Anybody have any area in particular I should focus on or any other book recommendations along the lines of mentalism?

Those two are considered the bibles of mentalism, but what should I read after them?

So I am watching the 13 steps to mentalism with Richard osterlind and reading the book as I do it.

I've seen Richard lecture and and I've seen a couple of his DVDs. Every time I see him perform he does very blatant switches that he claims he is getting away with but I spot ever switch a mile away. He telegraphs every move and I don't get it. Is he really getting away with it?

He claims that because he is a mentalist he doesn't have to conform with the rules of Magic and he doesn't care about being as "clean". Does anyone have thoughts about this?

Tldr: I hate his performance style, is anyone with me?

So basically this is a modern somewhat advanced highly terse quickstart guide. Basically I noticed that while the currently quickstart material helped get me started, there wasn't a lot of material that could help me get a fortress started efficiently or well. So here's an attempt at an especially brief guide that includes some of the information I wish was more readily available to me, with some of the more useful wiki articles linked.

The following assumes that you've already made at least one fort (no matter how successful or unsuccessful) and that you know the basic controls, how dwarves live, can read the wiki, etc:

 

0. Configuration (optional). A couple configuration file changes can make a few things more manageable. In init.txt set [FPS:Yes], so you know when your fortress is slowing down due to having many objects or too many cats or something. In d_init.txt, set [COFFIN_NO_PETS_DEFAULT:YES], and [ENGRAVINGS_START_OBSCURED:YES]. To restrict population set [POPULATION_CAP:X] and [STRICT_POPULATION_CAP:Y]. Lots of dwarves means lots of !!fun!!, low FPS, and a wealth of things to manage. I find going beyond 60 dwarves to be rather difficult in vanilla due in part to the lack of way to manage labors for all dwarves at once (a Dwarf Therapist-like interface makes this much easier, but still not easy). Setting that as the population cap may be pretty extreme though. That being said, you can increase the population cap later, but decreasing it doesn't remove dwarves that already exist. Showing FPS may well disabuse you of the desire to have hundreds of dwarves, even if some features require many dwarves to appear without modding.

 

1. Strike the Earth. Build a temporary entrance to a fortress to provide a quick way for your wagon goods to reach your stockpiles without first going through a 25+ tile defensive buffer. All this needs to be is some down stairs and some up/down stairs going down several z-levels (due to noise if you have a forest above you you should consider at least 15 levels if you plan on putting your dormitory above your fort). This will be sealed later and replaced with a nice ramp complete with an ample defensive line and 15-tile wide barracks area (which is extremely ample, a small barracks can probably be as small as 5x5), but for now, reducing the amount of work the initial hauling will require is a nice-to-have. This temporary entrance gets

I want to learn how to be a mentalist. Where can I find the suitable resources to start?

I've been struggling for years and I had countless attempts to improve but it always gets so overwhelming and I go back to being miserable then get the motivation to try again then fuck up and yea the loop goes on.. I sometimes feel like I got this and can get myself out of this mess but that feeling doesn't last long and the actions I take based on it eventually stop too. Ik that I won't really heal that way and that I need to be consistent, I wish I could try therapy but unfortunately that's not an option for now or anytime soon and I can't keep going like this for years, I need to help myself and get better for myself and the ones I love but I'm not sure where to start or what to do so what are some small actions u guys took that had a positive impact on ur mental health? Thanks in advance <3

Y'all are awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing ur experience and for the kind words, I read every single comment and they're really helpful. I'm gonna try once again, one step at a time and I'm hoping for a real change this time. Wish u guys all the best <3

Today I finally spoke up about my anxiety. I reached out for help. I was scared to pick up the phone and call but I’m so glad I did. I feel like weight has been lifted off my shoulders now. For the first time in my life I feel I can really take a deep breath.

On February 15, 1953 Lenora Seiler was dropped off by her father at the local movie theater in Valley Park, Missouri. When her father came to pick her up later that evening, she was gone. What happened between when Lenora left the theater and her body was found a month later is unclear and still remains a mystery to date.

What is known for sure is the following: Lenora began walking home alone after the movie ended earlier than expected. Her parents recalled hearing a car door slam and a scream from an unknown individual they thought was Lenora near their home sometime that evening. Their fear, like everybody else’s, was that somebody had abducted the quiet, 13-year-old girl. Police, as was the norm of the time, believed her to be a runaway until she failed to return home after several days. The shift then began to focus from her just running away to foul play. Lenora’s community kept their hopes up for a safe return, holding vigils, praying, lighting candles, and searching for the girl. The employer of her father offered a $1,000 reward (equivalent to over $10,000 today).

The town’s hopes were crushed on March 14, 1953 when Lenora’s body was found in the Meramec River. None of Lenora’s clothes or belongings were found with the body and the coroner believed that the body may have been buried in the river but washed away. Popcorn found in her stomach indicated that Lenora likely died within five hours of her disappearance. No signs of assault were found on the body and a definitive cause of death was not able to be determined, but the coroner thought that asphyxiation was likely. Police believed it was a homicide and ruled it as so. Like the town’s hopes, Lenora’s story began to fade with time. Her church’s baptismal fountain was dedicated in honor of her in July of that year.

No leads or tips surfaced in the case until 1958, when a 22-year-old man, named Denver Darrell Morris, confessed to killing Lenora. Police believed his statements to be credible, but his aunt and uncle later told police that he was mentally ill. Morris later recanted his confession to the crime and a lie detector test cleared him of any involvement. Due to the time that has passed, Lenora’s case was closed and it remains unsolved.

Sources: https://www.newspapers.com/clippings/#user=10457082

The reason I am asking is I am getting a Kindle soon and really want to learn more about mentalism and how to practice it. If nothing else, I am very interested in learning how it works.

Thanks.

Hi! I’m a thirteen year old and I really like the idea of wearing girls clothes and being a femboy, is it ok for me to do that?

Edit: thank you everyone for replying! I ordered some stuff recently so I just have to hope my parents aren’t angry lol, but thank you for making me feel accepted!

I am eldest of 3 sisters. My mom remarried ~5 years back and moved to the US along with my stepsister "Jane" past year. Jane took a break in between for 2 years and has just started college in the last year. Jane has been staying with me in my 1 bedroom apartment as finances are extremely tight and her college is in my city. At first, I was looking forward to get to know her better and have some company around the house too. It's been less than 6 months and it feels like I am living a nightmare.

-Jane is ridiculously spoiled. Although 20, she acts like a typical teenager ( likely because she is surrounded by them) . Doesn't help with anything around the house. Doesn't even clean after herself. Clothes are everywhere on the floor. Leftover food on the couch ! Pile of dishes. Washroom is a mess.The list is endless-

-She has incredibly extreme mood swings. If something doesn't go her way, she will scream, yell and throw stuff. This was the first time I realized there is something wrong with her mental health. There is something more than just being a spoiled brat-

-She started some freelance work (art commissions) but it barely pays. So she continuously keeps asking my stepdad and I to give her large amounts of money. Throws tantrums if we refuse. Doesn't tell us why she needs it (not like she contributes financially to the house in anyway). Furthermore she buys insanely expensive stuff from dresses,laptops to accessories. I have no clue how she can afford any of it and this behavior is worrisome-

-She is utterly disrespectful and says horrendous things. She is doubly hurtful when she is angry. 'f**king ugly', 'loser','unlovable','dumb bitch' and a ton of other slurs. Few of which are homophobic. I suffer from crippling social anxiety and was in therapy for 2.5 years. Hearing my insecurities every goddamn time is excruciatingly painful and breaks me-

It is also impossible to talk to her about anything. I have tried having conversations with her a million times (seriously!). The responses I get are eye rolls, 'f**k you' , puts on her headphones or just calls someone on her phone. One day, I have had enough of her disrespect and asked her to consider finding her own place in a month or two. On hearing, she completely flipped and lashed out. Slammed the door behind her and disappeared for days altogether. Didn't pick up calls or answer messages. Came back after 4 days completely hammered and definitely on drugs. Told me she has had unprotected sex

https://preview.redd.it/cvw0zeajkd181.png?width=1456&format=png&auto=webp&s=b1b7be57dd0850a304c9466447f19f934b69b3a3

The Pilgrims Road’s neon sign pierces through the foggy evening like a lighthouse beckoning ships to safe harbor.

Jericho nods as you climb to your stool. “Wicked week?”

You nod. “And we ain’t even on Wednesday.”

“Wednesday aren’t so bad,” he says. With a flourish, he produces his stainless-steel cocktail shaker, with a golden plaque that reads Legna & Balco – Numeromancers. “Report day, you know.”

“One day at time, please, Jericho.”

He twirls the stainless shaker. “Fine with me, chief. What will it be?”

I may go for a push before the cut-off… anything new among the top dogs?

“Not much that has changed since last week, chief.” He grabs two large bottles. “Big boys will be big boys. But we did receive a couple of caskets of Tried-and-True that we didn’t have in stock last time you stopped by….”

***

“On the one hand,” he says, “we got a nice batch of a returning classic: Zoe Lee Sin.”

“Heh… now that’s a bled with a lot of kick…”

“Sure is, chief. Guess you can always count on the trickster and the blind to show up when things settle down.” He points to silent figure sipping his drink on the other corner of the bar. “Guy over there, he seems to know a thing or two ‘bout this mix. Wouldn’t hurt having a chat with him, I reckon.”

***

“But you did mention two caskets, right?”

“Indeed.” He pours you a dry lagger, gleaming yellow as desert sand. “Here you go, chief: Taliyah Ziggs.”

https://preview.redd.it/lr8iaiamkd181.png?width=638&format=png&auto=webp&s=21c5e5a11beff0ecabe5d96652afc9ed9c1437d7

You raise an eyebrow. “Really? Among the Big Boys?”

He grins. “I did have to check the label twice myself,” he says, “but yep, that’s the most recent addition to top dogs: certified 1%+ playrate, 53%+ winrate. Don’t add big Elusives of any kind, puffcaps or too much frozen ice while you drink that, or won’t go down well. Other things with lots of Yordles, though, or Gangplank TF, go wild.”

The pandemic, my fathers death and discovering psychedelics all happened at the same time for me at 25 after quitting uni for 3 years endeavouring to discover why the fuck I had so much trouble doing what came to everyone else normally.

I tripped frequently, and quickly fell into only wanting to listen to music while lying down in darkness, over and over again just full albums. Some of them I had to push through in really uncomfortable ways. I explored my grief through my fathers extensive music collection I inherited. I explored my anger through discovering early metallica. I explored my femininity (I identify as male) by listening to women sing about what they care about. I explored my beliefs through The Clash and John Butler. I explored storytelling in music through Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull. Ultimately I fell in love with the guitar in all its forms, strings are extremely beautiful. Apologies for how rock-oriented this is, but I do listen to other genres frequently as well I swear!

So I said one trip after listening to something that I need to become a musician, that I was desperate enough to attempt something really risky. I am usually risk averse but I have challenged this when it is unhealthy.

So I practice for a few months, see little progress and get disheartened and think that my goal is 10 years away.

I end up moving out on my fathers life insurance, as he had a debilitating disease that really couldn't be diagnosed. Progress skyrocketed, and I was able to start busking last week.

I feel currently I'm earning more than I deserve, but every cent is going back into keeping me positive and creating more music.

Just wanted to give a bit of a success story to encourage you guys to keep looking for your thing or things.

Don't get me wrong, before psychadelics I was very introspective in both a valuable and unhealthy way. You can't cheat your way to self-understanding, it's a long and extremely difficult process, especially alone.

But if you can persevere through suffering, and you keep looking at yourself, you will find something, I guarantee it. I spent 6 years moping over my only gf from 19-25, I'm neurotic af, I really do believe in all of you, but I need to stress it will never be easy.

All the good shit has to be hard, I've grown to accept this as a fact of life as I've matured and it's not made me bitter, it's actually done the opposite.

Just accepted my offer for L4 from L3. My background pre-Covid was service industry management and marketing, came in as an L1 late November 2020 because I was unemployed for seven months and broke, but ended up loving it here.

I just gotta say if you really want to move up there are plenty of opportunities here to keep moving forward. I’m trying to hit L6 within the next two years. Good luck to everyone else out there grinding through Amazon!

I realized that the only reason I was waking up in the morning was to love her. She was my reason to live. I couldn’t see myself in a world without her. The purpose I gave myself was to love her. I put all the energy that I had into it.

However, she knew I hated myself and it tore her apart.

I became pathetic during my last breakdown. I lost all touch with myself and reality. She never knew if she would come home to a body and it was a lot for her. I can’t do that to the person I love more than the world.

I don’t want to move on. We were together for 2 years and lived together the entire time.

I miss her, but I know I have to learn to be happy with myself before it’s too late.

I want her back but know we both need space. It’s only been one week. My friends and therapist recommend waiting for a while before talking to her about us and I agree.

I hope I can find myself and become a strong man.

Any advice on how I should move forward? With her or myself?