Flight time from lax to dubai

I currently own an early 2015 Macbook pro base 13". This has been my daily driver for the past few years but I am starting to feel it slow down.
I am looking for something portable and capable of handling CAD projects, coding, light video editing, and general student usage. I will not be upgrading very often so "futureproofing" is something that would be preferred. With Apple's Back To School promotion, I feel this is a great time to upgrade.
My current options are:
-M1 Macbook Pro 14" base (refurbished $1539)
-M2 Macbook Pro 14" base ($1849 w/$150 gift card from student promotion)
-M2 Macbook Air 13" w/upgraded 512gb ssd and 16gb ram (1379 w/$150 gift card from student promotion)

TLDR: My manager who is older than me consistently texts me and we enjoy each others company.
I'm going to try and keep this short but there's a lot of background info to go over.
3 months ago I(16F) started a new job in fast food for summer, I instantly became friends w all my coworkers and enjoy the job a lot. One of my first friends there (18F who we will call Lily) was on the surface really nice. The more we hung out and I met other people, Lily wasn't as cool as she seemed. She sexualized me constantly(aswell as many other coworkers) and continue to pursue a relationship with me even after she started dating a different coworker. I ended separating myself from them.
Lily was at one point the “top of the foodchain” (AKA she slept with the whole store). She pinned me against my manager (19M who we will care George). She told me many times how George changed so much when he became a manager and he wasn't nice. They also had a history. For a long time I took Lilys word, but she ended up getting a second job and working less so I became closer with cooler coworkers.
This is where the weird stuff starts. Me and George ended up working nights together like everyday. He makes the schedule so I genuinely didn't think much of this. We talked a lot and he ended up becoming one of my favorite Co-Workers. Genuinely a funny guy. He's super genuine and has a wholesome heart and we laugh about stupid shit all shift.
One day George told me he has an cat, and I wanted to see it. So he added me on snap chat to show me. Ever since then we snapped a lot, soon becoming pretty high on the bestfriends list. I didn't think of it odd until he started today stuff that threw me off. He would call me pretty, ask if I was ok, always keep the conversation going, and make it a point to tell me he's not seeing anyone.
Now it maybe me overthinking, but I also feel like I can't tell anyone because there's a large age gap and it's my manager.

Just imagine a scene where Palpatine is berating JarJAr and tells his security to leaves as he continues, Palpatine turns his back telling JarJAr exactly why his idea is stupendous, when suddenly, with near no accent JarJar states "enough of this charade, now will do" as the sound of a lightsaber igniting occurs, a red light filling the room, Palpatine turns as with a flip of a finger JArJAr sends a statue at Palpatine who barely reacts in time to stop it, the door reopens and the room start to flood with guards who, the first of which are crushed by the statue, which is flung back at palpatine the others quickly slain, as JarJAr turns with a partial closing of his fist the door crushes shut "enough with the interruptions, my once apprentice
Palpatine recieves his saber from the statue and the fight ensues, but is interrupted by Mace windu and his short-lived crew cutting through the door and as it collapsed, they are met with a palpatine saber in hand and a clumsy fumbling JarJAr begging for help and allowed to escape, JarJAr runs off to get Anakin, just in case Master Windu fails, anakin was supposed to be there!!, as the group turns to face Palpatine Windu makes his declaration, Palpatine yells out, i am the senate, jumping at them with extreme agility, cutting the other jedi down in moments, the fight with Windu begins as JarJAr reaches Anakin who tells him to find safety and escape.

Category:
Filed with family-based I-485
Timeline:
10/21/22 application received
3/20/23 1st I-765 expedite request (qualifications: national benefits)
4/4/23 2nd expedite request submitted (qualifications: healthcare worker+national benefits+financial) loss)
4/10/23 additional evidence requested; provided a job offer, cover letter, and bank statement
4/17 Case approved and the combo card was producing
I received a job offer and took some time to put together the cover letter along with the offer letter from my employer for the 2nd expedited request. However, my I485 is currently still pending after a RFE (responded almost 3 months ago)but I know I am very lucky already, especially with my extremely supportive wife during the process. And I hope to share this experience with whoever in the similar situation. Good luck!

Picked up my sons from school and stopped to get gas, invited them to get out of the car and learn how to do it. Afterwards the 11yo says, "Thanks for the life lesson, but I'll never drive a gas car," 13yo says, "This is like the time you showed us how a pay phone works."

So, like most people here, I've vented and shared about being dumped by my ex FA gf. It was absolutely brutal and left me invalidated and feeling completely worthless.
But I want for us to start sharing the good things we did for ourselves after the breakup, and maybe share the bad things we did or are doing. I'll start.
So, I'm anxious preoccupied. This is the third time in two years that I get thrown into the trash by an avoidant (all three were different women) My recent ex is the woman I thought I'd marry. She made me feel I could actually allow love and when I was finally doing that, she dumped me. Bad timing haha but it didn't change anything on that front.
Awful breakup (won't get into it here but read my post "is my ex crazy? Am I?" If you want to know what happened).
So, to start: The only bad thing I am still doing is sometimes being preoccupied by analysing what happened, searching for solutions and wishing it would happen or would have happened. Instead I should cut my losses and focus fully on myself.
Having said that.. after all the panic attacks and lack of sleep or hunger, I began doing good things for myself and it helps!
1, I continue to find pleasure in woodworking. It's a form of appreciation and expression for me. I'd recommend everyone to make something, anything, for it will provide a relatively quick result of which you can be proud.
2, I am doing a lot of cardio, going out and biking to beautiful places where I can then sit down and read a book in the sunshine. The exercise helps and I am reading a book about Stoicism (how to think like a Roman emperor by Donald Robertson) which also really helps! I'm actually reading it for a second time in a row and I am slowly applying the lessons within. It has helped me to reduce my anxiety by will, instead of letting it linger for hours on end.
3, I've taken a lot of time off from work. For once in my entire life I decided to take all the time I need to fully be there for myself and I don't feel any guilt about it whatsoever (nor do I feel I should haha).
4, slowly I am forgiving myself for the mistakes I have made during and after the relationship, and I am grateful that I am able to see them. I am also aware that one of the mistakes that I made was that I basically didn't have a backbone and not only took way too much responsibility on me about the causes of the breakup, but also about the fact that I was far too forgiving of her extreme blunders just because I had this internal belief that I had to really fight to be loved, even through disrespect and being emotionally cheated on (she said she loved someone else during the relationship, someone she never met..).
5, it's difficult but I am placing more worth on myself as a person and less on her. I don't like to even think it but.. in the end, she proved herself to be completely unable and unwilling to build a healthy relationship with me. Easy fixable and common enough problems were enough for her to run away and treat me like I was absolutely nothing, and blaming everything on me.
6, post breakup I put her on a pedestal, thinking she was winning it all by getting rid of me (supported by the fact that she was on dating apps right after the break-up and was completely indifferent towards me), while I was left with nothing. I think I tend to do this because I feel like I am unworthy. That isn't true. The truth is, it isn't a competition between her and I. It is a competition between myself and i because that is all that is truly left and I have to take up my responsibility to move on and grow as a person.
7, I am simply sad. I miss my ex gf, and I wish she could see her own issues like I do. Ideally, my goal was for us to grow together, but that isn't going to happen so I have to do it on my own.

Hi Knife Bros,
TimeStamp
Boos Blades Aero FF #6 - SV $455 OBO
Third Owner but knife is in excellent condition. Full custom from Boos with amazing action. I've never carried or cut with this knife just flipped. Blade is 154CM at 61HRC knifesteel nerds heat treat. Handle is anodized arctic blue, pocket clip and backspacer are light bronze, and blade is beadblasted. Pivot screw has the dot configuration with light bronze color. Handles have the infinity milling pattern. Boos Blades #6 page. Comes with Boos 3d printed box and DOB card. Original cost was $550 with the milling pattern (so you are saving about $95 for a mint condition boos custom). Blade to handle ratio is great and weight is well under 1oz/in. Knife has 3.35 blade and weighs 2.4oz. This knife disappears into your pocket but has a fairly usable blade. Lock up is great.
Feel Free to make a reasonable offer via chat/dm.
Rules: I am looking to sell, not trade. I will ship out within 24-48 hours of sale. Paypal F&F only. Included shipping is for Conus only. Will ship priority flat rate and insure for the sale value of the knife. I reserve the right to deny a sale if you are sketch.
Let me know if you have any questions or want to haggle.

I’m an FY1, but in this scenario I’m the patient, so looking for the perspective of GPs or other doctors if you were the one dealing with me.
Last month I contacted my GP surgery for a referral. I was previously diagnosed overseas but didn’t require any treatment as I wasn’t symptomatic. However symptoms have since recurred, hence I wanted the referral to the local secondary care service.
I didn’t see the GP (or have a tele-consult), but he sent me some forms to fill in and to bring along the relevant documentation. I did so on the same day. It turns out the text message platform they used had no ‘reply’ function that I could attach the forms to. So I went down to the practice. After some discussion the receptionist (R1) said to e-mail them, which I did so, and got R1 to verbally confirm that all required paperwork has been received. Therefore, the next step would be these will be sent to the GP for him to send off the referral.
About two weeks later I called to check on the status of the referral. It was another receptionist (R2) that answered. She told me that on the system it says they are still waiting for my documents. I said I had submitted all required documents on the day itself, and I was told all that’s left is for the GP to complete the referral. So R2 checks again, and says ‘oh yes we do have the documents’, so she changes the tagging(?) such that it is now flagged to the GP for him to complete.
I call again two days later. It is yet another receptionist (R3). To my horror, R3 says ‘no it doesn’t seem like we have the required documents, can you send them over again?’ At this point I was getting very confused and frustrated by the process. Along with re-sending the documents, I included in my e-mail the whole timeline so far, from my point of view.
R3 called me the next day to confirm that the documents are received and have now been sent to the GP. I asked if there was a possibility that my documents (containing my medical history) have been filed under some other patient’s record, given that I have definitely provided them, and apparently now they are not found on the system. R3 said they have checks in place to prevent this. I then asked if R3 could provide a written reply to my e-mail, acknowledging the documents have been received and have been passed on to the GP. She seemed slightly unwilling but eventually did so.
Finally, 28 days after I originally provided the documents, I receive a text saying my GP has sent my referral off.
Yesterday, I happened to see the website of the service I was getting referred to. It mentions that the waiting list is several months, if not a year. At the same time, it mentions possibility of utilising Right to Choose to consider alternative services, including private providers that see NHS-funded patients. I had not known of this possibility before, so I didn’t ask about this initially.
This morning, I rang up the surgery again and after completing the triage form (stating the existing referral but I wanted to discuss RTC), was assigned a same-day phone call from a GP. Unfortunately, the phone rang just as I was in the toilet, so I missed the call. This GP (a different one from before) left a voicemail saying that she would get her secretary to send me some forms to fill in. I contact the secretary and was given the same exact forms I filled in a month ago. I clarify with the secretary if she wants me to fill in the same forms again, given that I had already done so and there is an existing referral in place. The secretary, understandably, doesn’t know and advised me to see if I can speak to the doctor again.
I visit the surgery in-person and spoke with a receptionist (R5). Initially she saw the updates on my record and said no I cannot get another phone call with the GP. I then explained the queries I had, and that I just needed to clarify some things with someone who is aware of the pathways (i.e. the GP). R5 then said she will fill in a form and send it to the GP, and the GP will call me within the day. I asked R5 what time it might be, not to rush them, but just to have some expectation, and was told any time between 1530 and 1830. R5 sounded very understanding to my situation so I was hopeful that I could finally speak to the GP (even if as a phone call).
I went back home to wait. By 1745, I’ve not received a call so I rang the surgery again (their phone lines close at 1800). Another receptionist (R6) answers. R6 tells me that their final appointment was at 1710, and the GP that I was awaiting a call from has long left the surgery. So I explain what I was told. R6 says R5 did fill in a form, but it was categorised as ‘routine referral’, so the wait time is up to 48 hours. Again, this was very different from what I was told, so I asked R6 why R5 would tell me ‘up to 1830’, if the doctor wasn’t even staying till that late? R6 started to say that I was being nit-picky and argumentative, since I would have had to wait either way, since it was up to 48 hours. R6 also said that I should remain focused on the solution, which is to continue to wait for the call.
On the one hand, I get what R6 is saying. On the other, this feels like yet another miscommunication. Therefore, my questioning ‘why’ is not to pinpoint blame, but to find out why there seems to be different things told to me by different members of staff. If R5 had told me ‘48 hours’ from the start, I would have tailored my expectations accordingly, and need not have called again at 1745.
It has felt like different receptionists are seeing different things from my record, even though there should only be one version of it. Because a lot of the communication was done verbally (via telephone), I don’t have any written documentation e.g. e-mails that I can use to refer back on.
For those that have read all this, do you feel at any point I was being an ‘unreasonable’ or ‘difficult patient’? I know how GPs (and practically the entire NHS) is struggling at the moment, so I do try and be understanding, but it is very frustrating to be told different things by different people. Throughout the conversations I have not raised my voice at anyone. But what R6 said made me wonder if I might not have been as calm and measured as I thought I was being? Keen to hear others’ opinions.

[Chapter One]
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Prev and Next
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Rosifo Girtwoud woke up feeling sore and exhausted. He slept well, but never as long as he’d have liked. He could hear his roommates moving around and getting ready for their days. Sitting up in bed, he stretched and took stock. His new job was physically demanding, but it was the best job he’d ever had. By a lot. He loved having his own room in a nice place, all thanks to his generous new salary! He could even afford to eat as much as he wanted, a luxury he’d not even dreamed was possible. Last night he ate three helpings of honey glazed pork at the pub! Still clumsy from sleep, Ros shrugged on a tunic and clean slacks, pausing for a second to appreciate the lordly quality of the garments. He still couldn’t believe he owned such nice things, and the Chief just gave it to him! Well, everyone got a few, but that didn’t make it any less special. Ros put on his belt as he went downstairs to the kitchen, where a few of his roommates were eating breakfast and the landlady was pulling some fresh buns out of the wood fired oven.
“Hey there’s the champ now!” called out Rikad, his housemate and co-worker.
“Heh, there are some perks to being the lightest guy on the squad!” Ros replied, referring to the agility drill he had won at work yesterday. Three days a week of training was by far the hardest part of the job, being trained by the Chief was like weathering a storm. Terrifying and dangerous, but something you could be proud of surviving. The other three days a week they worked were a holiday in comparison. Sitting on carts and standing by warehouses was easy.
Ros devoured his huge bowl of sweetened oats and then three buttered fresh buns. Pushing back from the long table with a satisfied sigh, he got up to leave for work with Rikad. The spring morning air was brisk, and they made sure to stay out of the way of loaded carts and riders that zipped by on the narrow cobblestone streets.
“What do you reckon the Chief will have us do today?” Rikad asked.
Ros snorted, “Quit embarrassing ourselves and pick up the pace?”
“Hah! That’s hardly a guess! I liked the knife throwing we did a few weeks ago, that was fun. I hope it’s not all runs and drills, I’m still aching from yesterday,” Rikad said.
“Yeah, I like combat drills. Other than when I have to spar with the Chief. He’s like a mountain that’s fast. I think the day I get a point on him, I’ll buy the whole team a beer!” Ros motioned a lunging jab as they walked.
“We’ll be too old to drink by then!” Rikad teased.
They were in for a typical training routine, a morning lecture on tactics and formations, some solo weapon drills, a short run, then a hearty lunch delivered from the nearby deli. Other days they just called a food cart into the yard with them, but Ros liked the deli lunches better. Also the novelty of someone else buying his lunches was thrilling. Ros assumed that this must be how pretty girls felt all the time. Maybe less sore and less yelled at. But maybe not.
The real highlight of the day was Ros got to see the owner of the whole company when he came out to observe their exercises. Ros hadn’t seen a real lord up close before he started at Pandemonium, and he thought it was one of the biggest perks. Mostly he looked like a tired doctor or shopkeeper, but Ros wasn’t disappointed. He had a nobility of his bearing, clarity in his eyes and an aura of authority. Even the Chief changed when he was around him! Seeing the him defer to anyone spoke volumes to their importance. Not only was he the lord of a whole company, he was also a mage! They were super rare even before the Church started purging all those heresies in their College of Magic, but now he wasn’t even sure there were any in the city!
“Agility drills are done! Imma talk to Mage Thippily, so you lot do some king of the hill sparring; Sword ‘n board! Ros and Kedril start!” boomed Chief of Security Stanisk.
Ros staggered exhaustedly to the equipment racks to get an arming jacket, leather helm, training sword and shield.
“Mage Thippliy is watching,” he whispered reverentially to himself as he geared up.
“Mind your tone or he’ll turn you into a turnip!” called Rikad.
Kedril grinned, “Hah, He’ll turn you into a turnip, Rik. He’ll just look at Ros and see his work is already done!”
Ros used to despise Kedril. He embodied everything Ros had yearned to become: handsome, confident, affluent, and sharp-witted. The team's dynamic was confrontational, rife with competition; they raced, fought, and scored against one another all day, three days a week. It had taken Ros a while to grasp that they were, in fact, a team. Kedril, infuriatingly attractive, devoted time to helping Ros in a few drills last week and offered valuable advice. So, albeit begrudgingly, Ros began to admire him. Kedril was older by a few years, substantially larger, and appeared to be one of the few who already had some training in arms. The prospect of sparring with him didn’t excite Ros.
Fresh from drills and immediately thrown into sparring, sweat trickled into Ros's eyes. The sting impaired his vision. He repeated to himself, 'Elbows in, shield up, tip forward, hips back,’ partially to fix his stance, partially to focus. Kedril was typically in better shape than him, but now appeared even more worn out. His guard was lax and messy, creating a gaping opening. Ros seized the opportunity and struck with a swift, precise jab. In the fleeting instant the jab took, Kedril's shield snapped into position, and his tip dealt a solid blow to Ros's ribs just beneath his sword arm. It was a feint - a brilliantly executed display of weakness where he was most prepared, exactly the tactic Stanisk had explained yesterday.
“Mashed Turnip!” Kedril shouted to the cheers of the others.
“Ros! You lost because your stance is awful! Keep lower! Coiled spring, lad!” the Chief shouted from across the yard.
Ros raised his hands over his head to cede the point and sat at the end of the bench. He hated losing, but he had expected to lose. He gratefully grabbed a cup of water and watched Kedril make short work of a few more challengers. It seemed like they were picking on him, but Ros was coming to understand they were also bonding with him, and these might be the closest friends he’d ever had. Not that it was a high bar, and he didn’t like all of them, but they had his back, and that meant a lot. Finally Jourgun, the biggest lad on the team, tore into Kedril with so much energy and fury that no amount of clever tactics could stop him. Even though he knew these were his friends, seeing Kedril getting bashed in the face with a shield was almost as good as seeing a real mage!
One thing Ros appreciated about training days was that they were shorter. After the sparring, Stanisk pulled aside Kedril and Jourgun for additional work, and dismissed the rest of the men. Ros trailed behind some of his newfound friends to a peculiar place where one would sit, fully naked, in a steam-filled room, all for two glucks.
“This is a sex thing, right?” Ros asked Rikad cautiously.
“What?! Light, no! It’s to relax and heal," Rikad explained. "They place herbs on hot rocks, we sit there, sweat, and breathe in the steam. It’s excellent, you’ll love it!”
“Sounds like we’re all naked and sweaty, though?” Ros remained convinced this was some intimate activity he wasn’t fully grasping. Rikad rolled his eyes and even paid Ros’s entry fee.
Inside the dim, tiled room was surprisingly comfortable. The steam smelled slightly of herbs and medicine, and it was so thick he couldn’t even see the far wall. A quick survey of the others revealed they were just as covered in bruises as he was, which gave Ros a fresh sense of camaraderie. They towelled off, dressed, drank some cold water, and left the strange business without any hint of the carnal encounter Ros had suspected. Despite his lingering confusion about the whole place, Ros liked it and wanted to come back. He appreciated his squadmates not making a single steamed turnip joke. He was hoping that didn’t stick as a nickname, he felt it didn’t remotely suit him.
After the steam, their muscles relaxed and the day's tension eased away. Ros and Rikad were starving. It had been hours since lunch, so they headed to a nearby tavern for drinks and dinner. Being able to simply enjoy food and drink without concern for the price was an intoxicatingly fresh experience. In fact, Ros enjoyed this newfound freedom even more than the meal itself.
After a huge dinner and a few beers Ros paused, and opened up a little.
"Did you know this is the pub where I talked the Chief into hiring me?"
"Really? To be honest, I've always wondered about that. No offence, but you're a lot smaller than the rest of us." Rikad pushed away his empty plate, taking a long drink of his beer.
"Yeah, I saw the Chief in here, dressed like a shining champion, buying ladies drinks and rounds for the whole bar. He was so confident and kind and relaxed. But also obviously dangerous. I’d never seen anyone like him!" Ros gestured to the tavern maid for a refill. "I must have been a sight. My clothes were more patch than original cloth, I was so skinny you could've counted my ribs through a sweater. Not that I had sweater money!" Ros reflected on the lean muscle he'd gained in recent months with inward satisfaction.
"Did the Chief take you for a beggar?"
Ros bristled at the suggestion. "Hell no! I've never begged in my life, I've always earned my keep!" his brief flare of indignation faded immediately. "No, he thought I was a refugee, from some starving backwater. Of course, I corrected him—after he bought me dinner!"
"Hah! The proper sequence," Rikad agreed, laughing.
"Anyway, he asked about my plans. I told him I was waiting till I was eighteen to join the army and serve the Emperor."
"You've certainly filled out since I met you, but I'm not sure you'd pass the army physical even now," Rikad cautiously speculated.
"The Chief was blunter about it. 'Yer so scrawny, a necromancer would find ya offputting, the army ain't gonna waste rations on ya.'" Ros imitated Stanisk’s gruff rural northerner accent.
"Hah! That sounds about right. Which makes your wearing company purple less clear than ever!" Rikad replied.
"Well, he asked if I knew my way around the city. I said I've tread every cobblestone here, so he offered me a job running letters and picking up parcels. Better work than sweeping alleys for a half-gluck and stale bread. I figured a fancy man like him would pay alright."
The waitress finally brought the next round, and Ros paused to take a long drink. Setting his mug down, he continued. "I walked into the Chief's office, and there he was behind that tiny desk with his book and quill. He looked like a cave troll trying to be a librarian. But I wasn't gonna laugh—it was still the Chief. He said, 'We don’t got a lot for now but I’ll give you a list in the morning, and see that it gets done.' I said ain’t fancy, I don’t know how to read! He didn't lose his cool. He simply nodded and said, 'Alright, just report to me in the morning, and we’ll get you started.' Oh, and he warned me never to speak to the Mage unless spoken to, which suited me fine."
Ros took another drink of his beer, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and continued. "I was hoping for five gee a day. I’d probably have done it for a lone gluck, to be honest. So imagine my shock when he apologised that he could only offer me twenty glucks a day!"
"Where were you living, that five would've been enough?" Rikad asked, curious.
Ros, slightly flushed from the beer, leaned forward. "Under a bloody hedge!" He burst into laughter at his own expense.
"That's rough man," Rikad commented, shaking his head.
Ros nodded. "It was, but it's behind me now. After a month or so of running errands, the Chief finally let me join the crew he was training. That's how I ended up a part of the elite guard of a learned lord mage."
Rikad, his face ruddy, pointed his finger at Ros’s chest. "It’s your attitude! You always train the hardest. It’s changed the whole team's tone."
Ros nodded again, serious. "I gotta! The fifteen hundred gee I make every month now is probably more than I did in the last decade. Total! I bet we make as much as a knight commander does leading a thousand soldiers!"
Rikad looked at him suspiciously. "Wait, a decade? Aren't you still a teenager?"
Ros shrugged. "It's been a long, hard time. Anyway, I know I promised to go to see that folk band with you tonight, but I'm spent. I think I might call it an early night." He finished the beer in two long gulps and stood up.
"I get it. Besides, tomorrow's Sunday. We can finally sleep in!" Rikad pointed out.
******
Ros woke to a frantic pounding on his bedroom door. It was still dark out.
“Go away! Keep it down! You’ll wake the whole house!” Ros grumbled, mostly asleep.
“Come on man! Emergency meeting at the training yard. We gotta go now!” Rikad hoarsely whispered.
“Ah, that’s not good!” Ros threw on some clothes and headed out the door with his friend.
“Think it has something to do with what Kedril and Jourgun were doing after work?” Ros asked.
“Maybe? That was hours and hours ago, and those guys are great, and they were with the Chief,” Rikad countered.
They jogged through the mostly empty streets. The moons were behind clouds, and the dew made the cobblestones slick. The faint flickering of their leviathan oil lamp cast strange shadows in the foggy night. The city felt on edge, too many people on the streets in the middle of the night, whispering. A few times Ros thought he heard something about thunder and demons, which did nothing to calm his growing panic.
“What if something happened to Mage Thippily? Are we all unemployed now?” Ros asked, knowing Rikad knew as much as he did.
“What is the business we guard? Something to do with magically formed super secret goods that no one was allowed to talk about. I think? I should have asked,” Rikad lamented.
Finally they made it to the yard, and Kedril was standing at the gate, torch held aloft.
“Good lads! Go into the workshop and take a seat. The Chief has some tea on.” Kedril’s voice was as calm and steady as ever, but his face was pale and drawn, and his eyes never focused on them, just scanned the night intently.
“Inside? Are you sure?” Ros had never gone inside; that was the single biggest rule.
Kedril just nodded. Ros and Rikad looked at each other for courage and moved forward. The big yard door to the workshop opened a crack, and warm light was spilling out. Rikad motioned Ros to go first, and he poked his head in, fully expecting to lose it.
“Oy, is that Ros? Git your scrawny ass in here,” Chief Stanisk rumbled.
The two men felt like flies exploring a web, but inside was surprisingly normal. Five other guards were already there, and the room was a lot like any other workshop. It had planked floors, shelves and tables and one corner was even converted into a kitchen. There were a few simple stools set up, and two incredibly luxurious loungers. Like everyone else, Ros and Rikad took a stool. The Chief gestured to a kettle and mugs for the tea, but no one seemed interested.
“What’s happening, is everyone okay?” Ros finally asked.
“Short answer is yes, for now.” Stanisk said calmly. “We’ll give the other lads a few minutes to get here, then I’ll explain.”
“Holy light, sir! You aren’t wearing your armour!” This unsettled Ros more than anything he’d seen all night, it was like seeing a bear shaved. Chief was just sitting there in trousers and a shirt, sipping tea. He’d never seen the Chief without armour.
“Needs cleaned,” he answered cryptically.
Follow up questions were interrupted by the rest of the men arriving, followed by Kedril and then Jourgun, who must have been watching the far gate.
“Alright, gather round, at ease.” Stanisk started. He looked relaxed which was probably a good sign.
“You lot were hired to protect the interests of our operations. There was an attempt on Mage Thippliy’s life tonight, at his meeting. Security Specialists Kedril and Jourgun did excellent work, and I have full confidence in all of your growing abilities. Our concern is there will be additional attempts."
There was a murmur of apprehension. The mage was the company. Without him there was nothing to guard. No one here wanted to lose their jobs, but they had been suspicious from the start. The pay didn’t match the work.
Stanisk paused as Mage Thipply and the elv, that had only been speculated to exist, came down the ladder from the loft. The mage was dressed like normal, in his brown pants and a white shirt, frameless glasses and a short well maintained beard streaked with grey. The elv was wearing an oversized sweater and long stockings. It had the effect of making her upper body look human, but with the long spindly legs of a shore bird. Her huge nocturnal eyes stared at them all unblinkingly, and her long narrow fingers with too many segments wrapped around a mug of tea. Ros was both intimidated and repulsed. It was like a bird or an insect pretending to be a person, but with eyes that had intelligence and cruelty.
“Ah! Um, thank you all for coming!” The mage was directly addressing them, Ros grinned despite his fears and worries. “There have been events over the last week or so that have culminated tonight, and I no longer think that our operation in Jagged Cove is viable.” The mage saw the reaction of the crowd turn sharply negative. He hastily added, “Of course I’m not closing up shop, we’re just moving to another location. A location outside of the capital region, and I’d like you all to join us.”
Ros sighed and leaned back in relief. This wasn’t bad news at all. He’d gladly move to the bottom of the sea for the Mage. He could feel his pulse returning to normal, as other people started asking questions.
“What? I can’t leave the city, I got a wife and kids!” a guard named Theros said.
“Oh, I just started dating a baker's apprentice, is there an option to stay?” Jourgun asked.
The elv stood up, and addressed the room with an icy indifference. “This is not a negotiation. There is a ship that is leaving in about six hours. If you are on it, you will remain employed. We have also made considerations for your families. They are welcome on the ship, and you can find new homes in the town we relocate to.” She subtly nodded to the Chief before continuing. “Chief Stanisk values your skills so highly that he convinced the board of directors to offer each of you a five year contract. The contract will have some additional employment conditions, but there will be a 5000 glindi signing bonus. Follow Chief Stanisk’s instructions to get on the boat, and we’ll see you there. Or not.”
She returned to the ornate chair, and the room erupted into chaos.
“Holy light! That’s so much!”
“I’d be insane not to sign!”
“Where are we even going?”
Ros grinned from ear to ear, what’s to decide? This was the best possible outcome! Free money to see the world! Packing his bags would take no time, and he could carry everything that mattered in one trip.
Stanisk took command of the room, “You with young ‘uns, we got the company wagons for you waiting, get a move on. I’ll take the mage’s personal wagon and do a loop to Kedril’s, Eowin’s and Klive’s. The rest of you, leg it! Meet back here in three hours and tell anyone what asks, that you took a job out of the city. Be vague! Come on, pick up the pace you helpless kittens!"
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Prev and Next

Today is June 8th, 2023. Happy Birthday to...
MONSTERCAT UNCAGED/INSTINCT
Arlow - Happy Now which turns 2 years old today!
Stonebank (ft. EMEL) - Time which turns 3 years old today!
dwilly (ft. Collin Magalong & Tray Haggerty) - Candy which turns 5 years old today!
Loosid (ft. Raycee Jones & Lyon Hart) - Talisman which turns 7 years old today!
Laszlo - Closer which turns 8 years old today!
MONSTERCAT SILK
LAR - Gaze EP which turns 1 year old today!

• Gaze Extended Mix
• Flight Extended Mix

Allay - Morning Daze (Meeting Molly Instrumental Remix) which turns 3 years old today!
Terry Da Libra - 2H3arts EP which turns 5 years old today!

• Eunoia
• 2H3arts

Spring Selections 01 which turns 8 years old today!

• Schodt - Angel No. 8 (Jallen Remix)
• Alex Byrka - Made In Heaven
• Jacqueline - Rise Up

Belive it or not, little is really known about the best way to detox from opiates. I have undergone multiple detoxes, both in facilities and by myself. The best available information, which I have spend probably a hundred hours researching, is contradictory. Because we are all different. But for me, detox usually takes about 3 weeks before I feel normal.
So, what is the best approach for the acute side of the picture? Again, for me, it is to take a week off work and make sure I am sedated as much as possible during that time. I have used soma, benzos and benadryl to make this happen. I know this is hard for many people, lacking access to time off work and family obligations. But it is so much better than the alternative.
There is also the naloxone treatment, which literally forces remaining opiates off your brain receptors while offering comfort meds for about 5 days. Does little for post acute withdrawals but probably good if you have the money and fine the right doctor.
As regards tapering, yes it works, but requires an insane amount of willpower and a lot of time. This is my belief about why so many people fail. They can't get past the cravings. They have a hard time, like me I admit, in realizing that opiates are not your friend, you are not in love with them, and they are a key to absolutely nothing. I qualify this statement to exclude those with mental health or chronic pain who may actually legit need opiates to face life.
I am currently at the end of that nasty acute period and am trying kratom to try to ease my way past the last 2 weeks of discomfort. I take tiny doses compared to what people normally advise. I will try to report back what happens. Best of luck to all my friends out there who are going through similar circumstances.

I am sure this question has been asked a lot of times, yet nothing really stands out.
All the posts, online blogs, tutorials etc. tells me the same thing "Go to JapanesePod101" "Practice 15 minutes a day" "Go buy Genki"
But the question I want to ask is if there is a free to self-study Japanese which'll help you along side learning. I've seen apps and websites which help in a specific part of Japanese, like vocabulary or grammar or kanji.
Yet there never seems to be a website or app where you know what you've to do instead of spewing out some random shit you've heard somewhere, I've learned Hiragana and still progressing on Katakana and I have no idea where or how to continue.
There's no way to know what I should do next or what should I aim for instead all there is a list of vocabulary words from Bunpro like go learn that shit and then there's WaniKani and shit, never tried em much but there doesn't seems to be anything?

Game started to consistently crash in 1863.
​
After checking the logs I found this to be the last entry
[messagehandler.h:332]: 2 March, 1863: Event: 'Le Petit Journal' for player.
​
So loaded up the save as France and yep. The event pops up and there's only 1 button to click. Once I click it the game crashes 100% of the time.
​
Is there a way to remove this event from my save or anything I can do to salvage the situation? I was having a spectacular Continental UK game... It'd be a pity to lose it all

Greetings chromeos,
Recently, Reddit has announced some changes to their API that may have pretty serious impact on many of it's users.
You may have already seen quite a few posts like these across some of the other subreddits that you browse, so we're just going to cut to the chase.
What's Happening

• Third Party Reddit apps (such as Apollo, Reddit is Fun and others) are going to become ludicrously more expensive for it's developers to run, which will in turn either kill the apps, or result in a monthly fee to the users if they choose to use one of those apps to browse. Put simply, each request to Reddit within these mobile apps will cost the developer money. The developers of Apollo were quoted around $2 million per month for the current rate of usage. The only way for these apps to continue to be viable for the developer is if you (the user) pay a monthly fee, and realistically, this is most likely going to just outright kill them. Put simply: If you use a third party app to browse Reddit, you will most likely no longer be able to do so, or be charged a monthly fee to keep it viable.
  
  • A big reason this matters to chromeos, and why we believe it matters to you is a non-negligible portion of our user base being forced to change the way they browse Reddit.
  • Some people with visual impairments have problems using the official mobile app, and the removal of third-party apps may significantly hinder their ability to browse Reddit in general. More info
  • Many moderators are going to be significantly hindered from moderating their communities because 3rd party mobile apps provide mod tools that the official app doesn't support. This means longer wait times on post approvals, reports, modmails etc.
• NSFW Content is no longer going to be available in the API. This means that, even if 3rd party apps continue to survive, or even if you pay a fee to use a 3rd party app, you will not be able to access NSFW content on it. You will only be able to access it on the official Reddit app. Additionally, some service bots (such as video downloaders or maybe remindme bots) will not be able to access anything NSFW. In more major cases, it may become harder for moderators of NSFW subreddits to combat serious violations such as CSAM due to certain mod tools being restricted from accessing NSFW content.
  

Note: A lot of this has been sourced and inspired from a fantastic mod-post on wow, they do a great job going in-depth on the entire situation. Major props to the team over there! You can read their post here
Open Letter to Reddit & Blackout
In lieu of what's happening above, an open letter has been released by the broader moderation community, and chromeos will be supporting it.
Part of this initiative includes a potential subreddit blackout (meaning, the subreddit will be privatized) on June 12th, lasting 24-48 hours or longer. This hopefully will make enough of an impact to influence Reddit to change their minds on this.
Cheers,
The chromeos Moderation Team

So I currently work for [Globe] ISP as a field technician and I am looking to transition into more MSP to SysAdmin work.
I have been in my current position for 1 year and currently am at $25/hr with a raise to $27 incoming next week. I commute about an hour both ways and being on installs, time can run over with unforeseen circumstances.
Now I have been looking for other work as I originally stated after one year I would start to leverage the small experience that I have, along with some certifications. I asked on this sub when I started the position and I am trying to go deeper into networking. My dream job is to do something mixed with both VLAN/Cloud software and banking, but that is many years off. So I have done A+ and am almost finished with CCNA and have learned much from what I’ve studied so far.
So a recruiter reached out to me and offered me a job for Field Tech IV, starting at $32/hr (well $28-$32, but I want the biggest number) and it’s local, about 20 minutes. The description is about hybrid/on-site install and configuration at PSAPs? The recruiter told me I’d start everyday at home but would have to go to different sites, with IRS comp for mileage. Do I need a truck or something? He did include that I would be working with Cisco routers and switches which is a good XP boost as my current position doesn’t provide as often as I’d like. Also Linux OS work also.
Has anyone done anything like this? What kind of workload am I looking at?

Already gone to the council about them for a floodlight they put up (think farmyard floodlight in a newbuild estate) that lit our house up light a christmas tree. So talking to them is out (we did try asking about the light nicely, they didn't care).
They have 4 dogs. One is really reactive and stirs all the others up. But this reactive one will often just stay outside barking at everything for up to 20 minutes at a time.
I'm disabled and often ill so it disturbs my rest. I can't enjoy my garden. Or keep my windows open in the summer. It disturbs my partner who works from home, as well as interrupting my studies.
I've never seen them walk the dogs or play with the dogs or a single toy in the garden. They just shove them outside by themselves several times a day to bark at everything.
I've tried shouting. I've tried a dog whistle. I've tried one of those automatic barking box things (and yes I felt really bad about using it).
I can't take it anymore. I'm sat here contemplating spraying the hose over the fence. Or possibly throwing over some dog toys.
The worst part is I feel bad for the dogs. It's not their fault. And it must be miserable being so wound up and bored all day.
I'd rather not go to the council. I'm often not well enough to keep track of when the barking occurs (they will request a 2 week diary of the issue) and they were not really very helpful with the light (it's off most of the week and the council called that good enough).
I just want to enjoy a breeze through my window or sit in the garden with a cup of tea!
Any advice?

Hi! I was hoping to get some investment advice from this group. Husband (37) and I (30) are in a good place financially, but I know that we definitely could be making smarter investments/choice with our money, but both of us are so risk averse that we tend to just never take action.
Financial stats below:
-Combined annual gross income: $307,000 base (plus additional income around $40,000 in bonuses between the two of us, but those vary based on company and personal performance so I don’t include in our budgeting) -Retirement savings between the two of us: ~$300,000 in 401K accounts -Investments: ~$12,000 in Betterment and Acorns accounts (we contribute $200/per account each month) -Cash: ~$55,000 in savings (we move any leftover money after expenses into this account) -Debt: Our only debt is our mortgage which is about $3,000/month and we have about $275k in equity in our home (we were the beneficiaries of right place, right time with our real estate investment)
We live in a very HCOL area and have generally high expenses, but we are able to save additional money each month. We also contribute to our son’s 529 savings account each month.
I already know we need to move a huge chunk of our cash savings into a HYSA and it’s been on my to-do list. We just have it in a Bank of America savings which yields us just about nothing in interest. I was looking at a Marcus account because it has the backing of Goldman Sachs behind it, but I know there are higher yield accounts. Is there any risk with those as long as they’re FDIC insured? Something about a “mainstream” bank makes me feel more secure, but maybe that is naive? Would love y’all’s input on that.
Other than that, should we be contributing money to other types of investments? S&P 500 (I don’t even know how this works, I just know it’s a generally steady fund for returns)? Something else? We have friends who are super into buying random company’s stocks and generally they do well, but in today’s economy investing in some random tech company feels risky…
Should I just stay the same course we’re on and only make the adjustment to a HYSA?
I am not aiming towards insane wealth, I just want us to be very secure financially as we get older and perhaps be in a position to leave a decent amount of money behind for our son (he’s only 1 at the moment). My husband will go along with whatever decisions I make, but don’t even know where to start with those decisions.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

My dog who is 11 months is not spayed (we plan to spay her once she’s a year old) and is currently on her first period but is occasionally leaking brown liquid fluid that smells bad (a bit fishy). I’m not sure if it’s her period or heat cycle or if it’s coming from her anal glands. She keeps licking her vulva and whines often so I’m not sure if this is just her heat cycle. I’m concerned because I’ve never seen this before.
I was planning to take her to the vet for a walk in check up but I’m short on money so I have to wait until I get paid this coming Tuesday. So for the mean time, does anyone know what it could be?