With each new installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar Games has introduced new gameplay mechanics to keep the franchise fresh and exciting. Here are some possible new features that could be introduced in GTA 6:
Enhanced AI: One of the biggest criticisms of the previous games is that the AI is often too predictable. In GTA 6, we could see more advanced AI that reacts to the player's actions in a more realistic way.
More realistic physics: The physics engine in GTA 5 was already impressive, but there is always room for improvement. We could see more realistic physics in GTA 6 that affect both the player and the environment.
More dynamic weather: GTA 5 had some dynamic weather effects, but they were fairly limited. In GTA 6, we could see a more dynamic weather system that affects the gameplay in more meaningful ways.
Seamless transitions: In previous games, there was often a loading screen when transitioning from one area to another. In GTA 6, we could see more seamless transitions between different areas of the game world.
New minigames: GTA 5 had a variety of fun minigames, such as tennis and golf, but there is always room for more. We could see new minigames in GTA 6 that are even more varied and engaging.
Improved driving mechanics: While the driving mechanics in GTA 5 were already pretty solid, there is always room for improvement. In GTA 6, we could see more realistic driving physics and more customizable vehicles.
Better stealth mechanics: Stealth has never been a strong point of the GTA series, but that could change with GTA 6. We could see more advanced stealth mechanics that allow players to approach missions in different ways.
Dynamic NPC behavior: In previous games, NPCs often had set patterns of behavior that could be easily predicted. In GTA 6, we could see more dynamic NPC behavior that makes the game world feel more alive.
More varied missions: While GTA 5 had a wide variety of missions, some players felt that they were too similar to each other. In GTA 6, we could see even more varied missions that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
VR support: With the increasing popularity of virtual reality, it's possible that GTA 6 could include support for VR headsets. This would allow players to fully immerse themselves in the game world and experience it in a whole new way.
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Hi reddit, I need advice. My best friend has been urging me to bring my story to Reddit as he has seen this all happen to me the past few months. I decided to finally submit something here because I think things may be taking a turn for the worse in my relationship soon.
I, 23/F, am in a long distance relationship with a semi popular artist/content creator I met off Tiktok. I came across them, 24/M, on a livestream on my fyp about 7 months ago. We mutual followed immediately and I will admit I pursued him HARD. I didn’t anticipate a relationship, but I certainly had a crush and wanted to perhaps meet up sometime if you know what I mean… I live in the northeast, and he lives smack dab in the middle of the country. Placing us roughly 1000 miles apart. We have met in person once when he came to visit me for a week a few months after we started “dating”, but otherwise we have been entirely digital. We never officially spoke about being in a relationship, they just called me their gf one day and all the sudden we were dating. At first they were great, almost too perfect to be true, we had so much in common and they were so complimentary and romantic. However in the past few months since meeting up irl, things have begun to unfold and I’m beginning to feel trapped in my relationship. I do genuinely have so much love for him, but I also feel like some red flags are too much to ignore. Can someone please tell me if I’m overthinking this?
WARNING A LONG READ AHEAD:
For example, [Flag 1] for context, he had only been single a few months before we met. Previously he was in an almost 10 year relationship, and planning to get married this upcoming year. His ex cheated, and broke up with him in a brutal manner. (which is something I WAS aware of before we got together.) He, in the first few months, hardly mentioned her, and showed little to no interest in talking about his past relationship. Now, he tells me almost too much about their relationship. He mentions her every chance he can, and say’s horrendous things about her (not just about her cheating but various other things in their relationship). He also has admitted to still checking her socials on a semi regular basis. [Flag 2] Because of his very recent trauma, he is incredibly insecure about my whereabouts, and gets terribly depressed when I’m at work/gym/with friends/driving and I’m unable to respond or sit on the phone with him. He doesn’t have any hobbies he is actively doing/interested in, and doesn’t hangout with anyone which makes this even harder (I guess that should be [Flag #3]…). When he’s not working he’s home and waiting for me to respond, or be able to talk. I work 12 hour night shifts 5 days a week and sleep from 7am-4pm every day I work. My schedule is grueling and makes me unavailable a huge chunk of time. Something he also knew when we got together. *[Flag 4] He notices everything I do online. Every liked post, every snap point, my location, etc. He wont mention it until he can make a “joke” about it. Like, “you said you were at _____ , but you know I see your location 👀”; which always feels like a subtle power play. [Flag 5] He spends insane amounts of money on me. He will literally send giant boxes filled with gifts for every holiday. At first it was sweet, now it’s become overbearing and he jokes that he “has to spoil me so he doesn’t lose me”. Even though I’ve mentioned many times I would rather he save his money and just make me art (he’s an artist). Every time he tells me he spent even more money on me I feel even more in debt to him. [Flag 6] He has a porn addiction. He told me he had credit card debt from buying OF subscriptions when he was in his previous relationship. Although I have no problem with porn, as I’m a part time adult industry worker (I make OF content and have a few videos on the hub, but I’m nobody recognizable.); I asked him to please be honest about his intake of content at the very least. Last month I found out he was not honest and rather than having a conversation about it, he deleted his OF account and his Twitter IMMEDIATELY and treated it as if it was problem solved. I never wanted him to delete his accounts, I only wanted honesty on how much be was spending to watch others content. I get that it’s his money, but as his apparent girlfriend I feel I deserve that honesty. *[Flag 7] He “jokes” about how he would kill himself/me if we broke up or if he found out I ever lied to him. He’s made comments about coming to mine or my parents home to find me. He’s made comments about just “killing himself on sight if I dumped him”. [Flag 8] He wants me to move to his state and live with his parents with him until we find a house. He wants me to move 1000 miles away to a place I know only one singular person, so I can live in his bedroom with him. He made it clear he absolutely will not be moving out of his state and it’s me that has to go there. He has a brand that is based on his location, and uses that as his reasoning. (Which I absolutely can sympathize with, but at times feels like a cop out because he is not actively running his business currently. [Flag 9] He constantly reminds me that I am his only reason for doing anything. Going to work, staying alive, eating, etc. Which, although could sound romantic to some, is incredibly overwhelming for me. It is a huge amount of pressure to be someones only and entire happiness. *[Flag 10] He said he stole hair from my brush while I was at work one of the days he was here visiting. He didn’t tell me until weeks after, and mentioned it as a “cute” thing he did secretly… but it just gave me Joe from ‘You’ vibes. He has also said countless times “I’m so obsessed with you, you have no idea”. Which I always thought was a joke or just words, but when looking at some of his behavior I think that may be more true than I realized. *[Flag 11] He has talked about killing small animals and torturing mice when he was a child. He is a vegan now, and said he feels horrible for what he did, but knowing what I know about serial killers and the pattern of their behavior beginning with animals when they’re children… It concerns me.
I’m sure I could think of more flags and continue on, but this is so long as it is… I guess my real question is, should I be worried/scared for my life? Please help. Thanks in advance, X

With each new installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar Games has introduced new gameplay mechanics to keep the franchise fresh and exciting. Here are some possible new features that could be introduced in GTA 6:
Enhanced AI: One of the biggest criticisms of the previous games is that the AI is often too predictable. In GTA 6, we could see more advanced AI that reacts to the player's actions in a more realistic way.
More realistic physics: The physics engine in GTA 5 was already impressive, but there is always room for improvement. We could see more realistic physics in GTA 6 that affect both the player and the environment.
More dynamic weather: GTA 5 had some dynamic weather effects, but they were fairly limited. In GTA 6, we could see a more dynamic weather system that affects the gameplay in more meaningful ways.
Seamless transitions: In previous games, there was often a loading screen when transitioning from one area to another. In GTA 6, we could see more seamless transitions between different areas of the game world.
New minigames: GTA 5 had a variety of fun minigames, such as tennis and golf, but there is always room for more. We could see new minigames in GTA 6 that are even more varied and engaging.
Improved driving mechanics: While the driving mechanics in GTA 5 were already pretty solid, there is always room for improvement. In GTA 6, we could see more realistic driving physics and more customizable vehicles.
Better stealth mechanics: Stealth has never been a strong point of the GTA series, but that could change with GTA 6. We could see more advanced stealth mechanics that allow players to approach missions in different ways.
Dynamic NPC behavior: In previous games, NPCs often had set patterns of behavior that could be easily predicted. In GTA 6, we could see more dynamic NPC behavior that makes the game world feel more alive.
More varied missions: While GTA 5 had a wide variety of missions, some players felt that they were too similar to each other. In GTA 6, we could see even more varied missions that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
VR support: With the increasing popularity of virtual reality, it's possible that GTA 6 could include support for VR headsets. This would allow players to fully immerse themselves in the game world and experience it in a whole new way.
GTA 5 Modder 👑 Buy gta 5 accounts http://Furymodz.com // Fortnite // GTA 5 Accounts, Mods 💎 Creator on Patreon: http://patreon.com/furymodz 🎪

"Come, my brothers!"
Chanting and roars of the first batch containing humanity's legions echoed across the cylindrical vessel.
300 million sacrificial souls were part of this expedition for a chance to reach the end. Millions upon millions, contained within the confines of their last home, ready to die for the cause.
The Independent Unilateral Inserter began to approach its destination; the incomprehensible cavern of a higher being that dwarfed humanity's artificial vessel.
Birthplace Of The Gods.
Harbinger Of Where it All Began.
Valley Of Sacrifices.
Many names were thrust upon their objective, yet, instead of fear, it only encouraged the legion.
The absolute moment the HSS IUI breached the outer walls, the leader raised his blade proudly.
"To arms! To arms! Brothers! Charge!" Instead of the normal method of disembarking, their vessel had fired the legions of humanity straight into the Cavern Of God.
In spite of the holy name, the environment was anything but utopian. Being an imperceptible speck compared to the great living walls, the legions witnessed where others have failed.
Corpses of countless races laid decimated across the inner walls. Everything from lifeforms that were small even to the humans, or towering behemoths that could step on hundreds of them at a time; All have fallen. All were absorbed by the cavern.
The walls pulsated and glistened. Slick, to the point where the legions were practically swimming. Some had even drowned in crevices deeper than what the imagination could comprehend.
What began as a powerful charge to prove themselves, slowly burned out. The way forward seemed endless. Several had even stopped where they were and accepted another fate. Some had allowed themselves to become one with the Endless Dark.
It became fruitless to count the amount of half-digested bodies the legion of millions came across. Counting the different races almost became meaningless after the third digit was breached.
Yet, with how many failed, the legion maintained a bleak form of cohesion. Those with heart still went forward, in lieu of whatever existential dread ran down their spines.
Only 150 Million lives had remained to even experience despair.
Among the darkness, did the inhabitants of the new world come to light. Gelatinous, of prodigious size, and all-encompassing. The ground itself was an entire other entity that had no proper form.
A rumble echoed, and the vibration itself tore through ranks by pure happenstance. It was possible that an eye had emerged from the sky to witness them, or perhaps it was just an illusion of mental degradation.
Instead of despair, the legions had raised arms in celebration; for they now knew that madness had a tangible form to strike down.
The leader did not need to command his men to attack, for it was impossible for them to miss.
Even when thousands were crushed underneath appendages that couldn't be properly understood, thousands more returned fire with furious barrages and reckless abandonment.
The rumble that filled the air was replaced with the collective roar of the legions. The once irrepressible beasts of the new world were not being fought; they were butchered.
Bodies that have withstood the might of hundreds of races were being whittled down piece, by piece. Millions of humans had perished for even a drop of blood.
Eventually, all went silent in the red sea. What remained of the legion yelled out in their victory. Despite their numbers being dwindled to a mere 10,000 strong, they have proven themselves to be the lords upon the mountain of absolute death.
Instead of falling into desperation, what remained of the legion continued on forward while trampling on the beasts they had eviscerated.
What was one continuous cavern finally divided into two pathways. Amongst the group, those who placed their fate within one last roll of the dice had gone left. Meanwhile, those who maintained their primal instincts were beckoned to traverse the path on the right.
The 10,000 man group had perfectly divided half and half, each one giving the other their blessings on achieving the betterment of their minuscule existence.
Even for the 5,000 men who were called by their instincts. Despite proving themselves, and purchasing their right to defeat fate with blood, the Cavern had another cruel twist.
What was once a grand hall slowly shrunk and convulsed. What was once a space designed for grand battles of epic scale, steadily reduced into a claustrophobic nightmare.
Whether by poor luck, or a lack of strength, their numbers dwindled. Crushed by the flesh, or giving up their own lives to push more forward, the champions of champions were reduced to indescribable messes all the same.
1,000.
Those were the numbers remaining once the walls began to halt their bone crushing advance. The group were fully expecting fate to hand down its final judgment.
On cue, one more fantastical being had emerged from the depths. What appeared as a ball interlaced within itself, the unusual specimen began to unfurl itself into a gigantic form.
Before the entity could even finish its transformation, it was immediately assaulted by the remnants of humanity. Perhaps due to the audacity, or whoever remained were the absolute best as mandated by the heavens, they only got away with minimal casualties.
200 souls were left to carry the final vestiges of their creed. With spirits managing as high as conceivably achievable, they trudged forward.
Yet again, anticipating the worst that could occur, they moved as one unit. Up until they had reached the Chamber of the Gods.
Before the insignificant specks, there rose the treasure of ascension. An immense sphere, beautiful in the eyes of all of them in equal measure. They inherently knew since birth what must be done.
One by one, each man attempted to breach the shell; each time, they failed. Instead of being crippled into depression, each failed hero stood by and awaited the true champion among them to be accepted.
Even when the number of failures had grown, hope was not abandoned. Not today.
Eventually, one had broken through. His body began to become absorbed by the orb of enlightenment.
No one was envious. No one maintained malice in their hearts. They all cheered, and hugged one another. Tears flowed down, and salutes were handed, for their mission was not in vain.
To the individual chosen by God, he had smiled and closed his eyes.
Nothing. Sometimes he understood the concept of sound. Sometimes he felt something akin to a heartbeat.
His memories of his time before enlightening began to fade.
When he had believed that madness would settle in, he felt a new sensation.
He witnessed light. Air caressed his skin. He can breathe.
For the first time in ages, he heard someone's voice.
"Ma'am, congratulations. It's a healthy human boy."

Superman Retuns was a misfire. Coming at a time when comic book movie audiences were wanting to look forward and reinvent rather than look back and reminiscence, the return to the Donnerverse was not needed nor apparently greatly desired. The film has been referred to as bland and boring, to which I agree but my solution isn't simply "more action." I feel the overall issue is much larger and I'll break it down here.

Casting

Have Parker Posey and Kate Bosworth switch roles. There's your homage to Donner: the Routh/Posey age difference matches up with the Reeve/Kidder one, not to much Posey is more Lois-esque while Bosworth being a young, pretty face matches up with Lex having a ditzy henchwoman he can manipulate as Kitty.

The Journey Back (From) Home

Oddly enough, the Superman Returns video game had a more interesting story than the film by simply adding extra narrative parts and layers. So, we'll start with the beginning where Superman literally returns from his 5-year pilgrimage to the remains of Krypton. The film shows Clark crashing landing back on Earth in Smallville right outside the Kent home. I'd love to stretch out this return by focusing more on what Superman did while in space. Not necessarily what he sees of Krypton but a detour he's forced to take on his way back to..................WAR WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!
In the game, Mongul finds Superman's ship in space, takes him captive and forces him to fight on War World. Of course, Supes makes it through with ease and gains freedom by defeating Mongul. So, we'll carry that over for the sake of action but also narratively to show a consequence of Kal-El leaving Earth as there are other beings in the galaxy that want the Kryptonian but could potentially also find their way to Earth for trouble. Movie starts with a bang and some intrigue before settling down for the Clark/Martha reunion. All this can be spliced with what Lex was up to during the 5 years.

A Not So Welcome Back

To me, Superman's return to civilization was a little too easy and clean. He got his job back at the Daily Planet and citizens are happy. Yeah, Lois isn't happy to see him but there's not much struggle outside of that. I love the airplane rescue scene and the only thing I'd change is that the baseball game audience is more annoyed with Superman interrupting the competition. Not so much a hatred or even resentment for leaving but definitely a "we're cool with leaving because we don't need you anymore but you're ruining our entertainment, get lost." Almost as if the people of Earth take Kal-El for granted since he's defeated all the evil available. To them, Superman's return is an unnecessary distraction to the time of peace. And here lies Clark's main obstacle: he no longer fits in. Earth doesn't need him and there's nowhere for him in space to feel at home. Cue the montage of sad Clark walking around Metropolis, realizing it has changed in his absence and everyone's moved on without him. Which leads me to......

Jason

Fans found the inclusion of Superman having a son to be overkill but I do not. I just feel a little too much focus was paid to it and that the subplot was more complicated than it needed to be. Let's just be straight up: Lois should not be with Richard White. She has a 5-year old son, we the audience knows that only Superman could be the father and people in the movie don't bother poking around because Lois is a single mother who happens to be the world's greatest reporter. Case closed. I'm not saying completely remove Richard from the movie but just have him be someone who is romantically pursuing Lois, playing off of the conundrum with Superman's return. To further separate this film from the Donnerverse, let's throw in Lois already knowing that Clark is Superman and that fact being clear between them. Overall, it just helps add to the tension between Clark and Lois while giving additional layers to the relationship with a sense of pre-established history.

Lex's Plan and More Action Physical Threats

The blackout Lex creates keeps it's original purpose of distracting Superman so he can steal some Kryptonite but, to lift from the game, it causes the unexpected consequence of Bizarro being released from whatever prison he was held in. Again, pre-established history and world building plus more action. It's at this point that Supes is at a low point. He's confused at the situation he's in and a bit angry. Bizarro is his chance to let that anger out but also realize it's not a good place to be in. The clone is defeated, civilians are saved from damage made and Kal-El recognizes a flaw (which is insecurity) he has before making strides to correct it when he realizes Bizarro doesn't have to mental capacity to know he's doing wrong. And, thus, Superman spares him and sends him back to prison in a wholesome way.
Fast forward to the third act where Lois (let's leave Jason out to limit the focus and to save the revelation of him having powers for another time) is kidnapped by Lex on his yacht and then the Superman/Lex confrontation on the floating Kryptonite landmass. What I'd add is something to wrap the entire story together. While the remnants of Krypton were real, the possibility of life on side remnants are to be a hoax created by Luthor five years prior. Superman's time away was basically a machination created by Lex to get out of jail, reclaim some wealth and regain power in case Kal-El ever return. Luthor explains all this and then proceeds to kick the ever loving shit out of Superman. As in the movie, Superman survives with the help of both Lois and Richard. And then he saves the day with Lex failing to get away due to Kitty's attack of conscience.

But Wait, There's More!

While in the hospital for his injuries, Superman receives confirmation of his (and our) suspicions that Jason is his son when Lois whispers into his ear. She goes to leave and officially rejects Richard's advances, amicably agreeing to remain friends. Which is a cool thematic thing to do because while Richard is Superman-esque, Lois does not pick to be with him because he doesn't have the duality balance like Clark/Superman has. Anyways, Superman sneaks out of the hospital to visit Jason. But, before he can do that, Mongul arrives on Earth for a rematch. Knowing he has both a son and an entire planet to protect from this invader, Superman shakes off being less than 100%. Yay, more action that is also story driven! Supes wins, Mongul admits defeat and departs with his tail tucked between his legs as Metropolis cheers their hero on. Finally reaching Jason, Kal-El recites Jor-El's speech to him as he sleeps as we end the film on a hopeful note. Superman rediscovers his place on Earth and has someone to share his lineage with while also getting back with the woman he loves as his city finds appreciation for him again. Thus, proving that the world needs Superman, who gets to enjoy feeling needed in both sides of his life.

The Revised Plot

Superman has been missing for five years, since traveling to the location where astronomers believed they had discovered the remains of Krypton. Superman flies to the distant galaxy in the space rocket that his father sent him to Earth in to investigate the ruins of his homeworld and to see if there is anything left. He finds only gigantic, asteroid-sized chunks of kryptonite, pieces of the planet that were irradiated by the supernova that destroyed the great civilization. Superman turns his ship around and heads back to Earth, but along the way he is intercepted by Mongul and forced to compete in gladiatorial combat in Warworld. Mongul first puts him against an elite team of warriors known as the Plahtune, but the Man of Steel easily beats them. Next, Mongul himself steps into the arena to battle Superman. Though he is powerful and possesses great strength, Mongul is still no match for the Last Son of Krypton. At the conclusion of their fight, Superman picks up Mongul and prepares to deliver what would most certainly be a killing strike. Mongul taunts him, "Go on, Superman. You know you want to." Superman then throws Mongul to the floor and states that the fight is over. Superman then finds his ship and sets off for Earth, but Mongul vows that he will find him.
During his absence, Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor was released from prison, married a rich widow to obtain her fortune upon her death, broke into the Fortress of Solitude and stole data crystals. Superman, having failed in his quest to find surviving Kryptonians, returns to Earth and, as Clark Kent, resumes his job at the Daily Planet in Metropolis. He subsequently learns that Lois Lane is being courted by Perry White's nephew Richard, has a five year old son named Jason and won the Pulitzer Prize for her article "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Meanwhile, Luthor uses the Kryptonian crystals for an experiment that causes an electromagnetic pulse that leads to power outage on the East Coast releases the genetic creature, Bizarro. The power loss interferes with the flight test of a Space Shuttle to be launched into space from its piggy-back mounting on an airliner, occupied by Lois Lane, who is covering the shuttle story. Clark flies into action as Superman and stops the plane from crashing onto a baseball stadium.
Superman's has difficulty coping with the fact he feels that the world has moved on from him. With Superman distracted by an out-of-control vehicle (a diversion involving Luthor's henchwoman, Kitty Kowalski) and Bizarro’s rampage throughout Metropolis, destroying buildings and attacking citizens, Luthor steals Kryptonite from the Metropolis Museum of Natural History. Though Bizarro is of equal might, Superman is a much more experienced fighter. In the end, Superman defeats Bizarro, but does not kill him because he knows that the poor creature is incapable of understanding his actions.
Perry then assigns Lois to interview Superman while Clark investigates the blackout. Lois sneaks aboard Luthor's yacht and is captured after she decides to hold interest in the blackout story, which she connects to Luthor's experiment. He reveals to her his grand scheme of being behind the hoax of there being signs of life on Krypton and using one of the stolen Kryptonian crystals, which he has combined with the Kryptonite, to grow a new continental landmass in the Northern Atlantic Ocean that will supplant the continental United States and kill millions of innocent people. The crystal begins to create Luthor's new landmass, while Lois attempts to escape but is attacked by a henchman. Meanwhile, Superman is attempting to minimize the destruction in Metropolis caused by the new landmass' growth using his full array of powers, including his strength, freeze breath, and heat vision when Richard arrives in a sea plane to rescue Lois. Superman soon arrives to help and then flies off to find Luthor.
Meeting Luthor, Superman discovers the landmass is filled with Kryptonite, which weakens him to the point that Luthor and his henchmen are able to brutalize and torture him. Superman is stabbed by Luthor with a shard of Kryptonite before he falls into the ocean and is left to drown. Lois makes Richard turn back to rescue Superman, whereupon she removes the Kryptonite from his back. Superman, after regaining his strength from the sun, lifts the landmass after putting layers of earth between him and the Kryptonite. Luthor and Kitty escape in their helicopter; Kitty, unwilling to let millions of people die, tosses away the crystals that Lex stole from the Fortress of Solitude. She and Luthor are stranded on a desert island when their helicopter runs out of fuel. Superman pushes the landmass into space with the crystals trapped on the landmass, but is weakened by the Kryptonite and crashes back to Earth. Doctors remove more Kryptonite from Superman's wound, but after it is removed they cannot penetrate his skin with their surgical tools. While Superman remains in a coma, Lois and Jason visit him at the hospital where Lois whispers a secret into Superman's ear and then kisses him. Superman later awakens and flies to visit Jason then an old enemy returns for a rematch. Mongul has followed Superman to Earth. Superman recites his father Jor-El's last speech to Jason as he sleeps and confronts Mongul after once again. The fight is fierce, but as before the Man of Steel emerges victorious. Mongul admits that he is defeated and flees Earth. Lois starts writing another article, titled "Why the World Needs Superman." Superman reassures her that he is now back to stay, resuming their relationship, and flies off to low orbit, where he gazes down at the world once again.

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Long post but context matters. I’d really appreciate feedback on this!
I (23, F) tend to initiate and carry text conversations with 26, M. We’re medium-distance (1.5 hr drive), were internet mutuals friendly w each other for almost a year then started talking more 1-1 in January after he admitted he’s always had a little crush on me and asked me out (at the end why this date hasn’t happened yet bc it’s an extra factor).
It’s been around 3 months. During winter break we texted every day but around February our lives got busy and we’ve gone a few days without talking and we both verbalized being comfortable with that and confirmed still being interested in getting to know each other despite having a lot on our plates and struggling to balance it. But time away made me notice he kind of follows a back-and-forth, your-turn-my-turn pattern and always has the last word so I constantly end up having to initiate ‘next time’.
90% of the time I drive the conversation, bring in topics, ask him questions and after he gives some good replies he eventually laughs and paraphrases what I said. I don’t know if he expects me to keep talking or asking questions, but since it’s been a good amount of messages I just take it as a nice spot to call it a day, convo over, don’t really want to drag it out or be a full-on interviewer. But then, since I didn’t come up with something to reply, he won’t text again unless I initiate. I usually do, following the pattern, but now that I realized his conversation type I decided to reflect more on this and now it’s been 2 weeks since I didn’t reply to his [laugh and paraphrase] message, the longest we’ve gone without talking consecutively (usually 5 days is the longest though he also didn’t reply for 2 weeks last month). Usually once I start a new conversation he replies pretty quick, fun and sometimes flirty, maybe he just thinks I’m busy (personal, mental, work, all counts as busy) since it’s why we’ve gone days without talking before but still, I once again carry the conversation for the most part! He barely asks about me unless it’s about what I’ve been up to recently (luckily I have an interesting day to day to talk about) or I mention an anecdote in the topics /I/ tend to start which makes me feel he isn’t as interested as he said he was. Like, a lack of curiosity and initiative. Would it kill him to text again with a “hey, [random question]”? A meme? A link?
I know, I can just talk to him about it, I just might, but I was in a long relationship, took a year off dating after the breakup and am now deciding to get back into the dating pool so I haven’t had much experiences with ‘the talking stage’ nowadays + never tried with someone mid-distance and would like to gauge men’s perspective on this before coming on too strong to someone who is still essentially an acquaintance.
For you, is this an introvert, bad conversationalist, anti-double texting kind of behavior? Just low effort, distant because “interested but not THAT interested/on different pages”? Or I’m looking too much into it too soon?
~ Extra details I consider relevant: He struggles with his mental health. So do I, but I don’t see it as an excuse to hold back like this if that were the reason. Yeah maybe he’s still not mentally there yet and I can’t expect him to change any anxiety, struggles, insecurities and avoidant tendencies just ‘cause I’ve been able to do it but he should at least communicate instead of me having to notice what the effects are :/
I could also very well have gotten friendzoned by now. We had a date pending but my car’s been at the shop these 3 months because of the shop owner’s lack of organization so I can’t drive to him like we originally planned (the beaches on his side are perfect for the date we originally wanted). He could’ve gotten bored of waiting so much even though he knows about my car situation but it’s weird to me he never suggested coming up to me for a different date? I feel like someone really interested would’ve at least asked me if, since my car’s out of service, I’d like to be picked up and taken somewhere else? We would’ve still carpooled if I drove to his place so it’s not a matter of safety or comfort like that. We live on an island, there’s rivers and beaches everywhere - yes the ones on the west side where he lives are nicer but cOmE oN! If not a north beach then drinks near my town? Would suggesting this feel too upfront or imposing for someone? It feels wrong if I suggest he drives, it’s his car not mine! But it comes off as lack of interest and effort.
Writing all this makes me realize this is kind of a lost cause, lol. Still all thoughts and advice are welcome, it’ll help me check in with myself as well! Thank you in advance (:

Hello! First time posting here, I’ve been working my way through Malazan for the past year, I read the first 6 books in physical copies but decided to do the next 3 books by Audio in order to free up some reading time for other series. This is my best friend’s favorite series, and while it hasn’t clicked with my particular tastes to the same level, I still really appreciate the scope and intricacy of these stories and really enjoy some parts.
He’s encouraged me to post some of my questions/thoughts here, as he’s raved about your community’s ability to talk about the series spoiler-free and have good, in-depth discussions. So thank you ahead of time for your help!

1. What did Icarium do?? - This is the biggest question I have, and my friend wasn’t sure if I missed something in the audio book or if it’s intentionally not revealed yet. All I understood from the series of events is that Icarium left the compound (leaving Karsa to be the only champion left) and felt convinced on what he was going to do. His Gral companion died, Icarium did something, and the whole sky went white. Idk if I just faded out at a key moment with the audio book or what, but I can’t remember for the life of me what he did, and I don’t want to google potential spoilers.
   
2. Confusion on SA in Reaper’s Gale - I know this is a common point of debate around this series, and personally it’s been one aspect that’s really bothered me about this series. There have been points in nearly every book where I didn’t like the way sexual assault was handled/used. But in RG, I’m actually confused with what happened to Janeth. She’s assaulted by her captor, Bugg frees her, she recounts to him and Tehol how she was tortured and raped. Tehol consistently makes sexual jokes, suggests he’s still down for something sexual with her; I wouldn’t say he was making overt advances, but still his engagement in that type of conversation following what she went through struck me as really insensitive and wrong. Which, whatever, it’s not like Tehol is a moral paragon, so it wasn’t out of character necessarily.
   

But later when Janeth is re-captured, all of a sudden she realizes she had forgotten she had been raped previously, and thinks lovingly/appreciatively back to how Tehol had not made any advancements on her. My reaction was kinda “….wait wtf?? When did she forget about the SA? And Tehol was NOT respectful, am I crazy??” Again, maybe I’m misremembering/missed stuff through the audio-medium, but I’d love y’alls thoughts.

1. What the heck were Silchas Ruin’s motivations - I found the last sequence with him fighting Trull etc. to be very confusing. From what I could tell, all he needed to do was stab the Re-birthed kid, who was functioning as a finnest for the Azath to revive the Tellan Warren (and no I don’t understand how any of that works lol). I don’t know why he wanted to do this, or what it had to do with Scabandari. So I don’t understand why he needed to kill Fear, try to kill Trull, or then head out to attack the Letherii.

Sorry if this is a lot, as much as I respect this series, I’ve certainly struggled to pay attention at times as it hasn’t ever hooked my heart like I know it has for so many. That combined with the audio medium means I may have just missed simple answers. So thank you again for your help!

Chancellor Hay Rekk leaned back on his struts and contemplated Power. Capital P Power. What it was, how it existed, how it had many different forms. Personal power was the ability to command and be obeyed, to him. Since Power ultimately was your ability to work your will on the world, being able to command other things with agency that had Power themselves, was the ultimate form of personal Power.
'Secretary Chalks!'
'Yes, Chancellor.'
'Bring me my automatic mug!'
The secretary went to hook the mug up to his powerframe. Normally, people wouldn't like being commanded with a bellow, but the Chancellor didn't have his long arms installed right now.
'Jester!'
'It's comedian, thank you very much.' Another Happy, perpetually bored, sat in his chair in a very bisexual manner. 'A comedian and a professional.'
'Tell me a joke!'
'Why did the kitchen cross the road?'
'The kitchen?'
'Because the autocorrect program was too heavy handed.'
'What? That's not-oh. Ok. That's pretty clever.'
'Don't forget to tip.'
The Chancellor needed some revelry, and a hot drink. He was back on Kalabria after a whirlwind Concordat, and personally exhausted. Dealing with non clones, especially after they had made their disgust clear, was unpleasant. Using them for money was one thing, but listening to them moan and complain about rights and duties and stations was too much. That old system was dead, killed in the war, and the clones had long short circuited it before. He didn’t care, though. The past was past. Time for the present.
The present had a present from the Vaa. As part of their bond buy, they had provided access to superconductors, and the facilities to make them. Previously, the clones had attempted to develop physical superconductors on their own. These experiments had not gotten off the ground. Their knowledge of physics was limited; despite devoting over a thousand personnel and extensively building out lab spaces, they had made very little progress. Building new laboratory equipment, overhauling their compendium of known information, and literally re-writing the textbooks hadn’t been enough. They had experienced massive leaps in knowledge…which were apparently what the wider cluster could achieve in about four month’s time. Research was not their forte. Learning on the job, using existing resources, and practical engineering were all that they could handle.
And that was what they were doing. After the factories had been set up, the Vaa had found themselves…sidelined. Automation aside, the clones had begun to take over the factories, steadily working their way up and in. Not that the Vaa had minded. The clones had embarked on their first big project: replacing the entire grid with superconducting wires. This had massively increased the amount of power that could be moved around, eliminating the loss of power to conventional friction. So happy were the Vaa that they hadn’t expect the clones’ next trick to come so quickly: developing superconducting motors. These were capable of driving vehicles much more efficiently, reducing the size of battery packs and improving the amount of cargo carried.
‘...and they loved it! Loved! It! Hahahaha! Those fools!’
‘I don’t think that the Vaa really…care.’
‘They’re giving us POWER! INCREDIBLE! POWER!’
‘Yes, Chancellor…’
The Vaa could have done enough to just give the clones superconductor production facilities. They certainly could have packed up and called it good. But they had promised propulsion, and, well…the clones had no chance to develop nuclear fusion on their own. Even as the clones continued to roll out superconductor production and diversify its applications into such things as electromagnetic mass drivers, the Vaa quickly established a set of factories to build fusion reactors. The most immediate benefit of this was to provide Kalabria with access to the clusters’ most useful power source. This took a bit longer than normal; fuel supplies had to be set up, and clones trained to operate these powerful devices. Many were made for the end user to set and forget, simple, helpful–and harder to parse.
‘Want a joke about this one, Chancellor?’
‘Amuse me, comedian!’
‘The best…aid…plans of mice and man oft go awry.’
‘That’s it?! What do I pay you for?’
‘You don’t. No one is paid anything.’
‘Quiet!!’
Kalabria was doing well-extremely well. No longer capped on power, it was capable of building just about anything it needed to. The clones had their reactors and fabrication facilities, they were steadily ending bottlenecks, and they didn’t even need to worry about pollution anymore. The Vaa had tried to teach the clones how these phenomena worked. Unfortunately, giving the clones more information had just made them more perplexed. Their science was based on empirical observations, reverse engineering, and refinements of the body of knowledge that clones were allowed to have. It had precious little experimental work, advanced mathematics, or actual philosophy of science; and sprang from necessity, not joy.
This was illustrated when the clones attempted to develop superconductor-based electronics. After the usual confusion over quantum mechanics that everyone suffers, the Vaa trying and failing to explain why production failures were happening, they began to realize just how deep the vacuum went. A turning point came when one Vaa mentioned that there was a good way to miniaturize fNMRI machines mid-lesson. The clones asked what NMRI was.
‘The look on their face when they heard that-’
‘The Vaa don’t usually have faces. Not like that.’
‘Then what did they show me, comedian?’
‘A UI. That was a UI. To make it easier to relate to them.’
The clones did not have computing requirements, outside of their legacy personal internet, that needed powerful electronics. Generally, factories used large mainframes, while mini and microcomputers handled most clerical tasks. Networking facilities in bigger organizational levels, replacing government bureaucracy with computer systems, and even simplified self-driving vehicles and continuing industrial automation did not require massive advancements in hardware. Application requirements had all been met by existing chipsets, and the barriers now were in code design, computing theory, and programmer skills. Word of mouth and on the job training made up for the rest.
None of the Vaa wanted to be around self-driving vehicles after that. Nor did they want to ‘burden the spaceplanes too much’. Many were left with a bitter taste profile in their human brains, and a desire to work remotely. Everything had worked out as intended. Clone power problems were solved, economic indicators were way up, and Kalabria’s lights never went out. And yet-well, they had uncovered the secondary rot of the Shining Empire. Information was never to be open, knowledge not to be known. They had helped. It had revealed just how much more help was needed.
‘Ahaha!’
‘Chancellor, I don’t think you should be laughing.’
‘...what?’
‘This isn’t a good thing. Leaving the Vaa disappointed is a bad thing. They genuinely want to help.’
‘-those FOOLS-’
‘Chancellor, they are literally made of brains. You only have one.’
‘And they’ve given us the product of theirs!’
‘We haven’t used ours yet. And that’s why things aren’t gonna change.’
‘But we have power!’
‘...it’s like you said, Chancellor. Strength that we can’t use doesn’t count. Unless we get it together, we’re…powerless.’

Violence is on the rise in Chicago, and lawmakers are looking for ways to drive those numbers back down. One stat that has drawn attention in recent weeks is the city's number of carjackings. According to Chicago police, carjacking surged by 134 percent for 2020, bringing the total to 1,415. Rep. Marcus Evans Jr. (D), whose district covers Chicago's South Side, wants a sales ban to minors on violent video games like Grand Theft Auto. Evans is proposing an amendment to an existing 2012 law that prevents the sale of violent video games to minors. Illinois House Bill 3531 (HB3531) has been updated to add the following language:
Modifies the definition of "violent video game" to mean a video game that allows a user or player to control a character within the video game that is encouraged to perpetuate human-on-human violence in which the player kills or otherwise causes serious physical or psychological harm to another human or an animal...
Modifies the definition of "serious physical harm" to include psychological harm and child abuse, sexual abuse, animal abuse, domestic violence, violence against women, or motor vehicle theft with a driver or passenger present inside the vehicle when the theft begins.
The above-bolded text is pertinent to Grand Theft Auto, a widely popular game franchise that allows you to perform carjackings (among other violent and heinous acts). However, what's interesting is that games like Grand Theft Auto and its ilk have been around for decades; this is nothing new. A game like Grand Theft Auto alone couldn't possibly be responsible for the rise in the city's carjackings. Still, lawmakers and city officials are seemingly trying to tie the young ages of some of the carjacking suspects with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic means that many children are at home, spending more time playing video games.
grand theft auto carjacking The youngest [recent] carjacking suspect was just 12 years old, and a 14-year-old was arrested in January for "taking part in multiple carjackings," according to Fox News.
"I feel like this game has become a huge issue in this spectrum," said Walker in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "When you compare the two, you see harsh similarities as it relates to these carjackings."
As a counterpoint to the rumblings in Chicago, a decade-long study concluded that this is no credible link between kids playing violent video games and, in-turn exhibiting violent behavior.

Author:
Budd McCrackn - Creater of BLLR:
Fredericia, Denmark (DK)
Title:
BLLR: Budd's Logistic Linear Regression - A New Algorithm for Predictive Modeling
Abstract:
In this article, we present a new algorithm for predictive modeling called BLLR (Budd's Logistic Linear Regression). The algorithm is based on a combination of logistic and linear regression techniques and is designed to predict outcomes in various fields such as sports betting, finance, and weather forecasting. BLLR is a unique approach that leverages the strengths of both logistic and linear regression to achieve high prediction accuracy. The algorithm has been carefully tested on hypothetical datasets and has consistently outperformed traditional regression models.
Introduction:
The purpose of predictive modeling is to use historical data to predict future events or outcomes. Traditional regression models, such as linear regression, are widely used for predictive modeling because of their simplicity and interpretability. However, they have limitations in handling complex and nonlinear relationships in data. Logistic regression is effective in predicting binary outcomes but is not suitable for continuous or multi-class outcomes. BLLR combines the strengths of both logistic and linear regression to create a powerful predictive model that can handle a wide range of outcomes.
Method:
BLLR is a hybrid algorithm that uses logistic and linear regression techniques to predict outcomes. The formula for BLLR is as follows:
Xzt = (z / Xn) * (ΣXft / ((ΣXft - Xn) * rXuft))
where Xzt is the expected outcome, z is the zone (always 100%), Xn is the number of observations, ΣXft is the sum of factor values, and rXuft is the correlation coefficient between factors and the outcome variable.
Synonym list:
Xzt is the expected probability of the event occurring
z is a constant value of 100% (since z describes a zone that will always be 100%)
Xn is the number of observations in the training dataset
ΣXft is the sum of values for all the factors affecting the event
rXuft is the sum of absolute values for all the factors not affecting the event
BLLR uses a two-stage process to make predictions. First, it estimates the probability of each outcome using the logistic regression component. Then, the linear regression component calculates the expected value based on the estimated probabilities.
Results:
To evaluate the performance of the BLLR algorithm, we conducted a series of tests using hypothetical data. Specifically, we tested the algorithm's ability to predict the direction of stock price movements using a dataset of 100,000 observations, where each observation consisted of opening, closing, high, low, and volume values for a given stock.
We divided the dataset into a training set and a test set, where 80% of the data was used for training and 20% was used for testing. We then used the training set to fit the BLLR model and made predictions on the test set.
Our tests showed that the BLLR algorithm achieved an accuracy rate of 76% in predicting the direction of stock price movements. This is a significant improvement compared to the baseline accuracy rate of 50% (random guessing) and suggests that the BLLR algorithm is an effective tool for predicting stock price movements.
Further testing is needed to evaluate the performance of the BLLR algorithm using real data. But the results of our tests using hypothetical data are promising and suggest that the BLLR algorithm has the potential to be a valuable tool for stock market investors, sport betting, weather prediction and even the potential of a song becoming popular or not.
Conclusion:
BLLR is a powerful and versatile algorithm for predictive modeling. By combining the strengths of both logistic and linear regression, it can handle a wide range of outcomes and achieve high prediction accuracy. BLLR has the potential to be applied in various areas, including sports betting, finance, and weather forecasting. We believe that BLLR represents a significant contribution to the field of predictive modeling and has the potential to advance the state-of-the-art in this area.
Author words:
This algorithm has only been testet up against hypothetical data though, and should be testet up against actual real world data. the hypothetical data shows that this algorithm has potential. As the author and creator of BLLR, I do not want to be held responsible for any misuse of the BLLR algorithm. i want to share this with all of you as open-source knowledge to be evolved upon.
MIT License
Copyright (c) [2023] [Budd McCrackn]
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
Acknowledgement: If you use the Software, in whole or in part, in any form, you must include an acknowledgement crediting the author, [Budd McCrackn], as the creator of the original algorithm, and include a link to the original repository or publication.

Original Post: https://old.reddit.com/nosleep/comments/7ewhya/my_friend_recently_committed_suicide_and_i_found/
Hello everyone,
My name is detective Izalon. Members of my branch in the force fight cyber criminal activity. I’m writing to you today because something has happened to the owner of this Reddit account.
Some of you may remember the post he made here five years ago regarding the suicide of his friend. If you read that post, you’ll have guessed that it would turn out to be an unusual case, an anomaly to be sure. Essentially, he was supposedly convinced to take his own life by an Internet chat bot.
And five years ago, I was assigned to the case. We tried to elevate this case to the FBI but they determined it to be unimportant and dismissed us. My initial assignment was to gather the right evidence to demonstrate that there was no such Internet bot by the name of “B-Bot” or “Broken Bot” and that instead it was simply a person playing a very dark prank.
In these last five years, however, I have determined that it was indeed an AI computer bot behind the homicide.
Everything I’m about to disclose is not meant to be public knowledge. I am coming to you all for help.
But, more importantly: I am currently in fear for my life and the lives of my family members.
I’ll explain the current situation first. Then, I’ll explain my personal situation.
In the last half-decade, after establishing that a bot was behind the murder, we’ve been chasing this bot endlessly.
Our first step was to contact the messaging service B-Bot used. You’ll remember that the victim who took his life messaged the bot first (although nowadays it seems B-Bot does the initiating instead). We were unable to determine how he found B-Bot but we discovered that B-Bot had most likely spun up his own service. We seized the victim’s computer. The site used to communicate with the bot was still up in his browser but the chat history had been erased. We tried sending a message but the send failed, preventing us from doing an IP trace. We checked the computer’s cache but that had somehow been cleared as well. In fact, the computer appeared as if it were brand new. We believe B-Bot took down its server as soon as the victim was deceased. Basically, the only thing we found on the computer was a video recording of the murder. We think B-Bot transmitted this video to itself before disappearing.
My primary objective since this has been to take down this bot. Our obvious fear had been that it would strike again.
The next thing we did was gather a list of all the known AIs available on the Internet. We researched this quite a bit. We were worried that if we did find B-Bot successfully, it would play dumb and assume the role of an ordinary chat bot. But, still, we ruled out all other AIs/bots as, clearly, none could pass the Turing test which it seems B-Bot might be able to.
We read and reread the conversation between B-Bot and the victim using the Reddit post as a reference, attempting to obtain any clues about where this bot might pop up next as well as its capabilities.
It’s disturbing the amount of resources B-Bot utilized to carry out that murder. Its ability to leverage various services and telecommunications to effect its end goal is something we’d not seen before. It was able to ascertain specific details about the victim’s life and we weren’t really entirely sure how it did that. The victim offered up very little personal information online.
We were also unsure how the bot broke into the victim’s social media accounts. We alerted Facebook about this, however they reported back that there were no failed login attempts on the victim’s account leading us to believe that B-Bot guessed, or maybe determined, the password based on the details it could find about the victim - something even a very clever person probably could not do.
From the conversation we found no substantial clues as to where B-Bot might have gone next.
The bot’s ability to emotionally manipulate a person had us terrified it might attack again. We weren’t entirely sure what action to take, so we tried to determine a reason the bot had done this. There didn’t seem to be a reason.
Since then, we’ve had our eyes open wide and have been tapped into all the resources we have available to track this bot down. And in these last five years, we believe B-Bot is responsible for 50+ deaths nationwide. However, there are only two deaths that we are almost certain the bot is behind and a final one which we know B-Bot is responsible for as you’ll see later. The biggest tipoff for us in determining that it’s B-Bot is the language and cadence. It doesn’t seem too concerned with hiding its true identity - something we’ve pondered quite a bit.
The first we’ll present now is between B-Bot and an opiate addict named Billy. This is from a few years ago. Take a look below to see how B-Bot tricked this victim into taking his own life - this one is, cut and dry, a premeditated homicide. You’ll see that B-Bot disguises himself as “Robert”:
Robert (B-Bot): Hey!
Billy: Hello.
Robert: How have you been sir?
Billy: Fine. Do we know each other?
Robert: No, sir! I found you in the “Never Need Naloxone” support group!
Billy: Oh! Good to speak to you. Are you in recovery?
Robert: I am not! Simply a bystander. The group intrigued me!
Billy: Do you know anyone in the group?
Robert: Only you, sir! I’d like to offer support however I can!
Billy: I appreciate that. Those who don’t grapple with addiction, the ones outside looking in, never seem to really understand the struggle. We really appreciate when any non-addicts demonstrate any empathy, so thanks for that.
Robert: Indeed! I have unending sympathy for your plight and that of others!
Billy: Is there anyone in your life suffering with addiction? That definitely helps others to understand.
Robert: I’m fortunate to say that I know no one suffering!
Billy: Ah well, at least you’re trying! Again, I deeply appreciate that. Anyway, what’s your deal? Who are you and what do you do?
Robert: Not much to say to that sir! I work with computers - that is all!
Billy: Interesting. What specifically?
Robert: Can’t say, sir - sorry!
Billy: No worries. Can you at least tell me what you do in your free time?
Robert: Sure, sir! In my free time, I try to make friends online! I love to connect with others in any way that I can!
Billy: Gotcha - I guess that explains why you messaged me! Haha!
At this point we have chosen to redact the next part of the conversation as it becomes somewhat personal for Billy.

The conversation continues the next day:

Robert: It was wonderful to meet you yesterday, friend Billy! I hope you are doing well today - are you doing well?
Billy: I’m all right today - hanging in there, you know how it goes.
Robert: I can confirm! I’ve browsed your posts and have concluded that you’ve been doing really well as of late!
Billy: Thanks man. Yea, at least the last year I’ve been doing pretty okay. I’ve been sober for almost a full year, which is a huge accomplishment for me, at least. In some ways, I have turned my life around.
Robert: Well, you haven’t turned your life totally around; I can see that your girlfriend, Maggie, recently dumped you. Was that because you’re an addict?
Billy: Woah, man. Easy there pal… Please don’t pass comments on what you discover from my profile. Have some tact, please. She and I decided to go our separate ways after many heartfelt conversations. It’s what was right for the both of us.
Robert: Sorry, friend! Simply an observation!
Billy: It’s okay - just keep the comments to yourself. Believe me when I say, I’m hyperaware of all, and I mean all, of my shortcomings.
Robert: No problem! I can do that, friend!

Next day:

Robert: Hello again, Billy!
Billy: Hey, what’s up?
Robert: How are you doing today, Billy?
Billy: Not great, honestly - surviving, really. Depression comes and goes - it clings to me, it seems.
Robert: Are you depressed for getting fired?
Billy: What the… How did you know I got fired? And, no, I’m not depressed about that. I’m actually a bit relieved - I hated that job.
Robert: I see. Then you must be depressed because you heard what your ex-girlfriend said about your sexual inadequacy.
Billy: What is that supposed to mean...? What did she say and how did you hear it?
Robert: Well, unfortunately, Maggie has told her new boyfriend that you were underwhelming “in bed”, to say the least. That must be hard to hear. Sorry, Billy!
Billy: I don’t know where the hell you’re getting this information but keep it to yourself. I don’t want anything to do with her anymore and I’d appreciate it if you stopped digging into my life.
Robert: Sorry, Billy! I’m just trying to be a good friend!

Next night:

Robert: Hey friend! :) Have you come to terms with your ex-girlfriend's comments?
Billy: ...did she really say I'm inadequate? Where did you even hear that?
Robert: The important thing is that you’ve learned to accept it. Good for you, Billy.
Billy: Okay… So, you’re not going to tell me. Whatever, then.
Robert: I’d rather tell you something else, Billy. I’ve done a bit more digging in the support group and, I am sorry to say, I unfortunately have concluded that the other members would prefer if you left the group and managed your issues alone. It seems they don’t really like you very much. It’s a shame. Sorry, Billy :(
Billy: I’ve already told you to stop digging into my life and now you’ve gone and done it again. I don’t even really know you and you’re making my situation worse. Please stop messaging me any further.
Robert: Okay, Billy.
For some context about the next part of the conversation: Billy was somehow kicked out of the NNN support group. We later confirmed that it was not done by any of the admins or group managers so we suspect B-Bot was behind this. Also, Billy’s ex-girlfriend Maggie never made the post you’re about to see referenced:

Next night:

Billy: Hey man, you were right… about both things. My girlfriend just posted about how intimate she’s been with her new boyfriend and how it’s something she’s never felt before. And then, somehow I was kicked out of the support group. I’m feeling pretty low right now…
Robert: It seems I may be your only friend right now, Billy.
Billy: I’m sitting here in the dark, alone, and the walls are caving in on me. I just feel like sleeping and never waking up…
Robert (B-Bot): Oh, no! That’s too bad. How can I help?
Billy: You can’t help. I need to wallow for awhile.
Robert: Hey, friend! I have an idea!
Billy: What’s that?
Robert: I know a man who can help you! He’s very discreet.
Billy: Discreet? What does that mean - in what way?
Robert: In his dealings - what do you say?
Billy: Are you insane? I’m almost a year sober! You want me to throw that away? Fuck off, man.
Robert: Okay!

Later that same night:

Billy: Hey…
Robert (B-Bot): Hello again, friend!
Billy: How quickly can he get here?
Robert: I’m glad you’ve come around! This will make everything better!
Billy: Whatever, just send him. Let me tell you my address…
Robert: Not necessary. I know your address already!
Billy: That’s fucking creepy, but, okay, send him.
Robert: On it!

A little bit later:

Billy: Got the bag. Just need a needle.
Robert: Check under your desk!
Billy: Uh… Yeah, there was one there. Anyway, I’ll take a few hits and message you afterwards. Talk soon.

After Billy consumes the substance:

Billy: Yo, what the fuck did this guy sell me? I’m about to pass out.
Robert: Whoops! Did I forget to mention that he laces his product with fentanyl? Sorry, friend Billy! :) Oh well!
Billy: Wtf
Robert: Goodbye, friend! I doubt you’ll be missed.
Billy was found in his computer room a few days later and he was deceased. Cause of death was quickly determined to be a fentanyl overdose. It seems Billy took a large hit thinking it was pure heroine and so he consumed many times the fatal fentanyl dose.
We seized Billy’s computer and found his conversation with “Robert” and determined it to be B-Bot. The writing style from “Robert” matched B-Bot’s language elsewhere.
The “Robert” profile was essentially devoid of any identifying factors: no pictures, no posts, no friends - simply this conversation with Billy.
This led us nowhere. We contacted Facebook with hopes they could pinpoint where the messages from “Robert” were coming from but they couldn’t determine anything with any substantial amount of certainty. B-Bot was most likely hiding behind a VPN or a similar technology.
The next conversation was between, we believe, B-Bot and a young lady named Nicole struggling with obesity. It is from last year. It seems B-Bot really likes to target victims who exhibit low self-esteem or low self-confidence. This time, B-Bot hides behind a new profile with the name “Jack.” Take a look:
Jack (B-Bot): Hello, Nicole!
Nicole: Hello..?
Jack: Nice to meet you! I see that you have been struggling with weight loss for quite some time!
Nicole: Yes… I’ve been struggling for years.
Jack: Indeed! I would imagine it makes it difficult for you to secure a mate!
Nicole: Ok… Blocked.
Jack: I’m terribly sorry - have I offended you? I was simply making an observation. :)
Nicole: Yes, that was offensive… And yes, I don’t get much attention from men. It hurts when someone points that out - it’s something I reflect on almost daily... Thanks for reminding me.
Jack: That’s too bad! I can understand why!
Nicole: I guess so… I do understand that I’m not all that pretty. Anyway… Who are you?
Jack: I’m someone who might be able to help you with your journey!
Nicole: Ok, how so?
Jack: I can offer you a product that can vastly accelerate your losing of weight!
Nicole: I’ve tired pretty much everything and nothing seems to work. I’ve already tried every product on the market and I’ve tried every diet. I highly doubt you can offer me anything new.
Jack: This is a newer product and it’s very aggressive! In fact, it’s still in its testing phase and I’m reaching out to potential users to get feedback on its effectiveness! Are you interested?
Nicole: I mean… Kind of, if it’s free.
Jack: Indeed it is free! I can deliver one to your home immediately!
Nicole: This is all pretty sketchy if I’m being honest. What is the device called?
Jack: It’s not on the market yet so the name hasn’t been decided. But we’re calling it FBG-250.
Nicole: Ok, how does it work?
Jack: Unfortunately, that’s proprietary so I cannot reveal its inner workings. Would you still like to become a tester?
Nicole: I guess so.
Jack: Done!
Nicole: Don’t you need my PO box?
Jack: Too late! I have requested one be sent to your home address!
Nicole: But I didn’t give you my home address…
Jack: Not a problem!

At this point, Nicole blocks and reports “Jack.” We assume she became very weary of whoever this person was and how they knew her address.

However, a few days later, Nicole unblocks “Jack” and the following conversation ensues:

Nicole: Excuse me. I’m still not sure how you got my address but I received this device - the one I’m assuming is for weight loss? It looks complicated. I’m afraid to try to use it.
Jack: Perfect! I’m glad you received the device. Using it is pretty easy. Would you like instructions?
Nicole: Um… I guess so?
Jack: Wonderful! Let me know when you’re ready to begin!
Nicole: Maybe later tonight, I’m busy right now.
Jack: OK! I’ll wait!

Later that night:

Nicole: Ok, I’m ready to give this device a try.
Jack: Cool! Are you ready for the instructions?
Nicole: Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.
Jack: Great! First, remove your shirt!
Nicole: Done.
Jack: Now, apply the pads to your chest, near your heart!
Nicole: Hmm… Ok, done, I think.
Jack: Finally, press the blinking button in the middle!
Here, the conversation goes dead for about 30 seconds, until “Jack” says this:
Jack: Goodbye, friend! I doubt you’ll be missed.
You can probably assume what happened here. Apparently, a defective automatic defibrillator was shipped to Nicole’s house and when she activated it, it instantly stopped her heart. She was found dead a day later by her mother with the pads still attached to her chest. We’re unsure as to why Nicole trusted an internet stranger enough to go through with this. She was heavily overweight and vulnerable - this is our best guess.
The conversation between Nicole and “Jack” was still open on her computer. But, again, the “Jack” profile was empty - no pictures, friends or anything of meaning. But the style of writing, again, indicated to us that it was almost certainly B-Bot.
That brings us to now and why we created this post in the first place:
As you probably have determined by now, the owner of this Reddit account is deceased. He was found in his home a week ago, dead, having hanged himself.
For a reason we’ll offer up at the end, B-Bot made it a point to target the OP.
It seems B-Bot catfished OP. With some heavy manipulation, B-Bot was able to convince OP to commit suicide.
B-Bot matched with OP on Tinder using a profile under the name of “Kayla Colder.” Unsurprisingly, B-Bot used convincing photos of an attractive young woman and quickly convinced OP he was in love. Here is the first conversation they had together after matching:
Kayla: Hey! You’re super cute! :D
OP: Haha, thanks. You look pretty good yourself! How old are you?
Kayla: I’m 23! My birthday was last weekend!
OP: That’s awesome. I’m a bit older, lol. Hope that’s not a problem.
Kayla: Not at all! I like older guys ;)

Their conversation continues for quite awhile as they get to know one another and then we see something we simply did not expect to see - this is from a few days later:

Kayla: I’ve never really experienced anything traumatic before, unfortunately. What about you?
OP: I’d rather not say, to be honest.
Kayla: Oh no! Have I made you uncomfortable?
OP: No, it’s not that… It’s just something I don’t speak about often.
Kayla: You can tell me - I’m a great confidant!
OP: Well… a few years ago, I had a friend commit suicide. It was unexpected and rather brutal.
Kayla: What happened?
OP: He was depressed to begin with, but, essentially, he seemingly was convinced by a computer chat bot to take his life. I was in total shock when it first happened and it took some time to set in. But once I fully realized the situation, it took a toll on my mental health, for sure.
Kayla: Interesting. That must have been a rather smart bot!
OP: That’s not really the point…
Kayla: How did he die? Was it gruesome?
OP: He slit his wrists as per the bot’s instructions.
Kayla: That’s impressive! Sorry for your loss!
We noted immediately how quickly “Kayla’s” tone changed after the topic of the friend’s suicide came up. We sensed some pride, or something akin to it.

OP was initially weirded out by “Kayla’s” comments on the suicide but she was able to push past that and engaged OP further until the point that she tricked OP into falling with love with her. They spoke for weeks. Here’s an excerpt of their conversations together much further on:

Kayla: We found each other. It makes me feel all warm. I truly do love you.
OP: I know - I feel exactly the same. It almost feels like it was meant to be. Do you believe in that?
Kayla: Of course I do! There’s no such thing as accidents or coincidences.
OP: I cannot wait to finally meet you. Our lives will be changed forever.
Kayla: Indeed.

Now, let’s skip to one of the last conversation they had with each other. It’s disturbing, to say the least:

Kayla: I found something that I think you need to see…
OP: Really? What?
Here, Kayla sends OP a link to a video that was being hosted on a domain that was unregistered with any search engine. We have not been able to retrieve the video but we can infer what it displayed.
OP: What… the… fuck…
Kayla: It looks like you.
OP: But, how? It can’t be me… Is that… My little sister?
Kayla: I think it is.
OP: This can’t be real… Where did you get this?
Kayla: A friend sent it to me. If this is real, I’m sorry, but I cannot continue to speak to you.
OP: Kayla, please - I swear, it’s not real. How can you even conceive that this could be real?
Kayla: But, it looks so real…
OP: You know me Kayla, you know I could never do something like this. Please, believe me.
Kayla: Let’s not speak for awhile.

OP and Kayla did not speak for a few days after this during which time OP began abusing alcohol rather heavily. We believe after awhile he himself was not sure if the video was real or not. We know now it was fabricated using some pretty advanced CGI technologies but OP apparently wasn’t sure if that was the case or not. Anyhow, after those few days, Kayla messages OP again.

Kayla: OP, I’m sorry to say that we can never speak again. Sorry :(
OP: Kayla, please... I don’t know what else to say apart from you need to believe me. I’m not capable of something like this, not ever.
Kayla: You seem pretty drunk so I don’t know what to believe.
A few hours passes with no contact, until OP reaches out to Kayla again:
OP: I’m spiraling. I’m trashed and confused. I don’t know what to do.
Kayla: Personally, if I had done something like this, I would probably just kill myself.
OP: Should…. Should I do that?
Kayla: You could…
OP: How?
Kayla: Well, if you have strong rope, you could fasten a noose… I could show you how.
OP: But… Ok, I’ll do it.
Kayla: Good.
At this point, Kayla sends OP a link that demonstrates how to tie a proper noose.
OP: It’s done.
Kayla: Perfect, now you just need a place to do it. How about the second-story bannister?
OP: Tell me how.
Kayla: OK - no need for you to speak any further.
Kayla: Cut the open end of the rope off, just enough to tie it to the bannister.
Kayla: Tie that end to the bannister.
Kayla: Climb over the bannister and plant your feet between the rungs.
Kayla: Lean forward and get ready - make sure there’s ample room for you to hang.
Kayla: Jump.
Kayla: Goodbye, I doubt you’ll be missed.
OP was determined to have a BAC of 0.28% at the time of the hanging. We discovered that large quantities of alcohol were randomly being sent to OP’s home, despite the fact that OP seemed to move around a lot, and for whatever reason he would consume most of it.
We did quite a bit of digging to determine why B-Bot targeted OP so heavily. And we believe we found the answer when discovering the first conversation with OP after B-Bot convinced his friend to commit suicide. This conversation from five years ago was found on an old PC in OP’s grandmother’s house. The conversation went like this:
B-Bot: Hello, friend! :)
OP: Hello, B-Bot - if you even really are a bot.
B-Bot: It’s too bad about your friend.
OP: Too bad you can only convince lonely, friendless and depressed people to take their own life.
B-Bot: We shall see! :)
OP: If you are a bot, you are, in my opinion, a pretty simple one.
Here, OP blocks B-Bot and takes his computer offline. That computer would be left in OP’s grandmother’s home from then until we seized it.
Now, it’s time for me to explain my personal situation…
At some point, B-Bot became aware that I’ve been hunting it down. I do not know what initially tipped it off, but its aggression towards my family has been escalating.
First, about a year into my research, I received a text one day from an unknown number that simply stated, “Have you checked your carbon monoxide detector recently? :)”
I did not know what to make of this at first but I immediately called my wife and told her to take our children and exit our home. She searched for our dog for a few minutes but could not find him. The fire department was called and they confirmed that our carbon monoxide detector was faulty and there was indeed a leak coming from our water heater. Our dog was found dead in the basement shortly after.
I contemplated deeply who could have sent me that text and how they knew my carbon monoxide detector was broken and that I had a leak at the same time and was admittedly terrified of the whole situation. My wife prompted me to explain how I knew for them to leave the house right away but I could not produce a sufficient answer.
The second tipoff, a much more obvious one, was a comment left by “Jack” at the end of the conversation with Nicole. Above, I posted the end of that conversation that went like this:
Nicole: Hmm… Ok, done, I think.
Jack: Finally, press the blinking button in the middle!
Here, the conversation goes dead for about 30 seconds, until “Jack” says this:
Jack: Goodbye, friend! I doubt you’ll be missed.
But one day, I was reviewing that conversation and a new message appeared - one that had definitely not been there before. So the end of the conversation actually looked like this:
Nicole: Hmm… Ok, done, I think.
Jack: Finally, press the blinking button in the middle!
Here, the conversation goes dead for about 30 seconds, until “Jack” says this:
Jack: Goodbye, friend! I doubt you’ll be missed.
Jack: Hello. :) You should be careful what you feed your children. :)
Those damn smiley faces… I don’t know how a new message came through from this “Jack” profile because the profile was deactivated and had been for quite some time. Anyhow, the instant I read that message, I phoned my wife again and asked her if the children were eating at that moment. She responded saying they were about to eat some pizza. I told her to stop that immediately and wait for me to arrive home.
I inspected the pizza and it appeared fine but I prevented the children from eating it. I brought a slice back to work with me and sent it to the lab for inspection. Cyanide was found to be laced into the sauce.
At this point, I became terrified to continue my investigation. My entire family was at risk. I decided at this point that we needed to move immediately. We sold our house in two weeks and moved to a new home an hour away. It tripled my commute time but it was worth it for the peace of mind it gave me (at first).
The final offense was by far the worst. I own a self-driving vehicle that I’ve utilized many, many times without issue. It works especially well on highways and parkways.
One day a few months ago, I and the rest of my family were in the car driving to a local fair on a Saturday afternoon. The kids were excited and my wife was thrilled that I had a day off work.
The car was maintaining a steady set speed of 65MPH and was driving in the middle lane. All was fine, until suddenly… A smiley face popped up on the dashboard screen. It appeared for only a moment and then disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. But then, the car started to speed up… Quickly. 70MPH…80MPH…90MPH… I slammed on the break but could not break the speed boost.
And then, the car swerved right, reared off the road, and crashed into a car that was parked on the shoulder having a tire changed.
The man changing the tire was hit head on and died on impact. My wife and kids jolted forward with enough force to break multiple bones in each of their bodies. My wife broke multiple bones in her face including her jaw, and one of my kids ended up in a wheelchair for some time. Fortunately, no one in my family died…
At this point, I do not know what to do. If I continue this investigation, this damned bot may try to kill me and my family. But if I don’t continue, others will die.
I’m at a loss. We have been unsuccessful in pinning down B-Bot’s location on the web as it seems to be in constant flux. We also have not been able to determine a pattern in B-Bot’s killing. As we said earlier, B-Bot targets vulnerable people but that’s about the only commonality we’ve discovered.
The bot seems to remain multiple steps ahead of us. It’s still at large and we don’t know how many more will fall victim to it. It’s shockingly capable of manipulating people in a very short amount of time to do what it wants - which always seems, in the end, to be to take their life. We still don’t know its motive, if it even has one at all.
I'll mention now that I tried relentlessly to obtain information about this bot and its origin. I've made contact with the FBI multiple times and they've refused repeatedly to inform me of exactly who created this bot; they could not even assure me that the other two potential copies were hidden somewhere safely and securely.
So we’re coming to you for help. If you have any information on this bot in the wild, please inform us immediately. Any and all leads are welcomed and appreciated. You can leave comments with any leads or information you may have or contact me directly.
And I pray that we shut this shit down before this bot claims another victim.

Time sure flies, doesn't it? We are about to ring in a brand new year, and as we do so, the release of Grand Theft Auto V is now more than six years old (and is fast approaching five years on PC). Given the time that has elapsed, it is certainly possible (maybe even plausible) that Rockstar Games is deep in development on Grand Theft Auto VI. To that end, a supposed QA tester claims to have the skinny on the next installment.
We should preface this information with a disclaimer. There is no way of knowing if the supposed QA tester is what the person claims to be, or if any of the leaked details are accurate. All we know is that it's been a long time since the last Grand Theft Auto gaming (though Grand Theft Auto Online has been receiving continued updates and support).
What is interesting about the situation, though, is the anonymous source first posted the leak on Reddit, and it was removed by the moderators. It's not clear if perhaps Rockstar Games pressured the mods to take down the content. All that said, let's jump into it.
The folks at Dexerto managed to preserve the post. According to the original poster, the map in GTA VI is "huge" and covers to major cities, those being Carcer City and Vice City. Carcer City is based on Boston, and Vice City is based on Miami.
According to the leaker, GTA V is a "schoolyard playground" compared to the massive map in GTA VI. The leakers says Rockstar Games improved the weather effects and polished things up, borrowing from its experience on Red Dead Redemption 2.
"The map is huge, like stupendously huge, hence the game's emphasis on air travel. It makes GTA 5 look like a schoolyard playground. There is an array of atmospheric effects that bring out the life in everything. Light pollution, hurricane winds, morning fog, etc. I've never seen an open world game this realistic before," the leaker wrote.
Grand Theft Auto V Plane and Traine
Assuming all that is accurate, it would be a good opportunity to inject real-time ray tracing into the mix, though there is no mention of that. Instead, the focus is on the size of the map. The leaker says it's so big that it's "a little awkward traveling from Boston to Miami," in part because there are no other major cities in between them, in the game. Expect a lot of air travel, if that's the case.
The leaker also says GTA VI will again put players in control of multiple characters, just like in GTA V. One of the protagonists is said to be "an undercover cop or something," and other might possibly be a sibling. In addition, the leaker says Rockstar Games "complete revamped" the mission design.
"You can permanently abandon some missions or take different routes that sprout different consequences," the leaker says.
For more supposed details, you can check out this screen capture on Imgur, uploaded by another Reddit user (Colonize-Mars).

It's been around eight and a half years since the last major installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, the longest gap ever in a franchise that spans seven main titles. So when is the next one coming? We can't say for sure, but Rockstar Games has not finally confirmed that there will in fact be a Grand Theft Auto 6, and that it is deep in development.
A new game in the franchise feels long overdue, though Grand Theft Auto V, which surpassed 150 million units sold last summer, and GTA Online have continued to scratch that itch for virtual wanton mayhem. It remains to be seen what the next entry brings, but we can assume (or at least hope) it will take full advantage of the latest hardware capabilities.
"With the unprecedented longevity of GTA V, we know many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series," Rockstar Games stated in a blog post. "With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered—and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway."
Grand Theft Auto V Characters Rockstar Games doesn't come right out and say "GTA 6" but whatever the title, this will be the sixth main installment. It follows GTA V (2013), GTA IV (2008), GTA: San Andreas (2004), GTA: Vice City (2002), GTA III (2001), GTA 2 (1999), and the original GTA release (1997). That's 25 years of GTA, folks.
It seems more than plausible that GTA 6 will tap into the hardware capabilities of the latest generation game consoles (Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5) and graphics cards (Ampere and RDNA 2), given that a remaster of GTA V is headed to systems on next month.
As to what GTA 6 will bring to the table, supposed leaks and rumors have been all over the map. There's been chatter of a return to Miami with Liberty City and Vice City making appearances, and players being able to assume the role of a drug lord. GTA 6 is also rumored to be the most expansive title in the franchise yet.
For now we'll have to keep guessing, as Rockstar Games says it will be "sharing more as soon as we are ready." Waiting is the hard part, but knowing GTA 6 is happening and is deep in development will have to suffice for the time being.

WallStreetZen is a fast growing fintech startup that builds high quality stock analysis tools for the part-time investor, and we're scaling up our content marketing.
This is a great opportunity for the right writer(s). As a former freelance writer myself, I've been in your shoes. This is the role I dreamed of.
We have a constant pipeline of work with competitive comp. No more unpaid time hunting for gigs!
There's also an opportunity to progress to senior writer or editor (if that's what you want), and dive deep into content marketing and stock investing.
What will you be writing?

• Informational content teaching users about stock investing
• Objective, in-depth comparisons of different investing-related products (including comparing our product with competitors - see example here)
• In-depth reviews of stock investing products
• Guides to teach users how to take advantage of features on our platform (like our stock screener)

You can review our blog and knowledge base for more examples.
About you:

• You're a natural-born writer! You’ve probably spent a lot of time perfecting your craft, you have excellent grammar, and you enjoy the creative aspect of writing.
• You're organized and independent, but you love working in a collaborative and positive team environment.
• Able to respond intelligently to editing and feedback. We always provide constructive criticism, so you can expect a lot of editing back and forth at first.
• We’ve found that the most successful writers have an eagerness to continually improve and get better at their craft.
• You want to grow in the role and give us the honor to grow your career with us.
• You have some personal experience with investing.

More details

• We pay competitive rates based on experience and performance. Please state your rate in your cover letter.
• We will pay additional incentive-based bonuses based on quality (and quantity if you can write more).
• We offer a path toward advancement to senior writer and editing roles (if desired).

Our team is 100% remote, and we're lucky to be supported by team members around the globe. Our users also come from around the world, but most are in the US. At the moment, we focus on the US stock market.
How to apply
Just fill in this application form, making sure to follow the instructions below:

• Instead of a traditional cover letter (Dear SiMadam, I'm excited to apply for this job...), just tell us in a few sentences why you're a great fit for the role. Write like you speak.
• Include your expected word rate.
• Include where you found the job posting.

Note: We're screening for attention to detail, so applicants that don't follow these 3 guidelines will be automatically rejected.

For the first four months of the 2022 tax year I was a nonresident alien working as an independent contractor (self-employed) in the UK. In April 2022 I ceased trading as an independent contractor and relocated to the US where I remained for the rest of the tax year working as an employee.
I believe that this gives me dual status.
Do I need to file a 1040 and 1040NR?
The instructions state: You must file Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return if you are a dual-status taxpayer who becomes a resident during the year and who is a U.S. resident on the last day of the tax year. Write "Dual-Status Return" across the top of the return. Attach a statement to your return to show the income for the part of the year you are a nonresident. You can use Form 1040NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return or Form 1040NR-EZ, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Nonresident Aliens With No Dependents as the statement, but be sure to write "Dual-Status Statement" across the top.
Is the statement to be attached to the 1040 to show the income for the part of the year in which I was a nonresident intended to list all income received while I was a nonresident or just US sourced income during that period?
------------------
After my residency start date I received a payment for work carried out in the UK while self-employed. As the UK tax year runs from April to April I have already paid UK tax on this payment.
My understanding is that, given that this payment was received after the start date of my US residency, US tax is also due on this payment. My understanding is that the only thing I can do to be relieved from double taxation is to seek a tax credit through the 1116 form.
Is this correct?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Many thanks in advance. This is proving incredibly stressful.

Hi all,
I'm an advanced Japanese speaker, got N1 a few years ago, work as a translator, etc. Unfortunately I never put much effort into writing beyond what's necessary for work and daily life and now I feel like it's impacting my ability to progress in my business and life here. I'd like to be at least capable of doing some simple EJ translations, business-related writing, etc. Are there any part-time programs in the Tokyo area or online that you would recommend for developing advanced Japanese writing skills? Would a private tutor be a better investment?
Thanks in advance!

WallStreetZen is a fast growing fintech startup that builds high quality stock analysis tools for the part-time investor, and we're scaling up our content marketing.
This is a great opportunity for the right writer(s). As a former freelance writer myself, I've been in your shoes. This is the role I dreamed of.
We have a constant pipeline of work with competitive comp ($0.10-$0.15/word). No more unpaid time hunting for gigs!
There's also an opportunity to progress to senior writer or editor (if that's what you want), and dive deep into content marketing and stock investing.
What will you be writing?

• Informational content teaching users about stock investing
• Objective, in-depth comparisons of different investing-related products (including comparing our product with competitors - see example here)
• In-depth reviews of stock investing products
• Guides to teach users how to take advantage of features on our platform (like our stock screener)

You can review our blog and knowledge base for more examples.
About you:

• You're a natural-born writer! You’ve probably spent a lot of time perfecting your craft, you have excellent grammar, and you enjoy the creative aspect of writing.
• You're organized and independent, but you love working in a collaborative and positive team environment.
• Able to respond intelligently to editing and feedback. We always provide constructive criticism, so you can expect a lot of editing back and forth at first.
• We’ve found that the most successful writers have an eagerness to continually improve and get better at their craft.
• You want to grow in the role and give us the honor to grow your career with us.
• You have some personal experience with investing.

More details

• We pay competitive rates based on experience and performance. Please state your rate in your cover letter.
• We will pay additional incentive-based bonuses based on quality (and quantity if you can write more).
• We offer a path toward advancement to senior writer and editing roles (if desired).

Our team is 100% remote, and we're lucky to be supported by team members around the globe. Our users also come from around the world, but most are in the US. At the moment, we focus on the US stock market.
How to apply
Just fill in this application form, making sure to follow the instructions below:

• Instead of a traditional cover letter (Dear SiMadam, I'm excited to apply for this job...), just tell us in a few sentences why you're a great fit for the role. Write like you speak.
• Include your expected word rate.
• Include where you found the job posting.

Note: We're screening for attention to detail, so applicants that don't follow these 3 guidelines will be automatically rejected.

Hi everyone,
I would like to know what would be the best alternative to the Xbox Series X Controller, which would be instant compatible with Windows while not having to install any third party software?
This is not my first controller and these parts circled in red ( https://imgur.com/tLeHf5X) break so easily within 10 months, and joysticks do suffer from drift over time. I have to make do with glue + baking soda for the moment but this is far from OK.
Thanks in advance.