked at work by someone else right now anyways (this is about as far as my lukewarm ass will r antiwork.)
12am: Lunch with coworkers. I have a sandwich I really don't care for ($10.) I'm a bit woozy from lack of sleep so I don't remember much. Also, I got my period.
1pm: Meetings, meetings, meetings. So many meetings.
6:30pm: Meetings end. Catch up with my intern friend before she leaves. Will miss her. I go the grocery to buy a baguette ($1) and then go to the fancy, overpriced but also conveniently-located-right-next-to-my-bus-stop bakery to get a croissant and chocolates for my period ($25.)
7:30pm: I grab Mickey D's because I want to. Fish filet sandwich, fries, chicken nuggets, and a soft drink ($18.)
8:00pm: zone out in bed and chat with my bf
11:00pm: Work on the writeup
1am: sleep
Total: 56 (Food)
[Reflections]
Weekly total:
Food + Drink: 207
Home + Clothes + Beauty (aka eBay): 70
Transport: 156
Honestly, this was the first time in a long time that I had done such a detailed review of my week. I was honestly a bit impressed by how often I wound up on eBay (ngl the times I'm on reddit, I'm oftentimes searching for new brands and designers I like, so that I can go find them...on eBay. It kind of feels a little like I may have a bit of a shopping addiction?) I use it wayy too often to cope. The nice thing about it is that I always find great deals on eBay, but I think it's probably time to switch hobbies.
Also, I need better work hygiene. Like sleep hygiene but for work. I might start going into the office weekends just so that I can wrap up stuff early, leave, and then actually have a weekend.
This week was a bit pricier than usual because I ate out for dinner and bought a plane ticket, but tbh it's not that ooc for me. Food is almost exactly the same as what I spend a week in the US and usually I budget 400/m for misc stuff so it seems like my habits haven't changed much even after moving lol. I know some people might balk at the idea of 800/m for food and 400/m discretionary spending on a 2k/m income but being no car + having the school pay for my insurance (& offering a lot of free things in general) + most importantly, no debt makes it less of a dangerous risk and more of a poor choice lmao. In Europe, I think I will end up spending more on misc things here than back in the US because Europe offers a higher density of concerts, entertainment, and designers that I like within a 30 euros train distance (and 200 euros plane distance for the ones I really like.) My personal preference is to spend <2 hours a month total thinking abt finances (so basically budgeting if I have a major life change + just going thru my CC statement and updating my tracker) so I am happy with how I spend and prefer to overspend a bit rather than think about it too much.
For those who are curious, my monthly budget here:
food (weekly): 70 for groceries + unavoidable 50 for eating with coworkers 3x a week
overall (monthly): 3700 (income) - 2500 (rents) = 1200 - 300 (food after sodexo) = 900 - 600 (misc spending) = 300 (base savings) + 1000 (relocation) = 1300 (total savings) + a bit more after tax return
​
Hope you enjoyed reading! I'm curious to see people's reactions.