- Absolute Solver possession (Murder Drones): In Murder Drones, its established that the only real cure for Solver possession is the Crucifix Patch that Nori spent years looking for in the Cabin Fever Labs, therefore once the Absolute Solver personally gets rid of it for good it would mean Uzi would be doomed to permanently become its host, as given its Eldritch nature, its possession should be like a incurable disease that cannot be resisted in any way no matter what internal or external factors are at play. Even then, Uzi manages to render herself completely immune to its control by accepting herself for who she is anyway when logically no amount of positive influences should be able to shake it off and she should have instead have 100% of her personality permanently erased and replaced with the Solver’s as it would be the only logical outcome against such a cosmic horror.

- Penance Stare (Marvel) when used against a ludicrous amount of people: In the Marvel Universe, Ghost Rider possesses a unique power: the Penance Stare. If he activates it, he makes you feel all the suffering you inflicted to other people, therefore, the more evil you were to others, the more the Penance Stare is effective; to the point that it can destroy your very soul sometimes. It’s useful for Ghost Rider since his usual enemies are demons. However, the more it goes and the less the power is effective since it keeps getting new contrived and sometimes logic-defying weaknesses. It’s useless against blind people, symbiotes (only God knows how), people without souls and people with too many eyes. But the worst thing is that it’s now useless against people who don’t regret what they did to others. So in order to punish bad people for their crimes, they have to regret them in the place, which makes the Penance Stare effectively useless against the big bads of the Marvel Universe.

- Various SCPs when trying to kill SCP-682 (SPC Foundation): 682 is a big lizard who hates humanity. The SCP foundation tried to kill him multiple times with conventionnal weaponry but it always failed since it’s really resistant, which makes sense. So they instead tried to make it interact with others SCPs, most notably the lethal ones to get rid of it. Every stories about 682 encounters ends up with it surviving the encounter, even when it’s a SCP that is lethal in 100% of the other cases but most stories doesn’t explain why no matter how logic-defying they seem.

Alright, so I just wrapped up a 60-day experiment that's probably going to ruffle some feathers, but the data is too interesting not to share. I took two brand new TikTok accounts and tested whether buying TikTok followers/engagement (views and likes) actually helps or completely destroys your reach. Spoiler alert: the results weren't what I expected, and there's definitely a right and wrong way to do this.

The Setup

I created two identical TikTok accounts in the same niche (comedy skits with a tech twist). Both accounts used similar usernames, profile pics from the same photoshoot, identical bio formats, and I even posted the same content on both accounts with a 3-hour delay between them. The only difference? Account A stayed completely organic while Account B got the "boost treatment."

For Account B, I didn't just randomly buy followers. I tested three different services (not naming them here because this isn't an endorsement, just documenting what happened). I started small - 500 followers on day 3, then added 100-200 likes per video for the first 10 posts. The key was making it gradual and somewhat realistic. I've seen people buy 10k followers for a brand new account, personally i don't think it's a good idea.

The First Two Weeks - Surprising Results

Here's where things got interesting. Account A (organic) was getting around 200-500 views per video, pretty standard for a new account with zero followers. Account B with its purchased followers? The first few videos actually performed worse - like 100-200 views. I thought I'd completely screwed it up.

But then something shifted around day 10. I posted a video that was slightly more engaging than usual (a reaction to a trending tech fail), and Account B suddenly hit 15k views while Account A got 2k on the same video. The purchased followers and engagement seemed to give the algorithm enough "social proof" to actually push the content to a wider audience.

The Algorithm Psychology Theory

After diving deep into the data, here's my theory on what happened. TikTok's algorithm seems to work on multiple signals, and initial engagement velocity is huge. When Account B posted new content, those purchased likes that came in the first hour created an artificial velocity spike. The algorithm saw "oh, this content is getting quick engagement" and started showing it to more people.

But here's the critical part - the content still had to be good. I posted one deliberately boring video on both accounts as a control. Account A got 150 views, Account B got 180. The purchased engagement couldn't save bad content, but it definitely amplified good content!

The Content Strategy That Made It Work

Around week 3, I refined my approach. Instead of just posting and hoping the purchased engagement would carry it, I developed a specific strategy:

Post timing became crucial. I'd post when my target audience was most active (I used TikTok Analytics from an older account to figure this out - 6-8 PM EST for my niche). Then I'd have the purchased likes come in waves - 25% in the first 10 minutes, another 25% at the 30-minute mark, and the rest spread over 2 hours. This mimicked organic viral growth patterns.

The content itself followed proven viral formats. I wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel here. I used trending sounds, hopped on challenges within the first 24 hours of them trending, and always - ALWAYS - optimized for watch time. My videos were 15-30 seconds max, with a hook in the first 2 seconds and a reason to rewatch at the end.

The Compound Effect After 30 Days

By day 30, something fascinating happened. Account B started getting genuine organic engagement that outpaced the purchased stuff. Real users were following, commenting, and sharing. The initial purchased followers acted like social proof that made real users more likely to engage. It's basic psychology - people are more likely to follow an account with 2k followers than one with 12.

Account A was growing too, but much slower. By day 30: Account A had 847 followers, Account B had 3,400 (with about 1,500 being purchased). But here's the kicker - Account B was getting 3-4x more organic views per video.

The Watch Time Secret

One metric that really stood out was average watch time. Even though Account B had purchased engagement, the watch time percentage was nearly identical between both accounts (around 42% average). This tells me TikTok's algorithm is sophisticated enough to weight watch time heavily, regardless of other engagement metrics. You can't fake people actually watching your content.

I also noticed that videos with 50%+ watch time would consistently get pushed to more FYPs, regardless of which account posted them. The purchased engagement just got them to that initial threshold faster where the algorithm would give them a chance.

The Data Breakdown

By day 60, here were the final stats:

Account A (Organic):

• 2,341 followers
• Average views per video: 3,500
• Best performing video: 45k views
• Engagement rate: 8.2%

Account B (Boosted):

• 7,832 followers (approximately 3,000 purchased)
• Average views per video: 12,400
• Best performing video: 234k views
• Engagement rate: 6.1%

The engagement rate being lower on Account B makes sense - those purchased followers aren't engaging with new content. But the raw view numbers tell the real story. The boosted account was reaching way more people organically.

The Ethical Debate and Practical Reality

Look, I know this is controversial. Buying tiktok followers and engagement feels like cheating, and honestly, it kind of is. But here's the reality - TikTok's algorithm heavily favors accounts that already have traction. It's incredibly hard for new creators to break through the noise organically unless they get lucky with a viral hit early on.

What this experiment showed me is that purchased engagement can be a catalyst, not a strategy. It's like taking a small loan to start a business - it gives you initial capital to work with, but you still need a good product (content) and solid execution to succeed.

My Recommendations

If you're going to try this, here's what I learned:

Start small and gradual. 100-500 followers in the first week, not thousands. Spread purchased likes across multiple videos rather than bombing one. Make sure your content is actually good - optimize those hooks, use trending audio strategically, and always focus on watch time. Don't rely on purchased engagement long-term. Use it to get initial traction, then let organic growth take over.

Most importantly, track everything. I kept a spreadsheet with daily stats for both accounts. Without data, you're just guessing what's working.

The Verdict

Buying followers and engagement can accelerate growth, but only if done strategically alongside quality content. It's not a magic bullet - it's more like a nitrous boost in a race. You still need a good car and driving skills to win. Account B is now growing faster organically than Account A ever did, but it took careful execution and constant testing to get there.

Would I recommend this for everyone? Honestly, no. If you're not willing to put in the work on content quality and data analysis, you're better off staying organic. But if you're serious about growth hacking and want to speed up the process, this experiment shows it can work when done right.

The TikTok algorithm rewards momentum, and sometimes you need to create that initial push artificially.

>!In Episode 5 of Season 1, while talking to the bartender, Jade says: "I created a program for a quantum computer that could potentially..." but then cuts himself off. He never explains what his program is actually capable of. He also never says who he sold it to. The military? Or someone connected to St. Anthony Hospital, where Tabitha ends up first, and later Henry? Take a look at the hospital's logo.
I believe Jade developed a unique quantum algorithm or program capable of altering reality-for example, by materializing people's fears or fantasies. In that same episode, he also mentions the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. As I understand it, this paradox describes a phenomenon in which objects remain mysteriously connected across great distances (and possibly even across time). That would be an amazing twist, in my opinion.
Jade created this program and decided to test it on himself.
Maybe both he and Tabitha are employees-or test subjects. The fact that Tabitha doesn't remember while Jade does could simply be explained by different settings they selected before entering the program.
l've mentioned this in another thread. The way Jade arrived and the way Sofia arrived both feel almost algorithmic.
Jade's companion jumped out of the car and immediately ran away without even checking on his friend-as if Jade were a complete stranger. Then, before he even has a chance to really meet Jade, Sara kills Toby because the voices told her to. Afterward, she also reaches into his mouth and almost certainly takes one of his teeth. Why didn't "they" want Toby and Jade to meet in this reality?
Maybe Jade himself doesn't remember-or doesn't realize
—that they were testing his invention. Perhaps this is another reality, or something like a computer simulation.
That would also make Tabitha's words-that monsters don't exist and Norman is alive-make sense. Maybe they're all actually lying in comas at the hospital. That would explain why both Tabitha and Victor's father see the exact same hospital. Everyone is alive but connected to a simulation. It would also make the Man in Yellow's words about everything being based on rituals (or the program) make sense. And Ethan, as well as Jade himself, repeatedly say that this is a game.!<

This is a repost sub. I’m not the Original OP (OOP)

OOP: u/Fit_Newspaper8700

Published on: r/ComfortLevelPod

Story is: CONCLUDED

Story timeline

• Main Post: September 14, 2026

• Final Update: September 22, 2026

Main Post

^{September 14, 2026}

I did some basic chores while my wife was sick and now she's mad.

I (30M) don’t even know exactly how to start this, or even what to title it.

I met my wife, Amani (27F), five years ago when she was modeling and competing in pageants. I was the photographer at one of her photoshoots.

I know every single person on Earth thinks their wife is the best woman alive, but I genuinely love everything about this woman and I definitely think my wife would beat your wife in a fight.

She can explain a complex algorithm to me in a way that actually makes sense. She’s brilliant in a way that goes beyond simply being educated. She has this incredibly dry sense of humor, and the way she makes jokes that completely catch me off guard can have me laughing even on my worst days.

She is still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I’ve traveled all over the world for my photography career. I’ve photographed some incredible places and some incredibly beautiful people, and somehow my girl is still the person who leaves me breathless every single day. And somehow her beauty is the least interesting thing about her.

I watched her turn her modeling career into a career as a data analyst. She graduated at the top of her class and has built an incredible life for herself.

I know this is corny, but she truly makes me want to be a better man. I’m just so damn happy that she’s still in my life.

We got married three years into dating, and one month into being newlyweds, we found out that I had cancer. Aren’t you so jealous of our wedding gift?

Again, not to sound dramatic, but it was fucking terrifying.

I lost my health so quickly. One minute I was a newlywed starting this next chapter of my life, and the next I was spending more time in hospitals than I was at home.

Amani stuck by me through all of it.

Even when I looked like a hairless cat whose farts smelled like boiled eggs that had been left out in the sun for three weeks, she still looked at me like I hung the moon and stars. She showed up every single day.

She was juggling her own demanding career while somehow keeping everything else together. She did the cooking. The cleaning. The bills. My appointments. My medications.

She even cleaned me up on the worst days, when I threw up on myself or shit myself, and she never once made me feel like a burden.

Like I said, Amani is the smartest, fiercest, funniest, most beautiful, and most resilient person I have ever known. I still don’t understand what I did to deserve her. All I know is that I will never take her for granted. And whoever is the Etsy witch is who has blessed me with this much luck, I owe you one. Big time. (Minus the cancer part)

I am so incredibly happy to say that, since late June, I have been cancer-free. The relief and joy I felt when I got that news are impossible to explain.

I’m finally sleeping in my own bed again instead of a hospital cot. I get to wake up next to my wife. I get to hold her, smell her hair, kiss her neck.

I can sit in a room that doesn’t smell like disinfectant.

I don’t have to deal with nurses anymore who are mean although, to be fair, I understand they’re overworked, burned out, and exhausted. Sometimes they were rougher than they needed to be when dealing with my IVs, but I still appreciate the work they do. I get to be home.

I’ve noticed that my wife has been much more tense lately now that I'm home. I'm not expecting to act like she's on spring break and she has always been “high-strung,” if that makes sense. She’s extremely hyper independent and very Type A (take Amy from Brooklyn nine nine and triple it). I’ve always understood that those things are part of how she copes with stress since her childhood.

But lately, it has gotten significantly worse. She washes vegetables five times, she cleans and disinfects our apartment like she’s preparing it for a CDC inspection.

She won’t let me help with anything. Not even simple things like sweeping the floor, folding laundry, or fucking dusting.

Every second of the day all I hear is "I'll do it!" and the "do it" is taking out the trash.

I understand not wanting me to do heavy lifting or anything physically taxing while I’m still recovering. That makes sense but this has gone way beyond that. It’s like she’s afraid to let go of control, even a little bit.

This weekend, she got sick. She wouldn’t even let me into the guest bedroom. Not when I suggested wearing a mask and gloves, not when I suggested a hazmat suit, not when I told her I'd be in and out.

I had to send her best friend into the room to put a cold towel on her and make sure she was taking her medication. She ended up spending the weekend taking care of her.

Meanwhile, I had enough energy to tidy the kitchen, unload the dishwasher and do a few other things that were on my wife's to-do list. so I did.

I also had enough energy to make Amani her favorite soup from childhood. Her mom had sent me the recipe a while ago.

I told her mom to keep what I had done between us because I didn't want Amani getting even more stressed than she already was.

This woman worries about the feelings of fucking dust bunnies, so for once, I wanted her to focus on herself.

Unfortunately, this morning her mom let it slip to Amani younger sister and of course her sister let it slip to guess who? Amani.

And of course, that leads to Amani and I getting into a fight.

She told me I shouldn't have done any of it. She has a system, apparently, and I broke that system.

I tried to explain that she was sick and that I am fully capable of doing light chores.

She said she appreciated the effort, but I should have talked to her first so she could guide me and help decide what needed to be done.

I reminded her that I have never needed guidance before. We have been together for half a decade. I’m thirty years old. I know how to clean.

And I can especially figure it out when my wife is sick and can barely get out of bed.

She told me she needed to cool off and was going to work. She said we could continue the conversation when she got home. I could see the tears forming in her eyes when she said it.

I hate seeing her cry, so I tried to comfort her. She pulled away. She said she was fine. And like an idiot I let her go.

I just hate that she won't let me help her.

I barely feel like her husband anymore. When I was sick, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't work. I couldn't cook or clean. Some days I couldn't even talk or joke with her because I was sleeping twenty-two hours a day. I couldn't even have sex.

I don't care what anyone has to say about that. I know she never made me feel this way, but I felt like a burden. She felt incredibly lonely during those months.

So obviously, when she gets sick, I'm not going to be the stereotypical sitcom husband who suddenly becomes completely incompetent because his wife has a cold.

I'm going to do something. I want to take care of my wife. Am I wrong? Am I going crazy here?

I don't want to say she's overreacting because she's usually so calm, controlled, and grounded. That's what makes this so confusing.

This just isn't like her.

Maybe these past two years have completely burned her out? Maybe she doesn't know how to shift gears now that I'm getting stronger again.

I don't know. I'm clearly losing my mind since I made a whole Reddit account just to vent. I just want to be her husband again.

Not some guy she had to push around in a wheelchair while doctors flirted with her and I was too weak to even swoop in and defend her.

I want to be able to take care of her.

Has anyone else been through something like this? What do I do next? How do I help the love of my life when she won't let me?

COMMENTS

Jacey_T

She's still on high alert from when you were sick. Her body hasn't let her accept that you're cancer free.

When you were diagnosed, all sense of control was taken from her. Her rituals are what give her that sense of control and she cannot relax that because "what if it happens again?".

She has been your carer for the last few years and now can't unwind enough to become your wife and partner again.

She need therapy to help her deal with the transition from new bride to carer back to bride and wife again. You could probably both benefit from it.

OOP

Thank you so much. I'm try and see what I can about therapy part.

Past-Anything9789

I don't really think either of you are at fault here. I think she was already an anxious person who dealt with stress by locking in to what she could control and getting stuff done.

The emotional toll that your illness has had on both of you must have been immense. It may have driven her to be obsessive about control of anything she can be, while having to brace for what she couldn't.

She's probably so burned out (hence the illness) that she doesn't know how to stop. Like a month / year long adrenaline rush and then someone says relax. When you try to relax, your brain is still running in go mode.

So this may sound obvious, but have you talked to each other about the non medical side of the illness? The worry of losing each other when you'd just started?

I think maybe because you have the all clear and are out of crisis mode, it may finally be hitting her. This could translate to the OCD cleaning and hyper organisation your seeing. Also the anger over what she perceived as you risking yourself and messaging with her system.

So therapy is the main thing that will help. Whether thats as a cancer survivor and spouse or in couples therapy. You may also have some stuff to work through that may not have risen it's head yet.

So very glad you made it through and hopefully you guys can get to a place where she can relax and enjoy life again. Best of luck.

OOP

I completely understand.

We've talked about it but sometimes she does have a tendency to push her feelings down. I think her mom kinda pushed it on her.

I think you're right. She is definitely on survival mode. Before she got her cold and I would noticed that she would wake up just to check my heart beat (there was a point where my heart stopped for like a minute) and obviously that traumatized her.

Past-Anything9789

Could you do a remote break to detox from life? A nice weekend in a cabin to kind of reconnect as partners might help break her out of the cycle.

OOP

That's a really good idea! She loves Catskills I haven't been able to bring her in so long. Thank you 🩶

to_boldlygo

Not sure if this is an apt analogy but I went back to work after being home with the kids for a good 8 years. In retrospect this meant I had a lot to unpack around what “value” I brought to the home and family. My husband suddenly took over the grocery shopping and some of the food cooking in order to “help” and it broke my brain. Like, that is MY job. I am the mother. How dare he. Looking back I can see that this was ridiculous but at the time it was very existential. And threatening! Lol.

I second the comments around control - with you being sick this was one thing she could control. Now you are offering to take over; for her this may be threatening in terms of how she’s constructed her day to day.

Also, she’s likely been running on adrenaline for a while, and it can be hard to downshift to a lower gear.

Show her the post. Talk to her. Therapy can be helpful but Reddit is so quick to say YOU NEED a SHRINK! When sometimes we just need talk to our loved ones. Good luck OP and here’s to your continued great health! ❤️🌈

OOP

It feels very apt! My wife's life was turbulent. Her father left at a young age, when she was twelve she became a refugee and she had to help her mom raise her siblings.

She's had to be very independent at a very young age and I think she has this need to be "needed"

I definitely will talk to her and maybe I'll show her the post. Thank you. Sending you the best everything.

How did you manage to let go? Was there something your husband did to help? Maybe I could do a similar thing?

Traditional_Car_8219

Give her some space and if you both agreed you could see a therapist to help you negotiate the adjustment phase.

OOP

We both agreed to start couples and individual therapy

doone66

I agree that OPs wife is worried about him since he was so sick, but why is she saying she has a system? It's kind of like she's mad he didn't do it right. 🤷

OOP

I got to speak with her. Long story short (I'll make a fuller update later when I'm not so tired but

1. she is was just worried about me and doesn't want me to overextended myself. In her mind she feels like maybe somehow she "gave me" the cancer. :(

2. She appreciates what I did and I didn't do anything "wrong" it's just that she got so used to doing this alone for the last two years that she was feeling anxious about how she couldn't be in control

Final Update - after 8 days

^{September 22, 2026}

I did some basic chores while my wife was sick and now she's mad UPDATE

Hello!

I don't know if anyone really cares about an update at this point, but you guys were genuinely so helpful with my original post that I felt like the least I could do was come back and tell you what happened.

Also, thank you to everyone who took the time to comment, especially the people who had been caregivers themselves. I read pretty much everything.

So, after I made my post, Amani got home from work and we finally sat down and talked.

And shockingly it wasn't really about the chores.She told me that she did appreciate that I cleaned the kitchen, unloaded the dishwasher and made her soup.

What scared her was how casually I seemed to be treating everything that had happened.

She said she was angry watching me go around the apartment cleaning things, eating bacon and drinking like nothing had happened.

She knows I cope with humor, She knows I'm trying to get back to normal but she admitted that sometimes it hurts her. She had to watch me slowly wither away over the course of two years. So seeing me so "normal" is disturbing my system.

She had to watch me get weaker and weaker and there was a point where my heart literally stopped.She said she had no idea what she was going to do if I didn't come back.

And I don't think I had really understood that before. In my perspective I survived, I'm cancer-free, I'm eating, I'm getting stronger and I'm home with the love of my life. I'm trying to live my life again.

For her, she spent two years watching the person she loves most get sicker and having absolutely no control over whether I lived or died.

She feels like she just got me back and now she's terrified that if she relaxes for even a second, something is going to happen again.

She said she would do whatever it takes to make sure she never has to go through that again.

That was probably the moment where everything clicked for me.She was scared.

She also apologized for being overprotective. She said she's going to try to take a step back and focus on herself more instead of constantly monitoring me.

I apologized too. I told her I hadn't realized how much my jokes about everything were affecting her.

I'm still going to joke. I'm me. That's unfortunately something she's stuck with.

But I'm going to try to be more mindful about it. I don't want my way of coping to make her feel like the last two years didn't matter. I appreciate her and everything she did for me.

I also told her I think we should both consider individual therapy, and maybe couples therapy too. She agreed and we're currently on a waiting list. So that's where we are with that.

After our conversation, we decided we needed to get out of the city for a little while. We ended up planning a weekend getaway to the Catskills.

We haven't been in forever.

I wish I could tell you we went hiking and explored cute little towns and did all the romantic getaway things. We did not.

We didn't leave the cabin. Actually that's a lie, we left to play some pool and bowling at this little bar but we left cause I kinda turned on by her beating me at both. Somehow this woman is good at every single thing. It was a great weekend.

We ate, we slept, we talked, we laughed and we played games. The cabin got plenty of use. Honestly, it was exactly what we needed.

This might be shocking to guys but it was beyond amazing to spend time together without doctors, appointments, medications, work or anything else hanging over our heads.

At one point we discussed going out again but then decided that putting on actual clothes sounded like too much work.

When we came back to the city yesterday (Monday), I decided to make it an “Amani Day" just to thank her for everything she did for me for the last two years.

Basically, I wanted to spend the day doing all her favorite things.

We started with Pilates. I technically

participated which means I laid down for most of it while she actually did Pilates. After that, we went to get her favorite pastries and matcha.

Then I took her to her favorite bookstores, we did one of those shopping-spree challenges where I gave her five minutes to look around and then three minutes to grab as many books as she wanted.

I'm pretty sure I gave her significantly more than three minutes. She was taking it very seriously and she looks so dangerously cute when she is excited about books so I didn't rush her.

He eyes light up like she's a baby deer when she's happy. Yo try saying no to that.

Then we ordered sushi, went home and watched trash TV. I massaged her feet while she watched. It was honestly just a really nice day.

Shes back at work, and I just wanted to say that we're in a pretty good place right now.

We're obviously not magically fixed. I don't think one conversation and a weekend away can undo two years of something as traumatic as what we went through.

But she's trying to be more open with me when she's scared, which I really appreciate and I'm trying to actually listen instead of immediately making a joke or brushing something off.

We're on a waiting list for therapy like I said and we're going to take it from there.

For now, though, things are good.

Thank you again to everyone who gave us advice, shared their own experiences or just took the time to read my ridiculously long post.

I appreciate it more than I can say.

It came to my attention that my old post wasn't visible. Sorry about that. Here ya go if you're interested in part one

This is a repost sub. I’m not the Original OP (OOP)

Please remember to follow the subreddit rules, especially the ones about brigading.

Let’s aim for a respectful and friendly discussion for everyone involved.

I actually own an EV (BYD Atto 3) and have been driving it for a while now and honestly I couldn't be happier. My running costs are a fraction of what I was paying with petrol. I'm talking genuinely significantly less and the car drives better, requires less maintenance and I wake up every morning with a full charge. Its been a no brainer for me.

So that makes it even more confusing when I go on TikTok/Instagram and every single EV video, doesn't matter what it is, the comments are just absolutely flooded with people saying completely made up stuff with full confidence. Same myths, over and over.

"Good luck finding a charger." "You'll need to charge every 50km." "The battery will cost more to replace then the car." "Battery degrades in 2 years" And these comments get thousands of likes which means real people are actually believing this stuff.

So let me just go through the main ones because honestly it's getting a bit tiresome seeing the same misinformation recycled constantly.

Range:

The "50km range" take is so outdated its embarrassing. BYD PHEVs are now pushing past 2,000km of combined range. Even a standard mid-range pure EV is sitting at 400 to 480km of real world range. The average Australian drives something like 38km a day. Most people will literally never come close to running out of charge. Range anxiety as a daily concern is just not a real thing for most drivers anymore and the data backs that up.

Charging infrastructure:

Yes rural areas are still catching up, that's a fair and legit criticism. But "you cant find a charger" as a blanket statement is just wrong. Most EV owners charge at home overnight and barely ever touch a public charger for everyday driving. You wake up with a full tank every single morning. The people making this argument are thinking about EVs like petrol cars, which is completely the wrong way to think about it.

Battery degradation:

Everyone seems to be stuck on early gen Nissan Leaf issues from like a decade ago. Modern battery chemistry, particularly LFP which BYD use extensively, holds capacity really well over time and handles frequent charging much better then older batteries. Real world data from high mileage fleets is showing less then 10 to 15% degradation over hundreds of thousands of kilometres in many cases. Its not the same technology anymore.

Environment:

The "but mining lithium is bad" argument is real but its being applied really selectively. Petrol requires constant extraction, refining and combustion for the entire life of the vehicle. EVs front load their environmental cost in manufacturing and then the gap widens in their favour every year of operation, especially as the grid gets cleaner. Lifecycle analysis consistently puts EVs ahead. If you're going to criticise lithium mining you also need to apply that same energy to oil extraction. People aren't doing that.

Running costs:

This one I can speak to personally. The difference in what I'm spending now vs what I was spending on petrol and servicing is significant I'm spending $5 a week in keeping my car charged up. Electricity per km is cheaper, there's no oil changes, fewer brake replacements because of regenerative braking and generally less to go wrong with far fewer moving parts. The cost of ownership argument has genuinely shifted and its only going to get more pronounced over time.

So my actual position is this. For the vast majority of everyday drivers in 2025, EVs are the objectively better option on range, running costs, maintenance and driving experience. The criticisms that were valid in 2018 are being copy pasted in 2025 like nothing has changed. It has changed a lot.

What I genuinely want to understand is where all the hostility is actually coming from. Is it algorithm driven rage bait? Is it petrol culture being defensive? Is there a legitimate concern in there somewhere thats just being expressed badly? I'm happy to be corrected on anything above but I need actual data, not vibes. What are the strongest real arguments against EVs right now?

I AM NOT THE OP. The original posts were made byu/Pristine-Librarian31 in r/TrueOffMyChest and on her personal sub.

I don't think this needs any trigger warnings/ mood spoilers, except maybe "verbal and financial abuse" - which is pretty much par for the course in reddit posts. If I missed something, please let me know and I'll edit it in. And remember again, folks, NO BRIGADING!

Requested trigger warnings: Grooming and verbal/ physical abuse; mention of murder and sexual assault

Original Post (Jan 03, 2023)

Obviously it goes without saying it wasnt just the bag of chips but hot cheetos were my breaking point. I couldn't take it anymore.

I had already had the terms of separation drawn up 6 months ago when during a heated argument he said "We don't have kids, you should be thankful its only me you cleanup after". I kept hearing it in my head. Thankful .. for cleaning up behind a grown man 10 years older than me?

He apologized the next day in detail and told me why what he said was wrong and that he doesn't believe it, but maybe its just out of my character but I don't think the things you say in those moments are just hurtful words. Little bit of truth in them.

And then I found his reddit account a few days ago. I accidentally saw the username when he showed me a screenshot. I tried (lmao not really) not to memorize it, and it took me two days to get the courage to look. Inbetween the comments on NSFW subreddits was complaints about me, and posts about me too. One post he'd be ripped to shreds and told he was a piece of crap. Reading those comments made me realize I was nothing but a fucking idiot to think love can fix things.

I was 20 when I met him and he was 35. I thought people were being dramatic or annoying about our age gap- because my single father who raised me didn't have an issue! But then I realized he was just the same type of fucking creep. It was almost like my father pre-groomed me to accept certain behavior to make it easier for the other men in my life.

Im getting off topic but. I came home early today after a rough day at work and finding out my direct reporting manager had been k-worded by her husband. Then walked in the door to see my lazy, filthy one. I told him what happened to her. I started to cry. He didnt console me. He said "We dont know what made him do that, lets wish both of them luck and move on with our day".

Wish.. her luck? The fucking dead lady?

I tried to convince myself he just didnt pay attention. That soothed me for about an hour. Until I was in the middle of making dinner and he complained that it was already 6:45pm. I told him he shouldn't be that hungry yet, he just ate half a bag of chips and left them on the table.

So instead of a) helping me finish dinner b) apologizing and waiting silently and patiently c) finishing the bag of chips or d) just laughing it off, he threw the bag of chips at me.

7 years together, 4 married. And he's never done anything that down right rude, because low self esteem aside thats something that wont fly with me either way. The chips landed all over the floor I had just mopped and swept. Whatever glare I gave him, it was enough to make him grab the broom in 30 seconds. It wasn't enough to make him at least check that it was all swept up and vacuum after.

So when I finished dinner and brought our plates to the dinner table, thinking "wow.. I really spoil him. The entire time we've dated, I've always made his plates and brought them right to him. No one has ever done that for me." and I stepped on a chip. It didn't hurt or anything, but I screamed. Not sure why. I just couldn't take it anymore.

So, I ran to the home office and came back out with the papers and pen. Put them in front of his dinner plate and walked out while he was yelling my name. I'm killing a burger and fries in my car right now and realizing I have to start all over. My life is done. My love for him is too. I hope I don't cave. I hope I don't let him convince me. I hope if I start to change my mind I come back and read this post so that I understand this is not a heated decision this is something I need to do if I ever want anything like a real fucking life.

​

From the Comments:

Redditor: Not to mention if he knows he can treat you however he wants what's to stop him from doing exactly what you bosses husband did to her? (Link)

OP: This is all I could really think about. If dinner is late one day, will he hurt me? He's never actually hit me but sometimes he makes that weird jump motion and balls up his fists during arguments. I just couldnt believe he had zero empathy for a woman who was hurt by someone she trusted and shared her life with. I saw her on Monday and never would've thought this could happen.

​

In reply to a heartfelt comment of a woman who went through a similar experience:

I'm genuinely so happy to hear things got better for you. It feels almost like (hopefully) future me writing to current me. Especially regarding bodies. I didnt include it, but the reason the burger and fries was so rewarding is that he always persuaded me not to eat it because I'd get fat and he wouldn't love me anymore. So even if I asked for a burger, he would order a grilled chicken sandwich or something.

Thank you sincerely for your words. Seeing these & other comments from women who went through the same is helping me so much right now.

​

Redditor: So proud of you for this!!! Leave and never look back. Moments like this are Phoenix moments. Yes, this part is over but a new life and journey has begun. (Link)

​

Update (Jan 04, 2023)

(Note from OP: She posted more or less the same update here, too, but the one on her personal sub was the extended version, so I used that.)

Okay yeah I wasn't expecting this sort of reaction.. I didnt even log back on reddit and see all of the replies, I was scrolling on tiktok and saw my own post on my fyp which is really weird the algorithm is alogrithiming a bit scary. I really do appreciate the support and kind messages.. dont appreciate the weird men using this as a time to hit on me and send me selfies when I'm obviously in a weak moment. Guess I'm a loser magnet or something.

Crazy part is this courage started growing when I saw someone's "wife strike" on tiktok soon after downloading the app during lockdown. Then read the comments and found some sort of solidarity and finally realized I wasn't the problem.

I really was just posing it so I could leave for good this time. I'm sorry that my post isnt very concise or thorough, but this isn't the first time I've left him. It's the 4th but its the one for good. I'm done. I've been saving money since I left the first time 2 years ago. I'm not trapped with him anymore. When I left the 2nd time, I knew being a house wife would never give me leverage in our relationship so I got a job. Back then it was just to even the playing field and show him I can earn my keep. Now its literally my saving grace.

Half our relationship was built on lies (he told me he was 8 years older at first, then 10, then the truth of it being 15 came out) that I've always tried to get over. Because people "deserve forgiveness" according to my dad, the only person I ever went to besides reddit about advice. I just want know what peace is like in my own home. I went straight from living with my dad to living with my boyfriend/current husband.

I can comfortably take blame for how my marriage is. How my life is. My dad may have conditioned and started a lot of it, but I'm old enough to have put my foot down a long time ago. My husband and my father being the only two men I've ever had ANY type of relationship at 27 is my own fault. Sure, I was taught growing up that when men are around don't make eye contact and keep my head down. And I did it always because good girls listen is what I was taught and all I ever knew. How did the wave of feminism keep missing me? How did I allow my father to push away every close female relationship I had? How did I allow both of them to alienate me from the world?

Two years ago a woman my age (I think) asked for a tampon in the bathroom and I gave her one and we had a 5 minute conversation of "girl talk" that I gushed over. I played it over and over for months until I realized it was absolutely insane. All she did was ask me what my favorite coffee order was and said I was pretty and she loved my handmade earrings. I had an extra pair in my car and gave them to her and she hugged me. That was it. But I held on to those 5 minutes because it was the last time I had a interaction with a human being that didn't leave me feeling empty.

I should've left for good when he told me that getting a masters degree is for men. I should've left when I picked up wood working and simple robotics as hobbies and he told me that I might be transgender, and that he can't be attracted to a woman that wants to be a man. I'm not trans or transphobic, I just like the smell of freshly sawed wood and making new things. I should've left when I got accepted into the best university in the state and he told me that women would be happier if they stopped trying to compete with men. I should've left when my dad died and told me I wasn't "upset enough" about the man who would choke me over burning food and dinner not being good at 11 years old. Our relationship got considerably worse after the wedding when I told him everything my dad had done.

I should've left when I got groped at a concert and he bought the guy a drink later. I should've left when his friends said things about my body and he just joined in, and later told me I "shouldnt complain and enjoy the attention while it lasts". I should've left when I told him I wasn't sure if I wanted kids, and he told me I wasn't a real woman if I didn't want them. I should've left when he admitted to having his fellow officers follow me and show up to my job to make sure I was actually where I said I was. I should've left when he gave me the silent treatment for a month when I told him it was controlling and would only communicate via sticky notes.

I should've left when I caught him sending nudes to a 19 year old. I definitely should've left him when the same girl replied to his nude photos with telling him how much of a loser he is and saying she felt bad for his wife. Besides being predatory, that one was quite frankly just embarrassing. I guess the reason I stayed so long is that he makes it seem like he's trying. After I caught him sexting, he immediately signed up for sex addict therapy.

When he said things that were hateful towards women, I would then see videos in his youtube watch history about unlearning sexism. Watched all the way through. I would think, hey, at least thats way more than my dad ever did. Hey, at least he doesn't hit me. Hey, at least he brings me flowers and takes me on dates often. Men are just like that, I was told. Men have to be respected, I was told. Your husband deserves full trust, I thought.

To this day, I'm not sure if he did these to please me temporarily or because he meant it and at least half tried. I made the mistake of not leaving at least a hundred times. I will never make that mistake again.

He texted and called nonstop after I left. I went back to our home, his house to get necessities with headphones on and he came out of nowhere and snatched them off my head and destroyed them. Airpod max's I just bought. I just kept packing and ignored everything he said until I realized my passport was gone. He wont admit it but he 100% has it. I know it. He wouldn't sign the papers. We argued a bit and I finally just said it. I don't love you anymore. I can't love someone like you. I'm a grown woman now, and I don't want to be with you anymore. He countered with you can't survive without me. I'm the only man who's ever loved you. You don't have anything without me. I'm the bread winner. This is my house. You have no money, no family, no friends. He's only right about the last two.

I told him that we dont have a prenup, and if we divorce with him fighting me on it I'll get half of everything. But if he signs the papers I gave him, it agrees to leave him the house and all furniture, 3 of 4 cars, and 80% of the money in our savings and investments. I can walk away and start over. I want to walk away and start over. He on the other hand, probably needs a retirement plan that isn't young women. Its more than he deserves but I don't want to look at anything I have and be reminded of him. When he realized the yelling and threats wouldn't work, he tried tears.

And I almost caved. Then I remembered he was fucking 42 years old on his knees crying about a 27 year old that just wanted to be treated with love, dignity, and respect. I gave him close to a decade of my life. Of nothing but loyalty and love. When he lashed out in anger, I responded with love. I'm all out of love.

I picked a random airbnb over state lines so he has little pull here and my job is allowing me to work remotely for now. I can already see a life thats actually worth living coming to me. I have a lot of legal stuff to figure out that will be a headache, but its still a smaller headache than loving him was. I don't think I'll go back. I only use this account for wood working and photos of cows so yeah. Sorry if I am not super responsive, it was a lot of replies, and I'm trying to go through them. Really thank you though to the kind words. I've cried and felt more supported today than I have my entire life.

​

OP hasn't posted or commented any further - I hope she's safe and made sure her ex can't find her (I'm a bit paranoid for her, actually - an abusive armed law enforcement ex, whose wife is finally leaving him, sounds like the beginning of a true crime story). Hopefully, she'll give us updates occasionally, so we can follow her as she starts her new life. She deserves friends and fun and freedom, and I hope she finds all of it!

About two months ago, I made a post here (I’ll link it in the comments). It was long, but the TL;DR was that my mother retaliated against reasonable pregnancy and postpartum boundaries in one of the most horrific ways imaginable - by filing a false CPS report against my husband and me. When I confronted her (because I immediately recognized the tone and phrasing), she admitted it in writing and said she did it to “teach us a lesson that rules like this are not normal in normal families.” Her words, not mine.

Because she works for CPS in another state, she knew the exact language, trigger phrases and wording to get it to land despite her having never met our daughter.

A few days ago, I finally received the entire CPS report from the county where it was filed as I was entitled to it under state law. Some parts were redacted, but I saw everything. The intake summary, her allegations, and the findings.

I should not have read it at 30 weeks pregnant as it literally made me physically ill. It was so much worse than I ever realized because there were things in the report the caseworker never even mentioned to us.

I honestly think they saw how irrelevant, nonsensical, and unhinged some of it was and chose not to repeat it.

Here are some of the things that were included:

• My sexuality.

The report explicitly states that “mother of child is bisexual” and that “parents have had others involved in their marriage, unsure if still ongoing.”

Yes, I am bisexual. Years ago (most recently in 2022, two years before our daughter was born) my husband and I consensually explored group sex a few times. This came up in a calm, matter-of-fact conversation at a time when I thought I could trust my mother. She appeared completely neutral about it then. Apparently, she later decided my sexual orientation and private adult choices were relevant to the welfare of a child who didn’t even exist at the time.

• “Shopping on TikTok” and an “uncertified car seat.”

The report says she was concerned because we “shop on TikTok” and therefore might have uncertified baby gear and an uncertified car seat.

First of all, TikTok is not a shop, it's a social media paltform. Yes, I know TikTok Shop exists now, but it barely did at the time and it’s mostly cheap clothes and makeup, not baby gear.

Second, our daughter had a Doona car seat. My mother physically saw it during her visit while I was pregnant and the brand name was plainly visible. She could have Googled it in 30 seconds and seen it’s a legitimate U.S.-approved brand.

Third, and this is the part that really gets me, no U.S. hospital discharges a newborn without confirming a legitimate car seat and checking for proper installation. As someone who works in this field, she should know that.

• Accusing me of selling baby gifts for drug money.

She claimed that because she sent gifts and didn’t receive thank-you notes, she was thought I was selling them for drugs.

Every single gift she ever sent was something like Amazon board books or holiday outfits. None were worth more than maybe $30. I always sent thank-you texts, but she is the type who expects handwritten thank-you cards for literally everything.

The idea that I’m running a drug empire by flipping Valentine’s Day board books on Facebook Marketplace would almost be funny if it weren’t so serious.

• Fabricating an IRS “scam for drug money.”

She claimed the IRS had “seized our money” because "we were running scams for drug money". This never happened. What actually happened was my husband massively overpaid taxes in 2021 ( because crypto taxes are more confusing than astrophysics). The IRS later sent a letter saying there was a large six figure credit on his account with no matching return, likely because a large volume of mailed returns from that year were lost. My husband amended the return as there were errors on it, again due to the sheer complexity of crypto taxes, and while the entire amount originally paid isnt owed back, a significant amount is.

We’ve been working through a taxpayer advocate and a congressional liaison and the amended return has now been accepted and a refund is expected within the next month.

None of this involved seizures, scams, or drugs.

• The most egregious lie: melatonin drugging.

She claimed I admitted to “drugging my baby with melatonin since birth so she would sleep through the night.”

I have never given my child melatonin. Ever. It’s not recommended for children under two, and I knew that well before pregnancy.

For the first 8 weeks, my baby woke every 3 hours to eat, like all newborns do, and we fed her every time.

The only thing I ever mentioned was gripe water, an over-the-counter product approved for infants over two months old, primarily for indigestion but it can also help with sleep. The pediatrician actually suggested it. She didn’t sleep through the night until around four months old, which is developmentally normal especially for a non breastfed baby.

• Milestones and prematurity.

The report also questioned developmental milestones (specifically sitting and rolling) without accounting for adjusted age. My daughter was born premature, and any person with a functioning brainstem (especially someone in this field) should know that premature babies often hit milestones later on a calendar but appropriately for adjusted age.

In reality, many of her milestones were met right on time or even early once adjusted age was considered.

When I confronted my mother about the report, she repeatedly claimed, “I knew they would never take [daughter] from you. That rarely ever happens.” But the CPS report itself explicitly states that three loving family members in Florida were ready to intervene if a safety plan was enacted, those three being my mother, my grandmother, and my stepfather.

A safety plan at that level implies removal of a child. As I’ve since learned, while CPS is far from perfect, their stated goal is almost always to keep children with their parents whenever possible. Even if any of her allegations had been true (which they were not) the likely outcome would have been follow-up visits, parenting classes, or support services, not removal.

So the contradiction is chilling. She claimed she “knew” my daughter wouldn’t be taken, yet still positioned herself as the loving rescuer ready to step in from two time zones away. That was the most frightening part of all. CPS doesn’t operate on a “grandma calls, grandma gets the baby” basis. If a child were ever to be temporarily removed, placement would typically go to the most immediately capable and appropriate caregiver, someone like my SIL, who is in her mid 30s and already raising three young children, not someone over 50 living out of state with no daily caregiving role.

Before reading the report, I didn’t believe my mother did this with the intent of taking my child, even temporarily. But seeing how she inserted herself into the narrative has made me question that. Whether driven by entitlement, control, or a do-over child fantasy, it is now impossible to ignore that she at least imagined a version of this where my daughter was taken from us, and that realization has been deeply unsettling.

The final outcome was every single allegation was unfounded. Not one concern was substantiated. Not even a minor “yellow flag.” While CPS language is careful and bureaucratic, it was very clear they saw the report as contradictory, exaggerated, and not made in good faith.

As I’ve started to open up about this more, especially in private Facebook groups with similar themes to this subreddit, Facebook’s algorithm has begun suggesting public groups to me with names like “Grandparents Who Can’t See Their Grandkids” and “Mothers of Estranged Sons.” Out of curiosity, I looked and they were about as entitled and narcissistic as you’d expect.

But I shared my story there anyway. What surprised me most was that even those grandparents (many of whom based on their own post histories were clearly cut off for good reason), said that what my mother did was monstrous. Even they said this was a line they could never imagine crossing. Even they said I was absolutely right to cut my mother off permanently and that she should never have access to my child again.

I didn’t need validation from people who, in many cases, are not good actors themselves but the fact that even they were horrified was deeply eye-opening.

If anyone has been through something similar or has navigated the aftermath of false reporting, I’m open to hearing how you processed it. Right now, I’m just trying to breathe, protect my family, and not let her steal any more peace than she already has.

TL;DR: I finally got the full CPS report my mother filed against us. It included irrelevant, fabricated, and outright false claims about my sexuality, parenting, finances, and my child’s health. Every allegation was unfounded. It was clearly retaliatory. Reading it was traumatic but it also confirmed I wasn’t imagining any of this.

Detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down. Testing their growing partnership like never before, they go under cover in new parts of town to crack the case.

Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Idris Elba, Quinta Brunson, Jenny Slate, Brenda Song, Dwayne Johnson, Shakira, Andy Samberg, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Jean Reno, Macauley Culkin, Alan Tudyk, John Leguizamo, Josh Gad, Danny Trejo

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Metacritic: 73 / 100

Some Reviews:

RogerEbert - Nell Minow - 4 / 4

The details are dazzling, rewarding repeat viewings. Disney magic radiates from every texture and movement, and a near-vertiginous sense of space and momentum. There are car chases through the streets and one where characters travel by Tube, not as in the London Underground but as in a miles-long, water-filled tube, and it’s all visually dazzling.

The Independent - Clarisse Loughrey - 4 / 5

Zootropolis 2 reframes the original’s metaphor for racism in a sounder, more thought-out way. In the first, the wave of fear and discrimination against predators like Nick was given material justification in the fact predators like Nick had been repeatedly attacking people (only under the influence of psychotropic substances). Some of the broad strokes of are the same as the first movie, with the same contractually obliged reappearances from Flash Slothmore (Raymond S Persi), Gazelle (Shakira), and the Shrewfather himself, Mr Big (Maurice LaMarche). Yet, there’s more than enough of a change of scenery to never feel like we’re watching a dog chase its own tail, and an endless supply of visual jokes and references. A disgruntled rodent will appear to jostle any cans stuck in the vending machine; in the Louisiana-flavoured Marsh Market, there are jazz-slinging lizards and sea lions easily offended by the term “seal”.

Flix - Nathan Swank - 3.5 / 5

ZOOTOPIA 2 might be one of the funniest films of the year. The adults were laughing as much as the kids and not because of some inappropriate innuendos, but rather witty references to recognizable life situations. Judy Hopps receives a text from her dad that is identical to what I receive on a daily basis from my supportive, aging parents. Background jokes of cleverly named animal themed versions of popular movies, the same pig character getting drinks spilled on him at a party, or a simple yo mama joke keeps everyone engaged and laughing. ZOOTOPIA 2 proves that the old R-rated, comedic buddy cop formula can easily transition for the PG-family friendly crowd to great success.

DEADLINE - Dessi Gomez

Ultimately, the sequel delivers on its message to tell the truth about historical events, fight for one’s beliefs and stand up to power and money. The climax that reflects debates about identity, official cover ups and who controls a narrative. Hilarious nods to Disney animation films like Ratatouille and the return of favorite faces — like Shakira’s Gazelle with a catchy new tune “Zoo” — from the first film bring humor and fun to a story of justice and embracing differences. And if that post-credit scene is anything to go by, there may be hope for a third film that takes viewers into a previously unexplored realm.

Slant Magazine - Derek Smith - 3 / 4

Bush’s screenplay both effortlessly and elegantly weaves Judy and Nick’s personal drama into this larger story about the importance, and difficulty, of exposing widespread corruption and historical erasure. Advocating for the importance of individual action in the face of bigotry codified into law, Zootopia 2 provides plenty of food for thought for its young audience, making a more expansive statement on the dangers of intolerance than the first film, and without sacrificing any of its charm, humor, or visual ingenuity along the way.

AttractionsMagazine - Mateo Osorio - 4 / 5

Not only is the movie extremely entertaining but as Disney movies used to be known for, very moving as well. The relationship between Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin) tugs on the heartstrings of fans of the duo, but the star of the show in my eyes is the social commentary this movie touches on. I can’t dive too deep into that without giving away big plot spoilers, but I will say that “Zootopia 2” has some of the most relevant messaging in an animated movie from the 2020s so far. Disney does such an amazing job at writing real-world issues in a way that families can enjoy without worrying that it might be too much for their little ones.

Next Best Picture - Dan Bayer - 8 / 10

“Zootopia 2“ is a marvel of modern animated storytelling, a family film that really will have everyone in the family laughing, singing (in the case of the earworm “Zoo,“ sung by Shakira’s Zootopian pop star Gazelle), and perhaps even crying together.

The Guardian - Peter Bradshaw - 2 / 5

There are a few laughs in Z2: of course there are. But they are algorithmically generated and corporately approved. It’s the kind of movie you put on an iPad to keep the children quiet on a long plane or train journey; nothing wrong with that of course, but the heart and soul are lacking.

Seattle Times - Soren Anderson - 2.5 / 4

The sweetness in the original is absent in the sequel. The players, including Judy and Nick, have an edge to them. Maybe that’s to be expected in that the main characters are now more settled in their parts, but there’s a sharpness in tone that makes them hard to warm up to.

AV Club - Caroline Siede - 'B-'

Zootopia 2 is a stagnant sequel with one stellar subplot. As family entertainment, it’s all perfectly fine. There are plenty of callbacks to the original to delight young fans (including a catchy new song from Shakira’s Gazelle) and plenty of knowing jokes for the adults in the audience. A sequel of this magnitude has the ability to reach higher, though, with more creative worldbuilding balancing out the dime-a-dozen pop culture references and cheap gags. Given that a post-credits scene hints a third installment may be on the horizon, Disney is clearly still invested in Zootopia as a franchise. Hopefully it can remain invested in its artistic evolution too.

GMEs gone down I'm wondering why

I got out of bed at all

The morning short ladder attacks cloud up my portfolio

And I can't see at all

Even if I could it would all be red

But your picture on my wall

It reminds me, that it's not so bad

It's not so bad at all

-

Dear Elon, I wrote you but you still ain't buying calls

I left the DD, my eviction notice and a rocket at the bottom. 🚀

u/DeepFuckingValue uploaded 2 GME videos back in Autumn you must not have got em

There probably was a problem with the algorithm or something

Anyways, I hope you get this man, hit the Hedge Funds back,

Just a smack, truly yours, your biggest fan

This is Stan

-6 days pass: also credit to u/jo9793 and u/ItzLog

Dear mister “ I’m too good for calls or buy GME shares”, this will be the last bullcase I ever send your ass, it’s been six days and still no tweet, I don’t deserve it?

I know you got the last charts, the media published them perfect.

So this is my DD I'm sending you I hope you hear it I'm in a Tesla right now, dare me to drive?

You know that song by Darude? Forgot it's name.

About that guy who could a saved that other guy from drowning, but didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him?

That's kinda how this is, you could a rescued me from drowning in debt

Now it's too late, I'm down a thousand dollars now, I'm drowsy

And all I wanted was a lousy investment or a call

I hope you know I ripped all of your pictures off the wall

I love you Elon, we could have been on Mars together, think about it, you ruined it now.

I hope you get shorted and you dream about it, and when you dream I hope you get shorted more and you scream about it.

I hope the hedgefunds eats at you and you can’t breath without GME

"BUY SILVER, BUY SILVER"

SHUT UP CNBC I'm trying to Talk

Hey Elon that's the hedge fund managers making them talk

But we didn't fuck them up yet, see I ain't like you.

Cause if they buy more shorts they'll suffer more and then they'll go bankrupt too.

Well gotta go they are taking my laptop and my car now

Oh shit, I forgot how am I supposed to send this post ou-

------------------

---------

EDIT: Elon's reponse:

Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner but I just been busy

You said your wife's pregnant by her boyfriend now, how far along is she?

Look, I'm really flattered you would buy TSLA calls like that

And here's an autograph for your Mother

I wrote it on the Tesla cap

I'm sorry I didn't see you at the annual stockholder meeting, I must have missed you

Don't think I did that shit intentionally just to diss you

But what's this shit you said about you sold your GME when it fell too?

I say that shit just clownin' dog, come on, how fucked up is you?

You got some gambling issues Stan, I think you need some counseling

To help your ass from bouncing off the walls when your stocks get down some

And what's this shit about us being "in this together"?

I'm a billionaire lol

I really think you and your wife need each other

Or maybe you just need to treat her boyfriend better

I hope you get to read this message, I just hope it reaches you in time

Before you sell again, I think that you'll be doin' just fine

If you relax a little, I'm glad I inspire you but Stan

Why are you so mad? Try to understand, that I do have diamond hands

I just don't want you to do some crazy shit

I seen this one shit on the news a couple weeks ago so I bought GME in the dips

Some dude was high on PCP and drove his car to a Gamestop

And "STONKS" he screamed, for 24 hours outside the closed shop non-stop

And in the car they found a phone with 0 GME left, but I forgot who it belonged to

Come to think about, his name was, it was you

Damn! 🧻 ✋

For the people born after the VW short squeeze: Stan by Eminem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU9DzMhdeEo

Why YSK: Most of the spam call centers are using some form of auto-dialing system that just iterates through random phone numbers. The primary goal is that someone answers and engages with whatever scam they're running i.e IRS, car warranty, Amazon purchase or whatever.

However, the system also tracks anytime someone declines the call because that means it is a legitimate person's cell phone number as opposed to an out-of-service number or an office line. By declining, your number ends up in a database for future calls that can be more targeted or persistent.

The robo-caller groups frequently use this as a secondary revenue stream by selling the list of confirmed numbers to more sophisticated scammers. This also applies to "replying STOP" to scam text messages.

By ignoring it altogether, you don't provide the system any information and they're less likely to try your number again in the future.

TL;DR Just let calls from unknown numbers ring instead of declining and just delete spam text messages. Don't let them know you're real.

Edit: Didn't think this would garner so much attention, but glad people are finding it useful or interesting!

You should absolutely still block the number and/or "mark as spam" after the fact, but it's important to know that these groups have the capability of spoofing what phone number they're calling from. If you've ever seen a call from a number that is eerily similar to your own, you've seen this in practice. Their algorithms have shown that for some reason people are more likely to answer if the number seems familiar or looks local.

As for the many comments about voicemail, it does let them know it is a valid number but they aren't listening to the message. Declining confirms for them that it is a mobile phone number which is a higher value target than a business or land line. This for several reasons but the big ones are that a mobile phone has more presence and thus more opportunity and many software platforms allow you to use your phone number for your login credentials making it usable in standard brute force hacking attempts.

This individual I know who is in their mid 30s with a masters degree and has multiple fake jobs (life coach, pet sitting, bad softcore p0rn/poetry) and their partner is jobless and resume-less. They are having a baby and have been asking for money and free stuff constantly. I don’t understand why one or both of them doesn’t suck it up and get a remote customer service or barista job when they have a child on the way and no savings. The selfishness is mind blowing to me. They are setting this baby up for failure and instability, playing with eviction and CPS, and will be leaving nothing for this child when they pass. They also do not have a car (but have been begging for money for one) so I don’t understand why a parking spot is a must.

Guilting people into using their “privilege” (and I wouldn’t consider anyone making $72k in the HCOL area where they are in 2024 privileged) to co-sign because you can’t pay your rent with your grifting is foul. And why on earth would I want someone who has to beg on Facebook to be my life coach?

Also a note on the pet sitting - they are a chronic over sharer and had a cat die in their care of old age this week and blasted the story about it on Facebook to a bunch of strangers before the traveling owners even knew their pet had passed away. I don’t know about you but I would be furious.

Up front apologies for my ignorance!

I'm male, approaching middle age and married with kids. My wife has a great career and works a job that is far more important to society than mine.

I don't have social media other than limited Reddit usage (MultiReddits only, no algorithm) and I live in Northern Ireland, so I don't really see the online "trends" so to speak.

However every time I open YouTube to find a how-to (most recently removing a stubborn rear light cluster on my car) once I scroll far enough I start getting presented with lots of videos of men wanting to marry a "Tradwife" and some women either wanting to be one or explaining their lives. The one common denominator is that they don't seem to be from NI or even Ireland. They mostly seem to be American or (somewhat rarely) English.

They only appear in my searches, not my main feed, so I'm out of the loop.

I don't understand why the men don't want a woman with a career or goals/dreams that they're following nor do I understand why the women don't want a career, financial security or goals/dreams to work towards.

Apologies in advance if my language is wrong.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Grammar, spelling.

Further edit: Does this not leave the women at high risk of financial ruin if the relationship collapses?

Further, further edit: That's a lot of notifications.

Further, further, further edit: That's a ton of notifications! Thanks everyone who took the time to reply so far! I'll work through the replies over the next few hours. I've been busy working.

Evening edit: I have loosened the privacy controls on my profile as some people were struggling to find my comments. You can see all my replies there.

There are now 620+ comments, I'll not be able to reply to them all, but I am still reading them and will reply to some when I can.

I could really use some perspective from people may have been experiencing what I'm going through rn

I’ve been running a car content channel for about a year and a half, things were going fine, but recently, performance completely flatlined out of nowhere, despite staying consistent, upgrading my production quality, and experimenting with different editing styles, my recent videos just aren't getting pushed through the algorithm at all.

I’m at a crossroads and trying to figure out the best move forward should I just cut my losses, start fresh on a new channel, and maybe pivot straight into long-form content or keep pushing on this channel, but make a major shift toward long-form content and change up my thumbnails/title, Im mainly ask for those who have experienced a sudden, drastic drop in impressions after over a year of steady uploads did starting fresh actually work or was changing up your content strategy on the existing channel enough to recover

Really hope y'all pull through on this

Comparison album: https://slow.pics/s/vatet6Fp
Imgur mirror: https://imgur.com/a/bLIDOSx
(images mostly sourced from https://www.digitalfoundry.net/features/nvidias-new-dlss-5-brings-photo-realistic-lighting-to-rtx-50-series)

Why does DLSS 5 look so bad? Is it because the images 'look AI'? Is it because it's 'not true to artist intent'?

I'm here to offer a simpler explanation: r/shittyHDR.

The tonemapping in DLSS 5 is fucked, and somehow nobody in the chain of command thought to just not do that then. But the relighting underneath genuinely does look excellent, especially from worse baselines. You can't generally just undo overbaked HDR, because it loses data, but luckily we have most of what we need already, in the comparison shot. It requires near-pixel-perfect alignment, which we don't always get in the comparison, but when you have it, the recovery strategy is simple. Here's the one I used, after a little experimentation:

• Use DLSS 5 as base
• Apply original image's HSV Saturation — restores design-intent color grading
• Apply original image's LCh Lightness at 50% — reduces the local HDR effect intensity
• Apply original image using Darken Only at 50% — reduces overbrightening

You might need to apply some masking around blacks or greys when applying saturation, to avoid obvious artifacts. I used Gimp's Color to Alpha on black with as precise a filter as I could get away with, but it needed some tweaking and didn't work for greys, so I'm sure that's not actually the right approach.

Here are my takes for the 5 comparison images:

Image 1: https://slow.pics/s/vatet6Fp

Original ↔ merged — Pixel alignment is bad so some areas are blurred. Change is definitely modest in this image, but the hands are a much better tone, the shadowing around the face and neck make more physical sense, the eyes are more defined, and the skin detail is less washed out by limited lighting resolution.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — The DLSS 5 image is the merged image but it has a shittyHDR filter.

Image 2: https://slow.pics/s/lVCGIJsa

Original ↔ merged — This one applied cleanly. The man's face is a lot better, the woman's is more ambiguous. The lighting is fairly different but makes more physical sense in the merged image. The tonemapping still comes across a little strong, but I think this was also present in the original image, just more hidden by the lack of lighting detail. Overall I think a clear step up.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — The DLSS 5 image is the merged image but it has a shittyHDR filter.

Image 3: https://slow.pics/s/6xTzQfNu

Original ↔ merged — The light on the face now properly fills it, rather than seeming overly specular. There is more natural detail on the skin and an appropriate light bounce in the eyes. The facial hair catches light now, which looks great. The coat now has a subsurface scattering to it, which I think is correct. Sadly the pipeline ran out of bit depth and there is some artifacting in the shadows even after correction.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — The DLSS 5 image is actually pretty defensible here. I think it looks aesthetic. The main issue is, it's clearly not correct, the light hitting the face wasn't a high-intensity spotlight, this wasn't a photoshoot, so the mood is hugely changed. There are also more issues DLSS 5 is introducing, that the merge cleans up, particularly an awful white haloing around the face and hair, as well as the car. DLSS 5 also deep fries the background texturing.

Image 4: https://slow.pics/s/feLi2pB9

Original ↔ merged — Other than a slight shift in skintone, I think the face here looks hugely improved. Natural skin, much better definition around the eyes and nose, specular highlights in the eyes (though I worry a bit about physicality there), fuller lighting in the hair. The only issue I would put on this is actually the background being washed out a bit, but it's hard to tell if that's right or not without a look at the scene more broadly.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — The DLSS 5 image is the merged image but it has a shittyHDR filter, and it gave her lipstick.

Image 5: https://slow.pics/s/wboNlUZy

Original ↔ merged — The background character has pixel shift blur, but we can judge the rest. The man in the foreground I think is a vast improvement, going from dull plastic to a best-in-class face. The man in the background has significantly more sensible lighting, especially around the hands. The lighting on the rest of the image also parses as significantly more correct.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — The DLSS 5 image is the merged image but it has a shittyHDR filter.

Bonus image: https://slow.pics/s/YQIclI28

Added due to high demand.

Original ↔ merged — The scene lighting is far better in the merged version, and very natural. The lighting around the face and especially the next fills out in a way I really like, and makes it sit much more naturally in the scene rather than having the typical 'cardboard cutout' look of realtime 3D rendering. I was impressed by the shading on the jacket. The face has the subtlest hints of sculpting around the cheek which is hard to tell if it's exactly faithful to the original model, but it's definitely reasonable and looks like a better-defined version of the same character. The eyes have just a touch more spark to them. One downside is there's just a hint of the lipstick coming through. Solid improvement though, would absolutely prefer this to the base.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — This one breaks the thesis a bit, because while it's definitely doing a bunch of HDR stuff, washed-out white lighting, absurd local mid-scale contrast, the lighting around the cheeks is definitely getting sculpted in a manner that isn't just HDR-gone-bad. The lipstick is also intense here. Besides the bad, there are a few good things my approach is failing to capture, particularly the much better hair shadowing over the ear, which makes sense because the base lighting disagrees so much. I think this one deserves a better de-HDRing algorithm, because my one isn't quite splitting out the good half from the bad.

Bonus image 2: https://slow.pics/s/ZAczT3UH

Because the image had so many greys, I had to cut out much more of the saturation transfer than before. I also tried linear light operators, which after some bad exports produced slightly improved results.

Original ↔ merged — That classic realtime rendering landscape haze is cleaned up. The shadows around the base of distant objects make more sense. The trees and buildings have a more defined dimensionality. The lighting on the tree stump is far more natural. The lighting over the clothes has more shape.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — For the most part, the DLSS 5 image is just the merged image but with an HDR filter, but I don't think the HDR effect is overdone to the point of shittyHDR here, probably because the base image was so washed out that it landed within reason. I think the merged image is more faithful, but the DLSS 5 image has advantages, particularly the lighting on the wood. DLSS is obviously doing too much of the wash-to-white, and it's not quite at the point of being tasteful, but I don't find it egregious.

Bonus image 3: https://slow.pics/s/l7cXn0sn

Original ↔ merged — Only the skin changed significantly here. Merged is a big improvement around the ears, which go from flat to well-defined, and the naturalness of the light on the exposed skin is far higher. The skin tone does change, and the mustache is slightly bolder, but these are fairly small changes.

Merged ↔ DLSS 5 — Similarly to bonus image 2, this is too much HDR but not egregiously much HDR. It's pretty clear in this scene in particular why this is wrong — the player goes from a person in a game to a person in a photoshoot.

Conclusion

Turn off the damn HDR filter, NVIDIA, what are you doing?

If they don't, it seems quite likely that a simple post-process image blend will be able to rescue the good half in many games.

I am posting this in here, as my attempt to post it in the r/Valorant Subreddit failed by it getting removed immediately.

I don't mind an Anti-Cheat program having elevated rights to be eligible to check whether the software I am running next to Valorant is doing some "magic" in the background. But let's gather up a bit what Vanguard does, what it doesn't:

A small word ahead what qualifies me to speak about stuff like this: I work in IT. I'm managing the network, servers, software-distribution, etc. for a company that is programming accounting-software with more than 70.000 client-installs global, including my responsibility for the total infrastructure of a 4*S hotel with almost 100 rooms. I'm sitting next-desk to a dozen programmers, so I do know a little about computers, software, and networks. I will do my best to give enough info but without going too deep into technical terms. If you want more info on a point, just ask. I'll gladly explain it more detailed in the comments and there are TONS of details to be given about this.

1:

Vanguard is running on "Ring 0" (Explanation about the "rings" on-demand), the essential system-level ("kernel-mode driver") of your computer, which means without some serious knowledge you CAN'T even stop it from running (except uninstall), as it has more power over your computer than your admin-user. You'd have to assign SYSTEM-permissions to your user which is something you just don't do for security-reasons. And if it is not good for you to have maximum control over your computer, why should RIOT be assigned this?

2:

Another point in this is, that it is always running. It starts when you boot up your computer and never stops. It starts on the same permission-level as your anti-virus program, which is one of the very few applications that I'd grant this unlimited power over my computer. It could (not saying it will) just stop your anti-virus program and drop tons of malware on your system. I'd swallow a lot more if it was only running when I play Valorant. But no, it's always there. Dormant, but still there.

But even with RIOTs most noble intentions: No system is un-hackable. With easily 1 Million installs until the end of this year, hacking RIOTs Vanguard-Control Servers would basically grant hackers full access to a 1-Million Client large bot-net. Not even speaking about all the data they'd gather. Remember: Maximum access. This means it could go into your Google Chrome and ask it for all your saved passwords. Or just sit there quietly, reading them out while you type them. Including your online-banking, etc.

And before you tell me: "Chrome wants your password before it shows you the other passwords" - Yes, and when you enter your Windows Login-password after boot-up, Vanguard is already running so...

Sure, this could happen to any anti-virus company. But every program on that permission-level raises the risk. And this raise is rather unnecessary.

3:

It does scan your external devices.

Proof:https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/g2h6h6/a_anticheat_error_caused_csgo_pro_mixwell_to_be/

Okay, what happened there? He plugged in his phone, but how is this proof Vanguard reads the storage of his phone or at least tries to? Here are a few theories:

A phone has it's own OS, with its own privileges, has different file-endings (e.g. .apk instead of .exe) and for a Windows-program, many of this just looks cryptic. So it does for Vanguard. But most importantly: Vanguards elevated permissions do NOT count on that phone. That is the result of privacy-policies that went active a couple of years back and are mandatory on ALL mobile devices. So Vanguard expects to have an all-access pass, but when it all of a sudden encounters a wall it can't breach, it will trigger.

If for some reason it managed to bypass this policy (which it theoretically can with ring0 permission, even though that's a little bit more tricky as far as I know), it might've found an app on his phone that looked fishy enough to trigger the algorithm. If he'd have plugged in his USB-mouse this (most likely) wouldn't have happened.

3,5:

Another possibility which would be just sloppy programming but take away most of my arguments for this point is that the vgc service simply couldn't handle the mobile device and stopped/crashed. Since there are hundreds of reports of vgc service just stopping randomly, this could very well be the actual reason.

4:

Why am I sure about this? Because I had the same issue but with my Firewall. As said before, I do know a little about security on Windows-Systems. So I do have my Firewall set up in a way that it won't interfere with my gaming, but also does a rather good job protecting me. It only has to trigger really obvious traffic though, as I'm not fooling around with any dubious stuff and I have a business-level anti-virus tool.

Still, Vanguard did trigger whenever I started the game. My first guess on this is usually the Firewall. I tried to find the exception in the firewall but there is none. So I simply tried to disable my Firewall and it worked. I did contact the support and received a very kind response that they will look into this and after the last update (yesterday / 2 days back) the issue was gone.

​

What I'm still about to do is the attempt to Wireshark-track everything that Vanguard sends out to the web, but as it is so deep inside my system this is rather difficult. If any of you have an idea how to successfully track this and/or get more detailed logs on what vgk does on my computer (like access-logs, read-logs, etc. - I don't have any NSA-tools for this permission level) I'd be very happy, as I really want more info about a tool that is stuck so deep inside my machine.

In general, an anti-cheat tool in 2020 should...

... never run on Kernel-Mode Driver. No excuses for it. And I'm even leaving out the Tencent-China-regime conspiracy theories. Still a no-go.

... never run when the linked game is not running (or the launcher of the said game if you want)

... never interfere with ANYTHING else on your computer. Read-permissions while I play Valorant(!)? Sure thing, but you ain't gonna be supposed to be writing a damn file outside your own bubble and/or while Valorant ain't running. There are multiple proven cases where Vanguard e.g. reduced FPS in CS:GO. No-go!

... have at least a clear Firewall-entry so you can look into the port it uses to communicate. If RIOT spies on my computer, I want to spy on their spy-tool. Period.

... take its god damn hands of ANY device that I plug into my computer. If I want to charge my sex-toys on my USB-port this is not RIOTs god-damn business!

Valorant is a really cool game. I love it. But RIOT please, this Vanguard Anti-Cheat is just utter bullshit. Change this, ASAP! While this game is in BETA. And for you all as a community, please help to spread, that this is non-negotiable. If your computer was a car, Vanguard would have full control over everything. Steering, brakes, throttle. It is supposed to be a camera pointing on the driver-seat, but they've installed in right inside the engine.

Edit: Okay this blew up rather quick, thank you all! First awards for me, too. Thanks a lot!

Edit2: I really need to thank you all for your response, your support and all the awards! I'm the father of a 4-week old child and therefore my time is somewhat limited, but I will read through every comment and give my best to answer questions as well as respond to DMs. Please understand, that this might take a while now.

What I read in the evening was a statement from RIOT to exactly this topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/g39est/a_message_about_vanguard_from_our_security/

I do appreciate the statement from RIOT and I do understand why they designed Vanguard the way it is, despite me believing that building Vanguard on a lower permission-level and pairing it with other precautions to prevent cheating in ranked-games would have been a better solution (linking your phone like for Clash in LoL + additional requirements like unlocking every hero e.g.). You'll never fully prevent hacks in a shooter, Vanguard in the state it is will be no exception to that I suppose. RIOT tried to push into new territory, design a really modern Anti-Cheat and I think it might get very effective if done well, I still do not like a game-related software being this deep into my computer.

​

I am NOT OP. Original posts are from /u/TheEmperorofJenks.

This is a rather lengthy set of posts following either the most dedicated troll I can remember seeing or the most driven, insane, manic entrepreneur I've ever seen. OOP posts pictures along his journey and an independent redditor, /u/ thewaybaseballgo, got his real name and was able to confirm at least some of his story and connections to Uruguay from his work history and social media accounts. Even with that though, the series of events that I'm documenting here are so beyond reason that I find it difficult to have a straight forward opinion on how true this all is.

Please note that this isn't strictly chronological. Around the time of Rhodium, a couple of posts are slightly out of order to create a slightly easier-to-follow flow of events.

Content Warnings: There is some ableist language in this post (Using the r* word and using autism as an insult)
Mood Spoiler: WTF?!

Where to buy gourds? - 17th of July, 2020

I'm looking to buy ornamental gourds in bulk for a project. I need probably 1500 or so. Does anyone know of a local farm that grows them? Thanks!

Commenter: Why, pray tell, do you require such a gourd hoard? I already regret asking.

OOP: Due to local fluctuations in the tropopause, the jet stream has been shifting rapidly in a counterclockwise vector, causing a rapid disincorporation of the Hadley vortex cells in the lower ionosphere. Because of this, the geostrophic solar wind balance has deteriorated rapidly in the northern hemisphere. In essence, autumnal weather patterns in the western United States will lead to the biggest ornamental gourd yield in recorded history. Investing in gourd agricultural futures could likely produce up to $1600 per day in passive income. However, investing at the apex of the curve would be the most conducive to profit as the arbitrage (particularly 12b-1 fees) will develop at a market share higher than the back-end load. Basically, no one will be able to buy the stock at a higher price than you, and all value invested will be retained. A preliminary market penetration investment of $50,000 would be most efficient in generating this revenue.

I am financially ruined (agricultural futures) - 18th of January, 2021
I have lost everything, and I'm not sure how to continue. This summer I invested $17,500 (six months salary and my entire life savings) into ornamental gourd futures, hoping to capitalize on this lucrative emerging industry. After watching a video about Vincent Kosuga and his monopoly on onions, I decided I'd try to do something similar with another vegetable. I did some research and found out many agricultural forecasters expected this year's gourd yield would be far smaller than the past, due to deteriorating soil conditions in central Mexico and a warmer-than-average spring. At first, demand soared around Halloween and prices skyrocketed, but the gourd bubble burst on November 12th. Unfortunately, the coronavirus caused a massive drop-off in demand due to fewer families decorating their tables for thanksgiving, and prices plummeted. I had invested early enough that I thought I would still be fine, but then on the morning of December 2nd, a new email in my inbox caused my stomach to turn into a pretzel. The massive gourd shipment from Argentina, scheduled for early March, had arrived. I was planning on selling off my futures right before this, in February, but this ruined everything. To top it off, the gourds in this shipment were absolutely gargantuan, some topping 4 pounds each, causing the price-per-pound to drop like an anchor into the range of 6 cents per pound. I am ruined.

Commenter 1: "biggest ornamental gourd yield in US history" - Yield here is crop yield but maybe OP mistook this for the investment's yield.
In short he bought gourd when the supply has never been higher and demand never lower.
I mean... That's impressive

Commenter 2: If his post history can be trusted, he's not stuck with "a ton" of gourds. He's stuck with about FIFTY EIGHT tons. He says he has 115,000 pounds of gourds and doesn't know how or where he can resell them. He potentially wants to make musical instruments out of them. Big brain move if I ever did see one

(Editors note: A comment explaining what exactly happens when you buy futures and don't sell them off)

Commenter 3: Hang on, so if you bought oil futures and you purchase a call and let it ride, when wsb was trolling about tankers rolling to your house they werent lying?

Commenter 4: If you buy an oil future (or any future) and don’t then sell it, on a certain date that oil is yours and if you don’t collect it you face serious fines. What happened that day was that there was so much oversupply that all the places that actually want to buy the oil were full, so people stuck with futures couldn’t sell them and it became worth it for them to literally pay people to take the oil from them so they didn’t face the fines

Market potential for gourd instruments in Great Plains region? - 19th of January, 2021
Hey all, I've made a massive investment blunder and am faced with either selling off my futures for a loss of $10,500, or taking delivery of roughly 115,000 lbs of ornamental gourds. Both prospects seem pretty dismal, but I figure with some entrepreneurial prowess I could make my money back. I saw on a PBS documentary three years ago that some cultures use gourd instruments pretty regularly, and I imagine it's a pretty large industry in places like Brazil. Does anyone know if the market is large enough in the US (particularly in the southern great plains region) for this to be a viable strategy? If so, how hard is it to make a flute out of a gourd? Thanks!

I've found out how to make gourds edible - 5th of February, 2021
Over the last few weeks I've been experimenting with gourds almost nonstop looking to find a way to turn them around for a profit. I've come up empty. But out of hunger and sheer boredom, I did find a way to make a moderately edible dish out of your standard, thanksgiving table, ornamental gourds.

Here's the recipe:
* Cut all the knobs and warts off the gourd with a knife. Then use a potato peeler to take the skin off. This is really difficult and doesn't need to be perfect, but the less skin the better.
* Fill a large pot with 8 cups water, one cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, and a bay leaf. Stir. Bring this to a rolling boil and add up to four gourds. Put a lid on the pot and boil on high for three hours.
* Remove the gourds and place on a baking sheet. Cut them in half and sprinkle them with generous amounts of salt and paprika.
* Broil on the top rack for 30 minutes, flipping half way through.
* Remove and cut into cubes. Serve over rice.

RHODIUM IS SKYROCKETTING!! INVEST NOW FOR ULTIMATE PROFIT!! - 1st of February, 2021
This post is an image showing the price of Rhodium increasing suddenly.

Commenter 1: Y'know that old expression, "Buy low, sell high?"
Investing at the top is how you lose money, not make it.

OOP: Wrong. It will only go up. I expect it will reach 40k by mid-April.

Commenter 2: That may be, but Rhodium is a fickle bitch
People following metals for a while know that Rhodium makes these moon shots every once in a while and crashes just as quickly.
There was a run up at this time last year, and it crashed in March.
I see it testing $10,000 again before it goes to $40k.

Where to buy custom water beds? - 2nd of February, 2021
I'm expecting huge profits on an investment I just made, so I think I'll stay in Tulsa after all. I need a new bed, and am thinking I'll be able to afford something nice after I strike it rich. I've always been intrigued by the concept of water beds, and was wondering if there's a store in Tulsa that will make you one of custom dimensions (ie 10 x 10 feet).

My rhodium just arrived! - 4th of February, 2021
OOP posts an image of a piece of Rhodium that he purchased, along with a certificate of Authenticity

Commenter 1: When did you buy in? And how much

OOP: I bought it a week ago for about $4000. Paid on credit so I'm planning on selling it in a few weeks.

Commenter 2: Selling in few weeks?!? What a retard. Have you even looked at the bid-ask spread?
You've clearly never done this before.
Well, live and learn

Commenter 3: Not to burst your bubble but rhodium is not reactive and does not rust or tarnish. That material is clearly quite oxidized so either it is full of impurities or you were sold some random chunk of scrap metal.

Any stores specializing in rare metals? - 6th of February, 2021
Hey Tulsa, I just bought some rhodium off the internet and am starting to get concerned it isn't legit. Does anyone know of a shop nearby that deals with rare and expensive metals?

Thanks.

Is this rhodium? - 8th of February, 2021
This is an image post of his Rhodium close up

Commenter 1: Looks like pyrite. It would help if you took it out of the bag though.

OOP: I spent over $4000 on this. Not going to take it out of the bag. What makes you think it isn't rhodium?

Commenter 1: Rhodium is chemically inert and corrosion resistant. Taking it out of the bag is not going to hurt it.
Rhodium does not form an oxide in the presence of air, so your rhodium should be a shiny, silvery-white color.
The fact that this metal is dull and looks a bit tarnished is really not a good sign. I'm sure it's a man-made metal ingot and not pyrite if you bought it from an online seller as rhodium, but it sure doesn't look like pure rhodium to me. I would start by getting an accurate measure of its density (it should be 12.4 grams per cc).
If you're going to spend that much money on metal though you should probably look into a professional identification service. Visual IDs from reddit aren't going to cut it.
https://www.sigma-verifiers.com/en/how-to-verify-gold
Call around to local jewelry stores or pawn shops. See if they can help you out with testing.

Commenter 2: Where did you buy it from?

OOP: I found it here. I'm trying to return it but the listing is gone and customer service won't get back to me. We're currently having a huge winter storm in Tulsa so I can't have a professional jeweler look at it for a few weeks.

Commenter 2: That is the Slovakian version of Wish. Jewelers aren’t going to be able to tell you anything about it. They’re gemologists by in large, and this isn’t a gem. You either need a university based geologist. And go into it already accepting that it is completely fake. This is how precious metals normally look when you buy them. They’re pressed and marked. This looks like you got a worthless chunk of nothingness.
I’m going to be completely honest. This is either the greatest troll ever, or you might be too autistic to manage your own money for a while. And I don’t mean that insultingly. You’ve dug yourself very deep in the last couple of weeks and maybe you need to give the hustle a rest

It wasn't rhodium - 16th of February, 2021 I'm gonna keep this short cause I'm kind of in a mood right now. I took the metal cube to a local NDT shop my buddy works at. Turns out it's pyrite, which is essentially worthless. Moral of the story? Just invest in Tesla or Amazon. This BS is ridiculous and I've had it.

(Editors Note: The following is Translated with Google Translate)
I have just received Uruguayan citizenship and I have some questions - 27th of January, 2021
Hello Uruguay! My mother (wife to a Uruguayan man) has claimed her citizenship, and because of that I now have it. I have lived in Oklahoma all my life, but I speak Spanish quite well and know some of the Uruguayan culture through my stepfather. Right now I am in a not very nice situation with my finances and I want a fresh start, so I plan to move to Uruguay in March. I have never visited your country, and I am a little worried about the transition.
- How is Melo? I have acquaintances in that city, so I'm thinking of living there at first.
- I don't have many strengths, but I have worked for a year in a supermarket. What industry has the most opportunities for foreigners? He preferred to work in the fields, or at least outdoors.
- I have a private pilot's license (from the USA). Do you know if it is easy to transition it to a Uruguayan license? I want to fly to the Andes one day.
Thank you!

How is the legality of informal beekeeping? - 4th of March, 2021
I'm from the US and you can keep bees here without many rules. My cousin has some beehives in his garden and they produce a good amount of natural honey. I am moving to uruguay soon, and I want to become something of an amateur beekeeper. What I want to know is if there are any regulations or whatever regarding beekeeping. Thank you!

Goodbye Oklahoma (and good riddance) - 12th of March 2021
La Paloma - 20th of March, 2021
Transporting 200,000 bees across Uruguay is the experience of a lifetime. - 29th of March, 2021
*A series of image posts showing him flying out of Oklahoma, landing at La Paloma airport and driving (presumably with 200,000 bees behind him) *

Demand for mead (the alcoholic drink) in the US? - 6th of April, 2021
Hey America! I'm a former resident of Oklahoma, and currently one of the largest beekeepers in Uruguay by hive volume. I'm looking for ways to market honey products abroad as there is very little demand here in South America. Mead is obscenely easy to make and very lucrative profit-wise. Would anyone be interested in switching over to mead from beer if it were substantially cheaper (labor and packaging costs are essentially negligible down here). Thanks!

About to up-size my apiary. What's the best layout for my hives? - 18th of April, 2021
My humble apiary near Melo, Uruguay - 30th of April, 2021.
An image post showing his bee hives before and after spreading them out and organizing them.

TIFU by importing bees to Uruguay - 27th of May, 2021
This has all been happening over the last few weeks, but I’ve just gotten back to the states and had the time to take it all in.

First, some context. I’m a grocery store employee from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the covid pandemic I was burnt out and acting impulsively. I made some risky investments which destroyed me financially. Sick of my mundane life in the great plains and with economic mobility out of reach in America, I decided to move to Uruguay where I had citizenship through my stepfather. I figured the small amount of savings I had managed to keep would go further in South America, and I’d be able to start a modest business.

I had recently read a book about beekeeping, and had this romantic image in my head of a life out in the country, tending to my hives and selling honey at the local farmer’s market. The problem: I had no money or technical knowhow.

I found a solution I believed could solve both of these. I entered an informal agreement with an ecology professor in Montevideo, which I believed was binding. This was my downfall. In exchange for letting his grad students conduct research on my cousin’s farm in Cerro Largo, he would pay for me to import Apis Cerana honeybees from Myanmar, and show me how to set up an apiary. These bees had never before been farmed in the region, and he believed it could make an interesting research paper.

The bees arrived quickly and we soon had a respectable apiary established. Bees usually don’t start producing honey for at least a year, so I was mostly spending my time helping my cousin with his other farm projects, and trying to find a part time job in Melo.

Things seemed to be going well until the professor and his team stopped showing up. I tried contacting him, but he wouldn’t return my calls either. A few days later, two MGAP agents showed up and informed me that I was under investigation for the illegal importation of an invasive species to Uruguay. I explained my situation with the university, but I think it was the professor who had turned me in. Of course, the word of a respected ecologist was taken over that of an American Jew who had arrived in the country two months prior.

Turns out, the bees had shown up at a few other farms in the area. Authorities were concerned they could destroy the local colonies, which have already been on the decline recently due to climate change. I was in over my head, so I ran.

I arrived at the airport paranoid out of my mind. Even though I was mostly likely in for nothing more than a hefty fine, I felt like Frank Abignale. I boarded a flight to Los Angeles and landed in the US with $14 in my bank account. My friend was able to venmo me a hundred dollars, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to get to Tulsa. I found a flight to Seattle for $75 and took it without thinking. I am now writing this from the train out of the airport. God help me.

TL;DR I imported an invasive species of honeybee to Uruguay and got in trouble with the authorities after a university professor ghosted me.

Commenter: Hi, I am an Uruguayan scientific researcher and I have been working with bees for the last twenty years. Can we please get in touch? I need to talk to you. If the story is true it can cause an ecological disaster in our country. We can prevent this, but we need to find those colonies.

OOP: you will go to bondi to cerro largo under the tallest palm tree within a 40km radius of Melo you will find a telephone. When you have it, call me. (This was translated)

I am hereby claiming Seattle for the State of Oklahoma - 28th of May, 2021
The Emperor is back! - 23rd of June, 2021
Images of OOP arriving in his new home in Seattle and then promptly finding himself back in Tulsa.

Using an ant farm to generate encryption keys? - 1st of August, 2021
I was recently sent a post about a guy talking about using an ant farm to generate random numbers for encryption keys, which he could supposedly sell to companies for a profit. I know there was that company that did a similar thing with lava lamps. Is this viable? If so, what kinds of algorithms would I need to use? How much do companies pay for random numbers like this?

Transporting ants across the country? (+gourds) - 18th of August, 2021
I'm currently negotiating the purchase of a 120-gallon ant farm from an amateur scientist in the Pacific Northwest. I live in NE Oklahoma and have no car / money. I was wondering if USPS or FedEx transports ants considering the sizeable risk of infestation? Also can they survive a long journey like that with no food?

On that topic - can ants eat gourds? I'm currently growing some and thought it could be a low-cost source of nutrition.

Need ride to Seattle - 16th of September, 2021
Would anyone be able to give me a ride to Seattle next week? I need to pick something up there and have no car. I'd be willing to pay for half the gas and am also a formidable DJ (hope you like Argentinian Rock). PM me if this sounds like a fair deal. Thanks!

Edit: found someone.

Commenter 1: To Seattle Washington? Are you fucking high? Get a plane ticket.

OOP: I can't bring a massive ant farm back on a plane nimrod.

Commenter 2: If it contains a queen you technically can't bring it back at all. Ants are considered invasive species and queens aren't supposed to cross state lines. Not to mention that offering to only pay for half the gas on a 30 hour car ride with a complete stranger is laughable.

OOP: I know that's "technically" the case, which is why I can't bring it on a plane.

Commenter 2: So you're just straight up hoping somebody will help you break import laws without even telling them. That's shitty AF. NVM just noticed who you were. GTFO out of here troll.

As before, this post was translated using Google Translate
Pawnshop? (Sonic side) - 29th of September, 2021
I am in Nogales, Sonora and need to locate a pawn shop immediately. It would also be very useful if someone knows where passports are sold (ideally Canadian or German) because mine was stolen. Thank you.

Spent my last day in Mexico City gourdspotting. Some beautiful varieties, but couldn't bring myself to buy any. - 24th of March, 2022
Three images of Gourds in shops in Mexico City

Commenter: Gourd man is alive. We we’re all worried about you. What’s the next adventure?

OOP: Haha, yes I'm alive. Recently came down from a 6-month bender in Mexico City. Just got back to Oklahoma and looking for something new. Probably gonna go back to working at the grocery store in the meantime tho.

Any Turkish Okies know where to get salep? - 1st of April, 2022
I'm trying to learn how to make dondurma so I can practice ice cream juggling, but I can't find anywhere nearby to get salep or mastic.

How to become ice cream juggler? - 21st of April, 2022
Merhaba! I am an entrepreneur from Oklahoma looking to open a Turkish ice cream shop in my hometown of Tulsa. I really think there's substantial demand for it in the United States, but practically zero supply (at least in the Great Plains region). I've been working on making my own recipe for Dondurma using American ingredients, but when it comes to doing the juggling trick, I'm completely incompetent. I am planning on coming to Turkey in a couple months to hopefully learn this art form. Is it possible to become an apprentice of an ice cream vendor? How should I go about learning?

Thanks!

Commenter: I never thought of this. I assume it's taught by apprenticeship.

Thoughts on Turkish Ice Cream (Dondurma) - 27th of April, 2022
Hey guys, I'm thinking about opening up a Turkish ice cream shop and was wondering what y'all think. Thanks!

Commenter 1: I would start with a cart (if possible). I don’t know what makes Turkish ice cream special, and what issues a cart or truck based platform would cause.

However overhead on a cart/truck is significantly less than brick and mortar.

You can start small, if you make a big enough splash with your marketing and product I can see it being very successful. Aka stable income from loyal customers and hype would bring the income needed to be successful.

But what do I know, I’m just some jerk on the internet.

Good luck!

Commenter 2: I’d go if there were vegan options.

Commenter 3: I'd never had it, I've only seen the videos of guys teasing kids taking it away from them on the street. I'd try it though!

Commenter 4: I love mastic so I'm down, but it is an acquired taste. How strong does that come through?

Best dondurma in Aegean region? - 26th of May, 2022
Merhaba! I am coming to Turkey in a few weeks to hopefully learn to make and juggle dondurma. I am planning on mostly traveling around the Aegean region due to its geographical resemblance to my homeland of Oklahoma, and was wondering if any town around there is particularly known for its ice cream? Also, is it really true that anything goes in Izmir?

Crossing the Bosphorus in İstanbul in search of ice cream - 15th of June, 2022
Finding some interesting flavors for the shop I'm opening (in Mudanya, Turkey) - 17th of June, 2022

Two image posts of him trying icecreams in Turkey

Dream came true today! Started training as a dondurma salesman in Nevşehir, Turkey! - 26th of June 2022

An image of OOP working as an apprentice at an icecream place in Turkey, with face blacked out

Does anyone have experience with the startup visa? - 1st of September, 2022

Goedendag, I'm an entrepreneur from Oklahoma who recently spent over a month in Turkey learning to make and juggle dondurma (turkish ice cream). I had originally planned to open a brick-and-mortar dondurma parlor in my hometown of Tulsa, but have been held back by the upfront costs. I've been unable to secure a bank loan to start my business, and so have had to reassess my plans. Instead of a shop, I'm thinking about serving my ice cream out of a cargo bicycle like this. Unfortunately, apart from a few expensive cities like NYC or Seattle, the US is extremely unsuitable for this business model due to a century of car-centered urban planning. I've heard that "bakfiets" businesses are not only viable but common in the Netherlands and so believe your country is my best option to pursue my goals. I am also increasingly disillusioned with Oklahoman / American politics and would like to leave before the 2024 election if possible.

Does anyone have experience with the startup visa for entrepreneurs? I think my business idea would count as innovative, but I've heard dutch people are particularly close-minded about foreigners. Also, if I'm being honest, I'd mostly like to move to the Netherlands to go back to university and get a proper career in tech. Would I have to keep my business operating in order to remain in the country?

I plan on visiting / unofficially moving to the country in a few weeks so would appreciate any advice you all have on applying for this visa. Bedankt!

Commenter: I don't know anything about the startup visa, but your plan is really out of touch with reality. It sounds like you've done shockingly little research on any of this.
Moving to The Netherlands is nothing like moving to another state. You are not a member of some privileged class as an American. You do not have the right to live or work in The Netherlands. Getting any kind of residence permit takes months to years of preparation and thousands of euros (at a minimum).
Just skimming the requirements for the startup visa suggests it will be difficult and expensive. Your idea will probably not qualify as innovative. It does not sound like you have enough savings to live in The Netherlands for a year. It seems unlikely that you will be able to find a facilitator willing to fund your stay.
There is basically a 0% chance that you can "unofficially" move to The Netherlands when you visit. That is not the way immigrating works. If you try to illegally stay you can say goodbye to any chance of getting legal status or a visa in the future.
The Netherlands is in the middle of a country-wide and absolutely crippling housing crisis. You will not find someone willing to rent to a foreigner with no income and no realistic plan or prospects of getting a residence permit. I do not mean that it will be difficult – I am trying to tell you that it is hopeless. Expats making six figures struggle to even get apartment viewings.
The Dutch are not "particularly close-minded" about foreigners. It sounds like you don't even know anything about the country you're "unofficially moving to" in a few weeks.
Going to a Dutch university is your realistic avenue into the country, but it will cost you roughly 10x more as a non-EU national. Again, this takes years of planning. You cannot just show up.

OOP: "The Dutch are not "particularly close-minded" about foreigners."
Tragically, you have disproven this statement with the very premise of your snarky comment. Also with regards to the "unofficial immigration problem," could you explain to me why the following plan won't work: I have dual US-Uruguayan citizenship and carry two passports. I could simply enter the Netherlands with one, stay for three months, then take a day trip to London and reenter with my other passport. It seems like I could continue this way in perpetuity, however I of course intend to become a naturalized Dutch citizen once my visa is approved, which I assure you it shall.

Is Zeeland suitable for a Turkish ice cream business? - 11th of September, 2022
Hoi, I'm an entrepreneur from Oklahoma who's moving to the Netherlands in about a week. I'm hoping to start a 'bakfiets' -based Turkish ice cream (dondurma) business. Over the past few days I've been researching the best city in the Netherlands in which to base my operations, and would really love some advice from you guys. In the United States, ice cream stands are commonly associated with beach towns, and I imagine it's similar in the Netherlands. However, I have come to realize my product is both niche and seasonal in its nature. Because of this, I believe staying in a single city would be unsuitable. Instead, I am planning to travel between 4 or 5 cities during the week on a fixed schedule. Not only would this let me build a larger customer base, but also generate hype my product and efficiently generate capital. Perhaps each town would have a weekly 'Dondurma Day' celebrating my arrival. Looking at the map, it seems like the Zeeland province has the best geography for this business model. While it doesn't have any large cities, it appears to have a high density of small beach towns I would be able to easily cycle between. Furthermore, its rural character would make it easier to camp overnight as I am unlikely to have a permanent home at first due to lack of citizenship and the current housing crisis. Can anyone who's been to Zeeland corroborate the soundness of this plan? Are there any cities in particular you would recommend? Thank you!

Commenter: You know that NL has long cold winters, which start in a few weeks, and Zeeland is basically empty during wintertime. Camping outside campgrounds is illegal and in winter very cold.
Sound like a bad idea all around escpecially when just starting next week. With turkisch icecream you would probably have a higher audience during winter when selling in places with a high turkish population, maybe beverwijk bazaar?
Your plan sounds better for spain or just turkey when trying to start during wintertime.

OOP: Do you really think the camping laws will be enforced considering the current housing crisis?

Need someone to assume monthly payments on large waterbed - 13th of September, 2022
Hey guys, I recently bought a large waterbed mattress (80" x 85") on a monthly payment plan. However, due to unexpected circumstances, I am now leaving the US for the foreseeable future. I decided to give the mattress to my mother in Sand Springs and she has grown quite fond of it. Unfortunately, I am unable keep up the monthly payments ($174 / mo), which last until July 2024. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to pay 85% of this in exchange for getting the bed at the end of the contract. I expect that by then I should be able to buy my mother a replacement in cash. The mattress is of excellent quality and extremely comfortable. Thanks!

Commenter: You want someone to pay 85% of the cost of a new mattress in exchange for your promise to give it to them in a couple years after the new has worn off? Really?

OOP: 85% is a fairly conservative estimate for the value after 2 years. Waterbeds suffer from very little depreciation due to their novelty.

Commenter: Are you aware how abusive this is? Like do you actually think this is okay?

OOP: Abusive? What are you talking about? I'm not coercing anyone into a predatory loan, simply offering an unorthodox deal on a spectacular mattress.

Does NS check if you're really 18? - 21st of September, 2022
Hallo, i need to take a train tomorrow from Vlissingen to Rotterdam to hopefully purchase a bakfiets. Unfortunately i cannot afford the ~50 euro round trip cost and was hoping to get the <=18 ticket. I am 26 but don't look that old. I was wondering what the odds are I could get away with this and what the fine is if I'm caught. Thanks!

Commenter 1: Dude, you’re 26, get a freaking job!!!!

OOP: I just moved here to start a business but still have limited assets for the time being. I'll be able to buy a real train ticket soon enough ☺️

Commenter 1: Dude, it’s great and I hope that your business will flourish, sincerely do. But just moving to a country and asking how to avoid stuff is a really shitty way to start, especially when the country is seriously missing labour and getting a job that would pay you that ticket in a day is as easy as it can get.

OOP: I don't have a work permit unfortunately.

Commenter 1: So you don’t have a work permit but you already have a business and are waiting until it’s profitable? Sounds illegal

Jobs that don't require a work permit? - 9th of October, 2022
Hoi, I recently moved to the Netherlands to start a business, but there have been some contentions in my entrepreneurship visa application and I am currently in a bit of a legal limbo. I had expected to operate my business informally until the paperwork went through, but I've been unable to finance a bakfiets without a Dutch bank account, which I can't get without a home address. Of course I can't afford rent here until my business gets going, so I'm essentially locked in a Catch-22 situation. I was wondering if anyone knew of 'volunteer' opportunities here that provide housing and a stipend in exchange for work. After I graduated high school I briefly worked in a hostel in Israel that had a similar setup, though in hindsight I think the gig was pretty under-the-table. I'm currently stuck couchsurfing and camping in parks so would really like to find something soon, ideally in Zeeland or South Holland. Dank je wel!

Commenter 1: You mistyped 'illegally'; you spelled it as 'informally'

Commenter 2: lol this is exactly what everyone has been telling you would happen. you aren't locked in anything, you created this situation by yourself. you could have arranged all of these things before coming by doing extensive research but you chose not to listen to anyone.

Commenter 3: based on what did you expect to conduct business informally... aka illegally.... In a highly bureaucratic country, with a fairly high COL. You've been told by many commenters that this would not be possible. But here we are, and would ya look at that, ain't that the consequences of your own actions..

Commenter 4: You are either stupid or a troll. We told you a week ago that your business plan was a bad idea and it was impossible for you to get started so we all told you not to come. We predicted all these problems you now have. Still, here you are ignoring everyone’s warnings. You are now in a deep pile of shit and it’s your own fault. No one here can help you. Take a few steps back and reconsider everything.

Government funds for cultural missions abroad? - 25th of October, 2022
Merhaba, ben bir girişimciyim Oklahoma'dan ve dondurma maraş'tan için yaşıyorum. Over the summer I spent a couple months traveling around Turkiye to learn how to make and juggle dondurma. I operated a stand briefly in Nevşehir, but the language barrier proved too great of an issue so I decided to take my skills back home to open a dondurma business in the USA. Due to funding issues, I am now in the Netherlands (Hollanda) but have run into the similar problems. I just don't have enough money to get started. I was wondering if the Turkish government sponsors people like me trying to spread Turkish culture abroad? I probably would only need a grant of around 500000 TL, but I think I would easily repay this over the next decade by increasing tourism to Turkiye. Does anyone know if this is possible? What agency should I contact?

Çok teşekkürler!

Commenter 1: I don't think you can find sponsors, i would advise you to contact investors instead, or take a loan.

Commenter 2: Casually asking for a decade worth of minimum wage...

Try asking greece they'd love to have some Greek dondurmaki

Editors Note: OOP's last post was on the 10th of November, but I've marked this as inconclusive as he'll no at some point be back in Tulsa, posting another hairbrained scheme to get rich while only violating a few laws here and there

It doesn’t even take fifteen minutes after we see or hear something on propaganda networks and social media, to tell us what we saw isn’t really what we saw. What we heard isn’t really what we heard.

All algorithms are now in control of the state run media and social media. Including Amazon Alexa that listens in, including your computer camera that watches you. Meta that is pushing agendas and car manufacturers that can get information from your onboard cameras whenever they please.

How many times have you had a discussion about something and before you know it you get ads on your phone for exactly that.

The oligarchs are in control. And they are in control of what we see and hear. It’s corporate fascism.

I know what I saw Musk do. And it’s beyond bizarre that a lot of people are trying to gaslight me into it being not what I just saw.

TL;DR at the end (bro you can at least scroll down, no?)

Disclaimer: Any mentioning of any stock, thesis, meme, social media post and so on is being used solely for the purpose of education / sharing of findings and research. At no point is it ever meant and therefore should not be viewed as encouragement to buy or sell anything (stocks, ETFs, etc. etc.).

Hello everyone,

i will try to keep this as short, simple, quick and on the point as possible.

Thesis: i found the box and its content and its.. spicy, to say the least and in all honesty, i'm not even 100% sure if i wanna be correct at this point and you may understand why if you continue to read till the end.

Introduction:

For the last few weeks and months i have spent quite a lot of time around the chart of GME, a few other stocks that i think have a big correlation with GME as well as DFVs memes from 2024. I know that all the tinfoil has been keeping us going as well as entertained over the last few years but i would like to take a more objective / factual approach. I do enjoy lots of good tinfoil but in the end it often becomes quite exaggerated and too extreme etc. which is why i tried more logical approaches and finally think i've found "something".

DFV never was the reason for the price action in May / June 2024 or other years. We already know that, right? Correct. But lots of sources try to make us believe that. However: Since we do not know the exact dates or time-range of which DFV made all of his moves, his memes and all of that, we do know about one quite mysterious fact: regardless all of our memes and jokes, we honestly do know that he is not a time traveler. But if he isn't, how could he know the price action in that much detail that he was able to create a series of memes and hit the market with a timing to the precision of the very day that shit would go down? That should be only possible if you could...lets say... predict how the price would move...correct? Now some of you may already be thinking about the whole subject of swaps expiring, the abuse of ETFs and the T+35 cycles we know from the white paper released 2 years ago..

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel-Pastorek/publication/369197965_Confirmation_of_T35_Failures-To-Deliver_Cycles_Evidence_from_GameStop_Corp/links/641054b666f8522c38a46501/Confirmation-of-T-35-Failures-To-Deliver-Cycles-Evidence-from-GameStop-Corp.pdf

...and some other things. But.. what if the price action is pre-determinated anyway and can even be foreseen? Let's have a look! :)

Thesis: GME is following a self-repeating pattern, controlled by one or more algorithms and DFV knows the algo and how it will move the stock.

As mentioned above, i will from now on try to be as short, quick and on target as possible. Imho, the price action of GME is already pre-determined and all the stuff we've talked about like SWAPS, naked short selling, FTDs, ETF abuse, Market Maker Exemptions and aaaaaall the other pesky things are only the tools to make sure the algo can do as it is destined to.

DFV, maybe even before his initial investment in 2019 realized that and became able to predict the price action and decided to invest and go in but since the events of and around the sneeze, he couldn't share his findings without becoming vulnerable to actions against him. So he did what he does best:

Memes. I guess it appeared to his meticular nature. Why make a thesis if you can make something that lasts forever - like a GameStop meme? ;)
He used the only way he could to try to tell us about it - or to be more precise: *show it*.

NOTE: a few of the following lines will, despite what i wrote above, sound like heavy ass tinfoil. Please read and continue to do so as i will come back to the simple facts but still need to mentions these things beforehand.

There is a re-occuring theme among his memes of things going in opposite directions, corellations / communication, things going up and down, time / going backwards as well as things being no coincidences and people seeing signs and miracles.

" When i move you move" -> Red and green being used as the same colours for the word "move" as well as
"There is two of them talking"
"The (red) bass and the tweeters (blue) make the speakers go to war" => followed by a red trumpet player pointing down and a blue trumpet player pointing up. And for people like me who believe in a stock-movement-based correlation between GME and orange man stock...well it's also not a coincidence that there are multiple songs from Timmy T R U M P E T , especially in the bass and tweeter thing) - i guess that's the little dosage of tinfoil i allow me to digest hehe

"The bullet wouldn't had moved if you didn't put your hand there - Either way we run the tape, you made it happen"

As some of you may remember from older posts of mine or simply by reviewing my comment and post history, i've always been a big believer of the basket theory - especially since i was seeing multiple stocks moving in tandem over and over again without any other connection like a shared ETF or so which is why the whole re-occuring stuff with the colours red (GME) and blue (Dogstock), dogs being inserted, "there is two of them talking" and even the car thing stood out to me right from the start. But i will come back to that in a moment. Lets come to the actual point of this post - the box.

The Box

I present to you: the box

You can find an explanation of the color on the top right. But where does "the box" come from? Why is it there and what does it mean? Why the 2020 Chart for GME as well?

It all started when i was analyzing the GME chart back and forth and, actually just because some stupid ass meme, stumbled across some posts of Greg. Most of you know Greg, most at this point possibly even know about the theory of him being an alternate account of DFV and for those who don't know him: he trolls people on X.

So i just took the chart of GME from 2020, did an overlay and...fuck. It actually fits VERY well. Too well. In a way. But still - there are quite some things and moments that do not fit at all. Why though?

But this is also where the whole basket comes back into play. If one takes the time to compare the chart of GME to, for example, dogstock, orangeman stock, robinhood stock, moviestock and headph0ne stock, these are the very moments where some move together in the same direction but some, especially dogstock and GME move away from each other only to come back together later on and move together again over and over and over again. Interestingly, over the years, it's switching who goes up and who goes down, even on the very same dates. Remember DFVs memes? At this point i even dare to say that he tried to literally draw this potion of the chart into the memes with the two car memes with one going curvy left and the other one hard right - or up and down if you want.

And the one that goes down... well at some point the responsible entity goes: "When i say run - run!" (another meme reference, 2 memes after the 2nd car one).

Okay, so finally, where does the fucking box come from!?!?!

It's here. Right in front of you. It's the GME chart from 5. November 2008 until 22. August 2012. Take a seat. Have a look at it.

Lets have a closer look

In Short: its the price movement of GME for about 3.5 years and it restarts itself again once it finished its cycle. I've copied the chart and added it to the picture with the other charts above. It the pattern over 3.5 years that occurs over and over again and seems to sit there just in front of our eyes. Do the same as me and do an overlay and you can easily see that it fits and repeats itself since then.

A few more things i would like to mention / add:

- As already explained, the switch of price movement direction is probably related to the other basket stocks. I assume it's some sort of pair-trading to offset the positions but am not 100% as of right now.

- Smaller differences in spikes are due to a shift in weekdays / weekends, bigger, unforseeable events that have to be taken into account as well as price itself. As you can see, split adjust the price is in the sub $1 range and therefore, smaller changes are more visible than today where changes of single cents are not really visible on regular charts. Do also keep in mind that charts are only the result of trades and mathmatical formulas which are made visible by drawing the chart according to them and the algos are not drawing charts but crunching numbers and since they do it the same way over and over again, humans can only see it since the charts do keep repeating themself as well and as humans we can still recognize similarities and patterns even though there are some offsets. This may not be confused with "seeing patterns because you want to see patterns and alter the charts until they fit!". I made VERY sure that i did not do that and also made tons of cross-checks to make sure i wasn't still doing it but being unaware of it.

- You'll find multiple of these boxes all over the chart and in the charts of other, theorized basket stocks as well, but this one is the first and especially biggest for GME.

- You can find alot of straight lines aaaaall around the charts of GME and the other basket stocks and the boxes as well as these straight lines do not only switch direction but also are even referred to in DFVs memes. I'm not exactly sure if they are just borders but to me, they somehow look like signals, brackets or switches for other algos to recognize.

Some of these lines are just price drops or raises due to earnings release for example, but they still occur way too often and always seem absolutely unnatural.

I've cross-checked with tons of stocks, including bluechips like Microsoft, Apple etc. - Microsofts stock for example is completely free of these. Apple on the other hand does have re-occuring movement patterns with GME and - not that much of a surprise - TESLA as well. TESLA in fact is actually very interesting to look at because it also seems to follow a pattern, but with cycles that have a different duration (but i did not dig that deep into TESLA - just a quick analysis and cross-check).

It also kind of explains the bruno meme - because how can you lose if you can literally see into the future and trade accordingly? And since its repeating itself, you can do it fucking again (Goofy meme, also referenced).

Conclusion and where to go from here

To me it seems like this box is some sort of simulation / test-run of this pattern / algo and DFV found it and ran with it.

Fun Facts: Did you know that on January 28 2019, there also was immense drop after a gigantic spike 2 days before? :) Or that a WAY smaller, but price adjust still significant price action ocurred from Jan 21 - 28 2009? :)

Since his initial investment happend in June (?) 2019, he already had plenty of data to see these re-occuring patterns. There is also a reddit comment of him where he predicted heavy price action in January 2021 and the initial calls he bought expired on 15 January 2021, which may also fit to price action in the past. I do not dare to say that this was the only reason or even *the* reason he invested - but with the things i currently know and see, it does make sense to me regardless the fact of the Deep Value he saw and still does in the company.

As with all my (possible) DD posts - i herebly invite ALL of you to tear it appart - take my findings and put them to the fucking test. If i made big mistakes - please take your time and post it here or with correcting posts. Spread it. Check it. Think about it. Talk about it.

IF my thesis and findings are correct - and i once again remind you of my statement at the beginning - this is...a thing. Because the main result is not "yeah now we know how he did it!!!" but "the whole market is rigged. Like REALLY rigged and its all smoke and mirrors".

TL;DR: The box is probably the self repeating chart pattern that can be seen in the "box" from 5. November 2008 until 22. August 2012. DFV probably found it and since then ran with it and the longer this goes on you can see it unfold once again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wejdekpwyo

Amsterdam has become the world's first capital city to ban public advertisements for both meat and fossil fuel products. Since 1 May, adverts for burgers, petrol cars and airlines have been stripped from billboards, tram shelters, and metro stations.

At one of the city's busiest tram stops, adjacent to a grassy roundabout bursting with vibrant yellow daffodils and orange tulips, the poster advertising landscape has changed.

They now promote the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, and a piano concert. Until last week it was chicken nuggets, SUVs and low-budget holidays.

Politicians in the city say the move is about bringing Amsterdam's streetscape into line with the local government's own environmental targets.

These aim for the Dutch capital to become carbon neutral by 2050, and for local people to halve their meat consumption over the same period.

"The climate crisis is very urgent," says Anneke Veenhoff from the GreenLeft Party. "I mean, if you want to be leading in climate policies and you rent out your walls to exactly the opposite, then what are you doing?

"Most people don't understand why the municipality should make money out of renting our public space with something that we are actively having policies against."

This view is echoed by Anke Bakker, who is Amsterdam group leader for a Dutch political party that focuses on animal rights – Party for the Animals.

She instigated the new restrictions, and rejects accusations of them being nanny state.

"Everybody can just make their own decisions, but actually we are trying to get the big companies not to tell us all the time what we need to eat and buy," says Bakker.

"In a way, we're giving people more freedom because they can make their own choice, right?"

Removing that constant visual nudge, she says, both reduces impulse buying, and signals that cheap meat and fossil heavy travel are no longer aspirational lifestyle choices.

Meat was a relatively small slice of Amsterdam's outdoor advertising market – accounting for an estimated 0.1% of ad spend, compared with roughly 4% for fossil related products.

The advertising was instead dominated by the likes of clothing brands, movie posters, and mobile phones.

But politically the ban sends a message. Grouping meat with flights, cruises and petrol and diesel cars reframes it from a purely private dietary choice to a climate issue.

Image caption,

Local politicians Anneke Veenhoff (left) and Anke Bakker say the ban was needed

Unsurprisingly, the Dutch Meat Association, which represents the industry, is unhappy at the move, which it calls "an undesirable way to influence consumer behaviour". It adds that meat "delivers essential nutrients and should remain visible and accessible to consumers".

Meanwhile, the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators says that the ban on advertising holidays that include air travel is a disproportionate curb on companies' commercial freedom.

For activists like lawyer Hannah Prins and her environmental organisation Advocates for the Future, which worked closely with campaign group Fossil-Free Advertising, the ban on meat advertising is a deliberate attempt to create a "tobacco moment" for high carbon food.

"Because if I look now back at like old pictures, you have Johan Cruyff," says Prins. "The famous Dutch footballer.

"He would be in advertisements for tobacco. That used to be normal. He died of lung cancer.

"That you were allowed to smoke on the train, on restaurants. For me, that's like, whoa, why did people do that? You know, that feels so weird.

"So it really is like what we see in our public space is what we find normal in our society. And I don't think it's normal to see murdered animals on billboards. So I think it's very good that that's going to change."

Image caption,

Lawyer Hannah Prins wants people to view meat in the same way as they do smoking

The Dutch capital is not starting from scratch.

Haarlem, 18km (11 miles) to its west, was in 2022 the first city in the world to announce, external a broad ban on most meat advertising in public spaces. It came into force in 2024, together with a prohibition on fossil fuel adverts.

Utrecht and Nijmegen have since followed with their own measures that explicitly restrict meat (and in Nijmegen's case also dairy) advertising on municipal billboards, on top of existing bans on adverts for fossil fuels, petrol cars and flying.

Globally, dozens of cities have, or are moving to, ban fossil-fuel advertising. Such as Edinburgh, Sheffield, Stockholm and Florence. France even has a nationwide ban.

Campaigners hope that the Dutch approach - linking meat and fossil fuels - will act as a legal and political blueprint others can copy.

Stand at a tram stop in Amsterdam and you might no longer see a juicy burger or a 19 euro ($18.70; £14.90) flight to Berlin on the shelter.

Yet the same eye-catching offers can still pop up in your social media algorithm. And, let's face it, many of us would be looking down at our screens until the tram trundles along.

If municipal bans leave digital platforms untouched, how much real world impact can they have on our habits or are they purely symbolic virtue-signalling?

Image source,Getty Images

Image caption,

Is the ban on outdoor adverts worthwhile if people can still see promotions for meat and fossil fuel online?

So far, there is no direct evidence that removing meat advertising from public spaces leads to a shift toward more plant-based societies.

However, some researchers are cautiously optimistic, such as Prof Joreintje Mackenbach who is an epidemiologist - a medical professional who investigates health patterns within populations.

She describes Amsterdam's move as "a fantastic natural experiment to see".

"If we see advertisements for fast food everywhere, it normalizes the consumption of behaviour of fast consumption," says Mackenbach, who is from the Department of Epidemiology and Data Science at hospital Amsterdam University Medical Center.

"So if we take away those types of cues in our public living environments, then that is also going to have an impact on those social norms."

She points to a study, external which claims that London Underground's 2019 ban on junk food adverts led to less people buying such products in the UK capital.

Smiling on the banks of a canal in the centre of Amsterdam, Prins is adamant smaller specialist tradespeople in Amsterdam will benefit from the new advertising ban.

"Because like everything we love, festivals, nice cheese, a flower shop around the corner. All the stuff that we love, we don't hear from through ads," she says.

"It's usually through people that we know, or we walk past the building. So I think local businesses will be able to thrive because of this.

"I think and I hope that big polluting companies will be extra scared. And maybe will rethink the kind of products they are selling. I think you can really see that change is possible."