Gov Pritzer Signed into law a bill that bans anyone seeking to challenge laws or the actions of government employees from doing so in any county except for Cook and Sangamon.
This bill prevents anyone from having their cases heard by local judges from their community, prevents those without the means to travel from being able to hold public officials accountable in a court of law and effectively makes Illinois a one-party State by ensuring that the judges hearing the cases which challenge laws are in communities that are part of predominantly democratic communities.
It is true that rule 2.2-2.4 of M.R. 31329%20A%20judge%20shall%20not,judge's%20judicial%20conduct%20or%20judgment) should prevent judges from making biased judgements on account or political affiliation, let's be honest, if you're already of a particular political persuasion then you likely interpret the law in a manner that is consistent with those beliefs, hence the reason a person has said beliefs.
Also who is going to enforce M.R. 31329? The governor can't enforce it, congress can't enforce it. There are 7 justices in on the Illinois Supreme Court. Five are members of the Democratic party and two are members of the Republican party meaning that 71% of the decision makers are from the same party.
So what are the chances that the court would even hear a case against an official/law if the complaint would challenge their parties political hegemony? Even if they did hear the case, what are the chances that they would rule in favor of the plaintiff?
Even if you were to sue the State on this new law, you'd have to file the suit in Cook or Sangamon County. The problem with this is the fact that both of these are heavily controlled by the Democratic Party. Sangamon County court was even used by Gov. Pritzkers office to sue a couple of school districts not too long ago.

My close friend is going on his first ever abroad trip, and he's going to the Netherlands. He'll be in The Hague from 10-12 July, and already has added the basic touristy stuff like Madurodam, Japanese garden, Delft etc.
However, he wants a more representative experience and not just a touristy experience, and none of us have any idea about it.
Hence, I wanted to know about unmissable places to visit in The Hague that are famous amongst locals, must eat foods of The Hague, hidden gems of restaraunts nd what they are famous for, and any tips for The Hague travel.
Please help me make my friend's first international trip as memorable and proper as possible! Thank you in advance for any help :⁠-⁠)

Hi group,
Newbie to lawn care minus years of experience in mowing. Going into my 3rd year of a new home build and my my yard looks worse than it ever has. I've never fertilized, aerated, dethatched, leveled or anything other than mowed.
A couple days ago I mowed, blew my grass with the blower on high to get whatever dead grass I could up without owning a power rake, put down Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn (located in Houston, TX) and followed that up two days later with Milorganite.
I don't want to do anything to make matters worse. I was thinking of just riding this out for the summer and seeing how it progresses. I wanted to possibly hire someone to aerate to save me time but worried I have waited too late. Was also thinking of maybe putting down some liquid aerator in hopes that it would increase my chances and recovery time from this.
Not sure if it would help if I pull up as much dead grass as I could by hand. I was also wondering if I should put down some top dressing, compost or possibly something else in these dead spots to help the St Augustine grass root and grow.
Any advise would help. My goal for the summer is to bring it back as healthy as I can and tackle some of the other issues like leveling at a later time.

Hi all. Never been on the Amtrak before. Taking the Lincoln Service from St. Louis to Chicago (and back again after a few days). Went with coach, but got the chance to upgrade to business class for $18. Anyone know if the upgrade is worth it? Since I've never rode a train before, my only real preference is a window seat. Quieter might be nice, but not mandatory. I'll have headphones.
I wasn't sure if business class was harder to get a window seat since there are fewer of them than coach (I assume). I'm getting to the station about 40 mins early.

I work for a small, family-owned hardware store that got its start in the Niagara area 30 years ago. We are celebrating our anniversary, and everyone is welcome to join us.
There will be giveaways, prizes, free food, demonstrations from our reps, and one day deals on tools, gear, batteries, and more.
The address is 42 Scott St West - the party starts at 11am and runs until 5pm.
If you work in the trades, you won't want to miss this, but everyone is welcome. We want to say thank you to our neighbours for supporting us for three great decades.

Link to Hub

Recapping 2022

2022 was a dangerous year to be a Vikings fan, especially if you have a pre-existing heart condition. While a season of 13 wins -- tied for the most since 1998 -- may seem like the team is in a position to make a Superbowl push, the actual quality of the team is a lot more... well, mediocre.
The 2022 Vikings ranked 19th in offensive EPA per play, 25th in defensive EPA per play, 27th in Overall DVOA, and 15th in Pythagorean Wins (with 8.4 expected wins). Kevin O'Connell always preached the performance of the team in priority situations. The team finished 12th in 3rd down conversion rate and 8th in red zone conversion rate. And the team led the league -- by far -- in the number of 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives. When it was time to put up or shut up, the team put up hard. Except for in the playoffs.

2023 Offseason

All of that made the future of the Vikings tough to read. But Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the rest of the front office told us what they thought of the team with their free agency moves. In a league where teams are trading the farm for Hall of Fame QBs and giving $20M/Year deals to nose tackles and guards, the Vikings' big free agent splash were a one year deal on an injury-prone DE and a good-not-great corner that doesn't even crack the top 20 highest AAVs at the position. Concurrently, the team parted ways with half of the team's 2022 captains to try to get under the cap. All of this while the team is not done with transactions -- Dalvin Cook still presents as a cut candidate due to his age and contract structure.
Notable Departures:

• WR Adam Thielen ($6.4 Saved / $13.5 Dead)
• LB Eric Kendricks ($9.5 Saved / $1.93 Dead)
• CB Patrick Peterson (Unrestricted Free Agent)
• DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Notable Arrivals:

• CB Byron Murphy (2Y / $17.5TOT / $8.1GTD)
• EDGE Marcus Davenport (1Y / $13TOT / $10GTD)
• TE Josh Oliver (3Y / $21TOT / $8.2GTD)
• DT Dean Lowry (2Y / $8.5TOT / $4.2GTD)
• EDGE Za'Darius Smith (Post-draft trade)

Other Notable Transactions:

• Re-Signed C Garrett Bradbury (3Y / $15.75TOT / $5.15GTD)
• Re-Signed RB Alexander Mattison (2Y / $7TOT / $6.35GTD)
• Re-Signed FB CJ Ham (3Y / $5.6TOT / $3.3GTD)
• Re-Signed All-Pro LS Andrew DePaola (3Y / $4.025TOT / $1.515GTD)

The other major change that influenced how the team addresses the draft was the shift from Ed Donatell's Cover 2 shell defense to Brian Flores's aggressive man defense. Compared to the 2022 Vikings, Flores's 2021 Dolphins blitzed over twice as often and played with light boxes at roughly half the rate. On top of the front seven, one of the biggest changes in scheme is the Cover 2 alignment, which Donatell employed on nearly half of all defensive snaps compared to just 12% for Flores's 2021 Miami team. With one crop of rookies and free agents brought in to play in a Fangio style scheme, the defense would have to undergo a massive shift to succeed in a scheme that can only be described as the complete opposite of what was run in 2022.

Draft Needs

Cornerback - Arguably the Vikings' biggest need, the team was without a true CB1. Byron Murphy comes aboard as the most experienced player. Pegged a slot-only player through his first three years, Murphy spent most of his time in 2022 outside and had a career year. After that, the team looked to rely on improvements from their 2022 draft class with Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans, two players that combined for fewer than 300 defensive snaps last season primarily due to injury. You can see how KAM and crew, confident in their scouting ability, are betting on health to affect the secondary for the better. But taking another bet on a young player is a smart move at a position where depth is always a good thing.
Interior Defensive Line - The loss of Dalvin Tomlinson -- who played 551 snaps last year and compiled 14 pressures -- leaves issues next to Harrison Phillips. Jonathan Bullard was third on the IDL with 319 snaps last season and returns on a one year deal. Tonga and Lynch had some flashes, and the team brought in Lowry. The rotation (optimistically) can get to competent. But finding a true winner on the inside of the line was viewed by many as a priority.
Wide Receiver - The Vikings starting personnel at WR heading in to the draft was Justin Jefferson (stud), KJ Osborn (decent), and... Jalen Nailor? Brandon Powell? Oh dear Lord don't tell me it's Jalen Reagor. The loss of Adam Thielen was expected, but nevertheless leaves a gaping hole next to JJ and KJ in the lineup. Keenan McCardell is arguably the best WR coach in the league, and playing with Jefferson would give one-on-one opportunities for any receiver. But having somebody that can actually win those one-on-ones remains a question.
Inside Linebacker - Eric Kendricks's jersey change marks the true end of an era at LB. Kendricks struggled in Donatell's scheme last season, as did most players. But he was a longtime leader on the defense and a valued community member. Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, and Troy Reeder sit atop the depth chart. Hicks can be solid and Asamoah had flashes, but counting on this group as every down players is a risk to say the least.
Offensive Guard - Ed Ingram was one of the worst starting guards in the league last season. But he's a rookie. Maybe he gets better in year 2. Maybe he stays terrible. Even if you're optimistic there, Ezra Cleveland is entering a contract year at left guard. Adding interior offensive line depth is always smart.
Quarterback - This offseason, reports surfaced that the team and QB Kirk Cousins could not finalize a contract extension. That means for the first time in his Vikings tenure, Cousins is entering a contract year. Cousins has been an above average QB during his time in Minnesota. Last year saw him finish 4th in yards, but he was painfully mediocre at efficiency stats like TD percent (17th), ANY/A (18th), and ADOT (20th). Entering his age-35 season, it would be wise to look for a successor even if the team plans on retaining Cousins past 2023.

The Draft

*Indicates measure is taken from Pro Day
1.23 WR Jordan Addison, USC
Profile: Jr 5'11 173lbs 31.5 Arm\ 8.75 Hand 75.125 Wing* 4.49 40 1.57 10 34 VJ 10'2 BJ 4.19 SS* 7.05 3c 5.95 RAS*
2022 Stats: 11 Gm 59 Rec 875 Yds 8 TD 2 Drops
Steve Smith Sr: "Addison has one of the highest ceilings among WRs in this draft due to his blend of route running chops and his all around athleticism. He is a three level route runner: intermediate, deep, and short... The way he can get in and out of his breaks is so natural. He uses leverage. And he manipulates the DB consistently"
Addison -- a Biletnikoff Award winner during his Pitt days -- is one of the highest floor players in the class. He is a route running technician with proven dominance playing inside and outside. He had more than 3 yards per route run in two different offenses. He understands how to marry his athleticism and quickness with the breaks in his routes. He finds the DB's blind spot and forces them to lose. Addison is a bit on the small side, but not abnormally so given this draft class. He does have some concerns with his hands -- his drop rates as a freshman and sophomore were 14% and 10%, respectively -- but he showed improvement in this as a junior.
The need here is clear. As mentioned earlier, the WR depth past JJ and KJ is abysmal. Even with Thielen and Osborn on the roster in 2022, the Vikings needed juice in the WR room. The 2022 Vikings had one top 5 WR in yards per route run (Jefferson). There was no other receiver in the top 100. Teams were not worried about Thielen or Osborn. Teams could put two or three defenders on Jefferson without any fear of what anyone else might do to their defense. Hockenson fixed this a bit down the stretch, but an outside playmaker was still needed.
The real question here is why the team opted not to go for CB Joey Porter Jr, who filled what many considered to be the team's biggest need and was a higher ranked prospect for Lance Zierlein, PFF, Danny Kelly, Matt Miller, and Dane Brugler. The answer here -- if I can take a guess and stretch my logic a bit -- is that the need at WR2 was greater than the need at CB. Patrick Peterson was the biggest loss in the secondary, and the team brought in Byron Murphy to try to fill that role. On offense, Minnesota had not brought in a replacement for Adam Thielen. The depth chart past Jefferson and Osborn was filled with bodies that might not make a 53-man roster on a lot of teams.
Trade: MIN gives 3.87 to MIN for 3.102, 5.164, 7.222

	Jimmy Johnson	Rich Hill	Fitzgerald-Spielberger	Harvard
Total give	155	48	737	115
Total get	117.7	45	1334	197
Absolute Diff	-37.3	-3	+597	+82
Percent Diff	-24%	-6%	+81%	+71%

The biggest thing to consider when evaluating this trade is that the Vikings came into the draft with 5 picks, only two of which were in the top 100. In my biased opinion, this was a home run trade, even if the traditional charts disagree. To take three swings at the bat instead of one is a humble and wise strategy, especially for a team with limited draft capital. The move looks even better in hindsight because there were no CBs taken between 87 and 102.
3.102 CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC
Profile: 6Sr 5'11" 178lbs 31" Arm 9.25" Hand 74.625" Wing 4.47 40 1.47 10 36 VJ 10'5" BJ 11 Bench 7.44 RAS
2022 Stats: 14 Gm 66 TKL 2 TFL 1 FF 15 PD 3 INT
Brett Kollman: "Feisty, physical press corner who definitely has to play more under control in the NFL to avoid flags, but he has all the competitiveness you want to see from a potential CB1 at the next level. Never backs down from anyone. Has easy gas to stay in control of a route from top down, even against true burners. Legit 4.4 speed and gets up to it quickly. Outstanding ball production... Held up extremely well despite being targeted often. Battle tested, aggressive, and confident... Very similar to Desmond Trufant."
An unrecruited high school positionless player out of high school that signed with JuCo San Mateo, Blackmon followed up four seasons at Colorado with a breakout 2022 campaign as one of the best defenders on the USC defense. The Trojans played a man-heavy scheme, which let Blackmon shine. He has great anticipation and instincts. His production this year says as much. He plays bigger than his size, and he has inside-outside versatility. He will have to clean up some of his physicality to avoid flags at the next level. He will also have to refine his technique to stay with the more complex routes he'll see. But he is a strong culture and scheme fit for what Brian Flores is bringing to the defense.
The need at CB was obvious even before hiring Flores. The Vikings ranked 31st in passing yards allowed, 26th in Passing DVOA, and 24th in EPA allowed per pass attempt. Bringing in Byron Murphy helps. So do the healthy returns of Booth and Evans. But Murphy has not yet shown that he can be a consistently great player (or at least not markedly better than what we got out of Patrick Peterson last year). And Booth and Evans are unproven. Blackmon -- taken with the last pick on Day 2 -- is not expected to come in and be Jalen Ramsey or Sauce Gardner. But in a shift to a more aggressive man-coverage defense with a thin CB room, Blackmon is an upside player that will have every chance to take a starting spot on a porous defense.
Trade: MIN gives 4.119 to KC for 4.134, 2024 5th\*

	Jimmy Johnson	Rich Hill	Fitzgerald-Spielberger	Harvard
Total give	56	24	578	88
Total get	58.4	24	898	133
Absolute Diff	+2.4	0	+320	+45
Percent Diff	+4%	0%	+36%	+34%

On top of entering the weekend with a mere 5 draft picks in the current year, the Vikings also entered with a mere 5 draft picks in the 2024 class (3rd rounder traded for Hockenson, 5th rounder traded for Reagor). Dropping 15 picks in a relatively flat part of the draft while adding a mid-Day 3 pick is good business given this team's lack of capital.
*Here we assume a future pick in round n is valued at the middle pick of round n+1, not accounting for compensatory picks. In this case, a 2024 5th is equated to pick 176.
4.134 S Jay Ward, LSU
Profile: Sr 6'0.5" 188lbs 32.5" Arm 8.25" Hand 76.875" Wing 4.55 40 1.54 10 34.5 VJ 11' BJ 4.35 Shuttle\ 7.31 3c 16 Bench 6.70 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 60 TKL 2.5 TFL 5 PD 1 INT 2 FR TD
Nate Tice: "A ton of fun. I just like this fit because of Brian Flores's defense. Just picture all of those mixture guys that the Patriots have used over the years... Jay Ward can be that"
A three year starter with reps at safety, slot, and outside CB, Ward is one of the most versatile players in the class. He possesses excellent length and movement skills. His experience at CB make him a fluid player in coverage. In the run game, Ward's size is a concern. His 188lbs Combine weight puts him in just the second percentile for safeties. This translates to issues with taking on blocks. He is a very aggressive player, beelining to the ball as soon as it's out. But his size coupled with his impatient playstyle lead to a lot of missed tackles. He was also flagged seven times last season.
In his final season in Miami, Flores was extremely creative with how he employed his safeties. Jevon Holland had the 2nd most blitzes in the league at the position. The number 1 player? His teammate Brandon Jones. With the defense taking on Flores's amoeba identity, an aggressive player with experience at multiple positions has the potential to find a role early on. The defense will look to utilize him similar to how Jevon Holland was used as a rookie. And with Harrison Smith well into the twilight of his career, Ward is a timely pick as the team attempts to thread the needle in their competitive rebuild.
Trade: MIN gives 5.158, 6.211 to IND for 5.141

	Jimmy Johnson	Rich Hill	Fitzgerald-Spielberger	Harvard
Total give	32.4	13	722	103
Total get	36	15	492	74
Absolute Diff	+4	+2	-230	-29
Percent Diff	+10%	+13%	-47%	-39%

It's a bit strange to see Adofo-Mensah move away from the analytics charts in favor of the traditional ones, but the value swap here is not absurd. The real question with this trade will be if Roy ends up being a true contributor.
5.141 NT Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Profile: Jr 6'3" 305lbs 32.75" Arm 10.125" Hand 78.125" Wing 5.13 40\ 1.82 10* 26" VJ* 8'5" BJ* 5.00 Shuttle 8.01 3c 30 Bench 3.72 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 49 TKL 3.5 TFL 0.5 SCK
Lance Zierlein: " The more you watch, the more you like the way Roy plays the game... Despite limited starting experience at LSU, he already displays signs of a rush plan and the athletic talent to execute it. Roy is an ascending talent with the potential to become a quality starter. "
After a 30 tackle, 1.5 sack campaign as a rotational player in 2021, Roy shifted from a penetrating 3T position to more of a traditional nose tackle under new HC Brian Kelly. This transition let Roy shine as a run stuffer. He eats space and is incredibly tough to move from his spot. He averaged almost 52 snaps a game in 2022 and his motor never let up. He has some work to do if he wants to be a three down player, particularly as a pass rusher. His bend and balance in this front are especially lacking.
The Vikings' front office seems to be a lot more comfortable with the current IDL room than I am. Harrison Phillips is a plus starter. Past that, the roster is filled with unproven youth or proven subpar players. As a 5th round pick, Roy has an uphill battle to separate himself from that group. But he's a good lottery ticket at this price. His positional versatility ensures that the defense can simply put their best players on the field.
5.164 QB Jaren Hall, BYU
Profile: RSr 6'0" 207lbs 39.75" Arm 9.5" Hand 71.875" Wing 4.63 40\ 1.59 10* 4.19 Shuttle* 7.06 3c* 7.96 RAS*
2022 Stats: 12 Gm 248 Comp 376 Att 66% Comp 3171 Yds 31 TD 6 INT 86 Rush 789 Rush Yds 9 RUsh TD
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: "We added a really talented player that has a ton of upside... The ability to make decisions, throw the football accuracy, deal with conflict when it comes his way, and sometimes try to make a play outside the framework of the playcall. He does all those things at a really great level... That's an outstanding young man. I'd like to see him lead my team or any organization I'm a part of."
Despite being the third oldest prospect in the QB class, Hall only has 24 starts under his belt due to two years on religious mission and one year with a hip injury. But when Hall took over for Zach Wilson in 2021, he hit the ground running. BYU went 10-3 in that first year with Hall compiling a 4:1 TD:INT ratio. He is a two time team captain, and all reports of his character are off the charts.
Hall is a poised pocket passer capable of extending plays and picking up yardage on the ground. He was only sacked 12 times in 2022, which is a testament to both BYU's offensive line and Hall's ability to create under pressure. There are conflicting opinions on Hall's upside and arm strength, with Lance Zierlein calling his arm "unimpressive" while Kyle Crabbs claiming that hall has a "live arm with the ability to throw with juice off platform". Where there was near-universal agreement was in his understanding of the scheme, as Hall operated BYU's RPO-heavy offense like a machine. He has a clean release and quickly gets into a rhythm. His largest universal concerns are his age (he turned 25 in March) and his injury history (missed 20 games in the last 4 years). He also has ball security issues with 13 fumbles over his career.
I expected the Vikings to draft a QB in this class. The only question was if it would have been via a trade up on Day 1 or a flyer on Day 3 (or a falling Will Levis). With his age, size, and injury history, there are plenty of questions about what Hall can be. He will have a year in practice to put together his audition tape to be Kirk Cousins's replacement -- it's certainly a viable path for this team to take a RiddeHowell/Mills-esque year to evaluate Hall while they continue retooling the defense. But the more likely path is that Hall becomes a long-term backup for the team. Cousins has been the model of health, but that doesn't mean that QB2 is an unimportant position. Sean Mannion, Kellen Mond, and Nick Mullens have manned that position to various degrees over the past few years. None has shown that they can be a competent plug-in player if needed. There is some hope that Hall -- who operated the BYU offense with a mechanic efficiency -- can be that player.
7.222 RB DeWayne McBride, UAB
Profile: Jr 5'10" 209lbs 30.625" Arms 9.5" Hands 73.125" Wing 20 Bench\*
2022 Stats: 11 Gm 233 Att 1713 Yds 19 TD 7.4 Y/A 2 Rec 10 Rec Yds
Dane Brugler: "Overall, McBride is unproven as a pass catcher and blocker, which might restrict his NFL role, but his contact balance, vision and lateral agility are among the best this running back draft class has to offer"
In an era of advanced metrics and Combine showmanship, perhaps the trait that has gone underappreciated more than any other in RB scouting is balance. McBride may have the best balance in the entire RB class outside of Bijan Robinson. He comes from a heavy outside zone scheme at UAB, where he led the FBS in yards per game and set school records for single-game and single-season rushing. McBride absorbs contact like a sponge. His short area burst is strong, and he makes defenders miss with power and finesse. McBride has ideal size and toughness. His concerns are simple. He was not utilized as a receiver in college, and he had more career fumbles than catches in that time. McBride profiles as a two-down player at the next level. Although Adofo-Mensah has voiced his belief that McBride's passing game usage was a product of scheme rather than ability, McBride still has to prove that he is more than just a short yardage runner in the NFL.
After spending a pick in back to back years on RB and re-signing Mattison to a modest contract, RB was a bit of an unexpected pick for this regime. Dalvin Cook still seems to be movable (a likely cut candidate at this point), which would make this pick more logical. Chandler struggled with injuries as a rookie, but both he and Nwangwu profile more as speedy scatbacks than true between-the-tackle runners like Mattison. Even Mattison has never been a true three-down back. McBride plays much more similarly to Mattison than the other backs on the team. He will try to carve out a role behind him as the future thunder to the lightning provided by Chandler and Nwangwu.

UDFA

FB Zach Ojile, Minnesota Duluth
Profile: 6Sr 6'0" 241lbs 31.5" Arms 8.5" Hands 75.5" Wing 4.78 40\ 1.79 10* 31" VJ* 9'1" BJ* 4.40 Shuttle* 31 Bench* 4.15 RAS*
2022 Stats: 11 Gm 12 Rush 53 Rush Yds 3 Rush TD 25 Rec 289 Rec Yds 5 Rec TD
A Twin Cities native, Ojile was a late addition to the roster, joining after a May rookie minicamp tryout. Ojile played LB, QB, FS, and RB in high school but found a role as an H-Back at UMD. He served as a team captain the past two seasons and finishes his collegiate career with over 1100 total yards and 24 total TDs. He was an All-Conference player for the DII NSIC Bulldogs. Whether Ojile participates at FB or TE, he'll need to prove his versatility to beat out the veterans on the depth chart. Working in his favor is Kevin O'Connell's shift to a more base-heavy offense in 2023.
WR Cephus Johnson, Southeastern Louisiana
Profile: 6Sr 6'4" 223lbs 33.25" Arm\ 8.5" Hand* 78.625" WIng* 4.57 40* 1.59 10* 36.5" VJ* 10'1" BJ* 4.39 Shuttle* 7.25 3c* 18 Bench* 9.48 RAS*
2022 Stats: 11 Gm 184 Pass Att 65% Comp 1354 Pass Yds 10 Pass TD 5 INT 89 Rush 488 Rush Yds 5 Rush TD
Johnson is making the fulltime switch from QB to WR as he attempts to latch on to an NFL practice squad. He earned the starting role for South Alabama as a redshirt junior before transferring to SE Louisiana, where he took some snaps at WR in spring games. Johnson's stats were unimpressive as a starting QB, notching just 1354 yards and a 2:1 TD:INT ratio in 11 starts. He has good size and instincts as a runner, but he has basically no experience playing WR.
WR Lucky Jackson, W Kentucky / XFL DC Defenders
Profile: RSr 6'0" 179lbs 9.624" Hand\ 32.25" Arm* 75.875" Wing**
2023 Stats: 10 Gm 36 Rec 572 Yds 5 TD 1 Fmb
Jackson last put on a college uniform before the pandemic for Western Kentucky, where his 2019 season saw him put up over 1100 yards on 94 receptions. Following his college days, Jackson spent time in the CFL and the Spring League before joining the XFL's DC Defenders and becoming an All-XFL receiver.
WR Malik Knowles, Kansas St
Profile: RSr 6'2" 196lbs 32.25" Arm 8.75" Hand 77.625" Wing
2022 Stats: 14 Gm 48 Rec 725 YDs 2 TD 8 Rush 164 Rush Yds 3 Rush TD 23 KR 592 KR Yds
Knowles is a vertical threat with good size and length. He offers value as a kick returner and leaves Kansas State with a top 5 rank in all-purpose yards. Knowles is an undeveloped route runner that struggles with quick change-of-direction. He also has trouble with press coverage. He'll need to prove his value on special teams, where he has plenty of collegiate experience as a kick returner.
WR Grant Maag, North Dakota
Profile: 5Sr 6'4" 206lbs 9.25" Hand\ 31.875" Arm* 77.625" Wing* 4.49 40YD* 1.60 10YS* 40.5" VJ* 10'5" BJ* 4.34 Shuttle* 6.90 3c* 8.50 RAS*
2022 Stats: 12 Gm 41 Rec 540 Yds 5 TDs
Maag was brought in following the announcement of Ben Ellefson's retirement. He is an Inver Grove Heights native and a graduate of St Croix Lutheran in St Paul. He leaves North Dakota with over 2000 yards over his five years and served as a team captain the past two seasons. His size gives him an advantage with a shorter WR group ahead of him, but Maag is a far cry from a roster lock.
WR Thayer Thomas, NC State
Profile: 6Sr 6'0" 198lbs 9" Hand\ 30.125" Arm* 73.5" Wing 4.56 40* 1.63 10* 37" VJ* 10' BJ* 4.03 Shuttle* 6.93 3c* 15 Bench* 7.85 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 57 Rec 642 Yds 4 TDs 2 Rush Att 44 Rush Yds 1 Rush TD 17 PR 128 PR Yds
A multisport athlete that was drafted by the Red Sox in 2019, Thomas walked onto the Wolfpack football team and got onto the field any way he could. In 2018, he saw work as a receiver, punt returner, and passer. Thomas has good hands (a career drop rate of 4%) and a high work ethic, but he is an undeveloped route runner that struggles to create much after the catch. He will need to prove his worth on special teams if he wants to make the roster.
TE Ben Sims, Baylor
Profile: RSr 6'4" 250lbs 33.125" Arm\ 9.5" Hand* 80.125" Wing* 4.58 40YD* 1.56 10YS 36" Vert* 10'2" Broad* 4.41 Shuttle* 7.46 3c* 15 Bench* 8.40 RAS*
2022 Stats: 12 Gm 31 Rec 255 Yds 3 TDs 2 Drops 1 Rush TD
Sims projects as a blocking tight end with limited ability as a receiver. He's a patient run blocker with good balance and toughness, but he is still cleaning up some technique. He isn't a creator with the ball in his hands and his tape fails to demonstrate the explosiveness that his testing suggests.
OL Alan Ali, TCU
Profile: RSr 6'4" 301lbs 32.875" Arm 9.5" Hand 77.625" Wing 5.23 40\ 1.89 10* 26.5" VJ 8'5" BJ* 4.91 Shuttle* 7.94 3c* 3.80 RAS*
A 5 year starter for TCU and SMU, Ali is a fundamentally sound center prospect with good body control and core strength. He has experience playing at all 5 OL positions but spent most of the past 4 years at center. His lack of athleticism and length are likely the reason he went undrafted.
OT Jacky Chen, Pace
Profile: RSr 6'5 1/4" 299lbs 10" Hand\ 34.5" Arm* 80.75" Wing* 5.41 40* 1.81 10* 29" VJ* 8'10" BJ* 4.74 Shuttle* 7.90 3c* 24 Bench* 5.39 RAS*
It's hard to find very much information on an undrafted lineman from a DII school whose toughest opponent was the University of New Haven. Chen is an OT prospect that is viewed as a ball of clay. Chen's 40 yard dash and 3 cone were underwhelming to say the least, but he was an above average tester in burst and explosiveness drills. That combined with his length make him an interesting project.
EDGE Andre Carter II, Army
Profile: Sr 6'6.5" 256lbs 9.375" Hand 33.275" Arm 81 Wing 4.91 40\ 1.65 10* 30" VJ 9'1" BJ 4.36 Shuttle 6.97 3c* 11 Bench 6.29 RAS*
2022 Stats: 10 Gm 41 TKL 7 TFL 3.5 SCK 2 PD
The highest profile UDFA signing of the class, Carter was getting 1st round buzz this time last year. At that time, Carter was coming off an 18.5 TFL / 15.5 sack season. However, Carter struggled to repeat his production as a senior, notching just 3.5 sacks. Carter finished out the draft cycle with lackluster testing, failing to run under a 4.90 in the 40 yard dash and weighing in at a mere 256 lbs -- a big concern given his 81 inch wingspan and towering stature. Carter has a ton of upside, but he doesn't have the frame to be a real NFL player right now. After 4 years training to be an officer in the US Army, he will need at least one season (maybe more) in an NFL weight room where he can focus on building muscle mass. He'll look to follow the mold of fellow Army player Alejandro Villanueva, who added 43 lbs to his 277 lbs frame entering the league before becoming a 7-year starter. Luckily, he joined the team with one of the best training facilities in the league.
EDGE Junior Aho, SMU
Profile: 6'2" 260lbs 9" Hand 33.875" Arm 79.875" Wing 4.58 40\ 1.66 10* 33.5" VJ* 10'3" BJ* 4.90 Shuttle* 7.38 3c* 9.38 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 23 TKL 2 TFL 2 SCK 1 FF
Quite simply, Aho is an athletic freak that should find his way onto the team thanks to the International Player Pathway roster spot. He takes pride in his speed and athleticism, but he also understands the limitations to his game. Aho was a solid rotational player for SMU. He will look to follow in the footsteps of other International Pathway players like Efe Obada and Jordan Mailata.
DT Calvin Avery, Illinois
Profile: RSr 6'1" 343 lbs 10" Hand\ 32.5" Arm 81.87" Wing 5.37 40* 1.84 10* 30.5" VJ* 8'5" BJ* 8.01 3c* 31 Bench* 3.12 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 23 TKL 2 TFL 1 PD
Avery is a former four star recruit out of Texas, earning snaps in 12 games as a true freshman. He started 12 games in 2022, primarily at nose tackle. He has a wide, large frame that makes him hard to move. However, he is an underwhelming athlete to say the least, and his statistical production is nearly non-existent.
LB Abraham Beauplan, Marshall
Profile: RSr 5'11" 241 lbs 9.25" Hand 31.75" Arm 77 1/4" Wing 4.62 Shuttle 35.5" VJ 9'9" BJ 7.33 3c 22 Bench 4.52 RAS
2022 Stats: 12 Gm 66 TKL 6.5 TFL 1 SCK 3 PD
Beauplan started the draft process by making an appearance on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List, reportedly squatting as much as 565 lbs and benching as much as 285. The few reports that exist on Beauplan suggest he's an urgent, downhill run defender that will look to carve out a role on special teams early on.
LB Wilson Huber, Cincinnati
Profile: 6Sr 6'4" 241lbs 9.75" Hand 32.375" Arm\ 80" Wing* 4.70 40* 1.66 10* 35" VJ* 10'4" BJ* 4.45 Shuttle* 6.91 3c* 18 Bench* 8.34 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 54 TKL 6.5 TFL 1 SCK 1 PD
A 3 star recruit out of Indiana, Huber started his career at Cincinnati as a TE. He played a hybrid role in his first 2 non-redshirt seasons, earning snaps on offense, defense, and special teams. He made a full role switch to the defensive side of the ball in 2020 and eventually earned the team captain moniker in 2022. Huber had some solid testing despite profiling as more of a thumper.
LB Ivan Pace Jr, Cincinnati
Profile: Sr 5'10.5" 231lbs 30.25" Arm 9.5" Hand 72" Wing 4.59 40\ 1.70 10* 35" VJ 9'8" BJ* 4.40 Shuttle * 7.18 3c* 22 Bench* 5.71 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 137 TKL 21.5 TFL 10 SCK 3 FF 4 PD
Ranked the 11th best LB for Daniel Jeremiah, 9th for Dane Brugler, and 7th for PFF, many thought Pace could have gone as early as Round 3. Pace was a one year starter for the Bearcats after transferring from Miami (Ohio), and he hit the ground running. He led the AAC in tackles and TFLs. He is a smaller player (although not abnormally so in today's game) that plays with his hair on fire. He gives tremendous effort on every play and is always around the ball. Pace is a super tough player that loves to tackle. His size is a concern; he gets washed out of plays too easily. He is also lacking in coverage skills, struggling to stay connected in man coverage. Still, it's incredible that Pace went undrafted. He's an easy special teams projection as a rookie with the upside to be put in position to win under Flores.
CB CJ Coldon, Oklahoma
Profile: 6Sr 5'10" 186lbs\ 8.375" Hand* 31.125" Arm* 75.125" Wing* 4.60 40* 1.58 10* 37 1/2" VJ* 10'5" BJ* 4.24 Shuttle* 7.31 3c* 3.92 RAS*
2022 Stats: 12 Gm 42 TKL 2 TFL 4 INT 6 PBU
Coldon is an instinctual football player that relies on his feel to create ball production. He spent 5 years at Wyoming before transferring to Oklahoma and leading the team in INTs and PBUs. In zone, Coldon watches the QB and looks for the right cue to understand when and where the ball is headed.
CB NaJee Thompson, Georgia Southern
Profile: 5'10" 200lbs 9.125" Hand 32.75" Arm 76.625" Wing 4.57 40\ 1.63 10* 32" VJ* 9'8" BJ* 4.56 Shuttle* 7.40 3c* 13 Bench* 1.59 RAS*
2022 Stats: 13 Gm 37 TKL 1 TFL 11 PD 1 INT
Thompson's love for the game is undeniable. After struggling to latch onto the Georgia Southern WR room, Thompson approached his head coach asking to be exclusively a special teams player. He relishes being a gunner on punts. He eventually got moved to CB in 2021, logging 557 snaps at the position in 2022. He's undeveloped at the position, but his special teams prowess gives him a good shot at the roster.
CB Jaylin Williams, Indiana
Profile: RSr 5'9" 184lbs 9.125" Hand 29.875" Arm 71.75" Wing 4.43 40\ 1.58 10* 34.5" BJ* 9'11" BJ* 4.20 Shuttle* 7.01 3c* 13 Bench* 5.54 RAS*
2022 Stats: 10 Gm 40 TKL 2.5 TFL 7 PD 1 FR 1 BLK
A longtime role player for the Hoosiers before becoming a fulltime starter in 2019, Williams's 6 career INTs were the most amongst active players on the team last season. He earned second team All-Confernece honors in 2020 and was an honorable mention in 2021.
K Jack Podlesny, Georgia
Profile: RSr 6'0" 195lbs 29.25" Arms 9" Hands 74.75" Wing
2022 Stats: 31 Att 26 Made 50 Long 109 Kickoff 72 Touchbacks 74 PAT Att 73 PAT Made
Ranked as Dane Brugler's 4th kicker and Lance Zierlein's 3rd kicker, Podlesny enters Vikings camp following a career that saw him walk on to Georgia's football team and finish with an 82% hit rate. He hit all but one extra point last season for the national champion Bulldogs. A concern with Podlesny is his leg strength. His accuracy beyond 40 yards falls to just 54%. His clutchness may also come into question as he missed two kicks in the national championship semifinals against Ohio State.
​

Projected Depth Chart

Pos (Projected 2023 Rostered Count / 2022 Rostered Count): Starter, Rookie, Cuts
QB (2/2): Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens
RB (4/4): Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, Dalvin Cook
FB (1/1): CJ Ham, Zach Ojile
WR (5/5): Justin Jefferson, KJ Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, Jalen Reagor, Blake Proehl, Thayer Thomas, Cephus Johnson, Malik Knowles, Lucky Jackson, Garrett Maag
TE (3/3): TJ Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, Ben Sims
OL (9/10): Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O'Neill, Chris Reed, Austin Schlottman, Oli Udoh, Blake Brandel, Josh Sokol, Vederian Lowe, Alan Ali, Jacky Chen, Sam Schlueter
DT (7/6): Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Jonathan Bullard, James Lynch, Esezi Otomewo, Jaquelin Roy, Khyiris Tonga, Ross Blacklock, Sheldon Day, TJ Smith, Calvin Avery
EDGE (4/5): Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Pat Jones II, DJ Wonnum, Luiji Vilain, Curtis Weaver, Benton Whitley, Kenny Willekes, Andre Carter II, Junior Aho
ILB (4/4): Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, Troy Reeder, Ivan Pace Jr, Troy Dye, William Kwenkeu, Abraham Beauplan, Wilson Huber
CB (5/6): Byron Murphy, Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blakmon, Joejuan Williams, Kalon Barnes, Tay Gowan, John Reid, CJ Coldon, Najee Thompson, Jaylin Williams
S (5/4): Harrison Smith, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward, Josh Metellus, Camryn Bynum, Theo Jackson
K (1/1): Greg Joseph, Jack Podlesny
P (1/1): Ryan Wright
LS (1/1): Andrew DePaola
KR: Kene Nwangwu
PR: Brandon Powell

2024 Needs

Starters Needed: QB, OG, EDGE, DT -- Whether due to expiring contracts (Cousins, Cleveland, Davenport, Hunter) or overall suckitude (Ingram, Lowry), we need to find new starters at this positions in 2024. Could we go on with average-level free agents? Maybe. Should we? Maybe not.
We'll see how the group plays: CB, LB, RB -- These are positions where the front office is counting on young players (Booth, Evans, Asamoah) to fill the roles of departed starters. If those players take that step up, these positions drop on the needs list. Otherwise, we're in for a rough season.
Depth needed: WR -- The depth after Jefferson, Osborn, and Addison is not great. And Osborn is entering a contract year. Unless Keenan McCardell works some magic with Jalen Nailor or Trishton Jackson or Thayer Thomas, this should be a position we add to next year.

Final Thoughts

Versatility. When we look at this Vikings draft class, that's the first word that comes to mind, and it comes in big bold letters. Addison has inside-outside versatility. So does Mekhi Blackmon. Jay Ward is the most versatile of the group, capable of playing every DB position plus some spot snaps at LB. Roy has been productive everywhere from 0T to 4i. And the team has talked about how much they believe McBride can contribute as a pass catcher on top of his bruiser mindset as a between-the-tackles runner.
On offense, this shift seems to stem from a philosophical change following the TJ Hockenson acquisition last year. O'Connell's unit went from trying to copy-paste Sean McVay's outside zone scheme (largely a 3WR offense) to Kyle Shanahan's outside zone scheme (largely a TE-FB offense). And in that mold, O'Connell was looking for players he could use to create the illusion of complexity. That is, how can we employ versatile players to present defenses the threat of multiplicity?
On defense, the answer is a lot simpler. By bringing over Brian Flores, the team is hoping for a jolt in tenacity and an overall move to a hybrid amoeba scheme. You can look historically at how Bill Belichick has utilized flexibility in his defenses to maximize his gameplan for whatever offensive scheme is next on the menu. You can look at players on the line of scrimmage that have experience in both 43 and 34 schemes (Hunter, Phillips, Lynch, Bullard). And in the secondary, look no further than the selection of Jay Ward as an attempt to clone players like Jevon Holland and Kyle Dugger.
As Adofo-Mensah has repeatedly said, he approaches his job with humility. He listens to those around him and he finds the point where stories marry data to make informed decisions. And in O'Connell, he found someone who shares that mentality. With the emphasis on versatility, that mindset can now be applied on a weekly (and play-by-play) basis to opponents. We'll see how successful that strategy is as the team continues to straddle the line between competitive and rebuilder, but there is certainly an energy around the fanbase with the continued success of the offense and the addition of Brian Flores.

I've been working with ChatGPT and other AI platforms to help run my small fragrance business. I've used it for just about everything you could think of, but I wanted to take a break from the everyday tasks and write the beginning of a book that I've been thinking about for close to ten years. I'm a huge fan of using fragrances on a daily basis and I'm also obsessed with the idea of parallel universes. So, I asked ChatGPT to help.
Chapter 1: The Scent of Time
Theo had always known that there was something magical about fragrances. As a master perfumist, he’d journeyed across continents, from the lavender fields of Provence to the spice markets of Marrakech, seeking out the most exotic scents to blend in his concoctions. But it wasn’t just about creating beautiful fragrances. For Theo, each scent was a gateway to a memory, a pathway to a moment in time that was otherwise gone.
Every morning, his routine began with choosing a fragrance. A spritz of citrusy bergamot, and he was transported back to his childhood summers spent at his grandmother's home in Italy, where the fruit's fresh scent wafted through open windows. A whiff of sandalwood, and he was back in India, marveling at the majestic temples embedded with the essence of the earthy wood.
One day, as he was experimenting with a rare blend of herbs he’d sourced from an obscure forest in Japan, something extraordinary happened. As he gingerly spritzed the new concoction onto his wrist and inhaled, he felt a strange sensation. A dizzying whirl of colors swam before his eyes, and when he opened them, he found himself standing in a different place, a place he recognized but hadn’t been to in years.
Confused, he looked around. He was in his childhood home, the one he hadn’t seen since his parents sold it over a decade ago. He could see his mother in the kitchen, a younger version of her, humming as she cooked. And there he was, a younger Theo, playing with his toy cars on the living room carpet. He was in the past.
As he traveled more with his fragrance, he realized it was not confined to his own timeline. The dimensions of time seemed to bend and flex around him, transporting him to periods and places he had never been. He saw grand royal courts and rustic villages, futuristic cities and untouched wildernesses. But one thing remained constant: a mysterious woman who appeared in every dimension he visited. Her eyes always met his, a knowing smile playing on her lips before she disappeared into the crowd.
Over time, Theo grew accustomed to his time-traveling abilities. He traveled through time as casually as one might flip through pages of a book. But the mysterious woman remained a puzzle. He saw her in a Victorian-era London market, in a bustling 22nd-century metropolis, and even in an ancient Greek amphitheater. Each time, her eyes would meet his, and she would vanish before he could reach her.
The day came when he traveled to a serene Japanese garden, the scent of cherry blossoms heavy in the air. As he watched the petals fall, he saw her again. This time, she was closer than ever, her eyes full of recognition. As he moved towards her, his heart pounding, the world around him began to blur, and he found himself being pulled back to his own time.
He woke up in his workshop, the experimental fragrance still lingering in the air. Who was she? Did she know his secret? The questions buzzed in his head, and he knew he wouldn't rest until he found the answers. His journey was just beginning. The world of scents held more secrets than he had ever imagined, and he was ready to uncover them all.

Ok lets get the basics out of the way, yes I am a geek. I practically came out of the womb with a gaming controller and I Currently play on PC, Switch, and PS5 (catch me on Destiny or Legend of Zelda). I learned how to read from reading Comics and I'm still a huge fan of them (Spider-Man is the best, don't agree then fight me). Anime has had a rocky road with me but ultimately I fell in love with them and will talk your ear off about Bleach.
I'm personally looking for someone geeky, doesn't have to have all the same interest but I would love some similarities. Ultimately I want someone who can handle my quirks and my jokes (lots of dad jokes and dark humor). Other than my nerdiness I do love other stuff like road trips, trying new foods, and adventuring.
If you think you are up to the task then message me with the answers of these 3 questions:
Favorite comic Charactes and why? Favorite video game/s? Favorite anime/s?

I am at the end of week one of compounded semiglutide. I weighed myself this morning, and was officially down 10.2 lbs. I am SHOOK! My starting weight was 199.8, and this morning’s weight was 189.6. I am 5’6”, 47y/o, F. I have yo-yo dieted my whole life, and started having much more trouble after the age of 40. Perimenopause is a bitch. Starting dose was .25. I had a small amount of nausea on the first day of the shot, but no problems or side effects after that. I also started intermittent fasting on the first day of the shot 20/4. I am amazed by the reduction of food noise, and how quickly I am satiated when starting to eat, I haven’t limited my food choices, but I am naturally eating more healthy and not snacking on junk food anymore. I just don’t crave it. I tried intermittent fasting before, and it never stuck. At the end of the fasting period, I would end up binging so many calories, it wasn’t working. I couldn’t control my appetite. On another note, I have IBS, and that has essentially disappeared. I truly hope this is real. This drug is amazing!

My close friend is going on his first ever abroad trip, and he's going to the Netherlands. He'll be in Rotterdam from 12-15 July, and already has added the basic touristy stuff like Efteling, Cube house, Markthal etc.
However, he wants a more representative experience and not just a touristy experience, and none of us have any idea about it.
Hence, I wanted to know about unmissable places to visit in Rotterdam that are famous amongst locals, must eat foods of Rotterdam, hidden gems of restaraunts nd what they are famous for, and any tips for Rotterdam travel.
Please help me make my friend's first international trip as memorable and proper as possible! Thank you in advance for any help :⁠-⁠)

A few times Richard Blaise came up in the comments in my recent posts on Buddha and the idea of him choking away his finals as compared to what might happen if Buddha loses to Sara or Gabri. So a lot of this is going compare these chefs against this upcoming finale.
It has been a long time since I saw the s4 finale, so I went and rewatched it for the first time since over 10 years ago.
I will admit, when you watch just the finale after so long, you forget about all of the episodes that preceded it and you go off vague memories about how each chef did coming into the finale. But in the end, I remember thinking Richard was a slight favorite over Stephanie and both were colossal favorites over Lisa, who frankly I didn't think was all that great.
The s4 finale also mirrors the s20 finale in terms of the stylistic tendencies of the contestants. By that I mean, you have one contestant who does a particular style of cuisine very well, one chef who does an ethnic style of cuisine, and one chef who does technical mastery. In this case, Richard = Buddha, Stephanie = Sara, and Lisa = Gabri.
In end, Richard failed, Lisa did pretty well but was a bit uneven, and Stephanie narrowly edged out both at least per the comments. Stephanie probably wins more comfortably if she didn't hand in a pedestrian dessert; but in a way that was also smart. She played it safe and relied on her better executed dishes to win the day. And for the record, Richard was confident right up until the comments nailed him for seasoning and improper cookery. Then he did a mae culpa and said he choked. =
But my concluding thoughts, as relates to this finale, comes back to Richard vs Lisa. Richard and Lisa, in theory, could have beaten Stephanie as their menu were more interesting and innovative; one through technique and the other through flavors. As such, does that level the playing field more so with this finale?
Gabri I think is too inconsistent so that leaves Sara vs Buddha and upon reflection, Sara can beat Buddha's vastly superior technical precision by doing innovative riffs on French food through the Southern lens. I come back to Melissa vs Bryan in the season 18 finale. By Melissa's own admission, Bryan does more sophisticated techniques; but in that finale, he was cooking elevated Italian food to Michelin star Italian chefs who likely dwarf Bryan in concept and techniques. Buddha will be facing the same challenge in this context; doing elevated French Food to Michelin star French culinary chefs. That means, perhaps, Sara has an advantage in a way I didn't originally think she did. Still, Melissa is better than Sara and Buddha is better than Bryan so I am going to stick with Buddha even though the finale is closer than I first thought.

Hello! I’m about to transfer my 8 month old miniature poodle onto adult kibble. He’s currently on Royal canin small breed puppy kibble but he’s kind of picky (I have tried putting his bowl down and picking it up after 20 minutes and then back down at his next meal time and food puzzles without success!). Has anyone found a difference between Royal canin adult kibble and Purina Pro Plan adult kibble in terms of palatability? I tried him on purina pro plan puppy and he literally spat the kibble pieces out. Alternatively, does anyone know what the most palatable WSAVA kibble is?

Hello,
I have been in this sub for a while and am amazed with the community. I am hoping that someone will be able to help.
I live in the Philippines, and currently unemployed. For some background, I did have a job last year but was let go from the company due to poor performance and attendance. This was caused by my mother’s death in August, and I had a very hard time coping as I am now fully orphaned. I went into a serious downspiral and was not able to really live a healthy life. Was also buried in debt because of the medical expenses from my mother’s hospitalization and basically lived in the office to save money.
When I was let go from my job, I went back to my childhood home and have been living alone since. There are some repairs that are needed but are not priorities at the moment. I am asking for help to cover expenses for me to apply for office-based jobs again as I seem to have no luck in remote jobs (been applying for jobs since January this year).
I have had help from my cousin and some friends and they have covered food and some bills. I also asked them for a bit more help but times are tough lately, and I usually eat at my cousin’s place to save money.
I am kindly asking this community for help, as I was helped here before with kind words, and that meant a lot to me.
I believe that I have to set an amount here, but I really don’t want to impose on anyone. In that case, I am trying to raise between $500-$700 so that I can also get treatment for recent medical issues that I have encountered, and that amount will also help me in finding a new job in the city. But really, any amount will help.
I have Paypal and also have set up a funding page but it has not been approved yet.
Hoping and praying that people may be able to help. Thanks in advance.

tl;dr: I need to sell Eugene to a group of middle-aged dads from NC on a 6 day trip of drinking, eating and Oregon Duck Football. Tell me why Eugene should be the only place we visit and what you recommend for a group of 12.
I'm part of a group of 15+ former colleagues and close friends in a group called "Saturday Saints". We have a 6-8 month long process of vetting potential College Schools to visit in the fall for one major football game a year. That process entails voting, presentations, and selling the top 3 schools/games of the upcoming year after three rounds of voting.
We focus primarily 1) Football Experience (tailgate, gameday, stadium, etc.) 2) City culture & experience, nightlife, food, etc., and 3) Live like we're bachelors / students again since its our yearly trip out together (read as no chores, wives, kids, or obligations. We aren't interested in women). This will be our 8th year (see our "Shame Chain" for previous home teams). Recently we added a requirement of giving back to the City we visit by doing some form of Community Service.
Colorado at Oregon at the end of September is a Top 3 game this year (along with App State at Wyoming, and USC at Colorado) and I'm selling Eugene to the group! We'll fly out for 5-6 days, experience the city, people, culture and School. Our group is now spread out across the US, but mostly centered in the Carolina's. Most of us are Dads and in our mid-late 30s.
We have options to Fly to Eugene or to Portland where we would do 1-2 days in Portland before taking a train/van to Eugene. We'll plan travel, lodging and map out our week for optimal efficiency.
Looking for suggestions/feedback on the best value for our time. Most of us enjoy hiking, disc golf, golf, beer and the outdoors in general. I'll get food/drinks and other recommendations from the sub's Information, but was curious if you all thought 5-6 days would be best spent in town during game week, or if we'd get more value out of 1-2 days in Portland beforehand.
Open to any and all recommendations!

Ok lets get the basics out of the way, yes I am a geek. I practically came out of the womb with a gaming controller and I Currently play on PC, Switch, and PS5 (catch me on Destiny or Legend of Zelda). I learned how to read from reading Comics and I'm still a huge fan of them (Spider-Man is the best, don't agree then fight me). Anime has had a rocky road with me but ultimately I fell in love with them and will talk your ear off about Bleach.
I'm personally looking for someone geeky, doesn't have to have all the same interest but I would love some similarities. Ultimately I want someone who can handle my quirks and my jokes (lots of dad jokes and dark humor). Other than my nerdiness I do love other stuff like road trips, trying new foods, and adventuring.
If you think you are up to the task then message me with the answers of these 3 questions:
Favorite comic Charactes and why? Favorite video game/s? Favorite anime/s?

Long read, sorry.
Yesterday I reached out to the Abuse Hotline. I did it on my phone, but it was in my browser in their chat, not their texts or call options. I spoke to an advocate who asked me specific questions that even my therapist hasn’t asked me. I’ve considered that I was being abused for a while, but I was in denial.
You see, six years ago I had a UTI right after moving to a new state with my now husband. This UTI cause me to be incredibly delirious to the point of psychosis. My husband took me to the hospital where they prescribed me antibiotics, but sent me home. That night I was still incredibly paranoid from my previous physically and verbally abusive relationship (water-boarding, gun to head, etc). I was terrified he was going to kill me, so my “logic” said to swallow a bunch of pills. All I had was antibiotics. The next day, my now husband and I got into an argument because I thought he was cheating on me. He called the cops because he was “scared” due to me acting out of character by yelling at him. The cops baker acted me where a psych I had never talked to before diagnosed me with bipolar schizophrenia and the nurses forced me to take a shot by threatening to hold me down if I did not take it.
This diagnosis has been thrown in my face our entire relationship and I have been made to believe that I had major mental issues. Eventually they dropped the schizophrenia due to lack of delusions, but continued to keep me on the bipolar medication. This entire time I had been on on medication. Some doctors would increase the dosage because I was having invasive thoughts, but this most recent psychiatrist actually decreased it. I had a mishap with my insurance where I was unable to fill the prescription for two weeks. Honestly? This was the most clear minded I have been in six years. Colors are no longer muted, I do not have the invasive thoughts, I am emotionally stable outside of when my husband is being abusive toward me, and even my psychiatrist says that I am speaking more aleatory and my memory seems to have improved substantially. I am now almost two months medication free with no mood swings. My psychiatrist is documenting everything and is certain it was a misdiagnosis. I have not told my husband that I am not on my medication, but he still likes to throw the diagnosis in my face and mockingly ask/ yell if I need to take my medication or “go talk to someone”.
After speaking with the hotline, they have identified a lot of abuse that appears to be going on. Financial - we share an account but I am not allowed to ask about his transactions, and I am guilted for spending too much at the grocery store…meanwhile he spends more in weed a week than we do on childcare. He also makes substantially more than I do, and likes to remind me of this often. Just yesterday he, in not exact words, told me that my job was irrelevant - that he had done it 15 years ago and that I was making a big deal out of it as if it were important. Sexual coercion - he grabs my hand and places it on his penis, continuously asks for oral sex, but never reciprocates. When I ask, I am told I am too fat, or not clean enough, or whatever the flavor of the day is. I don’t have time to work out all the time nor do I have time to shower every day as I am essentially the sole caretaker of our son, I work, and I am the primary home cleaner (except on the weekend, but he will verbally degrade me while cleaning). But when he asks, he does not take no for an answer. He is incessant. I eventually give in, because I just can’t handle being asked anymore. Verbal and emotional abuse - he told me yesterday that I have the devil in me, he has told me that I am a bad mother because I care more about getting my “pussy rubbed” (by him) than our son, all because I asked for us to be more intimate. He actually told our 8 month old this, directly. But the most recent thing (since we’ve gotten married) is that I am a disobedient wife, a shit talker (when I stand up for myself), and rebellious. I am often told what is and is not acceptable to wear. And, on more than one occasion, he has talked degradingly to me in front of others, but not enough to cause others to say anything. Or maybe they just don’t care…I can’t figure it out. Usually it is behind closed doors, though. Religious abuse: he uses one portion of a text from the Bible to tell me that I must be obedient to him and to quit questioning him. Again, the devil comment. Physical endangerment: when driving, he will drive erratically - sometimes with no hands on the wheel, but usually speeding and weaving in and out of traffic with both our son and myself in the car. Sometimes all of the above.
I have a plethora of text screenshots where he is just so vile it makes me physically ill, a video of him screaming at me in front of our son, and he was pulled over for doing 60 or 65 (I cannot directly recall) in a 35 WHILE ON THE PHONE. Both myself and our son were in the backseat. I even consulted with a priest from the Church we got married in, who advised me to leave him.
I don’t know what to do with this, if it would even do anything, but most of all, I cannot bring myself to leave him. I am afraid and alone - my family is scattered throughout the country and no one is able to help me financially.
Yesterday I went to visit his family with him and he wanted to be the one who walked in holding our son….it was the first time he’d held him that entire day, despite having been home for hours. My son was very upset seeing so many people - as soon as he started to cry, my husband handed our son to me to comfort him, rather than doing it, himself. But seeing my son interact with his family made my heart ache. Everyone loves our son, but I felt so guilty for thinking of taking my husband to court for a divorce and seeking full custody of our son earlier that day.
I’m just tired, lost, but I still find myself wishing this marriage could work. I want the man I fell in love with, before we got married.

Idk who you are or what you’re about but you looked like a dirty kid so maybe your here too. If you wanted some cash I would’ve gave it to you.. you took my pack that had my dogs food… some clothes and my sleeping gear. My chargers… my money and my food was stashed a long ways away. You’re a pussy.. flashing a gun and sayin you’ll drop me over a pack that is filled with bs is actually insane. I wish the worst karma on you… I’m not materialistic but that pack had some shit that is absolutely irreplaceable. You’re a piece of human scum and deserve the worst. Enjoy my dirty laundry and my sleeping bag you awful human

I (25m) have a very close group of friends from HS containing me, another guy (J), another girl (Jordan) and a lesbian couple (Minnie and Denise)(all of us are 24-26)
So a week before the bbq I get thrown in a group chat with Minnie, her girlfriends sister (Lily) and Rachel and a few others. Lily asked me directly what I’m cooking (for backstory, we do potlucks often, and I usually do some cooking for em) and asked me if I was going to make some rice, well my parents just recently moved back in with me and my house is a mess and it’s hard enough to find space and time to make a quick meal for myself in the kitchen. (I have social anxiety about cooking with my parents around stemming from weight problems from childhood, so with them back I usually just airfry some nuggets or hot dogs in my room)
Minnie and Lily were kinda thinking I was going to make rice, but I hit them with “I’ll prolly pick up some burgers and buns and make some cheese burgers” and turned the group chat on DND and didn’t really look back at it.
Fast forward to the day of the BBQ, because of car issues I copped a ride from one of my gamer friends when he asked me on discord if I was going to be going. I ask him for a ride and let him know I needa hit the supermarket before we meet their.
After he gets me we go to one spot, they don’t have packs of burgers any bigger then 4 in a pack. So we have to go somewhere a bit farther and bigger. I let Lily n Minnie know I’ll be late because I’m going to the big super market. I then get a call listing off all the things i would need to pick up last min. A cake, fire wood, packs of Red Bull, chaser etc. along with my burger stuff it came up to over a hundred dollars.
I paid it and went to the BBQ and ended up grilling stuff that wasn’t my job. Other people’s food I had ended up grilling
Later on Minnie and Lily are calling J and Jordan if they can please bring some rice so Lily can cook it. I start getting annoyed because I just wanted to get NOT SOBER after finishing on the grill so I suggest we just get a tray of fried rice from the Chinese spot and Minnie tells me she doesn’t have fried rice money. Lily says she’s waiting on Jordan’s gf to come with some rice from home and she would just cook it. I told her they wouldn’t be here for an hour and people would want to eat before that, so I took my discord friends car and Lily went and bought some rice. It wasn’t even finished cooking by time Jordan and J and their people arrived.
Everyone had a good time and everyone got drunk and ate and got high and ate some more because there was enough food ( because of me)
Today a few days after the bbq I text Minnie if we could go half and half on the bill from the grocery store. She texts me back that she spent 3-400 dollars on the bbq and nothing else.
AITA for asking to split the bill for a bbbq I wasn’t even hosting ?

Longtime Costco member, have never used their food court.
I was thinking of doing an all-day bike ride on a route which would be kinda rural so there likely won't be any parks or water refill stations along the way. But I was at Costco yesterday and noticed a bike rack by the entrance. Hmm... if I made Costco my halfway point pitstop - for a cheap food court energy boost - I figured I could refill my 2 sports bottles with ice and water.
Could I - or would filling water & ice into my own bottle instead of a Costco cup be frowned upon?
If I buy a hotdog+drink combo, I could refill the Costco cup with water + ice before I leave and empty it into my bottle. Twice, cos 2 bottles.
Acceptable or not?

before you call me ableist, let me explain. so this girl started hanging out with my friend group back when my ninth grade year started. (last year) i didn’t really like her because she had this foul smell to her. (she smelled strongly of cat piss) i didn’t like her in general because she seemed weird to me. like she sent me a weird vibe. anyways fast-forward to January 2023, i messaged her and told her i don’t wanna be friends. but this girl was like a tick. you couldn’t get rid of her. she made me feel so bad for unfriending her. so i friended her again. i was so hardcore being a fake friend to this girl and i felt so bad because she trusted me. i didn’t leave because i felt horrible bc she saw me as such a good friend. so May comes around and the art club trip comes around. we got a bunch of funding from a fundraiser earlier that year so we went to Six Flags. (it was about four hours away) so i slept for a majority of the trip there, since it was earlier in the morning. so when i woke up, this girl would not shut up. the whole hour left, she ran her fucking head. i tried not to let it bother me, but anyways, we arrive at Six Flags and i am so excited to ride all the tall fast rides. (i went to Six Flags about five years prior to this and i was so terrified of all the rides since my parents wanted me to ride ALL OF THEM) so we go on this one ride that was close to the entrance which was the Batman. that ride goes fast and flips you upside down and all of that stuff. so after that she was a bit shooken up but we went on another ride that wasn’t as bad, but had me a bit shaken up from the sharp inclines and speed. after that ride she was very shaken up and we went to a sensory room since she’s autistic. we spent a few minutes in there until i THOUGHT she calmed down. so it’s aboutttt 11 AM and we’re a bit hungry. but we couldn’t find any open restaurants in that area. so we walk around the park for another like hour and she’s complaining she’s tired and hungry and all that and it’s really getting on my nerves. another factor that pissed me off is that all she wanted to do was go shopping at the gift shops. and i was trying to make it clear “we’re here to ride rides not go shopping” and we get to the D.C. part of the part and i see the ride that scared the ever living shit out of me as a child, Mr. Freeze. so i’m like “oh my god, we gotta go on that ride!” and she’s like repeating “food…” over and over. and it’s like lunch time and shit so everywhere is absolutely PACKED. so we find a place and we’re standing in the heat for a good 25 minutes.( the line went outside it was so long) and we got in and the food was great. so before i suggested we find separate groups so i can ride roller coasters and she can shop. she refused. so we leave the restaurant and go back to the D.C. part of the park. so we went on the Hall of Justice ride since it was slow and we wanted our stomaches to settle. anyways the ride ends and the ride i wanted to ride so bad is right across. so i said fuck it and went on the ride without her and i had sooo much fun! so the rest of the day i tried going on rides but she stopped me so at the end of the day i just ignored her. the next week unfriended her for not only being rude to me but genuinely not being a friend to me. am i the asshole?