9am central time

Peer-to-peer (P2P) trading is a decentralized way of exchanging goods, services, or assets between two individuals or parties, without the need for intermediaries or central authorities. In the context of financial markets, P2P trading refers to the direct exchange of cryptocurrencies or other digital assets between buyers and sellers, facilitated by online platforms or marketplaces.
If you're new to P2P trading, it can be an intimidating and complex world to navigate. However, with some basic knowledge and guidance, anyone can learn how to participate in P2P trading and potentially reap the benefits of this emerging market.
In this article, we will provide a beginner's guide to P2P trading, covering the following topics:
How P2P trading works: We will explain the basic mechanics of P2P trading, including how buyers and sellers connect, how transactions are conducted, and how assets are transferred and secured. The benefits of P2P trading: We will explore the advantages of P2P trading compared to centralized exchanges, such as greater privacy, lower fees, and faster transaction times. The risks of P2P trading: We will also highlight some of the risks and challenges associated with P2P trading, including the potential for fraud, scams, and security breaches. How to get started with P2P trading: We will provide step-by-step instructions on how to get started with P2P trading, including how to choose a P2P trading platform, create an account, and conduct transactions safely and securely. Tips for successful P2P trading: Finally, we will offer some tips and best practices for successful P2P trading, such as conducting thorough research, setting realistic expectations, and diversifying your portfolio. By the end of this article, readers should have a better understanding of P2P trading and feel more confident in their ability to participate in this exciting and growing market.

Is a cortisol level of 1100 nmol/l a real concern?
I am 31(F), 162cm and 92-98kg (keeps fluctuating).
4 weeks ago my doctor ordered a cortisol blood test because I have a fatty hump on my neck as well as central obesity, severe fatigue, stretch marks and excess facial and body hair. It came back as 1099nmol/l and she referred me to an endocrinologist right away.
Unfortunately the next week we discovered that I have what is very highly likely thyroid cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes. So I was referred to oncology who then referred me to a different endocrinologist in the same public health system but at a different hospital(I am in Australia).
I went to the first endocrinologist (with my suspected Cushings referral) yesterday expecting to just talk about my cortisol levels and possible Cushings Disease and he basically brushed it off saying that my thyroid cancer was more important. He also said my birth control pill and stress could be the cause of the high cortisol levels but he wont bother doing further tests!
Today I went to the second endocrinologist (with my thyroid cancer referral) who said I didn’t need to be there because I had already seen the first one. How confusing and waste of time. She didn’t give me a chance to ask any questions and insisted that I do what the first one said (FNA and bloods for my thyroid cancer).
What do you all think about this? Should I push for further testing regarding my high cortisol or should I be just focusing on my thyroid cancer for now?

Is a trip to Vice City in your near future? There have been many Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) leaks over the last few years, but the most recent suggests that players will return to a classic GTA location. Rumor has it that Grand Theft Auto VI may take place in Vice City.
This particular rumor started through the usual sources -- Twitter and Reddit. Twitter user Vector Hold, also known as Peter Brian Rice, claimed that Rockstar Games’ music rights representatives have been contacting Synthwave artists. Rice is a synthwave artist himself and has reportedly heard this information from fellow musicians. Rockstar Games hopes that the artists will contribute music for a radio station in the upcoming game. The tweet was posted earlier this week, but Rice has since deleted it.
There was also a reddit post that was created several months ago by user “markothemexicam.” The user claimed that their information was from their roommate. The roommate supposedly formerly worked for Rockstar North. They contended that GTA 6 will be set during an “unspecified” time in Vice City. This post has also been deleted, but has been saved elsewhere on the internet.
It would be tempting to discredit this reddit post as these kinds of claims are a dime a dozen on the Internet. However, another GTA leaker also recently suggested that GTA 6 would be set in a location familiar to players. Both markothemexicam and the GTA leaker have a fairly decent track record with regards to GTA predictions.
Other information on the internet suggests that the storyline of GTA 6 will be focused on drug smuggling. Players will reportedly travel between Vice City and Central or South America. This theory was originally suggested by YouTube channel “The Know” and has since gained quite a bit of popularity.
grand theft auto vice city 2
It is important to keep in mind that all of this information is simply speculation. There have been plenty of fake GTA 6 rumors in the past. For example, a Twitch channel called "GTAVI" appeared this past spring. The channel promised it would provide information about the game during a livestream on April 1st. However, this channel turned out to be an elaborate April Fools’ prank.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. It was the best-selling game of 2002 and received a number of awards. 17.5 million copies of the game have been sold and it has now been ported to several other platforms. It is easy to see why so many players would be thrilled to return to Vice City. Unfortunately, we will know nothing for certain until Rockstar Games decides to make a formal announcement.

Greetings! We are researchers/scholars of Philippine Science High School Central-Visayas Campus and we are looking for respondents!
We are currently conducting a research study entitled “Masterpiece: The Controversial Blockbuster Hit of Filipino Director Darryl Yap, Maid in Malacañang." We are in search of potential survey participants who have watched the movie, and we would greatly appreciate your responses. Our respondents must be 18 years old or up.
Here is the link for our research survey: https://forms.gle/mebBUWhY7w892tzi9
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards, The Researchers.

Hello friends! First of all, I’m learning so many things from this sub. My mom (53) and I (27) will be visiting flying in next week. This will be our first time in Italy. Would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Day 1: Arrive noon. Check-in. Chill. Walking night tour for intro of Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Capitol Hill, and Colosseum.
Day 2 (Good Friday): 7am Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s tour. Travestere in the afternoon.
Day 3: 9am Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill tour. Lunch. Borghese Gallery in the afternoon.
Day 4: Easter Sunday mass at Vatican. Afternoon maybe the catacombs.
Day 5: Travel to Cinque Terre. Check in at Monterosso; chill at the beach. Maranola for sunset and dinner.
Day 6: Hike from Monterosso to Vernaza. Sunset and dinner at Riomagorre.
Day 7: Travel to Florence. Chill. Renaissance walk in late afternoon.
Day 8: Duomo climb at 8:45. Spend the morning to explore the rest of the complex. Late afternoon at Accademia Gallery
Day 9: Uffizi first thing in the morning. Wine group tour in Chianti and Montefioralle in the afternoon ‘til evening
Day 10: Day trip to Siena
Day 11: Free day Florence. Want to be flexible here but thinking maybe Santa Croce and Palazzo Vecchio. Travel evening to Assisi.
Day 12: Assisi
Day 13: Perugia
Day 14: Still free actually. Maybe Spoleto?
Day 15: Orvieto; then back to Rome for late evening flight home
Rome I understand will be chaotic since it’s the Easter holidays, but my mom really wants to attend the Pope’s Sunday mass. We really don’t want to cram a lot of stuff and want some gaps in the itinerary for some spontaneity. We want a relaxed last couple of days hence the decision to spend it in Umbria.

Is a trip to Vice City in your near future? There have been many Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) leaks over the last few years, but the most recent suggests that players will return to a classic GTA location. Rumor has it that Grand Theft Auto VI may take place in Vice City.
This particular rumor started through the usual sources -- Twitter and Reddit. Twitter user Vector Hold, also known as Peter Brian Rice, claimed that Rockstar Games’ music rights representatives have been contacting Synthwave artists. Rice is a synthwave artist himself and has reportedly heard this information from fellow musicians. Rockstar Games hopes that the artists will contribute music for a radio station in the upcoming game. The tweet was posted earlier this week, but Rice has since deleted it.
There was also a reddit post that was created several months ago by user “markothemexicam.” The user claimed that their information was from their roommate. The roommate supposedly formerly worked for Rockstar North. They contended that GTA 6 will be set during an “unspecified” time in Vice City. This post has also been deleted, but has been saved elsewhere on the internet.
It would be tempting to discredit this reddit post as these kinds of claims are a dime a dozen on the Internet. However, another GTA leaker also recently suggested that GTA 6 would be set in a location familiar to players. Both markothemexicam and the GTA leaker have a fairly decent track record with regards to GTA predictions.
Other information on the internet suggests that the storyline of GTA 6 will be focused on drug smuggling. Players will reportedly travel between Vice City and Central or South America. This theory was originally suggested by YouTube channel “The Know” and has since gained quite a bit of popularity.
grand theft auto vice city 2
It is important to keep in mind that all of this information is simply speculation. There have been plenty of fake GTA 6 rumors in the past. For example, a Twitch channel called "GTAVI" appeared this past spring. The channel promised it would provide information about the game during a livestream on April 1st. However, this channel turned out to be an elaborate April Fools’ prank.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. It was the best-selling game of 2002 and received a number of awards. 17.5 million copies of the game have been sold and it has now been ported to several other platforms. It is easy to see why so many players would be thrilled to return to Vice City. Unfortunately, we will know nothing for certain until Rockstar Games decides to make a formal announcement.

Once you enter the share market, you will realize that in share trading, a plethora of financial terms and jargon are used, and one such term is liquidity. So, what is liquidity? If you aren’t familiar with this term, don’t fret because this article will give you a deep insight into the stock exchange market and the play of liquidity in it.
In simple terms, the ease with which an asset is purchased and sold at a sustained price is called liquidity because when there is a balance of demand and supply, sales and purchases can only occur. The supply will be less if the number of buyers is less than the number of sellers, and likewise, demand will be insufficient if the number of sellers is more than buyers.
The proportions to which a particular asset is purchased or traded in the share market trading at a specific price, representing its underlying worth, is termed liquidity. Understanding this term plays a significant role in share market investment. To get a better grasp of it, here are two of its primary indicators –

1. Market liquidity

Market liquidity is a critical component of the stock market investment and trading landscape. In simple terms, liquidity refers to the ease with which shares can be bought or sold in the share stock market. When there is high market liquidity, it means investors can quickly and easily buy or sell their shares without having to worry about the availability of buyers or sellers.
Liquidity is essential for stock market trading because it enables investors to enter and exit positions quickly, which can be critical in volatile market conditions. Without sufficient liquidity, investors may struggle to buy or sell shares at the price they want, resulting in significant losses.
Moreover, market liquidity is crucial for stock market investment because it allows investors to access various investment opportunities. When there is high market liquidity, it means that there are more shares available for purchase, which can provide investors with a diverse range of options to choose from.
Therefore, investors looking for investment in share market should pay close attention to market liquidity. They should look for shares with high liquidity, which can give them the flexibility and control they need to manage their investments effectively.
Overall, market liquidity is a critical factor that should be considered by anyone interested in stock market trading or investment. By focusing on shares with high liquidity, investors can ensure they have access to a wide range of investment opportunities and can enter and exit positions quickly and efficiently.

2. Accounting liquidity

Accounting liquidity refers to the ability of a company to meet its short-term financial obligations using its available cash and other assets that can be easily converted into cash. This is important because lacking liquidity can lead to financial distress and potential bankruptcy.
For example, a stock market advisor may assess a company’s liquidity by analyzing its cash position and the ease with which it can convert its stock and shares into cash. They may also consider liquidity risk, which refers to the possibility that a company may not be able to meet its obligations when they become due.
To ensure adequate liquidity, companies may maintain a statutory liquid ratio, a regulatory requirement specifying the minimum amount of liquid assets that a company must hold. This helps to ensure that companies can meet their short-term obligations even during financial stress.
Accounting liquidity is an important concept closely monitored by stock market advisors, who assess a company’s ability to meet its obligations and manage liquidity risk. This is achieved through various financial metrics, such as the statutory liquid ratio, which helps companies meet their obligations and remain financially stable.
These two are the primary indicators of liquidity. Now we will take an in-depth look into what liquidity ratio is concerning the stock market, why it is an essential tool for the trading market, and what makes it crucial for ascertaining how the trading might function in the share market.

What is liquidity in the share market?

In the context of the stock market, liquidity refers to the ability of a stock to be easily bought or sold without significantly affecting its price. A highly liquid stock is easy to trade, meaning many buyers and sellers are actively trading the stock at any given time, and transactions can be completed quickly at a relatively low cost.
The liquidity of a stock is influenced by various factors: The number of shares outstanding, the level of trading activity, the market capitalization of the company, and the availability of information about the company and its financial performance. Generally, larger and more established companies tend to have higher levels of liquidity, as they are more widely followed by investors and have greater trading volume.
In contrast, small or lesser-known companies may have lower liquidity levels, as fewer investors may actively trade their stock. This can make it more difficult for investors to buy or sell shares in these companies, particularly if they want to trade large volumes of stock or execute trades quickly.
The liquidity of a stock is important for several reasons. For investors, high liquidity can mean lower transaction costs, as there is generally less of a bid-ask spread (the difference between the price at which buyers are willing to buy and sellers are willing to sell) and lower trading fees. Additionally, high liquidity can help reduce the risk of volatility, as there are generally more buyers and sellers in the market, making it less likely that any trade will significantly impact the stock price.
For companies, high liquidity can help attract investors and support the overall health of the stock market. Highly liquid companies may be more attractive to institutional investors, who may be looking to invest large sums of money in the market. They can help to support the overall level of trading activity and liquidity in the market.
Having grasped the meaning of liquidity in the stock market, it’s essential to comprehend the significance of this concept. Market liquidity is crucial as it determines the speed and ease of entering or exiting trades when there are enough buyers and sellers. A liquid market makes it more effortless to purchase or sell assets. These are just a couple of essential key points. In the next segment of the article, you shall get an in-depth perspective on the importance of marketing liquidity concerning Indian markets.

What is the importance of market liquidity concerning Indian markets?

Market liquidity refers to the ability of market participants to buy and sell assets quickly and at a fair price. It is essential for the smooth functioning of financial markets, as it allows investors to easily convert their assets into cash without significantly impacting their value. Market liquidity also helps to reduce the risk of market volatility and promotes overall market efficiency.
The importance of market liquidity can be seen in various aspects of financial markets. For instance, in the equity market, high liquidity allows investors to buy and sell shares easily and quickly, which helps to determine the true value of a stock. Similarly, in the bond market, liquidity ensures that investors can sell their bonds before maturity if they need to raise funds, providing flexibility.
Liquidity is crucial in the foreign exchange market as it allows market participants to easily buy and sell currencies without significantly affecting the exchange rate. It also helps reduce currency fluctuations risk and promotes global trade.
In addition, market liquidity plays a crucial role in monetary policy. In which year liquidity adjustment facility was introduced by RBI? The Reserve Bank of India introduced the liquidity adjustment facility in 2000 to manage liquidity in the banking system. This facility allows banks to borrow money from the RBI in case of a shortage of funds or lend money to the RBI in case of excess funds, thereby helping to maintain the overall liquidity in the system.
Market liquidity is crucial for financial markets’ smooth functioning and promoting overall market efficiency and stability. It allows investors to easily convert their assets into cash and reduces the risk of market volatility. Central banks have managed liquidity effectively and ensured financial market stability by introducing various measures, such as the liquidity adjustment facility.
Liquidity is a crucial aspect of the stock market that allows investors to easily buy and sell securities without significantly affecting their prices. Understanding liquidity is essential for investors who want to make informed decisions about their investments in the stock exchange market.
Fortunately, Logical Nivesh is a financial literacy company that can help you learn share market concepts, including liquidity, through their exclusive courses on the stock market. Their courses provide in-depth insights into the workings of the stock market and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed investment decisions.
Their courses cover many topics, including stock market fundamentals, technical analysis, risk management, etc. Their expert trainers have years of experience in the stock market and can provide you with valuable insights into the market’s workings.
In today’s fast-paced financial world, understanding the stock market is more important than ever. Their courses provide an excellent opportunity for investors to improve their financial literacy and make informed investment decisions. So, if you want to learn more about the stock market and how it works, check out Logical Nivesh’s courses today!

I read this series back in 2011 or so. There are two siblings, a boy and a girl, who are on a spaceship full of children headed for an alien world. I’m pretty sure there are no adults on the spaceship, though I don’t remember why. The world is made up of three concentric rings that surround a black hole or wormhole. The kids have been sent there because it’s a very prosperous world, but the deal is that they have to work for aliens who already live there for many years before they can become citizens and actually benefit from the wealth. There are a large number of alien species on the rings, but there is one “native” species that serve some sort of custodial or governing role and have a very plot relevant religious order.
The boy and girl both have rare powers. The boy is a technopath. I think that this is discovered on the ship, but if not it becomes obvious to everyone when they arrive on the world and he doesn’t need a brain implant to communicate with machinery(everyone who goes to this world gets one). I think that the girl’s telepathy is discovered at a later point, maybe not even in the first book. There’s paranoia about telepaths on the ring worlds and she’s forced to wear a device to suppress her abilities. The device is some sort of metal band over her head with an amber jewel in the middle.
The siblings bounce around between owners who they’re forced to work for for set periods of time. At one point their owner is actually a friendly human who’s worked his way up to becoming a citizen, but he gets assassinated by some sort of parasitic agent. They try curing him by suspending him in a fluid vat with metal wires poking into his body to draw out the parasites, but it doesn’t work. Eventually the girl becomes a sort of messiah figure due to a prophecy central to the religious order that all the native aliens are a part of. The boy becomes part of some group of interstellar guardians who all have the same technopathic powers he does. They use their powers to control devices that let them teleport. The story ends with the girl being teleported away by some alien so she can fulfill her religious role across the galaxy while her brother swears to find her.

When people talk about CONCACAF region, they only remember two most prominent names: Mexico and the United States, though the former is far more prominent than the latter. Mexico is the biggest and most powerful of the CONCACAF, and it is, so far, the only country from this part to have won any major FIFA men's competition, both in under-17 World Cup and the defunct Confederations Cup, as well as the Olympics. The United States, on the other hand, is only emerging.
But what if I mention about another nation that is deemed as a forgotten powerhouse of North America that people may not realise? Well, in the case, the forgotten powerhouse is Costa Rica, the country in the middle of Central America.
Costa Rica's fascinating football rise is largely shielded by widespread ignorance toward this country. With only five million people, a quite small population, Costa Rica had quite been viewed irrelevant by football fans from across the world for a long time. The country's top league, the Primera Division, founded in 1921, was for a long time run in a part-time basis, despite widepsread support for football in the country.
However, when Velibor Milutinovic, the man who coached Mexico back in 1986 World Cup, was hired as coach of Costa Rica, the Central American nation's football fortunes began to improve. Costa Rica qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where they shocked everyone by defeating Scotland and Sweden to progress to the knockout stage in their just maiden appearance. Unfortunately, due to the amateur status of Costa Rican footballers, the team could not weaponise from the initial success and missed out the 1994 and 1998 tournaments.
After failing to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Costa Rican football officials decided to go full professionalism with the establishment of UNAFUT) (Union de Clubes de Futbol) in 1999. Since then, Costa Rica has been consistent at qualifying for World Cups, missing only the 2010 edition because of the playoffs against Uruguay, and during that span, Costa Rica even reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with an unthinkable performance, topping the group of death ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England - three former world champions, and only lost to the Netherlands on penalties. Though Costa Rica failed to repeat that feat in 2018 and 2022, the Costa Ricans nonetheless caused significant hardship to their opponents in process, such as Brazil's hard fought 2-0 win in 2018, or the shock win over eventual group winner Japan and their surprisingly strong resistance against Germany in 2022 edition, despite the backdrop left behind from its humiliating 0-7 loss to Spain.
In fact, Costa Rica today is widely recognised by fans as the only Central American national team that has the capability to compete against the likes of the best in the world, and the only Central American team that football giants have a significant worry to think of. When you can make Brazil, Germany and Argentina to even think of you, that mean you have become a recognisable face of the beautiful game.
I think both of us are left puzzled about how does Costa Rica, a small Central American nation with only 5 million inhabitants, manage to become so competitive, so capable of producing talented footballers each year, and, if we go a little romantic, somehow become the Croatia of the Americas, given the similarly small territorial size and small population between Costa Rica and the Balkan nation? What ingredients that trigger Costa Rica's football boom and its ability to produce talented footballers like Keylor Navas or Joel Campbell?

Link: https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/365351/tales-from-the-yawning-portal-group-name-pending Game: D&D 5e Group type: Online (Roll20) Experience: Beginers Welcome Location/Timezone: See the Roll20 game listing in the link above for the time in your distinct timezone, North, South and Central America it will be late night/evening on Wednesday. For those in East Asia and Australia it will be in the morning on Thursday. Schedule: Weekly Roles sought: 4 more players (at least 1 more to start) Price: $25 USD for a 4 hour session via PayPal.
Welcome to the dungeon crawl extravaganza, heroes of the realms! We are just starting our adventure. We will soon dive into "The Sunless Citadel" the first adventure in this series! There is a long journey ahead!
Tales from the Yawning Portal will be a campaign focused around some of the toughest and most dangerous dungeons to be released for Dungeons and Dragons! This campaign will lead you on amazing adventures from level 1 all the way to level 16-20 as you face off against a mighty lich as you seek out their phylacteries!
Time This will be a weekly campaign that will last about a year in total. Sessions will be 4 hours long. Sessions will be held at the time listed in this listing. If you are using a VPN, your time might differ from the actual listing time, so please double check.
Communications Out of game communications will be handled via the Critical Tavern Discord server. In-game communication, voice and video, will be handled via Roll20. Video is optional, but you will need a microphone and an account on Discord to participate.
Payment This game will require payment to the Game Master at a rate of $25 per person per 4 hour session via PayPal. If you feel like supporting the Game Master further, this game allows tipping the Game Master at a rate of your choice. Roll20 is not responsible for any payment transactions and cannot enforce any private arrangements.
Safety Tools This game will use a few safety tools to help make the game a more enjoyable experience fro everyone!
Session zero: Session 0's are used to start the game, opening up with communication, setting expectations, and discussing any safety tools that will be used at the table. Everyone will get a free session zero regardless of when they start.
Lines and Veils: Lines and Veils set the boundaries of the games. Lines are hard limits for content the group doesn't want to participate in, this means that content will not be in game, referenced in game, or alluded to. Veils are soft limits, meaning that when the content arises it might be mentioned, but not described, or it could mean that when the content shows up, it results in a “fade-to-black”.
Open Door: Open-Door is an assurance that anyone in the group can take a break from the game for their own safety and well-being without judgment. This should be made clear to the group.
breaks: For long games or stressful content, having built-in breaks allows the group to stay focused and process content. This time can be used for bio breaks, conversation, or any other necessities. Anyone can take a break at any time, but there will also be a set ten minute break some time during the game so that we can all refresh.
Stars and Wishes: Stars and Wishes are used to reflect and discuss feedback in a positive way. Stars are used for things that participants enjoyed in the game. Wishes are things that participants would like to see in the future. Both players and the GM can express their stars and wishes to make the game better.
Safety tools will be further discussed in session zero and marked on the private game channel in the Discord server so that we can refer to them.
Content Warnings -Character Death -Violence -Language/Cursing -Blood -Drowning
Character Creation Details We are using D&D 5e rules. Characters will start at the same level as everyone else in the party. We can talk about what level that is in your session zero.
I will be sharing compendiums with players in my game for creating and leveling up your characters. This will include all first party books and a bunch of third party content. Third party content includes some books by Kobold's Press such as Tome of Heroes. If I have a compendium shared with you in game the content is allowed. All Tasha's optional Class features are allowed, and we will be using Tasha's Custom Species rules as well.
Stats are generated either by standard array or by rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest then assigning the values in the order you choose.
The campaign will run from level 1 to levels 16-20 and will be a mixture of leveling by experience and leveling by milestone.
Player Expectations: -I realize this campaign is designed for both new and experienced players, and will work to make sure everyone at the table has a good time, regardless of skill level. -I realize that life happens, and am able to communicate on a timely basis anything that may come up to cause me to miss a session. I will also be gracious to others in the group if they need to miss a session. -I will stay engaged while we are playing. -I will not be rude or disruptive. -I have a microphone with good sound quality and a stable internet connection. -I will download Discord for out-of-game discussion and communication.
DM Expectations: -I will be on time to games, every session. -I will communicate clearly and in a timely manner any schedule abnormalities or other issues. -I respect all players equally. -I will be thoroughly prepared for each session. -I will be fair in my rulings. -I will provide a high quality collaborative experience which entertains and challenges.
What the DM can bring to the table -Encyclopedic knowledge of this game system's rules. -Tools to help new players and newcomers to Roll20 to get acclimated to the game. -Community and Support: The Critical Tavern community is growing every day. Get connected with others online and make friends through TTRPGs and Discord. -Content Support: Lots of materials for Roll20 VTT and in-depth experience with API and macros. -Macro Support: I can write a macro for your character sheet at your request. -Character Support: I will work with the players to make sure that they have the tools to tell their characters' story. Setting individual goals and creating events to make a one of a kind experience for you. This includes character support outside of games by messaging. -Fast paced TTRPG gaming: Through the use of mods and other tricks I can keep the action going and make it so that you never wait more than a minute for your GM to finish their turn.
About Me My name is Eddie, I'm a pretty experienced GM. I've been playing 5e for 8 years now. Recently I've been branching out into playing other systems, but I keep coming back to 5e. I'm currently running 6 campaigns and weekly one shots. I'm a content creator on Roll20 and a Translator. My second language is Japanese. I've only only started DMing full time recently, but I hope I can give you the experience you are looking for.
DM Style It varies from game to game, but something that is consistant throughout all of my games is player choice and interactions matter. This game is going to focus heavily on the dungeon and the arcane nature of it. There will be a pretty good balance of combat, puzzling, challenge, exploration and approach scenarios for players to dive into as a group and a few extra suprises along the way.
I like to reward variablity in play and creative approach within the rules of the world. I engage players based on their wants and needs and try my best to facilitate their ideas. I want to let you guys do cool things with you characters and help you create your stories however they may play out.
Applications Please, submit your applications in the applications thread in the link at the top of this post.

Link: https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/365351/tales-from-the-yawning-portal-group-name-pending Game: D&D 5e Group type: Online (Roll20) Experience: Beginers Welcome Location/Timezone: See the Roll20 game listing in the link above for the time in your distinct timezone, North, South and Central America it will be late night/evening on Wednesday. For those in East Asia and Australia it will be in the morning on Thursday. Schedule: Weekly Roles sought: 4 more players (at least 1 more to start) Price: $25 USD for a 4 hour session via PayPal.
Welcome to the dungeon crawl extravaganza, heroes of the realms! We are just starting our adventure. We will soon dive into "The Sunless Citadel" the first adventure in this series! There is a long journey ahead!
Tales from the Yawning Portal will be a campaign focused around some of the toughest and most dangerous dungeons to be released for Dungeons and Dragons! This campaign will lead you on amazing adventures from level 1 all the way to level 16-20 as you face off against a mighty lich as you seek out their phylacteries!
Time This will be a weekly campaign that will last about a year in total. Sessions will be 4 hours long. Sessions will be held at the time listed in this listing. If you are using a VPN, your time might differ from the actual listing time, so please double check.
Communications Out of game communications will be handled via the Critical Tavern Discord server. In-game communication, voice and video, will be handled via Roll20. Video is optional, but you will need a microphone and an account on Discord to participate.
Payment This game will require payment to the Game Master at a rate of $25 per person per 4 hour session via PayPal. If you feel like supporting the Game Master further, this game allows tipping the Game Master at a rate of your choice. Roll20 is not responsible for any payment transactions and cannot enforce any private arrangements.
Safety Tools This game will use a few safety tools to help make the game a more enjoyable experience fro everyone!
Session zero: Session 0's are used to start the game, opening up with communication, setting expectations, and discussing any safety tools that will be used at the table. Everyone will get a free session zero regardless of when they start.
Lines and Veils: Lines and Veils set the boundaries of the games. Lines are hard limits for content the group doesn't want to participate in, this means that content will not be in game, referenced in game, or alluded to. Veils are soft limits, meaning that when the content arises it might be mentioned, but not described, or it could mean that when the content shows up, it results in a “fade-to-black”.
Open Door: Open-Door is an assurance that anyone in the group can take a break from the game for their own safety and well-being without judgment. This should be made clear to the group.
breaks: For long games or stressful content, having built-in breaks allows the group to stay focused and process content. This time can be used for bio breaks, conversation, or any other necessities. Anyone can take a break at any time, but there will also be a set ten minute break some time during the game so that we can all refresh.
Stars and Wishes: Stars and Wishes are used to reflect and discuss feedback in a positive way. Stars are used for things that participants enjoyed in the game. Wishes are things that participants would like to see in the future. Both players and the GM can express their stars and wishes to make the game better.
Safety tools will be further discussed in session zero and marked on the private game channel in the Discord server so that we can refer to them.
Content Warnings -Character Death -Violence -Language/Cursing -Blood -Drowning
Character Creation Details We are using D&D 5e rules. Characters will start at the same level as everyone else in the party. We can talk about what level that is in your session zero.
I will be sharing compendiums with players in my game for creating and leveling up your characters. This will include all first party books and a bunch of third party content. Third party content includes some books by Kobold's Press such as Tome of Heroes. If I have a compendium shared with you in game the content is allowed. All Tasha's optional Class features are allowed, and we will be using Tasha's Custom Species rules as well.
Stats are generated either by standard array or by rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest then assigning the values in the order you choose.
The campaign will run from level 1 to levels 16-20 and will be a mixture of leveling by experience and leveling by milestone.
Player Expectations: -I realize this campaign is designed for both new and experienced players, and will work to make sure everyone at the table has a good time, regardless of skill level. -I realize that life happens, and am able to communicate on a timely basis anything that may come up to cause me to miss a session. I will also be gracious to others in the group if they need to miss a session. -I will stay engaged while we are playing. -I will not be rude or disruptive. -I have a microphone with good sound quality and a stable internet connection. -I will download Discord for out-of-game discussion and communication.
DM Expectations: -I will be on time to games, every session. -I will communicate clearly and in a timely manner any schedule abnormalities or other issues. -I respect all players equally. -I will be thoroughly prepared for each session. -I will be fair in my rulings. -I will provide a high quality collaborative experience which entertains and challenges.
What the DM can bring to the table -Encyclopedic knowledge of this game system's rules. -Tools to help new players and newcomers to Roll20 to get acclimated to the game. -Community and Support: The Critical Tavern community is growing every day. Get connected with others online and make friends through TTRPGs and Discord. -Content Support: Lots of materials for Roll20 VTT and in-depth experience with API and macros. -Macro Support: I can write a macro for your character sheet at your request. -Character Support: I will work with the players to make sure that they have the tools to tell their characters' story. Setting individual goals and creating events to make a one of a kind experience for you. This includes character support outside of games by messaging. -Fast paced TTRPG gaming: Through the use of mods and other tricks I can keep the action going and make it so that you never wait more than a minute for your GM to finish their turn.
About Me My name is Eddie, I'm a pretty experienced GM. I've been playing 5e for 8 years now. Recently I've been branching out into playing other systems, but I keep coming back to 5e. I'm currently running 6 campaigns and weekly one shots. I'm a content creator on Roll20 and a Translator. My second language is Japanese. I've only only started DMing full time recently, but I hope I can give you the experience you are looking for.
DM Style It varies from game to game, but something that is consistant throughout all of my games is player choice and interactions matter. This game is going to focus heavily on the dungeon and the arcane nature of it. There will be a pretty good balance of combat, puzzling, challenge, exploration and approach scenarios for players to dive into as a group and a few extra suprises along the way.
I like to reward variablity in play and creative approach within the rules of the world. I engage players based on their wants and needs and try my best to facilitate their ideas. I want to let you guys do cool things with you characters and help you create your stories however they may play out.
Applications Please, submit your applications in the applications thread in the link at the top of this post.

Correction (EDT)
Hello everyone,
My sincerest apologies for the delay in getting back to this event. Life took an unexpected turn for me so I have been dealing with a few matters. All is well.
As many of you may recall, I sent a link to a google form survey a while back. It was a tester; however, we had over 31 responses. Rather than run the form again, I would like to proceed with the virtual meet up based on these data. I also found out that the best time to have a global meeting is between 12-2 pm EST. If we opt for 12pm EST, that would be 9am Pacific time. Everyone else would need to confirm this time in your local areas. Unfortunately, there is no way to make this a reasonable hour for everyone...especially for those in other countries. This may be a rare event so I think it may be worth early rise or the late bedtime.
I have set a tentative date/time of April 30, 2023 at 12 noon; however, I am open to any additional feedback. I think we should run with it and see how things go.
I know that concerns have been expressed about losing anonymity if attending a virtual meet up. I would like to offer the suggestion that we make this a Masquerade Theme so that those that care can have the option of dressing up a bit. My original thoughts surrounding having a virtual meet up was to connect with people in real time, hear voices and see faces. Texting limits our exposure to the other human elements so it seemed like a good idea. Many of you agreed. On the other hand, I think it's important to consider everyone's comfort level. I have been to many Masquerade theme parties in person. Some were fully dressed, others were not. Same concept. We still will be able to hear voices and hopefully laughter of our anonymous friends! Thoughts?
Following is a summary of the survey results:
Best time to host meetup
Friday Night - 13 mentions
Saturday Afternoon - 2 mentions
Saturday Night - 8 mentions
Sunday Afternoon - 17 mentions
Sunday Night - 0 mentions
Activities
Get to Know Games - 12 mentions
Music - 2 mentions
Book Readings Discussions - 3 mentions
Short Movie Discussions - 3 mentions
Ice breakers - 8 mentions
Trivia - 1 mention
​
Based on this summary and the number of participants, we may need breakout rooms. I will make a separate post for RSVP so that we can plan further after I get everyone's feedback on this post. I think its also important for us to make a list of virtual meetup norm or expectations.
This is all I have for now. I will be taking notes of the comments until April 5th. At which time, I will post a follow up with RSVP and any other details. If anyone is interested in hosting a break out room, please let me know. I love the idea of the book and short movie discussions. Oscar Winning Shorts can be found here Oscar-Winners-Short-Films. What good books are you all reading? Personally, I must do audibles.
I hope you all have an amazing day! +

26F 196LBs, non smoker, no drugs, 1 drink at most 1once a month, no contraceptives, no STD, no pregancies, No imaging prior to 2023. No history of gyno cancers. Family history of thyroid tumors & prostate cancers.
I'm waiting for my next appointment which is in a couple months ;( I was expecting endometriosis & then endometriosis excision surgrey (laproscopy). I'm at a loss for what to expect & dr google didn't yield any helpful information on the cyst. This is impacting QOL & daily life, & causing job issues.
Medications: Wellbutrin Adderall Singulair prenatal vitamins (low mean platelet volume) magnesium calcium D3 B complex
I had an MRI looking for endometriosis but results indicate NOT endometriosis but some other mass. MRI pictures it appears to be pressing & sitting on urinary, reproductive organs, & colon.
Ultrasounds had shown an 11CM endometrioma Cyst on my right ovary. I have consistent pain from right lower pelvis just to right under my ribs. Pain/difficulty with: food, defication, urination, and any vaginal penetration (includes small tampoms). Pain varies depending on cycle, worst is always days 10-14 of 30-34 day cycle. Pain also mimicks UTIs (test negative) at times & also random rectal bleeding (happens with defication, period-like bleeding with tissue chucks). Historically heavy & irregular periods (less than 10 per year), currently more atypical periods.
MRI findings: Day 23 of 31 day cycle
Preformed vaginal contrast & then also with IV contrast Telsa 3 MRI
There is a 12.5 x 8.5 x 11.6 cm unilocular central pelvic cyst without enhancing septa or soft tissue elements which compresses the uterus anteriorly and ovaries to each side with mass effect upon the upper rectum and sigmoid and bladder. No T2 shading. Fallopian tubes: No hydrosalpinx Torus uterinus (Uterine body): Normal Uterine ligaments: Not well seen
Uterus: Size: 8.4 x 2.5 x 5cm Orientation: Anteverted Endometrium: Homogeneous signal intensity with no mass measuring 10 mm. Junctional zone: Maximum thickness: 3 mm, Homogeneous T2 hypointense signal Cervix: Normal Leiomyomas: None; Adenomyomas: None
Anterior compartment: Bladder: Normal with no endometriosis. Displaced anteriorly. Ureters: No involvement. No hydronephrosis. Vesicouterine pouch: No endometriosis Vesicovaginal septum: No endometriosis Prevesicular space: No endometriosis Middle Compartment Disease:
Ovaries: Ovaries are compressed by large central pelvic cyst. - Right ovary: 4.7 x 2.1cm Physiologic follicles present, no endometrioma - Left ovary: 4.1 x 1.6 cm Physiologic follicles present, no endometrioma

Ideally central (I live in Ixelles). Even more ideally cheap. I know, I'm a dreamer.
I'd like to find a tri suit for under 100 eur, or maybe just shorts. Potentially a few other bits and bobs.
Online is not an option - not enough time, race day is Sunday.

This is a story about a princess stuck in her royal life looking for excitement and adventure. She stumbles onto a knight who is unlike the rest for reasons she can not place. This is also the story of a peasant girl fighting an uphill battle against herself and need to protect the people shes loves.
This is a love story placed in medieval times where people are not always who they seem. Reader discretion is advised for later chapters. (Mention of child abuse, strong language and violence)
Updates every Saturday around 11pm central time. Please review, we’re new authors looking to grow as authors. Any and all advice is appreciated!
https://www.wattpad.com/story/334799127?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_writing&wp_page=create_story_details&wp_uname=3CWA_KH&wp_originator=XVLFZwfHOFiBAbtqSs%2B%2Fg5sJ9QaT4At7QXa7kKo%2FMiJ%2FJENMftC1hAyAQhRO4lnlgY2Yvosvr%2B%2BUx%2Bje3NWc8U9FRZuU10VDTOL8nB%2BkJvDa0Dn4Xh%2B5%2BhPNqlVCNmHH

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1113954/full
Introduction:
Five to eight percent of the world population currently suffers from at least one autoimmune disorder. Despite multiple immune modulatory therapies for autoimmune demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, these treatments can be limiting for subsets of patients due to adverse effects and expense. To circumvent these barriers, we investigated a nutritional intervention in mice undergoing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of autoimmune-mediated demyelination that induces visual and motor pathologies similar to those experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods:
EAE was induced in female and male mice and the impact of limiting dietary carbohydrates by feeding a ketogenic diet (KD) enriched in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), and fiber was evaluated in both a preventive regimen (prior to immunization with MOG antigen) and an interventional regimen (following the onset of symptoms). Motor scores were assigned daily and visual acuity was measured using optokinetic tracking. Immunohistochemical analyses of optic nerves were done to assess inflammatory infiltrates and myelination status. Fatty acid and cytokine profiling from blood were performed to evaluate systemic inflammatory status.
Results:
The KD was efficacious when fed as a preventive regimen as well as when initiated as an interventional regimen following symptom onset. The KD minimally impacted body weight during the experimental time course, increased circulating ketones, prevented motor and ocular deficits, preserved myelination of the optic nerve, and reduced infiltration of immune cells to optic nerves. The KD also increased anti-inflammatory-associated omega-3 fatty acids in the plasma and reduced select cytokines in the circulation associated with EAE-mediated pathological inflammation.
Discussion:
In light of ongoing clinical trials using dietary strategies to treat people with MS, these findings support that a KD enriched in MCTs, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber promotes a systemic anti-inflammatory milieu and ameliorates autoimmune-induced demyelinating visual and motor deficits.

A pair of leaks have turned up on 4Chan that claim to outline details of Rockstar's forthcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. Fans of the franchise would do well to take these rumors with a grain of salt as there's no way to know for sure if any of these details are accurate. The leaker on 4Chan goes by Rhanadeng and claims to have been a friend of a disgruntled employee working on the game during 2019.
The source claims that this employee allegedly asked him to anonymously leak information about GTA 6. However, things later improved, and he lost contact with the Rockstar team member. One key detail is that this person also claims the game has been in active development since 2016 or 2017, with pre-production starting shortly after GTA V was ported to current generation consoles in 2014. The new GTA VI game world map is also claimed to be the size of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 combined.
gta v mission One of the odder bits that this 4Chan user details is a minigame where players control a stream of urine from a protagonist using motion controls. On the protagonist front, there are said to be four in the game, including a driver called Walther Wallace and an unnamed former Israeli IDF person. Another, Thomas Branigan, is a smuggler who owns an aircraft called the Raven, and Marcus Burke is a drug dealer and father to a young boy.
The area is said to be based in Florida, with Vice City among the three major cities with one smaller city in the far northwest of the map. The game reportedly jumps around in time with part of the timeline set in the 1980s and other parts set in the present day. Missions aren't as linear as they are in GTA V or RDR2, notes the proclaimed leaker. Players will briefly visit a small central American island, but it's reportedly not Guarma. The game starts with gamers playing the role of smuggler, Branigan.
gta v car Supposedly there are multiple child characters in the game that mainly interact with Burke and his son. Switching between the protagonists isn't said to be instantaneous, but the camera reportedly zooms out and travels quickly to where the protagonist the player wants to play is located. Sleeping Dogs-inspired parkour is involved in the game as well, but to a lesser extent without wall running. The leaker claims that weapons function more realistically in the game than they have in past titles. An example noted is rocket launcher back blast that ends up taking out an NPC in one of the missions, where the goal is to destroy a helicopter.
Hand-to-hand combat is supported and is said to be similar to Red Dead 2, with the leaker noting it's harder to fight hand-to-hand GTA VI than in GTA V. Player characters can also gain weight in the game, and it affects character attributes as it did in RDR2. Mori Kibbutz is also reportedly in the game, but not much else is detailed about his character.
This leak isn't the first that has surfaced about GTA 6. Last December, a user on reddit claiming to be a beta tester, leaked a bunch of alleged details of the game. In January, another leak claimed that the game would launch in 2021.

Spoilers for C3E51 ahead.
—
Disclaimer: I’m a diehard CR fan and have seen/listened to every episode of every campaign through at least twice. I’ve heard Matt’s voice more than my own and have nothing but love and respect for the man. He is among the best GMs to ever sit behind the screen (imo only surpassed by Brennan because of improv capability) and is beyond reproach as a human being. I want to clearly state that I mean my words in no way as an attack on him; it’s his game and he has a right to make whatever decisions he wants. I GM myself, so I understand that there’s a narrative to push and I acknowledge that sometimes things just need to go according to plan in this uber-dense plot he’s created…
However…
I was very frustrated with Matt’s ruling to have Chetney make a strength check against Ludinus’ AC when attempting to grapple him.
The grapple action is 100% unequivocally a test of physicality. RAW, it’s a contested roll between the grappler’s Athletics and either the target’s Athletics or Acrobatics. Ludinis honestly should’ve had to make this check at disadvantage because, at the time, he seemed a little preoccupied with the appearance of a certain divine champion in defending a certain level 20 Druid. Even ignoring the disadvantage, using Ludinis’ AC (which is definitely already magically inflated thanks to spells and/or items) as the DC for a grapple nullifies a central aspect of the mechanic.
Most mages have shit physical stats, even at level 20. Travis as a player is strategic and analytical — he quickly (and correctly, judging by Matt’s intervention) judged Ludinus’ weaknesses, then made a move to capitalize on them. Matt altered the mechanic and then used Shield to further magically enhance Ludinis’ AC. It came across to me as punishing a player’s quick-minded ingenuity, especially because it resulted in Chetney being impaled 20ft off the ground, essentially locking him out of the encounter.
The excuse Matt gave for this adjustment was because the grapple was… specifically trying to make it harder for Ludinis to cast spells due to physical restraint? The game designers already created a mechanic for that purpose — GRAPPLING.
I wish that either Travis had pushed back even a little, because I think Matt would’ve reconsidered, or Matt had just secretly fudged a successful Acrobatics check. At least that wouldn’t feel unfair.
Rant over, can’t wait for Thursday.

I think it's funny that we're all -myself included- having a big struggle where to put "Deism" in the grand spectrum of religious and philosophical affiliations, what identifying as a Deist implies concerning our idea or description of God and what makes it unique compared to others. I want to say a couple of things based on my reading in the last 4 years.
In some conversations I come across remarks like "this is the Christian idea of God, Deism does not propose such and such". I don't think any of us are an authority on what Deism "requires" but it's certainly easily conflated with cultural atheism in the name of distinguishing it from religiosity. Also naturalist pantheism being labeled as Deism seems commonplace just because it's anti-Biblical.
To summarize my personal understanding of it, Deism is nothing more or less than Philosophical Monotheism (stripped of divine mission or intervention):
The idea that the universe (nature, time, space, matter, energy, laws of physics and motion) has an absolute literal beginning before which there was nothing, there was no 'before', but there was the Creator only, and the Creator (the transcendent but personal and intelligent being that is above and beyond the confinements of the universe, the only self-existent/uncaused entity) is responsible for the emergence of the universe.
We're talking about the "emergence" of time and space itself, which is incomprehensible to our minds, but logically provable with the Uncaused Cause argument which states that the chain of causality can not go back forever in an infinite regress, and the arrow of time must have been fired at some point or else it would never have reached this very moment. (Another argument, called the ontological argument, states that the Highest Idea Conceivable can not possibly not exist as in that case we wouldn't have been able to conceive its idea in the first place.)
Many variants of opposition to this stance is a gigantic consensus of a plethora of theistic and atheistic religions that have dominated much of history really, which all believe in unoriginated, eternal, self-existent universe. This point is important. I included atheism in 'religions' to the surprise of some because from the deistic pov it is considered illogical hence superstitious.
From the widespread ancient creation myths of the earliest civilizations to modern atheism, to name a few, in the Babylonian Enuma Elish, Hindu Vedas, Aristotelian cosmology, Hebrew Bible (specifically the Book of Genesis), and the Qur'an (verse 11:7 etc.) (also the recent quantum theories alternative to the Big Bang); the uncontested idea was eternal cosmos.
The cosmos, the interwoven fabric of time and space, had existed since forever, going back to an eternal past without a beginning, ever been filled with chaotic primordial oceans that is the essence of matter (and of the age of agricultural settlements), and one day a Demiurge (Craftsman) with his pantheon who are all inhabitants here decide to bring shape, form, and order to this disordered watery realm. He uses this pre-existing matter, water, to sculpt a habitat called by the ancients "heaven and earth", a dome shaped planet with a stretched flat ground and hemispheric cover. Just like he will sculpt Adam from mud later. The reason the sky is blue is because there are waters above just like upon the earth, but confined behind a solid transparent platform held up by invisible columns. When the oceans were originally split in two, that's how the sky and the earth were distinguished. There are actual resting places of the sun and the moon in the far off edges of the world, and geographic locations in direct exposure to them. The stars are stations of heavenly beings. The highest layer of the sky above the clouds houses the Heavenly Court, the pantheon of divine royalty who established themselves there after the creation was done, reigning over the earth, managing natural affairs.
This is the Biblical and more or less all of the ancient cosmology (Mormons and earth flatters got it right). In short, although there is a mighty royal figure responsible for crafting the dome-planet earth and bringing order to anarchy, the "universe" (time and space) that encapsulates it have no mention of being originated out of nothing here. Contrary to popular belief, the Genesis never claimed or was interested in any creator or creation of nature, it merely gave a mythological account of how the observable world earned its current shape and state. It didn't say that the "heaven and earth" was the entire universe or spacetime spectrum itself; or that matter(waters), the raw material of the world, needed to be created by a higher power.
Rather, the Demiurge and his minions had been living in space for quite some time, spending their days not knowing what to do with all the watery chaos, until one day they begin a construction that takes 6 working days plus 1 resting day.
It's the Scholastic and Kalam philosophy that first proposed an absolute origin for nature/spacetime and attributed Supreme qualities to the non-anthropomorphic higher power responsible for it. Later, 17-18th century Enlightenment thinkers divorced this Creator from scriptural religion altogether. But rationalist philosophy that developed even among scriptural scholars had ever been contra-Biblical which is why they had been debating how to reconcile reason and revelation for centuries since Thomas Aquinas and before.
In short, Monotheism in this modern sense emerged with philosophy articulated among clerical circles and developed further by Enlightenment Deism by being stripped of mythological aspects.
It is important to have the right idea about what organized religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) really is to distinguish it from Deism. With their scriptural tenet of eternal cosmos, a pantheon of multiple divine figureheads or demi-gods called angels or triune persons, anthropomorphic/material chief deity, deified priest-kings called prophets; they are surviving remnants of "Monolatristic Henotheism" -a hardened, centralized, more coercive form of Polytheism- rather than Monotheism.
Sure, they are a unique brand that put much more emphasis on the head of the pantheon, and obsessively iconoclastic (except when their holy sites and symbols are concerned that is), but that's pretty much it. That is why it's called Monolatrism, and to our surprise, the Babylonian cult of Marduk was just as much Monolatristic that we might as well call it Monotheistic by the prevailing understanding of this term. (Marduk was named the Creator of the heaven and earth, and the King of the gods whose will is only subordinate to his.)
Modern urban religious societies do not realize how rationalized and modernized their outlook on God actually is, like an unlabeled de facto Deism, compared to scriptural orthodoxy they conveniently ignore. Today, the legit religious lifestyle is preserved by extreme traditionalists on the peripheries, not the usual Church going aunt, not even conservative politicians. Groups like Mormons and Muslim Salafis advocate for literalist interpretations of fundamental texts, cleansed of apologetic metaphors and obscurations, which reveal the texts' true cosmology and view of divine hierarchy.
Between soft paganism (scattered and tolerant) and hard paganism (centralized and coercive), the three big heavenly religions fall under the latter category, but their modern adherents are closer to Deism in their view and way of life than either.
That is not to say this anti-Monotheistic religiosity rooted way before the three big doesn't continue to poison our thoughts and behavior. Although ritual worship is allegedly only dedicated to a chief deity, we have lesser divine beings and holy spirits venerated with just as much piety, temples and shrines to make Communion with said divine powers, offerings to please them, priests to confess our sins to and intervene on our behalf, and countless other pagan superstition dedicated to the skies and royal Morgan Freeman up there. Muslims still pray towards a cube that houses a black meteorite (representing a moon deity) five times a day. Religious societies still vaguely 'divinize' charismatic politicians as chosen saviours for swearing by the holy book and promising unity and protection of their traditional values.
The believer's heart is not alone in a spiritual relationship with a singular Divine authority who is stripped of all human faults, alone in Its presence without involvement of self-appointed intermediaries, nor is his/her mind satisfied about belief since established theology isn't interested in reducing Divinity to oneness from all the additions and extensions and inventions justified under labels like 'only intercessors' or 'persons/faces of the one and the same essence'.
Rather the establishment is interested in apologizing for the inerrancy of its book, reconcilation of doctrinal inconsistencies, or indisputability of its leaders, like a one-party dictatorship ideology. So the anti-logical mystery of triune godhead, divine offspring or genealogy, or finite mortals receiving literal historical words from an infinite and transcendent entity, or angels (malak=mighty one) being blatantly disguised remnants of Canaanite/Greek/Arab pantheon ... all pass as inconsistencies of Monotheism in need of explanation while they really have Polytheistic mentality and tradition going millenias back. "Divine Decree Manifest" on paper and in human language was invented by pagans and so was divinely ordained rulers. What did a Jewish king do or believe different than Hammurabi exactly?
Opening the door to divine mission or intervention has always been about making a church, a spiritual demagogue, look infallible and indispensable, not about sincerely understanding or loving or exalting the Divine. My issue is, why should we refrain from having God in our lives and minds just because of those who exploit Its name?
When it comes to creating and designing nature, these religions have no concept of nature or inviolable natural laws to begin with. When it comes to Omnipotence, Jehovah or Father or Allah are anything but, as they need constant assistance and collaboration of Angels (Mighty Ones) (let's just call them Gods already) to be able to manage cosmic affairs. Each Angel/God is entrusted by The God (Allah in Arabic is literally Al-Ilah) with governance of a particular natural/cosmic function like weather, soil, fertility, death, guidance, judgment in afterlife etc. When it comes to Omnibenevolence, you don't need to be reminded that the scriptures have zero concern of proving their god's goodness with all the atrocious militaristic commandments and even sending humanity to earth as a punishment! Adam and Eve's banishment can be interpreted as Misotheistic (hatred of God and depiction of God as cruel) even --- he is not portrayed as loving or merciful in any way, but perhaps as a necessary evil or benevolent tyrant. As a Deist I would much rather considering being here as a blessing of the Creator rather than punishment by a satanic deity. Or what about being All-Just? Having my sins atoned for with the sacrifice of someone else instead of my remorse and change is not fair. Not to mention that an All-Powerful Being should not be able to be born or killed. Worship of mortals flesh and blood is not worship of God.
But all these attributes - Creation, Omnipotence, Omnibenevolence etc. - are so culturally wed to the rhetoric of organized religion, it's as if one has to defend every dogma and tenet of these religions the moment they take a step into the realm of Monotheism. (And quickly it turns into a cultural dog fight between theists and atheists, false dichotomies between creationism and evolutionism and other things. Someone want to tell atheists they still have the same cosmology -a universe without a beginning- as Sumerians and Mormons, and that the biological evolutionary laws indicate intelligent design all the same?) This among others if you ask me is the greatest burden and confusion caused by organized religion and part of the reason Deists struggle to define themselves or pinpoint their position in relation to others.
Organized religions do not only spread so many lies and paradoxes, but blend the truth with superstition and cause the truth to be discredited among their nonsenses like a jewel lost in a bag of coal.
TL;DR, from my pov, Deism is simply belief -whether it be a rational conclusion or heartfelt knowledge- in One Supreme God, Starter of the universe (and its independent order), Moral Authority, while denying the existence of other divine entities or supernatural forces of any kind as well as divine intervention - miracles, revelations, vicegerents/spokespersons. This does not mean God has to be impersonal, disinterested, spiritually insignificant, morally indifferent, and most certainly not that It is nature or a part of nature (Creator =/= creation).
Superstition consists of rejecting reason, mystifying creatures, mythologizing natural phenomena, deifying human beings and human-like images.
Let's be confident in saying that the flaw of religious institutions has never been proposing a Supreme Creator, but on the contrary, 1. undermining It, and 2. speaking from Its mouth to deify themselves, their own ideas.