This article is not my original creation. It was from "Mysterious Universe" website. Unfortunately the site has since been taken down. I was able to find the wayback machine (internet archive backup) for this article. However it is not a reliable permanent solution, hence I decided to post the duplicate here as well.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210507065339/https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/08/bright-colors-strange-entities-and-baffling-vanishings/
Content of the original article:

Bright Colors, Strange Entities, and Baffling Vanishings

Brent Swancer

August 7, 2019

There are numerous cases throughout history of people just seeming to step off the face of the earth to vanish into thin air. We are usually left with only scattered clues, grasping at theories as to what has happened to these unfortunate souls, but in some cases it appears that there is a correlation of sorts. Throughout a great number of these accounts of people who have seemingly blinked out of existence there is the simple but nagging clue that they were wearing brightly colored clothing. It seems to be at first a meaningless quirk, but the number of reports of the mysteriously vanished and bright articles of clothing has increasingly become something that can’t be easily ignored, although the answers as to why might be forever elusive.
A very strange case popped up on Whitley Streiber’s site, Unknown Country, concerning a witness calling himself Alan Lamers and his very unusual, otherworldy story. Lamers claims that he was working on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, which is where it first came to his attention that a great many people were said to have gone into the jungles of the area to vanish without a trace. He was first told about this as he visited a small speck of a village in the district of Sandu Batu, in South Sulawesi, where he was warned to only wear clothing that was white or black in color, with no bright colors whatsoever. In particular he was warned not to wear anything that was yellow, and that black was the best one to go with. Odd indeed, but it would get odder still.
When Lamers pressed as to why he should not wear bright colors or anything with yellow on it, the villagers told him that people who did so had a bad habit of disappearing off the face of the earth. Weirder still, sometimes the people would reappear dazed and confused, not remembering anything of their strange incident and missing the articles of clothing with the offending colors. As to why, the villagers had no explanation. After hearing of this, Lamers and his companions warily wore all black when they trekked out into the jungle to investigate some alleged illegal logging in the area, but one of the men apparently broke the rules, and he explains:

One of my friends, who is a Bugis-Makassar, didn’t listen or understand the warning and wore yellow socks. We did our tour and returned. He was strangely quiet. That night he became extremely ill. I had never seen a person projectile vomit that hard. He had an extreme fever also. We nursed him and about a day later he returned to his healthy self. Then he told us what happened. He said something had bitten him on his right legs calf and then his thigh. He showed us the marks. They were huge scratches. He said he could not see what was attacking him. He said he did not want to tell us what happened because he was embarrassed. The villagers stood around us with these knowing looks while we looked at the marks. they said he was very lucky. Usually people disappear. I was stunned.

What was going on here, and what in the world does the color yellow have to do with it? It is unclear, but Lamers claims that he would get at least some theories during his stay. He tells the account of a woman friend of his whose brother had gone hiking in the mountains along with four others, after which they all vanished. After an intensive search finally the brother was found, alive but in a dazed state and looking undernourished and skeletal. When asked about what had happened to them the brother said he could not remember, but whatever it was had obviously and visibly traumatized him. No trace of the others was ever found. Lamers asked his friend what she thought had happened to them, and he says of her response and his reactions to it:

She said it was the Jin. Jin is Arabic for demon. She said many many people have disappeared in the mountains because of the Jin. I asked my engineer friend who I worked with about this early today. He said it happens often and reminded me of Wala Wala the village we had gone to. Entire cultures have developed around this problem. They wear only black because they believe this allows them to travel through the jungle undetectable by whatever it is that takes these people. There is something taking these people Whitley. Something terrible and evil in Sulawesi. The people of Sulawesi have come to terms with it and have tried to adapt themselves to deal with whatever it is. It has gone on long enough to bend culture. I will continue to investigate what this is.

Is that what this was? A Jin? This makes sense considering that the population of the region is around 85% Muslim, but could there be any other explanation? He apparently did follow up on all of this, managing to get more information out of the locals, as well as from the lone survivor from that doomed trek as his memory came trickling back to him about that fateful hike. However, his story seems to make no real sense, and is so bizarre it leaves more questions than answers. Lamers tells Strieber of this additional information:

I found out he kept seeing what the Bugis call Jin Kurcaci. It means little demon people. These things do what is called “penculikan” or abduction. No one knows why they do this. But sometimes the people come back after a bit. The people or creatures who do this have a small nose and their eyes are small and black, but their mouths are very broad and when they smile it is very large compared to the rest of their face. He could not remember the color of their skin. I asked for a picture to be drawn. He managed a crude happy face with a nose consisting of a single line and a huge grimace.
The boy was the only one who could see them out of the five. He kept seeing a lot of them but when he would try to show the others one of the four who disappeared could see them. He also saw a strange animal he could not recognize. These animals are the size of a horse with huge antlers. He said he saw herds of them. He could not understand where they came from or why there were so many. They not an animal indigenous to the area. There is no such known animal that big in Sulawesi. Apparently this is a widespread problem.

Is this Jin, some sort of evil forest people, or just folklore? What is the significance of the colors and why must people wear black? Does this somehow draw these forces in, and maybe they are attracted by these colors? It is very interesting to note that some of the most bizarre vanishings on record are theorized to have had some link to bright colors, according to missing persons investigator David Paulides, author of The Missing 411 series of books.
Paulides has researched strange vanishings all over the world and has compiled a sort of list of criteria that seem to be common to many of the cases. Examples include people disappearing practically right under the noses of nearby friends or family, bodies turning up without shoes or proper outdoor clothing, children who have gone missing only for their bodies to turn up in inaccessible areas where they could not possibly have climbed to on their own, belongings or clothing left behind often neatly folded or arranged, bodies that have turned up in areas that have already been thoroughly searched or are out of reach, and people who have disappeared without leaving a single scrap of evidence behind. There are also the fact that many of these disappearances seem to happen near bodies of water or where berries happen to be growing, that with bodies which are found the cause of death is often unclear or difficult to determine, that there is a lack of tracks, and that search dogs often cannot pick up the scent or are led to places such as sheer walls where no one could reasonably scale. Often people who were with the missing explain that they just happened to get separated somehow without being able to pinpoint when or how. Then there is the curious detail that many of the vanished just so happened to have been wearing bright colors.
This has been seen in many vanishings covered by Paulides, with perhaps the most well-known being the disappearance of 6-year old Dennis Martin. On June 14, 1969, Dennis was on a camping and hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountains when he and his family stopped off at a grassy mountain highland meadow and popular stop-off point along the Appalachian Trail know as Spence Field. As the adults sat out on the grass chatting, Dennis, his brother, and two other boys on the trip thought it would be amusing to play a prank on their parents. They decided that they would split up, go out into the woods, and then simultaneously jump out from different directions to startle the adults in what was meant to be just harmless fun.
Three of the boys went one way and Dennis, who was the youngest, went the other. The reason he had been chosen to be on his own was that he was wearing a highly visible bright red shirt. This is something to remember in relation to this article, the bright colors. Just as planned, the three older boys jumped out and scared the adults, but then the men asked where Dennis was. Since the other boys had seen him just a few minutes earlier, they assumed that he had merely missed his cue and so they waited for him to jump out of the trees as well, but he never appeared.
Dennis’ father, Bill Martin, went out to get his son, expecting that he would be there hiding in the bushes as he had been instructed, but an immediate search of the area showed no signs of the boy, and calls into the woods went unanswered. Increasingly worried, Bill and Dennis’ grandfather, Clyde Martin, hiked out in different directions farther and farther from the place where the boy had last been seen and still they found nothing. Park Rangers were notified and a search was launched that would last until nightfall, when heavy rain began to come down along with thunder, which hampered efforts to find the boy and the search was called off until the following day with still no trace of where Dennis had gone off to.
In a rather ominous twist, a mere hours after Dennis had gone missing a family named the Keys reported that they had been hiking around 6 miles from Spence Field when they had heard a boy’s scream. The son also claimed to have seen movement in a bush which he at first had thought to be a bear, but turned out to be a man walking in the woods with something apparently slung over his shoulder. As spooky as this may seem, authorities determined that the location was too far away from Spence Field to have possibly have anything to do with Dennis within the time frame of events.
In the following days the search efforts would quickly grow in size to hundreds of people scouring the area, including park rangers, locals, volunteers, the FBI, National Guard, and even Green Berets and psychics, along with bloodhounds and helicopters, and meanwhile the news of the disappearance had started making major national headlines. Since Dennis was described as a robust, healthy boy with plenty of hiking experience it was thought that he was alive and would be found in short order, but continuing heavy rains flooding roads, as well as thick fogs, made efforts difficult. For their part, Dennis’s parents posted a hefty reward for any information leading to finding their son. Dennis Martin has never been found, and not a trace of what happened to him has ever been uncovered. Interestingly, this all fits several of Paulides’ criteria, including the brightly colored clothing.
Similarly there is the case of 4-year-old Alfred Beilhartz, who in the summer of 1938 was on a fishing and camping trip with his family at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. As the boy and his parents were taking a hike along a river, little Alfred, who was wearing a brightly colored shirt, suddenly simply disappeared without explanation. One moment he had been there walking in a line behind them, and the next the parents had turned around to find he was gone without a trace. There had been no shout or sign of distress, and all calls to him went unanswered. He had seemingly just ceased to exist.
Although the parents claimed that the boy had gone nowhere near the water, authorities were nevertheless convinced that he had fallen into the river, and immediately went about blocking off the river so that it could be thoroughly searched and so that his body would not float too far away. A 6-mile stretch of the river where Alfred had vanished was searched and dredged for 5 full days without turning up any sign of the boy, and when bloodhounds were brought in they oddly tracked his scent to around 500 feet uphill from where his parents had been when he had disappeared, which was odd considering he had supposedly gone missing as he was walking behind them. Also strange was that allegedly the bloodhounds followed the trail for some time before reaching a fork and suddenly stopping and simply lying down, an odd behavior for trained scent dogs to display, and also strange because it seemed that the trail had just abruptly stopped to vanish just as surely as the boy had.
Even more bizarre than this was an odd report that came in from some hikers in the area in the early stages of the search, the very day after Alfred had vanished. The hikers, who were a couple, had been on Old Fall River Road about 6 miles away over rugged terrain and around 3,000 feet higher from where Alfred had disappeared, and at the time had had no idea that there was a missing boy in the area, yet they reported seeing a rather worrying sight. They claimed that they had seen a young boy perched up upon a high ridge in an area ominously called “The Devil’s Nest,” near the top of Mt. Chaplin. The hikers reported that the boy had been forlornly sitting alone up there and had then suddenly moved out of sight, which the hikers mysteriously allegedly said looked as if he were being “jerked back.” At the time they could not figure out how such a young boy would be out there in the remote wilderness by himself or how he could have possibly climbed up onto that formidably high ridge. According to the hikers, as soon as they had gotten home and seen the news, they had realized that the boy they had seen was the missing Alfred Beilhartz.
Authorities acted on the tip and made the journey out to the Devil’s Nest, a perilous hike through thick, unforgiving forested terrain littered with rough brush and dense trees, and there at the top of the looming ridge they could find no trace of the boy. Considering the difficulty of the terrain, the elevation, and the steep, treacherous climb up to the ridge on which the hikers had claimed to have seen the boy, park rangers came to the conclusion that it would have been impossible for the boy to have made the hike out there in the timeframe involved on his own, and that he could not have possibly climbed the ridge alone without specialized climbing equipment and experience. There are several weird details about this case. How did Alfred manage to just vanish right under his parents’ noses without making a sound? What happened to his scent trail and why did the bloodhounds following him act so oddly? How could Alfred hike all the way up Mt. Chaplin, trudging 6 miles and 3,000 feet through unforgiving perilous terrain in such a short time, and then climb up onto that high ridge by himself? What did the hikers mean that he was “jerked back”? We may never know, and Alfred Beilhartz has never been found. Oddly enough, it is reported that young little Beilhartz had been wearing brightly colored clothing at the time of his vanishing.
Such cases are numerous, and we also have the case of 3-year-old Jaryd Atadero, who in October of 1999 was staying with his father at a Christian retreat lodge at Poudre Canyon, Colorado. On October 2, Jaryd was out with 12 of the Christian group members on a hike along the Big South Trail when he somehow got ahead of the group and talked to some fishermen along the Cache la Poudre River, asking them if they’d seen any bears, to which they replied that the boy should get back with the others. Those fishermen would be the last ones to see Jaryd Atedero alive. In the wake of his disappearances a massive search using bloodhounds and aircraft was unable to find any trace of the boy, and it was largely assumed that he had fallen into the frigid waters of the river and drowned.
It would not be until 4 years later that he would finally be found, when on June 4, 2003 his remains were discovered up in a remote, inaccessible area up a steep incline about 500 feet above the trail he had vanished on. This is where the case gets weird. On the dead boy’s cranium were found a series of odd scratches that were assumed to be from a mountain lion, yet big cat experts pointed out that a cougar would have torn at the sweater and body near the neck and stomach, damage that was absent. Indeed, there were no other apparent injuries on the body. Paulides also claims that he spoke to forensics experts on the case who told him that, although the source of the scratches could not be determined, they were not from any known animal. Other odd details about the body were that the boy’s clothes had been turned inside out, and a single tooth from his mouth had been found placed upon a nearby log, strangely not overgrown with moss or vegetation considering that it had presumably been sitting there for 4 years. The clothes and shoes themselves were also surprisingly brightly colored and new looking for supposedly having been out in the elements for so long. And there is a key word here, they were brightly colored.
Adding to this strangeness surrounding the case of Jaryd Atadero are allegations made by the boy’s father, Allyn Atadero, that authorities were very secretive and dishonest about the whole incident, and seemed to be almost intentionally botching the investigation. One example is when the Atadero family was allegedly threatened with arrest if they tried to go off snooping around on the Big South Trail, and although it was claimed by authorities that the trail was the only way in or out of the canyon, this turned out to be a falsehood, as Allyn found records of various other entry and exit points. Another oddity was that Allyn claimed that he had discovered that the police were using his own shorts as a scent sample for the dogs rather than those of his son, and that when confronted about this glaring error in procedure they got confrontational and irritated, allegedly going so far as to threaten to call the search off. Allyn would also claim that although some strange hair samples had been collected from his son’s sweater, no test results were ever released and he was merely told that they were neither human nor mountain lion, but that he “shouldn’t worry about it.” To top it all off, Paulides also claims that authorities were highly uncooperative with his own investigation into the case, and that the FBI had refused to get involved. What in the world happened to Jaryd Atadero? Was this an animal attack, a kidnapping, or something more? It seems we may never know.
Mysterious cases like this go on and on, with that common thread going through them that they were all wearing brightly colored clothing at the time of their bizarre vanishings. Is this, as David Paulides and Lamers say, a determining factor in such vanishings? If so, then why should this be? Are the colors somehow attractive or maddening to whatever forces are taking these people? And now that we are on it what forces would those be? Is this extraterrestrials, evil spirits of some kind, Bigfoot, some sort of other mysterious animal, or what? One very interesting theory that has made the rounds is that perhaps some sort of large, unidentified winged beast is behind it all, perhaps its attention drawn by the bright colors. One commenter on our very own Mysterious Universe has said of this and how it relates to such vanishings:

I’m pretty sure I know what it is & I’m sure it’s also responsible for some of the National Forest missing adults. If these disappearances have anything to do with what I saw in 2006 in Colorado (less than one mile outside of Pike National Forest), then it’s likely that the same thing is responsible for the cattle mutilations as well:
It’s a bird & it was massive; I startled it off my roof by stepping outside onto my front porch in the middle of the night. I had no idea there was anything there but when the door slammed behind me I heard a “scrabbling” sound; as if there were a small rockslide directly above me.I covered my head with my arms & tried to duck under the eaves when I heard a rippling sound. Almost exactly like the sound one of those huge flags make when a sudden strong gust of wind unfurls it.
Then, there was a boom. A percussive boom that my eardrums felt, to the point where I started to lose my balance & fall backwards. That’s when a huge shadow passed overhead. From 1.5 stories above me, clearing 50ft tall tree in the front yard. The shape of the shadow most resembled a vulture & I can’t conceive of the wingspan being less than 20ft.As it glided up it … screamed. A pulsating croak? Not sure quite how to describe it. It was not a sound I have ever heard before. Oddly; it didn’t seem to have flapped its wings again.I refused to think about it for about a year because it was so ridiculously improbable. When an inspection of the roof occurred, the comment was “It looks like Freddy Krueger attacked your roof!” Along with the gashes, there were a few puncture holes as well. So I started researching & haven’t stopped.

It is of course possible that the presence of bright colors could just be a coincidence. Perhaps it does not matter, and has simply been assigned value by Paulides and others, but then how would that explain the clear link supposedly conveyed to Lamers by the people of that remote area of Indonesia and their aversion to entering the jungle wearing anything other than white or preferably black? Is there any connection to be had here, and if so what is it? It is certainly interesting to note the similarities between Lamers’ stories on the bright colors and people reappearing with no memory of what had happened and the very similar Paulides cases in which the same thing happens. Are there mysterious forces drawn to these colors that somehow make these people disappear? There is no way to know, and it seems to lie beyond our comprehension, but until we do understand maybe don’t wear brightly colored clothing next time you are on that hike through the woods.

Main hub thread with the full 131 rankings
The best Rams team west of the Mississippi.
Colorado State’s been consistently solid in the Mountain West with a few great years under Sonny Lubick and Jim McElwain mixed in. Lubick was so successful that Colorado State’s since named their field after him: Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Under his tutelage, CSU won 6 conference titles (3 WAC, 3 Mountain West) from 1994-2002. Before Lubick arrived, CSU hadn’t won a conference title in 40 years, and only 1 in the last 60. They owe this ranking to Lubick, and I think fans would admit the same.

Best Seasons and Highlights

1. 1997: 15. Colorado State: 11-2 (22.264) 2. 1994: 12. Colorado State: 10-2 (21.327) 3. 2000: 20. Colorado State: 10-2 (16.288) 4. 2002: 31. Colorado State: 10-4 (11.984) 5. 2014: 33. Colorado State: 10-3 (10.201) 6. 1995: 36. Colorado State: 8-4 (5.313) 7. 1999: 33. Colorado State: 8-4 (4.733) 8. 1990: 39. Colorado State: 9-4 (2.203) 9. 1998: 37. Colorado State: 8-4 (1.545) 10. 2001: 52. Colorado State: 7-5 (-3.476) 11. 2016: 58. Colorado State: 7-6 (-5.288) 12. 1996: 47. Colorado State: 7-5 (-6.170) 13. 2003: 57. Colorado State: 7-6 (-6.569) 14. 1989: 51. Colorado State: 5-5-1 (-8.225) 15. 1986: 53. Colorado State: 6-5 (-8.536) 16. 2013: 74. Colorado State: 8-6 (-12.283) 17. 2017: 79. Colorado State: 7-6 (-14.321) 18. 2005: 76. Colorado State: 6-6 (-16.626) 19. 1993: 65. Colorado State: 5-6 (-17.348) 20. 2008: 75. Colorado State: 7-7 (-17.804) 21. 2015: 79. Colorado State: 7-6 (-17.810) 22. 1985: 66. Colorado State: 5-7 (-19.493) 23. 2020: 98. Colorado State: 1-3 (-24.733) 24. 1992: 86. Colorado State: 5-7 (-26.680) 25. 2004: 86. Colorado State: 4-7 (-28.454) 26. 1983: 82. Colorado State: 5-7 (-30.220) 27. 2019: 109. Colorado State: 4-8 (-34.012) 28. 2006: 102. Colorado State: 4-8 (-36.913) 29. 1984: 89. Colorado State: 3-8 (-37.145) 30. 2012: 101. Colorado State: 4-8 (-37.216) 31. 2009: 104. Colorado State: 3-9 (-37.476) 32. 2007: 102. Colorado State: 3-9 (-37.664) 33. 2021: 110. Colorado State: 3-9 (-39.870) 34. 1991: 90. Colorado State: 3-8 (-40.286) 35. 2011: 106. Colorado State: 3-9 (-43.112) 36. 2022: 121. Colorado State: 3-9 (-44.898) 37. 2018: 114. Colorado State: 3-9 (-45.892) 38. 2010: 108. Colorado State: 3-9 (-46.767) 39. 1987: 100. Colorado State: 1-11 (-53.363) 40. 1988: 98. Colorado State: 1-10 (-54.237) Overall Score: 10531 (79th) 

• 224-253-1 record
• 6 conference titles
• 6-10 bowl record
• 4 consensus All-Americans
• 40 NFL players drafted

Colorado State has a worse winning percentage than some teams lower on the list like Louisiana Tech, but has had higher highs with five 10 win seasons. Adept at producing quality skill position players lately, CSU’s 4 consensus All-Americans have been WR Rashard Higgins (2014), WR Michael Gallup (2017), TE Trey McBride (2021), and DB Greg Myers (1995). During the Lubick years CSU was a consistent top non-Power 6 team, appearing in the Top 25 at any point in the season for 7 straight years from 1997-2003. 1994 and 2014 as well. Notable NFL players have included LB Joey Porter, LB Shaquil Barrett, WR Michael Gallup, and TE Joel Dreessen.

Top 5 Seasons

Worst Season: 1988 (1-10 overall, 1-7 WAC)
It was a bad time to be a Colorado State fan. Colorado University, just a 1 hour drive from CSU, would win the national title 2 years later in 1990. Colorado State themselves floundered to a combined 2-21 record from 1987-88, with not much hope for the future. A 1-10 record featured 5 one-possession losses, and a last place finish in the WAC. A late season Toilet Bowl matchup between 1-9 New Mexico and 1-8 Colorado State decided who was placed in the basement, with New Mexico narrowly avoiding the distinction with a 24-23 win. CSU’s lone win was over San Diego State, who finished 3-8. QB Scooter Molander (great name) threw 9 TD to 22 INT, leading the country in picks. RB Scott Whitehouse (less cool name but still solid) led the team in rushing yards and receptions, totalling 1081 yards from scrimmage. And my personal favorite, backup RB Todd Yert, added 651 from scrimmage. Yert would actually go on to be a key contributor over the next 3 years, totalling 36 rushing TDs in his career.
5. 2014 (10-3 overall, 6-2 Mountain West)
Before Jim McElwain had his highs and lows at Florida, he was the up-and-coming coach at Colorado State. CSU was already coming off its best season in over a decade at 8-6 in 2013, and many thought they could take it a step further in 2014. CSU avenged last season’s loss to Colorado in the opener, winning 31-17 thanks to 100 yard rushing performances from RBs Dee Hart and Trevous Jarrells. They weren’t quite good enough to take down Boise State yet, the class of the WAC, and fell to 1-1. After that, things were great—they beat Boston College and future CSU coach Steve Addazio 24-21, a 10-4 Utah State team 16-13, and rival Wyoming 45-31. By the end of the year, #22 Colorado State was 10-1 playing 8-3 Air Force, and All-American WR Rashard Higgins did all he could (193 yards and 2 TD) but AF walked off on a 27-24 FG. CSU got blown out in the bowl to #23 Utah as well, once a former Mountain West rival who had since moved on to a stronger conference.
QB Garrett Grayson won Mountain West Offensive POTY, throwing for 4006 yards 32 TD 7 INT and ranking 2nd in the country in YPA. WR Rashard Higgins was a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, catching 96 passes for 1750 yards and 17 TD. Jim McElwain won MWC Coach of the Year, and was scooped up by Florida before the bowl game.
4. 2002 (10-4 overall, 6-1 Mountain West)
By this point in time, Sonny Lubick had established Colorado State as a non-AQ conference power, winning 5 conference titles in the prior 8 seasons. This was the last of them, and the 4th best team of his. Led by QB Bradlee Van Pelt, who was originally recruited by Nick Saban to play at Michigan State, the Rams’ season could not have started any better. He out-dueled Matt Schaub and Virginia on opening day, winning 35-29. After that was one of the biggest wins in school history, beating #7 Colorado 19-14. Van Pelt spiked the ball into a Colorado defender’s helmet after a 23 yard TD run to take the lead with 6 minutes remaining. CUBuffs.com called it “one of the most classless displays of sportsmanship the rivalry has ever seen.” Colorado State flirted with the top 25 most of the year, getting up to #16 by the end of the year to play UNLV. CSU lost both that game and the bowl game to TCU, but still clinched the Mountain West title. Wins included top 25 finishers Virginia and Colorado, along with 8-5 Air Force and 7-6 Louisville.
Van Pelt won his 1st of 2 Mountain West Offensive POTY awards, throwing for 2000+ yards while rushing for 819 and 11 TD. RB Cecil Sapp, who missed the entire 2001 season with a foot injury, was an absolute workhorse, leading the NCAA in rushing attempts, carrying the ball 347 times for 1601 yards and 17 TD. Lubick’s final season would be in 2007.
3. 2000 (10-2 overall, 6-1 Mountain West)
Colorado State moved from the WAC to the Mountain West in 1999, and won the conference title in their first year. Going into 2000, they aimed to repeat. They continued to make Colorado’s life hell, beating the #23 Buffaloes for the second straight year in the opener. After a letdown loss to Arizona State, CSU began its quest for a 2nd straight MWC title, beating eventual 3rd place UNLV 20-19, 5th place New Mexico 17-14, and finally BYU 45-21, clinching at least a share of the Mountain West title. That set up 8-1 Colorado State vs 6-3 Air Force for a chance to win the title outright. Air Force took an early lead and CSU only barely couldn’t come back, falling 40-44 in the snow. The Rams still clinched an outright conference title the following week with a 37-13 beating of a poor Wyoming team. With a win over #22 Louisville in the bowl, Colorado State finished #14 in the AP Poll, the highest in school history. QB Matt Newton won MWC Offensive POTY, while LB Rick Crowell won Defensive POTY.
2. 1994 (10-2 overall, 7-1 WAC)
When Sonny Lubick took over in 1993, it can’t be understated how much of a graveyard the Colorado State program was. Before a bowl appearance in 1990, they played in just 1 bowl in their entire history, which dates back to 1902. Armed with 29 year old Urban Meyer as assistant coach, the 1994 team was the best in school history up to that point, and might still be. And nobody saw it coming.
Colorado State started by beating one of the classes of the WAC in Air Force, 34-21. A few weeks later it was #22 BYU’s turn, beating the Cougars 28-21. All of a sudden the Rams were serious contenders in the WAC. Down for so long, the unthinkable happened. #23 Colorado State travelled to #6 Arizona, one of the favorites for the national title. A few hours after the opening kickoff, the Rams stood with their heads held high, victors in Tucson 21-16. The win propelled CSU to #13, and the Rams hosted #18 Utah 2 weeks later. Utah won in a let down game, but CSU won their last 3 games to finish 10-1 and win their first ever WAC title and first conference title under Lubick. A 14-24 loss in the bowl to #20 Michigan showed they could definitely hang with the big boys, and the Arizona win wasn’t a fluke. Colorado State finished #16 in the nation with a 10-2 record, and were 12th in my rankings. Lubick earned Sports Illustrated National Coach of the Year.
1. 1997 (11-2 overall, 7-1 WAC)
As good as the 1994 team was, they only beat opponents by an average of 11 points a game, while the 1997 team outscored opponents by over 20 a game. After a disappointing 2-2 start with losses to Colorado and 0-24 to Air Force, CSU was flawless the rest of the way. A 9-2 regular season record featured an average score of 43-11 in the final 7 game win streak. 9-2 New Mexico and 9-2 Colorado State seemed like an even matchup on paper but it wasn’t close, with the Rams winning 41-13. A 35-24 win over #19 Missouri in the Holiday Bowl made up for losing the Holiday Bowl twice in 1994 and ‘95. Colorado State finished 17th in the AP Poll, and according to my algorithm, this is their best team.
The team set a school record for points (442) and TDs (59) in a season, ranking 7th in the nation in PPG (36.7). The defense forced 43 turnovers in 13 games, with future NFL starters LB Joey Porter, LB Clark Haggans, and DB Jason Craft, and was also top 10 in the country giving up just 15.6 PPG. QB Moses Moreno won the WAC Offensive POTY with 2257 pass yards 20 TD 9 INT, and was a 7th round draft pick by the Chicago Bears after the season. RBs Damon Washington and Kevin McDougal both ran for 1000+ yards, combining for 2223 yards and 21 TD on 6.7 YPC.

5th Quarter

What do you think about Colorado State? Do you think they should be a primary target of Pac 12 expansion? Why or why not? What game/playeplay is most memorable to you? Can the Rams ever recreate the consistent success of Sonny Lubick or was it a flash in the pan?
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Hello, I’m a single cub in San Antonio that is looking to start exploring this city and his interests, one of those interests being cougars. I’m 5,9” Hispanic with more of a dad bod. I’m really into binge watching all kinds of series and staying at my apartment although I’m starting to try to look for more active friends in the area who enjoy hiking and exploring natural parks. I’m mainly looking to talk with someone first and then if we’re able to connect, hopefully develop into a casual relationship. If you’re interested in chatting and getting to know each other better feel free to Dm me.

hi there reddit people, so I bought the Cougar Phontum S headphones exactly two months ago, and i've been really careful with them as my last headphones died because my cats thought they were a great toy.
Today when I went to use them on a discord call I noticed the mic not working so I checked all the connections and everything seemed fine, I checked from the audio panel in Windows to see if maybe it was a discord problem but no, it didn't recognize any sound either. I uninstalled them from the device manager panel (the thing where you see drivers i think) and rebooted and again, nothing. Then i kept trying talking and that and sometimes it caught noise when I move the cable that directly comes out of the headphone, so is it again a cable problem? My cats haven't touched it, and from yesterday (when they were last working) to today they just sat on my desk
And if it is a cable problem, is there a way to fix it? i'm in a bad position financially so i'm about to break into tears because i can't afford another ones or even a tech revision
please help gurus

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Developed by Hangar 13, DICE, Ripple Effect Studios, EA Gothenburg, and Criterion Games and published by EA.
Additionally former EA Black Box and Ghost Games employees who would help access game assets and code from previous NFS titles to streamline the development)
Cartel (or alternatively as “Cartel: Palm City” or "Cartel: Miami" ) would be an open world title based on the Mafia Games, the GTA games and the Saints Row games, with elements of Battlefield: Hardline thrown in with an array of weapons and vehicles based on their real life counterparts.
Gameplay wise the driving would be like Need for Speed titles, and on foot and shooting mechanics like BF: Hardline and Saints Row. Plus you can customize your cars and weapons to the same extent in BF: 2042 and some cars would allow for mounted weapons,on foot you can execute people with your equipped weapon like in The Godfather games. On foot would be an FPS view (you can change to a third person view as well) same with having an FPS view in your car.
There would an single player experience point system (like in BF Hardline single player) you gain XP from killing gangsters, and cops blowing up or capturing enemy vehicles and completing main missions, side missions and activities also there will be 15 levels to achieve with each level up unlocking new weapons, vehicles and customization for your weapons and vehicles. As well as a New Game Plus (NG+) where everything you unlocked is carried over and you can also play on the higher difficulties through NG+.
Also there would be five wanted levels for police and five vendetta levels for the gangs should you reach level five gang vendetta you start a Gang War there are three ways to stop a Gang War either bribe the feds, blow up a gang stronghold, or hide out in a safe house. Police wanted levels one and two local units would come after the player, at police wanted level two or three the state police would come after the player. At wanted level four and five the feds would come after the player. The military will only come after the player if they trespass in Fort Rockport or the Palmount Naval Shipyard
The Storyline
In Cartel: Palm City; in a different universe and timeline where there's a total prohibition of all narcotics in the United States in 2010; tells the story of Jack Rourke (the player character) a hardworking rideshare driver at day and a street racer at night who's scraping by in Palm City circa 2019. One fateful night, Jack Rourke has an inadvertent brush with the Blackwell Syndicate (mainly Carl Stoddard and that showcases a life of reward too big to ignore. As he joins the Blackwell Syndicate who are fighting for control of Palm City against five other criminal groups and take the city for the Blackwell Syndicate including recovering evidence that could not only convict the Blackwell Syndicate, as well as a network of crime lords in many countries, (including the other gang’s backers) including the Blackwell Syndicate's backers the Mob and it would also directly implicate the CIA in Palm City’s drug trade with Jack Rourke earning the nickname “El Sicario” for his efforts in driving the other gangs out of Palm City. When he learns how much the drugs were hurting the people of Palm City and all over the country as well as learning that the Blackwell Syndicate had gotten into the drug trade themselves, he contacts FBI agent Chase Linh who relays the story to her and offers the evidence and his testimony in exchange for full immunity for him and his associates, and the evidence on the computer was enough to convict everyone form all the five gangs, but also their crime lord backers from at least half a dozen countries, as well implicating the CIA in this as well as lobbying efforts to keep all narcotics prohibited, leading to a new administration repealing the Narcotics Prohibition law and legalizing low level cannabis. However six months later after the repeal of the Narcotics Prohibition Jack Rourke would be gunned down by Russian Mafia hitmen, Dimitri "Dima '' Mayakovsky and Henry "Black" Blackburn.
The Cast

• Sean Faris - Jack Rourke
• Erik Armando Alvarez - Marcus Blackwell
• Kieth David - Julian “Julius” Little
• Philip Anthony-Rodriguez - Nick Mendoza
• Kelly Hu - Khai Minh Dao
• Travis Willingham - Carl Stoddard
• Eugene Byrd - Marcus “Boomer” Boone
• Adam J. Harrington - Tyson Latchford
• Jack Derges - Tyler "Ty" Morgan
• David Ajala - Sean "Mac" McAlister
• Jessica Madsen - Jessica "Jess" Miller
• Ramon Tikaram - Ravindra "Rav" Chaudhry
• Brooke Burke - Rachel Teller
• Josie Maran - Mia Townsend
• Jonny Cruz - Lucas Rivera
• Ana Marte - Ana Rivera
• Maggie Q - FBI Agent Chase Linh
• Bentino Martinez - CIA Agent Julian Dawes
• Coolie Ranx - Benny King
• Jason Michael Zumwalt - Roman Barkov
• Michael Andrew Hollick - Niko Barkov
• Fred Tatasciore - Tony Alpert
• Josh Coxx - Frank Mercer
• Shontae Saldana - Eva Torres
• Josh Collins - Danny Shaw
• Moti Margolin - Dimitri Glebov
• Jack Yang - Chan Wu
• Graham Shiels - Leo Ray
• Mark Rolston - Neil Roark
• Dean McKenzie - Jonathan Cross
• David Rees Snell - Gregory "GMAC" MacDonald
• Heather Fox - Rose Largo
• Joshua Alba - Zack Maio
• Kurt Caceres - Hector Maio
• Lawrence B. Adisa - Brad Rogers
• Dominique Tipper - Lina Navarro
• David Palffy - Caleb Reece
• David Menkin - Hector "Ming" Domingo
• Bruce Johnson - Wes "Webster" Allen
• William Roberts - Joe "JV" Vega
• Jun-Yamazaki - Toru "Bull" Sato
• Derek Hamilton - Clarence "Razor" Callahan
• Chuck Norris - Chief Norris
• Paul Pape - Jack Keller
• Christina Hendricks - Sam Harper

List of activities

• Story Mission: Missions that advance the plot
• Side Mission: Missions that do not advance the plot but earns extra experience/money
• Street Race: Just like it is in Need for Speed, finish first.
• Combat Race: Just like Street Race, but weapon use is allowed.
• Mayhem: Cause as much destruction as possible and get the highest Cost to State score.
• Car Snatch: Steal a car from the cops or one of the four gangs and bring it to a chop shop and also unlock the car you stole for free.
• Drug/CigaWeapon Trafficking: Deliver drugs/military-grade weapons/Cuban cigars to dealers and avoid the cops and rival gangs.
• Car Delivery: Deliver a load of high-end cars to car dealers.
• Assassination: Find and kill a named character, bonus if you fulfill a special condition

Vehicles
Civilian

• Acura NSX '17, Acura RSX-S '04,
• Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio '16,
• Aston Martin DB5 '64, Aston Martin DB11 '17, Aston Martin DB11 Volante '19, Aston Martin Vulcan '16,
• Audi R8 V10 Performance '19, Audi S5 Sportback '17,
• BMW i8 Coupé '18, BMW i8 Coupé K.S. '18, BMW i8 Roadster '18, BMW M2 Competition '19, BMW M3 '06, BMW M3 '10, BMW M3 Evolution II '88, BMW M3 GTR L.E. '06, BMW M4 '18, BMW M4 Convertible '17, BMW M4 GTS '16, BMW M5 '18, BMW X6 M '16, BMW Z4 M40i '19,
• Buick Grand National '87, Buick Cascada '16
• Chevrolet Bel Air '55, Chevrolet C10 Sidestep Pickup '65, Chevrolet Camaro SS '67, Chevrolet Camaro Z28 '14, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 '17, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport '17, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 '13, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 '19, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (2020), Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible (2020), Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 (Cross’ ZO6)
• Dodge Challenger SRT8 '14, Dodge Charger '69, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat ‘18
• Ferrari 458 Italia '09, Ferrari 458 Spider '11, Ferrari 488 GTB '15, Ferrari 488 Pista '19, Ferrari F40 '87, Ferrari FXX-K Evo '18, Ferrari LaFerrari '13, Ferrari Testarossa Coupé '84,
• Ford F-150 Raptor '17, Ford F-150 SVT Raptor L.E. '17, Ford Focus RS '16, Ford GT '17, Ford Mustang '65, Ford Mustang BOSS 302 '69, Ford Mustang Foxbody '90, Ford Mustang GT '15, Ford Crown Victoria ‘08
• Honda Civic Type-R '00, Honda Civic Type-R '15, Honda NSX Type-R '92, Honda S2000 '09,
• Infiniti Q60 S '17,
• Jaguar F-Type R Convertible '19, Jaguar F-Type R Coupé '16,
• Koenigsegg Regera '16 (Roman’s Regera)
• Lamborghini Aventador S '18, Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster '17, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Coupe '19, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster '19, Lamborghini Countach '89, Lamborghini Diablo SV '95, Lamborghini Huracán '18, Lamborghini Huracán Performante '18, Lamborghini Huracán Performante Spyder '18, Lamborghini Huracán Spyder '18, Lamborghini Murciélago SV '10, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 '08
• Land Rover Defender 110 '15, Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR '15,
• Lotus Exige S '06,
• Mazda MX-5 '15, Mazda MX-5 '96, Mazda RX-7 Spirit R '02,
• McLaren 570S '15, McLaren 570S Spider '18, McLaren 600LT '18, McLaren F1 '93, McLaren P1 '14, McLaren P1 GTR '15
• Mercedes-AMG A 45 '16, Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé '18, Unlocked at REP LVL 18, Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé K.S. '18, Mercedes-AMG G 63 '17, Mercedes-AMG GT '15, Mercedes-AMG GT R '17, Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster '19
• Mercury Cougar '67
• Mini JCW Countryman '17
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX '07, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X '08, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X K.S. '08
• Nissan 180SX Type X '96, Nissan 240SX '98, Nissan 350Z ‘03, Nissan 370Z ‘09, Nissan GT-R ‘07, Nissan Fairlady 240ZG '71, Nissan GT-R '17, Nissan Silvia Spec-R Aero '02, Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R '71, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec '93, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec '99, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec '02,
• Opel Astra '09
• Pagani Huayra BC '17
• Plymouth Barracuda '70
• Polestar 1 '20
• Pontiac Firebird '77, Pontiac Firebird '99, Pontiac GTO '05, Pontiac G8 '08
• Porsche 718 Cayman GTS '18, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS '18, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet '18, Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 '73, Porsche 911 Carrera S '97, Porsche 911 GT2 RS '18, Porsche 911 GT3 RS '19, Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS '18, Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Ex '18, Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive '18, Porsche 918 Spyder '15, Porsche Cayman GT4 '15, Porsche Panamera Turbo '17, Porsche 911 Carrera S (991) '12
• SRT Viper GTS '14
• Subaru BRZ Premium '14, Subaru Impreza WRX STI '06, Subaru Impreza WRX STI '10,
• Volkswagen Beetle '63, Volkswagen Golf GTI '76, Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport '16,
• Volvo 242 DL '75, Volvo Amazon P130 '70

Military

• Light Vehicles: M1161 ITV, VDV Buggy, LYT2021, MRAP, SPM-3, ZFB-05, Quad Bike, Dirt Bike. Desert Patrol Vehicle. Skid Loader
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles: LAV-25, BTR-90, ZBD-09, AAV-7A1. AMTRAC
• Main Battle Tanks: M1 Abrams, T-90A, Type 99 MBT, HT-95 Levkov
• Anti-Aircraft Vehicles: LAV-AD, 9K22 Tunguska-M, Type 95 AA
• Mobile Artillery: HIMARS
• Helicopters: AH-1Z Viper, Mi-28 Havoc, Z-10W, AH-6 Little Bird, Z-11W, KA-60 Kasatka, UH-1Y Venom, Z-9 Haitun
• Naval Craft: DV-15 Interceptor, RCB-90, RHIB Boat, PWC, ACV
• Emplacements: .50 Cal, M220 TOW Launcher, 9M133 Kornet Launcher, HJ-8 Launcher, Centurion C-RAM, Pantsir-S1, LD-2000 AA, Schipunov 42. Launch Pod

Weapon attachments

• Optics (Pistols): Iron Sights, Improved Iron Sights, Ghost Ring, Mini (RDS), Deltapoint (RDS), Comp M4S (1X) Magnum Scope (2x)
• Optics (Rifles): Short Range; Barska Reflex (RDS), Kobra (RDS), Coyote (RDS), EOTech Sight (1x), PKA-S (1x), HD-33 (1x), F2000 (1.6x) (F2000 only). Medium Range; M145 (3.4x), PK-A (3.4x), PRISMA (3.4x), Mark 4 HAMR (3.5x) ACOG (4x), PSO-1 (4x), JGM-4 (4x). Long Range: CL6x (6x), PKS-07 (7x), Rifle Scope (8x), Hunter (20x), Ballistic (40x), IRNV (1x), FLIR (2x)
• Accessories: Canted Iron Sights, Magnifier (2x), Variable Zoom (2x-14x), Flash Light, Tactical Light, Laser Sight, Tri Beam Laser, Green Laser Sight, LaseLight Combo, Range Finder, Target Detector, Stabilizer.
• Barrel: Standard Barrel, Heavy Barrel, Light Barrel
• Muzzle (ARs/Carbines, DMRs, LMGs, PDWs, and Sidearms): Muzzle Brake, Compensator, Suppressor, Flash Hider, Flash Enhancer.
• Muzzle (shotgun): Duckbill, Full Choke, Modified Choke
• Underbarrel: Underslung Rail (M320, GP-30, M26 MASS), Bipod, Ergo Grip, Angled Grip, Stubby Grip, Vertical Grip, Folding Grip, Potato Grip
• Auxiliary: Straight Pull Bolt, Bipod
• Ammunition: Shotshells, 12 Gauge Buckshot, 12 Gauge Dart, 12 Gauge Frag, 12 Gauge Slug

40mm Grenades, 40mm HE, 40mm Incendiary, 40mm CS, 40mm Dart, 40mm Flashbang, 40mm LVG, 40mm Smoke, 40mm 3GL.

• 25mm Grenades - 25mm Airburst, 25mm Dart, 25mm Smoke.
• Arrows - Broadhead Arrow, Bullet Point Arrow, Explosive Tipped Arrow (Tek Arrows), Poison Arrow

Weapon list
Key: Base weapon (special variant)

• Melee Weapons: Blunt Weapons, Knives, Collapsible Baton, Machete (L.S 16 Machete), Breaching Hammer, Sledge Hammer, Axe, Inquisition Sword, Shovel, Bayonet, ACB-90, Shank, Machete, Bowie, Carbon Fiber, Scout, Survival, Trench, Boot, SEAL, Dive, Tactical, BJ-2, Precision, Baseball Bat, 2x4, Lead Pipe
• Light Pistols; P226, M9, QSZ-92, MP443, G17 (Street Racer Special), FN57. Machine Pistols; CZ-75. G18, TEC-9, MAC-10, MP9, 93R.
• Heavy Pistols: M1911, Compact 45, SW40, DEagle .38, DEagle .357, DEagle .44, DEagle .50, DEagle .501, DEagle .700, 45T (Mercer’s 45T), .40
• Revolvers; Unica 6 .38, Unica 6 .357, Unica 6 .44, Unica 6 .50, Unica 6 .501, Unica 6 .700, .38 Snub, .38 Special, .357 RS, MP412 REX, .44 Magnum (.44 Magnum Force), .501 Magnum Enforcer, .700 Magnum
• Short Rifles/Shotguns; Mare's Leg, Lupara, Shorty 12G (Modern Lupara)
• Personal Defense Weapons/SMGs: MP5, MX4, PP-2000, UMP-45, CBJ-MS, PDW-R, CZ-3A1, JS2, P90, UMP-9, MP7 (Combine MP7) , AS VAL, SR-2, MPX, Groza-4, K10 (Dillinger II), M1A1, M1928 (Dillinger), MP5SD
• Shotguns: QBS-09, 870 MCS, M1014, Hawk 12G, Saiga 12K, SPAS-12, UTS-15, DBV-12, DAO-12, USAS-12, AA-12, 870P Magnum, 37 Stakeout (Cross’ 37 Stakeout), Double-Barrel Shotgun, KSG12, M26 MASS
• Carbines: AK5C, ACW-R, SG553, AKU-12, A-91, ACE 52 CQB, G36C, M4, ACE 21 CQB, Type-95B-1, MTAR-21, Phantom, Groza-1, RO933, AKS-74U, CAR-556, ACWR.
• Assault Rifles: AK-12 (Shovak AK-12), SCAR-L, SCAR-H, M416, SAR-21, AEK-971 (Russian Dillinger), FAMAS, AUG A3, CZ-805, QBZ-95-1, ACE 23, L85A2, F2000 (SC-20K), ARX-160, Bulldog, AN-94, M16A3, M16A4, AKM, L85A2, ARM, MDC, SAR-21, AUG A3, HCAR, SA-58 OSW, HK51, FN FAL, SG510.
• Light Machine Guns: U-100 MK5 (Modern Dillinger), Type 88 LMG, LSAT, PKP Pecheneg, QBB-95-1, M240B, MG4, M249, M60-E4 (M60-ULT), AWS, L86A2, RPK, RPK-74, RPK-12,
• Designated Marksman Rifles: RFB, Mk11 Mod 0, SKS, SVD-12, QBU-88, M39 EMR, ACE 53 SV, SCAR-H SV, M39 EMR
• Sniper Rifles: R700PPS, TRG-42P, CS-LR4, M40A5, Scout Elite, SV-98, JNG-90, 338-Recon, M98B, SRR-61, FY-JS, Dragunov SVD, L115, GOL Magnum, SR338, CS5, .300 Knockout, M200 Intervention, M82A3 .416, M82A3 .50, M82A3 .501, M82A3 .700, M82A3 .900, M82A3 20mm Vulcan, AMR-2 .416, AMR-2 .50, AMR-2 .501, AMR-2 .700, AMR-2 .900 AMR-2 20mm Vulcan, HVM-II, M136 CS, Vidhwansak, Rorsch Mk-1, Rorsch Mk-4, 20mm Vulcan Grenares: M67 Frag, V40 Mini, RGO Impact, M34 Incendiary, M18 Smoke, M84 Flashbang, Hand Flare, CS Gas Grenade, Molotov, AA Mine, AT Mine, SLAM, C4 Explosive, M18 Claymore
• Launchers: M32 MGL, M203, M320, GP-30, M26 MASS, RPG,MBT LAW, FIM-92 Stinger, RPG-7V2, SA-18 Igla, Mk153 SMAW, FGM-148 Javelin, FGM-172 SRAW, XM-25
• Gadgets: Defibrillator, First Aid Pack, Medic Bag, Repair Tool, Ammo Box, Ammo Pack, M224 Mortar, MP-APS, XM25, UCAV, Ballistic Shield, MAV, Motion Sensor, PLD, Radio Beacon, SOFLAM, T-UGS, SUAV, RAWR M240B, RAWR M203, XD-1 Accipiter

Other: Nail Gun
Mission Structure
Prolog (2019)

1. The Birth of Art - After winning a big race, Jack Rourke collects the winnings at the Palm City Historical Museum
2. An Offer you Can't Refuse - Jack Rourke must evade Volk sicarios with Tyson Lachford and Carl Stoddard members of the Blackwell Syndicate
3. Race Day - After the events of the last mission, Jack Rourke partakes in a race day event and wins three events with his Porsche 911 Carrera S (991) '12
4. Running Man - Volk sicarios Niko and Dimitri crashes the race day and Jack must get to the Blackwell Garage

Chapter 1 (2019-2021)

1. M34 Party - Jack Rourke joins the Blackwell Syndicate and gets acquainted with everyone before going with Tyson in a Pontiac GTO '05 to burn the Volk's cars with M34 Incendiary Grenades as well as stealing GMAC's Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4
2. Standard Routine - Jack Rourke rolls with Tyson, Stoddard and Jonathan Cross to collect protection money but things go south when they collect from a hotel out of town and Jack Rourke chases after the hotel owner in Cross' car.
3. Fair Play - Jack Rourke is tasked with stealing Ryan Cooper's Nissan 240SX and sabotaging it on the eve of the biggest Speedhunter race of the year, the SpeedHunter Championship Finals and in a last minute swap Jack Rourke has to race in place of Tyler Morgan
4. Mia Townsend - Jack Rourke is tasked with taking Mia Townsend out for a night at the city... until a gang of Wraith street racers led by Caleb Reece hassles her and Jack Rourke takes them on in a fight
5. Get Used To It - After the events of the previous mission Jack Rourke and Tyson Latchford are sent to teach the Wraiths a lesson But Caleb Reece makes it serious and Caleb Reece is wound up being killed by Tyson after a chase around the city alongside Danny Shaw.
6. The Saint and The Sinner - It's revealed thtat Caleb Reece was Chief Norris' best friend, and Danny Shaw survives the crash however Stoddard would handle Shaw as Jack Rourke is tasked with infiltrating the Elmore Plaza Hotel and has to kill the manager, Nikki Morris and bomb the hotel before escaping to a funeral and confronts, Danny Shaw and Frank Mercer who are also in attendance. Jack Rourke kills Shaw and nearly kills Frank as well. But Frank tasers Rourke and escapes. It would be revealed that some of the Volk sicarios recognized Sotddard and had to deal with them, then the two escaped in a hearse.

Chapter 2 (2021)

1. A Trip to the Countryside - In order to get a large supply of cannabis from Mexico, Jack Rourke takes a team to retrieve the Mexican from Mexican smugglers only to be ambushed by Los Zetas L.S 16 and Volk sicarios, then it's revealed that Roman had paid off the FBI to go after Rourke and his teammates then they came off with the cannabis killing their pursuers in the process.
2. Code of Silence - The evidence that Tyson and Stoddard had ripped from the Volk had fallen in the hands of Hector Maio who cut a deal with the FBI, total immunity for the evidence and Jack Rouke is tasked with killing him and retrieving the evidence
3. Visiting Rich People - Jack Rourke is tasked with sabotaging a federal proscutor's case against The Mob, the Blackwell Syndicate's backers as well as killing the federal prosecutor in charge of the case.
4. Visiting Powerful People - Jack Rourke is tasked with meeting and protecting a powerful member of Palm City's elite, the owner of Prefered Outcomes Julian Daws... though he more than meets the eyes of Jack Rourke
5. Agent Dawes - Julian Daws is revealed to be a CIA agent who is tasked with keeping the flow of drugs to Jack's surprise and that he is backing the Blackwell Syndicate through Prefered Outcomes.
6. The Drug Trade - Julian Daws walks Jack Rourke through Palm City's drug trade and how the illicit street racing scene is used as a cover to smuggle drugs.
7. Great Deal - Tyson Lachford scores a major deal with a drug farm in Georgia who promises to supply them with large amounts of drugs in exchange for access to databases concerning highway patrol routes; however when the deal goes down at a parking garage, the Volk and L.S 16 ambush them.
8. Bon Appetit - Jack Rourke drives Eva Torrez, Marcus Blackwell and Julian Daws to the rebuilt Elmore Plaza Hotel for brunch only for Niko and Dimirti with a Volk hit squad to blast the entire lobby with gunfire and C4 explosives, Jack Rourke vaults over with Eva Torrez, Marcus Blackwell and Julian Daws, there Jack Rourke and Eva Torrez rush out through the side entrance and confronts the hit squad with Jack Rourke killing both Niko and Dimirti. However Blackwell wants Jack to confront Jonathan Cross at a doughnut store and reveals that the Volk threatened to turn him over to IAD and is chased throughout the city with Marcus Blackwell putting Cross on permanent retirement by killing him with a Lupara.

Chapter 3 (Finishing the other gangs and downfall of Jack Rourke) (late 2021)

1. Happy Anniversary - Jack Rourke is tasked with completing a contract hit against Frank Mercer at the fifth anniversary of the formation of the High-Speed Task Force by firing a sniper rifle stashed in a bathroom
2. You Lucky Bastard - After a failed attempt to kill Razor; Roman's personal driver and #2 of the Volk, Jack Rourke is given the contract to kill Razor, first by car bomb but ends up killing Deputy Chief Jack Keller. instead of Razor. Jack Rourke, Tyson and Stoddard would later find Razer at a Burger King. In this Rourke can choose to kill or spare Razor. Rourke would spare him after he tells him that the CIA is deeper in Palm City's drug trade than Jack Rourke is led to believe
3. Creme de la Creme - Marcus Blackwell plans to kill Roman, Niko, Demintri and Chan Wu in front of the city's Creme de la Creme, the mayor, the police chief, the FBI director and even the city's richest elite. However things go south and Jack Rourke chases Roman and Niko at the airport where they get to a private jet but is shot down and crash lands on the Cross Mermeroral Bridge Chan Wu is still alive and Jack Rourke executes him and leaves before the cops show up.
4. Plugging the Chief - After the events of Creme de la Creme; Chief Norris places to take on the Blackwell Syndicate and to dismantle them, and a contract hit is placed on him where Jack Rourke accepts the contract and kills Chief Norris.
5. Election Campaign - The State Governor had launched his reelection bid with the promise get tough on the cartels that had plagued Palm City and like Chief Norris has a contract hit out on him which Jack Rourke is tasked with taking, using a sniper rifle
6. Just for Relaxation - Marcus Blackwell tells Jack Rourke about a shipment of Cuban cigars as well as a hidden shipment of diamonds (hot ice) straight from Africa however and Jack Rourke takes a crew to retrieve the shipment from federal customs however it's revealed that instead of diamonds it's Cold Shot... the same drug being pushed by the other gangs.
7. The Truth - Jack Rourke and Kahi Minh Dao eavesdrop on Marcus Blackwell and Julain Daws and they learn the truth.
8. Moonlighting - Jack Rourke after knowing about the truth takes Tyson to rob the Palm CIty First National in order to retire from the sicario lifestyle and gets into a massive shootout with the PCPD Heat-style.
9. The Death of Art - After the heist of Palm City First National Jack Rourke finds Tyson dead and meets Stoddard at the museum only to find out that Stoddard knew about the heist, and used his share of the drug money and clout at Prefered Outcomes to buy out The7 as his personal hit squad, however Jack Rourke manages to kill every member of The7 but spares Stoddard (the player can also kill him but canonically Jack Rourke spares him)

Epilogue (2022)
After the trial and the repeal of the Jack Rurke is placed in the Witness Protection Program in Lakeshore City but six months later after the repeal of the Narcotics Prohibition Jack Rourke would be gunned down by members of the West Side Club, Dimitri "Dima" Mayakovsky and Henry "Black" Blackburn.
The Gangs of Palm City
L.S 16 (Los Salmos 16) - Also known as The Salmos. Backed by the most powerful Mexican drug lords and the most powerful arms traffickers in the world, L.S 16 once ruled all of Palm City In fear until The House stepped in. They’re also the strongest gang in the game with access to military grade weapons and vehicles and each gang kill from them awards 500-1,500 XP depending on the enemy type. They are led by Neil Roark.
The House - The House is a gambling gang with strong ties and backed by the Sicilian Mafia; they run the street scene and the casinos in Palm City. They’re pretty strong but weaker than L.S 16, and they have access to military grade weapons and vehicles each gang kills from them awards 250-800 XP depending on the enemy type. Headed by Lina Navarro.
The Volk - The Volk is a Chinese-Russian gang led by Roman Barkov with Niko Barkov as their enforcer backed by the Triads (Chan Wu), the Russian Mob (Dimitri Glebov), and GMAC's crew (Gregory "GMAC" MacDonald, Rose Largo) for cars who control the weapon smuggling and arms dealing in Palm City. With this backing and access to military grade weapons. They are a mid tier gang and each gang kill from them awards 200-600 XP depending on the enemy type. They are also the ones who go after the Blackwell Syndicate the most.
Palm Kings - The Palm Kings (PKs) is a Black gang made up of Black nationalists who controls Palm Harbor’s rackets and extorts store owners. Led by Benny King, they’re equipped with police-grade weaponry and has strong ties with the PCPD despite this, they are the second weakest gang in the game and each gang kill from them awards 150-500 XP depending if it's a regular to elite
Dixie Paladins - The Dixie Paladins are a white supremacy gang and a militarized version of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) who controls the Gold Coast Mountains in the mountainous regions of Palm City. they’re the weakest gang in the game and each gang kill from them awards 100-250 XP from regular to elite members. They are led by Tony Alpert
Blackwell Syndicate - The Blackwell Syndicate is a underground criminal organization based in Palm City and is led by Marcus Blackwell with Julian “Julius” Little as underboss, Hector Maio before "Code of Silence" and Zack Maio after "Code of Silence". Nick Mendoza. Khai Minh Dao and Carl Stoddard are caporegimes and Tyson Latchford, Tyler "Ty" Morgan, Sean "Mac" McAlister, Jessica "Jess" Miller as soldiers. Other members include Ravindra "Rav" Chaudhry as the gang's car expert Rachel Teller as the gang's customization expert, Marcus “Boomer” Boone as the gang's weapon experts. The Blackwell Syndicate would be the gang that the player would join. In Act 1, they're an outside and fast tracked to soldier, but in Act 2 the player would be a capo until the end of the game. They are secretly backed by both The Mob and the CIA through Agent Dawes. Jonathan Cross and Mia Townsend are also on the gang's payroll until "Bon Appetit" where Marcus Blackwell executes him with a 870P Magnum to the head. Also Mia would also go with Jack Rourke as well
The police/military force
PCPD - the police force of Palm City/Miami if the player does hostile acts (killing civilians, firing unsuppressed weapons in public, etc) will attract police attention and each kill from them awards 50 XP for regular members and 100 XP for armored members, However the player can bribe the PCPD to look the other way or will even help the player fight the other gangs but would be the target of higher level police forces. (Sort of like it was in The Godfather game) The player can also buy favors from them as well. Also they’ll deploy stronger units at higher heat level alongside the FBI. The cars PCPD drives are the Ford Crown Victoria, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac GTO, and the Chevy Grand Sport
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) - The state police force and Only appears in wanted levels 3 and above, Each kill from them awards 75 XP for regular state troopers and 150 XP for tactical state troopers. Regular state troopers drives Ford Mustang GTs tactical state troopers drives Nissan GT-R
FBI - Only appears in wanted level 5 the FBI will be called in if the player continues to retaliate against the PCPD. Each kill from them awards 125 XP for regular agents, 250 XP for FBI SWAT and 375 XP for FBI HRT, Like the PCPD the player can bribe the FBI to look the other way, or even help the player fight gangs, or the PCPD but at the second highest price. The FBI also has the second widest array of favors the player can buy. regular agents drives the Nissan 350Z or Porsche 911 GT3 RS, FBI SWAT drives the - Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster or Ford F-150 SVT Raptor L.E. and FBI HRT drives the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X or Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
Military - Only goes after the player if they trespass in Fort Rockport or the Palmount Naval Shipyard. Each kill from them awards 200 XP for regs, 400 XP for experienced troops and 600 XP for elite troops. Like the PCPD, State Police and the FBI, the player can bribe the military to look the other way, or even help the player fight gangs, the PCPD, State Police or even the FBI but at the highest price and The military also has the widest array of favors the player can buy in large part due to Agent Dawes’ connections in Washington.
Multiplayer portion of the game would take place during the five cartels war where the Blackwell Syndicate, The Volk, Palm Kings, Dixie Paldines, Los Salmos 16, and The House (basically where Jack Rourke glosses over saying "It was non-stop chaos for weeks")
Also there would be a free ride mode where the player can explore the city at their leisure or pick a fight with either other cartels or the cops.

To the newish neighbour who was just yelling obscenities and names at the two deer ("You stupid, horrible creatures, how dare you?") who came to sample her garden this morning and then proceeded to chase them from her yard: You're not from around here are you? If you were, you'd know that if you don't want deer eating your plants you either put up a deer fence, or you plant things they don't eat.
There's this understanding that the deer were here first - likely in some form even before human memory. (Same with the cougars and everyone else who traipses through our back yards.) They don't care what you think and will continue to sample your plants. Accept the fact that they're a part of the neighbourhood. Accept that we're all connected and part of the same natural cycle and I assure you, your blood pressure will thank you. And likely so will your kids.
P.S. Chasing them and trying to smack them is likely not a clever idea. Please don't ever do that again as I'm pretty sure it's not the deer who'd end up hurt.

Hello. I am a student at SIUE who has been in attendance since 2018. My first two years there were the best of my life by far- however since 2020 my experience at SIUE has been totally miserable. Ever since they sent us home packing on March 17, 2020- things at SIUE have never been the same.
Right now, I am still deciding on whether I will return to finish my degree or accept a scholarship offer from another university. I need to know what others perception on this situation is so I can make the right decision for myself. A lot of the problems I have had are the result of my own machinations, but its hard for me to separate those from the real problems that I know are going on at the university which is why I am asking for the opinion of others.
I have talked to some others already and heard that they have had a similar experience. It seems to me that much has changed since 2020. SIUE used to be a much more connected, active campus- with many buildings remaining open literally 24/7/365. There was a much different attitude and atmosphere on campus which seems mostly absent now. (... the police presence in cougar village/campus use to be much more prescient as well, as another unfortunate example.)
Virtually all of the upper level administration has been completely replaced since 2020. Literally everyone is new- the chancellor, vice chancellor, and so on.- there has been a complete overhaul of the agenda, policies, and even basic things like the logo or diploma visuals- but I have yet to see anyone who has benefitted from these changes.
I could go on and on about it forever. Another thing that has happened is mass integration of East Asian international students into the student body- without an appropriate allocation of resources to support these students in their success. Many of these international students are struggling with basic access to food and transportation- and often these students are literally using SIUE admissions as a way to get student visas and then transfer to other schools.
What is happening at SIUE right now? I don't understand. Is something wrong, or am I just disaffected and detached? ( Should I even bother coming back? )

Hello! I am a 6’2 Hispanic male who is very fit, works out every day and is looking for a cougar who can match my energy and wants to feel young. Currently, I'm pursuing my dream of becoming a firefighter, fueled by my desire to serve and protect. But let me tell you, my ambitions don't stop there. I'm also looking to ignite a connection with an amazing woman in her 40s or 50s who appreciates the spark of youth paired with the wisdom of experience.
Interests: When I'm not saving lives or training for my firefighting career, I'm an avid lover of the silver screen. Whether it's a classic or the latest blockbuster, you'll find me immersed in the world of movies. Let's cuddle up on the couch for a cozy movie night or enjoy a night out at the theater.
Sports and Outdoors: Staying active is a big part of my life. I have a passion for playing basketball, and the friendly competition always gets my heart pumping. Exploring the great outdoors is another adventure I cherish. From hiking scenic trails to embracing nature's beauty, I find solace and rejuvenation in the serenity of nature. It would be fantastic to have a partner to accompany me on these outdoor escapades.
Seeking: I'm captivated by the allure and wisdom that older women possess. If you're a confident, independent, and fun-loving woman in her 40s or 50s, I'd love to get to know you better. Let's embark on a journey filled with laughter, adventure, and a deep connection that transcends age. If you're looking for someone who will support you, appreciate you, and be there through thick and thin, I'm here with an open heart.
So, if you're ready to share some popcorn, cheer on our favorite teams, and explore the world together, don't hesitate to reach out. Let's create a love story that defies expectations and grows stronger with every passing day.
Message me if you are interested, I’ll be more than happy to send photos or video. Let’s connect!

Hey all! My name is Katie. I'm a woman (she/they pronouns) in the San Francisco Bay, 28 years old in July, finishing up my BA in literature, and looking for a woman (preferably in the area but I'm open to something long-distance as well - it's not a dealbreaker at all) for friendship with hope of it turning into something romantic down the line once we know each other well.
I am bi and demisexual, single, and monogamous, and I think I am discovering that I'm more interested in women even though I am bi.
A little (or a lot) about me:
Physically, I am 5'6" and average in terms of size, though I'd call my build a little more on the "stocky" side. I'm not overweight, just "Hobbit-like" as one of my friends put it. I currently have bleached hair as I wait to go blue, but it's usually ash brown, and my skin is very faiburns easily. I have terrible eczema, so I have some scarring on my hands/feet. And my eyes are hazel/light brown with flecks of green.
Personality-wise, I am generally very bubbly and ambitious. I have ADHD and autism, so I have a lot of energy and usually get very into whatever I'm doing, but I can also miss some key social cues. It's not intentional, but it does happen. I'm finishing a BA in literature from Berkeley, and my hope is to continue on to an English MA at my local CSU campus so I can teach at the postsecondary level in a community college. I really value very direct communication and when people clearly express what they need and want from me, and I make a concerted effort to do the same. Another thing that's very important to me is being able to rely on people to do what they say they will. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people say things and then I realize later that they weren't serious. I take things literally a lot of the times, so if someone says "let's do ____", I will fully commit to making those plans happen and it can be really devastating to find out that the other person wasn't serious. So, dependability is something huge for me, and I consider myself dependable as well! Aside from that, I love to joke and share memes and TikToks, and I'm a big goofball. Family is very important to me, and I want to someday adopt and foster kids. Though, due to some health issues, I am choosing not to have biological kids so I hope that's something we can see eye to eye on.
Some hobbies of mine include reading and writing (I write YA fantasy novels and I'm hoping to publish soon!), video editing, video games, and swimming. I have a youtube channel where I "vid" - edit TV shows/films to music - and it's one of my favorite things. It's about to hit 1k subscribers, too, so that's fun and I'm very proud! For video games, I really love Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Odyssey, Black Flag, and almost all the Pokemon games (currently playing through Violet). I love watching ASMR, "overnight" and "haunted" videos (yes, I believe in the paranormal even if I don't understand it fully - it's a dream of mine to go ghost-hunting), and I watch some playthroughs of games if I don't have the time or money to buy them. I also read, love to swim in pools, lakes, or rivers - but I have become lowkey terrified of the ocean in recent years - and camp/hike. It is my dream to have the gear, friends, and funds to take an annual camping/glamping trip to some forested place near a body of water! Imagine being the bougie group with a portable projector and watching Star Wars or something while roasting marshmallows around a cozy fire. :) In fact, if I ever get married, my dream wedding location would be at this place in the mountains that has a bunch of cabins, tent sites, RV sites, and a little amphitheater and river views/swimming nearby for all the family/friends to stay and play.
A few life goals of mine are to be a successful published YA author, go to some festivals in the woods, own a home with a pool (lmao, pipe dream in this economy, but I can dream!), teach at the California Community Colleges, and have an enviable garden space for activities, my dog, and parties. In case you can't tell, I'm a really outgoing person albeit still an introvert. I love pets (have one cat and one dog, both seniors, and I plan to adopt others once they cross the rainbow bridge... not looking forward to that sad day, but I am loving them as much as I can in the meantime), I love kids, and I am huge into fun outdoor things.
What I'm looking for:
Tbh, I don't have many "deal-breakers" or "must-haves", aside from like... don't be a Nazi. Ideally, though, I think I want someone dependable, down to do outdoor adventures or go to places like Disneyland with me when I graduate from my BA program next year (I haven't been since childhood and want the experience as an adult), and kind. Compassion is a huge draw! It'd be awesome if you're also a book-lover or into gaming, and have your own things that you're doing (school, job, hobbies, whatever it is), are really passionate about the things that move you, and like animals. I am not religious but I don't mind someone who is as long as we can both be respectful. I'm also big on boundaries and healthy communication, so let's just talk if we have any issues. Ummm, I'm really comfortable talking online because written word is my chosen medium, but I feel like I forget everything I have ever learned in my life when I try to talk to someone irl so be aware of that, haha. Honestly, let's just talk and be pals, no expectations, and see what's up and if we connect. No pressure on either of us to force anything, let's just see if we enjoy talking with each other. :)
If there is something I didn't touch on that you'd like to know, just ask me and I'll probably give you an equally long-winded answer as this post, lol. Sorry for the verbosity. I write!

Madison Geraldine Scott, better known as Maddy, was described by her brother as someone who was just as comfortable in a party dress as she was in oily coveralls. Maddy liked dirt biking, figure skating, horse riding, hockey, rugby, photography and making amateur movies with her friends. She came from Vanderhoof, a small mill town in BC, Canada with a population of <5,000 people. Maddy had a nose piercing and a tattoo of a falcon silhouette on her inside left wrist. She worked as an apprentice heavy duty mechanic with her father at MBG Logging. Maddy was said to be someone who would “give the shirt off of her back” to help a person in need. She was also described as having a fun-loving, playful personality and would often do things on the spur of the moment. She was 20 years old.
On Friday May 27, 2011, Maddy went to a party at Hogsback Lake with Jordi Bolduc, an old school friend she’d recently reconnected with. Maddy cancelled plans with her cousin to go to the party, probably because her crush was going to be there. Maddy and Jordi planned to camp overnight. The party was thrown every year by the host for his birthday and took place over the entire weekend, with gatherings planned at the site on both Friday and Saturday nights. The event was advertised publicly on Facebook. Maddy drove with Jordi to Hogsback Lake in her white 1990 Ford F150 pickup truck. On arriving, she realised she’d brought the wrong tent poles so she went home to fetch the right ones. Maddy briefly spoke to her mother back at her house, at which time all seemed well. Maddy returned around 9.30 PM. Jordi says the gathering turned into a “big party”. Around 50 people attended, most between 18 and 25 years old.
Timeline
> 10 PM: Maddy retires to her tent
Maddy retreated into her tent only half an hour or so after putting it up. Around this time, Maddy texted her parents to tell them her crush had told her he just wanted to be friends. Her parents say she was upset but nothing drastic. Jordi was busy hooking up with someone new and Maddy probably wasn’t in the mood to party anymore but she didn’t make any attempt to leave. She likely didn’t want to take down her tent after just putting it up and/or didn’t want to leave Jordi stranded, so she decided to stick it out. Maddy brought a six pack of beer and a bottle of wine, which she shared with Jordi and others. Unopened cans and some wine were recovered by police so Maddy didn’t drink to excess. Jordi says Maddy was probably the most sober person there.
> 12:30 AM: Maddy receives her last call
Maddy took a short call from an unidentified young man who is known to her family. Though the content of this call is undisclosed, based on what Maddy’s mom says it might’ve been the son of her parents’ friends who was apparently camping nearby. In any event, it is said to be of no importance to the case. There is no indication that Maddy disclosed any relevant information during this call but it’s notable because this was the last activity on her phone.
> Sometime before 1 AM: Jordi leaves
Around midnight, a small group of people arrived who were unknown to the others. Jordi describes them as being from out of town. A fight broke out and Jordi was accidentally pushed into the camp fire, hurting her knee. It’s not clear what the fight was about but the gatecrashers quickly left after that. Witnesses say Maddy was in her tent during this incident and didn’t come out. She likely wasn’t involved, if she was aware of it at all. Drunk and mildly injured, Jordi now wanted to leave with the guy she’d started dating that night. Maddy begged Jordi to stay but Jordi really wanted to leave. She tried to convince Maddy to come with them but Maddy was already in her sleeping bag. “She wanted to stay there with her tent for it to be safe. She thought it would be fine,” Jordi said. Maddy’s brother describes her as stubborn. Her mother says she liked having nice things and took care of her belongings. Jordi left in her new boyfriend’s vehicle, leaving Maddy behind, but there were still other people at the party at this point, plus Maddy had her truck.
> 1.30 AM - 3 AM: Everyone else leaves
Between 1.30 AM and 3 AM (some timelines stretch this to 4 AM but most use 3 AM), other partygoers started leaving, even those who originally planned to camp. The fight may have soured the mood. Some of those leaving asked Maddy if she needed a ride, which she declined. No one reported that she appeared inebriated or otherwise in need of help, though it’s arguable whether they were paying close attention. She was alone in her tent, by all accounts. The last people at the site other than Maddy were the party host and his girlfriend. Around 2.30 AM, they got into a disagreement and decided they were no longer going to camp. They claim to have offered Maddy a lift, which she turned down. It’s unclear whether Maddy knew she was the last one at the party at this point. Her mother says there’s no way she would’ve stayed if she knew she’d be totally alone.
> 8.30 AM - Jordi returns
Maddy’s phone allegedly continued to connect to the same local cell tower until 8 AM, when the battery died or it was switched off manually. Around 8.30 AM, Jordi returned to the campsite with her new boyfriend to retrieve the belongings she left behind before heading to work. She says she found Maddy’s tent unzipped. Her sleeping bag was pushed to one side and her rings were scattered on the grass. These were rings Maddy wore all the time, which had sentimental value to her. Jordi was slightly worried but apparently not suspicious. She didn’t try to contact Maddy. The party host also noticed Maddy’s tent when he returned to clean up around 10.30 AM. It was now zipped up (likely by Jordi). Since Maddy’s truck was still there, he thought she might be inside sleeping.
Investigation
Maddy’s family weren’t concerned at first. Maddy was very independent and had planned to stay for the weekend. That night, a second party happened at Hogsback Lake with 150 people in attendance including Maddy’s sister, who didn’t yet know Maddy was missing. Because her tent and truck were there, there may have been some confusion as to whether Maddy was present at this second party too, yet no one had seen her since the early hours of the morning and her phone was inactive. Maddy’s tent was flattened when someone drunkenly fell on it, revealing it to be empty. On Sunday, Maddy’s parents drove to Hogsback Lake to look for her. They found her collapsed tent and locked pickup truck and called the RCMP.
The search for Maddy was one of the largest in BC history. They re-traced her movements throughout the day as she visited a liquor store and later bought snacks. She can be seen on security camera before heading to the party. In the early stages of the investigation, police thought Maddy was trapped or injured in the surrounding area: a patchwork of gravel pits, creeks, swamps, forests and fields. Hogsback Lake was searched by divers and boats, including its small island. The lake is about 128 acres and 22 feet at its deepest, with 10+ feet visibility. The surrounding area has been searched by foot, quad, horseback, helicopter, cadaver dogs, car and truck. Search crews walked in lines, hand-in-hand. The helicopter search used infrared. The boat search included side-scanning sonar.
There was no sign of a struggle. Maddy’s tent, truck and belongings had been left unattended over the weekend but nothing was damaged or stolen. Police examined Maddy’s sleeping bag and pillow, her purse, a camera, toiletries and jewellery, a hatchet, a cooler with wine and beer in it, a gas can with gasoline and motorbike boots. They found nothing of interest. The only items missing were an iPhone 4 with a robin’s egg blue case and a large cluster of keys on a Gothic-style lanyard, which have never been located. Police presumed that Maddy left voluntarily, taking these items with her.
Detectives on the case say they have interviewed and ruled out all party attendees, including most of the 150 guests on Saturday night. Jordi became a popular suspect in the media but she passed multiple polygraphs and was cleared by the Scott family’s PI. In addition, Maddy was seen alive after Jordi left in someone else’s vehicle, which would mean both Jordi and the guy she just met that night would have to have returned to the campsite after 3 AM. Everyone else seems to have been ruled out, including the party host and his girlfriend, Maddy’s crush, the mystery 12.30 AM caller, a guy whose feelings for Maddy weren't reciprocated and a murdered man she was rumoured to be acquainted with. The RCMP stated: “we haven’t identified anyone that would have a grudge or had any reason to harm or cause Madison’s disappearance.”
Theories
Voluntary disappearance/suicide: Maddy was close to her family. She had an active social life and lots of hobbies. She left on foot and without her purse, which her mother says she took everywhere. It’s questionable how far she could’ve travelled with no vehicle or money, and there are no witness sightings of her after 3 AM. Maddy’s mother also says she always shared if she had a problem and we know she was communicating with her parents that night. She had no history of mental illness. Maddy retreating into her tent could be seen as a sign of distress but we do have an explanation for that. She’d been turned down by her crush, so her reaction seems reasonable. Maddy was on dating sites and had probably experienced rejection before. I don’t think it drove her to run away or take her life.
Party conspiracy: Some people have suggested that Maddy could’ve had a bad reaction to drugs at the party. There is no evidence that Maddy ever used drugs but it has been heavily implied that they were present that night. In this theory, Maddy took something offered to her by another party guest, felt unwell, retired to her tent and died sometime between 1AM and 3AM, causing people to flee the site in panic. Instead of calling 9-1-1, the remaining attendees presumably then conspired to dispose of Maddy and stage a disappearance, either to protect their own futures or in fear of retribution from the person who sold them the drugs. But for this to be true, multiple witness sightings would need to be outright lies. A group of unknown number would’ve had to establish a pact of impenetrable silence that has held up for twelve years. The more people know a secret, the harder it is to keep it. Surely someone would’ve talked by now?
Accidental death: If Maddy had an accident after leaving her campsite, why did she exit her tent and where did she go? There was an outhouse 50 feet away across a gravel lot so if she needed the toilet it seems unlikely that she’d get lost. Any other errand (food, charger, first aid) would have required her truck. The search was extensive yet no sign of her travelling from the site was ever found. Witnesses reported a cougar in the area but there were no tracks, droppings, rips, blood or any other sign of animal activity. Maddy was outdoorsy and a seasoned camper, adventurous and perhaps a bit impulsive. The nearby trails are clearly signposted and it would’ve just been getting light at the time so maybe she went for an impromptu hike, though I question whether she would’ve been in the mood for a sunrise stroll or a dip in the lake after the night she’d had. Maddy did like photography but she didn’t take her camera. She took her phone but she didn’t get to use it. If she did leave voluntarily, I don’t think she planned to go far.
Foul play by known individual: Police thought Maddy might’ve left in a vehicle with someone she knew since she took her phone and keys, but she was still alone in her tent when the last witnesses departed. There was no activity on her phone between 12.30 AM and 8 AM. If a known person turned up after 3 AM, why would she now ditch the belongings she’d stuck around to protect? Why would she leave her own working truck to ride in another car when she very likely wasn’t over the limit? Maddy was friendly with a 28-year-old man named Fribjon Bjornson, who allegedly told friends he knew what happened to her after she vanished. There were rumours that he owed drug dealers money and that they abducted Maddy to teach him a lesson. Fribjon took a lie detector test and passed. Police cleared him of involvement. Several weeks after being cleared, however, his severed head was found in an abandoned house. Police have said his murder is unrelated to Maddy’s disappearance.
Foul play by unknown individual: Vanderhoof is off Canada’s Highway of Tears, where countless women have gone missing or been murdered. Vanderhoof is linked to serial killer Cody Legebokoff, though he was already in custody when Maddy disappeared. Maddy is sometimes connected to Israel Keyes, who targeted random people at campgrounds and isolated locations, but he isn’t known to have been in the area at the time (he lived over 1000 miles away). The party was advertised on Facebook and could’ve attracted outsiders. The pushed-aside sleeping bag and the scattered rings might be a sign of some kind of sudden confrontation. If a person or persons unknown to Maddy arrived in a vehicle at the site after 3 AM expecting a party, perhaps they tried to interact with her. In the campsite re-enactment photo, there’s a picnic table set up next to the tent. Maybe they became sexually aggressive. She put on her shoes, pocketed her keys and phone, unzipped her tent and got ready to run, planning to drive away and call 9-1-1. A struggle occurred, possibly involving a weapon. In this theory, the perpetrator(s) forced Maddy into their vehicle, dumped her phone and moved to a second location. Stranger abductions are rare, however.
Conclusion
I believe that the witness sightings are accurate and that what happened to Maddy occurred when she was alone at the site. I also believe Maddy’s mom: I think Maddy was scared when she realised she was alone, which means I don’t believe she went walking through the woods for no good reason between 3 AM and 8 AM. I think the reason Maddy left her tent with her phone and keys in that timeframe is because she sensed some kind of danger. Since she didn’t reach her truck or call for help, I think whatever happened to her happened quickly. When the environment can kill, no foul play is necessary to explain a missing person, yet the wilderness is also home to many human predators who purposely seek out seclusion as a cover for their crimes. Lone female campers are particularly vulnerable. There have been no major developments in the case since the initial investigation but I continue to hope that Madison Scott will one day be found.
​
If you have any information that can assist police, please call the Vanderhoof RCMP on +1 250-567-2222 or Crime Stoppers on +1 877 222 8477. (If any of the information in this post is inaccurate, please let me know and I will amend.)
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UPDATE: I can't quite believe I'm writing this sentence but the remains of Madison Scott were discovered today, on Monday 29th of May 2023, on a rural property east of Vanderhoof. Thank you to the commenters who let me know. Thinking of her friends and family. Rest in peace Madison Scott. Source: https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/178578/news/madison-scott-identified-by-coroners-service-east-of-vanderhoof/
Sources:

• https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/vanishing/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Maddy_Scott
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn0ROcjh7ys (Jordi interview)
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/madison-scott-disappearance-vanderhoof-10-anniversary-1.6045039
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-explores-the-mysteries-and-murders-along-the-highway-of-tears/
• https://missingpeople.ca/the-disappearance-of-madison-scott-may-28th-2011/
• http://madisonscott.ca

Preface: this post is NOT meant to disrespect any demographic of LS people, or seem ageist. We love ALL 🍍 folks!
So my (40) wife (39) and I often match with people in their 50’s on the apps. Never been an issue with us as my wife’s attracted to salt & pepper gentlemen (Clooney vibes all day long), and I seem to be a bit of a cougar magnet 🤷‍♂️; not to mention there just seem to be MORE swingers in this age range in general in our area.
We recently connected with an experienced (10+ years) LS couple on SLS in their early 50’s, and have been really hitting it off over multiple dates. Boundaries came up early on in the get-to-know you phase and we laid out ours up front (safe play being one). The fact they asked was super encouraging! All good stuff.
Well, we end up having a spontaneous play session at their house one evening on a whim due to schedules aligning and, to my surprise, the hubs had NO condoms. I always bring a bunch.. no biggie. We chalked it up to us dropping in on short notice. The (safe) group sex was GREAT.
Fast forward to today. We’re lining up some Memorial Day fun with them, and my wife (who does our corresponding for the most part) playfully reminds the hubs in a group chat to grab some condoms when he can. Here’s where it gets interesting.
His response was less than enthusiastic, including an eye roll emoji. INSTANT trigger for my wife, but she kept it cool made a point to lay out the fact that disregarding boundaries was a turn off for her. (Incidentally, STD/STI exposure aside.. she’s not on Birth Control - I’m snipped). In the span of 15 minutes the weekend implodes, and the other wife somewhat defends her husband as “not being a big fan of them”… took us totally by surprise.
My wife (rightfully) feels that when a woman asks you to grab condoms so she can fuck your brains out .. any response other than “yes ma’am” is an instant turn-off.
So, she politely broke it off with them both individually. Which honestly bummed us both out as we’d been talking for months now. In addition, to our surprise they wished us well; so now we’re stuck trying to process all of it.
So I have to ask, after reading articles about how RAMPANT STDs are running in 55-and-up communities, is this just a generational thing?!
We’re about as sex positive as it gets, but these are EXPERIENCED swingers who are still playing with others on occasion (presumably bare?!) as well. Testing wasn’t discussed.
All insights are appreciated; and thanks for the perspective as always swingers!

Hello, I wanted to build pc first time. I've connected everything properly (at least later on). Tried two pc supply - still the same problem - power on button didn't work (and the screwdriver method didn't do anything either).
I think both PSU are okay, because USB device is giving signs of life (small green diode turns on - I've checked front panel usbs too and the device's diode still turns on, so I've connected front panel correctly and USB from motherboard appears to draw power).
Despite motherboard drawing power from USB ports, it fails to boot - no reaction whatsoever - even when doing screwdriver power on. I'd like to ask, if it can be dead motherboard - even if USB devices seem to connect to it, but no power on?
And my both PSU - Cougar 700W (older model) and Silentium Elementum 550W. CPU - ryzen 3600. RAM sticks - Samsung 8GB x 2 Case - ATX Natec Armadillo

I'm a first time cub, looking for a proper relationship with a cougar. I'm more hoping to explore a connection with someone, I'm fairly easy with however this occurs, enjoying life and taking it as it comes! I'm also happy to enjoy some friendships that involve more than just being in the bedroom. Ideally I'd like to chat with someone nearby as so meet ups would be easier, but I'll never turn down an online friend!
About me: I'm white British, 5ft 11, musculaathletic build, brown hair and blue eyes. Happy to exchange pictures and whatnot. I work full time in a professional role that's rather public facing, I enjoy going out and doing new things but I'm also quite happy spending downtime at home!
I play a few different sports - biggest one in my life has probably been rugby, absolutely love animals, thoroughly enjoy music (can't play an instrument but would love to learn) and films!
If you'd to learn more or our interests align, please do drop me a message.

Hello, I wanted to build pc first time. I've connected everything properly (at least later on). Tried two pc supply - still the same problem - power on button didn't work (and the screwdriver method didn't do anything either).
I think both PSU are okay, because USB device is giving signs of life (small green diode turns on - I've checked front panel usbs too and the device's diode still turns on, so I've connected front panel correctly and USB from motherboard appears to draw power).
Despite motherboard drawing power from USB ports, it fails to boot - no reaction whatsoever - even when doing screwdriver power on. I'd like to ask, if it can be dead motherboard - even if USB devices seem to connect to it, but no power on?
And my both PSU - Cougar 700W and Silentium Elementum 550W. CPU - ryzen 3600. RAM sticks - Samsung 8GB x 2 Case - ATX Natec Armadillo

Hi!
I'd bought a Cougar Darkblader X7 Case and it comes with a RGB led strip in the front that is connected to the included rgb hub. (Photo, the connector is the one that says 'IN-GND' at the top right of the picture).
I need to swap the rgb hub for a new one (from another brand) but I can't find one with the led strip connector, so I need to know how it this connector named and buy an adapter to 5V ARGB.
Help please!
Thank you all ;)

Hello Cougars, I am currently contemplating enrolling in the Master's in Petroleum Engineering program at the University of Houston and am interested in hearing from those who have been or are currently in the program. Could you please share your experiences with regard to:
Curriculum: How rigorous is the course load? Does the curriculum strike a balance between theory and practical work?
Faculty: How approachable and knowledgeable have you found the professors and instructors? Do they bring real-world problems into the coursework?
Resources: What kind of resources (like research opportunities, internships, or job fairs) are available for Petroleum Engineering students at UH?
Career Prospects: How prepared do you feel for a career in the petroleum industry upon graduation? Do you find the program well-connected with the industry?
Pros and Cons: Can you share the major advantages and disadvantages you've experienced with the program? Is there anything you wish was different or improved?
Overall Experience: Overall, how would you rate your experience in the program? Would you recommend it to others?

https://preview.redd.it/zncym0fty71b1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0cb62e880995afebcdabc7eb734da1654cca295f
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5. Choose a professional photo to attract employer attention.
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I know this is a long read but I want to help anyone that is having the same problem I had. If you want 3 star cougar pelts, read on.
So, the past 2 weeks I've been doing ALOT of hunting in rdr2. I finally got to cougars and lemme tell you, soooo much fun (being super sarcastic lol). We have all had it happen before right? Riding along minding our business and a cougar comes out of nowhere, we panick (or i used to panic at first) hit the wrong button or whatever happens and the cougar kills you. Or grizzly bear or wolves whatever it may be but cougars are the worst.
Anyways, I found the absolute best way and place to get cougars to spawn, sometimes even two in the same area in the same night. Also, there is a moose spawn right on top of it all so while you're getting cougar pelts and reloading to reset and respawn everything, youll get some moose and also black bear pelts in there too with some patience. So everywhere i looked online told me all the way west by the trapper in Big Valley, is best place to hunt cougars. Even IGN says the same thing. I believe thats incorrect and I'm going to tell you all step by step my method that works 100% because it was a pain in the ass for me to learn and took alot of time.
First, travel to annesburg. I bring a temp horse so I can hold more pelts. Once you get there open your map and look at the mail icon in annesburg. Directly south of it along the railroad track heading south, just outside the city, cougars do spawn right here and also black bears sometimes as well. So this is the start of my "loop". I'll check if there is a cougar or 3 star bear.
Afterwards whether there's one there or not, I will head all the way north and directly on the "e" in Brandywine set up a camp, sleep till evening and leave your temp horse there for now until you need him to stow a pelt.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: While riding north, if it's nighttime, I have had a cougar attack me just past where the three roads connect to form one that continues heading north toward Willards Rest and it is north of Reed cottage so just be careful riding through. And for Murphey brood of course.)
Next, after setting up camp, follow the road north and that tiny little triangle in the road that's directly southwest of Willards rest, is where the moose spawns inside that triangle inside some trees. If he isn't there, just keep moving on west towards Doverhill the electricity place, but have your rifle out and ready. I use the bolt action or Springfield so I can toggle the scope, whatever your preference, but just BE READY. Make sure you are not low on deadeye.
Now when I get to the river just past Willard rest that's when I start moving a little slower at about a trot, using eagle eye and searching AND watching my radar (VERY IMPORTANT: keep watching your radar so you know where the cougars going to be coming from, you will always have time to set up a shot just keep watching your radar!) Now just on the west side of the river, either on the left OR the right, a cougar will spawn. If he isn't there just keep moving along.
(IMPORTANT TIP: The dinner bell. If you ride up and down this area I'm explaining, just randomly shooting your weapon in the air, it will actually attract the cougars to you. They hear the gun shots and come running almost like you're ringing a dinner bell and during this time especially is when you should be watching your radar!!)
So if that first cougar is not there, keep riding west towards Doverhill and as said above, firing your weapon randomly every 4 or 5 seconds or so. Once you get to Dover Hill, head towards it. Up to the left on the hill if your looking directly at the front of Dover Hill, is an area where wolves spawn as well if you're interested and I've actually seen a cougar here as well.
Once you're done there, ride back to camp, back east towards Willards Rest, at about a trot, firing your weapon. They will come to you like white on rice. You'll see the red enemy dot on your radar when the cougar hears your gunshot. Continue to do this back and forth back and forth until a cougar spawns and trust me, one will I promise! I always sleep till evening when I get there and ride back and forth till I find one. If I did NOT bag a cougar for some dumb reason, then I will sleep at my camp for 2 days until evening to reset everything and rinse and repeat.
Now, i usually end up killing bears and moose and run out of room for pelts on my horses, that's when I head to Saint denis to sell to the trapper and then return to annesburg to start my "loop" again and check just south of annesburg for the first cougar.
Like I said, most guides say all the way west in big valley is the best location for cougars and yes they are right about one thing, one does spawn there but I couldn't get consistent results like I am with this place north of annesburg and I completed all of my cougar hunting within a day when I finally got it down.
Sorry for the super long read but as I said, hunting these damn cougars was very frustrating for me so I just wanted to try and help any newer players like myself that may be having a hard time bagging them.
Good luck and if you have any questions send me a dm or comment. I don't mind giving tips and helping with anything I can in this game because I know just how annoying it can be sometimes haha!

Hello everyone. This is part 6 and the final part of my series of reviews on the DS Spider-Man games. Today's review will be on 2011's Spider-Man Edge of Time DS and 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man DS
Here's a link to part 1: https://www.reddit.com/patientgamers/comments/13e14lx/reviewing_all_9_ds_spiderman_games_on_the_ds_part/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Here's part 2: https://www.reddit.com/patientgamers/comments/13fdl2d/reviewing_all_9_ds_spiderman_games_on_the_ds_part/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
here's part 3: https://www.reddit.com/patientgamers/comments/13gap9k/reviewing_all_9_ds_spiderman_games_on_the_ds_part/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
And here's Part 4: https://www.reddit.com/patientgamers/comments/13h5rcp/reviewing_all_9_ds_spiderman_games_on_the_ds_part/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Part 5: https://www.reddit.com/patientgamers/comments/13ixtwi/reviewing_all_9_ds_spiderman_games_on_the_ds_part/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
-8- Spider-Man: Edge of Time (2011)
Spider-Man Edge of Time DS released in 2011 and like its predecessors, its something of a 2D Metroidvania-esque game. However, instead of it being the 3rd attempt by Gryptonite after the great Shattered Dimensions DS, Edge of Time DS was developed by Other Ocean Interactive. And it's apparent from as soon as you start the game. Instead of the cute 3D character models, you have 2D sprites. So the game resembles those GBA Spider-Man games. I don't mind, it does look quite charming.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Edge of Time DS is something of a sequel/follow up to Shattered Dimensions as it takes place in the same continuity (Peter Parker references this when he asks 2099 Spidey where the other Spider-Men are). The premise here is that in the year 2099, Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of the year 2099, finds Walker Sloan, a scientist at Alchemax (The Amazon meets Oscorp of 2099), planning on using a time machine to travel back in time to establish Alchemax about 100 years ago so he can rebuild the company in his image and dismantle his competitors before they can pose a threat (which, honestly, feels realistic to what a large company would do if they had the ability to time travel). Miguel fails to stop Sloan, resulting in something of an altered and mixed timeline between the future and past where Alchemax exists in the past. Miguel somehow finds a way to establish a psychic temporal link with Peter Parker in the past allowing them to communicate (the DS version glosses over this). The 2 Spider-Men then have to work together in their own time periods by exploring the Alchemax building. The big new gimmick is something called "Quantum Causality" (that Reed Richards apparently discovered) where if Peter does something in the past, it affects Miguel in the future (or technically it would be the present according to Miguel).
The game demonstrates this at first when Peter enters Alchemax by having him open a door which causes that same door to open and close in 2099. In addition, the player can instantly switch between Peter in the past and Miguel in 2099 by pressing the Select Button with the game "remembering" the state of the worlds while pausing them. So if Miguel is fighting enemies in 2099 and the player switches to Peter, those enemies will still be there and resume fighting Miguel when the player switches back. The game even uses this in a cool way with a puzzle where Peter is stuck in a computer room and needs the password. Miguel can see what the password is by entering that same computer room in 2099.
Obviously, this approach to time travel makes absolutely no sense. But I still love it. And I feel the DS version actually has more potential with this idea compared to the main console version. The Main console version of Edge of Time is this linear brawlebeat em up with scripted set pieces. So the quantum causality aspect was generally limited to certain story beats and set pieces. But since the DS version is more of a Metroidvania-esque game, it can better incorporate this into the puzzles and traversal challenges.
But I do feel the general gameplay and controls of Edge of Time DS is a major step back from the improvements Shattered Dimensions DS made. Combat plays closer to Spider-Man 2 DS as it lacks that freeflowing nature where attacks combo into each other or dodge/parry options or longer range attacks. As a result, it's functional but way less fun. It gets especially frustrating when fighting airbourne enemies as Spidey lacks the web yank or any comparable ability. Web Swinging still operates like in Shattered Dimensions DS at least with webs sticking to ceilings and preserving Spidey's momentum. Web Zipping and navigation is back to how it was in Spider-Man 2 DS so not as engaging.
The game feels a bit rushed. Like Activision didn't give Other Ocean a lot of time to make the game. And this seems to especially affect the navigation and progression. This is the first DS Spider-Man game so far to have some major glitches and bugs that affect movement. There were times when Spidey would get stuck when climbing walls in a falling animation, taking quite a bit of effort to break out. The game's minimap is far less detailed than either Web of Shadows DS or Shattered Dimensions and you have no control over it. You can't manually zoom in or out like before. Levels are also more labyrinthine, relying more on smaller vents that are quite hard to see to connect areas. So if you want to see where the objective is if it's not on the minimap, you have to quickly pause and unpause the game as then, the minimap will pan to where the next objective is and then pan to where you are which really kills the flow. This is made worse when sometimes, the minimap "gets stuck" and doesn't update to where you actually are. Resulting in weird situations where Spidey goes out of the minimap so you have to do a combination of pausing/unpausing and backtracking to reenter the minimap so you can try to orient yourself. It also doesn't give the option to highlight obstructions or "where the other Spider-Man roughly is". This is problematic because there are times when the game wants the player to bring one Spider-Man to a point but there is an obstruction on the way that the other Spider-Man can remove. But there is enough slight variations in the time periods and the map is so minimal that can be easy to get lost along the way.
On top of that, the game does a very poor job in highlighting how one is supposed to progress through it. For example, one of the abilities Miguel can get is "Adamantine Claws" with the description "can allow him to break through certain walls". Ok, but which walls and how? The game doesn't have a tutorial or demonstration like its predecessors or even every other Metroidvania. I only figured it out because I decided to try a random ground slam on a certain floor and it worked. Nothing about the upgrade highlighted that. Some doors are locked for Peter that open with no heads up (Prior Metroids have like different coloured doors and keycards which helps with this). And once you do figure it out, the game becomes quite tedious as you have to equip and swap between items that are used passively. For example, if there is a purple door you need to break with the Adamintine Claws, you need to press R until you select the Claws. Then if there is an electric shielded door, you need to Press R until you select the Resist Electricity Ability. And if there is a Red Energy Shield, you need to press R until you select the Red Energy Shield Ability and Web to it. None of these abilities overlap or are set up in such a way that you would need to only activate one at a time. It kills the momentum and gets really annoying. The prior SM games on DS didn't require you swap around such abilities and instead kept them always activated. EoTDS treats abilities in a way closer to how the older Pokemon games treated HMs.
The minimap does at least highlight any nearby collectibles which is nice. But I feel more could have done here. Perhaps do what Web of Shadows DS (and also Hollow Knight years later) did and have the map name and colour the major areas of the map. So it would be more intuitive to know "oh, If I need to get to these rifts, I need to navigate through the Alchemax Portal Room, then past the testing lab and find a vent up to the skyline/Daily Bugle".
One example I feel that showcases all of these issues at once is the objective that requires Miguel to get to a rift to encounter Black Cat. The minimap at least highlights where the objective is so you know where to navigate Miguel to. Along the way, you need to perform a ground slam on a specific kind of floor (that the game doesn't tell you about). Then you eventually reach a glass wall in front of a giant robot that blocks you from progressing. There's no obvious solution here for what Miguel needs to do here to progress. The solution is to switch to Peter. Since Peter doesn't have any objectives active, the minimap remains static so it's not even clear that you need to switch to Peter here. You need to take a completly different route to where that robot and glass wall would be in the future. This route isn't intuitive because there is no hint this is the correct way. Especially given the doors to get there were locked and there was no indication they are unlocked now. The area that corresponds to the robot looks different in the past with more of a generic office theme than a sci-fi lab theme and a different layout so it doesn't look like you're in the same general area. Then you destroy a yellow rectangle with a ground slam that causes the robot in Miguel's time to fall and crush the glass door allowing Miguel to proceed.
If this were Shattered Dimensions DS, then at least the game would have provided some hints and better signposting that this would be the solution.
-The story
The DS version tells a compressed version of the story in the main console version. But unlike its predecessors which did a much better job in preserving some of the drama and context from their console versions, EoTDS fumbles here.
For example, in the main console version of Edge of Time, there's a section where Peter learns MJ is going to die soon. Miguel, being the pragmatic one here, tells Peter to forget about her and focus on the mission as the future is at stake. Peter snaps and angrily shouts at Miguel "I have no future without her!" and that Miguel is unworthy of being Spider-Man due to his disregard for others' safety. After an awkward silence. Miguel offers to go rescue MJ to which Peter breaths a "I owe you one". Later on, once Miguel has saved MJ, she tells him he is a worthy successor to Spider-Man which stuns Miguel.
I loved this sequence in EoT. The music and setting of the scene was amazing. Seeing Peter get so angry and respond in this way was novel given his usual demeanour. And it highlights the difference in the 2 protagonists. And it gives Miguel something of an arc as he adopts some of Peter's views.
The DS version speeds through this. When Peter learns MJ is in trouble, Miguel immediately offers to help which results in a less interesting story beat.
It's a similar case with Atrocity. The Main console version takes its time setting up Anti-Venom and how it all leads to Atrocity. The DS version skips all that and has Atrocity just show up.
I like the interactions the 2 Spider-Men have with each other and some of their more obscure villains in the boss fights, but the story itself lacks the impact the main console version has even though the material is right there and wouldn't have been impossible to implement.
Also, Black Cat is super horny in this version. Including telling Miguel she wants him to show her how he handles a cougar. Isn't the DS version rated E for everyone here lol?
To be honest, I couldn't bring myself to finish this game. The bugs made it frustrating to even do basic wall climbing as Spidey would either automatically fall off or teleport back down. The lacklustre minimap and lack of signposting made it a chore to navigate and solve puzzles. And the combat feels like a downgrade to SDDS.
It's a shame because I really liked the main console version of EoT and feel the DS version has a really cool premise for its gameplay with the ability to freely switch between the 2 Spider-Men in different time periods. Like I said, if this version was built by Gryptonite on the foundation of SDDS, it likely would have been amazing. I wish EoTDS gets a remake or inspires a future game because its premise is gold and I would love to explore a Metroidvania with the ability to time travel.
Onto the final game of this series: The Amazing Spider-Man DS. See you then.
-9- The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
At last, we're at the final game of this retrospective. The Amazing Spider-Man 1. It's poetic to send this series with a movie licensed game. Ocean is back for another "sprite + 3D environments in a sorta Metroidvania-esque" game.
I remember sorta enjoying the main console version of TASM1. It was the first open world Spider-Man game after Web of Shadows in 2008. It was decent but it walked back a lot of what was cool about its predecessors. The Web Swinging and combat was more automated and not as deep as WoS. Stealth was passable. I remember really liking the "scale" of the game with how Spidey had to fight giant robots and cross species. It did a decent job in making the threat to New York feel severe (plus, it had a story about a disease spreading all over New York that required people to quarantine and get vaccinated....... so clearly Insomniac plagiarized this game).
I also really love TASM1 movie. Hot Take, but I feel this is the best Spider-Man Origin Movie. Even better than Raimi's SM1. Don't get me wrong. I love Raimi's version. But what I love about TASM1 is how much more it spends time on Peter developing into Spider-Man. In Raimi's version, it sorta speeds through it. Once Peter gets his powers, he's a bit of jerk to Uncle Ben, he goes and wrestles for money, Uncle Ben dies which makes Peter pursue revenge. He finds the mugger and realizes he's the guy he let go earlier which motivates Peter to become a good Spider-Man. It's done well.
But TASM1 explores this in more detail. It spent more time of Peter being a jerk with his powers. It spent more time showing how there were consequences to Peter's initial selfishness with Aunt May needing to walk home alone that Peter initially doesn't pick up on. As a result, it makes Uncle Ben's death feel more significant and tragic since you can see how he and Aunt May just wanted what was best for Peter and for him to mature and Peter was brushing them away.
In addition, even when Peter becomes Spider-Man, he doesn't instantly become a hero. He continues acting selfishly. He takes down criminals and is quite the jerk to them. Peter thinks he's doing a good job. He gets his first reality check when at dinner with Captain Stacey, Captain Stacey points out how this Spider-Man is a menace as he ruins police operations and is making things worse. It's the first time Peter starts to see the consequences of his actions from someone he respects. It's not until Peter later chooses to let the Lizard go to save people that Peter truly starts to become the Spider-Man we all know and love. That progression is what TASM1 absolutely nails. I love when an origin story really explores the motives, thought process and progression of a hero rather than brush through it.
Anyway, I can no longer stall for time here. I have to sadly go back to the main topic of this post: The Amazing Spider-Man DS game. I'll be honest with y'all, I couldn't bring myself to finish this one either. That's 2 DS Spider-Man games in a row now!
Like its main console version, it takes place after the events of the movie in this weird alternate timeline where everything is a lot more "comic-book-y". Oscorp was continuing Connor's research which results in a breach of cross species getting out into New York and spreading the disease. Alastair Smythte sends out his robots to contain them and they also target Spidey since he's a cross species. Peter is forced to break out Connors from a mental Asylum and work with him to try and fix everything.
(Quick Side Tangent. But back in Edge of Time's main console version, Anti-Venom's healing powers could "cure" Peter's powers since Peter got his powers from radiation so it's technically an illness. But Miguel was unaffected by Anti-Venom since his powers are DNA based. In TASM universe, Peter gets his powers from a genetically engineered Spider as opposed to a radioactive one. So would TASM Peter have the same immunity to Anti-Venom that Miguel has? )
The basic controls are similar to Edge of Time DS. You have the same rather clunky and rigid combat that lacks the freedom and freeflow nature of Griptonite's games. You have the same sorta worse Web Swinging and Navigation controls as EoTDS.
The way the game handles levels is both different and odd. It feels like a combination of Edge of Time DS and Spider-Man 3 DS. You now have an "off mission open/hub world" that consist of areas like the sewers, parts of Oscorp and New York Streets. These areas houses entrances to missions that play like sorta self contained areas from Edge of Time DS. The game even rates your performance on these missions by how fast you complete them and how much health you have left by the end.
The "off mission open/hub world" is kinda cool in that it connects different parts of the map together and technically is more varied than what EoTDS has. But I don't know, it inherits SM3DS' issues of the open world not really adding much and it's even more limited in side content and exploration.
The missions themselves are extremely tedious. The goal is to get through them and complete whatever the objective is. There are "branching paths" that lead to other areas that might contain collectibles. Remember when I complained the minimap in Edge of Time DS was too minimal for its own good? That version would still be an improvement to TASM1DS. When in missions, the minimap only represents areas with basic rectangles and shows pathways between them with lines. The number and position of lines gives you some idea of how many and where these pathways are at least. But you have no clue about the general layout of the area or where the objective may be. Resulting in a lot of combing around for items which really slows down the pace.
The biggest issue is that sometimes, the door to the next area is locked and you need to get a keycard by defeating the enemy that has it. But it's not clear if this room requires a keycard. If you ignore all the enemies and just get to the end you either get to move onto the next area with no issue or have to backtrack through the area and find all the enemies to defeat. If you choose to fight all the enemies upon entering, it can end up as a waste of time if there is no keycard (not helped by how lacklustre the combat is). Again, you won't know what is required until you find the door. The issue is exacerbated because you don't know which enemy has the keycard and what the general layout of the room is. It's possible the enemy with the keycard is tucked away in a random far off corner that requires you to comb the entire place. Or is a slow floating drone that requires you to awkwardly position yourself, wait, jump and begin striking and repeat the process until it gets destroyed. I can't believe TASM1DS has levels that are worse than SM2DS!
The fact there's a mission rating and replay system suggests to me the game intends for this to be something replayable? Like, the player can improve how a mission goes by the knowledge on replays and it would be more fun? But I don't know, with how tedious and unrewarding it already is, I feel that hurts the replayability.
Let's compare this to prior DS Spider-Man games. Ultimate Spider-Man DS and Spider-Man 3 DS had linear levels with no minimap that sometimes asked you to defeat specific enemies to be able to progress. But in those games, the levels were laid out in a straightforward way that didn't require you to comb every inch or fight every enemy using a lacklustre combat system to progress. In addition, they had markers highlighting important targets and had some nice set pieces to mix it up.
Web of Shadows DS and Shattered Dimensions DS had more of a Metroidvania-esque design. But kept up the pace by giving the player a minimap that at least showed the general outline of the area (with the option to highlight collectibles and objectives) which gave a better indication of what to do and not blindly explore. In addition, it actually had a much more fun combat system but rarely asked the player to fight every enemy in an area.
Even Spider-Man 2 DS at least only asked the player to just comb every inch of a level to find stuff. Yeah, it wasn't ideal because it lacked a minimap or any indication or markers. But at least there's no additional fluff or requirements for individual areas that waste your time. You don't need to fight every enemy just to open a door you didn't know about.
The sad part is that I can sorta see what TASM1DS is sorta going for and how it could have actually been something great.
Imagine an alternate version of the game where every mission just dropped you into a sorta self contained mini-metroidvania level. Remember Breath of the Wild's Eventide Island? It was a small self contained section of Breath of the Wild that reset your equipment and had you sorta start from scratch to complete a few challenges.
Imagine if TASM1DS was set up where when you enter a mission, it drops you into such a level. It gives you a rough indication of where your objective is and leaves it to you for how to find it. And there are multiple ways of reaching the objective. Maybe you can follow the most direct route but it requires you to backtrack and find keycards that open certain doors by defeating certain glowing enemies. But if you didn't want to do that, you can try and explore for a vent or something that takes you to different areas that have their own set of challenges in a more "out of the way" path. And since you unlock new abilities as you progress the game, you can return to older levels and use your new abilities to open entirely new paths that have their own challenges (kinda like what Shattered Dimensions DS does) and get an even better completion time and rating.
Even the limited minimap TASM1DS already has would fit this version of the game as now scouring every inch of the area is only one possible option for progression and the player can naturally find their own paths.
But, that is not the game we got. I do not recommend y'all play this game. Even the prior DS SM game that I couldn't finish: Edge of Time DS, at least had the novel time switching mechanic that was worth checking out at least. TASM1DS does nothing to make it worth playing over its predecessors. Ending this series on a low note.
-10- Conclusion
So yeah, how was the experience of reviewing each of these games?
I was a little surprised we never got a full on 3D Spider-Man game like the old Neversoft ones (Friend or Foe was the closest one and it was a different genre). But given the fewer buttons on the DS and the issue older 3D SM games had with the camera, that was probably a wise call. I doubt the folks making DS Spider-Man games would have been given the time to make an amazing 3D Spider-Man game.
All of the main ones were 2D side scrollers. Hearkening back to those GBA and SNES Superhero games. That's not a bad fit for Spidey. Gryptonite managed to really find an interesting niche with the formula by making the games Metroidvanias and improving the combat and navigation systems.
So with the rankings of these games, I'm going to give Shattered Dimensions DS the top spot. I recommend everyone reading this to try it out as it's a great game that executes its ideas well and offers a lot of content and replayability and accessibility. It goes above and beyond its predessors.
For second place, I'm torn between Ultimate Spider-Man DS and Web of Shadows DS. USMDS has the better story and refines the "linear side scrolling gameplay" side of DS Spider-Man games. But it's not very replayable. WoSDS begins the Metroidvania SM games and has great combat and gameplay and atmosphere but suffers from poor balancing, difficulty spikes. Plus, SDDS improves on its formula in nearly every way.
Basically, I feel like SDDS, USMDS and WoSDS are the 3 Spider-Man games on the DS that are the most worth playing as they're pretty good overall.
This next tier is of games that, while not bad, aren't great and are only worth checking out if you're curious. I'll put Battle for New York DS and Spider-Man 3 DS here.
Honourable mention to Edge of Time DS since, while the game is unfinished and needed more polish, it does have the most unique gimmick of time travel which is novel even among recent games and even Spider-Man games.
The final tier would be games I'd advise you avoid. Either because they are flat out bad, boring, have other games that do their concept better or are a chore to play. Here comes Spider-Man 2 DS, Friend or Foe DS and The Amazing Spider-Man DS.
This was a wild ride and took me a long time to write. What are all y'all thoughts on this?
I'm probably not going to do a long series of reviews for a while. I do have plans of doing the Scooby Doo and Ben 10 games on DS at some point though.
Take care y'all.

Demographics: Gender: Male Race/Ethnicity: Asian Residence: California Income Bracket: no financial aid received 💀 Type of School: Small Public (charter) Hooks: From a geographically poor and disadvantaged area, first-gen Intended Major: something in bio (pref Psychobiology)
Academics GPA (UW/W): 4.0, 4.85 Rank (or percentile): 4/100 or so students # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 20 Dual Enrollment, 5 APs, 1 honors
Senior Year Course Load (DE = dual enrollment): 1st semester: AP Micro, 3 DE classes (one English, one STEM, one humanities) 2nd semester: AP GOV, 3 DE classes (one English, one math, one social science)
Standardized Testing: List the highest scores earned and all scores that were reported. SAT: 1380 (690 both sections) AP/IB: AP Euro (3), AP U.S. History (3), AP English Lang & Comp (4)
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Extracurriculars/Activities Professional Valorant team (10 weeks in 10th grade) 💀 (hit peak radiant #430 in Oct 2021) Professional Valorant coaching 💀 Chess club president One-on-one peer tutoring Group tutoring Mentoring two friends throughout high school Work experience 10 hrs / week, 40 hrs during summer Leader at an event for chess club Being a peer therapist Youtube channel manager Awards School award for being an exemplary student, academically and non-academically AP Scholar award Award for painting a mural Dean's list Letters of Recommendation (Briefly describe relationships with your recommenders and estimated rating.) No LORs as I didn't apply to any schools that needed them
Interviews No interviews Essays UC essays (only essays needed) PIQ 1 - About leadership experience in a game of Fortnite (10/10) - wrote about how reviving someone in Fortnite changed my mindset forever and made me a better leader PIQ 2 - Greatest talent or skill (5/10) - Connected remaining calm under pressure (ADRENALINE = STIMULANT) to driving. Kinda mid essay. PIQ 3 - Procrastination (7/10) - wrote about how almost being late for a history project made me so scared that I didn't want to procrastinate ever again PIQ 4 - Getting bullied (10/10) - wrote about how I was bullied and picked on for my race throughout elementary and middle school and how it made me a stronger person now
Decisions Acceptances: UC Davis (RD) UC Berkeley (RD) (original commitment) CSU Sacramento (RD) CSU San Francisco (RD) CSU Stanislaus (RD)
Waitlists: UCLA (RD) (Accepted & Committed)
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Rejections: None Additional Information: Honestly guys, looking at my application all I can say is that universities value a student who is willing to stand out and be themself. Go ahead and be yourself on your application. I really wanted to write about stuff like Fortnite and Valorant because it is a core part of my personality, as dumb as I am. Even though I don't really play Fortnite anymore, it did teach me a lot of valuable skills which helped me in real life. Don't hide parts of yourself just because you don't think colleges will like it. Also, make sure to have fun. You only get to go through high school and college once in your life, so make it count!