The mods predictably shut comments down, as this topic is polarizing, but as a professional dog trainer, I had this to say. I wanted a to reach a larger audience so I'll share this here.
I commend you and respect your decision more than you know. I've been a balanced trainer for almost two decades, anvjhh it's one of my biggest hopes that we will see the stigma surrounding behavioral euthanasia will lift because I don't have enough fingers and toes to equal the number of times I've weighed and laid out for owners and concluded that BE was the kindest, most responsible, and most of all, the RIGHT choice. Because these dogs, and before anyone gets sand in their ass crack about it (and I would hope my fellow honest professional dog trainers will back me up on this), the majority of which are pit bull type dogs, must meet certain criteria to meet that places them snugly in the category of "Irreparable - Too Dangerous". For anybody with logic, the pit bull and it's close cousins are bred for fighting and bull baiting or hunting. It's just common sense that a type of dog created for that type of activity are going to have alheightened aggression. Terriers in general were all need for one reason, and that is to kill. Every single breed. And they're all quite scrappy anyway. To have a dog that possesses this as a genetic trait takes accepting and rearranging your life and learning to keep people safe from your dog and vice versa.
It's not a decision that I take lightly (although when I come to a conclusion it is made there on the spot - it's very easy to assess what you should do with a dog in terms of training or medication, and of course, BE. And I'm not biased in terms of being heavy handed when I give them my professional opinion, it doesn't matter the breed. I have told owners of 5lb dogs that unless they were willing to put up with it, that was on them, but that my recommendation is that they elect for behavioral euthanasia. I had a couple of veterinarians in area the area whose numbers I'd provide them with who were willing to perform the operation, because a surprising number of vets will not help ease the mental pain suffered by a dog who cannot voice it's anguish. As long as it is physically healthy, it shouldn't be out to sleep, is their logic.
But a life spent constantly tense, in a perpetual state of hypervigilance, finger snap personality changes, anxious, told by your brain something is wrong and the answer is violence, or just being true to it's nature as a dog, which is where a dog is just wired to carry out the cycle of predation; locate , stalk, chase, bite, maul, kill. This genetic trait can be more problematic to ever solve since it is a self rewarding behavior; tack that on a breed already predisposed to genetic aggression and you can have a dog that is far too dangerous for anyone less than a seasoned trainer to ownand those types of unicorn homes with no other dogs, other animals, kids, frail people, or close neighbors and are super vigilant when they're out tnd anal retentive when it comes to keeping the dog contained securely are as rare as their namesake. Part of our job as canine professionals is to not only evaluate and trainer a dog, it is also to make sure you are not putting everyone in the community in danger. Even if your dog "just" kills the neighbors cat, it wasn't "just" a cat to them just as your dog isn't "just" a dog to you. That cat was family to somebody.
Scenario:Now imagine you didn't rationalize that your dog killing something without provocation. Your dog is out of control. You consult with a trained professional (say, me). We talk and establish that your dog checks of the majority of the boxes in the section marking candidates for BE.
You allow the trainer to see the dog in it's home environment, in it's territory (a short 5-6 blocks up and back around and back (hopefully coming across some triggers so I can observe and see if it is manageable, and in an unfamiliar place, where we get in the car and drive somewhere the dog has never been and observe the behavior then, then assess the owners training and management ability. A weak or incompetent trainer simply is not acceptable and not everyone is good with animals. They simply cannot read body language, pick up cues, expert enough authority over the animal, or effectively communicate with the dog in a way it will understand, or come across to me as chronically irresponsible, lazy, wilfully ignorant and refuse to take direction, too constitutionally weak to handle a dog that represents a safety concern, that is all take into consideration when I offer you my final decision. Behavioral euthanasia is the best and kindest option and that I can walk you through it. I help you to understand it is not a failure on your part, or what you could or shouldn't have done. Sometimes a dog just isn't wired right. It could seriously hurt or kill someone including you in the blink of an eye. Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't, and when a clear pattern of dangerous behavior. Every single owner of a dog that seriously injures or kills someone says "But he never did that before."
You decide to disregard this advice, thinking it cruel or evil, or thinking I'm taking the lazy way out, question the trainers integrity and judgment and skill because "So-and-so from YouTube doesn't give up on his clients. All dogs can be fixed, I just need a different trainer, a better trainer
I see you around on FB, your feed is a continuous documentary of your catastrophic attempt to own and safely manage a dog that's a walking time bomb; " Today Zeus almost killed another dog for no reason at the dog park today. I just don't understand we've been working with trainers and he was doing pretty good, he even played with this same dog last week now I'm asking for prayers for all of us"
You almost don't want walk him anymore, but he needs to go out, right?
The walk is lovely until you turn the corner and uh-oh! Zeus literally turns you into a human kite soaring along behind you as it pursues a particularly tasty child with their faithful object of your dogs fixation originally. It tears the into other dog, being at eye height, the child is severely bitten, mauled or even killed. Yes, it happens. At least once in the 60 ish on average canine inflicted deaths in my country, the US.
When I recommend BE, it is for the sake of the dogs mental health because a life of severe neuroses you neither understand nor can explain, or spend you life doped to the gills under lock and key 24/7, or warehoused and forgotten to languish and take up teousrces for years. You should ALWAYS be present during the euthanasia of your pet, even if it breaks your heart. One, because you need to be there to provide emotional support and hold your dog while they administer the sleepy time juice. And if you don't stay with your animal and leave it anxious and confused to be PTS in the already stressful vets officer, you're a dick, full stop.
AND AND AND. You also NEED to be there and see for yourself that your dog really has passed on, check for a pulse when the vet announces TOD to you. There really are vets out there who will go as far as deeply sedating a dog when an owner they gauge naive enough to have their dog pumped full of enough anesthesia to knock out a horse and it suppresses respiration, they tell the owner the dog is gone and sneak it out the back door to take home because again, they're ARAs, which is much different than the superior support of Animal Welfare. If you're not there for the procedure, there is a high chance of some do gooder who just takes the dog and flips it and puts it in some random home, where oftentimes someone is hurt severely.
ATTENTION: Did you know there are only two freaking states in the entire US where it is *required by law for shelters to give the dogs bite history to you?* That's right, 48 states don't have to tell you your new pet was in the shelter for almost ripping the previous owners kis face off. Sickeningly, there is even a "nom-profit charity" called "The Lexus Project" who devotes MILLIONS to slimeball lawyers whose purpose is to represent dogs who have SEVERELY hurt or killed people, one such famous case is with Mickey pit bull in Arizona who almost ripped his owners young kids face off because he was a resource guarder. People blamed the kid for a dogs bad behavior and they came and the mayor of some town nearby adopted the mutt and gave it a lavish life while anti human pit worshippers sniffed his farts for rescuing a "poor innocent pibbles tortured into having to fight for his life from an evil six year old". It's pretty sick and you can Google it; it's pretty bizarre and sick to me. Most of the dogs are, surprise... Pit bulls.
The reason I never advocate rehoming these dogs, not only is it irresponsible as fuck to place a dog whose unpredictable aggression is so bad that a loving owner decided it wasn't safe to have anymore, but again you have to weigh the risk to a community. Sometimes even one attack is enough to take a life.
It's a difficult choice to make. Don't beat yourself up. You are releasing your dog from it's mental prison and taken a lot of anxiety and stress surrounding your dog lifted from not only yourself but the entire community. I'd suggest finding a reputable breeder next time who knows what they're doing mixing genetics and breeding anomal
---_-------------

Hey all kinda a long shot
I’m a local amateur film makevideographer and I’m looking to capture the Miamis bike life and car culture specifically underground like sideshows , take overs, races. There’s a lot of beauty and story in risk taken for the art and culture. But I’m not sure how to communicate with the clubs or locate the meets besides the few I’ve been lucky enough to see in wynwood and Allapattah by my place. How should I approach attending, getting involved, communicating w the community? I seen plently of content in miami as a fan of cars and know the culture is here I’m just not sure how to tap into it like I did up north. Thanks for any info

Hello All, selling a Canon Elan II film camera with sigma 28-105 lens. Comes with extra batteries, some film which I am unsure if it’s been shot on, lens cleaner, filter, original manual, and bag of course. Not sure what it is worth so send me an offer! Prefer local cash but will ship at buyer’s expense. Located in San Jose, CA (95128). Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for looking!
https://imgur.com/a/A70lkeJ

https://preview.redd.it/eq7p9akyt7pa1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e4f3c283f990a692d2ee625074866685cf3301a
“1… 2… 3… 4!”
With a simple, yet energetic count-in, The Beatles were on their way to leaving an indelible mark on popular culture, and it all started here. Released 60 years ago today, Please Please Me marked the first album in The Beatles’ discography. A brisk, lively pop-rock confection lasting just over half-an-hour, over a half century later it remains a stunning document of the unbridled joy of the early Beatles.

Background

The Beatles got their start as a skiffle band in the late 1950s in Liverpool. By 1961, after many personnel changes, their lineup consisted of John Lennon on rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar and Pete Best on drums. The group had cut their teeth playing grueling sets in Hamburg nightclubs, often times playing over 8 hours a day and taking uppers to get through the shows. Their repertoire largely consisted of cover songs, though a fledgling songwriting partnership between Lennon and McCartney contributed a few numbers here and there to the proceedings. In the fall of 1961, a rock and roll cover of “My Bonnie” with the Beatles playing backup to Tony Sheridan was released in Germany. Shortly thereafter, the Beatles met Brian Epstein, who would become their manager. He cleaned up their image and sought out a recording contract for them. A New Years Day 1962 audition for Decca Records would prove fruitless (Decca executives felt that "guitar groups are on the way out" and that "the Beatles have no future in show business"). Undeterred, Brian continued searching, eventually inking the band a deal with EMI Records in May.

The Lead-up to Please Please Me

EMI placed the group on Parlophone Records, which was run by George Martin at the time. Martin was impressed by the group’s charisma and personalities, but was doubtful of their ability to write hit songs. An initial recording session on June 6th, 1962 proved futile. Martin was especially unimpressed with the drumming ability of Pete Best. Insistent on the use of a session drummer, The Beatles used this as an opportunity to drop Best in favor of fellow Liverpudlian Ringo Starr. The next session on September 4th 1962, proved much more successful. With Ringo on the drums, the first version of “Love Me Do” was recorded (this was the version used on the 45). A week later, the band re-recorded “Love Me Do” (this was the album version) with session drummer Andy White, as well as “P.S. I Love You”, which served as the B-side to the “Love Me Do” 45.
Despite Martin’s skepticism, “Love Me Do” was a hit, peaking at #17 on the British charts by November of 1962. Convinced of the Beatles’ hitmaking ability, Martin met with the group and proposed the recording of a full album. This was an alien concept to The Beatles, since the LP market was largely driven by adults rather than teens at the time. On November 26th, The Beatles finished up the songs “Please Please Me” and “Ask Me Why” to serve as another single. Upon release on January 11th, 1963, “Please Please Me” became the Beatles’ first #1 hit on the NME and Melody Maker charts (Retroactively, the Record Retailer chart became the basis of the UK Singles Chart. Here, the song peaked at #2).
Originally, Martin wanted to record a live album of The Beatles at their resident venue, the Cavern Club. However, Martin quickly realized the acoustics of the club were insufficient for the recording of an LP. Instead, Martin came up with the idea of recording 10 additional songs to complement the 4 songs already released. Upon asking for potential album names, Paul McCartney suggested Off the Beatle Track.

The Recording of the Album

February 11th, 1963 was to be what was later referred to as “the 585 most productive minutes in the history of recorded music”. Essentially, Martin wanted the album to reflect the group’s stage show. During a gap of their first national tour, the Beatles arrived that morning with John Lennon suffering from a bad cold and attempting to rectify it with a large amount of cough drops (been there, done that).
For the morning recording session, the group started off with recording “There’s a Place” and “Seventeen” (this would later become “I Saw Her Standing There”). Rehearsing through lunch, the afternoon session produced “A Taste of Honey”, “Do You Want to Know a Secret”, and “Misery”. The evening session was produced covers of “Anna (Go to Him), “Boys”, “Chains” and “Baby It’s You”. An early version of “Hold Me Tight” was also recorded during this session, but it was not used and the song was later rerecorded for The Beatles’ sophomore album, With the Beatles.
At 10 PM, shortly before the studios were set to close for the day, the group launched into a cover of “Twist and Shout”. This was saved for last as Martin feared the song would’ve destroyed Lennon’s voice for the day. The song was nailed in one take, which prompted Martin to say, “We've been recording all day but the longer we go on the better they get." The Beatles attended a full tape playback of the album that night, and left happy with the results.
A week later, on February 20th, George Martin overdubbed piano on “Misery” and celesta on “Baby It’s You”. The Beatles were not present. Settling on the name Please Please Me (Off the Beatle Track was later used for Martin’s orchestral album of Beatles songs), the cover art was taken of the group looking down over the stairwell inside EMI’s London headquarters. This shot was later recreated in 1969 for the Get Back album, but not used when it eventually was as Let it Be in 1970. The 1969 photograph was later used for the Beatles’ “Blue Album”.

The Songs

Kicking things off with a bang is “I Saw Her Standing There”. Paul’s count-in was actually taken from Take 9 and spliced onto Take 1 of the song itself. George Martin left the count-in to simulate the effect of a live album. This song was written primarily by Paul, with John contributing a few lyrics, most notably “Well you know, what I mean.” It should be noted that on Please Please Me, the songwriting credits read McCartney-Lennon rather than the more familiar Lennon-McCartney
Next up, is “Misery”. Foreshadowing some of the Beatles’ later work, “Misery” is a portrait of self-pity. The song was actually originally composed with Helen Shapiro in mind (with whom The Beatles performed with on a national UK tour). When it was deemed unsuitable for Shapiro, Kenny Lynch, who was on the same tour, released the song as a single, making this the first Beatles song covered by another artist. Lennon later claimed he had a bit more input on this tune, was McCartney claimed it was a 50-50 collaboration.
We then make our way to the first cover song on the album Arthur Alexander’s “Anna (Go to Him)”. A personal favorite of John Lennon, his cold-stricken vocals add a tinge of pain to this song, making it a personal highlight for me. The Arthur Alexander original would later play a role in the Season 5 episode of Married… with Children, “Oldies But Young 'Uns”.
The next cover song is “Chains”. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, this song was originally recorded by girl group The Cookies, and immediately became a popular cover song among bands in Liverpool. The Beatles version features George Harrison on lead vocals, the first time many a Beatles fan heard Harrison singing lead on a commercially released song.
The final cover song on Side One of the LP is “Boys”. Originally released by The Shirelles, “Boys” had long been known as The Beatles’ “drummer song”, with Pete Best covering it on stage prior to Ringo entering the band. Ringo also performed the song as a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes prior to joining The Beatles. Despite some pronoun changes from the Shirlles’ original, the song retains a large amount of homoerotic undertones.
“Ask Me Why”, primarily written by Lennon in the style of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, is up next. Close listening can reveal the deteriorating state of Lennon’s voice during the marathon session. “Ask Me Why” was also included as the B-side to “Please Please Me”.
Rounding out the first side of the LP is “Please Please Me”. Originally conceived by John Lennon as a slow bluesy song in the style of Roy Orbison, it took much convincing and rerecording for Martin to release the song as a single. Martin originally felt the song was “dreary” and too slow. Martin wanted to release “How Do You Do It?” as a single for The Beatles. However, the group stood their ground as they only wanted to release original material as singles. “How Do You Do It?” later became a number one hit for Gerry & The Pacemakers. The arrangement for “Please Please Me” was radically altered into the version we know today, and 18 takes of it were recorded before George Martin released the song as a single to major success.
Opening up Side Two of the album is “Love Me Do”. McCartney wrote the bulk of the song, with Lennon writing the bridge. The version on the album was the take with session drummer Andy White playing drums and Ringo on tambourine. The original single version with Ringo on drums was later reissued on Past Masters in 1988. “Love Me Do” was released as a single in the US in 1964 and became a #1 hit.
“P.S. I Love You”, a McCartney composition, was actually produced by Ron Richards in George Martin’s absence (though Martin retained production credit). Like the aforementioned “Love Me Do”, this song features Ringo on maracas with Andy White on drums. Richards was insistent that “P.S. I Love You” had to be the B-side, due to it sharing a name with a 1934 song co-written by Johnny Mercer (who later wrote the lyrics to “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses”).
“Baby It’s You”, another Shirelles cover (with music by the legendary Burt Bacharach), follows. This one features Lennon on lead vocals. The song had been part of the Beatles stage act since 1961, their version differing from the Shirelles’ by repeating the second verse rather than the first. Interestingly enough, a 1969 cover of the song by the band Smith became the highest charting version of the song in the United States (Smith’s version peaked at #5, compared to the Shirelles’ version peaking at #8).
“Do You Want to Know a Secret”, an original song with Harrison on lead vocals is next. Lennon claimed the song as entirely his own, while McCartney later claimed it was a 50-50 collaboration explicitly for George to sing. Lennon was inspired by “I’m Wishing” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which his mother Julia sang for him as a child. The song was released as a single in the United States in 1964, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and becoming the highest charting Beatles song with a Harrison vocal until “Something” topped the charts in 1969.
McCartney’s cover of the pop standard “A Taste of Honey” follows. This song was originally an instrumental track written for the 1960 Broadway version of the 1958 British play A Taste of Honey (which was later adapted to film in 1961). The first vocal version of the song appeared in 1961 by Billy Dee Williams (Yes, Lando from Star Wars. He appeared in the original Broadway production of the play). Lenny Welch’s 1962 rendition of the song proved to be a big hit, as well as the basis of the Beatles’ version. Lennon allegedly hated the song, going as far to sing “A Waste of Money” for the backing vocals in concert.
The final original song on the album is “There’s a Place”. While Lennon claimed to write the song himself in the Motown style, McCartney claimed the song to be a collaborative effort. He noted the song’s title phrase originated from “Somewhere” from the soundtrack album to West Side Story, as he owned a copy of the album. Regardless, the song has been praised for its introspective lyrics and depth not commonly found in contemporaneous pop songs.
The grand finale, and arguably the most famous of all the Beatles’ covers, is their raucous, electric take on the Isley Brothers’ rendition of “Twist and Shout”. As previously mentioned, Lennon used every last bit of his voice that day shredding through the song. He initially felt ashamed of the performance, feeling his performance was subpar. The song was released as a single in the United States in 1964, peaking at #2 behind the band’s own “Can’t Buy Me Love”. It was the only million selling Beatles single to be a cover song, and was famously used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in 1986.

Release and Impact

The album was released on March 22, 1963. The album had reached the top of the UK charts by May of 1963 and remained there for 30 weeks until being replaced by the group’s second album, With the Beatles. Please Please Me was also the first non-soundtrack album to spend more than a year consecutively within the top 10 of the UK album charts (with 62 consecutive weeks in the Top 10). This was also a record for a debut album until April 2013 when Emeli Sande’s Our Version of Events achieved a 63rd consecutive week in the Top Ten. Please Please Me’s success was unprecedented for a pop album, as the UK charts at the time largely consisted of film soundtracks and easily listening albums. The success of the album has been attributed to the packaging, particularly it’s cover art and linear notes.
Capitol Records, the American subsidiary of EMI, passed on the opportunity to release the Beatles’ material, feeling the music would have limited appeal to American listeners. Instead, Vee-Jay records attempted to bring The Beatles to America. However, the first two American singles (“Please Please Me” and “From Me to You”), failed spectacularly. Vee-Jay lost interest in The Beatles, not releasing a truncated 12-track version of the album until Beatlemania hit in early 1964 as Introducing… The Beatles (more information on that release can be found here). Capitol included “I Saw Her Standing There” on their first Beatles album Meet The Beatles! (It also served as the B-side to the American version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”) After Vee-Jay’s license to release Beatles material expired, Capitol released The Early Beatles in March 1965, which consisted of 11 out of the 14 tracks from Please Please Me (along with “I Saw Her Standing There”, it excised “Misery” and “There’s a Place”. The latter two songs were released for the first time by Capitol in 1980 on the Rarities album). The first official American release of Please Please Me occurred in 1987 with the standardization of The Beatles’ catalog on CD.
In the decades since it’s release, Please Please Me remains highly regarded as not only one of the best debut albums of all time, but one of the greatest albums of all time period. In 2012, it was voted 39th on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. NME, Rolling Stone and Uncut have all named it one of the best debut albums of all time. For the 50th anniversary of the album in 2013, modern artists celebrated the album by re-recording it in one day. Stereophonics recorded the cover of “I Saw Her Standing There”. The rerecorded album was broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

Discussion

1. What is your favorite original song on Please Please Me? Favorite cover?
   
2. How would you rank the album within the Beatles’ discography?
   
3. Much has been said about how joyous the album feels. Do you feel it captured the energy of The Beatles’ early performances well?
   
4. How does this album compare with other pop albums from the same time?
   

I'd watch the hell out of this.
Can you write a detailed summary for a Hallmark Christmas movie that features the following elements? JRPGs, cats, the end of the world
Title: A Pixelated Christmas Catastrophe
Summary:
As the holiday season approaches, a small town named Pixelville gears up for the annual Christmas festival. The town's beloved video game shop, "Pixel Palace," owned by Holly Evergreen, is the center of all the excitement. Holly, a lifelong fan of JRPGs, has dedicated her life to sharing her love for these games and their stories with the town.
When a mysterious stray cat enters Pixel Palace, Holly befriends the feline, whom she names Pixel. Unbeknownst to her, Pixel carries an ancient curse that slowly brings the virtual worlds of JRPGs to life in Pixelville. As the line between reality and fantasy blurs, Holly and her friends begin to notice strange occurrences – characters from their favorite games appear around town, and the environment starts to resemble a pixelated, retro gaming world.
One night, Holly discovers that an apocalyptic event from her favorite JRPG, "End of Epoch," is manifesting in Pixelville. The game's villain, Lord Nethermore, has crossed over into the real world, threatening to bring about the end of the world on Christmas Eve. Holly, with the help of Pixel, must assemble a team of heroes from various JRPGs to defeat Lord Nethermore and save both their world and the game worlds from destruction.
As Holly's team of heroes journeys through the transformed Pixelville, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and the true meaning of Christmas. Holly forms a special bond with a hero named Valor, who shares her passion for JRPGs and cats. Together, they unlock Pixel's mysterious past and break the curse, restoring the balance between the real world and the game worlds.
In the heartwarming climax, Holly, Valor, and their ragtag team of heroes face off against Lord Nethermore in an epic battle. As the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, they successfully vanquish Lord Nethermore, saving Pixelville and the game worlds from annihilation. Holly and Valor share a magical kiss under the mistletoe, finally confessing their love for each other.
The movie ends with a festive celebration as the townspeople of Pixelville rejoice and gather around the beautifully lit Christmas tree. Pixel, now a permanent resident of Pixel Palace, nestles in Holly's arms, purring contentedly. Holly and Valor look forward to their future together, their love story intertwined with their shared passion for JRPGs and their feline companion.

Sure the Lone Wolf trope is fun, but do you know what's more fun? The Unstoppable Duo! I am searching for a partner to be the Yin to my Yang, the peanut butter to my jelly (we can debate who is what later), and I am looking to embark on a story creating journey that fulfills this. But what exactly do I mean?
My character, Markus, is the prince of a small kingdom in the north, Eratia, and second in line for the thrown. Eratia is known for its rich mines and other natural resources, however, a lack of easily settleable land, harsh winters, and generally poor soil kept the rich nation from becoming too powerful on the grand stage. Your character (YC) is a princess from Aestas is a much larger and more powerful kingdom to the south. Located in the center of the continent in a mix of rolling hills and plains, the area provided rich farmland and benefited from being a constant trade hub. YC is second in line to the throne of Aestas, but since she has an older sister she has been little more than an afterthought in the minds of her parents since she was a child.
I know I know, prince and princess is boring, but hang on I'm getting there!
After a 5 year war, Aestas defeats Eratia and semi-absorbs them into its growing empire. Markus is publicly blamed for the loss by his father the king due to Markus' position in the military despite the fact that forces outside of his control were to blame. YC is used as a pawn in the truce as an arranged marriage is settled upon by both kings to join their houses and make public opinion soar.
Here is where the fun begins! After a (relatively) straight forward enemies-to-lovers/arranged marriage relationship blooms, the two set out on a path to take revenge on those in power who sold them out and to take over the throne of Aestas. This will be a path of action, political intrigue, espionage, romance, and more. But at the center of it all is an unwavering power couple, Markus and YC.
As a few more small notes on my idea: Please bring your creative brain. Ideas on how to improve the concept? Yes please! Paths for twists, turns, and surprises? Encouraged! Simply have a better name for the kingdoms? Great! Also, I'm imaging this set in a made up world, one that has forms of technology. Although the setting is socially and politically medieval, the idea of sticking with dirty castles, unshoweritg people, and disease isn't very appealing to me. I'm considering maybe including some kind of superpower system? We would have to chat more. Speaking of you, I do have some requirements:

1. I am looking for an advanced role-player. I won't count your lines like a teacher, but I am shooting for near-novella levels.
2. Be creative and open to world building, storytelling, character development etc.
3. Please be responsive. I understand life gets in the way, sometimes I have days were I simply can't respond, but if this isn't what you're looking for please tell me. This is a prompt I've thought about for a long while and if you're not right for it that is alright, just let me know.
4. I primarily use discord and would appreciate the same.
5. I frequently use OOC not just to discuss the role-play, but maybe just to be friendly. This isn't necessarily a requirement, but definitely something to point out.

Below is a small writing sample loosely based on this idea. This particular scene does not have to actually occur or be included:
Markus stood above a steel table upon with a holo-map lay strewn across. Section G7 kept flickering and he made a mental note to tear the tech officer a new one for letting him use a damaged map. His rough hands remained planted on the table edge in front of him as he leaned forward to examine the map. Those barbarians didn't have much in the way of tactics, but they sure made up for it in ferocity and in numbers. Markus ran a set of rough fingers through his long blonde hair. He was sure he needed a shower and a shave, but this wasn't the time for such niceties.
Markus adjusted his feet on the dirt floor. It was made of clay, terrible for farming and even worse to set up camp in. His eyes glanced up and took in the command tent for what felt like the thousandth time that hour. The prefabricated structure was usually teaming with life, but Markus had dismissed his men earlier. They needed rest and he needed time to think. The lifeless monitors rested on a pale red Home Screen with a spinning black logo in the middle, the seal of Aestas. It plastered an eery red glow on the tent and clashed heavily with the unnatural blue light arising from the holo-map.
Markus' mind needed to be on troop movements, supply lines, possible exit strategies, and more, but truthfully he was unable to concentrate. Also for what felt like the thousandth time, Markus reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded photograph. The edges of the film had started to curl from being carried around, but he didn't care. He opened the photo and a tired smile grew across his face. There were plenty of portraits and photoshoots of the princess around and she looked stunning in all of them, but this was his favorite image of her. It was an off-guard photo. She had been looking out over their balcony with the sunrise on her skin when she turned to face him and he had snapped the picture. Despite his overwhelming love for her a pit of worry still sat in his stomach. Her scheme was supposed to be set in motion today and he could only hope it went off without a hitch.
Okay! That's all! If you made it this far I hope you're interested and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Sure the Lone Wolf trope is fun, but do you know what's more fun? The Unstoppable Duo! I am searching for a partner to be the Yin to my Yang, the peanut butter to my jelly (we can debate who is what later), and I am looking to embark on a story creating journey that fulfills this. But what exactly do I mean?
My character, Markus, is the prince of a small kingdom in the north, Eratia, and second in line for the thrown. Eratia is known for its rich mines and other natural resources, however, a lack of easily settleable land, harsh winters, and generally poor soil kept the rich nation from becoming too powerful on the grand stage. Your character (YC) is a princess from Aestas is a much larger and more powerful kingdom to the south. Located in the center of the continent in a mix of rolling hills and plains, the area provided rich farmland and benefited from being a constant trade hub. YC is second in line to the throne of Aestas, but since she has an older sister she has been little more than an afterthought in the minds of her parents since she was a child.
I know I know, prince and princess is boring, but hang on I'm getting there!
After a 5 year war, Aestas defeats Eratia and semi-absorbs them into its growing empire. Markus is publicly blamed for the loss by his father the king due to Markus' position in the military despite the fact that forces outside of his control were to blame. YC is used as a pawn in the truce as an arranged marriage is settled upon by both kings to join their houses and make public opinion soar.
Here is where the fun begins! After a (relatively) straight forward enemies-to-lovers/arranged marriage relationship blooms, the two set out on a path to take revenge on those in power who sold them out and to take over the throne of Aestas. This will be a path of action, political intrigue, espionage, romance, and more. But at the center of it all is an unwavering power couple, Markus and YC.
As a few more small notes on my idea: Please bring your creative brain. Ideas on how to improve the concept? Yes please! Paths for twists, turns, and surprises? Encouraged! Simply have a better name for the kingdoms? Great! Also, I'm imaging this set in a made up world, one that has forms of technology. Although the setting is socially and politically medieval, the idea of sticking with dirty castles, unshoweritg people, and disease isn't very appealing to me. I'm considering maybe including some kind of superpower system? We would have to chat more. Speaking of you, I do have some requirements:

1. I am looking for an advanced role-player. I won't count your lines like a teacher, but I am shooting for near-novella levels.
2. Be creative and open to world building, storytelling, character development etc.
3. Please be responsive. I understand life gets in the way, sometimes I have days were I simply can't respond, but if this isn't what you're looking for please tell me. This is a prompt I've thought about for a long while and if you're not right for it that is alright, just let me know.
4. I primarily use discord and would appreciate the same.
5. I frequently use OOC not just to discuss the role-play, but maybe just to be friendly. This isn't necessarily a requirement, but definitely something to point out.

Below is a small writing sample loosely based on this idea. This particular scene does not have to actually occur or be included:
Markus stood above a steel table upon with a holo-map lay strewn across. Section G7 kept flickering and he made a mental note to tear the tech officer a new one for letting him use a damaged map. His rough hands remained planted on the table edge in front of him as he leaned forward to examine the map. Those barbarians didn't have much in the way of tactics, but they sure made up for it in ferocity and in numbers. Markus ran a set of rough fingers through his long blonde hair. He was sure he needed a shower and a shave, but this wasn't the time for such niceties.
Markus adjusted his feet on the dirt floor. It was made of clay, terrible for farming and even worse to set up camp in. His eyes glanced up and took in the command tent for what felt like the thousandth time that hour. The prefabricated structure was usually teaming with life, but Markus had dismissed his men earlier. They needed rest and he needed time to think. The lifeless monitors rested on a pale red Home Screen with a spinning black logo in the middle, the seal of Aestas. It plastered an eery red glow on the tent and clashed heavily with the unnatural blue light arising from the holo-map.
Markus' mind needed to be on troop movements, supply lines, possible exit strategies, and more, but truthfully he was unable to concentrate. Also for what felt like the thousandth time, Markus reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded photograph. The edges of the film had started to curl from being carried around, but he didn't care. He opened the photo and a tired smile grew across his face. There were plenty of portraits and photoshoots of the princess around and she looked stunning in all of them, but this was his favorite image of her. It was an off-guard photo. She had been looking out over their balcony with the sunrise on her skin when she turned to face him and he had snapped the picture. Despite his overwhelming love for her a pit of worry still sat in his stomach. Her scheme was supposed to be set in motion today and he could only hope it went off without a hitch.
Okay! That's all! If you made it this far I hope you're interested and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Spoilers Below
​
I know I'm a bit late on this topic. I watched it on Christmas Day, 2022 (illegally, of course)... and aside from the forced-in gay romance that has nothing to do with anything and can easily be censored out for a Chinese release, the film didn't really get woke until around the 70-minute mark. That's when they went all gung-ho on the political environmentalist message. The planet was taken back to primitive times because Avalonia (LBP2 would like to have a word with you, btw) had to "make sacrifices" and stop using the renewable energy source called Pando. It's an obvious metaphor for global warming.
So why do I think the film wasn't supposed to be woke? Well... the ending contradicts the rest of the story! Parts of the film imply that Pando is the giant creature continent's immune system. Early in the film, Callisto says that a virus infected the heart of Pando (which is revealed to be the creature's heart), which is why the heart stopped "pumping" Pando. However, around the 70-minute mark, Ethan says that Pando is "poisoning" the creature and that humans need to stop using it. So... which one is it? It's like they changed the story last-minute JUST to make it woke.
Also, of course, the gay couple has no plot relevance at all and is mentioned like 4 times; clearly a last-minute decision.
Disney is the King (sorry... Non-Binary Ruler) of Woke. They ruined Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and even Big Hero 6 (one of their OWN properties). However, not everything they produce is woke. Some things "slip through the cracks" and are actually good, like Andor, Infinity War (almost), and Soul. Aside from the forced-in gay couple, rushed, cliche beginning, and woke, contradictory ending, Strange World is... dare I say... a good film! Not boring at all. The second act has great character chemistry, a cool sci-fi aesthetic, good pacing, and a good plot. It's a shame, seriously.

Let’s face it: we’ve all been there. You’re on vacation, finally getting some much-needed R&R, and all you want to do is binge-watch your favorite shows on Netflix. But when you try to log in, you’re met with a dreaded message: “This content is not available in your country.”
What’s a dedicated Netflix junkie to do? Enter the VPN, the trusty tool that promises to unlock a world of content, no matter where you are in the world. But as many of us have discovered, not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to bypassing Netflix’s geo-restrictions.
So I took it upon myself to test out a bunch of VPNs to see which ones would give me the most bang for my buck. And let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight. Most VPNs were no match for Netflix’s VPN blocks, and the few that did manage to slip through were painfully slow.
But fear not, my fellow couch potatoes, for I have found the holy grail of Netflix-friendly VPNs. These gems not only allow you to access Netflix from anywhere, but they also deliver lightning-fast speeds and won’t break the bank. So go forth, my friends, and stream to your heart’s content.
ExpressVPN
Let’s be real: Netflix is life. And if you’re like me, you’ll do whatever it takes to get your fix, even if it means using a VPN to access the juiciest libraries from around the world. But not all VPNs are created equal, and as someone who’s been burned by my fair share of unreliable services, I’m here to tell you that ExpressVPN is the only VPN you need for streaming in 2023.
First off, ExpressVPN is the real deal when it comes to unblocking Netflix. Not only does it work seamlessly with the US library (my personal favorite), but it can also access libraries in the UK, Japan, and 10+ other countries. So whether you’re in the mood for a British crime drama or a quirky Japanese rom-com, ExpressVPN has got you covered.
And the best part? You won’t have to deal with annoying buffering or slow loading times. ExpressVPN’s lightning-fast speeds mean that Netflix loads instantly and HD and 4K videos never buffer, even when you’re skipping through them. In fact, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market, so you can say goodbye to any buffering or lagging issues.
But ExpressVPN isn’t just great for Netflix. It also works with over 100 other streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. And if you’re using a device that doesn’t support VPN apps (like certain smart TVs or gaming consoles), ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature is a lifesaver. While it does require a manual setup, the process is easy and straightforward thanks to the provider’s helpful tutorials.
And let’s not forget about security and privacy. ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited multiple times, so you can rest assured that your data is safe. Plus, with advanced security features like full leak protection and perfect forward secrecy, ExpressVPN is one of the most secure VPNs out there. And its Threat Manager feature blocks connections to malicious sites, so you won’t fall prey to any fake Netflix websites.
But what really sets ExpressVPN apart is its user-friendly interface. The provider has apps for all major platforms (including routers), and they’re all intuitive and easy to navigate. And with the Shortcuts feature, you can create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites, so you can get instant access to Netflix after connecting to a VPN server.
So, if you’re serious about your Netflix binges (and let’s be real, who isn’t?), do yourself a favor and get ExpressVPN. It’s the only VPN you need for streaming in 2023.
Private Internet Access
Let’s be honest: we all know that feeling of frustration when we’re trying to access Netflix from abroad and we’re met with a message saying our favorite show isn’t available in our current location. But fear not, my friends, because Private Internet Access (PIA) is here to save the day with its easy-to-use and secure VPN.
First off, PIA’s iOS and Android apps are a dream come true for mobile users. The interface is intuitive and mobile-friendly, and it only takes a few taps to connect to the provider’s streaming servers. Plus, with helpful explanations for all settings and features, even VPN newbies can feel confident using PIA. And the automation scenarios? Genius. You can set it up to automatically connect to a server when you’re on Wi-Fi, so you never have to worry about accidentally accessing Netflix on an unsecured network.
And speaking of Netflix, PIA’s streaming servers can access 5+ popular libraries, including the US, Italy, and Germany. I had my colleagues test the VPN in each European country and they confirmed that it worked with their home libraries without any issues. And if you’re not in the mood for Netflix, PIA also works with 30+ other popular streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Disney+. While it’s not quite as comprehensive as ExpressVPN’s streaming support, it’s still pretty darn impressive.
But let’s talk about speeds, baby. In my speed tests, PIA delivered lightning-fast streaming speeds. Netflix’s site always loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos never buffered, even when I was skipping through them. And while ExpressVPN did have slightly better speeds, PIA’s split-tunneling feature was a game-changer. With the ability to split-tunnel IP addresses as well as apps, you can route traffic from Netflix’s site through the VPN while still accessing other sites using your local network. Genius.
Of course, we can’t forget about security and privacy. PIA is a top-tier VPN provider when it comes to security features. With RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection, you can rest easy knowing your data is safe. Plus, PIA’s no-logs policy has been audited and proven in court, and its apps are open-source, so anyone can inspect the code for security issues. And if you’re tired of annoying ads while streaming, PIA MACE is the best VPN ad blocker on the market, so you can say goodbye to malicious sites that try to mimic Netflix.
And finally, with unlimited simultaneous connections, you can stream to your heart’s content on all your devices. I tested this out with my own household (8 total devices) and we all had a reliable connection.
So if you’re in the market for an easy and secure VPN for streaming Netflix, look no further than Private Internet Access.
CyberGhostVPN
Let’s be real: there’s nothing better than a lazy Sunday spent binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix. But if you’re traveling abroad or living in a country with a limited content library, you might be out of luck...unless you have CyberGhostVPN.
This provider has dedicated Netflix servers for 15+ libraries, including popular ones like the US, France, and Canada. And the best part? CyberGhostVPN’s apps are super intuitive and easy to use. Plus, its Smart Rules feature lets you automate VPN connections, so you can have the VPN automatically open the Netflix app after you connect to one of its Netflix servers. Talk about convenience.
But CyberGhostVPN isn’t just great for Netflix. Its streaming support is top-notch, with streaming servers that work with 50+ other platforms, including BBC iPlayer, Rai Play, DAZN, and Amazon Prime. And if you’re using a device that doesn’t support VPN apps, CyberGhostVPN’s smart DNS has got you covered.
And let’s not forget about speed. While CyberGhostVPN isn’t quite as fast as ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, it still delivered impressive streaming speeds in my tests. Netflix’s site loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos loaded within seconds, with only minor buffering when skipping through the videos.
But what really sets CyberGhostVPN apart is its reliability. With dedicated Netflix servers and an intuitive interface, you won’t have to worry about any annoying hiccups or crashes while you’re in the middle of a binge-watching session.
So if you’re looking for a reliable VPN for binge-watching Netflix (and let’s be real, who isn’t?), give CyberGhostVPN a try. Your future self will thank you.
NordVPN
You know what they say: when in doubt, NordVPN it out. This VPN claims to access 10+ Netflix libraries, and with its smart DNS and SmartPlay features, it’s a great option for secure streaming.
Setting up the smart DNS only takes 5-6 minutes if you follow the provider’s tutorials, and the SmartPlay feature combines VPN security features like encryption with smart DNS functionality. This makes it harder for Netflix to detect and block the provider’s VPN servers, and it also means your data is secure while streaming. Plus, with NordVPN’s encryption, your data is protected in a way that smart DNS tools alone can’t provide.
And NordVPN isn’t just great for Netflix. It also works with 10+ other streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. While it’s not quite as comprehensive as ExpressVPN’s streaming support, it’s still a solid option for variety.
But let’s talk about speed. In my tests, NordVPN delivered decent streaming speeds. Netflix’s site usually loaded within a few seconds, and HD and 4K videos loaded within a few seconds as well, although there was some buffering when skipping through them. That being said, ExpressVPN provided much faster speeds.
Of course, security and privacy are paramount when it comes to VPNs. And NordVPN delivers on both fronts with advanced features like RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. Plus, its strict no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times, so you can rest easy knowing your data isn’t being collected or sold.
So, if you’re in need of a solid VPN for secure Netflix streaming, NordVPN is a good choice. While it may not be the fastest or have the most comprehensive streaming support, its smart DNS and encryption make it a reliable option.
Surfshark
If you’re looking for a VPN with a massive server network and smart features for Netflix streaming, Surfshark has got you covered. With servers in over 100 countries, it’s easy to connect to a server in your home country to access your local Netflix library. And with the provider claiming to access 15+ Netflix libraries, including the US, UK, Brazil, and Japan, you’ll never be short on options. Plus, Surfshark also comes with a smart DNS, adding an extra layer of convenience.
But what really sets Surfshark apart are its smart features. For Android users, the Override GPS Location feature matches your GPS data with the location of the VPN server you’re connected to, making it harder for Netflix’s mobile app to detect and block your VPN connection. Talk about clever.
And Surfshark isn’t just great for Netflix. It can also access 50+ other streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, DAZN, and Amazon Prime. While it doesn’t work with Disney+ (like the other VPNs on this list), its unlimited connections feature is a major plus, making it easy to stream on all of your devices.
When it comes to speed, Surfshark delivers pretty decent streaming speeds. In my tests, Netflix’s site loaded in 1-2 seconds, and HD and 4K videos loaded within a few seconds with only minor buffering at the start. However, it’s worth noting that both ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access provided faster speeds.
How to Score a VPN Home Run for Netflix in 2023
Are you tired of getting blocked by Netflix while trying to access your favorite content from abroad? The solution is a VPN that can bypass Netflix’s blocks and give you access to multiple Netflix libraries. Here are my tips for choosing the best VPNs for Netflix in 2023:
Make sure the VPN works with Netflix: Netflix is a tough cookie to crack, but all of the VPNs on my list are able to access Netflix consistently.
Look for a VPN that can access multiple Netflix libraries: Some VPNs can only access a few libraries, but my top picks can access at least 5 libraries, and my favorite NordVPN, can access 10+.
Choose a VPN that also has good streaming support: You probably use more than just Netflix, so look for a VPN that can also access other popular platforms, like BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime.
Pick a provider with fast speeds: Slow streaming can be a real buzzkill, so make sure you get a VPN that can deliver smooth streaming on Netflix.
Get a VPN with strong security features: Your data should be protected, so choose a VPN with industry-standard VPN security features and a no-logs policy.
Look for a VPN with good value: All of my top picks come with extra features that are useful for streaming on Netflix, and they also have affordable plans and generous money-back guarantees.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to score a VPN home run for Netflix in 2023!

On the way to the location of the traitor Alex Mercury, Langress and Will were stuck in traffic because there was a big public protest on the main road in Brooklyn. This was a big public protest for a lot of issues like women's rights, black protection, Lgbtq, environment day, poultry protection, stop war and many other issues. Everyone was standing in the street causing a traffic jam and Langress and Will were stuck on the right side. Langress started complaining:
"Ahhh, what the fuck? What the hell are they doing?!"
Will replied:
"Oh, uh. This is a protest, Langress. They are demanding a lot of rights for them by protesting and asking the government to change some laws."
Langress said:
"Arghh, why don't they start a war already and then do whatever they want after they win? This is so annoying, Will, where do we go next?"
Will checked the map on his phone and replied:
"Uhhh, oh yeah, go straight for a bit and then turn left and we'll come to Joralemon Street, that's the location of the guy we're looking for."
Langress said:
"Hah, fine. Hold on to my waist Will, I'll drive very fast!"
Will screamed in panic:
"Oh wait. No!"
Langress drove up a bit, then had to stop again, he said angrily:
"What the fuck?! Can't they make way for me?"
Will replied:
"We can walk, you know."
Langress thought for a moment and then said:
"Nah, I'd rather ride my motorcycle. There must be something that can help me..."
Langress accidentally pressed the horn then he saw everyone suddenly cover their ears and move away. Then he smiled evilly and while Will's face turned panic, he said:
"Oh no."
Langress shouted:
"Here we go!"
Langress honked the horn repeatedly and kept driving, the protesters were deafened by the horn and had to make way for Langress and Will. Suddenly a guy stopped their motorcycle and said:
"Hey! Are you planning to disturb this protest? This is a very important public demonstration by everyone,
We will fight for the rights of the homeless and the rights of animals, you know that?"
Langress replied:
"Yeah, yeah, whatever the fuck you say. I give no shit about that."
Langress kept driving but was still stopped by the guy, he continued:
"Get off the motorcycle and talk to me right away like a man, I can't accept such rude behavior."
Langress taunted him:
"Men deal with fists, we don't negotiate."
The guy also took off his jacket to show off his muscles and said angrily:
"Come and see it! Come and see it! The punk like you will never have it."
Langress drove over and easily slapped him on the right cheek, which was very painful. The guy yelled like a child and said:
"Oh my God! It hurts. He hit me, everyone."
Langress slapped his left cheek again and replied:
"Never say God's name for crap."
People started talking around Langress and Will, they raised their phones and started filming them. A girl was filming while pointing at Langress and said through the camera:
"See everyone. Our society still has toxic and homophobic guys like him. Where will society go with guys like him? Please don't become such bad guys."
Langress was photographed and filmed by more than a dozen phones and posted on the Internet as a villain, he felt too tired and annoying so he immediately activated the left mechanical gauntlet and punched the air so hard that the phone around exploded. The crowd was like turning into monkeys and confused when there was no phone and Langress and Will simply left. On the way, Langress said wearily:
"Arghh, I've never had such a headache and trouble in my life. And why are those two guys hugging and wearing pink shirts?"
Will could only laugh dry letting it all go while he knew what Langress was talking about. A few minutes later, they were at the high-class apartment of the traitor Alex. Langress parked near a park then picked up a guitar case and said:
"Alright, let's go."
Langress and Will then entered the building to go upstairs. And their first challenge was waiting in the elevator to go up. In the meantime, Will asked Langress:
"So what will you do when you see him again? Your old teammate."
Langress replied coldly:
"Of course I'll torture him brutally so he can tell me everything about Lancerlord and the Predator's position. Then I'll kill him."
Will trembled and continued:
"Then what are you going to do next?"
Langress replied:
"Obviously, I'll kill the Lancerlord, that copycat guy and eventually the Predator faction."
Will said:
"What about after that?"
Langress slowed down a bit, he had to make up a random reason:
"I'll keep hunting vampires, or werewolves if I want to."
Will went on to say:
"Then after that?"
Langress was running out of ideas, he had to reply:
"Fine, I don't know. My only purpose in this life is to fight and kill, I can never have a peaceful life anymore."
Will said with positivity:
"There are so many good things in this world that I'm sure you'll want to enjoy."
Langress smirked slightly and replied:
"This world doesn't need me anymore. The Hybrids have been fighting to protect them for hundreds of years and now they're doing bullshit and meaningless things for themselves."
Will said with sympathy for Langress:
"I'm sorry for your situation. Life is hard for you."
Langress replied to cheer Will up:
"So Will, please enjoy those good things for me. I may die but I want no one around me to die anymore. You, Josh and Jonathan, no one will have to sacrifice anymore. ."
Will nodded to Langress and they were on the top floor of the building just in time. Langress and Will nodded and stepped outside to begin the quest. Will held up the phone and led them to an apartment at the end of the hallway. Langress looked around to make sure no one was there, then he pulled out the dagger from his right thigh and knocked on the door. One opened the door and said:
"Who is that?"
Langress immediately rushed in and covered his mouth and then pushed him back quickly and Will quickly closed the door behind him. That guy was truly Alex Mercury, the former traitor of the New Hope faction. Langress pushed him into an armchair, then pressed a dagger to his left cheek and said cruelly:
"Oh what a memory scar. You're surprised right, remember me right. Yeah and now your time to live starts counting down now!"
Langress stabbed the dagger down Alex's left hand and made him scream in pain. Langress said angrily:
"Tell me where is he?! Where's Lancerlord?!"
Alex in pain pointed his hand towards his bedroom, Langress quickly turned around to see Lancerlord waiting for him. Lancerlord said calmly:
"Welcome. Langress."
Langress replied with anger in his voice:
"Lancerlord."
Lancerlord's vampire soldiers stopped invisible and quickly surrounded Langress and Will. One guy immediately broke Alex's neck, in his rage, Langress quickly pulled his dagger out of Alex's hand and slashed at the guy's neck just now. He was so badly injured that he died on the spot. Langress wiped the blood off the dagger by the guy's shirt and put it back in the holster then he said with mockery:
"What a suck joke. You know they're nothing to me. One slash is enough to deal with them all."
Lancerlord replied:
"Yeah, I know, and so does your little friend."
They looked over at Will and scared him, but Langress slammed down the guitar case and said loudly:
"Stop talking shit! This is a private matter between us, he has nothing to do with it. If you don't want to die, don't touch him."
Will hid behind Langress and became alarmed and the vampires laughed, Lancerlord smirked and said:
"You are wrong to bring a weakling like him. But out of respect for you, he has three minutes to get out of here quickly or he will die."
Langress replied:
"Good."
Lancerlord said:
"Let's start the countdown, one..."
Langress said to Will:
"Will, go now. Leave the building immediately and call for help if you need it."
Will replied in panic:
"But what about you? Lancerlord is stronger than you."
Langress said:
"I need not be afraid, for I am The World's Strongest Hybrid. And I have this."
Langress crushed the guitar case and pulled out the Devil's Blood Tachi, he said:
"My new legendary weapon will kill you."
Lancerlord smirked confidently and replied arrogantly:
"Oh, you got a new girl? Then Alpha God will be really sad. Ah wait, she's mine now hahaha."
Will hastily took out Langress's power control cuff remote and said:
"I'll turn off your cuff, so you'll have a better chance..."
But Will accidentally caused a guy behind to throw a knife and destroy the remote, he laughed and said mockingly:
"Then you will die sooner and faster. Hahaha!"
But Lancerlord immediately threw a knife in the face and killed the guy, he said:
"You all are cowards and pathetic, you can't even give me a good fight."
Langress replied:
"I may be restrained from my powers, but I still have more than enough to defeat you. Will, go now!"
Will said:
"No Langress."
Langress said fiercely:
"Go now! Run or Die! Only one of two!"
Will became startled and ran out of the room. The vampires locked the door and blocked the way for Langress to leave. Lancerlord said arrogantly:
"So the rat has run away. Now break your cuff. Show me if you still have power."
Langress growled like a wolf and replied:
"You should regret saying that."
Then the fantasy song "Weightless" by Twelve Titans Music played, the song's sad, tragic and epic melody went with every wound Langress suffered when he broke the cuff and the hatred and rage but regret inside him. Langress took off his left sleeve jacket and showed Lancerlord his cuff. Then Langress grabbed the cuff and began to break it. Each of his fingers tightened and broke harder was all Langress's hatred. The stronger his hatred, the more powerful he was. Langress was grazed and bleeding and made the vampires laugh, but Lancerlord still did not smile and looked seriously at Langress. Langress continued to break the cuff with all his might, he wanted to fight Lancerlord when they were both at their best. Langress and Lancerlord's gaze never ceased to escape each other, their eyes of hatred, anger and sadness were all that remained of the two who were once brothers. Langress growled harder and slowly broke the cuff, the vampires were taken aback while Lancerlord smiled proudly. Langress snapped even harder, there was a crack and his arm was completely broken but his eyes were still filled with determination as he pulled away from the cuff. Lancerlord shouted as a cheer for Langress:
"Do it! You are The World's Strongest Hybrid right?!"
Langress used all his strength and shouted strongly:
"I AM LANGRESS MCLOUCHT!"
Langress held back the pain and yanked the cuff out of his arm, instantly, all of his power returning to him. The broken arm quickly recovered in an instant like it had never been broken. Langress put on his coat and threw away the annoying cuff and said:
"Now, answer me. Why did you kill them all? Our teammates, our friends, our brothers, Why?!"
Lancerlord replied calmly:
"Because they are all weak, they are weak to protect humanity. We can overthrow all things, vampires, werewolves and humans to create an empire of our own but they still insisting on that stupid right thing. We've been betrayed by humanity since the beginning, Langress. We are only pawns and slaves of fate to protect them like squishy soldiers protect the stupid king. I simply killed all the weak, like this Alex, because he was a coward to run away from The Eternal Blood War."
Langress replied angrily:
'I won't let you say that!"
Langress immediately lunged at Lancerlord and punched him, but he quickly kicked him back causing Langress to slide down and break the table behind. Lancerlord said arrogantly:
"You see! You've always been the most stubborn and reckless. You let your emotions take over and let your fists decide everything. You're weak too."
Langress replied:
"You're even more cowardly by betraying them all. No wonder they call you The Betrayer."
Lancerlord got a little angry and said:
"Have you forgotten yourself? You're always the one who abandons your comrades to fight for yourself. You're just a selfish asshole!"
Lancerlord walked over to Langress and he also stood up to approach him. The two punched each other and when their fist collided cracked the floor and ceiling, their eyes filled with anger. Lancerlord said:
"You think I wouldn't suffer to have to do that? Watching them die, one by one. I just wanted to free them from this stupid fate."
Langress replied:
"You were a fool, you were controlled by lust to side with the Predator."
Lancerlord said:
"I never sided with them and I joined them myself as my will. They were right about the humans, that they are not worthy to be protected or to be masters of the world!"
Langress and Lancerlord kicked each other hard in the stomach and pushed them away. Langress said:
"You're right, humans are just a bunch of arrogant, stupid, unfilial and obstinate bunch. But they have nothing to do with this war."
Lancerlord replied:
"No, they've known it all since The Eternal Blood War began. It was they who pushed us all to our deaths!"
Langress said angrily:
"That's just a stupid excuse to ignore your disgusting actions!"
Lancerlord replied angrily:
"You have no idea how much I sacrificed to protect the Hybrids!"
Langress said:
"By making them worse than they are today? What a foolish and futile sacrifice."
Lancerlord replied angrily:
"Then show me what you can do to change it all! The World's Strongest Hybrid!"
Langress said even more angry:
"Your death will change everything."
The tension between Langress and Lancerlord grew hotter and more terrible, the conflict between the two of them was unstoppable. Going back to Will a bit, when he ran away, he rushed down the emergency stairs but suddenly he stopped. Will was only a human, he was very scared and weak and he always ran away like his primitive instincts whenever he was in danger. It was not that he was cowardly, but Will's fear dominated his bravery. But this time was different, he didn't want to run away anymore, Langress and Josh had always been the ones to stay and fight for him and they didn't need any retribution. That didn't make Will feel safe, but he felt small and self-deprecating because of his own weakness. Will suddenly burst into tears and yelled:
"Oh please, I want to run. Langress already said that, I have to run, that's right, I have to run to get help. But..."
Will looked back at the room and knew Lancerlord would easily defeat Langress. Will kicked the floor repeatedly to push himself to keep running, but this time his heart wouldn't let him. Will must fight, he said:
"God, forgive me for having to bleed. But this time I'm doing it for the right thing."
Will rang the fire alarm to promptly evacuate everyone from the building. Many people heard the bell so they quickly evacuated from the building and left an empty battlefield for Langress and Lancerlord. Will then cut his hand to bleed, he said as bravely as the first time he had such a great moment:
"I will fight with you, Langress."
The inside of the room became surprised by the fire alarm, the vampires opened the door to check outside to find Will standing at the end of the hallway with his bleeding hand. They could not hold back the smell of blood, so they immediately rushed to Will, they shouted:
"It's mine!"
Suddenly Will raised Boss Luca's Eagle Eyes Beta Pistol and took aim at them. Without fear or anxiety, Will sighed and no longer hesitated to pull the trigger. Seven smart bullets were fired and flew rapidly at them. The vampires immediately crawled to the wall to dodge but the smart bullets still flew at them and killed all of Lancerlord's men to their surprise and panic. Will became shocked at the power of the bullets but he still followed Boss Luca's instructions. Opened the magazine to let the bullets fly back inside and then reloaded and racked the slide to get ready for the next shot. Will was so shocked that it took a moment to realize he was still bleeding. Will hastily bandaged it and said:
"I believe in you, Langress, and thank you very much."
Will then left the building for Langress and Lancerlord to have a big battle and he also called Arenyx to evacuate the civilians. Back to Langress and Lancerlord, they stood strong and defiant. The water from the fire sprinklers fell on them like it was washing away what they still considered each other as brothers. Langress and Lancerlord rushed forward and grabbed the other's left shoulder shirt. They stared at each other, filled with hatred and indignation. They gripped tighter and suddenly a flurry of flashbacks loomed between the two of them about their most glorious days. Their powers collided, destroying the floor further and shattering the windows. From this moment on, they were no longer brothers. The fateful battle between the two brothers began.

For some reason, the following serial killers, career criminals, and villains decide to put aside their differences and normal priorities, form an alliance, and kill as many people as possible without detection. Their mission takes place in Nolan Films Gotham City, and unfortunately, the police force is too incompetent and preoccupied to make any impact in solving the killings, but would potentially be able to assist in arrests if presented with substantial evidence.
The villians work as a cohesive unit and gather once a week at different locations to discuss strategy and come up with ways to throw would be detectives off their trail. They will do anything necessary to avoid detection and keep their mission alive, including killing their own weak links or pausing the killings to make their trail go cold. Not all of the villians have to participate in actual murdering, some could simply be leaders or strategists.
The high volume of murders has attracted some of the brightest minds from across fiction to unravel the mystery.
THE MURDERERS:
Hannibal Lector (The Silence of the Lambs)
Norman Bates (Psycho)
John Doe (Seven)
Zodiac killer (Zodiac)
Patrick Bateman (American psycho)
Avon Barksdale (The Wire)
Joker (Dark Knight Trilogy)
Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
Joe Goldberg (You)
Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Charles Sobhraj (The Serpent)
Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)
Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
Michael Meyers (Halloween)
Jigsaw (Saw)
THE DETECTIVES:
Batman (Nolan films)
Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch)
Benoit Blanc (Knives out)
L (Death note)
John Luther (Luther)
Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity)
Lisbeth Salander & Mikael Blomkvist (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Shawn Spencer (Psych)
Bones (Bones)
Takeshi Kovacs (Altered Carbon)
Adrian Monk (Monk)
R1: The Detectives begin their search with no knowledge of each other and cannot join forces or interact. Can any unravel the crime syndicate alone?
R2: The Detectives begin their search with no knowledge of each other and can team up naturally if they bump into each other and their characters would allow for it.
R3: The Detectives work as a team from the start but are all in character.
Bonus: The villians are hiding in a cruise ship where they have murdered all the passengers. The detectives are dropped onto the boat by helicopter with the mission of killing or arresting all of the villians. The villians know they are coming. Can they succeed?

Hello my friend saw random episodes of Portlandia while on deployment and told me about a really cool scene, though he doesn't know what episode or season it was. We tried finding it on YouTube, to no avail.
Is there a scene where a married couple are having the same argument years apart, but it plays out in the show as one continuous conversation filmed in several different locations? I'm pretty short on the details, but the scene actually sounds really cool!

There are a number of issues with LO, and I think one of the biggest has to be the color scheme. While I concede that it’s garnered Rachel a good deal of praise, it’s also reached a noticeable decline and people that previously liked the art do not have the same feelings towards it now.
However, my biggest gripe is not with the decline in quality nor the oversaturation of colors, but the colors of the characters themselves.
LO has a nearly identical color palette for the gods as the Disney film Hercules, though I find Hercules to be far more pleasing on the eyes, and while I agree with the color scheme for Hercules; I think the color scheme fails for LO for various reasons.
This will deal almost exclusively with Hades because of the character limit. Both LO and Disney have settled on a blue color for Hades.
Disney’s Hades is a much more muted blue to the point that it’s almost grey. It works well, not only symbolically as it gives him a death-like pallor; but it allows him to stand out no matter the setting. While in Olympus, where everything is bright and colorful, his dull coloring showcases that he’s out of place. While in the Underworld, he fits in with the dark and gloom, but is a light enough color that he still contrasts against the background.
It’s for these reasons that the coloring for LO doesn’t work. Rachel has made him a deep, dark blue. Which, coincidentally, is the same color as most of the background settings. It’s easy for Hades to get lost in and because of this, he doesn’t stand out much. This is a character that is meant to be intimidating and a king. He should not be blending into his surroundings and hard to see.
Their clothing is another issue.
Disney puts Hades in a simple color palette: mostly black & grey, with a minimal amount of blue. And it works great. You can pause any frame, in any location, and you will always be able to see his outfit. It’s distinct from his skin-color and even when he’s in the shadows; you can still tell what part is clothing and what part is background. It adds to the dark, gloomy coloring without stealing the show and making you look at what he’s wearing instead of at him.
Rachel fails here. She claims to put him in black and white to emulate a groom, but in reality; most of his clothing is some shade of blue. You can see examples here. ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ) where all his ‘white’ shirts are just a lighter shade of blue. And you can see here ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) that there’s the same issue. Everything ‘black’ is just a darker shade of blue. This causes the same issue; where it’s easy for him to get lost.
Monochromatic color schemes for characters can work. Poison Ivy is a great example. Her skin tone is green, she wears exclusively green, and she’s always surrounded by green foliage. But she has red hair which allows a break of contrast and helps her stand out.
The entire point of monochrome is to provide an image with depth and visual appeal. Rachel fails to capture this and as a result, the artwork and Hades just look flat and unappealing. There are numerous panels where it’s hard to see where Hades starts and the background begins.
Another issue with Hades being blue is that Rachel claims he’s that color because of complementary coloring to Persephone’s pink. Otherwise, she was planning on making him black. However, that’s not how complementary colors work. Complementary colors are two colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel; opposite of blue is orange-yellow. Pink is complemented by yellow-green. While pink and blue can look nice together, they’re not a complementary color on any color wheel.
The entire reasoning behind her making him blue just doesn’t work.

Bio
Age: 32 Occupation: Senior Digital Marketing Manager Location: HCOL, Midwest, US
Salary
Gross income: Currently, $103.5K + 10% annual bonus. Starting next week, $117K + 15% annual bonus! I do some sporadic freelance work for $2-3K per year. Husband is $51K. HHI is $168K (no bonus).
Net income: Current biweekly paycheck is ~$2.8K. Deductions: $75 HSA, health insurance, taxes. Not sure what new paycheck will be! Husband’s is ~$1.5K. Deductions: 401K, health insurances, taxes.
Income progression:
- 2012: After undergrad, got a part time contract job as a community manager (when social media was just barely a thing for businesses). Made $12/hr. Also was a server. All in w/both, $35-45K.
- 2014-2017: Over 5 years, contract gig got more serious. I quit my serving job as I made more from contract gig. Eventually, my role was absorbed by largest client. Started w/them as a social media manager at $55K.
- 2019: After a couple years, took new job in editorial/writing for $51K.
- 2019: Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 6 weeks after I got there (lol). So got a digital marketing manager job in a new, much more expensive city making $70K.
- 2021: After 2 years & a short COVID furlough, joined my current company as a digital marketing manager (under a former boss) at $102K + 10% bonus.
- 2022: Last year, received COL raise to $103.5K.
- March 2023: As of next week, start promotion to senior digital marketing manager w/, $117K + 15% annual bonus.
Assets & Debt
First, to start: my husband & I share finances. We’ve been together for nearly 8 years. We officially combined everything after we got married about a year ago. All assets, spend, etc. reflects both of us.
Assets:
Retirement balance: ~$2K & that’s it. I did not grow up w/financially fluent family (they also didn’t have any money), nor did I have an understanding about retirement until recently. I’ve also been prioritizing enjoying some of my spoils/saving for other things, tbh. This is changing soon!
Savings balance: $21.5K. Have some medically necessary procedures coming up (not covered by insurance) so socking away for that. We also rent, so always want to have moving cash accessible just in case.
Joint checking: $5.6K.
Solo checking: $1.4K
Debt:
Student loans: none! Paid mine off in 2020 (~$20K total). (I qualified for a lot of aid; scholarships, grants & subsidized student loans covered my undergrad degree. My parents did not contribute/)
Mortgage: n/a. We rent.
Car: $550 monthly. Bought the car 6 years ago. First decent car either one of us has had. Worth it. (~$3.5K left. We’re gonna pay this off in the spring).
Credit card: Currently $3K but we pay off in full each month.
Monthly Recurring Expenses
Rent: $2,100 for 2 bed, 2 bath, 3rd floor walkup, including outdoor parking space. We’ve lived here almost 4 years. Rent has not increased.
Electric & gas: $250-$350 depending on time of year.
Internet: ~$70.
Car insurance: ~$200 for two cars.
Phones & service: $155 for two phones + service but I get an $80 subsidy for work, so $75.
Fitness: $209 for unlimited Orangetheory. I go ~3 times/week & it’s great.
Prescriptions: ~$90. I have a daily inhaler & I take Adderall for ADHD.
Subscriptions: YouTube music, streaming TV, random podcasts, etc. my husband supports: ~75.
Savings: We put $1K-$2.5K in savings every month.
Weekly Diary!
DAY 1 – TOTAL: $4.75

• Up at 6:15 – Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Quick bath & read a book (this week’s reading: When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris; Mindset by Carol Dweck)
• Dressed & ready, took bus to work. Had team lunch, meetings, etc. all day.
• Getting home was a shitshow. Waited for the train – too crowded to get on. Waited for a bus – same. Eventually caught the train home. $2.50.
• Hung around w/husband, watched Succession, made half a grilled cheese for dinner

DAY 2 – TOTAL: $208.20

• Up at 6:30ish - Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Bath & reading – every morn!
• Cleaned the kitchen a bit
• Had to pay a bunch of bills manually. My credit card number got stolen awhile ago so bank sent me a new one w/a new number. But the old number (on file w/lots of places for autopay) still worked?? So I just let it ride.
• Started getting emails/calls that the old CC number was no longer valid. SO i paid some bills:
  • Speech pathologist: I’m getting evaluated for possible double jaw surgery so had to see a speech path for evaluation. If you have never been asked by a doctor to open your mouth & show them the chewed graham cracker on your tongue, I highly recommend. :) $178.20
  • Physicians assistant: I go see a PA once every 3 months for ADHD medication. $30
  • iPhone: covered above
  • Orangetheory: covered above
• Then off to WHF! Reporting for pilot I led, atatus meeting w/our digital agency, other calls, etc. On Wednesday nights, I take a stand up comedy class! Super fun & I’m really enjoying it. Had to do a rewrite of last week’s set so banged out right before class. Listened to last week’s piece & feedback, then voice transcribed into Word doc. I have an editing/writing background/degree & lots of speaking/performance so had a great time on rewrite. I was running late so I took an Uber there: $12.90
• Had a great time at class! It goes til 10pm & I’m old so caught an Uber home: $18.95.
• Got home & dumped tonight’s set & feedback into Word doc. Reddit-ed for a few. Sleep around 11pm.

DAY 3 – TOTAL: $325

• WFH again. Chill day. Hard for me to stay out late (for me) at class on Wednesday nights & have a good productive day the next one.
• Was NOT going to spend money today but Colin Jost the comedian is coming to town the night before my birthday!! I bought 2 tickets on Vivid Seats for my husband & me. $229.78
• Was gonna go to Orangetheory in the evening but cancelled – too tired. $14 for cancelling
• Husband went to Costco on his way home. Got paper towels & a few other things & a giant pizza! We ate it for dinner. $81.22

DAY 4 – TOTAL: $0

• Up around 6:40. Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Bath & reading! Washed my hair, so styling routine & diffusing.
• 9am meeting w/agency – took from the couch.
• Called around for a pharmacy who has my prescription for Adderall & found one! So then called the doc & had them send it over. Glad this is done!!
• THEN called health insurance. I need to have an expander put in my mouth because I have nasal breathing issues (and a severe open bite & moderate cross bite, all due to a narrow upper palate), BUT not clear if insurance covers it. Was on for 40 minutes – answer is conclusive. A TIP: orthodontic/orthognathic surgeries are an insurance nightmare. :/
• Lots of downtime today. Emails & reporting mostly but also a lot of researching the procedure I need to have. Called a coworker in the afternoon.
• Really sluggy so Diet Dr Pepper around 2:30pm – rare for me. Try to avoid caffeine after lunch.
• Ended up taking a nap from 5:30pm-7pm. Hung around & ate leftovers for dinner.

DAY 5 – TOTAL: $484.57

• Woke up, loafed around a bit.
• Caught the bus to meet a friend for brunch! Read a bit on the bus. $2.25
• Brunch w/my girl! Good to catch up. Ate some pancakes that were pretty good but made my stomach hurt. Got a giant cookie to take home to husband. $29.60
• Went to Anthropologie. Bought 5 things, all on clearance: 3 sweaters, one top, one blazejacket thing. $185, which is pretty great for Anthro.
• Then got ice cream!!! Bought my friend’s cone too. $17.60.
• Took the bus home. $2.25.
• A bit later, husband & I Ubered to a little cocktail bar. $12.99. It was really nice! We each had 2 cocktails. $76.76
• Then we went for dinner! Originally wanted wings but the place was crazy with very drunk March Madness goers. So went to a bistro-y place down the street. Had a couple beers each & ate some really excellent short rib pappardelle & husband had a delicious meatball sub. $138.12
• Ubered home! $20

DAY 6 – TOTAL: $38.49

• Slept in!! Realized we didn’t have any food so ran to Chipotle for a nice big brunch. $38.49
• Otherwise, had a very chill day. Long bath & reading w/face & hair masks. Tidying & laundry.
• Husband made meal prep (rice bowls) for dinner, so ate that & started The Last of Us & went to bed early.

DAY 7 – TOTAL: $143.67

• Up around 6:30 for the normal morning routine – phone, bath/reading, get ready.
• Had to call a bunch more pharmacies to sniff out Adderall – had very little luck. 
• Ordered flowers to be delivered for my mother’s birthday: $76.78
• Had a chill WFH day. Did some planning & reporting, had a few afternoon calls.
• Husband went to the grocery on his way home. Got a few staples: salsa, bagels, yogurts, etc. $66.89
• Wrapped up around 5:30pm. Laid around & stretched, then went to Orangetheory at 7pm.
• Had a great workout! Came home, cleaned up, wolfed some meal prepped food, then went to bed around 10pm.

TOTAL FOR WEEK: $1,204.68
This was an above average spending week. Brunch & shopping is not a weekly occurrence, nor are those medical bills. We typically eat/cook/meal prep at home a bit more too. But there ya have it – hope you enjoyed!

I (21f) was asked by my friend, M (21M), if I wanted to be a producer on a film he was creating/directing (we’re all film majors). I of course said yes as this is an area I love and excel in, he said I would be in charge of location scouting, call sheets, and scheduling, which sounded great! He even asked me to help with the casting process which I agreed to.
Except, he never included me in these decisions. He found the location really before I even signed on, asked me to find 5 actors and then rewrote the script to be down to 2 and didn’t tell me he did that, then cast the 2 without me, and did a table read without me. I have no idea where this location is (our shoot is three days from now), everyone else on our crew (all male) does and won’t tell me. I asked for the address so I could make the proper call sheet for our shoot and M told me he’d make it, I begged him to let me do SOMETHING and he said he had a specific time he wanted certain people on set so he’d make it.
He constantly complains about being swamped with this but whenever I ask if I can help with anything he says no. The only thing I’ve even been able to do is post on social media that we were looking for cast and crew (which one of the male crew members has taken over doing as I found out a few minutes ago) and contribute to the kickstarter, which my family also contributed to because I was passionate about working on this originally. Other than that I’ve just been a female face and name on the crew list.
Why ask me to produce your film if you’re not going to let me do my job? I thought these guys were my friends but my gut is telling me they’re not, they just need a “token woman” on set. I am at my wits end and feel like I’m going crazy.

This has happened to me 3 times in the last year at the downtown WINCO. I will be shopping along, minding my own business when out of nowhere there's this dude right behind me who compliments something I'm wearing(standard flannel, jacket, shoes). He never has a cart or basket and pretends to be looking at something on the shelf. The first time it happened, I said "thanks, I got it at Ross" with a chuckle and he tried to strike up a conversation about what I do for a living that I managed to escape pretty quickly because it creeped me out. For context, I'm a 36 year old dude, and this kid looks to be around 20 years old, tall and skinny-athletic build.
The second time it happened, I recognized him from afar and brushed it off. Not 3 minutes later I was looking at Tupperware and I hear a "That's a sweet jacket, man!" and there he is, pretending to look at Tupperware right behind me. I said "thanks" and quickly kept walking away. Turned back a few seconds later and he was gone.
Tonight, it happened again, out of nowhere right behind me complimenting my shoes. This time I looked around for someone else filming for some dumb TikTok or something.
I realize that some people may just chalk it up to a weird guy hitting on me and I acknowledge there's a ton of ladies out there that deal with this creepiness on the regular. I also know that he could very well also be just a socially awkward guy that is just trying to make friends.
I am in no way looking for sympathy or anything, just some answers:
Has anyone else experienced this same guy? I can't be the only one this has happened to with him, in fact I doubt he even recognizes me from the prior run-ins. I typically only shop at WinCo for bulk items and only do so maybe 6 times a year, so this happens half the time I go there. Does anyone here work at this location and know anything about his deal? Should I report it to customer service if it happens again? Like I said, he never seems to be shopping, just striking up conversations with rando's.
I feel silly asking these questions but it's just weirding me out! Thanks to anyone who read this and may be able to provide some info.
EDIT
Thanks to those pointing out the probability of an MLM scam, I'm sure that's what this is. I'm looking forward to giving him a piece of my mind and reporting him next time.