#Advanced Strategy Slaps

[bampharos]

I think I've nailed down why BB-9 has been rolling around in my head for the past 21 hours or so (besides the obvious reasons):

It's a really interesting ludonarrative moment in my opinion, how the game forces you to place the roadblock in order to "win." We've known (or at least been told) for years that the Doctor killed Theresa, is the reason why Babel fell, no surprises there. We were missing some context and some details about the method, but the broad strokes were painted long ago.

And yet as soon as we started getting cutscenes from before the start of the game featuring the Doctor, there's always been a very clear mechanical disconnect. "Our" Doctor says everything through dialog choices, even when there's only a single option, annotated in the log by an arrow like it's a command input in an old text-based RPG (only just now have I thought about it like that, but that's a potentially interesting detail as well). Meanwhile the Doctor of the past speaks as any other character, through standard scripted dialog. You don't push a button to dictate what the Doctor of Babel will say, because their lines have already been determined.

We know that before-times Doctor inspired fear in the same breath as hope, that they were known for cold calculation in their battle strategy, but it's always been easy to distance our player-insert from this "other self," narratively via the amnesiac trope and mechanically by way of how the player advances through the text. Physically, yes of course we know they're one and the same being, there's no debate. (At least I'm not aware of one, otherwise I've missed some foreshadowing somewhere along the way and also I think that'd suck as a story lmao.) But emotionally, can we say the same thing? Can we condemn today's Doctor for crimes they have no memory of, that they committed as a person they have no memory of?

It's the same conflict that Kal'tsit's been struggling with this whole time, and I don't blame her for struggling. Of course my knee-jerk reaction is to side with the Doctor, to allow them the chance to work with Rhodes toward a better tomorrow. Babel only reinforces this gut instinct, featuring not a single dialog option box for its entire runtime. That was the old Doctor, not *my* Doctor. They're completely different people!

Until BB-9 happens.

Until in no uncertain terms, the game states that if you wish to continue, you must kill Theresa.

*You* must kill Theresa. *You* must point the (metaphorical) gun, and *you* must pull the (metaphorical) trigger.

It's gut-wrenching, if I'm being honest. It's a slap in the face, a wake-up call, a reminder that this ruthless being is just as much the Doctor as is the bumbling, charismatic, kind-hearted philanthropist we play as. There's no pretending, no denial.

You did this. Now live with it.

[verdemoun]

I wonder, how's Kieran doing, from the side of his neurodivergency? Was it diagnosed? Does he get support? An AAC perhaps, seeing as the poor guy's semi-verbal? How'd the rest of the gang accept it? I'M JUST SO CURIOUS ABOUT HIM I AM HOLDING HIM I AM SHAKING HIM LIKE A TOY HOW IS HE HANDLING HIS NEURODIVERGENCY

I am so normal about Kieran

You come into my house, the certified kieran duffy hyperfixation page, ask about my blorbo, my boy, the sole reason why RDR2 has infected my brain and completely changed my ability to engage with any other form of media, while also addressing my special interest of neurodivergence as a fellow brain wonk and career disability support worker all while finishing with the line 'I am so normal about Kieran'? Like shit I mean can I take you out for dinner?? Marry me maybe??

I am also so normal about Kieran

kieran duffy is autistic thank you goodnight!

no i will write a 2k word essay. kieran is pretty mid-spectrum (brief pause to acknowledge spectrum language lowkey outdated and problematic but no universally accepted alternative) he has chronic anxiety and mild aversion to eye contact, misses a lot of social cues, is hyper fixation central, but executive function-wise if he had spent his whole life in any one time period he would have been a-okay at being independent with some adaptive strategies

side tangent literally the first conversation he has with mary beth is so autistic he completely misses a rhetorical question, happily answers it, and then jumps straight into 'you're very pretty'. he apologizes for being forward he can and does acknowledge social conventions but just autistic brain does not understand why. is aware his brain is not wonking in the same direction as other people's brains.

but so. many. common sensory issues are a direct result of advances in technology. sure in 1899 wanting to cover your ears during a gunfight is a minor disadvantage but you know what isn't?? having every instinct in your body tell you to run away from the overwhelming loud noises. it took more effort to go into a city than to avoid them. going from horses, campfires and comfortably worn in clothing to the constant noise of cars, searing of artificial lights and synthetic fabric with clothes tags? bad time. Bad Time.

the real big issue for kieran in timewarp au is the c-ptsd autism combo meal. in general, buddy's got trauma. very clearly articulates how bad being an o'driscoll was physically and mentally. his intro is literally colm grabbing his collar and slapping him. gets starved and threatened with genital mutilation and still begs to stay with the VDLs because he hates colm. talks about the absolute power and control colm has. anxious whimpers telling arthur he saw o'driscolls riding around. it ain't just hate he is terrified of colm. you ever have a hypothetical anxiety situation become real and feel that knot of dread as your skin turns cold? knowing your literal worst nightmare was unfolding. and in this case, worse than he imagined. yeah. that's what it would've been like when kieran got taken at shady belle. immediately knowing he wasn't going to survive. only thing he could do is make sure he protected the VDLs and he instead he talked. it's canon kieran talked, whether tortured or manipulated into talking he did. first people to treat him decent, people he considered friends, and he died feeling like he betrayed them.

timewarp means dying. memories of dying. personally hc eye gauging was first but even - being beheaded. intentional deliberate time taken to make a show of it and inflict maximum psychological torment knowing what's going to happen opposed to the immediate bang and bullet of being shot. already autistic chronic anxiety man helpless to stop what's about to happen. i wonder if he thought the VDLs would care enough to try to rescue him and tried to hold onto that faint belief or if he immediately knew he meant so little they wouldn't? he died as he lived - alone.

only to immediately be thrown into modern era. fending for himself for approx a month before the gang stumble across him. with those memories being recent. with the overstimulation of suddenly being thrown into modern era saint denis. he is a homeless autistic man with no idea where he is what's happening what is a car why are they so loud why are street lights so bright and he just went through literally dying. having all his anxieties and the memories of the pain of whatever he went through with the o'driscolls. and the guilt? he is so terrified of the consequences of talking and betraying the gang that he literally runs from lenny and hosea when they first find him in timewarp. a month of starving, surviving on loose change and corner store coffee and occasional apple he may have picked out of a bin and still chooses to run because he's so completely traumatized by being taken/betraying the gang.

it's a lot more ptsd and that anxiety around 'i talked' that lead to semi-verbalism with autism reinforcing it opposed to the other way around. it only takes a few days of gentle encouragement + food + safe warm place to sleep (first time since long before even riding with the o'driscolls) for kieran to get comfortable with nods or the occasional one word response and most of the gang are happy to leave it there because they get he's been through a Lot. lenny and hosea saw what happened to him. hosea carried his decapitated head to his grave. they're all struggling and learning to adapt to modern era. kieran locking himself in a room for a week, flinching at any noise or touch like he's been scalded just seems reasonable after what he's gone through.

except despite being stray dog starved he's still picking at meals obviously only eating the meat and veggies which he has always done so they don't really think to mention it. and he doesn't really start settling in. he just. sits in room. might tremble into the kitchen like a wee lamb at 2am when he thinks everyone's asleep, grab an apple and vanish back to his room. gang increasingly confused because kieran is completely avoiding eye contact but clearly listening, answering questions as he stares in horror at the dishwasher no matter how many times they've explained it and let him like try to figure it out realise it isn't some sort of torture device. but maybe he was always like that how many actually talked to him??

resident tech lad lenny tries showing him a basic AAC app but having to remember to 1. charge phone 2. use phone 3. open app 4. scroll until finding image that probably means what he wants because he can't read 5. click button until gang charades out whole sentence is a lot of steps compared to just fidgeting/staring until someone asks the right question. it gets frustrating because he knows the complete sentence is 'hi sean what's the deal with you always bringing home pizzas also is there any way you could please bring home the one that's plain cheese again??' but he can't read so it's just guessing based on images 'sean why pizza? please pizza cheese' when he uses the AAC. instead he can eat his cheesy pizza, make a point of getting sean's attention, point at pizza, nod and get the point of 'i really like cheesy pizza please can you get more' across all while still chewing.

bessie, who is a history professor and absolutely talks to autistic people on a daily basis is embarrassed how long it takes her to realize hey wait kieran is a) only leaving his room at times where sensory load is reduced b) stimming to soothe when confronted with something new or higher anxiety than usual and c) only has multiple syllable conversations about horses and fishing. he went from terrified rabbit to genuinely excited to be talking about those things only to shut down immediately again when the conversation shifted or something happened that spooked him. she introduces him to noise cancelling headphones, slowly, gently explaining what they are, giving him multiple options to say no because still a new weird sensation but the relief is instant. kieran looked around, realized he couldn't hear damned buzzing and cars and just beamed leg bouncing in sheer excited relieved joy.

it's a lot more figuring out what works for kieran through trial and error because the gang have not heard of autism and don't really get it despite bessie's best efforts to explain. sean absolutely hit her with the 'wouldn't that make everyone autistic??' and she snapped back 'wOuLDn'T tHaT mAKe EveRYoNe iRiSH'. but they're all going through adapting to modern era and can empathize pretty well with how overwhelming a lot of the modern era is. electricity does have a noise most people get used to but every single one of the timewarpers went through a phase of looking over their shoulder in mild irritation because it's constant until their brains learned to filter the sound. kieran won't and wears headphones to cope with it? sure thing that makes sense!

trauma brain is desperate for assurances of safety by avoiding triggers (loud or new noises, green clothing, strangers, anything unfamiliar=dangerous) while autism brain is screaming safety is found in routine so that becomes a very important thing. with no horses to look after his routine is very much watch tv, do gardening, help out around house because feeling helpful is a dopamine hit for him. it's a lot of letting him do things at his own pace because he is a people pleaser and will do anything if he thinks he is being useful even at his own expense. but 'being helpful' goal setting a really easy way to gently expand his comfort zone. grocery shopping was withdrawn meltdown inducing but the second he has a job like being asked to push the trolley he will merrily shop for hours because he's just focusing on one task. brain suddenly content ignoring things that would otherwise be overwhelming, and once all the neurodivergency in his brain decides grocery shopping is not a potentially fatal experience he's suddenly wandering aisles picking up things they forgot or content going to the grocery store alone because he wanted a specific thing.

after catching kieran self-medicating anxiety with alcohol they do go through the process of at least getting him on SSRIs which is a lot easier than going through the process of a full diagnosis of adult autism but it's already a footnote in his medical file because it's pretty clear to anyone with an ounce of neurodivergent awareness that he is textbook autistic. and honestly modern era for kieran: it's not better or worse than canon for his particular brand of autism but definitely different. he's actually more comfortable around people in general because the odds of running into someone who has committed murder is a lot lower than it was in outlaw circles. because of supports like noise-cancelling and sensory toys he's more curious about things that would have made him want to tear his flesh off his bones in the past. genuinely enjoys when the gang decide to catch the train somewhere vs the heart attack the idea would've been in 1899. instead of needing to retreat and stim and be alone he will catch himself getting distressed over something (it's sean putting away dishes with reckless abandon) and pull on a weighted blanket and be at peace again. still would rather be in 1899 taking care of horses because there was less things to get used to but he can get comfortable with new things and actually find new things he enjoys

plus the gang do genuinely care about him. it started as crippling guilt of not realizing he was taken by the o'driscolls until horsemen apocalypses but they almost all come around to him being a really pleasant guy and are more than glad to support whenever he needs it. like hosea will merrily encourage an infodump because he also really enjoys fishing. in a sad but wholesome way the gang don't really notice how neurodivergent he is because they just didn't pay enough attention to him in canon era to see how the manifestations of autism have changed. just yeah there's duffy he don't talk a whole lot but do not ask him about seasonal fishing unless you have 3 hours to spare. do not go into his room that is his space he has hosea's permission to react violently to people messing with his things and the whole posse will rain hellfire upon anyone who takes his snacks without replacing them.

with it being clear kieran is not the biggest fan of the AAC lenny learns and helps teach kieran basic ASL so on less verbal days he can still ask for things and join in instead of getting frustrated with himself. most of the people he regularly hangs out with know enough words for it to be insanely helpful. his most used 'sign' is flipping people off. the gang's whiplash actually getting to know more of his personality as he feels safer around them than he ever did in 1899?? he might be a gentle buffoon but he is also a sass gremlin. arthur complains once about it being the 17th time kieran has watched spirit stallion of the cimarron and kieran sweetly threatens to reverse saving his life if arthur tries to reach for the remote again. he'll join in making fun of lenny and sean for how obviously they are simping for each other.

[kawareo]

what were some of your fav scenes/fights in bg3?

also completely unrelated, but what were Strike’s pre-tadpole stats?

oh boy okay stats first, then the ramble under cut ^-^

I said before that his stats as Durge would be pretty op, and I do know that they are, but I think the fact that he devolves so much before the events of the game evens him out lol - he was also multi-classing into a Fighter. I was trying to think of him more of in a 'what if he was the miniboss instead of Orin' way, rather than as if he were a playable character

After tadpoling, his stats have nearly halved, except Charisma which is still pretty high (like 17 at the start, i think)

I really like the Nere fight for some reason, especially if I made a deal with the duegar and also am trying to keep the gnomes alive!

And the entire part in the Ilithid colony, i love parts where you can clean out a place room by room, and then the big fights, once I figure out the strategies for them (for example, the Moonrise towers, creche, or protecting the grove, love when I learn how to beat them). Also in my evil Durge run every fight is fun because I have Lae'zen, Minthara, Shadowheart's spirit guardians and my sorcerer who can deal two level five spells per round if needed, so we kind of just power through every fight lol

All of the romance/sex scenes are lovely and I could stare at them forever, personal favorite is the Halsin one. The dance scene with Wyll is super cute. The entire tiefling party slaps absolute ass I love that section. Haarlep scene, too! Genuinely scary! That thing scares the shit out of me but their scene is so fun to watch.

Some of my all time favorite scenes are also Ketheric's introduction, Gortash and Orin talking (orin's va fucking killed it there with the "yes so no sir rip and cut your throat sir", i can quote that entire scene from memory), Minsc' introduction! Dame Aylin and Isobel kiss! The coronation scene! Anything where Auntie Ethel shows up! Rolan!

Lmao it might be shorter if I just tell you things that I dislike tbh, the list is shorter; i love Lae'zel but after act 2 I kind of really don't care about her storyline? I dont know why but the political coup and the githyanki drama just isn't that interesting to me. I couldn't care less about Orpheous, either. Genuinely fuck that Lorroakan fight I hate it form the bottom of my heart. Haven't found the dragon yet and I'm scared in advance because I heard some scary shit. I haven't had to fight any of the Thorm family yet because I always charisma my way through them but in my new run I'll try them, the fights look like a bitch though. It's mostly the gityanki stuff (besides Lae'zel herself) that i don't care that much for , almost everything else I can find interest for

[spitblaze]

Hello, Mr. Lev, sir! They added Octopath Traveler to GamePass, and I've been itching to play it after seeing how much it has enraptured you. Any advice or anything I should know going in?

Oh absolutely, lemme lay out some stuff:

Gameplay-wise, this game is very strategy-based and often grind-heavy. If you wanna slap some mods onto it to make the gameplay less tedious in terms of exp/jp gain, I would not blame you At All. If you're into that kinda stuff (like me) it's a LOT of fun utilizing strategy to take down beasts, but if you're not, I say there's no shame in watching a playthrough instead.

You will see people talking a lot of shit on this game. These are typically people who got their opinions from people who already do not like RPGs and went into a game mis-marketed by Square Enix, who is already well known for botching the marketing on everything they produce except Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The game is a pretty consistent 7-8 out of 10, it's not the best thing they've ever made but it is not even CLOSE to the worst thing theyve put out and people get wayyy too mad about it for some reason.

Don't, like...go in expecting super deep inter-party interactions. You get plenty of them, like 3-4 per chapter after everyone's chapter 1 (in order to get them you need to have the specific character they wanna talk to in your party. After a major plot beat the move is usually to go to the tavern and swap people out until you see the party banter icon in the corner, but if you don't wanna do that they're all available on the octopath wiki). It's annoying that there's not more of them but for me what really makes my brain like to gnaw on it is that the characters are all strongly written but there's a *lot* of space left in the air to be filled in, and if you mesh with the characters and the storytelling you'll find that it's so easy to fill in the blanks yourself.

If you don't vibe with one, that's fine. Two is generally considered the better of the two for the technical improvements and more inter-party interaction, but there's no right answer in terms of which one is narratively better. It's alllllll subjective

btw invest in Therion early. hes good as a dodge tank and a magic user but the OT1 Thief movelist is actually kinda nuts. He doesn't have to be the one you start with but if you do I apologize in advance for the funny purple thief brainrot

Same with Tressa, parts of the Merchant movelist may seem underwhelming at first but once you get to the point where money is easy to come by and you have A Certain Secret Job, it's VERY hard to justify leaving her at home for tough fights.

also you should play Live A Live. its not quite right to call it OT a spiritual successor but it takes some strong cues from it. also the remake on switch is really good

That's all I can think of in this moment. I'm sure other people have their own stuff to add, and I don't think I can add anything else myself without getting overly biased so. ye, don't be discouraged by individuals saying it sucks, play octopath, if you like strategy-oriented turn-based games then there is a good chance you will like it i think!

[dynamite-derek]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories does not get enough love

When hearing people talk about the first few Kingdom Hearts games, there is often a feeling of annoyance that they need to play Chain of Memories in order to fully understand and appreciate Kingdom Hearts 2. I've seen a lot of people suggest looking up youtube videos of Chain of Memories runs as a sort of replacement for experiencing the story.

This is baffling to me. Chain of Memories is not some black sheep game that ruins the reputation of the franchise. You want a game that actively hurts a franchise by existing? Go look up Lunar Dragon Song and then cry yourself to sleep because you just looked up footage of Lunar Dragon Song.

For reference, Chain of Memories is the true ‘second’ Kingdom Hearts title despite lacking the number 2. It bridges the gap between the closing moments of the original game and the opening bits of Kingdom Hearts 2. It’s an important piece to the franchise’s narrative. For a lot of people, the story of 2 is confusing because they skipped over Chain of Memories. This is an important game a lot of people like to downplay the importance of.

I would like to blame the PS2 remake of Chain of Memories, RE:Chain of Memories, for this perception because it took a 2D game and converted it to 3D without thinking too much about it beyond the presentation. It doesn't help that this is the most easily accessible version of the game, considering it has been ported several times as part of the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD collection. If we're just talking about that game, yeah, it does feel like kind of a slog. But it's not the end of the story, it should not be the only version of the game people remember or talk about. The original version, released on the Gameboy Advance, should receive some love.

For those unfamiliar, the gameplay of Chain of Memories is a bit of a departure from the original Kingdom Hearts. This is likely due to system limitations. It would be really hard to make a game that plays like Kingdom Hearts on a system with two face buttons and graphical fidelity closer to a SNES than a Playstation 2. Your skill set is completely tied to a deck of cards. You can't just swing a keyblade, you have to have a keyblade card. Cards come numbered 0-9 with higher number cards cancelling out lower number cards - though the number 0 cancels out everything. So if Sora uses a card with a number of 6 and an enemy uses a card with a number of 7, Sora's attack will be cancelled out and the enemy's attack will take priority.

You also have a card point system for deck building. All of your cards are given point values related to how strong they are. So let's say your card point system cap is 100 - you need to make a deck to fight that works within those constraints. So you have to ask yourself such questions like "Would I rather have a few hard hitting cards? Or do I want more attack options that might be a bit weaker and easier to break?" You also have to think about magic and item cards, so just blindly slapping together a deck full of a bunch of cards with the number "9" on them probably won't get you very far. You need to think.

As you level up, your card points increase and you can build larger decks. You can also learn special moves that involve combining cards in order to use special attacks, or sleights. So deck building evolves from being "do I want fewer strong cards or more weak cards?" to "how can I make a balanced deck that lets me hit hard and use all these techniques I have?" It leads to a surprising amount of strategy in combat, particularly in boss battles. What if a boss uses a lot of sleights against you? Combining cards will give you a large number, naturally, so the natural counter to that would be to use a lot of cards with a value of 0. Remember, cards with 0 cancel everything out. So on an initial playthrough, a lot of boss fights will involve studying how your opponent uses cards and finding a strategy that works against how they act.

Using sleights yourself makes you lose the first card you sacrifice for that combination, so you have to build your decks with that limitation in mind. You have a spell called super flare that involves using the summon Mushu and two fire cards. When you use it, you will always lose a Mushu card. So do you want to be able to use super flare multiple times and carry multiple Mushus (expensive cards that can take over 30 card points to assign to your deck)? Or would you rather find alternate abilities to use? It's a deep and confusing sounding system, but once you actually get your hands on it, it makes sense and I would compare it to a more traditional deck building game like the Pokemon Trading Card Game. You just have to think a little.

I mentioned boss battles briefly and what makes them so interesting in this game is that the bosses have the same restrictions you do. When they use sleights, they lose a card. They have to reload their decks when they run out of cards. They can counter you just like you can counter them. It feels like a duel against another person instead of a fight against a computer opponent that has advantages not available to the player.

When you finish the game, you unlock a mode where you play through the game again as Riku. Instead of just being the same deck building experience, it's something else entirely - you cannot edit your deck at all. It's an exercise on how well you can adapt to fights with a premade deck. There are some levels where you have like six cards to work with and you have to figure it out for yourself - the mechanic can almost make certain fights feel like puzzles. You can legitimately run out of attack options if you use too many sleights, so you have to really think about what you do. It's an interesting twist from the standard formula and I actually find it preferable to the main mode of play because it's a test of your ability to adapt.

Now it's time to activate my inner crotchety old man. Part of the appeal of SquareSoft/Square Enix games on the PS2 was how cutting edge they looked for their platform. When you got to a cutscene in Final Fantasy X it legitimately felt like you were living in the far flung future. In modern times, cutscenes kinda just look like normal gameplay scenes most of the time, so they don't feel as special. If you can believe it, they were able to replicate this feeling on the GameBoy Advance.

Square included a couple of prerendered cutscenes into the mix that play at certain times. Yes, what shows up is nowhere near as visually impressive as what you would get on a PS2, but on a smaller screen it looked close enough and it felt like sorcery seeing your little GBA screen pull off what appeared to be PS2-caliber graphics. Yeah, it's a trick because the Gameboy Advance isn't actually rendering this stuff and it's just a little compressed video, but this trickery went a long way and totally blew my mind. Also, the full version of Simple and Clean plays over the end credits. No midi junk, it feels like the same thing. It's hard to express this to people who weren't there to experience it, but the experience on a handheld felt magical.

This is just lost in the transition to 3D. Everything looks the same kind of good. It's not some magical little game from the future, it's just a budget PS2 game designed to explain to people just who the hell Namine is.

Now something that isn't console dependent is the game's story. You would think that the weird handheld game released on a different console than the main series would have a throw away filler story that wasn't important to the overall plot of the franchise but you would be dead wrong. Chain of Memories started the tradition of "if we release a game, it matters." It persists to this day because there are scenes in Kingdom Hearts 3 that don't make much sense unless you've spent time with the mobile games. It can be kind of annoying if you don't like the type of game you're supposed to play, but I think it tells the player that 'nothing we put out is half baked, it all means something.' Nothing feels like filler, even though it very easily could.

I think the story told is really interesting and the way it details Sora slowly losing his memories is fairly well done. At some point Sora just stops talking about Kairi and all mentions of her are replaced by Namine to the point that he becomes obsessed. It starts out really slowly but eventually Sora's dialogue becomes extremely focused on this character the player had never heard of before. It's just a really interesting bit of characterization. Also, it explains why the hell he is in some alien pod at the start of Kingdom Hearts 2.

It also does a very good job of characterizing the members of Organization XIII that appear here. In Kingdom Hearts 2, I don't feel like the highlighted organization members get that much time to unveil their personalities. There's a little of it, but what can you tell me about Demyx's actual personality beyond DANCE WATER DANCE? In Chain of Memories, I feel like Larxene, Vexen, Marluxia and Axel all get developed quite well. They feel like real characters, to the point that before the organization members were expanded on in later games, I preferred the CoM characters because they all seemed really interesting. I was sad Larxene wasn't in II because she was a lot more interesting than Xigbar (please note these are the early days of the franchise) or Demyx or Luxord.

Truth be told though, the Sora portion of this story is easy enough to understand via context clues, but the Riku part of the story is very crucial to his character. It's an interesting look into how he views darkness as a necessity and not as an evil - it makes his struggles with darkness in 2 a little more interesting. I think CoM fleshes out Riku considerably and turns him into the most interesting character in the franchise. He isn't pure of heart like Sora, he isn't some warrior of darkness either. He's somewhere in between and this game does a good job of portraying him as such. Skipping this game means missing out on the best character work for the best character in the franchise.

Now, I'm not going to tell you everything about this game is perfect. The 'Disney' stories in each level are totally nothing. They are generally complete retreads of what happens in Kingdom Hearts 1 and given that you visit some of these levels again in Kingdom Hearts 2, it can get real aggravating seeing the story beats for something like Atlantica play out again. I also feel that some of the levels later on really drag out. It's especially painful in the PS2 version because of how much longer it takes to navigate rooms, but even in the GBA version later levels are really long and can feel a bit like padding. Mid game level length feels appropriate but by the end I kept tapping my foot waiting to move things along.

I also very much despise the Hundred Acre Wood level here. It's a boring chore of guiding Pooh through a straight line. I already don't like the Hundred Acre Woods levels in the main game and I find GBA CoM's take on it even worse. Seriously if I could hire someone to do Hundred Acre Woods segment for me in Kingdom Hearts games, I would. I think 3 had the right of it by making the world like 10 minutes long.

But don't let these flaws stop you. I think the lack of love for Chain of Memories comes from the version most people are exposed to - the PS2 version. Give the GBA game a chance, put yourself in the mind frame of someone playing a handheld console from that era and see how you feel. At the very least, you might be able to appreciate what it was going for a little more. Hell, you might even be like me and consider it a diamond in the rough.

Oh also Axel says hell in this one, which makes it the most adult and therefore best Kingdom Hearts game. Duh. And did you know that Axel's catchphrase of 'got it memorized' wasn't fully figured out yet and he says 'commit it to memory' here instead? Well I just think that's neat.

[mightyflamethrower]

Joe Biden polls at or below 40 percent approval. Historically, such unpopularity has made it almost impossible for a president to be reelected.

His age advances by the hour. His voice falters, his memory fades, and his gait is reduced to short steps, with his arms, winglike and in tandem, offering balance.

Biden is not so much an octogenarian as an unhealthy and prematurely aging 80-year-old. It is America’s irony that he is fit for almost no other job in the country other than President, which apparently allows for a 3-day-a-week ceremonial role while others in the shadows run the country.

So how does Biden become renominated and reelected, as polls show he is behind in almost every critical swing state on nearly every issue? Answer: not by campaigning, not by championing his record, and especially not by doubling down on his neo-socialist and now unpopular agendas.

Instead, his campaign is focused on four other strategies to beat Donald Trump.

First, left-wing local, state, and federal prosecutors are tying Trump up in court on crimes that have never been seen before and will never be again after the election. All the cases are politically motivated, with many coordinated with the White House.

Even if Trump is not convicted by blue-state prosecutors, in blue-state courtrooms, in front of blue-state juries, he will lose critical campaigning time.

Trump may end up paying out $1 billion in legal fees and fines. At 76, the monotonous days in court are designed to destroy him financially, physically, and mentally.

Biden and his operatives know that, in the long term, they may have fatally damaged the American legal system with such judicial sabotage. But short-term, they hope to destroy Trump before the ballots are cast.

Second, in his fourth year, Biden is suddenly selling government favors to special-interest voting blocs, or hoping to bring short-term relief to voters at the expense of long-term damage to the nation.

For elite college students and graduates, there are now billions of dollars in student-loan cancellations, despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring such targeted contractual amnesties illegal.

For consumers, before the election, Biden will likely drain the last drops from the critical Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gas prices—now sky-high due to his previous disastrous green policies.

If that is not enough, Biden has ordered Ukraine not to hit Russian oil facilities to avoid panic in the global petroleum markets before early and mail-in balloting begin.

Biden will quietly jawbone the Federal Reserve Bank to lower interest rates and reinflate the economy, despite his own creation of hyperinflation that caused interest rates to rise in the first place.

He will pander to Arab-American voters in swing-state Michigan by cutting arms deliveries to Israel, even as it seeks to destroy the killers of October 7.

And if that mollification is not sufficient to win Michigan, he will suddenly slap higher tariffs on imported Chinese electrical vehicles to win back apostate union auto workers.

Three, the left learned after 2016 that the only way to beat Trump is to change the way Americans vote.

So under the cover of the COVID-19 lockdown, the left sued in critical states to reduce Election Day to a mere construct, while 70 percent of voters mailed in their ballots or voted by early, rolling balloting over many weeks.

The key was the inability to fully authenticate votes, given the old practice of showing up on Election Day and presenting an ID was declared “racist.”

Four, Biden, as he did in 2020, will outsource his campaign to the media, 95 percent of which is left-wing. Talking televised heads will claim Biden is “sharp as a knife” while focusing on Trump’s tweets, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, and lurid but irrelevant testimonies that permeate Trump’s court appearances.

Trump will continue to hold weekend-long, massive 100,000-person rallies, even in blue states. Meanwhile, Biden’s fixers in the media, administrative state, and legal community will counter that even with no crowds and no campaigning, Biden can win through 24/7 nonstop “October Surprises”—all summer long.

So expect more false “Russian collusion,” “laptop disinformation,” and “January 6 insurrection” hoaxes and their new replacements designed to smother the airwaves with salacious scandals nonstop.

Biden’s fading tenure is similar to the last sad months of Woodrow Wilson’s second term, when in 1919-20, the country was assured that a bedridden president was somehow hard at work, even as his wife, doctors, and handlers kept everyone else away.

Biden’s keepers do not seem to care about the president’s own failing health or his dismal polls. They discount his rare, anemic, and disastrous public appearances. They laugh off the huge Trump rallies. And they certainly could care less about the bad optics of pandering to special interests at the expense of the country or the damage done to the American legal and balloting systems.

Instead, Bidenites believe they can reelect an unhealthy, unpopular, and unsuccessful president by any means necessary.

And they may be right.

[chiarrara]

Both for the baseball and the basketball au:

From what I know about sports, everyone seems to have their own strategy or way of playing. So how do you think the characters act on field compared to their usual selves? How do you think their personalities would translate into their play ?

eeeeee, I got so giddy when I saw you asked me about this :):):)

Baseball AU: So I already kind of went into Megumi & Yuuji but I'll expand a bit and talk about some other players. And I'll try to make it comprehensible to a non-baseball watcher...

Megumi: I already talked about how he stands in the path of the ball when he's batting so he gets hit by pitches a lot, and make sacrifices to advance a runner on base. Baseball is a huge strategy game, it's basically like a board game with real people as the pieces, and Megumi is a great strategist. He's a great team leader, but not a hype man at all. He's not the guy to turn to for morale on the bench. When he's pitching, his style is to try and psych out the batter and get into their heads. He figures out what their strategy is so he knows when they're going to swing and when they're not and uses that against them. He'll fake out so it seems like he's going to throw an easy to hit pitch then change it up throwing off the batters rhythm or aim and making them swing at an impossible pitch. During a difficult at-bat, he gets scary, like dude has crazy eyes. He has psyched out batters so bad that he gets a reputation as a demon pitcher. Dudes have said they saw his eyes go black before he struck them out. So, people are always thrown off when they meet him outside a game and he's the most apathetic guy you've ever met.

Yuuji: Our boy is always swinging for the fences. Everything he does he does at 100% and he's not usually going to be super cunning about it, he's just going to overpower you and somehow do the impossible. So those sneaky pitches Megumi throws, Yuuji is somehow going to hit them. His at-bat's are really long (because he's hitting lots of foul balls, don't worry about it) so pitchers think they can wear him down, but his stamina is crazy and he stays sharp even after 10 or 15 pitches. He's not strategic like Megumi, but he has great instincts. He knows what he can do and he knows how to do it. This means he knows when he can make it to second or third base off a big hit instead of stopping at first. Also, he's absolutely the hype man, he's always boosting morale in the dugout. He's the most classic athlete type, he's a super positive ball of sunshine, but when it's time to get down to it he goes into that flow state focus. He's also the most determined. He doesn't always know they can win, but he'll do absolutely everything he can either way.

Toge: Look, this screencap of Inumaki on base with his little peace sign lives rent free in my head.

he's what my dad called a "slap hitter" ??? basically, he gets hits and gets to first base a lot. He's really athletic in a different way than Yuuji, he's quick and flexible. He's great at stealing bases, and he does a little swimming motion when he slides in to avoid getting tagged. The infield is always on high alert when he's on base. He can play a few positions in the infield--shortstop, third base, second--and gets moved around a lot. Toge he's really good at encouraging his teammates in subtle ways, and he's super reliable on the field and off.

Yuuta: I think Yuuta can play a lot of positions like, way more masterfully than someone who isn't specializing in that position should be able to. He's a closing pitcher with a wicked fastball. He's on first base pulling a full split to make a catch while keeping his foot on the base. He's in the outfield making a catch all the way at the wall and throwing guys out at home, or picking up a line drive in the right field corner and throwing a guy out at third on the opposite side of the field. He just picks things up really easily. He made friends through joining sports so he is crazy loyal to his team and loves his teammates, but he kinda sucks at giving motivational speeches and things like that. However, when the game is on the line and it's up to him to get his team the win, he's gonna go out there and absolutely destroy the other team. It has been said that he won a game single-handedly once which is...not a thing you can do in baseball, but when he's getting the hits, making key outs, and then striking batters out in the 9th inning, he's kind of doing the impossible. He's always super friendly to his opponents after the game.

Gojo: He's lauded as a great coach and he was a superstar player, but if you ask his players... he's useless, he just recruits well.

BONUS:

Todo: I don't think he's on their team, and I wasn't going to include him in this post, but I was talking with my dad and I had an idea for him. He is the type of player who will legitimately injure people. He will barrel into the catcher at home plate to prevent them from making the catch and tagging him out. He tackles the second baseman to break up a double play. He slides into players with his cleats up intentionally. He's actually the scariest player on the field and not in a good way.

(I'm going to do the basketball au in another post & tag u <3)

[knifedancer]

Iris (songfic, part 1)

Argos has been following Marinette since the events of 'Emotion', falling in love with her from afar. One night, while she is walking home, Mari is attacked by two strange men and Argos has to step in to protect her.

Based on the lyrics for 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls (1998) from the movie soundtrack for 'City of Angels'. Posted on AO3.

Part 2

~~~~~~~

And I’d give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be

And I don’t want to go home right now

Argos watched as the ravenette walked home from the fabric store after 9:00pm, he kept to the shadows. He smiled; it seemed like she could sense him as she kept glancing over her shoulder. Ever since the Diamond Dance, he had been watching her – at first because he was curious about the baker girl that spent far too much time with his cousin. Perhaps she was simply using Adrien? Felix knew he would need to keep a close eye on her, remaining transformed so he could stealthily move across rooftops. He only left her vicinity during akuma attacks so that he could hunt down Ladybug during the battle. As time wore on, she seemed to let her affections for the other blond go and her attempts of friendship appeared genuine. With time he witnessed the young designer’s unyielding kindness to others, even those that did not deserve it – those that betrayed or bullied her. Marinette even fed that mangy Chat Noir on occasion! She was the living embodiment of ‘killing with kindness’ and he was so enraptured that he couldn’t look away. She was a literal pearl before the swine; an angel among the unwashed masses...

The peacock holder was drawn from his thoughts when he heard Marinette’s steps falter before an alleyway. Emerging from the darkness stood two men sporting toothy grins that seemed dangerously predatory. The young designer took a step back, her eyes darting around looking for an exit strategy.

“Hey there sweet thing, how about we have some fun?” The taller one asked, both advancing on her.

“No, I don’t think so. I’ll be on my way,” Marinette replied sternly, hugging her bag to her chest, and turning toward the street in an effort to run away.

However, the shorter one rushed in and grabbed her elbow before she could run. The girl attempted to break free or scream but a knife appeared at her throat. “Now now, let’s not make a fuss, hmm?” They began to drag her towards the alleyway while they chuckled.

Argos’ blood began to boil, clenching his teeth so hard he thought he heard them crack. He was no hero but like hell would he let someone hurt his—his—his…civilian. He stepped from the shadows and cautiously looked down into the alleyway to assess the situation but, watching one of the men slap Marinette so hard that she stumbled back against a wall, caused his blood to suddenly become ice.

All I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later, it’s over

I just don’t want to miss you tonight

Within moments, Argos landed in front of the ravenette and brandished his fan with a cold glare at the two men. The taller one had begun to unfasten his belt and pants while the smaller one stood between them and the exit. ‘Likely to prevent her escape and keep an eye out for any passersby who might interrupt,’ the villain-turned-protector thought with disgust.

He heard her gasp behind him, the quiet ‘Argos…?’ in a breathy whisper alerted him that she was still conscious. Good.

“Eh, who the hell are you?!"

“No one of consequence,” he replied smoothly, making sure that his calculating magenta eyes were shadowed in his hood. If he was lucky, these two buffoons wouldn’t have a clue about him wielding a miraculous. Perhaps they’d assume he was just some random costumed prick that imagined themselves a hero.

And I don’t want the world to see me

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

The shorter man lunged with the knife and Argos blocked it with his fan, trapping the blade between the metal ribs and ripping it from the attacker’s hand before kicking him squarely in the groin. The attacker dropped like a stone and Argos wasted no time executing a spinning back kick – landing it squarely across the man’s skull, knocking him out cold and causing his body to splay out across the cement. Argos turned to face the taller man, who was charging towards him and swinging a larger blade recklessly. All the purple hooded teen could do was dodge the furious swipes, waiting for an opening.

The second attacker seemed to trip on something in the darkness and the peacock holder took this moment to slam a roundhouse kick into the man’s side, causing him to crash into a trashcan, appearing to knock himself out. Argos looked over his shoulder, magenta irises met the shocked bluebells he had come to admire from afar. Marinette’s typical pigtails were disheveled – one had obviously been pulled by one of the men – and her form was still huddled against the wall where she had landed. Her cheek was swollen and red, he knew the girl would likely be sporting a bruise or black eye by morning. Her left jacket sleeve was ripped at the shoulder seam from when they grabbed her. He could see tear tracks on her cheeks outlined by her running mascara – tears that had been born from unadulterated fear. Argos’ stomach churned at the idea of someone else having their hands on her, he hated that his ang—civilian had been hurt.

He stepped closer, his hand outstretched to help her to her feet. “Can you walk? We need to get you out of here.”

Fear flashed in her eyes and she yelled, “Look out!”

And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you bleed just to know you’re alive

He had managed to half turn back to his attacker only to feel the knife plunge into his side, he grunted as pain shot through his entire body. Argos could see the edges of his vision darken and he stumbled back a couple steps, his free hand cupping the wound as it began to seep blood until the purples of his suit turned maroon around the hilt. Adrenaline and endorphins kicked in, bringing with it a buzzing to his muscles and mind that screamed fight. He looked up at the grinning attacker with a smirk.

“Wrong move,” Argos sneered. He yanked the knife from his side with a painful gasp, taking a second to re-orientate himself as his vision swam. Then he pulled and imbued a feather with power, fusing it into the knife. It transformed into a giant, blood-red minotaur that billowed smoke from its nostrils; the horns, two gleaming knives upon its head. His attacker and his reawakened friend’s faltering steps took them back towards the alley’s entrance. “Minotorn, escort our friends here to their doom.” Screaming, the two attackers took off and the sentimonster snorted before giving chase, leaving the two teens alone once again.

And I don’t want the world to see me

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

With the immediate danger passed, his vision began to blur and the world began to spin. ‘Blood loss…,’ the vague thought drifted through his rapidly clouding consciousness. Argos staggered towards the one thing he could still clearly see: Marinette. Her brow was lowered in a way that made her nose crinkle – ‘cute’ his hazy mind supplied – but at least she was back on her feet. Although, he could tell by the way she favored her left foot that she must have injured the other ankle in the struggle earlier.

“Are you alright?” He asked quietly, finding that talking was becoming far more difficult.

“I’ll be fine, just a twisted ankle! But are you okay? You were stabbed!”

Argos chuckled painfully, leaning against the wall beside her as he pressed a gloved hand to his gaping wound. “Not my finest performance. I admit, I’ve felt better…” Feeling too weak to stand, he slid down the wall until he was half crouched on the ground.

Marinette pulled off her jacket and kneeled beside him with a wince. She began ripping the material into strips before bundling it into a makeshift compress that she then placed firmly against the laceration. Argos hissed with pain but allowed her to care for his wound with no further protest. He never expected to ever be on the receiving end of her kindness… As Argos, he was a villain. As Felix he was too broken, too arrogant, too numb to deserve it. As his miraculous began to beep, he focused in on studying Marinette up close. Beautiful blue eyes were framed by long black lashes, which fluttered down against her delicate pale cheek bones as she focused on her task. Between the smears of mascara and eyeliner he could make out a few tiny freckles that seemed to dance as she scrunched her face with worry. Her hair, which almost glowed blue in the sun, now appeared inky black in the darkened alley.

She turned those eyes back towards his face, barely able to see his eyes beneath his hood. “Why did you come to help me, Argos?” He stared at her for a moment, trying to formulate the right words but failing. He let his eyes drop to the ground without answering.

I just want you to know who I am…

As the last warning beep rang out, she reached up to cup his cheek and turned his face to meet her eyes. Her skin was soft and warm despite the chill in the air, the sensation made something in his chest tumble about like a preening bird in front of its desired mate. His transformation fell away and, with it, so did Felix’s emotional walls. His eyes laid himself bare before her, exposing himself as a broken mess that had fallen head over heels for the clumsy girl that had once crushed on his cousin. A girl he had mocked, tricked, and then made to disappear under his Red Moon…

“…I’m s-sorry, Angel…,” he finally managed to choke out, his voice betraying the increasingly weakened state he was in. The adrenaline had fully worn off and, without the protection of his miraculous suit, the pain he was in tripled. Felix struggled to keep his eyes open, not wanting to leave Marinette here alone. At least his sentibeing could protect her until Ladybug purifies it…

‘Marinette would be a beautiful peahen…,’ he thought blearily, the color of her eyes flashing through his mind. ‘…she’s already blue.’

“You…what did you call me? Felix? Hey, stay with me! Felix!” He could hear the panic rising in her voice but could no longer respond, his eyes closing as he succumbed to the blackness that seemed to be calling his name. Unable to sustain his balance any longer, his body fell forward and landed in her arms. He vaguely registered her warmth and scent before the numbness began to overtake his senses. With the last vestiges of his consciousness, he heard Marinette mumble something and then the familiar zip of a yo-yo.

…I just want you to know who I am.

[valessacat]

Games I Played in 2024

These are the games I played this year. Not all of them were released this year, but this is how I spent my game time. The list order is roughly how much I enjoyed them from best to worst. These are brainfarts, not reviews.

*******

Baldur’s Gate 3 - This is the best RPG of all time. There, I said it. I’ve just passed 666 hours of gameplay. With mod support released, this is shaping up to have the same replay value as Skyrim.

Vampire Survivors - I normally hate bullet hell games, but this is a font of dopamine. It’s like $2 on Steam. You unlock attacks with each level up and watch your enemies explode like popcorn. 

Palworld - Pokemon with guns. It’s SO much fun. Build a base and make your minions work for you. Be a morally dubious menace. 

Dystopika - This is a very simple city builder with atmospheric cyberpunk visuals. The soundtrack slaps. Perfect to play while stoned off your ass.

Enshrouded - This is a Valheim-style game set in a post-apocalyptic magical world. Build really elaborate bases with furniture, murder zombies, climb towers and glide across the map, grow crops, recruit villagers, etc. Great at deleting your free time.

Path of Exile 2 - I’m having a blast with early access. This game is shaping out to be the perfect successor to the original.

Cyberpunk 2077 - I know, it’s been out for ages. But I pushed it off until after the bugs were fixed and kinda forgot about it. Started a new game last week and so far it’s baller. 

A Little to the Left - a casual game where you sort items. Very satisfying. This is candy for the neuro-spicy brain.

V Rising - Valheim with Vampires. If you want to play as the bad guy, play this.

World of Warcraft: The War Within - I fully acknowledge the sunk-cost fallacy happening here. But this is the best expansion since Legion.

Tiny Glade - Cute town builder. Very intuitive controls. You can make adorable cottages and castles and take pictures of them. That’s it. That’s the game.

Terra Nil -  A puzzle game with a nature/eco theme. You’re cleaning up environments ruined by pollution. 

Last Epoch - If you’re looking for a happy medium between Diablo and Path of Exile, play this.

The Sims 4 - Another sunk-cost game. Expansions continue to be hit or miss. Lovestruck was buggy, but Life and Death was a lot of fun.

Wildermyth - Cute D&D-esque RPG with a pen-and-paper art style. 

Mind Over Magic - 2D Terraria-esque game where you build a quirky magic school while also fighting off zombies.

Dorf Romantik - Mindless tile-matching game. Love the art style.

Fabledom - Whimsical as fuck city-builder.

Claws & Chaos - Autobattler with adorable animals. You’ll need a good bit of strategy to advance in the game, so it’s not completely brainless. The units are wildly unbalanced, so half the strategy is just figuring out which units are OP and which are useless.

Crime Scene Cleaner - I was expecting a mindless House Flipper-style game, but it has a pretty sad story. You play a dude cleaning up crime scenes for the mob to earn money for your sick kid. Play this if you want some narrative with your cleaning sim.

Fantasy Map Simulator - Super stupid sim game. I name the different countries with dirty names and see how fast the “Rugmuncher Empire” can take over the “Kingdom of Incel Tears.”

Tropico 6 - It’s a Tropico game. If you have earlier entries in the franchise, just play those.

Technotopia - A fun puzzle game with an art deco aesthetic. There’s a narrative that goes with it, but I skipped cut scenes because tl;dr.

Faefarm - A Stardewcrossing game with faeries. It’s fun, but there are better titles in this genre at lower price points. Unless you want to date a white-haired faerie twink, then do play this.

Terrascape - City builder. Not terrible, but it really doesn’t have any stand-out features that make me want to pick this over similar games. I liked Fabledom better.

ISLANDERS - Minimalist city builder. Got bored after 20 minutes.

Diablo 4 - YAWN. I decided the expansion was not worth the money. I liked the initial campaign, but the seasonal content is not doing it for me.

[forsetti]

On Personal Identity: It's Complex And Personal

Once gay marriage was upheld by SCOTUS, the right needed a new, under-represented group to attack in order to placate their base’s lust to make themselves feel superior and punish those they deem inferior.

It took a few years for conservatives to really hone in on who to attack. Finally, their broken moral compass led them right to the transgender community. To the right, transgender individuals have the ick factor of gay people on steroids, and since there are a lot fewer of them, the pushback would be minimal. Many people know someone in their family, someone they love, a close friend, or who is gay. This isn’t true of the trans community. If you are a morally vacuous bully, the farther down you can punch, the better.

Think about this strategy for a moment. The right tried desperately to make gay people their scapegoats for all that was wrong with America, and they lost. They lost big. They got bitch-slapped by Will and Grace, Ellen, and thousands of other examples that gay Americans are as normal, if not more so, than their Bible-thumping neighbors. Instead of learning even the most basic lesson from their loss, the right decided the best thing to do was punch down even farther on the social and cultural ladder. This right here should tell you everything you need to know about modern-day conservatism. As Adam Sewer poignantly stated in The Atlantic about the right, “cruelty is the point.” When it comes to people who identify as transgender, the only question that really matters is, “So fucking what?” Here is where I want to acknowledge that I am not completely aware of the terminology when it comes to people who identify as transgender. I’m trying to learn. If I misidentify or make a mistake in verbiage, I apologize in advance.

What difference does it make to Aunt Freedom and Uncle Tight Ass if anyone, especially people they don’t know and will never encounter, identify as transgender? The answer is, “Not a God damn thing!” There are side arguments about how respecting which pronouns someone wants to be referred to by is an affront to God, the Founding Fathers, and Strunk & White, but they are 100% bullshit. The argument, “Boys/men competing against girls/women is unfair" is specious and nonsensical as “it goes against nature." Especially since almost all of these arguments come from people who haven’t given a damn about women’s sports and/or who have spent years speaking about them derisively. The only time they’ve given a single thought to women’s sports is when they can use them to prop up their bullshit worldview and punch down.

Personal identity isn’t black-and-white. It isn’t something that is defined by others. If it was, then it wouldn’t be called “personal identity."

I have no idea what it is like to identify as part of the LBBTQIA community. I do have an understanding of what it is like to not feel comfortable in your own skin and not be accepted, and this understanding alone makes my heart break for the way the LGBTQIA community is viewed and treated for either being comfortable with who they are or for trying to be. I grew up in a very small town in a very sparsely populated county in rural Idaho. Anyone on the outside looking in would assume I fit in perfectly. I was a white, Christian, straight male in a society that was 99.999% run and dominated by white, Christian, straight males. Hell, I came from an upper-middle-class family, and my father held a prominent position in the community and the local church. You couldn’t script a more perfect character to play the lead part in “Fits Right The Fuck In.” However, never, not once, did I ever feel like I fit in. Who I am, how I feel about myself, and who I know I was (not wanted to be but was) never fit the role I was “born to" and “written for me.” I wanted to fit in. I tried to fit in. I did everything I possibly could to fit in. All of this led to anger and frustration. When I was growing up, this anger and frustration were mostly directed at the community in which I lived because I blamed them for not fitting in. While they were a big part of the problem, I was just as culpable. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t.

It took a number of years for me to truly realize not only that I was part of the problem of trying to fit into something or somewhere to which I didn’t belong, but also that I needed to begin to discover who I was or am. While I was going to college at Utah State University, I got glimpses of this, but that was even closer to being realized because Logan, Utah, was only an hour away from my hometown and only slightly less regressive and repressive.

It wasn’t until I attended graduate school at Michigan State University that I really started to be me. I’m pretty sure this is why I feel such a strong bond to East Lansing, where I still live, going on year thirty-eight of a five-year plan. Even through all of this, I still don’t really feel comfortable in my own skin. I never really feel like I belong in just about any social situation. I’m not sure if these feelings are remnants of past experiences and conditioning; there are still parts of me that haven’t been realized, or something else. What I do know is that these sixty-plus years of feeling lost, not fitting in, and not being myself have not been kind to my psyche. I cannot even begin to imagine how someone in the LGBTQIA community must feel because they have all the things I’ve felt at much higher levels and so many more pressures, abuses, and ridicule to the nth degree. Whenever I’m in a group situation where they ask everybody to identify themselves and say a little bit about themselves when it is my turn, I give the boilerplate answer but finish with, “Something most people don’t know about me is that on the weekends, I dance under the name “Raven.”” I say this as a joke, but there is an underlying, not true, but possible truth to it. I’ve always leaned more toward the cultural definition of “feminine.” Almost all of my friends throughout my life have been women. I feel at home around women. I’ve always preferred to have longer hair. In a group of men, I have absolutely never felt I fit in. There is a rooster inside of me. It took me a while to understand this, but it is absolutely true.

Not being who you truly feel you are and are supposed to be is a horrible feeling. Why on earth would anyone deny this to someone else? Why would anyone go out of their way to punish and/or ridicule people, either trying to discover this for themselves or for fully realizing it? All the answers I’ve seen given to justify these behaviors are specious at best and batshit crazy at worst. Don’t give me some bullshit argument and try and substitute it for an argument against the transgender community - What if someone identifies as a serial killer or child molester? Are we supposed to be okay with that?” Sell crazy somewhere else.  The transgender community harms society. No one is being harmed by someone from the LGBTQIA community being true to how they feel about themselves. No one is being harmed by honoring which pronouns someone wants to be referred to by. NO ONE. Every single argument or example you can make that tries to say otherwise is 100% rectally extracted. The vast majority of pedophiles who are grooming children are Christian youth pastors, the clergy, and members of your local police force, not the LGBTQIA community.

Pronouns: We're having a hissy-fit over pronouns? How dumb is that? A lot of people I know don’t use their given names. My maternal grandfather went by his middle name his whole life. One of my brothers has gone by three different names over the years. How did this affect my life? I’m sure I probably referred to my brother by an outdated name once or twice, only to be corrected, and then I moved the fuck along. In other words, it didn’t affect my life one scintilla. If it did, then the only reason would have been that I was the problem. Pronouns: Part II: This isn’t about proper names. This is about “men” wanting to be referred to as “she/her/they.” This is social and linguistic chaos.” Is it? Is it, really? Do you need the world to be so black and white and so perfectly defined that any ambiguity or things that go against your preconceived norms are automatically labeled “bad” or "dangerous"? The world is a very, very, very complex place. I understand the desire to have it make sense on every single level, every time, all the time. However, that isn’t reality. That is, you want to force reality to fit your worldview. The world is always going to win that battle. You're not accepting its complexity doesn’t impact it at all. The only one who suffers in this situation is you. The world doesn’t give a fuck about your feelings, your beliefs, your preconceptions, what your mom and dad taught you, or what your preacher said last Sunday.

Attire: Does it matter what someone else wears? How does Bob, who now goes by Sarah, wearing makeup, a dress, and pumps impact your life? I'm pretty sure it doesn't, and if it does, you are the problem. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? So? I have a deep, visceral reaction to people eating cheesecake, cauliflower, and dozens of other foods. As repulsive as these things are to me, I’m not advocating for any laws against them. Their personal preference doesn’t really affect me in any meaningful way. Also, why is it so damn important to be able to perfectly identify someone by how they dress? Are men’s egos so fragile they can’t stand the thought of someone thinking they are a woman or being wrong when they hit on or catcall someone? (This is a rhetorical question because we all know the answer is a resounding "yes.") However, this isn’t the fault of the person wearing the clothes, no more than it is when a woman in a “skimpy” dress is raped. They aren’t the problem. They aren’t the cause of or responsible for the actions of others. Bathrooms: Since when do you see someone’s genitals in a bathroom unless you intentionally look at them? If a transgender woman walks into a women’s bathroom, there aren’t any urinals (because there are none). You aren’t seeing their plumbing unless you bust down a door and start poking around. If this happens, who is the “weirdo” here? I’m pretty sure it is you. I’m really not sure I understand the fear here. The Children—the go-to when all your other arguments have epically failed. “I don’t want some guy in a public restroom when my daughter is in there.” The question has to be asked again: “How do you know it is a “guy””? Do you feel up to everyone who goes into a women’s restroom whenever your daughter is in there? If you do, you should be arrested because you are a pervert. Transgender women aren’t using the ladies' room to hit on your daughters. They are using the ladies' room because, wait for it, they need to use the ladies' room. Why is it that there are no bathroom sexual assaults in countries where same-sex bathrooms are normal? I find it very odd that the people who worry the most about their daughters being molested in bathrooms by the LGBTQIA community have no worries in the world about them being around church leaders, the police, male family members, or neighbors—the people who are absolutely most likely to assault them. I’d happily have my daughter babysat by anyone I know in the LGBTQIA community over a youth pastor, scoutmaster, or self-professed Christian. The Children: Part II: How am I supposed to explain to my children about transgenders?” Easily. Be honest. Be straightforward. Answer whatever questions you can, and whenever you can’t, be honest about them too. Kids have an amazing ability to grasp complexity and be okay with ambiguity. What they can always sniff out are bullshit and hypocrisy.

Cultural conditioning is a big part of how/why we identify the way we do, but other things are at play. Genetics, experiences, and sometimes just an innate sense—you don’t belong to the group others have placed you in. I often ask myself, “What would my life be like if I felt more like Raven if that was the dominant side of who I am?” I honestly don’t know what the answer to this question will be. What I do know is the very existence of this question gives me a small understanding of the LGBTQIA community. It is quite possible that I will never really know who I am or feel comfortable in my own skin. If that is the outcome, so be it. No matter what happens, I never want someone else to feel this way, to any degree, and I will never know why anyone would not only not understand this but go out of their way to make the situation worse.

Being comfortable in your own skin isn't something an outsider can really understand or judge. Why is someone else's happiness anyone else's concern if it doesn't directly affect them? It doesn’t unless you stretch and bend the definition of 'directly' in ways that defy linguistics, logic, and ethics.

[beardedmrbean]

Oct. 30 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday that slaps new requirements on tech developers to mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence and establishes new safety standards that aim to protect privacy and national security.

Biden's directive is the most sweeping action yet to regulate AI, and entails several strategies to limit safety and security risks to the nation, including a trust-but-verify arrangement between the government and the private sector.

The order requires AI system developers to share safety test results and other critical information with the administration as they become available, especially in cases where an AI model poses a serious risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety, the White House announced in a statement.

Under the order, Biden also calls on the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish rigorous safety testing for the technology before it's made available to the public.

Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security to establish the AI Safety and Security Board, which will apply the standards to critical infrastructure in an effort to limit chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity threats.

The president told agencies that fund scientific research to attach specific conditions to federal funding for companies responsible for mitigating risks associated with AI-engineered biological materials.

"These measures will ensure AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy before companies make them public," the White House said.

Biden also ordered the Department of Commerce to develop public guidance for content authentication and watermarking to clearly label AI-generated content.

"Federal agencies will use these tools to make it easy for Americans to know that the communications they receive from their government are authentic -- and set an example for the private sector and governments around the world," the statement said.

Biden ordered White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and the National Security Council to develop further AI security actions to protect the military and intelligence communities.

The order also creates an advanced cybersecurity program to develop tools that would fix vulnerabilities in AI software.

Biden's order builds on several previous actions by the president to ensure safe and transparent development of the emerging technology, while he was also preparing to deliver legislation to Congress that seeks to protect the nation from AI's harmful potential.

The administration has secured commitments from more than a dozen tech companies to take a responsible approach to developing artificial intelligence for ethical purposes.

The order also contains priorities to protect individual privacy through stronger cryptographic tools and other protective technologies.

Biden called for government agencies to evaluate how they collect and use commercially available information to account for any AI risks.

The executive order builds on the administration's Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, which was released earlier this year to promote responsible innovation in the field.

In February, Biden ordered all federal agencies to uproot bias in their technological action plans and to protect the public from algorithmic racial discrimination, which is also one of the primary capabilities of AI technology.

Biden's executive order reiterates these commitments, emphasizing the importance of countering bias and other forms of discrimination in AI to maintain equity in areas such as justice, healthcare, and housing.

Previously, the administration said it would continue working with the companies over time to keep controls on pace with AI's future development.

Biden's order also addresses AI's potential impact on the labor market, education, and consumer spending.

[alanshemper]

book is available for free download here ➡️ https://muse.jhu.edu/book/22218

Jul 11, 2013 - Issue 524

BlackCommentator.com: Somebody “Fixin’ to be Killed” - A review of We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement - A View from the Battlefield - By Jamala Rogers - BC Editorial Board

Mississippi: Armed SNCC members abduct white night riders and release them after giving them a warning. A white cop gets knocked unconscious by a black man for slapping a 14-year-old black girl. Armed brothers do a citizens’ arrest when ambushed by the Klan and deliver one of the attackers to his father, the chief of police.

Before you start to romanticize about the good ole days, I should remind you that life in the South for black folks was dangerous and volatile. Any challenge to the traditions and system of white supremacy was met with raw violence. And Mississippi? Well, there’s a poignant reason why Nina Simone penned a song titled, “Mississippi Goddam.” People - mostly black - lost their lives in the freedom struggle as they fought to break down barriers to voting, employment, public accommodations and other aspects of life that were forbidden to African Americans because of racism. This is the backdrop for We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement by Dr. Akinyele Umoja.

We Will Shoot Back informs us that blacks were not the only ones who had to be in fear of their lives. Racist whites who got between armed black men and women and their struggle for civil and human rights apparently got a lesson in fear.

Though not intended by the author, the book came out in the heat of the gun control debate. In some segments of the black and brown communities, the notion of disarmament is seen as making them vulnerable to attacks by the state or white supremacist groups. Particularly in black communities where the carnage of young men is becoming the norm, We Will Shoot Back could elevate the public discourse on guns in the context of self-defense as opposed to the primary way people should resolve conflicts.

Most of us have heard about the legendary Deacons for Defense. Through exhaustive research and interviews, Umoja introduced us to many other unsung heroes and sheroes (although not surprising the historical documentation was scant on women’s contribution to armed resistance in the south). Men and women like Hartman Turnbow, Rudy Shields, Robert “Fat Daddy” Davis, C.O.Chin, Ora “Miss Dago” Bryant, Luella Hazelwood and many more. Their inspirational stories affirmed that black folks stood with dignity, unflinchingly looking in the face of pure hatred and forged on to re-define their futures.

In We Will Shoot Back, Akinyele Umoja goes further than dispelling a long held myth that black Mississippians were too paralyzed in fear to defend themselves and actively participate in the freedom struggle. And that the omnipotent Klu Klux Klan kept the black community in check. He confronts head-on the stereotype that black southerners were docile, head-hanging, cheek-turning second class citizens.

Umoja takes the reader to the time when black Mississippians were forced to embrace armed resistance for their own survival; blacks faced the realization that their government offered no pretense of protection and could not be relied upon. In many cases, local government officials, along with law enforcement, were part of the same white mobs terrorizing black communities. Umoja chronicles the inextricable and critical role of armed resistance in the advancement of the southern freedom strategy that ultimately led to the passage of the historic Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965. Boycotts and armed resistance were the primary means of effectively organizing for change during this period.

Umoja documents a sophisticated labyrinth of disciplined, well-organized communication networks, safe houses, haven towns and armed residents who, much to the chagrin of local authorities, used local gun laws to their advantage. The special expertise of Vietnam veterans was also tapped.

These armed organizers and citizens did not sell wolf tickets and their threats were not idle ones. Sometimes the brothers were moved to publicly display their arms as a deterrent or to telegraph their sentiments as when Deacon of Defense member, Claude Brown, told white officials that “some peoples fixin’ to be killed…ain’t all of them going to be Black”. Vintage photographs in the book illustrate the armed sentries set up for round-the-clock duties. It was not uncommon for the armed resisters to rough up blacks who dishonored the boycotts.

The protection was extended to courageous residents who dared associate themselves with these forces who were bringing down the walls of white supremacy. When families opened their homes to freedom fighters, it automatically put them in the crosshairs of racist terrorists. Cattle was poisoned, property destroyed, loans denied and a host of other intimidating tactics were used first before escalating to the more life-threatening tactics. Communities were organized not just for their own self defense but to defend any freedom fighter who came into southern towns and cities to support them in their struggle for democracy and equality.

Everyone wasn’t especially excited about this new model of defense. The book highlights an example about how the Deacons of Defense provided protection for the major civil rights groups who vowed to continue James Meredith’s “March against Fear” after he was shot trying to integrate Ole Miss University. Dr. King, Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young were opposed to the Deacons participating in the march. Dr. King conceded to the idea once it was clear the march would maintain its nonviolent character. Wilkins and Young would have none of this and high-tailed it back to New York. The pragmatist that he was, Dr. King went on to make the distinction between “defensive violence and retaliatory violence.”

The armed resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement continued under the Black Power era. Its intensity had changed with the two major pieces of civil rights legislation and the decline of the KKK. We Will Shoot Back takes us through the period of Provisional Government of the Republic of New Africa (PGRNA) establishing it boundaries and program and through the demise of the United League. For almost twenty years, blacks understood the ugly period of segregation and terror and organized themselves to live another day and prepare for the next battle in the war against white supremacy and racism.

Whether it’s poetic justice or karma, one circle is complete. A young, lanky attorney with a big afro was part of the Republic of New African delegation who came to organize Mississippi in the early 1970s. He was Chokwe Lumumba. Lumumba was recently sworn in as mayor of Jackson, MS.

BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board member and Columnist, Jamala Rogers, founder and Chair Emeritus of the Organization for Black Struggle in St. Louis. She is an organizer, trainer and speaker. She is the author of The Best of the Way I See It – A Chronicle of Struggle.

[sydneyorthopeadicsurgeon]

Dr Oliver Khoo: Leading the Field in Orthopaedic Excellence

In the realm of orthopaedic surgery, few can match the expertise and renown of Dr Oliver Khoo, a distinguished hip replacement surgeon in Sydney. With over 14 years of dedicated service, Dr Khoo stands as a paragon of patient-focused orthopaedic care, combining cutting-edge techniques with a compassionate approach. His practice is hallmarked by a seamless blend of surgical precision, personalized patient care, and an unwavering commitment to accessibility. Dr Khoo's journey as a trusted orthopaedic doctor in Sydney is marked by his holistic approach to treatment, utilizing both surgical and non-surgical options tailored to individual needs. His profound impact in orthopaedic surgery is not just limited to Sydney but extends to Griffith, NSW, where he ensures top-tier surgical care reaches regional communities. Dr Khoo's commitment to his craft is further reflected in his role as an academic mentor and his continuous pursuit of international subspecialty training, ensuring that he remains at the forefront of orthopaedic advancements.

Anterior Hip Replacement Techniques

Dr Khoo's proficiency in anterior hip replacement surgery is a testament to his expertise. #### Minimally Invasive Surgery Minimally invasive hip surgery is a field where Dr Khoo excels. This technique ensures reduced recovery times and less postoperative pain compared to traditional methods. By minimizing muscle damage, Dr Khoo enhances patient outcomes significantly. #### Patient-Centered Approach Every anterior hip replacement Sydney patients undertake with Dr Khoo involves personalized consultation, ensuring that treatment plans align with the patient's lifestyle and recovery goals. His reputation as a highly recommended hip surgeon speaks to his meticulous care and attention. Moving on from hip replacements, Dr Khoo's skills extend to the realm of hip arthroscopy, offering further relief and mobility restoration.

Expert in Hip Arthroscopy

As a hip arthroscopy specialist Sydney, Dr Khoo addresses labral tears and impingements with precision. #### Advanced Techniques Dr Khoo employs state-of-the-art technology in hip arthroscopy procedures, ensuring less postoperative discomfort and quicker rehabilitation. #### Educational Contributions His role as a Conjoint Associate Lecturer allows him to disseminate advanced orthopaedic knowledge, thus shaping future experts in the field. Next, let's delve into Dr Khoo's excellence in knee surgeries.

Mastery Over Knee Replacement

Dr Khoo's expertise as a knee replacement surgeon Sydney is unparalleled. #### Computer-Navigated Techniques Adopting cutting-edge technology, Dr Khoo uses computer-navigated systems for precise knee replacements, thereby enhancing recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction. #### Comprehensive Care Whether through partial knee replacements or ACL reconstructions, Dr Khoo ensures that every treatment caters to the specific needs of each patient. Transitioning from knee care, Dr Khoo also excels in shoulder arthroscopy.

Shoulder Arthroscopy Excellence

His skill as a shoulder arthroscopy Sydney specialist aids in resolving chronic shoulder issues effectively. #### Rotator Cuff and SLAP Lesion Repairs Dr Khoo's surgical interventions for rotator cuff tears and SLAP lesions underscore his clinical excellence and commitment to restoring full functionality. #### Pain Management Non-surgical rehabilitation and pain strategie https://medium.com/@orthopedicsydney/establishing-expertise-the-revelations-of-dr-oliver-khoo-reshaping-orthopaedic-care-in-sydney-ffb4a43832db

[amberavaava]

Data-Driven Decision Making through Advanced HR Analytics

Alright, let’s dig even deeper—because honestly, there’s so much more to this whole HR analytics thing than just fancy dashboards and pie charts.

First off, the real magic happens when you stop treating HR as just the folks who do hiring and fire people when things go sideways. With advanced analytics, HR is suddenly in the driver’s seat. They know what’s coming down the pipeline—like, they can literally see trends forming before anyone else even notices there’s a problem. That’s some next-level stuff. For example, if one department keeps losing people after six months, analytics can flag it. Maybe it’s a bad manager, maybe the onboarding sucks, or maybe everyone there is just burnt out because the workload’s insane. Instead of waiting for people to bail, HR can hit pause and fix it.

And hey, let’s talk culture. A lot of companies love bragging about their “great culture,” but, let’s be real, most of them are just guessing. With analytics, you’ve got the receipts. You want to know if that new mentoring program is actually helping new hires stick around? Or if remote work is making people more productive, or just better at hiding when they’re napping? Analytics gives you the real answers, not just the wishful thinking.

Now, about predictive modeling���it’s not just about crystal-balling who’s about to quit. You can spot high-potential employees before they even realize their own potential. Maybe there’s someone quietly killing it in customer support who’s ready for a leadership track, but would’ve been invisible without data to back it up. Suddenly, promotions aren’t just about who schmoozes best at the office happy hour.

And the whole workforce planning thing? It’s not just about numbers. It’s about strategy. Like, are you actually training people for the roles you’ll need in two years, or just plugging holes as they pop up? Analytics can show you the skill gaps that are creeping up on you. Maybe everyone’s got killer PowerPoint skills, but nobody knows the first thing about AI tools or data privacy. Time to pivot those training budgets.

Performance management with analytics gets, honestly, kind of addictive. Forget those one-size-fits-all reviews. You can see who’s thriving, who’s coasting, and who’s quietly struggling before it blows up. And it’s not just about calling people out—it’s about supporting them. Maybe someone’s productivity is tanking because they’re overwhelmed or need a different kind of support. HR can actually help, not just slap on a “needs improvement” label and move on.

Diversity and inclusion—oh boy, this is where analytics absolutely shreds the old way of doing things. No more “well, we think we’re doing okay.” Now you know, for real, where the gaps are. You can track pay equity, promotion rates, even who’s getting invited to those closed-door meetings. And you can actually hold leaders accountable, because the numbers don’t lie. Plus, you can measure if your diversity training or ERG groups are actually moving the needle, or just checking a box.

Let’s not forget about ROI on those HR initiatives. So many companies roll out wellness programs, throw pizza parties, or buy fancy meditation apps, but nobody actually checks if it’s making a dent in stress levels or retention rates. Analytics can show what’s working and what’s just a budget black hole.

At the end of the day, bringing analytics into HR isn’t about turning people into numbers—it’s about using numbers to make the workplace better for actual humans. You get less drama and way more action. Fewer surprises, more happy employees, a reputation for actually caring about people, not just profits. And, let’s be real, it makes HR look like total rockstars. So yeah, analytics is the cheat code. Ignore it, and you’re basically stuck playing catch-up while everyone else is leveling up.

[1nexuswealth]

OneNexusWealth.com reviews – Account Types

When it comes to choosing a forex broker, trust is everything. The internet is full of flashy websites and bold promises — but how do you separate the serious players from the scams? That’s exactly why we’re taking a closer look at OneNexusWealth.com reviews in this brand review.

This broker has been gaining traction lately, and traders are starting to ask the right questions. Is it licensed? How do users rate it? What’s the platform like? Instead of just throwing around assumptions, we’re digging into real data — facts that can actually help you make a smart decision.

Flexible Account Tiers Tailored for Every Serious Trader

Account Type

Looking at this account structure, we can clearly see a tiered system that’s designed to cater to both intermediate and high-net-worth traders. Bronze, with its $10,000 entry point, already signals that this is not your average low-barrier broker — it’s aimed at serious investors. That alone tells us a lot.

Each higher tier likely brings more advanced trading conditions, better spreads, and personalized support. Think about it: would a broker offer seven levels of accounts unless they had a well-developed infrastructure and segmentation strategy? This looks like a good argument in favor of legal operation and strong business planning.

Domain Registration: A Strong Signal of Legitimacy

Let’s start this brand review with one of the most underrated, yet powerful indicators of legitimacy — domain registration dates.

According to the data, the domain for OneNexusWealth.com review was purchased in 2021-01-11, while the brand itself officially launched in 2022. This means the broker secured its digital presence well before going public. Now, why does that matter?

Well, here’s the thing: scammers and shady brokers usually buy domains at the last minute, slap together a website, and rush to market. But in this case, OneNexusWealth.com reviews clearly took the time to plan and prepare. They weren’t just after quick cash. They were setting the stage for long-term business. That looks like a good argument in favor of legality.

It also shows that the team behind the brand likely went through stages of regulatory procedures, platform development, and strategic planning. Who invests time and money a year in advance unless they’re serious? We think this broker can be trusted.

Regulation by FCA: A Stamp of Serious Credibility

One of the most convincing signs that a forex broker is playing by the rules is having a license from the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) — and OneNexusWealth.com review has it.

Why is this such a big deal? Because the FCA is one of the most respected financial regulators in the world. We're not talking about a paper regulator or an offshore loophole; this is the UK’s top financial watchdog. Getting regulated by the FCA isn’t easy — it requires transparency, capital adequacy, regular audits, and strict adherence to customer protection protocols. That’s not something a shady broker can just fake.

And here’s another way to think about it: brokers under FCA oversight are legally required to keep client funds in segregated accounts. This protects traders in case of insolvency. So, when we see that OneNexusWealth.com reviews is FCA-regulated, it immediately gives weight to the argument that this is a legitimate and trustworthy company. This feels like more than just a formality — it’s a foundation of trust.

Client Reviews: A Solid Reputation Backed by Real Traders

Now, let’s talk about what actual users are saying — because in this industry, real feedback speaks volumes. OneNexusWealth.com reviews has a 4.2 rating on Trustpilot, with a total of 122 reviews, and out of those, 120 are positive. That’s not just good — in the world of forex brokers, that’s exceptional.

Why does this matter so much? Because Trustpilot isn’t just any review site. It’s one of the most widely respected platforms for collecting verified user experiences. A rating above 4 is already considered strong in the finance niche, where even top-tier brands often struggle to stay above 3.5. So, 4.2 — that’s impressive.

But here’s what makes it even more interesting: 120 out of 122 comments are positive. That’s more than just a good score — it shows consistent satisfaction across a broad user base. Would this many traders leave good reviews if they weren’t getting real results? We don’t think so. This looks like a good argument in favor of legal and responsible service.

Final Verdict: OneNexusWealth.com reviews Looks Built for the Long Game

After breaking down all the facts, OneNexusWealth.com reviews really starts to stand out — and not in a vague, “trust us” kind of way, but with real, measurable signs of legitimacy.

They registered their domain a full year before the brand’s official launch. That’s planning. That’s preparation. Then there’s the FCA license — one of the hardest-to-get and most respected regulatory seals in the financial world. That alone could convince a lot of cautious traders.

And let’s not forget the user feedback. A 4.2 rating on Trustpilot with nearly all reviews being positive? That’s not just a happy accident — that’s consistency, and it suggests the broker delivers on its promises.

Everything we’ve seen — from licensing to user experience to structured account types — tells the same story: OneNexusWealth.com reviews isn’t cutting corners. This looks like a broker that’s here to stay, built on regulation, transparency, and trust.

[aussiecustomcomputers]

Game Like the Pro with Australian Custom Computers

In the current competitive gaming environment setting up the right equipment can mean the difference between winning and defeat. If you’re into high-speed shooters, open world RPGs or sports that are competitive, your equipment must be able to match your enthusiasm. Here at Australian Custom Computers we are experts in creating powerful gaming PC Gamer PC systems that provide the latest in speed, graphics and dependability.

As one of the top manufacturers of customized Gaming PC Australia configurations We provide gaming equipment to players of all levels, giving you the best edge to conquer your favorite games with ease and confidence.

PC Gamer PC — Built for Performance and Precision

It is a PC Gamer PC is specially designed to meet the high demands of the most well-known games today. In contrast to standard desktop computers, PC Gamer PC is a real computer Gamer PC includes high-performance components, including high-end graphic cards, processors with multi-core high-speed RAM and effective cooling solutions.

Here at Aussie Custom Computers, each PC Gamer PC is designed from scratch with features that are designed specifically for gamers. We strive to achieve seamless frame rate, sharp visuals, speedy loading times, and upgrading the flexibility. If you’re just starting out or an experienced player Our systems give you the strength you require to be a winner in every game.

Why Buy a PC Gamer PC in Australia?

The choice of the PC Gamer PC in Australia provides you with the advantage of local knowledge as well as faster shipping and the most reliable service tailored specifically for Australian gamers. Here at Aussie Custom Computers, we provide top-quality custom computers which meet the unique requirements and preferences of our customers in Australia.

If you purchase an PC Gamer PC in Australia it’s not just buying hardware, the investment is in a computer designed by professionals who are familiar with the Australian gaming environment. This means greater connectivity for local service providers a streamlined maintenance options, and builds specifically designed to handle all kinds of gaming, from simple casual games to the most advanced streaming and virtual reality.

The Ultimate Gaming Experience with Gaming PCs in Australia

The most powerful Gaming computer in Australia can be your entrance to world-class gaming that offer competitive gaming, as well as the creation of content. In Aussie Custom Computers, we create each gaming PC that we sell that we sell in Australia to challenge the limits of performance while preserving smooth and stable aesthetics.

From multi-monitor setups, to ray-tracing-capable systems, we provide a variety of possibilities for customization. The gaming PC is available in Australia products are designed to ensure consistent performance whether you’re playing high-refresh rate sports games or exploring the most recent AAA releases at 4K resolution. You’ll experience less delay, quicker response times as well as more immersive gaming environments.

Expertly Assembled PCs for Gaming

When it comes down to the creation of PCs to be used for Gaming Expertise is the key to success. Aussie Custom Computers brings years of expertise in technical aspects as well as a passion for gaming to each system we design and build. Our PCs designed for Gaming have been designed with one reason: to give you the most enjoyable gaming experience you can get.

We don’t simply slap on components. We carefully choose the right components, then test and optimize each component to ensure the highest efficiency and reliability. No matter if you’re interested in quick game play, tactical strategies or intensive simulations Our PCs for gaming offer the necessary devices to experience gaming at the top of its game.

Your Local Source for PCs for Gaming in Australia

If you’re in search of high-end local built PCs for gaming on the internet in Australia, Aussie Custom Computers is the place to go. We believe in providing top models with the best assistance and customer service that only a local business can offer. Our Gaming PCs in Australia have been designed to meet your expectations and provide an unbeatable platform for many years of top gaming performance.

With a variety of options for configurations and customization we will make sure you have the right equipment to meet your specific requirements. Our team of experts is prepared to assist you in every step from selecting the right components to providing post-purchase assistance, making your journey to owning high-end PC for gaming in Australia effortless and enjoyable.

Why Choose Aussie Custom Computers?

local assembly All systems are developed in Australia by highly skilled professionals.

Flexible Options Customized to your preferences in gaming and plans for future upgrades.

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High-Quality parts We only use reliable, proven components in each build.

Future-Ready System is designed with scalability and scalability as a goal for quick upgrade.

If you’re seeking high-quality frame rates or are building an environment to stream or create, Aussie Custom Computers is there to assist. Check out our wide selection of PC Gamer PC in Australia solutions now and begin your journey towards more enjoyable gaming, higher quality graphics, and more performance.

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The PC Gamer PC features specialized components such as powerful GPUs, high-performance CPUs and cooling systems with advanced technology capable of handling the most demanding games, while a standard desktop is designed for daily computing tasks.

2. Why would you want to buy an Gaming PC in Australia instead of buying it from the other side of the world?

Purchase an gaming PC from Australia provides advantages such as speedier delivery, local support, and superior warranty support. Furthermore, your PC is built to fit Australian conditions and needs.

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Yes, we provide upgrade options for all gaming-related PCs across Australia. No matter if you require more RAM, a higher-quality video card, or an upgraded SSD our team will assist you to extend the lifespan and efficiency of your PC.

5. Does technical support remain offered following purchase?

Definitely. Our team provides continuous technical assistance for every computer Gamer PC builds. We’re only a message or a phone call away if you need help.

6. How long will it take me to get my custom-built PC?

Typically, we construct and deliver the gaming PC within Australia in a brief period of time. The delivery time frame is dependent on the options you choose to customize however, rest assured that we will give priority to quality and efficiency