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The Kaufmann family (Decade Challenge is finished)
Daravi
Posts: 1,142 Member
Hello fellow simmer,
Originally I have started this challenge three months ago in July and I write about it in the 'What happened in your game today'-thread. But @MelsieYT asked me if the story is written down somewhere coherently, so I'm going to copy the story parts in here.
My challenge is placed in Germany and I'm playing the legacy of the Kaufmann family with adapting the original rules, because I'm a german, so this history is more familiar to me than the american history. During the game I switch to the nice streamer StephKaycee deathroll-method (roll D20 after statistics), which made this challenge a bit more fair, but create less drama. If you don't know her yet, she plays on twitch her own decade challenge.
At first I thought I wouldn't stay long enough on this challenge and I had my struggle in the world war 1, but I can't believe that' already 3 months gone.
Then let me start:
1890
The american rules forbid to start in San Myshuno, but for me it's essential for the story.
It's 1890. A young and poor couple has move from the countryside to the big growing city. Ludwig and Viktoria Kaufmann, her marriage was arrange by their former squire, who let them go because of a bankruptcy. They hope to find a better paid job there. They found a cheap room in one of the tenement barracks. Ludwig started his 3 years military service and Viktoria became pregrant soon.
Living in a cramped building, they have to deal with loud neighbors and dirty environment all the time.
In late 1890 their first son named Wilhelm (after the emporer) was born.
Ludwig is very ambitious and and impressed his superiors, so he ranked up, while he is proud of his family growing extended.
While he is family orientated, he is also unflirty in due of the prudish era, but he did his marital duties and Viktoria became pregnant again. It's now 1891. He began to be interested in the social democratic party and workers right, since the anti-socialist laws were lifted.
Originally I have started this challenge three months ago in July and I write about it in the 'What happened in your game today'-thread. But @MelsieYT asked me if the story is written down somewhere coherently, so I'm going to copy the story parts in here.
My challenge is placed in Germany and I'm playing the legacy of the Kaufmann family with adapting the original rules, because I'm a german, so this history is more familiar to me than the american history. During the game I switch to the nice streamer StephKaycee deathroll-method (roll D20 after statistics), which made this challenge a bit more fair, but create less drama. If you don't know her yet, she plays on twitch her own decade challenge.
At first I thought I wouldn't stay long enough on this challenge and I had my struggle in the world war 1, but I can't believe that' already 3 months gone.
Then let me start:
1890
The american rules forbid to start in San Myshuno, but for me it's essential for the story.
It's 1890. A young and poor couple has move from the countryside to the big growing city. Ludwig and Viktoria Kaufmann, her marriage was arrange by their former squire, who let them go because of a bankruptcy. They hope to find a better paid job there. They found a cheap room in one of the tenement barracks. Ludwig started his 3 years military service and Viktoria became pregrant soon.
Living in a cramped building, they have to deal with loud neighbors and dirty environment all the time.
In late 1890 their first son named Wilhelm (after the emporer) was born.
Ludwig is very ambitious and and impressed his superiors, so he ranked up, while he is proud of his family growing extended.
While he is family orientated, he is also unflirty in due of the prudish era, but he did his marital duties and Viktoria became pregnant again. It's now 1891. He began to be interested in the social democratic party and workers right, since the anti-socialist laws were lifted.
Post edited by EA_Solaire on
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Ludwig wasn't excited about his newborn daughter, he prefer sons.
Even so he blame Viktoria to be a bad housewife many times, when the meal wasn't ready or the bathroom was dirty. Sometimes Elisabeth yelled back, but then he threaten her with the divorce, so she obey, like a good obedient wife has to do in the eyes of the church.
She wrote all financial expenses in a book which she has to show Ludwig.
Wilhelm has destroyed the doll house. Now Viktoria was angry too.
Living in the tenement was not healthy, many sickness spread around the dirty neighborhood. A treatment from a doctor was too expensive for the family. They have to deal with it without medicine. Viktoria is pregnant again with the third child.
My main family has entered the year 1892 with three children now, 1 boy and 2 girls. This will be an important year for them, since the military service will end this year and a recently cholera epedemic hits the city of hamburg very hard. Because of the epedemice that politician nationwide and scientist demand a change in the tenements, since they are a source of deseases through the horrific hygiene facilities.
It was autumn 1892 when the military service ended for Ludwig. Also the landlord dismissed the family from their home after the politician demanded the demolitions from the old tenements for new and better buildings for the growing city. Ludwig told Viktoria the bad news.
They found a tiny and forgotten cottage near the coast, and where allowed to settle in there.
It was almost winter when they arrived there. Ludwig got a job as fisherman. It was still a cramped place and they almost had no money, but also it was a new beginning and a new chance for them.
In the late 19th century the family protraits became quite popular. One day the family went to the photograph and let made a picture from them.
We have Viktoria and Ludwig and the children (left to right) Elisabeth, Wilhelm and Mathilde.
In the morning Ludwig decorate the christmas tree and caught the fres fish, then Viktoria prepared the feast for the evening.
A friend of the family came over.
It was late afternoon, when everything was prepared. The family went to the local church for the mass. But nobody was there. It looked that the priest hold his mass somewhere else, so Ludwig took the responsibility.
Ludwig has hold the speech for the nativity play and Viktoria played the organ.
The other village members were happy.
It was almost 7 pm when the family went home. It's about time for gifts.
Then we had a surprise for the children. Santa Claus has arrived.
And ofcourse everyone was well-behaved last year.
(In case you are wondering about the expensiv doll house in the back. Ludwig found it in the trash and cleaned it.)
It was a really nice day for everyone.
Before playing this year I thought it would be just an ordinary year. Elections to the Reichstag took place this year. The prussian voting system was once one of the modern systems at these time, but it still was highly unequal and unfair, with gerrymendering and so on. Only men about 25 years were allowed to vote and their vote are divided in three categories because of the income taxes.
Ludwig is 23 years old and therefore he isn't allowed to vote. Because of his low income he would be only in the third class of the voters, their votes count nothing, so only around of 20 % of the 3rd class voter went to the election. So he doesn't care anyways. Ludwig fullified a dream from Viktoria, she received an easel for christmas.
They family saved as much as they could, but the still struggle to get enough money to survive. A fire has destroyed their oven, the family survived the fire, but they can't afford to buy a new one.
They dicussed what they should do, they sold almost all unnecessary belonging but it wasn't enough.
A new markethall has open near the harbour.
But the days were long and unsuccesful for Viktoria, they had to much competitors. They only sold a few items, which couldn't cover any costs.
So they had heavy argument again. Viktoria wasn't convinced from Ludwig Idea to become a self-employed salesman.
She didn't want to spend all the money for an insecure future, but Ludwig told her, this would be safer than to be on a tiny boat for fishing.
The bought a small vendor stand and started their own business.
In the end of the year 1893 Viktoria realized that she was pregnant again. Son Karl was born 1894.
1894-1895
The youngest child Karl was born. Every sibling has reacted different. Elisabeth was happy, Wilhelm sad and Mathilde angry.
Mathilde had a meltdown, because she wasn't the youngest anymore.
But Viktoria could comfort her, a couple of hours later Mathilde was calm again.
On a hot summerday the family went to the beach.
The business and the shop is slowly growing.
The Lot and House was created by Amysimsplace (in the galery), I've just have adapted a few things. She made beautiful decade buildings, I love her primary school building.
Wilhelm and Karl had both a nightmare.
Ludwig is 25 years old and he is now an adult.
Storytime with mommy.
Tomorrow in my game, the year 1896 will start. Viktoria is pregnant with child number 5. In the neighborhood one female received triplets, she won't survive this, not in this century.
1896-1898
The time flies away.
Wilhelm has gotten a doctor's playset on Christmas. He wants to become a Doctor one day (and he is friendly to every one, even aliens (of course nobody believe this part
The village children are playing together.
Mathilde had has her birthday.
Ludwig has a booming retail shop and he made enough money with it, therefor the family moved into a bigger house, but the interior is still humble. They still have to save every money for new items.
Here's the floorplan from this building.
Ground floor.
First floor
Elisabeth and Mathilde were happy to have her own room.
Although this monster ...
Elisabeth is playing on the violin, this is a picture of the updated living room, with baby Otto in the back
The family has now 4 sons and 2 daughters. Since they are considered as rich they are obliged to have a maid, a gardener and a nanny.
1898-1900
Viktoria enjoyes her knitting, but she had barely time for her hobby. The kids needs too much attention.
And it is christmas again with the end of the first decade, but this christmas is placed in 1899. I've decorated the dining room for christmas. Eating lunch or dinner is in the father's private offfice.
Everyone is ready for christmas and gifts, including the "nanny".
A private moment, if you know childrens christmas, you know how precious such moments are on christmas eve.
Father Winter was a disappointment this season. The children asked him for gifts, but all he did was hohoho, no gifts for the kid, except for one off the girls. But at least he put some gifts under the christmas tree.
It's 1900 now. I made it through the first decade *cheer*
Here he practised a speech.
Slowly but steady I changed the interior design (wallpaper yays) of the house.
The children invited their friends quite often. Pure chaos.
Ludwig with his sons Wilhelm, Karl, Gottfried and Otto.
Here is the heir Wilhelm.
Ludwig and Viktoria (both as adults).
I've created and playing for now also the future husband for Mathilde.
Spoiler for reasons.
In my game it's still 1902, I do alot of redecorating and neigborhood control. But the year 1902 is a very important year for children.
Finally my sims children are allowed to own a teddybear.
1902-1904
Ludwig had THE talk about woohoo with his son Wilhelm. It was an very akward moment for both.
Viktoria had the same talk with her daughter Elisabeth. It was awkward situation for them too, but now she knows her duties.
Viktoria, Elisabeth and Mathilde went to the photo studio to make pictures (for potential husbands).
Eliabeth and Mathilde.
Elisabeth.
Mathilde.
Ludwig has watch a film with his busisness partners.
And at last some family pictures.
Otto has his birthday, this houshold is now without small children, they grow up so fast.
Also I finally have the two futured husband ready for the girls, with wellpaid jobs.
1904-1907
Thanksgiving/Martinstag
Viktoria was in charge for the shop, ...
... until a little surprise happened again.
Ludwig was happy.
And Viktoria is knitting again.
The two sister help her mother now with the houshold duties.
Just an usual evening with guests again.
Then it was time for the birth.
Here we have little Hedwig, born in 1906.
And later as a tiny toddler.
Ludwig plan to arrange the wedding with on of his businesspartner Mr. Goldschmidt. He agreed.
But without the agreement from both children, nothing would happen. So it's time for a first meeting.
Phew, both like each other and fell in love a little bit later, but no kissing yet. Walter Goldschmidt is an private attorney.
And at last it's time to say goodbye to Wilhelm. He is going to leave for his one year military service before he is going to study, because of his "wealthy" father. He hugged every family member and took a lot of advices.
He arrived in a blizzard. (Credit to this build are going to amy again, I just took her first world war camp as a training camp for my soldiers)
1907-1909
I'm focusing my gameplay more on the heir Wilhelm. But at first a few pictures from aging up Elisabeth to an young adult and her proposal with Walter Goldschmidt.
Wilhelm during his military training.
Okay boys, this we have to try again. (Some of his friends on this picture got sick there and therefore they are not suitable for the military service.)
As a good son he went back to his family after the military duty and greeted his father with a salute.
He has asked his father to study medicine to become a doctor. He is dreaming about to help people, since he is good-kinded and cares a lot about the people around him.
But Ludwig wasn't amused about this question and they had an argument, until Ludwig said no.
Although Wilhelm didn't give up so easily.
In the end Ludwig agreed. He rather would prefer that his son follows him in his footsteps and become his successor, but he also wanted all the best for him and he should get these chances he never had.
So Wilhelm went to the university to become a doctor in medicin and he is going to study hard.
Viktoria had nostalgia after her first-born, so he invited her to his little accommodation and comforting her.
After his first year, he became member in a student society.
It's now 1910 and the first world war decade begins.
An old friend came over to Wilhelm with a gift.
The wedding of Walter Goldschmidt & Elisabeth Kaufmann.
It was a good wedding, the whole family and some friends were invited. Everyone had fun and all received a plus 3 Happyness moodlet. Elisabeth moved afterwards to him and has now the name Elisabeth Goldschmidt geb. Kaufmann.
The cake.
Wilhelm and Viktoria have renewed their wedding vows, they are married for twenty years now.
Scenes from the wedding party
Mathilde was always a little bit rebellious. And this american journalist, who was invited to wrote an article about the wedding for the emigrated german newspaper, fascinated her, so she wanted to speak with him privately in her room.
A little bit flirting here and a nice compliment there, and now we have the next lovebirds.
The sad part: Some of the older founders have died.
The cemetry begins to fill.
But a new generation is born.
Fritz Goldschmidt, born in 1910.
In 1911 Wilhelm agreed to help his best friend's little brother Frederick Hegenbrecht with the university. Frederick struggles a lot and is on probation. Wilhelm is now on his last year.
Drama around Mathilde and John.
After this they went in to the cinema.
Mathilde told her parents that she fell in love, but neither Ludwig nor Viktoria are happy about it and forbid her to meet him ever again. (Background story: Until 1953 a german woman lost her citizenship automatically when she married a foreigner, even when she became stateless because of this. Vis a vis, a foreign woman gained the german citizenship automatically.)
Mathilde was angry about this stupid rules and then sad.
So she lamented her grief in her diary.
They met secretly after this incident.
Mathilde has moved temporarily to her sister in Windenburg to help her with the little newborn baby and the extended family after her parents-in-law had died suddenly. One day, on the return from a food shopping trip, she was threatened by criminals who wanted to rob her money. As luck would have it (or simply my headcanon), John was in the near and could protected her.
She told everything to her father about this incident, and he wasn't amused about the danger of the city and he agreed to met John at all.
Mathilde told again the heroic rescue by John.
When Mathilde looked after her little sister John asked him about his blessing for the marriage and hegave him his blessing.
Mathilde was curious what John wanted from her.
He was a little bit nervous.
But he worried for nothing.
Today I let Wilhelm finish his university degree (year1912) and let him move back to his parents. It's time again for family pictures.
Let us start with Hedwig.
I really wish female children could have long skirts.
Ludwig und Viktoria nearly reach the senior age.
Now Wilhelm is a doctor in medicine.
I remember when my sister made her university degree in england, they made pictures with my parents too. So Wilhelm posed together his parents.
Mathilde
Mathilde travelled with her father to Johns' city in the usa. The titanic sank in april this year and she felt uncomfortable through the one week ride over the atlantic ocean. But they made it.
(I'm sorry for the poor quality wedding pictures.)
And one year later Dorothy Clarkson was born.
Aww, he's so proud of his daughter.
A family dinner. Why using the dining when you could use the comfy living room for eating?
Wilhelm
Well, Wilhelm was also looking for a potential spouse, and he found her in the neighborhood.
(this picture was made on the date, sigh stupid, stupid smartphones)
Time to get to know the family, especially the mother-in-law.
The like each other.
One day in 1913 Wilhelm and Luisa visited the beach, where Wilhem made a proposal of marriage.
We're writing still the year 1913
Hedwig is learning knitting, she has already skill level 6.
Wedding of Wilhelm and Luisa
The wedding dinner.
Finally some time alone.
Shortly after Karl has proposed and married his Helene.
This time Wilhelm is in charge, no heart operation on woman in labor!
The year 1914 is is getting closer and closer, and I'm really nervous about this.
This picture from the whole family took over 5 rl hours to take, it was the best catch I got and still some of them aren't seen on this. Herding cats must be easier.
Hedwig and Helene aren't seen on the picture (they are hidden), the Goldschmidts foster kids aswell. At this point I didn't care anymore. The crib symbolizes the youngest grandchild, Maria.
Since it's the last peaceful christmas before the war, and I anxiously don't not know who is going to die, I really wanted to celebrate it big, with the whole family. Maybe as a final goodbye in advance, and for later to remember the "good" old times, I don't know. I'm really attached too much on my sims. The family portrait you have already seen. Winterfest lies on the same day with the next year, but in the past years I have always set Christmas in the year before. the War will begin on day 5/8.
Christmas dinner
Talks
Time for presents
Before ww1 has started, Luisa gave birth to Anna, and to give Wilhelm a last woohoo before he was sent to the war. And she is pregnant again.
Let the waiting begin.
Luisa is learning knitting, because he mother died shortly after her birth, she had never had a chance to learn it.
Viktoria took care of Anna too.
Aswell Hedwig is doing the same.
Now the results of the death rolls:
4 from 21 have died, 5 from 21 were heavy injured and returned to their families. 2 from the 4 death were just 18 years old, their father were with them when they had fallen. Nobody from the Kaufmann family has died or was injured yet. Still missing the deathroll from Otto, but he is still a teenager.
The results show the right death ratio after the end of the war, so I've decided I'm going change the rolls for the next years into the injury rolls, 1-3 means they are heavy wounded and return back to home.
Sarabeth2984 has asked
Wilhelm is "okay", but he is devasted about all the horror from the battlefield and he miss his family too. I did some research, the field doctors were overwhelmed by the injuries from the new developed weapons. Some doctors were eagerly to learn something new and were happy to cutting off a corpses, others are not. Since Wilhelm has the good trait, he isn't happy about the slaughter. Soldiers have a bad opinion about the doctors. That hurts him. The propaganda glossed the reports, he see the reality.
Fieldpost and diary were necessary to keep up the moral.
First time I saw Wilhelm getting a drink.
He see his children raised just by pictures.
This is the new home from Wilhelm and Luisa and the two daughters, it's small compare to the home where they used to live before. Luisa already moved in but storywise she is still considered to live with her mother-in-law, but not for very long, basically until I'm finish with this text.
But the times are changing and it isn't getting better. Ludwig and Viktoria had to close their retailshop, because it was declare as not wartime important, so they have much trouble to restock. (Well real reason was the reset of retail perks after the 9/3/20 patch and I wanted to sell the shop anyway.)
In 1915 Ludwig was sending back and retired from the war duties, mostly in due of his age and the importance of his company who needed him. He is now a senior.
He had worked in the headquarter offices, where he got paranoid from all the reports from the front.
The old house became too big for Ludwig and Viktoria take care of. They weren't farmers and producers, so they couldn't get any PoW for help.
After a long discussion, the have decided to sell their house and going to move to a more quiet village, where Ludwig could recover.
Bad news for Karl, the dice decided that he was wounded badly, so he was sent home and is dismissed from the military duty. His negative trait is lazy now.
Otto is now an young adult and was sent immediately to the front. Lusida is now alone with two toddlers, but sometimes her mother-in-law visited her.
A picture which leads always to cringe later in the life of a child.
The two toddlers Anna and Elfriede are playing together. Her mom took the moment to rest a litttle bit.
And met his two daughters.
They like him and both gave him a hug.
Wilhelm was with his thoughts still at the lazaret and could barely enjoy the family life.
Luisa has tried to comfort him but it failed utterly.
She has gotten nightmares ...
and craving attacks at 4am.
It turns out that Wilhelmmake made her pregnant again during his holiday.
But life has to go on, the hunger is growing stronger and winter is coming (the child book reading and the season aswell).
1917
Luisa tried to distract her daughters from the hunger. They have their fruits and vegetable from the garden, which has softened the hunger a little bit, but it didn't last long.
Of course Viktoria came over to see the new born baby girl Johanna. So Luisa took the chance to get some sleep.
It's cold in the house, only the living room is heated. Both older sisters try to stay warm.
Lonely christmas dinner, with linghtening a candle of hope.
I swear the game knows what I'm playing, maybe reading the claender or so. Luisa got nothing from the presents under the christmas tree, and both children received a lump of clay.
Surprise visit from Wilhelm. The daughter were happy. But the marriage is struggling. Wilhelm denied the welcome hug from Luisa. At least he played with all the children.
Kings Day (in January)
Instead of cheering the King, Luisa decide to go with the kids to the central cemetry and memorial to teach them what is war really meant to be and how good it would be for the people if there would be peace again.
(A little bit background story for the next couple of years.)
(I can't help, these three little girls look like the nieces of Donald Duck
Time to get to know each other again and reintegrate into the family.
The love between them still exist.
Johanna shows Wilhelm her Toy horse and give him a hug and then its time to sleep.
He enjoyed to put his children into the bed.
His two younger brothers Gottfried and Otto came home too, unharmed.
1919
New family portraits
In the fotostudio
In the garden
Summertime
That means playing in the garden. I'm not sure if this is historical correct, but I don't care.
Anna is so proud, she made the sand castle on her own.
Dinnertime in the garden, it was Pentocost, so the meal (vegetable casserole) was a little bit better than the usual toast and eggs.
That was the last update. I'm sorry for spamming.
Read Sim 66 here:https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/978195/sim-66/p1
https://kelloggjkellogg.blogspot.com/2020/10/sim-66-prologue.html
The recruiter was angry and blamed Wilhelm to be a traitor of the fatherland.
Luisa support Wilhelm for his decision, she had a bad feeling when she met first the recruiter .
The recruiter had more luck with Gottfried and Otto, who felt lost und struggle with the society after returning from the war.
And so they have joined the Freikorps.
Meanwhile the communist party members protested too.
The Spanish Influenza spread around the world, and Wilhelm did his best to help the victems. Karl got the influenza in the outbreak too, but Wilhelm could save his little brother.
The blockade is over, the peace treaty is enacted. The people tried to live there normal live. Time for a thanksgiving meal with the family, with meat again.
Next morning.
Christina, her triplettsister came to visit.
And no holiday without a visit from mother-in-law Viktoria.
"Mother, why is your belly so huge?" asked Anna
Well, she is pregant with child number four.
Wilhelm was depressed this morning, but little Anna sensed this and gave him a long cuddle, which brought him to smile.
This time the pregnacy took his price for Luisa, a lot of morning sickness and runnings to the toilet, she needed a rest, so Wilhelm took his fatherly duty to take care of the children.
The family came to the sunday visits.
Happy Birthday little Anna.
Bonus pictures. Anna after the cas.
And this picture makes me sad. Poor Ludwig, I forgot he has the paranoid trait, he went straight to the basement.
Story Blog | Forum Discussion
On the Volkstrauertag, the family went to the cemtry and remember the fallen victims of the war. Some friends of Wilhelm
Gottfried found his soulmate Maria Fischer and married her in the local church, who could need some renovations. She convinced him to leave the Freikorps. Her Father, a local criminal who own a bar, gave Gottfried a job as Entertainer.
The welcome wagon arrived to Gottfrieds and Marias new home. Since it was his family members he couldn't ignore them.
She was in labor and soon Hans, her first son arrived.
All three sisters were angry, especially Anna. But Wilhelm calmed her down.
Wilhelm has heared the news about the Kapp-Putsch and the general strike. He decided to help in the hospital for the wounded people and told Luisa about it. She was shocked.
Storytime with Mama.
Anna is preparing for christmas.
Luise started to decorate the Christmas tree and Anna finished it after the school.
Happy Birthday Elfriede.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas
Lightening the christmas tree. Many prefer still candles, but electric lights were already available, but not so sparkling.
In Germany we open the presents on Christmas Eve, in the afternoon or evening. One tradition, beloved and hated at the same time, is that children have to perfom something before they are allowed to open the presents. Something like reciting a poem, play a music instrument or singing christmas songs. The children practice in the advent time. You can guess that we children were always more or less nervous about the performance.
Anna and Elfriede sang a christmas song.
Time for the fish feast.
It was delicious and Wilhelm blews a kiss to Luise.
I did allready mention no holiday without Viktoria. And so may it be.
The next day the family still celebrate christmas.
While Luise has cooked, Wilhelm read a story for his children.
Background of these years are the unrest, terroist attack, murderers and violent battles around the Silesia where a referendum was hold. 2/3 of the citizens wanted to stay their homeland to Germany, but that wasn't the result that the victors originally wanted. Another very important topic was the German ww1 reparation sum of 132 billion Goldmark, but this couldn't Germany afford and repay. This treatment was seen as humiliation and caused the rise of nationalism and the hyperinflation.
Wilhelm helped his daughters with the school projects in science.
Anna and Elfriede climbed in the trees.
Back to Ludwig and the rest of the family.
She gets along very well with his parents.
One a nice day he asked his father what he is thinking about her. Ludwig is satisfied with Otto's choice.
This leads into a proposal...
... and a wedding.
The mandatory family photo and party.
Meanwhile, young Hedwig, now 16 years old, wanted to break free from her family and the small village where she lived.
So she started to meet some boy in her age.
She came often home very late and in due of his fatherly concerns, he expresses his anger very directly and loud.
Read Sim 66 here:https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/978195/sim-66/p1
https://kelloggjkellogg.blogspot.com/2020/10/sim-66-prologue.html