u/OkKey6273

I'm a freshman, and my mom wants me to choose one language to seriously commit to. Right now it's between Czech and French. If it goes well and I don't get overwhelmed, I can probably add the other after about a year.

The thing is, I'm not trying to decide what would be most useful right now. I'm trying to map out the next four years of high school and beyond. For example, should I spend all 4 years building Czech and then do french 2 or 3 years? Or start with French and pick up Czech after a year? Maybe even do a middlebury language program . I'm trying to make a long-term plan, not just choose what to study this month.

I genuinely love both languages.

With Czech, I love Czechia, the culture, the sound of the language, and it's one of the few places I could genuinely see myself living someday.

With French, I also love the language itself. It's not just the "practical" option. I live near Quebec, have several French-speaking friends, and I'm planning on attending university in Quebec. Quebec City is like top 3 cities in the world besides Prague for me. I love Quebec. If I don't end up living in Czechia, there's a good chance I'll live Canada, where French would obviously be much more useful.

So my dilemma is basically this:

• Czech is the language I'm more passionate about, and I can see myself living there.
• French is easier to learn and more practical, and I have a more realistic future there. along with I also like it.

if I didn’t have to think about practicality at all I’d pick Czech I think. I know there’s the thing like “pick which language you will have fun learning and actually put time into” but I think I’d do that for both, and I want to be smart about this.

I’m trying to figure out the best low-effort self-tanning option for a noticeable but natural-looking tan. I don’t mind using either gradual tanning lotion or tanning drops mixed into a moisturizer, but I’m trying to avoid having to buy a separate tanning lotion AND a separate moisturizer if I don’t need to.

I want something that gives a real “you’ve been in the sun” look, not just a slight glow, but also not orange or overdone. I also don’t want anything that requires a complicated routine or a lot of prep like exfoliating every time.

Budget-wise, I’m trying to keep it reasonable (around drugstore level if possible). What actually worked for you guys that looked natural but still noticeable?

i swear this comes up all the time. like hello? someone can’t make a comment about a fantasy, or talk about being insecure about their size without a “you watch too much porn” comment.

like not EVERYONE is like you.

yeah sure, most people have tried ranch dressing too, but not everyone.

I’m getting so tired of people acting like discussing in a normal fandom way automatically makes you morally equivalent to the Capitol.

If someone asks:
“Which tribute was the deadliest?”
“What weapon would you use?”
“How would you survive?”

…people immediately jump to:
“Wow, that’s exactly what the Capitol would say.”

No. The difference is context.

The Capitol is participating in the suffering of REAL people within the world of the story. Readers are engaging with FICTION that was intentionally written to be suspenseful, strategic, emotional, and immersive.

Those are not the same thing.

The Games are literally designed by the author to pull the audience in psychologically. You are SUPPOSED to think about survival strategies, alliances, combat abilities, arena design, and how different people react under pressure. That engagement is part of what makes the critique effective in the first place.

You cannot make a story about a televised death game and then act shocked when people discuss the actual mechanics of the game within the fictional universe.

And honestly, imagining yourself in fictional scenarios is one of the most normal ways humans engage with stories. People do it with:

• horror movies
• zombie apocalypses
• survival games
• murder mysteries
• war films
• literally every RPG ever

Asking “what would I do in that situation?” is not the same thing as wanting that situation to exist in real life.

Nobody discussing weapons in the Games is secretly advocating for child murder. They’re engaging with a fictional survival scenario the same way people engage with any high-stakes story.

I think some people confuse “the story critiques spectacle and violence” with “the audience is not allowed to feel invested in the story at all.” But if the Games were not compelling to watch/read about, the entire premise would fail.

You can fully understand that Panem is horrific while ALSO finding the arena dynamics interesting. Those ideas are not contradictory unless you completely flatten the difference between fiction and reality.

this PMO so bad.

hey rveryone! I’m buying my first foundation ever, and know I want a cushion! i have dehydrated combo skin, with an oily t zone. my BIGGEST issue is red cheeks. I don’t have rosacea or anything, and my skin isn’t sensitive or damaged, just lots of vascularity.

im looking for a very light weight, medium/leaning slightly low coverage, and for the finish, kind of a slightly shiny, smooth, almost slightly wet? not sure how to describe it. kind of like a peeled hard boiled egg? lol.

here is what options have gathered so far:

tirtir crystal mesh cushion

tirtir aura cushion

ABOUT_TONE water layer cushion

my only requirement is that its UNDER 25 bucks on at least one reputable website.

if someone could share their experience, or offer something that fits these guidelines, that would be great!❤️❤️

READ DESCRIPTION

hey yall, so i decided to face my fears and ask my parents if i can start wearing foundation, BUT im someone who likes to be prepared so i need to find one to try.

im looking for:

cushion foundation(this is important)

not too orange, or has cooler options

medium coverage

slightly glowy, but natural(kind of like a hard boiled egg I guess??😭)

price under 20 (yes I know girl, I’m cheap)

anwyays I really wanted to try the tirtir pink or silver cushion, lmk what you think!

Okay I need honest advice 😭

I’m a guy and I’ve been experimenting a little with makeup like using my sister’s concealer and lightly filling in my brows (I’ve literally just been using a watercolor pencil because it’s what I have). Nothing dramatic at all, just enough to make my skin look smoother and my features a bit more defined.

Important context: my parents aren’t super strict, but there’s definitely this unspoken “don’t do that” expectation. When I was younger I was more feminine, so I think they’re cautious about anything that reminds them of that.

The thing is, I’m completely comfortable in myself now. I’m not trying to look feminine or make a statement, IN FACT IM LITERALLY ENHANCING THE FEATURES THAT MAKE ME LOOK MASCULINE.

What’s confusing is that when I actually do it, nobody notices. My mom has literally complimented my skin and my eyebrows when I’ve done it.

BUT the second I say anything about it, it gets weird.

For example, we were talking about weddings and cake smashing, and I said “nobody should get their face smashed, but if anyone, it should be the person not wearing makeup… so probably the groom. But not me, I wouldn’t want my makeup messed up.” And my whole family just stopped and stared. My mom was like “…your makeup??”

So they clearly like how it looks, just not the idea of it.

I do actually want to start getting my own products, but I feel like I need to talk to them about it first, and I don’t really know how to approach that conversation without it turning awkward or them shutting it down.

i can’t keep stealing my sisters concealer, and im wanting more coverage!! a concealer only works so well as foundation.. also I need a snatched jawline so contour please😭👏👏

How would you bring this up in a way that doesn’t make it a big del

I REALLY don’t want to just buy stuff and start wearing it because id prefer to know they are fine with it. Even if they think it’s weird, I still want the PERMISSION.

Okay I need honest advice 😭

I’m a guy and I’ve been experimenting a little with makeup like using my sister’s concealer and lightly filling in my brows (I’ve literally just been using a watercolor pencil because it’s what I have). Nothing dramatic at all, just enough to make my skin look smoother and my features a bit more defined.

Important context: my parents aren’t super strict, but there’s definitely this unspoken “don’t do that” expectation. When I was younger I was more feminine, so I think they’re cautious about anything that reminds them of that.

The thing is, I’m completely comfortable in myself now. I’m not trying to look feminine or make a statement, IN FACT IM LITERALLY ENHANCING THE FEATURES THAT MAKE ME LOOK MASCULINE.

What’s confusing is that when I actually do it, nobody notices. My mom has literally complimented my skin and my eyebrows when I’ve done it.

BUT the second I say anything about it, it gets weird.

For example, we were talking about weddings and cake smashing, and I said “nobody should get their face smashed, but if anyone, it should be the person not wearing makeup… so probably the groom. But not me, I wouldn’t want my makeup messed up.” And my whole family just stopped and stared. My mom was like “…your makeup??”

So they clearly like how it looks, just not the idea of it.

I do actually want to start getting my own products, but I feel like I need to talk to them about it first, and I don’t really know how to approach that conversation without it turning awkward or them shutting it down.

i can’t keep stealing my sisters concealer, and im wanting more coverage!! a concealer only works so well as foundation.. also I need a snatched jawline so contour please😭👏👏

How would you bring this up in a way that doesn’t make it a big del

I REALLY don’t want to just buy stuff and start wearing it because id prefer to know they are fine with it. Even if they think it’s weird, I still want the PERMISSION.

Hey everyone! for the years I’ve played the violin, I have never been able to produce a good sound. I’m not completely sure, but i think it’s my bow hand.

i can do very fast and accurate, non sloppy fingerings with my left hand, so i really don’t think that’s the issue, and neither does my teacher.

i don’t feel like recording a video right now, so I’m not asking for advice specific to me.

does anyone have any advice for what i should do about this? maybe an etude book, or something like that. or just general advice about what you did in my situation.

and don’t worry, i will consult my teacher too.

I have always been so jealous of people who just have such a CLEAN sound. i don’t really want to play crazy hard music, i just want to be able to play really cleanly.

im going to increase my practice time and quality, so i suspect that will help some.

thanks🙂

Considering learning this piece. It’s my absolute favorite piece of all time, I love the story, and the emotion, all of it is perfect.

However, I am not augustin hadelich, so I have some technical limits.

I’m specifically looking at the passacaglia and nocturne, the scherzo, burlesque, and cadenza are too hard.

however, I’d pick one or the other, not both nocturne and passacaglia.

I looked over the piece, I don’t think it would be too hard? I have like 6 months to practice before and audition, and my winter recital.

i see lots of shifting, and some moderately hard spots but overall it doesn’t look TOO demanding.

BUT, as often is with violin music, i wanted to know if there is a hidden difficulty in the piece.

For the teachers, typically, what techniques(not pieces) would you require a student to know before learning this?

And for the purists, no, you don’t have to play a whole piece. Playing certain sections counts too.

i understand the subjectivity of “difficulty,” so I am asking for objective things about the piece that I can apply to myself.

my birthday is coming up and I want a violin book. I am around Suzuki 5-6 level.

i have tried solos for young violinists, but find Id rather be playing more known pieces.

if anyone has a recommendation for a book containing a decent amount(15-25) violin classics, that I could realistically play, that would be great!

I’ve wanted a uke to sing along to for a while. I don’t intend to ever play it by itself really. is it unreasonable to pay 100-200 bucks for an uke, if only being used for this? I’m a violinist, so I understand good instrimmers cost a lot, but are beginner ukes as expensive as beginner violins?(like 5k).

also apparently there is tenor and soprano ukes..? don’t know what i want.

i want to ask for an ukelele for my birthday, but don’t want my parents to get a bad one.

hey everyone! looking for a piece to learn for my winter recital. so quite a long time.

i want a very dark piece, think nigun, Hungarian dance no. 5, etc.

i am at the lower intermediate level. i dont do Suzuki but my teacher said I’d likely be in book 5-6, maybe higher.

my most recent learned piece is Hungarian dance no. 5. not the Joachim version.

this piece will also be used as an orchestra audition, so a variety of techniques would be great!

hey! i just ordered new strings, and from that research I still have a lot of string stuff recommended to me.

from this I have heard a lot of talk about how strings affect each other, lien people saying the g affects the e, and the e affects all of them, etc.

i really don’t understand, if someone could enlighten me that would be great.

if your curious I got a perpetual cadenza g/d, a PI a, and a jargar forte e string. I primarily do solos and recitals.

I’ve decided my violin mainly needs new strings right now. It’s already been checked by a luthier, and everything is fine structurally. His take was that my violin isn’t especially warm or bright, and Dominants tend to emphasize that neutrality, so the sound ends up feeling kind of “blah.”

Honestly, that’s helpful, because it means I can shape the sound more intentionally depending on the strings I choose, either brighter or warmer.

I’ve already decided on a Jargar Forte E string for projection, since most of my playing is solo/recital-based. I want something that really carries.

For the rest of the set, I’m looking for strings that are deep, warm, and colorful, but still project very well. I want a real “wow factor,” I’ve never liked neutrality for anything, I want something with personality. (yes I know it won’t play for me.)

I was considering Obligatos, but I’m worried they might not project as strongly as I want, and they’re also pretty expensive.

Right now, I’m looking into:

• Perpetual Cadenzas
• Warchal Amber
• Warchal Beast
• Vision Solo
• Larsen Tzigane

Price does matter, my A string tends to break a lot (even after being checked), so I’d prefer to keep that around $30. I can probably go up to about $35 for the D and G.

And just to clarify: I know every string sounds different on every violin. But there are still general tendencies, like Evahs being bright and projecting well, Obligatos being darker, etc. I’m mainly looking for anecdotal experiences to guide my decision.