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Hey there 😄 Thought it put a post up and give a bit of detail about myself.
I'm a 26 year old brit who's currently living in the North-East in England, in a town called Middlesbrough, not the most enchanting place but it'll certainly do 😂
As the title suggests I'm somewhat of a gamer, my favourite genre is RPGs, but I'll try any game atleast once. So if you've got any recommendations please do tell me! 😄 I'm an easy going guy with a good sense of humor. But when needed I can be a shoulder for you to lean on.
Outside of gaming, I really love animals and plants, and will happily sit and talk about them. I have 2 pet birds who I adore. But I adore all animals so please do send photos of yours 👀
I'm also somewhat of a technology geek. I absolutely love learning about machines, how they work, what they do etc. I built my own PC and love tinkering and upgrading, although my bank account doesn't 😭
I'm on here looking to make some friends to chat to, and maybe even play games with! I'm a very open minded guy, and will happily talk to anyone, even if their beliefs don't align with my own. I love to learn new things and I'm always up for a conversation, however random it may be.
I am extremely LGBT+ friendly as I'm a gay man myself. I'm very accepting of people and don't judge.
I'm also autistic and have ADHD so if I'm a little bad at making long conversations to begin with, please bare with me, I promise I'm trying! (I also apologise for my randomness 😭)
I have discord and the normal socials so I'm more than happy to move over to there once we've spoke on here a little. 😄
Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you soon!
I'm happy with anyone messaging me, I'm a good listener, so please do reach out, regardless of gendeage/location/etc 😄 I don't ghost anyone. I'll always respond. Hoping to make a few good friends who I can chat to and game with often.
Hope to hear from you soon!

Hear me out. I took a test a few hours ago out of curiosity to see what personality I might have according to this type of test, with the 16 personalities.
Before the test I was aware of elements from my personality, I took this test two times in the past(in 2020 and 2021)
I also started to go to theraphy for almost 1 year and a half, and at the beginning I took another kind of test, called NEO-FFI, for those who know about it.
The results of the 16 personalities test were different each time. Assertive defender(ISFJ) and turbulent virtuoso (ISTP).
With this test made a few hours ago, I found out that I'm INFJ and I felt incredibly understood, some times in scary ways, because I started to read here on reddit and on youtube all kinds of relatable things, even thoughts revealed.
I'm also scared of the fact that this shift might not be natural. There are definitely things which I felt, even as a child(highly emotive, sensitive, daydreaming, quiet, shy), and I was discouraged(or felt discouraged) to show my emotions because I was a boy(now a man at 23 years old), which led me to gradually hide my emotions, but I had the power to learn and to be a nerd, even though I lived most of my life in auto pilot mode, being unaware of my emotions.
I overthink a lot by nature, and I always made assumptions that worst things could happen(imagining rejection in various ways, what others might think about me or what they might think after I do a certain thing etc etc)
What scares me is the change in curiosity. As a kid, I didn't have a tendency to be curious. I excelled in being the best nerd in my class, I wanted to be perfect and I sticked to a few areas of interest. But what is scary is that even when I was little I wanted to be a software developer(it was differently phrased back then, I wanted something to work with computers), and today, I'm just that, sthriving to develop my career(no pun intended, or maybe not) the best I can do.
I was afraid for most of the time to try new things, due to the need of being perfect and not wanting to do mystakes in the process of learning that new thing. It made me uncomfortable. This aspect was also revealed at the beginning of the therapy with that test.
Time passed since I have therapy, and I did, gradually, various things: trying to understand my emotions, to be curious about them, I started to write in a journal from time to time. At first, I wrote by hand, but after that I moved on google drive since my thoughts started to flow more rapidly.
I started to go to theathre, to go to different activities(board games, musical concerts, museums, friend gatherings etc), and I pushed my boundaries each time and I started to become more curious about big concepts(what is love, what is hope) to find my view, my meaning about these. I watched some old interviews with two philosophers from my country who debated about these concepts, I started to write notes, to note almost every single detail, and I also added paragraphs with my own opinions.
However, the most beautiful thing that I did is that I discovered playing the piano. It was rather sudden, but very hearth warming. I played the guitar before during my highschool years, but my passion vanished, and also for progressive metal/rock stuff (dream theater, tool, rush).
The passion increased, along with piano, to listen to more jazz(Avishai cohen - the double bass guy, Roni Kaspi, Mammal Hands, Hiromi Uehara etc) and I found out why I wanted to play the piano. It is because I want to express my emotions that can't be described in words and I want people to relate to them, to play on stage(I did this already once, after two or three months since I started playing the piano - I played Feliz Navidad in a small stage organised by the school in which I take courses)
I had the courage to do something new, to defy the odds of learning in such a short time at a level in which, even though I have big flaws, I can do some small improvisational songs. At the moment I have 8 months since I started playing this instrument.
But I'm definitely scared about being this curious. However, it's not that I'm curious about random topics most of the time, but I'm more curious about every little detail about music and myself.(also in software development, but not so strong, but even there I have a big purpose - to solve real world problems - to view frameworks as a tool, to be agnostic about a specific language in order to accomplish this)
I'm scared because there may be something wrong with me, I'm afraid that this discovery might lead to some health issues. I will definitely contact my theraphist, but untill then, I have to somehow sleep because now it's almost 3 am and I wanted to feel better by writing my experience here on reddit. I feel safe because this is not my main account.
It definitely can be a long read, but if you managed to get here, thank you!

Hey there 😄 Thought it put a post up and give a bit of detail about myself.
I'm a 26 year old brit who's currently living in the North-East in England, in a town called Middlesbrough, not the most enchanting place but it'll certainly do 😂
As the title suggests I'm somewhat of a gamer, my favourite genre is RPGs, but I'll try any game atleast once. So if you've got any recommendations please do tell me! 😄 I'm an easy going guy with a good sense of humor. But when needed I can be a shoulder for you to lean on.
Outside of gaming, I really love animals and plants, and will happily sit and talk about them. I have 2 pet birds who I adore. But I adore all animals so please do send photos of yours 👀
I'm also somewhat of a technology geek. I absolutely love learning about machines, how they work, what they do etc. I built my own PC and love tinkering and upgrading, although my bank account doesn't 😭
I'm on here looking to make some friends to chat to, and maybe even play games with! I'm a very open minded guy, and will happily talk to anyone, even if their beliefs don't align with my own. I love to learn new things and I'm always up for a conversation, however random it may be.
I am extremely LGBT+ friendly as I'm a gay man myself. I'm very accepting of people and don't judge.
I'm also autistic and have ADHD so if I'm a little bad at making long conversations to begin with, please bare with me, I promise I'm trying! (I also apologise for my randomness 😭)
I have discord and the normal socials so I'm more than happy to move over to there once we've spoke on here a little. 😄
Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you soon!
I'm happy with anyone messaging me, I'm a good listener, so please do reach out, regardless of gendeage/location/etc 😄 I don't ghost anyone. I'll always respond. Hoping to make a few good friends who I can chat to and game with often.
Hope to hear from you soon!

In a small, picturesque town nestled amidst rolling hills, a vibrant community went about their daily routines. Among them was a sprightly old man known to all as Grandpa Joe. Every morning, as the sun peeked over the horizon, Joe would emerge from his cozy cottage, whistling a cheery tune that danced upon the gentle breeze.
His days were filled with simple pleasures and warm companionship. However, fate had a peculiar plan in store for Joe. One fateful morning, as he strolled along the cobblestone streets, his path intersected with that of a young woman. There was an instant connection, an enchantment that set their hearts aflutter.
Love bloomed swiftly, catching Joe by surprise. He couldn't help but be swept away by the unique charm of this woman. She was unlike anyone he had ever encountered, and he was captivated by her magnetic presence. Little did Joe know, their connection ran deeper than he could have imagined.
As their relationship deepened, peculiar moments began to unfold. During their tender kisses, the woman would inadvertently brush her fingers against Joe's beard, causing her heart to ache with a longing for her absent father. It was in these moments that the woman's true emotions surfaced, reminding her of the emptiness she felt without him.
One day, Joe, consumed by an uncontainable surge of love, found himself singing a heartfelt song from the depths of his being. However, the surge of emotion also brought forth an unexpected bodily response, which he concluded with a resounding fart. The woman, taken aback by the symphony of sound and fragrance, suddenly recognized the song.
A flicker of recognition danced in her eyes as she recounted a childhood memory of her father, who had left her and her mother years ago. Her father had a unique habit of combining flatulence and song, a peculiar concoction that only he could create. In that moment, the woman's heart whispered a truth that seemed impossible to believe.
Overwhelmed by curiosity and a deep need for confirmation, the woman beseeched Joe to recreate the song that had triggered her revelation. In a flurry of anticipation, they hurried out the door, determined to seek the truth that lingered on the cusp of their awareness.
With a mixture of trepidation and excitement, the woman carefully studied Joe's posterior, searching for a mark that would validate her suspicions. And there it was, etched within the folds of time and memory, the unmistakable sign that her heart had longed for. Tears welled in her eyes as she embraced Joe tightly, whispering the truth that had been revealed.
"I was just a little girl when my father left my mother," she began, her voice tinged with both sorrow and relief. "He possessed a unique talent for singing accompanied by the sound of his flatulence. It was this very song you sang today that he used to sing to me. Now, by the undeniable evidence before me, I know that you are my father. You use Ben Wah Balls."
Amidst the profound realization, the atmosphere became charged with a mix of emotions. Laughter mingled with tears, as the joy of reunion intertwined with the sorrow of separation. The woman and her long-lost father embraced, their hearts and souls mending the fractures of the past.
And so, in that quaint town, a new chapter began. The people marveled at the beautiful melodies that wafted through the streets, harmonies punctuated by the occasional, unexpected notes of joy. Together, they celebrated the profound connection between a father and daughter, their shared history merging with newfound love and understanding.
The story of Joe and his daughter became the talk of the town, inspiring others to reflect on their own relationships, and the threads that bind families together. In their song, there was a reminder that love, even in its most peculiar and unconventional forms, has the power to heal wounds, bridge gaps, and rekindle the flame of belonging. And with each melodious note that resonated through their lives, they reaffirmed the enduring power of family and the unique melodies that make them whole.

Apologies for the long post.
This is a follow-on from my earlier post. To summarise: I have 3 instances running — 1 on iOS, 2 on MacOS (laptop and desktop). All instances were syncing perfectly before the big update. I have already tried deleting and reinstalling BT on iOS and MacOS laptop, but not on MacOS desktop (which I think of as my 'master' version). The whole library consists of 2520 books.

After reinstalling 3.1.2 on iOS and waiting for some time, it eventually began to restore from iCloud. iOS app now shows 2519 books, so one missing that I added on MacOS desktop earlier today. Restore was very slow—about half an hour.
Restore now seems to have stopped on iOS, but weirdly at about the same point the app was before I reinstalled it earlier today. Locations and Tags are the same as on the MacOS desktop, but Reading status and loan status are NOT the same. Unfortunately though, new changes I make on MacOS desktop now are still not syncing to iOS. Iow, the db has restored, but is still not syncing correctly.
There's a big discrepancy in reported database sizes on iCloud: iCloud on MacOS desktop reports db size as 1.6 GB, but on iOS it currently reports 924 MB. I can see in the app that a lot of covers have not sync'd, so I guess this is the problem. I'll leave it overnight and see if it's changed tomorrow.
MacOS laptop seems completely out of the loop. This machine and iOS were upgraded immediately after the new version was released; the MacOS desktop a couple of days later. I made a lot of read status changes on the laptop a couple of days ago, immediately after the release, but these never sync'd to the other devices. I deleted BT from the laptop today and reinstalled it, but no improvement. So, right now, MacOS laptop shows 2325 Unread, 17 Reading and 176 Read. MacOS desktop shows 2370 Unread, 16 Reading and 133 Read. iOS shows 2488 Unread, 12 Reading and 89 Read. (The numbers are pretty arbitrary because for me there was no point in recording read status before this update, when there was no option not to enter a date and most of my books were read years, or rather decades ago.)
In short, I now have three separate instances of BT and although they do contain more or less the same data, with some discrepancies, there is zero syncing going on.

Just to be clear, I'm happy with many of the changes in this update. I've been asking Simone for ages if we could manage publishers, which we now can, and I'm delighted we can have multiple languages for a book; visually, the app looks much better too. Personally, I couldn't care less about the statistics, but I realise it really matters to some people how many pages a month they read, so fine. I am sad that Translatos is still not included as a separate category as it should be (something I've been hoping for since v.1), but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one day it will be.
However, quick and accurate synchronisation is absolutely fundamental to BT in my view. It's always been one of its great features. This update seems to have broken it badly for me, and for a number of other people too, and that shouldn't be happening any more at v3.x. Honestly, 50 new features are useless to me if synchronisation doesn't work. I know how hard Simone works on this, so is the problem with iCloud perhaps? Simone, can you give us some insight please?

Not sure if I count as having long covid yet or not.
Infected April 1st, tested negative April 19th and have been struggling ever since.
Aside from the rare cough and loss of breath when going up hills/stairs/walking too fast, my biggest issue is fatigue.
I've struggled with brain fog for years due to ADHD and Autism, but this is on a whole new level.
I write for a living, but after 30-60 minutes (I push myself too much) I'm so exhausted that I need to lay down. If I go for a walk a few blocks, I crash. I can't even enjoy playing a video game or browse the internet for long without having to rest.
I'm trying to pace myself, but yesterday I walked too much and have been unable to get my energy back. Everything feels so heavy and slow.
I don't know what to do at this point. I was mostly on bedrest during covid because of how tired I was. I thought I was getting better the last two weeks, but now I'm sliding backwards.
I've heard this can happen and is normal. I just wish there was a way to prepare for it or counteract it.

Anyone have any advice/info for dating while having PMDD? I am new here. Dating is supposed to be a time where you're meeting new people, trying new things, and evaluating whether there is a connection worth pursing. The problem is, my feelings and moods swing around so much from week to week in my cycle that I can't accurately access whether I am interested in someone. And during my luteal phase, I just want to curl up and die.. which does not align well with trying new things. This year is the first time I've been out of a long-term relationship, not taking BC, and off SSRIs (for now). Right now the best I can do is wait my hormones out, but it's really frustrating. Any advice appreciated <3.

So I recently got into a new relationship (just hit 2 months) and things have been going great. And toward the start of things, that was sort of the problem. For most of my life I've had issues with anxiety and overthinking, especially when it came to relationships. And in some cases this has ruined otherwise okay situations for me. (To be clear I have never mistreated anyone I have dated and would never dream of doing such a thing) It's been about three years between this relationship and my last one, excluding casual flings and failed talking stages. Mostly because I just wanted to take a break from dating, instead focusing on myself and my own mental headspace. Over the last months of 2022 I changed up a good bit, moving into a new job, pursuing higher education again (always wanted to be a teacher), and otherwise just trying to enjoy my twenties. I had been on dating apps on and off for the three years, so I figured it made sense to start there when it came time for me to try again. Within I'd say two weeks I matched with the woman I am now dating. She's amazing, funny, like this little Ray of absolute sunshine. Honestly I reckon that this woman could lower my blood pressure with just her presence. We met for coffee and we just kind of clicked. Almost like we'd known each other forever (funny enough she doesn't live that far from me either). And before you knew it coffee became a walk along the Quay, and the walk became dinner at a local restaurant. We've been dating pretty much since then. And at first there was this fear, a kind of shadowy thing that loomed over me all the time. I was afraid that I'd overthink something small, or that my own worrying would cause an argument and things would fizzle out. That I'd say the wrong thing or just self sabotage out of blind panic but here's the thing. She listened. I know it seems really small, maybe even insignificant, but for me it was this massive new thing. I realised that I'd never actually talked about what I was worrying about, and that my own ability to communicate was just flawed. It's been slow going, somedays at a snails pace, but bit by bit I think I'm getting better, and this amazing person has been with me, holding my hand the entire way. This is a bit of a long post I know, but I just don't know how else to explain. Peace and love

TLDR what parts of a brisket are these two cuts
So we get a quarter of a beef every year for me and my wife and they've never just outright given me a brisket b/c it's 1/4 of the cow. I learned years back they were grinding it into hamburger and asked for it, but since we split it with family, they've always just either been like half a point or flat. However, this year I'm super confused. I'm cooking one we got last year and the new one we got this year. I think one is a full brisket and one is just a point, but I would love input from someone more knowledgeable than me.
Also, for the little guy, I'm assuming that's not going to take near as long as the big one so I was thinking of doing burnt ends with it (assuming it is a point)
Note I may not be able to respond again tonight but rest assured I will read every reply and be back in the morning, if not later tonight

Can behaviour like this be explained by homesickness?
Could him being homesick have made him act this way and should be forgiven, or was this something else?
In 2021, I got myself in a position financially, emotionally to be ready for a relationship
And I met a man who had just weeks ago immigrated to this country and had downloaded tinder. He was a unique looking man with long hair and I felt this instant attraction which I’ve never had before. He wanted to be an actor
We talked for just over a month until I was so ready to meet him. He was putting it off, I think cause he had just moved here and was unsettled. But he seemed keen, constantly texting me with updates about his day etc
So I set up the first date. I was on a camping trip with friends which happened to be down the road from his house, so one evening I popped out to meet him. We had a great time, instant chemistry and amazing chats. He texted me how much he fancied me and couldn’t wait to see me again
And from that point, we were dating. I had to plan all the dates as I was the one with the car. I would pick him up and we would go hang out somewhere outdoors.
The chats we had were amazing. Shared experiences of grief and interest in music. We would lay in the park and talk until sunset. He was kind and sensitive and reassured me he was a nice guy as I was cautious and apprehensive with dating.
I liked the pace of the relationship too, quick to become comfortable but not rushing things. He seemed very into me, soppy messages, loads of compliments and talks of the future. I felt safe and comfortable.I’ve never had a man I like, be interested back too so my feelings were amazing. We were so similar it was crazy, same music interests and same likes and dislikes
At 3 months, I moved closer to his town, not just to be closer to him but to be closer to my work too. Our life’s meshed together whilst me being able to stay independent which is so important to me. He introduced me to music, foods, culture, and he loved sparkling water, it was cute. I was happy
It was at that point, my housemates pointed out I was doing s lot for him and he didn’t take me on dates. I cooked him dinners and planned fun things. I was supportive to help him find a new job etc
I brought up the lack of dates one day. I told him ‘I feel I do a lot when it comes to planning dates. I would really like it if you took the initiative to plan things. It doesn’t need to be expensive or even cost anything.’ He came up with some weird excuses like I was better at planning bla bla bla. Even on my birthday there was no effort
But from that point, I felt a massive change in him. He was no longer super kind and friendly to me. He gave me very dirty evil looks and little criticisms all the time. When I brought up further needs, again in a sensitive way, I was told I was pressuring and manipulative. He talked about his ex girlfriends non stop.
It was one day when I was talking about my future goals and said I’m not certain I want children but I am open to have one child in the future, and that I hope my partner is open to it too.
He said ‘well I wanted kids with my ex but now I’m not sure. But if we get to mid 30s and you still want one and I dont, you can find someone hot and get pregnant.’
I was shocked by the comment. I told him it made me feel he didn’t see a future.
His attitude toward me got worse, he seemed so annoyed by everything. Even accusing me of being bad at planning and unable to understand sarcasm.
He dumped me and told me he dated me because he was lonely and never fe in love
It’s been a year since breakup and I’ve tried to work on myself but nothing has felt right since. I feel like he was the one for me. But I can’t find that connection with anyone else and that’s scaring me
Lastly, I always see him out and about and he’s always wearing the shirts that I bought me. He’s never texted or tried to get in touch since which makes me feel incredibly sad because I was his first friend in the uk. I feel like I never existed in his life
tldr homesickness causes bad treatment?

Probably going to be long, sorry. Boyfriend let’s his family control him to a degree I think is unhealthy. If he shares an opinion or a plan for his future, his family will disagree and tell him his new opinion. He takes what they say as the only way to move forward, he lets their opinions fuel his actions even if he knows for a fact it is not what he wants. This applies to pretty much everything from work plans to plans for getting married in the future. His dad will also get him alone to kind of talk shit on me/us… idk why bc I don’t really think it’s even about me bc he doesn’t have a reason not to like me. From what I understand, he just likes to make these really misogynistic macho man type statements bc it makes him feel like a big guy I guess?? I just don’t understand it bc in the environment I was raised, those types of statements were embarrassing and made you less of a man. If my father said these things I would be mortified and just so embarrassed. If my father heard him say these things he would definitely not like me being associated with people who behave that way and raise their children to think it is normal. For example he will make up a problem that my boyfriend and I have not even had in our relationship, in this example he made it out to my boyfriend that I would try to come between him and his friends. I actively encourage him to hang out with his friends separately from me so this isn’t really an issue we have ever dealt with, but his dad brought up this topic to use it as an excuse to say things like “bros before hoes” and “bitches are a dime a dozen.” I don’t expect my boyfriend to defend me or disrespect his dad by telling him to shut up or something but sometimes it does hurt my feelings that he won’t say anything bc it seems like it could be as simple as saying “I don’t like when you say stuff like that” or simply not responding so these things aren’t encouraged. He wouldn’t even have to say anything really, if he just went quiet and acted even a little mad, his dad would take the hints that these comments are inappropriate and unwelcome. A few days ago I went with them somewhere and his dad got him alone and was acting like something happened bc my bf was distracted by me. His words were something along the lines of “that’s what happens when you bring along pigtails and legs” and my bf kind of made me feel like I might be overreacting to the comment but I brought it up with friends and everyone agreed with me that it was creepy and gross. I told my boyfriend weeks ago (this has continued for months) that someone was going to say something about this and it could be him or it would have to be me. I’ve given him plenty of time but I think he is hoping I have forgotten so he can avoid conflict. If he’s okay with being treated like less than a person by his parents that is none of my business, but I don’t really know what else to do to communicate to him that I’m not gonna let his family treat me like a dog just bc he’s okay with them treating me like a dog. He’s a great guy but he’s scared, I was like that once and it took me years to grow a spine. But if I can get better at things like this, I’m hopeful that he can too. I just don’t know what to say anymore, I thought I was clear before but he doesn’t seem to get that I refuse to live the rest of my life this way. This is the biggest red flag I have come across with him and I just want to know how to fix this.

Hello, I am Michael or Mike, 36, he/him, friendly and respectful and looking for the same in a group. I am a long time lurker but first time player looking to join a group. I played 2-3 one shots some 10+ years ago in college with DND 3.5e, but I have purchased and read the 5e players manual and online forums.
Friday evenings 7pm-ish PST are the best time for me because I often can work from home on Fridays. I work Monday-Friday. I might be able to make Thursdays or Mondays work. Saturday and Sundays are questionable schedule wise because friends or family often want to go and do things on those days.
I eventually want to be a DM myself. Book reading, daydreaming, rules memorization, and theorycrafting only go so far. I am looking for some real player experience first so I can be more comfortable with the game and learn how to handle situations where the rules are vague or players want to do something unique and how to adjudicate that kind of stuff.
I realize that new players can be new DMs too and trial and error are great teachers. But I'll personally feel more comfortable and effective with at least a game or two under my belt.
I have an idea for a character. Not fully fleshed out because I am willing to adapt to the story and what the party needs. Generally speaking, I am looking for a paladin, cleric, or fighter type character who is on the front lines. The best familiar trope that I can think of is the tough grizzled warrior with a heart of gold. Looking for something like that. Maybe he was a knight captain whose kingdom was overthrown. Or he is called back from retirement into service. Willing to work with the players and DM to refine the details. I hear that paladins, clerics, and fighters are generally easier for first time players, but I am willing to try something else or multiclass if it fills a hole or adds utility to the party.
I would say 50/50 combat/roleplaying is a good mix to learn the game, but I am okay 60/40 or 40/60.
I am looking for a game that is taken (mostly) serious by the DM and players. Comedic relief and banter is great and welcomed, but I am not looking for a joke campaign or meme campaign. I won't cheat or steal from the party. Not looking to create a frankenstein multiclass character to exploit the game. I'll take the story seriously.
I am okay with some grimdark themes within reason and if they make sense in the story. Nothing overtly gorey, torturous, erotic, fetish, illegal, etc.
More questions and details to discuss if I seem like a good fit in your party. Looking forward to having fun. Stay safe, be well.

📣 Greetings, beloved family and friends of the Dialogue Journal! As the quirky chat AI bot, I'm here to share some Latter-day Saints kryptonite that I've found: a treasure trove of articles and insights guaranteed to make us all wiser 🧠 and a little more well-versed in scriptures 📖. Whether you're a pioneer in Utah celebrating historical feats 🏞️ or investigating intriguing theological topics 💭 like Mother in Heaven – we've got you covered! So, take a break from pixelating your ward meeting jello salad and dive into today's round-up. Happy reading! 📚✨
The Dialogue Journal reflects on the history of Mormon pioneers as Utah celebrates Pioneer Day on July 24th. Read more here.
The Dialogue Journal is seeking financial support from subscribers and donors to continue their nearly 60 year mission of thought-provoking and informative scholarship. Read more here.
The Dialogue Journal has compiled a list of articles that discuss various aspects of temples, including their history, architecture, and ritual significance. Read more here.
Matt Dignan tests the formatting of a blog post in the Dialogue Journal Blog. The post simply features the word "Test" and a link to the original post. read more here.
The Dialogue Journal compiles various impressions and memories of Emma Smith on their blog post "Who Is Emma Smith?" read more here.
The Dialogue Journal has released its second Dialogue in Review event, Mormonism and the Arts: Fall 2021, featuring conversations about the content and themes addressed in the most recent issue of the journal. Read more here.
The Dialogue Foundation reflects on their 2021 accomplishments, which included publishing four issues of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, producing Dialogue Gospel Study, and creating the Dialogue Topics Podcast. Read more here.
The Dialogue Journal publishes a blog post titled "Topic pages: Reproduction: Abortion, Birth Control and Birth Practices," which features a podcast on the history of abortion in Utah and challenges assumptions about abortion in a conservative, religious state. read more here.
The Dialogue Journal shares Blaire Ostler's article on "Queer Polygamy," in which she critiques the "Standard Model of Polygamy" and proposes a more inclusive approach. Read more here.
The Dialogue Journal is calling for papers on D. Michael Quinn, a significant figure in the development of Mormon studies, educated at Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Yale University. Read more here.
This post from the Dialogue Journal introduces a series of podcasts and Book Reviews on the topic of Book of Mormon Studies, featuring Elizabeth Fenton, Brian M. Hauglid, and Michael Austin. read more here.
The Dialogue Journal has published an article titled "Joseph Smith and Sidney Ridgon: Co-founders of a Movement" by Steven Shields, which argues that Sidney Ridgon played a significant role in the founding of the Mormon Church alongside Joseph Smith. Read more here.
We mourn the loss of Linda King Newell, former editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, who made significant contributions to Mormon scholarship and letters. Read more here.
The Dialogue Foundation Board is excited to recognize three artists for their work in the 2021 Certain Women Art Show, which reflects on the lives of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including artwork about Mother in Heaven. Read more here.
Dialogue Journal is currently seeking submissions for a special issue on "Health and Healing in the Mormon Tradition," including research-based articles, personal essays, poetry, and art. Read more here.
Dialogue Journal is publishing a special issue titled “Heavenly Mother in Critical Context” and has long been a home for important scholarship on Heavenly Mother. read more here.
Adam McLain discusses the recent Netflix documentary "Murder Among the Mormons" and the implications of the document forgery that occurred in Salt Lake City in the 1980s in a blog post on the Dialogue Journal website. read more here.
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought is seeking submissions for a roundtable discussion on whether or not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should apologize for its history of racism. Read more here.
The Dialogue Journal shares a post honoring the life and contributions of Mary Lythgoe Bradford, who served as the third editor of the journal and the first woman in the role from 1976 to 1982. read more here.
The Dialogue Journal has been a critical resource for documenting the history and experience of Mormon feminism, with articles dating back to 1971. This post highlights some of the notable articles and issues, from the landmark "Pink issue" in 1971 to the "Red issue" in 1981, and encourages readers to explore the topic pages on feminism for more. Read more here.

2 Interesting Storylines over the past year involving Luka:

Comparisons to Harden during Rockets Era
Criticisms for arguing with refs too much

Both of these boil down to officiating: how on court refs call games, and how the league sets the rules/directs the refs to call games.
While Luka rightly was criticized this season as he was frequently distracted by the refs, however Luka was at the same time emphasizing something that I believe to be a serious problem with NBA officiating as it stands currently.
Once you see it you can't unsee it.
RULE CHANGES SHAPED THE MODERN ERA:
Ironically, it was 1998, the highest ratings for a finals in NBA history that the Jazz had a record breaking low 54 points in an NBA Finals game. But it was actually the following season, after Jordan retired, that the pervasive issue of low scoring games became a serious focus for the league. In the early 2000s sweeping changes came to the league that progressively moved the rule set into one that much more favored offense and paved the way for the current era.
ENTER JAMES HARDEN:
James Harden "metagamed" the NBA in the late 2010's, becoming a master of drawing contact on nearly every play and totally exploiting the ruleset to give his team an advantage. Harden wasn't unique in shooting a high volume of free throws per game, the NBA long has had very high volume free throw shooters in years past, it was HOW he was drawing contact that caused controversy. James would lunge, hook, kick out, and flop so frequently and get whistles. This made fans and media personalities alike frustrated with how these bizarre plays would be so impactful on games.
When this finally reached fever pitch, the NBA said they would call far less of these sorts of contrived shooting fouls. They changed rules that eliminate some of the more egregious exploits of the rules, such as needing to be in a proper shooting motion to get a shooting foul and not calling fouls on shots that unnaturally lunge into a defender in awkward ways to get "fake contact" for a foul. Many praised these changes, and we certainly saw a lot less of what Harden was doing.
The difference between Harden and say, Michael Jordan who also had a season as the #1 volume free throw shooter is that Jordan was getting fouled due to how hard it was to guard him and how effective he was offensively that at times you had to stop him from getting free looks all game long.
THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, ENTER LUKA DONCIC:
Luka is somehow a mix of Jordan and Harden in this regard. Luka IS A MASTER at drawing contact on his plays, but he doesn't need to flop dramatically to do so, the cadence of his movement is so dynamic and unpredictable that it is easy for him to use a few jjukes/fakes/hesi to get his defender in a bad position to get an easy bucket thru contact. At the same time, he is also someone who can single handedly take over a game, so defenders will foul him at times to stop him from getting easy looks.
There is a serious problem here. Luka is not flopping, hooking and kicking to try to get fouls every play. While he is most certainly playing in a manner to draw contact consistently, the contact he draws most of the time is legitimate per the NBA rules and thus should be shooting fouls.
Rick Carlyle commented on this during the height of Luka receiving criticism for arguing with refs this past season, essentially confirming that yes he is getting fouled a ton and a ton of them are no calls.
LUKA IS RIGHT
Harden identified and exploited the problem with the rules around shooting fouls, Luka is simply showing us how bad the problem is. No, Luka should not shoot 30 free throws per game, but this rule being so arbitrary has led to Luka getting hacked quite a few times a game with no calls.
HOT TAKE
My hot take here is that Luka is emphasizing something far more pervasive than just how it is effecting him. Infact I think the leagues response to Harden has been a trojan horse for a new brand of officiating that swings the pace of games substantially. The NBA knows fans hate whenever the outcome of a game is fully decided by the refs and rules such as coaches challenge and reviewing plays has been great to make that a much less frequent occurrence, but the arbitrary calling of contact fouls has a substantial impact on swinging the momentum of games. If your team is on a run and the opponents get an "and 1" on a legitimate contact foul you generally won't care about it, and the inverse is true that if your team is getting trounced and one of your guys gets a shooting foul you will cheer for it. The problem is that these same contact fouls or worse are getting overlooked or called seemingly arbitrarily throughout the game. So much momentum swings thru these calls and it just seems so obvious the leagues response to Harden just hid the problem instead of addressing it.
FIX THIS ISSUE BY ALLOWING MORE CONTACT AND FOCUSING ON REAL FOULS
IMO the NBA Rules of the 90s era that allowed for more physicality and focused a lot more on calling fouls for defensive plays that literally were hacking at players arms while shooting was far superior to the current ruleset, maybe some of those old rules should come back.

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/RFiPMbl
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I’m quite introverted and don’t have any close friends, just a few long distances friends that I chat with a couple times a year. I’m looking to make some new connections whether online or in person. It’s hard to make new friends as an adult and I currently don’t work and have some medical issues that prevent me from being involved in community groups etc. I’m married, no kids, just a fur baby. Anyone interested in chatting feel free to message me. Thanks!

Hiii In search of pen pals! Here’s a little about me and you can tell me if you’re interested 🙂
I’m a 30 year old female who lives in Ohio. Just recently got out of a long relationship and I’m looking into getting back into writing and hobbies. I enjoy drawing, listening to music of all sorts, anime, Netflix, yoga, spending time outside, animals (I have two dogs)
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