So it’s been one year and I’m miserable in my PhD program in clinical psychology. I live in a major city in the US. I don’t want to share too much detail to protect my privacy but since I arrived I’ve been treated poorly by the program director. Even another professor has noticed she “targeted me”. The director has called me a derogatory term and asked me about my ethnicity during a 1v1 meeting. She constantly has these meetings with me (no one else has these meetings as often) where she is overly critical and unkind. She also clearly picks and chooses what I say and uses it against me in the next meeting. It’s mind blowing the things she has said and done since I got here. Never in my professional or academic career have I seen this before.
My research advisor also over promised the research I’d be doing and now a year later they don’t seem to be interested in anything I’m interested in. My advisor also promised to help me with connections at this gov’t institution but has not even entertained my involvement there.
I’ve mentioned multiple times now that I feel so unsupported and discouraged. Despite this, I’ve gotten straight A’s, accomplish all my research work on time and well, and complete my clinical requirements as they are assigned. Yes I’ll admit, there was a mistake I made with one client but the second client I had my supervisor wrote I made significant improvements.
The ONLY issue my research advisor said was I don’t handle feedback well, which was resolved as a miscommunication. Again, I don’t want to say too much detail but essentially I’m on remediation now for this, after months later even though my end of semester evaluation was good and no issues other than “still working on handling feedback”. I don’t understand why I was put on remediation and another student, my friend who got below required grades and has issues with his research is not. We have the same advisor! It seems like retaliation honestly because this remediation started about a week after I told her I felt unsupported and discouraged.
I just can’t take this anymore. On top of this, this PhD program is only partially funded (not full) and when I’m done I’ll be in over $300K debt (including masters and bachelors). I also don’t even know if I want to be a clinical psychologist anymore. I really do love research and love the mental health field, but I feel so discouraged and turned off. I also love working with clients but I don’t know if I want to give therapy anymore. I just don’t know I feel so unsure. I think if this program was better funded and less toxic I would definitely stay but unfortunately this is where I’m at.
My goal is to lead a nonprofit or government programs and make an impact. I was hoping to do that eventually as a psychologist. My partner thinks I can do what I want without a PhD, and make similar salary with my other professional experience (I have several years of executive leadership experience), but I don’t know. I started looking for jobs to get a feel so we’ll see. I feel like I got this far in my research/psychology career and I don’t want to give up now. At the same time, it doesn’t feel right for me anymore and it might be best to move on.
Thank you for the read. Any and all help is so appreciated!

Might be a dumb question. What is the price vs quality trade off between eBike and an equivalent regular bicycle?
For example a $4k vado eBike, how much better would the components be on a $4k non electric specialized?
Or conversely, what kind of price band would the vado be in based on its build/components if it was not electric? $1500-2500? Thanks!

I appreciate what the Fort Collins Rescue Mission is doing. However, is this really a solution:
Here's another chance to ask questions about proposed 24/7 homeless shelter in Fort Collins -A neighborhood meeting will be held 14 June 23 -Proposing a partial two-story, 43,000-square-foot building with beds for up to 200 men -The site, southwest of the North College Avenue and Hibdon Court intersection
261 needles found in one homeless camp in Fort Collins -Fort Collins Police Services says they have successfully cleared and cleaned an underpass that was peppered with drug paraphernalia and trash. -The needles were found near the 4500 block of Mulberry Road
I personally disagree with a homeless shelter. I would rather fund and support a solution rather than a band-aid.
To add to this, investing in low income housing would be a better 'Return On Investment' to the community.

I stopped biting my nails and got them done with dip powder (out of town). It was the first time someone’s ever done more than polish for a school dance for me. The lady only got me once with her e-file when her attention got caught by someone calling for her. She even acknowledged it. Absolutely no big deal.
BUT. I just had them done a second time, new place, dip powder again, but I feel like every cuticle on every finger was hit when she went in with the cylindrical soft (?) bit at the finish line. I was uncomfortable that whole step. The accelerator liquid stung every finger. Now that I’m home I feel like I want to put my cuticles in ice. They’re so sore. l’ve slathered down with oil.
Was this my own fault for prepping my cuticles? The first time it was painted over my cuticles and the edges were flipped when they grew out. I was super careful and gentle but made sure I did my own cuticles for this second appointment, hoping to make the edges stay flat better, since I didn’t expect a full manicure type thing second go-around. They felt fine earlier, good, even.
Am I supposed to leave my cuticles alone before these appointments as a barrier for the bits? Is getting super sore and cut just part of having your nails done? How much is normal vs too much cuticle sanding? Or is this something I should address with the tech before a next appointment? Maybe I’m just a wimp?
My mom is a habitual nail biter too, so she doesn’t know about any of this stuff either. Any help is super appreciated, even if it’s not exactly replying to my question. I’m trying to learn so I can keep my nails protected and strong, but…. Y’all that kinda sucks :(

So it’s been one year and I’m miserable. I live in a major city in the US. I don’t want to share too much detail to protect my privacy but since I arrived I’ve been treated poorly by the program director. Even another professor has noticed she “targeted me”. The director has called me a derogatory term and asked me about my ethnicity during a 1v1 meeting. She constantly has these meetings with me (no one else has these meetings as often) where she is overly critical and unkind. She also clearly picks and chooses what I say and uses it against me in the next meeting. It’s mind blowing the things she has said and done since I got here. Never in my professional or academic career have I seen this before.
My research advisor also over promised the research I’d be doing and now a year later they don’t seem to be interested in anything I’m interested in. My advisor also promised to help me with connections at this gov’t institution but has not even entertained my involvement there.
I’ve mentioned multiple times now that I feel so unsupported and discouraged. Despite this, I’ve gotten straight A’s, accomplish all my research work on time and well, and complete my clinical requirements as they are assigned. Yes I’ll admit, there was a mistake I made with one client but the second client I had my supervisor wrote I made significant improvements.
The ONLY issue my research advisor said was I don’t handle feedback well, which was resolved as a miscommunication. Again, I don’t want to say too much detail but essentially I’m on remediation now for this, after months later even though my end of semester evaluation was good and no issues other than “still working on handling feedback”. I don’t understand why I was put on remediation and another student, my friend who got below required grades and has issues with his research is not. We have the same advisor! It seems like retaliation honestly because this remediation started about a week after I told her I felt unsupported and discouraged.
I just can’t take this anymore. On top of this, this PhD program is only partially funded (not full) and when I’m done I’ll be in over $300K debt (including masters and bachelors). I also don’t even know if I want to be a clinical psychologist anymore. I really do love research and love the mental health field, but I feel so discouraged and turned off. I also love working with clients but I don’t know if I want to give therapy anymore. I just don’t know I feel so unsure. I think if this program was better funded and less toxic I would definitely stay but unfortunately this is where I’m at.
My goal is to lead a nonprofit or government programs and make an impact. I was hoping to do that eventually as a psychologist. My partner thinks I can do what I want without a PhD, and make similar salary with my other professional experience (I have several years of executive leadership experience), but I don’t know. I started looking for jobs to get a feel so we’ll see. I feel like I got this far in my research/psychology career and I don’t want to give up now. At the same time, it doesn’t feel right for me anymore and it might be best to move on.
Thank you for the read. Any and all help is so appreciated!

Part one: Study HARD in all the sciences and economics. (after the plan has been fully developed). Step one of part one: Start researching everything about economics and business. Step two of part one: Analyze every worry about my friends so I can advise them of what to do so I won’t worry so much. Step three of part one: Try to get my work permit and start making 15 dollars per hour. Step four of part one: Continue to stabilize my economic position to move on to part two. Part two: Try to make money and set up a water business. Part two contingency plan: If it doesn’t work I will try to gain help from international fans and reincarnate Ai. Part three: Try to set up more companies and help other companies of mine. Part three contingency plan: Same as part two’s. Part four: Try to make a country where I can set my company headquarters at. Part four contingency plan: Set up headquarters in Switzerland. Part five: try to bring this world together and under one ruler (preferably me) and bring NASA a lot more funding Part five contingency plan: Continue to monopolize and make NPO (non profit organizations) to make people want me to be their ruler. Also bring NASA a lot more funding. Part six: Make schools specialized and better to make more people want to learn about physics and health. Part six contingency plan: Make special schools for just health and physics. Part seven: Make a pill that extends a person's life span (preferably unable to die from old age). Part seven: Make a pill that extends a person's life span (preferably unable to die from old age). Part seven contingency plan: Make clones of important people and educate them about their past life so they continue to do good work. Part eight: Build a Dyson sphere to harvest energy for the multiverse traveler and the time machine. Part eight contingency plan: Continue to improve nuclear power plants or make more of them. Part nine: Try to use time dilation to travel to other universes quickly. Part nine contingency plan: Try to travel to other universes using wormholes. Part ten: Get to the SCP universe and take all the SCPs needed for the plan (SCP-2521, SCP-500, SCP-343, and SCP-262) Part ten contingency plan: Try to rent the anomalies for resources. Part eleven: Continue to try to build a time travel machine. Part eleven contingency plan: Get the powers of the people in another anime that we make in the future (specifically time travel). Part twelve: Get Hikaru Kamiki's phone number through Airi Himekawa. Part twelve contingency plan: Become a customer of Hikaru Kamiki, then using him get Ai's address and get there before Ryosuke. Part twelve other contingency plan: Stop Hikaru from having that affair with Airi Himekawa. Part thirteen: Save Ai and ensure no stalkers are there to hurt her by putting ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) on her. Part thirteen contingency plan: Continue to post guards at where Ai lives and the added protection from the ERA and aramid armor after getting her treated with SCP-500 pills. Part fourteen: Make sure the black holes don’t swallow up this and Ai's universe. Part fourteen contingency plan: Move Ai’s planet to the next universe. Part fifteen: Continue to explain to Ai’s fans that she cares for them because even though she doesn't know how to love them she is still trying to. Part fifteen contingency plan: Persuade Ai to stop being an idol and make her an actor.

I’m not really sure where to start, but I’ve had this baggage for so long and I need to let it out. I’m not sure why, but letting any of my associates or friends know that I’m homeless seems embarrassing to me. Not only that, but after watching people use other peoples trauma against them makes me feel untrustworthy and hesitant to tell anyone anything.
In 2005, my Mom bought her first house in a lovely suburban neighborhood in Massachusetts. She was dedicated to her studies, earned her degrees, and became a highly skilled and knowledgeable registered nurse. Her patients adored her, and she saved countless lives and uplifted spirits throughout the hospitals and homes she was places in. She was the kind of person who would light up a room and treat everyone with kindness, without a judgmental bone in her body.
However, everything changed in 2012 when my Mom was involved in a serious accident that left her unable to work. She required extensive medical procedures, including screws and metal plates in her knees. She was able to receive disability benefits, but her lifestyle took a drastic turn. She became incontinent, lost her mobility, and could no longer pursue her passion or continue the work she had dedicated her life to. Alongside these physical challenges, she also faced mental health struggles, which led her to surround herself with less-than-ideal people. I believe this was due to her depression stemming from her situation. Over the years, her health deteriorated further, and she faced issues like blood infections, blood clots, and fibromyalgia. As a result, she had to frequently travel between hospitals in Boston and our hometown, Springfield. She would then get a grant to make her upstairs area handicapped accessible.
In 2017, she decided to renovate the interior of the house and to cut ties with the company she had previously associated with. But she would gullibly take someone in after they pleaded for help, she would allow that person to couch surf for a couple of days, which extended into weeks. This person turned out to be a squatter who refused to leave. When my mom discovered that he had an outstanding warrant, she collaborated with the sheriff and the police to capture him. Once the squatter left the house, my mom would turned off the water in the house and attempted to condemn the in-law space attached to the house. The squatter returned, but the sheriff and police were able to arrest him. Following these events, my mom fell ill again, leading to hospitalization. During this time, a receivership company contacted her, falsely promising to completely renovate and fix our home.
Instead, this company changed our locks, entered our house, disposed of our valuable belongings, and prohibited us from entering our own home. When my mom discovered this, she took them to court, only for the company to commit perjury and falsify documents. Despite the clear lies and fraud, the judge in Springfield housing court, Dina Fein, reviewed my mom's evidence and documents, only to falsify them during the next hearing. When my mom tried to confront her about it, Judge Fein ordered her not to schedule any further hearings related to our home.
As a result, we became homeless. My mom earned just enough to disqualify us from shelters, but not enough to afford rent elsewhere. My brother and I, being 16/17, would try to search for jobs in an already congested job market, attempting to do what we could do with what we could earn. It became a daily struggle to decide whether to spend the little money we had on the cramped room we were staying in or on a meal to share among ourselves. We slept in cars, on floors, and occasionally rented a motel room when we had enough money. It was even harder because my Mom was handicapped. Many nights, I’d dream of having a room of my own and decorating it and drawers to put my clothes in. We had to squeeze into tiny spaces together, and when we managed to scrape together some money for laundry, my little brother would do his schoolwork in the car. Despite everything, my mom always prioritized our education.
Now that we gotten older, we were able to get jobs, and stay in a not-to-standard place temporarily that had a slumlord. After my Mom would ask the landlord to fix the plumbing and structure of the shed we were in, he would retaliate with that after code enforcement was called. So now we’re homeless again. my twin brother moved to Florida with his friends to try to start anew, and my grandmother is living her final days in NC. So i’m here now, helping with keeping a roof over our heads in a motel. We’ve put in several applications for apartments, so now we’re just waiting on those. Throughout the years I was homeless, and up until now, I would see my friends online, traveling, showing their rooms off, and doing the most basic stuff with their friends, and i’d become envious and depressed. That life was stolen from us. I wanted to go to school and do so much, but how could I when I needed to work overtime with barely any sleep to fund for rooms. My life feels stagnant and i would’ve taken it by now if it didn’t mean my Mom and baby brother would be alone. I just needed to vent. I feel selfish for even thinking such things, and i’m sure my Mom has been placing the blame on herself throughout these years, but silently takes it. I just hope things get better and we win this case, but even the case feels stagnant… still, we will continue on fighting for our house though
TL;DR: Our house was stolen from us from a fake receivership program and the springfield housing court judge, Dina Fein, created fake documents and signed off on fake bills. Now we’re homeless and been homeless for 7 years and it has been a traumatic experience and hindered our lives in many ways. To note, there are groups and websites about this judge and her fraudulent actions taken upon other homeowners and tenant, but nothing has been done yet, and if it has, it’s been under wraps

Coal Jenny vs advanced coal Jenny.
Coal generator: 3 generalists. 1 engineer Power 24(all but last efficiency upgrade) Bad air 10%
Advanced coal generator: 3 generalists 2 engineer Power 28 Bad air 24%
Why is the advanced coal Denny STRICTLY WORSE. Then a regular one or two regular ones even.
2x regulars give 48 power 20% bad air for only 3 extra generalists. Seems like bad design honestly the advanced should either have better air or double the output of power.

Hey, since a short time I finally know what mix voice is and how all those singers seem to go really high without making it sound full falsetto so you almost think it is chest voice.
However how do you know you are actually expanding your (chest voice) range vs just getting better at mix voice? And is expanding your chest voice even necessary with good mix voice then?

Hi! It's that time of year again... vaccine time for my dog! She is due for LEPTO and RABIES.
I was hoping someone could give me info on the safest option. I am seeing lots of information on mercury and aluminum as well as injection site cancers which scares me! Is 1 brand better than another? What are the pros/cons of vaccinating against rabies annually vs Q3Years?
Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated as I want to keep her safe and healthy. She loves being outside so even though I wish I could avoid the lepto vaccine, I don't think I can really so that.

I met my now ex boyfriend back in April of 2022. We officially started dating in August of 2022. Everything was great, honestly. Until I saw his anger. He often apologized and made up for it and stated he would work on his anger and become better for me. I truly believed he loved me. He was never very good at communicating, so I just thought perhaps he hasn’t had it easy in life and just needs a support system and someone to help him work on that to grow into a better version. He seemed to be very willing. There were times he would read self help books, but then stop. He had made a bullet list of things he needed to work on and how he may be able to work on them, but then he gave up on that. He never wanted to do therapy. I was told by his mother that he had always had anger growing up. He had lost his girlfriend of 5 years in a car accident 2 years before meeting me. I had gotten out of an abusive relationship 2 years before I met him. He stated that his ex girlfriend had cheated on him and they were also on and off. I had thought maybe we were 2 broken people meant to come together to heal one another. Now I think the opposite. When I look back on everything, I see all the red flags I’ve missed or pushed aside because I simply sympathized. He kicked me to the curb 6+ times where I had to pack my things and leave his place (note: he lives with his mother). He would scream at me to leave and then I would start packing and then he would scream at me to stop and to stay. Then I would stay and try and talk but he would still be angry and go right back to telling me to leave. A lot of our arguments stemmed from not being able to communicate in a healthy manner. We both knew that. I tried hard to tell him my needs and wants and he never seemed to be able to do that for me. He would for a short while (especially after breaking up with me and then me going back), but then it would stop. And I would be back to telling him I don’t feel appreciated or loved and he would hate me for feeling that way. He always flipped it around and tried to make it seem like it was my problem and I didn’t love him. But I did, and I exhausted myself trying to talk with him and how he just can’t seem to understand what I’m trying to say or ask for. Long story short, I broke up with him 2 days ago. He was angry, and I had just gotten shoulder surgery 4 days prior. He was taking care of me during the time but complained a lot about doing so. ( i should also note he dumped me the night before my surgery and then begged me to come back the next day because he wanted to take care of me) I was frustrated and so was he. We both said we felt unloved and I thought we had come to a mutual agreement to end things. But then he texted me 3 hours later how sorry he was and “this didn’t feel right in his soul”. At this point I was tired of being broken up with and given apologies and going back and having it repeat. I told him that. I told him I wanted a genuine apology that actually sticks and he follows through with his words. He didn’t want to go out of his way to do that because I guess I was still supposed to believe all the other apologies he gave me. I didn’t agree. I told him we should go our separate ways and I wished him well and hope he grows and finds himself. He then proceeded to call me names and claim I was talking with others dudes. I shut that anger down and ignored him. He said I’d never hear from him again but what do you know, 30 minutes later he types “I miss you” on the app Agape that we have been using for the last 2 months to build our relationship. Then he tries to call me and I ignore and he says he loves me. I sent him a long message how I’ve been feeling unhappy and let down and how I just wished he was the person he claimed to be and promised to give me. He then sends me this:
“All I’ve ever known is being gaven up on. I’ve never met someone like you that actually gives a fuck, but just reading what you have to say about me now questions that you are actually gunna give up on me too and it’s because of my actions I know. And I’m sorry. There’s so many things that I stress about and overthink and I’m sick of that, it affects the way I treat you, affects our relationship and I want to change that. I’m sick of feeling anxious and stressed out when I should be nothing but happy with you. I’m sick of the thought that I ruined this even more than I already have. It’s getting old even to myself how many times I have to fix myself after you telling me how fuccked up I’ve been. It’s just sad. I never intended anything but a happy future with you and I’ve been just so lost since the start trying as best as I could. And it’s sad cuz you think I don’t try for jack shit. What do I even think now… my mind is all over the place. Been on my mind all day if I’ll ever even see you again. Plus worrying about you in general and your shoulder. I fucking worry so much because I care for you so deeply. All of this shit hurts. And now I’m back to questioning if I’m actually the right person for you.”
And this:
“I’ve been selfish… for too long. I get why you want to leave. Scares me. Hate knowing I’ve been so shitty and inconsistent. Just not the person you want. Breaks my heart. I wish I could be good enough for you.”
Then he said this was too much for him to handle and he was going to bed and talk with me more about this tomorrow morning (today). I didn’t wake up to any messages, just a Snapchat of his face and then later on he messaged me “hope you are doing okay”. I didn’t respond.
What do I do? Do I block him? I’m just not sure how to move on with the amount of energy I invested into him. I mean I’m at the point where I want to move on, I guess I just need advice on this whole situation and what to do and to get him off my back. I’m sure most people will think I’m stupid for staying so long, but please keep in mind that I do love him and have always wished him the best, even if he hasn’t been the best to me.

Through a miracle of Tinder, I managed to lose my virginity despite living with my mom. I wrapped my willy and it fit like a glove. I wouldn't call it "tight," but it was on there for sure. I have nothing but gratitude for my Tinder match, she was willing to host and she expressed her needs clearly. I followed her instructions to the letter. But here's the thing, and I couldn't bring myself to tell her after: I didn't enjoy any of it. And I'm pretty sure it's because of the condom. I did eventually nut, but it was a long time coming and I had to jackhammer her to feel even minor sensation. Every fap I've ever had felt better than that nut, and I could've just not nutted if I didn't want to. I did everything to prepare myself. I don't drink, I refrained from masturbation for almost a week straight. I should've been ready to pop.
That day is kinda haunting me. Because the more I think about it, the more I feel like maybe sex with a condom is just masturbation with an oily piece of latex. And that's best case scenario. I started looking into other stories and I hear how raw sex is so many leagues ahead of condom sex that dudes are collapsing out of the starting gate from the sensation. But as it stands,as far as strictly pursuing physical pleasure I see absolutely zero point in having condomed sex again.
You might say "There's other reasons to have sex." Yes, like in cases of incredible sexual attraction. But the majority of people are not porn stars. Our bodies alone are nothing to get excited about. I thought at least half the appeal of sex was that it felt good. So what am I supposed to do? Unless my next hookup is raw, or with a supermodel or something, I can't see myself even bothering with sex ever again. It feels like an empty life to go without it, fighting to have it and especially now that I've had it. But damn, that was a waste of everyone's time. Now, am I saying she should let me take off the condom? Take on all responsibility? No. I understand it's not fair to her that she should suffer either if it's such hell for me to wear a condom. But that's what's haunting me so much about this. Every way I slice it, protected sex seems like way more trouble than it's worth. I am really struggling here, trying to imagine a future where I would ever want to do this again.
I don't wanna make anyone concede for my hangups. But I don't wanna wear a condom again either. Part of me hopes that raw sex actually doesn't feel any different and this is just fear of missing out. Because if all I have to look forward to is jacking off with lube and rubber, I coulda done that shit with any one of my many fantasy women living in my head. I feel like I was ripped off. That we all, in a way, have been ripped off. That sex can't be TRULY mutually stimulating without someone getting pregnant. Is there any hope? For me to bust that fat nut I've been dreaming of and have the sex be just as pleasurable for my partner?
And to my partner, maybe you withheld some things from me too. But I hope the sex was better for you than it was for me. Thank you for keeping your weekend open for me.

got booked for client systems but i want to do cybersecurity stuff to get a cybersecurity job after my contract in the civ world.
seems all the cybersecurity jobs in AF are help desk jobs except for 1B4X1?
Should i join army for 17C to actually do Cyber security work in my day to day to get a better job in CS after vs doing help desk in Air Force?
I am dual enrolled for space force and hopefully I get a good Cyber job over my air force job
are all cyber jobs in the AF doing the same things as 17C in army? I'm asking if they are all pretty much the same job learning the same technical skills?

Ending a friendship then wanting to reconcile?
About two years ago this girl and I became fast best friends. At the time I was 24 (f) and she was 21 (f) We both worked at the same diner except she was new to the restaurant and new to town. We really hit it off as friends although I was hesitant to become her friend at first because I’m an extremely guarded person. We hung out at her apartment and I met her husband and her roommate who happened to be her husband’s best friend. From the very beginning of our friendship, I noticed that she made little comments regarding my appearance insinuating that I was her husband’s type and I sensed a little bit of jealousy. Regardless we are both quirky people and complemented one another well. Her husband was also a chill guy but I did notice some narcissistic tendencies and tension brewing within their relationship. Within a month of hanging out we were calling one another each other’s best friend. We went shopping, vegged out on food/drinks, had tons in common, and genuinely had fun every time we hung out. We really opened up to one another and I hadn’t had a female best friendship like this since childhood. But something was always a little bit off.
We had so much in common regarding values and interests (drawing, art, interior design, singing, same aesthetic) that a subtle competition between her and I brewed. She felt she had to compete with me as her husband continuously asked to have me come over and compared us constantly. She has a very petite physique and I’m taller and curvier. Her husband is an extremely tall guy and made her feel terrible for being short. I could tell she resented me for this but I didn’t know how to approach the problem. Terrible on my part but I enjoyed the attention
Although our friendship continued there was always tension due to the fact her and her husband’s marriage wasn’t doing well and I seemed to be a factor. At work, she was always trying to one up me but it didn’t matter to me because our connection was more important. She was constantly seeking attention from men at work, men whom I already had friendships with and she was always trying to undermine those relationships. She was very subtly manipulative but had a sweet innocent demeanor so her behavior was confusing. She seemed jealous when other men wanted a relationship with me, even though those same men adored her as well.
Fast forward two months and a new guy started working at the diner as a line cook. We were servers. For context her and I had spoken in depth about what our type was. She described her type as her husband to a T; tall, blue eyes, light hair. My type was tall dark and handsome minus the tall as height has never mattered much to me. Said new guy was exactly my type. Both her and I instantly had a thing thing for him but I figured she would back off since he wasn’t her type and she was also married. They seemed to hit it off even tho him and I initially felt a connection as well, and I became insanely jealous. They started hanging out after work and she even introduced her husband to him. Her husband shook his hand then went back to bed, while they made out on the couch at her apartment. The two of them eventually slept together and I didn’t find out until their affair was cut off. She said they couldn’t be intimate with one another anymore but that she still wanted him as her best friend. He blocked her and started pursuing me. He made it known that initially he was into me but she went out of her way to make herself the center of attention and seduce him even insinuating that she would leave her husband for him.
Flash forward a few weeks, the night of our restaurant’s little employee christmas party at an old bowling alley/bar. Her and her husband had supposedly worked out the affair she had with the new guy but we were all going to be in the same place at the same time. Her and I met at the bar and started drinking, the new guy was following me around trying to talk all while her and her husband were right next to me. She obviously still was in lust with this man and I was getting increasingly mad about it. Her lies weren’t catching up to her but I could tell she was miserable on the inside and i was a part of the equation. Emotions were high, both her and I were nervous as we both were in lust with the same man. Her husband didn’t say a word to him the entire night despite knowing what happened. Even though the new guy blocked her she was convinced he still wanted her. Eventually we went to a friends for an after party type thing and her husband made a comment saying I looked way better in her dress she let me borrow than she could ever look in it and put his hand on my inner thigh while she was sitting right next to us.
After this I began spending more time with the new guy and my friend and her husband continued to struggle in their marriage. I began dating the new guy and she tried her best to pretend she didn’t care. She began hanging out with another girl at work. Said girl worked at our diner and so did her boyfriend. All four of them attempted to Go on double dates but she didn’t seem enthused. We were still friends although we were starting to grow apart. I made it known that her husband was making me uncomfortable and our other coworkers also told her he was an asshole. But this whole time she was playing the victim despite cheating on her asshole of a husband. I was over it but still wanted her friendship as she made me feel seen and understood and her husband did as well.
One night in February, she invited me out to a bar. She didn’t tell me that her husband would be there but he was. We got drunk and had a great time but she insinuated that she wanted me to invite my boyfriend. The constant triangulation was pissing me off like no other. we headed back to their place but as we left the bar we both slipped on the ice and got immense bruises from it as we would find out later. it felt like karma for all the bs we were putting one another through rather than prioritizing a true friendship. When we got to their apartment, her husband made a jab at my appearance and I had the urge to cut off the friendship because I wasn’t going to start taking his emotional and verbal abuse as well.
After that I distanced myself from them even more. They came into the restaurant on Valentine’s Day and he stared at me from their booth the entire time while I served tables. She kept making comments towards my appearance and relationship while we worked shifts together so I made sure we had completely different schedules.
I cut her off completely and we didn’t talk anymore. The next month i got pregnant and she got pregnant as well and we never talked about it. We had our babies in the same month last year so both of our babies are seven months old now. I’ve tried to reconcile by messaging her and she completely ignores me. I know I’m with the man she had an affair with, so I understand but I don’t get why she won’t engage with me whatsoever. Our friendship wasn’t perfect but now being seven months post partum it would be amazing to be friends again since our sons are the exact same age. She is now best friends with our mutual coworker and I feel so rejected and lonely and really want more mom friends.

I’ve spent the last 5 years in the E&F space doing manager selection in the public markets. I’ve enjoyed my timing learning about businesses from some of the brightest minds in the investment world and am looking to join them.
I understand the skill set in manager selection is quite different than being at a long only shop, but that is my end goal from here. I’ve considered doing an MBA (I believe I could get into a top 15 MBA) and I’m continuing my CFA studies (currently a level 2 candidate).
If I decided to not pursue an MBA to pivot, does anyone have any suggestions on what industry / position would get me at least part of the way to my end goal? My understanding is I’m too old to get into IB or ER without more direct experience/ MBA so that seems unlikely.
My best idea is to use my manager network to look around for someone that would be willing to consider an non traditional candidate for some projects/side work but even that seems pretty unlikely without traditional modeling experience.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

I recently came to a somewhat complex point in the scriptures of the Tripartite treatise in which the author narrates the emergence of the three powers through the Logos (Sophia Achamoth).
1-Powers of Matter (Imitation) 2-Animic Powers/Soul (Remembrance/Resemblance) 3-Spiritual Powers (Images)
Below is a summary of the Tripartite Treaty on this stage of the myth:
The individuality of the third glorification produces a hierarchy of aeons and creates the possibility of individual action apart from the collective. Acting on this possibility, the youngest aeon, the Word, audaciously approaches the father in an attempt to gain acquaintance of him, but he is prevented by the boundary. The fallen Word consequently resides outside the fullness, but his perfect self returns to it. The Word’s fall, turning back, and subsequent joy generate the material, animate, and spiritual essences, respectively, in the form of cosmic powers. His arrogant thought produces an order of material powers, and his turning back to himself and the fullness (“the remembrance”) results in a similar order of animate powers. The two orders fall into combat, as the material powers’ aggressive love of command infects the animate powers as well. The Word’s appeal to his perfection in the fullness prompts the aeons to unite in intercession to the father, and their joyous harmony produces the savior as its fruit. The savior’s self-revelation outside the fullness heals the Word and separates the warring forces: the animate powers worship the savior, while the material ones fall into chaos. The Word’s gratitude to and praise of the aeons generate the spiritual powers. The three sets of powers are distinguished not only by their essences, but also by their differing modes of correspondence to the aeons of the fullness. The spiritual powers are images of the aeons; the animate powers, likenesses of them; and the material powers, imitations of them. The Word then gives order to the cosmos outside the fullness. He directly forms an aeon for the spiritual powers (“the aeon of the images”), modeled after his vision of all things, including those in the fullness; it includes a place called the church. The Word organizes the animate and material powers into a hierarchy, harnessing their shared love of command to their divinely ordained places of domination and subordination. The Word places the craftsman and ruler, the creator god of Genesis, in charge of the animate and material realms and uses him as a “hand” and “mouth” to arrange their structures. A reference to a servant of the craftsman indicates the existence of a devil-like ruler over materiality (102:32–103:11f ). Throughout this first part the author emphasizes that all things happen in accordance with the father’s will, so that even the Word’s audacious act should not be criticized (77:6–8f ). Here and throughout the treatise the author refers to the “plan”—in Greek, oikonomia, a term that pertained fundamentally to household management, but which in Christian discourse came to refer to God’s providential arrangement of events, often mediated through divinely appointed agents like Christ and the angels (cf. Ep 1:10; 3:9). The father wishes to be known, but only in accordance with his plan, a process of education and formation that his will directs (e.g., 62:14–28f ). Among the aeons in the fullness, unity and order come from the providential harmony of the individual aeons’ self-determining wills; among the animate and material powers of the cosmos, a hierarchical order of domination and subordination both depends on and restrains the love of command that motivates them.(End)
The author devotes considerable discussion to the salvation of animate beings, whether they are cosmic forces (“angels”) or human beings, a problem to which he circles back multiple times. Whatever their origins, animate beings must embrace the savior and turn away from their love of command. Cosmic powers must forsake their own lordships and kingdoms, renounce their claims to worship, and acknowledge the one who has no lord. Animate human beings must confess the father, son, and holy spirit and receive baptism into those names, which are a single name. The author emphasizes that the father has designed a plan to lead beings from lack of acquaintance to acquaintance and that the church plays a key role in that plan. The church exists on at least three levels: the union of aeons in the fullness makes up the true church; the spiritual powers in the aeon of images form an image of that church; and spiritual human beings constitute the earthly church—“we in flesh who are his church” (125:4f). Animate beings will be judged in part by the extent to which they served the church or persecuted it. The author refers to himself and his readers as the savior’s church in the flesh, that is, as spirituals; his extensive consideration of the animates’ ethical dispositions and their potential salvation reflects the responsibility of the spiritual people for guiding and educating animate people (116:8–18f ).(End)
At first glance, the reader is immediately reminded of the wars between "angels" and "demons" which were portrayed by the ancients, whether in the form of art or other means. Below follows the extensive text that refers to the emergence of the three powers in the Tripartite Treaty:
THE OFFSPRING OF THE WORD'S ARROGANT THOUGHT: THE MATERIAL POWERS
Those that came into being from the arrogant thought resemble the fullnesses of which they are imitations, •but they are phantoms, shadows, and illusions, deprived of word and light, things that belong to the empty thought, offspring of nothing. •For this reason too their end will be like their beginning: •they come from what does not exist, so that they will also return to what will not exist. •But in their own estimation a are great and powerful ones, more [beautiful] than the names [that are given] to them, which are only [their] shadows, beautiful by imitation. •For [. . .] of the image takes its beauty from the one whose image it is. •Concerning themselves they thought that they alone existed and that they were without origin because they did not see anything that existed prior to them. •For this reason they exhibited disobedience and acts of rebellion and did not submit to the one because of whom they came into existence. •They wanted to command and dominate one another [in] their vain love of glory. •The glory that they possessed became a cause [of] the structure that would come into existence.b •Therefore, [because] they were imitations of those on high, c exalted themselves to a love of command, each one according to the grandeur of the name of which he was a shadow,d fantasizing that he would become greater than his companions. •The thought of these others was not barren, but in accordance with the likeness e whose shadows they were—•everything they think potentially has children—•the things that they thought became their offspring. •And thus it happened that many came forth from them as offspring: •they were fighters, warriors, troublemakers, rebels, disobedient ones who love to give orders, •and all the others of this sort who come from them.(End)
THE OFFSPRING OF THE WORD’S TURNING BACK AND REMEMBRANCE: THE ANIMATE POWERS
This entire prayer of his and this remembrance were numerous powers, in accordance with the principle that there is nothing barren in his thinking. •These powers were much better and greater than those that belong to the imitation. •For those that belong to the imitation belong to a [false] essence: they came into being from an imitation’s illusion and a [vain,] arrogant [thought.] •These, however, are from the thought that had possessed acquaintance of them beforehand.•Therefore, those are like forgetfulness and heavy sleep; •they are like the people who have disturbed dreams in which sleep haunts them and those who dream are trapped. •These others, however, are for him like luminous beings who are expecting the sunrise, after they have seen sweet dreams in it (sleep). •Truly they < . . . > the emissions of the remembrance.c •They did not have their essence to a greater degree, nor did they have more honor, because theya are not equal to those that preexist,b even if they are superior [to] the imitations. •It is by this alone that they are elevated above them (the imitations): •they are from a good disposition—for they did not come from the sickness that developed—•that is, (they are from) the good disposition belonging to the one who sought for the preexistent after he had prayed and brought himself to what is good. •He sowed in them a will to seek after and pray to the preexistent glorious one, and he sowed in them a thought about him and a contemplation, •so that they might think that something greater than they existed before them, even though they did not understand what it was. •Engendering harmony and love for one another through that thought, they acted in unity and with unanimity, •because it was from unity and unanimity that they received their existence.(End)
CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ANIMATE AND MATERIAL POWERS
Therefore, they (the animate powers) surpassed them (the material powers) in love of command because they were of greater honors than the earlier ones, •who rose up against them. •The latter had not humbled themselves: they thought that they had originated from themselves alone, had no source, and were the first to bring forth in accordance with their birth. •The two orders assaulted one another and fought for domination in such ways that they were swallowed up by powers and essences, as is the condition of mutual combat. •They too had love of command and all other such things as well, •for empty vainglory draws them all to the desire of love of command, and not one of them remembers [. . .] •nor do they acknowledge that the powers of the remembrance were [prepared] by the preexistent one’s actions, whose likenesses they were. •The [order] of this kinda had harmony with itself and with one another, •but it was fighting against the order of those belonging to the imitation, while the order of those belonging to the imitation was making war against the likenesses, •and it was acting against itself because of its wrath. •Because of this it [happened . . .] •there [. . . against] one another, •many [. . .] necessity put them [. . .] •so that they seized [. . .] . . . [. . .] •their envy, [their] malice, wrath, violence, desire, and paralyzing lack of acquaintance, •engendering diverse forms of matter and all kinds of powers, mixed up with one another and numerous, •while the intellect of the Word who had been their generative cause awaited the revelation of the [hope] that would come to him from above.(End)
Basically the duel between soul/matter, ordechaos, Demiurge/Devil, the famous duality expressed but not encompassing the true unknowable God in this "cosmic" war. Faced with this information and others that can also be found mentioning such conflicts, whether cosmic/external or microcosmic/internal, these reports are evident.
Are these powers what they actually appear? Such as angels, demons, or do they represent more dualistic cosmic principles than hordes of angels and demons?
Not forgetting spiritual powers, the Tripartite Treatise also mentions them as images of the Aeons, residing in the Aeon of Images (8th Heaven, below the Pleroma along with Logos/Sophia Achamoth), however, it is not explicit whether the spiritual powers would be just "divine sparks" without individuality or would really be powers endowed with individuality such as the powers described in the matter and soul. Below quote about the emergence of spiritual powers:
THE OFFSPRING OF THE WORD’S THANKS AND PRAISE: THE SPIRITUAL POWERS
After the Word that had become deficient was illuminated, his fullness originated. •He escaped from those who had been disturbing him earlier and became disentangled from them. •He stripped himself of that arrogant thought. •He received the unification of repose, while those who previously had been disobedient to him bowed down and humbled themselves before him. •And hec rejoiced over the care of his siblings who had visited him. •He gave glory and praise to those who had revealed themselves to him for assistance, giving thanks that he had escaped from those who had revolted against him, •and admiring and praising both the greatness and those who had revealed themselves to him from their regions. •He engendered living images of the living faces, which are beautiful and good. •Because they derive from those that exist, they resemble them in beauty, •but they are not truly equal to them because they do not come from a union between him who brought them forth and the one who revealed himself to him. •Still, he worked with wisdom and understanding, uniting the discourse with himself entirely: •therefore, those that came forth from him are great, just as the one who exists is truly great. •After he had admired the beauty of the ones a had appeared to him, he professed gratitude for their care. •The Word accomplished this work through those from whom he received assistance for the establishment of those who had come into being on his account, and so that they might receive something good, •because he was thinking that he should pray that the plan for all those who had come forth from him should extend to them. •For this reason, the ones that he brought forth in accordance with this intention are in chariots, like the ones that had come into being and became manifest, so that they might pass through all regions of lower activities, •and so that each one might be given the place that is established as each one exists. •This was a reversal for those belonging to the imitation, but it was beneficial for those belonging to the remembrance, •and a revelation of the things that are from the unanimous and compassionate ordinance, which are seeds that have not yet come into being on their own.(End)
THE AEON OF THE IMAGES
The Word’s thought, when he returned to his stability and ruled over those who had come into being on his account, was called “aeon” and “place” for all those whom he had brought forth in accordance with the decree. The aeon about which we have spoken is above the two orders of those who fight against one another. •It holds no fellowship with those that dominate, nor is it infected by the illnesses and infirmities belong to the remembrance and the imitation. •For that in which the Word established himself, which is filled with joy, was an aeon that had the form of matter but also had the establishment of its cause, •namely, the one who revealed himself as an image of those that exist in the fullness, those that had come into being from the abundant joy of the one that exists joyfully. •And as for him, the countenance of the one who had revealed himself in the pleasure, expectation, and promise concerning the things that he had requested, •he had the word of the son, along with his essence, power, and form, •the one whom he loved, in whom he took pleasure, •and to whom he lovingly prayed. •It (the aeon) was light, a desire to be established, an openness to instruction, and an eye for vision— things that it has from the exalted ones. •And it was wisdom for his thinking against the ones that exist under [the] plan, a word for speaking, and the perfections of such things.(End)
THE MEMBERS OF THIS AEON: THE CHURCH
The ones that received form with him according to the image of the fullness have their parents, . . .a each one being a small impress of each of the faces. •They are masculine forms because they do not come from the illness, that is, femininity, but from the one who has already left the illness behind. •They have the nameb “church,” for in harmony they resemble the harmony in the assembly of the ones that have revealed themselves. •That which came into being according to the light’s image is itself perfect because it is an image of the single light that exists, which is the entireties. •Even if it was smaller than that whose image it is, it nevertheless possesses its indivisibility because it is a countenance of the indivisible light. •On the other hand, the ones that came into being according to the image of each of the aeons are in terms of essence what we have already said, •but in terms of capability they are not equal (to the aeons) because capability is in each one individually. •In their unity with one another, they have equality, •but individually they have not cast off what belongs to each one. •Therefore, they are passions— for passion is illness—because they are engendered not from the agreement of the fullness but from the one who has not yet received the father.a •Hence, the agreement with his entirety and will was beneficial for the plan that would come to be because it had been granted to them that they should pass through the lower places, •but the places are unable to receive their coming through them rapidly, unless they do so individually, one by one. •Their coming is necessary inasmuch as everything will be perfected though them.(End)
I believe that many here have not yet delved into the Valentinian writings and may not be able to give feedback or insight into the real meaning of these three powers described, if they are literally hordes of beings or if they are just "opposing forces of nature/cosmic" with no individuality.
Without a doubt, this is an excellent question to be reflected/debated and obviously clarified as much as possible. Welcome to the question!
EDIT: Sorry for bringing so many large texts, it's a way to bring information and make the job easier for those who won't make the effort to read it the tripartite treaty.

(Anonymous because he knows my Reddit main and I don't want him to find this post and get angry at me. Leaving out some details due to privacy reasoning and the post would be way too long if I mentioned every single thing, I'd prefer to stay mildly anonymous. No names for privacy reasons, either.)
I've (F16) known him (M29) pretty much since May of 2022, he had messaged me on Quora because we had mutual interests and he wanted to get to know me better. We only talked for a minute or two before I had stopped replying entirely due to being busy and we had never chatted again since, so I decided to reach out to him again in July and see how he was because I felt so bad. He apologized too for never texting back as he had gotten busy himself and then he sent me his Discord.
All was good! We were getting along wonderful and just generally chatting. And then I realized he never told me his age...I asked, he confessed he was 28. That alone was a fairly mild red flag but I decided to just let it slide. He never lied about his age to begin with, just never told me it for some reason. He felt bad, I told him it was okay, all was forgiven.
Our friendship has been highly on and off. We got into fights from time to time, went our different ways, apologized and came back to each other, this has happened 3 times now and we've since had a very consistent friendship since February 2023. All is essentially decent currently.
A lot of the stuff we discuss is usually shows we're into, bands, sometimes we share memes, you know the usual lingo. We've also vented to each other countless times.
Now here's where I'm torn. He has quirks, quirky interests if you will...mostly platonically affectionate stuff. Lap sits being one of the main ones, I guess he likes to sit on females laps which is whatever, sure okay. We would do stuff like that in RP and while I found it to be all cute at first, I realized just how wrong this feels. Do you want to know why it feels wrong? We've discussed it before, and he said he prefers to imagine the other person in RP is a child (like age 12-16). And why does he prefer that? Because he finds it "humiliating and flustering".
He told me he's asexual, I believe him but another part of me really feels like this is borderline pedophilic. I feel like I'm being groomed. He's never made sexual remarks towards me, but I've been groomed so many times by older men online that I don't know who to believe anymore. Am I wasting my time? Should I call this friendship quits? And might I add, he said he "prefers" to friend teenage girls my age rather then people his own age but he has multiple friends who are his own age in real life.
I do love him as a friend a lot and he really does seem to have a good heart, but now I'm getting such a strong and odd vibe that this is very, very wrong.

About two years ago this girl and I became fast best friends. At the time I was 24 (f) and she was 21 (f) We both worked at the same diner except she was new to the restaurant and new to town. We really hit it off as friends although I was hesitant to become her friend at first because I’m an extremely guarded person. We hung out at her apartment and I met her husband and her roommate who happened to be her husband’s best friend. From the very beginning of our friendship, I noticed that she made little comments regarding my appearance insinuating that I was her husband’s type and I sensed a little bit of jealousy. Regardless we are both quirky people and complemented one another well. Her husband was also a chill guy but I did notice some narcissistic tendencies and tension brewing within their relationship. Within a month of hanging out we were calling one another each other’s best friend. We went shopping, vegged out on food/drinks, had tons in common, and genuinely had fun every time we hung out. We really opened up to one another and I hadn’t had a female best friendship like this since childhood. But something was always a little bit off.
We had so much in common regarding values and interests (drawing, art, interior design, singing, same aesthetic) that a subtle competition between her and I brewed. She felt she had to compete with me as her husband continuously asked to have me come over and compared us constantly. She has a very petite physique and I’m taller and curvier. Her husband is an extremely tall guy and made her feel terrible for being short. I could tell she resented me for this but I didn’t know how to approach the problem. Terrible on my part but I enjoyed the attention
Although our friendship continued there was always tension due to the fact her and her husband’s marriage wasn’t doing well and I seemed to be a factor. At work, she was always trying to one up me but it didn’t matter to me because our connection was more important. She was constantly seeking attention from men at work, men whom I already had friendships with and she was always trying to undermine those relationships. She was very subtly manipulative but had a sweet innocent demeanor so her behavior was confusing. She seemed jealous when other men wanted a relationship with me, even though those same men adored her as well.
Fast forward two months and a new guy started working at the diner as a line cook. We were servers. For context her and I had spoken in depth about what our type was. She described her type as her husband to a T; tall, blue eyes, light hair. My type was tall dark and handsome minus the tall as height has never mattered much to me. Said new guy was exactly my type. Both her and I instantly had a thing thing for him but I figured she would back off since he wasn’t her type and she was also married. They seemed to hit it off even tho him and I initially felt a connection as well, and I became insanely jealous. They started hanging out after work and she even introduced her husband to him. Her husband shook his hand then went back to bed, while they made out on the couch at her apartment. The two of them eventually slept together and I didn’t find out until their affair was cut off. She said they couldn’t be intimate with one another anymore but that she still wanted him as her best friend. He blocked her and started pursuing me. He made it known that initially he was into me but she went out of her way to make herself the center of attention and seduce him even insinuating that she would leave her husband for him.
Flash forward a few weeks, the night of our restaurant’s little employee christmas party at an old bowling alley/bar. Her and her husband had supposedly worked out the affair she had with the new guy but we were all going to be in the same place at the same time. Her and I met at the bar and started drinking, the new guy was following me around trying to talk all while her and her husband were right next to me. She obviously still was in lust with this man and I was getting increasingly mad about it. Her lies weren’t catching up to her but I could tell she was miserable on the inside and i was a part of the equation. Emotions were high, both her and I were nervous as we both were in lust with the same man. Her husband didn’t say a word to him the entire night despite knowing what happened. Even though the new guy blocked her she was convinced he still wanted her. Eventually we went to a friends for an after party type thing and her husband made a comment saying I looked way better in her dress she let me borrow than she could ever look in it and put his hand on my inner thigh while she was sitting right next to us.
After this I began spending more time with the new guy and my friend and her husband continued to struggle in their marriage. I began dating the new guy and she tried her best to pretend she didn’t care. She began hanging out with another girl at work. Said girl worked at our diner and so did her boyfriend. All four of them attempted to Go on double dates but she didn’t seem enthused. We were still friends although we were starting to grow apart. I made it known that her husband was making me uncomfortable and our other coworkers also told her he was an asshole. But this whole time she was playing the victim despite cheating on her asshole of a husband. I was over it but still wanted her friendship as she made me feel seen and understood and her husband did as well.
One night in February, she invited me out to a bar. She didn’t tell me that her husband would be there but he was. We got drunk and had a great time but she insinuated that she wanted me to invite my boyfriend. The constant triangulation was pissing me off like no other. we headed back to their place but as we left the bar we both slipped on the ice and got immense bruises from it as we would find out later. it felt like karma for all the bs we were putting one another through rather than prioritizing a true friendship. When we got to their apartment, her husband made a jab at my appearance and I had the urge to cut off the friendship because I wasn’t going to start taking his emotional and verbal abuse as well.
After that I distanced myself from them even more. They came into the restaurant on Valentine’s Day and he stared at me from their booth the entire time while I served tables. She kept making comments towards my appearance and relationship while we worked shifts together so I made sure we had completely different schedules.
I cut her off completely and we didn’t talk anymore. The next month i got pregnant and she got pregnant as well and we never talked about it. We had our babies in the same month last year so both of our babies are seven months old now. I’ve tried to reconcile by messaging her and she completely ignores me. I know I’m with the man she had an affair with, so I understand but I don’t get why she won’t engage with me whatsoever. Our friendship wasn’t perfect but now being seven months post partum it would be amazing to be friends again since our sons are the exact same age. She is now best friends with our mutual coworker and I feel so rejected and lonely and really want more mom friends.

Background
I always had trouble with van Richten in RAW. The van Helsing analogue was supposed to be a famous monster killer, a very serious man, but most everything he does is high camp kitch... Disguises himself as a circus owner? Arrives in town with a monkey? Gives said monkey to a toy maker? Writes notes to himself about an orc that can chew iron bars? Wears a 'hat of disguise' and a 'ring of mind shielding'? Has a starving tiger... in a circus wagon.... that is his master plan.... to commit Vistani genocide?????? How can anyone take this guy seriously?
On top of that, you have Esmerelda, the one of the pair who seems to actually fight monsters, herself Vistani, whom we're told is van Richten's protege? Who, despite her seeming professionalism, has no idea nor plan to stop her mad sensei from wiping out her people... by starving tiger....?
So, I rewrote the guy. I like him much better this way. He's much more fun to play. An opportunity for role playing DM to really chew some scenery. Hopefully some of you like it too.
The party met him in Blue Water, but he was cagey as in RAW. They never really took interest in him & I never knew what to do with him, so he faded a bit into the background. Then the Feast of St Andral & Vallaki burning... suddenly Rictavio appears, shaking, snarling circus wagon in tow... "You know me as Rictavio, master of the circus, lord of the ring! But I am actually a Vampire Hunter! Meet me tomorrow at my tower!" With that unexpected & unprovoked revelation, he gallops off dramatically through the burning gates into the night....
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Van Richten - Vampire Hunter
Simply put... Rudolph van Richten is barking mad. The former owner of what is now the Walpole and Son Bookstore in Vallaki, he went out of business as, lost in his endless library of fantasy, he would spend days forgetting even to unlock the front door . He was particularly fascinated by the book "The Chilling Tales of Rudolph van Richten, Vampire Hunter." , a melodramatic, but well-read pulp novel written long ago by a Barovian author who claimed to see visions from beyond the mists and was later institutionalized.
The young Rudy, now without job or means, retreated further into his fictional world and now imagines himself to be the famed monster hunter himself! He is Strahd's arch-enemy (although Strahd has never heard of him) , constantly hunted and on the run. He disguises himself in increasingly absurd ways - the latest being the carnival barker Rictavio (he got the idea from a traveling circus - Refugees from the Carnival dark domain in the Ravenloft guide and a future random encounter). To complement the deception, he "acquired" a wagon from an unsuspecting farmer, which he painted in bright, splashy colors and purchased a monkey from the Lake Vistani.
When the party first encounters him at the Blue Water in Vallaki, he will have been spying on the Lake Vistani for the last several weeks. He regularly pulls his carriage up just outside of their camp, dons his 'Hat of Disguise' and in an exaggeratedly thick accent, pretends to be a fellow Vistani 'from far south'. The Vistani regard him as a harmless crank and regularly ask him to tell them more funny stories about their "brothers to the south" - which become increasingly inventive with each telling - and to sell him bits of random junk... err... "magical Vistani treasures", including a 'Ring of Mind Shielding' which is actually nothing more than a cheap electrum plated brass ring that's already starting to rub off and make his fingers itch (evidence that he is under constant assault from Strahd!). The Vistani might be a bit less welcoming, however, if they knew he was also stealing their laundry to train the very real tiger that he has locked in his circus wagon (it followed him, for its own purposes, from the Carnival).
​
Meeting Van Richten
When the party arrives at the tower, they will find van Richten waiting for them there - he has just arrived from his regular 'infiltration' of the Vistani. He introduces himself with a dramatic bow & flourish "For more than three decades now, I have undertaken to investigate and expose creatures of darkness to the purifying light of truth and knowledge. "Hero" I am named in some circles, "sage" and "master hunter" I am called in others. That I have survived countless supernatural assaults is seen as a marvel among my peers; my name is spoken with fear and loathing among my foes. I…am… Rudolph von Richten, Vampire Hunter!!" (This is both the opening to his papers in RAW and - in this version - the opening paragraph to the fictional novel "The Chilling Tales of Rudolph van Richten, Vampire Hunter"). As he pronounces his name, trilling his 'r's to an absurd length, he throws back his cape, revealing an overabundance of vampire hunting weapons, hand sewn in loops and pockets: wooden stakes, silver daggers, holy water, holy symbols, mirrors and a long string of garlic bulbs around his neck. Before the party can react, he seems to remember that he is outdoors where the evil one could be listening and in a loud whisper warns that the night has ears and they "shouldn't speak out in the open!"
He invites the party into the tower, but stops suddenly before the door, arms shielding the party from invisible danger. "Stand back! My tower is equipped with a powerful ward! If you make the slightest move, a bolt of lightning will strike you down from the skies!" He gestures at the door pointing out scratches in the old wood, which, if the party squints hard and applies a great deal of imagination might be stick figures...? "You must do as I do, if you want to live!" As the party watches bemused, van Richten contorts himself into a complicated series of silly poses and facial expressions. He insists that the party does the same (make your players get up and repeat your dance!). Then... nothing... He gestures to follow, opening the mundane and harmless wooden door to the tower.
As the party walks up the stairs of the dismal and ruined tower they see a broken platform & worn statues. Van Richten, turns dramatically at each floor and addresses the party: "This was the tower of the great Wizard Kazan (another figure from an adventure book he read) and is protected by an anti-magic shield! Strahd can not hear them or pass its walls! We are safe here!" He walks up the stairs a pace then turns, hand dramatically extended in the face of the party, pointing to his ring... "How do I fool the dark lord when I am outside, you ask? Behold! The great treasure of the Vistani! A Ring of Mind Shielding!" Up another floor on the creaky stairs, van Richten again wheels to face the party, pointing out the 'Stone Golems, that protect the tower from intruders!" When the party touches them, small bits of rock chip off and rattle their way down the tower.
When the party finally arrives at the top of the tower, van Richten opens the door. A powerful smell of garlic and sweat fills the air. The room is full of rows of garlic hanging from the roof, the walls are covered with holy symbols and mirrors. The floor is covered with piles of handwritten books (his notes and plans, which he copies down in an indecipherable script of his own invention - which reads suspiciously like pig-latin.) There are strings criss-crossing from wall to wall, forming an intricate net between hundreds of scraps of paper and drawings attached everywhere, all seemingly leading to a single torn out portrait of Strahd, defaced with cartoon horns & fangs in red and the words 'Vasilli!!??!?!' written in red pen underneath (The party recently learned Vasilli's secret). Some of the strings have drawings or recognized villains: Lady Wachter, the Baron & Izek, but there's also the Martikovs (with a feather pinned to it), Walpole the bookseller (with exaggerated glasses and a dunce cap drawn on) and Claudia from the orphanage (with the name Belasco!!!!! underlined twice in red).
Most surprisingly, there is also a monkey here, swinging from string to string towards its master, pulling a few from their nails as it does. Van Richten shouts loudly "Piccolo, stop it! Filthy monkey! You'll destroy my research!" He users the party into the room. Once in, he turns again to face them: "Now I can reveal what I have learned! The true enemy is not Strahd! It is… Madam Eva!." At this revelation, he slams the door shut revealing that all the lines around the room also connect to a crudely drawn picture of Madam Eva, with the words "Must see the Takkora. How does she know?!?!?!" written in all caps and triple underlined. "It is true! How could she know what is in the cards unless she was controlling it from the start! Haven't you ever wondered how she knows your fate? Do you know also why some are born without souls? It is her! She is the puppet-master of Ravenloft!" (In my game, she's responsible for the missing souls, so - like with many things, he's crazy, but makes some connections others don't)
By now the party's suspicions are confirmed… this guy is not living on the same plane of reality… but he misreads their understanding as agreement. "Ah, you see it too! I understood it when I visited the Lake Tser Vistani camp in disguise! They mistook me as one of their own… see?" He puts on the "Hat of Disguise" (a hunter's cap with some sort of metal paper wrapped around it) which was hanging from a holy symbol on the wall and spreads out his hands wide as if demonstrating a singular transformation. Seeing no reaction, he pulls off the hat. "Do not worry friends, it is I! Rudolph van Richten!" "They took me to Madam Eva and she read my fortune. She told me that my story would soon come to an end. A threat! That's when I knew I was getting close. She said a new chapter could only begin if I found the Vistani girl Arabella at the Lake camp." (In my game, Arabelle is a future threat to Madam Eva's plans, so she's manipulating Van Richten). "But I saw through her trickery. I knew that little girl would spell my doom! So I went to the Lake Vistani, found her alone and cut off her head!" (Here the party firsts starts to see his madness isn't totally harmless). He flings open a footchest and pulls out a heavy burlap bag. "I commanded the dead to speak and it told me its secrets. It confessed that Madam Eva was the true power behind the mists!"
"Now you know. I need your help to defeat Madam Eva once and for all! I have trapped a ferocious beast from beyond the veil. I have kept him chained and ravenous in my cart. I have tormented him wearing Vistani clothes. You will help me take it to Madam Eva, we will disguise ourselves as a carnival, then when she emerges from her tent, we will release the tiger!" He lifts two fingers up to his mouth like fangs and snarls.
​
Enter Esmerelda
At the end of this rant, the door behind the party slams open. In it, stands a tall, wiry Vistani woman with long curly black hair tied back behind a brown scarf, wearing beaten leather armor and a tarnished, yet obviously cared for silver rapier. She's been following the party since they left Ravenloft (They just finished the dinner). The Tser Pool Vistani speak highly of them, but anyone leaving that place might be an agent of Strahd, so she's cautious and hostile.
Esmerelda is a Lake Vistani, the sister of Arrigal. She is ashamed of her people's support for Strahd and of their practice of bringing outsiders into Barovia. She left the camp when she was a teenager because she refused to stand by Arrigal as he supplicated to Strahd after his father died, leaving him heir. Always a capable fighter, on her own, she has become much more so. Unwelcome with her people, she drifted until she found her way to Krezk, where she fell in love with Kolya, the eldest son of the Krezkovs. They were to be married - against the wishes of Anna, suspicious of Vistani - when Dmitry was killed by werewolves while hunting for the winter. Anna, mourning her son, blamed Esmerelda for having brought a Vistani curse on her family and she was exiled.
With nowhere else to go, remembering the tattered book she found as a child and taught herself to read with - "The Chilling Tales of Rudolph van Richten, Vampire Hunter." - she pitted her formidable skills against the werewolves terrorizing the region. Although she tells herself she does this to protect the innocent, she also feels the need to disprove the prejudices against her people. She gets on better with the Tser Vistani, whom she often trades with, but she's suspicious of Madam Eva for reasons she can't quite put her finger on (Madame Eva knows she's a blood relative of Arabelle and is destined to aid her in the future contest to become the next seer).
​
Esmerelda vs Van Richten
As soon as she opens the door, she taunts van Richten: "So you're the famous van Richten? Destroyer of the Lich of Lamordia? The Headless Rider of Kalakiri? The Death Knight of Darkon…? Children's books... I read them when I was a young girl. What would you do, great monster hunter, if you felt the claws of a werewolf around your throat, if you felt its breath on your neck?" She approaches, her rapier tapping on the overstuffed cape van Richten wears. "Which bit of that worthless junk in your bags would you reach for, eh? Your crazy head would be ripped off your shoulders before you could choose" With a swift slash, Esmerelda cuts the burlap bag containing the head of Arabelle and a heavy rock with a crude face painted on it tumbles out onto the floor. "You're a fake."
van Richten protests: "But… I… I've seen a warehare turn into a rabbit at the full moon! I knew a half orc who could chew through iron… a giant plant monster that could sing most beautifully…" (All of these are in in his notes and will later appear as a random encounter in the Carnival). "Wait till I get my tiger!" he threatens, pushing the party aside as he runs through the door, down the tower.
She now turns her attention to the party, taunting them: "Why were you in Ravenloft? Taking orders from your master? Getting reward for your service - she fingers the crystal bracelet (a gift from Strahd). After a talk, Esmerelda demands the party prove themselves (a way she has of 'asking' for things): "Come to Krezk… they have a werewolf problem. If you are truly the heroes you claim to be, you should not fear a few monsters?" She throws a leather satchel on the table and several fangs spill out. "I don't" (Esmerelda is also a breadcrumb to Krezk & Werewolf Den).
As the party follows her down the tower, they find Van Richten fighting with the lock on his circus wagon. Whatever is inside must be clawing great furrows into the door to get out, since it's shaking the small cart to pieces. Seeing the party, he spits at them 'Vistani lovers, you'll pay for this betrayal!" With that last burst of anger, he pries the lock off the wagon and an enormous Sabertooth tiger leaps out, knocking him to the ground. He manages to scamper just far enough away that he can pull himself up as the tiger, with the scent of the man who had been starving and taunting it for weeks in its nostrils, slowly begins to stalk its prey. Terrified, van Richten runs into the tower, slamming the door behind him as it furiously claws at the wooden door, trying to get in.

White Sox @ Yankees - Thu, Jun 08

Game Status: Final - Score: 6-5 White Sox

Links & Info

• MLB Gameday
• Game Graphs
• Savant Gamefeed

	White Sox Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	Anderson, Ti - SS	5	0	1	0	0	0	1	.265	.304	.309
2	Benintendi - LF	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	.266	.326	.344
3	Robert Jr. - CF	5	2	3	1	0	0	1	.268	.318	.526
4	Jiménez, E - RF	4	1	1	2	1	2	0	.258	.317	.439
	Frazier - RF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.231	.333	.308
5	Moncada - 3B	4	1	1	1	0	3	2	.246	.299	.398
6	Vaughn - 1B	2	1	0	0	1	2	0	.247	.332	.423
7	Burger - DH	4	1	2	2	0	1	1	.272	.322	.632
8	Gonzalez - 2B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.205	.221	.398
9	Zavala - C	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.163	.196	.304
	Totals	36	6	8	6	3	10	9

White Sox
BATTING: 2B: Burger (8, Severino, L); Robert Jr. (17, King). HR: Burger (13, 2nd inning off Severino, L, 1 on, 0 out); Robert Jr. (14, 3rd inning off Severino, L, 0 on, 0 out); Moncada (3, 3rd inning off Severino, L, 0 on, 1 out); Jiménez, E (6, 7th inning off King, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Anderson, Ti; Burger 6; Jiménez, E 4; Moncada 4; Robert Jr. 7. RBI: Burger 2 (31); Jiménez, E 2 (24); Moncada (13); Robert Jr. (31). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gonzalez; Moncada; Benintendi. Team RISP: 1-for-6. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: DP: (Gonzalez-Anderson, Ti-Vaughn).

	Yankees Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	Calhoun, W - RF	4	1	2	3	0	0	0	.243	.318	.400
	Kiner-Falefa - CF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.229	.273	.351
2	Torres - 2B	4	0	0	0	1	1	3	.249	.326	.408
3	Rizzo - 1B	5	0	0	0	0	0	3	.283	.356	.466
4	Stanton - DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.242	.286	.530
5	Bauers - RF	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	.243	.337	.529
6	LeMahieu - 3B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.235	.300	.390
7	Cabrera, O - SS	4	0	1	1	0	2	2	.200	.249	.313
8	McKinney - LF	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	.250	.250	.750
9	Higashioka - C	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	.223	.270	.383
	a-Donaldson - PH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.185	.267	.630
	1-Volpe - PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.191	.268	.358
	Totals	35	5	9	5	4	6	12

Yankees
a-Walked for Higashioka in the 9th. 1-Ran for Donaldson in the 9th.
BATTING: 2B: Higashioka (6, Lynn); Bauers 2 (5, Lynn, Lynn). 3B: McKinney (1, Lynn). HR: Calhoun, W (4, 4th inning off Lynn, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Bauers 4; Cabrera, O; Calhoun, W 5; Higashioka 3; Kiner-Falefa; McKinney 3. RBI: Cabrera, O (18); Calhoun, W 3 (15); Higashioka (16). 2-out RBI: Calhoun, W; Higashioka; Cabrera, O. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bauers; Cabrera, O. GIDP: Rizzo. Team RISP: 3-for-8. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: E: Cabrera, O (4, fielding).

White Sox Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Lynn	5.0	8	5	5	3	4	1	98-63	6.72
Santos (W, 2-0)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7-5	2.05
Kelly, J (H, 8)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18-13	4.12
López, R (H, 7)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	19-11	5.00
Graveman (S, 6)	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	18-9	2.36
Totals	9.0	9	5	5	4	6	1

Yankees Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Severino, L	5.0	6	4	4	2	6	3	86-55	5.75
Cordero, J (H, 5)	0.2	0	0	0	1	1	0	15-7	3.24
Peralta, Wa (H, 6)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1-1	2.81
King (L, 1-2)(BS, 1)	2.0	2	2	2	0	2	1	26-22	2.08
Kahnle	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	13-8	0.00
Totals	9.0	8	6	6	3	10	4

Game Info
HBP: Vaughn (by Severino, L).
Pitches-strikes: Lynn 98-63; Santos 7-5; Kelly, J 18-13; López, R 19-11; Graveman 18-9; Severino, L 86-55; Cordero, J 15-7; Peralta, Wa 1-1; King 26-22; Kahnle 13-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lynn 7-3; Santos 2-0; Kelly, J 2-1; López, R 0-1; Graveman 1-0; Severino, L 6-1; Cordero, J 1-0; Peralta, Wa 1-0; King 3-1; Kahnle 2-0.
Batters faced: Lynn 26; Santos 3; Kelly, J 3; López, R 3; Graveman 4; Severino, L 25; Cordero, J 3; Peralta, Wa 1; King 8; Kahnle 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Peralta, Wa 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Will Little. 1B: John Bacon. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Ryan Additon.
Weather: 67 degrees, Cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, Out To RF.
First pitch: 4:08 PM.
T: 2:46.
Venue: Yankee Stadium.
June 8, 2023

Inning	Scoring Play	Score
Top 2	Jake Burger homers (13) on a fly ball to center field. Andrew Vaughn scores.	2-0 CWS
Bottom 2	Kyle Higashioka doubles (6) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Eloy Jimenez. Billy McKinney scores.	2-1 CWS
Bottom 2	Willie Calhoun singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andrew Benintendi. Kyle Higashioka scores.	2-2
Top 3	Luis Robert Jr. homers (14) on a fly ball to center field.	3-2 CWS
Top 3	Yoan Moncada homers (3) on a fly ball to right center field.	4-2 CWS
Bottom 4	Willie Calhoun homers (4) on a fly ball to right center field. Kyle Higashioka scores.	4-4
Bottom 5	Oswaldo Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andrew Benintendi. Jake Bauers scores.	5-4 NYY
Top 7	Eloy Jimenez homers (6) on a fly ball to center field. Luis Robert Jr. scores.	6-5 CWS

Team	Highlight
CWS	Bullpen availability for Chicago, June 8 vs Yankees (00:00:07)
NYY	Bullpen availability for New York, June 8 vs White Sox (00:00:07)
CWS	Fielding alignment for Chicago, June 8 vs Yankees (00:00:11)
NYY	Fielding alignment for New York, June 8 vs White Sox (00:00:11)
NYY	Starting lineups for White Sox at Yankees - June 8, 2023 (00:00:09)
CWS	Visualizing Eloy Jiménez's swing using bat tracking technology (00:00:09)
CWS	Jake Burger's two-run homer (13) (00:00:29)
NYY	Kyle Higashioka's RBI double (00:00:29)
NYY	Willie Calhoun's RBI single (00:00:18)
CWS	Luis Robert Jr.'s long homer (14) (00:00:29)
CWS	Yoán Moncada's solo homer (3) (00:00:29)
NYY	Calhoun's two-run homer (4) (00:00:26)
CWS	Yankees donate to Hendriks' fund (00:00:41)
NYY	Oswaldo Cabrera's RBI single (00:00:16)
CWS	Romy Gonzalez's sliding catch (00:00:29)
CWS	Jimenez's go-ahead homer (6) (00:00:25)
NYY	Luis Severino strikes out six (00:00:49)
CWS	Lance Lynn strikes out four (00:00:49)
CWS	White Sox turn two to end it (00:00:14)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	LOB
White Sox	0	2	2	0	0	0	2	0	0		6	8	0	7
Yankees	0	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	0		5	9	1	7

Decisions

• Winner: Gregory Santos (2-0, 2.05)
• Loser: Michael King (1-2, 2.08)
• Save: Kendall Graveman (6, 2.36)

Division Scoreboard

MIN 2 @ TB 4 - Final
BAL 6 @ MIL 3 - Final
CWS 0 @ NYY 0 - Top 2, 0 Outs
HOU 2 @ TOR 0 - Top 3, 1 Out
BOS 0 @ CLE 1 - Bottom 3, 0 Outs

No-Hitter Alert

B 7	R	H	E
Tigers	0	0	0
Phillies	1	3	0

Next Yankees Game: Fri, Jun 09, 07:05 PM EDT vs. Red Sox
^{Last Updated: 06/08/2023 07:52:58 PM EDT}

Atm the 6800U Win 4 w/ 16GB+512 is $900
The Rog Ally w/ 16GB +512 is $700.
With the Win 4 refresh expected to pack the upgraded APU, do you folks see GPD coming down on the price?
The differences would be Oculink vs XG Mobile and the slide out keyboard. However, Asus has better support and better Quality Control.
Do you think GPD can reduce their price to compete/split the difference?

Seeking advice. I have an opportunity to consider switching teams, from a front office investment analyst role (modeling/reporting) to a middle office product role (project management/fund structuring/reporting) within the firm. Things have been difficult with my current team, I've been disrespected and treated poorly by my reporting line (manager, skip) and hate it here. Been 5 years in the current role and I will not be asking my team for a rec, but is it better to suffer for another few months till R1 application is done and results are out?