Read Chapter 1 Here
Previous Chapter Here
My other SSB story, Writing on the Wall, Here
Buckle in, this is a long one!
*****
"I still can't believe your dad," Ayen huffed as he glared at Elera from his seat next to her. He crossed his arms across his chest and gave his head a little shake, perfectly coiffed hair bouncing in the soft evening light cutting through a nearby window.
"It was pretty hilarious," Marin chimed in. They were staying with her parents at the moment, using it as a sort of neutral ground. Ayen's father, Allis, was in full wedding planner mode and staying there was getting pretty intense. Elera's parents, on the other hand…
"He thought I was some kind of… of…" Ayen's voice dropped to a near whisper, hissing through clenched teeth. "...escort."
"It's not your fault," Elera tried her best to placate the young man. She leaned against him from her spot to his left and wrapped one muscular arm across his shoulders. Despite Ayen's grumpiness he still leaned into her, his head resting against her chest. "I think he just never expected me to actually marry a boy."
"That part was even better." Marin, tall and lanky, stood near the window in their little room, watching the quiet dribbles of rain slip down the glass. It had been a good day, really a good month. Elera's proposal was well received, Ayen was happy, and with Stace on his mission Marin could feel like she actually had some of her husband's attention. It wasn't a particularly attractive or kind thought, but she hadn't quite managed to pull free of the jealousy the Human elicited in her.
"Don't you start," Elera warned with a glare.
"I thought it was kind of sweet!" Marin grinned, watching Elera and Ayen both darken with matching blushes.
The fact that Elera was getting married had come as a surprise to her family. Marin had the impression that Elera was pretty bad at actually communicating with her parents, and it had been nearly a year since Elera’s time in the frozen north. The Heleum clan was large and Elera was seen as being a self-sufficient adult who didn't need much looking after. She also had a bit of a reputation as a partier, so when Elera showed up with Ayen and Marin in tow to announce her engagement, Elera's father had made some assumptions.
Specifically, he had assumed that Elera was marrying Marin and that Ayen was an "entertainer" the pair hired to celebrate.
It made a sort of sense, considering how open Elera was about the time she spent with other girls. At some point, her father just assumed that she had no interest in guys at all. Convincing him that Elera was, in fact, marrying Ayen and that Marin was first wife took some doing. And now, three weeks later, Ayen was still grumbling about it.
Still, it all worked out.
"Think of it this way," Marin added as way of conciliation. "After that whole fiasco, you pretty much have Elera's family wrapped around your finger. They didn't even complain when you suggested a Human-style wedding."
"...as long as we have it here on Shil." Ayen sighed. "Which makes sense, I guess. We can't afford to fly everyone out even if Sam said we can use the Observatory for free."
"I bet if we asked Jel'si she would let us use that cliffside villa the Sams are staying at." Elera turned to look at Ayen as she spoke and Marin tried to hold in a sigh. Her husband's boyfriend's girlfriend was a nice enough person, and having the resources of a Noble House in the family was great, but thinking of Jel'si just made Marin think of Stace again.
There had to be some way for her to get past this funk. The strange Human was part of the family at least as much as the Sams were, and Marin wasn't about to give them up. Spending more time socializing had helped, but now that he was off on his mission and it was clear how much Ayen and Elera missed him, all of Marin's anxiety was flooding back.
Still, she had to be responsible. Their strange and ever-growing family needed to iron out any wrinkles and-
"Marin, dear?" The voice came from the side door and Marin turned to see Mevis, her father, quietly rapping at the door frame to get her attention. The room went silent as Ayen and Elera paused their conversation and glanced towards the doorway. The large, somewhat heavy set woman standing behind him was recognizable but entirely unexpected.
"You have a visitor.”
It took Marin a moment to recall the last time she had seen Colonel Et’tai. It was just after the first attack on the observatory; Marin had been a mess of nerves, having just repelled an invasion of Humans intending to kill her husband and new lovers. That she had to clarify to herself that it was the “first'' attack only made the memory sting more.
That said, it was hard to focus on the Colonel. Just like everyone else, her attention was drawn to the briefcase chained to the large woman’s wrist. The Colonel had the perfect posture of career military, but even then the case, a glossy blue rectangle of painted metal, unadorned aside from the seal of the Empress wrought in gold, seemed to have its own gravity.
“I need to speak with Lieutenants Elera and Marin,” she said brusquely. The Colonel’s voice was rough, her face lined with age and a grimace of displeasure. She turned towards where Ayen stood, his eyes fixed on that same case, and her expression softened. “Alone, please. I promise to give them back to you in one piece.”
Ayen started, then nodded. He stepped away as fast as he could without breaking into a run, tucking an arm around Marin’s father and pulling him from the doorway as he slipped past. Marin really couldn’t blame him.
After all, who wanted to share a room with a bomb?
Maximum security cases like the one Colonel Et’tai had strapped to her wrist played prominently in movies, tv shows, video games, really any media where you needed some sort of object to push the story along. What did Sam always call them? A macmuffin? Something like that. The cases were made to only be opened by one particular citizen of the Empire, and if the biometric lock detected the wrong person trying to open it the entire case would detonate, destroying the contents and, depending on the media it was being portrayed in, the entire room, building, or starship around it. Marin had never actually seen one in person.
“May I ask what this is about, ma’am?” Elera’s words helped pull Marin out of her distraction, and she watched as the Colonel stepped to a sideboard cabinet under a window..
“You can ask, but I can’t answer,” Colonel Et’tai replied with a grunt. “Four days ago, I was on Earth doing my job. Then I get a summons back to Shil, a boombox gets strapped to my wrist, and I’m told to meet the two of you.” The Colonel tapped at the case with a fingertip, smirking slightly as Marin and Elera both flinched. “I’m supposed to open it with the two of you present, then follow the directions.”
Colonel Et’tai carefully pushed the various curios and knickknacks decorating the sideboard out of the way, then placed the box onto the cleared surface. Marin found herself frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch as the old soldier pressed a finger to the golden seal in the center of the lid. The crest hinged open with a little click, revealing the dark glass of a camera and a hole just large enough to insert a finger.
“I hate this part,” the Colonel mumbled to herself. Marin tried to keep her distance, but to her chagrin she wasn’t going to be able to. Elera’s rough, strong hand reached out and took hers, dragging Marin closer just as Et’tai inserted her finger into the hole.
“Colonel Liretta Et’tai, nine-seven-twenty-three-six-fourteen-twelve-vector.” As the last word left her mouth, the case made a small ‘snick’ and Et’tai flinched. After a moment that felt like an eternity, a moment when Marin was sure she was about to die, the case made a much louder click and the lid popped open with a hiss of released pressure.
Relief flooded Marin’s body as the threat of imminent death faded. She squeezed Elera’s hand, then released it so she could rub the sweat from her brow. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
“Oh, fuck me,” Elera whispered, and Marin’s eyes flew back open. The Colonel had begun unpacking the case, and now where there had been only one bomb sitting on the sideboard there were now three. The two new ones were barely large enough to hold more than a few sheets of paper, but they had the same crest and very likely the same security system. The Colonel seemed to be ignoring the boxes, instead reading a piece of paper. Her face was a mix of concern and growing amusement. Finally, she stopped and placed the paper back in the case, removing instead two small boxes made of dark wood.
“Attention!” The word wasn’t loud, but it was direct and Marin felt her back slam straight out of sheer instinct. Next to her, Elera did the same. Neither was in uniform, but that only added to the surreal oddness of the situation. Marin wondered idly if she was dreaming.
“I don’t know what sort of shit you two have gotten yourselves involved in, but it’s not my job to question the wisdom of the Empress, only to serve Her to the best of my ability.” She reached out and handed Marin one of the wooden boxes, Elera the other.
“By order of Empress Tasoo of the Shil’vati Empire, it is my distinct pleasure to promote Elera Heleum and Marin Elbruk to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, effective immediately.” The Colonel gestured and Marin, feeling as if she was sleep walking, popped the lid from the wood box. Laying in a little nest of velvet was her new insignia. Marin didn’t know what to say. She just stood there, staring down at the evidence of a promotion she hadn’t earned. She almost missed the Colonel’s next words.
“Enjoy your retirement.”
Now Marin was sure she was dreaming. She glanced over at Elera, who looked mildly concussed. The moment dragged on, Colonel Et’tai standing in front of the pair, seeming to delight in how awkward the whole situation was for the two other Marines. After another moment of watching the pair, Et’tai turned back to the counter and returned with the pair of smaller cases. She glanced at each one, then held them out.
Marin took the case in a trembling hand, awkwardly tucking the simple wooden box with its Lieutenant Colonel insignia into her pocket. Her name was embossed onto the security case, just below the Imperial Seal. She glanced at Elera, who tried to grin. The smile didn’t reach her eyes, where panic lurked.
“As fun as this is to watch, we don’t have all day, girls. I have an orbital to catch if I want to get back to Earth sometime in the next month.”
After a quick swallow and a deep breath, Marin pressed down on the crest. It popped open with a little click, revealing a camera lens and a finger-sized hole. Biometric test one passed. The inside of the hole felt cool as she slipped a finger in.
“Lieu… Lieutenant Colonel Marin Elbruk, Nineteen-thirty-seven-two-sixteen-one-one-eleven-tangent,” she whispered out. Her ID code was punctuated by a snapping sound and a burst of pain as the little box sank a needle into her finger, far deeper than she expected. Marin let out a little whimper as the needle withdrew, releasing her.
“Fuck that hurt,” grumped Elera. She had finished her own biometric test and was shaking out her hand, apparently not noticing that she was flicking blood onto the floor. Marin was about to reach out and stop her soon to be co-wife but her attention was drawn back to the box by the hiss of released pressure. She unfolded the lid and looked inside.
After all the pomp and ceremony, a few pieces of paper might have been underwhelming. Then again, any Shil’vati could recognize an Imperial Writ.
By order of the Empress,
Lieutenant Colonel Marin Elbruk is called upon to fulfill her obligation as a loyal subject of the Shil’vati Imperium and member of the Armed Forces. She is tasked by the Empress Herself to attend to the following duties:
Protect the persons known as Sammi Painter-Forsythe and Samuel Forsythe-Painter from all enemies of the Imperium, foreign and domestic, even at the cost of her own life.
Ensure the safety and security of the Painter Research Institute and its research even at the cost of her own life. If safety and security is untenable, she is tasked to destroy the Painter Research Institute, its data, and its employees as necessary to prevent their acquisition by enemies of the Imperium.
Prevent any knowledge of the planet Nix, its system, or its people from spreading outside of the Painter Research Institute and the Lone Caribou Survival Company.
This writ supersedes and countermands any orders that run contrary to the abovementioned duties. Its duration is indefinite, and failure to adhere to this Writ is to be met with summary execution.
Marin’s eyes continued to drift down, past the text, past the heavy gilt of the Imperial Seal. Her mind was reeling at the implications, but before she could focus on what she had read she noticed a small, handwritten note. In contrast to the plain text of the document’s body, this was an elegant scrawl.
Don’t fuck this up.
With fingers that felt wooden, Marin pulled the writ forward to flip through the papers behind it. They were far more plain, detailing Marin’s promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, effective three days ago, and her retirement at full pay and benefits, effective today.
She flipped back to the Writ, read it again, then looked at the other paperwork. She felt too stunned, too panicked to actually make the connections. When Colonel Et’tai started speaking again, it came as a relief.
—-
“Before either of you start yammering,” the aged soldier remarked, “I need to make it clear that I am NOT privy to whatever your assignments say. I get the feeling I would be better off not knowing.” She took a moment to lock eyes with each of the women in front of her. Neither one of them looked like they would be up to conversing much.
Liretta Et’tai had spent her entire trip to Shil worried that she had somehow monumentally fucked something up. Was she going to be the sacrifice to the Goddess of Blame for everything that had happened on the “North American” continent? Fear had turned into confusion and guilt when the boombox had been strapped to her wrist and she was sent to find the two Lieutenants in charge of the Painter Research Institute’s security.
Vivid, increasingly unlikely predictions rattled around in her head during the auto-cab ride to the house. The security case would detonate, killing the three of them as soon as Et’tai opened it. She would open it, and it would contain a pistol and orders to kill the two Lieutenants. Or the Lieutenants and their families.
What she had found had been enough of a relief that she was able to roll with the strangeness. Now that all three of the soldiers were on the same page (or at least the same chapter), Et’tai could fill them in on her side of things.
“My orders are simple: If you two get into a crisis and need immediate support with…” She gestured at the two thin boxes in the girls’ hands. “...that, I am to provide it. Maximum force, up to and including an orbital strike. You’ve both been retired at full LC benefits so you can focus on your Writ and not have to worry about providing for your families. Nobody else can order you around, and if you show off your papers it will at least sow enough confusion to buy you some time while I start dropping help from orbit.” At that, Et’tai found herself smirking. Who would believe these two young women who were little better than rank-and-file a year ago were now Lieutenant Colonels?
“Oh, congratulations on the engagement, by the way.” Et’tai paused to collect a slightly slack and confused fist bump from Elera, then another from Marin. When neither of the women had anything else to say, Liretta shrugged, packed up her case, and left.
—
Unpacked, it wasn’t at all what Paitl expected. A glossy black panel as smooth as still water, half a meter wide and a third tall, perched on a post of silver metal. The base was H shaped, designed to prevent the device from tipping if someone accidentally bumped into it or caught it with a tail.
Paitl sat on his little stool in front of the device. Unpacking the case had been a simple thing, and the glossy black panels that formed the inside of the box now lay flat in the sun. A thick, strangely intestinal-feeling hose connected the outdoor component to the panel. Paitl-Tesh had carefully cut a notch in the cave door for the ‘power cable’ to fit through, stuffing the gaps with bits of cloth while Paitl-Cet assembled the rest of it under Paitl’s instruction.
The other Fathers of the colony grumbled about Paitl being the one in charge, but there wasn’t much to be done about it. It was Paitl’s find, after all. He suspected that much of the complaining had less to do with Paitl being the one in the lead and more to do with him snatching up Paitl-Cet. Apparently he wasn’t the only one looking at her.
On Paitl’s lap sat a book. The paper was white, so clean and bright that it almost hurt to look at and so smooth that it clung to the grip pads on Paitl’s fingers in an unnatural and disconcerting way. It contained over a hundred pages of large print and diagrams, written in simple language. Instructions that he had taken the time to memorize while the rest of Paitl worked.
It was time.
Thirteen of the People surrounded Paitl and the device. Paitl-Tesh and Paitl-Cet flanked him, with three other Fathers and their nests crowding the space behind. As he raised a hand and reached out for the device, silence descended into the hall.
Paitl’s finger found the oddly raised, green colored ridge on the right side of the device and pushed. The ridge snapped down with a dull clunk, tilting so a new section raised in its place. The entire green section began to glow.
That single unnatural green light would have been disconcerting enough, but it was only a precursor. The entire front of the device, the water-smooth panel, lit up. The reflective glass was suddenly gone, perspective shifting.
Paitl wasn’t looking at glass, he was looking through a hole in the world, like looking into a box tipped on its side. The audience gasped as a white dot appeared, swelling larger and larger until the dot became a ball, then a globe. It hovered inside the device, the size of an almost-hatched father-egg. A ball of white and brown, wearing an uneven belt of blue.
His world, as seen from farther away than any of the People had ever been.
Paitl reached out, hand splayed to touch the orb, but his fingertips dully thunked against the glass. On the screen, the image of Nix began to spin slowly.
Only an illusion.
Paitl opened the book on his lap to the section explaining the gestures he could use to control the device. Or, as the book called them, “movements of the hands and fingers that cause actions.” The whole manual was written like that, never using one technical word when a bunch of simpler ones could work. With the fat pad of his finger, Paitl tapped a symbol in the corner of the display. It was a simple green cross with a smaller circle inside it.
As soon as his finger hit the symbol, the ball spun. Nix grew huge, speeding towards Paitl at a frightening pace. He was suddenly falling from a great height towards the frozen earth. He flinched backwards, pulling his finger away while yelping out in pain. The grip pad of his digit felt aflame and he began to shake his hand even as the flare of panic set off a fit of racking coughs.
With his hands and feet freshly cleaned, Paitl could easily climb up any of the walls in the cave his colony called home, wet or dry. The grip pads and their incredibly fine layers of setae let the People cling to nearly any surface with little more than a thought. The surface of this alien machine, however, was far smoother than any cave wall. In his surprised motion, Paitl had nearly managed to rip his grip pad off.
He would have to be more careful, using the less grippy tips of his fingers and peeling them free from the screen instead of just yanking like that. At least he hadn’t tipped over the device.
“Look,” Paitl-Cet remarked, pointing at the screen. “It’s us.”
The strange display was showing an image now, their home as seen from high above. He could recognize the curves of the coast line, the ruins that were once sea-side buildings long since destroyed by storm.
“It’s a thing of the past,” one of the other Fathers commented. A thin, nearly skeletal hand reached past Paitl to point. “We already cut those trees for burning.”
Paitl swung an eye sideways to look at the unnervingly thin Father, Asep, while the other watched the screen. Taking care to only use the very tips of his fingers, Paitl made the “motion to cause larger size” and the image loomed closer. The “motion to cause an area to be most visible” centered the spot in the center of the display.
There was a pile of four logs there, dragged from the dead forest. Those same four logs were now inside the caves, chopped into smaller pieces to keep them warm.
“When did Asep finish that task? We may be able to determine when this was made.” As Paitl watched, attention divided, Asep asked his nest. While he would have no direct knowledge, Paitl figured his nestmates must know. It only took a few moments to get a response.
“Asep-Nak says the last log was chopped four days ago. Asep-Tel believes they were down to four logs six days ago, perhaps seven.” Asep’s eyes, a kaledoscopic mix of blues and greens, swept to both sides to indicate the room. “It is the best they can tell us.”
Paitl smiled. “Your nest should be commended for remembering something so small. Asep’s reputation for studiousness is well-earned.” It was perhaps a bit of a platitude, and Asep knew it, but the males both knew how important it was to keep their nest mates happy. The girls of Asep visibly preened at the compliment. It took some of the sting out of not being the ones to find the treasure.
Carefully, Paitl played with the gestures in the book, manipulating the spinning globe that seemed to float in the air. He quickly found a dot that looked to be exactly where Paitl (or perhaps the device) was standing. It was marked in blue text as:
Receiver 7 - (0.2S,132.4E)
While Paitl-Tesh ran to the colony's library to find an atlas, Paitl found the section in the book that explained the numbers. They indicated latitude and longitude using a system that was slightly different than what the people of Nix had always used. Apparently the designers of this device only used one hundred and eighty major deviations. Converting it in his head was easy enough.
Spinning the ball around with increasing confidence, Paitl found at least a dozen other receivers marked on the sphere of Nix. They formed a belt around the equator, and referencing the ancient atlas Paitl-Tesh brought showed that many, like his own settlement, were near where small coastal towns once stood.
“What’s that?”
Paitl swung an eye up from the atlas and towards the display, his other looking for the speaker. A rather young woman stood there, her head crest still flat but twitching nervously. Paitl did not know her name, but the notches along the underside of her left ear marked her as recently brought into Tineh. Tineh himself was resting in his nest, his health increasingly poor as of late.
What the woman had noticed was a new blip, its latitude up in the 40s. Receiver 4’s text was blinking a dull red. Paitl reached for it, meaning to zoom in, but his first control finger tapped the words and a large, dark box suddenly appeared to block out the white orb of the planet.
CONNECTING…
After a moment, the text was gone and Paitl found himself looking somewhere else.
The five women peering through the screen were haggard, their skin rough and broken with weeping sores. They seemed just as surprised as Paitl was, stretching to full height and flaring their head crests in panic.
Paitl gasped as he was pulled backwards, stool and all. Paitl-Tesh and Paitl-Cet interposed themselves between him and the women, hissing and raising their own crests in challenge. He wanted to say something, to calm everyone down, but the sudden surprise had induced another coughing fit. He could do nothing.
“There shall be no violence here.” Asep’s voice cut through the panic, and tensions immediately began to ease. A quick eye flick toward Paitl conveyed concern and comfort; he would aid while Paitl tried to get his breathing under control.
More words were exchanged, but Paitl couldn’t make them out. His world was swimming, motes of light filling his vision even as blood seeped from between his teeth. Paitl-Cet brought him water to drink and a fresh handkerchief to wipe his face while Paitl-Tesh continued to interpose herself between him and any potential danger.
By the time his breathing was under control, Paitl did not have much strength left to continue his work. He received a quick summary from Aesp; the women were the only survivors of a nest living in volcanic caves far to the north. Their last Father had died months ago, and until their box had fallen from the sky they had assumed none of the People lived but them. Seeing multiple new Fathers appear in their midst had been a shock.
The other Fathers had a suggestion for Paitl, one he agreed to wholeheartedly. Even if the device was rightfully Paitl’s, it was too important to be left to just one nest. Instead, they would create a roster and ensure that at least one Father (or, at the least, an older juvenile male) would be near the “Receiver” at all times. The instruction manual would be shared and read by all.
As Paitl-Tesh carried Paitl back to their nest, he noticed the odd change in the air. Everyone was louder, more boisterous. He even saw a few glimpses of frill peeking out on the necks of the younger Fathers.
For the first time that Paitl could remember, there was hope.
*****
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This is a fanfic that takes place in the “Between Worlds” universe (aka Sexy Space Babes), created and owned by u/BlueFishcake. No ownership of the settings or core concepts is expressed or implied by myself.
This is for fun. Can’t you just have fun?

SO. I have had really bad luck buying organic soil & compost & ending up with buggy soil once we use it & it gets wet. Lots of issues with soil mites (i know they are not all bad but they sure multiply quickly and i don’t like the crawling soil) as well as fungus gnats & fruit flies. We also have a lot of mayflies in our area. I started pasteurizing both prior to using for potted plants and //small// raised beds / larger plant containers (pasteurizing specifically for seedlings too cause I’ve had issues w blight). Recently I used the boiling water method and had some issues…
I’ve used a stock pot & mason jars on the stove before and covered to steam (while checking temp periodically) but my biggest issue there is 1.) I don’t have anything to hold the jars so if they aren’t quite fitting together tight enough they float and are difficult to deal with and 2.) even using larger pickle jars I can only do so much at a time.
The other method I’ve done is using a pillowcase / cotton bag for the soil/compost, heating water to a certain temp & pouring it into a container over the bagged soil/compost. Then I cover it with foil and let it cool down from there. This method worked really well for coco coir because it was light and easy to dry / squeeze water out of. I did NOT like this method for the compost - it was sooo stinky & so gross to squeeze water out of even with gloves & it still in its pillowcase. Also, the water is super dark and smelly so I can’t just pour it in the yard. The compost did not smell when I did it slightly damp in jars on the stove. I now have grody dark compost (cow 💩) water that I need to dump somewhere and I still have wet compost that needs to dry. I’m concerned about laying it on trays like I do with soil/coco coir because the smell is totally going to attract bugs - and those guys laying eggs in my pasteurized compost is the exact opposite of what I want.
Any suggestions on a better way to do this with the compost? I don’t have the $$ to get a pressure cooker or anything extra special for it. I just need to figure out how to do this easier. At the moment I bought cheap $1-3in deep tin baking trays with clear plastic lids - thought maybe if I poke holes in the lid & get the compost in the sun, the holes will help the moisture escape without letting all the flyers back in to lay eggs. I can’t keep hand squeezing poo water out of compost 😭 also super gross but for the dark water that I now have sitting in a bucket - do I just dump it somewhere or is it good for use diluted in water..??? It might reek too much for me to deal with but figured I’d ask about that too.
Would love some suggestions 🥴 💩🌱

On November 22 to 25 of 2007, there was a Thanksgiving event called "Superstuffed Nicktoons Weekend" and throughout this event plays the "Top 100 Greatest Moments in Nicktoons History" which is also when fans vote for your favorite NickToon moments to be included as part of the said moments by going to TurboNick.com. Then, during Thanksgiving weekend on Nickelodeon, 25 of the voters’ picks on-air each day during the long weekend from 6 AM to 7 PM. Fans can pick from a variety of moments from the very first NickToons (Ren & Stimpy, Doug, and Rugrats) up to the current ones (Back at the Barnyard, Tak, etc.). So far, moments 100-95 and a montage of moments 79-55 are released.
Here are the all the (updated) 100 moments in the following episodes from the shows with their descriptions below:
November 22, 2007 (100-80):

1. The Wild Thornberrys - "Forget Me Not" (a montage of Eliza and Rebecca bonding)
   
2. The Wild Thornberrys - "Flight of the Donnie" (Eliza and Darwin find Donnie abducted by a condor)
   
3. The Wild Thornberrys - "Cheetahs Never Prosper" (Eliza, Darwin, and Tano hang on a tree while the rain arrives)
   
4. As Told By Ginger - "Gym Class Confidential" (Ginger and her friends see the puberty movie, as well as the others' reactions)
   
5. Ren & Stimpy - "Son of Stimpy" (Stimpy reuniting with his lost fart Stinky)
   
6. As Told By Ginger - "Stealing First" (Ginger attempting to kiss Jean-Pierre, only to fall off the chairlift and ski down the hill)
   
7. The X's - "A Truman Scorned" (Truman meeting Kimla?)
   
8. Rugrats - "Chuckie vs. the Potty" (Chuckie's dream where he gets flushed down the chair by Angelica)
   
9. ChalkZone - "Pumpkin Love" (Rudy and Snap escaping Jacko)
   
10. El Tigre - "Night of the Living Guacamole" (Guacamole monsters arrive?)
    
11. El Tigre - "Zebra Donkey" (Manny, Frida, and Zebra Donkey doing various activities)
    
12. Hey Arnold! - "Helga Blabs It All" (Helga using the dentist's phone to leave a love message for Arnold)
    
13. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Normal Boy" (Jimmy being "loopy"?)
    
14. The X's - "Three Days of the Coin Op" (The battle in the laundromat)
    
15. My Life as a Teenage Robot - "Killgore)" (Jenny fighting Killgore?)
    
16. Rocko's Modern Life - "Clean Lovin'" (A montage of Spunky and the mop)
    
17. Ren & Stimpy - "Space Madness" (Ren and Stimpy having a bath in the ship)
    
18. The X's - "Mock Tutors" (The cooking/tennis battle?)
    
19. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Monster Hunt" (Jimmy, Carl, and Sheen fighting off the monstrous turtle)
    
20. All Grown Up - "Lucky 13" (Angelica confessing to Susie when her Birthday party guests arrive)
    
21. The Fairly OddParents - "Chin Up!" (Timmy becoming Cleft the Boy Chin Wonder)
    

November 23, 2007 (79-55):

1. Back at the Barnyard - "Cow's Best Friend" (Duke becoming loyal to Otis)
   
2. Ren & Stimpy - "Stimpy's Invention" (Happy Happy Joy Joy song)
   
3. Ren & Stimpy - "The Log Song"
   
4. The Angry Beavers - "Beach Beavers A Go-Go" (Daggett fighting off crabs in the beach)
   
5. Hey Arnold! - "Full Moon" (Sid, Stinky, and Harold mooning Principal Wartz)
   
6. Doug - "Doug Can't Dance" (The "flub hop" is created and everyone dances to it)
   
7. The Angry Beavers - "Muscular Beaver)" (Norbert becoming "Baron Bad Beaver")
   
8. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Sheen's Brain" (Sheen becoming Retroville's conqueror)
   
9. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "The N-Men" (Jimmy's friends testing their newfound powers)
   
10. Rugrats - "Susie vs. Angelica" (Susie and Angelica race)
    
11. Tak and the Power of Juju - "Woodiefest" (Lok being chased by Woodies)
    
12. Rocket Power - "Cinco de Twisto" (Twister's fantasy sequence of him singing a Spanish song)
    
13. Rocko's Modern Life - "Wallaby on Wheels" (Rocko struggling to skate in the roller rink)
    
14. El Tigre - "The Mustache Kid" (Manny finally getting his mustache)
    
15. El Tigre - "Miracle City Undercover" (Manny being cornered by the Moustache Mafia and they have him fit in)
    
16. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Beach Party Mummy" (Libby having three mummies "obey" her)
    
17. Invader ZIM - "Attack of the Saucer Morons" (Zim and GIR riding the pig vehicle)
    
18. Rocket Power - "Enter the Hawk Trix" (Otto and Tony Hawk skate in his halfpipe)
    
19. KaBlam! - "Comics for Tomorrow Today!" (Prometheus teaching Bob music)
    
20. The Fairly OddParents - "A Wish Too Far" (Timmy becoming popular)
    
21. Rugrats - "Passover" (Angelica freeing Tommy and Chuckie from the playpen)
    
22. Rugrats - "Naked Tommy" (Tommy deciding to be "nakie"!)
    
23. Catscratch - "A Wooly Adventure" (Mr. Blik hiding the mammoth from angry people)
    
24. Danny Phantom - "Fright Night" (The Fright Knight is released after Danny touched his sword)
    
25. The Fairly OddParents - "Most Wanted Wish" (Timmy's first day as being the "most wanted kid")
    

November 24, 2007 (54-26):

1. Hey Arnold! - "Married!" (The first part of Arnold's nightmare where Helga tricks Arnold into marrying her!)
   
2. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters - "The Switching Hour" (Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm going out trick or treating)
   
3. Rugrats - "Angelica Orders Out" (Angelica being discovered by the adults)
   
4. The Fairly OddParents - "Vicky Loses Her Icky" (Vicky becoming a nicer person)
   
5. My Life as a Teenage Robot - "Party Machine" (Jenny spending time with a party boy)
   
6. Tak and the Power of Juju - "The Beast" (The Repulsive Juju being given a makeover!)
   
7. SpongeBob SquarePants - "UGH" (SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog fighting with fire)
   
8. The Fairly OddParents - "Presto Change-O" (Everyone switching bodies!)
   
9. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Tea at the Treedome" (SpongeBob attempting to survive in Sandy's dome)
   
10. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Pressure" (Spongebob and the gang exploring above the surface)
    
11. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Operation: Rescue Jet Fusion" (Jimmy and Jet Fusion escaping the snowball)
    
12. Catscratch - "Zombie Party a Go-Go!" (Gordon, Waffle, and Mr. Blik finding that their zombie guests are about to get them)
    
13. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Plankton!" (The beginning with Plankton being found by Mr. Krabs)
    
14. The Fairly OddParents - "Chip Off the Old Chip" (Timmy switching voices with Chip Skylark)
    
15. My Life as a Teenage Robot - "Victim of Fashion" (Jenny becoming a model?)
    
16. CatDog - "CatDog's End" (CatDog escaping the ripping pendulum with Randolph still stuck in the table)
    
17. The Fairly OddParents - "Timvisible" (Timmy becoming an invisible person)
    
18. ChalkZone - "The Skrawl" (Skrawl's song)
    
19. Invader ZIM - "The Nightmare Begins" (Zim meeting GIR)
    
20. Rocko's Modern Life - "Ed Good, Rocko Bad" (Ed being elected for dogcatcher)
    
21. Danny Phantom - "Fanning the Flames" (Ember taking power in her concert)
    
22. The Fairly OddParents - "The Boy Who Would Be Queen" (Timmy as a girl bonding with Trixie?)
    
23. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius- "Stranded" (Jimmy and Cindy bonding in their island)
    
24. Rugrats/All Grown Up - "All Growed Up" (Tommy and Angelica sing with Emica)
    
25. KaBlam! - "Your Real Best Friend!" (The Action League going after the Mayor)
    
26. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Help Wanted" (Spongebob serving krabby patties to the anchovies)
    
27. Avatar - "The Siege of the North (Part 2)" (Aang encountering Koh)
    
28. Ren & Stimpy - "Powdered Toast Man commercial"
    
29. Invader ZIM - "The Nightmare Begins" (The Doom Song)
    

November 25, 2007 (25-1):

1. Catscratch - "Scaredy Cat" (Gordon encountering two aliens)
   
2. Avatar - "The Boy in the Iceberg" (Katara and Sokka meeting Aang)
   
3. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "My Big Fat Spy Wedding" ("I have the ring!")
   
4. The Fairly OddParents - "Action Packed" (Timmy battling Jorgen)
   
5. The Fairly OddParents - "The Same Game" (Timmy and everyone else as grey blobs)
   
6. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Love Potion #976/J" (Cindy, Libby, and Britney's song?)
   
7. Back at the Barnyard - "Cowman and Ratboy" (Otis and Pip becoming superheroes!)
   
8. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius - "Crouching Jimmy, Hidden Sheen" (Sheen fighting Yoo Yee)
   
9. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Help Wanted" (SpongeBob "working out" by lifting two stuffed bears)
   
10. The Fairly OddParents - "Timmy the Barbarian!" (Timmy fighting Crocker)
    
11. Avatar - "The Blue Spirit" (Aang encountering the masked figure (Zuko))
    
12. The Fairly OddParents - "The Good Ol' Days!" (Timmy and his Pappy dancing to Chippington's song)
    
13. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Suds" (SpongeBob getting the "sponge treatment")
    
14. Avatar - "The Blind Bandit" (Toph's introduction and her fight)
    
15. El Tigre - "La Tigresa" (Frida using Manny's belt to become a superheroine)
    
16. Danny Phantom - "The Ultimate Enemy" (Danny confronting Dark Danny)
    
17. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Hooky!" (SpongeBob and Patrick riding a hook that goes up and jumping off of it)
    
18. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Big Pink Loser" (Patrick attempting to reach the jar's lid and finally succeeding)
    
19. Avatar - "The Siege of the North (Part 2)" (Rematch of Katara vs. Zuko)
    
20. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Ripped Pants" (SpongeBob ripping his pants during the weight lifting competition)
    
21. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Your Shoe's Untied" (The beginning where SpongeBob watches the sea anemone dancing on TV)
    
22. SpongeBob SquarePants - "F.U.N." (SpongeBob and Plankton singing the "FUN Song")
    
23. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Bubblestand" (SpongeBob demonstrating his skills on blowing a bubble)
    
24. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Dying for Pie" (Squidward and SpongeBob watch the sunset)
    
25. SpongeBob SquarePants - "Band Geeks" (Sweet Victory song)
    

​
And that's that!

Does anyone use the Ninja Foodi XL convention fan oven? Trying to verify if holds a quarter sheet or half sheet baking pan. I’m tempted to get one, but am hesitant about its size

All images uploaded for this post will be included here:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNv-U01HWODjMDJVo5l9VbVSGuClM8KIYj7jaFD65Vezu5L0mFVrSOfBJayrtaTiQ?key=b2VHWlcyMjhneUVQWjM0TW5XSjV2djR4Ym1wZHZn
​
Shipping is USPS Priority Mail. Items will be placed in bubble wrap and shipped inside boxes. Tracking and insurance are included. Add the following to all orders (except pre-made bundles, shipping is included in their prices):

• $10.00 for small boxes (1-2 games)
• $15.00 for medium (multiple games, small bundles)
• $20.00 for large (consoles, large bundles)

​
Tables:

1. GAMES
2. MANUALS ONLY
3. AMIIBOS
4. CONSOLES
5. PRE-MADE BUNDLES

​
Things of note:

• Prices are negotiable for individual items and custom bundles. Pre-made bundle prices are firm. All price negotiations and initial contact should be via comments per this sub's rules/suggestions.
• "Condition" is based on my most recent check of item. If you are concerned about a potential missing item (insert, manual, etc.), reach out and I will confirm if it is included/not included. List should be accurate but sometimes things get missed. Will also provide confirmed testing of items upon request.
• Images of specific items available upon request. There are just too many to do big sweeping images and my place is small. Just reach out and I'll be happy to take a shot or two of any items.
• All disc games will come in plastic cases, even if listed as "loose".
• If you see anything in the list that you believe may be an error (typo, game listed twice, etc.) please let me know and I will double-check and correct any mistakes. As previously said, list should be accurate but sometimes things get missed.
• Priority will be given to buyers that are bundling the most items together, anyone purchasing a pre-made bundle, or anyone purchasing the largest/multiple pre-made bundles.
• Lastly, I work 8am-5pm CST Mon-Fri. If commenting during those hours, please allow for a delay in response time.

​
1. GAMES

Console	Game	Condition	Price
3DS	Animal Crossing: New Leaf	CIB - Complete In Box	$14.00
3DS	Disney Magical World	CIB - Complete In Box	$13.00
Atari 2600	Dragonfire	CIB - Complete In Box	$24.00
Atari 2600	Missile Command	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Atari 2600	Space Jockey	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$3.00
Atari 2600	Space War	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Atari 2600	Video Chess	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Atari 2600	Warplock	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Game Boy	Asteroids	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$9.00
Genesis	Columns	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
NDS	Lego Batman: The Videogame	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
NDS	Lunar: Dragon Song	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$8.00
NDS	Spectrobes	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$9.00
NES	Deadly Towers	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$5.00
NES	Donkey Kong Classics	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$15.00
NES	Double Dragon	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$9.00
NES	Gauntlet II	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$6.00
NES	Gyromite [5 Screw]	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$5.00
NES	Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
NES	Karate Champ [5 Screw]	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
NES	Ninja Gaiden	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$9.00
NES	Section-Z [5 Screw]	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$6.00
NES	The Bard's Tale	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$19.00
NES	The Immortal	Loose+ - Cartridge/Discs with Manual	$16.00
PC	Final Fantasy VIII	Loose+ - Cartridge/Discs with Proper Disc Sleeve	$10.00
PS Vita	Dungeon Hunter: Alliance	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$12.00
PS1	Final Fantasy VIII	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$9.00
PS1	Gex: Enter the Gecko	Loose+ - Cartridge/Discs with Manual	$25.00
PS1	Spawn: The Eternal	CIB - Complete In Box	$20.00
PS1	Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$8.00
PS1	Tekken [Long Box]	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$13.00
PS1	Test Drive: Off-Road	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
PS1	Test Drive: Off-Road 2	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
PS1	Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation	CIB - Complete In Box	$7.00
PS2	ATV Offroad Fury 2 [Not for Resale]	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
PS2	Devil May Cry 2	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
PS2	EverQuest Online Adventures	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$5.00
PS2	Final Fantasy X	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$5.00
PS2	Final Fantasy XII	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
PS2	Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories	CIB - Complete In Box	$8.00
PS2	Ultimate Board Game Collection	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
PS3	Diablo III	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
PS3	Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$14.00
PS3	Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX	CIB - Complete In Box	$6.00
PS3	Mass Effect 2	CIB - Complete In Box	$2.00
PS3	Mass Effect 3	Sealed	$7.00
PS3	Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe [Greatest Hits]	CIB+ - Complete In Box Including Extras	$7.00
PS3	Red Dead Redemption	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$13.00
PS3	Tomb Raider	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
PS3	Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Game of the Year) [Greatest Hits]	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
PS3	Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (Game of the Year) [Greatest Hits]	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
PS3	White Knight Chronicles: International Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$7.00
PS4	Destiny	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
PS4	Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$10.00
SNES	WWF Super WrestleMania	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$6.00
Switch	Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE - Complete	CIB - Complete In Box	$13.00
Wii	Disney Epic Mickey	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Wii	Donkey Kong Country Returns	CIB - Complete In Box	$10.00
Wii	Donkey Kong Country Returns	CIB - Complete In Box	$10.00
Wii	Elebits	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Wii	Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$9.00
Wii	Super Mario Galaxy	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$12.00
Wii U	Disney Infinity	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Wii U	Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Wii U	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze	CIB - Complete In Box	$8.00
Wii U	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze	CIB - Complete In Box	$8.00
Wii U	Kirby and the Rainbow Curse	CIB - Complete In Box	$32.00
Wii U	Mario Party 10	CIB - Complete In Box	$17.00
Wii U	Splatoon	CIB - Complete In Box	$9.00
Wii U	The Wonderful 101	CIB - Complete In Box	$8.00
Xbox 360	Alone in the Dark	CIB - Complete In Box	$6.00
Xbox 360	Batman: Arkham City	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
Xbox 360	BioShock	Loose+ - Cartridge/Discs with Behind the Scenes Disc	$3.00
Xbox 360	BioShock 2	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Xbox 360	Borderlands	CIB - Complete In Box	$2.00
Xbox 360	Borderlands 2	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	Burnout Paradise	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Xbox 360	Devil May Cry 4	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$5.00
Xbox 360	Enemy Territory: Quake Wars	CIB - Complete In Box	$6.00
Xbox 360	Fallout: New Vegas	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Xbox 360	Halo 3	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$5.00
Xbox 360	Kinect Adventures!	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
Xbox 360	LEGO Batman: The Videogame	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$3.00
Xbox 360	LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Xbox 360	LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga	CIB - Complete In Box	$7.00
Xbox 360	Lost Planet: Extreme Condition	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$3.00
Xbox 360	Mass Effect	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	Mass Effect 2	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Xbox 360	Mass Effect 3	CIB - Complete In Box	$4.00
Xbox 360	Plants vs. Zombies	CIB - Complete In Box	$6.00
Xbox 360	Pure	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	Rocksmith	CIB - Complete In Box	$7.00
Xbox 360	SoulCalibur IV	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	Star Wars: The Force Unleashed	CIB - Complete In Box	$5.00
Xbox 360	The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion -- Game of the Year Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$7.00
Xbox 360	The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	CIB - Complete In Box	$2.00
Xbox 360	The Orange Box	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$14.00
Xbox 360	Turok	Boxed - Cartridge/Discs with Box (No Manual/Extras)	$9.00
Xbox 360	Unreal Tournament III	Loose - Cartridge/Discs Only	$4.00
Xbox 360	Viva Pinata	Loose+ - Cartridge/Discs with Manual	$3.00
Xbox 360	Your Shape: Fitness Evolved	CIB - Complete In Box	$3.00
Xbox One	Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition	CIB - Complete In Box	$6.00

​
2. MANUALS ONLY

Console	Manual	Price
GBA	Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Prophecy	$7.00
GBA	Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World	$7.00
GBA	Wario Land 4	$10.00
PS1	Brave Fencer Musashi	$27.00
PS1	Breath of Fire III	$21.00
PS1	Final Fantasy Origins	$6.00
PS1	Intelligent Qube	$12.00
PS1	Vagrant Story	$21.00
PS1	Wild Arms	$14.00

​
3. AMIIBOS
Note: All Amiibos are "loose". Images included in the link at the top of the post.

Amiibo	Price
Bowser	$13.00
Diddy Kong	$17.00
Donkey Kong	$25.00
Dr. Mario	$13.00
Fox	$9.00
Kirby	$14.00
Link	$31.00
Link - Majora's Mask	$40.00
Link - Toon	$24.00
Lucario	$13.00
Luigi	$17.00
Mario	$13.00
Mario - 30th, Classic	$10.00
Mario - 30th, Modern	$11.00
Marth	$11.00
Mega Man	$15.00
Pac-Man	$12.00
Peach	$11.00
Pikachu	$9.00
Princess Zelda	$28.00
Samus	$13.00
Samus - Zero Suit	$13.00
Sheik	$24.00
Simon	$19.00
Snake	$31.00
Sonic	$26.00
Yarn Yoshi - Blue	$15.00
Yoshi	$21.00

​
4. CONSOLES

Console	Notes	Price
Nintendo 3DS XL Pokemon XY Red Limited Edition	Comes with charging cable & 32gb PNY SD Card. Will be factory reset prior to send.	$157.00
Nintendo 3DS XL Black & Red	Comes with charging cable & grip. Boots directly into custom firmware. Will remove NNID prior to shipping. Will come with a 128gb SanDisk SD Card.	$135.00
PlayStation Vita Slim Console	Comes with charging cable. Factory reset. No memory card. May have Custom Firmware installed already.	$135.00
Xbox 360 Console Gears of Wars 3 Edition	Comes with power cable, HDMI cable, and 2 Gears of War controllers (no rechargable battery packs, but the backplates are there and the controllers can hold normal batteries).	$90.00
Playstation 3 Slim System	Comes with power cable, HDMI cable, and at least 1 official controller (rubber in thumbsticks may feel sticky) and may include bonus official or third party controllers for free. System is loaded with CFW and boots directly into it. System has new thermal paste and rubber block installed that helps apply pressure to the CPU/Heatsink to additionally reduce temperatures and prolong system lifespan.	$90.00
Playstation 2 System (Phat)	Comes with power cable, PS2-to-HDMI adapter, HDMI cable, 1 official PS1 memory card, 1 official PS2 memory card, and 1 official controller (rubber in thumbsticks may feel sticky). System is modded and comes with 1TB HDD. Shell has an area on the side that is broken from a drop but all internals are unharmed and system has been tested and works perfectly. May include additional memory cards for free.	$90.00

​
5. PRE-MADE BUNDLES
Note: Some bundles unavailable due to purchases of items within the bundle. Bundles will be updated periodically as time permits and prices adjusted to account for sold items.

Pre-Made Bundles	Included	Non-Bundle Shipped Price	Bundle Shipped Price
Atari Gamer	All 6 Atari games.	$63.00	$40.00
Dual-Screen Collector	Both 3DS XL consoles, both 3DS games, and all 3 NDS games.	$360.00	$300.00
NES Gamer	All 11 NES games.	$118.00	$100.00
Vita Collector	PS Vita console & Dungeon Hunter: Alliance.	$167.00	$125.00
PS1 Gamer	All 8 PS1 games.	$110.00	$100.00
PS2 Gamer	All 7 PS2 games.	$53.00	$45.00
PS2 Collector	PS2 (Phat, modded) console and all 7 PS2 games.	$143.00	$120.00
PS3 Gamer	All 11 PS3 games.	$93.00	$80.00
PS3 Collector	PS3 Slim console and all 11 PS3 games.	$183.00	$170.00
Wii	All 6 Wii games.	$70.00	$60.00
Wii U	All 8 Wii U games.	$112.00	$100.00
Xbox 360 Gamer	All 32 Xbox 360 games.	$175.00	$150.00
Xbox 360 Collector	Gears of War Xbox 360 and all 32 Xbox 360 games.	$265.00	$200.00
Manuals	All 9 manuals.	$145.00	$100.00
Extras	GB-Asteroids, Genesis-Columns, PC-Final Fantasy VIII, SNES-WWF Super Wrestlemania, PS4-Destiny, PS4-Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition, Switch-Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE (Complete), Xbox One-Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition	$81.00	$70.00
Amiibo Collector	All 28 Amiibos.	$518.00	$450.00
Console Collector	All 6 consoles.	$717.00	$650.00
Game Collector	All 103 games.	$775.00	$700.00
Absolutely Everything	Every individual item in this post.	$2095.00	$1800.00

​

Hey there,
I'm currently looking at buying a new air fryer since the instant pot 6qt with the lid is too small for me and I can't use the pressure cooker at the same time obviously.
I would really like to go for the grill max pro (Model name: AG651EU) since I don't have a grill right now and I could kill 2 birds with one stone.
I also like the included thermometer for meat, cause my current one is just a standard electric thermometer. I always have to open the air fryer and take a measurement while cooking.
But as far as I know I can't put a normal sized pizza in there.
Standard frozen pizza I buy is about 24cm (~9.5 inches) while the inner dimensions seem to only have a depth of 22.5 cm (~8.85 inches).
So i would have to cut the pizza in half beforehand.
I also looked at the oven 8 in 1 ( SP101EU ) which could definitely hold a pizza, but I've heard the grill function isn't the best. It seems like it's heating up fine, but after 2 minutes it doesn't heat up again for almost 2 minutes and then again only for 20 seconds.
It also wouldnt allow me to use it like a normal contact/electric grill. Which i think the pro max grill can. But correct me if I'm wrong.
So I'm hoping you could all give me some input.
Did anyone try the grill function in the oven? What works what doesn't?
Anything else I might have to take into consideration between those two?
Thanks for the help.

Vol 2 tuesday May 30th

an abridged rodeo for an abridged week

Extension resource University of Florida fact sheets. The preventing foodborne illness fact sheets have handling instructions! From the fact sheet on C. botulinum:

The following are suggestions for preventing foodborne botulism at home:

• If consuming home-canned foods of low acidity, heat to at least 176°F (80°C) for 30 minutes. Canned corn, spinach, and meats should be heated for 20 minutes.
  
• Oils infused with garlic or herbs should be properly refrigerated during storage.
  
• Canned food products, including both those produced at home and commercially, should be inspected before use. Cans with bulging or damaged lids, leakage, or off-odors should not be used, because these signs are indicative of gas-producing bacteria growth inside the can. To ensure that the proper time, temperature, and pressure requirements are met to eliminate growth of the bacteria and its spores, a pressure cooker should be used to produce canned food products at home.
  
• Although foodborne botulism is less commonly associated with commercially canned food products, be mindful not to consume the contents of expired or damaged cans. If canning meats at home, consider including food preservatives such as nitrites in the brine solution to reduce the growth of C. botulinum.
  
• Vacuum-packaged meats should be refrigerated or properly stored in the freezer for extended usage.
  
• During holding or storage, maintain proper food temperatures. Put simply, keep hot foods hot (above 57°C/135°F) and cold foods cold (below 5°C/41°F) to prevent the germination of spores and the formation of toxins.
  
• Wash hands, utensils, and kitchen surfaces that come into contact with food using hot soapy water before food preparation, after contact with raw meat or seafood, and after using the bathroom.
  

News article of interest from Civil Eats: The True Cost of Tuna: Marine Observers Dying at Sea If you’re worried about what this might cost you:

“As you go back in the supply chain, the difference in profits between what retailers make and what you see at the fishing vessel level is so vast . . . It’s almost four times more,” said Mallika Talwar, a senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace.

For more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2023/map-illegal-fishing/?itid=hp-mv-top-stories_top-table-main_p001_f004
Dont trust me? GOOD. If you live in the US you should be hitting up your extension, askusda, or other official (https://www.fightbac.org/, https://www.foodsafety.gov/) sources for this stuff anyway. If you want to learn about my background I have a bit in volume 1. Next week I'll provide more links on bacteria, but until then I'd recommend the links from the Gators.
Until next time,
u/quaglady, your unfriendly, unofficial extension agent

Introduction: In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, business meals have become integral to professional life. These meals, often conducted in a formal or semi-formal setting, serve various purposes and offer numerous benefits for working professionals. Beyond merely satisfying hunger, business meals provide a platform for networking, relationship-building, and conducting business discussions in a relaxed and friendly environment. This article explores the concept of business meals and delves into how they can be helpful and advantageous for individuals navigating the corporate world.
Networking Opportunities: Business meals offer unparalleled networking opportunities for working professionals. Individuals can foster stronger connections with colleagues, clients, and potential partners by breaking bread together. These meals provide a chance to engage in casual conversation, get to know each other personally, and build rapport. Shared meals allow participants to establish a sense of familiarity and trust, which can be crucial in professional relationships.
Furthermore, business meals often involve multiple attendees, allowing professionals to expand their network beyond their immediate contacts. These meals can be organized during conferences, seminars, or industry events, bringing together individuals from various organizations and sectors. Such diverse gatherings enable professionals to connect with new people, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborative opportunities.
Relationship-Building: In the corporate world, relationships are vital to success. Business meals offer an ideal setting to develop and nurture these relationships. Sharing a meal promotes a relaxed atmosphere, breaking down barriers and creating a more informal environment than traditional office settings. These less formal interactions allow professionals to showcase their personalities, share personal stories, and find common ground with their counterparts.
Engaging in meaningful conversations during business meals builds trust and camaraderie as individuals get to know each other beyond their professional roles. This increased familiarity can lead to enhanced collaboration, improved teamwork, and more effective communication among colleagues.
Additionally, business meals can also be instrumental in cultivating client relationships. Inviting clients to a well-planned dinner demonstrates a commitment to building a solid partnership. It provides an opportunity to discuss business matters in a more relaxed atmosphere, away from the pressures of the office. Such interactions enable professionals to gain deeper insights into their client's needs and expectations, leading to better service delivery and long-term customer satisfaction.
Business Discussions in a Relaxed Environment: Business discussions over a meal offer several advantages over traditional office meetings. The relaxed environment allows participants to have open and honest conversations, fostering creativity and innovation. When individuals are more at ease, they are more likely to express their thoughts and ideas freely, leading to increased collaboration and problem-solving.
Business meals also provide a break from the typical work routine, creating a refreshing change of scenery. This change can invigorate participants, creating a more positive and productive mindset. Away from office distractions, individuals can focus better on the matters at hand, leading to more effective decision-making and problem-solving.
Moreover, business meals can serve as a platform for negotiation and deal-making. The informal setting helps to create a positive impression and diffuse any tension that might arise during high-stakes discussions. Sharing a meal promotes goodwill and cooperation, ultimately contributing to successful negotiation outcomes.
Conclusion: In conclusion, business meals are more than just an opportunity to satisfy hunger. They play a vital role in the professional lives of working individuals. Business meals facilitate networking, foster relationship-building, and provide a relaxed environment for conducting business discussions. By capitalizing on the benefits of business meals, professionals can expand their networks, strengthen relationships, and enhance their overall effectiveness in the corporate world.
#eggysveggy #businessmeals #foodie #loveforfood

It is a Razer Blade. When I went to sleep, I closed the lid so it went to sleep too. After I woke up I found it so hot that part of the screen kept flickering and part even became black (due to it touching the C-face). After restarting the problem was solved and everything was back to normal. Reason for it to wake up is uncertain (possible self woke up or I accidentally touch the mouse when sleeping), and before closing the lid I quitted every application it was running. I was thinking that even it was on for some hours it shouldn't reach this high temperature (definitely higher than when I run AAA games or doing pressure tests as my fingers felt burnt quite hard) especially when it was in idle. I have suspected it to be a software issue so I checked event logs for applications and got these processes running in that period:
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1. Razer Central Services (once)
2. igccservice (twice)
3. edgeupdate (once)
4. RestartManager (12 times)
5. Security-SPP (10 times)
6. SecurityCenter (once)

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Does anyone have a clue about them? I don't know about anything except for Razer Center Services and edgeupdate. Nor do I understand what was happening at all. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

So today I opened the toilet on the 2nd floor to see that the water level was low. Flushing made the bowl nearly overflow but it all eventually went down. Flushed a few times afterwards and the flush is now very weak and the bowl doesnt fully evacuate the water that's already in there. I flushed with the tank lid off to check for anything odd and nothing seems to be out of place but what do I know. Water pressure seems fine elsewhere through the house in the sinks, however I checked the bowl of a downstairs toilet I barely ever use and there's no water in it which I thought was odd.

I just had my honeymoon (originally scheduled for Jun 2020). My wife and I are in our early thirties. It’s my wife’s first time in japan while it’s my fourth. I’ve benefitted immensely from stalking Tokyo travel reddit and would like to return the favour. I’ll provide some of my tips and observations to the end (skip to the end if the itinerary doesn’t interest you), some of which I think haven’t been mentioned before.
Thank God pretty much everything went to plan, and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We spent 12 days in Japan, most of it in Tokyo and 2 nights in Kawaguchiko. Many people were surprised to know that we’d be spending most of our trip in Tokyo, but I thought it was just fine because Tokyo had a lot to offer. My wife and I aren’t big on visiting shrines or ticking tourist hotspots off a checklist. We don’t shop much, but we did a lot of it simply because it’s Japan and we bought lots of quality-of-life items (not fashion) for ourselves and others. Given how much my wife really enjoyed the trip, I think others with similar interests could find something helpful too.
Pre-trip planning

• It was out first leisure trip in years, and my wife's first trip to Japan. I wanted to show her my favourite parts of Japan, and took months trawling through reddit posts and trip reports, watching youtube videos, and just soaking in all the things before deciding on an itinerary that I thought my wife would enjoy. It was almost exclusively planned by me, and I would consult my wife along the way.
• Other than the hotel & flights, I booked the highway express bus to Kawaguchiko one week prior.
• Decided on the airport limousine bus to bring us from the airport to the city a few days prior.
• Studio Ghibli tickets booked one month in advance. There's a good guide available on reddit already. International tickets were quickly sold out, so we used a free VPN to get onto the Japanese site which had more tickets & timings available. Simply Google translate the entire page.
• Booked a cooking class on cookly months prior.
• Did Visit Japan QR two days prior. It takes some time, so do it earlier rather than later.
• Added all places of interests in a Google list, and all food places in another Google list. I tried the custom Google maps at first but didn’t feel the UI was easy to navigate.
• Planned itinerary based on location proximity, and also highlighted parts that were interchangeable in case we wanted to switch it up (which we did).

Planning during the trip

• The Google maps foods list was always just for consideration: if we had time or were craving something. We didn't hard-code food places into our daily plans. But when food was the primary activity (e.g. visiting Tsukiji market), we'd determine to visit particular food stalls. Otherwise, just needed to do a cursory Google review check on whether a random food place is worth eating it. As a principle, we didn't want to spend time queuing >20m for food.
• I'd plan the next day's itinerary the night before, considering fatigue, interest, and proximity. I would create a brand new Google maps list for the next day, including potential food places.

Day 0 (Wed) 17 May - Arrival at Haneda Airport to hotel in Shinjuku
Arrived in Haneda late, about 11pm. Clearance was quick but baggage took 30mins. As I wouldn't make my stipulated airport limousine timing, I had no choice but to cancel my airport limousine and take the metro to our hotel in Shinjuku. I tried Apple wallet’s Suica at first. It worked seamlessly but I felt that a physical metro card was just faster so I eventually switched over. We reached after midnight, so do let your hotel know in advance if you anticipate arriving at odd hours.
Day 1 (Thurs) - Shinjuku exploration
Originally planned to visit Tsukiji on day 1, but given that we arrived late the previous night, agreed with my wife to change the plan and spend the first day doing the Shinjuku itinerary.

• Walked to a popular Tsukumen place at 11. Queued for 20mins and it was an interesting experience as there were lines of people standing right behind watching you eat. Wife said it was her best Tsukumen ever!
• Sekaido for art & stationary supplies: My wife does art so it was a haven for her. We spent a few hours there!
• Tokyu Hands Shinjuku: Wanted to look at more stationary/home/fashion stuff but two floors were under renovation.
• Omoide Yokocho: A quick walkthrough of this famous street for salarymen which comes alive at night. Many tourists.

Day 2 (Fri) - Kappabashi St., Fabric Town, Akihabara

• Kappabashi Dougu Street: looked at kitchen supplies aimed to find a nice nakiri knife! (If you want to buy a knife, do research on what knife you need beforehand).
• Fabric Town: My wife just passed a seamstress exam so she eagerly anticipated visiting fabric town, we spent a few hours in Tomato.
• Akihabara (Animate, Bic Camera, Gyukatsu Don): It was drizzling the entire day so it was not the most comfortable lugging that many bags around a wet Akihabara in the evening. Wife wasn’t interested but I wanted to let her experience this unique culture. Had dinner at a popular gyukatsu don (beef cutlet that you’d have to cook yourself). It was our first time eating gyukatsu. It was so tender and juicy and mmm. But it was a long one hour wait. It was after this episode that we decided we were not going to queue this long for food again.

Day 3 (Sat) - Cooking class in Shinjuku, Shibuya

• Private cooking class in Shinjuku: Our host was great! We were invited into his cosy house and he taught us how to make Okonomiyaki, Yakisoba, and a Japanese salad. I paid careful attention to the menu beforehand as I wanted to learn dishes I could easily recreate back home (i.e. not choose dishes that depended on seasonal Japanese ingredients). My wife absolutely loved the experience of getting to know a local and understanding his life story, Japanese culture, and hearing some of his horror stories of foreign guests. We got more food recs from him to understand where the locals really ate at.
• Shibuya 109: Paid $5 for a drink to have a bird’s eye view of the Shibuya crossing. It was Saturday so the crossing was at its full force. Even if you think this is touristy, it’s amazing to see that many people like little ants crossing a street. There are several nice locations here to take some artsy shots.
• Ishibashi Music Shibuya: absolutely loved the vibe in this music store. Back home, I’d been thinking about getting a particular keyboard but never got a chance to try it. I was able to play this particular one undisturbed and feel like I could go on for hours without any pressure from staff. Bought a few Japan exclusive guitar picks as gifts.
• Shibuya Tokyu Hands: This was amazing. I thought Shinjuku Tokyu Hands was the flagship store. So I only stumbled into this because I urgently needed to pee and someone said Tokyu hands had toilets. We were confused as its name was rebranded to simply "Hands" with a new logo. If you only have time to visit one Tokyu Hands, visit the Shibuya one. Each floor had 2 sub-floors so that’s a ton of floors! Lots of quality-of-life improvements one could get from this store. My wife got a buckwheat pillow.
• Shibuya Loft: After Sekaido and Tokyu Hands, I didn't think there was much daily life products/art/stationary to look at. But Loft was very different. Similar to Tokyu hands but seems more modern and fashionable. Worth visiting together with Tokyu hands! It also had packaged food available! It was late and my wife and I concluded that we didn’t have to to explore all the floors and that we’d return to Shibuya again.

Day 4 (Sun) - Komazawa Church, Harajuku, Shibuya

• Church in Komazawa: not a tourist activity, but we linked up with some partners from our home church and attended service at a little church held in a nursery. It was an amazing and encouraging experience to hear the gospel preached in a foreign language.
• Harajuku: Way too crowded. I had anticipated this as it was a Sunday, but thought to just try. Takeshita street was so packed my wife feared there would be a stampede risk (it wasn’t that bad). We did queue 20mins for pretty tasty crepe. After checking out all the recommended streets (e.g. cat street, uru-harajuku), my wife simply felt that she couldn’t stand the Harajuku crowd and the vibes. So we decided to go back to Shibuya again!
• Shibuya JINS: I didn’t mention this but previously in Shinjuku and Shibuya, I had been checking out recommended optical shops in the vicinity for a particular style of glasses. Japanese-made glasses are highly-rated, but I couldn’t find something at the right price-point. At JINS, I found a design I liked. Though not made in Japan, it cost me less than 5000 yen. Took them 1 hour to make it. For some reason I loved the vibes at Shibuya, and I earmarked it to return again later.

Day 5 (Mon) - Tsukiji Market, Ginza Muji/Uniqlo, Tokyo station

• Tsukiji market: wanted to arrive before 8 but arrived at 8.30am. Thankfully the crowds weren't that bad yet. Everything we tried was lovely. Potato/corn fishcakes, strawberry mochi, tamago, wagyu beef, uni inarisushi (my first time trying uni - wife loved it but I didn't like it), unagi. But the star was Masa burger (thanks to Paolo from Tokyo), which we waited till 11am to try. By then, the tourist buses had come and the streets were packed. But Masa burger was in a corner and we were their first customers. We tried fried codfish burger + homemade ginger ale. Both were was so well done and the fried cod was so crispy yet fresh and tender. It was also nicely completed with very refreshing salads! It was soo good we had it twice.
• Ginza Uniqlo/Muji: we wanted to take a look at some of Uniqlo’s exclusive items. Apparently they do have exclusive t-shirts for each region (e.g. Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza), which tend to be collaborations with well-known food places in the area. However, they were always white in colour (cheap to produce) and not made-in-Japan-quality. Muji @ Ginza was a disappointment, not a lot more than the usual.
• Tokyo Station Ghibli store & Tenugui hunting: Went to Tokyo station to check out the Ghibli store and to look for a particular traditional tenugui (Japanese towels) store as my wife were hunting these down to give as gifts.
• Shinjuku Ichiran & Mister Donut: We returned to Shinjuku for Ichiran ramen, specifically at 5+pm. No crowds at all. Yummy! We then saw a Mister Donut, and recalled news in our home country that when it had its first opening in my country, people queued 5 hours for it. We thought to try it to see what the fuss was all about. Cash only, but the donuts were wonderfully textured and not too sweet. My wife doesn’t like sweet stuff, but mister donut really hit the sweet spot (no pun intended).

Day 6 (Tue) - Tokyo National Museum, Fabric town revisit, Akihabara revisit, Ochanomizu

• Tokyo National Museum: We had a good time learning about Japan’s early history, and discovered that so much that we know of Japan resulted from Chinese/korean influence.
• Fabric town & Akihabara revisit, Ochonomizu: We decided that this was likely the right time to go back for items we missed out on or didn’t have time to see. My wife went to fabric town again while I went to Akihabara’s Yodaibashi camera, which I felt to be better and with more varied things than Bic Camera. I then went to nearby Ochanomizu to look at more music and sport shops. We met up again at Shinjuku for another Gyukatsu Don before heading to mister donuts again.

Day 7 (Wed) - Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Mori Museum, Ginza Wakamatsu, Shinjuku

• Shinjuku Gyoen Garden: lovely large garden grounds. We spent almost an hour just lying under a tree and watching clouds float by. Wife was doing some rough sketches of the garden. We had mister donuts from last night for breakfast.
• Mori Museum: Saw the exhibition of Heatherwick studios, which was inspiring and educational. Paid for the rooftop access to have a quick view of Tokyo from 50-ish floors up.
• Ginza Wakamatsu: Because of one of the Uniqlo-ginza-exclusive t-shirts, my wife was curious about this traditional Japanese dessert. So we gave it a check and realised it’s been around for more than a century. There was a short line (mainly Japanese elderly). The shop interior transported us back decades. It felt surreal eating a dessert that the Japanese ate centuries ago. Unlike modern desserts, this Japanese dessert certainly doesn’t excite and overwhelm one’s taste buds immediately. But there’s an old charm to it.
• Shinjuku Okadaya fabric: Returned to Shinjuku as my wife wanted to check out another of their famous fabric stores. Prices were more expensive than fabric town, but had somewhat different items.

Day 8 (Thurs) - Kawaguchiko

• Bus to Kawaguchiko: Packed light to Kawaguchiko, and forwarded our remaining luggage to our final hotel in Tamachi. The Shinjuku hotel staff were very helpful. I was merely inquiring on how luggage forwarding was done, but the staff picked up the phone, called my Tamachi hotel to confirm the booking, and prepared the documents for me. All I had to do was roll my luggage the next night to them and make payment. Took our 7:45am bus to Kawaguchiko and managed to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji when we were on our way there!
• Cycling In Kawaguchiko: We lugged our bags to our ryokan and headed out again. My wife was quite hesitant about cycling overseas and I was also worried it’d tire her out too much. I debated between cycling or simply taking the sight-seeing bus. Eventually felt that it was worth trying to cycle. We unexpectedly walked by an e-bike place and decided, why not? Neither of us had tried an e-bike before and that could reduce the effort required for my wife. So we did and boy was it fun! It took a while to get used to the e-bike but it really reduced a lot of effort up the hills! I barely perspired at all thanks to the e-assist. Kawaguchiko had pretty narrow roads so it wasn’t the easiest to cycle. But I had plenty of road-cycling experience back at home so I was not daunted. We borrowed helmets from the e-bike place but saw that we were the only tourists that wore them. Yes, I'd recommend wearing helmets when cycling.
• Kubota Itchiku Art Museum: Cycled here knowing that this museum would interest my wife. It had a garden free for entry and it was really quaint, quiet, and charming! The pond had a singular vibrant-coloured Koi swimming in it. Museum entry requires tickets. On this trip, I realised that visiting museums tired me easily. It could be because I spent time reading each description. I told my wife to go ahead as I waited outside. She eventually took 45m in the museum and was so enthralled by it. She even bought a heavy hard-cover book of Itchiku Kubota’s kimono art :/
• Momiji Corridor: was just 50 meters away from the museum. Still beautiful with only green leaves, but I’d imagine it would be majestic in Autumn/Spring.
• Oishi Park: Many colourful flowers! It’s a pity that it had been cloudy the entire day, and Mt Fuji was not visible. That would have made the cycle perfect. Had a peach/plum ice-cream. Park was crowded with tourists.

Day 9 (Fri) - Fuji Q Highland, Shimoyoshida Honcho St, Batting Cage
Planning for Fuji Q & Morning Jog: I didn’t plan to go to Fuji-Q highland before the trip. Always felt it a bit of a waste to visit amusement parks overseas. That’s until I realised that Fuji Q had some of the most exciting (I mean world-record-holding) rollercoasters in the world. Maybe they don't hold the records anymore, but that intrigued me enough, because most amusement parks only had 1-2 coasters. Problem was that wife is terrified, and she said cycling on the streets of Kawaguchiko was already like a coaster ride for her. Still, I'm really thankful she encouraged me to go and said she was happy waiting and taking pictures for me. So I decided I would reach at opening time, and buy time by paying for the fast passes and try their top three coasters. The night before, we felt that we had to make decisions on our itinerary as it was our last day at Kawaguchiko. If Mt Fuji still wasn’t visible the next day, we'd go to Oshino Hakkai, if it was, we could try going to Shimoyoshida to get a nice picture.

• I went for a morning jog and as the path brought me along the river's perimeter, my jaw dropped when I saw Mount Fuji towering into view. I raced back to tell my wife (about 6am) and we both trekked up to a viewing spot to enjoy the view. This made it more urgent to not spend too much time at Fuji Q as we didn’t know how long Mt. Fuji would be visible for.
• Fuji-Q Highland: Was absolutely amazing. Yes, I blew a lot of cash here buying fast passes for the three available coasters. But they were some of the craziest coasters. Took Eejanaika, Fujiyama and Takabisha. Total time it took probably a little more than 1 hour with the express passes. It was so good, but so fast that I have little memory of it, except that there was a 90 degree climb to the top for Takabisha and I had a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji while climbing to the supposed world record of 79m for Fujiyama (this was 2 days before the news reported that Fujiyama got stuck in the middle of a ride and the people in the carts had to climb down :o). Had more time to take a few other rides, and enjoyed all the Naruto statues around for fun photo-taking. What I really enjoyed about the park was that it was mostly filled with Japanese tourists; in fact, there was a Japanese school having an outing there. It was nice to see excited students running about. If I could spend the day here, I'd take the three coasters multiple times to imprint the sensations in my head. But I'm still thankful I got to try some of the world's most thrilling coasters!
• Shomoyoshida Honcho St: This destination was simply to take the famous street view of Mount Fuji with Japanese shops lined in the foreground. It’s not easy to get to, and there was quite a walk. We noticed there weren’t much people around, and most shops were closed. But when we reached the destination, there were many tourists right at the particular traffic light. So much so there was a grumpy Japanese traffic police person managing the crowd. We saw the worst of tourists that day. People were disobeying traffic laws and just running in the middle of the road just to get a shot. We then chanced upon a hidden udon shop and it felt like we were transported back to the 50’s! It was super old school, people sat on raised platforms, and several elderly customers were watching the tele while eating. There was only one udon option available, with free cabbage top-ups. We learnt that the shop had been around for 73 years. We actually headed back to Fuji-Q Highlands to take a 4D 'plane ride' with Joe Hisashi music in the background. Since my wife actually wanted to ride something, I was happy to agree to her request. Ride was very ordinary but wife actually felt terrified at times lol. Rushed back to the hotel for a private onsen booking.
• Batting Cage: I had never played baseball/softball and my home country doesn’t have a baseball culture. Yet I had seen batting cages in Japanese drama and always wanted to try. Loved it! My technique was probably pretty bad! I did well at first but as I tried faster balls, I tired out and failed to hit any haha. Some teens beside me were knocking out 120km/h balls out of the park! We ended the day eating ramen outdoors with a view of Mount Fuji.

Day 10 (Sat) - Kichijoji, Ghibli Museum, Kichijoji Jazz bar
Woke up before sunrise for a run and to attempt to catch a sunrise picture of Mount Fuji. Streets were completely empty. Even ran to the famous Kawaguchiko Lawson for a picture. Headed back for an onsen bathe (note: we never used the room's shower, and always went for an onsen bath throughout our stay in Kawaguchiko as it was just too convenient). Took a 7am bus to return to Shinjuku.

• Kichijoji: Arrived at Kichijoji at about 10am. Wife really loved the vibes there. We tried the Tsukuba suisan fish cakes which were really tasty, and my wife was intrigued that a line had formed at the adjacent store named Ozasa. Apparently they sell traditional Japanese desserts and locals would go there as early as 5am to get a ticket. So we queued 15m and managed to get three boxes worth of the snacks! Tried the Amane Taiyaki fish-shaped bean paste snacks, another traditional dessert. It was a small lovely old shop.
• Ghibli Museum: Requires a long walk through Inokashira park. Ghibli was fantastic. Many people have been saying recently that it’s over-rated, and that it doesn’t cater to foreign crowds and most things are in Japanese. We similarly struggled with that at first. But we found out that if you asked the staff, they actually had English language exhibition booklets ready for every exhibition! That was a revelation. And we managed to understand almost all the exhibitions by asking the uniformed staff (except the short film, which had minimal dialogue anyway). I mentioned this to one foreign group and they were really grateful for that. But I saw that many other foreigners that probably came earlier were just bored or simply going crazy at the Ghibli shop. My wife bought the museum book (which also has English explanations of each exhibit), and we understood Miyazaki’s vision for the museum - to make it suitable for kids and adults, with no pre-determined route, allowing for play, exploration, to help people be inspired by the artists’ process. Through that, we saw that every thing in the museum was intentionally designed, all of the exhibitions, cafe, shop, and garden. Reading that helped me appreciate and enjoy the museum much more.
• Roaming Kichijoji and Some Time Jazz bar: My wife and I split up to roam kichijoji. I checked out some sports shops and saw that their prices were lower than Ochanomizu. We reconvened for dinner at Sometime Jazz bar. I’m picking up Jazz piano but had never been to a jazz bar. Booked it one day before, but was sad that our table position only allowed us to see some of the drummer and the pianist’s expression. Still, it was a very hip place for jazz cats and we had a wonderful time. We only sat through the first half of the performance that night. Note that there are seating charges, so that + dinner added up to quite a lot. But we rationalised that this was akin to paying for a performance. Checked into our hotel in Tamachi.

Day 11 (Sun) - Tokyo Sky Tree, Shinjuku, Back to Kichijoji, Shibuya
It was a crazy day where we simply hit the places we wanted to revisit regardless of proximity. Headed to Tokyo Skytree in the morning to check out another Ghibli store in hopes of getting another Ghibli shirt; reason was because I ended up buying one at the museum I really loved (made in Japan, beautiful colour, perfect fit. I hesitated at first because I couldn't try it). If you’re not going to the Ghibli museum, this is probably the best store available for Ghibli goods. Alas, the museum's items were really quite exclusive. Headed to Shinjuku to try curry udon, then to Kichijoji to try satou beef balls and dangos and to make some purchasing decisions on some sports equipment. Then we ended up at Shibuya (my favourite place!) to the mega Don Quijote and Tokyu Hands to shop for gifts for others. It was a lovely end to our trip!
Day 12 (Mon) - Back home
Best trip ever, says my wife.
Tips for travellers

• Spread out your itinerary: I originally planned to front-load all the must-see tourist stuff and leave the remaining days for shopping. But in May, Ghibli Museum was closed for two weeks so we had no choice but to schedule it at the end of the trip. That was a better arrangement. It felt that each day was distinctly different, and we could remember the highlight of each day. Also, be specific about where you want to go. Don’t simply put locations, e.g., Visit Harajuku, or visit Shibuya crossing.
• Plan your itinerary in consideration of weekend crowds: Places like Tsujiki market, Ghibli Museum, Fuji-Q Highlands and other stuff are likely going to be very crowded on weekends. If you want to shop in Harajuku or Shibuya, try to avoid weekends. I opted to put the cooking class and ‘less-exciting’ Museums on weekends.
• Carry more cash than you think you need: In my experience, the cash-to-card ratio was about 40:60. Considering that all metro card top-ups require cash, you'll need quite a bit of cash! Sometimes even bigger restaurants are cash only.
• Bring foldable tote bags, and use lockers where necessary: If you’re buying stuff, packing them in tote bags makes it easier to lug around. Bigger shops will charge you for bags. If you just arrived from one area with bags and are going to explore another, use the lockers. Most metro stations likely have lockers and they are really affordable and convenient.
• Travel light by planning to do laundry: I only brought four sets of clothing, and we did laundry every 3-4 days or so. It’s really convenient, about 200 yen per 30m wash, and another 200 yen for a 1h dry. It’s worthwhile to check if your hotel has coin laundry available.
• Buy discriminately: Many people say the kind of things available at places like Don Quijote or Uniqlo are mind-blowing. Fact is, most of them are made in China or elsewhere. About 95% of the items we saw in Daiso were made in China. In fact, many items in Kappabashi street were made in China. You’re more likely to get value for money by buying a made in Japan item. Sometimes the shop will highlight if a product is Japan made. But other times, you have to scrutinise the fine print. Learn to look out for these three words in Kanji: 日本製. This is where the camera function of Google translate is immensely helpful. This was not available or widely publicised when I last visited Japan years back in 2016, so use this tech to your advantage and scrutinise the fine print!
• Plan your toilet trips if possible: If you know you’re headed to low-rise areas like Tsujiki, Fabric town where it’s just shop after shop, it’s going to be hard to find a toilet. Make sure you relieve yourself beforehand at the train station. But if you still need to go, try to find a multi-storey building and chances are, there’ll be toilets available there.
• Avoid queuing for food by timing right: In general, I found that most popular food places that required queuing had queues mainly consisting of foreigners. I wonder if this is because of the reddit/youtube/google maps review effect (not a lot of Japanese review on Google I think). So if you have to queue, there's a good chance you're competing with other foreigners. Simply put, almost all food places open at 11am, so be there at 11, or have early dinner at 5pm and perhaps you may avoid the queuing.
• Scrutinise Google maps to figure out the different train types: for daily travel, there could be local, rapid, and express trains. Local trains stop at every station. Rapid skips a few, and express trains likely only stops at key location. They make a big difference to travel time, and to your comfort. When Google maps recommends a route, scrutinise the detail to ensure what kind of train they are recommending. It gets confusing at the station as the platforms on your left and right may end up at the same location, but one could be a local train and the other an express train.
• Learn just 2 essential phrases: It always felt weird for me to speak Japanese because I felt like a try-hard. But this time I did - just learn to say thank you in Japanese (arigato gozaimasu). The other essential word is - summimasen - excuse me/sorry. Useful for if you need to exit a crowded train, or if you need to get someone’s attention. We survived with just these two phrases. As our cooking teacher told us - it’s better to say something in Japanese than say nothing at all. For the rest, you can use Google translate app’s picture function.
• Other misc tips: as mentioned, bring trash bags. Some shops explicitly tell you not to walk around and eat their food. So the solution is to finish the snack in front of the shop, and say, “summimasen, can you help me to throw this trash?” That helped us avoid carrying trash around a lot. As a traveller, you’re gonna get a lot of carbs (my curry udon meal included a bowl of udon + a bowl of rice...) and fried food. To get more fiber, try the basements of shopping centres and get yourself some fruits. Also, if you exercise regularly like me, you'd be concerned about getting some exercise. I did pre-trip research on pools/gyms/parks to visit. But visited none of them. With what little hotel room space I had, I settled with a daily morning routine of 100 squats and 100 pushups. That and walking an average of 18k steps daily helped. I actually lost some weight somehow.

Observations

• Drinking culture in Japan: we saw quite a few drunk people in the streets. Some of them at the parks. I had never really seen drunkards much in my home country (it could be because I don’t stay out late). When we walked by a bar area with our cooking instructor at 10am, he told us some of the people in them had been there overnight. At Inokashira park, we saw a lady dressed in office wear face planted on the ground. Her friends tried to help carry here elsewhere but her entire body was limp and almost lifeless.
• The Japanese sleep late: when we arrived, we were still on the train to our hotel at 11:50pm. But the train was still packed with salarymen in suits and many others. In fact, it seemed the later it was, the more crowded the trains.
• Foreigner influx and how we stick out: there were way more foreigners this time than the last I visited Japan. I commented to my wife that I felt more immersed in Japan on the metro or at places like Tokyu hands as I could hear Japanese being spoken around me. But at tourist spots and some museums, I felt like I could have been in any other country. I tended to feel very uncomfortable when large groups of foreigners were around. I had to tell myself not to be hypocritical as I was a foreigner myself. But I suppose one reason is that there were many inconsiderate foreigners. Speaking loudly, making brash comments, and just not behaving like visitors. We saw a foreign couple locked in a head-to-toe embrace on a picnic mat in a park full of families. And they chose a spot right next to the footpath. Many foreigners also leave unkind Google reviews for places just because it’s not up to their expectations. I get it, we worked for our holiday and are paying customers, and there is often an innate tendency to feel entitled or complain when something isn’t up to our expectations. But I think it helps to remember that we are like visitors in someone’s home. Be self-aware, don’t speak loudly, note the traffic customs, where to stand on the escalators, how to behave etc.
• Japanese men have great hair: the Japanese men’s hairstyle feels frozen in time. I didn’t see the typical Korean-inspired center-parted hairstyles in Asian guys nowadays. And balding men were a small minority somehow. As someone whose hairline is slowly receding, I was envious to see many Japanese men have wavy long hair deep into their 60-70s! My wife commented that the women's hairstyles were more or less the same - dyed, curled etc. But the men were rocking so many styles!
• In-person shopping still matters: as the days went by and as my wife and I began to covet the "made-in-Japan" label, we realised that we hadn't done such shopping in years since online shopping became prevalent. I also recall people commenting that you could get these goods online anyway, so why bother shopping in Japan. Well, physical shopping makes comparison easy, it allows you to ask for recommendations, and enables you to know the items's size, feel, and look on you (if buying fashion items). It also makes discovery of new items possible. I'm not a huge shopper or a foodie, but in Japan, it's worth it to be one simply because the Japanese are thoughtful about their craft and tend to produce quality that's quite unmatched. I suppose it's a blessing in disguise that our honeymoon got delayed 3 years, as we are now well-aware of our post-wedding lifestyles and the items we'd need in the kitchen/around the house.
• Reading culture is strong: in a week when I read reports that leisure reading had declined in my home country, I was pleasantly surprised to see many people reading hard-copy books on the train, many of them even had personalised leather book covers. Kinokuniya was also teeming with life. As a bookworm, this is a great encouragement. And I wish English language books came in such compact sizes too, although I think that's due to the limitations of the language. As Japanese characters can be read vertically, that allows for more play on possible book sizes.
• No one culture is worth idealising: Japan remains my favourite country to visit as a tourist, but I've come to see that Japanese culture - like any other culture - has its flaws. That's simply because people are flawed. Yes, their service culture is impeccable, especially when you're served by middle-aged super helpful and super kind ladies. But on every Japanese trip so far, I've always had at least one unkind or impatient service encounter. On a day-to-day basis, people don't really apologise if they bump into you, and may not give up their seats for the elderly too. My cooking teacher says the Japanese are extremely polite in person but would rant and give very bad reviews anonymously at home. I've come to just enjoy their products, service, and their views of certain ways-of-life as a tourist, but stop short of idealising their culture. There are kind and unkind people in every culture. That said, I would still say on average, the Japanese may be more civic-minded than most. That doesn't mean they are innately kinder or warmer people, but simply that they are more self-aware of how their actions are perceived by others.

I've decided not to mention the specific food places as far as possible because I think there's more than enough recommendations available elsewhere. I also think sometimes that we get a bit fomo if we build up too many must-go spots. Enjoy the process of discovering new places! But feel free to ask me more if you like.

After holding out for yeeeears, I decided one of these machines would be worthwhile to my family. Bought this brand new Ninja Foodi at an unbelievable price - $80 from a thrift shop as commercial salvage.
Initially, I only saw this as a conduit to eating more unhealthy fried foods. This was due to my somewhat unhealthy relationship with food which I am improving on daily.
I have done some learning and found a few good ways to cook with this fancy appliance. Today's brussel sprouts came out lovely. I look forward to all the future healthy meals this will help me make... and maybe a few of the more, shall we say, scrumptious ones ;-)

Hey guys,
I need your advice. I have been studying with TTP for months and have completed the Expert (+730).
I feel very down and would like to know if this experience is normal.
Furthermore, I have watched all the Ninja videos 2x. After I finished TTP, I solved only OG problems for 3 weeks.
My accuracy looks like this:
Verbal:
SC:

• Sub 600 - 75%
• 600-700 - 82%
• +700 - 77%

CR:

• Sub 600 - 80%
• 600-700 - 77%
• +700 - 76%

RC:

• Sub 600 - 100% (just 6 Q)
• 600-700 - 85%
• +700 - 80%

Quant:

• Sub 600 - 90%
• 600-650 - 91%
• 650-700 - 90%
• 700-750 - 80%

I then wrote my first practice exam a few days ago. I would have expected to get Q49 and V37 or so. However, my score was only 610(Q44, V29). My testing experience was not good at all. I started with the Verbal part first and was extremely tense.
I don't know if you know the feeling, but when you approach a 10/10 beautiful woman for the first time, you feel the adrenaline in your body. That's exactly how it felt. The first 15 minutes were like a rollercoaster.
​
https://preview.redd.it/amftmejgzv2b1.png?width=585&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c79a3848c8065d5c65abed61c14162a875fd523
As you can see, i answered only 5/10 of the first Verbal questions correctly. In the quant part I made many unnecessary mistakes. After the exam, I sat down and went through the tasks in peace. I was able to solve 10 of my 16 quant mistakes within 2 minutes without any problems. Of my 13 verbal errors, I was able to solve 4.
I had the feeling that I was under pressure and I watched the time very often. This probably also led to unnecessary mistakes. I have the feeling that the score of 610 does not reflect my actual abilities.
I know where my weaknesses are at Quant and want to address them further with TTP over the next 2 weeks before taking another Practice Exam. I also think that I will feel less pressure in the next exam, as I mistakenly made the moment bigger than it was.
For Verbal, I would appreciate any tips. It seems that my Easy /medium question accuracy is not high enough to reach the hard questions, is my analysis correct? My question is, if you guys read through this, what could be the problem? And how would you advise me to prepare more effectively for the Exam now? I want to achieve 730 before the first of August. Is this possible?

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

♫ Here we go, it's the lean green ninja team ♫

Many years ago, four baby turtles and a man named Hamato Yoshi were mutated in the sewers of New York City. These turtles became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, taught the way of the ninja by Yoshi, also known as Master Splinter. After their mutation, the turtles would go on to protect the world and themselves from a variety of threats, including insidious mutants, invading aliens, and the Shredder, master of the evil Foot Clan.

Leonardo

Leonardo is the leader in blue, does anything it takes to get his ninjas through. Wearing blue and wielding twin katanas, Leo is the field leader of the turtles and the most dedicated to the way of the ninja.
Full RT

Strength

• Cuts apart Kraang droids
• Kicks a Kraang pod down hard enough to make a crater in the metal floor^S1E26
• Holds back Kraang Prime's giant mech until it breaks the chain^S1E26

Durability

• Gets hit with a charge and punches from Armaggon^S4E4
  • Armaggon's charges shatter space station walls and he can tear apart warbots with his hands^S4E4
• Fine after being pushed through a stone floor^S3E23
• Gets blasted through a wall by Kavaxas^S5E3
  • Kavaxas' fire is hot enough to incinerate a man and his gun^S5E3

Speed

• Cuts arrows out of the air^S2E25
• Reflects a shot from a Kraang blaster back at the Kraang^S2E9
• Slices two Foot robots into pieces before they begin to fall^S2E8

Skill

• Wins a free-for-all against the other turtles^S2E8
• Paralyzes Raphael with pressure points^S5E2
• Curves a thrown shuriken to hit a fleeing van's tire^S1E1

Donatello

Donatello is the fellow, has a way with machines. Wearing purple and wielding a bo staff, Donny is the brains of the turtles and can often be found in his lab, inventing weapons and gadgets to help the team in their fight against evil.
Full RT

Strength

• Launches an Elite Foot robot away^S4E20
• Cuts through a Foot robot with his naginata^S2E22
• Throws his bo staff hard enough to take the head off of a Foot robot and embed it in a wall^S2E25

Durability

• Gets blasted with psychic energy from vampire April^S5E14
  • April hit Super Shredder through a concrete wall with a psychic blast^S4E25
• Takes a shot to the shell from Tiger Claw's gun^S4E26
  • Tiger Claw's gun shattered a large mechanical press^S3E14
• Gets hit with Metalhead's flamethrower^S2E11

Speed

• Dodges crossbow bolts and arrows^S3E2
• Dodges through a barrage of Kraang blaster fire^S1E3
• Crosses a fair distance while his staff appears to be falling in slo-mo^S1E16

Skill

• Learns to fight without thinking, allowing him to defeat a psychic who was able to see his next moves^S1E7
• Calculates how to throw shuriken and kunai so that they ricochet and stab Foot robots^S2E3
• Makes a flowchart that predicts every outcome of a conversation with April^S1E7

Raphael

Raphael's got the most attitude on the team. Wearing red and wielding twin sai, Raph is the muscle of the turtles and is the most ferocious in battle, though he sometimes struggles to keep his anger in check.
Full RT

Strength

• Slices a Foot bot in half with his sai^S4E26
• Tackles Super Shredder through a concrete wall then slams his face into a pipe^S4E26
• Matches strength with Slash as they smash through walls in a building^S2E7

Durability

• Gets punched into a wall by Baxter Stockman's mech hard enough to make a crater and knock down pieces of it and is ok^S1E5
• Takes kicks from Fishface, who can crater a concrete wall with a kick^S1E16
• Gets blasted with magic by The Mummy, whose magic is strong enough to destroy his sarcophagus lid and the statue pinning it down^S5E14

Speed

• Dodges several arrows in a training exercise^S1E3
• While brainwashed, intercepts Leonardo's attack meant for Shredder^S3E16
• Leaps across spires in Dimension X to save Mona Lisa as she's falling^S4E8

Skill

• Uses a pressure point on Slash to stun him^S2E7
• Throws four shuriken at once to hit four drones following him^S1E19
• Trained pigeons to block security cameras^S2E3

Michelangelo

Michelangelo, he's one of a kind, and you know just where to find him when it's party time. Wearing orange and wielding twin nunchucks, Mikey is the youngest of the turtles and is the most easygoing, offering the team an optimistic, if sometimes naive, viewpoint.
Full RT

Strength

• Smashes turrets with his nunchucks^S1E19
• Stabs a Kraang droid's head with his kusarigama^S2E25
• Kicks off a Kraang droid's head^S1E6

Durability

• Gets thrown into a building by Baxter Stockman's mech and is ok^S1E5
• Takes hits from Dogpound^S1E10
  • Dogpound smashes through concrete^S1E11
• Withstands Mutagen Man's acid^S2E4
  • Mutagen Man's acid melted a metal pipe and a police baton^S2E4

Speed

• Dodges crossbow bolts and arrows^S3E2
• Dodges attacks from the other turtles while they are brainwashed^S2E18
• Fights spiritual Foot ninja while leaping from tree to tree^S3E8

Skill

• Fights without thinking, allowing him to easily dodge Splinter's strikes^S1E7
• Strings up Shredder on a sign using his kusarigama^S1E9
• Makes intricate shadow puppets^S2E6

Shared Feats

• Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello lift a piece of a large sign off of Michelangelo^S1E9
• Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo knock back Traag with a flying kick^S1E17
• All four turtles move large stone blocks to uncover the entrance to a pharaoh's tomb^S5E14

Turtle Gear

Shared Misc Gear

• Climbing claws^S1E2
• Special cell phones built by Donatello called T-Phones^S1E7
  • Self-destruct feature^S1E11
• Smoke bombs that allow them to basically teleport^S1E9
  • Donatello uses one to discombobulate a man^S1E10
• Chains^S1E5
• Explosive arrows that can pierce Kraang droids^S1E9
• Grappling hooks^S1E13
• Grappling guns^S2E9
  • Embed in concrete^S1E25
  • Donatello uses one to Spider-Man swing around^S2E16
  • The Turtles hook onto a rollercoaster after being thrown off of the car^S3E11
  • Leonardo uses one to wrap up Mega Shredder's tongue^S3E21
• Flashlights^S2E9
• Motorized gliders that allow them to fly^S1E25
  • Keep smaller deployable gliders on them^S3E12
• Ninja grappling harnesses^S4E17

Shellraiser

A subway train car converted into a combat vehicle by Donatello

Weapons/Gadgets

• Has a garbage cannon^S1E16
  • Liquefies mutant wasps^S1E23
  • Breaks a missile turret off of a Kraang truck^S2E11
  • Sends a giant rat flying when a car crash hardly moved one^S2E12
• Has a manhole cover launcher^S1E18
  • Embeds a manhole cover in the wall^S1E18
• Has jaws on the front that mangle Kraang droids^S1E16
• Releases a smokescreen and an oil slick^S2E22
• Scans Shredder's DNA^S4E20
• Shoots a missile that blows up Granitor^S5E20

Physicals

• Smashes through a wall^S1E16
  • Again^S3E17
• Pushes a line of cars^S2E21
• Rams a van^S1E18
• Withstands Kraang blaster fire and a missile from a Kraang droid^S1E25
  • A Kraang blaster rifle is strong enough to break a Kraang droid in half^S1E9 and blow up a security shutter^S5E10
• Gets rammed by a garbage truck^S4E24

Party Wagon

April O'Neil's van converted into a combat vehicle by Donatello

Weapons/Gadgets

• Shoots soda rockets and stink bombs at Kraang droids^S3E9
• Flamethrower^S3E9
• Releases an oil slick^S3E16
• Contains a deployable kart with a lawnmower blade attached^S3E22
• Flings a bomb that blows up a hot dog cart^S4E18
• Shoots a missile that blows up Traag^S5E20

Physicals

• Rams a mutant car through railing off of the side of a cliff^S3E6
• Tanks shots from Kraang blasters and rams through a wood wall^S3E9
  • A Kraang blaster rifle is strong enough to break a Kraang droid in half^S1E9 and blow up a security shutter^S5E10

Patrol Buggy

A series of motorized karts that can combine and separate built by Donatello

• Splits into two karts^S1E10
  • Splits further^S1E10
• Releases caltrops^S1E10

Stealth Bike

A stealth motorcycle built by Donatello

• Housed in the Shellraiser^S1E18
• Can activate a cover that is the same color as the street, making it hard to track from above^S1E18

Turtle Sub

A submarine built by Donatello

• The engines are charged by kinetic energy^S1E21
• Shoots torpedoes^S2E21
• Shoots an underwater flare^S1E21
• Releases explosives to make a sea monster let go of it^S1E21
• Opens its mouth to carry a rock^S1E21

Turtle Blimp

A blimp built by Donatello

• Disguised as a water tower^S3E12
• Has a garbage cannon and a spyglass^S3E12

Turtle Mech

A four-man mech built by Donatello

Weapons/Gadgets

• Flamethrower^S2E25
• Launches a barrel bomb^S2E25
  • Blows up Mega Shredder, a giant mutant^S3E21
• Grappling hand^S2E25
  • Grapples onto Mega Shredder to hit it with a dropkick^S3E21
• Spins its hand to shred large bugs^S5E5
• Taps into the city's power grid and uses an electro-harpoon to take down Kraang Prime, though it fries the mech^S2E25

Physicals

• No sells Kraang blasters and stomps on Kraang droids^S2E25
• Picks up a dumpster and drops it on a Kraang droid^S2E25
• Gets smacked into a building by Mega Shredder^S3E21
• Jumps across rooftops and takes a blast from Kraang Prime's laser^S2E25
• Dodges a charge from Mega Shredder^S3E21
• Dodges a blast from Lord Dregg's mothership^S5E5

Misc Vehicles

• A rocket-powered vehicle^S2E1

Donatello

Donatello is the fellow, has a way with machines

Many years ago, four baby turtles and a man named Hamato Yoshi were mutated in the sewers of New York City. These turtles became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, taught the way of the ninja by Yoshi, also known as Master Splinter. Donatello is the brains of the outfit, with a keen mind and tendency to over-analyze the situations he finds himself in. He has a big crush on his human friend, April O'Neil. He serves as the inventor of the team, creating weapons and vehicles to help his brothers in their war against the alien Kraang and the Foot Clan's master, the Shredder.
Feats will be marked with the season and episode number (i.e. S2E14).

Physicals

Strength

Bo

• Knocks back Baxter Stockman's mech^S1E5
  • Again^S1E5
• Smashes turrets^S1E19
• Launches an Elite Foot robot away^S4E20
• Disables a Kraang droid^S1E2
  • 2^S1E12
  • 3^S1E19
  • 4^S1E24
• Disables Foot robots^S2E6
  • Foot robots can burst through concrete^S2E6 and leap through metal bars^S2E8
• Knocks a Kraang droid's head off^S2E11
  • 2^S2E24
• Knocks a MOUSER's head off^S2E5
• Disables MOUSERS^S1E11
• Knocks out a Foot ninja^S1E10
  • Foot ninja burst through walls^S1E8
• Knocks out Punk Frogs^S3E4
  • The frogs could smash through a house wall with no issue^S3E4
• With Casey Jones, smacks Bebop through a wooden wall^S3E11
• Sends a Kraang hoverpod flying into a window, breaking a hole in it^S1E17
• Hits a piece of toast hard enough to break through a plate^S2E5

Naginata

• Stabs through an Elite Foot robot^S4E20
  • Shinigami can't cut an Elite^S4E16 but can cut through robots^S5E19
• Cuts through a Foot robot^S2E22
  • 2^S3E16
  • 3^S4E26
• Cuts the shaft of a swinging metal ball^S4E26
• Cuts into stone^S5E14
• Stabs through a Foot robot^S2E6
  • 2^S2E8
• Stabs a Kraang droid^S2E21
• Stabs a Kraang computer^S2E21
• Stabs Don Vizioso's flying chair^S4E18
• Cuts open a fire hydrant^S5E5
• Cuts chain^S5E16

Lifting/Throwing

• Flings Michelangelo into the air^S2E20
• Throws his bo staff hard enough to take the head off of a Foot robot and embed it in a wall^S2E25
• Throws his bo staff hard enough to launch away a Kraang droid^S1E1
• Ricochets shuriken to stab into Foot robots^S2E3
• Throws shuriken into a metal shutter^S1E7
• Throws a shuriken to cut open a pipe^S2E13

Other

• Punches a man into a dumbwaiter hard enough to crack the wall around it^S1E7
• Disables a Foot robot^S2E3
  • Foot robots can burst through concrete^S2E6 and leap through metal bars^S2E8
• Breaks sections of rock with his axe^S3E8
• Stabs a Kraang blaster rifle into a fuel tank^S1E21

Durability

Blunt

• Takes hits from Super Shredder^S4E26
• Takes a hit from Shredder^S2E20
• Takes a punch from mind-controlled Splinter^S1E13
• Gets slammed into a wall hard enough to crater it by Baxter Stockman's mech and is ok^S1E5
• Gets slammed into Leonardo by Baxter Stockman's mech^S1E5
  • Stockman's mech smashed through a large concrete wall^S1E5
• Takes hits from Zeno, a Triceraton gladiator^S4E7
  • Zeno could one shot Triceraton soldiers^S4E7 when Zog, a half-dead Triceraton with oxygen poisoning, can smash through concrete and no sell hits from Slash^S3E24
• Gets blasted with psychic energy from vampire April^S5E14
  • April hit Super Shredder through a concrete wall with a psychic blast^S4E25
• Takes a hit from Rahzar^S4E20
  • Rahzar is stronger than Dogpound^S2E5
• Takes a hit from Dogpound^S2E5
  • Dogpound smashes through concrete^S1E11 and destroys a pillar^S2E5
• Takes a kick from Fishface^S1E22
  • 2^S2E20
  • This time gets kicked through metal doors^S3E14
    • Fishface can crater a concrete wall with a kick^S1E16
• Takes a hit from Mutagen Man^S2E4
  • Again^S2E4
    • Mutagen Man is strong enough to bust through a wall, knock over a car, and throw a car across a street^S2E4
• Gets punched by Slash^S2E17
  • Slash launches Raphael through a concrete structure and smashes through one himself^S2E7
• Gets blasted by Wind and Thunder^S2E23
  • Wind broke a large hole in a concrete roof and Thunder shattered part of the street^S2E23
• Takes a hit from a Foot robot^S2E3
  • 2^S2E8
  • 3^S2E20
    • Foot robots can burst through concrete^S2E6 and leap through metal bars^S2E8
• Takes a hit from Frankenstein's Monster^S5E17
  • The monster cratered Michelangelo into a wall^S5E16 and broke through large steel doors^S5E17
• Takes hits from 1987 Krang^S5E19
  • Krang smashed a car
• Takes a hit from Casey^S4E5
  • Casey embeds his hockey stick in a Foot robot's head,^S2E6 one shots a giant rat that was unharmed by a car crashing into it,^S2E12 can slapshot hockey pucks hard enough to embed them in stone and knock the head off of a statue,^S2E23 and knocks a metal door almost off its hinges^S3E14
• Gets hit by Bigfoot^S3E2
  • Again^S3E2
    • Bigfoot broke a tree in half with a punch and ripped a tree out of the ground^S3E2
• Takes hits from Mona Lisa^S4E2
  • Mona shatters an ice dragon's head^S4E2
• Gets hit by Kirby^S2E1
  • Kirby broke a metal cage^S2E1
• Takes a hit from Lord Dregg^S4E9
  • Dregg launched Raphael into debris^S4E1
• Gets hit by Stockman-Fly throwing Casey at him hard enough to shatter crates^S2E16
• A grappling gun hook bounces off of his shell^S2E9
  • The grappling hooks embed in concrete^S1E25

Energy

• Gets blasted with magic by The Mummy, whose magic is strong enough to destroy his sarcophagus lid and the statue pinning it down^S5E14
• Takes a shot to the shell from Tiger Claw's gun^S4E26
  • Tiger Claw's gun shattered a large mechanical press^S3E14
• Gets blasted by Krang's laser which sliced a radio tower in half^S4E10
• Gets blasted by a giant eye which took a chunk out of concrete with a smaller blast^S4E19

Heat

• Gets blasted through a wall by Kavaxas^S5E3
  • Kavaxas' fire is hot enough to incinerate a man and his gun^S5E3
• Temporarily withstands the heat of reentry^S3E12
• Gets hit with Metalhead's flamethrower^S2E11

Electricity

• Gets electrocuted^S4E7
• Ok after being electrocuted^S5E19

Other

• Ok after being hit by an RPG^S1E20
• Ok after breathing in poison gas^S2E9

Speed/Agility

Reaction/Dodging

• Dodges crossbow bolts and arrows^S3E2
• Smacks an arrow away^S5E7
• Dodges and deflects Triceraton blaster fire^S4E7
• Dodges through a barrage of blaster fire from Kraang^S1E3
• Dodges shots from Steranko's gun^S3E10
• Dodges Metalhead's laser^S1E6
• Dodges a shot from a Kraang blaster^S1E1
• Dodges shots from a Kraang energy cannon^S1E6
• Dodges blasts from turrets^S1E19
• Blocks Kraang blaster fire^S1E16
• Blocks blasts from Bebop^S3E15
• Pushes Michelangelo out of the way of a particle disruptor^S1E19
• Avoids lightning fired by Lightning^S2E23
• Avoids missiles fired by Baxter Stockman's mech^S1E5
  • Again^S1E19
• Dodges and deflects missiles^S4E25
• Dodges a missile from a Kraang robot^S2E9
• Dodges through a barrage of glue shots from Bebop^S3E11
• Dodges Metalhead's rocket fist^S1E6
• Swats a kunai thrown by Oroku Saki^S3E20
• Blocks a shuriken thrown by Karai^S2E6
• Blocks a shuriken thrown by a Foot ninja^S1E4
• Dodges attacks from Super Shredder^S4E26
• Dodges a strike from Snakeweed^S1E2
• Dodges a sword swing from Mirage Comics Leonardo^S4E10
• Easily avoids attacks from the Purple Dragons^S1E8

Movement

• Crosses a fair distance while his staff appears to be falling in slo-mo^S1E16
• Keeps pace with a fleeing van while running across rooftops^S1E1

Agility

• Catches April after she falls from a helicopter^S1E2
• Catches April by swinging on his grappling hook^S1E13
• Leaps across rooftops^S1E1
• Scales a long shaft by jumping up the walls^S1E26
• Jumps up floating platforms^S2E11
• Wall jumps up out of a lab^S1E3
• Jumps up to the rafters^S2E5
• Runs up and flips off of a wall^S1E4
• Jumps around objects to tie up Snakeweed with his own vines^S1E14
• Jumps around the gear mechanism of a giant tower^S3E19
• Flips onto Michelangelo, landing in a handstand^S1E5
• Pole vaults with his staff to reach a helicopter^S1E2
• Bounces off of an awning and springs off of a fire escape to reach the top of a building^S2E23

Skill/Misc

Combat

• Learns to fight without thinking, allowing him to defeat a psychic who was able to see his next moves^S1E7
• Fights off multiple Foot ninja at once^S1E8
• Maneuvers to stab a Kraang droid in the head with a shuriken using his feet while hanging from a helicopter^S1E2
• Easily takes down a man who attacks him from behind^S1E7
• Takes out samurai while on horseback^S5E7

Stealth

• Picks off Foot ninja without being seen or heard^S1E4
• Sneaks around a meat locker to land surprise attacks on Tiger Claw, a mutant with super senses^S2E19
  • Disappears from Tiger Claw's sight when the light flickers^S2E19
• Sneaks into the elevator of TCRI without being seen by the receptionist^S4E23
• Takes out mobsters without being detected^S5E3
• Takes out samurai without being detected^S5E7
• Sneaks through the subway undetected by Kraang^S3E9
• Sneaks around vampires without being detected^S5E17
• Appears on a ledge in a flash of lightning^S3E10

Accuracy

• Calculates how to throw multiple shuriken so that they will ricochet and strike Leonardo at multiple angles^S2E3
• Calculates how to throw shuriken and kunai so that they ricochet and stab Foot robots^S2E3

Hacking

• Hacks into Kraang computers with a modified toaster and his phone^S1E25
• Hacks into the power grid and blows the electricity in Shredder's lair^S2E22
• Hacks Baxter Stockman's computer to open Splinter's cage^S3E9
• Hacks into city camera systems^S4E25

General

• Helps Dr. Frankenstein bring his creation to life^S5E16
• Forges new weapons to undertake his Vision Quest^S3E8
  • Completes his Vision Quest by learning to rely on his body, allowing him to overcome spiritual Tiger Claw^S3E8
• Uses a breathing technique to operate without oxygen^S4E7
• Makes a flowchart that predicts every outcome of a conversation with April^S1E7
• Modifies his phone so it can track ambient AC currents^S1E19
• With Casey Jones, repurposes Kraang technology to soup up an old car^S3E6
• April says that Donatello is way ahead of most scientists^S2E13
• Revives Raphael after he had been turned into a plant and his mutagen had been siphoned out^S3E1
• Spins his staff to blow away poison gas^S3E10
• Pretends to be a kappa to frighten off ninja^S3E20

Gear

Standard Weapons

• His trademark bo staff^S1E1
  • Has a retractable blade that turns it into a naginata^S1E13
  • Withstands several blows from a Kraang droid, which can crater the street with a punch^S1E1
  • Blocks sword strikes from a Foot ninja^S1E4
  • Blocks a naginata swing from Karai,^S2E6 who can cut through Kraang droids with a sword^S1E15
• Shuriken^S2E3

Space

• While in space, Donny wore a space suit^S4E1 and used a technologically-advanced staff
  • The suits project a field of warmth like a second skin^S4E2
  • Uses the staff to scan the moon he's on for a specific metal^S4E2
  • Electrocutes a creature with the staff^S4E5
  • Defibrillates Leonardo with the staff^S4E14
• Carries a blaster pistol^S4E6

Misc

• A spyglass^S1E3

Inventions

Metalhead

A robot made by Donatello by reverse-engineering a Kraang droid and adding his own modifications.

Physicals

• Defeats Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo in a demonstration, easily catching Raphael's attack and proving impervious to Leonardo and Michelangelo's^S1E6
  • No sells more attacks from the turtles^S1E6
• Makes a crater when he lands after jumping onto a roof^S1E6
• Rips off a Kraang droid's arm^S2E11
• No sells shots from Kraang blaster rifles^S1E6
  • A Kraang blaster rifle is strong enough to break a Kraang droid in half^S1E9 and blow up a security shutter^S5E10
• Accidentally blows up propane canisters with his laser and is fine after the resulting explosion, though the antenna that allowed Donatello to remotely control him was broken^S1E6
• Catches Leonardo's sword swing^S2E11
• Dodges strikes from Donatello^S2E11
• Shoots his own bombs reflected back at him out of the air^S2E11
• Programmed to know dozens of fighting styles including the Foot and the Kraang^S2E11

Weapons/Gadgets

• Guns down Kraang droids with his laser cannon^S1E6
• Rocket fist^S1E6
• Flamethrower^S1E6
• Shoots a bomb out of his eye^S1E6
  • Shoots many^S1E6
• Scans a room to look for hidden passageways^S2E11

Misc

• Develops retro-mutagen that can reverse mutations^S2E16
  • Creates retro-mutagen based weed killer to defeat a plant mutant^S3E22
• Built an advanced music player using a discarded military chip^S1E5
• Built a digital lockpick^S1E7
  • Opens the entrance to Baxter Stockman's lab^S3E9
• Builds cell phones for the turtles^S1E7
  • Made an app for his phone that can trag Kraang energy^S1E17
• Uses an electric gun to take down Pigeon Pete^S1E9
• Outfits a cockroach with gear to spy on the Kraang^S1E18
• Builds radar beacons^S1E20
• Builds an electro-grenade^S1E20
• Built "ooze specs" that track mutagen trails^S2E2
  • Looks at broken Kraang droids to discern that they were destroyed by a plasma weapon^S2E17
  • Locates and analyzes scales to determine that they are Karai's^S3E10
• Invents air-powered grappling harnesses that allow the wearer to move in any direction^S4E17
• Creates gear that destroys ghosts^S5E4
• Creates an anti-gravity calzone maker^S5E18