Samuel Huntington writing in a policy planning paper for the Trilateral Commission in the the 1960s. The essay is unironically titled 'The Crisis of Democracy' which occurs from an 'excess of democracy' [sic].

For 20 years after WWII presidents operated with the cooperation of a series of informal governing coalitions. Truman made a point of bringing a substantial number of nonpartisan soldiers, Republican bankers, and Wall Street lawyers into his administration. He went to the existing sources of power in the country to get the help he needed in ruling the country. Eisenhower in part inherited this coalition and was in part almost its creation. He also mobilized a substantial number of midwestern businessmen into his administration and established close and effective working relationships with the Democratic Leadership of congress. …Truman had been able to govern the country with the cooperation of a relatively small number of Wall Street lawyers and bankers. By the mid-1960s, the sources of power in society have diversified tremendously and this was no longer possible.
The media are not in as great a crisis as education...Television, particularly...has made it impossible to maintain the cultural fragmentation and hierarchy that was necessary to enforce traditional forms of social control. …In the past, those institutions which have played the major role in the indoctrination of the young in their rights and obligations as members of society have been the family, the church, the school, and the army. The effectiveness of all these institutions as a means of socialization has declined severely. The stress has been increasingly on individuals and their rights, interests, and needs…these attitudes have been particularly prevalent in the young.
The problems of governance in the US today stem from an excess of democracy..the effective operation of a democratic political system usually requires some measure of apathy and noninvolvement on the part of the some individuals and groups....Black political participation, in short, was the product primarily not of increased individual status but rather of increased group consciousness. That political participation will remain high as long as their group consciousness does. A decline in the saliency of school integration, welfare programs, law enforcement, and other issues of special concert to blacks will at some point presumably be accompanied by a decline in their group consciousness and hence their political participation. Marginal social groups in the case of the blacks, are now becoming full participants in the political system...the danger of overloading the political system with demands...The vulnerability of democratic government in the US thus comes not primarily from external threats…but rather from the internal dynamics of democracy itself in a highly educated, mobilized, and participant society. …We have come to recognize that there are potentially desirable limits to economic growth. There are also potentially desirable limits to the indefinite extension of political democracy.

I do not accept paypal, game trades only
My rep from indiegameswap
Have:
FEBRUARY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE
MARCH 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE
11-11 Memories Retold
2064: Read Only Memories
20XX
7 Grand Steps
7 Billion Humans
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build
A Hat in Time
A Mortician's Tale
American Fugitive
A New Beginning - Final Cut
Aaero
The Adventure Pals
AER Memories of Old
As Far as the Eye
Age of Wonders: Planetfall Deluxe Edition
Age of Wonders III
Agents of Mayhem
AI War: Fleet Command
Alien Spidy
All You Can Eat
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
ADOM (ANCIENT DOMAINS OF MYSTERY
Ancestors: The Humankijnd Odyssey
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation
Assassin's Creed® Origins
Assault Android Cactus
Baba Is You
Bridge Constructor Portal
The Ball
Bastion
Batman Arkham Origins
Basement
Battle Chef Brigade
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
Beat Hazard Ultra
Beholder
BEE SIMULATOR
Bendy and the Ink Machine™
Binary Domain
BioShock™ Remastered
Blazing Beaks
Blue Fire
Biped
Bleed 2
Bone - Episode 1 & Episode 2
Broken Age
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Brutal Legend
Burly Men At Sea
Bury Me, My Love
Bridge Constructor Portal
Call of Cthulhu
Chasm
CHUCHEL Cherry Edition
Carto
Coffee Talk
Company of Heroes 2 +Pattern Pack
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Crawl
Crazy Taxi
Cepheus Protocol
Crowntakers
Curious Expedition
Cultist Simulator
Darkside Detective
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
Death Squared
Drake Hollow
Dirt 5
Deleveled
Deadly Days
Distance
DISTRAINT 2 + Soundtrack
Distrust
Dungreed
Door Kickers: Action Squad
Double Fine Adventure Documentary
Drawful 2
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
DUCATI - 90th Anniversary
Duck Game
Dungeons 3
Dusty Revenge: Co-Op Edition
The Dwarves
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 + dlc and shit
EarthNight
Elderborn
Eastside Hockey Manager
Elite Dangerous
Ellipsis
Endless Space - Collection
Euro Truck Simulator 2 + Austraila paint dlc
Europa Universalis IV
Encodya
EVERSPACE™
Evergarden
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
Feather
Fibbage XL
Finding Paradise
The First Tree
Fluffy Horde
Framed Collection
Freedom Force
Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich
Frog Detective
FTL
Full Metal Furies
Full Throttle Remastered
GameMaker Studio Pro
The Gardens Between
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
GNOG
God's Trigger
Gonner
GRAV (Early Access)
GRID 2
Guns of Icarus Online
Gunscape
Hacknet + Hacknet Labyrinths DLC
Hand of Fate 2
Hard Reset Redux
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Hello Neighbor Hide and Seek
Hexcells Complete Pack
Hidden Folks
HIVESWAP: Act 1
Hammerting
Hollow Knight
Hyper Light Drifter
I'm not a Monster
In Between
Injustice Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
I am not a Monster: First Contact
INK Deluxe Edition
Into the Breach
Jackbox Party Pack 4
The Journey Down: Chapter Three
JumpJet Rex
Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
Kerbal Space Program
Killing Floor 2
Kingdom Classic
Knights of Pen and Paper 2
Last Oasis
Late Shift
Layers of Fear
LEGO® Batman 2 DC Super Heroes™
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Premium Edition
LEGO DC Super-Villains Deluxe Edition
LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition
LEGO Marvel's Avengers
LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game
LEGO® Worlds
Lethal League Blaze
Leviathan Warships
Lostwinds
Lobotomy Corporation Monster Management
Lumino City
Luna's Wandering Stars
Machinarium
Mad Max
Magicka
Majesty 2
Majesty Gold HD
Marooners
Masquerade: The Baubles of Doom
Massive Chalice
Metro Redux Bundle key only
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
Mini Metro
Minoria
MINIT
MirrorMoon EP
Monster Loves You
Moonlighter
MOTHERGUNSHIP
Mr. Shifty
Mushroom 11
Music Maker EDM Edition + 10 dollar voucher code
My Memory of Us
My Time at Portia
NBA 2K20
No Time to Relax
NIMBATUS - THE SPACE DRONE CONSTRUCTOR
Necronator: Dead Wrong
Neo Cab
Neon Drive (Steam)
Newt One
Niche
Nine Parchments
Ninja Pizza Girl
No Time to Explain Remastered
Not Tonight
>observer_
Offworld Trading Company + Jupiter's Forge
Old Man's Journey
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Operation Flashpoint: Red River
Opus Magnum
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Out of the Park Baseball 18
Out There: Ω Edition
Out of Space
Overgrowth (plus a secret link)
Overlord II
PAC-MAN™ CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2
Pale Echoes
Paper Fire Rookie
Paperbark
Paradigm
Party Hard
Pesterquest
Pikuniku
Pinstripe
Plague Inc: Evolved
Paradise Killer
Planet of the Eyes
Plunge
Primal Carnage: Extinction
Police Stories
Project Highrise
Project Highrise
Psychonauts
Puzzle Agent
Puzzle Agent 2
Q.U.B.E. 2
Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut
Quest of Dungeons
Quiplash
Rapture Rejects + Safari Outfit DLC
Realpolitiks
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
Regency Solitaire
Regions of Ruin
Regular Human Basketball
Remnants of Isolation
Resident Evil Revelations
Retro Game Crunch
Rime
Rise and Shine
Rising Dusk
Rituals
Road to Ballhalla
Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder™
Rocket Birds: Hardboiled Chicken
ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS
Rusty Lake Paradise
Sam & Max: Season 1
Sam & Max: Season 2
Satellite Reign
S.W.I.N.E. HD REMASTER
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Secrets of Raetikon
Sigma Theory
Shadows Awakening
Shelter 2
Shenmue I & II
shutshimi
Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
SimplePlanes
SIMULACRA
Slipstream
Sniper Elite
Sniper Elite 3
Sniper Elite V2
Song of Horror
Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
SOULCALIBUR VI
Speed Brawl
Spelunky
Spirits
Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy
Squad (Early Access)
StarCrossed
State of Mind
Stealth 2: A Game of Clones
Stick Fight: The Game
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
The Stillness of the Wind
Streamline Early Access
Streets of Rage
Stronghold Crusader 2
Subsurface Circular
Sunless Sea
Super Daryl Deluxe
Super Galaxy Squadron EX
Super Hexagon
Super House of Dead Ninjas: True Ninja Pack
Super House of the Dead Ninjas
Super Time Force Ultra
SUPERHOT
Superliminal
Surgeon Simulator + Anniversary Ed. Content
Surviving Mars
Sword Legacy Omen
System Shock 2
System Shock: Enhanced Edition
Tank Mechanic Simulator
Tales of the Neon Sea
Tangledeep + Soundtrack
Team Indie
theHunter: Call of the Wild
Telltale Texas Hold'em
Think of the Children
Thirty Flights of Loving
This is the Police
This War of Mine
Throne of Lies® The Online Game of Deceit
Tilt Brush
TIMEframe
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
Tokyo 42
Tooth and Tail
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Total Tank Simulator
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
Tower of Guns
Tower Unite
Train Simulator 2017 + Platform Clutter, Town Scenery
Tropico 4
Tropico 6 El Prez Edition
The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Undertale
Unexplored
Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York
Vampyr
Verdun
Vertiginous Golf
Vikings - Wolves of Midgard
Void Bastards
Volgarr the Viking
VVVVVV
Waking Mars
Wargroove
Warhammer: Chaosbane
Westerado: Double Barreled
We Were Here Together
Windward
The Witness
Wizard of Legend
World of Goo
Worms Revolution
Yooka-Laylee
YAKUZA 3 REMASTERED
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK HEADRUSH
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK MOVIES
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK SPORTS
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK TELEVISION
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 1 XL
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 2
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 3
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 4: The Ride
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 6 The Lost Gold
Ziggurat
And other shit i probably have from recent bundles
Deck Builder Bundle
Walking Dead 10th Anniversary Bundle
Humble Bundles I have
August 2022 - December 2022
July 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
March 2021
February 2021
Figmint
Vermintide
Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition
Sudden Strike 4
The Surge
Pony Island
Little Nightmares
Zombie Night Terror
Screencheat
Freedom Planet
American Truck Simulator
Tales of Berseria
Kingdom: New Lands
KEYS ONLY
PC Building Simulator
The Beast Inside
Children of Morta
Overcooked! 2 + (DLC)
Path of Giants
Pathologic 2
Shining Resonance Refrain
Still There
Struggling
Tabletop Playground
Zwei: The Arges Adventure
Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
Crying Suns
Darksburg
Darksiders III
Darkwood
Imperator Rome Deluxe Edition
Little Misfortune
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Smile For Me
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
Tsioque
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Youropa
Autonauts
Basement
Fae Tactics
Fantasy Blacksmith
Goat of Duty
Iron Danger
Lightmatter
Shadows Awakening
The Suicide of Rachel Foster
Sunless Skies
Tropico 6 El Prez Edition
The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
A Case of Distrust
American Fugitive
Automachef
Call of Cthulhu
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Hello Neighbor
Little Big Workshop
Through the Darkest of Times
Vampyr
Wargroove
We Were Here Together
Age of Wonders: Planetfall Deluxe Edition
Basingstoke
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
Beat Hazard 2
Don't Escape: 4 Days to Survive
Earthlock
Metal Unit
Railway Empire
Sigma Theory
Secret Neightbor
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE
WORMS RUMBLE + LEGENDS PACK DLC
Panzer Paladin
MILKY WAY PRINCE - THE VAMPIRE STAR
Desolate
Other Keys
Battleborn Starter Skin Pack
GUNS UP! Starter Pack + TV Head
Mage and Minions - $10 In-Game Currency
Star Trek Online - Humble Trekkie Pack
Shadow Complex Remastered (epic launcher key)
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 1 DLC
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 2 DLC
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 3 DLC
XCOM® 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
XCOM® 2: Reinforcement Pack
Effie
Darksiders Genesis
Hellpoint
Disjunction
Cook Serve Delicious 3
levelhead
Fury Unleashed
Size Matters
Morkredd
Relicta
Retimed
Family Man
Vane
Elex
Kingdom Two Crowns
WWE 2k battlegrounds
Hotshot Racing
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Cyber Hook
Pesterquest
Ageless
Boreal blade
Valfaris
Lovecraft's Untold Stories
Iris and the Giant
Boomerang Fu
The Wild Eight
Train Station Renovation
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE HEART OF THE FOREST
OUTWARD + THE SOROBOREANS AND OUTWARD SOUNDTRACK
Want:
Offers (Ignore means no)
Oneshot (multiple copies are preferable)
Subnautica (multiple copies are good)
Wandersong
Indivisible
Xcom Chimera Squad
Hollow Knight
Everhood
Wishlist is sparse but im open to any offer
Anything on my wishlist
Feel free to offer any games for one of mine, preferably a list to browse

Boyfriend of 3 years was sent once again to a business trip, this time with a very new colleague at his age (27F) for a week, he told me he will not have time for us.. I expressed to him i was really uncomfortable that he will not be talking with me and he would spend all his free time with her, so i asked him when we get to talk, to not mention her cause i feel jealous and i asked him to make sometime for us too. He agreed.(This is ofc an isecurity that i have to deal with on my own but the sake of god i'm not here to be called insecure.)
Four days in, we barely exchanged any talks, i didn't wanna disturb him so i asked him to call me when he has the time cause i miss him and later that night so did he. Our conversation started with me stating that i miss him and asking him how has he been so far and if the job was going well. First thing first to come out his mouth was that "today was chill and he slept a lot and spend a lot of time with the newbie." i said i was glad to hear that and he procceeded to say , without asking about her, all about her personal life, her struggles, some of her relationship problems, he said he reminds him of me and even told me he suggested her to hang out with us. We spent 15 minutes on the phone, 10 minutes only hearing him talk about this girl. I asked him a couple of times to stop mentioning her and instead focus on us and he said i should get over it and he can talk about anything he wishes to. I told him id rather hear him talk about other things since we haven't really spoke to each other these days, than her personal life that apparently has already shared to him. He continued by repeating the above and that if i don't wish to hear he should hang up. I asked if it's that hard for him to not just involve others when we barely have time for us. and he then said i'm hanging up. I was extremely upset but also hurt, i felt dismissed.
Next day, i text him goodmorning and he replies back with "hey wyd" we have a small talk and he leaves me on seen, i assumed he was busy. I then send him a paragraph explaining to him i didn't like the way he reacted yesterday since i had already asked him not to mention her, i explained that i also didn't like that he compared my life with hers and that i also told him i think it's a bad idea to ask her out with us yet since you barely know her and you didn't even discuss this with me first. I told him i believe he should apologise for these.
He got all defensive, saying he will not apologise just because i want to, that he simply asked her to hang out with us someday d that he can say whatever he wants. I texted that i believe this is not okay and he should have asked me first if i would be okay with meeting this person and then he could ask her to hang out with us. He said i'm talking BS and he doesn't think like me, and that just because i always ask his opinion for other people, he isn't obligated to do the same.He then kept texting me aggresively "Do you wanna break up? Do you?" which i said no i don't. He ended up saying " Cut the BS , take it as you want i don't wanna hear from you" i replied with a simple "Ok". and he left me on read. The same night i texted goodnight and he never even opened the message even tho he was active.
​
Some extra info he told me about her; Him and her are both from similar background, same universities and they are both immigrants from the same country. Also, I don't even know this colleague's name, he never mentioned it.
​
>I don't how to procceed? Would it be better to end things?We have future plans together and we're both really serious for each other. I love him very much and i don't want to but the way he treated me has hurt me a lot in all aspects and i don't know how to cope, he is being ignoring me even if he was the one to go against our agreement.<
​
TLDR; BF (27M) told me he will go on a business trip with a new colleague(27F) and we will barely have time for us. 4 days in, i asked him to phone call me when he has time cause i miss him. Whole time on the phone was talking about the new colleague's personal life and her relationahip problems, i complained to him that i don't want to talk about another person but rather us, he hung up on my face and i procceed texing him the next day regarding this and he got defensive and has been ignoring me since then.

I do not accept paypal, game trades only
My rep from indiegameswap
Have:
FEBRUARY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE
MARCH 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE
11-11 Memories Retold
2064: Read Only Memories
20XX
7 Grand Steps
7 Billion Humans
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build
A Hat in Time
A Mortician's Tale
American Fugitive
A New Beginning - Final Cut
Aaero
The Adventure Pals
AER Memories of Old
As Far as the Eye
Age of Wonders: Planetfall Deluxe Edition
Age of Wonders III
Agents of Mayhem
AI War: Fleet Command
Alien Spidy
All You Can Eat
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
ADOM (ANCIENT DOMAINS OF MYSTERY
Ancestors: The Humankijnd Odyssey
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation
Assassin's Creed® Origins
Assault Android Cactus
Baba Is You
Bridge Constructor Portal
The Ball
Bastion
Batman Arkham Origins
Basement
Battle Chef Brigade
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
Beat Hazard Ultra
Beholder
BEE SIMULATOR
Bendy and the Ink Machine™
Binary Domain
BioShock™ Remastered
Blazing Beaks
Blue Fire
Biped
Bleed 2
Bone - Episode 1 & Episode 2
Broken Age
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Brutal Legend
Burly Men At Sea
Bury Me, My Love
Bridge Constructor Portal
Call of Cthulhu
Chasm
CHUCHEL Cherry Edition
Carto
Coffee Talk
Company of Heroes 2 +Pattern Pack
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Crawl
Crazy Taxi
Cepheus Protocol
Crowntakers
Curious Expedition
Cultist Simulator
Darkside Detective
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
Death Squared
Drake Hollow
Dirt 5
Deleveled
Deadly Days
Distance
DISTRAINT 2 + Soundtrack
Distrust
Dungreed
Door Kickers: Action Squad
Double Fine Adventure Documentary
Drawful 2
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
DUCATI - 90th Anniversary
Duck Game
Dungeons 3
Dusty Revenge: Co-Op Edition
The Dwarves
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 + dlc and shit
EarthNight
Elderborn
Eastside Hockey Manager
Elite Dangerous
Ellipsis
Endless Space - Collection
Euro Truck Simulator 2 + Austraila paint dlc
Europa Universalis IV
Encodya
EVERSPACE™
Evergarden
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
Feather
Fibbage XL
Finding Paradise
The First Tree
Fluffy Horde
Framed Collection
Freedom Force
Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich
Frog Detective
FTL
Full Metal Furies
Full Throttle Remastered
GameMaker Studio Pro
The Gardens Between
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
GNOG
God's Trigger
Gonner
GRAV (Early Access)
GRID 2
Guns of Icarus Online
Gunscape
Hacknet + Hacknet Labyrinths DLC
Hand of Fate 2
Hard Reset Redux
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Hello Neighbor Hide and Seek
Hexcells Complete Pack
Hidden Folks
HIVESWAP: Act 1
Hammerting
Hollow Knight
Hyper Light Drifter
I'm not a Monster
In Between
Injustice Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
I am not a Monster: First Contact
INK Deluxe Edition
Into the Breach
Jackbox Party Pack 4
The Journey Down: Chapter Three
JumpJet Rex
Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
Kerbal Space Program
Killing Floor 2
Kingdom Classic
Knights of Pen and Paper 2
Last Oasis
Late Shift
Layers of Fear
LEGO® Batman 2 DC Super Heroes™
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Premium Edition
LEGO DC Super-Villains Deluxe Edition
LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition
LEGO Marvel's Avengers
LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game
LEGO® Worlds
Lethal League Blaze
Leviathan Warships
Lostwinds
Lobotomy Corporation Monster Management
Lumino City
Luna's Wandering Stars
Machinarium
Mad Max
Magicka
Majesty 2
Majesty Gold HD
Marooners
Masquerade: The Baubles of Doom
Massive Chalice
Metro Redux Bundle key only
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
Mini Metro
Minoria
MINIT
MirrorMoon EP
Monster Loves You
Moonlighter
MOTHERGUNSHIP
Mr. Shifty
Mushroom 11
Music Maker EDM Edition + 10 dollar voucher code
My Memory of Us
My Time at Portia
NBA 2K20
No Time to Relax
NIMBATUS - THE SPACE DRONE CONSTRUCTOR
Necronator: Dead Wrong
Neo Cab
Neon Drive (Steam)
Newt One
Niche
Nine Parchments
Ninja Pizza Girl
No Time to Explain Remastered
Not Tonight
>observer_
Offworld Trading Company + Jupiter's Forge
Old Man's Journey
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Operation Flashpoint: Red River
Opus Magnum
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Out of the Park Baseball 18
Out There: Ω Edition
Out of Space
Overgrowth (plus a secret link)
Overlord II
PAC-MAN™ CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2
Pale Echoes
Paper Fire Rookie
Paperbark
Paradigm
Party Hard
Pesterquest
Pikuniku
Pinstripe
Plague Inc: Evolved
Paradise Killer
Planet of the Eyes
Plunge
Primal Carnage: Extinction
Police Stories
Project Highrise
Project Highrise
Psychonauts
Puzzle Agent
Puzzle Agent 2
Q.U.B.E. 2
Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut
Quest of Dungeons
Quiplash
Rapture Rejects + Safari Outfit DLC
Realpolitiks
Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
Regency Solitaire
Regions of Ruin
Regular Human Basketball
Remnants of Isolation
Resident Evil Revelations
Retro Game Crunch
Rime
Rise and Shine
Rising Dusk
Rituals
Road to Ballhalla
Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder™
Rocket Birds: Hardboiled Chicken
ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS
Rusty Lake Paradise
Sam & Max: Season 1
Sam & Max: Season 2
Satellite Reign
S.W.I.N.E. HD REMASTER
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Secrets of Raetikon
Sigma Theory
Shadows Awakening
Shelter 2
Shenmue I & II
shutshimi
Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
SimplePlanes
SIMULACRA
Slipstream
Sniper Elite
Sniper Elite 3
Sniper Elite V2
Song of Horror
Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
SOULCALIBUR VI
Speed Brawl
Spelunky
Spirits
Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy
Squad (Early Access)
StarCrossed
State of Mind
Stealth 2: A Game of Clones
Stick Fight: The Game
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
The Stillness of the Wind
Streamline Early Access
Streets of Rage
Stronghold Crusader 2
Subsurface Circular
Sunless Sea
Super Daryl Deluxe
Super Galaxy Squadron EX
Super Hexagon
Super House of Dead Ninjas: True Ninja Pack
Super House of the Dead Ninjas
Super Time Force Ultra
SUPERHOT
Superliminal
Surgeon Simulator + Anniversary Ed. Content
Surviving Mars
Sword Legacy Omen
System Shock 2
System Shock: Enhanced Edition
Tank Mechanic Simulator
Tales of the Neon Sea
Tangledeep + Soundtrack
Team Indie
theHunter: Call of the Wild
Telltale Texas Hold'em
Think of the Children
Thirty Flights of Loving
This is the Police
This War of Mine
Throne of Lies® The Online Game of Deceit
Tilt Brush
TIMEframe
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
Tokyo 42
Tooth and Tail
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Total Tank Simulator
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
Tower of Guns
Tower Unite
Train Simulator 2017 + Platform Clutter, Town Scenery
Tropico 4
Tropico 6 El Prez Edition
The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Undertale
Unexplored
Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York
Vampyr
Verdun
Vertiginous Golf
Vikings - Wolves of Midgard
Void Bastards
Volgarr the Viking
VVVVVV
Waking Mars
Wargroove
Warhammer: Chaosbane
Westerado: Double Barreled
We Were Here Together
Windward
The Witness
Wizard of Legend
World of Goo
Worms Revolution
Yooka-Laylee
YAKUZA 3 REMASTERED
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK HEADRUSH
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK MOVIES
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK SPORTS
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK TELEVISION
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 1 XL
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 2
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 3
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 4: The Ride
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Vol. 6 The Lost Gold
Ziggurat
And other shit i probably have from recent bundles
Deck Builder Bundle
Walking Dead 10th Anniversary Bundle
Humble Bundles I have
August 2022 - December 2022
July 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
March 2021
February 2021
Figmint
Vermintide
Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition
Sudden Strike 4
The Surge
Pony Island
Little Nightmares
Zombie Night Terror
Screencheat
Freedom Planet
American Truck Simulator
Tales of Berseria
Kingdom: New Lands
KEYS ONLY
PC Building Simulator
The Beast Inside
Children of Morta
Overcooked! 2 + (DLC)
Path of Giants
Pathologic 2
Shining Resonance Refrain
Still There
Struggling
Tabletop Playground
Zwei: The Arges Adventure
Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
Crying Suns
Darksburg
Darksiders III
Darkwood
Imperator Rome Deluxe Edition
Little Misfortune
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Smile For Me
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
Tsioque
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Youropa
Autonauts
Basement
Fae Tactics
Fantasy Blacksmith
Goat of Duty
Iron Danger
Lightmatter
Shadows Awakening
The Suicide of Rachel Foster
Sunless Skies
Tropico 6 El Prez Edition
The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
A Case of Distrust
American Fugitive
Automachef
Call of Cthulhu
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Hello Neighbor
Little Big Workshop
Through the Darkest of Times
Vampyr
Wargroove
We Were Here Together
Age of Wonders: Planetfall Deluxe Edition
Basingstoke
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
Beat Hazard 2
Don't Escape: 4 Days to Survive
Earthlock
Metal Unit
Railway Empire
Sigma Theory
Secret Neightbor
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE
WORMS RUMBLE + LEGENDS PACK DLC
Panzer Paladin
MILKY WAY PRINCE - THE VAMPIRE STAR
Desolate
Other Keys
Battleborn Starter Skin Pack
GUNS UP! Starter Pack + TV Head
Mage and Minions - $10 In-Game Currency
Star Trek Online - Humble Trekkie Pack
Shadow Complex Remastered (epic launcher key)
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 1 DLC
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 2 DLC
Killing Floor - Community Weapon Pack 3 DLC
XCOM® 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
XCOM® 2: Reinforcement Pack
Effie
Darksiders Genesis
Hellpoint
Disjunction
Cook Serve Delicious 3
levelhead
Fury Unleashed
Size Matters
Morkredd
Relicta
Retimed
Family Man
Vane
Elex
Kingdom Two Crowns
WWE 2k battlegrounds
Hotshot Racing
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Cyber Hook
Pesterquest
Ageless
Boreal blade
Valfaris
Lovecraft's Untold Stories
Iris and the Giant
Boomerang Fu
The Wild Eight
Train Station Renovation
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE HEART OF THE FOREST
OUTWARD + THE SOROBOREANS AND OUTWARD SOUNDTRACK
Want:
Offers (Ignore means no)
Oneshot (multiple copies are preferable)
Subnautica (multiple copies are good)
Wandersong
Indivisible
Xcom Chimera Squad
Hollow Knight
Everhood
Wishlist is sparse but im open to any offer
Anything on my wishlist
Feel free to offer any games for one of mine, preferably a list to browse

Below is a list of my current PC’s specs and what I’m hoping to upgrade based on what my motherboard can handle. Would like general feedback on if this would be a good upgrade or a waste of money and if an all-new rig would be better.
Context:I’m studying visual effects design using Houdini and am preparing to apply for contracts and starting professional work. I’m hitting a lot of bottlenecking as I’m getting into more complex simulations and the render times I get currently are atrocious and am forced to rely on expensive renderfarms. From my understanding, a lot of the sim work is done by the CPU. I’ve already upgraded my RAM as far as the current motherboard can handle (Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600 [4x16gb - 64GB total]). I would need an all-new rig if I hope to upgrade RAM to 128gb. That’s not 100% necessary since 64 is just fine but it would obviously be very nice to have and for future proofing. Rendering necessities vary depending on renderer used. CPU based, GPU based or Hybrid. GPU based is the new frontier but current setup only has 8GB vram which has hindered me from taking full advantage of GPU based engines. CPU engines are almost better for me to render on which sucks. I want a much more powerful CPU without sacrificing the number of cores and want much more vram.
Current Build:

• Gigabyte B365 DS3H WiFi ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
• Intel Core i7-9700F 3.0 GHz 8-Core
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 8GB

Hopeful Upgrades (best possible for current Motherboard):

• Intel Core i9 9900KF 3.6 GHz 8-Core
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB

(I’ve not a clue what my current CPU Cooler is and I know I would need to upgrade power supply. No idea what to get/if those can be upgraded on current rig).
Is this a negligent boost from upgrading and would an all-new rig be best?
If new and starting from scratch is better then I would need help on pricing my rig. I have no clue what it’s worth currently is and what I could get away with selling it for. This would 100% determine my budget for a new rig. I’m willing to save however much necessary but saving $4k-5k would take me a long time versus reducing that by selling the current setup to not have to save as much before getting new.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Link to my full PCPartPicker build for reference if needed for pricing suggestions.
https://pcpartpicker.com/useTristanTre/saved/#view=rg9FP6

Hoping to get some impartial advice from the good people of reddit. The more recent situation is towards the bottom, but it was helpful for me to write a summary of the entire relationship here, so you can know some of how things got to this point and where I'm at. I met my husband in 2015 when I was a 20-year-old exchange student in a foreign country (he was 32, and resided in said country). A very intense love built quickly between us, and everything felt absolutely out of this world, like nothing could shine brighter than our love. I felt like he was the most amazing person who ever lived as he had so much wisdom and talent, he was kind but unafraid, and we shared a drive to use our gifts to better society. We were also both practicing polyamory beforehand so we were both excited to find someone to have committed relationship with that was also open. At this time I had no doubts that we should spend the rest of our lives together. He had some very unusual and heavy childhood trauma, but I strongly felt I could be someone who would finally help him move past that. The next year, I had to live back in my home country for over a year to finish my degree, we did long-distance and didn't see each other for months at a time sometimes, but the relationship stood the test. At 22 once I finished university, I moved to said foreign country permanently to be with him, where I didn't really know anyone else at first. I fell into a deep depression for several months - during this period he saw me at my worst and helped me through it. I could also sense that (after 2 years since the beginning of our relationship), something had changed in our relationship which did upset me but I put that disconnectedness down to us having to have spent so much time apart. After almost a year living together we got married (by this time we were 22 and 35). I wanted to stay living here and so immigration was a big factor in us getting married so early, as it meant I wouldn't be tied to any particular job in order to stay after my temporary work visa expired, and we both felt like we were very likely to get married later anyway. Occasionally I felt like I had misgivings about it - he did say that he had some traumatic sexual events in his past that he hadn't fully opened up to me about, and I also felt like our relationship wasn't quite where it should be, it wasn't the dream I had moved back over for. But that dream was so strong I was determined that we could find our way back to it eventually. The next two years had their ups and downs - we shared many great moments especially building a community putting on house concerts together, and we found a friendship group of mainly girls my age - husband helped me with this initially as I was having trouble making friends when I first arrived. Husband was also dating another girl for over a year (let's call her Jen). We also worked on my application for permanent residency in this time. This was a very stressful experience because I was relying on him to fill out certain documents and it took him several months to provide them despite me asking him repeatedly, as the end of my work visa was approaching. He would refuse to continue speaking to me if I got too angry at him and one evening this culminated with me getting so frustrated I hit him (lightly) in the back of the head. I admit this was not my finest moment. Around the time the application was coming to an end, Jen ended her relationship with him and this sent him into a deep depression. For months I would be walking around the house and he would be crying on the sofa. He stopped brushing his hair and it actually hasn't been the same since. He was upset that I was not helping him through it very much, but I guess I felt that I as his wife should not be the main person to support him through a breakup with his girlfriend. I also felt that something was off about his reaction as I would sometimes see his computer open and he had sent Jen paragraphs and paragraphs without her replying. I also felt that he had not checked in with me very much about how I was feeling about their relationship while it was happening. He also said to me that the stress I caused him by getting frustrated about the application may have contributed to the demise of his relationship with Jen. During all this time, he has been battling with various health struggles and chronic pain, which I see him wrestling with constantly. For this reason, he hasn't had full-time work in the entire time I've known him. However, he would still find the time to go out to music events, raves etc. when often I would be too tired after work. Even though I was 13 years his junior, I was the one providing financial stability in the relationship even though I also had musical passions that I want to pursue instead. I was unhappy about this so I sought advice from a friend who validated my side of things. Said friend then told my husband she didn't want to be friends with him any more, which at the time I thought was too extreme as I would rather have advice where someone took both viewpoints into consideration. Then, suddenly the pandemic hit so I put all of that to one side. This time was fairly peaceful for us and we were happy to have each other during the crazy lockdowns (which were quite severe and went on for a long time where I live). About a year into the pandemic, while we were in and out of lockdown, I had just got a promotion at work and it was quite intense for a while. During this time he went out and got arrested protesting the removal of the homeless encampments and was facing charges, and then he joined a political group where some of the goals were to have the charges dropped. He would constantly bombard me with the latest political information he was thinking about, it was exhausting and he would get angry and say I wasn't supporting him enough if I didn't want to listen to it. It's worth mentioning that I had become a social recluse and frequently had suicidal thoughts during this time in large part because the pandemic had driven me nuts. I felt unable to express it to him, as I felt overwhelmed by the constant bombardment. We also had a strange dynamic where I was very disconnected from my body, and my husband would try and help me with that, however it involved him giving me these intense and painful massages that he would sometimes ignore my instructions to stop, or repeat an action if I had just told him told him not to do it. He also was upset that I was not providing him with massages as he really needed it to relieve his pain - I offered to pay for him to see a professional using my work benefits but he said he was not comfortable being massaged by someone he was not in a sexual relationship with for personal reasons. In late 2021 (by this time we were 26 and 39), I finally started getting out more and making new friends. I started dating 2 new guys one a few months after the other (let's call them Tom and Daniel). It's worth noting that by this point, my husband was now infamous for posting very strong pro-polyamory opinions on his social media. My relationship with Tom was very physical, and I ended up having sex with him without a condom for a few weeks, which was against the agreement I had with my husband, though I did tell my husband about it before the next time we had sex. My husband was understandably upset about it, but in the months following he was still there to listen and help me when I was upset about the intense issues that Tom was going through. A year after his arrest and after many political activities (many unpaid) in the meanwhile, my husband took it upon himself to spend months running for city councillor. I thought this was odd because for the last 5 years I had been under the impression he had not been able to work a full time job. He promised that making a name for himself politically would help him find a job in that field. During this time I started spending a lot of time (often whole weekends) with Daniel as we also get along really well as friends and had a lot to talk about. I also received a message from a friendly acquaintance saying that my husband had touched her in a way that wasn't fully consensual. Not knowing what to make of it, I asked my husband for his account of the interaction and many details matched but some crucial ones did not. I also asked some of the girls in my original friend group (who I had drifted from a little) if they had been avoiding my husband and they said they had for some time as he made them feel uncomfortable, but they didn't want to tell me. I was still frustrated with being the one to provide financial stability, and about his lack of initiative in maintenance and upkeep of the home, so September last year I decided I was going to move out, though the rental market here is a little crazy so I didn't do it right away. The election happened and political campaigning ended not long after that, and my relationship with Tom ended some time after that. Then, at the beginning of this year, Daniel starting dating another person who told Daniel (let's called them Rae) about a sexual accusation they had heard about my husband. They told me about it together. I was devastated and felt at a loss as to what to do, as we had no further details and the accuser was unwilling to provide more. After 2 months and no further information, I had some time off work and when we were high I ended up telling him I don't want to be primary partners any more. He urged me to reconsider in a way that felt maybe manipulative, but also could be a symptom of me having trouble holding my own sometimes. I was then very confused by what happened so I avoided him for 2 weeks and ended up staying at Daniel's place for a few days then went on a trip by myself. I also finally found myself another place to live during my 2 weeks off and moved out at the end of it. A few weeks into living here, I finally told him about the accusation I heard about because Rae's close friend asked me to uninvite him from a show I was playing at. A week later, he had an article posted about him in a local blog site. This caused a few different and unrelated people on social media sites to post some pretty damning accusations about him. I am currently trying to get more information but people seem reluctant to share because I am his wife. I still see the good in him that I always saw and I know he would be absolutely devastated if I left him. He has no family and I don't know who he would turn too. Part of me would also feel devastated in destroying the dream I have held dear for so long. I would also feel bad going back on the words of our wedding vows. But I have heard about some troubling behaviour and have my own issues with his behaviour. I also feel like this relationship is draining me sometimes. It's also worth mentioning that I am seeing a lot more of Daniel at the moment and though I don't want it to be a confound, it is, especially as he has helped me a lot with processing the various issues. I am wondering if you were me, given everything, what would you do in this situation?

My family are immigrants to America from from Portugal. Grandma and Grandparents still take Latin language mass, believing it to be the only legit form of mass.......
Now my Avos are pretthy nationalistic, to the point they have been accused of white supremacy by modern woke crowds. Even discounting how seemingly patriotic they are about being Portugeuse, they hold many old views like homosexuality being a great evil, using condom condemns to hell, and so many "rightwing beliefs"..............
Yet despite that they will treat statue of nonwhite Jesus used by Brazillians with utmost sacredness, they had prayed to a Lady of Guadalupe statue without hesitation, and despite their bragging about Portuguese pride they treat everybody black, Vietnamese, and so on with complete respect. Even allowing my sister to marry a MidEastern person who attends an Eastern Catholic Church and treating one of my cousins who's dark skinned and half Guatemalan with utmost equality as a family member.
However as I said earlier they only attend Latin mass church. They genuinely believe that Language was the one sole thing that kept the whole Church united and Vatican 2 Open a permanent damage to the Church by creating more ethnic strife bby allowing the use of different langauges. That Latin as the sacred liturgy was what keep people from all different churches and races using a variety of art traditions from the stereotypical desert Hispanic design of architectural building to the Lady of La Vang who looks very Vietnamese.............. That the Church as united through Latin and the language effectively shut people from beinging controversial issues to mass such as illegal immigration from non-English countries and white supremacy and ethnic segregation in France and other nations where French is an official language.
So they believe despite John Paul II's benevolent intentions, officially allowing Vernacula Mass has destroyed Church unity and is a big reason why stuff like BLM and Latinos refusing to learn English are getting hacked into the Church.........
That said I know Eastern Orthodoxy on the fsurface seems dicided by ethnicity...... Yet any devoute Orthodox Christian shares the same views as my grandparents where despite being proud of their ethnicity, they'd ultimately believe we are all human and despite nationality, race, and ethnicity were are all equal under the banner of one church.... And that this is pretty much the stancce of the Orthodox council that all humans within the CHurch are ultimately all human beings equal under the eyes of God...........
SO it makes me curious. Oothodox Christianity from what I can read fromt he beginning had always been a supporter of the Vernacular and the Church believes local language liturgy reflects just how much mankind is equal in God's eyes and respectful of all the different cultures under Eastern Orthodoxy. I even seen some theologians in Orthodoxy point out to the Tower of Babel as proof that God does not want a united language in the united Churchh but wants a variety of language used in mass across the entire Orthodoxy.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy is very rigid in art traditions. Where as you have Churches in Peru of Mary wearing Incan clothes and even the Biblical people being represented as different races in a single Church (like a church in Juarez having a white Jesus Christ yet all Mary statues are the nonwhite Lady of Guadalupe) as well as apparitions of Mary appearing as a black woman or an infant Jesus appearing as person from Prague..............
Eatern Orthodoxy demands all MAry icons to appear the same, all Jesus crucifixes with similar appearances, etc. Not only is the Orthodox Church's position is permanent about the racial appearance of Jesus in Church art, they even pretty much only allow one specific style of art. 2D art. Almost all entirely icon with a few glass stains and perhaps a sculpted stone work or two. But all are completely 2 Dimensional and created to show Jesus, Mary, and the Biblical figures looking like a Jewish Palestinians or Hebrew. Unlike Catholicism where you have paintings, marble statues, colored figurrines, and a whole hell of variety of art styles ina single church in addition to the diversification of Biblical figures to represent local population's cultures and ethnic demographs.
But somehow despite the reigid art approach, Eastern Orthodoxy is the Church that learned to appreciate vernacular mass centuries early on in Christian history while Catholicism was so harsh about a single language in mass and otehr sacred rites.. And one thats already been dead for centuries by the time of the Crusades, Latin......
So I ask why? Esp since so many people wrongly assume Eastern Orthodoxy is a racist denomination full of segregation or at least orthodoxy is full of ethnic strie in Churches. I seen people assume that they cannot go to a Serbian Orthodox Church if they are not Serbian because they think its a completely different denomination from Ukraine and based on bigotry whether you are Serbian or not sums up what people assume Orthodox Churches are like.
Despite what my grandparents believe about Latin being encessary for the Church's unity, I myself find it bizarre it took so long for local language to be used in mass considering how diverse Catholic art tradition is about different cultures and how Catholicism has a tradition of different nationalisies and ethnic groups attending a single parish even in very racist places like Australia.
Why did these trends happen?

My family are immigrants to America from from Portugal. Grandma and Grandparents still take Latin language mass, believing it to be the only legit form of mass.......
Now my Avos are pretthy nationalistic, to the point they have been accused of white supremacy by modern woke crowds. Even discounting how seemingly patriotic they are about being Portugeuse, they hold many old views like homosexuality being a great evil, using condom condemns to hell, and so many "rightwing beliefs"..............
Yet despite that they will treat statue of nonwhite Jesus used by Brazillians with utmost sacredness, they had prayed to a Lady of Guadalupe statue without hesitation, and despite their bragging about Portuguese pride they treat everybody black, Vietnamese, and so on with complete respect. Even allowing my sister to marry a MidEastern person who attends an Eastern Catholic Church and treating one of my cousins who's dark skinned and half Guatemalan with utmost equality as a family member.
However as I said earlier they only attend Latin mass church. They genuinely believe that Language was the one sole thing that kept the whole Church united and Vatican 2 Open a permanent damage to the Church by creating more ethnic strife bby allowing the use of different langauges. That Latin as the sacred liturgy was what keep people from all different churches and races using a variety of art traditions from the stereotypical desert Hispanic design of architectural building to the Lady of La Vang who looks very Vietnamese.............. That the Church as united through Latin and the language effectively shut people from beinging controversial issues to mass such as illegal immigration from non-English countries and white supremacy and ethnic segregation in France and other nations where French is an official language.
So they believe despite John Paul II's benevolent intentions, officially allowing Vernacula Mass has destroyed Church unity and is a big reason why stuff like BLM and Latinos refusing to learn English are getting hacked into the Church.........
That said I know Eastern Orthodoxy on the fsurface seems dicided by ethnicity...... Yet any devoute Orthodox Christian shares the same views as my grandparents where despite being proud of their ethnicity, they'd ultimately believe we are all human and despite nationality, race, and ethnicity were are all equal under the banner of one church.... And that this is pretty much the stancce of the Orthodox council that all humans within the CHurch are ultimately all human beings equal under the eyes of God...........
SO it makes me curious. Oothodox Christianity from what I can read fromt he beginning had always been a supporter of the Vernacular and the Church believes local language liturgy reflects just how much mankind is equal in God's eyes and respectful of all the different cultures under Eastern Orthodoxy. I even seen some theologians in Orthodoxy point out to the Tower of Babel as proof that God does not want a united language in the united Churchh but wants a variety of language used in mass across the entire Orthodoxy.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy is very rigid in art traditions. Where as you have Churches in Peru of Mary wearing Incan clothes and even the Biblical people being represented as different races in a single Church (like a church in Juarez having a white Jesus Christ yet all Mary statues are the nonwhite Lady of Guadalupe) as well as apparitions of Mary appearing as a black woman or an infant Jesus appearing as person from Prague..............
Eatern Orthodoxy demands all MAry icons to appear the same, all Jesus crucifixes with similar appearances, etc. Not only is the Orthodox Church's position is permanent about the racial appearance of Jesus in Church art, they even pretty much only allow one specific style of art. 2D art. Almost all entirely icon with a few glass stains and perhaps a sculpted stone work or two. But all are completely 2 Dimensional and created to show Jesus, Mary, and the Biblical figures looking like a Jewish Palestinians or Hebrew. Unlike Catholicism where you have paintings, marble statues, colored figurrines, and a whole hell of variety of art styles ina single church in addition to the diversification of Biblical figures to represent local population's cultures and ethnic demographs.
But somehow despite the reigid art approach, Eastern Orthodoxy is the Church that learned to appreciate vernacular mass centuries early on in Christian history while Catholicism was so harsh about a single language in mass and otehr sacred rites.. And one thats already been dead for centuries by the time of the Crusades, Latin......
So I ask why? Esp since so many people wrongly assume Eastern Orthodoxy is a racist denomination full of segregation or at least orthodoxy is full of ethnic strie in Churches. I seen people assume that they cannot go to a Serbian Orthodox Church if they are not Serbian because they think its a completely different denomination from Ukraine and based on bigotry whether you are Serbian or not sums up what people assume Orthodox Churches are like.
Despite what my grandparents believe about Latin being encessary for the Church's unity, I myself find it bizarre it took so long for local language to be used in mass considering how diverse Catholic art tradition is about different cultures and how Catholicism has a tradition of different nationalisies and ethnic groups attending a single parish even in very racist places like Australia.
Why did these trends happen?

My family are immigrants to America from from Portugal. Grandma and Grandparents still take Latin language mass, believing it to be the only legit form of mass.......
Now my Avos are pretthy nationalistic, to the point they have been accused of white supremacy by modern woke crowds. Even discounting how seemingly patriotic they are about being Portugeuse, they hold many old views like homosexuality being a great evil, using condom condemns to hell, and so many "rightwing beliefs"..............
Yet despite that they will treat statue of nonwhite Jesus used by Brazillians with utmost sacredness, they had prayed to a Lady of Guadalupe statue without hesitation, and despite their bragging about Portuguese pride they treat everybody black, Vietnamese, and so on with complete respect. Even allowing my sister to marry a MidEastern person who attends an Eastern Catholic Church and treating one of my cousins who's dark skinned and half Guatemalan with utmost equality as a family member.
However as I said earlier they only attend Latin mass church. They genuinely believe that Language was the one sole thing that kept the whole Church united and Vatican 2 Open a permanent damage to the Church by creating more ethnic strife bby allowing the use of different langauges. That Latin as the sacred liturgy was what keep people from all different churches and races using a variety of art traditions from the stereotypical desert Hispanic design of architectural building to the Lady of La Vang who looks very Vietnamese.............. That the Church as united through Latin and the language effectively shut people from beinging controversial issues to mass such as illegal immigration from non-English countries and white supremacy and ethnic segregation in France and other nations where French is an official language.
So they believe despite John Paul II's benevolent intentions, officially allowing Vernacula Mass has destroyed Church unity and is a big reason why stuff like BLM and Latinos refusing to learn English are getting hacked into the Church.........
That said I know Eastern Orthodoxy on the fsurface seems dicided by ethnicity...... Yet any devoute Orthodox Christian shares the same views as my grandparents where despite being proud of their ethnicity, they'd ultimately believe we are all human and despite nationality, race, and ethnicity were are all equal under the banner of one church.... And that this is pretty much the stancce of the Orthodox council that all humans within the CHurch are ultimately all human beings equal under the eyes of God...........
SO it makes me curious. Oothodox Christianity from what I can read fromt he beginning had always been a supporter of the Vernacular and the Church believes local language liturgy reflects just how much mankind is equal in God's eyes and respectful of all the different cultures under Eastern Orthodoxy. I even seen some theologians in Orthodoxy point out to the Tower of Babel as proof that God does not want a united language in the united Churchh but wants a variety of language used in mass across the entire Orthodoxy.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy is very rigid in art traditions. Where as you have Churches in Peru of Mary wearing Incan clothes and even the Biblical people being represented as different races in a single Church (like a church in Juarez having a white Jesus Christ yet all Mary statues are the nonwhite Lady of Guadalupe) as well as apparitions of Mary appearing as a black woman or an infant Jesus appearing as person from Prague..............
Eatern Orthodoxy demands all MAry icons to appear the same, all Jesus crucifixes with similar appearances, etc. Not only is the Orthodox Church's position is permanent about the racial appearance of Jesus in Church art, they even pretty much only allow one specific style of art. 2D art. Almost all entirely icon with a few glass stains and perhaps a sculpted stone work or two. But all are completely 2 Dimensional and created to show Jesus, Mary, and the Biblical figures looking like a Jewish Palestinians or Hebrew. Unlike Catholicism where you have paintings, marble statues, colored figurrines, and a whole hell of variety of art styles ina single church in addition to the diversification of Biblical figures to represent local population's cultures and ethnic demographs.
But somehow despite the reigid art approach, Eastern Orthodoxy is the Church that learned to appreciate vernacular mass centuries early on in Christian history while Catholicism was so harsh about a single language in mass and otehr sacred rites.. And one thats already been dead for centuries by the time of the Crusades, Latin......
So I ask why? Esp since so many people wrongly assume Eastern Orthodoxy is a racist denomination full of segregation or at least orthodoxy is full of ethnic strie in Churches. I seen people assume that they cannot go to a Serbian Orthodox Church if they are not Serbian because they think its a completely different denomination from Ukraine and based on bigotry whether you are Serbian or not sums up what people assume Orthodox Churches are like.
Despite what my grandparents believe about Latin being encessary for the Church's unity, I myself find it bizarre it took so long for local language to be used in mass considering how diverse Catholic art tradition is about different cultures and how Catholicism has a tradition of different nationalisies and ethnic groups attending a single parish even in very racist places like Australia.
Why did these trends happen?

My family are immigrants to America from from Portugal. Grandma and Grandparents still take Latin language mass, believing it to be the only legit form of mass.......
Now my Avos are pretthy nationalistic, to the point they have been accused of white supremacy by modern woke crowds. Even discounting how seemingly patriotic they are about being Portugeuse, they hold many old views like homosexuality being a great evil, using condom condemns to hell, and so many "rightwing beliefs"..............
Yet despite that they will treat statue of nonwhite Jesus used by Brazillians with utmost sacredness, they had prayed to a Lady of Guadalupe statue without hesitation, and despite their bragging about Portuguese pride they treat everybody black, Vietnamese, and so on with complete respect. Even allowing my sister to marry a MidEastern person who attends an Eastern Catholic Church and treating one of my cousins who's dark skinned and half Guatemalan with utmost equality as a family member.
However as I said earlier they only attend Latin mass church. They genuinely believe that Language was the one sole thing that kept the whole Church united and Vatican 2 Open a permanent damage to the Church by creating more ethnic strife bby allowing the use of different langauges. That Latin as the sacred liturgy was what keep people from all different churches and races using a variety of art traditions from the stereotypical desert Hispanic design of architectural building to the Lady of La Vang who looks very Vietnamese.............. That the Church as united through Latin and the language effectively shut people from beinging controversial issues to mass such as illegal immigration from non-English countries and white supremacy and ethnic segregation in France and other nations where French is an official language.
So they believe despite John Paul II's benevolent intentions, officially allowing Vernacula Mass has destroyed Church unity and is a big reason why stuff like BLM and Latinos refusing to learn English are getting hacked into the Church.........
That said I know Eastern Orthodoxy on the fsurface seems dicided by ethnicity...... Yet any devoute Orthodox Christian shares the same views as my grandparents where despite being proud of their ethnicity, they'd ultimately believe we are all human and despite nationality, race, and ethnicity were are all equal under the banner of one church.... And that this is pretty much the stancce of the Orthodox council that all humans within the CHurch are ultimately all human beings equal under the eyes of God...........
SO it makes me curious. Oothodox Christianity from what I can read fromt he beginning had always been a supporter of the Vernacular and the Church believes local language liturgy reflects just how much mankind is equal in God's eyes and respectful of all the different cultures under Eastern Orthodoxy. I even seen some theologians in Orthodoxy point out to the Tower of Babel as proof that God does not want a united language in the united Churchh but wants a variety of language used in mass across the entire Orthodoxy.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy is very rigid in art traditions. Where as you have Churches in Peru of Mary wearing Incan clothes and even the Biblical people being represented as different races in a single Church (like a church in Juarez having a white Jesus Christ yet all Mary statues are the nonwhite Lady of Guadalupe) as well as apparitions of Mary appearing as a black woman or an infant Jesus appearing as person from Prague..............
Eatern Orthodoxy demands all MAry icons to appear the same, all Jesus crucifixes with similar appearances, etc. Not only is the Orthodox Church's position is permanent about the racial appearance of Jesus in Church art, they even pretty much only allow one specific style of art. 2D art. Almost all entirely icon with a few glass stains and perhaps a sculpted stone work or two. But all are completely 2 Dimensional and created to show Jesus, Mary, and the Biblical figures looking like a Jewish Palestinians or Hebrew. Unlike Catholicism where you have paintings, marble statues, colored figurrines, and a whole hell of variety of art styles ina single church in addition to the diversification of Biblical figures to represent local population's cultures and ethnic demographs.
But somehow despite the reigid art approach, Eastern Orthodoxy is the Church that learned to appreciate vernacular mass centuries early on in Christian history while Catholicism was so harsh about a single language in mass and otehr sacred rites.. And one thats already been dead for centuries by the time of the Crusades, Latin......
So I ask why? Esp since so many people wrongly assume Eastern Orthodoxy is a racist denomination full of segregation or at least orthodoxy is full of ethnic strie in Churches. I seen people assume that they cannot go to a Serbian Orthodox Church if they are not Serbian because they think its a completely different denomination from Ukraine and based on bigotry whether you are Serbian or not sums up what people assume Orthodox Churches are like.
Despite what my grandparents believe about Latin being encessary for the Church's unity, I myself find it bizarre it took so long for local language to be used in mass considering how diverse Catholic art tradition is about different cultures and how Catholicism has a tradition of different nationalisies and ethnic groups attending a single parish even in very racist places like Australia.
Why did these trends happen?

I had expected my ex to try something around her birthday in April fishing for information about our daughter, to recap she had not contacted the kid in over a year and blocked her from all social media and it didn't disappoint sadly it was a bad as expected
The people involved names are made up are my ex Josie, stepson Bob, ex boyfriend Sal my daughter Tea
Josie is a covert narcissist that walked out of the therapist office when she was being diagnosed with it,
Josie had Bob call Tea the day after Josie bday to gather information as to why Tea didn't call to wish s happy birthday, we didn't have a contact number for either of them until that day, Tea is 19 now and can speak for herself, during that inertial conversation Josie tried to paint herself as a victim claiming that she was being kept from Tea since the divorce, that's a lie, I have a custody and visitation agreement that was signed by the judge that she couldve enforce had she showed up in court I have been very clear and honest with Tea about the divorce and I encouraged her to maintain a relationship with her mom , but it hasn't been easy because she left the state and never came back. Thus communication started to deteriorate by may 9th the day that it would've been our 21st wedding anniversary
That same weekend was mother's day and Josie expected calls flowers cards etc from us obviously it didn't happen so she stopped talking to Tea for a few days as punishment, when she calmed down she started talking again and she was confronted by Tea for the things that she did to her, the lies, the gaslighting, Josie still sees her as a child so she got defensive and wouldn't answer anything for days.
By the end of May Tea sent her a message expressing that although she was hoping to remain in contact with her mom that it would me so much more harder without her being honest and taking responsibility for her actions and suggested a mutual exchange of information to begin with, surprisingly Josie agreed and over the next few days Josie weaved a very complicated web of lies that she couldn't keep straight, her stories changed when confronted with them it wasn't pretty
We discovered that she's dating now to the surprise of no one really because I expected her to have done that as soon as she left the house, then the explosion happened, Bob called my number and he is 21 but he is special needs he's got the mind of a 5 year old I suggested that he talked to his mom before continuing the conversation and hung up , he called back and told me that if I wanted to talk to him that I needed to talk to Josie first I said ok but I didn't call you, you called me
I must mention that when she left the state she left Bob at a group home and disappeared it was 14 months ago that I had contact her to let her and her family know that Bob was in the hospital And that he was in rough shape, that got me yelled at yelling me I had no business talking to him or having nothing to do with him to begin with,( I raised him since he was 10 months old ),I ended the call by telling her that I was just trying to inform her about the son that she left behind was sick and I didn't want anything from her and hung up
Fast forward to today after I got off the phone with Bob she called me, actually called me but what came out of it was nothing but another argument she had me on speaker phone and her boyfriend decided to get involved in it they both stayed to yell and cuss and I responded the same way, she yelled at me for the back child support she has to pay and the insurance copay, saying I did that, when it was the judge and the state that did it, he stated that if I had had sex with her more often she wouldn't have done anything, ( btw she was the one that didn't want to because it wasn't important to her yet she was screwing other guys that's the reason for the divorce) even threaten me over the phone which I found hilarious as they are in Illinois and I'm in Texas
Got off the phone and the conversation with Tea got so much worse that I had to convince her to just stop talking to keep her from saying anything too bad
Josie tried to spin/ history claiming that I did all the things that she did , that she was just a helpless victim, but the kid knows the story as she was there and I wouldn't tell her details but was honest with her, when confronted with it she just went in to gaslight mode which is her m o but Tea didn't buy it, I don't expect Josie to try to talk to Tea any time soon and I already blocked them from my phone and social media by the kid hasn't and I won't force her unless it gets worse which is about to , sorry about the rant I went to long

Hello everyone.
I have posted here a few times about the play by post I have created. It went extremely well last time it was ran, unfortunately life got busy and the community feel apart. Most of the reason is because I was 1 person running a game for 40 people. Too much work for only one person... lol.
I am looking to recreate the community I was had full of fellow nerds. I want to create a staff to run the game along aside with me. Maybe we can have separate parties running at once, multiple helpers, etc.
Disclaimer, this isn't dungeons and dragons. It is a game I have created using several different ttrpgs to create the best possible game for PLAY BY POSTS (Busy nerds). Please understand that first if you are interested at all. It has building blocks from dnd but it's impossible to pick just one that it resembles the most. Its still being recreated, building it back up from the ground on discord takes awhile but I'd like for people to get involved now and give feedback and bounce ideas! If you are not in the united states, unfortunately this won’t work out with game times.
If anyone is interested, add my discord:
BOC#2369

I made a short story
Hello, always before sleeping I usually think about little stories in my head, because it helps me sleep and distracts me from myself. The other day while I was about to sleep I thought that maybe someone would also like to read some of the stories. I am not a writer or anything like that and English is not my first language, so please don't roast me too much, but if I could get a bit of feedback and a title suggestion, it would be great.
Luna had been one of the most skilled and elusive spies the agency had ever seen. Her lithe figure and keen intellect made her a force to be reckoned with in the world of espionage. From the shadows, she observed her targets, extracting information with precision and finesse. No detail was too small for her perceptive eyes, no challenge too great for her agile mind. Her mastery in the art of disguise allowed her to slip seamlessly into any environment. She could transform herself into a corporate executive, a glamorous socialite, or a humble janitor, blending flawlessly into the background while her sharp senses absorbed every vital clue. Her abilities were unmatched, her instincts honed to perfection. But the relentless demands of the agency, the constant cloak-and-dagger existence, had taken their toll on Luna's spirit. The sacrifices she had made, the lives she had manipulated in the name of national security, had begun to weigh heavily on her conscience. The pursuit of justice had started to blur with the moral gray areas she often found herself in. One fateful day, a heated disagreement erupted between Luna and the agency's higher-ups. It was a clash of ideologies and methodologies, a rift that seemed insurmountable. Luna, disillusioned and weary, made the difficult decision to retire, seeking solace and redemption in a quiet life far away from the world she had known. She retreated to a quaint countryside cottage, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing melodies of nature. The walls of her sanctuary were adorned with mementos of past missions, reminders of the darkness she had once embraced. In the tranquility of her new existence, she sought to find balance and reclaim her sense of self. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months as Luna relished in the simplicity of her retreat. She immersed herself in books, art, and the solace of her own thoughts. But deep down, she couldn't completely escape the remnants of her old life. The thrill of espionage, the adrenaline that surged through her veins during high-stakes operations, still tugged at her spirit. Then, one fateful evening, as the sun painted the sky with hues of gold, a letter arrived at her doorstep. Its official seal bore the emblem of the agency she had once served. Luna's heart skipped a beat as she opened it, a mix of trepidation and curiosity coursing through her. The letter detailed a mission of utmost importance that required Luna's unique set of skills. Her expertise, they explained, was indispensable in putting an end to the reign of a notorious British Italian mafia mobster, Leonardo Vanucci. The crimes he had committed were beyond comprehension, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. They needed Luna's unparalleled abilities to ensure justice was served. Luna's initial reaction was one of hesitation and skepticism. The wounds from her departure were still fresh, and she had sworn never to work with the agency again. But deep down, she knew that the darkness she had once fought against still existed in the world. The innocent lives at stake compelled her to reconsider. She reflected on the intricate web of Vanucci's criminal empire, the lives shattered by his brutality. The memories of those he had victimized fueled a flicker of determination within her. With a mix of apprehension and resolve, she picked up her phone and dialed the number to the agency, ready to embark on one final mission. "Hello?" a familiar voice answered on the other end. "Lisa," Luna said, her voice soft yet filled with a mix of longing and determination. "It's me, Luna. I received the mission brief." There was a moment of silence before Lisa replied, her voice tinged with surprise and relief. "Luna! I can't believe it's really you. "We thought we'd lost you for good. Are you... are you considering accepting the mission?" Luna hesitated, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. "I swore I would never work with the agency again, but... the atrocities Vanucci has committed... I can't turn a blind eye. Innocent lives are at stake." Lisa's voice softened, understanding lacing her words. "I know how much this decision weighs on you, Luna. But you're one of the best operatives we've ever had. If anyone can stop Vanucci and bring justice, it's you." Luna clenched her fist, her resolve solidifying. "Alright, Lisa. I'll do it. But on one condition: you're with me every step of the way." A mix of emotions swirled within Lisa's voice, a blend of gratitude and vulnerability. "Luna, I've always been with you. And I promise, I'll be by your side throughout this mission." Luna smiled, a flicker of warmth spreading through her chest. She knew that having Lisa by her side would not only provide support but also ignite a renewed sense of purpose. The bond they shared had transcended the professional realm, and Luna couldn't deny the small spark of affection she felt for her companion. With their partnership reaffirmed, Luna and Lisa delved into the intricacies of the mission. They meticulously planned each step, exploiting Vanucci's weaknesses and exploiting the criminal underworld he controlled. Lisa's knowledge of the agency's latest technology and her strategic thinking proved invaluable in formulating the perfect approach. Days turned into nights as Luna underwent intense training, honing her skills to a razor's edge. Lisa provided guidance and support, her voice a constant presence through the earpiece as Luna practiced marksmanship, stealth, and evasion. Their interactions were a delicate dance of camaraderie and unspoken connection, deepening their bond with every shared moment. Finally, the day of the mission arrived. Luna stood before a full-length mirror, adjusting her attire—a sleek black suit that accentuated her lithe figure and allowed for swift movements. She fastened the earpiece, her eyes meeting her reflection with determination. "Are you ready, Luna?" Lisa's voice resonated through the earpiece, a mix of excitement and concern. Luna met her own gaze in the mirror, her voice steady. "I am, Lisa. Let's put an end to Vanucci's reign of terror." As Luna stepped out into the world once more, her senses sharpened, her instincts heightened. The journey to infiltrate Vanucci's empire would be perilous, but she knew that with Lisa's guidance and unwavering support, they stood a chance to bring justice to the countless lives affected by his malevolence. Together, they embarked on their mission, their steps in sync as they weaved through the intricate web of deceit and danger. The path ahead was treacherous, but Luna felt a sense of purpose and a glimmer of hope, knowing that she had a steadfast ally by her side. Their intelligence led them to Vanucci's luxurious cruise ship, a floating den of opulence and criminal activities. The ship was a fortress, heavily guarded by Vanucci's loyal henchmen. Luna and Lisa devised a plan to infiltrate the cruise by disguising themselves as waitresses, blending in with the crowd while keeping a keen eye on their target. Inside the cruise ship, Luna donned a bunny suit, her heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and determination. She adjusted the costume, a playful yet alluring attire that made her feel both exposed and inconspicuous. Luna couldn't help but comment, half-jokingly, to Lisa through her earpiece, "I feel like a hooker," Luna remarked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. Lisa chuckled softly on the other end of the earpiece. "You're a vision, Luna. Just remember, this disguise is crucial for getting close to Vanucci. Stay focused." Luna took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. The cruise ship was a world of its own, with lavish casinos, elegant lounges, and opulent suites. It catered to the whims of the wealthy elite and the darker desires of the mafia. Luna had to navigate this treacherous environment to fulfill her mission. As Luna moved through the ship, serving drinks and blending in with the waitstaff, she observed the guests closely, searching for any signs of Vanucci's presence. Her eyes darted from table to table, her ears attuned to every whispered conversation. It didn't take long for Luna to catch a glimpse of the man she sought. Leonardo Vanucci, the British Italian mafia mob, sat at a private blackjack table, surrounded by his entourage. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the room, his aura radiating power and danger. Luna's heart raced as she approached the table, her steps measured and her movements graceful. She served drinks to the guests, keeping her gaze low, careful not to draw unnecessary attention. She needed the perfect moment, the opportune time to strike. She felt Lisa's presence in her ear, providing updates and guidance. "Luna, be patient. Wait for the right moment. We have eyes on Vanucci's movements. We'll let you know when the time is right." Luna nodded imperceptibly, her focus unwavering. She maintained her role as a waitress, gracefully maneuvering through the crowd, all the while keeping a watchful eye on Vanucci. Minutes turned into hours as Luna bided her time, her mind calculating every possible scenario. Finally, the moment arrived. Vanucci's entourage dissipated, leaving him momentarily alone. Lisa's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Now, Luna. It's your chance. Take him out." Luna's heart pounded in her chest as she approached Vanucci, her hand reaching for the concealed pistol strapped to her thigh. She drew closer, her footsteps silent, her breath steady. Vanucci turned his gaze towards her, his eyes lingering on her bunnysuit-clad form. A flicker of a sinister smile danced across his lips. "Well, well, what do we have here? A little bunny hopping into my world?" Luna kept her composure, her finger tightening around the trigger. "Your world is about to come crashing down, Vanucci." Before he could react, Luna raised her arm, aiming directly at Vanucci's head, and pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot reverberated through the room as time seemed to freeze for a brief moment. Vanucci's body slumped forward, lifeless, a crimson stain spreading across his forehead. Chaos erupted around Luna as panic and confusion filled the air. She swiftly turned on her heels and made a daring escape, utilizing her knowledge of the ship's layout to evade pursuit. Lisa's voice echoed in Luna's ear, a mix of relief and urgency. "Luna, well done. Get out of there. We have a safe extraction point nearby." Luna's heart raced as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the ship, her mind focused on reaching safety. She ducked into alcoves, slipped through hidden passages, and used her agility to outmaneuver any obstacles in her path. Finally, Luna reached the designated extraction point. A small boat awaited her, its engine humming softly. As Luna settled into the boat, a wave of exhaustion and accomplishment washed over her. The weight of the mission, the years of pent-up emotions, and the adrenaline-fueled rush all converged in a single moment. She looked back at the cruise ship, the symbol of Vanucci's empire, now a scene of chaos and confusion. Beside her, Lisa emerged from the shadows, her eyes filled with admiration and concern. "You did it, Luna. Vanucci is no more." Luna's chest rose and fell with deep breaths as she leaned back, the cool breeze caressing her face. "We did it, Lisa. We brought justice to those who suffered under his rule." Their gazes locked, and in that moment, the unspoken connection between them spoke volumes. Luna felt a sense of gratitude, not just for Lisa's unwavering support during the mission, but for the companionship that had developed between them over the years. "Thank you, Lisa," Luna murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. Lisa's eyes softened, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Luna, you've always been an incredible operative, but more importantly, you're my closest friend. I'll always be here for you." A mixture of emotions swirled within Luna—relief, satisfaction, and a burgeoning realization of something more. The line between friendship and something deeper had blurred during their time together, and Luna couldn't deny the small crush that had blossomed within her heart. As the boat carried them away from the remnants of their mission, Luna and Lisa leaned against each other, finding solace and comfort in their shared victory. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, as if celebrating the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. In that tranquil moment, Luna knew that her journey was far from over. There would always be new battles to fight, new injustices to confront. But with Lisa by her side, Luna felt a newfound strength and purpose, knowing that their bond would carry them through the darkness and into a brighter future. Together, they sailed into the twilight, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them, hand in hand, as partners, confidants, and perhaps something more.

Ok look, I just want to open by saying that this is gonna be long and kind of a vauge rant; but i wanted to post it somewhere just so that someone might understand where i'm coming from.
Im pretty sure i fall into a smallish minority of players of the Phantasy Star series. My first foray was Phantasy Star Universe; and while it seems to be a bit of a blacksheep of the series, as someone just discovering my first mmo outside of Runescape (and on a console no less) it was pure MAGIC. There was SO much to do, so many cool and unique items to collect, a fun and engaging community who was friendly and willing to help. You had branching paths, themed bosses; everything just felt so ALIVE to me as a kid. All these people here in this awesome virtual world all having fun, making real memories with real people through the joy of fun community features, and a shared love of finding the next exciting drop.
Jump forward in time a couple years after the PSU shutdown; I catch wind that PSO2 is playable in japan, and its possible to play from the US. Immediately, nostalgia floods me, and i start trying to rig the wonky launcher and super primitive english patch on some crappy 200 dollar walmart laptop i had (SO many hours spent doing captchas in hiragana as a dumb american... holy hell). I get into the server, and its like magic all over again; im a little confused about how the field lobbies are gone and how the layout works as a whole; but im having a good time. I settle in on ship 2, i do a handful of missions and happen to run across some english speaking players and boom; i'm in an alliance, here comes the sense of community again! Now, at this point i'm a little older and wiser; i've played a good few f2p mmos at this point, and so it isn't long before i notice the cash shop and start trying to figure out what i'm missing. So I start asking about in the voice chat of this alliance i'm in; and most people tell me that if i'm having fun that a premium set is the biggest thing worth having. However i would need to find a way to convert my money (which at the time was quite complicated, though it later got easier i'm told). So i kind of hit a stone wall and decide "Well im having fun, all these new skill trees are really cool and im enjoying the game and its combat especially vs PSU..... so how hard can it be to grind it out as a f2p?
​
Well it wasn't the worst. I lasted a good 6 months and maxxed out 1 class, i survive through SG storage space, and learn that through shop tickets and room tickets i can get pretty much anything i want through smart grinding. At some point through the leveling process, the loop started to feel more rewarding the more you really learned combat; but the overall rewards just felt so slow and unsatisfying. I'm sure it didnt help that MANY items were untranslated; but so much of the loot felt so samey. There were no super cool special drops or anything outside of augments really that people wanted that werent AC scratch items; so i got to farming. Alot of my alliance members were very skilled and knowledgeable, and frankly carried me super hard in both knowledge and power (shout out to Cedric, Gorani, and Maileese). I started to learn and understand alot about the game outside of the fun community aspects that drew me in. I started bringing in ok money and got my character set up with a cool outfit; made my room nice and decorated so i could invite my alliance over to hang out. Overall, i managed to thrive as a f2p despite constant mid run banking, storage problems, slower xp, and shitty buff drinks. I stayed and learned to thrive, because it gave me the option to thrive as a f2p through learning the finer bits of the market (and being able to access it reasonably easy).
Jump forward like 5-6 more years; my crappy laptop is dead; I had long taken a break from pso2 JP when they started ip banning english players; and im playing on xbox as my main source of gaming entertainment. I had almost forgotten they ever promised to bring pso2 west nearly 10 years ago; but when i saw PSO2 at E3 of all things; needless to say I LOST MY MIND! i was beyond excited for it to finally touch back down; and whats more its even coming to the platform i have access too! so many years of content and things i missed! I was mentally preparing to lose myself in PSO2 for ages; but this time i was fully invested in "Min/maxxing" mentality. I know that lots of people are going to be playing for the first time, and that having already played a bunch myself; i have the advantage to some degree in knowledge; and can use it both to help myself and others. I like to think that overall i did pretty good; i ran an alliance with a good handful of friends who i convinced to play; and we all had a great time... for about 2ish weeks until we realized gearing peaked at revolsio weapons. I knew the content drip would be slow but steady; but there was such a renewed sense of community, that even though they began to trickle out; i couldnt help but stay.
I started getting into augementing and experimenting with builds; i start affixing units and weapons for profit, i engage in the community colored chair wars, i people watch on block 69; life is GREAT and im having a great time. Ofc i bought in for a founders pack and had premium and some cosmetics and stuff; i was actually an adult with money this time, and i mean hey; what's 30 bucks to support a game i love and get basically everything i need for one character? I occasionally grumble over the inability to trade people without premium, or that those without it level extra slow; but i know that if they just make it over a certain barrier that they can thrive no problem. I use photon capsule machines to trade friends gear; we do even more advance quests even more of the time to make sure people get the levels they need; and eventually they have a stockpile of tickets, and have a max level character; and start making money. At some point alot of them start having enough fun that they too buy into the game, some for a premium set; some full send whales. Now, the whales started being a double edged blade; because there were enough people making well affixed gear at steady enough of pace; but jussst slow enough at first that demand was still very much outweighing supply. So the market begins to skyrocket on perfect affixed units. Now me personally; i made alot of money on this. but for MANY of the other players who are just trying to get better gear and those who are chasing the "end game" so to speak; this became super punishing.
I could go on and on and on about how much stuff got super crazy on the market because of whaling. but as long as you were on the right side of it from a standpoint of affixes and material farming; you could make a fortune off of it; although at some point they even started making that not as good with premium capsules and whatnot. Soon capsules are best in slot across the board, shop tickets begin trickling out; The balloon breasts jump to like 2 billion meseta lol. so much stuff starts happening around me that im like "man this game isnt like... pay to win but SUPER pay to conveinence". but the reality was starting to get a little bit bleaker by the end of pso2 era for F2P players.
To come full circle here with what drove me to rant and rave about this al;l is how the model has progressed in NGS. We lived in an age where there was no player shop access for f2p (unless you were sitting on a dragons hoard of unsed 3 days from base game), there were no rooms, even premium benefits were basically nil outside of a shop. AC scratches were getting pumped at at an all time high, no concerts, no real entertainment of any kind; just fuggin resol forest all day. and finally we have come to an age of content where sega finally makes skill trees not cost money to change; but just sells you the ability to skip playing the game. and not only that but effectively spawn in the best items in the game for AC. It just feels so unfortunate that the content has dried up; nothing feels anywhere near as creative or fun. the combat is inch deep; as are the skill trees. theres no crazy combos; no 20 piece combo craziness. just the same 4-5 moves; on repeat; with mostly some % buffs thrown in.
I havent even begun to mention the mile long list of other stuff missing that even base game had. Bas egame had some genunely fun and challeneging content. there were fun missions to run and it made sense to do them. NGS is just devoid of any of the charm of fun that made any of its previous iterations great; and all while gouging you for more and more.
I know this trails all over the place and has a rushed conclusion, but i was just reading the patch notes considering dipping my toes back into the water again after skipping stia; and im just honestly so turned off by it. nothing has changed; no major interesting content has dropped; and now they are going full on pay to win. I'll be honest; i think ill just stick to clementine server or something; because at least there, the devs actually give a shit about the game. I feel like im in an abusive relationship im just waking up to after 10 years os PSO or something. and with that i dont have much else to say tbh. i love this franchise, and i want to love this game; but SEGA really just cannot do right with this game.

Context: I’m applying for PhD programs this fall to matriculate fall 2024. I graduated with a Master’s degree Spring 2022, and I’ve been working full-time in industry since then.

I have ~5 people that would probably write me solid letters of rec if asked. 3 are profs, 1 is an industry scientist (current manager), 1 is also an industry scientist/VP (current manager’s manager). Would letters from profs be preferable to letters from industry scientists (all else equal)?
2.
For those of you who have made the return from industry to academia, what skills/habits did you bring with you & do you feel especially prepared compared to colleagues who don’t have industry experience? if so, how?
Thanks!

It took me almost a year to work up the courage to confess my feelings to her... Let alone even come to terms with the fact that I had this crush in the first place. I didn't want to be a part of another long distance relationship, after the last LDR I had been in I didn't want to do anything like that to myself again. And yet... We had hit it off so wonderfully. From the moment I met her I knew we had something special. It was genuinely so different than anyone I'd spoken to in really my whole life. We connected instantly, and a lot of people hated that... But we were natural best friends, we complemented each other in a lot of aspects. It's the only time I could dance around the concept of "love at first sight" considering we were messaging over discord and various socials at the time, so there wasn't a whole lot of sight involved save for the art and pictures we would send each other on occasions. The little occasions turned more frequent as we talked however, as we hung out more and shared ideas and opinions... We fell so deeply in love, it was truly an eye opening experience for me. It was amazing, it was addicting. I ended up caring about her more than anything in the end, more than even my pets I think, those that have been there for me and with me longer than she had, the ones she had to learn to overcome her jealousy for. It was a dangerous and intoxicating feeling, but it was real and I don't doubt that one bit. I wanted to devote myself to her for the rest of my life, I was so ready for it after 2 and a half years of being with this person and actively trying (though, I guess fumbling...) to work toward getting myself out of this situation I'm in to be with her; To be together in person, permanently, and to prove that I can be someone worth falling in love with after some patience, of being someone capable of sharing a life with. This was a brand new, comfortable feeling for me after feeling unheard and overlooked my whole life... I was so sure that I had found MY person, and that she felt the exact same way. I wish I had a scoreboard so I know how well I did... I just want to know where I really went wrong. Things HAD soured once before. We had communication issues, but I was lucky I guess. I was the one who broke up with her, and quickly realized my mistake. She took me back after pouring my heart out and a month long break apart from each other. We apologized to each other and acknowledged our mistakes. We promised to do better to each other. I feel like it's been at least a solid year later, or somewhere around that time, ironically. I'm going through a very difficult period in my life. I just started a new job, which was really limited our time together and completely rotated my schedule. By the time work is over for me, she's pretty much just getting into her shift... And then when she would get home we'd really only have an hour or so to catch up with our day and hang out if we could before sleeping. A month ago I'd had a really hurtful and life altering moment with my family, and to top it all off I'd fainted over the weekend for my first time due to being new at injecting myself alone (I've been trying to do t-hrt at home), and finally I had just been unmedicated for antidepressants for two days because of a mistake on the pharmacy's part. I know I may have been on edge, but yesterday I know I snapped. I yelled at her, which I don't think I've ever done before. I blamed her for things I shouldn't have. I know what I did wrong. I always know when I've fucked up and this isn't much different. But... I don't think I have ever had a panic attack in front of her before. The way that she had handled my state of being at the time just felt like watching a bullet go through my brain, it hurt me even worse than I could have ever expected from her. It started as a text about the situation over snapchat, I was already angry and upset, so when she asked me if I was okay I had only replied "Of course I'm not" since I was freaking out before she even initiated a phone call with me. She asked me again if I was okay, this time over voice, and I made it clear that things weren't okay. I was pointing fingers, pushing my pain onto her at that moment... But she must have been sick of me by this time, waiting for something like this to happen. She became defensive within a second; She told me that she was sick of dealing with my drunk mother texting her (to which I've encouraged her to block already before now), she was telling me that she was worried about me yet simultaneously putting me in the shameful position of asking if I was even hearing myself not making sense which, as awful as it sounds... Yes. Having a panic attack does that to my brain. I knew full and well how stupid I sounded, and she really made me feel like a stupid asshole in that moment. I asked her then, "So what do you want me to do now?" And her reply? "I don't know. Figure it out." ... And that was when the metaphorical bullet exited the back of my head. I really had nothing else to say after that. I was in shock. I really, truly couldn't--still can't--believe that this was the kind of response I had received from the person I'd given my life to for pretty much 3 years. I want to know why she had shown me this side of her at one of my hardest and lowest points in life. I left the call that she started, and texted her not to talk to me for a while, which makes the last thing she's said to me:
"Go fuck yourself."
After that message, still in a frantic mindset I just... Deleted and blocked her. On everything. I blocked her phone number, unfollowed and blocked her on every social media, changed and deleted a few of them. I digitally tore up notes that we shared, kicked her out of a major project that we had really high hopes on publishing... I didn't keep that either. I scrapped everything that that we'd ever worked on together, erased each and every single photo we had together (hundreds... There were hundreds that I went through of her, and us.) and emptied my bin within what felt like all in the same moment. I don't know yet if I regret doing that. Personally I wanted moving on to be instant and easy, but I know it's not going to be that way. I can't even live right now without realizing that everything I do, everything I think of, is with her in the back of my mind. Always considering her, always wondering about her, loving her in such a casual every day way that's become so ingrained in my normal life that even just making a return at the mall had me feeling like I was going to throw up. I haven't been this anxious since being a teenager, my mental health has not felt this fragile in so many years.
I saw the most adorable picnic baskets for sale today. I stopped in my tracks because I remembered how she'd always wanted one. I can't remember how long I was standing there looking at them, remembering what had happened, what she had said to me barely 24 hours earlier... Realizing that this person who had become such a crucial part of me, was no longer there. This could be taken literally, or poetically really. In the end she really isn't the same person that I had fallen in love with, I don't think. Even now, deep in this pain, I still care about her far too much. I will never not want to be a part of her life, I really wanted her to be a part of mine. I'm telling this all to no one in particular, I don't expect any replies or sympathy. I just don't know what to do, where to go from here. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could have just shut the fuck up or something. I wish I had pending notifications from her, waiting for me to answer them. The worst part of this all is that I don't really expect her to try and reach out to me after this. I fully expect for her and her friends to immediately decide that I'm an asshole, admit that they all hated me this whole time, and that she really put me in my place. That I got what I deserved.
The last song that we listened to together was one of my oldest favorites: Fantasy by DyE. It's been echoing in my head ever since I woke up this morning... I wonder if she hears it too.

Z is back to drinking again, which is no good. I haven’t found a place to move to yet, so I’m stuck here. He put me into a full blow panic attack tonight. I thought I was having a heart attack. My heart rate even hit 129. All over a months long issue. So here’s the story:
I wake up at 1, am to pee. I had been asleep. While I am peeing he’s accusing me of poisoning his weed with a chemical. He been over this for 2 months now. I didn’t do anything to his weed. My 8 year old did not do anything to his weed. So he’s going on about how the neighbors must have snuck in here and did something. And how he’s going to kill them for this. All while I’m peeing he’s going about. I walk into my room and he follows and he’s now back to saying it was me, and I’m a lying bitch.
Anyways, he’s leaves me be, but my chest starts to hurt, and I can barely breath and I can’t talk. Because hello, he just told me he’s going to kill then people who poisoned his weed, and even though I didn’t, he does blame me.
I go out to the living room where he is because I thought I was having a heart attack or something at first. I Couldn’t talk. All I could do was hold my neck and chest. And the whole time he’s accusing me of poisoning his weed, and saying he doesn’t care if it was me. He won’t do anything if I tell the truth. Just throw it out. I literally can’t talk. After 10 minutes he’s gone by, I’m on the floor in a turtle position. It was helping my breathing, and he’s trying to ‘comfort’ me, and what does he do? He starts rubbing my butt and then touches my vaginal area. I am fully clothed, but was able to get out words finally and told him to his fucking hands off me. I still can’t breathe well, but he’s just going on about how I’m having a panic attack because I did it. And I’m guilty. I told him again, I didn’t do it. This is probably the 10th time tonight, and the 200th since he started this whole thing. Finally I don’t feel like I’m dying and I go to bedroom, and he follows me and is still going on about if I just tell the truth he won’t hurt me, he sweats on 4 year olds life. He didn’t leave until 4 year old woke up and told him to go back to his room.
My chest still hurts some, but my heart rate is better. I just hate my life tonight though. Hate this housing market, which is the reason I can’t leave. Hate he’s drinking again. And how he knows how to make me feel bad without doing anything anyone can charge him for. When he’s not drinking he leaves me alone, but drinking brings out the more awful in him.

My family are immigrants to America from from Portugal. Grandma and Grandparents still take Latin language mass, believing it to be the only legit form of mass.......
Now my Avos are pretthy nationalistic, to the point they have been accused of white supremacy by modern woke crowds. Even discounting how seemingly patriotic they are about being Portugeuse, they hold many old views like homosexuality being a great evil, using condom condemns to hell, and so many "rightwing beliefs"..............
Yet despite that they will treat statue of nonwhite Jesus used by Brazillians with utmost sacredness, they had prayed to a Lady of Guadalupe statue without hesitation, and despite their bragging about Portuguese pride they treat everybody black, Vietnamese, and so on with complete respect. Even allowing my sister to marry a MidEastern person who attends an Eastern Catholic Church and treating one of my cousins who's dark skinned and half Guatemalan with utmost equality as a family member.
However as I said earlier they only attend Latin mass church. They genuinely believe that Language was the one sole thing that kept the whole Church united and Vatican 2 Open a permanent damage to the Church by creating more ethnic strife bby allowing the use of different langauges. That Latin as the sacred liturgy was what keep people from all different churches and races using a variety of art traditions from the stereotypical desert Hispanic design of architectural building to the Lady of La Vang who looks very Vietnamese.............. That the Church as united through Latin and the language effectively shut people from beinging controversial issues to mass such as illegal immigration from non-English countries and white supremacy and ethnic segregation in France and other nations where French is an official language.
So they believe despite John Paul II's benevolent intentions, officially allowing Vernacula Mass has destroyed Church unity and is a big reason why stuff like BLM and Latinos refusing to learn English are getting hacked into the Church.........
That said I know Eastern Orthodoxy on the fsurface seems dicided by ethnicity...... Yet any devoute Orthodox Christian shares the same views as my grandparents where despite being proud of their ethnicity, they'd ultimately believe we are all human and despite nationality, race, and ethnicity were are all equal under the banner of one church.... And that this is pretty much the stancce of the Orthodox council that all humans within the CHurch are ultimately all human beings equal under the eyes of God...........
SO it makes me curious. Oothodox Christianity from what I can read fromt he beginning had always been a supporter of the Vernacular and the Church believes local language liturgy reflects just how much mankind is equal in God's eyes and respectful of all the different cultures under Eastern Orthodoxy. I even seen some theologians in Orthodoxy point out to the Tower of Babel as proof that God does not want a united language in the united Churchh but wants a variety of language used in mass across the entire Orthodoxy.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy is very rigid in art traditions. Where as you have Churches in Peru of Mary wearing Incan clothes and even the Biblical people being represented as different races in a single Church (like a church in Juarez having a white Jesus Christ yet all Mary statues are the nonwhite Lady of Guadalupe) as well as apparitions of Mary appearing as a black woman or an infant Jesus appearing as person from Prague..............
Eatern Orthodoxy demands all MAry icons to appear the same, all Jesus crucifixes with similar appearances, etc. Not only is the Orthodox Church's position is permanent about the racial appearance of Jesus in Church art, they even pretty much only allow one specific style of art. 2D art. Almost all entirely icon with a few glass stains and perhaps a sculpted stone work or two. But all are completely 2 Dimensional and created to show Jesus, Mary, and the Biblical figures looking like a Jewish Palestinians or Hebrew. Unlike Catholicism where you have paintings, marble statues, colored figurrines, and a whole hell of variety of art styles ina single church in addition to the diversification of Biblical figures to represent local population's cultures and ethnic demographs.
But somehow despite the reigid art approach, Eastern Orthodoxy is the Church that learned to appreciate vernacular mass centuries early on in Christian history while Catholicism was so harsh about a single language in mass and otehr sacred rites.. And one thats already been dead for centuries by the time of the Crusades, Latin......
So I ask why? Esp since so many people wrongly assume Eastern Orthodoxy is a racist denomination full of segregation or at least orthodoxy is full of ethnic strie in Churches. I seen people assume that they cannot go to a Serbian Orthodox Church if they are not Serbian because they think its a completely different denomination from Ukraine and based on bigotry whether you are Serbian or not sums up what people assume Orthodox Churches are like.
Despite what my grandparents believe about Latin being encessary for the Church's unity, I myself find it bizarre it took so long for local language to be used in mass considering how diverse Catholic art tradition is about different cultures and how Catholicism has a tradition of different nationalisies and ethnic groups attending a single parish even in very racist places like Australia.
Why did these trends happen?

I'm looking for advice on my brother's current college basketball journey. He's a small forward, 20 years old.
After playing competitively in Canada through his teenage years, he wasn't able to find success as athletic scholarships for university as those opportunities are limited in Canada.
We hired an agent and he put us in contact with a few Junior College coaches in the US, he got offers from all of them, but the schools couldn't justify a full scholarship for him yet. He accepted an offer and trained with the team without playing for eligibility reasons, while they put together some mixtapes and his coaches asked around if anyone wanted him.
Within 3 months of training with the team, he was getting calls from NCAA Division 2 coaches and even a Division 1 team.
The D1 team could only offer a partial scholarship and later lost interest. The D2 teams also filled their rosters with other players and similarly lost interest.
He ended up having two full ride offers from smaller schools in the National Christian College Athletic Association circuit. He accepted one of their offers and transferred mid year. He finished the year and wanted out because of abysmal coaching staff, not much playing time, and new interest from NCAA D2 coaches. Again the D2 coaches lost interest(I can't get into detail really, I only know what he tells me)it's possible he's just not at that level yet, just not sure why the coaches are stringing him along repeatedly.
Anyway, he's told his current school he's not returning and has two offers from NJCAA schools (partial scholarships) and plans on accepting one. We both figure that he can get more opportunities this way.
My questions are these:

• Is going back to the Junior College circuit a mistake? Should he have stayed in the NCCAA even with little playing time and coaching staff that doesn't care(his coach from his first juco school is still reaching out to coaches on his behalf)
• what was making high-profile schools lose interest?

(This is gonna be long) For me:
PISTOL: M9 for general use because it is so nice, has good iron sights, a decent mag size and is accurate unlike the glock.
OC-33 if i’m using a sniper because it has a massive mag size for a pistol so i can spam if an enemy gets too close for comfort and has full auto.
SHOTGUN: IZH because with a scope and slugs it becomes a sniper rifle. i’ve hit so many long range shots that made me just go “ohhhhhhhhh damnnnnn” and is a fun gun to use as it’s individual shell loading and pump action makes me take combat scenarios at a slower pace.
The SAIGA is nice because it’s mag fed so reloading is much quicker but it has Call Of Duty range. However the 10 round mags you can find in the Radius are if I recall correctly the same weight as the 5 round mags which is amazing.
ASSAULT RIFLE: I love the AK74-U because it’s small and is my favorite AK variant.
I also love the SKS as it’s a semi auto gun that can take an AK mag. I don’t know what else I like about it, probably it’s hella accuracy.
SNIPER RIFLE: I love all three. The Mosin is an amazing weapon and when i get to security level 3 I immediately buy the Mosin, buy a shit ton of AP ammo and upgrade the hell out of it.
The TIGER is an amazing sniper because it takes a msg and is semi auto as opposed to Bolt Action.
I love the DVL because it takes a mag so I don’t have to worry about individually have to load 5 rounds into it. And also it’s still bolt action and I don’t know why but I love bolt action rifles. I own an airsoft bolt action rifle, I’ve shot real bolt action rifles and they are so fun to use in VR.
SMG: I like the PP-91 because it’s small and lightweight. that’s about it because I’ve never used any other ones besides the PPSH which I despise with a passion.

Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory

Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.

All Buyouts are listed in cash value.

KNIVES

★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $2500

★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $822

★ Butterfly Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $616

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★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $1300

★ Bayonet Autotronic FN, B/O: $1050

★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW, B/O: $629

★ Bayonet Bright Water FT, B/O: $326

★ Bayonet Safari Mesh BS, B/O: $233

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★ Karambit Lore FT, B/O: $1110

★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $840

★ Karambit Freehand MW, B/O: $784

★ Karambit Bright Water MW, B/O: $759

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★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801

★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1801

★ M9 Bayonet Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $751

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★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1156

★ Nomad Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $544

★ Nomad Knife Blue Steel WW, B/O: $318

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★ Flip Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $646

★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $574

★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $552

★ Flip Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $257

★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $255

★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $287

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★ Huntsman Knife Lore FN, B/O: $461

★ Huntsman Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $436

★ Huntsman Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $353

★ Huntsman Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $212

★ Huntsman Knife Bright Water FT, B/O: $129

★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT MW, B/O: $129

★ Huntsman Knife Forest DDPAT BS, B/O: $123

★ StatTrak™ Huntsman Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $127

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★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $375

★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $363

★ Bowie Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $269

★ Bowie Knife Crimson Web WW, B/O: $192

★ Bowie Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $159

★ Bowie Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $126

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★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $616

★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $412

★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Night Stripe FT, B/O: $227

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★ Falchion Knife Lore FT, B/O: $214

★ Falchion Knife Autotronic FT, B/O: $192

★ Falchion Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $105

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★ Survival Knife Crimson Web BS, B/O: $216

★ Survival Knife Case Hardened FT, B/O: $198

★ Survival Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $111

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★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $368

★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $228

★ Shadow Daggers, B/O: $201

★ Shadow Daggers Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $108

★ Shadow Daggers Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $105

★ Shadow Daggers Black Laminate FT, B/O: $99

★ Shadow Daggers Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $85

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★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $1700

★ Gut Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $223

★ Gut Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $203

★ Gut Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $191

★ Gut Knife Case Hardened BS, B/O: $127

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★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199

★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $199

★ Navaja Knife, B/O: $138

★ Navaja Knife Damascus Steel FN, B/O: $111

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★ Classic Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $146

★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $168

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★ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $476

★ Ursus Knife, B/O: $375

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★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $1137

★ Talon Knife, B/O: $608

★ Paracord Knife, B/O: $305

★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97

GLOVES

★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $204

★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $142

★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84

★ Moto Gloves Blood Pressure BS, B/O: $84

★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63

★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $63

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★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1215

★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $672

★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $305

★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander BS, B/O: $140

★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web BS, B/O: $137

★ Specialist Gloves Buckshot FT, B/O: $75

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★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $359

★ Driver Gloves Imperial Plaid BS, B/O: $229

★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $77

★ Driver Gloves Racing Green FT, B/O: $48

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★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $739

★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $733

★ Sport Gloves Arid BS, B/O: $292

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★ Hand Wraps Giraffe MW, B/O: $212

★ Hand Wraps Leather FT, B/O: $160

★ Hand Wraps Desert Shamagh MW, B/O: $101

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★ Broken Fang Gloves Yellow-banded MW, B/O: $185

★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point FT, B/O: $67

★ Broken Fang Gloves Needle Point WW, B/O: $59

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★ Hydra Gloves Case Hardened BS, B/O: $65

★ Hydra Gloves Emerald FT, B/O: $65

★ Hydra Gloves Emerald BS, B/O: $62

WEAPONS

AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130

AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79

AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76

AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76

AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70

AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60

StatTrak™ AK-47 Aquamarine Revenge FT, B/O: $72

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AWP Fade FN, B/O: $1039

AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139

AWP Asiimov FT, B/O: $139

AWP Wildfire MW, B/O: $95

AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93

AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $93

AWP Duality FN, B/O: $81

AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79

AWP Asiimov BS, B/O: $79

AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $60

StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68

StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $68

StatTrak™ AWP Electric Hive FT, B/O: $55

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Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $623

Desert Eagle Emerald Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $241

Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81

Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81

Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $81

Desert Eagle Printstream FT, B/O: $54

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M4A1-S Blue Phosphor FN, B/O: $434

StatTrak™ M4A1-S Bright Water MW, B/O: $55

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M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1465

M4A4 Asiimov BS, B/O: $55

M4A4 Hellfire MW, B/O: $50

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USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $72

USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69

StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $139

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AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $234

P90 Run and Hide FT, B/O: $147

Five-SeveN Candy Apple FN, B/O: $61

Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory

Knives - Bowie Knife, Butterfly Knife, Falchion Knife, Flip Knife, Gut Knife, Huntsman Knife, M9 Bayonet, Bayonet, Karambit, Shadow Daggers, Stiletto Knife, Ursus Knife, Navaja Knife, Talon Knife, Classic Knife, Paracord Knife, Survival Knife, Nomad Knife, Skeleton Knife, Patterns - Gamma Doppler, Doppler (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Black Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald), Crimson Web, Lore, Fade, Ultraviolet, Night, Marble Fade (Fire & Ice, Fake FI), Case Hardened (Blue Gem), Autotronic, Slaughter, Black Laminate, Tiger Tooth, Boreal Forest, Scorched, Blue Steel, Vanilla, Damascus Steel, Forest DDPAT, Urban Masked, Freehand, Stained, Bright Water, Safari Mesh, Rust Coat, Gloves - Bloodhound Gloves (Charred, Snakebite, Guerrilla, Bronzed), Driver Gloves (Snow Leopard, King Snake, Crimson Weave, Imperial Plaid, Black Tie, Lunar Weave, Diamondback, Rezan the Red, Overtake, Queen Jaguar, Convoy, Racing Green), Hand Wraps (Cobalt Skulls, CAUTION!, Overprint, Slaughter, Leather, Giraffe, Badlands, Spruce DDPAT, Arboreal, Constrictor, Desert Shamagh, Duct Tape), Moto Gloves (Spearmint, POW!, Cool Mint, Smoke Out, Finish Line, Polygon, Blood Pressure, Turtle, Boom!, Eclipse, 3rd Commando Company, Transport), Specialist Gloves (Crimson Kimono, Tiger Strike, Emerald Web, Field Agent, Marble Fade, Fade, Foundation, Lt. Commander, Crimson Web, Mogul, Forest DDPAT, Buckshot), Sport Gloves (Pandora's Box, Superconductor, Hedge Maze, Vice, Amphibious, Slingshot, Omega, Arid, Big Game, Nocts, Scarlet Shamagh, Bronze Morph), Hydra Gloves (Case Hardened, Emerald, Rattler, Mangrove), Broken Fang Gloves (Jade, Yellow-banded, Unhinged, Needle Point), Pistols - P2000 (Wicked Sick, Ocean Foam, Fire Element, Amber Fade, Corticera, Chainmail, Imperial Dragon, Obsidian, Scorpion, Handgun, Acid Etched), USP-S (Printstream, Kill Confirmed, Whiteout, Road Rash, Owergrowth, The Traitor, Neo-Noir, Dark Water, Orion, Blueprint, Stainless, Caiman, Serum, Monster Mashup, Royal Blue, Ancient Visions, Cortex, Orange Anolis, Ticket To Hell, Black Lotus, Cyrex, Check Engine, Guardian, Purple DDPAT, Torque, Blood Tiger, Flashback, Business Class, Pathfinder, Para Green), Lead Conduit, Glock-18 (Umbral Rabbit, Fade, Candy Apple, Bullet Queen, Synth Leaf, Neo-Noir, Nuclear Garden, Dragon Tatto, Reactor, Pink DDPAT, Twilight Galaxy, Sand Dune, Groundwater, Blue Fissure, Snack Attack, Water Elemental, Brass, Wasteland Rebel, Vogue, Franklin, Royal Legion, Gamma Doppler, Weasel, Steel Disruption, Ironwork, Grinder, High Beam, Moonrise, Oxide Blaze, Bunsen Burner, Clear Polymer, Bunsen Burner, Night), P250 (Re.built, Nuclear Threat, Modern Hunter, Splash, Whiteout, Vino Primo, Mehndi, Asiimov, Visions, Undertow, Cartel, See Ya Later, Gunsmoke, Splash, Digital Architect, Muertos, Red Rock, Bengal Tiger, Crimson Kimono, Wingshot, Metallic DDPAT, Hive, Dark Filigree, Mint Kimono), Five-Seven (Neon Kimono, Berries And Cherries, Fall Hazard, Crimson Blossom, Hyper Beast, Nitro, Fairy Tale, Case Hardened, Copper Galaxy, Angry Mob, Monkey Business, Fowl Play, Anodized Gunmetal, Hot Shot, Retrobution, Boost Protocol), CZ75-Auto (Chalice, Crimson Web, Emerald Quartz, The Fuschia is Now, Nitro, Xiangliu, Yellow Jacket, Victoria, Poison Dart, Syndicate, Eco, Hexane, Pole, Tigris), Tec-9 (Rebel, Terrace, Nuclear Threat, Hades, Rust Leaf, Decimator, Blast From, Orange Murano, Toxic, Fuel Injector, Remote Control, Bamboo Forest, Isaac, Avalanche, Brother, Re-Entry, Blue Titanium, Bamboozle), R8 Revolver (Banana Cannon, Fade, Blaze, Crimson Web, Liama Cannon, Crazy 8, Reboot, Canal Spray, Night, Amber Fade), Desert Eagle (Blaze, Hand Cannon, Fennec Fox, Sunset Storm, Emerald Jörmungandr, Pilot, Hypnotic, Golden Koi, Printstream, Cobalt Disruption, Code Red, Ocean Drive, Midnight Storm, Kumicho Dragon, Crimson Web, Heirloom, Night Heist, Mecha Industries, Night, Conspiracy, Trigger Discipline, Naga, Directive, Light Rail), Dual Berettas (Flora Carnivora, Duelist, Cobra Strike, Black Limba, Emerald, Hemoglobin, Twin Turbo, Marina, Melondrama, Pyre, Retribution, Briar, Dezastre, Royal Consorts, Urban Shock, Dualing Dragons, Panther, Balance), Rifles - Galil (Aqua Terrace, Winter Forest, Chatterbox, Sugar Rush, Pheonix Blacklight, CAUTION!, Orange DDPAT, Cerberus, Dusk Ruins, Eco, Chromatic Aberration, Stone Cold, Tuxedo, Sandstorm, Shattered, Urban Rubble, Rocket Pop, Kami, Crimson Tsunami, Connexion), SCAR-20 (Fragments, Brass, Cyrex, Palm, Splash Jam, Cardiac, Emerald, Crimson Web, Magna Carta, Stone Mosaico, Bloodsport, Enforcer), AWP (Duality, Gungnir, Dragon Lore, Prince, Medusa, Desert Hydra, Fade, Lightning Strike, Oni Taiji, Silk Tiger, Graphite, Chromatic Aberration, Asiimov, Snake Camo, Boom, Containment Breach, Wildfire, Redline, Electric Hive, Hyper Beast, Neo-Noir, Man-o'-war, Pink DDPAT, Corticera, Sun in Leo, Elite Build, Fever Dream, Atheris, Mortis, PAW, Exoskeleton, Worm God, POP AWP, Phobos, Acheron, Pit Viper, Capillary, Safari Mesh), AK-47 (Head Shot, Wild Lotus, Gold Arabesque, X-Ray, Fire Serpent, Hydroponic, Panthera Onca, Case Hardened, Vulcan, Jet Set, Fuel Injector, Bloodsport, Nightwish, First Class, Neon Rider, Asiimov, Red Laminate, Aquamarine Revenge, The Empress, Wasteland Rebel, Jaguar, Black Laminate, Leet Museo, Neon Revolution, Redline, Frontside Misty, Predator, Legion of Anubis, Point Disarray, Orbit Mk01, Blue Laminate, Green Laminate, Emerald Pinstripe, Cartel, Phantom Disruptor, Jungle Spray, Safety Net, Rat Rod, Baroque Purple, Slate, Elite Build, Uncharted, Safari Mesh), FAMAS (Sundown, Prime Conspiracy, Afterimage, Commemoration, Dark Water, Spitfire, Pulse, Eye of Athena, Meltdown, Rapid Eye Move, Roll Cage, Styx, Mecha Industrie, Djinn, ZX Spectron, Valence, Neural Net, Night Borre, Hexne), M4A4 (Temukau, Howl, Poseidon, Asiimov, Daybreak, Hellfire, Zirka, Red DDPAT, Radiation Hazard, Modern Hunter, The Emperor, The Coalition, Bullet Rain, Cyber Security, X-Ray, Dark Blossom, Buzz Kill, In Living Color, Neo-Noir, Desolate Space, 龍王 (Dragon King), Royal Paladin, The Battlestar, Global Offensive, Tooth Fairy, Desert-Strike, Griffin, Evil Daimyo, Spider Lily, Converter), M4A1-S (Emphorosaur-S, Welcome to the Jungle, Imminent Danger, Knight, Hot Rod, Icarus Fell, Blue Phosphor, Printstream, Master Piece, Dark Water, Golden Coil, Bright Water, Player Two, Atomic Alloy, Guardian, Chantico's Fire, Hyper Beast, Mecha Industries, Cyrex, Control Panel, Moss Quartz, Nightmare, Decimator, Leaded Glass, Basilisk, Blood Tiger, Briefing, Night Terror, Nitro, VariCamo, Flashback), SG 553 (Cyberforce, Hazard Pay, Bulldozer, Integrale, Dragon Tech, Ultraviolet, Colony IV, Hypnotic, Cyrex, Candy Apple, Barricade, Pulse), SSG 08 (Death Strike, Sea Calico, Blood in the Water, Orange Filigree, Dragonfire, Big Iron, Bloodshot, Detour, Turbo Peek, Red Stone), AUG (Akihabara Accept, Flame Jörmungandr, Hot Rod, Midnight Lily, Sand Storm, Carved Jade, Wings, Anodized Navy, Death by Puppy, Torque, Bengal Tiger, Chameleon, Fleet Flock, Random Access, Momentum, Syd Mead, Stymphalian, Arctic Wolf, Aristocrat, Navy Murano), G3SG1 (Chronos, Violet Murano, Flux, Demeter, Orange Kimono, The Executioner, Green Apple, Arctic Polar Camo, Contractor), SMGs - P90 (Neoqueen, Astral Jörmungandr, Run and Hide, Emerald Dragon, Cold Blooded, Death by Kitty, Baroque Red, Vent Rush, Blind Spot, Asiimov, Trigon, Sunset Lily, Death Grip, Leather, Nostalgia, Fallout Warning, Tiger Pit, Schermatic, Virus, Shapewood, Glacier Mesh, Shallow Grave, Chopper, Desert Warfare), MAC-10 (Sakkaku, Hot Snakes, Copper Borre, Red Filigree, Gold Brick, Graven, Case Hardened, Stalker, Amber Fade, Neon Rider, Tatter, Curse, Propaganda, Nuclear Garden, Disco Tech, Toybox, Heat, Indigo), UMP-45 (Wild Child, Fade, Blaze, Day Lily, Minotaur's Labyrinth, Crime Scene, Caramel, Bone Pile, Momentum, Primal Saber), MP7 (Teal Blossom, Fade, Nemesis, Whiteout, Asterion, Bloosport, Abyssal Apparition, Full Stop, Special Delivery, Neon Ply, Asterion, Ocean Foam, Powercore, Scorched, Impire), PP-Bizon (Modern Hunter, Rust Coat, Forest Leaves, Antique, High Roller, Blue Streak, Seabird, Judgement of Anubis, Bamboo Print, Embargo, Chemical Green, Coblat Halftone, Fuel Rod, Photic Zone, Irradiated Alert, Carbon Fiber), MP9 (Featherweight, Wild Lily, Pandora's Box, Stained Glass, Bulldozer, Dark Age, Hot Rod, Hypnotic, Hydra, Rose Iron, Music Box, Setting Sun, Food Chain, Airlock, Mount Fuji, Starlight Protector, Ruby Poison Dart, Deadly Poison), MP5-SD (Liquidation, Oxide Oasis, Phosphor, Nitro, Agent, Autumn Twilly), Shotguns, Machineguns - Sawed-Off (Kiss♥Love, First Class, Orange DDPAT, Rust Coat, The Kraken, Devourer, Mosaico, Wasteland Princess, Bamboo Shadow, Copper, Serenity, Limelight, Apocalypto), XM1014 (Frost Borre, Ancient Lore, Red Leather, Elegant Vines, Banana Leaf, Jungle, Urban Perforated, Grassland, Blaze Orange, Heaven Guard, VariCamo Blue, Entombed, XOXO, Seasons, Tranquility, Bone Machine, Incinegator, Teclu Burner, Black Tie, Zombie Offensive, Watchdog), Nova (Baroque Orange, Hyper Beast, Green Apple, Antique, Modern Hunter, Walnut, Forest Leaves, Graphite, Blaze Orange, Rising Skull, Tempest, Bloomstick, Interlock, Quick Sand, Moon in Libra, Clean Polymer, Red Quartz, Toy Soldier), MAG-7 (Insomnia, Cinqueda, Counter Terrace, Prism Terrace, Memento, Chainmail, Hazard, Justice, Bulldozer, Silver, Core Breach, Firestarter, Praetorian, Heat, Hard Water, Monster Call, BI83 Spectrum, SWAG-7), M249 (Humidor, Shipping Forecast, Blizzard Marbleized, Downtown, Jungle DDPAT, Nebula Crusader, Impact Drill, Emerald Poison Dart), Negev (Mjölnir, Anodized Navy, Palm, Power Loader, Bratatat, CaliCamo, Phoenix Stencil, Infrastructure, Boroque Sand), Wear - Factory New (FN), Minimal Wear (MW), Field-Tested (FT), Well-Worn (WW), Battle-Scarred (BS), Stickers Holo/Foil/Gold - Katowice 2014, Krakow 2017, Howling Dawn, Katowice 2015, Crown, London 2018, Cologne 2014, Boston 2018, Atlanta 2017, Cluj-Napoca 2015, DreamHack 2014, King on the Field, Harp of War, Winged Difuser, Cologne 2016, Cologne 2015, MLG Columbus 2016, Katowice 2019, Berlin 2019, RMR 2020, Stockholm 2021, Antwerp 2022, Swag Foil, Flammable foil, Others - Souvenirs, Agents, Pins, Passes, Gifts, Music Kits, Cases, Keys, Capsules, Packages, Patches

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Below is a list of my current PC’s specs and what I’m hoping to upgrade based on what my motherboard can handle. Would like general feedback on if this would be a good upgrade or a waste of money and if an all-new rig would be better.
Context:I’m studying visual effects design using Houdini and am preparing to apply for contracts and starting professional work. I’m hitting a lot of bottlenecking as I’m getting into more complex simulations and the render times I get currently are atrocious and am forced to rely on expensive renderfarms. From my understanding, a lot of the sim work is done by the CPU. I’ve already upgraded my RAM as far as the current motherboard can handle (Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600 [4x16gb - 64GB total]). I would need an all-new rig if I hope to upgrade RAM to 128gb. That’s not 100% necessary since 64 is just fine but it would obviously be very nice to have and for future proofing. Rendering necessities vary depending on renderer used. CPU based, GPU based or Hybrid. GPU based is the new frontier but current setup only has 8GB vram which has hindered me from taking full advantage of GPU based engines. CPU engines are almost better for me to render on which sucks. I want a much more powerful CPU without sacrificing the number of cores and want much more vram.
Current Build:

• Gigabyte B365 DS3H WiFi ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
• Intel Core i7-9700F 3.0 GHz 8-Core
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 8GB

Hopeful Upgrades (best possible for current Motherboard):

• Intel Core i9 9900KF 3.6 GHz 8-Core
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB

(I’ve not a clue what my current CPU Cooler is and I know I would need to upgrade power supply. No idea what to get/if those can be upgraded on current rig).
Is this a negligent boost from upgrading and would an all-new rig be best?
If new and starting from scratch is better then I would need help on pricing my rig. I have no clue what it’s worth currently is and what I could get away with selling it for. This would 100% determine my budget for a new rig. I’m willing to save however much necessary but saving $4k-5k would take me a long time versus reducing that by selling the current setup to not have to save as much before getting new.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Link to my full PCPartPicker build for reference if needed for pricing suggestions.
https://pcpartpicker.com/useTristanTre/saved/#view=rg9FP6