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2008.11.22 00:38 Netflix
Unofficial Netflix discussion, and all things Netflix related! (Mods are not Netflix employees, but employees occasionally post here).
2013.10.14 01:50 chocolatehistorynerd Australia & NZ: Makeup, Skincare & All Things Beauty!
Australian and New Zealand discussion about makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance and more. Share reviews, product questions, hauls, sales, and all things beauty.
2014.01.13 01:19 AusLegalMod A place to ask simple questions about the law in Australia
Nobody here is a lawyer.
2024.05.14 21:01 relationshipguy254 What Do You Do When You Share Mutual Friends with Your Abusive Ex?
Today I want to answer this common question: what do you do when you share mutual friends with your abusive ex? It's a situation many find themselves in because during the relationship, you naturally share friends due to shared interests or simply being together. But when the relationship ends, it leaves you wondering what to do with these mutual friends. It can be tough, especially when you're still hurting from the breakup and crave support from friends but now you don’t even know which friends to trust. So, how do you navigate this tricky situation?
Limit Communication
Limit the information you share with mutual friends before considering cutting ties with them. Even during no contact, these friends may still communicate with your ex. Avoid sharing every detail of your plans or recovery journey, as they might inadvertently reach your ex and sabotage your progress or draw you back into the relationship. Mutual friends create an indirect channel of communication, so you don’t have to tell them every single detail of your recovery journey.
Do not try to Win them Over.
Additionally, refrain from attempting to win them over to your side or convincing them to end ties with your abusive ex simply because you've broken up. Trying to recruit them may backfire, as they may isolate themselves from you or even view you as the problem. You may feel desperate because of loneliness, or you might approach the situation with good intentions like wanting your friends to see the truth about your ex. But it never really works that way since you’re the one who saw and experienced the abuse firsthand and your mutual friends may have been getting the ‘good’ side or the superficial charm side of your abusive ex.
Beware of Flying Monkeys
Another important point to consider is to know that your mutual acquaintances may potentially becoming proxies for abuse. They may start smearing your name or making you feel like the abusive one. They may do the abuser’s bidding unknowingly or knowingly and you will end up getting hurt in the name of wanting to be with your friends.
Therefore, sometimes it's necessary to cut off mutual friends too, as you can't always rely on them during your healing journey. Until you learn to be your own friend, you'll remain vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation, both from others and from yourself. Healing is your journey, and even if you have to do it without the support of your friends, know that you're doing it for the one friend who matters the most: yourself. It can be a lonely journey, but it's better to embrace the loneliness and the emptiness inside than to belong to a crowd where people exploit each other.
Note from the Author
If you’re ready and you’d like my help with healing, finding peace in life and breaking free from these toxic patterns, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊.
submitted by relationshipguy254 to healfromabuse [link] [comments]
Limit Communication
Limit the information you share with mutual friends before considering cutting ties with them. Even during no contact, these friends may still communicate with your ex. Avoid sharing every detail of your plans or recovery journey, as they might inadvertently reach your ex and sabotage your progress or draw you back into the relationship. Mutual friends create an indirect channel of communication, so you don’t have to tell them every single detail of your recovery journey.
Do not try to Win them Over.
Additionally, refrain from attempting to win them over to your side or convincing them to end ties with your abusive ex simply because you've broken up. Trying to recruit them may backfire, as they may isolate themselves from you or even view you as the problem. You may feel desperate because of loneliness, or you might approach the situation with good intentions like wanting your friends to see the truth about your ex. But it never really works that way since you’re the one who saw and experienced the abuse firsthand and your mutual friends may have been getting the ‘good’ side or the superficial charm side of your abusive ex.
Beware of Flying Monkeys
Another important point to consider is to know that your mutual acquaintances may potentially becoming proxies for abuse. They may start smearing your name or making you feel like the abusive one. They may do the abuser’s bidding unknowingly or knowingly and you will end up getting hurt in the name of wanting to be with your friends.
Therefore, sometimes it's necessary to cut off mutual friends too, as you can't always rely on them during your healing journey. Until you learn to be your own friend, you'll remain vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation, both from others and from yourself. Healing is your journey, and even if you have to do it without the support of your friends, know that you're doing it for the one friend who matters the most: yourself. It can be a lonely journey, but it's better to embrace the loneliness and the emptiness inside than to belong to a crowd where people exploit each other.
Note from the Author
If you’re ready and you’d like my help with healing, finding peace in life and breaking free from these toxic patterns, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊.
2024.05.14 20:49 bluegdec1 Stat Check Meta Dashboard Update - May 14th, 2024 The Post-Dataslate Meta Update
Welcome, fellow 40k data nerds, to another Stat Check Meta Dashboard Update! We’ve made one very important update to the dashboard. You can find the newly updated best free tools for 40k meta analysis on our website:
If you like our work and consider it useful, feel free to join us on Patreon and join our Discord!
Follow us on YouTube to see the latest episodes of our flagship show Stat Check, Enter the Matrix (Team 40k analysis from some of the best players in the world), and Take All Comers (where a trio of young, skilled players walk us through their competitive approaches to list-building and improvement). Today's episode of Stat Check will feature a rundown of the new Chaos Space Marine rules, following last week's rundown of the Ork Codex. Tune in here!
I’ve copied a table with one half of our State of the Meta Dashboard tab below for our mobile users. You can find images of the rest of the dashboard’s tabs here: Dashboard Images
We're over 3,000 games into the post data-slate meta, and a few things have become clear:
From now on, you'll be able to adjust your view of the meta for a given skill level. Brand new to the game and humbly assuming you're probably not that good yet? Set the max percentile to 25 for both Player and Opponent to see what the meta looks like for players who are still trying to figure the game out. Are you an established player who's routinely X-1, gunning for that 5-0 finish? Set the minimum for both Player and Opponent to 90 or 95 to get a more refined view of what competition looks like in your rarefied air. As always, these filters interact with all the others so that you can get as specific or as broad as you'd like.
Given the Elo update to the dashboard, We've adjusted the "Win Rate - Peer vs. Peer" tab to use win rates for games within the bottom and top quartiles instead of win rates within the now-deprecated "Newcomer" and "Veteran" buckets. We've also added another tab - Win Rates by Peer Elo Decile. This tab displays the WR and total games played for each faction within a given Elo decile, along with games played between players at the 99th+ percentile. This helps illuminate the degree to which there are performance differences across player skill levels for a given faction.
Looks like CSM got the good writer. Meta's gonna get real wonky over the next few weeks.
We’ll be lurking in the comments, so feel free to reach out with questions, comments, critique, or requests for clarification. Until next week, good luck with your games, and don’t forget to keep fun first while you’re playing.
submitted by bluegdec1 to WarhammerCompetitive [link] [comments]
If you like our work and consider it useful, feel free to join us on Patreon and join our Discord!
Follow us on YouTube to see the latest episodes of our flagship show Stat Check, Enter the Matrix (Team 40k analysis from some of the best players in the world), and Take All Comers (where a trio of young, skilled players walk us through their competitive approaches to list-building and improvement). Today's episode of Stat Check will feature a rundown of the new Chaos Space Marine rules, following last week's rundown of the Ork Codex. Tune in here!
I’ve copied a table with one half of our State of the Meta Dashboard tab below for our mobile users. You can find images of the rest of the dashboard’s tabs here: Dashboard Images
| Faction | Win Rate | OverRep | 4-0 Event Start | Event Wins | Player Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Wolves | 64% | 2.86 | 6% | 1 | 3% |
| Chaos Daemons | 63% | 0.61 | 6% | 0 | 2% |
| Grey Knights | 61% | 1.79 | 13% | 3 | 6% |
| Black Templars | 60% | 0.85 | 9% | 1 | 3% |
| Genestealer Cults | 58% | 0.00 | 0% | 0 | 1% |
| Necrons | 55% | 1.65 | 9% | 3 | 8% |
| Thousand Sons | 54% | 0.97 | 7% | 2 | 5% |
| Orks | 54% | 1.95 | 10% | 3 | 8% |
| Chaos Space Marines | 53% | 0.46 | 5% | 1 | 3% |
| Adepta Sororitas | 53% | 0.41 | 8% | 0 | 4% |
| Blood Angels | 52% | 1.15 | 12% | 0 | 5% |
| Drukhari | 51% | 2.25 | 8% | 0 | 2% |
| Imperial Knights | 50% | 0.49 | 0% | 0 | 3% |
| Adeptus Mechanicus | 50% | 2.43 | 0% | 0 | 1% |
| World Eaters | 50% | 1.43 | 6% | 0 | 5% |
| T'au Empire | 49% | 0.83 | 9% | 1 | 5% |
| Death Guard | 49% | 0.39 | 4% | 0 | 4% |
| Aeldari | 47% | 0.94 | 10% | 1 | 5% |
| Astra Militarum | 46% | 0.91 | 0% | 0 | 5% |
| Tyranids | 44% | 0.00 | 3% | 0 | 5% |
| Adeptus Custodes | 42% | 0.42 | 0% | 0 | 3% |
| Chaos Knights | 42% | 0.49 | 5% | 0 | 3% |
| Space Marines | 39% | 0.46 | 0% | 0 | 6% |
| Leagues of Votann | 39% | 0.00 | 0% | 0 | 3% |
| Dark Angels | 34% | 0.54 | 6% | 1 | 3% |
| Deathwatch | 25% | 0.00 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
- The Ork codex is as strong as initially suspected. Green Tide and War Horde have some positive leading indicators, while Bully Boyz appears to be the real deal. At 143 games played, BBz are sitting at a 58% Win Rate, 2.6 OverRep, 14% of its players going 4-0 to start their events, and 2 event wins.
- The Necron's Canoptek Court detachment is still going strong. At 93 games played, it's posted a 64% Win Rate, 2.92 OverRep, 15% of players starting 4-0, and 2 event wins.
- Custodes have likely disappeared as a competitive option altogether, and have quite literally disappeared from the "Faction Win Rate - Peer vs. Peer" tab due to an abysmal 23% win rate among upper quartile Elo players.
- Kyle Grundy has put Kroot nay-sayers on notice, going 4-1 with the Kroot Hunting Pack Detachment!
From now on, you'll be able to adjust your view of the meta for a given skill level. Brand new to the game and humbly assuming you're probably not that good yet? Set the max percentile to 25 for both Player and Opponent to see what the meta looks like for players who are still trying to figure the game out. Are you an established player who's routinely X-1, gunning for that 5-0 finish? Set the minimum for both Player and Opponent to 90 or 95 to get a more refined view of what competition looks like in your rarefied air. As always, these filters interact with all the others so that you can get as specific or as broad as you'd like.
Given the Elo update to the dashboard, We've adjusted the "Win Rate - Peer vs. Peer" tab to use win rates for games within the bottom and top quartiles instead of win rates within the now-deprecated "Newcomer" and "Veteran" buckets. We've also added another tab - Win Rates by Peer Elo Decile. This tab displays the WR and total games played for each faction within a given Elo decile, along with games played between players at the 99th+ percentile. This helps illuminate the degree to which there are performance differences across player skill levels for a given faction.
Looks like CSM got the good writer. Meta's gonna get real wonky over the next few weeks.
We’ll be lurking in the comments, so feel free to reach out with questions, comments, critique, or requests for clarification. Until next week, good luck with your games, and don’t forget to keep fun first while you’re playing.
2024.05.14 20:33 SAV_NC Manage Your Squid Proxy Server Efficiently with This Python Script
🦑 Squid Proxy Manager Script
Hello fellow Python enthusiasts!I've created a Python script that makes managing your Squid Proxy Server a breeze. If you're looking for an efficient and straightforward way to interact with your Squid server remotely, this script is for you. 🎉
What My Project Does
The Squid Proxy Manager script allows you to manage your Squid Proxy Server remotely using a simple command-line interface. Here are some of the key features:- Check Squid Service Status: Quickly check if your Squid service is running or not.
- Start/Stop/Restart Service: Easily control the Squid service remotely.
- View Logs: Access the latest entries in your Squid access logs.
- View Configuration: Display the current Squid configuration file.
- Update Configuration: Replace the existing Squid configuration with a new one.
- Reload Service: Reload the Squid service to apply changes without restarting.
Target Audience
This script is designed for anyone who manages a Squid Proxy Server and prefers a command-line tool for remote management. If you are comfortable using Python and SSH, this tool will streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity.Differences
Here are some aspects that make this Squid Proxy Manager script stand out:- Remote Management: Manage your Squid server without needing physical access, thanks to SSH connectivity.
- Ease of Use: The script provides a simple and intuitive command-line interface, making it easy to perform various tasks.
- Comprehensive Features: From checking service status to updating configurations and viewing logs, this script covers all essential Squid management tasks.
- Error Handling and Logging: Detailed logging and error handling ensure you know exactly what's happening and can troubleshoot issues effectively.
🚀 Usage
- Installation:
- Ensure you have the required libraries installed: bash pip install paramiko termcolor
- Running the Script:
- Use the script with appropriate arguments to manage your Squid Proxy Server. Here's an example command to check the Squid service status: bash ./squid_proxy_manager.py 192.168.2.111 22 username password --check-status
- Updating Configuration:
- Create a new configuration file (e.g., new_squid.conf) with your desired settings.
- Run the script to update the Squid configuration: bash ./squid_proxy_manager.py 192.168.2.111 22 username password --update-config new_squid.conf
💻 Script Example
Here's a snippet of the script to give you an idea of its simplicity and functionality:```python
!/usbin/env python3
import paramiko import argparse import logging import sys import os from termcolor import coloredclass SquidProxyManager: def init(self, hostname, port, username, password): self.hostname = hostname self.port = port self.username = username self.password = password self.client = paramiko.SSHClient() self.client.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
def connect(self): try: logging.info(colored("Attempting to connect to {}:{}".format(self.hostname, self.port), 'cyan')) self.client.connect(self.hostname, port=self.port, username=self.username, password=self.password) logging.info(colored(f"Connected to {self.hostname} on port {self.port}", 'green')) except Exception as e: logging.error(colored(f"Failed to connect: {e}", 'red')) sys.exit(1) def disconnect(self): self.client.close() logging.info(colored("Disconnected from the server", 'green')) def execute_command(self, command): logging.info(colored("Executing command: {}".format(command), 'cyan')) try: stdin, stdout, stderr = self.client.exec_command(command) stdout.channel.recv_exit_status() out = stdout.read().decode() err = stderr.read().decode() if err: logging.error(colored(f"Error executing command '{command}': {err}", 'red')) else: logging.info(colored(f"Successfully executed command '{command}'", 'green')) return out, err except Exception as e: logging.error(colored(f"Exception during command execution '{command}': {e}", 'red')) return "", str(e) # More functions here... def parse_args(): parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Squid Proxy Manager") parser.add_argument('hostname', help="IP address of the Squid proxy server") parser.add_argument('port', type=int, help="Port number for SSH connection") parser.add_argument('username', help="SSH username") parser.add_argument('password', help="SSH password") parser.add_argument('--check-status', action='store_true', help="Check Squid service status") parser.add.add_argument('--start', action='store_true', help="Start Squid service") parser.add.add_argument('--stop', action='store_true', help="Stop Squid service") parser.add.add_argument('--restart', action='store_true', help="Restart Squid service") parser.add.add_argument('--view-logs', action='store_true', help="View Squid logs") parser.add.add_argument('--view-config', action='store_true', help="View Squid configuration") parser.add.add_argument('--update-config', help="Update Squid configuration with provided data") parser.add.add_argument('--reload', action='store_true', help="Reload Squid service") return parser.parse_args()def main(): logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format='%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s') args = parse_args() logging.info(colored("Initializing Squid Proxy Manager script", 'cyan'))
manager = SquidProxyManager(args.hostname, args.port, args.username, args.password) manager.connect() try: if args.check_status: manager.check_squid_status() if args.start: manager.start_squid() if args.stop: manager.stop_squid() if args.restart: manager.restart_squid() if args.view_logs: manager.view_squid_logs() if args.view_config: manager.view_squid_config() if args.update_config: if not args.update_config.endswith('.conf'): logging.error(colored("The provided file must have a .conf extension", 'red')) elif not os.path.isfile(args.update_config): logging.error(colored(f"Configuration file {args.update_config} not found", 'red')) else: try: with open(args.update_config, 'r') as config_file: config_data = config_file.read() manager.update_squid_config(config_data) except Exception as e: logging.error(colored(f"Error reading configuration file {args.update_config}: {e}", 'red')) if args.reload: manager.reload_squid() finally: manager.disconnect() logging.info(colored("Squid Proxy Manager operations completed", 'green')) if name == "main": main() ```🌟 Benefits
- Remote Management: No need to be physically present to manage your Squid server.
- Ease of Use: Simple command-line interface for quick operations.
- Versatility: Supports various Squid management tasks, from checking status to updating configurations and viewing logs.
📢 Get Involved!
If you find this script useful, feel free to give it a try and share your feedback. Contributions and suggestions are always welcome! Comments however, that are unhelpful and serve no purpose to better the script or the author in their python scripting abilities are not welcome! Keep the nasty to yourself.Access the script
You can find the script here on GitHub.Happy coding! 🚀
2024.05.14 17:32 DakkaDakkaStore Hey, everyone! We're thrilled to announce our new project - "Noctis Horrors VS Black Lions".
 | The Millennium Wars series introduces two factions: the Black Lions embody honor and fortitude, standing as the steadfast defenders against the encroaching darkness, whereas Noctis Horrors, corrupted by dark forces, unleash fear and havoc upon the battlefield. submitted by DakkaDakkaStore to DakkaDakkaStore [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/q2azhat4ve0d1.jpg?width=1278&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=524371b2510ff8fb7daa74b3d2d1b4b46f14c9cb Our project features an expansive collection of 350+ STLs, making it one of the most comprehensive offerings yet. And after the end of the campaign all backers will receive the ultimate guide to the project - “Compendium”, which includes the complete STL catalog, a table of proxy models with their scales and much more. Subscribe to the campaign now and get a model for free! Millennium Wars Vol. I: "Noctis Horrors VS Black Lions" on Kickstarter. Get one of the Noctis Horrors miniatures with an exclusive painting guide! Download this model for free from our MyMiniFactory store and when we hit 350 downloads - we’ll add the painting guide to it. Download the model here. We deeply value your feedback, which is why we regularly conduct surveys and share WIPs. So be sure to share your honest opinion with us in the millennium-wars-vol-1 Btw, right now you can vote for the stretch goals and add-ons for this campaign in our survey. |
2024.05.14 17:16 Then_Marionberry_259 MAY 14, 2024 FR.TO FIRST MAJESTIC REMINDS SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE IN UPCOMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
 | https://preview.redd.it/amc20qi8se0d1.png?width=3500&format=png&auto=webp&s=e2fae5d450ab83c349831614e8d9c1261014cb33 submitted by Then_Marionberry_259 to Treaty_Creek [link] [comments] Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 14, 2024) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: FR) (FSE: FMV) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") reminds its shareholders about the Company's upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "2024 AGM") scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at the Sutton Place Hotel located at 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2K6. The Board of Directors of First Majestic unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR all the resolutions that have been put forward for the 2024 AGM. The record date for notice and for voting at the 2024 AGM was March 28, 2024. Only shareholders as of the record date will be entitled to vote at the meeting. Shareholders as of the record date are encouraged to vote before the proxy voting deadline on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). If you are a registered shareholder of the Company and are unable to attend the 2024 AGM, please read, sign and date the form of proxy for the meeting (the "Proxy") and deposit it with Computershare Investor Services Inc. ("Computershare") by courier or mail at 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, Attention: Proxy Department, or by facsimile at 1-866-249-7775 (toll-free in North America) or 1-416-263-9524 (international) by 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, or at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any postponement or adjournment of the meeting). Alternatively, registered shareholders may vote by telephone (1-866-732-8683) or online (www.investorvote.com) using the control number listed on the Proxy that they received from Computershare. Non-registered shareholders may participate in the 2024 AGM (either themselves or through a proxyholder, or through intermediaries using the voting instruction form). Alternatively, some non-registered shareholders may be able to vote by telephone or online and should refer to the voting instruction form that they received for further details and instructions. EVERY VOTE COUNTS Voting is quick and easy. First Majestic has retained Kingsdale Advisors to provide shareholders with assistance in voting their shares, and they may be reached by telephone at 1-866-851-3214 (toll-free in North America) or 1-647-577-3635 (text and call enabled outside North America), or by email at [contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com](mailto:contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com). To obtain current information about voting your First Majestic common shares, and for copies of the materials for the 2024 AGM, please visit www.firstmajesticagm.com, or scan the QR code below: https://preview.redd.it/d82f1zo8se0d1.jpg?width=218&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b92a1c645b14040aee870464450ea0170adc9f8 ABOUT THE COMPANY First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas SilveGold Mine, the Santa Elena SilveGold Mine, and the La Encantada Silver Mine as well as a portfolio of development and exploration assets, including the Jerritt Canyon Gold project located in northeastern Nevada, U.S.A. First Majestic is proud to own and operate its own minting facility, First Mint, LLC, and to offer a portion of its silver production for sale to the public. Bars, ingots, coins and medallions are available for purchase online at www.firstmint.com, at some of the lowest premiums available. For further information, contact [info@firstmajestic.com](mailto:info@firstmajestic.com), visit our website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll-free number 1.866.529.2807. FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. "Signed" Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward‐looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward‐looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the time and place of the 2024 AGM; the process of voting at the 2024 AGM; and the use of the online and telephone platforms to cast votes. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements. Although First Majestic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward‐looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/209068 https://preview.redd.it/1yxdabv8se0d1.png?width=4000&format=png&auto=webp&s=cda284c426d82431cbf5faf4aa1574e029a16db3
|
2024.05.14 17:12 Tartanclad How Gates of Hell could make a Commonwealth faction truly unique
Recently Gates of Hell released the American faction and did a full overhaul of the German faction, leading to a pair of interesting factions with an incredible variety of historically authentic uniforms. You could zoom in on any of the squads and see the diverse uniforms depicted right down to the insignia on their caps and the regiments on their patches. Shermanator’s interview of Chase/Trudel (the lead animator & 3D human artist) gave me faith in the developer’s passion for the history and the game. This made me quite excited, because we have yet to see a British Commonwealth faction but there is some heavy implication that we can expect one in the future.
I wanted to make this thread, because I wanted to express my desire to see elements in the game that would make the Commonwealth faction a wealth of interesting units, uniforms and nationalities, particularly via the doctrines system that exists within the game. The intention is to throw in representatives across all the major nations of the British Commonwealth as well as some of the Allied armies-in-exile that came under British command. I also want to highlight some of the vehicles that are rarely mentioned in other games due to their obscure theatre or role. For the record, I'm not telling the devs what to do - I'm just making some example doctrines that I came up with as an example of the variety of units I'd love to see and making their inclusion plausible. Mostly to get the community talking.
I won’t talk about early war, partially because ‘Early war’ in Gates of Hell is largely post-Dunkirk, but also because I feel like what I am asking is still quite a lot just for one faction across two eras. I also I won’t be mentioning the more obvious or general units like Stuarts, Crusaders, Cromwells, Grants etc, as I expect them to be added nonetheless. It’s the vaguer aspects of the Commonwealth I wanted to talk about; the weird, wonderful and the diverse.
Mid War Doctrines
I think the mid-war should be largely inspired by the North African Campaigns, centred largely on the 8th Army and utilising the huge variety of cultures that fought within it. Extra bits can be added from the Italian campaign where the faction is lacking, and the Italian campaign can also be represented in the ‘Temperate’ skin for the mid-war faction. There are a lot of inspirations one can draw to create a variety of options for the Commonwealth player and each doctrine should draw from their unique aspects.
All-Round: Inspired by the Desert Rats, the 2nd Battle of El Alamein and Operation Crusader this one balances the various aspects of the other doctrines while keeping it unique. I’d like to see the Infantry include British Desert Rats Infantry, 2nd New Zealand Infantry, & 1st South African Infantry. I’d also like to see South African Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars (multiple variants) as an early-battle option, plenty of the more common tanks and maybe the Bishop as a slow but mobile artillery piece. As a special call-in, we could probably include the Free French Legionaries as a powerful assault unit, just to really complete the variety in this division.
Defensive: Inspired by the Siege of Tobruk, this doctrine should primarily represent the Australians. Variations of the Australian 9th Division troops as infantry alongside minor British elements with a heavy emphasis on field engineers, emplacements and field guns. Defensive doctrine could also include RAF Regiment infantry, RAF 20mm Oerlikon guns, RAF Rolls Royces, India Pattern Carriers (from the Indian 18th Division), air strikes and, as a special unit, they could even have captured Italian tanks from the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment! As a defensive doctrine, they should also have access to the best mid-war field guns, including the rare (but historical) ’Pheasant’ 17/25 Pounder Field Gun.
Offensive: Inspired by the Battle of Tunisia and Operation Torch, I think this one should show off the might of the UK’s heavier vehicles in the latter stages of the African campaign, particularly the Churchill III, Sherman III, the Priest 105mm and the Stuart Command Tank, alongside the more standard British tank options. As for infantry options, we can include Indian troops of the 4th Infantry Division (India), Gurkhas, and a motorised unit of 22nd Guards Infantry. I would also add the British Commandos in this division - partly because they were involved in Operation Torch, but also because they had an iconic impact on the mid-war (outside of Africa) that it would be a pity not to add them.
Irregular: This one would be quite unique in mid-war as it is effectively the light vehicle special forces doctrine. Although some standard British units would form the basis of the army, they would have access to a variety of assets representing the Long Range Desert Group; Chevrolet trucks with mounted Vickers MGs, Boys AT rifles, twin 303 Brownings or even Bofors and captured 20mm Breda guns! ‘Bamtam’ jeeps with twin Vickers Ks or 303 Brownings. The transport and logistics would be different too, using the Marmon-Herrington 6-ton Heavy Truck or the White 1064 10-ton. Other unique special call-ins would include an LRDG WACO Recon plane and the SAS (armed with the Lewes bomb). The downside to this doctrine, however, is that imagine it to be much lighter on armoured support, relying mostly on towed guns for its heavy firepower.
Other Units: I’ve tried to use inspirations from specific parts of the war to get a rounded but also diverse array of units, but there are loads of obscure units across the mid-war that I’d love to see; the Priest 105mm SPG, the AEC Deacon Gun Carrier, the Daimler Dingo, the Humber Light Reconnaissance, and so on.
That is as much as I want to say on mid-war without labouring the point. I’m sure there’s interesting things I’ve missed accidentally, and I’m afraid there’s some I have missed on purpose. For example, I considered the Australian Matilda Hedgehog, but it turned out to be late war and never used. I also considered the Greek and the Czech Division, but I think I’ve already stretched it too far as regards voice acting alone without adding units that, as distinguished their service might be, are just too obscure without adding anything extra - appearance or gameplay. That said, my hat would go off to the devs if they achieved that.
Late War Doctrines
Here we get to represent the Commonwealth units from Operation Overlord up until Operation Varsity.
All-Round: The quintessential British doctrine, combining bog-standard infantry with hardy tanks and a decent array of equipment. Partially based on Gold Beach, but also Operation Varsity/Plunder towards the end of the war, I would personally give them 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry, RAF Regiment Gunners, RAF Humber Light AC, Churchill AVRE, the Cruiser Mk. VIII Challenger and the Comet. Maybe give them some 6th Airlanding troops and 1st Canadian Parachute Infantry as a reference to the Normandy paratroopers if we feel they need more skilled infantry.
Offensive: The Canadian Doctrine - mostly inspired by the First Canadian Army in Normandy with elements of their experiences later on (including the Battle of the Schelt and Operation Veritable) with the doctrine largely focused on armoured assault infantry. They’ll look quite unique compared to the British because their uniforms were greener and they were the first to use the British-designed Mk.III helmet at D-Day. Troops of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as standard, supported by assault infantry. Eventually, armoured infantry can spawn in Buffalos (used at the Battle of the Schelt) and, as a special call-in, Ram Kangaroo APCs (sporting an armoured MG turret). The Otter armoured car would be an early call-in, with M4A1 Sherman Grizzly tanks as well as Ram IIs available in the standard tank tab. Some unique but limited special call-ins would include the Skink AA tank (of which 2 saw historical combat in Normandy) as well as a skilled sniper wielding the Ross rifle.
Defensive: Just as the US Defensive doctrine features the 101st Airborne (no doubt inspired by the Battle of Bastogne), the British Defensive doctrine can feature the British Airborne - particularly based on the defense of Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands as part of Market Garden. Infantry units can include the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry, 1st Airborne Paratroopers, 1st Airlanding Infantry, Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and 1st (Polish) Independent Paratroopers (who are distinctive with their grey berets). Armoured units can include the Tetrarch and the M22 Locust. To suit their defensive doctrine, they should get some decent guns and I’m thinking the airborne jeep-towed 20mm Polsten Gun, airborne 17th Pounder as well as (in a departure from the Parachute theme) the BL 7.2-inch howitzer. The Patchett sub-machine gun could make an appearance here too.
Irregular: Based on Sword Beach, Commandos and the 79th Armoured Division, with the more unusual units in the British arsenal. Probably with 3rd Infantry Division Infantry as standard, this unit could have access to No.41 (Royal Marine) Commandos, Fusilier Marines Commandos (based on No.4 Commando’s assault on Ouestreham), the Centaur Mk.IV QF 95mm, the Sherman DD, the Churchill Crocodile and Royal Engineer Assault Teams deployed in the cute Terrapin 4-ton Amphibious. If we want to be really wacky, we could even add the M3 Grant CDL (an unarmed searchlight tank) for armoured spotting, similar to the 150cm Flakscheinwerfer searchlight.
Other Units: Further unique units that would fit in any one (or multiple) of these divisions (based on balance) include the Land Mattress Rocket Launcher, the Loyd Carrier, the Universal Carrier WASP (flamethrower), the Sexton SPG, Sherman Firefly, the Archer TD, Achilles TD, the Priest Kangaroo, the Morris C8, Staghound and so on. There are SO many strange and obscure British vehicles that don’t often see the light of day, but would be perfect for Gates of Hell.
Post-release Doctrines -
More of a final thought than anything else, but if/when the Japanese get added into the game, I’d love to see a fifth doctrine to represent the British 14th Army to match the Japanese. A doctrine that is mostly comprised of Indian infantry and Indian tanks, with representation from the East/West African Divisions, Gurkhas and the British 2nd or 36th Infantry Divisions. Special call-ins could include the Chindits (using Thompsons and the Jungle Carbine) and paratroopers of the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade. If we’re feeling generous enough to allow the doctrine to encompass the Pacific Islands as well, we could also include an Australian squad armed with the Owen SMG, South Pacific Scouts, the Matida Frog (flamethrower) and the Matilda QF 3-Inch.
Conclusion: I apologise for such a long read. But I hope we see how a bit of ambition could really help the Commonwealth stand out and be worthy of the variety seen in the other factions since their overhaul. While the Germans have Spanish soldiers in their ranks, the Commonwealth can see the UK, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, and France (and technically Nepal) all get some recognition. While the German Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe stand out on the field, the Commonwealth might get the distinctive blue battledress of the RAF Regiment, or the long white tunics of the Foreign Legion. We would see such a variety of hats including pith helmets, berets, kepis, dastars, keffiyehs and slouch hats. Some units, like the LRDG vehicles, might even stand out as unique from any of the nations already in the game. It’s a lot of colourful uniforms, a lot of voices and a lot of strange and wonderful machines.
However, it does come with its downsides. Firstly, Africa and Europe are such dramatically different theatres that their version of mid & late war are incredibly different to one another. So much so that the depth of variety might make the faction too big, making it a lot of effort for the art department (especially with uniforms changing for the map’s climate. Imagine making skins for temperate, desert AND snow). The second issue is whether France is getting its own faction in future iterations of the game (the French flag appears in the loading screen during Axis vs Allies games). The final (and probably biggest) issue is voice acting. I’m no expert on games development, but I gather that getting enough voice actors for a faction is hard enough as it is without having to accurately represent 9 countries at once. I would love to hear the developer’s thoughts on the matter - whether such a project is within the game’s scope and if they have the ambition to take it this far.
Do let me all know what you think as well.
submitted by Tartanclad to GatesOfHellOstfront [link] [comments]
I wanted to make this thread, because I wanted to express my desire to see elements in the game that would make the Commonwealth faction a wealth of interesting units, uniforms and nationalities, particularly via the doctrines system that exists within the game. The intention is to throw in representatives across all the major nations of the British Commonwealth as well as some of the Allied armies-in-exile that came under British command. I also want to highlight some of the vehicles that are rarely mentioned in other games due to their obscure theatre or role. For the record, I'm not telling the devs what to do - I'm just making some example doctrines that I came up with as an example of the variety of units I'd love to see and making their inclusion plausible. Mostly to get the community talking.
I won’t talk about early war, partially because ‘Early war’ in Gates of Hell is largely post-Dunkirk, but also because I feel like what I am asking is still quite a lot just for one faction across two eras. I also I won’t be mentioning the more obvious or general units like Stuarts, Crusaders, Cromwells, Grants etc, as I expect them to be added nonetheless. It’s the vaguer aspects of the Commonwealth I wanted to talk about; the weird, wonderful and the diverse.
Mid War Doctrines
I think the mid-war should be largely inspired by the North African Campaigns, centred largely on the 8th Army and utilising the huge variety of cultures that fought within it. Extra bits can be added from the Italian campaign where the faction is lacking, and the Italian campaign can also be represented in the ‘Temperate’ skin for the mid-war faction. There are a lot of inspirations one can draw to create a variety of options for the Commonwealth player and each doctrine should draw from their unique aspects.
All-Round: Inspired by the Desert Rats, the 2nd Battle of El Alamein and Operation Crusader this one balances the various aspects of the other doctrines while keeping it unique. I’d like to see the Infantry include British Desert Rats Infantry, 2nd New Zealand Infantry, & 1st South African Infantry. I’d also like to see South African Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars (multiple variants) as an early-battle option, plenty of the more common tanks and maybe the Bishop as a slow but mobile artillery piece. As a special call-in, we could probably include the Free French Legionaries as a powerful assault unit, just to really complete the variety in this division.
Defensive: Inspired by the Siege of Tobruk, this doctrine should primarily represent the Australians. Variations of the Australian 9th Division troops as infantry alongside minor British elements with a heavy emphasis on field engineers, emplacements and field guns. Defensive doctrine could also include RAF Regiment infantry, RAF 20mm Oerlikon guns, RAF Rolls Royces, India Pattern Carriers (from the Indian 18th Division), air strikes and, as a special unit, they could even have captured Italian tanks from the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment! As a defensive doctrine, they should also have access to the best mid-war field guns, including the rare (but historical) ’Pheasant’ 17/25 Pounder Field Gun.
Offensive: Inspired by the Battle of Tunisia and Operation Torch, I think this one should show off the might of the UK’s heavier vehicles in the latter stages of the African campaign, particularly the Churchill III, Sherman III, the Priest 105mm and the Stuart Command Tank, alongside the more standard British tank options. As for infantry options, we can include Indian troops of the 4th Infantry Division (India), Gurkhas, and a motorised unit of 22nd Guards Infantry. I would also add the British Commandos in this division - partly because they were involved in Operation Torch, but also because they had an iconic impact on the mid-war (outside of Africa) that it would be a pity not to add them.
Irregular: This one would be quite unique in mid-war as it is effectively the light vehicle special forces doctrine. Although some standard British units would form the basis of the army, they would have access to a variety of assets representing the Long Range Desert Group; Chevrolet trucks with mounted Vickers MGs, Boys AT rifles, twin 303 Brownings or even Bofors and captured 20mm Breda guns! ‘Bamtam’ jeeps with twin Vickers Ks or 303 Brownings. The transport and logistics would be different too, using the Marmon-Herrington 6-ton Heavy Truck or the White 1064 10-ton. Other unique special call-ins would include an LRDG WACO Recon plane and the SAS (armed with the Lewes bomb). The downside to this doctrine, however, is that imagine it to be much lighter on armoured support, relying mostly on towed guns for its heavy firepower.
Other Units: I’ve tried to use inspirations from specific parts of the war to get a rounded but also diverse array of units, but there are loads of obscure units across the mid-war that I’d love to see; the Priest 105mm SPG, the AEC Deacon Gun Carrier, the Daimler Dingo, the Humber Light Reconnaissance, and so on.
That is as much as I want to say on mid-war without labouring the point. I’m sure there’s interesting things I’ve missed accidentally, and I’m afraid there’s some I have missed on purpose. For example, I considered the Australian Matilda Hedgehog, but it turned out to be late war and never used. I also considered the Greek and the Czech Division, but I think I’ve already stretched it too far as regards voice acting alone without adding units that, as distinguished their service might be, are just too obscure without adding anything extra - appearance or gameplay. That said, my hat would go off to the devs if they achieved that.
Late War Doctrines
Here we get to represent the Commonwealth units from Operation Overlord up until Operation Varsity.
All-Round: The quintessential British doctrine, combining bog-standard infantry with hardy tanks and a decent array of equipment. Partially based on Gold Beach, but also Operation Varsity/Plunder towards the end of the war, I would personally give them 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry, RAF Regiment Gunners, RAF Humber Light AC, Churchill AVRE, the Cruiser Mk. VIII Challenger and the Comet. Maybe give them some 6th Airlanding troops and 1st Canadian Parachute Infantry as a reference to the Normandy paratroopers if we feel they need more skilled infantry.
Offensive: The Canadian Doctrine - mostly inspired by the First Canadian Army in Normandy with elements of their experiences later on (including the Battle of the Schelt and Operation Veritable) with the doctrine largely focused on armoured assault infantry. They’ll look quite unique compared to the British because their uniforms were greener and they were the first to use the British-designed Mk.III helmet at D-Day. Troops of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as standard, supported by assault infantry. Eventually, armoured infantry can spawn in Buffalos (used at the Battle of the Schelt) and, as a special call-in, Ram Kangaroo APCs (sporting an armoured MG turret). The Otter armoured car would be an early call-in, with M4A1 Sherman Grizzly tanks as well as Ram IIs available in the standard tank tab. Some unique but limited special call-ins would include the Skink AA tank (of which 2 saw historical combat in Normandy) as well as a skilled sniper wielding the Ross rifle.
Defensive: Just as the US Defensive doctrine features the 101st Airborne (no doubt inspired by the Battle of Bastogne), the British Defensive doctrine can feature the British Airborne - particularly based on the defense of Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands as part of Market Garden. Infantry units can include the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry, 1st Airborne Paratroopers, 1st Airlanding Infantry, Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and 1st (Polish) Independent Paratroopers (who are distinctive with their grey berets). Armoured units can include the Tetrarch and the M22 Locust. To suit their defensive doctrine, they should get some decent guns and I’m thinking the airborne jeep-towed 20mm Polsten Gun, airborne 17th Pounder as well as (in a departure from the Parachute theme) the BL 7.2-inch howitzer. The Patchett sub-machine gun could make an appearance here too.
Irregular: Based on Sword Beach, Commandos and the 79th Armoured Division, with the more unusual units in the British arsenal. Probably with 3rd Infantry Division Infantry as standard, this unit could have access to No.41 (Royal Marine) Commandos, Fusilier Marines Commandos (based on No.4 Commando’s assault on Ouestreham), the Centaur Mk.IV QF 95mm, the Sherman DD, the Churchill Crocodile and Royal Engineer Assault Teams deployed in the cute Terrapin 4-ton Amphibious. If we want to be really wacky, we could even add the M3 Grant CDL (an unarmed searchlight tank) for armoured spotting, similar to the 150cm Flakscheinwerfer searchlight.
Other Units: Further unique units that would fit in any one (or multiple) of these divisions (based on balance) include the Land Mattress Rocket Launcher, the Loyd Carrier, the Universal Carrier WASP (flamethrower), the Sexton SPG, Sherman Firefly, the Archer TD, Achilles TD, the Priest Kangaroo, the Morris C8, Staghound and so on. There are SO many strange and obscure British vehicles that don’t often see the light of day, but would be perfect for Gates of Hell.
Post-release Doctrines -
More of a final thought than anything else, but if/when the Japanese get added into the game, I’d love to see a fifth doctrine to represent the British 14th Army to match the Japanese. A doctrine that is mostly comprised of Indian infantry and Indian tanks, with representation from the East/West African Divisions, Gurkhas and the British 2nd or 36th Infantry Divisions. Special call-ins could include the Chindits (using Thompsons and the Jungle Carbine) and paratroopers of the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade. If we’re feeling generous enough to allow the doctrine to encompass the Pacific Islands as well, we could also include an Australian squad armed with the Owen SMG, South Pacific Scouts, the Matida Frog (flamethrower) and the Matilda QF 3-Inch.
Conclusion: I apologise for such a long read. But I hope we see how a bit of ambition could really help the Commonwealth stand out and be worthy of the variety seen in the other factions since their overhaul. While the Germans have Spanish soldiers in their ranks, the Commonwealth can see the UK, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, and France (and technically Nepal) all get some recognition. While the German Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe stand out on the field, the Commonwealth might get the distinctive blue battledress of the RAF Regiment, or the long white tunics of the Foreign Legion. We would see such a variety of hats including pith helmets, berets, kepis, dastars, keffiyehs and slouch hats. Some units, like the LRDG vehicles, might even stand out as unique from any of the nations already in the game. It’s a lot of colourful uniforms, a lot of voices and a lot of strange and wonderful machines.
However, it does come with its downsides. Firstly, Africa and Europe are such dramatically different theatres that their version of mid & late war are incredibly different to one another. So much so that the depth of variety might make the faction too big, making it a lot of effort for the art department (especially with uniforms changing for the map’s climate. Imagine making skins for temperate, desert AND snow). The second issue is whether France is getting its own faction in future iterations of the game (the French flag appears in the loading screen during Axis vs Allies games). The final (and probably biggest) issue is voice acting. I’m no expert on games development, but I gather that getting enough voice actors for a faction is hard enough as it is without having to accurately represent 9 countries at once. I would love to hear the developer’s thoughts on the matter - whether such a project is within the game’s scope and if they have the ambition to take it this far.
Do let me all know what you think as well.
2024.05.14 16:48 Bigdogsz19 33 [M4F] #Allen #Texas - Seeking new connections of all varieties
Heya! These posts/introduction messages always feel awkward and forced for me 😅 so buckle up 🤪…
Let’s get what I’m looking for out of the way, as no sense in taking up more of your time if it’s obvious that we aren’t a fit.
What I’m seeking:
As of current, my primary interests align most with a FWB situation, but I am open to any form of connection that develops organically between us (including simple friendship). I’m relatively open with regard to availability, though in an ideal world you would be open to seeing each other 1-2+ times a week. I’m attracted to a wide range of personalities and body types, so it can be hard to relay my interests there and is usually best just to connect and see if we click or not. I guess in the end, I’m pretty flexible in my interest and desires.
It’s also important to note that I do not smoke or drink at all. I don’t judge if you do either, but I will say that being around cigarette smoke is likely to be a dealbreaker for me. As for weed, I hate the smell, so I just ask that you please avoid smoking it around me. Vapes are fine, just please don’t blow them in my direction as I personally don’t care to breath that in. Alcohol I have no problem being around in all capacities lol get plastered for all I care.
A bit about myself:
It’s always hard to gauge what to share to the world in “bios” like this..I’ll try to highlight some of my most prominent characteristics and details 🤷♂️.
Let’s start physical. I’m 6’7”, definitely a dad bod with a bit of a stomach, 33 years young, long brown curly-ish/wavy hair (admittedly facing some male pattern baldness at my forehead hairline, so doing what I can with what I’ve got while I can 🤷♂️), brown eyes, wear glasses (if that matters to you at all), maintain a beard at all times (take the hair where I can, right? 🤪🤷♂️), and wear a size 19 shoe (putting that out there as it’s always a shocker 😆). No, I never played basketball for any teams growing up, but did play pickup games often after high school. The weather is just fine “up here” 🤪. As for style, or lack thereof 😆, you’ll likely always see me in some form of graphic or plain T-shirt with likely some form of shorts (I love the cold and hate being hot) year round, though every now and then I’ll change it up with pants and/or pollos 🤷♂️. I want to be more stylish tbh, but I don’t have the eye for good style, I’m colorblind, and often don’t feel other styles would suit my looks 🤷♂️. Speaking of looks, standard bearded Caucasian nerd looking dude lol, though when people see me, they might be quick to assume I’m the standard white conservative Christian type, when in reality I’m far from such (curse the genetics and looks I was born into 😭).
Kink friendly, so any questions or curiosity around such please feel free to bring up and discuss with me further.
I think that’s a good start on physical attributes, let’s move on to the internal ish…
Gah this section is much tougher to fill out 😅. Look, I just love just about everybody, will generally give everybody the time of day and benefit of doubt, can strike up a convo with just about anyone (though sometimes I need the other person to engage the start of that convo 😅), and would do my best to help and protect anyone around. I just want the best for everyone, ya know? I’d say i lean more extroverted, but do battle a moderate amount of social anxiety that im sure you’ve picked up on by now..you’d likely think im more introverted with how often I stay home and how little I randomly reach out to friends/others. It’s not that I don’t love getting out and about and don’t care to talk to my friends, I just get so caught up in my day to day life that it just doesn’t cross my mind, OR I get social anxiety (especially if I haven’t spoken to someone in a long time, I always worry they think I don’t care about them and our friendship).
Beyond this, it’s hard to list my other qualities, so I’ll just move on to interests and maybe that’ll help highlight more?
My Interests:
Can’t help but feel kind of boring and basic when filling out this section 😅. I feel like it’s a lot of what most people list as their interests and that my list is small/limited/boring. Travel Culture/language Food Music (very large and eclectic taste in music) Gaming of any form (video, board, etc) Puzzles/challenges/sports (I love a good challenge, so huge kudos if you are competitive) Technology (always fascinating what we are making in this world) I’d like to learn to dance but right now I’m very self conscious about my terrible dancing (I feel awkward 😔)
Disinterests: Low hanging ceiling fans and light fixtures 🤪
Details regarding my current Poly configuration:
I’m happily married with one child. If I do take on any new partners I never expect you to take on any form of relationship or responsibility for the rest of my family beyond just maintaining a safe space through proxy. My wife and I practice kitchen table Poly, so we are completely open to everyone happily interacting together, but if you aren’t comfortable interacting with the rest of my family no problem! Ask if you have any further questions on how we Poly ethically, happy to answer any questions!
Anyways, I’ve made this long enough…if you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my post to entirety! Even if we aren’t meant to connect, you and your time are greatly appreciated! Sending my warmest regards and a friendly virtual hug ❤️.
submitted by Bigdogsz19 to polyamoryR4R [link] [comments]
Let’s get what I’m looking for out of the way, as no sense in taking up more of your time if it’s obvious that we aren’t a fit.
What I’m seeking:
As of current, my primary interests align most with a FWB situation, but I am open to any form of connection that develops organically between us (including simple friendship). I’m relatively open with regard to availability, though in an ideal world you would be open to seeing each other 1-2+ times a week. I’m attracted to a wide range of personalities and body types, so it can be hard to relay my interests there and is usually best just to connect and see if we click or not. I guess in the end, I’m pretty flexible in my interest and desires.
It’s also important to note that I do not smoke or drink at all. I don’t judge if you do either, but I will say that being around cigarette smoke is likely to be a dealbreaker for me. As for weed, I hate the smell, so I just ask that you please avoid smoking it around me. Vapes are fine, just please don’t blow them in my direction as I personally don’t care to breath that in. Alcohol I have no problem being around in all capacities lol get plastered for all I care.
A bit about myself:
It’s always hard to gauge what to share to the world in “bios” like this..I’ll try to highlight some of my most prominent characteristics and details 🤷♂️.
Let’s start physical. I’m 6’7”, definitely a dad bod with a bit of a stomach, 33 years young, long brown curly-ish/wavy hair (admittedly facing some male pattern baldness at my forehead hairline, so doing what I can with what I’ve got while I can 🤷♂️), brown eyes, wear glasses (if that matters to you at all), maintain a beard at all times (take the hair where I can, right? 🤪🤷♂️), and wear a size 19 shoe (putting that out there as it’s always a shocker 😆). No, I never played basketball for any teams growing up, but did play pickup games often after high school. The weather is just fine “up here” 🤪. As for style, or lack thereof 😆, you’ll likely always see me in some form of graphic or plain T-shirt with likely some form of shorts (I love the cold and hate being hot) year round, though every now and then I’ll change it up with pants and/or pollos 🤷♂️. I want to be more stylish tbh, but I don’t have the eye for good style, I’m colorblind, and often don’t feel other styles would suit my looks 🤷♂️. Speaking of looks, standard bearded Caucasian nerd looking dude lol, though when people see me, they might be quick to assume I’m the standard white conservative Christian type, when in reality I’m far from such (curse the genetics and looks I was born into 😭).
Kink friendly, so any questions or curiosity around such please feel free to bring up and discuss with me further.
I think that’s a good start on physical attributes, let’s move on to the internal ish…
Gah this section is much tougher to fill out 😅. Look, I just love just about everybody, will generally give everybody the time of day and benefit of doubt, can strike up a convo with just about anyone (though sometimes I need the other person to engage the start of that convo 😅), and would do my best to help and protect anyone around. I just want the best for everyone, ya know? I’d say i lean more extroverted, but do battle a moderate amount of social anxiety that im sure you’ve picked up on by now..you’d likely think im more introverted with how often I stay home and how little I randomly reach out to friends/others. It’s not that I don’t love getting out and about and don’t care to talk to my friends, I just get so caught up in my day to day life that it just doesn’t cross my mind, OR I get social anxiety (especially if I haven’t spoken to someone in a long time, I always worry they think I don’t care about them and our friendship).
Beyond this, it’s hard to list my other qualities, so I’ll just move on to interests and maybe that’ll help highlight more?
My Interests:
Can’t help but feel kind of boring and basic when filling out this section 😅. I feel like it’s a lot of what most people list as their interests and that my list is small/limited/boring. Travel Culture/language Food Music (very large and eclectic taste in music) Gaming of any form (video, board, etc) Puzzles/challenges/sports (I love a good challenge, so huge kudos if you are competitive) Technology (always fascinating what we are making in this world) I’d like to learn to dance but right now I’m very self conscious about my terrible dancing (I feel awkward 😔)
Disinterests: Low hanging ceiling fans and light fixtures 🤪
Details regarding my current Poly configuration:
I’m happily married with one child. If I do take on any new partners I never expect you to take on any form of relationship or responsibility for the rest of my family beyond just maintaining a safe space through proxy. My wife and I practice kitchen table Poly, so we are completely open to everyone happily interacting together, but if you aren’t comfortable interacting with the rest of my family no problem! Ask if you have any further questions on how we Poly ethically, happy to answer any questions!
Anyways, I’ve made this long enough…if you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my post to entirety! Even if we aren’t meant to connect, you and your time are greatly appreciated! Sending my warmest regards and a friendly virtual hug ❤️.
2024.05.14 16:47 Then_Marionberry_259 MAY 14, 2024 API.CN APPIA ANNOUNCES ENCOURAGING INITIAL RESULTS FROM THE NEWLY IDENTIFIED TAYGETA AND MEROPE EXPLORATION TARGETS AT PCH PROJECT, BRAZIL
 | https://preview.redd.it/uqpvkb76ne0d1.png?width=3500&format=png&auto=webp&s=086ba9f5aafea4ae83d838124dbc09cd3a2f0ba9 submitted by Then_Marionberry_259 to Treaty_Creek [link] [comments] Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 14, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") announced today the results from the newly identified exploration targets Taygeta and Merope. A total of 111 samples from 18 auger drill holes were assayed by SGS-GEOSOL Laboratories in Vespasiano, Brazil. The results confirm that the regolith developed over the Ipora Granite presented significant enrichment of Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO), characteristic of the Ionic Adsorption Clay (IAC) rare earth elements (REE) deposits identified at other PCH target zones. Stephen Burega, President, commented, "These initial results from the auger drill program are very promising, and provide us with a strong indication that the PCH project can host multiple new IAC REE mineralized areas in addition to the resource already identified in our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) completed by SGS Canada. Additionally, these new target zones are considerably larger in total area as compared to the Target IV. Desorption test results will be reported once received." Highlights
Table 1 - Intercepts from all auger holes on targets Taygeta and Merope. For a full list of results, pleaseclick here. https://preview.redd.it/zu8885a6ne0d1.png?width=775&format=png&auto=webp&s=dfa5c3f17b8c44c05bf1e0444f9523b1b28a4bce *Total Rare Earth Oxides: TREO = Y2O3 + Eu2O3 + Gd2O3 + Tb4O7 + Dy2O3 + Ho2O3 + Er2O3 + Tm2O3 + Yb2O3 + Lu2O3 + La2O3 + Ce2O3 + Pr2O3 + Nd2O3 + Sm2O3 *Heavy Rare Earth Oxides: HREO = Gd2O3 + Tb4O7 + Dy2O3 + Ho2O3 + Er2O3 + Tm2O3 + Yb2O3 + Lu2O3 + Y2O3 *Nd+Pr Oxides= Nd2O3+Pr2O3 *Dy+Tb Oxides= Dy2O3+Tb4O7 *Element to Oxide Conversion Factor - Cerium Ce2O3 1.1713, Cerium CeO2 1.2284, Dysprosium Dy2O3 1.1477, Erbium Er2O3 1.1435, Europium Eu2O3 1.1579, Gadolinium Gd2O3 1.1526, Holmium Ho2O3 1.1455, Lanthanum La2O3 1.1728, Lutetium Lu2O3 1.1371, Neodymium Nd2O3 1.1664, Praseodymium Pr2O3 1.1703, Praseodymium Pr6O11 1.2082, Samarium Sm2O3 1.1596, Terbium Tb2O3 1.1510, Terbium Tb4O7 1.1762, Thulium Tm2O3 1.1421, Yttrium Y2O3 1.2699, Ytterbium Yb2O3 1.1387 Figure 1 - Map presenting the exploration auger drill holes location and targets. https://preview.redd.it/06s5h6b6ne0d1.png?width=891&format=png&auto=webp&s=84e9790e49beda5b054ce629a03b661c44f70ca7 Figure 2 - Strip log of selected auger holes from Taygeta Target. https://preview.redd.it/lieizdd6ne0d1.png?width=552&format=png&auto=webp&s=97b73a9bf2efeedd673ff44b5d1f99769ead69e7 Figure 3 - Strip log of selected auger holes from Merope Target. https://preview.redd.it/qm9up9e6ne0d1.png?width=528&format=png&auto=webp&s=31f6c0d659efa70c30abac358a09d0f748a2cf80 Andre Costa, VP Exploration for Brazil, commented, "The confirmation of these new targets opens the prospect of finding new exploration targets associated with the Ipora Granite across the entirety of the PCH project area which covers an impressive +40,000 hectares. Auger samples for desorbability testing are being prepared to corroborate the IAC REE mineralization in Taygeta and Merope targets. Delineation drilling will follow upon favorable desorption results." On March 1st, 2024, the Company announced its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on Target IV and the Buriti Zone (Click here for the Press Release), and the companion NI 43-101 technical report on the PCH Project was filed on April 16th, 2024. (Click here for the Press Release) John Tumazos Very Independent Research Presentation Appia invites you to register for a webinar on May 14th at 9:45 AM EDT, Eastern Daylight Time (North America) with Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.'s President, Mr. Stephen Burega and VP of Exploration, Brazil, Mr. Andre Costa, and renowned former Wall Street analyst, John Tumazos of Very Independent Research. John will dig in on the latest developments at Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. To register for the event click here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. QA/QC Auger drill holes are vertical and reported intervals are true thickness. The material produced from drill holes are sampled at one metre intervals, resulting in average sample sizes of 5-10 kg. Quartering of the material was performed at Appia's logging facility using a riffle splitter and continued splitting until a representative sample weighing approximately 500g each was obtained, bagged in a resistant plastic bag, labeled, photographed, and stored for shipment. The bagged samples are sent to the SGS laboratory in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais. In addition to the internal QA/QC of the SGS Lab, Appia includes its own control samples in each batch of samples sent to the laboratory. Quality control samples, such as blanks, duplicates, and standards (CRM) were inserted into each analytical run. For all analysis methods, the minimum number of QA/QC samples is one standard, one duplicate and one blank, introduced in each batch which comprise a full-length hole. The rigorous procedures are implemented during the sample collection, preparation, and analytical stages to insure the robustness and reliability of the analytical results. All analytical results reported herein have passed internal QA/QC review and compilation. All assay results of Auger samples were provided by SGS Geosol, an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Certified Laboratory, which performed their measure of the concentration of rare earth elements (REE) with the IMS95R analytical method that uses lithium metaborate fusion prior acid dissolution and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The technical information in this news release, including the information related to geology, drilling, and mineralization, has been reviewed and approved by Andre L. L. Costa, Appia's VP Exploration for Brazil, with more than 29 years of relevant experience. Mr. Costa is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (FAIG) and is a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia) Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goiás State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 136.3 million common shares outstanding, 145 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, visit www.appiareu.com As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X,Facebook,LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please [click here](mailto:sburega@appiareu.com). Contact: Tom Drivas, CEO and Director (c) (416) 876-3957 *(e) *[tdrivas@appiareu.com](mailto:tdrivas@appiareu.com) Stephen Burega, President (c) (647) 515-3734 *(e) *[sburega@appiareu.com](mailto:sburega@appiareu.com) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/209087 https://preview.redd.it/29ul6ef6ne0d1.png?width=4000&format=png&auto=webp&s=07601ba4d3abe2dbbfc5e132c36d4f84dad0afe6
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2024.05.14 14:06 Huzzlak What are some commander that can be upgraded well?
Hey everyone 👋
I have a lot of decks but all of them have a lot of proxies so I wanted to start with a ”proxy free“ commander that starts of low budget but that can be upgraded well with time.
Currently I have an [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] , [[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] , [[Queen Marchesa]] and [[Voja, Jaws of the conclave]] deck so commanders that have a similar playstyle may not fit very well.
Thank you in advance for your help😁
submitted by Huzzlak to EDH [link] [comments]
I have a lot of decks but all of them have a lot of proxies so I wanted to start with a ”proxy free“ commander that starts of low budget but that can be upgraded well with time.
Currently I have an [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] , [[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] , [[Queen Marchesa]] and [[Voja, Jaws of the conclave]] deck so commanders that have a similar playstyle may not fit very well.
Thank you in advance for your help😁
2024.05.14 14:05 Huzzlak What are good commanders that you can upgrade well?
Hey everyone 👋
I have a lot of decks but all of them have a lot of proxies so I wanted to start with a ”proxy free“ commander that starts of low budget but that can be upgraded well with time.
Currently I have an [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] , [[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] , [[Queen Marchesa]] and [[Voja, Jaws of the conclave]] deck so commanders that have a similar playstyle may not fit very well.
Thank you in advance for your help😁
submitted by Huzzlak to BudgetBrews [link] [comments]
I have a lot of decks but all of them have a lot of proxies so I wanted to start with a ”proxy free“ commander that starts of low budget but that can be upgraded well with time.
Currently I have an [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] , [[Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir]] , [[Queen Marchesa]] and [[Voja, Jaws of the conclave]] deck so commanders that have a similar playstyle may not fit very well.
Thank you in advance for your help😁
2024.05.14 13:17 Crimson_saint357 My “Not” Blade Guard Veterans
 | Just got my first 3D printer so I kitbashed these blade guard proxy’s from some free stl’s and painted them up in my favorite blood angels successor chapter. Really happy with how they came out. They’re also the first models I’ve used my new airbrush on. submitted by Crimson_saint357 to Warhammer40k [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 13:12 Crimson_saint357 My “Not” Blade Guard Veterans
 | Just got my first 3D printer so I kitbashed these blade guard proxy’s from some free stl’s and painted them up in my favorite blood angels successor chapter. Really happy with how they came out. They’re also the first models I’ve used my new airbrush on. submitted by Crimson_saint357 to BloodAngels [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 13:00 AutoModerator It’s the r/MelbourneVICAUS Daily Support Thread
It's ok to ask for help. We all needed it at some stage of our lives. The following services can provide you with advice and direction no matter how you feel.
Call 13 11 14 (24-hour crisis support), Chat to a crisis supporter, Text with on 0477 13 11 14
Call 13 92 76 (24-hour crisis support) Visit 13yarn.org.au
submitted by AutoModerator to MelbourneVICAUS [link] [comments]
Lifeline
Provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.Call 13 11 14 (24-hour crisis support), Chat to a crisis supporter, Text with on 0477 13 11 14
13YARN
National 24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. Staffed by Lifeline trained Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.Call 13 92 76 (24-hour crisis support) Visit 13yarn.org.au
1800 RESPECT
Confidential information, counselling, and support service open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, and abuse. Call 1800 737 732Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue helpline is provided by mental health professionals, 24/7. All calls and chats are confidential. Call 1300 22 4636SANE Australia
For people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and for their families, friends and communities. SANE provides counselling support, peer support services, a guided service and resources. You can access more information here or call 1800 187 263 or sane.org.auKids HelpLine
A free, private and confidential telephone and online counselling services, specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25 years old. Call 1800 55 1800Suicide Call back Service
Suicide Call Back Service provides professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide. Call 1300 659 467Carers Australia
Short-term counselling and emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families in each state and territory. Call 1800 242 636MensLine Australia
MensLine Australia is available 24/7 via phone or online. To support men with issues including mental health, relationship and divorce, emotional wellbeing and social connection. Call 1300 78 99 78QLife
QLife is a peer support counselling and referral service for LGBTI people. It provides peer telephone and web-based services to diverse people of all ages. Call 1800 184 527 (3pm - 12am)Relationships Australia
A provider of relationship support services for individuals, families, and communities. Call 1300 364 277Reach Out
Forums and web-based support for young people. Reachout also provide resources and support for parents and school. Website Reach Out2024.05.14 12:40 Specialist_Bake6514 Vapiano P3: Italian Food Made in Germany
 | The kitchen is on fire. Welcome to the final part of the Vapiano story where the tables are turning. In the first two episodes we followed Mark Korzilius' journey from setbacks to founding Vapiano, a groundbreaking restaurant concept, highlighting its fresh ingredients, dynamic atmosphere, and data-driven operations that drove rapid success. While achieving initial profitability and garnering attention from industry giants like McDonald's, Vapiano's global expansion has led to stellar revenue growth. However, it has also resulted in the emergence of numerous side projects (or distractions), operational challenges, increased costs, significant investments, and a notable accumulation of debt. This underscores the prioritization of top-line growth over profitable growth. We will continue on this thread and see how the story ends, but I would encourage you to read part one and two for better context. Vapiano P1: Italian Food Made in Germany (substack.com). Let's dig in. submitted by Specialist_Bake6514 to unpackbusinesses [link] [comments] Before Going Public We are now in 2015 and the year is a disaster for Vapiano's PR department. Employee time stamps are being manipulated, endless overtime for employees and high turnover in managerial roles are reported; mice in the kitchen and even rotten food allegedly found. The company is confronted with allegations of exceeding working hours among trainees in an article published by Welt am Sonntag, while the same outlet accuses Vapiano of manipulating punch times. The auditing firm PwC is commissioned to investigate the allegations and finds that there is no systematic approach but rather misconduct by individual employees, a mistake that’s being corrected. Internal however, investigations into stamp times are carried out regularly now and beyond its obvious reputational impact, this sucks up valuable management time and attention. In the summer of 2015 CEO, co-founder and investor Gregor Gerlach, who has been running the group since 2011 is stepping down and Jochen Halfmann is taking over. A new Vapiano People Program with an App is being developed with the aim to better interact with customers that will incorporate innovate features such as mobile pay. The German website sees a launch of new magazine to further promote the brand and there is now a full inhouse blogger and Instagram team being installed. In October the company buys seven restaurants from original co-founder, former co-investor and ex-president previously responsible for internation expansion Kent Hahne (2x Bonn, 3x Cologne, 1x Koblenz and one in Cologne that’s under construction). This package of Vapiano restaurants is very successful and generates net sales of more than 20 million euros in 2014. Hahne opened his first Vapiano restaurant in Cologne in August 2006 and in 2015 with his company apeiron AG, Hahne operates six L'Osteria franchise restaurants, a direct Vapiano competitor, and two self-owned restaurants GinYuu. Then in November of 2015, the next public relations bomb goes off with allegations regarding the company's quality standards. The company immediately investigates the issue through internal and external specialists but finds no evidence of any quality issues. Nevertheless, knowing that the group is now being closely watched, the company’s already in place hygiene standards are being reinforced. Additional audits and inspections are performed nationally. Further, all Vapianos worldwide are being audited twice by the partners SGS Institut Fresenius and SAI Global. Auditing software is purchased to simplify the implementation of the audits and the resulting measures. Apart from the external examinations, there is a food sampling plan in place being performed continuously. Again, all of this sucks up costs, management time and attention. With all these tumultuous developments the company’s growth engine is undeterred. Revenue grows by a whopping 50 million euros to 202 million euros, an increase of 33%. Impressive. While average spent per customer increases in all countries, the number of customers per day in Germany decreases by 3.3% partially due to the negative press towards the end of the year. Five own, four JV and 19 new franchise restaurants are added that year to the group, the total number of own managed restaurants grows to 51, there are 31 JVs and 84 franchises which bringing the total to 166 Vapiano restaurants. Global restaurant sales are now above 400 million euros. But while revenue grows by an astronomical 50 million euros, operating profits, alarmingly, shrink again. Gross margins are staying perfectly healthy above 75% but operating costs keep growing disproportionately fast. The Company’s outstanding debt jumps by almost 30 million, close to 85 million euros by the end of the year. With operating profits at 9.5 million euros, alarm bells should be going off right now. In Q4 of 2015, new CEO Jochen Halfmann introduces Strategy 2020. The new strategy includes five essential points. One, profitable growth in the newly defined core markets of Germany and Austria as well as in the UK, Netherlands, France and USA. Two, operational excellence through strict “best practice” management. Three, further development and digitalization of the concept considering guest feedback. Four, greater focus on long-term employee retention and five, building a modern and sustainable IT landscape. Sound’s good on paper but let’s see how things pan out. Vapiano's investments (capital expenditures) that year are primarily directed towards new restaurant openings, renovations of existing establishments, and share acquisitions in other Vapiano restaurants from franchisees or JV partners. A significant portion of funds is allocated to the digitalization of the guest experience, including the development of a new app scheduled for market release in 2016 and the implementation of a time recording system across all group restaurants. The world's first standalone Vapiano restaurant with a delivery service that year is built in Fürth, Germany. The company keeps expanding its presence in both inner-city locations and international markets, such as Shanghai, China. To finance all of this, the group has its own operating cash flow which comes in at 18 million while capital expenditures are 26 million euros plus 14 million for acquisitions. The funding gab is filled with 26 million euros of new debt and a seven-million-euro equity raise. At that end of the year and after the equity raise Gregor Gerlach (through his AP Leipzig GmbH & Co. KG entity) holds 30.1%, Hans-Joachim and Gisa Sander through their Exchange Bio GmbH hold 25.5% and the Tchibo heirs, Herz through their Mayfair Beteiligungsfonds II GmbH & Co. KG hold 44,4%. But for the first time the restaurant’s concept that was so successful to date is being questioned. Some customers are starting to mislike the operational flow of the concept itself. If you want pasta, you must queue for pasta. If you want pizza you stand in a different queue. A small side salad, yet another queue. "You spend more time carrying trays than an actress in Berlin-Mitte. The audience in the pasta limbo can only consist of people who have worked for an insurance company for a long time and, like Stockholm syndrome, they can no longer get away from the industrial canteen feeling," writes TV host Beisenherz provocatively. While overly harsh in his assessment he's not entirely wrong judging by customers venting their frustrations in forums and social media channels. It isn’t uncommon for those who ordered pizza to have already finished eating while there is little movement in the pasta queue. Long term that doesn't go down well, QSRs competitors like L’Osteria are handling this process differently, with much success. https://preview.redd.it/6cas01oked0d1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=2da6e0b4bc0e07dbee558de412feb414cd598d4a Tipping PointWhere are now in the year 2016 and things start to deteriorate visibility. Perhaps not for the leman’s eye but any business minded observer can see that there are problems under the hood. Yes, revenue grows yet another whopping 50 million to almost 250 million euros but half of that growth, comes from acquisitions of restaurants that the group didn’t already own 100%, which is now being fully consolidated within the group’s accounts. Here is a concrete example. In the past, Vapiano SE, the group’s top holding company held an indirect 50% stake in a French subgroup via the subsidiary VAP Restaurants SA, based in Luxembourg, and included this as an associated company in the Vapiano SE consolidated financial statements using the equity method. Due to the acquisition of additional shares in September of 2016, Vapiano SE's indirect share in the French subgroup increased to 75%. This means that Vapiano SE takes control of the French subgroup, which is therefore included in the group’s financial statements as part of the full consolidation. The revenue from the acquired subsidiary now recorded in the consolidated income statement amounts to 12.8 million euros. While that’s great for the top line, the loss of the fully consolidated entity equates to 0.2 million euros. Yes, you are buying revenue, but there are losses attached to them, not profits. A similar case is the Swedish entity that runs eight restaurants with revenue of 11.5 million euros but has losses of 235 thousand euros. So much for Strategy 2020 and “profitable” growth.That year the group’s operating profits are absolutely tanking, halving to 3.5 million euros. Operating profits are now a mere 1,4% of revenue. Remember original founder Mark Korzilius who talked about operating margins of 25% to 28% at the restaurant level? Yes, there are overhead costs for the organization that sits above the chain of restaurants, but operating margins that low indicates a course correction is needed. What’s telling is that in the annual report, in the management discussion section, the company starts talking about EBITDA as a proxy measure of profitability, rather than operating profit or net income. This wasn’t the case in the years before. Is this window dressing for an upcoming IPO? EBITDA is short for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. How can you measure profitability of a restaurant chain that absolutely and unequivocally needs capital investment to maintain its restaurant operations, the very source of cash generation, by simply excluding this maintenance charge (depreciation in the income statement)? Vapiano’s own annual report talks about the fact that existing restaurants must be rejuvenated from time to time and that new interior designs have to be implemented every few years. These things wear and tear, they go out of style, kitchen equipment breaks and needs replacement. This business absolutely needs maintenance capital expenditure, why anyone talks of profits before these maintenance costs is beyond me. Fun fact: in the previous annual report EBITDA is mentioned seven times, mostly around restaurant acquisitions and financing, not however as a profit indication for the group. In the new annual report, EBITDA is mentioned 28 times. Maybe it’s just me but belated Charlie Munger liked to call EBITDA: bullsh*t earnings. When in doubt I stick with Charlie. Interestingly, EBITDA for Vapiano keeps growing while operating and net profits keep falling. Operating cashflow for the group that year is about 21 million euros, but capital expenditure is 30 million and acquisitions for subsidiaries another 20 million. To finance these expenditures another 28 million euros of debt and 16 million of equity is raised. Net debt rises above 130 million euro. The operating cashflow of the group before any capital expenditures is 21 million euros. I am not sure free cash flow would be significantly positive after maintenance capex is paid out; it’s not broken out so we can’t be sure. Granted, I am not on the ground during this time, and I am not in the board room, I am simply reading what’s in front of me, but to me this is starting to look like a distressed situation. Regardless, the following year the company goes public. IPOWhere are now in the year 2017 and its Vapiano’s first year as public company. The company’s annual report reads the following “Sales revenue, like-for-like growth (LfL) and the earnings figures EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used as the most important financial performance indicators for controlling operational business activities.” The very same report however also says: “The majority of the group's investments regularly go towards opening new restaurant locations and modernizing existing restaurants. The latter are differentiated into regular replacement investments that occur during ongoing operations (Maintenance CAPEX) and fundamental investments in the renovation of a restaurant (Remodeling CAPEX). On average, a restaurant remodeling takes place nine years after opening.” It says it right there in their own report; every nine years a remodeling is taking place. Remodeling and updating is not cost free, so why exclude depreciation charges which reflect capital expenditures? I understand that perhaps you would want to strip out one-off opening costs, that’s fine and fair, but don’t go overboard.The number of restaurants increases by 26 (previous year: 13) to a total of 205. The increase consists of 27 new openings and one closure. Group revenue grows to an astonishing 325 million euros but here comes the shocker, operating profits turn negative to 25 million. Fine, strip out foreign exchange losses of 3 million, IPO costs of 5.8 million and new opening costs of 6.1 million and you still have 10 million euros of operational losses. All the while the debt load of almost 130 million hasn’t materially changed, so those operating losses are before a six-million-euro interest payment. 184 million euros are raised through the IPO of which 85 million go to the company. This money is earmarked for further expansion as the group has ambitions to almost double the footprint to 330 restaurants by the end of 2020. The company is currently not profitable on an operating basis, and still wants to expand aggressively? I don’t get it. The remaining 100 million euros of the IPO money raised is distributed to co-founder Gregor Gerlach and Wella heirs Hans-Joachim and Gisa Sander. The family office of the former Tchibo owners Günter and Daniela Herz with a 44% stake, don’t sell a single share. After the IPO, 32% of all the company’s shares are now in free float. One year later, in 2018, things get even worse. Revenue grows to 371 million, but operating losses mount to 85 million euros, that’s before interest expenses of 9 million. Even the beloved EBITDA figure turns negative, meaning the operating business before any expansionary or even maintenance capital expenditures is loss making. All regions are experiencing significant deterioration in their earnings profiles. Like for like sales are down 1% across the board. That’s revenue, not profitability. The question naturally arises: is the Group approaching its natural saturation point here or this operational by nature? The operating cash flow is now 9 million while financing cost are close to 7 million. That leaves 2 million for maintenance capital for 74 own restaurants and 76 joint ventures ones. Describing this as financially tight, would be an understatement. Things are not looking good at this point. Yet the company still grows restaurants by 26 new sites. 64 million euros are spent on acquisitions, new openings, and maintenance costs, financed through a 20 million-euro equity raise and 72 million of new debt. The Company now has net debt outstanding of over 160 million euros. After the equity raise and by the end of the year 2018, Mayfair owns 47.4%, VAP Leipzig, Gregor Gerlach’s entity owns 18.9% and the Sander couple own 15.5% of the company. Yes, the Sanders and Gerlach may have taken 100 million euros off the table, but they still have substantial skin in the game. Plus, Mayfair hasn’t sold a single share and instead injects more money into the company through the equity round. The stock has now fallen from its IPO price of 23 euros per share to under 6 euros by the end of 2018. Something must be done here. And indeed, there is pivot in strategy and a hard push for change. At last, the management team abandons its aggressive growth plan and curtails new openings significantly. Additionally, the team wants to run a thorough analysis of weak locations to then either discontinue or sell sites. In Europe, the operating focus will be put on corporate restaurants and joint ventures in major cities to ensure the ideal size and location to match the respective demographic target group. Outside of Europe, the franchising business is being expanded and at the same time a consolidation of the existing corporate and joint venture markets is being sought. All future investments will be reviewed to achieve higher rates of returns on new openings. Investments are also being made in the renovation of older restaurants. The goal in the future is to also open smaller formats, like Mini-Vapianos (less than 400 square meters) or Freestander at prominent transportation hubs outside city centers (currently in Fürth and Toulouse) to cater to individual location requirements, and to enter new partnerships. I am not sure why management hasn’t stopped all expansion altogether, bringing the ship in order first, getting profitable, clean up, all hands-on deck before considering any further expansions whatsoever. But again, it’s easy to comment from the sidelines; maybe they saw white spaces that would be covered by competing concepts if they weren’t moving fast and aggressively enough. Although pushing internationally means competing with local players such as Jamie's Italian, Prezzo, Pizza Express, Wagamama, Nando's and many more which brings in its own dynamic. Management also aims to enhance guest satisfaction. This involves refining operational processes, reorganizing the support center, and refocusing on the core offering: providing fresh and high-quality Italian food at affordable prices for a broad audience. The group also aims to reduce waiting times, especially during lunch, while also improving the evening atmosphere. There is even what I would call an evolution, away from Vapiano’s original concept, reorientating the customer journey. The ordering flow is being changed, offering guests synchronized preparations of all dishes while eliminating wait times at the cooking stations. The open show kitchen remains, staying true to original mantra of freshness and transparency but now guests can choose their preferred method of ordering through a mobile app, using a digital order point (kiosk), or by personally placing an order with a waiter. Guests can still freely choose their table and are then informed about the complete preparation of their order through a pager or their smartphone. This is a substantial deviation from the original concept, but a needed one. The group is also exploring and implementing the expansion of take-away and home delivery services but only at suitable locations, not universally across new openings. I am not sure why home delivery is even a priority here; it adds operational complexity. It’s better to clean up shop first and get back to the basics before adding new complexities. To be fair management does try to simplify. There are 49 different permanent dishes on the menu and additional 10 seasonal ones. Customers can choose from eleven different types of pasta. There is simply too much choice, and it makes orders complicated. The company announced to slim the menu down to its most popular and typical Vapiano dishes. There’s no need for an Asian salad at an Italian restaurant. "We have to go back to the roots, i.e. classic, honest Italian cuisine" says COO Everke. Regardless, in November of 2018, the supervisory board pulls the plug on CEO Jochen Halfmann and replaces him with Cornelius Everke. Everke himself has just become COO five months ago. Since 2017 he was responsible for international expansion. From 2011 to 2017 that role was filled by Mario Bauer – put a pin in that name, he’ll play a key role in the groups fate later. Then nine months later, in the middle of 2019, Cornelius Everke quits. He essentially concludes that his skillset and experience in the areas of internation expansion is no longer needed in the foreseeable future. To put it differently: Vapiano has moved from a growth story and has become a restructuring case, and other skills are required for that job. In June of 2019 Everke says the following “(we’ve) made a bit of a mistake when it came to foreign expansion”. No sh#t. Vapiano postpones the presentation of the 2018 annual financial statements three times in the spring of 2019, citing negotiations over an urgently needed loan of 30 million euros. It’s not until the end of May that a binding loan commitment comes through from the financing banks and major shareholders. We are now in August of 2019 and the corona pandemic is just around the corner. Supervisory board chief Vanessa Hall takes over as interim-CEO and things are unravelling. Visitor numbers are declining; originally, it was planned to sell the US business but halfway through the year the buyer cannot come up with the money. But not all restaurants are performing poorly. The group's poor figures contrast starkly as an example with the experiences of the Swiss-German franchisee, who runs six restaurants. The Sodano family in Switzerland pays Vapiano a royalty of 6% of sales for the use of the brand. Enrico Sodano explains in an interview that they operate largely autonomously from the licensor. If an “accident” were to occur, he could immediately replace the Vapiano sign with Sodano, he says. The family concluded the rents and contracts with employees and suppliers independently. The Sodano family have six locations in Bern, Basel and Zurich, around one million guests every year and 350 employees. Things are going well on the ground. The delivery service they’ve built is offering them a second income stream. Expansion into Winterthur, St. Gallen and Lucerne are being planned; small locations with 150 to 250 square meters and an attached delivery service. Originally, Vapiano restaurants used to be huge but for such a large restaurant to be profitable, 800 to 1,000 guests per day are needed. That’s possible in medium-sized cities, but not in smaller towns which is why the Vapiano group now also supports smaller formats. Back to our corporate drama. The 2019 annual report would be the last report the group files. By the end 2019 the outstanding debt of the company is at an astronomical 450 million euros. Revenue has grown by another 7%, produced by four net new openings through two JVs and two franchise restaurants but operating losses come in at 317 million euros. That sound like an absolute shocker at first but depreciation and amortization charges are 345 million, so that operating cash flow is actually positive but unfortunately capital expenditures and interest payments are so large that they are eating up all of the company’s operating cash flow. Then in the beginning of 2020 Corona hits with full force and the world shuts down. As a result of the measures to prevent further spreading of the virus, the group is forced to cease all global business operations (except in Sweden). While all these shutdowns are happening, the group is the middle of negotiating with its lending banks and main shareholders. There are additional financing needs for restructuring measures, even without a pandemic happening in the background. The situation is so dire that the company starts pleading to the German government to roll out the package of financial help more quickly. Unfortunately, it’s to no end. The rapid closure of restaurants and the resulting lack of operating cash inflows in conjunction with the additional financing requirements, lead to the company’s final knockout punch. In April of 2020, the Vapiano group officially files for insolvency proceedings. The end of an era. New BeginningsBecause of the pandemic, the majority of the group's subsidiaries in Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United States, Sweden, and China also file for insolvency or seek liquidation. The US business never gets sold in the end and is wound down. In the summer of 2020, significant group divestments occur, including the sale of 75% shares in the group's French subsidiaries, shares in franchisor companies, Australian subsidiaries, German subsidiaries, associated companies, self-managed restaurants in Germany, and insolvency-related sales in the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Sweden. The buyer of the Vapiano brand and one of these bundles of Vapiano restaurants is company named Love & Food Restaurant Holding, a consortium led by Mario C. Bauer – a name I told you to remember. Bauer was a former Vapiano board member and led the national and international expansion, opening 200 sites in 33 countries from 2011 to 2017 until he was succeeded by Cornelius Everke. Bauer didn’t feel comfortable with the IPO at the time but clearly has a lot of managerial and entrepreneurial talent.The buyer consortium is an absolute A-Team comprised of European QSR top league hitters, including the founder of the Pret A Manger chain Sinclair Beecham; Henry McGovern, the founder and Ex-CEO of the giant international restaurant and foodservice operator AmRest; the Van der Valk Family that runs hotels and Vapiano restaurants in the Netherlands, and co-founder and ex-CEO Gregor Gerlach. The acquisition value is 15 million euros and entails 30 Vapiano restaurants in Germany, albeit that’s just the purchase price which comes on top of any capital investment needed to refresh and return the sites to its former glory. Nevertheless, just as a thought experiment, if you can get each site to 2 million euros of revenue and 400,000 euros in operating profit on average, which wouldn’t be an overly aggressively assumption given the company’s history, you’ve got yourself a package that can deliver restaurant-level operating profits of 12 million euros or more. It’s not disclosed how much capex was needed to refresh the operations, just that fact that the overall investment plus purchase price was a middle double-digit million-euro figure. Stil, it probably was a decent purchase. The same consortium buys Vapiano’s French business for 25 million euros just two weeks prior. After the transaction concludes, the master franchise is given to Delf Neumann and his Gastro & Soul GmbH. Neumann is an experienced operator, and he is ambitious to revitalise the brand with new services and products. For example, instead of pizza, the restaurants will be serving pinsa - a flatbread made from sourdough, wheat and rice flour, topped similarly to a pizza. It targets a more health-oriented customer base looking for a less calory heavy option. The menu overall is expanded by including a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes. https://preview.redd.it/kpt7ea6red0d1.png?width=1242&format=png&auto=webp&s=c9930ced85ee364e9df414547cae06b47a03fc19 Today Neumann’s Gastro & Soul GmbH operates 18 Vapianos on its own account and has 29 franchise sites, amongst other brands. By the year 2021, Vapiano operates 191 restaurants in 34 countries. This is around 50 fewer sites than before the bankruptcy. The number of branches is particularly thinned out in Germany – from 80 to 55. Nevertheless, Vapiano's home country remains by far the largest market, followed by France with 35 restaurants and Austria with 15 locations. “We have shrunk ourselves to health,” says Bauer in the aftermath and there is no further shrinking planned. Quite the opposite, the smell of expansion is in the air again – pun intended. Not as aggressively as before and with a new menu and ordering process. Overall, the team around Bauer is filled with industry experts with knowledge and networks gained over decades who have a great track record, a long-term view, and the staying power to let Vapiano breath and finds its way back to success. The pressure of being a public company with all the associated quarterly, half-year and yearly disincentives have been removed. The menu is changed and extended with new types of pasta and sauces with significantly more vegetarian and vegan dishes available. Guests can order with restaurant staff, at terminals or on their phones and there are barcodes attached to the tables identify the respective seat. The food is brought to your table, all at the same time if you are in a group, no more annoyances with waiting in line. There is a plan for smaller, 350 square meter locations, with half the number of guests and significantly fewer staff and less set-up costs required to make the economics work. Locations that capitalize on remote work and increased demand for local lunch options, higher population density with shorter delivery routes and therefore cost-effective in house delivery services are targeted. And Bauer is testing the concept of ghost kitchens, which operate without a dining room or service staff, focusing solely on preparing food for delivery services, which for obvious reasons have a very different operational set up and footprint. Original founder Mark Korzilius however is not entirely convinced. He is not a fan of the pinsa for instance and he considers Vapiano's pizza as its cash cow, flagship product and believes that the core Vapiano proposition of Pizza, Pasta, Bar that has given the company its original success is being diluted. He instead admires the competitor L'Osteria, saying they’ve done a better job by focusing on Italian classics, especially the impressively large pizzas that sticks out beyond the plate is leaving every customer in awe. The guys who run L’Osteria are the same guys who have built Vapiano with him in the first place. Bauer on the other hand, like a true business leader, remains undeterred, stating that he is frequently asked whether Vapiano's restart was bold or foolish. He believes in entrepreneurship, franchising, in his experienced fellow partners and importantly the Vapiano concept. By the year 2024 you can find over 140 Vapiano branded restaurant in 27 countries across the globe, including locations far away from its birthplace like Australia, USA, Columbia, Chile, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. And why not? Italian food is, and will remain to be, incredibly popular. Vapiano offers fresh and tasty food at affordable prices in a good atmosphere. This combination of attributes should attract a lot of customers. It certainly has in the past. For more stories: WIP Thomas Weitzendoerfer Substack |
2024.05.14 11:41 Edinburghmadness 40 [M4F] scotland / anywhere - scottish guy looking for cool new interesting friends to chat to while working fron home
Anyone down to chat? I mostly use instagram for chatting. I'm 40 I'm scottish I'm 6ft 1 Dark sense of humour I work from home so free to chat a lot and meet some interesting people. Mostly I'm just looking for like minded people who enjoy getting to know other people too. If this all sounds cool them drop me a message and we can go from there. I've always gotten on well with Australians and europeans. Ha. But honestly, anyone from anywhere would be cool. I play a few instruments. Enjoy talking about music. Politics. Whatever is on your mind I'm happy to chat about. Currently it's relatively sunny and warm in Scotland but I'm just sat here kinda bored looking for some company. Save me from working from home boredom. I'll send you a selfie too. Always nice to put a face to the words. Hopefully hear from someone soon
submitted by Edinburghmadness to r4r [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 10:50 Total-Mastodon-6888 The Impact of COVID-19 on Immigration Policies
The global COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through every facet of our lives, and immigration policies were no exception. At Adric Immigration Consultants in Bangalore, we understand the uncertainty and challenges this has caused for individuals and families with international aspirations. This blog post delves into the impact of COVID-19 on immigration policies around the world, offering insights into the current landscape and potential future trends.
A Global Disruption: Border Closures and Travel Restrictions
The initial response to the pandemic involved a widespread closure of borders and implementation of strict travel restrictions. Many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and India, suspended visa processing
for certain categories or altogether. This sudden halt significantly impacted individuals seeking work visas, student visas, and family reunification opportunities.
While some restrictions have eased as the pandemic progressed, the pace of recovery for immigration processes varies significantly by country. Understanding the current situation in your target country is crucial for making informed decisions about your immigration journey.
Reliable Resources for Updated Information:
Here are some resources where you can find the latest information on travel restrictions and immigration policies for specific countries:
As the pandemic unfolded, the need for essential workers in various sectors became evident. Many countries introduced temporary visa programs or streamlined processing for healthcare professionals, agricultural workers, and other critical personnel. This shift in focus reflects the need for skilled labor to maintain vital services during a global crisis.
Impact on Specific Visa Categories:
While the initial focus on essential workers provided a temporary reprieve, it’s crucial to stay updated on current policies and potential changes for these visa categories.
Embracing Technology: Virtual Interviews and Online Applications
The pandemic accelerated the use of technology in immigration processes. Several countries adopted virtual interviews for visa applications, reducing reliance on in-person interactions and expediting certain aspects of the process. Additionally, online application portals became more widely used, offering a more convenient and streamlined experience for applicants.
The Future of Technology in Immigration:
The pandemic’s impact on technology adoption in immigration processes is likely to have lasting effects. We can expect to see continued use of online applications, virtual interviews, and potentially even AI-powered tools for document screening in the future.
Navigating Uncertainty: The Importance of Expert Guidance
The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably created a dynamic environment for immigration policies. Keeping track of ever-evolving regulations and procedures can be overwhelming. Partnering with a reputable immigration consultant like Adric Immigration Consultants in Bangalore can provide invaluable support during these uncertain times.
How We Can Help:
While the pandemic presented significant challenges for immigration, some experts predict a potential resurgence of immigration activity in the post-pandemic era. Countries recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic might seek skilled labor to rebuild their economies. Additionally, a renewed focus on global collaboration and innovation could lead to increased demand for international talent exchange.
Potential Areas of Growth:
Regardless of the specific direction immigration policies take, the key takeaway is the need for adaptability. Partnering with an experienced immigration consultant can equip you with the knowledge and guidance required to navigate the evolving landscape and pursue your immigration goals effectively.
Conclusion: Embracing the Journey with Confidence
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly reshaped the world of immigration. However, it’s important to remember that the desire for international exchange and opportunity remains strong. At Adric Immigration Consultants in Bangalore, we believe that with the right knowledge, preparation, and expert support, you can successfully navigate the immigration process, even in these times of change.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experienced team guide you on your immigration journey. Together, we can transform your international aspirations into a reality.
submitted by Total-Mastodon-6888 to u/Total-Mastodon-6888 [link] [comments]
A Global Disruption: Border Closures and Travel Restrictions
The initial response to the pandemic involved a widespread closure of borders and implementation of strict travel restrictions. Many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and India, suspended visa processing
for certain categories or altogether. This sudden halt significantly impacted individuals seeking work visas, student visas, and family reunification opportunities.
While some restrictions have eased as the pandemic progressed, the pace of recovery for immigration processes varies significantly by country. Understanding the current situation in your target country is crucial for making informed decisions about your immigration journey.
Reliable Resources for Updated Information:
Here are some resources where you can find the latest information on travel restrictions and immigration policies for specific countries:
- U.S. Department of State Travel.gov: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
- Canadian Government Immigration Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html
- Australian Government Immigration Website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
- UK Government Immigration Website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
- Official Website of the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs): https://mea.gov.in/
As the pandemic unfolded, the need for essential workers in various sectors became evident. Many countries introduced temporary visa programs or streamlined processing for healthcare professionals, agricultural workers, and other critical personnel. This shift in focus reflects the need for skilled labor to maintain vital services during a global crisis.
Impact on Specific Visa Categories:
- Work visas: Processing for certain work visa categories, particularly those in essential sectors, might have experienced an acceleration in some countries.
- Student visas: Restrictions on international travel and potential disruptions to online learning models created uncertainties for student visa applications.
- Family reunification: Delays and backlogs in processing family reunification visas caused significant hardship for families separated due to the pandemic.
While the initial focus on essential workers provided a temporary reprieve, it’s crucial to stay updated on current policies and potential changes for these visa categories.
Embracing Technology: Virtual Interviews and Online Applications
The pandemic accelerated the use of technology in immigration processes. Several countries adopted virtual interviews for visa applications, reducing reliance on in-person interactions and expediting certain aspects of the process. Additionally, online application portals became more widely used, offering a more convenient and streamlined experience for applicants.
The Future of Technology in Immigration:
The pandemic’s impact on technology adoption in immigration processes is likely to have lasting effects. We can expect to see continued use of online applications, virtual interviews, and potentially even AI-powered tools for document screening in the future.
Navigating Uncertainty: The Importance of Expert Guidance
The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably created a dynamic environment for immigration policies. Keeping track of ever-evolving regulations and procedures can be overwhelming. Partnering with a reputable immigration consultant like Adric Immigration Consultants in Bangalore can provide invaluable support during these uncertain times.
How We Can Help:
- Stay Updated: We stay abreast of the latest changes in immigration policies around the world and advise you accordingly.
- Eligibility Assessment: We can assess your eligibility for various visa options, considering your background and the current situation in your target country.
- Application Assistance: We provide guidance and support throughout the application process, ensuring your documentation is complete and accurate.
- Communication and Advocacy: We can help navigate communication with immigration authorities and advocate for your case if necessary.
While the pandemic presented significant challenges for immigration, some experts predict a potential resurgence of immigration activity in the post-pandemic era. Countries recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic might seek skilled labor to rebuild their economies. Additionally, a renewed focus on global collaboration and innovation could lead to increased demand for international talent exchange.
Potential Areas of Growth:
- Skilled Worker Immigration: Countries facing labor shortages might prioritize attracting skilled workers in specific sectors.
- Global Talent Programs: We might see an expansion of programs designed to attract highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.
- Focus on Innovation: Immigration policies could incentivize the immigration of individuals with expertise in science, technology, engineering, and other innovation-driven fields.
Regardless of the specific direction immigration policies take, the key takeaway is the need for adaptability. Partnering with an experienced immigration consultant can equip you with the knowledge and guidance required to navigate the evolving landscape and pursue your immigration goals effectively.
Conclusion: Embracing the Journey with Confidence
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly reshaped the world of immigration. However, it’s important to remember that the desire for international exchange and opportunity remains strong. At Adric Immigration Consultants in Bangalore, we believe that with the right knowledge, preparation, and expert support, you can successfully navigate the immigration process, even in these times of change.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experienced team guide you on your immigration journey. Together, we can transform your international aspirations into a reality.
2024.05.14 09:50 tieir2 Top australian doctor remains brain cancer-free after a year: of undergoing a world-first treatment for glioblastoma
 | submitted by tieir2 to UpliftingNews [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 07:20 TheC9 Purchases from Japan last Christmas
 | Left: Kate Spade backpack - pattern is exclusive to Japan only submitted by TheC9 to handbags [link] [comments] Right: crossbody bag by Blue Label Crestbridge (a cheaper subbrand of Burberry that is exclusively for Japanese market) Both around $200 Australian dollar (at the outlet, tax free) Love both bags - especially the crossbody bag is the perfect size! |
2024.05.14 07:15 Gestobersenpai [OFFER] Up to £460/460$ from Stake, Freetrade, Wealthyhood & Wahed & £13/13$ from me(UK, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND & BRAZIL)
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submitted by Gestobersenpai to signupsforpay [link] [comments]
Stake is an Australia-based fintech startup that offers commission-free stock trading, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the FCA. Stake provides free stock and ETF trading on US markets.
1 Sign up to Stake and enter my referral code.
2 Deposit a minimum of 50$ within 24 hours.
3 Get a free stock worth up to 150$.
4 Once I receive my free stock, I will pay you 2$.
Freetrade(UK)
Freetrade are a stocks and shares platform, offering a nice sign up bonus for new users. When you deposit £10 into your account, you'll get a share with value between £10 and £100!
1 Sign up to Freetrade using my referral link
2 Verify ID
Fund the account with min £10, which should be held for 30 days(doesn't need to be invested) You will have your free share show as pending for 7 days, before being added to your account. Free shares can be sold once granted, but the money can only be withdrawn after 180 days
3 Once I receive my free share, I will send you £3
Wealthyhood(UK)
Wealthyhood is the first DIY wealth-building app for long-term investors. They provide the tools to guide long-term investors to build their wealth over time by intelligently investing their money the way they want, with fewer fees.
1 Sign up to Wealthyhood using my referral link.
2 Deposit and invest at least £50 within 7 days.
3 Get a free stock worth up to £200.
4 Once I receive my free stock, I will pay you £5.
Wahed(UK)
Wahed is an online Halal investing platform that's making investing in line with your values more accessible, easy and affordable to everyone.
1 Download Wahed app on App Store or Google Play.
2 On registration, enter my referral code.
3 Choose 'Regular Account'.
4 Answer quiz and choose your risk tolerance (you can choose 'Very Conservative' if you want very minimal risk)
5 Fund your account – you must hold a balance of at least £50 for the 30 day period, so I recommend you to fund £60 to be on the safe side.
6 You will receive your £10 bonus within 30 days and then you can withdraw everything.
7 Once I receive my bonus, I will send you £3.
Comment $bid if you are interested and I will send you my referral code/link
2024.05.14 07:12 crazypeacocke Cultists nerf
Just wanting to double check… you can’t give dark commune a mark of Khorne (and so can’t join them to Khorne cultists) because of their psyker yeah?
So the best use of cultists with tzeentch and ranged has been deleted; cultists nerfed with no access to free special weapons; and their coolest leader unit now can’t join them if they’re using the best mark for their weak melee attacks.
Anyone else slightly annoyed?
I know I can proxy them as traitor guard, but a big 20 man ranged blob with dark commune was pretty surviveable, and surprisingly deadly when inside a Helbrute’s aura
submitted by crazypeacocke to Chaos40k [link] [comments]
So the best use of cultists with tzeentch and ranged has been deleted; cultists nerfed with no access to free special weapons; and their coolest leader unit now can’t join them if they’re using the best mark for their weak melee attacks.
Anyone else slightly annoyed?
I know I can proxy them as traitor guard, but a big 20 man ranged blob with dark commune was pretty surviveable, and surprisingly deadly when inside a Helbrute’s aura
2024.05.14 06:00 valour_knight Selfwealth Referral Code - Get 5 free trades
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submitted by valour_knight to AussieReferrals [link] [comments]
Get 5 free trades when signing up with the link below.
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2024.05.14 05:30 CosmicGunman ANALYSIS of Four Corners: Ruthless Pursuit (2024) The Chinese Secret Police in Australia Saga
 | Following up from my last post submitted by CosmicGunman to TheDeprogram [link] [comments] From the Article, quoting below Last month, Safeguard Defenders released a report documenting more than 280 cases of foreign citizens and residents being repatriated to China. The individuals are accused of committing economic crimes.I watched the full Four-Corners episode. The phenomenon is real, however is the usual kernal of truth being framed as PRC evil subversion. The 1st Bureau cooperated with Australia at first, only for Australian Federal Police to get upset when one of the financial criminals were extradited to China which circumnavigated an agreed-upon process. The interviewees from the Australian side in the clip (including lawyer) said they cannot assume every single target was just innocently targeted, but the primary issue (correctly) is abusing sovereignty. Famously some things intelligence apparatuses never do /s. Genuinely there would be greater trust if relations were not Cold War coded. The reporter is Echo Hui and some of her professional background as a journalist Some things to note: The former agent who speaks out (called Erik) was originally a member of (by the own reporter's admission) "was a member of a u.s-based pro-democracy organisation" known as the China Social Democratic Party (CSDP). He was one day called for questioning by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) First (1st) Bureau: Political Security Protection Bureau (PSPB). He was questioned about the organisation and given an "opportunity for redemption" (left ambiguous, were there charges?), and offered to become an agent for the MPS's 1st Bureau, to becoming an informant on his former u.s-backed organisation). All of this comes from the mouth of Erik and Echo narrating. Unlike later in the episode; where we (eventually, after sufficent fear-mongering) get the China side. On that note: The glossed-over "financial crimes" are significant. One of the "dissidents" was Edwin Yin. He was charged with Fraud in China, and Australian Courts ordered him to pay 700,000 AUD (3,345,451.83 CNY) due to "an alleged foreign exchange scam" Four-Corners talked to alleged victims which confirm yes Edwin Yin had scammed them and others. Edwin claims he is being framed by the CPC. In the clips he was also obsessed with Xi Jinping's illegitimate sons? And harassing his daughter online? Now another of the "dissidents" is a "Everyday Chinese Marketing Guru". Wang Liming, AKA: Remon Wang, Pseudonym: Rebel Pepper (originally "Abnormal/Perverse Pepper.".). Political satirist, and left China to Japan to continue his anti-government satire cartoons. In 2012 he depicts the CPC as an angler fish which has hyponitised a smaller fish, representing the people of China. Compares Xi to an Emperor, and compare's the death toll of Mao to Islamic State. In 2017 he joins Radio Free Asia (RFA), and is the sole contributor to the cartoons column. In 2018 he founds the Shanghai National Party, in New York. A national-conservative, secessionist movement. Organised and attended anti-china protests in the Queens alongside Falun Gong and Uygher-American Association. In 2018, the Shanghai National Party hosted a "Acceleration of Chinese Collapse" award ceremony in Times Square. 😐 During the Shanghai lockdowns in 2022, he claimed the quarantine methods were an attempt at genocide of the Shanghainese. Gonna share a quote. He tweeted the ultimate goal of the Shanghai independence movement was to destroy the concept of a unified China. He wrote: "We must not only fight against the Communist Party, but also win more Chinese people to abandon the shell of "China."This is sourced from: https://www.rfi.fcn/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20180812-%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E6%B0%91%E6%97%8F%E5%85%9A%E5%9C%A8%E7%BA%BD%E7%BA%A6%E6%88%90%E7%AB%8B-%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%80%E8%A6%81%E6%B1%82%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E7%8B%AC%E7%AB%8B English Translation of the Webpage: The "Shanghai National Party" was established in New York to oppose communism and demand the independence of Shanghai "So you were effectively helping the secret police track down people who were innocent of any crime. Do you feel any guilt for your involvement?"To which Erik responses with: "I'm an idealist but I'm also a pragmatist. I'm aware of the outcome one might face in China if you refuse to work with the secret police."The exposé ends with Erik saying: "They [PRC] may deny this story. They may mobilise some agents on the ground or send people to Australia [to] take measures against me, possibly getting physical. It's even possible that some agents on the ground may attempt to kidnap me. When they deal with a target like me, they may have to be more patient, smart, wait for an appropriate time to act. I'm definitely safer in Australia than in China or South-East Asia. But my safety eventually is determined by the Australian Government."Credits roll. Honorable mentions: • While operating in Cambodia, Erik's cover was being employed with Prince Real Estate, under Prince Holding Group. He was using this to eventually pursue Rebel-Pepper. Echo introduces them near the end and they share a hearty and jolly video call as they're now both "dissidents" in Melbourne. • While operating in the countryside, he larped as a anti-CCP milita (as in making videos) to get close to this other dissident, who agreed with him. Though this dissident fled to Canada, and died kayaking in a town in Canada. Erik's first reaction is that this was an extrajudicial killing, followed by saying there is no way to know for sure, since he was not personally involved in Canada operations. • FBI agent claims Xi is using diaspora for political aims, while Echo says Xi's anti-corruption portfolio was a cover to gain more power and "dissent is not allowed". |