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Mileage Discrepancy – Why Do People Sell Such Cars?

2023.05.29 13:01 superkilometerfilter Mileage Discrepancy – Why Do People Sell Such Cars?

Mileage Discrepancy – Why Do People Sell Such Cars?
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Using mileage discrepancy while selling a car is a well-known method to get the premium price. Even though such action might even lead to legal issues, some people are still willing to take a risk. When you know that all the other providers use the same trick to sell their automobiles, sometimes you don’t stand a chance to get familiar with the odometer discrepancy.

MILEAGE DISCREPANCY VS ODOMETER DISCREPANCY

Mileage vs an odometer

Before describing the purpose of these terms, we must know what an odometer and a mileage stand for. An odometer is a tool that people use for measuring the distance traveled by a vehicle. It might be either mechanical (consisting of cogs that turn based on the wheel rotation) or digital (uses a chip to measure and display the mileage).
Most automobiles also come with a trip meter (trip odometer). It’s a gauge that can measure the mileage of a specific trip. For instance, if you wish to measure the actual distance between your house and work you can simply use this function to get precise results. Similarly, measuring the actual Miles Per Gallon (mpg) is much easier if you fill up your tank and count the distance traveled. When you fill the tank up again, you can calculate the mpg on your own.

IS MILEAGE DISCREPANCY THE SAME AS ODOMETER DISCREPANCY?

Selling a car with mileage discrepancy might seem a thing of the past but it happens on a daily basis. The seller can use it for earning more money out of the trading even nowadays. The mileage discrepancy refers to misrepresenting the mileage of the automobile. The odometer discrepancy has to emphasize the unreliability of the odometer tool in terms of counting and reading the mileage but in most cases, these two terms are used interchangeably.

WHY DO PEOPLE CARE ABOUT MILEAGE?

Would you buy a car if you knew that it is going to become useless after 1 year? Even if you got such a car as a gift, it is doubtful if you could make good use of it. Car manufacturers use the mileage to portray the life expectancy of the car. Therefore, people always use mileage as the major factor while determining the remaining lifespan of the automobile.
Even though it’s controversial whether mileage truly reflects the car’s wellbeing or not, people tend to trust these digits more than anything else. Especially if you are loyal to your car’s manufacturer, you will find it hard to believe that there are more important factors to rely on. However, if you are a car geek you don’t have to care about an odometer discrepancy.

IS MILEAGE TRULY IMPORTANT?

The short answer is No. The life expectancy of an automobile depends on multiple factors and mileage is not one of them. However, it does reflect the approximate condition of a car. Let’s take the example of car parts. They wear out after using it after a certain period and the mileage does reflect to some extent how long they are going to last. Although, it doesn’t take into account the driving habits, road condition, location, and many other factors that determine the longevity of automobile components.
The mileage indicates how many miles an average person is going to drive a car before it gets broken. However, it doesn’t take into account all the other factors that we have mentioned above and can be quite misleading. Those who are aware of this issue prefer to sell a car with mileage discrepancy. Especially if they took good care of their “best buddy” and would like to express this through mileage.

WHAT CAUSES AN ODOMETER DISCREPANCY?

If you have noticed an odometer discrepancy you may wonder what can be the cause of it. You may be surprised to know that this term may refer to a condition that is not under your control.

Total mileage limit of the car

Have you noticed how many digits can be displayed on your mileage indicator? Sometimes the mileage discrepancy is caused because of the number of digits that can be displayed as the indication for the distance traveled. For instance, most of the cars have five-digit (99,999) or six-digit (999,999) odometers. If you exceed this limit your car will not be able to count the mileage after reaching the limit. If you sell a car with a mileage discrepancy that is caused by such unforeseen factors make sure to keep a record of the approximate distance that you travel. This is vital especially if you intend to sell a car as the new owner will most likely be interested in this seemingly useless indicator.

Usage of mileage correction tools

Probably the most common reason that you have heard about is using a speedometer calibration tool. Those who have above-average mileage per month are more willing to use such tools. They don’t mind selling a car with mileage discrepancy especially if they are sure that their car is in much better condition than other vehicles with the same mileage.
However, take into account that using such tools for unethical purposes is forbidden and might lead to serious charges depending on your country of residence. To make sure that you are on the safe side only use such modules in controlled environments. The odometer stopper tool has many other advantages as well and might come in handy only if used for ethical purposes.
Be aware that using mileage correction tools for deceiving others is a direct representation of Odometer discrepancy.

WHY DO PEOPLE USE MILEAGE CORRECTION TOOLS?

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Even though the name of this tool might seem self-explanatory for some of you, it can serve multiple purposes. In general, correction tools are meant for dealing with the unpleasant digits displayed on the odometer. However, we will discuss the advantages of Mileage stopper Tools because of their unique features.
  • To test the performance of the vehicle
Not everyone wants to use the mileage correction tool to sell a car with a mileage discrepancy. Using a premium quality mileage stopper tool will allow you to test the performance of your car without recording unnecessary mileage. The odometer discrepancy might be caused by worn-out or different size tires.
Similarly, if you are a Do-it-Yourself guy, probably would like to test your car in a controlled environment. People find it essential to install mileage stopper tools in order to avoid recording extra mileage while accomplishing this task. However, you can only do so in a controlled environment.
  • To correct the misleading data on the odometer
Imagine how difficult selling a car with a mileage discrepancy would be. Many people face such difficulties when they are not aware of the perceived value of mileage beforehand. Simply, the unusual size of the tires might lead to a thousand extra miles per year. The mileage Blocker can help you to reduce the recorded mileage in order to make it in line with the true distance traveled.
  • To fight with stereotypical perception
Imagine the situation, you are selling a car and you notice that all the other car owners have an edge over you because of corrected mileage. In such a situation, you might be triggered to do the same thing in order to sell at an appropriate price. Similarly, understanding car care can radically improve the life expectancy of the vehicle. However, the mileage indicator may not show actual figures and mislead potential customers. To avoid such difficulties people find it essential to use such modules at a certain stage of car ownership.
As you may have guessed, using the Mileage Stopper Tool for another purpose than testing is illegal in most countries. It is not advisable to sell a car with mileage discrepancy as it is unethical. Even though it might seem reasonable for most people, there are those who would use this module for rollback purposes. To avoid an odometer discrepancy allegation, you can also try to explain to the potential buyers truthfully what they have to know about your car. Even though you might not be the most reliable source in such a case, it is still worth a try.

IS SELLING A CAR WITH MILEAGE DISCREPANCY LEGAL?

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In the majority of the countries, selling a car with mileage discrepancy is illegal. That is why most people tend to use mileage stopper tools instead of rollback devices as they are untraceable. This is a plug-and-play tool that can’t be traced even with a computer and is widely used to keep mileage at a reasonable level. However, as we have already mentioned this is not the purpose of the tool and it doesn’t have to be used for such purposes. Use the module if you would like to test your car, and it will portray the condition better than the mileage.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHECK THE ACTUAL MILEAGE?

There are many ways to check the real mileage of the car but in some cases, it is still impossible to trace any correction. Some of these methods might be used by insurance companies as they rely on mileage figures to charge you a premium. Here are the most reliable methods to determine an odometer discrepancy.

Check the full history of the car

Selling a car with a mileage discrepancy became quite common nowadays. Hence, it is vital to determine any flaws before buying a second-hand car. There are many websites that check the title and the background of your automobile via the VIN check, for instance, CarFax, CarVertical, etc. Simply enter the VIN code and you will get all the information you need. You will see if someone altered the mileage. You’ll also be able to check the history of previous crash damage, theft warning (when applicable), and outstanding finance.
This step might be the easiest but it is not a free service and you will have to pay for it. You may find websites that offer such services for free but as you may have already guessed they will not be accurate.

Look at the car’s MOT certificate

MOT certificate can tell you if the automobile met the minimum environmental and road safety standards. Similarly, the MOT certificate always contains mileage data and you can access it to check the reliability of the odometer figures. However, it doesn’t guarantee that an automobile is roadworthy.
Ask the owner to provide such documents and compare them year by year to look for abnormalities. Look for the reasons for the unusual decrease in mileage for the specific year to make sure the odometer reading is accurate. If the owner can’t/won’t provide an MOT certificate, you can always check online using the registration number. This step will not apply to you only if the country of origin of the car doesn’t require such a certificate.

Simply ask the questions

Even though it might seem controversial most of the car sellers will simply disclose all the information if asked properly. Ask them freely and you may find out that you can get all the information that you need. Similarly, if you are not dealing with an inborn liar you will notice if they cannot provide convincing responses.
If you are buying from a dealer, check the paperwork to make sure that no disclaimer allows them to deceive you. For instance, some dealers may state that the mileage is incorrect and if you don’t read the paperwork you may rely on misleading figures.

Check the service history

The service history provides information about any maintenance services provided to the car. Besides, they keep a record of the mileage of the car and you can check the reliability based on the dates of service center visits.
The main drawback of this method is its reliability. This data can be easily falsified in order to deceive new buyers. To make sure that the data is reliable you can call the garages and ask them for the information that you require.

Inspect the vehicle on your own

If you are a car enthusiast, you would have already noticed the main signs of high mileage. Even though the mileage doesn’t always reflect the condition of the car, it is sometimes noticeable on most of the parts of an automobile. Check the interior and the exterior of a car and look for wear and tear signs. For instance, the condition of the steering wheel, pedals, and switches will indicate the approximate age of the car. The same applies to car paint. The new painting might indicate that the owner attempted to cover major issues and repairs.
However, it is hard to make such assumptions as the life expectancy of each component will depend not only on mileage but also on maintenance and the brand of the car. Some makers are famous for their exceptional quality of the components and will most likely last much longer than any other parts of their competitors.

Have an explicit test drive

If you have such an option, don’t hesitate to take a car for a test drive. Faulty parts usually cause unusual noises that you’d easily notice during the test drive. Similarly, some components simply depend on mileage. If the car is too old, its parts might easily wear out and require repairs. If the owner is selling a car with a mileage discrepancy most likely he wouldn’t care about the maintenance either. Such action could expose an odometer discrepancy. In that case, it would be pointless to make such adjustments. During regular maintenance, it’s not uncommon to check the odometer reading and record the results of the inspection.
It would be best to drive another car of the same model to make the comparison. This will allow you to determine if there are some unusual flaws.
As you have seen there are multiple methods to determine the true mileage of the car. However, all this hard work might even be in vain if the owner used the mileage stopper module. If this tool caused the odometer discrepancy, it would be impossible to determine wrongful figures on the odometer. This is why we always advise our customers to avoid using our testing module for such purposes.

TAKEAWAY

Using mileage discrepancy while selling a used car is quite common these days. You have to be cautious to avoid buying a car with an odometer discrepancy. There are many ways to determine whether the mileage of the car is misleading or not. However, some people tend to use the mileage stopper tool from Super Kilometer Filter to stop the mileage of their automobile to deceive others. The main function of this module is to use for testing the performance of your “best buddy” and using it for fraudulent purposes is unacceptable.
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2023.05.29 12:09 smartclean00 Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers

Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers
We are one of Coimbatore's most well-known manufacturers of Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers. Our association has achieved unfathomable affirmation for offering Vacuum Cleaner to the clients. Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers can use the machine for longer hours and can use all of the engines together for heavier residue or soil assortment. This vacuum cleaner machine has two free vacuum engines that can be used individually or all at once.
Our Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers can withstand flooding and do not generate excessive heat while in use. Solid wet and dry vacuum cleaner in the regular workers with 40 liter tank. The machine astonishes with its incredible pull power, cunning gear, and sturdy components. Smart Clean is a stand-alone, robust, and planned structure that is provided by us, Industrial vacuum cleaners. It is used to access the air source where material speed and line stacking are required.
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We are engaged in providing our customers with high-quality Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturers, backed by years of experience. Their high handiness, toughness, more modest arrangement and longer serving life, make these LPG gas stuff and embellishments significantly appreciated among our clients. For meeting the specific necessities and requirements of our clients, we offer these LPG gas equipment and enhancements in various sizes and plans. These LPG equipment and accessories, which we offer at prices that are competitive with the industry, are highly regarded by customers of Industrial vacuum cleaners. The offered things are significantly mentioned in vehicle and cultivating organizations.
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2023.05.29 12:08 smartclean00 Industrial vacuum cleaners

Industrial vacuum cleaners
We are one of Coimbatore's most well-known manufacturers of Industrial vacuum cleaners. Our association has achieved unfathomable affirmation for offering Vacuum Cleaner to the clients. Dust collector machine manufacturers can use the machine for longer hours and can use all of the engines together for heavier residue or soil assortment. This vacuum cleaner machine has two free vacuum engines that can be used individually or all at once.
Our Industrial vacuum cleaners can withstand flooding and do not generate excessive heat while in use. Solid wet and dry vacuum cleaner in the regular workers with 40 liter tank. The machine astonishes with its incredible pull power, cunning gear, and sturdy components. Smart Clean is a stand-alone, robust, and planned structure that is provided by us Industrial vacuum cleaners. It is used to access the air source where material speed and line stacking are required.
​
We are engaged in providing our customers with high-quality Industrial dust collector machine manufacturers, backed by years of experience. Their high handiness, toughness, more modest arrangement and longer serving life, make these LPG gas stuff and embellishments significantly appreciated among our clients. For meeting the specific necessities and requirements of our clients, we offer these LPG gas equipment and enhancements in various sizes and plans. These LPG equipment and accessories, which we offer at prices that are competitive with the industry, are highly regarded by customers Industrial vacuum cleaners. The offered things are significantly mentioned in vehicle and cultivating organizations.
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2023.05.29 08:38 Zeplight [H] Too many games [W] Paypal

The keys on the list are global unless otherwise stated. Paypal fees if any is on the buyer side. Prices are in USD and inclusive of Paypal fees.
My IGS Rep Page: https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/xksm8m/zeplights_igs_rep_page/
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2023.05.29 07:23 Proletlariet Daikatana

Hiro Miyamoto

The year is 2455 AD. Hiro Miyamoto is a humble sword combat trainer, living out his life, when a mysterious man visits his door. He tells him of the Daikatana, a sword of incredible power which was created by Hiro's ancestor. It was thought to be destroyed, but hundreds of years ago, the planet's ruler, Kage Mishima, used it to alter history and allow himself to rule the world. It is only Hiro who can stop this evil plan, saving history and freeing the world from Mishima's rule.
Credit to 76SUP for GBC, comic, and manual feats.

Weapons

Daikatana
The Daikatana is a sword with the power to warp time and space. It was created many centuries ago by the legendary Usagi Miyamoto, and used to decide a war between the Ebihara clan and the evil Mishima clan. Originally it was intended for the Mishimas, but Usagi used the sword's powers to look into the future and see mankind's destiny if they succeeded, and gave it to their enemies. With the sword, they won the war. Usagi then took the sword and threw it into the heart of a volcano so that it would be destroyed, but it survived. The evil Kage Mishima used its power to alter history to make himself unfathomably powerful, now requiring Hiro Miyamoto to undo the damage he has done. (GBC version 1, 2)
2455 AD
These weapons blow through metal, pierce metal, and can gib people
2030 AD
These weapons can gib people and sharks, and can pierce metal and blast apart metal walls
560 AD
These weapons can break through stone, break barrels and gib humanoid monsters
1200 BC
These weapons can break stone, smash skeletons to dust, and blow giant spiders to pieces
Other Weaponry
Equipment

Physicals

Strength
Speed and Agility
Durability
Other
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2023.05.29 01:55 t8er100 Fun to drive, cheap cars, with good performance

Looking for new car with $6k
$6000 is really my limit although I may be able to go a slight bit higher on spending. I currently drive a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria. It is a very fun car to drive and I really don’t want to get rid of it, but I would really like something better on gas. Like I said before, I would like to try and stay below or at $6000.
What I’m looking for in a new car is: - Something more fuel efficient that a Crown Victoria (mine is 16 mpg City, 24 mpg Highway) - Something smaller than a Crown Victoria (212in Long, 77in Wide) - 4 Door - Sporty/Luxury - Automatic Transmission - Fast or at least decent speed
I know all of these together make it more difficult to find something so I am willing to disregard one of these if I really like the car (for example, I would consider a Volvo S60R even though it’s not fuel efficient). What I’ve been looking at recently and finding myself liking are all from 1995-2010. To get a sense of what I like, I’ve been looking at: - BMW 3 and 5 series - Infiniti Qs and Gs - Volvo S40s and S60s - Mitsubishi Lancers - Subaru Impreza WRXs - Any Lexus car.
BMW 325, 328, and 330is are what I’ve been trying to find recently but I haven’t had much luck and am trying to find something else now. Any suggestions with most of my criteria are very welcome. If you do have any suggestions than I thank you for your help.
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2023.05.29 01:40 MathematicianAny6021 Anyone else dealt with a external filter getting gas stuck whenever the air pump goes on?

I usually have my air pump off cause it seems to keep causing my external filter to get trapped gas. Filter is a 107 fluval and my tank size is 100litre the air pump I use is a oase oxymax 200.
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2023.05.28 18:56 ChitownMD Recommendations on electric water heater for detached garage?

We are finishing a detached garage with finished second floor living space. That space has a kitchen (sink only, no dishwasher) and a bathroom (sink, shower). In the garage space itself I have a workshop sink.
The finished space hot water will be used sporadically. For example, we might have a guest stay there for a few days, and then not use it again (except maybe the sinks) for a while. Can’t imagine more than 1 or 2 showers in a day.
Plumbing is done and we’re at the point of needing to source a water heater. Needs to be electric (pre-wired, no gas in the building). From what I can tell, seems like it would be preferable to have a tank vs a tankless? However, the heater will be in a closet that I currently use, so if tankless makes sense and saves space, that’s a bonus.
Appreciate any recs in terms of size, type, brand, etc! Certainly not looking to spend a ton of money here either... No specific budget, but just need something functional.
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2023.05.28 17:25 che85mor Yesterday I went off roading and did every possible thing wrong that I could. Today I'm paying the price.

Yesterday I went off roading and did every possible thing wrong that I could. Today I'm paying the price.
This weekend my wife and son are visiting family in another state. I didn't go for various reasons and thus was left unsupervised. I decided to take the Jeep out for a ride and grab some lunch. So I take off in comfortable clothing, flip flops, and my phone.
After eating lunch I thought I'd go check out this trail I'd been seeing since we moved here. So off I went without any further thought except for my gas. I had a quarter tank though, and this place was only four miles from my house and it's basically just a field, no big deal.
So I'm romping around this field and I see a ditch cross the trail. No big deal, it's shallow so I get a little dirty and this is when all caution goes out the window. I go through the field a little more, come to another ditch and, besides it looking like the last ditch I got stuck in, I ignore my instinct to reverse and find another way. Then I get stuck.
No big deal, I have a winch it's gotten me out of this shit before. So I hop out, sink to my knees in sticky Kentucky clay and break the strap on my right flop. I dig it out of the mud, tie the straps in a knot and look for my winch cable. It's not where I keep it. It's in the back. The back is full of cases of product for my job. They have been in there for months because I haven't needed to get to them and the tailgate won't open for whatever reason, so I haven't emptied it from the front. So I'm screwed about the cable, no winch. Look around, no rocks, no logs and I have no other recovery gear. And I'm alone. And because my tank was low and the rig is tilted forward, no fuel is getting pumped and I essentially run out of gas.
So I call a tow truck. These yahoo's send a Ford F150 with chain. No way he's yanking me from the front so we go the other way to get behind me because he isn't crossing that ditch either. So we start out and about a quarter mile in, he gets stuck. Like stuck stuck on flat ground. He calls for backup and another pickup shows up and he gets stuck too because "his 4wd doesn't work". So truck three comes and he won't even venture into the field. Old guy, and he's pissy. Starts bad mouthing off roaders and the risks we take. Fair enough. Bitching about them being unprepared. I can relate. Then says "this is dumbest goddamn thing he's ever seen any one do and that I might be the stupidest adult he's ever met". I tell him I'm not paying him for his commentary and if he could kindly shut his mouth and do his job I'd appreciate it. We jaw back and forth, shit gets heated and it dawns on me were in the middle of nowhere and it's my unprepared ass against three friends. I thank the first driver, and realize the second driver managed to free himself and he just bounced and tell the third driver that I no longer needed his services, but his buddy does, and I start hoofing it home. Fuck it, I'll go back tomorrow and work on it I figure.
So I'm four miles from home, on a gravel road that's at least a mile long, am diabetic, and walking damn near barefoot because now both of my flops are broken and I had to rig them to kind of stay on my feet but I have to shuffle to keep them under my feet. About every two or three steps this fails and I come down on the rocks barefooted. No water, phone is at 14% now. So I call the only taxi I know. They're permanently closed due to lack of business. Great. So I call the local police. Tell them everything and end with being diabetic and walking barefoot and ask if there's anyone not busy that might be able to get me home. Nope. Too much of a liability, but feel free to call back if I experience medical distress. Wtf. I moved here recently and only know three people that I'd be OK with calling and begging for help. My mailman, but he's been drinking, this girl I talk to when I go into the ups store, but she's out of town, and my weed plug, but he's in Colorado... I wonder why?
The deputy calls me back and gives me a number to a private "taxi" who thankfully comes and rescues my ass and takes me home. Today I can barely walk. The bottoms of my feet are so bruised I thought they were still dirty. My legs are sore from the exertion. And my jeep is still stuck.
So take aways for rookies or those that think it won't happen to them. Full tank of gas. Even if you don't get stuck, you gotta get out. Recovery gear. Don't think you have what you need, know you have what you need. Then need a few other pieces and know they are with you too. Proper clothing. If you're not prepared to go offroad, don't go offroad. A friend. You never know what might happen and not having someone with you could be a life ending decision. If my sugar had tanked while I was in the field I would have been fucked. I had nothing to take care of myself with and that is not the circumstance you want to find yourself in in a medical emergency. Trust your gut. I knew I shouldn't have tried it. I've tried it before on other similar ditches and ended up winching out. But that I got out with minor inconvenience led me to think I'm very bad ass. And I, apparently, am just very "send it" orientated. That's bad. Use caution.
If you read this far, thank you. I hope my experience can help others think twice.
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2023.05.28 17:06 abearz75 2003 Casita Spirit Deluxe

2003 Casita Spirit Deluxe
I am selling my Casita all Fiberglass Travel Trailer - Spirit Deluxe Only Owner bought from Casita Co. in 2003 - well maintained Smoke, Mold,Pet free. New Orleans Area $18,000 obo
Clear Title - Factory Keys and All Paperwork Included Specs: Overall Length 17’ Dry Weight 2400lbs. Interior Height 6’2” Overall Height 8’11” Overall Width 6’8”
INSIDE TRAILER: Rooftop AC with Heat Strip 3 way(Gas,Electric,12Volt) Dometic Refrigerator 4cu.ft., deep wide sink 2 burner stove with cover,light,hood,fan - microwave Cabinet mounted flat TV 6gal.Hot water heater, electronic ignition - gas or electric Propane Furnace with 1200BTU Thermostat Fantastic Roof Vent w/Reverse Full fiberglass wet bath, shower, Thetford RVtoilet, sink Large dinette table - can attach to outside unit Two single twin size beds, closet. Full length mirror, extended Birch Plywood overhead cabinets and large lower cabinets, large rear window slides open with screen,LED lights. Clear glass door and screen door. No leaks.
OUTSIDE TRAILER: Cable TV connection,110 volt outlet,High Lift Dexter Axle, Electronic Tongue Jack,Factory Awning,Goodyear Marathon15”Tires, 2 Propane Tanks,Black H2O 15gal Holding Tank and Grey H2O 32gal Holding Tank, Hoses,Leveling Blocks, Chocks Storage,25gal Fresh H2O Tank and 12 Volt Water Pump System. Able to dry camp easily.
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2023.05.28 13:05 HooliGan1420 21M - I bid thee a humble welcome into my very straightforward but amazingly long post. Feel free to explore, laugh and be charmed if you may ^^

Halloha, my name's Gianluca. Nice to meet you!- is what I would say in a formal setting.
But hence you found me in my area of comfort, welcome to my humble abode. Would you like some tea? Maybe you fancy some Earl Grey.
Anyway anyway I'm starting to babble lol, if you're wondering what I'm here for, it's for talking to you, interesting person out there wherever may you be. Meeting new people and all it brings is something I love. Making friends this way is amazing so therefore I presented myself!
If details are something you're into hearing, i can give you lots:
-I have to refuel every day almost cuz I go through an entire tank in 2 days or less. Love driving around. (Had to get new shoes and take up running to reduce expenses)
-I'm a car mechanic, also a construction worker, carpenter and if patience blesses me on that day; a painter.
-What am I saving up for? Well it's big, pretty massive in fact. So massive i could write an entire letter about it... Huh... Would it be cheeky if I said you can ask about this in your message? Would be a good idea.
-Had to start running everywhere for transport which is fun, I also do cycling, practice jumps and tricks at the bike park and do motorcycle and karting races. (Other categories and car racing are a work in progress, will upgrade soon)
-Music taste: this is the part where you look at a bunch of hyperbabble about bands that don't make a lot of sense unless you heard them, but I'll just throw a buncha names and you can see if any of the following applies: Radiohead, Megadeth, Fishmans, Marillion, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age, Buckethead, Alphaville, Dire Straits, Little River Band, David Bowie, XTC, UB40, Commodores, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Cure.
-Ultramegahyper car and motorcycles fan, but in the weirdest way possible. My dream cars are actually cheap french hot hatches like the 306 and a 90's Renault Clio. The car I'd get first no matter what is a 1998 Ford Focus. If possible the RS version. And as for motorcycles I want a Kawasaki ZXR, 80's style. Also love German cars, especially old BMW's, first one I'd get is an e32 with the M70 V12 engine. Also love old Volkswagens and Audis, without a doubt would own an 80's Audi with one of their 5 cylinder engines and turbocharge it. Also very fond of japanese cars and will own a Nissan in any form possible, especially the 350z
-Played almost every Need For Speed game that ever released, started my journey with the franchise through Underground, and played every release as they launched. (yes even Undercover, I actually enjoyed it). I listen to the soundtracks of old NFS games in my free time. Also played Midnight Club, Forza, Assetto Corsa, FlatOut, Burnout, BeamNG... I COULD KEEP GOING.
-Not everything in my life is about cars though, my day is dedicated to music too, especially playing piano. I'm also a guitar and bass player. And really want to get more sound gear and instruments in the future (Cars and music gear? I'll be broke all the time)
-I'm relatively organized, but living by myself has shown me that being the only person inside the house, I leave stuff around unless somebody visits. But while living with my parents I didn't make any mess anywhere so I'm not an absolute demon.
-Yes, living by myself also requires me to cook and I'm actually an amazing cook. I include lots of seasoning and veggies into the meals, even soy to balance things out and eggs for protein. Learned lots while being independent.
-Fun facts about me to end this: The amount of clothes I have in total is so small that i can wash them all in one washing machine load, the house machine size. I also have 3 different pillows around me at all times cuz I don't like laying on a flat surface. I listen to music even while showering. And I own a dog that requires me to feed her on a daily basis even though I beg her to feed off the sun.
Anyways that's about it from me! Hope you enjoyed this lil introduction that is the size of the Twilight prologue, but way better.
submitted by HooliGan1420 to MakeNewFriendsHere [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 13:03 HooliGan1420 21[M4F] Argentina/Anywhere - I bid thee a humble welcome into my very straightforward but amazingly long post. Feel free to explore, laugh and be charmed if you may ^^

Halloha, my name's Gianluca. Nice to meet you!- is what I would say in a formal setting.
But hence you found me in my area of comfort, welcome to my humble abode. Would you like some tea? Maybe you fancy some Earl Grey.
Anyway anyway I'm starting to babble lol, if you're wondering what I'm here for, it's for talking to you, interesting person out there wherever may you be. Meeting new people and all it brings is something I love. Making friends this way is amazing so therefore I presented myself!
If details are something you're into hearing, i can give you lots:
-I have to refuel every day almost cuz I go through an entire tank in 2 days or less. Love driving around. (Had to get new shoes and take up running to reduce expenses)
-I'm a car mechanic, also a construction worker, carpenter and if patience blesses me on that day; a painter.
-What am I saving up for? Well it's big, pretty massive in fact. So massive i could write an entire letter about it... Huh... Would it be cheeky if I said you can ask about this in your message? Would be a good idea.
-Had to start running everywhere for transport which is fun, I also do cycling, practice jumps and tricks at the bike park and do motorcycle and karting races. (Other categories and car racing are a work in progress, will upgrade soon)
-Music taste: this is the part where you look at a bunch of hyperbabble about bands that don't make a lot of sense unless you heard them, but I'll just throw a buncha names and you can see if any of the following applies: Radiohead, Megadeth, Fishmans, Marillion, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age, Buckethead, Alphaville, Dire Straits, Little River Band, David Bowie, XTC, UB40, Commodores, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Cure.
-Ultramegahyper car and motorcycles fan, but in the weirdest way possible. My dream cars are actually cheap french hot hatches like the 306 and a 90's Renault Clio. The car I'd get first no matter what is a 1998 Ford Focus. If possible the RS version. And as for motorcycles I want a Kawasaki ZXR, 80's style. Also love German cars, especially old BMW's, first one I'd get is an e32 with the M70 V12 engine. Also love old Volkswagens and Audis, without a doubt would own an 80's Audi with one of their 5 cylinder engines and turbocharge it. Also very fond of japanese cars and will own a Nissan in any form possible, especially the 350z
-Played almost every Need For Speed game that ever released, started my journey with the franchise through Underground, and played every release as they launched. (yes even Undercover, I actually enjoyed it). I listen to the soundtracks of old NFS games in my free time. Also played Midnight Club, Forza, Assetto Corsa, FlatOut, Burnout, BeamNG... I COULD KEEP GOING.
-Not everything in my life is about cars though, my day is dedicated to music too, especially playing piano. I'm also a guitar and bass player. And really want to get more sound gear and instruments in the future (Cars and music gear? I'll be broke all the time)
-I'm relatively organized, but living by myself has shown me that being the only person inside the house, I leave stuff around unless somebody visits. But while living with my parents I didn't make any mess anywhere so I'm not an absolute demon.
-Yes, living by myself also requires me to cook and I'm actually an amazing cook. I include lots of seasoning and veggies into the meals, even soy to balance things out and eggs for protein. Learned lots while being independent.
-Fun facts about me to end this: The amount of clothes I have in total is so small that i can wash them all in one washing machine load, the house machine size. I also have 3 different pillows around me at all times cuz I don't like laying on a flat surface. I listen to music even while showering. And I own a dog that requires me to feed her on a daily basis even though I beg her to feed off the sun.
Anyways that's about it from me! Hope you enjoyed this lil introduction that is the size of the Twilight prologue, but way better.
submitted by HooliGan1420 to r4r [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 02:49 BobbyLove87 1997 Ford F250 Sputters

1997 Ford F250 5.8L Sputters
I have a 1997 Ford F250 5.8L with dual tanks. The rear tank works just fine. However, when I switch it to the front tank, it begins to kind of sputter and lose power the harder I press on the gas.
I assume since the rear tank works, it’s not a filter or injector problem. Is this typically a fuel pump or possible bad fuel problem?
(Just bought the truck, was used as an old farm truck)
submitted by BobbyLove87 to AskMechanics [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 22:11 pattifish1316 67 Airstream Safari

67 Airstream Safari
I’m considering a purchase of ‘67 Safari. What should I look for when I can look at it in person?
submitted by pattifish1316 to airstream [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 17:05 alienabductionfan Last one at the party: 12 years ago, Maddy Scott went to Hogsback Lake to camp overnight for an all-weekend party, but after all the other guests went home she stayed behind alone. Her truck and tent were still there the next day but Maddy was never seen again.

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

2023.05.27 16:36 noicedeb8r Got to get a new battery for my Taurus; both fit but is one better than the other? I see one gives a 5$ core deposit and the other 22$ but has anyone had any experiences changing the battery for the Taurus?

Got to get a new battery for my Taurus; both fit but is one better than the other? I see one gives a 5$ core deposit and the other 22$ but has anyone had any experiences changing the battery for the Taurus? submitted by noicedeb8r to FordTaurus [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 16:00 BaseballSeveral1107 SUVosis in cities must stop.

Before I start, let's categorize the SUVs:
I don't understand the SUV trend. It is neither ecological, nor economical, nor ergonomic, nor safe. The fingers of the inhabitants of half a block of flats would need to count how many I see in parking lots, streets, side streets and thoroughfares during a day or several. And inside is some little woman or guy from or to work, school, home or shop.
SUVs are gas-guzzling. This is simple physics. The more mass, the more energy it needs to move at the same speed. The engines of SUVs were designed specifically for off-road so 4 wheel drive is the standard in many of them. 4 wheel drive helps you in mud but doesn't help you slow down, so drivers can drive as fast as they want to, as soon as they don't plan on stopping. The worst are pick-ups which have even more ridiculous fuel consumption, because they are for off road and transporting heavy stuff in the wilderness of Canada and Northern US.
SUVs are not eco-friendly. Here we return to their fuel guzzling.
The ergonomics of SUVs and pickups are terrible. One such can take up from 1.5 to 2 parking spaces. And that's not an exaggeration. Pickup trucks often have to stand on the pavement, for the inconvenience of the pavement, just to fit in and not block the roads. In one parking lot near my block, I see an SUVosis where cars jut out on both sides of the road and a second space so as not to block either of them. Passing SUVs on the streets of an old city is a tragedy.
And most importantly, they are deadly. A higher center of gravity equals a greater chance of a rollover, and a difference in height means zero chance for a car, pedestrian or cyclist. Especially pedestrians and cyclists. A normal car will simply scoop you up like a snow shovel on the roof, which sucks, but doesn't kill you in most cases. Small SUVs and crossovers hit you in the hips and head, you're even more screwed. Pickups and big SUVs are the worst because they sweep you under the vehicle where NOT. YOU HAVE. CHANCE. For survival. In addition, the higher height, so you will not see a small child, which is almost a guarantee of accidents in residential areas and cities. The blind spot in front of the hood of the SUV could fit 8 crouching children in a row, and none of them can be seen from the driver's perspective. In addition, the majority of drivers, not only in the US, but globally, according to manufacturers' research, are poor and dangerous drivers, using them to avoid the consequences of their actions. Such drivers don't think about other people, use their phones more while driving, are more risky while driving and obsessed with high status. Source 1 and source 2. And the higher, brighter headlights blinding everyone coming from the opposite side and in front of the vehicle.
People buy them to prop up their ego. They used to buy them when they needed them for hard work, for the countryside or off road. Now, thanks to the propaganda of the car industry, which has more money, people buy them, but the lines of more practical cars, such as the Ford Focus, are closed because almost no one buys them anymore. By the way, this turns into an arms race. People are concerned about accidents involving SUVs, so they buy bigger ones to win.
We should prevent it. But first the counterarguments. First of all, it's none of my business who drives what and that limits freedom and communism. But your freedom to wave your hand and drive an SUV ends where my face begins and the sidewalk separated by a green belt. Besides, it's my business whether, as a pedestrian, I get into an accident and whether this accident will not end in death. Would you have said the same thing when gun licenses were introduced and alcohol advertising and cigarette packaging were regulated to warn of the dangerous effects of their use? Secondly, you need space and you have to tow something. But SUVs don't actually have a trunk. The DACIA Duster has 408 liters of luggage space, and the FORD Focus 2014 (I own one) has 476 liters with the seats up and 1262 liters with the seats folded down. Of course you can fold down the back seats of an SUV but it won't make sense with families and you can do the same with the back seats of a station wagon. There's roomy goodness in every station wagon's trunk. Every family had one before automakers convinced the aging GenXers that what they needed was an SUV with a 1.2m hood. Besides, people who buy SUVs mostly don't carry anything bigger or tow any yacht or trailer. If you really need that space and comfort, there are minivans. For businesses, there are vans. They are easier to come out of and have low hoods so you see everything.
Also, there are no sports in Sports Utility Vehicles. There's no sport in driving an SUV (Unless you run over pedestrians and browse Reddit or Twitter).
We should prevent it somehow, maybe even some petitions to regulate it or ban. Parking permits should be more expensive for SUVs to compensate for their size. Ads for these monsters should have warnings just like ads for alcohol and cigarettes. And getting registered and allowed to own one should be like getting a gun license, with a psychological test to make sure no psycho runs over anyone or anything. People who need them would be required to have a commercial licence.
For more information, here's a Not Just Bikes video on that problem.
submitted by BaseballSeveral1107 to Vent [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 13:52 chainsaw_creepy Secret passage in the corner of the yard

Hello. I won't beat around the bush. This letter, more like a confession, came to me through a long chain of acquaintances and distant relatives several years ago. I do not personally know the people referred to in the letter, and I cannot say anything about its authenticity. However, the places described in the text do exist, I myself grew up nearby.
Last week I was digging through my email for the password to an old multiplayer game and came across this email again. To be honest, reading it the second time was just as disturbing and uncomfortable as the first. Having come up with nothing better, I decided to translate it into English and show it to you, friends. My fellow Yuriy Eremenko (hi bro!) helped me with the translation, I myself am not so good with English.
I want to know what you think about all this. I really really want to.
-------
from: bespalyi***@mail.ru to: litovskih.***@gmail.com subj: Regarding your request
Hello, Sasha. Forgive me, if you can of course, but it didn't work this time.
I can explain how that happened, but you probably shouldn't count on me now. I do think there is still a chance though. You can try to do everything yourself. I did not manage to do it, but maybe you still can. It's a bad option, a very bad one. This is not a good thing, no matter what you say to yourself. Quite the opposite.
If I had another solution, I wouldn't even suggest this, but I do not see one. I just remember your look when we last saw each other, and, well...
Look, just think it through, don't do something you would regret later, do not rush anything. I may have nothing to lose, but you have Zina, and your parents, if they're still alive of course. Sometimes it's just better to leave things as they are, you know?
I'll tell you what I know. You know my address. Delete this message once you read it.
Long story short, when I was about 10 or 11 years old, there was this urban legend about our yard...
I feel like I've known this legend for a long time, since my childhood. All the kids were aware of this legend and knew plenty of other, similar ones. In the town's outskirts, in this ("experimental", as they said back then) microdistrict lived several generations of teens. From the town to our district led a 5 kilometer long road, alongside several sandlots. Schools, kindergartens, couple of clubs - according to the architects, these blocks of flats, around 20 of them, that organized our microdistrict, were supposed to be autonomous. And autonomous they were. Sure, some people went to the town from time to time, to visit their relatives for example, but the majority of us rarely left Zhilmash.
As a result, stories about a creepy man from the local park, or about the dark secrets of the sewers, or, say, about the manhole in a corner of one of the yards constantly circulated around the local kids and teens, told again and again and collecting more and more creepy and less believable details. Seriously, someone should have written a dissertation about our "folklore", but that's beside the point.
Thing is, our surroundings were not the only thing that was enclosed. In fact, our yards were as well. In the middle of a square made of long nine-story buildings, where all the porches were facing, there was always a polyclinic, a school, or any other socially important establishment, while a few archways led outside these fortresses, as if they were meant to have a suspension bridge as well. One would think that Zhilmash was designed by a man suspecting that, sooner or later, the locals would have to withstand a circular siege of their houses.
The urban legend I want to explain to you is about the corner closest to my porch. There were bushes growing in said corner, facing the shop windows of a pharmacy and a barbershop that occupied the first floor. There, near ground level, between the two blocks of flats, formed a crack roughly three palms wide and about one and a half meters high. There was a small passage behind the crack, but no adults ever went that way. This hole allowed us to shorten our path outside, but squeezing in there and staying clean was impossible. So we, kids and teens, were the only ones to really use it, especially when playing hide and seek and enacting a tiny war. At the same time, the adults had to take one of the archways to get to the bus stop.
Right in front of the hole there was a square, about an open book-sized, stone block, placed into the ground, seemingly during the construction works, resulting in this small pedestal. As the story went, you had to place some small animal on top of it and kill it. Then, instead of the crack, there would appear a passageway not to the concrete slab behind the bakery, but a way to an entirely different place. A "dead world" of sorts. Once you got there, you needed to quickly find a kiosk with closed or painted over windows, go to its front and loudly and clearly ask for whatever you wanted - a new Sega or even a computer. Some boy, according to the rumors, had even asked for an entire jeep. And, if you did it right, your wish would come true and you would need to hurry and exit this place before the passageway closed.
Typical story, if I am honest - dark, cruel and stupid. Precisely one that children love. As proof, people constantly brought up a friend of a distant relative's friend who did exactly that and their wish came true. They also pointed out the concentric circles and squiggles scratched on top of the pedestal with a knife or some nail.
Nobody from our company even thought of torturing a poor animal like that to test this stupid story For even joking about it we'd call the one suggesting to test the story sick in the head. Nika, however, was not from our company. Almost an adult, as I thought back then, a very beautiful girl with copper hair and almost constantly bruised knees, she once went to live with her grandmother for the summer and immediately gained the role of our yard's Ataman, setting up her own rules.
We were showing her around for the whole duration of July. I think each of my friends fell in love with her at least a tiny bit, since we were of that age. On one of the last long evenings before she was supposed to leave we set up a small bonfire, baking potatoes that we got god knows where with salt in tinfoil. We were telling stories, and of course someone blurted out something about the passageway. On the next day, Nika brought her grandmother's parrot to our "Headquarters" on the sandlot.
Have you finally figured it out, Sasha? Anyone else would have said that I may have lost my mind or maybe became an alcoholic, since I am seriously telling you how a children's horror story became reality. But not you. Yes, you got that right: all these years, when the need arose, I went to a pet store, bought a pet, one that I did not feel that much guilt about, and went there. The hole and the stone block are still there. But do not get too excited, finish reading first. Because you cannot solve it just by killing an animal. Nothing happens so easily, you know it well.
When Nika, ignoring our loud protests, broke the poor parrot's neck, we fell silent. Something broke alongside his spine. Something right turned very wrong. Nika did not seem as beautiful to me anymore. Her appearance did not change, but the girl herself and everything around her became ugly in my eyes. Especially gross was the stone block with the little carcass on top of it. As if it was made of squirming insects and not concrete. At the time I couldn't understand where this fracture appeared, inside me or somewhere outside. Now I know - everywhere.
We were stunned for just a moment, then we heard a loud sound from behind our backs. It was as if something huge smacked its lips, opened its mouth and inhaled deeply, almost with pleasure. The air in the clearing started to float and distort, flowing around us. Then it went in the vertical passage between the two houses, now leading to the bluish twilight of a somehow different yard, completely alien to us. In our yard it was only midday.
Houses stood there as well. Normal from the first glance, but looking dusty, almost ancient, like pyramids in the pictures of a children's encyclopedia. In the light gusts of wind small whirlwinds of dust formed and fell apart. It got cold - not extremely cold, but more like the cold you feel when entering the shadow on a sunny day. And a faint smell. It was disgusting, bitter and almost rotten, like from a wet overfilled ashtray or from a Chizhevskiy's lamp. The wind was making the grass move - normal grass on our side, and some colorless and dried like hay stems on the other.
Despite my disgust, I managed to grab Nika, who was running right past me into the passage, by the wrist, but she pushed me aside, and squeezed into the passage. Into the portal. After all, why not call it for what it is. She stood there for a bit, looking around. She turned to look at us with fear on her face mixed with enthusiasm. And, as it seemed, the enthusiasm overcame all of her fear.
— Don't just stand there! Come here!
Nobody moved a muscle. Quite the opposite. Kostya, the youngest of our group, backed away slowly until his back hit the wall. Nika's ginger hair almost faded, became an unremarkable shade of brown. Weird details, I know, but this is how I remembered her: scared and faded. Almost fractured.
— Nika, please come back, — Anton said quietly.
— Wha-a? Pft, pussy! And you call yourselves men? Aren't you curious? — her voice sounded muffled, the intonations fading out at the border.
— Really, don't...Maybe you shouldn't go there, we can clearly see that something is wrong there. And it stinks. Maybe this place is radioactive?
— We'll lie to your grandma that Kesha flew out the window, — I said, — Tell your grandma I let him out, you won't get scolded. Let's go, please? What if the passage closes? How will we get you out?
Our obvious stress, of course, only made her more excited. We should've just shut up or suggested coming back with rope and a flashlight, but we were too scared. And then she walked away and ordered us to watch the passageway. Called us dipshits and that she'll go make a wish, disappearing behind the nearest house with darkness instead of windows.
We waited for 30 minutes or so, but nothing happened. Moving slowly, as if underwater, I walked around the pedestal to see that world better. Yes, there was indeed a town, but almost swollen, wrong. Monochrome, like in a dream. Similar to our town in general. As long as you pay no mind to the details, that is.
There, everything seemed a bit bigger than normal: the window holes are bigger, the floors are higher, and the empty metal trash can could fit a person inside it. Along the road stood distorted lampposts, accentuating the unpleasant perspective. The upper floors were lost in a fog, making the unusually thin street, squeezed by buildings from both sides, look more like a cave with a high ceiling rather than an open space. No movement. And no sky as well, just countless dark shades instead of it. One row of buildings stood behind the other, hiding the horizon from my view and forming a depressing maze, the further parts of which were swallowed by darkness and fog. Alongside the road, the broken benches and rusty cars there were lots of grey sand.
Looking at the corners and the walls going up and to the sides I did my best to imagine people walking around here, living in these houses and then just packing up their things and suddenly leaving somewhere else.
As hard as I tried to imagine it, I just couldn't...
Instead, old scenic decorations came to mind, meant to imitate a normal soviet town for some old forgotten movie.
My thoughts were interrupted by a terrifying scream from the crack's side, echoing around the emptiness between these scary monoliths. It was Nika, but her scream was so loud and strained that it turned into a roar and then a wheeze. Sasha, you wouldn't believe that a small girl could scream like that. There was a temporary silence necessary for a deep inhale and the scream started again. It got closer. Nika was supposed to come out from that corner, which she disappeared behind all this time ago.
Seconds passed by, I did not let my eyes wander from that corner, trying to pinpoint at least something in the darkness of this dead world. And finally, I saw a shaky silhouette. It did not look human. Struggling to move on short leg stumps, an armless and asymmetrical figure leaned on the wall. The sacks and meat pieces dragging behind the figure inflated and deflated making fleshy noises, like a frog goiter. Bending like a worm, it pushed itself off the wall with all of its strength and made a few more clumsy steps in our direction. It screamed in Nika's voice. The scream came from the disorganized lumps of flesh the thing was dragging behind it.
I screamed and recoiled. The edge of a stone, which I had completely forgotten about, hit my knees. Falling, I threw the bird's carcass onto the grass. The champing sounded again, as if cutting off the heart-rending cry of our friend with a knife. Gradually, other, normal sounds returned: the laughter of children from the side of the sandbox, the cooing of pigeons, the voice of a woman calling someone for dinner from the kitchen window. It was day again in the narrow opening, rare dandelions were swaying there, a bus, battered by life, drove up to the "Sports School" stop. A striped cat ran past and darted into the basement window. Nika was nowhere to be found.
Drowning in tears, we told the adults what had happened: first to our parents, then to a gloomy man in an unbuttoned police jacket, while a friend of his questioned the neighbors. Nika's grandma was taken to the hospital, we thought her heart was about to stop. No one told us that we were lying or played around too much. But the testimony of little kids was also not taken seriously. They clarified over and over again if we had seen a suspicious man, and even described his appearance. They must have had some kind of maniac in mind.
I accompanied the policeman to the place where Nika was last seen. He looked around, stuck his head inside the hole, went around the house and wandered for a long time on the other side of the patch of land between the ends of the houses, looking for something in the grass. Then they left. The blue UAZ appeared in our yard several more times, but, of course, it was as if Nika had disappeared without a trace.
That summer, I occasionally thought about what she was like when she stood there, calling us to follow her. At night, I dreamed of something else. Something almost turned inside out, but still alive ... However, this happened less and less, and life had set its own priorities. In the fall, my father left us, problems began at home, there were also several disagreements at school. Years passed. The old company fell apart, new friends from the other yards appeared. I remembered little about the red-haired girl, but since then I have always went past the accursed place. That is, until I was fifteen.
After my father left us, my mother started drinking. A little bit at first, locking herself in the kitchen after work. Thinking that I'm sleeping in my room unaware of her crying, sitting with a glass of vodka in front of the TV. Then things got worse. Getting drunk, my mother became tearful, asked me for forgiveness, promised that she would quit from tomorrow morning, but that, of course, was a lie. A couple of times I got hit in the face by the men she brought with her - I tried to get them to leave the apartment. Then I skipped school for weeks so as not to show my bruises.
The head teacher wrote our family down as dysfunctional and did not do much since. By the eighth grade, the entire household was on me, I even learned how to cook. Mostly I just cooked soups, because they were somewhat filling and inexpensive. I got a job with a friend of his father at a car wash as a "runner" when my mother was fired from her job. She had spent all of the alimony on alcohol. My father knew, sometimes threw some extra money our way, but did not want to interfere in our affairs. It seems that he had started a new family, but I did not ask questions, and he was in no hurry to tell me anything.
By the ninth grade, every morning, just opening my eyes, I sincerely hated this life. Sometimes I spent whole days in bed, listening indifferently to the clanging of glasses of my mother's friends in the kitchen. How she vomits in the bathroom, yells at the TV, knocks at the door to my room: "Kolenka, sonny, I'm one hundred roubles short, I'll return it at the end of the month! Do you want to go for a walk in the park later? Do you remember what you wanted? I'll only go to the store and then go back". After another call to the ambulance, while the mother was sleeping under a dropper, the paramedic told me (not looking up from filling out the papers on hospitalization refusal) that she would last another year at this pace, maybe two, and then it would be necessary to call not an ambulance, but a funeral home.
Every morning in the ninth grade, I woke up with thoughts about the hole in the corner of the yard and the strange city lying behind it. The legend turned out to be accurate, the first part at least, so why the hell shouldn't it be true in its entirety? I knew what wish I wanted to make. Only a miracle could save my mother, or rather, both of us. And if not, then I didn't even want to live too much. I remembered all the horror of that summer, but you can't run away from yourself: the idea seemed more attractive day by day. Do you understand, Sasha?
One day, after returning from my lessons, I found my mother drunk on the floor by the stove, with an arm broken at the elbow. It seems she was trying to cook dinner for us when she lost her balance and fell. The sharp tip of the broken bone pierced the stretched skin from the inside, and she didn't even wake up. It's a miracle that she didn't have the time to turn on the gas.
Having sent her to the hospital, I sat up all night without sleep, and in the morning I went to the zoo store and bought an exotic lizard with the last money I had for this month. It cost far more than the funny hamsters that bustled about in the neighboring enclosure, but I couldn't bring myself to look at them. It was easier for me this way.
Everything worked like a charm. I again felt that the world had cracked, but now I myself was the center of the split, as Nika had once been. From that day on, I started to feel worse about myself, you know? As if I was that one person who I would not shake hands with at a meeting. I became a little unpleasant for myself, I don't stop to look at my reflection in the mirror anymore, I constantly carry this trash in myself. It's up to you if you decide to follow in my footsteps. I have a theory. It consists in the fact that, by opening the hole, you are doing something disgusting, and not even by personal, but by cosmic standards ... And the problem is not in the killing of an innocent animal, which is necessary for this, but in what happens then - in the very appearance of the gap.
Looking up from the stone, I was not even surprised. It was as if all these years had not happened at all, the city behind the hole has not changed at all, except for a couple of little things. I think that time goes differently there, or is even frozen in place. Because the "dead world" is not actually an abandoned village located somewhere in the north. Rather, it is an echo. A dream about what our reality could become if something terrible happened to humanity, which we miraculously managed to avoid. People have never inhabited these houses. Their inhabitants are completely different. And they are still there.
When I climbed through the gap, the smell of decay and bitterness spilled in the cold air, vividly reviving childhood memories. I looked around for traces of the creature that came to us four years ago from the darkness. The deposits of sand seemed to form a barely noticeable path leading along the wall and making a loop near the hole, from where a long rectangle of light was now falling. But it could have been an illusion, or the natural workings of the wind, and I didn't see anything else.
I had a flashlight with me, but I did not dare to turn it on. There was enough light, even though the source was not clear. Soon I noticed that there was light in some of the windows: first in one part of the building, then in another, square frameless pits were faintly opalescent, all in the same dirty-gray spectrum, like multiple TVs tuned to the same program were working right behind them. From other windows protruded long black tufts of what looked like crooked branches of dead shrubs or mushroom stipes.
Getting colder inside with every step, I wandered, raking in the smelly sand with my feet, in the direction where Nika had fled in search of a way to make her wish. Clinging to the ice-cold stone, I looked around the corner. Nothing was moving in the streets. The road continued, partially blocked in two places by fallen lampposts, smashed to pieces like antique columns in the ancient ruins of a lost civilization. But for some reason, it constantly seemed to me that something was still breathing behind these walls and, perhaps, even looking at an intruder from the darkness of these huge apartments. Gathering what little courage I had left, I took a few steps towards the center of the street, looking intently around me in order to detect any possible source of danger in time.
To the left, slightly to the side, stood a gray cube of something like a boiler room or a transformer booth with its gates wide open, as if in an invitation, with barely visible broken wires laying around. Behind it began a labyrinth of small garages, almost completely hidden behind thickets of the same bundles of sticks, which had made their way here and there from under the ground, like frozen explosions, from round holes in wells with torn hatches. Whatever happened here happened very quickly. I looked ahead. In the distance, about one house away from me, near what looked like a broken subway lobby, a patch of dim glow spread across the asphalt: one of the lanterns still functioned there, the only one as far as the eye could see.
In the dim circle of light stood a row of ordinary trading stalls. You know, those armored monsters with tiny money slots, they used to hang around every corner and sell pretty much everything from chewing gum to hard-to-find pantyhose.
My heart pounded even faster. So the legend did not lie about this either! To get there, it seemed, it was enough to go straight along the street past a series of entrances, some of which even still had doors hanging on one hinge. I must have lost my vigilance from impatience...
Each dark doorway was three meters high. As I drew level with the first of them, I heard something rolling in there, inside, bouncing off the steps. A worn rubber ball with two stripes rolled out onto the road in front of me. I used to have the same exact ball as a child, except that it got lost somewhere. Perhaps it flew away from a strong kick somewhere into the bushes, and I never saw it again. Maybe even in those very bushes in the corner of the yard.
I won't bore you with the details of the fear I experienced there. Both for the first time, and in all of my subsequent visits. Either way, you will see something of your own, personal, my experience will not be useful to you. Just... be prepared for anything. Just like in that ravine, in the first Chechen war, remember? Ha, then, after the shelling, you and I decided that now we saw everything, we were baptized, and nothing could scare us anymore. I don't know about you, but then I saw plenty of things afterwards: both in the dead world and in our ordinary one. Hell, sometimes I even miss the war. Don't get me wrong, but at that time I had friends, we swore to go through life together, if we made it out alive that is, and we believed in our oath.
Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. It's been a long time since the last opportunity to talk heart to heart to someone.
I don't know for sure whether this world can harm you, whether it just plays around, whether it wants to scare, or vice versa - tries to make friends. I will only say that its inhabitants should be avoided at all costs. It is not difficult, they are rarely intrusive and almost never leave their homes. But if you see fresh footprints in the sand or something like a stripe that a huge snail could leave, turn around and leave. Don't run, you don't have to run there at all. You'll be back the next day. Each animal killed will take away a piece of your own soul, but it's better that way than to disappear completely.
Look at the picture I have attached. I have drawn, as best I could, the route that turned out to be the safest. Strictly follow it, even if some loop seems strange and unnecessary to you. Especially if it appears. Yes, in one place you will have to enter the house. There is a gap in the apartment on the second floor, you go out there, go down another entrance. So it is necessary, and for God's sake, do not arrange excursions for yourself, but inside the house, look only at your feet. Right at your feet and nowhere else. Ideally, close your eyes altogether. I wrote down the required number of steps, remember the amount and count.
Well, there is little left to say. How I got to the stall and made my first wish...
Coming out right under the dead light of the lantern, I perceived almost nothing. I was not harmed, but the human psyche, especially of a skinny teenager that I was, is simply not adapted to endure such things. I was trembling, not believing that I got there. At first I was overcome with despair at the sight of a row of stalls: they were destroyed and had see-through holes in places: just rusty frames with spots of dry and peeling paint. In the floor of one of them, a nasty mushroom-like bush grew, parting the wreckage.
Slowly walking along the large heaps of metal, I reached the last kiosk in the row, and although the light inside was not on, I knew: this is it. Welded from sheet iron, like all the others, this one was mostly intact. Even the glass behind the bars had survived, so dirty that no goods behind them, if any, could be seen. On a small semicircular window, behind which the salesman was supposed to be, there was a yellow card with a faded, just like everything around, inscription: "OPEN". Gathering my strength, I tapped on the window with my knuckle. Just a second later, it opened.
My nose was hit with a terrible stench. Once I already felt something similar. When, one autumn, I took a deep breath of hot and humid steam, coming from a sewer in which some animal had died and had been decomposing for a long time.
The darkness of the iron box was not pitch black; It occupied almost the entire volume of the kiosk. It was the Seller.
Finally, the movement in the darkness stopped. "Even if the kiosk had a door," I thought, "this creature would not be able to get out and chase me." The thought calmed me down a little, but I lost all of my pre-prepared words. My voice sounded strange and muffled in the middle of the empty square of this forgotten world.
— My mother... She is a good person, but she drinks a lot. Vodka, that is... or any alcohol. She won't be able to stop on her own because she's sick and I can't do anything about it. I have tried and tried!
The last "tried" quickly faded, as the echo disappeared into the alleys and yards. They didn't answer me. I don't know to whom and what I tried to prove, the words just flowed out of me, and they were sincere.
— She will die if it goes on like this, and I will be left alone. We didn't deserve it. I still love her! Therefore, I want my mother to stop drinking, and everything to be fine with us, just as before!
— Can I? — I added, waiting for the mocking echo to die down again.
And then there was silence. A minute had passed, and I sighed. What was I even thinking about. I fell for childish tales, climbed into a world where everyone either died a million years ago or became monsters, I tried to talk with one of them ... I need to save myself as soon as possible. Or maybe when I return to the passage, it will be closed? The thought that I could stay here forever made me want to just lie down and cry.
- f̶i̸n̸g̴e̶r̴, - gurgled the darkness.
- What? A finger?
- f̵i̶n̶g̷e̵r̶
Oh god, it was impossible to call it a voice, but it seems that I understood what they wanted from me. An icy cold sweat formed on my forehead. Why did I decide that everything would be free? Did this shit sound like a good fairy tale from the very beginning? And what if this creature bites off my finger, will I be able to get back and not bleed out?
Without giving myself a chance to change my mind, I tore two long strips from my T-shirt, then pulled out the trouser belt and squeezed it in my teeth, folding it in half, like I saw in the movies, until my mother sold our cassette player to someone for almost nothing. Clenching my left hand into a fist, I stuck out my pinky finger and put my hand right in the window of the kiosk, at the same time closing my eyes and clenching my teeth.
Nothing happened. After a couple of minutes, I dared to open my eyes. Maybe I misunderstood, and it was not about barter? As soon as I took my hand out, the window slammed shut. The inscription on the card had changed, now it said "CLOSED". Looking at my left hand made me dizzy, I started to feel sick: there was no pinky finger. There was no blood either, the remaining half of the phalanx looked like I lost my finger a long time, at least a year ago. Deciding to deal with this later, I went back. The hole and the clear sunny day behind it were still there.
You know, Sasha, I still wonder: what did Nika wish for? What was the price she had to pay?
As for what happened next, I think everything is clear. When my mother returned to work, we patched up our place, which had been pretty much wasted at that moment. I retrained from a simple car washer to an assistant mechanic in the same place, in a car service. I was entrusted with simple repairs, they paid a little more. In general, the money began to suffice. I had to call my friends to ward off some excessively aggressive chumps, who did not want to understand that they were no longer welcome at our house, and life went on as usual.
I learned to live without my pinky finger in just a week, and I lied to my mother about an accident at work last year. She cried again, of course. Mom died ten years ago: quietly, in bed, already retired. There was no more drinking involved, and those were good years. There would have been more if not for her poor health.
After leaving school, a war broke out, and the military registration and enlistment offices did not particularly sort out who to take. From here on out, you know everything yourself. Some returned, some didn't. We've been lucky. It was there that you called me Kolya the Fingerless, but now you at least know where my finger actually went.
At home, I got a job as a car mechanic in a bus depot. Between a tank and a rust-bucket of a car there is not such a big difference, if you look closely. Life was not that great for me, but I had girls, and meetings of old veterans. I bought my mom a country house in the suburbs to grow her own tulips there - what else does a person need? Only in a nightmare could I imagine that someday I would return to the dead world. But fate decided otherwise.
You now know how I spent my pinky finger. But at our last meeting, you noticed (I saw that you noticed): since then I have been squandering a lot. Three fingers remained on my right hand and two on the left. And that's not it. One kidney. Pancreas. And my left eye can't really see. Can you guess why that is? I think you can. You have always been the smartest among us, student.
As you could have guessed, I haven't worked as a mechanic for a long time. I get my allowance, I don't leave the apartment, I almost forgot what people look like, except for the girls from the welfare department. But I'm not offended. Do not reproach yourself that we did not communicate for a long time. And tell our guys, if necessary, when you meet. I wouldn't even talk to myself if I could.
When a year passed, we returned to civilian life, and things started to get better for everyone, Igor at first suddenly did not want to go to the next meeting to drink, remember that? And when we forced him, he sat in the corner, pale, did not even drink. This is Igor, who prepared booze almost from antifreeze.
His wife, Katya, was diagnosed with a bad case of breast cancer. And he loved her unconditionally. She was waiting for him to return from the war and here he was after all. I must have said too much then. I could not look at how he was tormenting himself, I really wanted to cheer him up. Everyone lost their mood, they parted early, and on the way back I bought a canary near the house. Breast cancer cost me another finger and another lie about an accident at work.
After that, a rumor had spread, either as a joke, or seriously: the fingerless healer. Everything was as promised: not just a remission, but as if the sickness was removed completely. The doctors were shocked, Igor laid at my feet while I couldn't even look him in the eyes.
Then more people came. Someone has a mother, an old father, children... Especially children. Then I realized that our world is full of suffering. I, whatever one may say, could help where nothing else would have helped. What is one finger of mine against someone's life that is just beginning? Believe me, I thought about this a lot, looking at all the new short stumps: stumps sticking out of my palm.
I didn't agree every time, and when I did, I didn't say anything. Inoperable hip fracture, legs turned into mush, the guy will never walk again - a finger. Sudden stroke, progressive dementia, another one. Congenital cerebral palsy, complete paralysis of the body - two fingers. Rumors spread. That's when you came to me for the first time, remember? We put your Zinka back on her feet, I hope she is doing well now.
Nine. Nine trips to the dead world, and every time a little less of me came back. And every time, while I looked at the opening passage, some creature was dying in my hands, and inside a part of my soul was dying as well. Nine is a lot, Sasha. I no longer feel anything but deep disgust for myself. People cannot look at me without disgust, without understanding why. They feel what I have become, although they do not know the reason. Paradoxically, the more I helped people, the more lonely I got. But I was ready for it, it's part of the price.
The only reason I haven't killed myself yet is because I might be of use to someone else. What little is left of me.
And then you called again.
I'm really sorry about your girl, really. I hope this fucking junkie gets caught and hanged by the balls. Believe me, I was ready to give everything that I have for her. I don't know, really, whether that would be enough or not ... Everyone else was alive, you know? Sometimes things were very bad, and then it cost me more, but everyone else was still alive. Nevertheless, I was going to try.
But the unexpected happened. As I made my way to the kiosk, I heard the soft cry of a child. It was coming from the windows of one of the apartments, away from my usual route. I don't know what came over me, but I decided to check. Used the grappling hook, climbed into the window. An insane risk, but... I must have realized something on a subconscious level. It was Nika.
How much time has passed, more than thirty years? But that is by our, earthly standards. For how long did she wander through the monstrous colorless void among the dreary monoliths, from apartment to apartment, in the hope of meeting at least one person? I'm afraid to even imagine it. The main thing is that she is alive. And she's still a child, in a way. In its current form, at least...
Oh, you should have seen what her stupid wish did to her. What was it like? Perhaps something like "I want to live forever"? And now, for the first time, something came to my mind. After all, we don't know how many more Zhilmash children got there over all these years, and what they wanted. I remember what I myself could wish for at that age. Is it just the new bike or the dog? Or maybe, for example, to take revenge on a bully? Or become invisible?
I think Nika recognized me.
I never made it to the kiosk. I came back to send you this email. Forgive me if you can, but I only have one chance left, and I must try to save her. I must return her body, return Nika back to our world. There is no worse fate than the one that fell to her. I don't know what the price will be, but it doesn't matter. Even if I have to take her place, I'm ready. After all, it was my fault that the portal closed back then. I'm afraid, it was I who told the legend about the passageway that evening by the fire.
You have a choice, Sasha. Think it over properly. Sometimes it's better to leave things as they are.
I have to go, she's been waiting too long...
submitted by chainsaw_creepy to nosleep [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 12:13 HooliGan1420 21M - I bid thee a humble welcome into my very straightforward but amazingly long post. Feel free to explore, laugh and be charmed if you may ^^

Halloha, my name's Gianluca. Nice to meet you!- is what I would say in a formal setting.
But hence you found me in my area of comfort, welcome to my humble abode. Would you like some tea? Maybe you fancy some Earl Grey.
Anyway anyway I'm starting to babble lol, if you're wondering what I'm here for, it's for talking to you, interesting person out there wherever may you be. Meeting new people and all it brings is something I love. Making friends this way is amazing so therefore I presented myself!
If details are something you're into hearing, i can give you lots:
-I have to refuel every day almost cuz I go through an entire tank in 2 days or less. Love driving around. (Had to get new shoes and take up running to reduce expenses)
-I'm a car mechanic, also a construction worker, carpenter and if patience blesses me on that day; a painter.
-What am I saving up for? Well it's big, pretty massive in fact. So massive i could write an entire letter about it... Huh... Would it be cheeky if I said you can ask about this in your message? Would be a good idea.
-Had to start running everywhere for transport which is fun, I also do cycling, practice jumps and tricks at the bike park and do motorcycle and karting races. (Other categories and car racing are a work in progress, will upgrade soon)
-Music taste: this is the part where you look at a bunch of hyperbabble about bands that don't make a lot of sense unless you heard them, but I'll just throw a buncha names and you can see if any of the following applies: Radiohead, Megadeth, Fishmans, Marillion, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age, Buckethead, Alphaville, Dire Straits, Little River Band, David Bowie, XTC, UB40, Commodores, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Cure.
-Ultramegahyper car and motorcycles fan, but in the weirdest way possible. My dream cars are actually cheap french hot hatches like the 306 and a 90's Renault Clio. The car I'd get first no matter what is a 1998 Ford Focus. If possible the RS version. And as for motorcycles I want a Kawasaki ZXR, 80's style. Also love German cars, especially old BMW's, first one I'd get is an e32 with the M70 V12 engine. Also love old Volkswagens and Audis, without a doubt would own an 80's Audi with one of their 5 cylinder engines and turbocharge it. Also very fond of japanese cars and will own a Nissan in any form possible, especially the 350z
-Played almost every Need For Speed game that ever released, started my journey with the franchise through Underground, and played every release as they launched. (yes even Undercover, I actually enjoyed it). I listen to the soundtracks of old NFS games in my free time. Also played Midnight Club, Forza, Assetto Corsa, FlatOut, Burnout, BeamNG... I COULD KEEP GOING.
-Not everything in my life is about cars though, my day is dedicated to music too, especially playing piano. I'm also a guitar and bass player. And really want to get more sound gear and instruments in the future (Cars and music gear? I'll be broke all the time)
-I'm relatively organized, but living by myself has shown me that being the only person inside the house, I leave stuff around unless somebody visits. But while living with my parents I didn't make any mess anywhere so I'm not an absolute demon.
-Yes, living by myself also requires me to cook and I'm actually an amazing cook. I include lots of seasoning and veggies into the meals, even soy to balance things out and eggs for protein. Learned lots while being independent.
-Fun facts about me to end this: The amount of clothes I have in total is so small that i can wash them all in one washing machine load, the house machine size. I also have 3 different pillows around me at all times cuz I don't like laying on a flat surface. I listen to music even while showering. And I own a dog that requires me to feed her on a daily basis even though I beg her to feed off the sun.
Anyways that's about it from me! Hope you enjoyed this lil introduction that is the size of the Twilight prologue, but way better.
submitted by HooliGan1420 to MakeNewFriendsHere [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 12:13 HooliGan1420 21[M4F] Argentina/Anywhere - I bid thee a humble welcome into my very straightforward but amazingly long post. Feel free to explore, laugh and be charmed if you may ^^

Halloha, my name's Gianluca. Nice to meet you!- is what I would say in a formal setting.
But hence you found me in my area of comfort, welcome to my humble abode. Would you like some tea? Maybe you fancy some Earl Grey.
Anyway anyway I'm starting to babble lol, if you're wondering what I'm here for, it's for talking to you, interesting person out there wherever may you be. Meeting new people and all it brings is something I love. Making friends this way is amazing so therefore I presented myself!
If details are something you're into hearing, i can give you lots:
-I have to refuel every day almost cuz I go through an entire tank in 2 days or less. Love driving around. (Had to get new shoes and take up running to reduce expenses)
-I'm a car mechanic, also a construction worker, carpenter and if patience blesses me on that day; a painter.
-What am I saving up for? Well it's big, pretty massive in fact. So massive i could write an entire letter about it... Huh... Would it be cheeky if I said you can ask about this in your message? Would be a good idea.
-Had to start running everywhere for transport which is fun, I also do cycling, practice jumps and tricks at the bike park and do motorcycle and karting races. (Other categories and car racing are a work in progress, will upgrade soon)
-Music taste: this is the part where you look at a bunch of hyperbabble about bands that don't make a lot of sense unless you heard them, but I'll just throw a buncha names and you can see if any of the following applies: Radiohead, Megadeth, Fishmans, Marillion, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age, Buckethead, Alphaville, Dire Straits, Little River Band, David Bowie, XTC, UB40, Commodores, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Cure.
-Ultramegahyper car and motorcycles fan, but in the weirdest way possible. My dream cars are actually cheap french hot hatches like the 306 and a 90's Renault Clio. The car I'd get first no matter what is a 1998 Ford Focus. If possible the RS version. And as for motorcycles I want a Kawasaki ZXR, 80's style. Also love German cars, especially old BMW's, first one I'd get is an e32 with the M70 V12 engine. Also love old Volkswagens and Audis, without a doubt would own an 80's Audi with one of their 5 cylinder engines and turbocharge it. Also very fond of japanese cars and will own a Nissan in any form possible, especially the 350z
-Played almost every Need For Speed game that ever released, started my journey with the franchise through Underground, and played every release as they launched. (yes even Undercover, I actually enjoyed it). I listen to the soundtracks of old NFS games in my free time. Also played Midnight Club, Forza, Assetto Corsa, FlatOut, Burnout, BeamNG... I COULD KEEP GOING.
-Not everything in my life is about cars though, my day is dedicated to music too, especially playing piano. I'm also a guitar and bass player. And really want to get more sound gear and instruments in the future (Cars and music gear? I'll be broke all the time)
-I'm relatively organized, but living by myself has shown me that being the only person inside the house, I leave stuff around unless somebody visits. But while living with my parents I didn't make any mess anywhere so I'm not an absolute demon.
-Yes, living by myself also requires me to cook and I'm actually an amazing cook. I include lots of seasoning and veggies into the meals, even soy to balance things out and eggs for protein. Learned lots while being independent.
-Fun facts about me to end this: The amount of clothes I have in total is so small that i can wash them all in one washing machine load, the house machine size. I also have 3 different pillows around me at all times cuz I don't like laying on a flat surface. I listen to music even while showering. And I own a dog that requires me to feed her on a daily basis even though I beg her to feed off the sun.
Anyways that's about it from me! Hope you enjoyed this lil introduction that is the size of the Twilight prologue, but way better.
submitted by HooliGan1420 to r4r [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 12:07 jgtengineer68 OC A Good Day (Bad Day part 2)

This is a follow-up to Bad Day
A Good Day
Seven months twelve hours forty-six minutes and counting. That is how long I have been aboard this vessel, most of that time spent staring at what faced me in the center of the Heradini system, a massive alien space station orbiting the mid-system brown dwarf. I am Chief Diplomat Kern Za’n of the Minari. We are one of the founding members of the Confederation of Known Systems. The Confederation is a loose alliance of sentient species living within the Slinggate network. The Minari were one of the first to find a way through the ancient Slinggates four thousand years ago. The gates in our system led to a network of thirteen uninhabited by habitable star systems, including a garden world that once held an ancient race we believe may have had a hand in building the Slinggates.
This fortunate start into the stars allowed our species to flourish and we remain the most populous race within the Confederation. Our government has a presence residing on most member worlds. The Minari are bipedal, standing roughly one point eight meters in height on average when male, one point five meters on average when female, and one point six meters in height for tankbred, a form of laborer clone that is without biological sex as they cannot reproduce on their own. Our average weights range between fifty and two hundred kilograms with height extremes on some worlds due to variance in gravity allowing for members of our species to stand over 2 meters tall. We were not the largest species in the Confederation, nor were we the strongest. Minari are a communal species but we’re one of the longest-lived of all Confederation members at an average life expectancy of three hundred years. As such we make up the majority of the diplomatic corps and have the unenviable task of performing formal first contact.
I have the privilege to have performed three contacts in my career. Each resulted in a prompt decision about their first and second-tier membership in the Confederation. Membership is divided among species that wish only for commerce access to the Confederation which make up around ninety percent of the Confederation’s forty-three member species, and the Council species. Most species are content to trade with their neighbors peacefully and be left alone. Strict rules about military vessels keep them confined to home or regional systems in the case of multiple colonized systems that are not in dispute. The four remaining species each have an equal say in the council of the Confederation, if there is ever a tie, a quorum of member worlds may cast a majority vote to act as the tiebreaker. We have had only one tie in the history of the Confederation and that was to expel a member world to fifteen years of isolation for waging an unlawful war on their neighbor. It does not happen. My species the Minari currently also held the Executor Prime position, which is the head of our government. It is appointed on a rotation between the four Council Races, we followed the wise and peaceful Ran who are an avian race with floating cities from a gas giant homeworld having evolved on floating islands of rocky land mass and water in the atmosphere. It is one of the most beautiful worlds I have ever been in my travels. Also on the council are the Balena, an aquatic species descended from cephalopods of the deep ocean, who first rose out of their oceans after reverse engineering a crashed Minari ship. They have issues interacting outside of their tanks but are some of the finest shipbuilders in the Confederation and brilliant scientists. Some of the best research facilities dot the surface of their homeworld's oceans and lie beneath them. The last race is the Ar’kanar, where to begin with the Ar’kanar.
The Ar’kanar are the first species that my people encountered on the slinggate network and it went about as well as you might expect. We engaged in war, a long bloody war that lasted fifty years of sporadic battles. You see Slinggates are often placed in star systems in very close proximity to one another, less than fifteen or so light minutes away and those systems that are found to have slinggates spanning vast distances on the edge of the system often have them moved into a commerce and travel area around a space station close enough to their homeworld as to not be inconvenient but far enough away to be secure. However, sometimes there are systems so large and vast that do not contain suitable anchoring points that the slinggates are separated by months of sublight travel. These are the systems where war can happen. Enemy fleets can enter unmolested to fight over the resource-dense belts and gas pockets. It was in one such system we encountered the Ar’kanar and it was in this system we fought. The Naer’ina Accords were signed there creating the Confederation and it is where we built the station that houses the government as a reminder of why peace is a better option. But if you recall, there was once a race expelled from the Confederation for fifteen years, that race was the Ar’kanar. Which is why I am currently on an Ar’kanaran Cruiser. Just in case. Now if only they weren’t so damned short and covered with hair. I have hit my head on the door far too many times for my liking. I also believe I will never get the smell out of my clothing. The Ar’kanarans are a short quadrupedal race that favors the augmentation of two cybernetic attached harness arms to allow them to easily manipulate the world. Ar’kanarans were supposedly once a servitor race that overthrew and erased their masters from history. I of course can go on for days discussing my issues with them and have. But that is not the purpose of this log.
So yes where was I, I apologize I have become long-winded in my old age. Anyway fifteen months ago, almost a Confederate standard year a Teleran Corsair made a report at the Trian Military outpost in the Loka system. This was five slinggates out of the Heradini system. They had traveled for 9 months between the gates to deliver the message as most of the systems between them had slinggates that had not been moved closer together as the systems were just now being colonized and most traffic was automated so the cost of moving the gates was not offset. This message had seen much debate within both the military and the diplomatic corps. The science community argued over which part was the most fantasy; The fact that the Telerans could speak or the fact that they had encountered some new species with the ability to travel between the stars without the use of the Slinggates.
If I were not looking at the structure we currently were flying towards in a declaration burn, I would not believe the latter either. The human space station was almost as large as Naer’ina Point, however, it looked lower in technology. It consisted of six spinning sections inside three large docking rings, these rings were already servicing large vessels, and near the station was a structure we had never seen before. It was about half the size of a slinggate, cylindrical, and seemed to pulse with light. I could count at least twenty-six vessels all the size of the one I was in now docked with the station plus numerous smaller craft buzzing around. The massive ship reported by the Telerans was detected in the asteroid belt near the resource-rich areas performing some tasks, for which we did not know the purpose. I am receiving word from the Captain that we will be docking soon I will continue my log relaying the… what is that? There is massive distortion near the cylinder, the light is almost blinding… by the ancestors. A ship just appeared. It's massive… only the home defense dreadnoughts are anywhere close to this size. The weapons if that's what they are dwarf anything the Minari or Ar’kanar have at our disposal. Thanks to the Teleran we have their language codes, and I have learned to speak it. There's a name written on the side of the vessel I believe, TCCW Dauntless. I believe it. There is an alert I need to see to the captain of the vessel.
Resuming log after day one of the Contact meetings. After a mild panic attack by the Ar’kanar captain, we docked with the station which I have learned is called Takeda Station, named for the corporation that paid for its construction as well as the resources to prospect this system. As a matter of fact, it was with a member of this Corporation I spent most of my time speaking. This will be an interesting log I believe, and an alarming one. So let's begin.
Let me first preface this by stating that to suggest that Humans are another race in the Slinggate chain is to approach this wrong. The humans are more like the Confederation than its member races. A more detailed report will be attached but for my form of brevity’s sake, the summary is thus. Humans or Terrans or as I have also learned Martians, Venusians, Belters, Colonials, and many other names they call themselves are an eclectic race that all draw their origin to a planet they also cannot decide what to call. Some call it Earth, others Terra, others Gaia, Sol III, and many other names. There are even humans who do not see their homeworld as home. And some who can never set foot on its soil again without suits to counter the gravity.
Humans on average are around the same height as Minari, they can be a little taller, and weigh a little more but their gravity is at least another third higher than ours. Time spent on their station had me glad to return to an Ar’kanar vessel. They also have skin colors adapted to different levels of sunlight ranging from dark brown to almost alabaster white. Some even pigment their skin cosmetically to have purples, oranges, or blues. They are… impossible to describe in a few words. Remarkable. So I will try to mainly speak about the humans I am spending my time with.
The first is a man from a human world called Sagan-3, he is apparently from a city island called New Tokyo. He is a little shorter than I am and from what he says old for their species at seventy years. Ancient for a Ran of course but I was still chasing my bondmates at that age, caring little for the affairs of interstellar politics. His name was Hiro Takeda, apparently, he was the brother of the female who was in charge of the company. His title was Chief Encounter Officer, when I inquired what that meant, he informed me that it was his job to negotiate with non-Human entities or humans who did not fall under Corporate Congress. Mister Takeda as he instructed me to address him first asked why I was there. To which explained who the Confederation was and why we favor peace and business. His response was to offer me tea which after I checked to make sure it was consumable I rather enjoyed. Takeda had an interesting method of discussion he did not ask me questions and merely seemed to anticipate where I was needing answers. I will relay what I can remember.
Humans it would seem discovered their slinggate over seven hundred years ago. It was within the atmosphere of a gas giant near the edge of their solar system. They only found it after they had colonized their entire system and fragmented it into several different entities. They had terraformed the fourth planet in their solar system to the extent that they lived in large domes. This planet was called Mars and it was home to almost twelve billion humans when they found the slinggate. Earth at this point was home to close to forty-five billion. And I thought the N’i’!cho were numerous. They also had floating habitations on the second planet from their star housing almost three billion. Another seven hundred million made their homes in the belts mining resources and living on the moons of gas giants. This was seven hundred years ago mind you. Earth, Mars, Venus, and the belt, they fought several wars. Mostly sticking to space. The sides change many times throughout their history. Quite frankly they were fought because they were running out of room. When they found the slinggate that was no longer a problem… until it was.
The Sol Slinggate lead to one other star system as they always do. But this was different, the humans never found another slinggate in their star system. They apparently never knew there were supposed to be two. You see the system their slinggate led to was remarkable. It was a trinary system with two central stars in a locked orbit of each other, both blue main sequence, and another star orbited the pair a great distance far enough it could take years at sublight to reach it. But they would reach it. The System which they came to call Sagan, since apparently the first explorers through their gate named it for an ancient scientist, had seven garden worlds all roughly the size of Earth. Full of life and nearly perfectly catered to human colonization. And colonize they did. The first settlers were from corporations, each megacorporation sponsoring the colonization of the planet in the small vessels they could get through the slinggate. There were a few border skirmishes and fighting between the different factions of humans, Martians and Venusians could survive on the garden worlds with some adaptation but the belters required more. Colonization apparently had a problem, it was far too slow and humans have a rather long gestation period for most species I know. Minari of course can have three sets of triplets a year in a bonding pair because each of us carries the children for some duration of the pregnancy, Mr Takeda suggested that we had something in common with a species of mammal from their planet called a kangaroo. Two corporations were working on this problem specifically out of the seven in the Sagan system. Another corporation, Deep Range Expeditions, had launched a long-term mission to the Sagan child star.
Genetech’s solution was to create humans, artificially gestated and preprogrammed with personalities born as adults and ready to aid in labor and work. They made great strides and apparently Genetically Engineered humans were banned in the Sol system, a ban that was lifted in Sagan because of the need for more people. Mr. Takeda seemed solemn when speaking about this. Almost ashamed. I would learn why later. The second corporation a company called AstrospaceX believed the solution was to make it possible to get more humans from Earth. Their solution was Arkships. Giant vessels where human colonists would make the trip between the stars to Sagan, which they had calculated was twelve light years from Earth. At the speeds available to them that would be nearly a one hundred and fifteen-year journey. The two corporations struck a deal. Genetech’s workforce under contract would construct and build the colonies that the Arkships would deliver population. Sagan-6 was designated as the destination world and all efforts went to constructing the birthing facilities and housing and infrastructure. Belters flocked through the gate to aid in mining resources. It was seen as the largest construction project ever launched in human history. Fifteen arkships each carrying close to one million humans left Sol on the over one-hundred-year journey between the stars. A small number crewed the vessels knowing that only their children would see their new home. All the while advances in streamlining technology saw the other six Sagan worlds flourish under their corporate rule. But it wasn’t always peaceful. Workers' uprisings and conditions starting to match those on the now depleting Sol cradle worlds in the form of class systems threatened to tear everything apart. Warships had been built by corporations both to secure their worlds and to inflict and impose order. Then the Colonist arrived and with them came a new problem. Up to now Genetech’s Geman or genetically engineered humans had been living and working in the same cities they had built for the now fifteen million colonists that were making their way towards their new home. The problem was there wasn’t room for the colonists.
Genetech, which over the century had basically been taken over by humans who were genetically engineered, saw the old agreement signed by their corporate forbearers as not necessary. They refused entry to the Colonist on the grounds that AstrospaceX had been purchased by Takeda Corporation and thus the original requirements were void. Mr. Takeda stated that at the 11th hour which is a human colloquialism, which I learned references to something they called a doomsday clock, an agreement was reached where the fifteen million would be dispersed among all the worlds with the arkships to be dismantled or repurposed for the belters. At the same time, this formed the first Corporate Congress which seems to be the current ruling body of Human civilization. Mr Takeda then grew terser avoiding my eyes as he spoke, about the war with Earth.
Apparently, while Sagan had been a story of prosperity. It was prosperity for a chosen few relative to the population of Earth and the other free worlds of the Sol system. Billions of humans still barely survived on their homeworld while land and food were plenty on the Sagan worlds. Even the relocation of the sling gate to Earth did not aid in transit. The Corporate headquarters on Earth were seen as little more than ancestral roots. The rich and talented, the young, everyone was moving that could move.
This led to a populist uprising in the form of government that Mr. Takeda called a dictatorship under a charismatic leader that promised to take humanity's new cradle from the rich and powerful and give it to the people. The announcement came with the start of a war. Several corporations broke with the Corporate Congress as well as some of the belters who saw themselves as exploited. They quickly gained control of the slinggate, using ships constructed in the system to counter the firepower of the dreadnaughts and allow the smaller vessels from Sol to move in. In desperation, the remaining members of the corporate congress launched a counterattack against the slinggate. Eventually winning the area around it and pouting a halt to the Earth's invasion force. This was 300 years ago, almost within the span of one Minari lifetime. Earth, Sol did something that the Corporate Congress did not consider a viable method of war. They fired missiles through the slinggate, each the size of a small frigate targeting the Sagan worlds. One missile made impact on Sagan-6. It turned the planet uninhabitable killing nearly twenty-five million, mostly of the Genetech Corporation. After this the Corporate Congress made a decision that I have to admit is perhaps the most insane thing I have ever heard. They destroyed their own Slinggate effectively cutting themselves off from their homeworlds.
Faced with the prospect of being unable to leave the Sagan system and with a nearly unreachable smaller star system as close, it was the Takeda Corporation that turned resources to studying the Slinggate and determining a way to make the technology mobile. It took them one hundred years but they succeeded and nearly two hundred and five years ago a Takeda corporation vessel jumped home. When I inquired as to what they found, Mr Takeda stated that that was enough for one day but he had enjoyed our time together and we should speak again tomorrow. He bowed his head to me and I returned the gesture and left him.
I was traveling back to my docking birth when I encountered someone else. I have had twenty-seven children. All of them are grown so when I say it has been some time since I heard the laughter of the children it is not an understatement. Though sometimes politicians act like children. I heard the laughter before I saw its source. Children no older than young juveniles were running and chasing each other through the promenade. Following them was a single caregiver. A woman too young if I am judging humans correctly to have been a mother herself saw me and seemed taken aback. Her name was June, she was a school teacher and her kindergarten class was at recess. They were running to the park at the center of the station to play. After everything I had just heard it surprised me I guess to hear that humans had a concept of play. I introduced myself and she asked me a question. Her first encounter with a member of my species, do you want to know what she asked? I’ll tell you, she asked me, “If I was having a good day?” A curious question, I don’t believe I have ever actually qualified that before not in such simple terms. I said I didn’t know the day isn’t over. She said, “ That is why I said having, always a chance.” So I agreed that yes I was perhaps having a good day. She smiled a large smile, you could see her teeth, canines, humans were omnivores I hadn’t noticed that before as Mr. Takeda had a way of speaking that hid his teeth. I asked her if I could ask her a question and she obliged but didn’t have a lot of time as the children were further ahead of us than she would like. I asked her where she was from. She responded. “I am from Earth. But I lived on Sagan-6 before coming here. It was nice to meet you Mr Za’n.” She rushed off after a quick goodbye to catch the small children and I walked back to the ship. I am very interested in what Mr. Takeda has to say tomorrow. But I think, yes I had a good day June. At least until the Ar’kanarans start their evening howling.”
submitted by jgtengineer68 to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.05.27 04:48 mostreliablebottle If Best Picture was decided by Critics Polls (1940-2021)

Roughly 7 years ago u/TheGreatZiegfeld did an experiment of a post to determine what the best films of each year would be from 1940 to 2011 (before the 2012 S&S polls).
With the recently updated TSPDT and the 2022 S&S list, I decided to do the same from 1940 to 2021 regarding what critics thought were the best of each year.
Keep in mind this is all from a critics' poll, not from one specific critic's list. Also no short films or miniseries (meaning no Twin Peaks or Meshes of the Afternoon), as well as those from 2022 and beyond because of the last S&S poll.
With all that in mind, let's begin.
1940
Winner: His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks)
Other nominees: The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin), The Grapes of Wrath (John Ford), The Shop Around The Corner (Ernst Lubitsch), The Philadelphia Story (George Cukor)
1941
Winner: Citizen Kane (Orson Welles)
Other nominees: The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges), Sullivan's Travels (Preston Sturges), The Maltese Falcon (John Houston), How Green Was My Valley (John Ford)
1942
Winner: Casablanca (Michael Curtiz)
Other nominees: The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles), To Be Or Not To Be (Ernst Lubitsch), The Palm Springs Story (Preston Sturges), Cat People (Jacques Tourneur)
1943
Winner: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Powell and Pressburger)
Other nominees: Day of Wrath (Carl Theodor Dreyer), Shadow of a Doubt (Alfred Hitchcock), I Walked with a Zombie (Jacques Tourneur), Ossessione (Luchino Visconti)
1944
Winner: Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder)
Other nominees: Ivan the Terrible, Part I (Sergei Eisenstein), Meet Me in St. Louis (Vincente Minnelli), A Canterbury Tale (Powell and Pressburger), To Have and Have Not (Howard Hawks)
1945
Winner: Children of Paradise (Marcel Carné)
Other nominees: Rome, Open City (Roberto Rossellini), Brief Encounter (David Lean), I Know Where I'm Going (Powell and Pressburger) Les Dames du bois de Boulogne (Robert Bresson)
1946
Winner: It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra)
Other nominees: A Matter of Life and Death (Powell and Pressburger), Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock), My Darling Clementine (John Ford), Paisan (Roberto Rossellini)
1947
Winner: Black Narcissus (Powell and Pressburger)
Other nominees: Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur), Monsieur Verdoux (Charlie Chaplin), The Lady from Shanghai (Orson Welles), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
1948
Winner: Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica)
Other nominees: The Red Shoes (Powell and Pressburger), Letters from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls), Spring in a Small Town (Mu Fei), Germany Year Zero (Roberto Rossellini)
1949
Winner: The Third Man (Carol Reed)
Other nominees: Late Spring (Yasujirō Ozu), Kind Hearts and Coronets (Robert Hamer), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Ford), White Heat (Raoul Walsh)
1950
Winner Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa)
Other nominees; Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder), All About Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Los Olvidados (Luis Buñuel), In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray)
1951
Winner: The River (Jean Renoir)
Other nominees: Diary of a Country Priest (Robert Bresson), Miracle in Milan (Vittorio De Sica), Early Summer (Yasujirō Ozu), Strangers on a Train (Alfred Hitchcock)
1952
Winner: Singin' in the Rain (Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly)
Other nominees: Ikiru (Akira Kurosawa), Umberto D. (Vittorio De Sica), The Life of Oharu (Kenji Mizoguchi), The Quiet Man (John Ford)
1953
Winner: Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu)
Other nominees: Ugetsu (Kenji Mizoguchi), The Earrings of Madame de (Max Ophüls), The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli), Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (Jacques Tati)
1954
Winner: Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa)
Other nominees: Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock), Journey to Italy (Roberto Rossellini), La Strada (Federico Fellini), Sansho the Bailiff (Kenji Mizoguchi)
1955
Winner: Ordet (Carl Theodor Dreyer)
Other nominees: The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton), Pather Panchali (Satyajit Ray), All That Heaven Allows (Douglas Kirk), Floating Clouds (Mikio Naruse)
1956
Winner: The Searchers (John Ford)
Other nominees: A Man Escaped (Robert Bresson), Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk), Aparajito (Satyajit Ray), Bigger Than Life (Nicholas Ray)
1957
Winner: Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman)
Other nominees: The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman), Nights of Cabiria (Federico Fellini), Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa), Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick)
1958
Winner Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock)
Other nominees: Touch of Evil (Orson Welles), Ashes and Diamonds (Andrzej Wajda), Ivan the Terrible, Part II (Sergei Eisenstein), The Music Room (Satyajit Ray)
1959
Winner: The 400 Blows (François Truffaut)
Other nominees: Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder), North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock), Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks), Pickpocket (Robert Bresson)
1960
Winner: Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard)
Other nominees: Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock), La Dolce Vita (Federico Fellini), L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni), The Apartment (Billy Wilder)
1961
Winner: Viridiana (Luis Buñuel)
Other nominees: Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais), La Notte (Michelangelo Antonioni), West Side Story (Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins), Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa)
1962
Winner: Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean)
Other nominees: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford), Jules and Jim (François Truffaut), Cléo from 5 to 7 (Agnes Varda), L'Eclisse (Michelangelo Antonioni)
1963
Winner 8 1/2 (Federico Fellini)
Other nominees: Le Mepris (Jean-Luc Godard), The Leopard (Luchino Visconti), The Birds (Alfred Hitchcock), The Executioner (Luis García Berlanga)
1964
Winner: Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick)
Other nominees: Gertrud (Carl Theodor Dreyer), The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Pier Paolo Pasolini), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Jacques Demy), Black God, White Devil (Glauber Rocha)
1965
Winner: Pierrot Le Fou (Jean-Luc Godard)
Other nominees: Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles), Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (Sergei Parajanov), Le Bonheur (Agnes Varda), Doctor Zhivago (David Lean)
1966
Winner: Persona (Ingmar Bergman)
Other nominees: Andrei Rublev (Andrei Tarkovsky), Au Hasard Balthazar (Robert Bresson), The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo), Blow-Up (Michelangelo Antonioni)
1967
Winner: Playtime (Jacques Tati)
Other nominees: Mouchette (Robert Bresson), Le Samouraï (Jean-Pierre Melville), Belle de Jour (Luis Buñuel), The Graduate (Mike Nichols)
1968
Winner: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)
Other nominees: Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone), Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski), Memories of Underdevelopment (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea), Faces (John Cassavetes)
1969
Winner: The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah)
Other nominees: The Color of Pomegranates (Sergei Parajanov), Kes (Ken Loach), My Night at Maud's (Eric Rohmer), Army of Shadows (Jean-Pierre Melville)
1970
Winner: The Conformist (Bernado Bertolucci)
Other nominees: Wanda (Barbara Loden), Performance (Nicholas Roeg), Husbands (John Cassavetes), Tristana (Luis Buñuel)
1971
Winner: A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)
Other nominees: Death in Venice (Luchino Visconti), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (Robert Altman), A Touch of Zen (King Hu), Out 1 (Jacques Rivette)
1972
Winner: The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola)
Other nominees: Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Werner Herzog), Cries and Whispers (Ingmar Bergman), The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Luis Buñuel), Solaris (Andrei Tarkovsky)
1973
Winner: Amarcord (Federico Fellini)
Other nominees: The Mother and the Whore (Jean Eustache), The Spirit of the Beehive (Victor Erice), Don't Look Now (Nicholas Roeg), Badlands (Terrence Malick)
1974
Winner: The Godfather: Part II (Francis Ford Coppola)
Other nominees: Chinatown (Roman Polanski), A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Rainer Werner Fassbinder), Celine and Julie Go Boating (Jacques Rivette)
1975
Winner: Jeanne Dielman (Chantal Akerman)
Other nominees: Mirror (Andrei Tarkovsky), Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick), Nashville (Robert Altman), Jaws (Steven Spielberg)
1976
Winner: Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese)
Other nominees: News from Home (Chantal Akerman), Kings of the Road (Wim Wenders), In the Realm of Senses (Nagisa Oshima), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (John Cassavetes)
1977
Winner: Annie Hall (Woody Allen)
Other nominees: Star Wars (George Lucas), Close Encounter of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg), Eraserhead (David Lynch), The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko)
1978
Winner: Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett)
Other nominees: Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick), The Deer Hunter (Michael Cimino), The Tree of Wooden Clogs (Ermanno Olmi), In a Year with 13 Moons (Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
1979
Winner: Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola)
Other nominees: Stalker (Andrei Tarkovsky), Alien (Ridley Scott), Manhattan (Woody Allen), All That Jazz (Bob Fosse)
1980
Winner: Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese)
Other nominees: The Shining (Stanley Kubrick), The Empire Strike Back (Irvin Kershner), Heaven's Gate (Michael Cimino), The Elephant Man (David Lynch)
1981
Winner: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg)
Other nominees: Possession (Andrzej Żuławski), Blow Out (Brian de Palma), Mad Max 2 (George Miller), An American Werewolf in London (John Landis)
1982
Winner: Blade Runner (Ridley Scott)
Other nominees: Fanny and Alexander (Ingmar Bergman), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg), The Thing (John Carpenter), The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese)
1983
Winner: Sans Soleil (Chris Marker)
Other nominees: L'Argent (Robert Bresson), Videodrome (David Cronenberg), Nostalgia (Andrei Tarkovsky), A Nos Amours (Maurice Pialat)
1984
Winner: Once Upon a Time in America (Sergio Leone)
Other nominees: Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders), Love Streams (John Cassavetes), Amadeus (Milos Forman), Stranger Than Paradise (Jim Jarmusch)
1985
Winner: Shoah (Claude Lanzmann)
Other nominees: Come and See (Elem Klimov), Ran (Akira Kurosawa), Vagabond (Agnes Varda), Brazil (Terry Gilliam)
1986
Winner: Blue Velvet (David Lynch)
Other nominees: The Green Ray (Eric Rohmer), The Sacrifice (Andrei Tarkovsky), Aliens (James Cameron), Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen)
1987
Winner: Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders)
Other nominees: Where is the Friend's House (Abbas Kiarostami), The Dead (John Huston), Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson), Yeelen (Souleymanne Cisse)
1988
Winner: My Neighbor Totoro (Hayao Miyazaki)
Other nominees: Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore), Distant Voices, Still Lives (Terence Davies), The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris), Grave of the Fireflies (Isao Takahata)
1989
Winner: Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee)
Other nominees: A City of Sadness (Hou Hsiao-hsien), Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen), When Harry Met Sally (Rob Reiner), The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (Peter Greenaway)
1990
Winner: Close-Up (Abbas Kiarostami)
Other nominees: Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese), Days of Being Wild (Wong Kar-wai), An Angel at My Table (Jane Campion), Paris is Burning (Jessie Livingston)
1991
Winner: A Brighter Summer Day (Edward Yang)
Other nominees: Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash), The Double Life of Veronique (Krzysztof Kieslowski), The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme), Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou)
1992
Winner: Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood)
Other nominees: The Quince Tree Sun (Victor Erice), Orlando (Sally Potter), Life, and Nothing More (Abbas Kiarostami), Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino)
1993
Winner: The Piano (Jane Campion)
Other nominees: Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg), Three Colors: Blue (Krzysztof Kieslowski), Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis), The Puppetmaster (Hou Hsiao-hsien)
1994
Winner: Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino)
Other nominees: Satantango (Bela Tarr), Chungking Express (Wong Kar-wai), Three Colors: Red (Krzysztof Kieslowski), Through the Olive Tree (Abbas Kiarostami)
1995
Winner: Heat (Michael Mann)
Other nominees: Underground (Emir Kusturica), Safe (Todd Haynes), Casino (Martin Scorsese), Dead Man (Jim Jarmusch)
1996
Winner: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier)
Other nominees: Fargo (Joel Coen), A Moment of Innocence (Mohsen Makhmalbaf), Secrets and Lies (Mike Leigh), Crash (David Cronenberg)
1997
Winner: Taste of Cherry (Abbas Kiarostami)
Other nominees: Happy Together (Wong Kar-wai), Lost Highway (David Lynch), Boogie Nights (Paul Thomas Anderson), Princess Mononoke (Hayao Miyazaki)
1998
Winner: Histoire(s) du Cinema (Jean-Luc Godard)
Other nominees: The Thin Red Line (Terrence Malick), The Big Lebowski (Joel Coen), The Celebration (Thomas Vinterberg), Flowers of Shanghai (Hou Hsiao-hsien)
1999
Winner: Beau Travail (Claire Denis)
Other nominees: Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson), The Matrix (Wachowskis), Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick), All About My Mother (Pedro Almodovar)
2000
Winner: In The Mood for Love (Wong Kar-wai)
Other nominees: Yi Yi (Edward Yang), The Gleaners and I (Agnes Varda), Werckmeister Harmonies (Bela Tarr), In Vanda's Room (Pedro Costa)
2001
Winner: Mulholland Drive (David Lynch)
Other nominees: Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki), La Ciénaga (Lucrecia Martel), A.I: Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg), The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson)
2002
Winner: City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
Other nominees: Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks (Wang Bing), Talk to Her (Pedro Almodovar), Russian Ark (Aleksandr Sukurov), Morvern Callar (Lynne Ramsay)
2003
Winner: Goodbye, Dragon Inn (Tsai Ming-liang)
Other nominees: Dogville (Lars von Trier), Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola), Elephant (Gus van Sant), Oldboy (Park Chan-wook)
2004
Winner: Tropical Malady (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
Other nominees: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry), The Intruder (Claire Denis), Before Sunset (Richard Linklater), Sideways (Alexander Payne)
2005
Winner: Caché (Michael Haneke)
Other nominees: The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Cristi Puiu), Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee), The New World (Terrence Malick), Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog)
2006
Winner: Syndromes and a Century (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
Other nominees: Inland Empire (David Lynch), Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro), The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck), Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron)
2007
Winner: There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson)
Other nominees: No Country for Old Men (Coens), Zodiac (David Fincher), Silent Light (Carlos Reygadas), 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (Cristian Mungiu)
2008
Winner: The Headless Woman (Lucrecia Martel)
Other nominees: WALL-E (Andrew Stanton), Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman), The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan), Hunger (Steve McQueen)
2009
Winner: The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke)
Other nominees: A Prophet (Jacques Audiard), Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold), Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino), Avatar (James Cameron)
2010
Winner: Uncle Boonmee (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
Other nominees: Nostalgia for the Light (Patricio Guzman), The Social Network (David Fincher), Mysteries of Lisbon (Raul Ruiz), Meek's Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt)
2011
Winner: The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)
Other nominees: A Separation (Asghar Farhadi), Melancholia (Lars von Trier), The Turin Horse (Bela Tarr), Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)
2012
Winner: Holy Motors (Leos Carax)
Other nominees: The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer), The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson), Amour (Michael Haneke), Tabu (Miguel Gomes)
2013
Winner: Under the Skin (Jonathan Glazer)
Other nominees: The Great Beauty (Paolo Sorrentino), Blue is the Warmest Color (Abdellatif Kechiche), Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski), 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
2014
Winner: Boyhood (Richard Linklater)
Other nominees: Goodbye to Language (Jean-Luc Godard), The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson), Girlhood (Celine Sciamma), Interstellar (Christopher Nolan)
2015
Winner: Mad Max; Fury Road (George Miller)
Other nominees: Carol (Todd Haynes), Cemetery of Splendor (Apichatpong Weerasethakul), The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien), No Home Movie (Chantal Akerman)
2016
Winner: Moonlight (Barry Jenkins)
Other nominees: Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade), American Honey (Andrea Arnold), Arrival (Denis Villeneuve), Certain Women (Kelly Reichardt)
2017
Winner: Get Out (Jordan Peele)
Other nominees: Zama (Lucrecia Martel), Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson), You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsay), Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)
2018
Winner: Roma (Alfonso Cuaron)
Other nominees: Happy as Lazzaro (Alice Rohrwacher), Burning (Lee Chang-dong), An Elephant Sitting Still (Hu Bo), Shoplifters (Hirokazu Kore-eda)
2019
Winner: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Celine Sciamma)
Other nominees: Parasite (Bong Joon-ho), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino), Atlantics (Mati Diop), First Cow (Kelly Reichardt)
2020
Winner: Nomadland (Chloe Zhao)
Other nominees: Time (Garrett Bradley), Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Eliza Hitman), Days (Tsai Ming-liang), Quo Vadis, Aida? (Jasmila Zbanic)
2021
Winner: Petite Maman (Celine Sciamma)
Other nominees: The Power of the Dog (Jane Campion), Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguchi), Titane (Julia Docournau), Memoria (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
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