I 25F have been with my partner 25M for just under 4 years, we’re due to be married in October. Our libido’s are the same, one is not higher than the others. We haven’t had sex in months….
It’s hard to pin point where it all started, but to keep things brief I’d say 2 years ago. I broke the bombshell to him by saying I don’t come from penetration and I actually never have, he took this well because I think he already suspected. I told him I need to be stimulated by my clit and he did try.
He’s never one to shy away from eating me out or genuinely trying to get me off, it just never happens. I feel as though even after showing him what to do he’s clueless, I have to constantly direct and guide him which is a complete mood killer for me. So in the end I just give up, accept I’m not going to cum and roll over and let him finish. I’m surprised he can even finish with how defeated and dead I am.
Even though he tries his best he’s always the one cumming, and I never am. I resort to finishing myself off after he falls asleep. What’s worse is he knows this. If it were the other way around, I couldn’t imagine being so bad in bed that he had to resort to masturbation. This whole situation is leading to built up resentment on my part which is spilling into our otherwise perfect relationship. I am so sexually frustrated I have fantasies about having sex with him and then saying I’m too tired before he gets the chance to finish. Just to he can have A TASTE of what I go through Every. Single. Time.
You men wanna know why we women don’t want to have sex with you? What is the point if you don’t get to finish. Women fake it and we’ve been doing it since the dawn of time to satisfy your precious egos. And that’s exactly what I said to my partner, why on earth would I want to have sex if I never get to finish? That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2 years and I’m fucking miserable. Just lying there while he pounds away.
Not to mention I was ALWAYS the one initiating! Always. Now I like a dominant man who takes what he wants and my fiancé, although I love him is a complete doormat. I’m not asking for him to be King Kong all of the time but just sometimes I’d like to be the one pursued. I gave up initiating and guess what? We just don’t have sex at all.
We have had 100 conversations about this and I have been VERY clear about what I need/expect. Each time he says he understands and tries to do better but nothing changes. I cannot have another tear filled conversation, do not suggest therapy as he is very shy and will never open up to a stranger.
It’s so bad now, I masturbate before going over to his house because I know we’re not going to do anything. That reality hit me and got me down. He picked up on my defeated mood last night when I came over to his house and I ended up leaving shortly after a while with an excuse that I had work.
He sends a message saying “I feel like I've upset you somehow” I reply with “You’ve always been perceptive”
He responds with “I've been trying to ask, you've barely said a word to me all night.” And I text “Because it’s nothing we haven’t talked about a million times before.” Since then, nothing. No response, no reply. Zilch. And that right there sums up the entirety of our failing sex life.

The practice of assigning homework to school kids has long been ingrained in the education system. However, there is an increasing concern that homework may not be as beneficial as once believed. This argument presents a case against giving school kids homework, focusing on the potential negative effects it can have on students' well-being, mental health, and overall educational experience.

1. Quality Time for Exploration and Play: Children need time to engage in unstructured activities, explore their interests, and engage in creative play. Assigning excessive homework limits these opportunities, leaving little time for children to discover their passions, develop social skills, and foster imagination. By eliminating homework, students can have a more well-rounded educational experience that encompasses both academic and non-academic growth.
2. Overwhelming Workload and Stress: Homework can place an undue burden on students, leading to excessive stress and anxiety. Young learners already spend a significant portion of their day at school, and assigning homework adds to their workload, leaving them with limited time for rest, relaxation, and extracurricular activities. This excessive pressure can negatively impact their mental health and overall well-being.
3. Inequality and Disadvantage: Not all students have equal access to resources and support outside of school. Homework assignments often assume that students have access to necessary materials, technology, and parental guidance. However, many students come from disadvantaged backgrounds where these resources may be limited. Consequently, assigning homework can exacerbate existing educational inequalities and place certain students at a disadvantage.
4. Limited Family Time and Burnout: Homework assignments can encroach upon precious family time, leaving students and their families with little opportunity to engage in meaningful interactions and activities outside of academics. This can strain family relationships and hinder the development of a healthy work-life balance. Moreover, prolonged exposure to excessive homework can lead to burnout, reducing students' motivation and enthusiasm for learning.
5. Varied Learning Styles and Autonomy: Every student has a unique learning style and pace. Homework assignments often follow a one-size-fits-all approach, disregarding the individual needs and preferences of students. By eliminating homework, educators can focus on creating diverse in-class activities that cater to different learning styles, allowing students to engage actively and develop autonomy in their learning process.

Conclusion: The case against giving school kids homework centers around promoting a well-rounded education, prioritizing student well-being and mental health, addressing educational inequalities, and fostering a healthy work-life balance. By reevaluating the necessity and impact of homework, educators can explore alternative methods that better suit the diverse needs of students, allowing them to thrive academically while also enjoying a fulfilling childhood experience.

I use Reddit to find random stuff that sparks my curiosity, but today I decided to take a shot and post something for once! So here are a few things about me:

• I'm Latin guy who likes to experiment in the kitchen trying out new recipes from different countries.
  
• I like waking up early for a good hike.
  

-I recently started running again and I am hitting 5km daily. (I prefer swimming, but haven't found a good spot in my current living place)
-Very interested in design thinking and behavioral psychology (not an expert in either area though)
What I'm looking for?
Well, someone that I can learn from. Someone curious to try new things, and comfortable/confident enough to know how to laugh at their own selves. I connect with personality more than physical aspect, but I do prefer someone that takes care of their health
If I sparked your interest and you are down for a good chat or trying to discover something new hit me up!

hi i (16F) was recently diagnosed with mild gastritis (stomach lining inflammation) which includes a ton of fun symptoms like terrible heartburn and acid reflux. so not technically GERD but adjacent and same general symptoms. weirdly one of the worst or at least most persistent parts of this has been the insane amount of mucus in my throat and saliva in my mouth. its drives me insane having to swallow it all down every 5 seconds and both get worse after i eat too. so far ive found zero tips on google about how to deal with this. does anyone here have experience in getting rid of it or at least getting some relief for a bit?

I'm seeing a metric ass ton of posts about people feeling harried, hassled, hindered, ogled, viewed, judged, scorned, tsked, spied upon, looked down on, asked to move on, etc., all because they live in their car. It's all very stressful, and I get that.
I've been living in my vehicle full-time for the past 9 months, part-time before that, and I have to say this sentiment is 180 degrees counter to my experience. I've never before had the pleasure of as much privacy or anonymity, if I choose it. The US is still mostly open space; second to that, it's places for cars to park. In a parking lot full of cars, no one cares or notices me or mine.
The country is lousy with places to sleep in your vehicle. Last night I drifted off dreamfully at the back of a deserted Cracker Barrel, lulled by the din of the interstate. There was a Microtel next door whose own parking lot was my backup plan. The night before, I parked for the night in front of a stranger's house in a leafy mid century subdivision, right across the street from the gym where I showered the next morning. I've slept in neighborhoods, industrial quarters, next to parks, along the beach, cheap campgrounds, BLM land, unmarked turnouts, Walmarts, hotel lots, hospitals.
I do everything in my vehicle that I would do anywhere else. I crouch, whip out the piss jug, and have a slash. I don't even bother putting up shades. No one sees, and no one cares. I change clothes, I meditate, I read, I wank, I sleep.
I know there is wide disparity in circumstances among urban car dwellers. I am probably better off than most for living this way by choice and not necessity. I work remotely, and as an independent contractor. Still I think what I've experienced is attainable for almost anyone living like this. The number one thing that makes this possible, in my opinion and experience, is that my vehicle is a minivan and not a sedan. Even a crossover, SUV, wagon would work the same. Any vehicle you can take the back or middle seats out of or fold down to make a bed and have a place to sit. Having a place to sit and lie down unseen is the entirety of the game. Without that, you're exposed. With it, you're golden.
I fully appreciate that not everyone has access to a van or similar vehicle. I would just like to point out that you can likely get one for not much more than what a sedan costs; and the benefits of having "living space" in your "car home" are well worth an extra $1-2k. I bought mine, a 15-year-old minivan in good shape, for under $5k. I paid some out of pocket and took out a small loan with my credit union for the rest.
Shit. I'm not trying to gloat. This is just what's worked for me, and I encourage anyone else who wants to car-dwell to van-dwell.
Now I'm off to get all my spots blown up and my personal space violated, for having written this.

This is a satire about a collection of heroes with various special powers, some of them fairly mundane. Such as the ability to prevent register receipts from fading.
It all takes place in what I call the CMU - Corporate Men Universe. Their philosophy is about protecting Capitalism, Colonialism, Objectivism and the American Way
The first character I am working on is Ms. Office.
Paula Posey one day injures herself with an irradiated stapler and discovers she has acquired the ability to control office supplies.
I am still working on the rest of her backstory.
Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated.

I almost counted the number of duck faces Morgan pulls during this video, but I think my brain would explode, but I did count hair touches! Let’s get into it.
0:15 – OMG this video is UnIqUe and SpEciAL, guys
0:25 – prayer for Sky Daddy to use their words in the white – I mean, RIGHT way, ft. Morgan’s SUPER weird “Ay-MAYn” at the end
0:57 – Youtube influencer is not an EASY profession; this “heat” we’re taking is affecting our BRAND DEALS (Morgan hair touch #1)
1:17 – shameless Patreon plug
1:30 – Morgan has prepared a monologue which Paul interrupts before she even begins. Sterilized statement about how they definitely believe people were hurt by the IBLP and that those people deserve to heal. “We believe that anyone who tries to use the word of God to manipulate and control people will be held accountable, maybe in this lifetime, but most certainly in the next lifetime.” “These documentaries serve a purpose” but they aren’t made by Christians (how can they even TELL that?), so they are Bad. “They don’t allow the gospel to be shared.” These kinds of documentaries push the deconstruction of Christianity as the only option, obviously. (Total hair touches during this section: 8.)
4:53 – “Look at my wife, she can read! Isn’t she cute?” – Paul, probably (Morgan looks so thrilled to have been allowed to speak for that long) (2 hair touches during his praise)
5:10 – Our patrons (all eleven of them!) wanted all the deets so that’s why we’re doing this! Not for the attention, you see!
5:30 – Morgan: “You may not care at all, which makes me wonder why are you even on this video.” For science, Morgan! For science! I need to know how many times one human can touch their hair in 45 minutes!
5:45 – Paul’s like, “these documentaries aren’t factual! These people are in it for the money! They’re trying to make entertaining content, so you’ll watch and give them more money!” Me: super side eye emoji (Hair touch count up to now: 12)
Guys guess what! Integrity wasn’t a leading goal for the film makers! They’re not like US!!! WE definitely wouldn’t do something just for money because we’re GOOD CHRISTIANS.
6:50 – They were super cautious going into this, just so that we all know. There were back and forths! “We knew someone who went on the Bachelorette! But don’t watch it or anything, for sure.” “We’ve seen how they twist situations to villanize ppl on these shows – especially Christians for SURE – and we told them we don’t WANT that mess.” “They told us they wouldn’t do that and we believed them, guys.” (Morgan hair touches during this section: only 1!)
8:20 – AgEnDa-DriVeN DoCuMeNtArY
9:00 – Fucking finally they’re getting to the story. They say they were reached out to about a year ago and ignored it, then were kind of hounded into it. It was pitched to them as a docuseries about how reality TV has affected online Christian influencers. They were cautious but thought it could be “cool” and “neat.” The production team said it was going to be like the “LuLaRich” docuseries, which Morgan really enjoyed. (Morgan touched her hair TWELVE times in two and a half minutes. Total now: 25)
11:30 – Side note: I’ve never watched a full video of theirs before. Does Paul always constantly correct Morgan or is this a special case for their special video? Every time he does it, she looks away from him and I can literally SEE her resetting and shoving any irritation down to deal with later (or never, ya know).
Also, they’re pissed bc in LuLaRich, there were all sides to the story, whereas in SHP there were not, but guess what Porgan – if you watch to the end of the final episode, it says the production team reached out to other parties and they declined to appear on the series. They were given an opportunity and turned it down, so…
12:00 – WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE IBLP WAS, YOU GUYS! WAAAH
(I think I missed a hair touch but I WILL NOT rewind this shit AGAIN)
12:45 – Paul’s family “touched the surface” of IBLP, but it was “very very little.” His parents thought most of it was “too extreme.” (2 hair touches)
13:00 – They made sure there wasn’t an NDA “PrAiSe GoD.” (1 hair touch)
13:45 – Paul demonstrates he has no idea how long pregnancy lasts – “You were what, 12 months pregnant at the time?” “12 WEEKS, idiot” (she didn’t say idiot but I WISH she had)
14:15 – But they TREATED us so WELL when they interviewed us!?!?!? They were SO NICE!?!?
14:34 – “It’s not like we’re idiots!” Au contraire, my Polio
15:00 – Evidently they talked about “heavy, cultural topics” during the interview but it was all cut. Paul confesses there’s “some overlap” between what they believe and what the IBLP teaches. The production team told them if they had merch or a book, to release it alongside the docuseries bc “you guys are about to blow up.” (total hair touches: 29 so far)
16:43 – Watching the docuseries: We may have made an oopsie. (Porgan, basically) Also, Morgan didn’t know what the phrase “bad actors should be exposed” meant. Wtf.
17:15 – Bad ppl should get in trouble, victims should be heard. “Where do we fit in this docuseries? Oh wait…” (3 more hair touches)
18:00 – We made a video condemning Josh Duggar! Doesn’t anybody remember that??? (2 hair touches)
19:15 – I will not say that Morgan is self-medicating in any way, but if she HAD been, it would have kicked in about now. She slurs her way through “differentiation” and it’s truly painful to watch. Also neither of them has heard of the Joshua Generation, but I’m assuming it’s only bc Luca isn’t old enough for them to start receiving emails and pamphlets about it yet. I got several when my kids were about eight and nine-ish. (There was a BIG hair touch here, so I’m counting it as two; sue me)
20:15 – “It was NOT a 360 view! It was a 180 view – which Paul accidentally wrote – “ “Ha, yeah. Right.” Did NOT look pleased about that comment from Morgan and he steamrolled through it. Morgan says the ppl who have deconstructed HATE faith, God, anyone who believes, religion – Paul says that’s sure what it felt like to him. Also guys, did you know that we are out to DESTROY people like them? I didn’t even know bc I’m having too much fun watching them destroy themselves.
21:15 – “Experts” in BIG finger quotations that were interviewed who are no longer Christians are STRUGGLING in life – I’m sure it’s not because they were abused or anything; it’s definitely the WORLD, Paul. For sure. (1 hair touch – total so far: 35)
22:02 – Jen gets a shoutout!
22:25 – We are the “fringe on the other side,” guys! Thinking about making that my new flair fr.
22:45 – More slurring from Morgan – don’t worry, she’s not mad! She stands by everything she said in all the clips they played. She’s only mad bc they LIED to them about what they were using their soundbites for. (4 hair touches)
23:32 – I’m going to die before this video ends. Someone send help.
23:50 – The other people interviewed for the series seem hurt, confused, struggling in their lives. (Not the vibe I got, but go off I guess)
24:00 – OMG you guys, there's a reddit hate group of TROLLS that hate Christians! We should definitely stay away from THAT place omg!!!
The documentary had an AgEnDa. Paul pauses here for a DEEP SIGH.
24:45 – Morgan says the documentary is saying that anyone who thinks homeschooling, order of leadership, going to church is a good thing is an extremist, terrible, fringe, awful. IBLP took a little piece of the Bible and ran with it (sound familiar? Bueller? Anyone?). (4 hair touches)
25:35 – They aren’t like that, so don’t worry! Figure it out on your own, using your own Bible! They aren’t perfect at all and don’t pretend to be! (if I roll my eyes any harder, they will get stuck in the back of my head)
26:23 – Pissed bc in the series, they are presented as the Joshua Generation, they spend a moment comparing the Joshua Generation to the left – liberal colleges, LGBTQ movement, pro- choice movement, etc. Reiterate they don’t know what the Joshua Generation is, tho. Leftists are trying to take over the world, apparently. “Gaslighting” and “hogwash” were said in this rant. (only one hair touch! Total so far – 44)
29:ish – Morgan promotes Jinger’s book, Paul corrects her word choice (AGAIN, Jesus). The GOSPEL is in that book, but not in this docuseries! Spoiler: Jinger did it right bc she “disentangled” not “deconstructed,” and got right with the word of GAWD. (1 hair touch)
30:45 – “If you haven’t deconstructed, you’re part of the problem,” Paul thinks the docuseries is saying. Morgan wonders if Jill was roped into this without knowing fully what she was going to be part of bc in case you guys haven’t picked up on it yet, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL AND MORGAN. Paul thinks she knew what she was getting into. Morgan thinks Jill looks like she’s still working through things with her family. Morgan says Jim Bob did some “messed up things to his children…Disgusting…money hungry…needs to be held accountable.” Morgan then mentions that she hasn’t finished Jinger’s book yet, so she’s definitely an expert. (2 hair touches)
33:00 – Morgan thinks it’s “interesting” that Jinger and Jill view their upbringing differently. Weird how people aren’t all the same! (2 bonus hair touches!)
33:30 – Paul said the docuseries made him start to look at the way he was raised to see if maybe there was anything fishy about it, so that’s positive, right?
34:00 – Oh, wait. Should have known better. He comes out of that experience with, welllllll Christians SHOULD be seen as extreme in some ways – the Bible talks about Christians being hated by the world, stench in the nostrils of unbelievers – so it’s totally fine, you guys. He’s embracing extremism now. “Wear it proudly! Pride month, baby!” Brb. Gotta go vomit.
34:45 – Paul begins talking about how he was just casually reading today in Acts – he's definitely not a Pharisee or anything. Side note: if he says “SoUrCeS” one more time with BIG air quotes, I will hit something. Paul’s takeaway from the story he just read today in the book of Acts (where the apostle Paul says he counts his life as forfeit) is that the sources in the docuseries (whom he doesn’t respect, SHOCKER) would tell him he should just be happy and stop being an extremist! Stop being an IDIOT, apostle Paul!
35:29 – Morgan says that Christianity in itself is extreme to the world. I’m loving where this is going. /s
She says the world is “self first” and Jesus is “serve first.” I definitely don’t think she understands that they very much put themselves first in everything they do; when was the last time you or Paul actually SERVED anyone else something besides cringey videos, Morgy?
35:50 – Paul says they could come into any strong, good church and make them look like a cult. Huh. Shouldn’t be that easy, my guy. Maybe try making it seem like less of a cult? For PR.
36:12 – Morgan – “Put intense music behind anything and it sounds crazy. Make a girl be like, ‘And then, I had to pee!’” fake crying, big hair touch
Paul – “And THIS church believes THIS about the LGBTQ – I mean, that’s what the Bible says” SHOW me where it says that, Paul. I’ll wait.
“And they believe THIS about women’s rights! Well, we believe that children are valuable in the womb” – just not once they’re out of it, right?
36:35 – They stand behind everything they said in the documentary!
37:00 – They’re going to homeschool poor Luca – shocker
37:12 – big hair touch, weird high-five-amen about not letting anyone else influence their child
37:25 – Paul rejects all that “evolution stuff” and then does this weird bit where he pretends to be meek and mild and say that if he actually cared what ppl think of him, he would act this way and say he believes in evolution to “save face”
38:00 – Morgan’s giggle makes me want to unalive myself
38:19 – Paul reads statement from his phone about how they don’t like being lumped in with super fundamentalists and how IBLP isn’t based on scripture, but man-made laws and wasn’t Gospel-focused. I feel like they’re about to do an altar call
39:05 – oh shit I was almost right – “It’s not works-based, there’s nothing you can do. Christ already did it for you.” “Amen. Amen. AY. Men.” Weird prayer hands by Morgan, who seems more out of it by the second.
39:16 – “Guys, give this video a thumbs up!” Yay, two Duggar-affiliated people followed them on Insta! Morgan does heart-hands about that
40:ish – Morgan encouraging ppl who think they might be in a church that twists the word to go to the BIBLEH for the TROOFS – Paul amen’s like four times. It IS a sermon, complete with scripture! My favorite!
41:ish (I’m tired, don’t judge) – weirdly sped-up talk about how they don’t get many brand deals bc they only put out Christian content (suuuuure THAT'S why, Jan), and Patreon is important! SUPER weird handshake and at the end they say “GO TEAM” and it’s just so cringe I can’t anymore thank goodness it’s over omgggggg
The total hair touch count was FIFTY (50!). You’re welcome.

So I haven’t actually seen this movie. Lol. But i read the Wikipedia on it, and it really resonated with me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Babadook
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So there this entity, a humanoid kind of form with a black top hat and long fingers that comes through a book to torment this kid. His mom at first doesn’t believe that it is real, but she learns soon enough that it is.
The problem with the Babadook is you can’t get rid of it. If you fight it, it gets stronger. If you ignore it, it gets stronger. If you get angry with, yeah it may back down a bit for a while, but it’s there and can grow stronger again. It does, however, respond some to comfort. (Sound familiar?)
So what are they to do.
They live with it.
They put it in a room in the basement and they feed it. When they feed it, they are nice to it and comfort it. It takes the food and retreats into the corner to eat.
So when you think about taking your fear with you on your flight, think of it like the Babadook, think of comforting it and giving it a little kindness. Don’t engage with it, don’t fight it, and don’t completely ignore it. Be nice to it and give it a kind gesture. Watch it retreat to the corner, deflated from any energy from fear that it feeds on and deflated because it is not being wholly ignored and feels the need to rise up.
The Babadook is still there, but it is satisfied and you can carry on with what you were doing, in this case maybe going back to your movie or book while on a flight. If it needs another little pat, oblige it and then carry on again with what you were doing.

i own the world
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My name is Diablo. As far as I know, I am the only cheat used in the game. Unfortunately this game is the most interesting video game I use on a daily basis (I'm showing it in the wrong place). I have 30 players so far. 20 of them were created by other users and 2 of them were created by me.
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My name was written on this boy today.
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Keep console games simple. What I do is use the controller to hold the button and press it to load the copy. Do what makes you feel good. He is here

Lost sorry short, My 3 year old dachshund eats everything in sight. She had obstruction surgery as a puppy, just last month ate a chicken bone. I’ve tried everything and I’m at a loss. The final straw was today she ate part of a corn on the cob she grabbed on a walk, had to go the emergency vet and induced vomiting. I just ordered a muzzle for walks bc I don’t know what to do anymore, how do I introduce her to this and not make her hate walks or me lol

We were so happy and great together. After journaling and doing some self reflecting, I needed to deep dive into where it went wrong. 2 years in, I was just so certain that I wanted him to be mine and in my life forever. Some factors came into play that made me realize that I could be resentful of him for what was out of his control, but a really strong physical atrophy coming in hot later on. I still loved him. We had chemistry, intimacy, and trust. I had been feeling the lack of depth from him for the past year, but given that we were so distracted attending birthdays, weddings and other events, we never had the opportunity to dive in and talk (we didn’t live together but I was over every weekend for 4 years). On Mother’s Day weekend of this year, I had apparently brought up the possibility of us to take a break ( I didn’t go travel with him to see his grandma, for some reason. I had taken 2 weed gummies that night of this phone call. I was shocked to find out from him that I had said something like this to him). I’m not the kind of person to be abrupt but actually talk things through. The next phone call once he got back home resulted in him taking what I said and running with it. He broke up with me. I was in shock and denial. Our mutual friends have been helping me pick up these broken pieces since then. After passing the anger phase, I now see that i neeed to get back to myself and heal my subconscious mind and also need to work on shadow work.
I went to pick up my stuff from his place this past Saturday. I’m glad that it happened this day considering the that this prior weekend would have been so bad, I was so angry and questioning if this relationship was even real.
Picking up my stuff should have taken 25 min or less but it was longer. I was so happy to see him but then got sad when I saw his eyes. They were such sad eyes and it hurt me to see him in pain. We hugged and cried. We had a lovely conversation, we even said it felt like our first date. I was so strong, a continuous thought that kept coming to me was “If we love each other and you are hurting, why don’t we JUST SOLVE THIS and be together again?”. I didn’t say that bc I don’t think it is the right way for us to be together. I love him and don’t care to be dating anyone else right now, I’m focusing on myself and my own spiritual life (I somehow have grown out of the habit). Is it silly to think this? I’m not a professional at breakups (as I’m sure is the case for many), but going back and forth mentally wit not believing it’s real and if it’s I still want to try again?

It asked me where I wanted to go. I put in "Mons, Belgium", because, why not?
It asked for travel dates. I said July 12 to July 27 of this year. Nice 2-week vacation.
It said "Choose your budget." Options were: low, medium, high, and luxury. I chose "low". Though I'll bet Mons, Belgium is a place where you could do "luxury".
It said "Choose your vacation type." Options were "Relaxed" and "Packed". I picked "Packed". (Can you actually picture me relaxing?)
It said "Choose your category." Options were "Romantic", "Adventure", "Touristic", "Party", "Family", "Cultural", "Mixed". I picked "Adventure", though I was tempted by "Party".
It said, "Choose your dietary preference." Options were "Vegan", "Vegetarian", "Pescatarian", "Halal", and "No preference". I picked "No preference". Vacation isn't the time to be picky, right?
Never heard of the word "pescatarian" before but the "fish" icon makes me think it means fish.
Anyway, I clicked "Submit".
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Recommended accommodation: Hotel Lido Mons Centre
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Day 1:
Recommended transport mode: Taxi
Arrive at Brussels Airport and take a taxi to your hotel in Mons. Spend the day exploring the city on foot, visiting the Grand Place, the Belfry, and the SainteWaudru Collegiate Church. For dinner, head to Le Pain Quotidien for some delicious vegetarian options.
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Day 2:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Start your day with a visit to the Mons Memorial Museum to learn about the city's history. Then, take a walk to the Van Gogh House, where the famous artist lived for a short time. For lunch, try some traditional Belgian cuisine at Le Pain Quotidien. In the afternoon, take a stroll through the Parc du WauxHall and enjoy the beautiful scenery. For dinner, head to Le Pain Quotidien for some more vegetarian options.
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Day 3:
Recommended transport mode: Train
Take a train to the nearby city of Tournai and spend the day exploring its beautiful architecture, including the NotreDame Cathedral and the Belfry. For lunch, try some local specialties at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, take the train back to Mons and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 4:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Explore the city's art scene by visiting the BAM Beaux-Arts Mons museum and the Mundaneum, a museum dedicated to the history of information and communication. For lunch, try some delicious vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Theatre Royal de Mons for a show.
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Day 5:
Recommended transport mode: Bicycle
Rent a bicycle and take a ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding Mons. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and try some traditional Belgian cuisine. In the evening, head back to the city and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 6:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Take a walking tour of the city's many parks and gardens, including the Jardin du Mayeur and the Parc du Beffroi. For lunch, try some vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Grand Place and enjoy a drink at one of the many bars.
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Day 7:
Recommended transport mode: Train
Take a train to the nearby city of Charleroi and spend the day exploring its many museums and galleries. For lunch, try some local specialties at a restaurant in the city. In the evening, take the train back to Mons and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 8:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Explore the city's many churches and cathedrals, including the SainteElisabeth Church and the Saint-Nicolas Church. For lunch, try some vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Theatre Royal de Mons for a show.
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Day 9:
Recommended transport mode: Bicycle
Rent a bicycle and take a ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding Mons. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and try some traditional Belgian cuisine. In the evening, head back to the city and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 10:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Take a walking tour of the city's many museums and galleries, including the Musée François Duesberg and the Musée du Doudou. For lunch, try some vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Grand Place and enjoy a drink at one of the many bars.
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Day 11:
Recommended transport mode: Train
Take a train to the nearby city of Namur and spend the day exploring its many castles and fortresses. For lunch, try some local specialties at a restaurant in the city. In the evening, take the train back to Mons and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 12:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Explore the city's many parks and gardens, including the Jardin du Mayeur and the Parc du Beffroi. For lunch, try some vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Theatre Royal de Mons for a show.
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Day 13:
Recommended transport mode: Bicycle
Rent a bicycle and take a ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding Mons. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and try some traditional Belgian cuisine. In the evening, head back to the city and enjoy dinner at Le Pain Quotidien.
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Day 14:
Recommended transport mode: Walking
Take a walking tour of the city's many churches and cathedrals, including the SainteElisabeth Church and the Saint-Nicolas Church. For lunch, try some vegetarian options at Le Pain Quotidien. In the evening, head to the Grand Place and enjoy a drink at one of the many bars.
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Day 15:
Recommended transport mode: Taxi
Take a taxi to
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Weirdly, it cut off that last entry. I assume back to the airport for the flight back.
Also weirdly, it thinks I want to eat at Le Pain Quotidien every day. Which actually means "The Daily Bread" in French. The bread must be just ridiculously awesome?
It does look like the trip ought to be rather low cost, with lots of walking and biking and the occasional train. Some of the attractions look like they're low-cost, like biking in nature, visiting churches and parks and gardens. Some might be expensive like art galleries. Most of the cost, though, probably just goes to getting a hotel that is so close to the center of the city. I suppose it's worth it to get so much within walking distance.
No idea how this system works. I'm guessing it's using a generative AI model, but what it generates is based on a database of destinations and attractions and is shoe-horned into the format of a trip plan. Wonder if they trained a model from scratch or fine-tuned a model from somewhere else.
https://geniustrip.ai/

We recently bought a house in Brooklyn, NY (zone 7B) and next to the garage is a 2’x3’ patch of soil where an overgrown rose bush used to be. We had to dig it out for fear of the kids getting hurt on it when running around in the yard. I’d love to plant something else in its place as the patch is barren at this point and just growing weeds. It’s in a very sunny spot that gets about 10+ hours of direct sunlight. The soil is terrible though - thick, sticky clay. I’m planning to dig out about 2 feet of it and then mix in store bought humus and compost and then amend it annually with compost I can make around the garden.
Would love any recommendations for flowering shrubs or small flowering trees that can help bring pollinators to the garden.
Thanks!!

I (18F) am getting the botox treatment in about two to three weeks. I was feeling good about it, but I did have the slightest worry that it would not fix my nausea/vomiting symptoms, and I feel extremely stuck.
Two nights ago, after a lucky year of not doing so, I woke up in the middle of the night and vomited. I’m completely unsure of why, but this symptom has been recurring, usually every six months or so, for about two years, although never before then, strangely, even though I’ve had the gurgles, bloating, and inability to burp for as long as I can remember. It almost always occurs either when I wake up in the middle of the night or very late at night. I feel really lost, as I don’t have heartburn, a hoarse voice, or stomach pain like most with GERD do. I even sleep on an incline, but that doesn’t seem to help. I just get extremely nauseous, bloated, and can feel my stomach rolling with queasiness instead. I often find it’s my throat or my body that feels more sick than my stomach does, and I always puke when I have very little food left in my stomach. Then, for a week or two where I’ll have one of these “flare-ups,” I won’t be able to eat anything without feeling nauseous. I’ll be full after a quarter of what I can usually eat, and moving around too much makes it worse. I’ll have the gurgles constantly, even on an empty stomach. Sometimes, I’ll even puke on and off for the week.
I’m so utterly confused. Before these episodes, I was clearly only suffering from RCPD, but now, it feels as if there’s something different occurring along with it. I feel discouraged and afraid the Botox won’t fix the most distressing symptom.
I also had an endoscopy with a biopsy done a few months ago, and the doctors found nothing.
This is more of a rant than anything, but no one seems to share my symptoms no matter how much I search online. I just wanted to vent. Thank you all for listening, and wishing you the best of luck in getting better and/or getting treatment for RCPD.