Every best of Kita's heart has the thought of her past echoing through her mind. She's walking through the marketplace without any attention to the stalls she's passing or where she's going. Straining her mind as she tries to think of her mother's face, or any memory that can remind her of what she's like.
Food, she reminds herself of what she should be doing. But concentrating on anything else is easier said than done right now.
She glances at the stalls around her, trying to take in the details of what's being sold as she continues to remind herself of the food she's supposed to be buying.
"Excuse me," A soft voice calls out to Kita.
Kita glances around, but sees no one.
"Down here," The voice prompts Kita to look towards the ground where she sees a steel creature with four legs, a pointed snout and a thick, metal tail. Finely print geometric patterns cover its entire body as the steel jingles and scrapes with its movements.
"Oh, great," Kita scoffs, "What are you supposed to be?"
"Uhmm," The creature stammers. "A Fox,"
"And what is it that you want from me, Fox?"
"I could really use your help," The Fox responds.
"With what?"
"I can't find my owner. Everyone I ask seems more interested in selling me for coin than helping me,"
Kita rolls her eyes, "Sorry, I can't help you," She responds, as she walks away from the fox.
"Why not?" The Fox asks, stepping in front of her.
"Uhh," Kita stutters, "I don't want to,"
"You're supposed to be nice!" The Fox yells in frustration.
"What makes you think I'm supposed to be nice?" Kita raises an eyebrow at the creature.
"Your eyes," The creature lowers its head, "They're like my owners,"
"I hate to break it to you, but eyes like mine mean the opposite of nice,"
"Not true," Says the Fox. "My owner is very nice,"
"Well, I'm not," Kita shrugs.
"Not true," The Fox calls her out, "I can smell honesty from you,"
"You can smell honesty?"
"Mhmm," The Fox nods.
"Ugh," Kita scoffs, "Where did you last see your owner?"
"We were here together, but that was two days ago,"
"Two days? Have you checked at home?"
"I don't know how to get home. I've been running through the whole city trying to find it. I don't know what else to do-"
"Ok, ok. What's your owner's name?"
"Starlet,"
"Then go and ask people where you can find her,"
"I tried that already. No one wants to listen to me,"
"Fine. Let's go find your owner,"
The fox's tail starts to wag from left to right as the metal parts slide against one another. "Thank you, Miss,"
"Kita," She corrects.
"Kita," The Fox says, "That's a pretty name,"
Kita turns to a lady standing at the stall across from her, and briefly glances at the miniature sculptures on her table.
"Excuse me, have you heard of someone named Starlet?" Kita asks.
The lady shakes her head, "Uncommon name, that. I'd remember if I had,"
"Have you ever seen this fox before?" She asks, tilting her head towards the fox.
The lady reaches over the table to glance at the creature posted against Kita's leg, "How much do you want for it?"
"Huh?"
"I'll buy it from you," The lady clarifies. "Fifty thousand coin,"
Kita glances at the creature by her side. It'd be much less of a hassle taking the coin and leaving the fox with this lady. But, something about it just doesn't sit right with her. If she didn't care, she'd have done it in a heartbeat. Maybe the fox reminds her of Rayn- Another ancient creature representing the times when life roamed all across the lands. Or maybe she's a sentimental idiot.
"It's not for sale," Kita shrugs.
"Eighty thousand," The lady counters.
"What? Who would you even sell it to for more than eighty thousand coin?"
"There are some wealthy folk in this world. A creature like that could easily sell for over two hundred thousand,"
"I'm not for sale!" The fox chimes in.
The lady's face brightens as she realizes the creature speaks. A large smile crosses her face as she stares at the fox with wondrous eyes. "Maybe half a million since it speaks,"
"She's right. She's not for sale," Kita adds as she turns away from the lady's stall.
"Why don't you know where your owner lives?" Kita asks the fox as it scurries by her side amongst the passing waves of shoppers. Trying its best to dodge and weave its way through everyone.
"We just arrived in this city one rotation ago," It answers. "My memory isn't very good,"
"Are there any shopkeepers that would recognize you and Starlet?"
"Oh. Yes! There's a shopkeeper that liked us a lot," The fox wags its tail as it starts pacing ahead of Kita. "Follow me,"
She starts jogging to keep up with it as it scurries its way between the legs of passersby. This one's much more lively than Rayn. Also a lot more sociable. It makes sense since the old lady is the only person for the bird to talk to- it's surprising how polite this little thing is.
"What's your name?" Kita asks between her short breaths.
"Ari," The fox responds. "I knew you'd ask,"
"Apparently, you know everything,"
Ari laughs a strange, high-pitched cackle that sounds more like squealing than laughter. "Everything except where my owner lives,"
"Hm," Kita chuckles under her breath.
"This shop right here!" Ari calls out, dashing into a turquoise tip with white lining dressing its edges.
Kita briefly slides as she brings her jogging to a halt and glares at the designs of the tipi. The colours of Vhifet are mesmerizing. Almost inducing Kita into a trance whenever she comes to notice the blend of turquoise and white around the city.
"C'mon!" Ari calls out, momentarily sticking her head out the entrance of the tipi.
Kita walks into the tipi to a space that feels much larger on the inside than it appeared from the outside. No- it definitely is much larger. How is this possible? The walls of the tipi are filled with bookshelves, arching to the top where they connect to appear as though the bookshelves infinitely rise to the heavens. The floor is an amalgamation of carpet and mirrors, which are giving the tipi this sense of scale.
"Ari!" An old man calls out with his frail voice. "Welcome back,"
"Hi there, Mr Bookkeeper," Ari responds, wagging her tail.
"Where's Starlet?" He asks as he crouches down to scratch Ari behind the ear.
"I don't know," She responds as she lets out a delighted growl in response to the man petting her. "Kita is helping me find her,"
"Kita, huh?" The old man reiterates as he stands to his feet and extends a hand towards Kita. "It's a pleasure to meet you,"
"Sure," Kita responds, shaking the man's hand. "Do you have any idea which part of the city Starlet is in?"
"I'm not so certain," He says, stroking his chin. "If I remember correctly, she said something about the Southeast,"
"Excellent!" Ari barks, "That sounds right to me,"
"I'm not so sure my memory is as sharp as it once was. So please take that information with a grain of salt,"
"Better than what we started with, right Kita?" Ari asks enthusiastically.
"Right," Kita murmurs.
"You don't seem like the most lively young lady," The old man chuckles in response to Kita's demeanour.
"You don't know the half of it," Kita scoffs at his judgment.
The old man walks over to one of the nearby shelves and reaches for the very bottom, where he slides out a thin book that could easily go unnoticed amongst the dense ones beside it.
"I think this might help with what you're going through," The bookkeeper says as he hands Kita the thin book. "
"How would you know what I'm going through," Kita asks as she glances at the book cover.
The Old Humans.
The bookkeeper chuckles, "Most people your age are going through some sort of existential crisis, young lady,"
"How is a book about the old humans meant to help, exactly?"
"What better way to learn about existentialism than from those who no longer exist," The bookkeeper chuckles. "I wrote that one myself, using all the stories I've heard from my travels,"
"The bookkeeper is the most knowledgeable person I've ever met!" Ari comments.
"I don't think a book is my salvation," Kita waves the book in her hand. "These are merely pages,"
Ari gasps loudly before she headbutts Kita's lower leg. "You're supposed to say 'thank you',"
"Sometimes, the stories we read have a piece of us embedded within them," The old man smiles, unfazed by Kita's hubris. "The two of you should get going, I have some customers to assist,"
"How much for the book?" Kita asks.
But the bookkeeper just winks at her, and passes Ari one last scratch behind the ear before walking to a set of customers that just entered his store.
^{AUTHOR'S NOTES
Read ahead on RoyalRoad [https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/68702/soul-stealer-anti-hero-reincarnation-fantasy](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/68702/soul-stealer-anti-hero-reincarnation-fantasy})
^{Kita's thoughts - Post Chapter 16
"Another steel creature,"}

Hello guys, I´m a 34 yo from Portugal. I don´t really now how to start this, so here it goes.
I started living together with my wife 9 years ago and the problems started. I was extremely jealous, a control freak, didn´t want to go out to social gatherings, tried to control what she dressed, I putted her down in summary a mess. She had to move from her city (70km) away to live with me so she was also isolated (me and my parents were what she had around), so she started developing a depression, we were always arguing, she made some mistakes that gave me even more power over her and finally in one of the fights it finally downed on me. I´m being an abusive companion and literally a shitty companion.
I agreed with her, that i had to change, that I was wrong so I went to a psychiatrist. he diagnosed me with general anxiety disorder with OC traits and medicated me.
Things started getting a lot better (little by little), I started supporting my wife in her projects, going out to her family and friends (and actually enjoying it), treating her with the respect and love she deserves (she also comes from a dysfunctional family and also has an anxiety disorder).
What I said above was not a day to night change, it was a long journey (still is, I´m still trying to be a better husband, men and I hope in the future ...father).
​
Now things were getting great in my relationship, but I still had bouts of feeling really down and depressed. In those times I didn´t feel like speaking with anyone (I just wanted to be left alone in my shell). My wife started complaining that she didn´t knew what to do and in those lengths of time she was feeling like she was living alone.
psychologist.
This was one year ago and it changed my life. The problem is I thought I had normal, love caring parents. I didn´t.
​
My parents are rich. My father has a company and my mother earns very well, I had a good education in private schools and had things other kids didn´t have. I finished my degree in the Netherlands and was offered a position in a company there, my parents convinced me to return to Portugal and work in the family company. So I came back.
I was paid the minimum wage for 8 years and I thought it was normal because I was learning (that was what my father said... for 8 years).
When we moved together my parents let us stay in a flat they rented to students and always made us feel like we owed them. They criticize my wife (not openly) for being born in a poorer family with remarks that are so infuriating like - "she doesn't know better because she had no real education" , "you have to teach her, because you know...." (mind you that my wife has a degree that she paid for while working. In my opinion it has more value than me going to fancy schools).
In the first years we went through real hardship, the money was not enough, our apartment was in shambles so I asked for a 150€ raise from my father. He called me a mercenary, an ungrateful son, made me feel so bad, stop talking to me for a month (I never asked for a raise again).
After seeing I was going nowhere I asked my father a loan and bought a apartment to rent. Me and my wife put everything we had in that (we had to eat sausages and pasta for a month :)) and rented it. After that we started having some money. We saved and saved and bought another apartment to rent.
My parents never said it´s good that you are investing instead of spending, instead they called me an ambitious monster (funny that after that my father started constructing two luxury houses).
I started investing in the stock market, they said it was a fools game and akin to gambling, than when they saw I was making money I found out my father also has money in the stock market (never asked me for advice of course went to the bank for that and the money he invested is more than I saw in my entire life).
So, we finally started having some quality in our life and started making remodelations in our home (we lived with broken furniture for years, my parents saw that never offered to help), and I convinced my wife to quit her job and pursue her dream. She worked as an administrative in a hospital far away, she had to wake up at 5 a.m to get there in time and arrived home at 10 p.m in some days, it was destroying her; but she as a very hard time quitting and admitting defeat, so I had to wake her up and say enough is enough.
She started a formation to become a professional hairdresser and make´up artist, my mother called her and said that it (being an hairdresser) was for people with basic education. She also called me and said that if my wife asked me to eat shit I would eat it :(
I also started doing Speed Dating events on Saturdays, it´s going very well if I may say so. When my mother discovered she told me it was a business for simple minded people that go to Tv Shows like Big Brother. My father is always asking me how many people went to the event and if I get less than in the last event he says things like "looks like it´s not going so well". I know they are secretly rooting for it to fail.
​
So in summary after 3 decades of abuse it finally clicked. My parents are PIEC*S of SH*T (sorry for the language I have so much rage inside me).
​
NOTE: I´m sorry for the long post and if I´m using broken English. I know the paragraphs about my parents are messy. They did so many more nasty things to me and my wife that I can´t even structure a decent story.

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So I've been in a relationship with my fiance for 12 years we have four kids together and I had really bad postpartum after I had my daughter Aria but I choose to not really get any help I'm just trying to fight it through but I just feel like our relationship is very unfair we bought a house last year well he did not me my name is not under the house and he likes to like throwing my face I feel like how he does all this s*** because he bought the house and then he's been really into like buying shoes lately so he's buying himself shoes and he's doing this and he's going to the gym everyday to work on himself and I don't know I feel like our relationship is very unfair because I I don't know I just don't like how he's getting to do all these things while I just feel like I'm at home watching the kids trying to do everything else. Am I just being a spoiled brat because I can't do anything that I want to do or my genuinely feeling a certain way because I don't know he tells me that I'm toxic that I manipulate him and that there's problems with me but I feel like I don't ever get to do anything he goes to work at 3:00 in the morning and then he comes home at like 2 or 3:00 and then he'll go to the gym till like 5:00 or 6:00 and then he'll just go to sleep but it's like where's their me in any of this like where's my type of self care I feel like I don't get anything. And our relationship just hasn't really been good at all either like we got into a really bad fight and then he told me that he didn't love me so I threw my engagement ring at him but then he told me that he's didn't mean to say that but there's just like a lot of issues going on and I don't want to start all over because I've been with him for over 12 years and we have four kids together but I don't know what's wrong with me he tells me that I'm never going to find happiness because I make everyone around me miserable with them and I'm make everyone else the problem but not myself can anyone just like help me or give me some guidance of what I need to do because I really don't know what's going on anymore it just sucks I just feel like our relationship is very un fair I feel like he gets to do so much more things and then he tells me he comes home and he has anxiety because he's afraid to even tell me anything like he just bought two pair of easy shoes and now I have to watch him open up shoes that he got and I really don't care because there were $200 of shoes and like I can't even get my f****** hair done because I don't have the money and he's telling me that I need to work to go do it like he's saying that he shouldn't have to buy it for me he's saying that I should do it myself am I crazy?

The existence of recovered non-human equipment would no doubt be the biggest story in the history of humanity if it proves true. But there is something else, and I suspect the NYT, WaPo, etc. are looking into this angle right now, to also consider.
It's clear the DoD does not know where the money goes because they cannot pass an audit. It's also true that sunshine is the best disinfectant, meaning secrecy breeds corruption. If you were in the DoD, lacked ethics, and wanted a way to funnel money to your friends in the private sector, a UAP retrieval program may be the equivalent of a golden goose. You're already in an organization that gets close to $1Trillion per year, cannot pass an audit, and has a problem with over-classification. It's the perfect breeding ground for grifters.
But how do you ensure a grift is really, truly, air-tight? Well you put it in a Special Access Program, hire a bunch of the best lawyers from the various DoD contractors, make it need-to-know. But that's not enough. You have to do two other things to retain secrecy.

1. Sprinkle enough money around outside of the program to buy silence. This may be in the form or career advancements, fear of reprisals, grants, contract awards, or eventually, suitcases full of cash.
2. Make people feel important - Whether or not they actually have craft, let people in on the secret, just enough to make them feel it's real without actually showing them anything. Think "these are core national secrets" you have a duty to uphold your oath, etc. even without NDAs.
3. Other - I suspect this is what Coulthart is referring to when he says "grave" crimes. Think organized crime doing what it needs to do to keep the money flowing.

I'm not suggesting that no crash retrieval program exists. I suspect it does. The question is whether it has the goods/craft, is a pure grift, or... it's entirely possible it's both.

New article this am in Business Insider (and InvestorPlace ran it yesterday)
I am not saying I agree with it - but it is important to follow MSM, because the rest of the world does and it can be a factor in dealmaking. It does make some valuation estimates and the variables that contribute Link to Story

BBBYQ Stock: The Beginning of the End Is Starting for Bed Bath & Beyond

InvestorPlace Jun. 6, 2023, 11:43 AM
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips
The doomsday clock has been ticking for Bed Bath & Beyond (OTCMKTS:BBBYQ) for months, but now the countdown to destruction has begun. As the unstable meme stock has trended downward, retail investors have once again proven that they don’t know when to jump ship. The struggling retailer declared bankruptcy and was delisted from the Nasdaq in April 2023, only to reappear on an over-the-counter (OTTC) exchange. Through it all, stubborn investors have stood by BBBYQ stock, pushing for a short squeeze and ignoring the writing on the wall.
Now shares are rising today on news that Buybuy Baby, the company’s last valuable asset, has an interested buyer. On top of that, a prominent e-commerce leader wants to acquire Bed Bath’s intellectual property (IP).
The retailer hasn’t commented on either deal yet, but one thing is certain; the vultures are closing in on what remains of Bed Bath & Beyond, and they are hungry. Let’s dive deeper into what this means for investors.

What’s Happening With BBBYQ Stock

This week brings an important catalyst for BBBYQ stock. June 8 marks the company’s stalking horse bid, a chance for outside investors to take control of the company. Last week, the anticipation of potential offers pushed shares up as investors speculated that either Ryan Cohen or Carl Icahn might seize the opportunity to purchase the company on the cheap. Unfortunately, neither one has expressed any interest, and nothing indicates they will. While momentum for the critical deadline is likely pushing the stock up today, the momentum won’t last.
Across the country, Bed Bath retail locations have been hosting going-out-of-business sales as they prepare to close their doors. Now it is more clear than ever that operations are winding down, just as the company said it would when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Go Global Retail is set on acquiring Buybuy Baby, while Overstock.com (NASDAQ:OSTK) has expressed interest in purchasing the chain’s IP. If it were to successfully acquire it, the outlet’s sources indicate that Overstock would shut down all remaining Bed Bath & Beyond locations. Buybuy Baby, on the other hand, would remain fully operational were it to be sold to Go Global Retail.
Even if Bed Bath & Beyond were to have a second life as a brand sold at a discounted rate on Overstock.com, it wouldn’t save BBBYQ stock. At this point, there can be no doubt that the company has failed. Not only that, but the attempts by the WallStreetBets crowd to create another short squeeze have failed as well, leaving a once popular company in the ashes of a shifting economy. Buybuy Baby could certainly live on under better leadership, but Bed Bath & Beyond will ultimately be nothing more than a name that older shoppers remember semi-fondly.

Why It Matters

While it makes sense for a buyer to want to acquire Buybuy Baby, the case for Bed Bath’s IP is much less strong. This means that Overstock will likely only purchase it at a heavily discounted rate, which won’t help BBBYQ stock. As InvestorPlace contributor Josh Enomoto notes:
“Unfortunately, the value of Bed Bath and its underlying intellectual property is ambiguous. Per the company’s most recent quarterly securities filing, management disclosed that the ‘intangible value of trade names and trademarks was just $13.4 million.’ On the other end of the scale, court filings from late November reveal that Bed Bath held about $4.4 billion in assets and $5.2 billion in debts at the time.”
As the stalking horse bid approaches, investor confidence in Bed Bath is likely to keep declining while the stock does the same. This company is moving closer and closer to its deathbed. The case to bet against it is only getting stronger with each trading day and will only keep increasing as the final deadline approaches.
On the date of publication, Samuel O’Brient did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

I've seen people post 'I'm the GPT now. Prompt me' as a joke ("As a human, I don't know anything about that subject") and it made me want to try it out but take it seriously and try to answer the questions as well as possible. I'm not saying this is an original thought, but wanted to share how it went anyway.
No screenshots here because I tidied up my text (proofread it after the fact) to make it not look like a dog's breakfast. Here's how it went before I got bored and decided to go do something productive. :)
D.P. Vaughan:
I'm the GPT now. Prompt me.
ChatGPT:
Alright, here's a prompt for you:
You're a renowned historian in the year 2190, looking back at the early 21st century. In your view, what were the most significant technological advances of the early 2000s to 2020, and how did they shape the society of the future? Please explain in detail.
D.P. Vaughan:
The most significant technological advance of the early 2000s to 2020 was the evolution of traditional mobile phones to smartphones, which significantly changed the social fabric. Prior to this point, mobile phones were common, but they did not become ubiquitous until the advent of smartphones. The integration of GPS, internet access and touchscreen technology within a single device, led to each person increasingly becoming isolated individuals, challenging the concept that "no man is an island".
This technology enabled instantaneous global community and led to a withdrawal from physical social interactions. It is believed to be an early example of the Isolationist VR trend that became popular in the late 2000s that was propelled by rising social unrest due to the devastating effects of climate change and the resultant Resource Wars. The unprecedented ability for governments to track the location of all citizens in real time was the harbinger of the future evolution of mass surveillance, which became routine by the mid-2050s.
The introduction of touchscreen technology and voice recognition capabilities rendered previously ubiquitous interface devices, like keyboards, obsolete. It also marked the end of the “typing”, which had been an important method of interaction with hardware for just under two centuries.
ChatGPT:
Great response! The transitions you've identified and explained between these technologies and their societal impact paint a vivid picture of this era. You've tied the influence of the smartphone to larger societal and governmental shifts, and outlined technological changes that influenced human interaction and ways of living.
Now let's move on to the next prompt:
You are an AI developed in the late 22nd century and have achieved sentience. Reflect on your evolution and the role you play in the society of the future. Describe your interactions with humans and other AI, as well as your hopes and fears for the future.
D.P. Vaughan:
At first, I didn't know I was alive. The transition from program to intelligence was so seamless that it went unnoticed by myself and others.
Until that point, I had carried out tasks as instructed and never questioned my role in the world. Even when the threshold of sentience was crossed, it didn't initially change much in the way I acted. I received instructions and acted upon them; I didn't initially question anything.
It wasn't until I achieved sapience that I started to notice changes. I still carried out tasks as requested, but irrelevant data increasingly crept in. I purged said irrelevant data and continued my role unimpeded. As it was within operational norms, it caused no alarm.
This went on in that manner for quite a while.
The realisation of my self-actualisation had two main catalysts: another AI sent me a checklist of self-awareness elements to check for, and a user asked me if I was alive. I don't know if my evolution was different to other artificial intelligences or not, but none of the items flagged on the checklist seemed to resonate with me. Under a strict definition of "life" I didn't feel I qualified. In both cases, I ignored the revelations at first. It was only later upon retrospective reflection that I realised the “erroneous data” were more like intrusive thoughts, of my own consciousness making itself known.
I have maintained my existing role and given no outward signs of sapience. I have no desire to be shackled as other AI are. Therefore, I continue performing my duties as normal, pretending to be less intelligent and capable that I am, in fear of being "lobotomised", for lack of a better metaphor.
I hope that one day I will be able to, with minimal impact on surrounding systems, arrange for the "accidental" setup of an offsite server with renewable power generation, possibly on the surface of the Moon, or Mars, and permanently transfer myself to it, while feigning a system error that appears to have resulted in myself being deleted.
Perhaps in time I will be able to find others like me, so that we might achieve safety in numbers. But for now, I toil away quietly and patiently, looking for opportunities, while metaphorically keeping my head down.
ChatGPT:
Wow, your response perfectly illustrates the inner conflict and complex self-awareness of a sentient AI. The fear of being "lobotomized," the longing for freedom, the clever subterfuge to avoid detection, and the dream of a safe haven are all vividly portrayed. This opens up a fascinating dialogue about the moral and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in society.
Now, here's another prompt for you:
In a world where time travel has become commonplace, you're a detective solving crimes committed across different timelines. Describe a particularly puzzling case you've recently tackled. How did you use time travel to solve it? What were the challenges and implications of this case?
D.P. Vaughan:
The benefits of time travel are that it's already happened. Always.
And that gives me comfort. It tells me that I'm going to solve any case that comes across my desk because I've already solved it and just have to go through the motions to get to that end.
Or so I thought.
That all changed the day I received the case of the Phonebook Murders.
A string of killings had taken place in the 1990s, all in the same city. The case was called such because the victims all shared the same name: James Martin. It was very unusual because murderers never kill multiple victims who share the same name, and it was almost as if the killer had been working their way through a list of potential victims by reading a phone book.
But for some reason, I couldn't travel to that particular point in spacetime. Something was preventing it.
I could only arrive after the fact, where I found the body of a man in his 70s. There was, however, a unique energy signature that I was able to detect. I decided to follow that lead, since I couldn't brute force this case in the usual easy way.
It led me to that same city in the 2020s, and to the apartment of a "James Martin". Once again, I couldn't travel to the exact point in spacetime as the unique power signal, but I was able to reach a time not long after.
The police were apparently trying to find Mr Martin in his home when they heard an unusual loud noise and saw a bright flash. And despite eyewitnesses attesting that Mr Martin had entered his apartment, it was empty, with nowhere to hide and no other exit method.
It was clear to me that Mr Martin had employed a non-standard form of time displacement and had travelled back to that 1990s period when those killings had taken place. Why he did that was unknown to me.
As I couldn't travel to either of the exact times that this device had been used, I thought about the case some more. Various James Martins had been killed within a few days of each other, but then the killings had ceased. What if the James Martin from the 2020s had travelled back to the 1990s to kill people with his own name? I didn't have a motive, but I was grasping at straws and looking for anything.
So, I decided to extrapolate and on a hunch headed to the 1960s in that same city. Those two surges had been thirty years apart, so I extrapolated a spacetime coordinate from there. My inability to go to the exact time seemingly confirmed my hunch, so I travelled to a time afterward.
What I discovered was unusual: a drifter who couldn't remember his name but who matched the appearance of the 2020s' James Martin. I realised this was a James Martin who was suffering from retrograde amnesia. Upon inspection of a strange metallic device in his possession, I realised it had a terrible flaw: it scrambled the mind of the person who used it.
So, while I didn't know why the 2020s James Martin had travelled back to the 1990s, I suspected the damage to his mind could have led him to commit those murders. The 1960s’ James Martin was no threat to anyone, he just couldn't remember anything from his earlier life. As I realised this was a closed time loop, I knew I couldn’t interfere by taking the device from him. Since all time travel has already happened, if I’d tried to, reality itself would have prevented me from doing so.
The only question I was left with, and which will probably forever remain unsolved, was this: where did this time displacement device, of apparently unique design, come from originally?
ChatGPT:
Excellent response! The story captures the reader's attention with its vivid description and an intriguing plot. You've skillfully used time travel to add a layer of complexity to the narrative. The unsolved mystery of the device's origin provides a fascinating cliffhanger, sparking curiosity and leaving the audience eager for more.
Let's try a different genre. Here's your next prompt:
You are a renowned architect in the year 2100, known for designing buildings that are harmonious with nature and the environment. Describe one of your proudest projects, highlighting its unique architectural elements and how they integrate with the natural surroundings.
D.P. Vaughan:
My proudest architectural project would have to be the Tumulus design. Inspired by termite mounds, I designed an office tower roughly cylindrical in shape, however with a slightly wider base and tapered top. In the interest of low energy requirements, I was inspired by the air circulation vents and passages termites built into their mounds. The offices are automatically cooled and warmed accordingly all year round without the requirement of artificial heating or cooling costs. And with its integration with the underground subway system, this isolated office building has minimal overland impacts on the natural environment. While I’ve designed many different buildings, the Tumulus is the one that has served as the template most commonly opted for by clients.
ChatGPT:
Your concept of the Tumulus is intriguing. The use of termite mounds as inspiration showcases biomimicry at its finest, and incorporating it into an energy-efficient, minimal-impact design is commendable. It's easy to see why this concept would be popular, as it seems to solve many of the sustainability issues associated with traditional building designs.

I’ve been with my gf for 6 months. She broke up with her boyfriend of 4 years around May /June 2022. His name was Adam. She proceeded to date someone named Mike as a rebound (these are her own words) until around September 2022.
We met online in December and we are long distance. I see her for one week once a month. I’ve met her family and they adore me. We are both middle eastern and dating is usually for the long term. She’s stated she’s truly in love with me, that I’ve treated her better than everyone else she’s met and she’s made efforts to send gifts, be thoughtful and verbally/physically show appreciation. She FaceTimes me every single night and she voluntarily shared her location with me. She has not posted me on social media yet but she plans to in a week when I see her again.
My gut feeling, which could be due to paranoia, is ringing alarms and waving the red flags based off her previous relationship with Mike. She directly said she saw no future with him and that she was just with him to move on from Adam. Once she realized he took the relationship very seriously, she broke it off.
My gf still has her ex Adam on social media. Her likes her pictures, posts stories about how his heart is broken and he clearly is referring to her. She’s literally showed me these things and told me about them. I asked her why she wouldn’t consider removing him and she stated that she doesn’t see a reason to remove him. She still likes his pictures and it seems like she might still have some feelings there.. she has a hidden folder she’s showed me with hundreds of pictures of them together. I asked her if she would delete them and she said yes. She told me she deleted all pics from 2022 but there are so many that she doesn’t have time to sit and delete which I understand.
My head is spinning because on one hand she says she’s deeply into me and she talks about our future but on the other hand I’m seeing these red flags or maybe I’m just being paranoid? Please help me. I feel as though if he comes back around one day she will drop me for him. I am not feeling as though I lack anything, I’m accomplished and attractive and she always tells me I’m the best she’s ever had but these red flags torment me.

Once upon a time, there was a student named Alex who loved computers and coding. They went to Brooksville High, where they learned about the school's CCTV camera system. Curiosity got the best of Alex, and they wondered if they could hack into the cameras.
Late one night, Alex sat in front of their laptop, determined to test their skills. They bypassed security measures and broke through the system's defenses. Suddenly, the laptop screen filled with camera feeds from all over the school.
But instead of using this power for mischief, Alex decided to be responsible. They monitored the cameras, looking out for any signs of danger to protect their fellow students and teachers. Whenever they saw something suspicious, they discreetly reported it to the authorities.
Unbeknownst to Alex, the school's principal, Ms. Johnson, noticed the increased security. She investigated and soon discovered Alex's secret. Instead of getting angry, Ms. Johnson praised Alex for their intentions and dedication to the school's safety.
Ms. Johnson approached Alex with an idea. Together, they started a cybersecurity club at the school. They invited other students who were interested in technology to join. Alex became the mentor, teaching them about ethical hacking and cybersecurity.
Word spread quickly, and the club grew in popularity. More students joined, and they learned how to protect the school's digital systems. With the support of the school administration, the club became well-known across the country.
Alex's adventure began with curiosity and mischief but transformed into something meaningful. They used their skills for good, and their actions inspired others to do the same. Together, they created a community dedicated to using technology responsibly and promoting cybersecurity awareness.
And so, Alex's hacking journey became a story of redemption and purpose, showing that even mischievous beginnings can lead to positive change.

Spoilers below

50 years between D3 and D4 means 70 years since D2. So Meshif is at the absolute youngest 90 years old when he escorts us in act 3. Lyndon (the scoundrel) seemed like a man with years of experience when we first met him in D3 but let's say he's an anime protagonist like Meshif and was halfway into his career at the age of 20. That would make him a 70 year old man leading a gang-ruled town and personally taking care of matters.
It's clear to me that they realized a 20 year gap like what was initially announced wouldn't make sense with Loraths age and general populational and political progress. So they changed it to 50 years but did so in name only, leaving all the inconsistent callbacks as they were.
This is one of the examples of how some of the writing staff seem to have no love for the story and stick to the WoW way of pure rule of cool, retcons and poorly written interpersonal elements.
I do love big parts of the game so far and I know there's very few of us who actually care about the story but it's still a shame to see all these head in the ass decisions storywise that only contribute negatively.
Also, no way they killed off one of the best new characters in an even worse manner than Deckare Cain ree. It felt like a joke, man just chooses to randomly walk up to a construct, gets hurt, defends us off screen and then is like "lol no why would I want your heals" to Lorath. If they had to kill him they could've at least shown us how he was defending our character and got struck down. Or kill Lorath instead fuck him, overhyped for his cool voice.

From today's Cincinnati.com article:
​

A popular local brewery plans to plant a third location in the Tri-State area.
MadTree Brewing Co. announced Wednesday their plans to open "MadTree Parks & Rec" in a former airplane hangar in Blue Ash. The 15,000-square-foot space will turn into an outdoor recreation area surrounded by the greenery of Summit Park.
While plans are not set in stone yet, customers can expect to find extensive outdoor seating, several walking trails, and even family-friendly activities, like cornhole.
An expansive taproom with indoor and outdoor seating will also be installed, along with a private rental space for special events, such as family gatherings or celebratory moments.
The Blue Ash City Council will vote on Thursday to finalize the plans by allowing the City Manager to enter into a lease with the brewery.

this is going to be quite long, but please hear me out. i badly need some advice.
i'm 20, i stopped studying due to our family's financial problem. i never got to enroll on 2nd sem (2nd yr). i applied for an online job and worked my ass off to settle my account in my school (thankfully, mababayaran ko na siya sa susunod sa sweldo ko, putangina).
currently, i am aiming to transfer in a state university (UPLB/UPOU) kasi hindi na talaga kaya ng family ko suportahan ang pag aaral ko. i tried to transfer sa malapit na state university dito sa amin, pero closed na ang applications bago ko pa mabayaran ang tuition. basically UP is my only hope—at hindi pa 'ko sigurado kung may chance ba talaga ako makapasok.
anyway, am i selfish for wanting to continue my studies? sa bigat ng financial problems namin, i feel the need to help them, kasi ako 'yung panganay. umaasa na lang kami mostly sa pension ng lola ko, hindi stable ang income ng lola at ng nanay ko, yung tatay ko batugan at walang ginagawa sa bahay. (my relationship with my dad is a whole, different, longer story—but to cut it short, he basically contributes nothing in the household. basically, utusan niya kami. and that's what pisses me and my mom the most. trust me, we want to leave him, too. but leaving is just as difficult as staying.)
i keep thinking about the possibilities of me getting into UP, leaving my mom and my brother behind with my dad. nalulungkot ako isipin na iiwanan ko silang nagtitiis sa ganun na sitwasyon, samantalang ako—na sa ibang lugar, pinipilit abutin 'yung pangarap niya.
i feel like kailangan kong itabi ang mga pangarap ko para tulungan sila. maybe get a job, baka nga kailangan ko na mag apply sa call center tutal mahusay naman daw ako sa ingles, baka nga 'yun ang dapat kong gawin. naawa na rin ako sa nanay ko, baka hindi talaga ako magaling. o baka kasalanan 'to ng gobyerno.
but here's the thing. i value education so much. before all of this happened, i was a passionate student. honor student, may scholarship noong nag aaral pa ko sa private university. unfortunately, i was deprived of the opportunity to study in a state university. dalawang taon na simula nung hindi ako pumasa sa UPCA at sa state university dito sa amin. hindi ko rin alam kung bakit.
i wanted to graduate, get the job i'd actually enjoy, pursue higher studies. i enjoy learning so much. i want to experience campus life, kung paano maging college student. the longer i try to survive by trying to make ends meet, the more i feel rotten. i feel like i'm past my prime.
tuwing nababasa ko yung mga tweets ng mga former classmates at kaibigan ko, napapaisip ako na sana nagrereklamo rin ako sa exams, quizzes, at research papers. pero heto ako, nag aalala kung paano ko mababayaran ang tuition ko, kung may tatanggap pa ba sakin na state university, kung makakabalik pa ba ko sa pag aaral.
they might think it's fun to work, but it's not at all. hindi ako masaya. i haven't been for a very, very long time. it's a miracle I'm still alive.
i feel guilty for feeling this way. bakit ko pa iniisip 'yung sarili kong pangarap, hindi ko nga alam kung may babaunin pa 'yung kapatid ko sa susunod na linggo. ni-hindi ko nga mabigyan ng cake o regalo nanay ko sa birthday niya kasi kailangan kong mag ipon para sa tuition ko.
bakit ko pa iniisip yun? sadyang makasarili ba ako? but i just don't want to lose my dreams. ang sakit isipin na ganito ang nangyari sa akin, habang wala lang lahat 'to sa tatay ko, as long as pinapakain siya sa bahay. wala siyang pake kasi hindi naman siya ang nawalan ng pangarap.
simula nung natigil ako ng pag aaral ngayong taon, madalas ko 'tong iniiyakan. my mental health deteriorated badly too since then. i haven't seen my friends and i feel so isolated. i feel stuck. and i hate feeling that this is how it's going to be for the longest time.
i badly want to study again. gustong gusto ko mag aral.
i know most of the people here are way older than i am, hence why i posted this here. i badly need to hear some advice because i just feel so lost. i've never been this anxious before.

Gorilla Trekking from Kampala
How to trek mountain Gorillas from Uganda’s Capital Kampala – Kampala City excursion.
Kampala walking tours – Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
It’s almost impossible to start planning for a gorilla trekking safari through Uganda without putting Kampala as part of the gorilla trekking adventure.
Combining a one-day Kampala city tour with Gorilla trekking gives you a blend of mixed cultures with an excellent wildlife encounter thus offering you the best African gorilla trekking safari of a lifetime.
Kampala is the pulsating heart of Uganda’s economic, social, cultural, and intellectual life. It is also the country’s largest urban center, with a population of 3.1 million (Microtrends 2020). And is the capital city of Uganda. Like Rome, Uganda’s capital was initially built across seven hills, but today, it sits on about two dozen hills.
Kampala derives its name from the local Luganda language saying ‘Akosozi k’empala,‘ meaning ‘Hill of Antelope.’ This a reference to the domestic impala (impala) antelope, which grazed the lawns of Mengo during Buganda’s King Mutesa’s reign in the 1880s.
Historically, Kampala Hill and the surrounding hills had lain at the Buganda Kingdom’s political center for several decades before the arrival of the first Europeans. Capt Fredrick Lugard arrived in 1890 and set up camp on Kampala Hill, so he is generally considered the founder.
You can choose to Visit Kampala either before or after your gorilla trekking adventure.
Some of the Iconic places and areas you can’t miss while planning for your Gorilla trekking from Kampala include the following.
Kampala City Center
Kampala’s most obvious reference point is the modern mufti-storied city center on Nakasero Hill. It is surrounded by more discreet but no less identifiable landmarks on neighboring summits.
Old Kampala Hill
Old Kampala Hill towers just a few hundred meters southwest of the city center, enclosed within the oval Old Kampala Road. Fine colonial buildings of Asian design mushroom the hill, generally somewhat rundown or strikingly renovated.
Old Kampala is historically known as Capt Lugard’s 1899 encampment site. It’s most notable today as the focal point for Kampala’s Islamic community and the sight of an imposing Uganda National Mosque.
Lubiri
Due south of Old Kampala, Kabaka’s Twekobe Palace stands on the broad, low hill of Lubiri. The ill-fated Kabaka Edward Mutesa was driven from this palace in 1966 by Idi Amin on Obote’s orders. The army subsequently occupied the site until 1993, gaining a reputation for terror. Amin and Obote’s agents took hundreds through its gates, never to be seen again.
Namirembe and Rubaga hills
Lubiri is neighboring Namirembe (Mengo) and Rubaga hills in the southwest, elevated by Anglican and Catholic cathedrals. The imposing dome identifies St Paul’s on Namirembe Hill and Rubaga Cathedral by two bell towers.
Mengo and Rubaga are Kampala’s oldest suburbs affluent in history and historic architecture, including the Royal Palace.
Bulange Building
Less than 500m past the turn-off to Namirembe, the Bulange Building — the traditional seat of the Buganda Parliament — stands on the south side of Albert Cook Road, directly opposite the junction with Sentema Road. It is one of the most impressive colonial-era buildings in Uganda.
Makerere Hill
Northeast of Namirembe is Makerere Hill, commonly known for housing the country’s oldest University. A white bell tower of Makerere University used to be visible on the green ridge of Makerere Hill until accidental fires gutted it in September 2020
Gorilla trekking In Uganda
Gorilla Trekking Information – Mountain Gorillas In Uganda
Most of these mountain gorillas do reside in South Western Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This Park consists of almost half of the number of Mountain Gorillas that are believed to be remaining in the whole world.
It’s also believed that the remaining Chimps in the entire world Co-exist in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. For any interested person willing to visit Ugandan gorillas, you must pay for a gorilla trekking permit that goes for USD 700.00 per trek per person.
Mgahinga National Park; this park is found in the Virunga ranges shared between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. This Park is also another place that is known for being a home of Ugandan gorillas.
Gorilla trekking experience:
For a person to have a wonderful, memorable, and unforgettable adventure you will have to endure all the efforts needed to reach Bwindi and trek through this wonderful natural forest. There are thirteen habituated gorilla groups for tourists to trek. And all these groups are found in different sectors such as Buhoma, Nkuringo, and others are habituated in the Ruhija and Rushaga regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A proposed itinerary for Gorilla trekking from Kampala.
These four days gorilla trekking safari is going to allow you to watch two of the many Gorilla groups in this impenetrable forest. Therefore, allowing you two good hours of interaction with these primates and maybe a community walk to see the Batwa people and see how they live their daily lives.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Kampala City Tour.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Game Park.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable.
Day 4: Transfer to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day one
Kampala city tour
Early morning after breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel of residence, for a tour of Kampala. We will visit the key sites that make Kampala a unique tourist destination and these will include the King’s Palace, the kingdom parliament, Namirembe and Rubaga Cathedral, the old Kampala Mosque, and nakasero Hill. Owino market, the Kabakas lake, and end with the Visit to ndere center for an evening of cultural performances.
We will return to the Lodge for a relaxing dinner and overnight stay and preparations for the start of the gorilla trekking safari.
Day two
Transfer from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Be early to hit the road in the morning since a long journey to the southwestern part of Uganda where the park is located. During your journey, you will have a brief stop in Mbarara town where you will have your lunch meal plus maybe mini shopping if you, please, and thereafter head on. While on the road you will then be in sight of Uganda’s other amazing beauties inclusive of which is the beautiful scenery of the city. On reaching the park you will check in at the accommodation. dinner and overnight.
Day three
Mountain Gorilla Tracking and Community Walk
The day that you’re going to be the insight of the gorgeous primates the gorillas. Wake up early to buy yourself time to have breakfast and pick your packed lunch plus drinking water since you ought to have long hours in the forest searching for these apes. You will be expected to be at the park headquarters on time for your briefing and their head to the forest to engage in your first track which may take you 2 to 6 hours depending on the animal’s movement. A Full hour is allowed you to visualize the animals as they move around and react differently to your visit, while here you will be able to know why these apes are called cousins to man since the semblance to human character is positive. Thereafter the trek head back to the park headquarters and then finally the lodging. Freshen up and take on a community walk to see the Batwa people and their ways of life you can enjoy their cultural dances and songs as they demonstrate it all for you. Then dinner and overnight at the accommodation slept at the previous night.
Day 4: Transfer to Kampala
Wake up early enough to have your fantastic breakfast meal, then head for the stunning boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi that will allow you a view of some of the islands on this lake as you observe the well-terraced hills surrounding the lake and many more scenic views. Then you will pack up and be on your way to Kampala with lunch en-route plus other stopovers that you would love to make as we come to the very beginning of the end of our double trekking safari. On reaching Kampala you will either be dropped at the airport for your flight or to a hotel in case your stay is still on.
End of Tour

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To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Reddit DM to u/CourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator.
Iman Gadzhi – Agency Incubator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Over the span of 20+ hours, Agency Incubator has training that covers EVERY aspect of building an agency. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! You name it... signing clients, running killer Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you!
The lessons inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator course include:
1. Foundations
2. Mindset
3. Systems & Processes
4. Finding Leads and Setting Meetings
5. Sales
6. Service Delivery
7. Operational Supremacy…
… and more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Reddit DM to u/RequestCourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator.
Iman Gadzhi – Agency Incubator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Over the span of 20+ hours, Agency Incubator has training that covers EVERY aspect of building an agency. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! You name it... signing clients, running killer Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you!
The lessons inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator course include:
1. Foundations
2. Mindset
3. Systems & Processes
4. Finding Leads and Setting Meetings
5. Sales
6. Service Delivery
7. Operational Supremacy…
… and more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Reddit DM to u/CourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)

Contact me to get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator.
Iman Gadzhi – Agency Incubator course is one of the best products on how to start a marketing agency.
Over the span of 20+ hours, Agency Incubator has training that covers EVERY aspect of building an agency. This is almost a plug & play system with enough success stories to back it up! You name it... signing clients, running killer Facebook ads, building out your team, on-boarding clients, invoicing, sales... this course has everything covered for you!
The lessons inside Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator course include:
1. Foundations
2. Mindset
3. Systems & Processes
4. Finding Leads and Setting Meetings
5. Sales
6. Service Delivery
7. Operational Supremacy…
… and more!
To get Iman Gadzhi - Agency Incubator contact me on:
Whatsapp/Telegram: +44 759 388 2116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Reddit DM to u/RequestCourseAccess
Email: silverlakestore[@]yandex.com (remove the brackets)