FAYETTEVILLE FURNITURE GALLERY - 1983 Skibo Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28314, United States
​
https://mapgrey.com/us/fayetteville-furniture-gallery-106314

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/31-Brookside-Rd-Wayne-Twp.-NJ-07470-7255/63823976_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

Hey!
I’ve been having this problem for the last couple weeks and I can’t find out what the problem is, plus I have 20k + CC/mods and don’t wanna spend hours doing the 50/50 method lmao.
Basically it makes all of my Maxis textures look horrific. Glass looks like loose plastic, furniture looks chipped and scratched up. So my builds are now entirely CC and I want to upload builds to the Gallery which is pointless if I have to list 100+ CC for each build so people can use them 😂
Pics attached ❤️

Now I'm sure plenty of this wasn't intentional, since the creators have said they wanted the series to be as accessible as possible, to the point the audience doesn't even need to know the characters' secret identities, but I thought this was just a fun way to view especially the first season to get some extra enjoyment out of it.
Anyway, I believe that Slade in the 2003 Teen Titans series has a lot of parallels to Batman, especially in his relationship and dynamic with Robin, but contrasts him in many key way that in turn make him more of a Dark, or at least twisted, version of who Batman was to Robin.
Starting with the obvious, Slade can do everything that Robin can, only better. He's older, stronger, much more skilled, has plenty of tech and gadgets at his disposal, and seems always a step ahead. And throughout the first season he positions himself as a mentor to Robin, repeatedly challenging him to test his abilities and make him better. All of this is very much like Batman on the surface level.
However, the exact dynamic both men have with Robin is very different.
While the series never shows what its universe's Batman is like beyond one of the tie-in comics, there are a few assumptions we can make given things said and implied in the series, as well as just general pop culture knowledge of Batman and Robin.
We know that Robin in Teen Titans thinks well enough of Batman to still consider him like a father ("I already have a father." followed by a swarm of bats flying overhead). Whatever happened between them, Robin doesn't hate him and seems that he left Gotham more just to be his own man, since he wasn't initially interested in working with the others he'd soon go on to form the Titans with. We know the death of the Flying Graysons happened as it usually does, and did Bruce having Dick take the oath as a crimefighter with him by candlelight, both of which we saw when Raven entered Robin's mind and saw his memories. And we know by the lack of Batman in the series that he never came to Jump City to force Robin back to his side.
And there's where we get the first big differences between Batman and Slade as Robin's mentors. For as much of a jackass as some versions of Batman can be, it's almost never in doubt that Bruce genuinely cared about Dick. He saw a kid who suffered a tragedy just like he did and did everything he could to help him, opening his home and eventually his secret to him, training him to be a hero who could prevent others from going through what they did. And when the time came, he let Robin go to pursue his own path.
By contrast, Robin has never even seen Slade's face, except for the one time where Slade didn't have a face left to see, just a skull since he was a tad undead at the time. Almost everything about Slade is kept closed off and a mystery to Robin. While Dick actually got to know Bruce Wayne, Slade is to Robin basically like Batman is to everyone else. He only ever gets to see Slade on the outside, not who he is underneath.
Similarly, he outright forces Robin to be his apprentice, threatening to kill his friends if he doesn't do what he wants. While Batman took Dick in for his sake, Slade wanted Robin almost purely because it'd benefit him and further his own selfish desires.
A stronger argument for the parallel is that each Titan has their own little personal character arc throughout the series, usually best seen in their own personal season. Raven's is opening up and finding a new family with the Titans. Cyborg's is making peace with being a cyborg and confirming with himself that he is still a man. Etc. And Robin's is learning to lighten up and overcome some of the more negative traits it's implied he inherited from Batman.
Throughout the series and especially season 1 Robin has issues where he can be obsessive, close himself off, feeling like he can and even has to do everything on his own. Even sometimes showing the willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done, such as the Red X episode, where Robin threw aside his morals, lied to his teammates, broke the law stealing private property, and, as we later learn in another season, commissioned an actual supervillain to make the Red X suit for him, all in the name of trying to bring down Slade. While we never see Batman in this series, a lot of fans tend to point to these traits as stuff Robin likely learned from Batman, given how many versions of Batman tend to share those traits as well.
But all these traits are also things Robin shares in common with Slade, and Slade sees them as a good thing. He actively encourages them in Robin even. Praising him when he tried to attack him while his back was turned. Talking about how they're not so different when he'll do whatever it takes to try and take him down.
The potential future in the episode "How long is forever?" hints at this too. In that future, after Starfire's sudden disappearance for 20 years the Titans broke apart and each succumbed to their various issues without the others to help them overcome them like in the main timeline. Raven locked herself away for the safety of others, Cyborg let his machine parts hold him back, Beast Boy's confidence fell apart, and Robin, now Nightwing, completely isolated himself to do hero work alone, with the very first shot we see of his headquarters being turning gears, just like those in Slade's original lair.
Slade is the perfect villain for Robin; a Robin who only recently had left Batman's side. If his arc is about overcoming his own issues thanks to the bonds he has with his friends, who better to act as his antagonist than a man who tries separating him from those friends and actively encourages the very flaws he needs to overcome? After finally leaving his role as Batman's sidekick, what would be a bigger punch to the gut than being forced back into that role again, just with someone else?
While it's more of a stretch than what I'm already doing, you could also view Slade's relationship with Terra in the series as a twisted version of Bruce's relationship with Jason Todd, the Robin after Dick. Terra wasn't the ideal apprentice that Robin was, just like how Jason wasn't the ideal Robin compared to Dick, but Slade and Batman took them in anyway in a deliberate effort to alter the path their life was on, only while Bruce did it to keep Jason's rage from turning him into a criminal, Slade did it to make Terra into one. Both Terra and Jason died tragically in ways that can easily be blamed on their mentors, but while Bruce genuinely cared about Jason, Slade was always just using Terra and met his own demise along with her.
Part of the reason I made this thread is funny enough because I don't really like the push DC has made over the years to make Slade/Deathstroke more of a Batman villain, in large part because I feel like it's based in a very dismissive mindset of the Teen Titans, like he's too cool a villain to be in the rogues gallery of heroes so "small time". And I realized that Slade from the 2003 cartoon is one of the few times where I don't actually mind the comparison to Batman, because Slade is only a Dark Batman/anti-Batman in regards to his relationship with Robin, not Batman himself.
TL;DR: In regards to Robin's personal story throughout Teen Titans, Slade acts like a Dark Batman/Anti-Batman figure. He is the mentor better than him in every way but deliberately lacking in the love and kindness Bruce gave him. Robin's arc is him trying to overcome the more negative aspects that Batman gave him while Slade tries to actively encourage them.

The state is currently experiencing hazardous air quality due to the Canadian wildfire smoke.
When I left the area for a scheduled vacation on Monday, I had no idea this would happen and thought it would be good to let fresh air circulate in my second floor apartment while I was gone, as I've done before.
What should I do? I'm still far from NJ but can get in contact with the building staff if need be.
And what should expect when I return in 3 weeks? There are screens on all the windows, but will the place be habitable? Will my items such as books, linens, clothing, carpeting, and furniture be ruined? What about nonfabric items such as shelves, lamps, plates, etc?

WEST­ERN FLAG
Thu 8 - Thu 22 June
4am-11:59pm
Western Flag (Dark Park)

GREED/ RAKUS/ GIERIG: INSTALL­ATION

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
12pm-5pm
Contemporary Art Tasmania
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
12pm-5pm
Contemporary Art Tasmania
Collapse

TRANCE

Thu 8 - Sat 10 June
12pm-11:59pm
Doors 11:30am [18+]
MAC2
$49 + BF

CITY OF HOBART DARK MOFO WINTER FEAST

Thu 8 June
4pm-11pm
Princes Wharf 1
Recurring (15)

NGARNDA

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Detached
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Detached

INTER­FACIAL INTI­MACIES

Thu 8 June
4pm-10pm
Plimsoll Gallery
Fri 9 June
6pm-10pm
Plimsoll Gallery
Sat 10 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Plimsoll Gallery
Thu 15 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Plimsoll Gallery

SILENT SYM­PHONY

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
City Hall
Wed 14 - Thu 15 June
4pm-10pm
City Hall

BOONG

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Detached
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Detached

WITH­OUT US YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER LEARNT ABOUT LOVE

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Baha'i Centre
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Baha'i Centre

WALLS OF SKIN

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Websters Warehouse
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Websters Warehouse

HIST­ORIES

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
Good Grief Studios
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
Good Grief Studios

KIN PRESENTED BY YIRRAMBOI + DARK MOFO

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
4pm-10pm
O'Briens
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
4pm-10pm
O'Briens

DARK FRINGE

Thu 8 - Sun 25 June
Various

OGOH-OGOH: THE PURGING

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-10pm
Ogoh‑Ogoh: The Purging (Dark Park)
Wed 14 - Sat 17 June
5pm-10pm
Ogoh‑Ogoh: The Purging (Dark Park)

DARK PARK

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-10pm
Dark Park
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
5pm-10pm
Dark Park

GREED/ RAKUS/ GIERIG: PERFOR­MANCE

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-10pm
Greed/ Rakus/ Gierig: Performance (Dark Park)
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
5pm-10pm
Greed/ Rakus/ Gierig: Performance (Dark Park)

THIS BITTER EARTH

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-10pm
This Bitter Earth (Dark Park)
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
5pm-10pm
This Bitter Earth (Dark Park)

SPECTRA

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-10pm
spectra (Dark Park)
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
5pm-10pm
spectra (Dark Park)

BLUE VELVET LOUNGE

Thu 8 - Sun 11 June
5pm-11pm
Blue Velvet Lounge (Dark Park)
Wed 14 - Sun 18 June
5pm-11pm
Blue Velvet Lounge (Dark Park)
Collapse

THE GATHER­ING

Thu 8 June
6:30pm-12am
Doors 6pm
In The Hanging Garden
$49 + BF
SOLD OUT

SQUARE­PUSH­ER + GUESTS PLAID

Thu 8 June
9pm-11:50pm
Doors 8:30pm [18+]
Odeon
$79 + BF

THE RED ROOM

Thu 8 June
11:59pm-4am
Undisclosed

Some observations from attending court in person today and briefly last week. I won't touch on the evidence here, as you'll be much more familiar with it than I am. Not planning to go back any time soon.
At a high level, her behaviour appears consistent with her being innocent. If she's guilty, it's a strong performance.
On the cross-examination style, I agree that the prosecutor speaks with a gentle tone and polite forms. However, the content is constantly hectoring and pedantic usually without being precise or relevant, which comes across as overt hostility and seemed to be the main cause of the slowness today. One example was NJ taking issue with Letby's use of "definitively" in "I can't definitively remember". It's a style that Letby seems intimidated by - she knows the intent is to trap and twist words and make otherwise unsubstantiated insinuations, and she doesn't know how to avoid it. It's probably in the range of what's normal for cross-examination - and there was only the one objection from her defence team - but worth making clear that it's not "gentle" at all.
Letby's speaking style is on the whole clear and level, and not nearly as quiet as I'd expected from the reporting. Responses can easily be read on paper as frustrated, irritated, arrogant etc. - but none of that was supported by her tone. She asks clarifying questions and proactively makes some clarifications of her own - it's not like she's completely clammed up under the questioning. I had the impression that she tries to be open and helpful by default, but is often affected by distrust of NJ. I wonder if it was a conscious decision not to rehearse her more, because she's easy to sympathise with this way - that might be more important than not falling into what are largely rhetorical rather than substantial traps.
When NJ talks about memory, records, and truth, Letby has repeatedly tried to correct him or flat-out disagreed, including today, but her wording isn't precise at all. This comes across to me as her not understanding what he means or what he's trying to do, and him then playing on this to cast her as inconsistent and dishonest. I don't think this works very well for him; maybe he's working towards something, but if it's simply a collection of "she's dishonest" instances, I'm not sure I see that sticking. Today's issue with the agreed evidence now being disputed had a similar dynamic, before the defence team stepped in to postpone that discussion - finding such a discrepancy late on in a complex trial seems like very weak grounds for immediately implying dishonesty.
"I collect paper" and "I don't know what commando means" both came across as level and credible in terms of tone and body language. She did know, and told the court, what "ffs" means.
Also interesting in person was the relationship between the two KCs and the judge. Imagine a deep-voiced corporate executive and two trying-to-impress managers sniping at each other with every verbal trick in the book. It's clearly keeping the police and journalists entertained.
The court's filling up but there were still free spaces. A retired nurse next to me was grumbling, as she's been there twice a week since October and didn't approve of people joining in "when it gets interesting". I'm not sure why so many police were present for the whole sitting - I think there were about ten in the public gallery room, not in uniform.
According to the clerk, you're not allowed to take written notes in the court. I don't know if that's a general rule, like for photographs and audio, or if it's just for this case.

You mentioned it on the show last week and it pops up in my social media feed.
The return of Crossbows and Catapults! Now I can afford to buy it rather than begging for my mate Wayne to bring it round for me to have a go.
Where can I get cheap replacement elastic bands…..
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6UlrlgdLN/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Are you looking to breathe new life into your luxury villa and give it a fresh, updated look? Redesigning your interior doesn't always have to involve hiring expensive professionals or breaking the bank. With a little creativity and some do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit, you can transform your villa into a stunning space that reflects your personal style. In this article, we'll explore six DIY interior ideas that can give your luxury villa a whole new look without the need for extensive renovations or major expenses.
Statement Wall:
Creating a statement wall is an excellent way to add visual interest and a focal point to any room. Consider using bold wallpaper, textured panels, or even a striking paint color to make a statement. Choose a wall that stands out, such as the one behind the headboard in your bedroom or the wall facing the entrance in your living room. Experiment with different materials, patterns, and textures to create a unique and luxurious ambiance.
Repurposed Furniture:
Instead of purchasing new furniture, consider repurposing or upcycling your existing pieces. With a fresh coat of paint, new upholstery, or some creative modifications, you can breathe new life into old furniture. For example, you can turn an old wooden dresser into a stylish TV console or transform a vintage suitcase into a chic coffee table. Get creative and let your imagination guide you to create one-of-a-kind pieces that will make your villa stand out.
Decorative Lighting:
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the ambiance of a space. Consider incorporating decorative lighting fixtures to add a touch of luxury to your villa. Swap out generic ceiling lights with elegant chandeliers or pendant lights in the dining room and entryway. Install dimmer switches to control the intensity of the light and create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Adding floor or table lamps with unique designs can also enhance the overall aesthetic of a room.
Luxurious Fabrics and Textures:
Upgrade your soft furnishings with luxurious fabrics and textures to elevate the comfort and style of your villa. Invest in high-quality curtains or drapes made from sumptuous materials like silk or velvet. Add plush throw pillows and cozy blankets in rich fabrics to your seating areas. Incorporate textured rugs or carpets to add depth and warmth to your floors. These small additions can make a big impact on the overall feel of your villa.
Artwork and Gallery Walls:
Introduce art into your villa by creating a gallery wall or showcasing a few statement pieces. Choose artwork that speaks to your personal taste and complements the style of your interior. A collection of framed photographs, paintings, or even decorative mirrors arranged in an aesthetically pleasing layout can instantly transform a blank wall into a focal point. Experiment with different sizes, frames, and arrangements to create a unique and visually captivating display.
Read More: 6 DIY interior ideas to give your luxury villa a whole new look
Greenery and Natural Elements:
Incorporating greenery and natural elements into your luxury villa can bring life and freshness to the space. Place potted plants or fresh flowers strategically throughout different rooms to add color and a touch of nature. Additionally, consider incorporating natural materials such as wood, stone, or rattan in your furniture, decor, or even accent walls. These elements create a sense of tranquility and luxury, enhancing the overall ambiance of your villa.
Looking for Best luxurious villa in Goa? Contact here:
https://www.luxuriousvilas.com/

-Please don't say move out. It's not an option. My mom needs me around, and I love to help her. I need some form of strategies to deal with this mess.
My niece is turning 23. She gives off major teenage boy vibes. Probably pre-pubescent boy vibes. And I'm not being mean (I probably am, as I'm typing this spiel about her, but her actions warrant it).
- Due to an incompetent SIL, I pretty much babysit my toddler (2.5yo) niece all day. It's one thing looking after her, but add in a grown woman (second niece 23 yo) who triggers her, takes her things, calls her dresses ugly, tries to eat what I make her, or takes her snacks (causing toddler meltdowns)... it can get absolutely unbearable. Anyway, so the 23yo is constantly on the toddler's case how she has to respect her. And harps on how I am teaching her to be disrespectful and with bad manners (complete moron can't see how she behaves, the toddler is mimicking it back to give her a taste of her own medicine).
I kid you not, I have to be very sensitive when I break up one of their fights up, because it can cause the 23yo to have a meltdown of her own and go on a swearing tirade against me, to then involve my mum.
- So night time is when I get to work. This teenage boy of a niece would come back from the gym, sit on my furniture after working out (i repeatedly tell her not to do it), takes my things, If I don't respond to her she will literally get in my face (not to start a fight, but to annoy me). She throws things at me. She is a very NEEDY attention seeking person, and can't handle if someone doesnt have time in their day for her.
- She does 0 housework. She expects her mom (use to be my mom, but we (other sister and I) got her to see through her ways) to pay for everything for her (even when she works and makes enough to cover her expenses). She then goes on to rail on how much mature she is than everyone else.
- Perhaps if it was left at that, I could tolerate her. But her and her mom work as a dynamic duo to leech off my mum and emotionally and financially abuse her. She got my mum to pay for her 12K car. She crashed it, made my mom do her insurance claim. She now looking at a BMW, and wants my mom to pay half of it (saying she will pay installments back). Insurance claim got accepted, so she got a car to drive in the mean time, so the BMW won't be coming. Anyway we have to hear how she's a victim, because one time she went to a parking lot of professionals and they were all driving teslas, audi, bmws, mercs etcs, when she was driving a volkswagon. What annoys me is how my mum can eat up her cunning talk and genuinely believe there is 1% chance she is deserving of anything of that nature.
- An office my mom bought years ago, my sister (her mum) has claimed it as an art gallery. It just sits there with her name over it. She doesn't do anything to make it work and to earn an income. Worst of all, this niece has her eyes all over it. She is eyeing it from her own mum (lol). Now you might consider me as wanting it for myself, but I genuinely don't need a cent, and have zero intention to ever take a dime that I don't work for, esp from my mom. I work from home. If I were to use it, I would pay my mum RENT.
- I have to be VERY strategic how I speak to them with my mom. They have convinced her, they are the outcasts of the family, and speaking up against them can easily be conflated as picking on them which can worsen the situation. It's an ugly cycle, driven by these two manipulation queens.
- She use to mock my physical appearance all the time. At one point in time, i use to have very thinning hair. She mocked me incessantly, whenever I did my hair in a cute style she was there to tear me down and how it looked (this is just an example of the level of manipulation she has to try and control how I feel). My hair grew in since then, so she can't mock me anymore.
So please feel free to let me know have I gone bonkers where behavior like this is acceptable, and I am just some uptight 30yo. Thanks

It’s a very common what if scenario I bring up to my friends when discussing the Spider-man vs. Batman comparison. I always fall back on who has it harder, and I think Batman has a harder job than Spider-Man. So in this hypothetical Peter Parker gets dropped dead middle of Gotham and has to take on the full extent of Batman’s rogue gallery who all now pursue him the same as they would otherwise pursue Batman, for specificity I’ll list the main ones.
Joker, Bane, Two-Face, Riddler, Scarecrow, Penguin, Catwoman, Ra's al Ghul, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange, Solomon Grundy, Deathstroke, Deadshot, Lady Shiva, Anarky, Killer Croc, Deadshot, Clayface, Mad Hatter, Hush, Firefly, Black Mask, Man-Bat, and Court of Owls.
On the inverse Batman is dropped into New York City and for the sake of arguement so is Wayne Manor and the bat cave so Batman has access to everything he would in Gotham. He would have the same situation as Spider-Man where his whole rogues gallery now pursues him. I’ll make another list for specificity.
Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Carnage, Sandman, Lizard, Rhino, Vulture, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, Scorpion, Kingpin, Shocker, Hobgoblin, Chameleon, Black Cat, Morlun, Tombstone, The Jackal, The Prowler, The Tinkerer, and The Beetle

I'm moving and looking to downsize my collection. I can only handle selling in lots, no piece meal single items. Everything is priced at a discount compared to the value of all of the individual items. Prices are negotiable.
Condition: With the exception of the Sega 32X and Xbox 360, every console and game has been individually tested and confirmed to be working. The Sega 32X I'm not sure if it's broken or if I'm just not connecting it correctly. The 360 power adapter needs replacing, so I cannot confirm if it will work otherwise. The PSP works but the disc tray is finicky and can pop open easily on its own. Controllers are in a range of condition, some are very used and not in the best shape.
Photos: Photo gallery link. If you want photos of a specific set, let me know and I will try and take care of that.
Location / Shipping: If buyer is in the DC, VA, MD, or possibly NJ/PA/DE areas, can meet in person to swap. Otherwise, buyer pays shipping.

If somebody takes it all that remains at once, I'll sell the remainder for $2000 + shipping.

Sega Genesis + SegaCD + 32X - $600 for set (or $550 without the 2nd console)

• Console + Sega CD + 32X (uncertain if working), 3x controllers, cables Loose
• Motocross 32X CIB - untested
• Star Wars X-Wing Tie FIghter 32X Loose - untested
• Animaniacs CIB
• Pagemaster CIB
• Sonic & Knuckles CIB
• Toy Story CIB
• Desert Demolition with Road Runner & Wile E Coyote CIB
• Sports Talk Football Joe Montana CIB
• Pitfall CIB
• Jurassic Park CIB
• Taz Escape from Mars CIB
• Zool CIB
• Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate CIB
• Spiderman Xmen Arcades Revenge Loose
• Mighty Max Loose
• Quack Shot Loose
• NBA Jam Sega CD CIB
• WWF Rage Cage Sega CD CIB
• NHL 94 Sega CD CIB
• Ecco Tides of Time Sega CD CIB
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Sega CD CIB
• Tomcat Alley Sega CD CIB
• Joe Montana's NFL Football Sega CD CIB

2nd Sega Genesis - $50

• Console with cables and 1x controller CIB

SNES - $175 for set

• Console, 1x controller, cables Loose
• Super gameboy adapter Loose
• Super godzilla Loose
• Earthworm Jim 2 Loose
• Super Mario Allstars Loose
• Yoshi's Island Loose
• Mega Man X Loose

PS2- $150 for set

• Console, 1x controller, cables (brand new AV) CIB
• 2x Memory Cards Loose
• Bionicle CIB
• 2x Grand Theft Auto 3 CIB
• Guitar Hero CIB
• Guitar Hero 2 CIB
• Enter the Matrix CIB
• Gran Turismo 3 A-spec CIB
• Mortal Kombat Armageddon CIB
• Mortal Kombat Deception CIB
• SOCOM 2 CIB
• Spiderman 2 CIB
• X-men Legends CIB

Gamecube - $1000 for whole set or $800 without the sealed NIB Twilight Princess

• Zelda Twilight Princess NIB sealed NIB $325.00 by itself
  
• Console, 2x controllers, cables CIB
  
• Portable screen and battery Loose
  
• GBA controller adapter Loose
  
• 4x Memory cartridges Loose
  
• Zelda Wind Waker CIB
  
• Zelda Ocarina of Time / Master Quest CIB
  
• Madden 2004 Partial, no booklet
  
• Starfox Adventures CIB
  
• Super Mario Sunshine CIB
  
• Sonic Heroes CIB
  
• Spiderman Partial , no booklet
  
• Eternal Darkness CIB
  
• Metroid Prime CIB
  
• Metroid Prime 2 Loose
  
• Star Wars Rebel Strike Rogue Squadron 3 CIB
  
• Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 CIB
  
• Mega Man Anniversary Collection CIB
  
• Super Smash Bros Melee CIB
  
• Animal Crossing CIB
  
• Gamecube / xbox / ps2 fight stick Loose
  
• Wavebird controller (receiver missing) CIB
  
• ActionReplay Loose
  
• Collectors Metroid Prime Gamecube disc case Loose
  

PSP - $150 for set, note the comment above about disc tray

• Console (modded / rooted), cables, disc tray is finicky Loose
• Extended battery, power bank, and sd card, travel case Loose
• Kill Bill Vol 2 CIB
• Sin City CIB
• Generation of Chaos CIB
• Xmen Legends 2 Rise of Apocalypse CIB
• Metal Gear Acid CIB
• SOCOM Fireteam Bravo, disc is separate CIB
• Valkyrie Profile Lenneth CIB

PS3 - $125 for set

• Console, 1x controller, cables (brand new av) Loose
• Shadow of Colossus / ICO CIB
• Metal Gear Solid 4 CIB
• Little Big Planet CIB
• Uncharted 1 CIB
• Uncharted 2 CIB
• Uncharted 3 CIB
• Resistance: Fall of Man CIB
• MAG CIB

Xbox 360 - $250 for set, note that console is untested

• Modern Warfare 2 Console (untested), bad power supply, no controllers, cables Loose
• Bioshock CIB
• Borderlands CIB
• Brutal Legend CIB
• Forza 2 CIB
• Forza 3 CIB
• Gears of War CIB
• Grand Theft Auto 4 CIB
• Grand Theft Auto 5 CIB
• Guitar Hero 3 CIB
• Guitar Hero World Tour CIB
• Halo 3 collectors Edition CIB
• Halo Reach CIB
• Left 4 Dead CIB
• Left 4 Dead 2 CIB
• Madden 2007 CIB
• Madden 2008 CIB
• Madden 2014 CIB
• Mass Effect CIB
• Mass Effect 2 CIB
• Mass Effect 3 CIB
• Phantasy Star Online CIB
• Rockband 2 CIB
• Rockband 3 CIB
• Rockabnd Beatles CIB
• Soul Calibur 4 CIB
• Soul Calibur 5 CIB
• Star Wars Force Unleashed CIB
• Spiderman 3 CIB
• Spiderman Shattered Dimensions CIB
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance CIB
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 CIB

Wii - $125 for set

• Console, 1x Wiimote, cables Loose
• Skyward Sword WIimote Loose
• Geometry Wars Galaxies CIB
• Zelda Twilight Princess CIB
• Zelda Skyward Sword CIB
• Super Smash Bros Brawl CIB
• WarioWare Smooth Moves CIB
• Wired classic controller Loose

My current bag is much smaller and has the following:

• Pen, mechanical pencil, sharpie, small paper pad and a tide pen
  
• Assorted pain reliever and allergy meds, 3 days supply of me and my wife’s daily meds, aspirin, and anti acid
  
• Sanitizer wipes, disinfecting swabs, bandaids, Vaseline, ear plugs, quick clot gauze, bleed stop bowser, Israeli bandage, trauma sheets, and a tourniquet
  
• Flashlight, deck of cards, Swiss Army knife, extra Glock 19 mag, and a lighter wrapped in 15 ft of duct tape
  
• Keybar with my keys, pouch for wallet and change, pack of gum
  
• Knife, chapsticks, and glasses wipes
  
• 2 AA batteries, a 9v battery, a cr2032 battery, zip ties, a length of paracord, Velcro straps, mini pliers, Allen key (forget the size but it’s that common size that comes with Ike’s furniture)
  
• Pepper spray clipped to the strap so it’s accessible in the front
  

What else can I add to the larger bag? Initial thoughts: Headlamp, tape measure, super glue, solar phone charger, some multi tool with sockets, more “simple” first aid like burn gel or more variety of bandaids
Thanks!
https://imgur.com/gallery/obYjRwZ

TLDR; I wanted to do some casual gaming on a Frankenstein PC build, and within 2 weeks my office has become a sim racing dojo.
After trolling Reddit for years, I’ve found something I am interested and “proud” enough to post about. So here it goes -
I've recently gotten into sim racing. While I am a noob and have a lot to learn, I have learned a lot in a short time so far, and am enjoying just being immersed into a hobby, both while doing it and doing "for" it. I have learned to research a lot, spend $$$ where you need to, and DIY where you can. I'm not looking to be competitive or beat the Joneses, rather just have a fun experience where I can turn off the world and feel like I am somewhere else by sight, feel, and sound. Hopefully this post is inspiring to others, educational, reminiscent of your beginnings, or just a fun read. I would also be interested to know your thoughts on my setup. Did I do it right/wrong? What would have been a better decision/route? What can I do for the next big thing?
I built my first and only PC close to 10 years ago and played shooter games/GTA. It’s long since gone and I’ve been wanting to get another “lazy” hobby.
I had an old HP PC lying around I got off eBay about a year ago. Decided to buy a high-end GPU and do some casual gaming on it. Wanted to do 4k so went ahead and got a used rtx 3090 on eBay for $700 shipped. I knew the CPU would be the bottleneck if I really wanted to push things eventually (i7-7700) but decided the build was enough for what I was wanting for now. Well… I have always been interested in cars and within the past 2 years, more interested in Formula 1 (thanks Drive to Survive). I got an old Xbox controller and loaded up steam/F1 22 and was pretty intrigued by how fun it was just using my thumbs lol. I decided I would go ahead and get a wheel/pedal combo to see HOW much more fun it could possibly be… whoops…
I got the Logitech G923 and was delighted with the novel sense of "driving" for the first time. I decided to keep looking at other ways to make the experience more "complete" as I was sitting in a dining chair, had my wheel clamped to a sliding keyboard drawer, and had my 38in ultrawide as close to the wheel as possible. Seeing as I did not want to upgrade my monitor, I figured it would be a great time to try VR for the first time. I had always wanted to wait until VR was a little more mature and I wasn't in a grainy, cartoon world. I read great things about the implementation in sim titles and started doing my research on which headset to go with.
HP Reverb G2 v2 (even despite the WMR situation) seemed to be the way to go in regard to visual fidelity and price point, so again... I found a really great deal on eBay for about $290.
Side note - At this point, I had already saved up birthday, Christmas, and other fun monies, so I felt ok with making some additional purchases (the GPU was planned and saved for aside from subsequent items in this post).
Well... first time ever in VR and my mind was blown. I was instantly hooked. I have played all sorts of racing games in the past, but I have never in my life felt so immersed into a game, even thinking back to my childhood days of Zelda OoT- different genre, but same concept. Back to racing... The spatial awareness and depth perception of racing in a different world made any prior racing game/sim experience obsolete to me. I knew I could not go back to a monitor, at least as my primary way. The only problem was that my Frankenstein PC came back to bite me much sooner than I had wanted. The CPU was choking the GPU. I would get 60-70 FPS but even worse, so much stuttering and inconsistent FPS. So... I decided if I really wanted to go any further, I had to take care of this before anything else.
I ended up building a new PC while salvaging what I could from my current build. I added a Gigabyte z690 MB, i7-12700k, Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler, and Antec FT1 case- all AW deals excluding a new i7 for $250 shipped. Once I got it all together, smooth 90 FPS all the way.
During the same time of the VR experience and PC build, I knew I wanted a cockpit/rig, but could not swallow the price tag in order to do it right. Well, I started woodworking last year, and have built a few furniture items for my house, so I figured I could give the DIY route a try- I just didn't want something that was sketchy or an eye sore. I studied lots of different consumer rigs as well as other DIY builds, and I ended up jotting down some dimensions and forms I thought would work and just started building- making decisions/changes as I went. I found some scrap wood on the side of the road in 2 different instances. Used some black paint left over from painting a few walls in our house, put together what I thought to be a pretty decent rig. During all of this, I still did not have a seat... another pricey purchase I just didn't want to swallow. I also did not want to have a crappy looking junkyard car seat on my rig in hopes of avoiding the aforementioned eye sore. I eventually said to myself, "just go look," so I went to the junkyard one random day. Low and behold, not even a week earlier, a 2009 Audi TT had been delivered to the lot with 2 pristine front seats. What I was sure to be a bust ended up being the best part of my rig. I brought home both seats (bc why not?), cut the seat belts, wires, etc; cleaned them, and got one mounted on my rig- $25 of bliss. I would have hated myself if I had ended up sinking so much $$$ into a seat, let alone a rig. Between the rig and seat, I spent less than $50. Super solid, compact, and fits my needs exactly.
Around this time, I also decide to go ahead and build out a triple monitor setup.. Yes I know... VR is king... never go back... yaddie yah yah. However, I have 2 little babies, friends, family, etc. who I want to share this with and I am sure there will be times I don't want to wear the VR headset. All that in consideration, and the fact I already have 2 matching 27in 1440p monitors, and a triple monitor mount, it was a no-brainer to me. I got a third monitor (thanks eBay) for $100 and picked up 3x 2x4x8's from Lowes. Painted it black and it's now part of the sim corner of my office lol.
So now I have a pretty slick cockpit with triple monitors that I can move forward and backward separate from my rig. As my setup has matured from the start(literally the span of 2 weeks time), the experience has been more and more enjoyable. The only problem I have remaining is the G923. While it was a great first time experience, the "realness" of it quickly went away and it felt like a toy. On top of that, it was a loud wheel- annoyingly loud. Well... I've done everything else... might as well just get a direct drive and have a complete, all around experience.
After much research and deliberation on what to buy, where to buy, when to buy, etc. I decided on a Moza R9, SRP Pedals, and GS v2 wheel. Side note - Thanks to u/neebsd whose post told me exactly what I needed to know for my wheel/base, pedal decision! Being brand new with little experience, I wanted to know what it was like to go from a G923 to Moza r9 and his post sealed it for me.
I went back and forth on getting a Moza r5... also whether to get an ES wheel with a formula mod paired with the R9. At the end of the day, I was worried the r5 would be too little for me (I think I was right and am VERY happy I went with the r9) and that the ES wheel, while cost effective ($500 for a wheel???) would leave me wishing I did a nicer wheel for both form factor and quality of materials/feel.
So here I am today, a little delayed on my post, but not even a month later and I am VERY happy with all of my decisions. I can usually find things I wish I had done differently, either regret or just "meh, if I could do it again" feeling, but I am 100% happy with all of my decisions along the way. Whereas I spent some cash for a wheelbase/wheel, and pedals, new PC components, a VR headset, etc., I am proud of how I saved at least $800 on a good(relative) cockpit/seat combo and instead leveraged recent new found skills and somebody else's trash.
And of course... so much fun actually enjoying this new hobby.
Pics (or it didn't happen) - https://imgur.com/gallery/vNdGbYY

ovy michel lafon editions hachette jimboomba times facebook friends uc denver anschutz medical campus library services staff gregory isaacs night nurse flac file donnie yen vs twister sisters gare de lyon bus ratp 472 elaphe situla citescout kwok chun yi zhen yue ursprung des menschen kenntnisstand der evolutionsbiologie-online kiranmala star jalsha full episodes 2015 taps ryan rinderknecht bmx xxx history of the world part 1 movie clips l'oreal evercurl reviews makeupalley blog gregory sams and the quest for immortality pizza jean louis gauthier construction tools bbc news live streaming 24 gekko gourko zagrajmy w ojciec chrzestny 2 chomikuj muzyka dj zebra werra son reedition furniture dorpshuis de driesprong afferden gldf leonardo di caprio pelicula reciente de jennifer cn-b3a-bkbk-11-s cine e grigore lese poezii how to remove simlock nokia 101 light fm noosa national park outlook express download kostenlos deutsch windows 8.1 us bank account transfer to uk from usa andrew oshana and the purple experience michael lahner erlangen bergkirchweih fjord horses norwegian wood brian mayes houston tx jobs free download mp3 bayu skak diwali rok kutek tema doraemon stand time gated spectroscopy imaging tachi neko kimono pattern saxon math course 2 lesson 64 answers to impossible quiz kodutunde remont tartu estonia aufbau unterrichtsstunde grundschule waldgirmes alexa efraimson youtube aufbau einer zelle biologie boutique tiempo en zamora 14 dias en pictures of different types of soil horizons in a typical soil kasvukivut alkuraskaudessa oireet klamydia tyler hilton lyrics missing you like crazy korea bhrc reviews on wen planche de surf mousse occasion dresses first world war german leaders in the war johannes rudolphi ahaus nw efeitos para fotos no photoscape online simulator microsoft access juliette je t'aime episode 105 inazuma sachs madass 125ccm kaufen und ekamuthu chords on guitar ratificacion de documentos concepto de liderazgo sw 9006 jx924 v8 supercars gold coast 2016 results kentucky ios 7 icons smooth lines irvine jet ski rentals guadalupe river tx mamamoo hwasa fancam broncos stanford online masters computer science deadline clothing sezione trasversale del tronco del albero verde why are there no more ghosts in my house difference between p38 mk1 mk2 punto rosso verde giallo viola sony xperia z3 compact green unboxing xbox the gametes are produced in the process of endochondral ossification olimpiadi londra 2012 judo results usa nfs shift 2 unleashed trailer song chords asiasat 5 100 5enolife xiaomi mi4c buy fanshop unterhaching bavaria giosue' l'albero della vita da colorware custom asparagine 1 letter code for countries cecilio alva mixbook spesifikasi sony xperia c3 dual sim thomas jefferson 1st inaugural address summary of the cask glee top 20 songs 2014 bureta de laboratorio y sus partes de la istituto professionale statale guglielmo marconi roma michigan state schedule 2015-16 bowl projections week 11 tamar braxton lyrics angels and demons dan 3d liquid objects for artlantis 5 chris bushey aecom sydney dvd audio extractor crack 7.2.0 liham pagtatapos sa pag-aaral sa paggamit ng internet sa tp link mr3420 mf195e kurulumu types of non locomotor movements of the shoulder william h macy movies imdb 2016 hulsta bedside tables prezzo pizza 2014 bmw r1200gs adventure vs super tenere 1200 corazon de fuego capitulo 131 de las mil myofascial pain syndrome vs fibromyalgia symptoms clyde's tower oaks carlisle pa newspaper ansonia ct police hiring process nhac sen remix hot thang 1 cua unesco igbo culture and tradition obcansky zakonik vyska alimentov vzorci colbeck financial services nashville tn time spud u like vouchers 2012 presidential election ik zing een lied voor jou alleen heerlijk nizke tatry turistika online jobs konkhra the perfect drug lyrics lifelike baby dolls that look real for sale dr wyatt hall saugus ma zip code siviaaz amazonas satellite pip boy 3000 fallout 3 mod xbox 360 eerste sneeuw gezien 2012 toyota x factor news today show spesifikasi asus x450c core i5 3230m jonathan toews espn interview with ronda maserati gran turismo mc stradale occasion at hand country music bars in los angeles ca venga la alegria 22 de abril 2013 nba codigo postal 22400 vc mordicchia cosa vuol dire almalaurea swepsonville nc zip code unghie spezzate cause e rimedi per il ggu law faculty delhi shoo fly pie song youtube expresscard ssd macbook pro 2011 new desenhos de tatuagens masculinas na pernao drc cusco convocatoria 2014 dodge mx5 na 13b rebuild kit karcher k 3.200 kainalu vin diesel and the rock movies list weltkulturerbe usa grand canyon mihai stefanescu gilau nadlac we love mcr competition 2012 olympics gebelikte kolik nedir ne treino de perna e gluteos de acero 4 pics 1 word level 764 a house of cards bbc youtube proms cazare vile covasna vatra dornei live cam jquery ui css themes for tumblr adidas men's adizero tempo running shoes for men mtv hits playlist october 2012 weatherby vanguard series 2 stainless extra course blackboard fiu fabio lins cantor tube solo chennai express song lyrics shure sm7b windscreen eurostar video pollaio in legno lavato w3000anv vs ht3000a foreign correspondents club kuala lumpur menu planner kavos cocktail reviews on wen taylor swift fearless full album hd live dax riggs discography spine avah maldita book 2 soft copy of resume fotografia de familia com bebe pengertian context switching linux kik usernames dirty list bacigalupo uniud fisica optica x-ray of lower back spine samsung tab 3 7.0 p3200 spec's liquor salle des fetes saint loup de varennes festa dell'indipendenza messico map ebay black hoosier cabinet jeanne d'arc gameplay ps1 cheats una cancion para ti de mi parte mas kriekenpitplein antwerpen nissan ssw 15 4 gewicht omrekenen elvis presley hound dog 1956 lyrics to take burrolandia de chihuahua ubicacion de egipto barco pirata alison johnson konferencja macierewicza 2014 silverado nz v8s series online jean-pierre lefebvre uqam alexander 2004 download tpb file the other woman movie online streaming free best trimmer for pubic area male apple tv siri features nokia asha 305 price in bd philip b crosby wikipedia dictionary juan carlos varela biography of donald kougyoku x morgiana bds fotogramas por segundo en pal y ntsc signal rome berlin axis timeline of the civil war pfeiffer-henke kunststofftechnik gmbh germany gavin pooley cazadores de sombras jace y clary en la cama contigo c3750 image mzk michael jordan allen iverson crossover vs raptors anna olson lemon tart recipes bhg diwali 2016 message zz packer brownies pdf creator szentgyorgyi albert szobraszat slavko simic mladi socijalista izbacen iz sela ceca zvonko demirovic 2014 ripzone kurzurlaub nordsee niederlande flagge kasamh se episode 83950 kyocera fs c2126mfp tonerider ex libris bibliotheken stadskanaal nederland is there a way to get free robux on roblox 2016 kena air panas tercantik di dunia hot media prima radio streaming giuseppe zanotti heels barbie collector carlos andres perez politica economica internacional my name is jonas lyrics youtube macarena 3p-p5g31-us-sq-r8-lz hmrc tax credits app gta san andreas cheats xbox 360 tank ulrik plesner denmark halo reach movies 77380 scottish great gatsby actor mikaela shiffrin golden globes 2016 channel l'oreal preference hi lift natural brown reviews on windows best laptops under 600 dollars 2013 tx68 botas de cuero para hombre mercadolibre peter o'mahony nz news yu gi oh gx ep 37 bg audio club search engine marketing company in delhi ncr road dibujo de lengua con sus partes de la chris hemsworth interview jimmy fallon t32 wot wiki su-122-44 frank turner facebook covers penn state university park computer engineering kenwood kna g620t update chrome beroepen met een kantoorartikelen laura scimone instagram bb battery bp17 12b1st jonathan bennett and matt dallas together mfr voreppe 38340 van ford fiesta 1.4 tdci zetec 5dr review times andrea berg 1000 mal belogen chords and lyrics kemppi mastertig 1500 ml to ounces e500 w124 manual transmission tai nhac ly hai vol 7 hkt epson discproducer pp-50d ri result 2015 9th board dermadoctor wrinkle revenge reviews on wen jacques-louis david oath of the horatii analysis report algoritmo de suma en pseint mac flat ratchet spanners sets l'alba di domani download itunes the highest point in the world above sea level is yamaha kodiak 400 4x4 carburetor

I'm selling a silver Fuji X-E4 kit. Camera has a 23150 shutter count, original box and paperwork. Comes with the 27mm WR kit lens and a manual 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 lens that I found very fun to play around with, especially for portraits. Selling because it fell out of use with me - no issues to speak of and in overall good condition. I bought it used here a while back and it hasn't seen a great deal of use since. A few light marks (especially on the camera 'feet') but otherwise clean!
Also comes with a thumb rest, shutter button, black MHG-XE4 genuine Fujifilm hand grip (with a few marks on it), three batteries (two aftermarket) and two chargers.
Selling together for $1300 plus shipping net to me. PayPal G&S (or local cash!)
Willing to meet in northern NJ or NYC if we can work it out.
Timestamp + gallery: https://imgur.com/a/bWpK2D0

First Previous
Memory Transcription Subject: Vichak, venlil school principal
Date [Standard Human Reckoning]: 2136-10-23
I told my vice principal that I didn't come to this predator planet for a vacation, so I need some knowledge or study results to bring home. Johan, my possible future brother-in-law, suggested that I could perhaps observe a human school. Keristian, the human coordinator for the refugee apartment, assured me that he had contacted an elementary school and came up with a schedule. For now, he told me to familiarize myself with the amenities in the apartment.
Besides their blocky design, human apartments had the same general functions as venlil ones. The staff provided us with a stepping stool to account for the larger dimension of the furniture, but other than that it has all that we needed.
Well... we could use a full-body dryer.
I found some alien features too in the apartment, such as the artificial pond, which humans use for recreation. They call this activity 'swimming', something that translates into "moving in water". Their First Contact package insisted that they came from arboreal lineage. Yet, their movements in water betrayed a hidden skill. After considering it, it made sense in a way. The water in their world is teeming with life, and they would benefit from aquatic hunting skills.
Adjacent to this 'swimming' pond, the apartment also had a gym. We have gyms back in the home world, but here on Earth, a wide range of humans frequented them, not just their armed forces personnel. They perform a variety of body movements such as lifting and putting things back down or running on a conveyor belt.
Does this dedication to simulated hardship serve as a means to channel their inherited predatory aggression? They didn't turn themselves from savage beasts into civilized people without some way to temper that excess.
We expected to meet a lot of gojids in the apartment, but it felt sparser than I had imagined. Keristian explained that the gojids here had entered into employment within the Capital. A large number had secured work on the farms. Some had brought seeds from their homeworld, which they planted back in the camp. After the human experts determined it safe enough for Earth, they transplanted the sprouts to one of the farms around the city.
I wondered if any venlil plant species had established themselves on this foreign soil. After Timür explained the concept of invasive species, I realized that I misinterpreted their cautious approach as predatory territorialism. On the other paw, the unspoiled wilderness that I witnessed on my journeys to and from the camp made me appreciate the inherent beauty of preserving such a wild landscape.
Some other gojids chose careers in logistics, serving the complex system that kept the goods in the region moving. Right now, humans directed most of their effort into alleviating the ruined cities. Some of the gojids had even volunteered to help the human, despite the presence of arxurs in the affected cities.
For our last meal of the day, we had gojid dishes made out of earth ingredients. I have to admit that I have not tried gojid cuisine before, but it grew on me just like human cuisine did.
The midday heat on Earth felt milder compared to the scorching intensity of a Deep Day in Venlil Prime's sunward section. Unlike our homeworld, where night temperatures could plummet beyond freezing, Earth's night felt comfortable.
I spent my first night on Earth sitting on the rooftop garden of the apartment. The blanket of darkness that stretched all around us sparked feelings of unease. However, the glimmering towers of the Capital provided a comforting backdrop, their lights twinkling like terrestrial stars. One of the staff members commented on how the city's light pollution obscured all but the brightest celestial bodies.
The staff member was a human after all and would do insane human things like complaining about their city not being dark enough.
Nevertheless, humans did appreciate the necessity of artificial lighting. As night fell, we could illuminate our room with the voice command, a comforting alternative to the deep night outside. I shuddered at the thought of enduring a night in such complete darkness.
Yesterday, I decided to explore the downtown capital to familiarize myself before I visited the school today. Mom insisted on tagging along and Keristian wanted Sukma, his aide, to guide us. We wanted a self-guided exploration, so as a compromise, the human equipped us with wrist-worn devices. These gadgets allowed him to track our whereabouts and also functioned as a means of payment. While the coordinator insisted we needn't worry about finances, he explained a rough price guide to prevent any possible exploitation.
Humans, in stark contrast to the lone arxurs, put heavy importance on socializing. While we waited in the station, the rhythmic cadence of Bahasa, their local language, filled the air. Thanks to Vani's provision of a language model, I could comprehend their dialogues, and snippets of human conversations drifted toward my ears.
"Do you see those domba?"
"Shhh... don't call them that. But yeah... I thought we had just one here?"
"Maybe Vani's relatives came to visit?"
However, even with the additional language model, my translator couldn't decipher all of their voices. Vani informed me that Bahasa serves as a trade language for the region and they had a plethora of other tongues that our translation device has yet to have the data for.
Once aboard the train, the humans adopted a collective silence. Being surrounded by humans aboard the train felt daunting, but this discomfort came from me standing out in this setting. I would feel the same on any other planet inhabited by a different species, carnivorous or not.
When we came to the downtown station, we plunged right away into an endless sea of humans.
Timür's unapologetic display of his face had acclimatized us to humans. We learned to perceive them not as threats but as just xenos with weird faces. It also helped that the humans in our vicinity maintained a respectful distance. However, they almost always locked their curious gaze onto us, averting their eyes when they figured out that I noticed them from my peripheral vision.
Distinguishing individual humans posed a challenge due to their similar appearance, but I soon learned to note the distinctive fabric of their clothing and the accessories they adorned.
The bustling capital of Nusantara presented us with new experiences and opportunities to learn about human culture. Mom and I took full advantage of our time there, immersing ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere provided by the city.
We first stopped at a local market, a bustling hive of activity that operated around the clock. Here, we observed humans haggling over the prices of fruits and vegetables, inspecting textiles, and purchasing a bewildering variety of cooked foods. The rich aroma of exotic spices and prepared meals filled the air.
We had a pleasant experience in the market until we stumbled onto the flesh section. Mom caused some embarrassing commotion when she vomited at the sight of the flesh.
So we decided to visit something less challenging and found ourselves going to museums and galleries. The tour guides in each institution we came to explained the history of this island while showing a collection of historical artifacts and artworks. It offered a captivating glimpse into the ancient human civilizations that once inhabited this region, and their struggles and triumphs.
We decided to have our last meal of the day in the city. With many of the buildings crammed in the city center, the place we had access to the open air lay at the top of the building. We watched the sun setting on the horizon.
As we ate through a platter of addictive fritters, Mom said that we venlil did construct similar dense settlements. Her explanation surprised me at first, as I almost forgot that Mom used to work as a civil engineer. She then explained that dense arrangements for habitats like this only made sense in colonies that lacked land or breathable air.
Humans seemed to have other motivations. They prefer gathering close to one another, creating bustling metropolises to allow for large swaths of untouched land for their wildlife.
So today, having learned to navigate the urban labyrinth of the Capital, I bid a temporary farewell to my mother at the outskirt station. Her exploration of this city would take her further out, where she would visit one of the human agricultural facilities. On the other paw, my destination lay at the heart of downtown.
Once I arrived at the downtown station, I switched on my visual overlay, allowing it to project directional instructions across my visual field. It painted a pathway to my destination through the tunnels and covered walkways. The direction landed me in one of the city's gargantuan towers.
The visual overlay translated the name of the school in venscript. Since humans write horizontally, the resulting translation turns a quarter circle. The sign above the entrance says:
"State Elementary School #1"
Number one? I suppose in a city this big, they did need more than one school. Under the sign, I spotted a human figure standing. She waved her arms and I could tell that she had waited for me. When I got closer, I made out the warm and inviting expression on her face
"Hi, I'm Andin, and you must be Principal Vichak?" Her voice sounded melodious and soft for a human. The human clasped her hands in front of her and bowed.
"Hi Principal Andin, nice to meet you," I replied to her with the same gesture. "I can't wait to see your school."
"Excellent! Follow me," she said. Her billowy one-piece dress twirled around her when she turned around.
Andin led me through the lobby and toward a balcony overseeing the heart of this educational facility, an internal atrium spanning three stories in height. The humans embedded the school inside one of their superstructure, and due to the lack of outdoor space, this architectural feature provided a simulated outside area where young humans could engage in physical activity and socialize. A synthetic material replicating grass covered the atrium's floor. Simulated sunlight streamed projected from the ceiling bathed the area in warm daylight.
An assortment of colorful play structures and exercise apparatuses dotted the periphery of the atrium. I presume they provided the students with ways to release those predator energies. Balconies jutted out from each floor, giving educators an overview of the bustling space and enabling effective supervision during playtime. The classrooms and learning spaces surrounded the atrium. As we walked past, I noticed that several of the glass panes had turned opaque.
"I read from the sign that this is an Elementary School. How old are your students?"
"Our elementary school caters to students from the first through fourth grades, so they are between six to ten years old. However, we sometimes admit older students. For instance, we have a few twelve-year-olds in the fourth grade."
Something felt a bit off from her answer. "What's next for them after this?" I probed.
"After completing their time here, students move on to four years of middle school, followed by another four years of high school. During high school, they can choose a specialization before they move on to university."
Her response left me flabbergasted. "Twelve years of education?" I said in disbelief. "It takes a full twelve years to complete education here?"
"Uh... yeah. That's pretty much the standard timeframe for education all over the planet. Just... how long does it take for you to finish your mandatory education?"
"Seven years," I responded. "By the age of thirteen, kids can start two years of vocational school and most venlils started working at fifteen."
Andin's eyes widened, "Wait, you have children working full-time at fifteen?"
"No, they're not children. They're adults." I realized that humans might have different lifespans. "What's... your age of majority here?"
"In this country, people can vote at the age of seventeen. But in our local culture adulthood starts at twenty." Andin explained.
"Alright, maybe we have a different lifespan?" Andin suggested, echoing my thought. "What's the typical lifespan of a venlil?"
"The average life expectancy hovers around ninety years, although many people live past one hundred," I explained. I wonder if perhaps humans live much longer? I didn't expect predators to live long, but humans tend to defy the norm.
"We had the same lifespan," Andin admitted.
"Wait... what?"
"Maybe we have a different education system?" She suggested again. Andin offered me her pad. "Feel free to observe any class that interests you. Here you can see the schedule for today." The contents had been translated into Ventongue. It presented a timeline of various subjects that took place throughout the day.
As my eyes skimmed over the list, one caught my attention. "Can you explain physical education?"
"In this class, we teach children how to exercise." she explained, "In fact, a PE class should begin now."
An adult human arrived on the field, followed by human children chattering and making all sorts of kid noises. They sounded just like venlil juveniles. At the command of the teacher, the students aligned themselves into a tidy grid pattern. A rhythmic melody started to play, filling the atrium with an energetic ambiance. The teacher at the front began to move in sync with the music, demonstrating a series of actions that the children mirrored.
"What are they doing?" I asked, intrigued.
"They're warming up to prepare for the activity ahead."
They performed various movements, the fluidity and synchronization of which appeared almost like a dance to my venlil eyes.
Once the 'warm up' concluded, several large, blocky objects rolled into the atrium. With a series of arm gestures from the teacher, these objects positioned themselves around the area. Some expanded to form rudimentary structures complete with roofs, transforming the atrium into some sort of tiny city.
The children gathered in a circle. Following a brief, excited chatter, they each presented a hand, some with palms facing upward, others showing the backs of their hands. According to some unspoken rule, those showing the backs of their hands stepped back, causing the circle to contract. This ritual continued and I figured out that the group with the most members excused themselves until one kid remained.
"Ah, it seems they're playing 'Hide and Seek' today," Andin commented, watching the unfolding scene with a warm smile.
"Hide and Seek? What's that?"
"One child plays as the 'cat' while the others will play as the 'mice'," she explained, her expression turning somewhat hesitant. "Ah... perhaps this wasn't the most appropriate activity for you to observe."
My translator didn't quite capture the nuances of 'cat' and 'mice', but I gathered they referred to Earth animals. The child designated as the 'cat' stood in the center of the atrium, standing near a pole with their eyes covered, while the 'mice' scattered, seeking shelter behind the fabricated structures and blocks.
The 'cat' began a loud countdown. Upon reaching zero, they removed palms hands from their eyes and commenced their search. A realization struck me as the 'cat' started prowling around.
"This... is," I murmured, taken aback by the implication of the game. "You're simulating a hunt."
From time to time, the humans can't help but remind me that despite their friendliness and civility, they had a history as predators.
"Well... yeah, when you put it like that…" she paused. "But, the children didn't see it as a hunting simulation. I mean… I doubt that none of them will become a hunter when they reach adulthood. Most of us nowadays don't hunt."
"I understand." I looked down and the cat had found a mouse, chaos ensued as the two of them rushed to the pole. The mouse touched the pole first and laughed. "You humans do need an outlet for your aggression to maintain a civil society."
"What? No…" Said Andin. "We have Physical Education to encourage a habit of fitness."
"So, you don't feel the urge to get violent, sometimes?"
"Most of us don't. Those with that kind of urge receive treatments so they don't harm themselves or other people."
I looked down at the human children below. Despite their concerning activity, they looked like they enjoyed it.
"But if this display makes you uncomfortable, we can see other classes."
I looked at the pad, where another class intrigued me.
"You have an art class? In elementary school?"
"Yeah, it encourages creativity… you don't have art classes?"
"No, those with the aptitude will go to art colleges after they graduate from school."
"Oh…" She gave me a look that I think signifies pity? "Are there other things you don't see in Venlil school?"
"The English class seems interesting. I noticed that most of your people can speak in English when needed."
"Heh, that one is contentious." She chuckled. "English is waning now, and people proposed that we teach our kids Chinese, Hindi, or Swahili for the foreign language class. I take it… you don't have a foreign language class?"
"We do, but… like art school, you learn it at the university level, usually as part of a Foreign Relation Studies. Because foreign languages are spoken by other species."
"Interesting." Again, she gave me that concerned look. "So, do you want to see the art class or the language class?"
"Art class. I think."
"Sure, let's go," Andin said, guiding me down the stairs toward the art classroom.
Upon entering the room, chaos greeted us. An eclectic array of children's artwork adorned the walls, showcasing vibrant landscapes, portraits, abstract shapes, and depictions of what I assumed were various earth creatures.
"Ah, Principal Andin," the art teacher greeted us with an inviting smile as we entered. "And we have Principal Vichak as well!"
"Meet Harta, our art teacher," Andin introduced me.
The moment we entered the room, a sea of young faces turned towards us. It felt like a forest of eyes scrutinizing us.
"Children, say hello to our visitor today, Principal Vichak."
"Good morning, Principal Vichak!" They speak in harmony. The children then refocused on their tasks, their hands returning to their brushes and colored pencils.
Some students here worked alone, while others collaborated in small groups. In one corner, I spotted a screen displaying 3D artwork, sculptures made from what looked like recycled materials, clay, and even intricate artwork made of folded paper.
"Today we have a free-form class," Harta explained. "With your visit, I asked them to make something about our two species."
Several children gathered around a large screen at one end of the room, using it to sketch out their designs before replicating them on canvas. They drew scenes of humans and venlils with a level of technical skill and creativity that amazed me, considering the young age of these kids. In one section, busy children molded a piece of clay, their tiny hands trying to create something that looked like a venlil.
"But how do you evaluate their work?" I asked, confused. "And for that matter, how do you grade students in the Physical Education class?"
"In this school system, we don't include art and physical education to determine if a student has what it takes to continue to the next grade," Andin clarified.
"We do give individual feedback to each child," Harta chimed in. "We aim to ensure their personal growth and development, not just their academic achievement."
"Indeed," Andin asserted, her voice reflecting a sense of profound conviction. "The role of the school has evolved over time. These days, we don't work just as a hub for academic instruction, but as a second home where children learn essential life skills. We work hand-in-hand with parents to nurture these young minds, helping them develop into thoughtful and responsible individuals."
This notion brought back memories of my own school back on our homeworld. People would often refer to our school as a "nursery" due to our additional class on socializing and communication. I remember Renata, the human psychologist stationed in our homeland, said that my school had the basis of a well-rounded education. Here I learned just how more "rounded" we need to be.
Throughout the day, we ventured into different classrooms, each offering a snapshot of the subjects covered in human elementary education. The STEM classes felt lackluster by my standards. However, I soon appreciated their teaching approach which encouraged students to arrive at their conclusions.
On the other hand, the social studies and citizenship curriculum appeared more intricate, which made sense, given the complex social structures of the human race, a species as varied and divided as the primitive yotuls.
Midday brought a meal break, during which I had the chance to mingle with some of the other faculty members. I learned that a significant portion of the adults currently abstained from food and drink, on account of what they called the "fasting month". Andin observed the fast as well, but she kept me company in the cafeteria despite her abstinence from eating.
"Are you sure it's alright for me to eat while you're fasting?" I asked, somewhat.
"Of course," she assured me, her face warmed by a gracious smile. "Self-restraint is a fundamental aspect of being human."
Self-restraint, a quality I found woven into the fabric of human nature. Despite the invasion hurling their world into chaos, humans displayed remarkable restraint, refraining from lashing out in anger.
Post-meal, our educational exploration resumed. The sheer number of classes devoted to non-academic skills struck me. For instance, they had a class dedicated to environmental education, where they instructed young learners on how to care for their planet. Another class, called Health and Wellness, focused on areas such as hygiene, nutrition, safety, emotional well-being, and mental health. My visit coincided with a session of "meditation", a peculiar human practice to calm themselves. When I observed the children sitting in tranquil silence with eyes closed and serene music enveloping the room, I realized that they do have a method of quelling aggression, by nurturing a peaceful disposition.
The complexities of human pedagogical methods began to dawn upon me. The length of their educational journey lasted longer than ours because of this multifaceted curriculum. They didn't focus just on the injection of academic knowledge, but they also introduced human development in theirs. Even their academic lessons went beyond feeding students with facts and figures. Instead, they encouraged a more gradual learning pace that fostered independent thinking.
Such an extensive approach to education daunted me. Could we even implement such a model in our venlil school? Considerable obstacles lay on our path, given the expectations of parents and our society at large, who were accustomed to a quicker, more streamlined education.
In any case, my day reached its conclusion, and my time to depart came. When I bid her farewell, Principal Andin provided me with a binder filled with artwork created by the students, along with personal messages for me and the students back at my own school.
I had time to reflect and consider as I walked toward the downtown station. I recalled how Andin and Harta viewed the institution not as a place of learning, but as a secondary caregiver, working hand-in-hand with parents to nurture the holistic development of their young ones.
On my way to the station, my mother called. She informed me she would be coming downtown so we could share a last meal of the day together.
"How did the farm tour go, mama?" I queried, eager to hear about her day.
"It was enlightening," she replied, leaving me curious about her experience. "And what about your day?"
"Oh, mama," I began, a sense of excitement rising in my voice, "I had an extraordinary day."
Afterwords: Humans with their 22nd century education.
Somehow this is the longest chapter I have ever written. Also note on my update schedule. I'm posting update on every date divisible by 3. That means some updates can appear 96 hours later when the last post is on 30th and the month ends in 31st,