#ARE STRONGER THAN ME BY A FACTOR OF 50

[computer-einstein]

Okay, tumblr... I am not much of a shipper. In fact, I don't even engage in typical fandoms.

However, there is no way I can continue going through the last few weeks of school without getting this off my chest:

Pencak Silat Kid and that girl in the gym are soulmates and you cannot tell me otherwise.

[edwinspaynes]

My Case for Why Only Romantic Payneland Would Feel Truly Satisfying

Last night, I made a poll about whether people would be satisfied with QPR Payneland. I was curious where we stood on this as a fandom, and it's cool that it's about 50/50 between "either would be okay" and "I want them romantic."

Preface: I'm a monogamous biromantic asexual. If you were wondering. I have been in both a queerplatonic relationship (where I had a one-sided romantic crush on my QPP) and a few romantic relationships with both men and women.

Preface II: This post is not at all intended to be judgmental of any type of relationship. Poly people are awesome; aro/ace people in QPRs rock. This is specifically examining what is right for Charles and Edwin.

Preface III: I think that Edwin and Charles have definitely been in an unlabeled QPR since the beginning. They don't have the word for it, but it definitely is a QPR. They aren't romantically involved, but they make major decisions surrounding the other one and feel like they would wither up and die if they had to live in separate places.

This was great up until now, I think. A QPR is very valuable, very special, and very beautiful. It's meaningful and has served them wonderfully up until this point.

But it isn't sustainable for these specific characters.

The Need for Exclusivity in Both a QPR and a Romantic Relationship

I think that with no other external factors impacting my media needs, I would be okay with an exclusive QPR Payneland.

@tumblerislovetumblerislife astutely said:

I do not think that there is any world where they're suited for polyamory - this is honestly my biggest nope-out of fics and I deeply, deeply hate it for them.

This is because:

They already feel like a Pair Set to me that cannot be separated or infringed on by anyone else, and

In the end, it would never be fair to a romantic (or other platonic) partner because they would unplug anyone else's life support to charge the other's phone. No one else would ever be the priority over the other, and if they did, that would be OOC.

Even if they decided to date someone else now in the short-term, like Crystal or the Cat King, it's necessarily temporary. It's to Figure Things Out. There is an expiration date. And whether that's due to a romantic or a platonic bond between Edwin and Charles, their bond being stronger than any other is the reason for that expiration date.

So polyamory feels extremely disingenuous to their characters to me and is imo extremely OOC.

Authenticity to the Story

Edwin is currently, in the explicit canon, essentially Charles's QPP who has a one-sided crush on him. That is the explicit canon. It's not a fun place to be, no matter how much your QPP loves you - I have Been There.

Edwin is not unhappy or dissatisfied with the current situation, and he knows Charles loves him. But it still is kind of a sucky place to sit.

Luckily, the love does not actually feel one-sided! Charles reads as a character that has always been romantically in love with Edwin, probably long before Edwin fell romantically in love with Charles, but he neither has the self-awareness nor the words to describe it.

Charles touching his heart at the end of episode 8 makes it clear that he is beginning to have his Big Epiphany. I wish the show wasn't canceled because, uh, I want it.

This obvious two-sided romantic love makes a future QPR feel inauthentic to me. I think both characters would feel like it was the wrong shape for the relationship after they both had their epiphanies.

Other Media Considerations

I understand that a lot of people, it's important to have an explicitly-labeled QPR in a show. I do not disagree with this! I think we need WAY more QPRs in media that are explicitly labeled as such and treated as valid. I just don't think that it's right for Charles and Edwin.

I've explained why this is true from a character perspective; but let me also talk about how relationships like theirs are treated.

I'm personally sick of the "bond-beyond-bonds relationship that remains purely platonic." We saw it with Destiel onscreen because of the rancid queerbaiting in Supernatural; we saw it in Johnlock as a direct result of similar, albeit less magnified, queerbaiting.

This is, to me, the exact type of relationship that a QPR between Edwin and Charles would be.

It would be different. I know this. There is no world where DBDA is queerbaiting us; we have a gay MC and tons of queer side characters.

But to me, platonic Payneland being endgame would still feel like a betrayal because that endgame would feel like something adjacent to the endings of other shows that have queerbaited in the past. I feel like a huge appeal of DBDA is that it's beginning to right those wrongs and heal those wounds, and I firmly believe that's one intention of the show. It would feel unkind to the bulk of viewers for them not to end up together.

I think that the show ultimately was going to make them romantic endgame. It just didn't have the time to before getting the axe, which SUCKS.

So yeah. These are my personal thoughts. I hope I've articulated some of the things that a lot of you think.

[girlfishes]

I think that there is a compelling biological argument that men are naturally aggressive.

This will be me yapping for way too long, but hear me out.

In many sexually dimorphic species, the males live a very short life. Think of bugs, like spiders and wasps. When males are born, they inseminate eggs and then die, or eaten, or exiled. To keep them involved any longer is a waste of resources that could be used on the females to create more offspring. Male bugs live a harsh life, because they are barely necessary except in their limited reproductive role.

Bugs are r-selective species, which means that their reproductive cycles prioritize producing as many offspring as possible with the expectation that most will die before they reach maturity. And the limiting factor in that equation is the number of females, which means that more males are created than are necessary in a 50-50 split.

As life forms become more complex, species become k-selective. This means that the energy in reproduction is put into creating few good-quality offspring. The mothers spend more time with their children, gestate them inside their bodies in the case of mammals, and stay with them until they reach maturity. It takes much longer for a k-selective species to reach sexual maturity, and males in such species are no longer anatomically inferior like they are as bugs.

The primary interest of the individual male is to make sure that his genes are passed on. But this isn’t so easy. I’m going to speak in terms of bears from now on. One male bear can impregnate 50 female bears, and those female bears will no longer be fertile for some time. Bears won’t just pair off monogamously, so male bears face steep competition. They kill each other and they kill each other’s cubs in competition to the limited females who can pass on their genes.

Now what does this have to do with humans? Well, we’ve established that in order to survive and personally reproduce, a male of any species is fighting an uphill battle due to the limited number of females and the female need to not waste precious resources on them. Both of these stem from the different reproductive roles inherent in sexual dimorphism seen across species. The males who succeed in reproducing will have necessarily been stronger and more aggressive. Basic survival of the fittest method will tell you that whatever causes these traits will be passed down.

Humans are the same. The bodies of women are largely organized around the production of large gametes and the gestation and feeding of offspring. The male body is organized around the production of small gametes. Males have been selective bread over millions of years to compete with other men and ensure that women cannot siphon resources away from them. This manifest in higher muscle mass, larger stature, and yes, high testosterone.

For thousands of years human males have forced themselves to remain relevant by crippling the lives and freedoms of women by the disabling nature of pregnancy and their superior strength. They also wage this battle psychologically, which is unique to human beings.

It is important to note that I can argue these points and still acknowledge that men do have the ability to think, feel, and reflect on their actions. If they so chose, they could turn their backs on this troubled past and start a new way of society which values individuals for their minds instead of their bodies.

This is not a fatalist dooming of all future men to forever stick to this pattern. The aggressive actions of men are borne from a deep insecurity that women do not need them. Because we don’t. But the thing is, human beings are capable of valuing each other for more than our reproductive roles or capabilities. Men need to not let their maleness define how they relate to women and each other, but let their humanity guide how they treat other humans. Only then can we leave this all behind.

If you read all of this, thanks for bearing with me.

[vanhelsing-if]

I love the demo so far! I wanted to report the stats not moving, but then I saw having them work is actually something you already have on your to-do list, so that means everything else worked fine to me!

Also, about the person who commented on the charm stat - of course the choice is yours, but I agree that it would make sense for it to be higher. Considering how old Helsing is and the fact they are still at the head of such a place and have contacts with numerous supernaturals whose trust they must gain and what not, it would make sense for them to have charm (or well, to know how to charm people and gain their trust), even if they are not the "smiling kind of person" when working. Not to mention, you said that their serious persona is something they do when they work, but that it isn't necessarily their "true" personality, depending on player choices. And the choices in-game so far did reflect that very well! But because of that, I don't think charm should be worse than the other stat. You could make it a choice though - lots of games, even if they have a MC who is generally good at what they do, allow the player to pick a strong and a weak stat. The MC being so old in this game is also a factor. Well, I already mentionned that it would make sense for them to be trained in social stuff too, but even disregarding that, I can't imagine Helsing being bad at something at this point in their life, and then during the "short" span of the game, suddenly getting very good if the player decides so. I think it makes more sense if the player decides what they are good at to begin with to avoid the impression of a very sudden change.

Of course, it's just a suggestion, but may as well share my feelings on the matter! For example, I can't even imagine Helsing NOT being good at social stuff, so no matter what this will be my character's stronger stat as soon as I can make it so.

thank you so much!!

you do make a good point! honestly i just checked and realised that i had put all the others at 50%, i thought there was a bit more variation.

i will put charm at 50% as well, and then depending on your choices from then on, it can go up or down.

stats are more for flavour text purposes than a win/fail system because they stress me out to play, let alone code lol.

i’ll write down your suggestion of being able to choose a stronger/weaker stat though, and have a look into it. thank you for the suggestion!!

[ludinusdaleth]

You reference your weight gain on t a lot, what are the changes like exactly? Signed someone interested in that sort of thing with hrt and in general

oh boy, well, a lot. full disclosure ive only gained about 50lbs on t and i want to gain more so this isnt a final form nor is it the end-all-be-all of a fat body - im chubby but i dont even have a belly overhang yet, though id love to.

-my weights primarily in my belly, thighs, a bit of my chest, and definitely my face. the first noticeable thing was growing a double chin very fast. t has not distributed weight from my hips yet, so i have some fat there, which, if it happened to others, may make them dysphoric. honestly, sometimes i am insecure about it, but my gender presentation is so thoroughly "looking thick as fuck in all ways including feminine ones" that if they got bigger i think id adore it

-i feel like i take up more space in general. i used to be able to slide between people and small entrances easily but my belly very easily gets in the way. i really dont mind

-it's kind of really comforting to be able to grab my belly and just squish & paw at it. used to be when i was underweight just trying to grab it hurt

-between a lot of extra body hair and the weight gain, and being in texas, god am i sweaty. which is maybe the worst downside to it personally because im an overheater. but it is at least a boon to realize i dont get cold easily anymore at all - it dropped below freezing last winter, and i didnt even change from shorts, when i used to shiver at 50°F. im a furnace!

-finding pants sizes will be your worst enemy. but if youre into it at least the battle of squeezing into something you bought a mere month ago can be quite sexy and a sign of progress

-i went from having what i call concave ass (none ass) to a decent one and it is insane to feel it jiggle when i walk

-it is insane feeling all my body jiggle as i move in any way honestly. i really, really love it, feels more natural than breathing

-if youre a trans guy whos fat or wants to be i think the question of boobs will be conflicting, so there is something a bit humorous about t which deflates & at times shrinks your chest, vs gaining weight which makes them big. as a very obvious mans tits enjoyer, im quite happy theyre about a size larger now (though i always had a smaller chest so)

-the elephant in the room is always about health. and in many ways im not at peak health - but thats not because of my fat. the most i could maybe connect with it is i have higher cholesterol than before, but is it because i have a belly due to a thousand different hormonal & life factors, or is it because im a little too obsessed with milkshakes & funnel cake? i really actually feel better health wise than i ever did underweight and i feel alive. stronger. confident. and also, folk who gain weight and are unhealthy deserve infinite respect. bodies are just bodies. they do what bodies will do. and we do what we do in our bodies. all of those combine to what we are. thats a neutral fact, not something to shame or be afraid of.

-fatphobia absolutely exists, but so too do folk who support you. if you can find folk in your life who want you happy and know about your journey it can be beautiful. when i met up with my friend a few months after i began hrt, the first thing they said to me after "hi" was "oh, youve really gotten bigger!" and it made my day, i still think about it. be it friends who squeal at your progress to friends who like to be risque and go "oh, lets grow your beard out more before calling you a bear, big boy", i think support is the best part of it. im eternally thankful.

[random-thought-depository]

I've been talking about bonobo-like humans, but I want to talk a bit about another, different speculative evolution divergent hominid species in the same setting, this one tentatively inhabiting a planet orbiting the star 40 Eridani A (the bonobo-like human homeworld orbits Tau Ceti).

They're inspired a bit by the carnivore people from All Tomorrows and by wondering if I could use speculative hominid evolution to make a being kind of like a catgirl (lol).

Some ideas I'm considering for this species:

The catgirl humans (bit of a misnomer, their population presumably has a roughly 50/50 male/female split like ours, but oh well) might have a deeper and possibly older evolutionary commitment to big game hunting than Homo sapiens. I don't see them as pure carnivores; there's big advantages to being able to eat a wide variety of foods and adaptability is a major strength of a human-like species, and I think developing civilization would probably be difficult for a pure carnivore species; not being able to eat from the base of the food chain would be a huge hindrance to supporting dense populations. Plant agriculture was probably the backbone food source for most of their densely populated settled societies, just like it was for most of ours. But they might be more carnivory-inclined than Homo sapiens.

One obvious possible way this could happen is a lot of the plants on the planet they were transplanted to might be poisonous or otherwise inedible or not very nourishing to humans, pushing their ancestors to rely heavily on hunting. This might be combined with a lot of the small animals being poisonous or venomous, pushing hominids even more toward reliance on hunting big animals. This might also have been a factor in bonobo-like human evolution, but presumably the situation on the planet of these catgirl people was worse, pushing them to rely heavily on big game instead of just being more careful and pickier about what plants and small animals they ate.

I'm intrigued by the idea that the catgirl humans got modern human equivalent language ability later than the Homo sapiens line did and more of the evolution of their intelligence preceded modern human equivalent linguistic ability. This might have led to them getting even stronger selection pressure for general intelligence and theory of mind than we did, to compensate for less efficient communication. I got this idea from Charles Stross's take on Elves, but I'd take it in a different direction (I'm thinking less "sociopaths" and more "autistics").

The catgirl humans might have a lot more evolutionary history of needing to operate in prolonged darkness than Homo sapiens, leading to better night vision and/or maybe echolocation and more reliance on senses other than sight. Earth humans can learn how to do a kind of echolocation, seems plausible that a pre-sapiens hominid could figure that out too, and if they had to operate in prolonged darkness once the technique was invented natural selection might start to operate on natural aptitude for it.

One way this might work is for their planet to have a slow rotation rate, so the nights are very long. Another possibility is a high axis obliquity, maybe rotating "on its side" like Uranus, leading to prolonged seasonal darkness over much of the surface. But these would imply harsh conditions with extreme heat and cold, which contradicts the vague vibes-based mental images I've so far developed of this world, which are of a planet with a pleasant climate.

A more moderate possibility is the planet is warm and has a high but not super-high axis obliquity (maybe 35 degrees or so) and a big polar continent, and the ancestors of this species spent a long time confined to the polar continent's habitable fringe until something gave them an opportunity to spread out (maybe an ice age created a land bridge to lands farther from the pole and gave an impetus to move equatorward).

Another possibility that intrigues me is that the planet had a high axis obliquity at some point within the last million years or so, but the axis has since shifted (say, from something like 60 degrees to something like 35 degrees), giving it much more Earth-like conditions today. I've seen the possibility of rapid (in geologic terms) dramatic changes in axis obliquity cited as a possible problem with moonless Earth-like planets, so this might be a neat nod at that.

A change in axis obliquity like that would massively re-arrange the climate, so if I go with that option it would imply this is a planet that's still recovering from a major mass extinction (in David Brin's terminology, a "holocaust world"). However:

It might help if the shift in the axis was relatively slow, occurring over at least tens of thousands of years, so species ranges would have time to shift around as the climate changed. It might also help if much of the planet's land was a single landmass with a long north-south axis, like the Americas. It might also help if the maximum obliquity was relatively moderate, maybe 60 degrees or so, so the equatorial region wouldn't get too cold (it'd be the coolest part of a high obliquity world in terms of average temperature) and could be a refugia for species that couldn't tolerate dramatic temperature variations.

It might also help - kind of - if the high obliquity era was also an era of high orbit eccentricity and one hemisphere got its summer when the planet was at perigee while the other got its summer when the planet was at apogee. In the summer at perigee hemisphere, the changing distance from the sun would accentuate seasonal extremes, and conditions would be very harsh. But in the summer at apogee hemisphere, the changing distance from the sun would moderate seasonal extremes, and conditions might stay relatively pleasant, with moderate year-round temperatures near the equator and cold (and dark) winters but mild summers (with midnight sun) near the pole.

And evolution might happen surprisingly fast sometimes, especially in species that reproduce quickly and have short lifespans (e.g. insects and their ecological equivalents). And if these obliquity variations are a recurring cycle, like our ice ages, life might adapt to them, making them less ecologically destructive than they would be if they happened to a planet like Earth.

I think this could be kind of interesting. You might get a world where e.g. tropical jungles consist mostly of plants with vestigial adaptations to dry and cold seasons that are simply rarely or never triggered in present day natural conditions. Similarly, lots of animals living in warm climates might have a vestigial ability to develop a thick winter coat, which is simply rarely or never triggered in present day natural conditions. A world like this might have an ecology that's noticeably denuded and still recovering from a big disruption, but still have lots of life.

If the planet is presently in a period of moderate obliquity but high orbital eccentricity, it might be in a hemisphere-asymmetric ice age, which might be another interesting alien touch. That would probably be bad for life though, as it'd mean the friendlier hemisphere in periods of high obliquity would become the cold hemisphere in periods of low obliquity. Unless the summer at perigee and winter at perigee hemispheres switched at some point, in which case the really hot summers and really cold winters hemisphere in the high obliquity era might be the heavily glaciated hemisphere now.

[thekavseklabs]

We talkin abt our muses disabilities?

- Imnakit is albino and suffers from vision issues and skin issues due to it. He sunburns easily and needs to be either inside or under an umbrella at all times. His eyeballs wiggle around due to the albinism, too, and he has to wear huge fuckin glasses. He also is afraid of fire and the sun due to a lifetime of religious trauma centering around Kahieltek.

- 3 is Imnakit's child and thus inherited his albinism, and due to various factors, they also came out very unhealthy, with high blood pressure, immunodeficiency, some brain things going on, and marfan syndrome. As an adult they require constant help from machines to manage breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, they're in constant pain, are quadriplegic, cannot go in the sun, and can only eat extremely gentle foods due to chronic malnutrition and inadequate medical treatment. Their perpetual high blood pressure from infancy has resulted in deformation of the eyes even beyond the albinism and they are fully blind without the aid of their tech. They are terminally ill and technically already dead, using their energy research to power their body beyond death. Basically a lich that still has alive people problems. Even in aus where they have access to better healthcare as an infant/child/etc, they remain very much heavily disabled, just better managed and no longer as imminently terminal, to varying levels depending on what's available to them in each au. Ex: in modern au, no longer terminal at all. In xiv, terminal still, but estimated 50s rather than 30s, and they found a workaround thanks to the Ascians. Aside from physical things, they have severe adhd, c-ptsd, and npd.

- Vynathr has gigantism from a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, which also fucks with his hormones. Gigantism inconveniences him a lot because most spaces for kei are made too small. Kei have collapsible collarbones ribs and pelvises, like ferrets, so Vyn can get around better than you'd think, but he still has a hard time and has to employ magic at times to get around. Gigantism also causes joint pain and weakness, which I experience irl, and like me, his muscles have had to get a lot bigger and stronger than they normally should in order to compensate for those joints. Aside from that, he also has pica, severe c-ptsd, and anger / self control issues. His ability to run his nation effectively is partially due to a series of measured he himself placed to force him to think through and meticulously consider his actions because otherwise he'd declare war way too often, and he knows that's horrific. He can't sleep around others, will attack violently if something enters his room while he sleeps, and is deeply afraid of meeting families despite wanting one of his own due to his childhood abuse.

- spades has adhd, osdd, depression, severe ptsd, and extensive trauma related to brainwashing and experimentation. He also has several old injuries including some prosthetics from missing fingers causing phantom pain, alongside a limp and hand tremors.

There's more, that's just off the top of my head!

[myinterestsvary-writes]

Shipping Epiphany: TamaHaru

I’ll be honest, anime TamaHaru doesn’t do much for me other than the last episode but even then there’s only some promises that we couldn’t be sure were being made in the anime that were going to happen lol. Like Haruhi falling in love with him slowly overtime, and also learning more about the characters and the world they live in. Other than the last episode, to me they were being set up to fall in love just because the author demanded it, almost coming across as a red herring. They were just painfully obvious, partly because the show doesn’t really have a true plot. Nonetheless, the anime still has a satisfying as hell ending because I’m fine with ambiguous endings so long as previous threads are tied. Plus, there’s a manga with 50 more chapters to read that I chose not to read at the time I finished this show the first few times so I was not really allowing myself to be upset.

But then what gets me liking TamaHaru within the show much more than I did as a kid is the very obvious seed planted in Haruhi that the manga expanded on that was one of the contributing factors in making her fall in love with him… his humanity, she even gets flashbacks to all the moments they shared as references to the many times Tamaki was incredible to her just because that’s who he is, flaws and all (those very flaws that made it so hard for her to fall easily and accept once her pre-existing feelings for him grew stronger and wasn’t ignorable anymore). Oh shit, writing this recontextualizes completely all her scenes with Tamaki in the anime and now I can’t brush off Haruhi noticing something about Tamaki that makes her look at him with awe and then him immediately doing something stupid to make her backtrack and me following Haruhi as our relatable protagonist to dismiss that moment as nothing now. It’s obviously the beginning of a slow, subtle progression of love as Kyoya foretold in episode 1. Anyways…

edit: also, it’s very obvious to me that Tamaki is the one being put in those moments with Haruhi because it fits their characters, they were created to complement each other well. I could go in on their compatibility and similarities and differences on all levels lol

I have such a soft spot for manga TamaHaru. Like yes, anime TamaHaru is funny as hell but still incredibly one sided with Haruhi showing only hints of falling for Tamaki. Meanwhile manga TamaHaru is the same but with mutual pining between two fully developed characters. Manga Haruhi’s mind is so explicitly and exclusively on Tamaki without consideration of anyone else and just admiring him and being inspired by him (also the manga giving Tamaki SOOOO much more development and depth, which directly affects Haruhi’s perception of him as she learns more about him with us) that you can tell she’s in love before she does or maybe even before the story begins to more aggressively point us in that direction. It’s the main reason why I want OHSHC to get the Fruits Basket treatment

[athetos]

I know almost nothing about competitive Pokémon beyond the time that squirrel was useful but I am super interested in everything to do with it! Please talk as much as you want

This is a perfect opportunity to explain WHY pachirisu, the unimpressive pikaclone, was able to be a star at that one competition ages ago.

So, that was an official competition, which is ran with doubles. Strategies for double battles is very different than single (what I’m mostly interested in), and that’s why pachirisu was able to be useful as a support pokemon. It’s EVs were dumped primarily in HP and defense. This was because it wasn’t meant to be fast, or deal much damage at all; it’s goal was to survive. It was given a sitrus berry, which heals Hp when low. But why use a pachirisu when there’s so many better tanks?

2 reasons:

1. It’s funny and takes people by surprise

2. It’s partner Pokémon was a Gyarados.

Gyarados is 4x weak to electric type attacks; getting hit by one may as well be a death sentence. That’s where Squirrel comes in. It has the move Follow Me, which will go first, and make all the opponents attacks hit it, and not gyarados. It also has the ability Volt Absorb, so it will actually heal Hp when hit by electric type attacks. Gyarados is safe, and pachirisu gets a boost.

It’s other 3 moves were Nuzzle, Protect, and super fang. Protect is pretty self-explanatory. Nuzzle is the only move that deals damage AND guarantees paralysis. So even if pachirisu is taunted, it can still paralyze the enemy. And super fang always takes away 50% of the enemy’s hp. Not useful if the opponent is low on health, but if the opponent is fully healed, that’s the most damage a pachirisu is gonna be able to pull off.

In short, it was a really niche role, and a fun gimmick, but wouldn’t be very helpful in the current meta. It’s just outclassed by so many stronger Pokémon. And the surprise factor is gone! People who play very competitively know the gimmick. Though, that said, people are super creative and are good at finding weaker Pokémon to kick ass with. I’m sure doubles has insane shit going on, it’s too much to wrap my head around sometimes though!

[greatwyrmgold]

Kingdom of Loathing's 2022 Christmas event had a couple of interesting quirks. Equipment, familiars, and effects that would normally improve item drop bonuses didn't work in the Christmas zones, and the Christmas monsters got stronger the longer you adventured there (resetting each day).

Yesterday, a new event started. There isn't a helpful elf spelling things out for you, but the same factors seem to still apply. The shadow monsters get stronger as you defeat more of them, and there's something going on with item drops. If it's basically the same idea (but with tweaked numbers), then it seems like that's the direction KOL is taking its event monsters.

From a game design/economy perspective, it makes sense. Someone who can swing +300% item drop and generate 250 adventures a day by brewing optimal consumables obtained from premium items could score an order of magnitude more time-limited event drops than someone who can barely manage +50% and 60 adventures; limiting the number of monsters you can feasibly fight per day and ignoring item drop bonuses levels the playing field between new/casual players and hardcore ones.

On the other hand...I'm one of the hardcore KOL players who cares enough to pursue optimal builds and buy premium items and post about the game on Tumblr. This is inconvenient for me, personally.

On the bright side, I've got the perfect familiar for this kind of situation.

EDIT: I've been alerted to a pretty handy strategy for the long-term hardcore players. There's a skill from the 2017 Christmas event that negates the damage reduction. It doesn't do anything to the other effects of increased monster level or the item drop stuff, but that still makes it easier for players who were around during 2017 or who can afford the skill book's ~3.3 million meat price tag.

I wouldn't be surprised if future limited-time events used a different mechanic to limit players' ability to farm event monsters indefinitely. Maybe damage caps (which the skill doesn't affect), or some kind of slowly-escalating passive damage.

[biblenewsprophecy]

Yanis Varoufakis: Donald Trump sees the European Union as a clear and present danger to the United States … and wants Brexits in EU; Germans looking to massively raise military spending

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to a video, which I watched, titled, Trump wants to ‘aggressively’ spread Brexit throughout Europe | Yanis Varoufakis 11/13/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCnvVinnGQ.

In it, Yanis Varoufakis, former Minister of Finance for Greece, asserted that “Donald Trump sees the European Union as a clear and present danger to the United States.” He also asserted that Donald Trump wants more Brexit actions (other nations to leave the EU). He also asserted that Europe needs to see Donald Trump as a threat and take action.

Many in Europe are outraged that Donald Trump is back in office.

They not only did not like him the first time, they were not pleased with his support of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Donald Trump was perhaps the best known non-Brit that supported Brexit (the BRitish EXIT from the European Union).

In my book 2017, Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse, I wrote the following:

It is my position that trade disputes will be a factor in Europe taking military action against the U.S.A. one day. …

Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. And while American taxpayers may see this as a good thing, this increased spending will help lead to the rise of the prophesied King of the North, who is to be the final leader of the Beast of Revelation (Revelation 13:1-10). Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has threatened to not defend nations in Europe if they will not increase their military spending. This approach has greatly concerned various leaders in Europe. Donald Trump is helping enable the rise of the King of the North/Beast power who will be in league with the final Antichrist.

Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves, especially when combined with the Brexit vote that Donald Trump encouraged. While the Bible shows the Europeans will have difficulties being together (Daniel 2:41-43), it also shows that they will reorganize and unite (Revelation 17:12-13). Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. (Thiel B. Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse. Nazarene Books, 2017)

The EU is upset that Americans voted for Donald Trump and again and it does NOT want other nations to leave it.

Furthermore, its disdain and mistrust for Donald Trump is one reason that Europe has been increasing its military spending.

On that note, a reader sent me a link to the following:

“Think Big and Do Big Things”

Debate intensifies on the new Bundeswehr “Special Funds” or an increase of the military budget up to 3.5 percent of the GDP. New Greenpeace study: NATO countries already invest in the military ten-times more money than Russia.

13 NOV 2024

BERLIN (own report) – In light of the looming new elections, the debate on increasing the German military budget is intensifying. German Economyics Minister Robert Habeck, is insisting on a new “Special Fund” being adopted before elections, reasoning that if the AfD and BSW win together a third of the seats in the next Bundestag, the necessary two-thirds majority can no longer be achieved. …

Surveys on this issue paint a contradictory picture. For example, in a survey taken by the Hamburg-based Körber Foundation, 50 percent of the Germans responded in favor of implementing Pistorius’ plan of spending up to 3.5 percent of the GDP on the Bundeswehr.[7] Fifteen percent even find the percentage too low. At the same time, 56 percent are opposed to the necessary budget cuts in social affairs, ecology, culture and development. It is unclear where else the funds should be taken. Less than half – forty-six percent – favor Germany’s stronger engagement in international crises. Of these, however, 71 percent favor diplomatic activities, 15 percent, financial measures and a mere 10 percent, military engagement. Sixty-five percent rather reject Germany assuming a military leadership role within the EU. Finally, only 35 percent believe that Germany should replace the USA, should the United States under future President Donald Trump,fall short in its function as the leading Western power. https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/9761

So, at this time ONLY 35% want Germany to rise to lead militarily because of Donald Trump.

Since the majority of Germans dislike Donald Trump, do not be surprised when the percentage for German changes on this.

Furthermore, remember that it was even a smaller percentage of Germans who initially wanted to support Adolf Hitler.

Regarding some German resistance of becoming militaristic, consider also the following prophecy:

5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations.  (Isaiah 10:5-7)

The end time Assyrians are those of Central Europe–the Germanic peoples.

Notice that many DO NOT THINK THEY WANT TO CONQUER, BUT DEEP DOWN THEY DO.

Donald Trump, threats to the EU, economic matters, and concerns about defense will gel into Germany changing.

And if Germany really does increase military spending to 3.5%, that would tend to include military technologies which will one day be used to conquer the United States and its British descended allies (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.

The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.

European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.

Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Greco-Roman Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest? A video of related interest would be: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future. Two shorter video are also available: Blockchain, Karl Guttenberg, and 666 and The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.

Germany in Biblical and Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy. Here is one in the Spanish language: Alemania en profecía Biblica.

Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Two related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency.

Trump Presidency Magic 8 Ball or Bible Prophecy? BBC reported that one might as well use a ‘Magic Eight-Ball’ to try to predict what will happen in the remaining time of Donald Trump’s presidency. What is a ‘Magic Eight-Ball’? Dr. Thiel not only explains that, but also briefly goes over 10 biblically-based warnings he wrote would happen if Donald Trump were elected that have already began to come to pass. He also goes over something he wrote back in 2008 that the Trump presidency is also helping lead to fulfillment. Should you trust Bible prophecy or not? Dr. Thiel says that Bible prophecy can be trusted, despite the view of skeptics and others that either overlook or despise the Bible. This is a video.

Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse This 188 page book is for people truly interested in prophecies related to Donald Trump and the United States, including learning about several that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon for $12.99 from the following link: Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse.

Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition.

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

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[starseedfxofficial]

Discover the Hidden Link Between Labor Force Participation & Mean Reversion in Forex The Market's Secret Lever Picture this: You're about to click "buy" on a EUR/USD position, confident in your setup—when the market suddenly pulls a move as unexpected as buying a pair of neon green Crocs on impulse. Yeah, I know—regret hits fast. But what if I told you there's a key data point you've overlooked, one that could help you foresee these twists before they happen? Meet the Labor Force Participation Rate. Combined with the powerful mean reversion strategy, this underrated indicator could become the ace up your trading sleeve. Today, we're diving into how this seemingly boring economic stat holds a treasure trove of insight for Forex traders who love staying ahead of the game. Spoiler: It's a lot more exciting than those Crocs. The Hidden Formula Only Experts Use You might wonder, how on earth does the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) play a role in currency trading? Well, let me explain—and stick with me here—because this isn't your run-of-the-mill indicator. LFPR represents the percentage of working-age people actively employed or seeking work. It reveals not just employment health but also tells a deeper story about economic growth and the sustainability of workforce expansion, which ultimately influences currency values. Here's a secret most traders overlook: sharp drops in LFPR can foreshadow a currency's underperformance. When participation falls, there is less economic activity, meaning potential bearishness. And when paired with mean reversion, you have a powerful duo at your disposal. Mean reversion—a strategy that thrives on the idea that prices eventually revert to their historical averages—can help identify entry points when a currency temporarily dips below its "normal" level due to weak participation data. Think of LFPR as the scene-setting narrator of the economy, guiding you in assessing long-term price movements. But here’s where the real magic happens: using LFPR together with mean reversion helps you understand not just when prices may change but why. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) Most traders know mean reversion as a statistical bell curve concept—"what goes down must come back up." But often, they fail to align it with fundamentals. Here’s the common pitfall: using technical analysis alone without regard to what economic indicators like LFPR signal. Imagine you're analyzing USD/JPY, and you notice the Labor Force Participation in Japan has hit a low not seen since the 1990s. Most traders get busy with their Bollinger Bands and oscillators. But, if you consider how such a labor slump impacts economic strength and factor that into your mean reversion strategy, you'll be way ahead of those technical-only traders. Plus, this means avoiding the heartache of a textbook mean reversion setup that goes south because the underlying economy simply isn’t cooperating. In fact, many traders see mean reversion as akin to buying that "50%-off, never-worn dress." They think they’re getting a bargain, not realizing there’s a reason no one else touched it. Integrate LFPR to discern between a true discount—a temporary dip—versus an item headed to the discount bin for good. The Forgotten Strategy That Outsmarted the Pros Let’s flash back to 2022. During the post-pandemic rebound, we saw a significant surge in labor force participation, especially in the United States. The smart traders noticed that currency valuations also adjusted upward—since a higher LFPR often translates into stronger GDP growth, indicating a vibrant economy. In the case of mean reversion, those who spotted the unusually low LFPR in the previous months saw an opportunity: USD was undervalued relative to its historical range. While some technical-only traders were overly focused on waiting for their RSI setups, the pros made a killing by front-running the economic comeback. Not only did they use economic data for timing, but they also rode the trend by layering in mean reversion signals—because when LFPR suggests growing labor strength, the potential for reversion isn’t just statistical—it's also fundamentally supported. How to Predict Market Moves with Precision Here’s your actionable ninja tactic: start keeping an eye on the LFPR report as part of your monthly routine. Pay attention to big surprises—whether a nation’s LFPR comes in much lower or higher than expected. This can give you an early indication of whether a currency will temporarily deviate from its historical average. Use this as your signal to start tracking price movements. For instance, if labor force numbers dip drastically and the currency simultaneously sees a big drop below the mean—such as a 2% deviation below the 200-day average—you have a classic mean reversion scenario supported by economic fundamentals. This setup can lead to some sweet risk-reward opportunities. The One Simple Trick That Can Change Your Trading Mindset Okay, maybe it’s not exactly simple, but it will change your trading mindset. Think of LFPR as the heartbeat of the economy. It beats with the pulse of the labor market, and when that beat changes, so too does the currency's potential to revert back to its mean. If participation tanks, odds are we’re in for reduced productivity and spending, which means any downward move in the currency might stick longer than expected. On the flip side, an increase in participation generally means stronger economic resilience. This insight helps filter out those false mean reversion signals—the ones that look promising but are actually just anomalies caused by weakened fundamentals. The bottom line: next time you look at a mean reversion opportunity, ask yourself, "What’s happening with LFPR?" Is it rising? Falling? If you see participation increasing after a currency drop, mean reversion becomes more than a bet on historical averages—it becomes a strategic, data-supported move. Why These Strategies Are Your Untapped Edge While the mean reversion strategy has been around longer than your Uncle Joe’s fishing tales, combining it with LFPR data is like adding GPS to your fishing boat. You’re no longer casting aimlessly, hoping for a nibble. You’re precisely targeting where the schools of opportunity swim. Moreover, by integrating fundamental labor market insights into your approach, you're aligning technical signals with real economic drivers—giving your trades a purpose beyond probability. Let the Data Work for You Remember: the Labor Force Participation Rate isn’t some dry economic statistic that belongs in dusty textbooks—it’s your secret weapon. Marry LFPR trends with the tried-and-true mean reversion strategy, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for outperforming the masses. It’s like baking cookies with both flour and sugar. Technicals are great, but adding fundamental flavor brings it all together. Take the next step: start tracking these indicators today. Your future trades will thank you—just like you'll thank yourself for not buying those Crocs. Additional Resources: - Stay informed with the latest economic indicators and Forex news at StarseedFX Forex News. - Expand your knowledge of advanced methodologies at StarseedFX Free Forex Courses. - Join the StarseedFX community for more expert insights at StarseedFX Community. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[dashawfrostart]

This Week In "Time & Again" #21: The Storyboard Is Done! The Further Adventure Awaits

So far - and that is indeed final for my paper sketching - the storyboard of Chapter 6 consists of 54 pages. Of course, not counting any framing material such as the cover arts as well as any bonus materials, it's roughly 20 pages longer than Chapter 3 that's been the biggest chapter up to this day.

This is massive, let me tell you. Especially massive when remembered that it's done virtually by one person alone.

Since my plan is so grand, and, unfortunately, there are no reliably working AI tools that might've sped up the colouring and/or sketching for the final product, AND with the progress hindering factors such as life outside art 🤣, the work might sprawl out within time and space. I am ready for it. Alles ist gewiß in Ordnung. I am very well aware of the amount of work that lies ahead of me, and I will not cancel my plans because of any possible oversights (because I have none 😁). As I said before, I am very committed, and no less determined.

What I am aiming at doing however is to try and shrink it to no more than 50 pages (which will make approximately 25 pages per part, for Chapter 6, just as Chapter 3, will be also split into two parts). That will be done through trial and error and perfection of the panel placement on every page. This is gonna be a headache - but it will be very well worth it 😁. Time for me to explore the new horizons after all - that's something I was willing to do for a long time. Now even stronger than before.

I foresee Chapter 6 to be a slap in the face, a hit with a frying pan, a loud squeak of a kazoo right into one's ear. It should be - and will be if done right (and I already put A LOT of thought into how to execute it properly!) - one of the most remarkable chapters of "Time & Again". It's been like that in my mind ever since I wrote the draft for the chapter. It's a daring experiment - and of course and selbstverständlich - it's not gonna be for everyone. It will not become your average comic read for your average relaxing after-work comic reading evening 😁

I've never talked about it before, but I always sketch the storyboard prior my work on the panels arrangement page by page in Inkscape, because I want to see the full picture and how the story unfolds as a whole. One could call it a rough draft of the entire chapter. Once I'm satisfied with my approximate storyboard sketch, I start to work on transferring my sketched ideas to Inkscape page by page, to create mock-ups as well as final arrangements. Of course, as I keep working on it, the things might get altered and/or swapped.

There are currently two primary objectives on my list of artistic things to work on for "Time & Again".

The first one is, of course, just keeping up working on the chapter itself. Since the storyboard is done, I will get to the panel and text arrangement as soon as my editor-in-chef returns back to me. Right on.

The second objective is revolved around a certain real life event that I am 85% prepared for already. Unfortunately, that objective includes a series of side quests that are advised to be completed in order to get the "total completionist" medal. Earlier I was thinking about releasing the "Clean Cut Editions" of all the previous chapters by the end of summer - but alas, trying to balance out all the activities, with the amount of work on Chapter 6 as well as some real life endeavours, I simply don't have time to finish it all up until the end of August. It's in my best interest though to prepare it by mid-October. Which clashes with my primary objective to work on Chapter 6 - and that chapter is already a witch's brew by default, let me tell you!.. But I'm trying to juggle with my time and resources as best as I could, so I foresee myself coming up with certain resolutions.

Check back often: a very exciting announcement is about to happen soon 😉

In the meantime, while my editor-in-chef is still working on ridding my script of shameful typos that I might've missed due to having to re-read and meticulously refine the same parts of the text 50 times in total until my focus and brain are both a mush, I will most likely start working on the cover artworks and promo arts. And the cover arts will contain references to a certain famous franchise that the readers with highly inquisitive minds have, indubitably, already noticed the hints at earlier 😉 (dammit internet, I cannot find the screenshots from neither Bloodborne or Dark Souls games that say "inquisitiveness ahead" although we've seen them numerous times when playing)

P.S. ... suddenly, it finally hit me: Oktoberfest is nearing. Which makes me wonder why, throughout all these years that I've spent with Lothar's presence in my life, I have never ever - not a single time, not once - drawn him all dressed up and excited about that traditional German festivity. Instead, for some reason I've grown really accustomed to drawing him Halloween-style numerous times. I even had an old artwork portraying him wearing a skeleton onesie in the company of Freia and Fjolvarr... which is very odd for him to say the least (not odd though considering how much I love mocking at that individual, because he deserves that, imo). Perhaps, the answer to that question lies ahead of us in Chapter 6, for it will shed light on Lothar's past and his peculiar relationship with his motherland. But canon or non-canon - I think that still might be a fun idea to draw something Oktoberfest oriented one of these years 😁🍻

P.P.S. Here, I did it: I made a new post within a reasonable timeframe. Das ist einfach schön ^.^ Now... only gotta post more artworks before this blog turns into a "text-only" endeavour 😅

[addierose444]

My Best Purchase of 2023

My best purchase of 2023 was an annual membership to my climbing gym. I of course had a number of more important purchases, but in terms of quality-of-life improvement, my gym membership takes the cake. As I’ve shared in earlier posts, rock climbing, bouldering specifically, has become my main hobby and such an important part of my life. It’s just so much fun and genuinely has such an amazing ability to make my day better. Furthermore, it even works its magic on long days and when I’m tired. 

The main downside of this hobby is that it’s expensive. Around here, day passes cost $24-$25 (pre-tax)! You can get this per-visit cost down to ~$21 by purchasing punch passes, but that’s still a lot to pay and adds up quickly. Without factoring in the annoying $50 start-up fee, a membership is the more economical option provided that you climb at least five times per month. An annual membership cuts the cost down even more and at my gym is better than the punch pass route if you climb at least three to four times per month. I climb at least that much in a given week and recently even more so for me a membership is well worth it. Granted, the calculation isn’t quite that simple as I wouldn’t climb nearly this much if I had to pay $20+ per visit. As for my gym’s annual membership, it results in ~23% savings as compared with the monthly membership. (That also doesn’t even take into account the nearly $30 in cashback I was able to get back by putting the membership on the right credit card). 

I know it’s not actually free but it’s nice that paying up-front makes it sort of feel that way. It’s just so freeing being able to just walk in and scan my membership card. I also love that having the membership allows me to stay for whatever length of time guilt-free. Furthermore, if anything I’m incentivized to climb more because each visit lowers the per-visit cost. My annual membership technically started in December of last year and I’ve already reduced the per-visit cost down to $11.55. Another nice benefit of having a membership is having guest passes. In just five months, these guest passes have allowed me to save other people over $168 (pre-tax). On the flip side, annual costs like this do have the adverse effect of giving me a deflated view of my monthly expenses when looking over my expense tracking spreadsheet.

Finally, while I don’t like thinking of it as exercise, it’s undeniable that climbing has improved my physical fitness. In addition to just getting my body moving it has been cool noticing how much stronger my arms have gotten. Additionally, I feel that climbing indirectly improves my diet and general awareness of what I’m eating. 

[blue-opossum]

Serious Study: Virtual Amnesia in 60 Years of Dreaming, 1A

        Serious Study: Virtual Amnesia in 60 Years of Dreaming, 1A

        3 minutes and 24 seconds to read

        Sunday, 17 September 2023

        In this crucial series of dreaming revelations gleaned from over 50 years of daily studies for at least a few hours of attentiveness per day (and mapping and decoding tens of thousands of my dreams over my lifetime thus far), I am looking at my personal dreaming experiences regarding virtual amnesia in this series of essential reports.

        For me, this experience is the most critical factor related to dreaming (even though I know it is mainly caused simply by not being conscious or with viable faculties while asleep). It proves the "subconscious" or "subconscious mind" does not exist.

        There are specific levels of REM virtual amnesia (one of hundreds of reasons I have no interest or belief in "dream interpretation" in the usual usages of the concept because I know, for me, it is a mistaken approach), with inexplicable compartmentalization in some modes of dreaming that have remained identical since childhood.

        Here, I will examine why my mind has the in-dream susceptibility to recall real-world people exponentially more often than my current real-world address. There have been many instances when I still remembered Zsuzsanna while my recollection of our real-world address instantly disappeared, even in a light sleep.

        The following paragraph is verbatim AI-generated. (Note that AI-generated text is full of errors, but I have not changed or corrected any of its text here.) Although it sounds reasonable at some levels, the theory falls apart at the slightest scrutiny (as with virtually all concepts about dreaming I have read in my lifetime, which has remained frustrating because no one in society ever seems interested in legitimacy, only in repeating fallacies). I will address significant problems with this theory at the end of this report and summarize other factors on page 1B.

        A.I.-generated (verbatim): "One possible theory for why real-world recall in a dream of a person (for example, a loved one) takes high priority over recall of a current address is that the emotional salience of the person is stronger than the spatial relevance of the address. Emotions are known to enhance memory consolidation and retrieval, especially for emotionally arousing events or stimuli. Therefore, dreaming of a person who has a significant emotional impact on the dreamer may activate the memory systems that store and process emotional information, such as the amygdala and the hippocampus. These regions may then facilitate the recall of the person's identity, appearance, voice, and other features that are associated with the emotional bond. On the other hand, recalling a current address may require more cognitive effort and less emotional involvement, as it involves spatial navigation and orientation, which are mediated by different brain regions, such as the parietal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex. These regions may not be as active or accessible during dreaming, as they are more involved in conscious awareness and attention. Therefore, recalling a current address may be more difficult or less likely than recalling a person in a dream."

        I will address why this AI-generated theory is inherently wrong. (Even so, there may be minimal relevance to it. I will look into it more in the future.)

        Celebrities I have never met (or find appealing) often appear in dreams (though usually only protoconsciousness personifications) when I do not recall my current real-world existence or those I love. However, there are critical considerations here.

        I know (without any doubt) that celebrities appear in my dreams to trigger real-world recall for the opposite reasons that the A.I. thesis implies. That is why they occur almost exclusively as protoconsciousness to reveal that the dream state is an illusion (often initiated and discernibly scripted by my intuitive or lucid imagination), often unrelated to waking life. (Imagine what would happen if dreams modeled waking life. That would corrupt memory, the opposite of many asinine dream-related claims I have read.)

        While watching movies or television shows in real life (entertainment only), I am less focused on my real-world environment when I indulge in the content. I am temporarily "receiving" someone else's imagination, fallacies, and fantastical mentation (often absurd, self-contradicting, and full of errors in continuity and reason). My cognizance is mostly absent, as with many of my dreaming modes. It is self-evident that, because of this, celebrities take precedence in corresponding with my degree of dream state intuition, especially precursory liminality and midrange liminality. (That is also why "dream interpretation" in its usual usage is nonsensical, at least regarding my dreaming history. Nothing about it ever makes any sense on any level.)

        In stark contrast, other television-related content, such as world news or an educational program such as a documentary, is exponentially less likely to influence my dreams (by about 82 percent less likely, as with virtually all dream statistics of different types - which I am also interested in regarding this consistent lifelong percentage factor). When watching the news or an educational television show, my focus and cognizance are predominant (even if my real-world focus on my environment is not extant), in contrast to the make-believe factors of many movies.

        On page 1B, I will add summarized points to supplement the information in this report, including aspects I have not included here.

[centralfloridapaving]

The Longevity and Setup of a Paver Driveway

The value of your property is directly related to how well it presents to the public, and the driveway plays a significant role in this. The value of your home, its resale and rental potential, can be significantly increased by very inexpensive enhancements that are in keeping with the property's existing design aesthetic.

  Driveway Paving Tampa Pavers have several advantages over concrete. You can maximise the returns on your driveway repair project by investing in high-quality driveway paver installation in San Diego.

    However, before beginning any renovation, you should research Asphalt Driveway Resurfacing near Me and other options to determine whether or not pavers are a viable option for your driveway and what kind of base is best suited for them.

  The causes of driveway cracks.

  Cracking is a significant issue with concrete driveways. Consider how unattractive a broken driveway would look next to your tastefully decorated home. In addition, holes might form in your driveway if cracks continue to grow and spread. To tackle the situation you must reach out to the Asphalt Driveway Sealers near Me to discuss the issue.

  Does it make sense to pave a driveway?

  So, why do driveways often have cracks? It's due to a combination of factors, but here are the primary ones:

  It was damaged because of a poorly laid driveway foundation. This is the leading cause of driveway cracking for both asphalt and concrete. Hiring a reputable business that can install your driveway base securely is therefore essential.

  You are establishing a firm foundation for a tree. Because of this, your driveway may experience stress in several places. Tree roots that are allowed to continue growing will eventually break your driveway.

  We are using salt to melt ice. Once the utilised salt has dissolved the snow and ice, the water will freeze again, putting too much pressure on your driveway and cracking it. In this case, sand is the best option because it won't damage the driveway.

  A poorly laid driveway will inevitably break under the weight of vehicles and other large loads.

  In your opinion, do pavers make a good driveway?

  Many homeowners favour pavers over concrete because they are resistant to cracking. Many people prefer them to concrete because of all the advantages they bring. The question then arises, given all the benefits of pavers, especially high-quality pavers, whether or not they are the best option for your driveway. For several reasons, the short answer is "yes."

    When deciding between pavers and concrete for your driveway, you should choose pavers because:

  Because they're less likely to crack, they can be much stronger than concrete. A single worn-out paver can be replaced rather than the entire driveway. Pavers can be used immediately after installation and provide superior traction in wet conditions.Weeds growing in the cracks in a concrete slab are easily removed, but if roots anchor them, the slab will eventually break.

  If pavers are built and maintained correctly, they can survive for 50 years or more. Consequently, when it comes time to redo your driveway or construct a new one from scratch, pavers are a great option to think about. To be on the safe side, just remember to adhere to all driveway laws.