Sam Husseini: The Silencing [ongoing by Twitter] of Kennedy's Most Notable Critic:

In 2016, Jared Beck with his wife and law partner Elizabeth Lee Beck put forward a lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee rigging nomination process against Bernie Sanders.
In the course of the lawsuit the DNC lawyer argued before the court: “We could have voluntarily decided that, look, we’re gonna go into the back rooms like they used to and smoke cigars and pick the candidate that way.”
The DNC won the case.
I emailed Beck as part of an effort to determine the true nature of Kennedy’s campaign in the Democratic primaries.
Beck: “As to RFK, Jr. – I am afraid he is playing the Bernie Sanders role this time around, to give a ‘voice’ to the disaffected, so that this ‘voice’ may be publicly gaslit and abused in the mainstream media, used as a tool to extract funds from the disaffected for the political party system, and then deployed to sheepdog the disaffected into supporting Joe Biden. That’s how U.S. ‘electoral’ politics rolls and has rolled since at least the time RFK Jr.’s uncle was publicly executed. I can’t imagine RFK Jr. is unaware of the role he is playing. But in order to play any substantial role in the family profession, it’s the only role he would ever be allowed to have. So perhaps understandable, but no less morally despicable.”
He then added: “The fact that Elizabeth and I are still banned from Twitter – notwithstanding Elon Musk’s purported ‘general amnesty’ – demonstrates just how high the stakes are for those invested in maintaining the sham.”
I’m not sure Beck is completely right in all he says — and hope to be writing a more detailed piece about various aspects of Kennedy’s campaign.
But it’s completely scandalous that the Becks are being silenced.

Crypto user since 2014, not a noob. Started working in crypto in 2021 professionally - as in PIVOTED career to industry. Worked for a major financial publishing firm (publicly traded, won't name it here) covering crypto for investment research.
Got most of my savings hacked via a crazy computer intrusion, Feds got involved, couldn't help, mental health went to complete shit, VERY dark days, almost 6 figures stolen. Found out it was a vulnerability in a certain wallet that led to a data breach, but the amount stolen is apparently too small for attorneys to even take the case or try to prove. To this day, no updates on the funds from the Feds.
Had heavy depression and even some more fucked up at times. As you can imagine, if someone like me who is sophisticated can get hacked and completely lose it all with ZERO recourse, this ruined my entire idea of the industry and thereby fucked my career up mentally.
I was in hell, had to sell my car to survive and pay rent. Fuck crypto. Then, 2022 happened. Voyager went belly up, lost more there. They lied about FDIC insurance. Luckily avoided FTX save for $500 dollars worth. Now saw the Atomic wallet hack this weekend... sad but obvious it was bound to happen. Many more such hacks coming.
Butters don't realize that with how fast AI and computing is advancing, there is NO guarantee that even hardware wallets won't get hacked one day. They love to preach about self custody but that's not realistic as we know. To prevent my hack I would literally have had to have a compsci PhD from Stanford and then cybersecurity training. What the fuck? And these clowns want mass adoption and grandma to put her 401k into self custody crypto? There is a reason we use custodians.
Then, lost my job in the industry 3 months ago due to the market being shit and rate hikes. Saw it coming. But I didn't realize that being affiliated with crypto must be some sort of black mark on my resume? Tech industry feels bad for me, finance industry thinks it's a cute joke. Worse than being affiliated with Lehman Brothers or working in porn.
Glad it’s getting regulated out and I plan to actively encourage regulators to ban it and speak out against it due to the lives it ruins.
Firmly believe crypto is mostly useless now except for crimes and actually it’s a major security risk for everyone / national security. Imagine if people across the country get mass hacked what that does for society. Crypto has caused more harm than it's ever helped anyone.
I don't know what to do to get my funds back since it's been over 1.5 yrs, this vulnerability was covered in the press so I could try to ask the wallet company to compensate my 75K + the 15K I spent in therapy from being so fucked up over it.
No one thinks that there is a serious career risk/political risk/person risk of working in crypto industry. It's clear where things are heading. DOJ charges against Binance next. I interviewed with Binance last year when I was applying around. Also with Coinbase.
Can’t take the risk now. Unfortunately looks like industry US stateside has contracted sharply due to macro , layoffs likely to get worse, regulatory pressures and may have to pivot industries in this economic environment.
Applying to MBA programs, deadlines are 3 months away, I have no job, have to pivot industries to have any chance, if I somehow land a crypto role now I would probably get laid off again because rates are staying higher for longer and I believe more dominoes will continue to fall for a while, and I can't afford another layoff anytime soon, due to the hack.
Honestly at this point you have to be mentally ill to work in crypto or keep buying it. UST's yielding almost 6%, corporate bonds almost 12% for some of them, not to mention the capital gains when rates drop.... why would you keep buying crypto? Lol

[PA] please forgive me if some of these questions are silly! I have basically only lived in sketchy housing situations, and am fairly young, so I’m still learning. I live in a great place right now.
The only issue is that no one has paid the water bill. Hypothetically, say I took a peek at our landlords bill and saw that it is an outstanding bill of $1000+….
Before I moved in, the property manager treated the floors as different units, and was in charge of utilities. He then shifted the utilities to us (including water, on the lease). My roommate was not able to transfer the water bill, as the owner (who is in another country), has been unresponsive in transferring the account. There was also an unpaid amount from former tenants that the property manager didn’t address. I’m a little confused that my roommate wasn’t able to sort this out, but according to her, she can’t access the water bill. The property manager has been informed multiple times and I’ve seen the emails. He’s an idiot, and hasn’t tried anything to sort this out either
Our water has not been shut off, since some roommates qualify as low income, and there is a shutoff moratorium. But I’ve been worried sick that our water will get shut off, and we’ll be saddled with a huge bill from various tenants that are long gone. My roommates have told me that it’s his problem, and I bet he thinks it’s our problem. They’ve told me not to bother him about it, because “we have in writing that he knows we aren’t able to pay. Plus, he’s renting illegally so he can’t evict us.” This seems crazy to me, as at least a few of us want to stay for a few years. I don’t want to go against all my roommates, who are generally responsible adults/tenants, or for them to get saddled with a water bill esp since we’ve had subletters and tenants in and out. A $1000 bill divided between 5~ish people is shitty but manageable. What is not manageable is a water shutoff (we have month to month subletters), or having to split a $2000 bill with 3 people (if the tenants that are moving refuse to pay).

Throwaway account.
I (33m) live in a foreign country without local language skills. My girlfriend (26f) is a local. She started to mention having memory lapses about 6 months into her job as a content moderator for a well known social media platform, which she started 10 months ago. It's the type of job where you have to watch random garbage content all day.
She told me about heading home from work via public transport despite having her vehicle parked at the office, or forgetting to lock her apartment door. Things like that. In my presence she has never shown any of this behavior (or maybe I didn't pick up on them?). So I was not sure what to think about it (although I occasionally suggested looking for a different job). But this has changed recently.
Last month we decided to go on a week long vacation. We met at my place to share a ride to the airport. She wanted to order a ride on her phone, but instead of selecting the airport as the destination she proceeded to stare at the ride hailing app for what felt like a minute. In tears she told me she forgot where we were going.
I asked her about her sleep and she admitted to only sleeping for two hours because she worked late. Okay so that's why, right? During our trip I did not notice any other memory lapse, everything seemed normal. We've had great sleep every night, so I started to assume her memory issues are purely stress related.
At this time I have been trying to convince her for weeks to quit her current job as the salary (which from a purely financial perspective is way above average in this region) is not worth the toll the job is taking on her, and to see a doctor about the issues she has been telling me about. I have also offered to cover her rent until she finds something new. Unfortunately without success, she is refusing all of it.
She's been back to work for a week now. Yesterday we both enjoyed another day off. I showed her a scratch on my laptop screen and we decided to go out, have it fixed, and then go for lunch and coffee. Everything felt normal, we had a good day. Until this point, the only instance of her 'memory problems' I've witnessed was her forgetting what to put as destination into the ride hailing app.
In the evening we watched a few episodes of Breaking Bad. During a sex scene she turned to me asking why we haven't had sex today yet. But wait a second.. we did. I explained to her we had sex before going out today, in the morning. She had no recollection of it, at all. I thought this was a bad joke at first but I decided to dig deeper, and it turns out she forgot most of what happened during the day.
She did not know I didn't get my laptop fixed (price of screen replacement was not worth it), despite her being there when I walked out of the shop after 2 minutes and telling her exactly what happened. She told me I did get my laptop fixed, without being able to tell me what was wrong with it. She did not remember the scratch that I showed her before, even after showing her the screen damage once again.
She misremembered what we had for lunch, and where, citing a location and a dish that doesn't match reality. She completely forgot about the dinner we just had, of which the leftovers were still on the table in front of us. She didn't remember how many days we spent on vacation, nor the name of the hotel.
That's when she opened up and told me about more instances of memory loss. For example crashing her bike because for a moment she forgot she was riding a motorbike in traffic and thus released the handlebars mid-drive. She previously told me this accident happened for turning too fast.
She also failed to find her way home from work once, driving around aimlessly for half an hour.
At this point I wasn't able to hold back my tears and I was too afraid to ask more questions. This morning she forgot she told me the truth about her recent traffic accident. I feel like she doesn't want me to know about the full scale of the problems she is experiencing, and who knows what else is happening that I don't know about.
I'm begging her to forget about work for a second and go get a proper screening at the hospital. She's refusing to listen, not wanting "additional stress". I have no idea what to do, I can't force her. I'm thinking about sending a text to her mother, and/or friends, to convince her to get help.
How can a 26 year old woman be having these issues? There is no substance abuse, she doesn't drink any alcohol. I can only link this to her work, but those are just assumptions. How do I make her seek serious help for this serious issue?

I recently got offered a role for a job that had 74-104 listed as the salary in the JD. In my first convo with the contracted recruiter they asked about this and my compensation. I told them I'm targeting just above the top of their salary range. They told me that should be fine and the team has some wiggle room.
Fast forward a few weeks, the hiring manager called me with the offer for 94k and I was told about the company performance bonus thats usually 10%+ each year (no stock options). I let them know about my first convo where I previously told them my target was slightly above their range (never gave a number at this point but was going to say 110ish if asked) and the recruiter said that was no issue. The hiring manager then talked to HR the next day and called me back, they told me, sorry, I misspoke, and I guess this level role doesn't qualify for the company bonus and the top of the role is 94k so they can't go higher. It did sound like the manager went back and tried decently hard but told me their hands are tied and they actually had a long conversation with HR about the bonus situation and asked if they could honor it. The best they could still offer is still 94k but now a 10k sign on bonus.
The way i see it, is this 10k signing bonus is actually just meeting the VERY top of their range in which I was under the impression during the interview process that they could meet. And fast forward to year 2 if I'm there, I will be stuck at 94k with no company bonus.
I let them know I'm in a final conversation with another company and if they could give me a week to respond/decide. They said they would wait for my verbal agreement before sending an offer letter so I don't have anything just yet but that they'd really like me to come on board. They did send a benefits document, just basic health care coverage (no paid working remote set up stipend, etc.)
My question is what should be my next move to make this fainot settle and what is the best route for me?
My thoughts:

1. I know you can't count on the top of the range being offered to you but I guess I'm confused why they are acting like they cant go above 94k when the range was 104 and they said that was fine. If anything, i thought companies can go ABOVE the range even if they really want someone? I know things can change due to the economy but this was just a few weeks ago. They've been looking to fill this role for months and haven't been able to find the right person, so I think I'm the only one they're banking on right now that meets their needs
2. I'm not interested at all in securing or negotiating more PTO or anything like that because I don't take a lot of vacation and would rather have $
3. I can't even negotiate getting the company wide bonus at a later point because i was told HR is super strict about the level of roles and this position doesn't fall in that category

What would you do? And for the recruiters out there, I'd love your insight!!! I have to get back to them by end of week.

Introduction

Creating a harmonious and prosperous work environment is essential for the success of any business. Many people believe that following Vastu Shastra principles in their office can bring luck, fortune, and financial prosperity. Vastu Shastra, an ancient Indian architectural science, provides guidelines for the design and arrangement of spaces to harness positive energies.
If you're looking to align your office space with Vastu principles, here are some important guidelines and tips to consider.

1. Direction of the Office Building

When constructing an office or commercial building, it is crucial to follow Vastu principles to ensure prosperity and good luck. The direction of the office building can have a significant impact on the business's success. For service-oriented businesses, the east direction is considered suitable. The north direction, associated with the lord of wealth, Kuber, is ideal for profit-making businesses. Depending on the nature of your business, the north, northeast, or northwest directions may also be favorable. Additionally, ensure that the property is surrounded by running roads when selecting a location for your office.

2. Seating Arrangement

Proper seating arrangement plays a vital role in maximizing productivity and promoting positive energy flow in the office. Here are some seating arrangement tips according to Vastu Shastra:

• Entrepreneurs and business owners should sit facing the north, east, or northeast directions to encourage growth and new beginnings.
• Marketing and sales personnel should face the northeast direction to enhance proactiveness. Their sitting position can be in the northwest direction.
• Account department officials should sit in the southeast corner and face the northeast direction.
• Managers, directors, and executives should sit in the southwest, south, or west corner of the office to facilitate better decision-making.

Employees should also consider facing the north or east while working, as it improves productivity. Sitting directly under a light beam should be avoided. If unavoidable, it can be covered with a wooden board to minimize its impact.

3. Office Entrance

The entrance of your office plays a crucial role in attracting positive energies. Ideally, the entrance should be in the north, northeast, or northwest direction. These directions are considered auspicious and bring positivity and financial profits. The north direction, associated with the lord of wealth, is particularly beneficial for accelerating financial gains. Ensure that the entrance is clean, clutter-free, and well-lit to create a positive first impression.

4. Creating Positive Energy

To foster a positive and conducive work environment, keep the office space clean, organized, and clutter-free. Store documents, stationery, and other items in locked cabinets when not in use. Avoid sleeping at the desk, as it can attract negative energies. When sitting in a cabin, make sure your back does not face the door to avoid feelings of distrust. Hang a mountain scenery picture behind your seat and place a turquoise pyramid on your desk to promote support and communication among colleagues.

5. Office Décor and Interiors

The colors and décor in your office can greatly impact the energy flow and overall ambiance. According to Vastu Shastra guidelines for office:

• Use bright colors for the walls, as they spread positivity and reflect light. Blue is suitable for the southern wall, while green promotes harmony and can be used for the southwestern wall.
• Place a mirror or Kuber Yantra in the north direction or on the northern wall to enhance financial health.
• Avoid piling up finished goods in the northeast direction. Instead, store them in the northwest direction to ensure smooth clearance of unsold stock.
• Place your safe in the southwest corner, facing the northeast direction, to promote prosperity and security.
• Install a water fountain in the north zone for career growth and positive energy flow. Avoid placing fountains that flow outward.

6. Office Lighting

Proper lighting is essential for creating a vibrant and energetic workspace. Natural light is considered auspicious, so try to maximize the use of natural light in your office. If possible, place workstations near windows to allow employees to benefit from natural light. Use full-spectrum light bulbs that mimic natural light for artificial lighting. Avoid dim or flickering lights, as they can create a dull and stagnant atmosphere.

Office Furniture and Placement

The choice and placement of office furniture can have a significant impact on the energy flow in your office. Here are some tips:

• Use ergonomic furniture that promotes comfort and productivity. Uncomfortable or broken furniture can hinder work efficiency.
• Avoid sharp-edged furniture, as they can create negative energy. Opt for rounded or curved furniture designs instead.
• Ensure that furniture is placed in a way that allows for smooth movement and doesn't block any pathways or doors.
• Arrange desks and workstations in a manner that encourages collaboration and teamwork.
• Avoid cluttered and disorganized desks, as they can obstruct the flow of positive energy. Encourage employees to keep their workstations tidy and organized.

Meeting Room Placement

If your office has a meeting room or conference room, its placement is crucial for productive and successful meetings. Ideally, the meeting room should be located in the northwest or northeast direction of the office. This promotes clear communication, effective decision-making, and successful outcomes. Ensure that the meeting room is well-lit, properly ventilated, and free from any distractions or negative energy.

Office Plants

Introducing plants into your office space can bring freshness, vitality, and positive energy. Plants are known to purify the air, improve concentration, and reduce stress. Here are some recommendations for using plants in your office according to Vastu:

• Place small plants or bonsai trees on employees' desks to enhance creativity and productivity.
• Use money plants (Epipremnum aureum) near the entrance or in the north zone to attract wealth and prosperity.
• Place lucky bamboo plants (Dracaena sanderiana) in the east or southeast direction for growth and good fortune.
• Avoid placing thorny plants or cacti in the office, as they can create negative energy.

Balanced Elements

According to Vastu Shastra, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) should be balanced in the office to create a harmonious environment. Here are some tips for balancing these elements:

Earth:

Use earthy colors like brown and yellow in the office decor. You can also place a crystal or gemstone on your desk to connect with the earth element.

Water:

Install an aquarium or a water feature in the northeast direction to attract positive energy and prosperity. Ensure that the water is clean and the aquarium is well-maintained.

Fire:

Use proper lighting and incorporate the fire element through the use of candles or decorative lamps. Avoid using harsh or excessive lighting that can create a stressful environment.

Air:

Maintain good air circulation and quality in the office by opening windows, using air purifiers, and incorporating indoor plants that improve air quality.

Space:

Keep the office well-organized and clutter-free to allow for the free flow of energy. Avoid overcrowding the space with unnecessary furniture or equipment.
Remember, while Vastu Shastra principles can provide guidance for creating a harmonious and prosperous office environment, it is also important to consider practical aspects and individual preferences. Adapting Vastu guidelines to suit your specific office layout and requirements can help create a positive and conducive workspace for success.
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Get To Know About: 40 Vastu Shastra Tips for Home: Better Life, Prosperity & Harmony

When somebody suggests you commit arson together, your reaction is most likely to differ based on the identity of that person. If anyone else had asked me to come along to burn down a building, I would have assumed it was a joke. However, being aware of Frankie Preston’s barely suppressed murderous tendencies made me take his request quite seriously. Of course, three main questions presented themselves upon first consideration.
“What building?”
“A small developmental factory owned by FunFlair.”
“Do you plan on burning it while there are still people inside?”
“Only one, and that one deserves to burn alive.”
Shelving my thoughts on that answer for the moment, I inquired as to when he was hoping to go about this endeavor.
“The sooner the better. My sister—you haven’t met her—found out that they’re going to move sites in the near future, so if I want to take revenge on my old boss easily, I need to do it now. It won’t be too difficult. I know the layout of the place really well, they can’t have changed much these last three years. It’s small, hidden but unprotected. A bunch of containers in some woods a couple hours from here. The human I hate most in the entire world is there, every night, working all alone.” His shoulders twitched. “I drove by the place a couple times, and I kept thinking about doing it, but I was too scared. Having you there would make all the difference.”
“It would?” I echoed.
“Yes! Sunshine, you’re strong. Amazingly so. I don’t want you to feel like I’m using you, but the thing is, I can’t do this on my own. If you tell me to go away and never mention this again, I will. That I swear to God. Or whatever sadistic omnipotent being has put me on this world to suffer.” He briefly glanced heavenward, or rather at the ceiling, then back at me. “I can’t hurt anybody, remember?”
I nodded along slowly. “This person, your old boss… what did they do to you?”
“Simply put, she’s why I hate everything.” He spoke with an uncanny intensity, staring past me like he was miles away.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Philomena Wallis. She’s the one who keeps sending people after me. She wants me back to do fuck knows what to me because she's still pissed I screwed her over." He paused. "She did—does horrible things. You'd want her dead, too."
"Why isn't she in prison?"
"Nobody gets taken to prison if they're rich enough. Either way, what she does isn't technically illegal… and no one knows about it either. It's a tricky situation."
I took a deep breath. “Do you have a plan?”
“I do. We’ll go there at night, I’ll slip in and make sure the door to Phil’s workspace is locked, and then we’ll douse the whole thing in gasoline.”
“Are you sure you’ll need me for that? It doesn’t sound like you’d be inflicting hurt directly. I mean, you wouldn’t have to actually raise a hand to your boss, not physically. Or can you not do that either?”
“The risk lies rather within what could happen if she finds me.” He rubbed his arm, a look of uncertainty crossing his features. “I’m different when I’m around her. I can’t help it, she… she can just walk all over me. She made me be this way. There’s nothing to be done about it, except to get rid of her once and for all.”
“I’m not following. She made you be this way? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said!” he snapped, only to shrink back and raise his hands. “Sorry! I’m so sorry!”
I stared at him in silence for a beat. “You’re terrified,” I said.
He glanced at his chucks, then back at me, looking like he wanted to say something but didn’t know what.
“Sad, too,” I added. “Sometimes, I can’t tell what you think, so I apologize if I’m reading this wrong…”
“You shouldn’t have to guess what’s going on inside my head anyways,” he muttered. “I can’t believe what I’m trying to rope you into again. It’s like I didn’t hear myself talk for a minute there.”
“I’ll help you.”
He raised a skeptical brow. “I don’t want to force you. I swear I don’t. I will do this, and I’d feel so much better if you came with, but if this is something you’re gonna resent me for in the long run…”
“The long run?”
“I mean—” He started playing with his gum again. “Are we not doing this? You really like me, I think?”
“I think we shouldn’t be talking about this in the same breath as committing lethal arson.” I rubbed my nose before letting go of a long breath. “If I can’t stop you from doing this, I’ll at least make sure you come back out in one piece.” I wonder if this is how Nettie Peterson usually feels.
Frankie beamed. “You will? You’re absolutely sure?”
“Yes. Here’s the plan, I drop off what I bought for my savior human and then we can prepare; do what’s needed. I don’t want to put this off. The sooner it’s over, the better.”
“Definitely,” he agreed with an eager nod. “I’ll drive you right over.”
“Good. And Frankie… you know precisely how I feel about you.”
We got on our way the following morning. The car ride lasted several hours, most of which I spent fast asleep stretched out on the backseat. It was a wonderful nap; I hardly felt any of the vehicle’s movements, admittedly a credit to the server’s abilities as a driver. Eventually, the road was getting too bumpy to ignore, and I drowsily lifted my head to find us pulling onto heavily wooded terrain. Upon noticing I was awake, Fran gave me a fleeting, quite obviously forced smile. After a few more minutes, we came to a halt on a clearing. I got out and produced a canister of gasoline from the trunk, handing it to Fran after opening the door for him. He looked strangely absent, gazing off into the distance with a vacant look in his eyes. He grabbed the offered canister and clutched it to his chest, almost like he was hugging it.
“We’ll be going the rest of the way on foot, then?” I inquired.
He nodded wordlessly.
I couldn’t hide my frown. The air around us was warm and fragrant, the moonlight shining through between the branches that seemed to reach out for us as we began walking. There was not even a hint of a breeze, and yet, a chill ran down my spine. My companion’s demeanor was nothing short of uncomfortable; he seemed to suck the warmth out of the atmosphere around us, together with my initial confidence and the sweet scent of pine needles. His silence instilled in me a clammy sense of dread, and I couldn’t shake it no matter how hard I tried. Normally, I would have probably appreciated the perfect calm and serenity of the lush forest around us, but seeing him in such obvious, unspoken distress drove away all my idyllic thoughts.
“This seems like an odd place to hide a factory,” I remarked, trying to open a conversation once more.
“That’s the point. You wouldn’t go looking for a doll manufacturer in bum-fuck nowhere,” he replied.
“It’s strange to think about. What kind of shady stuff can a toy manufacturer even get up to? Don’t get me wrong, I trust you when you say they’re bad people, I just wish you’d give me a little more information. I feel like I’m not getting something here.”
He let out a low hum. “You… are really innocent.”
“No, I’m not,” I argued, affronted.
“Not in a bad way. I said innocent, not naive. I’ve been cagey again, I know that, but the thing is, you’ll see exactly what I was talking about when we get there. You’ll understand everything, and to be honest, I’m very afraid of what you’ll think once you do.”
We finally reached the building Fran had told me about. If it could indeed be called a building. It looked more like something that had been thrown together by a larva using Lego bricks. It was, as predicted, a bunch of containers lined up and stacked atop one another, small corridors and open metal staircases connecting them. It seemed to be almost entirely empty—all the lights were out, except for a single one. From behind a window on the upper floor, filtered through gray blinds, a cool, bright glow shone down upon us. It bathed Frankie in its surreal luminescence that seemed completely out of place given our raw, natural surroundings.
“You were right,” I stated, tearing him from his rigor. “Seems like there’s only one person in there.”
“That’s Phil,” he mumbled. “I’m certain.”
“Then let’s do this.”
Frankie detached himself from the canister, peeling it off his body like a piece of clothing. I took it from his hands while he walked over to the nearest door, reaching into his pocket to produce a set of shiny, slim tools. Despite the darkness, he set his fingers to work on the lock. It didn’t take long at all for him to let out a satisfied sound, straightening up as he held the now open door for me. “I’m very skilled at lockpicking,” he said lightly, by way of conversation.
I couldn’t hide the admiration in my gaze, and I gave him a proud smile that briefly caused his features to soften. I had not yet crossed the threshold when he grabbed me by the wrist, holding me back. “One more thing,” he whispered, his voice suddenly ringing desperate again, “you won’t like what we might see in there.”
“I know,” I answered. “It was implied.”
Stepping forth into the dark room, the smell of plastic and coffee instantly hit my nose. Fran fumbled for a lightswitch before thinking better of it and turning on the flashlight he’d brought. We were clearly in a breakroom; there was a table in the middle surrounded by chairs, an espresso machine in the corner and several calendars and posters taped to the walls. Unsuspecting. Frankie didn’t comment, immediately moving across the cube and towards the door on the other side. It led out into a small corridor, improvised using more corrugated iron elements, and into another larger container. There was a desk with a computer in one corner and an empty operating table in the center.
A large shelving unit occupied the entire left side of the room. A closer inspection revealed that it held all sorts of small parts, though what they were parts of was beyond me. Opening the plastic drawers at random, I glimpsed all sorts of metallic and silicone pieces, forming strange little… thingies.
“What is all this?” I asked Frankie.
He had been standing by the operating table, staring at it with unblinking eyes. His expression was once more perfectly vacant. Not even his jaw was moving around his bubble gum. He didn’t look up, and for a minute, I wondered if he’d heard me at all. “Doll parts,” he suddenly answered, his voice lacking any inflection.
I frowned, picking up one of the tiny metallic objects and inspecting it closely. I could see what he meant now—it appeared to be a very small joint, perhaps for a finger. “When you said FunFlair made dolls, I thought you meant these stiff little baby dolls. I didn’t know they made them this detailed.”
“Oh, they can be detailed alright.”
“Is this, like, a robotics thing? Can they move on their own, too?”
Frankie let out a sharp, mirthless laugh that was much too short. He fell completely silent again, and it felt as though the room had gotten colder. I bit my lip, placing the finger joint back in its box. I tentatively reached out to Fran and rested a hand on his upper arm, only for him to flinch, drawing away as if burned. “D-don’t touch me right now,” he pleaded.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed.
“No, I am. Don’t mind me, okay? Let’s—let’s just go on.”
So we did. Another makeshift corridor led us over into the next container. The beam of our flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing a sight that made me stop in my tracks. There were several bodies propped up in the corners of the room, bodies that I only realized on second glance were artificial. They were of roughly the same size as the average person, with fully formed arms, legs and everything. Their faces however were different. Most of them weren’t even fully complete, the skin-like material not fully covering their heads and leaving the mechanical structures underneath uncovered. Their eyeballs—sitting in hard plastic sockets and unframed by lids—stared out at us blankly, utterly void and expressionless.
Cold dread began to seep into my bones, paralyzing me for a second before I managed to break from my stillness. Taking a step towards one of the lifeless figures, I bent down to get a closer look. Keeping my distance, I reached out a single finger to trace along one of the countless delicate wires peeking out from the soft patches of facial material. It was cool to the touch, making my skin crawl. I pulled back, turning to Frankie in bewilderment. “Wh-what is all this?” I asked hesitantly.
“That’s them. That’s the dolls.”
“Well, yes, I can see that but this… this is really, really unnerving.”
He let out a strangled, mournful sound. “I guess it is,” he said eventually, his voice low and flat. He knelt down beside me, a little closer to the doll, and started fumbling around with the back of its neck, clearly looking for something. Finally, I heard a little click, followed by a whirring noise as the doll jerked up its arm. I squeaked, scrambling back on my hands and rear, only to find my back suddenly pressed up against the chest of another mannequin. I hadn’t done a thing, but it instantly sprang to life; robotic fingers clamping down around both sides of my nape. The painfully fierce touch wiped away every last bit of my composure, and I let out a shriek that seemed to tear apart the relative silence. Frankie spun around to fix me with the beam of his flashlight, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut. My heart was hammering against my ribcage, seemingly exploding when the hands started pulling me closer against the lifeless, yet animate body.
The next thing I knew was that Fran had leapt forward and removed me from the doll’s clutches with one swift, powerful yank. My chest was heaving and I couldn’t suppress a low whimper when I pressed myself to his side, frantically glancing about my surroundings. My fangs were bared, but my racing pulse was admittedly overtaxing me. I couldn’t seem to form any coherent thoughts. My flight-instinct was kicking in, further setting off my panicked response when I realized I might end up involuntarily jumping dimensions again.
Suddenly, I felt Frankie’s hand on my cheek, the gentle pressure tilting my head up to make me meet his gaze. “It’s alright,” he said, his voice equal parts firm and understanding. The fog in my head lifted just a little.
“They’re not going to hurt you,” he went on, his thumb stroking the curve of my outer ear. However he managed to convey such certainty when he himself had been so uneasy mere moments ago was beyond me, and yet, I found myself believing him. My breathing slowed and I hazarded a second glance at the doll I had bumped into.
It had stopped moving, its body having locked into an unnatural, almost feral-looking position. It was cowering on all fours, its torso lowered and its head up. Its neck was bent at such an extreme angle that it was approaching the comical.
“What the fuck was that?” I whispered, the curse word escaping me before I could stop myself.
“Some of them have to be activated manually, others can be turned on just by touch. I remember that,” Frankie replied. “There’s no need to be afraid of them, though. Even if it’s hard to believe considering… well.” He gestured at the oddly crouching doll at our feet.
“Something’s very wrong here,” I muttered, unable to tear my eyes off the lifeless, incomplete face. “I didn’t even know they made toys like that.”
“They’re not for children,” Frankie said, his eyes glazing over once more.
“Are they, like, robots? Do they know what they’re doing?”
“Not if they’re lucky, they don’t.” He paused. “They’re not made to think. Any awareness they might have would be unplanned for.”
“And you really used to work here? Did you help build them?”
“We can talk about that once we’re out of here.”
I swallowed. “Look, I’m freaking out. This can’t be a normal production site.”
“It’s not. I wish you didn’t have to see this. It… it only gets worse. And your instincts aren’t failing you, none of this is right. If you want to back out, I don’t blame you. This place shouldn’t exist.”
I took a deep breath. I wished I had insisted on knowing the full truth before coming here, but it couldn’t be helped now. Instead of prying further, I pointed at the canister of gasoline. “Then let’s remedy that.”
Despite himself, Frankie smiled.
Instead of mirroring the expression, I felt my own features suddenly derail. “Oh crap.”
“What is it?”
“Do you think she heard me scream?”
X
1
2: deadbeat roommate
3: creepy crush
4: relocation
5: beach concert
6: First date
7: Temp work
8: roommate talk
9: a dismal worldview
10: warehouse
11: staircase
12: explanation
13: hurt
14: hospital
15: ocean
16: diner
17: government work
18: something in the caves
19: shopping cart
20: olms and Jewels
21: long hair
22: recruitment
23: waitresses

here's an old show I watched called "Legends of the Galactic Heroes" that centers on this exact topic, showing the political and military rise of one protagonist from deep inside a corrupted Empire who does indeed become a so called moral, benevolent dictator, and the rise of his military opposition within the dying corpse of a failing democracy, a genius historian who becomes an Admiral almost by chance. The 2 characters only ever get to sit down and chat in the same room once in the entire show, but when they do, it involves the historian character correctly explaining why he rejects even the "good king's rule", that even if an empire has a truly benevolent dictator, those figures are exceptionally rare throughout history and are almost impossible to replace effectively upon their death.
He further clarifies that removing the responsibility of maintaining democracy from the people (that is, removing the ability of them to vote for even a bad choice), also shields them from the ability to learn to make better, more responsible choices because they can always blame someone else for screwing something up rather than take responsibility for their own society.
This conversation perfectly encapsulates why an educated democracy beats even the best of a benevolent dictatorship. A balanced, responsible democracy does not rely on the good will of merely one person who can disappear in an instant, but forces people to take responsibility for maintaining a happy, healthy stable society.

We all know that with the girls graduating and becoming adults, a new season begins and all, so I thought to myself by making some Event Stories and stuff, so I'm glad to share them here! the current event right now is Galaxy Wedding focused around PAREO and Hina, but I wanted to show off some ideas for future Event Stories, you can also share your ideas in the comments! anyway here's mine.

Neo Fantasy Online (Season 3)

We got an NFO event back in season 1 and 2, and it was my favorite ones, but I've been thinking of a little twist this time, instead of the band playing again and doing quests, let's do this one: "With Roselia joining a Music Agency, the NFO Developers visit their agency and requests them to write a song for NFO." That would be a nice idea in my opinion, we haven't seen this being done yet, so I don't mind seeing one!

University Event Stories

Back in season 1 and 2, we got alot of School Event Stories or Club related stuff, Such as "BackStage Methods" "Boppin' Down the Hallway" "The Cursed Well and The School Spirit" etc. but I would really love it if we got an event story focused around University as well, my first guess is the girls getting used to University, and them visiting the various departments out there, etc. I would love getting an event like this one

Graduated Students visiting their school again

I'm fully aware that this event story is unlikely and all, but it would be quite an emotional story if it ever happens, basically what if the University Students that graduated from Hanasakigawa and Haneoka visited their old schools again to relive the memories? I don't mean attending school again, or wearing the uniforms again, just... visiting it, not attending or anything, just visiting the old rooms and reliving the old memories, I can imagine that could be quite an emotional story, for example, Hina visiting Haneoka after graduation, then starting reliving the memories she had from the Astronomy Club, something like that would be awesome, but as I said, I have a feeling it's unlikely since they graduated.
​
Those are the ideas I have for future event stories, feel free to share your ideas in the comments or talk about the ideas I have! I would love to hear your idea if you have one, so share it if you have one!

Hi,
I am for 3 years on a 0 hour contract but working regular 40 hours pe week. Obviously there is no sick pay, no rights, I had trouble when renting a flat because they don't recognize the 0 contract so I had to pay 6 months in advance to be able to rent. And there is no flexibility, I asked for unpaid off and they refused as well. So basically there is not even the flexibility advantage.
how long can a company keep you like this on a 0 hour contract? It is very abusive to keep you like this for years without rights or job security. Is there anything I can do?

Can't deside between these 3 TV's: 1. LG 77'' OLED OLED77CS6LA for 1900€ 2. LG 77'' OLED OLED77G2 for 3400€ 3. Samsung 85'' Neo QLED QE85QN95B for 2500€
Got an LG OLED65B7 from 2017 now, but want a bigger TV. Really like OLED contrast and pure blacks. The slim design of both the G2 and QN95B make the living room a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the CS6, plus Samsungs One Connect HUB would be a pleasant bonus. But can't shake that the CS6 seems to be "better value".
Will be placing the TV on a dark colored wall in a living room where the remaining three walls are wood with white chalk wood stain. Got 3 large windows and two roof windows, where all can be shut with light blocking blinds. Also got a hallway entrance to the dining room on the same wall as the TV will be mounted on, and this entrance can't be closed off.
Anyone got any good advice for what I should buy?

Hello all,
I want to start with a little background on myself. I am a semi new multi business owner in the automotive sector and I didnt have much growing up. I worked and worked until I was confident enough to leave my salary job and start my own endeavor.
Through skill, patience, and tons of sacrifice, my first business grew exponentially and gave me enough capital to open another business doing commercial automotive contracting.
Not long after I established that, Covid came and almost wiped me out, but instead of giving up, I made sure to keep all of my staff even with little to no revenue coming in.
By doing that, My staff really kicked it into overdrive and kicked enough ass that I was able to open another location doing high performance automotive work in a very high traffic area.
That shop and the commercial shop started creating a great revenue stream as well as attracted a good amount of very high end clientele.
with my reputation starting to build, I was on the hunt for my next move and there is a local building I have always wanted that I noticed went up for rent so I stopped by one day and ended up meeting a guy who had beat me to the punch.
We had a long conversation about what his plans were with the building and he informed me that he didnt really have any, that it was his grandparents building and he is unsure of what to do.
I threw the offer "if you ever want to go into the auto business, We can potentially revamp this place together"
A month goes by and I get the call.
He agrees he would like my help and to do a 50/50 partnership. So, I bring some of my staff and we renovate the building in 10 days and I open the bank accounts, do state paperwork, ETC.
We soft opened the first week of april and through my reputation and client base, Our first month was in excess of $30k and we have a log of appointments.
Now, This is where things get hairy and I am posting in here for advice on.
This partner and I agreed that will only take profits every two weeks if we can.
The first week was so strong that he decided to pull, and this has repeated every single week since then but what makes it worse is that I have not pulled anything and he watches over the bank accounts like a hawk and any time I pay a bill, I get questioned.
I am doing 96% of the work and now to make matters worse, His grandparents (the landlords) are getting involved in the business because he is going next door (they live directly next door) and giving them access to our bank accounts and legal documents.
They have started to dislike me for absolutely no reason. Every time they come outside I am working whether it be on the building or on a vehicle, while he is sitting inside on the couch. I have several supercars that I brought over to show the neighborhood we work on them as well as a little eye candy for the main road.
I am at an impasse. We have gotten noise complaint of reckless driving through the city and 90%of them are him leaving maad for something. I went to a town hall forum last night and spoke on our behalf as we are new to the area and while all of us went, after the meeting adjourned, I spent the time to meet everyone and individually address concerns, while he stood outside with my staff. Our staff urged him to come inside and listen and be by my side but he wouldnt.
I dont know how to get out of this partnership or make it better without getting nasty.
I am looking for solid advice on what to do.
I have a huge heart and actively like to fix issues.

Learn to crochet and make my nibling a present before the birthday party in 13 days, obviously. And modify the pattern. I’m sure it’ll go well 😂

I had another one last night. I didn’t beg for it like I usually do. I was in a house (unfamiliar to me) but I was with my dad and my son. My son was sitting on a chair and my dad was trying to tell me about my dog and when I went out to the living room(?) my dog was sleeping on the chair with my son. I just ran up to him and was staring in disbelief and tears and petting him. His furry chest felt real to me. He was comfortable, quiet, sleepy. I had just woken him up like that. He sat with me for a few moments doing this and then he got up and walked straight in this huge room and turned a corner and that was it.
I don’t know how to take it…

Does anyone have any shop reccomendations to buy this size vivariums for Whites tree frogs? I currently have 2 froggies in a 90x45x45 but im moving country so over there id like 3/4 frogs and for them to have lots of room. currently I cant find a shop in the uk to buy that from so does anyone have any reccomendations? thankyou

We were sharing a one room flat, I didn't see any problem of sharing a bed because I have never tough that this could happen and in previous experiences with other friends was uneventful. Usually I'm a deep sleeper and nothing awake me... until that. I was fully sleep when heard light skin slapping noises and felt movement in the area, I though I was dreaming or something and continue sleeping. Next day same thing with higher noises (the wet squishy sound) and a hand in my back. My first though was ok this is real and my friend is masturbating. I felt so shocked and panicked that I put my hands in my ears to stop hearing it ( I know was stupid but I'm really bad at confrontation) then, I moved to living room and stayed there the rest of the night. After that I just played it cool and I though that maybe was one time I can live with that. Third day in a round the same situation, I woke up took the blankets said wtf is going on, no response. In the morning my friend is acting as usual. Me not knowing what do do acted as cool as possible thinking that any confrontation would be uncomfortable. After reflection and sharing the situation with a friend, I feel really uncomfortable and left the apartment. I’m feeling very violated and depressed and want to know how to get over it, I would be grateful for any advice
My friend is contacting me to further plans like going out for food, but I do not want to talk
To consider: I do not have high sex drive (then wasn't sexy or hot), I never gave my consent.
TLDR: friend masturbated next to me without consent, want to know how to cope +wondering if I should drop the friendship

My parents paid for my wedding. It was a huge wedding and not exactly what I wanted but it was traditional and I appreciated them paying for everything.
The thing is my family likes to get super drunk and aggressive at social gatherings. I asked my father if we could please just have a bottle of wine at the table for guests and then either a cash bar or a four drink limit. No go. He didn't want to look cheap in front of the rest of the family.
I talked to my husband to be about it and we spent the money and hired a uniformed police officer to be security at the wedding reception.
My wedding was the first one in my entire life that no one got into a fight, got an impaired charge, or was arrested for any reason.
Everyone had a good time but when it was over everyone who was drunk called a cab, an Uber, or stayed at the hotel in rooms we had arranged.
My father is still upset with me but literally no one complained. The police officer acted as more of a deterrent than anything else.
My father is pissed off because we didn't drink all the booze. We still drank an insane amount by normal human standards, just nobody felt like getting arrested.
Part of the issue was that I didn't tell my parents about it beforehand.
AITA

Hi everyone, i [F20] work in a truck stop in rural Ontario. My diner is attached to a gas bar, which is owned by two business partners and they rent the diner side out to my boss and her husband. Every plate goes into this couple’s pocket, they run everything and pay me out of their bank account. The wife, who cooks for the restaurant, takes 50% of every tip when she and I run the restaurant together. When we work with a dishwasher we split it three ways. I have 13 tables to myself, the owner and the lady that washes dishes get the same amount of tips I do. She claims it’s okay to do this because they rent the diner, not own it. I’ve tried to mention this to them and I get shut down every time. What do I do? I’m trying to find another job but I feel like they owe me a lot of money.

The fact that their behavior is so benign on the surface makes it so much more infuriating. Because if I react emotionally to their manipulation, I'm the crazy emotional one with problems. And I'll probably trigger myself into another day-ruining meltdown where I'm reminded I have almost zero sense of self or agency because I can't yet move away from my stupid family.
There's also the crippling guilt of being an essentially disabled adult (asd + cptsd) who gets to live here rent free. I just can't help but feel like I owe them for existing and consuming resources and being the problem child growing up, even though I've improved and I'm doing all the emotional labor for everyone else in this useless heartless family. And the rage is all that keeps me from feeling completely worthless in relation to them. And it only just barely works.
And it's even more infuriating realizing they're doing this more lately BECAUSE I've been gray rocking and trying to individuate myself. They can feel the rift. I always feel like I'm getting sucked back into their vortex in underhanded sneaky ways. Because they're stunted children who absolutely NEED me to participate in their happy family fantasy, or else they'll pout and guilt trip me like fucking toddlers.
I genuinely feel like I must be going crazy and paranoid about my family conspiring against me sometimes. Like I genuinely can't stay sane in their presence but I'm so fucking exhausted I'm doing the bare minimum to move forward. I barely even know what I'm moving towards because I'm so empty and just too scared to kill myself anyway.