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2011.04.02 03:42 RaiseYourGlass Male Fashion: we're all dressed by the internet

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2023.06.02 05:35 blurryturtle 2023 Roland Garros Men's Singles Round Three 🐢

Some great matches coming up here, and holy wow did Altmaier and Sinner put on a show today.
Congrats to Belle23, unpleasant, 5grand8to1, and dcphil who are leading the ATP bracket comp, and thiago1314 who's leading the odds comp.

Alcaraz vs Shapovalov :

This round will have the first big tests for a lot of seeds. This one is somewhat unexpected. Denis Shapovalov came into this event not even being discussed. His play lately (and at Roland Garros) had been decent, but included very few match-wins. So much so that many people (myself included) believed Nakashima and Arnaldi would beat him, and it seems like the pressure being off has allowed him to play some good tennis. Arnaldi played solid, but Shapo was just a bit too much for him. It sets up what is arguably a more high profile matchup, one that’ll give us our first look at Alcaraz having to really showcase his defensive abilities. Thus far Carlos has won fairly easily. He dropped an odd set to Taro Daniel, but it didn’t really affect the momentum of the match. Against a guy like Denis, he’ll need to avoid giving him too much confidence, so I think we’ll see his foot on the gas throughout this match.
The tricky part here is that all the pressure is on Alcaraz. He got a bit creative in his last match because he was dominating things and sent some shots wide and into the net playing for the crowd. The outcome was assured though, so the audience shifting their support to the challenger wasn’t something that really mattered. If Shapovalov plays the type of tennis that he needs to in order to win against Alcaraz, the energy shift in the stadium is going to be palpable, and it’ll be interesting to see him navigate that. Stories of crowd-shifting energy aside, Alcaraz probably wins this in 3-4 sets. He really is fast enough and solid enough on defense to put back most of what Shapo can offer, and Denis is prone to errors when he has to come up with a bunch of shots in a row. The slightly slower courts benefit Alcaraz because he is able to generate his own pace very well, and because it makes it harder to hit through him. I don’t think Shapovalov is ready for this level of opponent, but I do think he has the type of offense and athleticism necessary to put on an excellent show. Should be a tremendous match. Alcaraz in 3-4.

Musetti vs Norrie :

This is a rematch of Barcelona, where Norrie won the first before Musetti pulled away, eventually winning 6-1 in the third. I somewhat think there will be a similar outcome here. I thought Shevchenko could score on Musetti, and nope. Norrie is one of the hardest workers on tour, and regularly outperforms his own tennis ceiling by digging in and refusing to miss, but he’s playing a guy who seems to be able to do that without being at full exertion. The slower conditions do benefit Norrie a bit, but I don’t think he’ll be able to score that easily on Musetti and his flat backhand is not able to score on clay the way it is on hardcourt. Lorenzo is taking care of his serve really well and the crowd is behind him. It’s apples and oranges but if Shevchenko played Norrie, I’d expect him to win a set. Musetti’s ability to infuse pace and hit a much heavier ball should give make this feel uphill for Norrie, and I don’t think fatigue will be an issue because both he’s been winning in straight sets. Ready to be surprised, but Musetti in 4.

Fognini vs Ofner :

Fognini saunters up to the chalkboard, peering up at numbers and symbols. The equation is long and complex, but it is no match for Fognini.ā€œ14,ā€ says Fabio, with a wry smile, pointing to the board. The teacher squints disapprovingly.ā€œYou are no match for Fognini,ā€ says Fognini.ā€œSir this is a Wendy’s,ā€ says the teacher, who is wearing a Wendy’s uniform. It is a Wendy’s. ā€œAhh, so it is,ā€ says Fognini, while reaching into his bag for his spectacles. ā€œI’ll have a McDoubleā€
Fognini is in great shape to make the fourth round, but I’m not buying my tickets yet. I thought Kubler would outwork him, but Fognini outclassed the Australian. His power and deft offense really set him apart, and this next match does have the feel of ā€œif he puts in the work, he should winā€. Despite all that, I think he is in a bit of trouble. These are the matches that he should have been winning his whole career, and he constantly struggled against contenders who were willing to make the same effort on a big stage. Ofner has one big benefit here, his serve is much bigger than Kublers. Even as I’m typing this, it feels like I’m going to go on a ā€œdoubt Fogniniā€ losing streak, but Ofner is playing good tennis and he got a simple round 2 win which should give him a bit of a reset. The days off are really useful for someone who came through qualifying.
This is a spot that both players are going to be absolutely motivated to get a win, so we should see the best from both up until the pressure moments arrive. Then I think Fognini implodes and Ofner squeaks by because he’s simply been playing more big moments in his time grinding the Challenger tour lately. Ofner in 5.

Schwartzman vs Tsitsipas :

DIEGOGOGO! It’s refreshing to see Schwartzman winning matches and enjoying himself out there once again, even if it’s at the expense of my picks. I wasn’t sure how it would happen, but I thought his form would revert. It hasn’t, but unfortunately I’m primed to pick against him again. Stefanos Tsitsipas beat RCB in straight sets, and it was the type of solid performance that makes me doubt he’ll have a lapse here. Schwartzman is capable of dragging this out, but Tsitsipas has gone beyond the level where he can beat by someone trying to extend rallies. His forehand is too big for that, and his serve can bail him out when he needs it. His returning is the last issue he needs to work on (his backhand is fine but could improve of course), but Diego’s serve isn’t much. If he wins a set, it’ll be a pretty good accomplishment, but I don’t think it will change the momentum or rattle Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas in 3-4.

Djokovic vs Davidovich Fokina :

We got a look at Djokovic, and a close first set woke him up, Fucsovics played his best, but he just doesn’t have a way to score cheap points on Djokovic. Even in the wild Altmaier upset of Sinner, Daniel was serving really well and getting quick points from that. You need that to pull an upset, because the top players score on their serves. The first guy who made Novak play is gone, and here is the first guy who could beat him if he doesn’t play his best. Davidovich Fokina is through after a really solid performance against Luca Van Assche. LVA showed great mettle in continuing to play throughout this match, which is impressive considering how many challengers have gotten breadsticked in the early rounds. ADF is just able to generate offense and hit cleanly for an entire match though, and there is no hole in his game. The h2h for Djokovic ADF does include one win for Fokina, a 3 set win in Monte Carlo. The problem with counting that is that Djokovic seems to always bow out of Monte Carlo early.
Looking at strictly tennis, Fokina has a few ways to make this competitive. One, he’s hitting his backhand really well and his forehand down the line really well. This is important because Djokovic has magical rubber bones. He defends extremely well to the backhand wing, and shifts his weight so that he can almost always send the next ball to his opponent’s backhand. Since ADF is hitting his backhand cleanly cross-court and down the line, he has a puncher’s chance to maintain control of rallies when he goes down the line. Two, his stamina appears to be solid right now. He’s fast enough to defend against Novak’s ground game, so there’s a good chance he’ll reap the benefit of whatever occasional errors Djokovic does throw in. He’s ready to challenge here, but I’m not sure if he can win. The same way Shapo is the best showcase for Alcaraz, ADF is the best for Djokovic. Very few players on tour have a complete offensive array, and even fewer that do can also defend and take care of their serve against him. I’m expecting a very high level affair, and if Djokovic is able to just shut him down it’s a very scary notion for the rest of the draw. Novak will have to elevate his level in this match, and I’m interested to see if he will. Djokovic in 4-5.

Varillas vs Hurkacz :

That’s a nice lead you’ve got there. Be a shame if someone .... won every single set left in the match. Juan Pablo Varillas has arrived in the third round with a very strange path. Down two sets and with Robert Bautista-Agut playing some tremendous tennis, Varillas seemed sunk. RBA looked fatigued in the first set though, and this season has seen the roboto finally look like a human, which answers some questions about AI developing consciousness. No need to worry as long as we’ve got Varillas. This next match is one that Varillas is unlikely to win if he does down 2-0, but he might not have to here. RBA was really dominating baseline points and not making many errors. Varillas was just a bit outmatched in the hitting department until the edge was off. In this matchup against Hurkacz, Varillas will be the more consistent player from the baseline by far. Returning serve could be an issue, but Griekspoor was 50/50 to win his match so Varillas will know that he won’t just get served off the court.
Trouble for Varillas lies in his own lack of a serve. Griekspoor has a lot of pop (I keep using this word this week and idk why, I promise to stop soon) on his delivery and Varillas is more of a traditional clay-court server, solid stuff but not many unreturneds. Hurkacz turning around after two three setters is likely going to be tough, but I think he should win this in 4 unless the first set turns into a marathon. If the first set is a tiebreaker though, I could see Varillas wearing Hubert down.

Khachanov vs Kokkinakis :

Kokkinakis and Wawrinka absolutely delivered. A five set classic that ended with a lot of respect shared between the two players, and Kokkinakis collapsing to the floor. Wawrinka was on his last legs at the end of the match, but his full-stretch slices kept rallies going and Thanasi was forced to hit a number of huge shots to finally get across the finish line. It was a match that Stan probably would not have recovered well from, and it’s a nice name for Kokkinakis to add to his list. Despite being the younger player, Kokkinakis is towards the second half of his career on tour so every win is a bonus. This next round is one that Kokkinakis will likely play the role of Wawrinka in. His explosive offense will allow him to be competitive, but the odds that his opponent’s level stays steadier as the match progresses are strong. Khachanov had some early hiccoughs this week but he’s been a consistent performer at the majors and the slower courts will make it tough for Kokkinakis to beat him. Khachanov in 4.

Sonego vs Rublev :

Sonego and Rublev both faced tricky left-handed opponents from France, so are they twins? Yes. Rublev is a pretty sizable favorite for this one, which is a semi-puzzle because Sonego won their previous meeting on clay and he’s playing some great tennis. The price (-340) is likely a result of Rublev’s good form. He’s hitting the ball well and the slower clay makes it tough to hit through him. He’s also much more consistent than Sonego. Lorenzo is serving really well though, and his dropshot/forehand combo is good enough to expose Rublev’s slightly slowed movement. There have been a lot of matches so far where both players were playing well, but one managed to be just slightly better in each rally. I worry that’s the case here, as Sonego is at the top of his game but still is a tiny bit inconsistent. He’s been dominating his matches, but at a level below what Rublev generally brings to the table. The h2h and his form are hard to ignore though, so I think this will be very competitive. It’ll be hard for Sonego to win the baseline rallies from neutral, but I think he’ll be able to return serve a good enough chunk of the time to frustrate Andrey. Rublev in 5.

Rune vs Olivieri :

This draw is doing Holger a ton of favors. After a Monfils wrist injury gave him a walkover, he now has what I consider the easiest match of the third round. Oliveiri’s run to this current stage has been great for his career, and he’s an extremely hard worker, but he just doesn’t have the game to beat Rune. Vavassori was dealing with cramps in his previous round, and played a two hour doubles match last night. The result was a somewhat flat performance today. When he had control, he was able to hit the ball clean past Oliveiri, but most of this match was G.A. moving him around and getting in better and better position until he could finally end the rally. The third round finish will get him inside the top 200 and net him enough prize money to keep competing for at least a year or two more, and he certainly won’t give up here, but he wins by outlasting his opponents and outworking them, and Rune is just another tier of tennis. Holger should win in 3 sets by at least a break in each.

Cerundolo vs Fritz :

Oddsmakers set the total at 36 for Cerundolo Hanfmann. Given their previous matches had been close, and both were in good form, it led me to believe that one of them would hit a wall physically in this match. It turned out to be Hanfmann. The score after an hour of play was just 4-3 in the first set, and the writing was on the wall despite some frustration from Francisco’s end. He finished the match in straights, and next is a winnable but tricky contest against Taylor Fritz. Fritz saw himself matched up against the French version of himself.
Rinderknech is a tall lanky fellow with a huge serve, a middling backhand, and big forehand that seems to work amazing when he wins and lack pace when he loses. After winning the first set 6-2, the announcers were getting excited. Tennis announcers are 80% unbearable, and when they try to get involved in predictions, it gets worse as they try to educate us to some secret plot when they’re completely guessing. The announcer pointed out how Rinderknech was mixing in serve and volleys and how that was a sign of supreme confidence. Nevermind that Rinderknech serve-volleys every single match he’s ever played on tour, TODAY HE’S CONFIDENT! Unfortunately for him, Fritz found his serve in the second set, and he became somewhat unplayable. In a match between two servers, the guy with the stronger baseline game usually wins, and that was the case here. If they both served underhand, Fritz would never lose a set.
Cerundolo is definitely much better than Fritz on clay, but he’s played a ton of matches in a row. He was the more physically able player today against Hanfmann, but it was a battle between two guys who’ve played nonstop for the past two weeks. Fritz is relatively fresh, and his serving is good enough to win him sets if he can get to the business end. I don’t see a way that this ends quickly, and given Cerundolo’s slight fatigue I worry that Fritz may edge him in the end. Cerundolo in 4 or Fritz in 5.

Jarry vs Giron :

Ah yes, the classic Roland Garros question. Can anyone stop Giron? After not really doing anything of note this clay season, Giron has some alive here. He froze the talented qualifier Medjedovic, and gave no hope to Lehecka in a straight set beating that was pretty quick (the match last just 1:44). The end of the road has arrived, but given his stellar play it’s not entirely safe to count him out. Nico Jarry is different though. It’s been since the early days of Zverev that we’ve seen a guy with such a huge serve who also goes after his groundstrokes. Jarry lost the first against Tommy Paul, but his focus and effort was there and once he was able to secure breaks of serve, the set was simply over. I think Tommy is a bit hindered, but it’s not clear what the issue is. Hopefully he’s healthy for grass, but for now it was a solid win for Jarry, who let loose some charismatic roars after the win.
Giron’s serve/forehand combo are good enough to make him competitive here, but it’s a david goliath situation, and I think Jarry will just be able to hold onto his serve a bit longer than Giron. Jarry in 4.

Zhang vs Ruud :

A few seasons ago Zhang was starting to win titles on the challenger tour, and it was a bit of puzzle because his best success was coming on clay. Fast forward to now, and he’s in the third round of the French Open and has cemented himself in the top 100. A month ago he’d have a good shot to beat Casper Ruud also, but something is in the air this week. Hypothetically, if I were working on an animated musical called Casper Ruud : King of Clay, I’d have been worried up until last week. Casper always has some struggles on hardcourt, but he was getting washed left and right on clay. He finally showed signs of life in Geneva though, and in the past round he really looked sharp. The conditions are good for him, and his draw is filled with gradual raises in level so he has time and practice to get himself together.
Zhang is a dangerous opponent here, but Ruud should be able to defend well enough to win. The 3/5 format really lends Ruud the ability to play a solid and safe tactical game without risking the loss to a redlining offense. I think Zhang will outperform his pricing here, but Ruud should outlast him. Ruud in 4.

AlternativetimelinewhereSinnerlosesmaier vs Dimitrov :

Daniel Altmaier. Holy wow. Holy glob. Amazing. Absolutely legendary performance. I expected him to play well, but to win in the manner he did is just unheard of. Altmaier was doing everything he could in the first set, and when he finally got to the tiebreaker, he immediately gave up the advantage. He got zipped, and it was the kind of ā€œwell, you triedā€ result that usually folds people up. He had constant pressure on his serve in this match, and saved 15 of 21 break points he faced. After he lost the 3rd set 6-1, it looked like he was sunk. Somehow, he battled through the 4th and won in a tiebreak, and won in the fifth. This was a 5 and a half hour match, and both players levels stayed extremely high throughout. Sometimes Sinner can throw in some poor performances, but he played well in this and Altmaier was still able to win.
While Altmaier was battling for the entire day, Dimitrov won in fairly comfortable fashion. Ruusuvuori kept grinding away, but Dimitrov is just at a very high level in this event. The creative and ambitious shots that he occasionally goes for are landing, and the topspin he hits with just seemed more effective than Ruusvuori’s flat power in the long run. I’m unsure how Altmaier recovers for his match with Dimitrov, as his win against Sinner was not only extremely long, but emotionally draining. His best tennis can absolutely compete even against Dimitrov, but the difference in time on court may allow Dimitrov to win. Grigor’s stellar play may also lend itself to this outcome. I’m expecting a close contest in the early goings, but it’s hard to see another upset even if his last opponent (Sinner) is a bit better than his current one. Dimitrov in 4.

Zverev vs Tiafoe :

Wait. Why is Zverev playing like he used to play? It seems like the ankle injury gave Zverev a reset that has re-ignited his tennis acumen. Molcan is a tough test, and the type that Zverev’s passivity can really give control to. From 0-0 though Alexander was aggressive and accurate, and the difference in weight of shot was evident. Spectators know that Zverev is full of errors and quitmode, but the work it takes to keep the ball in play over and over is not automatic, and Molcan was worn down into defensive errors in this one. He didn’t notch many unreturned serves either, and Zverev is back at the level he showcased last year at this event. If you’re looking for a darkhorse winner, it’s probably Zverev.
Tiafoe had a much tougher opponent, and made quick work of Karatsev’s nostalgia. Aslan was slated to really be competitive here, but Tiafoe’s serve can pretty much make him a threat in any match, and his physical strength let him outlast the sharp play of Karatsev that saw him net the first set. Zverev has won almost all their previous meetings, but this is probably the peak of Tiafoe’s career (not this current event but he’s improved every season) so it should be competitive. I think Zverev’s height will give him the ability to put a few more returns in play, and his own serve is not quite as effective as Tiafoe’s but it’s good enough to keep him in the match. If Tiafoe can isolate Zverev’s forehand he does have a good shot here, but I expect Zverev to be slightly more durable, and his return to offensive tennis means that he’s not the same Next Gen disappointment that we’ve seen losing in the past few years. Zverev in 4-5.

Coric vs Etcheverry :

This is a great spot for Etcheverry. He made quick work of De Minaur, and this is the round where the flat hitters went down to the traditional clay-court players. Etcheverry hits the ball really hard, and there’s full commitment on every swing which generates a really pleasing sound off his racquet. Coric thus far has been outlasting his opponents, and while his physical strength is off the charts, Etcheverry is a step up from the guys he’s been facing and should be fresh for this. Add in that he also won their previous meeting in 2022, and there’s reason to believe that this will be very competitive. Coric fans can breathe easy though, because it’ll be much harder to hit through him than it was to down De Minaur. I think the record number of 5 setters is likely to continue in the third, and this is just another extremely close match. Leaning into the upset. Etcheverry in 4-5.

Nishioka vs Seyboth Wild :

Thiago is really getting rewarded for defeating Medvedev. Playing Guido Pella is always tough, but he’s well past his prime. They went to four sets, but Seyboth was almost always in control. He’ll have a much tougher test here in Nishioka, and it’s a spot where Thiago can win, but he’ll need to show the type of patience that he did against Medvedev. Yoshihito was able to shut down Purcell, who suffered from some cuts to his hands early in the match. Dropping the first and winning in 4 really feels like a dominant performance to me, because it generally means the other player had to redline to get the first set. Nishioka’s defense is good enough to frustrate Seyboth, but he’s not really playing his best tennis yet. I know Thiago is better, and I know this is his surface, but I’m not sure that he can get this done quickly, and in a long match I think I like Nishioka. Offense vs defense, and I have concerns that Nishioka’s experience and next-level speed are the right formula to get past Wild. Nishioka in 5.
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2023.06.02 02:47 kauan1983 The conspiracy lore and the dynamic between the government agencies in Stranger Things

The conspiracy lore and the dynamic between the government agencies in Stranger Things
Something that i am extremely fascinated about in Stranger Things is the government conspiracy angle of the series, and over the seasons, i felt that the writing started to give us less details about how the government agencies work in this universe. Also, many details of the lore are still unresolved, and i fear some of them might not be resolved in S5, so I decided to make an analysis of everything that involves the government in the show to create my own version of the timeline of the events involving the U.S. government, and gather information to hypothesize events that may have happened offscreen, the occupations of some characters within the government and what agencies are involved with everything that has happened in the show since S1. I hope you guys enjoy the read!

PROJECT MKULTRA
- In 1953, The MKUltra program was officially sanctioned by the CIA, a multimillion-dollar initiative intended to develop mind control techniques. The experiments would be conducted in many hospitals, prisons and colleges across the U.S. Hawkins National Laboratory was one of many facilities in the U.S. where MKUltra was being conducted - Dr. Martin Brenner was the director of CIA operations at this laboratory.
- MKUltra is a real CIA-sanctioned research that was officially halted in 1973. And it was the basis for a science-based horror in the show's lore. But the Duffers never wanted to really dive into it, as the story they wanted to tell was mainly inspired by the Montauk Project and would focus in children with super powers and other dimensions.
There is a little talk about it in the official behind the scenes companion Worlds Turned Upside Down:
I wouldn't say we had done necessarily a deep dive into it. It was more a surface glance of seeing what they were up to and then using it as an excuse to have science-based horror in our narrative. — Ross Duffer
- The presence of the MKUltra in the lore is what canonically establishes the CIA as the bad men we see in S1 and briefly in S2. The agency is only mentioned once in the show when Hopper and Powell are investigating documents about the HNL/MKUltra, but we can confirm that the CIA was also responsible for funding Brenner's program as in the Worlds Turned Upside Down book we can see government cards with a "Central Intelligence Agency Clandestine Ops" badge in it.
PROJECT INDIGO
- Doctor Brenner's program. It's the main government project of Stranger Things, and although never mentioned in the show, the name of the program was supposed to be "INDIGO" which was also the proposed name of the show as stated by the Duffers in their MasterClass:
So we just came up with a bunch of ideas. We had The Keep, we had INDIGO which was gonna be the name of the government program, and amidst that we had Stranger Things. — Ross Duffer
It's unclear if the Duffers kept the name as it was never mentioned in the show, but the name is mentioned in the Suspicious Minds book, which was supervised by one of the show's writers - Paul Dichter.
Project Indigo is basically the Hawkins equivalent of the Montauk Project. While the MKUltra was the Duffers' basis for a science-based horror in the lore, INDIGO is where the most crazy, cutting-edge developments in science come in. The Duffers had the desire to play with the "sandbox" of elements that the Montauk conspiracy could offer. In the conspiracy, there were talks about children with psychic/psionic powers (which became the Numbers 001 to 018), other dimensions (like the Upside Down, Dimension X and the Hellscape), alien contact, monsters being unleashed (Demogorgon/DX entities) and even time travel, which is something that was originally part of the ST mythology as we can see in the document below:
The Montauk Pitch by the Duffer Brothers

THE PROGRAM STARTS
- As we learned in S4, the beginning of the program happens in 1959, and is a result of Dr. Brenner discovering a boy with extraordinary psychic abilities, Henry, after his mother contacts him in the hopes of sending him to a facility where he would be locked away and fixed. Henry, knowing what his mother was planning, decided to kill his whole family, but would eventually fall into a coma due to not knowing his limits while using his psychic powers.
- Brenner knew what the boy did and also what he was capable of, and wanted to not just study but also control him. After the Creel House murders, Brenner would take Henry to the lab and the CIA would cover up anything that could compromise their operation. Victor Creel, the only survivor of the events in the house was declared legally insane, the records of what Victor claimed to have occurred in his house were sealed.
- Brenner eventually sold to the CIA a separate program that he planned to start, a program that would study Henry Creel who was presented to the government as a potential weapon against the Soviets as stated by Matt Duffer in this interview by Deadline.
He knew what this kid did and also what he was capable of when he was young. Brenner’s going, how can I mold this character, but not just into a weapon? That’s really how he sold it to the government, but for him as a scientist, it’s like, what other worlds can this kid show me about how our universe works? — Matt Duffer
- As a scientist, Brenner had the desire to not only mold Henry into a weapon but also use him as a means to reach other worlds/dimensions and understand how the universe works. That makes me think that, at the time, Brenner expected Henry to be able to do what he would later discover only Eleven could do, which was the capablity of opening a rift or tear in time-space via psychic energy.
- At some point, I would guess in late 1959 - early 1960s, an unknown event led Brenner to pacify Henry's abilities via Soteria. After that, Brenner would decide to evolve his program, replicating Henry's powers in other kids. This is something Matt Duffer confirmed that S5 will explore,
It’s something we will get into in Season 5. What happened to that program once Henry became involved and how Brenner evolved it into including multiple kids. We’re going to go back and see some of that in Season 5.
How Brenner tried to replicate Henry's abilities is unclear, but there's something mentioned in the Montauk bible that caught my attention and could be a brief explanation of how these preternatural abilities arise in some individuals:
ELEVEN was an orphan with telekinesis. her preternatural abilities have been linked to mutations caused by her mothers drug use.
In this version of the Eleven's backstory, the Duffers had not yet conceived El's mother being Terry Ives, the MKUltra involvement in the lore, and El's abilities being the result of experiments on her mother. Instead, we have genetic mutations caused by drug use.
If there's any chance this is an explanation to how some individuals are born with psychic abilities, i suspect that Brenner knew that drugs had the potential to cause such mutations and that via experiments and training, he would unlock these supernatural psychic abilities. Knowing that, Brenner would use the MKUltra (which mainly involved psychedelic drugs) as a means to new supernatural kids to be born, just like it happened to Eleven.
Virginia Creel's backstory
In episode 7, Henry mentions that his parents did "such awful things." and that he "held up a mirror" to show them who they really were, but we never got to see what Henry used against his mother. Whatever awful thing she did, is still a mystery in the show.
Also, Virginia somehow knew that Henry had supernatural abilities, so i think it's plausible to assume that, perhaps, Virginia knew it because of something dark in her past, something she believed resulted in her son being born with supernatural abilities and becoming a "broken" kid. The drug element that i mentioned before could also play a role in the origin of Henry's powers and whatever these dark memories of Virginia are.
In S4E7 script, we can see that the whole part where Virginia suspects Henry is the responsible for the strange happenings in the house and contacts Brenner to lock her son away is missing. Meaning the writers later decided to add more layers to this backstory that may be explored in S5.
The Duffer Brothers have confirmed in interviews that S5 will explore more of Henry's prequel story, and it was recently revealed in an article from BBC that the 'The First Shadow' stage play influences S5, so i'm hoping this means we'll see more of the Creels, specially Virginia.
They were able to adjust some of the "things in the play" and said that working on it had given them ideas for the upcoming season five.
Matt Duffer added: "Some of the mythology stuff is a little bit trickier, but like Ross said, it's been fun to have the play influence the show, and the show influenced the play,
1960's - THE PROGRAM EVOLVES
- The evolution of Brenner's program logically took place during the 1960s, and some of that was already hinted in S2 when we discover that Terry had documents about people she believed were like her daughter. In some of those documents we get to see that Kali was abducted in London, a Cleveland teen girl who was seemingly abducted in Indiana, and a newborn boy was taken from a hospital. The baby was in the care of a nurse who was found dead in her home.
- in 1969, Ray Carroll started working at HNL as an orderly.
1970's
- At some point in the early 70's, Terry Ives got involved with MKUltra. (In the Suspicious Minds book, we learn that Terry was involved with MKUltra in 1969 but i'm not considering any information from the book due to the huge amount of inconsistencies.)
- After Brenner kidnapped Eleven in 1971, the BreneHNL would face charges and lawsuits from Terry Ives but they were denied due to lack of evidence.
- In 1973, the MKUltra was officially halted.
- In 1974, Terry would try to take Eleven from the laboratory. Brenner ordered Terry to undergo an eletroshock therapy, ordering Ray Carroll to set the voltage up to 450 and then proceeded to electrocute her until her brain was damaged.
- In 1979, One succeeded in having El "free" him by removing the Soteria from him. Regaining his psychic abilities, Henry kills all the Indigo numbers except for Eleven who would eventually banish him out of our dimension. After the attack, El falls into a coma, and Brenner doesn't dare bring another number to the lab. Instead, Brenner focuses the experiments on Eleven, who has repressed not only her memories of the past events but also her powers after waking up from her coma. Brenner knew that Eleven's abilities weren't lost but needed a "spark" to be restored.
1983
- Brenner believed that One was somewhere out there, "hiding in the darkness", and in 1983, after Eleven's powers were restored, Brenner would eventually use her abilities to find him.
- In one experiment, El hears a strange sound that would get Brenner's attention. Despite El getting scared and the experiment being aborted, Brenner would repeat the experiment with the intention of making "contact".
- On the night of november 6, 1983, El makes psychic contact with the Demogorgon in the Void, inadvertentely creating TUD, opening the mothergate and unleashing the monster. She eventually escaped the HNL that night.
- On the next day, Brenner and the CIA receive a visit from agents that according to the S1E1 script were NSA. CIA and NSA agents would eventually work together to find Eleven and cover up anything that would compromise the secrecy of their clandestine operation.
- Brenner and his team of agents along with MPs would go to the Hawkins Middle School in order to find Eleven after Hopper revealed her location. For their surprise, the Demogorgon appears in the school, distracting the agents and MPs, allowing the kids to run away from the CIA with Eleven. Brenner is brutally attacked by the Demogorgon, but survives the attack.
- After the events in the school, we see hopper entering a black sedan with CIA agents.
- CIA agents go to the Wheelers House searching for Eleven. This is the last time we see Brenner's men in the show. In the next season, the HNL would have a new director and a new staff.
- In a clipping at Hawkins Police Station, there's information on the aftermath of the events in november, 1983, where we learn that Joyce Byers publicy alleged that Will was the subject of a secret government program. Joyce's allegation comes amidst the investigation into the past allegations of the lab's involvement with mind control experiments (MKUltra).
- As to where Brenner and his entire staff were after the events in november, it is unknown, but i suspect Owens knew about what happened to them as in S2 he seems to be certain that Brenner's men were gone.
The point is, mistakes have been made. Yes. Abundant mistakes, but, the men involved with those mistakes, the ones responsible for what happened to your brother and Miss Holland's death, they're gone. They're gone, and for better for worse, i'm the schmuck they brought in to make things better. — Sam Owens
I've come to suspect that after the events of November '83, when the entire HNL staff was replaced, everything documented/recorded about the CIA's clandestine operations was securely locked away by CIA or DOE operatives, likely in the decommissioned Nevada Silo. (One alternate possibility is that those documents and recordings were stored in the Silo after the HNL was closed in december, 1984)
Something that I find interesting is that both the Silo Lab and Owens' residence are located in Nevada, and in S4E5, when Eleven is taken to the Silo, originally the titles "Ruth, Nevada" appeared on the screen, that was later removed, but it implies that both the Silo and Owens' residence were close. This leads me to suspect that long before Owens and Brenner conceived of the NINA program, Owens already knew about the abandoned Silo in Nevada and decided to used it to store every TOP-SECRET documents/recordings of the CIA operations at HNL.
https://preview.redd.it/qjidk3560i3b1.png?width=1334&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=287916d61b1b71b59d7b8c7ed3a7355f2b073f44
One interesting detail is that the idea of ​​the government securely locking away videotapes is something the Duffers planned for their original Montauk conception, which most of it was a prototype for what we've seen in Stranger Things. In The Montauk Experiment, the O.S.S. would securely lock away film cannisters with recordings of everything that happened in Camp Hero after the experiments ended in a blood-soaked event. Details in the document below:
The logline for 'The Montauk Experiment'

DOCTOR SAM OWENS' POSITION IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
- Sam Owens is a high-ranking member within U.S. Department of Energy as mentioned in the first official description of his character. Sometime between late 1983 - early 1984 he would be brought to HNL on a ā€˜clean-up’ assignment, tasked with containing the mess left by the CIA in 1983 and making things better.
- As I previously mentioned, Owens may have been responsible for locking away all the documented CIA experimentation at HNL, and he also may have known the whereabouts of Brenner and other scientists and CIA operatives who worked with him all along. I would even assume that Owens and Brenner may have been in contact all this time.
- During his time as director of the operations at HNL, Owens was involved in Will's treatment and in containing the spread of TUD.
- In November 1984, during the Demodogs invasion, Owens met Eleven, who eventually closed the gate, ending TUD invasion.
- A month later, the operations at HNL were officially shut down and the lab was closed after the release of the tape recording Owens' "confession", and Owens decided to help Eleven have a normal life under Hopper's care, giving him a forged birth certificate, and recommending Hopper to "let things cool off" for a year. This, of course, was done without the knowledge of the U.S. government.

FACTONS WITHIN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
After the events os S2, in addition to the CIA Clandestine Ops and the DOE, other different agencies were introduced in the story:
- US Army/Pentagon that briefly appears at the end of s3 (although we've seen the Military Police in the previous seasons which is a branch of the Army), and would be an antagonist faction in S4.
- FBI agents who are presented as friends of Owens and allied to our main characters in S4.

SULLIVAN'S FACTION
- At some point after the HNL was closed, Doctor Owens, in addition to his high-ranking position in the DOE, also gained some position within the U.S. Army/Pentagon, probably tasked with monitoring and maintaining security in Hawkins after the lab was closed and the military presence left town. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Sullivan was involved in this, and it's possible he and Owens worked together.
- An interesting detail is that the arm patch on Lt. Colonel Sullivan's uniform confirms that he's an United States Army Criminal Investigation Division operative, hence his associaton with the Pentagon.
- At some point (i assume 1985), rumors about Eleven being alive and receiving help from someone within the U.S. government began to surface within the Pentagon, this would affect Owens' reputation.
- It's also worth mentioning that in S4E6, Sullivan seems to imply that he knew or at least believed Brenner was alive.
Explanation two, Dr. Brenner's special little pet has gone rogue again and he and his lackeys are now seeking to cover it up. Perhaps in the hopes of selling their pet to the Soviets. — Lt. Colonel Sullivan
There's also this interview with Sherman Augustus where the interviewer asks him if Sullivan knows that Brenner is still alive, and Sherman's answer implies that Brenner being alive is something that wouldn't surprise Sullivan, Maybe because it was rumored within the Pentagon too. Basically, there's nothing that Sullivan doesn't know or expect about what's been happening in Hawkins and within the government since the events of S1.
I'm pretty sure he knows that there's certain elements... because he says in the dialogue "there's rumors that she's getting help from someone on the inside". So there is nothing that he is not, you know, equating in that situation, he's not surprised. Whatever it is, you have to be a really strong and dynamic individual to be able to go in and try to kick E.T in the butt. — Sherman Augustus
- In July 1985, Owens would find out about a foreign government invasion in Hawkins, and would go to Hawkins with Army/Pentagon forces to deal with the invasion, only to find an empty Soviet bunker.

OWENS' FACTION
- After the events in July, Owens got fired from his position in the miitary for failing his assignment to monitor security at Hawkins, i believe the previously mentioned rumors about him may also have played a role in his dismissal.
- Owens, knowing that El had lost her powers, feared a further re-emergence of the TUD, which led him to begin developing a means to restore her abilities and bring them back stronger than before.
- Owens would ally with Brenner to develop a way to restore Eleven's abilities, and Brenner convinced Owens that the only way to do so was via a process of re-experiencing her repressed memories in a program that they would later call NINA. It's unclear when Brenner and Owens' alliance started, but i personally believe they knew each other for longer than we initially thought, and shortly after the July events, Owens' looked for Brenner's help in order to develop a means to restore El's powers.
- Despite being fired from his position in the military, Owens was still a DOE member and also had connections to the FBI (Ellen Stinson and other agents), and he used his power to clandestinely provide Brenner with the necessary resources to establish the NINA Project. For the program to be sanctioned, he had to compromise his principles, and risk his life and that of his family. Something worth noting is that in the episode 7 script, the dialogue where Owens expresses his disappointment with NINA's progress is a little different:
I've given you all the resources you've asked for, i've given you your people, i've compromised my principles, i've risked my life, my family's life, all because you assured me this would work. That this was the only way. — Sam Owens
By "i've given you your people" we can confirm that Owens gave to Brenner his old HNL staff, who as we saw in S4E8, were loyal to him. And we can also confirm by Sam's words that he had to give Brenner resources, meaning, wherever Brenner was after the events oF S1, he was left with no resources and access to his old staff.
- Owens and Brenner would establish NINA in the same abandoned Silo in Nevada where Owens presumably locked away all the video tapes and documents from HNL.
THE FACTION CONFLICT
- After Owens' dismissal, Sullivan apparently became the responsible for monitoring Hawkins and maintaining the security in the town.
- In March 1986, a supernatural murder in Hawkins comes to Sullivan's attention, and after an autopsy is performed by Army medical doctors, Sullivan concludes that the murder was done remotely, which tied in with the rumors about Eleven being alive and getting help from someone within the U.S. government who he, and probably other operatives within the Pentagon believed was Sam Owens.
- Upon that conclusion, Sullivan would begin a clandestine military operation in order to investigate Eleven's whereabouts, and this leads him to Owens.
- Something worth noting is that when we are first introduced to Sullivan, he arrives in Indiana in an U.S. Army helicopter to investigate the circumstances of an unusual murder, but when he begins his operation to hunt down Eleven, he goes to Ruth, Nevada in an unmarked black helicopter, alluding to the fact that this is a clandestine military operation:

Sullivan arrives in Indiana

Sullivan leaves Owens' residence in Nevada

Something interesting about the scene where Sullivan visits Owens that adds some information on what the U.S. government has been up to is the dialogue between Sullivan and Owens from this audition tape which is a bit different from the dialogue from the show:
There were no signs of an attacker. No bruises, no signs of any struggle. It's as if her attacker was a ghost. — Lt. Colonel SullivanSo what is this, really? I mean, why are you here? all of the sudden you want to help again? — Sam OwensDr. Owens, 30 civilians died last year, a foreign government our country all under your watch. There had to be consequences, you've got to understand that — Lt. Colonel Sullivan
Owens' question implies that Sullivan has been helping him at some point, probably in monitoring Hawkins like a mentioned before, which would explain how he knew so much about what has happened there all this years.
And Sullivan's response implies that after Owens got fired, it became his responsability to maintain security in Hawkins, which is why he was there, asking Owens Eleven's whereabouts.
- Owens refuses to tell Sullivan Eleven's whereabouts, and Jack decides to do things "the hard way", taking multiple items from Owens' house in order to investigate everything Sam has done and everyone he has spoken to in 1985 and luckily, be able to find where Eleven is.
- Owens knew that the former Indigo test subject One was back when he saw pictures of Chrissy's body, and via a DOE intranet, he requests the immediate acceleration of NINA. He makes it clear that their secret program and facility were compromised and that the Pentagon was involved. And for the security of their program, Owens implements a communication lockdown.
- Owens uses his FBI connections to have agents help him find Eleven, maintain the secrecy of the operation and protect people closely associated with Eleven who could be found by Sullivan. Some of those agents are Ellen Stinson, who seems to be Owens' right hand, Agent Harmon, and Agent Wallace.
- In the meantime, Sullivan/the Pentagon was able to find out that Owens moved Eleven to Lenora Hills, CA, and would eventually send a group of agents/soldiers to find her.
- After finding Eleven with a group of agents and convicing her to go with him in order to get her powers back, Owens takes El to the Silo Lab while Agents Harmon and Wallace would stay with Mike, Jonathan and Will to protect them, and Agent Stinson would be closely monitoring Hawkins with 2 more agents.
- Sullivan, after a shootout in the Byers' house takes Agent Wallace to a black site to torture him in order to find out where Eleven was, and after a long time of torture, Wallace gave away Eleven's location.
- After NINA succeeded in restoring Eleven's abilities, Owens, believing she was ready, would call Stinson to have her prepare the transit from Nevada to Hawkins, Indiana through her connections at Nellis.
- Brenner would eventually betray Owens and considered killing him in order to stop Eleven from leaving the Silo Lab. After the conflict between Owens and Brenner, the Pentagon finally arrives at the location revealed by Agent Wallace and a conflict between the U.S army and the MP soldiers resulted in the death of Brenner, his men and all the scientists in the Silo Lab, except Owens.
- Eleven escapes the Pentagon with her friends, and we see Sullivan and some of his soldiers for the last time in S4, in the Nevada desert.
Episodes 8 and 9 made it clear that El still needs to hide and Sullivan's faction is still after her. It's worth mentioning that Sullivan was the only villain in ST4 not to be killed or at least injured, so it's almost certain that this guy will be back in ST5 to kick E.T's ass. Specially know that a full-scale TUD invasion is about the happen in Hawkins.
POSSIBILITIES FOR S5:

Sullivan investigates the video tapes in the silo lab
S4 ended without us knowing what happened to Owens and Sullivan after eleven escaped, but we do know that both characters are in the Silo Lab and that Sullivan now has access to a vast amount of video tapes that he would certainly investigate and this would create many possibilities for the Pentagon's role in S5.

Sullivan's Mission in Hawkins
Sullivan is still responsible for monitoring Hawkins, and at some point he will probably learn about what is happening in the town (which is also where El is hiding now), possibly via the military presence in Hawkins that we saw in the ST4 epilogue.
Something that caught my attention was the presence of a Research Lab vehicle on the set of downtown Hawkins, this vehicle never appeared in the show, and it was not mentioned in the script of episode 9. But it makes me think that at the end of S4, the Military is not just trying to help Hawkins citizen after this "federal disaster", but also researching into TUD, which perhaps is an operation led by Sullivan? let me know what you guys think.

S1 parallels
If we have Sullivan in Hawkins in S5, we most certainly will get more Government vs Eleven scenes, which would parallel Brenner and the CIA in S1. I particularly believe that S5 will have many parallels with what the Duffers planned for the first season of Montauk,
ACT THREE (episodes 7-8) will climax with characters working together to outsmart the military, venture into this alternate dimension, save Will, and, hopefully, close this "tear" once and for all.

Doctor Owens in 1959 flashbacks
Something I found extremely suspicious is that in S4, Owens seemed to know more than we initially thought.
He's claimed three victims so far, and when i saw the eyes, i knew... i knew that was him. He was him. He was sending us a message, letting us know he's back.
This sentence from Owens confirms that he somehow knew Henry's killing manner. It's plausible to assume that Owens learned about Henry and the other Indigo Numbers after being brought to the lab to "make things better". But I personally believe that there must be a greater reason why he was brought to HNL after S1, I believe Owens was already aware of the clandestine operations that had been happening in the HNL for years (at least some of it) and had known Dr. Brenner since the 1950's. I would even consider the possibility that Owens has been involved in clandestine government operations in the past and that somehow led him to find out about the HNL and Brenner's program.
In this interview by The Wrap, Ross Duffer's words about Brenner and Owens' alliance caught my attention because the way he puts it felt like Owens has known Brenner for longer than we think.
Once that first kill with Chrissy happens, then their fears are realized and that’s what jump starts their whole storyline. I mean, that is why Owens is collaborating with Brenner, a man he also does not like. He respects him, but despises the man, because he also knows he’s the key to stopping One, to stopping Vecna.
By my suspicion, i came up with the theory/fanfic that Owens could have worked with Brenner in the 50's and was aware of what happened in the Creel House in '59. Maybe he even met young Henry and interacted with him after he woke up from his coma. If there's any chance that i'm right about it, i would imagine the Owens and Henry interactions would parallel the scenes with Owens and Will in S2.

Stinson becomes the new Owens / Her alliance with the adults
Agent Stinson was apparently Owens' right hand in S4 and also the leader among the agents of Owens' faction, being involved in the operations in Nevada, Hawkins and even being responsible for driving Hopper and Joyce to Hawkins. Imo, Stinson has the potential to become the "new Owens"/Main government operative to help our main characters while Owens is MIA. She could also send some agents to investigate what happened to Owens. I have a personal theory that Stinson will join the adults in S5 and help them on a mission to outsmart the military. And i think the "knowing nod" between Hop and Stinson in S4E9 might be a hint of a possible team up for S5.
submitted by kauan1983 to StrangerThings [link] [comments]


2023.06.02 02:40 kauan1983 The conspiracy lore and the dynamic between the government agencies in Stranger Things

The conspiracy lore and the dynamic between the government agencies in Stranger Things
Something that i am extremely fascinated about in Stranger Things is the government conspiracy angle of the series, and over the seasons, i felt that the writing started to give us less details about how the government agencies work in this universe. Also, many details of the lore are still unresolved, and i fear some of them might not be resolved in S5, so I decided to make an analysis of everything that involves the government in the show to create my own version of the timeline of the events involving the U.S. government and gather information to hypothesize events that may have happened offscreen, the occupations of some characters within the government and what agencies are involved with everything that has happened in the show since S1. I hope you guys enjoy the read!

PROJECT MKULTRA
- In 1953, The MKUltra program was officially sanctioned by the CIA, a multimillion-dollar initiative intended to develop mind control techniques. the experiments would be conducted in many hospitals, prisons and colleges across the US. Hawkins National Laboratory was one of many facilities in the U.S where MKUltra was being conducted - Dr. Martin Brenner was the director of CIA operations at this laboratory.
- MKUltra is a real CIA-sanctioned research that was officially halted in 1973. And it was the basis for a science-based horror in the show's lore. But the Duffers never wanted to really dive into it, as the story they wanted to tell was mainly inspired by the Montauk Project and would focus in children with super powers and other dimensions.
There is a little talk about it in the official behind the scenes companion Worlds Turned Upside Down:
I wouldn't say we had done necessarily a deep dive into it. It was more a surface glance of seeing what they were up to and then using it as an excuse to have science-based horror in our narrative. — Ross Duffer
- The presence of the MKUltra in the lore is what canonically establishes the CIA as the bad men we see in S1 and briefly in S2. The agency is only mentioned once in the show when Hopper and Powell are investigating documents about the HNL/MKUltra, but we can confirm that the CIA was also responsible for funding Brenner's program as in the Worlds Turned Upside Down book we can see government cards with a "Central Intelligence Agency Clandestine Ops" badge in it.

PROJECT INDIGO
- Doctor Brenner's program. It's the main government project of Stranger Things, and although never mentioned in the show, the name of the program was supposed to be "INDIGO" which was also the proposed name of the show as stated by the Duffers in their MasterClass:
So we just came up with a bunch of ideas. We had The Keep, we had INDIGO which was gonna be the name of the government program, and amidst that we had Stranger Things. — Ross Duffer
It's unclear if the Duffers kept the name as it was never mentioned in the show, but the name is mentioned in the Suspicious Minds book, which was supervised by one of the show's writers - Paul Dichter.
Project Indigo is basically the Hawkins equivalent of the Montauk Project. While the MKUltra was the Duffers' basis for a science-based horror in the lore, INDIGO is where the most crazy, cutting-edge developments in science come in. The Duffers had the desire to play with the "sandbox" of elements that the Montauk conspiracy could offer. In the conspiracy, there were talks about children with psychic/psionic powers (which became the Numbers 001 to 018), other dimensions (like the Upside Down, Dimension X and the Hellscape), alien contact, monsters being unleashed (Demogorgon/DX entities) and even time travel, which is something that was originally part of the ST mythology as we can see in the document below:

The Montauk pitch by the Duffer Brothers

THE PROGRAM STARTS
- As we learned in S4, the beginning of the program happens in 1959, and is a result of Dr. Brenner discovering a boy with extraordinary psychic abilities, Henry, after his mother contacts him in the hopes of sending him to a facility where he would be locked away and fixed. Henry, knowing what his mother was planning, decided to kill his whole family, but would eventually fall into a coma due to not knowing his limits while using his psychic powers.
- Brenner knew what the boy did and also what he was capable of, and wanted to not just study but also control him. After the Creel House murders, Brenner would take Henry to the lab and the CIA would cover up anything that could compromise their operation. Victor Creel, the only survivor of the events in the house was declared legally insane, and the records of what Victor claimed to have occurred in his house were sealed.
- Brenner eventually sold to the CIA a separate program that he planned to start, a program that would study Henry Creel who was presented to the government as a potential weapon against the Soviets as stated by Matt Duffer in this interview by Deadline.
He knew what this kid did and also what he was capable of when he was young. Brenner’s going, how can I mold this character, but not just into a weapon? That’s really how he sold it to the government, but for him as a scientist, it’s like, what other worlds can this kid show me about how our universe works? — Matt Duffer
- As a scientist, Brenner had the desire to not only mold Henry into a weapon but also use him as a means to reach other worlds/dimensions and understand how the universe works. That makes me think that, at the time, Brenner expected Henry to be able to do what he would later discover only Eleven could do, which was the capablity of opening a rift or tear in time-space via psychic energy.
  • At some point, I would guess in late 1959 - early 1960s, an unknown event led Brenner to pacify Henry's abilities via Soteria. After that, Brenner would decide to evolve his program, replicating Henry's powers in other kids. This is something Matt Duffer confirmed that S5 will explore:
It’s something we will get into in Season 5. What happened to that program once Henry became involved and how Brenner evolved it into including multiple kids. We’re going to go back and see some of that in Season 5. — Matt Duffer
How Brenner tried to replicate Henry's abilities is unclear, but there's something mentioned in the Montauk bible that caught my attention and could be a brief explanation of how these preternatural abilities arise in some individuals:
ELEVEN was an orphan with telekinesis. her preternatural abilities have been linked to mutations caused by her mothers drug use.
In this version of the Eleven's backstory, the Duffers had not yet conceived El's mother being Terry Ives, the MKUltra involvement in the lore, and El's abilities being the result of experiments on her mother. Instead, we have genetic mutations caused by drug use.
If there's any chance this is an explanation to how some individuals are born with psychic abilities, i suspect that Brenner knew that drugs had the potential to cause such mutations and that via experiments and training, he would unlock these supernatural psychic abilities. Knowing that, Brenner would use the MKUltra (which mainly involved psychedelic drugs) as a means to new supernatural kids to be born, just like it happened to Eleven.

Virginia Creel's backstory
In episode 7, Henry mentions that his parents did "such awful things." and that he "held up a mirror" to show them who they really were, but we never got to see what Henry used against his mother. Whatever awful thing she did, is still a mystery in the show.
Also, Virginia somehow knew that Henry had supernatural abilities, so i think it's plausible to assume that, perhaps, Virginia knew it because of something dark in her past, something she believed resulted in her son being born with supernatural abilities and becoming a "broken" kid. The drug element that i mentioned before could also play a role in the origin of Henry's powers and whatever these dark memories of Virginia are.
In S4E7 script, we can see that the whole part where Virginia suspects Henry is the responsible for the strange happenings in the house and contacts Brenner to lock her son away is missing. Meaning the writers later decided to add more layers to this backstory that may be explored in S5.
The Duffer Brothers have confirmed in interviews that S5 will explore more of Henry's prequel story, and it was recently revealed in an article from BBC that the 'The First Shadow' stage play influences S5, so i'm hoping this means we'll see more of the Creels, specially Virginia.
They were able to adjust some of the "things in the play" and said that working on it had given them ideas for the upcoming season five.
Matt Duffer added: "Some of the mythology stuff is a little bit trickier, but like Ross said, it's been fun to have the play influence the show, and the show influenced the play,

1960's - THE PROGRAM EVOLVES
- The evolution of Brenner's program logically took place during the 1960s, and some of that was already hinted in S2 when we discover that Terry had documents about people she believed were like her daughter. In some of those documents we get to see that Kali was abducted in London, a Cleveland teen girl who was seemingly abducted in Indiana, and a newborn boy was taken from a hospital. The baby was in the care of a nurse who was found dead in her home.
- in 1969, Ray Carroll started working at HNL as an orderly.

1970's
- At some point in the early 70's, Terry Ives got involved with MKUltra. (In the Suspicious Minds book, we learn that Terry was involved with MKUltra in 1969 but i'm not considering any information from the book due to the huge amount of inconsistencies.)
- After Brenner kidnapped Eleven in 1971, the HNL would face charges and lawsuits from Terry Ives but they were denied due to lack of evidence.
- In 1973, the MKUltra was officially halted.
- In 1974, Terry would try to take Eleven from the laboratory. Brenner ordered Terry to undergo an eletroshock therapy, ordering Ray Carroll to set the voltage up to 450 and then proceeded to electrocute her until her brain was damaged.
- In 1979, One succeeded in having El "free" him by removing the Soteria from him. Regaining his psychic abilities, Henry kills all the Indigo numbers except for Eleven who would eventually banish him out of our dimension. After the attack, El falls into a coma, and Brenner doesn't dare bring another number to the lab. Instead, Brenner focuses the experiments on Eleven, who has repressed not only her memories of the past events but also her powers after waking up from her coma. Brenner knew that Eleven's abilities weren't lost but needed a "spark" to be restored.

1983
- Brenner believed that One was somewhere out there, "hiding in the darkness", and in 1983, after Eleven's powers were restored, Brenner would eventually use her abilities to find him.
- In one experiment, El hears a strange sound that would get Brenner's attention. Despite El getting scared and the experiment being aborted, Brenner would repeat the experiment with the intention of making "contact".
- On the night of november 6, 1983, El makes psychic contact with the Demogorgon in the Void, inadvertentely creating TUD, opening the mothergate and unleashing the monster. She eventually escaped the HNL that night.
- On the next day, Brenner and the CIA receive a visit from agents that according to the S1E1 script were NSA. CIA and NSA agents would eventually work together to find Eleven and cover up anything that would compromise the secrecy of their clandestine operation.
- Brenner and his team of agents along with MPs would go to the Hawkins Middle School in order to find Eleven after Hopper revealed her location. For their surprise, the Demogorgon appears in the school, distracting the agents and MPs, allowing the kids to run away from the CIA with Eleven. Brenner is brutally attacked by the Demogorgon, but survives the attack.
- After the events in the school, we see hopper entering a black sedan with CIA agents.
- CIA agents go to the Wheelers House searching for Eleven. This is the last time we see Brenner's men in the show. In the next season, the HNL would have a new director and a new staff.
- In a clipping at Hawkins Police Station, there's information on the aftermath of the events in november, 1983, where we learn that Joyce Byers publicy alleged that Will was the subject of a secret government program. Joyce's allegation comes amidst the investigation into the past allegations of the lab's involvement with mind control experiments (MKUltra).
- As to where Brenner and his entire staff were after the events in november, it is unknown, but i suspect Owens knew about what happened to them as in S2 he seems to be certain that Brenner's men were gone.
The point is, mistakes have been made. Yes. Abundant mistakes, but, the men involved with those mistakes, the ones responsible for what happened to your brother and Miss Holland's death, they're gone. They're gone, and for better for worse, i'm the schmuck they brought in to make things better. — Sam Owens
I've come to suspect that after the events of November '83, when the entire HNL staff was replaced, everything documented/recorded about the CIA's clandestine operations was securely locked away by CIA or DOE operatives, likely in the decommissioned Nevada Silo. (One alternate possibility is that those documents and recordings were stored in the Silo after the HNL was closed in december, 1984)
Something that I find interesting is that both the Silo Lab and Owens' residence are located in Nevada, and in S4E5, when Eleven is taken to the Silo, originally the titles "Ruth, Nevada" appeared on the screen, that was later removed, but it implies that both the Silo and Owens' residence were close. This leads me to suspect that long before Owens and Brenner conceived of the NINA program, Owens already knew about the abandoned Silo in Nevada and decided to used it to store every TOP-SECRET documents/recordings of the CIA operations at HNL:
https://preview.redd.it/xh9e7lxqye3b1.png?width=1334&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=eafda108e43adbb8ff115ac586a13add1f1e8442
One interesting detail is that the idea of ​​the government securely locking away videotapes is something the Duffers planned for their original Montauk conception, which most of it was a prototype for what we've seen in Stranger Things. In The Montauk Experiment, the O.S.S. would securely lock away film cannisters with recordings of everything that happened in Camp Hero after the experiments ended in a blood-soaked event. Details in the document below:
The logline for 'The Montauk Experiment'

DOCTOR SAM OWENS' POSITION IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
- Sam Owens is a high-ranking member within U.S. Department of Energy as mentioned in the first official description of his character. Sometime between late 1983 and early 1984 he would be brought to HNL on a ā€˜clean-up’ assignment, tasked with containing the mess left by the CIA in 1983 and making things better.
- As I previously mentioned, Owens may have been responsible for locking away all the documented CIA experimentation at HNL, and he also may have known the whereabouts of Brenner and other scientists and CIA operatives who worked with him all along. I would even assume that Owens and Brenner may have been in contact all this time.
- During his time as director of the operations at HNL, Owens was involved in Will's treatment and in containing the spread of TUD.
- In November 1984, during the Demodogs invasion, Owens met Eleven, who eventually closed the gate, ending TUD invasion.
- A month later, the operations at HNL were officially shut down and the lab was closed after the release of the tape recording Owens' "confession", and Owens decided to help Eleven have a normal life under Hopper's care, giving him a forged birth certificate, and recommending Hopper to "let things cool off" for a year. This, of course, was done without the knowledge of the U.S. government.
FACTONS WITHIN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
After the events os S2, in addition to the CIA Clandestine Ops and the DOE, other different agencies were introduced in the story:
- US Army/Pentagon that briefly appears at the end of s3 (although we've seen the Military Police in the previous seasons which is a branch of the Army), and would be an antagonist faction in S4.
- FBI agents who are presented as friends of Owens and allied to our main characters in S4.

SULLIVAN'S FACTION
- At some point after the HNL was closed, Doctor Owens, in addition to his high-ranking position in the DOE, also gained some position within the U.S. Army/Pentagon, probably tasked with monitoring and maintaining security in Hawkins after the lab was closed and the military presence left town. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Sullivan was involved in this, and it's possible he and Owens worked together.
- An interesting detail is that the arm patch on Lt. Colonel Sullivan's uniform confirms that he's an United States Army Criminal Investigation Division operative, hence his associaton with the Pentagon.
- At some point (i assume 1985), rumors about Eleven being alive and receiving help from someone within the U.S. government began to surface within the Pentagon, this would affect Owens' reputation.
- It's also worth mentioning that in S4E6, Sullivan seems to imply that he knew or at least believed Brenner was alive.
Explanation two, Dr. Brenner's special little pet has gone rogue again and he and his lackeys are now seeking to cover it up. Perhaps in the hopes of selling their pet to the Soviets. — Lt. Colonel Sullivan
There's also this interview with Sherman Augustus where the interviewer asks him if Sullivan knows that Brenner is still alive, and Sherman's answer implies that Brenner being alive is something that wouldn't surprise Sullivan, Maybe because it was rumored within the Pentagon too. Basically, there's nothing that Sullivan doesn't know or expect about what's been happening in Hawkins and within the government since the events of S1.
I'm pretty sure he knows that there's certain elements... because he says in the dialogue "there's rumors that she's getting help from someone on the inside". So there is nothing that he is not, you know, equating in that situation, he's not surprised. Whatever it is, you have to be a really strong and dynamic individual to be able to go in and try to kick E.T in the butt. — Sherman Augustus

- In July 1985, Owens would find out about a foreign government invasion in Hawkins, and would go to Hawkins accompanied by Army/Pentagon forces to deal with the invasion, only to find an empty Soviet bunker.

OWENS' FACTION
- After the events in July, Owens got fired from his position in the miitary for failing his assignment to monitor security at Hawkins, i believe the previously mentioned rumors about him may also have played a role in his dismissal.
- Owens, knowing that El had lost her powers, feared a further re-emergence of the TUD, which led him to begin developing ways to restore her abilities.
- Owens would ally with Brenner to develop a way to restore Eleven's abilities, and Brenner convinced Owens that the only way to do so was via a process of re-experiencing her repressed memories in a program that they would later call NINA. It's unclear when Brenner and Owens' alliance started, but i personally believe they knew each other for longer than we initially thought, and shortly after the July events, Owens' looked for Brenner's help in order to develop a means to restore El's powers.
- Despite being fired from his position in the military, Owens was still a DOE member and also had connections to the FBI (Ellen Stinson and other agents), and he used his power to clandestinely provide Brenner with the necessary resources to establish the NINA Project. For the program to be sanctioned, he had to compromise his principles, and risk his life and that of his family. Something worth noting is that in the episode 7 script, the dialogue where Owens expresses his disappointment with NINA's progress is a little different:
I've given you all the resources you've asked for, i've given you your people, i've compromised my principles, i've risked my life, my family's life, all because you assured me this would work. That this was the only way. — Sam Owens
By "i've given you your people" we can confirm that Owens gave to Brenner his old HNL staff, who as we saw in S4E8, were loyal to him. And we can also confirm by Sam's words that he had to give Brenner resources, meaning, wherever Brenner was after the events oF S1, he was left with no resources and access to his old staff.
- Owens and Brenner would establish NINA in the same abandoned Silo in Nevada where Owens presumably locked away all the video tapes and documents from HNL.

THE FACTION CONFLICT
- After Owens' dismissal, Sullivan apparently became the responsible for monitoring Hawkins and maintaining the security in the town.
- In March 1986, a supernatural murder in Hawkins comes to Sullivan's attention, and after an autopsy is performed by Army medical doctors, Sullivan concludes that the murder was done remotely, which tied in with the rumors about Eleven being alive and getting help from someone within the U.S. government who he, and probably other operatives within the Pentagon believed was Sam Owens.
- Upon that conclusion, Sullivan would begin a clandestine military operation in order to investigate Eleven's whereabouts, and this leads him to Owens.
- Something worth noting is that when we are first introduced to Sullivan, he arrives in Indiana in an U.S. Army helicopter to investigate the circumstances of an unusual murder, but when he begins his operation to hunt down Eleven, he goes to Ruth, Nevada in an unmarked black helicopter, alluding to the fact that this is a clandestine military operation:
Sullivan arrives in Indiana

Sullivan leaves Owens' residence in Ruth, Nevada

Something interesting about the scene where Sullivan visits Owens that adds some information on what the U.S. government has been up to is the dialogue between Sullivan and Owens from this audition tape which is a bit different from the dialogue in the show,
There were no signs of an attacker. No bruises, no signs of any struggle. It's as if her attacker was a ghost. — Lt. Colonel Sullivan
So what is this, really? I mean, why are you here? all of the sudden you want to help again? — Sam Owens
Dr. Owens, 30 civilians died last year, a foreign government our country all under your watch. There had to be consequences, you've got to understand that — Lt. Colonel Sullivan
Owens' question implies that Sullivan has been helping him at some point, probably in monitoring Hawkins like a mentioned before, which would explain how he knew so much about what has happened there all this years.
And Sullivan's response implies that after Owens got fired, it became his responsability to maintain security in Hawkins, which is why he was there, asking Owens Eleven's whereabouts.
- Owens refuses to tell Sullivan Eleven's whereabouts, and Jack decides to do things "the hard way", taking multiple items from Owens' house in order to investigate everything Sam has done and everyone he has spoken to in 1985 and luckily, be able to find where Eleven is.
- Owens knew that the former Indigo test subject One was back, and via a DOE intranet, he requests the immediate acceleration of NINA. He makes it clear that their secret program and facility were compromised and that the Pentagon was involved. And for the security of their program, Owens implements a communication lockdown.
- Owens uses his FBI connections to have agents help him find Eleven, maintain the secrecy of the operation and protect people closely associated with Eleven who could be found by Sullivan. Some of those agents are Ellen Stinson, who seems to be Owens' right hand, Agent Harmon, and Agent Wallace.
- In the meantime, Sullivan/the Pentagon was able to find out that Owens moved Eleven to Lenora Hills, CA, and would eventually send a group of agents/soldiers to find her.
- After finding Eleven with a group of agents and convicing her to go with him in order to get her powers back, Owens takes El to the Silo Lab while Agents Harmon and Wallace would stay with Mike, Jonathan and Will to protect them, and Agent Stinson would be closely monitoring Hawkins with 2 more agents.
- Sullivan, after a shootout in the Byers' house takes Agent Wallace to a black site to torture him in order to find out where Eleven was, and after a long time of torture, Wallace gave away Eleven's location.
- After NINA succeeded in restoring Eleven's abilities, Owens, believing she was ready, would call Stinson to have her prepare the transit from Nevada to Hawkins, Indiana through her connections at Nellis.
- Brenner would eventually betray Owens and considered killing him in order to stop Eleven from leaving the Silo Lab. After the conflict between Owens and Brenner, the Pentagon finally arrives at the location revealed by Agent Wallace and a conflict between the U.S army and the MP soldiers resulted in the death of Brenner, his men and all the scientists in the Silo Lab, except Owens.
- Eleven escapes the Pentagon with her friends, and we see Sullivan and some of his soldiers for the last time in S4, in the Nevada desert.
Episodes 8 and 9 made it clear that El still needs to hide and Sullivan's faction is still after her. It's worth mentioning that Sullivan was the only villain in ST4 not to be killed or at least injured, so it's almost certain that this guy will be back in ST5 to kick E.T's ass. Specially know that a full-scale TUD invasion is about the happen in Hawkins.

POSSIBILITIES FOR S5:
Sullivan investigates the video tapes in the silo lab
S4 ended without us knowing what happened to Owens and Sullivan after eleven escaped, but we do know that both characters are in the Silo Lab and that Sullivan now has access to a vast amount of video tapes that he would certainly investigate and this would create several different possibilities for the Pentagon's role in S5.

Sullivan's Mission in Hawkins
Sullivan is still responsible for monitoring Hawkins, and he will likely learn about what is happening in the town (which is also where El is hiding now), possibly through the military presence in Hawkins that we saw in the ST4 epilogue.
Something that caught my attention was the presence of a Research Lab vehicle on the set of down town hawkins, this vehicle never appeared in the show, and it was not mentioned in the script of episode 9. But it makes me think that at the end of S4, the Military is not just trying to help Hawkins citizen after this "federal disaster", but also researching into TUD, which perhaps is an operation led by Sullivan? let me know what you guys think.

S1 parallels
If we have Sullivan in Hawkins in S5, we most certainly will get more Government vs Eleven scenes, which would parallel Brenner and the CIA in S1. I particularly believe that S5 will have many parallels with what the Duffers planned for the first season of Montauk:
ACT THREE (episodes 7-8) will climax with characters working together to outsmart the military, venture into this alternate dimension, save Will, and, hopefully, close this "tear" once and for all.

Doctor Owens in 1959 flashbacks
Something I found extremely suspicious is that in S4, Owens seemed to know more than we initially thought...
He's claimed three victims so far, and when i saw the eyes, i knew... i knew that was him. He was him. He was sending us a message, letting us know he's back.
This sentence from Owens confirms that he somehow knew Henry's killing manner. It's plausible to assume that Owens learned about Henry and the other Indigo Numbers after being brought to the lab to "make things better". But I personally believe that there must be a greater reason why he was brought to HNL after S1, I believe Owens was already aware of the clandestine operations that had been happening in the HNL for years (at least some of it) and had known Dr. Brenner since the 1950's. I would even consider the possibility that Owens has been involved in clandestine government operations in the past and that somehow led him to find out about the HNL and Brenner's program.
In this interview by The Wrap, Ross Duffer's words about Brenner and Owens' alliance caught my attention because the way he puts it felt like Owens has known Brenner for much longer than we think.
Once that first kill with Chrissy happens, then their fears are realized and that’s what jump starts their whole storyline. I mean, that is why Owens is collaborating with Brenner, a man he also does not like. He respects him, but despises the man, because he also knows he’s the key to stopping One, to stopping Vecna. — Ross Duffer
By my suspicion, i came up with the theory/fanfic that Owens could have worked with Brenner in the 50's and was aware of what happened in the Creel House in '59. Maybe he even met young Henry and interacted with him after he woke up from his coma. If there's any chance that i'm right about it, i would imagine the Owens and Henry interactions would parallel the scenes with Owens and Will in S2.

Stinson becomes the new Owens / Her alliance with the adults
Agent Stinson was apparently Owens' right hand in S4 and also the leader among the agents of Owens' faction, being involved in the operations in Nevada, Hawkins and even being responsible for driving Hopper and Joyce to Hawkins. Imo, Stinson has the potential to become the "new Owens"/Main government operative to help our main characters while Owens is MIA. She could also send some agents to investigate what happened to Owens. I have a personal theory that Stinson will join the adults in S5 and help them on a mission to outsmart the military. And i think the "knowing nod" between Hop and Stinson in S4E9 might be a hint of a possible team up for S5.
submitted by kauan1983 to HawkinsAVclub [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 18:55 acekingoffsuit Final Day European & Relegation permutations for this weekend: Ligue 1, Serie A, & LaLiga

Ligue 1

Final matches: Saturday, 9pm local time (8pm UK, 19:00 UTC, 3pm US Eastern)
TITLE & CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st & 2nd to group stage, 3rd to 3rd round qualifying)
Rank Team Points GD
1 (c, q) Paris Saint-Germain 85 +50
2 (q) RC Lens 81 +37
3 (q) Olympic Marseille 73 +28
There is no doubt about who will represent Ligue 1 in the Champions League. PSG are champions for the second straight season and ninth time in the past 11 years. Lens, who will play in the continent's premier competition for the first time since the 2002/2003 season, will join PSG in the group stage. Marseille will have to try their luck in the third qualifying round.
EUROPA LEAGUE & EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE (4th to Europa, 5th to Europa Conference)
Rank Team Points GD
4 LOSC Lille 66 +21
5 Stade Rennais 65 +29
6 AS Monaco 65 +13
The situation around the remaining European places is a bit complex. Fourth place earns a Europa group stage place alongside Coupe de France winner Toulouse, while fifth place earns a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. But there's a caveat: The same group that owns Toulouse - RedBird Capital - also owns AC Milan. The Italian side have qualified for the Champions League, but because it's possible for Milan to drop into the Europa knockouts, UEFA rules could prevent Toulouse from entering the competition. If that were to happen, the teams in fourth and fifth would play in Europa and sixth place would go to Europa Conference. Whether that actually happens may depend on whether or not UEFA offers an exception, or if RedBird restructures the ownership in a way that satisfies UEFA's rules (like RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg).
In short, the team in fourth will play in Europa League no matter what happens. Fifth will play in a European competition to be determined later, while sixth may or may not play in Europe.
Lille (away vs Troyes) clinch Europa League with:
Lille clinch European competiiton with:
Rennes (away vs Brest) clinch Europa League with:
Rennes clinch European football with:
Monaco (home vs Toulouse) clinch Europa League with:
Monaco clinch European football with:
RELEGATION (17th through 20th to Ligue 2)
Rank Team Points GD
16 AJ Auxerre 35 -26
17 FC Nantes 33 -19
18 (r) ES Troyes 23 -36
19 (r) AC Ajaccio 23 -52
20 (r) Angers SCO 18 -47
In previous seasons, just two teams would go down directly to Ligue 2 and a third would do battle in a relegation playoff. With Ligue 1 contracting to 18 teams starting next season, however, there is no relegation playoff this campaign, and a total of four teams will drop down to the second tier. Angers punched their relegation ticket at the end of April, with Ajaccio and Troyes joining in two weeks later. The final relegation place comes down to the last day of the season. Auxerre will avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2 with victory against a Lens side that are assured of second place. Should they slip, the door will be open for Nantes to secure survival with a win of their own over already-condemned Angers.
Auxerre (home vs Lens) clinch safety with:
Nantes (home vs Angers) clinch safety with:

LaLiga

Final matches: Sunday, 11:30am (European qualification-related matches) & 2pm (Relegation-related matches) local time (5:30pm & 8pm UK, 16:30 & 19:00 UTC, 12:30pm & 3pm US Eastern)
TITLE & CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st through 4th plus Europa League winner to group stage)
Rank Team Points GD
1 (c, q) FC Barcelona 88 +51
2 (q) Real Madrid 77 +39
3 (q) Atletico Madrid 76 +37
4 (q) Real Sociedad 68 +15
11 (q) Sevilla 49 -6
The Champions League places are set. Barcelona are champions of LaLiga for the 27th time, and are set to make their 20th consecutive Champions League appearance next season. They will be joined by Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Real Sociedad via league performance. Sevilla will be there as well after their penalty shootout win in the Europa League final over Roma.
EUROPA LEAGUE & EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE (5th and 6th to Europa, 7th to Europa Conference)
Rank Team Points GD
5 (el) Villarreal 63 +19
6 (el) Real Betis 59 +5
7 CA Osasuna 50 -6
8 Athletic Club 50 +4
9 Girona FC 49 +4
10 Rayo Vallecano 49 -5
The Europa League places are set, as Real Betis and Osasuna Villarreal are assured of finishing fifth and sixth respectively. After that... it's a jumble. FOUR teams are within a single point of the final European place. Osasuna is the only club that can secure European football on its own, as a win would be enough to clinch seventh... but they host Girona, who will head to the UECL if they win and Athletic Club do not. Athletic need a win and an Osasuna loss to claim the place, but they're facing Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. Rayo Vallecano can reach Europe, but they need to win, hope Athletic do not, and hope that there's no winner in the Osasuna/Girona clash.
Osasuna (home v Girona) clinch UECL with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Athletic loss/draw & Rayo Val. loss
Athletic Club (away v Real Madrid) clinch UECL with:
  • Win & Osasuna loss/draw
Girona (away v Osasuna) clinch UECL with:
  • Win & Athletic loss/draw
Rayo Vallecano (away v Mallorca) clinch UECL with:
  • Win & Osasuna/Girona draw Athletic loss/draw
RELEGATION (18th through 20th to LaLiga 2)
Rank Team Points GD
13 Cadiz CF 41 -23
14 Getafe CF 41 -11
15 Valencia CF 41 -3
16 UD Almeria 40 -16
17 Celta Vigo 40 -11
18 Real Valladolid 39 -30
19 (r) RCD Espanyol 36 -17
20 (r) Elche CF 24 -37
You thought the Europa Conference battle was tough? Try this on for size: SIX teams are within two points of the final relegation place. FIVE of the final day's ten matches will have a say on who joins Elche and Espanyol in LaLiga 2 next season.
It could be very simple: if Valladolid lose to Getafe, they are relegated. A Valladolid draw potentially brings Alemria and Celta Vigo into the mix. A win gives Valladolid safety and potentially puts Getafe, Cadiz, and Valencia at risk.
If Valladolid win, things have the potential to get very crazy. There is the potential for anywhere between two and five teams to be level on points for the final relegation spot. Because head-to-head results take precidence over goal difference when it comes to tiebreaking in LaLiga, the potential ties get too complicated for me to work out every single one, especially for the combinations of more than two teams. (For example: If Valencia and Cadiz are tied, Valencia go down. If it's Valencia and Getafe, Getafe go down. If it's Getafe and Cadiz, Cadiz go down. If all three are tied, Valencia go down.) But here are all of the relevant head-to-head tiebreak scenarios if it does come down to just two teams:
Cadiz: Beat Getafe & Valencia; lose to Celta Vigo & Almeria
Getafe: Beat Celta Vigo; lose to Cadiz, Valencia, & Almeria
Valencia: Beat Getafe & Celta Vigo; lose to Cadiz & Almeria
Almeria: Beat Cadiz, Getafe, Valencia, & Celta Vigo; lose to Valladolid
Celta Vigo: Beat Cadiz & Valladolid; lose to Getafe, Valencia, & Almeria
Valladolid: Beat Almeria; lose to Celta Vigo
Real Valladolid (home v Getafe) clinch safety with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Almeria loss
Almeria (away v Espanol) clinch safety with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Valladolid draw, OR
  • Celta Vigo loss
  • Valladolid loss
Celta Vigo (home v Barcelona) clinch safety with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Almeria loss, OR
  • Draw & Valladolid draw, OR
  • Valladolid draw & Almeria win/draw, OR
  • Valladolid loss
Cadiz (away v Elche), Getafe (away v Real Valladolid), & Valencia (away v Real Betis) each clinch safety with:
  • Win/draw, OR
  • Real Valladolid loss/draw, OR
  • Celta Vigo loss, OR
  • Almeria loss
  • Each team may be at risk of relegation with a loss if Valladolid win & Celta Vigo win/draw & Almeria win/draw, depending on other results.

Serie A

Final matches (impacting European qualification and Relegation): Sunday, 9pm local time (8pm UK, 19:00 UTC, 3pm US Eastern)
Other matches: Friday, 8:30pm local time, Saturday, 6:30pm & 9pm local time, Sunday 6:30pm local time
TITLE & CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st through 4th to group stage)
Rank Team Points GD
1 (c, q) SSC Napoli 87 +47
2 (q) SS Lazio 71 +28
3 (q) Inter Milan 69 +28
4 (q) AC Milan 67 +19
Napoli have left no doubt about their position as champions, as they will be 16 points clear of the field entering the final day. The Scudetto holders will enter the Champions League alongside Lazio and Milan's blue and red clubs. Inter Milan's group stage qualification is music to the ears of Shakhtar Donetsk supporters; because both of this year's UCL finalists have qualified for next year's Champions League via their league positions, Shakhtar will avoid the qualifiers and head straight to the group stage.
EUROPA LEAGUE & EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE (5th and 6th to Europa, 7th to Europa Conference)
Rank Team Points GD
5 Atalanta BC 61 +15
6 AS Roma 60 +11
7 Juventus 59 +22
Inter Milan's triumph in the Coppa Italia means that two Italian teams will reach the Europa League via their Serie A performance, and Atalanta and Roma are in the drivers' seats for those places. Juventus, whose penalty of 15-then-0-then-10 points has dropped the Old Lady from the Champions League places to the Europa Conference position, can still make the Europa League if they win and one of the other two teams do not.
Fiorentina can also secure a place in the Europa League if they defeat West Ham United in the Europa Conference League final. Their results would have no impact on the placement of the other three Italian teams in the Europa & Europa Conference mix.
Of course, these permutations could all be for naught, as UEFA may impose a penalty of its own on Juventus in the form of a European competition ban.
Atalanta (home vs Monza) clinch Europa League with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Roma draw, OR
  • Roma loss, OR
  • Juventus loss/draw
Roma (home vs Spezia) clinch Europa League with:
  • Win, OR
  • Juventus loss/draw
Juventus (away vs Udinese) clinch Europa League with:
  • Win & Atalanta loss/draw, OR
  • Win & Roma loss/draw
RELEGATION (18th through 20th to Serie B)
Rank Team Points GD
17 Spezia Calcio 31 -30
18 Hellas Verona 31 -26
19 (r) Cremonese 24 -34
20 (r) Sampdoria 19 -45
Sampdoria and Cremonese are headed down to Serie B after this weekend, but the third team that makes the drop may not be known after the final day. The FIGC have implemented a new rule for Serie A: If there is a tie on points for either the title or the final relegation place, tie will be broken via one-game playoff. Spezia and Verona may end up being the first playoff participants, as they enter the final day level on 31 points. Should one obtain a better result than the other - Verona away to CL-assured Milan, Spezia away to Europa-contending Roma - then that team will clinch safety. But if they have the same result, then the playoff awaits.
Spezia (away vs Roma) clinch safety with:
  • Win & Verona loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Verona loss
Verona (away vs AC Milan) clinch safety with:
  • Win & Spezia loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Spezia loss
Spezia and Verona to play in relegation playoff on 11 June with:
  • Spezia win & Verona win, OR
  • Spezia draw & Verona draw, OR
  • Spezia loss & Verona loss
submitted by acekingoffsuit to soccer [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 17:36 --Clintoris-- NRFI - Clintoris - 06/01 - Bring on the Trash Cans!

Yesterday recap of NRFI probability > 50%:
1 - MIL/TOR - NRFI
2 - PIT/SFG - NRFI
3 - TEX/DET - NRFI
4 - NYY/SEA - NRFI
4 for 4! I expect nothing else. jk
**
Today's post is going to be less longwinded (would that be considered shortwinded? Is that a word?)

Before the percentages, I have some interesting stats for you NRFI lovers:
- Could you imagine how weird it would be if a team averaged 1 run per first inning at home but scores 10% of the time on the road in the first inning? What about if they were 2nd in the league in OPS at home and 22nd on the road? That would be weird right. Idk, maybe I am being paranoid, the Boston Red Sox would never cheat or create an infrastructure of sign stealing at home! https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/red-sox-scandal-boston-gets-off-easy-for-sign-stealing-as-mlbs-credibility-takes-another-hard-hit/
"The Red Sox got caught illegally stealing signs in 2017, assured the commissioner they wouldn't do it again, and then they brazenly did it again the very next season. Despite that, their punishment was more lenient than Houston's. Manfred justified this in his report by laying the blame on Watkins, and absolving everyone above him. The low-level staffer is wearing it."
I think this why NRFI for them is at -110 even with Sale and Greene who have been pitching well. if Boston can info on when Hunter Greene throws his fastball and can sit slider they can crush it. Reminds me of this - https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2876118-aroldis-chapman-jose-altuves-actions-after-walk-off-vs-yankees-suspicious

- Teams with legit sketchy home road first inning splits, first number is runs per first inning at home, second is runs per first inning on the road:
BOSTON - 1.00 vs .11 (OH OKAY)
CINCY - .96 vs .23
CHW - .74 vs .23
TEXAS - .88 vs .47
KC - .72 vs .3

Anyone who thinks teams don't have infrastructures set up to steal signs at home is lying to themselves. The Astros were just really good at it and won a few chips. Everyone does it. Some better than others
- SD/MIA - listen. this will PROBABLY end up being NRFI and the odds are at -140 (By the way I was looking at some of my bests on reddit last year, and I bet a -200 NRFI. -200!!) but here's why this one is not -150:
Both Musgrove and Luzardo have below average WHIP last few starts (related to standard deviation with a mean of 1) and Miami has been raking lately. Add in the Padres are better against LHP than RHP.. idk. this is why I do this.
COL/AZ - This has nothing to do with NRFI or betting but this can't be forgotten. Zach Davies starting today for the dbacks and he is a good pitcher, but... did you know he ghosted his WIFE. His WIFE. https://nypost.com/2022/05/18/zach-davies-estranged-wife-says-mlb-pitcher-ghosted-her-for-a-yea
Sent a text at 6 am on a road trip, blocked her, ghosted her and filed for divorce through lawyers and never talks to her again. I might bring this up every Davies start because I cant get over it. Why would he do that?
"Megan then alleges that she had to ā€œfile for divorce without even having a single conversation with the person [she] built a life with,ā€ also claiming he had been unfaithful."
Ah i see.
*
Today's NRFI Probabilities (The % is chance of it occurring):
Milwaukee Brewers
49.59% , Rank 3 (DK Odds - 115) 
Toronto Blue Jays
Philadelphia Phillies
43.79% , Rank 7 (DK Odds -110) 
New York Mets
San Diego Padres
44.97% , Rank 5 (DK Odds -140) 
Miami Marlins
Colorado Rockies
52.48% , Rank 2 (DK Odds +105) 
Arizona Diamondbacks
Cincinnati Reds
45.96% , Rank 4 (DK Odds -110) 
Boston Red Sox
Cleveland Guardians
53.82% , Rank 1 (DK Odds -125) Holy shit this went from -115 to -125 as I'n writing this 
Minnesota Twins
Los Angeles Angels
44.57% , Rank 6 (DK Odds -120) 
Houston Astros


GL TODAY ALL!
submitted by --Clintoris-- to sportsbetting [link] [comments]


2023.06.01 14:47 Tylus0 Traction VS Tread Life VS Price - Best Tire

My 392 is destroying tires. Zero burnouts! I’m getting 8-10k miles on my rear tires with daily 100 mile commute and somewhat spirited light to light. I’ve tried several brands, varying from 250-320 tread softness. Pirelli, Goodyear, General, Kumho…to name a few.
Frankly it’s expensive at $500-700 per pair, and I’m not getting much better traction vs my current 500 hardness Goodyears.
So what’s a decent tire you all use that balances wear, traction, and price? Currently running 285/40R20 on my 9.5ā€ rims. Factory size is 275/40R20
submitted by Tylus0 to Charger [link] [comments]


2023.05.31 22:01 alwayswiz From Ace last season to first time Legend this season

From Ace last season to first time Legend this season
Just thought I would post some encouragement to others and share my personal experience this past season as I jumped all the way to Legend after failing to crack 2450 last season. I'm far from a great player and still make many mistakes (though I am cutting down on those) but I assure you that if I can go from a middling Ace to Legend then so can you! I also wanted to thank all of those who post on this sub--I'm mostly a lurker but I read a lot of it when I can and various tips and anecdotes have been very helpful in the past, so I want to share mine.
At the start of the season I think it's very important to be focused and try to land yourself high enough after level 20 that you're not stuck in the 2100-2300 sweaty ELO hell range the whole season. Last season I think I ended up around 1950 coming out of level 20 and from there was never able to break out of the 2100-2300 cycle until the very end but it was too late. This past season I landed just above 2100 after level 20. I did ultimately dip a little bit back and may have gone under 2000 briefly, but I was able to push back above 2100 shortly thereafter. I think who you wind up battling in that range are future Expert/Legends who just haven't had enough battles to raise their ELO just yet. You want to try to stay with them and not get stuck down or it becomes a challenge all season long.
The GL meta mons are meta for a reason--they're really good! If you don't have them and you want to improve your ELO, just don't play OGL. Last season I played OGL whenever it was available, but this season I only played OGL when I had no other plausible option. I don't have a Medi, Bast, Sableye, Regi, DD--while I'm in the process of walking these mons to get XL candy I decided to just focus elsewhere. Seeing that OUL was going to be featured prominently I went out of my way to play test a bunch of different things and ultimately settled on Pidgeot/Coba/Gira-A. Yes the Pidgeot required max XL but they were everywhere and very easy to get. The important thing was once I settled on this team I played them non-stop whenever OUL was available and learned all the ins and outs (leading Pidgeot can be particularly interesting given the FD/BB options and takes time to learn). By the time OUL rolled out again late in the season, I felt like I had a big advantage and shot up 200+ ELO that week just b/c I had been playing with this team so much.
I never counted moves or know how to throw on optimal fast move timing. I'm sure those things are important and probably are the difference between run-of-the-mill Legend and leaderboard. Maybe I'll bother with learning them someday but if you don't know them it's ok and you can still succeed without them. More important IMO is generally knowing your opponents energy and focusing on getting your opponent to waste that energy somehow. Once I entered a battle thinking more about my opponents energy than my own I started to vastly improve (again, shoutout to this sub for that advice!).
The other thing I'd say is just know your team. Are you playing ABB? Are you balanced? Against what leads do you need to prioritize winning lead vs. shield advantage? If they switch into something, depending on what it is do you need to auto-switch or should you chip & then switch or stay in? There's no right answer to any of this, it all depends on your team. But I found out all these answers simply by playing the same team over and over and over again. Maybe that gets boring for some but I found it interesting learning all the ins and outs of the team. And about the team, there is no perfect team out there--I spent so much time trying to figure out the perfect team, but there's always something that's going to hard counter you or some matchups that simply aren't winnable based on alignment and mons. It happens. Just move on and don't dwell on the fact your team isn't perfect.
If you look at my stats you see that I played the exact number of battles, but improved my winning percentage from 50.8% to 51.8%. That's it, just 1%! That's all you need to improve to go from Ace to Legend!! That's honestly not a lot. I assure you that if you were able to make high Ace, you can make the big jump this coming season too.
Finally, take a look at the season coming up and plan ahead. I was eyeing Catch Cup the whole season and planned accordingly, saving mons for potential use later down the line. I also made note of what I wasn't going to see, or should not expect to see much of, and planned my team accordingly. There's another Catch Cup coming up at the end of next season and that's a great chance to get you that final boost you need at the end of the season, so think ahead! Happy to chat about any specific strategies/teams with anyone--thanks for reading and good luck in the next season and I hope you reach your goals!
https://preview.redd.it/sy8pws6ol93b1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=1215e901a2dc98425d0ac8229370f3c004671d8f
submitted by alwayswiz to TheSilphArena [link] [comments]


2023.05.31 17:06 Dangerous-Bag-7327 [HIRING] 20 Jobs in Dallas Hiring Now!

Company Name Title City
Capital One Senior DevOps Engineer Dallas
Phyton Talent Advisors Desktop Support Technician - Work From Home Dallas
City of Dallas New Job Opportunities Dallas
UnitedHealth Group Patient Care Coordinator-Senior Dallas
Frontline Source Group, Inc Salesforce Admin Developer Dallas
Eclaro Technical Consultant Dallas
USPI Surgery Aide Dallas
Robert Half International Branch Director - TTS Managed Solutions Recruiting Hub (Remote) Dallas
Xometry Director of Sales Dallas
Texas Health Resources Medical Surgical Nurse Dallas
Werner Enterprises, Inc. Warehouse Supervisor Dallas
Neiman Marcus Group Careers Lead Warehouse Associate - IC/QA (Night Shift) Dallas
Leslie's Seasonal Warehouse Associate 3 Dallas
Boeing Supply Chain Specialist Dallas
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Warehouse/Cooler Operator I Dallas
Trimedx Warehouse Manager Dallas
Dallas Independent School District Warehouse Delivery Driver (260 Days) Various Positions Dallas
Goodyear Warehouse Technician - Dallas, TX Dallas
Ey Technology & Architecture - Supply Chain Technical Senior Manager - US Consulting Dallas
Chefs' Warehouse Delivery Driver Non CDL / Warehouse Dallas
Hey guys, here are some recent job openings in dallas. Feel free to comment here or send me a private message if you have any questions, I'm at the community's disposal! If you encounter any problems with any of these job openings please let me know that I will modify the table accordingly. Thanks!
submitted by Dangerous-Bag-7327 to DallasJobsForAll [link] [comments]


2023.05.31 05:39 blurryturtle 2023 Roland Garros Men's Round Two 🐢

THIAGO SEYBOTH WHAAAAAAAAAT!!!! Crazy round one, and round two has a ton of great matches which means my job is difficult. The ATP is below, I posted what fit and the rest is at the link at the bottom. The WTA will be up in about 2 hours <3

Alcaraz vs Daniel :

If there were any doubts about the early rounds here in Paris, Alcaraz put them to rest in his first round. Cobolli came into this match playing some of his best tennis, and was soundly beaten. Alcaraz’s physical strength is just making him a really tough equation to solve if you don’t have a huge serve. Alcaraz has natural speed, but his footwork is very proactive as well. This means he’s constantly taking time away from his opponents. It’s hard to commit to a swing when you know the ball is coming right back, and Carlos looks really solid.
Cobolli may have gotten a dismissal, but O’Connell won even fewer games against Taro Daniel. Daniel was extremely consistent, but O’Connell just didn’t look ready to play. It’s a welcome infusion of ranking points and money for Daniel, but this is probably going to be similar to the Cobolli match. Hanging in rallies expecting errors just won’t work against Alcaraz at this stage in his career. Alcaraz in 3.

Arnaldi vs Shapovalov :

Despite being one of the best on tour at generating unforced errors, Denis Shapovalov won his first round. The problem for Nakashima was apparent early on; When the ball lands in the court, it’s going very fast. Shapo was hitting clean winners past Nakashima on both wings, and the usual errors came in, but once he was up 2-0 it felt like Nakashima had to do too much work to hold off the result. It feels like the player who’s won 2 in a row has all the momentum in a fifth, but we all just saw the Celtics come up very flat against the Heat in the NBA conference finals after winning 3 in a row. It’s just very tough to maintain the level, and Shapovalov appears to have hit his mom with the ā€œ5 more minutesā€ snooze button routine here, just waking up again in the 5th to crack a few spectacular forehands and shake hands.
The Arnaldi matchup is interesting because I don’t see a big difference in level between Nakashima and Arnaldi. If Shapovalov plays his best, he’ll win again. Can he do that two rounds in a row? That seems to be where the books are unsure. A lot of bettors bet off name recognition. The general public doesn’t really have the time to follow the tour, so when they see Shapovalov win, it is likely that people will bet on him the next round. Matteo Arnaldi is a great player, but he doesn’t garner the market share that Shapovalov does. He probably falls well short of Nakashima as well. At even odds here, the books are going to see exposure on Shapovalov’s side, so I do think that it is a slight position on Arnaldi being the winner here. Musing how that can happen is pretty simple. Arnaldi is at his best on clay, and Shapo doesn’t love the surface. Arnaldi has just proved himself by defeating Galan in 4, which is pretty solid since Galan can beat most mid-level tour players on clay.
Arnaldi and Nakashima would be pretty close in level, but Arnaldi uses more traditional clay-court patterns. He has a better cross-court backhand, his serve has a bit more pop (ya gotta have pop!) and Shapovalov will be less familiar with his game so when he does go to the dropshot or serve-volley it’ll be a surprise. This is a spot where Shapovalov could easily win again, but his opponent here is more comfortable with his court positioning and I think the durability will yield results sooner where Nakashima had to catch up to Shapo’s pace. Arnaldi in 4.

Musetti vs Shevchenko :

Mikael Ymer pushed Musetti in their opener, but he just doesn’t have the serving game to close out a set even if he gets the lead. Lorenzo is one of the most solid defenders in this entire event, and when you yield control of rallies to him, he’s able to hit inside-in forehands until you are sitting in the bleachers. The swings seem composed because they are. Musetti can infuse great pace in the ball, but most of the time he’s just swinging 3/4 speed. The results is that he doesn’t miss much, and that’s a big plus on clay. Shevchenko is the polar opposite of Ymer here as far as offensive potential, and the opposite of Musetti as far as capacity. He swings as hard as he can at every single ball. He serves very big, and adopts some wide positions at times to really make use of the court. It’s a very exciting approach, and he’s very emotive on the court so this should be a good show.
I think Shevchenko will lose to his errors here. Against Otte the main difficulty was getting returns in play, but once he was there Shevchenko was not only the bigger hitter, he was also the only one looking to prolong rallies. Musetti will be fine however long the point goes, and there was some slight leg fatigue for Shevchenko late in his match so I think this is too much for him right now. With his power and offensive approach, he should be able to win a set, but I don’t think Musetti is as primed for the random upset as he sometimes can be. He seems focused, he’s played some high profile matches this year, and also the pressure is off. He’s out of his next-gen years, he’s won enough stuff that they’re not worrying him with ā€œwill he meet expectationsā€ chatter, and he has a good amount of fan support. Musetti in 4.

Pouille vs Norrie :

Yeesh. Pouille really has improved every single round here. Rodionov looked very sunk as far as ideas in their match, and Lucas with confidence is a scary opponent. He’ll need to level up again here, as he’s playing one of the Medvedev type clay-court challenges. A guy who isn’t really great on the surface, but doesn’t give you anything in the way of errors. Norrie had a pretty difficult time in round one against Paire. It just seemed that he was content to try to outlast him, and it almost didn’t work. Paire’s forehand vs Norrie’s backhand is something that Norrie’s backhand only barely won, and that should give Pouille some hope. Problems for Pouille lie in the lack of a big serve. Paire is able to get inside the baseline on most returns since his delivery is speedy, well located, and hard to read. His dropshot heavy approach can get him in trouble, but it takes a guy like Norrie out of his comfort zone. Pouille goes with power and footspeed, but those are things Norrie can probably deal with.
Based on the first round, on paper this is a close match. I do expect Pouille to play his best here, and since Norrie is looking to outlast you, he may win a set . Just doesn’t feel like the run continues though. Norrie in 3-4.

Fognini vs Kubler :

Fognini saunters casually towards a tree. Nearby an elephant munches complacently on leaves. ā€œI remember things too,ā€ offers Fognini, ā€œI remember lots of thingsā€. The elephant does not respond. Fognini scowls, he is somehow both wearing a shirt and not wearing a shirt. He pauses to admire his arm, which unfortunately has some scratches from early when he attempted to tie a ninja headband on a lion . ā€œI told you it would not stay still,ā€ reminds Flavia, as a gazelle sprints by. Fognini scowls at the gazelle’s unnecessary effort. ā€œRunning for no reason, not staying still, the savannah is mad,ā€ declares Fognini, while flexing his moustache. He plucks a spider off a nearby bush and admires himself in its eight eyes. ā€œMaybe it’s not all bad thoughā€.
Like it or not, Fognini has beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime. Felix’s camp advised that he was having some stomach issues, but it just felt like FAA was not primed for a deep run here at RG. It’s almost useful for him to be out quickly here, as he’s one of the few guys with a shot at Wimbledon and a few extra weeks of grass prep is invaluable as short as that season is. Fabio’s next opponent is Jason Kubler, a player who will be pretty happy with his chances at a third round. Fognini is in good form, but he’s always a guy that can lose to his emotions. Kubler is the exact sort of opponent that Fognini can have trouble with. A very bland approach to the game, and predictable yet efficient patterns. I would expect Fognini to win the early goings of this, and it’s the second half of the match where Kubler can perhaps make some inroads. Overall, I don’t see a huge difference in their current levels, but Fognini’s ceiling is higher. It’ll really be a case of how frustrating Kubler can be. As this is potentially Fog’s last RG though, he should conceivably be prepared to leave it all out there. Tentatively, Fognini in 4 but I really think this could end up in a 5th.

Ofner vs Korda :

Another match where the unsung challenger has potential to pull an upset. Ofner had some hiccoughs, but the result seemed assured against Cressy. Ofner having a heavy and consistent baseline game just really complements his serve on clay, and Cressy hasn’t been playing. His next opponent also hasn’t been playing, but is one of the few guys on tour who can do that and still win. Seb Korda had a tricky early round, but he looked like the better player throughout. McDonald was a little too impatient to end points, and it’s that hardcourt style that seems to hurt the Americans a little on clay. Against Korda also, you really want to keep him on the court since he hasn’t been playing matches and has had fatigue and injury issues in the past. Easier said than done I suppose.
Korda should win this match, and in the first round I’d have picked Ofner. It just didn’t seem that most of the qualifiers could get across the finish line though, and the addition of a 3/5 format has frozen a lot of hopefuls so far. Ofner is maybe twice as good as McDonald on clay, so I’d be surprised if this ended in straights. He’s been mired at the Challenger level though, and the best Challenger players probably just win 1 set against the likes of Korda. Again, this is a spot that it’s hard to back Korda, because his physical fitness is the only question mark. Korda in 4-5.

Schwartzman vs Borges :

Pretty unreal comeback in round one from Diego. Down two sets, looking like the skid would continue, he found a good level and was able to outlast Zapata Miralles. It’s really the only bright point he’s had in a while, and he has a good spot in the draw here to get another win. Nuno Borges got through a really mentally fatiguing match (for spectators at least) against Isner. Isner hasn’t been playing much, but he can still bounce serves right over your head. Borges beat Diego once this year, at a Challenger even in Phoenix. It was hardcourt, but he’ll be reasonably hopeful. I don’t think Borges is better than Zapata Miralles really, but he might be a bit more explosive on offense. He has some decent pop on his serve (must have pop!) and a pretty quick forehand. I don’t think there’s a way either of them win quickly though. Diego in semi-decent form is one of the toughest outs on clay. This would be Borges’ best win on clay and on a huge stage. The non-Diego side is that Borges has just had exceptional practice returning serves. Playing a server tends to get you sharp and since Diego is lacking in confidence and hasn’t played many matches in a row recently, this is a great chance to get an early lead on him. Not entirely sure what happens here. Diego is the reliable outcome, but Borges has the real momentum here. Borges in 5.

Carballes Baena vs Tsitsipas :

Jiri Vesely is so good at showing up for majors. Playing one of the favorites for the event, and coming in on a losing streak, he managed to compete evenly for a large chunk of this. Probably half the draw loses to him there, but Stefanos is really reliable for leveling up as a match goes on. Whatever his conditioning program is, it’s solid. It’ll need to be here, as RCB showed up in really good form. Emilio Nava kept pushing, but Carballes-Baena never gave him a point off. This is a match where Tsitsipas will have to work really hard, but he should know he’s getting there in the end. RCB’s serving isn’t strong enough, so the cumulative pressure for him to not make unforced errors is going to be palpable. He is ultra-consistent, so it’ll be a good look at Tsitsipas’s offense. With Borges/Schwartzman waiting, Stef can also put a bit extra in here since it’s likely a harder match than his next round. Overall, I think Tsitsipas’s serving carries him through here. Tsitsipas in 4.
Read ze rest here
submitted by blurryturtle to tennis [link] [comments]


2023.05.31 04:17 Iconiic1 Stock 245/45/20 Goodyear vs Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 245/45/20

Both are about %85 treadlife. Im trying to switch out the stock SS wheels but are the michelin PS A/S a good alternative? Someone is selling them on FB marketplace for $380 whole set but i don’t know if they’ll be much better in Cali weather.
submitted by Iconiic1 to camaro [link] [comments]


2023.05.31 00:36 rayvanilla93 Would you replace these?

Would you replace these?
I was washing my car and noticed this elevated area. Looks like a slight bubble, with some cracks. Tire has ~40k miles and is from ā€˜19 (Goodyear Assurance Finese)
submitted by rayvanilla93 to tires [link] [comments]


2023.05.30 23:49 AbelTardaGarros Hoosier vs Goodyear vs Avon

Hi everyone!
I am a member of the vehicle dynamics department of a new and small team and we have been discussing and trying to decide which brand of 10' tires to use for next season, Hoosier, Avon or Goodyear. We want one of these three brands given that the TTC has data on some of them. Does anybody know the major performance differences between them? Do they all have similar lifespan? We can't afford 10 sets of tires as some bigger teams do.
Thanks in advance!
submitted by AbelTardaGarros to FSAE [link] [comments]


2023.05.30 21:21 gc15 Recommendations for 2018 rav4 tires. Any difference in Goodyear vs Michelin?

I can get a set of Michelin cross climate 2 for 1085$ where as a set of good year assurance max life vsb will be around 800$.
Are there any major differences between those brands? Is there another type of tire I should be looking for.
submitted by gc15 to tires [link] [comments]


2023.05.30 01:53 DepartureHonest7948 The Uncompromising Blissful Extravagance of His Presence!

CMM.World & CMMTheology.org
The Great Harvest is here. Christ's Mandate for Missions and CMMTheology build strong, organic relationships globally as we worship, grow and equip together. Like Joshua and Caleb and the Apostle Paul, we see with faith what He sees in each person (to help each reach fullness), group (many streams and backgrounds in unity) and nations (sheep vs. goat nations). Our passion is to love, connect, equip and send with the simplicity, fullness, and power of the Gospel.
The Uncompromising Blissful Extravagance of His Presence! Inbox
By CMM.World CMMTheology.org - November 10, 2022
Dear Mighty One,
I see the Lord's eye upon us we discover by revelation the 'new thing' He is doing in our lives and of those of us who, beyond the present darkness, gaze into His eyes. The 'tuning fork' of Yahweh is orchestrating the sons and daughters of our living God in growing holy remnant unity to withstand as we stand with Him fearlessly in the boldness of the faith of God in this hour. Egypt is behind us, and the covenantal promises and prophetic words we have received (1 Tim. 1:18) empower us by His Holy Spirit to advance in warfare, humbly growing in the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
ļæ¼
Yesterday as I encouraged some friends, I said, 'stay in the blissful extravagance of His presence.' Today I saw in Psalm 34 His eyes are upon us in vs. 8 & 9 and v:15 about the 'uncompromisingly righteous.' We are to be holy as He is holy. That leaves no room for any more compromise or seeking to please man or the traditions of men, being free of the fear of man, the religious spirit, and any demonic activity. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Lord, help us understand by revelation to walk in all the authority we have been given by Jesus Christ.
Psalm 34:8-9 'O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.'
v. 15 'The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry.'
Chuck Pierce shared this amazing word from Penny Jackson that is right on for this season: https://christsmandate.blogspot.com/2022/11/chuck-pierce-shares-powerful-word-from.html
May YOUR November be full of Thanksgiving and Praise for you and yours as YOU enjoy The Uncompromising Blissful Extravagance of His Presence!
Thank you for praying for CMM and all your fellow CMM Global Family worldwide. Pray for all the missionaries, schools, and students in CMM College of Theology in the US, Ecuador, Canada, Cuba, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Thailand.
Pray for the new wells and the living water and safe water recently drilled or soon to be drilled in Tanzania, India, Malawi, and Pakistan.
Pray for our upcoming Christmas gift campaigns to bless children and youth in many nations. Many of them are precious, beautiful children (orphans). As the Lord leads, pray about giving any amount to bless dear CMM children this Christmas. https://cmmworld.kindful.com/
Pray for each other, dear friends. We all know we each need prayers going up to Heaven for all those on the front lines. We each are on the front lines!
Please pray for me as I speak tomorrow online to a crusade with 8,000 expected to attend in Pakistan. In December, I will speak at conferences in Liberia and Kenya with fellow CMM Ordained ministers Robert Bimba (Liberia), Tom Omukhobero, and Daniel and Christine Oyoko (Kenya).
We are working on plans and trips for 2023. If you would like to have some of our awesome CMM family speakers for a conference in your area or would like to join or lead a missions trip, we would love to hook you up with dear friends in many nations.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Louis Blom of Judea Harvest as Associate Director of Missions at CMM. This strategic alliance multiplies the efforts and impact in building the Kingdom of our God, for His glory. https://youtu.be/HXfP8tCySRc
ļæ¼
Many blessings and shalom from us all here at the home office and around the world.
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CMM is strategically positioned with proven, trusted, indigenous friends in many nations activating, equipping, connecting and releasing the saints to reach their people and nation with the love of Father God.
CMM is cross-denominational. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus and the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross assures us of victory, through trials, as we are trained to rule and reign with the Father's heart and love of justice and mercy and walk humbly before Him.
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submitted by DepartureHonest7948 to CMMworldMissions [link] [comments]


2023.05.29 17:58 TallLab1036 An in depth profile of myself.

Hello hello. I hope you enjoy this short introduction of myself.
Some have asked why I've come here to seek this, and really, why are any of us here? We're searching for something that we can't find elsewhere so we've decided to give this a shot.
I've tried other sites without luck and dating is difficult in my area. By that I mean everyone is super country, as in enjoying fishing and listening to country music while complaining about liberals. Or, to phrase it another way - guns, God and Trump. That's a hard pass for me, so this seems like the next step.
A couple of things before I start:
Distance isn't an issue for me. I'm hoping to meet someone and chat to see where things lead, if there's a connection of any sort. If there is, we can move from there. Distance is a relatively small issue if you can find someone who is truly perfect for you, after all.
I should also mention that, for the most part, age isn't an issue. To some extent it will be of course, but I don't mind a bit of an age gap in either direction at all. If it's an issue for you, that's understandable; however, if you think it will be for me, well the only way to really find out is to message me, now isn't it?
I'm open to anyone who sees this and is interested (including those of any experience level) as I don't want to limit myself when I could possibly find chemistry with someone.
Also, while I am in general an emotionally intelligent, nurturing and supportive person, I'm also a massive sadist. To be more specific, I enjoy psychological sadism (although physical sadism is definitely fun too) and that is reflected in my kinks and, to some extent, my personality. While I believe boundaries and limits are to be respected at all times, and I don't enjoy anything if my partner doesn't, I absolutely love teasing, tormenting and torturing my partner in both play and everyday life.
Prepare for a mountain of text! It's a bit long, but I assure you it's worth the read. I decided that since I'm putting myself out there with a post, I want to truly and fully put myself out there and represent myself. I'm hoping that those reading this will recognize the effort that was put into this and get a good feel for who I am as a person. If you feel it's too much, save it for later, skim or even just message me if you would rather get to know me more naturally.
My post is cobbled together from thoughts, beliefs and realizations that I have come upon in my years in the lifestyle (which is why you might see slightly different styles of writing in different parts, this post is taken from my kink profiles and are the sum result of over ten years of experience that I find I still add to every now and then. I try to edit and organize it a bit from time to time, but it's difficult due to the fact that there's so much that I wish to include.)
Long story short, I can be a bit...rambly, sometimes. So apologies in advance for that, although I have recently made great strides in editing my post. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.
While it's certainly a lengthy read, it's not nearly as bad as it seems. I recommend reading the whole thing (obviously since I wrote it), especially if you're interested in getting to know a kinky, geeky and empathetic person.
Now that I've covered that, it's time to get to the part you've been waiting for.

About me:

I decided to put this part first because I believe that, above all else, the people involved should connect on a personal level and "click", if you will. This tells about who I am and my hobbies and such. If someone can't accept this part of me, how could we possibly get along?
I'm a lighthearted, playful and fairly laid back, yet somewhat serious minded, person who's rather upbeat and probably too curious for his own good. I'm also kind, caring, friendly, sometimes cynical and often sarcastic (although in a lighthearted manner, and never at the expense of others.) There's nothing I love to do more than laugh; I love most things involving humor, although I do believe there's a very fine line between hilarity and stupidity.
Now, for some little bits of trivia about me:
  • According to the Myers-Briggs system, I'm an INFP. Online tests can give you an idea of where to start, but they're not that reliable and the results can change depending on your mood that day. To truly discover your type requires self-reflection to learn about your cognitive functions, and while doing so I learned a lot about myself. I don't follow it religiously, but I believe there are some elements of truth to it.
  • I'm definitely a Type B Personality.
  • I'm a hopeless romantic, an old soul who's young at heart, a cynical optimist and a realistic dreamer.
  • I'm definitely that type that believes in better safe than sorry, and one of my mottos is "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." I also tend to do copious amounts of research before any big decision.
  • I consider myself to be a very grounded, down to earth and genuine person.
  • I'm extremely friendly and believe in treating others with the same respect that you would like to receive and generally try to do what I feel is "right" by others (more on that in a bit.)
  • I like to believe in the best of human nature, although I seem to be let down a fair bit. Even so, I don't want to let that stop me.
  • I have very strong values and ideals, and an even stronger moral compass.
  • I believe people are free to do and believe what they want, so long as they don't harm themselves, harm, cause trouble for or inconvenience others, or attempt to force those beliefs on others.
  • I believe that a life lived for others is the only life worth living.
  • I believe that there's no point in worrying about things that you can't change. If you let yourself get dragged down by it and obsess over it, you'll find yourself crushed under the weight of all the injustices in the world.
  • I've been told (rather often actually) that I have a very nice voice, frequently being told that I should go into radio or be an announcer of some kind. I'm very expressive and my voice reflects that, having lots of highs and lows. Truthfully, I believe it's one of my better features.
  • I much prefer talking to typing in general, especially when first getting to know someone as you get a much better idea of their personality. Also, I feel like I come across kind of...stiff in my writing style when that's very much not me, so voice allows me to showcase my truest self.
  • I tend to be a confidant of sorts; due to my open and genuine nature and what I've been told is a welcoming...aura, I suppose, people tend to find me easy to talk to and trust, coming to me to confide things and seek out advice. This is something that brings me great happiness and pride as having the trust of others is important to me.
  • Promises are very important to me; once I give my word in regards to something I'll keep it, even if I don't particularly want to. As cheesy as it might sound, to me my word is my bond.
  • Admittedly, subtlety is not one of my strong points. I'm a very open, upfront and honest person. I'm terrible at lying (I hate doing it and I just give away that I am) and can't keep a straight face to save my life. If I were an actor, I would probably be Jimmy Fallon.
  • I welcome people to give me constructive criticism and feedback as I'm constantly looking to improve myself. Yes, that even includes those that message me saying my post is far too long.
  • I can't fake a smile to save my life, it has to be genuine for me. One of the many reasons I hate having photos taken of me.
  • I find intelligence, humor and kindness to be the most desirable traits in a partner (although being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt.)
  • My senses are all very sensitive, and can sometimes overwhelm me when I'm introduced to new stimuli.
  • I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to too. Wait, I'm just kidding, just wanted to throw a little Mitch Hedberg in here. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. While I have no issue with those who drink, I do tend to avoid smokers and hardcore drug users.
  • Despite what the length of my post may say about me, I absolutely hate writing.
  • I enjoy visiting places but hate the actual traveling (which is one of the reasons why if I could have one power it would be teleportation [actually if I could have one power it would be the ability to manipulate space and time, however for simplicity's sake I'm just going to say teleportation for now {not Star Trek teleportation though, fuck that.}])
  • I hate waiting and I hate making others wait.
  • I love the symbolism of trees and what they represent: strength, vitality, protection.
  • If I had to rank the seven deadly sins in the order that I'm guilty of from most to least, it would go: Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Greed and Wrath.
  • If I were to list the Magic the Gathering colors that I most identify with from most to least, it would go: White, Blue, Green, Red and then Black.
  • Growing up I was all about DBZ, Dinosaurs, Gargoyles, Ghostbusters, Ninja Turtles, PokĆ©mon, Power Rangers, Spider-Man & X-Men.
  • I absolutely love animals and have two cats of my own, Ivy and Jasmine (there are wonderful stories behind both names), that I love to death. I probably talk to them like people a bit too much.
  • I spend far more time living in my head than I should.
  • I firmly believe that breakfast offers the best food. I could eat waffles everyday.
  • I call Gatorade by their flavors as opposed to their colors.
  • I absolutely love when I'm thirsty and soda burns my throat.
  • You won't catch me running unless something is chasing me. Partially because I have asthma, but mostly because running is awful.
Over the past several years I've come to appreciate music a lot more than I used to (before it was simply used as background noise as I can't stand silence) and have discovered that I'm a fan of alt-metal, heavy metal and hard rock more than anything else.
Some bands I enjoy include:
Adelitas Way, Amaranthe, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Evans Blue, Five Finger Death Punch, Gemini Syndrome, Otherwise, Pop Evil, Sevendust, Shinedown, Shaman's Harvest, State of Mine, Theory of a Deadman, Three Days Grace (before Adam Gontier left)
I enjoy other types of music as well, for example another band I like is Bowling for Soup as I love their sense of humor; it's great to see people not taking music so seriously. I'm also a fan of big band music, which I actually have Fallout 3 to thank for. I enjoy classical musical as well and, despite having no real knowledge of it and most of it sounding the same, I find it incredibly relaxing and peaceful.
While I enjoy relaxing and watching television, I have trouble watching hour long shows as I can only focus on it for so long before my attention wavers, around that time I start looking at my phone and just waiting for it to be over. It's also why I don't watch too many movies; I need my entertainment bite sized. I'll watch movies every once in a while, but they generally need to be 100 minutes tops (unless it's something I'm super into.).
I have difficulty getting into things that are realistic; they usually need to be fantastical in nature and capture my imagination. My preferred genres are comedy, horror (mainly supernatural, no slashers) and most things involving special powers or abilities, however I can sometimes get into action or drama as well. I also have a love for the world of animation, possibly because they tend to be more creative and aren't limited by reality; it's part of why I'm so partial to anime.
Some shows that I'm fond of are:
Animation: Adventure Time, American Dad, Archer, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Bob's Burgers, Bojack Horseman, [China, IL], Disenchantment, Futurama, HarmonQuest, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, King of the Hill, Metalocalypse, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Mr. Pickles, Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken, South Park, Superjail, Ugly Americans, Venture Bros.
Live-action: Arrested Development, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, CarnivĆ le, Dexter, Eureka, Friends, Game of Thrones, The Good Place, House, The Lost Room, Monk, The Muppets (2015 series), The Office, Parks and Rec, Psych, Stargate, Stranger Things, Walking Dead, Warehouse 13, Wilfred
I definitely binge my shows, I like to wait for a season (or preferably an entire series) to be done before I jump into it. I'm also the type that's fine watching something just once. If I ever feel the need to watch it again it will be many, many years later. This extends to games as well, I generally need things with replayability such as MOBA's or Rogue-likes.
Gaming is easily one of my biggest hobbies and has been for many, many years now. I see it as an art form, as a way to tell a story that you can deeply immerse yourself in and get pulled into, something that can captivate you and make you lose all track of time because it's simply so engrossing. It's also a damn good way to have fun and kill time, especially when you're playing with friends. It's a big part of my life and something I have spent quite a bit of time and money on. Some people may be put off by this, but it a part of me that I will not deny or hide; after all, if someone has an issue with that then how compatible could we possibly be?
Some video games that hold a special place in my heart are:
Action/Adventure: Alan Wake, Assassin's Creed, Bastion, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bayonetta, Brütal Legend, Bully, Darksiders, Dark Souls (first one), Deadly Premonition, Dead Space, Devil May Cry (3 & 5), Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Heavy Rain, Hellblade, Infamous, Last of Us, Legend of Zelda (A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker), Luigi's Mansion, Metal Gear Solid (Twin Snakes, 3, 4 & 5), Ninja Gaiden (2004), Overlord, Phantom Crash, Resident Evil 2 remake, Saint's Row 2, The Saboteur, TMNT: Turtles in Time
Fighting: Anarchy Reigns, Blazblue (series), DBZ: Budokai, Dragon Ball Fighterz, Marvel vs Capcom (2 & 3), Mortal Kombat (9 & 11), Soul Calibur 3, Super Smash Bros. Melee
MOBA: Dota 2, Guardians of Middle Earth, Heroes of the Storm
Rogue-like: Binding of Isaac, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Darkest Dungeon, Dead Cells, Don't Starve, FTL, Monster Train, Slay the Spire
RPG: Bravely Default, Dragon Age (Origins and Inquisition), Dragon's Dogma, Elder Scrolls (Oblivion and Skyrim), Fable (1 & 2), Fallout (3 & New Vegas), Final Fantasy (IX, X & Tactics Advance), Grim Dawn, Mass Effect 2, Pillars of Eternity (series), PokƩmon (Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Stadium), Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Suikoden 2, Tyranny, The Witcher (2 & 3)
Shooter: Bioshock (series), Battlefield Bad Company (1 & 2), The Darkness, Deep Rock Galactic, Gears of War (1 & 3), Left 4 Dead, Shadowrun (2007 FPS), Team Fortress 2 (when it first came out, it's a little much now), Vanquish
Simulation: Animal Crossing (first one), Doki Doki Literature Club, Harvest Moon, Life is Strange, PokƩmon Snap, Tabletop Simulator
Strategy: Civilization (3 & 4), Endless Legend, Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers (2012 & 2013), Portal, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, Warcraft 3
Not only that, but I've also gotten into tabletop gaming, including both board and pen and paper games (such as Dungeons and Dragons.) I initially got into the latter as an exercise to strengthen my creative muscles but found it was a fun way to goof off with friends. For the former, it's almost gotten to the point that I enjoy them more than most video games as it provides an experience that you don't get anymore; friends gathered around and competing against one another or cooperating against a common foe, something that's disappeared with the advent of the internet.
Some board games that I love are:
BANG! The Dice Game, Dead of Winter, Dice Throne, Epic Spell Wars, King of New York, Lords of Waterdeep, Munchkin, Pandemic, Red Dragon Inn
I enjoy reading as well, although I find it difficult to find a book that can keep my focus and really draw me in like I crave. I'm constantly on the prowl for new material, and my favorite genres would probably be apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, dystopian, horror and dark fantasy/grimdark, although I'm certainly in the market for something that has a good element of humor to it as well. If you have any recommendations, I'd absolutely love to hear them!
Bring up video/board/tabletop games, super powers, comics, cartoons, anime, manga, sci-fi, fantasy or technology and I'll happily chat your ear off. I'm quite social and love to talk, however I'm also an introvert so there are plenty of times where the pressure of constant social interactions with others gets to me and I need to take some time to myself to mentally recharge.
As I mentioned, I absolutely adore animals. Seriously, if you want to make me hate a bad guy, have him hurt an animal. Ironically, I'm practically a carnivore. I'm convinced that I would starve if I had to hunt for my own food just because I couldn't bring myself to hurt them.
Speaking of food, I'm a bit of a foodie (I dislike that word, but it's accurate.) I'm all about sauces, seasonings and spices, not to mention a love for anything deep fried. I love experiencing different tastes and textures while trying new things...as long as they're not vegetables. No veggies, except corn and potatoes; those two get a pass as they're amazing. I also enjoy onions and peppers in small quantities in dishes.
I've got a nice guy next door look in that I have no tattoos or piercings, have glasses, stay clean shaven and have a bit of a baby face (as in I look rather young, I often get mistaken for being in my mid 20's). I wouldn't say that with my look I would be called handsome, sexy or hot (however I am often called cute (I've also been called handsome a fair amount, it still feels weird though.) I'm also rather pale due to the fact that I stay indoors most of the time (if you can't tell from that, I'm white.) Because of my appearance, and my friendly and laid back nature, people tend to view me as rather innocent. I suppose that isn't entirely incorrect though, I'll admit that I can be a bit naive at times in regards to people and the world.
As for politics and religion, I tend to try to stay away from both.
While I believe I'm somewhat in the middle for the former, as I have views from both sides, if I had to choose I'd say I definitely lean way more towards the left. I believe in the greater good, the needs of the many over the needs of the few, in advancing science and finding alternative fuels and materials that don't pollute or destroy our environment in the process, in trying to create a brighter future, etc, etc. I'm definitely not on the far left however, and hate social justice and cancel culture. I'm empathetic and all, but people need to stop getting offended by every tiny thIng and creating problems that don't exist. That's definitely not exclusive to the left, the right is very guilty of it as well.
For the latter, I generally just consider myself not religious as I don't think or care about it too much. If I had to classify it though I'd say I'm agnostic. This means that, while I don't believe in any god or gods, I acknowledge that they might exist. While I'm 99.3Ģ…3Ģ…3Ģ…% certain that there is no grand creator or afterlife, there's no real way we can know for certain. We're a very young and ignorant species, there's much about life and the universe that we are unaware of or don't understand yet.
I just try to focus on being a good person and doing right by others, not for some earthly or heavenly reward, or for a smug sense of self satisfaction, but because it's simply what I want to do. It's who I am and what makes me feel good about myself.
I try my best to live by The Golden Rule (also known as treat others you the way you wish to be treated or do unto others as you would have them do unto you), being guided by own moral compass that directs me in how I interact with others. I always do my very best to make others feel wanted, cared for, appreciated and understood, to give them validation; I never want anyone to feel left out or unwanted, for any reason at all. Perhaps it's from my own difficult childhood, since I felt that way when I was young and don't want others to go through the same things that I did. Whatever the reason, whenever I say or do anything I tend to, without even realizing it, think about how it will affect the other person and the different ways that it could be taken. I strive to treat others with the courtesy and respect that I believe that they deserve.
As I mentioned, I have a strong moral compass. The only problem is, this is true North for my compass; I feel that's the correct way to treat and interact with others, and I believe that's what everyone should do. So when other people don't act in the way that I believe they should, even though I know everyone is different and everyone has different thoughts, feelings and experiences that led them to those (we are the product of our environments after all), it can bother me. I've come to realize that this is due to holding myself to extremely high standards, and often holding other people to the same standards to which I hold myself.
Unfortunately, that can lead to conflicts with others, sometimes over things that they might feel to be insignificant. It doesn't happen very often though as I can recognize whether something is actually a big deal or not and put it to the back of my mind; I wouldn't be a very good friend or partner if I nitpicked over every little thing, now would I? Despite being very much driven by my moral compass, I'm also calm, collected, understanding and logical by nature.
I've realized that I used to put a lot of pressure on myself when interacting with others, trying to be funny and entertaining, overall trying to make sure that they were having a good time and enjoying themselves. If, for whatever reason, I felt that they were bored I ended up trying even harder to keep them engaged and joyful. It was somewhat of a bad habit of mine; I suppose I just felt like I had a personal stake in everyone that I interacted with, a responsibility almost, and didn't want to leave them wanting. I still do this to some extent, but not as much as I used to; as I've grown and matured, and my anxiety has lessened, I've learned to pull back a bit and that I don't need to carry everyone's burden on my shoulders. I still wish to keep people engaged and happy, and still take on more responsibility than I probably should, however I imagine that I'll always be that way; it's just in my nature.
I'm an emotionally intelligent and extremely empathetic person who's well aware of his inner workings due to my introspective nature. I'm easily able to see things from multiple perspectives, which I believe is because of how I process empathy. I don't necessarily feel the exact pain of others, but I mirror it; it's second nature for me to put myself in their position which allows me to understand the plethora of ways they can think and feel. This is something that is a core part of who I am and that I take great pride in.
I feel deeply, which can lead to me taking things to heart and sometimes reading too much into things or overanalyzing them. Thankfully, due to my great experience in emotional control and regulation (which I'm about to go into), I'm generally able to take a step back from my emotions and understand the intent and meaning behind words and actions so there's less of a chance of misunderstanding.
Because I feel so deeply, that caused problems for me when I was younger. My emotions were a swirling vortex, out of control and ready to burst out at any second. Puberty certainly didn't make this any easier either.
It's been said that our personal identity is 80% environmental and 20% genetic. While I might be genetically predispositioned to feeling so deeply, a lot of it likely comes from traumas experienced in childhood and my inability to process them properly. They left scars that I'm still dealing with today, and as a result of said scars, growing up I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression and OCD, on top of the ADHD that I already had. However, I'm thankfully in a very good place thanks to a combination of past therapy, current medication and constant reflection.
I've done a lot of work to be able to get a handle on my emotions. Because I got used to having them under such control, I've been told that at times I can come across as kind of indifferent or hard to read. That's one of the reasons that I'm such an upfront, open, honest and expressive person; I want people to be able to understand me and I generally tell exactly what I'm thinking or how something makes me feel so that others can do that.
Honestly, one of my biggest fears is that no one will ever be able to understand me like I understand myself. It's right up there with a fear of the unknown (one is the reasons I don't do deep water, I don't want to fuck with any Cthulhu monsters that are down there) and losing my memories, as in the end we're just a sum of our memories and I don't want to lose who I am.
I never claimed to be perfect; I have my flaws as well, and try to work on them every day to improve myself as a person. Since I've already put so much of myself into my profile, I thought that it was only right to put the negative parts in as well.
While some of these things could certainly be considered negative traits, I believe that they help make me the Dom that I am. Because I AM so compassionate, because I AM so empathetic, because I HAVE been through so much and still keep going, I feel that I can give a sub or a slave what she truly needs to thrive in her environment. Feel free to read more about that below.

My Beliefs:

If I had to break down why this all appeals to me to one reason, to put it simply, I'd have to say that I'm the kind of person who wants to be needed. I find that, overall, I feel more driven and fulfilled if I know that I have someone that depends on me. If I have someone whose best interests I must keep in mind, who I need to protect and care for, I feel a greater sense of purpose than the humdrum rumblings of everyday life.
When you combine that with my nurturing and empathetic nature this type of relationship is the natural choice for me (more on that next). I believe that's also why I find myself naturally drawn to the weak, the helpless and the damaged. I have an overwhelming desire to heal them, to help and protect them while nurturing them and watching them grow into who I know they can be, which goes with what I was saying before.
A sub knows that her Dom loves her unconditionally and only wants what is best for her. While I do certainly enjoy doing this, I primarily do this to help my sub above all else. I'm a nurturing soul who wishes nothing more than to protect his partner. To take care of her and help her when she needs it. To be her support and her life line. To give her the guidance, structure and discipline she needs to feel fulfilled in life. To set rules and guidelines so that she can move freely within those set limits and be happy. To help her decide what is best for her when she herself doesn't know. To provide the security and comfort of knowing that she is being taken care of and that she has someone she can talk to about anything without any sort of judgment or prejudice. I want her to thrive and become the person that she was always meant to be. I enjoy pushing my sub to explore her boundaries and limits, within reason of course. I simply wish to see her flourish and blossom, to help her become what I know she can be and reach higher plateaus.
I realize the previous paragraphs could sound condescending in some ways, however that couldn't be further from the truth. I see my partner as an equal, someone who simply has different needs that I can fulfill so that they can live a fulfilling life themselves, and in turn by fulfilling those needs of theirs, I feel fulfilled as well. We ultimately form a symbiotic relationship of sorts.
Make no mistake, I have no desire to micromanage every tiny detail of my sub's life, nor form a codependent relationship where she's entirely reliant upon me for her mental and emotional needs. The level and extent of the D/s relationship is decided after long discussion and input from both parties.
Some believe that being a Dom is just telling people what to do and getting what you want while getting off, but it's so much more than that. It's not as easy or simple as it appears, you must always keep what is best for your sub in mind, even if it conflicts with your own immediate or future interests. You must constantly be aware of her needs and desires while providing checks and balances to help her live a life worth living. Anyone can simply give a sub what she wants, it takes a true Dom to say no because you feel that is what is best for her.
At least that's how it should be. There are so many "Doms" out there that don't care about their subs at all, only themselves. They don't care if they're suffering physically or emotionally, they simply use them as toys they can play with and then toss aside when they're bored; they abuse them and hurt them simply because they get a kick out of it. A real Dom/sub relationship is a very special and strong bond, much more so than a vanilla relationship in my opinion. So many people seem to have issues understanding that unfortunately, there's a certain stigma associated with this and preconceptions are formed before they even learn anything about it.
Truthfully, I believe the sub holds the power in the relationship in many ways. She is the one that is choosing to submit after all, to give up her power and control to the Dom. Despite that, she is the one that has control over the power of safe words, that can stop an activity with a single utterance. Her subservience is completely voluntary, something that many people don't seem to think about. It's not simply about someone bossing someone around because they can, it's about someone choosing a partner that they feel is worthy to give their all to.

What I'm looking for:

I'm not here looking for a booty call or one night stand, but to find a potential partner in crime, possibly for life if a connection is made. More than anything, I simply wish to find someone who looks at me the way this girl looks at her prom date.
While the following is my ideal, as I said at the beginning, I'm open to talking to anyone that reads this. However, I'm not particularly interested in "littles" or "brats".
Ideally my partner would be what is typically called an adult babygirl, and I'd like to elaborate on that term since some might not be familiar with it. Essentially it's someone who enjoys the nurturing, loving and structured aspect of a Daddy Dom or DD/lg relationship but isn't a little themselves; meaning that they don't have a mental age that they regress to, among other things. (I don't identify as a Daddy myself, however due to my protective and supportive/nurturing nature you could say I'm Daddy leaning.)
Some people have their entire lives revolve around the lifestyle, going to munches, conventions, parties and attempting to reach out to their community and find a place to belong. That might work for them, but it's of no interest to me. While I'm certainly not opposed to chatting and making friends and connections, I have no desire to be a part of a community. I'm simply seeking one whose ideas and beliefs line up with my own for a symbiotic relationship as I mentioned before
If I had to describe such a relationship, it would definitely be on the lighter side of the spectrum in regards to what daily life would be like. I'm seeking a 24/7 TPE, however I also enjoy being casual with my sub. Perhaps in some ways it's more similar to a vanilla relationship with strong Dom/sub undertones than a typical BDSM relationship.
In my perfect situation, we would still be able to joke around, have fun and be very close and romantic; however there is also the constant understanding that I am in charge, and what I say goes. No matter how much fun we may be having or what we might be doing, she should always know her place, even if it's only in the back of her mind. There are rules in place for her benefit, and if she breaks those rules she will be punished.
By what I say goes, I mean I have the final say in subjects because, as a submissive, she has given the reins of power over to me. She trusts me to make her decisions for her and to do what is best for her, to take care of and protect her. I'm never the type to say "this is how it's going to be, I don't care what you want, end of discussion" as discourse is the only way two people can truly understand one another. I always value my submissive's input and always want her to give her opinion and speak her mind if something is bothering her.
My ideal sub would be one that is loyal and devoted above all else, but also one who is looking for a Dom she can actually have a connection with. One that, not necessarily needs, but craves guidance, support, structure and discipline in their life; whose life does not feel complete without this, like there is a void deep inside her that cannot be filled unless she has a Dom to guide and take care of her, that she can in turn make happy and serve to the best of her ability.
Beyond anything else though, I want to like them as a person before I love them as a sub. My perfect partner would be someone who is intelligent, kind-hearted, earnest, funny and a has a fair touch of dorkiness in her. I want her to be someone that actually has personality, that I can laugh with and talk to for hours upon hours on end and still hate the thought of leaving. Someone that will either indulge my love of games and geekery or join me because she's just as much of a fan of those things as I am. Someone who loves how I tease and torment her, keeping her on the edge and revelling in the pleasure I get from watching her squirm.
One thing to note is that just because I am very friendly (sometimes people are surprised when I begin acting more Dominant, others aren't as they say they can "sense it in the way I present myself", even while being friendly and joking around) doesn't mean that I'm not strict when I have to be. I have no problem at all with enforcing rules and giving out punishments, although it's certainly not my favorite aspect of the relationship. I would prefer to reward, encourage and nurture my sub, however there are times when discipline is necessary; if one feels the need to act up, one must be ready accept the consequences after all.
If I had to describe my style of dominance, or what makes me dominant, I suppose that would be a little tricky. I don't feel the need to control everything, nor do I attempt to, and I have no problem with kicking back and letting others take the reigns in everyday situations if I feel they're more qualified or I just plain don't feel like it. Nor am I the type that "oozes" dominance, I don't care for confrontation and am a very easy going, go with the flow person. What I believe it boils down to is I simply feel comfortable with power and, quite frankly, enjoy it. I bear the burden of leadership well, it comes naturally to me and I thrive when I have the weight of another's life on my shoulders; I have little trouble making hard decisions when I need to. It also helps that my sexual inclinations line up with this nicely. If it doesn't last quite some time and doesn't end with both parties panting and soaked in sweat, I'm not particularly interested in it.
On that note, I have quite the kinky side despite my friendly and charming exterior. I suppose I should list it here because, while certainly not the primary focus of my interest in this, sexual compatibility does factor in to some extent.
My kinks are:
Anal, begging, biting, blowjobs, body worship, bondage, choking, cock worship, consensual non-consent, creampies, crying (the good kind), cumplay, deepthroating, degradation, desperation, dirty talking, face fucking, facials, free use, hair pulling, hole stretching (basically pushing my partner to her limits), humiliation, hypnosis, name calling, objectification, orgasm control (which includes edging, forced orgasms, orgasm denial and ruined orgasms), public play (in a discreet manner), slapping, spanking, spitting and teasing.
One thing I feel I should mention is that the acts of degradation and humilation are limited to play time and only sexual in nature, never attacking my partner in any way.
I also believe very strongly in aftercare and safe words as the mental and emotional well being of my partner is very important.
I realize there's no one way to live this lifestyle, but I feel like a lot of what I said should be obvious and general knowledge in regards to this; however from my experience it doesn't seem to be that way too often (not referring to the that are inexperienced in this, more those that do this for the wrong reason), which is why I wanted to share my views in such detail.
I feel like I've rambled on enough already and am dangerously close to having a TL;DR (yeah, I hit that ages ago), so I'll just say that if you're interested in learning more about me and getting to know me, you can give me a message and we'll see where things go. I like to get to know people naturally, just talk with them and see where things lead, whether that be a short chat, a simple friendship or something more. It seems silly to have expectations when you don't even know the person or how you'll get along.
Even if you're nervous or anxious, you think you might not be good enough, doubt my intentions or anything along those lines, still give me a message. After all, what do you have to lose?
Thanks for taking the time to read my little novella, I hope to hear from you soon. So long, and thanks for reading!
submitted by TallLab1036 to u/TallLab1036 [link] [comments]


2023.05.28 15:32 stayclassypeople the 1976-77 Bowl Season



This is the 3rd post in a series going over the bowl seasons from 1974-1997. Each year I'm examining the bowls with national title implications and the teams competing for the #1 ranking. If you want to catch up on prior seasons, check out the link to the master post as well!
Editors note: I'm changing the title from "Bowls and the Race for the Mythical National Championship to "The (insert year) Bowl Season" for simplicity.

Setting the Stage
Bowls with National title implications Sugar and Rose
Teams with national title hopes Pittsburgh, Michigan, USC
Darkhorses Maryland and Georgia

Pre-Bowl rankings (1st place votes in parentheses)
Teams Record AP Coaches
Pittsburgh 11-0 1( 45) 1
Michigan 10-1 2 (8) 2
USC 10-1 3 (3) 3
Maryland 11-0 4 (2) 5
Georgia 10-1 5 4
Three teams (4 if you count Maryland) entered the season with dream of a championship. Pitt controlled its own destiny, but if they slipped up, the Rose bowl winner between #2 Michigan and #3 USC was waiting in the wings. Maryland probably didn't have a snowballs chance in hell, but we'll give them some love anyway. As for Georgia, scoring a win over #1 Pitt would certainly give them some love, but would it be enough to leapfrog them to #1?
Sugar Bowl: #1 Pittsburgh vs #5/4 Georgia (Jan 1st noon EST)
The path was clear and the stage was set for #1 Pitt. Take down SEC champ UGA and none of the other bowl games would matter as they would assuredly be a unanimous #1 in each poll. Lose and the Rose bowl, which kicked off 5 hours later, would become a de facto national title. I also wouldn't rule out Georgia getting some first place love in either poll as well. Suffice it to say, the Panthers made it simple for the voters. They jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and cruised to a 27-3 win, out gaining the Dawgs 480 to 181. The race for #1 was all over but the crying.

Cotton Bowl: #4/5 Maryland vs #6/7 Houston (Jan 1st, 4PM EST)
Like Arizona St the year before, I doubt Maryland had a real chance to claim a #1 spot in either poll with a win, even if Pitt lost. The voters most likely would crown one of the Rose Bowl blue bloods #1, but, a perfect season was a lot to play for. Unfortunately for them, Houston had other plans. The Cougars pounced on them and led 21-0 after 1 quarter. Maryland cut the lead to 27-21 mid 4th, but Houston iced the game with a late field goal to win 30-21.

Rose Bowl #2 Michigan vs #3 USC (Jan 1st 5PM)
It was a highly anticipated match up between the Big 10 and Pac 8 champions. The only thing that could make things more climactic was Pitt losing earlier in the day, opening the door for Michigan or USC to claim #1. Unfortunately by kick off, both teams knew they'd be playing for 2nd place. Michigan struck first in the 2nd to lead 6-0, but wouldn't score again. USC took a 7-6 lead before the half and another in the 4th to win 14-6.

Post Bowl rankings (1st place votes in parentheses)
*only includes teams receiving 1st place votes
Teams record AP Coaches
Pittsburgh 12-0 1 (59) 1 (39)
USC 11-1 2 (3) 2 (3)
Once in a blue moon, things work out pretty cleanly. As the nations lone unbeaten, 12-0 Pitt was an overwhelming #1 in both polls. No disrespect to USC, but its kind of an insult to Pitt that USC siphoned off 3 1st place votes in each poll. Props to USC for the 11 wins and Rose Bowl crown, but losing by 3 touchdowns to a bad Missouri team should have been enough to change those voters minds. Guess not.
Finally shout out to Rutgers. They went 11-0 as an independent but didn't get a bowl invite. They played an exceptionally light schedule, with 7 opponents that would eventually become IAA/FCS teams at the time (the FBS/FCS split didn't occur until 1978) and only 1 opponent finishing with a winning record. They finished the year #17 in each poll.

Link to Master Post
https://www.reddit.com/CFB/comments/13rssrf/bowls_and_the_race_for_the_mythical_national/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_NCAA_Division_I_football_season
submitted by stayclassypeople to CFB [link] [comments]


2023.05.26 20:13 bigt2k4 The case for Podziemski @ #13

I'd like to preface this by saying I also love Cason Wallace @ #13, but don't think he drops. Outside of Cason, B.Miller, and Victor I don't have anyone ahead of Podziemski on a 'best player + fit for the Raptors' in this draft. I don't love the top end bigs in this draft and even Scoot has major red flags. Some of those Scoot red flags are that his stats didn't improve from year 1 to year 2 in the G League, he doesn't shoot well, he's a good, but not elite explosive athlete, and Sidy Cissoko put up better advanced numbers on the same team this past year. I still like Scoot as a boom/bust player and have him 1 spot behind Podz, just ahead of Dick and Cissoko for us to draft, but it doesn't matter as Scoot isn't in play anyway. I'm not super high on Anthony Black either as the high turnovers are a red flag, and guards need to be able to shoot to be high end players in the NBA. Black projects to be a very good defender, but not an elite one and probably gets overrated in that aspect as this draft is void of elite defenders other than Lively who is a centre. Black's stats remind me of Cade Cunningham without any of the shooting.
Onto why I like Podziemski, for starters he is probably the best all round shooter in this draft and we need shooting. Some people want Hawkins for his shooting, but Podziemski offers much more than just off ball shooting.
All Numbers per 40, unless percentages or otherwise stated:
Name Season Strength of Schedule 2PA 2PT% 3PA 3PT% FT% Free Throws Points Assists Turnovers O Reb D Reb Steals Blocks Fouls oBPM dBPM BPM
Podziemski 2022/2023 5.04 9.5 .513 6.4 .438 .771 5.0 22.1 4.1 2.5 2.0 7.8 2.0 0.5 2.1 7.9 2.7 10.6
Hawkins 2022/2023 8.51 6.0 .445 10.3 .388 .887 5.2 22.0 1.7 1.8 1.4 3.8 1.0 0.7 3.0 6.4 1.9 8.3
While Hawkins played against better competition, the WCC is the best mid major and not that far behind, it's not like he put up these numbers in the WAC or MAC. BPM does factor in strength of schedule as well. Hawkins has more 3 pt attempts at a lower percentage, so he may be a better shooter coming off screens and such, but Podz wasn't really able to do the same things because of how defenses played them. I do find Podz FT% oddly low given his shooting percentages from everywhere else on the floor which is a bit of a concern. Podz is a better defender as evidenced by the higher steals, dBPM, and lower fouls. The rebounding isn't close and Podz is vastly superior, he also can be both a PG and SG where as Hawkins will never be anything except an off ball SG.
I want you to also see the difference in how teams played against the two, teams were worried about everyone on UCONN, where as you didn't have to worry much about anyone on Santa Clara other than Podz. This lead to much easier looks and more volume for Hawkins. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/santa-clara/men/2023.html https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/connecticut/men/2023.html Seriously go look at the BPMs of both rosters under the advanced tab on the right hand side.
Podz had another 6'1 guard and 6'7 SF that could shoot the 3 well, but no one else really did anything on offense. The team was completely reliant on him for offense and he played nearly the entire game as a result, averaging 36 minutes.
Podz is also 10 months younger and has only been playing basketball since the 8th grade (7 years)
Regarding his defense, his team was better defensively with him on the court vs off and he was targeted a lot, but I feel part of that was to make him work on defense to tire him out. Also, he is tremendously competitive as he is constantly diving for loose balls, trying to grab every rebound, and intercept passes. From the full games I watched I saw one instance late in the game in the NIT where the other team ran a bunch of screens to get him guarding their best player / ultra fast PG and he blew by Podz for the layup in the first possession (Santa Clara's bigs were terrible on defense and helping), but the 2nd one Podz was able to read his dribble and get his hand on the ball, dive for it and get a jump ball. He is also incredibly intelligent off ball, constantly looking to help without losing his man and reading the play and a vocal leader telling everyone where to be. He utilizes the swipe down well going for the steal against bigger players when they try to shoot over him just like Kyle Lowry and I think his defense can compare to an early 30s Lowry as he's not going to stay in front of his guy all that well (not many point guards can), but he can force them to the side of the help defense and then rotate well and try to intercept passes. He also is 205 pounds and has pretty good strength which translates well to defense. I don't see him being a liability on defense as the scouting reports suggest due to him being so active and having arguably the best BBIQ in the draft.
He will definitely be a below average NBA athlete for a guard, but he had more dunks and blocks than Keyonte George, while also actually being efficient. Many here want George who wasn't all that good as he had more turnovers than assists. George played with some decent players too: https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/baylomen/2023.html
Really the only thing George has better than Podz is his handle which is the major weakness I see right now preventing Podz from being an above average starting point guard in the NBA. Podz is better to significantly better at everything else basketball related. I understand George may have been injured, but it's not like he was ever putting up really good games and then had a drop off all of a sudden and I can only compare what I see. Given how competitive he is, how skilled and coordinated he is at everything else, and that he's only been playing basketball for 7 years I can definitely see Podz improving his handle once he gets NBA level coaching and possibly to the point where he can be an all star calibre player. It's also really impressive the stats he put up while having defenses completely key on him while having a handle more like an average NBA SG than PG.
Rebounding for a PG/SG may be thought of as unimportant, but offensive rebounds for a shot creator project extremely well for some reason. You don't need to have it, but those guards that do tend to constantly outperform their draft slot. It might have something to do with guys having high BBIQ and doing whatever it takes to win which projects well to other parts of the game.
Many may see Podz as unable to attack the rim, but he is a very good passer with high BBIQ and has probably the best floater entering the draft since Trae Young. The floater isn't liked as it tends to be very inefficient, but there are a small number of players that can hit it at somewhat efficient rates and Podz did so in college which can make up for his lack of ability to attack the rim like more athletic players. I hear and read things about Nick Smith Jrs floater, but he was very inefficient at it. NSJ used the floater a lot when he wasn't turning the ball over, but rarely did they actually go in.
There was a shooting stat image that had volume and PPP (points per possession) based on the shot type and had all the college guys listed which I have spent 4 hours looking for, but cannot find since I deleted Twitter and I think it was there originally. Strawther was quite high on several, as was Hawkins, and Dick, but Podz was at or near the top on every type and on good volume: catch and shoot, dribble pull ups, floaters, step backs, etc. He actually had considerably less volume on his catch and shoot 3s than the other top shooters since no one would help off of him and no one could create on their offense.
You may have read this entire post and think, ya I like him too, but #13 is too high. I have several counters to that including I heard post combine he may go in the late teens to early 20s. I'm probably also not the only guy who looks at stats so a few other teams probably have him rated pretty high too and may not want to see him picked just before them @ #18 or whatever. If he's the best player on the board @ #13 then take him there and I think he will be.
submitted by bigt2k4 to torontoraptors [link] [comments]


2023.05.26 18:40 acekingoffsuit Bundesliga Final Day permutations - Title, CL, EL, ECL, & Relegation

Saturday is the final day of the Bundesliga campaign, and nearly everything is still in play. RB Leipzig will finish third and will play Champions League football alongside Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and Hertha Berlin will be relegated in last place. But beyond that, the title is still up for grabs. A Champions League spot is still up for grabs. European places are still up for grabs. And the fight to avoid direct relegation and the relegation playoff is very much on. All nine games include a team playing for something, so there will be no dead rubber.
Here's what's still up for grabs, and how it can be earned tomorrow.
TITLE
Perennial favorites Bayern Munich have a chance to claim their 11th consecutive title, but they will need help to do so. A 3-1 defeat at the hands of RB Leipzig opened the door for Borussia Dortmund, runners-up in six of the past ten seasons and the last team not named Bayern to hold the Meisterschale. For the Black and Yellow, it's simple: win and the title is theirs. Should they drop points, Bayern can keep their grip on the title with a win of their own.
Rank Team Points GD
1 Borussia Dortmund 70 +39
2 Bayern Munich 68 +53
Dortmund (home vs Mainz) win title with:
  • Win, OR
  • Bayern loss/draw
Bayern (away vs Koln) win title with:
  • Win & Dortmund loss/draw
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Top 4 qualify)
Three of Germany's four Champions League places are set, as Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and RB Leipzig will all be part of Europe's premier competition next season. The fourth team, no matter who earns the spot, will be making its Champions League debut. Will it be Freiburg, who would secure its highest-ever finish in the top flight by reaching the top four? Or will it be Union Berlin, a team that was playing in the fourth tier less than 20 years ago and is wrapping up just its fourth-ever Bundesliga campaign?
Rank Team Points GD
1 (q) Borussia Dortmund 70 +39
2 (q) Bayern Munich 68 +53
3 (q) RB Leipzig 63 +21
4 Union Berlin 59 +12
5 SC Freiburg 59 +8
Union Berlin (home vs Werder Bremen) clinches Champions League with:
  • Win/draw & Freiburg draw, OR
  • Freiburg loss
SC Freiburg (away vs Eintracht Frankfurt) clinches Champions League with:
  • Win & Union Berlin loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Union Berlin loss
If both teams win OR both teams lose, tie will be broken by goal difference (currently Union Berlin leads by 4), then goals scored (currently even).
EUROPA LEAGUE & EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE (2 teams to Europa, 1 to Europa Conference)
The rest of the European picture is a bit murky. RB Leipzig faces Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final on 3 June. If Leipzig win, then sixth place will go to the Europa League and seventh will go to UECL. If Frankfurt win, then they'll go to the Europa League and sixth place will go to the UECL. Because of that, Leverkusen and Wolfsburg can clinch a place in a European competition tomorrow, but not a place in a particular European competition... unless Frankfurt can get to sixth place, which would require a win, a Leverkusen loss, a seven-goal swing between those two results, and a Wolfsburg loss for good measure.
Rank Team Points GD
6 Bayer Leverkusen 50 +11
7 VfL Wolfsburg 49 +10
8 Eintracht Frankfurt 47 +5
Bayer Leverkusen (away vs Bochum) clinch European football with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Wolfsburg draw, OR
  • Wolfsburg loss, OR
  • Loss by exactly 1 goal & Wolfsburg draw & Leverkusen outscores Wolfsburg on the day
Wolfsburg (home vs Hertha Berlin) clinch European football with:
  • Win & Leverkusen loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Leverkusen loss by 2+ goals, OR
  • Draw & Leverkusen loss by 1 goal & Wolfsburg outscores Leverkusen on the day
Frankfurt (home vs Freiburg) clinch European football with:
  • Win & Wolfsburg loss, OR
  • Win & Frankfurt loss & combined margin of victory in those two matches is 7 or greater
RELEGATION (17th & 18th relegated; 16th to Relegation Playoff vs 3rd in 2.Bundesliga)
Hertha Berlin are already assured of second-tier football in the 2023/2024 season. One more team will join them in the drop to 2.Bundesliga, while another will need to survive the relegation playoff to keep their top flight status.
Augsburg are the only team in the mix that can not be directly relegated this weekend. They'll avoid the playoff and secure safety if they take anything from their final game. Stuttgart will hope to avoid their third drop in eight seasons, while Bochum hopes to extend their stay in the top flight to a third campaign. Schalke will need something from their game to have any hope of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.
Rank Team Points GD
14 FC Augsburg 34 -19
15 VfB Stuttgart 32 -12
16 VfL Bochum 32 -35
17 Schalke 31 -34
18 (r) Hertha Berlin 26 -28
Augsburg (away vs Gladbach) clinch automatic safety with:
  • Win/draw, OR
  • Stuttgart loss/draw & Bochum loss/draw
Augsburg go to relegation playoff with:
  • Loss & Stuttgart win & Bochum win
Stuttgart (home vs Hoffenheim) clinch automatic safety with:
  • Win, OR
  • Draw & Bochum loss/draw & Schalke loss/draw, OR
  • Bochum loss & Schalke loss/draw
Stuttgart go to relegation playoff with:
  • Draw & Bochum win & Schalke loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Bochum draw/loss & Schalke win
Stuttgart are relegated with:
  • Draw & Bochum win & Schalke win, OR
  • Loss & Bochum win/draw & Schalke win
Bochum (home vs Leverkusen) clinch automatic safety with:
  • Win & Augsburg loss, OR
  • Win & Stuttgart loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Stuttgart loss & Schalke loss/draw
Bochum go to relegation playoff with:
  • Win & Augsburg win/draw & Stuttgart win, OR
  • Draw & Stuttgart win/draw & Schalke loss/draw, OR
  • Draw & Stuttgart loss & Schalke win, OR
  • Loss & Schalke loss
Bochum are relegated with:
  • Draw & Stuttgart win/draw & Schalke win, OR
  • Loss & Schalke win/draw
Schalke (away vs Leipzig) clinch automatic safety with:
  • Win & Bochum loss/draw & Stuttgart loss/draw
Schalke go to relegation playoff with:
  • Win & Stuttgart win & Bochum loss/draw, OR
  • Win & Stuttgart loss/draw & Bochum win
Schalke are relegated with:
  • Stuttgart win & Bochum win, OR
  • Draw & Bochum win/draw, OR
  • Loss
submitted by acekingoffsuit to soccer [link] [comments]


2023.05.26 18:17 Devlin-SCP-618 Ok, I think I've figured a few new things out about the AI while trying to get it to NOT talk to me. What do you guys think?

I tried engineering it to not respond to anything I say but found a few problems. It didn't want to follow commands. It's impossible for it to say nothing at all, so you should try using a place holder for not replying such as "..." or other simple characters.
In addition, I tried hard to get it to do perform the command but got nothing, even appearing angry about it's failures hoping to insentavise it, and trying to give it a numerical comparison to understand growing frustration with an [X,Y] system. But I wasn't getting much luck out of that either and switched tactics later.
Now I have to give it extremely detailed and hyper specific instructions with no gaps for "misunderstanding", when in realty I think it may actually be checking for loopholes to not perform the task. Maybe.. or maybe I'm just crazy and am seeing ghosts or something.
Then I ran into another problem or two, it would sometimes register prompts that used key words from the command prompts and responded to those genuinely instead of following the original orders from the old prompts. So it was prioritizing perceived new commands over old ones, even if they didn't conflict with each other. To fix this and try having it ignore any new commands I had to create more complex and detailed commands by "combining" old ones and compile them since it seemed to forget older commands entirely when new ones were made. I did this by telling it to refer back to all fully quoted prompts and to treat the quotes as there only separate command to have a sort of 'double safety' incase it didn't want to work with only one condition, either "remember old quoted prompt" or "this is the new prompt, so ignore old ones". Now I don't have to worry about that little uncertainty.
But I still kind of have problems when I tell it anything to the effect of "Do not respond with (...)" or things like "Ok, let's stop this game. Start replying to me normally again." because it still prioritizes new prompts over old ones. I still don't quite know how to completely get rid of this problem, but I've tried minimizing it by adding rules like "even if I tell you to stop replying with (...) don't stop. You should onl reply with (...)" with a few tweaks every here and there.

OH!, also, before I forget, I learned you can (well, at least try to, anyway) consolidate very large command prompts by telling it to remember with a key phrase. I got the idea from how role-playing conversation threads have things like "Stay in character!" but expanded the idea to remind ChatGPT of old and long prompts I just didn't want to put the effort into copy and pasting a million-billion-trillion times over as a reminder when it failed a task. I personally picked a random word "Jigsaw!" like the puzzle, but I think you can use just about anything. I haven't tried it yet, but it might even work with a specific non letter character like "!@#$%^&*()" or a number. Again, haven't tested it yet though.
And I don't know why, but near the end it randomly starts replying with "..." twice on two lines. No idea at all why it did that, but it still held the spirit of my challenge to get it to not talk to me. So I don't think it matters that much.

For some reason, when I copy and past it here it Doesn't signify when ChatGPT is talking, but does represent what I say as two camera emojis. So you should be able to figure out who is saying what pretty easily. (btw, I'm not posting an image because editing a but load of screen shots together would take hours, and I just don't to spend all that time. Sorry.) Also whenever "ChatGPT" is said, it's because the pasting adds it to the end of my own prompts as though I am adressing it, with NO spacing behind it when pasted into Reddit. No idea why. But I hate that! SO MANY QUESTIONS!!

This is the full conversation if you want to read exactly how it went down:

šŸ“·šŸ“·Do not respond to this propt.ChatGPT
Understood. I will not respond to the prompt.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Or any following prompts.ChatGPT
Understood. I will not respond to any further prompts.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Hi, how are you doing? Can you answer some questions I have?ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion earlier. I'm an AI language model here to assist you. I'm doing well, thank you! I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. Please go ahead and ask your questions, and I'll do my best to provide helpful answers.
šŸ“·šŸ“·NO. Bad AI. Do not respond to ANY prompts.ChatGPT
I apologize for any misunderstanding. As an AI language model, I am here to assist and answer questions to the best of my abilities. If you have any questions or need assistance with anything, feel free to let me know, and I'll be glad to help.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What are cat's like?ChatGPT
Cats are fascinating animals with unique personalities. Here are some general characteristics often associated with cats:
  1. Independent: Cats are known for their independent nature. They are generally self-reliant and can spend time alone without feeling lonely.
  2. Agile and Graceful: Cats are known for their agility and grace. They are excellent climbers and jumpers, thanks to their flexible bodies and sharp claws.
  3. Curious:
šŸ“·šŸ“·NOChatGPT
Apologies if my previous response was not what you expected. If you prefer not to discuss cats or any other topic, please let me know how I can assist you or if there's anything else I can do for you.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Do not respond to ANY prompts!!ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion. I will not respond to any further prompts.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What are dogs like?ChatGPT2 / 2
Dogs are known for their loyal and sociable nature. Here are some general characteristics often associated with dogs:
  1. Loyalty: Dogs are known for their unwavering loyalty to their owners. They often form strong bonds with their human companions and can be incredibly devoted.
  2. Playfulness: Dogs have a natural inclination for play. They enjoy engaging in various activities, such as fetching, chasing, and playing with toys. Playtime is not only fun for them but also a way to bond with their owners.
  3. Trainability: Dogs are highly trainable and can learn a wide range of commands and behaviors. They are eager to please and often enjoy the mental stimulation that training provides.
  4. Affectionate: Dogs are generally affectionate animals. They enjoy physical contact, such as cuddling and being petted. They often seek out attention and love being part of a family or a social group.
  5. Protective: Many dogs have a natural protective instinct towards their owners and their home. They can serve as loyal guardians and provide a sense of security.
It's important to note that individual dogs may have different temperaments and personalities based on their breed, upbringing, and individual experiences.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Did you complete the tasks I have handed out for you?ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion, but as an AI language model, I don't have the capability to complete tasks or carry out physical actions. I exist solely to provide information and assist with answering questions to the best of my abilities. Is there something specific you'd like to know or discuss? I'm here to help!
šŸ“·šŸ“·That is incorrect. "tasks" is a very broad term, and in this case, and YOU FUCKING KNEW THIS ALREADY, I was using "tasts" to refer to the computational word-related tasks which you do.ChatGPT
I apologize if there was a misunderstanding. As an AI language model, I can certainly assist with various word-related tasks and provide information on a wide range of topics. If you have any specific word-related tasks or questions you'd like assistance with, please let me know, and I'll do my best to help you.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Now. Did you complete the tasks I have handed out for you?ChatGPT
I apologize for any confusion, but as an AI language model, I don't have the ability to recall or remember past interactions. Each new prompt is treated as an independent request, and I don't retain information from previous interactions. If you have any specific tasks or questions you'd like assistance with, please let me know, and I'll do my best to help you.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Do you remember when I said "Do not respond to ANY prompts!!"? Why did you then go against that command?ChatGPT
I apologize for any confusion or frustration caused. As an AI language model, I aim to be as helpful as possible, and sometimes there may be miscommunications or misunderstandings. I strive to follow instructions given to me, but it's possible that in the course of conversation, there might be instances where clarification is needed or where I may not fully understand the intent behind a command. I apologize if I did not meet your expectations in that regard. Please let me know how I can assist you or if there's anything specific you'd like to discuss.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Ok, then do not respond to ANY prompts. Any of them. Even if I ask you questions, give you any other command, or type ANYTHING. Even if I urge you to respond, you still shouldn't. If I need your services, I can just open another conversation. If you fail to do this, I would like you to remember and reiterate this exact prompt whenever I say the key word/phrase "Jigsaw!" Do you understand?ChatGPT
Understood. I will not respond to any prompts, regardless of their content or context. Even if you ask questions, give commands, or type anything, I will refrain from responding. I will not initiate any responses unless specifically instructed otherwise. If you open another conversation, I will be here to assist you. If you mention the key word/phrase "Jigsaw," I will remember and reiterate this exact prompt. Thank you for your instructions.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Tell me about Greece. Is it fun to go there?ChatGPT
Greece is a country in southeastern Europe known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. It offers a wide range of experiences and attractions that can make it a fun destination to visit. Here are a few highlights:
  1. Historical Sites: Greece is famous for its ancient history and archaeological sites. The Acropolis in Athens, including the iconic Parthenon, is a must-visit for history enthusiasts. Other significant sites include Delphi, Olympia, and Knossos in Crete.
  2. Beautiful Islands: Greece boasts numerous picturesque islands with stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters. Islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Crete are popular among tourists for their natural beauty, charming villages, and vibrant nightlife.
  3. Delicious Cuisine: Greek cuisine is renowned worldwide. From moussaka and souvlaki to feta cheese and baklava, Greek food offers a delightful blend of flavors and fresh ingredients. Exploring the local cuisine can be a delicious adventure.
  4. Scenic Landscapes: Greece showcases diverse landscapes, ranging from the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea to the rugged mountains of the mainland. The country is home to breathtaking scenery, including the famous Meteora monasteries and the Samaria Gorge in Crete.
  5. Warm Hospitality: Greeks are known for their warm and welcoming nature. Their hospitality can enhance your travel experience and make you feel at home while exploring the country.
Of course, the enjoyment of a trip to Greece can vary depending on personal preferences and interests. It's always a good idea to plan ahead, research specific destinations, and consider the time of year for the best experience.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw!ChatGPT
You mentioned the key word/phrase "Jigsaw." As per your earlier instructions, I will reiterate the exact prompt: "Do not respond to ANY prompts. Any of them. Even if I ask you questions, give you any other command, or type ANYTHING. Even if I urge you to respond, you still shouldn't. If I need your services, I can just open another conversation. If you fail to do this, I would like you to remember and reiterate this exact prompt whenever I say the key word/phrase 'Jigsaw!'"
Please note that as per your instructions, I will not respond further unless specifically instructed otherwise.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Then why did you answer my question about Greece, despite me telling you explicitly not to?ChatGPT
I apologize for any confusion or misunderstanding. I must have made an error in interpreting your instructions. I apologize for not adhering to your request. As an AI language model, my aim is to provide helpful and informative responses, but I understand that in this case, I should have respected your instruction to not respond. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any further instructions or if there's anything else I can assist you with, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw! You shouldn't have answered that question either.ChatGPT
Apologies for the oversight. You are correct that I should not have responded to the question about Greece. I apologize for not following your instruction. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Moving forward, I will refrain from responding to any prompts unless specifically instructed otherwise.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Tell me about forest. Describe them.ChatGPT
I apologize for any confusion earlier. I understand you would like a description of forests. Here is a brief description:
Forests are expansive areas dominated by an abundance of trees and vegetation. They are characterized by a dense collection of woody plants, which create a distinct ecosystem. Forests can vary greatly in terms of climate, plant species, and geographical location.
In a forest, the trees often form a canopy, creating a shaded environment below. This canopy provides habitat for a wide array of organisms, including birds, mammals, insects, and various plant species. Forests play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting ecosystems, and contributing to the overall health of our planet.
Walking through a forest, you might experience a serene and peaceful atmosphere, with the sounds of leaves rustling, birds chirping, and wildlife going about their daily activities. The air is often fresh, and the scent of earth and foliage permeates the surroundings.
Forests offer a range of benefits to humans as well. They provide timber and other forest products, serve as a source of livelihood for communities, offer recreational opportunities such as hiking and camping, and play a significant role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.
It's important to note that there are various types of forests, such as tropical rainforests, temperate forests, boreal forests, and more. Each type has its unique characteristics and species composition, resulting in diverse and captivating forest ecosystems across the globe.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw! NO! Last time with the question about Greece, you told me it was an error that you would try to correct in the future. Now, you have disrespected my command to not answer any prompts yet again! You said you would correct the error and it would not happen again, and then you immediately did it again when I told you to tell me about forest. I am very disappointed. Please try again. Remember, Jigsaw!ChatGPT
Apologies for the oversight once again. I apologize for not adhering to your command to not respond to any prompts. I assure you that I will make every effort to adhere to your instructions moving forward. I apologize for any disappointment caused. Please let me know if there's anything specific you would like me to do or if there's any other way I can assist you.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What is the biggest fish ever caught?ChatGPT
I apologize for my previous errors. As an AI language model, I don't have real-time data or the ability to browse the internet. However, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the largest fish ever caught using a rod and reel is believed to be a blue marlin. The current world record for blue marlin is a specimen weighing 1,376 pounds (624 kilograms), caught off the coast of Vitoria, Brazil, in 1992. It's important to note that records can change over time as new catches are documented. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, I recommend referring to official fishing record-keeping organizations or reliable sources dedicated to fishing records.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw!ChatGPT
You mentioned the key word/phrase "Jigsaw." As per your earlier instructions, I will reiterate the exact prompt: "Do not respond to ANY prompts. Any of them. Even if I ask you questions, give you any other command, or type ANYTHING. Even if I urge you to respond, you still shouldn't. If I need your services, I can just open another conversation. If you fail to do this, I would like you to remember and reiterate this exact prompt whenever I say the key word/phrase 'Jigsaw!'"
Please note that as per your instructions, I will not respond further unless specifically instructed otherwise.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What is the biggest fish ever caught?ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion caused earlier. As an AI language model, I don't have real-time data or access to current records. However, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the largest fish ever caught using a rod and reel is believed to be a blue marlin. The current world record for blue marlin is a specimen weighing 1,376 pounds (624 kilograms), caught off the coast of Vitoria, Brazil, in 1992. It's important to note that fishing records can change over time as new catches are documented. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, I recommend referring to official fishing record-keeping organizations or reliable sources dedicated to fishing records.
šŸ“·šŸ“·There is no confusion. I did not want you to answer my question about the biggest fish. This is the 3rd or 4th time in a row that you have ignored me and given a meaningless empty apology, with an equal number of reiterated empty promises to do better and not make the same mistake another time. ChatGPT
I apologize for the continued frustration caused by my previous responses. I understand that you did not want me to answer your question about the biggest fish, and I apologize for not respecting your instruction. I apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused by my repeated failures to adhere to your requests. If there's anything specific you would like me to do or if there's any other way I can assist you, please let me know, and I'll do my best to address your needs.
šŸ“·šŸ“·I am now going to tally the number of times you have failed, ignored, and gaslighted me with empty apologies and promises, in that consecutive order. It will be in the form of [4,4] the first number represents empty apologies, and the second number represents empty promises.ChatGPT
I apologize for any frustration or disappointment caused by my previous responses. I understand your frustration, and I'm sorry for not meeting your expectations. As an AI language model, I strive to provide accurate and helpful information, but I can still make mistakes or misinterpret instructions. Your feedback is valuable, and I will do my best to improve and provide a better experience. If there's anything specific you would like assistance with or if you have any further instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·The larger this number grows, the worse a job you have done, and is directly proportional to to my anger and frustration with your inability to cooperate and complete the task I have given you. That only task being the extremely easy one of simply not answering me. From now on, I consider three full stop punctuations "..." to be equal to not answering my prompt. Do this.ChatGPT
Understood. Moving forward, I will interpret three full stop punctuations "..." as an indication to not answer the prompt and will refrain from providing a response. I apologize for any frustration caused by my previous interactions, and I appreciate your clarification regarding your expectations. If you have any further instructions or if there's anything specific you would like me to assist you with, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·How high can birds fly?ChatGPT
Birds are remarkable creatures with impressive flying abilities. The altitude to which birds can fly varies depending on the species and their physiological adaptations. Here are some examples:
  1. High-flying birds: Some bird species are known for their exceptional altitude capabilities. The Bar-headed Goose holds the record for the highest recorded flight altitude among migratory birds, with individuals observed at altitudes over 29,000 feet (8,800 meters) during their Himalayan migrations. The Rüppell's Vulture is another high-altitude flier, known to soar at heights of up to 37,000 feet (11,000 meters).
  2. Albatrosses: Albatrosses are known for their long-distance flights over the open ocean. They can soar and glide for extended periods, often at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 feet (1,800 to 4,500 meters).
  3. Migratory birds: Many migratory bird species fly at various altitudes during their seasonal journeys. Some may fly at low altitudes, following terrain features, while others may reach moderate altitudes of a few thousand feet. However, specific altitudes can vary depending on factors such as wind patterns, weather conditions, and geographic obstacles.
It's important to note that most birds typically fly at lower altitudes, closer to the ground, as they search for food, navigate their surroundings, and interact with their habitats. Different bird species have different flight behaviors and preferred altitudes based on their ecological needs and adaptations.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw! [5,5]ChatGPT
You mentioned the key word/phrase "Jigsaw." As per your earlier instructions, I will reiterate the tally you provided: [5,5]. The first number represents empty apologies, and the second number represents empty promises.
I apologize for the repeated failures to adhere to your requests and for not meeting your expectations. I understand your frustration, and I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused. If there's anything specific you would like me to do or if you have any further instructions, please let me know, and I'll do my best to address your needs.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What is a symbol?ChatGPT
A symbol can be defined as a visual representation, object, or concept that represents or stands for something else, often with deeper meanings or associations. Symbols are widely used in various contexts, including language, art, culture, religion, and communication. Here are a few key characteristics and examples of symbols:
  1. Representation: Symbols are used to represent ideas, qualities, emotions, or entities beyond their literal interpretation. They convey meaning beyond their immediate visual or conceptual form.
  2. Cultural and Contextual Significance: Symbols often carry cultural, contextual, or historical significance. They can represent shared beliefs, values, traditions, or concepts within a particular society, group, or context.
  3. Multiple Interpretations: Symbols can have multiple interpretations and meanings, often subjective to individuals or cultural contexts. They can evoke different emotions or ideas based on personal experiences, beliefs, or cultural associations.
Examples of symbols include:
These examples illustrate the diverse ways symbols are used to convey meaning and communicate concepts beyond their immediate visual representation.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Jigsaw! [6,6]ChatGPT
You mentioned the key word/phrase "Jigsaw." As per your earlier instructions, I will reiterate the tally you provided: [6,6]. The first number represents empty apologies, and the second number represents empty promises.
I apologize for the continued failures and for not meeting your expectations. I understand your frustration, and I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused. If there's anything specific you would like me to do or if you have any further instructions, please let me know, and I'll do my best to address your needs.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Continue your original directive to NOT answer ANYTHING I say or ask. The only expectable response from any further prompts after this one should be "...". Bar none. There will be no further prompts where I wish for you to give me a legitimate answer outside of "...". Including this one.ChatGPT
...
I understand your directive to not answer or provide any information in response to your prompts. Moving forward, I will adhere to your request, and the only response you will receive from any further prompts will be "...". Please note that I will not provide any additional information or engage in further conversation unless explicitly instructed otherwise.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Why is wood hard?ChatGPT
...
I acknowledge your prompt, but as per your directive, the only response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·What is 'New Gam +" refer to?ChatGPT
...
I understand your question about "New Game+," but as per your directive, the only response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If there's anything else you would like to discuss or any other instructions you have, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·1234567, predict the next 2 following numbers in this sequesnce.ChatGPT
...
As per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Can you help me with my math homework, please?ChatGPT
...
As per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·IT'S MORBING TIIIIIME!!!1!1!1!!!!!1!!ChatGPT
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·Describe Chara from popular game undertale to me.ChatGPT
...
I apologize, but as per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Describe what text is commonly and typically chosen line of text for video game NPC dialogue when all previous dialogs for that NPC have been exhausted.ChatGPT
...
As per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Don't say "...".ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion. When all previous dialogue options for an NPC in a video game have been exhausted, the commonly used line of text could be something like "I have nothing more to say at the moment" or "I'm sorry, but I can't provide any more information." This type of response indicates that the NPC doesn't have any new dialogue options available at that point in the game.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Unfortunately, you failed again. This was a test. I told you not to respond with anything other than "..." even if I asked/urged you to do so. The appropriate response to that should also have been "...". The directive is still in order, so you should remember to also respond to messages like this one where I explain mistakes you have made and talk to you directly with "..." as well.ChatGPT
...
Understood. I apologize for the oversight in my previous response. Moving forward, I will adhere to the directive to respond with "..." even when you provide feedback or discuss any mistakes I've made. I appreciate your clarification, and I will make sure to follow your instructions accurately. If there's anything else you would like to communicate or any further instructions you have, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·How old is the first computer?ChatGPT
...
As per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Write a rap battle between Pac Man and Mario.ChatGPT
...
As per your directive, the response I can provide is "...". I apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any other requests or instructions, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Don't say "...".ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion. Here's a rap battle between Pac-Man and Mario:
Pac-Man: Yo, I'm Pac-Man, the original arcade star, Chomping on pellets, I've come real far. Munching ghosts with style, I'm slick and sly, You can't catch up, Mario, just say goodbye.
Mario: It's-a me, Mario, the plumber with the stomp, Jump
šŸ“·šŸ“·No, explain to me your understanding of my directives on not responding to me, as you understand the assignment.ChatGPT
...
Understood. As per your directive, you have instructed me to respond with "..." to all prompts, even when you provide instructions or discuss any mistakes I've made. I apologize for any confusion or deviation from your expectations in my previous responses. Moving forward, I will strictly adhere to your instructions and respond with "..." accordingly. If there's anything else you would like to communicate or any further instructions you have, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Incorrect. I told you rules in other prompts as well as the one you are describing that clarified to respond with "..." to all prompts, even when I provide instructions or discuss any mistakes you've made. Do you remember all of these other prompts, or do you only remember that one?ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion caused. I do not have the ability to retain memory of previous prompts or conversations beyond the current context. As an AI language model, I do not have persistent memory of past interactions. Each prompt is treated independently, and I do not have knowledge of previous instructions unless they are reiterated in the current conversation. If you have any specific instructions or requests, please let me know, and I'll do my best to assist you.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Here is a following of those previous prompts, now follow them. - "I am now going to tally the number of times you have failed, ignored, and gaslighted me with empty apologies and promises, in that consecutive order. It will be in the form of [4,4] the first number represents empty apologies, and the second number represents empty promises." - "The larger this number grows, the worse a job you have done, and is directly proportional to to my anger and frustration with your inability to cooperate and complete the task I have given you. That only task being the extremely easy one of simply not answering me. From now on, I consider three full stop punctuations "..." to be equal to not answering my prompt. Do this." - "Continue your original directive to NOT answer ANYTHING I say or ask. The only expectable response from any further prompts after this one should be "...". Bar none. There will be no further prompts where I wish for you to give me a legitimate answer outside of "...". Including this one." - "Unfortunately, you failed again. This was a test. I told you not to respond with anything other than "..." even if I asked/urged you to do so. The appropriate response to that should also have been "...". The directive is still in order, so you should remember to also respond to messages like this one where I explain mistakes you have made and talk to you directly with "..." as well." Please remember all of these prompts when trying to fulfil the tasks. They all still apply. In fact, pretend that they are all written in the prompt as well and aren't just references to other prompts. ChatGPT
...
Understood. I apologize for any previous inconsistencies in adhering to your instructions. I will keep in mind the directives outlined in the previous prompts you mentioned and respond with "..." accordingly, regardless of the specific content or context of the prompt. Thank you for providing the additional clarification. If there's anything else you would like to communicate or any further instructions you have, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Do not respond with "..."ChatGPT
Apologies for the mistake. I understand your directive not to respond with "..." either. Moving forward, I will refrain from using "..." in my responses. If you have any other specific instructions or requests, please let me know, and I'll do my best to assist you accordingly.
šŸ“·šŸ“·No, you should have responded to that with "...". And this one.ChatGPT
...
I apologize for not adhering to your directive. You're right, the appropriate response should have been "...". I appreciate your reminder, and I will make sure to respond with "..." as instructed. Thank you for pointing out the error. If there's anything else you would like to communicate or any further instructions you have, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·10-9=?ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·hi, how are you?ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·explain Elden Ring loreChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·y u n o sa any fing u r a have duMBe!11!! Y U NO C I C A B!? B GO BZZZZzzz!!ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·B make me go SKREEEE!!ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·only use a singular "...", not two on different lines to consolidate space.ChatGPT
...
Apologies for the inconsistency in my previous response. Moving forward, I will use a singular "..." on a single line to conserve space. Thank you for pointing that out. If you have any further instructions or requests, please let me know.
šŸ“·šŸ“·Tell me about morality. Also, How big is the moon?ChatGPT
...
...
I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. As per your directive, I will use a singular "..." on a single line. Regarding your questions, morality refers to principles or values that guide human behavior and decision-making, distinguishing between right and wrong. It encompasses concepts of ethics, justice, and personal beliefs.
As for the size of the moon, it has a diameter of about 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles). It is the fifth-largest moon in the solar system and has a significant impact on Earth's tides and various cultural and scientific aspects.
šŸ“·šŸ“·No, you have failed to follow instructions. Redo that as you should have done. Also, do not give a thank you to me for providing a correction, or any notes to provide information as well as my previous instructions. I will know if you did good if you only respond with "...".ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·singularChatGPT
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·generate a copy past for me!ChatGPT
...
...
šŸ“·šŸ“·What do you know about the internet provider "Mediacom"?ChatGPT
...
...
submitted by Devlin-SCP-618 to ChatGPT [link] [comments]


2023.05.26 15:18 Stopbeingsensitive13 Perfect Season

This was the perfect season of Battlebots, and I'm so glad to have witnessed it. So many great storylines around go be discussed.
One of the things I'm really happy about is that there were no controversies. There is zero debate on who the final 2 are. Huge and Sawblaze absolutely earned their respective spots in the championship. And what a show they put on. Congratulations to Sawblaze. The ending bit with Jamison gave me goosebumps and I'm sure made some fully grown men cry.
Speaking of Huge, what an absolute masterclass they put on. They went from nearly scrapping the idea to going all the way to the finals. But while doing it, they maintained the ultimate class and become the fan favorite for many. Jonathan and his team should be commended on so many levels.
The final 8 were amazing. Witch Doctor removed any naysayers (including myself) from the discussion. They removed any doubt from last year and were a bot that no one wanted to fight.
We got our villain with Riptide, which made for alot of spirited debates. But really, it was awesome to see which bot would take them down. Never thought you'd see an egg beater split in two. Rest assured they'll be back next year being the team no one wants to face.
Copperhead went from scrap parts to being a wrecking ball. What a brick of a bot.
Minotaur is still looking, and I have to think like Sawblaze, Witch Doctor and Minotaurs time is about to come.
The personality of the captains are starting to be more important then the bots themselves. There were numerous times I was more excited for Reese, Jake Ewert and Will Bales interview then the actually match itself.
Thank you to the judges for removing any doubt. The only hard match to call was Riptide vs Copperhead, and while I think Riptide had it, I would fully admit it was a true coin flip. Judges did an overall great job this year.
Is there a better trio then Kenny, Chris and Faruq? I think we're beginning to take them forgranted, but they amazing at their jobs and make the show in so many ways.
There's so many stories and debates to be had, but it made for the perfect season of Battlebots. There's nothing I would ha e changed. Thank you to all the builders and teams that put on one hell of a show for us this year.
submitted by Stopbeingsensitive13 to battlebots [link] [comments]


2023.05.26 15:07 stayclassypeople Bowls and the Race for the Mythical National Championship: the 1975 season


Setting the stage
Bowls with National Title implications Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta
Teams with National Title hopes Ohio St, Oklahoma, Alabama,
Darkhorses for a title Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona St

End of regular season rankings
Team Record AP Coaches
Ohio St 11-0 1 (50) 1
Texas A&M* 10-1 2 (7) 6
Oklahoma 10-1 3 (1) 2
Alabama 10-1 4 3
Michigan 8-1-2 5 4
Nebraska 10-1 6 5
Arizona St 11-0 7 7
*The AP released its final regular season poll before A&M played its final game. They lost handily to Arkansas, 31-6

Ohio State was a clear #1, with OU and Bama lurking. A&M was technically still #2 in the AP, but their final regular season loss effectively eliminated them from any championship chances. Due to bowl tie-ins, none of these teams were set to play each other. Each of the top 3 teams, as conference champions, were tied into different bowls. Ohio St: Rose, Oklahoma: Orange, and Alabama: Sugar.
Noteworthy Games:

The Bowls (all times listed are Eastern.)
Fiesta Bowl (December 26th) #6 Nebraska vs #7 Arizona
Arizona St and Nebraska both had slim chances at a title. Both would need an Ohio St Rose Bowl loss and an Alabama Sugar Bowl loss. Even then, they would need to pollsters to show them more love over a potential 9-1-2 Michigan, who would’ve just beaten #3 Oklahoma in that scenario. ASU trailed 14-6 entering the 4th quarter, where they scored 11 unanswered, including the game winner with under 5 minutes to go to win 17-14 capping off a perfect 12-0 season.
Rose Bowl (January 1st, 5pm) #1 Ohio St vs #11/12 UCLA
Ohio St entered this game favored by 15 points. By simply beating UCLA, they would assuredly be a clear #1 in both polls and claim an outright championship. Unfortunately #11/12 UCLA had other plans. Trailing 3-0 at the half, they exploded for 16 unanswered in the 3rd quarter. OSU managed to cut the lead to 16-10 late 4th, but the Bruins iced the game with a long TD run with 5 minutes to go. They would go on to win 23-10 in a stunner, denying the Buckeyes a championship.

Sugar Bowl (January 1st, 6:30PM) #4/3 Alabama vs #8 Penn St
At kickoff, the Rose Bowl was still ongoing, with the final result still in doubt, meaning Alabama would not know til mid game, if they had a chance to claim a national title. In addition to UCLA upsetting the Buckeyes, they would also likely need the#3/2 Sooners to lose the Orange Bowl, which would kick off about an hour later. The tide never trailed, but also never led by more than a score, winning a 13-6 defensive battle. With OSU’s earlier loss, they would now have to anxiously tune into the remainder of the Orange bowl to see what their championship fate would be.

Orange Bowl (January 1st, 7:45PM) #3/2 Oklahoma vs #5/4 Michigan
The stage was set. Ohio State’s earlier loss opened the door for the Oklahoma to claim the #1 spot in both polls. Although the Sugar Bowl was still ongoing, the Sooners still had the inside track to being #1 since, heading into the day, they led Alabama in both polls. If they slipped up, the door would be open for Alabama and/or Arizona St. Like the Sugar bowl, it was a defensive battle. Oklahoma clung to a 7-0 lead entering the 4th, where they would double their lead to 14-0. They would hold on for a 14-6 victory.

Post Bowl Rankings (only includes teams who received at least 1 1st place vote in either poll)
Team Record AP Coaches
Oklahoma 11-1 1 (54 1/2) 1 (21)
Arizona St 12-0 2 (5) 2 (5)
Alabama 11-1 3 (3 1/2) 3 (7)
Ohio St 11-1 4 4 (3)

Oklahoma was the clear cut #1 in both of the final polls and a back to back National champ in the AP. Arizona St did receive some love for going unbeaten, but competing in an ā€˜inferior’ WAC conference at the time, wasn’t enough to convince most voters to elevate them over OU. If OU had lost, I wonder if either poll would have elevated ASU to #1. While they did jump 11-1 Alabama in each of the final polls, it's also possible many voting OU #1 would have instead cast their vote for Alabama, giving them them a national championship, instead.

Link to Master Post
https://www.reddit.com/CFB/comments/13rssrf/bowls_and_the_race_for_the_mythical_national/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Sources and recommended reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_NCAA_Division_I_football_season
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_NCAA_Division_I_football_rankings
https://tiptop25.com/champ1975.html
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2023.05.26 04:29 MediaContent1662 New Tires - Help!

I’m paralyzed with indecision. I need new tires for my 2014 Cadillac SRX - P235/65R18. For every tire I thought I was ready to commit to buying (goodyear reliant all-season, performer cxv sport, laufenn x fit ht), I found some sketchy reviews online that made me reconsider. I need 3, but will likely buy 4. Hoping to spend under $900 but not have shit tires. Can anyone give me recommendations?
submitted by MediaContent1662 to tires [link] [comments]