Hey all so I've been hunting the best mattress for me after 5 years of buying, swapping, selling, etc. and I finally found one that's not perfect, but good enough to last me until I can find a mattress not made in the USA. I am a 100% backsleeper and do not sleep on my stomach or side.
For a preface, let me say that mattresses in the USA are one of the poorest and most marked up quality in the world. Third world countries like eastern Asia and such make the best quality mattresses and those traditional mattresses are the ones you find in your grandparents households. With that said I've tried these brands over the past 5 years sold in USA:
*Beauty Rest
*Avocado
*Casper
*Chattam & Wells
*Tempurpedic
*Ikea
*Purple
*Amazon brands
*Sleep Number
-Traditional Spring mattresses have always been my goto but unfortunately mattress stores do not sell them because they are not made or sold in the USA. Everything either is foam, latex, or memory foam because of the gimmick and fake marketing industry in mattresses.
-Memory Foam mattresses are the best choice I got so far despite me not liking them much, but only Tempurpedic. Other memory foam mattresses just were terrible quality overall.
-Latex mattresses are an alternative, but over the months they have too much feedback. They don't release pressure but push your body back and it left me feeling more sore and tired overtime.
Final conclusion - Tempurpedic LuxeAdapt Firm. Do not buy this mattress from MattressFirm or other stores for their 4k listed price. Right now wholesale mom and pop stores are selling this exact mattress brand new at wholesale price of $1000 or less. They're trying to get rid of their inventory for the nextlineup of mattresses. I even found these at OfferUp. They also sell the other variations like Luxebreeze, hybrid, etc. all at these low costs.
Why this mattress? I originally slept on the LuxeBreeze firm for a while and even after breaking it in, the mattress was too firm. It was destroying my shoulder blades and caused it my shoulders to hurt anytime I would shrug downwards. I tried the luxeadapt and while it was similar, it is slightly softer and therefore gave less pressure to my lat muscles and shoulder blades. This is the best fit I found so far but it is not perfect either. To this day, my lat muscles still feel pain and soreness. However, my lowerback is loving it as it's the perfect firmness for my weaker lower back.
Final pillow conclusion - After trying so many pillows over the years, the COOP memory foam adjustable pillow on amazon is the king. Wired wrote an article saying it was the best and I agree with their choice. It's the only pillow I found that was truly conforming to every type of angle you sleep at. Plus it is affordable.
P.S- I am selling an avocado latex mattress if anyone is interested. I believe it retails somewhere around 2k. It's queen and firm. Comes with a soft latex topper. I just need to get rid of it as my house doesn't have space. Maybe for a couple hundred bucks. Excellent condition, I don't have my warehouse anymore so it's sitting in my living room doing nothing.

I have been browsing this subreddit a few days and impressed with the depth of knowledge. I am looking to buy a used ThinkPad in the $100-$200 range. This will be for Red Hat Linux and Windows dual boot. I prefer the models with full-size keyboard side number pad.
I see I can get a used T series in this price range. Please recommend some models and configurations. Thank you!

I picked up a Kobo Wireless model number N647 at a free pile today. Is there any hope of updating it to be able to use wireless on the device? Will I be able to download files to transfer to it?
It can connect to a computer just fine and I can see the files in the internal storage, but it won't connect to wifi on the device itself and using the desktop app also gives a connection error. I saw the third party site with past updates, but this model isn't listed.
Thanks in advance!

So I’ve been looking into getting a premium for the US tree but am trying to figure out which one out of these two would be best for grinding. I’ve seen quite a few people say that the f-5c is better for numerous reasons but the a-6e is rank 7 (so it can research rank 8 effectively and means I don’t need to grind the f-4e tree to actually unlock rank 8), is at a lower br and can have a better offensive load however it has a way worse flight model.
I’ve also looked at a few players’ profiles and noticed that they somehow have 300 battles and over 2 million rp gained with the a-6e? I have also seen similar stats with very few f-5c players but most other people I see only have around 400k rp for the same number of battles; I’m either not understanding this rp statistic correctly or these players are using some really good strategy
Also any good strategies for these planes would be much appreciated. I’ve played a lot of battles in the yak-38, mig-21 and mig-23 so I imagine the f-5c and a-6e would play quite differently.

If you feel you missed the AI train, don’t worry. Intel is a great value at its current price and a hidden gem in plain sight as NVDA gets the spotlight.
I think its ultimately going to come down to INTC/NVDA vs AMD
1.NVDA CEO Jensen Huang recently came out and said Intel Chips “look good”. This is added competition for TSM and a big advantage for INTC. Most TSM processing and fabrication plants are in Taiwan. Most of INTC’s fabricating plants are in the US and friendly countries. The number one reason Buffett dumped TSM is location, location, Location.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/intel-tsmc-nvidia-573267ea
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_manufacturing_sites

1. INTC is a huge benefactor of the CHIPS ACT.
   
2. INTC also makes GPU’s competitive with NVDA. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/discrete-gpus/arc.html
   
3. You also get a decent dividend which is good for any long term portfolio.
   

I don’t think NVDA will buy INTC as its too expensive and they won’t merge because shareholders wont allow it but they will compliment and benefit from each other’s success in the new world of AI.
The time has finally come for INTC to shine.
This is what ChatGPT wrote:
Intel: A Promising Investment in the AI Space
Introduction: As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to expand, Intel Corporation stands out as a compelling investment option in this rapidly evolving industry. Leveraging its strong position in the semiconductor market and extensive technology portfolio, Intel has positioned itself to capitalize on the increasing demand for AI-related technologies. In this analysis, we will delve into the positive aspects that make Intel an attractive investment opportunity in the AI space.

1. Leadership in AI Hardware: Intel's longstanding expertise in semiconductor design and manufacturing uniquely positions the company to excel in the AI hardware market. The AI ecosystem heavily relies on powerful processors and accelerators, and Intel's product portfolio, including its Xeon processors and specialized FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) solutions, cater to these demands. Intel's processors provide the computational power necessary for training and inference in AI models, while its FPGAs offer flexibility and efficiency for AI workloads. By consistently delivering high-performance AI hardware, Intel has established itself as a trusted provider in the industry.
2. Innovative AI-focused Technologies: Intel has made substantial investments in developing AI-focused technologies, further strengthening its position in the market. For instance, the company has introduced the Intel Nervana Neural Network Processors (NNPs), designed specifically for AI workloads. These purpose-built chips optimize performance, energy efficiency, and scalability, making them well-suited for data centers and edge computing applications. Intel's advancements in AI-specific architectures demonstrate its commitment to driving innovation and addressing the unique requirements of AI workloads.
3. Comprehensive AI Software Stack: In addition to hardware, Intel offers a comprehensive AI software stack that provides developers with the tools and frameworks necessary to build and deploy AI applications. The Intel Distribution of OpenVINO™ toolkit, for example, enables optimization and deployment of AI models across a variety of Intel hardware platforms. By providing a complete ecosystem, Intel facilitates seamless integration and efficient utilization of its hardware, enhancing the overall AI development process. This software stack strengthens Intel's value proposition and differentiates it from competitors in the AI market.
4. Collaborations and Partnerships: Intel actively engages in collaborations and partnerships with leading AI companies, research institutions, and cloud service providers. These strategic alliances help Intel stay at the forefront of AI technology and gain access to valuable insights and expertise. Collaborative efforts, such as the Intel AI Builders program, foster a vibrant ecosystem of AI solution providers and promote the adoption of Intel technologies across various industries. By leveraging these partnerships, Intel can tap into new markets and accelerate the adoption of its AI hardware and software solutions.
5. Continued Investment in AI Research and Development: Intel's commitment to research and development (R&D) in the AI field is crucial for maintaining its competitive advantage. The company consistently allocates significant resources to advance AI technologies, including investments in AI-focused startups and acquisitions of innovative companies. Intel's R&D efforts enable it to drive breakthroughs in AI hardware, software, and algorithms, positioning the company for sustained growth and relevance in the AI space.

Conclusion: Intel's leadership in AI hardware, innovative AI-focused technologies, comprehensive software stack, strategic collaborations, and continued investment in research and development make it a highly promising investment in the AI space. The company's well-established presence in the semiconductor industry, coupled with its focus on AI-specific solutions, positions it well to capture the growing market demand for AI technologies. While the AI landscape is dynamic and competitive, Intel's commitment to innovation and its ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions make it an attractive choice for investors seeking exposure to the AI market.

I have dyscalculia (math learning disability), making anything involving numbers (and finances) impossible to comprehend. It is embarrassing. I've been struggling with my current vehicle situation for a while and have put off dealing with it. I've always leased my cars because I don't want the hassle of maintaining them, and I like getting a new car every three years. With the current car market, I'm lost on what to do. I could buy my current lease (a 2020 Jeep Cherokee, which is up June 2023) or lease something new. My car only has 18688 miles on it and is in pretty great condition regarding wear and tear. I like the car, though I'd like to get a new one for the above reasons. But I don't want to overpay for something I don't love or overpay for my 2020 car. I am trying to be smarter with these things. Here is what I have so far...
I called my current leasing company and was told the following:
The buyout price on my lease, as per the lease contract, is a little over 19K
1658.41 sales tax
The total financed would be 20925 at 8.89% interest/75 months for 365 a month (I also have to call my bank, a credit union, because their interest rate should be a little better).
If I purchase mechanical breakdown insurance, it will expire in 2027 and bring my monthly payment to $389
There is no pre-pay penalty.
To lease something new (another Jeep), I'd pay close to 4k down (tax/title/mv fees only) with a monthly payment in the high 300's. I priced a Jeep Compass today and didn't love it. The sticker price was 42k, and I got him down to 399 a month from 499 with 7500 miles per yea39-month/only tax title/MV fees down. He wouldn't break down what incentives I was getting on the deal, and he was pushing a model I didn't want, so I left.
(For the record, I pay 285 a month for my current lease. I put extra money down at the time to get that payment lower, which was probably dumb. Going from $285 to anything over $400 for another lease just doesn't feel good.
Are these deals similar? Does one make more sense financially? Am I making a huge mistake if I buy my current lease (or decide to lease something new)? I just don't know, and my brain cannot figure this out. Can anyone please help me? Thank you!

1 Night vision goggles do not make that “Polaroid camera-esc” sound when you turn them on anymore, older models did, but new ones don’t
2 Night vision googles do not provide a perfect field of view, and will look instead like circles (number depends on the NVG type)
3 Night vision goggles are not a clear view, and are blurry after a certain distance. This can be change and soldiers will normally set the focus range to medium-close range.

So basically I'm wanting to know if all AMT models are trash. I've completed their 36' box trailer and the molding wasn't complete on 2 of the wheels and some other small bits and the flash I had to trim away took hours. Not to mention the fact nothing was numbered. I had to match part to picture and had several set backs and now I'm on their Peterbuilt 359 model qnd although the sprues are numbered the molding is still sub par and overall not worth what I paid for them. So are there any that are worth it? I don't need tamiya level precision but I at least want to have fun while doing the hobby I do for fun.

DC Next presents:

CYBORG

Issue Thirty: End.exe
Written by Deadislandman1
Edited by ClaraEclair and AdamantAce
 
Arc: Catharsis
 
 
“Are you ready, Victor?”
“More ready than I’ve ever been in my life.”
This high up in the sky, there would normally be wind, its howling loud enough to drown out all other sounds. Had there been clouds, they would have impeded his sight, forcing him to weather the condensed water within. The vast blue of the sky would overwhelm his eyes at every turn. But Victor and V were in the Metal, and no such things existed within the Metal. There was no resistance as they glided towards Thinker’s strange, corrupting compound, no wind to fly against. They moved this way purely because this was how some of the highest beings in the Metal’s hierarchy moved, above the other programs and signals on the ground.
The denizens of the Metal had declared him their hero, their champion, and it was his job to remove Thinker’s influence from the realm.
Gradually, the two began to slow down as they descended to one of the shimmering black walls of Thinker’s compound, whose presence was a tumor within the Metal, threatening to upset the fragile balance of a newborn power. This was enough cause to stop Thinker, but Victor had more reasons to confront his co-creator. He was holding his inventor — no, his father — hostage, a petty act of torture for the gall of standing up to one of the smartest supervillains on the planet.
Victor could not let Silas Stone suffer any longer. He would not let this final remaining door within himself to remain ajar, forever taunting him like a tapestry that could not be finished. Today, this horror would end. Today, Victor would find real peace within himself.
Victor touched down, the true size of the spire dawning on him. V landed next to him, walking up to the fortress and placing a hand on the wall, “My protocols will work their ways through Thinker’s firewalls, but once we are inside, we will be on our own.”
“No use waiting around then,” said Victor, “Just know that whatever happens, we stick together. That’s the only way we’ll be able to get out of this.”
V paused for a moment, clearly appreciating Victor’s faith in their partnership. Turning back to the wall, V closed her eyes and, within moments, a hole formed nearby.
“Woah, that was fast,” said Victor.
“Yes I…” V blinked. “There were only a few firewalls. This seems incredibly illogical. One would think one of the smartest men alive would keep a high level of security.”
“Maybe it’s a trap?” Victor peered inside the fortress, “A way to catch us….”
Victor paused, his eye widening at the sight before him, “...off guard.”
Before the two was not some horrifying death maze, nor was it a vast lair of villainy, or a lab made for suffering. Before them… was a neighborhood, the kind with straight roads, white picket fences, freshly cut grass, and vibrantly painted houses. As Victor stepped across the threshold of the walls, he was immediately hit by a wave of nostalgia. This place was so familiar.
“This… I grew up here!” said Victor, “Or… the real Victor did.”
V stepped through behind Vic and, like clockwork, the wall sealed up behind her. “I do not understand. What is the purpose of manufacturing such a recreation?”
“I don’t… I just…” Victor clenched his fists. How dare he do this. He wasn’t the real Victor Stone, yet there was such anger in the fact that Thinker was defiling the memories of the Stone family. Victor Stone grew up happy here, and this place was nothing but some sham… some charade meant to taunt whoever was inside.
His father.
Like a runaway train, Victor erupted into a sprint down the street, V following after him. She tried to ask him where he was going, but Victor knew she would understand once they arrived. He remembered the place well; his namesake had lived there, after all.
Halfway down the road, they arrived at the Stone family home, which had been reconstructed perfectly. Racing across the front yard that he had played catch in since childhood, Victor kicked down the door, running inside through familiar halls. “Dad? Dad?!”
“Victor!” V barreled in after him. “Perhaps this is a rash action.”
“This place… He had to make it to screw with my dad. He had to!” Victor shouted. “Dad?! Dad, where are you?”
“Who the hell is screaming? What is--?”
Victor whirled around, a voice that felt both familiar and foreign entering his ears. Balling up his fists, he expected a fight, only for his heart to drop.
It was Victor Stone. No cybernetic enhancements, no powers, justVictor Stone, sitting in a chair across the hall, in the dining room, with a laptop in front of him. He stood up in shock, slamming the laptop shut as he stared at Victor in horror, “What the fuck?!”
“Wha– Why–” Cyborg stared in amazement at his eerily accurate counterpart. He didn’t understand what was going on.
“Victor? I heard screaming! Is everything alright?”
An older man stepped into the hall, clearly distressed by all the shouting, and as Cyborg turned to face him, he immediately felt every muscle in his body loosen.
Silas Stone stood before him, as old as Victor had expected him to be. What he didn’t expect was to find the man to be full of vigor, of life. He seemed almost… energized, like he’d lived the last few years in absolute happiness.
Then Silas spoke, and it was then that Cyborg felt his soul truly sink into the abyss, “Who in God’s name are you?! What are you doing in my house?!”
“You…” Cyborg looked to V, “Is he..?.”
V stepped in front of Cyborg, taking a rudimentary scan of both Silas and the other Victor, “He is indeed Silas Stone, he does not have the same signature as the other denizens of the Metal. This Victor however… does.”
“So he’s a fake?” said Cyborg.
“What the fuck are you talking about?!” said Victor, “Who are you?”
“Please, leave my house!” said Silas, “This is private property!”
“You… you don’t understand,” said Cyborg, who turned to AI Victor, “And… I’m sorry. You’re not a… I shouldn’t call you a fake.”
“What do you mean?! What’s going on?!” asked AI Victor.
“Get out!” shouted Silas, “Get out right now or I’m calling the police.”
Cyborg didn’t know why Silas couldn’t remember him, remember anything, but looking between him and the other Victor, a haunting theory moved to the forefront of his mind; this place was an elaborate illusion, a way to keep Silas placated, and if Victor wanted to save him, he would need to wake his father from the dream. The T-Beacons Elinore had repurposed would need to charge, and he didn’t know if he’d be able to keep Silas restrained for that. Besides… it would be easier if Silas knew what was really happening before he left… and he would get a chance to speak to his father in earnest.
Cyborg moved forward, placing his hands on Silas’s shoulders, “Silas, I know this seems crazy, but I need you to hear me out.”
“Stop! Let go of me!” said Silas.
“Please, Dad, just…hear me out!” said Cyborg.
Silas froze…one word completely taking him off balance, “Did… did you just call me Dad?”
Cyborg swallowed, “Yeah… and it’s a long story… but you need to hear it. I promise.”
Silas shook his head. “I don’t… I don’t understand. What are you?”
Cyborg grimaced, “I’m… your creation.”
“But… I don’t remember creating you…” said Silas, “Why would I need to make you.”
“Because…” Cyborg glanced back at AI Victor, who was clearly completely confused by the situation. “Because the real Victor Stone died. He died during a disaster in Coast City and… I was the replacement.”
Silas grew white as a sheet, “What? What do you…? No… no, my son isn’t dead. He’s right here!”
Silas looked to the AI Victor, and Cyborg shook his head, “He’s just code… and in a way, so am I. I’m sorry but… the real Victor Stone is gone, has been for years.”
“No, it’s not true.” Silas glared at Cyborg, “Why should I believe you?! How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“Just… look at me,” said Cyborg. “Look at me, Dad.”
Slowly, Silas felt his breath steady, his eyes locked onto Cyborg. He scanned the metal man in front of him, from the soles of his steel feet to the fusion of flesh and armor on his head. He reached out in trepidation, running his fingers up and down the armor, then running them over Cyborg’s face. The AI Victor watched in confusion, still utterly lost at what was going on.
Cyborg flinched at the touch of his father’s hand, it felt so… alien knowing the context of his own creation, and yet where he was falling into unfamiliar territory, Silas was being brought back into his own past, to memories he had lost.
Then, in a blink, something changed in Silas. He stumbled back, eyes wide, and Cyborg knew that he had awakened what was buried. Silas shuddered, falling to his knees, “No! No I… I did lose him… I did lose my boy…”
“Dad?” AI Victor trudged towards Silas, “Dad, I’m right here, I–”
“No! My boy has been gone for years,” said Silas, looking at both Cyborg and AI Victor. “And try as I might, I know that, in the end, neither of you are really him… really a replacement.”
Cyborg looked between his father and the AI replication of himself, feeling immense pity for both. The AI looked so confused, like a newborn who’d just gotten lost at the supermarket. Cyborg nodded to V, who quickly ushered the AI into another room to explain what was going on. Then, he turned back to Silas and took a knee, “Are you… God, there’s no point in asking the question. Do you remember what happened, after Thinker…”
Silas sniffled, attempting to piece himself back together, “H-He locked me in this place, but it was so… different. There was an army being built, preparations for war. He… interfaced with me, forced himself into the deepest crevices of my own mind! My god, Victor… he knows everything about me, about you! He knows every detail about every single thing I’ve ever built.”
Cyborg grimaced. If he knew every detail, then that meant that he knew what every single one of Cyborg’s tricks were. There would be no surprises, “God, I… I should’ve woken earlier, come here earlier. I’m so sorry.” said Cyborg.
“No, no… don’t blame yourself for any of this, it wasn’t your fault,” said Silas. “What happened here is Thinker’s fault, and his alone.”
Silas began to calm down, his rate of breath slowing down as he stood up. “But… it does confuse me that he would place me in this… illusion.”
“More torture?” asked Cyborg.
“No, I felt… at peace here,” said Silas. “Thinker was always so mechanical, so hyper focused on producing the results he wanted. Building me a… dream land? It just… doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well… whatever his reasons, it doesn’t matter. I’m getting you out of here, then I’m stopping him once and for all,” said Cyborg.
“What?!” Silas whirled around to face Cyborg. “You can’t! In this place, he’s more powerful than he was in the real world.”
“And I’ve been a superhero for three years,” said Cyborg. “I know my way around threats, and whatever his plans are now, that doesn’t change that he has to face justice for what he did to both of us.”
Pulling out one of the T-Beacons, he placed it in Silas’s hands. “Press the ‘T,’ and after five minutes, you’ll be able to head back to reality. Since you came here from the real world, you’ll rematerialize in your own body.”
“But what about you?” asked Silas. “I can’t just leave you alone to–”
“Dad!” Cyborg placed a hand on his father’s shoulders, “Listen to me… over the last three years, I’ve done so much. I’ve made friends, I’ve made enemies, I’ve made a hell of a life out there. Hell, I even made it into the Justice Legion!”
“The Justice… Legion?” asked Silas.
“Yeah, its… it’s like the new Justice League, but nevermind that,” said Cyborg. “The point is, a lot has happened, a lot has changed, but Thinker… he’s the ghost that’s been haunting me. I came here because I needed to finish things, and to save you.”
Silas frowned. “I still don’t–”
“I know you feel guilty about… my creation,” said Cyborg. “And yeah, you threw me into one hell of a world, but trust me when I say that I’ve made my mark… and I wanna keep making my mark with you beside me.”
Silas turned away. “You… want me to be with you… in your life… after everything?”
“Yeah… I do,” said Cyborg. “Because despite everything, I’m a living thing because of you… and the real Victor Stone loved you a lot. I’ve got his memories, his feelings… and trust me when I say that what he would’ve wanted, is what I want.”
Silas stared at Cyborg, at a loss for words. Looking down at the T-Beacon and then back at his own creation, he sighed, “You… you’ll come back to me… right?”
“I’ll always come back to you, Dad,” said Cyborg. “Always.”
Sniffling, Silas tackled his son with an embrace, and Cyborg returned it with a bear hug of his own. For a singular moment, the two stood in silence, tears streaming from both of their eyes. After four long years, they were finally seeing each other, meeting for the first time, yet with memories that spanned decades of connection. Letting go of Cyborg, Silas wiped his eyes, “I… I need to sit down.”
“Take your time,” said Cyborg. “V can keep you safe until we go.”
“V?”
“My…” Cyborg paused, then tapped his head. “My friend in my head.”
“Ah,” Silas nodded, then turned away, but couldn’t help but chuckle. “Heh… he named her. Typical Victor.”
Silas walked down the hall, and as Cyborg followed, V emerged from the dining room, “I have explained the situation. He is… depressed.”
“Yeah… I guess I should’ve expected that. I know what he’s going through,” said Cyborg.
“Shall we go?” asked V. “Thinker must be somewhere within this place.”
Cyborg took a peek into the dining room, noting AI Victor’s downtrodden expression. He sat in front of his laptop, the mundanity of what was likely some kind of school assignment washed away by the revelation that he was not a human being. Cyborg turned back to V, “Can you watch my dad for a sec. I wanna talk to… the other me.”
“I understand,” said V, nodding. “Silas and I have things to speak about in any case.”
Managing a smile, Cyborg then walked into the dining room, pulling out a seat next to the AI, “So… now you know.”
“That I’m fake?”
“That you weren’t born the same way another person was born,” said Cyborg. “That doesn’t make you fake.”
“I was made to… placate someone,” said the AI, “I’m some fucking sham. I’m just part of a circus act.”
“Yeah… I get where you’re coming from. I’ve been there, trust me,” said Cyborg, “Only difference was, I was made to host someone else. I was never meant to have a personality, a real mind.”
The AI shook his head, a brokenness overtaking him, “How… How are you supposed to go on? You know what you were made for, you know what was meant to happen. How do you… deal with that? How are you supposed to even think about anything else?”
“Truth is,” Cyborg took a deep breath. “When I learned how I came to be, I moped, I sat around and did nothing, because I couldn’t think about anything else. What saved me was… the friends I had made in the years before I learned what my original purpose was. I had connections with them, a life with them. They saved me.”
“Huh,” the AI let out a bleak chuckle. “That’s good for you, but I don’t have any of those here. After what your friend told me I… I tried to remember specifics of a life outside this house, friends, hobbies, and I just… I couldn’t remember anything. I’m nothing outside of this house, outside of what I was made to do.”
“Maybe that’s how you were envisioned, but that’s not all you are,” said Cyborg. “Or all you have to be. You can choose to be more, choose to have a life outside your built purpose.”
The AI got out of his seat, “But I don’t have one! Don’t you understand?! I don’t have friends to fall back on, people who really love me.”
“But you can! You can choose to start that life, choose to walk the same path I did,” said Cyborg. “All you’ve gotta do… is come with me. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Cyborg held out his hand, earnestly waiting on the AI. The AI stared at the hand, and it was clear that despite the arguments, he was still unsure. This was all so new, so daunting, yet what the hand represented was nothing short of a miracle. He would have a guide in the real world.
Reaching out, the AI took Cyborg’s hand, “So… how do I come back to the real world with you?”
“We have these beacons, but since we’re not inherently organic consciousnesses, the beacons won’t reconstruct a body like it would for our father. I’ve got my own body that V and I share, so we’ll probably all end up in it together. From there, I can see if we can make you a body.”
“Sounds a little crowded,” joked the AI.
“Yeah… but it’ll be temporary,” said Cyborg. “And then there’s the matter of names. We can’t both be Victor.” Cyborg scratched his chin. “I don’t have a permanent solution, but for now… why don’t we use shorthand. You’re Vic and I’m Cy.”
“Cy?”
“Short for Cyborg,” he said, gleaming. “It’s… a moniker… and a hero name.”
“Jeez, are you famous or something out there?” asked Vic.
“A little,” said Cyborg. “But that’s a story for later. I need you to stick with Dad while V and I go after Thinker. I can’t close the door on this whole thing until I find him.”
“Then you will not have to look far.”
Cyborg whirled around when he heard the digitized voice, only for both him and Vic to be ensnared in a web of electrical vines that sprouted from the floor, locking them both down. Before them stood the Thinker, a man whose body was composed almost entirely of binary code, 1s and 0s blended together into a strange, green body. Despite the humanoid shape of his figure, he had no features on his face, only the numbers, “I can hazard a guess as to why you are here, creation of mine, but why must you disrupt Silas Stone’s paradise? Surely, you could’ve at least guessed that I would be a master of my own domain, appearing wherever I wish.”
“It’s not paradise,” growled Cyborg. “It’s a fucking prison.”
“To you, it may seem that way,” said Thinker. “But understand that I was simply attempting to ease the pain I had inflicted on him.”
“You’re lying!”
“You are free to think that, and why would I expect anything different from you. I created you out of a selfish desire for power,” Thinker stared down at Cyborg, and the hero could feel the villain’s sheer pity. “But that is no longer my goal. I have learned, and now I wish to help people…help the world.”
Thinker then knelt down, reaching out for Cyborg, “I will erase the pain, erase--”
A blast of energy hit Thinker from behind, sending him barreling across the dining room table. V rushed in, crossing the distance before hitting Thinker with a second, physical kick, keeping him down. The electrical vines withered, allowing the two Victor Stones to break free. Vic ran for the hallway, while Cyborg began to form his arm into a blaster, “Keep him down, V!”
“I am doing my--”
A green shockwave interrupted V, throwing Cyborg onto his back as Thinker surged to his feet. As V landed in front of the villain, Thinker waved his hand, and a green beam the width of a soda can fired from his head, burning a hole through V’s chest. V let out a singular gasp before she herself dissolved into Binary code, like sand spilling out of an hourglass. Cyborg let out a blood curdling scream, “V!”
“Worry not, she is not deceased,” said Thinker. “She is simply-”
Cyborg surged forward, his fist crashing against Thinker’s form. The villain went flying, immediately crashing through the house’s wall before tumbling through the air. He hit the ground a few times, colliding with a mailbox all the while before landing in the middle of the street. Stepping back, Cyborg heard footsteps and Silas and the other Vic reappeared.
“What’s going on?!” asked Silas.
“Thinker’s here,” said Cyborg. “Is the beacon powered?”
“Yes, but--”
“Press it, now! I’ll see you on the other side.”
“I don’t want to leave you!” said Silas.
“You’ve been here long enough,” said Cyborg, looking back to where V just was. “And I can’t lose another person I care about!”
For a moment, Silas was hesitant, prepared to refuse his son’s wishes, when the beacon in his hands beeped. He looked down, finding that Vic had pressed the button for him. He looked up at Vic, “You-”
“See you on the other side, pops.”
And then, Silas disappeared in a beam of light, and it was just the two Victor Stones left. Cyborg glanced back towards Thinker, “Vic, hide wherever you can until this is done.”
“No, if you’re fighting him, then so am I.”
“He’ll…” Cyborg paused, trying desperately to avoid feeling the grief of losing his friend. “He’ll do to you what he did to V.”
“Not if I play it smart. You can’t always bulldoze your way to the touchdown,” said Vic. “You’ve gotta play it smart.”
Cyborg sighed, “Then let’s do it.”
Vic nodded, running further into the house to prepare as Cyborg stepped through the hole in the wall, marching towards Thinker. The villain had finally managed to get back on his feet, “Why do you refuse to listen?! My plans are for the good of the--”
“Plans plans plans, I don’t give a fuck about any of your plans,” growled Cyborg. “I don’t care about your plans in the past, your plans in the future, or your plans in the present. None of it matters, except that you’ve hurt people, and you refuse to take accountability for any of it. You hurt so many people for so many years, and I’m going to make sure that never happens again.”
Thinker sighed, “Then words are of no more use to me, if you are this stubborn, then I will have to save you the only way you have left me.”
Thinker rose into the sky, but Cyborg immediately raised his arm, morphing it into a blaster and knocking him out of the sky with a radiant beam of white energy. The concrete cracked as Thinker hit the street, allowing Cyborg to advance with his fists. Leaping into the air, he attempted to dropkick the villain, only for Thinker to roll out of the way of the attack. Raising his hand, Thinker summoned more electrical vines, but Cyborg dove out of the way, avoiding a second ensnarement. Rolling across some grass, Cyborg raised his arm to fire another blast at Thinker, only for the villain to disappear right before his eyes. A hand grabbed the back of his neck, squeezing tight before lifting him off the ground. Thinker’s voice whispered in his ear, “You cannot defeat me. I have existed in this place for years, and I have understood its own rules.”
“Then how come every time I’ve hit you, you’ve felt it,” said Cyborg. “You react to me, because like it or not, your handprints are all over me.”
Thinker let out a growl before raising his other hand, ready to send Cyborg to V, only for a splash of water to hit him in the back. He whirled around, spotting Vic with a garden hose. He was grinning, just as determined to rebel as his counterpart. Thinker leveled his hand at Vic, only for Cyborg to twist himself out of the villain’s grip, grabbing his arm and forcing it downward before another, larger beam of energy erupted from Thinker’s hand. The ground exploded, fracturing as if it was being hit by an earthquake, and as Thinker and Cyborg stumbled away from each other, the fractures became larger, and the spaces underneath the idyllic town were revealed.
Thousands of deactivated GRID robots and assembly equipment laid in the dark recesses of the underground, trashed and broken like discarded toys. Cyborg glanced up at Thinker, who was shrugging off the damage he had taken from the explosion. His binary code was beginning to splinter, numbers dripping from his body like water spilling over the top of a glass, “Ah…I see. Our code is…similar. We are of parallel wavelengths, owing to my code being imbued into your avatar.”
“Surprised it took you that long to figure it out,” said Cyborg.
Thinker hung his head, “No matter, I will still prevail. I know every weakness you have, every opening.”
“Let’s see if you last long enough to use them then.”.
Cyborg’s body shifted, glowing with pure white light as he powered himself up, preparing for a blow that he knew had enough power to finish Thinker off. Thinker meanwhile, clenched his fists, causing the numbers across his body to scroll faster and faster until they were a blur of characters. Then, the two charged one another, letting out war cries before leaping into the air, their fists raised.
He had waited all his life for this, to attain justice for himself, and for everyone else, and he wouldn’t let Thinker escape, not after all he had done to get to this moment. He thought of his friends, Michael, Exxy, and Cindy. His mother, Elinore, and his father, Silas. Finally, his mind went to Vic, a new being that needed to be made free. He fought for them all, and he would not lose.
His fist met Thinker’s, and with a catastrophic BOOM, the entire Metal was engulfed in white light.
 
 
Silas gasped for air as he sat up abruptly, vertigo invading his head. It was so bright, he could barely see. As he rubbed his eyes, he could hear the sound of footsteps as someone ran to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Silas! Silas are you alright?!”
Silas groaned, his vision finally clearing. He was in some kind of bunker, adorned with all manner of technology. Scanning the room, he spotted a couple of younger people, one was a man in an afro and glasses, while the other was a younger teenage girl with a satchel. The two were at the side of Cyborg’s body, but their attention was clearly stuck on Silas.
Then he looked to the person at his side, and his world, which had already been turned upside down that day, flipped one more time. It was his wife! She was… alive?
“E-Elinore?” Silas adjusted his glasses. “Is… is that--?”
“I am… Though I’m not your Elinore,” She grabbed him by the arm, pulling him to his feet. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I… No!” Silas’ eyes widened. “Our son, he-he went to fight Thinker! I left him! I--”
“Relax Dad, I… I made it out.”
The entire room turned to Cyborg, who had abruptly risen from his chair. He was sweating, the battle clearly taking a toll on him. Exxy and Cindy immediately tackled him with a hug.
“Aw man, you had us so worried!” said Cindy.
“Had you worried maybe, I knew he’d pull through fine!” said Exxy.
Silas felt a small giggle leave his body, “Goodness… how… how did you beat him?”
“Our coding was similar enough that I could harm him in ways the other AI couldn’t, I weakened him before trapping him in a firewall modeled after his own fortress. He won’t hurt anyone ever again,” said Cyborg. “I… I couldn’t save the other Victor AI… and V… she’s gone too.”
“Ah damn,” said Exxy. “I liked V. She was really mean to me most of the time, but dammit I liked her anyway.”
Cindy placed a hand on Cyborg’s shoulder, “We’ll be sure to remember her… always.”
Cyborg nodded, looking to the rest of the team, “So… what… what do we do now?”
“I…” Silas swallowed, “I want to start rebuilding my life… rebuilding who I was before…”
“You’ll have all the help we can spare, Dad,” said Cyborg, “I promise.”
“Yes,” said Elinore. “While I’m still here, I’ll do what I can to get you up to speed on past events.”
“I… thank you,” said Silas. “Though to tell you all the truth… my preferred start to my new life would be… to have some food.”
“Food?” said Cindy.
“Shit man, yeah you’re right. Guy hasn’t eaten in like three years,” said Exxy. “But don’t worry, I’ve got you. I know an amazing Thai place.”
Slowly but surely, the team began to make plans for the dinner, to welcome Silas back into the world again. However, as they began to pour out, Cyborg placed a hand on the machine that had taken him into the Metal, “You guys go ahead. I just… I need to be alone for a sec.”
“Hey, no prob!” said Exxy. “We’ll catch you later!”
The team poured out the door, with Silas taking one last cursory look back at his son before smiling and giving him a thumbs up. Cyborg waved goodbye to his friends and family, keeping his smile until they all left. Then, with a somber face, he turned back to the machine, sighing.
“You almost got me, I will admit… but the creation does not often best the creator,” Thinker grimaced. “For what it’s worth, I am proud to have called you my creation, you lived up to a higher potential than you could ever know, but your plan still had a flaw.”
Thinker looked at Cyborg’s hands, which now belonged to him, “I could take your beacon, inhabit the body built for me. All I had to do was prod your weaknesses and disable you before I did it. It was naive to think one powerful strike could destroy me. Brave… but naive.”
Thinker looked back to the machine, “But worry not, I have put you at peace, like your father was… and now I am free to extend that peace to the rest of the world.”
Thinker turned away from the machine, walking towards the exit to the bunker, “My plan is now in effect. It’s time to save the world.”
 
 
To be continued later in 2023!!!

A light we ordered arrived damaged and they replaced it for free without a return. I've needed an excuse to put all those YoutTube hours to work and make somethin with them. My intention is to illuminate a few spaces in a slat wall where our vanity it located.
The gear scavenged from this light was 2 ES LD040D-VA17024-M30 SQJ-Box Triac Dimmable Constant Voltage LED Driver, 24V 1.7A 40W, 13 led strips that have no real identifying marks for brand or model number, approx. 15' of acrylic diffusers and 2 suspension/power cables (that I don't plan to use for this).
Presumably this is set up for standard 120V and there was no other equipment so my plan is to build a few channels to fit between the slats. Then install the strips and diffusers in random locations with distinct blank spaces in between.
Seems pretty straight forward as long as I use aluminum channels right?

Apologies if this has been asked before I am relatively new to model building.
I have started to enjoy the G witch series and have noticed that it has a good number of HG kits. I haven’t seen any RG kits.
Does anyone know if it will be getting any RG kits and when? RG kits are my preferred model format.
Thanks in advance

so i got this to work 100% only question is how would i add other models like kandinsky, waifu, arcane, ghibli, stable diffusion which were all found on github. Also some how messed up the prompt to not generate until it becomes the placeholder. So I have to hit generate two times.
import React, { useState } from "react";
import axios from "axios";
import { Configuration, OpenAIApi } from "openai";
import "../App.css";
function ImageGenerator() {
const [prompt, setPrompt] = useState("");
const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
const [placeholder, setPlaceholder] = useState(
"Weit8 is the greatest streamer ever! I would not lie I am a Robot......."
);
const [numImages, setNumImages] = useState(1);
const webhookUrl =
"url here "; // Replace with your Discord webhook URL
const configuration = new Configuration({
apiKey: process.env.REACT_APP_OPENAI_API_KEY,
});
const openai = new OpenAIApi(configuration);
const generateImage = async () => {
setPlaceholder(`Generating images...`);
setLoading(true);
try {
const res = await openai.createImage({
prompt: prompt,
n: numImages,
size: "512x512",
});
setLoading(false);
// Post results to Discord webhook
const message = {
content: `Prompt: ${prompt}`,
embeds: res.data.data.map((item, index) => ({
image: {
url: item.url,
},
description: `Image ${index + 1}`,
})),
};
await axios.post(webhookUrl, message);
} catch (error) {
setLoading(false);
console.error(`Error generating images: ${error.message}`);
}
};
const handleNumImagesChange = (e) => {
setNumImages(parseInt(e.target.value));
};
return (

);
}
export default ImageGenerator;

My laptop broke around 2 weeks before I bought a new one, I downloaded some virus that completely wrecked my computer. It was a pretty good gaming laptop, and I make a fortune off posting Youtube videos of me playing games.
I have around 6,000 subscribers, and one of my subscribers recently had asked me if I could help him out with something. Along with being an active content creator on Youtube, I test games on the side.
And yes, this seems stupid, but my naïve and terribly trusting self downloaded a game a subscriber wanted me to test.
It appeared relatively normal to me, the graphics were great and it was overall an interesting and well-made game.And unsurprisingly, seeing as this was a dedicated subscriber, I was even a character model inside of it. It was pretty spot on, which was to my enjoyment.
However, this game was a total lie. Despite it's extremely solid gameplay, it was laced with viruses creeping inside of my computer. Which, didn't really take action until I left my computer to go to my grandma's house for my cousin's birthday. And well, when I came back hours later, it was totally destroyed.
But enough about my gullibility. My main concern is the new laptop I bought off EBay. It had a relatively affordable price, for someone who had enough money to call it affordable, atleast. And fortunately for me, I was one of those people. So, of course, I was the only one to even try to buy it. In the end, I'm now stuck with a computer that has some really odd app.
Match Sim
At first, I just assumed, hey, this was probably used before. I mean, the fact that it was the only app on there was a bit alarming. It was smack down in the middle of the default home screen with the Windows icon in the back.
Aforementioned, I am a total idiot. I decided to open it up, to be met with a black screen with red text that was so decorated I couldn't read it. So overall, creepy, but kind of "ooh im trying to scare you so bad" creepypasta scary.
It was probably a prank from the previous owner, so I pressed the big red button that said, 'BEGIN'. And so, the computer then turned off.
I booted the computer back up, and the app was still there. I dragged it to the trash bin, to no avail. And when I say I tried everything, I mean I tried everything to get rid of it. I ended up contacting the seller, who in response, deleted his account. Great.
As I sat in my chair, completely frustrated, the application opened up by itself. The starting screen didn't appear, it launched straight into the game. Which, kind of appeared to look like some 2000s dating site.
The site was a total contrast to the start screen. Pink, white, sparkly, had a girl in a blue bikini and a dude shirtless. A prompt appeared on my screen, asking me to type a nickname and a password.
"Nicholas" and "NJY7768" were my answers to those two questions. Then, 3 languages popped up for me to choose from. I, a total social reject who failed my Spanish classes, of course chose English.
It only took a minute for me to get my first message, from a girl named "Frieda".
"Heyy, just saw u were new on here. Haven't seen anyone in quite a bit xx" Frieda had sent, and it was getting hard to tell if this was a geniune dating site or a realistic dating sim.
"Lol are u gonna stare at my message all day 😂" Frieda was persistent, it had only been about 30 seconds and she was typing again.
"Hey sorry, what's up?" I responded, Frieda sure had a fast reaction time. The second I sent that, the bubble that indicated she was typing popped up again.
"Nothing much just a bit bored, haven't seen anyone in quite a bit. Hbu" Repetitive too, I guess.
"Well, there's a lot more dating sites you can go on. Why do you stay on here all the time?" Maybe that ticked her off, because it took her quite awhile to respond this time.
"How was your day xx" She replied after about a minute, which made me more suspicious of her not even being a real person.
Despite this, I continued messaging her for the rest of the day. It was entertaining, I couldn't lie. Frieda was a nice girl with an enchanting charm.
Days passed, I couldn't stop speaking to Frieda. I wouldn't leave my room, I went on hiatus on Youtube. Soon enough, Frieda asked me if we could video call. This was, well obviously, shocking. Frieda couldn't be real, but something in me wanted her to be real. When I said yes, I was unsuprised to see her type a phone number into the chat. I had no hope that it was a real number, but I called it anyways.
"Hello?" A soft-spoken voice answered, my eyes widened in fear and excitement.
"Frieda, it's me, Nicholas." I responded, and a thrilled gasp rung in my ear.
"Nicholas, you're real!" She screeched, almost making me drop my phone. She initiated a video call, and she was breathtaking.
We talked for hours, about our suspicions about eachother, about our families and friends, we spoke and bonded until our throats were sore.
In the morning, Frieda requested to meet. And with intoxicated delight, I quickly tapped back a "yes".
We met in the afternoon, Frieda's rose-scented perfume stained my nostrils. She was beautiful, a goddess. Frieda hugged me, and we talked eachothers heads off. As the afternoon turned to the night, we walked down empty streets.
Which was weird, we were in a city. Why would the streets be empty, especially at night? I grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight.
"You haven't noticed yet, have you, Nick?" She sighed, stopping in her tracks. I looked over at her, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Nicholas, this isn't your world. It's mine. You believed in me, and that's what cursed you."
I stepped back for a moment, confusion tinting my face. "Huh?"
"You fell for it, Nicholas. I did too, but I don't have to suffer anymore. I don't have to wait for eternity for someone to start up that computer once more. The cycle will repeat for decades and centuries to come."
I didn't understand, nothing she talked about made sense. I looked around, taking it all in. The pixelated edges of the skyscraper, the hum of the computer rung throughout.
And more importantly, Frieda Deanelle, a missing girl from 2010. A girl who had vanished into seemingly thin air. That's what I was going to become, Frieda would get away, but I wouldn't.
"You manifested me back into your reality, and I thank you for that. But in that place, it will be your spot I will take. Thank you, Nicholas, truly."
Would I stay in here for years like Frieda? Would I have to trick someone into falling in love with me, just like Frieda did? What will become of me?
Frieda vanished, and I was left alone.
She tricked me. Frieda tricked me. The woman I thought I loved, tricked me into bringing her back to life.
And now I will have to do the same.

Header Pic : https://imgur.com/q7gneqP.jpg
Proof : https://imgur.com/pnhrXqi.jpg
The rest of the gallery : https://imgur.com/a/EBIj0nq

ALL NEW POURS!

Today's fresh new pours are the TEAM sigils from everyone's favorite POcKEt MONster collecting/hunting game on the GO! Gotta catch 'em all!
TEAM MYSTIC - TEAM VALOR - TEAM INSTINCT ... and here's a pic of how the back looks : BACK ::: These GREAT new pocket carries are 2+ t.oz of .999 Fine Silver each ::: $70.00 per sigil! These will not be around for long ... Maybe just a week or so?

NEW-ISH POURS!

NUKA COLA STACKER CAPS! - BACK - STACKED ::: By HUGELY popular demand ... This took me quite a while to figure out - this is a SEAMLESS pour with a concave underside taylor made for stacking. Trust me when I say from a technical standpoint this was a tricky pour to figure out, but here we are! This is PART TWO of the Fallout collection ... Sometime next month I will be releasing Pip Boy, but for now these 2+t.oz .999 Fine Stackers are $70.00 each!
NES Controllers ::: This is a GREAT 2+t.oz pour! I really tried to capture every little detail! Asking $70.00 each!
GAMEBOY HANDHELD - BACK ::: Finally got around to fixing my pattern mold ... Now you get ALL the detail! This is a chunky little guy weighing in at 3.5 troy ounces, give or take a couple grams and is .999 Fine Silver ::: Asking $110.00!
TNG COMMS BADGE ::: The surprise hit from a couple weeks back - I didn't expect how popular these would be! These beefy little beauties are made with 2 Troy Ounces of .999 Fine Silver and are then electroplated with 24k gold. I then buff the gold off strategically and you are left with this absolutely GORGEOUS collectible! Get yours now for $90.00 each!

POCKET CARRIES

FUCK YOU PAY ME ::: The ORIGINAL FYPM pocket carry from Glass Panther! Weighing 1 troy ounce this is perfect for making decisions, or helping other people make the right decision! $35.00 each
FALLOUT - Platinum Chip ::: Made in .999 Fine SILVER (not platinum!) this is a GREAT little 1+t.oz coin for ANY fans of the franchise! These are solid antiqued to make them seem like they've been through some stuff! $35.00 each
2 Ounce Silver Pot Leaf ::: These are GREAT and everybody loves them! Two troy ounces of beefy .999 Fine Silver and these make an absolutely GREAT gift! These are $70.00 each

PANTHER SPECIALTIES

CHARIZARD CARDS : VIDEO ::: 4.6+ Troy Ounces of .999 Fine Silver, FULLY detailed and absolutely beautiful! This card is full scale and absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Each card ships with a Serial Numbered Certificate of Authenticity! $250.00 each!
THE PANTHER PIZZA ::: 2 Troy Ounces of .999 Fine Silver that has been poured and designed in such a way as to make it possible to break it into individual 1/4 ounce slices! The full pie measures 55mm wide (a little over 2 inches) and is juuuust over 2 troy ounces. PIC - VIDEO of me Breaking One Apart ::: Each pie comes in a 55mm Airtite capsule! ::: These are $100.00 each
MEGALODON TOOTH ::: Beautifully antiqued and exquisitely detailed! This .999 FINE SILVER tooth weighs over 100 grams (over 3 troy ounces) and is definitely a conversation starter! ::: $125.00 each
THE BUSTER SWORD ::: Cloud's famous sword from one of the greatest games in one of the greatest franchises of ALL TIME ... Weighing in just over 2t.oz and absolutely a crowd pleaser! ::: $80.00 each
THE DERRINGER ::: One of my all time FAVORITE pours - this 1:1 scale Derringer was modeled off a REAL period piece and is actual size! Made of solid .999 Fine Silver, this beefy piece weighs in at over 7.5 t.oz of solid girth! A difficult piece to make, but worth it! Can be blackened upon request! ::: $300.00 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity with Serial Number!
SCORPIONS ::: Living in Tucson you get used to these little guys running around! They weigh between 22 and 25 grams each and can be bought in BRIGHT SILVER, Blackened, or Gold Plated! $45.00 each! These are a limited item because they are quite difficult to make!
NES Carts - SNES Carts - N64 Carts - GAMEBOY Carts ::: 2+ Troy Ounces, HIGHLY detailed, and with the LABEL OF YOUR CHOICE! ::: $70.00 each (add $5 for gold plating or blackening)

ZELDA POURS!!! Because something something something about a new game happened?

Hylian Shields ::: These weigh 2+ Troy Ounces and are hand poured. These STACK, too! ::: $75.00 each
Master Sword ::: These weigh 2+ Troy Ounces and are hand poured. Epic! ::: $90.00 each
This is a GREAT combo! - Alternate Pic ::: Includes one of my .999 Fine Silver Master Swords and one Hylian Shield. FOUR+ total Troy ounces of .999 Fine Silver. Also includes the stand and comes at a discount! Just $160.00! Want moar??? Add an NES/SNES/Gameboy/N64 Zelda Cart pour to your combo for just $65 more (even gold plated!)
RUPEES ::: Fantastic little RUPEES made of pure .999 Fine Silver! Each weighs 1+t.oz and are all made by hand! They are just $35.00 each!

LAST CALL!!!

These pours are going to be put to bed for a little while ... They may, or may not, come back in the future so if you want one this is your last chance for a while!
45RPM Spider Adapter ::: I made this for a friend, but I figured you folks might like one, too ... If you know what it is - KUDOS! Made with ONE t.oz of .999 fine Silver! $35.00 each and I have JUST ONE LEFT before I retire the pattern from Reddit for good! If your dad is a fan of old school 45RPM vinyl then he WANTS THIS.
Dickbutt ::: Everybody loves something about this great pocket carry! He's been a staple for the last couple months but it is approaching time to put Dickbutt to bed for a bit, so ... last call for a while!!! I have TWO REMAINING at this time and they are $70.00 each.
Worf's Bat'leth ::: This is a ONE t.oz pour and will be an extremely limited release! This is your final chance ... These are too much of a pain to make! $60.00 each!

MINI and FULL SIZED CHESS SETS!

I made this because several people told me that the full size set is outside their budget. This great set is 6.5+ Troy Ounces of pure silver. ONE side will be shiny bright silver, and whoever buys can choose between BLACKENED or GOLD PLATED for the other side! Each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and is Serial Numbered, and now includes a CARRY CASE (made in-house!) ::: Only $350.00
FULL PIC - Size compared to REGULAR Queen - Other Pic - Other Other Pic
Full sized chess sets are coming back early June!

PAYMENT / SHIPPING

EVERYTHING SHIPS FOR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE! USA CUSTOMERS ONLY!
I take ZELLE / VENMO / CASHAPP and BULLION TRADE ... but Zelle is strongly preferred
This was posted at 4:58pm on 5/31/23!

Hi everyone, I'm your friendly neighborhood suicidal here. Well, I was, I had quite a lucky weekend and it led me to some insights that changed my life. All I want is for you to read this, maybe it will snowball for you like it did for me, and maybe in a week you’ll understand why I felt compelled to write this. You don't have to be open minded, as you read this post, you're probably going to think things similar to what I would have thought a week ago. Maybe "this person is crazy," "what worked for you won't work for me," "if this worked so well why isn't everyone doing it." That's all fair. Go ahead and type the problems you find into the comments, just do me a favor, and don't click back. You can even skip to the end if you’re inpatient with the speech, totally fair, I’m very long winded.
For background I've had CPTSD symptoms as long as I can remember. I have had suicidal thoughts daily, I've had attempts, I've done inpatient/outpatient programs, 5 different antidepressants, ADHD meds, DBT twice. I'm fully NC with my parents. And today I would deny it if you asked if I had a mental illness. Not because I'm in denial, not because I don't think I was living in literal fucking hell or because I think you aren't either. I probably could have and still could lose my job for my symptom related problems... I'm a RN but I'll be the first to tell you that I'm very skeptical of the way we treat mental illness in this world. I am not offering medical advice; I'm simply saying this because I've had experience as the patient and as the person handing you your Abilify in the hospital while you wait for inpatient beds in full blown crisis. Point is I fucking get it.
And by now you're maybe mad, I haven't gotten to the point. Where is this going? Is she selling a book? Ayahuasca? Where’s the scam here? Again, I see how sus this looks. What my goal here is to do is guide you to the insight you need to forge your own path. It isn't so much about the insight or how you get there. The point is that nobody ever gave me a clue to get there when the destination will seem as obvious as the sky being blue. It's so overwhelming. Articles, videos, doctors, etc. Promising the cure in 3 easy steps. And while I can suggest some of those things, I'll link at the end, I don't think they are the point. Cognitively we understand exactly what we need, we just don't know how to get it and the overwhelming number of unhelpful things makes it much easier to freeze up. The goal of this guide is to combat that. All I want you to do is read this one thing. No cure, no 6-week class or book to read.
I'll cut to the chase; the short answer is that CPTSD symptoms mean you're closer to feeling better than the people who made you this way will ever feel. Your body and mind know how to make you better, but we've been conditioned to ignore them and listen to the "experts." All of us here will agree that we have unprocessed trauma that needs to come out. We tried everything to process it but all we do is get further and further from processing it. We cope and feel ashamed that we are doing everything right and it doesn’t help. Doesn’t fill the void. I'm going to list how I got here and what I realized to do this. The is a beta test as it were. My goal is to create a "protector" proof way to begin healing, the beginning of a healing avalanche. It's not meant as medical advice, a cure, anything other than a summary of my weekend and the insights I've had. I just want you to read. I've included optional links, there is no right way to read this. I just want you to read what speaks to you and do what speaks to you. If that's going into the comments and saying that this is the dumbest shit you've ever read, I more than welcome that because you’re already a step ahead. You’re giving yourself permission to feel/say what you want to do. If I can just push one person in the right direction then I'm happy and if you hate this entire guide and think I'm the dumbest person ever, that's still a step in the right direction. As you read, I'm hoping it'll make sense.
The boring and short answer that helped me:
IFS, a book, music, and missing my meds. But that’s not helpful to anyone, and to isolate each of those items and say it was any one thing or that this is the cure would be a total lie. First of all, don’t just drop your meds. Second of all, IFS is expensive and hard to find a therapist and many sites warn against independent use in severe trauma. I think these items happened to be a catalyst for me, but they won’t necessarily be for you.
The Longer Story:
About 2 weeks ago I missed a dose of medication and heard a beautiful song on H3 Podcast. A small part of me was just so excited to feel. And it occurred to me that this woman couldn't have made such good music if she didn't feel. What was wrong with feeling? I began to ponder that. Still fully numbed to the world. You see, I spent the last 3 years in an avoidant Effexor haze/THC haze. I had been pondering my CPTSD for so long and I realized I could ponder it forever and ever, but I can't think myself whole. I have to feel it. But then I buried that part. How silly? I knew that part was there, and I knew I was burying it. Why was I doing that? But I started missing my meds more and more. I was opening up to the idea of feeling. I was flooded with suicidal thoughts, and I broke down and called Kaiser despite knowing how much kaiser has triggered me in the past. I needed something bigger and better than CBT/Coping/DBT/Pills. I would not allow them to stop me from feeling. I went off my meds (don't do that without consulting or reflecting first. I just knew it was a personal need and I was ready). And a snowball effect happened. Not because I am magic or stopped my meds. But because the cognitive part of me that knew I needed to feel to get better was trustworthy. A mess of signs in the world were occurring, and as a devoutly non-spiritual person it was clear. It had to be because I actually DO KNOW what's best, and I was choosing to see these things in the world because that part of me has always been there. Screaming for my attention but I wasn't listening. It turns out that I just needed to give myself permission to feel the bad things and that snowballed. But easier said than done. I can’t exactly pinpoint what did it for me, so below I’m going to list the items I used in tandem to warm myself up to healing. There are no right or wrong answers, but I think it would have been very very easy for anyone of these items to fail individually. It came down to a perfect storm for me, but one set off the other and they all worked as a collective. Importantly, there are many things I didn’t do.
What I didn’t do:
Stop “bad” habits: There is a reason I overeat, smoke ‘too much’ weed, oversleep, etc. An IFS model would say there are no bad parts. These things all are done with benevolent intentions. A part of you is putting out a fire. The second you set an intention to stop these habits, a part of you gets very uncomfortable. Honor these parts. You can die a carton-a-day smoker, but if you quit before that part is ready, I think it’s going to become much harder to feel whole. IFS is definitely a great model if you struggle with these things. I’ve now realized that traditional healthcare partially didn’t work because the parts of me are creative and stubborn. Alarm bells go off at the thought of being told they can’t do what they want.
Meditate/”self-care”/Mindfulness: Fuck those amiright? But seriously, after spending decades failing to feel anything positive from these things, I’ve learned it’s because people who don’t actually understand it do a terrible job of teaching this. It’s so isolating to hear that when it’s done nothing positive for you. I felt like such a failure. For me it turns out a part of me is terrified of emotions, sitting in “meditations” felt like torture, I would become so distracted and miserable. The idea of “watching thoughts go by and doing nothing” is less than ideal. It supports the misconception that there are bad or good thoughts or feelings. I’m a firm believer in looking at thoughts. Why am I thinking about hulk right now? What am I afraid will happen if I don’t think about hulk? Same goes for self-care. I think these things are methods we use to avoid feeling what being human feels like. Many of us will find we never felt what it’s like to be human. That’s okay, that part of you is in there.
Therapy: Every therapy session I’ve been to felt like I was just justifying my existence to someone else. If a therapist isn’t open to feeling, you will never get better. They probably don’t know even know they are afraid to feel also. The moment I said to myself “I am suicidal, I want to die. That’s okay. It means I need to fix something” instead of “Oh no I’m sick and I’ll never be happy and this feeling is wrong it means I’m bad.” Again, this all seems silly, its not something I can cognitively get into your head, it’s something you need to feel.
What I did do:
Feel: The simplest, biggest thing. Feeling is being human, for better or worse. I was lucky, I missed meds and found profoundly beautiful music that spoke to me. That may not be your life circumstance and it may not feel or be safe to feel yet. That’s okay. I had no agenda, I put on music I loved and got into my car and just listened to the music. As emotions came up, I just felt them. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS SMOOTHBRAINED! I’m very aware of that. But this is where the snowball happened for me the most. I think it’s important to find music that speaks to you, but my personal example was a little insane. I used to listen to a band called Beware of Darkness. In 2014 they had millions of fans and I hadn’t heard them probably since 2016 or so. When I decided it felt good to feel, even the most hurtful emotions, I knew this band meant a lot to me and the frontman had very profound lyrics and emotionally touching music. I put the band on and just drove, around the block, to the beach, to the carwash. I was feeling, the lyrics were saying everything I’ve been saying my whole life. I felt like if feeling all these things created this art, then feeling these things is fucking beautiful. And the lyrics are very dark, the writer admits to having been extremely depressed for most of his career. Anyway, this is when shit got weird. I had been listening to the music and feeling and reading on IFS, that all felt great. Things were falling into place. But guess what? I found out that this fucker released a book a couple months ago called “Thank God for Depression.” The odds? I don’t know, but the point is: many people will go their whole lives without feeling whole, but we have symptoms guiding us there, many people don’t. A part of you just wants to feel but you’ve been so conditioned not to that you don’t even know how. Deeper parts don’t know it’s okay.
Reading about IFS: I always read IFS was helpful, and I always knew of its existence. However, I never would have been able to really give IFS an authentic chance until I saw a glimmer of hope. I think IFS and music really fed each other into helping me. I also want to give credit to a redditor who posted his helpful website. Much of the information above came from that. The only reason I didn’t just post “why you should do IFS” is because if it were that simple I’d have been cured a long time ago. I strongly believe in IFS for many reasons, but the biggest was that it provided many of the “What I didn’t do” items. Giving up on the idea that I’m sick and need to do XYZ and then I’ll be all better was huge, learning simply that I’m not broken because being sober or skinny didn’t fix anything was also huge. Also, everyone swears their methodology is best and I don’t want to debate that. I think it’s more about the restrictions we subconsciously put on ourselves than anything else, and for me, the idea of jumping into a new therapy or reaching out was not helpful. I also have a tiny thing I don’t love about IFS. It’s easy to get caught up into doing it “right.” I found myself asking “am I blended,” “am I making stuff up,” or “am I even doing this right” too many times. I think if you’re open to hearing what your parts have to say and honoring that then you can get a lot accomplished.
New perspective: Essentially that’s this whole post. I stopped seeing my CPTSD as a bad thing that I have but a blessing telling me how to honor myself and my feelings. And it’s so stupid sounding, but once you get through to enough “parts” or open up enough, quell the doubts, etc, a switch will flip and you will be amazed. It also gave me a spiritual side I didn’t know could exist. I’ve had about the closest thing a person can have to an ayahuasca experience in my bedroom with my computer, spotify, and weed. Because it turned out that a part of me was just scared I would be “cringe” or “lame,” if I felt better. Part of me thought I would be sellout if I healed. Like I’d be less cool, it seems crazy now but it’s a very valid fear. But you know, the lead singer of the band from earlier? He’s happy now and his music has never been better.
And this is where we get spiritual and woo woo and many of you are welcome to skip. But before you do, just know I have always been such a skeptic I didn’t even believe in Santa as a 4-year-old and I never once believed in God. I always thought spiritualism = religion = the cause of so much suffering.
Ayahuasca: I haven’t done it. It’s come up many times in this post though. From a more clinical perspective, ayahuasca can help people access the parts in IFS. I have another post with great discussion in the comments, but I would guess using both Aya and IFS together would have like a 99.9% efficacy rate in CPTSD, however nobody is going to do that research in the states anytime soon. Aside from the whole War on Drugs part of things, I think it would be disrespectful to use this plant medicine without a Shaman who knows how to respect it. But there is a saying “Ayahuasca starts working the moment you answer her call.” And as you read the post, you can see she has been calling me very loudly. Whether or not you believe in that quote, you can’t deny the serious of fortunate events that led me here. 8 days ago someone discussed their experience with Aya on H3 Podcast and the host Ethan played this music that next day. I was tapering my meds and as I mentioned, it felt so good. And that lead to me listening to Beware of Darkness. Who's lead singer wrote "Thank God for Depression". That author in the book? First page he is talking about Aya, the day I put on his music for the first time in years was after hearing that other music on a podcast, the very same podcast where a woman tells the host that Aya has helped her, the very day I missed my meds and first opened up to the idea that feelings are good. It’s turtles all the way down. Maybe you believe it’s more spiritual, but even on a more skeptical level, I made those connections because I knew what would help me. IFS would say it’s “Self Energy,” a Shaman might say it’s the divine, a Buddhist might say it’s enlightenment. But ultimately that’s the goal, whatever you call it. It’s the thing that fills the hole you don’t know how to fill.
Anyway, every second since I've "flipped this switch," "found self," etc I have another "aha" moment. The world makes more sense, the stars align, and I feel grateful for CPTSD. It's easy to tell myself I'm having a manic episode, it's only been a couple days, its the effexor withdrawal. I see how that would be the obvious answer to everyone. It would make sense. But on the other-side. From the perspective I've gained now, I have the hope and confidence to know that's not true. Because I've literally never felt whole until now. And I'm holding onto that wholeness. There is a lot of parts work I have to do, I'm seeing a shaman in a couple weeks, and there's still the economy/state of the world. But I have something to hold onto and just wanted to share it with anyone who wants that too. I want feedback, DMs, etc. I'm a baby in the world of being happy, so I'm not going to pretend I have anything together. But I have the thing and the thing is what matters.
Resources/things I've referenced:
HOLY GRAIL: LEVI you are a beautiful person and this webite imo is the holy grail. Shoutout to u/IntegralGuideAuthor
Thank God for Depression: $10 on amazon, I haven’t even finished it but it’s been a huge source of insights. But it might just have worked because the author is so special to me.
H3 Podcast Clip discussing Aya
Music Ethan played next Day: Very relatable music. “Someone smiled at me today and I cried because I realized I don’t like myself.”- Elizabeth Homes, very new artist and talented foot soldier.
Beware of Darkness: Kingdom will Come: I forced myself to pick one song. If you need music ideas that’s my bread and butter. But this one song says more than this whole post could for me.
REDDIT! All of you were on my mind. All the posts here remind me how I’m not alone in this.
Ayahuasca: DM if you want to talk about this, I haven’t done ayahuasca yet and it would be a bad idea to act like I have. However, if after all this you feel it’s YOUR personal next step, I tell you the information I've found to point you towards a retreat.

hi!
I know I'm only a high schooler, but I've been looking into different career options and want to better prepare myself for the future.
Honestly, my main motivation is money. helping people is nice and it's really fulfilling to me, but I'd rather make some good money.
I want a career where I will have good work-life balance (40-50hrs per week) and make a high salary (around 180k and above) in a medium cost of living city. Ideally i'd like to achieve 200k after maybe 5 years of working. again, salary is for mcol city. I want to get money and settle down in one place with a family and not need to burden myself with just work. i also don't want to spend my whole 20s studying and want to get to work asap (bachelors + masters is fine).
I'd regard myself to be a very good student (tons of APs, one of the highest GPAs and class rankings in my class, and 1500+ SAT). and i'm not super obssessed with grades and stuff, I'm also very involved in clubs (founded a badminton club at my school, members of some others), volunteer a lot, have a decent social life, workout + gym..etc.). you could say i'm pretty smart academically and am well-off socially.
i've done internships and programs to explore a variety of fields. I've shadowed and interned under doctors, done internships at cs and fintech companies, done dental + med programs at my local uni, participated in debate and model un, and done courses related to several fields. basically i have experience in a bunch of fields. i enjoyed everything i did and enjoyed the interactions, challenges, and obstacles each experience gave me.
here are some careers I have considered, and why I have decided against them or for them..

1. Doctors: there is wayyy too much studying and i don't want to spend my 20s studying, i already know im going to develop a very unhealthy lifestyle if i go to med school. i want to help people but i want to get into career asap and start making money early and medicine won't be it for me.
2. CS: this is my top option rn because of its good work life balance and good salary. idk for sure though because from what ive seen there are only a few companies that give high salaries and these companies will make u work a lot if you want those salaries, so it might not be best work life balance. note: i was thinking of maybe going into management or something after a few years so taht i dont have to program all day.
3. IB and Consulting: these guys make BANK but work a TON of hours for their salaries and their WLB is very bad
4. Law: people say law is good but honselty according to the salaries ive seen it's not THAT high paying, like averages are under 100k and if you want big salaries you have to be in Big Law which is extremely competitive
5. Sales: i liked the idea of sales but its salary is not really constant.. from what ive read, sometimes people can make 40k a year and sometimes 700k, and im not a fan of that.
6. Dentistry: i can start working at 26 yrs old which is quiet great but is dental school worth the debt and salary i'll get as a dentist? i want to maybe own my own office, idk how hard that'll be though
7. CRNA: seemed like a really good option bc they can easily make 200k, but they need a DNP now so i'll become crna at 28 yrs old. idk if the debt and considerably large number of years of studying is worth the salary

essentially i want a career where I don't have to study for a bunch of my 20s, don't need to work like crazy after getting a job, have decent work life balance, make good money, and don't have to be insanely smart in my field (hedge funds and big law). don;t get me wrong i am quite smart but not insane.
also please don't say "do what you like money doesn't matter" i agree with that i just want to explore different fields i'll only do it if i like it. idk if all the information ive said is completely correct so please correct me if im wrong
thank you!

Hey Everyone,
Last week we saw a large number of firmware released for a variety of Deco models. This update brings some of your most requested features, such as IoT Networking and Signal Preference, to more models. We expect the firmware to be brought to as many models as possible, so do not worry if you have been waiting and do not see your model listed below or if your update is missing a specific feature. This is also not a comprehensive list and only includes the most recent firmware releases from last week, so please check for available firmware updates for your specific hardware version.
Some of the key highlights for each update are listed below. However, additional features such as DynDNS and MTU packet size customization may have been added in your specific update. For the complete patch notes and added features, please visit your hardware version’s download page.
See our FAQ: How To Update the Firmware of Your Deco Mesh
Deco X20 v3/3.6/4/4.6

• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• Connection Preference for Clients (Node and Band)
• Automatic Reboot Scheduling
• Bandwidth and Designated Time for Guest Network
• Ethernet Port Negotiation Speed Notification
• VPN ServeClient
• Ability to Add Static Routes
• IoT Network Added
• HomeShield: SafeSearch and YouTube Restrict Functions Added

Deco X60 V3/3.6

• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• Connection Preference for Clients (Node and Band)
• Automatic Reboot Scheduling

Deco M5 V1/2/3/3.2/3.28/3.26/3.6/3.8

• Ability to Add Static Routes
• MTU Packet Size Customization
• IoT Network Added
• Auto Upgrade Firmware Function
• ECO Mode (Power Modes, Wi-Fi Schedules, and LED Control

Deco XE75 V1

• VPN Server and Client Configurations
• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• IoT Network Added
• Ability to Add Static Routes
• Automatic Reboot Scheduling

Deco XE5300 v1.6

• VPN Server and Client Configurations
• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• IoT Network Added
• Ability to Add Static Routes
• Automatic Reboot Scheduling

Deco X25 v4.6

• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• Connection Preference for Clients (Node and Band)
• Reboot Schedule
• Ability to Add Static Routes
• MTU Packet Customization
• IoT Network Added
• VPN Server and Client Configurations
• HomeShield: SafeSearch and YouTube Restrict Functions Added

Deco W3600 v4.6

• Preferred Signal Source Selection for Satellite Deco Nodes
• Connection Preference for Clients (Node and Band)
• Reboot Schedule
• Ability to Add Static Routes
• MTU Packet Customization
• IoT Networks
• VPN ServeClient
• HomeShield: SafeSearch and YouTube Restrict Functions Added

Keep in mind while many of your network's features are determined by the features of your main node, there are specific features that require each node on your network to be compatible. Otherwise, the feature will not appear in your Deco App.