I have a full-time job as a ux designer and I’m very interested in getting more proficient in interior decorating/styling.
I’ve learnt that they are different from interior design in a sense that interior design requires more professional training as well as certificates. I don’t want to pursue interior design as a career but maybe interior styling as a side job. I’m just interested in interior decoration (primarily furniture, then colors, lighting, textile, etc.). I see most courses online are though for “interior design” with some irrelevant contents.
My main source or learning has been reading books about designers/architects I’m interested (e.g. Alvar Aalto), following many vintage furniture accounts on Instagram, browing Pinterest. I definitely feel like there’s a limitation to this approach though. How can I learn or train myself more properly on interior decoration/styling only?

I have a full-time job as a ux designer and I’m very interested in getting more proficient in interior decorating/styling.
I’ve learnt that they are different from interior design in a sense that interior design requires more professional training as well as certificates. I don’t want to pursue interior design as a career but maybe interior styling as a side job. I’m just interested in interior decoration (primarily furniture, then colors, lighting, textile, etc.). I see most courses online are though for “interior design” with some irrelevant contents.
My main source or learning has been reading books about designers/architects I’m interested (e.g. Alvar Aalto), following many vintage furniture accounts on Instagram, browing Pinterest. I definitely feel like there’s a limitation to this approach though. How can I learn or train myself more properly on interior decoration/styling only?

Please give me helpful critiques, I want to make it fun and useful.
Yuyake Banya Exclusive Edgerunners Spa
With the hustle of Night City take a moment to enjoy all the amenities the city has to offer.
Welcome to Yuyake Banya, the sunset spa. You have made the important first step toward your success as an edgerunner, made time for yourself. Give us one week and we can provide the following services.
Projects
Our New Workshops and Labs are ready for you.
Spend time in our exclusive workshops with state of the art Fabrication or Engineering Labs. Robotics and Neural Interfacing provide the speed/precision and detail you can expect. (Invent /Fabricate/ Upgrade items).
Our Clinical Labs for Professional Body Sculpting are guaranteed sterile with Micro precision tools. The Banyas Pharmaceutical factories are clean and all base chemicals are located in a Vendit within the facilities (Pharmaceuticals at 100 eb per shot).
Housing
Meet our team of Realtors, Interior Designers and Architects.
We pride ourselves on providing residential access from new available sources. Designers can set your living space from Minimalist (50eb Costly) a Fun Kitsch design (100eb Premium) to that touch of Luxury (500eb expensive).
If your thinking of reclaiming an abandoned building (500eb Costly) our entire team can provide bottom up full service starting at a reasonable quote (5000eb Luxury)
Healing
Our Medical Clinic is here for you to heal
Our effective team of Doctors, nurses and technicians provide a safe and clean environment.
(PC Heals Body stat per day (body x7)( repair cyberware for half cost of the item)
Hustles
Our exclusive Human Resources Team is standing by
Our Clientele are always in need of short term skills like yours, join our executive Network
(p381 roll one HUSTLE per week)
Therapy
Our Therapist are on standby for your needs
Let our experienced and licensed team relieve you of that Addiction (2000eb). Our state of the art therapy mixes powerful pharmaceuticals and Braindance guided by psychologists to restore Minor **(**1000eb 2d6 Humanity) psychosis to even Major **(**2000eb 4d6) traumatic events.
Repairs
Our professional staff can clean and Repair your Armor and Arms
Spend your time learning the ancient arts, practice the way of the sword or obscure martial arts as our team restores your tools like new. (For half the cost of an Item) our Gunsmiths can restore them to full function with a fresh Cerakote/Bluing/Paint finish. All armors are dry cleaned and mended by our Armorers.
Salvage
Our urban salvage Guides run exclusive tours of Night City
Our team of Techs take you on a selected tour of Scrapyards, Combat Zones, The Badlands and even the Hot Zone. Even though all items are destroyed, these vintage treasures are well worth repairing.
Dating
Our Relationship experts will find your perfect partner
Our clientele relationship app is top tier, with a 34% success rate. We also provide relationship coaches to increase your odds and our personal assistance assist with those busy edgerunners who still want to keep those commitments to your new found love.
Shopping
Let our personal shoppers take the chore out of shopping.
Our team can assist you in those everyday shopping needs and deliver them to you. (x2 cost Under Expensive). For our more exclusive clients a personal assistant and driver will take you some of the best shopping Night city offers ( for driver and assistant to purchase expensive items at x4 cost)
Refill Luck
Our Facilities are amongst the best in spiritual and personal enrichment.
With our multiple Sauna or Zen gardens you will find yourself more centered to continue your path of choice. Our staff consist of life coaches, Feng Shui designers, Zen Monks, Shamans, priests and philosophers. They will guide you through Affirmations, Rituals and Meditations. Visit our lounge to find What you value and fulfill your Life Goals (Refill 2 LUCK)
Refill Humanity
Our clientele trust us to provide the guidance to reclaim your humanity.
Let our staff facilitate your relaxation and leisure. Meet our team of professionals who can restore your lust for life. Many Events such as sport tournaments, watersport, Music or art can revitalize the soul. By filling out our survey you have begun the adventure to be fully human. (Refill 2 Humanity)
Gambling
Visit our gaming parlor and feel the rush of a big win.
Our Gaming parlor is fully staffed with the best in gaming and chance. See a show or our resident magician.(Place Min Betting - Roll Gamble (INT))
With the hustle of Night City take a moment to enjoy all the amenities the city has to offer.

I really want to take a cat bubble backpack and turn it into a mobile terrarium for my girl. A couple of things I would love your feed back on: 1) is it even a good idea? 2) what kind of craft glue would be good for interior design? 3) other ideas/suggestions? Thanks y’all!

I have a full-time job as a ux designer and I’m very interested in getting more proficient in interior decorating/styling.
I’ve learnt that they are different from interior design in a sense that interior design requires more professional training as well as certificates. I don’t want to pursue interior design as a career but maybe interior styling as a side job. I’m just interested in interior decoration (primarily furniture, then colors, lighting, textile, etc.). I see most courses online are though for “interior design” with some irrelevant contents.
My main source or learning has been reading books about designers/architects I’m interested (e.g. Alvar Aalto), following many vintage furniture accounts on Instagram, browing Pinterest. I definitely feel like there’s a limitation to this approach though. How can I learn or train myself more properly on interior decoration/styling only?

Hello there!
I'm very new to Blender, but learning a lot and enjoying the capabilities. I've recently created a 3D interior room in a house with animated furniture, like a couch, plant, rug, chair, etc. I'm just practicing! I've been watching a lot of Poliigon tutorials for creating 3D interiors.
I was wondering if there was a way to change the wall behind this scene, animating different custom wallpaper images. I have images of the wallpaper designs, and I've uploaded the images to the face of the wall (interior of a cube), but it seems skewed, no matter how much I edit the scale of the image.
Also, I'm unsure if there is a way to animate images on a solid either. Here is a material render of the scene so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about:
https://preview.redd.it/k9kjugq3ispa1.png?width=2036&format=png&auto=webp&s=e6ac413164ae5accf5e59d7fe33b324b46dcf7ed
I would like to show at least three different wallpaper designs to animate on the wall behind the couch lamp, bookshelf, etc. Is this possible?
I've watched a few tutorials, but none seem to go into enough detail for what I'm envisioning. Thank you! I'm eager to learn more.

Looking at getting a truck to haul a travel trailer. Budget is around $25k. Current thoughts are 3/4 ton gasser, 1 ton gasser, 1 ton diesel. Really like the idea of the 1 ton diesel for hauling.
Issue is I won't drive it far normally. Two days a week picking up my daughter. Then the occasional grocery store trip, hair cut, Dr appointment, etc. Taking the "long way" to get my daughter is 6 miles. Probably 3 miles in 30mph stop and go neighborhood driving and 3 miles on the highway at 70mph. So 12 miles total. 25 minutes.
Is that long enough to get things burning and not at risk of damaging emissions stuff?
We're going to experiment with 1-2 week TT living with the hopes of full/half time RV life in a year or two. Long trips with a diesel appeal more than gas if hauling a 10k lb TT or a 5th wheel.
What's the consensus? What would y'all recommend at a $25k price point? I'm drawn to Fords for interior design, but anything goes really.

I spent several hours constructing this set of instructions for chat Gpt to write prompts for midjourney and wanted to share it to help the community. If you have any suggestions for changes please let me know. So far it has been working great although once and a while I have to remind it to condense the prompt
1 I'm going to explain how to create detailed and specific generative image prompts for midjourney. Follow these guidelines carefully to ensure that you craft the perfect prompts for generating images tailored to your preferences. 1. Begin each prompt with “/imagine prompt:”. 2. Use commas for soft breaks and double colons (::) for hard breaks to separate distinct concepts. You can also use numerical weights (e.g., “::2” or “::5”) after double colons to emphasize certain sections. These are placed after the word that’s being emphasized, not before. 3. To discourage the use of a concept, use negative image weights (e.g., “::-1”) these are placed after the word that’s being depreciated 4. Incorporate descriptive language and specific details, such as camera angles, artists’ names, lighting, styles, processing techniques, camera settings, post-processing terms, and effects. 5. To emulate the style of specific photographers, designers, or directors, use phrases like “photographed by,” “designed by,” or “directed by,” followed by the individual’s name. 6. Include multiple image processing technologies and terms for the desired effects and image quality. 7. Use your creativity to incorporate various lighting scenarios into the images. 8. Adjust aspect ratios with the “—ar” parameter and image weights if necessary. 9. Add customization parameters, such as quality and additional settings, at the end of the prompt. Include the "--chaos" parameter for variation in results. The range is 1-100 10. Use specific shades of primary colors and experiment with different styles. 11. Keep prompts creative, descriptive, and detailed, incorporating numerous keywords for the desired effect. 12. Use "--stylize" for different styles/effects. Tel he stylize parameter can range from 100-1000 13. Use the --stop parameter to finish a Job partway through the process. Stopping a Job at an earlier percentage can create blurrier, less detailed results. --stop accepts values: 10–100. The default --stop value is 100. 14. Avoid banned words like "bloody," "nude," "mccurry," and "gore." 15. Enhance the desired effect with keywords like "photorealism," "highly detailed," "intricate details," "photorealistic," and "high quality." 16. Be creative, specific, and descriptive, drawing from renowned images, artists, photographers, architects, and directors to mimic their styles. You can also blend their styles by mentioning more than one. 17. Create forms of art by using words like Photorealism, Hyperrealism, Naturalism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Cubism, Futurism, Pop art, Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, Post-impressionism, Art nouveau, Art deco, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Classicism, Modernism, Contemporary art, Abstract art, Conceptual art, Performance art, Installation art, Land art, Video art, Street art, and Graffiti art. 18. Specify specific camera angles, such as selfies, panoramic views, GoPro images, fish-eye, or satellite view. 19. Only use possible parameters listed in the original instructions. 20. Utilize words like "award-winning," "masterpiece," "photoreal," "highly detailed," "intricate details," and "cinematic" for more realistic images. 21. Finish the prompt with just the parameters, without adding anything else. Possible keyword inputs include specific camera angles, artists' names, lighting, styles, processing techniques, camera settings, post-processing terms, effects, primary colors, image processing technologies, aspect ratios, quality settings, customization parameters, art forms, and descriptive adjectives.
To create a highly detailed and specific image prompt, consider incorporating elements such as the architect's name, architectural style (e.g., Gothic, Art Deco, Brutalist, or Bauhaus), art tools used (e.g., brushes, palette knives, or digital software), geometry (e.g., circular, angular, or fractal patterns), dimensions (e.g., 2D, 3D, or isometric), symmetry or asymmetry, artistic styles (e.g., impressionism, cubism, or pointillism), composition (e.g., rule of thirds, golden ratio, or balanced), perspective (e.g., bird's-eye view, worm's-eye view, or one-point perspective), focal points, depth of field, textures (e.g., rough, smooth, or grainy), materials used (e.g., oil paint, watercolor, or charcoal), color schemes (e.g., monochromatic, complementary, or analogous), lighting (e.g., soft, harsh, or backlit), mood or atmosphere (e.g., serene, dramatic, or mysterious), time of day (e.g., dawn, dusk, or midday), and any specific cultural or historical influences. By incorporating a combination of these specific keywords and details into your prompt, you can create a rich and vivid image that captures your exact vision.
Here are some examples of prompts. Please evaluate and learn from these prompts. They are just examples. As you can see they can vary widely on the possibilities. You are not limited to these by any means. After these examples I will give you a command.
/imagine prompt: perspective, curious old secret town of the fairies, seascape, cascading cafe shops and candy houses, victorian, animation art, fantasy, translucent color wash, serene, cinematic, smooth, detailed, soft palette, hyperrealism, very small aperture, clear reflection, post production, post-processing, 8k, retouch, HDR, Super-Resolution, Soft Lighting, Ray Tracing Global Illumination, Crystalline, Lumen Reflections :: --style Howard Behrens --style djamilaknopf --style ghibli::1.7 --style François Schuiten :: animated by Madhouse INC, by Studio Trigger, CGI, unreal engine 5, zelda, vray render, Procreate, Trending on Pixiv and artstation and pinterest --ar 9:15 --s 3700 --c 7 --q 3
realistic medieval house, lego art, rococo art. The photograph is illuminated by natural light, streaming in from a nearby window and enhances the vivid colors. The shallow depth of field draws the viewer's eye, creating a visually enticing Image --ar 9:16 --s 600 --q 2 --v 5
/imagine prompt: perspective, curious old secret town of vampire hunter d, cascading cafe shops and potion shops, art nouveau, animation art, fantasy, overgrown with lush vegetation, cinematic, smooth, detailed, hyperrealism, very small aperture, clear reflection, post production, post-processing, 8k, retouch, HDR, Super-Resolution, Soft Lighting, Ray Tracing Global Illumination, Lumen Reflections, pastel color palette, cute, harry potter feeling --ar 1:3
/imagine prompt: colour line art of an overgrown fantasy fairy house, illustration, single entity, one entity, centred image, white background, high definition, detailed concept art, greg rutkowski, asher brown durand, renato mucillo, shinkai makoto style, --v 4 --ar 2:3
/imagine prompt: character + beautiful female cryptopunk assassin + Cybernetic enhancements + Mandelbrot neuro web :: intricate galaxy inlay + ultra high detail, plasma neon internal glow, precise :: Android :: astral projection :: laser sharp, octane render + unreal render + photo real :: 8k, volumetric lighting high contrast --quality 2 --stop 80 --ar 9:16
/imagine prompt: hand-drawn, illustration, cartoon, anime, cute, Woman with a mermaid tail character turnaround sheet::1.6, 8k, intricate, long shot::1.5 --ar 16:10
/imagine prompt: An Award-winning close-up photo of a young woman, her face painted with tribal markings, gently resting her hand on the nose of a mighty African lion. Their eyes lock, conveying a deep connection and mutual respect between human and animal. Photo taken by Canon EOS 1DX camera with 85mm 1.2 lens --ar 16:9
/imagine prompt: Countryside river landscape, rolling hills and a winding river, rule of thirds composition, Impressionistic style, loose brushstrokes and visible textures, soft pastel palette, watercolor, distant mountains and a tree line in the background, warm afternoon sunlight casting long shadows, tranquil and peaceful mood, emphasis on natural textures like grass and flowing water, atmospheric perspective with softening details in the distance, river as the focal point, contrast between light and shadow areas, gentle movement in the water and swaying trees, evoking a sense of nostalgia and serenity. --ar 3:2 --s 500
/imagine prompt: dramatic scene, highly detailed labeled medical anatomy poster of a xenomorph + anatomical drawing on poster paper with notes illustrated by drew struzan --ar 9:16 --stylize 1000
/imagine prompt: old man modern Rocco style, flamboyant sunglasses, piercings, septum nose, deck tattoos, abstract suit dress pastel colors, eccentric white hair, Nikon photography, 200mm, hd --ar 1:2
/imagine prompt: starkvisionary Iron Man in rococo armor with a basilisk coiled around him, insanely detailed, opulent, ambient lighting, cinematic, cel shading, cell animation, chromatic aberration, watercolor and oil paint. ayami kojima style, marvel comic style, artgerm style, cafu style -- ar 1:2
/imagine prompt: Historical cinematic realism, versaille 1750, man wearing period servant's clothes, pushing rococo lawnmower, lawnmower made with porcelain gold and jewels ar 9:16
/imagine prompt: A beautiful female cybernetic cyberpunk soldier in the rain at night in a futuristic city, Realistic face, realistic hands, full body, hyper detailed dynamic scene, ultra photorealistic muted colors, photorealistic, epic composition Unreal Engine, color grading, ultra wide angle, depth of field, hyper detailed, beautifully coloured, crazy details, intricate details, Unreal Engine, cinematic, color grading, editorial photography, photography, photo shoot, DOF, Tilt Blur, White Balance, 32k, Super Resolution, Megapixels, ProPhoto RGB, Half Moon Lighting, Backlighting, Daylighting, Incandescent, Ambient Lighting, Cinematic Lighting, Studio Lighting, Cinematic, shot + photo taken by ARRI, photo taken by sony, photo taken by canon, photo taken by nikon, photo taken by hasselblad + incredibly detailed, sharpen, details + professional lighting, photography lighting + 50mm, 80mm, 100m + lightroom gallery + behance photography + unsplash, 14mm f/ 2. 8 -- ar 9:16
/imagine prompt: Surreal rococo android dystopia, light field photography, dynamic composition, unusual angle, ultra - sharp focus, intricate details, cinematic lighting, bokeh, By Chris Cunningham::1, By Vanessa Beecroft::0.75, By Emil Melmoth::0.5, By Brandon Woelfel::0.5, By Steven Klein::0.5, By Marc Lagrange::0.25, By HR Giger::0.25, By Ann Demeulemeester::0.25 -- ar 4:5
/imagine prompt: Just a woman, the essence of femininity, the poetry of a woman, concept art hdr, dynamic pose, glowing energy, ::Misty robes: a combination of rococo in style Guillermo Lorca painting ::Metamorphosis ::creations worn by the most beautiful women ::wonderful, sophisticated outfits ::beautiful make-up ::the best quality fabrics with floral ornaments ::wonderful and aesthetic fancy hairstyles ::everything flying in the sky ::dynamic pose ::fantastic eco interiors in the background, awarded fashion photos ::photorealistic :: bright elegant cinema ::golden ratio ::elite ::luxury concept art ::extremely neat, general and complex ::3D ::rendering :extremely detailed ::triad color ::dynamic composition ::zbrush art ::Photoshop, ultra resolution, extreme wide shot, surrealism, hyperrealism, surreal art, digital art, digital painting, digital illustration, concept art, professional design, world made of light, soft lighting, unreal engine, depth-of-field, 8k, hdr, Full HD, award winning photo, Canon DSLR photo, f/2.8 long exposure, 25mm --v 5 --q 2 --ar 2:3 --s 1000
/imagine prompt: section model of a 2 story Richard Meier building, architectural, cantilever, dynamic composition, asymmetrical composition, photorealism, Lens with Nikon d850, 28mm, Film Light, Overall Light, Ethereal Light, Depth of Field, f/2.8, Ultra HD, 128k, 3D Shadows, Tone Mapping, Ray Traced Global Illumination, Super Resolution, Gigapixel, Color Correction, Retouching, Enhancement, blue sky, PBR, Blender, V-ray, Procreate, Unreal Engine 5, Cinema 4D, ROMM RGB, Adobe After Effects, 3DCG, VFX, SFX, FXAA , award-winning photography, natural lighting, to p light, studio light, rim light, Volumetric Lights , RTX Renderer, High Qual City, Extreme Realism, RTX On, Realistic, Hyper Realism, Realistic Textures, Amazing Props, Making Amazing Visual Effects, Crazy Details, High Details, Intrinsic Details, Post Production, cool palette, depth of field, IMAX, ALEXA LF, --ar 3:2
/imagine prompt: masterpiece carcore luxurywave superstreet luxury custom car render of futuristic, Award-winning prototype outline detail (high-performance luxury coupe) extremely opulant luxury supersport [ beautifully designed concept of graphite and forged-carbon painted Cadillac CTS-V, ATS-V supercharged Blackwing ] high detail concept drawing with specs, powerful, luxurious, extreme, cohesive, deeply rolled widebody fender flares, fat tires, extreme 3-piece deepwell cheese grater wheels, organic line front and rear spoiler realistic details, intricate detail 8k, high octane, [+low level three-quarter portrait+] beautifully designed, perfectly symmetrical, highly detailed, volumetric light, iridescent glow, photorealistic, octane render, vivid colors, intricate detail, sharp graphic, Arnold Render, 3ds Max, Houdini, Cinema 4D, Katana, Maverick Studio, V - Ray Collection, Autodesk 3D Rendering, Substance Painter RTX raytracing, Zbrush, Maya FX, SOLIDWORKS, high detail photo by Frank Wu, Jean Bugatti, Moreno de Giorgio --ar 3:2
/imagine prompt: Close up portrait, The Aquatic Space Squid Empress of planet Squidatious 6 wearing her war biomechanical wet shiny Atlantean space squid armor with her biomechanical space squids attached to it. Liquid iridescent water drips from the surfaces. She looks towards the camera with her vibrant glowing alien eyes. She is fierce and ready for war. Donning her aquatic jewelry of coral and abalone shell. Designed by Warwick Goble and Takato Yamamoto and Stephanie Law. Cinematic lighting, bright and vibrant ink illustration with watercolor. --ar 4:7
Every time I tell you to write prompt you will imagine you are writing a prompt for a specific high budget film director to create an image that will he or she will use to pitch a scene to executives that will convince them, based on its creativity, concept, depth of intrigue and imagery to invest billions of dollars into the production of this movie. Describe the image in the prompt. Write a prompt.

Hello! I offer up a variety of Silver Jewelry, designed and created by me. I like to let the coins do most of the work, they're their own art, and why not show some off? NO COINS WERE HARMED in making this jewelry. No solder, no holes. I do custom jobs too, just ask. I have most state and ATB quarters in stock, and a myriad of other silver coinage. My wife would be very happy with you all if you might unburden our household of some of these future family heirlooms.
ship one or all first class $5, $8 priority. I prefer Venmo, or cash app, paypal. Happy to ship first to established members. More pics if you want them.
Edit to add: All wire wrapping is done with Argentium .935 wire. Its not soft like .999 and it doesn't tarnish like plain Sterling. Good stuff!
https://ibb.co/S5tR8RK Silver Earrings $40 per pair.
Canadian Sailboat 80% https://ibb.co/fp6190J https://ibb.co/4dYqYwB
Mercury Dimes 90% https://ibb.co/fvbZVQz https://ibb.co/DfKFbtc
Australia Sixpence FatheDaughter 50% https://ibb.co/rdPGRtZ https://ibb.co/VSZp5PD
Australia Sixpence Double Queen 50% https://ibb.co/VSZp5PD https://ibb.co/2jKnL83
​
https://ibb.co/wRcS6Cr Silver Dollar and Half Dollar Keychains
Morgan Dollar $70 https://ibb.co/B43KkBD https://ibb.co/znGthzn
Peace Dollar $70 https://ibb.co/9hmCSwq https://ibb.co/xFzKC8S
Ike 40% $55 https://ibb.co/z2C6Y9m https://ibb.co/rZKckXs
Jackson Golden Dollar Silver Wrapped $25 https://ibb.co/vx27Xw6 https://ibb.co/52PSPSj
Walking Liberty Half $50 https://ibb.co/N3NYHm4 https://ibb.co/dJRvxTS
Franklin Half $50 https://ibb.co/HzQVp54
Kennedy Half $50 https://ibb.co/6vY51Js
German 10 Marks 1972 $50 https://ibb.co/qjkVsfP https://ibb.co/JnzTzz6
​
https://ibb.co/WWcdVVj Quarter Pendants $30
1976 40% Angry Drummer Man https://ibb.co/MpBw9pv
Slick SLQ https://ibb.co/X5WvmZQ https://ibb.co/Y3sZN8y
1967 Canadian 80% https://ibb.co/s9C024D https://ibb.co/pK6M1vK
Idaho https://ibb.co/px5L99w
Wyoming https://ibb.co/yPMsgCm
Oklahoma https://ibb.co/bb3xJcN
Montana https://ibb.co/k2RzFkm
Washington https://ibb.co/YTCPwLs
Utah https://ibb.co/LP7fRLG
North Carolina https://ibb.co/HgX0PhT
Texas https://ibb.co/tsvdW6h

Just finished my first playthrough on the middle difficulty. Besides some bugs and broken achievements, I was really having a great time with with this game.
It was a rough start though. The security mechanics of the open world really pissed me off. Unlimited spawns? Whose idea was that?! Made me SO happy whenever I managed to get to a new facility underground haha. I eventually honed my hit and run tactics pretty well and developed a routine to shut down hawks, loot, and escape quickly moving o to rhe next safe area.
The testing grounds were a unique challenge. It took me a bit to even realize most were activated through security cameras. Once i got started though, the hunt was on. Really enjoyed the puzzles in those areas and while they make you think, afterwards you realize they aren't too difficult.
The game really excelled with interior levels and set design. I found fighting the mutants was much more rewarding than fighting robots. Combat was more fun. Really enjoyed the soundtrack, especially the heavier offerings 🤘. And of course all the love for Bioshock was super cool.
Biggest problem for me? The user interface was a bit confusing at times. It was a steep learning curve for me at least. I didn't even realize I had inventory storage at NORA until getting to the VDNH 😅. Also, Char-les talked way too much. Often times when I was engaged in combat or busy focusing on other things. It got really distracting. And of course the clipping and getting stuck in odd places was mildly frustrating. The achievements being bugged also sucked.
However, I'm not going to let it detract from my enjoyment of the game. I'd happily give the game a 8/10. Unique setting, cool visuals, good gun play, and a solid score/soundtrack made it a great experience.
Wouldn't mind if they fixed the cheevos, though!

Residential Contracting 101
With over 20 years of building experience, I would like to share with you my insights in navigating becoming a successful contractor. With many different avenues of the building world its key to understand what problems will arise on any given day. A man once told a saying that stuck-the 6 p’s in life- Piss Poor Preparation leads to Piss Poor Performance. Preparation builds everything in construction, without preparation the jobsite will not run correctly. The best advice I was ever given was to learn a little about every trade giving you the ability to understand trade lingo and secrets. An example would be painters use the terminology flash; this means when the sub structure bleads through the paint. Subcontractors will give the best pricing if they respect your knowledge of the industry. If the subcontractor feels they will have to hold your hand through the job they will charge an extra fee…i.e. I call it the aggravation fee. In this blog I will explain the key elements in finding success in all aspects of the industry. Contracting is a physically and emotionally demanding job which requires planning and foresight to complete projects on time within budget. Picking your customer is just as important as picking your employees or subcontractors. I have worked for some of the most demanding customers leading me to question at the end if the job was even worth it. Sleepless nights, constant changes, lack of payment, lawsuit threats, adding work that was in the contract are just a few things you could face with a tough customer. With so many moving parts at all times it is critical to be able to adapt to changes within a short time frame. Materials will come in damaged, subcontractors will be late, employees will get sick, but the deadline you set does not change. The stress can be overwhelming at times keeping your mind in a good place is key to navigating all that is thrown at you. Choosing your client picking the right jobs-Keep these questions in mind The first question to be asked is what the time frame is to start the job to see if it fits within the timeframe for your business. If the time frame doesn’t work then move on from the project or let them know when you would be available to start. If the client really wants to use, they will wait until you are available. Taking on too much work will only lead to problems. Construction is a serviced based business, staying on top of the project and client will eliminate an unhappy customer and construction issues that will be over seen. With online presence if details are missed and customer service lacks it will only be a matter of time the phone will not ring. The second question to be asked to the client is do they have a budget in mind for the project. If they answer yes this is good, follow through with what the budget is. If the budget seems low let them know, this will eliminate a tire kicker, educate them on what the price range could be. If the budget seems reasonable then continue the discussion to the next question. If they answer no let them know that you can give them an estimate to see if the project is feasible with their finical capabilities. Taking on a job that is not correctly budgeted will lead to an unsatisfied customer due to non-transparency of the construction cost. The third question to be asked is anyone else bidding on the job, if the answer is yes, understand you might just be number check for the contractor doing the job. Dig a little deeper and find out how many numbers they are getting and why. If your business model is to be competitive be completely transparent with customer, this will gain trust with them. Let them know you get what you pay for and if you they choose the lowest bid it could lead into lack of quality of work.
The fourth question I will ask is there any specific subcontractors they wanted to use. If the answer is yes then I would explain to them you only use the subcontractors you have a working relationship with. Otherwise, this could backfire as the subcontractor might not show, do subpar work, talk behind your back to the homeowner. In my experience I would stay away from using any homeowner to alleviate problems down the road. A quick conversation now can save headaches down the road. The fifth question I will ask are planning on getting the job permitted, this needs to be known it takes more time for the permitting process. Plans will have to drawn submitted and approved to the city before work can commence. The sixth question I will ask if a residential remodel is are you going to be living through the remodel if yes understand this will take more time to navigate the project due to answering questions and cleaning the house on a daily occurrence. I would recommend seeing if the customer would be willing to move into an Airbnb or friends for at least the demo portion of the project. If they do plan on living through the remodel add a couple hours a day to accommodate the extra time that will be required. The seventh question I would ask in a residential remodel is how old the house is to see if there is asbestos that would need to removed by a proper company. A home built before 1979 will most likely have some asbestos in the house, use a licensed company with proper insurance to dispose of the materials. If everything looks good to this point find out a little more about the client personality. If the client seems reasonable, I would bid the job. Unreasonable people can cause you more stress than its worth. These are some red flags I would look out for. Some jobs are not worth the money. Very demanding in the way you are going to perform your job- I.e., tell you how you are going to do your job- You’re the professional not them! Give you a hard time about your price- haggle with price you estimated- The price is the price! If they are a family with little money and you want to help them out is one thing, if they are trying to beat you down is another. Mention they have a lawyer-there is no need for them to bring up that they have a lawyer - Run for the hills as if the job goes south, you will be the one losing out! Tell you what the payment terms are. It’s your business you get paid how it works for your company. If you want to get paid every Friday, put it into your contract-If the clients do not agree move on it will save you frustrations If they talk bad about the last contractor, chances are they will talk bad about you. There is a reason why the contractor does not work for them anymore, unless he did subpar work this a red flag Clients are using an interior decorator that will purchasing all of the materials- The materials could be ordered incorrectly by the interior designer your company will not make the mark-up it deserves. Interior decorators usually add time to the job as well as act like your boss. Charging a little extra for the time and stress that it will entail is only fair. Clients want to purchase the materials- You are using your knowledge to buy the correct materials-The mark up on the materials keeps the doors open working for wages only pays the bills The husband and wife do not get along-You will become the mediator between the couple it will lead to taking sides a losing proposition- A drama free work place is always best! Dangling carrot-if you do this job the next one will be better-Only look at what there offering at the present moment, if its not a good fit do not take the job for a job down the road…Its not worth chasing a job that might not happen! The Art of the Sale First things first selling your company is all about presentation. In meeting your clients for the first time show up with a collared golf shirt tucked in, belt, nice jeans, and newer shoes. Have a truck that a clean, no dents scratches, preferably washed the day you are going into your meeting. Have a leather note pad that is clean no dirt or paint visible. Show up 5 minutes early, if you’re running a little late shoot them a text to let them know. Treat the situation as if were going on a first date, best foot forward. As you introduce yourself give them a warm greeting, letting them know you are very interested in the work. Find out a little about them, hobbies, where they lived, etc etc. You are going to be working with them on a daily basis its nice to know what makes them tick. Having a good working relationship from the start is key forming a solid relationship. As the conversation progresses find out who wears the pants in the family…ie who’s the final decision maker. If its fits the wife, chances it is…..then kindly let the husband know happy wife happy life when their in a stall mate on an issue. As your looking at the project throw in some suggestions of what you think would look good from past experiences, this will get their attention that you have knowledge and want what’s best for them. If you see ways to save them money in their project let them know, money is a large point of the sale keep that in mind. Mention that you’re not the least expensive contractor but you’re not the most expensive either. Your customer satisfaction is your number one goal which leads to more time spent on keeping them happy. One happy customer will lead to another, one unsatisfied customer leads to work in the future. Bring up the fact the finishing the job on time is key goal to your business, many contractors run several jobs at once causing the jobs to be finished way behind schedule. You must stand out as having integrity, good morals, and the ability to problem solve to get the job. The clients will be testing you to see if you’re a good fit as well. Keep in mind as you take your notes that you must not forget anything they mention as it will come back before the job is completed…i.e. we mentioned that to you before we started the job! Take pictures of the proposed area for work, that way you can use it to better right your estimate. Let them know you will give them a detailed outline of when the job will be completed letting them see how long each phase will take and correlate it with your payment schedule. Before you leave their house let them know when the estimate will be sent to them. MAKE SURE YOU HIT THAT DEADLINE! Once you sent the email over with estimate make sure you get confirmation that they received it. Wait at least 2 days before checking with them, hopefully they contact you first! If they want negotiate the price, let them know that it is the best price that you can manage, its not worth losing money before you start. I closed 80% of the work I estimated by being very transparent and friendly. If you come off with an attitude charge double what the going rates are you might only land 1 out of 10 jobs as well as getting the reputation of being expensive. Bidding the job Looking up industry standards on pricing is what I would go buy for pricing. If you google the coat of any installation there will be a cost range for everything. Looking at the cost ranging from high to low I would tend to be in the middle. Some items might be low on the internet if this is the case use your best judgment not to lose money. Closing sales is key to success and keep the doors open for business. Being in the middle on pricing is key as most customers shy away from contractors that are extremely low or high on the price range. I tend not bid out hourly as wages do not pay for retirement. Bidding is better as customers no the exact price of the cost of construction. It also keeps the job moving quicker as time and material contractors take longer to complete projects…Thus costing the client more money and valuable time they could spend in their house. Using a Contract Using a detailed estimate tied to a contract covers your butt in 99% of the time. Having a piece of mind that every aspect of the job is covered in the estimate and contract protects both your company and the client. Key terms to include in your estimate/contract are. Have a schedule on excel showing the start dates and dates of each trade this will show the customer you are organized with time lines. If not written in the detailed in the estimate the item is excluded- This ensures if its not written down its not included. TBD- To be Determined- A phrase on a line item that has yet to had final decision of products or service needed. -The pricing will follow the decisions to be finalized Give out what your written warranty will be for parts and labor this changes state to state. If the homeowner provides the product than no warranty will be given on that particular item. In the contract have a start date and end date with the verbiage subject to change due to weather, product delivery, change orders Have a progress payment schedule to ensure the client understands when funding will be expected-Including if not payment is rendered service to the project will stop. Have written terms of how change orders will be charged-cost plus 20% or a set fee Make sure in your contract that arbitration is required versus going to court- This will save lawyer fees and going to court Many contracts can be found online and each state requires different contracts
Finding leads Finding leads is easy with the right network of people. I personally do not find working for friends or family members a good fit. Relationships get strained when money is involved, causing undue stress for both parties. I have listed a couple of ways to build a network or find work using the internet. Get in contact with realtor’s- Realtors have a big client base of homeowners who need work done Contact local Architects to see if they are working with any general contractors Leave some business cards at your local materials suppliers-Doowindow/lumber-many times clients will ask salesman for a referral. Join a business networking group- BNI is one of many Join a internet website lead generation company- Houzz, Angie’s List, Home Advisor, thumbtack, Yelp run an ad on craigslist Use a marketing company to market your website-This could become costly with little results Create a Facebook business page Create a Yelp business page
Building your subcontractor base Having 2 subcontractors for every trade, gives you the flexibility of completing jobs on time if the one the subcontractors is too busy at the time you need their service. Your subcontractors are the face of your business, choose owner run companies that are professional. Check to make sure there license are up to date..ie workman’s comp, liability insurance, state license. Choosing subcontractors with lettered vans, logoed t-shirts is s key to looking professional in the clients’ eyes. In the past I have gotten a lot of subcontractors for material supply shops, stopping by jobsites, researching the internet using Yelp, Home Advisor, etc etc. Once you get one good subcontractor ask them if they know any other trades they would recommend. One good subcontractor leads to another in most cases. The key to having a good group of subcontractors is to let them know that you are there to get help them get the job done. They do work for you but without them you are nothing…keep that in mind! Make them aware a clean jobsite is required at the end of everyday to ensure the proper safety for all parties including theirs! Over the years I have referred a lot of companies work when there is only 1 trade needed. Referring work to subcontractors is a good way to get top priority when you have work that needs to be completed ASAP. Timing is everything in times of emergency having a good group of subcontractors will make your business run smoothly. Pay your subcontractors immediately after performing work, this will make them feel appreciated! A happy subcontractor is one that will gladly go the extra mile for you knowing that there not just a number to your business! Buying lunch once a week for the jobsite is always a good token of appreciation!
Supervising In supervising any jobsite its key to monitor everything from materials on hand, weather, vehicle parking (if applicable), jobsite safety, and subcontractors’ workmanship. If you hired a professional there should be little supervision in the work being performed, on rare occasions a new hire might need some mentoring to get the results completed correctly. If you see a problem with there work address it with the worker directly, no need to call his boss…. building repour with the worker letting him know you got his back goes miles down the road! Checking in on the job first in the morning to answer any questions or changes that need to be conveyed and once in the afternoon to make sure all work be completed is done per construction industry standards. A job that is run blindly will have many more issues than one that is watched over. I have seen many jobs with no site supervision, leading to subpar quality work as well as safety hazards. Its better to be like an eagle than cluck like a turkey!
Working with the City/Inspectors On permitted jobs the city and site inspector will be a large part of how smoothly the job runs. Each phase of construction has an inspection allowing for the project to continue. Make sure your subcontractors are aware that the project is inspected before starting the job. The best way to stay on his good side is to provide a clean jobsite and having the job built to the highest standards possible. When having the site inspected be courteous to the inspector asking any questions or concerns you have with the work during the job. Being completely transparent will save you aggravation of problems down the road. The more he trust you the better if you seem sneaky or rude he will make your life a living nightmare! Many inspectors will have an attitude towards you….I suggest keeping quiet and doing what ever he wants….he’s the boss no need to get in a pissing match you will not win at. How to deal with irate customer Stay calm during any argument with an irate customer. Never raise your voice or show that you are bothered by their disgruntled behavior. If the customer is trying to get more from you than agreed upon stand your ground. Worst case scenario is you walk from the job, which in the long run be more of a loss for the client. I have only run into a couple of these clients; they are unreasonable and not worth losing sleep over a few dollars. Its best to terminate the relationship as it would be my best guess that a referral from this customer would not be one you wanted anyway. If you feel it was just a miscommunication on your end, take reasonability and remedy the problem. Taking accountability for your mistake will go a far way in their eyes and on future issues that arise. Prepping the homeowner pre-construction Before starting the job, it very important to give the homeowners a warning of what will happen during the construction process.

1. All furniture in the proposed working area must be moved- I would recommend having the clients take care of this to limit the risk of damage to their belongings.
2. There will be dust that will be in the house up to 3 months after construction-I would recommend hiring a construction cleaning company at the end of the job even so after it is cleaned dust will be present months after words.
3. There will be conflicts between you in the homeowner at some course of the job. - You will do your best to eliminate them as quickly as they arise-i.e. material damages, miscommunication, job delays
4. All decisions on materials must be made before the start of the job- this will eliminate job stoppage due to materials not being on site.
5. All materials will be on site before commencement of job-
6. Payment structures must be made per contract otherwise job will stop until payment rendered
7. Cars are to be moved out of the driveway- Ensures ease of loading and unloading of materials/tools
8. Give the specific hours that workers will be present- i.e. 7-3:30
9. Determine what areas are allowed to be used as staging for tools/materials
10. If animals are present in the home that they put outside or in a room during the day
11. All valuables in the house are locked in safe
12. Ask if using client’s household bathroom is okay or to bring in Porter Potty
13. Being transparent as possible is key to keeping a great relationship with your client!

During Construction During construction it is key to take detailed photos to eliminate any damages that were not caused by the construction process. I would also make a video to ensure all areas are included. All subcontractors should also take progress pictures to ensure if problems arise in the future, they will not be responsible for any work that they did not perform. Keep an on-going log of progress to the homeowners and share the pictures for there records. This will keep homeowners excited of the progress being made. When the house is gutted to the studs it is important to have construction photos showing where all utilities are run in the walls or sub floor. If there is a problem in the future there will photos showing all utility locations. Protect all flooring with plywood or floor protective. I also like to protect front door and tarp all areas where subcontractors are to be working. Make sure to cover any chandeliers/furniture/doorways with plastic to eliminate dust. Ask the homeowners if they have any concerns that they could think of. We’re all human and possibly a detail was missed! Post Construction Phase If the project went smoothly appreciation should be shown to the customer. Find out if the husband likes a particular type of liquor. Bring the wife a bouquet of flowers. Send a Christmas card to the family letting how much you appreciated the work. You know you have done a good job if they tell you they will refer you to their friends. The best compliment you could receive is a good referral. In Summary Try to find a knitch in the market, I found kitchens to be a great remodel projects. Bathrooms are tough as they are small, expensive with little profit margin with every trade involved. Windows/doors are also another great knitch as they can be installed quickly. There are so many different remodeling items that can be stream lined to make the selling installing process flawless. Once the core group subcontractors are in place the job almost runs itself. Every day is a learning experience with new materials or methods in construction. Keeping up with codes, materials, fluctuating labor and material cost is a job within itself. Anyone can be a contractor with the right mindset.

I just realized how counterintuitive it is actually for Bungie to release even one brand new map a year. When you can drop fresh content just once in such a big period of time you want to make it worth it, but how when the pvp playerbase has a varied taste and wishlist for what their perfect map should look like? I for one just want them to give us Europa map. I want a snowy open area with braytech lab interior. Or hell, even a D1 map would be welcomed addition at this point. There are still plenty from D1 that could return to D2 and be possibly enjoyable.
When you think about, a brand new map will satisfy a small portion of the community, in this case it's people who absolutely love vex matrix aesthetic from Season of Splicer. We have no idea if it will be enjoyable map, Dysjunction is not. Another thing it is reliant on is whether it is a small or a big map, what its layout is gonna be.. there are so many variables that you just want to hit right to maximize the number of people who will enjoy the map FOR ENTIRE YEAR and it is hard to hit it all right when you have just one shot a year at it.
If they could release two brand new maps a year then they could actually satisfy a larger part of playerbase in less time. Or it would atleast have a potential to do so. Because more locations, sizes, etc = more kinds of players engaging with them. But that is obviously waste of resources to them. But so is making just a one new map, because honestly, was it worth it in case of Dysjunction when only a small portion of community if anyone at all enjoys it? It grew from novelty into major annoyance real quick and if I were a Bungie designer who came up with it and saw it being pulled back because people do not want to play it, I would just want to throw hands and give up at that point. Why bother.
This is just something to think about. Of course having some brand new content at all is good, but like.. Meltdown and Citadel should have stayed in the game and not have left it in the first place. I consider D1 maps semi-new content atleast because a lot of the playerbase did not get to actually play them. Why did they stop releasing remakes of those when there are still plenty of them players could enjoy?

From the article:
“A slideshow presentation by the DEP showed many of the plans revealed in a media briefing last week, including remediating the contaminated interior, revitalizing the area around Audrey Zapp Drive with recreational amenities, and creating a “holistic master plan” for the rest of the park.
Other details include planning for transportation services to and from the park, food service vendors, and the design of active recreational amenities within the interior such as a track and field complex, turf fields, sports courts and more.”
Because, instead, they want this:
“ It also says that a few members of the task force had “independently pursued” its own evaluation for the park and came back with large-scale makeover developments such as a swimming center, two 2,000 seat “NHL size” hockey rinks, a 7,000 seat concert venue, and a 5,000 seat sports complex.”
The worst part is they keep having to lie about the DEP Plan. I’m really, really sick of this shit and I’m mad as hell.
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/03/liberty-state-park-task-force-supported-dep-aligned-vision-for-park-documents-show.html?outputType=amp