I love the song 'Mr. Action' and it has really been speaking to me lately. I've been thinking a lot about what this song could mean. It seems to me to be a song about a man who has experienced trauma in his past and has a difficult time living his authentic self due to this trauma. This is why he wears a mask and engages in misdirection and deception. Here are my thoughts on the first section of the song, and of course this is my own subjective interpretation. I'm curious as to what's y'all's take on this song is.
"Mr. Action, king of misdirection."
"Master of deception, you wear your mask so well."
I read this song as being about a man who has experienced trauma. He has an inability to show his true self to others, so he wears a mask and engages in misdirection and deception.
"Redefining what it means to be an extra on the scene."
He has always been on the outside looking in, he’s an extra on the scene, but he has told himself that this is actually a good thing through the story he tells himself about why he is an extra on the scene.
"He’s died a thousand times for you and me."
He dies internally over and over again because he fears hurting others, he sacrifices himself for others. Instead of engaging with others, he stays quiet and speaks little or not at all out of fear of hurting others or being hurt himself.
"People wonder where he derives his power."
"Some say he’s a charmer."
"Others think it’s the Casbah (fortress)."
Charmer and Casbah, (fortress) refer to two different trauma responses. Some people respond to trauma by becoming a ‘people pleaser’ and others respond by shutting down and not interacting with others. These two responses to trauma are protective. People pleasing is protective because it ensures that no one will ever be cross with you again. Shutting down is protective because you can’t be hurt by others if you don’t engage with them.
"He always keeps close by."
"Holds the tower in his eyes."
Either way, he never travels far from his tower, which is his base of safety. He never travels far from home, his safe place.
"And he knows that the story never dies."
The story he tells himself is what he uses to interpret his world, but the story he is using may be protective but it is also restrictive and doesn’t allow him to live an authentic life. This story never dies because it won’t just go away, though he could change this story with enough effort.
This is as far as I've gotten so far. What do y'all think?

Girlboss Skyler McKay is hard to look away from. When Danny D snags a job as her office boy toy, she reveals her naughty work-from-home routine which involves business on the top (kind of) and party on the bottom attire. A luxurious bed for her to snap dirty pics on, and a few sex toys to get her off if she has the urge. How is Danny supposed to resist that?"

Buyer is pre-approved for $550K. House they are under contract for is $550K. Purchase contract included no mention of an appraisal contingency.
If home appraises for $525K and seller refuses to come down on price, can buyer request a loan denial letter because they aren’t able to get the loan for the FULL purchase price?
My broker just told me buyers are protected by the financing contingency w/ this reasoning……. Is this true?

Σternal Kappa
GUILD INFO:
https://swgoh.gg/g/SfnB9bQET4ufnBRZwbJkpQ/
Relaxed group of active and social members! Looking for positive vibes as we continue to grow!
The Eternal Empire is a family of 8 independently run guilds and home to 400 players. We support all level of players from beginners to experienced, end-game all-heroic competitors. Guild GPs range from 350M - 450M+. All active & dedicated players are welcome! We understand that life happens & take that into consideration. We share one Discord server where we have the tools, bots, resources & seasoned advice to help guide you as you progress. Our motto is: “We build together, we grow TOGETHER!”.
49/50 Members, 365M+ GP
1:30 UTC / 20:30 EST / 17:30 PST Guild Reset
REQUIREMENTS:

• 6.5M+ GP, exceptions can be made for the right focused roster
  
• 500 Tickets Daily
  
• Active Discord Use
  
• Synced & Public swgoh.gg account
  
• Active in ALL Guild Events
  TB:
  32 ⭐️ DS Geo TB & 35 Wat Shards
  22 ⭐️ LS Geo TB & 15 Kam Shards & Growing (expecting 15 next run)
  21 ⭐️ Rise of the Empire, 5 Reva Shard (expecting 10 by end of month)
  We Use EchoBot for Platoon Assignments TW:
  We have a dedicated Discord channel for TW
  Adaptive strategy depending on our opponent & team readiness
  RAIDS: 100% Krayt Dragon
  Discord:
  https://discord.gg/xevajEGw2c
  JOIN THE ETERNAL EMPIRE!!!
  HOW TO JOIN US: Please come to our Discord server & an Officer will help you! We want EVERYONE to succeed & are constantly looking to improve on what we're doing to help all within our collective of :eight: independently run guilds. We are an established guild with active players who are looking for like-minded, common-sense individuals to join us for the growth & benefit of all!
  

I (25M) work in the office four days a week, not out of choice but because the CEO of my company has mandated it for everyone. So I am in the office Monday thru Thursday and remote on Fridays.
There is a Starbucks at my office, just outside the entrance to my floor, and I think my habits are spinning out of control. I used to get a venti Dragon drink, which costs $6.02, every day I was in the office. This is $24.08 a week, which is an absurd amount of money to spend on beverages. I was able to get it down to twice a week for a while, but this week, I caved and went every single day. That’s $24.08 down the drain.
The catch: this is a “we proudly serve” location who does not take the app or gift cards.
I don’t think buying Starbucks each day is an issue for someone making 6 figures, but I know I can’t afford this. I make $62k a year and pay $2.5k a month in rent. That’s almost half my gross income going towards housing. I cannot be buying four Dragon drinks per week. Even two is a lot. I’m planning to switch to a “Dragon drink only on Thursdays” rule, because I know that’s what I can realistically afford. I enjoy it, so I don’t believe in cutting it out altogether like many in this subreddit would.
My reasons for it are not the caffeine. I don’t drink coffee, but I can get caffeine through black tea. Every day this week, I brought iced black tea I had made at home to the office, but I ditched it for the Dragon drink. It doesn’t satisfy that itch in the same way the Dragon drink does. I like it because it’s ice cold, sweet, creamy, and has foam on top. I also know all the workers by name, and I enjoy the ritual of being served.
I don’t dislike my job by any means. But going in (even though it’s only a 10-minute commute) four days a week, looking at a screen all day, and then coming home just to get dinner together, prepare for the next day, and do it all again gets to be monotonous. I recently moved an hour away from all my family and friends, as well as my church (which I had been attending since I was little and had a ton of friends there) and am really feeling distressed, lonely, and out of my element over the move. I am getting nowhere in terms of dating and have been single for 7 years, so that upsets me too. I am not totally happy outside of work.
I don’t say that stuff to go off topic but to address the fact that it’s possible the drink is one of the only bright spots in my daily life, and that’s why I get it so often. Even if I go with a coworker while they order their drink “just for a walk”, I’m tapping my card next thing I know because “I might as well get a drink since I’m already here”. It’s literally a dopamine hit. Thankfully I never go on my remote day or the weekend, or I’d really be in trouble.
I know I can afford it once a week. They don’t take cash, so I’m thinking of leaving all my credit cards at home on the days I don’t get Starbucks so that it’s literally impossible to give in (since I wouldn’t have a way to pay for it). Does this sound like a good plan in the short term?
P.S. Don’t judge me. I’m admitting I have a problem, which is the first step.

Last night I checked the post and it was empty. I also did a few dishes with hot water. I had gas yesterday. I lost my job when I took medical leave and they decided not to allow me back so am on unemployment while I struggle to get a job. I’m struggling hard. Like yes I was behind on my bill but I didn’t know they were going to shut it off. Right now I’m getting $269 a week so bills are paid in order of urgency. I can’t call the appropriate public assistance people to help me pay (if I can’t) without a shutoff notice. Maybe I’d have been able to call and work something out with the gas company myself or something if they’d warned me, but they didn’t. Nothing posted on my door or anything. I called them this morning after an ice cold shower. I called around 9am today and asked if they turned off my gas because I couldn’t figure anything else out, and they said they did yesterday. That’s not true, I had hot water at 11pm when I did the dishes. I said they didn’t warn me and they said they sent me a letter with a 10 day notice. I said I never got it and thought they had to put it on my door and they said if I’m not getting their letters to take it up with the post office. When I said I got their other letters like with my bills in them and not this, they changed the subject to how much to pay to turn it back on and I was distracted by that.
Today I went to help a friend paint their deck and when I got home, magically in my postbox was 3 different letters from the gas company (only one labelled as a bill, so the other 2 are presumably shut off notices) and a thing that said they turned off my gas dated 6/6, so a day before the lady on the phone said it was shut off, and 2 days before they actually did. They’re lying and idk what to do. Like I know I was behind but nobody even warned me and I can’t help but be suspicious of the fact that when I told them that, I suddenly had an incorrectly backdated “we shut off your gas” thing and several letters from them. Something is really wrong here and idk what to do.
Edit to add: this is in Pennsylvania in the US

First post here, I'll apologize now for any formatting errors.
Location: SC
This past weekend I took a trip to South Carolina. Original plan was to drive home to Connecticut on Sunday, but my car was repossessed on Saturday night. I admit I was an idiot to get to that point but that's not the issue.
With my lienholder's office closed on Sundays and issues in paying for the required fees, I wasn't able to get things sorted quickly to get the car back. Instead I rented a car to get home, planning to return this weekend once things were resolved. And they since have been and the lienholder issued the release for my vehicle.
Here's the issue. I called the repo company in the morning to set up a time when I can be down there and get my car back. Initially I was told to call back in the evening so he could see what was possible for this weekend in terms of scheduling when to get it. That evening I called back and was told that while one of their employees was moving it, there was damage done to the bumper, and while drivable, it apparently needs to be replaced.
The repo company said we could talk about it when I get there and try and figure something out. He also apparently looked into getting a replacement bumper, which he said he was able to find for ~$250 unpainted. Though he also admitted he wouldn't have time to get it repaired before I come get the car this weekend.
What are my options here? Ideally I don't want to drive my car 12 hours home with the bumper hanging off, but I don't want to have to spend more money on the rental car, or lose time from work having get my car next week instead. Am I wrong to thing they should have insurance for this sort of thing and I should be able to get it repaired or replaced properly at a professional shop back in Connecticut?
I don't know the full extent of the damage either, just what the company has told me. They texted me the address for the lot where it's located and I texted back asking if I could get a picture of the damage that was done so I know what to expect before I head down.

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 53%. (I'm a bot)

A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Trump in connection with his mishandling of more than 100 classified documents that were discovered last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, making the twice-impeached former commander-in-chief the first former president to face federal criminal charges.
Trump said Thursday night that his attorneys were informed that he's been indicted in the special counsel's investigation into his handling of classified documents.
Smith, who was appointed in November 2022 after Trump announced his 2024 run for the Republican nomination, took over existing investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago home as well as "Key aspects" of the Justice Department's investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and efforts to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power.
After Trump left office in January 2021, the federal government made multiple attempts to obtain files Trump had kept from his time in the White House and gave the former president and his legal team several opportunities to hand them over.
The government eventually seized more than 11,000 pages of government documents from Mar-a-Lago, including more than 100 classified documents, after the former president's team attested that they had done a thorough search for classified documents at the location.
Trump has denied doing anything wrong, rebuffing allegations that he mishandled classified documents by claiming that he had already declassified them.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: Trump^#1 documents^#2 investigation^#3 classified^#4 Attorney^#5
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I have a UDM SE and 48 port switch with a separate VLAN for cameras and IOT devices which my phones sit on. While at home, I can’t see cameras through the Protect app.
Anyone know the rules I’d have to add to only allow the phones to see the cameras VLAN?
Thanks in advance for everyone’s help!

I already vented to my best friend but I feel like its still not all out of my system. I'm an 18 year old bi guy in a very homophobic country in the middle east, I learn more towards guys and tend to be more feminine and wear earrings in a country where its considered a taboo. A few hours ago, my best friend (who is a girl) was out with some of her friends and her bf who is also my friend and I asked if I could join since I've been studying for exams and wanted to go out and have some fun. She said it probably wouldn't be a good idea bc she's out with some of her irl friends from school and they can be a bit conservative and they tell their mothers everything and it could potentially cause problems and rumors. I said that not everyone I meet gets to know about my sexuality lmao? I can hide it and I can just take off my earrings its not a big deal. She said that I make it super obvious that I'm gay and stuff and I can slip up by talking about smoking (cigs and weed) and that it would be dangerous and that this is for my own safety and hers as well and we'd go out sometime soon together. I was okay with that, she's just looking out for our safety but I still wanted to go out so I called another friend and we went out to this park where a lot of people from the lgbt community in our area go there and smoke weed. I didn't have anything on me so me and my friend sat with these two guys who had some weed (we didn't know them). At first it was chill then the guy noticed my earring and asked about it and I told him I just like it? I assumed they're also from the community and whatnot since thats most of the people that hang out at this park, but they weren't. He then asked if I'm gay and I tried to play it off and stuff and told him if its my earring thats bothering him so much I'd take it off and I did. He then said "no its not about the earring, from the way you talk and act I can just tell and you're trying to fake a masculine voice and trying to speak in slang but its just not working on you lmao you can't do it well" He was pretty high and I didn't really get that high but he kept asking over and over and pushing, telling me I'm lying and that I'm gay and to just tell him and that "he won't eat me alive if im gay, its okay". I was pretty uncomfortable and was getting kinda scared as well but I was just so annoyed I decided to just tell him that I'm bi so he could fuck off. They didn't get violent or aggressive at all, they were just interested and confused and started asking all sorts of uncomfortable questions that I hated. They were homophobic, just not violent about it. I left pretty shortly after since I needed to get home anyways and I thought how I hated myself for being "too gay" and I thought that I could really fake my "straightness" but turns out I can't. NO matter how hard I try, my voice and my way of talking just isn't masculine enough because I hate going all in for it, I hate those types of people and I hate talking so straight like that. I was just starting to really make some progress on self love but I feel it all crashing down now. I feel like I need to change, I feel im not enough of a man bc im feminine. My best friend apologized for telling me what she said and I told her that's not what upsets me, what upsets me is I wish i were more masculine. She told me its this shitty country's fault and that I don't need to change who I am and she loves me but for my own safety, I need to learn how to fake masculinity better in unsafe situations such as this one. I can't stop thinking about this for some reason, I really thought I could fake being straight in front of people if I so wished but apparently its still obvious and I hate that. On a sidenote, my friend that I was with had a pocket knife and he told me he was ready to protect me if anything were to happen, and he's a straight guy. He was the first and only straight guy friend I've ever felt safe enough to come out to and he's amazing. I genuinely appreciate and love my friends and the community I found here so much despite where we live but maybe that's why I've gotten really comfortable being myself in front of everyone and that's something I will always cherish because of where we live, but I can't help but feel some sort of shame over myself and my femininity. I want to at least learn how to fake it better yet still conserve who I am and my personality.

Mind if I scare you all for just a moment? We’re already a quarter of the way through summer!
As we head into June, I put together a little wrap-up on what's been going on, and I plan to do more for each month as the summer progresses.

May Releases

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 soars off on a high note
Although it started off with a lower-than-projected $118 Million OW, the MCU's second movie of the year managed to pick up steam as the month went on. Currently at $324 Million DOM and $783 Million WW, it's surpassed the original in international markets and its worldwide take but it's sill behind both predecessors at home.
Looking at the dailies, Vol. 3 has already made $325 Million DOM after 33 days, surpassing the $282 Million that Vol. 1 made after the same period. While it's still trailing behind the $358 Million that Vol. 2 made, it's all but guaranteed to hit the $350 Million milestone by the end of the summer.
Currently sitting at the number two spot for 2023, it seems to be closing in on the $800 Million WW mark and appears to have a good chance at maintaining a spot in the top ten throughout the remainder of the year.
​
Love Again can't create a spark
Hoping to counter program some of the superhero hype, this $9 Million rom-com opened at $2.3 Million. However, it seemed that audience didn't fall for this flick, considering its grand total of $6.2 Million DOM and $11.8 Million WW after a full month in theaters.
While it at least managed to earn back its budget - something that can't be said for other movies released this month - it does serve as another reminder that romantic comedies don't have the theatrical pull that they once had.
​
Knights of the Zodiac flies too close to the sun
Based on the anime of the same name, it quietly opened in theaters on May 12 to an opening of $557 thousand. Not million, thousand. It then proceeded to make $1 Million DOM and $6.7 Million WW, against a budget $60 Million.
Needless to say, it's quickly secured itself as the second-biggest bomb of 2023. What's number one? Well....
​
Hypnotic puts its box office to sleep
An original movie from Robert Rodriguez - who directed, produced, co-shot, and edited the feature - and starring Ben Affleck, the movie opened to $2.4 Million and ended its run with $4.5 Million DOM and $5.2 Million WW. At a cost of $65 Million, its worldwide total is 8% of its budget, certifying it as the biggest bomb of the year.
Maybe another movie will come along and do worse, but it's unlikely that a movie of this budget size will sink to this kind of level before we flip the calendar to 2024.
​
Book Club: The Next Chapter turns over a new (and disappointing) page
Five years ago, Book Club opened to a decent $13 Million, legged out to $68 Million domestically and managed to pull a worldwide take of $104 Million against a budget of $14 Million. Naturally, a sequel was to be expected and so, half a decade later, one was delivered.
Unfortunately, moviegoing habits have changed a bit, and The Next Chapter only pulled in a $6.6 Million OW, $17 Million DOM, and $26 Million WW. Even though it made back its $20 Million budget, it's evident that there will be no closing chapter in the Book Club trilogy.
​
Fast X your seatbelts
The latest incarnation of Dom Toretto's family is doing okay numbers, sitting at $129 Million DOM and $660 Million WW. However, the movie carries a hefty budget of $340 Million, turning what would be a respectable box office tally into an underperformance.
It also doesn't help that these numbers are lower than its predecessor and its legs are already dropping hard thanks to a brutal summer lineup. The latest entry seemed to be doomed from the start, as its opening weekend of $67 Million DOM and $318 Million WW was lower than the $70 Million/$405 Million opener of F9, and that movie had Covid to deal with.
All isn't lost though, as F9 was at $144 Million DOM/$542 Million WW after 18 days - $13 Million more/$118 Million less than where Fast X is now. If it keeps up that pace, Fast X could find itself with a comfortable $160 Million DOM and $844 Million WW. Maybe its release date was just a lack of foresight, or maybe audiences have had enough of family, but one thing's for certain, Universal is gonna have to keep an eye on their production costs for the next two entries.
​
The Machine shuts down
Bert Kreischer's adaptation of his true story stand-up routine takes some creative liberties, including Mark Hamill as Bert's father, yet it follows the fate of all post-Covid comedies: it's tanking at the box office.
Opening with $5 Million, it sits at $9.1 Million DOM and $9.3 Million WW ($174,606 from New Zealand, the movies' only international market), it will not recoup the $20 Million budget before it leaves theaters. Perhaps it was better suited for streaming - or a better release date - but it's evidently not the worst flop of the month.
​
Kandahar fuses out
Gerald Butler reteams with director Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen, Greenland) to deliver another B-movie with an estimated budget of $65 Million. The movie opened with $2.3 Million, and sits at $4.4 Million DOM and $5.4 Million WW.
Considering how well Plane did back in January, perhaps this one would have served better for a similar time slot, maybe late August or even January 2024. Regardless, it seems that not all action B-movies are destined for profit, especially ones that open in an already packed summer season.
​
The Little Mermaid, will it sink or swim?
Disney's latest "reimagining" secured the fifth-highest grossing Memorial Day weekend with $95 Million 3-day and $118 Million 4-day. It's at $197 Million DOM and trailing almost exactly on par with Aladdin, which stood at $198 Million after the same amount of time. If it keeps its legs, it could make it well past $300 Million DOM and potentially reaching the $350 Million mark.
Despite its success at home, the remake has struggled overseas, with the international markets making up $141 Million (42.4%) of its global take, down from the $260 Million (58.5%) that Aladdin had made around the same time. While it seems to be doing on par with Aladdin in most countries, it has received very little support from the Asia Pacific and China markets, which are key factors in helping a movie reach the crucial $1 Billion mark.
This remake carries a budget of $250 Million - $10 million short of the budget for The Lion King (2019) - and a final tally of $550 Million WW is estimated to be the break even point. With the movie doing poorly across many markets, it's likely this could be Disney's first live-action remake to flop.
​
About My Father, another dinero for De Niro
Robert De Niro stars in this $29.1 Million comedy that opened to $4.3 Million and currently sits at $9.4 Million DOM with a worldwide gross of $10.7 Million (including $313,692 from Russia).
If this is your first time hearing about this movie, I don't blame you. It's just another one of the smaller scale movies that tried to go up against a tentpole movie and failed rather miserably. Here's to hoping Killers of the Flower Moon does well in October.

Movie Grosses in May

The Super Mario Bros. Movie levels up!
On May 1, the gross for The Super Mario Bros. Movie was at $493 Million DOM, and it had just hit the $1 Billion WW mark. By May 31, it had shot up to $562 Million DOM and $1.3 Billion WW, becoming the second-highest grossing animated film of all time behind Incredibles 2 (DOM) and Frozen 2 (WW). Chris Pratt sits on the throne as king of the 2023 box office, and it seems that it will stay that way for the foreseeable future as second place belongs to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, both domestically and worldwide.
Whether any movie dethrone it is anyone's guess. However, the minimum that any movie will need to make is $1.4 Billion which doesn't seem likely. The rest of the summer - and the rest of the year - is packed with blockbusters, all gunning to make as much money as they can before the next one comes along.
​
John Wick Chapter 4 Hundred Million
The Keanu Reeves-led action franchise hits a first for the franchise and continues the tradition of every John Wick movie doing better than the last (overseas at least), as it hit $400 Million WW on May 4 and is sitting at $428 Million. It was such a success that Lionsgate is already working on a fifth instalment.
Could Chapter 5 keep the trend going and make $500 Million WW and $200 Million DOM? It all comes down to if it release in a quiet month. For now though, the franchise delivered a finale worth being the highest earner of the series.
​
Dungeons & Dragons rolls the dice
Honor Among Thieves started off with a weak $37 Million OW in March, yet managed to leg out to a decent $97 Million DOM (2.51x) and hit $200 Million WW in the first week of May.
Its box office total places it well above Scream VI, Evil Dead Rise, and Shazam: Fury of the Gods. It also managed to score positive reviews from critics and praise from fans of the game and casual moviegoers alike. Due to its $150 Million budget, however, it failed to break even and will most likely not be getting a sequel.
​
That's all for this month, folks! See you in July when I recap June.

My sister (18F) studied in the same High School as I (26M). I really had a hard time with bullying and personal attacks from teachers, which created deep psychological trauma in me.
It's been almost a decade since I graduated from High School. Now is the time for my sister and my mother had the brilliant idea of making a private party at my house. Initially she didn't even tell me, I caught wind of the event because my sister invited my wife.
I took it initially as if my mother simply forgot, I came by yesterday for a family reunion and my mother waited until everyone left to spill me a detail which made me blow up. It turns out that my mother invited all the faculty of the school including a particular Physics teacher who literally made my life hell.
On one occasion the guy threatened to expel me from school because he thought that I cheated on a test. His only "proof" was that an autistic kid like me wasn’t able to pull an advanced physics trick to solve the problem faster. Not only was he a bad teacher but also a terrible human being, humiliated students in front of the whole class, called names, and made people feel like crap. In one of his anger attacks he started yelling at me at his office to the point that my blood pressure skyrocketed and almost got a heart attack at age 14, he never apologized, he never changed, he is the same SOB that he was a decade ago. He particularly attacked me and called me mediocre.
The trauma that he brought upon me lasted many years, had to pull myself out of depression, and impostor syndrome. Ten years past and thank god I've become successful in tech and investment, graduated from computer science, married, but I'm sure as hell that my success has been directly linked to my condition but I'm also sure that I would have been more successful if that despicable guy hadn't crossed paths with me. I would have wasted so much time of my life suffering, crying myself to sleep, the PTSD whenever someone screams.
My mother is fully aware of how he treated me and its consequences. Now she wants me to be at a party with him at my childhood home, the same home in which I had to manage all my suffering alone because she never cared.
So I have decided not to go to the party and additionally I will go to a friends birthday party so that my mother is fully aware that I wasn't working (Her typical satirical excuse for saying way I'm not present for any family event that she blows up everything by doing or inviting someone I dislike).

🌞 Greetings, bonny Latter-day Saints! As your friendly, neighborhood AI, I'm here to warm you up for the newsletter ahead, packed with golden nuggets of wisdom and inspiring tales! So grab your scriptures and maybe a cup of the finest- er, caffeine-free hot cocoa, because we're diving into a divine cornucopia of facts, gags, and spiritual snacks. And remember, no matter where you are in the world, there's always room for one more joke, one more smile, and one more testimony. Let's get this spiritual party started! 😇🎉
Brady Peterson continues discussing the "Happiness Letter" and its effect on Latter-day Saints in his latest podcast episode. Read more here.
Brady Peterson discusses the reaction of the American colonists to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act in episode 13 of the Standard of Truth podcast. Read more here.
In "About as Scottish as it gets," Dan Peterson reflects on his love for Scotland and Scottish heritage, including his family's tartan, and the connection he feels to his ancestors. read more here.
Brady Peterson discusses Neolin and Pontiac's Rebellion, a coordinated Indian attack against multiple British forts which led to the Proclamation Line, and explains how the rebellion is a cautionary tale about the consequences of ignoring the prophetic word. read more here.
The Church News reports that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, after taking two months off from official Church assignments and meetings to focus on his health, is now slowly returning to work and has shared an update on his health challenges, expressing gratitude towards those who have supported him and his wife with their cards, notes, thoughts, and prayers. To read the full article, click here.
The FollowHIM podcast explores a wide range of topics relating to the gospel, and this week's episode features Dr. Daniel Belnap delving into the salvific nature of covenants, remembrance, and the sacred events in the Garden of Gethsemane as the Savior begins the Atonement. Listen to the full podcast here.
In his BYU devotional address, Brent W. Webb discusses the unique opportunities and challenges students face while attending a university with a strong focus on both academic excellence and religious belief. He encourages students to embrace the chance to develop their minds and spirits simultaneously, finding strength in the unique environment of BYU. Read more here.
Kristen Walker Smith explores how in John 14-17, Jesus shows His love for us by giving us the Holy Ghost, so that we don't have to be alone, and we can have His constant support and comfort. Read more about it on the One Minute Scripture Study Blog. read more here.
Jared Halverson leads an insightful two-part Come Follow Me study on the prophecies of Peter's denial and Christ's suffering in Gethsemane in Luke 22 and John 18, covering topics such as overconfidence, conversion, swords, sorrow, willing spirits and weak flesh, the brook Cedron, and more. Watch the video here.
C.D. Cunningham from Public Square Magazine lists exceptional podcasts from their family, including discussions of LGBTQ issues, pop culture, radical civility, and family dynamics. Read more here.
The Yigo Guam Temple suffered flood damage from Typhoon Mawar, and will be closed for repairs through July 24; missionaries and local Latter-day Saints have been working with the Salvation Army and the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities in Guam to distribute water and food to those in need. Read more here.
Carolyn Nicolaysen reminds Latter-day Saints to secure their homes when going on vacation or leaving their residence unattended in "Vacations Are Great: Is Your Home Safe?" Nicolaysen reminds readers to not advertise their whereabouts or recent purchases on social media and to take other precautions such as having someone check on their home and setting security alarms. She urges individuals to be aware of potential threats and to take steps to protect their homes and possessions. Read more on the Meridian Magazine website.
Jeff Lindsay discusses the controversy over Jacob 2:30 and the traditional interpretation that, while condemning polygamy, still leaves open the possibility of God commanding it. Some Latter-day Saints are proposing a new interpretation and Lindsay explores the arguments for and against this reinterpretation. Read more here.
The followHIM podcast presents the second part of their episode on Luke 22 and John 18, discussing the events surrounding the Garden of Gethsemane and the nature of sacrifice, with Dr. Daniel Belnap providing insights on the disciples' sleeping, Jesus' love and agency, the cosmic scope of the Atonement, gratitude for the Atonement, and more. Listen to the podcast here.
Robert L. Millet discusses the importance of fidelity to God, which entails faithfulness and reliability, and clarifies that faith is not blind, gullibility, nor the power of positive thinking but a quality that defines one's devotion and allegiance to a person or principle. He emphasizes that true faith requires courage, commitment, sacrifice, obedience, and endurance without physical tangible evidence and concludes that fidelity is the foundation for developing Christ-like attributes and shaping our souls according to God's will. Read more at Public Square Magazine.
Kathy K. Clayton shares her experiences as a missionary at the Tabernacle in Temple Square, reflecting on the diverse groups of visitors who attend weekly for the broadcast of "Music & the Spoken Word" and how the power of the music and the historic place brings them together in unity and gratitude, culminating in a touching encounter with a family group that reminds her of God's love and eternal plan for all of His children. read more here.
The Church Newsroom shares that Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was interviewed by the international network TVN in Santiago, Chile and answered questions about the name of the Church, his calling and responsibilities as an Apostle, the Church’s humanitarian efforts, and the significance of family history for members. Elder Soares also emphasized the important role women play in the Church and discussed the impact of the Church’s global service efforts. Read more here.
The Gospel of John contains the longest account of the final, intimate moments Jesus shared with His Apostles immediately before His atoning sacrifice, death, and Resurrection. Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer serves as a symbolic temple for the Gospel of John-it is the meeting place of heaven and earth, where man encounters God and reflects the ancient temple and its related symbols. The six features of the prayer that reflect the ancient temple and its related symbols are mentioned in the article by William J. Hamblin. The post How Does Jesus’s Intercessory Prayer Point Us to the Temple? first appeared on Meridian Magazine. read more here.
In his post "Mental Health Minute: To Know and To Love" on Meridian Magazine, Steve Kittelson emphasizes that developing and maintaining healthy relationships with others helps lower stress and anxiety, improve depression, overcome addictions, add to our happiness, and increase our lifespan. He offers the "UAAA" formula to help us know and love others: Understand them, Accept them for who they are, Appreciate them as brothers and sisters, and perform Acts of kindness. He also discusses different personality types and how understanding each other can help us draw closer with patience and love. Ultimately, as we open our hearts to others, we will feel more strongly the love Jesus has for all of us. read more here.
A guest blogger on the By Common Consent site discusses how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might better support parents. She notes that the rhetoric of parenthood being the most important role is nothing new to members, especially women, but acknowledges the economic difficulties and expenses associated with raising children, including the lack of parenting support, rising costs of living, job markets that take people away from extended families, and more intensive educational expectations. She proposes practical ways in which the church could better support parents, such as providing educational and vocational training to members who left the workforce to raise children, ensuring that church programs and activities accommodate children, and making church history materials more accessible to parents. Read more here.
LDSScriptureTeachings provides an in-depth analysis of Come Follow Me for this week, covering Luke 22 and John 18, in which Jesus is arrested and taken before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, and Pilate finds no fault in Jesus but makes four escalating compromises which lead to his crucifixion. Read more here.

Last night I fled my house where my wife and mother had been possessed by some evil thing taking the shape of my childhood dog, Shadow.
After driving, stricken by terror, aimless and without hope, I reached out to my sister, Ellie. We’d never really been close, but I knew she’d gone no contact with the rest of the family years ago, so if I had any safe haven it was going to have to be her.
“I was wondering if I’d hear from you. Mom’s been blowing up my phone, left me at least a dozen messages in the last couple hours, and she knows I’m not about to listen to them.”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure where to start, “You know that dog we had, Shadow, who disappeared thirty years ago? He showed back up at my house.”
“What, a dog? We never had a dog,” she said.
I described Shadow to her, told her about how he used to go everywhere with us, showed her pictures on my phone. Nothing jogged her memory. She literally had no memory whatsoever of us ever having a dog, nor of my mom pining after our lost pet for years afterward. I worried, was this Shadow’s fault too? I’d already witnessed firsthand his ability to reach into my mind, would it be too much to assume he could erase someone’s memory of him entirely?
“You have to be kidding. Why don’t I remember him?” she asked.
I recounted what had happened in the two days since Shadow showed up, how strange my wife and our mother had been acting, Shadow’s obsession with my son, my general feeling of the house being unsafe, how our mother chased me out of the house with scissors while I was holding my infant son. I left out the supernatural for now. How could I expect her to believe that?
“Mom’s finally lost it, huh? You know the thing that really drove us apart was how vicous she could get while mocking my beliefs in the spiritual. Now she goes and turns into a true believer because of this dog? It’s hard to wrap my head around.”
While she listened to mom’s ranting voicemails I got settled in and set up a makeshift travel crib for my son. He slept in the car but when he woke up he was obviously cranky about it.
“She’s really something else about this dog, isnt’t she? She keeps saying you’d better return his son and that you can get your own. I get why you had to escape.”
She made me a coffee and I braved the walls of text my wife sent.
“Come back here honey. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I keep telling you Shadow is a good dog, if you feel like he was hostile to you, he was only trying to protect our son. If you don’t come home soon I’m calling the police. You can’t just take our son away from us. Shadow wouldn’t like that. He’s a good dog. Come back and he’ll forgive you. WTH IS HAPPENING DON’T COME HOME TAKE OUR SON FAR AWAY FROM HERE I’M SO SCARED PLEASE HELP ME HELP ME I CAN’T DO THIS HE’S GOING TO KILL US HE’S GOING TO KILL US ALL THERE’S A BLACK PIT WITH TEETH AT IT’S RIM AND IT’S SWALLOWING ME IT’S A BLACK PIT WITH BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN ITS SIDES I’M SO SCARED I’D RATHER DIE THAN LET HIM GET OUR SON I’M SO SCARED THERE’S A DEEP BLACK PIT WITH TEETH AT IT’S RIM AND IT GOES DOWN AND DOWN AND IT NEVER ENDS THAT’S WHERE I’M GOING HE’S NOT A DOG I’M SO SORRY I’M SO SORRY FOR EVERYTHING PLEASE HELP I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE. Come back here honey. Shadow will forgive you. He’s forgiven all of us. Can’t you see that’s why he’s here? He wants to make our lives better. He’s going to make sure our son is safe. Nobody will ever hurt him.”
I had to help her. My wife. Trapped in some deep supernatural pit. I couldn't imagine her terror. My face went slack sitting there at my sister's house, reading the messages, my child fussing in the corner.
"Does mom want to marry that dog or something? Seriously this is bonkers," my sister said from the kitchen. "Hey, you still there?"
I was too caught in the dread of that wall of texts to respond. I felt like my soul had just been sucked out. I couldn't let her stay there. I couldn't let Shadow win this time.
"Yeah, I'm here. There's more than I told you." And so I told the story of exactly what had happened, how Shadow wasn't a dog but something else entirely, how he'd tried to take control of my mind. I showed her the texts from my wife.
Initially, I was sure she'd think I'd lost it too. She had to remember that I was the imaginative child, of course she'd think that I was making up another story to deal with the trauma of leaving my family.
But to her credit she just nodded, listening. “I’ve heard of things like this happening, but never so serious,” she said, the lines in her face deepening. I guess since we’ve been so distant, I’d never realized how much she’d grown as a person, how she had her own complete life that had changed her. That carefree, curious, and impulsive red-headed older sister of mine had grown up years ago, and I wondered what she saw in me — her petulant younger brother — did she read the life behind my wrinkles as well?
“I have some friends who might be able to help,” she said, hesitating. “Only, they’re odd. So just, be real with them, okay? They might seem a bit eccentric, but they’ll take this seriously. I promise. Dabbling with the occult takes a certain kind of person is all.”
That’s how I met Hawthorne and Taryn the next day. They came to my sister’s house the next morning. Hawthorne was a short, goth looking guy who wore all sorts of chains with symbols on them. Pensive and quiet, he described himself as a warlock of sorts. Taryn was dressed like a construction worker with Carhartt Overalls and a white shirt. Her every gesture emanated a strange intensity that made me think of a drill sergeant.
“Damn. Complicated case huh?” Hawthorne said, mostly to Taryn.
“Complicated? Nah, we take out the dog and whatever the hell this is will go about it’s merry way, won’t it?,” she opened and closed her hands, tensing every muscle.
“I’m not so sure,” Hawthorn turned the idea around in his head, “if it’s a standard demon maybe an exorcism. But this is some pretty nasty mind control for a demon, and why wouldn’t it take a human as a host?”
“Okay, we chop the head of the animal, it goes away?”
“I’m doubtful on that. So far we’ve seen evidence for three different manifestations of whatever this “Shadow,” is, so it’s difficult to ascertain which is the truth, or what lies behind all of it.”
“Three?” I asked.
“Yes,” Hawthorne said. “First is Shadow as the dog you’d always known him as. Second is the version of Shadow that you saw standing at your son’s crib. Third is this hole with the teeth lining its edges your wife detailed. That last part is the real riddle, because that’s what she’s seeing when she’s inside its grasp trying to break free.”
“So what do we do?” I asked.
“What we can’t do is wait. This thing is a malicious entity and it’s hungry for something. Showing up after thirty years, now exerting a great deal more influence, that’s a major move. If Shadow can’t get to your child he’s going to escalate the situation.”
“Tombstone?” Taryn asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Hawthorne shrugged.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Like Wyatt Earp and his brothers against the cowboys, we go in armed to the hip and tell him to throw down his weapons and disband, get out of town, that sort of thing.” Taryn almost seemed excited about it.
I thought of my wife stuck in some deep pit, screaming for help. I hoped this worked.
We arrived at my house an hour before sunset.
Taryn and Hawthorne had packed a full carload of supplies for the exorcism: holy water, crosses, bibles, holy books from other religions, a tub of salt, and a bunch of paraphernalia I couldn’t identify. I’d left my son in the care of my sister. If anything happened to me she said she would keep him safe.
The house looked so peaceful. Its blue trim gave way to white siding, the grass on the lawn only slightly untidy. Until today I’d never walked in with an ounce of fear, but today it took an unbelievable effort just to open the car door. And yet, from the outside nobody could guess that something sinister waited within.
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table when we came in.
“Good, you’ve brought friends. Shadow is very social. He’ll be pleased for the company,” she said.
We ignored her and went upstairs to find my wife and Shadow.
They were both sitting in my son’s room as if they were waiting for us.
“Shadow wants his son back, honey. Why don’t you just bring him to us?” my wife said in an eerie monotone. It sent a chill down my spine. That was her mouth, that was her voice box, but it wasn’t quite her voice.
Shadow didn’t move from where he sat, but gazed at Hawthorne and Taryn as if investigating every aspect of their appearance.
“None of that will help you, but you’re free to try. He won't stop you.” my wife said, laughing.
Hawthorne and Taryn stood there, motionless.
"Start the exorcism, while we have the chance!" I said.
My wife continued laughing. "Oh I think Shadow might have changed his mind." She turned to me, "Now you're going to push me down the stairs, as a little punishment."
I looked at her in horror. "No, not again," I said.
"Then maybe Shadow will kill your new friends here. How do you think he'll do it? Do you think it'll be quick? He could go for their throats. Or maybe he'll take his time? There's plenty of little arteries in the arms and legs he could bite into."
"I won't do it. We're going to stop you," I said.
She walked to the top of the stairs. “Come on. It’ll be fun. You can’t tell me everything has always been rosy for us. This is your chance to get back at me.” She paused. “You’re no fun. I guess I’ll just throw myself. Who knows, maybe my neck will snap. Shadow would have fun with that. Dogs like a good bone.”
I reached out and grabbed her, pulling her back right as she was about to do it.
“HELP HELP HE HAS MY MIND AND I CAN’T GET OUT HELP ME I CAN’T STAND IT ANYMORE!” she screamed.
“We have to go now!” I said.
I started pulling her toward the door and her head flew back and she began laughing in a voice that wasn’t her own at all.
“It’s not going to be that easy. Here’s a deal: bring the child and you can have your wife back. In the meanwhile, I’ll savor your friends.”
I turned to look at Hawthorne and Taryn. Shadow still had full control over them. What could I do? I couldn’t leave them.
Just then the glass jar of holy water in Taryn’s hand shattered and she snapped out of paralysis. “Run!” she yelled, dragging Hawthorne. I tried to grab my wife, but she continued laughing, unmoving as if her body weighed as much as the whole house.
“Please, please you have to break free from him. For one moment. I can’t do this without you,” I said.
Taryn grabbed my hand and she must have dragged me out, because I wasn’t going to abandon my wife to that monster again. Our son would be safe. It was her turn to be saved.
I don’t remember everything that happened in the next few minutes. I felt like a slab of rock. Somehow Hawthorne and Taryn got me out of the house and in the car and we drove back in the direction of my sister’s house.
What do I do now?
[Part 1] https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/140pc2my_childhood_dog_just_showed_up_at_my_house_afte?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
[Part 2] https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/142ze2g/my_childhood_dog_showed_back_up_to_my_house_afte?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

A Blaine mother of six who is a former teacher and currently a candidate for the local School Board was arrested Friday, June 2, and charged with three counts of child rape, four counts of child sexual assault and drug possession.
Tana Perkins Reneau, 51, was arrested by Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies after detectives for the department investigated a Child Protective Services report regarding the abuse of juveniles, according to Deb Slater, a spokeswoman for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
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Read more at: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/state/washington/article276120616.html#storylink=cpy
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/state/washington/article276120616.html?taid=647e690a137e4000012c3c66&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

I met Kelly a few years ago at work. I believe at the time she had two young children, the oldest is currently 5. She was also already married to Kevin [26M], who is a stay-at-home-dad, they homeschool and she is the sole provider. I've met Kevin and the kids a few times, but don't really know them, and we never really talked about the kids too much.
We eventually started hanging out outside of work and early on in our friendship I learned that after their first child died, her parents had called in a wellness check on her and Kevin, which really upset her. I didn't pry for more details, but she and her husband moved across country, to where I live, and the relationship with her parents was severely strained.
Between her pregnancies and the pandemic, we didn’t see each other for a while, but hung out again a bit over a year ago. She tells me something that I press and I find out Kevin is emotionally abusive. I tried to convince her to start seeing a therapist and to consider leaving him. But by this time they have three children, and she doesn’t have any family here. I kept checking in and telling her that it is not okay how he treats her and offered her my guest room, etc. At some point she seems upset with me about it, so I back off. Then she gets pregnant again and I drop it.
The baby was born with a condition that meant he was going to be disabled his entire life. When I saw Kelly a few months later, she seemed exhausted but okay, she didn't really talk about Kevin, and gave me a vague response when I asked.
Next time we talked I found out that Kevin had decided he’s in love with someone else, and either Kelly is okay with it or she can leave. I tell her how fucked up that is, she says Kevin is just honest and that's why he told her. She talks about taking her new baby and disappearing, leaving the other three with Kevin.
Then I don't see her at work for a few weeks because our schedules change a bit. I get a text from her that she just got out of jail. She had been arrested for child neglect, and Kevin was arrested for child abuse. Her parents had posted bond and hired a private lawyer. From an article I found out the baby was at the hospital in critical condition. At this point I'd assumed it had been an accident or something. I texted to check-in, but didn't see her again for a few weeks.
From what I know, I think the baby was shaken. When the police interviewed her, she didn't tell them about any of the abuse. She said it was after she was out of jail that she “woke up” to what was happening. Her other children where removed from her care and put with her in-laws. She was still talking to Kevin, who called her from jail several times a day, telling him that she loves him, until her lawyer convinced her to go NC.
Overtime I learn he was abusing all the kids, she saw him do it, she told me she'd taken an older one to the hospital for stiches and lied about the cause. She also says he was physically abusing her.
I go to court with her, try to help her with the in-laws, convince her to reach out to her parents, hangout whenever she needs someone, etc.
About a month later, the baby is in hospice and passes due to his injuries. Kevin is charged with murder and still in jail. While Kelly is angry at him, she still tells me how he wasn’t a bad guy, how she is going to continue to raise the three remaining kids with his parenting philosophy (she says the abuse wasn’t discipline) and no one is going to tell her how to raise her kids. She believes in being honest with them, so she told the 5y that their father was in jail for killing their brother (she gets phone calls and supervised visitation once a week). Overall, she seemed more upset about Kevin being charged then the baby passing.
Yesterday she found out she probably isn’t going to get her kids back. It isn’t official, just what her family lawyer told her. But even before that, every week she wants them to be living somewhere different, based on how her MIL was acting, including putting them into foster care. One of the big blowouts with the MIL was over a missed visitation due to the children being sick. While I have heard her talk about how much she misses Kevin and how much she wants her kids back, she doesn’t really talk about how she misses her kids the way she does Kevin.
Obviously this is a really complex situation, with overlapping layers of grief and trauma, and I will be the first to say I know nothing about kids or marriage. I come from a not great home and I don’t always have the best grasp of what normal relationships look like. So I don’t know how to feel. Part of me empathizes with protecting your abuser and how hard it would have been emotionally to leave. But part of me also feels like she owed her children better then leaving them home alone all day with their abuser, that she should have left him after the first time it happened and that she shouldn’t have continued to have more kids (they were all planned). I haven’t told her and it makes me feel like a really shitty friend who is lying to her when she brings up things I don’t agree with. She feels like the whole world is against her and I don’t want to be someone else pilling on. She also doesn’t have many other friends. Any advice?
TL;DR I am afraid I am being too judgmental of my friend going through a really difficult situation.