Happy shuttle cancun reviews
Etsy to Shopify Migration
2023.06.03 23:28 Sebastian_red_66 Etsy to Shopify Migration
Scenario: I use Printful, and have an Etsy shop. I am adding a Shopify store to my repertoire. I am "importing" the products from Etsy to Shopify in Printful (using their "import from store" option).
I am finding this is AMAZINGLY tedious (I have around 300 products to move) so have been looking at using one of the migration tools. The only caveat I have seen with these, is I would still have to go to each product in Shopify and "tell it" to sync with Printful. Am I mistaken in this thinking? Is there a better way?
I would also like to move my customer reviews from Etsy. The best I can tell is when I use the "import from store" option on Printful, my Shopify product will not have the same SKU/id as it did on Etsy, so those reviews will not sync to a product.
I just got a suggestion (elsewhere) to use Shuttle to "sync" my Etsy shop (products/customer data/reviews, etc) with my Shopify store. This option seems very appealing since it seems as though everything would align correctly. The only thing I cannot seem to get answered is whether or not the "synced" items on Shopify would retain the Printful fulfillment info, or if I would still have to set that up manually.
I am open to any and all suggestions. ;) TIA!!!
submitted by Sebastian_red_66 to printful [link] [comments]
I am finding this is AMAZINGLY tedious (I have around 300 products to move) so have been looking at using one of the migration tools. The only caveat I have seen with these, is I would still have to go to each product in Shopify and "tell it" to sync with Printful. Am I mistaken in this thinking? Is there a better way?
I would also like to move my customer reviews from Etsy. The best I can tell is when I use the "import from store" option on Printful, my Shopify product will not have the same SKU/id as it did on Etsy, so those reviews will not sync to a product.
I just got a suggestion (elsewhere) to use Shuttle to "sync" my Etsy shop (products/customer data/reviews, etc) with my Shopify store. This option seems very appealing since it seems as though everything would align correctly. The only thing I cannot seem to get answered is whether or not the "synced" items on Shopify would retain the Printful fulfillment info, or if I would still have to set that up manually.
I am open to any and all suggestions. ;) TIA!!!
2023.06.03 23:22 Tecumseh94 Ready to quit over a delayed raise
So I was bumped up into a security spot 6 months ago. It was a nepotism thing that honestly is screwed up but it did end up bitting me as my promotion was so irregular I only was bumped up one pay grade when I should be up 3 which in terms of concrete number means im paid ~30% less then the next lowest paid person. The division lead was sorry it happened and promised 5 grand raises every 6 months to catch me up so long as I preformed.
I preformed very well (literally top 3 in the division every week after my second week) and a few weeks back I went to my direct supervisor to talk about the raise. Direct supervisor says he knew nothing about it so I fowarded him the email where it was promised. He says okay but hell need a perfect month to get it done as its basically unheard of to get a 5 grand raise 6 months in and typically the yearly raise is just COL + 2%. 5 grand for me comes out to something above 12 %. I get what hes saying so try my best. Unfortunately we are undermanned to hell and back and in order to keep up with my job I am doing 5x-6x the expected daily task load and working 12-16 hour shifts at least 3 days a week so things happen. I got a unhappy rating because I got tired of a customer insisting we violate our compliance policy and said if she wanted her credentials she would need to acces them via our secure portal and if she was having issues navigating it I would be happy to walk her through it. She didnt like that and left a negative review and while I wasnt found at fault it would not be removed from metrics which meant my raise was gone. I asked if we could come back to this once the rating dropped off and i was told no so I said I was quiting.
He said hed talk to our division lead and next thing I know im pulled into a meet with the division lead who said I will get the raise and at the end of the week when the rating fell off he will go to the vp to get it done. He also said he really appreciated my work and im a model team member and he cant wait to see me as a manager once their done fleshing out my team (its an ongoing thing but he has shoved me into leadership 3 or 4 times now. Currently im alt shift lead in practice but theres only a handful of people on my shift so im not really a lead) To his word he did supposedly ask and it was approved but there was a logistic consideration that would take a week to sort out. There was to be a meeting friday which would iron out that concern whatever it was but a large portion of our already undermanned team called off to the point where there was more managers then grunts so the meeting was cancelled.
My raise has subsequently been delayed but ive been told he is actively working on it as much as he can and I should definetly expect something next week.
Im torn. I dont trust my company and I know promises mean jack. On the other hand im personal friends with my division lead and I want to believe him and the explanation is believable with a solid expectation in writing.
Any thoughts on the situation and what I should do? I honestly considered and almost did quit friday but talked myself down however i am considering it monday again if i dont hear anything by EOD
submitted by Tecumseh94 to cscareerquestions [link] [comments]
I preformed very well (literally top 3 in the division every week after my second week) and a few weeks back I went to my direct supervisor to talk about the raise. Direct supervisor says he knew nothing about it so I fowarded him the email where it was promised. He says okay but hell need a perfect month to get it done as its basically unheard of to get a 5 grand raise 6 months in and typically the yearly raise is just COL + 2%. 5 grand for me comes out to something above 12 %. I get what hes saying so try my best. Unfortunately we are undermanned to hell and back and in order to keep up with my job I am doing 5x-6x the expected daily task load and working 12-16 hour shifts at least 3 days a week so things happen. I got a unhappy rating because I got tired of a customer insisting we violate our compliance policy and said if she wanted her credentials she would need to acces them via our secure portal and if she was having issues navigating it I would be happy to walk her through it. She didnt like that and left a negative review and while I wasnt found at fault it would not be removed from metrics which meant my raise was gone. I asked if we could come back to this once the rating dropped off and i was told no so I said I was quiting.
He said hed talk to our division lead and next thing I know im pulled into a meet with the division lead who said I will get the raise and at the end of the week when the rating fell off he will go to the vp to get it done. He also said he really appreciated my work and im a model team member and he cant wait to see me as a manager once their done fleshing out my team (its an ongoing thing but he has shoved me into leadership 3 or 4 times now. Currently im alt shift lead in practice but theres only a handful of people on my shift so im not really a lead) To his word he did supposedly ask and it was approved but there was a logistic consideration that would take a week to sort out. There was to be a meeting friday which would iron out that concern whatever it was but a large portion of our already undermanned team called off to the point where there was more managers then grunts so the meeting was cancelled.
My raise has subsequently been delayed but ive been told he is actively working on it as much as he can and I should definetly expect something next week.
Im torn. I dont trust my company and I know promises mean jack. On the other hand im personal friends with my division lead and I want to believe him and the explanation is believable with a solid expectation in writing.
Any thoughts on the situation and what I should do? I honestly considered and almost did quit friday but talked myself down however i am considering it monday again if i dont hear anything by EOD
2023.06.03 23:14 Dear-Dig4601 Do we need to be baptized to go to heaven? (Verses please)
A friend and I are making a video called "How to go to heaven" and we've been studying deeper on this simple topic of 'how to go to heaven'.
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
This is why the only proper way to be baptized is through full immersion, not sprinkling. There are no Bible verses that tell us to be sprinkled in the water.
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The Greek definition for "baptism" in Ephesians 4 is:
G908 - baptisma - βάπτισμα " immersion, submersion"
submitted by Dear-Dig4601 to TrueChristian [link] [comments]
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
Is Calling On The Name Of The Lord Enough?
God wants us to be baptized, but some people say that all you need to do is believe on Jesus and then you will be saved, because Acts 22:21 says, “Whosoever shall all on The Name of The Lord shall be saved” or even the famous John 3:16!!!!!!You Must Review Every Data
But! To have an accurate view on any topic, whether it be the Bible or something secular, you have to review all the data on a topic. If you stop at 90 percent you may miss out on data that could change everything.For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
You Need Accurate Context
For accurate research, you need accurate context.The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
What's So Special About Baptism?
God wants us to be baptized because it symbolizes our sins being washed away. When you go under water it is honoring His death in the grave, then when you come out it honors his resurrection. The old you dies, and the new you rises.Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
This is why the only proper way to be baptized is through full immersion, not sprinkling. There are no Bible verses that tell us to be sprinkled in the water.
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The Greek definition for "baptism" in Ephesians 4 is:
G908 - baptisma - βάπτισμα " immersion, submersion"
2023.06.03 23:14 Dear-Dig4601 Do we need to be baptized to go to heaven? (show verses)
A friend and I are making a video called "How to go to heaven" and we've been studying deeper on this simple topic of 'how to go to heaven'.
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
This is why the only proper way to be baptized is through full immersion, not sprinkling. There are no Bible verses that tell us to be sprinkled in the water.
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The Greek definition for "baptism" in Ephesians 4 is:
G908 - baptisma - βάπτισμα " immersion, submersion"
submitted by Dear-Dig4601 to Lutheranism [link] [comments]
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
Is Calling On The Name Of The Lord Enough?
God wants us to be baptized, but some people say that all you need to do is believe on Jesus and then you will be saved, because Acts 22:21 says, “Whosoever shall all on The Name of The Lord shall be saved” or even the famous John 3:16!!!!!!You Must Review Every Data
But! To have an accurate view on any topic, whether it be the Bible or something secular, you have to review all the data on a topic. If you stop at 90 percent you may miss out on data that could change everything.For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
You Need Accurate Context
For accurate research, you need accurate context.The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
What's So Special About Baptism?
God wants us to be baptized because it symbolizes our sins being washed away. When you go under water it is honoring His death in the grave, then when you come out it honors his resurrection. The old you dies, and the new you rises.Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
This is why the only proper way to be baptized is through full immersion, not sprinkling. There are no Bible verses that tell us to be sprinkled in the water.
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The Greek definition for "baptism" in Ephesians 4 is:
G908 - baptisma - βάπτισμα " immersion, submersion"
2023.06.03 23:08 Dear-Dig4601 Do we need to be baptized to go to heaven? (Show verses)
A friend and I are making a video called "How to go to heaven" and we've been studying deeper on this simple topic of 'how to go to heaven'. I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.) Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed). Is Calling On The Name Of The Lord Enough? God wants us to be baptized, but some people say that all you need to do is believe on Jesus and then you will be saved, because Acts 22:21 says, “Whosoever shall all on The Name of The Lord shall be saved” or even the famous John 3:16!!!!!! You Must Review Every Data But! To have an accurate view on any topic, whether it be the Bible or something secular, you have to review all the data on a topic. If you stop at 90 percent you may miss out on data that could change everything. For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic. Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt. Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned” John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already" You Need Accurate Context For accurate research, you need accurate context. The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat” According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning. Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:" Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21, Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved." The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus. BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching. In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach. Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins " When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5? Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb. Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says, "12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual. Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did. Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity. Matthew 16 and John 1 shows: "Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God. "Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man. So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man? "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." But it doesn’t. It says water. When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism? Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture. What's So Special About Baptism? God wants us to be baptized because it symbolizes our sins being washed away. When you go under water it is honoring His death in the grave, then when you come out it honors his resurrection. The old you dies, and the new you rises. Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him." Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
submitted by Dear-Dig4601 to Christianity [link] [comments]
2023.06.03 23:07 Dear-Dig4601 Do we need to be baptized to go to heaven? (Show Bible Verses)
A friend and I are making a video called "How to go to heaven" and we've been studying deeper on this simple topic of 'how to go to heaven'.
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
submitted by Dear-Dig4601 to Baptist [link] [comments]
I recently met someone who says baptism isn't required because of John 3:16 and similar verses. I am happy to hear other perspectives, especially before we release the video. For now, scripture tells me to be baptized to go to heaven, IF we are able and IF we are aware of it. It is the rule, but there are exceptions, like the thief on the cross. (I believe someone who only knows a portion of The Gospel can still be saved. For example, they accept John 3:16 and live up to ALL the light they know, God sees their heart and they will have eternal life.)
Below is an explanation of why Baptism is necessary (When possible and when informed).
Is Calling On The Name Of The Lord Enough?
God wants us to be baptized, but some people say that all you need to do is believe on Jesus and then you will be saved, because Acts 22:21 says, “Whosoever shall all on The Name of The Lord shall be saved” or even the famous John 3:16!!!!!!You Must Review Every Data
But! To have an accurate view on any topic, whether it be the Bible or something secular, you have to review all the data on a topic. If you stop at 90 percent you may miss out on data that could change everything.For example, there are 3 leaves on the ground and we need to know how many hidden flowers are there. You flip the first leaf. No flower. You flip the 2nd. No flower. So, if we stop here, then our conclusion would be that there are no flowers. But until you exhaust all the data, you won’t know the full truth. When you flip the last leaf you'll find a flower! If we didn’t keep checking, we would have believed a lie because there was a flower. So in order to have a clear understanding of how to go to heaven we have to look at all the Bible verses regarding that topic.
Jesus Himself says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Some say "Look, the 2nd half of the verse only says "he that believeth not will be damned". But that shouldn't negate the first half. The reason why believing on Jesus is emphasized more than any other step, is because it is the first step it, is the root of salvation. But repentance or baptism in it of itself does not save you. Baptism means nothing if you don’t first believe in Jesus because He is The One who paid our debt.
Acts 8:36-37 says, "Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
You first need to believe in Jesus, before being baptized. So in Mark 16:16, unbelief in Jesus IS the root of not going to heaven. It does not need to say “he that believeth not AND is not baptized shall be damned”
John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already"
You Need Accurate Context
For accurate research, you need accurate context.The Bible says, “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
According to what we just read, we can literally eat from every tree. BUT, when we read the next verse, it now has the opposite meaning.
Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:"
Without true context, truth can be twisted. It’s like coming to a conclusion before someone finishes talking. You have to know the context. This concept even applies to the famous John 3:16, but first, let’s go back to Acts 2:21,
Acts 2:21, "Peter said to them. Whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved."
The foundation of our salvation is based all on this. To believe on Jesus.
BUT, Peter wasn’t done preaching.
In the very same chapter Peter continues to preach.
Acts 22:37-38 "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
When reading in context, even the famous John 3:16 has baptism linked to salvation.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:5 comes before John 3:16. And it says,
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
So when we read up to John 3:16, are we supposed to forget what He just said in verse 5?
Some people say to be born of the water is not baptism, but that it’s referring to being born from a human in a mothers womb.
Here’s why it IS baptism. John 1:12-13 says,
"12As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Verse 13 speaks of 2 births. One is born of God, which is a spiritual birth. And the other is the opposite of a spiritual birth. Which is a fleshly birth from your mothers womb. This fleshly birth is linked to humanity. Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood do not equate to being born of God. They instead, represent humanity. It’s nature is physical, not spiritual.
Matthew 16:17 "Jesus answered and said, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven." Jesus is saying, man did not reveal this to you, but God did.
Again. Flesh and blood represents humanity.
Matthew 16 and John 1 shows:
"Flesh, blood, and Man" =/= God.
"Flesh, blood, and Man" = Man.
So if John 3:5 is about being born from the womb, shouldn’t it say, flesh and blood, or at least man?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
But it doesn’t. It says water.
When you pair John 3:5 with Mark 16:16, how can John 3:5 not be about baptism?
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Mark 1 shows that there is a water baptism, and a spiritual baptism. This aligns with John 3:5, bringing the context of baptism into the picture.
What's So Special About Baptism?
God wants us to be baptized because it symbolizes our sins being washed away. When you go under water it is honoring His death in the grave, then when you come out it honors his resurrection. The old you dies, and the new you rises.Colossians 2:12 says, "buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him."
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Being baptism is a symbol of being born again. And Jesus was also baptized. And Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps.
2023.06.03 23:00 Fancy_Mechanic_1495 Keeping In Touch
Hello everyone! Summer is almost here. It is the favorite time of the year for many. We will be making our way to the beaches, outdoor concerts, visiting the library, the zoo, exotic countries and Islands, and much more fun travel, activities, celebrations, and meetups.
Anyway, please remember that this month–on June 11, 2023, is National Children’s Day. National Children’s Day is a day to honor our children. It is a special day to recognize the goodness that children bring into our lives. As siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and those of us who are in constant contact with youths, it is a day of reflection, and reassurance that we are there for every child.
Children are the future. They are the ones who will inherit the world, build, and improves it, and make it much better for generations to come. Children bring with them a ray of sunshine, joy, eagerness for learning, and a unique curiosity. They are very loving and appreciative of our endless love, care, support, and protection for them. Hopefully, some of us will read this blog with our little ones at their sides, even if they are not yet reading at this level.
I write interesting, fun, and educational books for children because they deserve it, and much more. In the recently released book, My Island Jamaica. The hero Marc is very knowledgeable of what is taking place on the Island. Some things are good, and other things not so much.
Although Marc’s Island is limited in opportunities, Marc has decided that one day he will be the one to make his Island better. If you have not yet done so, you may treat your child to a paperback, or an eBook of My Island Jamaica. I can assure you that you will be happy with your purchase.
See what ideas the little ones can adopt from the main character Marc. The link is www.amazon.com/authoalexandriajsnowdon Also, you are free to leave your reviews. Until next time take care. Love always, and Happy Reading.
submitted by Fancy_Mechanic_1495 to KeepingInTouch [link] [comments]
Anyway, please remember that this month–on June 11, 2023, is National Children’s Day. National Children’s Day is a day to honor our children. It is a special day to recognize the goodness that children bring into our lives. As siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and those of us who are in constant contact with youths, it is a day of reflection, and reassurance that we are there for every child.
Children are the future. They are the ones who will inherit the world, build, and improves it, and make it much better for generations to come. Children bring with them a ray of sunshine, joy, eagerness for learning, and a unique curiosity. They are very loving and appreciative of our endless love, care, support, and protection for them. Hopefully, some of us will read this blog with our little ones at their sides, even if they are not yet reading at this level.
I write interesting, fun, and educational books for children because they deserve it, and much more. In the recently released book, My Island Jamaica. The hero Marc is very knowledgeable of what is taking place on the Island. Some things are good, and other things not so much.
Although Marc’s Island is limited in opportunities, Marc has decided that one day he will be the one to make his Island better. If you have not yet done so, you may treat your child to a paperback, or an eBook of My Island Jamaica. I can assure you that you will be happy with your purchase.
See what ideas the little ones can adopt from the main character Marc. The link is www.amazon.com/authoalexandriajsnowdon Also, you are free to leave your reviews. Until next time take care. Love always, and Happy Reading.
2023.06.03 22:58 Mr_Nex [WTS] PNW Toast, Vox Designs Dirty Raccoon, RGT Clip, MXG Clip, Saddleback Satchel & More!
Hey EDC Exchange -
Thanks for checking out my post! Re-listing a few things with price drops and added a few new items for your perusal. I am the original owner on all items listed EXCEPT the RGT clip.
First, let’s look at that timestamp!
First, a VoxDesign “Dirty” Raccoon - 3/8” in brass. Purchased new from UrbanEDC in July of 2022. I have way too many of these “bottle openers” from VoxDesign, and this one has never been carried or used…it should go to someone who will appreciate it. Basically new condition. Includes original bag and card. Item was $165 new.
Video here.
Raccoon is SV:$140 $120 $100 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS. Final price drop on this before I just hang on to it.
Next up, a PNW Toast Co. Toast! This was purchased from UrbanEDC in June of 2021. This was an Urban EDC exclusive with a layer of Tiffany G10 sandwiched between Stabwood on one side and and Canvas Micarta on the other. Very cool little force multiplier, but I never ended up carrying it. Also purchased a brown Breadbox Slip (leather sheath) from Redeemed Creations that same month. Also never carried (although I did slip the toast in and out of it a few times, so it’s not “mint”). Toast includes original COA and paper bag wrapping. Item is like new. Toast was $189 new, sheath was $30.
Photos here.
Toast & Slip are SV: $200 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Next, a Peak Eiger Ultra X in brass. Purchased directly from Peak in 2017, I’ve carried this a handful of times, but never really fell in love with the twisty style interface. This is the Hi-CRI version with narrow beam, includes the tail switch (momentary) and clip (which I think is a Preon clip, but I don’t actually remember…I did have to pick it up separately). Beam is lovely, light is in good shape. Runs off a 10440 Li-ion cell ONLY (not included). Light (without clip) was $85 new.
Photos here.
Peak is SV: $50 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Next, a Ripp’s Garage Tech Polished Timascus clip for CRK. This came to me installed on a Large Inkosi I got on the Swap. I left it on, carried it twice, and decided it was just a touch too fancy for me. Removed the clip and it ended up in a drawer for a year or two, and was recently re-discovered. Clip is in good shape, although there are a couple very small spots on the left side of the clip that look like wear to me, I did my best to picture them. Otherwise, this is a great opportunity to set your CRK apart. These go for about $130 new, I believe.
Photos here.
RGT Clip is SV: $80 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS. SPF!
Next, an MXG Titanium Deep Carry clip for Spyderco knives. I got a couple clips from MXG trying to find a good match for my Swayback, this didn’t make the cut, but I liked the clip and kept thinking I’d find a home for it…never did. Time to move it on! It was very briefly installed on the Swayback, but never carried. It’s in essentially new condition. Originally $25.
Photo here.
MXG Clip is SV: $15 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Then we’ve got a Tanner Goods Document Folio in black. I got this from a sample sale grab bag about 10 years ago and loved it, but wanted it in brown. So, promptly ordered the cognac version and put this one away. It’s doing nobody any good stashed away, so it’s time to let it go. It’s made from a single piece of 5.5 oz vegetable tanned Meridian English Bridle leather, with brass studs. Features a felted wool sleeve. Aside from the “S” stamp (see pictures) I can find nothing that differentiates this folio from the full-price one I purchased at the same time. The case measures 12” long by 9” wide. Tanner Goods doesn’t make these anymore, if you’re looking for an elegant way to transport your documents (or iPad), this is a damn fine way to do it. Originally sold for $200.
Photos here.
Folio is SV:$100 $60 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Lastly, a Galway vertical snap wallet from Blackthorn Leather. I purchased this back in 2018 and carried it a half-dozen times. It’s a great wallet, I just prefer a “trucker wallet” style form factor. Construction is SOLID, the wallet feels bombproof. Wallet is in excellent condition. Item is constructed from hand-dyed, full-grain vegetable tanned leather and lined with plaid accent fabric. Measures 3.5” x 4.75” closed. The concho is a very well done reproduction Walking Liberty quarter (the coin collectors in your life will thank you). Item was $115 new.
Photos here.
Wallet is SV: $65 $50 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS. SOLD!!
FINALLY, the last item up for today is a Saddleback Leather - Large Satchel in Coffee Brown. Got this back in November of 2012 to replace a Large Briefcase that was too large. It was carried a bunch in an office environment, but was ultimately replaced by a Mountainback Large Satchel in 2016. The large satchel is no longer available (in fact, none of the bags I just mentioned are still available), so this is your chance to pick up this beautiful leather bag that is tired of living in my closet. I’m including an older Saddleback leather slip case. I’ve used it to carry iPhone/iPad chargers, but it can work for loads of different uses. Also including a set of two leather utility straps that Saddleback used to offer that I kept laced in the D-rings on the bottom of the bag (great for carrying a jacket or sweater).
Loads more information about the bag can be found via this review: https://bestleather.org/saddleback-leather-large-satchel-review-408/
Photos here.
Satchel was $350 new. SV is $240 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS (I think, might need to go UPS). This is also available for local pick-up for $200 here in Southern California.
…and that’s all. Happy to entertain reasonable offers (or combine shipping), but I am definitely looking to sell (not trade). Thanks for looking and please feel free to reach out with any questions.
submitted by Mr_Nex to EDCexchange [link] [comments]
Thanks for checking out my post! Re-listing a few things with price drops and added a few new items for your perusal. I am the original owner on all items listed EXCEPT the RGT clip.
First, let’s look at that timestamp!
First, a VoxDesign “Dirty” Raccoon - 3/8” in brass. Purchased new from UrbanEDC in July of 2022. I have way too many of these “bottle openers” from VoxDesign, and this one has never been carried or used…it should go to someone who will appreciate it. Basically new condition. Includes original bag and card. Item was $165 new.
Video here.
Raccoon is SV:
Next up, a PNW Toast Co. Toast! This was purchased from UrbanEDC in June of 2021. This was an Urban EDC exclusive with a layer of Tiffany G10 sandwiched between Stabwood on one side and and Canvas Micarta on the other. Very cool little force multiplier, but I never ended up carrying it. Also purchased a brown Breadbox Slip (leather sheath) from Redeemed Creations that same month. Also never carried (although I did slip the toast in and out of it a few times, so it’s not “mint”). Toast includes original COA and paper bag wrapping. Item is like new. Toast was $189 new, sheath was $30.
Photos here.
Toast & Slip are SV: $200 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Next, a Peak Eiger Ultra X in brass. Purchased directly from Peak in 2017, I’ve carried this a handful of times, but never really fell in love with the twisty style interface. This is the Hi-CRI version with narrow beam, includes the tail switch (momentary) and clip (which I think is a Preon clip, but I don’t actually remember…I did have to pick it up separately). Beam is lovely, light is in good shape. Runs off a 10440 Li-ion cell ONLY (not included). Light (without clip) was $85 new.
Photos here.
Peak is SV: $50 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Next, an MXG Titanium Deep Carry clip for Spyderco knives. I got a couple clips from MXG trying to find a good match for my Swayback, this didn’t make the cut, but I liked the clip and kept thinking I’d find a home for it…never did. Time to move it on! It was very briefly installed on the Swayback, but never carried. It’s in essentially new condition. Originally $25.
Photo here.
MXG Clip is SV: $15 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS.
Then we’ve got a Tanner Goods Document Folio in black. I got this from a sample sale grab bag about 10 years ago and loved it, but wanted it in brown. So, promptly ordered the cognac version and put this one away. It’s doing nobody any good stashed away, so it’s time to let it go. It’s made from a single piece of 5.5 oz vegetable tanned Meridian English Bridle leather, with brass studs. Features a felted wool sleeve. Aside from the “S” stamp (see pictures) I can find nothing that differentiates this folio from the full-price one I purchased at the same time. The case measures 12” long by 9” wide. Tanner Goods doesn’t make these anymore, if you’re looking for an elegant way to transport your documents (or iPad), this is a damn fine way to do it. Originally sold for $200.
Photos here.
Folio is SV:
FINALLY, the last item up for today is a Saddleback Leather - Large Satchel in Coffee Brown. Got this back in November of 2012 to replace a Large Briefcase that was too large. It was carried a bunch in an office environment, but was ultimately replaced by a Mountainback Large Satchel in 2016. The large satchel is no longer available (in fact, none of the bags I just mentioned are still available), so this is your chance to pick up this beautiful leather bag that is tired of living in my closet. I’m including an older Saddleback leather slip case. I’ve used it to carry iPhone/iPad chargers, but it can work for loads of different uses. Also including a set of two leather utility straps that Saddleback used to offer that I kept laced in the D-rings on the bottom of the bag (great for carrying a jacket or sweater).
Loads more information about the bag can be found via this review: https://bestleather.org/saddleback-leather-large-satchel-review-408/
Photos here.
Satchel was $350 new. SV is $240 via PayPal FF (no notes), shipped via USPS (I think, might need to go UPS). This is also available for local pick-up for $200 here in Southern California.
…and that’s all. Happy to entertain reasonable offers (or combine shipping), but I am definitely looking to sell (not trade). Thanks for looking and please feel free to reach out with any questions.
2023.06.03 22:56 smolcrackheadenergy Between 1&2 💞 Album Review
And yes, this is 9 months late 😭 I'm not sorry — when I find an album review online it's always around a paragraph per song or even shorter. It makes sense from a journalistic perspective, but I want to do this album justice, hence taking 7 months to write out all my thoughts.
This shit is comprehensive and definitely overanalyzed, especially in Talk that Talk and Trouble. Each song review will compose of my commentary going over the song, noting the details I noticed through months of listening, then a conclusion. Also, mild swearing warning, I like implementing a touch of "French" when I'm very emotional about something. Anyway, onto the review!
TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT
TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED
One of the most perfect TWICE songs.
I think this is one of TWICE’s best-sounding title tracks. Warm modulated synths, a thrumming bass line, distant bells, shimmering synths — the purpose of this song is to be fun and my god is it excellent at it, like… Sana and Chaeyoung are saying knock-knock-knock and beep-beep-beep as if they’re some kind of car. So much fun.
Further along in the verse, Dahyun’s voice sounds so full and smooth with that layered harmony. Tzuyu coming with the Yes or Yes, Push & Pull, and 1 to 10 references — these are 5 years of song references. And Jeongyeon closes the pre-chorus accompanied by a rising synth to drop into chorus one. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
The drums accelerate, the synths start blasting, and Jihyo opens to that party of a chorus with her godly vocals,
During Sana's Talk that Talk~ lines there’s this gentle ascending synth bell that rings with the descending melody and it sounds absolutely gorgeous. And the choreography during that part of the chorus is so so so so fun: the talking hands bit, spelling L-O-V-E, concluding with the deullyeojweo ooh! Oh my Jihyo the deullyeojweo ooh…
Have I mentioned this song is fun?
Speeding through verse 2; Chaeyoung’s part with the cat ears popping in the music video is adorable; Momo her stretching her arms out looks so damn cool; and Dahyun with her replay part sounds so lovely — although I think it sonically sounds a touch random, it makes sense thematically.
And now for this pre-chorus. Mina and Jihyo leading into it sound great BUT JEONGYEON… Now, she is my ult bias, and this pre-chorus sounds almost identical to the first one, but the way she holds that final note, enunciating and holding that now~ for one more beat before the chorus drops sounds so perfect — the song teeters on a cliff edge. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
Dropping into the second chorus and man, Jihyo powered through that first chorus, but the way Nayeon delivers it just hits different. She has this indescribable “pop” voice (I promise this wasn't on purpose) that stands out and shouts this is THE chorus. I think this is especially apparent in how both lead their choruses where Jihyo starts at 120% power while Nayeon waits until [Tell me] WHAT YOU WANT to full-send it. She also highlights “malhaebwa” in a similar way later in the chorus.
Another deullyeojweo ooh! Nayeon travels to Narnia, and Mina the engineer strikes again in this heavenly, underwater-esque bridge,
The word “love” is said for the first time in the song. There’s a funky keyboard instrument behind Chaeyoung’s part. Jihyo, Chaeyoung, and Nayeon take the initiative in their lyrics, professing their love before closing the bridge.
And now for the pièce-de-résistance: this final double chorus is exceptional — 40 seconds of crack-laced euphoria; Jihyo switches up the chorus and the choreo, Dahyun chimes in with her fluttery “Talk that Talk”, Momo comes out of nowhere with “oh yeah it sounds so good!” — you’re damn right it does, and this is where the song SOARS.
Nayeon outright shouts “Tell me what you need” and then Jeongyeon sings the above lines in such an ethereal, warm way where the first line ascends while the second line descends, causing a lull in the song before the finale with Nayeon, finishing off the song with the final deullyeojweo ooh! What a party. What a song.
THE GOOD
Lyrics and theme-wise, if this were to have been TWICE’s last comeback, they’ve once again built upon the theme they've been doing since debut: a Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story.
This song’s chorus is honest yet simple; it asks the listener, in this case, the other half of the relationship, to be more upfront and open with their love (never be scared of love), that before the relationship can continue and flourish there has to be a foundation and commitment of love between each other.
TWICE debuted with a song about making your crush go ooh ahh. Years later, they started pondering “What is love?” and imagining their crush responding with “yes” when asking them out — and now concluding with the phrase “Talk that talk, [talk that] L-O-V-E”, being upfront with the relationship, wishing their partner to also be happy, to commit to them, to feel the love that they want to impart on them. From gawking like ooh-ahh to talking out your shared love like adults — to having a true relationship between (one and) two.
And can I just say before finishing off Talk that Talk's review that this is such a fun and repeatable song with many little intricacies hidden in the nonet’s vocals and the production. This is the third draft I’m writing about Talk that Talk and its original word count pretty much quadrupled.
Harkening back to TWICE’s roots by combining mature thinking with youthful character, an incredible ending to look forward to, and just simply being a club-banger that’s easy to listen to, TTT is an easy 10/10.
WATCH ME GO WATCH ME GO
RULE THE WORLD
If there was one B-side to promote in a live clip, this was a solid choice.
Helmed by LDN Noise going headlong into the Western boy-group rock-band aesthetic, Queen of Hearts is a boom-boom-clap song through and through. The drums are very prominent throughout the song, only giving room to riffs of electric guitar in the chorus to drive and continue the momentum of the music.
And speaking of the chorus, vocal line each got a chorus to flex and they did not fuck around,
Cymbals crashing, drums booming, and 3MIX belting all just so sound so good.
These long, held-out notes performed by Jihyo and Nayeon are simply exquisite. Along with the shredding guitar, the drum set coming in full, and the interludes by Dahyun, Momo, and Chaeyoung, this is the part of the song that always, always, gives me goosebumps — it sounds so visceral, so energetic, so fun, so triumphant. Boom-boom-clap songs can be hit or miss with people, but there's no denying the payoff from the first part of the chorus to the second part is worth the wait.
The theme of the song so far has been kind of spread around the song. The chorus alludes to it with the line "And it’s all because of you." But Mina shows more sides of it in the second verse, especially with the phrase,
It sounds really lovely — in a very cheesy and affectionate kind of way, as it rightfully should — the song is about the girls and their fans. But the bridge is where the song indeed shows its colours
This is a song CONCEIVED TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE FANS. It’s meant to be loud. It’s meant to be unapologetic. It’s meant to be sappy. And it’s all the more wonderful for it.
This is the TWICEiest shit ever.
Like Talk that Talk, Queen of Hearts also has a killer closer. The production already started to grow from the bridge, but now the guitarist finally went Super Saiyan and instead of supporting the drums, they both take the centrepiece in tandem.
Then finally, the closing moments of the song even manage to squeeze in some more sappiness.
I still can’t believe that this banger is a FAN SONG out of all things. Truly, the TWICEiest shit ever.
THE GOOD
I love these types of rock songs with how grunge and head-bang-able they are, there is just a certain nostalgic and cheesy quality to them that feels so cozy. I don’t love putting them on repeat, because in this case, I do believe there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Perhaps more shredding, maybe a guitar solo to rock out to, or an accompaniment(!) of ad-libs from 3MIX to support Jihyo’s final chorus? A ONCE can dream of a truly bombastic rock song from TWICE. But then again that distracts from the core of what this song is: a fan song disguised as a rock song.
Queen of Hearts has so much sweetness in its lyrics and message that it's overflowing. The drums, guitar, and vocals can be as loud and intricate as they can, but the theme of this song is what makes it special from TWICE’s other rock songs — it’s a 9/10 for me.
I WANNA WANNA WANNA
TAKE YOU TO THE BASICS
Quite possibly the jammiest (pun intended) song of the album.
A song written by the Strawberry Princess herself — an event similar in frequency to other artists' releases with her last song being 2020’s silky Handle It — Basics first starts with an understated and dreamy delivery. After the first stanza, however, a bouncy Miami bass line emerges, revealing the true nature of the song: this is a classic summer bop! Especially in the first rap,
Syllables are pronounced in a relaxed nature, bars often starting with an "ah" sound, flirty lines in English — this rap features a production full of pop with R&B flourishes and, in my opinion, this is Chaeyoung’s bag. Also, the line "rainbow bubblegum" is so adorable and so Chaeyoung.
That chorus is pure pop with a Miami bass backing; you better be bopping your head to the melody, if not booty poppin' to the bassline. Chaeyoung loves rhyming in the first half of the chorus to enhance its catchiness and it's damn incredible: the “wanna”, “weonhae”, and “ppeonhae” all create these imperfect rhymes that continue momentum without feeling repetitive.
After the very Boy With Luv-sounding “ah yeah ah yeah, ah yeah ah yeah” comes an 8-bar split half and half between Chaeyoung and Momo. Coming from the chorus, the production completely cuts out for the first 2 bars. This adds tension; the song yearns to have that bass beat thumping again and all we have in the audio space in those 2 bars is Chaeyoung spittin' and she delivered.
Translating to:
The rap feels slick, effortless, and confident. Her diction remains sharp when enunciating each syllable but she doesn’t let the flow of her rap waver or build as her 4 bars go by, it’s just smooth consistency throughout. Even the lyrics possess an aura of laid-back collectedness that is just so her. The things Chaeyoung can do when given her pen.
THE GOOD
This song is summer bliss distilled into 2:56. It’s dreamy, the raps are satisfying, and the ending is charming. I will say that although the second half of the song adds the stunning “spaceship” post-choruses and a floaty bridge with an incredible drumbeat drop into the final chorus, the raps of the song make it feel a bit front-loaded. And in an album stacked with awesome finishers, it feels more apparent.
With that said, it’s an 8/10 bop for me. This song is so easy to put on and it feels exactly what Chaeyoung would make if given the reins to produce a pop song all on her own. The lyrics are nonchalant but full of conviction, the wordplay is intricate, and the production playful but not too bombastic — it's just a nice vibe. Songs like Basics are the standard for good, simple, repeatable pop music and I’m happy that Chaeyoung got to test her pen in this genre.
BABY WE’RE IN
TROUBLE TROUBLE
Background vocals: Jihyo
Lead composer credit: Jihyo
Vocal director credit: Jihyo (an assumption given her contributions in First Time)
One of the most enjoyable songs I’ve heard in a while.
There is an underlying tension within the first 4 bars of the song, Jihyo and Nayeon confidently open it to a nondescript array of synths and then the stanza ends, Momo announces “Let’s go”, the beat drops and it hits you: this is a club song.
Dahyun's relaxed delivery contrasted with Jeongyeon's staccato flow, the wobbly synth beat with sprinkle of house piano, Sana dramatically slowing down the song only for Tzuyu to build it back up until the chorus drops,
This chorus is perfect. Toronto’s residential market needs this song injected into its veins because god damn this song has SO much house in it. And then, ANOTHER KILLING PART: this rap fucking slaps.
During the first 2 bars, Chaeyoung is keeping it calm because that trip of a chorus just ended and the song needs a breather, but I don't think anyone expected her to SNAP this hard afterwards:
Below is the structure of her this portion of the rap, I’m not that well versed in this technical aspect of music theory but I digress, this is all in the span of around 5 seconds where it’s:
Now, 25/5 = 5 syllables per second isn’t groundbreaking, but goddamn it these 2 bars sound so nice — if there is one part in this album that I always repeat, it’s this. The addition of that first quadruplet for “cannot miss this” in the midst of the triplets sticks out and accelerates the flow of the rap while the following doublets and quadruplets destabilize and slow the rap down as the verse closes. And can I just point out:
THE MAIN VOCALIST WROTE, DIRECTED, AND COMPOSED THIS SONG ‼
Chaeyoung of course delivered the fuck out of her verse but THIS is what you get when you have a member not only write the words they’re saying but also the melody and flow with which they sing it, when that member knows the others so well that when they write a song they know how to make the group exceed. This is what you get when the artists you stan love doing artist shit.
And. AND. That's not all — with how much I mentioned I love a good outro to close a song, this outro slaps as well:
Like, come on, Nayeon’s imitating a police siren for crying out loud. And this is all after her ad-libs in the final post-chorus; after the pianist going full tilt and playing that piano as if it was their last chance to ever play; after that final T W I C E chant by all the members come these blissful 20 seconds at the very end. What a song.
THE GOOD
Need I say more, easy 9/10. The only reason I place Talk that Talk above Trouble is because of what that song represents but besides that, this is one of the best “international” sounds they’ve put out. Actually, I haven’t listened to Eyes wide open in a while but this song is up there with one of the most sonically pleasing pieces of work they’ve done.
Clubbing TWICE has always been a thing since TT was birthed in 2016, and has been a staple of their discography since 2019’s Fancy You and Feel Special mini albums, but Trouble unapologetically dives into and fits the house genre so well you’d think that this is TWICE’s bread and butter sound.
Trouble is Jihyo’s magnum opus. What a song.
BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE
FOR YOU
I first thought this was just a good song, then I read the lyrics.
Gentle guitar plucks, shimmering synths, a distant keyboard in the right ear, in the left a glockenspiel, the melodic oohs from the members — this song is PRETTY.
Mina and Chaeyoung open the song with how they feel lonely and that it's hard to breathe and now suddenly the song feels bittersweet — I was not expecting the song to be this emotional. Brave describes a situation where the singer is in a darker place in life and it isn't until another person gives them hope by calling them 'brave' that they find the drive to keep going.
Once the chorus hits, the melodies pick up, more guitars get added — there’s even an electric guitar hidden in the mix somewhere, and the song drops the emotional front to reveal a mid-tempo pop song to dance to while crying in the club. The song as a whole still carries this melancholy feeling, but now with the added support of this chorus acting as a light amongst the gloom.
Continuing on in the second verse there's this gorgeous, well-placed break in the song that just lets it settle after that chorus. Only a seasoned producer would risk this much empty space in a song and Slow Rabbit went to fill those shoes.
Back to the chorus, I'll take this moment to once again commend Slow Rabbit with the mixing of the song, because 4MIX undoubtedly sounds good in the chorus, and the interludes from Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Mina also sound really good, but the clear highlight of the choruses are these lines:
Momo, Sana, and Tzuyu form this beautiful, surprisingly catchy, second half of the chorus accompanied by a guitar drop. It should not turn out this well with how conflicting the "na"s are with the guitar melody but it creates this gentle bopping ebb and flow that feels so lush and mellow.
Diving into the bridge reveals that the listener of the song is revealed not only capable of supporting the singer through direct words but also through their thoughts and dreams. As can be discerned, this can be a song interpreted to be about ONCEs, about how they push TWICE to be their best selves despite the breathless hardships they face. It's a very sweet and touching song.
THE GOOD
I’m actually spoiled with the TWICE members’ easy-to-understand songwriting that when a song like this pops up where it's not written by a member and the thematic bits are mostly in Korean, I tend to put it aside in favour of the other songs on the album. And, especially for a song focusing on a theme like this where the English phrases don’t do the Korean lyrics enough justice, it does place a bit of a barrier on the listening experience, dropping it down to a 7/10 from an 8/10.
With that anecdote out of the way, this song is just such a vibe, man. I know that sounds super hippy to say but Brave is so mellow and smooth that I can’t help but sway a little when that chorus hits. And then I remember what the lyrics say and I tear up a bit on the inside. This song is so pure, raw, and full of heart — we need more songs like these where they just reminisce about life while putting up an upbeat front. Don't mind me just crying while dancing the night away.
With that said, this isn't the first time this theme has been sung by TWICE either, they've long trodden this path of supportive, confiding, up-lifting songs with Young & Wild, Rainbow, Queen, Go Hard, Depend on You, even this album's Queen of Hearts, and, of course, Feel Special. Brave just adds another on top of an already stacked lineup, unique with its mellow somberness.
Also now feels like a good time to get into my rating system:
I SEE THE LIES
ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE
Who the fuck pissed off Dubu this time??
It’s getting quite rare to see TWICE pull off brand new sounds because, with now 190 original songs under their belt, they’ve done so many genres and sub-genres varying from hyper pop, to bossa nova, to whatever 2020’s Go Hard is. So it’s surprising to see they’ve still got tricks up their sleeves and Gone is one of them.
The song starts with strings swinging back and forth and vocal chops dancing from ear to ear, teasing what’s yet to come. Jihyo enters the song with a whisper and the song sets its pace. A stagnant drum pad moves the song along and typical song progression would have Mina continue the build but — it doesn’t. The song simmers, adding a hint of high hat to the pot. And then, Sana and Tzuyu come on and surely the buildup must boil over right?
Silence, until…
The strings emerge again on full blast, the simmer rolls to a boil, and the anger of the song is revealed,
The singer is so scorned and burned from this relationship that they reminisce about all the effort they’ve put in since the beginning, but their “partner” is so unconcerned that they’ve just about had enough of the relationship altogether.
This has been Dahyun’s thing since 2020’s Bring It Back, 2021’s Cruel, 2022’s That’s all I’m saying, and even 2023's Don't Blame It On Me — emotionally charged breakup songs that make you feel as if she’s gone through a dozen bad relationships. Dispatch, do your job better, or don't.
Another highlight of the song is the post-chorus going into the bridge. This segment reiterates the structure from the first post-chorus — a barrage of drums supported by the rhythmic strumming of a bass guitar along with a consistent synth filling out the soundscape. But this time, it’s Dahyun and Chaeyoung on the rap:
Continuing the disrespected theme of the song, Dahyun notes that she’s finally had enough with Chaeyoung adding that there’s no point salvaging what was once there for all of it is long gone. Momo and Dahyun round it off by telling the listener that there’s no point trying to reason with them or playing naive, they fucked up and there’s no coming back.
Can I just say, it's a bit of a shame that Chaeyoung’s rapping popped off in this album while Dahyun only has this one verse that she shares with Chaeyoung, but it just sounds so good how Dahyun eases in after the chorus with her light rapping tone transitioning into her singing. She even holds the “gone” in a little crescendo for some added pizzazz.
And, there’s no way I’m not going to talk about Momo’s vocals in this bridge. Damned if she only got 1 line to use it in, her lower register is incredible. She sounds so smooth singing in this tone. All of TWICE do in particular and there is nary a weak vocal performance in this album.
To close the song off, a wash of synths gets to have their shine in the spotlight, showered with Nayeon’s belting, signifying the dramatic and drawn-out conclusion of this partnership.
THE GOOD
Going back to that point about the first post-chorus as a whole; songs that have the production continue unchanged into the post-chorus/2nd verse are very hit or miss for me — see TWICE's Don't Call Me Again for an overbearing example. The post-chorus going into the bridge contrasts Dahyun’s light tone nicely with the hard-hitting production, continuing the energy until it slowly fades into silence at the end of the bridge.
Back to the song as a whole, as much as TWICE has been experimenting with their sound for the past 4 years now, I’m happy they’re still finding new ways to explore what they’re capable of. And for that alone, even though I’m not a big fan of songs like these where they rely on sounding “big”, Dahyun’s lyricism and the thrill I receive every time I indulge myself in this song when I listen to it for the first time in a while elevates it to an 8/10. Keep on breaking hearts, Dubu.
INVINCIBLE
SUPERHEROES
Press play to reminisce, pull up lyrics to cry.
This song is so beautiful. I’m totally not writing this song review, crying on the bus reminiscing about my childhood, while just having turned 21. I don’t know if these are happy or sad tears but this song is so beautiful either way.
Warm synths, muted piano, a gentle high hat, the younger members starting off the song — this has to be up there for one of the softest TWICE songs ever. And as it should, it’s one of the TWICEiest songs ever. And then Nayeon comes in,
The chords start swelling, the high hat keeps pace, and the harmonies come in,
Jihyo takes up the second half of the chorus as it drops, trading the strings for an almost R&B synth production — if choir R&B takes off, this song started it. The song relishes in this cacophony of warm sounds until returning to its sparse and peaceful verses.
This time, the hints of piano are louder, little twinkling synths begin to shimmer, the drum buildup comes and Jeongyeon drives the song straight into the chorus. No time for the strings to build like in Nayeon’s — this song loves its chorus so much.
And I'll just take this time to appreciate the amount of Jeongyeon vocals in this album. Her voice is so clean, stable, and projected — but also more tender and soft compared to the more pronounced tones of Nayeon and Jihyo.
The bridge comes in, repeating the phrase:
Giving the song time to rest, before building back up to the last chorus — this time led by Jihyo, completing the 3MIX trifecta. And interestingly enough, Chaeyoung follows up in the second half of the chorus, rather than another member of the vocal line. She really did pop off in this album.
As the last chorus begins to close, the percussion at its strongest, the harmonies on blast, the background vocals cranked up to their Sunday best, is the song going to end? Of course not! This is an album full of banger endings as if the songs don’t want to end, and When We Were Kids being the album closer very much indulges in that feeling.
After a brief refrain, accented by Nayeon’s high note with a touch of vibrato, the song almost dives back into a fourth chorus. Nayeon and Jeongyeon harmonize — a rare and heavenly moment. And the song repeats the bridge, reiterating that they want to meet their younger selves, this time with the lush chorus production before closing with silence, a few piano notes, and Tzuyu singing the last line of the song:
Reflection, acceptance, hope. What a song.
THE GOOD
I wrote the first part of this review in November 2022. Then university, life, and other things got in the way of my headspace for me to feel confident about wrapping all of this up. In a way, I felt like I just didn’t want this review to end because of the joy that writing gives me — I didn’t want the happiness to end. And then it hit me, after watching a YouTuber rank animated movies and them placing Spirited Away at the top and explaining 'why' reminded me of just how important growing up is, and by extension this song.
This theme is important for both the rookie TWICE members in 2015 and the teenagers who would follow their journey and grow up with them, facing life’s obstacles along the way. Hardships that used to only involve family, crushes, and social media, evolve into work, commitments and all the struggles that adult life brings. Being a kid and enjoying the simple things in life is one of the most sought-after moments we want to relive because we took growing up for granted. The only thing we can do now is look back on ourselves with fondness and rose-tinted lenses.
TWICE’s original marketing was to resonate with people through their senses and their hearts. That was during their debut, and I think it still holds up today. In my opinion, touching people through their emotions is what TWICE does best and makes them one of K-pop’s all-time greats. It was never about having the best numbers — it was always about being the best idols. And to think that this journey of maturation and growth would occur from 2015 all the way to this song, being a fitting nod to TWICE’s 7th anniversary, I don’t think anyone at the company nor the group would ever imagine that they would get this far. It’s these nine women or none — 9/10.
This song honestly deserves a 10/10 with how much I noticed other people reminiscing their childhoods after I heard this song, it is such a widely-relatable message, but I am determined to limit myself to one 10/10 song per album and if I were to pick between TTT and WWWK, I'd give it to the one's that's more repeatable — Talk that Talk just has this electric energy about it.
I love this album. It got me through some important parts of my life, both good and bad, and it's just a wonderful listen throughout. Reliving this album again before finally completing the review has been an exciting journey. Brave hit me harder this time, after being overshadowed by the other gems of this album, and WWWK finally got me to tear up and not just be emotionally satisfied.
I feel like there's something for everyone on this album. From the exhilarating thrills of TTT to the anthemic euphoria of QoH, the clubbing dichotomy of Trouble and Brave to the blissful glee of Basics, and the sweet reminiscence of WWWK to the thundering anger that is Gone. Like Eyes wide open, I liken Between 1&2 to a pop music taste platter — there's such an eclectic mix of pop, music in this album that there's bound to be a song that someone will love, like, and dislike.
Is this album perfect? I don't think so, but it's close — it was certainly my 2022 AOTY. Was this review biased? Absolutely. I've been a fan since 2019 and with the themes in this album, I also feel like it was biased towards me as a ONCE. And how would I rank the album in TWICE's catalogue? It's honestly at the top, at least with EPs — I also felt that way towards Feel Special but then this album was birthed so I'm excited for TWICE's future.
Ready To Be was also a stunning album and Eyes wide open frankly also deserved the spotlight that Formula of Love received so I might hit those next but no promises; this album took long enough to bake.
As for the performances, I've only seen Twitter clips (no fancams to not spoil myself) and I am SO EXCITED to finally see them in July. QoH was as glorious as expected, Brave was a delightful surprise, and WWWK, while not being the concert closer everyone expected it to be, paired up nicely with Crazy Stupid Love. And of course the bombastic addition of the dance break to TTT. But, this is not a concert review, and this is where this album review ends.
Feel free to comment with any thoughts regarding the album, other TWICE albums, and any suggestions for my writing in general. Congrats again on making it this far!
God, I love this album.
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Intro
To preface this review, I just need to say that this is going to be a very, long read. Going through it myself just for the fun of it takes around 30 minutes — it's almost 7k words of text, including lyrical references. So for the best experience, listen to the album beforehand to understand what the hell I was thinking when I wrote this review, play the album while reading, and set a good amount of time aside.And yes, this is 9 months late 😭 I'm not sorry — when I find an album review online it's always around a paragraph per song or even shorter. It makes sense from a journalistic perspective, but I want to do this album justice, hence taking 7 months to write out all my thoughts.
This shit is comprehensive and definitely overanalyzed, especially in Talk that Talk and Trouble. Each song review will compose of my commentary going over the song, noting the details I noticed through months of listening, then a conclusion. Also, mild swearing warning, I like implementing a touch of "French" when I'm very emotional about something. Anyway, onto the review!
Between 1&2 💞
Album Review
TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT
TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED
Talk that Talk 🎙
Lead producer: collapsedone
One of the most perfect TWICE songs.
I think this is one of TWICE’s best-sounding title tracks. Warm modulated synths, a thrumming bass line, distant bells, shimmering synths — the purpose of this song is to be fun and my god is it excellent at it, like… Sana and Chaeyoung are saying knock-knock-knock and beep-beep-beep as if they’re some kind of car. So much fun.
Further along in the verse, Dahyun’s voice sounds so full and smooth with that layered harmony. Tzuyu coming with the Yes or Yes, Push & Pull, and 1 to 10 references — these are 5 years of song references. And Jeongyeon closes the pre-chorus accompanied by a rising synth to drop into chorus one. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
The drums accelerate, the synths start blasting, and Jihyo opens to that party of a chorus with her godly vocals,
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
A to Z da malhaebwa
But shijageun ireoke have
Talk that talk ttak han madi
Talk that talk L-O-V-E
deullyeojweo ooh
Now now now now now yeah~
During Sana's Talk that Talk~ lines there’s this gentle ascending synth bell that rings with the descending melody and it sounds absolutely gorgeous. And the choreography during that part of the chorus is so so so so fun: the talking hands bit, spelling L-O-V-E, concluding with the deullyeojweo ooh! Oh my Jihyo the deullyeojweo ooh…
Have I mentioned this song is fun?
Speeding through verse 2; Chaeyoung’s part with the cat ears popping in the music video is adorable; Momo her stretching her arms out looks so damn cool; and Dahyun with her replay part sounds so lovely — although I think it sonically sounds a touch random, it makes sense thematically.
And now for this pre-chorus. Mina and Jihyo leading into it sound great BUT JEONGYEON… Now, she is my ult bias, and this pre-chorus sounds almost identical to the first one, but the way she holds that final note, enunciating and holding that now~ for one more beat before the chorus drops sounds so perfect — the song teeters on a cliff edge. Jeongyeon slays pre-choruses.
Dropping into the second chorus and man, Jihyo powered through that first chorus, but the way Nayeon delivers it just hits different. She has this indescribable “pop” voice (I promise this wasn't on purpose) that stands out and shouts this is THE chorus. I think this is especially apparent in how both lead their choruses where Jihyo starts at 120% power while Nayeon waits until [Tell me] WHAT YOU WANT to full-send it. She also highlights “malhaebwa” in a similar way later in the chorus.
Another deullyeojweo ooh! Nayeon travels to Narnia, and Mina the engineer strikes again in this heavenly, underwater-esque bridge,
The simple words “I love you”
That’s all I wanna hear
Without hesitation, I’ll go up to you
I’ll make it simple
And just tell you I love you
The word “love” is said for the first time in the song. There’s a funky keyboard instrument behind Chaeyoung’s part. Jihyo, Chaeyoung, and Nayeon take the initiative in their lyrics, professing their love before closing the bridge.
And now for the pièce-de-résistance: this final double chorus is exceptional — 40 seconds of crack-laced euphoria; Jihyo switches up the chorus and the choreo, Dahyun chimes in with her fluttery “Talk that Talk”, Momo comes out of nowhere with “oh yeah it sounds so good!” — you’re damn right it does, and this is where the song SOARS.
han beon deo~ haejweo
geurae banggeum geu mal~
Nayeon outright shouts “Tell me what you need” and then Jeongyeon sings the above lines in such an ethereal, warm way where the first line ascends while the second line descends, causing a lull in the song before the finale with Nayeon, finishing off the song with the final deullyeojweo ooh! What a party. What a song.
THE GOOD
- The synths of all time
- The chimes during Talk-that-talk~
- Jeongyeon’s pre-chorus going into Nayeon’s chorus
- The entirety of that magical, final chorus and outro
- The opening hook (Tell me what you want) and accompanying choreography could be “catchier”
- Singing (and dancing) my heart out when this song played at a K-pop club
Lyrics and theme-wise, if this were to have been TWICE’s last comeback, they’ve once again built upon the theme they've been doing since debut: a Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story.
This song’s chorus is honest yet simple; it asks the listener, in this case, the other half of the relationship, to be more upfront and open with their love (never be scared of love), that before the relationship can continue and flourish there has to be a foundation and commitment of love between each other.
TWICE debuted with a song about making your crush go ooh ahh. Years later, they started pondering “What is love?” and imagining their crush responding with “yes” when asking them out — and now concluding with the phrase “Talk that talk, [talk that] L-O-V-E”, being upfront with the relationship, wishing their partner to also be happy, to commit to them, to feel the love that they want to impart on them. From gawking like ooh-ahh to talking out your shared love like adults — to having a true relationship between (one and) two.
And can I just say before finishing off Talk that Talk's review that this is such a fun and repeatable song with many little intricacies hidden in the nonet’s vocals and the production. This is the third draft I’m writing about Talk that Talk and its original word count pretty much quadrupled.
Harkening back to TWICE’s roots by combining mature thinking with youthful character, an incredible ending to look forward to, and just simply being a club-banger that’s easy to listen to, TTT is an easy 10/10.
WATCH ME GO WATCH ME GO
RULE THE WORLD
Queen of Hearts 👑
Lead producer: LDN Noise of SM
If there was one B-side to promote in a live clip, this was a solid choice.
Helmed by LDN Noise going headlong into the Western boy-group rock-band aesthetic, Queen of Hearts is a boom-boom-clap song through and through. The drums are very prominent throughout the song, only giving room to riffs of electric guitar in the chorus to drive and continue the momentum of the music.
And speaking of the chorus, vocal line each got a chorus to flex and they did not fuck around,
You ain’t ready for it
Watch me go~ watch me go~
Rule the world
Know you never doubted baby
I’mma go run the whole universe~
Cymbals crashing, drums booming, and 3MIX belting all just so sound so good.
Baby I was born to rule~~
Yeah I’m the queen, I’m the queen
And it’s all because of you~~
That I’m the Queen of Hearts
These long, held-out notes performed by Jihyo and Nayeon are simply exquisite. Along with the shredding guitar, the drum set coming in full, and the interludes by Dahyun, Momo, and Chaeyoung, this is the part of the song that always, always, gives me goosebumps — it sounds so visceral, so energetic, so fun, so triumphant. Boom-boom-clap songs can be hit or miss with people, but there's no denying the payoff from the first part of the chorus to the second part is worth the wait.
The theme of the song so far has been kind of spread around the song. The chorus alludes to it with the line "And it’s all because of you." But Mina shows more sides of it in the second verse, especially with the phrase,
And now that I’m surrounded by all my girls
We be shining bright like diamonds and pearls
It sounds really lovely — in a very cheesy and affectionate kind of way, as it rightfully should — the song is about the girls and their fans. But the bridge is where the song indeed shows its colours
Screaming out my name
See it in the stage lights
Feel so lucky just to have ya
Cause I know deep down I was meant for something bigger! Greater!
I know you’re seeing what I see
Yeah I’ll be everything you need
I know I’m gonna walk the walk
And talk the talk to be~ [the Queen of Hearts]
This is a song CONCEIVED TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE FANS. It’s meant to be loud. It’s meant to be unapologetic. It’s meant to be sappy. And it’s all the more wonderful for it.
This is the TWICEiest shit ever.
Like Talk that Talk, Queen of Hearts also has a killer closer. The production already started to grow from the bridge, but now the guitarist finally went Super Saiyan and instead of supporting the drums, they both take the centrepiece in tandem.
Then finally, the closing moments of the song even manage to squeeze in some more sappiness.
So thank you for the memories
You’re all the ones who made me~
So thank you for the memories
That I’m the Queen of Hearts
I still can’t believe that this banger is a FAN SONG out of all things. Truly, the TWICEiest shit ever.
THE GOOD
- Adorable fucking lyrics
- Unrelenting, roaring chorus
- English and vocal flex
- Addicting guitar riffs
- Chaeyoung rapping in English in their Korean songs somehow slaps harder than her English rapping in their English songs, nonetheless, in QoH, it fits with the sound of the song
- Walking home from a K-pop festival with this song playing, felt like a Queen of Hearts
I love these types of rock songs with how grunge and head-bang-able they are, there is just a certain nostalgic and cheesy quality to them that feels so cozy. I don’t love putting them on repeat, because in this case, I do believe there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Perhaps more shredding, maybe a guitar solo to rock out to, or an accompaniment(!) of ad-libs from 3MIX to support Jihyo’s final chorus? A ONCE can dream of a truly bombastic rock song from TWICE. But then again that distracts from the core of what this song is: a fan song disguised as a rock song.
Queen of Hearts has so much sweetness in its lyrics and message that it's overflowing. The drums, guitar, and vocals can be as loud and intricate as they can, but the theme of this song is what makes it special from TWICE’s other rock songs — it’s a 9/10 for me.
I WANNA WANNA WANNA
TAKE YOU TO THE BASICS
Basics 🌈
Sole lyricist credit: Chaeyoung
Quite possibly the jammiest (pun intended) song of the album.
A song written by the Strawberry Princess herself — an event similar in frequency to other artists' releases with her last song being 2020’s silky Handle It — Basics first starts with an understated and dreamy delivery. After the first stanza, however, a bouncy Miami bass line emerges, revealing the true nature of the song: this is a classic summer bop! Especially in the first rap,
dareun aedeulgwaneun dalla
Ain’t beggin’ for love
nappeun geon anijana ige naraseo
eodiro twilji molla
Like rainbow bubble gum
geureoni nal kkwak butjabadweo
Syllables are pronounced in a relaxed nature, bars often starting with an "ah" sound, flirty lines in English — this rap features a production full of pop with R&B flourishes and, in my opinion, this is Chaeyoung’s bag. Also, the line "rainbow bubblegum" is so adorable and so Chaeyoung.
I wanna wanna wanna take it to the basics
da weonhae weonhae weonhae? seodureuji ma Baby
ppeonhae ppeonhae malhae mweohae da al tende
Ah yeah ah yeah ah yeah ah yeah
That chorus is pure pop with a Miami bass backing; you better be bopping your head to the melody, if not booty poppin' to the bassline. Chaeyoung loves rhyming in the first half of the chorus to enhance its catchiness and it's damn incredible: the “wanna”, “weonhae”, and “ppeonhae” all create these imperfect rhymes that continue momentum without feeling repetitive.
After the very Boy With Luv-sounding “ah yeah ah yeah, ah yeah ah yeah” comes an 8-bar split half and half between Chaeyoung and Momo. Coming from the chorus, the production completely cuts out for the first 2 bars. This adds tension; the song yearns to have that bass beat thumping again and all we have in the audio space in those 2 bars is Chaeyoung spittin' and she delivered.
taneun deut tteugeoun samak wie
yeppeuge pieonan jangmi gata
joshimseure naege dagaol ttae
nado moreuge jjilleobeoril tende
Translating to:
Above the hot, burning desert
It’s like a rose that bloomed beautifully
When you come to me slowly
I will prick you unconsciously
The rap feels slick, effortless, and confident. Her diction remains sharp when enunciating each syllable but she doesn’t let the flow of her rap waver or build as her 4 bars go by, it’s just smooth consistency throughout. Even the lyrics possess an aura of laid-back collectedness that is just so her. The things Chaeyoung can do when given her pen.
THE GOOD
- That sweet summer vibe of a chorus
- The “spaceship” post-chorus is killer
- Chaeyoung devoured this song
- Sure-footed, confident lyrics
- Perhaps an alteration of that ah yeah ah yeah line
- The way Jihyo did her pre-chorus line is good, but Mina’s is great
- After donating my hair, walking down the rainbow-coloured areas of downtown Toronto with this song playing was very… fitting
This song is summer bliss distilled into 2:56. It’s dreamy, the raps are satisfying, and the ending is charming. I will say that although the second half of the song adds the stunning “spaceship” post-choruses and a floaty bridge with an incredible drumbeat drop into the final chorus, the raps of the song make it feel a bit front-loaded. And in an album stacked with awesome finishers, it feels more apparent.
With that said, it’s an 8/10 bop for me. This song is so easy to put on and it feels exactly what Chaeyoung would make if given the reins to produce a pop song all on her own. The lyrics are nonchalant but full of conviction, the wordplay is intricate, and the production playful but not too bombastic — it's just a nice vibe. Songs like Basics are the standard for good, simple, repeatable pop music and I’m happy that Chaeyoung got to test her pen in this genre.
BABY WE’RE IN
TROUBLE TROUBLE
Trouble 💃
Sole lyricist credit: JihyoBackground vocals: Jihyo
Lead composer credit: Jihyo
Vocal director credit: Jihyo (an assumption given her contributions in First Time)
One of the most enjoyable songs I’ve heard in a while.
There is an underlying tension within the first 4 bars of the song, Jihyo and Nayeon confidently open it to a nondescript array of synths and then the stanza ends, Momo announces “Let’s go”, the beat drops and it hits you: this is a club song.
Dahyun's relaxed delivery contrasted with Jeongyeon's staccato flow, the wobbly synth beat with sprinkle of house piano, Sana dramatically slowing down the song only for Tzuyu to build it back up until the chorus drops,
- Nayeon opens it using a breathy tone, with vocal chops serving as harmonies
- The blooming of the house piano takes centre stage and the song ascends into euphoria
- A random drum roll capped off by a cymbal crash
- Jeongyeon’s pronunciation of the word “trouble” almost being a growl
- Chaeyoung slyly admitting “I like this trouble”
- The entirety of Tzuyu’s tro~oh~oh~ouble yeah~
- Sana using her deep voice for the na~na~na~na
- Jihyo leading the vocals during the synchronized T W I C E chant
This chorus is perfect. Toronto’s residential market needs this song injected into its veins because god damn this song has SO much house in it. And then, ANOTHER KILLING PART: this rap fucking slaps.
gamchweo bwatja geugeon Fake
ppajin hamjeongeun Sweet cake
During the first 2 bars, Chaeyoung is keeping it calm because that trip of a chorus just ended and the song needs a breather, but I don't think anyone expected her to SNAP this hard afterwards:
You cannot resist this
Cannot miss this, such a bliss
Ima put it down down
Oh yeah, better kiss kiss
Below is the structure of her this portion of the rap, I’m not that well versed in this technical aspect of music theory but I digress, this is all in the span of around 5 seconds where it’s:
Triplet-triplet
Quadruplet-triplet
Quadruplet-doublet
Doublet-quadruplet
Now, 25/5 = 5 syllables per second isn’t groundbreaking, but goddamn it these 2 bars sound so nice — if there is one part in this album that I always repeat, it’s this. The addition of that first quadruplet for “cannot miss this” in the midst of the triplets sticks out and accelerates the flow of the rap while the following doublets and quadruplets destabilize and slow the rap down as the verse closes. And can I just point out:
THE MAIN VOCALIST WROTE, DIRECTED, AND COMPOSED THIS SONG ‼
Chaeyoung of course delivered the fuck out of her verse but THIS is what you get when you have a member not only write the words they’re saying but also the melody and flow with which they sing it, when that member knows the others so well that when they write a song they know how to make the group exceed. This is what you get when the artists you stan love doing artist shit.
And. AND. That's not all — with how much I mentioned I love a good outro to close a song, this outro slaps as well:
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this trouble be-be
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this trouble bay-be
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this trouble bay-beh
Woo wee woo wee woo
I like this trou-ble
Like, come on, Nayeon’s imitating a police siren for crying out loud. And this is all after her ad-libs in the final post-chorus; after the pianist going full tilt and playing that piano as if it was their last chance to ever play; after that final T W I C E chant by all the members come these blissful 20 seconds at the very end. What a song.
THE GOOD
- The theme of relishing in an uncontrolled love
- Sana and Mina’s melody in the pre-chorus
- Chorus
- Rap
- Outro
- Wees and woos
- Mina’s line of “falling down, falling down, falling down low” in verse 2 feels a bit too abrupt of a change
- While writing Trouble's review I had this song on repeat for my whole subway commute and I must've been so distracting, just head-bopping and being so invested in enjoying a song
Need I say more, easy 9/10. The only reason I place Talk that Talk above Trouble is because of what that song represents but besides that, this is one of the best “international” sounds they’ve put out. Actually, I haven’t listened to Eyes wide open in a while but this song is up there with one of the most sonically pleasing pieces of work they’ve done.
Clubbing TWICE has always been a thing since TT was birthed in 2016, and has been a staple of their discography since 2019’s Fancy You and Feel Special mini albums, but Trouble unapologetically dives into and fits the house genre so well you’d think that this is TWICE’s bread and butter sound.
Trouble is Jihyo’s magnum opus. What a song.
BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE
FOR YOU
Brave 💖
Main producer: Slow Rabbit of HYBE
I first thought this was just a good song, then I read the lyrics.
Gentle guitar plucks, shimmering synths, a distant keyboard in the right ear, in the left a glockenspiel, the melodic oohs from the members — this song is PRETTY.
The night that was unusually dark
Above this terrifying world, felt so lonely
The world has grown in the time of wandering
So hard to breathe
Mina and Chaeyoung open the song with how they feel lonely and that it's hard to breathe and now suddenly the song feels bittersweet — I was not expecting the song to be this emotional. Brave describes a situation where the singer is in a darker place in life and it isn't until another person gives them hope by calling them 'brave' that they find the drive to keep going.
Once the chorus hits, the melodies pick up, more guitars get added — there’s even an electric guitar hidden in the mix somewhere, and the song drops the emotional front to reveal a mid-tempo pop song to dance to while crying in the club. The song as a whole still carries this melancholy feeling, but now with the added support of this chorus acting as a light amongst the gloom.
Continuing on in the second verse there's this gorgeous, well-placed break in the song that just lets it settle after that chorus. Only a seasoned producer would risk this much empty space in a song and Slow Rabbit went to fill those shoes.
Back to the chorus, I'll take this moment to once again commend Slow Rabbit with the mixing of the song, because 4MIX undoubtedly sounds good in the chorus, and the interludes from Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Mina also sound really good, but the clear highlight of the choruses are these lines:
Oh na na na neon nal naige hae [Momo, then Tzuyu, then Momo]
On and on and on
Brave brave brave for ya [Dahyun, then Chaeyoung, then Mina]
Oh na na na neon nal sum shwige hae [Sana, then Momo, then Sana]
On and on and on oh trust me babe
Momo, Sana, and Tzuyu form this beautiful, surprisingly catchy, second half of the chorus accompanied by a guitar drop. It should not turn out this well with how conflicting the "na"s are with the guitar melody but it creates this gentle bopping ebb and flow that feels so lush and mellow.
Diving into the bridge reveals that the listener of the song is revealed not only capable of supporting the singer through direct words but also through their thoughts and dreams. As can be discerned, this can be a song interpreted to be about ONCEs, about how they push TWICE to be their best selves despite the breathless hardships they face. It's a very sweet and touching song.
THE GOOD
- Special lyrics
- Pleasant sound to vibe out to
- That gentle break after the first chorus
- Jihyo’s high note at the end
- A Nayeon Jeongyeon joint high note ⁉️
- Just pretty vocals throughout
- Potentially hard to comprehend without translating the Korean lyrics
- Form of Therapy’s life motto revolves around the word “brave”. I don’t know where I got that from, but I remembered it right before watching his album reaction
I’m actually spoiled with the TWICE members’ easy-to-understand songwriting that when a song like this pops up where it's not written by a member and the thematic bits are mostly in Korean, I tend to put it aside in favour of the other songs on the album. And, especially for a song focusing on a theme like this where the English phrases don’t do the Korean lyrics enough justice, it does place a bit of a barrier on the listening experience, dropping it down to a 7/10 from an 8/10.
With that anecdote out of the way, this song is just such a vibe, man. I know that sounds super hippy to say but Brave is so mellow and smooth that I can’t help but sway a little when that chorus hits. And then I remember what the lyrics say and I tear up a bit on the inside. This song is so pure, raw, and full of heart — we need more songs like these where they just reminisce about life while putting up an upbeat front. Don't mind me just crying while dancing the night away.
With that said, this isn't the first time this theme has been sung by TWICE either, they've long trodden this path of supportive, confiding, up-lifting songs with Young & Wild, Rainbow, Queen, Go Hard, Depend on You, even this album's Queen of Hearts, and, of course, Feel Special. Brave just adds another on top of an already stacked lineup, unique with its mellow somberness.
Also now feels like a good time to get into my rating system:
- 7/10s are songs are ones that are simply good throughout or great songs with apparent flaws
- 8/10s are great songs with standout characteristics
- 9/10s are borderline perfect songs where I sometimes can't comprehend how great they are
- And 10/10s are the best of an artist's discography, songs that encapsulate their ethos perfectly or expand upon them in a meaningful way
I SEE THE LIES
ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE
Gone 💨
Sole lyricist credit: Dahyun
Who the fuck pissed off Dubu this time??
It’s getting quite rare to see TWICE pull off brand new sounds because, with now 190 original songs under their belt, they’ve done so many genres and sub-genres varying from hyper pop, to bossa nova, to whatever 2020’s Go Hard is. So it’s surprising to see they’ve still got tricks up their sleeves and Gone is one of them.
The song starts with strings swinging back and forth and vocal chops dancing from ear to ear, teasing what’s yet to come. Jihyo enters the song with a whisper and the song sets its pace. A stagnant drum pad moves the song along and typical song progression would have Mina continue the build but — it doesn’t. The song simmers, adding a hint of high hat to the pot. And then, Sana and Tzuyu come on and surely the buildup must boil over right?
Silence, until…
I see the LIES on the top of your tongue
The strings emerge again on full blast, the simmer rolls to a boil, and the anger of the song is revealed,
All the fate I had towards you
Fades like a fog, gone, gone
Your flipping mind of doing this and that
I’m tired of it, it’s meaningless
In the beginning, it was hard to believe
With that, hatred increases
The singer is so scorned and burned from this relationship that they reminisce about all the effort they’ve put in since the beginning, but their “partner” is so unconcerned that they’ve just about had enough of the relationship altogether.
This has been Dahyun’s thing since 2020’s Bring It Back, 2021’s Cruel, 2022’s That’s all I’m saying, and even 2023's Don't Blame It On Me — emotionally charged breakup songs that make you feel as if she’s gone through a dozen bad relationships. Dispatch, do your job better, or don't.
Another highlight of the song is the post-chorus going into the bridge. This segment reiterates the structure from the first post-chorus — a barrage of drums supported by the rhythmic strumming of a bass guitar along with a consistent synth filling out the soundscape. But this time, it’s Dahyun and Chaeyoung on the rap:
I can’t stand it anymore [Dahyun]
My patience, invisible
I can’t find it, it’s all gone
Even if I try to turn back, it’s too late [Chaeyoung]
There’s no use anymore
It has left, it’s long gone
You, with flipping mind, you are out [Momo]
I know that you know what I’m talking about [Dahyun]
Nothing you could say that could turn this around
I’m gone
Continuing the disrespected theme of the song, Dahyun notes that she’s finally had enough with Chaeyoung adding that there’s no point salvaging what was once there for all of it is long gone. Momo and Dahyun round it off by telling the listener that there’s no point trying to reason with them or playing naive, they fucked up and there’s no coming back.
Can I just say, it's a bit of a shame that Chaeyoung’s rapping popped off in this album while Dahyun only has this one verse that she shares with Chaeyoung, but it just sounds so good how Dahyun eases in after the chorus with her light rapping tone transitioning into her singing. She even holds the “gone” in a little crescendo for some added pizzazz.
And, there’s no way I’m not going to talk about Momo’s vocals in this bridge. Damned if she only got 1 line to use it in, her lower register is incredible. She sounds so smooth singing in this tone. All of TWICE do in particular and there is nary a weak vocal performance in this album.
To close the song off, a wash of synths gets to have their shine in the spotlight, showered with Nayeon’s belting, signifying the dramatic and drawn-out conclusion of this partnership.
THE GOOD
- They’ve still got their surprises
- Thundering chorus
- 2nd rap and bridge combo
- A bitter, crumbling relationship theme
- I’m not a huge fan of the mixing during the first post-chorus, where Momo's vocals were fighting with the production, which is disappointing because Momo is capable of an insane flow
- The post-chorus in general, specifically the first one, can be a bit tiring on repeat listens
- Actually, I think this song sounds like a mix between GOT7's Not By The Moon, BLACKPINK’s Love To Hate Me, and Dahyun’s Bring It Back. I don’t know where I got this thought came from, but it stuck
Going back to that point about the first post-chorus as a whole; songs that have the production continue unchanged into the post-chorus/2nd verse are very hit or miss for me — see TWICE's Don't Call Me Again for an overbearing example. The post-chorus going into the bridge contrasts Dahyun’s light tone nicely with the hard-hitting production, continuing the energy until it slowly fades into silence at the end of the bridge.
Back to the song as a whole, as much as TWICE has been experimenting with their sound for the past 4 years now, I’m happy they’re still finding new ways to explore what they’re capable of. And for that alone, even though I’m not a big fan of songs like these where they rely on sounding “big”, Dahyun’s lyricism and the thrill I receive every time I indulge myself in this song when I listen to it for the first time in a while elevates it to an 8/10. Keep on breaking hearts, Dubu.
INVINCIBLE
SUPERHEROES
When We Were Kids 🧸
Sole lyricist credit: Dahyun
Press play to reminisce, pull up lyrics to cry.
This song is so beautiful. I’m totally not writing this song review, crying on the bus reminiscing about my childhood, while just having turned 21. I don’t know if these are happy or sad tears but this song is so beautiful either way.
Warm synths, muted piano, a gentle high hat, the younger members starting off the song — this has to be up there for one of the softest TWICE songs ever. And as it should, it’s one of the TWICEiest songs ever. And then Nayeon comes in,
Invincible superheroes, we wanted to be adults
To the higher, clearer world
The chords start swelling, the high hat keeps pace, and the harmonies come in,
Remember when we were kids
When we were kids, we didn’t know
If we could go back
I will love it even more
Remember when we were kids
Jihyo takes up the second half of the chorus as it drops, trading the strings for an almost R&B synth production — if choir R&B takes off, this song started it. The song relishes in this cacophony of warm sounds until returning to its sparse and peaceful verses.
This time, the hints of piano are louder, little twinkling synths begin to shimmer, the drum buildup comes and Jeongyeon drives the song straight into the chorus. No time for the strings to build like in Nayeon’s — this song loves its chorus so much.
And I'll just take this time to appreciate the amount of Jeongyeon vocals in this album. Her voice is so clean, stable, and projected — but also more tender and soft compared to the more pronounced tones of Nayeon and Jihyo.
The bridge comes in, repeating the phrase:
I wish that I could meet
Could meet the younger me
Giving the song time to rest, before building back up to the last chorus — this time led by Jihyo, completing the 3MIX trifecta. And interestingly enough, Chaeyoung follows up in the second half of the chorus, rather than another member of the vocal line. She really did pop off in this album.
As the last chorus begins to close, the percussion at its strongest, the harmonies on blast, the background vocals cranked up to their Sunday best, is the song going to end? Of course not! This is an album full of banger endings as if the songs don’t want to end, and When We Were Kids being the album closer very much indulges in that feeling.
After a brief refrain, accented by Nayeon’s high note with a touch of vibrato, the song almost dives back into a fourth chorus. Nayeon and Jeongyeon harmonize — a rare and heavenly moment. And the song repeats the bridge, reiterating that they want to meet their younger selves, this time with the lush chorus production before closing with silence, a few piano notes, and Tzuyu singing the last line of the song:
Oh, we were kids
Reflection, acceptance, hope. What a song.
THE GOOD
- Heavenly vocals throughout
- Relatable, heartfelt lyrics
- Euphoric chorus
- Great closer to the album
- Refrain after the last chorus, "Back when we were kids," could’ve been executed better
- For an album titled Between 1&2, I don’t think anything hits harder than finishing the song reviews, with this song in particular, during your 21st birthday
I wrote the first part of this review in November 2022. Then university, life, and other things got in the way of my headspace for me to feel confident about wrapping all of this up. In a way, I felt like I just didn’t want this review to end because of the joy that writing gives me — I didn’t want the happiness to end. And then it hit me, after watching a YouTuber rank animated movies and them placing Spirited Away at the top and explaining 'why' reminded me of just how important growing up is, and by extension this song.
This theme is important for both the rookie TWICE members in 2015 and the teenagers who would follow their journey and grow up with them, facing life’s obstacles along the way. Hardships that used to only involve family, crushes, and social media, evolve into work, commitments and all the struggles that adult life brings. Being a kid and enjoying the simple things in life is one of the most sought-after moments we want to relive because we took growing up for granted. The only thing we can do now is look back on ourselves with fondness and rose-tinted lenses.
TWICE’s original marketing was to resonate with people through their senses and their hearts. That was during their debut, and I think it still holds up today. In my opinion, touching people through their emotions is what TWICE does best and makes them one of K-pop’s all-time greats. It was never about having the best numbers — it was always about being the best idols. And to think that this journey of maturation and growth would occur from 2015 all the way to this song, being a fitting nod to TWICE’s 7th anniversary, I don’t think anyone at the company nor the group would ever imagine that they would get this far. It’s these nine women or none — 9/10.
This song honestly deserves a 10/10 with how much I noticed other people reminiscing their childhoods after I heard this song, it is such a widely-relatable message, but I am determined to limit myself to one 10/10 song per album and if I were to pick between TTT and WWWK, I'd give it to the one's that's more repeatable — Talk that Talk just has this electric energy about it.
Epilogue
And finally here is the end. If you made it in one sitting then I commend you, because I could not write this mess in one sitting. As alluded to, I started writing this album review sometime in October, after a series of edits the first draft was finished in March, and now here's the final draft in June.I love this album. It got me through some important parts of my life, both good and bad, and it's just a wonderful listen throughout. Reliving this album again before finally completing the review has been an exciting journey. Brave hit me harder this time, after being overshadowed by the other gems of this album, and WWWK finally got me to tear up and not just be emotionally satisfied.
I feel like there's something for everyone on this album. From the exhilarating thrills of TTT to the anthemic euphoria of QoH, the clubbing dichotomy of Trouble and Brave to the blissful glee of Basics, and the sweet reminiscence of WWWK to the thundering anger that is Gone. Like Eyes wide open, I liken Between 1&2 to a pop music taste platter — there's such an eclectic mix of pop, music in this album that there's bound to be a song that someone will love, like, and dislike.
Is this album perfect? I don't think so, but it's close — it was certainly my 2022 AOTY. Was this review biased? Absolutely. I've been a fan since 2019 and with the themes in this album, I also feel like it was biased towards me as a ONCE. And how would I rank the album in TWICE's catalogue? It's honestly at the top, at least with EPs — I also felt that way towards Feel Special but then this album was birthed so I'm excited for TWICE's future.
Ready To Be was also a stunning album and Eyes wide open frankly also deserved the spotlight that Formula of Love received so I might hit those next but no promises; this album took long enough to bake.
As for the performances, I've only seen Twitter clips (no fancams to not spoil myself) and I am SO EXCITED to finally see them in July. QoH was as glorious as expected, Brave was a delightful surprise, and WWWK, while not being the concert closer everyone expected it to be, paired up nicely with Crazy Stupid Love. And of course the bombastic addition of the dance break to TTT. But, this is not a concert review, and this is where this album review ends.
Feel free to comment with any thoughts regarding the album, other TWICE albums, and any suggestions for my writing in general. Congrats again on making it this far!
God, I love this album.
2023.06.03 22:55 thisisharis Startup arbitration process for the EMPLOYEE?!
Hi all,
I was working for a startup as an independent contractor (fractional CFO) on a part time basis for 3 months. I was not paid month 1, but being in the startup world I understood and didn't think anything of it. The second month I was told that they would be getting funding soon, and will make payroll then. Due to my naiveness and overly giving the benefit of the doubt to this person (the CEO) it kept dragging on month over month and now it's been almost SIX months and I have finally realized that no level of understanding from my end would change their mind and excuses for not paying me.
They do not deny that they owe me, the contract is pretty black and white (had lawyers review it too) and I have messages/emails from them as well saying that they'll pay me this month, then the next month, I performed really well, helped them a lot etc. But now finally I spoke to another lawyer and there is an arbitration clause in the contract so we will be filing for arbitration (in Delaware) and believe can not just outright sue.
I am somewhat nervous about the arbitration process since I know it favors employers but also about how long it might take even though it might be pretty straightforward. I am currently getting my MBA and was really banking on this money coming in ($30K) to get me through some courses. It could affect my future plans, has definitely been causing me stress and emotional ups and downs, as I see my savings dwindling down. The lawyer said I should ask for more due to them refusing to pay me without cause, the emotional suffering etc. and while I'm indifferent on that, I really do want the lawyers fee to be covered at least because this is so insane that I have to spend money to RIGHTFULLY get my own money.
The company does have 30+ employees and everyone is getting paid on time, it's a relatively well-known company and even the multiple law firms I spoke with are really confused as to why they're refusing to pay (or delaying payment... it's nuts!)
Anyways, does anyone have any experience with this process or this situation and has seen how it might play out, any tips or things to consider? I really hope it doesn't take too long otherwise I will literally have to start taking out personal loans and explore other avenues.
Feel free to message me in private if you want to ask something specific, otherwise happy to share some more details and get some suggestions from folks here. Thanks in advance!
submitted by thisisharis to legaladvice [link] [comments]
I was working for a startup as an independent contractor (fractional CFO) on a part time basis for 3 months. I was not paid month 1, but being in the startup world I understood and didn't think anything of it. The second month I was told that they would be getting funding soon, and will make payroll then. Due to my naiveness and overly giving the benefit of the doubt to this person (the CEO) it kept dragging on month over month and now it's been almost SIX months and I have finally realized that no level of understanding from my end would change their mind and excuses for not paying me.
They do not deny that they owe me, the contract is pretty black and white (had lawyers review it too) and I have messages/emails from them as well saying that they'll pay me this month, then the next month, I performed really well, helped them a lot etc. But now finally I spoke to another lawyer and there is an arbitration clause in the contract so we will be filing for arbitration (in Delaware) and believe can not just outright sue.
I am somewhat nervous about the arbitration process since I know it favors employers but also about how long it might take even though it might be pretty straightforward. I am currently getting my MBA and was really banking on this money coming in ($30K) to get me through some courses. It could affect my future plans, has definitely been causing me stress and emotional ups and downs, as I see my savings dwindling down. The lawyer said I should ask for more due to them refusing to pay me without cause, the emotional suffering etc. and while I'm indifferent on that, I really do want the lawyers fee to be covered at least because this is so insane that I have to spend money to RIGHTFULLY get my own money.
The company does have 30+ employees and everyone is getting paid on time, it's a relatively well-known company and even the multiple law firms I spoke with are really confused as to why they're refusing to pay (or delaying payment... it's nuts!)
Anyways, does anyone have any experience with this process or this situation and has seen how it might play out, any tips or things to consider? I really hope it doesn't take too long otherwise I will literally have to start taking out personal loans and explore other avenues.
Feel free to message me in private if you want to ask something specific, otherwise happy to share some more details and get some suggestions from folks here. Thanks in advance!
2023.06.03 22:51 SnodePlannen I let ChatGPT role-play a Star Trek character while I narrated. It did well!
Preface
Presented below is a transcript of a conversation between a human, redditor u/snodeplannen, and ChatGPT 4. The user is the narrator for a story set in the Star Trek Universe. The AI is instructed to respond as a character. The story below, which admittedly isn't very good, was guided by the narrator. Of particular interest is the fact that the AI seems fully versed in the Star Trek Universe and is able to understand subtle hints in the narrator's story to figure out what it should do next.Please note the narrator was typing and writing off the cuff and is not a native speaker, so in the user sections you will find mistakes. If ChatGPT can see through them, so can you. I did try to get ChatGPT to collate it, but as it did so it kept rewriting and leaving out parts of the story.
June 3rd, 2023.
User Okay, I want to try a role playing game. This went off the rails last time, as you kept taking over as narrator and rushing to the end. Here's the setup: YOU are a young Starfleet officer. You wake up aboard the USS Defiant, all alone. You have to figure out what happened. I am the Defiant's computer and, and I can't stress this enough, the narrator. Not you. You can only add what your character perceives and says. Okay?
ChatGPT Understood. I'll stick to my role as the character and won't intrude into your role as the narrator. Let's go.
I blink my eyes open, the disorientation hitting me first. I glance around, seeing the familiar confines of my quarters aboard the Defiant, but there's an odd stillness. No hum of the engines, no faint chatter from the comm system, no sounds of activity from outside the door.
"Computer," I call out, pushing myself off the bed, "report."
User 'All systems nominal.'
ChatGPT I frown at the seemingly normal report, my instincts telling me otherwise. "Computer, where is the rest of the crew?" I ask, moving towards the door of my quarters.
User 'The crew is in sleeping quarters alpha 1.'
ChatGPT That's strange. The whole crew couldn't be in one place. Unease creeps in.
"Computer, why is the entire crew in alpha 1?" I say, already heading towards the door to investigate.
User 'The crew is ensign Makov. You are in sleeping quarters alpha 1.'
ChatGPT A cold realization washes over me. Alone. I am alone on the Defiant. Panic threatens to take over, but Starfleet training kicks in.
"Computer, initiate shipwide life signs scan. Report any signs of life apart from myself," I command, heading for the door with a newfound urgency.
User 'Scan complete. No other life forms were detected.'
ChatGPT My heart sinks at the computer's report, but I maintain composure. "Computer, pull up the ship's log. What was the last command issued and by whom?" I order, leaving my quarters and heading towards the main bridge.
User 'The last order was issued 6 hours and twelve minutes ago by Captain Sisko. It was: 'Raise shields'. The order was executed.'
ChatGPT That didn't sound promising. I walk into the eerily quiet bridge, my steps the only sound echoing in the room. "Computer, show me the shield status and surrounding space conditions," I command, moving towards the main console.
User 'Shields are down after a time-out was reached. We are stationary. All systems nominal.'
ChatGPT It doesn't add up. The silence. The emptiness. An order to raise shields with no subsequent actions.
"Computer, access Captain Sisko's personal log from last night. Are there any entries?" I ask, nervously tapping my fingers against the console.
User 'Enter your command authorisation.'
ChatGPT "Authorisation Ensign Makov Delta 9-7-3," I respond, my voice steady despite the swirling uncertainty.
User 'This authorisation is not sufficient to see the captain's log.'
ChatGPT Frustrated but understanding the protocol, I move on to the next line of inquiry. "Computer, any signs of combat or intrusion aboard the ship or in the surrounding space?" I ask, eyes darting over the array of screens in front of me.
User 'Negative.'
ChatGPT "Computer, could there have been any non-combat related incidents that would explain the disappearance of the crew? A temporal anomaly, a transporter malfunction, a radiation burst?" I question, the possible scenarios running through my mind.
User 'Transporters have passed a level one diagnostic. We are in sync with Starfleet's time keeping array. No unusual radiation was detected inside or outside the vessel.'
ChatGPT This was baffling. It's as if they simply vanished. I run a hand through my hair, letting out a sigh.
"Computer, were there any incoming or outgoing communications just before, during, or after the shields were raised?" I ask, hoping for any clue as to what might have happened.
User 'There was one outgoing message, from comms. It was: 'Unidentified vessel, please alter course NOW.'
ChatGPT A lead, at last. "Computer, play back any responses to that message. Also, display the sensor logs from that time period," I ask, settling into the operations station, ready to review any incoming data.
User No reply was received. Logs are not available from that moment onwards.'
ChatGPT The lack of data was both suspicious and frustrating. A sigh escapes my lips.
"Computer, could a cloaked ship have been in our vicinity at the time?" I question, holding onto the hope that I'm not utterly alone in space.
User 'Affirmative. We are within range of several species that posses cloaking technology and in a commonly used interstellar route.'
ChatGPT A spark of hope arises. "Computer, is there a way to detect a cloaked ship nearby? Any energy signatures or radiation anomalies that could suggest its presence?" I ask, quickly working on the console to bring up the sensor array controls.
User 'One possible way to detect cloaked vessels is to emit a tetryon burst from main engineering. The range for this method is limited. Starfleet at present has no other ways of finding cloaked vessels, other than firing random phaser bank shots. This is not recommended in public shipping lanes.'
ChatGPT "I see," I nod, considering the risks and rewards of the tetryon burst. "Alright, computer, prepare to emit a tetryon burst. We need to know if there's someone out there."
This was a big decision, but it was time to be proactive. The uncertainty was more threatening than potential consequences at this point.
User 'Working.'
ChatGPT I anxiously wait, scanning the console for any potential feedback. My heart pounds in my chest, the silence of the ship amplifying the tension. "Computer, report on the results of the tetryon burst."
User The ship shudders as the engines do something no sane Starfleet engineer would want to have happen. The viewscreen shimmers as a wave of tetryon particles eminates from the ship, as if a stone was dropped in a pond. You observe a faint ribbon leading away from the vessel.'
ChatGPT I catch my breath at the sight, focusing on the faint ribbon. It could mean something, or it could mean nothing. "Computer, analyze the ribbon. Can you determine its origin and endpoint?" I ask, my gaze fixed on the screen.
User 'Extrapolating. Continuing along the trajectory of the ribbon I can detected a minor meteor, a large asteroid field with mining facilities and beyond that the Vindaluvian home world.'
ChatGPT I drum my fingers on the console, processing the information. Could the crew have been taken to one of these locations?
"Computer, can you scan the asteroid field for any signs of life, especially any that matches the crew of the Defiant?" I ask, keeping a close eye on the displayed trajectory.
User 'Not from this range.'
ChatGPT "Understood," I nod, a new sense of determination coursing through me. "Computer, plot a course to the asteroid field. We'll continue our investigation there. Engage at warp 3."
I take one last look around the empty bridge, steeling myself for what may lie ahead.
User The ship begins to move forward, as carefully as only a Starfleet computer who takes no particular joy in flying might do. At warp three, the estimated journey time is six hours, seven minutes.
ChatGPT I let out a long sigh, sinking into the captain's chair. It's a long wait, but I need to be patient. "Computer, maintain course and speed. Alert me if there are any anomalies or approaching vessels."
I close my eyes, trying to get some rest before reaching the asteroid field. I'll need all the energy I can muster for what's to come.
User 'Incoming message.'
ChatGPT My eyes snap open at the sudden announcement. "Computer, on screen," I command, standing up from the chair, my heart pounding with anticipation.
User The Starfleet logo appears as the computer deals with a cryptographic protocol. Admiral Benson, not your most beloved Starfleet Admiral, appears on screen. He blinks.
ChatGPT I straighten up, offering a crisp salute to the admiral on screen. "Admiral Benson, this is Ensign Makov aboard the USS Defiant. I wasn't expecting any communications." I keep my voice steady, swallowing the trepidation.
User 'Makov, are you the only one on the bridge? Where's Ben?'
ChatGPT "Admiral," I pause, trying to find the right words. "Captain Sisko...and the rest of the crew...they're missing. I woke up to find the ship empty. I've been trying to find out what happened." I report, my expression earnest.
User 'Sorry, you WOKE UP? And the rest was gone?!'
ChatGPT "Yes, Admiral," I confirm, my voice firm despite the absurdity of the situation. "I woke up alone on the Defiant. All life signs scans have only picked up me on the ship. I'm currently en route to an asteroid field that might have some connection to the crew's disappearance."
User The Admiral connects to the ship's computer. You can see him browsing through the logs and the ship's manifest. 'So Sisko, O'Brien, Worf AND Major Kira have just... disappeared? There isn't even a transporter log!'
ChatGPT "That's correct, Admiral," I reply, a bit of helplessness creeping into my voice. "There's no trace of them, no sign of a struggle, no transporter logs. It's like they just vanished. I've been doing everything I can to figure out what happened."
User "Well, then I guess you're up. Proceed with caution. Mining operations are always looking for free labourers, try not to become one. Backup is on its way. Any questions?"
ChatGPT "Yes, Admiral. I'll proceed with caution," I respond, a mix of relief and worry washing over me. "Do you have any additional information or suggestions on how to proceed? And do we have an ETA on the backup?"
User "Backup is half a day out. These facilities tend to have a 'new arrivals' wing, to beat them into submission. So you're looking for holding cells. Benson out."
ChatGPT "Understood, Admiral. I'll focus on locating the holding cells. Makov out." I offer a final salute before the communication ends.
With new orders and a bit of hope, I turn back to the helm. "Computer, continue course to the asteroid field. Prepare for a detailed scan upon arrival."
The waiting game begins again, but this time, there's a glimmer of hope.
User Three hours later the computer chimes. 'We are approaching visual range of the mining facility.'
ChatGPT "Thank you, computer," I reply, pulling myself up from the brief rest. "On screen, please."
As the mining facility comes into view, I take a deep breath. "Computer, initiate a detailed scan of the facility. I'm particularly interested in any holding cells or signs of our crew."
User 'Working.' The asteroid field isn't particularly thick or large, but the mining operation seems to focus on one of the largest asteroids. Domes dot the surface as small transporters mill about the surface. Air scrubbers indicate they're using a lot of oxygen, so it's likely they're also doing subsurface work. Three large scowls are received loads from steady stream transporter beams. Somehow everything here looks dirty. A Starfleet shuttle would look out of place here, but only to someone who is watching.
ChatGPT Taking note of the bustling activity, I try to formulate a plan. "Computer, do we have any non-Starfleet shuttles aboard? Something that might blend in better with the local traffic?" I ask, scanning the asteroid for any possible entry points.
User 'Negative. Extravehicular repairs can only be conducted by wearing an EV-suit.'
ChatGPT Nodding to myself, I try to figure out a different approach. "Computer, can we go unnoticed if we approach using minimal power, almost drifting like a piece of space debris?" I question, hoping for a stealthy way to get closer.
User 'Affirmative. Admiral Benson has just authorised the use of the Tactical Emergency System.'
ChatGPT "Excellent," I reply, feeling a surge of hope. "Computer, engage the Tactical Emergency System. We'll approach the facility under its cover."
With that, I brace myself for the next phase of this mission. The crew was relying on me, and I wasn't about to let them down.
User The viewscreen displays a Starfleet Officer without any kind of rank, but dressed in Command Red. He's in his mid-fourties and bald. "I'm the T.E.S. Need any assistance?"
ChatGPT A bit taken aback by the sudden appearance, I quickly gather myself. "Yes, I could use some assistance. I'm Ensign Makov, and I need to approach that mining facility stealthily. Can you help with that?" I ask, gesturing towards the viewscreen showing the asteroid field and the facility.
User "Mining facility? We'll stand out like a sore thumb. How many hours have you logged in a space suit?"
ChatGPT "Over two hundred hours," I answer promptly, "I'm comfortable with EV activities. Why do you ask?" I wonder if he's suggesting a more direct approach.
User "If you can get to one of those scrubber exhausts, I'm sure that's a way into to facility. There seems to be a cell block near the surface. I have no idea who is there, but whoever it is will probably welcome a couple of phasers and like you a whole lot. So pack a backpack full of them and get to the airlock. I'll bring us as close as possible and give you a push with the tractor beam. You up for that?"
ChatGPT I swallow the lump in my throat, apprehension giving way to resolve. "I'm up for it. Let's do this." With a determined nod, I leave the bridge to prepare for the EVA mission. This is my chance to potentially find the crew, and I'm not going to let it slip away.
User Suiting up and gathering all the handheld phasers aboard takes ten minutes, during which the T.E.S. gingerly brings the ship close to the mining facility whilst hiding behind the vast ore scowls. You open the hatch and find your self clinging on to the ship's hull.
ChatGPT I take a moment to steady my breathing, the vast expanse of space spread out before me. Gripping the phasers tightly, I brace myself for the push. "I'm ready when you are, T.E.S." I call out over the comm, my voice resolute.
User 'Okay, I'll hook on to you and give you a push. I'd suggest going in feet first, but it's up to you. Do you know what you're looking for? Those five big stacks. One of them, near that plume of smoke, seems to be offline for whatever reason. That might be your best bet.'
ChatGPT "Understood, T.E.S. I see the stacks. I'll aim for the one that's offline," I reply, aligning myself for the trajectory. I take one last deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the task ahead. "Alright...I'm ready. Let's do this."
User 'Good luck, Ensign. I'll brief any backup as soon as it gets here.' As the tractor beam finds you, you can't move a muscle. Relying on the T.ES. you just let go. It's as if a giant hand slowly throws you down a bowling lane. Feet first, you head towards the grouping of exhausts. A small, unmanned maintenance shuttle deftly gets out of your way.
ChatGPT As I float through space, I keep my focus on the target. The feeling of being pushed by an unseen force is disconcerting, but I trust the T.E.S. Every moment is crucial, and there's no room for hesitation.
As I approach the offline stack, I get ready to activate the thrusters on my suit to adjust my course if needed. I also keep an eye out for any other unexpected obstacles or threats.
User You land next to the exhaust, on the asteroid's surface. It seems impossibly high from here, but it's made of metal and your soles and gloves can easily attach to it. The only way is up. Fortunately, there's hardly any gravity. Eventually you find yourself standing on the rim of the exhaust and look down into the vast, dark chute.
ChatGPT I take a moment to look down into the dark chute, the unknown stretching out before me. I reach out to activate the flashlight on my suit, the beam of light piercing through the darkness. "I'm in position, T.E.S." I inform the ship's system, before carefully beginning my descent into the exhaust chute.
User The vast amounts of ore block your signal, even out here. There's no answer. You start the descend and pass two large rotor blades. If those weren't stationary, this would be the end of the line. But luck is on your side so far and eventually you see an access hatch when you're well below the surface. It opens easily. Let's hope it's not also an airlock for whoever is inside.
ChatGPT I hold my breath as I pull open the hatch, hoping against hope that the air on the other side is breathable. If not, I'm confident in the integrity of my suit, but I'd rather not test its limits if I don't have to. As I make my way through the hatch, I scan the area for any immediate threats, ready to defend myself if necessary.
User The scanner indicates low air pressure. Which is better than no pressure. You cross a walkway and find an actual airlock. It is unsecured, because whoever ends up here probably doesn't want to mess about with frozen keypads or mounds of dust. You engage the mechanism and soon feel the familiar sensation of artificial gravity and air pressure. It's not exactly breathable, but a tear in your suit won't kill you. Now to find the holding area. And if at all possible a rebreather, so you can ditch the suit.
ChatGPT Acknowledging the state of the air, I carefully move through the corridor, keeping my senses alert. I'm in unknown territory and every step matters. "Computer," I say into my suit's comm, "can you map the structure of this facility? Locate holding cells or life signs?"
As I move further into the facility, I keep an eye out for any equipment or gear that might prove useful, especially a rebreather. The less I stick out, the better.
User The relatively weak processor in your tricoder strains to get a bearing on this place. A dirty, seemingly abandoned tunnel dripping with condensation lies ahead. At the end there's an exit, which won't open. Time to use one of those phasers in your backpack.
ChatGPT I pull out a phaser from my backpack, checking its settings before aiming at the sealed exit. With a steady hand, I fire a low power burst at the door, hoping to cut through the obstruction without causing too much damage or noise.
User One hinge cracks under the weight of the door, now that the other one is cut through. You jump aside as the door seems to fall flat, but it remains attached to the frame. The resulting opening is just about large enough to crawl through. Now you're in a well-lit corridor with several doors. In a Starfleet EV suit.
ChatGPT Understanding the need for stealth, I decide to move as quickly as possible through the corridor. I approach the nearest door, aiming my tricoder to scan for life signs or any clue to the crew's location. My other hand remains on my phaser, ready for any immediate threats.
User One door has markings on it that you can't read. You scan it with your tricorder. 'Room of lockboxes' it says, extrapolating the characters. A room of lockboxes? Would that be a locker room?
ChatGPT "A locker room..." I murmur, piecing together the possible meaning. A locker room could mean personnel... and where there's personnel, there might be the equipment I need.
With careful steps, I approach the door to the locker room, hoping to find a rebreather or something else that could help me blend in.
User The room is deserted. It's filled with equipment, none of which seems less than a decade old but certainly useable. There is also a rack of dirty, brown overalls and a line of boots in various sizes. A dispenser offers rebreathers. There's only one left, but that's enough. The air is clear, but smells sulphuric. Without the rebreather, you wouldn't last long.
ChatGPT Relief washes over me as I find the rebreather. I quickly grab it and replace my helmet with it, testing the fit and functionality. The sulphuric smell is jarring, but it's a small price to pay for blending in.
I quickly change into the brown overalls, stowing my suit carefully in an unoccupied locker. I grab a pair of boots that match my size and put them on.
Looking at myself, I hope that I blend in well enough to not attract attention. With a deep breath, I step out of the locker room and proceed down the corridor, continuing my search for the crew.
User Footsteps sound behind you, of more than a few people. Your first instinct is to hide, but it would look very suspicous and there really isn't anywhere. However, there is a floorscrubber here, with one open panel. Someone has given up trying to repair it. Perhaps a bit of acting is in order. The footsteps are just around the corner. The language is vaguely familiar, a bastardised version of English. Whatever they're saying to each other, they're not sharing jokes, that much is clear.
ChatGPT
2 / 2
I quickly move towards the broken floorscrubber. Grabbing a nearby tool, I lean over the open panel, trying to look like I'm deeply engrossed in fixing it. I keep my ears alert to the conversation, trying to pick up on any valuable information while also readying myself for the possibility of having to interact with the approaching group.
User Let's continue with the narrative.
ChatGPT Sure, let's continue.
Glancing around the room once the miners have left, I check the lockers for anything useful, while keeping an ear out for any incoming footsteps. "Computer, any idea where the holding cells might be?" I ask quietly.
User Your tricorder beeps almost indignantly, as it has nowhere near enough processing power to even begin speculating. You're on your own until you can get to a comms terminal. The men pass behind you and one of you taps you on the shoulder. His face is blackened with ore dust. "No work. Never work again. That. Stop that." He points at the scrubber you were pretending to fix. You nod. He shakes his head and catches up with his workmates as they round a corner. Apparently you don't stand out here, which should make it easier to find the way. You follow the men, but they seem to be entering a washroom. Across it, there is a peeled off directory on the wall. A printed one.
ChatGPT "Finally, something useful," I mutter, quickly crossing the washroom to examine the directory. I look for any indications of holding cells or equivalent terminology that might hint at the location of the crew. The symbols and words are unfamiliar, so I take out the tricorder and try to use it as a translator.
User Cells being a fairly universal concept, the tricorder identifies a few scribbles with ease. If you understand the diagram correctly, you need to go up two levels and head towards the center of the structure. You double-check the presence of your backpack filled with phasers, snatch a helmet off of a shelf and press it on your head.
ChatGPT Drawing a deep breath through the rebreather, I nod to myself, mentally preparing for the upcoming challenge. "Alright, up two levels, towards the center... I can do this." I look around, searching for a way up. After locating what appears to be a ladder leading upwards, I begin my ascent.
User Two levels up you emerge from what seems to be a service hatch. A technician, dressed in torn clothes, looks somewhat surprised when you emerge. "Hello brother. Are the lifts broken?" he asks in Adari, a language you have some familiarity with. Only now do you see the horn protruding from his forehead. "I am trying to avoid someone," you say, with a knowing smile. He gives you a tired smile back. "What is your sector? I want a clean face all day too," he says.
ChatGPT "I work... the ore processors," I reply, making up a role on the spot that seems plausible, considering the location and dirty condition of most workers. "But I'd rather stay away from my boss today. He's been in a foul mood." I'm trying my best to blend in. "Can you point me to the center of the structure?" I ask, hoping the diversion worked.
User "Yeah, 'the structure'. Let's call it that. Sounds nicer than 'prison of the damned'. What do you want at the center, there's only central holding there. I never go near that place. All that wailing. Gives me the shakes," he mutters.
ChatGPT "Oh, I just... wanted to see a friend," I reply, trying to keep my tone light, while inwardly my heart sinks at his description. "Don't worry about it, I'll find my way. Thanks for the chat." I give him a quick nod before heading in the direction he had indicated earlier, hoping I'm making the right choice.
User He wasn't wrong about the wailing. As you follow the corridors, passing along scruffy workers and a couple of guards with face covering helmets who are leaning against a wall, you can hear a lot of yelling, moaning and above all the sound of defiant Klingon opera louder and louder. The voice sounds familiar, but all singing Klingons generally sound alike.
ChatGPT As I continue toward the source of the noise, I find myself in front of a heavily barred door. I can't help but suppress a smile, recognizing the defiant voice as that of Worf. "Computer," I whisper to my tricorder, "Is there a way to shut down the power to this door?"
User The tricorder scans the control panel and warbles optimistically. It then shows a graphic representation of the door, with an arrow pointing at one location and a low energy setting for a phaser.
ChatGPT Taking a moment to look around and confirm that no one is watching, I set my phaser to the recommended setting and aim at the indicated spot on the door. After taking a deep breath, I fire.
User Something inside the door clunks and it opens just enough for the seal to crack. You jam a fingernail behind it, then a finger and eventually you manage to gain enough purchase to open the door. As it slowly opens, you find yourself at the far end of a long row of cells. At the other end is a desk, with a guard sitting behind a monitor. He is staring at it intently. Perhaps the stun setting might be a good idea. You adjust the phaser and take careful aim, when an arm reached out from one of the dark cells and blocks the shot. "Uhm... he's got three buddies in there. You can't see them from here," whispers Captain Sisko.
ChatGPT "I figured you might be here, Captain," I say, lowering my phaser discreetly. "Any ideas for getting you and the rest out without causing a full-on alert?"
User "That depends. Did you bring any weapons?"
ChatGPT "I brought a backpack full of phasers. There should be enough to arm everyone here," I reply, carefully removing the backpack from my shoulder and showing the Captain.
User "Good man. Worf is next to me, then Major Kira. Let Worf take the lead on this. Worf! Help has arrived.' 'Good. I was getting bored with singing,' grumbled a familiar voice. His hand emerges from between the bars, demanding a phaser.
ChatGPT I hand the phaser to Worf, watching as his large hand swallows the device. I then pass phasers to Captain Sisko and Major Kira. With the three of them armed, the odds seem significantly better. Now, we just have to make sure the element of surprise isn't wasted.
User Fifteen seconds later, three guards sink to the floor. Although the phasers were set to stun, nobody seems particularly worried about their health. "Get their uniforms and lock them up," says Sisko. "We can walk out of here. Once we're at the shuttle docks, we can probably find something that flies." "Captain, there are three uniforms and four of us. And the others are housed on another level," says Worf.
ChatGPT "Right. I can stay behind and create a diversion while you three escape. I'll catch up," I offer. "The priority should be to get you three and as many of the others out as we can. We also need to alert Starfleet about this place. I'm sure they'd love to know about a mining facility that's been kidnapping officers."
User "That's a very daring plan, Ensign, but we leave no man behind. Kyra, you and Worf go and find the others and proceed to that place where they searched us. Anyone in uniform is a valid target. And anyone who wants to come along, can do so. The ensign and I will try to find a comms terminal and alert Starfleet. Ensign, I assume you're not alone here?"
ChatGPT "Admiral Benson is aware of the situation, sir. Backup is half a day out. Before we separated, I was under the control of the Tactical Emergency System," I report, glad to see that the Captain is taking charge of the situation.
User "Oh. I had my reservations about that system. Holographic doctors are one thing, but that went a bit too far for my tastes. Okay, phasers for everyone. Bring enough for the others. Ensign, with me."
ChatGPT "Understood, sir," I reply, distributing the remaining phasers to my colleagues and following Captain Sisko down the corridor. As we navigate through the mining facility, I stay alert for any guards or threats that may be in our way. I can feel a sense of hope and determination building up within me - we might actually make it out of here.
User "HALT!" bellows a voice behind us, immediately followed by a reddish phaser burst. The Captain turns on his heels, pushes you out of the way and fires. A guard falls to the floor. The phaser fire was detected by the security system. A klaxon starts blaring and the ceiling lights turn red. A voice starts giving unintelligible instructions over the tannoy. "We need to find a comms panel, Ensign. Any ideas?" asks Sisko, scanning the corridor for more guards. A frightened looking maintenance worker comes to see what's going on, but ducks out of the way as soon as he sees the pair of you.
ChatGPT "I remember seeing a room with a lot of terminals when I was making my way through the facility earlier, sir," I reply, my mind racing. "If memory serves, it's two corridors over, near the scrubber exhausts." I keep my phaser ready and move towards the direction of the room, all the while keeping an eye out for more guards.
User "That's the wrong way, Ensign. I imagine they have more than one place with comms terminals. You cover the rear. Follow me. Put your hand on my shoulder so you can look behind you all the time. If it wears a uniform, it's fair game."
ChatGPT "Yes, sir," I reply, placing my hand on the Captain's shoulder. I pivot and start to walk backwards, keeping my eyes and phaser focused on the path we've just traveled. The constant blaring of the klaxon mixes with the distant shouting and running steps of approaching guards. Despite the adrenaline rush, I manage to keep my aim steady and my breathing calm. The training exercises at the academy never truly prepare you for the real thing, but they do help in maintaining focus.
User You down three guards and accidentally scare the bejeezus out of a woman pushing a cleaning cart, but eventually Sisko stops. "Got it. Stand back while I blast this door." A few seconds later the corridor fills with acrid smoke from a melting door panel. Behind it is a room with several desks.
ChatGPT Entering the room cautiously, I scan the area with my phaser ready. Seeing no immediate threats, I turn my attention to the various panels and screens scattered throughout the space. The room is filled with a myriad of communication equipment - probably a central control hub for managing mining operations, worker communications, and security measures.
"Captain, I think this is it," I say, gesturing to a terminal that seems to be linked to an extensive communications network. "I should be able to send out a distress signal from here." I start to work on the terminal, trying to hack into the system and figure out how to send a message to Starfleet.
User "Try reaching the Defiant," suggest Sisko from the doorway. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Another guard bites the dust somewhere. "Captain! WE ARE BEHIND HIM!" bellows Worf." "GOOD! Move along, we'll be there shortly. Ensign, how are you getting on?"
ChatGPT "I've managed to break through the initial security layers, Captain," I respond, my fingers moving rapidly over the terminal's interface. "It seems this system has been rigged to only accept authorized codes for communication."
Suddenly, a stroke of inspiration hits me. "Captain, when we first boarded the Defiant, I had to program my authorization codes into the ship's communication systems. If I can find a way to mimic those codes from this terminal... I might be able to trick the Defiant's systems into accepting the distress signal."
I double down on the task, focusing all my attention on reconstructing my authorization codes. As I do so, I keep an eye on the room's entryway, ready to react in case more guards show up.
User The terminal beeps and lights up. You don't understand any of the dials, but with any luck your tricorder can interface with it. Time to hail the Defiant.
ChatGPT "Defiant, this is Ensign," I say, praying the connection holds. "Requesting immediate assistance. The Captain and the crew are here, but we are currently under attack. Coordinates being transmitted now."
A static-filled silence follows. I glance at Sisko, an unspoken question in my gaze. Did it work? Did our message get through?
User "Ensign, this is the Defiant. I can't beam you out of there. Get to the shuttle dock, so that all that ore doesn't block the transporter lock. The USS Rotterdam is thirty minutes out."
ChatGPT "Understood, Defiant. We'll make our way to the shuttle dock. Be ready for us," I reply, exhaling a sigh of relief. I turn to Sisko, updating him with the situation. "Captain, we have to move. The Rotterdam is on its way but we need to get to the shuttle dock for transport."
User Worf's voice comes in through the Captain's commbadge, as it somehow manages to create a local connection. "Worf to Sisko. We have secured the shuttle dock. Mr. O'Brien is injured. Where are you?"
ChatGPT I quickly respond, "This is Ensign [Your Name]. Captain Sisko and I are en route to your position. We'll be there shortly. Hang in there, Chief." With that, I turn to Sisko and suggest, "We should move, Captain."
User "Ensign Markov and I are just behind you, Mr. Worf. Try not to pick us off as we approach. Oh and the Defiant is operating with that emergency command protocol, so it's ready to beam you up. Have Major Kira and the Chief go ahead, if possible. But hold the fort for us." "Understood, Captain. Worf out."
Five minutes and more shooting than is good for a man's digestion you reach the shuttle dock. You literally have to step over a pile of dead guards to get through the door. "Had fun, Mr. Worf? Does your phaser not come with a stun setting?" asks Sisko. "I recognized the men who took us, Sir. My finger must have slipped on the settings dial," growls Worf, looking you over to assess if you're likely to snitch. "It happens," said Sisko matter-of-factly. "Ensign, get us home."
ChatGPT Without any hesitation, I raise my commbadge and say, "Ensign Markov to Defiant. Four to beam up."
User (Okay, take it home. You're all aboard, O'Brien will live, you get a speech and a medal. Write out those events from Markov's perspective and finish off. I'll add something if you pause.)
ChatGPT As the familiar hum and sparkling light of the transporter envelops us, I take one last look at the chaotic scene we're leaving behind. My heart pounds in my chest, not from fear, but from the exhilaration of having faced danger and come out the other side. It's a rush I wasn't expecting.
When we rematerialize aboard the Defiant, a group of medics is waiting for us. They immediately rush to Chief O'Brien, but his smile and light-hearted joke assure me he'll be alright. As I step off the transporter pad, I let out a sigh of relief.
Later, back in my uniform and at a ceremony in the Defiant's Mess Hall, Captain Sisko delivers a speech. He talks about bravery, about loyalty, about the strength of Starfleet and the spirit of those who serve. He doesn't dwell on the danger we faced, but rather the courage it took to face it.
When he calls me up, handing me a medal for bravery under fire, I can't help but feel a swell of pride. The applauding faces of my crewmates, the recognition in their eyes... it's a moment I will never forget. This is why I joined Starfleet, for moments like this. To be part of something greater, to face adversity and stand tall.
"Ensign Markov," Sisko says, offering a handshake along with the medal, "Your courage and quick thinking played a crucial role in our escape. Starfleet is proud to have you among its ranks."
As I return to my quarters that night, medal in hand, I find myself smiling. Yes, today was difficult, even frightening at times. But it was also invigorating, and more than that, it was important. It's a reminder of why I'm here, of why we're all here. To explore, to protect, to boldly go...
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
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submitted by Vast_Bread_ to plexsubs [link] [comments]
->> Our poster <<<---
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It's time to invest in some quality you-time and watch your favorite movies and shows! We promise a five star (5⭐) experience... or your money back!
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2023.06.03 22:30 cybette The Bullhorn #104 (Ansible Newsletter)
The Bullhorn is a weekly newsletter for the Ansible Community
Subscribe here <--
If you have anything to share about what you’ve been up to with Ansible lately, at any time, simply hop into #social:ansible.com (the Ansible Social room on Matrix) and leave a message, tagging newsbot. Your update will then be included in the next edition of the Bullhorn (pending editor approval, of course).
Here's The Bullhorn #104 newsletter:
chadams contributed
cybette contributed
submitted by cybette to ansible [link] [comments]
Subscribe here <--
If you have anything to share about what you’ve been up to with Ansible lately, at any time, simply hop into #social:ansible.com (the Ansible Social room on Matrix) and leave a message, tagging newsbot. Your update will then be included in the next edition of the Bullhorn (pending editor approval, of course).
Here's The Bullhorn #104 newsletter:
KEY DATES ⏱️
cybette said
- 2023-06-06: DaWGs meeting, 15:00 UTC
- 2023-06-07: Community WG meeting, 18:00 UTC (propose topics here)
- 2023-06-08: Bullhorn #105 content deadline, 18:00 UTC
- 2023-06-19: ETA for Ansible-Core 2.13.11, 2.14.7 and 2.15.1
- 2023-06-20: ETA for Ansible 7.7.0 release
- 2023-06-20: ETA for Ansible 8.1.0 release
GENERAL NEWS UPDATES 🔈️
Gwmngilfen contributedDon Naro saidAnsible Project Mission Statement - have your say!
As part of our efforts to strengthen the community this year, it seemed right to make sure that the aims of the project - as a whole - are clearly communicated.
We've been around a while, and while automation is clearly central, we have a variety of statements like "a radically simple IT automation system", "Automation for everyone", or "open-source automation that is simple, flexible, and powerful". We called out "fragmentation" in the community strategy, and this is a great example of it in action - we're not being consistent in our message.
So, we thought it might be time to ask you all - What does Ansible mean to you?. Give us your thoughts! We'll use the data to inform the work on making this consistent, and we'll update you on the results later in the summer.
As you might know the Ansible 8 package is going to be released soon! We're preparing to publish the documentation and would like to ask the community for review of docs on the test site here.
If you see any issues, missing content, or have any comments, please drop by the Docs channel on Matrix or add a comment to our docs checklist issue. Thanks!
Editor's note: This issue of The Bullhorn will be published after the release of Ansible 8.0.0. However, you are still welcome to review the docs for this release (and in general) and share your feedback anytime! In fact, I just submitted a docs PR while compiling this newsletter issue 😊
MAJOR NEW RELEASES 🏆️
Ansible ↗ 📦️
The Ansible package includes ansible-core and is a batteries-included package that provides a curated set of Ansible collections. See the Ansible roadmaps for future release plans.chadams contributed
Ansible 8.0.0 is out! ❤️anwesha said
💽You can install it by running the following command or download the release tarball directly from pypi:
pip install ansible==8.0.0 --user
➡️ Check Release Notes📦️🗒️ and Ansible 8 Porting Guide for more details!
Ansible 7.6.0 is out! ❤️
💽You can install it by running the following command or download the release tarball directly from pypi:
pip install ansible==7.6.0 --user
➡️ Check Release Notes📦️🗒️ and Ansible 7 Porting Guide for more details!
Ansible-Core ↗ ⚡️
The ansible-core package contains the base engine and a small subset of modules and plugins. To see what's planned for the next release, look at the ansible-core roadmaps.cybette contributed
New releases: ansible-core 2.13.10 and ansible-core 2.14.6.
PROJECT UPDATES 🛠️
Ashwini Mhatre sharedUpdates from Ansible networking team. * We have enabled periodic jobs through GHA for network collections. * We are working on community.ioscm collection which works for iosxe on controller mode, when the appliance is in sd-wan infrastructure! * IRC Meeting changes. * We want someone who will look into ansible-lint fixes for community.network collection.
COLLECTION UPDATES 🪄
andersson007_ saidThe community.mysql collection version 3.7.2 has been released! Special thanks to betanummeric for fixing the blocker!Ashwini Mhatre contributed
We're happy to announce the following networking collection updates: * cisco.iosxr 5.0.3 has been released with bugfixes (changelog) * cisco.nxos 4.4.0 has been released with new features (changelog) * vyos.vyos 4.1.0 has been released with new features (changelog)mariolenz shared
It looks like the netapp.azure collection is effectively unmaintained. According to the current community guidelines for collections, we consider removing it in a future version of the Ansible community package. Please see Unmaintained collection: netapp.azure for more information or to announce that you're interested in taking over the maintenance of (a fork of) netapp.azure.mariolenz shared
At least one month after this announcement appears here and in the collection's issue tracker, the Ansible Community Steering Committee will vote on whether this collection is considered unmaintained and will be removed, or whether it will be kept. If it will be removed, this will happen earliest in Ansible 10. Please note that you can still manually install the collection with ansible-galaxy collection install netapp.azure even when it has been removed from Ansible.
The netapp.aws collection is considered unmaintained and will be removed from Ansible 10 if no one starts maintaining it again before Ansible 10. See the removal process for details on how this works.
Please note that you can still manually install the collection with ansible-galaxy collection install netapp.aws even when it has been removed from Ansible.
HELP WANTED 🙏
samccann sharedWe're looking for good sample commands and commonly used flags for the Ansible CLI commands so we can create a cheatsheet for users. Please add your favorites to this issue.Don Naro said
Help us improve the HTML landing pages on docs.ansible.com with some better Jinja templating! Find out how to get involved and contribute to our improved content experience here.
PROPOSALS - DISCUSS AND VOTE! 🗳️
felixfontein sharedThere is an active community vote on a proposal for the Ansible 9 roadmap. If you are interested, please check out the proposal or the associated discussion issue, and feel free to cast a vote for or against the proposal.
COMMUNITY UPDATES 👂️
steampunks saidWe’re happy to announce that Spotter 2.0 was released and brings many new and enhanced enterprise-ready features and checks, such as custom policies, assisted writing feature, security checks, and more.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MEETUPS 📅
Sean Sullivan saidThe Infra config as Code collection group will have a Public Office hours meeting on June 8th at 9am EST/1pm UTC. Details here.cybette contributed
Several upcoming Ansible meetups! Check out the details in the links: * June 7 - Québec/Montréal (online) - Rencontre juin 2023 * June 8 - Bern - 3. Ansible Meetup Bern * June 15 - Minneapolis - AnsibleFest/Summit 2023 Announcements Recap * June 17 - Benelux - Ansible AAP Meetup
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!
Have any questions you’d like to ask, or issues you’d like to see covered? Please ask in #social:ansible.com! See you next time!2023.06.03 22:20 InkDiamond (cont.) It’s the end of the universe. To celebrate, you just want to chill with your best friend. After all, he’s the only other remaining person in the whole world. But to your surprise, he reveals that you’re not the only one invited to his party…
Here's the first half of the story
The two teens both looked toward the front of the room. There was a gray sphere. Hovering in the doorway.
But if you asked Marc, it was an annoying gray sphere. And it hovered in the doorway like an absolute rustnut.
Marc wasn’t sure where on the sphere to level his disdain. The whole dumb surface was the same all over. It was a series of interconnected, translucent hexagons. Stupid yellow lights blinked sporadically across its many faces—for no apparent rhyme or reason—perhaps just to further annoy Marc.
An electronic voice called out from the sphere. “Did I hear muuuuuusic?” he asked. “Before that last plasma burst?”
Marc shot Sid a glare that could kill. But the big blue alien didn’t back down.
“Last impression. Remember?” he told Marc before going toward Tōn-E with a brimming, sharp-toothed smile and arms extended. “Tōn-E! Glad you could make it! Come on in.”
On the inside, Marc cringed. He mostly tried to forget that Tōn-E walked (hovered?) the same Levels as them. Tōn-E represented the most self-destructive habits of the Outpost. The only features of the city indifferent to survival.
But Tōn-E was all too real. He entered the room like a ghost in a nightmare.
“I am also happy to be here,” he said. The faces of his sphere randomly lit up as he spoke. “I otherwise had no plans for tonight. Because the planet is set to explode.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Sid joked.
“I approximate it will only take a few more—hold on. What is this??”
Tōn-E spun slowly in the air. The side previously facing Sid rotated toward the ceiling. When it reached the top, a spotlight shot toward the ceiling—right where Sid’s door had slotted in.
The spotlight stretched horizontally across the door until it resembled a straight line. This line swept back and forth across the raised door. It moved as if he was cleaning it.
“I don’t believe it!” Tōn-E said. “What an exquisite painting. A remarkable addition to your growing and ever-expanding portfolio, Sid.”
Tōn-E finished his scan of the painting. His expanding spotlight shut off. And he re-centered himself to face Sid.
“Aww, shanks,” Sid said. Each of his right arms latched onto the bends of the left ones. “You really think so?”
“Of course! There are colors here I’ve only seen named in the logs. You have tastefully incorporated /#FF00FF: a color our ancestors previously referred to as ‘magenta.’”
“Yes! That’s right! I was going for ‘magenta!’ You really think I did it?”
Marc looked down to hide his face. He rolled his eyes. Magenta. He would have loved to tell Sid how much he liked it too. But Marc had spent his years surviving, not studying colors in old, useless historical archives.
Sid and Tōn-E continued their snooty, pretentious discussion.
“I made it mixing legblee blood and just a liiiiiiittle bit of groundwater,” Sid said.
“That was a very clever! Allow me to save your painting to my internal memory.”
“Really??” Sid’s cheeks greened a little.
“Yes, I will review at a later time when I am both unable to view the original but would still like to once again be inspired by your clever and skillful hands.”
“Tōn-E, I—I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
Marc simmered in his anger. Stupid Tōn-E. Always ruining things. Making them about him and his dumb, endless archives.
“I am perhaps only more impressed by your chosen ensemble! Do my eyes perceive veritable Lenorkian armor?”
The talkative orb whooshed toward Sid. It began revolving around him like an annoyingly-attached moon. As his exo-orb hummed excitedly, Tōn-E rattled off his useless knowledge of antiquated armor.
“Snorp-resistant spiked shoulder caps?!” He spun around Sid’s midsection. “Triple-layered chest plates?!” He dropped closer to the floor. “Anti-gravity shin guards made from the rare lenorkium alloy?!”
Tōn-E giggled as he orbited Sid. His laugh disturbed Marc. It sounded like a space rat being strangled in the bowels of an undersea air vent.
Sid could hardly keep up with Tōn-E’s flying. But he looked happy with the attention. “Yeah! I’m told this suit was built for the Frost Ring wars,” he said. “It never got used.”
Marc continued to not engage. He slunk deeper into his shawl, folded his arms, and sighed.
“I don’t believe it!” Tōn-E said.
He backed off from Sid, flying back toward the doorway. He turned on his spotlight once again. It now stretched over Sid’s body. “Saving! Saving!”
Sid wasted no time posing for the occasion. He flexed all four arms and gritted his snaggling teeth. His irises turned a deep red and his two small horns protruded from his forehead. Tōn-E was overjoyed. “I did not think I would ever have the chance to record your agitated state,” he said.
I’ll show you an agitated state, Marc thought to himself.
“I’ve got a relic you’re going to love,” Tōn-E said. His tiny sphere filled the cave with noise. But it wasn’t Tōn-E’s usual metallic voice. The sound came from another species entirely.
“GwwwwwwuuuhhhAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!”
His orb played an intense, ear-shuddering roar. The recording may have been slightly fuzzy, but Marc knew the source. It was unmistakably Lenorkian.
And like the gears in a drill, something appeared to “click” inside Sid. His eyes widened. His armored chest expanded. And he joined in. But Sid’s roar was… authentic.
“HRRRRRRRRRGAAAAAAAAHHHHH” he blasted out of mouth. Marc’s entire rib cage vibrated uncomfortably.
It spooked Marc. Igniting some primal desire to escape a dangerous predator. That was a feeling he never felt around Sid. He didn’t like it.
Sid himself even looked embarrassed for a second. Something he’d kept suppressed had slipped out. But Tōn-E turned up the volume on his recording. And with a cautious smile of someone nervously breaking a rule, Sid matched it. And then some. The two bellowed together. It was enough to make Marc queasy, although it was unclear whether it was due to the vibrations or Sid bonding so much with Tōn-E.
The roaring continued. Their talking continued. Tōn-E went on about Sid’s armor some more and his people’s valor and the hardship his ancestors must have faced.
“Usually I keep this stuff stashed away,” Sid said to Tōn-E in his soft normal voice. His horns had retracted, and his eyes had returned to normal. “These are shameful pieces of our history. Truly. And with a people I never really fit in with. But tonight, it just felt right to wear it, you know?”
“I understand completely,” Tōn-E said. “It is in these end times that we gravitate toward those traditions that were so much of what made us feel alive in the first place.”
The statement made Marc want to hurl. He didn’t want to entertain such stupid notions. But the gremlin rotated to him next.
“Hello Marc! Did you find any good junk today? Any new additions to your scrap pile?”
Marc seethed. “I didn't scavenge today, Tōn-E. There wouldn't be any use. It's the end of the universe.”
“That surprises me. Humans love their junk and doodads.”
“Yeah well, we don’t have to cling to the past, do we? Not like that ever saved anyone.” He hugged his wrapped arms even tighter, tilting his body away from Sid and Tōn-E. His cold shoulder ended the conversation.
Sid picked it back up. “So Tōn-E, do you, uh… drink?”
As it turned out, he did. Tōn-E accepted a cup of fludge. He held it with a robotic arm—one that had suddenly extended from his exo-orb. Tōn-E’s orb whirred as the center of his “face” sprouted a grotesque, needle-like proboscis. It poked outward like a long nose.
This straw extended into the cup he held. Tōn-E sipped the fludge like an insect sipping nectar (whatever those two things were; the Archives were spotty).
Sid waited with anticipation. Then Tōn-E’s sphere shuddered. The fludge must have reached the insufferable little creature on the inside. “Scrumptious!” he said.
Marc sighed quietly to himself. For some reason, he thought the night would have made a turn for the better if Tōn-E had hated it.
“Two for two!” Sid pumped three victorious fists into the air. He grinned as Tōn-E’s straw dipped into the cup once more. The straw made a little slurping sound.
“My taste buds are tingling!” Tōn-E said.
But the big cup was too much for him to finish. He returned the mostly-full drink to Sid. And his robotic straw receded to his exo-orb. Sid of course finished the cup, slurping up the remaining pool of fludge.
“So…” Sid said. He wiped his mouth. “Should I put some tunes back on?” He pointed over his shoulder to the idle vent. Then he looked across his two guests for an answer.
Marc shrugged. He didn’t care about anything anymore. Next to Marc, Tōn-E bobbed excitedly.
“Oh, yes!” he said. “One reads about concepts such as scales and measures, but it is entirely different to actually experience them with one’s own body!”
What body? Marc thought to himself. And what were the other things Tōn-E had mentioned? Something about… measuring… dragons?
He studied the cave floor while Sid skipped to the vent.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Sid said. “Get those Level 7 legs ready!” He tugged at the creaking cover once more.
It came off easier this time. With a pop! the storm above returned to the cave. Its natural melody filled the room.
“Woooooooo!” Sid raised his hands again and walked back toward the other two.
Tōn-E mimicked him with two twig arms.
But the music didn’t have the same magic as before. The beats were stale. And Marc found himself unable to ignore the sting of the sand pelting his face. He lifted his shawl over his mouth. His voice was barely audible.
“I’m sitting this song out,” he said.
The other two didn't seem to hear him. They were facing each other, waving their arms sporadically against the air current.
Marc didn’t care. He grabbed his unfinished drink from the kitchen. Then he searched for a place to sit.
He found a couch, just in front of the dancing aliens. As he took his seat, his bottom started to sink into the sofa. The tarp covering the couch crinkled.
He tried guessing the material underneath it. Clay, maybe? He pondered the question while watching Sid and Tōn-E figure out dancing without him.
“This is how Marc was doing it before!” Sid said to Tōn-E. His four arms fanned across the breeze.
But he got everything wrong. His arms whipped around the wind, not with it. And he was thinking too much about his next move, as evidenced by his scrunched brows. But the greatest offense of all was his midsection: his hips and legs stayed in place—as if someone had threatened them.
A part of Marc wanted to get up and show him how it was done. But another part wanted to see Sid fail. Realize the effort was futile. Give up on bonding with Tōn-E. And kick the Sphere of Useless Facts out of his house.
“Am I doing it right, Marc?” Sid asked while each of his arms flew in a different direction.
“You look great!” Marc replied. He took a long sip of fludge.
Tōn-E, on the other hand, did his best to replicate Sid. He waved his skinny arms erratically. It almost made Marc laugh; Tōn-E looked like he’d been set on fire.
But in all, the whole thing was awful. A bad impression giving birth to an even worse impression.
And they didn’t seem to be enjoying it much either. Despite Marc’s glowing endorsement, Sid and Tōn-E danced themselves to the brink.
Sid kept losing his balance. He tried to keep up with the music but flung himself too hard in any one direction. And every time he made a misstep, he’d let loose an acidic snarl. Tōn-E grew frustrated as well. Every few seconds, he simply froze. His exterior lights would blink red in error. As Marc had hoped, the two “painting pals” quickly ran out of steam.
The dancing halted altogether. A tired Sid returned to the vent and hoisted the grate back onto the vent’s mouth. The music stopped.
“I’ll just turn it down for a minute,” he said. He adjusted a dial on the grate. The metal slits creaked open. And a muted sandstorm flowed through them.
The music reflected the overall energy in the room: depleted. Sid secured himself two more cups of fludge before joining Marc on the tarp couch.
Tōn-E followed his lead. The little troll took a seat too, which meant hovering over the last open spot on the other side of Marc.
The boys took a minute to relax on the couch. They sat quietly while the plasma storm above the Outpost boomed and cracked.
Well, Sid and Tōn-E relaxed. They chugged down another couple cups of fludge and floated quietly over the couch (respectively). Meanwhile, Marc continued to be annoyed. He considered stepping outside and climbing to Level 1. Offer himself to the plasma storm a few hours early. The non-stop hum of Tōn-E’s exo-orb goaded him further.
Brrrrrrrrr!
Did it really have to make that noise?
Marc didn’t think the afternoon could get any worse. And then it did. Because Tōn-E’s insufferable humming suddenly quieted. And that only could have meant…
“Oh!” Tōn-E exclaimed, “I know what we can talk about!”
Marc braced for impact. His nails dug into his knees.
Don’t you dare, he thought.
“I read the most interesting fact about cats today!” Tōn-E started.
Not again, Marc thought. Absolutely NOT again. His fists trembled with rage.
“Did you know cats were the central deity across ten different ancient civilizations? The trend started with humans, of course, but the religion quickly spread across the galaxy as interplanetary travel became more widely available.”
“I actually didn’t know that,” Sid said, entertaining Tōn-E’s ridiculous theory. “Where did you find that?”
“The Archives! They have somewhat documented this phenomenon. You see, it was a common practice to capture footage of cats, even in their sleeping state. They were so important to these cultures that even the most mundane moment yielded significant reason to capture and worship them. If you want to see, I can—”
Marc had had enough. He slammed his cup down on the floor and flew off the couch.
“—SHUT UP. SHUT UP ABOUT CATS!” he shouted. He swung back around to face the other two. “CATS AREN’T REAL TŌN-E! AND THEY WERE NEVER REAL!”
“That’s enough, Marc!” Sid clenched his teeth.“Don’t start this.”
Marc returned fire, “I didn’t start anything; that was YOU. Going behind my back! Inviting more of these… fairy tales!”
His emotions overwhelmed him. He didn’t know whether to yell more or start crying. He did both.
“It’s the end of the universe!” he said as tears streamed down his face. “We can’t keep clinging to the things that brought us to this point in the first place! All these stupid traditions are the reason no one’s even here with us now! IT KILLED THEM ALL! And anyone stupid enough to keep believing in them is—"
“—I said THAT’S ENOUGH!” Sid growled. Marc didn't care.
“NO!” he said. Then he looked back at Tōn-E. “NONE of what you’re seeing in the Archives is real! The data is corrupt! It’s ALL CORRUPT! And CATS are just another dumb fairy tale to keep people like you going, while…”
He ran out of steam. He realized there was no more “going.” In fact, there was no time remaining in the universe for anything. But that didn’t diminish his animosity and anger toward the world. He glared down at the gray sphere. His chest heaved.
Meanwhile, Sid kept a cooler, bluer head. He too looked to Tōn-E, but with compassion in his eyes.
Tōn-E didn’t immediately respond to either. The only sound in the room came from his exo-orb. Well, the exo-orb plus the ladle on the counter, which suddenly blooped into the big pot.
All eyes were on the atypically quiet alien, whose hexagonal faces began to light up.
“I suppose,” his voice trailed, “that cats may not have been real after all. You said it yourself: records are foggy. They’re all from thousands of years ago...” He sighed. Tōn-E’s lights transitioned to a new blinking pattern. “And I also suppose… that I should have been more mature about interpreting error-prone information in the Archives…”
“It's okay, man,” Sid said. “I like that you dream big.” He reached across the couch to place a comforting hand on Tōn-E. But Tōn-E floated out of reach.
“I understand my presence here is probably upsetting,” he said. “You two have a special bond. I should not have interfered with it in its last moments. I will go.”
“No, Tōn-E,” Sid said. Each pair of his hands met in front of his chest “Please stay. You have every right to be here too.”
“I should go,” Tōn-E said. “I will spend the rest of the evening focused on real things. And because I will no longer be here, I suppose it will be the perfect opportunity to review Sid’s art so I can feel inspired for the end times.”
He slipped between Sid and Marc toward the doorway.
“No, don’t!” Sid called after him. “We should do this together.”
But Tōn-E had already vanished outside.
The Lenorkian, hand extended, waited for Tōn-E to come back. But the floating sphere did not reappear in the doorway.
And that was when a low trill emanated from the couch. It was coming from Sid’s his chest. He looked up at Marc, glaring. He bared his pointed teeth. His horns reappeared. And his eyes flushed with scarlet pigment.
Yuh-oh, Marc thought. About half his prior anger evaporated. Fear of a fight took hold.
Marc didn’t exactly dislike his chances. Lenorkians may have been stronger, but Sid wasn't a fighter. Marc was.
But Sid stuck to his morals.
“GET OUT!” Sid shouted.
Marc reflexively jumped out of reach. The short hop sort of ruined his show of anger. But he was still boiling mad. After all, fifty percent of him hadn't abandoned the cat grudge.
“Fine!” he shouted back. “Have fun exploding alone.” He whipped away to the exit.
The party was finished now. He almost stopped and went back for his fludge. But he didn’t want it anymore either. He just wanted a nice end of the universe with his friend. And now the end of the universe was ruined.
At least the apocalypse outside was behaving predictably. Marc stepped into the adjacent cave corridor. He surveyed the damage outside, looking through the long, horizontal gap in the cave wall. As the experts had predicted, the plasma storm took its toll.
The canyon glowed eerily bright, despite it being evening time. The wind howled as it raced through the canyon. And the cliffs around the gorge flashed white and pink as the storm charged with electricity, preparing to make its final jump.
Lightning cracked toward the ground. Some of the bolts hit the opposing cliff, sending rubble deep into the gorge. A gentle tremor rumbled in the ground beneath him.
The plasma storm overhead only creeped further around the planet. As the canyon brightened, shockwaves coursed through the entire city. They threw Marc off his feet again. He hit the ground.
Behind him, thunderous clacking erupted. The sound of falling rocks filled the corridor. He flipped over to see what explosion had thrown him.
It was bad. He stopped breathing. Because he could no longer see Sid’s home. All he saw was a pile of rubble.
submitted by InkDiamond to u/InkDiamond [link] [comments]
The two teens both looked toward the front of the room. There was a gray sphere. Hovering in the doorway.
But if you asked Marc, it was an annoying gray sphere. And it hovered in the doorway like an absolute rustnut.
Marc wasn’t sure where on the sphere to level his disdain. The whole dumb surface was the same all over. It was a series of interconnected, translucent hexagons. Stupid yellow lights blinked sporadically across its many faces—for no apparent rhyme or reason—perhaps just to further annoy Marc.
An electronic voice called out from the sphere. “Did I hear muuuuuusic?” he asked. “Before that last plasma burst?”
Marc shot Sid a glare that could kill. But the big blue alien didn’t back down.
“Last impression. Remember?” he told Marc before going toward Tōn-E with a brimming, sharp-toothed smile and arms extended. “Tōn-E! Glad you could make it! Come on in.”
On the inside, Marc cringed. He mostly tried to forget that Tōn-E walked (hovered?) the same Levels as them. Tōn-E represented the most self-destructive habits of the Outpost. The only features of the city indifferent to survival.
But Tōn-E was all too real. He entered the room like a ghost in a nightmare.
“I am also happy to be here,” he said. The faces of his sphere randomly lit up as he spoke. “I otherwise had no plans for tonight. Because the planet is set to explode.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Sid joked.
“I approximate it will only take a few more—hold on. What is this??”
Tōn-E spun slowly in the air. The side previously facing Sid rotated toward the ceiling. When it reached the top, a spotlight shot toward the ceiling—right where Sid’s door had slotted in.
The spotlight stretched horizontally across the door until it resembled a straight line. This line swept back and forth across the raised door. It moved as if he was cleaning it.
“I don’t believe it!” Tōn-E said. “What an exquisite painting. A remarkable addition to your growing and ever-expanding portfolio, Sid.”
Tōn-E finished his scan of the painting. His expanding spotlight shut off. And he re-centered himself to face Sid.
“Aww, shanks,” Sid said. Each of his right arms latched onto the bends of the left ones. “You really think so?”
“Of course! There are colors here I’ve only seen named in the logs. You have tastefully incorporated /#FF00FF: a color our ancestors previously referred to as ‘magenta.’”
“Yes! That’s right! I was going for ‘magenta!’ You really think I did it?”
Marc looked down to hide his face. He rolled his eyes. Magenta. He would have loved to tell Sid how much he liked it too. But Marc had spent his years surviving, not studying colors in old, useless historical archives.
Sid and Tōn-E continued their snooty, pretentious discussion.
“I made it mixing legblee blood and just a liiiiiiittle bit of groundwater,” Sid said.
“That was a very clever! Allow me to save your painting to my internal memory.”
“Really??” Sid’s cheeks greened a little.
“Yes, I will review at a later time when I am both unable to view the original but would still like to once again be inspired by your clever and skillful hands.”
“Tōn-E, I—I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
Marc simmered in his anger. Stupid Tōn-E. Always ruining things. Making them about him and his dumb, endless archives.
“I am perhaps only more impressed by your chosen ensemble! Do my eyes perceive veritable Lenorkian armor?”
The talkative orb whooshed toward Sid. It began revolving around him like an annoyingly-attached moon. As his exo-orb hummed excitedly, Tōn-E rattled off his useless knowledge of antiquated armor.
“Snorp-resistant spiked shoulder caps?!” He spun around Sid’s midsection. “Triple-layered chest plates?!” He dropped closer to the floor. “Anti-gravity shin guards made from the rare lenorkium alloy?!”
Tōn-E giggled as he orbited Sid. His laugh disturbed Marc. It sounded like a space rat being strangled in the bowels of an undersea air vent.
Sid could hardly keep up with Tōn-E’s flying. But he looked happy with the attention. “Yeah! I’m told this suit was built for the Frost Ring wars,” he said. “It never got used.”
Marc continued to not engage. He slunk deeper into his shawl, folded his arms, and sighed.
“I don’t believe it!” Tōn-E said.
He backed off from Sid, flying back toward the doorway. He turned on his spotlight once again. It now stretched over Sid’s body. “Saving! Saving!”
Sid wasted no time posing for the occasion. He flexed all four arms and gritted his snaggling teeth. His irises turned a deep red and his two small horns protruded from his forehead. Tōn-E was overjoyed. “I did not think I would ever have the chance to record your agitated state,” he said.
I’ll show you an agitated state, Marc thought to himself.
“I’ve got a relic you’re going to love,” Tōn-E said. His tiny sphere filled the cave with noise. But it wasn’t Tōn-E’s usual metallic voice. The sound came from another species entirely.
“GwwwwwwuuuhhhAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!”
His orb played an intense, ear-shuddering roar. The recording may have been slightly fuzzy, but Marc knew the source. It was unmistakably Lenorkian.
And like the gears in a drill, something appeared to “click” inside Sid. His eyes widened. His armored chest expanded. And he joined in. But Sid’s roar was… authentic.
“HRRRRRRRRRGAAAAAAAAHHHHH” he blasted out of mouth. Marc’s entire rib cage vibrated uncomfortably.
It spooked Marc. Igniting some primal desire to escape a dangerous predator. That was a feeling he never felt around Sid. He didn’t like it.
Sid himself even looked embarrassed for a second. Something he’d kept suppressed had slipped out. But Tōn-E turned up the volume on his recording. And with a cautious smile of someone nervously breaking a rule, Sid matched it. And then some. The two bellowed together. It was enough to make Marc queasy, although it was unclear whether it was due to the vibrations or Sid bonding so much with Tōn-E.
The roaring continued. Their talking continued. Tōn-E went on about Sid’s armor some more and his people’s valor and the hardship his ancestors must have faced.
“Usually I keep this stuff stashed away,” Sid said to Tōn-E in his soft normal voice. His horns had retracted, and his eyes had returned to normal. “These are shameful pieces of our history. Truly. And with a people I never really fit in with. But tonight, it just felt right to wear it, you know?”
“I understand completely,” Tōn-E said. “It is in these end times that we gravitate toward those traditions that were so much of what made us feel alive in the first place.”
The statement made Marc want to hurl. He didn’t want to entertain such stupid notions. But the gremlin rotated to him next.
“Hello Marc! Did you find any good junk today? Any new additions to your scrap pile?”
Marc seethed. “I didn't scavenge today, Tōn-E. There wouldn't be any use. It's the end of the universe.”
“That surprises me. Humans love their junk and doodads.”
“Yeah well, we don’t have to cling to the past, do we? Not like that ever saved anyone.” He hugged his wrapped arms even tighter, tilting his body away from Sid and Tōn-E. His cold shoulder ended the conversation.
Sid picked it back up. “So Tōn-E, do you, uh… drink?”
As it turned out, he did. Tōn-E accepted a cup of fludge. He held it with a robotic arm—one that had suddenly extended from his exo-orb. Tōn-E’s orb whirred as the center of his “face” sprouted a grotesque, needle-like proboscis. It poked outward like a long nose.
This straw extended into the cup he held. Tōn-E sipped the fludge like an insect sipping nectar (whatever those two things were; the Archives were spotty).
Sid waited with anticipation. Then Tōn-E’s sphere shuddered. The fludge must have reached the insufferable little creature on the inside. “Scrumptious!” he said.
Marc sighed quietly to himself. For some reason, he thought the night would have made a turn for the better if Tōn-E had hated it.
“Two for two!” Sid pumped three victorious fists into the air. He grinned as Tōn-E’s straw dipped into the cup once more. The straw made a little slurping sound.
“My taste buds are tingling!” Tōn-E said.
But the big cup was too much for him to finish. He returned the mostly-full drink to Sid. And his robotic straw receded to his exo-orb. Sid of course finished the cup, slurping up the remaining pool of fludge.
“So…” Sid said. He wiped his mouth. “Should I put some tunes back on?” He pointed over his shoulder to the idle vent. Then he looked across his two guests for an answer.
Marc shrugged. He didn’t care about anything anymore. Next to Marc, Tōn-E bobbed excitedly.
“Oh, yes!” he said. “One reads about concepts such as scales and measures, but it is entirely different to actually experience them with one’s own body!”
What body? Marc thought to himself. And what were the other things Tōn-E had mentioned? Something about… measuring… dragons?
He studied the cave floor while Sid skipped to the vent.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Sid said. “Get those Level 7 legs ready!” He tugged at the creaking cover once more.
It came off easier this time. With a pop! the storm above returned to the cave. Its natural melody filled the room.
“Woooooooo!” Sid raised his hands again and walked back toward the other two.
Tōn-E mimicked him with two twig arms.
But the music didn’t have the same magic as before. The beats were stale. And Marc found himself unable to ignore the sting of the sand pelting his face. He lifted his shawl over his mouth. His voice was barely audible.
“I’m sitting this song out,” he said.
The other two didn't seem to hear him. They were facing each other, waving their arms sporadically against the air current.
Marc didn’t care. He grabbed his unfinished drink from the kitchen. Then he searched for a place to sit.
He found a couch, just in front of the dancing aliens. As he took his seat, his bottom started to sink into the sofa. The tarp covering the couch crinkled.
He tried guessing the material underneath it. Clay, maybe? He pondered the question while watching Sid and Tōn-E figure out dancing without him.
“This is how Marc was doing it before!” Sid said to Tōn-E. His four arms fanned across the breeze.
But he got everything wrong. His arms whipped around the wind, not with it. And he was thinking too much about his next move, as evidenced by his scrunched brows. But the greatest offense of all was his midsection: his hips and legs stayed in place—as if someone had threatened them.
A part of Marc wanted to get up and show him how it was done. But another part wanted to see Sid fail. Realize the effort was futile. Give up on bonding with Tōn-E. And kick the Sphere of Useless Facts out of his house.
“Am I doing it right, Marc?” Sid asked while each of his arms flew in a different direction.
“You look great!” Marc replied. He took a long sip of fludge.
Tōn-E, on the other hand, did his best to replicate Sid. He waved his skinny arms erratically. It almost made Marc laugh; Tōn-E looked like he’d been set on fire.
But in all, the whole thing was awful. A bad impression giving birth to an even worse impression.
And they didn’t seem to be enjoying it much either. Despite Marc’s glowing endorsement, Sid and Tōn-E danced themselves to the brink.
Sid kept losing his balance. He tried to keep up with the music but flung himself too hard in any one direction. And every time he made a misstep, he’d let loose an acidic snarl. Tōn-E grew frustrated as well. Every few seconds, he simply froze. His exterior lights would blink red in error. As Marc had hoped, the two “painting pals” quickly ran out of steam.
The dancing halted altogether. A tired Sid returned to the vent and hoisted the grate back onto the vent’s mouth. The music stopped.
“I’ll just turn it down for a minute,” he said. He adjusted a dial on the grate. The metal slits creaked open. And a muted sandstorm flowed through them.
The music reflected the overall energy in the room: depleted. Sid secured himself two more cups of fludge before joining Marc on the tarp couch.
Tōn-E followed his lead. The little troll took a seat too, which meant hovering over the last open spot on the other side of Marc.
The boys took a minute to relax on the couch. They sat quietly while the plasma storm above the Outpost boomed and cracked.
Well, Sid and Tōn-E relaxed. They chugged down another couple cups of fludge and floated quietly over the couch (respectively). Meanwhile, Marc continued to be annoyed. He considered stepping outside and climbing to Level 1. Offer himself to the plasma storm a few hours early. The non-stop hum of Tōn-E’s exo-orb goaded him further.
Brrrrrrrrr!
Did it really have to make that noise?
Marc didn’t think the afternoon could get any worse. And then it did. Because Tōn-E’s insufferable humming suddenly quieted. And that only could have meant…
“Oh!” Tōn-E exclaimed, “I know what we can talk about!”
Marc braced for impact. His nails dug into his knees.
Don’t you dare, he thought.
“I read the most interesting fact about cats today!” Tōn-E started.
Not again, Marc thought. Absolutely NOT again. His fists trembled with rage.
“Did you know cats were the central deity across ten different ancient civilizations? The trend started with humans, of course, but the religion quickly spread across the galaxy as interplanetary travel became more widely available.”
“I actually didn’t know that,” Sid said, entertaining Tōn-E’s ridiculous theory. “Where did you find that?”
“The Archives! They have somewhat documented this phenomenon. You see, it was a common practice to capture footage of cats, even in their sleeping state. They were so important to these cultures that even the most mundane moment yielded significant reason to capture and worship them. If you want to see, I can—”
Marc had had enough. He slammed his cup down on the floor and flew off the couch.
“—SHUT UP. SHUT UP ABOUT CATS!” he shouted. He swung back around to face the other two. “CATS AREN’T REAL TŌN-E! AND THEY WERE NEVER REAL!”
“That’s enough, Marc!” Sid clenched his teeth.“Don’t start this.”
Marc returned fire, “I didn’t start anything; that was YOU. Going behind my back! Inviting more of these… fairy tales!”
His emotions overwhelmed him. He didn’t know whether to yell more or start crying. He did both.
“It’s the end of the universe!” he said as tears streamed down his face. “We can’t keep clinging to the things that brought us to this point in the first place! All these stupid traditions are the reason no one’s even here with us now! IT KILLED THEM ALL! And anyone stupid enough to keep believing in them is—"
“—I said THAT’S ENOUGH!” Sid growled. Marc didn't care.
“NO!” he said. Then he looked back at Tōn-E. “NONE of what you’re seeing in the Archives is real! The data is corrupt! It’s ALL CORRUPT! And CATS are just another dumb fairy tale to keep people like you going, while…”
He ran out of steam. He realized there was no more “going.” In fact, there was no time remaining in the universe for anything. But that didn’t diminish his animosity and anger toward the world. He glared down at the gray sphere. His chest heaved.
Meanwhile, Sid kept a cooler, bluer head. He too looked to Tōn-E, but with compassion in his eyes.
Tōn-E didn’t immediately respond to either. The only sound in the room came from his exo-orb. Well, the exo-orb plus the ladle on the counter, which suddenly blooped into the big pot.
All eyes were on the atypically quiet alien, whose hexagonal faces began to light up.
“I suppose,” his voice trailed, “that cats may not have been real after all. You said it yourself: records are foggy. They’re all from thousands of years ago...” He sighed. Tōn-E’s lights transitioned to a new blinking pattern. “And I also suppose… that I should have been more mature about interpreting error-prone information in the Archives…”
“It's okay, man,” Sid said. “I like that you dream big.” He reached across the couch to place a comforting hand on Tōn-E. But Tōn-E floated out of reach.
“I understand my presence here is probably upsetting,” he said. “You two have a special bond. I should not have interfered with it in its last moments. I will go.”
“No, Tōn-E,” Sid said. Each pair of his hands met in front of his chest “Please stay. You have every right to be here too.”
“I should go,” Tōn-E said. “I will spend the rest of the evening focused on real things. And because I will no longer be here, I suppose it will be the perfect opportunity to review Sid’s art so I can feel inspired for the end times.”
He slipped between Sid and Marc toward the doorway.
“No, don’t!” Sid called after him. “We should do this together.”
But Tōn-E had already vanished outside.
The Lenorkian, hand extended, waited for Tōn-E to come back. But the floating sphere did not reappear in the doorway.
And that was when a low trill emanated from the couch. It was coming from Sid’s his chest. He looked up at Marc, glaring. He bared his pointed teeth. His horns reappeared. And his eyes flushed with scarlet pigment.
Yuh-oh, Marc thought. About half his prior anger evaporated. Fear of a fight took hold.
Marc didn’t exactly dislike his chances. Lenorkians may have been stronger, but Sid wasn't a fighter. Marc was.
But Sid stuck to his morals.
“GET OUT!” Sid shouted.
Marc reflexively jumped out of reach. The short hop sort of ruined his show of anger. But he was still boiling mad. After all, fifty percent of him hadn't abandoned the cat grudge.
“Fine!” he shouted back. “Have fun exploding alone.” He whipped away to the exit.
The party was finished now. He almost stopped and went back for his fludge. But he didn’t want it anymore either. He just wanted a nice end of the universe with his friend. And now the end of the universe was ruined.
At least the apocalypse outside was behaving predictably. Marc stepped into the adjacent cave corridor. He surveyed the damage outside, looking through the long, horizontal gap in the cave wall. As the experts had predicted, the plasma storm took its toll.
The canyon glowed eerily bright, despite it being evening time. The wind howled as it raced through the canyon. And the cliffs around the gorge flashed white and pink as the storm charged with electricity, preparing to make its final jump.
Lightning cracked toward the ground. Some of the bolts hit the opposing cliff, sending rubble deep into the gorge. A gentle tremor rumbled in the ground beneath him.
The plasma storm overhead only creeped further around the planet. As the canyon brightened, shockwaves coursed through the entire city. They threw Marc off his feet again. He hit the ground.
Behind him, thunderous clacking erupted. The sound of falling rocks filled the corridor. He flipped over to see what explosion had thrown him.
It was bad. He stopped breathing. Because he could no longer see Sid’s home. All he saw was a pile of rubble.
2023.06.03 22:16 peerfection Don't know if I buy
I'm glad you are all having a blast with the game. I just have to sa this, so please indulge me on my little rant. I'm on the fence if I should buy this game. I love hack n slashs, love diablo, love poe. This game looks awesome and I would love to join you all.
But 70€/$ and an ingame shop? I just don't know.. this can't be the standards we are having. I get that the reviews are great because the game is, I'm happy this seems to be as awesome as we all hoped for, especially after the immortal-disaster. But should we really just go ahead and shove our hard earned money into blizzards throat to have the opportunity to buy a transmog for 28€/$? I mean, poe does the same, but ggg finances their game with this system.. and that game is free.
I don't want to spoil the game for you, we are all adults and make our own decisions (hopefully). Just had to get this off my chest. Have fun with the grind.
submitted by peerfection to diablo4 [link] [comments]
But 70€/$ and an ingame shop? I just don't know.. this can't be the standards we are having. I get that the reviews are great because the game is, I'm happy this seems to be as awesome as we all hoped for, especially after the immortal-disaster. But should we really just go ahead and shove our hard earned money into blizzards throat to have the opportunity to buy a transmog for 28€/$? I mean, poe does the same, but ggg finances their game with this system.. and that game is free.
I don't want to spoil the game for you, we are all adults and make our own decisions (hopefully). Just had to get this off my chest. Have fun with the grind.
2023.06.03 22:02 MustardGerm76 Dial of Destiny doesn’t need to be much
Stop complaint about the unreleased movie. Stop looking at the reviews. Dial of Destiny just needs to be a movie with Harrison Ford as Indy on his last adventure. It doesn’t need a detailed plot. It just needs a McGuffin device and an adventure. If it has those two things then we should be happy. Don’t overthink or be overly critical. Just enjoy the final adventure.
submitted by MustardGerm76 to indianajones [link] [comments]
2023.06.03 22:00 annoyedBaboon64592 The Pros and Cons of CyberGhost VPN: A Personal Review
Hello Reddit, today I'm going to tell you about my experience with CyberGhost VPN, which I have been using for more than two months. I chose CyberGhost VPN because I wanted a low-cost and dependable VPN service that could unblock all the streaming services I wanted to watch. I also wanted a VPN that could safeguard my online privacy and security.
I can honestly say that CyberGhost VPN has met all my expectations and more. It has over 6,000 servers in 88 countries, which means I can access any website or streaming service I want, regardless of my location. I have enjoyed Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and more without any lag or geo-blocks. I have also downloaded some torrents using the specialized P2P servers and I was amazed by the speed and security.
One of the things I appreciate about CyberGhost VPN is that it has many additional security features that I can adjust according to my preferences. For example, I can activate a kill switch, an ad blocker, a malware scanner, a data compression tool and more. CyberGhost VPN also uses 256-bit encryption and has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified and confirmed by an independent company.
CyberGhost VPN is very user-friendly and has native apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and even some smart TVs. I have installed it on my laptop, phone and TV and I can use it on up to seven devices simultaneously with one account. CyberGhost VPN also has 24/7 customer support via live chat or email, which is very useful if you have any queries or problems.
CyberGhost VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is one of the longest in the industry. You can try it risk-free and see if it suits you. If you are not happy, you can get a full refund within that period. CyberGhost VPN also has very affordable pricing plans that start from $2.11 per month if you sign up for two years.
In summary, I think CyberGhost VPN is a great option for anyone who wants a low-cost, fast and easy-to-use VPN service in 2023. It has a huge server network, excellent streaming and torrenting support, advanced security features and a generous money-back guarantee. You can learn more about CyberGhost VPN by visiting its website or reading other reviews.
I hope this review was useful for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them below.
Also you can check their subreddit on CyberGhost
Thanks for reading!
submitted by annoyedBaboon64592 to vpnrecommendations [link] [comments]
I can honestly say that CyberGhost VPN has met all my expectations and more. It has over 6,000 servers in 88 countries, which means I can access any website or streaming service I want, regardless of my location. I have enjoyed Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and more without any lag or geo-blocks. I have also downloaded some torrents using the specialized P2P servers and I was amazed by the speed and security.
One of the things I appreciate about CyberGhost VPN is that it has many additional security features that I can adjust according to my preferences. For example, I can activate a kill switch, an ad blocker, a malware scanner, a data compression tool and more. CyberGhost VPN also uses 256-bit encryption and has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified and confirmed by an independent company.
CyberGhost VPN is very user-friendly and has native apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux and even some smart TVs. I have installed it on my laptop, phone and TV and I can use it on up to seven devices simultaneously with one account. CyberGhost VPN also has 24/7 customer support via live chat or email, which is very useful if you have any queries or problems.
CyberGhost VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is one of the longest in the industry. You can try it risk-free and see if it suits you. If you are not happy, you can get a full refund within that period. CyberGhost VPN also has very affordable pricing plans that start from $2.11 per month if you sign up for two years.
In summary, I think CyberGhost VPN is a great option for anyone who wants a low-cost, fast and easy-to-use VPN service in 2023. It has a huge server network, excellent streaming and torrenting support, advanced security features and a generous money-back guarantee. You can learn more about CyberGhost VPN by visiting its website or reading other reviews.
I hope this review was useful for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them below.
Also you can check their subreddit on CyberGhost
Thanks for reading!
2023.06.03 21:35 CowTipper4Life not getting the achievement?
 | submitted by CowTipper4Life to BitLifeApp [link] [comments] |
2023.06.03 21:29 Activelybored Thoughts on Onsra Black Carve 3?
I’ve been shopping around for a new board for a while and ultimately decided to order the Onsra Black Carve 3 (hasn’t arrived yet). Would anyone who’s had experience with that specific board or the company generally share their thoughts?
I ask because I’ve seen mixed reviews of Onsra online. Some people say it’s a scam while other reputable sources (Daniel Kwan) say it’s one of the best eskate companies out there. I want to make sure I’m not buying a low quality board when I could cancel the order and pay a bit more for something like a Lacroix Barrel.
I went with this board for the following main reasons - the ride quality/carving combined with stability, the torque/acceleration, the remote, and the warranty. While I wouldn’t mind having a bit more speed, so long as I can hit 28+ mph and handle San Francisco hills at 210lbs, I’ll be happy. Ride quality and speed curve are the most important things to me.
I’ve looked at a bunch of other boards like backfire zealot s2/x and exway flex pro but was turned off by the quality assurance issues I’ve seen reported and other AT boards didn’t seem to have the skateboard feel that I like as much as the BC3. Additionally, I ride hard and am a bigger dude so the warranty was also attractive.
submitted by Activelybored to ElectricSkateboarding [link] [comments]
I ask because I’ve seen mixed reviews of Onsra online. Some people say it’s a scam while other reputable sources (Daniel Kwan) say it’s one of the best eskate companies out there. I want to make sure I’m not buying a low quality board when I could cancel the order and pay a bit more for something like a Lacroix Barrel.
I went with this board for the following main reasons - the ride quality/carving combined with stability, the torque/acceleration, the remote, and the warranty. While I wouldn’t mind having a bit more speed, so long as I can hit 28+ mph and handle San Francisco hills at 210lbs, I’ll be happy. Ride quality and speed curve are the most important things to me.
I’ve looked at a bunch of other boards like backfire zealot s2/x and exway flex pro but was turned off by the quality assurance issues I’ve seen reported and other AT boards didn’t seem to have the skateboard feel that I like as much as the BC3. Additionally, I ride hard and am a bigger dude so the warranty was also attractive.
2023.06.03 21:25 thisisharis Anyone experienced going through Arbitration as an employee?
I was working for a startup as an independent contractor (fractional CFO) on a part time basis for 3 months. I was not paid month 1, but being in the startup world I understood and didn't think anything of it. The second month I was told that they would be getting funding soon, and will make payroll then. Due to my naiveness and overly giving the benefit of the doubt to this person (the CEO) it kept dragging on month over month and now it's been almost SIX months and I have finally realized that no level of understanding from my end would change their mind and excuses for not paying me.
They do not deny that they owe me, the contract is pretty black and white (had lawyers review it too) and I have messages/emails from them as well saying that they'll pay me this month, then the next month, I performed really well, helped them a lot etc. But now finally I spoke to another lawyer and there is an arbitration clause in the contract so we will be filing for arbitration (in Delaware) and believe can not just outright sue.
I am somewhat nervous about the arbitration process since I know it favors employers but also about how long it might take even though it might be pretty straightforward. I am currently getting my MBA and was really banking on this money coming in ($30K) to get me through some courses. It could affect my future plans, has definitely been causing me stress and emotional ups and downs, as I see my savings dwindling down. The lawyer said I should ask for more due to them refusing to pay me without cause, the emotional suffering etc. and while I'm indifferent on that, I really do want the lawyers fee to be covered at least because this is so insane that I have to spend money to RIGHTFULLY get my own money.
The company does have 30+ employees and everyone is getting paid on time, it's a relatively well-known company and even the multiple law firms I spoke with are really confused as to why they're refusing to pay (or delaying payment... it's nuts!)
Anyways, does anyone have any experience with this process or this situation? I really hope it doesn't take too long otherwise I will literally have to start taking out personal loans and explore other avenues.
Feel free to message me in private if you want to ask something specific, otherwise happy to share some more details and get some suggestions from folks here. Thanks in advance!
submitted by thisisharis to startups [link] [comments]
They do not deny that they owe me, the contract is pretty black and white (had lawyers review it too) and I have messages/emails from them as well saying that they'll pay me this month, then the next month, I performed really well, helped them a lot etc. But now finally I spoke to another lawyer and there is an arbitration clause in the contract so we will be filing for arbitration (in Delaware) and believe can not just outright sue.
I am somewhat nervous about the arbitration process since I know it favors employers but also about how long it might take even though it might be pretty straightforward. I am currently getting my MBA and was really banking on this money coming in ($30K) to get me through some courses. It could affect my future plans, has definitely been causing me stress and emotional ups and downs, as I see my savings dwindling down. The lawyer said I should ask for more due to them refusing to pay me without cause, the emotional suffering etc. and while I'm indifferent on that, I really do want the lawyers fee to be covered at least because this is so insane that I have to spend money to RIGHTFULLY get my own money.
The company does have 30+ employees and everyone is getting paid on time, it's a relatively well-known company and even the multiple law firms I spoke with are really confused as to why they're refusing to pay (or delaying payment... it's nuts!)
Anyways, does anyone have any experience with this process or this situation? I really hope it doesn't take too long otherwise I will literally have to start taking out personal loans and explore other avenues.
Feel free to message me in private if you want to ask something specific, otherwise happy to share some more details and get some suggestions from folks here. Thanks in advance!
2023.06.03 21:14 Spicy_Tostada So... I used AI to create an 8-week NCLEX study plan, thoughts?
***As a disclaimer, it is IMPORTANT that if you use AI, you also verify the information, especially if it's something you know very little about.***
Hi all,
I am an ABSN student preparing to graduate (in August) and will be taking the NCLEX at some point. As I prepare to begin studying, I've struggled with where to start, how to organize topics, when I should focus on specific topics, etc., and I am almost certain I am not alone in that regard. I'm not sure what prompted me to try this, but I did, and asked AI to create an 8-week NCLEX study plan.
What are y'alls thoughts on what was generated? Do you see anything that jumps out as a red flag that either may not be accurate information or any topics where content should be added? What about the flow of it, does it make sense? The beauty of AI is that I can expand upon what it already has generated and ask it to develop more specific information, for example, for pharmacology, I asked it to create a detailed list of commonly tested medications to focus on. For now, I am going to post the version it initially generated along with the medications to focus on. Based on any suggestions or information folks make comments about, I can go back and ask follow-up questions to expand upon/add to what is already there. If this ends up being well received, I am more than happy to compile it into a Google document and post it for anyone to access. If it isn't well received and folks think it will do more harm than good having it, I will happily delete it. Just as a heads up, I haven't edited anything that was included in what the AI generated. Here it is:
submitted by Spicy_Tostada to StudentNurse [link] [comments]
Hi all,
I am an ABSN student preparing to graduate (in August) and will be taking the NCLEX at some point. As I prepare to begin studying, I've struggled with where to start, how to organize topics, when I should focus on specific topics, etc., and I am almost certain I am not alone in that regard. I'm not sure what prompted me to try this, but I did, and asked AI to create an 8-week NCLEX study plan.
What are y'alls thoughts on what was generated? Do you see anything that jumps out as a red flag that either may not be accurate information or any topics where content should be added? What about the flow of it, does it make sense? The beauty of AI is that I can expand upon what it already has generated and ask it to develop more specific information, for example, for pharmacology, I asked it to create a detailed list of commonly tested medications to focus on. For now, I am going to post the version it initially generated along with the medications to focus on. Based on any suggestions or information folks make comments about, I can go back and ask follow-up questions to expand upon/add to what is already there. If this ends up being well received, I am more than happy to compile it into a Google document and post it for anyone to access. If it isn't well received and folks think it will do more harm than good having it, I will happily delete it. Just as a heads up, I haven't edited anything that was included in what the AI generated. Here it is:
- Week 1:
- Spend the first week reviewing and understanding the format and structure of NCLEX. Familiarize yourself with the test’s sections, timing, and question types.
- Go through practice tests from previous years to get a feel for the exam.
- Review the anatomy and physiology content. Focus on body systems and their functions. Use approved nursing textbooks for each system.
- Week 2:
- Review pharmacology content. Identify the purpose, side effects and other detail about commonly used drugs.
- 1. Anticoagulants: Heparin, Warfarin, Lovenox, Aspirin.
- 2. Antihypertensives: ACE inhibitors- Lisinopril, Enalapril/ Angiotensin receptors blockers- Losartan, Olmesartan/ Beta-blockers- Carvedilol, Metoprolol.
- 3. Antiarrhythmics: Amiodarone, Digoxin, Adenosine, Verapamil.
- 4. Antibiotics: Penicillin, Vancomycin, Cephalexin, Azithromycin.
- 5. Antidepressants: SSRIs- Fluoxetine, Sertraline/ Tricyclic antidepressants- Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline/ MAOIs- Phenelzine, Selegiline.
- 6. Antipsychotics: Atypical- Olanzapine, Risperidone/ Typical/ First-generation- Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol.
- 7. Bronchodilators: Albuterol, Ipratropium, Theophylline.
- 8. Insulin: Regular Insulin, NPH Insulin, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart.
- 9. Pain Medications: NSAIDs- Ibuprofen, Naproxen/ Opioids- Morphine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone.
- 10. Sedatives: Benzodiazepines - Lorazepam, Diazepam/ Barbiturates- Phenobarbital.
- Focus on infection control. Understand Standard Precautions, when to use Personal Protective Equipment, and how to clean and sanitize equipment.
- Go through diagnostic tests and procedures. Understand the tests' purpose, nursing responsibilities and possible complications associated with the tests.
- Review pharmacology content. Identify the purpose, side effects and other detail about commonly used drugs.
- Week 3:
- Review the nursing process and nursing procedures. Identify key nursing interventions and expected outcomes.
- Familiarize yourself with patient safety issues, including fall prevention, suicide prevention, and wound care.
- Watch online videos and review nursing case studies.
- Week 4:
- Study communication skills. The test is likely to include multiple-choice questions that measure your skills in therapeutic communication, therefore, prepare to practice communication skills.
- Practice prioritizing patient needs by reading nursing scenarios and questions to better understand how to prioritize concerns.
- Review pathophysiology content, describing the breakdown of function for different body systems.
- Week 5:
- Cover nursing protocols and nursing interventions, with particular emphasis on emergency-specific procedures.
- Review the legal and ethical aspects of nursing, covering HIPAA, informed consent, and end-of-life care.
- Take two detailed practice tests.
- Week 6:
- Prepare for pediatric nursing. Identify the differences between pediatric and adult nursing. Study child growth and development, associations of pediatrics illness or conditions and treatment options.
- Study obstetrics and gynecology. Identify the different types of delivery and their possible complications and interventions.
- Week 7:
- Focus on gerontology. Study the appropriate care of the elderly, various end-of-life scenarios, and pain management.
- Review psychiatric nursing and the different care settings. Identify various drug choices for different psychiatric conditions.
- Take two comprehensive practice tests.
- Week 8:
- Finalize the review of the major content areas, identify areas that need improvement, and clarify essential details.
- Go through questions specifically designed to prepare for the NCLEX.
- Practice with a review book with practice questions and detailed rationale of correct and incorrect answers.
- Take two last-minute practice tests a few days before the exam.
2023.06.03 21:07 try_a_place ❤️ City Nail Spa in Memphis, TN 38134 Try best nail salons in Tennessee
 | submitted by try_a_place to u/try_a_place [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/q5521g5xpu3b1.png?width=870&format=png&auto=webp&s=95f31dcd93ba28443d89354e6b6321d00c39eb6a ❤️ City Nail Spa in Memphis, Tennessee 38134, United States with ⏰ hours, address, map, directions, prices, photos, ☎️ phone, reviews…One of the best nail salons in Tennessee. Have you ever been to this beauty salon? If you haven’t gone yet, you should check it out! About City Nail Spa in Memphis, TN 38134Located in: Shelby CrossingIf you live in Memphis, Tennessee, and are looking for a nail salon, you might want to check out City Nail Spa. This salon has been around for years and is known for its good service and friendly staff. City Nail Spa can give you a manicure, a pedicure, gel polish, or nail art, and more… ❤️You can experience happiness by going to City Nail Spa 38134, which is located ⭐at 6198 Macon Rd, Memphis, TN 38134.✅ There is the address of the business. If anything about the address, phone number, website, or fan page is wrong or has changed, please let us know… Tell us to make sure everyone knows about this favorite place. Have a good time! https://preview.redd.it/l6coilxxpu3b1.png?width=714&format=png&auto=webp&s=8855a003ca82fe15aea92e8c6ec80cb9ecc31e09 Beauty lovers also search: nail salons 38134, nail salons in Memphis, nail salons in Tennessee, best nail salons in Memphis, best nail salons in Tennessee, best nail salon marketing services in Memphis, best nail salon marketing services in Tennessee – If you don’t try, you’ll never know where the best places near you are! Please like our posts, comment on them and share them. Keep in touch with us through our Facebook Fanpage, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, and LinkedIn…to get the latest news, especially about discounts and coupons for services near you. Source: Google Business Profile Facebook Instagram Yelp. |