Importance of compliance in healthcare staffing

Compliance in healthcare staffing is of utmost importance in order to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of healthcare facilities. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of patient care and protecting the well-being of both patients and staff. By adhering to compliance regulations, healthcare staffing agencies can not only avoid legal penalties and reputational damage but also foster trust and confidence among clients and patients. Additionally, compliance in healthcare staffing can contribute to the growth of business by attracting new clients and retaining existing ones. To grow business, healthcare staffing agencies must prioritize compliance and implement effective strategies to ensure that all staff members are properly trained, licensed, and qualified to provide the highest level of care.

Legal and regulatory requirements

Legal and regulatory requirements play a crucial role in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. It is imperative for healthcare staffing agencies to adhere to the set guidelines and laws to maintain the highest standards of patient care and safety. These requirements encompass various aspects such as licensing, certification, background checks, and training for healthcare professionals. Additionally, healthcare staffing agencies must also comply with federal and state regulations regarding employment practices, discrimination, and privacy. By diligently following these legal and regulatory requirements, healthcare staffing agencies can establish a solid foundation for providing reliable and qualified healthcare professionals to meet the demands of the industry.

Consequences of non-compliance

Consequences of non-compliance Non-compliance with healthcare staffing regulations in New York can have severe consequences for healthcare organizations. Firstly, it can lead to legal penalties and fines, which can significantly impact the financial stability of the organization. Additionally, non-compliance can damage the reputation of the organization, leading to a loss of trust from patients and the community. This can result in a decline in patient satisfaction and a decrease in the number of patients seeking care from the organization. Furthermore, non-compliance can also jeopardize patient safety and quality of care, as staffing shortages and improper credentials can lead to errors and substandard care. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare organizations in New York to prioritize compliance and ensure that all staffing practices adhere to the established regulations.

Understanding New York healthcare staffing regulations

Licensing and certification requirements

Licensing and certification requirements are essential to ensure compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. It is crucial for healthcare organizations to manage their staff effectively by ensuring that all employees possess the necessary licenses and certifications. By doing so, organizations can guarantee that their staff members have met the required standards and are qualified to provide quality care to patients. Managing your staff in this manner not only ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements but also promotes patient safety and enhances the overall quality of healthcare services.

Staffing ratios and patient safety

Staffing ratios and patient safety are crucial aspects of healthcare staffing in New York. Ensuring appropriate staffing ratios is essential to maintain high-quality patient care and prevent adverse events. However, healthcare facilities in New York are struggling to find the right balance in staffing ratios, which can impact patient safety. It is important for healthcare organizations to address this issue and implement strategies to optimize staffing levels. By doing so, they can improve patient outcomes and minimize the risks associated with inadequate staffing. To learn more about the challenges and solutions related to staffing ratios and patient safety in New York, click here.

Background checks and credential verification

Background checks and credential verification are crucial aspects of ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. These processes help to ensure that healthcare professionals have the necessary qualifications and meet the required standards before being hired. Background checks involve thorough investigations into an individual's criminal history, employment history, and educational background. This helps to identify any red flags or discrepancies that may affect their suitability for the position. Credential verification involves confirming the validity and authenticity of an individual's licenses, certifications, and other credentials. This helps to ensure that healthcare professionals are properly trained and qualified to provide quality care to patients. By conducting comprehensive background checks and credential verification, healthcare organizations can mitigate risks, maintain regulatory compliance, and safeguard the well-being of patients.

Developing a compliant staffing plan

Identifying staffing needs

Identifying staffing needs is a crucial step in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. One of the key factors in maintaining a compliant healthcare staffing system is the ability to retain medical professionals. Retaining medical professionals is essential for providing consistent and high-quality patient care. By creating a supportive and engaging work environment, healthcare organizations can increase the likelihood of retaining skilled medical professionals. This can be achieved through offering competitive compensation packages, providing opportunities for professional development, and fostering a positive workplace culture. By focusing on retaining medical professionals, healthcare organizations can ensure compliance by maintaining a stable and qualified workforce.

Recruitment and selection process

The recruitment and selection process is a crucial aspect of ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. It involves a systematic approach to identifying, attracting, and hiring qualified healthcare professionals who meet the necessary requirements and standards. This process begins with a thorough analysis of the staffing needs and the development of job descriptions and specifications. Recruitment strategies, such as advertising job openings, utilizing professional networks, and partnering with educational institutions, are then implemented to attract a diverse pool of candidates. Once the applications are received, a rigorous selection process is carried out, which may include screening resumes, conducting interviews, and performing background checks. The goal is to identify individuals who possess the required qualifications, skills, and competencies to provide safe and high-quality care to patients. By implementing a comprehensive recruitment and selection process, healthcare organizations can ensure that their staffing practices align with regulatory requirements and promote compliance.

Training and orientation programs

Training and orientation programs play a vital role in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. These programs provide healthcare professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to adhere to the strict regulations and guidelines set forth by governing bodies. By implementing comprehensive training and orientation programs, healthcare organizations can effectively educate their staff on the importance of compliance, thereby reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential legal consequences. Moreover, these programs also contribute to boosting revenue by improving staff efficiency and productivity, leading to enhanced patient care and satisfaction.

Ensuring ongoing compliance

Monitoring and auditing practices

Monitoring and auditing practices play a crucial role in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. These practices involve the systematic review and evaluation of staffing processes, policies, and procedures to identify any potential gaps or areas of improvement. By implementing robust monitoring and auditing practices, healthcare organizations can proactively identify and address compliance issues, such as ensuring that staff members have the necessary qualifications and licenses, adhering to patient privacy regulations, and maintaining accurate documentation. Furthermore, regular monitoring and auditing can help healthcare organizations stay up-to-date with changing regulations and industry best practices, thereby minimizing the risk of non-compliance and potential legal consequences. In summary, monitoring and auditing practices are essential components of an effective compliance strategy in healthcare staffing in New York.

Documentation and record-keeping

Documentation and record-keeping play a crucial role in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. It is imperative for healthcare facilities to maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of staff qualifications, licenses, certifications, and training records. This includes keeping track of background checks, immunization records, and any disciplinary actions taken against staff members. By maintaining comprehensive and organized records, healthcare facilities can demonstrate their commitment to meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring the safety and well-being of patients. In addition, proper record-keeping enables healthcare facilities to easily provide evidence of compliance during audits or inspections. Therefore, healthcare organizations should prioritize the implementation of robust documentation and record-keeping systems to effectively manage their staffing compliance obligations.

Continuous staff education and training

Continuous staff education and training is crucial in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. As the healthcare industry is constantly evolving, it is essential for healthcare professionals to stay updated with the latest regulations, protocols, and best practices. By providing regular training sessions, workshops, and educational resources, healthcare organizations can equip their staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex compliance landscape. Additionally, ongoing education helps healthcare professionals stay informed about emerging technologies and advancements in patient care, enabling them to deliver high-quality services. With continuous staff education and training, healthcare organizations can ensure that their staff members are well-prepared to meet the compliance requirements and provide optimal care to patients.

Addressing challenges in healthcare staffing compliance

Managing staff turnover

Managing staff turnover is a critical aspect of ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. With the constant changes in the healthcare industry and the high demand for qualified professionals, healthcare organizations must adopt effective strategies to address staff turnover. One key strategy is to prioritize employee engagement and satisfaction, as this can significantly reduce turnover rates. Additionally, implementing comprehensive training and development programs can help healthcare staff feel supported and equipped to handle their roles effectively. By focusing on these strategies, healthcare organizations can maintain compliance and ensure a stable workforce.

Adapting to changing regulations

Adapting to changing regulations is crucial in ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing in New York. As the healthcare industry is constantly evolving, it is essential for healthcare organizations to stay up-to-date with the latest regulations to maintain the highest standards of patient care and safety. This requires a proactive approach to monitoring and implementing changes in staffing requirements, licensure, and certification. By closely following regulatory updates and collaborating with regulatory bodies, healthcare staffing agencies can effectively navigate the complex landscape of compliance and ensure that their staff meet all necessary criteria. Adapting to changing regulations not only helps healthcare organizations avoid penalties and legal issues, but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement and commitment to providing quality healthcare services in New York.

Dealing with staffing shortages

Dealing with staffing shortages is a critical challenge faced by healthcare organizations in New York. To ensure compliance in healthcare staffing, it is essential to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the recruitment and retention of qualified professionals. One key aspect of this strategy is the implementation of a comprehensive marketing plan for dental practice. A well-designed marketing plan can attract potential candidates and highlight the unique opportunities available within the healthcare organization. By leveraging digital platforms, social media, and targeted advertising, healthcare organizations can effectively promote their dental practice and engage with qualified professionals. This proactive approach not only helps in addressing staffing shortages but also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements in healthcare staffing in New York.

Conclusion

The importance of compliance in healthcare staffing

Compliance in healthcare staffing is of utmost importance, especially in a highly regulated industry like healthcare. It ensures that healthcare organizations and professionals adhere to the necessary legal and ethical standards. The importance of compliance cannot be understated as it helps in maintaining patient safety, protecting patient rights, and promoting overall quality of care. In New York, where healthcare staffing is a critical aspect of the industry, compliance becomes even more crucial. Healthcare organizations in New York must comply with state and federal regulations to ensure the well-being of both patients and staff. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in serious consequences, including legal penalties and reputational damage. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare staffing agencies and professionals to prioritize compliance and stay updated with the latest guidelines and requirements.

Benefits of maintaining compliance

Maintaining compliance in healthcare staffing in New York offers several benefits. Firstly, it ensures that healthcare facilities are operating within the legal and regulatory framework, promoting patient safety and quality of care. Compliance also helps to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the healthcare system, safeguarding public resources. Additionally, maintaining compliance enhances the reputation of healthcare organizations, instilling confidence in patients, employees, and stakeholders. By adhering to compliance standards, healthcare facilities can also avoid costly penalties and legal consequences. Overall, the commitment to compliance in healthcare staffing in New York is crucial for maintaining ethical practices, protecting patients, and upholding the integrity of the healthcare system.

Commitment to providing quality patient care

Healthcare organizations in New York have a strong commitment to providing quality patient care. They understand the importance of ensuring compliance in healthcare staffing to maintain high standards of service. By adhering to strict regulations and guidelines, these organizations prioritize patient safety and well-being. They invest in rigorous screening processes, comprehensive training programs, and ongoing professional development to ensure that their staff members are competent and qualified. Additionally, they regularly evaluate and monitor their staffing practices to identify any areas for improvement and implement necessary changes. This commitment to compliance not only ensures that patients receive the best possible care but also contributes to building trust and confidence in the healthcare system in New York.
In conclusion, starting a healthcare staffing business online in 2023 is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. With the increasing demand for healthcare professionals, there is a need for staffing solutions. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily start your own healthcare staffing business and tap into this lucrative market. Don't miss out on this chance to make a difference in the healthcare industry. Visit our website, How to Start a Healthcare Staffing Business Online 2023, to learn more and get started today!

So, it’s been suggested that we present a simplified overview of the recent essays (linked below) that I co-wrote with respected analyst Hanna Kahlert, of renowned London-based MIDiA Research, which covered so much territory of interconnected concepts that all affect the current and future viability of the music industry. This summary eschews the essays’ “$10 words,” (with the exception of using “eschews” here!) with which some have struggled, and is shared in the bite-sized, more digestible form of a survey and petition in combination with this summary/bullet point preface of some of the most salient points. The survey and petition presents the essence of our thesis in the uncomplicated context of a proactive social impact campaign format.
First, let me explain. I grew up in a Long Island suburb town (about thirty miles outside New York City) during the “English Invasion” of music. I’d first hear new releases on my FM clock radio tuned to stations that prided themselves on finding the “cool stuff” first. It was a time when we were met almost every day with another astounding, mind-blowing record and artist to discover, often with something worth thinking about and culturally significant. Sometimes these releases would even be life-changing. Many of these recordings would become iconic — classic evergreens with songs covered endlessly. Yes, like today, there were also dismissable records then. The difference would seem to be that there are more songs about nothing today, replete with de rigeur profanity that only further detracts and is anything but “cool." While there are some very imaginative productions and impressive singers, there are few records now that demand a cerebral, emotional response, and there is a dearth that will be remembered as moving the needle at all, so to speak. Even customary love themes are largely just recycled imitations of the greats.
Since I also relate to the sensitivity of empaths — someone attuned to the deep feelings of those around them at a personal level — I tend to gravitate to music with a message that connects with us viscerally, that which touches the soul. Especially in our currently fraught times, there clearly is a need for thought-provoking music and for more attention given to the evolution of this genre of what was once deemed “protest songs.” Socially poignant music is a category that disguises protest in metaphors and yet is just as potent. It will create community and superfans, lift spirits, and engender a large movement of positive social advocacy. I established Socially Driven Music to develop and market #Music4APurpose. The concept resonated with Hanna Kahlert and we set about to co-write what we envision.
While developing our conclusions towards offering actionable, viable value-propositions for the music industry, we took several months to sort our ideas, research, digest and assimilate the daily deluge of information about changes battering the music industry. While I wasn’t aware that Mark Mulligan, MIDiA’s Founder and Managing Director, was developing his “Bifurcation Theory,” it is validating to be in sync with his thinking and to be presenting what I consider to be the roadmap to implementing that theory. I am excited about offering takeaways that will hopefully propel many away from feelings of helpless, hopeless despair and towards optimism and positive activism through the enrapture we seek from our music and the communities built around it.
Socially driven music has traditionally been a powerful way to raise awareness about issues across the board, such as Discrimination, Climate, Democracy, Mental Health, Bullying, Substance Abuse, Antisemitism, Equality, Homelessness, Veterans, Suicide,Terrorism, Gun Control, Women’s Productive Rights, Food and Clean Water Insecurity, Cancer and other illnesses, Animal Rights/Protection, Environmental Justice, Oceans, LGBTQ+ rights, etc. Our mandate recognizes the crucial difference of a sustained campaign animated by a song.
Above all, we must always remember and honor “The Greatest Generation” (and all Veterans) who fought and died upholding ideals that they expected us to continue to respect. Political affiliation is most often indoctrinated and not questioned individually. Support traditional Republican philosophy if you must, but #MAGA is not the antidote to Democrats and is authoritarian and dangerous to our democracy!
All causes, including music rights, are affected by the influence of a common denominator — politics. Each social cause group is a large community which can be further grown and energized with the natural evolution of fans to music superfans. Compelling socially thematic music enraptures and beckons fans to demonstrate their proud commonality and membership in a next generation fan club that can actually impact society with its fervor and political influence.
Socially Driven Music, the #Music4APurpose consultancy brand, powers extraordinary reciprocal benefits for artists and songwriters when integrated with the community of fans, causes, supportive brands and empathetic politicians ! [info@sociallydrivenmusic.com](mailto:info@sociallydrivenmusic.com)
A list of many social impact causes can be found in the dropdown menu here.
We are thrilled and very appreciative to have been invited to talk with some of the most highly regarded podcast and webinar programs which will include delving into why major record labels discouraging artists espousing political views is anachronistic, irrelevant and no longer a barrier.
As you work through the survey and petition in this post, you’ll likely have an “aha moment.” We look forward to working with you and our fast growing interactive coaltion who share a passion for energizing positive changes in causes that matter to us all.

Join us. Democracy is a big issue in 2024 and one we can influence together! (The correct local and national choices will influence the rest.)

ONE:
https://forms.gle/c3gECmDp4RyZCxxW6
TWO:

THREE:
Identify your Senators and Congressional Representatives with this link and website tool, below, and let us know in the above survey for what purpose you’d like to collaborate with them. Socially Driven Music’s mandate is to facilitate a potent music-fan-cause-brand-political influencer consortium for positive social impact.
Raise your hand in the survey if you are an artist who might want to volunteer at a voting polling station or actually volunteer to help a campaign with calling voters (and meet some new fans).
PS: Although this piece is focused on how music can influence American politics and the fraught issues it impacts, this same template can be applied worldwide. Talk to us!
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/member

And here is the epitome example of what we aspire to create:
Paul Simon wrote the masterpiece “American Tune” in 1973 and it applies 51 years later even more to today’s troubled times. This is one of the best examples of the socially poignant music that we contend is so important to create again today, and a brilliant example of a copyright that will live on forever.
The first link is Rhiannon Giddens with Paul at the Grammy Salute evening for him. The second link is Paul’s original.
The song will bring the listener to tears as it describes a societal hopelessness and yet compels the listener to fight through the despair. It perfectly summarizes the emotion powering Socially Driven Music and I hope helps convey what this written summary is trying to articulate.
https://youtu.be/67pyIglP79U?si=ICl2pDKJgTMwcXTT&t=85

Democracy, #Election2024, #MAGA, #MusicIndustry, #MusicBusiness, #Music, #SocialImpact, #SocialGood, #Biden, #Trump, #Vote2024, #ActBlue, #Veterans, #JohnLennon, #YokoOno

I grew up playing gen 3 and gen 4 mostly, that was kind of my Pokemon golden age, so I was pretty excited to get into playing the 'remakes'. It took a while, but I got there! Mostly positive experience, but theres some stuff I really just don't get.
Overall, I enjoyed BD. It feels very much like the OG Diamond, just looks a bit better (depending on who you ask). And while this similarity is a good thing, it's also my biggest gripe with the game.
There's lots of different ways you see the game industry describe these sorts of games: remaster, remake, definitive edition etc. Pokemon tend to avoid such titles, but this is very much a remaster in my opinion rather than a remake, and certainly NOT a definitive gen 4 experience, and I really think 'definitive' should be what these Pokemon 'remake' games aim for.
Here's some of my issues with it.
Issue 1: I do not understand why a definitive experience isn't given to the player in these 'remake' games, in particular I'm talking about 'Event' Pokemon, and meaningful new content (one and the same in many ways).
I hate the idea of 'Event' Pokemon. I always have. Where I grew up, we didn't have access to Event Pokemon. So Deoxys, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus etc. were always out of reach for me, and it always bugged me as a kid. How does a game like this get created, and the developers don't take every opportunity to truly make this a definitive version of generation 4? This game should have standalone events in the base game for Darkrai, Shaymin, & Arceus.
I get you can transfer them easily now with Home, and from Legends: Arceus save data you can get the Azure flute, I do get that - but it's not the same, and a separate game shouldn't be a requirement. I just do not understand why they can't make these games the definitive experience they should be, it just feels so outdated and unfair to players to have Darkrai/Shaymin events time bound and never repeated (and who the hell wants to just get a legendary off a mystery gift, it sucks. Whatever if its a shiny variant or something, but for the regular Pokemon? Trash). Just put them in the base game, or for goodness sake even make it purchasable on the Nintendo store if you really want, I'd honestly pay 4.99 for a Shaymin/Darkrai event add-on (though that too shouldn't be necessary).
I just feel the game would've been so much more satisfying and 'complete' if there were events included for these previously unobtainable Pokemon. It feels lazy and just not in the best interests of the player, or the game.
I give ORAS some credit with this in terms of how they handled Deoxys, overall I thoroughly enjoyed that and it did give me that satisfaction that I never got when playing RSE. I say 'some' because I still don't understand why Jirachi wasn't given the same treatment. The same applies to the likes of Mew in FRLG, Celebi in HGSS. I just don't get it.
Issue 2: We are so beyond Pokemon games needing difficulty options. Look, I know the games are for kids but Nintendo surely know their audience by now, a lot of people have grown up with these games and will continue to play them, at least allow us the choice of a challenge.
This game is a piece of cake. I casually strolled through it without any sort of trouble, skipped numerous trainer battles (of which their are honestly so many it becomes draining and takes away from the fun), and still didn't experience any sort of challenge until Cynthia's Milotic made me somewhat consider a tactical move choice.
Exp. Share completely kills the difficulty. Is there a way to turn it off? I had a quick check and couldn't find one. If there is, well I rescind this point, if not, then the point stands.
Issue 3: Something that will likely never happen, but I really wish for the remakes they would just focus on the third entry in the gen. For example, instead of BDSP, just focus on a Platinum definitive experience. Emerald, Crystal, if and when they do B/W I truly hope they incorporate the story of both BW & BW2 into one game if at all possible, a truly definitive experience of gen 5 (though, I won't hold my breath).
Issue 4: Is it just me, or does the Pokemon art style lack something? I've been staring and staring and I feel like it's the lack of black edges/outlines. Obviously, sprites had it. But we even saw it through Gen 6/7. I think since SwSh, the lack of those outlines really takes away from the designs - but look, this is just a personal take. I don't hate it, I just feel like something's missing.
I'd love to hear some other views on it, the above is by no means gospel, just some thoughts I found when I finished playing. Some satisfaction, but some disappointment in a big missed opportunity.

Importance of a business bank account

A business bank account is of utmost importance for any business, including a custom shoemaking business. It provides a separate financial identity for the business, allowing for better organization and management of finances. Having a business bank account also helps in building credibility and trust with customers and suppliers. In addition, it enables the business owner to separate personal and business expenses, making it easier to track and manage finances. Furthermore, a business bank account offers various financial services and tools that are specifically designed for businesses, such as merchant services, business loans, and online banking. Overall, having a business bank account is an essential step towards the success and growth of a custom shoemaking business.

Benefits of a free business bank account

A free business bank account offers several benefits that can greatly enhance the financial management of your custom shoemaking business. One of the key advantages is the ability to easily track and manage your business transactions. With a free business bank account, you can conveniently separate your personal and business finances, allowing for better organization and financial clarity. Additionally, a free business bank account provides access to a range of banking services tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses, such as merchant services, payroll management, and business loans. By utilizing these services, you can streamline your financial operations and save time and effort. Furthermore, a free business bank account offers added security and protection for your business funds, reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorized transactions. Overall, having a free business bank account is essential for the success and growth of your custom shoemaking business.

Factors to consider when choosing a business bank account

When choosing a business bank account for your custom shoemaking business, there are several factors to consider. One important factor is the type of corporation you have. Different types of corporations have different banking needs and requirements. It is crucial to choose a bank that offers specialized services for your specific type of corporation. Another factor to consider is the fees and charges associated with the business bank account. It is important to compare the fees of different banks to ensure you are getting the best deal. Additionally, you should consider the convenience and accessibility of the bank's services. Look for a bank that offers online banking, mobile banking, and a wide network of ATMs. Lastly, consider the customer service and support provided by the bank. A reliable and responsive customer service team can help address any issues or concerns you may have. By considering these factors, you can choose the right business bank account for your custom shoemaking business.

Researching Free Business Bank Accounts

Identifying banks that offer free business bank accounts

When it comes to identifying banks that offer free business bank accounts, it is important to consider the specific needs of your custom shoemaking business. The real estate market plays a crucial role in determining the financial requirements of businesses in this industry. Therefore, it is essential to find a bank that understands the unique challenges and opportunities of the real estate market. By partnering with a bank that specializes in serving businesses in the real estate industry, you can benefit from tailored banking solutions that cater to your specific needs. Whether it's competitive interest rates, flexible loan options, or dedicated relationship managers, a bank that understands the real estate market can provide the financial support necessary to help your custom shoemaking business thrive. It is recommended to explore banks that offer free business bank accounts and have expertise in the real estate market to ensure you receive the best banking services for your custom shoemaking business.

Comparing features and fees

When comparing features and fees of different business bank accounts, it is important to consider the specific needs of your custom shoemaking business. Start by evaluating the services and benefits offered by each bank, such as online banking, mobile apps, and customer support. Additionally, take into account the fees associated with the account, including monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, and ATM fees. By carefully comparing these features and fees, you can find a free business bank account that suits the requirements of your custom shoemaking business.

Reading customer reviews and ratings

Reading customer reviews and ratings is an essential step in the process of finding a free business bank account for your custom shoemaking business. By taking the time to read what other customers have experienced, you can gain valuable insights into the quality of service, the level of customer support, and the overall reputation of different banks. Customer reviews can also provide you with information about any hidden fees, limitations, or potential drawbacks that may not be immediately apparent. Additionally, reading customer reviews and ratings allows you to compare different banks and make an informed decision based on the experiences of others. Therefore, it is highly recommended to thoroughly research and consider the feedback provided by previous customers before selecting a free business bank account for your custom shoemaking business.

Opening a Free Business Bank Account

Gathering required documents

In order to open a free business bank account for your custom shoemaking business, you will need to gather the required documents. These documents typically include your business registration or incorporation documents, your personal identification documents such as a passport or driver's license, proof of address, and any relevant business licenses or permits. It is important to ensure that you have all the necessary documents in order to smoothly complete the account opening process. Additionally, some banks may have specific requirements or additional documents needed, so it is advisable to check with the bank beforehand to avoid any delays or complications. By gathering all the required documents in advance, you can ensure a hassle-free experience when opening your business bank account.

Visiting the bank or applying online

Visiting the bank or applying online is an important step in getting a free business bank account for your custom shoemaking business. By physically going to the bank, you can speak to a representative who can guide you through the application process and answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, many banks now offer the convenience of applying online, allowing you to complete the application from the comfort of your own home or office. Whichever method you choose, it is crucial to provide all the necessary documents and information required to open a business bank account. This step is essential for the smooth operation and growth of your business.

Completing the application process

Completing the application process for a free business bank account is essential to streamline operations for your custom shoemaking business. By following the necessary steps and providing the required documentation, you can ensure a smooth and efficient process. Streamlining operations through a free business bank account allows you to manage your finances effectively, track expenses, and separate personal and business transactions. This not only enhances your financial management but also establishes credibility and professionalism in your industry. To begin the application process, gather all the necessary information and documents such as your business registration details, identification proofs, and tax identification number. Fill out the application form accurately and provide any additional information or supporting documents as requested. Once submitted, the bank will review your application and may require further verification or clarification. It is important to promptly respond to any queries or requests to expedite the process. Once approved, you will receive your free business bank account details, which you can start using to streamline your financial operations and support the growth of your custom shoemaking business.

Managing Your Free Business Bank Account

Setting up online banking

Setting up online banking is a crucial step towards the success of your custom shoemaking business. By having a reliable and efficient online banking system, you can easily manage your finances, track transactions, and make secure payments. It is essential to choose a bank that offers a free business bank account to minimize costs and maximize your profits. With a free business bank account, you can save money on transaction fees and enjoy additional perks such as free online banking services and access to business tools and resources. Setting up online banking for your custom shoemaking business is a smart move that will streamline your financial operations and contribute to the overall success of your business.

Tracking income and expenses

Tracking income and expenses is a crucial aspect of managing a business, as it allows you to monitor your financial health and make informed decisions. By keeping a record of all your income sources and expenses, you can accurately calculate your profit margins, identify areas where you can cut costs, and track the success of your business strategies. It is essential to establish a systematic approach to tracking your income and expenses, which includes categorizing your transactions, using accounting software or spreadsheets, and reconciling your financial statements regularly. This step-by-step guide will help you understand the importance of tracking income and expenses and provide you with the necessary tools and techniques to effectively manage your business finances.

Utilizing banking tools and services

Utilizing banking tools and services is essential for the success of any business, including a custom shoemaking business. By leveraging these tools, business owners can streamline their financial operations and ensure smooth transactions. One of the reasons to start a nurse staffing agency is the ability to access a free business bank account. With a free business bank account, entrepreneurs can enjoy benefits such as no monthly fees, unlimited transactions, and online banking services. This not only helps in managing the finances efficiently but also provides a professional image to clients and partners. Additionally, having a business bank account allows for easy tracking of income and expenses, making tax filing and financial planning much simpler. Overall, utilizing banking tools and services is a crucial step for any business, and starting a nurse staffing agency is no exception.

Maximizing the Benefits of a Free Business Bank Account

Taking advantage of cashback rewards

Taking advantage of cashback rewards is a smart strategy for any business, including custom shoemaking businesses. By leveraging cashback rewards, entrepreneurs can effectively reduce expenses and increase their bottom line. One way to do this is by utilizing online banking services that offer cashback rewards for business transactions. For example, when shopping for materials and supplies for your custom shoemaking business, consider using a business bank account that provides cashback rewards for purchases made at baby stores online. This allows you to earn cashback on your essential purchases, helping you save money and reinvest it back into your business. By taking advantage of cashback rewards, you can maximize the financial benefits of your custom shoemaking business and ensure its long-term success.

Exploring business financing options

When it comes to exploring business financing options for your custom shoemaking business, there are several factors to consider. One important aspect is contract management in healthcare. Contract management plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of healthcare organizations by effectively managing agreements with vendors, suppliers, and service providers. It involves the creation, negotiation, and maintenance of contracts, as well as monitoring compliance and resolving any disputes that may arise. With the right contract management system in place, healthcare businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. To learn more about contract management in healthcare, click here.

Building a strong banking relationship

Building a strong banking relationship is crucial for the success of any business, including custom shoemaking ventures. When it comes to launching a successful group home, having a free business bank account is essential. A dedicated bank account allows you to manage your finances efficiently, keep track of your income and expenses, and establish a professional image. By partnering with a reliable bank, you can access a range of banking services tailored to your specific needs. Whether it's online banking, merchant services, or business loans, a strong banking relationship provides the foundation for your custom shoemaking business to thrive.

Conclusion

The importance of a free business bank account

A free business bank account is an essential tool for any entrepreneur, especially those running a custom shoemaking business. It provides a secure and convenient way to manage financial transactions related to the business, such as receiving payments from customers and paying suppliers. The importance of a free business bank account cannot be overstated, as it helps to separate personal and business finances, ensuring accurate record-keeping and simplifying tax filing. Additionally, having a dedicated business bank account can enhance the professional image of the custom shoemaking business, instilling confidence in customers and suppliers alike. By offering a seamless banking experience, a free business bank account allows entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best: creating exquisite custom-made shoes.

Choosing the right bank for your business

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The genocidal war in Ukraine started since last year has been vindicating much of hardline views towards Russia, which is best summarized with an opinion article in Estonia and Russia vs World's short essay that states:

Now that Roscosmos is recruiting people to fight against Ukraine, it's no longer right in giving too much benefit of the doubt to Soviet/Russian space accomplishments, which the latter has been exploited to legitimize the war by Russian government and society anyways. You can argue that Sergei Korolev is an Ukrainian, but how it's different than if he was a full-blooded Russian when the end results of his work were being exploited by Russia to satiate their illusory supremacy against others from time to time?
Perhaps encyclopedias and such need a re-write. For example, there is a common misconception that Sputnik is the first object in space; those Nazi rockets were the ones did it instead.
Yuri Gagarin is the first to go in space, but it was John Glenn who completed orbits from the beginning until the end without having to jump out from his ship mid course. Imagine if a NASCAR driver leaves his car because he fear that his engine about to broke and put a brick on the pedals to get it past the finishing line?
Skylab 2 were the first space station crews ever to return safely to Earth because the previous Soyuz 11 died upon reentry. You can argue that the past should not be unduly changed, but how is it any better than keeping the nuances and caveats about Soviet accomplishments in the low for so long?
After all there is a reason why the early forays by Wernher von Braun in terms of V2 rockets aren't lionized in the same way as Soviet ones, right?

In the realm of nature, nothing quite captures the awe-inspiring force of lightning. Even in our modern-day age, with all our wonders and technologies, witnessing a lightning strike and hearing its thunderous sound can’t help but leave us with a sense of awe and respect for the power of the natural world.
Among the Cherokee, a special kind of respect was paid to lightning. The burnt wood from trees struck by lightning was sought after by shamans. The wood would be buried in soil to ensure a healthy crop and warriors were rubbed with the charred wood for strength, effectively being “charged with bolts of sacred fire”.
To the Cherokee and other groups, lightning was a dramatic display from the spiritual realm, and served as a reminder of the spiritual forces that pervade the natural world and influence human life.
Interestingly, the branching pattern observed in lightning strikes is mirrored across various natural phenomena in our world, with one of the most recognizable patterns being the network of branches in trees.
This striking similarity stems from a shared principle of growth and movement: both the electric charge of lightning and the tree limb navigate from a point of lower potential to one of higher potential, albeit in opposite directions—lightning moves from a high potential charge to a lower one, while a tree limb grows towards a zone with low potential, in this case, a shaded area, towards a zone of greater potential, or sunlight exposure.
This observation highlights a universal pattern of progression; each decision branching out like the limbs of a tree or the forks of a lightning bolt. Perhaps this progression is archetypal, instilled by the Logos as a concept, which is why it is so prevalent. When perceived from a broader perspective, our lives too unfold in a similar branching design, marked by choices and diverging paths that closely resemble the intricate patterns seen in trees and lightning.
This image of a tree and lighting serves to demonstrate that the realm we inhabit is full of metaphors pointing toward higher concepts. Matter is, as the author Walter Russel wrote, “merely the record of ideas and not the ideas themselves”.
Material objects are the shadow of a greater concept which is more nebulous and abstract. The idea reigns supreme, yet its manifestation is physical form. For instance, before we create anything in the physical, it begins first as an idea in the imagination.
Within the imagination, the concept is still nebulous and it has the opportunity to take many forms. It is not yet concrete and “real”. It is still in “potential”.
Once the concept is acted upon, and work is done to bring it into form, then suddenly it has a real-world impact. It is “real”. Yet, at the same time, it’s not real. It’s only the shadow of the concept itself.
This brings up an interesting question: which is superior? The idea or the form based on the idea?
Some would suggest that the point of art, for instance, is to convey concepts. Observing a masterpiece allows us to converse with concepts of a higher order, transcending the physicality of the art piece itself. It matters not what medium the art takes, what matters is the concept that is being conveyed.
This dynamic interplay between the ethereal and the tangible showcases how higher ideas manifest and how these manifestations, in turn, draw us closer to the divine.
As the author and occultist David Goddard writes in his book Tree of Sapphires,
“By the penetrative observations of the Microcosm, you receive intimations of the Macrocosm”.
Perhaps no spiritual tradition encapsulates this concept more distinctly than Qabalah.
Qabalah is a form of Jewish mysticism aimed at understanding the nature of God and the universe. It offers a framework for comprehending the relationships between the Divine, the cosmos, and humanity through a system of ten spheres (Sephiroth) and 22 paths that represent different aspects and levels of consciousness and reality.
The system is visually represented by the Tree of Life, which serves as a map illustrating how the Infinite One, or Ain Sof, interacts with the finite world. Its emanations are called Sephiroth, which are attributes or aspects of the Infinite One.
Holistically, the Tree of Life can be viewed as the process through which the Infinite One differentiates itself into physical reality, metaphorically representing the transition from 0 to 1. It also represents the path back towards unity, from the lower to the higher.
As David Goodard writes,
“It is the lighting flash from Kether at the top of the tree, down to Malkuth that shows the path of involution, or the One Life-Power descending, plane by plane, veiling itself in denser vibratory states.
The sequence of the lighting flash from Malkuth ascending to Kether is the way of evolution, termed the Path of the Return.”
It is the Path of the Return that we will be discussing - starting with the very last sphere on the tree: Malkuth
Malkuth
The Tree of Life is a visual metaphor for how the One differentiates itself into many. One way to study the tree is to see it as a system of triangles made up of various interconnected paths. These paths are described as Activating, Formative and Balancing.
The author Robert Wang in his book The Qabalistic Tarot writes,
“...each of the key triangles on the Tree refers to one part of the Soul: The Supernal Triangle is the Supreme Spiritual Self, the Ethical Triangle is the Higher Self, and the Astral Triangle is the Personality in incarnation.”
In addition, he writes “the core structure of each part of the Self is composed of three aspects, an Activating (Yod-Fire), a Formative (Heh-Water) and an energy which is Balancing (Vau-Air)”
Therefore, each sphere works with the other to form the whole. The only exception is the final sphere, Malkuth. Malkuth contains all three aspects and includes a fourth: “Heh” or “Earth”. Yod Heh Vau Heh, also known as the Tetragrammaton, or the “unprounceable name of God”. Malkuth is the solidified end result of the actions of the Yod Heh and Vau.
You might also liken these forces to the Hegelian dialectic of Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis.
The forces can also be thought of states of consciousness.
The Tree of Life is also divided into three Pillars. The left Pillar are considered “active” forces and the spheres on the right side of the Pillar are considered “formative” or “passive” forces. Within the Middle are the equalibrating forces, considered consciousness itself by Qabalaist.
To visualize this better, think of music played from a guitar. The string is the formative, or passive force, the tension and vibration of the string is the active force, yet without the balancing force of the musician, no music could be created. You would just have noise.
We should regonize that there is no true beginning and no true “end”. When one looks at the Tree, both the bottom, Malkuth, and the top, Kether are both the beginning and the end. The top of the Tree contains the sphere known as Ain Soph, which is God prior to any self-manifestation, existing in no-thing, or what Ra refers to “Intelligent Infinity”.
Therefore, as the light moves further from Kether, it gradually gets stepped down into lower and lower vibrations, filtered through the activating, formative and balancing forces of each triangle.
Malkuth is denest realm on the tree, the “final” destination of the light from the One. It is the what we call the physical universe, the world of form.
In the book The Mystical Qabalah, the author and mystic Dion Fortune writes this about Malkuth,
“It is the formative, concreting function of Malkuth which finally renders tangible and definite what was, upon the higher planes, intangible and indefinite, and this is its great service to manifestation and its characteristic power.”
Within Malkuth, the tangible is precise, and the abstract takes a backseat. Forms here acquire a defined outline, in contrast to the superior spheres where the form is fluid and undefined.
Malkuth is the grounding point of the Divine’s will, where the idea finally becomes manifest.
However, the process of grounding this energy requires the use of channels and links.
Dion Fortune also writes,
“The whole problem of Malkuth is a problem of channels and connecting links. The rest of the work is done by the mind on the subtler planes; the real difficulty lies in the transition from the subtle to the dense, for the subtle is so ill-equipped to work on the dense. This transition is effected by means of the magnetism of living things, whether organic or inorganic.”
The physical, being a dense realm, can be difficult to break through without the appropriate channels and magnetism of beings and objects existing in this realm.
Being immersed in matter, it can be easy to think that we are cut off from the Divine. And, while it can be difficult to hear at times, the subtle calling of Spirit is always transmitting information.
As we work on clearing the rocks and thorns that block the heart, it becomes easier to hear the call of Spirit and to form that connection to the higher realms.
The more we form the connection and listen to the higher callings of Spirit, the greater impact Spirit can have in Malkuth.
The conduit for this connection is, of course, you. All of us have the potential to be channels for the Divine. In fact, as wanderers, this is perhaps the main reason for incarnating on this planet.
To act as that grounding point for the Divine. This is the natural role of humanity. To be the embodiment of Spirit in the physical realm of Malkuth.
This is the act of being a co-creator of the Logos.
Recall that each Logos is responsible for setting up the archetypal framework of a particular system. Everything materializing in Malkuth is a direct offspring of these archetypical blueprints.
Take, for example, the form of the galaxy. Our galaxy adopts a "spiral" configuration which one can see throughout the physical universe. This shape happens to resonate deeply with narrative structures, notably the "Hero's Journey"—a seemingly universal storytelling structure that is found in almost all myths told across cultures and time.
It can be argued that the reason this storytelling structure is so universal is because it is archetypal. That is, it is not learned, but rather inherent in all of us, accessible by those sensitive enough to perceive within the Deep Mind.
The narrative arc of the hero's journey unfolds as follows: The protagonist starts with a certain limitation, be it a belief system or another type of restraint. Eventually, the call to adventure beckons, leading them to accept this quest.
This journey propels them through trials and tribulations, adversity, and shadowy depths, facilitating their growth and leading to the acquisition of vital wisdom. After triumphing over these challenges, the hero returns, ready to embark on a new cycle, equipped with newfound insights.
This narrative framework underscores the principle of continual growth. To evolve spiritually, one must journey beyond the familiar, confront their inner darkness, and from this confrontation, arise, reborn. However, like in real life, the process is never-ending.
If one were to conceptualize this structure visually, it would mirror the form of a spiral.
Since the spiral shape is so ubiquitous, and if we understand that the Divine imprints higher concepts into the physical, then it appears that this archetypal story structure could be a universal pattern, at least in our logos.
This raises an interesting thought: galaxies with alternative formations might operate under distinct archetypal systems, a reflection of the endless variety and complexity inherent in the cosmos. Perhaps a hint as to what those archetypal frameworks could be is found it the shape of their galaxies.
How often have we heard of individuals being suddenly "struck" by a bolt of "creative genius"? Numerous tales abound of artists, scientists, writers, and the like who have given birth to magnificent creations, only to profess that the origin of their "unique" ideas felt as though they were not entirely of their own making but were, in essence, "channeled" from an external source.
This phenomenon suggests a connection to a higher reservoir of knowledge and inspiration, indicating that profound concepts are omnipresent, awaiting discovery and expression in our world.
This is part of our role here in Malkuth. To be conduits, grounding points, for higher concepts. To be the builders, where we can, of the archetypal frameworks thought up by the Logos.
This is true co-creation. To be aligned with the Divine, with Nature, allows one to receive, thus enabling them to move beyond the limitations imposed by Malkuth.
Malkuth is the first step on a journey back to the Ain Soph, back to no-thing. It is an essential step in our journey. As Dion Fortune writes,
“The Qabalah teaches that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and that unless we learn the lessons of Malkuth there can be no lasting progress beyond. The fact is that our first spiritual lessons come from those around us.
And if we cannot function effectively on the material level, learning from the day to day patterns which we have chosen for our incarnation, it is unlikely that we will be able to function effectively on a more refined spiritual plane. The ability to sense the importance of the ordinary is a special form of discrimination.”

Mcqs were relatively fine in my opinion but oh boy…the essays were not great at all.
On the synthesis, it was about food trucks and what important factors cities should consider when regulating them. I did not understand this prompt at all like what… Like was it about the pros or cons they should consider or like if they should consider like to change the regulations or remove some regulations or something (1 of my reasons).
Then on the RA, Simu Liu who? Why do we have a story of someone preparing to emigrate from China to Canada like idk. Anyways to be fair, I think mine was ok on that. Just that the prompt was weird and trash. But I used tone and analogies (idk if those work, someone tell me)
Then for the last one, oh boy this was definitely my worse essay ever. Legit did not understand the prompt and I only had like 20 minutes left and I could not think of anything. Like can someone please explain to me wtf this prompt was asking and some examples?
Anyways, in conclusion, I think I got like a 3 to be honest, and I tried my best, wish I had the other prompts on like selfies or whatever. But all I am grateful for is that, I got it over with.

I've specified in the system message to provide short, concise answers and do not elaborate unless asked to do so.
When I asked:

if i understand correctly, when working with Quill and u want custom features, you basically use html/js and thats it, right ?

This maybe caused by my bAd pRomPt, but here is GPT-4O's response:

Yes, that's correct. When working with Quill.js and you want to add custom features such as highlights, tooltips, or other custom behaviors, you generally use HTML for the structure and JavaScript for the logic. Quill.js robustly supports customization through its API and its delta format. Here’s a breakdown: ### Customizing Quill.js 1. **HTML Structure**: Use HTML to create the container for the editor and any additional elements you might need (like tooltips, buttons, etc.). 2. **Initialization**: Use JavaScript to initialize the Quill editor within the specified container. 3. **Styling**: Use CSS to style the editor and any custom elements, like tooltips or custom highlights. 4. **Custom JavaScript Logic**: Implement custom functionality using JavaScript. This can include: - Manipulating the Quill editor's content. - Adding event listeners to react to user actions. - Fetching data (e.g., from an API) and dynamically updating the editor's content. - Extending Quill with custom modules or formats. ### Example Outline - **HTML**: - Container for the Quill editor. - Additional elements like tooltips (if needed). - **CSS**: - Custom styles for highlights, tooltips, etc. - **JavaScript**: - Initialize Quill. - Define custom behavior (e.g., apply highlights, attach tooltips). - Handle any dynamic updates based on user actions or data fetching. ### Example Use Cases - **Highlighting Text**: - Identify text to highlight. - Wrap the text in a span with a highlight class. - Optionally, add tooltips or other features. - **Adding Tooltips**: - Create tooltip elements. - Position tooltips relative to highlighted text. - Style the tooltips using CSS. ### Practical Example Here's a more concrete example of adding custom highlights and static tooltips: ```html HTML

CSS JavaScript ``` This example shows how to set up the environment, initialize Quill, and then implement custom text highlighting with static tooltips using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Hello people, I've been around SR for a long time now, and I can't help but feel that the quality of the skins has dropped and/or stagnated, a totally personal feeling ok? A lot of generic or repetitive stuff, today we have the "league of legends woman" meme, but sometimes there are some good precious pearls, if before because we had fewer skins I waited more anxiously for a skin of the characters I play,adn I was a person who bought skins ONLY for splash arts, seriously back in 2015-17 there are not much digital artists on the level of LoL art, today I find myself skipping skins because they are generic or just soulless(splashes AND in game), without anything really flashy or that really feeds the fantasy of the character as riot likes to say it does, I won't even comment on certain skins that really waste a lot of potential,
I can't help but have the feeling "I don't want to support this idea", for example prestige skins, FOMO is not healthy, but on the other hand sometimes they even do a nice job, which leads me to my question, do you think you believe or know if by buying skins we make riot understand that we like / support X or Y artist? Because some artists are really good and I would like to support their work, in this case an X skin for the game, do you think that skins that sell increase the morale of artists? or is it crazy in my head and I should support the guy by other means anyway? Do you guys feels like it? or similar? like as an amateur artist I understand that everybody have different perpectives that what is "good" or "better" but seriously almost every splash default and skins the artist seems to choose the less inspired of all then, and I see people saying the same thing, one trick that i would do for avoid these thing is adopt other art styles, like SoulFighter has done, I post a 2 posts in the past saying this but do you guys remeber oriental jax old splash? that one is SO MUCH better than the actual has a so unique feeling, and the new translated all that black and white "manual" painting with a single brush line on the screen...WOW. old nurse akali that have an anime style, I wish that Battle academia has an style like that.
Thats it I should ended this post one paragraph earlier, I'm extending myself too much. ty for read it all and have a nice week!

Living in a small southern town, you get used to the way things are. I grew up as a military brat, so my childhood memories are a blur of packing, unpacking, and getting settled. It had been seven years since we arrived, and nothing but the grace of God would make me move again. A few years ago, my father got orders to station at a base in the middle of the Mohave. I was only seventeen then, but after a few dozen screaming matches, I decided to strike out on my own a little early. I got a part-time job at the cafe, which was enough to rent a little run-down shack a couple of blocks from downtown. As far as I was concerned, I was living the dream—serving coffee a few hours a week and spending the rest of my time hanging out with friends, listening to music, and drinking.
That particular morning started the same as any other. I woke up around noon with a text from Mark to meet me at the cafe. Took me about two hours to get up and head over. The sun had just begun its descent as I pushed the door to the cafe open, the bell above tinkling softly. The sound bothered me a little bit, but I couldn’t tell why. It seemed to ring a little louder than I was expecting, and gave me this strange drilling sensation inside my head.
I ignored the feeling as the smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries washed over me. I saw Mark and Jamie already sat at our usual spot. Mark looked up as I approached, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Alex. Sarah should be here soon."
“So what's on the docket today?” I asked as I sat down, stealing a bear claw off Jamie's plate and taking a large bite before he had the chance to protest.
Mark’s excitement was almost palpable. He was always the one with the big ideas and crazy schemes, which I honestly appreciated. They got us into trouble more often than not, but it beat day drinking in the Walmart parking lot like everyone else our age.
"Alright, check this out," Mark said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I was talking to my cousin who works for the county. He told me about this old, abandoned food processing factory just outside of town. They used to can peaches there."
I gave him a skeptical look. "That’s your idea? Old, canned peaches?"
"No, idiot," he scoffed. "They left behind a ton of nitrates and phosphates. I’ve been doing some reading, and we can use them to make fireworks. I was up all night figuring it out and putting these together." He subtly opened his backpack to reveal at least a dozen PVC pipes fitted on both ends.
"Now that's what I’m talking about," I said, grinning.
Sarah walked in, catching the tail end of our conversation. "Sorry I’m late, I had a breakout and had to stop by the pharmacy. Upped my allergy meds. I fucking hate pollen," she said as I scooted over to make room for her on the bench.
"Is there anything you aren't allergic to?" I laughed.
She rolled her eyes, ignoring my question. "So, what's the plan for today?"
Mark, Jamie and I exchanged cheeky glances. "Well," I started, "let’s just hope you’re not allergic to peaches."
We finally managed to pry the side door of the factory off, which broke free from the hinges and smashed against the floor. Stepping inside, the air was thick and rancid as we bounced the beams of our flashlights around the packaging floor.
"We should split up," Mark suggested. "Alex, you and Sarah check out the storage rooms for the chemicals. Jamie and I will find the control room and see if we can get the power back on."
All of us nodded as we went our separate ways. Sarah and I wandered down the dark hallways, kicking open doors and looking for anything that looked vaguely like chemicals. The corridors were dark and damp, with black mold snaking along the walls like veins.
The first few rooms we checked were empty, filled only with dust and the remnants of long-abandoned equipment. Each door creaked as we pushed it open, revealing more decay and desolation.
As we moved further down the hallway, the mold seemed to become more aggressive, spreading in thick, dark patches along the walls and floors. The air grew heavier, making it harder to breathe. We kicked open another door, our flashlights revealing more of the same—nothing useful.
"This place is a bust," Sarah muttered,
"Let's keep looking," I replied, though I was starting to feel the same way. "There has to be something."
We continued down the corridor, our footsteps echoing in the silence. As we approached the end of the hall, something caught my eye. One door stood out, covered in black, creeping mold that seemed to pulse and writhe. Tendrils of fungus snaked out from the edges, reaching out into the hallway.
"Sarah, look at this," I said.
She turned to see what I was pointing at and her eyes widened. "That’s... different."
We approached the door cautiously as the tendrils moved and swayed.
With a deep breath, we each grabbed one side of the door and pulled. It resisted for a moment before giving way, the mold snapping and tearing as we forced it open. The smell that hit us was overpowering, a mix of rot and decay that made my eyes water.
Inside, our flashlights revealed a horrifying sight. At the back of the room sat several pallets with dozens of boxes of peaches each. But it was what grew from these boxes that will haunt my nightmares till my dying day.
The entire back wall was consumed by a towering fungal mass. Thick, fleshy stalks jutted out from the base, climbing nearly to the ceiling. The surface of the fungus glistened with a slimy, wet sheen, appearing almost like rotting flesh under our flashlight beams. Each stalk was covered in a mottled, sickly green and yellow hue, with patches of black mold that seemed to pulse in the dim light.
Interwoven within this horrific sight were bulbous growths, each one throbbing rhythmically, as if with a heartbeat of its own. They resembled obscene, overgrown tumors, ready to burst at the slightest touch. Long, sinewy tendrils extended from the main mass, creeping over the boxes and along the floor like the fingers of some malevolent creature, seeking out any life to ensnare.
The tendrils near the door twitched, slowly inching their way toward us as if aware of our presence. The air was thick with spores, glimmering in the light like tiny stars, each one a potential harbinger of decay and death.
"Oh my god," Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of our own breathing. "What is that thing?"
We stood there, frozen in shock and disgust, before I slammed the door shut.
"Let's get the hell out of here," I said.
We hurried back down the corridor, our footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. The lights in the facility flickered on, casting a blinding white light. I heard a bubbling, groaning noise emanate from behind the fungal door, sending a wave of nausea through my body.
We met back up with Mark and Jamie in the main area and quickly told them what we saw.
"Yo, that sounds sick," Jamie exclaimed. "We should blow it up. I found the chemicals in the control room and these bad boys are ready to go," he said, holding up a pipe bomb.
"Yeah," Mark agreed, his eyes alight with excitement. "We'd be doing the world a favor, getting rid of that thing."
Sarah shook her head, her face pale. "No way. I'm not doing this. That thing... It's not normal. We need to get out of here and call someone who knows what they're doing."
Jamie frowned. "Come on, Sarah. Don't be a buzzkill. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something epic."
"Epic?" Sarah snapped. "That thing is dangerous. We don't know what we're dealing with. I'm not risking my life for some stupid joke."
Mark stepped in with a grin. "Alright, let's all calm down. If you’re scared you can just let the men handle it.”
Sarah crossed her arms. "Fine, but I'm staying here."
"Suit yourself," Jamie said, shrugging. "But we're not leaving without taking care of that thing."
"Alright, let's do this," Mark said, looking at Jamie and me. "We'll be quick. Sarah, stay here and keep an eye out.”
The hallway looked completely different in the fluorescent lighting. I could see now that each vein of fungus emanated from that single door, like a spiral portal threatening to suck us in.
"Let's make this quick," I whispered, glancing back at Jamie and Mark. "We light the bomb, throw it in, and get the hell out of here."
Jamie nodded, holding the pipe bomb tightly in his hand. "Ready when you are."
We reached the door, and the tendrils of fungus seemed even more aggressive, writhing and pulsing as if aware of our presence. The air was thick with spores.
"On three," I whispered, gripping the edge of the door. "One... two... three."
We yanked the door open, the mold snapping and tearing as it gave way. The smell of rot and decay hit us again, making my eyes water. The monstrous fungal mass loomed before us, its bulbous growths throbbing rhythmically.
Jamie lit the fuse and threw the bomb as hard as he could inside. It struck one of the orbs, which burst, shooting a fine white mist into the air.
"Run!" I shouted, slamming the door shut. We turned and sprinted down the hallway. The explosion sounded behind us, the shockwave lifting me off my feet and sending me tumbling to the ground.
Living in a small southern town, you get used to the way things are. My parents were in the army, so we moved a lot, but now I'm staying put. I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a small headache.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a doughnut off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah,” she replied. “Are YOU guys feeling ok?”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “Yeah, we’re fine,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a small migraine.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a maroon off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah,” she replied. “Not really. Are YOU guys feeling Ok?”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “Yeah, we’re fine,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a piercing migraine.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a bagel off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“What's going on?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m scared.”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “It’s fine, Sarah. Just take a seat,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a splitting migraine.
As I slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie, I noticed Sarah outside, fixated on a bird suspended in mid-flight. I went out to see her.
"Are you seeing this?" she asked, her voice tinged with astonishment.
"Yeah," I replied nonchalantly. "That happens all the time. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"What the hell do you mean, 'Am I feeling okay?'!" she screamed. "That bird is frozen mid-air, and you don't think anything weird is going on?"
Her yelling took me aback. I didn't understand her alarm, so I shrugged it off and joined Mark inside. As we began planning our nightly excursion to the peach factory, Sarah burst through the door, screaming, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
"That's odd," I mused, my brow furrowed in confusion before we shrugged it off and resumed our scheming.
The day after, I met Mark again at the cafe. This rhythm had become our existence: meetings by day, adventures by night at the old peach plant. That evening followed the familiar pattern; we reveled in the thrill of hurling pipe bombs into that small enclosed room.
This routine had completely engulfed our lives. Day after day at the cafe, night after night at the factory—it seemed as though this cycle was all we had ever known. Reflecting on it, I couldn't remember any other way of life.
However, one thing increasingly disturbed me—the ringing of the doorbell at the cafe's entrance. Each time I entered, the sound seemed sharper, more grating. Focusing on it brought a searing pain to my head, like a needle drilling through my skull. Yet, despite the agony, I found myself obsessing over it, the sound gnawing at the edges of my sanity.
One day, driven to the brink by this incessant ringing, I decided to confront it head-on. I stood by the door, letting the bell chime repeatedly. Each ring sliced through my mind, but I persisted, sweat beading on my forehead, teeth clenched in torment.
As the pain crescendoed, reality shattered. I woke to the blaring of a fire alarm, not the quaint doorbell I had imagined. The cafe was engulfed in chaos. The hallway was consumed by a sprawling fungal mass, its tendrils creeping along the walls.
In the dim, flickering light, I saw Jamie, or what was left of him. Half of his skull was missing, the fungus attached grotesquely to his exposed brain, pulsating with each eerie beat of his fading heart. Mark was there too, seemingly unharmed physically, but trapped in a delusion, his eyes glazed over, a smile playing on his lips as the fungus encased him.
Sarah lay collapsed by the fire alarm, her hand still on the lever. She had managed to pull it before succumbing to the spores that now clung to her body.
The tendrils that had enveloped me snapped violently, each break releasing a sickening crack that echoed through the eerie silence of the hallway. An outline of my body remained imprinted in the fungal mass, a mold from which I had desperately broken free.
Gritting my teeth against the pain and horror, I scrambled to Mark and Sarah. Mark was less entangled, lost in his fungal-induced stupor. I grabbed him under the arms, his body limp but alive, and dragged him across the floor. The fungus resisted, stretching like sinew before tearing away from him with wet, ripping sounds.
Sarah was heavier, her body weakened but still fighting. I clasped her wrists, pulling with all my strength. The fungus clung to her, tendrils winding up her arms like ivy. With a final, determined yank, the last of the tendrils snapped, freeing her. We left behind fragments of the monstrous growth clinging to her clothes.
Together, we staggered out into the night air, away from the suffocating enclosure. The cool air hit our faces, harsh yet cleansing. Behind us, the fire alarm continued to blare into the night. I fumbled with my phone, hands shaking, to dial the emergency number. The call went through, and within minutes, the sound of sirens cut through the stillness of the night, growing louder as help approached.
The next few days were a blur. I remember fading in and out of consciousness as nurses pumped antifungals directly into my IV, their faces blurring into the sterile environment. Once we were somewhat cognizant, the police wanted answers. One by one, we were interviewed, but we gave them nothing. I still don’t know what the exact penalty is for manufacturing explosives and using them to destroy a building, but I’m guessing it’s not community service. Jamie was still missing, and they hadn’t found any sign of him or his body. I tried to hide my tears as I knew he was already long gone.
After a few weeks, I was finally cleared for visitors and got to see Sarah again. She told me that after the explosion, she ran but couldn’t leave us behind. She came back, only to see us being consumed by the fungus. Try as she might, she wasn’t able to free us as she felt the oppressive spores take her under. She fought back and managed to pull the fire alarm before succumbing again. The doctors told her that her allergy medication gave her some resistance to the fungus; otherwise, she might have been a goner.
Mark was never the same. We never talked about what happened, and after trying once and him flipping out, I figured it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. That summer, he moved to upstate New York to work in his dad’s business. I haven’t seen him since. That fall, Sarah started college at Savannah State. I still call her every now and again, but it’s not like it used to be.
Despite all that happened, I’m not moving again. I’m happy here, and if it’s up to me, I’ll die in this little town. I still work at the cafe, as a manager now. On weekends, I come in and just sit at the booth we all used to share.
I still think about Jamie from time to time. I wonder if he's dead or still stuck in his delusion, picturing the four of us sitting at our table, talking, laughing, and passing the time. Sometimes, when the cafe is empty and the light is just right, I can almost see him there, his smile frozen in that moment before everything went wrong.
The cafe grows quieter each day, the hum of life fading into an eerie stillness. My skin feels different, as if the air itself whispers secrets I can't quite grasp. The itching that started as a minor annoyance has intensified, becoming a constant torment. I scratch at lesions that have begun to form on my arms and chest, red and raw, with patches of green spreading beneath the surface. I’ve started to wear long sleeves to cover my arms and a mask to hide my purpling lips.
Some nights, when closing, as I sit alone in the dim light of the cafe, the itching becomes unbearable. I claw at the lesions, feeling a dampness beneath my skin. Sometimes, when I cough, I could swear I see tiny spores hanging in the air, reminiscent of the bursting nodules growing on the stalks of the monster.
Occasionally, I hear the bell ring and the door open, but no one is there. I look outside into the empty night and see nothing. This went on for weeks, becoming more frequent. But one night, the door opened, and I saw Jamie standing there, the picture of health. I went to embrace him and noticed my lesions were gone too. It was almost as if we had never gone to the peach factory. It was suddenly morning, and the light shone through the cafe. For the first time in forever, we were happy. We talked about nothing, passing the time.
After what felt like hours, he told me it was time to go. But his mouth wasn’t moving—I felt like I could read his thoughts, and he could read mine. We stood up as I took one last look at the cafe and headed off with him, back to the peach factory.
As we walked, a strange calmness settled over me. I remember feeling that I wanted to ask if he had talked to Mark or Sarah, and wondered how they were doing. But deep down, somehow, I could feel their presence and I knew they were doing just fine. The sun was bright, the air crisp. The itching had vanished completely, replaced by an inexplicable craving for the sweetness of ripe peaches. Jamie and I shared a silent understanding, a bond deeper than any words could convey.
The factory loomed ahead, its doors wide open as if inviting us in. The familiar scent of peaches and something else—something earthy and ancient—filled the air. We stepped inside, side by side, feeling at home for the first time in ages.
The last thing I remember before the darkness took over was the feeling of the soft, warm peach flesh in my hand, and Jamie’s voice in my head saying, "Welcome home."

I need to get this "off my chest". Obligatory "I can't include literally everything that builds up the situation or otherwise we'd end up with a War and Peace thick post.
Me, 35M; Wife: 35F; Sperm Donor 75 M; Mom 72; Aunt 72F; Aunt 2 70s F,
I used to think my childhood and home life was idyllic and great, but as I've aged I've realised how very, very effed up it actually was. It wasn't so much that it was idyllic, it was that I'm AUDHD and was perfectly content to be alone and do my own thing. Some of these realisations have coloured how I view my parents and family and I have stopped thinking of the man who's DNA I share as "dad" and more "Sperm donor" or "his name".
I fully admit that I have a lot of "daddy issues". All I've really ever wanted was a dad to do dad things with; learning how to do things like fix cars, going fishing, learning to drive, etc. Typical sappy 'Merican "Andy Griffith Show" type crap. I know that's not reality for most people, but it's kind of a sore point for me. Because of this, I've kind of spend most of my youth chasing after older males in my life like a lost puppy hoping someone will pick me out of the box left on the side of the road. I'm lucky to have found at least one person in my life who fulfills that role for me. He's only a few years older chronologically but decades older in experience and maturity.
I've learned a lot over the last few years about how things actually were as opposed to how I saw them. Examples being:
1) My sperm donor is a "what's mine is mine and what's your's in mine too"
2) My sperm donor inflated what he actually did as a "provider" and the reality was quite different. The home we lived in was paid for out of my mother's pocket, my immediate needs (clothes, medication, snacks, activities, school needs) were paid for out of my mother's pocket, and money that had been gifted from family for me to go into a college fund "disappeared" right around the time my dad decided to buy a vintage British racing car.
3) My sperm donor has his side of the family convinced he's father and husband of the year.
4) My sperm donor is stubborn. Not in a cute way, but in a way that's resulted in thousands of dollars of home damage, refusal to repair things for decades because he refuses to call in a professional, and literally refusing to allow his spouse to undergo medical treatment for two years past when it was deemed medically necessary.
The first 10 years of my life were ok, but in my early teens my mom got "sick". To lend some context, her mother also "got sick" when she was in her mid forties. There was never a diagnosis and an autopsy of mother's mother showed only a minor stomach ulcer. Both sets of grandparents are long since dead, any family on her side is gone, and I have no one who was around during that time to give me any input or tell me what was going on at that time other than my parents who have opposing views. Mom says her mother was just a very sickly lady but would also tell me stories about how Grandma would do things like steal motorcycles, get into fights, and do all these crazy things as a younger person. SD's version of events is that Grandma always "got sick" whenever someone in their family or friend circle had an event that might not make Grandma the centre of attention. My understanding is that my mom was expected to act as a live in nurse up until she met and married SD. At which point Grandma and Grandpa dropped dead in quick succession. I am also told that Grandpa took and controlled all my mother's wages from her career up until she met my SD.
Mom "got sick" in my early teens and it was on me to be the one to look after her. I was the one who had to help her when she threw up. I was the one to have to remind her to shower, change her clothes, get her meds refilled, etc. I'd go to doctor's appts with her and try to help explain what was happening and what symptoms she was having because unfortunately, a lot of the doctors were male and dismissed her out of hand. She did end up with a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a condition I also share and understand. The majority of her symptoms are stomach issues; ie nausea, vomiting, not wanting to eat etc. When I say she's had the entire gamut of gut health testing done, I mean it's all been done. At least three times. At one point the Gastro she saw told her that he'd exhausted everything and that there is no physical reason for her symptoms and that if she did not at least try to eat, he'd send her for psychiatric evaluation and have her fitted with a feeding tube.
I need to clarify that I too have always had gastrointestinal issues and not too long ago discovered I have coeliac disease. Adhering to that diet has eliminated the majority of my issues. Despite the fact they eliminated this disease as a potential cause in my mom, I suggested trying this and an elimination diet to see if it helped, but she refused. Her diet for years has consisted of white bread and jam, grits, coca cola, and tea exclusively. Occasionally she would get sushi. This is not an exaggeration. That's all she has eaten for years.
Throughout all of this, my SD rolled his eyes and sat on his ass continuing to eat dinner or watch tv while she'd go running to the kitchen to vomit, me chasing after her to try and help. (Mom would at least appear to get faint during these vomiting instances) so I would be there to make sure she didn't pass out as she vomited in the sink, then clean out the sink after her, then help her back to the couch and bring her something to drink.
It's been 20 years of this now. My wife and I have been living in our own home for about 4 years and I am no longer there to be the one to try and clean up the messes and fill in the cracks, as it were. My family has visited us three times, even though we live maybe 45 minutes away. I have returned to my parents house probably about 15-20 times to do repairs to the home. Right now, all "repairs" have stalled out because apparently having things like a functional and safe bathroom aren't nearly as important to SD as buying military collectibles, guns, and gourmet cheeses.
This January Mom landed herself in the hospital with a bloodclot due to falling and hitting her head. My SD didn't take her to the hospital until a full week after she'd fallen and no one called me for a full 24 hours after she'd been admitted. She went back and forth amongst the ER, rehab, and hospital for about two months and the result of all that was that they discovered she has throat dysphagia but no other underlying disorders. She's now home with a G-tube, oxygen, bedside commode, and an in home nurse that visit occasionally.
Right now, what's weighing on me most strongly is that my parents now have my SD's sister living with them and she is constantly singing his praises and talking about what a wonderful and attentive husband he is. I'm honestly enraged about it, especially now that more of the extended family, who frankly couldn't be arsed to return phone calls, emails, or snail mail over the last 30 years, suddenly have opinions and are lauding him for how great he's been.
I feel like I have this Monty Python 10 tonne weight over my head, because I know that when my parents shuffle off this mortal coil there is going to be a veritable dungheap left for me to deal with in their decrepit home. I'm mad and sad and tired and I honestly just don't want to deal with it anymore. I can't stop feeling irritated that my mom has basically just given up on trying to do.... anything. And had done way before there was an "excuse". Holidays are a nightmare for me because there's nothing this woman wants or like or gets excited about. She doesn't have hobbies anymore, doesn't like doing anything, isn't interested in collecting things, doing crafts, etc, even talking. The times I've been around her for any length of time and attempted to talk to her, she just looks at me with this kind of watery eyed and vaguely befuddled expression or answers with one or two syllables. She is NOT suffering any dementia or similar issues and has been tested for such. It's like she just... doesn't care.
I've spent so long trying to make her comfortable, happy, etc. Tried to get her things she liked or get her into things that would make her happy. My wife's mother is only a few years younger and is active in her community, teaches classes, does art, goes on trip with my FIL, and visits and talks to people regularly. As do most of my peers' parents. This is really hard and I feel very sad and lonely about it. My poor wife has heard it all over and over again and I hate bothering my already stressed close friends with my rants....

The Legend of Korra" has sparked considerable debate among fans of the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" franchise. While some appreciate its ambition and expansion of the Avatar universe, others argue it falls short of the high standards set by its predecessor. This essay explores the various criticisms that have been levied against "The Legend of Korra," highlighting the aspects that many fans believe detract from its overall quality.
Firstly, a significant criticism is the show's inconsistent storytelling. Unlike "Avatar: The Last Airbender," which followed a clear, cohesive narrative arc over three seasons, "The Legend of Korra" is divided into four separate books, each with its own distinct storyline. This episodic structure leads to a lack of continuity and makes it difficult for viewers to form a deep connection with the overarching narrative. The disjointed storytelling often leaves plotlines underdeveloped and characters' arcs feeling incomplete.
Secondly, Korra's character development is often seen as problematic. While Aang's journey in "Avatar: The Last Airbender" showcased his growth from a reluctant hero into a mature Avatar, Korra's development is less linear and more erratic. Korra starts off as a headstrong and brash character, which is not inherently negative, but her growth often feels forced and inconsistent. This erratic progression can make it challenging for audiences to empathize with her struggles and triumphs.
The villains in "The Legend of Korra" also suffer from inconsistency. While each season introduces a new antagonist, they often lack the depth and nuance that made characters like Zuko and Azula memorable in "Avatar: The Last Airbender." For example, Amon, the antagonist of the first season, starts as a compelling character with a unique perspective on bending, but his backstory and motivations are revealed in a rushed manner that undermines his initial intrigue.
Moreover, the show's handling of political themes has been criticized for being overly simplistic. "The Legend of Korra" attempts to tackle complex issues such as equality, anarchy, and totalitarianism, but often does so in a way that feels superficial. The show's treatment of these themes lacks the subtlety and depth that characterized the moral and ethical dilemmas in "Avatar: The Last Airbender," leading to a less impactful exploration of these important topics.
Another point of contention is the pacing of the series. "The Legend of Korra" often rushes through important plot points, leaving little time for character development and world-building. This hurried pacing is especially evident in the transitions between seasons, where significant changes occur off-screen, leaving viewers feeling disoriented. The rushed storytelling detracts from the emotional weight of the narrative and diminishes the impact of key moments.
The supporting characters in "The Legend of Korra" also receive mixed reviews. While characters like Tenzin and Lin Beifong are well-developed and interesting, others, such as Mako and Bolin, often feel one-dimensional and underutilized. The show struggles to balance its large ensemble cast, leading to uneven character development and sidelining potentially compelling storylines.
Additionally, the romantic subplots in "The Legend of Korra" have been criticized for their lack of depth and coherence. The love triangle between Korra, Mako, and Asami feels contrived and distracts from the main narrative. The abrupt resolution of these romantic tensions often leaves viewers unsatisfied and detracts from the characters' individual growth.
The series also faces criticism for its world-building. While "Avatar: The Last Airbender" meticulously crafted a rich, immersive world, "The Legend of Korra" struggles to expand on this foundation. The introduction of Republic City is intriguing, but the exploration of other parts of the world feels superficial. The show misses opportunities to delve deeper into the cultures and histories of different nations, which could have added richness and complexity to the narrative.
Furthermore, the show's animation, while generally high-quality, has been inconsistent at times. Some episodes showcase stunning visuals and fluid action sequences, while others suffer from noticeable dips in quality. This inconsistency can be jarring and detracts from the overall viewing experience.
Another major critique is the show's reliance on deus ex machina solutions. Key conflicts are often resolved through sudden, convenient plot devices rather than through the characters' ingenuity and growth. This reliance on quick fixes undermines the stakes and tension, making the resolutions feel unearned and unsatisfying.
The show’s tone is another area where it falters. "The Legend of Korra" oscillates between light-hearted moments and dark, mature themes, often without smooth transitions. This tonal inconsistency can make it difficult for viewers to fully engage with the story and characters, as the abrupt shifts can feel disorienting and diminish the emotional impact of key scenes.
Moreover, the series’ depiction of the spirit world and its relationship with the human world lacks the depth and mystery that was present in "Avatar: The Last Airbender." The spirit world in "The Legend of Korra" feels more like a plot device than a mystical realm with its own rules and logic. This diminishes the sense of wonder and awe that the spirit world should evoke.
The handling of the Avatar's mythology also draws criticism. "The Legend of Korra" makes significant changes to the lore established in "Avatar: The Last Airbender," such as the introduction of Raava and Vaatu. While these additions could have enriched the story, they are often explained in a rushed and confusing manner, leading to a fragmented understanding of the Avatar's origins and purpose.
Additionally, the show’s attempts to modernize the Avatar world with technology and urban settings have received mixed reactions. While some appreciate the blend of traditional and modern elements, others feel that it detracts from the unique, fantastical charm of the original series. The industrialization of the world sometimes feels at odds with the spiritual and elemental themes that define the Avatar universe.
The treatment of legacy characters from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" has also been a point of contention. While it's understandable that the focus needs to shift to new characters, the limited and sometimes unsatisfactory portrayal of beloved characters like Katara, Zuko, and Toph has disappointed many fans. Their appearances often feel more like fan service than meaningful contributions to the story.
Moreover, the show's attempts to address themes of identity and self-discovery through Korra's journey sometimes fall flat. While the intention to depict Korra’s struggle with her role as the Avatar is commendable, the execution often lacks the emotional depth and resonance needed to make these themes truly impactful.
The series finale of "The Legend of Korra" has also been divisive. While some praise the ending for its bold and progressive representation, others feel that it leaves too many plot threads unresolved and relies too heavily on last-minute revelations. The finale’s attempt to wrap up multiple storylines in a short span feels rushed and undermines the potential for a more satisfying conclusion.
Furthermore, the show’s approach to diversity and representation, while progressive in some aspects, has also faced criticism. The portrayal of certain cultural elements and characters can sometimes feel superficial or tokenistic, lacking the nuanced and respectful treatment seen in "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Another criticism is the show’s soundtrack. While the music in "The Legend of Korra" is generally well-composed, it often lacks the memorable and emotive quality of the score in "Avatar: The Last Airbender." The music in "Avatar" played a crucial role in enhancing the emotional depth of the story, a quality that is less pronounced in "Korra."
The handling of bending and its evolution is another contentious issue. While the idea of advancing bending techniques is interesting, the execution sometimes feels inconsistent and poorly explained. The introduction of metalbending and other advanced techniques is not always integrated smoothly into the narrative, leading to confusion and a lack of cohesion.
Finally, the marketing and production decisions surrounding "The Legend of Korra" have also been criticized. The show faced numerous scheduling changes and network issues, which contributed to its inconsistent pacing and development. These external factors undoubtedly impacted the final product, leading to a series that, while ambitious, often feels disjointed and uneven.
In conclusion, "The Legend of Korra" has its strengths, such as its bold themes and complex characters, but it is also plagued by numerous issues that detract from its overall quality. Inconsistent storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and rushed pacing are among the key criticisms that many fans have voiced. While the series deserves credit for its ambition and willingness to tackle mature themes, it ultimately falls short of the high standards set by "Avatar: The Last Airbender," leaving many viewers feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.
​

My former employer is a large trading firm.
As part of the employment contracts, there is a non timelimited non disparagement clause.
Wording is close to "during your employment and following your termination you agree not to make oral or written statements to any third party damages, defames or disparages any company within the group, it's employees or services"
No definitions of the key terms are given, or outline of penalty for a breach.
In my opinion the company is using it's financial weight to hide incredibly bad behaviour - it has other contractual clauses it knows are anti competitive and non legally enforceable that it will still try to enforce - they can drag individuals through costly legal proceedings for years only to settle at the end under an NDA, just to make a point "you do what we say or else"
I have first hand experience of a bunch of borderline discrimination/generally not ethical conduct at senior levels, but probably nothing to say be covered as a whistleblower.
This got me wondering - what are the status of these clauses? For example were I to write a glassdoor review, is there actually any remedy if the statements are factually correct/reasonable opinions?
Online definitions of disparagement are somewhat vague to a layman, but it seems to suggest it covers damaging true facts.
Is it really the case that if one were to make public concerning aspects of a business and the behaviour of it's management, it is I not the firm who would be in trouble?
Additionally it seems crazy that in a decade I might make some passing comment that they find out about, and at least have the right to damages from me, whether or not they might bother in reality.

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• I have exceptional multiple-choice exam-taking skills. I have mastered the various techniques to make calculated guesses for the correct option in standardized exams such as the SAT & GRE.

I CAN VERIFY MY ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• I have no problem with requests to solve sample problems upfront to prove my knowledge & proficiency of the course concepts.
• I can provide glowing references & strong examples of work done for past clients to verify my academic skills.
• I can also provide, upon request, complete detailed calculations with explanations for solutions to the problems worked on.
• I am quite skilled and adept in using multiple modernized educational platforms and software, including but not limited to: Brightspace MyStatLab D2L WebAssign Canvas MyMathLab Blackboard ALEKS
• Can format term papers and discussion posts in APA MLA Harvard Chicago Vancouver OSCOLA IEEE format.

I HAVE PAID ACCESS TO OVER 15 STUDY-HELP WEBSITES AND MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE:

• I have multiple paid subscriptions to a wide range of academic tutoring resources, including Chegg, Quizlet, CourseHero, Brainly, Grammarly, Study. com, Bartleby, Slader, Transtutors, Slideshare, StudocU, Turnitin, Academia, SymboLab, WolframAlpha, and Scribd to help guide to solve exam & homework questions that I may not immediately know.
• However, I am smart enough not to blatantly plagiarize solutions online but instead write them in my own unique words, formatting, & mathematical terminology.
• I have access to a very sophisticated graphing calculator and various mathematical software that provides step-by-step solutions to complex mathematical problems within seconds, allowing me to provide exact solutions to the student in a timely manner.
• I have impeccable handwriting and a high-quality mobile scanner app that allows me to scan written solutions in very legible high-definition JPG, PNG, or PDF formats.

MY AVAILABILITY & RELIABILITY:

• Depending on my availability, I can accommodate immediate tutoring requests, 1-24 hour, and 1-30-day deadlines.
• I can schedule live real-time online sessions and meet deadlines in an impressively timely fashion.
• I can provide quick notifications and updates of progress made in the student's class via email text phone calls.
• I can also be available to tutor students for Fall 2021 Spring 2022 Summer 2022 semesters.

MY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE OF EXPERTISE:

• I am very knowledgeable and well-versed in a wide range of educational software to tutor students in including but not limited to: Acellus ALEKS APEX Learning Aplia Blackboard Brightspace Canvas Cengage CengageNow Connect ConnectMath Connexus CPM D2L Discord Edmentum Eviews Examity Excel Hawkes Learning Honorlock Khan Academy Knewton LimeSpring Lumen Maple MasteringChemistry MasteringPhysics MathXL (XL) MATLAB McGraw-Hill Microsoft Word Minitab Moodle MyAccountingLab MyEconLab MyITLab MyLab My Lab MyMathLab My Math Lab MyOpenMath MyPsychLab MySocLab MyStatLab My Stat Lab NCSS Open Source Software Pearson PERT PlatoWeb PowerPoint Prezi R Respondus Lockdown Browser with Webcam Sapling SPSS Stata StraighterLine Straighter Line WebAssign Web Assign Webex (Cisco) WebWork Wiley WileyPlus Wonderlic Zoom

SCHOOLS FROM WHICH I'VE HELPED STUDENTS IN :
As of 2021, I have tutored and helped students enrolled at the following U.S. universities community colleges county & city colleges schools for-profit institutions listed below in alphabetical order:

• A - C: American Public University System (APUS) Arizona State Ashford Brigham Young Brown Broward California State (Fullerton) Capella Chamberlain (Illinois) Colorado Technical Columbia Columbia Southern Cornell
• D - K: Dallas College Dartmouth DeVry Excelsior College Florida International Florida State Full Sail Georgia State Grand Canyon Harvard Houston Community College Ivy Tech Community College Kaplan Kennesaw State Kent State
• L - T: Liberty Lone Star College System Kaplan Miami Dade Michigan State CUNY State University of New York (SUNY) Northern Virginia Ohio State University of Phoenix (UOP) Penn State Princeton Purdue (Davenport) San Diego State San Francisco State San Jose State Southern New Hampshire Southern Nevada Stanford St. Petersburg Strayer Texas Tech
• UNIVERSITY OF: Alabama Arizona California (UC) Central Florida Chicago Cincinnati Florida Houston Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Iowa Maryland Minnesota Michigan North Texas Pennsylvania Southern Florida Texas Toronto
• U - Z: UCLA Extension Utah State Utah Valley Valencia Walden U Wake Technical Western Governors Wilmington Yale

Paid Help from Hiraedu: If You're struggling to handle your Online Exams, Assignments or any other coursework, get help from Hiraedu and pay after the exam. Contact details for Hiraedu is: WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657 OR Call: +1 727 456 9641
I OFFER FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANS:

• I offer several unique payment plans, including a weekly plan, a discounted monthly plan, a discounted half-now / half-later plan, and highly discounted up-front rates.
• I can accept the following payment methods for my services: PayPal Debit Cards Square Cash Credit Cards Cash App Venmo.
• Only people located in North America have access to Venmo Cash App Zelle.
• This is an excellent way to determine if the person you're dealing with is from the United States.
• Within reason, I offer a partial or full money-Back guarantee if the student is very unsatisfied with my academic services.

TUTORING AVAILABLE FOR OTHER SUBJECTS:

• For other subjects, you can reach out to me, and I can connect you with one of my tutoring partners who can provide general academic assistance for the following subjects:
• Art & Design: Art History Design Film Studies
• Business: Accounting (Acc) Biz Courses Business Administration (Biz Admn) Business Calculus Business Law Business Statistics Corporate Finance Economics (Econ) Finance (Fin) Financial Accounting Intermediate Accounting Intermediate Microeconomics (Micro) Macroeconomics (Macro) Management (Mgmt) Managerial Accounting Marketing MBA
• Computer Science: C C++ Computer Programming (Comp) Java Python R (Introduction & Intermediate Level Only)
• Humanities: Communications (Comm) English Literature Essay & Term Paper Writing, Editing, Proofreading Essays History Papers Philosophy (Phil) Religious Studies Theology (Theo)
• Mathematics: A.P. Calculus AB & BC Psychology Statistics AP Statistics Bio statistics Calculus I (1) Calculus II (2) Calculus III (3) College Algebra Differential Equations Discrete Math Finite Math Functions General Math Geometry Liberal Arts Math Linear Algebra Multi-variable Calculus Partial Differential Equations Precalculus Probability Quantitative Reasoning Real Analysis Statistics Trigonometry (Trig) Vector Calculus
• Science & Medicine: Anatomy & Physiology (A & P) Biochemistry Biology (Bio) Biostatistics Earth Science Environmental Science General Chemistry (Chem) Healthcare Medicine Nursing Nutrition Organic Chemistry Physics (Phys)
• Social Sciences: Anthropology Economics (Econ) Geology Law & Justice Liberal Arts Liberal Studies Political Science Psychology Sociology

THE OBLIGATORY "IS THIS A SCAM?" QUESTION:
Considering the fact that you found my contact information online, it’s understandable to be skeptical regarding the legitimacy of my services. Therefore, I’m willing to do all of the following to help you feel more secure in trusting me with your academic needs:

• 1) Speak with you on the phone and answer any questions you may have so that you have the opportunity to assess and analyze my tone, articulation, accent, diction, dialect, regionalisms, pitch, vocabulary, word choice, intonations, and inflections.
• NOTE: I’m a New Jersey-born Irish/Italian-American, but I have been told that I speak in an erudite & articulate suburban American accent with a “professor style” voice somewhat resembling the voice of actor: Ben Stein.
• 2) Agree to do some homework questions of yours upfront with the work fully shown in real-time to prove my mastery of the course content.
• 3) Send you screenshots of at least five past scores I attained from completing exams & homework assignments for other students in the same type of class you need help with.
• 4) Send you full screenshots of written exam solutions I wrote up by hand for students in the past in the same course that you need help with so that you can see my neat handwriting.
• 5) Provide you with the contact information of students who have utilized my services in the past who would be more than willing to vouch for my skills.

MY REBUTTAL TO THE OBLIGATORY “IS THIS A SCAM?” QUESTION:
At the risk of sounding arrogant, I consider myself to be at least marginally more intelligent (both academically & socially) than the average person. Therefore, if I ever decided to suddenly risk prison time, risk my reputation, and risk enduring the wrath of modern-day “cancel culture” by scamming people out of their money:

• I certainly wouldn’t do it for such paltry amounts of money. (i.e., anything less than $1,000 per victim.)
• I certainly wouldn’t choose high school & college students as my “target audience” to scam, considering that most people without college degrees have abysmally low annual incomes. Why choose low-income victims when it would be much more profitable to target high-income, high-net-worth individuals earning at least six figures a year? I have knowledge in business consulting, and I promise you that a business owner would be a MUCH more lucrative mark than a low-income college student.
• I wouldn’t choose such a time & energy-draining method of scamming people. Also, communicating back and forth with potential clients is an absurdly long time sink since only less than 10% of all potential clients who reach out to me actually become paying clients of mine. This means that 90% of my time communicating with potential clients ultimately proves to be a colossal waste of my irretrievable time & energy.
• If you pay me to provide academic services and I don’t deliver, you can always dispute the payment with the payment app and easily get your money refunded. If I were in the habit of swindling money from people, then all of my payment accounts would have been investigated and be completely shut down by now. And I would have been permanently banned from opening new accounts. Therefore, the fact that all my payment apps have been fully active for years should be sufficient proof that I haven’t had people consistently disputing payments sent to me.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:
Paid Help from Hiraedu: If You're struggling to handle your Online Exams, Assignments or any other coursework, get help from Hiraedu and pay after the exam. Contact details for Hiraedu is: WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657 OR Call: +1 727 456 9641

• I take my work as a tutor very seriously, and I always aim to do my best to help my students excel in school. I have a solid and sincere passion for academic achievement, and with my help, I am positive that I can help students obtain very high grades with minimal stress and effort.
• Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in my services and would like to learn more. I'm available 24/7 via phone call, email, and text. Again, thank you for taking the time to read my Reddit tutoring ad, and I hope to hear from you soon!

My contact details:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: [info@hiraedu](mailto:info@hiraedu). com
What are your Thoughts! Write in comments and ask for help if needed
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First of all, these are the contact details to reach us for help any type of academic task of any subject:
MY CONTACT INFO:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: [info@hiraedu](mailto:info@hiraedu). com
ASSESSMENTS I CAN COMPLETE:

• Online Courses (1 - 20 Weeks Long)
• Homework Assignments
• Exams Quizzes Tests
• Excel Projects
• Discussion Forum Posts
• Research Papers Term Papers Essays
• Employment Assessments

MY MATH SUBJECTS OF EXPERTISE:
I am very knowledgeable and proficient in assisting students in a wide range of mathematics classes. I can help students complete their homework assignments and other projects get an A on quizzes, tests, and exams (including proctored assessments) answer online discussion posts write essays & papers in MLA APA Chicago format and provide general overall academic help in each math course listed below:

• Advanced Placement Honors High School Level Math
• AP Calculus AB A.P. Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• Biostatistics Bio-Statistics
• College Algebra Intermediate Algebra
• Business Calculus
• Business Statistics
• Business Math
• Calculus I Calculus II Calculus III (Calc)
• Geometry
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Maths
• Liberal Arts Math
• Logic & Reasoning
• Multivariable Calculus Multi variable Calculus
• Precalculus Pre-calculus
• Probability & Statistics
• Psychology Statistics Psych Stats
• Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative Methods Quantitative Literacy (Quant)
• Statistics (Stats)
• Statistics for Social Sciences
• Trigonometry (Trig)

STATISTICS HELP (MY BEST SUBJECT):

• I have a master's degree in Applied Statistics from a university in New Jersey, USA. As a result, I am very proficient in helping students with various types of Statistics courses including Biostatistics Business Statistics Elementary Statistics Probability & Statistics Psychology Statistics.
• I have extensive knowledge and skill with helping students get through various statistical concepts including all of the following in alphabetical order:
• ANOVA Bar Graph, Boxplot, Dot Plot, Histogram, Pie Chart Bias Binomial, Exponential, Poisson, Gamma, Uniform Distribution Central Limit Theorem Chi-Square Test Coefficient of Determination (R^2) Conditional & Relative Probability Confidence Interval Correlation Coefficient (r) Critical Region Critical Value Descriptive & Inferential Statistics Effect Size Expected Value Experiment vs Observation Goodness of Fit Test Hypothesis Testing Interpolation & Extrapolation Interquartile Range (IQR) Kurtosis Left, Negative, Right, Positive Skewed Distribution Logistic Regression Mean, Median, Mode, Midrange Multiple Regression Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio I Population Parameter Normal, Symmetric & Bell Shaped Distribution Null & Alternate Hypothesis One & Two Sample T-Test One & Two Sample Z-Test Ordinary Least Squares Outliers P-Value Pooled Variance (Equal Variances) Proportion R^2 Range Regression Regression Line Reject & Fail to Reject Ho Relative & Cumulative Frequency Distributions Relativity & Reliability Right, Left, One, Two Tailed Tailed Hypothesis Test Sample Statistics Sampling Methods (Convenience, Stratified, Simple, Cluster, Systematic) Significance Level (1%, 5%, 10%) Skewness Standard Deviation& Variance T-Score Test Statistic Time Series Type I & Type II Errors Unbiased Estimators Z-Score

ALGEBRA HELP:

• I am well-versed in helping students do well in Algebra 1 & 2 College Algebra Intermediate Algebra Pre-Algebra and I am very knowledgeable and proficient in the following algebra topics in alphabetical order:
• Absolute Values Circle Equation Domain Exponents Graphing Horizontal & Vertical Asymptotes Inequalities, Equations & Functions Inverse Functions Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic, Quadratic Equations Logarithms Maximum & Minimum Values of a Graph Number Lines One-to-One Functions Parallel & Perpendicular Lines Plotting Points & Ordered Pairs Point-Slope Form Polynomial Division Polynomials Radicals Range Rational & Irrational Expressions Rational Functions Real Roots Real Zeros Relations & Functions Slope Slope-Intercept Form Square Roots Standard Form of a Line System of Equations System of Inequalities Variables X and Y Intercepts

CALCULUS HELP:

• I am well-versed in helping students do well in Calculus I, II & III, Calculus 1, 2 & 3, Business Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Vector Calculus and I am very knowledgeable and proficient in the following calculus topics in alphabetical order:
• Absolute & Local Maximum and Minimum Antiderivative Area & Volume Chain Rule Concavity Continuity Convergence Test Critical Points Curvature Curve of Rotation Curve Sketching Derivatives Divergence Test First & Second Derivative Test Fourier Series Implicit Differentiation Increasing / Decreasing Functions Infinite Series Integrals Integration by Parts Jacobian Matrix Limits L’Hopital’s Rule Maclaurin Series Mean Value Theorem Partial Derivative Product & Quotient Rule Reiman Sum Related Rates Simpson’s Rule Solid of Revolution Substitution Rule Taylor Series

ATTRIBUTES THAT SET ME APART FROM OTHER TUTORS:

• I firmly believe that I have many attributes and skills that set me apart from other tutors. Below is a list of qualities that makes me an ideal fit to help you master your coursework:

I CAN AID STUDENTS TAKING PROCTORED ASSESSMENTS:

• Proficient in CollegeBoard AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC & AP Statistics exams.
• Skilled with International Baccalaureate Math Exams: IB Maths HL & IB Maths SL
• Can intentionally answer a few problems incorrectly at the student's request.
• Can text solutions to the student while they are taking a proctored exam.
• Upon request, can purposely obtain grades below an A (ex: B+, B, C+, C-).
• I can stretch out the time to a plausible length for timed exams and assignments before submitting them.
• Have reliable software that can change my IP address to match the closest major city near the student.
• I have exceptional multiple-choice exam-taking skills. I have mastered the various techniques to make calculated guesses for the correct option in standardized exams such as the SAT & GRE.

I CAN VERIFY MY ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• I have no problem with requests to solve sample problems upfront to prove my knowledge & proficiency of the course concepts.
• I can provide glowing references & strong examples of work done for past clients to verify my academic skills.
• I can also provide, upon request, complete detailed calculations with explanations for solutions to the problems worked on.
• I am quite skilled and adept in using multiple modernized educational platforms and software, including but not limited to: Brightspace MyStatLab D2L WebAssign Canvas MyMathLab Blackboard ALEKS
• Can format term papers and discussion posts in APA MLA Harvard Chicago Vancouver OSCOLA IEEE format.

I HAVE PAID ACCESS TO OVER 15 STUDY-HELP WEBSITES AND MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE:

• I have multiple paid subscriptions to a wide range of academic tutoring resources, including Chegg, Quizlet, CourseHero, Brainly, Grammarly, Study. com, Bartleby, Slader, Transtutors, Slideshare, StudocU, Turnitin, Academia, SymboLab, WolframAlpha, and Scribd to help guide to solve exam & homework questions that I may not immediately know.
• However, I am smart enough not to blatantly plagiarize solutions online but instead write them in my own unique words, formatting, & mathematical terminology.
• I have access to a very sophisticated graphing calculator and various mathematical software that provides step-by-step solutions to complex mathematical problems within seconds, allowing me to provide exact solutions to the student in a timely manner.
• I have impeccable handwriting and a high-quality mobile scanner app that allows me to scan written solutions in very legible high-definition JPG, PNG, or PDF formats.

I ALWAYS ACCEPT CALLS:

• I have no problem speaking with potential clients on the phone.
• I have an authentic suburban upper-middle-class American accent, similar to the actor: Ben Stein.
• However, be wary of so-called “tutors” who refuse to accept any phone calls or have a strict “text / email only” policy.
• These “text-only” / “email-only” tutors are usually located outside the U.S. and are afraid their foreign accent will expose their true nationality.

I WRITE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL:

• Approximately 98% of the time, I write all my texts & emails in grammatically correct U.S. English with proper punctuation and occasional typo.
• Unlike some alleged “U.S.-based tutors,” I do NOT write using broken English or grammatically incorrect texting shorthand (example: "wut u need help wit??").
• I write my ad in proper American English, the same way I always text and email people.
• I can guide students on formatting & writing term papers, essays, and discussion posts in APA MLA Chicago Harvard format.
• If the tutor you’re checking out consistently writes using egregiously horrendous grammar, do you honestly think it’s a good idea to trust them to help you do well in your class?

MY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE OF EXPERTISE:

• I am very knowledgeable and well-versed in a wide range of educational software to tutor students in including but not limited to: Acellus ALEKS APEX Learning Aplia Blackboard Brightspace Canvas Cengage CengageNow Connect ConnectMath Connexus CPM D2L Discord Edmentum Eviews Examity Excel Hawkes Learning Honorlock Khan Academy Knewton LimeSpring Lumen Maple MasteringChemistry MasteringPhysics MathXL (XL) MATLAB McGraw-Hill Microsoft Word Minitab Moodle MyAccountingLab MyEconLab MyITLab MyLab My Lab MyMathLab My Math Lab MyOpenMath MyPsychLab MySocLab MyStatLab My Stat Lab NCSS Open Source Software Pearson PERT PlatoWeb PowerPoint Prezi R Respondus Lockdown Browser with Webcam Sapling SPSS Stata StraighterLine Straighter Line WebAssign Web Assign Webex (Cisco) WebWork Wiley WileyPlus Wonderlic Zoom

SCHOOLS FROM WHICH I'VE HELPED STUDENTS IN :
As of 2021, I have tutored and helped students enrolled at the following U.S. universities community colleges county & city colleges schools for-profit institutions listed below in alphabetical order:

• A - C: American Public University System (APUS) Arizona State Ashford Brigham Young Brown Broward California State (Fullerton) Capella Chamberlain (Illinois) Colorado Technical Columbia Columbia Southern Cornell
• D - K: Dallas College Dartmouth DeVry Excelsior College Florida International Florida State Full Sail Georgia State Grand Canyon Harvard Houston Community College Ivy Tech Community College Kaplan Kennesaw State Kent State
• L - T: Liberty Lone Star College System Kaplan Miami Dade Michigan State CUNY State University of New York (SUNY) Northern Virginia Ohio State University of Phoenix (UOP) Penn State Princeton Purdue (Davenport) San Diego State San Francisco State San Jose State Southern New Hampshire Southern Nevada Stanford St. Petersburg Strayer Texas Tech
• UNIVERSITY OF: Alabama Arizona California (UC) Central Florida Chicago Cincinnati Florida Houston Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Iowa Maryland Minnesota Michigan North Texas Pennsylvania Southern Florida Texas Toronto
• U - Z: UCLA Extension Utah State Utah Valley Valencia Walden U Wake Technical Western Governors Wilmington Yale

I OFFER FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANS:

• I offer several unique payment plans, including a weekly plan, a discounted monthly plan, a discounted half-now / half-later plan, and highly discounted up-front rates.
• I can accept the following payment methods for my services: PayPal Debit Cards Square Cash Credit Cards Cash App Venmo.
• Only people located in North America have access to Venmo Cash App Zelle.
• This is an excellent way to determine if the person you're dealing with is from the United States.
• Within reason, I offer a partial or full money-Back guarantee if the student is very unsatisfied with my academic services.

HELP AVAILABLE FOR OTHER SUBJECTS:

• For other subjects, you can reach out to me, and I can connect you with one of my tutoring partners who can provide general academic assistance for the following subjects:
• Art & Design: Art History Design Film Studies
• Business: Accounting (Acc) Biz Courses Business Administration (Biz Admn) Business Calculus Business Law Business Statistics Corporate Finance Economics (Econ) Finance (Fin) Financial Accounting Intermediate Accounting Intermediate Microeconomics (Micro) Macroeconomics (Macro) Management (Mgmt) Managerial Accounting Marketing MBA
• Computer Science: C C++ Computer Programming (Comp) Java Python R (Introduction & Intermediate Level Only)
• Humanities: Communications (Comm) English Literature Essay & Term Paper Writing, Editing, Proofreading Essays History Papers Philosophy (Phil) Religious Studies Theology (Theo)
• Mathematics: A.P. Calculus AB & BC Psychology Statistics AP Statistics Bio statistics Calculus I (1) Calculus II (2) Calculus III (3) College Algebra Differential Equations Discrete Math Finite Math Functions General Math Geometry Liberal Arts Math Linear Algebra Multi-variable Calculus Partial Differential Equations Precalculus Probability Quantitative Reasoning Real Analysis Statistics Trigonometry (Trig) Vector Calculus
• Science & Medicine: Anatomy & Physiology (A & P) Biochemistry Biology (Bio) Biostatistics Earth Science Environmental Science General Chemistry (Chem) Healthcare Medicine Nursing Nutrition Organic Chemistry Physics (Phys)
• Social Sciences: Anthropology Economics (Econ) Geology Law & Justice Liberal Arts Liberal Studies Political Science Psychology Sociology

THE OBLIGATORY "IS THIS A SCAM?" QUESTION:
Considering the fact that you found my contact information online, it’s understandable to be skeptical regarding the legitimacy of my services. Therefore, I’m willing to do all of the following to help you feel more secure in trusting me with your academic needs:

• 1) Speak with you on the phone and answer any questions you may have so that you have the opportunity to assess and analyze my tone, articulation, accent, diction, dialect, regionalisms, pitch, vocabulary, word choice, intonations, and inflections.
• NOTE: I’m a New Jersey-born Irish/Italian-American, but I have been told that I speak in an erudite & articulate suburban American accent with a “professor style” voice somewhat resembling the voice of actor: Ben Stein.
• 2) Agree to do some homework questions of yours upfront with the work fully shown in real-time to prove my mastery of the course content.
• 3) Send you screenshots of at least five past scores I attained from completing exams & homework assignments for other students in the same type of class you need help with.
• 4) Send you full screenshots of written exam solutions I wrote up by hand for students in the past in the same course that you need help with so that you can see my neat handwriting.
• 5) Provide you with the contact information of students who have utilized my services in the past who would be more than willing to vouch for my skills.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

• If you are interested in my services and would like to learn more info, please feel free to reach out to me.
• Text messages and email are the fastest and easiest ways to get in touch with me. However, I gladly accept phone calls.
• If I don't respond right away, I am most likely helping a student at the time and not currently available to speak on the phone. But I always make a solid effort to reply to texts, emails, and phone calls within an hour.

CONCLUSION:

• I take my work as a tutor very seriously, and I always aim to do my best to help my students excel in school. I have a solid and sincere passion for academic achievement, and with my help, I am positive that I can help students obtain very high grades with minimal stress and effort.
• Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in my services and would like to learn more. I'm available 24/7 via phone call, email, and text. Again, thank you for taking the time to read my Reddit tutoring ad, and I hope to hear from you soon!

OCT 2021 UPDATE: I am currently offering discount deals for requests for assistance with completing a student's entire course for the Fall 2024 semester (14 - 20 week courses acceptable), as well as discounts for students seeking help with multiple exams and/or multiple classes for Fall 2024. My availability for the Autumn 2024 / Fall 2024 semester will likely become limited very quickly as I receive more and more academic requests. Therefore it would be very advantageous to reach out to me for academic assistance before my schedule becomes too full.
MY CONTACT INFO:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: [info@hiraedu](mailto:info@hiraedu). com

Typically looking up individual game names will return something interesting/relevant but sometimes I just want to browse what's out there. I'm particularly drawn to video essay style deep dives into older games instead of surface level review videos like you might find from IGN. Been watching a 3 part review of the FFXIII trilogy for example each an hour long and it's making me want to go play 2/3 since I only played the first back in the day.

My son is starting daycare in about three weeks. He will be 15 months when he starts. The nap time there is around 1130 so I've been trying to get my son used to going to sleep around that time. He normally sleeps until 7am with a bedtime anywhere from 7-830p cause it's awfullllll getting him to sleep.
Out of no where he's starting to wake up at 530a and today for example, he took his nap from 850a-1030a. I tried to keep him up but he was just laying on the floor. It's been like this a few days now he's waking up earlier and earlier and wanting to nap earlier and earlier. Should I just try to keep him awake? Is he over tired and I should try a second nap?
He's only contact napped, sometimes I can get up. I've been working on that too. It's already stressful him starting daycare and on top of it he is so so hard to get to sleep without nursing to sleep.

I've heard from some clinicians that CMS regulatory efforts to limit the use of psychotropic medications in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities for the management of agitation and other behavioral problems in dementia patients has resulted in situations where for example agitated patients go without appropriate treatment despite being a danger to themselves / others, or severely anxious patients are left to worry endlessly. I was wondering if anyone on this sub could share their thoughts on this matter. Has there been an overcorrection? Or has CMS not gone far enough?

So I (M35) have a friend, let's call him James (M31). I met him on a Facebook group about comic books a years ago. I saw he would post things but no one would comment or anything. Checked his profile out, and he lives close to my neighborhood, we follow the same sports, etc. I decided to shoot him a friend request. We chit chat, and once in a while he'd act strange. Didn't think much of it cause it's the internet. I think 2016/17 New York Comic Con, I finally met him in person.
I may sound like a dick when I say this, but when I met him, he seemed "off". He doesn't have down syndrome, but you can tell he's on the spectrum. Not sure how deep, but he's somewhere on it. I didn't care, and I hung out with him. He would disappear on me, and l'd find him minutes later. He would get quiet, stare at things, and just get awkward. I work in the medical field, l've had patients that act like him, so after a while started treating him like a patient.
Next couple of years he would disappear and reappear on social media. He would ask me advice on things like dating, family, friends that he never mentioned before but appear out of nowhere, and life in general. I remember him getting mad at me because he asked me about where to go on a date with a girl with a $40 budget. I told him there aren't much things to do with $40 but gave him ideas. He apparently wanted a memorable date, and gave me ideas what he wanted to do. What he wanted to do costs a couple of hundred dollars. He ended the conversation with "^_^". That's his way of ending a conversation that he doesn't like or the answer given. After a while I asked him about it, he got mad and blocked me from everything. That was like 3 years ago.
Didn't hear from him until about a year and a half ago. He messaged me out of the blue saying how much he misses hanging out with me (we only met once at comic con). He misses the good times. He wants to be friends again. Everyone needs a friend, and I was ok with it. The whole cycle started again, where he would ask questions, and I'd answer it. It went on for a few months. Then a situation happened in my life where I went away. I had a mental breakdown, did something stupid which led to me getting revived, and when I came home my dad passed away from cancer. I'm still dealing with this months later.
So l'm taking on more responsibility, helping my mum out, going to therapy for my trauma, and working at the hospital. Thankfully I have my brother helping me out, so l don't take all the burden. James as always comes to me for help, and advice. Now it's work related, he's 31, has less than $200 in his account, and his job only gives him 8 or less hours a week. He then confesses that he's jealous of the life I live, and wants the same. He says it's unfair that I have season tickets for the Rangers, friends that I go out with, travel, go to concerts etc. He wants to live a life where he doesn't want to worry about money. Gave him the example of what my life was like during my early 20s when I was in medical school, and working 2-3 jobs. I asked him if he's willing to sacrifice 2-3 years of social life to get his life on track, his response "IDK if I can sacrifice it." Even with a response like that I gave him ideas and resources on where to apply to get work. He doesn't listen to anything I said. He only likes to apply to boba shops, and comic book stores.
A little background on James. He's an only child that lives with mom. Mom used to be a hospital nurse and now works at a school as a nurse supporting herself and James. From What he's told me, his family hates him, and can't stand him. Dad passed away years ago. He didn't go to college. All he does is watch anime at home, go to the Apple store and draw for hours on the iPad. Sometimes he has friends and a girlfriend, and sometime he doesn't. When asked about what he was doing since 18 to recently, he won't say or send the "^_^" face. And like I said earlier, he may be on the spectrum.
I truly feel bad for the guy, and everything he's gone through. But right now I'm going through a lot myself. My mental health is my priority, I don't want to entertain things that won't help me in my journey to recovery. It's more that he trauma dumps on me, complains about things, asks for advice that he doesn't take, and expects everything to be handed to him. I feel like he brings more negativity in my life than any positivity. I've never mentioned it to him, but he's never asked me how I'm doing, not once. It's a more of a one sided friendship. So WIBTA if I told him that I don't want to be friends anymore?

As we are getting a trailer for... let's say a much changed version of the Second Age today, I decided I would share what a first season in a series might look like for the story of Tolkien’s Second Age, while staying very close to the timeline and characters. This is a very stretched out timeline, and might actually work better over 2 seasons, but in this case we would get the "War with the Elves and Sauron" in Season 2. I’ve taken some ideas I’ve seen from other creators who have made similar attempts at this, namely Council of Rings and Tolkien Untangled, but most are my own. As of now I’m not aware of a complete outline that exists for the first season of this sort of adaptation. In any case, this outline is essentially a summary of a complete text with 10 chapters that exists but is still in progress.
I’ve split the season into 10 episodes, as I think that’s ideal, and into pairs of 3-episode arcs I call Sagas, which will cover certain time periods. But each of these sagas will more or less function like a contained story, following certain characters during periods of their lives. And each is about 3 episodes between 50-60 minutes, meaning each is the length of a long film.
I started with a compressed timeline where season 1 would take place between 1200-1600, starting with the year Annatar arrives in Ost-in-Edhil. In this timeline Tar-Aldarion would essentially switch places with Tar-Surion. I think that the actual canon timeline allows for a very interesting look at the differences in passage of time between elves, Númenoreans, and Middle Men. It's more challenging but also more rewarding. The drawbacks of the canon timeline are that Aldarion dies close to mid-season, whereas in the compressed timeline we could follow Aldarion as he ages throughout the season. Therefore the whole season takes place between SA 725 and SA 1600.
That being said, there are still a few alterations and non-canon additions. The big alteration is that Annatar steals the nine when he leaves Eregion around SA 1500, instead of when he destroys Ost-in-Edhil around SA 1695. The other non-canon additions are Middle Men characters, which there are few examples during this time period, that Annatar can begin to seduce with the Rings of Power.
This was just a bunch of fun for me, but I hope this effort will demonstrate that we can have a great story that stays faithful to Tolkien’s timeline and characters.

Sagas of the Second Age: Season 1
Saga 1 (Episodes 1-3): The Mariner (covering events from SA 725-750)
Elrond. In the first prologue scene around SA 440, Elros as an old man arrives in Mithlond to visit his brother Elrond. Elros is fulfilling a promise to Elrond to visit him when he senses death is near. The two brothers spend time together before Elros departs back for Númenor.
Aldarion. Three hundred years later around SA 725 in Númenor, Aldarion and Erendis witness the corination of his father Tar-Meneldur in Armenelos. The next day, Aldarion sets out from Númenor with his grandfather to spend a year at the court of High King Gil-galad, but he is told by Meneldur not to go beyond Mithlond. Eventually, Aldarion decides to travel outside Mithlond, against his father’s wishes. Elrond offers to join him, seeing an opportunity to spend time with his brother’s descendant. Together they discover the dwarf cities of Ered Luin, and then the future site of Vinyalondë at the mouth of the Gwathló. Aldarion discovers the that the Men of Middle-earth are not as evil as he was told by his family in Númenor, and that some even speak the same language of the Edain that he does. Elrond and Aldarion then travel to Amroth’s kingdom in Belfalas. While Amroth is showing Aldarion the black lands of Mordor in the distance, they are ambushed by orcs, and narrowly escape with their lives. Before departing back for Númenor, Aldarion says goodbye to his new friend Elrond and the High King Gil-galad. Back in Númenor, Aldarion meets Erendis again and proposes to her. She asks if he is done with his travels, he says he is, and she accepts.
High King Gil-galad. Gil-galad endeavors to heal the trauma of Middle-earth. While Aldarion is travelling the lands of Middle-earth, he goes to settle a conflict between kingdoms of Gwaithirum and Breeland. A battle ensues between these kingdoms of Men and Gil-galad is unable to stop it. Before Aldarion departs back for Númenor, Gil-galad tells him that he would very much welcome his help in mediating the conflicts of the tribes of Middle-earth, as Aldarion speaks their language. Gil-galad perceives the return of the shadow of Morgoth, and departs to discover the source.
Galadriel. By lake Evendim, Galadriel admits Celebrimbor into her company. Despite the history of their families and some initial distrust between them, they realize they have a shared vision for continuing the great works of Gondolin. Together they discover the dwarf kingdom of Kazad-dûm. Galadriel is able to convince the dwarves of the mutual benefit of their cooperation in crafting. Durin III is eventually convinced, he agrees to allow and to help with the establishment of the future capital of Eregion: Ost-in-Edhil. There the works of the Noldor and dwarves will benefit each other for many centuries.

Saga 2 (Episodes 4-6): The Stirring of Númenor (Covering events from SA 1075-1350)
Elrond. About three hundred years later in SA 1075, Elrond arrives in Númenor to see his friend, now king, Tar-Aldarion. He is also tasked to ask the Númenoreans to prepare for war, as Gil-galad is now certain of the return of the shadow of Morgoth. Tar-Aldarion, now an old man, has reached an age where he must yeild the sceptre, in the tradition of the Kings of Númenor. He decides to leave Númenor’s official response to Elrond as a decision to his sucessor. Aldarion has only had one daughter Ancalimë with Erendis, and it is clear that there has been much friction in the marriage. His sister’s son Soronto is the nearest male heir. This situation causes a conflict in Armenelos between supporters of Soronto and supporters of Ancalimë, also between those who want to heed Gil-galad's call and those who don't. Ancalimë is seen as the elf-friend, while Soronto is staunchly against the armament of Númenor. Aldarion decides to change the law succession in Númenor in favor of Ancalimë. When Ancalimë is crowned, she reverses her initial position to heed Gil-galad, and decides to preserve Númenor as a land of peace.
Galadriel. Ost-in-Edhil is a great city now, and both elves and dwarves are seen thriving. A visitor from Aman arrives who calls himself Annatar. He demonstrates himself to be akin to the Noldor in his love and expertise with crafts, and says he was a student of Aüle. He wins the favor of Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, the crafter's guild, and soon becomes the favored partner of Celebrimbor. As the friction between Galadriel and Annatar increases, Annatar moves the Gwaith-i-Mírdain turn on Galadriel. She decides to depart to Lórinand by route of Kazad-dûm with her daughter Celebrían, while Celeborn stays behid in Eregion. Galadriel is graciously welcomed in Kazad-dûm, and her relationship with the dwarves grows greater. At last, she arrives in Lórinand and meets the King Amdír.

Saga 3 (Episodes 7-9): The Rings of Power (covering events from SA 1500-1590)
Celebrimbor. More than a hundred years later, sixteen Rings of Power are forged in Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain agree that seven of the rings should be gifted to the dwarven kings, as a token of thanks for their help in building Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor, however, decides that the rings are too dangerous for Men. Annatar and Celebrimbor have a heated disagreement on this point, and Annatar accuses Celebrimbor of withholding the bliss of Aman from Middle-earth. Annatar absconds with the remaining nine rings. Sensing that he has been deceived, Celebrimbor crafts the Three in secret. He gives two to Gil-galad, and the remaining to Galadriel, and admits that he was wrong to doubt her.
Gil-galad. Minastir, the heir of Númenor, stays in the halls of Gil-galad as Aldarion once did. Minastir meets with the descendants of the Middle Men Adlarion befriended, though many more generations have passed for them than for Minastir. Aldarion’s travels are a tale that some believe to be myth. Gil-galad and Minastir travel the lands of Eriador and mediate the conflicts of Middle Men.
Elrond. Elrond travels to Númenor for the first time in several hundred years on order of High King Gil-galad to implore once more that the Númenóreans to prepare for war. Tar-Teleprian, the second Queen of Númenor, rules in Númenor now. When Elrond arrives and presents the request of Gil-galad, there is a conflict between supporters of Ancalimë’s policy of isolation and those who believe that they should heed Gil-galad, the latter being lead by the Lord of Andunië – Silmariën’s heir. When Elrond presents further evidence that the shadow of Morgoth has returned, Tar-Teleprian ultimately decides that Númenor must prepare for war.
Annatar. Annatar begins seducing the Kings of Men and gifting rings. Annatar arrives in the halls of a Gwaithirum king called Halmir, a descendant of one of the generals of the battle in the first saga. Annatar tells Halmir that the Noldor are withholding the power of prolonged life from mortals, and gifts him a ring. As Halmir is an elf-friend, his ancestors all being loyal to High King Gil-galad, he refuses Annatar’s suggestion. Eventually, Halmir succumbs to his curiosity and doubt and puts the ring on, entering the Realm of Shadows. He perceives immediately that his decay has been slowed, and indeed that the Noldor may have deceived him.

Saga 4 (Episode 10): Orodruin (1600)
Sauron crafts the One Ring in Orodruin, and Barad-dûr, the largest fortress ever built, has been completed. We Annatar standing on at the height of Barad-dûr wearing the One, below his vast legions of orcs.
As soon as the One Ring has been crafted, Galadriel, Celebrimbor, and the others realize they have been deceived and that Annatar was in fact Sauron, and they remove their rings.
The Men who received Rings of Power from Sauron realize too late they are deceived, as they are completely subservient now to the will of Sauron.