Popular wedding venues in the western and central states were featured in Part 1 of US wedding venues. So in part two, we'll focus on wedding venues in the eastern states. Whether it's a luxurious hotel, a rustic barn, or a spacious meadow, all are included. Again, the features of these venues and the approximate prices will be written. Let's explore these beautiful wedding venues!

Wisconsin Wedding Venues

The Paine Art Center and Gardens

This is an art museum located at 1410 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh. It is an English-style country estate and has nearly four acres of gardens. It has perennial plants and is a great outdoor ceremony venue. Also, there is a historic mansion, charming carriage house, and greenhouse. The venue can accommodate up to 200 people and costs approximately $3000 to $4000 For 100 Guests.

The Lageret

This is a professional event venue located at 515 E Main St, Stoughton. This historic venue offers industrial and rustic charm with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and wood beams. It has ample space for ceremonies and receptions. The venue offers event coordination, customizable lighting options, a bridal suite, and access to preferred vendors. Accommodations for up to 250 people start at $3,500 for a 12-hour rental.

The Enchanted Barn

Located at 1543 6 1/2 Ave, Hillsdale, this barn has an old-world rustic atmosphere around every corner. Featuring several indoor and outdoor venues, one of the most popular ceremony locations is located in Barn's upper-level Hayloft, featuring old wood timbers. Several wedding package options are available here and can accommodate up to 220 people. Off-season all-inclusive wedding packages are $5,000 plus $21 per person.

Illinois Wedding Venues

Danada House

This is a historic mansion located at 3S501 Naperville Rd, Wheaton. a short drive from Chicago. The mansion is also surrounded by a forest preserve that allows for nature-filled photos. There are seven ceremony locations in total, and the largest Magnolia Garden can accommodate up to 300 guests. Venue rentals start at $3,500.

The Morton Arboretum

This is a public nature garden and outdoor museum located at 4100 IL-53, Lisle. Inside there are not only mature trees and flowers but also a playground for children. Offering beautiful woodland and lakeside views. The large garden has a total of 12 venues to choose from and the largest room can accommodate up to 300 guests. Prices range from $600 to $9,000 depending on the size of the room and the time of year it is held.

Salvage One

Located at 1840 W Hubbard St, Chicago, this is a very unique location that serves as a store besides being a wedding venue. It preserves treasured furniture from the past. This old Chicago warehouse offers an enchanting vintage atmosphere. The ceremony and banquet space can accommodate about 200 people and space rentals start at $4,000.

Kentucky Wedding Venues

The Barn at Cedar Grove

The address is 1000 Brockman Keltner Rd, Greensburg, which has a rustic barn setting with picturesque scenery. Offering outdoor ceremony space, climate-controlled reception space, bridal suite, groom's quarters, and fire pit. The venue in the barn can accommodate up to 230 people. For fewer guests, the average budget for a wedding here is between $6,000 and $9,000.

The Brown Hotel

This 100-year-old hotel is located at 335 W Broadway, Louisville. The hotel has a striking Georgian Revival look and offers elegant ballrooms, luxurious accommodations, and a gorgeous rooftop garden. The hotel also has extensive experience in hosting weddings of different cultures, such as Jewish and Indian weddings. Prices are $18,000 in the off-season and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Talon Winery & Vineyards

This winery has a large outdoor space at 7086 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington. Offers vineyard and winery backdrop, outdoor ceremony space, and rustic barn. The best part is the wine-tasting and vineyard tours. The venue can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices for ceremonies start at $1500.

Tennessee Wedding Venues

Butterfly Hollow

Located at 28 Bussell Rd, Gordonsville, our vacation accommodations are perfect for small weddings. Surrounded by scenic walking trails, mountains, and woods. This venue specializes in small weddings of 30 people or less, with a focus on an intimate and cozy experience. Wedding packages range from $1795 to $5000.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

An art gallery on 17 acres of gardens located at 4339 Park Ave, Memphis, offers a romantic and artistic setting for weddings. The gallery offers two indoor reception venues as well as woodlands and gardens, both of which can accommodate up to 200 guests. Prices are approximately $4000 to $5000 For 100 guests.

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower, located at 400 4th Ave S, Nashville, is almost 140 years old. The ballroom features large windows that provide plenty of natural light, creating a charming and historic setting for weddings. There are two floors beside the lobby. Seated dinners for up to 400 people range from $3,500 to $16,000 depending on time and venue.

Mississippi Wedding Venues

The Cedars

The site at 4145 Old Canton Rd, Jackson is the oldest residential building in Jackson, with a history of 175 years. The courtyard in front of the house with trees such as cedar, oak, and magnolia provides a natural backdrop for weddings. The venue can accommodate up to 300 people and costs $3,500 for a two-day weekend rental.

Dunleith Historic Inn

A National Historic Landmark located at 84 Homochitto St, Natchez, the mansion features Greek Revival columns and original pine floors. The event space has a main floor, courtyard, and South Lawn, which can accommodate up to 700 people. Wedding packages start at $6,500, not including catering.

The Gin at Flora Station

The address is 4819 MS-22, Flora. The refurbished cotton gin blends rustic charm with modern amenities. It offers indoor and outdoor spaces, including a covered gazebo and a patio with an old-fashioned truck bar. Rentals for ceremonies and receptions start at $3,500.

Alabama Wedding Venues

B&A Warehouse

This building, located at 1531 1st Ave S, Birmingham, is historic from the outside. With its industrial-inspired design and high ceilings along with red brick walls. Three indoor venues can accommodate up to 300 guests, and the cost of a ceremony starts at $4,000.

The Sterling Castle

This castle is located at 389 Deseret Dr, Shelby, and has been voted the best wedding venue in Alabama. The fairytale-style castle, elegant ballroom, charming courtyard, and lakeside and drawbridge venues. This beautiful venue can accommodate up to 300 guests and all-inclusive weddings are priced at $10,000+.

Huntsville Museum of Art

This is an art museum located at 300 Church St SW, Huntsville. With unique indoor and outdoor spaces, the museum is a contemporary art gallery. Offering outdoor spaces with a rooftop terrace, and five indoor hospitality venues. The starting venue fee for a wedding reception in high season is $1,500.

Michigan Wedding Venues

Colony Club Detroit

Located at 2310 Park Ave, Detroit, this Georgian-style, historic venue features stunning architecture and gorgeous interiors. The hotel features a grand ballroom decorated with crystal chandeliers and intricate details. The ballroom can accommodate up to 350 guests and is priced between $12,000 and $15,000.

Castle Farms

This historic building, built in 1918, is located at 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. With a total of four site combinations in the summer. It offers several ceremony and reception spaces, including a charming outdoor garden and a majestic stone courtyard. The largest of these, the East Garden and Queen's Courtyard can host up to 300 guests. And the price range is between $6,750 and $9,250.

The Inn at Stonecliffe

This is a Victorian village located at 8593 Cudahy Cir, Mackinac Island. away from the hustle and bustle of the area. With beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of Lake Huron and the Mackinaw Bridge. Accommodates up to 300 people and prices range from $4000 to $10,000.

Ohio Wedding Venues

Franklin Park Conservatory

This is a horticultural and educational institution located at 1777 E Broad St, Columbus. The most popular venue is the indoor garden with an all-glass ceiling. Besides, there is an industrial-style venue and a 200-year-old barn. The venue has plenty of space and can accommodate up to 500 people, with prices ranging from $7,000 to $11,000 for a wedding of 100 guests.

The Columbus Athenaeum

The historic building at 32 N 4th St, Columbus, was built in 1899. With a total of ten venues to choose from, the Grand Ballroom boasts gorgeous details and a stunning atrium. It is decorated with classical Greek art as well as soaring ornate ceilings. It can accommodate up to 230 guests. Prices for receptions start at $3,000.

Gervasi Vineyard

An oversized wine estate located at 1700 55th St NE, Canton. Picturesque vineyard setting and sparkling lake views. The open-air venue can accommodate up to 300 people, while the indoor venue can accommodate up to 120 guests. Full-service event planning, vineyard tours, and wine tastings are available. Prices for receptions will start at $1,450.

Georgia Wedding Venues

Barnsley Resort

This resort is located at 597 Barnsley Gardens Rd NW, Adairsville. With over 3,000 acres of land, it is a historic southern estate. With lush gardens, luxurious cabins, and grounds that can accommodate up to 250 people. Three wedding packages are available: $275 per person, $320 per person, and $350 per person. And a least of 150 people is required.

Summerour Studio

This is a renovated warehouse located at 409 Bishop St NW, Atlanta. The roof is supported by massive bow trusses, which allow for a spacious, open floor plan without columns or supports. Through a wall of windows running the length of the space, there are breathtaking views of Atlantic Station and the downtown skyline. Accommodating up to 425 people, prices start at $4,000.

The Biltmore Ballrooms

The ballroom is located at 817 W Peachtree St NW 208, Atlanta, and was established in 1924. The ballroom features a handcrafted plaster relief ceiling, ornate crystal lighting, and a marble floor. Capacity ranges from 50 to 1,500 people and offers eleven caterers. Rental rates range from $3,500 to $5,000, depending on the day of the week.

Florida Wedding Venues

The Ancient Spanish Monastery

Located at 16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach. This monastery was dismantled piece by piece from northern Spain and shipped to the United States, then rebuilt over 19 months. It offers a chapel and gardens for ceremonies. The garden can accommodate up to 300 guests for $6,500 and includes only the cost of the reception.

The Breakers Palm Beach

This is a luxury resort located at 1 S County Rd, Palm Beach. This luxury resort is located in Palm Beach and enjoys magnificent beachfront views, lush gardens, and an exquisite ballroom. It boasts a timeless and elegant ambiance. It can host weddings for a maximum of less than 500 people, and detailed prices need to be communicated with the hotel.

The Ringling Museum

The museum is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, with a breathtaking view of Sarasota Bay. This venue offers unique views of art, culture, and the stunning waterfront. It includes many event spaces, including a large courtyard and an elegant ballroom. The largest art gallery courtyard can accommodate up to 125 guests and prices start at $20,000.

New York Wedding Venues

Mohonk Mountain House

Located at 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, this historic resort is surrounded by 40,000 acres of pristine forest. Featuring a majestic Victorian castle with panoramic mountain views. Choose from lakeside, garden, and mountain views for your ceremony. Wedding packages range from $275 to $375 per person.

The Foundry

The address is 42-38 9th Street, Long Island City, with a history dating back to the 19th century. Offering an industrial chic atmosphere, a garden courtyard and conservatory, a stunning main space, plus rustic interiors. Accommodates up to 180 guests, with receptions starting at $14,000.

The Garrison

Estate at 2015 US-9, Garrison, with superb Hudson River views and Catskill Mountain views. The venue offers a modern ballroom, outdoor ceremony space, and golf course. The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests for $12,000.

Pennsylvania Wedding Venues

The Curtis Atrium

The historic building at 699 Walnut St, Philadelphia used to be the Curtis Publishing Company. It is now a building with a mix of residential, office, and retail space. It features a stunning atrium, marble columns, and a stunning rotunda. Space rentals start at $8,000.

The Cork Factory Hotel

This boutique hotel is located at 480 New Holland Ave 3000, Lancaster, a converted historic cork mill with exposed brick walls. Offering industrial charm and modern amenities. The venue has a ballroom, a terrace, and a 2,300-square-foot warehouse. Space is available for up to 200 guests, and wedding packages start at $7,000.

Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard

A stunning garden is located at 138 W Lancaster Ave Suite 130, Devon. The venue is decorated with elements such as reclaimed barn wood floors, raised holiday lights, and skylights to create a unique aesthetic. Of course, there is an essential gardening setting and open-air venue that can accommodate up to 140 guests. Prices for receptions start at $4,525.

West Virginia Wedding Venues

Stonewall Resort

The entire resort is nestled beside a tranquil lake at 940 Resort Drive Roanoke, a place of scenic beauty and rustic charm. Wedding venues are available on the lakeside lawn or in the courtyard, with an indoor grand hall and stone-walled ballroom. Spa services, golf courses, and entertainment can also be experienced with wedding packages ranging from $3,500 to $12,000.

The Greenbrier

A luxury resort located at 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs. With stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and breathtaking mountain views. The indoor venue has a dramatic chandelier and stage. The outdoor grounds feature expansive lawns and rustic cabins. Packages start at $10,000 and vary depending on the number of guests, season, and customization.

Sleepy Hollow Golf Club

The Club at 3780 Sleepy Hollow Dr, Hurricane. It is a private golf club for families. Featuring a scenic golf course, elegant ballroom, outdoor lawn ceremony venue, and picturesque countryside views. Wedding packages start at $3,500.

Virginia Wedding Venues

Maymont

Historic Manor River Park at 1700 Hampton St, Richmond. Inside are gardens, botanical gardens, and native wildlife habitats. The scenic setting includes 100-year-old Italian gardens, European-style manor houses, pavilions, expansive lawns, and the Robbins Nature Center. Prices range from $3,500 to $6,100.

Inn At Willow Grove

This is a rustic accommodation located at 14079 Plantation Way, Orange. It is unusually peaceful and romantic, surrounded by ancient trees and beautiful gardens. One of the gardens, Boxwood, can accommodate up to 175 guests and offers idyllic views. A versatile barn is also available as a hospitality venue, with rates starting at $7,500.

The Tides Inn

Located at 480 King Carter Dr, Irvington, the entire hotel is situated on a beautiful body of water with views of the Chesapeake Bay. It is a waterfront resort. You can also come here to take part in fun activities such as tennis, golf, paddle boarding, biking, and kayaking. Weddings start at $3,100.

North Carolina Wedding Venues

The Bradford

Professional wedding venue located at 523 Pea Ridge Rd, New Hill. It resembles a European town building with charming gardens and rustic barns. It can accommodate up to 250 guests for a ceremony in the gardens. Wedding packages will vary depending on the time of year and are priced at $8,000 on Fridays and $9,800 on Saturdays.

The Merrimon-Wynne House

The mansion located at 500 N Blount St, Raleigh was built in 1876 and has been well maintained and is now a venue for various events. The building has a main floor full of Southern charm. Inside are original floors and mantelshelves, ornate chandeliers, and a wide porch. The outdoor area is also large enough to host ceremonies in the garden and can accommodate up to 250 guests. Prices for receptions start at $5,000.

Fearrington Village

It's an English-style country hotel located at 2000 Fearrington Village Center. Besides the quaint country setting there are dense gardens with water features. The largest venue is the barn, which offers spacious dining and dancing space and can accommodate up to 250 people guests. Prices for ceremonies start at $2500.

South Carolina Wedding Venues

Middleton Place

This National Historic Landmark is located at 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston. You can experience daily life on an 18th-century plantation and enjoy 65 acres of unobstructed views and private garden rooms. Also, enjoy the oldest landscaped gardens on the property. There are 7 ceremony venues, ranging from small weddings of 50 to 400 guests. Prices start at $5,000.

William Aiken House

The 1807 mansion is located at 456 King St, Charleston, a restored mansion that showcases Southern charm and architectural elegance. The yard features a magnolia tree that is over two hundred years old and an elegant terrace. It is also rated as one of South Carolina's premier wedding venues. The cost of a ceremony starts at $3,000.

The Cedar Room

Modern industrial event space at 701 E Bay St, Charleston. Featuring exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and large windows overlooking the cityscape. The indoor Cedar Room venue can accommodate up to 500 people for events, and the outdoor yard can seat up to 200. Events on Fridays or Sundays start at $3,500.

Vermont Wedding Venues

Inn at Mountain View Farm

The Inn at 3383 Darling Hill Rd, East Burke, has breathtaking mountaintop views. Enjoy mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and visits to animal farms, among many other activities. Venues can range from beautiful fields to cozy campfires. Weekend wedding packages start at $3,500.

Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home

The building at 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester is full of meaning. The Lincolns built Hildene as a summer home at the turn of the 20th century. Here you can look out over the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. The outdoor venue can accommodate up to 200 people and wedding reception prices start at $8,000.
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(Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home)

The Henry House

The historic house at 1338 Murphy Rd, North Bennington, built in 1769, is one of the oldest surviving houses in Vermont. Overlooks the authentic red-covered Henry Bridge. The site offers several vendors for you to consider. The large trees outside the house make for the best wedding photos. The venue needs to be contacted for a specific quote.

Massachusetts Wedding Venues

The Crane Estate

This is a Tudor Revival mansion located at 290 Argilla Rd, Ipswich. It was the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor Crane, Jr. with winding salt marshes, miles of barrier beaches, and a beautiful hilltop mansion. And of course the rolling lawns and gardens. There are three sites to choose from in all, with the beachfront site accommodating 200 to 500 people. Weekend weddings are priced at $6500.

Red Lion Inn

The Inn at 30 Main St, Stockbridge has a 250-year history. The entire Inn combines traditional New England hospitality with the amenities of a modern hotel. The largest Hitchcock room capacity is capacity 30-175 people. Venue rentals start at $4,000.

Liberty Hotel

A sophisticated hotel located at 215 Charles St, Boston. Located in the heart of downtown, just steps from shopping, dining, Boston Parks, and more. The hotel offers a private secret garden that can accommodate up to 200 people outdoors and an indoor 3000-square-foot ballroom. Wedding venue rates start at $26,000 for up to 100 guests.

Connecticut Wedding Venues

The Lace Factory

This historic factory is located at 161 River St, Deep River, and offers a charming and rustic atmosphere for a wedding venue. It has wood floors, high ceilings, and large windows overlooking the river. The Lace Factory offers event planning services, on-site catering, and a variety of rental options for weddings of all sizes. The Factory can accommodate up to 225 people and prices start at $5,000.

Eolia Mansion at Harkness State

The address is 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford. Nestled on the shoreline of Waterford, Connecticut, this elegant mansion offers breathtaking views of Long Island Sound. It has manicured gardens, a stone terrace, and a beautiful ballroom. The price of $5,100 includes exclusive use of the mansion's first floor and south courtyard tent for 5 hours.

The Society Room of Hartford

This event venue is located at 31 Pratt St, Hartford, and the historic venue boasts magnificent architecture. It includes a marble staircase, beautifully frescoed ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. It provides a luxurious and timeless setting for weddings. The venue can accommodate up to 300 guests and prices start at 15,000.

New Hampshire Wedding Venues

Wentworth By The Sea Country Club

Country Club at 60 Wentworth Rd, Rye. This private club is near the shore and enjoys magnificent waterfront views and a romantic atmosphere. The hotel has manicured grounds and a historic clubhouse. It can accommodate up to 250 guests in this setting. Three options are available: lawn, clubhouse, and tent weddings. Reception prices start at $30,000.

The Preserve at Chocorua

This venue, located at 88 Philbrick Neighborhood Rd, Tamworth, is a rustic and secluded wedding venue nestled in the White Mountains. It offers scenic views, a charming barn, and plenty of outdoor space for the ceremony. Outdoor activities such as sleigh rides and hiking are also available. Approximate prices will start at $1000.

Bishop Farm

The Farmhouse, located at 33 Bishop Cutoff, Lisbon, is a historic and beautifully landscaped site in the White Mountains. It offers a restored 1876 farmhouse, a barn, and lush greenery. There is also a romantic bistro with a terrace to relax in. Accommodating up to 200 guests, prices start at $15,000.

Rhode Island Wedding Venues

The Chanler at Cliff Walk

A luxury hotel located at 117 Memorial Blvd, Newport. The Chanler offers luxurious accommodations and a grand mansion setting with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and access to their world-class restaurant. Specializing in weddings for up to 120 guests with access to their world-class restaurant. Site rentals start at $10,000.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Historic mansion on 33 acres located at 101 Ferry Rd, Bristol with breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay. Large tents are available in the outdoor area, followed by sunset views. Accommodating up to 225 guests, weekend wedding rates start at $12,995.

The Dorrance

Situated in the heart of Providence, The Dorrance is a restored bank building with a sophisticated atmosphere and elegant decor. The most special feature is the long, luxurious bar, which can accommodate up to 200 guests throughout the venue. Venue rentals start at $7,500.

New Jersey Wedding Venues

The Ashford Estate

Located at 637 Province Line Rd, Allentown, this elegant property is nestled in a picturesque setting. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of beautifully preserved farmland, it features sparkling fountains, waterfalls, garden pavilions, expansive views, and of course, luxurious private suites. The wedding venue can accommodate up to 300 guests. Starting at $10,000.

Mallard Island Yacht Club

A club surrounded by water at 1450 NJ-72, Manahawkin. six more venues to choose from in the luxurious private island mansion. The center plaza boasts grand arches and ornate ceilings reminiscent of old-world glamour. The ballroom can accommodate up to 250 people, and prices for receptions start at $20,000.

Liberty House Restaurant & Events

This waterfront event venue is located at 76 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City. It features unparalleled views of the New York City skyline, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Landing Pier. The Grand Ballroom features a marble floor and floor-to-ceiling windows. The venue can accommodate up to 300 people and venue rental fees start at $8,000.

Delaware Wedding Venues

The Queen Wilmington

This dazzling venue is located at 500 N Market St, Wilmington is downtown. It is a historic music venue that offers a unique and eclectic atmosphere. The venue features a grand ballroom with a stage, state-of-the-art sound system, and elegant décor. The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests and wedding reception prices start from $3,000.

The Cordrey Center

The address is 30366 Cordrey Rd, Millsboro, and its restored barn and surrounding gardens provide a rustic and charming setting. The venue offers a range of services, including in-house catering, bar service, and event coordination. It has indoor and outdoor options and can accommodate up to 200 guests. Venue rental rates start at $3,500.

The Waterfall Catering and Special Events

With an address at 3416 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, The Waterfall has a modern venue. Centered around a stunning indoor waterfall. The spacious ballroom features contemporary décor and customizable LED lighting systems. The venue can accommodate up to 500 guests. Prices for venue rentals start at $6,000.

Maryland Wedding Venues

Belvedere Hotel

Located at 1 East Chase Street and built-in 1902 as a historic landmark in Baltimore, The Belvedere showcases stunning architecture and classic charm. It offers a variety of event spaces, including a rooftop ballroom with panoramic views of the city. Inside, the décor is more vintage and ornate. Accommodating up to 500 guests, venue rentals start at $8,000.

Evergreen Museum & Library

This grand Gilded Age mansion is located at 4545 N Charles St, Baltimore. It is full of history with a house museum and research library. With beautiful gardens, this venue offers a mix of elegance and history. It's architectural details and scenic surroundings provide a unique backdrop. As well as a tour of the museum's collection. Accommodates up to 200 guests and starts at $6,000.

Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

Located at 500 Marina Club Rd, Stevensville, this venue offers stunning waterfront views and an elegant ballroom. It also has an oceanfront ceremony venue and luxurious accommodations. There are four ballrooms in total, three indoor and one outdoor. Accommodations for up to 300 guests start at $10,000.

District of Columbia Wedding Venues

Larz Anderson House

Located at 2118 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, the Anderson House, established in 1905, is a stunning Beaux-Arts mansion that offers a romantic and intimate setting for weddings. The venue features beautiful gardens, a grand staircase, and gorgeous rooms decorated with historic artwork. It can accommodate up to 200 guests and has access to the house's magnificent library. Prices start from $8,000.

The Hay-Adams

Located at 800 16th St NW, Washington, across from the White House, the hotel offers magnificent views of the iconic landmark. This venue has many event spaces, including a rooftop terrace from which the White House can be used as a photo backdrop. Wedding venues can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices start at $15,000.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Located at 1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, this unique venue celebrates women artists and offers a distinctive setting for weddings. With its stunning architecture and world-class art collection, it provides an exquisite atmosphere for your special day. The venue offers a variety of event spaces, including an assembly hall and mezzanine level, and can accommodate up to 400 guests. However, the museum is temporarily closed for renovations.

Maine Wedding Venues

Hidden Pond

The resort's address is 354 Goose Rocks Rd, Kennebunkport, and is nestled in a secluded wooded area. Featuring elegant indoor and outdoor spaces. Surrounded by 60 acres of birch and balsam fir, it features two outdoor pools and a three-room treetop spa. It ensures an unforgettable wedding experience. Prices start from US$10,000.

Hardy Farm

The farm is located at 254 W Fryeburg Rd, Fryeburg. This rustic and chic site features a restored 18th-century farmhouse and a spacious barn with panoramic mountain views. Of course, there are also seasonal gardens and a woodland church. The most special feature is the provision of a cable car to reach the top of the mountain, which is also a popular backdrop for photos. It can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices start from $6,500.

Portland Regency Hotel & Spa

The address is 20 Milk St, Portland, and is centrally located, offering a blend of classic elegance and modern amenities. With many event spaces, on-site catering, and a spa, it can accommodate intimate and large weddings. Accommodations range from 10 to 220 guests, with rates starting at $3,500.

Conclusion

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." When Harry Met Sally
Finally, we've rounded up our recommendations for wedding venues in each of the remaining states. Choosing the perfect wedding venue is an important step in creating your dream wedding. It sets the tone for the entire celebration and provides the backdrop for your special day. No matter what style of wedding venue you prefer, there is a venue above that perfectly suits your style and preferences.
Last but not least, don't forget to check out Quictent's wedding tent. we offer quality wedding tents for your outdoor wedding, containing various types and sizes.

[M]/Doing retro coz reddit has apparently locked my account before 2024 expired, and I just realised this hasn't been published /[M]

Canadian Federal Elections 101

Canada has inherited its political system from the United Kingdom, sticking to Westminster parliamentary system ever since. This means, that unlike in the United States, the outcome of Canadian elections are won by whichever party manages to elect the greatest number on Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of Canada, allowing the leader of this party to assume the office of Prime Minister.

The Senate of Canada provides for a stark contrast, since despite being originally designed to ensure provincial representation, the upper house remains unelected and is largely subjected to the politics in the House of Commons.

When no party is able to secure more than 50 per cent of seats in the House, a leader of a political party that is able to command more than 50 per cent of MPs, for example through singing supply and confidence or coalition agreements with other parties, becomes Prime Minister instead. Historically, however, the largest party in the House of Commons tends to form a monitory government, when it commands a plurality of MPs, rather than an outright majority. This allows the largest party to remain in power, but it has to rely on MPs from other political factions to pass crucial pieces of legislation, especially when it comes to votes that indicate parliamentary confidence, such as federal budgets. Losing those votes, would effectively mean that the current government has to either be completely re-staffed with new Cabinet Ministers, or call a snap election.
However, minority governments remained fairly uncommon in Canada, since the current voting system, called First-Past-the-Post (FPTP), allows for individual MPs to win their respective ridings - also known as constituencies - to be elected into the House of Commons with a simple plurality of votes. Thus, a political party can win most seats in the House of Commons through strategically placing their bets on ridings with very tight margins, where just one extra vote may allow their nominee to win a permanently seat, effectively making all votes for the opposition candidate in that riding meaningless.

General Backgrounder

For example, the Liberal Party of Canada has won the last two federal elections with a plurality of seats in the House of Commons, despite coming only 2nd to the Conservative Party of Canada during popular vote. The Liberals, despite becoming the largest party in the House still fell short of winning the majority of seats, being forced to rely on the New Democratic Party, that represented are more progressive social democratic part of the electorate, for crucial votes. Later, the Government has called a snap election aiming to get their desired majority, but failed, and had to sign a formal Supply and Confidence Agreement with the NDP, that included a massive package of social programmes, such as the recently implemented national dental care and prescription drug insurance.
However, while enjoying a steady lead in polls vis-a-vis, the federal Conservatives during the pandemic, the Liberals had experienced persistent slump as post-pandemic recovered coupled with sticky inflation and rapidly deteriorating housing crisis. As the Federal Conservatives have moved to the right following the election of a new leader, they have utilised concurrent economic challenges and liberal economic policy, blaming the current government's pandemic related emergency spending coupled with expansion of social programs as the root cause for inflation into collapsing housing affordability.
As Canada had to respond to America's Inflation Reduction Act with a new public investment into green transition, conservative criticism of the Trudeau government has become ever more vocal, with fiscal deficits presumably exacerbating, concurrent inflationary pressures.
Liberal policies, especially introducing the federal backstop mechanism for carbon pricing, has also spurred, vicious opposition, among Conservatives, especially those living in the Western Canada, that culminated in the razor-thin re-election of the United Conservatives in the oil-producing province of Alberta. The federal response to the freedom, convoy protest, as well as the general push, forever wider collective community during the pandemic, has created some fertile soil for the opposition, Conservatives to capitalise on, especially as the more moderate leader of the party had been ousted shortly after the convoy protest.
After more than eight years in government, the liberal party has also been embroiled in several corruption and ethics candles, including the SNC-Lavallin affair, the pandemic-era ArriveCan App scandal, and, most recently, the accusations of Chinese electoral interference, and Chinese police stations operating in Canada.
In fact, the situation for the current government has become so dire. It's a point, but more than 80% of forecasters projected a Conservative minority government has the most probable outcome for the next election. According to some polls, the Liberals would be unable to form a government, even with the support of the New Democratic Party. The liberal convention in late spring 2023, didn't provide much of a relief either, how's the party continued to lack a comprehensive platform to combat the issue of housing and affordability - something that steadily climbed the rate of priorities for many Canadians, to become the most pressing issue, when deciding who to vote for. If anything, the Conservative party has become the most popular political force, among younger Canadians, with their laser, sharp focus on the issue of inflation and housing affordability.
The issue of housing affordability has become central to the Conservative Convention, where the Party has committed to "restoring" home ownership across the country, through planning laws deregulation and "removing resections on the supply of housing". This would see the federal government to tie federal spending on housing to municipalities shortening approval times, waive HST/GST for housing, as well as allow landlords to re-invest their profits into new housing tax-free. The Conservative convention also proposed federal infrastructure funding to be linked to higher-density housing construction.
What did, however, play in favour of the current government, what is the time. Within Canadian Parliamentary system, the Prime Minister can call an election effectively anytime, so long their term doesn't exceed the four year threshold, that was approaching at Fall 2025, supported by the Supply and Confidence Agreement with New Democrats.
As inflation in North America has started slowly subsiding toreturn to the 2% target in early fall 2024, Trudeau has managed to re-gain some the economic credibility his government has seemingly lost. The Liberals have also continued their tilt to make some inroads into the NDP camp, with the Federal Budget 2024 going heavily on Net Zero and Green Transition.
However, the Liberals also had to deal with a political deadline, whether to call and election before or after the Budget 2025 would've been published. The former might allow the LPC to avoid the criticism of "buying up votes" that the party received after calling the snap election shortly after introducing their Federal Budget in 2021. However, Trudeau also had a stake at deferring the election for long as possible, hoping that waiving inflationary pressure might open up more space for the Liberals to re-gain the economic ground over the Conservatives.

Federal Election 2025

After long deliberation, the federal Cabinet has opened to hold an election in late March 2025, right at the time when a government would have normally tabled their budget. The election that both the Liberals and the Conservatives have approached after almost a year or neck-and-neck perforce in the polls, with Trudeau having a minuscule advantage in personal ratings.
The economy, especially housing affordability, have become two main issues during this election, closely followed by healthcare - namely access to family physicians and waiting times for selected procedures - and the issue of inflation still lingering at the back of the public debate.
Trudeau himself because a matter for the debate, with the Liberals banking on his personal likability, while Federal Conservatives continuously pressed with corruption and ethical scandals and corruption allegations, combined with the Liberal campaign continuously bringing up the "electability issue" of their opponents.

Housing

With the Tories enjoying slight lead on the matter of economic competence, the Liberals opted to treat the housing crisis as a matter of social policy, while banking heavily on personal popularity of Trudeau himself. From the policy-standpoint, LPC Election Platform has effectively copied the proposal originally voiced during the Conservative Convention. Namely, waiving GST/HST for housing construction, allowing landlords to re-invest their profits into constructing more units tax-free, as well as linking federal spending to new housing development and liberalising permitting process. The difference with the Conservatives was the focusing on new federal spending to combat housing affordability.
Liberal election promises involved the commitment for new federal housing construction to exceed population growth by the end of the first term, through the government directly contracting private developers to build more affordable housing, and task the Canada Infrastructure Development Corporation to provide funding to non-market housing in numbers meeting or exceeding population growth in larger metropolitan areas on Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and across Atlantic Canada.
Unlike the Tories, Trudeau also went further, promising the government would cover development charges for projects that included affordable housing. The Liberals have also committed to conducting of affordable rental housing, aimed at younger Canadians and those who are yet to start cloning the property ladder. Conservatives on the other hand emphasised Trudeau's poor track on housing affordability, combined focusing on making home ownership more affable through market-driven construction of new units for sale.
Both Team Blue and Team Red have committed to expediting the arrival of new skilled trades professionals, especially those working in the housing sector, including interest-free loans to have their qualifications recognised or to up-skill their existing credentials. Liberals however, took a step further, promising automatic Permanent Residency who has worked in residential construction after 1 year, as well issuing Open Work Permits - exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment - to anyone with construction work experience willing to come to Canada, so long they continue working in the construction sector for the majority of their time before obtaining permanent residency. The Tories on their part suggested granting PR automatically after they've worked in construction for at least 5 years.
On the matter of banning foreign buyers, both parties have committed to banning home purchases in Canada for those who do not hold Canadian citizenship or are not Permanent Residents of Canada, with Liberals maintaining existing exemptions, so long the person buying has invested an equivalent amount in affordable housing construction.
Rhetorically, the Liberals have echoed the National Housing Act 1938, suggesting their government would run fiscal deficits to finance nation-wide home construction, especially affordable rental units. CPC has openly accused Trudeau of "policy stealing" choosing to emphasis permitting deregulation, subsidies for new units, and investing more construction professionals.

Healthcare & Social Care

Federal Conservatives have focused their attack in increasing waiting times, as well as increasing shortage of medical professionals across the country. Liberals, however, aimed to conservative proposals to introduce more private providers into the system, while emphasising their expansion of public health insurance that now covers both dental care and prescription drugs. Both parties suggested increasing the immigration intake for doctors, nurses, medical researches, providing financial support to have their credentials recognised in Canada as well as to update their skills.
The Liberals have however suggested lowering tuition rates international students who come to study health, social care, and eduction, granted them access to domestic rates of tuition, as well as a designated pathway to Permanent Residency for health, eduction, and social care who have obtained at least 1560 hours of Canadian work experience, and received at least part of their eduction in Canada. This would come as a supplementary measure, with domestic students becoming eligible for federal student loan write off if they have accumulated at least 1 year of post-graduation work experience in health, social care, or education - so long their degree is in the same field.
The Liberals have also committed to covering a Royal Commission to introduce a national social care insurance programme for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Economy

The Conservatives suggest introducing "full expensing" allowing companies to deduct up 120 per cent of their expenses on machinery, equipment, and non-residential property, akin to UK's Super Deduction, to combat Canada's low investment levels. They also propose to introduce tax credits for Canadian companies to up-skill their workers, as well as increased federal funding to provinces to support job training and second career programmes and labour market integration.
The Liberals suggest increasing the minimum wage in federally-regulated institutions, linking as a proportion of executive pay. LPC also pledged to introduce at least 4 weeks of paid vacation after 1 year on employment, with additional increases in line with employee tenure, as outlined in their Convention 2023, while brining paid leave of up to 6 weeks a year, allowing recipients to tradition onto disability payments after that.
Both parties have committed to supporting Employee Ownership Trusts, as well as introduction of worker representation on corporate boards in federally-regulated industries. Team Red however to it a step further, suggesting they will employee ownership mandatory for large corporations , with the only exemption provided for profit-sharing schemes.
Both parties have also supported reforming Canada's Employment Insurance Program:
The Conservatives suggest introducing Individual EI Savings Accounts that any Canadian can access whenever they are let go of their job or decide to quit. The proposed accounts would be funded through mandatory employer and employee contributions and could also be used to pay for labour training and re-skilling, with means-tested federal assistance available for those who's exhausted their accounts. Tories also suggest expanding current marginal earnings projection to apply to both individual and household income. The party also suggests waiving EI Premiums and provide rebates for C/QPP Contribution rebates to those not paying federal income tax, to guarantee every Canadian can earn at least $1000 a month free of payroll deductions.
Trudeau on the other hand suggested making EI coverage universal, and providing up to 90 per cent wage replacement in the first month of claim, while also introducing EI Benefit Floor, where every Canadian would be entitled to a minimum benefit equal to federal minimum wage regardless of their original earnings, for as long as they have enough insurable hours. The Liberal plan also introduces expands "working while on claim" provision, allowing people collecting EI benefits to have their wages supplemented through the program so their total paycheque reaches at least 90 per cent of their average 5-year earnings at all times, regardless whether the claimant is eligible for EI Regular Benefits. EI Parental Benefits are set to be fixed at at least 60 per cent of the family's income, subject o the benefit floor. Liberals suggest paying for the programme through waiving maximum insurable earnings to levy EI Premiums on all income of an individual, while introducing cap on benefits linked to median regional wages. However, the basic exemption shall be aligned to the federal income tax minimum threshold. Surpluses generated should be used to pay for expanded WWoC provisions and putting EI Operating Account back into surplus.
Both parties also committed to brining in a Canada Savers' Creditthat mirrors both the amounts and eligibly criteria of the GST/HST tax credit, but is instead deposited in people's Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) and automatically invested into corporate equity. Tories and Liberals also support introducing automatic enrolment for Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Registered Eduction Savings Plans (RESPs), Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP), First Homebuyer Savings Accounts (FHSAs) and TFSAs upon either birth of obtaining Canadian tax residency for eligible non-Canadians. While the Conservative proposal would new accounts automatically linked to existing financial institutions the individual already has an account in, the Liberals instant new accounts should be automatically assigned to a new independent crown corporation, so long the primary account holder haven't decided to the move their registered accounts to an eligible financial institution.
Both parties pitch the policy as a potential interim solution to address Canada's sky-high household debt, through increased asset ownership and participation in stock markets.
When it comes to fiscal policy, the Liberal Government suggests they'll keep their "structural deficit" - as defined by tax revenues versus programme expedites - bellow the rate of economic growth over the 10 year period. LPC however is open they'll not restrain their spending on new housing construction, Ottawa set to absorb almost all the costs of housing under the liberal plan. The Conservatives on the other hand suggest introducing the $1 for $1 rule for federal expenditure, where every dollar of new spending has to be offset by a dollar in spending cuts or increased taxes, suggesting to balance the budget in their first 5 years in the office.
Somewhat comically, the Liberals seem to be attacking Conservative proposals on the grounds it may bring back the pain on the nighties - referring to the Chretien austerity era - especially in Atlantic Canada and the Regions of Quebec where benefit dependency ratios have traditionally been elevated.
The Liberals have also committed to expand existing childcare agreements, to make childcare services and spare available to anyone, and drastically reduce wait times for subsidised spots.

Energy & Environment

The issue has surprisingly played a somewhat muted role during this election, as CPC has contained to opposed federal price on carbon, pressuring the idea of turning Canada into a "natural resource superpower". Liberals on the other hand boasted about their massive investment into Net Zero Transition, while also attacking the Tories one potential fiscal penalties that the government would assume after cancelling the carbon tax. Team Red had also opened to cling to previous commitments of the Conserve Leader to ban overseas oil, which Ontario, and Quebec, as well as Atlantic Canada remain fairly dependent on, due to lack of oil transportation infrastructure from western oil production facilities. Considering the fact Quebec has remained one of Liberal strongholds even at the lowest, as well as the party's perceived electability in the province, CPC would've had even harder to fight for the votes in Quebec.

Tipping the Scales

However, what truly decided this election, was something that may in the future divide the country even more, namely the issue of the French language. Something that has been present in Canadian politics for generations, but something that this time brought a party over the finish line, while completely tanking their opponents.
While both leaders fluent in French, having French Canadian roots, combined with an almost unchallenged dominance of the local Bloc Québécois, it seemed quite unlikely either party would be able to gain any meaningful advantage in Quebec, until both parties have revealed their election manifestos.
Here was the moment the Liberals played their cards best. Namely, the party has committed to supplying French language both within and outside Quebec, through drastically bolstering access to Francophone eduction across the country. The Liberals has committed to introducing a brand-new federal agency tasked with facilitating access to French eduction and integration services - Francisation Canada.
The agency was set to provide free-at-use eduction in French, while also providing up to $1000 a month in finical assistance to immigrants who were willing to learn French. On top of that, the Liberals have committed to make existing Explore and Odyssey Programmes more universal, integrating them into school curriculums across the country. The Party has also committed to negotiating bilateral agreements with all provinces to provide additional funding and guarantee access to services, including eduction in French across Canada, while making French a mandatory subject for Early Learning & Childcare, as well as in secondary education. LPC would also waive tuition fees for post-secondary eduction in French, and negotiate agreements with other francophone countries, to facilitate French-speaking immigration into Canada and Quebec.

Conclusion

Thus, on the night of the election, the sudden realisation waived through the country. The Liberal Party managed to protect their urban ridings, even in West, as their pledge to "spend whether it takes to make houses and rents affordable for everyone" managed to persuade swing urban voters across the country, combined with their massive investment in green transition. The Tories has also lost their lead in Atlantic Canada, where an idea of a massive EI expansion has resonated with voters much more than the concept of individual accounts. Massive subsidies in battery production have also helped the Liberals to protect their seats across Ontario, especially in former industrial towns. However, what actually brought Trudeau over the finish line, was Quebec. The Combination of absolutely massive investments into green tech, coupled with new social programs, and proposed childcare expansion, on top of the Liberal pledge to "protect and promote the French language from Coast to Coast to Coast" allowed the party to make some significant inroads across the province, despite loosing some suburban ridings, Central Canada gave Trudeau yet another chance to form yet another minority Liberal government.

Party Name	Popular Vote	Number of Seats
Liberal Party of Canada (LPC_	33.8%	158
Conservative Party of Canada (CPC)	35.8%	140
New Democratic Party (NDP)	19%	20

Bloc Québécois (BQ)6.2%21 People's Party of Canada1,5%0
​

Acknowledgements

• https://energynow.ca/2022/04/energy-east-will-not-live-again-heres-why-jean-francois-thibault/
• https://2023.liberal.ca/policy/
• https://macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/erin-otoole-socialist-crusade
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-election-results-1.5330105
• https://tnc.news/2022/03/25/pierre-poilievre-proposes-ban-on-foreign-oil-within-five-years/
• https://nationalpost.com/news/why-does-pierre-poilievre-appeal-to-young-canadians-its-all-about-economics-2
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservatives-more-trusted-than-liberals-to-manage-federal-finances/
• https://centre.irpp.org/research-studies/amending-the-official-languages-act-a-new-vision-of-bilingualism/
• https://energynow.ca/2022/04/energy-east-will-not-live-again-heres-why-jean-francois-thibault/
• https://tnc.news/2022/06/22/poilievre-pay-as-you-go/
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/where-the-six-conservative-leadership-candidates-stand-on-key-policy-issues-1.5888530
• https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2021/party-platforms/
• https://338canada.com/sim.htm

Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/ReddXReads/comments/13lfqkw/vulturebeard_the_legbeard_that_ruined_roomies_fo Part 2: https://www.reddit.com/ReddXReads/comments/13u79ht/vulturebeard_bad_roomies_part_2/
^{Hi again, it’s the bunny. I’ve just barely stepped into Reddx’s discord, but Ezekial is still posting this saga for me so thank you, Z.}
Trigger warning: This will deal with a lot of aspects relating to child neglect (and possible abuse) and Kid being ignored or taking the brunt of Vulture’s anger. Sorry for the spoiler as well, but I think we saw this coming, too (especially if you’ve seen Z talk in the discord). Don’t push yourself to read if you’re not okay with these concepts.
The Cast List
Bunny (author): 33, female. Recovering lifelong doormat slowly building a spine. Neuro spicy gym rat with major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and most recently diagnosed with ADHD. Unfortunately, very familiar with surviving trauma.
Z (poster): My partner. 31, nonbinary (they/them), also neuro spicy with depression, anxiety, OCD, BPD, autism, and also familiar with lifelong trauma.
One Liner Beard (OLB): 33, male, neuro spicy with ADHD and depression. His nickname here comes from the fact that in messenger, he usually has one-word replies like “oof” or “mmm” as an acknowledgement he had seen the message but has nothing further to contribute.
VultureBeard (Vulture): 30, female, neuro spicy and disabled with multiple conditions. She has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTs (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), autism, depression, anxiety, chronic migraines, but also possibly a list of things that may or may not be real. The star of this unfortunate circus. Her name comes from how she always pops up when I’m cooking food, complaining about how hungry is and how she’s unable to cook.
Kid: 3. Female. OLB and Vulture’s child. Likely neuro spicy like we all are, but she’s also only 3 years old. Slightly speech delayed and not potty trained yet.
Take a deep breath. Now take another one. This chapter will likely make you mad.
​
Chapter Three: “Do You Want Bologna?” Or, Vulture as a Parent
Imagine this: it’s eight in the morning and you’re cozy in bed. The blankets are warm, and you hit snooze on your early alarm so you can sleep in before you have to get up.
Your peace is shattered by a toddler crying, followed by the screech of, “WHAT!” or “GET DOWN FROM THERE!”
Yeah, welcome to The Life.
Vulture has a messed-up sleep schedule. It’s partially because Kid doesn’t sleep soundly through the night, but it’s also because Vulture’s sleep schedule is essentially flipped backwards to where she stays up all night and wants to sleep during the day. Vulture says it’s “insomnia” but sometimes she’s up late gaming with Discord friends or watching anime. I couldn’t tell you which issue it was day by day. Sometimes if I go to sleep late, I hear Kid crying from her room because she had night terrors or had potty troubles. Sometimes I hear OLB and Vulture awake shuffling between rooms in the hallway.
Because of this, Vulture and mornings don’t mesh well. Kid is usually put in her room for bedtime around 7 PM, usually with her tablet to keep her company and either give her something to watch, or to play white noises for sleeping. Kid does not have a real sleep routine as well. She’s just kind of shut in her room. Sometimes there’s a bit of a routine like winding her down with chocolate milk and giving her a countdown of “okay, ten more minutes and then bedtime,” but for the most part she just does not want to go to bed. Bedtimes are met with a lot of crying, and the beardy parents telling us that she will be upset for a bit.
Kid has an attempted daily schedule, if Vulture is awake enough. Theoretically:

• 9 AM: Awake and watching TV while Vulture is on her computer in the same room
• 1 PM: In the room for naptime (but it’s usually play time)
• 4 PM: Free to run around while dad is home
• 7 PM: Bedtime (but she’s usually playing then too)

But a lot of times, that schedule gets thrown out of whack depending on if Vulture gets up on time. When she sleeps in, Kid is in her room from 7 PM to 1 PM. Sometimes Kid will make a fuss to make Vulture get up earlier than 1 PM, and Vulture will be grouchy because she “went to bed at four in the morning” because she either had “insomnia” (read: gaming or watching anime) or because Kid wouldn’t sleep. Or Vulture will be up to take care of Kid and make sure she is in a clean pull up and has eaten. Then she shuts her into her room and goes back to sleep. Sometimes if Kid is too much of a handful, Vulture will say, “It’s 12:45. That’s close enough to 1.” And put Kid in the room because that’s close enough to nap time.
Sometimes because Kid won’t go to sleep, she’ll still be up at 9 PM and that breaks her schedule too. A lot of times, it works out that OLB is the “fun” parent while he’s home, because he’s up at 4 AM to leave for work by 6 and doesn’t come home until between 4 or 5 PM. Then she spends time with him while he’s home.
There’s also a child lock on the inside of Kid’s bedroom door, those doorknob covers that you have to push and turn, so she can’t open the door and wander around unsupervised. I was originally the one who suggested the child lock, back when she was younger, and they didn’t have the secondary child gate they currently do now that’s stored in the garage. Since then, with her potty training and Vulture’s likewise awful sleep schedule, I’ve suggested more than once that they take the door handle blocker off and put up the second kiddy gate they have to block the living room and kitchen off, so she can get up if she needs to, but the child lock still remains. At most, she would have access to their room, since it doesn’t have a kiddy lock on it. Me and Z’s bedroom has a child lock on it, as well as the bathroom door. She could freely wander between her room and her parents’ room that way.
I hear Kid playing in her room by herself a lot, squealing and having fun and playing pretend. Or moving her furniture around. And no, the furniture is not secured to the wall, so she can move her bed around the room. I’ve also told OLB and Vulture they needed to make sure she can’t topple it and chain it to the wall but, yeah, that hasn’t been dealt with.
When Kid really needs attention, she will cry and wail. And I mean wail. The two beardy parents don’t have baby monitors or anything that can hear into her bedroom, so she has to wail loudly enough to be heard through the walls. Luckily, the house has thin walls. Because of her early bedtime, she’s often awake early in the morning. Sometimes Vulture will respond, sometimes Vulture won’t wake up until around noon.
Yes, that means Kid is by herself a lot.
Kid is a bubbly three-year-old. She loves it when Z and I give her attention, which admittingly isn’t as often as I would like to give her. With my own Depression™, I spend so much time fighting to just gather enough mental energy to be a productive human. Despite me wandering in a mental fog, Kid remains a bright spot in my day. I met her when she was a fresh baby bean just barely out of the hospital, and I immediately fell in love. Since then, I’ve seen her grow almost her whole life, except for when they were all in north Texas. She has blue eyes and brown hair that will curl on its own. She loves dinosaurs, Baby Shark, Octonauts, and occasionally whatever anime the parents are watching. Don’t ask me how many times I’ve heard the Baby Shark song. I don’t want it stuck in my head for another solid week.
She used to watch a lot of Ms. Rachel’s Songs For Little videos, because originally Vulture wanted Kid to learn sign language to help communicate. I’ve rarely seen Vulture attempt to upkeep the sign language lessons. She did at one point. I think after Kid started becoming more vocal, the idea was dropped. I have heard some of the familiar videos so often that even I learned the kid’s songs, but I guess that’s also part of the collateral when dealing with kid’s media.
Kid usually exists in a half-dressed state, usually just wearing a pull up and that’s it. Unfortunately, because Vulture is so hard on her tangles when she tries to brush her hair, Kid doesn’t like hair care and will fight being brushed. Her hair used to exist in a perpetual state of being matted with at least one major knot, until Vulture’s mom ended up giving her a bath and getting her to stay still enough to endure the brushing, even with the wailing of a protesting Kid going strong. Her hair was then cut to make it more manageable, and strangely, that fixed a lot of the matting problems.
Kid is let out of her room when Vulture wakes up, usually needing a diaper change. At three years old, Kid is not potty trained yet. Just from what I’ve heard from my bedroom, it sounds like OLB and Vulture are finally starting to step up on potty training, but it’s been an uphill fight. I know a few of my other parent friends have had an extremely hard time potty training their kid. I’m not a parent, so I don’t actually know how challenging it can be. I do know though that it shouldn’t sound like the toilet is some kind of punishment for peeing in her cloth panties that they’re trying to switch her to. Or, that they try to get her to sit on the toilet when she has no interest in it and she ends up throwing a tantrum. Unfortunately, without much context, that’s how some bathroom trips sound.
Kid wears pull-ups to bed and the cloth underwear during the day, or sometimes just pull-ups. They’re trying to teach her how to recognize when her body has the potty urge, which she still doesn’t quite get right now. She has literally peed on the tile floor through her cloth undies. Vulture messaged the house chat once saying, “Kid just lifted her leg while in the rolling chair and peed all over the floor.”
You know. Like a dog.
With the potty-training trouble and Kid only sometimes in pull-ups that can contain her mess, Z and I don’t let her into our room as often as we’d like to, because she doesn’t recognize when she has to go. It sucks, because Kid adores spending time with us and our room has cool animals, like my retired psychiatric service dog and our three ferrets. She loves the ferrets. But if we spend time out in the living room with everyone, Z’s patience tends to have a shorter fuse because they can’t stand Vulture (that’s also another tale I have). We’re also stuck out in the general mess of the living room if we are out there with her. It’s either the general mess that toddlers make, spilled food, and general filth. The best times we’ve had spending time with Kid is just chilling in our room as she ooh’s and ahh’s over the ferrets or watches TV with us. Z and I quote SpongeBob line by line daily, and she has watched some of the show with us.
I feel awful about shutting Kid out so much, when I see the way Vulture interacts with her. On Vulture’s bad days (if you read the previous post, that’s almost every day), she acts like Kid is a chore. She will snap at Kid, act like Kid is choosing to act out of maliciousness and make “tired mom” jokes that sound like she just flat out doesn’t like Kid. When I had liquor in the fridge, Vulture would ask if she could take a shot because, “I need it. She’s trying me today.”
Some choice quotes talking down about the kid:
“I’m being hard on her because she’s not using her words. Like I know she can. She just doesn’t want to.” This was what Vulture said to me after Kid kept trying to get her attention and wouldn’t explain what she wanted. Kid was just making noises at her and getting frustrated. Vulture full on shouted, “WHAT!” at her, then turned to me to try and explain why she shouted.
“This is the bad part about being a mom. She’s not letting me do anything right now.” This was said after Vulture cleaned her desk and was attempting to watch YouTube videos and play her Switch.
On her good days, Vulture will be that kind of smiling parent that does some art activities and engages with Kid in a way that’s more than just screaming. They color together. She offers Kid choices so Kid can have some control over what happens in her day, like, “Do you want bologna or fruit?” It has helped Kid become more vocal and even though she’s still speech delayed, she talks more and has a bigger vocabulary.
The house has a different atmosphere when OLB is home, compared to when Vulture is just watching Kid by herself. I’ve told OLB that I think Vulture is burned out. Her entire life is her disabilities and being a mom. She only has friends on Discord really, and OLB had to push her to start talking to them again just so she had someone to socialize with.
Old Doormat me pitied her at the beginning of our friendship. I tried being her friend. I tried to include her and Kid in a lot of things. My own mental health, my daily obligations, my gym schedule, and just me changing rapidly since 2020 altered my life, exhausted me, and left me unable to deal with Vulture talking a million miles a minute, info dumping about whatever she’s currently doing every single time I run into her. And as I shed my doormat self, I started seeing her clearly.
I told OLB once that if Vulture is truly burned out or if her health problems are causing that much trouble, Kid might need daycare or another caregiver to help. OLB is aware but can’t afford other care. He’s working for bottom of the barrel pay at a full-time job. Most days after work, he just wants to zone out to his own games in front of his computer but has to step in and parent both Vulture and Kid, because Vulture often needs help organizing through executive dysfunction to do something. Or, because she will call for his help.
There was one time where Kid climbed on top of her, and Vulture called for OLB – who was in the same room – to pull Kid off her. There are quite a few times where Vulture calls for OLB for help with Kid, and I’ve heard him say that he’s also busy too. One time he asked, “Why are you asking for my help when you’re closer?”
Z has offered to look after Kid at times because they don’t mind Kid being in our room or just hanging out. She has hung out with us when I also have the mental energy and the room is clean enough to accommodate a toddler crawling on everything. The problem that we both see is that our stepping in isn’t a full solution. She can spend a few hours with us, but ultimately after, she goes right back to Vulture and OLB. Vulture is the one who acts like being a parent is a chore.
There are times that OLB has snapped at Vulture for the way she gets on to Kid, emphasizing, “She’s just a child.” Their parenting styles are like looking at two entirely different planets and trying to find similarities. OLB is very much into the gentle parenting side of Tik Tok. He talks about breaking generational trauma. He’s usually gentle with Kid, explaining why she’s not allowed to do things like stand on top of her highchair or why I’m too busy to play with her as I’m zooming around the house in and out repeatedly some days. He has talked her down from meltdowns and keeps his voice even to where she can’t bounce off him to amplify her tantrums. He spanks her, but as a last resort, and then also talks to her about why the punishment happened. She will wail through everything and likely isn’t fully listening, but ultimately, I see him trying to work with her. He very rarely loses his actual temper with her.
Vulture is the total opposite. She yells at Kid, spanks with no hesitation and doesn’t explain why. One of Kid’s favorite games to play is “Block the door” when I’m trying to get through the house. She will block my bedroom door, cling to me, then circle around me as Vulture or OLB tries to distract her or lure her away by asking “do you want chocolate” or some other treat. Sometimes Kid just likes to play ring-around-the-rosie around my legs, as her parents try to grab her. I try to make it fun and seem like I’m not mad at her, because I’m never actually mad at her for blocking my way. Usually, I’m just in the middle of some arbitrary task or running an errand or coming back from the gym with my one remaining brain cell barely hanging on for dear life. I try to engage with her and play it off as a game because she’s not actually doing anything wrong.
Vulture has lured her away with chocolate and treats, with offers of food, with trying to get her to pick a show to watch. If that fails, she will come and fetch Kid by hand. One time involved yanking her physically off me and spanking her on the bare bottom because Kid was happy playing a game instead of listening.
The bare bottom is a thing, too. Because Kid used to live in soiled diapers for much longer than she was supposed to, she had constant diaper rash that she had to see the doctor for sometimes. She also didn’t want OLB or Vulture to change her diapers and would scream when it was diaper change time. I don’t blame her. The diaper rash hurt, and Vulture wasn’t exactly gentle with changing. Kid bled sometimes with the changings. So now, sometimes Kid will be dressed like Donald Duck in only a top to air out her bottom. Or because now, with the cloth undies, she will pee straight through them, and they just let her air out after.
Kid always smells a bit like pee. So does her room. And her bedding. After I pointed out that her bedding straight out of the dryer smelled like urine, OLB went about cleaning the washing machine with a machine cleaner, and bought scent beads to help cut the smell, after I told him that a little vinegar in the wash load will cut the smells down. Now her bedding doesn’t smell so much like urine, but it’s still there.
Her bedroom frequently smells like a public bathroom. It always looks like her bedroom has been turned upside down, with toys everywhere, her bed pushed to the middle of the room, the mattress on the floor. Books she was given were shredded, even the cardboard ones. There was straight up garbage left in her room because she was given food to eat there that had wrappers. It usually takes Vulture a full day of cleaning to get the room organized when she had the energy to do it, but she usually sanitizes with just a baby wipe, if she does at all. Maybe a pet cleaner sometimes.
There was one time where I was letting the dogs outside and I stepped in a puddle on the tile floor. That was when I realized that it was a pee puddle and Kid’s cloth underwear was dripping. I asked Vulture to clean the puddle up. When she asked to use my steam mop, she didn’t clean the cloth pad after, so when I turned the mop on next, it smelled like hot, steamed urine. I had to clean the mop pad off myself and rinse the pee out of it. When Kid again peed in front of the TV in her cloth undies, I told OLB that if they’re going to use my steam mop to make sure that the mop pad is rinsed off or it will smell like pee the next time it’s used, but he said he was just going to use his mop and bucket. Thankfully.
Because of the diet that OLB and Vulture has, Kid also eats like them. She gets a lot of macaroni, a lot of random odds and ends like pieces of bread, baggies of cheerios, sometimes fruit and vegetables. Lots of chicken nuggets and frozen instant food. Occasionally, Kid will have an interest in vegetables she sees us cook with or that she’s never had. Like once she insisted that she wanted to eat canned peas, until she tasted them. She chewed on a lettuce leaf and put it down, then asked for another one because she wanted to eat something, and it looked tasty to her.
The two halves of the household make separate foods now and keep out of each other’s food, but sometimes Vulture will give Kid some of the food I cooked because Kid saw my spaghetti noodles in a bowl and insisted on having them by way of tantrum. Instead of asking me if it’s okay (which obviously, I’d say yes, Kid can have some), Vulture just gave her my food and then told me after. Maybe I’m just projecting my own frustration, but it feels like Vulture uses Kid as a shield sometimes, to get food. Unless I have a specific purpose for food like what I put in my meal prep containers, I wouldn’t say no to Kid.
Kid’s diet makes me worried for her as she grows up. OLB is big and tall, over 6 feet tall and over 300lbs. They aren’t an active family at all. Kid drinks soda when they get fast food. She eats as much processed food as Vulture. Right now, she’s growing like a weed and is tall and actually has some power in her tiny limbs, which is most noticeable when she climbs you like a ladder, but her parents are gamers that just sit around. Her own screen time is almost as lengthy as theirs is.
I worry about Kid, constantly. Z does too. We have theorized calling CPS, or trying to adopt her, or just getting her away from Vulture. We have thrown around ideas about talking to OLB and convincing him that Vulture isn’t a good person for Kid. A lot of it has stayed in theory because the anxious part of me is still afraid to make life-altering waves like that. I second-guess and gaslight myself into realizing how bad things are, but then telling myself, maybe I’m just blowing it out of proportion. Maybe it's just something they have to handle. Maybe it’s something a first-time parent needs to learn. Maybe Vulture just isn’t feeling good that day. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
It’s a leftover of the doormat I used to be, and I know that. The tiny fragment of anxiety that tells me I’m blowing things up into too big a deal. The tiny fragment that escaped a toxic marriage and just wants peace after arguing every single day. The side that hates confrontation.
Maybe I’m just a plain ol’ coward. I don’t know yet. I just know my patience is running thinner with every passing day.
I don’t think I could convince OLB to dump Vulture. From what I’ve seen on the surface, they’re not openly affectionate. Vulture complains all the time that OLB doesn’t give her any physical affection, and she (unfortunately) tells me when they’re intimate, which doesn’t sound often. They almost look like they could be friends that are co-parenting. She calls him her husband when they’re out in public, and OLB has stated that he doesn’t want anything to happen to her, because he doesn’t want a single parent. I assume at the very least that he does love her, even though he sounds exhausted all the time. Z and I wonder if maybe he feels trapped.
OLB is good at asking for help if he needs it, although he hates being a burden to others. He will speak up if Vulture needs a ride to a doctor’s office, and he forgot to leave the car seat at home. I’ve driven to his work to pick it up after he messaged me asking if I could. They ask his family to babysit Kid if they want to go out and just have a good date or see a movie together. They are clearly capable of asking for help.
This is just an acceptable standard for both, or at least that’s the way it seems to me. Sometimes, I don’t truly know if OLB is aware of what Vulture does while he’s at work. He didn’t know that she used his 11-year-old dog as a vacuum cleaner to clean up spilled table scraps until I pointed it out and then he pieced together why his dog wasn’t losing weight on a reduced kibble diet. Sometimes I have pointed out things to him that he might not notice in the house chat.
I started keeping a log in Google Docs about things I notice, and Z and I talk about it in discord, so it’s not heard by ears that are too close to our bedroom. The log started helping me see that I’m not just blowing out of proportion and that in turn helped me come here to reddit. As a former doormat in recovery, I still have to tell myself that it’s okay to realize that something is wrong, and that I may need help getting my voice to speak up.
I haven’t worked since 2017, when my mental health took a sharp nosedive. Z is currently looking for work. Both of us are home all day exposed to Vulture and how she treats Kid. With my own daily tasks, errands, struggling with mental health, there’s still a side of me that berates me that I need to be taking care of Kid. Getting her up, making sure she eats. Pestering Vulture to get up. This is also where I tangle with the former doormat that still lives in me, because one, I don’t want to enable Vulture to get even worse. With someone taking the burden off of her, that gives her more free time to just sit back and game. It isn’t my job to make sure that Vulture is a good parent, yet somehow, I feel like it’s also my fault that she’s as bad as she is while I sit by the wayside and just talk about her behind her back. There are times where I have pestered OLB through discord about Kid crying, or how Kid is trying to beat the door down, or asking if Vulture is up for the day because I haven’t seen her up at three in the afternoon.
I started speaking up when I noticed something that’s off. I call this the “cheese incident.” We had a block of cheese that was cut in the wrapper and not in anything else, so the exposed end got all hard and inedible. I cut it off and threw it away. Vulture made her way into the kitchen because Kid saw me cutting cheese and wanted some.
Vulture: Who threw away that cheese?
(SHE PICKS IT UP OUT OF THE TRASH CAN)
Me: Yeah, it’s got that hard bit
Vulture: So? I know someone who will eat it.
(She calls Kid over)
Me: But it was in the trash.
Vulture: It’s okay, I cut off the part that was touching the trash.
Me: Dude, that’s fucked up.
Vulture: (hesitating now) Should I not?
Me: That’s probably going to make her sick again.
(Kid has been sick back-to-back at this point)
Vulture: Okay, then I won’t.
(To this day, I don’t know if she threw the cheese away or ate it herself, and I’m afraid to ask)
That was the point where I started pointing out that what she’s doing is problematic. It’s a slow process, but it’s helped me put the doormat side of me away again. I’ve explained to Vulture that Kid isn’t crying to be malicious, she just can’t express what she wants. Especially with Kid’s speech delay! Kid gets frustrated fast when adults don’t understand her, and the wailing begins. There’s no maliciousness behind it, just frustration. Or how Kid doesn’t like being told “no” because she doesn’t always understand why. Strangely, every time I call something out, she doesn’t really have much of a fight against it.
But why am I having to say it in the first place?
There’s little things that just rub me the wrong way in how they interact. Sometimes Vulture will call Kid over in the same way you’d call a dog. Repeatedly. Sometimes Vulture, in a state of migraine or other illness-related grouchiness will scream at her “Leave me alone!” and OLB will have to fetch Kid. One time, Z told me that Vulture outright mocked her crying by making her own crying noise.
What’s awful to watch in person is that when Vulture’s mom or siblings are over, Vulture is suddenly a doting mom who isn’t perpetually exhausted or loudly complaining about how her “everything” hurts. She talks in an overly sweet voice to Kid. It unsettles me with how two-faced it seems. OLB, Vulture, and Kid go have dinner with OLB’s family every Sunday evening, and I can’t help but wonder how two-faced she is there, as well. Some of OLB’s family doesn’t like Vulture to begin with.
Slowly, I am losing patience at how Vulture behaves, especially with the Kid. I had to un-gaslight myself, start logging her behavior, and talk to other people to really see it for what it was. I told multiple friends about it and we all generally have the same consensus that Vulture is just an unfit parent. If her chronic illnesses are truly interfering with her life that much, she shouldn’t be the majority caregiver through the day. But it’s not like OLB would be able to work from home or be the stay-at-home parent. In a perfect world, I would be able to help more as well, but I’m barely the “fun” aunt. I’m barely equipped to help care for a three-year-old. Hell, most days I’m barely an actual person.
Kid deserves better.
Bottom line, Kid deserves better than what this house can give. I am upset with myself over my lack of action, but the logs have only been growing bigger. Every day, the doormat dies a little more.
Vulture herself though, will likely always be a side show. One thing that Z pointed out to me was that, as the doormat I used to be, I would give everything to help someone even when I was mentally exhausted. I enmeshed myself too much into the lives of my friends because I loved making them happy and making their lives easier. It’s gotten me into some awkward territory with Vulture, because some things were interpreted as more than friendship.
You ready to cringe more? Because the next part is going to deal with polyamory, the desire for open relationships, and the main reason why Z despises her – and that’s putting it mildly.
Take a moment to un-cringe yourself. It ain’t over yet.

The time for figuring out conference strength is over. It's now time to figure out who the best is in each conference. In a way, this is a more important segment of the season, taking up 2/3 of the time and a majority of the games. From the MEAC Celebration Event to the Conference Tournaments, everything is on the line here.
And fortunately, the concentration of the top 25 in six conferences means we've got a lot of important games. We even kick off with a battle between two top 10 teams! Let's get to it.
*****
#6 Michigan State (9-3, 0-0) at #7 Michigan (9-3, 0-0). Michigan's struggle down the stretch, with two consecutive losses, leaves them behind their rival in the current rankings. But right away, they'll get a chance to fix it.
"Little Brother thinks they mean something right now, huh?" Juwan Howard joked. "We're ready for this. Forget about Big Ten, tournament seeding, ranking. We just wanna whup 'em."
Both teams faced off against top competition in the non-conference schedule, but Michigan holds the bigger upset, knocking off Duke in a stunning development. Michigan State, meanwhile, lost one of their three games with a short bench thanks to a brawl against Notre Dame.
"We're not doing that again if that's what you're asking," coach Tom Izzo said. "We're going to prove our might on the court by winning the game."
ROSTERS
​

Michigan State Spartans (9-3, 0-0)	#	Michigan Wolverines (9-3, 0-0)
Miles BRIDGES	0	Trey BURKE
Jamie FEICK	1	Jamal CRAWFORD
Draymond GREEN	2	Rickey GREEN
Johnny GREEN	3	Tim HARDAWAY Jr
Jaren JACKSON Jr	4	Juwan HOWARD
Magic JOHNSON	5	Phil HUBBARD
Morris PETERSON	6	Tim MCCORMICK
Zach RANDOLPH	7	Mike MCGEE
Jason RICHARDSON	8	Glen RICE
Ralph SIMPSON	9	Jalen ROSE
Scott SKILES	10	Campy RUSSELL
Steve SMITH	11	Cazzie RUSSELL
Eric SNOW	12	Roy TARPLEY
Jay VINCENT	13	Rudy TOMJANOVICH
Kevin WILLIS	14	Chris WEBBER

LINE: Michigan by 2
*****
In addition to the conference play, there will be two sets of non-conference games going on during this season. One is a series of exhibitions in the ACC, as the North Division, Charter Division, and South Division All-Stars play a round robin. The North draws from Boston College, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. The Charter draws from Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Wake Forest. The South draws from Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami of Florida, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Each squad sends three players to the All-Star showcases.
In addition, the MEAC teams will play an 8-team "in-season tournament" called the Celebration Tournament. Opening matches and positions in the bracket were decided by random draw. Your performance in the tournament is the second tiebreaker (behind in-season head-to-head) for conference standings.
*****
TOP 25 MATCHUPS
#18 DePaul (8-4, 0-0) at Georgetown (8-4, 0-0)
Providence (7-5, 0-0) at #15 Connecticut (9-3, 0-0)
#19 Illinois (8-4, 0-0) at #8 Indiana (10-2, 0-0)
#6 Michigan State (9-3, 0-0) at #7 Michigan (9-3, 0-0)
Minnesota (8-4, 0-0) at #13 Maryland (9-3, 0-0)
Wisconsin (8-4, 0-0) at #12 Ohio State (9-3, 0-0)
#17 Houston (9-3, 0-0) at #16 Texas (9-3, 0-0)
Iowa State (8-4, 0-0) at #4 Kansas (10-2, 0-0)
Texas Tech (8-4, 0-0) at #21 Cincinnati (9-3, 0-0)
California (9-3, 0-0) at #11 Southern Cal (9-3, 0-0)
Oregon (8-4, 0-0) at #10 Arizona (9-3, 0-0)
Stanford (8-4, 0-0) at #1 UCLA (12-0, 0-0)
#2 Kentucky (11-1, 0-0) at #25 Auburn (8-4, 0-0)
Mississippi State (7-5, 0-0) at #20 LSU (9-3, 0-0)
Tennessee (8-4, 0-0) at #23 Arkansas (9-3, 0-0)
Vanderbilt (7-5, 0-0) at #22 Alabama (9-3, 0-0)
ACC ALL-STAR CHALLENGE: Team South vs. Team Charter in Charlotte

Episode 6
Back in the woods just west of Cincinnati in a dilapidated barn, Ridgemont and his supervisor, Harlan Brooks, were surveying the area to put signs to indicate the rural and largely undisturbed nowhere they stood was to become the path of a major railway.
In the frenzied gnats and baking sun beside an old rusting Ford F-250 just under the cover of the barn. On the back window, a sticker still visible that read “I will NOT worship your DEIty,” they had stopped for a break before they headed back to their state vehicle parked off the main road.
Brooks was a hard-working man who had been in the same department – installing wayfinding signs for the state – going on almost 23 years. He was a simple man, easy going…always on time and rarely took any sort of extended vacations.
“You do gotta be careful,” he explained to Ridgemont. “This can be a dangerous job. We’re lifting up a ten foot square of sheet metal – something happens…it ain’t secure or something…you’re lookin at a giant guillotine.”
“Has anything ever happened?” Ridgemont asked him.
“I seen it one time,” Brooks began. “About 15 years ago, we were up over just north of Cincinnati, below Clifton puttin up a new exit ramp sign. I hadn’t quite made supervisor yet, I was still on crew. This particular day we had a community service group putting in their hours they had assigned to us. And in our group, we had a new guy, about 22 years old, named Alberto. Two of the community service walk-ons were up in the bucket getting it secured to the frame and Alberto went underneath to get a look at how it was lining up. Well one of them in the bucket thought the other one had it bolted on already and they let it go and it fell straight down through Alberto’s neck and out his torso…it cut him in half, pool fella. I almost quit. One of the worst sights I ever seen.”
“Wow,” said Ridgemont, obviously unphased.
“So 2 warnings,” said Brooks, “don’t stand under no signs and we always do a triple check to make sure it’s bolted on tight before anyone lets it go.”
Ridgemont looked out into the woods, “So where’s this rail going?” he asked.
“As far as we’re concerned, to the river,” he said. “But I think it’s supposed to go down to Wichita.”
“How many signs do we need to do for this one?” Ridgemont asked.
“Says 6 from downtown Cincinnati to the river at Delhi Hills – then the Kentucky crew will take it from there. Typically we’ll get our order form for the week, usually about 50 -60 new signs, change-outs, inspections…and when we’re done with those – we’re done for the week. So we can usually finish up by Thursday – a 4 day work week. Not bad, you know.”
“Yeah,” Ridgemont said…”not bad.”
Vance Owens stood inside the Kentucky state capitol building, speaking into what was known as the media box – dubbed ‘the meadow’. It was a virtual reality room in which anyone or podcaster or syndicate could pull the feed and comment, ask questions. The senator was providing commentary on the developing space program and the new discovery of an Earth-like planet found orbiting the star, Alkaid in the Ursa Major constellation.
“Kentucky – particularly Mayfield – is committed to being a central hub and accommodating location for the pursuant space program and new efforts to reach the stars,” he said. “We are right off the Ohio River, feeding into the Mississippi. We are at a geographic location that isn’t light-polluted and Kentuckians are ready to take on this challenge and take this generation into distant reaches of the galaxy.”
Someone in the VR indicated via light that she had a question.
Owens pointed over, acknowledging.
“Thank you, Senator Owens. Recent talks have definitely gotten people talking and this all seems very ambitious. Given that the CIRN Federation is the leader in space exploration and these announcements around coming on the heels of their admittedly, now-failed ten year colonization efforts of Mars, what kinds of resistance do you expect for America 2 to pursue a mission lightyears away?” asked the woman.
“Well I think that’s a valid and grounded skepticism to hold,” he answered. “And I understand this is an uphill battle to gain public trust in the mission and we will need all 5 American sektors on board – but I have seen the science and new technology behind what might be possible and I want Kentucky to be at the forefront of this – that’s a gamble I’m ready to take.”
It was about 8PM when Ridgemont and Madame Tandoori arrived at the little studio of Ron Rosen. It was a converted upstairs bedroom of a fairly unimpressive house in north Cincinnati. Rosen had a sizeable following – but that didn’t translate to wealth. He made above the universal basic income, but no enough to be extravagant. Most of the people who hung around his house just used drugs, wasting away.
The pair walked up to Rosen’s upstairs studio and took a seat. The lottery numbers would be called at 9PM and Rosen would compare with the numbers Madame Tandoori had chosen the night before. The hour leading up to the drawing was spent with Rosen veiled insulting the pair and other jokes at their expense as the room of his ‘yes men’ types laughed.
It was 8:55 and Rosen shifted his conversation but maintained his tone of Ridgemont and Madame Tandoori being the butt of his jokes, “Alright, it’s about the moment we’ve all been waiting for…they’re about to call the lottery numbers in 5 minutes. And so last night, I asked you to put your powers to the test, and you filled out a six-numbered lottery ticket, the Cold Cash Slamma Jamma and we will reveal here, in real time how you did,” he said with inflections of cynicism.
He turned in his seat and opened a vault with a sealed envelope and asked one of his co-hosts to open them and hand the ticket to Madame Tandoori. Rosen had been insulting her all evening long and this was to be the climax of the show in which he would completely humiliate her.
“And before they call this, I want to let be known, I am so confident in this that I found a casino to take this bet at massive odds and I put down $30,000 betting you would not get any more than 3 numbers correct – and I only gave you that allowance in the event of random dumb luck. But that’s how confident I am that you are a fraud,” he said.
“Wow,” she said, unphased and looked over at Ridgemont. “I’ll tell you what, I don’t want you to walk away empty-handed, so when I win, you can have half the ticket.”
They all laughed. He asked one of his co-hosts what the winning jackpot prize was, and it was $2.63 billion.
“So it’s a win-win,” Rosen said. “Either way lads, we’re gonna be moving into a much nicer studio, better house…”
The lottery came up and the numbers began coming up and they were; 45-19-18-02-37-20.
Rosen looked up and said, “Okay, so 2, 18,19,20, 37, 45…as if the odds weren’t bad enough, but the odds of 3 consecutive numbers like that? 18,19,20….but let’s get to the main course…Madame Tandoori…please reveal your ticket to the us and 44 million other people watching around the world right now.”
She looked at Ridgemont and they grinned at each other. She held up the ticket and it read, 02, 18,19,20,37,45.
Rosen’s crew erupted. Rosen went pale, stunned and then flush red in the face, terrified. “That’s impossible,” he uttered.
He looked around and back at her, “Well, at least I get half!”
She looked at him and said, “Yep, I’m a woman of my word, here is your half,” and she ripped the ticket in half and gave it to him and ate her half.
The room was split between people shocked and people screaming.
“You sick bitch!” Rosen screamed at her. “Shut down the stream!” he yelled. “You two are dead!” He was slamming his fist on the table.
He jumped up to lunge at Madame Tandoori and as he was charging toward her he stopped and grabbed his head, screaming. His eyes rolled back into his head and his mouth agape and tongue hanging out. His arms, wrists, fingers and legs were locking and spasming and he fell to the ground. Madame Tandoori watched and looked back at Ridgemont, who sat there stone expressionless watching Rosen convulse on the ground.
One of the guys in the room got up and started charging toward Ridgemont, “What the fuck did you do??!”
As he was about to shove Ridgemont with his massive arms, he stopped and grabbed his chest, gasping for breath and collapsed.
Just outside the home studio of Ron Rosen, in a nice vehicle, sat Daphne Chambers. She looked up to the window of the studio and Madame Tandoori walked up to the window and looked outside at her and they looked one another in the eyes.
“We’ve got enough room for one more,” Madame Tandoori told her through their minds.
Daphne started the car and drove off.
Come back next week for Episode 7

warriors 2023 Dubs Draft Primer

This will be the primer for warriors on everything draft related. Once the draft is done, another version focusing more on the offseason will come out. Until then, here is the aggregated version of a mostly draft-focused primer (with a few other stuff added).

2023 NBA Draft Date: Thursday June 22, 2023

Confirmed Draft Workouts (Last Updated: 6/3)

Reminder: These workouts aren't just for the 19th pick. It's for the possible undrafted players to recruit for the Summer League, Training Camp, Two-way spots, and/or Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors' G-league). In case you forget and came to complain about working out guards or the fact they are working out prospects at all.

Prospect	Age	Height - Position	School/Team/Org	Date of Source
Leaky Black	23	6'9 - Forward	UNC	5/3 - Jeremiah Holloway
Tristen Newton	22	6'5 - Guard	UConn	5/4 - Colin Deaver
Coleman Hawkins*	21	6'10 - Big,F/C	Illinois	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Trayce Jackson-Davis	23	6'9 - Big,C	Indiana	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Craig Porter Jr	23	6'0 - Guard	Wichita State	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Julian Strawther	21	6'7 - Wing	Gonzaga	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Kendric Davis	24	6'0 - Guard	Memphis	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Caleb Daniels	24	6'4 - Guard	Villanova	5/26 - Anthony Slater
Khalil Shabazz	24	6'0 - Guard	University of San Francisco	5/30 - Jason Dumas
Brandin Podziemski	20	Guard/Wing	Santa Clara	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Colby Jones	21	6'6 - Wing	Xavier	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Terquavion Smith	20	6'4 - Guard	NC State	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Jake Stephens	23	6'11 - Big	Chattanooga	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Patrick Gardner	23	6'11 - Big	Marist	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Omari Moore	22	6'5 - Wing	SJSU	5/30 - CJ Holmes
Jamie Jaquez Jr	22	6'7 - Guard	UCLA	5/31 - Anthony Slater
Dereck Lively II	19	7'1 - Big	Duke	6/2 - Anthony Slater
Jalen Wilson	22	6'8 - Wing	Kansas	6/2 - Anthony Slater
Colin Castleton	23	6'11 - Big	Florida	6/2 - Anthony Slater
Keyontae Johnson	23	6'6 - Wing	Kansas State	6/2 - Anthony Slater
Arthur Kaluma	21	6'7 - Wing	Creighton	6/2 - Anthony Slater
Gabe Kalscheur	23	6'4 - Guard	TCU	6/2 - Darren Wolfson
Ben Sheppard	21	6-6 - Wing	Belmont	6/3 - Jonathan Wasserman

*Dropped out of the draft/Returned to School/Team/Org

Mock Drafts for 19th (Last Updated: 6/3)

Publication/Individual Source	Date of Mock Draft		Age	Height - Position	School/Team/Org	Brief Summary of Reason	Add'l Notes
The Athletic (Sam Vecenie) [PAYWALL]	5/16	Jalen Hood-Schifino	20	6'6 - Wing	Indiana	1. Warriors like well-rounded propsects 2. Team tends to draft younger recently 3. Ballhandling depth (esp if Poole is traded)	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced. Due to paywall here is the 3 picks ahead + 3 picks behind 19th: 16)Kris Murray; 17)Jordan Hawkins; 18)Keyonte George; 20)Dariq Whitehead; 21)Brice Sensabaugh; 22)Jett Howard
ESPN/Draft Express (Jonathan Givony & Jeremy Woo) [PAYWALL]	5/31	Rayan Rupert	19	6'7 - Wing	New Zeland Breakers	Rupert targeting playoff contenders > draft positions. Defensive-minded prospect w 7'2 wingspan+high intensity could help the Warriors who needed stops during the playoffs	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced. Due to paywall here is the 3 picks ahead + 3 picks behind 19th: 16)Kobe Bufkin; 17)Cason Wallace; 18)Jett Howard; 20)Noah Clownley; 21)Bilal Coulibaly; 22)Leonard Miller
The Ringer (Kevin O'Connor)	5/16	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	2nd try at drafting a young big * Defense, Rebounding shown * Steph could unlock the offensive side	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wasserman)	6/2	Jett Howard	19	6'8 - Wing	Michigan	Wing depth w shooting versatility + occasional self-creation. Questions about athleticism + defense	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Yahoo! Sports (Krysten Peek)	5/16	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	Nothing Dubs specific - Shot blocker + Rebounder that can contribute right away	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
SB Nation (Ricky O'Donnell)	5/16	Leonard Miller	19	6'10 - Forward	G League Ignite	Nothing Dubs specific - Upside. Good touch around basket. Defensive versatility (when locked in).	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Sports Illustrated (Matt Babcock)	5/23	Kris Murray	22	6'8 - Wing	Iowa	Nothing Dubs specific - Scorer. Offensive board getter. Stretch 4. Solid and safe.	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
NBC Sports( Chas Hughes & Tyler Byrum)	5/27	Jalen Hood-Schifino	20	6'6 - Wing	Indiana	Nothing Warriors specific - Big guard that penetrate paint and facilitate.	Post-combine/pro days + Pre-NCAA returners announced.
CBS Sports (Gary Parrish)	5/22	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	Nothing Dubs specific - Rim protecting big	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
CBS Sports (Kyle Boone)	5/26	Trey Alexander*	20	6'3 - Guard/Wing	Creighton	Nothing Dubs specific - Improved stock after combine. Evolved from athletic wing => playmaking guard. Two-way potential	*Has returned to college since
Fox Sports (John Fanta)	5/18	Kobe Bufkin	19	6'4 - Guard	Michigan	Adds depth and athleticism. 2-way talent. Describes a better Jordan Poole.	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
USA Today (Lindsay Schnel, Cydney Henderson, Jeff Zillgitt)	5/17	Rayan Rupert	19	6'7 - Wing	New Zeland Breakers	Nothing Dubs specific - Solid year in the pro league + 7'3 wingspan	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
USA Today FTW (Bryan Kalbrosky)	5/16	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	Nothing Dubs specific	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Rookie Wire FTW (Cody Taylor)	6/2	Jett Howard	19	6'8 - Wing	Michigan	Warriors could use more shooting + shown he can do more than just shoot	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Yardbarker (Pat Heery)	5/31	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	2nd try at drafting a young big. Trade asset.	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
The Sporting News (Kyle Irving)	5/17	Brice Sensabaugh	19	6'6 - Wing	Ohio State	More perimeter shooting around Steph & Klay. Excel as a floor spacer. Might not be an immediate contributor, but can be a scoring depth for the 2nd unit	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Box and One (Adam Spinella/Coach Spins)	6/2	Dariq Whitehead	18	6'6 - Wing	Duke	Warriors need more wings who can play offball. Notes Whitehead has high school pedigree which is something Warriors have valued (Nico Mannion, PBJ, etc)	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
No Ceilings	5/17	Gradey Dick	19	6'8 - Wing	Kansas	Really good system fit + Adds another theoretically reliable shooter. Also only mock draft that has Gradey Dick falling down this far so doubt this one.	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
@MavsDraft (Richard Stayman)	5/19	Brice Sensabaugh	19	6'6 - Wing	Ohio State	-	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
Tankathon	6/1	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	-	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
NBAdraft.net	5/31	Dereck Lively II	19	7'1- Big	Duke	-	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
NBA Draft Room	6/3	Brice Sensabaugh	19	6'6 - Wing	Ohio State	Nothing Dubs specific - Powerful wing with an advanced offensive game	Post-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.
u/nghbrhd_slackr87's Optimistic Pick	5/18	Jaime Jaquez Jr	22	6'7 - Guard	UCLA	Read it Here	Pre-combine/pro days + NCAA returners announced.

Draft Picks (Source)

Year	Round	Owns	Owed
2023	1	✔	-
2023	2	❌	CLE
2024	1	❔ (If Top 4)	MEM (If 5-30)
2024	2	❌	HOU or CLE
2025	1	❔ (If 2024 conveys OR keeps 2024 + Top 1)	MEM (If 2024 is Top 4 AND 2-30)
2025	2	❌	DET or WAS
2025	2	❔ (From CHA If 56-60)	-
2026	1	❔ (If 2025 conveys)	MEM (If 2024 ends up Top 4 AND 2025 ends up Top 1)
2026	2	❌	ATL
2027	1	✔	-
2027	2	✔	-
2028	1	✔	-
2028	2	❌	POR
2029	1	✔	-
2029	2	✔	-
2030	1	✔	-
2030	2	✔	-

News Reporting

Changing of the GM:

• Wojnarowski - 5/30: "Golden State's GM Bob Myers is stepping down as the franchise's president and general manager. With Myers' departure, Warriors owner Joe Lacob is expected to seek more prominent roles for his son, Kirk, an executive vice president of basketball operations, and VP of basketball operations Mike Dunleavy Jr."
• Slater - 5/31: "Warriors actually had a pre-draft workout while Myers and Lacob were doing their Tuesday afternoon press conference. It included Jaime Jaquez Jr., the UCLA wing who is an option for them with the 19th pick. Larry Harris, their long-time leader of college scouting, and Mike Dunleavy Jr., the presumed successor to Myers, ran it."
• Steinmetz - 6/2: "According to my sources, Mike Dunleavy Jr. is going to be the next General Manager of the Golden State Warriors. If the money is right, Dunleavy is going to be the guy."

Kenny Atkinson:

• Stein - 6/3: "Kenny Atkinson recently interviewed in Toronto for the Raptors' coaching vacancy, league sources say."

Draymond Green & Klay Thompson Extensions:

• Slater&Charania - 5/12: "Warriors intend to discuss a new multi-year contract with Green, either via an opt in and extend or an entirely new deal after an opt out, sources briefed on the matter tell The Athletic. Green has leverage: He is expected to have multiple playoff-contending teams in pursuit if he enters the open market"
• Wojnarowski - 4/16: "[Klay] Thompson, I'm told, has an expectation that he would be rewarded with a new, max-level contract extension this offseason"
• Slater&Charania - 5/12: "Thompson is extension eligible this summer. He’s making $43.2 million on the final year of his deal next season. If he’s to extend with the Warriors this summer, the expectation is he’d have to accept a paycut, as Andrew Wiggins did last summer"

Jonathan Kuminga's Future:

• Slater&Charania - 5/12: "The Warriors and Kuminga’s representatives are expected to discuss his future this offseason, league sources say. Golden State will need to decide whether Kuminga will receive a full-time role moving forward, and, if not, league sources say the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft will want to be somewhere he can play more."
• Dumas - 5/13: "I’m told Jonathan Kuminga aims to split his off-season time in Miami, NYC, and LA. He wants to participate in alot of NBA open runs and showcase to people around the league what he can do on the court."

Players

Guaranteed to be on Next Year's Roster & Salary (Source):

Player	2023-24 Salary	Notes	Contract End Date(s)
Steph Curry	$51.9 mil	Vet Ext (Supermax)/Bird	2026 (UFA)
Klay Thompson	$43.2 mil	FA (Max)/Bird	2024 (UFA)
Jordan Poole	$27.4 mil	Rookie Ext/Bird	2027 (UFA)
Andrew Wiggins	$24.3 mil	Vet Ext/Bird	2026 (PO) / 2027 (UFA)
Gary Payton II	$8.7 mil	Acquired via Trade	2025(PO) / 2025(UFA)
Kevon Looney	$7.5 mil	FA/Bird	2024(Part-Gtd) / 2025(UFA)
Jonathan Kuminga	$6 mil	Drafted/Rookie Scale	2024(TO) / 2025(RFA)
Moses Moody	$3.9 mil	Drafted/Rookie Scale	2024(TO) / 2025(RFA)
Patrick Baldwin Jr	$2.3 mil	Drafted/Rookie Scale	2025(TO) / 2026(TO) / 2027(RFA)
Ryan Rollins	$1.7 mil	Drafted/TPMLE	2025(Part-Gtd) / 2025(RFA)
19th Pick	$2.75 mil (est)	Drafted/Rookie Scale	2027(RFA)

Player Options:

• Draymond Green: $27.5 mil PO
• Donte DiVincenzo: $4.725 mil PO

Upcoming Free Agents:

• Andre Igoudala (UFA - Retirement Eligible)
• JaMychal Green (UFA)
• Anthony Lamb (RFA/Non-Bird - 2-Way Eligible)
• Ty Jerome (UFA - Not 2-Way Eligible)
• Lester Quinones (RFA - 2-Way)

CBA Stuff (Source)

Brief version to keep in mind. More detailed one will come once the draft is done
Salary Cap (League's 2023-24 est.): $134 million
Luxury Tax (League's 2023-24 est.): $162 million
Second Apron (League's 2023-24 est.): $179.5+ million ($17.5+ mil above the luxry tax)

• Affected Teams (But harder to go under): Warriors, Clippers
• Affected Teams (But easier to go under): Bucks, Celtics, Mavericks, Lakers, Suns

2nd Apron Punishments Confirmed to Start 2023-24 Season:

• No more TPMLE
  • 2022-23 TPMLE Usage: Signed Donte DiVicenzo + Signed Ryan Rollins to a 3rd partial-gtd year
  • 2021-22 TPMLE Usage: Didn't use TPMLE
  • 2020-21 TPMLE Usage: Signed Brad Wanamaker, Signed Juan Toscano-Anderson (2-way conversion)
• Limits on signing buyout candidates: No one making over Non-Taxpayer MLE of the season (2023-24: >$12.2 mil)

Only paths to add talent now is through:

• Minimum/Vet minimum contracts
• Draft picks
• Trades

Last week's post https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ubbfv/roundup_bats_bugs_and_ufos_reported_on_here_in/ held as of 5:12 pm released at 7:41 pm eastern https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13ubdrc/roundup_ufos_and_potentially_related_things/
.1 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13ucs3i/ultra_colorful_light_ball_flys_in_the_night_sky/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, multicolored 🌈, observed moving, color change observed, flew overhead, first observed red with a white center, As it flew it started changing colors .
.2 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uc5jk/may_27_2023_1239am_1246am_central_texas/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, fleet, following one after the other, 9 objects observed, orange 🟠, central Texas , fire lanterns
.3 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ua44u/multiple_ufos_moving_slowly_across_the_sky/ video, daytime sky, fleet, one with pulsating lights, Chicago Illinois, urban area, bird for comparison, moving slowly
.4 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uw9xo/what_is_this_in_the_sky/ video, nighttime sky, hard to see
.5 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uvzb0/remember_the_ufo_over_ohare_in_2006_i_do_and_i/ sighting description, Chicago O'Hare incident, daytime cloudy sky, single object stationary duration 40 minutes, over airport, sudden departure upward
.6 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uh4fm/south_shore_long_island_52823/ video, nighttime cloudy sky, single light object moving fast, contemporaneous report, South shore long Island New York state, similar sightings in comments , flew over the witness home
.7 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uir4j/drone_pic_caught_tonight_may_28th/ photo, nighttime sky, from drone, fourlights, contemporaneous report, similar sighting in comments, Cumming Georgia
.8 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13unyx1/sphere_over_my_garden_only_visible_with_thermal/ video, nighttime, single light object, from infrared, not visible to eye, low over backyard, Cologne Germany 🇩🇪
.9 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uwo25/seen_over_naperville_il_52823_10pm/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, Naperville Illinois, silent , single light object, multicolored 🌈, observed moving fast, sudden acceleration
.10 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13v36gv/fort_myers_florida_52623/ video from live image, daytime cloudy sky, fort Meyers Florida, single dark object moving fast downward, batman balloon type
.11 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ujn1k/ufo_or_satellite/ sighting description, nighttime, single light object moving fast, trajectory change observed, curved to the left, multicolored, Puerto Vallarta Mexico 🇲🇽
.12 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uvohu/plasma_ball_shoots_away_from_me_when_trying_to/ video, nighttime sky, from telescope, single light object, possible reaction to being filmed, vanishing, two witnesses
.13 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13umkqu/three_years_ago_i_had_a_dream_about_a/ dream description, information, Had a dream, in which I was on board a ufo and was taught about an alien society. They valued happiness, self-actualization, and belonging. They understood the existence of thoughtforms and embraced temporary identities. Their economy focused on equality, less waste, and innovation. They had an AI-operated bank and emphasized education and direct democracy
.14 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13td1at/the_exact_spot_where_the_girls_spotted_the_alien/ original research, varginha incident, photo of location
.15 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13utjka/followed_weird_light_that_jumped_over_anothe video, nighttime sky, moving stars, north Florida, contemporaneous report, similar sighting in comments, it would move rapidly, stop, backtrack and then go forward again all at varying speeds and there was no sound at all., silent
.16 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13uy3g7/mantis_phobia/ childhood experience description, entity, mantis type, emotion of fear
.17 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13uh7g1/spotted_above_columbus_oh_today_still_hovering/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, single dark object, observed stationary, Columbus Ohio https://old.reddit.com/Columbus/comments/13ty4an/power_outage/ possible electronic effects power outage
.18 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13v97pu/visited_the_site_of_the_rendlesham_incident_today/ photos, site of the rendlesham forest incident, art 🎨, sculpture, daytime
.19 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vwqjs/my_girlfriend_just_sent_me_this_is_it_a_drone_a/ video, daytime cloudy sky, contemporaneous report, single light object, tictac, low over rooftop, Umbria Italy 🇮🇹, "Airplane"
.20 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vbo2g/legit_curious_are_there_other_experiencers_on/ discussion of close events, sighting description and drawing, family story, Texas, nighttime, low over rooftops, flying saucer, three objects, three witnesses, [GOODPOST], possible reaction to being observed, trajectory change, similar sightings in comments
.21 https://old.reddit.com/Cleveland/comments/13uvy4e/two_f16_fly_by_west_cleveland/jm4pdu9/ sighting description, cylinder, Cleveland Ohio, possible military response, jets https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vaa33/f16_flybys_near_cleveland_on_memorial_day/ description, airplane anomaly , unusual flight path signs and appearance
.22 https://old.reddit.com/StLouis/comments/13vook6/anyone_else_see_some_weird_shapes_in_the_sky/ photos, daytime cloudy sky, st Louis Missouri, contemporaneous report, single dark object, irregular blocky shape, angular, stationary, urban area, three objects, possible partially cloaked triangle
.23 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vz1mo/possible_ufo_sighting_in_west_nashville/ video, daytime cloudy sky, tubulapill shaped metallic object, tictac, silent, plane for comparison, very bright , Nashville Tennessee , downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted, ignoring OP data, big debunker energy
.24 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vc0cl/happening_right_now_in_buga_columbia_755pm/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, happening at time of posting, buga Colombia 🇨🇴 , single light object, zigzag movements observed, up and down, flareup observed
.25 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vcezf/strange_drones_before_drones_were_a_thing_in_the/ sighting description, three witnesses, three objects, nighttime, fleet, grid pattern trajectory., repeat three times, approach, flew overhead, wasp 🐝 shape , stationary, sudden departure,
.26 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uul0m/4chan_gov_ufo_whistleblower_video_i_made_using_a/ video recreation of sighting description, underwater UFOs
.27 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vdn76/starlink/ photo, nighttime cloudy sky, fleet observed, blue 🔵, following one after the other, Miami Florida, contemporaneous report, two witnesses
.28 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vx1ma/the_four_major_categories_of_ufos_reported_in_the/ image, ufo shapes by decade
.29 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vkwz5/i_saw_multiple_lights_dancing_in_the_sky_last/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, fleet, moving stars, dancing, up and down and left to right, single object flashing
.30 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vzh5u/orb_sighting_over_norther_arizona/ video, daytime cloudy sky, from airplane, over northern Arizona, duration 20-30 seconds, single dark object, black ⚫️ dot observed , lighting configuration change observed, began to glow and shimmer , interaction with clouds, cut a channel and illuminated
.31 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vraeh/are_ufouap_sightings_increasing_or_am_i_just/ discussion of sighting frequency
.32 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vudz1/i_need_to_get_this_sleep_paralysis_episode_off_my/ experience description, sleep paralysis, information transfer
.33 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vx3du/saw_a_shape_burned_into_my_eyes_after_meditating/ experience description, crop circle, hexagonal shape
.34 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13uuioy/2_flashing_ufos_caught_on_cam_in_broad_daylight/ video, hard to see, daytime sky, twolights observed, flashing, oldham England the UK 🇬🇧, very bright
.35 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13w48i0/moving_56_objects/ sighting description, moving stars, two witnesses
.36 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13w6q2q/my_younger_brother_saw_this_flying_through_the/ photos, daytime sky, single light object, tictac, downvoted to zero, contemporaneous report, Middlesex County Massachusetts, OP comments downvoted
.37 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13w8np3/same_object_different_video_to_corroborate/ video, nighttime sky, single light object moving fast, similar sighting to number.6 above., coastal Maine, downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted
.38 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13woova/bright_orange_fiery_lights_in_the_sky_turned_into/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, three witnesses, single light object appearing and vanishing, orange 🟠, Oregon, mothership also observed, described as a huge ship covered in bright orange lights and i mean covered. it was like the movies., my brother said it opened up like a mouth, but like an accordion. he said it closed after that and it vanished.
.39 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wvq41/ufo_sighting/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, moving star, observed vanishing and reappearing, two witnesses, fleet observed, diverse trajectories
.40 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wpbhl/ufo_spotted_in_albuquerque_new_mexico_early/ sighting description and map, contemporaneous report, Albuquerque new Mexico, has anyone seen?,nighttime, two witnesses, from car, flying saucer, very bright, yellow lights 🟡, low to the ground , emotion of fear, duration 30-40 seconds
.41 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13weffz/i_caught_a_ufo_above_the_tree_line_right_before/ video and still image, hard to see, daytime cloudy sky, single dark object , from dashcam, Olympia Washington
.42 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wpjjy/those_who_have_seen_ufos_did_you_have_this_same/ sighting descriptions, two flying disks that were silver, and silver sphere hovering over a military base, discussion of thoughts, possible telepathy, "tell no one, nobody will believe you.", similar experiences in comments, [GOODPOST]
.43 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13x1akm/my_sister_saw_this_on_her_way_home_in_normal/ video, nighttime cloudy sky, twolights, diffuse, buzzing noise, sudden departure
.44 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13wgv5t/white_orb_may_13_2022_video_analysis_digital/ video, nighttime sky, single light object
.45 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13v3cj2/took_this_in_december_2020/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, two objects, single light object, single dark object elongated, possible cigar or disk shape
.46 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13uxpa9/close_encounter_3rd_type_alien_witnessed/ experience description, entity, Ballarat Victoria Australia 🇦🇺, dark humanoid figure, possible reaction to being observed, vanishing, then the object it was standing on had a single orange light turn on, it raised slowly in a side to side motion turned vertical and then flew off faster than anything I’ve ever seen in my life, sudden departure , nighttime, contemporaneous report
.47 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13vaxw3/what_is_this/ photos, nighttime sky, single light object, vanishing, low over rooftop, duration 10 minutes, red 🔴
.48 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13wgi7a/amazing_shapeshifting_ufo_video_i_captured/ video, shape change observed, Cincinnati Ohio
.49 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13wgcrv/2_uaps_escorted_by_2_fighter_jets_israel/ video, hard to see, daytime sky, UAP and jets, possible military response, Israel 🇮🇱
.47 https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13wxi24/nasa_group_studying_ufos_stresses_need_for_bette CBS News getting downvoted on the space sub for posting about the nasa UAP panel 🙃
.48 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wc4r0/another_one_for_your_consideration/jmeu5lh/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, new jersey, nighttime, emotion of fear, fleet and mothership, close, rectangular
.49 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xnod4/sighting_53023/ video, nighttime sky, threelights, starlink
.50 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xoxn1/a_weird_set_of_lights_i_saw_tonight_above_new/ video, nighttime sky, two witnesses, plasma stuff, blue 🔵 and white, elongated, stationary, shimmering, lighting configuration change, new Delhi India 🇮🇳, contemporaneous report , silent, observed duration 10 minutes , low over rooftops, [GOODPOST]
.51 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xl795/this_video_was_taken_by_a_good_friend_of_mine_on/ video, daytime cloudy sky, from airplane, from Denver Colorado to el paso Texas, western USA, single light object, possible disk shape,possible reaction to being observed, sudden departure
.52 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13xsywv/bizarre_experience/ experience description, location anomaly, unfamiliar surroundings, from car, emotion of fear and unease, duration 5 minutes
.53 https://old.reddit.com/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/13xvgrx/what_did_i_see_as_a_child/ childhood sighting description, bedroom, nighttime, entity, humanoid figure, blue lightning 🔵
.54 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13wthum/eerie_radio_transmission_interrupting_regula audio anomaly, radio, it was almost like what the 1980s would expect a robot to sound like if it communicated in bleeps. There was no static. The “bleeps” were clear and included pauses. It continued for about 15 seconds
.55 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xu1o0/not_sure_what_this_is_call_for_help/ photos, evening cloudy sky, over water, Atlantic ocean, kitty hawk north Carolina, rectangular shape
.56 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y4t9c/lightsorbs_over_my_home_in_merced_county/ video, nighttime sky, Merced County California, contemporaneous report , fleet observed, witness went outside, two groups, V formation, two witnesses, duration 10 minutes All together there had to be like 12-15 and there was always one slightly larger one in the back of the v formation., triangle, threelights , silent, emotion of fear, spooked, orange 🟠, animal reaction dogs barking, went nuts, objects did not seem hostile, just passing through, [GOODPOST]
.57 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y9yp8/i_think_i_saw_a_ufouap/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, single object, two witnesses, daytime, Michigan, shaped like a cylinder or flat in some way., haze around it, electronic effects did not show up in photos, emotional reaction awe, it was awesome
.58 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xyfnh/6123_santa_ana_ca_522pm_zig_zagge video, daytime sky, contemporaneous report, santa Ana California, zigzag movements, single dark object, repeat visitor
.59 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y1zxm/does_anyone_know_anyone_whos_seen_an_alien_or_ufo/ discussion of sightings
.60 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y979c/color_changing_orbs_house_vibrating_morse_code/ sighting description, nighttime, two witnesses, fleet, low below treeline, multicolored, changing colors from reds to blues to greens 🔴🔵🟢, green flash, passed the window, multiple passes, physical effects vibration, pulsating, Morse code "hello, hello, hello" over and over for another 10 mins
.61 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13yar5q/abduction/ experience description, possible abduction, onset of fatigue, anomaly inside home, moving blur, sensation of floating, family history, brother experienced the same, event amnesia, This then unlocked other dreams that I had from when I was much younger that I have still yet to process, repeat visitors
.62 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13y5evm/i_saw_a_ufo_in_australia_in_the_1980s_ama_i_guess/ sighting description, Australia 🇦🇺 , three witnesses, silent, close, observed moving and stationary, sudden departure, golden, oval, pulsating, physical effects paralysis
.63 https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13yiyt4/which_planets_are_this/ nighttime, single light object https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13yg1lq/what_is_this/ more pictures https://old.reddit.com/astrophotography/comments/13xyc5w/venus_approaching_half_phase/ reference image of venus at half phase, contemporaneous report
.64 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yhkgv/very_strange_phone_experience_with_reddit_app/ experience description, eyes 👀 looking back
.65 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y2j94/i_had_seen_2_big_circular_crafts_above_the_clouds/ sighting description, lights above the clouds, diffuse, circular, twolights, storm, nighttime cloudy sky, Tucson Arizona
.66 https://old.reddit.com/CLOUDS/comments/13y23vi/weird_line_in_clouds_no_idea_what_is_going_on/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, cloud anomaly, horizontal line, separation , possible blue light in clouds
.67 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13xxdav/i_saw_aliens_today/ experience description, entity, contemporaneous report, daytime, information transfer, they needed help
.68 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ykdho/tic_tac_ufo/ video, daytime sky, single light object moving, tictac, silent, possible splitting or jumpy movement at the end of the video
.69 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yj9t1/for_your_consideration_june_1st_2023/ video, daytime sky, Ohio, duration 20 seconds, cubensphere, boxy orb,
.70 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yr2ud/could_someone_help_make_sense_of_these_pics_taken/ photo, nighttime sky, possible disk, "long exposure of airplane", no craft visible to witness, Southeast England the UK 🇬🇧
.71 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xzz05/semi_edited_video_of_the_one_i_posted_on_here/ video followup to previous post, nighttime sky, single light object, Decatur Alabama, vanishing
.72 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yk4yp/odd_lights_in_the_sky/ video, daytime sky, Glendale Arizona, two witnesses, duration 30 seconds, fleet, flashing, [GOODPOST]
.73 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y5mvg/strange_light_moving_slowly_in_the_sky_ove video, nighttime sky, single light object, observed moving erratically, multicolored 🌈, Queensland Australia, duration 20 minutes, Moving slowly up and down and seemingly from side to side at times
.74 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ysp3v/orange_orbes_over_naarden_the_netherlands/ video, nighttime sky, twolights, orange 🟠, naarden the Netherlands 🇳🇱 , urban area, nice long 4 minute video, vanishing and reappearing , contemporaneous report, [GOODPOST]
.75 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13ytkzq/strange_pink_jellylike_substance_from_the_sky/ experience description and photo, pink jelly falling from sky, transparent, reddish
.76 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13ys1ug/my_friend_sent_me_this/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, multicolored, blue, purple, red, white and green 🔵🟣🔴⚪️🟢, contemporaneous report, happening at time of posting
.77 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yvvmp/tumbling_uap_vancouver_april_30th_2023/ video, daytime cloudy sky, Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦, single dark object moving straight, tumbling, similar sightings in comments
.78 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yxk6b/what_is_that_a_satellite_top_left_it_was_moving/ photos, nighttime sky, single light object moving, contemporaneous report, urban area, near Washington DC, physical effects it felt like a magnet pushing the phone away
.79 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13yz1yz/waking_dream_vision/ experience description, dream or vision, entities, blue 🔵, physical effects felt grabbed on left arm, information transfer, He said to me, "As I have grabbed your arm, someone has grabbed mine" and then let me go
.80 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yepi7/pan/ experience description, entity, the god Pan
.81 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zihv5/an_honest_question/jmrvkd6/?context=3 childhood sighting description, upper Peninsula Michigan, two witnesses, nighttime, dim circle of lights, physical effects paralysis
.82 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zn6jc/portal_thingy/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, single object blackwhite, shield 🛡 shaped, Temescal Valley California
.83 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zpvp6/my_ufo_sightinghas_anyone_ever_seen_fibonacci/ detailed sighting description, nighttime, camping, Galeton Pennsylvania, Suddenly I noticed when I looked into the sky that the entire sky - I mean every inch of night - was a swirling mass of interlocking Fibonacci spirals., two witnesses, additional objects observed moving and stationary, they stopped, flashed back and forth in strange blue and purplish light as if talking to each other, and then simultaneously shot straight up into the air, side by side, and vanished.🔵🟣, sudden departure upward, [GOODPOST], luring, splitting,emotional reaction anxiety, sleep disruption
.84 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yz5m3/the_phenomena_of_things_flying_off_the_shelf/ discussion of things flying off a shelf.
.85 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13zl7d7/uap_in_pic_zoom_in/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, Nevada, single object, blackwhite, possible pyramid
.86 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zsj7q/seen_in_boston_ma_62/ video, nighttime sky, from home security camera, contemporaneous report, Boston Massachusetts, urban area, fleet, "birds", downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted, deleted
.87 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13zv038/light_at_night/ sighting description, single light object moving fast downward, entering the earth, contemporaneous report, thuringia nordhausen Germany 🇩🇪 ,nighttime , duration 4 seconds, blue 🔵, silent
.88 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zw86p/can_anyone_explain_these/ video, nighttime sky, st Petersburg Florida, single light object moving erratically, similar sightings in comments, downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted
.89 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zy7d5/ufo_drone_stationary_plane/ sighting, possible drone, very bright, observed moving and stationary, silent
.90 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140c1th/the_mysterious_event_that_my_father_witnessed_a/ sighting description, family story, earthquake, purple smoke cloud, diffuse, 🟣, electronic effects radio interference, jellyfish, entities, shape change observed, flying saucer, red lights 🔴, rotating, sudden departure upward, duration 5-10 minutes, nighttime, Izmet Turkey 🇹🇷, similar sighting in comments
.91 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/1409rk4/looked_like_a_satellite_but_it_disappeared_quickly/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, single light object moving, observed vanishing, Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺, Chinese space station (TIANHE-1).
.92 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/1403t51/a_couple_days_ago_i_heard_a_weird_almost_hovering/ audio description, wawawawawa sound, over the witness home, nighttime, two witnesses, ongoing activity, entity, animal reaction dog noticed it, contemporaneous report, similar audio experience in comments
.93 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zw6sv/got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is_what_i/ video, from home security camera, inside home, single light object moving , Tennessee https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zza39/update_2_got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is/ more video https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zxfd0/update_got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is/ more video
.94 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/140bmuo/ufo_sighting_when_i_was_younger_wonder_if_anyone/ sighting description and reference image, triangle, Red lights 🔴, has anyone seen?, similar sightings in comments, perception discrepancy other witness didn't see it , nighttime, from car, pacing car
.95 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/140gfkp/2008_october_6/ sighting description, dawn, fleet, dancing, moving erratically, approach or flareup, urban area, two witnesses, duration 20 minutes
.96 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/140d2pd/source_of_high_pitchfrequency_sound/ audio description, high pitched sound
.97 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zz6dz/unidentified_lightning_fast_creature/ video, nighttime sky, from home security camera, entity
.98 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zukt3/are_aliens_real/ experience description, entity , aftereffects drawing shapes, and illness
.99 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140i2ob/help_id_drone_or_something_else/ photos, nighttime sky, single object, Scottish Highlands on the North Sea Scotland, repeat visitor, possible military response jets, "lens flare"
.100 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13ytjc6/strange_phone_calls_what_is_this_thing_that/ audio anomaly, strange noise, phone call, repeat visitor
.101 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140jvta/can_someone_please_describe_what_the_orange_orbs/ childhood sighting description, nighttime, single light object, orange 🟠, flareup, splitting into threelights, moving horizontally and descending down, very bright, darkness bright as day, multiple witnesses, made the news, "comet", similar sighting in comments , downvoted to zero
.102 https://old.reddit.com/CLOUDS/comments/140jt9i/storm_clouds_after_dusk_do_you_see_the_squiggles/ photo, nighttime cloudy sky, anomalous lightning, possible blue light in clouds, storm , Colorado
.103 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/140n3f6/just_heard_a_boom_that_shook_the_house_a_few/ audio description, loud boom, contemporaneous report, physical effects house shook

Last week's post https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ubbfv/roundup_bats_bugs_and_ufos_reported_on_here_in/ held as of 5:12 pm released at 7:41 pm eastern https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13ubdrc/roundup_ufos_and_potentially_related_things/
.1 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13ucs3i/ultra_colorful_light_ball_flys_in_the_night_sky/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, multicolored 🌈, observed moving, color change observed, flew overhead, first observed red with a white center, As it flew it started changing colors .
.2 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uc5jk/may_27_2023_1239am_1246am_central_texas/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, fleet, following one after the other, 9 objects observed, orange 🟠, central Texas , fire lanterns
.3 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ua44u/multiple_ufos_moving_slowly_across_the_sky/ video, daytime sky, fleet, one with pulsating lights, Chicago Illinois, urban area, bird for comparison, moving slowly
.4 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uw9xo/what_is_this_in_the_sky/ video, nighttime sky, hard to see
.5 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uvzb0/remember_the_ufo_over_ohare_in_2006_i_do_and_i/ sighting description, Chicago O'Hare incident, daytime cloudy sky, single object stationary duration 40 minutes, over airport, sudden departure upward
.6 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uh4fm/south_shore_long_island_52823/ video, nighttime cloudy sky, single light object moving fast, contemporaneous report, South shore long Island New York state, similar sightings in comments , flew over the witness home
.7 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uir4j/drone_pic_caught_tonight_may_28th/ photo, nighttime sky, from drone, fourlights, contemporaneous report, similar sighting in comments, Cumming Georgia
.8 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13unyx1/sphere_over_my_garden_only_visible_with_thermal/ video, nighttime, single light object, from infrared, not visible to eye, low over backyard, Cologne Germany 🇩🇪
.9 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uwo25/seen_over_naperville_il_52823_10pm/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, Naperville Illinois, silent , single light object, multicolored 🌈, observed moving fast, sudden acceleration
.10 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13v36gv/fort_myers_florida_52623/ video from live image, daytime cloudy sky, fort Meyers Florida, single dark object moving fast downward, batman balloon type
.11 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ujn1k/ufo_or_satellite/ sighting description, nighttime, single light object moving fast, trajectory change observed, curved to the left, multicolored, Puerto Vallarta Mexico 🇲🇽
.12 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uvohu/plasma_ball_shoots_away_from_me_when_trying_to/ video, nighttime sky, from telescope, single light object, possible reaction to being filmed, vanishing, two witnesses
.13 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13umkqu/three_years_ago_i_had_a_dream_about_a/ dream description, information, Had a dream, in which I was on board a ufo and was taught about an alien society. They valued happiness, self-actualization, and belonging. They understood the existence of thoughtforms and embraced temporary identities. Their economy focused on equality, less waste, and innovation. They had an AI-operated bank and emphasized education and direct democracy
.14 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13td1at/the_exact_spot_where_the_girls_spotted_the_alien/ original research, varginha incident, photo of location
.15 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13utjka/followed_weird_light_that_jumped_over_anothe video, nighttime sky, moving stars, north Florida, contemporaneous report, similar sighting in comments, it would move rapidly, stop, backtrack and then go forward again all at varying speeds and there was no sound at all., silent
.16 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13uy3g7/mantis_phobia/ childhood experience description, entity, mantis type, emotion of fear
.17 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13uh7g1/spotted_above_columbus_oh_today_still_hovering/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, single dark object, observed stationary, Columbus Ohio https://old.reddit.com/Columbus/comments/13ty4an/power_outage/ possible electronic effects power outage
.18 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13v97pu/visited_the_site_of_the_rendlesham_incident_today/ photos, site of the rendlesham forest incident, art 🎨, sculpture, daytime
.19 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vwqjs/my_girlfriend_just_sent_me_this_is_it_a_drone_a/ video, daytime cloudy sky, contemporaneous report, single light object, tictac, low over rooftop, Umbria Italy 🇮🇹, "Airplane"
.20 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vbo2g/legit_curious_are_there_other_experiencers_on/ discussion of close events, sighting description and drawing, family story, Texas, nighttime, low over rooftops, flying saucer, three objects, three witnesses, [GOODPOST], possible reaction to being observed, trajectory change, similar sightings in comments
.21 https://old.reddit.com/Cleveland/comments/13uvy4e/two_f16_fly_by_west_cleveland/jm4pdu9/ sighting description, cylinder, Cleveland Ohio, possible military response, jets https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vaa33/f16_flybys_near_cleveland_on_memorial_day/ description, airplane anomaly , unusual flight path signs and appearance
.22 https://old.reddit.com/StLouis/comments/13vook6/anyone_else_see_some_weird_shapes_in_the_sky/ photos, daytime cloudy sky, st Louis Missouri, contemporaneous report, single dark object, irregular blocky shape, angular, stationary, urban area, three objects, possible partially cloaked triangle
.23 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vz1mo/possible_ufo_sighting_in_west_nashville/ video, daytime cloudy sky, tubulapill shaped metallic object, tictac, silent, plane for comparison, very bright , Nashville Tennessee , downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted, ignoring OP data, big debunker energy
.24 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vc0cl/happening_right_now_in_buga_columbia_755pm/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, happening at time of posting, buga Colombia 🇨🇴 , single light object, zigzag movements observed, up and down, flareup observed
.25 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vcezf/strange_drones_before_drones_were_a_thing_in_the/ sighting description, three witnesses, three objects, nighttime, fleet, grid pattern trajectory., repeat three times, approach, flew overhead, wasp 🐝 shape , stationary, sudden departure,
.26 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13uul0m/4chan_gov_ufo_whistleblower_video_i_made_using_a/ video recreation of sighting description, underwater UFOs
.27 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vdn76/starlink/ photo, nighttime cloudy sky, fleet observed, blue 🔵, following one after the other, Miami Florida, contemporaneous report, two witnesses
.28 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vx1ma/the_four_major_categories_of_ufos_reported_in_the/ image, ufo shapes by decade
.29 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vkwz5/i_saw_multiple_lights_dancing_in_the_sky_last/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, fleet, moving stars, dancing, up and down and left to right, single object flashing
.30 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13vzh5u/orb_sighting_over_norther_arizona/ video, daytime cloudy sky, from airplane, over northern Arizona, duration 20-30 seconds, single dark object, black ⚫️ dot observed , lighting configuration change observed, began to glow and shimmer , interaction with clouds, cut a channel and illuminated
.31 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vraeh/are_ufouap_sightings_increasing_or_am_i_just/ discussion of sighting frequency
.32 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vudz1/i_need_to_get_this_sleep_paralysis_episode_off_my/ experience description, sleep paralysis, information transfer
.33 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13vx3du/saw_a_shape_burned_into_my_eyes_after_meditating/ experience description, crop circle, hexagonal shape
.34 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13uuioy/2_flashing_ufos_caught_on_cam_in_broad_daylight/ video, hard to see, daytime sky, twolights observed, flashing, oldham England the UK 🇬🇧, very bright
.35 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13w48i0/moving_56_objects/ sighting description, moving stars, two witnesses
.36 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13w6q2q/my_younger_brother_saw_this_flying_through_the/ photos, daytime sky, single light object, tictac, downvoted to zero, contemporaneous report, Middlesex County Massachusetts, OP comments downvoted
.37 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13w8np3/same_object_different_video_to_corroborate/ video, nighttime sky, single light object moving fast, similar sighting to number.6 above., coastal Maine, downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted
.38 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13woova/bright_orange_fiery_lights_in_the_sky_turned_into/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, three witnesses, single light object appearing and vanishing, orange 🟠, Oregon, mothership also observed, described as a huge ship covered in bright orange lights and i mean covered. it was like the movies., my brother said it opened up like a mouth, but like an accordion. he said it closed after that and it vanished.
.39 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wvq41/ufo_sighting/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, moving star, observed vanishing and reappearing, two witnesses, fleet observed, diverse trajectories
.40 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wpbhl/ufo_spotted_in_albuquerque_new_mexico_early/ sighting description and map, contemporaneous report, Albuquerque new Mexico, has anyone seen?,nighttime, two witnesses, from car, flying saucer, very bright, yellow lights 🟡, low to the ground , emotion of fear, duration 30-40 seconds
.41 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13weffz/i_caught_a_ufo_above_the_tree_line_right_before/ video and still image, hard to see, daytime cloudy sky, single dark object , from dashcam, Olympia Washington
.42 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wpjjy/those_who_have_seen_ufos_did_you_have_this_same/ sighting descriptions, two flying disks that were silver, and silver sphere hovering over a military base, discussion of thoughts, possible telepathy, "tell no one, nobody will believe you.", similar experiences in comments, [GOODPOST]
.43 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13x1akm/my_sister_saw_this_on_her_way_home_in_normal/ video, nighttime cloudy sky, twolights, diffuse, buzzing noise, sudden departure
.44 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13wgv5t/white_orb_may_13_2022_video_analysis_digital/ video, nighttime sky, single light object
.45 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13v3cj2/took_this_in_december_2020/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, two objects, single light object, single dark object elongated, possible cigar or disk shape
.46 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13uxpa9/close_encounter_3rd_type_alien_witnessed/ experience description, entity, Ballarat Victoria Australia 🇦🇺, dark humanoid figure, possible reaction to being observed, vanishing, then the object it was standing on had a single orange light turn on, it raised slowly in a side to side motion turned vertical and then flew off faster than anything I’ve ever seen in my life, sudden departure , nighttime, contemporaneous report
.47 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13vaxw3/what_is_this/ photos, nighttime sky, single light object, vanishing, low over rooftop, duration 10 minutes, red 🔴
.48 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13wgi7a/amazing_shapeshifting_ufo_video_i_captured/ video, shape change observed, Cincinnati Ohio
.49 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13wgcrv/2_uaps_escorted_by_2_fighter_jets_israel/ video, hard to see, daytime sky, UAP and jets, possible military response, Israel 🇮🇱
.47 https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13wxi24/nasa_group_studying_ufos_stresses_need_for_bette CBS News getting downvoted on the space sub for posting about the nasa UAP panel 🙃
.48 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13wc4r0/another_one_for_your_consideration/jmeu5lh/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, new jersey, nighttime, emotion of fear, fleet and mothership, close, rectangular
.49 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xnod4/sighting_53023/ video, nighttime sky, threelights, starlink
.50 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xoxn1/a_weird_set_of_lights_i_saw_tonight_above_new/ video, nighttime sky, two witnesses, plasma stuff, blue 🔵 and white, elongated, stationary, shimmering, lighting configuration change, new Delhi India 🇮🇳, contemporaneous report , silent, observed duration 10 minutes , low over rooftops, [GOODPOST]
.51 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xl795/this_video_was_taken_by_a_good_friend_of_mine_on/ video, daytime cloudy sky, from airplane, from Denver Colorado to el paso Texas, western USA, single light object, possible disk shape,possible reaction to being observed, sudden departure
.52 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13xsywv/bizarre_experience/ experience description, location anomaly, unfamiliar surroundings, from car, emotion of fear and unease, duration 5 minutes
.53 https://old.reddit.com/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/13xvgrx/what_did_i_see_as_a_child/ childhood sighting description, bedroom, nighttime, entity, humanoid figure, blue lightning 🔵
.54 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13wthum/eerie_radio_transmission_interrupting_regula audio anomaly, radio, it was almost like what the 1980s would expect a robot to sound like if it communicated in bleeps. There was no static. The “bleeps” were clear and included pauses. It continued for about 15 seconds
.55 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xu1o0/not_sure_what_this_is_call_for_help/ photos, evening cloudy sky, over water, Atlantic ocean, kitty hawk north Carolina, rectangular shape
.56 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y4t9c/lightsorbs_over_my_home_in_merced_county/ video, nighttime sky, Merced County California, contemporaneous report , fleet observed, witness went outside, two groups, V formation, two witnesses, duration 10 minutes All together there had to be like 12-15 and there was always one slightly larger one in the back of the v formation., triangle, threelights , silent, emotion of fear, spooked, orange 🟠, animal reaction dogs barking, went nuts, objects did not seem hostile, just passing through, [GOODPOST]
.57 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y9yp8/i_think_i_saw_a_ufouap/ sighting description, contemporaneous report, single object, two witnesses, daytime, Michigan, shaped like a cylinder or flat in some way., haze around it, electronic effects did not show up in photos, emotional reaction awe, it was awesome
.58 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xyfnh/6123_santa_ana_ca_522pm_zig_zagge video, daytime sky, contemporaneous report, santa Ana California, zigzag movements, single dark object, repeat visitor
.59 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y1zxm/does_anyone_know_anyone_whos_seen_an_alien_or_ufo/ discussion of sightings
.60 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y979c/color_changing_orbs_house_vibrating_morse_code/ sighting description, nighttime, two witnesses, fleet, low below treeline, multicolored, changing colors from reds to blues to greens 🔴🔵🟢, green flash, passed the window, multiple passes, physical effects vibration, pulsating, Morse code "hello, hello, hello" over and over for another 10 mins
.61 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13yar5q/abduction/ experience description, possible abduction, onset of fatigue, anomaly inside home, moving blur, sensation of floating, family history, brother experienced the same, event amnesia, This then unlocked other dreams that I had from when I was much younger that I have still yet to process, repeat visitors
.62 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13y5evm/i_saw_a_ufo_in_australia_in_the_1980s_ama_i_guess/ sighting description, Australia 🇦🇺 , three witnesses, silent, close, observed moving and stationary, sudden departure, golden, oval, pulsating, physical effects paralysis
.63 https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13yiyt4/which_planets_are_this/ nighttime, single light object https://old.reddit.com/space/comments/13yg1lq/what_is_this/ more pictures https://old.reddit.com/astrophotography/comments/13xyc5w/venus_approaching_half_phase/ reference image of venus at half phase, contemporaneous report
.64 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yhkgv/very_strange_phone_experience_with_reddit_app/ experience description, eyes 👀 looking back
.65 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13y2j94/i_had_seen_2_big_circular_crafts_above_the_clouds/ sighting description, lights above the clouds, diffuse, circular, twolights, storm, nighttime cloudy sky, Tucson Arizona
.66 https://old.reddit.com/CLOUDS/comments/13y23vi/weird_line_in_clouds_no_idea_what_is_going_on/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, cloud anomaly, horizontal line, separation , possible blue light in clouds
.67 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13xxdav/i_saw_aliens_today/ experience description, entity, contemporaneous report, daytime, information transfer, they needed help
.68 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ykdho/tic_tac_ufo/ video, daytime sky, single light object moving, tictac, silent, possible splitting or jumpy movement at the end of the video
.69 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yj9t1/for_your_consideration_june_1st_2023/ video, daytime sky, Ohio, duration 20 seconds, cubensphere, boxy orb,
.70 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yr2ud/could_someone_help_make_sense_of_these_pics_taken/ photo, nighttime sky, possible disk, "long exposure of airplane", no craft visible to witness, Southeast England the UK 🇬🇧
.71 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13xzz05/semi_edited_video_of_the_one_i_posted_on_here/ video followup to previous post, nighttime sky, single light object, Decatur Alabama, vanishing
.72 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yk4yp/odd_lights_in_the_sky/ video, daytime sky, Glendale Arizona, two witnesses, duration 30 seconds, fleet, flashing, [GOODPOST]
.73 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13y5mvg/strange_light_moving_slowly_in_the_sky_ove video, nighttime sky, single light object, observed moving erratically, multicolored 🌈, Queensland Australia, duration 20 minutes, Moving slowly up and down and seemingly from side to side at times
.74 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13ysp3v/orange_orbes_over_naarden_the_netherlands/ video, nighttime sky, twolights, orange 🟠, naarden the Netherlands 🇳🇱 , urban area, nice long 4 minute video, vanishing and reappearing , contemporaneous report, [GOODPOST]
.75 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13ytkzq/strange_pink_jellylike_substance_from_the_sky/ experience description and photo, pink jelly falling from sky, transparent, reddish
.76 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13ys1ug/my_friend_sent_me_this/ video, nighttime sky, single light object, multicolored, blue, purple, red, white and green 🔵🟣🔴⚪️🟢, contemporaneous report, happening at time of posting
.77 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yvvmp/tumbling_uap_vancouver_april_30th_2023/ video, daytime cloudy sky, Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦, single dark object moving straight, tumbling, similar sightings in comments
.78 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13yxk6b/what_is_that_a_satellite_top_left_it_was_moving/ photos, nighttime sky, single light object moving, contemporaneous report, urban area, near Washington DC, physical effects it felt like a magnet pushing the phone away
.79 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/13yz1yz/waking_dream_vision/ experience description, dream or vision, entities, blue 🔵, physical effects felt grabbed on left arm, information transfer, He said to me, "As I have grabbed your arm, someone has grabbed mine" and then let me go
.80 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yepi7/pan/ experience description, entity, the god Pan
.81 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zihv5/an_honest_question/jmrvkd6/?context=3 childhood sighting description, upper Peninsula Michigan, two witnesses, nighttime, dim circle of lights, physical effects paralysis
.82 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zn6jc/portal_thingy/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, single object blackwhite, shield 🛡 shaped, Temescal Valley California
.83 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zpvp6/my_ufo_sightinghas_anyone_ever_seen_fibonacci/ detailed sighting description, nighttime, camping, Galeton Pennsylvania, Suddenly I noticed when I looked into the sky that the entire sky - I mean every inch of night - was a swirling mass of interlocking Fibonacci spirals., two witnesses, additional objects observed moving and stationary, they stopped, flashed back and forth in strange blue and purplish light as if talking to each other, and then simultaneously shot straight up into the air, side by side, and vanished.🔵🟣, sudden departure upward, [GOODPOST], luring, splitting,emotional reaction anxiety, sleep disruption
.84 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13yz5m3/the_phenomena_of_things_flying_off_the_shelf/ discussion of things flying off a shelf.
.85 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13zl7d7/uap_in_pic_zoom_in/ photo, daytime cloudy sky, Nevada, single object, blackwhite, possible pyramid
.86 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zsj7q/seen_in_boston_ma_62/ video, nighttime sky, from home security camera, contemporaneous report, Boston Massachusetts, urban area, fleet, "birds", downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted, deleted
.87 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/13zv038/light_at_night/ sighting description, single light object moving fast downward, entering the earth, contemporaneous report, thuringia nordhausen Germany 🇩🇪 ,nighttime , duration 4 seconds, blue 🔵, silent
.88 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zw86p/can_anyone_explain_these/ video, nighttime sky, st Petersburg Florida, single light object moving erratically, similar sightings in comments, downvoted to zero, OP comments downvoted
.89 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/13zy7d5/ufo_drone_stationary_plane/ sighting, possible drone, very bright, observed moving and stationary, silent
.90 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140c1th/the_mysterious_event_that_my_father_witnessed_a/ sighting description, family story, earthquake, purple smoke cloud, diffuse, 🟣, electronic effects radio interference, jellyfish, entities, shape change observed, flying saucer, red lights 🔴, rotating, sudden departure upward, duration 5-10 minutes, nighttime, Izmet Turkey 🇹🇷, similar sighting in comments
.91 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/1409rk4/looked_like_a_satellite_but_it_disappeared_quickly/ video, nighttime sky, contemporaneous report, single light object moving, observed vanishing, Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺, Chinese space station (TIANHE-1).
.92 https://old.reddit.com/aliens/comments/1403t51/a_couple_days_ago_i_heard_a_weird_almost_hovering/ audio description, wawawawawa sound, over the witness home, nighttime, two witnesses, ongoing activity, entity, animal reaction dog noticed it, contemporaneous report, similar audio experience in comments
.93 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zw6sv/got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is_what_i/ video, from home security camera, inside home, single light object moving , Tennessee https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zza39/update_2_got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is/ more video https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zxfd0/update_got_a_few_ring_notifications_and_this_is/ more video
.94 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/140bmuo/ufo_sighting_when_i_was_younger_wonder_if_anyone/ sighting description and reference image, triangle, Red lights 🔴, has anyone seen?, similar sightings in comments, perception discrepancy other witness didn't see it , nighttime, from car, pacing car
.95 https://old.reddit.com/ufo/comments/140gfkp/2008_october_6/ sighting description, dawn, fleet, dancing, moving erratically, approach or flareup, urban area, two witnesses, duration 20 minutes
.96 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/140d2pd/source_of_high_pitchfrequency_sound/ audio description, high pitched sound
.97 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zz6dz/unidentified_lightning_fast_creature/ video, nighttime sky, from home security camera, entity
.98 https://old.reddit.com/HighStrangeness/comments/13zukt3/are_aliens_real/ experience description, entity , aftereffects drawing shapes, and illness
.99 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140i2ob/help_id_drone_or_something_else/ photos, nighttime sky, single object, Scottish Highlands on the North Sea Scotland, repeat visitor, possible military response jets, "lens flare"
.100 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/13ytjc6/strange_phone_calls_what_is_this_thing_that/ audio anomaly, strange noise, phone call, repeat visitor
.101 https://old.reddit.com/UFOs/comments/140jvta/can_someone_please_describe_what_the_orange_orbs/ childhood sighting description, nighttime, single light object, orange 🟠, flareup, splitting into threelights, moving horizontally and descending down, very bright, darkness bright as day, multiple witnesses, made the news, "comet", similar sighting in comments , downvoted to zero
.102 https://old.reddit.com/CLOUDS/comments/140jt9i/storm_clouds_after_dusk_do_you_see_the_squiggles/ photo, nighttime cloudy sky, anomalous lightning, possible blue light in clouds, storm , Colorado
.103 https://old.reddit.com/RBI/comments/140n3f6/just_heard_a_boom_that_shook_the_house_a_few/ audio description, loud boom, contemporaneous report, physical effects house shook

“Hey Raz, I got one!” Raz’s voice was cut by static as he called back, “Great! …at quarry …die.” Well, that wasn’t ominous at all, I thought to myself as I adjusted the rear-view mirror to check on the operator I had just blown past. They were doubled over coughing, their gas mask swayed side to side on the ground next to their feet. I don’t know what compelled me to not flatten what I had thought to be an AQ soldier, but I’m glad I didn’t.
I slammed my hummer in reverse, coming to a stop next to the helpless operator. “Hop in bud, we can get you to final exfill yet.” He slowly hauled himself into the bed of my hummer, landing with a dull thud and a groan as he fell onto his back. We cleared the gas, and I was immediately put on edge as my passenger started to gain consciousness. If he was planning anything nefarious, there wasn’t much I could do about it now. “You good back there? Normally I’d stop to send an invite but given the situation that might have just caused more problems.” He leaned through the non-existent rear window, “Nah, I understand man. When we get further from the gas we can stop and squad up. Don’t need to risk lighting each other up if things get hot at the exfill.” I couldn’t help but chuckle, “I don’t think that would be much of an issue regardless. Hey, we didn’t leave any of your friends back there, did we? I know we peeled out pretty quick.” I saw him shake his head and point to our left in the rear-view mirror. “We got split up, but they were running for a car, so I wasn’t too worried.” I followed his finger, a white hatchback cruised along parallel to us, swerving through buildings trying not to eat too many AQ bullets. “Hey boys, Dutch here is gonna roll with us to final. We’ll squad up when we get there.” I was barely able to make out one of his squad mates call out “Tight!” over his earpiece.
“Hey, listen, I’ve got friend I’m rolling with. His name’s Raz, he’s gonna meet us at final. If you see a red, white, and blue LTV, don’t shoot alright.” Raz chimed in, his radio finally clear of the static, “That’s very kind of you to tell them not to shoot me Dutch.” Before I could respond, a black turreted LTV slid out of Said City ahead of us. “Is that your boy Dutch?” I wanted to give my passenger the benefit of the doubt, it is windy in the box after all, he might not have heard me. “Nah man, wrong colour, and he didn’t have a turreted LTV last I saw.” The black LTV continued North along the main road as we cut away into the quarry proper. “Raz, company is headed your way. Looks like it’s just a solo in that truck but you can never be too careful.” “Thanks for the heads up Dutch.”
I rolled to a stop at the base of the helicopter ramp, gently flattening a couple of AQ who were getting a little to close to the bird for comfort, just shy of the battery running dry. The other two operators in the hatchback slid to a stop just down the hill from us. I got out of the hummer, a tad worried that my good fortune was about to come to an end at the hands of these fellas. As they ran up the hill, the notification finally popped. I accepted and ran down the hill to grab the hatchback, breathing a sigh of relief. “Wait, where you goin’ Dutch?” One of my clients called out. “Raz and I will run interference while we wait for the chopper to take off. Any AQ or unfriendly operators are gonna have to go through us.” “You keep talking about this Raz guy, but I’ve yet to see anyone other than that black LTV.” Almost on queue, a black LTV flew up the hill narrowly missing my hatchback. My clients went into a frenzy. “Operators pushing us! Take ‘em down!” The LTV spun in the sand in front of me, a glorious and perfectly oiled moustache glinting in the Al Mazrah sun. “Hold your fire! It’s Raz!” I called from below my clients. I sent an invite to him which he had hopped out and accepted faster than any of these guys could pull the trigger. “You see the operator that was in that earlier?” Raz shook his head, “No, I pulled up on it and they were gone. Must be out on foot somewhere.”
With 5 seconds left on the clock, there wasn’t enough time to go find them, our clients now panicking as they realized we weren’t on the bird. “What are you two doing?!” They shouted from the air as we waved goodbye. “Al Mazrah is our home gentlemen. That bird was never meant for us.” I gave Raz a pat on the shoulder as the gas rapidly approached, another successful day had come to a close.
The clack of a Kastov charging handle was almost unmistakable. We both turned to see the operator from the LTV standing there, rifle honed on us. “Well shit.” Their rifle dropped towards the dirt as they looked back over their shoulder at the nearly out of sight exfill chopper. They pushed through us, wandering towards the North side of the quarry. Raz and I locked eyes, shrugging in unison. That was one of those moments where we really wouldn’t have blamed them for their decision, whatever it might have been. “We better get back to HQ, Compton said I.T dropped off something for you.” Raz said as the gas engulfed us.
“I’m going back to the island boss.” My hands were shaking as I gripped the file folder that I.T had left for me. “Twitch.” “He’s back, it took him a bit, but he’s managed to re-take the castle and hunker down since we last saw him. And if he’s back then we might finally be able to get some proper intel on those blue tracers, direct from the source.” I handed the folder to Raz. He took it, turning to no doubt address the rest of the crew. I grabbed his shoulder, stopping him before he could speak. “Not everybody, not this time. They’ve doubled the defences; we’d be walking into a slaughterhouse.” “Well, you can’t go in there alone, we look out for our own Dutch, you know that.” Raz’s brow tightened, I could tell he was already trying to figure out what my plan was. “I’m bringing Maze and Alex. They’ll provide sniper cover while I infiltrate the castle. I still have my old uniform. As long as they haven’t drastically changed up their callsigns, I should be able to get in undetected.” I could tell Raz wasn’t convinced. “Dutch, like you said, you’d be walking into a slaughterhouse. How does you going in solo make that any better.” “After what happened in the complex…I’m not putting anyone else at risk, I can’t. The Bomb Maker…Twitch, I’ve gotta face him myself. Look him in the eyes so he knows I crawled out of Hell to drag him back down there.” “Alright, I couldn’t really stop you if I wanted to, could I?” Raz shrugged. “No, not unless you shot me, and honestly, I’d take those odds.” I punched his shoulder and started heading for the breakroom to grab Maze and Alex. “You keep that up I’ll be moving you back out to that sea can of yours.” Raz smirked.
The locks took a bit of fighting to get open. While this footlocker had only been on Ashika Island for a few months, the constant spray of salt water had worn away what little integrity it once had. The black uniform, emblazoned with the Rook and Spade of Shadow Company, was still in excellent condition, save for a bullet hole just under where the plate carrier would sit. I paused for a moment, holding it up in the air, memories of the past flooding in. “Not a lot of fond memories in that uniform I take it.” Maze called out from the catwalk in our home away from home. “I think part of the problem is that there are good memories. It’s a little concerning that such fond memories can hide out amongst so much evil.” “We’ve all done things we aren’t proud of. Some of us just did things other people also wouldn’t be proud of either.” Alex chuckled to himself as he cleaned his rifle on the cot next to me. I grimaced, mostly because he was right. I slipped into the old black fatigues and strapped on my old plate carrier. My weapons were all still intact too, I pulled my Taq-56 out of the footlocker, running my fingers over the engraving in the side, ROOK-XLIV. I cycled the charging handle a few times before loading in a fresh magazine and setting it on the cot next to me. I pulled out a pistol belt, two pearl handled revolvers, one with an ebony Rook on the grip, the other, an ebony Spade. Umbra Catavae engraved along each barrel. Maze had come down from the rafters now, a look of mixed intrigue and concern on her face, “I take it those don’t invoke fond memories.” I had done a poor job of hiding my look of disgust. “No, unfortunately they do.” I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. “Each of these was given to me for completing outstanding performance in the field. I did things I’m not proud of, and I was rewarded for it, handsomely. Holding these in my hands, I feel the same pride I had felt when they were first handed to me. It makes me sick.” I strapped the belt around my waist. The pearl handles shining against my all black silhouette. Alex piped up again, “Hey, at least you are trying to make amends for your sins, not many can say the same.” I let out a long sigh, “I suppose you’re right. You both remember the plan?” “Get to the radio towers and start lighting the place up when shit inevitably hits the fan.” Maze grinned. “Close enough.” I pulled my balaclava up and headed for the door.
The guard at the gate didn’t immediately shoot me which gave me some spark of hope that this might work. “In position!” Alex and Maze called out almost simultaneously. “Jinx, you owe me a beer!” Maze rejoiced. “What? Why would I give you a beer for that?” Alex sounded genuinely confused. “Hey, cut the chatter you two, don’t need to give them any reason to not let me in alright.” The guard held up his hand. “I don’t recognize you, let’s see your I.D.” I held up my old I.D card. “Well I’ll be damned, look who crawled out if his grave.” He pulled my mask down to confirm. “You look pretty good for a corpse, though your I.D card is out of regulation. You might want to stop by the I.T guy to get a new one made.” “Thanks, I’ll head right over.” The first thought that came to my mind was Bob. There’s no way he still worked for these assholes, is there.
“You used your old I.D?! You mad man!” Maze cackled over the radio. “Ok, I’ll admit, this wasn’t my greatest plan. I honestly thought they’d just capture me after seeing who I was.” Alex cut me off, “Go with the flow I suppose.” “Spade-499 up one-two.” The local radio channel began to drown out my squad’s comms. “Rook-3468 down one-one” “This is some odd radio traffic Dutch.” Alex quipped. I watched as a Shadow Company mercenary approached a stairwell, each step primed and ready to pop a leg off whichever unfortunate soul chose to ascend. “Spade-5454 up one-two.” “It’s how they know to deactivate the traps.” I whispered into our secure line. I approached the same stairwell. “Rook-44 up one-two.” I could hear the traps audibly click off. The guard at the to put his hand out as I reached the top step. “Sorry, no ghosts allowed on the second floor.” “Ghost? What…” He bent over laughing. “I’m just messing with you man. They said you died holding off the ULF while Bob and Twitch escaped, going out in a blaze of glory. Clearly, they didn’t have their facts straight. Glad to have you back.” I’m glad I had the balaclava on because I was struggling to hide my confusion. Last I checked I was the scape goat for the largest backstab in Shadow Company history, not a hero. I was never a hero when I worked for them. “I take it you are going to see the boss, call up two-zero, we don’t want people to be just guess on the fly, just in case someone tries to sneak in.” If only he knew.
“We don’t have eyes up there Dutch. Whatever happens, you’re on your own.” I could hear a tinge of worry in Alex’s voice. “Just make sure whoever is in here doesn’t get reinforcements.” “You got it!” Alex and Maze both called out in unison. “Jinx, you owe me another beer.” “There’s free beer at headquarters, why would I owe you a beer for that.” Alex called back clearly still confused. “Radio silence please. I’ve got a rat to kill.” I took a deep breath, pulling my Bryson from its sheath, the chrome exterior brushed over with a dull grey to blend in. “Rook-44 up two-zero.”
“Well, well, well. I was wondering when I’d see you again after our last encounter. Urzikstan and Al Mazrah clearly hadn’t kicked your ass enough so you decided to come crawling back to me for another round.” The traps clicked off. “Come on up, I’ve been looking forward to this.” I slowly ascended, keeping my Bryson trained at the top of the stairs, my eyes scanning each stair for an actual trap. As I crested the stairwell, my eyes were immediately drawn to him. His back turned to me, Trophy Systems whirring and clicking around him. “I missed you Dutch. Well, the old you. The one that would shoot through a hostage just to prove a point, the one that would dangle captives from buildings by their collar until they squawked like a bird, and then still dropped them anyways. I miss the Dutch that smoked Keller because his gas mask worked and yours didn’t when we those crazy Russian’s tried to hit us with mustard gas. I still get a little nauseous when I think about you peeling his face out of there.” “I’ve changed Twitch, I’ve moved past all that. I found a calling that doesn’t require me to be a conniving bastard.” Twitch laughed as he turned around, his hands empty. I kept my Bryson trained on him. “That’s what you think I am huh? I prefer shrewd businessman, but if that’s what helps you sleep at night.” He walked to one of the barred windows. “You really think what you and those taxi driving hooligans are doing matters?” “Clearly it does, or you and the Chemist wouldn’t be working so hard to sabotage us.” I took a few steps towards him. “Well, I suppose it matters to one of us. The Chemist and Raz go way back, but you know that. What I care about is the money, and I get a lot of money for helping that crazy bastard try to wipe out your little band of Merry Men.” “And Women. This guy just loves the sound of his own voice. Can I remove his head already? He’s looking right at me, practically begging me to pull the trigger.” I could hear the contempt in Maze’s voice. Twitch always did love a monologue. “You can still fix your mistakes Twitch. Gives us what info you have on those tracers of yours and I might consider not killing you.” I snarled. “When you went soft Dutch, you lost any respect I might have had for you. We are long past the point where you can intimidate me. Besides, any info I did have, is with the Chemist. He paid a handsome sum to get the formula, and really, it was becoming a logistical nightmare to ship enough of those little blue gems across the sea. Better for everyone to have it made close to the front lines.”
“Spade-101 up two-zero.” Bob’s voice cut through the tension. “Well I’ll be, it looks like we are gonna have a little family reunion.” Bob’s head poked up the stairs, “Hey boss, another server bank has shorted out from the sea air, I told you we should invest in better waterproofing the housings but if you still…” He trailed off as I dropped my Bryson, the sling catching it just before it hit the ground, and drawing my two revolvers. “Oh, hey Dutch. Nice to see you too.” Bob stammered. I cocked the hammer on each one, keeping one trained on each of my old squad mates. “Really Bob? Really! I understand you sticking around the day of the heist. But now? After everything that Shadow Company has done to these countries. To its own people.” Before he could respond, a siren blared over the intercom system. “Defensive positions! Hostile operators have breached the perimeter.” “Dutch you’ve got six operators approaching the castle, I think it’s time to bounce.” Maze was drowned out by her own gun fire, her Signal .50 raining death into the courtyard. “Looks like our time is up here Dutch. Since you clearly don’t have los cojones to pull the trigger, you might as well see yourself out, and let me and my men handle this.”
“Fuck it.” The hammer of the first revolver slammed down, dropping Bob instantly. I turned to face Twitch, his face a mix of surprise and pride. “Maybe I was wrong, the old Dutch still lives.” I charged forward, tackling him through the window and off the roof. Both of us lay on the ground, groaning as the chorus of gunfire roared around us. He dove for one of my pistols, but unfortunately for him, I had managed to hold on to the other, putting a round through his arm just before he could grab the gun. He rolled out of the way of the second round, bringing his one working hand up to the radio on his chest. The explosion from the castle threw both of us across the courtyard, debris raining down around us. I felt like I was reliving one of the worst days of my life all over again. I hauled myself to my feet, Shadow Company mercenaries and operators wandered aimlessly through the ashes. Everyone seemed too disoriented to fight. “I think it’s time to leave Dutch.” “I second that.” Maze and Alex were barely audible over the ringing in my ears. “Regroup at the boat. If I’m not there in 5, go without me.” I never heard a response, even if they tried, they wouldn’t have convinced me to leave, not with him still breathing.
I combed through the smoke and fire, carefully checking every nook and cranny I came across but the slippery rat was nowhere to be seen. “Looks like you 3 aren’t thick as thieves after all, eh Dutch. Poor Alex here was left all alone on the beach, no boat to be seen.” Twitch was sucking in air between words, no doubt kept standing by adrenaline. “You lay a finger on him, and I’ll make you wish you had died in that explosion.” I spat into my mic. “Don’t make me wait too long.”
I limped over a hill towards the beach where we were supposed to regroup. “Alex! Where’s Maze?” I called out as I stumbled down the sand bank. Alex didn’t respond, his head held in a tight headlock by Twitch, my second pistol against his temple. “She abandoned you both, and now I get the pleasure of killing you both after yet another betrayal. When will you learn Dutch. This world is a cruel place. Only the strong survive, clearly Maze knew that.” Twitch cut me off before I could retort. “Save the fight me with honour B.S that I know you are gonna spew.” I’m gonna kill you and your buddy and salvage what little I can of this operation. Then maybe retire to Cuba. I do love a good cigar.” “Adios, pendejo!” Alex brought his arm down, the knife concealed in his hand connecting with Twitch’s thigh. Twitch let out a high-pitched yelp, letting loose a round from the revolver which narrowly grazed Alex’s hair. Alex dove into the sand right as Twitch’s shoulder exploded in a pink mist followed shortly by the unmistakable crack of Maze’s Signal .50. I squinted trying to see where the shot came from, all I caught was the glint from her scope in the sun, the boat hardly visible in the rolling surf.
I limped forward, Bryson in hand, chrome starting to show through the worn grey paint. I kicked the revolver away from Twitch, placing a boot on his chest and the barrel of my Bryson against his forehead. He began to mumble and cry, hardly able to string together an understandable sentence. “Save it, you’re gonna need your energy for what comes next.” Our boat slammed into the shore, Maze hopping off, rifle raised and ready. “Oh shit I actually hit that!” “I’m not gonna lie, I thought you’d actually just bailed.” I laughed as she helped Alex to his feet. “You still go those claymores?” I asked Maze as Twitch continued to writhe in panic under my boot. “You wanted the old Dutch, eh Twitch. Ask and you shall receive.” Maze handed me the claymores, while Alex kept sidearm pointed at Twitch. I planted 4 around him, just far enough away that they wouldn’t go off unless he moved. I drew one of my revolvers, popping the cylinder out and emptying all but one round. I gave the cylinder a spin before flicking it closed. I tossed the revolver at Twitch. “Don’t waste that on me. You’ll only regret it in about an hour.” I took my other revolver, and hurled it towards the sea, the pearl grip glinting in the sun as it spun through the air, disappearing into the crashing waves. “Good riddance.” I sighed, that chapter of my life finally ended. Twitch was silent, his whimpering now just deep, laboured breathing. I turned back before I stepped onto the boat, watching as his hand slowly moved to the pistol in the sand next to him. “Well played Dutch, well played.”

Violence continues in Sudan, the cryosphere breaks down, recessions, harvest failures, heat waves, droughts, and floods. Mother Earth has got a terminal case of humans.
Last Week in Collapse: May 28-June 3, 2023
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter bringing together some of the most important, timely, useful, sad, ironic, amazing, or otherwise must-see moments in Collapse. Try not to overdose on this week’s Doom dose.
This is the 75th newsletter. You can find the May 21-27 edition (which I accidentally labeled the 73rd edition) here if you missed it last week. These newsletters are also on Substack if you want them sent to your email inbox every Sunday.
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The World Meteorological Congress concluded on Friday, and it released a bunch of reports. The focus this year was on developing early warning systems for wateclimate/weather disasters. Most countries report declining ability to monitor hydrological developments, and almost half of the world’s people lack reliable access to water for at least one month per year, a figure that is expected to grow considerably by 2050.
The WMO also reported on the state of emergency for the cryosphere, those places where ice is formed (and melts). Greenland’s ice has shrunk for 26 consecutive years. Permafrost threatens to release huge quantities of greenhouse gasses over the coming years. Sea levels continue to rise…but you know this already.
Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, has come up with a plan to extend their almost-exhausted water supply: they’re adding salt to the tap water, against WHO recommendations. This causes people to drink less water—but what are the implications for health, and for small-scale agriculture?
Over 20 million tonnes of what was damaged in China by recent rain, not long before it was scheduled to be harvested. Analysts say this will raise grain prices worldwide. The scale of this blight is larger than recent blights. In the U.S. state of Georgia, 90% of the peach harvest was destroyed by abnormally warm weather; in Vermont, a freak cold snap damaged crops, potentially 30% of apples.
6 years. 800 million trees felled in the Amazon rainforest, all to create space for cattle farms. The loss of rainforest is equivalent roughly to two Corsica islands.
Environmental scientists have discovered a hopeful tool to lower CO2: Greenland’s “rock flour,” which is basically rock dust. A recent study claims that it can be scattered on fields to absorb CO2—and also boost wheat and potato yields. International lawyers are also working on the first global plastics pollution treaty that could be passed later next year.
Yet another study claims that Mother Earth is sick, and that most of our safety thresholds have been crossed. The feedback loops have been activated, the diagnosis is terminal. The Nature study lists the 8 Earth System Boundaries: 1) Climate, 2) Functional Integrity, 3) Natural Ecosystem Area, 4) Surface Water, 5) Groundwater, 6) Nitrogen, 7) Phosphorus, and 8) Subglobal Aerosols. (Not to be confused with the 9 Planetary Boundaries.)
Some insurers in California are cutting homeowner insurance because they can’t make a buck betting against wildfires and desertification. Similar risk is expanding in Texas. Summer is coming. A mysterious wildfire in Scotland is growing out of control, and threatens to become the UK’s largest ever.
Record May rainfall in Bermuda. Part of South Africa also saw record rains in May. Strong rains in southern Spain—but the parched soil can’t absorb much of it. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia area had its driest May in recorded history.
Vicious drought and Afghan dams have raised tensions between iran and Afghanistan, where fighting killed a handful of people two weeks ago. In times of scarcity, no group can have enough water; even less if they’re forced to share. Most of the world’s lakes are drying up.
An official in India ordered the draining of two million liters of water from a reservoir……so he could retrieve his phone, which he dropped in the water while taking a selfie. He was suspended. The phone was recovered—but too damaged to function. The water could have irrigated 6 km² of land.
Wildfires grow in Nova Scotia. Millions going hungry in Madagascar. Record temperatures in Japan. Normalized heat waves across Asia with new records in Central Asia & the Caucasus.
Scientists warn of potential tsunamis caused by underwater landslides in Antarctica. New cold records in Australia. Heat waves in North Africa. Increasing reliance on expensive desalination plants in Barcelona as drought and water supplies worsen.
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Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, won reelection, and economists believe it portends the further Collapse of the economy. Investment is pulling out, and the lira is expected to continue sinking. “We will be together until the grave,” said Erdoğan at his victory speech.
The UN operation to drain the *FSO Safer* has begun now that technicians have boarded the vessel. 1.1 million barrels of oil aboard the derelict tanker, stranded off the coast of Yemen, will begin being drained next month.
Petrol prices rise in Benin as Nigeria cuts its fuel subsidies; Iran is limiting fuel purchases too. China’s declining birth rate, growing debt, and ongoing international decoupling is threatening its economy. Eurozone inflation continues. Trade-GDP ratios approaching 2008 levels worryingly.
Budapest is facing bankruptcy. Refugees in Tanzania are seeing their rations cut in half as financing falls off. Vicious conditions inside refugee camps in Chad take advantage of Sudanese refugees. Debts grow in Brazil. Complicated problems continue destabilizing the world’s economic equilibrium.
Another Russian missile attack struck Kyiv last week, after allegedly pro-Ukraine Russian volunteer soldiers made an incursion into Russian territory. Wagner Group’s chief continues provoking Russian leadership as infighting appears to grow, following a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. Zelensky says Ukraine’s counteroffensive is now ready.
Myanmar’s Civil War has entered its third year, depending on when you claim it began. In the desperation and chaos of prolonged warfare, it is the environment that pays the price. Wood, gold, jade, and other resources are being exploited by government and private actors after the old economic system broke apart.
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62% of Americans agree that the COVID pandemic is over (it’s not), an increase of 14% since February 2023. 56% of Americans admit that they never mask up in public anymore. An updated booster is coming in September to address the XBB.1.16 variant. Masks may go away, but (Long) COVID will stay with us.
The WHO’s treaty to manage future pandemics is being watered down, leaving humanity less prepared for the next pandemic. Although China denies the lab leak origin story, a prominent Chinese scientist claims it is possible. COVID is never going away, and neither is Long COVID.
Cholera is spreading in several refugee camps in Kenya; medical attention comes too small and too late to prevent the spread. In Sudan, where over a million people have been displaced by recent violence, old inequities linger. Over 13M children are in desperate need of humanitarian aid (about half of Sudan’s 46M population are below 18). Their situation has never been more critical.
Experts continue warning about the dangers of AI, and push for regulation, while other actors push to use AI for economic benefits. I am uncertain which field AI will disrupt the most: military, low-skill workers, societal psyche, institutional integrity, creative jobs, politics, financial markets…? What will be the second-order effects, tertiary, etc.?
Tanzania has called an end to its Marburg virus outbreak, about 10 weeks after it declared an emergency. The UK is advising at-risk people to get vaccinated for mpox/monkeypox before their vaccine program ends in August; 10 new cases in the UK were recently reported.
PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” used across many household objects, are dangerous to your health. You also probably could have guessed that manufacturers knew—and lied about—their safety for decades. A study tracked the use of PFAS (since 1940’s) and the knowledge that they were harmful (since 1990’s). Companies including DuPont settled a case for a little over $1 billion USD for their role in the scheme. The billionaire Sackler family also settled a gigantic case regarding opioids, in which they must pay about $6 billion USD, and forfeit control of the pharmaceutical company they’ve held since 1952. The company (formerly Purdue Pharma) is rebranding (as Knoa). Nobody is going to jail.
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A catastrophic train crash in India killed 280+ people. The crash involved 3 trains, and is India’s deadliest in this century.
Riots in Kosovo. Torture in suspected gangster prisons in El Salvador, with 153 prisoners killed since March. Ongoing protests in Israel over the proposed judicial reform.
Lebanon has been without a President for more than 7 months now—and now target dats have been missed to hold important municipal council elections. Town budgets are falling further into chaos, police are going unpaid, garbage is piling up, and would-be foreign investors and money-lenders are losing the scraps of hope they had for Lebanon’s crippled economy. No one is coming to save them.
Cartel violence is rising on the border of Mexico-Guatemala. Organized non-state armed groups conscript local guys, intimidate people into leaving, blockade towns, and shoot each other in the streets. Several thousand people have been displaced—and others disappeared. Far away, Syria is being welcomed back into the Arab fold—on the condition that it cracks down on the intractable drug epidemic of captagon.
One of Libya’s rival PMs was ousted a couple weeks ago, and now the other PM in the east is striking towns in western Libya with drones, allegedly targeting fuel/human smugglers.
Boko Haram jihadists are infighting in northern Nigeria, but the civilians are paying the price. Guerrilla territorial competition may also bring in more people into regional hostilities. In eastern DRC, violence has displaced over 80,000 people so far this year, and their regional hospitals are overcrowded.
Rumors are emerging that M23 will attack Goma, the sprawling epicenter of East Africa’s refugee situation, where human rights abuses are increasingly common and the local ceasefire is breaking down. Islamic radicals also operate in the region, targeting civilians. About 6 million people across the DRC are believed to be internally displaced, and about half a million around Goma (population: unknown, perhaps 750,000 or twice that). There are also reports of planes sighted which belong to the European mercenary company Agemira.
The Sudanese Civil War is spiraling out of control again, as skirmishes broke the incomplete ceasefire. The Central Statistics Bureau was attacked, hampering official data for various purposes. Over 1,000 people have died so far, crossing an unofficial threshold for an armed conflict to officially become a War. About 2M have fled the fighting. Rockets killed 18 and injured many more at a market in Khartoum, sanctions are being imposed by a few nations, and other countries are wading deeper into the War, complicating the situation and preventing clean avenues to another ceasefire.
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Select comments/threads from the subreddit last week suggest:
-There is rain in Romania, based on this observation. But there’s also corruption, growing labor strikes, inflation, and political difficulties.
-Greenland’s climate is out of whack—and apparently the people don’t seem to care that much, judging from this rare observation from West Greenland.
-Portland, Oregon is still a cross-section of modern America’s Collapse, if this observation can be trusted. Heat, insecurity, overcrowding, loneliness, and crows… Reddit has also been affected by psychological decay, according to the poster.
-People are abandoning climate hope, if you believe this gilded thread and its many gilded comments. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.
Have any feedback, questions, comments, resources, recommendations, free PDFs, manifestos, etc.? Consider joining the Last Week in Collapse SubStack if you don’t want to check collapse every Sunday, you can get this newsletter sent to your email inbox every weekend. I always forget something... What did I miss this week?

Chapter VI
The first land we sighted after leaving Sydney was the Three Kings, New Zealand. We had run before a fair wind up to this time, and had come into what was regarded as a good whaling ground. Now every eye was scanning the horizon, since a bottle of grog was promised to the man who should first sight a whale. I had been on the port watch since I came on board under Mr Hawkins, the chief mate, and one evening, just as our watch below was ending, I went aloft to see the sun set. Against the broad, red horizon I saw some dark objects spouting and tumbling. In an instant I had shouted “Whales ho!” to claim the bottle of grog. “Where away?” was the skipper's question. “On the lee bow, sir.” For an instant he scanned the spot with his glass, an anxious moment for me lest I should have mistaken a shoal of porpoises for a school of whales, and not only lose my prize but expose myself to the ridicule of my fellow sailors. “Right you are, it's whales, sure enough; you have won your grog, lad.”
We had no time to lose; the night would soon be on us, and our chance would be lost. Down went the boat with Ned Farne, our harpooner, in the bows ready to launch his weapons when opportunity offered. On came the school, tumbling and blowing, throwing jets of water ten or fifteen feet into the air, causing a very grand yet terrible scene. At length they got almost within range; the boys were pulling like mad to keep up with the pace the whales were swimming at. We saw Ned rise up in the bows, poise his arm back for an instant, then launch the harpoon straight for the huge back of the fish that was nearest to him. The aim was true, the missile was buried over the barb in the soft blubber beneath the outer skin, and away went the whale dragging the harpoon rope after it so rapidly that they had to pour water upon the side of the boat to prevent it from igniting, through the violent friction. Again the huge creature rose to breathe, and another harpoon was driven into it, causing it once more to rush away through the water at lightning speed. Darkness fell over the scene before they had killed it, and the boat remained by the carcase all night to prevent it sinking. When morning came it was a busy scene on board, preparing to cut it in and try it out. At length the task was completed, and five large sacks of oil were secured; not a large yield certainly, but the foretaste of better things, we hoped. We cruised over the same ground for several days, but saw no more whales, accordingly we stretched across to Curtis' Island, about 500 miles to the north-east, where in about a month we got five or six more, some of them giving very fair yields of oil. After this we ran down upon Norfolk Island, where we fell in with the Mercury, schooner, Captain Barnet, also on a whaling cruise from Tasmania. From her we shipped two additional hands, and then made for Moreton Bay, on the coast of Queensland. Here not a solitary fish was to be seen, therefore we ran back for our old ground off Curtis' Island. Scarcely had we arrived when we fell in with a heavy gale from the north-east, raging for twenty days, in which we had to heave to, not being able to show a rag of sail. On the 21st day, when the wind began to lull, we found ourselves off the Three Kings, a drift of more than 500 miles. We had shipped such heavy seas, and the force of the storm had been so great, that our tryworks had been carried away, and three of our boats stove in. Therefore we bore up for the Bay of Islands, where we arrived on the 10th of April, 1811, anchoring as before off Te Puna. We were the only vessel in the bay at the time, though others entered during our stay.
The same day that we reached our anchorage a chief named Taua Makia came aboard to take care of us and watch over our interests, lest we should be swindled in trade or otherwise maltreated. This considerate proceeding was not disinterested, but the ‘consideration’ expected was not large. The Skipper ordered a boat to go ashore and bring a load of gravel to serve as shot for our guns since this had been omitted in the ship's supplies, and the natives were not to be trusted, even though we had a protector. The news had spread like wild-fire that a ship was at anchor in the bay, and already scores of canoes were being launched to pay a visit to the pakeha, but we loaded our guns, and pointing them astern, ordered all the visitors to keep back, which, after a little demur and grumbling they did. Nevertheless, all throughout our stay, they never desisted in the attempt to get on board, considering it a gross breach of hospitality on our part to deny them the privilege. As our example was imitated by Captain Walker, of the Endeavour brig, that came in a few days after us, having on board two missionaries for Tahiti - Messrs Davidson and Williams - the natives concluded that in us they had got a very bad and uncivil customer to deal with.
Meantime we had commenced work upon the repairs of the vessel. Nearly all our spars had been carried away, together with our jibboom and some of the bulwarks; we had lost every boat but one, and small leaks were demanding attention, We bad two sawyers on board, and as Captain Walker had three whom he lent us for the time, our skipper thought it best to put the ship thoroughly to rights here, in place of putting back to Sydney. Accordingly, the sawyers went ashore, rigged up the pits, and commenced work vigorously. But the Maoris did not exactly see the force of this. They imagined that we were concocting some diabolic scheme of destruction against them in making such extensive preparations, which they considered as in some way identified with our worship. They pulled down the works and threatened to kill the sawyers if they attempted to resume operations. But a volley from the vessels soon scattered them, and a strong guard being picked from the crews of both ships, they were hereafter permitted to labour uninterruptedly. During this time, I had considerable liberty granted to me to go ashore, or to go fishing with Taua Makia. The first time I availed myself of the former privilege, I received as great a scare as ever I had in my life. Three of us had been wandering about in a bit of bush near the Keri-Keri River, trying to find our way back to the saw-pits, when suddenly we issued upon a cleared space, in which were a few houses and patches of cultivation. Before the entrance to one of the whares stood a band of females crowned with chaplets of green leaves, and wringing their hands. One of these, an elderly woman, who seemed to act as chief mourner upon the occasion, and had a chaplet of dog's hair round her temples, different from the others, advanced in front and began to throw her arms about, raising her head and eyes to heaven. Whilst doing this, in a very plaintive quavering tone, she commenced a wailing song, in which she was joined by her companions. I was afterwards initiated into this, and now give a specimen of a funeral lament: -
Taku hei he piripiri (my fragrant bundle the piripiri) Taku hei moki-moki (my fragrant bundle the mokimoki) Taku hei tawiri (my fragrant bundle the tawiri) Taku kati taramea (my sweet juice of the taraniea) Te hei o te pounamu (the companion of the greenstone) I haramai ai - e (is gone - alas, upon) I runga te angai-ia-ana (the angai-e-).
It was the tangi, or wail for the dead. But at this period I knew nothing of Maori customs or ceremonies, and my very hair began to rise with horror as I thought perhaps they might be celebrating some human sacrifices. Our fear kept us quiet. In the thick bush we lay watching the scene, overshadowed by the gloom of a gigantic kauri-tree, and wishing ourselves anywhere but in our present predicament. When the sorrowful song was ended, and the females had entered the whare, we noiselessly strove to retrace our steps, and chance favouring us, we came out a mile or two from where the sawyers were at work. As I afterwards discovered, no duty is so sacred or so obligatory as the interment of the dead, no trouble being considered too great, no expense too excessive, no lamentation too extreme to testify to the respect in which the deceased was held on earth, and to raise him in the estimation of the mysterious spirits to whom he had gone. Taua Makia sometimes went with us fishing to induce the prey to come upon hooks by the constant chanting of Karakias or incantations, supposed to have a very potent influence over the finny tribe. I cannot say we were ever very successful when he was with us, since the noise he made and the fishing gear he would insist upon employing were neither conducive to lure the fish to our bait, nor to hold them when they were hooked. But this, of course, may have been merely an ignorant pakeha's prejudice, since many a lusty kahawai or schnapper, have I caught with a hook made from a dead man's bone. Don't wince, reader; better, is it not, to be put to some use after death, than to feed a legion of hungry worms.
We began to mix a little with the natives when ashore, and I grew more familiarised with their ways. We attended their baptisms, He Tohi, and gave presents to the infant, that it never enjoyed; we consulted the Niu, or divining sticks, whether we should reach home in safety; we were present at their marriage tauas, when the bride was carried off by main force sometimes minus her clothing, finally we were guests at their hakaris, or feasts, and could vouch for the excellence of Maori culinary skill. But we shall have enough of these in the course of the narrative, the reader shall eat and drink to his heart's content but at present we must keep to the thread of our story.
In a fortnight the sawyers had finished their work ashore, a week more completed the repairs aboard, and whatever little trade we had carried on completed, the skipper thought of standing out to sea again. In some mysterious way or other, I had offended the old bosun of our ship, and he had persecuted me with most relentless malice. Nothing I could do was right, the rope's end was my daily sauce, and complaints about my laziness were continually being carried to the captain. At length one day, irritated by their constant occurrence, he said when another of my misdeeds was laid before him, “String him up then, and give him a dozen.” This was just what the bosun wanted; and in a trice he strung me up to the mast, and a good round dozen I received, being only released when nearly fainting with pain and shame. He had got the best of it just now; my day of retribution came again. Now, this method of instructing me in navigation was by no means to my taste, and as two of our men had absconded the day previous, concealed, as was thought, in the bush, I imagined I could emulate their example, perhaps, to join them. At least, I should first go to the Endeavour, as she lay nearer the shore, if not, the bush it must be. Therefore, waiting my opportunity, about 3 o'clock one morning I slipped overboard and swam noiselessly to the companion ship. As I came alongside puffing and blowing, thoroughly exhausted with the long swim, and almost inclined to give up the business, the carpenter, who was acting as bosuns mate in the Endeavour for the time, saw me, and flung me a rope, by which I climbed on deck. I told him my story, and as he was a decent sort of a fellow, he was slipping me quietly along the deck to the foc'sle, when the second mate saw us and demanded to know what I wanted there. With my usual readiness, I invented a tale of a morning swim and exhaustion, but the story would not hold water, and the captain was informed of my arrival. As soon as morning broke he sent over to the Harwich, telling Captain Simmons that I was on board his vessel, and about nine our skipper came over with two men to take me back. Reluctantly enough I went, as I knew a flogging was in store for me, but to my surprise the captain only took me into his cabin and rated me soundly for my foolhardiness in risking my life thus, telling me I escaped a flogging by his having discovered many of the bosuns stories to be untrue. My condition was now better on board, as I was taken aft, and kept under the captain's own eye. My enemy, the bosun, was speechless with rage, yet he was powerless now to do me harm.
About a week after this the Endeavour sailed, Captain Walker having come on board the Harwich and taken a very friendly farewell of our skipper, and a fortnight afterwards we followed suit, going back to our old cruising ground at the Three Kings. The weather was very uncertain and squally, so that we did not see any whales; therefore we stretched over to Norfolk Island, and speedily were busy at work.
The first day we arrived we secured three whales, which we cut in and tried out, the third day two more, and the fifth day another. Then our luck seemed to change, and not a solitary fish could we see for an entire month. We tried all our former grounds, Curtis' Island, Moreton Bay, Three Kings, to no purpose, only when off the East Cape did we catch sight of a small whale, which we secured but only got one barrel of oil from it. The weather now began to be very stormy; winter was at its depth, and the air was piercingly cold. Therefore Captain Simmons concluded to break the cruise, to run for Sydney, discharge his cargo of oil, and commence anew. Another consideration, also, was that several of the men were very ill with scurvy and dysentry - in fact, the crew was only at half at its usual complement, therefore the cry was “about ship,” and “Sydney ho!”
It was whilst running home before a fine fresh breeze, that one night we were knocked up by Mr Hawkins singing out, “Ship on fire on the weather bow.” The shock was electrical. Everyone bundled out of their hammocks and rushed on deck. There on the horizon was a grand and terrible spectacle. A large ship was burning from stem to stern, lighting up the gloom of the winter's night for miles around, throwing a deep lucid glare over the inky ocean. The flames were bursting up the hatches, were licking the masts and spars, were peeping out in little forked tongues through the portholes. The captain ordered lights to be burned at the masthead, blank charges to be fired from the guns every minute, and the jolly-boat to be manned and to go in search of survivors. In an hour our efforts were rewarded by three boat-loads of fear-stricken men boarding us and asking reception. They informed us that the burning ship was the “Lady Lucy” from Sydney to London, that she had caught fire when a week out, from a burning candle falling into an oil cask, and that over 50 lives had already been lost through the capsizing of two of their boats. Captain Simmons made them welcome, and a few days after we reached Sydney, where they were taken in hand by the Government and forwarded home by the next vessel. Thus ended my voyage in the Harwich, perhaps the most pleasant of all my trips.

"A couple very good guys wrote an article today, the tobacco king, you the tobacco king..." - Disgraced former president Donald Trump doing some classic word salad during his Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity

Law And Border

Some variation on “CHAOS AT THE BORDER” is a staple phrase in the Fox News chyron. But the source of that chaos is not who they want you to think it is.

• The Trump-era policy known as Title 42—which allowed American border agents to rapidly expel many migrants to Mexico or other countries to request asylum—expired in May, and conservative media whipped its viewership into a frenzy anticipating a huge increase in illegal crossings at the Southern border. That hasn’t happened. What has happened is a crisis of a different kind.
  
• An internal Border Patrol investigation found that medical staff “declined” (refused) to review the file of an eight-year-old girl with a chronic heart condition and a rare blood disorder before she had a fatal seizure on her ninth day in custody. Her parents had shared her medical history with authorities the second day the family was in custody. Anadith Alvarez was the daughter of Honduran immigrants, born with a congenital heart defect that required surgery three years ago. The day before she died, the girl had a fever of almost 105 degrees.
  
• The video surveillance system where the girl’s family was detained in Harlingen, TX, had been out of service for over one month, a violation of federal law that prevented authorities from collecting evidence, but interviews with Border Patrol agents and medical personnel there raised enough troubling questions to trigger an investigation into the girl’s nine days in custody. The agency’s own limit to detain migrants is 72 hours. The Office of Professional Responsibility (which is like Border Patrol’s office of internal affairs) reported that despite the girl’s rapidly deteriorating condition, her mothers concerns, “and the series of treatments required to manage her condition, contracted medical personnel did not transfer her to a hospital for higher-level care.”
  

This is far from the first report of this kind detailing inhumane treatment of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Adding to the unstable conditions at the border, the head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Chief Raul Ortiz, announced his retirement Tuesday night, which will take effect on June 30. It is unclear who will replace him. Ortiz oversaw Border Patrol’s nearly 20,000 agents during the pandemic and through the implementation of Title 42 after beginning his tenure in August 2021 following the ouster of MAGA-head Rodney Scott, who fully embraced Trump’s policies including #BuildTheWall. But the malpractice plainly did not end with Scott’s removal.
  
• During the Biden administration, agents have continued to engage in “unnecessary use of force” against non-threatening Haitian migrants. Biden’s own DOJ defended the continuation of Trump’s family-separation policy in court, despite his past criticisms of the policy as “criminal.” Since taking office, Biden has tightened standards for asylum seekers at the border to the degree that some argue he has all but eliminated the right to seek asylum on American soil. Seeking asylum is an internationally protected right, so it doesn’t feel particularly radical to criticize the policy choices that led to this.
  

President Biden, like President Obama before him, made a wager: that tough border policies and deportations will buy good will from conservatives or neutralize their bad-faith attacks. Except, it didn’t, and it won’t. Conservative media and GOP lawmakers will always portray Democratic presidents, falsely, as open-borders fanatics, no matter how strict their actual immigration policies are. Multiple GOP governors thousands of miles from the border have deployed national guardsmen to Texas, absent a big uptick in crossings, as a propaganda feint, to create the false perception of disorder. Democrats can’t beat that approach by meeting it in the ever-shifting middle, and they shouldn’t try.

Look No Further Than Crooked Media

It’s Pride month, and the Crooked Store has a whole collection of merch to help you celebrate and fight back against the total freaks obsessed with what we wear and where we put it. The collection has everything from tees to bags, so you can stock up. I’m not going to tell you how to celebrate Pride, but I will say that if you don’t ruin at least one article of clothing this month, you could be doing more. So grab an extra tee.
Plus, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Crooked’s Fuck Bans fund, which supports organizations working to protect vulnerable people on the ground in states that are banning care and targeting trans youth. You get the thrill of supporting organizers combined with the thrill of buying something online. It’s a win-win.
Head to https://crooked.com/store to check out the whole Pride collection.

Under The Radar

A series of investigations found that Allina Health System, a “nonprofit” that runs more than 100 hospitals and clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin has repeatedly withheld care from patients who have unpaid medical bills as a draconian bill-collecting tactic. The network rakes in over $4 billion in annual revenue. In the for-profit American healthcare system, many hospitals are known to take aggressive measures to collect medical debt, including taking patients to court, garnishing their wages, or even seizing their tax refunds. Allina Health System, on the other hand, has an explicit policy to completely shut off non-emergency health services for patients with at least $4,500 in unpaid medical debt, and not allow them to resume receiving treatment until it’s paid off in full. At point, the electronic health-records system locks so that staff cannot schedule future appointments for those patients, even ones with chronic conditions requiring regular attention like diabetes and cancer. That confronts those patients with a choice between getting a loan approved through the hospital or filing for bankruptcy. Anyone in this country who has ever been on the wrong side of a health-insurance dispute knows how easy it is to rack up $4,500 in medical debt. Almost one-in-three Americans have medical debt, which accounts for about half of all outstanding debt in this country. Because Allina Health System is a “nonprofit” it was able to avoid $266 million in state, local, and federal taxes in 2020 alone. Another perfect day in the American health-care industrial complex!

What Else?

The Department of Labor’s monthly jobs report showed the 29th straight month of strong job growth, with employers adding 339,000 jobs in May.
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan ransom note to suspend the debt limit, averting what would have been the nation’s first-ever default. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature.
The Senate voted to rescind President Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program, a measure the president is (obviously) expected to veto.
YouTube will reverse its election-integrity policy, and allow election-denial videos on the platform. Great! I love when corporations sacrifice democracy to extract just a little bit more profit.
Disgraced former president Donald Trump’s lawyers have informed the DOJ that they can’t find the classified document about military operations in Iran that Trump was recorded referencing. Very likely story!
The Justice Department will not seek charges against former Vice President Mike Pence for his possession of potentially classified government documents, and the investigation has been closed.
The Fulton County, GA, District Attorney’s investigation of disgraced former president Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election has expanded to include activities in Washington, DC, and several other states.
More than 800 million trees have been cut down in the Amazon rainforest in just the past six years to meet global beef demand.
Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) accused the National Rifle Association of seeking to use involuntary commitment laws “to round up mentally ill people and deprive them of other liberties,” a rare criticism of the NRA from a Republican.
An investigation into child sexual-abuse claims in Spain’s Catholic Church found 728 abusers among members of the clergy and non-clerical staff and 927 victims since the 1940’s.
A 19-year-old in the United Kingdom who converted to extremist Islam during the pandemic and planned to carry out a terrorist attack was given six years in prison.
The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is experiencing its worst-ever wildfire season, with more than 200 so far this year.

Be Smarter

The Discord disclosures of highly classified national security documents by former Massacheusetts Air National Guardsman/racist freak Jack Teixeira contain one particularly startling revelation: Iran, according to U.S. intelligence, plan to enlist militants in Syria to step up roadside attacks against U.S. military personnel, including through the use of armor-piercing munitions. The escalation is reportedly part of a broader strategic effort between Iran and Russia to drive the U.S. from the region (don’t threaten us with a good time!) but could also lead to escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran—and just in time for the Republican presidential primary, which will be chockablock with bloodthirsty war hawks who would happily exploit carnage in the region to revamp the GOP push for war.

What A Sponsor

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Light At The End Of The Email

A Baltimore couple, both nurses, saved a fellow passenger’s life on their flight back from a Florida vacation.
Fort Bragg, the major military base in North Carolina named after General Braxton Bragg—a Confederate general who owned slaves—was renamed Fort Liberty. Not sure why anyone thought it was a good idea to name a base after a guy who lost so many battles and is “widely regarded among historians as a poor leader who did not have the respect of his troops” in the first place!
Roberto Minuta, a member of the far-right Oath Keepers who was part of the security detail for longtime Trump adviseThe Riddler Roger Stone, was sentenced to more than four years in prison for seditious conspiracy related to his involvement in the January 6 insurrection.

Enjoy

paige on Twitter: "My 11 month-old son saw the pride merchandise in our local Target- immediately said “mama, I am woke and gay now” and then he did the worm"

Planning a road trip from Bay Area to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, first week of July.
Love to hear any suggestions and tips from experienced road travellers.
Planning to break at Elko NV both ways.
https://preview.redd.it/eajfbknz5q3b1.png?width=2924&format=png&auto=webp&s=5609d5e7eebac1b9aa45a7a2cfc6f6f5d2fc0be0

The Grimm mirror match between me and my nemesis tough_name_dumb_co.
The meta is drastically different here because of the Rocket Tag nature of this matchup.
The game and it’s replay is here: https://awbw.amarriner.com/2030.php?games_id=926579
Day 4 (me): I decide to take an aggressive caping strategy in the north. Once the fighting in the center begins you will have great difficulty taking those cities, thus my aggressive approach now. My Infantry also takes a route bypassing the enemy Black Boat. Remember to use your Black Boat to delay his units movements into the center of the map and try to make moves that they can’t properly block.
I also deploy an Artillery on my strong side because I don’t have the funds for a Tank and I want to start exerting pressure ASAP. The mountains in the map make them viable, but be real careful with walling them off.
Day 7 (me): I move the Black Boat to protect my capping Infantry from the Tank. If he wants to stop it he will have to cancel one of his own caps to do so.
I also break off the Com Tower cap and let another trailing Infantry handle it favor of grabbing another city.
Day 8 (me): I attack an Infantry in range of one of his Tanks but have the Artillery guard it. I also build a Mech in the north to ward off Tank aggression for cheap.
Day 8 (him): He takes the bait and manages to destroy my Tank while mounting an attack on the other fronts.
Day 9 (me): I wipe out his Tank in a single blow, butcher his Infantry in the area, start securing an uninterruptable neutral city, and move an AA into a position where it can support the center and the strong side push.
Day 10 (me): I abandon my strategy to avoid attacking the Black Boats for the sake of getting the first power off in favor of getting rid of those annoying bastards.
My Infantry can’t advance in the north thanks to all those enemy Infantry. I build a cheap Recon to drive them off or kill them. Grimm mirror recons OHKO Infantry on plains and have a high chance to do the same in forests. They do the secondary job of AA for half the cost, and the enemy will have to sack a vehicle double their value to stop the massacre. I wind up building a few of these murder machines in my match here.
Day 11 (me): I kill both Black Boats (Artillery+Tank 2HKO and 2 Copters+Tank 3HKO).
Day 11 (him): He sinks my north Black Boat and starts pushing on both flanks.
Day 12 (me): I build a Medium Tank in the south to push back against his vehicles.
Day 13 (me): I perform an ill advised attack and pop my power. I destroy 2 Tanks and my forces gather in the south.
Day 13 (him): He pops his normal power and reams me hard. He destroys 2 Copters, a Tank, sinks my south Black Boat and gathers in the south. Trading those 2 Copters really hurt.
Day 14 (me): The enemy has too many Copters for my liking so my vehicles fall back. My forward Infantry sacrifice themselves to cripple his Infantry in the area and to distract the enemy vehicles. I build an AA and Copter to help turn the air war around.
Day 14 (him): My sacrificial Infantry get gobbled up, he cripples my Artillery with a Tank, and he buys a Recon of his own.
Day 15 (me): My crippled Artillery retreats and a Mech takes it’s spot and OHKOs the offending Tank. My forces start gathering in the center.
Day 16 (me): My forces move into the center with my Medium Tank sitting on a city with a bunch of Infantry out front, and my Tanks, Copters, AA, and 5 HP Artillery in the rear. I also build another AA as well as a pair of Recons to handle the Infantry meat shields.
Day 16 (him): He pops his power and slams into my formation. He blasts through my Infantry walls and gets an AA to cripple my AA, 2 Copters and a Tank to 3HKO my Medium Tank, an AA to OHKO the Copter behind said Medium Tank, and a Copter to cripple a Tank I had on a city. My Infantry wall is almost completely gone, but the rear of my formation is still mostly intact thanks to it. He had to spend 6 vehicles turns (2 Tanks, 1 AA, and 3 Copters) just to kill my medium Tank thanks to all the crap in front of it. The damage is quite low for 12 vehicle actions. He also left all 3 AA and the bulk of his Copter force in range.
Day 17: I have to counter attack to restore balance or I’m done here, so I pop my Super. My objective here is to kill or cripple as many AA and Copters units as possible to take control of the airspace, so all moves will be towards that objective.
A Mech OHKOs a Recon.
My south AA OHKOs a Copter. (1)
My north Tank OHKOs the AA on the city where my medium Tank used to be. (2)
My north Copter OHKOs his Copter. (3)
I sack my 9 HP Infantry into an enemy Tank on my city then my south Tank kills its.
My other north Tank moves onto that space and kills the 9 HP AA. (4)
My other south Tank OHKOs the last AA. (5)
My 2 HP AA sacks itself into a Copter, and combined with 2 Infantry attacks cripples it. (6)
My other north Copter moves onto the M Tank city and OHKOs another Copter. (7)
My 5 HP Artillery, Infantry, and 4 HP Tank 3 HKO a plains Tank.
I’m now ahead in Unit Value and recovered in Unit Count. He has also lost all 3 AA and is down to 2 healthy Copters in the center.
Day 17 (him): He continues to fight. A healthy Copter and the 2 HP one gang up to kill one of my own, and his 2 Tanks and the other healthy Copter cripple 3 of my Tanks.
Day 18 (me): I continue to retaliate.
My sole remaining healthy Tank kills his 8 HP one.
I sack a 2 HP Tank into his 8 HP city Tank, and follow up by blasting it with my 5 HP Artillery and 3 HP Tank to kill it.
My south AA OHKOs his Copter.
My other AA kills his 7 HP Copter. He has now lost all air defense in the center except for the 1 HP Copter.
My surviving Copter cripples his forest Tank.
My 2 Recons take advantage and start eating “free dudes” on both flanks. His Infantry in the south have been reduced to a single 3 HP unit.
Day 18 (him): He still continues to push into my forces. One Tanks OHKOs an AA, and the other Tank cripples an AA on a city. His Infantry hits my 5 HP Artillery down to 2 HP.
Day 19 (me): My 2 HP Artillery clears away a weak blocking Infantry and I pop my Power.
This enables a Tank to OHKO one of his own.
My 3 HP AA cripples a Copter.
My Copter OHKOs a Tank.
A 3 HP Tank sacks itself into an AA and a Copter follows up, but sadly leaves it with 1 HP. He doesn’t have any real air defense after that, and his remaining vehicles in the center are all crippled.
Day 19 (him): He finally retreats from the center, but not before offing my Artillery.
Day 20 (me): I start to rebuild army cohesion in the center of the map. The loss of his air defense lets me use my Copters as shields for my Tanks to hide behind for protection from enemy Tanks. My Copters can rapidly front switch to the flanks from this position.
Day 21 (me): My Infantry reinforcements start to move up and threaten his cities. He is going to have to start sacking strong units to prevent those flips.
Day 21 (him): He kills both capping infantry, but it will hurt him.
Day 22 (me): I join 2 Copters together due to low fuel on one of them. I also take revenge for my Infantry and OHKO a Copter and a Recon. I start capping 2 cities, with the one in the center being blocked off by my 2 Recons. The money from the join lets me deploy a Medium Tank on my weak side to push with.
Day 22 (him): He pops his Super in a desperate attempt to stop the caps. His Tank in the north kills a city Tank, his west Tank OHKOs my Recon, letting an Infantry to get through and interrupt. A Tank in the south OHKOs an AA, and 2 Copters kill the other capping Infantry and the replacement right behind him. All he gets out of this Super are a Tank and AA kill… damn that is weak.
Day 23 (me): I have him right where I want him.
My AA moves up and OHKOs a Copter.
My 1 HP capping Infantry sacks itself against another Infantry, and my surviving Recon finishes it off.
That enables a 2HKO of his Tank by my Copters.
I pop my Power to finish the rest of his overextended forces.
My 5 HP AA OHKOs the other copter.
My center Tank OHKOs an AA.
My south Tank cripples a forest Tank.
One north Tank OHKOs an Infantry on a city, while the other hops on the now vacant space to OHKO a Tank.
The last Copter in the center OHKOs a Tank.
A new Infantry unit starts to cap that center property again.
My enemy is down to 5 combat effective vehicles but only 3 are still in range (Tank, AA, and 3 HP AA), vs 10 of my own that are on the front, and my Medium Tank hasn’t arrived yet.
Day 23 (him): He realizes that he can’t hold on to his property advantage for 7 more days with his depleted forces and resigns.
I have won my Round 8 grudge match. 1 more win means I will make it pass Round 10 for sure.

[←Chapter 53] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 55→]
The day had slid by Aya like so much water off of a duck’s back. It took a particularly hard prod by Frare to dislodge her from a slurry of inattentiveness. As she looked around she realised the barricades had been almost completely disassembled, with only scraps remaining on the church floor. The pieces of broken glass and masonry were being carted outside by the villagers that remained.
Currently there was a lukewarm debate around the command table, dragged to the centre of the hall. Aya’s consciousness glossed over Sorore reprimanding her brother for bothering her, as well as the various arguments over logistics and provisions. She half-heartedly listened to discussions of various threats on various roads, and then quickly forgot about it.
Without really realising it, she found herself peaking at the parchments spread over the table. The lined scrolls held no real meaning for her, but the centre map with its pins certainly did. It was a large and fairly extensive map of the continent, with various cities illustrated with flowing script too elaborate for her to read. Slowly her eyes flitted from north to south, and found the curl of a mountain range bleeding into a peninsula where she assumed Karkos was.
“What about here?” she said, pointing to the location through the greaves of the captains before her.
Most turned to look with amused confusion, and she quickly felt a flush creeping up her neck.
“It’s a city,” she said.
The officers continued to look at her, awaiting elaboration.
“Y-you could get food there,” she offered weekly.
She almost added ‘I’ve heard the food is quite good’, though fortunately for her dignity the phrase died on her lips before it could enter the world. Naia, almost directly across from her, looked down and stroked his beard.
“It’s far from the worst option,” he said, “in fact, it’s probably one of the better ones.”
“It charges an arm and a leg, just for the usage of one ship. The cost of transporting all of us will be steep,” one soldier protested.
“The mountains are blocked off with the Alonshaze destroyed. None of the other passes can be reliably quickly traversed, even in summer,” Naia countered, “going the land route right now would be asking for trouble. The flatlands at the base of the Alonshaze have always been unstable, but ever since Ein’elen broke up it-”
“Sharaloch would be another option,” spoke up Damafelce, without much enthusiasm.
“You want to bet on a city of pirates and mercenaries for transport?” exclaimed another captain.
“Unwise, especially with such valuable persons,” Naia said, “we’ve already had enough headaches. The last thing I need is a hostage situation while sailing the strait.”
“You get what you pay for in Karkos,” yet another captain offered, with general murmurs of assent, “though with what gold we have I-”
“The gold’s not the issue,” said Naia, “if necessary, we can issue bonds in the name of Angorrah, or the paladins can in the name of the church.”
Niche, glum and surly, still nodded at the implied question.
“The general would not be happy. You know how possessive they get over money on a mission,” said Damafelce.
“We’ve been attacked multiple times, crossed half the continent, and found a long lost bequeathed, all with about a hundred men,” snorted Naia, “with all due respect to my betters, they can take their complaints and shove them-”
“If we’re going by speed and stability, Karkos is the best way,” cut in Niche through the laughter of the soldiers, “the safety of the Bequeathed should be our top priority. A good ship will get us there in under a week.”
“A ship to Espala, then Inalthia. Draskar forest is a nightmare at any time of the year,” Naia said, leaning over the map. With a subtle motion, he moved Aya’s finger northwest, and she realised with horror that she’d been pointing to the wrong end of the peninsula where some lesser settlement stood.
“Captain Deckard, I assume those that don’t want to come for pilgrimage will be returning to the fort?” he continued without giving any sign that she’d done anything wrong.
A new man, eyes blazing underneath furry dark brows nodded fervently.
“Well, I suppose we’ll have to clear out. I want everyone ready by sunset - it’ll be just under a week before we reach Karkos. Get what sleep you can - we’ll be riding out the next morning.”
There were a few finer points of debate that were bandied back and forth, but the conversation largely seemed to be settled. Niche and Damafelce both seemed to be locked in a staring match as Naia approached her.
“A good suggestion, my lady,” he said, “it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the city, but it might be just the place after this string of close calls.”
Aya tried to take what credit she could with a burning face.
“Now, there’s one other piece of business I have to attend to, I think,” he said, “where is the mage?”
“He’s on the roof,” she blurted, “I can show you.”
“No,” he said, holding up a gauntlet, “I think we’ll be just fine by ourselves. You should go and rest. It’s been a long night.”
He and Damafelce walked away from the table and vanished through the side door. Aya returned back to the altar with Niche, who was muttering some unkind things under his breath. It wasn’t more than a half hour before Naia returned with his captain, looking troubled. Before she could ask any questions, however, he quickly exited through the front of the church.
The rest of the day was largely spent on routines of amusement, the Bequeathed and the children of the village playing little games and telling stories among each other. The paladins, though they kept an eagle eye upon their charges, were not in a talkative mood that day. Lillian’s face was particularly dark, and she often muttered things that no one cared to listen to.
When evening came, any residual fears of the monsters returning were put to rest. The icy fear was no more, the villagers placed back what intact pews there were, and the flow of people from the medical bay slowed to a trickle. A simple meal, and a dreamless sleep, and Aya awoke in the early hours of the morning. Pulling herself up to one of the broken windows, she could see the summer green of the trees, their vibrancy somewhat damped by a light blue-grey fog.
Before they left, a service was held to bury those who’d been slain. The dead were laid side by side, wrapped in simple drab cloth, in a large pit just outside the doors of the church. Niche stood over the graves, eyes shut, pronouncings the blessing and peace that these brave defenders would lie with. Aya took the time to say a silent thanks as she gazed at the cloth-bound bodies.
As the remains were covered with soil, Niche shifted into a louder, older language as he sang in a husky tenor. Some kind of funeral liturgy, she guessed, though it was unfamiliar to her. The villagers cast tears into the ground with clouds of earth as they passed along the pit, then they left for the wall and the village beyond.
Aya’s concerns as she reentered the church shifted to more material things - hunger, cold, the lack of bathing over the last few days. At least some of those needs were addressed by the paladins in the next hours, with furs and food. But soon enough, they were on horses, walking in a line down to the south over open fields before the forest.
The first morning passed with very little conversation between anyone as they passed underneath the trees. That was all the better for Aya, who found herself enjoying the crisp air and the rapidly warming sunlight. It did take a bit of a turn for sorrow when she remembered that she often swam with her mother on mornings like these in the mountain lakes. Still, she was determined to extract what happiness she could on such a wretched journey. It was a resiliency that Frare seemed to share, while his sister still glanced nervously at the trees around them. Aya wondered if the girl was still seeing the creatures from last night in every shadow.
When they reached a clearing around midday, the children were made to sit before Niche as he handed out various meagre components of meals. As they began to eat, Lillian joined him, and both cleared their throats in unison.
“Right,” Niche began, “I realise the last few days have been less than smooth. Hardly a time for lessons, unfortunately.”
His dry chuckle was not reciprocated by any of the listeners, so he quickly moved on.
“But, given the nature of what happened, I think it’s advisable to speak on magic and mages, and what the scripture says about them.”
Frare, at the word ‘scripture’ audible groaned, which was followed by a hiss as his sister seized his ear.
“We have been forced into a position where we needed the help of a mage,” Niche said, picking his words with care, “it was not something we did willingly. It wasn’t a choice, but rather the product of circumstances beyond our control.”
You mean, the commander overruled you, thought Aya, though she elected not to voice such thoughts.
“If we had another choice,” Lillian chimed in, “we would’ve taken it. Survival, however, takes precedence, especially for you three. The choices were made, we might not be proud of it, but we’re all still here and that’s what matters.”
“That being said,” Niche said, fumbling in the interior of his breastplate and withdrawing a small booklet, “it would be good for you to understand what exactly underlies our choices.”
Aya’s eyes flicked over to the twins - Sorore was sitting upright and attentive, while her brother was a glum and slumped mirror. Niche thumbed through a few pages, focused in on the one he’d selected and once more, cleared his throat.
“And thus it was found, a great conspiracy, conspired against the children of Angorrah, conspired with creatures both great and small, but terrible all, in darkness and stagnant pools, where the profundity of their sin would go unnoticed by the decent and pious. Hated and proclaimed sinner, traitor, rebel against the Lost themselves. Three Boons would be taken, and three Houses be condemned to dust.”
Sorore perked up, for she clearly already knew the story and was excited to hear it yet again. Aya waited with a tempered anticipation, hoping at least there would be a half-way interesting tale, despite its lacklustre delivery. The story progressed into a broad parable, describing how three houses arose in rebellion against the church, and how three holy items had been robbed from the sepulchre of the ‘roiling cathedral’.
Apparently, they were ferried into the hands of mages, who perverted their holy functions until they burned the most sacred tree on the continent, one laid by Nafthtazia herself. For all of Aya’s doubts about the moral, she couldn’t deny the enjoyment of a good piece of history.
“Magic exists beyond the purview of the church,” Niche began, then quickly corrected his error, “rather, it is a part of the mystery of the Lost, but others can access in inappropriate ways. Some speculate that it should be left entirely to the Lost, not handled by mortal hands. Regardless, the church has taken upon a sacred duty, to ensure that what magic is used is done so sparingly, and with the utmost care.”
He closed the book with a flourish, clearly pleased at the depth of his instruction. Frare’s eyes were fluttering, which prompted a painful poke from his sister.
“So, magic is evil?” said Aya, trying to square that conclusion with all she’d seen.
Niche puffed out his chest, no doubt about to exclaim that it was in the strongest possible terms. Lillian however, had her own thoughts to add before he could.
“Not… inherently,” she said, “But it is broadly forbidden and for good reason. It is less evil, rather a great risk for evil. That is, far too easy to put it towards evil ends. That’s why mages are, as a rule, cruel, selfish, and dangerous creatures. Perhaps it is better put that magic attracts evil, even if it can be used for good.”
Aya stewed in that statement for a while - clearly the church was deeply knowledgeable, expanding and attending to her own, meagre education on the matter from the local priest. Still there were holes, obvious holes, or so she told herself.
“It might be hard to understand,” Niche said, “it might seem a little strange that the church forbids something that could be so useful. There are very good reasons both in scripture and in history that proves the point - magic is not to be used with abandon, and thus must remain under the Church’s eye.”
He patted the sigil of the church, engraved on his breastplate.
“That is one reason why the Light Lords were created in the first place,” he said, with thinly veiled pride, “we are the watchers, investigating the use of magic and capturing the perpetrator that would harm or cheat with it.”
“It was a decision made long ago,” added Lillian, “it was a sort of… half-agreement between the church and the army. We kept the peace that was broken by the mages during the Night of the Burning Tree.”
“So there are mages in Angorrah?” said Aya, drawing a strange, near insulted look by Sorore at the question.
“Well…” said Lillian, sharing a look with Niche, “a handful at most, who operate under the strictest scrutiny.”
Sorore’s face twisted at this, but whatever comment she would’ve liked to make stayed in her head.
“The point is that mages are faithless and concerned for themselves above all else. They are to be engaged on only the most necessary basis. They may be directed towards good in service to the church, but never on their own.”
The rest of the lesson served as constant reinforcements and examples of the danger of mages. There were one or two arguments between Frare and their teachers that Sorore was too slow to suppress. Before long they were off again, the leaves shaking above them as a wind blew from the south. The evening camp mercifully spared them another lecture and after a simple dinner, both twins made their excuses and retired.
Aya huddled beside the fire as the temperature dropped. Around them were a circle of waggons, some covered by a framework of canvas, others bare, all loaded with supplies. The gifts of the grateful villagers, granted to the commander who had saved them.
The paladins were busy doing maintenance, carefully laying out arms and armour, scrubbing, polishing and sharpening. Aya got up, murmured a good night to the paladins, who nodded curtly. They were so absorbed that they didn’t seem to notice Aya slipping away.
She poked her head into one of the ‘empty’ waggons, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Save for a handful of small crates, there lay the crumpled form of the mage just as they’d loaded him. Aya felt her breath still as she looked at Inniaylsia’s amber eyes. Even from this distance, she could see the subtle inner flames of reds and yellows softly illuminating them.
“Yes?” came the voice of the older woman, curt and snappish.
Aya started to speak, then stopped, realising that she had no real reason to be here, at least not one that she’d thought out.
“Come out with it child,” came the voice again.
Aya was put in mind of a line of children, heads bowed before a grandmother picking detritus from their scalps.
“I- I-” she said, “I was wondering if…”
“No. There’s been no change in this old bag of bones,” said Innie, her voice softening slightly, “though I’m sure he would appreciate your concern.”
Aya stood there for a moment, awkwardness rising, before setting her jaw, looking behind her, and upon seeing the paladin’s backs, clambered in as quietly as possible. The cat sat attentively and silently, regarding the young girl before her. Aya began in a hushed whisper, talking about the Night of the Burning Tree and the lessons of the paladins from the morning.
“If you want to ask a question about history,” interrupted the cat, “you best ask this sod when he wakes up. He proves irritatingly well-versed on that. Considering his age, he might've lived through it.”
“I thought you were old as well,” Aya said, trying to remember where she got the notion from.
“I am. Older than him. Old as half the company put together,” she said, “but I rarely venture outside of the forest. This is the furthest south I have been in decades, perhaps a century or two.”
Aya paused to try and get a grasp on the scale of time the creature had just casually gestured at.
“So my dear, if you’re going to ask me about the great deeds of men or the history of cities, I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” said the cat, tail bobbing this way and that.
“But that’s not exactly what I…” said Aya, taking a deep breath before continuing, “I wanted to ask about magic.”
The cat cocked its head, the speed of the tail picking up.
“What about magic, child?” she said.
Swish-swish.
“Well, I was wondering, just for a start, what is it?” Aya said.
“You should sit down,” said the cat, “this might take a while.”
[←Chapter 53] [Cover Art] [My Links] [Index] [Discord] [Subreddit] [Chapter 55→]

Preface:
I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan; I re-read the books typically once a year. I also adore the movies, and find all of Tolkien's legendarium absolutely awesome. Truly one of my favorite hobbies so I'd like to offer some critiques and excitement of flavor gems from Tales of Middle Earth. I won't do every card, but I'll comment on some individual cards and how WOTC did on it. I will comment on the cards abilities but only insofar as it impacts the flavor; i.e. what the card is doing not power level, etc.
To be clear: I understand there are sacrifices you need to make for the greater game, and sometimes those come first. For these articles: I am looking at each card in a vacuum, so if I seem harsh it's because I am using a single lens.
Next up: Strider, Ranger of the North!
https://preview.redd.it/evafws0ktn3b1.png?width=400&format=png&auto=webp&s=faca3702c9a16fb1acf11eee36231f1165bede12
Preface
Aragorn's childhood and early life was generally one of hardship. Aragorn's people are the Dunedain, the last remaining Numenoreans in the North. The remnant of the northern kingdom which collapsed centuries ago after war with the Witch King of Angmar. Per tradition Aragorn's was fostered in Rivendell and grew up with Elrond's sons: Elohir and Elladan with Elrond as his foster father. However, life as a ranger is difficult and painful. As we see in Bree: the people in the North view the rangers with a great weariness and do not understand their purpose. They spend their lives protecting those who care and understand little of their mission.
That being said, Gandalf calls Aragorn the greatest traveler and huntsman of this age of the world (hence the flavor text) and trusts Aragorn's judgment. We learn in the books that Aragorn had been everywhere in the west of Middle Earth from Harad in the south to Rhun in the east "where the stars are strange" and knows Eriador particularly well.
Color
I like Aragorn as Green based, with some Red as well. We see Aragorn's temper occasionally (most memorably to me right now in Rohan where he gets angry that Theoden demands he hand over Anduril to him before entering Meduseld). So Red-Green makes some sense.
Abilities
It's tough to think of a good way to show off a 'tracker' although given how Aragorn leads Frodo and company in the wild maybe granting some kind of evasion may have helped. That being said, the current Landfall ability is fine enough. It connects Aragorn to the Wild which I like. 4/4 is a good body, I do wish that he got some kind of keyword ability like Reach or Trample. Overall this is a tough flavor ask, so I'm not too upset either way.
A Note on Aragorn's Skin Color
I have already addressed this in Aragorn & Arwen, Wed. You can find my thoughts there, in general, but I am going to add a little more: my tolerance for people complaining about Aragorn's skin color is dropping greatly. I have found incredibly few people have actual thoughtful things to say and more and more reactionary people just griping to gripe. I get it (to the ones who are thoughtful and well meaning): this Aragorn does not resemble Viggo Mortenson. He does not resemble other versions of Aragorn. Here is the picture from Tolkien Gateway (the Tolkien wiki):
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https://preview.redd.it/1hasbb4cvn3b1.png?width=294&format=png&auto=webp&s=15f7c881aca4c53f5761f8e2aa49ebb044023afd
I know, Tolkien describes Aragorn as "pale of face" among other things. No, he is not canonically black. But now I say this forcefully: who cares? There are plenty of characters who have changed skin color between mediums without issue. I will mention one that, I think, is particularly telling: Nick Fury.
In the comics Nick Fury is white. Here's a pic from the comics (I am not a comic reader, just picking one):
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Most people don't read comic books and when Marvel comics came to the big screen they cast Samuel L. Jackson, one of the worlds most famous African-American actors, as Nick Fury. Guess what: that version of Nick Fury is now WAY more famous than the original. I have heard almost no complaints about it (I am 100% sure there were).
If they remake the books/films again and cast say Idris Elba as Aragorn I'd be thrilled. Elba is a superb actor and would do a great job. I am entirely disinterested in people whining about Aragorn's skin color. Call it pandering, call it Affirmative Action, all you want. We live in a diverse country (if you live in Canada, Australia or the UK those are also incredibly diverse countries). Stories will, and should, reflect our society as they are which means old ones might change (where reasonable) to reflect that. Aragorn's skin color is not I repeat NOT important to his character.
Finally, J.R.R. Tolkien was famously particular about his story. I am confident in saying Tolkien would approve of little to none that Wizards has done with his books. I am also confident Tolkien may not allow the card game to be made at all. But J.R.R. Tolkien is dead; his son Christopher Tolkien (who I think is almost as big within his universe as J.R.R. himself) is also dead. The story has passed on: reimagining Aragorn as black does no harm to the story. If you want to keep imagining Aragorn as Vigo: fine. I will too; that's how I first saw him, and there's nothing wrong with that! BUT (critically) stop telling the rest of us who like this new version too what to enjoy. It's insulting and rude at best, racist at worst.
The amount of vitriol I have seen from supposed 'Tolkien fans' griping about skin color is baffling to me. When the Nazis asked Tolkien to confirm that the Hobbits are good Aryans in the 30s: he told them to pound sand and take their crappy ideology to the dustbin of history. The Hobbit, I might add, wasn't published in Germany until after World War II. Maybe Tolkien wouldn't approve of this change, but I can assure you of this: he would not approve of the racist bashing that has gone on in his name. If you're doing that: buzz off. I wish I had this power from Obi-Wan Kenobi; even if it didn't help I would be amused to tell off the ignorant and the bigoted.
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Link to article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7a3jg85eroufam5/AG%20-%20David%27s%20Bridal%20-%20Flyer%20-%2005-24-23%20v2.pdf?dl=0
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZywAaAjNcU&feature=youtu.be
David's Bridal Closing List:
Alabama
Montgomery, AL
Arkansas
Jonesboro, AR
California
Chico, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Oxnard, CA
Colorado
Colorado Springs, CO
Florida
Pensacola, FL
Port Orange, FL
West Melbourne, FL
Georgia
Atlanta, GA
Columbus, GA
Hawaii
Pearl City, HI
Iowa
Davenport, IA
Marion, IA
Sioux City, IA
Illinois
Champagain, IL
Lombard, IL
Springfield, IL
Vernon Hills, IL
Indiana
Clarksville, IN
Lafayette, IN
Kansas
Topeka, KS
Kentucky
Paducah, KY
Louisiana
Bossier City, LA
Massachuessts
North Dartmouth, MA
Missouri
Columbia, MO
St. Petres, MO
Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
Tupelo, MS
Montana
Billings, MT
Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
New York
Blasdell, NY
Horesheeds, NY
Ohio
Mayfield Heights, OH
Strongsville, OH
West Chester, OH
Oregon
Eugune, OR
South Carolina
Spartanburg, SC
South Dakota
Rapid City, SD
Texas
Abilene, TX
College Station, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Hurst, TX
Utah
Layton, UT
Orem, UT
Virginia
Hampton, VA
Roanoke, VA
Vermont
South Burlington, VT
Wisconsin
Madison, WI

Link to article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7a3jg85eroufam5/AG%20-%20David%27s%20Bridal%20-%20Flyer%20-%2005-24-23%20v2.pdf?dl=0
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZywAaAjNcU&feature=youtu.be
David's Bridal Closing List:
Alabama
Montgomery, AL
Arkansas
Jonesboro, AR
California
Chico, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Oxnard, CA
Colorado
Colorado Springs, CO
Florida
Pensacola, FL
Port Orange, FL
West Melbourne, FL
Georgia
Atlanta, GA
Columbus, GA
Hawaii
Pearl City, HI
Iowa
Davenport, IA
Marion, IA
Sioux City, IA
Illinois
Champagain, IL
Lombard, IL
Springfield, IL
Vernon Hills, IL
Indiana
Clarksville, IN
Lafayette, IN
Kansas
Topeka, KS
Kentucky
Paducah, KY
Louisiana
Bossier City, LA
Massachuessts
North Dartmouth, MA
Missouri
Columbia, MO
St. Petres, MO
Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
Tupelo, MS
Montana
Billings, MT
Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
New York
Blasdell, NY
Horesheeds, NY
Ohio
Mayfield Heights, OH
Strongsville, OH
West Chester, OH
Oregon
Eugune, OR
South Carolina
Spartanburg, SC
South Dakota
Rapid City, SD
Texas
Abilene, TX
College Station, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Hurst, TX
Utah
Layton, UT
Orem, UT
Virginia
Hampton, VA
Roanoke, VA
Vermont
South Burlington, VT
Wisconsin
Madison, WI