Hey guys so I ordered my stuff of AliExpress I ended up using Bykski RGB fittings and Bykski frosted tubing. 4 out of thr 12 tube I have are so tight that even after reaming them and putting water on the o rings to help slide on. Their tearing apart the O rings.Honestly impossible really to get on easily. Like you need a hammer lol it's that tight lol. No I didn't use a hammer. I did measure then with my micrometer. They look to be about a half a millimeter difference in ID. Anyways I have to replace 4 of the Orings on 2 of the fittings that I've chewed up trying to twist the tubs on. I was wondering if there's a special material for the O rings or can I just run to home depot and just pick something that fits?
Also anyone else had this problem before?I think I'm just going to throw away the 4 tubes and buy some corsair ones off of amazon?

Hello, pokemontrades!
I am taking reservations for Yasuharu Shimizu's Bronzong#Yasuharu_Shimizu.27s_Bronzong) event farming trades. This short event will run from June 10th to June 11th. I am posting now as we are within the two-week reservation window.
As usual, I am asking for a-button or video proofs of each event redemption. If you haven't done redeems for me before, please look at my Event Pokemon Proofing Guide. For a-button proof, I require the entire a-button screen and the info card with all the details to be clear and readable.

Looking For:

Looking For:	# Still Wanted
Yasuharu Shimizu's Bronzong	50

FT: Select Events

Event	For # Bronzong Redeems
Charizard (Bullseye Charizard), ENG, OT: Bullseye, ID: 100117, History: patchespatch04 > me, Proof: A-Button	6
Lunatone (Sakuji's Mystery Files Lunatone), JPN, OT: サクジ, ID: 170726, History: AnimeKitty421 > me, Proof: A-Button	9
Zygarde (2018 Legends Shiny Zygarde), ENG, OT: 2018 Legends, ID: 060218, History: shinybidoof11 > Pjay12 > me, Proof: A-Button	9
Regigigas (BDSP Ten'i Village Regigigas), KOR, OT: 전이마을, ID: 220601, History: sejin_mb > me, Proof: Video	9
Zeraora (1 Million Victories Shiny Zeraora), ENG, OT: HOME, ID: 200630, History: self-redeemed, Proof: Video	18
Gastrodon-East (PJC 2019 Gastrodon), JPN, OT: カ・エール, ID: 200822, History: SwiftGoten > me, Proof: Video	9
Mew (20th Anniversary Mew), KOR, OT: GF, ID: 02016, History: Makvi > me, Proof: Proofless	4
Jirachi (20th Anniversary Jirachi), ENG, OT: GF, ID: 04016, History: AnimeKitty421 > me, Proof: Proofless	4
Zygarde (Descartes Zygarde), JPN, OT: Descartes, ID: 05026, History: Makvi > me, Proof: Proofless	4
Zygarde (XYZ Zygarde), ENG, OT: XYZ, ID: 05026, History: DT2X > pjay12 > me, Proof: Wonder Card	4
Salazzle (Clovis Salazzle), ENG, OT: Clovis, ID: 80817, History: youngones17 > Makvi > me, Proof: Generic Screenshot, Disclosures: Touched	3
Lycanroc-Midnight (Rocky Lycanroc), ENG, OT: Rocky, ID: 51517, History: Makvi > me, Proof: Wonder Card	4
Pikachu (Singing Pikachu), LANGUAGE SET OF NINE, OT: GF, ID: 210227, History: raviteja101 > me, Proof: Video, Disclosures: Dates don't match due to time travel	18

I have just redesigned (and restocked) my trading spreadsheet, so please make offers if you would like to do redeems for an event or two not listed above. When making offers list multiple events you would consider trading for. This makes it much more likely for me to make a counteroffer and for us to trade successfully.

Tomrorow my son goes to his dads house for 2 hours after not seeing him for 6 months due to a protection order because my ex threatened to kill himself and my son in his car when he was getting frustrated with my son because he wanted to bring a toy he just got home to my house. He is 12. They are in reunification therapy and my son is very trusting but also scared to see him. I feel it is too soon but I have no choice in the mater. I know mentally I am very concerned about that and my anxiety is through the roof on it but I have to act normal for my sons sake so I dont trigger him too. I have to drive my son up to his house and drop him off then get him. My plan was to be close by in case anything happens. I know mentally I am not going to be OK so I asked my now husband if he would come with me. I asked him last week sometime and told him I really need him. I need someone there to just look out for ME. Help me through this you know? I have CPTSD and am not handling this like a normal person would. I am a nervous wreck thanks to this and prone to panic attacks. He said no problem and again I re-explained why I need him there....worried about panic attacks etc.
Today I went out for lunch with my husband. He says he wants to use the time to visit his mom at the rehab facility because she had a stroke 2 weeks ago. She is fine and thankfully is only working on relearning speech. So first background, since she has been in the hospital I asked if he needs anything and to come to me if he does. He didnt. He never asked me to come with him to the hospital and I am not able to offer as he goes when I am busy with work or other things. He complains constantly about going. I ask how he is and how she is everytime he comes back. His mother also isnt very fond of me anyway and doesnt really talk to me. Me going there shaking and crying possibly is not what I foresaw as "supportive" for me and I wouldnt think would be great for his mom either. If my best friend was in the hospital I wouldnt visit her either, bringing my drama to her like that...no thanks.
I am NOT going to be OK. I will be a nervous wreck and I asked my husband when I asked him a week ago that we go somewhere distracting where its just him and I. Somewhere close where in the drop of an eye we can just get up and go get my son if something happens or he asks to come home early. I told him this originally and this is what he said: "Well just so you know I have to drive you and your son up there and essentially sit around for 3 hours, I think we should visit my mom so I dont have to later and I'm already spending 3 hours for you and plus I have to visit my mom so technically just so you know I will be having a hard day too."
And with that comment he undid what I needed from him for support. I already told him I will go with someone else or sit at Starbucks for 2 hours on my laptop.
Also to note he was NEVER concerned with his mom being in the hospital and I have asked him if he is stressed about it and he said no.

[←Chapter 53] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 55→]
The day had slid by Aya like so much water off of a duck’s back. It took a particularly hard prod by Frare to dislodge her from a slurry of inattentiveness. As she looked around she realised the barricades had been almost completely disassembled, with only scraps remaining on the church floor. The pieces of broken glass and masonry were being carted outside by the villagers that remained.
Currently there was a lukewarm debate around the command table, dragged to the centre of the hall. Aya’s consciousness glossed over Sorore reprimanding her brother for bothering her, as well as the various arguments over logistics and provisions. She half-heartedly listened to discussions of various threats on various roads, and then quickly forgot about it.
Without really realising it, she found herself peaking at the parchments spread over the table. The lined scrolls held no real meaning for her, but the centre map with its pins certainly did. It was a large and fairly extensive map of the continent, with various cities illustrated with flowing script too elaborate for her to read. Slowly her eyes flitted from north to south, and found the curl of a mountain range bleeding into a peninsula where she assumed Karkos was.
“What about here?” she said, pointing to the location through the greaves of the captains before her.
Most turned to look with amused confusion, and she quickly felt a flush creeping up her neck.
“It’s a city,” she said.
The officers continued to look at her, awaiting elaboration.
“Y-you could get food there,” she offered weekly.
She almost added ‘I’ve heard the food is quite good’, though fortunately for her dignity the phrase died on her lips before it could enter the world. Naia, almost directly across from her, looked down and stroked his beard.
“It’s far from the worst option,” he said, “in fact, it’s probably one of the better ones.”
“It charges an arm and a leg, just for the usage of one ship. The cost of transporting all of us will be steep,” one soldier protested.
“The mountains are blocked off with the Alonshaze destroyed. None of the other passes can be reliably quickly traversed, even in summer,” Naia countered, “going the land route right now would be asking for trouble. The flatlands at the base of the Alonshaze have always been unstable, but ever since Ein’elen broke up it-”
“Sharaloch would be another option,” spoke up Damafelce, without much enthusiasm.
“You want to bet on a city of pirates and mercenaries for transport?” exclaimed another captain.
“Unwise, especially with such valuable persons,” Naia said, “we’ve already had enough headaches. The last thing I need is a hostage situation while sailing the strait.”
“You get what you pay for in Karkos,” yet another captain offered, with general murmurs of assent, “though with what gold we have I-”
“The gold’s not the issue,” said Naia, “if necessary, we can issue bonds in the name of Angorrah, or the paladins can in the name of the church.”
Niche, glum and surly, still nodded at the implied question.
“The general would not be happy. You know how possessive they get over money on a mission,” said Damafelce.
“We’ve been attacked multiple times, crossed half the continent, and found a long lost bequeathed, all with about a hundred men,” snorted Naia, “with all due respect to my betters, they can take their complaints and shove them-”
“If we’re going by speed and stability, Karkos is the best way,” cut in Niche through the laughter of the soldiers, “the safety of the Bequeathed should be our top priority. A good ship will get us there in under a week.”
“A ship to Espala, then Inalthia. Draskar forest is a nightmare at any time of the year,” Naia said, leaning over the map. With a subtle motion, he moved Aya’s finger northwest, and she realised with horror that she’d been pointing to the wrong end of the peninsula where some lesser settlement stood.
“Captain Deckard, I assume those that don’t want to come for pilgrimage will be returning to the fort?” he continued without giving any sign that she’d done anything wrong.
A new man, eyes blazing underneath furry dark brows nodded fervently.
“Well, I suppose we’ll have to clear out. I want everyone ready by sunset - it’ll be just under a week before we reach Karkos. Get what sleep you can - we’ll be riding out the next morning.”
There were a few finer points of debate that were bandied back and forth, but the conversation largely seemed to be settled. Niche and Damafelce both seemed to be locked in a staring match as Naia approached her.
“A good suggestion, my lady,” he said, “it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the city, but it might be just the place after this string of close calls.”
Aya tried to take what credit she could with a burning face.
“Now, there’s one other piece of business I have to attend to, I think,” he said, “where is the mage?”
“He’s on the roof,” she blurted, “I can show you.”
“No,” he said, holding up a gauntlet, “I think we’ll be just fine by ourselves. You should go and rest. It’s been a long night.”
He and Damafelce walked away from the table and vanished through the side door. Aya returned back to the altar with Niche, who was muttering some unkind things under his breath. It wasn’t more than a half hour before Naia returned with his captain, looking troubled. Before she could ask any questions, however, he quickly exited through the front of the church.
The rest of the day was largely spent on routines of amusement, the Bequeathed and the children of the village playing little games and telling stories among each other. The paladins, though they kept an eagle eye upon their charges, were not in a talkative mood that day. Lillian’s face was particularly dark, and she often muttered things that no one cared to listen to.
When evening came, any residual fears of the monsters returning were put to rest. The icy fear was no more, the villagers placed back what intact pews there were, and the flow of people from the medical bay slowed to a trickle. A simple meal, and a dreamless sleep, and Aya awoke in the early hours of the morning. Pulling herself up to one of the broken windows, she could see the summer green of the trees, their vibrancy somewhat damped by a light blue-grey fog.
Before they left, a service was held to bury those who’d been slain. The dead were laid side by side, wrapped in simple drab cloth, in a large pit just outside the doors of the church. Niche stood over the graves, eyes shut, pronouncings the blessing and peace that these brave defenders would lie with. Aya took the time to say a silent thanks as she gazed at the cloth-bound bodies.
As the remains were covered with soil, Niche shifted into a louder, older language as he sang in a husky tenor. Some kind of funeral liturgy, she guessed, though it was unfamiliar to her. The villagers cast tears into the ground with clouds of earth as they passed along the pit, then they left for the wall and the village beyond.
Aya’s concerns as she reentered the church shifted to more material things - hunger, cold, the lack of bathing over the last few days. At least some of those needs were addressed by the paladins in the next hours, with furs and food. But soon enough, they were on horses, walking in a line down to the south over open fields before the forest.
The first morning passed with very little conversation between anyone as they passed underneath the trees. That was all the better for Aya, who found herself enjoying the crisp air and the rapidly warming sunlight. It did take a bit of a turn for sorrow when she remembered that she often swam with her mother on mornings like these in the mountain lakes. Still, she was determined to extract what happiness she could on such a wretched journey. It was a resiliency that Frare seemed to share, while his sister still glanced nervously at the trees around them. Aya wondered if the girl was still seeing the creatures from last night in every shadow.
When they reached a clearing around midday, the children were made to sit before Niche as he handed out various meagre components of meals. As they began to eat, Lillian joined him, and both cleared their throats in unison.
“Right,” Niche began, “I realise the last few days have been less than smooth. Hardly a time for lessons, unfortunately.”
His dry chuckle was not reciprocated by any of the listeners, so he quickly moved on.
“But, given the nature of what happened, I think it’s advisable to speak on magic and mages, and what the scripture says about them.”
Frare, at the word ‘scripture’ audible groaned, which was followed by a hiss as his sister seized his ear.
“We have been forced into a position where we needed the help of a mage,” Niche said, picking his words with care, “it was not something we did willingly. It wasn’t a choice, but rather the product of circumstances beyond our control.”
You mean, the commander overruled you, thought Aya, though she elected not to voice such thoughts.
“If we had another choice,” Lillian chimed in, “we would’ve taken it. Survival, however, takes precedence, especially for you three. The choices were made, we might not be proud of it, but we’re all still here and that’s what matters.”
“That being said,” Niche said, fumbling in the interior of his breastplate and withdrawing a small booklet, “it would be good for you to understand what exactly underlies our choices.”
Aya’s eyes flicked over to the twins - Sorore was sitting upright and attentive, while her brother was a glum and slumped mirror. Niche thumbed through a few pages, focused in on the one he’d selected and once more, cleared his throat.
“And thus it was found, a great conspiracy, conspired against the children of Angorrah, conspired with creatures both great and small, but terrible all, in darkness and stagnant pools, where the profundity of their sin would go unnoticed by the decent and pious. Hated and proclaimed sinner, traitor, rebel against the Lost themselves. Three Boons would be taken, and three Houses be condemned to dust.”
Sorore perked up, for she clearly already knew the story and was excited to hear it yet again. Aya waited with a tempered anticipation, hoping at least there would be a half-way interesting tale, despite its lacklustre delivery. The story progressed into a broad parable, describing how three houses arose in rebellion against the church, and how three holy items had been robbed from the sepulchre of the ‘roiling cathedral’.
Apparently, they were ferried into the hands of mages, who perverted their holy functions until they burned the most sacred tree on the continent, one laid by Nafthtazia herself. For all of Aya’s doubts about the moral, she couldn’t deny the enjoyment of a good piece of history.
“Magic exists beyond the purview of the church,” Niche began, then quickly corrected his error, “rather, it is a part of the mystery of the Lost, but others can access in inappropriate ways. Some speculate that it should be left entirely to the Lost, not handled by mortal hands. Regardless, the church has taken upon a sacred duty, to ensure that what magic is used is done so sparingly, and with the utmost care.”
He closed the book with a flourish, clearly pleased at the depth of his instruction. Frare’s eyes were fluttering, which prompted a painful poke from his sister.
“So, magic is evil?” said Aya, trying to square that conclusion with all she’d seen.
Niche puffed out his chest, no doubt about to exclaim that it was in the strongest possible terms. Lillian however, had her own thoughts to add before he could.
“Not… inherently,” she said, “But it is broadly forbidden and for good reason. It is less evil, rather a great risk for evil. That is, far too easy to put it towards evil ends. That’s why mages are, as a rule, cruel, selfish, and dangerous creatures. Perhaps it is better put that magic attracts evil, even if it can be used for good.”
Aya stewed in that statement for a while - clearly the church was deeply knowledgeable, expanding and attending to her own, meagre education on the matter from the local priest. Still there were holes, obvious holes, or so she told herself.
“It might be hard to understand,” Niche said, “it might seem a little strange that the church forbids something that could be so useful. There are very good reasons both in scripture and in history that proves the point - magic is not to be used with abandon, and thus must remain under the Church’s eye.”
He patted the sigil of the church, engraved on his breastplate.
“That is one reason why the Light Lords were created in the first place,” he said, with thinly veiled pride, “we are the watchers, investigating the use of magic and capturing the perpetrator that would harm or cheat with it.”
“It was a decision made long ago,” added Lillian, “it was a sort of… half-agreement between the church and the army. We kept the peace that was broken by the mages during the Night of the Burning Tree.”
“So there are mages in Angorrah?” said Aya, drawing a strange, near insulted look by Sorore at the question.
“Well…” said Lillian, sharing a look with Niche, “a handful at most, who operate under the strictest scrutiny.”
Sorore’s face twisted at this, but whatever comment she would’ve liked to make stayed in her head.
“The point is that mages are faithless and concerned for themselves above all else. They are to be engaged on only the most necessary basis. They may be directed towards good in service to the church, but never on their own.”
The rest of the lesson served as constant reinforcements and examples of the danger of mages. There were one or two arguments between Frare and their teachers that Sorore was too slow to suppress. Before long they were off again, the leaves shaking above them as a wind blew from the south. The evening camp mercifully spared them another lecture and after a simple dinner, both twins made their excuses and retired.
Aya huddled beside the fire as the temperature dropped. Around them were a circle of waggons, some covered by a framework of canvas, others bare, all loaded with supplies. The gifts of the grateful villagers, granted to the commander who had saved them.
The paladins were busy doing maintenance, carefully laying out arms and armour, scrubbing, polishing and sharpening. Aya got up, murmured a good night to the paladins, who nodded curtly. They were so absorbed that they didn’t seem to notice Aya slipping away.
She poked her head into one of the ‘empty’ waggons, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Save for a handful of small crates, there lay the crumpled form of the mage just as they’d loaded him. Aya felt her breath still as she looked at Inniaylsia’s amber eyes. Even from this distance, she could see the subtle inner flames of reds and yellows softly illuminating them.
“Yes?” came the voice of the older woman, curt and snappish.
Aya started to speak, then stopped, realising that she had no real reason to be here, at least not one that she’d thought out.
“Come out with it child,” came the voice again.
Aya was put in mind of a line of children, heads bowed before a grandmother picking detritus from their scalps.
“I- I-” she said, “I was wondering if…”
“No. There’s been no change in this old bag of bones,” said Innie, her voice softening slightly, “though I’m sure he would appreciate your concern.”
Aya stood there for a moment, awkwardness rising, before setting her jaw, looking behind her, and upon seeing the paladin’s backs, clambered in as quietly as possible. The cat sat attentively and silently, regarding the young girl before her. Aya began in a hushed whisper, talking about the Night of the Burning Tree and the lessons of the paladins from the morning.
“If you want to ask a question about history,” interrupted the cat, “you best ask this sod when he wakes up. He proves irritatingly well-versed on that. Considering his age, he might've lived through it.”
“I thought you were old as well,” Aya said, trying to remember where she got the notion from.
“I am. Older than him. Old as half the company put together,” she said, “but I rarely venture outside of the forest. This is the furthest south I have been in decades, perhaps a century or two.”
Aya paused to try and get a grasp on the scale of time the creature had just casually gestured at.
“So my dear, if you’re going to ask me about the great deeds of men or the history of cities, I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” said the cat, tail bobbing this way and that.
“But that’s not exactly what I…” said Aya, taking a deep breath before continuing, “I wanted to ask about magic.”
The cat cocked its head, the speed of the tail picking up.
“What about magic, child?” she said.
Swish-swish.
“Well, I was wondering, just for a start, what is it?” Aya said.
“You should sit down,” said the cat, “this might take a while.”
[←Chapter 53] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 55→]

My thoughts are a bit messy right now and this is kind of a word dump. I felt like I might need to be medicated or seek a therapist again (I don't think the one I found last time helped much/at all). Was fine throughout the day, and then driving home for some reason relationships and dating got in my head and I started feeling sad. I had been doing great, going out, meeting up with friends, doing my hobbies, but my music stopped in the car and wouldn't reconnect and I was left with my thoughts...
We were together 10 months, I broke up with her 3 years ago, regretted it, tried getting back together, and we talked it over, but then she rubbed her new guy in my face saying he was better than I ever was. After the first year, I thought I had healed, I was over it, started dating again. One of our friends told me she had broken up and was single again. I didn't care, I was over it, at least I thought that was the end of it.
Fast forward to today, every once in awhile I have the urge to see how she's doing and check her social media, she's been following my niece (she's a 2y.o.) on instagram who was born after we had broken up for a year. I've had 2 exes and have been doing online dating that feels like it's going nowhere.
TL:DR I got nostalgic today and thought about how no one else has made me feel like she did, and I don't know if anyone will and I got sad, 3 years later. I don't know how or why it crept into my head while driving, but I was scared of the things I thought (not wanting to live).
Should I seek a therapist, does this happen to anyone else? I'm fine almost all the other days, just every once in a blue moon I'll get these thoughts

First of all sorry if this is triggering for anyone just as a head note any winnings discussed are completely pointless because I’ve lost so many thousands in my life and about 2k-4k in the last month or two alone whereas if I hadn’t been gambling the last month or two I’d probably have a very healthy bank account. I just mention what can be triggering for the sake of my own truthful recovery.
So yesterday I was on Day 4 I think but my crypto casino gave me $27 cash back and I knew I should of withdrew but I had a sports treble and ended up turning it into £83 in my bank account (yes two different currencies are deliberate).
Today I woke up to revise for a course for my job an hour or two before I had to sit an exam but for some reason I played blackjack for five minutes with the balance from my winnings the night before and nearly lost it all except I went all in on my last hand and won it back plus $10 which the $10 extra I put on a sevenfold tennis accumulator and lost.
I didn’t care that I lost the tennis accumulator but it kinda helped me figure that sports is just as shit as casino as three relatively heavy favourites lost on my sevenfold. I often fall into the trap of thinking sports is more fool proof than casino and it was a nice reminder that sports is just as easy to lose on like I say three heavy favourites lost.
Anyway I sat my exam and passed the test and was very happy and today was my payday and when I came home I was really in the mood to go play blackjack but instead of being sneaky peaky like and playing blackjack covertly in my basement hiding it from my Dad I straight up said to him “Dad, I’m really in the mood for playing blackjack and that’s what my brain is telling me to do but I’m telling you this now as annoying and degenerate as it must seem but I’d rather tell you so we can do something about it rather than just go play blackjack and lose all my money and be depressed around you because of it so can we figure something out” then we went for a walk and discussed it and I had a beer and after the walk we came to the conclusion that if I want to bet I can just do a very very little bet on his bet365 account and get into the sports which would be better than me playing blackjack and losing all my pay (I’m with GAMSTOP so I’m banned from all UK online bookies but I can still use crypto casinos and I have to make a worthy deposit as they charge for deposit and withdrawals on the exchange I use, I then end up playing blackjack violently with large deposits to make the fees worthwhile) anyway while we were on the walk I decided to use my payday to pay off my credit card in full which was £700 and when I got home I did just that and had a £0.50 bet only and enjoyed the football and bought some food for us both. It was like after being open and honest with my Dad it stopped me playing blackjack with a big deposit and instead I paid my credit card off instead which felt like a massive win and I didn’t even want to have a bet after that but I did 50p for the sake of it but not to try and win money but just to get into the sport. I lost the bet but didn’t care because it was only 50p and it felt great.
TLDR: Day 0, won 0.001% of my lifetime losses back yesterday, nearly lost it all today, paid off my credit card with payday and had a 50p in the end and now I think I’m done with gambling. I feel like a watered down degen.
Again sorry if any of this was triggering if it was just read the first paragraph again. I’m a muppet and a degen but a bit of watered down degen which is better. Day 0.

In the vast expanse of the Mexican countryside, where the swaying fields of green met the endless stretch of blue sky, I had spent my seventy years as a humble rancher. My life had been defined by hard work, the warmth of the sun on my weathered face, and the unwavering faith that guided my every step. Family was the cornerstone of my existence, and the love that bound us together brought solace and joy to my heart.
It was my grandniece, Ana, who now resided in the bustling city of Los Angeles, who played an unexpected role in the strange journey that awaited me. Despite the miles that separated us, Ana had become a successful professional, and her heart overflowed with love and concern for her aging uncle. When she learned of my deteriorating health, she took it upon herself to arrange a special surgery in Arizona, hoping to restore my vitality and grant me a chance at a better life.
Full of gratitude and hope, I embarked on the journey, leaving behind the familiar sights and sounds of my homeland. Ana's support had brought me solace, as I clung to the belief that God's grace would guide me through any trial that lay ahead.
Little did I know that my journey to Arizona would lead me into the depths of a living nightmare, shattering the foundation of my faith and testing the very limits of my sanity. The surgery was meant to bring healing, but instead, it opened a door to a world of unspeakable horrors that would forever haunt my existence.
This is the harrowing tale of the creatures I encountered while under the influence of drugs, their relentless pursuit, and the grim realization that some nightmares extend far beyond the realms of our understanding. As I recount this chilling experience, let it serve as a warning that even the strongest faith and love cannot shield us from the darkness that lurks in the shadows, waiting to consume us whole.
As a seventy-year-old rancher from Mexico, I had experienced my fair share of hardships and unusual encounters. But nothing could have prepared me for the terrifying ordeal that unfolded after I was brought to Arizona for a special surgery. It was a routine procedure, they said, but little did I know that the anesthetics they administered would unlock a horrifying world beyond my imagination.
The moment the sedatives took hold, I found myself drifting into a nightmarish slumber. Shadows danced and twisted before my closed eyes, morphing into grotesque shapes that defied reason. When I awoke, disoriented and groggy, I found myself in a dimly lit hospital room. The air felt heavy, suffocating, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
I tried to call out for help, but my voice seemed to evaporate into thin air. Panic coursed through my veins as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. Then, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of movement. Something skittered across the floor, quick and unnatural.
My heart pounded in my chest as I turned my gaze towards the source of the disturbance. My eyes widened in horror as I laid eyes upon the creatures that haunted my nightmares. They were humanoid in shape, but twisted and contorted beyond recognition. Their pale, mottled skin seemed to glisten under the dim light, and their elongated limbs moved with a jerky, unsettling motion.
Their eyes, oh god, their eyes were empty voids, devoid of any humanity or emotion. As I watched, they crept closer, their unsettling presence filling the room with an oppressive dread. I could feel their malevolence, an otherworldly aura that sent shivers down my spine.
Fear consumed me as I realized these creatures were not bound by the laws of our reality. They moved through walls and solid objects, effortlessly closing the distance between us. I tried to escape, to flee from the room and their relentless pursuit, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive.
With each passing moment, their numbers grew, their presence suffocating my very existence. Their clawed hands reached out towards me, their whispers echoing in my mind. Their incomprehensible language filled my head, driving me to the brink of madness. I could no longer distinguish reality from the hallucinations induced by the drugs.
Days turned into nights, and nights bled into an endless cycle of torment. Sleep became a mere illusion, a reprieve from the never-ending horror that plagued me. The creatures stalked me relentlessly, their eyes boring into my soul, taunting me with their existence.
I pleaded for mercy, begged for release from this hellish nightmare, but my cries fell upon deaf ears. No one could hear me, no one could save me from the nightmare that had become my reality. I was trapped in a twisted dimension, caught between life and death.
With the weight of my encounter with the haunting creatures pressing heavily on my soul, I sought solace in the company of my brothers. Juan and Miguel, both strong and unwavering in their support, listened intently as I recounted the terrifying ordeal that had befallen me. Their furrowed brows and concerned expressions revealed their genuine worry, but their practical minds sought a solution to this unearthly menace.
"We mustn't let these creatures continue to stalk you, hermano," Juan declared, his voice laced with determination. "We must find a way to confront them and rid you of this torment."
Miguel, the more skeptical of the two, took a moment to contemplate. "Perhaps we can lead them away, far from here. Out in the desert, where their presence won't harm anyone else."
Hope ignited within me as their plan unfolded. We would set up a campfire in the vast expanse of the desert, drawing the creatures away from populated areas. It seemed like a sound strategy, a way to buy some time and perhaps even find a solution.
As nightfall settled upon the arid landscape, my brothers and I ventured into the heart of the desert. With every step, I could feel the weight of their doubts pressing upon me. They were reluctant to fully embrace the extent of the horrors I had witnessed. Instead, they chose to drown their unease in the embrace of the bottle, their laughter echoing under the starlit sky.
But as the flickering flames cast eerie shadows upon the sand, I realized the creatures were drawing closer. The distant whispers and rustling sounds sent chills down my spine, urging me to abandon the camouflage we had created.
Summoning all the courage within me, I decided to lead the creatures further away, away from my beloved brothers and into the treacherous darkness of the desert. The pain of leaving them behind gnawed at my heart, but their inebriation had clouded their judgment, blinding them to the imminent danger.
As the first rays of dawn painted the horizon with hues of golden light, I turned to face the pursuing creatures. With each step, their presence grew more malevolent, their snarls echoing through the stillness of the desert. They lunged towards me, their claws outstretched, and I braced myself for the inevitable onslaught.
In that final confrontation, wounds appeared upon my flesh, marking me as a testament to the terrors I had endured. Though their touch sent searing pain through my body, I summoned the last vestiges of strength to fight back. Using all my willpower, I managed to block the creatures in an old, abandoned mine, the sunlight casting them into a prison of darkness.
Exhausted and battered, I limped my way back to civilization, hitching a ride with a kind-hearted Americano who sympathized with my plight. In the confines of the bus, I shared my story, hoping for understanding and validation. But as I revealed the wounds to the skeptical passengers, the sunlight exposed them for what they truly were—fresh scars, resembling those left by surgical incisions.
Their disbelief hung heavy in the air, skepticism etched on their faces. No one could fathom the horrors I had endured, the demons I had faced in that shadowed realm. Alone with my scars, I pondered the fickle nature of perception and the daunting task of convincing others of the unspeakable.
As the bus rumbled on, taking me closer to the sanctuary of my homeland, I knew that the creatures still lurked in the depths of that abandoned mine. They were trapped, but for how long? I held on to the hope that my encounter with them would remain a solitary nightmare, confined to the depths of the desert and buried within my memories.
But deep down, a gnawing fear lingered—an understanding that some terrors can never be truly vanquished, and their tendrils may stretch far beyond the boundaries of our comprehension.

So last night I bought an Xbox Series S used from someone on Facebook marketplace. The guy hands it to me in a trash bag and basically speeds off. I get home, plug it in and it works fine. Then a few hours later I notice there’s some small bugs seemingly appearing out of nowhere around the console. After killing them, turns out they’re German roaches, which I am 100% certain I have never had in my home before. First thing I did was wrap the console in multiple layers of cellophane, put it in a trashbag and got it out of my house. Then sprayed insecticide around my home. I’m pretty confident I got the ones that got out but I really don’t want to take the loss on this console considering the guy blocked me when I messaged him about it. Anybody have this problem with further advice? I’m planning to take the thing apart outside and deep clean it at the moment.

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Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters the Spider Society, a team of Spider-People charged with protecting the Multiverse’s very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must set out on his own to save those he loves most. Anyone can wear the mask – it’s how you wear it that makes you a hero.

As a 'grensarbeider' I thought to share a look into our neighbour's arrangements. I am quite happy at my job, Dutch guys are more fun than you would expect. But curious how it compares to Belgium.
1. PERSONALIA

• Age: 30
• Education: University
• Work Experience : 6 years
• Civil status: married
• Dependent children (Kinderen ten laste/enfants à charge): none

2. TYPE OF CONTRACT

• Current job title/description: team leader senior engineering and architects
• (Ancienniteit/Anciennité): 1 year in my rank, 6 years total
• Official hours/week : 40 Real hours/week
• actual hours/week: 40-60 depending the period
• SectoIndustry: ict/electronics

3. WAGE CONDITIONS)

• Gross wage (brut): 5500
• Net wage (incl. net fees): 3850
• 13th month (full? partial?): full
• Mobile phone? Laptop?: work laptop and Samsung a52
• Meal vouchers: no
• Ecocheques: no
• Group Insurance (% part employer): no
• Hospitalisation Insurance: no
• Other advantages (bonus, 14th month, stocks...): yearly bonus, about 2 months worth

4. MOBILITY

• City/region of work: Eindhoven, Netherlands
• Distance home-work (km's): 45
• Distance home-work (time): 45
• Do you need your own car?: yes
• How is the travel home-work compensated: 0.19 per km up to 20km one way.
• Company ca-bike (what's the budget, do you have fuel card?): no

5. OTHER CONDITIONS

• Amount of official holidays: 27
• (ADV, RTT) : 13
• Other extra holidays: no
• How easy can you plan a day off: very easy, a days notice
• Shiftwork or daytime job? Daytime
• Flexible working hours: yes
• Amount of stress (standby for troubles at work)?: no
• How often does overtime happens: not requested, on own initiative.
• Education possibilities: soft skills mainly. Extensive training programs availavle
• Teleworking (besides corona-period): 3 days/week as rule of thumb, but flexible
• Responsible for personnel (reports): yes, 12 in total

The first time I ever saw this man was the night of my brother's bachelor party. I had a few too many drinks so I took a cab home. I sat down on my couch and started watching some of the garbage that was on this late at night. I watched TV for an hour or so until I got bored.
I was getting ready to go to sleep when I heard someone pounding on my door. I obviously got freaked out because it was the middle of the night. I slowly walked up to the door and looked through the eyehole. The only thing I could see was a silhouette of a hunched man standing in the corner of my driveway. At that point I was absolutely terrified. I thought about calling the police but I realized that I was probably just being stupid and that there was nothing to worry about. I turned on the porch light and the man started walking up to the door. He was around 6 '3, 6' 4, white, medium build and all of his clothes were torn, but the one thing that stood out for me was his eyes. They were bloodshot and looked like they were about to pop out of his head.
When he walked up to the door he started looking at the eyehole.
“Please let me in” he said
I was seconds away from calling the police when he said something that shook me to my core
“I’m going to kill you”
The thing that freaked me out the most about this sentence is that he said it in such a calm manner.
“What do you want from me” i said
“Open the door” he replied”
I didn’t know what to say and just stared at the man. This went on for about a minute when he started sprinting to my backyard. I ran straight for my gun and grabbed my phone. I locked myself in my room upstairs and tried to call the police. I called 911 and they weren’t answering. I called like 10 more times, and on my last try someone answered the phone.
“PLEASE HELP ME, HE’S GONNA KILL ME!!” i screamed
I couldn’ hear anything and was about to hang up when I heard some say.
“You can’t hide from me”
I hung up after that.
I decided that I was going to stay up all night just in case that freak makes it into my house.
I fell asleep that night which was probably the most irresponsible thing I have ever done in my life. When I woke up I thought that this was probably just a horrible lucid dream or something like that.
I put on some clothes and started heading downstairs to get some breakfast. I walked up to the kitchen and got some things out of my fridge. I walked up to my island near the window and looked up and something horrifying. It was that guy from last night, but this time he had blood smeared all over his face and clothes. I have never been so scared in my life. I must have stood there beside that window for like 4 hours when I decided that I was gonna shoot that asshole. I took my gun out of my room and walked outside to shoot it.
When I walked out the first thing I noticed was the overwhelming stench of this guy. The smell was so horrible that i couldn't even breathe. I pointed my gun at him and said.
“If you don’t leave right now im going to kill you”
He smiled. He didn’t care. I tried to pull the trigger put i couldn’t, something was stopping me from doing so. Thats when i felt something controlling my hand, i couldnt resist it. My hand turned around and the gun was pointed in my face. I saw the trigger slowly get pulled, and then i just heard a click.
“Shit, i must’ve forgot to put the bullets in the magazine” i thought
I felt relieved but not for long. The man started whacking me with his gun and im pretty sure i passed out almost instantly.
I woke up around in the middle of the night. Honestly i was surprised that the guy didn’t kill me. I opened my eyes and couldn’t see him anywhere. I felt a wave of relief fly through my body. I walked up to the door and reached for the door handle and noticed something horrifying. All of my fingers from my right hand were gone. I broke down and started weeping on the floor, I had no idea what i did to deserve this.
I opened the door and walked in. It was pitch black so I turned on the light and I saw the man standing in the middle of my living room. I fell to the floor and accepted my fate. I layed on the floor for a good minute when I heard him giggle. I looked up and his face was and inch away from mine. The stench from his breath is something that i will never forget. I puched the freak in his face but he didn’t even flinch. He didn’t move staring at me. We sat there staring at each other for a long time. I started to stand up when i heard something fall in the kitchen. I saw a rotten leg covered in maggots. I looked back at the guy and he was gone.
I ran up to the front door and tried to open it but it was locked and the keyhole was gone. I started walking up the stairs to get to my room because i had a baseball bat in there. The closer i got to the top of the stairs the louder i could hear the man laughing. When i got up to the top i could see his silhouette at the end of the hallway. My room was behind me so i slowly walked backwards to get in. The second i got in i slammed the door shut and locked it.
I jumped out of the window and started running towards the nearest convenience store. I was getting close to it when i saw the guy again. I was sprinting away from him and towards the store but he was getting closer and closer. I was 10 feet from the store when he caught up with me. He tackled me to the ground and started smacking my skull against the concrete floor. Then he let my head go and i that it was over, but thats when he ripped off my entire leg. He didn’t even break a sweat, it was easy for him.
After that torture session he ran away. I started crawling towards the store. When i entered i couldn’t see anything because of the bright lights. The only thing i could hear was the sound of people screaming.
I woke up in a hospital in pain. A nurse walked up to me and asked me a few questions. After that i fell back asleep. When i woke up i decided to share this story. This is probably the not the last thing you will hear from me.

In the vast expanse of the Mexican countryside, where the swaying fields of green met the endless stretch of blue sky, I had spent my seventy years as a humble rancher. My life had been defined by hard work, the warmth of the sun on my weathered face, and the unwavering faith that guided my every step. Family was the cornerstone of my existence, and the love that bound us together brought solace and joy to my heart.
It was my grandniece, Ana, who now resided in the bustling city of Los Angeles, who played an unexpected role in the strange journey that awaited me. Despite the miles that separated us, Ana had become a successful professional, and her heart overflowed with love and concern for her aging uncle. When she learned of my deteriorating health, she took it upon herself to arrange a special surgery in Arizona, hoping to restore my vitality and grant me a chance at a better life.
Full of gratitude and hope, I embarked on the journey, leaving behind the familiar sights and sounds of my homeland. Ana's support had brought me solace, as I clung to the belief that God's grace would guide me through any trial that lay ahead.
Little did I know that my journey to Arizona would lead me into the depths of a living nightmare, shattering the foundation of my faith and testing the very limits of my sanity. The surgery was meant to bring healing, but instead, it opened a door to a world of unspeakable horrors that would forever haunt my existence.
This is the harrowing tale of the creatures I encountered while under the influence of drugs, their relentless pursuit, and the grim realization that some nightmares extend far beyond the realms of our understanding. As I recount this chilling experience, let it serve as a warning that even the strongest faith and love cannot shield us from the darkness that lurks in the shadows, waiting to consume us whole.
As a seventy-year-old rancher from Mexico, I had experienced my fair share of hardships and unusual encounters. But nothing could have prepared me for the terrifying ordeal that unfolded after I was brought to Arizona for a special surgery. It was a routine procedure, they said, but little did I know that the anesthetics they administered would unlock a horrifying world beyond my imagination.
The moment the sedatives took hold, I found myself drifting into a nightmarish slumber. Shadows danced and twisted before my closed eyes, morphing into grotesque shapes that defied reason. When I awoke, disoriented and groggy, I found myself in a dimly lit hospital room. The air felt heavy, suffocating, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
I tried to call out for help, but my voice seemed to evaporate into thin air. Panic coursed through my veins as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. Then, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of movement. Something skittered across the floor, quick and unnatural.
My heart pounded in my chest as I turned my gaze towards the source of the disturbance. My eyes widened in horror as I laid eyes upon the creatures that haunted my nightmares. They were humanoid in shape, but twisted and contorted beyond recognition. Their pale, mottled skin seemed to glisten under the dim light, and their elongated limbs moved with a jerky, unsettling motion.
Their eyes, oh god, their eyes were empty voids, devoid of any humanity or emotion. As I watched, they crept closer, their unsettling presence filling the room with an oppressive dread. I could feel their malevolence, an otherworldly aura that sent shivers down my spine.
Fear consumed me as I realized these creatures were not bound by the laws of our reality. They moved through walls and solid objects, effortlessly closing the distance between us. I tried to escape, to flee from the room and their relentless pursuit, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive.
With each passing moment, their numbers grew, their presence suffocating my very existence. Their clawed hands reached out towards me, their whispers echoing in my mind. Their incomprehensible language filled my head, driving me to the brink of madness. I could no longer distinguish reality from the hallucinations induced by the drugs.
Days turned into nights, and nights bled into an endless cycle of torment. Sleep became a mere illusion, a reprieve from the never-ending horror that plagued me. The creatures stalked me relentlessly, their eyes boring into my soul, taunting me with their existence.
I pleaded for mercy, begged for release from this hellish nightmare, but my cries fell upon deaf ears. No one could hear me, no one could save me from the nightmare that had become my reality. I was trapped in a twisted dimension, caught between life and death.
With the weight of my encounter with the haunting creatures pressing heavily on my soul, I sought solace in the company of my brothers. Juan and Miguel, both strong and unwavering in their support, listened intently as I recounted the terrifying ordeal that had befallen me. Their furrowed brows and concerned expressions revealed their genuine worry, but their practical minds sought a solution to this unearthly menace.
"We mustn't let these creatures continue to stalk you, hermano," Juan declared, his voice laced with determination. "We must find a way to confront them and rid you of this torment."
Miguel, the more skeptical of the two, took a moment to contemplate. "Perhaps we can lead them away, far from here. Out in the desert, where their presence won't harm anyone else."
Hope ignited within me as their plan unfolded. We would set up a campfire in the vast expanse of the desert, drawing the creatures away from populated areas. It seemed like a sound strategy, a way to buy some time and perhaps even find a solution.
As nightfall settled upon the arid landscape, my brothers and I ventured into the heart of the desert. With every step, I could feel the weight of their doubts pressing upon me. They were reluctant to fully embrace the extent of the horrors I had witnessed. Instead, they chose to drown their unease in the embrace of the bottle, their laughter echoing under the starlit sky.
But as the flickering flames cast eerie shadows upon the sand, I realized the creatures were drawing closer. The distant whispers and rustling sounds sent chills down my spine, urging me to abandon the camouflage we had created.
Summoning all the courage within me, I decided to lead the creatures further away, away from my beloved brothers and into the treacherous darkness of the desert. The pain of leaving them behind gnawed at my heart, but their inebriation had clouded their judgment, blinding them to the imminent danger.
As the first rays of dawn painted the horizon with hues of golden light, I turned to face the pursuing creatures. With each step, their presence grew more malevolent, their snarls echoing through the stillness of the desert. They lunged towards me, their claws outstretched, and I braced myself for the inevitable onslaught.
In that final confrontation, wounds appeared upon my flesh, marking me as a testament to the terrors I had endured. Though their touch sent searing pain through my body, I summoned the last vestiges of strength to fight back. Using all my willpower, I managed to block the creatures in an old, abandoned mine, the sunlight casting them into a prison of darkness.
Exhausted and battered, I limped my way back to civilization, hitching a ride with a kind-hearted Americano who sympathized with my plight. In the confines of the bus, I shared my story, hoping for understanding and validation. But as I revealed the wounds to the skeptical passengers, the sunlight exposed them for what they truly were—fresh scars, resembling those left by surgical incisions.
Their disbelief hung heavy in the air, skepticism etched on their faces. No one could fathom the horrors I had endured, the demons I had faced in that shadowed realm. Alone with my scars, I pondered the fickle nature of perception and the daunting task of convincing others of the unspeakable.
As the bus rumbled on, taking me closer to the sanctuary of my homeland, I knew that the creatures still lurked in the depths of that abandoned mine. They were trapped, but for how long? I held on to the hope that my encounter with them would remain a solitary nightmare, confined to the depths of the desert and buried within my memories.
But deep down, a gnawing fear lingered—an understanding that some terrors can never be truly vanquished, and their tendrils may stretch far beyond the boundaries of our comprehension.

https://marvelstrikeforce.com/updates/blog-update-6-2-23
SUPER SKRULL AND DARK DIMENSION VI CELEBRATION
JUNE 2, 2023
Greetings Commanders,
Here's your Battle Plan for June 3rd through the 9th - all dates are Pacific Time:
June 4th - Orb Blitz
June 5th - Spoils of War - Battle in War - 2:00 PM (PDT)
June 5th - Sister Grimm - Blitz to earn Nico Minoru shards
June 5th - Ebony Maw Legendary Event (Repeating)
June 6th - To Infinity ECM
June 6th - Ruff Riffs - Open Intergalactic Orbs and Open Gold Orbs
June 6th - Battle of the Barks (WEB) - Earn Blitz Credits
June 7th - Strike Pass Season 35 featuring Gwenpool
June 8th - Star-Lord (Annihilation) character shards and Red Stars available
June 9th - Monster Mash Quick Rumble - Blitz with Dark Hunters
June 9th - Payday
DARK DIMENSION VI FIRST-CLEAR CELEBRATION
The next chapter in the epic Dark Dimension saga is rapidly approaching, with a target release date of June 27th at 5:00 PM (PDT)! Rewards have been improved compared to the previous Dark Dimensions to match the new challenge.
REQUIREMENTS
Dark Dimension VI nodes will require a full team of 5 characters per trait requirement, so you’ll eventually need at least 20 characters in total to complete it. This is the order in which the nodes will require the specific traits:
Missions 1-2: No trait restriction (any Gear Tier 18)
Missions 3-5: Global (Legendary EXCLUDED)
Missions 6-8: Cosmic (Legendary EXCLUDED)
Missions 9-11: City (Legendary EXCLUDED)
Missions 12-13: Legendary (non-Horseman)
Missions 14-15: Legendary and/or Apocalypse
FIRST-CLEAR WINNER REWARDS
As with previous new chapters of Dark Dimension, there will be a huge celebration following the first player to complete Dark Dimension VI fully.
The winner will personally receive the following:
A promotion to 7 Red Star of an eligible character of their choice (from a list of eligible characters)
> This cannot include any character that currently does not have 7 Red Stars available, like Apocalypse.
The player’s name, representative of their personal profile, is immortalized in an in-game environment.
> The name will be decided in conjunction with the dev team, and a choice must be made within 7 business days of being contacted after completing Dark Dimension VI.
> The name must be appropriate for in-game use and should represent the player, not a 3rd party or a general statement.
> The dev team will choose the name if the above criteria are unmet.
The general player base will receive the following:
The winner will get to choose two characters to allow players to individually decide which one of them they can receive 100 character shards and a 5 Red Star promotion for.
> A list of eligible characters for the winner to choose from will be provided.
A community poll to determine two Blitzes that will be run based on the characters (non-Legendary, non-Apocalypse) that the Dark Dimension VI winner used to complete nodes.
> Any tampering with poll results, such as the usage of bots, will be disregarded in determining the winners.
Select “10 for 10” offers.
SUPER SKRULL
The Fantastic Four have faced many formidable foes, but few were as equally matched as Super Skrull. His real name is Kl’rt, a Skrullian warrior who was gifted the ability to emulate all the superpowers of the Fantastic Four. This makes Super Skrull an incredibly powerful Villain, able to challenge the strongest of Heroes.
The first completion of Dark Dimension VI will grant 310 character shards of Super Skrull (5 Yellow Stars) and a 2-Red Star promotion.
The second completion of Dark Dimension VI will grant 500 character shards of Super Skrull (to get to 7 Yellow Stars) and a 4-Red Star promotion.
Traits: Villain, Cosmic, Bio, Brawler
Speed: 124
Basic - Skrull Barrage
If the primary target has Exposed, clear all Barrier on the primary target.
Attack primary target for 400% Piercing + Chain to 3 adjacent target for 370% Piercing.
Flip 3 positive effects into negative effects on each target.
Gain Defense Up for 2 turns and Safeguard for 2 turns + Barrier self for 10% of this character's Max Health.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more VILLAIN allies, this attack ignores Defense Up.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more HERO allies, apply Disrupted to each target.
This attack can Chain to Stealth targets. Counterattack breaks this Chain.
This attack gains +200% Extra Focus and is Unavoidable.
ISO - 8/Counter Attack/Assists:
If the primary target has Exposed, clear all Barrier on the primary target.
Attack primary target for 300% Piercing.
Flip 3 positive effects into negative effects on the primary target.
Barrier self for 10% of this character's Max Health.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more VILLAIN allies, this attack ignores Defense Up.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more HERO allies, apply Disrupted.
This attack gains +200% Extra Focus.
Special - Bending Flames - Energy Cost: 3/3
Attack primary target for 450% damage + apply Exposed.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more HERO allies, apply Ability Block for 2 turns to the primary target.
Attack primary and adjacent targets for 400% damage + reduce Speed Bar by 20% for each target.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more VILLAIN allies, reduce Speed Bar for all targets by an additional 40%.
Clear Stealth on all enemies.
Gain the following positive effects:
> +2 Defense Up, up to a maximum of 5.
> +2 Offense Up, up to a maximum of 5.
> 3 Deflect.
> Immunity for 2 turns.
> Gain Stealth.
This attack gains +500% Extra Focus and cannot be blocked, dodged, or counterattacked.
Ultimate - Psionic Super Nova - Energy Cost: 3/6
Apply Trauma for 2 turns to the primary target.
Flip Defense Up on all enemies.
Attack all enemies for 700% Piercing + apply Heal Block for 3 turns and Offense Down for 2 turns.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more VILLAIN allies, this attack deals an additional +300% Piercing.
If this character spawned with or has 2 or more HERO allies, apply Trauma for 2 turns to all enemies.
Barrier self and all allies for 30% of this character's Max Health.
This attack gains +1,000% Extra Focus, is Unavoidable, and cannot be blocked or counterattacked.
Passive - Fantastic One
The first time this character falls under 50% Health, clear all negative effects from this character, heal self for 50% of this character's Max Health, and gain Stealth.
While this character has Stealth, allies gain +20% Damage Reduction.
On Stun, clear all Stun and apply Stun to the attacker.
When an enemy gains a positive effect or when this character or an ally gains a negative effect, heal self for 5% of this character's Max Health + fill this character's Speed Bar by 10%.
Lower Armor for all enemies by 25%.
Gain +50% Max Health. Allies gain +25% Max Health.
Gain +10% Damage and Focus + 10% for each HERO ally, up to a max of +50%.
Gain +10% Armor and Resistance + 10% for each VILLAIN ally, up to a max of +50%.
Enemies with Exposed cannot gain Safeguard, Deflect, or Evade. This does not prevent prolonging the duration of effects already on the target.
When an enemy with Exposed is attacked, this character attacks all enemies for 5% of this character's Max Health and Barrier this character for 5% of this character's Max Health.
TO INFINITY
Blast off on a quest to recruit Knowhere's ally-healing guard dog, Cosmo! Join the “bestest dog” in this upcoming Event Campaign Mission (ECM) as she leads Knowhere in a high-stakes standoff against a deadly threat.
Each node in the "To Infinity" Campaign rewards fragments for the Intergalactic Orb, which contains Cosmo character shards and certain characters with the limited-time Intergalactic trait (non-Legendary), which you can filter for in your roster. You'll need at least five characters with the limited-time "Intergalactic" trait to attempt the Heroic Difficulty, which also rewards Teal Gear.
The running time has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days, but the first-time rewards, Gold and gear node rewards, and the related Intergalactic Orb items have increased. This is to help streamline the experience and provide a more rewarding and focused daily experience.
In tandem, Korg's Intergalactic Tour is making a stop with the Ruff Riffs Event (details below) running for part of the ECM. The adventure begins on June 6th at 2:00 PM (PDT).
KORG'S INTERGALACTIC TOUR EVENTS
SPOILS OF WAR
Nick Fury is calling in a supply strike, recruiting willing Commanders in your Alliance to battle in Alliance War. Big payloads of T2 Level 1 and Level 4 Ions, along with Iso-8 Orbs are up for grabs. Synchronize watches as the operation begins June 5th at 2:00 PM (PDT).
RUFF RIFFS
Grab your keytar as Cosmo is going To Infinity by laying down some sick tracks in this tandem event. Fetch and tear open Intergalactic Event Orbs and Gold Orbs to score the Ghost Stompers and a festival-sized stash of Rock Concert Tickets. You’ll also earn character shards for characters with the Intergalactic trait, Augmented Astral Energy, and T2 Level 4 Ions. Top Commanders on the Leaderboard will be rewarded with 7 Red Stars for Cosmo and T2 Level 5 Ions. The jams start June 6th at 2:00 PM (PDT).
BATTLE OF THE BARKS WEB MILESTONE
Cyber support for Ruff Riffs will operate simultaneously and get even more Ruff Riffs milestone progress into your paws. Deploy your forces into Blitz to bring home as many Blitz Credits as possible to take advantage of the second prong in this attack on June 6th at 2:00 PM (PDT).
STAR-LORD (ANNIHILATION) FLYING IN
The charismatic Knowhere Brawler with blinding dance moves is reporting for Alliance War action! You can blast off your Knowhere team when his character shards become available on June 8th at 2:00 PM (PDT) in the Elemental Gunslinger Orb for 675 Power Cores, which gives you a chance to earn up to 180 shards for Star-Lord (Annihilation).
You can also grab tons of Star-Lord (Annihilation) shards from his special offers in the Supplies Store. Upon your next game login after a purchase, you'll get backstage access to limited-time deals on Gold, Training Modules, and other resources to power him up.
Make sure to open Red Star Orbs starting on Star-Lord (Annihilation)'s release day, when he'll have an increased drop rate - signaled by the Inbox announcement.
MONSTER MASH
S.T.R.I.K.E. is elevating the ruthless Dark Hunters team to lead the charge in Blitz for the upcoming Quick Rumble. Claw, bite, and blast your way through waves of enemies to extract Rock Concert Tickets, Ability Materials for roster upgrades, and Blitz Credits. The melee begins on June 9th at 2:00 PM (PDT).
S.T.R.I.K.E. PASS
Get ready for Season 35 of S.T.R.I.K.E. Pass:
Start Date: June 7th at 2:00 PM (PDT)
Featured Reward: Gwenpool
CHARACTER AVAILABILITY
Firestar to the Basic Orb, Ultimus Orb, Mega Orb (replacing Magik), Premium Orb, and Supplies Store in the near future. Be on the lookout for an Inbox alerting you to this update.
ELITE STORE UPDATE
Gwenpool will soon be available to purchase Red Stars directly for Silver and Gold Promotion Credits.
FREE CLAIM FRIDAY
Jam out with this Friday Free Claim (available until June 3rd at 2:00 PM (PDT)) that'll help your progress in Stone Cold Spiders with Campaign Energy, Korg's Intergalactic Tour with Rock Concert Tickets, and give your Knowhere Support, Cosmo, the shard zoomies:
6,000 Rock Concert Tickets
100 Campaign Energy
5 Cosmo character shards
Until next time…
Good luck, Commanders!
**Please note that the information in this blog is subject to change before going live in the game.**

I had about 20 solar lentigos (SKs) frozen off my legs (where they just dip a Q-tip in the liquid nitrogen solution and apply it to the spots). My derm told me they would start to flake off about a week but it's been 6 weeks and while the initial flaking did happen, they are the exact same color as they were before I had it done. Is that normal? Does it take several months? I specifically said I was going on vacation in July so hoped they would all be gone/faded by then. I just hope I didn't waste my money. After two skin cancers, I no longer lay out in the sun - just wanted to feel comfortable in my swimsuit/skirts, etc.

Besides the more readily available tips like using the latest periperi build for macOS, I found that purging my shader cache really helped performance after the initial stuttering. If you've been using the same shader cache for a while, I highly recommend purging it and starting fresh. In particular, Lookout Landing and Hateno were tanking my fps before purging my cache and they are no longer doing this after initial compilation stutters. Combat is extremely stutter-y immediately after purging so probably don't load into a particularly tough area. Playing on an M1 Mac Mini, 16gb.

1-
Everything that could have gone wrong did, that was all that ran through High Commandant Krait's mind as he watched the holoscreens showing the virus' effects on the Human homeworld of Earth.
The Draconis Virus was a muitagenic virus, deliberately made resistant to most medicines and keyed to not target the citizens of the Jun'Krat Empire. It was usually used as a weapon of last resort, in the event a species proved to be particularly belligerent against their conquest of the stars.
The Humans had been extremely resistant, refusing time and time again to join as a vassal planet, then as conscripts, even as slaves they proved particularly tenacious- a quality the Empire would have lauded, had it not come to this.
Humanity was consigned to become little more than feral bioweapons against the next planet that deigned to resist, and so, several Vector Missiles were launched, the virus released, and the effects taking root almost immediately.
First came the physical changes, skin thickening into scaly hide, fingernails splitting and making way for bony claws, hair falling out and making way for long and wicked horns, the skeletal system cracking and breaking, shifting into the familiar form of biohazardous weapons. It was, effectively, a complete shedding of their original species, the monster emerging from the contagious blood of a virus that only lasted one month.
The mixture of agony and neurological mutation was designed to utterly destroy sapience, turn them wild and vicious, able to be captured, tamed, and turned against the Empire's enemies.
The first sign things had gone awry was the newly transformed showing above average intelligence. They were still driven by the virus' urging them to spread the infection, but instead of mindlessly biting and tearing flesh, they stood beside their victims, as if easing them through the process. And then the most bizarre event transpired, one that shook Krait to his core.
The Humans who had hidden came out of hiding, and embraced the change. Humanity had always been considered a little south of sanity, but this was utter madness. Yet, far ahead of the expected time, the entire species had undergone mutation, and the world- while otherwise silent- persisted in its functions.
It wasn't long for signals to reach out, communication between the nations of Humanity to re-establish, armies to gather, and finally, as the month neared its end, a message was sent to Krait.
"Thanks for the powerup, we like raw meat now."
2-
"How did your species maintain its sense of self and identity?" The reporter asked the Human. Despite the changes to their species, that designation was stressed upon the rest of the galaxy after the short and brutal war against the Jun'Krat Empire.
Humanity had risen from the traumatic change all the stronger and more powerful for it. Though nobody really knew why, the virus had been particularly benevolent to the Humans, making them even more adaptable than they had been before. Still omnivorous, but more capable of eating toxic or raw foods. Their body constantly radiated heat from their internal fires, allowing them to comfortably settle in arctic locations, even in hotter climates, they were often at a baseline temperature that was hotter than their surroundings.
And that wasn't even going into how the changes somehow allowed their minds to better process the information their bodies received. Their senses, their understanding of the world, had vastly improved, to the point where there was barely any delay between sensation and reaction.
Humanity had changed, but it remained proudly and staunchly attached to its prior identity, and it was only because the Empire's last ditch effort to make use of them had so spectacularly backfired and benefited the species that the species had magnanimously constrained their brutal counterattack to active combatants, military personnel, and political figures, up to and including the Emperor- minus his son, whom they allowed to take the throne on the condition that the Empire leave Earth the hell alone.
The Human ruminated on the question for several moments before shrugging, "I guess everyone was just a closet furry."

Throughout finals week, I probably averaged 2-3 solid hours of sleep per night. Typically when I get home from school I take a nap, but I started pushing those back farther in the night (around 10pm) because I am afraid when I wake up I might just fall back asleep again.
I used energy drinks (starbucks double shot) to stay awake most of the night. Monday through Friday it was one final exam every day. Once it hit like 2-3am, once I get up, I feel unsteady when I walk around. It's like being slightly drunk.
When friday came around I wanted to take a nap and I absolutely couldn't. My roommate slept like 17 hrs but I couldn't even fall asleep. My brain was racing, I felt an alarm in my head going "what are you doing, you are supposed to be studying, you are wasting precious time you don't have".
It got better as time progressed, but this is something I went through for 2 weeks. And it did not help that I was waiting for a final exam grade that determined whether I passed a class. That was prolonged my symptoms because I didn't have that closure that the semester was over. And we only had the weekend to ourselves before IPPE started and it was over an hour away. I spent the entire saturday packing so I really only had sunday.
I passed PK with a 70.03. Literally I was one homework question away from failing this class.

Hey, all. As the title says, I'm having a rough go of it trying to enjoy DMC3. This will almost undoubtedly spiral into unhinged ramble territory, but I will try my best to keep things a little focused. I'll go over my play history with the series for context and bring up my particular complaints; I'm hoping the community can spot what it is that I might be missing or offer me a window into the brain of a DMC fan. I want to say here, probably unnecessarily, that I am not trying to condemn the series as some doo-doo brain button-masher or anything; DMC as a concept sounds really appealing to me, and I want in, so I am very honestly asking here for any ideas on how to get my ape brain to enjoy it.
I only tried out the games this year, and I had always heard beforehand that these were the games to get into if you wanted flashy hack-and-slash fun, that even if you somehow hated everything else the combat would win you over. So I got DMC1, played about an hour and a half, and I hated it. "No biggie," I thought. "I'll skip over 2 and try out 3." After all, it does seem to be a favorite of the fanbase.
Initially, I was elated. It felt much smoother to control, I had a few more options to play around with, and I was pretty quickly given new guns and devil arms. However, as I progressed, it became very stale very fast. Even with swordmaster as my style the whole way through (I maxed it out, too), I felt like I had a bafflingly small number of things to do with each weapon, and I didn't even like one of them (Nevan).
I took a month-long break after beating Geryon, and in that time I checked out DMC4 and 5 and thoroughly enjoyed Bayonetta. I also bailed on 4 after 10 or so missions of Nero had pushed me to the brink of madness (the same issues I had with 3 but cranked up), but with the help of a character selection mod for 5 (I wanted to skip to Dante to see what the fuss was about), I actually had a pretty decent time on the first few levels. The style-swapping seems like a no-brainer, leveling up styles and getting new moves is significantly faster, and, while I haven't played enough to know for sure, those extra slots on my guns and devil arms promise a deluge of new shit to do later in the game.
This encouraged me to go back to DMC3 with a style-switcher mod. For a while, I was again having an okay go of it. But now, having finished mission 15 like a day ago, I'm all the way burnt out again. I didn't end up liking the Beowulf weapon much (again, too simple, especially compared to 5's interpretation), so I was back to the old three, and they've just become so stale. I have a lot of other gripes with enemy variety and level design, but these are tangential; my biggest grievance by far is that the combos in a vacuum just don't offer me enough variety.
And before you ask: yes, I know about jump-canceling. I've tried it out with a few of Rebellion's and A&R's air moves for 2 or 3 reps, and I don't really care for it. The usefulness is there—I just don't like how it feels to input. I also regularly use crazy combos to get easy peasy SSS when I'm thirsting for red orbs, but I hate the fact that it feels like I'm brutalizing my controller to do them, lol.
So help me out, please: what am I missing/doing wrong/etc.?
Extra context—my history with hack-and-slash and beat-em-up games: this post is probably way too long as is, but I wanted to include this in case it was helpful. Like I mentioned, I recently played and really enjoyed Bayonetta. In particular, I liked the vast array of combo options with appreciable utility differences in their enders and speed, the great variety of weapons (especially that whip, ZAMN!), and (mostly) the bosses. I didn't like how the late game's overuse of minibosses and drought of grunt crowds funneled me into playing less stylishly/more repetitively. A few months before that, I played and loved Sifu. Although I know this game plays a lot more restrained and tactically, there were a lot of tools to use and certainly ways to look flashy. I've tried Ninja Gaiden Black for less than an hour, probably. It was okay? I need more time with it. And lastly, the apple of my eye since I was a kid, God of War, particularly 1-3. I can wax poetic about how much and in which ways I adore God of War, but unless that's useful for shaping advice, I'll cut my flowery ass short.

You know that feeling when your dog is sniffing something they shouldn't and you have redirected them already, and you know they will regret sniffing the forbidden pile of mud?
This was me tonight with our 10mo puppy. He kept wanting to sniff some fresh mud near our apartment, which was close to some kind of plant that gives him the sneeze. Redirect, keep walking, make him potty like the good boy he is. The pile of mud is literally in front of our entrance, can't be avoided, so I keep him away from it.
He's a stubborn little corgi and still manages to get close enough to it (my fault, had a longer leash than usual).
Gets a sniff of the mud and the plants, starts sneezing violently and hits his nose on the ground pretty roughly twice before i can even crouch down to raise him up, because his short lil legs may be cute but make him too close to the ground for his sake.
He left a bit of blood on the ground, probably a small cut on his tongue. He's fine, let us check his mouth and nose, there was no more blood after a few seconds of cleaning him up. He got some ice to crunch on and then sneezed a bit of plant after a couple of minutes and tried to run away with it when I went to grab it.
I love him. I would die for him. But he's a bit dumb.