#minimum spanning tree

[prokopetz]

Your long and arduous journey has led you to this, the final confrontation. You thought you knew what to expect, but just as you struck the final blow, your ultimate foe's eyes gleamed with unnatural light as they proclaimed…

THIS ISN'T EVEN MY FINAL FORM

A game for 4–6 players

Introduction

This Isn't Even My Final Form is a GMless tactical minigame for 4–6 players. You'll take on the roles of a party of heroic adventurers nearing the end of a world-spanning quest to defeat a great evil, the Final Boss. Unfortunately for them, each time they think they've won, the Final Boss assumes a new, even more horrifying form, and the struggle begins anew. Is there any end to this conflict? There's only one way to find out!

What You'll Need

This Isn't Even My Final Form requires a dozen six-sided dice, as well as a way of keeping track of a few important numbers – a shared text document or some scrap paper will suffice.

Update 2023-10-30: Print-and-play card decks are available here:

http://penguinking.com/this-isnt-even-my-final-form/

Character Creation

Choose two of the following actions to be your Party Member's Class Actions: Strike, Heal, Buff, Debuff. If you'd rather determine this randomly, roll on the following table.

1. Strike, Heal 2. Strike, Buff 3. Strike, Debuff 4. Heal, Buff 5. Heal, Debuff 6. Buff, Debuff

Give your Party Member's Class a name which suits your Class Actions. Also give your Party Member a name; it is traditional but not obligatory for your Party Member's name to have exactly five letters.

Playing the Game

Play is divided into a series of Phases. During each Phase, one player takes on the role of the Final Boss. That player's Party Member does not participate in this Phase; they're trapped, lost, incapacitated, or otherwise separated from the party or unable to act for the duration of the Phase. All other players take on the roles of their Party Members.

The Final Boss player's first order of business is to describe what the current Phase looks like. The Final Boss player can roll 1–3 times on the following table (re-rolling duplicates) to decide on a theme, or use it as inspiration for their own theme. To use this table, roll a six-sided die twice, treating the first roll as the "tens" place and the second roll as the "ones" place, yielding a number in the range from 11 to 66.

11. Beasts 12. Bells 13. Blood 14. Bones 15. Chains 16. Chaos 21. Cubes 22. Eyes 23. Fire 24. Flowers 25. Food 26. Games 31. Gears 32. Glass 33. Gold 34. Hands 35. Holes 36. Ice 41. Iron 42. Light 43. Mazes 44. Meat 45. Mirrors 46. Music 51. Orbs 52. Order 53. Plague 54. Shadow 55. Slime 56. Space 61. Spikes 62. Teeth 63. Time 64. Trees 65. Weapons 66. Wings

Once the Phase has been defined, set the party's Momentum to zero. Momentum is a value which will increase or decrease over the course of the Phase; it has a minimum value of zero, and no particular upper limit.

Play proceeds in a series of rounds, as follows.

The Final Boss Attacks

The Final Boss always goes first in each round. Roll one die:

1–3: The Final Boss chooses one of the following actions. 4–5: The Final Boss chooses two of the following actions. You may not target the same Party Member twice; however, you may use the same action on two different Party Members if you wish. 6: The Final Boss does nothing this round. On its turn next round, it does not roll and instead uses its Ultimate Attack.

Wound: Inflict the Critical Condition on a single Party Member. If the chosen Party Member already has the Critical Condition, it's replaced with the Down Condition and the party loses one Momentum.

Imprecate: Inflict the Cursed Condition on a single Party Member.

Envenom: Inflict the Poisoned Condition on a single Party Member.

Bewilder: Inflict the Confused Condition on a single Party Member.

Counter: If you're targeted by the Strike or Debuff actions this round, after resolving that action, perform the Wound action on the Party Member who targeted you. You may counter any number of actions in this way.

Dispel: Remove the Buffed and Protected Conditions from any number of Party Members.

Enrage: The Final Boss rolls two dice and takes the better result on its next action. The party may cancel this benefit with a successful Debuff action; doing so removes the extra die instead of forcing the Final Boss to roll twice and take the lower result.

Ultimate Attack: This action can only be chosen by rolling a 6 during the previous round. When the Final Boss uses this action, choose Cursed, Poisoned, or Confused: you may perform the Wound action AND inflict the chosen Condition upon any number of Party Members, in that order. (i.e., Wound each targeted Party Member, THEN Curse/Confuse/Poison any who remain standing.)

The Final Boss player describes the outcome of the chosen action(s) in as much or as little detail as they like; control then passes to the other players.

The Party Acts

After the Final Boss has attacked, each Party Member who doesn't have the Down condition chooses one of the following actions, in any order the players wish. After choosing any action other than Defend, the player rolls their dice pool, which is a handful of six-sided dice constructed as follows:

Start with a number of dice equal to the party's current Momentum (initially zero, though it will grow over the course of the Phase)

Add one die if you're performing one of your Party Member's Class Actions

Add one die if your Party Member currently has the Buffed Condition

Add one die if your Party Member currently has the Critical Condition

Roll all of the dice together, and find the highest result. Ties for the highest result have no special significance; for example, if you rolled four dice and got 1, 3, 5 and 5, your result is 5. If you'd ever end up with zero or fewer dice for any reason – either because your dice pool was empty to begin with, or because some effect obliged you to discard every die you rolled – you receive an automatic result of 1.

If an action requires you to target a specific Party Member or make other choices, you can wait and see the result of your roll before making those decisions.

Strike: You attack the Final Boss. Roll your dice pool:

1–3: Nothing happens – either the attack misses, or the Final Boss turns out to be immune to whatever you just did. 4–5: The attack strikes true. The party gains one Momentum. 6: Critical hit! The party gains two Momentum.

Special: If you roll triples or better (i.e., at least three of the same number) on a Strike action, the Final Boss' current Phase is defeated, and you move on to the next Phase. It doesn't matter what number comes up triples.

Heal: You attempt to restore the party's strength. Roll your dice pool:

1–3: You may remove the Critical Condition from a single Party Member. If no Party Member has the Critical Condition, nothing happens. 4–5: You may remove the Critical Condition from any number of party members OR you may remove the Down Condition from a single Party Member. 6: You may remove the Critical and Down Conditions from any number of party members.

Buff: You attempt to bolster a party member. Roll your dice pool:

1–3: You may grant the Buffed Condition to a single Party Member OR remove a Condition of your choice other than Critical or Down from a single Party Member. 4–5: You may grant the Buffed Condition to a single Party Member AND remove a Condition of your choice other than Critical or Down from that Party Member, if they have one. 6: You may grant the Buffed Condition OR remove a Condition of your choice other than Critical or Down to any number of Party Members. You may choose a different option for each targeted Party Member.

Debuff: You attempt to weaken the Final Boss. Roll your dice pool:

1-3: Nothing happens – it turns out the Final Boss was immune to that effect. 4–5: The Final Boss rolls two dice and takes the lower result on its next action. 6: The Final Boss rolls two dice and takes the lower result on its next action AND the party gains one Momentum.

Defend: You may grant the Protected condition to a Party Member of your choice. Do not roll.

Based on the outcome of your roll (if applicable), describe the outcome of your action in as much or as little detail as you wish.

Once each Party Member has acted, return to "The Final Boss Attacks" to begin the next round.

Ending the Phase

As noted above, rolling triples or better on a Strike action results in the immediate defeat of the current Phase. Alternatively, if all Party Members simultaneously have the Down Condition, the Final Boss player's Party Member suddenly breaks free or arrives on the scene and rescues everyone in a stunning deus ex machina; this also ends the Phase, but does not count as defeating it.

In either case, reset the party's momentum to zero, remove all Conditions, and move on to the next Phase. The role of the Final Boss passes to a different player, with preference given to those who haven't yet had a chance to be the Final Boss; the previous Final Boss player resumes playing their Party Member.

Continue until the party has defeated a number of Phases at least equal to the number of players, or until mutual agreement has been reached that all this has gone on quite long enough.

Conditions

Some actions can impose Conditions upon the individual Party Members. Conditions can be positive or negative, and last until specific conditions for their removal are met.

Buffed: Your strength has been boosted. When rolling your dice pool, you roll one extra die.

Confused: You've lost your wits. When the party acts, your action is determined by rolling a d6 – 1: Strike; 2: Heal; 3: Buff; 4: Debuff; 5: Defend; 6: do nothing this round AND remove this Condition. This Condition is also removed if you gain the Critical Condition while under its effects. You may choose targets normally if the rolled action requires them. Confused Party Members always act before their un-Confused peers; if there are multiple Confused Party Members, the Final Boss decides the order in which they act.

Critical: You are badly wounded. Desperation lends strength, and so this Condition adds one extra die to your dice pools; however, if you suffer the Critical Condition a second time, it becomes the Down Condition instead.

Cursed: You've been afflicted with misfortune. Discard your highest result after rolling your dice pool, but before applying your chosen action's effects. If there's a tie for the highest result, discard all of them; for example, if you roll four dice while Cursed and get 1, 3, 5 and 5, your result is 3. If the Condition causes you to discard your only set of triples of better on a Strike action, the Phase does not end.

Down: You are incapacitated by injury or foul enchantment. When the party acts, you may not choose an action; your action remains lost even if this Condition is removed before the end of the round. When you gain this Condition, remove all other Conditions, and the party loses one Momentum. (This is not in addition to the Momentum loss noted by effects which inflict this Condition – those are just reminders.) You may not gain other Conditions while this one persists.

Poisoned: You're afflicted by a poison, plague, or death-curse. If you have the Poisoned Condition after resolving your action for the round, you gain the Critical Condition. If you already have the Critical Condition, you instead gain the Down Condition, and the party loses one Momentum.

Protected: The next time you would gain any Condition other than Buffed, remove this Condition instead. You also remove this Condition if you take any action other than Defend on your turn.

[the-voldsoy]

Alrighty it is almost the end of the year so, in no particular order, here are podcasts I recommend of the ones I've listened to this year! (let me tell you picking favourites for this was So hard) (Unfortunately I can't just do all of them because there are almost 50)

Hello From The Hallowoods: The world ended, but we're still here, and shit's weird. (Has made me cry; even the trees are queer; my comfort show<3)

Camp Here And There: Good morning campers! The time is 7:63AM and Cabin Magpie Moth has spontaneously combusted! Whichever one of you little woodworms can put it out first can come get a puffy sticker from me in the Nurses Cabin! (Is it a horror? Is it a comedy? I don't know, you'd have to check to be sure)

Wooden Overcoats: Funn Funerals used to be the only funeral parlor on the island. It isn't anymore. (Sitcom, the main characters are the most miserable wet cats you ever did see)

Re: Dracula: Maybe this year, they'll be okay. Maybe this year they'll all live. Maybe this year he won't go, and she'll be alright.

Magnus Protocol: TMA's louder, bolder, less serious younger sibling.

The Silt Verses: Oh boy. Let me tell you, you will look at crabs differently after this. (WET horror, genuinely the best pod I've ever heard)

Archive 81: Dan, a newly hired archivist, has to listen to and catalogue a set of old audio tapes. The tapes contain interviews conducted by someone Dan has never heard of. Dan is in an isolated bunker in the middle of the woods. Surely nothing will happen to our dear friend Dan. (What is it with archivists and getting snatched by The Horrors? Ignore the tv show it doesn't exist)

Red Valley: Just a couple of guys with an interest in research station Red Valley, whose focus was cryonics. It's completely defunct now. I wonder what happened. (Ethics? What's that?)

Woe.Begone: Some say it's about time-travel, some say it's about keeping yourself and those close to you alive, some say it's about online safety. All can agree on one point: What the fuck why are there cowboys now

Midnight Burger: Midnight Burger is a time-travelling, dimension-spanning diner. Dunno how it works or where it's going next. We open at six! (The episodes are an hour long minimum but it's worth it. Comedy sci-fi, lighthearted fun :)

Old Gods of Appalachia: The Appalachians are spooky y'all. (The narrator's voice is so comforting in this, it feels like campfire stories)

Dreamboy: Went into this pod being told it was made by the people who made WTNV and absolutely no other information. Let me tell you I did not expect the main character to tell us that he got a hard-on in the first episode. (The most sexually explicit pod I've listened to)

The White Vault: Nice little trip to Svalbard to check on the remote research station, surely nothing will go wrong :) (Holy Fucking Shit What Is That) (Recommend 1st season especially to The Thing (1982) enjoyers)

Camlann: Ever wished that you were apart of Welsh folklore or Arthurian legends? Or perhaps some of the last people left on Earth? No? Ah well, you'll pick it up soon enough. (Three idiots and a dog in Wales, fighting for their lives)

Breaker Whiskey: Imagine. Being the only person on earth. Just you. Just you, and someone on the radio. Just you, the radio, and a woman you absolutely do NOT have sexual tension with. (This one looks really long because it has 260+ episodes, but they're like 4 minutes long each so it's not really)

Ethics Town: Don't worry about it. (Cannot recommend enough, it is a mindfuck)

Tell No Tales: What if ghosts were a thing that could infest a place, like rats or roaches or mold? What if it was your job to exterminate them? And the million-pound question, do ghosts deserve rights? (I am waiting so so patiently for the rest of s2)

Remnants: You wake up in a place you recognise. You have always been there. You have no idea where you are. You see a stranger's life. You recognise them. You knew them once, you think. Discard or reshelve? You don't know what that means. It does not matter. Discard or reshelve, that is the question. (I am going insane over this pod)

Not Quite Dead: Vampires! Alfie is an overworked A&E nurse who does not have time for this shit. Unfortunately, he does not have a choice in this matter. (A really interesting take on vampirism, going into the biology. It is fascinating, and an exciting story)

Travelling Light: Space Quaker! Listen to the Traveller tell you about every new planet and civilisation they visit. Whattttt noooo they don't have a crush on one of their crew members what are you taaaalking abouttttt (Very comforting pod, beauty in the mundane in a way? But not mundane because yk. Aliens)

Someone Just Like You: Brilliant horror, just really well written. I don't even have words for it. So far there are only 6 episodes and the concepts/plots of each seem cheesy, but my GOD the execution.

The Bright Sessions: People with powers get therapy! Thank God, they need it so bad. (I love one particular antagonist so much, I need to put him in a microwave)

Poe: Evermore: It wasn't until I started this that I realised that Edgar Allen Poe would have had a Boston-ish accent. Reallyyy interesting story of his life, and I keep getting jumpscared by VAs I recognise. Faulkner Silt Verses what are you doing here.

Witherburn After School News: Your school radio host getting WAY more involved in the news than they should. Really hope they're still breathing. Love the folklore section though!

Before The Tone: Voicemails from someone who just got a job they probably shouldn't have. (Brilliant idea for the format, and great execution)

I Am In Eskew: What if you were trapped? What if you had a home, a wife and a child? What if they aren't real? Are you sure? Go and check. What if your city tried to kill you? What if it loved you very much, more than anyone else? (Horror but the narrator is the saddest wettest man you've ever heard)

Sherlock & Co: Modern day Sherlock Holmes, and John Watson is a true crime podcaster. Dear God I did not think it would be as compelling as it is.

[thearcanecat]

Hatchetfield headcanons?

Let’s see…

Holloway has lots of scars from living for centuries and hides them with the jacket. These include:

Lightning scars

Wiggly: sucker/tentacle marks

Pokey: cracks

Blinky: eye like circular pattern. Red vein squiggles at end.

Tinky: hoof print

Nibbly: bite marks

Her accent gets stronger when she’s mad. Same for Duke, but you rarely hear it.

Original name was Holly-May Logan.

The strange carving it’s mentioned she has in Killer Track, is a part of Pokey’s mask.

Ryan Reynolds is the person running against Solomon for mayor. He’s pushing the problematic pooch story because it shows how horrible the town has gotten under Solomon’s rule. You’d think the disappearance of his wife right before he got elected would be a bigger deal, but no, time for our daily Peanuts the Hatchetfield Pocket Squirrel segment!

The Obnoxious Teen is actually different versions of Pete after an encounter with the Bastard Box. He now lives in a never ending hell of minimum wage jobs.

Grace’s birthday is September 9th, buy a priest a beer day.

The Honey Queen sacrifice takes place on the summer solstice at midnight.

Description of the tree that grew from Willabella: Gnarled roots extend from a bulbous center. No leaves hang from its crown of branches. It is not natural. Nothing grows near it, except the apples that grow for its branches, never ripe and always rotten. A hollow in the center is swarming with spiders whose web spans across it. Several scars are evident from where the Hatchetmen, once they realized their mistake, tried to cut it down. From its branches hand charms of protection and containment that replace old ones of worship. It grows behind the old Waylon Hall, over the sight of Willabella’s execution. Like the Hall, many rumors swirl around it and foolish children often dare each other to touch the bark.

The Blade of Truth that MacNamara uses on the Sniggles is one of multiple PEIP has constructed. With help from Holloway, they were able to harness the White’s energy into physical form. Each Blade requires a secret to be whispered into it as it forms, one no one has ever heard before. If someone tells a lie while holding the Blade, it shatters.

The Foster family are descended from Willabella and a Hatchetman with the last name Forester. Willabella had no love for him and only got pregnant to delay her execution.

The Stockworth family vacations in Hatchetfield because they have connections with the Church of the Starry children. Lucy is not aware if this.

Charles Coven was part of PEIP and went by Carlo at the time.

PEIP has ID numbers based on the Stith Thompson’s Motif Index of Folk-Literature. Basically a collection of a bunch of different motifs in folklore.

Wilbur: D1310.10.1. Magic apple gives supernatural knowledge.

Holloway (Holliway this identity): G220.0.1. "Black" and "white" witches. Malevolent and benevolent.

John: B147.2.1.2. Eagle as omen of victory.

Xander: J1291.2. Theological questions answered by propounding simple questions in science.

Douglas Keane Sr. was an informant for PEIP. Basically, PEIP goes around to various people in professions where the supernatural may be encountered (law enforcement, medical, park rangers etc.) and gives them a little presentation with very vague language about if they seen anything unnatural, or out if the ordinary, to give their office a call. Since Hatchetfield is such a hotspot, Douglas knows a lot more about the supernatural than most informants do and is on first name basis with several PEIP agents. (This is heavily based off a book called The Rook by Daniel O’Malley.)

[montammil]

June of Doom Day 20 - "I can handle it."

| Scrape | Panic Attack | Neglect |

Characters: Lawrence, Marshall

Only neglect by Marshall's old parents, but it still counts to me lol. I like writing stockholm syndrome as you can probably tell XD

CW: Stockholm syndrome, parental whumper, carewhumper, panic attacks, bone breaking, blood, anxiety, self-consciousness, insecurites, past child emotional abuse, infantilization

...

Marshall had no idea he fell right into Lawrence's trap, and hard too. It took a few months, but in that short span of time, Lawrence showed him the truth.

It was time to accept the reality that no one would save him or give a damn that he was even missing. Not even his biological parents. They didn't love him. How could they love someone so overly dependent and stupid?

But Lawrence loved him. And that was the only thing that mattered.

Now that he had Lawrence's trust, that also meant more freedom. He was allowed to play out in the backyard alone, and in front of the house as long as he didn't go into the forest or into the road. That was more than enough for Marshall.

To his surprise, he actually liked being a kid again.

He had no big responsibilities, he could read all day, watch TV, or sleep if he wanted to. He still had chores around the house, but they were easy tasks.

And unlike his real parents who would yell if he forgot or did it wrong, Lawrence always helped him, guiding him through the steps without any harsh remarks or punishments. It was nice having someone who was patient with him for once.

Life was good.

His thoughts wandered as he worked outside planting some of the seeds Charlotte had given him from last time they visited.

For once, he wasn't obsessing over escaping Lawrence or wishing he was home, it was about his new home. He felt guilty living here rent-free, doing nothing other than the bare minimum.

He had to earn his keep. That's what he learnt from his real family.

A memory replayed in his mind. Lawrence mentioned how he loved huckleberries and cloudberries, but the forest was too dangerous for him to bother foraging.

It didn't matter to Marshall if it was safe or not, he had to make Lawrence happy somehow, and that'd be the perfect gift to show him his gratitude. Lawrence was still on a work call, and he usually stayed on those forever, so he had time.

Marshall grabbed the basket he normally used for gardening and climbed over the gate and rushed to the trees, navigating through the thick brush of the woods.

He had ran through these woods so many times that he remembered where a lot of the berry bushes were, even if he couldn't remember which berries they were.

The forest was quite nice. It smelled like dew drops and earthy soil. He didn't like the familiar feeling of being out here just a couple of months ago, when he'd escape and Lawrence would hunt him down. But that didn't matter. He wasn't a captive anymore, he was voluntarily there. He was lucky to have someone like Lawrence take care of him, and he never wanted to take that for granted.

After a half hour, he spotted a bush filled with deep purple berries. He was thankful he knew his berries semi-well from being sent to wilderness camp when he was a kid. Not some fond memories, but it was finally starting to pay off.

Marshall bent down and started picking a few of them.

A small part of him wondered why he was doing this when Lawrence told him never to go into the woods. But it would be fine. And Marshall could even plant a few seeds in the garden for him.

He hoped he would like his gift. He really, really wanted to impress Lawrence.

Lawrence was all he had now, and he refused to fuck this up.

He filled the basket, almost to the brim, and headed back to the house. He just had to get there before Lawrence realized he was gone. He got up from the ground and took a step forward when he heard a loud metal noise clamp together below him.

It took him a moment to process what he was seeing. It was a bear trap. It bit into his foot, a red gash cutting through his skin.

It was a miracle he didn't scream, but only because of the shock that swept over him.

He stumbled and dropped the basket, letting the berries roll onto the grass.

Marshall lost balance and collapsed forward, groaning in pain as the pressure against his injury increased tenfold. He choked on a sob. He tugged his leg forward, but that just caused his foot to bend in the direction of the trap. He finally yowled out in agony. Tears streamed down his face as he tried pulling himself backwards in an attempt to free his foot.

Nothing was working, and the more he moved, the worse the pain got. Blood dribbled onto the dirt from the wound.

He fell onto his side and clutched his heart. It pounded rapidly beneath his palm. He gulped down air like he was drowning, but tried to do the logical thing and pry the trap off him. He whimpered and scratched at the metal, but he couldn't get it to budge.

And it was only getting tighter the more he moved.

Marshall went to the last resort. "Lawrence!" he cried. No response.

What if by the time Lawrence found him, he was mauled by an actual bear, or died from starvation? What if Lawrence was so disappointed in him, he just left him here to rot?

Marshall's breathing increased at the horrifying thought.

"Dad!" he tried again. His voice was much more broken and hoarse with his second attempt.

All over some dumb berries. He was going to die here alone for the most pathetic reason ever.

It was getting darker outside. Marshall struggled for thirty minutes before giving up when he only made his injury worse, opting to bury his head in the red and yellow leaves scattered on the ground. His face was red and splotchy from all his crying.

The cold seeped in through his clothes, the sweat dripping down his spine.

He curled up on his side, hugging his arms to his chest. He gave up fighting, just like he gave up everything in his life. If he just had listened to Lawrence, none of this would've happened. He began to cry again, but this time just from pure fear.

Would this be it? Would this be how he died? He really couldn't do anything right, could he?

Marshall couldn't tell how much time had passed, but eventually the sound of footsteps trampling the dead leaves interrupted his thoughts.

He lifted his head to meet Lawrence's horrified expression. He was panting heavily.

"M-Marshall, oh god." The blond rushed to his side. He made sure to step around the other traps littered in the grass. Marshall's vision was too blurry with tears to realize Lawrence had been crying too. "Don't move, I can handle it. You're okay, baby."

He crouched beside him. Lawrence unclasped the trap and gently slid his injured foot out of it.

His eyes widened in horror when he saw the amount of blood that oozed out of the wound, most dried by now. The grass beneath him was soaked with red liquid.

"Oh, Marshall..." he whispered. He touched the swollen, inflamed skin around the wound, checking if the bone was broken or not. Marshall hissed.

Lawrence's fingers trailed up to his face, which was completely ashen white.

It took a second before he realized Marshall was hyperventilating. His eyes were unfocused, not paying any attention to his surroundings. Lawrence cursed under his breath and gathered him in his arms. He was saying something, but Marshall couldn't understand what over his own breathing.

Marshall whimpered and tried pulling away, but Lawrence shushed him and cradled the back of his head.

He didn't even realize they were back home until he was lowered onto the sofa. His breaths still came out in rapid spurts, and Lawrence cupped his face.

"I need you to focus on your breathing. Look at me, kiddo. Can you do that for me?" Lawrence asked. Marshall whimpered and blinked hard. He focused on the blue of Lawrence's eyes. "There you go. In and out, slowly."

He obeyed him. The younger man took deep inhales through his nose and let them out in one breath, just like how Lawrence showed him whenever he was nervous or scared.

It took several minutes, but his heart rate returned to normal, though his foot hurt like hell.

Marshall sniffled and looked away. Lawrence grabbed a first aid kit from the drawer, his eyes trained on the younger man the entire time.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed.

The blond took a seat next to him. "Don't apologize, just stay still for me." Marshall swallowed and watched him clean the gash. Every time he'd let out a gasp from the sting, Lawrence would pause and give him a few seconds to recover, softly shushing him every time he whined. It took awhile, but eventually his foot was wrapped securely in gauze.

Marshall's lip trembled again when he realized something. "The berries..."

"The berries?" Lawrence checked his head for any bumps, but the younger man brushed his hand away.

"I just wanted to pick berries for you," he croaked. "You--you mentioned how you liked huckleberries, how your mom would make you huckleberry pie, and I just...thought maybe I could get them for you as a surprise. Because you do so much for me and I do nothing in return. And now I just made your life harder. I'm sorry. All I do is mess up everything!"

He broke down. Lawrence took him into his arms, brushing his hair away from his face.

Marshall fought him at first, but after a few seconds of the gentle embrace, he relented, hiccuping and clinging onto him tightly.

"Oh, sweetie. You do more for me than you could ever imagine. You're the only one I need. Those berries mean nothing to me if they're the reason why you're hurt. It's not worth it." Lawrence pressed a kiss to the side of his head. "And for the record, you make my life so, so much better. You don't mess up everything, not at all."

Marshall shook his head. "Not even my real dad could love me, why would you? I'm worthless." He knew Lawrence hated when Marshall referred to his past life at all, let alone calling his biological dad his 'real' dad.

But Lawrence didn't have the heart to get upset from his wording. "Stop that." He pulled away so he could meet his eyes. "That man is a monster. And he doesn't deserve someone even a fraction as amazing as you. You're not worthless. You're loved, so much." He kissed his forehead. Marshall closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

When Lawrence pulled away, he asked, "Am I in trouble?"

"No. But this is definitely a learning experience." Marshall nodded. "Never, ever, go into those woods again. Do you understand me? I can't lose you like that, I won't forgive myself if something else happens."

"Sorry. I was just trying to make you happy."

"You make me happier than you could ever know," Lawrence said. He wiped his tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "Just listen to me. That's all you need to do. Can you promise you will?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Lawrence held his pinky up. Marshall linked them, giggling at the childish action. It was nice being treated like a kid again. He really missed those days.

"Now," he started, "Dinner, bath, and then bedtime for you, young man." His voice was more jokingly stern, even if still serious. "Doctor's orders."

"If you were a doctor, I think you'd have a million lawsuits."

"Excuse you! What's that supposed to mean?" Lawrence threw a hand on his heart dramatically.

"It means you're the worst."

"Me? The worst?" he gasped. He reached down to tickle his sides, making Marshall squeal with laughter. "If you weren't injured, you'd be facing the full wrath of this tickle monster!"

"Nooo! St-stop, please!"

Lawrence pulled away. "Fine, but only because I'm a great dad. But once you're better, keep one eye open when you sleep." Marshall stuck his tongue out at him and Lawrence playfully did the same before disappearing into the kitchen.

Marshall relaxed into the couch and smiled to himself. For the first time in his life, it felt like everything was going to be okay.

[treetownconfessions]

hi guys ^_^ disco bear x reader hatefic

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You are a generic tree friend. You work the graveyard shift at a 24-hour convenience store on the other side of town. It's two in the morning. A sports car with tinted windows and gratuitously loud music pulls up to one of the gas pumps, parking crookedly and reversing repeatedly to line up with the machine. Then it drives forward again to straighten out.

The door opens, and a yellow bear emerges. He walks with an exaggerated swagger. You watch silently from inside as he gets back in his car upon realizing his fuel cap was on the opposite side, and spends the next three minutes realigning the vehicle with a different pump. He steps out a second time, fingers combing through his fur as if nothing happened, and hooks up the nozzle. Your eyes only stay trained on him for so long, noting his unique attire and distinct hairstyle before your attention drops back to the counter in front of you. Gas stations always draw in the strange ones after midnight, you think.

You are unfortunately startled when the store door swings open, and the same bear from before strolls in. When your gazes meet, he winks at you confidently and makes his way into the aisles. You do not reciprocate.

There's not much else to do than watch. It's hard to lose him; his afro sticks out above the shelves, and his platforms clack flamboyantly against the tiled floor. This is the kind of person whose mere presence is enough to demand attention of others, you think again, but whether or not it's in a respectful manner is debatable. He browses products like they're fine china, from candies to coffees to cheap keychains that had no business being in a convenience store, and takes his time doing it. Occasionally you glance at the clock, though it does as much good as you’d expect.

After eyeing the alcohol for an extensive amount of time, he finally approaches the register. You can’t help but feel mildly appalled when he sets down nothing more than a pack of gum—either all that time looking was just window-shopping, or he was comically and unnecessarily indecisive. Brushing back some stray hair, he chuckles. “I’ve never seen wine in a gas station before,” he speaks, his voice grossly suggestive in a way you can’t describe. “I was thinking of buying some, but I left my ID at home.”

He winks at you again. This is the second time he’s winked at you in the span of—you peek at the clock again—what, eight minutes? On the other hand, he did seem like the type to flirt with tired minimum-wage workers slogging past midnight, so you’re unsure if you should be surprised or not. With a lazy nod, you ring up the gum. The total comes to $1.59.

“So,” he leans against the edge of the counter as he pulls out his wallet. “How’s your night going? It’s pretty late to be working right now. What’s the deal with that? Haha.”

You inform him that this is your job. There’s not much else to it. He coughs into his hand and shrugs. “Well, yeah, I knew that…”

There’s a short, stagnant pause as he wordlessly digs through his wallet. Eventually, he draws a debit card out with a quiet “aha!” and you punch in a few buttons on your end to allow him to swipe through the machine. His card is bedazzled with sparkling gold stars and, more impossible to ignore, a tacky picture of his own face. He swipes it quickly. It declines.

He swipes again, slower this time, and it still declines. He lets out an amused, but awkward hum. “Wrong side, I guess.”

He turns it around and swipes yet again, and it declines. The sound of the register's dismissive beeps begin to fill your ears as he continues adamantly, his expression deteriorating into one of irritation and what you can assume is his version of embarrassment. It isn’t until you tell him that inserting it or tapping it over the chip reader might work better that he changes his routine, following your instructions carefully.

It declines.

You stare at him, and he wipes his brow with another chuckle, not nearly as smooth as the first one. “These old machines, eh? Is it, uh…” He grips the register and shakes it slightly. “Are you sure it’s working properly—?”

Once assuring him that the register was indeed in good working condition, he tugs at his collar and clears his throat, pocketing the card. He reopens his wallet, shuffling through the fabric uneasily and ultimately pocketing that as well. The two of you stand there for a moment. Then he clasps his hands together, making direct and provocative eye contact with you.

“Looks like I left my cash at home too. And my card is… being updated.” He winks—third time this night—and follows it with a raunchy growl. “Any other ways I can pay you, if you catch my drift?”

You blandly tap the tip jar; it’s filled with nothing but coins. A severe look of disappointment passes his features for a split second before he straightens out. “Not that. But, hey, I get it. We can take things slow. My name’s Disco Bear.”

He extends his hand. You take it reluctantly. It’s extremely sweaty. After a firm shake and a subtle wipe-off on your shirt, Disco nods his head. “And you?”

You glance down obviously at your nametag, but tell him anyway. Disco’s gaze lights up and he makes a whistling noise. You’ve found yourself extremely uncomfortable with every sound he’s made so far. “That’s a hot name. I like it! Doesn’t ring a bell, but I’m sure it’s the opposite for you, right?”

He finger guns, though the expression on your face must’ve been explanatory enough for him to raise his eyebrows. He adjusts the popped collar of his jacket and rests his elbows on the counter in a show of confidence. “Disco Bear. That’s my name. Don’t wanna brag, but I’ve hit it huge with my music before… I’m kind of a big deal in this town.”

Your lack of response pushes Disco to continue. “And, y’know, it’s late at night. This gum is $1.59. I’m like a celebrity around these parts. Nobody else is around.” He slides forward, fingers tapping on the package of the gum. “... It wouldn’t hurt if I got to take it for free, right? It’s less than two dollars.”

And he winks.

You flatly ask him what kind of celebrity doesn’t have enough money on them for a two dollar pack of gum. Disco makes a face. “I wouldn’t be a big shot if I carried all my moolah around, babe. That’s just smart business!”

He stands up straight. “What do you think it’s being stored for, anyway? How about a steamy date at my place? I’ve got a big bed. Heart-shaped and everything.”

You look at him; he looks at you. His tone is more desperate than seductive. His eyes widen hopefully once you cancel the purchase, only to drop just as fast as you slide the gum towards yourself and gesture to the door. He sinks to his knees. You can’t see his face because of the counter, but he’s making grotty noises of anguish.

“Please,” he begs. “Please let me have the gum.”

Disco Bear is promptly arrested after you call the police.

.

[lunarsilkscreen]

Affluenza

There are two affluenzas, the first is the ignorance of how people live that are lower than you on the totem pole. I say lower on the totem pole because even the middle class doesn't know what it's like to be in the lower class, and the lower class doesn't know what it's like to be impoverished, and the the impoverished don't know what it's like to have 0 ability to make money at all.

But then there's the second sickness. The mental health issues that comes with being higher up on the pole. (WHAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES COULD YOU HAVE IF EVERYTHING IS PAID FOR!? I hear ppl on both sides of the aisle screaming.)

One of my trailer trash friends from childhood gave me an important piece of information, that I definitely should have kept closer to my heart: "You don't have friends when it comes to money or business."

Some people include life-partner in there, meaning "they'll f* your partner and won't even tell you about their infidelity". Which means you're down two more friends.

Nigerian Princes exist in America too. Always finding a way to make that money through making other people sorry, or having a business idea that they only came up with in order to ask for funding.

Some people made a career from panhandling. The newest "undercover millionaire" (I dunno if that's the name of his show, or even if that's what that show is about, but I figured it'd work as an example) who set out to see if he could replicate his success, started with panhandling. Not "sidewalk artist" panhandling, you know playing some music, or drawing stick figures, just straight "homeless begging for change" panhandling.

Not that I think that's not a thing you should do if you need it.

You do what you have to.

A million dollars, if you set aside 32k a year (current median wage, minimum wage at $7.25 is like 15k) will last 30 years. That's not including inflation that will definitely shorten that time span.

Alternatively, you could try to start a business and pay 30 people 32k. For one year, and be out of capital since a small business will oftentimes take longer to get off the ground than a single year.

No matter how much money you throw at it.

I know, There's exceptions to that rule, but take a look at a franchise which costs $52k - $300k to startup, and a ten-year contract where everything is out of pocket should you fail to recoup your costs

Anybody that so much as hears about somebody that even 30k lying around will be up your alley looking for a handout. How dare you be so successful.

The real reason that lottery winners who started poor and wind up poor again, is because they have no affluent connections, and all their friends and families sob stories. Each of them either hasn't done the calculation, or doesn't care to.

Money doesn't grow on trees, and even if it did, that tree would be bare in a week.

People above you trying to get paid, people below you begging for change.

"we've been trying to contact you about your vehicle's extended warranty."

If you own that special edition harry potter book set, anybody that sees it will be drooling over it because "they heard about how much it costs". They wouldn't be able to find a buyer, but pawn stars might give them $300.

I wish I lived in the old world where nobody cared about nerd collectibles, then I could display them without people getting jealous. Or you know: play vintage MagicTG.

Commodification. Kids used to steal cards because they couldn't afford them, now adults do because they're valuable. (DON'T CORRECT ME)

Who needs memories anyway?

I just wanted to decorate my abode with my nerd hobbies. Now all I got are these scented candles from the Yankees.

You know, there used to be a fear of every room being pristine, with nothing to decorate the walls because the death of books and physical media.

Now it's because your neighbor will take it from you. Because they "need to make that bread".

What happens when there aren't enough jobs to go around? When there's not enough money to go around? You're forced to be distrustful of everybody you meet.

So much so that you can't have any nice things at all.

So much for the American Dream.

[arsonwerm]

Aight buckle up I have quite a few wishes fuckers

1. I want to have more control over when I stop scrolling

2. I want all of the people who directly kill innocent civilians to face justice for their crimes

3. I want Donald Trump and anyone associating with him on legal business to never be able to lie again, and to come out and tell the truth about any past lies in a very public statement

4. I want to always have the motivation to create art when I reach for it

5. I want to always have inspiration for that art and know what I want to create

6. I want JK Rowling to make a public apology for her transphobic, antisemitic, etc behavior (AND MEAN IT), and rescind all funding from anti trans charities, and give all of that funding to lgbtq aid and liberation charities

7. I want to use 3/4 of Jeff bezos’s net worth to create no-barrier-to-entry housing for unhoused peoples, donate to food banks, distribute to charities, and distribute among overseas humanitarian aid efforts

8. End institutionalized racism

9. End institutionalized poverty

10. Redistribute US military budget to give state funded free education to all, including higher education

11. Get rid of all anti-homeless infrastructure

12. Rework city layouts to make them more pedestrian friendly, anti automobile, pro public transport, walkable, and ADA friendly

13. All remaining roads are now made of the current most environmentally friendly asphalt replacement currently invented

14. Add in more water efficient green spaces to roads and sidewalks, and make sidewalks shaded by native trees and lined with native plants

15. All invasive species now have their populations reduced and are now ecologically under control in the areas which they came from

16. Fund all legitimate and effective initiatives for coral reef rehabilitation and repopulation

17. Anyone under the age of 13 is now completely unable to access social media

18. Child friendly online spaces like animal jam and many of the old .io games are restored

19. All laws implemented with the intent to discriminate against marginalized communities is now no longer in effect

20. Redistribute police funding, creating new branches that specialize in nonviolent deescalation and relocation

21. All of my previous and future wishes will be implemented within the next 30 earth days, but also in a way that makes them appear to be naturally occurring

22. Roe v Wade is now reinstated as a valid ruling

23. Medical care is now free for everyone, including non-essential but quality of life improving initiatives

24. Every company that contributes to 1% or more of current landfill mass will answer for the crimes against the environment

25. Implemented all proposed legal programs to tax the ultra-rich

26. I can change the size of my breasts at will, including getting rid of them entirely, but will always be able to revert them back to their natural size if desired

27. I no longer need to sleep

28. Minimum wage is living wage and “server wage” is no longer below the general minimum wage

29. All golf courses are converted into affordable housing communities with no barriers to entry

30. I want my attention span for reading back please

31. Anytime someone wants a stress ball, they will find one in their pocket, purse, or nearby in a clearly visible area

32. I want to no longer have sensory issues and issues with fainting/lightheadedness

33. AI programs are not allowed to scrape visual, auditory, or literary works without the creators explicit personal consent

34. All Amazon profits go to charity

35. Amazon implements the most eco friendly forms of transportation to date

36. No shipping/delivery fees

37. Whatever current sketchbook I am using will be magically able to fit into any bag I am carrying without changing the size of either object

38. All books, including sketchbooks and notebooks, now weigh one ounce each, no matter the size or density

39. Google no longer shows sponsored results

40. All charities with legitimate intentions of aid for marginalized communities are now fully funded with money from current billionaires

41. Said billionaires funding charities cannot use this funding to sway the intentions of said charities

42. No one with intentions to inflict harm on a marginalized group will be able to run for any governmental office

43. Anyone who has joined a gang for stability and community will now be able to find those needs fulfilled in other more constructive spaces

44. Public libraries are fully funded

45. All research papers and educational textbooks are free to use

46. All subscription services for software will now become affordable one time purchases without intentional limits on use

47. I reserve the right to reverse any previous or future wishes should I find they have unexpected negative consequences

48. I reserve the right to make more wishes in the future should I choose to do so, and after this particular interaction is over, I will invoke a new session of wishing by saying your name aloud three times. Any wishing sessions will be ended by saying my last name three times

49. I reserve the right to have full knowledge of the existence and exact wording of any previous wishes I have made

50. I now know your name

51. You are not entitled to grant my wishes if you find that you do not want to

52. You are to warn me of any unintended negative consequences a wish may invoke before you grant it

53. Horses are no longer fucked up

“I shall grant three wishes, but you cannot wish for… Actually, fuck it. You get infinite wishes and no rules, let’s see where this goes.”

[codingprolab]

CSC4520 HW7: Minimum Spanning Tree

Q1. Say we had |V|-1 edges picked from a connected, weighted, and undirected graph. Are we guaranteed that these edges form a MST? Why or why not? Q2. Programming problem(submit a .java file) On a 2D-plane shown as below, some points with coordinates [xi, yi] are located. The cost of connecting two points [xi, yi] and [xj, yj] is the manhattan distance between them: |xi – xj| + |yi – yj|, where…

[mahakydvv]

🧠Top 50 Data Structures & Algorithms Questions Asked in Google Interviews

Learn Smarter with Real Mentors

Let’s be real for a second: preparing for a Google interview isn’t easy. It’s not just about solving problems, it’s about solving the right problems in the right way — under pressure, with clean code, and while explaining your thinking out loud. That takes more than just grind; it takes strategy.

As someone navigating the early stages of my career, I know how overwhelming it can feel. There are hundreds of questions, dozens of topics, and too little time. That’s why having a clear roadmap matters. And even better? Having mentors who’ve already walked the path.

This blog is my attempt to simplify your journey. Below, you’ll find 50 of the most frequently asked Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) questions that appear in Google’s coding interviews. I’ve also included how to practice smart, not just hard.

💡 Want guidance from real IITian mentors who’ve cracked these interviews? Check out CodingWithIITians.com — structured learning, live classes, and real results.

Why Google Cares About DSA

Google’s coding interviews are designed to test more than your ability to write code. They want to see how you:

Think under time pressure

Solve problems logically and optimally

Handle edge cases

Communicate your thought process clearly

You don’t just need the answer. You need to justify why it’s the best one. That’s why strong foundations in DSA matter so much. Let’s look at the questions.

The Top 50 DSA Questions (Grouped by Topic)

Arrays & Strings

Two Sum

Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters

Merge Intervals

Trapping Rain Water

Product of Array Except Self

Container With Most Water

Maximum Subarray (Kadane’s Algorithm)

Longest Palindromic Substring

Set Matrix Zeroes

Rotate Image

Linked Lists

Reverse Linked List

Detect Cycle in Linked List

Merge Two Sorted Lists

Remove N-th Node From End

Copy List with Random Pointer

Intersection of Two Linked Lists

Add Two Numbers

Trees & BSTs

Inorder Traversal (Recursive & Iterative)

Validate Binary Search Tree

Lowest Common Ancestor

Level Order Traversal

Serialize & Deserialize Binary Tree

Maximum Path Sum

Convert Sorted Array to BST

Recursion & Backtracking

Subsets

Permutations

Combination Sum

N-Queens Problem

Sudoku Solver

Word Search

Dynamic Programming

Climbing Stairs

House Robber

Longest Increasing Subsequence

0/1 Knapsack

Coin Change

Palindromic Substrings

Edit Distance

Target Sum

Best Time to Buy & Sell Stock (I, II, III)

Graphs & Greedy

Number of Islands

Clone Graph

Course Schedule (Topological Sort)

Dijkstra’s Algorithm

Detect Cycle in Directed Graph

Minimum Spanning Tree (Kruskal/Prim)

Word Ladder

Heaps & Advanced Topics

Merge K Sorted Lists

Find Median from Data Stream

Top K Frequent Elements

K Closest Points to Origin

How to Practice Effectively (From Someone Still Learning Too)

If you’re like me, you’ve probably felt the pressure to “finish the whole LeetCode list” in one go. Truth is, you don’t need to solve all the questions to succeed — you just need to solve the right ones well.

Here’s what works:

Start with concepts. Don’t memorize solutions.

Brute-force first, then optimize step-by-step.

Use a timer. Practice solving under 30 minutes.

Speak aloud. Pretend you’re explaining to an interviewer.

Revisit problems after 1–2 weeks to retain logic.

And most importantly? Track what you’re weak at. For me, that was Graphs. For you, it might be DP or Backtracking. Identify it early.

Why I Recommend CodingWithIITians.com

I stumbled upon CodingWithIITians.com during a late-night prep session, and I genuinely think it’s worth checking out. Here’s why:

Mentors from Amazon, Google, Uber (IIT alumni)

Live structured DSA classes with assignments

Mock interviews & resume reviews

12-week roadmap built for FAANG-level prep

I wanted more than YouTube tutorials. I wanted real feedback, real deadlines, and mentors who’ve sat in Google interview rooms. That’s what this platform gives.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a Genius

If you’ve read this far, you’re already serious about your prep. And that’s what matters.

You don’t need to be a genius. You just need:

Curiosity

Consistency

And the courage to keep going even when it’s tough

Solve a few problems every day. Be okay with failing. Keep learning. And trust that all the effort will add up.

📌 Ready to get serious with your prep? Explore the programs at CodingWithIITians.com

Let’s crack it together.

[philiproy1]

Planting Smart in Utah: How Knowing Your Hardiness Zone Can Save You Thousands in Tree Care

Planting trees in Utah’s diverse climate can be rewarding—but it can also become costly if done without proper planning. Many property owners make the mistake of selecting trees based solely on aesthetics or availability, without considering whether those species are suited to the local climate. One of the most critical yet overlooked factors in successful tree planting is understanding your USDA hardiness zone. When you plant trees that match your zone, you improve their chances of survival, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and avoid premature removal or replacement. At Arbor Plus, we help Utah homeowners and property managers plant smart by focusing on climate compatibility from the very beginning.

What Is a Hardiness Zone and Why Does It Matter?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides the United States into zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. Utah spans multiple zones, ranging from 4a in the colder mountainous areas to 8a in the southern desert regions. Knowing your exact hardiness zone is essential when selecting trees because it helps determine how well a particular species will tolerate winter cold, summer heat, soil conditions, and seasonal changes. Trees not adapted to your zone may appear healthy at first but eventually struggle with frost damage, drought stress, or pest infestations. That’s why understanding your hardiness zone can save you thousands in tree care and long-term landscape management.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Tree Failure

Homeowners and even some landscape contractors often select trees that do not match the zone where they are planted. Popular ornamental or fast-growing trees may look appealing in nurseries but fail to thrive in Utah’s arid soil or unpredictable temperature shifts. Additionally, planting without considering sun exposure, irrigation availability, or elevation differences can make the problem worse. These missteps lead to declining health, stunted growth, and costly interventions later on. At Arbor Plus, we’ve seen firsthand how planting without regard to hardiness zones creates avoidable expenses in tree removal, pest treatment, and repeated replanting.

Utah’s Unique Climate Zones

Utah’s elevation-driven climate variation means that what works in one part of the state may fail in another. For example, Salt Lake City generally falls in hardiness zone 6b, while areas like Logan are in zone 5a, and southern cities like St. George may be in zone 8a. That means a tree that thrives in Utah County might not survive winter in Park City. When planting new trees, it’s not enough to rely on general recommendations. You need to know your exact zone and choose trees with cold and heat tolerances that align with that specific range. Matching your landscape plan to your hardiness zone is one of the smartest ways to save money and ensure long-term tree success.

Smart Tree Selection Starts with Local Knowledge

Choosing the right tree species begins with identifying those that naturally grow or perform well within your hardiness zone. Native species are generally the safest bet. For example, species like Gambel oak, serviceberry, or blue spruce are well adapted to many Utah zones and have a higher chance of long-term success with minimal intervention. At Arbor Plus, our certified arborists use local data and years of experience to guide property owners in making smart planting decisions. We help you select trees that align with both your zone and your landscape goals—whether you’re looking for shade, color, screening, or erosion control.

Long-Term Savings Through Preventive Planning

When you plant trees that are well matched to your hardiness zone, you significantly reduce the need for costly emergency care, pruning due to dieback, or premature tree removal. In many cases, trees that are stressed from improper placement require ongoing pest treatment, supplemental watering, or nutrient applications—expenses that add up over time. With the right species in the right place, your trees are more resilient and require less ongoing care. That’s how knowing your hardiness zone can save you thousands in tree care costs throughout the life of your landscape.

Let Arbor Plus Help You Plant with Confidence

At Arbor Plus, we understand Utah’s climate, soil types, and elevation zones better than anyone. Our experienced teams provide expert tree planting advice, zone-appropriate species recommendations, and comprehensive care plans for both residential and commercial properties. Whether you're planning a new installation or replacing trees that didn’t survive past winters, we help you do it right the first time. With a focus on long-term success and property value, our approach helps you make decisions that are both environmentally sound and financially smart.

If you’re tired of dealing with trees that won’t thrive or are planning a new landscape installation, call Arbor Plus today at 801-485-8733. Our certified arborists are ready to help you choose the best trees for your zone and protect your investment with professional care from start to finish. Plant smart, save more, and enjoy a healthier, more beautiful landscape for years to come.

[coding-quark]

Greedy Algorithm

A greedy algorithm is a problem-solving approach that makes the locally optimal choice at each step, with the hope that these choices will lead to a globally optimal solution. Unlike brute-force or dynamic programming methods, greedy algorithms do not explore all possible options but instead make decisions based on the best immediate choice. This approach is efficient but may not always yield the optimal result, depending on the problem's structure.

How Greedy Algorithms Work

Step-by-Step Decision-Making:

At each step, the algorithm selects the best possible option based on the current state of the problem.

This decision is made without considering future consequences, which can sometimes lead to suboptimal results.

No Backtracking:

Once a choice is made, the algorithm does not revisit earlier decisions. This makes greedy algorithms efficient but potentially limited in scope.

Local vs. Global Optimality:

A greedy algorithm relies on the greedy choice property: the locally optimal choice at each step leads to a globally optimal solution.

This is not always guaranteed, but when it holds, the algorithm is effective.

Key Characteristics of Problems Solved by Greedy Algorithms

A problem can be solved using a greedy algorithm if it satisfies the following two properties:

1. Greedy Choice Property

The optimal solution can be constructed incrementally by making the locally optimal choice at each step.

Example: In the activity selection problem, selecting the activity that ends the earliest ensures maximum flexibility for future choices.

2. Optimal Substructure

The optimal solution to the problem can be decomposed into subproblems that also have optimal solutions.

Example: In Huffman coding, the optimal encoding tree is built by repeatedly combining the two nodes with the smallest frequencies.

How to Identify a Problem for a Greedy Algorithm

To determine if a problem is suitable for a greedy algorithm, ask:

Can the problem be broken into steps where each step makes a locally optimal choice?

Does the choice at each step affect the remaining problem in a predictable way?

Is the problem structured such that the greedy choice leads to the global solution?

Examples of Problems Solved by Greedy Algorithms:

Activity Selection Problem:

Goal: Select the maximum number of non-overlapping activities.

Greedy Strategy: Always pick the activity that ends earliest.

Huffman Coding:

Goal: Compress data with minimum total encoded length.

Greedy Strategy: Combine the two nodes with the smallest frequencies.

Dijkstra’s Algorithm:

Goal: Find the shortest path in a graph.

Greedy Strategy: Always select the node with the smallest tentative distance.

Prim’s/Kruskal’s Algorithm:

Goal: Find the minimum spanning tree (MST) of a graph.

Greedy Strategy: Add edges or nodes that minimize the total weight.

Job Scheduling:

Goal: Schedule jobs to minimize lateness.

Greedy Strategy: Sort jobs by deadlines or processing times.

Steps to Apply a Greedy Algorithm

Define the Problem:

Identify the objective and constraints (e.g., maximize profit, minimize cost, etc.).

Identify the Greedy Choice:

Determine the rule for making the locally optimal choice (e.g., "always pick the smallest element").

Implement the Greedy Strategy:

Use a loop or recursive function to apply the greedy choice step-by-step.

Verify the Solution:

Check if the greedy choice leads to the global optimal solution (using examples or proofs).

When Greedy Algorithms Fail

Greedy algorithms may fail if:

The locally optimal choice does not lead to the global solution (e.g., the Traveling Salesman Problem).

The problem requires considering future choices (e.g., scheduling with dependencies).

Comparison with Dynamic Programming

How do I differentiate between greedy and dynamic programming? Because both use optimal substructure. But greedy algorithms make decisions without looking ahead, while dynamic programming considers all possibilities. So the key is that for a problem with the greedy choice property, you can make a choice that leads to the optimal solution without needing to check all possibilities. Greedy Algorithm : 1. Approach : Makes one choice at a time 2. Efficiency : Fast (O(n)) 3. Optimality: May not always be optimal 4. Use Case: Problems with clear greedy choice property

Dynamic Programming: 1. Approach : Explores all possibilities 2. Efficiency Slower (O(n²) 3. Optimality: Always optimal (for problems with optimal substructure) 4. Use Case Problems requiring exploration of all subproblems

Summary

Greedy algorithms are efficient but not always optimal.

They work best when the greedy choice property and optimal substructure hold.

Use them for problems where local choices directly lead to global solutions (e.g., activity selection, Huffman coding).

Always validate the solution with examples or proofs to ensure correctness.

[programmingandengineering]

CS/COE 1501 Project 4

How to run: Run NetworkAnalysis.java with the command line input of a file to be analyzed. * Compile: javac NetworkAnalysis.java * Run with command line argument: java NetworkAnalysis network_data1.txt || java NetworkAnalysis network_data2.txt * Select types of analysis on the network. * Note Choice 1: Solves the shortest path problem * Note Choice 3: Minimum spanning tree algrothim can be used…

[lux-properties]

Total Environment Over The Rainbow Villas in Nandi Hills Bangalore A Sanctuary of Luxury and Nature

A Landmark in Exclusive Living

Total Environment Over The Rainbow Villas in Nandi Hills Bangalore is a prestigious residential development that blends luxury with nature. Located near the scenic Nandi Hills, this project presents a unique opportunity to own an eco-friendly, earth-sheltered villa designed with sustainability and comfort in mind. With Phase 1 spanning 8.8 acres, these 3 BHK luxury villas in Nandi Hills redefine elegant living by offering serene, open spaces while maintaining seamless connectivity to key areas of Bangalore.

Key Project Details

Project Name: Over The Rainbow

Developer: Total Environment

Property Type: Luxury Villas

Configuration: 3 BHK Luxury Villas in Nandi Hills

Total Area: 8.8 acres (Phase 1)

Total Units: 33 Earth-Sheltered Villas

Villa Size: 3,000 sq. ft. saleable area with a 1,992 sq. ft. carpet area

Plot Size: Minimum of 6,000 sq. ft. per villa

Status: Under Construction

Location: Nandi Hills Main Road, Chikkasagarahalli, Bangalore

Why Choose Over The Rainbow Villas?

1. Unparalleled Location & Connectivity

Situated in the foothills of Nandi Hills, these villas provide a peaceful retreat away from the city's noise while maintaining excellent connectivity. The project is just 26 km from Kempegowda International Airport, making it convenient for frequent travelers.

2. Sustainable Living in Luxury

These earth-sheltered homes are designed to integrate seamlessly into the natural surroundings, featuring rainwater harvesting, tertiary sewage treatment plants, and energy-efficient designs to minimize environmental impact.

3. Thoughtfully Designed Residences

Each villa boasts large windows for natural light, private gardens, and a unique stepped design that enhances ventilation and provides breathtaking views of Nandi Hills.

4. High-End Amenities

Residents can enjoy kids' play areas, jogging tracks, pedestrian-friendly streets, landscaped gardens, and backup power for common utilities, ensuring a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle.

Location Highlights

Total Environment Over The Rainbow Villas in Nandi Hills Bangalore offers the perfect balance of serenity and accessibility.

Proximities:

Schools: Gitanjali International School (3.5 km), Akash International School (15.7 km)

Healthcare: Manasa Hospital (13 km), Jeevan Hospital (12 km)

Tech Parks: KIADB Aerospace SEZ (13 km), IT Investment Region (14 km)

Hospitality & Leisure: JW Marriott Golfshire Resort & Spa (6.7 km), Prestige Golfshire Clubhouse (12 km), Nandi Hills Viewpoint (13 km)

Exceptional Features of Over The Rainbow

Eco-Friendly Design: Earth-sheltered villas for natural insulation and sustainability.

Premium Materials: Imported marble flooring, engineered timber doors, and high-end fittings.

Customizable Homes: Total Environment’s eDesign platform allows homeowners to personalize layouts and finishes.

Secure Gated Community: Low-density development with 24/7 security and pedestrian-friendly layouts.

Private Green Spaces: Each villa comes with two private gardens that promote a connection with nature.

Unique Highlights

Scenic Views: Stunning panoramas of Nandi Hills from every home.

Biophilic Architecture: The design maximizes the use of natural elements.

Smart Home Automation: Biometric main door locks and smartphone-controlled features for enhanced security.

Low-Density Living: Wide tree-lined streets and open spaces ensure a tranquil environment.

A Smart Investment Opportunity

Nandi Hills is rapidly transforming into a sought-after residential hub, with luxury developments like Prestige Golfshire and Prestige Sanctuary increasing the area's real estate value. Over The Rainbow is a perfect choice for investors looking for high appreciation potential and a sustainable, luxury lifestyle.

Conclusion

Total Environment Over The Rainbow Villas in Nandi Hills Bangalore offers a rare combination of luxury, sustainability, and connectivity. Whether you are looking for 3 BHK luxury villas in Nandi Hills as a dream home or a lucrative investment, this project is an unparalleled opportunity to embrace high-end living in a natural paradise.

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 CSCI 323 Assignment #9 "Minimum Spanning Tree Algorithms" Solved

 Overview: This assignment builds on the graph-related functions of a previous assignment, as well as the general infrastructure of several earlier assignments, to implement and study the empirical performance of several algorithms for the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) problems, namely ● Prim’s MST Algorithm w/ matrix ● Prim’s MST Algorithm w/ table ● Kruskal’s MST Algorithm w/ matrix ● Kruskal’s…

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CMSC 451 Homework 5 Solved

1. Execute Prim’s minimum spanning tree algorithm by hand on the graph below showing how the data structures evolve specifically indicating when the distance from a fringe vertex to the tree is updated. Clearly indicate which edges become part of the minimum spanning tree and in which order. Start at vertex A. 2. Execute Kruskal’s algorithm on the weighted tree shown below. Assume that edges of…