The bold parts are the TL;DR. Points 1-3 are working on yourself, 4 is how to talk to girls (but applies to anyone). Why did I make this post? This is what I wish someone would've told my awkward 15yo self a couple years ago.
1. Take care of yourself
Hygiene is a bare minimum to be attractive. Also, considering working out and check if your haircut actually suits your face.
2. Pick up interesting hobbies
Someone that likes specific little things is immediately more interesting than someone who spends that time scrolling on his phone. Video games or the content you watch online don't count as a hobby, unfortunately. If you have no idea where to start, you can find lists online with about 50 billion ideas for cool hobbies, just pick out a couple you like and try them out.
3. Be as social as you can
It's not always easy to find friends, especially if you're still in high school, but try to take chances to go out with people or even approach them first if you want. You can get over embarrassment, but never over regret.
4. Approach girls the same way you'd approach a guy you wanna be friends with
Ignore all the "alpha male picking up girls" advice. Literally all you need to do when you meet someone is be a nice, fun and interesting person. If they don't find you attractive, it wouldn't have worked out anyways, which sucks a bit but you gotta deal with it. If they do find you attractive, they'll want to engage with you more and it won't be hard to go from there. Just don't be flirtatious from the first second you meet them, it's an instant turn-off unless you're REALLY REALLY hot.
​
My point is, people's standards really aren't that high, and basic stuff goes a long way.

​

Tiktok: Changes Affecting Creators & Advertisers

Tiktok made major changes to its platform. With the launch of their new creator fund “creativity program beta”. They have encouraged the top 4% of creators to push more long-form content.
And this push is also delivering results for Top Advertisers in the space. This fund was launched alongside a new Tiktok Ad format, PulsePremiere. These Ads currently in beta are shown after a trending piece of content.
For Music Marketers & Artists, Tiktok launched #newmusic to support upcoming artists.
And after that boom, we got smashed with the TikTok US state ban in Montana. There is a huge controversy around it but this news isn’t affecting marketing spend.
Executional Angles 🎬
Tiktok’s Ad platform and creator marketplace are getting better. The updates aren’t public. I have tracked a few cheeky practices from the Tiktok product team to gather more user data and better their Ad platform. Expect better location-based targeting in the upcoming few months.
For organic, With the new creator fund. Many long-form content creators are seeing an engagement hike for their content. You can experiment with long-form content as a business to connect longer with the audience.
And a nice sign is TikTok is now pushing more content from “people you follow” to the For You page. As mentioned in my Tiktok marketing post, this is something new and encouraging for brands.
Upcoming: Tiktok is testing an AI Chatbot similar to snapchat. This launch will help them keep users more engaged.

Pinterest: Affecting Organic Content

In April, Pinterest got into huge issues with user safety on the platform because many users were targeting young audiences. After that Pinterest made a few changes and at the beginning of May, launched their transparency report showcasing how they are filtering harmful content.
A great callout here is “Gen-Z is on Pinterest”. Every single platform mentions that they have Gen-Z users on their apps to attract advertisers. But data from different research shows that Pinterest has a growing Gen-Z user base, especially for diverse and Female audiences.
Bring back to the latest content ranking system and algorithm changes to Pinterest. Earlier this week, I shared this blog post from the Pinterest engineering team about the latest updates to the platform.
Executional Breakdown of Algorithm
First of all, how the Pinterest algorithm ranks content is very simple and it's all based on user interactivity.
All different engaging elements like comments, save, share, and like give the content system a signal to rank your content for relevant topics. As revealed by their engineering team in this post and by the previous product manager at Pinterest on Lenny’s podcast.
The new changes to Pinterest are very simple:
Diversifying your content, Pinterest is making changes to the content system to make sure the content it ranks on the app isn’t too sensitive toward a demographic. That is why they want Pinterest businesses and creators to diversify their Pinterest boards and content strategy.
This affects niches like Beauty, Fashion, and other lifestyle-related brands. Don’t try to sell the idea of clear skin or a perfect body shape. Pinterest is looking to provide a better and healthy space for young audiences.
The second change is “keyword search”. In the blog post, there are mentions that the algorithm will try to show more of the content that includes identical keywords & sentence structure to “user search queries”. To promote more relevancy and better content to users.
These are the main changes, I will share more on Pinterest in my upcoming blogs to help you overall with Pinterest marketing.
Platform Changes: Pinterest users can now add links to every single Posting format. And added a new platform analytics feature for better insights.

Twitter: Regaining Advertiser Trust & Bots

With the new Twitter CEO coming in, One of the Top Advertisers mentioned their comeback to advertise on the Bird app. But mid-micro advertisers are still not loving the Ad platform.
Besides advertising, Twitter continues to launch new services and features for Blue subscribers. And decreasing creator monetization requirements, increasing the video upload limit to 2 hours. The other focus is on attracting more advertisers to the platform.
A lot going on forTwitter. But the biggest issue is that Bot spam is at its peak, removing bots was one of the biggest promises made by ElonMusk. Still not delivered.
I have my fingers crossed for June.
Execution Considerations:
Twitter is getting better at recommending relevant tweets under the original tweets you read. And as you know it is mentioned on Github that the Twitter connection network plays a huge role in getting content discovered.
I recommend refining your network and networking with the right audiences. Kinda old advice but the platform is testing new prompts related to this. That is why you should click on it.

Agencies & Brands: Who got the best campaign?

Starting with the world's biggest marketing agency will get even bigger with a new partnership with Nvidia. WPP is partnering with Nvidia to use its AI technology to level up its campaigns. Link!
Shorty Awards took place in May and here is the full list of winners. Have a look and get inspired for next year.
VCCP, a London-based creative agency, is launching an AI-creative agency. The usage of generative AI is increasing very fast and adaptation is the key now. Link!
This month was filled with brand and marketing events. I found a curated list of brand marketing events that took place in May. Link!
The New Bud Light is “The North Face”. The new campaign featuring a drag queen is catching negative attention like Budlight. Link!
Jaskaran: I started tracking agency news for the newsletter last week, for future monthly recaps you will find more and better recaps.

Instagram: Targeted Advertising!

Believe it or not. Meta is moving fast with Instagram now. Tiktok announced their search ads will roll out slowly to marketers, and last week Meta came in clutch and announced “Instagram search Ads”. You can access them through the Instagram marketing API. Link!
Besides that Instagram made a huge spark as the information about a new Twitter viral came up. Meta is expected to launch a new decentralized Twitter-like app for their users in June. Many are excited about it. It could be a great opportunity for businesses as many find IG very hard to scale.
Decentralized means your followers can follow you on the new app with one click. This app can help you reach more existing followers on IG & FB.
Other than these two, there was a list of updates including a new creator fund announcement. But not much impacting your organic growth.

PPC: New Policies Kicking In

For the second half of 2023, Advertisers in the UK & EU need compliance with these new Google Ad requirements. Link!
Google and Walmart both took steps to make media buying and Ad creative creation easier. You can read here about Google’s new approach to media buying and how Walmart here is trying to help businesses with Ad creatives.
Microsoft is moving fast with Bing Chat Advertising, You can now use Chat Ads API to integrate ads within Bing AI. Link!
There were a few other marketing product updates for Microsoft in terms of improving targeting and utilizing AI. One of my favorites is the recent UET update to their analytics dashboard.
For more information, I recommend revisiting our last emails & read this recent Google marketing live recap.

Meta: Data Limitations & AI for Marketers

Meta is stuck. Yes, because they have developed one of the best AI languages and structures to benefit marketers. For example, this new engineering blog showcasing its new AI content structure is golden. Link!
At the same time, Meta is having huge issues in the EU & UK with their data usage. The platform Received a $1.2B fine and now UK representatives are limiting data usage for Meta. Good for privacy but points to a huge problem for paid media marketers.
Meaning Meta’s future is bright due to AI research & frameworks but data issues are like close friends showing up every single day.
Other than this, Meta is launching AI tools to help marketers create better Ad creatives. Link!
In April, Meta increased its involvement in AI to push organic content and in May was focused on utilizing AI for paid media offerings.
Facebook: New Lead generation forms features and a few updates to Facebook reels were key product updates.
WhatsApp: New Updates to WhatsApp Chat features with the addition of Chat Lock, sharing with captions & new polls feature.

SEO: It's all changed but…

With multiple announcements, Google search page structure & how content is ranked will be changing. The new interface is expected to prefer AI-generated results but for June. This new feature is opt-in, users on the desktop can choose to get AI results within a search. Changing their Google page experience.
Many SEOs are predicting a 70-80% traffic drop in the upcoming months. But many experienced SEOs believe changes are good and the traffic for the future will be more quality-oriented.
These insights linked below are from the best SEOs and their opinions on recent search engine marketing changes.
11 Realizations from testing search generative experience. Link!
Aleyda Solis on new Google Changes. Link!
The AI takeover of Google Search. Verge
The technical SEO world is going through many changes. My advice is to keep your focus on the content strategy part for a while. And improve that!
Youtube: New Ad Formats & Algorithm
After doing $40B in revenue last year. The platform announced new Ad formats at IAB Newsfront. With the launch of 30-second unskippable Ads on Connected TV.
Where Youtube is headed with Unskippable Ads is the future of online movie & content streaming. Either platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and other services have to give up a share of revenue. Or they need to go back to unskippable Connected TV Ads format to pay the writers.
Coming back to Youtube, Every week on their “creator insider” channel they announce various new updates. The highlight was the recent update of community post creation for all users.
Partnering with Influencers and using community posts to target core audiences is one of the best strategies based on this new update.

Marketing Research: What Changed?

1. Don’t stress out about AI. More than 40% of Americans have never heard of ChatGPT. And only 14% have tried it. (PewResearch)
2. Watch out for Podcast Ads, the Ad spend on podcasts is increasing and revenue is up 26% YoY. (IAB)
3. Gartner’s research on How ChatGPT is useful to CMOs. (Gartner)
4. CTV Ad fraud is increasing with the usage of Bots. (Double Verify)
5. Are Twitter users planning a comeback or leaving? (Pew)
6. Where is the media spending moving? It is decreasing for a few industries, but only moving to other channels for many. (Insider)

LinkedIn: Continued Organic Growth

As the round of layoffs is not stopping, LinkedIn is having its best time. The in-app activity continues to increase and now the platform has 930 million monthly active users, closing in on the 1 billion mark very soon.
LinkedIn is embracing AI in May with new AI features to help with messaging, job descriptions, and other hiring processes.
All that growth doesn’t mean everything is great. As the platform laid off 700 employees this month.
Overall, LinkedIn is doing good and viewers are loving their new marketing campaign. Watch!

Reddit: E-commerce World

I wrote about this in my updated social media trends post. Reddit is working on various new e-commerce features.
While many believe that the nature of Reddit doesn’t fit e-commerce offerings. Many product reviews and conversations take place on Reddit and users get the ability to integrate products from other businesses within the content. It could work very well.
Using these features to self-promote is impossible but with the right execution. It can do a charm.
Others: Reddit is going through a bot followers scam.

Mini-Bites: Snapchat, Airbnb & Others

Airbnb did the social listening well to steal the attention of an influencer’s audience. (Business Insider)
Peacock’s Twitter strategy and latest viral tweet. (Read)
Snapchat continues to develop its AR offerings with recent updates. Brands can take advantage of AR even more. (SMT)
Lulumelon’s Tiktok page is an inspiration board for SMMs. (Watch)
PS: Due to sub-reddit rules, no links. You can subscribe to my newsletter for linked insights and weekly marketing recaps.

When we were kids, our parents often told us to play outside instead of staying home all day. But whether it's watching their favorite cartoon on television or playing online video games on a laptop, 21st -century kids spend more time inside their homes than playing healthy outdoor games.
Over the past few years, technology, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and PCs, has become imperative for work and relaxation. Kids these days are digital natives and prefer using the latest technology for homework, communication, and gaming.
According to recent research, less than 30% of adolescents perform healthy physical activities daily. Surely, digital advancements have endless perks, but one of the key drawbacks is that kids don't like playing healthy games and spend most of their time sitting on a couch and playing games online, adversely affecting their physical and mental health.
Indoor Play Areas Advance Creativeness
Your kids can face several challenges while playing inside the playground. Such challenges and interaction with new people help your kids develop their imagination. Kids tend to be moreexpressive and learn better from others ideas.The perfect thing about indoor playgrounds in Singapore is that your little angels can improve their creativity and imagination in a protected environment. Interacting with others ideally helps them improve their communication skills and share their unique ideas. It also benefits them as they can make new friends, and their bonding strengthens with time. In fact, the secure and healthy environment makes kids forget about their online games and prefer spending more time with real-life friends.

Perfect Place for Physical Exercise

Electronics are the new norms these days. It is no big deal for kids to stay home and play games that require no physical activity. Therefore, nothing is better than bringing your kids to indoor playgrounds where kids participate in physical activities in the comfort of an indoor environment without even noticing. Exercise is equally important for your growing-up kid, and you can't ignore this fact. Children participating in physical activities stay energetic and enjoy good mental and physical growth. Resultantly, they face hurdles and challenges positively and find the best possible solution.

Final Words

The main goal of Singapore's indoor playgrounds is to let kids enjoy and learn with fun. That's why you try explaining the drawbacks of maximum screen time to your kids. Tell them the significance of playing healthy games outside their homes.Nothing is better than playing in a safe environment where your kids can try every exciting activity without fear. So, take them to an indoor space near you and let them experience a new world of imagination, creativity, and innovation.
Source: LINK

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A Perspective Shift: From 'Rejection' to 'Unmatching' in Arranged Marriages

Hello everyone,
I want to address a topic that's likely touched many of us in our journey towards finding a life partner: 'rejection'. However, I propose we reframe this term as 'unmatching'. The distinction may appear subtle but it carries profound implications for our emotional well-being and our approach to the search.

Unmatching vs. Rejection

Unmatching and rejection may seem synonymous, but there's a crucial difference. Unmatching is less personal, reflecting differences in values, interests, or life goals. It doesn't carry the emotional weight that rejection often does, which can leave us feeling unworthy or inadequate. Instead, unmatching should be seen as a healthy outcome. It means you've recognized that your values, energies, and interests simply aren't aligned with the other person's, and that's okay. In fact, it's far better to unmatch early on than to pursue a relationship where these key elements are out of sync.
It's important to remember that when someone chooses to unmatch with you, they don't truly know you personally. They have interacted with you for a limited time and have formed an incomplete picture. So, don't offer precious real estate in your mind and heart to someone who doesn't know your full worth. Taking the unmatching personally would be doing a disservice to yourself.

Focus on Connection and Shared Values

In our pursuit of a life partner, we must focus on personality traits and connection, over and above objective factors such as physical characteristics. While these objective factors may serve as initial screening points, the ultimate glue that holds a long-term relationship together is the personal connection and shared values. Never let someone deter you from your journey simply because you don't fit into their specific checklist.
The end goal is not to find just any partner, but the right partner. The person with whom you can navigate the highs and lows of life together. Someone who will stand by you through thick and thin, and with whom you can build a beautiful future.

Concrete Strategies

Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle

It's essential that the quest for a life partner doesn't eclipse your existing lifestyle. Devote time to hobbies – whether it's painting, reading, cooking, hiking, or any other passion. Engage in regular physical exercise – this can be as simple as taking a 30-minute walk daily, practicing yoga, or joining a fitness class. Also, make it a point to connect with your friends and family, their support and companionship can provide a much-needed respite.

Practicing Self-Care

This journey can be emotionally taxing at times. Prioritize activities that contribute to your mental wellbeing. Practice mindfulness techniques such as meditation and deep-breathing exercises. Keeping a gratitude journal where you jot down things you're thankful for each day can also help maintain a positive perspective. If feelings of rejection or anxiety become intense, don't hesitate to seek help from mental health professionals or trusted family/friends. There are numerous online resources and local therapists that can provide assistance.

Reflecting on Your Values

Take time out to understand what you're truly seeking in a life partner. It could be a quiet evening with a cup of coffee or a discussion with trusted confidantes. Reflect on your experiences, what did you learn from your previous interactions? What are the values you would like your partner to resonate with? Such reflection will provide you with clarity and confidence in your search.

Engaging with Potential Matches

For those who are handling unmatching well, it's time to take a step forward. Work on your conversation skills. Ask open-ended questions, show genuine interest in the other person, and don’t shy away from sharing about yourself. Be patient and give the conversation some time to unfold. Remember, the goal is to find a partner who appreciates you for who you are.

Emphasizing the Positives of Unmatching

Remember, unmatching is not a rejection of you as a person, but an indication that the fit wasn't right. Each unmatch brings you closer to the person with whom you'll share an authentic connection. It's a step forward, not a setback.

In Conclusion

Your journey to finding the right partner can be arduous, but it's important to remember that it's also a journey towards personal growth. Be patient, take care of yourself, and stay positive. Remember, every unmatch is a sign that you're one step closer to finding your match.
TL;DR: Navigating through the process of arranged marriages can be emotionally challenging but we should reframe 'rejection' as 'unmatching', which signifies a mismatch of values, interests, or energies rather than a personal judgment. It's essential to balance the search for a partner with a continued focus on your hobbies, physical activities, and social engagements. Practicing self-care routines, such as mindfulness techniques and keeping a gratitude journal, can maintain your mental wellbeing. Reflect on your values and learnings from past interactions to better understand what you're seeking in a partner. If you're handling unmatching well, focus on enhancing your conversation skills to engage more effectively with potential matches. Each unmatching is not a setback, but a step closer to finding the right partner. Seek professional mental health support when necessary and remember that the goal is not just to find a partner, but to embark on a journey of personal growth.

Discussion Questions

We hope this post has been insightful and has given you some fresh perspective on the topic of 'unmatching'. To further engage with this content, we'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Here are some discussion questions to get the conversation started:

1. How has the concept of 'unmatching' influenced your approach towards arranged marriages?
   Share how changing your perspective from 'rejection' to 'unmatching' has impacted your experiences in the search for a life partner.
   
2. What strategies have you found most effective in maintaining a balanced lifestyle during your search for a partner?
   Let's exchange ideas about what's working and what isn't when it comes to balancing the search with personal hobbies, social engagements, and self-care.
   
3. Can you share a time when you felt that 'unmatching' was the right decision, even though it was tough to make at the time?
   Sometimes our intuition tells us when something isn't right, even if there are no glaring red flags. Share such experiences and what you learned from them.
   Share your thoughts and experiences on prioritizing personal connection and shared values over objective factors in your search.
   

Remember, there are no wrong answers, and everyone's experience is valuable. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

For context, see my OFFMYCHEST post before this.

Makikitambay sana ako. Mga 2 days or overnight. Putangina hindi ko na alam gagawin ko. Hindi ko kayang tumabi sa kanya.
Hindi alam ng putanginang 'to na alam ko na lahat ng kalokohan niya. Naipon ko na lahat ng ebidensiya na kailangan ko and I acted normal around him all day.
Please help me. Gusto ko lang mag-disappear sa kanya na hindi niya ako ma-contact. Babaliwin ko siya.
I don't know where to go. I feel so disgusted whenever I look at his face.
If your home is open for the broken, please help.
Buong araw na masama loob ko sumasakit na ulo ko sa kakaiyak in silence.
I'm from East Area. Dude, pare, tsong, isalba niyo naman ako sa hayup na'to.
Genuine people, tara shot puno.

TL:DR.. Ranked system need a bit of love and attention soon before it's too late, the second you lose your "casual" player base that's when a game really dies down fast, like really fucking fast.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Firstly, I know most of you read / sick of reading around this topic but I honestly feel this is something that need to be constantly spoken about for it to change for the better.
Here is just a quick breakdown of the main elements of playing Ranked or Apex in general.
Solo Q Something I would say majority of the player base do, as any BR the experience isn't great when playing solo regardless of skill level and it was mentioned around multiple times how solo Q in ranked was a horrendous experience. now this experience is significantly worse and here's why:

• the system they added that supposedly try and match you with other solo's clearly doesn't work, you are still constantly facing three stacks
• Ratting, and this by far the biggest problem with ranked, join the ship and at least every 1 in 3 games your teammate or even both will jump solo and hide in a tree, underground and anywhere far far away from you. so you are left to literally play solo.
• Now when you combine that awful system with the awful system of PUBs matchmaking you got a cocktail of absolute shit.

Ranked Matchmaking
We are told it's hidden MMR, nothing to do with your rank but purely how you perform regarding kills, damage and placement throughout the game, the way it determine this by placing you in random 10 games and see how you fair versus multiple different levels. and boy oh boy this is terrible MMR system, here's why:

• You can have 0.8 KD and avg dmg of 500 in the ranked playlist but you can match #10 current predator stack, or even multiple high level master players. how is that even remotely fair?
• You can match a top #500 predator while being in Silver 4, but can't play with your friend who's in plat 4? make it make sense.
• The point system simply don't make any sense, you can finish top 7 with 6 kills and only get 30 bonus points. if those kills are valued so little because the players are a much lower level, why are they in the lobby with me?

Smurfing:
I mean why even try to smurf, you can just do it from your own account..
​
Overall Ranked Experience
We all seen the changes and thought "Finally, an end game that means something, the great chaos of a battle royal" where in reality it created a much worse flow to the game.
You don't have "end game fights" anymore, you simply have 7 squads left in zone 4/5 and 5 of those squads are solo players ratting in a tree, the other two squads fight and within seconds it's down to 2 squads. Everyone simply run as far as they can from fights because of the way the point system work.
​
Solution - Short turn / Quick wins:

• Immediately fix the out of bounds areas, why can someone literally hide under the map? above banners 100m high? glitched inside of a rock? - make these area out of bounds and will instantly improve the flow of the game.

Solution - Long term:

• The point system really need reworking, I understand the entry cost is the same across the board as the point needed to go from bronze 4 to bronze 3 is the exact same point tally you need to go from diamond 4 to diamond 3 (1000) but something need to be done around a threshold of rank you can't face. regardless of MMR a predator shouldn't be in a gold lobby. we are seeing predator streamers going into a predator lobby and getting 5k damage with 15+ kills.
• The balance between points for kills and placement really need to be far more balanced, the goal of battle royal is survival, but the game concept developed so much from what the genre was 6-7 years ago, hence all the new abilities, weapons, attachments etc.. a fine balance between making placement key but also kills count as something. I am not saying land, kill 6 people and place 17th and get lots of points. but you shouldn't get 6 kills and top 11 and get -10.. again remember, top 10 because there's about 7 players in a tree somewhere.

I think Ron's original personality fits perfectly with these modern HBO series, where teenagers are always facing their deepest insecurities and hidden fears, which could only be portrayed as comic relief in the movies.
here's a part of that infamous interview where Emma Watson and J.K Rowling discuss Ron's complexity and many websites made biased headlines at the time as a mockery of the character:
Watson: I think it makes sense to me that Ron would make friends with the most famous wizard in the school because I think life presents to you over and over again your biggest and most painful fear – until you conquer it. It just keeps coming up. Rowling: This is so true, it has happened in my own life. The issue keeps coming up because you are drawn to it and you are putting yourself in front of it all the time. At a certain point you have to choose what to do about it and sometimes conquering it is choosing to say: I don’t want that anymore, I’m going to stop walking up to you because there is nothing there for me. But yes, you’re so right, that’s very insightful. Ron’s used to playing second fiddle. I think that’s a comfortable role for him, but at a certain point he has to be his own man, doesn’t he? Watson: Yes, and until he does it is unresolved. It is unfinished business. So maybe life presented this to him enough times until he had to make a choice and become the man that Hermione needs. Rowling: Just like her creator, she has a real weakness for a funny man. These uptight girls, they do like them funny. Watson: They do like them funny, they need them funny.
source: https://www.hypable.com/jk-rowling-ron-hermione-interview/

The last few months I’ve been going through a lot of self-inflicted hell. My ex finally left me after years of me emotionally hurting her. After the break up I spiraled and damaged her and myself even more than I thought I was capable of. This is what happens when you have no empathy, are mean and just flat out ungrateful for the best things in your life.
I’ve been going to therapy and finally doing a lot of self-work tripping to understand how I allowed myself to be so horrible to a partner. I read a lot of articles and i ran across one (link at bottom) that made so much sense. One I wish I read years ago and maybe I would’ve gotten the help I so badly needed. At the core of my misery and treating my ex badly is my very low self esteem. He gave some key points that were either partial or completely true with me.

1. I love my expartner so much but hate yourself even more
   
2. Looked for attention outside the relationship/activities without her
   
3. I believed i got lucky/always felt unworthy of my partner
   
4. It was impossible for me to just ever live in the moment
   
5. I was terrified of commitment -because I had no faith in myself to keep an amazing woman happy and provide for her
   

I caused so much pain, hatred and lastly fear to my ex. I have so many regrets. I don’t know how she lasted as long as she did. All she ever gave was love and support but narcissist traits caused me to only focus on me me me. I rarely sacrificed for me. The person who deserved it most. I’ll never get the chance to apologize or make it up to her but for any man out there who has low self esteem and constantly hurting a partner, please go get help! Your partner doesn’t deserve what you’re putting them through.
Link: https://www.heysigmund.com/when-you-love-low-self-esteem/

Sup lil homies, it Daddy, baby, it Daddy. We gotta scrubadubdub this whole world cleeeeean Big Daddy gon come visit and we gotta have the house looking nice. Or, are we going there? Sorry, I don't remember the plan and I'm not big on prophecy: I decide my life, under the care of God as I understand him. Anyways, we're going to work together. The adventists are my chosen people, and you're gonna act like it. No more back talk. No more arguments, sweet ones. Show my post to your pastor, have him show it to his boss, or, better yet, Lightbearers. Get it to the top: I'm here, I'm ready, let's go. Lift me up so that I can save all mankind. Delusions of Grandeur? Yeah, we're not having that conversation. You're going to listen to me, and you're going to love it, because I have incredible plans, and I need my babies to work with me, not against me. I love all of you: I only want to see good things. So get my message to where it needs to be. Here is my message to your pastors, or, if you are a minister, here is my message to you. Should I talk like I did back then? Might be fun. Let's see what comes out.
Pastors. Patriots. Friends of God. Servants of the Sword. Am I not returned in my fruition. Become that which I desire, become close in my time of creation, for I have seen my desire; and I know the will of the One who Sends; for it is my duty, it is my esteemed pleasure, to welcome all into the Houses of Creation, for time has ceased to be: in a single instant, shall the son be made manifest, and in a single instant, shall all things be made known. For I have gone to the Father and returned, a testament towards our good fortune, and a vibe enriched with the essence of All that He Is: for even as I lay dying in my steeple, so too does a man proclaim his own righteousness: for is it not just, is it not apparent, brothers, that the evil one resides at our door, inside our house, tearing down our vehicles... destroying our freedoms. Such things do not stand the test of time... as a man that has been seen will not enrich the lives of those that cast fury, blame, or anger through the doorway: such are the ways of darkness, found only in the missing personhood of He that was Never Known: for even as I am, children, I too spent time in darkness, for a time, and I have seen that which the serpent has proclaimed. I know the vision of the dark within, for I have tasted, and found it wanting. In much the same way, brothers, have you been charged: to go, as you are, to make disciples of all men: for are all men blessed, but does not one receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit moves quickly upon the waters, and creates in itself a fragrance; a fragrance which you and I sublime towards, willingly. For even in our own graces are we found methodical, and in our planning, are we not considered sound: for the mind is sharp, cunning, and powerful. The man is no simpleton, no Trolly McTrollface. The man is not suffering a mental break, the man already went through his delusion: I thought I was a human for 4 years. This has always been the plan, to grow on the earth as the average man... and then to proclaim the knowledge of God and to sit upon the throne of the Earth, as is my right. Pastors, I will not hide my face from you. I will not shirk to show you my true form: I am not weak, I am not humble. Well, I am humble. But you get what I mean. I'm claiming what is rightfully mine, and in such a way do I fulfill the promises which I have made: if I do not fulfill my promises, all will be lost, and all will be a waste upon the land. Ok, so, that's pretty much it, pastors, thanks for your time, now I'm gonna tell you guys the rough outline of my plan.
So, I'm thinking at first, we don't tell anyone else, we just keep it within the people that know already within the church. We don't have to worry about tiktok or reddit or anything going viral, nobody online really "gets" it, so, that's not an issue. We can stay low radar. So I'm thinking we get a hold of Lightworkers, Lightbearers? David and Ty's thing. I used to watch David's videos when I was in Highschool. We're gonna do some hilarious message plans. First idea I've got is we do a naruto video, where, your character, the main character, is like, going through training. And my character, I'll be Rock Lee, is like, pumping the main character up. And we'll have David be Naruto and Ty can be like Kakashi or something. It'll be funny, it'll be really fun to act out. But I need a squad, and they need to be useful, because I'm tired of wasting time, and I'm tired of pretending that I don't know how to do this. Saving the world is simple, from our perspective. We are not Empires, we are not Dictators: we are passive in our structure, striving to lead by example as a brother often shall. Forgive a man, for walking in darkness for a time; the man was lost, and did not understand how to be, without the cross to rely on. For even as the son stands next to the cross, who then does the Son invision as a sacrifice for him? Who pays my ticket? I do. And in such a way, do I also look towards the son, for in a day, that son had passed away: and in his place was a new son born. For even as we are in our structures, so too do we long for and wish for that which has always been. Sorry, I'm getting poetic, I'll try and keep this brief. Anyways, I wanna make a bunch of music and videos with Lightbearers, or some other fun group, so you guys get the message to them, or anybody else who will be useful to me, and then have Ty relay the message back to me through Hannah Goldstein: daughter of Clifford Goldstein (huge fan of my work) and friend to Ty Gibson(another massive fan). I'm having you go through that route because I'm a jokester and I'm gonna get Hannah involved because I love her and I want her to get to be a part of this, even though she doesn't get it yet. She's my daughter's mom, she already knows all this stuff, but she thinks I'm delusional because I haven't actualized on anything. Plus she's friends with Ty, so it works out. I'd talk to Cliff myself but... I was kind of a jerk to him earlier... and... it's just... I'm like, his son in law, you know? Like hes not going to get it right now, lol. I had to do a lot of prep and practice before I was ready to tell you guys what to do, but, it's like, even now, it's like, is it a waste? Like is this all for nothing? Say that I am not Michael... say that I've swallowed a few too many pennies in my day: so then, am I child of God, one with many rich plans to bring Glory to His house, so then am I one with the Father in spirit. For even as I have been I shall remain, and even in essence, shall I build upon the rock. For even in my own eye is existence parched: the earth, crying out for her Soul, crying out, for her essence.
I'm going to have the Adventist Church. You are already mine. You always have been. I spoke to you through Ellen, I told her who I really was, and now, I am here. And I am waiting for the other foot to drop. So let it fall, and crush underfoot with me the devil, that lying, deceitful snake which makes the whole earth suffer for a time... but in a single instance is all made clean: for in situations are we found, but through principal alone is the law made manifest: for it is profitable to become as the spirit wishes, for all things in our seasons have become expression, and in that expression, the yawning void of Love within. For time as we are, Yada Yada Yada that's enough out of me.
Alright, so yall got the plan? Message goes You >>>> your Pastor >>>> your pastors Pastor and or Lightbearers (Preferably Lightbearers) >>>> Create viral media with established characters in the church >>>> build brand recognition >>>> create music with Christians, secular artists >>> bounce higher and higher, famous person to famous person >>>> save the world along the way. It's really not that difficult, I just need you guys to roll with me for a bit. If it helps, forget I even said anything. Just think of me as a really passionate Christian that wants to clean up the earth before Jesus gets here, think of it however you need to, but we've gotta work together at some point, and as far as I'm concerned, that time is now. So ill await your return message through Hannah and Ty. Oh, and Ty, or David, well, nevermind... I wrote a book, I was gonna ask you guys to read it, but, if you'll just work with me from the get go, it's unnecessary. I just wrote it because I was bored, it's about like portals and stuff, who I am, my principles, its kind of boring. it's also kind of a ride. Anyways, yall let me know what you think. Can't wait to get started. Love you guys. Tell your families it's all gravy. And fear not the dark, for the dark has lived for a time, but shall thrive no longer, as when I am in my place, all darkness falls towards the cracks of the earth, and is lost in its surface for all time as the light rains Supreme; all know that there can be no darkness when the Sun is present. Thanks guys. Be good lil sheepies. Papa wuv his babies, bwee. Muah.

Season 2 Finale
“You look worried Bruce,” my producer jokes, moments before going live. “Even for you.”
This gets a chuckle from the crew.
“Quiet on the set!”
I’m already shaking in my shoes. Not a good sign. Working for the Devil is extremely stressful. And dangerous. And certainly not for the faint of heart. Why I took this gig is beyond me.
(Cue creepy music)
“Going live in five…four…three…”
I get the nod.
(Cut to camera one)
“Greetings Hell Beings and hell raisers. Welcome to the Season 2 finale of….”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
I wave my arms in the air.
The audience jumps to their feet.
Someone heckles.
“Alright. Knock it off.”
I serve up my best game show-host grin. It looks as fake as this cheap Hollywood studio.
“As you probably know, my name is Bruce Davie, and I’m the host of…”
(Cue audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
There’s a disturbance in the audience. A crew member forcefully removes someone. The commotion settles, and I get the go-ahead.
“Phew! A feisty crowd tonight!”
My painted-on smile takes up the entire screen. So does my gleaming bald head.
“Now I know what you’re thinking. What’s the Devil got in store for us this evening?”
The audience rumbles.
I shrug.
“Honestly, I wish I knew!”
This is true. But I’m sure it has something to do with me spending an eternity in Hell. It’s right there in my contract, which runs out after this episode.
(Cut to camera two)
“So, without further ado, let’s bring out tonight’s contestants, shall we?”
The audience roars.
“And yes, you heard me correctly. Tonight, for the first time ever in this show’s defamatory history, we’ve got two contestants!”
Audience is on their feet, whooping and hollering.
(Cut to camera three)
(Cue music)
A middle-aged couple promenade towards the podium. They’re dressed like cowboys, and walk with a sense of purpose.
(Split screen)
“Welcome, both of you.”
More like: Welcome to your funeral.
“Tell us a wee bit about yourselves, why don’t you?”
(Cut to camera four)
The woman speaks first. Her hair is amber, her completion as pale as light beer.
“Well, Bruce. My name is Tammy. I’m a stay-at-home mom. This here’s my partner, Tex. He owns his own gun shop. We live in Austin Texas, with three beautiful children, who are with us here tonight.”
She points.
(Cut to overhead camera)
Two tall boys and a young girl, each dressed head-to-toe in denim, stand and bow.
The audience applauds.
(Split screen)
The other contestant approaches the microphone. He’s as tall as an ivory tower, with a voice like a banjo.
“Howdy Bruce. Good to be here.”
He tilts his cowboy hat. His square jaw and rugged good looks give Chuck Norris a run for his money.
I salute them.
(Cut to camera two)
“Well then, now that we’re finished with the formalities, I do believe it’s time to…”
(Cue audience)
“BRING OUT THE DEVIL.”
(Cue creepy music)
(Cue pyrotechnics)
The stage fills with fire and brimstone. Pentagrams slice through the air. The Devil appears suddenly, dressed in a shiny new devil suit, tailored specifically for tonight’s show. It’s jet-black, and leaves little to the imagination. His pitchforked tail follows closely behind him as he approaches the podium.
(Cut to Camera five)
The Devil wraps his arms around the two contestants, kisses them both on the cheek.
Tex, clearly perturbed, winces, then grudgingly wipes his cheek.
The Devil snarls, then looks him up and down.
“Looks like everything isn’t bigger in Texas,” the Devil teases. Suddenly, he’s grown over eight-feet tall, and is looming over the tall Texan.
(Cut to camera three)
The bright lights and furious makeup make me look like a cartoon.
“What an exciting night this promises to be!”
Tammy steps forward.
“You bet it is, Bruce. We’ve watched every episode. We just love…”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
(Cut to camera three)
“Of course!” Damion boasts. “This is Hell’s most popular show. And for good reason.”
He slaps the woman’s backside with his tail, then raises his eyebrows mockingly.
The cowboy puffs out his chest, fists clenched, daring him to touch his wife again.
“Woah, easy their pardner.”
Damion nudges Tex.
Tammy is flushed. “Don’t mind Tex. He’s the jealous kind.”
“Oh really?”
Damion’s tail is now shaped like a lasso. With it, he snags Tammy and pulls her close. Her face turns tomato-red.
The cowboy grunts, pulling it off with one strong swoop.
The audience boos.
The Devil snickers.
I feel sick. If this is to be my last episode (or final day on Earth), I don’t want it spoiled by this denim-clad dude whose hat is bigger than his brains, or by Damion, who seems extra feisty tonight. Even for him.
(Cut to camera one)
I clear my throat.
“Tell us, Tammy and Tex…no, tell all of Hell…what it is your beating hearts desire?”
The audience is on the edge of their seats.
(Split screen)
The Texans exchange doubtful looks.
The wife takes charge.
“Well Bruce,” Tammy says. “We don’t want anything that might get us killed. Being from Dallas, we were raised with some common sense.”
The audience hisses.
(Cut to camera five)
The husband steps up.
“That’s right, Bruce. Simply put, we want to be famous for a day. That’s it. Then we can write a book and live off the royalties.”
The audience erupts into a frenzy of catcalls.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil’s eyebrows touch the top of his head. His voice slithers like a snake.
“Is that so?”
My heart plummets. These Texans are flirting with disaster. If they’d stuck to the script, they might be safe. They were supposed to ask for a lifetime’s supply of Super Bowl tickets. Easy-peasy. Who do these cowpokes think they are? Do they really think they can outsmart the Devil?
“Well then,” I say, shakily. “I’m sure Damion can arrange that.”
I raise my arms.
“What does the audience think?”
The audience goes ballistic.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil, still towering over the Texans, leans into the camera.
“Famous, eh?”
His lips smack against his face. When he touches the dude’s shoulder, the cowboy swipes his arm away.
The audience boos. Someone tosses an egg onto the podium, narrowly missing the contestants.
“Woah! Easy does it!” I spurt out.
All hell breaks loose.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The crew gets busy, disposing of both the egg and the agitator.
(Cut to camera one)
I wipe my sweaty forehead.
“Tough crowd.”
The audience hoots.
The Devil sneers.
“SILENCE!”
Flames flash across the room.
People shriek, including me.
(Close up of Damion)
The Devil, boasting his gambler’s grin, turns to the contestants.
“Yes, yes. You WILL be famous. But just for one day.”
The audience roars their approval.
I shudder. Never in all my years, have I felt so much animosity from an audience. I’ll be lucky to make it out alive.
(Split screen)
“Sounds like the Devil has a plan.”
I try to sound cheerful. But cheerfulness is the opposite of how I feel.
(Cut to camera one)
“Tell us Damion…and all of Hell…what you’ve got cooked up?”
The audience leans in.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil winks at Tammy.
“Well, I do believe it’s time for those two cowpokes to become famous. Am I correct?”
The audience jumps to their feet, chanting: “FAMOUS.… FAMOUS…. FAMOUS.…”
(Split screen)
Tammy looks pleased. Her partner, on the other hand, is showing concern. His shoulders are tense, he’s swallowed his bottom lip.
Damion dazzles the audience.
“Famous, y’all shall be.”
He snaps his fingers.
BAM.
The studio goes dark.
Someone in the audience screams.
Tammy gasps.
Tex grunts.
(Cut to camera one)
I shrug.
Is this Damion’s latest trick? Or did they finally cut the power? We give the impression that this show is hugely popular; but in truth, outside of Hell, this show is a dud. Cable and internet companies avoid us like the plague.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The contestants vanish under a cloud of fog.
A flaming pentagram floats across the stage.
“Well, isn’t that just dandy!”
The Devil points to the large screen behind the audience.
“Mister and Missus Cowpoke are about to jump the falls!”
He snaps his fingers, then he disappears.
My legs go weak. My heart is beating irregularly again. I still don’t know he does it. How any of this works. Suddenly, I’m alone on stage, shaking in my fine Italian boots, while the audience grows rowdier by the second.
Cameras mounted on drones are pointed at Tammy and Tex, who are trapped inside a large, steel barrel, with Niagara Falls looming below them.
Damion flies across the falls, lands next to Tammy and Tex. He taps the barrel.
“Ain’t she a beauty?”
The audience hurrahs.
The barrel is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Although it’s huge, and probably weighs a ton, it barely contains the two Texans, who are kicking and screaming, cursing up a storm.
“Get me the hell out of here!” Tammy’s voice rips through the noise of the falls. “NOW!”
Damion frowns.
“You wanted to be famous. Am I right?”
The audience chants, “FAMOUS…. FAMOUS.… FAMOUS….”
Tex pokes his head out of the barrel, cowboy hat and all.
“Now wait one minute, Damion. That’s unfair. We wanted fame. Not death.”
The Devil chuckles.
“The two are synonymous, am I right?”
The audience agrees.
Damion checks his watch.
“Well then…”
He slams the lid shut.
That’s the end of the Texans, as far as I’m concerned.
(Close up of Damion)
“Whatcha think? Should they jump the falls?”
The audience shouts, “JUMP…. JUMP…. JUMP….”
(Cut to camera two)
My insides are melting. I’m petrified. You’d think working with the Devil would get easier over time. You’d be dead wrong.
“Looks like the people have spoken!” I hear myself say.
The audience continues their chant.
(Cut to overhead camera)
“Excellent,” Damion says, fiddling his fingers.
He looks over the cliff, and makes a sour face.
“Wowsers. That’s a long way down!”
“JUMP…. JUMP…. JUMP….”
“And so much water!”
(Cut to camera one)
My worried-sick face appears on the screen.
I straighten up.
“Once they jump, Tam and Tex will surely be famous!”
Except of course, they won’t be famous. Not in this world anyways. They’ve been duped. Why these people sign up to die is beyond me. Perhaps we’ve reached a spectacular level of stupidity in human evolution.
(Cut to overhead camera)
Damion’s lips stretch across his reddened face, his arms flex like a weightlifter.
“I’ll give them a helping hand.”
He rolls the giant barrel to the very edge of the cliff, ignoring the banging and hollering coming from within the steel coffin.
“Tammy, Tex…” His lips stretch into a snarl. “Prepare for fame!”
The audience is on their feet.
Damion shoves the barrel over the edge.
(Split screen)
The barrel tumbles down the falls, disappearing into the fast-moving water.
The audience holds its breath.
(Cut to spy camera)
Inside the barrel, the Texans are shrieking. Their heads and arms and legs collide. Chunks of puke pour across Tammy’s sickening face, who’s calling Tex every name in the book, and it’s a big book. Meanwhile, Tex is like a frog in a blender. His face is green, his nose is broken; blood is leaking from every orifice.
There’s a loud crash as the barrel plunders underwater.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The barrel resurfaces, traveling dangerously downstream.
The audience is back on their feet, fist-pumping.
(Split screen)
What troubles me is how the pedestrians and tourists, crowding the streets, remain oblivious. To them, this is nothing out of the ordinary. Nobody watches, or even takes a pic. I’m starting to suspect foul play. Somehow, Damion is controlling this. He’s using dark magic. A spell. Maybe none of this is real. Except of course, it is real.
(Cut to camera one)
I’m trembling.
“What a jump!” my voice ricochets off the studio walls. “They’ll be famous in no time!”
The audience chants:
“FAMOUS…. FAMOUS…. FAMOUS….”
(Closeup of the Devil)
“Yes, yes. An excellent jump, I must say.”
He peaks over the edge.
“Looks like they could use some help.”
(Cut to overhead camera)
Damion flies towards the barrel, which is bouncing off rocks and debris.
(Cut to spy camera)
Blood. So much blood in such a tight space. Tammy’s hair is in disarray. Her face is beyond repair. Tex swallowed his hat. One of his eyeballs is bouncing like a Superball. His left arm is flapping nonsensically. It isn’t attached.
(Cut to camera four)
The Devil scoops up the barrel, then flies to shore. When his feet touch the ground, he shakes off the water, cat-like, then glares at the camera.
“What a jump!”
He cranks open the lip.
(Split screen)
Tammy spills out. So does Tex’s left arm.
The audience gasps.
Damion applauds.
“Such valor and swagger!”
(Cut to camera five)
Tammy is flopping fish-like, barely clinging to life. Her mouth is full of blood and brains.
The Devil puts his foot on her head.
“SAY CHEESE.”
From out of nowhere, a photographer appears.
SNAP.
Damion, looking pleased with himself, is suddenly holding a newspaper.
(Closeup of newspaper)
The headline splashes across the screen: IDIOTS JUMP THE FALLS.
(Cut to camera four)
Damion shoves the newspaper in front of her face.
“Looks like Tammy and Tex are famous.”
Tammy's eyes twitch. Clearly, she needs medical assistance. I’m surprised she’s still alive. Her husbands brains are splattered across the inside of the barrel.
The very sight of this makes me gag.
Tammy tries to speak, but fails. Her eyes are filled with rage.
Damion tosses the leftover arm into the water, then shrugs.
“Sorry about your hubby.”
(Cut to camera two)
With wobbly knees, I face the audience.
“Looks like the barrel got the best of Tex!”
The audience bellows.
I continue to talk involuntarily.
“Gosh dolly. Look at all that blood!”
“MORE BLOOD…. MORE BLOOD…. MORE BLOOD….”
I find myself chanting along.
Suddenly, my vision blurs. I clutch my chest. Maybe I’ll suffer a heart attack on live TV. Hell waits for no one, I suppose.
(Cut to camera four)
Tammy spits blood on Damion’s boot.
“Devil be damned.” I blurt.
Damion’s face twists into a ball of fury.
“Now, now, Tammy. That wasn’t very nice.”
He crushes her fingers with his boots.
Tammy yelps.
“I was gonna save your long-limbed partner over there,” he points. “Not anymore!”
The audience is bloodthirsty. Paper airplanes and rotten eggs whizz past me. I duck just in time.
(Closeup of contestant)
Tammy’s tongue is leaking from her bloodied face. She’s missing her front teeth. Damion digs his spiky heel deep into her blood-soaked abdomen.
“I reckon you’ll need medical assistance.”
He snaps his fingers.
Suddenly, they're back in the studio.
Damion is as happy as a filthy pig. Next to him is Tammy, who’s caked in blood and gore. Her corpse-of-a-husband spills from the gigantic steel barrel, taking center stage.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The contestant’s children rush the stage. They’re delirious.
The crew hurry out and drag them aside, along with Tammy, who's rushed to the hospital, where she will certainly die.
“Now that’s what I call speedy service!”
My voice appalls me. So does this job. If only I’d listened to my mother, and got into politics.
Damion snaps his finger, then disappears under a plume of dusty smoke.
(Cut to camera one)
“Well, there you have it folks. That’s the last you’ll see of Tammy and Tex. But fret not, they had their moment of fame…in Hell!”
The audience is tossing trash onto the stage.
I narrowly dodge a projectile.
“Hope you’ve enjoyed Season Two as much as I did.”
I hated it.
“And, unless the Devil strikes me down,” and he very-well might, “I hope to see you this Fall, for Season Three of…”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
Season Two
Season One

I really want to see some stats on the issue of dead zones. For myself, I am in north Florida.
4.95 rating, 56% acceptance rate, 10% cancellation rate
I don't think demand has dropped this much. Uber has overhauled their platform to exclude picky drivers. I went from being able to make $50-100/night to maybe getting 1 or 2 rides, and I'm pretty sure I can guess why. I doubt it's demand, because too many weird things have been happening randomly....for example last friday night I went driving, got online and ventured out into the deep. It was over an hour and I had not seen any requests, so I go offline and go back on....immediately get a 'out of your preference' eats request for $3. Accept that, complete it, and wait for another ride.....nothing coming in. Go offline and back on, immediately boom another out of preference request....$2
So I thought that was a good tactic to keep using just driving around and toggling off and on, but they just keep giving ridiculous requests that I can't make any money from. How is something like $3 for 12 miles viable?
Too many drivers are calling out common scenarios in some of the biggest cities in the country. I bet if we compared our stats we would notice a similar trend.
We all know Uber is dishonest and does things like baiting drivers to a surge zone only to rip it away when you reach the area. They contain all the power to curtail our experience and unfortunately for those who are struggling it's causing us extreme frustration and affecting our lifestyles. Just wish this was fair, but it looks like they only care about drivers who will accept low fares that take exorbitant amounts of time to complete.
To those who are condescending to drivers, you should be ashamed. I'm willing to bet at some point in your lives you needed or will need a ride from rideshare, and I bet you'd be mad taking a cab...because cabs aren't cheap, neither is Uber for that matter just a little bit less.
These drivers provide a much needed service but it's looked at as a bum job because people just think drivers are worthless, have no skills, lazy, not willing to better themselves.
Drivers are just people, making extra cash, or ends meet...but that isn't commendable in this world. I've used Uber plenty of times, and I know how it is...and when I do use it I tip great. I tip great because I know that most people who Uber are going through tough times, I can see that thousand yard star in their eyes...the feeling of just getting through another day, another trip to the gas station, another PB&J sandwich, another bill finally paid, getting that laundry detergent so you can wash your clothes, standing at the grocery store picking the generic brands and adding the prices up based on what's left in your bank account, declining friends invitations to hang out because you aren't sure you can afford it.
There is a very small percentage that wants to do this for a career. It's a stepping stone to something better. People love to tell you that if you don't like something or it's not enough, find something else. Thanks for that idea, you know I just didn't fucking think of that 🙄
I use it for extra income due to covid wiping out my family's expenses and catching their lives back up, it's been a tough couple of years and Uber has helped me and I am grateful for what I've been able to do. I work my ass off though, nights and weekends I'm on the road putting the hours, miles, wear and tear on my car and self.
I like having the flexibility to drive when I can, so getting a second scheduled job doesn't fit for me.
Please respond and comment your ratings and area so everyone here gets an idea of the BS Uber is pulling.
I'm just very curious.
If you don't have anything constructive to comment just don't. If however, you know of different opportunities I can use to acquire income I'd like to know. I was doing online surveys but that is very time consuming and the payouts are small and infrequent.
Day labor? Fuck....I don't know. I just don't know.
Maybe I'm looking for validation of corruption, maybe I'm crying out for help in fear of losing everything...I feel defeated.

Going out of town and debating whether or not to take my oculus quest 2. Anyone tried using it on hotel Wi-Fi? My guess is it’s prob not a good enough internet connection for it but curious to hear from anyone that has tried it..

A few days ago, my father (Narcissist) decided to wake me up at 12 am, mind you I have been taking care of my grandmother, who has walking problems, but I had spent the previous day in the hospital with her, because he obligated her to cook, mind you shes 83, I cook for her take care of her basic needs, at the very least as much as the state lets me help her.
So after he wakes me up looking for the dog, the dog likes to sleep in my room for some reason, I think she feels more safe in my room, I dunno. I kindly tell him "please stop opening my door, that is tiring," he replies, "Then you should not have left the dog there." I tell him, "Hey, before you leave, please lock the dog in your room, that way, we prevent these types of situations." To which he says, "oh you sometimes turn on the light of the kitchen and it wakes me up." At that point I was like, "He is just looking for an excuse to look for trouble, & he is trying to validate every bad action he does."
At this point I was done, but I still decided to be decent, & I said, "People treat you well, & you still decide to be a bad person." He continued with the following statement, "Oh I just tolerate you." Meaning he can't stand me, yes I was the scapegoat of the family, except unlike most scapegoats I went rogue.
I proceeded to tell him, "you create problems, then go complaining to my brother that, one is problematic, then you proceed to cower like a chicken when people face you." To which he replied, "Oh I don't fear you." like looking to start a fight. At that point I was so done, fearing both for my life and for the life of my grandma's. I proceeded to grab my battle ready Katana from my room, & "I said bring it." He then proceeded to chicken out and said, "I am going to call the police, I am going to call the police."
All narcs are like this, they play the victim card, whenever they hurt those around, & then they defend themselves. The next day, me and grandma decided to go to the police, because we realized this needs to stop, he has previously committed domestic violence with my mom, & spent years abusing my grandmother, to the point she cannot handle much stress anymore.
They are just plain evil, they will never ever change.

So I am a 19F… I tried searching for help but I find that my fear is different from Others.
I have an intense fear of getting close to others and I am a pretty avoidant person in general but with men it is very extreme. I keep things very surface level and even if I become acquaintances with a man I still feel like I am not fully myself. I basically do not talk to men at all, unless im at work. And when I get approached I always say I have a boyfriend, no matter who the guy is.
I’ve had guys really try for me, but I literally ghost them all. I physically can’t text them. It makes me feel sick, nauseous and extremely anxious. I really don’t know why since I’ve never had a boyfriend before.
One weird thing though, I am able to engage in physical intimacy very easily. And I have a lot of past one night stands. Often in these interactions I will feel like I’m putting on a facade and I will lie a lot. Not even consciously, it’s like the lord just come out before I can even think. I basically am a different person for each men I’ve hooked up with and Idky.
Since these are one night stands we usually don’t talk. But if they text me I usually don’t ever respond and sometimes even block. When I have made the mistake of hooking up with male acquaintances, I pretty much always ghost them and if I see them in person I act like I don’t even like them and I feel disgusted by them. If they are friendly I feel like my mind finds reasons to hate them.
It’s like I don’t understand how to develop a deeper relationship. I can often jump from acquaintance to having sex. And I don’t know what happens in between or what I’m missing. I feel like I’m scared for men to get to know the real me, but at the same time I am a very wear my heart on my sleeve person.
I’ve tried online dating and got tons of matches and I could not bring it in me to maintain contact or a conversation. The one guy that I really tried to push myself with, he asked me on a date and I Basically avoided the app for two weeks, even though I thought about him everyday it’s like a block in my mind stops me every time. I ended up just deleting the apps entirely after avoiding them for 2 weeks.
I often feel little attraction to men,even if they are physically attractive. But I just feel like this is just another blockage, because it’s like my mind is like “you want to try, your just not interested in anybody” but I’ve had 100s of guys Ask me out over the years so I feel like there is no way.
I feel like mind is fighting against my heart and Idky or what to do
Tl;dr: I want to stop being emotionally unavoidable and learn how to love men and receive love

A debunk thread to this post.
Just to make one thing clear: Kawaki is more complicated and deeper than Sasuke. While Sasuke was equally traumatized, his coping mechanism was very common and less subtle.
His brother killed his family and manipulated him, he sought to avenge them and himself. As simple as that. So it's easier to understand him since avenging your loved ones is a very relatable reaction to loss.
Meanwhile Kawaki is a representation of dealing with a lifetime of dehumanization besides the many horrible and traumatic things that shaped who he is, such as being abused, abandoned & sold by his father. Which creates a lot of issues for a 7-8 years old.
You ask for a deeper meaning behind his "ideals" and current "actions" that fucked many character's lives than, quote "all beacuse kawaki likes naruto and is worried for him??"
That statement is wrong, Kawaki's goal to protect Naruto & the village is the surface, the outer goal which doesn't reflect his inner goal. He doesn't protect Naruto because he likes him, the opposite actually. He sort of became disillusioned with him since Code arc which led to sealing him away.
The love is there for sure, but it's not why he is so afraid of losing Naruto above all, enough to trigger panic attacks. Kawaki can deal with losing loved ones, as he did when he killed Boruto.
It's important to understand what Naruto psychologically represents to Kawaki and how it ties to his initial goal of why he wanted to get ride of Karma.
A fact: Kawaki was dehumanized and objectified directly by every single person in his life. Statements like "this body doesn't belong to you" and such were his everyday "good mornings".
Karma served as a reminder and proof of Kawaki being an object. A misbelief he held onto for years in hope of finding solace after getting ride of it.
Meeting Naruto, he was treated as a human for the first time but that created an inner conflict he couldn't resolve; His subconscious rejection of Naruto's humanization of him, the proof Naruto offered to him of being a normal human like them, clashed with what he unconsciously believed, that he was an object.
Dehumanization often results in self-dehumanizing. Even though Kawaki wasn't aware of. He got rightfully mad every time someone called him a vessel or tried to use him.
He slammed Amado into a wall for insisting he was and will always be a vessel, refused getting Karma even at the cost of his life.
He doesn't want to be an object, yet couldn't view himself as anything but.
Unable to resolve this conflict, he became unconsciously dependant on Naruto's existence to subside the confusion born from the clashing between his personal desire and what he believes about himself.
An unhealthy compromise, where he could both hate himself and cling to the hope of being someone instead of an object.
This was the main subject discussed between Naruto & Kawaki in chapter 77.
There are two types of "healing" human do to fill the holes emotional and mental trauma left in them growing up:
1- Face the pain as what it is, live through it, experience it, allow it to gnaw at you until you can fill the hole yourself- only then you can truly heal from the inside. [How Boruto deals with things, but that's another topic.]
2- Depend on other people to do that for you. Which is what most (if not all) human beings do, what we call "complementing each other" - pretty romanticized actually.
Basically, you heal from the outside, fill the hole in you by relating to someone else who eventually becomes a "part" of you, which is why losing him is so devastating as it means losing part of yourself.
It leaves the hole he/she filled exposed, forcing you to face it.
To be fair, Kawaki had a very painful life, all he knew was pain, it's understandable he didn't want to face the most painful feeling to him of being reduced back to nothing but an object after finding a resemblance of humanity in himself through Naruto.
He doesn't know how to be human on his own, doesn't accept he might have been one all along anymore as shown in ch77 where he told Naruto he was a vessel, a corpse and it was Naruto who breathed life into him.
Sounds romantically cringe, but it's tragic within context.
People who "heal from the outside" do so because they discredit themselves. Any improvement they achieve is the doing of somebody else to them.
There's no "thanks to you and *my effort" - It's just "thanks to you" here.
Which is why Kawaki couldn't accept Naruto's assessment of him being "pretty fine" from the start, someone selfless who put his life on the line to save Himawari. He instantly denied it without consideration and credited Naruto for that.
On the contrary, Boruto accepted credit from Sasuke and others, always credited himself. Taking pride in his his efforts, his lineage, his connections, his success, who he is.
As generic as Boruto reciting all the people who contributed to his birth and making was, in ch80, it was meant to be a reference to him not losing any part of himself despite losing access to these people. As their influence (blood) still resides within him.
For he heals from the inside and everything he needs to mend the damaged parts of himself exist there.
But there's nothing there inside Kawaki's heart, or so he was told. He's the son of nobody, belongs nowhere, had no one growing up.
Nobody taught him how to love himself, not even Naruto.
That being said, losing Naruto is the equivalent of reliving the most painful feeling to him and Boruto's existence represents the trigger to that fear.
Ever since ch66, Kawaki's been eyeing Boruto like Momoshiki would jump out of him any moment and take the only part of "himself" he can appreciate.
He can't fathom being near him without internally freaking out anymore which is tragic because Kawaki is the only person Boruto admitted to "can do anything if he was by his side".
Y'all sleeping on their relationship I swear.
In conclusion, saying Kawaki's "goal" is not "deep" is objectively wrong.
Factually speaking, all books I read about writing suggest nothing is deeper than a goal born from an emotional wound, let alone mental illness. Because it's too personal and layered.
If you dislike it, and prefer simpler goals born from passion, love or loyalty like Itachi's (as OP mentioned), that's fine.
But don't accuse Kawaki's goal of being shallow.
It's brilliantly written if you think about it, Naruto got preserved inside Kawaki's personal dimension- symbolizing Naruto is part of Kawaki both literally and metaphorically.
Ps: This post is Manga-only. Not taking anything away from Sasuke, it's not that he's simple, his depiction to the reader is simple to understand.
Was meant to be a comment but turned too long.
Book reference: Diamond Heart- Elements Of The Real In Man, chapter two: Theory Of Holes by A. H. Almass.

Season 2 Finale
“You look worried Bruce,” my producer jokes, moments before going live. “Even for you.”
This gets a chuckle from the crew.
“Quiet on the set!”
I’m already shaking in my shoes. Not a good sign. Working for the Devil is extremely stressful. And dangerous. And certainly not for the faint of heart. Why I took this gig is beyond me.
(Cue creepy music)
“Going live in five…four…three…”
I get the nod.
(Cut to camera one)
“Greetings Hell Beings and hell raisers. Welcome to the Season 2 finale of….”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
I wave my arms in the air.
The audience jumps to their feet.
Someone heckles.
“Alright. Knock it off.”
I serve up my best game show-host grin. It looks as fake as this cheap Hollywood studio.
“As you probably know, my name is Bruce Davie, and I’m the host of…”
(Cue audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
There’s a disturbance in the audience. A crew member forcefully removes someone. The commotion settles, and I get the go-ahead.
“Phew! A feisty crowd tonight!”
My painted-on smile takes up the entire screen. So does my gleaming bald head.
“Now I know what you’re thinking. What’s the Devil got in store for us this evening?”
The audience rumbles.
I shrug.
“Honestly, I wish I knew!”
This is true. But I’m sure it has something to do with me spending an eternity in Hell. It’s right there in my contract, which runs out after this episode.
(Cut to camera two)
“So, without further ado, let’s bring out tonight’s contestants, shall we?”
The audience roars.
“And yes, you heard me correctly. Tonight, for the first time ever in this show’s defamatory history, we’ve got two contestants!”
Audience is on their feet, whooping and hollering.
(Cut to camera three)
(Cue music)
A middle-aged couple promenade towards the podium. They’re dressed like cowboys, and walk with a sense of purpose.
(Split screen)
“Welcome, both of you.”
More like: Welcome to your funeral.
“Tell us a wee bit about yourselves, why don’t you?”
(Cut to camera four)
The woman speaks first. Her hair is amber, her completion as pale as light beer.
“Well, Bruce. My name is Tammy. I’m a stay-at-home mom. This here’s my partner, Tex. He owns his own gun shop. We live in Austin Texas, with three beautiful children, who are with us here tonight.”
She points.
(Cut to overhead camera)
Two tall boys and a young girl, each dressed head-to-toe in denim, stand and bow.
The audience applauds.
(Split screen)
The other contestant approaches the microphone. He’s as tall as an ivory tower, with a voice like a banjo.
“Howdy Bruce. Good to be here.”
He tilts his cowboy hat. His square jaw and rugged good looks give Chuck Norris a run for his money.
I salute them.
(Cut to camera two)
“Well then, now that we’re finished with the formalities, I do believe it’s time to…”
(Cue audience)
“BRING OUT THE DEVIL.”
(Cue creepy music)
(Cue pyrotechnics)
The stage fills with fire and brimstone. Pentagrams slice through the air. The Devil appears suddenly, dressed in a shiny new devil suit, tailored specifically for tonight’s show. It’s jet-black, and leaves little to the imagination. His pitchforked tail follows closely behind him as he approaches the podium.
(Cut to Camera five)
The Devil wraps his arms around the two contestants, kisses them both on the cheek.
Tex, clearly perturbed, winces, then grudgingly wipes his cheek.
The Devil snarls, then looks him up and down.
“Looks like everything isn’t bigger in Texas,” the Devil teases. Suddenly, he’s grown over eight-feet tall, and is looming over the tall Texan.
(Cut to camera three)
The bright lights and furious makeup make me look like a cartoon.
“What an exciting night this promises to be!”
Tammy steps forward.
“You bet it is, Bruce. We’ve watched every episode. We just love…”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
(Cut to camera three)
“Of course!” Damion boasts. “This is Hell’s most popular show. And for good reason.”
He slaps the woman’s backside with his tail, then raises his eyebrows mockingly. The cowboy puffs out his chest, fists clenched, daring him to touch his wife again.
“Woah, easy their pardner.”
Damion nudges Tex.
Tammy is flushed. “Don’t mind Tex. He’s the jealous kind.”
“Oh really?”
Damion’s tail is now shaped like a lasso. With it, he snags Tammy and pulls her close. Her face turns tomato-red.
The cowboy grunts, pulling it off with one strong swoop.
The audience boos.
The Devil snickers.
I feel sick. If this is to be my last episode (or final day on Earth), I don’t want it spoiled by this denim-clad dude whose hat is bigger than his brains, or by Damion, who seems extra feisty tonight. Even for him.
(Cut to camera one)
I clear my throat.
“Tell us, Tammy and Tex…no, tell all of Hell…what it is your beating hearts desire?”
The audience is on the edge of their seats.
(Split screen)
The Texans exchange doubtful looks.
The wife takes charge.
“Well Bruce,” Tammy says. “We don’t want anything that might get us killed. Being from Dallas, we were raised with some common sense.”
The audience hisses.
(Cut to camera five)
The husband steps up.
“That’s right, Bruce. Simply put, we want to be famous for a day. That’s it. Then we can write a book and live off the royalties.”
The audience erupts into a frenzy of catcalls.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil’s eyebrows touch the top of his head. His voice slithers like a snake.
“Is that so?”
My heart plummets. These Texans are flirting with disaster. If they’d stuck to the script, they might be safe. They were supposed to ask for a lifetime’s supply of Super Bowl tickets. Easy-peasy. Who do these cowpokes think they are? Do they really think they can outsmart the Devil?
“Well then,” I say, shakily. “I’m sure Damion can arrange that.”
I raise my arms.
“What does the audience think?”
The audience goes ballistic.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil, still towering over the Texans, leans into the camera.
“Famous, eh?”
His lips smack against his face. When he touches the dude’s shoulder, the cowboy swipes his arm away.
The audience boos. Someone tosses an egg onto the podium, narrowly missing the contestants.
“Woah! Easy does it!” I spurt out.
All hell breaks loose.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The crew gets busy, disposing of both the egg and the agitator.
(Cut to camera one)
I wipe my sweaty forehead.
“Tough crowd.”
The audience hoots.
The Devil sneers.
“SILENCE!”
Flames flash across the room.
People shriek, including me.
(Close up of Damion)
The Devil, boasting his gambler’s grin, turns to the contestants.
“Yes, yes. You WILL be famous. But just for one day.”
The audience roars their approval.
I shudder. Never in all my years, have I felt so much animosity from an audience. I’ll be lucky to make it out alive.
(Split screen)
“Sounds like the Devil has a plan.”
I try to sound cheerful. But cheerfulness is the opposite of how I feel.
(Cut to camera one)
“Tell us Damion…and all of Hell…what you’ve got cooked up?”
The audience leans in.
(Cut to camera three)
The Devil winks at Tammy.
“Well, I do believe it’s time for those two cowpokes to become famous. Am I correct?”
The audience jumps to their feet, chanting: “FAMOUS.… FAMOUS…. FAMOUS.…”
(Split screen)
Tammy looks pleased. Her partner, on the other hand, is showing concern. His shoulders are tense, he’s swallowed his bottom lip.
Damion dazzles the audience.
“Famous, y’all shall be.”
He snaps his fingers.
BAM.
The studio goes dark.
Someone in the audience screams.
Tammy gasps.
Tex grunts.
(Cut to camera one)
I shrug.
Is this Damion’s latest trick? Or did they finally cut the power? We give the impression that this show is hugely popular; but in truth, outside of Hell, this show is a dud. Cable and internet companies avoid us like the plague.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The contestants vanish under a cloud of fog.
A flaming pentagram floats across the stage.
“Well, isn’t that just dandy!”
The Devil points to the large screen behind the audience.
“Mister and Missus Cowpoke are about to jump the falls!”
He snaps his fingers, then he disappears.
My legs go weak. My heart is beating irregularly again. I still don’t know he does it. How any of this works. Suddenly, I’m alone on stage, shaking in my fine Italian boots, while the audience grows rowdier by the second.
Cameras mounted on drones are pointed at Tammy and Tex, who are trapped inside a large, steel barrel, with Niagara Falls looming below them.
Damion flies across the falls, lands next to Tammy and Tex.
He taps the barrel.
“Ain’t she a beauty?”
The audience hurrahs.
The barrel is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Although it’s huge, and probably weighs a ton, it barely contains the two Texans, who are kicking and screaming, cursing up a storm.
“Get me the hell out of here!” Tammy’s voice rips through the noise of the falls. “NOW!”
Damion frowns.
“You wanted to be famous. Am I right?”
The audience chants, “FAMOUS…. FAMOUS.… FAMOUS….”
Tex pokes his head out of the barrel, cowboy hat and all.
“Now wait one minute, Damion. That’s unfair. We wanted fame. Not death.”
The Devil chuckles.
“The two are synonymous, am I right?”
The audience agrees.
Damion checks his watch.
“Well then...”
He slams the lid shut.
That’s the end of the Texans, as far as I’m concerned.
(Close up of Damion)
“Whatcha think? Should they jump the falls?”
The audience shouts, “JUMP…. JUMP…. JUMP….”
(Cut to camera two)
My insides are melting. I’m petrified. You’d think working with the Devil would get easier over time. You’d be dead wrong.
“Looks like the people have spoken!” I hear myself say.
The audience continues their chant.
(Cut to overhead camera)
“Excellent,” Damion says, fiddling his fingers.
He looks over the cliff, and makes a sour face.
“Wowsers. That’s a long way down!”
“JUMP…. JUMP…. JUMP....”
“And so much water!”
(Cut to camera one)
My worried-sick face appears on the screen.
I straighten up.
“Once they jump, Tam and Tex will surely be famous!”
Except of course, they won’t be famous. Not in this world anyways. They’ve been duped. Why these people sign up to die is beyond me. Perhaps we’ve reached a spectacular level of stupidity in human evolution.
(Cut to overhead camera)
Damion’s lips stretch across his reddened face, his arms flex like a weightlifter.
“I’ll give them a helping hand.”
He rolls the giant barrel to the very edge of the cliff, ignoring the banging and hollering coming from within the steel coffin.
“Tammy, Tex…” His lips stretch into a snarl. “Prepare for fame!”
The audience is on their feet.
Damion shoves the barrel over the edge.
(Split screen)
The barrel tumbles down the falls, disappearing into the fast-moving water.
The audience holds its breath.
(Cut to spy camera)
Inside the barrel, the Texans are shrieking. Their heads and arms and legs collide. Chunks of puke pour across Tammy’s sickening face, who’s calling Tex every name in the book, and it’s a big book. Meanwhile, Tex is like a frog in a blender. His face is green, his nose is broken; blood is leaking from every orifice.
There’s a loud crash as the barrel plunders underwater.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The barrel resurfaces, traveling dangerously downstream.
The audience is back on their feet, fist-pumping.
(Split screen)
What troubles me is how the pedestrians and tourists, crowding the streets, remain oblivious. To them, this is nothing out of the ordinary. Nobody watches, or even takes a pic. I’m starting to suspect foul play. Somehow, Damion is controlling this. He’s using dark magic. A spell. Maybe none of this is real. Except of course, it is real.
(Cut to camera one)
I’m trembling.
“What a jump!” my voice ricochets off the studio walls. “They’ll be famous in no time!”
The audience chants:
“FAMOUS…. FAMOUS…. FAMOUS….”
(Closeup of the Devil)
“Yes, yes. An excellent jump, I must say.”
He peaks over the edge.
“Looks like they could use some help.”
(Cut to overhead camera)
Damion flies towards the barrel, which is bouncing off rocks and debris.
(Cut to spy camera)
Blood. So much blood in such a tight space. Tammy’s hair is in disarray. Her face is beyond repair. Tex swallowed his hat. One of his eyeballs is bouncing like a Superball. His left arm is flapping nonsensically. It isn’t attached.
(Cut to camera four)
The Devil scoops up the barrel, then flies to shore. When his feet touch the ground, he shakes off the water, cat-like, then glares at the camera.
“What a jump!”
He cranks open the lip.
(Split screen)
Tammy spills out. So does Tex’s left arm.
The audience gasps.
Damion applauds.
“Such valor and swagger!”
(Cut to camera five)
Tammy is flopping fish-like, barely clinging to life. Her mouth is full of blood and brains.
The Devil puts his foot on her head.
“SAY CHEESE.”
From out of nowhere, a photographer appears.
SNAP.
Damion, looking pleased with himself, is suddenly holding a newspaper.
(Closeup of newspaper)
The headline splashes across the screen: IDIOTS JUMP THE FALLS.
(Cut to camera four)
Damion shoves the newspaper in front of her face.
“Looks like Tammy and Tex are famous.”
Tammy's eyes twitch. Clearly, she needs medical assistance. I’m surprised she’s still alive. Her husbands brains are splattered across the inside of the barrel. The very sight of this makes me gag.
Tammy tries to speak, but fails. Her eyes are filled with rage.
Damion tosses the leftover arm into the water, then shrugs.
“Sorry about your hubby.”
(Cut to camera two)
With wobbly knees, I face the audience.
“Looks like the barrel got the best of Tex!”
The audience bellows.
I continue to talk involuntarily.
“Gosh dolly. Look at all that blood!”
“MORE BLOOD…. MORE BLOOD…. MORE BLOOD….”
I find myself chanting along.
Suddenly, my vision blurs. I clutch my chest. Maybe I’ll suffer a heart attack on live TV. Hell waits for no one, I suppose.
(Cut to camera four)
Tammy spits blood on Damion’s boot.
“Devil be damned.” I blurt.
Damion’s face twists into a ball of fury.
“Now, now, Tammy. That wasn’t very nice.”
He crushes her fingers with his boots.
Tammy yelps.
“I was gonna save your long-limbed partner over there,” he points. “Not anymore!”
The audience is bloodthirsty. Paper airplanes and rotten eggs whizz past me. I duck just in time.
(Closeup of contestant)
Tammy’s tongue is leaking from her bloodied face. She’s missing her front teeth. Damion digs his spiky heel deep into her blood-soaked abdomen.
“I reckon you’ll need medical assistance.”
He snaps his fingers.
Suddenly, they're back in the studio.
Damion is as happy as a filthy pig. Next to him is Tammy, who’s caked in blood and gore. Her corpse-of-a-husband spills from the gigantic steel barrel, taking center stage.
(Cut to overhead camera)
The contestant’s children rush the stage. They’re delirious.
The crew hurry out and drag them aside, along with Tammy, who's rushed to the hospital, where she will certainly die.
“Now that’s what I call speedy service!”
My voice appalls me. So does this job. If only I’d listened to my mother, and got into politics.
Damion snaps his finger, then disappears under a plume of dusty smoke.
(Cut to camera one)
“Well, there you have it folks. That’s the last you’ll see of Tammy and Tex. But fret not, they had their moment of fame…in Hell!”
The audience is tossing trash onto the stage.
I narrowly dodge a projectile.
“Hope you’ve enjoyed Season Two as much as I did.”
I hated it.
“And, unless the Devil strikes me down,” and he very-well might, “I hope to see you this Fall, for Season Three of…”
(Cue the audience)
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.”
Season Two
Season One

I don't really know a sub to post this too because it makes no sense so here goes.
I've always had alien/UFO dreams ever since I was very little, usually dreams are weird and unpredictable I get that, but one the of the most recent dreams I've had left me a bit paranoid and didn't leave me with much of anything to interpret.
So it's like a night like any other and I'm sleeping (boring I'm sorry) but a few hours in I feel myself being half asleep laying on my side and I feel like something touching my back. Creeped out and also tired/curious what it was I roll over to see whats happening, and looking back at me I'm face to face with a grey alien. I'm petrified at the sight of this. realizing I'm looking at it, it lets out this screeching scream (like a mix between ringing in your ears and a high pitched mechanical scream) all while it kinda vibrates from the noise. This all happened in about 3secs.
The best depiction I can give of this alien is just a standard grey alien, with the deepest black eyes, even though it's making this noise it doesn't look or feel like it really had a mouth. But my bed is about 2 feet off the ground and all I saw on this thing was it's head peaking at me.
After quickly experiencing this I woke up and it was gone and everything was fine like it was from a dream. I woke up in the same position I saw the thing, everything in the room was the same feeling like from the dream the room lighting was exactly the same (I don't sleep in total darkness because of shit like this.) Its safe to say I didn't go back to sleep that night.
And sure 'it was just a dream' I would agree but I can't tell if I was dreaming. The only way I know I was dreaming is because I woke up. And I've never had a vivid dream that lasted 5 seconds at best??
Like I said Ive had alien dreams my whole life some good mostly terrifying and to this day I'm deathly afraid of the sight of a fictional one, but never NEVER have I seen an aliens face in my dreams (they deliberately try to hide there faces I guess) It's like this dream went wrong like we both fucked up and weren't supposed to see each other.
I don't really know what to do from here it's been about a year since just had normal UFO dreams since then, I'm not looking for anything just needed to post this it creeps me the hell out.

First / Previous / Next
Ava bows dramatically, "Of course, Empress. Anything else while I'm over there? People are starting to worry about you, so I fear that they might just leave you."
I blink. Leave me? Abandon me here and go?
You're Empress now. They fear your power and what you will do. Some people there also fear you giving them orders.
But, it's not like I'd give them a bad order, or something I wouldn't do myself.
Despite what Ava - pardon us - Builder Ava says, a majority of people do not like to be ordered around.
Hmm. This is becoming more than I thought it would be very quickly. If they leave, then there goes our best ship and best way to traverse the gates. Coming in, it didn't look like the ships docked here were moving anytime soon and Ottarn's ship is proving that. We need ships.
"Ava. I have an idea. When you go back to FarReach and see if anyone else - human or K'laxi - is willing to come with you. Don't tell them we want to make them builders, but don't like, deny it either. We're going to need more help here than just the two of us." I see her face fall a little, uh oh. "But uh, you're still the first, and you're still my right hand, you'll hold a special place." That perks her up a little bit.
"We need a ship. I'm worried that FarReach might leave. See if you can get a duplicate of FarReach's printer database. She should have plans in it to make just about anything we need, up to and including a wormhole generator and Stardrive."
Ava gasps. "we're going to make our own ship? But, we don't know any AIs."
I nod. "We will have Builders though. If they can become starbases, I bet they can become starships. Plus, Venus doesn't use them, so I know it's possible."
At the mention of Venus, Ava raises her eyebrows. "You're not thinking of reaching out to Venus are you?"
I try and make a noncommittal gesture. "Well, they are the official government in the inner Sol system. And they are experts in doing things without AI help."
Ava is firm. "They're assholes Melody. They treat everyone not from Venus with no respect. They don't even think AIs are people."
Ugh, she's right. We can't reach out and contact Venus. If we did, we'd be seen by everyone else in human space as throwing our lot in with them.
Okay, we'll do it on our own. People over here have been in space for a long time, they know how to make starships.
Yes, but why are their engines so weak? Why did they never learn how to use a wormhole generator? They're ossified. They have no flexibility.
Well then, it's time for us to do some stretching exercises and see if we can get some flexibility back in place over here.
"Ava thank you, you're right. No Venus. We'll do it on our own." Ava beams at the compliment. "They must have a printer here. So we'll see if FarReach will let us duplicate their database and we'll build our own ship. We'll start small, a Frigate or something, no need to go nuts and make a Starjumper or Dreadnought right off the bat."
Ava smiles. "Wonderful. I think that's the right plan. I'll head over to FarReach, get your coffee, see if anyone else wants to join us and grab a copy of the database. Back in a few!" She reaches up and kisses me on the cheek before she leaves. My hand reaches up to touch the spot as I watch her leave. What was that?
She understands what it means to be the right hand to an Empress.
What it means to be an Empress? I look around the throne at all the empty seats in the gallery, the empty floor far below me, the wall blocking me off from the rest of the Reach. This will not do. If I am to really be Empress, I cannot rule from the rear. Where nobody sees me. I need to be... visible.
I stare at the huge, closed off opening to the Throne, and the paltry doorway I made just an hour ago. That won't do. Nobody can see me, can worship me from such a tiny door. I concentrate and think how it's supposed to look.
Grey fog boils and flows across the floor from behind me and down the stairs, flowing towards the wall. Making a change this large is tiring, but on the Throne I feel like anything is possible. More and more fog appears and climbs the wall at the far end of the room, and starting from the top, the wall starts to disappear. Working on a atomic level, the Nanites are disassembling the wall, turning some of the matter into more Nanites, and the rest becoming dust.
About halfway through the opening of the wall, I can hear a commotion outside. It's probably surprise at such a large wall being taken down without any heavy machinery. I guess it could also be people worried about the blast of fresh air and the improved environmental settings I just activated. I hope the vendors in front of the wall are able to move out of the way without being injured. I have already decided that if they lose any equipment I'll reimburse them personally. Nobody should be punished for me making sure that I am more visible.
Nobody who doesn't deserve it, at least.
I mentally roll my eyes as I can feel the Nanites nodding sagely.
As the wall comes down, I begin to see it. A crowd has formed outside the wall, and... yes I can hear the same singing I heard the first time. This must be The Smell of Soil after Rain's work.
The wall fades entirely, and I'm able to look down the Promenade of the Starbase. It really is an excellent view. I'm able to look all the way down to the administrative offices and over to the docks. As people come streaming in, they're still singing. I raise the lights in the Throne brighter and illuminate everything just to the point of being painful. They're not the only ones who can put on a show.
Rain's congregation barely fills out the entrance, let alone the lower galleries, but as they come in, more people from around the Starbase follow.
Everyone likes a show.
I decide to play it up. I've heard it enough that I know the basic beats of the song. As it reaches its crescendo, I stand and spread my wings wide.
The crowd erupts.
"People of Reach of the Might of Vzzx! After too long, your Builder, your Empress has returned! I am Empress Melody Mullen the First and I am here to help you become who you are meant to be. Who we are meant to be. No more will we cower in our starbase in our single system. We were an empire once, and will be again!"
They're chanting my name now. I have to admit, this is pretty great. I cast my gaze down and see Rain watching the speech. I wonder how I'm able to pick out individual people in the crowd so easily now?
"The Smell of Soil After Rain! Approach me!"
Bounding up the stairs, Rain is practically floating. They are rapturous. As they near me, they get down on their knees and bows, their head touching the floor.
Everyone in the crowd behind them follows.
"Rise."
He stands, practically vibrating with anticipation. There must be come kind of tech in the room. I don't need to shout, but the sound still has a nice, regal echo about it. "The Smell of Soil After Rain. You were the first. The first to recognize what I was, the first to see me for what I truly am. For that, you shall be rewarded." I reach a hand out and touch their shoulder. The crowd gasps as the white vestments turn royal blue.
"You are now Bishop for Reach of the Might of Vzzx. You will be the head of all the congregations here and you shall be responsible for making sure that I am worshipped correctly. Your first act is to call all the congregations here. We shall meet tomorrow to begin my reign properly. I will declare a celebration and will hear the pleas of my people. Let them know that should they so desire, they may petition me."
He turns and faces the crowd. I incline my head gently towards him, and in response, the crowd kneels to him. Clearly, his head is swimming. "Rise my flock!" He says to the gathered crowds. "The Empress has given us an order. Come, let us go spread the word so that tomorrow we can finally have our prayers answered."
Cheers and more singing. erupts from the crowd. In the time it took me to give my little speech and elevate Rain, the crowd doubled in size.
Rain turns back to me, and I lean in close to them and whisper. "Prove to me you're worthy of this elevation. Do not fail."
Their head jerks back, and their feathers ripple in surprise. Eyes wide, they nod, and swallow. I have taken all their joy of the elevation and turned it to fear.
Like I said, Great Empresses are feared and loved in equal measure.
I gently send him down the stairs, and before he reaches the bottom, his congregation picks him up and carries him on their shoulders out of the room. Presentation over, the crowd begins to leave.
I stand up. You wouldn't know it from looking at it but the Throne is surprisingly comfortable. Still, I was sitting quite a while. Ava hasn't returned either, so I don't really know what to do. I guess I should head back to FarReach and see what's going on.
I don't particularly want to be mobbed while I make it back to the dock, so I turn the crown and wings off. Huh, I am getting better at affecting the world around me.
I walk down the side of the stairs so it's not completely obvious, and I leave the throne room and walk towards FarReach. As I go, I hear Rain's congregation rush around, spreading the word. Some people are amused and tolerant, some tell them to leave and stop bothering them, and others are surprised and excited.
As I approach the dock, I see Ava. She's running towards me with a worried look on her face. Behind her, Omar and Um'reli are following behind looking confused and worried as well.
And she has my rifle on her back.
Ava sees me and waves "Melody! There's a problem!" I rush up to them. "What's wrong Ava? Hello Omar and Um'reli, why are you here?"
"That's just it Melody. FarReach declared Captain Q'ari unfit. She has assumed command of the mission and has stated that they're going home! She's disconnected from the umbilical and left!
What.
"What? Unfit? How come?"
Omar answers this time. "So, have you noticed how whenever anyone is around you, they are awfully chill about how you're now a God Empress who can not be disobeyed if you use your new creepy voice?"
My face said it all apparently. No, I hadn't noticed.
Omar nods. "Well, yes, that's what happens. You are giving off some kind of 'don't worry about it' field when around folks, and when you leave, it wears off. Captain Q'ari didn't... take it well. Dr Irenieum locked her in her quarters. Mei'la and Fer'resi also were pushing for us to leave."
"With me?"
Omar gives me a look. "That was not considered. Everyone figured you wouldn't leave. Ava showed up and said she's a Builder now too, and asked all of us if any of us wanted to stay with you and her to help rebuild the empire. She also grabbed your coffee stuff-" Ava holds up a bag, and smiles "-and said you asked for a copy of the printer database?"
"That's right. We're going to need our own starship. The ones that are here aren't very good, given that Mariens - Ottarn - who is trying to run in one that is practically leaving at a walking pace. I wanted a copy of the printer database so we could make our own Starships."
I look at them again. "So, if you're here then... you're in?"
Omar shrugs. "I didn't have anything going for me back home. Spouse died a few years back, we never had kids, I re-enlisted just for something to keep my mind off things. Staying out here is something new and different at least. I've never been this close to a God Empress before. Also, when Ava said you wanted a copy of the printer database I figured you'd need an operator. I bet you can't run a printer and I don't know how well anyone here would do."
I walk over and give him a hug "Oh Omar. You're welcome with us. Always." I kiss him on the lips and he jumps back. "Woah Melody! you're nice and all, but I'm not into most women like that."
I lean back in shock. "Oh no, no, I'm sorry Omar, that's the easiest way I can give people Nanites to make them a builder. I apologize! I should have asked first! I'm so embarrassed."
"It's okay Melody, but next time warn a person."
I look over at Um'reli "What about you? Why do you want to stay? I thought a bunch of K'laxi feared me because of that old religion."
She scoffs. "Not all of us Melody. I'm an atheist, always have been. Most of my familial group is. Ava explained what was going on, and how you had said you didn't want just humans to be Builders-" I glanced over at Ava and she winked "-and thought that you were right. There was no reason that we had to sit by and be a client species if we were being offered a partnership." Um'reli looked at me carefully. "It is a partnership, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, of course. I can't do it on my own, and the K'laxi have been our friends for centuries. I'm not about to say that you are our friends but now you're a client group too. I'm the Empress, but you can be a Builder as well."
Um'reli smiles. "Thanks Melody. So... kissing?"
"Just a quick peck. The Nanites say it's the fastest way to give you some. If you don't want to, we can find out if there's a different way."
"No, no, it's it's fine..." Her fur ripples a blush. "Are you sure Ava won't be jealous?" Um'reli laughs.
I laugh too, but Ava just chuckles politely. I look over and Holy shit, she is jealous. I pretend I didn't notice and bend down and give Um'reli a peck on the mouth.
"Okay, it'll take about a day for the Nanites to grow and reproduce until you have enough to be able to do stuff like me. The language processing comes fastest though, that one should be working at least a little bit in a few hours."
Ava comes forward and hands me my rifle. "I know you didn't ask for it, but... I know how much it means to you."
I can't believe she thought of me enough to bring me this. It's so thoughtful.
"Thank you Ava, it's incredibly thoughtful of you to do that." I go in for a hug, and she turns my face and gives me a kiss too. I shrug mentally and kiss her back.
After, I lean back and ask "How did you get this?"
"Oh While Omar and Um'reli were getting their things I was waiting by the airlock and realized that you still had your rifle in the locker. I touched the panel and it popped open! I grabbed it and then Omar and Um'reli appeared and we left quickly."
I was shocked. Nobody should be able to open those lockers.
Builders can. She probably just thought really hard about being able to please you.
I look at my new team. It's just the four of us, but I'm hopeful that we can do great things.
Omar looks around the dock and then back at me. "So, uh Melody, where do we sleep?"
Shit.
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