This post outlines my research regarding whether my participation in the Amazon Vine Program (where one receives free product in exchange for reviews) might be subject to Canadian income tax. I joined the Amazon Vine Program in May 2023. I'm posting this so that other people don't have to start their research from scratch like I did.
Research Sources

• ITA 9(1) – “Subject to this Part, a taxpayer’s income for a taxation year from a business or property is the taxpayer’s profit from that business or property for the year.”
• ITA 248(1) – “business includes a profession, calling, trade, manufacture or undertaking of any kind whatever and, except for the purposes of paragraph 18(2)(c), section 54.2, subsection 95(1) and paragraph 110.6(14)(f), an adventure or concern in the nature of trade but does not include an office or employment”
• Moldowan v. The Queen, 1997 1 SCR 480
  • “…it is now accepted that in order to have a "source of income" the taxpayer must have a profit or a reasonable expectation of profit. Source of income, thus, is an equivalent term to business…”
  • “In my view, whether a taxpayer has a reasonable expectation of profit is an objective determination to be made from all of the facts. The following criteria should be con­sidered: the profit and loss experience in past years, the taxpayer's training, the taxpayer's intended course of action, the capability of the venture as capitalized to show a profit after charging capital cost allowance. The list is not intended to be exhaustive.”
• Stewart v. Canada, 2002 SCC 46
  • “The “reasonable expectation of profit” test should not be accepted as the test to determine whether a taxpayer’s activities constitute a source of income for the purposes of s. 9 of the Income Tax Act.”
  • “The following two‑stage approach should be employed to determine whether a taxpayer’s activities constitute a source of business or property income:
    • (i) Is the taxpayer’s activity undertaken in pursuit of profit, or is it a personal endeavour?
    • (ii) If it is not a personal endeavour, is the source of the income a business or property?”
  • “Where the nature of an activity is clearly commercial, the taxpayer’s pursuit of profit is established. There is no need to take the inquiry any further by analysing the taxpayer’s business decisions.”
  • “However, where the nature of a taxpayer’s venture contains elements which suggest that it could be considered a hobby or other personal pursuit, the venture will be considered a source of income only if it is undertaken in a sufficiently commercial manner. In order for an activity to be classified as commercial in nature, the taxpayer must have the subjective intention to profit and there must be evidence of businesslike behaviour which supports that intention. Reasonable expectation of profit is no more than a single factor, among others, to be considered at this stage.”
• 30 May 2012 Ministerial Correspondence 2012-0442371M4
  • From Martin v. The Queen 2003 TCC 155:
    • “The existence of a personal element must be put in perspective. There is frequently a personal element in the carrying on of a commercial enterprise in the sense that the person derives great personal satisfaction from the activity. This does not make the activity any the less a business… It is only where the personal element so overshadows any element of commerciality as to substantially displace it that one may conclude that the activity is merely a hobby and is not a business at all.”
    • “The appellant’s activity here has the necessary ingredients of commerciality to make it a business - the commitment of substantial capital, the organized and businesslike way in which records are kept and the devotion of enormous amounts of time by the appellant and his wife and, in earlier years at least, his sons as well as the intent to earn a profit.”
  • “Therefore, it is clear that if a personal endeavour or hobby is pursued in a sufficiently commercial and businesslike way, it can be considered to be a business activity, which is a source of income under the Income Tax Act.”
• CPA Article:
  • “…it is a question of fact as to whether a hobby activity generates a sufficient level of commercial activity to support a pursuit of profit and whether a taxpayer has established a clear distinction between a businesslike endeavour and a personal one.”
  • “…it is only where a personal endeavour is an activity primarily undertaken for pleasure, entertainment, or enjoyment rather than for profit, business, or commercial reasons that it may be considered merely a hobby and not a business.”
• CRA IT-490 Bulletin on Barter Transactions:
  • “The Department takes the view that barter transactions are within the purview of the Income Tax Act. Such transactions can therefore result in income…”
  • “In arm's length transactions, where an amount must be brought into income…, that amount is the price which the taxpayer would normally have charged a stranger for his services…”
  • “Where the goods or services given up cannot readily be valued but the goods or services received can, the Department will normally accept the value of the latter as being the price at which the transaction took place if the parties were dealing at arm's length.”

Analysis
Existence (or Not) of Profit & Intention to Profit

• Whether there is profit is questionable – the free product received in exchange for reviews has minimal value. These are new, untried products which are as likely to be excellent as they are to be garbage. This is why the suppliers are willing to provide free product – in return they gain honest reviews which will convince (or not) prospective buyers to purchase the product.
• It is also questionable how this would be valued. CRA’s barter bulletin indicates that the value should be the price the taxpayer would normally have charged a stranger for his services. I charge nothing for leaving reviews – it has no value to me, it’s just for fun. This would indicate that the value was zero, and therefore profit is zero. However, if the “goods received” are to be used as the value, it is also questionable as to whether the MRSP is the appropriate value for such objects, since these are objects of questionable value initially, thus needing further testing and review by Vine Voices to convince others to purchase them at that MRSP. In the U.S.A., where hobbies are taxed, and thus Vine Voices are taxed, the value assigned is not MRSP – a tax value is assigned which is less than MRSP, and for consumable objects, a $nil value is assigned. I would argue that perhaps the value is the value that the supplier gave up – the cost of the product, which depending on the cost structure and margins of the supplier, may be significantly less than MRSP. This is impossible to determine, as this information is not provided to Canadian Vine Voices – all objects are assigned a nil value on invoices. How does one even go about valuing a profit of questionable value, without such data?
• Further, true ownership of the product is not provided in Canada (differs from U.S.A., where objects transfer ownership at 6 months). The Vine Voice is limited by the Amazon Vine programs terms and conditions, which include the following:
  • “The product supplier retains all right, title and interest in a Third-Party Product until six months after the date of your review of the product, after which you may keep or destroy the Third-Party Product at your discretion, but may not transfer it.”
  • “All right, title and interest in Amazon Products will pass to you when the Amazon Product is delivered to the common carrier for delivery to you. You may keep or destroy the Amazon Product at your discretion at any time, but may not transfer it.”
• As “transfer” to another person is precluded by the agreement, there is no ability to convert the free products into cash by way of sale. One could argue this isn’t even true ownership, further muddying the waters of what the value of the product would be, given its limited uses.
• At most, “profit” could perhaps be considered to exist in a colloquial way, in that the Vine Voice “profits” (alternative definition – “benefits”) from the arrangement by being able to obtain free products that the Voice would otherwise have bought and spent money on. This is an indirect form of compensation – an expense foregone. However, this may not be the truth, as in many cases, the Voice may choose a product simply out of curiosity, rather than out of an intention to avoid some other purchase, or choose things that they never would have actually purchased, because they are “luxury” or “silly”. Here even the benefit is questionable.
• Finally, whether there is an intention to profit is also in question – given that the product may as likely be worth a 5-star rating as it could be worth a 1-star rating, the event of choosing a product to review takes on a level of gambling that is not consistent with business-like profit-gaining behaviour. I certainly have no intention of profit – every choice is a lark.
• Also, while this is taxable for Vine Voices in the U.S.A., the U.S.A. taxes hobbies (while Canada does not) and cannot be considered an equivalent tax regime, and as there are different terms and conditions of product ownership for American Vine Voices, this must be disregarded as comparable.

Sufficient Commerciality

• Court cases indicate that to be commercial (and therefore intend to profit), business-like behaviour must exist. Martin v. the Queen 2002 described the ingredients of commerciality: the commitment of capital, the organized way in which records are kept, and the devotion of time.
• My involvement in Amazon Vine does not include these factors:
  • Time involvement (on my part) is minimal. Those crazy Vine Voices who choose to pursue Gold Tier and obtain and review 100 products every 6 months likely commit significantly more resources and may in fact meet the standard of commerciality, but my occasional obtention of a product on a weekly basis is likely insufficient.
  • There is no commitment of capital on my part.
  • There is no true record-keeping. Amazon does not even produce enough information to allow for recordkeeping to result – invoices are assigned a $nil value. Canadian don't get a "tax value". The only records I keep are my usual household records – I keep a full home inventory of everything my wife and I own, for insurance purposes (we had a scare with a fire). This has nothing to do with Amazon Vine and everything to do with the fact that I’m an overly-detailed, OCD Chartered Professional Accountant on the autistic side of the spectrum. You should see my budget spreadsheets. I’m a nerd.

Personal Component

• I view Amazon Vine as a hobby. I never pursued Amazon Vine – being invited to the program was a surprise, as I’d never heard of it. I was entertained to learn that people actively try their best to get in, when I was invited on basically no real effort on my part – I just like leaving reviews, partly because I rely on reviews myself when buying items.
• I enjoy leaving reviews – I leave copious Google reviews on restaurants, locations, hotels, businesses, none of which I receive any compensation for. It’s just a fun thing to do when bored, and it feels useful, like I’m contributing something to society by being honest about the nature of existence. Certainly more useful than doom-scrolling Tik Tok, as leisure time goes.
• I view Vine much the same way – it is odd to be compensated for something that I otherwise do cheerfully for free. Getting free product is fun – sometimes its crap, sometimes its great. Either way, it’s an adventure. And that’s why I do it: I do it for the adventure.
• The quantity of activity I do on Vine is minimal. My time spent on Vine is never more than an hour or so a week. I spend more time on my other hobbies: reading, writing, cooking, baking, hiking, gardening, playing piano… It’s just another leisure past time.
• I have no intention of accelerating my participation in Vine to a business-level involvement. I have a full-time job. I am writing a book on the side. I have too many hobbies as it is. I don’t need another gig.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I would argue that there is insufficient commerciality, no intention of profit (and potentially no real profit, regardless) and a very significant personal component to my involvement with Amazon Vine. I would argue that this makes it a hobby, and not a business, and thus not subject to tax under the Income Tax Act. Individuals who engage with Amazon Vine on a more involved basis (i.e. crazy Gold Tier) may have a different result.
Should Canada Revenue Agency disagree, I leave it to them to try to value the damn income that would result, because the gods know Amazon doesn’t actually provide enough information to determine it. I wash my hands of this nonsense. I wish CRA had published guidance on this so I didn’t have to spend hours on this kind of research.
TL;DR: It can likely be argued that Amazon Vine involvement is a hobby for Canadian tax purposes, and thus not taxable (provided the Vine Voice in question isn't doing crazy business-like activity and pumping out massive amounts of reviews for Gold Tier). CRA needs to publish better guidance, because the interpretation is unclear.

The title of this part isn't finale, it's My Name is Barry Allen, and I'm doing it because it goes along with the themes I've put into this arc.
We begin with Barry stopping a villain with a second, and being noticed by Team Flash, who will take him back to their new base. They explain what's happening and Barry's noticeably isolating himself from everyone else, and not taking off his cowl. He's mission focused, being The Flash and trying to save lives, including Iris's, instead of being Barry Allen first and foremost. They're planning their next move, and discussing what's happening, and Caitlin especially should notice that Barry's acting weird.
Eddie will tip The Legion of Zoom to Team Flash's new base. The NSF (who can act as a voice in his head) is upset that Eddie isn't killing people, and messing with Barry instead, and Eddie's saying that he's doing this because he's trying to make that Barry doesn't get a pep-talk and focuses on his job as The Flash. He'll tell The NSF that he's their avatar, and he's in-charge, not The NSF, and will tell The NSF to know there place.
The Legion of Zoom, will then attack Team Flash's new base, forcing them to retreat. This is our chance for Barry to fight against Zoom or Savitar again, it's up to you. I'd personally go with Zoom, and show that Barry's gotten stronger since their last meeting. You should also be sure to injure Chester or Allegra here, and use it to further Barry's arc.
Team Flash, with two hospital beds, and Iris in labor and Cecile hurt, are forced into The Sewers, where they meet with their allies. Cisco, Jay, Wally, Jesse Quick, Joe, anyone who you would want here, put them here. They decide and make a plan to retake S.T.A.R Labs and get more control over their situation. Cisco and Jay will notice how Barry's being, and Jay will talk to Barry for a bit, and Barry won't open up or take off his mask, and he'll reveal who's behind this to Jay and that Eddie captured him, and Jay will say that he's going after Eddie, and that he has to be The Flash.
We then have a big battle for retaking S.T.A.R Labs. Jesse will fight and beat Zoom. Wally will fight and beat Savitar. Bart will fight and beat Godspeed. Thawne, seeing that it's a losing battle, will retreat. All of them are put in the Pipeline and/or stripped of their speed. Jay, meanwhile, will go after Eddie, and ask him what he did to Barry and Eddie will reveal what he did, and Jay is disturbed by it. Jay will then fight Eddie and almost manage to steal Eddie's speed, which will force Eddie to retreat into The Negative Speed Force.
They'll then go back to S.T.A.R Labs, and Jay will call out Barry, and Barry won't say anything, and will walk away, saying to call him when Thawne or Eddie is found so he can deal with them.
Caitlin and Cisco will then talk to Barry, who they get to open up, and they'll say that Barry Allen has impacted them more than The Flash ever could, and Caitlin will say that Barry made her smile after she thought Ronnie had died, and this inspires Barry to take off his mask, and finally begin to embrace them and reconnect with them, and there joking around for a bit.
Then all of the sudden, they get an alert that Eddie's in The NSF, Barry will say that he's dealing with Thawne, while everyone else is dealing with Eddie. They'll go into The NSF and see that Eddie's overloading himself. Bart will consider fighting but Barry will save him. Similar scene to what we got, but with the added context and themes of this rewrite being brought up, and of course, with better writing, and something more emotionally rewarding and fulfilling.
Meanwhile, we get a scene with Thawne and Gideon, where Thawne will get angry, will say that he's going to kill Barry as a kid like he originally planned. Gideon will warn Thawne of a possible danger and possible consequences for doing this, but Thawne's angry that he lost once again and hellbent on doing it.
But after Eddie's redeemed, there's one loose end left, Thawne, and Barry goes after him, knowing what he has to do and what he was meant to do.
Barry in present day, will try saving Thawne like he does in 9x10, but then Thawne will go into a Time Portal, and Barry will follow him back after he pauses for a moment like he does in 9x10, and we get the fight around Nora Allen, Barry saving his child self from Thawne, Barry warning his younger self not to interfere, Barry's final conversation with Thawne, and then Barry goes back to the future.
We end with Iris giving birth, and with a similar ending, except no Cecile proposal, and better writing, maybe a callback to Season 2x01 where Barry can say Kadima, which means moving forward, like Martin Stein did during Henry's getting out of prison party.

First the Heat only went to a zone defence 9 times by the way I tracked it in game 6. The Celtics went on to miss 9 shots grab 2 offensive rebound and draw two fouls. In game 7 the Heat went to a zone for 25 possession the Celtics once again struggled to heat shots. Going 2-12 from 3pt land, 3-6 in the restricted area, 0-1 from the mid range and 0-1 in the paint but not the RA. They also turned the ball over 4 times and grabbed only one offensive rebound opposed to the 6 they grabbed when Miami went to man. Tracking sheet I made
The Celtics struggled from outside tonight going 7-36 (19%) from 3. But when Miami went to man the Celtics were able to attack the basket and get two feet in the paint. The Celtics shot 11-19 in the RA against Miami's man defence good for 58% as well as 2-4 in the paint outside of the RA but that was the only bright spot for the Celtics defence.
The Celtics struggled in transition. First they didn't get many chances to get out and run. But even when they did it was pretty 50/50. The Celtics went 4-4 in the RA in transition but shot 0-3 from 3 point land in transition. The Celtics (mostly Jaylen Brown) hand very lose hands turning the ball over 4 times in transition.
I think what once again has become painfully clear is that the Celtics lack a real elite playmaker. Tatum can be elite in spots but not when he is seeing different looks every other play. Brown also needs to work on his handing and passing he had 8 turnovers tonight and was awful for most of this series.
Coach mazzulla did a solid job but Spo is just on his own level. He saw that in game 6 to end the game the zone really gave the Celtics problems and went to it in spots to throw the Celtics off in game 7 and once the Heat got the lead they never looked back. They now go on to face the Nuggets in the finals.
Go Cable Martin dude was the heats best player

In the medieval period it was common to take pilgrimages to the holy land from mainland Europe. The trip was an opportunity to face one’s fears and learn to know the deepest parts of self. The trip was long and dangerous. The terrain and culture were different from anything that pilgrims had seen back home. Along the way the pilgrims prayed, fasted and sought inner peace to prepare to be close to God. The pilgrimage to the holy land was a metaphor for Jesus’s life and journey much like the stations of the cross.
The labyrinth in the christian church is used as a mystical symbol for self discovery
Peasants and minor nobles could not afford such a trip. Instead they would take a symbolic pilgrimage where they would contemplate the self. The path they would walk was called a labyrinth. On a single glance the labyrinth looks like a maze that one might get lost in. The path has many twists and turns. Upon closer examination it becomes clear that the labyrinth is a single path. If one continues walking then one will come inexorably to the center.
The Labyrinth is one example of a mystical practice. As we are walking the labyrinth we do not need our rational or conscious mind to help us make decisions. We only need to keep walking towards the center. The repetitive actions without the need for executive functions help wind down the ego. Walking the labyrinth is a meditation practice in that it helps us tune in to a different state of mind. The labyrinth is a tool to concentrate on some part of ourselves beneath the ego driven conscious mind. The labyrinth is not about going somewhere in the world. Instead it is about going somewhere inside our mind, heart and perhaps soul.
Mysticism is a philosophical tradition that the search for ultimate knowledge of divinity and truth requires that we discover a deep knowledge of ourselves. The idea that the search to know the self is also the search to know God is a threatening ideology to many people at first glance, however few mystics believe that the self is God.
Mysticism does not have to mean that the self is God. Rather Mysticism is often used as a metaphor by mystics for how our ability to understand ultimate reality is limited by our ability to understand ourselves. Through this lens, it is our own trauma, fear and undeveloped self that limit our ability to understand truth. Through healing and accepting the self we are able to accept the world as it is and see accept our higher purpose.

What is mysticism and what does it have to do with therapy?

To some people mystic means someone who is overly abstract or obscures information but this is a secondary definition. Mysticism is the belief that self and spirituality are not found through world accomplishment or possessions. The mystic finds spirituality in the journey inward into the deepest parts of the self. Mysticism is belief that truth, divinity and/or, the true self is found by learning to connect with the deepest parts of our self.
In this tradition the ego is the enemy. The ego is our rigid self image, or idea of what we think we are as well as the thoughts and language that our ego identifies with. The goal of the mystic is not to identify with the ego and the thoughts and language that come from the ego. For the mystic the self is not the ego, but the larger unconscious mind beyond the ego.
The goal of the mystic is to dissolve the conscious mind and let go of language based cognition. Throughout life trauma, anxiety and negative coping mechanisms pile up and obscure our view of who we are and what we really want. Obsession and anxiety turn our focus to regrets about the past and fear of the future. When we dissolve the ego we are able to contact the self as it existed before it was obscured and as it exists in the present moment. Mystical techniques dissolve the protective parts like addiction, anger and stagnation that protect the ego from change.

Does mysticism have to be religious?

The Ego / Self Axis was described by Edward Edinger
While we often think of hierarchies and doctrines when we think of organized religion, there is a mystic tradition in every major world religion. Mystics in the religious traditions see the goal of ego dissolution as a oneness with the divine.
Christian mystics include Meister Eckhart, Simone Weil, and Julian of Norwich. Islam has Rumi and the Suffi tradition. Judaism has Martin Buber and the Qabbalah. Hinduism and taoism have mysticism baked into their core teachings. The list of mystic poets and artists is also long. Rainer Maria Rilke, and Hilma af Klint are some of the most well known.
Mysticism does not have to be religious. There are non deistic and atheistic mystical traditions too. Theravada Buddhism posits that the ego self is a delusion and seeks to disband the ego entirely. Yoga practices teach participants to drop into “body mind” through physical movement and somatic awareness.
One theme in most mystical writing is the discovery of the authentic self and a resulting deep compassion for others. Mystics emphasize that dissolving the ego results in a deep sense of love and profound sense of connection. Another theme in mystical traditions is the simultaneous paradoxical feelings of connection and otherness when ego is dissolved. Many mystics write about feeling separate from the world yet simultaneously at one with all things. The experience of ego dissolution is often hard to describe and does not fit neatly into our conscious or the language oriented mind.

So what does any of this have to do with therapy?

I don’t chant or do yoga with my patients. I rarely do hypnosis or guided meditation. I don’t use psychedelic assisted therapy. But yet, I use techniques from the mystics with patients all of the time. In fact, I believe that having a mystical experience is often the crucial point in therapy when patients change and get better. I remember hearing multiple lectures from the 1970’s where therapists would say something like “the place where real change takes place is when the patient enters a place between waking and sleep”. At the time I thought what the hell does that mean?
After experiencing many of these moments with patients, and as a patient I now understand what these therapists meant. Change happens in therapy when patients experience deep emotional releases that challenge our self image and our world view. Put succinctly, we only really change our life when the ego is turned off. It takes reprogramming the subcortical part of the brain, responsible for our emotional reactions and body awareness, to change the way we behave. Cognitive only therapy tries to tighten the ego’s control over the system to beat our unconscious into submission. The effect this has is limiting and temporary. Real change occurs not by changing the way we think but changing the way we feel.

Is there a mystical therapy?

YES! I find both depth psychology, somatic therapies, and brain based medicine, like brainspotting; to be incredibly effective at healing trauma and helping patients change behavior. Taproot Therapy Collective uses approaches rooted in depth psychology and brain based medicine to heal trauma. Both approaches stimulate the subcortical brain. Both approaches help patient’s turn off the ego and confront the true self. Neither of these approaches are cognitive or ego based therapies. As a patient I found that brainspotting was one of the most mystical experiences of my life. It allowed me to grow and heal more than all previous psychotherapy models. You can read about my experience here.

Is mysticism part of psychology?

Jungian, or depth psychology, is the branch of psychology concerned with the ego-less, unconscious mind. Much of what Carl Jung, it’s founder, studied were the psychological implications of the mystic traditions. Jung looked to religion as the framework to create a new psychology. While this led many “serious”minded academics to label him as new age mumbo jumbo, it also let him create one of the most influential approaches to psychotherapy.
Many modern trauma therapies have their roots in the Jungian tradition. Somatic therapy, IFS therapy, gestalt therapy and the life coaching model all have their foundation in Carl Jung’s psychology. Jungian psychotherapy sought to teach patients to recognize and understand the parts of the unconscious. This helps the patient accept and integrate parts of themselvs that they hate, fear and judge. Jungian psychology helps bring these repressed parts of self into conscious awareness.
What are the parts of self that get repressed? What is the shadow?
Chief among the parts of the unconscious that Jung identified was the shadow or the parts of the unconscious that most threatened the ego. The shadow is all the parts of self that are “not allowed” or “not accepted” in the conscious mind. Consequently the shadow is what causes most of the symptoms that make patients present to psychotherapy. Because the ego seeks to repress the shadow the ego can not control the shadow when it emerges from beneath the placid surface of consciousness.
Many things about the self we fight to accept and actively repress. There are things we don’t want to know about ourselves. Effective therapy uses the unconscious mind and the shadow to help us accept and integrate parts of ourselves that we are uncomfortable with. The shadow can contain the traumatic events in our life and hide their effect on us. Teaching patients to both recognize the shadow and accept it as a part of themselves is key to jungian psychology and the models that it influenced.
Depth psychology works because it teaches the patient to recognize and own the parts of self that “do not feel like me” but “are still me”. Until these parts are brought into consciousness we cannot heal trauma. Carl Jung outlined his incredibly complex, complete and yet intuitive psychology a century before Gabor Mate, Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Bessel van der Kolk, or David Grand began the brain based medicine movement.
These modern scientists use scientific language for teaching patients to regulate the subcortical brain. They relied on medical and scientific advancement to understand what was happening in the deep brain when we heal trauma. Carl Jung’s psychology described the same process but used metaphor and symbol. Jung was able to deduce the functioning of the subcortical brain and process of healing trauma from intuition and not scientific innovations.
When the ego is turned off we experience the subcorticle brain directly.

What do we feel when the ego is dissolved?

What is ego death?

This is a complicated question because what we feel is the self, and the author of this article is not you. What I feel is likely different from what you would feel… or is it? Many mystical traditions have the belief that we all return to the same source and feel the same thing when we surrender our ego. What is the case? I am a psychotherapist not a priest. In short I don’t know.
In the Jungian language we feel the parts of self that we least understand, most repress and construct ego defenses to avoid. In academic language we feel the limbic dysregulation caused by trauma and the way we hold emotion in our bodies.
Put simply, experiencing the feelings in the deep brain is a physical and emotional exercise not an intellectual one. Feeling trapped, feeling out of control, guilty, or victimized. We learn that we cannot revisit this emotional space because we cannot survive it. Our ego becomes a protective tool to avoid these emotional spaces. “That’s just who I am” our ego tells our self or “That’s just what I do”.
What you feel when the ego is dissolved is all the parts of yourself that you cannot own yet. It is overwhelming but ultimately rewarding. We have to go through the labyrinth of the places that scare us to get to strengths in our personality that ultimately change our lives. The ego wants to believe that it is all of us, but it is not. There are always depths to our personality that we have not accepted yet. Discovering the self is a lifelong process.
Jung used artwork to map the psyche

Where does the unconscious come from?

What is it that we experience when we experience these layers of consciousness? Jung called it the “collective unconscious” believing that all beings shared a “collective” experience at the bottom layers of awareness. It is still up for debate if Jung thought that a deity or a process of evolution was the reason for this experience. Secular mystics see the unconscious as a place where we can learn our purpose as individuals, foster empathy, and achieve emotional clarity. Spiritual mystics often explain the unconscious as a union with divinity or “godhead”.
What you feel when the ego is dissolved is the heart of the mystical experience. What it is, is hard for the author to write about because it is not easy to fit the contents of the subcortical brain into language. In my own limited experience it was a feeling of being out of control, not knowing, and deep inferiority that had lay hidden under my life. I had been running from a feeling, unconsciously. Until I faced it I did not know how to be the person that I wanted to be.
Again, I am a psychotherapist and not a priest or a scientist. The thing that one feels in the unconscious are experiences and not objective data points. Consciousness is like a root that begins in the ego and the prefrontal cortex. When we leave the the prefrontal cortex we loose language and “thought based” cognition. The root runs through the midbrain engaging our movement and fight or flight system. The root continues down the basal ganglia and into the nervous system of the brainstem and spine.
Art therapy can help you tap into the subcorticle brain and mystical space

What is in the unconscious mind?

Again your theoretical orientation might answer a lot of this question for you. For me as a therapist and as a patient I divide the experience up into a couple “layers” of what people usually feel.
Layer 1:
These are all the things I avoid knowing about myself. Maybe I have an anger management issue, an eating disorder, a major avoidance issue or an addiction. The way my ego frames it is that “ I deserve it” or “I have a hard job so I’m allowed too”. In actuality, my unconscious knows that I can’t deal with an emotion that I have formed a ego protective part to shut down the emotion for me.
Layer 2:
This layer is all of the childhood, or adult trauma that dysregulated the subcortical brain. Is the deeply baked in emotional assumptions that I might know intellectually are wrong but default to on an emotional level. Sometimes there are triggers for trauma and PTSD in our flight or flight system that we cannot regulate control with our intellect.
Layer 3:
Many patients get to a layer of the unconscious that feels familiar but does not feel “like them”. Often it feels like a strong emotion that we recognize but do not identify with. Many patients that have recorded birth trauma recognize feelings of abandonment and profound separation during brainspotting.
One therapist I spoke with had never understood her fear of the color white. After Brainspotting she had vivid memories of the color white being the only thing she saw when being treated in a vapor tent as an infant. Intellectually she had no memory of the color white being a trigger. her infant brain remembered the white tent and associated it with the stressful experience that interrupted her attachment.
Layer 4:
At the bottom layer of consciousness mystics describe a profound sense of empathy and connection to all things. Patients often report feeling like they “saw themselves from the outside” or “have a different perspective on who they are”. Mystics describe this state as a separation from the ego and a feeling of understanding and accepting the self. In this liminal state mystics report feeling connected to the source of being.
Where do these feelings come from and where do they lead? Again, I am a psychotherapist not a philosopher or a priest. I can’ tell you where the experiences at the base of consciousness come from. I can only tell you what they are most commonly reported to be by mystics and psychotherapy patients. Whether you choose to interpret the experience as a neuroscience or spirituality is up to you.

So here we have the WCC after 6 races in 2023:
POS TOP TEAMS PTS
1 RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT 249
2 ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 120
3 MERCEDES 119
4 FERRARI 90
THE REST
5 ALPINE RENAULT 35
6 MCLAREN MERCEDES 17
7 HAAS FERRARI 8
8 ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 6
9 ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT 2
10 WILLIAMS MERCEDES 1
Such a huge disparity between the 4th and 5th place teams! And then very few points spread out between the 7th to 10th place teams. It is hard to imagine how the smaller teams can make any money. Isn't this the problem that the spending cap was supposed to fix?
In fact, here are Ross Brawn's own words in 2020: "We’re reducing the amount of money that can be spent in Formula 1 and improving the distribution of the prize fund more evenly amongst the teams. A good midfield team should be able to score podiums, maybe a win, and it should make a small profit. And if we can achieve that then we’ve got a very sustainable future." (formula1.com)
It looks like "Alonso Martin" are the only team going to make a "small profit" this year. Let's face it, F1 is only competitive at the top, and then barely. It was like that when Mercedes dominated after 2014 and it's the same with Red Bull dominating every race now. Red Bull with Adrian Newey have done a fabulous job developing their cars these past 2-years, but Ferrari are not even close, and Mercedes are not yet quite as good as Aston.
F1 is a wonderful spectacle - very much in demand and capable of delivering a huge carnival atmosphere every race week. Extremely talented teams of engineers and software developers and fabricators. Talented drivers, and ultra sophisticated race cars. But it really needs to deliver a more competitive product on race day than it is doing today. Do you agree?

I am not, nor have I ever been the biggest fan of Daniel Craig as James Bond. I don't hate Craig and he is a great actor but I only like him in Casino Royale (my 2nd favourite Bond film after OHMSS) but whenever I watch his other Bond films I feel like I'm watching a second rate Jason Bourne. My problems with the Craig era are,
The lack of gadgets: It's fine in Casino Royale as it was an origin story but I wish the rest of his films had gadgets. We came close to it in Skyfall and Spectre but still I wish we could have had more.
No fun: Craig’s films are so serious and dark. My favourite Bond is Roger Moore so that might be the reason. I know that Craig fans love the grittiness of his films but Timothy Dalton did the gritty Bond first and did it best, as well as even his films are still fun. As much I love the gritty espionage of Casino Royale, Licence To Kill and From Russia with Love. At least those films I can have fun with them and I like having some fantasy with Bond like in films like Moonraker and Die Another Day. His films are also overly emotional, while I like emotion in Bond, OHMSS my favourite Bond film and Tracy’s death is sad (shame when the Bond theme kicks in it ruins the moment). The death of Vesper is also emotional but his other films are emotional overload and ruins the fun.
For the rest of his films: As I said Casino Royale is my 2nd favourite Bond film but his other films I have problems with and often rank them near the bottom. His era is a cinematic universe which interconnects his films together meaning unless you have watched Casino Royale then you won’t understand Quantum of Solace, unlike the previous 20 films you could watch Thunderball and then The Spy Who Loved Me and you didn’t need to remember anything from Thunderball. Some continuity is fine like with linking the Bond actors remembering the death of Tracy in Majesty's or reintroducing Valentin Zukovsky from Goldeneye in The World Is Not Enough.
Quantum of Solace is overhated for just being ok, it's not good but it's not bad. Also I find Skyfall overrated. I don't get why some Bond fans love this film, it feels more Bourne than Bond, I also don’t get how people find Silva's escape more believable than the invisible car from Die Another Day. Spectre was trying to course correct the problems and nearly did from the pre title sequence in Mexico City to the car and plane mountain chase in Austria the film is really good. But the Bond-Blofeld brothers thing is stupid and Madeleine Swann is one of the weakest Bond girls. And the idea that she is Bond's true love falls flat. I buy Bond falling in love with Vesper Lynd but not with Madeleine. And No Time To Die is the worst film I have ever seen in all the years I have been alive so that doesn't help, but that is for another time. I don't blame Craig, it's just bad script writing which is odd as his films were written by the same guys who wrote the Brosnan films which I love, as I’ve learned to blame the script writers not the actors.
The lack of the Bond theme: Up until Skyfall they rarely use the Bond theme, it's ok in Casino Royale as its an origin story but they could have used it in Quantum of Solace to make it more Bond and less Bourne.
The MI6 cast: Judi Dench is the best M, it was a stroke of genius to bring her back from the Brosnan era and Ralph Fiennes is also great when they do the reboot they should keep him as M. But the rest of the cast I have problems with, Ben Whishaw's Q is very underwhelming and the lack of gadgets doesn't help either. He feels more like a computer geek than a Quartermaster if they had found a way to mix the two together like with the character Walter Beckett from Spies in Disguise. Naomie Harris's Moneypenny is underwritten and the whole former field agent who becomes M's assistant doesn’t make any sense. Why would someone leave the field for a desk job? Rory Kinnear's Bill Tanner is also underwhelming and underwritten, ​​I wish he had a bigger role like Michael Kitchen's Tanner or Colin Salmon’s Charles Robinson from Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
Weakest villains: Mads Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre is one of the best villains up there with Goldfinger and so is Mr. White, but the other villains are the weakest in the series. Dominic Greene is boring and underwritten. Raoul Silva is fine if not a bit overrated and his whole escape from MI6 is just stupid. When they finally got the rights to Spectre and Blofeld it could have been a great comeback for the character especially with Christoph Waltz playing Blofeld but what did they do, rip off Austin Powers. Just like with Blofeld, Rami Malek's Lyutsifer Safin could have been good the plot involving nanobots is an interesting idea, however his goals and motivations are unclear where he seems like he is just being evil for the sake of being evil, which might work for a cartoon villain but not for a Bond villain.
Weakest Bond girls: With the exception of Eva Green's Vesper Lynd and Monica Bellucci's Lucia Sciarra from her small role in Spectre, his other Bond girls are either underwhelming and underwritten, Camille Montes doesn't even sleep with Bond, I kinda like Strawberry Fields, mostly because of The Beatles connection. Skyfall doesn't have a Bond girl, Sévérine could have been but she’s out of the film as soon as she comes in and don’t say M is the Bond girl because she is more like a mother figure to Bond. Madeleine Swann is one of the worst Bond girls and has no romantic connection or chemistry with Bond.
The films posters: (Yes really) They are so bland and dull look that the previous 20 films posters compared with his posters, they aren't in the same league.
The lack of care from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson: They just don't seem to care about making Bond films as it also feels like a chore for them. Also it takes them so long to make the films I can understand why NTTD took so long as the pandemic but back then they would get a new Bond film every 2-3 years with the only gap from 1989-95 Licence to Kill to Goldeneye but that was legal trouble. Their father Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli would be pissed at how lazy Barbara and Michael have become at making Bond films; they should either sell the rights of EON and James Bond or hand it over to their children if they can't be bothered. Don't give me "ThEy ArE oLd" BS because Cubby worked on the film until he was in his 80s. And don't give me the quality over quantity because that gave us NTTD.
There are somethings I like about the Craig era:
Casino Royale. He has some of the best title songs (My favourite is You Know My Name by Chris Cornell). Bring back Judi Dench as M and her death in Skyfall is heartbreaking. Eva Green's Vesper Lynd is one of the best Bond girls after Tracy. Jeffrey Wright is tied with David Hedison as the best Felix Leiter. Mads Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre is one of the best villains up there with Goldfinger. Goldeneye Reloaded for the Wii. His films have some of the best Cinematography in Bond. The modern Aston Martins and the return of old Aston Martins, My favourite is the DB10 (the DB5 is still the best). And I like Craig in other films like in The Adventures of Tintin, Knives Out, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cowboys & Aliens and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Maybe since my mum loves Craig and Skyfall, I’m desensitized to how great he is to some people. But to me Craig is a Bond without class, I have nothing against Craig personally he is just my least favourite Bond. I think if he had better scripts like the video games Blood Stone, Quantum of Solace or Goldeneye Reloaded he could have been really good. I feel sorry for him because he deserved better. I don't know if this means I'm gonna be hung, drawn and quartered by the Bond fandom but sorry It's just my opinion.

I 20f live with my mom 60f and my dad 62m. My dad and I get along great, no issues there. However, I am almost positive my mom is a narcissist. When discussing my mom with my therapist, he also guessed narcissism. For a little background information, my mom was a software engineer for Lockheed for about a decade. One day she quit her job (as the sole money maker in my family) without talking to anyone, even my dad. She left that 6 figure job for a minimum wage job as a cook at a convent. (She is extremely Catholic to the point where it runs our lives despite my dad and I not being religious) I work an almost minimum wage part time job. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of overtime and working nearly full time. Even working that much, my checks are about $900 every two weeks. Recently, my mom decided she’s gonna charge me rent and decided (without consulting my dad) that she’ll be charging me $2000 a month. Again, I don’t even make that in a month… She says if I don’t like the arrangement, I can move out. I currently don’t drive because I have horrible depth perception which makes driving very difficult and I don’t have a car. I live within walking distance of my job.
I think this has to be some sort of financial abuse or something. Advice or any input are greatly appreciated!

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I'm so fucking tired of seeing people talk about how helpless they are on here. There's another article about hitting a climate change threshold and all you see is "we're fucked or I'm to powerless weak or helpless to do anything" "Nothing will ever change"
Well...yeah if you tell yourself you're weak, worthless and ineffective that's exactly what's going to happen. Your beliefs and attitudes shape both your personal and objective reality. You have to believe something is possible before you can make it a reality. How you approach things matters; are you so fragile that if one person disagrees with you you'll shatter into a thousand little pieces or do you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward?
Look life is hard, almost everyone has had trauma in their lives or has.been in a shitty situation at some point and sometimes the entire deck really is stacked against you and it's not right and it's not fair but that's the reality of the situation and complaining about how unfair it is and continuing to do nothing about it doesn't do anything to address the issue. Thoughts and prayers are meaningless platitudes if you don't have the willpower to see your goals through
I'm not particularly religious but there was a story I heard a preacher tell once about a flood going on where a man climbs up to the roof of his house and another man comes by on a motor boat and offers him a ride and the man says" No I'm fine God will help me" The man leaves the water rises and he circles back.agian this time the water is up to the second floor and he asks the man on the roof again and again the man refuses. Finally the third time the water us up past the roof and the man is waist deep and the voat comes around the third time and again the man refuses "No no God will save me" The water rises and the man drowns to death. He gets to heaven and says "Why didn't you save me God?" And God says I offered you a boat three times and you refused.
Is the story forced? Sure but the point is you can't wait for a magical hand to come pick you up or the next coming of FDR to save you. You have to learn to help yourself.
Do you think when the U.S declared independence from Britain the British went "Oh okay that's cool have fun bro? FUCK. NO. It required a war to become free, it required murder because nobody in control ever gives up.their power willingly.
Carl von clausewitz- War is politics by any other means.
Sometimes poltical violence is necessary weather it was World War 2 or what's going on with the Ukrainians fighting for their very survival. Things aren't always wrapped in a near little bow.
Power, real power is the ability to choose your destiny and make decisions for yourself. Some smart ass might say it's a water wet statement but there are far more of the governed then there are the governors and while I don't agree with what happened on January 6th with the rioters if there was a lesson to be learned there that was it.
People talk about the system or the man and how it's corrupt but what most people don't understand is we are the system. We allow this whenever we continue to elect the same feckless people over and over and not hold them accountable. If everyone at your job made an agreement not to come to work the next day there's not a godamn thing your company could do about it. The IRS for example is 18 months behind because of the Turmp administration and even before that they still didn't have enough people to collect all the taxes.
Being a leader or a visionary means being brave enough to put yourself out there in the first place. It means challenging the status quo and traditions that those in power benefit from and have no incentive to change. Like JFK or Martin Luther King or any other transformative leader it means accepting the possibility that other may kill you for your beliefs and that's scary bit there are worse things than dying.
Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they'll never see.
Enough of this I'm a powerless victim mentality bullshit. You have power, use it.

Hi everyone.
To Kill a Predator is a work of fan fiction set in the Nature of Predators universe originally created by SpacePaladin15 whose Patreon you should subscribe to.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Depiction does not equal endorsement.
Hope you enjoy it!
[First] [Previous]
---
Memory transcription subject: Martin Russo, Human Refugee
Date [standardized human time]: November 30th, 2136
​
Three of us are riding in the back of the truck with the bound and gagged bird. We’re all ignoring him. The other two are inside. I’ve put my mask on just to avoid getting grit and dust in my eyes, mouth, and nose.
“So I know why the predator and the uplift are stuck back here, but why’d Slavik exile you?”
Hanya looks at me before scoffing. “Predator Disease, remember? Or maybe she doesn’t want my quills to scuff the upholstery.”
I sigh. “Jesus Christ I am so sick of Predator Disease. From the sound of it, you’ve got something like PTSD, you’re not a freaking serial killer!”
“Part of that didn’t translate.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s an acronym for stress as a result of trauma: literally ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’, finding yourself unable to let go of the traumatic event and thus being stressed out.”
“Oh, we’ve got something like that!” Mosun chimes in cheerfully. “We call it Recurrent Hysterical Exhaustion, and it happens sometimes to people who’ve been in accidents or returned from wars.”
I nod. “Actual mental health, huh. God, I hope with the Yotul aligning with humanity instead of the Federation you can recover your culture from them…”
Hanya scoffs again. “What, and get their trains back?”
Mosun looks surly. “Why is it that you people always think our culture is nothing but trains? They were a great way to transport things over long distances, but it’s not like we worship the damn things. There’s a lot more to our species than our technology!”
I try to interject, cutting off the incoming argument with a more positive question for him. “So what’s something about your culture that you’d like to restore?”
​
He responds immediately, ears perking up with excitement. “Combat Dancing!”
I lean forward. “What’s that?”
“You know that kick you were so impressed with? Well it’s part of a system that some Yotul learn to fight without weapons.”
I give an ‘oh’ of understanding. “You guys have martial arts!”
“Oh, that’s a good name too! Dancing is a sort of art, after all. And… Well, we did. We used to have entire schools dedicated to learning the Dances. But it turns out knowing anything about Combat Dances is ‘Predator Disease’, so they burnt all the schools down and threw the teachers and students in their facilities. My mom used to be a teacher, and managed to lie to their assessors… She taught me as much as she could. In secret.”
Hanya snarls. “Well, on that count the Federation was right! Fighting shouldn’t be a dance, or an art! It’s a dirty, horrible last resort!”
“Combat Dancing isn’t just about fighting! It’s about self-control, and being smart and effective! Its most important lessons are about when and how not to fight!”
I helpfully add “It’s also a good form of exercise. I was taught some of the basics of boxing at the shelter, but I haven’t been able to get a setup at home since I started living with the Venlil. I sort of miss the full-body workout.”
Mosun responds, tilting his head curiously. “’Boxing’? The translator picks that up as ‘a punching contest’, but a lot of Combat Dancing involves using your legs and tail too. Do you humans only use your paws?”
“No, boxing is just one martial art out of… well I’m not sure how many. Dozens and dozens at least. Boxing in particular focuses on using our hands. It’s also practiced as a competitive sport.”
Hanya gets a bit agitated, leaning forward. “A sport?! Absurd! You beat each other up for fun and call it a dance, or an artform! It’s savage!”
Mosun looks at the protesting Gojid shrewdly. “Your people probably had something like it too, before the Kolshians got their slimy tentacles on you. Those claws of yours are no joke. Without learning how to fight properly you could get someone seriously hurt with them.”
​
At this, she gets less irate. Instead she glances down at her own rather long claws thoughtfully. “So your ‘combat dancing’ would be about… not using claws?”
The Yotul moves closer to her. She doesn’t move away. But I suppose he’s just an ‘uplift’, not a predator like me. Mosun’s the first non-human I’ve been able to hang out with without first having to take days to acclimatize them to my presence. “It’s about knowing what your body is capable of, and training until you’re doing the right thing even under stress. You flew space ships, right? If you panic the results can be catastrophic. I bet you were taught safety protocols over and over. They were drilled into you until they were an automatic reflex, right?”
Hanya sighs sort of wistfully. “Yeah. In pilot school they’d bang the walls or play loud sounds while shouting questions, so we’d be able to respond correctly even under stress. A few times they’d even wake us up at night by screaming scenarios at us, and have us take repeat lessons if we didn’t immediately answer with the right procedures.”
Mosun is animated, moving his paws around as he talks. He’s in debate mode. Since he’s prey, Hanya doesn’t flinch back. “Right, so it’s the same thing here… You learn how to respond to different circumstances, so you don’t lash out and cause more harm than necessary. But at the same time if it does become necessary… you learn exactly how to do what you gotta. Figuring out how to best use your claws for self-defense isn’t something you want to start doing when a hungry Arxur is rounding the corner, any more than you wanna start figuring out how the fire suppression system works while your ship’s burning! See, you view the vessel as a complete system, and train yourself in its use… so that you can operate it safely in everyday situations, avoid dangerous situations if you can, and guide it through them in one piece if you can’t!”
She looks down at her claws for a while with a blank expression. The claws on her other paw tap the truck’s flatbed bottom thoughtfully. “…Could you teach me some of it?”
---
Memory transcription subject: Jarkim, Krakotl Civilian
Date [standardized human time]: November 30th, 2136
​
Slavik spoke up after a while of silent driving. “So the people we’re up against are all Exterminators, right?”
“Yeah.”
She flicked her ear in irritation. “Fucking government bastards.”
I tossed my head back a bit to show disagreement. “They’re not with the government; they believe it’s been subverted by the humans.”
“They’ve only got their weapons and training because of the government. They broke into a home in the middle of town and kidnapped and assaulted Venlil with impunity because they’ve had government backing all this time, and nobody’s allowed to question the pricks when they’re in uniform. These ‘Liberators’ are only still operating at all because it’s too embarrassing for the government to admit they’ve lost control of the Exterminators.”
I sighed. “Fair enough…”
With an air of satisfied finality Slavik said “So, fucking government bastards.”
I signaled appeasement with a wing. “Alright, alright. They’re fucking government bastards, happy?”
Slavik huffed with annoyance. “Tell me about them.”
“As people, you mean?”
Slavik flicked an ear in the affirmative. “Good to know going in.”
“Mm. Well… Karta and Luarik were my friends back on Nishtal. Karta’s always been confident, outgoing, and brash. Luarik’s been his shadow for as long as I’ve known them. If anyone’s going to listen to reason to get Luarik back, it’ll be Karta.”
After a moment of thought, I added “Honestly they may be dating, but if they are they’ve been keeping it quiet.”
“Alright, what about the rest?”
“Never worked with Serni or Vira. Vira worked… uh, administration and statistics, I think. Serni’s been doing education, going around in schools to explain to students what Exterminators do, and a lot of seminars teaching new parents what signs to look out for in their children.”
“The kinda asshole who recruits everyone to help keep an eye out for outcasts.”
​
I couldn’t disagree, so I just continued. “Vilrak’s been bouncing between desk duty and the front line for cycles. He’d get rough with some PD occasionally and they’d put him behind a desk for a couple of paws to cool off.”
Slavik tightened their grip on the steering, their jaw tightening. But they remained silent.
“Ilnek’s always been a model Exterminator. Always made her quotas, worked well with everyone. She did a lot of the disposal jobs at the office, like running the bone-crusher and driving loads to the ash dumps.”
Slavik grumbled quietly before finding something to latch onto and complain about. “What quotas?”
“There’s a set number of people in a population that’ll have Predator Disease, and the guild’s figured about how many an office can be expected to find each cycle based on, uhh, stuff like population density, species diversity, if you’re diverting too far from the One in Thirty ratio, local political affiliations… that kinda thing.”
“And if you’re short…”
“It generally means the budget goes toward re-training rather than better chairs or fruit baskets. Sort of a gentle incentive to keep your ears up when you’re out and about.”
Slavik’s voice was filled with disgust, and I shrank a bit in my seat from the unspoken implication in their simple response of “Uh-huh”.
​
Of course they were pissed. Slavik ended up in one of the cages after a coworker of theirs reported them for not filling out their sex on employment forms. And for a lack of interest in partners. A disinterest in the basic biological urges of companionship and procreation was a sign of PD, as was an inability or unwillingness to fit into your species’ standard sex distribution. If Slavik was a Krakotl it wouldn’t have been a problem, but mammals are less fluid about sex.
It wasn’t politically advantageous to make a big deal of Slavik’s case, at the time they were arrested. So I helped smooth it out.
One of the good things I’ve done, but it was just to keep the office’s paws clean. Because the media caused a gale wind about it when it turned out a couple of the Predator Disease cases over in Dawn Creek had been in that damn facility for the same reasons, I put in some words with the assessor to get Slavik out and keep them out of the records before anyone could start making noise about it here too.
There’s no way they would’ve been dragged in so aggressively to begin with if it weren’t for someone needing to polish their numbers.
“…Anyway. Last’s Renak. For my money it’s even odds whether he or Karta is the leader. Almost as many burns on wild preds as the rest of the office put together. He understands their minds, can track them better than anyone else. He can tell if there’s a nest nearby by how one behaves when it’s cornered. He can even hear if there are mature ones around a young by burning it slow and listening for how it screams.”
Slavik looked sick and pale. “…Protector… I know they’re predators, but… Why don’t you kill them before you burn them, at least?”
I knew the answer, of course. “Because… Because standard doctrine holds that they don’t feel pain or have souls the same way other animals do, so it doesn’t matter.”
Slavik gave a scoff. “After Celany’s interview, do you seriously believe that?”
“I used to.” I paused, and then told the truth instead. “No. I didn’t. I just ignored it. There were a lot of things I had to just ignore to do my job, a lot I had to be complicit in.”
---
Memory transcription subject: Vansi, Venlil Civilian
Date [standardized human time]: November 30th, 2136
​
It was scary to be moved suddenly, of course, but my son knew best.
He had his friends take Thiva to safety here, and was working on helping cure her sickness.
The screams were the worst part. She was restrained in one of the bedrooms, he had explained, because in her diseased state she might hurt herself or try to escape. My Renak’s a dutiful and attentive son and brother, and he made sure to stay with her and keep her fed.
Next to me was one of his friends, Ilnek. A cute girl with her short Exterminator-cut fur a lovely cloud-white color. She was flicking her tail idly while fiddling with some electronics.
“So… What is going to happen next?”
“Next, miss Vansi, we’re going to drive the humans out of Greenmeadow entirely. Without a civilian presence to safeguard, their military will have to either relocate or give up the pretense entirely. Either way suits our purpose just fine.”
She was polite, sweet, and dedicated. And such a lovely color. I wondered if my son had considered a possible relationship? They must’ve had a lot in common, and I’d love to have some grandchildren before I was too old to appreciate them. I decided to try and play matchmaker, and wagged my tail gently. “What do you think of Renak?”
She didn’t look up from her work. “Your son’s a genius. He understands the evil we’re fighting, you know. Really understands it. That’s why he’s taken his sister here. She’s a test case for our plan.”
“I… don’t understand?” I asked politely, tilting my head.
“He figures, with the human going after Thiva again after you drove it out of your home… they’re probably mated.”
A sense of deep revulsion filled me, and I recoiled with horror. “N-No! Oh Protector, No!”
Her voice was grim. “Oh, yes. It’s quite common… Plenty of humans out there apparently like to play with their food. Those are the ones we’re going after first, and the easiest way is to use their victims as bait.”
“…Bait?”
“It’s something we learned. The way we figure it the humans didn’t fake the empathy tests. Even the non-sapient predators… they either feel something like empathy, or they have a sunk cost to continue their species. If you catch some offspring, or a mate, you can dangle it by a leg… and lay in wait. The predator comes for its own, and then you can burn both at once.”
​
Now she looked up, smugly. “Of course, in the humans’ case the bait are gonna be their Venlil girlfriends and boyfriends, so we’ll be more… judicious. But after that, the humans will think twice before they try to mate with their pets. Then we move on to the humans who pretend to be friends with the Venlil. They’ll turn away from forming relationships with us at all and start making all-human packs separate from the Venlil… and that’s when we hit them all at once, like with the ‘shelter’.”
The idea of Thiva being used to bait the human was… “But… how do you make sure that the Venlil you’re using for bait don’t get hurt?”
“Miss Vansi, when someone is already in a predator’s clutches… collateral damage is a given. Most people who survive direct predator attacks would end up with the predator’s taint anyway.” She paused while finishing the last detonator. “…But I’m sure Renak has a plan to keep his sister safe, don’t worry. Alright, I’m going to get something to eat.”
As she walked out of the room, I was left to sit with the feeling of uncertainty and fear. Hearing the faint echoes of Thiva’s screams from the room up above, I wondered if perhaps Renak could be mistaken?
No, that’s simply not possible. I just don’t see it yet, I need him to explain it to me. He’s smarter than I am.
If I couldn’t see the plan, if I didn’t have the stomach for the cost, I simply had to trust in my son’s strength of will and vision.
I closed my eyes and listened for the next scream. She was saying the human’s name, calling out for it. Not her brother or her loving mother, but a filthy predator.
I imagined the sounds as akin to bleeding a festering wound. A deep, cleansing pain as you force out the insidious poison coursing through the veins. Burning out the infection and leaving room for renewal.
I prayed for her, fervently. I begged passionately to the Protector for power and wisdom for Renak and his cause, and for the downfall of the humans and the erasure of the taint they’ve left on the world.
Most of all I prayed my daughter could still be saved, and for the strength it would take if it turns out she could not.
--
[First] [Previous]

In the study of behavioral finance, there's a phenomenon known as extrapolation bias, more commonly referred to as recency bias, which causes people, by nature, to overweight recent events when making forward decisions. It was one of the main culprits in the 2008 housing market crash.
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In essence, people are hardwired to believe that whatever is currently happening will continue to happen into the future. Home values going up every day? That bubble won't burst. The Celtics have won the previous three games of the Eastern Conference finals? Surely they're going to win again on Monday.
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Jimmy Butler begs to differ.
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"When we huddle up after the game, after a tough loss like this one, everybody is smiling because we know we're very capable of it, I'm telling you, and we are not going to let up," Butler told reporters after the Game 6 loss on Saturday. "I'm not going to let anybody quit. I'm not going to let our guys quit. I don't give a damn what happens. We're going to go [into Boston] and we're going to win."
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Butler said the same thing before Game 6, but again, don't be fooled by your recency bias. Don't forget Butler's postseason because a couple of bad games are fresh in your mind. In last year's Eastern Conference finals, Butler went for six points on 3-of-14 shooting in Game 4, followed that up with 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting in Game 5 as the Heat fell down 3-2. It would've been easy to think he and the Heat were out of gas then, too.
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Instead, with the season on the line, Butler went for 47 in Game 6 in Boston to force a Game 7 back home in Miami, where Boston rebounded with a road win to advance to the NBA Finals. Why can't the Heat do the same thing on Monday?
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And don't say it's because of what you've seen the last three games. We've been over this. It's a trick that your mind plays on you. Game 7 is going to be its own kind of basketball war. It won't be about schematics or the adjustments we all love to talk about, and it certainly won't be about what happened in Game 6.
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This has all the makings of a close game with five minutes to play. If you don't think Butler is going to be an animal in that situation, you must've just started watching. You must've already forgotten the 15 points he scored in the fourth quarter on Saturday, including three ice-cold free throws that would've sent the Heat to the Finals if not for a Derrick White miracle.
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I agree; it's tempting to say the momentum is too far on the side of Boston at this point and that the Heat can't rally on the road after dropping three straight. Again, what's fresh in our minds is the last three games. But I would encourage you to remember that Miami also won three straight games in this series; they just happened to be the first three, and that trend didn't continue.
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The fact of the matter is it is very, very difficult to win four straight playoff games in the NBA. It's why you don't often see sweeps. It's why no team in history has managed to climb all the way out of a 3-0 hole to win a playoff series. One hundred and fifty teams, not including these Celtics, have tried, and 150 teams have failed.
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It's true; the Celtics have already bucked some major odds. Of those 150 previous teams to go down 3-0, only three -- the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers, the 1994 Denver Nuggets, and the 1951 New York Knicks -- have managed to even get it to a Game 7. But none of them finished the job. That fourth straight win has always been too much.
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Does that mean I think the Heat are going to win? I'm not saying that. What I am saying is it would be a mistake to assume that Miami's clock has already struck midnight, and I know many of you out there think just that. Vegas thinks it, too. That's why the Celtics are 7.5-point favorites on Monday.
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The public has been dismissing the Heat in this series from the jump; even when they were up 2-0 they were plus-money to make the Finals. We were looking for any reason to go back to doubting the Heat. Three straight losses are more than enough to completely forget this Miami team is no typical eight-seed. This is not a Cinderella team. If you still think it is, I don't know what to tell you.
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Will Caleb Martin keep playing like an All-Star? I don't know. But I'm pretty sure Butler is going to have the pedal on the floor from the opening tip on Monday. Charles Barkley said Butler was too patient in Game 6, and I agree. It's a fine line for a superstar in the NBA. You wait too long, patience becomes passivity, and you never actually get going. Butler got it going too late in Game 6, and Miami still took the lead with three seconds to play.
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There is still little proof that Boston can stop Butler when he decides to dominate, particularly as a scorer. And when Butler dominates as a scorer, Miami's shooters have a way of getting going. If that happens, it will come down to whether Boston can make its own 3-pointers at a high clip. Same story as the rest of this series, really.
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So we'll see. If I said I had any idea who would win this game, I'd be lying. But that's the point here. Nobody knows. You might think you do, as the Celtics have stormed back and feel every bit like the better team heading into Monday night, but that's your recency bias talking. Turn that voice off. That thing will get you in a lot of trouble.

Back in 1992, the US government asked 52 defense manufacturing companies to merge in order to cut costs. Consequently, these companies consolidated into five major defense companies: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics Corp, and Boeing.
A Stinger missile used to cost $25,000, but now it's priced at around $400,000...15 fold increase.
Similarly, a valve for a Apache helicopter that cost $700 in 2000 now costs $12,000, despite being the exact same valve.
The US government is aware of this issue, but they are limited in their ability to address it because they rely on these companies.
These companies hold patent rights to manufacture these parts, and the government cannot outsource production to other companies.
In one word, the US government is held hostage by these companies for its defense needs.
This situation arised because there is literally no competition between these companies and they are behaving like monopoly in that segment.
Our Government should be careful and considerate while privatisation of defence industries.
If you are interested in knowing how much US government is in trouble... Click the YouTube link below
Source - 1. https://youtu.be/MQMIVa15dv8
2.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/senators-urge-pentagon-investigate-price-gouging-military-contractors-60-minutes-report/

Okay, it’s hard to narrow it down, but for me it’s Martin from La Frite. Such an asshole for no reason.
A man who refuses to talk to me when I’m speaking to him (at his job)? Fuck that. And it’s not like his cooking was extraordinary to justify keeping him around.
(Maybe I’m a still a bit salty because I’ve worked with chefs just like Martin in the past) 🤪

Thinking about moving to Georgia? You’re in good company – this southern state has been named one of the best places to live in the United States for several years running. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Georgia so special, from its diverse cultural attractions to its affordable cost of living. We’ll also share practical tips and advice for making your move as stress-free as possible.

Reasons to Move

Georgia is a great place to call home for many reasons. The state boasts a warm climate, low cost of living, and a thriving job market. Plus, with top-ranked universities, a rich history, and a diverse arts and culture scene, there’s always something to see and do in Georgia. Whether you’re looking for a bustling city or a quiet suburb, Georgia has a place for you.

1. Affordable Cost of Living: Georgia is one of the most affordable states to live in the United States. With a low cost of living and a variety of housing options, you can stretch your budget further in Georgia than in many other states.
2. Thriving Job Market: Georgia has a diverse economy, with opportunities in industries such as healthcare, technology, and logistics. The state is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and Home Depot.
3. Warm Climate: Georgia’s mild climate means that you can enjoy outdoor activities year-round. The state has long, hot summers and mild winters, with average temperatures ranging from the mid-40s in January to the mid-80s in July.
4. Top-Ranked Universities: Georgia is home to several top-ranked universities, including the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Emory University. These institutions offer world-class education and research opportunities.
5. Diverse Arts and Culture Scene: From the High Museum of Art in Atlanta to the Savannah Music Festival, Georgia has a thriving arts and culture scene. The state is also home to several historic sites, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace and the Ocmulgee National Monument.
6. Outdoor Recreation: Georgia is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with miles of coastline, mountains, and forests to explore. The state has several national parks, including the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
7. Southern Hospitality: Georgia is known for its friendly people and welcoming communities. Whether you’re in a small town or a big city, you’re likely to find people who are happy to help you feel at home.

These are just a few of the many reasons why moving to Georgia could be the right choice for you.

Local Attractions and Historical Locations

Georgia is a state that’s rich in history and culture, with plenty of local attractions and historical sites to explore. Whether you’re a history buff or simply enjoy learning about the past, Georgia has something for everyone.
One of the state’s most famous attractions is Stone Mountain Park, a massive granite outcropping that features a carving of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. The park also features hiking trails, a scenic railroad, and other outdoor activities.
Another must-visit destination is the city of Savannah, known for its charming historic district and Southern hospitality. Visitors can take a walking tour of the city’s cobblestone streets, visit the Bonaventure Cemetery, or take a riverboat cruise down the Savannah River.
For those interested in Civil War history, the city of Atlanta is a must-see. The Atlanta History Center features exhibits on the city’s role in the Civil War, as well as the civil rights movement. Visitors can also tour the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, which includes the civil rights leader’s birthplace, church, and tomb.
Georgia is also home to several historic plantations, including the famous Gone with the Wind plantation, Tara, which is now known as the Stately Oaks Plantation. Other plantations worth visiting include the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, the Bulloch Hall, and the Roswell King Mansion.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the state has plenty of natural attractions, including the Chattahoochee National Forest, Amicalola Falls State Park, and the Okefenokee Swamp. Beach lovers can head to Tybee Island or Jekyll Island for a relaxing day by the water.

Advice for Planning Your Move

Moving to a new state can be an exciting and challenging experience. Here are some tips to help you plan your move to Georgia:

1. Research the Area: Before you move to Georgia, it’s a good idea to research the area you’ll be living in. Learn about the local schools, healthcare providers, and other important amenities. You can also research the crime rate in the area to make sure you’re moving to a safe neighborhood.
2. Budget for Your Move: Moving can be expensive, so it’s important to budget for your move in advance. This may include the cost of hiring a moving company, renting a moving truck, or purchasing packing supplies. You should also factor in any additional expenses, such as storage costs or temporary housing.
3. Declutter Your Home: Moving is the perfect time to get rid of any items you no longer need. Go through your belongings and donate or sell anything you don’t want to take with you. This will not only save you money on moving costs, but it will also make your new home feel less cluttered.
4. Create a Moving Checklist: Moving involves a lot of tasks, so it’s important to create a checklist to stay organized. This should include tasks such as packing, notifying utility companies of your move, and updating your address with the post office.
5. Get Moving Quotes: If you’re planning on hiring a moving company, it’s important to get quotes from several different companies. This will allow you to compare prices and choose the company that best fits your needs and budget.
6. Consider Using a Moving Service: If you’re looking for a more affordable option for your move, consider using a moving service like Moving Truck Driver. This service specializes in driving U-Haul and Penske rental trucks for people looking to move, which can save you a lot of money compared to hiring a full-service moving company.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your move to Georgia goes smoothly and stress-free.

Creating a Moving Checklist

Creating a moving checklist is an essential step in the moving process. It helps you stay organized and on track, so you don’t forget any important tasks. Here are some tips for creating a comprehensive moving checklist:

1. Start Early: The earlier you start creating your moving checklist, the better. Ideally, you should begin at least two months before your move date. This will give you plenty of time to complete all the necessary tasks without feeling rushed.
2. Break it Down: Creating a long, overwhelming list of tasks can be daunting. Instead, break your moving checklist down into manageable chunks. For example, you could create separate sections for packing, notifying utility companies, and updating your address.
3. Be Specific: When creating your checklist, be as specific as possible. Instead of simply writing “pack,” break it down into specific tasks like “pack books,” “pack dishes,” and “pack clothes.” This will help you stay focused and ensure that everything gets packed properly.
4. Prioritize Tasks: Not all tasks on your moving checklist are created equal. Prioritize the most important tasks first, such as booking a moving truck or notifying your landlord of your move. This will help ensure that you get the most important tasks done first, and avoid last-minute panic.
5. Set Deadlines: To keep yourself on track, set deadlines for each task on your moving checklist. This will help you stay motivated and ensure that you’re making progress toward your move date.
6. Get Help: Moving can be overwhelming, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Enlist family members or friends to help you with packing and other tasks. You can also consider hiring a professional packing service to help you get the job done.

Researching Your New Neighborhood

Researching your new neighborhood is an important step when moving to Georgia. Here are some tips to help you research and get to know your new community:

1. Look Up Local Amenities: Start by researching local amenities like schools, healthcare providers, grocery stores, and public transportation. This will give you an idea of what’s available in the area and help you plan your move accordingly.
2. Check Out Local Events: Check out the local calendar of events to get a sense of the community’s culture and activities. This can also be a great way to meet new people and make connections in your new community.
3. Learn About the History: Georgia has a rich history, and learning about it can help you appreciate your new home. Research local historical sites and landmarks, and plan to visit them once you arrive.
4. Check Crime Rates: No one wants to move to an unsafe neighborhood. Research the crime rates in your new community to make sure you’re moving to a safe area.
5. Join Local Facebook Groups: Joining local Facebook groups can be a great way to connect with other residents and get a sense of what life is like in your new neighborhood. You can ask for recommendations on everything from restaurants to dentists and get a sense of the community’s vibe.
6. Visit Your New Community: If possible, plan a visit to your new community before your move. This will give you a chance to explore the area and get a feel for what it’s like to live there.

By following these tips, you can get to know your new community and ensure that you’re making an informed decision about where to live in Georgia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, moving to Georgia can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be a stressful process. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can make moving to Georgia as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Start by creating a comprehensive moving checklist and breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks. Prioritize your most important tasks and set deadlines to keep yourself on track. Research your new neighborhood and get to know the local amenities, events, and history. Join local Facebook groups to connect with other residents and get a sense of what life is like in your new community.
When it comes to finding housing, consider using a reputable moving service like Moving Truck Driver, which specializes in driving U-Haul and Penske rental trucks for people looking to move. This can help you streamline the moving process and make your transition to your new home in Georgia as smooth as possible.
In conclusion, by taking the time to plan and prepare for your move to Georgia, you can ensure that you’re making an informed decision about where to live and that your move is as stress-free as possible. Good luck with your move, and welcome to Georgia!

These so-called progressive stars are headlining a conference organized by a Democratic-aligned think tank — with Palantir and Lockheed as key sponsors.
https://theintercept.com/2023/05/26/rachel-maddow-jamie-raskin-lockheed-martin-palantir-trucon/