Craftsman 30 inch riding mower parts

Fuel Pump Problems, Fuel Supply Issues

2023.06.07 04:29 Cheeky-Monkey-Tees Fuel Pump Problems, Fuel Supply Issues

Fuel Pump Problems, Fuel Supply Issues
I have a riding mower that uses a fuel pump like the one pictured, these same pumps are all types of small engines and even some outboards. I'm tired of repeated failures of the pulse hose and the fuel pump diaphragm due to ethanol in modern fuel. I'm thinking about replacing this mechanical pulse activate pump with an electric fuel pump. The lowest pressure electric pump I can find is 2 to 5 psi my question is what is the pressure limit for the needle and seat on a small engine carburetor? In automotive applications, you see fuel pressures anywhere from 7 psi on very old engines to 25 to 30 during the 70s and up to 60 psi on some before fuel injection took over and fuel pressures increased to over 100 psi.
https://preview.redd.it/3a81yg9lbi4b1.jpg?width=804&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e9783f9d6397f1b71d7dff193d94aba70c6ab0a
submitted by Cheeky-Monkey-Tees to lawnmowers [link] [comments]


2023.06.07 03:48 wtfwafflezor (Selling) 800 Titles Creed III (2023) (Vudu/4K) $9 Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) (MA/4K) $9

Prices FIRM - CashApp/Venmo/PayPal Friends & Family
Disney/Marvel titles are split codes. Only redeem what you pay for. Thank you.
12 Monkeys (1995) (MA/4K) $3.50
12 Years a Slave (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $2 (iTunes/4K) $3
1917 (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
2 Guns (2013) (MA/HD) $4.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.50
2012 (2009) (MA/4K) $6.50
21 Jump Street (2012) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $2.75
22 Jump Street (2014) (MA/HD) $4.50
355, The (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
47 Meters Down (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
47 Ronin (2013) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4 (MA/HD) $3.50
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) (MA/HD) $5.75
A Clockwork Orange (1972) (MA/4K) $6.50
A Man Called Otto (2022) (MA/HD) $7.25
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.25
A Monster Calls (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.75
A Vigilante (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
A Wrinkle in Time (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Abominable (2019) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $6.25
Action Point (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $1.50
Ad Astra (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Adventures of Tintin (2011) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
After Earth (2013) (MA/HD) $2.50
Aladdin (1992) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.25 (GP/HD) $2.25
Aladdin (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.50
Alice in Wonderland (1951) (GP/HD) $5.50
Alien (1979) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5
Alien 3 (1992) (MA/HD) $5.50
Alien Collection 1-6 (MA/HD) $19.50 1-4 (MA/SD) $9
Alien Resurrection (1997) (MA/HD) $5.50
Aliens (1986) (MA/HD) $5.50
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4
All The Money In The World (2017) (MA/HD) $4.25
All the Way (2016) (GP/HD) $3.50 No Port
Aloha (2015) (MA/HD) $2.50
Amazing Spider-Man (2012) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Ambulance (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4
American Beauty (1999) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
American Gangster (Extended Edition) (2007) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6.25
American Made (2017) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
American Sniper (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50
American Underdog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Amsterdam (2022) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.75
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) (iTunes/HD) $2
Angry Birds Movie (2016) (MA/HD) $3.75
Antlers (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $4
Ant-Man (2015) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) (MA/4K) $8 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $3.25
Apollo 11 (2019) (MA/HD) $6.25
Apollo 13 (1995) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.75
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm (2022) (MA/HD) $4.75
Artist, The (2011) (MA/HD) $6
Atomic Blonde (2017) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $3.25 (MA/HD) $2.25
Avengers 1-4 (MA/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) $20 (GP/HD) $7.75
Babylon (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Back to the Future (1985) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.25
Back to the Future Collection 1-3 (MA/4K) $15 (MA/HD) $7.50
Bad Boys Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $12
Bad Boys for Life (2020) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.50
Bad Guys, The (2022) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $4.25
Bad Moms (2016) (MA/HD) $3.50 (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Bad Times at The El Royale (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.75
Bambi (1942) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Bambi II (2006) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Band of Brothers (2001) (GP/HD) $3.75 No Port
Bank Job, The (2008) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Banshees of Inisherin (2022) (GP/HD) $4.50
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (2022) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.50
Batman Year One (2011) (MA/4K) $5
Batman, The (2022) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $3
Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021) (MA/4K) $6
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2022) (MA/4K) $7.50
Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Battle: Los Angeles (2011) (MA/4K) $6.50
Battleship (2012) (MA/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3
Beast (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2
Beauty and the Beast (2017) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.25 (GP/HD) $2
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Beguiled, The (2017) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Being John Malkovich (1999) (MA/HD) $3.50
Beirut (2018) (MA/HD) $4.75
Ben-Hur (2016) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
BFG, The (2016) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Big (1988) (MA/HD) $5.75
Big Wedding (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.75
Billy Elliot (2000) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25
Black Adam (2022) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.25
Black Panther (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.75
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.50
Black Phone, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5
Black Swan (2010) (MA/HD) $4.50
Black Widow (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
Blacklight (2022) (MA/HD) $4.25
Bleed for This (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Blockers (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Blood Father (2016) (Vudu/HD) $4
Bloodshot (2020) (MA/HD) $4
Blues Brothers + Unrated (1980) (MA/4K) $7
Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) (MA/HD) $3.25 (GP/HD) $2.25
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.75
Bodyguard, The (1992) (MA/HD) $5
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3.25
Bolt (2008) (MA/HD) $8 (GP/HD) $5.50
Bond: Goldfinger (1964) (Vudu/HD) $7
Bond: Skyfall (2012) (Vudu/HD) $1
Bond: Spectre (2015) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Book of Henry (2017) (iTunes/HD) Ports $5
Book of Life (2014) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Booksmart (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Boss Baby (2017) & Family Business (2021) (MA/HD) $5.75
Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Bourne Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $25 (iTunes/HD) $19 (MA/HD) $15
Boy Next Door, The (2015) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.25
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) (MA/4K) $7
Braven (2018) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Breakdown (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Breakfast Club (1985), Weird Science (2008), Sixteen Candles (1984) (MA/HD) $11.50
Breakthrough (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50
Brian Banks (2019) (MA/HD) $4.25
Bridge of Spies (2015) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack (2017) (MA/HD) $3.25 (iTunes/HD) $1.25
Broken City (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50 (iTunes/SD) $1.25
Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) (MA/HD) $3.75
Brothers (2009) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (1992) (MA/HD) $5.75
Bullet Train (2022) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.25
Cake (2014) (MA/HD) $5.25
Call Me by Your Name (2017) (MA/HD) $5.75
Call of the Wild (2020) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $1.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Call, The (2013) (MA/HD) $4.50
Captain America: Civil War (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5 (GP/HD) $2.25
Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $2.25
Captain Marvel (2019) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.75
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) (MA/HD) $3.25
Carrie (2013) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Cars 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $15.50 (GP/HD) $9
Casablanca (1943) (MA/4K) $6.25
Casper (1995) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.75
Catch the Bullet (2021) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Change-Up, The (2011) (Unrated) (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.50
Chappie (2015) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75
Charlie's Angels (2000) (MA/4K) $7.75
Charlie's Angels (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Chronicles of Riddick (Unrated Director's Cut) (2004) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Cinderella (1950) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Cinderella (2015) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $2.50
Cinderella 'Camila Cabello' (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002) (MA/HD) $6.50
Citizenfour (2014) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Clerks III (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Clueless (1995) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) (MA/HD) $6.25
Coco (2017) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.25
Colombiana (Unrated) (2011) (MA/HD) $4.25
Concussion (2015) (MA/HD) $3
Constantine: The House of Mystery (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Contraband (2012) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2
Contractor (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Counselor, The (2013) (MA/HD) $3
Creed Collection 1-3 (Vudu/HD) $12
Creed III (2023) (Vudu/4K) $9
Croods (2013) & A New Age (2020) (MA/HD) $6.75
Croods (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
Croods: A New Age (2020) (MA/HD) $5
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001) (MA/4K) $7.75
Cruella (2021) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2.50
Cult of Chucky (Unrated) (2017) (MA/HD) $3.75 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Daddy's Home 1-2 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Daddy's Home 2 (2017) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) $2 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Daniel Craig Collection 5-Movie (Vudu/4K) $20
Darkest Minds, The (2018) (MA/HD) $4.75
DC League of Super-Pets (2022) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $5
Dead Man Down (2013) (MA/HD) $4.75
Deadpool (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
Deadpool 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.25
Dear Evan Hansen (2021) (MA/HD) $4.25
Death on the Nile (2022) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Death Wish (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Dentist Collection 1-2 (1996-1998) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Descent, The (2005) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Detective Knight Collection 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $15 $5.75 Each
Detroit (2017) (iTunes/4K) Ports to MA $4.75
Devil Wears Prada (2006) (MA/HD) $5.75
Devil's Due (2014) (MA/HD) $2.75
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) (MA/HD) $2
Die Hard (1988) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4
Die Hard 1-5 (MA/HD) $16 $4.75 Each
Disaster Artist, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Disneynature Born in China (2017) (MA/HD) $5.25
DisneyNature: Bears (2014) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
District 9 (2009) (MA/4K) $6.50
Do the Right Thing (1989) (MA/4K) $6
Doctor Strange (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $4 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.75
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Dog (2022) (Vudu/HD) $3
Dolittle (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
Don't Breathe 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $7.50
Don't Let Go (2019) (MA/HD) $4
Don't Worry Darling (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) (MA/HD) $3.75
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (2008) (MA/HD) $6.50
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (2012) (MA/HD) $3.25 (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Dracula Untold (2014) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $4
Dragonheart 5-Movie (MA/HD) $15
Dredd (2012) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Drive (2011) (MA/HD) $4.50
Duff, The (2015) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Dumbo (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.50
Dune (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50
Dunkirk (2017) (MA/4K) $6.50
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3
Early Man (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Echo Boomers (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Eddie the Eagle (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Elvis (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4
Elysium (2013) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.25
Empire State (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Encanto (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (GP/4K) $3.50
Equalizer (2014) (MA/HD) $3.75
Equalizer 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $2.75
Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Eternals (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Everest (2015) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $4
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7.50
Expendables 1-3 (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Extreme Prejudice (1987) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
F9: The Fast Saga + Director's Cut (2021) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $3.25
Fabelmans (2022) (MA/HD) $6.50
Faculty, The (1998) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6.50
Fantastic Beasts Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $7.75
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $3
Fantasy Island (2020) (MA/HD) $7
Fast & Furious Collection 1-9 (MA/HD) $10
Father Stu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Ferdinand (2017) (MA/HD) $3.50
Field of Dreams (1989) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6
Fifth Element (1997) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $6
Fifty Shades of Black (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.50
Fifty Shades of Grey 3-Movie + Unrated (MA/HD) $9.75
Finding Dory (2016) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Finding Nemo (2003) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3
First Man (2018) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.25
First Purge (2018) (MA/HD) $4.50
Five Feet Apart (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
Forbidden Kingdom (2008) (Vudu/HD) $5
Ford v Ferrari (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Founder, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $5 (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Fox and the Hound 2, The (2006) (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $3
Foxcatcher (2014) (MA/HD) $4.50
Frank & Lola (2016) (MA/HD) $4.75
Frankenstein (1931) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Free Guy (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
Frozen (2013) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.50
Frozen 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $1.75
Frozen Sing-Along Edition (2014) (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.75
Full Metal Jacket (1987) (MA/4K) $6.50
Fury (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Future World (2018) (Vudu/HD) $4
Galaxy Quest (1999) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Gambler (2014) (Vudu/HD) $3.50 (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Gangs of New York (2002) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Gate, The (1987) (Vudu/SD) $4.25
Get on Up (2014) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.50
Get Out (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.75
Ghost In The Shell (2017) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $2.75
Ghostbusters (1984) (MA/HD) $3.50
Ghostbusters + Extended (2016) (MA/HD) $3
Ghostbusters II (1989) (MA/HD) $3.50
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $3.50
Gifted (2017) (MA/HD) $5
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) (MA/HD) $6
Girls Trip (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/HD) $1
Glass (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Glory (1989) (MA/4K) $7.75
Godfather (1972) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Godfather Trilogy (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $14
Godzilla (1998) (MA/4K) $6.50
Gone Baby Gone (2007) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Good Boys (2019) (MA/HD) $3.75
Good Dinosaur (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017) (MA/HD) $6.50
Goosebumps (2015) (MA/HD) $5
Goosebumps 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $6.50
Grease (1978), 2 (1982), Live! (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14
Great Wall (2016) (MA/HD) $2.50
Green Book (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5
Green Hornet (2011) (MA/HD) $6.50
Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022) (MA/HD) $3
Green Mile, The (1999) (MA/4K) $6
Groundhog Day (1993) (MA/4K) $8
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.75 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $1.75
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.25
Half Brothers (2020) (MA/HD) $5.75
Halloween (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
Halloween Ends (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Halloween Kills (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.25
Hancock (2008) (MA/4K) $6.50
Happy Death Day (2017) (MA/HD) $6
Happy Death Day 2U (2019) (MA/HD) $6
Hate U Give (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
Hateful Eight (2015) (Vudu/HD) $2
Heat: Director's Definitive Edition (1995) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $5.25
Heavy Metal (1981) (MA/4K) $6.50
Hellboy (Director's Cut) (2004) (MA/4K) $6.50
Hercules (1997) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5.50
Hidden Figures (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) (MA/HD) $4.50
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Hobbs & Shaw (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Hocus Pocus (1993) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Holiday Inn (1942) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3
Home Alone (1990) (MA/HD) $4
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) (MA/HD) $3.50
Hotel Transylvania (2012) (MA/HD) $6
Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) (MA/HD) $6.75
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
House of 1,000 Corpses (2003), Devil's Rejects (2005), 3 From Hell (2019) (Vudu/HD) $6
House of Gucci (2021) (iTunes/4K) $5
House of the Dragon: Season 1 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $9 (Vudu/HD) $5.50
House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) (MA/4K) $6.50
How to Train Your Dragon Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $7.50 $4.75 Each
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.25
Howard the Duck (1986) (MA/4K) $7
Hugo (2011) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.75
Hulk, The (2003) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $6.25
Hunger Games Collection 1-4 (Vudu/HD) $6 (iTunes/4K) $12
Hunt, The (2019) (MA/HD) $5.75
Huntsman: Winter's War - Extended Edition (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
I Can Only Imagine (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) (MA/HD) $3.50
Ice Age (2002) (MA/HD) $5
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.25
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) (MA/HD) $4.50
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) (MA/HD) $6
Identity Thief (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.75
Ides of March (2011) (MA/HD) $5.25
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) (MA/HD) $5.75
Impossible, The (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
In the Heights (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Incredible Hulk (2008) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Incredibles (2004) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.75
Incredibles 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2
Independence Day (1996) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.50
Independence Day: Resurgence (2014) (iTunes/4K) $2 (MA/HD) $1.50
Indiana Jones 1-4 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Inferno (2016) (MA/HD) $3.25
Inglorious Bastards (2009) (MA/4K) $7
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) (MA/HD) $6
Inside Out (2015) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.50
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25
Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) (MA/HD) $6.50
Instructions Not Included (2013) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Internship (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Interview, The (2014) (MA/HD) $3.50
Into the Woods (2014) (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Invisible Man (2020) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75
Iron Man (2008) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $7 (GP/HD) $3
Iron Man 1-3 (MA/4K) $21 (iTunes/4K) $16 (GP/HD) $7.50
Iron Man 2 (2010) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3
Iron Man 3 (2013) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $3 (MA/HD) $2.25 (GP/HD) $1.50
Isle of Dogs (2018) (MA/HD) $4.75
It Comes at Night (2017) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
It Follows (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Jack Reacher Collection 1-2 (iTunes/4K) $7
Jackass Forever (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Jackie (2016) (MA/HD) $4.25
Jacob's Ladder (1990) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Jane Got a Gun (2016) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Jason Statham 6-Movie (Wild Card, War, Bank Job, Transporter 3, Crank, Crank 2) (Vudu/HD) $11.50
Jaws (1975) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Jaws (1975) Jaws 2 (1978) Jaws 3 (1983) Jaws: The Revenge (1987) (MA/HD) $15.50
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Jingle All the Way (1996) (MA/HD) $5.25
John Wick Collection 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $16 (iTunes/4K) $14 (Vudu/HD) $8
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $15
Jojo Rabbit (2019) (MA/HD) $6.75
Joy (2015) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $4
Jumanji (1995) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $6
Jumanji: Next Level (2019) & Welcome to the Jungle (2017) (MA/HD) $7.50
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.50
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $2 (MA/SD) $1
Jungle Cruise (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3
Jurassic Park (1993) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3
Jurassic Park III (2001) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3.50
Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3
Jurassic World (2015) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $2.75
Jurassic World Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $20 (iTunes/4K) $17.50 (MA/HD) $10
Jurassic World Collection 1-6 (MA/4K) $23.50 (MA/HD) $11.50
Jurassic World: Dominion + Extended Cut (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.25
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $1.75
Justice League x RWBY Super Heroes and Huntsmen Part One (2023) (MA/HD) $4
Justice Society: World War II (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.75
Kick-Ass 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25 (iTunes/HD) $5
Kicks (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5
Kid Who Would Be King (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Kidnap (2017) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Kill the Messenger (2014) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5
Killer Elite (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.25
Killerman (2019) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Killing Lincoln (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25
King Kong (2005) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3.50
King of Staten Island (2020) (MA/HD) $4.75
King's Man (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) (MA/HD) $2.50
Kung Fu Panda Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $12.50
L.A. Confidential (1997) (MA/HD) $5.75
Last Christmas (2019) (MA/HD) $6.50
Last Full Measure (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Last Night in Soho (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.75
Last Vegas (2013) (MA/HD) $3
Lawless (2012) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Legion of Super Heroes (2023) (MA/HD) $5.50
Les Miserables (2012) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Let Him Go (2020) (MA/HD) $3.75
Let's Be Cops (2014) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.50
Life (2017) (MA/HD) $2.50
Light of My Life (2019) (Vudu/HD) $2.50 (iTunes/HD) $2
Lightyear (2022) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Like a Boss (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Lion (2016) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Lion King (1994) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.75
Lion King (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.25
Lion King 1 1/2 (2004) (MA/HD) $6.50
Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998) (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $5.25
Little Mermaid (1989) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Little Monsters (1989) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Live Die Repeat: Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50
Lodge, The (2019) (MA/HD) $5.75
Logan Lucky (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
London Has Fallen (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.75
Lone Survivor (2013) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $2 (MA/HD) $1.50
Long Shot (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4
Longest Ride (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Looper (2012) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3
Lords of Salem, The (2012) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Lost City, The (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Love Actually (2003) (MA/HD) $5.50
Love, Simon (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Luca (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
Lucy (2014) (MA/HD) $2
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Ma (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Mad Max Collection 1-4 (Vudu/4K) $20
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2
Madagascar Collection 1-4 (MA/HD) $14
Maleficent (2014) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $1.25
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.75
Mama (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.50
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008) & Here We Go Again (2018) (MA/HD) $6.50 $4.50 Each
Martian - Extended Cut (2015) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Martian (Theatrical) (2015) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $3.25
Mary Poppins (1964) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2
Matrix Collection 1-4 (MA/4K) $18.50
Matrix: Resurrections (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) (MA/HD) $5.75
McFarland, USA (2015) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Memory (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Men (2022) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Men in Black Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $15.50
Menu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $4
MIB: International (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Mickey & Minnie 10 Classic Shorts - Volume 1 (2023) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $4
Midsommar (2019) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Million Dollar Arm (2014) (MA/HD) $4
Minions (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) & Minions (2015) (MA/HD) $8
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Miracles From Heaven (2016) (MA/HD) $4.50
Mission: Impossible Collection 1-6 (Vudu/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Moana (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2
Money Monster (2016) (MA/HD) $3.25
Monster Hunter (2020) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.25
Monster Trucks (2016) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Monster's Ball (2001) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Monsters University (2013) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (MA/4K) $7.25
Monuments Men (2014) (MA/HD) $2
Moonfall (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Morbius (2022) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $3.25 (MA/SD) $2.25
Mortal Engines (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.25
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Mother! (2017) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Mountain Between Us (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Mr Popper's Penguins (2011) (MA/HD) $6
Much Ado About Nothing (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Mulan (1998) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3
Mulan (2020) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Muppet Movie (1979) (MA/HD) $7.50 (GP/HD) $6
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4
My Dinner with Herve (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5.25
Natural, The (1984) (MA/4K) $5
Nebraska (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Neighbors (2014) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2
New Mutants (2020) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.75
News of the World (2020) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75
Night at the Museum 3-Movie (MA/HD) $13.50 $6 Each (MA/SD) $9
Night Before (2015) (MA/HD) $4.75
Night House, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3
Night School (Extended) (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.75
Ninth Gate, The (1999) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
No Country For Old Men (2007) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
No Time to Die (2021) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Nobody (2021) (MA/HD) $5.25
Non-Stop (2014) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Nope (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
Nope (2022), Get Out (2017) & Us (2019) (MA/HD) $10
Norm of the North (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Northman (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $4.50
Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $2.50
Oblivion (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $2.25
Olaf's Frozen Adventure Plus 6 Disney Tales (2017) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) (MA/HD) $5
On the Basis of Sex (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood (2019) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5
Onward (2020) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Oranges, The (2011) (MA/HD) $4.50
Other Woman (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Ouija (2014) & Origin of Evil (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $9
Overboard (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Pacific Rim Uprising (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
Pain & Gain (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Paper Towns (2011) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.50
ParaNorman (2012) (iTunes/HD) $5
Passengers (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $2.75
Passion of the Christ (2004) (MA/HD) $10
Paul (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.50
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) (MA/HD) $4.25
Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6
Pearl (2022) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Peppermint (2018) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) (MA/HD) $2.25
Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Peter Rabbit (2018) & 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $8.50 $4.75 Each
Peter Rabbit (2018) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Phantom Thread (2017) (MA/HD) $3.75
Philadelphia (1993) (MA/4K) $7.75
Philomena (2013) (Vudu/HD) $2
Pinocchio (1940) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.75
Pirate Fairy (2014) (MA/HD) $3.25
Pitch Perfect (2012) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Pitch Perfect Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $11.50
Pixels (2015) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) (iTunes/HD) $3.75
Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2
Planet of the Apes 1-3 (Newer) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $12
Playing with Fire (2019) (iTunes/4K) $1.50 (Vudu/HD) $2
Pocahontas (1995) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Pompeii (2014) (MA/HD) $3.50
Poms (2019) (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Post, The (2017) (MA/HD) $2.75
Predator (1987), 2 (1990), Predators (2009), Predator (2018) (MA/HD) $11
Predator (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.50
Premium Rush (2012) (MA/HD) $3.25
Prey for the Devil (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Princess and the Frog (2009) (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.25
Prometheus (2012) (MA/HD) $1.75
Prophecy Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14.50
Psycho (1960) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $5
Psycho (1960), Rear Window (1954), The Birds (1963), Vertigo (1958) (MA/4K) $17
Public Enemies (2009) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6.25
Purge, The (2013) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Purge: Anarchy (2014) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Purge: Election Year (2016) (MA/4K $5.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Puss in Boots (2011) (MA/4K) $6.75
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) (MA/HD) $7.50
Queen & Slim (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
R.I.P.D. (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25 (iTunes/HD) $3
Race (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.75
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $1.50
Rambo Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) $14
Rambo: First Blood (1982) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.50
Rescuers Down Under (1990) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $4
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) (MA/HD) $2.25
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $3.25
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Respect (2021) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Revenant, The (2015) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.25
Ricki And The Flash (2015) (MA/HD) $4.50
Riddick - Unrated Director's Cut (2013) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Riddick Collection 1-3 (Unrated) (MA/HD) $14
Ride Along 1-2 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5 $2.75 Each
Rio 2 (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Risen (2016) (MA/HD) $4.50
Road to El Dorado (2000) (MA/HD) $5.50
Robin Hood (2010) (MA/4K) $6.25
Robin Hood (Animated) (1973) (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
RoboCop (1987) (Vudu/HD) $7.25
Robots (2005) (MA/HD) $6.75
Rock Dog (2016) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Rumble (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Run Lola Run (1998) (MA/HD) $6.50
Rush (2013) (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Russell Madness (2015) (MA/HD) $4
Safe (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Saint Maud (2020) (Vudu/HD) $6
Santa Clause (1994), 2 (2002), 3 (2006) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $10.50 (GP/HD) $6.50
Saving Mr. Banks (2013) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Saw Collection 1-7 (Vudu/HD) $10
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) (MA/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Scream 5 (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Scream Collection 1-3 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $13.50
Second Act (2018) (iTunes/HD) $1.50
Secret Garden, The (2020) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Secret Headquarters (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Secret Life of Pets 1-2 (MA/HD) $7.50
Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.50
Seriously Red (2022) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
Sessions, The (2012) (MA/HD) $4.50
Sex Tape (2014) (MA/HD) $3
Shallows, The (2016) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD $4
Shang-Chi (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3
Shaun of the Dead (2004) (MA/4K) $4
Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), World's End (2013) (MA/HD) $10
Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4
Shawshank Redemption (1994) (MA/4K) $6
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) & Shazam! (2019) (MA/HD) $10.50
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) (MA/4K) $9 (MA/HD) $8
She's Having a Baby (1988) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Shooter (2007) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Sideways (2004) (MA/HD) $5.25
Silent Night, Deadly Night: 3-Film Collection (1989-1991) (Vudu/HD) $6
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Sing 2 (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.50
Sing Collection 1-2 (MA/HD) $6
Singin' in the Rain (1952) (MA/4K) $6.50
Sinister (2012) (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Sisters (Unrated) (2015) (MA/HD) $4 (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Sixteen Candles (1984) (MA/HD) $5.25 (iTunes/HD) $4.25
Skeleton Twins (2014) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Skyscraper (2018) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $1.75
Sleepless (2017) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $1
Smile (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75
Smurfs 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017) (MA/HD) $3.25
Snake Eyes (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Snatched (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1
Snitch (2013) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.75
Snow White and the Huntsman (Extended) (2012) (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $2.50
Son of God (2014) (MA/HD) $1.25
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Soul (2020) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Southpaw (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Southside With You (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Space Between Us, The (2017) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5
Space Jam (1996) (MA/4K) $5
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Speed (1994) (MA/4K) $5.25
Spider-Man (2002) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Spider-Man 2 (2004) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Spider-Man 3 (2007) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Spider-Man Collection 1-8 (MA/HD) $26
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $4
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $1.75
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2003) (MA/HD) $5
Split (2017) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Spy (Unrated) (2015) (MA/HD) $2
Spy Game (2001) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.75
Stand Up Guys (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Star Trek 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $18 (Vudu/HD) $9.50 (iTunes/4K) $13.50
Star Trek Beyond (2016) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Starship Troopers (1997) (MA/4K) $6.50
Still Alice (2015) (MA/HD) $3
Stillwater (2021) (MA/HD) $5
Straight Outta Compton (Unrated Director’s Cut) (2015) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Strange World (2022) (GP/HD) Ports to MA $4.25
Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) (MA/HD) $3.50
Stronger (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Stuber (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Studio 666 (2022) (MA/HD) $6.75
Suicide Squad, The (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Super Troopers (2002) (MA/HD) $5.75
SW: A New Hope (1977) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Empire Strikes Back (1980) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Force Awakens (2015) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1
SW: Last Jedi (2017) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1
SW: Phantom Menace (1999) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Return of the Jedi (1983) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (MA/4K) $7.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Rise of Skywalker (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
SW: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.25
SW: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Sword in the Stone (1963) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Taken Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $9
Tangled (2010) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.75
Tarzan (1999) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse (2022) (MA/HD) $4.75
Terminator (1984) (Vudu/HD) $7
Terminator: Genisys (2015) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3
Theory Of Everything (2014) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4
Think Like a Man (2012) & Two (2014) (MA/HD) $9
This Is 40 (2012) (MA/HD) $3.75 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Thor (2011) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $7 (GP/HD) $3.50
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.25 (GP/HD) $2
Thor: The Dark World (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Till (2022) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2014) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $4
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.50
Titanic (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
TMNT Out of the Shadows (2016) (iTunes/4K) $4
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Tomorrowland (2015) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Total Recall + Extended (2012) (MA/HD) $5 (Theatrical) $4
Toy Story 1-4 (MA/4K) $23 (iTunes/4K) $21 (GP/HD) $11.50
Toy Story of Terror! (2013) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Trading Places (1983) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Training Day (2001) (MA/4K) $6.50
Trainwreck (2015) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $1.50
Transformers 1-5 (Vudu/4K) $30 (Vudu/HD) $23
Trauma Center (2019) (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Triple 9 (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.50
Trolls (2016) (MA/HD) $1.25
Trolls Collection 1-2 (MA/HD) $6
Tully (2018) (MA/HD) $5.75
Turning Red (2022) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.75
Umma (2022) (MA/HD) $4.75
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Unbreakable (2000) (MA/4K) $6 (GP/HD) $3.75
Unbroken (2014) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Uncharted (2022) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3.25
Under the Skin (2014) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2.25
Unforgiven (1992) (MA/4K) $6.50
Unhinged (2020) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Up (2009) (iTunes/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $6.75
Up in Smoke ‘Cheech and Chong’ (1978) (Vudu/HD) $3.50 (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Upside, The (2017) (iTunes/HD) $2
Us (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Van Helsing (2004) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Venom (2018) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.25
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50
Vice (2015) 'Bruce Willis' (Vudu/HD) $2.50
WALL-E (2008) (iTunes/4K) $8 (GP/HD) $5.50
Walt Disney Animation Studios Shorts Collection (2015) (MA/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $4
Warcraft (2016) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.25
Watch, The (2012) (MA/HD) $4.25
Waterworld (1995) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $6
Way, Way Back, The (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25
Weird Science (2008) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Welcome to Marwen (2018) (MA/4K) $3.50
West Side Story (2021) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) (GP/HD) $2.50
What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.25
When the Game Stands Tall (2014) (MA/HD) $4.50 (MA/SD) $1.75
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) (MA/HD) $4.50
Whiplash (2014) (MA/HD) $5.75
White House Down (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
Widows (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) (MA/4K) $5
Wind River (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Wings (1927) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Witch, The (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Wolf Man (1941) (MA/4K) $6.50
Wolverine (Unrated) (2013) (MA/HD) $3.75
Woman King (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) (MA/4K) $5
Won't Back Down (2012) (MA/HD) $4
Wreck-It Ralph (2012) (MA/4K) $8 (GP/HD) $4.25
X (2022) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
X2: X-Men United (2003) (MA/HD) $6.25
X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) (MA/HD) $15
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.50
X-Men: First Class (2010), Days of Future Past (2004), Apocalypse (2014) (MA/HD) $11
Yesterday (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Zathura (2005) (MA/HD) $7
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) (MA/HD) $3
Zootopia (2016) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.25
submitted by wtfwafflezor to DigitalCodeSELL [link] [comments]


2023.06.07 03:41 bigolymoly Am I getting ripped offed?

Am I getting ripped offed?
Total was 2,223 for a 2000 Chevy Malibu just want second opinions if there is any
submitted by bigolymoly to AskMechanics [link] [comments]


2023.06.07 01:19 temptationaus UFC 289: Nunes vs Aldana (Provide Picks Full Card Breakdown and Analysis)

2023 Results (So Far): +13.78 Units
2022 Results: +73.185 Units
All Time: +87 Units
Quick recap for last week - one of our worst weeks in some time. It was a very frustrating watch on quite a lot of our bets. I mentioned in our betting mailout post weigh-ins that this was a massively dicey card in that it was going to be a hugely positive results or quite a rough week for betting and that came completely true (sadly). Recap:
  1. Daniel Santos ITD and under 2.5 rds - I don’t know how Munoz hung in there, he was getting absolutely battered at some many points. That one hurt.
  2. Castaneda wins RD 2/ RD 3 - A tonne of people riding the Gafarov side in this one, he showed some good heart and durability but Castaneda was the clear a side in this one as I thought. In retrospect, this was a really sharp bet and I think we were unlucky not to hit here.
  3. Zaleski ITD - on the right side with a close fight between these two, ITD never really looked likely. Chalk it.
  4. Tim Elliott ML - was my strongest lean and at a good price. All week I thought he would just be better than Altamirano everywhere and he was. I think Victor looked good and he is getting better and the guy is super tough but just outclassed in this one.
  5. Kara-France/Albazi under 4.5 rds - thought this was hitting when Albazi had the back of Kai and was choking him out, Kai did unreal to survive that. Close fight, never really close to any finish besides that RNC. Is what it is.
I think we were unlucky on a few of those picks and if a few things had gone differently it wouldve been a mammoth week. That’s part of the game though! Play your value, make your reads properly week after week and you will get your dues - firm believer.
Anyways enough waffle - let’s get into this week’s shenanigans. Name value wise, this is one of the worst PPV’s in some time - gotta feel for those Canadian fans. However, I say it most weeks, any weekend with MMA in my life is a better weekend than if there was nothing! Some strong favourites and some interesting underdogs this week.
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David Dvořák (20-5) vs. Steve Erceg (9-1):
Erceg is a rangey FLW who fights out of OD. Decent little leg kick, more of a counter striker. He has good timing on his wrestling entries, good at using the overhand right consistently and then using that setup to feint and use double leg entries. Erceg also has really nice outside leg trips. He’s quite an elite grappler, very sharp on the ground and is outstanding at finding the back and on the mat he is so comfortable. He has complete control with his long arms and legs and is able to use them expertly to position his opponent where he wants them. He just has a great variety of submissions he is able to go to depending on the scramble situation. He is also very good at using his height to hold people against the cage and has really good knees in the clinch. Dvorak is an elusive, well rounded guy on the feet. He is quite a movement orientated FLW, very bouncy and likes to fight on the outside and off the back of his jab. Quite a wide base and can be very measured which means he should have good balance against an incoming takedown. He does at times rush into exchanges at times which worries me that he will get level changed and clean taken down. He is the far more experienced fighter with almost double the fights and this does seem like a step down in competition. Coming into this fight I thought I would be far on the Dvorak side given the striking advantage but I think Erceg can give Dvorak a lot of issues on the ground here with his scrambling ability and outside leg trips in the clinch. Close fight, edging Dvorak but if we see Erceg as a big underdog, I am definitely playing him, potentially by sub. For now, I will take David Dvorak via UD.
BET: If Erceg is over a +250 underdog, 1 unit play on Erceg. If I can get Erceg via SUB at +500 or more, I am definitely playing that.
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Chris Daukaus (12-6) vs. Khalil Rountree (11-5) [CANCELLED BUT I HAD ALREADY ANALYSED SO ENJOY LOL]
Rountree is a SP Thai style fighter, he has very quick, sharp hands that pair with his explosive variety of kicks nicely. He has always been a super talented guy but struggled mentally so it is nice to see him put things together in that area as well as develop physically. I like the way he handfights in opposite stances, he really accentuates the rear body kick and straight shots which is excellent, it works better when he works off the back of his lead hand feints. Can be partial to losing a little technique with his boxing combos and swinging wildly which a skilled boxer in the pocket will take full advantage of. Daukaus coming down for to 205 for this fight which is a move that shouldve happened sooner IMO. He’s mainly a boxer who relies on quick hands in close, landing some decent volume but can be out powered. If you look at Daukaus’ record, there’s a clear trend - he KO’s grapplers and loses to competent strikers. Will be interested to see him on the scales but skill for skill, I favour Rountree’s kicking game to really shine here and given this will be an OD vs SP matchup, I favour the Rountree side even more - I expect the lead hand feints, sharp crosses and rear body kick to dictate this fight and lead to a KO within 2 rounds. Taking Khalil Rountree via TKO RD 2.
BET: Will be looking at the unders, Khalil ITD if in the range of -130 and under.
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Nassourdine Imavov (12-4) vs. Chris Curtis (30-10):
This is a pretty tough fight to handicap given we have seen such varying degrees of success from both men. Imavov is a long, flowy Orthodox mainly kickboxer who has good footwork and really good straight shots. He has a similar style of footwork to his main training partner Cyril Gane however he has far less head movement and this really does show as he is quite hittable. I do really like the variety in the kicking game of Imavov, he has a very agile lead lead leg which means a lot of teeps, side kicks, oblique kicks and calf kicks. Imavov is far better when he is dictating the fight off the back of his jab and the one moving forward, when he is the one moving backwards his head movement is far worse, his chin is there to be hit and his footwork leaves him just in range. Chris Curtis is a Southpaw boxer who has a simple game plan in his fights - keep the fight standing with his great takedown defence and land the more significant shots in the pocket. He is good at moving forward, cutting off the cage and relying on initial slips and a high boxing guard to defend most shots. His lead hand is somewhat active but his money maker is definitely his body rips, which generally come off his slipping actions, as well as his rear hand cross. Given his heavy lead leg orientated boxing stance, Curtis has very little kicking ability and his ability to check kicks is next to nothing - this is an area I fully expect Imavov to exploit. To me, Imavov is going to be landing more volume, with the kicks and the hands, dictating where this fight takes place. I think Curtis will be slowly trying to move forward, cut the cage and use his power shots to the body to wear on Imavov to where he can take over late. I think the movement of Imavov will be enough to use angles in and out, land more often and use the clinch to get the Thai plum for knees to the body and to hold Curtis against the cage if need be. This is a close fight, I think the odds are pretty bang on here. Not interested in betting this fight but I will slightly edge Nassourdine Imavov via UD (29-28).
BET: Too many unknowns for me, no bet.
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Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aoriqileng
Zahabi is one of the strangest fighters to breakdown for me simply because he is so awkward in his movements. He switches stances as he moves forward in the most uncomfortable looking way. I like his kicking counters, has nice kickboxing style counters and he clearly has some power in his hands. He is very low volume and looks to be the counter striker, letting his opponent throw first and then countering off that. He fights super infrequently which concerns me but is riding a few OK wins. Coming up against Aoriqileng here who is definitely rounding out his skill-set and getting better which you like to see. Defensively, he is good at just staying out of range with his footwork and staying in a tight shell, he also has a really good chin to absorb shots. Offensively, he is OK, he could probably benefit from using his jab more but he has good timing on his shots and has nice boxing combos in close specifically. He likes to lead in with a lead left hook and follow with his big cross and work off that. In this one, I think Aoriqileng is the side to be on. I think he is the more well-rounded fighter who can use his wrestling to mix things up but on the feet, I favour his power and hand-speed and I think he will touch Zahabi up in this one. I think Fight Ready will have Aoriqileng primed here and I think he will look better than his last fight. Taking Aoriqileng via UD.
BET: Swaying on an Aoriqileng ML play but as of right now, nothing.
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Blake Bilder vs. Kyle Nelson
I think Bilder is better in every single area of this fight. He’s a better boxer, he is more durable, his grappling is probably his best aspect of his game and I think he will wear on Nelson here and outlast him. Bilder is (pardon me) building into his career nicely, I think this is a good opponent for him to put a showcase on against. Am curious to see what some props on Bilder ITD will be. I think he will have more volume, more power and he will be more live to finish the fight. I think Bilder’s speed will catch Nelson and then he will find a submission. Taking Blake Bilder via SUB RD 2.
BET: Nothing outlayed currently. Potential Bilder ITD play if +250. Probably a parlay piece.
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Diana Belbiţă vs. Maria Oliveira
Close fight. Not interested here.
BET: no bet.
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Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Miranda Maverick
Now this is a fight that I might surprise some with. Let’s start with Maverick - she got a huge wrap from Anik probably over 1.5 years ago claiming she would beat Shevchenko. Now while that is completely ludicrous, she has shown a decent amount of talent. On the feet, she is pretty technical with her kickboxing, looking her best when she is at range and can use her kicks to dictate the fight. She is pretty well-rounded with an OK offensive wrestling game, generally built off clinch pressure and outside/inside trips. Now where she has struggled is her defensive wrestling, she is content to get stuck on her back and shows an inability to move or improve position. She is coming up against Jasudavicius here, who while is incredibly average on the feet, is honestly a very impressive female wrestler. She is BIG for the division, she is durable and she has really good forward pressure. I think while this fight is on the feet, Maverick will be the far better striker but I think Jasudavicius will be like a dog in this fight, moving forward, absorbing shots while she closes distance and holds Maverick up against the cage, using her massive frame before working takedowns and trips and maintaining top position to win minutes. I think this is a decent matchup for Jasudavicius and I think frankly that this is a far closer fight than the odds would indicate. It should be close but I am taking Jasmine Jasudavicius via UD.
BET: Jasudavicius ML +260 (1 unit to win 2.6).
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Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt
Hometown boy in Mike Malott in this one. Malott fights out of both but southpaw stance mainly, with a Thai style striking game mixing powerful hands and sharp rear power kicks while keeping the fight in his range. On the ground he has really good BJJ, I like how smothering his top pressure is - he has really good balance to hold top position but uses it well to land good ground and pound and hunt submissions. He has good power in his hands, especially in his hooks that land in perfect placement and with excellent timing. Fugitt also fights out of southpaw and is a sort of OK everywhere but not great anywhere sort of fighter. He looks comfortable on the feet but is extremely hittable, not a lot of head movement but is super durable, I mean that head kick he just ate from Kinoshita was so flush and it didnt even wobble him. He is a Muay Thai bred fighter but has good wrestling pressure and we saw in his last fight that he can mix in takedowns, maintain top position and use vicious elbows to finish the fight. If we see SP v SP on the feet, I think this will be pretty closely contested. Both guys are fairly rudimentary strikers with Malott probably having more power but I think Fugitt has the durability to withstand this. I probably favour the grappling of Malott, I think pure grappling wise he is stronger and more technical and given I think that the striking is fairly close, I am going to lean Mike Malott via UD.
BET: Curious to see what the over 1.5 is set at given Fugitt is durable and can probably withstand Malott.
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Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
Man I love Nate Landwehr as a person and a personality within the UFC but this is just a really difficult matchup for him. Ige is super well-rounded with good power in his hands, nice movement, Hawaiian durability, effective offensive wrestling and good grappling. He is good in brawls but also content to fight from the outside and land his shots. Nate thrives when he can make these fights absolute scraps and wear on his opponent but I just don’t see Dan succumbing to the pressure of Nate. Nate’s chin can definitely be cracked and I think Ige has too much power in his hands, I think he will touch Nate and I think he will put him away. It’s a big step up in competition and one that I would love to see Nate do well in, but going to have to side with the more proven, well-rounded commodity at this point and take Dan Ige via TKO RD 2.
BET: no bet.
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Eryk Anders vs. Marc-André Barriault
No time to watch tape and honestly not much interest. Two grappling offensive heavy boys. You’d think this goes overs.
BET: No bet
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Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
And finally, we are at the main event of the evening! Just kidding, but seriously…. We know who Charles Oliveira is, he is an aggressive, forward pushing, muay thai striker with elite offensive grappling. On the feet, I love Charles’ offense. He has technically beautiful and powerful boxing combinations, he has solid leg kicks, he has a agile lead leg which we see lets him use his teep to the guts and check kicks intermittently, he is just a lot to deal with. However, where he falls is his striking defence. He is susceptible to being hit and this is purely because he has no head movement and is always on centre line. While his recovery time is pretty decent, his chin isn’t great and we have seen that he can be submitted after being hurt if the opponent isn’t concerned with entering the grappling space with him. Onto Beneil Dariush - super well rounded guy, fights out of SP and is on some sort of upward trajectory career wise. While I do think the competition level can be slightly questioned, the same could have been said (and was said) of Charles post Kevin Lee / Tony Ferguson, but these guys cant prove themselves against top flight competition if they don’t get their chance and Beneil is getting his shot here. Beneil is good but not great on the feet, he has a sort of awkward style where he isn’t super explosive and is kind of flat footed but he does have power, good leg kicks and a decent chin. He has excellent takedown defence to keep the fight standing and if his opponent does get him down, he has elite scrambles to threaten submissions, specifically leg entanglements to use this to get back to his feet. Straight up, this is an excellent fight and we are in for a treat. How does this fight play out? It is definitely the critical question. I actually think Do Bronxs offensive wrestling is hugely underrated, he has elite double legs and if he can clinch up with you, especially against the cage, his knees to the body and elbows on the break and massive for wearing on his opponent. I honestly don’t think we see a massive amount of ground time here unless someone is rocked and wants to jump in, I think Beneil’s TD DEF is good enough to stay on the feet and I doubt he’s putting himself out to shoot singles and doubles and risk a scramble scenario with a non-concussed Charles. So the question is, who is the better striker? I think it’s Charles. I think his lead teep is going to be a huge weapon here, I think he will push the pace, use that to keep range and just wear at Beneil as well as off his jab and as long as he can avoid the big overhand left that Beneil loves, I think he is live in this one. Beneil drops his hands as he leg kicks and I can see Charles timing this, blocking the power left kick from Beneil and countering with left hook on the chin and I think we might see a ground and pound stoppage here. It is a super close fight, one that will be exciting from the start and one that will hurt no matter who loses. I think the odds are closer to a 50/50 than the bookmakers have it - I am taking Charles Oliveira via TKO RD 1.
BET: Charles Oliveira ITD +180 (1 unit to win 1.8)
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Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
This is a much more interesting fight than the previous Pena scheduling so I don’t mind seeing this replacement. Mexican fighters are on a hell of a run in title fights, so I am sure Aldana will be absorbing that momentum coming into this. Aldana is a very typical style Mexican fighter, good boxing especially in the pocket, some wicked durability and a really nice jab. She can be wrestled and taken down but for a mainly boxing fighter she manages to catch people in some strange scrambles sometimes which could play a key here. The main questions for Nunes is and always tends to be, what is her motivation like? We know how she fights, she loves to try and strike on the feet, has mean power but can also shoot takedowns and grapple with severe efficiency when she gets on top. We knew Pena was going to be durable, be awkward, be relentless and keep pushing forward and she did and she wore on Nunes. I think Aldana can do the same here, if she fights off the back of her long jab, she is a much more technical striker than Nunes IMO - and to be honest, I think Nunes has slightly regressed in her technicality on the feet. Aldana has a path to victory in fighting behind the jab, frustrating Nunes to engage in a dog fight which is much to Aldana’s benefit. I also think Nunes has a path to victory by working her takedowns, working her kicking game and winning minutes by smothering the output of Aldana. I capped this fight 55/45 to Aldana, will wait to see what they both look like on the scale before I pull the trigger but there is a potential of a Aldana ML play here if we get the right number. The pick will be Amanda Nunes via SUB RD 4 but has the potential to change.
BET: No bet currently, potential Aldana ML play.
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And that wraps up the breakdowns for this week! Good luck, always gamble responsibly and remember to hang around long-term because there will be ups and downs but trust the process and we will build some bankroll. Would love to know if you agree or disagree anywhere and let us know who you are riding with below. Enjoy the fights!
Full transparency, I run a MMA betting service called Provide Picks. We have been operating for roughly a year and a half completely tracked and verifiable with a return of over 90 units in that short time. You can find our full tracking sheet history here and you can also see a bunch of customer testimonials and betting slips throughout that time here.
Me myself, I have watched MMA religiously for more than 10 years and trained for over 4.5 years, I love this sport so I figured why not help bring some insight and analysis to others! Now this isn’t a sales pitch, I know how Reddit works and I really enjoy the opinions shared on this sub-reddit so I genuinely want to help contribute and if you enjoy the output, please feel free to join the team! We are proven to be profitable long-term so if you have some spare change to invest at any level, you love the sport and are interested in improving your knowledge - come over and check us out at providepicks.com. As we have a fair base of paying members, it wouldn’t be fair to them to share every single one of our bets however I want to provide as much value for this betting community as people, hopefully to help you guys see a different angle in terms of MMA betting and long-term profitability and more importantly - sending these bookies broke.
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2023.06.07 00:50 kidd_cannnabis Can’t move on (part 2)

On Friday the 19th the person (21F) I (21M) was seeing stopped contact rather abruptly, with little to no explanation. I should mention we were together for a very short while, about a week really.
However in that short week she changed my world. I improved my workout regimens, took my personal hygiene twice as serious, etc. I was happy, I had purpose, I hade hope, life was good.
Now, after 2 weeks since I’ve seen or heard from her, she is still in my head. Just about every other thought I have is about her one way or another, longingly. I can’t stop thinking about how everything could’ve gone differently, as well as just how I made her feel and why she felt she needed to break contact.
(More details in part 1 https://www.reddit.com/Advice/comments/13o9uxh/short_but_great_relationship_ended_abruptly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1)
Yesterday I sent what I believe to be a well-worded, non-intrusive text asking if she could explain a little further in the hopes of getting some closure, but if there is no response or if hers fails to bring me peace I don’t really know what I will do.
I live and work on my family farm 30 minutes from Madison Wi, the nearest city, with no other employees besides my father, and damn it gets lonely. I get through my days easily enough, but she’s right in the back of my head the whole time.
I don’t have any regular contact with people besides my main friend group and I guess I’m asking not only how to move on and move forward, but even just meeting people. I use dating apps, but I’m too far from town to get any consistency. Life is hard, and it feels like I’m just a couple inches away from reaching the fruit of happiness, but I’m stagnant at my current rate.
Not only do I miss her and long to be back with her, but just the thought of her makes any other candidate for love seem second-class. I’ve never been with someone so special, and my lenses are so fogged, it’s hard to believe anybody else is.
This is a long read, but if anyone takes the time to take everything in and maybe help me figure out what I need and need to do, I will be incredibly grateful, thank you.
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2023.06.07 00:46 smashT Coffee with Captain from dGenNetwork with Doodles CEO Julian Holguin Jun 6, 2023

Coffee with Captain from dGenNetwork Twitter Spaces today featured Doodles CEO Julian Holguin
If anyone wants to listen back: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1DXxyveZOwbKM
I've shared some of the Doodles related Q&A below:
Can you tell us a little bit about this Camp experience for those who missed the announcement?
Julian: So Camp and Doodles has been underway for a while. It's definitely been a concept that we've been kicking around since I started at the company and the whole idea was that if you can create an immersive retail experience that brings people into your world and kind of draft off of the success that Doodles had at SXSW and make it more permanent, you can really reach people in a meaningful way. It's why people go to Disneyland, Universal Studios etc. It's a big endeavor to launch a theme park. There are massive businesses that are built around actually standing up these theme parks but there's kind of a hole in the market for every weekend, almost everyday activities you can do with a family or with friends that bring consumers and fans and collectors closer to your experience in a way that's truly experiential. So Camp is a business that has been able to stand up a really incredible solution for that.
I actually discovered it with my family while I was living in Los Angeles. I brought my son to their Nike kids camp and I was blown away. You walk in, it's a specialty toy store, it's got all the viral kids toys and it's kind of like a modern day FAO Schwarz, it's really cool. Then they have this ticketed experience where you buy tickets to whatever the branded theme is, that time in L.A, it was Nike. You take the family through this magic door at the back of the store and it opens up into this 6000 square foot, crazy guided immersive experience where there's actors, they call them counselors that take you through this whole experience that's guided for your family and your kids and they're immersed in the world. It's play, it's fun and then at the end of it is this really cool gift shop experience where people can get a chance to take home the stuff that they just interacted with and some of the energy that they were just able to put into play.
Camp has a network of these stores across the country. They also have one in Atlanta, which just debuted with The Little Mermaid, they have one in New York, which debuted with Disney Encanto, they've done Paw Patrol, they have Mickey and Friends live in Dallas, so they have this whole network. We're opening a new store with them this summer that's Doodles. So we're going to be side by side with some of the best and most beloved IP in the world and bringing what so many people love about Doodles to life permanently. The idea is that we're going to be a specific location for around 3 to 6 months potentially a little bit longer and then that show is actually built to pack up and go on the road. So we'll move to a different one of their locations.
We're making a bunch of new products, our first actual kids merchandise. It's going to be integrated into the experience. The experience that you're going to see is brand new, completely built from the ground up. Anybody that's been to our live events know that we know how to do this and we really do know how to bring people into our world and this is another opportunity for us to also age down and reach a new demographic with kids, parents and kind of everybody in between so it's a really exciting time for us. We believe immersive retail is going to be a massive thing in the future. If yesterday's Apple event actually punctuated anything, it's this concept of mixed reality that is going to be prevalent in our life and the whole idea of immersive retail is to continually use digital product, live experiences to bring people closer to stories, to bring people closer to characters, to bring people actually into the universe that we're ultimately creating and we all know being in Web3 how that is core to the ethos, that's why all of us signed up. We want to feel like we're part of this, so we're really excited. Can't wait for everybody to see more.
Why is Camp the ideal partner versus doing this yourselves?
Julian: I think we do IRL as good as anybody in the world, not just anybody in Web3. I think the elevation that Doodles brought to the space when it comes to IRL after SXSW was a call to action to everybody in the space to kind of level up and you've seen a lot of people, based on what we did start to invest more in these live experiences and try and bring people closer to the actual IP. I think we've been leaders in that regard and we have no doubt that we would have been able to build a really special live experience if we had just done it from the ground up but it made a lot more sense knowing that this is not our core competency to actually partner with somebody to help operate a fully baked retail location. As much as camp is a business that we're completely leaning into, it's also a test for product market fit, one thing that they have is email subscriber lists, customers, real fans of their brand that seek out these kinds of experiences in the cities that they're in so there's already built in marketing value that we have by partnering with Camp, the infrastructure, they know how to operate a store from day to day.
They know the right amount of inventory to order, they know the right way to actually have these experiences flow when it comes to a three hour guided experience and they know how to get the most value for their customers and ultimately out of their customers. So it was a really good idea for us to actually partner with somebody before going all in and investing 100% of our own money into an experience like this and we truly think partnership is the way to learn as much as you possibly can and it's also not that different from the way that massive IP shows up at theme parks and such, there are theme park operators like Merlin Entertainment and what they do is license IP and then ultimately build theme parks around them. So there are very few people that actually stand up their own theme park businesses and actually bring their own live experiences to market. I do think it's something that we could probably own one day but the best idea short term was to do it with somebody that's a true expert in it and kind of shares a similar ethos that we do.
How do you plan to drive people to the Doodles experience vs something like Mickey that's also in Camp stores?
That's exactly why it made so much sense to actually partner with Camp because they have a built in audience and customer base. Right off the bat we're going to have thousands of people that are going to become aware of Doodles instantly just because we're partnering with Camp and going to have a location activated in a particular city. So that's number one. Number two is that that's not going to be enough, we want to try and actually integrate within that city and and the surrounding markets. So what we're going to be doing is a full fledged marketing campaign. We're going to be sponsoring local events, we're going to be working with local influencers, people that have kids, people that don't, we're going to be doing outdoor, we're going to be doing radio, we're going to be getting the message out there about Doodles, but not just about Doodles. The fact that there is this new incredible experience that's coming to market. New York, LA, Miami, Austin, Columbus, Ohio, a lot of these places have a lot of major entertainment things that come by but there's very few things that fill this gap. You can go to Six Flags, Disneyland, you can go to a tour that's coming through town like I take my kid to the Jurassic World tour and it's really cool but there's not many things that are IP driven that you can go to any weekend.
You can knock out three hours with your family, there's just a really big hole in that market in almost every single city. The fact the experience is going to be coming to the city that we're going to is a marketing opportunity within itself. So Doodles is going to draft off of that solution that this experience is actually providing to the market and I think everybody knows this that's been to our events, once you're in, once you experience it, you have a really big opportunity with a brand like Doodles to keep people interested in your ecosystem, to keep people interested in what you're doing. The other thing you kind of mentioned about our events where you see strollers and families around during the day and then at night it's a Diplo concert, we're going to be doing a similar kind of thing with daypart programing where there's going to be basically daytime programing for kids and families and then at night, not every single night but at night there's going to be more adult focused programing where the setting and the scene is a lot more for people that are over 21 and not really in that family kind of setting. So it's going to be pretty cool to see our ability to actually target multiple demographics and try and be a multi-generational brand.
You have mentioned that Doodles is like the Amex black card of the collection. How does that work related to the Doodles Camp experience?
Julian: We've been maintaining this. So essentially the Doodles OG collection, obviously there's provenance associated with it, it's the art that started it all, it's one of 10,000 Burnt Toast but it also comes with this contract that's going to give you the ultimate access in the entire ecosystem. Sometimes access means you're going to get entered for a raffle to be one of the only 300 people that get the Pharrell pack for free. Sometimes it's going to be access to a major live event that we're propping up at a big cultural moment and sometimes it's going to be something like Camp where you are going to get free entry, you are going to get merchandise credits, you are going to get concierge services, meaning when you show up, it's not going to be like somebody walking off the street, the store is going to be waiting for you, you're going to be treated like a true VIP because that's what people that hold the original collection are and we think that's a pretty special thing. We think people strive for that. We think people want to feel special, especially when they're investing money in collectibles and the things that we offer in our ecosystem so if you're traveling to come to this specific location, we want that experience to feel very special to you.
We don't want you to feel like just any normal consumer off the street. You're part of the Doodles universe, the same way that the characters that are being displayed in that experience are. So it's really special to us and really important to us that we live up to that in that our community. The people that are truly in the community every single day, engaging, building. There's a fictional universe of characters and then there's the real world lifestyle of Doodles, the real world lifestyle of Doodles we want to be as known and as much of a part of our story as the actual fictional universe and that's what we're trying to perpetuate with this idea of like white glove concierge service. I always think of it like concierge key with American Airlines or the Black Card with American Express or Club 33 with Disney, it doesn't mean every single thing that we do is going to be free but it means there's going to be a very, very special experience for OGs at every step of the way and this is just another iteration of that.
When you gave the presentation at NFTNYC about a year ago, you talked about immersive experiences, culture, music, is there anything that has changed or pivoted in strategy since that presentation?
Julian: I think a business like us you need to give yourselves agency to pivot as things unfold and as technology develops and I'd say that our vision has not changed at all but the way we get there maybe there are a couple changes but they wouldn't be noticeable to somebody looking from the outside in. I think the way that we think about on-chain loyalty, rewards and engagement and a hub like the stoodio being connected to every single consumer touchpoint, we've always had a vision for that because there's countless examples of major IP in the world that has fans and really loyal supporters that go out and see them at the movies, theme parks, buy merch, play games and the IP actually has no way of tracking all of that behavior. They have no idea who these people are, much less how to reward them for their support and for their loyalty. If you build from the ground up with that mindset, you're going to be able to create a much deeper relationship between you and your most loyal supporters, which is kind of what Web3 is about. So how do we create a brand that can do what any of these major IP operators do with an audience of millions, but we're doing it with thousands and then you build that traditional business model on top of it to create something truly exponential.
That is the vision, that's the game. I think the thing that most people don't understand is that brands today, it's not like you can just go build one tentpole and build a global IP off of that. If you're Disney you can, you can release Encanto, be working on it for five years and have all the distribution to make that a hit but it doesn't work that way for most people trying to build an IP. Most brands need to be present every day where consumers spend their time on social media, in live events, through merchandise, people spend their time in very fragmented ways these days, and attention is very difficult to maintain. So this whole concept of transmedia storytelling is really important and if you think about what GoldenWolf is, they're an animation and creative studio that specializes in advertising content, on digital content, on social content. So knowing that we are going to be a transmedia storytelling brand, meaning we're going to be present in many different areas and we're going to be creating content around all of the things that we do, whether it be Camp, brand partnerships that we have coming up, Doodles Records, anything with the product and the stoodio, new NFT collections etc. What could be a better asset internally than an Emmy nominated advertising and animation studio? We're going to be able to put high quality content out in a way that other people truly just can't keep up with.
I don't mean content for the sake of content. I truly mean high quality content. So GoldenWolf being in the mix is huge for us. Ingi is an incredible thought leader, always thinking about new ways to push technology forward. For us blockchain is obviously what made Doodles what it is and it's obviously what is most interesting to us and how digital ownership brings people closer to an IP but how can you use some other emerging technologies to actually create quicker time to market for animation so you can create more animations? How do you use it to create more immersive environments? Really thinking about new ways to push the envelope and at the end of the day, people connect with stories, people connect with characters, people love joyful entertainment and if we can make those people feel like they're part of our universe the same way that our main characters are, that's when you get something that I don't think truly exists in the world today and it's something we're really excited about so I'd say not a ton has changed, how we get there and the mechanism in which we deliver these incredible stories and bring people closer will always change. That's just kind of the nature of being in the world that we're in but I'd say we have as much or more conviction than when I started.
Did Apple's Vision Pro announcement yesterday strengthen your belief in the future of experiential and immersive experiences
Julian: Yeah. Everybody knows Burnt Toast for creating the characters but he's actually a really incredible product and thought leader in how to leverage technology to create more content. He's been beating this drum for a long time. Mixed reality. He really loves augmented reality specifically and I think what you saw last night was a major step in how this is ultimately going to evolve. That headset is going to get smaller and smaller. The computing power is going to get stronger and stronger. The price is going to get cheaper and cheaper. The technology is going to get more intuitive and anybody that's not thinking about that future is definitely going to get left behind. How long it takes to get to a point where that use case is truly at scale? Who knows? I think it happens faster these days than it ever has before. I think it's actually a really exciting time if you're a creator, especially if you're a creator in a world where you're trying to connect physical and digital. We couldn't be more bullish and we couldn't be more excited for the kind of things that we're actually going to be able to make with a truly great platform like that.
I think the metaverse is a term, it's not what's actually being created. It's thrown around so much and people talk about the metaverse like it's someplace we're going and not someplace that we kind of live in today. Everybody very carefully curates what they put on social media, younger generations care so much about the digital assets that they can acquire like Roblox and Fortnite, people care about what their Zoom looks like, everybody on this Twitter space has very carefully curated what their PFP looks like and what their Twitter feed looks like. We are very much living in a world that has bridges from digital and IRL and what the announcement was yesterday and what Disney is doing is just talking about a much more intuitive and deeper way to make that a reality and to create better experiences. If you looked at the visuals, imagine throwing on a headset and being able to watch a Disney movie like that or to watch a game on ESPN. I don't even think people can really feel the impact of how that's going to be. It's going to be incredible. It's going to be an entertainment experience that just does not exist today and until people can actually feel it, I think there's going to be a lot of speculation, but that showed a lot of promise, we were all pretty blown away watching that presentation.
I love that you've mentioned a couple times the prioritization of content and good content, is Doodles active on platforms outside of twitter or is that coming?
Julian: It's coming up. We are mostly active on Instagram and Twitter. We needed to actually get the GoldenWolf acquisition through and then ultimately integrate the company and the business into Doodles so that naturally just takes some time and what we didn't want to do was just rush to get content out there because it's something that you feel like you have to do. Quality takes time. A brand that's going to live forever and and be timeless takes time. It's not like technology where if you're first and you're quick, you get a leg up. People are always starving for new IP. People are always looking for new stories. People are always looking for new ways to actually connect and feel joy and escape and what we can't do is rush to put something out that doesn't truly mirror or represent the Doodles brand and the bar for quality that we have. Obviously we're going to have a TikTok channel, we're going to have more YouTube content. It's just taking a little bit of time as these things should. I don't want to give you like an exact date of when that stuff is going to happen, but it's all being developed as we speak in addition to the long form, whether that be television or film and then what are the characters names? What are the stories? What adventures do they go on? What is the universe like? You're going to start to see tidbits of that throughout the summer and into the end of the year.
I wasn't even thinking long form. Is that alpha?
Julian: You've definitely heard that before. Of course if your any major IP, you want to figure out a way to exploit that IP in new ways and film, television, longer form takes a longer time and it's something that we don't really feel the need to rush into because it's not like we have everything riding on Doodles being like a smash TV show or a major hit movie at the box office. If you think about the way brands operate today, evergreen social content, narrative storytelling, different kinds of physical and digital experiences, merchandise, true connection to your audience and your community every single day. That's what Doodles is really going to prioritize and in parallel to that, yes, how do we actually get like a bigger tentpole to market?
I think you were hinting to building out the lore of the collection, are there plans to roll out content around exactly what it is to be a holder of these collections?
Julian: That's a great question. I'd say that first and foremost, all the fictional universe and lore for what Doodles is building is going to emanate from our collections. So the characters are going to emanate from the original collection. Some of the fashion inspiration in our universe is going to emanate from Doodles2, it's going to be very clear to anybody that's been around for a while or anybody that knows Doodles that the world that's being built is being built around the NFT's and the community is going to have several ways to take part in that and then as far as actually marketing what it means to be an OG holder, there's going to be a ton of content. There already has been a lot of content if you look our marketing pages and some of the tweet threads, some of the animations that we've made to kind of take people through whatever experience we're promoting at the time but when it does come to the actual membership itself, that's something that we're going to continue to prioritize. There's going to be a lot of content made around that and it's something that we talk about internally every day.
If you look at another collection, DeGods. They seem to really be leaning into these seasons. What I mean by that is the content they create, they sort of build up to the utility for months
Julian: That's not entirely our strategy to speculate on what utility may or may not be, I would just say that what we found works for us is kind of just showing people, iterating and testing and we think that's a really good long term strategy for us, especially because we're in a position where we're able to do a lot right now because of the capital that we raised last year. I think the utility is going to get very clear and the ecosystem is going to become very clear soon. I think people are already starting to feel it with the launch of the stoodio, the Pharrell Pack, Pharrell himself becoming a Doodle in our universe, Camp and some of the other partnerships that we're getting ready to announce that are going to happen this summer and into the end of the year so I'd say that we want people to feel like more is coming, but we also don't want to over promise and have people have outsized expectations because I think a lot of projects fall victim to that.
We're also fans of what a lot of other people are doing and we study what other people are doing to try and take bits of that and see how they could fit our business. I think the thing that's really exciting about Web3 right now is that not everyone is doing things the same way. Specifically in the PFP collections, everybody is kind of establishing their own lane and doing really incredible work across the space and I'd say that should be an exciting thing because what works for one project won't necessarily work for the next. It's pretty cool that we're all collections, we're all NFT's, we're all Web3 but at the end of the day, the track that we're taking and the businesses that we're creating are actually really different. So I'd say that we look at these things, it's just figuring out when and why to implement them or activate them but I think mainly what you're saying is, how can you make sure that the utility isn't really going under the radar and it's something that we're championing as much as the big brand moments and that's something that is 100% a priority for us and making sure that the community feels and understands what it means to be a holder.
I love that these projects are taking different paths and while I think others will follow, I do think it's going to take a big brand like Doodles kind of chart that blueprint in a sense.
Julian: Yeah and others others have followed. When Jordan, Evan and Scott started the company, they were very clear that this was an IP that they were going to develop over time and making sure that the community was part of that IP. SXSW was kind of a statement that Doodles made. NFTNYC was a statement that Doodles made and you've seen a lot of projects actually try and do what we are doing. Everybody knows Doodles may not have been the best at talking about what we're doing but at the end of the day, I think no one's going to be able to deny that there's a really thriving ecosystem, company and community being built around this IP come the next few months when all that's about to release is going to release. It's a very exciting time to be a Doodle holder. I feel like Doodle holders are going to be very proud to represent the brand and be ambassadors for the brand and I think we're really proud that the community that has stuck around and truly engaged with us this entire way is going to feel very good about where we're going. It's an exciting time for Web3. I think you're going to see a lot of really interesting work. I've always said that last year was kind of the year of shipping promises and this year going into next year is really going to be the year that you actually start seeing all of us ship product and you're starting to see some really incredible work unfold and we're just happy that we still have a chance to do that.
Can we expect any other in real life activations whether it be Art Basel or otherwise this year or is it all focus on Camp?
Julian: Camp is going to be the main focus from an investment perspective, meaning most of what we have for live is going towards Camp and building that out as a true business, with that being said we love popping up at other IRL moments because it's a way to onboard new people into our ecosystem and also reward key community members. What we did at Something In The Water was we basically set up this 30 by 30 space. We called it Doodle Beach. There was a merch shop that promoted our collaboration with BBC Ice Cream and then there was another space where you could actually test out the Doodles2 product experience on screen and go into the stoodio, mess around a little bit, learn more about Doodles and what it is. We were able to onboard a lot of festival goers that really didn't know anything about the brand beforehand but we were able to break off 50 super VIP tickets with incredible access to the stage and raffle those off for Doodles community members. We're going to be doing that again at other moments this year. Exactly which ones, we're not prepared to say yet but that will always be a focus for us. What we wanted to do was create an activation that could be easily packed up and travel so we could take a similar thing from event to event versus trying to go completely all in on a SXSW or Art Basel, not to say that's not going to be something we do in the future, we're just trying to scale our live event footprint and our activity a little bit more.
Was there ever a discussion about creating permanent Doodle-branded locations, inspired by the success of Doodleputt, such as Doodles laser tag or Doodles go kart racing?
Julian: I think the thing that we wanted to kind of steer clear of is having any association for Doodles that was not specifically about Doodles, the characters and the stories. If the first time people are experiencing Doodles is through golf or laser tag or bowling you kind of run the risk of people thinking that's what it is. If you think about Mario, the characters, the stories, people were very familiar with what those were before Mario Kart or Mario Golf or Mario Tennis ever came out, I do think there's an opportunity for that in the future. I think people loved Doodleputt, but I think the strategy there was really more about how do you create something splashy and noteworthy at Art Basel that people were truly going to care about doing that was very social but we believe that Camp and the experience that we're creating there is a much better format for where we're going but the idea of Doodles popping up with other sorts of immersive experiences is definitely interesting and something we are actively working on what it looks like to bring other experiences to different markets around the world and it's going to continue to be a core strategy of ours. We're going to learn a lot with with what we do at Camp and we're going to use that data to continue to build out the ecosystem.
Have you considered creating a weekly series on platforms like YouTube, where kids can tune in to watch and engage with the brand on a regular basis, even though you mentioned that you're not pursuing a Doodles movie or animation?
Julian: To clarify, a movie, doodles animation, that's actually something we're actively working on. It's just there's no rush to get that out there. When it comes to YouTube, I'm a parent that utilized Cocomelon and Paw Patrol and all these different things on YouTube. So I totally get it. I think there is going to be YouTube content very soon, but there's also going to be TikTok and more Instagram content and there's just going to be a stronger throughline for what we're creating and why, you're going to start to see the story and some of the characters unfold. Not all at once. I'd say that the minute to two minute long videos is something that translates more of like a webcomic, animated series, physical book or social content? All of these things are are being developed right now. So I'd say what you're hoping for is exactly the work that GoldenWolf is doing. Whatever format it comes in I'm not going to guarantee on the spaces today but you can just rest assured knowing that this is 100% top of mind and as big of a priority as anything in the company, probably the biggest priority in the company.
You were referencing OG holders, are these benefits for those that held for a while or just a Doodle holder in general?
Julian: We do believe that if you own an original Doodle, you're entitled to the kind of the standard benefits that we're building around membership in owning that Doodle but we also are working through ways to make sure people that have stuck around and engaged are rewarded. If you look at the Pharrell pack, the criteria to actually enter the raffle, you had to have had an OG Doodle, you had to have dooplicated a Doodle, opened a Genesis Box and you had to have signed up for an account with the stoodio. If you did not have an OG Doodle, you were not eligible for that raffle but if you didn't do all the other things that kind of engaged members of the community do, you also couldn't be part of that raffle. So I think you're going to start to see things where all Doodles holders get an opportunity for something. Only Doodles holders that have taken certain actions are going to get an opportunity for something and kind of everything in between.
How do you plan to onboard individuals from the immersive camp experience into the Web3 space?
Julian: I'd say that's exactly what we're building and our vision. How do you build a on-chain collectible ecosystem that connects to every single consumer touchpoint? We kind of look at Doodles as a funnel where most people are going to come into contact with us through engaging with content on social media, showing up at experiences like Camp, seeing Adidas or Pharrell post about Doodles etc All of a sudden those people are aware of Doodles and we have an NFT product in the stoodio that feels a lot more like skinning a character in Fortnite or buying something in Roblox where you're basically outfitting your avatar in whatever activation you saw. So like Adidas, Pharrell, you can now buy the stuff that they were representing, build your doodle in that likeness. There's no friction to get in, signing up for a wallet and getting into the stoodio is as easy as setting up an Instagram or Spotify account. It's not even just about it being easy, it's familiar. Getting a metamask, holding a seed phrase, buying crypto, that stuff is not familiar and it scares most people.
We know the technology is ultimately going to get better but in the meantime we want a meaningful way to actually onboard people into this hub that we've built in the stoodio. So if you can create media, experiences, attention you can actually bring them in to your hub, to your collectible ecosystem through a really easy to use product. A product they care about that helps them represent themselves, they get to be a Doodle the same way that our main characters are going to get to be a Doodle. Now they're in, they're going to learn more about blockchain, they're going to learn more about Web3 but they were able to get out of their own way because the technology was invisible. They weren't scared of NFT's and crypto the first time they integrated with Doodles because they had no idea that's what it was. That's a really interesting opportunity because right now for a lot of people it's kind of the boogeyman and if you can help people understand it isn't about the headlines that you read, it's about a better technology stack to create a more meaningful relationship between supporters, collectors, community and the IP itself.
None of the rest is going to matter to those people. Our goal is ultimately to have the entire collectible ecosystem connect to everywhere that people are experiencing the brand. You're going to see that with Camp. You've seen that at all of our live events, if you were a Doodle holder at Art Basel, at Doodleputt, you were able to flash your badge at different activation pillars and it would make a noise and you would get access to different shots, a door would open up and you could actually hit it through the secret passageway and give you an edge over somebody that didn't have a Doodle, you were able to display your Doodle in certain areas in the actual experience itself. So we kind of look at it like it's in real life, it's digital, everything's connected. That is what we're building right now and we really want to make sure that you're giving people as little friction as possible that don't know much about us or the space as a whole.
Beyond GoldenWolf is Doodles looking at other acquisitions in the space?
Julian: We're always looking at acquisitions. There's always an opportunity to bring companies in that are either struggling or thriving but by bringing them together, you create an exponential effect. Any time we look at an acquisition, it's always how can we create one plus one equals three.. GoldenWolf is not just about ingesting a really great creative team. It's how can we reinvent their company to create a much better version of GoldenWolf while at the same time creating a new world for the development of Doodles IP. So I'd say that to the extent that any Web3 IP, any underlying infrastructure is interesting, we're definitely all in on on those ideas. We brought in all the engineering and product resources from a from another Web3 company that was struggling earlier this year. It wasn't publicized or anything but it's always something that we're vetting and looking at. I'd also say joint ventures and partnerships, we want to be vertically integrated and own the relationship with our community as much as we possibly can but that's not to say that we're going to be experts in every single area we want to operate in so partnership and joint ventures and trying to scale businesses together is always something that's top of mind for us so yes, absolutely. We're always looking at that.
What does Doodles look like in two years?
Julian: I think in the context of Doodles. Doodles is a lifestyle brand that people engage with and are a part of every day. People use it as their PFP, people buy the merch, they communicate with each other, you actually build more content off of the IP, people are starting businesses based off of the IP. Doodles is very real and present in our everyday life and the idea that there are community members where as the brand scales, those people, their interests in the company or the brand scale as well. You're running that parallel to a fictional universe of characters, who is our Buzz Lightyear? Who is our Woody? The fact that there are community members that will be known in the community and the story of those community members just as much as who our main characters are I think is really special because then you could take a fictional universe and a lifestyle brand and have them crash into each other at times.
If you look at the end card for the last trailer we did promoting the Pharrell Pack and Stoodio, it was really cool to see because you saw Pharrell as a Doodle. He's a real person in the real world, but he is now a character in the Doodles universe the same way Lady Gaga and The Weeknd have done things like that with The Simpsons. They're real people but they're in this fictional universe. You saw our main character, the mascot and you also saw a bunch of characters that you might not know, it could be someone from North Dakota or Hong Kong or Tokyo or Miami and the whole point is that they're living in this same universe together. When I think about IP developed from the ground up in Web3, especially when it comes to what Doodles is doing, that concept of digital identity delivered through a brand and the community being as much a part of our universe as the fictional characters that are ultimately going to scale to millions. That is what I think is really interesting about what we're building here and that's why I think the the notion of building a business with your core people is so special and something that doesn't really exist in in the world of IP today.
Can crossovers between real-life and digital formats create a compelling and unique experience?
Julian: If you think about your relationship with Mickey Mouse, you watch the shows, maybe you go to the movies. I don't think he's really at the box office anymore but you buy the t-shirt, maybe there's some games, you go to Disneyland. It's really great but there are going to be people in our community that are like Mickey Mouse, right? Like people.
Look at Doodlien, the holographic alien. He minted it. He's turned down massive offers. He is one of the biggest champions of the brand and if you're in Doodles, you know who Doodlien is. That's all part of the of the story of Doodles. People aren't just falling in love with the characters and the stories. They're also falling in love with the process and how it all came together because they feel truly invested in it. That's really special and and I think that's going to be the thing that really, really separates Web3 from a lot of the other IP out there.
I think the main thing I'll sign off with is, Doodles is doing exactly what we said we would be doing at NFTNYC last year. It takes a while to build businesses that truly matter and to build brands and characters and stories that truly matter and then to bring a community closer to that entire experience. I think people are going to be really proud to see what's coming next but very excited to see all the positive reaction and engagement we've had on the timeline recently so appreciate the time today, guys, and we'll talk again soon.
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2023.06.07 00:17 malikona One Month In - A New Pilot's Retrospective

I'm not really looking for opinions on my progress (although I'm expecting to hear them lol!), but mainly for others who are just starting out or thinking about starting out on an EUC, I wanted to share a personal milestone and some things I've learned along the way.
After about a month of riding almost daily (a few off days here and there mainly due to schedule and weather), I finally got out on a regional bike path today and used up the whole battery on my V8 and hit the tiltback speed, around 21 mph I think, for the first time.
Could I have hit that speed sooner? Absolutely, but I have been what I think most people would consider "super cautious". I have two young kids, and I'm just not at a point in life to be a big risk taker right now (besides riding an EUC in the first place!).
My main takeaways after one month of riding are:
So, if you've made it this far, you're probably a real geek and super into the prospect or reality of learning how to ride an EUC. Do it! You're never too old or too scared to suck at something new! :-p And you will suck at it at first, most likely. But you won't suck forever, and in fact, if you are diligent about it (which again, if you've read all of this, you probably are), you will get better at it sooner than you expected.
And then you'll be able to literally glide through time and space on the most whimsical and remarkable vehicle that mankind has ever come up with. You'll make a spectacle of yourself wherever you go, so lean into it - literally. Imagine yourself leaving a trail of rainbow dust behind you that lifts the spirits of everyone you see.
In many ways, learning to ride an EUC is a metaphor for life. You start off completely overwhelmed and thinking that you don't have control over anything. Eventually, gradually, and with a fair share of mistakes and sudden breakthroughs, you learn that you're actually a superhero and you can do anything. But you also never stop learning and improving and finding more ways to have fun.
Welcome to the ride of your life!
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2023.06.06 23:17 Jgrupe I'm the New Sheriff in Hollow's End. Monsters are Invading from Another Dimension

Part 1
Part 2
We were driving rapidly down Main Street as a horrible creature from another dimension followed behind us, its long strides keeping pace and making the car shake with each step it took. The engine roared as we sped away from the butcher shop. Randy was sitting in the seat next to me and it took me a minute to realize he was eating something.
It was a bucket of KFC.
"Seriously!? How can you be hungry at a time like this?? We're about to die, Randy!"
"We got bigger problems than that right now," he said, patting down his pockets with greasy fingers and leaving stains as he searched for something. "We're all out of booze! We need to make a pit stop as soon as you get a chance."
Normally this would be an absurd statement. But unfortunately the lack of alcohol was a bit of an issue, since there were plenty more monsters ready to come through into our world, and the only thing keeping them out was our ability to stay intoxicated so we didn’t see them. I had kept my percentage down below the legal driving limit, but I was starting to feel like that wasn't cutting it anymore.
"You need to start drinking more," Randy explained. "You're the one who saw it first, remember? If anything, this is kinda your fault."
I gripped the steering wheel with white knuckled rage and continued driving.
Regardless of what he said, I want to make sure it's on the record that this was all Randy's fault. He had admitted to making at least one wish using a cursed magic monkey paw - and we all know how that usually plays out.
I saw a convenience store and immediately slammed on the brakes. Reaching over Randy, I threw open his door and kicked him out. It was easy since he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was already beginning to fall asleep.
"What the fuck, dude?" He yelled as I pulled away.
"Get us more booze! I'm gonna circle the block," I shouted at him out the window, picking up speed.
Then I took out my gun and aimed at the monster which was getting closer by the second. I took three shots at it over my shoulder and missed two of them. But the third caught it squarely in the neck and it began to howl a guttural cry, dripping black blood all over the street from its fresh wound. It slowed down momentarily, but then picked up its pace again, coming after me with renewed rage.
My goal had been accomplished, though. I’d been trying to keep it away from Randy, since he was on foot and more vulnerable. We would need to abandon the car, though, I realized. If I was going to start drinking more I wouldn’t be able to drive safely. As bad as things were getting, I wasn’t about to start breaking the law - especially that particular one. I’d seen enough death and destruction caused by drunk drivers over my years on the force. I wasn’t going to go down that road.
I looked back to see the creature still gaining on me.
My mind was racing trying to think of a way to evade it, to outwit it. I needed to do something to kill it. But what?
Suddenly my cell phone was ringing. I picked it up and looked at the caller ID. It was Jay, the delivery driver. He was in the car ahead of me and I had kind of forgotten he was there.
“Listen,” he said quickly. “I got a plan. We need to lure that thing to the swamp. Just follow me and keep up the pace.”
“It’s a cop car,” I said dryly. “I’m pretty sure I can keep up with your piece of shit-”
My words were cut short as the line went dead and the car ahead of me began to accelerate rapidly. I floored it but found the guy was still gaining distance between the two of us.
Whatever he had under the hood was making that little car go a lot faster than I would have thought possible.
My phone dinged and I looked down to see a text from Jay. It was an eggplant with a water spray emoji.
This fucking town…
*
We reached the edge of the city limits of Hollow’s End to find a parking lot which sloped at an unnatural angle downwards. At the bottom of this strange gravel lot was a murky-looking swamp full of brackish green water. A small copse of trees stood to one side near the shore.
No other cars were parked there which was good, since the creature was still close behind us.
I was following Jay as closely as I could and imitating his car’s movements, although my vehicle was sluggish and clumsy by comparison. He was still driving at top speed, and I figured it was important that I keep up with him for whatever he planned to do.
When we reached the edge of the water, near that little grouping of trees, he hit the brakes and swerved to the right. His tires stayed on the gravel, but just barely. The entire parking lot was sloped so severely towards the water that the force of gravity was insisting on taking us into the swamp.
Realizing that my bigger vehicle wouldn’t make the turn in time, I hit the brakes early and tried to slow down, knowing that otherwise I would crash right into a tree or go into the water trying to make the move.
As soon as I slowed down I could hear the creature’s breath and its movements just behind the car. I avoided the temptation to look back, since I knew it would be my death if I did. Instead, I yanked hard on the wheel and turned it to the right, skidding to a stop on the grass, my fender just inches away from a large pine tree.
The creature’s brakes were not quite as good as mine, since it was desperate to kill me and hadn’t really slowed down. Instead, it went skidding into the green water, coated with algae and looking much thicker than was normal. It was like a giant bowl of pea soup. The creature was thrashing around, looking as if it were in pain, and then I noticed the tendrils of swamp water moving on its skin, pulling it in deeper, like an enormous squid wrestling with a shark.
My phone rang again and I picked it up, my eyes still focused on the creature trying to get out of the swamp. It looked like it would not be able to escape from whatever was holding it there, and I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t gone in with that wild last minute maneuver.
Then it was as if an enormous hand reached up from below and pulled the creature under. Despite the fact that there were only dark empty sockets where eyes should have been, I could have sworn I saw them widen as it was dragged under, and then was gone.
“Problem solved,” Jay said when I answered the phone. “You can thank me later. And we’ll definitely owe Swampy a favor. Now let’s get back into town and grab Randy. Maybe the three of us can figure out a solution to this whole mess.”
*
I managed to convince Jay to let me ride shotgun in his car, telling him that mine was having engine trouble. This was partly as a ploy to make him our designated driver, but also to cover for the fact that he was clearly the superior driver of a far better automobile than my cruiser. And who knew when we’d have to outrun one of those monsters again?
After applying copious amounts of duct tape to all of the mirrors on the vehicle, we were off, heading back towards the convenience store where I’d left Randy.
We found him out front with a large paper bag full of bottles in his arms, sleeping in the grassy ditch near the road. There were several children taking turns at poking him with a stick.
“Okay, beat it, kids!” I yelled at them as we approached.
The children ran off and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a few of them looked very odd. One had a furry face and ears like a dog, while another had red eyes, and yet another was running on all fours. They scattered in every direction, making it difficult to pinpoint any other discrepancies.
“What’s the deal with this town?” I muttered to nobody in particular.
“How much time do you have?” Jay asked, laughing. “This place is weirder than you could possibly imagine. There’s a lot of history here. Sorry to say, you didn’t really know what you were getting into when you moved to this place.”
“Can you give me a quick summary?” I asked, kicking Randy gently in the ribs. He snored and swatted the air like an annoyed cat, then rolled over on his other side. His right leg began to pump up and down as if he were chasing a rabbit in his dreams.
“I’m not really at liberty to discuss all of it. People in Hollow’s End prefer to keep their secrets to themselves. But if you get to know them, you’ll find most folks are nice enough. As long as you live here, anyways. Tourists do tend to occasionally go missing if they stay out past sunrise. And if you meet anyone wearing a hooded robe your best bet is to avoid them. Oh, and there’s this guy named Frank who-”
Randy sat bolt upright, screaming at the top of his lungs, clutching the bag of liquor bottles so tightly against his chest that I thought they would shatter.
“It’s okay, man,” I said, leaning down to pat his shoulder in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. “It was just a nightmare.”
He was breathing heavily for a few moments and didn’t respond. But then finally he unscrewed the cap of one of the liquor bottles and took a long gulp.
“Right. A nightmare. That’s all it was.”
He didn’t seem entirely convinced.
“Alright, what’s the plan, guys?” Jay asked. “I’m happy to help out if you need me to.”
I took one of the liquor bottles from Randy and took a long drink from it. After wiping my mouth, I screwed the cap back on and stuffed the bottle in my pocket. Thinking hard about the next lead to follow up on, I came up short. We didn’t really have anything.
“Do you know anyone who would be interested in buying a monkey paw?” I asked. “Is there anyone in town dumb enough or reckless enough to take ownership of it? Because I feel like that fucking thing is at the center of all of this. It’s like a murder investigation - if we can find the weapon used to commit the crime, we might be able to solve it.”
Jay looked at me and Randy looked at the ground between his legs.
“I know just the guy,” Jay answered. “You know how I was telling you to stay away from Frank? Well, we might need to disregard that advice, just temporarily.”
*
The three of us pulled up outside a house a short while later, now with Jay behind the wheel, chauffeuring us around town.
We went up to the front door and he continued explaining the protocol for how to deal with this Frank individual.
“Remember, whatever you do, don’t stare. And don’t go inside his house - whatever he wants to tell us he can tell us outside. People who go in there are usually tourists, and they’re never, ever seen again. That’s like guaranteed death just stepping into that place.”
I tried not to think about how many rules I was breaking, how many vows in my oath as a Sheriff were completely null and void now.
“You know I’m a police officer, right? Most people don’t speak so freely about the kidnapping and murder of tourists.”
Randy slapped my arm.
“Come on, man. Just when we’re starting to think you’re cool, you go and say something like that. Killing tourists is a proud tradition in Hollow’s End. If you don’t like it then you shouldn’t have moved here.”
I didn’t have time to debate the subject anymore, as Jay was now knocking on the front door of the house.
The door swung open on the first knock, as if it had been slightly ajar.
“Hello,” Jay called into the darkness. “Frank? Are you there? I need to talk to you about something.”
He stuck his head into the dark gap afforded by the open door. For a moment I had a horrible mental image of it slamming shut on his neck, squeezing and choking him as blood poured from wounds created by the pressure of sharp wood on his flesh.
But instead, something worse happened.
Jay let out a gasp and then disappeared through the gap. As if he had been picked up by his hair and was dragged inside by a hungry bear.
My heart was pounding fast as I realized I was going to have to ignore all of Jay's warnings if I was going to save him and the town. Despite the dangers, we were going to have to go inside after all.
YT
TCC
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2023.06.06 23:17 jules99b A History of Ice Dance, From the 1950s Until Now: Part 3 - The Cold War, Russian Edition, 1985-1988

For those who missed parts 1 and 2, you can find them here and here. Enjoy part 3!
If there were a year to point to when discussing the beginning of Russian dominance in ice dance, 1985 would be the year to do it. With Torvill/Dean leaving the competitive circuit to instead compete in the pro ranks, the field started to reevaluate itself in a post-Torvill/Dean world. In their absence, legendary coaches Tatiana Tarasova and Natalia Dubova angled to get their teams to the top of the podium: Bestemianova/Bukin for Tarasova, Klimova/Ponomarenko for Dubova. And what we got in the 4 year cycle informed the landscape of ice dance for the next decade.
Bestemianova/Bukin very quickly filled the gap left by Torvill/Dean, with the Olympic medalists simply sliding up the ranks at the 1985 Worlds. As has been mentioned, Tarasova imparted her style of choreography onto her students, giving Bestemianova/Bukin a trademark of quick turns, dramatic movement and repeated steps, done to emphasize certain portions of the music. Their first World title came on the backs of their Carmen FD, an iconic program that took the best of Bestemianova/Bukin and put it on display. Natalia gave face on the ice, embodying the character of Carmen as she was dragged across the ice at one point in the skate. It also furthered Torvill/Dean’s ideology of telling stories on the ice and cranked it up to an 11, solidifying it as a viable method of constructing programs.
Meanwhile, Dubova’s choreography emphasized the balletic stylings of ice dance, preferring instead to focus on graceful movement and long lines, even in Klimova/Ponomarenko’s Latin FD in 1985. The newly married couple had a program that Dubova described as “going back to basics,” in that it preferred to go back to the switching music of their predecessors without a throughline to connect the music. This, of course, was not a style that was maintained by Klimova/Ponomarenko as early as the pre-Olympic season. However, their graceful movement and technical prowess remained. Blumberg/Seibert meanwhile earned a bronze in 1985 in their last competitive season, skating to “Fire on Ice.” Blumberg/Seibert continued to display their original lifts in their competitive farewell and remained the American standard for decades to come.
Sitting in fourth, the Canadians of Tracy Wilson/Robert McCall displayed their promise. The pair, who admitted they were Moiseeva/Minenkov fans, were a relatively recent team-up, having started to skate together in 1981. They skated in a style reminiscent to their American counterparts but also harkened back to their inspirations, in a style neither as balletic or dramatic as their Soviet counterparts.
1986 saw Wilson/McCall earn the first medal in ice dance for Canada after being 4th going into the free dance. Wilson/McCall found their niche that year with a more lighthearted free dance, abandoning the “one idea/concept” method of free dances in favor of a program where they simply danced to different music and required little dramaticism. Their Soviet counterparts meanwhile doubled down on their styles.
Bestemianova/Bukin skated to “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” that played to their dramatic strengths. But the free dance also allowed them to slow down, as if to prove that they could when compared with their countrymen. Klimova/Ponomarenko meanwhile skated to 4 rhythms of music, all representing ballroom dance. Their balletic lines and technical skill had many at the time calling for them to be awarded the World title over Bestemianova/Bukin. Because naturally, it is not ice dance if fans don’t argue over the results. But it was becoming clearer that judges preferred Bestemianova/Bukin’s singular concept in the FD better than the more disjointed free dances of Klimova/Ponomarenko.
The argument continued the next year, as Klimova/Ponomarenko’s extremely difficult waltz OSP (the basis of the Golden Waltz compulsory) was put in second behind Bestemianova/Bukin. When Bestemianova/Bukin won the 1987 World title to music from Cabaret, continuing their movement in portraying themes, shows, and ballets, the damage to audience perception had already been done. Justified or not, the audience and media were behind Klimova/Ponomarenko, and their perceived underscoring solidified to the audience that ice dance was the “wait your turn” sport.
Klimova/Ponomarenko started steering more toward the established concept/theme free dances that Bestemianova/Bukin had been competing, skating to Hungarian Rhapsody, as if trying to appeal to the judges. Their technical skills and graceful, balletic movement were on full display with Dubova’s choreography allowing them to shine. In bronze, Wilson/McCall took home a second bronze before a home Olympics, which they hoped would give them the momentum to bring home Canada’s first ice dance Olympic medal.
All of these things came to a head at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. With Bestemianova/Bukin riding a 3 year winning streak in World titles, it was hard to imagine they weren’t the favorites going into the competition. Their dramatic style had become popular in Soviet circles, and their synth tango OSP truly displayed that. Their free dance to the Polovtsian Dances also capped their trailblazing music selections for the time, music that we now know as warhorses being used for some of the first time. But worth noting in their dance, closed holds were near non-existant compared with their fellow medalists, continuing to fuel the disgruntled audience. But entertainment won out early on in ice dance’s history.
Klimova/Ponomarenko opted for a Beatles medley for the Canadian crowd, featuring piano and orchestral versions of the songs that played to their balletic strengths more so than the rock of the original music. At the same time as Bestemianova/Bukin’s FD lacked in close holds, Klimova/Ponomarenko emphasized them, skating mere inches apart from each other for the majority of the dance while holding onto each other throughout. The FD acted in many ways as a harkening of what was to come in ice dance as soon as their Soviet compatriots moved on.
Meanwhile, Wilson/McCall grabbed the first ever ice dance Olympic medal for Canada on home soil, skating to ragtime selections, including Maple Leaf Rag, which is one of the most Canadian things I’ve ever heard. The bronze medal marked only the second time a North American had nabbed a medal in ice dance and wouldn’t be repeated for almost 20 years post-Wilson/McCall’s move to the pro ranks. Wilson/McCall also emphasized their close holds (albeit less close than Klimova/Ponomarenko’s) and had the energy of the audience with them for obvious reasons. Their lighthearted program acted as a balm to the more dramatic and lyrical programs of the other medalists.
Another team that had the energy of the crowd? The eighth place sibling team of Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay, who were born in Canada and chose to represent France. The pair had made their senior debut in 1986. But what was most intriguing about them was that Christopher Dean was in their corner for choreography, something that could be easily felt in their tango OSP from that Olympics, which featured a cross-rink knee slide. Though their FD to African drum beats that year was…not ideal to put it lightly, their avant garde style was capturing the attention of audiences and promised to define a new corner of ice dance.
This era defined specific styles of dance in the over-the-top dramatic of Bestemianova/Bukin and the classical balletic style of Klimova/Ponomarenko. It solidified the idea of the “one theme concept” free dance. And Soviet dominance was a near guarantee for years to come. But what it also did was get audiences to lose faith in the results of the competition. If a team like Klimova/Ponomarenko, by and large viewed as more technically proficient and able to skate closer together, were consistently put in second, what did it mean for the future of the sport?
With Tarasova now a coaching name to follow in ice dance, one that would linger for nigh on a decade, Dubova was determined to make her own name in ice dance going forward. And her mark on ice dance in the next era would be both legendary and utterly marred by constant controversy.
submitted by jules99b to FigureSkating [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 23:07 OneWheelMan [H] Games / Paypal / €45 [W] Diablo IV (can activate)

All games are obtained by ME. If the game has a region lock, it will be locked to EU region.

Paypal F&F or G&S - fees on you. PRICES IN EURO

Lower rep goes first.

Googledocs https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1x939dac0XlG3tRhyYX_9Lf93usR0uqyVHPCYmB7RRys
Discount at purchase
5% @ €15-29
7% @ €30-59
10% @ €60+
12% @ €100+
15% @ €150+
Game F&F (€EU)
112 Operator 0.30
112 Operator 0.30
2064: Read Only Memories 0.60
7 Billion Humans 4.50
911 Operator 0.30
911 Operator 0.30
A Little Golf Journey 2.50
A Long Way Down 1.00
Aeterna Noctis 4.00
After The Fall 15.00
Agent in Depth 0.20
Aground 4.00
Alchemist's Castle 0.20
APICO 7.00
Arcade Paradise - Arcade Paradise EP 0.20
Arcade Spirits 0.20
Arise: A Simple Story 2.50
Arizona Sunshine 6.00
Armello 1.20
Aviary Attorney 0.20
AWAKE - Definitive Edition 0.20
Baba Is You 5.00
Back 4 Blood 9.00
Backbone 0.20
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition 2.00
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition 2.00
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition 1.00
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition 2.00
Baldur's Gate: Faces of Good and Evil 1.00
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear 2.00
Batora: Lost Haven 2.00
BattleGroupVR 1.00
Bean Stalker 2.00
Beasts of Maravilla Island 2.00
Beat Hazard 3 6.00
Ben 10: Power Trip 1.50
Bionic Commando 0.20
Blade of Darkness 3.00
Blaston 1.00
Breathedge 2.50
Broken Age 0.20
Calico 0.20
Calico 0.20
Call of the Sea 1.00
Car Mechanic Simulator VR 1.50
Cats and the Other Lives 0.50
Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder 2.00
CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience 1.50
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare 1.50
Click and Slay 0.20
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues 0.50
Combat Tested 1.00
Control Ultimate Edition 6.00
Cook-Out 1.00
Corridor Z 0.10
Crash Drive 2 1.00
Creaks 1.00
Cris Tales 0.50
Crying Suns 0.50
Cube Escape Collection 2.50
Dagon - The Eldritch Box DLC 0.10
Dark Deity 1.50
DARQ 1.00
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition -
Death and Taxes 2.50
Death Squared 0.20
Desolate 0.50
Detached: Non-VR Edition 0.50
Devil May Cry 5 + Vergil 6.00
Devil May Cry HD Collection 6.00
Disaster Band 3.00
DmC Devil May Cry 3.00
DOOM 64 1.00
DOOM VFR 3.00
Doughlings: Arcade 0.50
Doughlings: Invasion 0.20
Draw Slasher 0.10
Drawful 2 0.10
Dread Delusion 4.00
Dreamscaper 1.50
Driftland: The Magic Revival 0.10
Epistory - Typing Chronicles 0.80
Eternal Threads 3.50
Euro Truck Simulator 2 5.00
Evan's Remains 0.10
EXAPUNKS 1.00
Expeditions: Viking 1.50
Explosionade 0.20
Farming Simulator 17 2.00
Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Rise of SH1FT3R 1.50
Field of Glory II 1.00
Flynn: Son of Crimson 1.50
Forgive me Father 1.00
Forgotton Anne 7.00
Frick, Inc. 3.00
From Space 4.00
fsongs 0.20
Fury Unleashed 0.50
GameGuru Classic -
Gauntlet - Necromancer -
Gauntlet Slayer Edition + DLC Necromancer 1.50
Ghostrunner 5.00
Gift of Parthax 0.20
Gigantosaurus The Game 1.20
Go Home Dinosaurs! 0.20
Golf Gang 0.50
Gotham Knights 15.00
GRAVEN 5.00
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload 0.40
Guns & Fishes 0.20
Hack 'n' Slash + Soundtrack (& Spacebase GIFT) 0.20
Hacknet 0.50
Hamilton's Great Adventure 0.10
Harmony's Odyssey 0.50
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice 4.00
Homeworld Remastered Collection 1.00
Human Resource Machine 5.00
Hyper Gunsport 0.50
Hypnospace Outlaw 3.00
ibb & obb - Best Friends Forever Double Pack 2.00
Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure 4.50
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition 1.00
Impaler 1.50
Indivisible 2.00
Influent 2.50
Into the Pit 1.00
Into the Radius VR 7.00
Izmir: An Independence Simulator 0.20
Jumanji: The Video Game 1.50
Just Die Already 1.00
Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe Edition 4.00
King and Assassins 0.20
Kingdom Two Crowns 2.50
Labyrinthine 4.00
Lair of the Clockwork God 1.00
Lake 2.00
Last Resort Island 0.50
Learn Japanese To Survive - Hiragana Battle 0.40
Learn Japanese To Survive! Kanji Combat 0.40
Learn Japanese To Survive! Katakana War 0.40
Learning Factory 3.50
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 1.80
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 2.20
LEGO Jurassic World 1.50
LEGO MARVEL Super Heroes 1.50
LEGO MARVEL Super Heroes 2 1.50
LEGO MARVEL's Avengers 1.50
LEGO The Hobbit + 3 DLCs 2.50
LEGO The Hobbit DLC 1 - The Big Little Character Pack -
LEGO The Hobbit DLC 2 - Side Quest Character Pack -
LEGO The Hobbit DLC 3 - The Battle Pack -
LEGO The Lord of the Rings 2.50
Lighthouse Keeper 0.20
Little League World Series Baseball 2022 0.50
Little Orpheus 2.00
Loot River 3.00
Love Letter 0.20
Lust from Beyond: M Edition 0.50
Magicka 0.50
Maize 1.25
Marooners 0.20
Melody's Escape 2 0.70
Meow Express 0.40
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition 3.00
MirrorMoon EP 0.10
Monaco 0.50
Monument Valley 1.50
Monument Valley 2 1.50
Moon Hunters 0.20
Mordhau 5.00
Mortal Kombat 11 6.00
Mortal Shell 4.00
Mount & Blade: Warband 2.00
Murder by Numbers 0.50
MY LITTLE PONY: A Maretime Bay Adventure 10.00
Nanotale - Typing Chronicles 3.00
NecroWorm 0.20
Neverout 0.20
Neverwinter Nights: Dark Dreams of Furiae 2.50
Neverwinter Nights: Infinite Dungeons 1.00
Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast 1.00
Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea 1.50
Neverwinter Nights: Wyvern Crown of Cormyr 1.00
Neverwinter Nights: Darkness Over Daggerford 3.50
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition 3.50
Newt One 0.30
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 1.00
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix 0.50
Nightmare Reaper 6.00
No Straight Roads: Encore Edition 4.00
Non-Stop Raiders 0.50
Orbital Racer 0.10
Orbital Racer 0.10
Out of Reach: Treasure Royale 0.10
Pandemic: The Board Game + Mutation + Roles & Events 4.00
Pathfinder: Kingmaker 4.00
Patron 2.50
PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls 2.50
PAYDAY 2 1.00
PAYDAY 2: F*ck Cancer - Big Mike Mask -
Perfect 0.50
Pikuniku 0.50
Pilgrims 0.30
Pill Baby 0.20
Pixplode 0.10
Pixross 0.20
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition 1.50
Planet TD 0.20
PlateUp! 7.00
PLAYNE 5.00
Police Stories 1.00
Praey for the Gods 3.00
Princess Farmer 2.00
Project Arrhythmia 1.00
Project Chemistry 1.00
Propnight 2.00
Quadrata 1.50
Radio Commander 0.20
Railway Empire 1.00
Rayon Riddles - Rise of the Goblin King 1.00
Red Faction: Armageddon 0.50
Remnants of Naezith 0.30
Renowned Explorers: International Society 0.50
Rescue Party: Live! 1.50
Rise of the Slime 2.00
River City Girls 4.50
Roarr! Jurassic Edition 0.10
RPG Maker VX 0.20
RUMBLE 4.50
Rym 9000 0.10
Sable 1.50
Salt and Sanctuary 3.50
Sands of Aura 3.00
Say No! More 0.20
SCP: 5K 5.00
SHENZHEN I/O 2.50
Shing! -
Shooty Fruity 1.00
Slinger VR 0.10
Small World 2 + Be not Afraid + Cursed + Grand Dames 2.00
Songbringer 0.30
Songs of Iron 3.00
Soul Axiom Rebooted 2.00
Soul Searching 0.20
Soulblight 0.10
Soulflow 0.20
Soundfall 4.00
Space Crew: Legendary Edition 0.50
Splendor 1.50
Stacking 0.10
StarCrossed 0.30
State of Decay 2 9.00
Staxel 2.00
Steel Rats 0.20
Stick Fight: The Game 2.00
STONE 1.50
Strange Brigade 1.50
Strange Brigade 1.50
Street Fighter V 2.50
Strider 0.50
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones 0.30
Sunlight 0.20
Superfly 0.20
SUPERHOT VR 7.00
Supraland Six Inches Under 5.00
Swords and Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon 0.20
Syberia - The World Before 4.50
SYMMETRY 0.20
System Shock 2 0.40
System Shock: Enhanced Edition 0.40
Takelings House Party 0.50
Tales of the Neon Sea 1.00
Tannenberg 1.25
Teacup 0.50
Teacup 0.50
Telefrag VR 0.10
Terra Alia 2.50
The Almost Gone 1.00
The Amazing American Circus 0.10
The Amazing American Circus 0.10
The Anacrusis 0.50
The Blackout Club 2.00
The Citadel 2.50
THE GAME OF LIFE 2 5.00
The Hong Kong Massacre 2.00
The Inner World 0.30
The LEGO Movie - Videogame 1.00
The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game 2.00
The Mortuary Assistant 7.00
The Smurfs - Mission Vileaf 6.00
The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia 0.50
The USB Stick Found in the Grass 0.10
The Wizards - Dark Times 2.00
Them and Us 2.00
Ticket to Ride 0.50
TIS-100 2.00
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition 3.00
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove 0.10
Trombone Champ 8.00
Turbo Golf Racing 3.50
Ultra Street Fighter IV 1.50
Until You Fall 3.00
Vagante 1.20
Vault of the Void 5.00
Verdun 1.50
Vertigo Remastered 1.50
Visage 8.00
Wanderer 1.50
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War 2.00
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 1.00
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 2.00
We are alright (Wszystko z nami w porządku) 0.10
West of Dead 0.30
while True: learn() 2.50
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School 1.75
Winkeltje The Little Shop 4.00
Worms Rumble 1.00
WRATH: Aeon of Ruin 1.00
Wytchwood 4.00
X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack 0.20
X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack 0.20
XEL 0.40
Yoku's Island Express 0.50
Yonder The Cloud Catcher Chronicles 3.00
You Can Kana 3.50
Zenith MMO 6.00
Zombie Army Trilogy 2.00
Zombie Driver HD Complete Edition 0.10
Barter
SGS flair
IGS flair
submitted by OneWheelMan to SteamGameSwap [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 22:56 Ask_me_4_a_story Trip Report: Using my Go Wild Pass to Get to Costa Rica (Spoiler Alert I found Wild Sloths!)

Hi Go Wild Friends! In case anyone wants to know about beautiful Costa Rica I went there using my Go Wild pass so I thought I would do a story about what happened in Costa Rica. There aren’t really a lot of travel tips in here, its just the wild shit I got into in Costa Rica. I did another write up with actual tips about South Beach in Miami on a budget here if you want to read that one.
Okay, Costa Rica, so fuckin amazing! I want to fly to all the international places Frontier goes so I decided to do Costa Rica second (Cancun is an easy trip for me in Kansas City, they go nonstop there every weekend). The hardest part about Costa Rica is just getting there, I took a bit of a circuitous route.
I always take a big vacation each year after tax season, its fun for me to turn my phone off and go somewhere off the grid and not even think about work. Last year I went to Argentina and Uruguay and it was wild but honestly, this year was even better! I first wanted to stay with my brother and see my nieces and nephews in Orlando so I booked a one way flight from St. Louis to Orlando for only $19 with my Go Wild pass. I got to take a train from Kansas City to St. Louis, it was only $37 and I loved it actually, something about trains is so fun for me, probably because I took one to Chicago in college and stayed in a homeless shelter, my first real experience solo traveling, I loved it!
I spent the afternoon in St. Louis riding around downtown on those fun scooters and eating chicken wings and walking around the baseball experience place they had, it was a good afternoon. I had a late flight to Orlando but I fucked up the terminal (don't google which terminal is Frontier, its wrong). I went through security and bag check only to find out I was in the wrong terminal so that stunk but I had plenty of time for two security checks so no big deal. The flight was delayed so I didn’t get into Orlando until almost 2am and there was a long line for the rental car. I regret not doing the one you can pick up without talking to an agent so much, it was only like $5 more, do the self check car rental if possible. Orlando was fun, got to see my nieces and nephews and my brother and his wife put a little guest bedroom in the shed, easy to get into at 2am without waking anyone up.
After two days in Orlando it was time for my big flight to Costa Rica! So excited! This flight was only $51 with my Go Wild pass, an absolute steal. It stopped in Atlanta and then I was in Costa Rica in no time. On the plane a bunch of us were excitedly talking about our Go Wild passes, its kind of fun to do the spiderman meme thing and be like, you have a Go Wild pass? Me Too! The ringleader told me there were wild sloths if I went to a place called Manuel Antonio. I said what the fuck did you just say, wild sloths? Oh yes! I literally had no plans for a whole week so I mentally added sloths to the list of things I wanted to see. I have a travel buddy I met in Mexico to visit in San Jose and I wanted to see the volcano and the beaches of course but that was it.
At the airport you will want to get some cash, they have an ATM right there when you walk out. Don’t do the currency exchange, those people were giving really shitty rates. After you get cash walk around outside the airport to the backside, it’s a short walk and that’s where all the city buses come. There are buses to San Jose every 15 minutes, just jump on one of those its only like $1.50 and it goes 25 minutes to downtown. I have a huge aversion to taxis in Latin America, I’ve been ripped off a lot and airports are especially bad.
Once in San Jose you can walk most places, it’s a fun city to walk around. I stayed at the Costa Rica Backpackers hostel which I do not recommend for one big reason. Its so fuckin hot. I didn’t even think about checking for air conditioning, most places have it now. Also, I like hostels and the common areas and the hammocks and I always set up my chess board and play at night with beers. But I really like to have my own room at a hostel. This private room was I think $35 a night which is pretty good but it did not have air conditioning, just a fan recirculating hot air and it was right off the street so yeah, no recommendation for that one, I only stayed one night. That’s the fun thing about how I travel though, no reservations and no plans, if its not great I just go to a different place. I hung out with my travel buddy that night and we smoked a lot of um… cigarettes and went to this place where locals hang out. It was like some fuckin fast and furious movie but with Ticos, guys were just flying around on motorcycles on wheelies. I bought a huge meal for my friend and me, empanadas, a bunch of other Costa Rican food, it was so fuckin good and the whole meal was only $7, ha!
The next morning I set my chess board out at the hostel and I put $10 out on the money clip like I normally do when I travel. It’s a fun way to get people to play, if you beat me you get $10 if I win, nothing. My chess is kind of like a parlor trick too because I play in less than 5 seconds every move so everyone is thinking through it and Im having beers and going quick, usually at a hostel there gets to be a crowd and Im playing four dutch people on warm night in Mexico, so fuckin fun. On this morning a kid came up to play and I was teaching him chess for awhile nervously, I didn’t see his mom anywhere and secondly who brings a kid to a hostel? I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen one. He starts just taking my pieces off the board and then he takes the $10 and says welp I guess I won. I laughed and I said alright then, good job buddy. Just then his mom hobbled over, a Danish hippy with a broken foot. She thanked me for hanging out with him and told me the doctor said not to walk too much but it was hard with a six year old. I said sit down, sit down and I got her breakfast and helped her out. We talked for a bit and I told a funny Mexico story and helped them get their stuff together and she said oh you have to come to our hippy community in Puerto Viejo, you can stay in our shack by the ocean. I said oh that sounds fun today Im going to see a volcano but maybe later. She said they are the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, one is entirely black sand. I said Im listening. She said they were poor in a little shack by the rainforest and they have monkeys and sloths in their backyard. I said um what the fuck did you just say? Wild sloths? She said yeah, tons of them. I booked a ticket right away for the 6am bus the next day. I went with my friend to the active volcano and then he dropped me off at my hotel. I booked the Radisson the second night because I really wanted Air Conditioning. Im soft like that, sorry. And it had a hot tub. I’ve never seen that many people in one hot tub, ha. At night I did a Tinder date, I found out all the cabs are pretty much $6 in San Jose so it was easy to get there and back and I went out with a fun lady who told me in Costa Rica they eat chicken wings with gloves, did you guys know that?
I got up at 4:30am and packed up for my 6am bus. At the front desk I asked them if they could call me a cab and they said its an additional $30 US. I was like nah, fuck that, $30? What a ripoff, I’ll just walk, its only 2 miles. So I walk pretty far into downtown San Jose and whoooooooosh, a bottle explodes near me! I go what the fuck and look up, theres a drunk Costa Rican man in a soccer jersey like two blocks away screaming at me in Spanish! I had so many questions, the first of course was who is balling out of control at 5am in the morning? The second was, who the fuck is that Latino Roger Clemens? I could barely see the guy from two streets away and he was (presumably) drunk getting that close to me with a full bottle of beer? The last question of course was who is drunk and throwing FULL bottles of beer? I walked away from his direction and then saw that there was a whole bar full of drunk soccer fans like him and I noped the fuck out and ran to the taxi stand and got a taxi. I said you know what, a taxi isn’t such a bad idea!
I regretted not Googling anything because my phone didn’t work at all in Costa Rica. They said I could buy a sim card but I didn’t want to, I kind of liked being off the grid. But I really wanted to find wild sloths. Maybe the person beside me will help I thought as I stood in line for the 6am bus. Damn, I hope its not someone rapid firing Spanish at me though, my Spanish is not great. Most of my Spanish I’ve learned from the music of Bad Bunny. I was relieved to see my seat in 44 was next to a Japanese man in 45. Oh that’s awesome I thought, he will struggle with Spanish too and we can find wild sloths together. Nope, turns out Im a racist asshole, he was a Japanese Argentinian who spoke perfect Spanish and no English, none. His phone worked too and he was putting all these upside down house letters in Japanese and beautiful beaches were popping up, I really needed his help. I tried to befriend him but they speak a different kind of Spanish in Argentina, cajes instead of calles and so fast, so fuckin fast! His had like a little stall in it before it winded up too, like a UUUUUU mi esposa no esta aqui! His wife was either sleeping back in San Jose or dead, I couldn’t really understand. I noticed he had a bear avatar on his phone so I knew he liked animals so half way through the ride I decided to try to tell him they had sloths there. Hay peresozos en Puerto Viejo I said but he didn’t understand what I was saying. I said peresozos again and put up three fingers mimicking a sloth and then I panicked, I was like shit, what do sloths do? Its an animal famous for not doing anything. I pretended to hang up side down and he is (loudly) guessing animals in Spanish and Im like no, peresozos! Maybe I was saying it wrong but I had no Google so I said es posible tu telefono? And I typed in sloths and all these upside down houses came up and the words Oso Peresozo. And he goes UUUUUU OSO PERESOZO! I don’t know if you’ve ever been on a bus traveling through rural Costa Rica and seen a Japanese Argentinian get excited in Spanish about wild sloths but it is… ADORABLE!
Si SI! Oso Peresozo! I yelled. People are turning around now, they are like why the fuck are the American and Japanese guys back there in 44 and 45 playing charades two hours into a 6am bus ride? I said juntos? (Together) and he said si si! He told me where we could get bikes to rent and what to eat, he was the perfect travel partner! He said Yelp dices Jerk Chicken is the best to eat here. I said thanks Juan, you are my favorite travel partner! We had an amazing day in Puerto Viejo, beautiful beaches, monkeys, wild sloths, God damn that was an amazing day. He even showed me where my hostel was and I dropped off my bag. This hostel was called 456 hostel which I also do not recommend because no AC and there are weird animals running on the roof but I didn’t care, I just wanted to throw down my bag and get back to looking for wild sloths. The lady said we can’t just take your bag you need to check in first, I said listen lady you see that God damn excited Japanese man out there? We got wild sloths to find! I had no desire to spend one second in that hostel but Juan goes “Esta bien, cerveza” and then he had a beer by the ocean while I checked in. I joined him for a beer and it turns out that is a beautiful setting for a hostel. Still don’t recommend though, so fuckin hot.
Juan and I had an amazing day in Puerto Viejo, God damn that place is beautiful. We saw wild sloths, monkeys, and had an amazing time on the beach. I was sad to see him go, what a great travel partner! He pointed to where my hostel was but I said I would ride back into town with him. To be honest, I forgot to write down the name of the bike rental and there was like a hundred in Puerto. I turned my bike in with his to his surprise because we had rented for a full day but I told him I wanted a motorcycle. He used his expert Googling skills to get me to the cheapest motorcycle place. It was only $30 a day for a motorcycle which I thought was very reasonable. And I didn’t have enough cash on me and they didn’t take cards so the rental guy just said no worries man, take de bike to the ATM. That was pretty trusting! I came back with the money and got the bike and I can’t tell you guys the drugs part because the mods said no talking about drugs.
That was such a fast motorcycle. I turned my Bluetooth speaker up all the way and floored it and zoomed down the coast in time for the sunset, so God damn beautiful! Something about that warm Costa Rican sun on your shoulders and the sound of Khalid and the smell of salt in the air riding along the beautiful ocean, it will change your life. After the sunset I went to Cat’s house and her beautiful German friend Alina was there. There were three kids too and as soon as I got there they went riffling through my bag looking for candy. I had two caramels but was one short so I gave the little kid my chips. This was her sad face for not getting candy!
Cat was hobbling around on crutches so Alina and I said sit down we will take care of dinner. I went to the store down the street and got so much stuff for that poor family- toilet paper, rice, peppers and Barbies for the kids and a soccer ball for Marcello. Gringo santa claus when I came back, both the ladies cried, Alina said her girls had never had a Barbie doll. Alina and I cranked up the music in that little hippy house by the ocean and made dinner and drank wine and laughed while the kids played with their new toys and Cat relaxed and finished her remote work. We ate the food and drank the wine and smoked…cigarettes and had an amazing night. Alina asked if I wanted to share the Tuk Tuk and I said yes. She said it in kind of a mischievous way so I thought maybe she wanted to make out. And she was very beautiful so I said yes. We got in the Tuk Tuk and rode back towards town passing my hostel, she winked and said your hostel was back there you know and then put her hand on my arm.
I thought Cat was poor but Alina was super poor. She told the tuk tuk driver to turn left by the trash dump and we pulled up to an even tinier house right next to the rainforest. She said wait out here and I’ll put the kids to bed. So I waited on the porch. The kitchen was actually outside, a little refrigerator and a little stove and a sink. I sat in the chairs and she came out and we smoke a um cigarette together and then she said wait here. I was like fuck, wait her for what? Is she going to rob me or something but she didn’t seem scary, she seemed sweet. She came back out with a big giant mattress and threw it on the porch floor. Then she took off her shirt and said in her German accent, “Un now we share our bodies.” I thought that was a pretty sexy thing to say so I took off my shirt too and joined her except I didn’t want to have unprotected sex with a hippy so we just made out.
Sometime after she slipped back inside so I was alone on the mattress on the backporch by the rainforest. I thought that was a pretty good place to spend my first night in Puerto Viejo and I looked up and saw a hundred million stars lighting up the sky and fell asleep. But not too many hours later, God damn I awoke to a caucophony of jungle sounds! So many monkeys, just fuckin howling. And there were these weird rat things running around, they weren’t small at all, if you’ve ever seen the Princess Bride fucking ROS. (Rodents of Unusual Size). I honestly thought the monkeys were coming on the porch, that’s how loud they were.
I jumped up and leaned the mattress against the house and started walking, past the trash dump and out to the ocean. The first beach I came across was the black beach, it was amazing and I sat there until the sun came up. I had no watch or anything and my phone was dead so I walked for a long ways until I found a Tuk Tuk driver who took me to Cats. I got my motorcycle and went back to the hostel but when I charged my phone I found it was only 6am so I went back to sleep. But the hostel had no AC and there were some fuckin animals on the roof right over my head so I couldn’t sleep much. I went to the beach and found more wild monkeys and then sent Cat a WhatsApp message to see if she needed my help since she had the broken foot and Marcello was home, it was some kind of Costa Rican holiday.
She said sure come over and so I drove my motorcycle back down the coast and went back to the store and got more supplies and cooked them a big lunch. I had asked before if they eat meat because some hippies don’t and she said sure but its expensive here I don’t know if you want to buy it. It was $4 ha, I got some ham and rice and peppers and made a huge lunch and drank some beers and cooked while Cat did her remote work. She took a picture and I asked if she mind taking a short video of me cooking. IT wasn’t for social media or friends or anything, that video was for me so I could remember when I could be happy. A trip to Costa Rica for only $51 with my Go Wild pass and I got to be by the ocean and I met new friends and I was actually helping someone, I realized that day that’s what made me the most happy, that’s why I wanted the video.
After lunch I cleaned up and then Marcello and I played some chess. She asked if I minded watching Marcello while she ran to town with a client and I said sure, no problem. I was wrong, it was a huge fuckin problem! She said she would be back in an hour and then we could go to the hippy get-together on the beach. She was NOT back in an hour and I fuckin panicked. I didn’t know this lady’s last name, I didn’t know Marcello really, I called Cat and she didn’t answer and I tried texting her, nothing. I thought fuck, she must have abandoned me with this kid. And I don’t know how to get ahold of the authorities and it was a holiday, this shit was basically the plot to the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy. I started pounding beers because I was so nervous. I asked Marcello if he knew Alina’s number and this little dude said, and I quote, “Who’s Alina?” What the fuck? I said buddy, the lady that was here last night with the kids? He said he didn’t know them very much. Oh my God I thought, I’ve definitely been saddled with a kid. But then I was thinking, you know what, I could raise this kid, wouldn’t be that bad, live in this $400 a month house by the ocean, sounds good. But I have my own kids back home in Kansas City and that made me panic even more, now Im fuckin slammin beers so worried. Every car that goes down this little side road Im like oh please be Cat. Now this kid is starting to yell at me to come back out in Norwegian, I don’t know Norwegian and he wants me to read him books, which are also in Norwegian, Im full panicky at this time.
Finally Cat came back I said Cat, I wasn’t comfortable with that, I don’t even know your last name or anything. She goes, why, whats wrong? And goes running in to see Marcello, I said oh no, he’s fine, nothing happened its just that I thought you left and weren’t coming back. She said why would I leave my kid I love him more than anything in the world. I said I know, okay, its just that I was panicking. She said calm down, all good, lets go to the hippy fire circle. I was not going to go, I was going to get the fuck out but I really wanted to go to the fire circle, I was hoping they would let me spin the fire. So we went to the fire circle, Marcello and Cat with the client and me following behind on the motorcycle. We relaxed on the blanket and then up came beautiful Alina looking like a million bucks in the sun tucking her brown hair behind her ears. She got on the blanket with us close to me and I retold the story about how I thought Cat abandoned her kid with me and we all laughed and smoked again and had beers and then watched the sun go down. I didn’t know Marcello didn’t know how to swim so I showed him how to swim a bit, a little lesson in front of the beautiful sunset. After the sun went down it was time for the fire circle and the main guy said brother, thank you for helping Cat, you are in our circle now, whats ours is yours. I said oh man thank you so much can I do the fire spinning? And he said that you can not do. Damn.
So I watched the others spin it jealously and then I got us some appetizer snacks from the restaurant. After the fire circle and the singing and everything we decided to have a picnic at the black beach. They went to the store to get the food and I went to go get my motorcycle. When I got back I guess Alina had stolen something from the store because the workers were all around her and the police were coming. It was equally sad and scary. They took everything she bought away and Cat said its okay she had enough so we all walked to the black sand beach and I gave Alina a hard time for being a thief until we all were laughing. We had a great night by the ocean and then they both got Tuk Tuks and I got on my motorcycle and drove back to the hot hostel and fell asleep and I never saw those hippies again. The end.
submitted by Ask_me_4_a_story to gowildfrontier [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 22:30 r3crac ALIEXPRESS Deals (6.6.2023)!

ALIEXPRESS Deals Compilation (6.6.2023)!
Check products in compilation image: https://i.imgur.com/kaJjcLy.jpeg or https://i.ibb.co/WWsJ4W5/bae54a893c2e.jpg
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-8- Paronychia Improved Stainless Steel Nail Clippers
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Products compilation image: https://i.imgur.com/kaJjcLy.jpeg or https://i.ibb.co/WWsJ4W5/bae54a893c2e.jpg
submitted by r3crac to couponsfromchina [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 22:14 Phoenix_Samurai [H] Spiritfarer, Eternal Threads, Turbo Golf Racing, Rogue Genesia, Boneraiser Minions, Nomad Survival, Hellblade, Calico, Lake, Teacup, Warhammer, and so many more! [W] Phoenix Wright, Monster Hunter Rise, Haiku The Robot, Wishlist Games

All games are Steam keys unless otherwise specified. All games are purchased from the USA and should be considered USA region. For any other region please ask beforehand if you are unsure about any REGION LOCKS.
Note: Games will be provided as a KEY. NO GIFT LINKS.
IGS Rep Page https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/6ptjqz/phoenix_samurais_igs_rep_page/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=usertext&utm_name=indiegameswap&utm_content=t3_lwjx93
Not really interested in being offered lower-valued items for higher-valued items. Thanks for taking a look!
Games for Trade
Wishlist
submitted by Phoenix_Samurai to indiegameswap [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 21:51 reylomeansbalance Anne Boleyn in the Tower

http://under-these-restless-skies.blogspot.com/2014/01/anne-boleyn-in-tower.html
Anne Boleyn was an anointed queen, crowned as a monarch in her own right, a status never before held by a Queen of England. And now, something else that had never occurred was happening: a queen was on trial for treason.
Queens had been accused of adultery or treason in the past. Some, like Eleanor of Aquitaine, had even incited rebellion against their husbands and kings. But their punishment had always been to be placed under house arrest in one of their own palaces. Queens and kings were above mortal judgement and criminal justice. They were accountable only to God once anointed, a sacred moment that created a mystical bond with the Almighty.
Some must have wondered why Henry was doing this. Why would he publicly air his shame in being cuckolded by Anne Boleyn? Men whose wives cheated were objects of ridicule, weak men who could not even keep their own wives in check. It was an injury to the king's own dignity, for if a man could not rule his own household, how could he rule a nation? And, in allowing Anne to be judged by the peers of England, he was putting any monarch in a position to be judged by earthly men. It was a dangerous precedent to set.
But Henry wasn't worrying about such things in the early part of May, 1536. He was too busy partying like a fratboy, taking a barge of musicians and laughing courtiers down the river nightly to Jane Seymour's house. Ambassador Chapuys, who despised Anne Boleyn and was delighted at her fall, even thought it in poor taste. He wrote in one of his dispatches to the Emperor:
You never saw prince nor man who made greater show of his cuckold’s horns or bore them more pleasantly. I leave you to imagine the cause ...
Although the generality of people here are glad of the execution of the said concubine, still a few find fault and grumble at the manner in which the proceedings against her have been conducted, and the condemnation of her and the rest, which is generally thought strange enough.
People speak variously about the King, and certainly the slander will not cease when they hear of what passed and is passing between him and his new mistress, Jane Seymour. Already it sounds badly in the ears of the public that the King, after such ignominy and discredit as the concubine has brought on his head, should manifest more joy and pleasure now, since her arrest and trial, than he has ever done on other occasions, for he has daily gone out to dine here and there with ladies, and sometimes has remained with them till after midnight.
I hear that on one occasion, returning by the river to Greenwich, the royal barge was actually filled with minstrels and musicians of his chamber, playing on all sorts of instruments or singing; which state of things was by many a one compared to the joy and pleasure a man feels in getting rid of a thin, old, and vicious hack in the hope of getting soon a fine horse to ride—a very peculiarly agreeable task for this king.
Henry left the details to his councilors and Thomas Cromwell, and they were busy those first couple of weeks building a case against the queen.
Now, as Anne Boleyn stepped from her barge into the gray stone fortress, she was greeted by William Kingston, the constable of the Tower. When she had stayed here the night before her coronation, only a thousand days ago, Kingston had been all welcoming smiles. Now, he was her jailor. Kingston was always unfailingly courteous to her, but Anne was his prisoner and he would do his duty, just as Anne had always done hers.
Anne asked, somewhat timorously,
"Master Kingston, shall I go into a dungeon?"
Kingston replied that she would be lodged in the apartments she had occupied before her coronation. He wrote to the council that she fell to her knees with the exclamation it was too good for her and begged Jesus to have mercy on her.
As he drew her to her feet, Anne began, in his words:
"weeping a great pace, and in the same sorrow fell into a great laughing, and she hath done many times since.”
Charles Wriothesley, a chronicler of the Tudor age, described it this way:
"Anne Bolleine was brought to the Towre of London… entring in, she fell downe on her knees before the said lordes, beseeching God to helpe her as she was not giltie of her a accusement …"
Kingston reported that Anne asked about her family, where her father and brother was and feared her mother - who was ailing from a cough - would die of sorrow. Was Anne hoping they would intercede on her behalf? Kingston, for whatever reason, lied about George Boleyn and said he was still at court. He had actually been arrested before Anne was.
In her apartments, Anne met with the ladies who were to serve her while she was incarcerated. Among them were the Mistress Coffin, Mistress Stonor, Elizabeth Wood Boleyn (married to Anne Boleyn's father's younger brother), Lady Shelton (who had been assigned previously to guard Princess Mary, and who may have resented Anne for nudging Madge Shelton to become the mistress of the king), and Lady Kingston. None of these women was a friend or partisan of Anne Boleyn. Lady Kingston - in fact - was a friend of Princess Mary.
These women were instructed to write down every word Anne said. Henry knew his wife well, and knew that given sufficient stress and the illusion of privacy, Anne would break down and babble hysterically. Had she had her court of ladies around her, Anne probably would have found it within herself to keep her regal demeanor, and indeed, during her two last public appearances, Anne was every inch the queen.
But now, during the worst moments of her life, Anne wondered aloud what sort of "evidence" the council could uncover that could be used against her. She spoke of a few flirtatious encounters, and when those were twisted out of context, they were used to convict her.
Anne bitterly complained about how cruel it was for the king to put around her, "such as I have never loved." But she spoke with these women just the same. Did they pretend sympathy to get her talking? Or was Anne simply unable to hold back the gush of words that came with her terror and intense stress?
There was a curious instruction given by Cromwell to the ladies: none of them were to speak to Anne unless Lady Kingston was in the room. Kingston trusted that his wife would report honestly, but he and Cromwell obviously didn't have the same faith in the other women. Did Cromwell fear Anne would charm the other ladies into friendship, despite their prior enmity? Anne is sometimes portrayed as a termagant, unable to get along with members of her own sex because of her jealousy or vanity, but if she was really that bitchy, such an instruction would not have been necessary.
They needn't have worried. The ladies took every chance they got to taunt her. When Anne learned on the 5th of May that her brother was actually in the Tower, she worried about where he was being housed, and whether he and the other prisoners had beds to sleep on. One of the ladies retorted that Anne's interest in "unseemly" matters like men's beds is what had gotten her into this mess.
Kingston reported that Anne silenced them with the only weapon she had left: etiquette. She was still the Queen of England, and still treated as such during her stay in the Tower. Court etiquette forbid anyone to speak to the queen unless she spoke first. Anne remained silent when she as with those women, and thus, they could not taunt her. It shows there was still some of Anne's fighting spirit in her, under the layers of fear, desperation, and anguish.
For almost two weeks, Anne rattled around in those luxurious apartments, not knowing what was going on in the outside world, except the little her jailors told her. News trickled in: more of her friends and supporters arrested. Anne mourned the fact that these innocent men were being punished for her sake.
Kingston recorded that Anne asked about whether she would be granted a trial.
And then she said, Mr. Kyngston, shall I die without justice? And I said, the poorest subject the Kyng hath, hath justice. And there with she laughed.
It's no wonder she laughed. Anne had seen the king's particular brand of "justice" before and likely didn't expect to fare much better at trial. But she would be able to defend herself against the charges, be able to tell the truth in the eyes of God and the world. If Anne had any hopes, she likely pinned them on the king granting her a pardon.
During those long thirteen days, Anne had nothing to do but pray and worry. She had none of her precious books to wile away the hours, none of her friends to offer comfort and support. Kingston does not record that Anne received any visitors, letters, or care packages from friends. That is not certain evidence she did not receive any, of course, but it seems likely he would have mentioned it, considering he recorded her every word and movement.
Kingston records that Anne's brother George got a letter from his wife, Jane Parker, vowing to go before the king and plead for him. Historians still debate whether this offer was genuine, or if it was Jane's testimony that put him there in the first place.
Anne had seen it before, after Katharine's exile. Her servants and courtiers would be trying to secure a place in Jane Seymour's retinue. Distancing themselves from her was the only safe move to make. But it must have been terribly lonely as she wandered those huge apartments, rooms built to be occupied by hundreds of courtiers, that only now held her and a handful of scowling women.
Did Anne write any letters herself? Kingston records that she asked for permission, but he says nothing about sending them out. A letter exists that is purportedly from Anne to Henry, but there are questions as to its authenticity. A historian in the 18th century wrote about seeing another letter from Anne to Henry in which she angrily rejected a plea deal that would require her to confess, but it's believed to have been destroyed in a library fire.
While Anne paced, prayed, and fretted, stands were erected in the great hall where Anne had her coronation feast only three short years ago. The stadium-style seating allowed for two thousand spectators, and it seemed like it would be a packed house. Anne's arrest was the scandal of the century and everyone was talking about it. There was, of course, the glee of her enemies, and those who had always thought she was a loose woman nodded their heads in approval. But there were also those who felt Anne had been unjustly accused to make way Jane Seymour.
Henry wrote to Jane:
Advertising you that there is a ballad made lately of great derision against us, which, if it go abroad and is seen by you, I pray you pay no manner of regard to it. I am not present informed who is the setter forth of this malignant writing, but if he is found out, he shall be straightly punished for it.
The song is lost to the mists of history. The king's men likely destroyed any written copies of it (assuming there were printed copies) and none of them have survived to the current day.
Anne was never as popular as Katharine, but she had been a good queen, generous to the poor, passionate about education, and reforming the church. She had partisans, and now they were grumbling. To try to quell the gossip, Henry had Jane moved a few miles away, but still ostentatiously visited her every evening.
The nobles were gathering from all over England to sit as judges in Anne's trial. Hand-picked by the council, many of them would sit on the bench with fat bribes in their pockets. The property of the accused was already being divvied up amongst them to ensure they'd have a vested financial interest in a guilty verdict.
On May 11th, the council arrived at the royal apartments in the Tower. They had been instructed by the king to wring a confession from Anne, to show her no respect or delicacy in getting it. But the men were immediately thrown off their game when Anne took control of the meeting as a queen, not as the pitiful, broken prisoner they had expected. She extended her hand for them to kiss and then settled into her chair of estate and motioned her regal permission for them to begin. But the moment they began to speak of her "evil deeds," Anne cut them off. She bluntly said she had never wronged the king, but was imprisoned because he was tired of her, just as he had once tired of Katharine. When they tried again, Anne imperiously ordered them from the room, and as she was still the Queen of England, they could not dare to disobey.
The council had expected to badger a helpless woman into submission. Instead, Anne Boleyn showed them the door. She would not be cowed. She would not be frightened into agreeing to a false confession to save her skin. As her daughter would say, decades later, Anne Boleyn might have the small and seemingly fragile body of a woman, but she had the heart and stomach of a king.
At the door, the Duke of Norfolk turned, probably because he was unable to resist one last chance to needle his niece. He was just that kind of guy. He said if her brother shared her guilt, their punishment would be great indeed. To which Anne retorted that her brother had been arrested so there would be no one to stand up for her. One wonders if Norfolk understood that particularly pointed comment.
On the evening of May 14, Anne was told her trial would begin in the morning. Until this moment, she probably didn't think Henry would go through with it. Anne may have thought he wouldn't want all of the salacious details aired in public, and would just leave her in the Tower to stew for a bit before magnanimously releasing her to enter a convent. She was told that her household had been dissolved only a few days prior, so she likely accepted that however this played out, she would never be queen again.
She likely did not know the king had already ordered the swordsman of Calais to come to perform the execution, long before the victim had even been put on trial.
submitted by reylomeansbalance to anneboleyn_in_context [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 21:45 Omnisiah_Priest ZS A4S v3 - my SFF journey in 6.2L case (with lot of photos)

ZS A4S v3 - my SFF journey in 6.2L case (with lot of photos)
Introduction
This post is a compilation of my previous three (actually more) Reddit posts - about 3070, 3080 and 4070 builds in the beautiful ZS-A4S v3 case. I have long wanted to summarize my experience in one text post - many do not read the comments under posts with photos, also, as I found out, my comments even can be hidden - but exactly there that I describe my builds in details. Here you will known how to create handmade dust protection, an airflow separator for sandwich-build, about the shortest air-cooled 3080, a fake MF-700F, two mistakes in the design of the Asus B760-I, and how to kill a lot of time working on one of the most compact builds.
Due to the limit of 20 photos in one post, I had to add just a few photos here, the rest is uploaded to Imgur (many photos will be there with comments explaining their context), I will give links to the albums below.
If you're planning to build in this case, I advice you read and view all of this.
Links to the products that I used will be in my comment below (firs comment if you "sort by: old"), unless the Reddit hides it.
https://preview.redd.it/ovm39kgm2g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1da7deb86bf7e7516e202e30c4fff6fe2f78cf36
Why ZS-A4S v3?
When choosing an SFF case, in addition to size and hardware compatibility, I have such criteria as:
- "design" - I love elegant minimalist cases GhostS1-style without unnecessary elements and pretentiousness;
- "metal processing quality" - I want my case to look like it was carved from a single piece of aluminum (which is not possible with steel, your Captain Obviously), with no gaps / ill-fitting parts;
- "dust protection capability" - I hate dust/hairs in the case;
- "fans blowing upwards" - better cooling with this option;
I had an Aklla A4 Pro for a long time that met these criteria, but over time it became too big for me (SFF-madness - is when your case seems bigger to you than it was six months ago and you need something SMALLER). I have been looking for a smaller case for a long time, but did not find something that I would like. I noticed ZS-A4S v3 a some time ago, but passed through by due to the Flex PSU and the inability to install my Gigabyte 3080 Turbo (as I thought at the time). I kept searching but finding nothing better, so decided to sacrifice my 3080 for the 3070 and as result was ordered this case. That's how its started.
https://preview.redd.it/0vx22j4l2g4b1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5c6b6f510089a698217493380edc3d32b759e77
Mesh vs Dust
First of all, I want to talk about dust protection. In fact, it was done gradually. For example, in builds with 3070 and 3080, the bottom was completely closed, and only for build with 4070 I installed a mesh there - the bottom panel has a complex geometry and I decided not to cut the mesh there first.
I used 60 mesh/inch thin steel mesh and strong double sided tape 3mm and 2mm wide and 0.5mm thick.
Installing mesh on the side and bottom panels did not affect temperatures at all, only the mesh on the top panel increased the temperature of the video card by 1-2C, not more.
MORE PHOTOS HERE

https://preview.redd.it/7bflfbcj3g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3d05530aad52331c5c28aa5bc4778d5e75c42f1
i7 8700 + RTX 3070 build:

GPU - Inno3D 3070 Twin X2 OC (undervolted to 1830MHz/850mV without FPS losses)
CPU - 8700k, 4200MHz/1.22V (LLC level 1, delidded, 90-100W max real TDP)
CPU cooler - Thermalright AXP-90 x47 Full Copper
MB - ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING
RAM - 2*16gb DDR4 Kingston HyperX Fury Black HX426C16FBK2/32
HDD - 4TB Seagate BarraCuda 2.5"
SSD - Samsung 860 Evo 1000gb M.2 MZ-N6E1T0BW
PSU - Flex 1U Dianjipa MF-700F (modified Enhance ENP-7660B) + Noctua NF-A4x20 FLX

I got 85C°/95W on the CPU under the AIDA64 test (this is more than what I get in my daily use, the processor rarely gets even up to 78C°). With undervolting 1860/850 GPU heated up to 77C°/200W at 67% fan speed. Case fans are set at a constant 60% speed. Noise is acceptable, not noticeable when playing with headphones even at low headphone volume.
A few days later, I realized where the main source of noise in the computer is the Noctua power supply fan. The fact is that the original fan has a much higher power, 0.2 amperes, and the power supply supplies power based on the factory settings. I added "Noctua low noise adapter na-cr10" to the fan - and the noise immediately became moderate.
This GPU model was the only 3070 model that fit here. There was another model, but it had a worse cooling system design.
The power supply I used was very handy, with very flexible silicone-sheathed modular cables. But later I showed a photo of disassembled it to knowledgeable people, and they told me that this is not a modified Enhance ENP-7660B, but something else, some lower quality model. I replaced it a month later with a original 7660B for the next build.
MORE PHOTOS HERE
https://preview.redd.it/em9tf8yg4g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9820d1812106252390949825547d39a7d4fefaf1
https://preview.redd.it/47aiviyg4g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=acd18b216ac3ce83ddcc0a6199c015e521efbb1c
i5 13400 + RTX 3080 build:

GPU - Gigabyte RTX 3080 Turbo + power adapter from BYKSKI water block
CPU - Intel Core i5 13400 + Thermalright Contact Frame
CPU cooler - Thermalright AXP90 X47 Full + Thermalright TFX thermalpaste
MB - Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi
RAM - 2*16gb DDR5 Kingston Fury
SSD - 2TB m.2 PCI-E 4.0 Kingston SNV2S/2000G
HDD - 4TB Seagate BarraCuda 2.5"
PSU - Enhance ENP 7660B + NF-A4x20 FLX fan

After a while, I found a way to install the 3080 in this case, using cables from the Bykski water block instead of the factory power adapter. In fact, at first my goal was 3090, also a turbo and also from Gigabyte, but even with undervolting down to 300W it overheats to 100C and was very noisy.
With the 3080 I managed to create a build suitable for gaming, with an undervolt of 1740/775 and a memory overclock of +500, the GPU consumed 260W in average. I managed to almost not lose performance in comparison with the factory settings, somewhere I even got an increased fps due to a stable frequency and the removing the throttling. The GPU heats up to 81C by the core and up to 88C by the memory. 2750 rpm, 90% of the speed of this turbine is a significant noise to which is added also some turbulent noise due to the closely spaced side panel. Thats not a comfortable if you playing without headphones. But with headphones, even at a low volume level, the problem is solved - I not hear the fan at all.
I ran into two issues with the Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi - the heatsink and shroud above the motherboard outputs had a protrusion of about 5mm and it couldn't fit into this case. I removed the heatsink and shroud and cut them off and then reinstalled them. Also the cooler backplate can only be mounted to this board by flipping it over and using the long screws from the kit. This increased the protrusion of the cooler backplate at the back of the motherboard, but in the end there was enough room for even that.
The CPU in games heats up to no more than 60C even without additional power settings. I "undervolted" it by setting up "LLC level" to 1, which reduced power consumption and heating without loss of performance. The 13400 is an excellent processor for a computer of this size, there is nothing to say more.
Noise:
30dB - idle
33dB - CPU load only
45dB - gaming load
(hereinafter, the same phone was used to measure the noise, the measurement technique is the same everywhere - 70 cm from the case, with the microphone towards the case, the average noise level in 30 seconds)
MORE PHOTOS HERE
https://preview.redd.it/gdkvu8xa5g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40ccdda03526831107460b13532223f54f011dda
https://preview.redd.it/3n4ib8xa5g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=547747c5fbfa3c03a21fa946a11516682bff7077
https://preview.redd.it/s7a4p31m5g4b1.png?width=837&format=png&auto=webp&s=133b263ccda129f419118e6f0eae702d70aa7bb3
i5 13400 + RTX 4070 build:

GPU - Palit RTX 4070 Dual OC
CPU - Intel Core i5 13400 + Thermalright Contact Frame
CPU Cooler - Thermalright AXP90 X47 Full + Thermalright TFX thermalpaste
MB - Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi
RAM - 2*16gb DDR5 Kingston Fury 5400mhz
SSD - 2TB m.2 PCI-E 4.0 Kingston SNV2S/2000G
HDD - 4TB Seagate BarraCuda 2.5"
PSU - Enhance ENP 7660B + NF-A4x20 FLX fan

When I finished my second build with 3080 in this case, I thought I would be using it for a long time. But here comes the 4070, which is 120W cooler than the 3080 for the same performance and has a DLSS 3.0 with Frame Generation, and there are several models that fit in my case...
So I couldn't resist the temptation.
When I first installed the graphics card, I realized that the blow-through heatsink was a very bad idea for such a small sandwich case, and I should not have covered the ventilation grill on the bottom, which I did back in the first build with the 3070. The graphics card heated everything else inside, and the power supply was especially bad.
So, I bought an A4 folder with a plastic cover ~0.7mm thick and got to work. I made cutouts that repeat all the shapes from the side of the video card, made sure that it fits and installed the video card in place. Then, using double-sided tape, I installed the mesh on the bottom of the case (and regular tape to cover the edges), as I did before with all other panels that have ventilation perforations.
Done? Not so easy!
The fans of the video card touched the filter mesh on the side panel, the mesh did not let them work. In an attempt to fix this, I glued strips of soft material ~4mm thick around the fans on the video card shroud (this material sold as a "self-adhesive filter" in my country). The grid became less of an obstacle, but there was still the sound of the fans touching it. I had to remove the mesh from the panel and add a strip of 3mm double-sided tape (better to use 2mm!) every 4 rows of vents, then glue the mesh back in place. Finally it worked perfectly! The only negative after my dust protection is that the side panels only slide down. After installing soft adhesive tapes around the video card coolers - the panel on the side of the video card cannot be moved up and down, I put it on the side, slightly removing the front panel. It is enough to move it by 3mm, in fact, it is not difficult if you have mastered the assembly of such a case.
4070 Undervolting:
Of course, I started undervolting almost immediately after buying the card. This 4070 behaves differently than any other 10/20/30 series cards. The best that I managed to achieve without losing performance is 2700MHz / 915mV. Power consumption in games after that averaged 165-175 watts instead of 195-200. Trying to achieve lower consumption by sacrificing 1-2% of performance (it worked before!) led to failure - at 2600MHz / 875mV I got a performance drop of 12%.
In addition to the undervolt, I increased the memory frequency by +1000, up to 23000 MHz of the real effective frequency. This increased its throughput to 552.2Gb/s.
Temperature:
Results in RDR2 and Cyberpunk 2077 - on the pictures. The air heated by the GPU still affects the temperature of the CPU, but only by a couple of degrees. I was surprised by the low memory temperatures, which is 10 degrees cooler than the 3060 with the same power-consumption of 170W. You can get much less noise if you limit the fans to 50% of the speed. This will increase the temperature, but not critically.
Noise:
25.5dB - idle
32.7dB - CPU load only
35.2dB - gaming load (80% case and PSU fans, 60% GPU fans)
MORE PHOTOS HERE
https://preview.redd.it/m38xpokp5g4b1.jpg?width=1836&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a31f99454a6dab3bf3c94608bcde0d3a70e264f0
https://preview.redd.it/wcvmnpkp5g4b1.jpg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e3eecb46c3e8f8853a86f032e594541bb82053f
Cyberpunk 2077
RDR2
Conclusion
I worked on each build for several days, it was my longest work on a PC build, it was difficult, but I had a lot of enjoy by getting the finished build.
The ZS A4S v3 - is the best case for dual slot dual fan GPUs with TDP less than 200W and CPUs with TDP less than 90W. I will definitely continue to use this case for a long time because I doubt I will find anything better in build quality and design (unless perhaps someone will make the same high-quality aluminum copy of Velka 5, or in the future powerful single-cooler GPUs will be released).
I hope the RTX 5070 will fit here, which I will buy in 2.5 years :)
submitted by Omnisiah_Priest to sffpc [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 21:10 ranger_dood Keuka Lake Gravel Classic - Ride Report

I'm going to go ahead and flair this a "ride" rather than a race. I took part in the "25" mile short course (actually 30 miles), which was timed but non-competitive with no awards.
If anyone's been following along with my various posts and comments, this was my first organized cycling event, and as such I don't have any points of comparison. This is more about putting my personal experiences of the day down in writing and sharing with others who might be new to the "scene" as well.
Training
To be honest, I was very unprepared for this race. I signed up for it shortly after buying my Trek Marlin 5 as motivation to get out riding. In that regard it worked, but I was short on time to get much training in. I rode a total of 127 miles in 10 rides prior to the day of the KLGC, with my longest ride being 20 miles the week before. I had a little bit of a running base, so I wasn't completely green, but we all know different muscles are used for each.
I was definitely concerned about the length as well as the elevation this ride presented.
Morning of
Up at 6:30 AM to get on the road by 7:15. Stopped at a sheetz and got a breakfast croissant, iced tea (my morning caffeine), water, and some peanut M&Ms for ride fuel. I had a 2 1/2 hour drive to make, and was trying to hydrate as much as I could, so I ended up having to stop a total of 3 times on the way up. This put me behind schedule and I ended up not arriving until 10:30am. I was one of the last ones in the parking lot.
On the plus side, there was no line to get my bib. I grabbed it and went back to the car to get combobulated. I had just enough time to get the bike ready, get sunscreen on, get my bib situated on my jersey, and hit the bathroom for one more pee (again, no line as they had already announced several times that we were supposed to be at the start line).
In retrospect, I definitely should've gotten there 15-30 minutes earlier to be a little less rushed. However, it did mean that I didn't have enough time to get a bunch of nerves built up (granted, I'd already been doing that in the car ride up).
The Ride
So, the important part. Having watched the long course riders take off, I lined up at the very back of the short course field. I was hoping that being at the back would keep me from taking off too fast. It worked for about 1/2 mile until I couldn't take being behind someone any more and started riding at a comfortable pace. Unfortunately, a comfortable pace at the beginning of the ride proved to be too fast (duh).
The first 5 miles ticked by quickly. We rode some pavement and made a lovely climb through a vineyard. The top of the climb had the nicest view of the lake, and I wish I would've taken 30 seconds to stop and grab a picture. I felt it was too early for a break, though, and kept plugging along.
After the vineyard, we zipped down a short paved section and then made a right turn onto The Hilltm .
It was everything I hoped it wouldn't be. The gravel surface was fine, no issues there, but the grade was impressive. It was at this point that I was very happy to be on a 29'er with low gearing. Lots of people were walking their bikes, and even some of those had to stop for a breather partway. I honestly think this was where I made up most of my positions on the board.
I stayed clipped in and just plugged along. There were a few points where I thought about stopping and walking, but I was afraid I couldn't get unclipped and put my feet down in time if I tried to stop. By the top, my lungs were screaming, but I made it. The decision to ride it out may have been a poor one, as this is about the point where my right knee started to hurt.
What goes up does indeed have to come down (at least when you're riding a circuit), and the course was no exception. At this point, I was actually happy that I'd caught up to 2 riders who were being slightly cautious on the downhill. There's a good chance I might've stretched it out a little too much and lost control on an unfamiliar surface if I'd had the road wide open in front of me.
The rest of the ride had some long stretches of pavement, but decidedly tamer terrain. I periodically popped a few M&Ms and kept hydrating, but I wasn't really sure how often I should be eating as I was now in uncharted territory as far as ride length. My knee really started to bother me, and that was taking most of my attention.
For a while I could get around the knee pain by getting up on the pedals, but by the final 2 hills the stabilizing muscles were done for as well. Speaking of, as we turned onto the final road that was going to take us back to the brewery, my watch showed 2.5 miles to the finish. Just as we were approaching Pulteney, we were suddenly directed off-course by a road closure.
This may have been announced at the starting line when I was rushing around getting ready, but it was a surprise to me. The official course arrows were set up to direct us on a short detour, though, and we soon rejoined the main road.
As we finished up the last 2 miles, I was just done. The saddle that I'd chosen to replace the factory one on my Marlin was not doing me any favors. My knee was hurting and I couldn't get up on the pedals to relieve my seat pain anymore. As I got within sight of the finish line, I had nothing left to cross at any sort of an impressive pace. The 25+ mile course ended a hair over 30 miles.
Post Race
I took my time getting discombobulated post-race. First order of business was getting out of my sweaty riding stuff and back into street clothes. I don't know how people were still walking around with their kit on hours later when there were bathrooms available for changing. I was happy to have remembered baby wipes for cleaning off the dust/sunscreen mix that was all over my arms and legs.
I wandered back towards the brewery to scope out the food situation. There were 2 options - Tacos or pizza. The tacos smelled great, but I wasn't 100% confident in my digestive system's status at that moment, and opted for a BBQ chicken pizza instead.
As I sat in the grass waiting for my pizza, there was a long line of new orders being taken. At one point I heard the guy say it would be 45 minutes to someone who had placed their order probably 15 minutes after me. As the time ticked on, I observed several people come up to inquire about the status of their pizza. The responses were a bit exasperated indicating that they would be out when they were done. The staff were obviously working as fast as possible, and honestly it was impressive how many pies they were turning out of one oven.
Not wanting to add to their stress, I sat and waited, growing hungrier with each passing pie. Finally after an hour and a half, most everyone around me was done and gone... the podiums and awards were complete, and I wasn't certain I could muster the energy to flag down the delivery guy. But I did, and although he didn't admit it, after going and looking for my order he somewhat sheepishly came back and asked what I had ordered, so I'm almost certain that my slip had gotten lost. Perhaps whisked away by the unrelenting wind.
After another 10 minutes, I had my pizza and downed it with (perhaps a bit too much) gusto. It was good, but I definitely shouldn't have waited that long to ask about it.
Conclusion
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably. I do feel that there was a lot of pavement for a "gravel" ride. Maybe the long course ends up with a higher % of gravel, but the short definitely had a lot of pavement. The gravel itself was good, though. Course conditions were great, although obviously dry with the lack of rain we've had. The weather was ALMOST perfect, but the wind knocked that down a few points.
The ride was very well supported. I had the course loaded in my Garmin watch in case I zoned out, but the turns were also well-marked and major intersections had traffic control courtesy of local fire and police departments. I saw the support truck several times and never felt like I was far from help if I needed it.
Post race was a little bit disappointing. I'm not sure if I missed something, but after crossing the line I just rode back to my car, and then had to go to the brewery to buy something to drink to supplant my now-empty water bottles. I know a lot of people were going for the post-ride beer anyway, but I don't drink so it would've been nice to see some complementary water or something.
Now that I've got one down, I'm looking forward to seeking out other local rides and continuing to build my abilities!
Pictures from the day (none of the course, sorry... I was concentrating on finishing) - https://imgur.com/a/TPtQUmk
submitted by ranger_dood to gravelcycling [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 20:45 Motivatoruae 30 Unique Corporate Gifts That Motivate Employees in the UAE

30 Unique Corporate Gifts That Motivate Employees in the UAE
Introduction: Corporate gifting is an essential aspect of fostering employee motivation and engagement. In the dynamic business landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering unique and thoughtful gifts can have a significant impact on your workforce. This blog post presents 10 distinctive corporate gifts that can serve as motivators for employees in the UAE. From personalized items to experiences that promote well-being and personal growth, these gift ideas will demonstrate your appreciation while aligning with the cultural values of the region.
Unique Corporate Gifts
  1. Customized Arabic Calligraphy Art: Arabic calligraphy holds immense cultural significance in the UAE. Consider gifting customized art pieces that feature employees' names or motivational quotes in elegant Arabic calligraphy. These unique artworks can serve as inspiring reminders of your recognition and respect for their contributions. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  2. Luxury Date Gift Sets: Dates hold a special place in Emirati culture and are often shared as a symbol of hospitality and goodwill. Present employees with luxurious date gift sets featuring a variety of premium dates, nuts, and chocolates. These indulgent treats are not only delicious but also culturally significant, making them ideal motivators for your UAE workforce.
  3. Dubai Skyline Desk Clocks: Dubai's iconic skyline is recognized worldwide, and gifting desk clocks that depict the cityscape can be a meaningful gesture. These clocks serve as reminders of the fast-paced business environment and growth opportunities in the UAE, motivating employees to strive for success. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  4. Personalized Arabic Perfume Bottles: Perfume holds great cultural importance in the UAE, and personalized Arabic perfume bottles make exceptional corporate gifts. Collaborate with renowned perfumers to create custom fragrances for your employees, featuring their names or initials on beautifully designed bottles. This gift combines personalization, luxury, and cultural significance, making it a memorable motivator.
  5. Desert Retreat Experience: The UAE's desert landscape offers a unique setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Gift your employees a desert retreat experience, including an overnight stay at a luxury desert resort, camel rides, traditional Emirati cuisine, and cultural activities. This gift not only rewards hard work but also promotes team bonding and well-being. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  6. Arabic Coffee Sets: Arabic coffee, or "Gahwa," is an integral part of Emirati hospitality. Present employees with beautifully crafted Arabic coffee sets that include traditional coffee pots (Dallahs), cups (Finjans), and dates. Encourage them to take breaks and enjoy the rich flavors of Arabic coffee, fostering a sense of relaxation and appreciation.
  7. Personalized Gold-Plated Name Necklaces: Gold holds a significant cultural value in the UAE, and personalized gold-plated name necklaces make elegant corporate gifts. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, these necklaces can feature employees' names in Arabic or English script. Such a gift showcases your recognition of their individuality and dedication. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  8. VIP Experiences at Landmark Attractions: The UAE is home to numerous world-renowned attractions like the Burj Khalifa, Ferrari World, and Yas Marina Circuit. Gift employees VIP experiences, such as exclusive access to observation decks, fast-track entry to theme parks, or private tours of iconic landmarks. These experiences offer a sense of exclusivity and adventure, motivating employees through memorable moments.
  9. Wellness Retreat Vouchers: Promote well-being and work-life balance by offering wellness retreat vouchers to employees. These vouchers can grant access to luxury spas, meditation retreats, or yoga centers. By prioritizing their physical and mental health, you demonstrate your commitment to their overall well-being and encourage a positive and healthy work environment. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  10. Personalized Arabic Book Sets: Books are a timeless gift that promotes knowledge and personal growth. Consider gifting employees personalized book sets featuring works by renowned Emirati authors or books related to their professional interests. Encourage a culture of learning and development within your organization, fostering motivation and intellectual stimulation.
  11. Personalized Arabic Name Bracelets: Delight your employees with personalized Arabic name bracelets. These delicate and stylish accessories can be customized with their names or initials in Arabic script. The bracelets serve as fashionable reminders of their individuality and your appreciation for their contributions. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  12. Corporate Wellness Subscriptions: Invest in the well-being of your employees by providing them with corporate wellness subscriptions. These subscriptions can include access to fitness apps, meditation platforms, or online wellness programs. By prioritizing their health and offering resources for self-care, you show your commitment to their overall well-being.
  13. Luxury Leather Goods: Leather goods are highly regarded for their quality and durability. Gift your employees luxurious leather items such as wallets, cardholders, or laptop sleeves. Consider collaborating with local artisans who specialize in traditional Emirati leather craftsmanship to create unique and customized pieces. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  14. Artistic Wall Decor: Decorate your employees' workspaces with artistic wall decor inspired by Emirati culture and landmarks. This can include colorful paintings, intricate tapestries, or contemporary metal art. These visually appealing gifts not only enhance the office environment but also stimulate creativity and inspiration.
  15. Personalized Executive Pen Sets: Elevate your employees' writing experience with personalized executive pen sets. Engrave their names or initials on high-quality pens crafted from materials like gold, silver, or fine wood. These elegant writing instruments symbolize professionalism and excellence, motivating employees to excel in their work.
  16. Customized Corporate Apparel: Boost a sense of pride and unity within your organization by gifting customized corporate apparel. This can include embroidered polo shirts, branded hoodies, or personalized business card holders. Employees can wear these items with pride, showcasing their affiliation with the company. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  17. Emirati Food Hamper: Curate Emirati food hampers featuring a selection of traditional delicacies such as Arabian spices, gourmet dates, flavored nuts, and artisanal honey. This gift allows employees to explore the rich flavors of Emirati cuisine and experience the culinary heritage of the UAE.
  18. Personalized Desk Nameplates: Add a personalized touch to your employees' workstations with customized desk nameplates. Engraved with their names and job titles, these elegant nameplates create a sense of ownership and pride in their workspaces. They also make it easier for colleagues and visitors to identify them, fostering a professional and welcoming environment.
  19. Handmade Emirati Crafts: Support local artisans and showcase Emirati craftsmanship by gifting handmade crafts. This can include intricately woven baskets, palm leaf accessories, or traditional pottery. These unique and culturally significant gifts promote a sense of heritage and pride in Emirati culture. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  20. Corporate Volunteering Opportunities: Motivate employees by providing corporate volunteering opportunities. Partner with local charities or community organizations and organize team-based volunteering activities. This gift allows employees to make a positive impact on society while fostering teamwork and a sense of purpose.
  21. Luxury Tea Sets: Tea is an integral part of Emirati hospitality and culture. Present employees with luxury tea sets featuring a selection of high-quality teas from around the world. Include unique tea flavors and blends, along with exquisite teacups and a tea infuser. This gift encourages relaxation and promotes a sense of tranquility during breaks. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  22. Personalized Arabic Nameplates: Create personalized Arabic nameplates for employees' office doors or cubicles. These nameplates can feature their names elegantly designed in Arabic calligraphy. It adds a touch of sophistication to their workspace while reflecting their individual identity and contributing to a sense of belonging.
  23. Cultural Workshops or Classes: Offer employees the opportunity to participate in cultural workshops or classes that showcase Emirati traditions and crafts. This could include sessions on Arabic calligraphy, henna painting, falconry, or traditional Emirati cooking. By promoting cultural appreciation and learning, employees can deepen their connection with the UAE and feel motivated through gaining new knowledge.
  24. Customized USB Drives: USB drives are practical and useful gifts for employees. Take it a step further by customizing the USB drives with the company logo, employee name, or a motivational quote. This personalized touch adds a sense of exclusivity and ownership, making it a practical and motivational gift. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  25. Luxury Desk Accessories: Upgrade employees' workspaces with luxury desk accessories that blend functionality and style. This can include designer pen sets, premium desk organizers, or sleek wireless charging stations. These gifts not only enhance productivity but also showcase your commitment to creating a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing work environment.
  26. Emirati Art Prints: Decorate office spaces with art prints that highlight Emirati culture and landmarks. Choose prints that showcase the beauty of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other iconic locations in the UAE. The captivating images serve as sources of inspiration and pride, instilling a sense of motivation and connection to the local environment.
  27. Personalized Leather Bound Diaries: Encourage employees to stay organized and reflect on their goals and achievements with personalized leather-bound diaries. Engrave their names or initials on the cover to create a distinctive and sophisticated gift. These diaries provide a platform for creativity, goal setting, and self-reflection, fostering motivation and personal growth. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  28. Emirati-inspired Jewelry: Gift employees with Emirati-inspired jewelry pieces that capture the essence of UAE's cultural motifs. This can include pendants, bracelets, or earrings featuring designs inspired by elements like camels, falcons, or traditional patterns. These jewelry pieces allow employees to showcase their connection to Emirati culture and add a touch of elegance to their outfits.
  29. Professional Development Courses: Invest in your employees' professional growth by providing access to professional development courses or certifications. Offer opportunities for skill enhancement in areas relevant to their roles, such as leadership training, project management courses, or communication workshops. This gift demonstrates your commitment to their career progression and encourages them to excel in their roles. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.
  30. Team-building Retreats: Organize team-building retreats or off-site activities that promote bonding and teamwork. Plan trips to popular destinations within the UAE, such as the beautiful beaches of Ras Al Khaimah or the stunning mountains of Hatta. These experiences allow employees to relax, recharge, and strengthen their relationships, leading to increased motivation and collaboration.
Conclusion: These additional gift ideas offer a diverse range of options for unique corporate gifts that motivate employees in the UAE. From luxury tea sets and personalized nameplates to cultural workshops and professional development opportunities, these gifts demonstrate your appreciation while aligning with Emirati culture and values. By selecting thoughtful and unique gifts, you can foster a motivated and engaged workforce, leading to increased productivity and a positive work environment. Which make its very unique corporate gifts in UAE.

Unique corporate gifts
#UniqueCorporateGifts
submitted by Motivatoruae to u/Motivatoruae [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 20:04 sprashoo First impressions of dual lens helmetcam (Looking/LKT Pro DB1)

First impressions of dual lens helmetcam (Looking/LKT Pro DB1)
I posted a couple days ago asking about the current state of helmet 'dashcams', ended up buying one (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LYSWSD) and now have had it for a day and ridden for about an hour with it. So these are fairly preliminary observations, but here goes.
Quality and appearance:
  • It looks good, in a sort of "tacticool" way. Definitely looks like serious business.
  • Initial build quality seems decent - finish is nice, although the metal is very thin. I'm not sure what will happen if dropped, especially to the lens covers. There are seals around the lens cover threads, over charge ports, etc, but have not tested in serious rain.
https://preview.redd.it/3t40n02mpf4b1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe9c062be61cf90ffb0c418773b5ae119b8fbf15
User experience:
  • The app (iOS) is predictably pretty rough, but it does work. There's a 'Looking' app from the company, but other random apps are available, although don't seem much better. The app allows viewing live video, downloading clips, and changing a few camera settings like the auto-off feature (turns off after 3 minutes of not moving). It connects by you joining the wifi network the camera can broadcast.
  • Device controls: There's a single button, 4 lights, and a vibrator unit that provide all on-camera input and feedback. In theory the controls are simple enough - long press to turn on (starts recording automatically), short press to stop/start recording, double press to turn wifi on/off (this is how it connects to the app), 5 presses to reformat card. That's it. However, i found that, at least after connecting with the app, the camera would stop responding to on-camera inputs. Haven't messed with it enough to know what's happening for sure, but it may be confused thinking the app is controlling it even after disconnection. I don't have high expectations for the software of these cheap electronics so kinda feels like par for the course. Seems to work OK when not connected to app, which would be typical use.
  • Remote: There's a wristwatch style remote, but it only does two things (which, incidentally, can't be triggered directly on the camera): still snapshot, and lock video. This seems like a weird selection of things to put on the remote. Why not start/stop video at least? Anyway, this doesn't seem useful enough to actually bother to wear it.
  • Helmet mounting/comfort: This is the biggest issue for me. While the camera doesn't feel particularly heavy, it sits high up, so it's very noticeable that it's on my helmet. This is in part because I have a light helmet, but still, it's not great feeling having it on there. My helmet is 285g and the camera with mount is 180g.. so that's nearly a 65% increase in the overall weight of my helmet, and all located a couple inches off the top of the helmet...
    • Helmet: 285g (Lazer G2 MIPS) - this is lighter than typical, but still...
    • Camera alone: 100g
    • Camera mount: 80g (with untrimmed straps)
  • Regarding the weight/positioning, i'm thinking that if I can ditch the mount and attach it directly to the helmet with a couple strong rubber loops or something, it would both drop at least 60-70g and also bring the center of gravity down a lot. As it is, I don't think I want that on my head every day.
Video Quality:
  • Video quality is good. Sensors and video compression have come a long way. It can do 1080p/30fps front and back simultaneously (recording to separate files), and the videos are crisp and clear. License plates are legible if the car is close (cars driving by on opposite side of street, not so much. This is in part due to the wide angle lens, so things within the FOV are not large. Someone said that 1080p is not useful for license plates, and I don't think that's true. Especially if a car gets close enough to interact with you, it'll likely be close enough to get the plates.
Other observations:
  • The camera does not automatically lock video after an impact. I'm unsure if it has a force sensor (it does auto stop recording after 3 minutes of no movement, but it could be using the video stream to determine that).
  • Had a kind of strange interaction with another cyclist at a stoplight while wearing the camera. He commented, sarcastically "Oh, are you out trying to record people doing ya wrong?". So it seems like there's a contingent of anti-camera bike commuters out there. I admit, it does look a bit robocop. Everybody notices it, and I could see some people not wanting to be filmed. I'm also not sure if I want to be 'that guy' appearing to be filming everyone when not actually riding in traffic.
So anyway, hit and miss. I wish it was half the size and weight and the mounting was a lot less clunky. Also, wearing it seems to piss some people off. Not sure if i'll be keeping it or not, going to decide in a couple days.
submitted by sprashoo to bikecommuting [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 20:03 StardropScavenger [USA-NC] [H] Games for N64, GameCube, Wii, Switch, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, DS, 3DS, PS1, PSP, Consoles for Gameboy Advance SP, PSP, Switch [W] Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp or Zelle

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Have lots of things for sale, all things include shipping. Happy to provide photos upon request, will do my best to reply as soon as possible. I ship usually within 2-3 business days and if there's any issues with your item, I'm more than happy to help. :)
Always open to offers, a lot of prices I'd like to stay firm on but worst i'll say is no.
Would prefer Paypal F&F as I do have almost 300 transactions, but understand if that is something you're not comfortable with!
On to the items!!
THE CONSOLES!
Zelda Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch BNIB + Tears of the Kingdom Carrying Case BNIB $385
Nintendo Switch HAC-001 Red/Blue Joycon Console w/ Box, includes animal crossing (powerA controller, and Mario Kart Case) $225
Pink Gameboy Advance SP Pearl 101's (both consoles have scratches on them. Screens are both fine.) $90 each
Star Wars Battlefront PSP w/ Star Wars Renegrade Squardon $110 SOLD
THE GAMES!
N64
Goldeneye 007 $25
Mario Party w/ manual (manual does have wear) $50
Diddy Kong Racing w/ manual $30 SOLD

GameCube:
Animal Crossing [Disc only; resurfaced] $35
Ant Bully w/ movie ticket $15
Bloody Roar Primal Fury CIB $50
GameCube Start-Up Disc (the disc only; no case or player.) $130
Go! Go Hypergrind (Includes case, manual and disc. The artwork has like a "wrinkle" to it, shows wear. The manual has a bend on the bottom right corner, and the disc has some white residue on the ring.) $365
Fire Emblem Path of Radiance CIB #1 (Very good condition, disc has little to no wear. Manual/inserts look good also.) $260
Fire Emblem Path of Radiance CIB #2 (Very good condition, disc has little wear. Manual/inserts are nice.) $260
Fire Emblem Path of Radiance #3 (Missing insert, includes the case, manual and disc. Very good condition as well.) $240
Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets CIB $12 SOLD
Harry Potter Goblet of Fire CIB $10 SOLD
Harvest Moon Magical Melody [No manual] $25
Kirby Air Ride [Player's Choice] CIB $70
Luigi's Mansion [Case, Game, Manual] $50 SOLD
Mario Golf Toadstool Tour [Player's Choice] Case, Game, Manual $25
Mario Kart Double Dash [Case,Manual,Game] $65
Mario Party 6 [No Manual, has case] $75
Pac Man vs Pac Man World 2 [Player's Choice, CIB] $20
Pikmin 2 CIB $90
Pokemon Channel [No manual] $35
Resident Evil Zero [Player's Choice, CIB] $20
Spongebob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom [Player's Choice, CIB] $20
Super Bubble Pop CIB $10 SOLD
Super Mario Sunshine [no manual] $30
Tom and Jerry War of the Whiskers CIB $40
Ty 2 CIB $15 SOLD
Zelda 4 Swords Adventure [Case, manual, game] $90
Zelda The Wind Waker CIB $70 SOLD

Wii
Rune Factory Frontier CIB $35
Switch
Love Esquire [New] $40
Octopath Traveler $50
Trails of Cold Steel III Extracurricular Edition $60
Liar Princess and Blind Prince [New] $50 each
Fire Emblem Engage Divine Edition + [New] Tarot Cards (no STEELBOOK OR GAME INCLUDED!) $70
G/B/C/GBA
Dr. Mario Classic NES Series $15
Final Fantasy Tactics $25
Final Fantasy Legend [Includes Worn Box, Manual and Map] $80
Fire Emblem Sacred Stones $65
Golden Sun: The Lost Age $40
Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire $15
Lord of the Rings The Third Age $15
Lufia The Legend Returns (Part of label missing) $35
Mario vs Donkey Kong [Game and Box only] $30
Mario vs Donkey Kong $15
Mario Kart Super Circuit [Player's Choice] CIB $50
Mega Man Battle Network $60
Mega Man Battle Network 3 White $20
Mega Man Battle Network 4 Blue Moon $25
Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Protoman $25
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon $60
Shining Soul $60
Random Games Bundle - Includes: Dora, Frogger (not working), Final Fantasy IV (loads, then doesn't work), Star Wars Jedi Battles (loads, then doesn't work), Sonic Advance, Incredibles, Finding Nemo, DBZ: Legacy of Goku, Cartoon Network Speedway, Star Wars Flight of the Falcon, Side Pocket, I Spy Challenge, Top Gear Rally (2 copies), Dungeons & Dragons Eye of the Beholder, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Tetris Worlds, Namco Museum 50th Anniversary, Simpson's Road Rage - $80
Nintendo DS/3DS
Batman Arkham [no manual] $10
Chrono Trigger [CIB, no map] $100
Cooking Mama 5 [loose] $35
Dragon Quest V [CIB] $200
Fantasy Life [loose] $40
Final Fantasy III [CIB] $20
Fire Emblem Awakening [World Edition] $35
Fire Emblem Fates [Special Edition] [CIB] $500
Hotel Dusk Room 215 [No manual] $20
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance [loose] $15
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D [loose, MDE version] $15
Magical Starsign [CIB] $30
Mario Kart 7 [CIB] $15
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney & Ace Attorney Justice For All [both loose] $35
Pokemon Sun & Moon Dual Pack [Moon sealed] $110
Pokemon Sun and Moon Steelbook [No games] $60
Pokemon Sun [Loose] $15
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire [loose] $30
Pokemon Black [CIB] $100
Pokemon X [Loose] $30
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity [Loose] $25
Pokemon Soul Silver #1 [loose, placed into new shell; old one broken but included.] $75
Pokemon Soul Silver #2 [loose, has some stuff on the back of it.] $100
Pokemon Soul Silver #3 [loose, best condition one] $110
Pokemon Rumble Blast [in rough condition] $10
Project X Zone 2 [CIB] $90
Radiant Historia [CIB] $40
Steal Princess [CIB] $110
Suikoden Tierkreis [CIB] $80
Super Princess Peach [CIB, wear to cartridge] $100
PS1
Suikoden II [Loose, has wear to disc and some scratching] $100
Harvest Moon Back to Nature [CIB] $50
PSP:
Brave Story New Traveler [CIB] $45 SOLD
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII [CIB] $20
Disgaea 2 Dark Hero Days [CIB] $35 SOLD
Dissadia Final Fantasy [CIB] $12
Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts [CIB] $15
Growlanser Wayfarer of Time [CIB] $60 SOLD
PoPoLoCrois [loose in blank case] $20
Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together [CIB] $25
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology [CIB] $30
The 3rd Birthday [CIB] $55
Yggdra Union [CIB] $40 SOLD
YS Seven [CIB] $70
MISC
Dragon Quest V Guide $100
Dragon Quest I-VIII Symphonic Suite Collection $70
Harvest Moon Animal Parade Guide (tear on front cover, very minor.) $110
SWITCH CASES ONLY NO GAMES AT ALL FOR $120 [List: Carrion, Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo, Pokemon Shield, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Lego DC Super Villians[Steelbook], Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Zelda Skyward Sword, NEO The World Ends With You, Super Mario Party, Wolfenstein II, Mitopia, The Mummy Demastered, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Ninja Saviors, No More Heroes 1 2 3, Travis Strikes Back]
Avalon Code [Case,Manual, NO GAME] $40
submitted by StardropScavenger to GameSale [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 19:55 Issac_E234 Azur Waves, Chapter 28 (part 1)

Previous, first, next,
Fanfiction.

(A/N) This one turned out to be a long one so its been split between two posts. Enjoy.

Chapter 28
The sound of the gunshot still rang in my ears. The room felt hot, almost stifling. Questions ran amok in my head, Did he have a family? Had this been the only option? Was I now just as bad as him? The last few seconds played over and over in my head.
All I could do was look at his body. The scientist laid in front of me–unmoving, his dirty shirt darkening around the wound. I just stared at the life I just took, and for a moment, the questions in my mind became overwhelming.
It wasn't until a hand reached out and grabbed me by the shoulder I was pulled back to the present.
“James!” Warspite’s voice called out. I realised her tiny hands were pulling at me. I met her eyes in a daze, the concern on her face telling me she had already tried calling my name several times now.
“Warspite… I-” I tasted bile in my throat.. My eyes unconsciously broke contact with hers, and meandered back to the body.
“Don't! Look at me, James.” She accentuated her point by cupping my cheeks and forcing me to focus on her and only her. “Eyes on me.”
“Y-yes.” I complied awkwardly.
“I’ve radioed her Majesty, they'll be at the mouth of the river soon. Go with the others and get to the docks. Get out of here.”
A semblance of reason finally returned to my mind. “The others? What about you?”
“I’m going to burn this wretched place to the ground.” Seeing that I was finally cognisant she turned me around in place and pushed me over to the others, ensuing the entire time I couldn't see what I had done. Javelin was quick to receive me in a tiny hug.
Everyone bar Cleveland now had their rigging out, who was still slumped on the floor, holding her sister’s cube with Z23 trying to console her. Zuikaku had her sword drawn and was watching every entrance to the room, her entire body tense, ready to act at a moment's notice with a hard expression.
“Javelin, I need one of your depth charges.” The Dreadnought ordered. “I’ll wire up its timer to level this room.”
“R-right.” Javelin closed her eyes and focused. She lifted up her arms and a large barrel shaped munition appeared in her hands. She passed it over to Warspite with ease. “Here.”
“Good.” She looked to Cleveland. Her tone softened slightly. “Are you good to move?”
“Aye.” She spoke with a sniffle as she stood up, still tightly holding the cube against herself not letting it leave her sight for even a second.
Warspite stared me down. “Turn and leave, keep your eyes forward and don't look back. I'll catch up.”
With a shove she pushed me around and towards the door we had entered from. I stood still for a moment, a part of me wanting to turn back one more time, and I probably would have if not for a small hand reaching out to me. I found Javelin staring at me compassionately, her cheeks and pretty emerald eyes still marked with dried up tears. She stood gently still.
Despite the overbearing desire to do so, Warspite’s words echoed in my head. I jolted forward and didn't look back once.
Cleveland whimpered as we left the building before running ahead of us, through the smoke from the fires that filled the air I was just able to see the source of her dread.
The Montpelier was still in its dock, but where we had left it in an almost pristine condition it was now in a complete state of disrepair, the gun barrels hung limp in their housings, with several having even fallen into the deck. The panels lining the hull were coming apart as the welds and rivets that held them failed, the ship looked to be listing slightly as water was probably leaking in through collapsed bulkheads.
“No…” I heard Cleveland dash past me.
Cleveland scrambled over to her sister’s deteriorating ship, followed close by the rest of the girls, ignoring the muffled sound of an explosion that came from the building behind us.
With burning lungs I finally caught up to her as she reached the dock. “Please, Monty. Don’t go.” The cruiser pleaded, keeping the cube firmly grasped in one hand and placing her palm against the hull.
The ship moved as its weight shifted, a loud scraping noise rang out as the metal grinded against the dock.
Cleveland continued to rub the metal affectionately. “Shh, it's ok. Your big sister is here. Everything will be fine now.”
As was the usual case whenever something happened around these girls the hairs on my neck stood up as both the ship and Cleveland both began to glow.
There was a moment of hope as I looked at the cube clutched in her arm, but it still looked inert, even the light radiating from her body seemed to avoid it.
As I had seen countless times now, the ship became a mass of energy, the light hovering where the ship had previously been before Cleveland suddenly went rigid as the light flowed into her.
The cruiser yelped in pain as her body fought to contain the energy, a hand grabbed my collar and pulled me away. I was too transfixed on the spectacle to see who had done so.
Blood dripped from Cleveland's nose and she dropped to her knees, not letting go of Montpelier’s cube at all. Her rigging glowed bright, and an ethereal shape took form around it. The more I stared at it, the more I understood that this shape had the outline of a rigging, and it was fighting to occupy the same space as Cleveland’s already existing one, who grit her teeth and winced.
A gust of wind blasted around her, and in a matter not too dissimilar to when her rigging had formed, the light coalesced once more. A black line was suddenly drawn along the seam of her cape at the same time it was torn around the edges, followed by the ends of her golden locks of hair lost their lustre, changing into a silver white.
After what had felt like an eternity Cleveland seemingly regained control of her body once again, the tension in her arms and legs relaxed. With sweat dripping from her head she reopened her eyes, and slowly stood back up with laboured breaths. Her left eye shone with a different lustre for a moment, still red, yet a slightly different hue that slowly disappeared as she blinked.
“Are you ok?” I asked, unsure of what being ok could even be classed as right now.
“I thi-” She did a double take as what sounded like two voices came from her mouth, her own overlapping with another one. She put a hand to her mouth and coughed. “I think I am?” Her voice came out normal then. She wiped the blood away from her with her elbow, noticing that the fingerless glove on her right arm now ran across the full length of her elbow.
Running footsteps pulled our attention over to Warspite, who sped over to us. Smoke poured out of the roof of the building behind her, further adding to the cloud surrounding the facility and reducing visibility even further. Any further and I’d begin to choke.
Warspite took a second to stare at Cleveland before quickly returning her attention to the matter at hand, I noticed something hidden within her scarf as she adjusted it. “Commander, we need to move. Cleveland, are you able to sail?” The cruiser gave a slight nod. “Good, Zuikaku take him, the rest of you stay close.”
Slender but firm arms wrapped around me, and the carrier in question slung me over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and jumped off the edge of the dock without warning. Zuikaku didn’t even give me a chance to retort as we splashed against the water, quickly gaining speed. I was able to see the others land on the water one by one and begin to follow behind us, quickly catching up. They all had a solemn expression as we once again found ourselves only just escaping complete disaster.
Zuikaku let me go once her feet touched the Warspite’s deck. The ship was already gaining speed and heading towards the relative safety of the open ocean, leaving behind a smoking land, the morning wind fanning the flames even more. I took out my binoculars and dared look back. I knew there would only be burnt rubble left by the time the fires died.
I felt the rush of what had happened slowly die down. A burning at the back of my throat threaded to force me to empty my stomach. The air was hot, almost stifling, it had never stopped burning even after leaving that place. Everyone's eyes were now on me, with the three girls that had stayed back looking with confusion on their faces.
“Get-” I paused, forcing my voice to stay steady and my dinner to stay down. “Get us out to the open sea and stay alert for any ships, Siren or otherwise. Everyone go and get some rest, it's been a long night.”
I did not wait for a reply and made my way inside the ship with unsteady steps, pushing my hands deep into my pockets to try and stop them from shaking. Someone called out to me as I walked but I just ignored it.
It was only when I went to open my cabin door did I realise someone had followed me, a white gloved hand covered mine as I tried to turn the handle.
“Not now, Hood.” I sighed, almost whispering. I turned my head to look at the woman, finding her beautiful blue eyes looking back at me with concern.
“James, I-”
“Please don’t.” I cut her off, wincing at the harshness of my own voice. I felt my stomach churn more, but I just didn't want to deal with anyone right now.
“But-”
“Don’t make me order you.”
The words left my mouth before I even realised. Hood stood still for a moment, mouth agasp and eyes wide with incredulity. She retired her hand away from mine, placing it against her chest. A mixture of emotions ran on her face, ones I didn’t dare look at.
I opened the door and darted inside the cabin before she recovered, slamming it shut behind me.
I stood deathly still for a moment. Was it a minute? Was it an hour? I just stood against the door, my legs feeling numb. Eventually, I heard the distinctive click of Hood’s heels disappear into the distance.
I held for a moment longer. For just a moment longer, I stood alone, bearing the weight. Then it came crashing down.
I ran my hands through my hair and tried to calm myself down. It was hopeless. Blood was on my hands, I could still smell the gunpowder, it was an oppressing scent that overpowered everything else. I found myself staring at my hand, how long had it been locked in that gripping position? I could still feel the weight of the gun.
I felt nauseous.
My arm still ached from the recoil, unable to hold the gun properly without being noticed. I had felt pain shoot up my arm the moment I fired and now even closing my fist was a difficult affair.
Unable to stand still any longer, I began to pace back and forth in the small cabin. Forward and backwards, side to side, the walls closed in on me every time I turned, making it harder and harder to breathe.
“It’s just a trick, it’s all in your head.” I repeated to myself, but the words rang hollow.
The sequence replayed over and over in my head, each time more vivid than the last. The details ran too clearly. Steven’s voice, the whimpers of the girls, my own heart pounding, my own ears ringing.
Cold metal against my skull. My spine freezing.
I sat down on the bed, and cradled my head in my arms. I closed my eyes trying my hardest to force the image out of my head. It was a useless effort.
Without even meaning, I whimpered silently. The sound of something dripping onto the deck pulled my attention away from the memory. Something ran down my face and I realised I had started crying. I tried to wipe my eyes with my sleeve, hoping nobody would come in at this moment. What kind of leader would cry at a time like this? All those girls looked to me for guidance and leadership, yet time after time again I led us straight into disaster
It had been me that had almost cost the girls their freedom. I didn't deserve to be their Commander.
I breathed deeply and tried to get a lid on my emotions and push them down.
“Think practical James. You're just in shock.” I told myself before taking several more deep breaths, remembering the first aid books Hood and I had read together. Thinking of Hood again made me feel miserable.
I reached into my pocket. Even sitting down it still felt like an iron weight pulling me down. I feebly grasped the old wooden handle and pulled the gun back out from where I had quickly stashed it. The scent of burnt gunpowder seemed to double as it entered the open air.
My stomach twisted again, and I let go of it, followed by a rushed scampering. I reached under my bed, not really caring where, just looking for something suitable to get that thing away from me and my mind. I found an old bag and frantically tossed the gun inside, producing a distinctive clicking sound.
“Shit.” I cursed and reached inside with my hand, finding an old bottle of scotch. The opaque, unlabelled glass was thankfully intact, but it showed me my warped, miserable reflection. I don’t know what possessed me then, for I grasped it by the neck and pushed the bag with the gun back under the bed.
I pried it open. It had been a gift from one of the sailors in the fleet. Twisting the wax securing the cap I realised such a bottle was nigh impossible to get on a sailors wage so I guessed this one had probably been listed as smashed during the attack.
I sat further back in my bed and lifted the bottle up to my mouth. The old familiar taste burned my throat as the amber liquid went down but the pleasant warming effect was soon to follow.
Taking another large swig I noticed a third of the bottle had already been drunk. I laid the bottle down and burrowed my head down on the pillow, desperately waiting for the numbing effect of the alcohol to kick in.
I looked once again at the door to my cabin. Part of me wanted nothing more than for one of the girls to open the door and come in, even if it was just to sit in silence with me. Even if it was Hood. God, why did I snap at her like that?
Sighing, my gaze turned to look up at the ceiling as my mind began to wander. I thought of the short time Javelin and I had spent together when we first met. It felt like a lifetime ago when she was showing me around her ship, trying her hardest to impress me with every rivet and weld used in her construction.
And thanks to me she just experienced nightmare after nightmare. Warspite had been right. I just keep throwing myself into situations without thinking about the consequences.
Maybe it would be best for me to just return home. The girls would be far better off leading themselves, I would probably be arrested the moment I returned, but it would be for the best.
I lifted the bottle again.

I spent a long while laying on my bed thinking of both home and the small moments of comfort I had shared with the girls, riding out the buzz of the alcohol until it eventually faded. Leaving my mouth dry and the warning signs of an oncoming headache. I didn’t dare drink myself to a stupor, but I drifted listlessly in my thoughts for an unknown amount of time. The ship had stopped moving a while back, and now the light coming through the porthole had darkened. There was a constant soft tapping sound against the hull from a rainstorm.
Both thirst and growing hunger forced me to get up. I left my cabin with a sigh, and was surprised to find a tray with some sandwiches by the door. I never heard anyone knock so I didn't know how long it had been left out for or who left them. Eating them helped sate my hunger and slightly quell the pain in my stomach but also added to the growing guilt of how the girls were willing to go out of their way for me.
I placed the empty tray into my cabin to take to the mess later. I began walking towards the bridge, knowing the ship's owner would be there. I knew if there was anyone on this ship who could set me straight, it was her.
I found the Dreadnought sitting in the captain's chair, her long blond hair and scarf flowing down each side of the chair and her short legs idly dangling in the air. The bridge echoed with the sound of the rain and I could see the droplets flowing down the glass. The cabin was slightly dark, with just the night lights on.
Warspite rested her head in her palms and looked out of the cabin, seemingly unaware of my presence. Not wanting to overly startle someone who controlled naval cannons, I announced my presence as I walked to her side.
“Hey, Warspite. Anything to report?”
She immediately jolted in her seat with a rather cute yelp. She twisted her head towards the source of the noise. “Oh, James. Sorry, I didn't hear you enter.” She placed a hand against her chest to calm her racing heart.
“Aren’t you always able to tell where everyone is on your ship?” I asked, trying to make conversation. Just being in her presence was bringing some welcome relief, I didn't know why but it was like I could always be at ease around her.
“That still holds true, but my mind was elsewhere.” Her eyes shifted nervously and she pulled her scarf up slightly.
Her face turned to a look of concern. I knew what she was going to say before she even spoke. “How are you feeling?.”
“I’m fine.” I quickly replied, suddenly unable to meet her gaze.
“Poppycock. I can smell the alcohol James.”
I cursed the girl's heightened senses. I had come to the bridge to find someone to talk to, but now confronted with it I wanted to be anywhere but here.
“I just… We wouldn’t have gotten into that situation if it wasn’t for me. It’s always like this. It’s always on me. You keep risking yourselves and it’s my fault.”
“It’s not like that, James. We are yours to command. Danger will happen one way or the other.”
I trembled with a myriad of feelings, but the one that overtook me the most was frustration. “You have better chances to survive without me leading you into stupid danger.”
I could see her eyes widening, but I continued before she had the chance to react. “You are irreplaceable, all of you. If that happens again, I want all of you to get to safety even if it means leaving me behind. You deserve better than some guy who’s always winging it.”
Warspite sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She hopped down from the chair and stepped forward until she was right in front of me. She placed her hands behind her back and tilted her head up. “Could you lean forward for me please? My head height will do.” She asked politely.
Confused, I leaned forward until our eyes met at the same level. The pupils of her eyes seemed to widen as she studied every aspect of my face. After a few seconds had passed I began to wonder what she was doing.
In a flash her face twisted to anger and she slapped me across the face with enough force to make me stumble. My hand immediately went to where she had hit feeling a burning sting, there was a slight taste of blood in my mouth. Then I felt her weight on my chest.
“Don’t!” I could feel her trembling on my chest. “Don't you dare ever say something like that again!” She balled her hands into fists and hit my chest repeatedly while stomping her foot into the deck, a sight all too familiar from her sister.
I stood idly and dumbfounded as she vented her frustrations. Warspite then wrapped her arms around me and pulled us into a tight hug, burying her face into my chest. The sudden hug only added to my surprise. Barring the occasional time’s she had offered her hand in comfort and how she had scoffed whenever the other girls had hugged me I had figured she wasn't one for personal contact. And yet, I hugged her back, trying to comfort her, or was she the one comforting me? It was hard to tell.
We both stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. Warspite didn't say anything during the entire time, only keeping a tight grip around my waist while keeping her head against my chest. There wasn't any sobbing or crying, but I could feel a slight dampness on my shirt from her tears.
Once she had decided that enough time had passed Warspite finally let go and stood back, wiping at her eyes in an attempt to hide the fact she’d been crying. “You…” Her voice was shaky, obviously trying with all her might to keep her emotions at bay. “You are not to say such things again. I swore an oath to protect you with my life and by my boilers I will uphold that oath until my last breath, dammit! No matter how difficult you make it for me! You are also irreplaceable, James. Never, ever forget that!” There was a slightest bit of a smile with her last comment.
Sighing I leaned against a console and rubbed my head. “I’m sorry. I can see how much your oaths mean to you. It's just it would be all my fault if something happened to you girls.”
“Don’t apologise, your reasoning is a noble one.” Warspite shook her head and pulled my face back to face hers again. “You, my sisters and Her Majesty are my dearest people in my life, and I couldn't live with myself if something was to happen to any of you, I would rather be the one laid low if it would ensure you had each other.”
A confident smile returned to her face. “But you needn't worry. I will always find the strength to get us out of any situation we find ourselves in.”
“I wish I had even an iota of your confidence.” I replied, my spirits lifting once again just by being in her presence.
“Comes with having eight fifteen inch guns to back me up.” The battleship boasted proudly, her smile turning tender afterwards. “But you shouldn't sell yourself short. Despite the outcomes of your actions, it's obvious to anyone your heart is in the right place and that the decisions you make are right and just.”
She gave a long sigh, her eyes flickering to a side, her lips pursing into a thin line. I followed her gaze to a small object on her chair. I could barely make out what it was.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Something I've been meaning to talk to you about, but I was going to give it a little more time before bringing it up.” Warspite replied as she walked over to fetch it. She presented a small notebook to me. “When I was setting the fuse in the depth charge I couldn't help but look over his body, if only to spit at it. However I spotted this jutting out of his pocket.”
I examined the item further. The black leather bindings showed it was rather valuable, but the paper inside looked yellowed and worn with several loose papers clasped inside. And finally there was the slightest hint of blood on the bottom edge, hastily dried to ensure the contents were not damaged.
“What's… What’s written inside?” I asked. A pregnant silence followed. “...Do I even want to know?”
“That's the thing. I haven't looked yet.” She moved the weight of the notebook around in her hands, half treating it with care like it was a priceless artefact and half looking like she wanted to throw it to the ground. “I can hazard a guess as to what it will entail, and that's what got me perplexed.”
I started to put the pieces together. “If it was in his lab coat then…”
“It's probably his notes on the experiments he ran.” The battleship finished. “In conflict, knowledge–both of yourself and your foe, is power. This book may contain valuable information regarding my kind and what we are capable of.” She looked down at the book and rubbed the leather with her thumb. “But.”
“The way that information was obtained was nothing short of a crime against humanity.”
“Rather more against ship kind if we’re being accurate.” She half joked with a tense smile. “I wanted to ask what you think I should do with this. Her Majesty told me to trust my judgement when I asked her, but I also value your opinion on this.”
Scratching my chin, I looked at the book. Within it may be invaluable information that may help us begin to piece together some of the mysteries of this world. But then I thought of Cleveland and what had happened to her sister. “I’m sorry Warspite, but ultimately this is about your kind. I’d rather have it be one of your kind who ultimately makes that decision.”
“I had a feeling you’d say something along those lines.” She said with a sincere smile, putting the notebook to the side. “I’ll give it some thought. Probably for the best as I’m sure the contents will only worsen my already low opinion of humans. That and I want to get Cleveland’s permission as well, but I’ll give her some time to recover first.”
“Cleveland...” I thought out loud. “How’s she been?”
“Reclusive.” Warspite sighed. “Once we were back on the ship we asked if she needed anything. She just shook her head and began aimlessly wandering my ship, from what I can tell she hasn’t eaten much or spoken to anyone since.”
“Where is she now?”
“Out on deck.” Warspite nodded her head towards the window. “Near the railing by the port side of B turret, she’s been out there since the rain started.”
“Oh?” I tried to look out the window to catch a glimpse of the cruiser, but the turret was blocking the view. I kicked myself for being so distracted when we got back to the ship. “I’ll go make sure she’s ok. Keep us out in the open ocean for now, we’ll figure out our next move soon. I’m sure Z23 can give us a good idea of what our supplies are like.”
“Roger, I’ll keep a lookout for anything.”
Just as I turned to leave I felt her hand grab mine. I looked back to see what it was she wanted. After rocking on her feet a few times she finally spoke “Uh… about what happened this morning, if you wish to talk about any of it. I'm always willing to lend an ear.” There was the slightest hint of a blush on her cheeks
“Thanks… it's been a shock to the system, I'll be sure to remember your offer if I need it.” I made way towards the door. I stopped at the frame. “Warspite?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you. I know I say it a lot, but I truly mean it. Thank you for everything.” I said with gratitude. I left the bridge and walked out into the rain with a smile.

(A/N) Part 2 should come out shortly after this one. Or you can find it in its entirety on Fanfiction.
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2023.06.06 19:21 samfoto_ I am 27 years old, make $63k/yearly, live in the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN, and work in marketing.

Assets & Debt
Retirement balance: $13,286.43 (I make a small monthly deposit into my IRA. I do not have a 401k at the moment as I'm focusing on saving)
Mortgage loan remaining: ~$162k
Savings balance: ~$20k
Checking balance: ~$5k
Credit card debt: $0 (I pay off monthly)
Student loan debt: $17,539.32 (BFA Photography)
Car loan: $22,227.15
Income
Income Progression: After graduating, I started in Customer Service making $36k. Some coworkers at my next job recommended I get a certification in Salesforce Marketing Cloud as something to do during COVID’s early month. The company paid. It helped me get into the marketing field. My first marketing job was $50k/yr. On my second with about a year and a half of experience. I want to change fields but do not have the experience necessary to do so. If I stay at my company I may have the opportunity to try the field I want within a year or two. My work-life balance is amazing so I’m sticking with it.
Actual monthly take home: $3,471.80
No side gigs or other income.
Expenses
Mortgage & HOA: $1,090.09
Home insurance: $31.63
Retirement: $100 (Roth IRA)
Savings: $1,665 (Whatever is leftover at the end of the month. Good this month since I got 3 paychecks)
Investments: $0 (Working with J to help me figure out starting this. I’m late on it, I know.)
Debt payment: $0 (Student loan payments start up again soon. Rebuilding savings in the meantime from home purchase last year)
Electric: $40-90 (last month $42)
Internet: $89
Phone: $72
Subscriptions: $27
Climbing gym: $85
Cats: $53 (food)
Car payment/insurance: $463.50
Health: $102

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:

Food + Drink (Groceries): $64.28
Fun + Entertainment: $26.94
Home + Health: $187.21
Clothes + Beauty: $64.81
Transport + Vehicle Health: $109.34
Other: $99.99
Total: ~$556

This is NOT a typical week! Lots of medium things that added up happening at the end/beginning of a new month. That's life! When I buy things I use regularly, I often buy 2-3 more than I need at a time so that I don't have to get them as often. Unless J and I are together, I don't go out to eat to save money. I'm very lucky to work from home and save a lot of expenses that way. My job is pretty low-key and quiet most of the day, so I didn't detail too much about it this week.

Edit: I forgot to mention above that J and I are not buying a house together, I'm helping him look. We really go to open houses for fun right now as he isn't thinking about buying until late this yeaearly next year. Interest rates are insane right now! I have a super low rate and am not looking forward to losing out on it some day.
submitted by samfoto_ to MoneyDiariesACTIVE [link] [comments]


2023.06.06 18:42 SarkastiCat [Eurovision] [Pre-selections for Eurovision] UnPolished pre-selections

Eurovision Song Contest is an international competition that has been running annually since 1956. It's a massive event as a total of 52 countries participated in Eurovision and it's a fun event. Everybody has their own reason for watching it from supporting their own country, celebrating different cultures, enjoying music to appreciating Dustin the Turkey.
You don't need to know details on how voting works or how Eurovision works as we are going to focus on something else. Specifically, the process of choosing the performer. Some countries have a committee that picks a willing performed and some host a competition.
The size and length of the competition differ in each country as every country has their own budget. You can either have Swedish Melodifestivalen or Polish Tu Bije Serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję!. Today, we are going to focus on Poland's history of pre-selections and the latest drama.
Important information.
The post is a bit unique due to the nature of the sources. It's recommended to listen to music videos from 2023 with headphones and without them to get the full experience. There will be mentions of gossip and conspiracies, so wearing a tin foil hat is recommended. Almost all sources are in Polish and they were translated by me. I'm not a professional translator and so I am prone to making mistakes. After a while, this post is going to be edited to include a link to a comment explaining the translation process. Some sources have comments sections and you may encounter triggering content.

Holding onto memories - The history of Poland in Eurovision

Poland debuted in 1994 with "To nie ja" by Edyta Górniak, who was sent by a Polish tv broadcaster known as TVP. The song almost got disqualified, but it wasn't and Górniak got 2nd place for Poland. It was the first time, when Poland was in the top 3 and also currently the last one.
Then there were 5 years of being outside the top 10, which resulted in Poland withdrawing from Eurovision 2000. Poland returned for the 2001 edition, but Piasek's bad performance resulted in Poland withdrawing again.
Then in 2003, Ich Troje with "Keine Grenzen - Żadnych Granic" finally breaks the unlucky strike as they manage to get 7th place. Unfortunately, the unlucky strike comes back. Blue Cafe only manages to get 17th place. Next years are similarly bad. 2 years of not qualifying for the final, 24th place and 3 years of not qualifying. One of the representatives that didn't qualify was Ich Troje, who came back with "Follow my heart".
Poland withdrew again for 2 years, partially due to hosting UEFA Euro with Ukraine. The return of Poland in 2014 was controversial as "My słowianie" by Donatan & Cleo was chosen. The song is basically about how Slavic girls are the best wives as they know how to use body language. It divided Polish viewers. Some treated it as a fun satire of Polish stereotypes (hypersexual girls, poor old-fashioned country, etc.), while others had issues with the song spreading these stereotypes and the sexual nature of the music video. According to one of the biggest Polish newspapers, Britain described the song as a typical weird Eurovision song and they thought it was about bread. Sweden threw sexism allegations, while Germany described the music video as softcore porn.
It also started a discussion about Eurovision and how it's viewed by others. The same newspaper described Polish viewers treating participation in Eurovision as a matter of national pride and how the scale of emotions is similar to a schizophrenic patient running from one end of the room to another. Even when the quality of competition can be questionable.
Donatan&Cleo got 14th place and Poland didn't withdraw. It was probably a good decision as Michał Szpak with his song "Colour of Life" got 8th place in 2016. There were two controversies surrounding Szpak. One of them was a difference between televotes and judges' votes, but the controversy was quickly forgotten. Another controversy is related to TVP, but I will cover it later.
Then Poland got 22nd place and it had 3 songs not qualifying for a final in the row, again. The third song that didn't qualify was "The Ride" by RAFAŁ, which became a meme due to a horrible live performance. It was so bad that many Polish viewers wanted RAFAŁ to not qualify for finals.
The unlucky strike got interrupted by "River" by Ochman, who managed to get 12th place. The live performance became meme due to cheap special effects.

I ain't done yet - Everything about TVP

TVP (Telewizja Polska S.A) is one of the oldest TV broadcasters in Poland and also a controversial one. If you say "politics" and "TVP" in one sentence, you are legally allowed to change your name to Pandora. But you can't escape from TVP, especially if you are interested in music competitions for newcomers. They are associated with one of the biggest music festivals in Poland (Opole Festival) and run three different editions of The Voice (Of Poland, Kids and Senior). Other TV broadcasters don't offer too much. Polsat keeps changing trying different formats and the last music competition was in 2020. TVN has only Got Talent.
Going back to Eurovision, TVP is responsible for anything related to Eurovision. Depending on the year, you may expect either an internal selection carried or a competition. Both of them have their own unique reputation due to many reasons.
The most controversial entry from an internal selection is The Ride from 2021. At that time, most people expected to see Alicja with her song "Empires". Alicja won Szansa na Sukces (a music competition, where singers get a chance to perform somewhere) and she was supposed to participate in Eurovision 2020, but it got cancelled due to covid. Most countries decided to send their 2020 representative, so expectations weren't unreasonable. Yet, TVP decided to do something else and Poland ended up getting multiple memes about RAFAŁ instead of the sweet victory.
However, this doesn't mean that music competitions are without flaws. Some people in TVP wanted to remove Michał Szpak from the competition due to being worried about him potentially winning, but the director Radek Kobiałko and other people organising the competition 2016 decided to stand up against it. The reason behind it is unclear, but Michał Szpak used to be controversial due to his androgynous looks and presentation.
Then there were some minor issues with the first edition Tu Bije Serce Europy!, which were brought up one year later due to the 2023 drama. Some viewers have noticed that one song "Paranoia" by Daria has been promoted by TVP. Daria performed her song before the show. She performed at New Year's Eve's Music Festival by TVP and somebody could say that was TVP's conspiracy to secure Daria's televotes victory. However, Ochman won and some say it was due to the voting consisting of two rounds.
This leads us to 26th February 2023 and the latest drama. Grab your popcorn as we are going back to the past and I am going to serve as your host.

Welcome to the party - The show

It's 17:30 and you are watching TVP 1. The show begins and so it's time to explain to you how the show works.
Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję! 2023 works similarly to the previous edition. Every performed could send one song and that song had to meet standard requirements for Eurovision. Specific requirements are under point 6 and other rules, can be read here. Around 300 songs were sent to TVP and only 10 of them could make it to the show.
Each judge has 100 points and they have to judge each contestant... That's how I would explain rules if they weren't changed 4 days before the competition. It was a fully legal move from TVP as rule 39 specifies that TVP has the power to change rules. The explanation was given by TVP and rules were changed to be closer to those in Eurovision.
Now each judge gives points (12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) to contestants. Points are then added together and the contestant with the highest total gets 12 points. The next person gets 10 points, etc. Viewers can still vote and they are still as important as judges. Voting works the same, except viewers don't give points.
Without further ado, let's meet the judges and the contestants.
The judges
The contestants
At this point, you may probably see 3 things that were pointed out by fans and the media. The most obvious one is a lack of songs in Polish. Feliver's song only has one Polish segment and that's it. It has been a point of competition criticism, but it isn't anything abnormal. Poland has sent multiple entries in English and even English & Spanish before.
Another thing that can be noticed is the fact that only Ahlena and Jann don't have ties to TVP. Many contestants have performed for TVP at one point and many of them performed a couple of months before the competition. In the case of Yan Majewski and Blanka, you could see them on TVP a couple of days before the competition.
The third thing would be the quality of the show. While not all videos come directly from TVP, the quality doesn't differ that much from what you would see on TV. Journalists and fans openly talked about their ears bleeding thanks to some performances. There were even jokes about the quality of special effects and anything related to visuals. At this point, Poland's special effects are a meme and you can find videos depicting how the performance of (Insert Eurovision 2023 contestant) would look like if they represented Poland. What doesn't help is the fact that recordings from the audience and journalists tend to have better audio.
From things that you could only see by watching the full show, all contestants got at least one round of applause from the public. The craziest applause was for Jann before and after his performance. The beginning of his introduction could be barely heard and even hosts acknowledged the madness after his performance.
Now let's reveal results. During the show, Edyta Górniak was responsible for revealing results.
Name Score
Blanka 12
Dominik Dudek 10
Felivers 8
Jann 7
Natasza 6
Alicja 5
Yan Majewski 4
Kuba Szmajkowski 3
Maja Hyży 2
Ahlena 1
This didn't sit well with the public. When Jann's score was revealed, many people started booing. It was so loud that Edyta Górniak had to ask whoever was giving her score to repeat themselves and you could hear it on TV.
There was also another moment of booing and screaming "EDYTA" after the results were revealed. Then it changed to screaming "USTAWKA" (set-up) and one of the hosts had to calm down the public again. Performances of the contestants were replayed and you can guess what happened when Jann's performance was shown. The crowd went for applause this time and became quiet during Blanka's performance.
This brings us to televoting. Rules changed again and now you can send up to 20 SMS from one SIM card. The cost of one SMS is 3.69 zł, which was the equivalent of $0.83 (US), £0.69 or €0.78. The total number of votes is unknown.
So now let's reveal the final score and the televote scores.

Name Total Score Televote Score
Blanka 22 10
Jann 19 12
Dominik Dudek 18 8
Felivers 14 6
Yan Majewski 11 7
Alicja 10 5
Natasza 8 2
Kuba Szmajkowski 6 3
Maja Hyży 6 4
Ahlena 2 1
Originally, TVP didn't reveal televote scores and viewers only had the total score. The televote ranking has been released by TVP one day later. Number of televotes is still not confirmed. According to one source, TVP has received over 35000 votes. There is also gossip that Jann has received 18000 votes, while Blanka has received only 6000.
But even without specifics, the audience was lukewarm. When 2nd place and 1st place were about to be revealed, the audience was cheering for Jann. When Blanka was revealed, the audience lost its energy. There were some cheers instead of booing, but they weren't too loud.

They mad - Initial reactions

While Blanka's show didn't end with booing, celebrities and social media exploded.
The celebrities' side had reactions ranging from strongly negative to neutral. Ralph Kamiński was openly supporting Jann and even promoted him. He also criticised the format of the show and how only viewers should decide whom to send to Eurovision. He called the situation a "SCANDAL!" and "SHAME!!!".
Michał Szpak was supporting Jann. When the results were revealed, he supposedly end up laughing and swearing on Instagram. During one of his interviews, he openly states that he is in Team Jann but he will be still supporting Blanka. He also added there will be lots of work for Blanka, but he is still hopeful and the song itself is catchy. Maja Hyży, Kuba Szmajkowski, Doda and Roxie Węgiel (Eurovision Junior 2018 winner) share similar views. Their interviews can be reduced to how they were cheering for Jann or another contestant, but it doesn't mean that they will not support Blanka. Then there is a small talk about how she doesn't deserve hate or how her song is catchy.
When ask about songs and singing abilities, Agnieszka Hekiert end up praising Jann's vocal abilities and only said that Blanka's song is a well-produced pop piece. Similarly, Ochman avoided answering a more direct question "Does Blanka sing nicely?".
Another celebrity worth mentioning is Ramona Rey. She also preferred Jann and she was the first celebrity to call out the lack of clarity from TVP regarding how songs for the show were selected. She also called out the lack of Polish songs and mentioned how her rejected song predicted the future.
Even those supporting other contestants had a negative reaction to Blanka. Sandra Kubicka was supporting and promoting Dominik Dudek due to him "singing, playing the guitar, composing and writing his own songs". Her reaction to Blanka was calling her song "disco polo". Disco polo has a similar reputation to modern pop. Some love it and some consider it low-quality music.
Social media was less kind than celebrities. People were either attacking Blanka or TVP. Every tiny move of judges and contestants was analysed. Some even dug through the social media of contestants to make their point about how somebody deserves or doesn't deserve to represent Poland. At that time, you could easily encounter homophobia, racism and conspiracy theories.
Media obviously decided to produce multiple articles about this situation and every website presented something different. It's hard to say if they media the situation worse or better as multiple things have been happening at the same time.
People were divided. For some, Blanka was a twin sister of Ariana Grande that didn't show anything special. That's from one article and from there comments kept getting worse or better. Blanka was either considered a shallow rich girl with a generic song or a singer making others smile with her summer vibes. On another hand, Jann was a talented underdog who was too controversial for TVP or a copy of Måneskin that was singing out of tune.
TVP and others also got lots of comments. Some openly stated that they would be fine with Jann losing, if TVP decided to send either Dominik Dudek or Alicja. Others mentioned the political situation in Poland and how TVP perfectly shows corruption in Poland. One of the things that got pointed out was Blanka having a contract with Warner Music Poland and how TVP could earn money by having Blanka work for them.
Similar theories were slowly popping out and they were discussed by fans. So quickly fix your tin foil hats as we will be moving to the next sections.

Dance along with me - Egurrola's involvement

One of the most popular theories was how judges were voting for Blanka due to personal reasons. Agustin Egurolla and Edyta Górniak were the main focus of these theories.
To start with Egurrola, you can't run away with him as he is always doing something associated with dancing. He either sends his dancers or creates choreographies for multiple shows. Egurolla was supposedly working with Blanka for NYE 2022 music festival and his dancers performed with her for Tu Bije Serce Europy!. There were implications of potential bias and some people pushed this theory further. Supposedly, Egurrola didn't want Jann as Jann wouldn't agree to perform with his dancers and Egurolla wouldn't make money. The extra bit of this theory is based on the fact that Jann created his own choreography and performed without dancers.
Egurolla's controversy got worse thanks to his co-worker, Michał Piróg. Piróg published on his Instagram a picture of him with Egurrola and judges from You Can Dance - Nowa Generacja. In his description he wrote:
"I always sat behind the table and waited for something that would suprise me and enchant me, but there were those who asked beforehand "Who should be the best?"...."
This was later followed up by his comment, which appears to be deleted. Fortunately, the media saved it.
"The chairman, the second man on the picture, the man of the internal businness. Call it as you like"
The post was published a couple of days after the show and most people interpret it as a criticism of what happened in Tu Bije Serce Europy! and the implication that Egurrola had something to do with Blanka's victory.
In the end, the drama surrounding Egurrola died after a reveal that he will not work on Blanka's choreography for Eurovision.

Everybody has somebody - Involvement of Górniak's family

In the case of Górniak, there were multiple dramas surrounding her and her son. They lived for longer than Egurrola's drama due to Edyta's multiple responses and the fact that she was a chairwoman of judges.
Allan Krupa is Edyta's son and he is known as Enso. Most articles refer to him using his real name and so I am going to use it to be more or less consistent.
Going back to the main topic, it has been noticed that Allan was sitting next to Blanka during the competition and one picture was enough to start drama. People quickly started calling Blanka his friend or even lover. However, the first theory that Blanka is his friend became more popular due to Allan already dating somebody.
Allan quickly reacted to negative comments as some people were also attacking his girlfriends. He explained that he didn't even know there were pre-selections and he knew about them after his mother called him a day before. He didn't know other contestants, except for Felivers. He thought that Blanka was just a dancer and she asked him if she can sit next to him.
This wasn't the end as Allan went on some angry rants. Some phrases can't be directly translated without losing their original meaning, so I've tried my best to localise some bits. Check this comment for more information.
"People are writing to me - as if I had a f^^^ing connection to Eurovision - you are re^^^^ed or you are f^^^ing something else"
There was also another rant where he called people NPCs and how they make sh^t on the internet like animals for attention. He ends his rant saying that he understands that pre-selections are a situation of life or death and there is slaughter, when somebody doesn't win.
His story of not knowing Blanka was considered as weird. If it was true, then why Blanka had to search for a seat? Some questioned the legitimacy of this story as Allan has performed at NYE Music Festival 2022 like Blanka and he could theoreotically meet her there.
Allan was later defended by Edyta. He also posted some memes about how he manipulated pre-selections and Eurovision.

You do you and I do me - Edyta's involvement

Just after Blanka's victory, Górniak has been interviewed. She started her interviews by saying that Blanka was chosen by judges and also viewers, when she was expecting to see a change. She then went on a talk about how she thinks that viewers chose Blanka as they need something sunny and international. Also, how people lack something optimistic after all these dramas in their lives.
She then started describing Jann. She described him as demonic, but characteristic and full of charisma. The use of the word "demonic" became controversial and a meme due to being peculiar. What makes the situation worse is the reputation of Edyta when it comes to spirituality. As I've previously mentioned, Górniak is open about her beliefs and she even talked about bad energies, including how Halloween is bad. Funnily, Jann and somebody from his environment knew about this line and even made a joke about his salt necklace and potential exorcism.
To add salt to this situation, a recording from Dobry wieczór Europo! caught Górniak looking away and staring at the ceiling during the performance of Jann.
The day after the show, Edyta wrote a comment on her Instagram post saying that if anybody sees issues with the clarity, they should report them to the producer of the show.
There was also a small misunderstanding of rules from Edyta's side as she said that if people really wanted Jann to win, he would have won as televotes are responsible for 50% of the total score. But according to her, there were probably not enough votes sent to him.
To clarify, Jann got the maximum possible amount of points from viewers and it's unlikely that getting more votes would change anything. So either Górniak was confused by how scores work or she didn't know that Jann has won televote.
Small bits like that started accumulating and started creating a weird picture. During one of the interviews, Edyta stated that judges were questioning a bit if they should vote together or separately. At the end they shared each other's views while hiding their notes and voted separately.
The weirdest thing was the timeline of events presented by Edyta. According to her, votes were collected right away and judges didn't have time to further discuss them. Votes were counted while she was preparing for her guest performance during the ad break. However, later she stated that judges gave their voting cards when she was going to the stage to perform. What doesn't click here is the fact that Górniak was performing after the ad break.
This either means that votes were collected twice (before and after the ad break) or Górniak misremembered the timeline of events. This added fuel to the fire and people kept asking for voting cards. Górniak responded to that stating that she wouldn't have issues with her voting card being revealed. She also revealed that she was receiving results through her earpiece. It had a mixed reaction as TVP didn't reveal anything specific about voting cards and the bit about the earpiece fuelled the theory that somebody was manipulating behind the scenes.
The whole drama with Edyta Górniak was closed by her final comments. In one of the deleted comments she openly said that she is getting hatred for just reading results and some hatred is coming from people due to her being an easier target than the institution. Then there were two comments that you just have to read:
"Regarding the project Eurovision, I've lost my trust to everybody. Even if the rules were about to be change and fixed, I will never go back to this topic. I've seen what was happening last year, I have also seen what people were doing when Rafał was sent to Eurovision. And now the same thing is happening. I feel like a shield that was borrowed by somebody and put at the front of doors. This topic is closed for me."
The other comment:
"I am sure that time will tell and respond to all doubts. [...] I recommend to remember that despite of me being an influential person, I am not a boss of bosses and I can't do everything. [...] I will pray for justice"

You are about to know - Other dramas

So before we talk about Blanka herself, there are some small things worth mentioning. They are mostly based on gossip and they didn't live too long.
According to one of the theories, TVP was setting up MaRina as Poland's representative. She supposedly had to just send her song and everything would be set up. But after her performance at NYE Music Festival 2022, she supposedly withdrew.
From the same source, there is a gossip that one judge had issues with Jann's costume and choreography They supposedly found his costume as too inappropriate and too controversial. His choreography supposedly had some errors. These factors together supposedly created an impression on this judge that Jann would struggle to get points at Eurovision.
Another drama was caused by the release date of the article about Blanka's victory. The article was supposedly released around 2 hours before the competition and some people supposedly have seen it before Blanka's victory was revealed. However, there is no evidence of that and TVP explained the issue with the time of the article. The article supposedly saved the date of creation of the article instead of the release or final edit. The article was created early to publish results as fast as possible and it didn't contain names of contestants.
The final thing worth mentioning is an article talking about how pre-selections in Moldova and Serbia were better than Polish pre-selection. Moldova showed the individual votes of judges and amount of votes sent by viewers, while Serbia released voting cards. Even Lithuania and Latvia were praised.
The cherry on top is a depiction of how much Germany's ranking would change if they followed the rules of Polish pre-selections. Lord of the Lost would get a second, while Will Church (the winner of the judge's voting) would win instead.
This is similar to one theory that the previous representative of Poland, Ochman wouldn't win if the competition followed new rules. This cemented an impression that rules were changed to set up a winner.

It's kinda crazy - Blanka

Since results the reveal of the results, Blanka had to deal with multiple comments and memes. Depending on whom you ask, their perception of Blanka will vary. For some, she became "Bejba" due to her pronunciation of "Babe" and multiple memes. Bejba became viral and Ochman joined the trend. Even Blanka herself embraced the meme by wearing a dress with the text "Bejba". She explained her decision by stating that everybody now calls her bejba.
For some, she became a symbol of everything wrong with TVP and people started searching for evidence of corruption or Blanka being evil.
Somebody pointed out that Blanka's mother was working for TVP as a make-up artist for some shows. But it's possible that she was working for a company that happened to work for TVP and other tv broadcasters. For some, it was treated as evidence that Blanka has direct connections to TVP and there could be some bias.
Then there was another controversy regarding Blanka's social media. She supposedly liked comments that were saying that Jann is from the margin of society, which was interpreted as a classist remark or queerphobia. Just in case, Jann didn't say anything about being LGBTQ+ and only his appearance is relatively androgynous. Going back to the topic, some people defended Blanka stating that she could miss this bit as the comment starts as rather supportive. Some questioned the validity of it as Blanka's relationship with Jann appears to be positive. Blanka complimented Jann, while Jann was one of the first people to cheer her up after the competition and even defended her.
Another controversy was plagiarism. Specifically, there were allegations that Blanka either copied Clean Bandit's Solo or INNA's Up. These allegations remained allegations and that was their end.
The final controversy surrounding Blanka was a petition for Blanka's removal. There were two petitions and one of them has 91170 signatures. People wanted transparency from TVP and to see Jann perform in Eurovision. Blanka reacted to the petition and she was hurt by it.

Never back down - Eurovision

This year, Eurovision was divided into two parts. There were two semi-finals and one final. During the semi-finals, only viewers could vote.
Blanka performed in the second semi-final without massive issues and got 124 points. As a result, she got 3rd place in the second semi-final. It was a gigantic success and she beat the previous representative of Poland. Details can be found on Eurovision website.
Generally speaking, there was a positive reaction. People have praised Blanka for improving her performance, especially her vocals. Solo became one of the most popular Eurovision 2023 songs.
There were only two minor issues worth mentioning. Norway's newspaper Verdens Gang has openly criticised Blanka. Unfortunately, my Norwegian is non-existent and so this translation is straight from Google Translate. The original comment can be found here.
"Polish plastic pop reggae in the category that was once dominated by Swedes in the Stone Age (nineties). Blanka is probably not singing about Norwegian orange soda or a scruffy looking Star Wars hero, but about being completely alone in a relationship. The best thing that can be said about the "Solo" show is that she has the best glove of the finale. She falls out of tune, and loses her tone several times, That she actually thinks she can sing is hopelessly overwhelming. That, and that no adults have stopped this - regardless of the corruption charges."
Even Sweden talked about potential corruption and nepotism. They mentioned that Blanka's choreography was created by Egurolla. Funnily, even Edyta Górniak was mentioned, but she was called Blanka's mother-in-law.
Then there was a final performance, which had a similar reaction. The only difference was the lack of drama from the media and Polish fans even being proud of her. Blanka was placed 24th by judges and she was better than two performers. However, she got 8th place in televoting and it got her 19th place. A bit worse than the previous representative, who got 12th place.

The conclusion

Blanka managed to partially save her face and it's unclear what's going to happen in future. Blanka after Eurovision went on vacation and there hasn't been much news about her.
There was some discussion regarding her placement in televotes ranking and some people in the Eurovision subreddit have used her to make a point about how televoting is bad, while discussing the whole drama that happened due to Loreen's victory. For more information, I recommend checking this write-up.
Other contestants of pre-selections are doing fine and many of them released new songs. Especially Jann is doing well as his fanbase tripled in size and he is going to perform at OGAE Second Chance. Edyta Górniak and her son are still active, while Agustin Egurrola is focusing on his dance studio.
TVP is still controversial due to politics and it will probably remain controversial for a long time due to recent events. Years of bad reputation are hard to erase and most people are ready for another controversy Eurovision controversy.
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