●Vote for ALL Lores you consider above average
●this means for the 11 Lores you have to give out 5 Votes
https://strawpoll.com/polls/eNg69pMOAnA
•i polled the Lores of magic on here before, but due to my badly designed poll the results where inconclusive so it was suggested i try a different layout
•in the last poll it became aparent that common Lores where overperforming in the poll, most likely due to more people beeing familiar with them
Therefore this poll includes only Lores that are used by multiple races and are from wh2 or older
However this is still about performance in wh3
If this post gets enough attention i might poll the race specific Lores later

i’ve been rowing for about a year and a half ish 5-6 hours a week for most weeks. I’m not the worst in my boat club but i definitely not the best. I pull okay times nothing amazing but nothing good (i have like a 3:45 1k time) i’m 60kg 5’8 and i used to be quite overweight causing me, for a short period of time, to try and eat less and it made me quite skinny (not overly but i lost quite a bit of weight over 2 months or so) i’d still consider myself slightly above average in weight but people say i’ve lost a lot of weight so i don’t know. Long story short, will weight training significantly impact my rowing times and will it help me much in the future with rowing if i started now. I’ve seen other 15 year olds and they pull crazy times and i don’t know if it’s me or them or maybe it could be because my parents aren’t very athletic and so i get their unathletic genes and it affects my rowing. If i were to start weight training can anyone give me tips in the gym or whatnot and what specific exercises i should do or maybe i should only do rowing instead of spending time doing weight training.

Hi all, I hope you guys are doing great! I m 27F, weigh 220 pounds (100.5 kgs), and am 5'4. I took my first oral dose of Rybelsus 3mg and as I have come across a lot of information and progress pics I have some questions as I go ahead with my weight loss journey. here are the questions:-

1. I have noticed an average of 10-20 pounds of weight loss in a 3-4 month time period among people who have started with ozempic/rybelsus/wegocy. Did you guys work out??? what kind of workout did you do cardio or strength training? Was working out difficult with the side effects of nausea etc?
2. How did your relationship with food change? do you still prefer junk food or desserts over healthy protein, fats and fibre?
3. Was it a lazy weight loss? or did you require patience and willpower to control yourself getting back into old habits?
4. any suggestion or personal experience you would like to share?

Thanks.

Barbarossa
Fighter subclass
In times long past, certain noble archer corps, fed up with their vulnerability on the ground and inability to remain in battle after their shots were fired, took inspiration from the legendary hordes of bow-knights which had been the impetus behind several ancient Empires’ military machines. Enjoying the speed and mobility of mounts, but still bemoaning their vulnerability and the fact that, once their arrows were gone, they were simply in the way, certain groups saw taking to the skies, on the back of specially trained dragonnels, as the obvious next step. Today, these riders of yore are all but disappeared, with only a few select groups still following this honourable tradition.
As a Barbarossa, you might have been raised in the still-functional military corps of a long-dead empire, or have been trained by such a group that you encountered in your past. Alternatively, you may have learnt this ancient tradition from historical texts that you encountered whilst training as a fighter or simply have befriended a dragonnel in your youth.
Draconic Mount
At 3rd level, you have captured and trained a dragonnel to serve as your mount. This beast is loyal to you and uses a modified version of the dragonnel stat block, as detailed at the end of this section. You can command it to attack grounded enemies as a bonus action or flying enemies as a free action. It takes its turn as part of yours, so you may replace any attacks you make with any it has, and whilst mounted you use its movement in place of your own.
The dragonnel needs to eat 5 times as much as an average human, and requires the same amount of rest as one.
If your dragonnel dies, you must capture a new one. Roll 1 Wisdom (Animal Handling) and 1 Wisdom (Survival) check, with a DC equal to (8 + PB + ¼ your level in this class), rounding down, per day you spend trying to catch and train a new dragonnel. The first day in which you succeed all 4 checks, you succeed in getting yourself a new dragonnel. If you fail to catch a dragonnel for 2 days, all subsequent checks to do so until you succeed in catching one have advantage.
The DC increasing represents the higher quality of steed you require to excel as your level in this class increases. If you fail both checks by less than 4, you may still train a dragonnel. Subtract 1d2 from one of its stats at random for every point by which you failed. If you succeeded both checks by 3 or more, add 1d2 to one of its stats at random for every point beyond the first 2 which you succeeded by, to a maximum of 3 stats.
You can expend 5 feet of movement to mount or dismount your dragonnel, rather than half of it.
You may also take any dragonborn or kobold race-specific feats, which then apply to your dragonnel and not you. If you are a dragonborn or kobold, the feats apply to both of you. Your steed can carry up to 2 creatures of size medium, 4 creatures of size small or 8 creatures of size tiny. If your dragonnel is huge, then it can carry double this, or up to 2 creatures of size large. You can also call your mount to your side as a bonus action; it will move as close as it can to you.
Dragon Tamer
At 3rd level again, you gain proficiency in the Survival and Animal Handling skills. If you already have proficiency in 1 or both of these skills, you can choose to gain proficiency in either 1 or 2 other skills – depending on how many you already had - from the Fighter proficiency list.
Ancient Bowcraft
Also at 3rd level, you have learnt from the techniques the ancient Barbarossae used to build powerful bows designed for use on dragonback. You can spend 8 hours (possibly split over several days, including as part of rests, if you so wish) to make a longbow into a greatbow if you have the necessary resources available (A suitable wood and string). A greatbow is a huge, powerful bow, designed by the Barbarossae of yore. See its stats below:
Greatbow (martial weapon, bow)
Damage: 1d12
Damage Type: Piercing
Properties: Ammunition, Heavy, Range, Two-Handed, Loading
Range: 300/1200
Weight: 3
Dragonback Adept
By 7th level, you have mastered manoeuvring through the air a-dragonback. You gain the following benefits:
- Mounted manoeuvres
Your control over your dragonnel in the air is supreme. Its fly speed increases by 30 feet, and it can hover.
- Alert stance
You are constantly braced for evasion. Melee attacks against you while you’re mounted have disadvantage.
- Aerial control
You cannot be dismounted against your will unless your mount lands prone on the ground.
- Mounted Combatant
You gain the benefits of the Mounted Combatant feat. If you already have this feat, then you may take the Sharpshooter or Alert feats instead, or a dragonborn or kobold race-specific feat, as described earlier in this section, or the Elven Accuracy feat if you meet its requirements.
- Greatbow Expert
You ignore the loading property of your greatbows.
Improved Dragon Tamer
By 10th level, you are now far better at catching and taming Dragonnels to serve as a mount for you. You gain expertise in the Survival and Nature skills.
Dragon Trainer
Also at 10th level, you have mastered the art of training dragonnels. Even when you have a dragonnel mount, you may catch and train more. These are friendly to you, though will not fight alongside you unless another party member forges a deep bond with one in particular. This can be achieved by 2 successive successful animal handling checks with a DC equal to that which you had to pass to catch this dragonnel (a failure likely means it leaves), or by any other method which the DM deems appropriate.
Your own personal dragonnel mount gains certain benefits here as well, as detailed on its stat block. While its actions occur on your turn, they are separate from your actions.
You may have up to your Proficiency Bonus of tamed dragonnels at any time. All tamed dragonnels visit you every 2d4 days (rolled each time by the DM), and you may switch over whichever use as your steed whenever you meet another tamed dragonnel. If you tame a dragonnel beyond your limit, you can choose which dragonnel it replaces.
Aerial Support
By 15th level you have learnt to use your presence in battle to aid those on the ground. As a bonus action, you can dedicate up to your proficiency bonus of grounded allies whom you can see and are within your attack range as those whom you are covering. When an attack targets one of them, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack against the creature attacking. If this hits, the attacker has disadvantage on that attack roll.
You can take this action a number of times equal to half of your proficiency bonus (rounding down) and regain all expended uses on a long rest.
Lord of the Skies
Starting at 18th level, your aerial performance is unmatched. If you hit a greatbow attack against a flying creature while you are mounted and flying, it must succeed on a Dexterity save (DC = 8 + PB + Wisdom modifier) or fall prone. If a greatbow attack is blocked by armour an opponent is wearing (as opposed to dexterity-based AC), and the opponent is within 100 feet of you, you can choose to count the attack as a hit. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier.
If an ally whom you are covering is hit with an attack, you can expend a use of any fighter feature, or a feature from this subclass, to not use up your reaction when making an opportunity attack against the attacker.
Stat blocks of Dragonnel mounts:
Each Dragonnel is different. This is represented by the stat differences when you greatly succeed or fail a check to catch one. These stat blocks represent the average dragonnels, caught by exactly meeting the DC of both checks to catch it.
Before level 10:
Dragonnel
Large dragon, typically neutral
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Armour Class: 12 + PB (Natural Armour)
Hit Points: (A number of d10s equal to Barbarossa level) + (Dragonnel’s Constitution modifier * Barbarossa level)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 60ft. (fly 90ft. and hover after Barbarossa level 7)
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STR 17 (+3)
DEX 16 (+3)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 8 (-1)
WIS 14 (+2)
CHA 10 (0)
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Skills Proficiencies (Uses your PB): Perception
Senses: Blindsight 30ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception (12 + PB)
Languages: Understands Draconic and Common but can’t speak
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Flyby: The dragonnel and its rider don’t provoke opportunity attacks when they fly out of an enemy’s reach.
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Actions
Rend: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 + PB to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 2d6 + 3 slashing damage
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After level 10:
Dragonnel
Large/Huge (70/30) dragon, typically neutral
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Armour Class: 15 + PB (Natural Armour)
Hit Points: (A number of d12s equal to Barbarossa level) + (Dragonnel’s Constitution modifier * Barbarossa level)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 120ft. (hover)
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STR 19 (+4)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 16 (+3)
INT 10 (0)
WIS 15 (+2)
CHA 11 (0)
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Skills Proficiencies (Uses your PB): Perception
Senses: Blindsight 60ft., Darkvision 180 ft., Passive Perception (12 + PB)
Languages: Understands Draconic and Common but can’t speak
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Flyby: The dragonnel and its rider don’t provoke opportunity attacks when they fly out of an enemy’s reach.
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Actions
Multiattack: The dragonnel makes 2 Rend attacks.
Rend: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 + PB to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 4 slashing damage
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Unmasking the Invisible Hand: Explore how 'criminomics'—the economics of corruption—is impacting South Africa's economy and why traditional approaches like raising interest rates are no longer effective solutions. It's time for a fresh perspective on overcoming our economic crisis.
South Africa is facing an economic tempest. The standard response, rising interest rates, is no longer a viable solution. Instead, it poses a contradiction to how a robust economy should respond to market forces. We have long trusted the ‘invisible hand’ of the market, an emblem of the natural economic forces popularised by Adam Smith. This metaphor represents the balance and competition inherent in free market capitalism. But, it’s now clear that this guiding hand is losing its grip on South Africa’s economy.
Under ordinary circumstances, a central bank increases interest rates to curb inflation, attract foreign investors, or stabilise a currency. These adjustments rely on supply and demand principles, with the ‘invisible hand’ guiding individual decisions towards an efficient, harmonious economy. However, an insidious, unseen force is disrupting these orderly operations in South Africa. This disruption presents as a relentless depreciation in the value of the Rand despite rising interest rates, a conundrum conventional economic wisdom struggles to explain.
Enter ‘criminomics’ — the economics of corruption. This realm, less explored, considers the billions of Rand siphoned from South Africa’s economy through mismanaged funds, fraud, and bribes. This shadow economy is not guided by Adam Smith’s invisible hand but is driven by greed and short-term gain, compromising the nation’s long-term stability.
Each month, as payday approaches, the Rand weakens against the US Dollar. This isn’t an ordinary market fluctuation but a sign of the vast illicit outflow of money from the economy. In essence, criminomics is eating away at the Rand’s value, undermining traditional monetary policy, and shaking the country’s economic foundation.
The ordinary individual is the silent victim, caught in the crossfire of this economic war. The hike in interest rates from 7% in 2021 to 11.75% in 2023 has led to a staggering 40% surge in monthly repayments on the average R2 million loan. These rising costs are a bitter pill to swallow for many South Africans, exacerbating their daily struggle for economic survival.
The time is ripe to confront the existence of criminomics and its devastating impact on South Africa’s economy. We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the corrosive force distorting our markets and draining our resources. The decade-long load-shedding crisis, where rolling blackouts have become a part of life in South Africa, is one of the most disconcerting manifestations of criminomics. These frequent power outages have seeped into our children’s psyche as a ‘new normal’, a grim testament to the effects of systemic corruption on everyday life.
Rising interest rates in these circumstances are akin to applying a plaster to a gaping wound — a superficial solution to a profound problem. The reality calls for a sweeping, nationwide crackdown on corruption infiltrating every layer of our economic infrastructure. But more importantly, it calls for a change in regime.
While corruption may be a formidable enemy, we must not forget our inherent resilience and ability to bring order to chaos. We have overcome numerous challenges in the past, and with clarity, determination, and integrity, we can triumph over this one, too.
To reclaim the integrity of the Rand, regain control of our economy, and restore the rightful position of Adam Smith’s invisible hand in guiding our markets, a regime change is overdue. This step is not only necessary to regain our hard-earned money, but also to rebuild faith in our institutions, reignite the engines of economic growth, and return prosperity to our markets.
In conclusion, current monetary policy decisions represent an adherence to traditional economic doctrine, neglecting the influence of ‘criminomics.’ The ongoing corruption within the system forms a parallel economy that disrupts the natural order of things and dulls the effectiveness of standard measures like raising interest rates. Without tackling the root cause — corruption — these policies will not appreciate the Rand, nor will they curb inflation as they ought to in a normally functioning economy. A new approach is required, one that recognises and confronts criminomics head-on, to bring about a sustainable solution for South Africa’s economic crisis. The return to a truly organic and functioning economy depends on us discarding dogmatic economic approaches and adapting to the realities of the situation. Ultimately, the power to reshape our economic destiny lies not in the invisible hand of the market alone, but in our collective will to drive change.

It's Tuesday and King Seiko is back for good. It's just not the King Seiko everybody really wanted.

What's new

1/
Seiko Expands King Seiko Collection With Two Non Limited Watches Inspired By The Legendary KSK
The rivalry between King Seiko and Grand Seiko has been strong for years. And for years they battled it out, but Grand won and the King was kind of forgotten. Until fans started asking for it to come back, and Seiko decided to oblige their wishes in 2020 when they started releasing limited numbers of King Seiko recreations. Theses seemed to have been hits for the company, as Seiko now expands the KSK-inspired collection with two slimmer, high-end and non-limited models, the SJE089 and SJE091.
In the 60s, King Seiko watches were deeply respected and they entered numerous chronometry tests, with good results. The most notable of all watches produced by KS was the reference 44-9990, with its hand-wound calibre 44A. Also known as the KSK (KS meaning King Seiko and the K at the end being the acronym for Kisei-Tsuki, stop-seconds in Japanese), it will serve as an inspiration for the comeback of the name.
After a number of limited models, Seiko is now ready to introduce two non-limited models, even though you’ll need a trained eye and a close encounter to differentiate them from a more accessible version from the SPBxxx range. Visually, they are indeed closer to the SPBxxx models and don’t try too hard to recreate the original KSK models, and at the same time, they share their specifications, movement and refinement with the two limited editions previously released.
For the two new models, Seiko has reworked the case to look more like the original 1965 watch and have increased the size a bit from the limited editions - up to 38.6mm from 38.1mm, while slimming it down from 11.4mm to 10.7mm. The finishing on the case is a combination of mirror polished surfaces and hairlines on top areas. The back, screwed and in solid steel, is decorated with the King Seiko emblem, but gone is the nice golden medallion of the two limited editions. Water-resistance is still rated at 50m. You can get the watches with a seven link steel bracelet.
The watch comes with two dial options, a silver and a black. The hands and markers have strong polished bevels on the sides and the dials have been reworked with a more understated and delicate sunray finishing technique that’s closer to the original watch. A small difference can be seen between the two dials; the silver edition has entirely polished hands and markers, while the black edition features a fine hairline finish on top of the hands and markers to heighten the level of contrast with the dial’s dark surface.
Inside is the calibre 6L35, a slimline in-house movement often reserved for the brand’s Presage limited edition. This calibre 6L35 was presented in 2018 as a thinner alternative (3.7mm in height), but also a movement with finer regulation than the other calibre of the brand. Beating at 4Hz with 45 hours of power reserve, it is given for -10/+15 seconds/day.
Launched as part of the permanent collection, the King Seiko SJE089 will be available in July 2023. They will be priced at EUR 3,400.
And these last two sentences are the main issue with the King Seiko. Historically, King Seiko stood for absolute accuracy. To put a -10/+15 seconds/day movement inside, at a price that almost reaches Tudor or a very slightly used (or maybe an even brand new) Grand Seiko, is not a good look and is, honestly, quite disappointing. Especially with their effort to position it as a more high end offering. The calibre 6L35 is not bad. It could just be a bit fine tuned and they would have a great watch.
2/
Bremont’s New Limited Edition Watch Pays Homage To The Most Insane Race To Ever Exist
Before you continue reading this, go to YouTube and type in the Isle of Man TT. Say that you don’t feel going over to YT, just imagine this - you’re strapped to a motorcycle, practically lying down on the road, speeding through a village on the Isle of Man with your helmet inches from a cottage stone wall. That’s the Isle of Man TT, the fastest and most impressive race in the world. There practically hasn’t been a race in which someone doesn’t die - more than 250 riders have died since 1911, six just last year.
The Official Timing Partner of this insane even is Bremont, who just introduced a new watch dedicated to the race. And it’s not just a new colorway on an already existing watch, Bremont actually created a dedicated watch, which makes sense since they are one of the few large mainstream watchmakers from the UK, making it a logical partner for the Isle of Man. This bond is further enhanced with Bremont’s partnership with Peter Hickman, the fastest man ever to have completed the course at an average speed of 135mph (in 2018). The watch is the Isle of Man TT Limited Edition, a racing-oriented chronograph.
The watch uses Bremont’s layered Trip-Tick construction with its modular architecture. The top of the watch consists of a steel module that integrates the lugs. It frames a central container in stripped steel coated with black PVD. The back is closed by a solid steel element, secured to the case by five screws and decorated with the Isle of Man TT circuit. It’s a powerful and sizeable watch, measuring 43mm in diameter, over 15mm in height and 49mm in length.
Upon deeper consideration of the dial you will see it has all the features of a classic dial. But on first glance, it looks radical as it’s made to look like a speedometer on a bike. The hands rotate at 360°, but the main hour track mimics a gauge, with a sector that runs from 08 to 04, and frames two black-rimmed sub-counters, just like the subsidiary gauges on a sports bike. All elements are gloss-black printed over a matte white base, giving a fresh look to this watch. Red accents on the central hand and chronograph hands bring the desired racing vibe, and the date at 6 o’clock doesn’t even feel out of place in this speedy context.
Powering the watch is an automatic, chronometer-certified movement – calibre BE-50AV, based on the ETA 7750 architecture. It has a comfortable 56h power reserve. The watch is worn on a textured rubber strap, closed by a pin buckle.
Limited to 67 pieces and now available, the Bremont Isle of Man TT is priced at EUR 5,975.
3/
The Depancel Jürgen Clauss Chronograph Is A Love Leter To 1960s French Sports Cars With A New Old Stock Movement From The Same Era
Alpine, if you are perhaps unfamiliar, is a cult French carmaker most famous for its tiny sports cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s. More recently, under Renault ownership, they have started making sports cars again and while they are supposedly fantastic cars, the old Alpinas, especially the A110, have a cult following. In order to document this cult following, Jürgen Clauss has formed alpineLAB and has since become one of the foremost experts on this particular French sports car brands. You know who else is into french sports cars? Depancel, who have a range of sports cars themed watches. Depancel teamed up with Clauss to create the Depancel Jürgen Clauss Chronograph. What would otherwise be a boring collaboration for a number of highly specialized collectors actually turned into a very interesting watch.
The Alpine A110 from the 60s is most famous for a very bright blue color and it’s that same blue that dominates on this limited edition watch, with a blazing blue sunburst dial, with black chronograph subdials and baby blue accents on the bezel and seconds hand. The bezel insert is quite intriguing, with the first quarter reserved for a pulsometer and the rest a traditional tachymetre. That makes sense for a racing watch for vintage cars, as when timing speed you won’t be likely to exceed 240 km/h too often.
The 43mm diameter may be a big too big for some, but this is a traditional racing chronograph so you can expect it to wear comfortably with the curved lugs. You have two strap options in either a diamond-stamped leather strap with a small French flag stitch, or the full-steel bracelet which will come with the leather as well.
All of this would be normal in any other tribute racing chronograph. Where, however, the Depancel Jürgen Clauss Chronograph differs substantially is on the inside. Depancel have sourced 150 new-old-stock Valjoux 7753 movements of a similar era to the original Alpine A110s, and refurbished them for use as bicompax chronograph calibres. These cam-actuated automatic chronographs were incredibly popular in their era, and many Swiss chronographs still use the same architecture or bases for their movements today. They have a power reserve of 48 hours and beat at 4Hz, plus you can gaze at it through the sapphire caseback with Depancel’s customised rotor.
That’s very cool. The Depancel Jürgen Clauss Chronograph is limited to 150 pieces and can be had for €1,795 on leather or €1,895 for the steel.
4/
Vulcain Teams Up With CronotempVs Private Club To Celebrate Grandson Of Company Founder Who Played For Real Madrid FC
Vulcain is on a roll. Hardly a week passes without them releasing a new watch, a new limited edition or a new collaboration. This seems to be all three, as Vulcain has teamed up with Spain-based private watch collecting club to create the Cricket André “DIDIXEIN” Ditisheim, a limited edition of 47 pieces of a different Cricket to honor André Didisheim, descendant of the founder of Vulcain and Real Madrid football player.
André Didisheim, grandson of Maurice Ditisheim, was as an excellent sportsman and footballer. In 1907, he went to Madrid to learn Spanish because at the time South America was one of the most important markets for Swiss watch manufacture. Didisheim displayed his talent as an attacking midfielder and signed with Madrid FC (now known as Real Madrid FC). While there, his name Didisheim was changed to “Didixein”.
Paying tribute to André Didisheim, the Vulcain x CronotempVs Collectors limited edition Cricket watch has a 39mm diameter case with engraved steel polished case-back. The crown placed at 3:00 can be used to manually wind the watch movement in one direction to set the alarm and in the opposite direction to set the time. The pusher placed at 2:00 sets the alarm with the arrow-shaped hand. Inside is the hand-wound double-barrel Vulcain V-10, an evolution of the original Cricket caliber from 1947, keeps the watch running and the alarm ringing
The vintage themed dial with the touches of gray colour, the dial features Arabic numerals coated with Superluminova. This timepiece is limited to 47 units.
The price of this latest Cricket is €4,300 excluding VAT.
5/
Stepan Sarpaneva Takes Huge Inspirations From The Moon For His New Beautiful Watch
Independent Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva is obsessed with the Moon. You will see this on all of the watches he has made which have the moon face on it. They are, of course, so much more than just watches with a moon face, but rather small works of watchmaking art. His latest Lunations watch interprets the darker side of the Moon with its black ruthenium-coated plates and bridges.
The Sarpaneva Lunations, recently revisited in the more colourful Harvest Moon edition, now returns with a darker personality. The distinctive shape of Sarpaneva’s case, with its scalloped 6-sided bezel, short lugs and crown at 4 o’clock, is crafted from high-grade Outokumpu supra 316L/4435 steel and has a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 9.8mm. User-friendliness has also been factored into the equation, and the two-part crown, decorated with Sarpaneva’s moon face and 12 short protruding rays, is used to set and wind the time and adjust the moon’s phases.
An openworked matte black ruthenium-coated plate reveals parts of the inverted movement, including the exposed balance wheel, and features Sarpaneva’s signature moon face at 6 o’clock. The large moon face in relief is laser engraved, filled with a cross-section of optical fibre and finished by hand. The two moons on the reverse side of the case are illuminated with RC Tritec Lumicast to appear white in daylight and emit a blue, orange or purple glow in the dark. As they enact the lunar cycles, the luminous moons cast an eerie glow on the dial’s moon’s face to indicate the precise phase of the Moon.
In a departure from other Sarpaneva Lunations models, the applied and skeletonised chapter ring bearing the indices has been removed, allowing an even better view of the movement. The hour and minute hands can be ordered in pitch black, red gold, flame blue or rhodium coated.
A limited edition of 10 pieces, the Sarpaneva Lunations Black Ruthenium retails for EUR 39,500, excluding taxes. Delivery time is estimated between 4 – 12 months.
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On hand - a selection of reviews

1/
Hands-on with the seriously extreme Bohen StarDiver
2/
A review of the very Italian Venezianico Bucintoro Chronograph
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Watch Worthy - A look at an offbeat, less known watch you might actually like

Second Hour’s Mandala Burst offers a fresh take on the everyday watch
Heralding from Australia, Second Hour has been making a little space for itself on the independent watch market by offering fresh takes on the traditional genre of watches. From divers to field watches and of course, everyday timepieces. The brand’s latest release comprises two new colours and an updated design of their core collection called the Mandala. The name comes from the Buddhist and Hindu circular shape used in the practice of meditation, among other things. On the watch, the term refers to the guilloché dial and its dégradé finish that have made this collection stand out.
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The giveaway of three Seiko Alpinists in that lovely green will be ending tomorrow, so head on over to the newsletter before Wednesday, midnight CET if you would like to enter.
If you would like to receive some additional watch-adjacent content, as well as this news overview, every morning Monday-Friday in the form of a newsletter feel free to subscribe. However, there is absolutely no need for you to subscribe, as all the news from the newsletter is posted here. It is only if you want to receive a couple of daily links that are not strictly watch-related and want to get this news overview in your inbox.

My bf (44M) and I (31F)Met in February last year, were in an LDR until january and saw each other 3 times a month on average.
He has a 4 y.o kid whom I adore and who likes me a lot. Bf is clear about that he wants at least one more kid. We've spoken about to stop using protection in a year or so.
I have some self esteem issues and its always been a huge insecurity of mine that he has a kid with another woman. Experienced pregnancy, childbirth etc with her. I told him about it and he was very understanding and told me it doesn't matter because he wants to experience it with ME. Somehow I often feel like I'm not "enough" despite him often planning dates, telling me he loves me etc.
I often feel like he's a bit "slow". It took him over 8 months to tell me he loved me (although he said it first), I didn't meet his parents until February.
Recently I brought up living together and he thinks it's too early, after all we've only lived in the same city for 5 months (we met when I was temporarily working out of town, so I didn't move back for his sake). Asked him for a timeline and suggested in half a year or so which he said thought sounded reasonable even though the says he doesn't "think in timelines".
I often find myself sad and insecure and wonder if I'm just impatient. I was worrying about him not loving me and not wanting to introduce me to his family but I can now see that I was wrong, but there is always something new and I'm not sure how to deal. He says I'm always slightly "ahead" of him which makes it harder for him to take initiative.
Do I need to chill and let things happen naturally? Any advice would be appreciated.
Tl;Dr : I (31F) am constantly insecure about my relationship with bf (M44) and I don't know if it's his or my fault.

Firstly let me preface this by acknowledging that different people are striving for different levels of performance. And that’s OK.
When we think about work-life balance, especially in academia I think we often get ourselves muddled up. Many academics I know seem to aggressively swing between being workaholics or taking the “balance” in work-life balance too seriously, with a 50/50 split in time.
I myself have been guilty of both. I’ve come to realise, however, that a 50/50 split just means that in everything you do you’re average at best. Let’s face it, nobody wants to be just “ok” at work or life.. If you look at the best in the world in anything, they got their by a combination of luck, talent and DEDICATION. See Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers for reference.
The truth abut work life balance, if you want to be a high performer is that you need to prioritise work. But not to the extent that you burn out. In some ways I believe that work-life balance is a misnomer, that perhaps we are not viewing the situation holistically. You as a ‘high performing academic’ are a tool, like a chef’s knife, your job might be cutting, but you also need sharpening and cleaning. In the same way, your job as an academic might be research and teaching but you also need a social life and health. Much like a chef’s knife would be useless if the majority of its life was spent being sharpened instead of cutting, there is value in prioritising work. At least to some extent.
I often use the saying: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Life’s boring if you don’t go all out sometimes. There is nuance to this all.
I’m interested to hear how you have found a balance and what it looks like for you?

My age is 17 and I'm male. My weight is average but i have ridiculously large fat glutes and thighs whereas my upper body is normal. All my male friends seem to have normal sized lower body. I'm insecure and its hard to fit in fitting clothes beacuse of this.Is there any cause to this and can it be treated?

I find myself constantly baffled at some of the words Michael does not seem to know, or declares he is reading for the first time in his life- in a book series targetted at 10-15 year old readers. Do most of you American fans/listeners find yourself in the same boat? English is not my native language, but I read the books when I was 13, and there was not a single time I felt like the books have "vocabular words".
This is supposed to be no more than 8th-grade reading level! I hope this has more to do with the fact that he has not read many books in his life apart from the ones on the podcasts, since he (as far as I remember) doesn't ever make literary references other than to Harry Potter.Or is this the vocabulary level of the average American adult reader?
I am genuinely confused. I will try to edit the post to add examples when I can, but I wanted to know if I am being too snobbish about this or if our dear podcast host really does have a weaker vocabulary than a grown adult from an English-speaking country should.

Hey everyone!
Thought I'd post a quick update since my last post detailing the outcomes of a few adjustments I've made over the last two days.
Overall I'm thrilled at the progress I've been able to make reducing internal temperatures, and I've had so much fun researching and tweaking various build configurations!
The adjustments I made were relatively simple, but I wanted to detail my findings in case other are considering similar changes!

Basic Build Details

• NR200P Max (stock AIO and PSU)
• 4080 FE
• 13600K
• 2x Noctua NF-A12s on the bottom panel
• Tempered glass side panel
• No undervolts/overclocks

Fans

I swapped out the stock SickleFlow AIO fans for Noctua NF-A14s, and although these did not make much of a noticeable difference to internal temps (at least without tweaking fan curves), they definitely run quieter (and have alleviated the low ticking noise I used to get at higher RPMs on the stock fans).
I also set three custom fan curves using FanControl:

• GPU curve: Assigned to the GPU fans. I used this to enforce a zero RPM mode for my 4080, and a slightly less aggressive fan curve to reduce noise under load.
• Case fan curve: Assigned to the slim Noctua NF-A12s, based off GPU temps. Conservative, again prioritising low noise. Idling at 20%, and capped at 70% at max, configured to run between 30-45% at typical load.
• Mixed curve: Assigned to the Noctua NF-A14s (AIO fans), based off both CPU and GPU temps (the higher temperature of the two dictating fan behaviour). Conservative, again prioritising low noise. Idling at 20%, and capped at 70%, configured to run between 30-40% at typical load. +10% offset applied to the NF-A14s after further testing, as it seemed capable of running a tad faster with virtually no noticeable noise difference.

Contact Frame

I also swapped out the stock ILM for a Thermalright contact frame, which immediately improved my CPU temps. Just prior to installing the contact frame, my 13600K peaked out at a package temp of 99 after 10mins of Cinebench R23.
I let the system cool down a bit, installed the contact frame, and ran the same test again - and this time the CPU package temp peaked at 90 after 10mins, which I was very happy with.
This was probably single biggest change I was able to make to internal temperatures.

Airflow

I also experimented with top intake/bottom exhaust, double exhaust, and top exhaust/bottom intake.
I found that the top exhaust/bottom intake configuration was the best for GPU temps when using the tempered glass panel, and the increase in CPU temps was minimal compared to the double exhaust configuration.
This configuration paired with my custom fan curves dropped my average GPU temps under gaming load around 5-8 degrees compared to the double exhaust configuration, depending on the game.
Top intake/bottom exhaust yielded worse temps for both the CPU and the GPU compared to the top exhaust/bottom intake configuration.

Cable Management

I spent a while tightening up the cables around the motherboard/PSU and behind the GPU, which (anecdotally, admittedly) seems to have made around a 2-3 degree impact to my GPU temps.
Although this may be somewhat of a placebo effect, I'm thinking there was a chance that my previous mess of cables may have obstructed airflow inside the case, and tidying this up has allowed me to cool down the GPU more efficiently. Even if this wasn't the case, it's definitely a damn sight better to look at now!

Temps Under Gaming Load

Cyberpunk running at 4K with DLSS and Path Tracing RT used to run the GPU up to 75-77, and the CPU up to 73-75. It now runs at around 61-65 degrees on both the CPU and the GPU - much cooler than previously and significantly quieter! The PC is on my desk about 1.5ft away from me, and I can only hear it if I pause the game and listen out for noise in the silence.
Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War (running at 4K Native and maxed settings) hit at a similar low to mid 60s for both the GPU and CPU.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales at 4K with RT and DLSS now runs at 58-62 GPU and 60-65 CPU.
Overwatch 2 at 4K and maxed settings hits 48-51 GPU and 57-60 CPU, and runs dead silent.

Closing Thoughts

Overall I'm very happy with the above - I was able to drop temps significantly compared to my previous post, and configure a much quieter system at the same time.
I'm currently researching undervolting for both the 13600K and the 4080 - though for now I'm happy enough with my current load temps that I won't be rushing into this any time soon.
In the meantime, I'd be very happy to answer any questions anyone might have, and would also appreciate any further thoughts and advice from the community regarding the aforementioned adjustments.
Thank you for reading, and to the SFFPC community, thank you for all the guidance you've provided over the last months as I researched, assembled, and tweaked my first PC build!

I'm living with my husband in an apartment that is 1k+. This apartment is killing us. We owe 2k+ in rent now because I had a few months where I wasn't working.
I left my old job because I was a clinic EVS person working nights, alone, when a guy who was obviously high broke in. My manager for the building refused to do anything more than "talk with the doctors" who I reported multiple times beforehand for leaving one of the doors inside open after closing. This same conversation is when I learned that the cameras around the building were just for show. I was scared for my life for the two weeks I put in and still worked.
My husband has had to consistently be in the red for us to make it, and now it seems like it doesn't even matter because we're this 🤏 close to being homeless AGAIN.
We both get paid in the ~16 dollar mark, averaged between us.
You want to know the funniest part of this? These apartments were advertised as low income housing, but they're 50% more expensive than surrounding apartments. We want so bad to leave.
So, to end this, a plea for advice. Is there a way we can get the hell out of here without being sued or otherwise make our futures harder because of being evicted?

I am an international applicant for the 2024 Jan CIT intake.I would to create a discord group in order to find out the cut-off or else the average of the international applicants.
If you are an international applicant, would you join the discord group and share your average score in the group?
Domestic applicants are welcomed to join too. Link:https://discord.gg/KWZHZzkcuG

Hi guys, I am a bit unlucky with champs which are usually shown in videos so working my way through in a bit chaotic way by testing.
Currently on 3 key NM with average 11-13mil damage.
My comp is: Kael, Warmaiden, Apothecary, Deliana and Geo (all except deliana booked)
I feel that Decrease Damage might be a better addition to the team than Decrease def I get through Warmaiden but my potential reliable sources are Artak or Delaaja.
If Delaaja is the way I think I will swap out for Warmaiden but if you believe Artak is better than Geo probably needs to go and I will probably loose lots of damage due to missing on his passive.
​
What do you think?

30s average white guy in downtown would like to just talk to other gay/bi/curious guys about life, dreams, desires. I'm open to friendship, and would prefer same age or younger. Let's chat.

Ready to embark on a bean-tastic organic gardening adventure? Chappy the Gardener is here to add a dash of humor and a heap of helpful tips to your journey. Get ready to laugh, learn, and grow some amazing beans. Let's dig in!
Start with quality seeds: Choose certified organic bean seeds from reputable sources to ensure healthy and vigorous plants.
Prepare the soil: Beans prefer well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Add compost or aged manure to enrich the soil and improve its fertility.
Planting depth and spacing: Plant the beans at a depth of about 1 to 2 inches, and space them 4 to 6 inches apart. This allows them enough room to grow and prevents overcrowding.
Provide support: Many bean varieties benefit from trellises or stakes for vertical growth. This helps maximize space and prevents the plants from sprawling on the ground.
Watering: Beans require consistent moisture, especially during flowering and pod formation. Water deeply and regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Mulch to conserve moisture: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants to retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth, and maintain a more stable soil temperature.
Companion planting: Interplant beans with crops like corn or cucumbers, which provide natural shade and support for the bean plants. Avoid planting beans near onions or garlic, as they may inhibit bean growth.
Organic pest control: Use natural methods like handpicking pests, introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings, and spraying organic insecticidal soap to control pests like aphids or bean beetles.
Nitrogen fixation: Beans are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through their symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, as it may hinder this process.
Crop rotation: Rotate bean crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases and pests. Avoid planting beans in the same location for consecutive years.
Harvesting at the right time: Harvest the beans when they are young and tender, usually around 50 to 60 days after planting. Regularly harvest mature beans to encourage continuous production.
Proper storage: Store harvested beans in a cool, dry place to maintain their quality. Avoid exposure to sunlight, as it can cause them to lose color and flavor.
Chappy's tip: Soak the bean seeds overnight before planting to speed up germination and promote healthy growth. This softens the seed coat and enhances moisture absorption.
Organic fertilizers: Use organic fertilizers like compost, well-rotted manure, or fish emulsion to provide essential nutrients to the plants. Apply them according to package instructions or consult a gardening expert.
Enjoy the harvest: Once you've nurtured your bean plants, savor the satisfaction of picking fresh, organic beans from your garden. Share your harvest with friends and family, or explore delicious bean recipes to fully appreciate your homegrown bounty.
Remember, gardening is an adventure, so have fun, get your hands dirty, and let the beans take you on a flavorful journey! Happy bean growing!
https://gardenguide4all.com/from-seed-to-harvest-everything-you-need-to-know-about-growing-beans/

I've had type 1 diabetes since I was 16 years old, I'm now 25 years old. The transition from non-diabetic to diabetic never really emotionally affected me personally as much as it affected my family. I'm kind of used to it now. I now live with my girlfriend and she too is very understanding of my diabetes which I always take for granted. Still, there is something I would like to discuss and get advice on.
​
I always think that people think very negatively about me, and I also think very negatively about people, even though there is absolutely no reason for it. My girlfriend whom I have recently moved in with is the love of my life, and yet, because of my daily negative thoughts, this image is totally distorted and I put her in my head as the villain of the story. Thoughts like "she doesn't care about me" or "she only thinks about herself" then run through my head without any reason why I could think that at all. She is caring and very loving, but negativity ruins all that in my head and replaces it with envy, hatred and anger toward her and I hate it when I project that onto her.
I think it is because of my high blood sugar that I get such negative thoughts in my head. When my blood sugar level is higher than 12 (I live in the Netherlands so I think I use different values than people with diabetes in other countries) the negative thoughts start coming in and my whole day can be spoiled by these thoughts. Right now, as I type this post I'm having a coffee break at work, all my work is done and I'm starting a new job soon which I'm really excited for, listening to my favorite band who I'll soon see live and knowing I'll be going home in about 5 hours to my lovely girlfriend. And still I feel so much negativity creeping in my brain beacuse my blood sugar needs to lower itself from lunch.
​
Do you have any way of dealing with these thoughts? Or some tips you could give me on dealing with negative thoughts combined with a high blood sugar? In the 9 years I've had diabetes, my average blood sugar has never been higher than 8, so it's not like I'm unregulated and have constant high values. But for my own well-being and the relationship I have with my family and girlfriend, I would like to find a good way to deal with this.

https://swisschems.is/product/semaglutide-3mg-1-vial/ code CHEMSEX10
https://swisschems.is/product/tirzepatide-glp-1-analogue-5-mg-1-vial/ same code
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY
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Hello swisschems community!
Today, I'd like to dive into a topic that has been generating quite a buzz in the weight loss and pharmaceutical spheres: the potential benefits of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for weight management. Both these drugs are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists used in treating type 2 diabetes, but they have also shown promising effects on weight loss. Let's delve deeper and examine how these two compounds stack up against each other.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, was primarily designed to manage type 2 diabetes. However, the STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) trials demonstrated its impressive weight loss benefits, too.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that enhances insulin secretion and suppresses glucagon secretion, leading to reduced appetite and calorie intake. In the STEP trials, participants who received semaglutide experienced substantial weight loss, with an average reduction of 15% in body weight over a period of 68 weeks.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide, on the other hand, is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. GIP is another incretin hormone, like GLP-1, involved in glucose homeostasis and fat metabolism. Tirzepatide has demonstrated robust HbA1c reduction and weight loss in phase 2 trials for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Like semaglutide, tirzepatide affects appetite and calorie intake, but the dual action of tirzepatide might potentially offer additional benefits. In the SURPASS trials, participants receiving tirzepatide showed weight loss of approximately 10-15% over a span of 40 weeks, although the outcomes varied depending on the dose administered.
Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide: Which is better for weight loss?
The verdict isn't entirely clear as of now. Both compounds have demonstrated significant potential in promoting weight loss. While semaglutide has shown impressive results in the STEP trials, tirzepatide's dual action in the SURPASS trials also makes it a compelling contender. It's also worth noting that while both drugs act as GLP-1 agonists, they differ in structure and functionality, which might lead to differences in their effect on weight loss.
In conclusion, both semaglutide and tirzepatide appear to have significant potential in the field of weight management. However, more comprehensive and direct comparative studies are needed to determine which one is the superior option for weight loss. As always, it's essential to remember that any weight loss regimen should be accompanied by a healthy diet and regular exercise. And, of course, any new treatment should only be initiated under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting developments, and keep the discussion going in the comments below!
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.

Forging is a time-honored manufacturing technique that has been used for centuries to shape metals into various forms. When it comes to forging, steel is the most commonly used material due to its strength and versatility. However, one particular type of steel stands out for its unique properties - stainless steel. In this blog post, we will explore the suitability of stainless steel for forging and delve into the reasons why it has become a preferred choice in many industries.
Understanding Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel is a steel alloy that contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium by mass. The addition of chromium provides stainless steel with exceptional resistance to corrosion, making it highly durable and long-lasting. Furthermore, stainless steel also exhibits excellent mechanical properties, such as high tensile strength and toughness, which make it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Forging with Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel can indeed be used for forging, and it offers several advantages over traditional carbon steels. Here are some key reasons why stainless steel is a preferred material for forging:
Corrosion Resistance: The primary reason stainless steel is chosen for forging is its exceptional resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel contains chromium, which forms a passive oxide layer on the surface when exposed to oxygen. This oxide layer acts as a protective barrier, preventing further oxidation and corrosion. This property makes stainless steel ideal for applications where exposure to moisture, chemicals, or extreme environmental conditions is expected.
Strength and Durability: Stainless steel possesses excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength, toughness, and hardness. These characteristics make stainless steel suitable for forging applications that require strength, such as tools, fasteners, and structural components. Moreover, stainless steel's durability ensures that forged parts can withstand heavy loads, high temperatures, and repeated stress without compromising their integrity.
Heat Resistance: Another notable advantage of stainless steel is its ability to withstand high temperatures. This property is crucial in forging processes that involve elevated heat levels. Stainless steel maintains its mechanical strength and structural integrity even at elevated temperatures, making it ideal for forging applications that require heat resistance.
Versatility: Stainless steel offers a wide range of alloy options, each with specific properties tailored for different applications. This versatility allows manufacturers to choose the most suitable stainless steel grade for their specific forging requirements, considering factors such as corrosion resistance, strength, and heat resistance.
Aesthetics: Apart from its functional properties, stainless steel also has an appealing aesthetic quality. Its lustrous and reflective surface can enhance the visual appeal of forged products, making them more desirable in various industries, including architecture, design, and jewelry.
Applications of Stainless Steel Forging:
The combination of corrosion resistance, strength, and versatility has led to a wide range of applications for stainless steel forging. Some notable examples include:
Automotive Industry: Stainless steel forgings find application in various automotive components, such as engine parts, exhaust systems, and suspension components. The corrosion resistance and strength of stainless steel ensure durability and longevity even under harsh operating conditions.
Aerospace Industry: Stainless steel forgings are used in aircraft components, including turbine blades, structural parts, and landing gear components. The ability to withstand high temperatures, corrosion resistance, and strength are critical factors in ensuring the safety and performance of aircraft parts.
Oil and Gas Industry: The oil and gas sector often deals with corrosive environments and extreme temperatures. Stainless steel forgings are employed in equipment and components used in offshore drilling, pipelines, valves, and refineries, providing reliable and long-lasting performance.
Construction Industry: Stainless steel forgings are utilized in architectural structures, bridges, and building components due to their corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. They offer durability, strength, and low maintenance, making them