Exploring Firebase's Email Integration Capabilities

Integrating email functionalities into applications has become a staple for enhancing user engagement and facilitating vital communications. The fusion of Firebase Cloud Functions with Nodemailer presents a robust solution for developers aiming to send emails programmatically. This combination leverages Firebase's scalable backend services with Nodemailer's email sending capabilities, offering a seamless way to implement notification systems, user verification emails, or custom messaging solutions. The flexibility and efficiency provided by Firebase Cloud Functions allow developers to execute backend code in response to events triggered by Firebase features and HTTPS requests, without the need for managing a server.
Utilizing Nodemailer within Firebase Cloud Functions involves setting up a Node.js environment where you can deploy functions that send emails using SMTP or other transport methods supported by Nodemailer. This setup not only simplifies the process of sending emails but also introduces a level of customization and control over email content, recipients, and timing that is invaluable for creating personalized user experiences. As we delve deeper into the specifics of implementing this solution, it's essential to understand the prerequisites, such as having a Firebase project and configuring the necessary authentication for email services, ensuring a smooth and secure email communication channel within your application.

Exploring Cloud-Based Email Solutions

With the advent of cloud computing, developers have been able to leverage powerful backend services without the need for extensive infrastructure management. Firebase Cloud Functions represent a cornerstone of this evolution, offering a scalable and serverless environment where functions can be executed in response to various events within Firebase's ecosystem. This capability has profoundly impacted how applications are developed, particularly in the realm of automated email communications. By integrating Firebase Cloud Functions with Nodemailer, a popular Node.js module for email sending, developers can automate email workflows efficiently, enhancing user engagement and application reliability.
The combination of Firebase Cloud Functions and Nodemailer opens up a plethora of possibilities for application developers. From sending personalized user engagement emails to automating transactional email notifications, the integration caters to a wide array of email-related needs. This approach not only simplifies the development process but also ensures that applications can scale seamlessly with demand. Moreover, it underscores the importance of utilizing cloud functions for backend tasks, allowing developers to focus more on the user experience and less on the complexities of server management and email server configuration.

Command	Description
firebase init functions	Initializes Firebase Cloud Functions in your project.
npm install nodemailer	Installs Nodemailer, a module to send emails with Node.js.
require('nodemailer')	Includes Nodemailer in your Cloud Function to send emails.
functions.https.onRequest()	Defines a Cloud Function triggered by HTTP requests to send emails.
transporter.sendMail(mailOptions)	Sends an email using Nodemailer with specified mail options.

Advancing Email Automation with Firebase and Nodemailer

Integrating Firebase Cloud Functions with Nodemailer for email automation presents a paradigm shift in how developers approach communication strategies within their applications. This integration facilitates a seamless, serverless architecture that allows for the dynamic sending of emails based on specific triggers or events within the application. For example, developers can set up functions to automatically send welcome emails to new users upon registration, send password reset emails, or even dispatch customized marketing messages. This level of automation is crucial for maintaining an ongoing engagement with users, ensuring that the application remains a constant presence in their digital life.
The technical synergy between Firebase Cloud Functions and Nodemailer leverages the robustness of Firebase's backend services with the simplicity and flexibility of sending emails through Node.js. This combination not only streamlines the development process but also opens up new avenues for creating more interactive and responsive applications. By handling email operations in the cloud, developers can significantly reduce the complexity associated with managing email servers and scalability issues. Furthermore, this approach provides developers with more time to focus on the frontend and user experience aspects of their applications, knowing that the backend processes are efficiently managed by Firebase's scalable infrastructure.

Setting Up Firebase and Nodemailer

Node.js Environment

const functions = require('firebase-functions'); const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({ service: 'gmail', auth: { user: 'your@gmail.com', pass: 'yourpassword' } }); exports.sendEmail = functions.https.onRequest((req, res) => { const mailOptions = { from: 'you@gmail.com', to: 'recipient@example.com', subject: 'Email from Firebase', text: 'This is a test email sent from Firebase Cloud Functions using Nodemailer.' }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { console.log(error); res.send('Error sending email'); } else { console.log('Email sent: ' + info.response); res.send('Email sent successfully'); } }); }); 

Enhancing Communication through Firebase and Nodemailer

Integrating Firebase Cloud Functions with Nodemailer for email functionality is not just about automation; it's a strategic move to enhance application communication channels. This integration facilitates real-time interaction with users, allowing for instantaneous feedback and notifications. Whether it's a welcome email upon user registration, password resets, or custom transactional emails, the combination ensures that messages are timely and relevant. This immediacy boosts user engagement and trust in the application, as users appreciate quick and relevant communication. Moreover, leveraging Firebase's scalable infrastructure means that as your user base grows, your application's emailing capability can scale accordingly without additional overhead or complexity.
Beyond user engagement, this setup also opens avenues for analytics and personalized marketing strategies. By analyzing user interactions and behaviors, developers can send targeted emails that resonate with the user's preferences and actions within the app. This level of personalization is crucial in today's competitive digital landscape, where users expect not just functionality but also a tailored experience. Furthermore, since Firebase Cloud Functions are inherently serverless, developers can focus on crafting these personalized experiences without worrying about server maintenance, uptime, or scalability issues, thereby dedicating more resources to feature development and user experience enhancements.

Frequently Asked Questions on Firebase and Nodemailer Integration

1. Question: Can Firebase Cloud Functions send emails directly?
2. Answer: Firebase Cloud Functions themselves cannot send emails directly. They need to integrate with an email service like Nodemailer to send emails.
3. Question: Is it secure to use Nodemailer with Firebase Cloud Functions?
4. Answer: Yes, it is secure as long as you properly manage and secure your authentication credentials and use secure connections to send emails.
5. Question: Can I use Nodemailer to send emails to multiple recipients?
6. Answer: Yes, Nodemailer supports sending emails to multiple recipients. You need to specify the recipient addresses in the 'to', 'cc', or 'bcc' fields.
7. Question: Do I need a dedicated email server to use Nodemailer with Firebase Cloud Functions?
8. Answer: No, you don't need a dedicated email server. Nodemailer can use SMTP servers of popular email services like Gmail, Outlook, etc.
9. Question: How can I handle attachments in emails sent through Firebase Cloud Functions and Nodemailer?
10. Answer: Nodemailer allows you to attach files to your emails by specifying the path or URL of the file in the attachments array in your mail options.
11. Question: Is there a limit to the number of emails I can send using Firebase Cloud Functions and Nodemailer?
12. Answer: The limit depends on the SMTP server you are using. For example, Gmail has a limit on the number of emails you can send per day.
13. Question: How do I monitor the success rate of emails sent through my application?
14. Answer: You can use Nodemailer's callback functions to track the success or failure of each email sent and log this information for monitoring purposes.
15. Question: Can I customize email templates using Firebase Cloud Functions and Nodemailer?
16. Answer: Yes, you can create custom HTML templates and use them in your Nodemailer email options to send styled and personalized emails.
17. Question: How do I ensure that emails sent through Nodemailer don't end up in the spam folder?
18. Answer: Ensure that you're using a reputable email service, set up SPF and DKIM records correctly, and avoid using spam trigger words in your email content.

Wrapping Up Firebase and Nodemailer Integration

The integration of Firebase Cloud Functions with Nodemailer stands as a testament to the power of serverless architecture and its impact on modern application development. This combination not only streamlines the process of sending automated emails but also opens up a myriad of possibilities for engaging with users in a personalized and efficient manner. The scalability of Firebase ensures that as your application grows, your ability to communicate with your users does not become a bottleneck. Furthermore, the use of Nodemailer for email functionalities introduces flexibility in terms of email customization, delivery, and analytics. As developers continue to embrace these technologies, the potential for creating more intuitive and responsive applications becomes increasingly apparent. Ultimately, this integration exemplifies how leveraging cloud functions and email services can significantly enhance the user experience, providing a reliable and scalable solution for application communication needs.
https://www.tempmail.us.com/en/firebase/implementing-email-functionality-in-firebase-with-nodemailer

In the world of email marketing, deliverability is key. No matter how compelling your content is, if it doesn't reach your audience's inbox, it's all for naught. That's where email warmup tools and software come into play. These handy tools help you build trust with email service providers (ESPs), establish your sender reputation, and ultimately increase the chances of your emails reaching the intended recipients. But with so many options out there, which ones are the best? In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the best email warmup tools and best email warmup software that can supercharge your email deliverability.

1. What is Email Warmup?

Email warmup is the process of gradually increasing the sending volume of your email campaigns to establish a positive sender reputation with email service providers (ESPs) like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo.

2. Why is Email Warmup Important?

Email warmup is crucial because it helps you avoid landing in the dreaded spam folder. By gradually increasing your sending volume and engaging with your subscribers, you demonstrate to ESPs that you're a legitimate sender, not a spammer.

3. How Do Email Warmup Tools Work?

Email warmup tools typically automate the process of sending emails to a gradually increasing number of recipients over a specified period. They also monitor your sender reputation, provide insights into deliverability issues, and offer recommendations for improvement.

4. Key Features to Look for in Email Warmup Tools

Gradual Sending: Tools should allow you to increase sending volume slowly over time.
Monitoring: Look for tools that monitor your sender reputation and deliverability metrics.
Customization: The ability to customize warmup schedules based on your specific needs and email volume.
Reporting: Detailed reports on email deliverability, open rates, and engagement metrics.

5. Top Email Warmup Tools and Software

1. Warmup Inbox

Warmup Inbox is a popular choice for its simplicity and effectiveness. It offers customizable warmup schedules and real-time monitoring of your sender reputation.

2. Mailwarm

Mailwarm automates the warmup process and provides detailed analytics to track your progress. It also offers personalized warmup plans tailored to your sending needs.

3. GlockApps

GlockApps offers comprehensive email testing and warmup solutions. It helps you identify deliverability issues and provides actionable insights to improve your sender reputation.

4. MailGenius

MailGenius combines email warmup with email deliverability testing. It provides recommendations to optimize your email content and increase engagement.

5. Mailwarm.io

Mailwarm.io offers a user-friendly interface and customizable warmup schedules. It also provides real-time alerts for any deliverability issues.

6. WarmupMyEmail

WarmupMyEmail specializes in warming up dedicated IPs to improve deliverability. It offers flexible warmup plans and ongoing monitoring of your sender reputation.

7. Lemwarm

Lemwarm focuses on warming up your email domain to establish trust with ESPs. It offers personalized warmup strategies based on your domain's reputation.

8. Mailwarmup

Mailwarmup provides automated warmup sequences and detailed reports on your sender reputation. It also offers deliverability consulting services for further optimization.

9. WarmupBoss

WarmupBoss offers customizable warmup plans and proactive monitoring of your sender reputation. It helps you maintain a positive reputation with ESPs.

10. WarmupSMTP

WarmupSMTP specializes in warming up SMTP servers for optimal deliverability. It offers advanced warmup strategies and ongoing support to ensure inbox placement.

Conclusion

Enhancing email deliverability is crucial for the success of your email marketing campaigns. By utilizing the best email warmup tools and best email warmup software, you can establish a positive sender reputation, avoid the spam folder, and ensure your messages reach your audience's inbox.

FAQs

1. What is the purpose of email warmup?

The purpose of email warmup is to gradually increase sending volume to build trust with email service providers and improve deliverability.

1. How long does email warmup take?

The duration of email warmup varies depending on factors like your sending volume, domain reputation, and engagement rates. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

1. Can I warm up my email manually without using a tool?

Yes, you can warm up your email manually by gradually increasing your sending volume over time. However, using an email warmup tool automates the process and provides valuable insights to optimize deliverability.

1. How often should I warm up my email?

You should warm up your email whenever you're sending from a new IP address or domain, or if you haven't sent emails in a while. It's also recommended to warm up before sending high-volume campaigns.

1. Are email warmup tools necessary for small businesses?

While small businesses may have lower sending volumes compared to larger enterprises, email warmup tools can still be beneficial for establishing sender reputation and improving deliverability, ensuring that your emails reach your audience's inbox.

I’m gonna be a sorcerer but just for shits and giggles I’m gonna to stick with the original equipment you start with (leather shield, sorcerer’s staff and the mail breaker).
So I need any advice how to make the mail breaker even worth carrying, or what spells I should go with to make up for it. Any help or ideas is welcome lol

Hi, I'm looking for people willing to play a visual novel game and answer some questions about the experience. The study is a part of a Computer Science thesis.
Here's the deal:
💻 It's all online through a Google Form
⏰ Takes around 30-40 minutes total
📝 You answer some basic questions about yourself
🎮 Play through a visual novel game, make choices
🔂 Play it again with slightly different scenarios
✍️ Give feedback after each playthrough
What's a visual novel? It's a game where you read text and your choices change the story. Basically, it's like an interactive book/comic with visuals.
Anyone who can read in English is welcome! You don't need prior experience with these types of games.
The survey is totally anonymous (apart from collecting the e-mails).
Interested? Click this link to get started:
https://allocate.monsteHZZFTGVY
Share with friends who'd be into this!

Hi, I'm looking for people willing to play a visual novel game and answer some questions about the experience. The study is a part of a Computer Science thesis.
Here's the deal:
💻 It's all online through a Google Form
⏰ Takes around 30-40 minutes total
📝 You answer some basic questions about yourself
🎮 Play through a visual novel game, make choices
🔂 Play it again with slightly different scenarios
✍️ Give feedback after each playthrough
What's a visual novel? It's a game where you read text and your choices change the story. Basically, it's like an interactive book/comic with visuals.
Anyone who can read in English is welcome! You don't need prior experience with these types of games.
The survey is totally anonymous (apart from collecting the e-mails).
Interested? Click this link to get started:
https://allocate.monsteHZZFTGVY
Share with friends who'd be into this!

Hi, I'm looking for people willing to play a visual novel game and answer some questions about the experience. The study is a part of a Computer Science thesis.
Here's the deal:
💻 It's all online through a Google Form
⏰ Takes around 30-40 minutes total
📝 You answer some basic questions about yourself
🎮 Play through a visual novel game, make choices
🔂 Play it again with slightly different scenarios
✍️ Give feedback after each playthrough
What's a visual novel? It's a game where you read text and your choices change the story. Basically, it's like an interactive book/comic with visuals.
Anyone who can read in English is welcome! You don't need prior experience with these types of games.
The survey is totally anonymous (apart from collecting the e-mails).
Interested? Click this link to get started:
https://allocate.monsteHZZFTGVY
Share with friends who'd be into this!

The EXTREMELY detailed, mega-anxiety edition!!! Major events like consult and surgery day are labeled like this:
——— EVENT TITLE ———
Surgeon was Dr. David Whitehead and I saw him on Long Island (New Hyde)
Summarized list of major dates:
Consult: July 19 2023 Mental health letter acquired: August 9 Dates discussed: September 12 Pre-op appointment: December 18 Surgery day: January 8 2024 Post-op: January 17
November 11th 2022: Emailed northwell health for the first time, they emailed back saying to call. I was too anxious so I avoided it for a few months.
Called northwell a few months later but got too anxious talking to the person who picked up. They were being normal and talking normally, it was just personal anxiety on my part.
October 2022 - Early March 2023: Spent time talking to trans friends and family members about their timelines and processes for top surgery.
Looked into Penn medicine for a bit but wasn’t happy with the surgeons there, specifically as a nonbinary person. The patient navigational team however is lovely.
March 2: emailed Penn health patient navigation
March 3-10: correspondence and phone calls w patient navigation (absolutely wonderful people, some of the easiest phone calls I’ve ever had) Got lots of into on surgeons, things I’d need, processes etc.
Date unknown: phone call to Penn medicine asking about surgeons and possibly setting up as a patient (v long wait time on phone) Surgeon I had heard good things about only works w CHOP program and I’m was too old for that program. Other surgeons I was v iffy on.
March 23rd: Back to square 1. Called northwell again to set up an appointment. Everyone I spoke to was really nice. Could have set up an appointment within the week but decided to wait till the end of the semester. Scheduled a trans care and primary care appointment for May
Couple of calls In between for confirmations. Trans care appointment got moved around a bit and ended up being moved to a phone call.
May 8th: Trans care call: Basic preliminary questions like: Emergency contact, what you’re looking for, are you thinking of looking into hormones, experience w dysphoria or dysmorphia, mental health, and eating/nutritional concerns, things you might want doc to know, piercings or tattoos, do you do any drugs or drink often, etc. total call time was about 20 minutes. Doctor was incredibly kind, I still experienced a good deal of anxiety but the call was super easy, welcoming, and friendly. Got sent contact referrals for the surgeons, as well as trans-friendly therapists under my insurance.
May 9th: started looking at list of therapists and making respective emails and calls. Checking per session costs and double checking insurance. Most charge 100-150 per session. Got in contact w one.
May 10th: Called w first therapist talking about what I’m looking for, where I am in this process, if parents are supportive, and talking about costs. She was very friendly and affirming, wants to have a few sessions to get to know me and my situation before writing a letter. Understandable and expected, but frustrating.
May 15th: Primary care appointment: Went to northwell health primary care, parkinglot was a little scary (just a large lot with a lot of cars) but everyone working there’s is super kind. Office is incredibly affirming, pride flags and lgbtq+ art everywhere. Gave my insurance card, filled out some paper work, got called in pretty quickly. I have a needle phobia and medical trauma so I was panicking a bit in the office, nurse was good w me about it and doctor was very kind, I just requested to not have any blood work done that day and that was totally fine, so I could schedule that at a later date and go w a friend. Recommended to get blood work done before scheduling a consult w a surgeon. Also prescribed me a single dose anxiety med for the bloodwork which I was very happy about. I found over time that the anxiety meds unfortunately do little to nothing for my panic attacks personally when it comes to needles but regardless having a doctor acknowledge and respect that fear and listen to me was incredibly helpful and reassuring.
May 30th: Got blood work done in a different lab, went w a friend. Scheduling for that is super easy, I think I did it online actually I don’t entirely recall. they do take walk ins but I made an appointment to minimize complications and make sure I could prepare properly. Front desk/lobby area was a little spooky, but I think that is mainly just bc of my social anxiety. They take a urine sample, you give them your prescription, eventually they call you over for blood work. Quick and easy, tech was v nice and having a friend with me was incredibly helpful. Probably the best I’ve ever done with a needle despite the fact that I did still panic and get very lightheaded lol.
Got blood work results back within the next couple days, all looks a-okay! Neat :)
June 15th This day was incredibly difficult. I had my first session with a therapist to establish some ground knowledge around my dysphoria and the way that I view myself. Top surgery is something that I know from research and related experience Can be difficult and expensive to get and can take time, so much of my prep work has been on the understanding of taking things a step at a time and just knowing that the current way things are doesn’t have to be forever. It allowed me to be able to live with myself while prioritizing my health better. This read to the therapist as “not having the level of dysphoria [she’s] come to expect and look for in someone who is trans” and was largely based off the fact that I don’t want to go on hrt. Past that point I started to break down because now my method of learning to live with myself felt like it was actively going to work against me and prevent me from getting top surgery. I’m not good at talking about my dysphoria, I can’t imagine it’s easy for anyone, especially to a stranger I just met. It was rough, and I felt incredibly mentally drained after ending the session.
June 19th Called it quits with the first therapist, I felt incredibly disrespected and the one session we had put me in a mental spiral for days. It can feel some times in this process like the people you have to get permission from need you to be severely depressed and unable to wait another second for this procedure just in order to take you seriously.
After I left that therapist, I immediately got back to the list to find someone new. Spoke to a new therapist via email, but my insurance is kinda weird (Blue Cross Blue Shield out of state) so its off putting to some people. This therapist recommended I go through the office she started out at (Heart and Soul Counseling)
————- Time Skip ——————
IM BACK its time for some record keeping. Got super overwhelmed and lost the energy to document my process for some time so here goes.
HEART AND SOUL COUNSELING: My experience w/ this therapy office was mostly good. The person in charge, Jesse, was absolutely lovely and responsive. Never spoke in person, but any text/email interaction was prompt, respectful, and kind. The office is stellar with email/text communication, so I only ever had to call them once when I was initially inquiring about the office. This is something I wish all therapy/counseling centers did better, eliminated a ton of my anxiety and hesitation to speak to therapists.
I got set up w someone as quickly as possible and established what my goal was (to acquire letter document for my surgery team). I attended multiple session w the therapist, she was a kind lady but the sessions were unfortunately p miserable for me. We didn’t fit well, but I was willing to stick it out rather than backtrack on my process. She also did not invalidate me or accuse me of not being trans which was a major step up from my first therapy experience. Once I acquired my letter I did stop therapy there, I kindly explained to the therapist that it wasn’t a good match, but I may honestly explore my options at the office in the future. Receptionist there was also lovely and they had a cool fish tank.
———- CONSULT STARTS HERE —————
July 19th: CONSULT!!! My mama and I went to Dr. David Whiteheads office for a consult. Parking was a nightmare so I’m super glad I didn’t have to drive for this one (ty mama). Consult went really well, and the staff were all super friendly. Dr. Whitehead is cool, very chill energy and a bit intimidating, but I’m scared of everyone so that’s nothing new. First question he asked me is what I wanted/what he could do for me which caught me more off guard than it should have? I didn’t realize going into this process how many times people ask you what you’re having done even if it’s already written down, because there’s so much variety in what you can look for in the results.
We talked about the procedure, went through a slideshow n stuff, and discussed how I wanted a flat chest w/ no nipple preservation. They made sure to specify that my mental health professional letter had to include that I did not want nipple preservation because thats technically a “non-standard” appearance. Also had the first breast exam I’ve ever had in my life. Can’t say i’m a fan (not that I need to worry about that anymore!) Took pictures n measurements n such, and also discussed recovery supplies and care w me and my mom.
August 9th: After a plethora of painfully awkward therapy sessions, a decent amount of crying, and a couple breakdowns in friends cars/backyards, I got my therapist letter and sent it to the surgeons office. It ended up needing minor revisions to which I contacted Jesse from Heart and Soul and he got me the revised letter immediately. Unfortunately the surgical coordinator was out of office for the rest of the month the next day ;w;. Is how it be.
September 12th: Got a call from Surgical coordinator mid-painting class that I stepped out to take. Started discussing surgical dates!! She was kind enough to email the dates to me which was lovely because I was absolutely shaking/mind blank haha. There was an option for January 8th which felt like an absolute miracle the way it would work with my school schedule. It would give me a solid two weeks recovery time before spring semester began. Because it would be a couple months out, I was asked to contact her in the second week of October to submit documents to insurance.
(Timeline note: earliest date offered was in early December)
October 10th: Documents sent to insurance, predetermination started
October 30th: Received mail from my insurance approving my procedure as medically necessary (YAY) But! This is also where things get,,, fun! Dr Whitehead’s surgical coordinator, Alyssa, is a blessing and was very helpful and prompt with me despite the fact that I had to email her pretty constantly during this general time which I still feel bad about.
Around this time, my mom got diagnosed with breast cancer, which I reported to the surgical coordinator because it influences my family history (grandmother also had breast cancer). It was asked that I get genetic testing done because this could impact my surgical procedure. Now I’m handling the setup on this between helping my mom in her process setting up consults and considering her options because there of course is a lot of crossover to the steps I’ve already completed and am familiar with.
November 1st: Very kind person at cancer genetics calls me, sends me a family history questionnaire to fill out before I can be scheduled to see a genetic counselor. Filled out the questionnaire the same day.
November 8th: Called cancer genetics to check about scheduling, office was not open so left a message. Got a call back later in the day. I have a virtual appointment with a Genetic counselor Tuesday the 14th. Current plan is a mailed saliva genetic test but I’m going to ask if theres anything I can do to get results/materials quicker. If I can’t get results/feedback by December 8th my surgery date may get deferred.
Trying not to stress too much because there is little to nothing I can do about this, and I just don’t want to be sad. I’ve kept telling myself throughout this process to not get excited and not let myself believe anything is solid because something could happen at any time that might mess up my schedule or plan, and If I convince myself I’m in the clear, those changes will hurt a lot more. So far I think thats been a good move, because this really sucks.
My surgery date is still officially scheduled as of now as well as my first post-op. I will also ideally have pre-surgical testing done December 18th should I be cleared by genetics in time (Fingers crossed!)
ALSO! Def lean on friends if/when you can during this process. It can absolutely be challenging, and having a support system is incredibly important and helpful. I’m super lucky to have really lovely and supportive friends that are around to listen to me and send me pictures of stupid little animals.
November 9th: My mama is scheduled for her double mastectomy on December 4th
November 10th: Did some shopping with my mama for recovery supplies for double mastectomy/top surgery. Having watched a million and a half transition/top surgery videos and tiktoks and having read all the blogs and posts and tweets makes you a great support for someone suddenly faced with an upcoming double mastectomy! We might go shopping this weekend for some button ups and zip ups for her, clothes shopping is better done when you can try stuff on
November 14th: Meeting w genetic counselor: Victoria Webb, one of the loveliest medical care workers I’ve ever met. Had a virtual appointment with her to discuss and set up genetic testing. I explained to her about my situation w the proximity of my surgery and tight deadline as well as my willingness to do a blood test instead of a saliva kit to get results quicker. She was so incredibly kind and good with me, ended up being able to do a saliva kit and get results in time she deserves every good thing in life.
December 18th: pre-surgical testing: This was at the main hospital, everyone was really nice but I had a really bad panic attack despite being on Xanax.
The process is sort of like getting a physical. Measurements like weight and blood pressure get taken, lots of preliminary health questions. The people working with me were really kind and I was very open with them about my anxiety, it was visually apparent though anyway because I started crying the second we even started talking about the blood draw.
Once the equipment was actually brought into the room I started to panic. Both of the women working with me were really kind and helpful and tried to distract me and keep me talking the entire time, but I did still have a really horrible panic attack. Every muscle in my body locked up and I lost all my color, took a bit to get back to a spot where I could move and talk properly because my speech was affected too. It was a bit scary but funny to think about in post. Thanked the medical staff for being patient w me as always, a good portion of the anxiety is also guilt about making things harder for them. Got through it tho. Def eat before presurgical if allowed, I didn’t and that probably didn’t help!!
———- SURGERY DAY ————-
January 8th:
Ok so surgery day:
This day was very scary. Got my phone call the Friday prior for my surgery time which ended up being 1pm and I was asked to arrive around 11. Got there at 10 and went in at 10:30.
Called up to check in then in waiting room till someone brought me back to change. I told her right away about my anxiety with the iv bc that’s legit all I could think about. Got changed right after. I was generally shaky and a little disoriented the entire time because I was panicking but everyone was very patient with me. Clothes and belongings go in a bag in a locker and you get two gowns one that faces back and one that faces front. I was given underwear and a pad as well because lucky me I got my period a couple days before my surgery.
The pre-op area is a lot of little cubicles with curtain divider things, blue soft chairs, and medical equipment. Everyone I met and spoke to was very kind, but any time someone even suggested starting my iv I would panic. I was informed it would have to be placed in my hand and that terrified me, I’m especially anxious and sensitive about my hands and fingers. I think doctors and nurses tend to misunderstand exactly where my fear is with needles and ivs. It isn’t the pain that scares me, but the concept of veins and and anything being in them. Even writing this right now is horrible so I’m going to stop w any further detail. I spent the entire two-ish hours of pre-op absolutely terrified about this iv.
I wasn’t really keeping track of time but dr whitehead came in to do markings for surgery. They had cool rainbow socks on,big fan. Having your chest drawn on and just like, moved around n shit is such an experience. Felt bad because I kept losing my balance but doctor Whitehead is cool and I am 98% less scared about them now.
Probably my most favorite person I met during my entire hospital experience was the anesthesiologist. I know he told me what his name was but I couldn’t focus on or retain information at the time. He told me we could essentially put me to sleep with gas before putting the iv in and for the first time in probably a solid week I felt like I could calm down a little. He took a look at my hand and arm to check my veins which always does freak me out a bit but I’m more used to that kind of thing at this point and I know nothing bad is going to happen. One of the nurses came in with the iv equipment and he let her know that were going to wait till in the or which was also incredibly helpful because I absolutely panicked when I saw that little supply kit again.
V nice lady brought me into the or, I’d never been in one before it was cool. They had a little music speaker which was really cool. Took off blue jacket gown and they helped me onto the table. They put a warm blanket over my legs and my chest to help me calm down. Before long they gave me a mask w fun happy sleepy time gas, they let me keep my arms on my chest for a while which was really nice because I was still scared. I started getting loopy pretty fast but I still heard when someone mentioned where the iv equipment was and panicked a little because of that. I remember feeling them take my hand for that but never actually felt anything happen. Just some fear but the gas was v helpful obvi. Someone said they would see me in a little bit, and then I was groggily waking up in recovery.
Recovery was a little rough bc the iv was still there (fully wrapped up so I couldn’t see it though which was rad) but I was still really anxious about it until it was taken out and when it was taken out. For anyone that struggles w this i did not feel them remove it, just the tape. Everything was mentally much easier after that. After a while, going over instructions w parents, a cracker , some ginger ale and some juice, my dad helped me Get dressed and I was helped out to the car in a wheel chair. Ride was smooth bc of remaining numbness and meds except a few Bumps in the road
TOP SURGERY GOTTEN
My post op date was scheduled for Jan 17th and that’s the day I got my drains out followed by several post op check-ins. First week of recovery was miserable but things exponentially approved each day past that, and I went back to school in person two weeks post-op with driving and item-carrying assistance from friends!
Will upload recovery notes at a later date! Feel free to message me with any questions, more than happy to answer and give info! I’m a bit over four months out from surgery now and thriving 🥳

The story about me (36f) and my sister (38f) is long and complicated, so I’ll try to summarise as short as possible, which is long anyway. (English is not my first language - sorry for grammar!)
Sister has some kind of psychological issues she refuse to deal with properly. I suspect BPD, but I may be very wrong. Mom mentioned she may have gotten a diagnosis lately, but didn’t remember if it’s ADHD or Autism. She’s a very extrovert person who thrives when being around people. She only has two moods: ecstatic or depressed. She absolutely worships people, until one day when she cast them down to the status of a devil. Nothing in between.
Her life is cyclical. It starts with finding a new area of interest that she dives head first into. She meets people doing this thing she’s interested in and idolise them. She says it’s her calling in life, and credits her new-found mental wellbeing to this new calling. She invests everything she has into the new thing - time and money, even starts working in the field. Then comes the depression. Every time she claims she has never felt like this before. The people she worshipped are discarded and branded “bad” or “crazy”. She relies on family to get her back on her feet, then find a new area of interest that “saves her”, and the cycle starts anew. Over and over again.
I broke with her almost 5 years ago. She was depressed and lived with our parents again at that time. I was back to school to get a new career after first being burnt out, then losing my job. My daughter was 3 years old. At that time, I realised my marriage was a huge cause of my own depression and that he was cruel to out child and decided to get a divorce. My ex was very abusive, so I was facing the threat of being homeless, jobless and lose custody. My sister ripped me to shreds and told me that my problems were nothing compared to hers, and that my situation did not excuse not being there for her. For context - she called me every day while I was in school and made me “talk her out of” doing things to herself for 2 hours - every day for weeks while refusing therapy or medication. I lost it.
We went NC about 1 year, then to very LC the last 3 years. It’s working kinda good! As long as I don’t get close to her, we can even see each other without drama. The times I’ve slipped up and allowed too much contact has been a disaster, she becomes possessive straight away and demand I apologise to her for what I did.
My daughter (8f) is the only child in the family. Thank goodness my sister hasn’t had any, and doesn’t plan to either. My sister instantly fell in love with her, before she was even born. While she seems to forget daughter’s existence from time to time, she also adores her from time to time. She showers daughter in gifts and attention. When they last hung out, Sister even pretended to love the very same things as Daughter, which at the time was rainbows and unicorns.
Since I broke with Sister, she has met Daughter 3 times. Once overnight 3 years ago, the other 2 times just a couple of hours outside of home. I do invite her here from time to time and say she’s always welcome, but she never does. She doesn’t bother coming here even if she’s in the area. She lives 4 hours away with car, and now claims she can’t travel here because her horse needs her. Good for us, I thought. Less drama.
But last week I found a package in the mail, addressed to Daughter. In it were the gifts Sister missed giving her - Christmas, Birthday and Easter. There was also a card, in which Sister writes how much she loves Daughter. Boxed in with a green marker, she writes that it’s her biggest dream to have Daughter visiting her for a weekend, and that she’s willing to meet us halfway to pick her up. She asked me a year or so ago, but I haven’t heard a word from her this year.
Yesterday, my mom said Sister has been in touch with her too, asking her to bring Daughter to her. No one asked me. Sister still sends Daughter unicorns and rainbows, even though Daughter hasn’t been into them for more than two years. She does not know my Daughter anymore.
Daughter loves her aunt, and often talk about her and makes her drawings and jewelary. She doesn’t know the issues my Sister has. She does not know she is forgotten for weeks, maybe months at a time. I’m scared my Sister will break her heart, or mess her up. I have not asked Daughter if she wants to go, and she didn’t say anything when reading the card either.
I told mom that Sister is always welcome to come here, and that I want her to come and see Daughter at least twice before I’m ok with Daughter going there (with my parents - not alone. Even mom agrees whole heartedly that Daughter should not go there alone). Mom thinks it’s unreasonable, because Sister is afraid of me and won’t come. I have never raised my voice to her. Never said harsh words. Just refused to do what she wants, so I feel it’s unfair to blame me.
What is your take on this? Am I being unreasonable to “force” my sister to come visit us in order to see my daughter?

Here's a lil bit about me:
Stuff I'm into:
-Music: I play guitar, keyboard, bass and sing and mainly love jazz and r&b and a bit of j rock/j-pop at times
-Games: I'm a huge kingdom hearts and persona 5 fan, for multiplayer, I don't really play much at the moment but we can play Stardew valley together!
-Tv/film: I love fleabag, Atlanta, succession and beef, also watch a bit of anime sometimes but not too much, loved jujutsu kaisen and hells paradise lately.
YouTubers: I love nakeyjakey, philosophy tube, super eye patch wolf, gigguk, Ludwig/mogul mail and more!
If any of that seems interesting to you, feel free to drop me a message! Anyone is welcome, just be above 18!

Hello! everyone👏 I'm Lee and i'm going to introduce the contest!
It is the 6th MABIK Science Fair! This year, the fair will be held internationally, bringing together youth from beyond Korea
We look forward to your participation If you're a teenager(10 - 18ages), anyone's welcome!
Since it's an international fair, students from Malaysia are welcome to participate as well.
Thank you🎉🎉
Preliminary Registration : From May 7 to Jun. 7, until 2p.m. (KST / GMT+9)
If you want more information, please visit our website or send an e-mail
Organizers : National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea Sponsors : Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries / Ministry of Education
Website [6th MABIK Science Fair]

• https://mabikstudy.com/home-en/ e-mail : [unnews@daum.net](mailto:unnews@daum.net)

Do you need help with a Multiplayer Quest?
Do you just want to adventure together with a new friend?
Welcome to the Weekly Multiplayer Thread!
Feel free to post that you are looking for friends below.
A few things to remember:
- Your Multiplayer Code will reset if you minimize the game and then re-open it, try to use Reddit on a separate device to ensure you can connect together.
- Be safe and remember that by inviting someone to your island, this does give them the ability to take collectible resources from your Island and this is something that the Mod Team cannot Moderate.
- Have fun!
As always any suggestions or questions may be submitted to the Mod Team via ModMail.

This thread is for simple questions that don't warrant their own thread (although we strongly suggest checking the sidebar and the wiki before posting!). Please don't post involved questions that are better suited to a [Build Help], [Build Ready] or [Build Complete] post. Examples of questions suitable for here:

• Is this RAM compatible with my motherboard?
• I'm thinking of getting a ≤$300 graphics card. Which one should I get?
• I'm on a very tight budget and I'm looking for a case ≤$50

Remember that Discord is great places to ask quick questions as well: http://www.reddit.com/buildapc/wiki/livechat
Important: Downvotes are strongly discouraged in this thread. Sorting by new is strongly encouraged.
Have a question about the subreddit or otherwise for buildapc mods? We welcome your mod mail!
Looking for all the Simple Questions threads? Want an easy way to locate today's thread? This link is now in the sidebar below the yellow Rules section.

Hey everyone, I just recently (yesterday) signed up to be a dasher. Does anyone have any tips on how to navigate the app and be most efficient? Also, what comes in the welcome pack they mail you after your first delivery? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Hello! I have begun a digital purge recently and have been trying to keep my online persona organized. As I do this I look back at my email address, created when I was about 8, and know for a fact there are some account I don't remember tied to it. Is there a way to find and remove these accounts? I have considered just deleting the email, but usually an linked accounts or activity still remains up and active. The account is yahoo mail.

Hello Collectors! Posting a small collection to sell for the people!
Selling only to U.S. using Media Mail, all prices are shipped, please comment before PM or Chat! Questions welcome :)
2022 VILL4IN Supporters Package NM- $85- This comes with 7 LPs and one 7" release. This will not come with any of the included extras outside of the OBI strips (Magazine, Cards, Etc). This is just the records and the strips already placed. Nothing was played and was just kept on display for a while before being put into a shelf. Package includes-

• Secretflowers – Zero Point Redux
• Project Lazarus – Ц​В​Е​Т​О​М​У​З​Ы​К​А
• Mathbonus – Inner Circle
• C1PH3R – R3NEG4DE.EXE
• wuso 命 – Lonely Streets
• KAGAMI Smile – Dream Fragment
• iSorin – Neon Tundra
• ExMemory – Lifecycles

Second is my Undertale Boxset for $100- NM never played and only opened to view inserts. Mint on all other accounts.
Luxury Elite, Saintpepsi ‎– Late Night Delight Clwb Fflamingo Edition- (NM) $250- The outer box has small scrapes from shipping, however the inner sleeves of the actual records are Mint. This is number 21/50 of the set. Only the very first gold record was ever played, everything else in the box has been left untouched since the day i received.
Olivia Rodrigo- Bad Idea Right? & Vampire- NM- $50- Played each once and then put them away. Only have one mailer so wanted to bundle these and price them well.

Hello everyone, hope you're all doing well. I'm unsure if this is the correct place to ask but in any case just point me out and I'll be on my way.
The Journey: I was told that degree meant little in the video game and movie industry as far as art related jobs go, the most important thing would be the portfolio. Naturally that's where most of my efforts went into. I´ve been studying art on my own for about 3.5 years, my initial goal was to become an illustrator for companies such as Wizards of The Coast, Blizzard, etc... (yeah kind of delusional, but I'm trying to be an artist so that comes with the package) After some talks folks told me I'd be better off applying for positions such as character designer, since my skills were still far off and the likelyhood of me getting a gig like that without any work to my name was very low. On that note I did a whole comic book just to have some project out there with my name on in. Then off I went to build myself a character designer portfolio (aka character concept art).
Where I am: My main goal is to get a job, I just need some money. Minimum wage would do just fine, I just want to make art for it. I'm not picky, any position would do. Currently I have some months and 8 hours a day to spend on it, but little direction. About three months into this endevour and here I am still collecting "nos" and 0 interviews/e-mails back. I'm currently applying through platforms such as: LinkedIn, WorkWithIndies, ArtStation, Glassdoor and Indeed. I see very little jobs in which my speciality matches, if I'm being honest I'm even considering learning 3D at this point since I see far more job openings for character artists...
TLDR: I just want an art job, what skills am I missing/doing wrong? I'm willing to relocate, do remote work, whatever...
My questions are:
1 - Should I keep on developing this character designer portfolio and applying to jobs as mentioned before, even with no results so far? If so, what am I doing wrong (portfolio/job hunt related)? If not, what should I do?
2 - How can I increase my chances of getting a job in this field?
Any advice in more than welcome, thanks in advance.
Portfolio Link: https://www.artstation.com/puffer_that_walks/albums/11207904

Do you remember Microsoft 3D Movie Maker? A free demo of it came with Windows 95. If you really liked it, you could buy the full version on CD-ROM. Basically, you could make your own 3D movies using preset actors, props, and scenes. You could even add your own dialogue & sound effects using the computer's mic. It was such a hit that it developed its own cult fanbase.
A little-known fact is that if you go to the intro page of the talent book and type in “socrates,” you'll find a live-action featurette on the making of 3D Movie Maker, originally known as “Project Socrates" to the developers. It's a pretty fun watch, and I highly recommend it!
What I do not recommend, however, is “Project Caligula.”
I am (very begrudgingly) going to explain the process by which you can access Project Caligula. To start, you must make a movie, choosing Misty City as the scene, and the small café as the camera angle. As a prop, select the sphere, color it red, flatten it all the way, and put it under the left most table. As actors, select S'kelly and Augustin. Change Augustin's outfit to the tuxedo and put him in front of the café door, between the tables. Place S'kelly horizontally at his feet. You can do this using the adjustment tools in the part of the toolbar that is initially covered up.
Next, change the music to “Geist Evil Theme.” Select the Sound effect “Laugh Maniac" and place it on Augustin. Finally, make his action “At Rest" and have him stay like that for EXACTLY 17 frames.
Conclude by clicking “New Movie.” A prompt will ask you if you want to save your movie. Do so and save it as “caligula” (all lower case, no quotes). When the screen comes up, go to “Open Movie" and select caligula. Unlike other movies, whose preview pics are the first frame of the film, the screenshot will be a 3D graphic of the phrase “Welcome To Hell" in the font Bloody (which is not available in the original edition of the game) in front of a black background.
When you open the movie, instead of the preview pic, you will see a blood red background. Again, this is the first of many things you'll see that are not presets of the game. Clicking play will play 21 frames of the screen with an off-key version of Lacrimosa by Mozart playing on piano in the background. The screen will then spiral wipe to the actor Bongo in front of the black background for 13 frames. Then, his skin appears to melt off quite graphically, followed by subsequent layers of muscle, tissue and even organs, until it reaches the skeleton. This skeleton, unlike the default S'kelly, looks eerily... well…
…like it belongs to Bongo.
The shape, lines, and even proportions, are fitted to Bongo's unique build. The music gradually fades, replaced with a crescendo of tortured screams. The skeleton then opens its mouth and says one of the preset lines:
“Those bullies won't bother me now!”
While this IS a line attributed to Bongo, the line is distorted to sound deep and very demonic.
The final thing you see is a text in front of one of the basic backgrounds from the Nickelodeon edition of 3D Movie Maker. The front is hard to read, not only because the color almost completely blends in with the background, but also because it's in a strange font. When translated, it reads:
“Let all those who see this film beware! For whosoever seeks to make it their own shall suffer a fate worse than death.”
I had heard about a member of the 3DMM community who did try to modify the movie, so I found out where he lived to ask him about it. When I got there, the lawn looked like it hadn't been mowed for days, and there was several days worth of mail & papers present. I knocked on the door, but no one answered.
I looked in a nearby window and saw that most of the house was covered in blood, urine, feces, and various entrails. I opened the door only to have the severed torso of the person I was seeking fall towards me. His skin was gone, as were his legs & hips, he was covered in blood, and I thought he was dead.
Until he grabbed my ankle and gasped:
“Why… why won't he let me die?”
“Who,” I asked.
“E… Edgar…”
I called 911 immediately. The doctors made a startling discovery when they examined him: A piece of his brain was missing. According to some psychologists, this part of the brain…
…alerts the body when it dies.
As to the identity of Edgar, according to my research, he was apparently a programmer for Microsoft working on Project Socrates. He was fired for making horrifically graphic movies and later committed suicide. His suicide note read:
“You'll regret this."
I know I did...