Average temperature in tennessee in july

I see alot of answers in the 4ish years range, but from my understanding this is if you pursure producing as a hobby. If you had all the help in the world and were willing to commit every waking hour to mastering this craft how long would it take?
For this hypothetical our producer is essentially the david goggins of producing, so will not get burnt out and will not stop until they are at a level where the average listener can't distinguish them from a true master.

Not sure if expiration is the right word, but I did a balance transfer with 0% APR a few months ago, but I am finding trouble finding when I’ll start paying APR again. Is there anywhere on the website that I’m missing, or can I call customer service? I checked my emails, and can’t find anything about it. I’m pretty sure it’s 9 months and I started the transfer in late October. I’m mostly looking for an exact date. Just play it safe I’m gonna pay it off before July, but I really wish it was more clear. But I’m sure it’s intentionally hard to figure it out.

20y/o guitarist/bassist looking to form band quite like sonic youth, using alt. tunings but retaining the energy and melody in the songs. another band i really take inspiration from is julie.
i’m based in the SGV/ LA county but i can travel around quite freely.
not interested in being a tribute or cover band.
looking for people ages 18-24

So, my lil fluffer, decided it's a good idea to rip open her hidey, which is made out of textile materials, which kept her nice and cozy during the winter. Temperature's fine in my room, where she resides, but just in case she got cold at times, this seemed like a good idea.
Now, the thing's open enough you can easily see fibers...
She got used to having this cozy thing, and now she keeps trying to munch angrily on her old hidey, which was a basic wood bridge. Annoys me endlessly with the sound alone. Don't think she can actually get through the wood itself, but still.
Question is, what do you think of having no hidey? She's very used to me, spending every waking hour with me basically, sleeping eyes closed near me, cuddles up to me, yawning, eating from my hand, yelling for attention, the whole shabang.

I am a student at the University of Tasmania, looking to apply for honours in History for 2024. For context, I have a mental health disability, which generally does not greatly affect my academic performance. In 2020-21, however, I was significantly affected and my grades during that period reflected it. I am still at a mid 80s average within the 6 best subjects within my History major, but my WAM will only be slightly above the minimum requisite 70. I can see that there is the SEAS scheme for entrance to undergrad, and the GAM scheme for entrance to Masters; is there any equivalent for the Honours year? I am generally a well-performing student but I'm aware that the period of poor marks - overwhelmingly outside of my major - will rightfully stand out in my application.
Maybe it would be best to apply for Honours in Tasmania then see if I can apply to Unimelb for graduate study? I appreciate any advice!

20y/o guitarist/bassist looking to form band quite like sonic youth, using alt. tunings but retaining the energy and melody in the songs.
i’m based in the SGV but i can travel around freely.
another band i really take inspiration from is julie.
looking for people ages 18-24

Hello guardians.
I'm relatively new to Destiny 2 and I've just reached 1809 power level (1801 + 8). I've got a couple of questions about power level.

1. My understanding is that the only way I can get gear with a power level higher than mine (1802+) is through pinnacle gear drops. What I don't know though is, will my current powerful drops be at my power level (1801, scaling up as I get more pinnacle drops and increase my average power level) or will they always be capped at 1800
   
2. I can see that on my seasonal rewards the gear unlocks are at my current average power level. Is this 'locked in' at the point that the seasonal level is achieved, or will the power level of the item continue to scale to my average lower level until I actually claim it
   

Cheers

The expected date of Hajj this year is 26 June 2023 to 1 July 2023.
Hajj is performed over five to six days, from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar
When did Hajj become an Obligation?
The obligation of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, was established during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the year 9 AH (After Hijrah). It was during this year that the Prophet received a revelation from Allah instructing Muslims to perform Hajj. The revelation came in the form of a verse from the Quran:
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Quran 3:97)
From that moment onwards, Hajj became a religious obligation for all Muslims who have the physical and financial means to undertake the journey. It is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting during Ramadan, and giving charity.
The Significance of Hajj in the Life of a Muslim:
Hajj holds immense significance in the life of a Muslim. It is a transformative journey that not only strengthens one's faith but also brings about spiritual growth and self-reflection. Here are a few key reasons why Hajj is considered so important:

1. Fulfillment of Religious Obligation: Hajj is a fundamental religious duty for Muslims. By fulfilling this obligation, believers demonstrate their obedience to Allah and their commitment to practicing Islam in its entirety.
2. Unity of the Muslim Ummah: Hajj serves as a unifying force for the global Muslim community. Muslims from different countries, races, and backgrounds come together in Mecca, dressed in the same attire, performing the same rituals, and reciting the same prayers. This unity showcases the diversity within Islam and reinforces the sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims.
3. Spiritual Purification and Forgiveness: Hajj provides a unique opportunity for Muslims to seek forgiveness and cleanse their souls. Through the rigorous physical and spiritual acts of worship, pilgrims engage in self-reflection, repentance, and supplication. It is a time to seek forgiveness from Allah and strive for spiritual purification.
4. Commemoration of Prophetic Legacy: Hajj is deeply rooted in the legacy of the Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham) and Muhammad (peace be upon them). It is a commemoration of the trials, sacrifices, and devotion of these prophets and their families. Muslims retrace the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim, who built the Kaaba, and perform rituals that symbolize his unwavering faith and obedience to Allah.

The Rituals of Hajj
Hajj consists of several rituals that pilgrims perform during their journey. These rituals are deeply symbolic and hold significant spiritual meaning. Some of the key rituals include:
The Ninteen Steps of Hajj At A Glance

1. Preparation and Intention: Before embarking on the Hajj journey, pilgrims make necessary preparations and declare their intention to perform the pilgrimage solely for the sake of Allah.
2. Enter the State of Ihram: Upon reaching the designated boundary known as the Miqat, pilgrims enter the state of Ihram by wearing the prescribed clothing (for men) and observing the necessary restrictions. This state signifies the beginning of the pilgrimage.
3. Tawaf x7: Pilgrims perform Tawaf by circumambulating the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Mecca seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. This act symbolizes the unity of Muslims and their devotion to Allah.
4. Safa and Marwa: After Tawaf, pilgrims proceed to the hills of Safa and Marwa and walk or run seven times between them, retracing the steps of Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). This commemorates her search for water for her infant son, Ismail (Ishmael).
5. Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah ends): At this stage, pilgrims complete the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) by either clipping a small portion of their hair or completely shaving their heads, symbolizing the completion of a major part of the pilgrimage.
6. Resting and Praying: Pilgrims rest, pray, and engage in supplication, seeking spiritual rejuvenation and connection with Allah.
7. Enter the State of Ihram: After resting, pilgrims re-enter the state of Ihram, preparing for the main rites of Hajj.
8. Arrive at Mina: Pilgrims move to Mina, a small town near Mecca, where they spend the day and night in preparation for the following day's events.
9. Day of 'Arafah: On the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat. They engage in prayer, supplication, and reflection, seeking forgiveness and spiritual elevation. This day is considered the most important part of Hajj.
10. Muzdalifah (Under the night sky): After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night under the open sky. They collect pebbles here for the next ritual.
11. Rami (Stoning of the devil): Pilgrims return to Mina and engage in the ritual of stoning, symbolizing the rejection of evil temptations. They throw pebbles at three pillars representing Satan.
12. Hady: Pilgrims sacrifice an animal, typically a sheep or goat, in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah.
13. Shaving of the Head: Pilgrims shave their heads or trim their hair, marking the completion of the main rituals of Hajj. This act signifies humility and purity.
14. Tawaf al-Ifadha: Pilgrims return to Mecca to perform Tawaf al-Ifadha, another circumambulation of the Kaaba, and offer additional prayers.
15. Saai': Following Tawaf al-Ifadha, pilgrims perform Saai'—walking or running between Safa and Marwa seven times, replicating the actions of Hajar in her search for water.
16. Rami (Stoning of the devil): Returning to Mina, pilgrims engage in the stoning ritual once again, throwing pebbles at the three pillars representing Satan.
17. Spend the Night at Mina: Pilgrims spend another night in Mina, engaged in worship and reflection.
18. Rami (Stoning of the devil): On the 11th and 12th day of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims stone the three pillars in Mina once more, symbolizing their commitment to resist evil.
19. Farewell Tawaf al-Wida': Before leaving Mecca, pilgrims perform Tawaf al-Wida', the Farewell Tawaf, bidding farewell to the Kaaba and concluding their pilgrimage. It is a final act of devotion and gratitude.

Hajj 2023, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. It is a journey that encapsulates faith, devotion, unity, and self-reflection. Through its rituals, Hajj allows Muslims to deepen their spiritual connection with Allah, seek forgiveness, and renew their commitment to live a righteous life. As millions of pilgrims prepare for this sacred journey, it is a time of great anticipation and spiritual transformation. May Hajj 2023 be a blessed and transformative experience for all those embarking on this remarkable pilgrimage.

[putting here because this was definitely written by a dude with a small penis]
So to start off, me(24) and my boyfriend(25) have been together since we were in school. He’s the only guy I’ve ever been with and I actually lost my virginity to him. He had one previous girlfriend before me but other than that it’s pretty much been just us two since the beginning. Without dragging this on too much with details, one day he asks me if I would want to be in a threesome with us and another guy. We’re both pretty open minded so I said yes. We downloaded a hook up app and found someone that was attractive to me.
So it’s the day of and we’re hanging out with the guy and getting to know him a little and then after we get a hotel room and the fun starts to happen. So for context I’m super small. I’m 4’10 and weigh 110 and my boyfriend is 5’9 and weighs 180. The main problem with sex for me and him is his size. His penis is kinda big and more often than not hurts like hell when we’re having sex but can still be pleasurable at times. When our third pulled his penis out he was just average so I’m thinking to myself “oh great”. NO. As much as it hurts me to say this, that was the best sex I have ever experienced. I didn’t feel like I was being ripped apart and he didn’t have to go slow. I had to hold most of my pleasure in during sex with him because I didn’t want to hurt my boyfriend. I’m so confused as to what to think or do. I really love my boyfriend, but the sex with him is just not great and is painful most of the time. I’m not sure if I should bring this up to him or how to bring it up to him without hurting him. I honestly wish he never would’ve brought the idea up of a threesome and wish we never would have done it. Any advice?

Hi all, I'd love to get some feedback on this app.
It uses current and forecast weather conditions (including solar radiation, wind, temperature and humidity) to create estimated drying times for laundry.
There are 3 different drying time estimates to account for various fabric types (from light fabrics such as bedsheets to heavy fabrics such as thick towels). The aim is that the drying time for the majority of fabrics should fall close to the middle "typical fabrics" estimate.
There is a subscription option that extends the number of days on the forecast tab, but everything else is included in the ad-supported version.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/laundry-timeid6444082143

I'm at a total loss now. It has been 3 months since my world fell apart. I have come to the conclusion that my ex is a covert narcissist. We had been together 11 years, were sleeping together until February this year and now he is living in our family home and has moved his new gf in. I worry I am a narcissist all the time.
When I (35, F) first met him (34, M), he love bombed me. He came back to my house one night and didn't leave. He told me he was in love with me not even 2 months in. Proposed after 5 months. Bought myself and my friends presents. I thought I was so lucky, he loved me so much, he put me up on such a pedestal. I used to joke that one day the love bubble for him would pop when he realised I was not perfect like he thought I was. I grew up with an abusive and absent father and my mother died when I was 11. He had a great big family that I was so desperate to be a part of.
I made many mistakes, I didn't trust how much 'he loved me' and at the beginning was still interested in someone else. He told me he would leave me if I didn't go and get some help. I have PTSD, anxiety and depression, amongst other things. I don't remember when it started, but I felt disconnected from him emotionally. I couldn't talk to him and he would often refuse to talk about issues we had. Instead encouraged me constantly to go to therapy, not to talk about our issues, but to deal with my trauma that was 'ruining the relationship'. I sought solace in a friend at work and formed an inappropriate emotional bond with him. I admitted this to my partner, who said he forgave me and we moved past it.
We looked and booked so many places for weddings, but they never eventuated. His mother was horrible to me, called me a gold digger and said I made no contribution to society because I wasn't keeping down a steady job. This caused a massive fall out, where I refused to speak to her or see her. He eventually convinced me that I had to go and make peace with her to calm the situation down and 'this is just what she is like'.
I got pregnant 4 years after we got together. I suffered a very traumatic pregnancy and had horrible pre and post natal depression. Ex did not come to many appointments and I was frequently in hospital. Both my sister and father moved in at different stages when I had a newborn because my partner was working all the time and rarely helped.
His mother and step father gave us a deposit for a house, on the proviso we moved to their suburb. MIL started being nice to me again, I guess because I gave her a grandchild. I had no say in the house chosen, partner and inlaws made the decision together.
Partner decided to leave his place of work and start a new business shortly after. He did not ask me what I thought about it, he and the inlaws decided it was the best thing. I had a 6 month old and post natal depression. We moved into the new house, which we did a little work on. I started wanting to leave him, he was never home or helpful and we would fight constantly. He started criticising me 'as a joke' constantly. I felt like nothing I did was good enough for him. But I was terrified of not having this family we had created or be alone. I did all the admin for his business for 4 years. The problems continued, 2.5 years later I got pregnant again. I felt his total lack on interest in this pregnancy. Again, I was on hospital frequently, towing a 2.5 year old along with me. I was admitted due to horrible pains, my friend took me to the hospital as partner was going to his brothers bachelor party. I had gallstones, but could not be operated on due to being too far along in the pregnancy. He then went overseas for the wedding for 4 days while I stayed home with a high risk pregnancy and toddler.
We fought more, then covid happened. At first it seemed ok. Then he started smoking weed again, listening to podcasts, refusing to get vaccinated, which put our home at jeopardy. He would rant and scream about the lockdowns and the rest of it. Eventually he got the vaccines and now says he is 'vaccine injured.'
After covid, I left him, I couldn't handle it anymore. I then found out I had a brain condition called IIH. We decided to stay together until we knew what was going on. He was completely absent from our lives. I was studying, working, raising two children, both who are neurodivergent. The house fell apart. I couldn't clean anymore. My dogs destroyed the floors, my children and I stayed in our bedrooms. I was horrible depressed and couldn't do anymore than I already was. He saw us for maybe an hour or so every night? Started working more on weekends, smoking more weed and was very aggressive.
Last year in July, I called an end to it. I said I wanted to move into a rental, he said it wasn't fair that he was left with a house that was falling apart. I stayed at the house with the children and he moved to his mums house 5 mins away. We continued to sleep together and do things as a family. We made a deal that I would see a therapist, he would see a therapist and then we would see one together. At the end of it, we would decide whether we would stay together or not. From July to February this year, I made it clear to him that I loved him desperately and wanted to stay together. We continued to have sex, he said he was 'helping me out'. I thought it meant we still had a future. I worked on all the things he asked for. I was much more attentive, physically, emotionally and sexually.
In January his attitude towards me changed dramatically. His parents decided to move to a different state and sell their house. He suddenly started hanging out with a female friend that had been overseas for a long time. I asked him about it and was told 'she is gay and lime a sister to me.' We had agreed to fix the house together and then decide what to do with it. He was living at his parents at this time. He said I should move out to a rental with the boys, he would move back into the house and fix it up. I found a rental and signed the lease the next day. He helped me move everything in. He was oh so nice. Then he stopped talking to me. He stopped seeing the children. Every second weekend he would take them, and they would spend the entire time with his new 'friend as well'.
I have now lost track of what happened in what month because it was so traumatising. But since then he took my elderly dog to the vet, who was still living at out family home, told them that I had abandoned the dog at his home and they should put it down. I found this out when the council called me and told me my dog was at the pound. He told me I should give him the house because I have done nothing to deserve it, and in return he will give me the car. A car that I use everyday to take my kids to school and appointments. This caused massive amounts of friction between us. He would call me unstable, said that he couldn't be around me when I was projecting such negativity. At the same time, he was taking his new 'friend' to all his friends and family events. When I left the family home, I left it in a hurry and in a mess. I hadn't been able to get back to the house to sort it out because I had the kids 24/7. So he took his mum and stepdad there, told them I had destroyed this house and it was all my fault. They hated me again. Cut me off, I wasn't allowed at their house anymore. Told people I was an evil bitch. He and his parents then told everyone their side of the story, and I effectively lost all my (his) extended family.
8 weeks ago, his mum and stepdad left for another state. Shortly before this, he confessed he was in a relationship with his 'friend'. We had recently had a discussion about not inteoducing the childten to any partners for at least 3 months. She spent every weekend with them. I don't know how long this had been going on for. He told me if I didn't give him the house, he would move in with her. 2 weeks after being together, they moved into our family home and 'fell in love'.
He refuses to see his children apart from every second weekend. He pays a certain amount of child support, but not as much as he should be paying. He doesn't come to any appointments for the children and brings his new gf whenever he drops off the children or picks them up. My eldest has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Ex refuses to give him medication when child is with him.
I am struggling so much with money because I signed a lease, stupidly, on a house that I couldn't really afford, but believed him when he said he would pay part. There are weeks where he earns $4000. We had a fight about him taking the children away and not telling me where. My lawyer told me that wasn't ok, I passed the message onto him. So he took it upon himself to show up at my lawyers office and demand to speak to them. Efforts at legal and mediations have been refused by him. He would vaguely threaten me by saying I would regret it and I had no idea how bad it would get if I did.
I can't catch my breath. I feel like curling up into a ball and not getting up. I worry that I am the narcissist because I would get so angry at him, call him names, was terrible with our finances. I have no strength left to fight anymore. I am hesrt broken, terrified and have no support. I feel like I am on the verge of a total emotional breakdown.
If you have any words of wisdom, any advice, anything that will help, please share with me. Am I a narcissist?
I'm so sorry this is so long.

Hi all, I'd love to get some feedback on this app.
It uses current and forecast weather conditions (including solar radiation, wind, temperature and humidity) to create estimated drying times for laundry.
There are 3 different drying time estimates to account for various fabric types (from light fabrics such as bedsheets to heavy fabrics such as thick towels). The aim is that the drying time for the majority of fabrics should fall close to the middle "typical fabrics" estimate.
There is a subscription option that extends the number of days on the forecast tab, but everything else is included in the ad-supported version.
The Android version has been out for a few months now, but I've since added new features along with an iOS version:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/laundry-timeid6444082143 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.solarr.drytimer

I don't understand how I'm paid anymore
Surge is some stupid fucking game where you have to force close driver app and use pax app or it will never be where you are
Every trick in the book and this gig is at best $36/hr before expenses. After expenses it's minimum wage.
Basically I don't understand the rules to the game anymore. The water is intentionally being made murky regarding what passengers pay and what drivers earn. Half of the posts here are people trying to rationally disect an algo that does irrational shit. It's maddening.
Reject trips get 4.33 pax
Accept trips make nothing
$24 + $10 promo + base fare (lowered when you have surge because that's legal somehow) doesn't cut it to justify driving huge events and navigating traffic.
How is my pay a missing information game, where surge disappears I've earned too much.$40 surge to $0. Lol get fucked Uber.
No multiplier has made Uber become unbeatable.
There's no carrot on a stick. Just a occasional $40 surge that will average out to at best $36/hr long term.
Surge is generated like a slot machine almost.
Surge disappears even when no drivers have logged in the area. It's just used to position drivers wherever they anticipate demand.
Passengers can pay 5x multiplier and the most you'll ever make is $30ish surge plus base rates maybe but who the fuck knows because you don't have a rate card anymore somehow so instead of the scope of work determining the pay Uber determines the pay for you.
It's an unbeatable game.

Thanks to "Sithking Zero" on the NoP Discord for editing help.
Memory transcription subject: Tellek , Farmer
Date [standardized human time]: January 19th, 2137
Has it really come to this, am I really this desperate?
I was, for all intents and purposes, broke. The last harvest had been terrible, in addition to the one before that, which was practically a deathblow for my new farmstead. The debts and missed payments had started to pile up, and I was one more bad harvest away from going completely bankrupt.
Like so many farmers before me, I was becoming another victim of the 5 harvest curse.
I told you that starting a new farm was a bad idea.
What was I supposed to do, brain, keep working in the office until I died?
I sat on my chair, surrounded by other farmers who were presumably in similar states of desperation, the room we were in akin to the schoolrooms I had been in as a pup; a desk and whiteboard up front sitting in front of the rows of chairs. Most of the twenty or so figures around me were fellow Venlil, except for a handful of Gojid and even a single Yotul who was sitting in the back, all of us awaiting the start of the ‘lesson’.
They claimed they had a solution to our problem, that they knew how to increase our yields. How could a predator know how to fix our farming issues?.
Human. Human Human Human Human. Not a predator.
Yes yes I know, I’m trying to be better about that.
I stopped my train of thought and corrected myself. Ever since the revelations about many of our allies being former predators, I had been making an effort to stop thinking of the world in terms of predator and prey. It was difficult at times, but given that I was working against a lifetimes worth of lies, I thought I was making good progress..
But even if “Predator” wasn’t the curse it used to be, how could a human claim to know how to fix our farming issues? Even if we ignored the differences between our diets, for all their advantages, humans were still far below our technological advancements.
Almost on cue, the door to the room opened up, and the figure of the human who had invited us here entered with an enthusiastic bounce, caring two large cases covered with black cloth
Unlike most, this human was unmasked, its piercing eyes and beaming teeth filled smile visible for all to see. I could feel the room start to fill with panic. Sure, logically I knew I was probably safe, but seeing the unmasked features of an apex predator caused fear to grip the edge of my heart.
I could proudly say I can walk past and interact with masked humans without wanting to flee anymore, but seeing those forward-facing eyes boring a hole into my soul was another task altogether.
Come on, you should be better than this.
I’m trying, ok!
"Hello everyone. My name is Joseph. I'm an ecology student, and I'm here to provide a solution to your farming yields." The human spoke with an unbridled joy, seeming to wait a moment while our translators attempted to explain what Ecology was, stopping half way through and seemingly giving up.
“You might be wondering why I’m unmasked, well we’re going to be covering a lot of ‘predatory’ concepts today, so if you can’t handle this? We’re gonna have bigger problems.” Joseph took a moment to broadly gesture to himself, leaving a feeling of dread to start in the pit of my stomach.
If this was just the start, what exactly was going to happen here?
Silence! Wait and see, knowing humans it’s probably interesting at the very least.
“I’ve finally been given authorization to start a trial of this program. Both the UN and Venlil governments are very interested in increasing food supply for both our people. As you might know we’re kinda at war, and logistics wins wars.”
The human paused for a moment, a shiver running around most of the room as he gave a large beaming smile.
“So to start: paws, claws, or tails up if you know about the ‘5 harvest curse.’”
The room immediately was filled with Federation species all raising their prospective limbs in affirmation. Of course we all knew what it was, that was why most of us were here.
How would the human know about that?
Basic research, simple reading, asking literally any farmer?
“Fantastic! I’m still going to explain it so we’re all on the same page. The ‘5 harvest curse’ is a phenomenon where new farms on Venlil prime often fail within the first five harvests. On a side note, the coincidental fact that five has a religious contention in Venlil culture is neat.”
I could feel an annoyance start to course through me, that the affliction currently driving me to destitution was being described as ‘neat’ by the callous predator. I mean human.
Stupid human.
Joseph either didn’t pick up or ignored my annoyance as he pressed a button, a graph appearing on the whiteboard showing expected yields over time, continuing on in his seemingly endless enthusiasm.
“So in general the five harvest curse follows a standard pattern of yields, with the first two harvests being up to 52% larger than even more established farms, plummeting after that until the business is non-viable and collapses. Officially the reason for this is unknown, with some vague religious stupidity about new farms being too far away from the center of the habitable strip.”
This was nothing new to me, I remembered feeling the joy of the sheer output from my first harvest, of wondering if I could finally make something of myself, a joy that had been whittled down as my last two harvests had been pitiful.
“However there’s an interesting thing, if you also plot the number of predator sightings during this time against the yields, you can see a direct correlation between number of predators and the success of each harvest.”
Wait, what? Is this human trying to say that predators… increase harvest? That can’t be right, that can’t be right at all. That would be insanity.
The data is literally there in front of you.
Yet it was there on the screen, a second graph had appeared on the whiteboard, tracking predator sightings over time in each of the farms afflicted by the curse.
“This tracks with most farms' general lifecycle. You buy a plot of untamed land on the edge of the habitable zone but you don’t have enough money to go full anti-predator. As the harvests come in you end up spending more and inadvertently messing it up.”
This caused a small amount of murmuring and energetic rejection by myself and the other members of the room, wiping away the previous undercurrent of fear. It was insanity, it went against everything I had ever known or been taught about farming and how the world worked. How could a predator of all things be beneficial?
Didn’t the introduction of humans also go against everything I had ever known or been taught about?
“If this effect is so obvious, how has nobody found this before?”
The sound of a Venlil challenging Joseph was greeted by murmurs of agreement from the group, causing the human to give a different kind of smile. Not a smile of joy or excitement as had been seen before, but the smile of someone who had something for this.
“Because you have. 150 years ago, a Venlil named Slavek wrote a paper regarding this. 119 years ago, Vicktal did the same. As well as Traval, Stralan, and Vilkin in between then and now. Those are just the ones I’ve found. Who can guess what happened to them?”
There was a pause, before the uplift in the back spoke up for the first time, a surety in the Yotul’s voice.
“They were diagnosed with predator disease.”
Joseph pointed at the Yotul in the back with both hands, the joy radiating from him.
“Based Space Kangaroo gets 10 points for being correct! Yep the federation has been actively suppressing anything that suggests that predators are more than some kind of eldritch evil, that and your surprising lack of hydroponics causes most planets to be dependent on the core worlds for food imports. Probably by design for control.”
Wait… that’s a good point, why aren’t we using hydroponics?
The human took a moment to switch to the next slide, showing a simple three part cycle.
“Most healthy ecological systems are made up of three parts: Plants, which are eaten by herbivores, which are in turn eaten by carnivores. In reality actual systems are far more complex than these, but as a basic understanding this will suffice. These three parts keep each other in check, each part dependent on the other, which-”
“Are you trying to say that predator attacks are a good thing? Are you suffering from predator disease?! ”
The Venlil interrupted once again to more murmured agreement, causing Joseph to give a sigh of clear annoyance in response. I wished the Venlil would shut up and just let the human talk.
“No, I’m not suggesting we airdrop a bunch of Nissa into the Capital, I'm explaining how natural systems work. Sapience obviously breaks this cycle, which if you deviate too far, you end up with something called trophic cascade."
The human seemed to wait a moment for the translator to once again fail to explain the meaning of the phrase.
I wonder how many basic concepts the federation lacks words for…
"Rather simply, the removal of one of these pieces has wider effects, reducing biodiversity and in many cases causing a complete ecological collapse. An example of this is the dust bowl effect, something the federation is well acquainted with."
There was a moment before the whiteboard changed before showing pictures of desolate barren worlds. Without any explanation I knew exactly what I was looking at. It was one of the… lesser talked about aspects of the federation.
"The Skivit grand herd are a species who go from planet to planet stripping ecosystems bare, devouring everything down to the smallest sapling. This removes important root systems that act as drainage, causing flooding and deserts to form as new plantlife lacks the structure to grow. In many cases these ecosystems are permanently destroyed, turning once lush planets into lifeless husks”.
I couldn’t help but feel sorrow for those planets. It was well known the impact the Skivit had on planets, once thriving planets of beauty. Although if I was following this human’s logic correctly did that mean…
“Now I’m not suggesting that the Skivit need a predator, that would be immoral.” Joseph cut off the thought I was about to have, seemingly understanding the logical thought many of us had picked up on. “But instead this is a real life example of damage an unchecked herbivore can have on ecosystems. If the Skivit didn’t have FTL travel they would have long ago driven themselves to starvation under their current society. It’s also not the only form of this trophic cascade.”
“Surely this doesn’t just apply to prey? Or are you saying prey are somehow inferior?”
The sound of the Gojid cutting in was filled with an unspoken challenge against the idea, inciting general sounds of agreement from those around him. Surprisingly however, Joseph seemed to respond positively.
“That is entirely correct, an overabundance of carnivorous species can also cause their own issues. Keep in mind what I’m describing here is an extremely simplified version, just the addition or removal of a single species can cause untold damage and harm to the diversity of ecological systems as the impacts are felt in the most seemingly unlikely cases.”
With that the human reached under the desk, taking one of the two covered containers he had brought with him and placing it into view.
“In Venlil Prime’s case, while the impact of Federation thinking has been reduced due to the day and night sides being mostly untouched, you still have the problem of overpopulation of certain species, and a lack of reasonable fear response from certain prey species. This has accumulated into the problem you all face.”
With that he removed the cover, causing a surge of fear to ripple through the participants around me until we all calmed down at what was underneath: A small cage, containing a single red bird busily eating seeds.
All farmer’s arch nemesis.
“This is a Flowerbird, a seed eating avian often coming in solid red, blue, or green. They are adorable, dumb as a sack of bricks and food motivated to a fault. They are also one of the biggest causes of farm yield destruction, with these birds alone being responsible for around about 41% of all losses. If we include Voidpins and other similar wildlife, farms can have up to 94% of their yield destroyed before they even get to harvest.”
Everyone in this room was familiar with the cursed avians. While your average city dweller would enjoy the sight of a flock of Flowerbirds, the farming community knew of them as a blight that devastated crops.
Joseph took a moment to open the cage, reaching inside and grabbing the bird. A small part of me wondered if he was about to devour it in front of us, before I tamped down on such an illogical idea. Of course the humans wouldn’t, we knew they didn’t do that. The Flowerbird also seemed completely unfazed about being in the meaty grasp of a predator, simply continuing to eat.
“Even worse, these things have basically zero fear response to noises and large beasts, probably due to all major predators having been removed. As you can see this specimen doesn’t mind a ‘scary predator’ grabbing it. As long as it has food, it couldn’t care less. This makes pest control tricky, as scaring them away is no longer an option. Poisons would be used in such a case, but they can have wider ranging effects, and poisoning prey is considered ‘Predatory’, not that many of you haven’t tried ‘accidentally’ leaving potential pesticides out.”
This caused a sway of discomfort to sweep through the room, tails switching in guilty movements as everyone tried to hide the truth of this human’s words. I knew I personally had considered such actions in desperation.
I mean, would ‘accidently’ leaving out a known poisonous chemical really be a sign of predator disease?
“Ha! I know enough tail language to know I’m right, that’s guilt isn’t it? I’ve read your internet, I know your discussions on loopholes about what is and isn’t predatory!” Joseph cried out in triumph as many of the Venlil of the room reached out to grab their traitorous appendages. “Now normally I would just tell people to stop being idiots, but in this case we can’t do that. Ironically because predators are actually dangerous. Because of your slaughter the only species left are ones aggressive and smart enough to survive. Shadestalkers are legitimately dangerous and can’t be left to interact with the farming community because people will die.”
The words from Joseph all sounded so… reasonable at this point. However, I, along with the rest of the room, were all desperately waiting for the other paw to drop. Because there would be, humans always had something they were about to do.
Almost in response to our thoughts the human placed the second container on the desk, covering up the first in response.
“Humans have dealt with this problem in a simple way, a way that our Yotul friend over there will know of. I need all of you to please remain calm and orderly, and to remember that you’re perfectly safe and there’s no need to overreact or panic. Humans dealt with this pest problem, through the use of safe predators.”
Before anyone could properly react to those words, the cover of the second container was removed, showing… a predator. An actual one, not a human but an actual real threat. Small piercing front facing yellow eyes attached to a brown feline form, sulking from the cage it was being held in.
Speh speh speh speh that’s a PREDATOR, A FERAL PREDATOR
If it was a danger the human wouldn't have-
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DO NOT LIKE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
The panic in the room was immediate. Sapient human predators we had gotten used to, but none sapient ones were another deal entirely. Chaos started to spread as the 7 in the front row got up, pushing themselves up against the back wall as everyone else in the room did the same. Three Venlil made the choice to bolt out of the room, rushing past the human and his tiny devourer, while another clean fainted, hitting the floor with a thud. One even decided to take things further, jumping out of the singular window attached to the far wall in a frantic motion.
I could feel fear overwhelm me, desperately staring at the feline and waiting for it to make its move. What was the human thinking, it was going to attack at any moment, it was going to-
“STOP, Stop this stupidity. Right. NOW!”
The stern commanding voice of Joseph caused everyone in the room to freeze. The calm enthusiastic demeanor of the predator was gone, replaced with an emotion I’d never actually seen a human show before: anger.
“It has been six months! Do you really still believe that the UN or the Venlil government would put you in actual danger? You’re still thinking based on your stupid fascist Federation propaganda. Thinking that tells you that the Yotul are primitive, or the Venlil are weak. Propaganda that says genetically modifying people against their will is morally OK”
I knew that humans normally bared their teeth in joy, as a sign of happiness and friendship. This wasn’t the case right now, as everything in Joseph’s body language screamed of rage, of pain, of words spoken through gritted teeth. Nobody in the room was focused on the predator in the cage at this point, instead all eyes staring at the human. Suddenly the feline mattered a lot less than the anger of the human.
“That sort of thinking leads to the belief that killing over a billion innocent people is somehow the right thing to do. You are all presumably intelligent sapient adults able to think things through logically. Could you all please act that way?”
I could see the swishes of shame from the other Venlil’s tails, everyone in the room avoiding eye contact guiltily. Well, apart from the Yotul, who had remained seated and calm this entire time, staring almost joyfully at the feline predator. The human, of course, was completely right. Taking a moment to force myself to think, the predator was safely behind metal bars and was making no move to attack, seemingly content to stare lazily at us.
You finished overreacting?
Shut up, brain.
“Also, at the risk of ruining the angry vibe I’m giving off, is the guy who jumped out the window OK? Jesus Christ, we are two stories up, do we have to call someone or….”
Joseph had relaxed a little in response to the group calming down, allowing the normal empathetic nature of humans to come through once more. Slowly I made my way to the window, looking down to see a singular Venlil running off into the distance.
“I-I think he’s fine.” I responded, causing the human to give a sigh of relief in response.
“Good. Note to self, do this in a room without windows next time… or maybe just the ground floor. So, to continue where I left off, humans have used tame predators as a natural non-invasive form of pest control since we started farming. This is a cat, completely harmless unless you’re a small rodent or bird. They also have this effect.”
With a flourish Joseph removed the covering for the cage containing the Flowerbird once more, the red little avian had been busily eating during the entire presentation so far. However upon spotting the Feline predator did something none of us had ever seen before.
It stopped eating. Wait, the human managed to get a Flowerbird to stop eating! I didn’t even know that was possible…
Giving repeated alarmed chirps it moved as far away as it could from the predator, still trapped inside the small cage, a frantic fear obvious on the poor little thing. Joseph let this go on for a few moments more, before dropping the cover back on and silencing the Flowerbird once more.
Everyone in the room was shocked. You could literally scream and shout all you wanted at the dumb little birds and they would ignore you and continue to devour crops. The fact that the feral predator had managed to stop the bird from doing that simply with its presence… was huge. Was more than huge.
“As you can see, the instincts of the ‘prey’ animal still remain. Presumably, whatever predator used to hunt these Flowerbirds has a resemblance to our cats. Normally it would be sacrilege to suggest introducing cats to an ecosystem, but in this case your ecosystems are so messed up that’s exactly what we want to do: Provide any farmer who wants one with a kitten, in order to quickly reduce yield lost to pests.”
I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t interested. On the one hand having a vicious predator in my house, where my pups would visit seemed like something a predator diseased individual would only consider. On the other hand, nothing else I had ever tried had even come close to the simple effectiveness shown here.
Would I be this desperate and in debt if I had one of these “cats” already?
“So I can see you’re all still a little worried, so we’re going to have a little discussion, for which I need a volunteer-'' The Yotul in the back practically fell over with excitement, with his arm raised immediately as he interrupted, causing Joseph to give a small smile. “One who isn’t a Yotul. I know your history with similar pets, and we are totally going to hook you up with a cat, but for this I could do with a Venlil please.”
The Yotul sat back down, a look of disappointment plastered over his face as the rest of the room shifted uncomfortably. Nobody wanted to be the person to step up and presumably get closer to the predator. Until I found myself raising my hand.
Brain, what the hell are you doing?
You said you wanted to be better, and we’re desperate.
NOT LIKE THIS BRAIN!
In a blur I found myself being introduced to the room and being told to sit at a chair next to the desk in front of the rest of the members here. Then, to my horror, Joseph opened the cage and took the feline predator out of its holding cell. The human took a few moments to fuss over the beast before turning to the rest of us.
“So now that we have our volunteer, let's logically look at our ‘dangerous predator’. The first thing to notice is simply the size. Regardless of anything else, size matters, size matters a lot. It’s hard to feel threatened by something that you can literally throw across the room.”
Joseph took a moment to hold the small creature next to me for context, highlighting just how small the predator actually was: barely the size of a Skivit, like a furry little pup. Logically if it wasn't for the forward facing eyes, I might consider it… cute?
“But what about its teeth and claws? It’s a predator that will tear people apart!”
The voice of the Gojid sounded out, a shrill fearful voice filled with barely contained panic and fear, the source of the sound looking ready to flee even though they weren’t the one sitting next to the predator
“Let's compare these. Tellek can you please extend your paws and show your claws to the group.”
I did as asked, my four black claws visible for all to see as Joseph moved the predator close. He stretched out one of its paws and pressed on a knuckle, a singular sharp claw protruding as he did so, causing a fresh burst of fear to erupt in my heart from being so close to such a thing.
Although if I was to be fully honest, if I was comparing the two, the predator’s claw were…
“As you can see, the cat’s claw, while sharper, is far smaller and more brittle. A Venlil can do some serious damage with their claws, while the worst this cat’s claw could do is break the skin. The teeth are similar, if you could show the group your pearly whites please.”
I again did as asked, feeling embarrassed and weird just having my mouth wide open in front of everyone. I hoped that there was nothing stuck in my teeth. While I did Joseph manhandled the cat again, taking a moment to move the lips and display the sharp needle point teeth, doing so for a moment before the small predator gave a small lazy growl of annoyance, clearly reaching the end of its acceptability.
“Once again we have similar results: Notice the small size of the cat's teeth compared with the Venlil’s. These would pierce skin, the Venlil’s would pulverize bone. Gojid aren’t much better with your literal claws and a back full of knives. Ironically enough the two ‘predators’ in the room are probably the least physically imposing.”
There was a moment as the room seemed to ponder this statement, allowing Joseph enough time to place the cat on the desk next to me, the predator promptly giving a stretch then curling up into a ball. The human was right, even humans themselves were physically… underwhelming, apart from their endurance. No claws, small teeth, no defensive armor or spines.
It’s kinda sad to think the only reason we’re all so scared of humans is their eye placement.
“Now the UN and Venlil government are looking for people to use cats as pest control to increase farming yield, with an initial trial size of about 100 participants. We’re offering a stipend for food, instructional care of your kitten, and as much support as needed. There are risks, for instance you’re going to need warning signs near your property and a containment system, as cats are actually dangerous to the Dossur.”
I could hardly hear Joseph speak, my entire concentration focused on the predator right next to me. I knew logically that the human wouldn’t do something to bring me to harm, but it was difficult to think that with a potentially feral predator right next to me. I saw its eyes fixate onto mine and I quickly looked away.
Maybe if I don’t look at it, it won’t take it as a challenge.
However much to both mine and the rest of the room's shock, slowly and carefully the cat stood up, stretched once before walking purposefully towards me, the room erupting into cries of worry as it leapt off the desk and onto my lap, curling into a ball with me trapped underneath.
“H-h-help…. Help…..!”
The human turned to look at me, breaking into a smile seemingly at my misfortune and giving a small chuckle.
“Awwww, she likes you. As you all can see cats share a lot of characteristics with ‘prey’. They will often seek companionship from others, and have a lot of prey characteristics, being at times skittish due to having many natural predators.”
That was good and all, but didn’t stop me from being trapped under the beast.
I don’t want to think about what could cause a predator to become prey.
“W-What d-do I do?”
Joseph gave a small shrug in response, clearly amused by my reaction.
“You could try petting her. Her name is Sprinkles and I can confirm she likes pets.”
You see brain, this is what happens when I let you do things! Now I'm trapped by a predator and I'm gonna die!
Stop being such a pup, the thing is tiny. Besides, don't humans claim petting stuff is nice?
Slowly I reached out a paw, gingerly approaching the predator, those yellow slitted eyes regarding my exposed arm as I gently placed it on the "cat", running my paw across its back.
I felt my held breath release as the predator did nothing, some of the tension of the room releasing in the instant.
"So interesting thing about cats: they 'chose' to be domesticated."
Joseph had gone back to talking, seemingly happy that I wasn't about to be torn apart. I had stopped listening, entirely focused on keeping the predator satisfied by running my paws across its fur.
Isn't this nice? I gotta admit I understand why humans like doing this.
Fine. I'll admit that this isn't unpleasant, the cat is rather soft.
"When humans originally started farming, that also attracted pests. Cats just turned up, following their food source. They stuck around because humans would feed them and provide companionship."
I was entirely focused on the cat at this point, running my claws through the fur, feeling the predator press itself against my paw, seeming to be enjoying itself. Gently I moved my claw to the back of one of its tiny little ears, scratching behind it like you might do to comfort a young pup. It started to emanate a low vibrating noise in response, causing another wave of tension to emit from the rest of the room.
For some reason, even though this feral predator was sitting on my lap, the sound seemed to vibrate through my heart in a calming motion.
Maybe this is some kind of predatory hypnosis?
Really? Just shush and enjoy this. Being scared of everything all the time is so tiring.
"Nobody needs to worry. That is just the sound a happy cat makes, it's called purring. Although I do need to take Sprinkles back now."
Joseph motioned towards the cat on my lap, a motion I decided to ignore, enjoying petting the purring cat for a few moments more. Eventually the human reached down and removed Sprinkles from my grasp as I momentarily resisted before letting the feline go.
See, that wasn't so bad.
Brain, I will admit- reluctantly- that I would have preferred to keep doing that.
With a small amount of resentment I watched as Joseph placed the cat back inside the cage, before turning back to the rest of the room.
"So anyone who is interested, stick around and we can get the paperwork completed."
—-------------
In the end eight of us remained, 5 Venlil, 2 Gojid, and obviously the Yotul. We had spent the last half a claw having instructions and paper work thrust upon us. Many of the group had immediately left, with others dropping out as various facts of cat ownership became apparent.
Still, those of us who were left behind were now heading to our respective farms, each with a single carry case. Mine was currently containing a gray and black “kitten,” which had been “meowing” loudly during the entire journey.
I looked simply at the little bundle of fur and eyes that peered out from inside the cage I had been given. Part of my mind still screamed danger, but it was a part that was getting quieter and quieter as I continued to look at what was a small fragile bundle of fur that I was now ultimately in charge of.
How could you look at something that’s hardly bigger than your paw, and think it’s a danger?
As I reached my farm, I finally opened up the container and pulled out the tiny predator. My tiny predator. There would be work to do, fences to erect and warning signs to place, but for now I just held the tiny thing in my paws, supporting it in the way I’d been told to. I now knew why humans spent all their time trying to pet things: with the troubles on the farm I hadn’t felt this calm in several cycles.
He was more energetic then Sprinkles had been, but in a way the more skittish nature pulled at my heartstrings, as if it was a small innocent Venlil pup. I sat there stroking it, realizing I still needed to give him a name. He was fluffy, Tiny, innocent, fragile. Yet with an underlying spice as it continued to meow loudly as I held in my paws
“I will call you Fireberry. My little predator.”

The average person needs around 2,000 calories a day to keep going. We've all got that burned into our brains. While training for the 2016 Olympics, multi-medal swimmer Ryan Lochte consumed around 8,000 calories a day. At his peak he set a still-unbroken record of 200 meters in 1'49.63*.
As shown in trailers, The Flash moves so quickly he can break dimensional barriers & turn back time. I don't know how fast that is (do you?); it's a safe guess it's exponentially faster than Lochte (sorry, I should have done Usain Bolt for a runner to runner comparison; I couldn't find a hard number for what he eats). How many calories a day would The Flash need to burn to go that fast? Is it physically possible to even eat that much, or is The Flash starving to death?

• https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/ryan-lochte-olympics-diet (sorry my phone is wigging out and isn't letting me select text for proper links) ** https://www.sportskeeda.com/swimming/what-records-ryan-lochte-hold

I’ve been offered a spot in an NUSC summer programme at Yuanpei College in Peking University and am trying to decide whether to go. I was wondering if anyone who’s been on this programme/other Peking University programmes might be able to share their experiences.
Specific things I am concerned about: sharing of dorms (what I’ve found online seems to suggest it is 4 persons to a room), VPN for communication with family (I heard that China further tightened its VPN policy in early 2023 so I’m not sure which VPNs still work), what the weather will be like in late July/early August and ease of navigation about Beijing without the aid of google maps.
There is also a $300 penalty for withdrawal from the programme after accepting the offer (which is why I am quite hesitant to accept the offer).