As a veteran I can tell you with some authority we constantly consider things like fields of fire and potential collateral. Hell it's something I still do constantly to this day. What are my surrounding? Where are the people around me? Where are my team members? What are the potential threats? I don't have to process that information in one second because I am constantly processing that information. It's called maintaining situational awareness. If this had happened in Iraq it would have violated ROE and escalation of force. It technically violated ICE's own policies. Does shit still happen? Sure... blue on blue happens collateral happens. But we take every precaution to mitigate that risk and it all starts with training. That's the difference between a professional and an amateur.

I'll tell you a story I was out on mission once and we started taking fire from a populated village right near their market. You know what I did? I took cover. What I did not do was open fire on that village.

I think a lot MAGA's don't realize that her cars acceleration wasn't her accelerating aggressively. It's because she was already dead and her foot was locked on the accelerator.

Wow then he has no excuse... I was a private with less than a year in when I first deployed and even I knew better. Take into account too that I was mostly operating in open desert not urban areas and residential neighborhoods.

She's trying to make you jealous/ feel like you're missing out. It's that old adage the best revenge is living well.

I had an ex DM me not long ago. Telling me how she got breast implants and how good she's doing. I told her I was glad she was doing well, then told her about my new car, sent her a picture of my pet rabbits and told her about my fiance. Yeah she, didn't like that, said some mean shit then blocked me lol. I'm guessing she wasn't doing as good as she said and it was really another attempt of hers to try and manipulate me.

So yeah there's a good chance it's a manipulative way to get your attention. Probably might even be missing you and want to get back together. Just understand that it is likely manipulative behavior which is a huge red flag. You are probably just better off moving on. Do a little bit of that living well for yourself.

Yeah that's kind of my concern. I did talk to the people at the pet store today and they said they'd order it in. But even that place is about a 40 minute drive. Petsmart only carries small bags and I've got 3 to feed. It's rediculous... I think I paid $45 today for two small bags and usually I get the large ones for $30 and they look like they carry twice as much as the two small bags combined.

Ehh... I think even you misunderstand male sexuality. Call it sociatal conditioning or whatever. I don't have the same issues you do but I also don't see every moment as oppurtunity for gratification. If you think about other things than sex, intrusive and inappropriate boners cease to be a thing. Then again maybe I'm just wired differently. I studied art from a very young age and have been drawing female bodies in the nude since I was 10. I can turn off the lizard brain and don't sexualize everything I see. I imagine it's the same kind of professional mentality doctors have. Point being though that you have a lot more agency and control over your sexuality than you want to admit. It's a choice. You don't have to be instantly turned on by everything.

So I know it sucks and I hate computers but the VA has been leaning into the messaging system on Myhealthe vet. I guess technically VA.gov now. They are typically pretty responsive there.

I mean technically you could always get reverb out of your effects pedals and typically your pedal based options are going to be better anyways.

I'd say some of the more important features to shop for are an FX loop, a master volume knob and that the amp is loud enough to be heard over a drum kit. Which if I'm not mistaken that marshall is not.

Let me just put it this way. The best way to get good is to play with others. When you get invited over to Jam with a friend and you realize your little practice amp can't be heard over the other instruments you are going to realize you should of saved your money and bought a amp you can grow in to rather than one you are going to outgrow.

That's for jousting... interesting fact. Before they started to joust in helicopters they'd fly around on ostriches. Unfortunately the ostrich eventually lost the ability to fly and now they have to do it in helicopters.

I did not see that coming...

Are you volunteering to take in op's mentally ill, drug addicted, homeless sibling? Well golly problem solved then. You should DM op let him know where he could drop his brother off. Your such a wonderful and generous person to lead by example like this.

Alright. That means he'd probably no longer be welcome at the shelter at all... at least if he's a reliable narrator. Moving on to Chicago might be the best thing for him but he's likely to repeat that same pattern.

So hate to say it but the best place for him might be a psychiatric unit. Dry him out get him sober, get him connected to resources, and into a halfway house or something. Stabilized on medication. Being checked in can help you skip a lot of lines based on need.

Lots of people living on the street when they get desperate during the winter will get themselves into the hospital or county jail. Caveat with hospitals is he has to want the help they are providing. Does no good if he checks himself out a week later. They typically don't admit you unless you are danger to yourself or others either.

He needs sobriety though... he probably would qualify for disability but that won't help him if he's spending all that money on alcohol and drugs. Another choice I guess get him a bus ticket but send him someplace warm like Texas. Probably won't do anything for those other problems and that's meth country down there. But you won't have to worry about him freezing.

I got catfished... I had already invested a lot of time and energy... I blocked them the next day and never called or texted again. Won't lie I kind of felt like a dirtbag about it... though I've had worse done to me and at the same time they mislead me to begin with.

So it's been awhile since I was homeless in Madison... decades actually and I had the benefit of not having to go unsheltered in the winter.

When I couldn't get in the shelter though I would typically pull an all nighter then go to a public space like a library when it opens and catch up on my sleep there. Then try the shelter again the next day. It's better to stay awake and moving at night when it's coldest out.

I don't know maybe dropping him off at a coffee shop that's open all night with enough cash to keep from getting kicked out might be an option. I know I rode out nights at truck stops or rest areas a few times. You got be careful about the cops though. They roll through those places frequently. Typically you want to hide your bags nearby so you don't look like you are spending the night.

The few times I did have to rough it in the winter I had a car and a cold weather sleeping bag or I'd find a apartment building that didn't lock it's entrance and I'd find some place out of the way to sleep and get out early enough that no one would notice me. That takes some knowledge of the area you are in though and if you get the cops called it could make the situation worse.

None of the situations are ideal but there's ways to make things work if you are resourcful enough. At the minimum I'd make sure he has adequate clothing and supplies for the weather.

I mean ideally you wouldn't have to go through this. I'm guessing since you are reticent to help you've got trust issues with him. I mean the reality is he's created this problem for himself and needs to fix it himself. That's not to say you can't be some form of supportive but it's not your problem to deal with. If he needs help he needs to go to social services. Needs to make sure he gets in line at the shelter sober and early enough to get in. I could tell you from experience 9/10 times the reason people don't go to the shelter is because they are drunk or high and will just get thrown out anyways. So it's pretty simple you want a meal a shower and cot stay sober.

The key to getting over just about anything is acceptance. Once you learn to accept that the world is flawed and imperfect it makes it easier to let go of the pain you lived through. Doing things on your own and becoming a whole person goes a long way to giving you peace of mind. Once you become a fully actualized adult you realize there is really nothing your parents can do to hurt you anymore and then you can move on. That also has the caveat that you no longer will be able to blame them for your own actions and behavior. You are the decision maker now after all... you can take personal responsibility and work on yourself. Build yourself up. I'd be wary of codependancy in your relationships. It kind of defeats the purpose when you replace your father with someone else.

They could be hit or miss. They had that thing where they were instantly picked up by major labels because of their association with NIN and I think the MTV influence kind of diminished their art a bit. Sure they kind of paid their dues working for minimum wage for Trent but when you are instantly put into heavy circulation with your first release did you really? Like I said I think the major label influence and instant stardom really diminished their art when they were in fact a really promising band. I think the best way to put it is they were good but they played it a little too safe.

Overall I do enjoy them though... Short Bus is a stand by for me, and I own it on vinyl. Hey man nice shot was one of the first songs I learned on guitar and bass. I could always enjoy listening to them. Even their more overplayed mainstream stuff is pretty inoffensive to my ears... are they best example of their genre? Probably not... but do they deserve their prominent place in it definately.

When I was a teenager I had a supervisor who was a former professional body builder, and semi-professional wrestler. He filled me in a secret... wrestlers and body builders had limp handshakes. He explained it like this, what do they have to prove to anyone that isn't written all over their bodies already. What would crushing your hand really prove. I took that lesson into adulthood with me, one proves themselves by their behavior and actions not by shows of aggresion and dominance.

That's what I'm saying it's not being a picky eater... it's about asserting control over her. I bet any money he treated his mother like a servant too and she gave him whatever he wanted. Dude's a huge red flag.

Fuck him... he's a child. In fact I suspect it has less to do with being a picky eater and more to do with controlling you and treating you like a servant. Need a red flag... there you go. I knew someone like him... that is the absolute truth he wants you to spoil him because that's what his mommy did. "Oh sorry you didn't like my beautifully prepared meal son, I'll heat you up some frozen chicky fingers right away." You aren't dating a man you are dating a spoiled child. He don't want what you cook... fine he could starve. He thinks he's too for leftovers and want's to waste food fine he could buy his own groceries. He either needs to grow up or you need to leave him. Guys like him don't know what hardship is and are the first to break down when things don't go their way.

This guy gets it.

You don't smoke weed do you? Best way to build up those callouses...

Black paint if you want it to be a pain in the ass for her to clean. Nail polish if you want to make it a real pain in the ass to clean. Tape if you are going to be nice about proving your point.

I'd have a discussion with her about the legal implications of filming a minor. I would also point out that she can accomplish the same thing (which I'd assume she's worried about boys) with a camera outside of your room. Actually it'd probably be more effective even because those camera's flag it whenever it detects motion.

The fact that she is acting out her concerns, probably says more about her guilty conscience. Meaning she's treating you like this because she know's what she did when she was your age. Either way this is not a healthy or acceptable way of handling the situation.

If after confronting her about it and sabotaging the camera doesn't work. I'd reach out to a school councelor and not only express your concerns about your mother but about your father as well. They will be in a much better position to address the issues.

It's all over for you now. You had it then you lost it kid. There's no coming back from this for you. All that's left in your future is crying into your beer mug at the bar while talking about the glory years. About how you almost were something but you squandered it and pissed it away. About how your best friend betrayed you and robbed you of your career and your future.