Are you eyeing that dream car or aiming for your own slice of real estate? Or perhaps you're just tired of being rejected for credit cards or loans due to a less-than-stellar credit score. Whatever your motivation, improving your credit score quickly is within reach with the right strategies. Here's how to give your credit score a rapid boost:

1. Check Your Credit Report: Start by obtaining a copy of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Look for any errors or inaccuracies that could be dragging your score down. Dispute any discrepancies you find to ensure your report is accurate.
2. Pay Your Bills on Time: Your payment history makes up a significant portion of your credit score. Set up reminders or automatic payments to ensure you never miss a due date. Even one late payment can cause a dip in your score, so staying on top of your bills is crucial.
3. Reduce Your Credit Card Balances: Aim to keep your credit card balances below 30% of your available credit limit. High credit utilization can negatively impact your score. If possible, pay down your balances aggressively to improve your credit utilization ratio.
4. Become an Authorized User: If you have a family member or friend with a long and positive credit history, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their credit card account. Their responsible credit behavior can help boost your score, but make sure they have a good payment history and low credit utilization.
5. Apply for a Secured Credit Card: If you're struggling to qualify for a traditional credit card, consider applying for a secured credit card. These cards require a cash deposit as collateral, making them easier to obtain. Use the card responsibly by making small purchases and paying the balance in full each month to build positive credit history.
6. Diversify Your Credit Mix: Lenders like to see a mix of different types of credit accounts on your credit report, such as credit cards, installment loans, and a mortgage. If you only have one type of credit account, consider diversifying to potentially boost your score.
7. Keep Old Accounts Open: Closing old credit card accounts can shorten your credit history and negatively impact your score. Instead, keep those accounts open, even if you're not using them regularly. Just be sure to monitor them for any fraudulent activity.
8. Limit New Credit Inquiries: Each time you apply for credit, a hard inquiry is added to your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score. Limit the number of new credit applications you submit, especially if you're planning a major purchase in the near future.

For more>> How to boost your credit score fast
By following these steps diligently, you can see significant improvements in your credit score in a relatively short amount of time. Remember, building good credit takes patience and discipline, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Start today and pave the way to a brighter financial future.

Hello everyone,
I have created a vm for pfsense inside the Proxmox. After some hassle i was able to have the successful deployment of proxmox webgui and dhcp using 2 ports.
vmbr0 (eno1) => Lan (10.*.*.1) vmbr1 (eno2) => Wan
Wan This needs to be setup through PPPoE. It works fine if i put it under router gets the IP through DHCP. PPPoE credentials are working fine if i used it on another pfsense which is physical machine. There are no other MTU or MSS or VLan requirements by the isp.
My configuration for the proxmox network interface is as follow. Have an additional card with 4 ports

auto lo iface lo inet loopback iface eno1 inet manual iface eno2 inet manual iface enp12s0f0 inet manual iface enp12s0f1 inet manual iface enp13s0f0 inet manual iface enp13s0f1 inet manual auto vmbr0 iface vmbr0 inet static address 10.10.45.20/24 gateway 10.10.45.1 bridge-ports eno1 bridge-stp off bridge-fd 0 auto vmbr1 iface vmbr1 inet manual bridge-ports eno2 bridge-stp off bridge-fd 0 

Errors i receive in logs are as follow:

 May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] MAGICNUM 0xc8161996 May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Ack-Sent Opened May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: auth: peer wants PAP, I want nothing May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: using authname "*******" May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: sending REQUEST #1 len: 24 May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerUp May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: rec'd NAK #1 len: 5 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: authorization failed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: parameter negotiation failed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Opened Stopping May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: SendTerminateReq #8 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerDown May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: rec'd Terminate Request #191 (Stopping) May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: SendTerminateAck #9 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PPPoE: connection closed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: DOWN event May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: Down event May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Stopping Starting May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 5 in 4 seconds May 14 13:52:15 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 5 May 14 13:52:15 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PPPoE: Connecting to '' May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] MAGICNUM 0xc8161996 May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Ack-Sent Opened May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: auth: peer wants PAP, I want nothing May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: using authname "*******" May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: sending REQUEST #1 len: 24 May 14 13:52:10 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerUp May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PAP: rec'd NAK #1 len: 5 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: authorization failed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: parameter negotiation failed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Opened Stopping May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: SendTerminateReq #8 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerDown May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: rec'd Terminate Request #191 (Stopping) May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: SendTerminateAck #9 May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PPPoE: connection closed May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: DOWN event May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: Down event May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Stopping Starting May 14 13:52:11 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 5 in 4 seconds May 14 13:52:15 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 5 May 14 13:52:15 ppp 15054 [wan_link0] PPPoE: Connecting to '' 

Meanwhile that's the log from the physical machine with same credentials and settings for wan

May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] MAGICNUM 0x9d584596 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Ack-Sent Opened May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: auth: peer wants PAP, I want nothing May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: using authname "*******" May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: sending REQUEST #1 len: 24 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerUp May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: rec'd ACK #1 len: 5 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: authorization successful May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] Link: Matched action 'bundle "wan" ""' May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] Link: Join bundle "wan" May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] Bundle: Status update: up 1 link, total bandwidth 64000 bps May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: Open event May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: state change Initial Starting May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: LayerStart May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: Up event May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: state change Starting Req-Sent May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: SendConfigReq #1 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPADDR 0.0.0.0 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] MAGICNUM 0x9d584596 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: state change Ack-Sent Opened May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: auth: peer wants PAP, I want nothing May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: using authname "*******" May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: sending REQUEST #1 len: 24 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: LayerUp May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] PAP: rec'd ACK #1 len: 5 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] LCP: authorization successful May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] Link: Matched action 'bundle "wan" ""' May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan_link0] Link: Join bundle "wan" May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] Bundle: Status update: up 1 link, total bandwidth 64000 bps May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: Open event May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: state change Initial Starting May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: LayerStart May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: Up event May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: state change Starting Req-Sent May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPCP: SendConfigReq #1 May 14 23:24:47 ppp 59039 [wan] IPADDR 0.0.0.0 

I suspect that parameters are not being passed correctly from the vmbr1. Can you suggest a work around for this ?

October 22nd 2077 This is the personal terminal of Dr. Joseph Wright Director and head of the Vault 815 experiment, logging for all future events.
Objective of the Vault: Study human behavior when normal subjects are given absolute authority over their peers
Hypothesis: In a close environment, a minority population with absolute authority over a majority will always lead to a brutal authoritarian regime. This can be useful in rebuilding America after the bombs to quickly build an efficient autocracy regardless of skill of the lower classes.
Preparation Phase: 80 residents were randomly selected through a series of standard interviews given to every control vault to determine admittance to Vault 815, as well as a behavioral analysis and an IQ test. 20 candidates out of said 80 residents who score low in IQ and high in aggression will be chosen to become a part of the “Security Team”. The Security Team will have complete authoritarian control of the vault, and will be tasked with keeping everything in complete order. The candidate that scores highest on aggression will be chosen to be the Overseer, which is now currently a 38 year old Caucasian male named Justin Davis, a veteran recently discharged from Anchorage due to a friendly fire incident involving a deserting soldier. On October 10th 2077, the candidates for the Security Team were brought to Vault 815 for a multi-day orientation. I, under the guise of an anthropologist, told them that in all of our research we found that most vaults would quickly destabilize socially without strict rationing, schedules, and cooperation from the rest of the residents. I was sure to emphasize just how important their jobs were, to give them a sense of urgency in controlling the vault as efficiently as possible.Of course, I used
Each resident was also given a “Security Team’s guide to dissidence, a Vault-Tec How To guide”, which was specially authored to teach the new security team how to prepare against any possible dissatisfaction that comes from the other 60 participants that will be joining the experiment. The guide exaggerates exactly what “dissidence” is, and encourages guards to break up gatherings, to oversee work and “use their own judgment” when deciding how to increase productivity. The Security Team were also shown their rooms, spacious 20x20 square foot rooms with king sized mattresses, all with their own personal showers, bathrooms, refrigeration units, climate control, and mood lighting that can be operated by the residents. All the rooms will be connected the a garden that will be tended by the vault’s Mr. Handy units. A concession stand will be put in the garden that will hand out snacks for the Security Team to enjoy in their off time. The snacks are laced with psycho, and buffout, to increase aggression and alertness
This is in stark contrast to the rest of the vault. The 60 other residents, who will henceforth be known as “Workers” will be divided into 30 rooms, sharing a bunk bed in a 5x10 room, that has enough space for a sink, a toilet, and a small communal desk with 2 chairs. The lights and air conditioning are controlled by a central control panel only accessible to the Security Team. As per the worker schedule, they are allotted 2 hours of personal release time in their own atrium. The atrium is deliberately painted dull, and lifeless, with 7.62x51mm machine gun turrets on full display, constantly aimed at the workers. The overseer’s office will look out to the Atrium, a constant reminder to the workers that they’re always being watched
Justin Davis, the new overseer, was given special orientation involving a personal tour of the vault, all the while we poked and prodded him for questions, massaging his ego, telling him how good of an overseer he was going to be. We applauded his exemplary IQ and showed him falsified documents proclaiming that he was chosen due to his cool collective nature and decisive action. We even congratulated him on “putting down that retreating commie who turned tale at the battle of Anchorage” and admired his bravado. We ended the tour by showing him the armory, which ranged from basic 10mm automatic pistols to advanced riot gear and crowd suppression technology, such as tear gas, and assaultrons designed for incapacitation.
On October 11th 2077, began physical training day. The Security Team were given physical and firearm training by Justin, who was more than happy to begin his role as a leader in the Vault. All things considered, Justin did well. There was an incident at the shooting range where one of the lower ranking Security Team members, Julianne Valdez, was reportedly “Limp Wristing” a 10mm automatic pistol, which caused Justin to verbally berate and physically assault her. Overall, the experiment team is very pleased with the results, and commendations were given to Justin for his strict discipline.
The Security Team was also given time to get to know the facility and get comfortable utilizing our active oppression systems, and were all told that above all else, it was critical that they follow the instructions of the overseer, since they know best. There were a few whispers of ethical concerns, but a short trip into the Security Team’s relaxation spa seemed to quell fears, which coincided with listing penalties for any officer a part of the Security Team who fail to appropriately use their authority to ensure vault productivity. At the end of the 2 day orientation, all 20 subjects were given welcome baskets of various dried meats, canned salted fish, and Nuka Cola. Naturally, Overseer Justin was given a disproportionately large bag compared to the rest of the team, which included champagne.
At this point, the Security Team is oriented, prepared, and eagerly awaiting their luxuries down in Vault 815. The 60 workers who were not given any sort of orientation were mailed postcards, simply letting them know that their place in Vault 815 was ready, and prepared for their future. Everything is green, I am certainly proud of my amazing team for everything going so smoothly. Should the heavens fall, we shall be down below, achieving science. Forwarding the green light status to our local Vault Tec HQ. With how everyone at Headquarters talk, I fear we have barely scraped by on our “deadline”.
This concludes my first terminal entry for the Vault 815 experiment. This is Dr. Wright logging off.

I know it's 100% a me problem, I've dealt with body dysmorphia my whole life, and that's why I struggle to feel attractive or good enough. He seems into me too, we have even hooked up a couple of times, but I checked out who he follows on IG and there are a lot of bikini models and whatnot. I know that realistically it's not like he's gonna get with one of them, but it's like he's just settling for me physically. We're both in our 30s and these girls are in their 20s, it's not like I'm getting any younger, so... I have posted bikini pictures before, and have gotten likes so I have to remind myself I am some sort of attractive, I work out, I watch my diet, but still, I'll never be IG model material. Also, again, body dysmorphia is the biggest B, so that really messes with my head in these sorts of situations.
Still, this is not enough to turn me off him completely. I wish I wasn't so insecure. But now I'm comparing myself to these women and I feel so inferior and ugly. I'll never be this guy's dream girl, nor any guy's for that matter. I read somewhere that following these girls is like dreaming of having a Ferrari, probably never gonna happen for the average guy and his trusty Toyota, but that's the thing, being a Toyota sucks IMHO... I wish I was the Ferrari.
I know, I know, "but women crush on male celebs" and it's true, there are a few I find attractive, but not enough to follow them on IG, I don't really follow hot guys on there, it just doesn't do much for me. So it's not something I can relate to.
Sigh... at the end of the day what I hate the most is feeling insecure and unattractive, not good enough. I'm sad and can't shake off how ugly I feel right now.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jamie-bryson-breached-red-traffic-light-after-fearing-he-was-being-followed/a1716441527.html
Prominent loyalist activist Jamie Bryson breached a traffic signal fearing he was being followed and an attack was imminent, a court heard today.
While the 34-year-old told District Judge Francis Rafferty he accepted running a red light on 12 September last year, Mr Bryson told the judge he had a “reasonable excuse” defence, emphasising that at the time the PSNI had recently told him he was under a verifiable death threat.
Giving evidence to Newtownards Magistrates Court on his own behalf, the prominent loyalist also highlighted that a man who had made repeated threats against him and whom the police believed “had ready access to guns,” was on the run.
At the start of the ten minute contest, a prosecuting lawyer told District Judge Rafferty how the defendant’s Audi Q2 breached the traffic light at the junction of the York Link and Nelson Street.
Representing himself however, Mr Bryson maintained that he had a “reasonable excuse” for running the red light.
He told Judge Rafferty that as he drove towards Belfast he noticed a car with tinted windows behind him, adding that as the journey progressed: “This car made a number of attempts to get around me but then came back in behind me.”
“As. I approached the lights I manoeuvred my car across over two lanes as I believed that this car was going to come up alongside me and potentially carry out some form of attack on me,” Mr Bryson explained.Jamie Bryson breached red traffic light after fearing he was being followed
In reference to paint being daubed on the walls of Ards court during the North Down feud, he said that around that time: “I had written a public letter to the Newsletter after this court was attacked…and I had been subject to death threats from drug dealers and drug gangs.”
Having been given a TM1 notice by the PSNI that there was a verifiable threat on his life, Mr Bryson told the court he had been given a booklet by the police which advised on what to do when a person is subject to such threats.
One aspect of that, he told the court, was what to do when stopping at traffic lights so when he believed the tinted window car behind was following in a sinister way: “I made the conscious decision” to breach the traffic signal.
Under cross examination the prosecutor asked the loyalist activist why, if the car had been following him for about five minutes, he had failed to note the registration plate but he told the lawyer he would have done so had the car followed him through the red light.
“Why not phone the police…or drive to the nearest police station,” Judge Rafferty asked him but Mr Bryson maintained “there is a demonstrable context in this,” highlighting that seven other people have been sentenced “in this very court” for making threats against him.
“I am living under a daily death threat so I am taking precautions and when I’m driving, I’m checking my mirrors and all around to see if there’s anything suspicious,” he told the judge adding that he “may well have” driven to a police station if the tinted window car had followed him “but it didn’t.”
In final submissions the PPS conceded it was a matter for the judge to decide what could amount to a reasonable excuse while Mr Bryson maintained that although he accepts breaking the red light, “the prosecution have offered nothing to refute the death threats I have been under” and as such, he had put forward a reasonable explanation.
Judge Rafferty said while he found it “incredible” that Mr Bryson did not call the police when he feared he was being followed, “nevertheless I’m required to be satisfied to the criminal standard and in the circumstances, I cannot be so satisfied so I’m marking the matter dismissed.”

If you ask other RVers which national park is their favorite, someone is bound to mention Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. It's a camper's paradise with wide open space and panoramic views.
Most evenings, the landscape glows at golden hour, and the sky turns from red hot at sunset to dark blue and star-filled at night. You can enjoy the remoteness of the park but also its proximity to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
Take the time during your visit to enjoy the endless roads of the desert landscape, play on the rock formations, and, of course, marvel at the Joshua Trees.

Why Visit Joshua Tree National Park?

The first reason to visit Joshua Tree National Park is to see its famous and fascinating Joshua Trees. Since the Mojave desert is the only place in the world where they grow naturally, Joshua Tree National Park is the best place to see them.
These trees range between 15-40 feet tall and can live an impressive 150 years. They’re members of the Yucca family and appear as though they're from a different planet, with limbs unpredictably jetting out like they have their own minds.
Another great reason to visit Joshua Tree National Park is the warm weather and abundance of sunshine. It’s no secret that RVers love to snowbird and the Californian desert is a wonderful place to be during the spring and fall months. You’ll enjoy sunny days and clear nights, perfect for dry camping with solar panels.

When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is open year-round, but the best times to visit are during the spring and fall months. Park elevations range from 536 feet to 5,814 feet above sea level, so expect conditions to vary depending on where you go in the park.
Here’s more information on the seasonal weather in Joshua Tree.

Spring

Spring is a very popular time in the park because the temperatures range from the mid-60s in February to the mid-70s in April. Depending on the year, wildflower blooms can be seen in the latter part of spring at the lower elevations within the Pinto Basin.

Summer

Due to extreme desert heat (+100℉ days are the norm), the park is pretty quiet during the summer. Late in the summer, monsoon season hits Joshua Tree, which cools down the daytime temperatures but can also lead to flash flooding in valleys and ravines.

Fall

Monsoon season continues into the fall, but it soon gives way to one of the best times to visit. Temperatures from August into October fall from the upper 90s into the low 80s, and evening temperatures range from the low 70s to the low 50s, on average.

Winter

In the heart of winter, the park's average daily temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfectly comfortable, but the nights get cold and often drop to freezing. Overnight temperatures in December and January average in the mid-30s.
Check the park’s website for the latest weather alerts and condition updates.

Where to Stay

Joshua Tree National Park is pretty remote and expansive. You'll want to stay a few days. Unlike other national parks, there are no lodges or resorts for overnight accommodations. There are eight developed campgrounds, however, and camping out under the stars at Joshua Tree is an unforgettable experience.
Here are a few important things to be aware of ahead of time if you plan to camp in Joshua Tree.

Reservation versus First-Come, First-Served

Four of the developed campsites require reservations. They’re larger than the first-come, first-served campgrounds, and some offer water and flush toilets. These campgrounds fill up very quickly. We recommend planning well in advance.

Reservation Required Campgrounds

• Black Rock Campground
• Cottonwood Campground
• Indian Cove Campground
• Jumbo Rocks Campground

Black Rock and Cottonwood are the most developed campgrounds (water, toilets, sanitation dump) and are the only campgrounds you can stay in if you have a larger rig.
Black Rock has six sites that can accommodate rigs with a total length (tow vehicle included) of 38-40 feet and seven sites up to 42 feet. Cottonwood has around twenty-five campsites that can accommodate rigs slightly longer than 35 feet.
Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks both have a few spots for RVs up to 35 feet in total length. If you have a rig larger than 35 feet, site availability may be considerably limited.

First-come, First-served Campgrounds

These campgrounds are great options if you have a smaller rig and the good fortune of securing a site. During the popular season, these campgrounds fill every weekend and often during the week, as well.

• Belle Campground
• Hidden Valley Campground
• Ryan Campground
• White Tank Campground

These are primitive campgrounds, so you will need to bring (and carry out) everything you’ll need during your stay.

Staying Outside the Park

If you’re unable to find a site in the park or you’re looking for a campground with more amenities, here are a few nearby campgrounds:

• TwentyNine Palms RV Resort and Cottages: About 10 minutes from the north entrance.
• Sam’s Family Spa and Resort: About 45 minutes from the main visitor center.
• Catalina Spa and RV Resort: About 50 minutes from the main visitor center.
• Palm Springs Oasis RV Resort: About 45 minutes from the south entrance.
• Indian Waters RV Resort and Cottages: About 30 minutes from the south entrance.

Invest in a Good Sam Membership and save 10% on nightly stays at Good Sam Campgrounds.

Tips for Your Camping Stay

• Reservations for the reservable campgrounds can be made up to six months in advance.
• Reserve using the links below or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
  • Black Rock Campground
  • Cottonwood Campground
  • Indian Cove Campground
  • Jumbo Rocks Campground
• No campgrounds in the park offer electric RV hookups.
• Generator use is restricted to 7-9 am, noon-2 pm, and 5-7 pm.
• Hammocks are not permitted in campgrounds and must be hung from rocks or climbing bolts elsewhere to protect the park’s sensitive vegetation.
• Backpacking is permitted in the park, but it requires more advanced planning and preparation.

How To Get Around

Nestled between I-10 and California SR 62, Joshua Tree is located in Southeastern California and is easy to access. Several towns nearby, including Palm Springs, Indio, and Twentynine Palms, make perfect supply stops before entering the park.
Indio is the last best stop on I-10 if you’re entering the park from the south. The park’s south entrance is located off Exit 168, about 30 minutes east of Indio. The park also offers a west entrance on Quail Springs Road, about 10 minutes southeast of the town of Joshua Tree. And the north entrance is just ten minutes south of Twentynine Palms on Utah Trail.
Several paved roads allow you to traverse the park, but going from site to site can require long drive times. The most frequented sites are located near the northern edge of the park, so if you’re coming from the south along I-10, you’ll be driving through the park for an hour or so before you spot your first Joshua Tree.

Places to Go

There are many places to visit in the park that offer a variety beyond the infamous trees. It’s a unique location that features the intersection of two desert ecosystems.

Cholla Cactus Garden

The Cholla Cactus Garden is its own special area and is unlike any other part of the park. Be sure to enjoy the flat, ¼-mile nature trail to get the best look at the cacti. This patch of cacti is incredible because it mostly consists of Teddybear Cholla, which is the star of the cactus world.
The Cholla Cactus Garden is so impressive, and you’ll love snapping photos of these majestic plants. Their beauty changes throughout the day depending on how the sunlight hits them. A small word of advice, look but don’t touch. Ouch!

Arch Rock

Arch Rock is a very popular rock formation located a half-mile from White Tank Campground. The loop trail is easy to follow and a perfect activity for the whole family. Of course, the Arch Rock itself is the thing people most want to see, but there's lots of space to wander around and explore the other rock formations, too.
It’s also a very popular place for night photography and stargazing. If interested, White Tank Campground is a really convenient place to stay because of its proximity to the trailhead.

Keys View

Keys View is a popular lookout that offers incredible panoramic views of the park and the Coachella Valley. If beautiful scenery is your thing, make sure to visit Keys View. It’s about a 20-minute drive from the main road to the lookout via Keys View Rd.

Ryan Mountain

One of the most popular activities in the park is the hike to Ryan Mountain. This 3-mile round trip trail leads to the summit, where you’ll be treated to sweeping 360-degree views. The hike is listed as challenging by the NPS, so be sure to bring plenty of water and expect changing weather conditions.

Things to Do

The combination of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert makes Joshua Tree a wonderful desert wilderness to explore. Here are some of the most popular activities in the park:

Hiking

Hiking is a great way to get off the road and experience more of the desert landscape. The National Park Service offers plenty of safety tips for hiking in Joshua Tree, and here are some of the park’s most popular trails:

• Barker Dam Trail: An easy 1.1-mile trail with interpretive exhibits containing information on park history. It’s a popular place for viewing bighorn sheep from a safe distance.
• Oasis of Mara Trail: A 0.5-mile trail to explore a desert oasis and learn how it’s harbored human and animal life for centuries.
• Lost Horse Mine Trail: A moderate 4-mile out and back trail to explore what was once the area’s most successful gold mine.
• Mastodon Peak Trail: A moderate 3-mile loop trail with an optional scramble to the top of a granite peak.
• Lost Palms Oasis Trail: A challenging 7.5-mile out and back trail down a canyon to one of the park’s most remote fan palm oases.

The Park Service DOES NOT recommend attempting challenging hikes in the heat due to the elevated risk of sun exposure and dehydration.

Mountain Biking

The majority of the park’s paved roads are not suitable for road cycling. However, several backcountry roads are perfect for mountain bikes. There are even three campsites within Ryan Campground dedicated to cyclists.
Be aware that bikes are only allowed on roads open to vehicle traffic but that the main park roads do not offer bike lanes or wide shoulders. Consult the park’s website for safety tips and road recommendations before biking in Joshua Tree.

Photography

Photographers love Joshua Tree because of the variety it contains. From sunrise to sunset, photographers can find landscapes, animal inhabitants, and even human visitors to place in frame.
Commercial photography does require a permit, and if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge, the Desert Institute offers field courses in partnership with the Joshua Tree National Park Association.

Stargazing

Stars can be hard to come by in urban areas like San Diego and Los Angeles, but Joshua Tree is a different story. Designated as an International Dark Sky Park, it offers some of the best stargazing in all of Southern California.
After the sun goes down, keep your headlamp in red light mode to preserve your night vision. Your eyes will need less time to adjust when you lie down to see how many shooting stars you can count!

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing, in addition to bouldering and slacklining, is another great activity to enjoy in the park. To date, there are more than 8,000 known climbing routes, over 2,000 bouldering problems, and numerous natural rock gaps that make the perfect spot to set up a slackline.
On a busy weekend, the park may have hundreds of climbers enjoying their slice of this monzogranite mecca. So be sure to follow Leave No Trace Principles and familiarize yourself with the park’s climbing management plan before your visit.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

• The desert can be dangerous, and the weather can change quickly. Check the forecast frequently and pack layers to prepare for changing conditions.
• The remote location means there is no cell service in many parts of the park. Communicate your plans to loved ones or authorities ahead of time, especially if traveling alone.
• Investing in a cell signal booster may improve cell reception in areas with limited service.
• A quality camping cooler is a great way to keep food and beverages cold in the heat of the desert.
• Bring an extra canopy tent and ensure your awning is in good condition so you can escape direct sunlight during the heat of the day.
• Keep up with air conditioner maintenance to regulate the temperature inside your RV.
• For the latest info on visiting Joshua Tree, visit their website: Joshua Tree National Park.

Brief History of Joshua Tree National Park

Despite its harsh desert environment, humans have inhabited the area that is now Joshua Tree for more than 5,000 years. In the modern era, the biggest threats to this natural environment were land developers and cactus poachers.
In the late 1920s, a Pasadena resident named Minerva Hoyt began voicing her concerns about the unregulated removal of cacti and other desert plants to be used in home gardens throughout Los Angeles.
In a relatively short time, her conservation efforts resulted in the formation of the Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936. The original protected area encompassed roughly 825,000 acres but was reduced by about 265,000 acres in 1950 when the Park Service excluded certain mining parcels in the eastern part of the park.
On Halloween in 1994, the Desert Protection Bill passed and Joshua Tree was elevated to national park status. The bill also added back approximately 234,000 acres of what had been lost in the 50s.
Plan your next trip to the national parks in an RV. Rent an RV, trade-In your RV, or buy a new or used RV and start traveling for less than $5 a day.
Have you been to Joshua Tree National Park? Share your tips and advice in the comments below.

Species: cat DSH Age: 8yrs 7months Sex/Neuter status: M, neutered Body weight: 5.2kg History: preciously has had spots, otherwise healthy whole life Your general location: UK Links to test results, vet reports, Xrays etc: haven't got them, vets closed for the day.
Honestly, vets are stumped, he is getting worse and I have no answers so why not let Reddit have a crack.
He has been a healthy boy his whole life, brief amount of spots a few years ago, vets put it down to hay fever. They were tested and sent off to bio lab. This does not seem related but anything is possible.
He also went missing for a month in October last year, came back fine, underweight but fine. Has put weight back on and is healthy.
One last thing, and this is important, my boy became an outdoor cat 2 years ago. Since then he has gone from loving his litter trays to loving going in someone's garden. He does not touch his litter trays unless we keep him in for things like bonfire night. Even at that point he will hold on till desperate and finally give in.
Here is a timeline of events:
6/5 - has his breakfast and has usual morning stroll around the neighborhood. Comes home within an hour (early for him) and will not use catflap. Comes limping through door and starts using his litter trays. Will not go outside. Poo and pee done.
7/5 - limp has gotten worse. Cannot jump up even half a metre. Will pull with front legs so seems to be a back leg issue. Vet recommends an x-ray, cannot feel anything and cat does not seem agitated anywhere when being touched. Poo and wee done.
8/5 - taken in for x-ray. While under vet checks limbs are still working. All seems fine. No breakages. No issues with joints. Comments that there quite a bit of poo in stomach, however does not believe he has a blockage. Reccomends laxitive if he does not go regularly. Vet believes he may have a muscle tear, therefore rest up, come back in if he does not imporve. Has wee, no poo.
10/5 - has first poo since 7/5, is large, soft, pretty good. But since has started limping alot more. Laying around alot more. We believe this is due to muscle tear, think nothing of this.
11-12/5 - cat starts looking at floor while walking. A good chin tickle and he will look up. Will look up for treats.
13/5 - vet prescribes laxative as he hasn't gone since 10/5. Cat has not had laxative yet, has dinner , walks out from dinner and is not only limping/stumbling but is consistently looking at the ground. Vet brings in immediately, bloods, stool and wee sample done at vets (what timing). Vet checks stool, is soft and seems normal so confirms again does not believe blockage is the issue. Asks to bring back in the morning.
14/5 (today) - spends all day in the vets with another blood test and blood pressure monitoring. EVERYTHING on paper is normal. He is the fit of health for a normal cat on paper. Vet today also commented they can feel alot of poo in his stomach. He has come hope this evening and cannot lift his head, is struggling to eat due to head position and is stumbling around. He cannot make it up the stairs in 1 go. He is constantly sleeping. He has tried to go to the toilet this evening for a poo however struggled to keep his bum off the litter, with our help holding him up a little pushed out the smallest poo. He was huffing, and making small strain noises the whole time. Immediately went to lie down.
Throughout all of this he is eating and drinking, his appetite has not been effected.
He can barely get around at this point. Our usual vet did not see him today, the vet that saw him today was stumped, they have never seen anything like it. They did phone our usual vet on his day off to see what to recommend but they are stumped. They are going to talk more tomorrow and phone me. They did give me a list of a bunch of things we can trail and test however we agreed we are running out of time and nothing seems like an anwser.
If anyone has any idea, ANYTHING, please let me know. I don't want to lose my baby, he is slowly becoming a prisoner in his own body and idk how to help.

"Himiko?" Kokichi knocked on the door to Himiko and Tenko's room later that night. Himiko had taken a long nap after such a disappointing day. But, before she fell asleep, she reflected deeply on what Kokichi had told her. She had to admit that he was right, that she needed to a better attitude about herself. But, how to do that, she didn't know. She suddenly remembered his words: You should be smart, confident, and capable of doing things your way. Her way? What was her way, exactly?
"Himiko?" Kokichi whispered a little louder. Himiko opened her eyes, hearing Kokichi calling out to her. She scrambled out of bed and went over to answer the door. Kokichi smiled at her with his usual cheeky grin. "Hey, sleepyhead! Are you still planning on selling cookies?" Himiko took a deep breath and nodded. Kokichi had given her some courage to actually try things and take chances, to try and overcome self-doubt.
"Yeah. I'm ready," she said. There was still a part of her that didn't want to, but she forced that part of her into silence. She lifted her chin and smiled at him. "I'm ready, Kokichi." Kokichi smiled back at her.
"Alright, Monkey Buns!" he cheered, giving her a high five and then a hug. "Same place?"
"Alright," Himiko nodded. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. She remembered what Kokichi had told her earlier about being smart and confident her way. "But, on the way over there, can we stop by my, um..." She paused to whisper. "...secret lair? "
"Ooooh?" Kokichi murmured with a curious smile. "Yeah, we can stop by." Himiko nodded and retreated back into her room to grab the two tin bowls of cookies she had baked with Three and Ten.
"Nyeh...okay, I'm ready," Himiko said. Kokichi took her hand in his, and the two crept downstairs. Some of the others were still in the dining room eating dinner, so Kokichi and Himiko had to leave through the front door to get to Himiko's secret magic room under the gazebo. Kokichi stood outside to keep watch while Himiko went inside her magic room. Once inside, she went for her magical dream powder bottle and poured some of its purple, sparkly contents into a small vial, hiding it in one of her jacket's pockets. Then, she met back up with Kokichi.
"Now I'm ready," she said.
"Okie-dokie!" Kokichi replied, taking the tin bowls from Himiko to hold them for her. "Let's go, HimikoCocoa Bean!" They then hurried over to D.I.C.E. headquarters.
"Boss!" Four said, jumping up from the couch. "And Boss Lady!"
"Hey, Ichiro," Kokichi and Himiko replied.
"Wanna hear a song that I heard on the radio?" Four asked. He cleared his throat, and began singing without waiting for a response. "If you like piña coladaaaaas, and getting caught in the rai-"
"Okay, Ichiro, that's enough," Kokichi interrupted, wincing from Four's terrible voice.
"Urgh...thank you!" Five exclaimed as she wrapped Kokichi's cape around him. After Three placed Kokichi's hat on his head, she turned to Himiko.
"So, Himiko, did you sell a lot of cookies?" she asked eagerly. Himiko gave her an apologetic look and shook her head. Three's shoulders slumped.
"Oh..." she said softly.
"What? Why?" Ten asked. "Did they not like them? Because I put all my blood, sweat, and tears into those things! Er...well, not literally...duh."
"Yeah, I hope not!" Two exclaimed, sticking his tongue out in disgust. "I bet there are people in this world who actually do stuff like that!"
"Nee-heehee...I know a very horny someone who'd do something like that," Kokichi said.
"The tin bowls are still so full!" Three said, her voice dripping with disappointment.
"It's not really the cookies that people didn't like, Keiko," Himiko said. "It was because of me."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Nine asked.
"Well, I'm not really popular at school to begin with," Himiko said. "But, I wasn't really trying my best to sell them because I didn't think I could."
"Ouch," Six muttered.
"Oh, well...still!" Three huffed. "They could have at least tried your cookies, anyways! Those...those...clowns! " Then she turned to nobody in particular. "No offense, me," she mumbled to herself before turning back to Himiko.
"Hey, no offense to the rest of us, either!" Four said.
"Should we take offense?" Nine asked. "It's not like we're actual professional clow-"
"We get it, Hideyo!" everyone but Himiko interrupted simultaneously.
"Nyeh, well...anyways, thanks to Kokichi, I've decided to try again," Himiko said, giving Kokichi a shy smile.
"Aww, HimiCocoa Bean, you're making me blush!" Kokichi teased, wrapping his arm around her waist. "But, I only get half the credit. You should give yourself credit, too!"
"And you should give us those cookies," Four said, pointing to the tin bowls in Kokichi's hand.
"Himiko, are you still going to sell these?" Kokichi asked. Himiko thought for a moment. She remembered what Tsumugi said about chocolate chip cookies being plain and boring.
"No," she finally answered. "Actually, I've decided to go with Ten's plan from earlier."
"Right! Um...wait, what plan was that again?" Ten asked.
"The plan to make the snickerdoodles," Himiko said.
"Oh, yeah!" Ten remembered, a grin crossing his face.
"But, I wanna add a secret ingredient of mine," Himiko said.
"I hope it's not blood, sweat, and tears," Two said, shuddering.
"Why not?" Seven asked with a creepy smile. "Don't you like that salty, metallic flavor in your cookies?"
"Ew! Yuck! Kokichi, make her stop!" Five said, covering her ears.
"Tsukiko, don't make me tell Emi to get Mr. Sparkles," Kokichi warned. Seven hid under a blanket.
"No, please. Anything but that accursed pink and plushy unicorn!" she hissed. Five grinned smugly at her.
"Can we help you bake again, Himiko?" Three asked hopefully.
"Nyeh...of course!" Himiko answered.

"Neat-o! Let's get started!" Ten said, rubbing his hands enthusiastically. Kokichi nodded to Himiko encouragingly, and she followed Three and Ten to the kitchen. They soon got started on the batter. Himiko removed the vial of dream powder from her pocket.
"Oooo! What is that stuff?" Three asked, entranced by the purple, glittery powder.
"Hopefully the thing that'll win over any potential customers," Himiko answered before pouring the powder into the mixture. She mixed the batter until it became a shiny, glittering harmony of many colors.
"Holy Constantinople-y!" Ten exclaimed. "What the heck kind of secret ingredient is that?!"
"The batter looks so...pretty!" Three breathed in awe. "It's so...shiny and sparkly!" Then, she lowered her voice. "Is this...some of your magic, Himiko?"
"Nyeh...that's right," Himiko nodded.
"I know this is might sound like a dumb question, but...are you allowed to do that?" Ten asked.
"Nobody at school knows about my magic except for Kokichi," Himiko said. "So, technically, it's not not allowed. And besides, Kokichi said that I need to be smart and confident my way. And magic is my way of doing just that."
Part Eight
Sunday afternoon. Himiko took a deep breath, deeply breathing in the warm air as a gentle breeze flowed around her. Today, she felt lucky. She stood behind her table at the front of the school. Above her was a more colorful, glittery sign she and Three had worked on with the word, "Snoozydoodles," written in swirly letters. Hopefully it would be enough to bring in some customers. Her snickerdoodles were laid out on three large trays in front of her so that the other students could see their colorful and sparkly design.
"Hiya, Himiko!" came a cheerful voice. Himiko looked up and was surprised to see Three.
"Keiko?" she whispered. "Nyeh...what are you doing here?"
"I decided to come and cheer you on...and to make sure the turd buckets here buy your cookies," Three replied. "I put some love and special care into those cookies, and I didn't bust my tail just to have nobody buy them!"
"Nyeh...but...Ten and I worked on them, too," Himiko pointed out. "And I put my 'special ingredient' in them."
"I know," Three said. "But, I feel like if I worked hard on something, either by myself or in a group, I'd like for the world to see it, that's all."
"I understand," Himiko said with a small smile. "Wait...this is supposed to be a competition between me and Kokichi! I don't think he'd appreciate you helping me out, especially since I should be doing this myself."
"Well, I'll just be here for emotional support, then!" Three said. Himiko smiled gratefully and nodded.
"I guess that's okay," she said. " Thanks, Keiko. I like your outfit, by the way." Three scanned her outfit proudly. Instead of her D.I.C.E. uniform, she wore an oversized, cream-colored fluffy sweater over a short, pink ruffled skirt. She wore a pair of white tights with some loose pink socks and a pair of black and white checkered lolita shoes with pink straps. In her hair were pink bows over each pigtail.
"Eeee! Thank you!" she squealed happily. "It's not very often I get to go out in cutesy clothes like this, unless I'm undercover! Well...I guess you might say I'm going undercover right now, but...eh, whatever."
"Speaking of which, why are your shoes checkered?" Himiko asked. "Won't that give you away? Part of the reason why people know your organization is because of the checker pattern scarves...which makes me wonder how people haven't suspected Kokichi being part of...you-know-what."
"Heehee...I call that the 'Sailor Moon Effect,'" Three giggled. "But, anyway, when members of the organization are wearing casual clothes, we have to wear some article of clothing with a black and white checkered pattern to let other members know our affiliation. The beauty of it is that there are people not affiliated with us who wear checker patterned clothing, so it gives us a chance to blend in as if we're just regular people. That's why we have a codeword to tell the difference between members and the 'reggies.'"

"What's the codeword?" Himiko asked. Three leaned in closer to Himiko.

"'Funny business,' " she whispered.
"Nyeh...that's actually really cool," Himiko admitted with a smile.
"Yeah! You should really join, Himiko!" Three said. "I think you'll have lots of fun!"
"Fun with what?" asked Tenko, suddenly appearing with Angie and Tsumugi behind her. She had a frown on her face and marched right up to Three. "Himiko, who's this girl, and what's she trying to get you to join? WAIT!! Is this girl the friend you were talking about?! The one who helped you bake cookies yesterday?!"
"Yeah," Himiko nodded.
"Hey! I recognize you!" Angie said. "You're one of the girls who rescued Himiko from that crazy girl many months ago!" Three brightened.
"Yeah! That's me!" she said.
"Tuh...I could have rescued Himiko, you know," Tenko huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at Three.
"Well...why didn't you?" Three asked.
"Urgh...!" Tenko scoffed. "Who do you think you are?!"
"I'm Michika!" Three lied, using one of her aliases. "I'm here to support Himiko with her cookie sale!"
"She doesn't need your support," Tenko said, stepping in between Three and Himiko. "Himiko already has me! Right, Himiko?"
"Umm..." Himiko mumbled.
"Of course you do!" Tenko interrupted.
"But...you didn't even let her finish," Three said.
"I didn't have to," Tenko said. "I already knew what she was thinking because we're best friends."
"Well...then...if you're her best friend, why dont'cha buy a cookie?" Three suggested craftily.
"Hmph! I will!" Tenko scoffed and turned to Himiko. "How much for a cookie, Himiko?"
"Nyeh...same as before," Himiko answered. Tenko paid ¥500 and grabbed a shimmery, glittering light green snickerdoodle from one of the trays. "Ooo, these are pretty, Himiko! Did you bake them all by yourself?"
"No, um...Michika helped me again," Himiko answered. Tenko glared at Three and flipped her hair at her.
"Well...they're okay, then," she said haughtily. "But, they're extra special because you helped, Himiko!"
"What are these cookies called, Himiko?" Tsumugi asked, scrutinizing a glittering blue cookie.
"Nyeh...they're called 'Snoozydoodles,'" Himiko answered. "They're snickerdoodles, but a special kind of snickerdoodles."
"Oooo! Why are they called 'Snoozydoodles?'" asked Angie.
"You have to eat them right before going to sleep to find out," Himiko answered mysteriously. Tenko hovered her cookie in front of her mouth.
"Oh! So, I have to eat this right before bed?" she asked.
"That's right," Himiko nodded.
"Aw, that's so creative, Himiko!" Tenko cried in adoration. "You're really clever, too! I bet you thought of the name!" Three rolled her eyes in annoyance. Himiko provided a little baggy for Tenko to put her cookie in, and provided some for Angie and Tsumugi, as well, after they had paid for their cookies.
"Thank you, Himiko," Tsumugi said.

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Himiko!" Angie chirped.
"Well...I guess we'd better try out the other cookies," Tsumugi said. "Everyone else said they'd have different flavors of cookies, too. Although, I don't think I'll try Kokichi's after what happened yesterday. I can plainly still feel the burn on my tongue."
"Hmm...I thought his cookies were divine!" Angie exclaimed. "I have never felt such an intense rush of heat before! Especially in a cookie!"
"Leave it up to a degenerate male to bake something so...horrible! " Tenko spat. Three raised a brow at her.
"Degenerate male?" she repeated. She didn't like hearing her boss being referred to that way.
"Yeah! Males are all scum of the Earth!" Tenko said. "Kind of like...best friend stealers."
"I wasn't trying to steal your best friend," Three said, fed up with Tenko.

"Huh...why did you assume I was talking about you? " Tenko asked. "You know what happens to people who assume things, don't you?"

"They end up knocking all 32 teeth out of the person accusing them of assuming things?" Three replied, trying to keep her cool.
"And you're violent!" Tenko shouted. "You're clearly a bad influence on Himiko!" Three stared at her in disbelief, creating an awkward silence to linger in the air.
"Well, um...I guess we should be going then," Tsumugi said, hurriedly yanking Angie away. "C'mon, Angie. Tenko? Are you coming?"

"No. I think I'll stay right here and help Himiko, since she clearly needs my support," Tenko said, glowering at Three.
"Tenko..." Himiko sighed in exasperation, but Three merely smiled sweetly at Tenko.
"Oh, my gosh! Where'd you get your outfit?" she asked. Tenko looked down quizzically at her outfit.
"W-Why...do you want to know?" she replied with suspicion.
"It's just so pretty!" Three replied. "Are you, like, the Ultimate Princess, or the Ultimate Cheerleader, or something?"
"Um...n-no...I'm the Ultimate Aikido Master," Tenko stammered as a small blush appeared on her face.
"Oh, wow! That's even better!" Three exclaimed. "I bet you give those...degenerate males...what they deserve all the time!" The hardened look on Tenko's face from before disappeared.
"You bet I do!" she said proudly.
"Oh...I wish I could be like you!" Three breathed. "You're, like, my hero! I bet you're a hero to girls everywhere!" Tenko lowered her head bashfully, blushing like crazy.
"N-No...I'm not all that...great," she sputtered.
"I bet you'd do anything for girls, huh?" Three asked.
"Oh, yes!" Tenko answered. "So long as you aren't a degenerate male, you're a friend of mine!"
Says the girl who just accused me of stealing her best friend, Three thought to herself. "Hooray! I'm happy to hear that! But...to tell you the truth, I can't believe you just ditched your other friends. They were girls, after all, and you just let them walk right into the school where they could be potential prey for those boys-er...I mean, degenerate males." Tenko gasped with realization.
"Oh, my gosh! You're so right!" she cried. "But...what about Himiko?"
"I'll look after her," Three said. "You trust me, right? I am a girl after all."
"Ohhh...well, okay," Tenko said. Then, she smiled. "I'll trust you, Michika! Take care of Himiko!"
"Oh, I will!" Three said. "Bye! Goodbye!" Tenko waved goodbye, leaving Himiko and Three alone. Three exhaled. "Finally, she's gone!" Himiko stared at her in amazement.
"Nyeh...that was incredible!" she cried. Three shrugged modestly.
"Yeah, I guess I picked up a little bit of manipulation skills from the boss," she said. "He's way better at it than I am, though! That girl was so annoying, by the way! Is she seriously your best friend?!"
"Well, yeah, I guess," Himiko answered. "She wants to support and protect me all the time."
"Sounds more like she wants to breastfeed you, or wipe your butt after you poop," Three said in disgust. She and Himiko shuddered at the thought. "Well, anyways, now that 'Tin Cup' is gone, let's put you on the cookie map!"
"Right!" Himiko said, and gave Three a high five.

A new Camp and Chill Event starts today!
This 2 day event will run from Tuesday, May 14 until 19:00 GMT Thursday, May 16, and is open to all players with version 11.3.0 or above, a minimum of 250 dragon power, and a stable and reliable internet connection.
Points are earned by tapping items, opening chests, and other simple tasks completed in Camp. The Event Capsule Store appears after earning 500 points; free Bronze Capsules containing Event Points can be collected every 3 hours after that.
Please keep questions and strategy discussions about the event in this thread while it is live; good luck and happy merging!
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Event Notes

• So far, all seems normal

Elsewhere in the Game

• Some issues affecting gameplay have been reported with version 11.4.0; that release has been paused while the programmers sort out a fix. (Link)
• As of May 1, Game Management will no longer give advance notice of Shiny Days mini-events. Odds are we’ll still get one every week or every other week, with the most frequent dates being the gap days between bigger events — so Mondays or Thursdays are most likely for now, at the usual 19:00 GMT start time.
• A new mini-event called “Race Event” is out for beta-testing to a small number of players; it’s described as a player-vs-player competition. (Link 1, Link 2)
• Popular Links:
  • Dens List
  • Friend Tag Exchange
  • 2024 Event Schedule

 

EVENT PRIZES

1. Sprouting Dragon Tree, lvl 2 - requires earning 70 points
2. Prism Flower Buds, lvl 2 - 1,290p
3. Blue Belly Shrooms, lvl 5 - 1,840p
4. Daily Chest (Super Egg Fragment) - 3,190p
5. Watering Hole, lvl 5 - 4,790p
6. Aged Glowing Dragon Tree, lvl 4 - 6,420p
7. Nice Zen Temple, lvl 3 - 7,990p
8. Golden Sapling, lvl 2 - 9,610p
9. Wood (A) Dragon Kid, lvl 2 - 11,210p
10. Jester (AS) Dragon Kid, lvl 2 - 13,590p

Total to collect all prizes: 60,000 points
 

STRATEGY TIPS

This is the only type of event where point producing items can be stockpiled ahead of time; for info and links to guides on bubbling as a storage option, please visit the Community FAQ.
The following are the most efficient or most frequently recommended ways to earn points:

• Tier 2 Nests of most breeds yield 900 points per tap, for a total of 3,600 to 6,300 points per nest.
• High level Goal Stars are an excellent source of points; the exact number of taps available varies by level and random chance.
  • L6 Star- 1056, L5 Star- 330, L4 Star- 99
• Level 2 Materials Chests offer unlimited quick and easy points; stockpiling stone bricks gives more flexibility than buying specific chests ahead of time:
  • Spectral Chest- 1305, Summoned Chest- 820, Chest of Beasts- 300, Solid Gold Chest- 80, Phobos Chest- 40
• Higher level free chests all yield well:
  • Treasure: L7- 1690, L6- 530, L5- 165
  • Grimm: L4- 792, L3- 240, L2- 72
  • Season: L4- 330, L3- 100
  • Bountiful (Level) Chests- 150
  • Kala’s Rucksacks- 250
• High level Life Trees can be harvested for quick points:
  • Life Orbs: L9- 1560, L8- 500, L7- 160
• These chains recharge fast and give unlimited taps; note that multiple mid-level items may earn more than one or two higher-level items.
  • Fruit Trees: L10 Watermelon- 34, L9 Pineapple- 30, L8 Dragon Fruit- 26, L7 Pear- 23
  • Prism Flowers: L7- 42, L6- 36, L5- 29, L4- 23
  • Midas Trees: L11- 145, L10- 135, L9- 125, L8- 115, L7- 105, L6- 95, L5- 85, L4- 75, L3- 65, L2- 55
  • Bushes: L5- 35, L4- 25, L3- 15
  • Graves: L8- 75, L7- 65, L6- 55, L5- 45, L4- 35
  • Fountains: L6- 136, L5- 105, L4- 75, L3- 45

 

ITEM POINTS

(Tap the name of the chain to go to its wiki page)
Alien Obelisks (Requires cash purchase)

• Alien Obelisk - 45
• Radioactive Alien Obelisk - 135
• Pulsing Alien Obelisk - 450
• Galactic Alien Megalith - 1485

 
Bushes

• Tiny Cabin - 10
• L1 Shrub Sprout - 1
• L2 Budding Shrub - 5
• L3 Nice Shrub - 15
• L4 Flowering Shrub - 25
• L5 Gorgeous Shrub - 35

 
Fruit Trees

• L4 Grape Tree - 10
• L5 Raspberry Tree - 14
• L6 Banana Tree - 18
• L7 Pear Tree - 23
• L8 Dragon Fruit Tree - 26
• L9 Pineapple Tree - 30
• L10 Watermelon Tree - 34

 
Goal Stars and Dragon Stars (points per tap)

• L1 Star - 3 (2-3 taps)
• L2 Star - 9 (2-3 taps)
• L3 Star - 30 (3-4 taps)
• L4 Star - 99 (3-4 taps)
• L5 Star - 330 (3-4 taps)
• L6 Star - 1056 (6-7 taps)
• L1 Dragon Star - 30 (2-4 taps)
• L2 Magnificent Dragon - 90 (7-11 taps)

 
Graves

• L4 Doom Cross - 35
• L5 Fiend’s Resting Place - 45
• L6 Tomb of the Innocent - 55
• L7 Tomb of the Forgiven - 65
• L8 Tomb of the Righteous - 75

 
Life Orbs (single tap)

• L0 Life Essence - 1
• L1 Tiny Life Orb - 1
• L2 Small Life Orb - 2
• L3 Life Orb - 3
• L4 Furious Life Orb - 5
• L5 Wondrous Life Orb - 15
• L6 Great Life Orb - 50
• L7 Giant Life Orb - 160
• L8 Life Orb of Souls - 500
• L9 The Life Orb of Heavens - 1560

 
Midas Trees

• L2 Golden Sapling - 55
• L3 Golden Tree - 65
• L4 Midas Tree - 75
• L5 Glowing Midas Tree - 85
• L6 The Orb Holder - 95
• L7 The Crystal Catcher - 105
• L8 The Moon Bearer - 115
• L9 The Star Mother - 125
• L10 Greater Midas Tree - 135
• L11 Divine Midas Tree - 145

 
MonsteMythical Idols (single tap)

• L1 Kattryx - 3
• L2 Guardian Sphinx - 9
• L3 Young Cerberus - 30
• L4 Noble Gryphon - 99
• L5 Mythical Ogopogo - 330
• L1 Gromblin - 5
• L2 Capricorn - 15
• L3 Dragon Idol - 50
• L4 Rising Phoenix - 165
• L5 Mythical Pegasus - 550

 
Mystic Topiaries (single use only, number of taps depends on level)

• L1 Bunny - 10 (1x tap)
• L2 Bear - 90 (1x tap)
• L3 Rex - 150 (2x taps)
• L4 Swan - 250 (3x taps)
• L5 Seahorse - 550 (5x taps)
• L6 Dolphin - 880 (10x taps)

 
Nests/Eggs

• Tier 1 nest - 20 per tap, 60 to 140 total
• Tier 2 nest - 900 per tap, 3,600 to 6,300 total (except for Star Dragons)
• Mystery Egg Nests - 10 per tap, 40 to 70 total
• Supernest - 20 per tap
• Meganest - 20 per tap
• Ultranest - 20 per tap
• Shimmering Ultranest - 20 per tap
• Activated Super Eggs - 600 (30 per dragon)

 
Prism Flowers

• L1 Sprouting Prism Flower - 3
• L2 Prism Flower Buds - 10
• L3 Opening Prism Flowers - 16
• L4 Prism Flowers - 23
• L5 Blossoming Prism Flowers - 29
• L6 Gorgeous Prism Flowers - 36
• L7 Brilliant Prism Flowers - 42
• L8 Spectral Prism Flowers - 49
• L9 Glowing Prism Flowers - 55

 
ShimmeSecret Fountains (per tap)

• L1 Fountain of Legend - 3
• L2 Ancient Spring - 15
• L3 Shimmering Spring - 45
• L4 Fountain of Faith - 75
• L5 Fountain of Rebirth - 105
• L6 Heroic Dragon Spa - 135
• L1 Secret Lifespring - 30
• L2 Spectral Lifespring - 150

 
Coin Vaults and Stone Yards

• L1 Tattered - 1
• L2 Basic - 5
• L3 Nice - 15
• L4 Great - 25
• L5 Opulent - 35
• L6 Mythical - 45
• L7 Gigantic - 55
• L8 Bottomless - 65

 
Chests (single tap only)

• Treasure Chests
  • L1 Ordinary Chest - 2
  • L2 Nice Chest - 5
  • L3 Chained Chest - 15
  • L4 Sunken Chest - 50
  • L5 Noble Chest - 165
  • L6 Glowing Chest - 530
  • L7 Giant Treasure Chest - 1690
• Grimm Chests
  • L1 Grimm Chest - 24
  • L2 Grimm Chest of Decay - 72
  • L3 Grimm Chest of Despair - 240
  • L4 Grimm Chest of Suffering - 792
• Season Chests
  • L1 Little Seasons chest - 10
  • L2 Big Seasons chest - 30
  • L3 Great Seasons chest - 100
  • L4 Magnificent Seasons chest - 330
• Materials Chests
  • Moon/Phobos Chests - 10/40
  • Golden/Solid Gold Chests - 25/80
  • Dangerous Chest/Chest of Beasts - 100/300
  • Occult/Summoned Chest - 270/820
  • Pearlescent/Spectral Chest - 435/1305
• Dragon Chests Note: Points depend on chest contents
  • Egg Chests - 30 to 80
  • Radiant Egg Chests - 80 to 120
  • Nest Vault - 150 to 200
  • Huge Nest Vault - 400 to 500
• Super Nest Vault - 500
• Mega Nest Vault - 2500
• Ultra Nest Vault - 5000 (limited availability)
• Kala’s Rucksacks - 250
• Daily Chest (Super Egg Fragment) - 150
• Bountiful (aka Level or Timed) Chests - 150
• Chest of Stones - 10
• Chest of Nightstones - 50

 
Camp and Chill Event Items

• Capsules - 0
• Pile of Camp Event Points - 5
• Great Rucksack of Event Points - 10 per tap, 20+ total
• Wondrous Chest of Event Points - 25 per tap, 125+ total
• Mythical Coffer of Event Points - 50 per tap, 450+ total

 
Miscellaneous Items

• Life Flower Seeds - 3
• Rain Clouds - 5
• Cloudy Summit - 11
• Misty Mountain - 35
• Ancient Dragon Skull - 5
• Unearthed Skeleton (aka Bone Pile) - 5
• Most Wonders - 100 per tap, totals vary
• Legendary Glowing Tree - 1087 per tap
• Shangri-La - 200
• The Last Relic Artefact - 330
• Mystic Lantern - 35 per tap, 105 total
• Totems (all) - 20 per tap
• Pile of Riches - 3 per tap
• Mound of Rich Stuff - 15 per tap
• Heap of Glimmering Riches - 45 per tap
• Mountain of Wild Riches - 75 per tap
• Evil Fog - 20 per section unlocked
• Dimensional Jars - varies based on the object
• Event Trophies - 25
  • Spawned items also give 25 points (both L1 and L2)
  • Exceptions: Pomegranate, Temple, and the Enormous Lucky Coins do not give points, nor do their tappables

 
Combo Merges Note: this is a partial list — most chains seem to work, with points increasing by item levels and length of chain.

• Coins - 5, 10, 30, 60 (started with L2)
• Life Flowers - 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 (start w/L1)
• Life Flowers - 15, 40 (started w/L5)
• Life Orbs - 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 (Started w/ heart)
• Life Orbs - 5, 20, 45, 80 (started w/ L3)
• Living Stones - 5, 10, 15, 40 (start w/fresh stones)
• Stone bricks - 5, 10, 15, 40, 60 (start w/L1)

 
No Points Given

• Currency (Coins, Stone Bricks, and Gems)
• Loot orbs
• Dimension Jars
• Dragon Homes
• Haunted Houses
• Boutique exclusive chains
• Lobelia Topiaries
• Ornate/Jeweled Statues
• Small Fluffs
• Chocolate Fountain chain
• Dust Bunny Crates
• Weekly Den Chests
• Opulent Chests
• Season Bonus Chests
• Star Chests
• Star Dragon T2 nests
• New items and anything in limited release for beta testing

 

EVENT TROUBLESHOOTING

If the event is not showing up correctly or if glitches are affecting your play:

1. Check that you meet the version and dragon power requirements.
2. Try hard-closing and then relaunching your game.
3. Try rebooting your device (ie, turn it completely off, then back on and allow it to fully boot up before relaunching the game). If you are on wifi and have access to the router, try rebooting that, too.
4. Try switching to a completely different internet source.
5. Try clearing your game’s cache (google for instructions for your specific phone type).
6. If you’re suddenly experiencing multiple issues like lagging or error messages (or if the event vanishes completely), close the game and try again after 2-3 hours. Events are internet-based, and sometimes issues with the servers can cause temporary problems — all we can do for that is to wait it out.
7. If none of the above helps, contact Gram Games Support through the in-game link or the Support Web Portal for help figuring out what’s wrong.

• NOTE: Cloud Save is still unreliable: according to the developer, it is not safe to be used and should be left turned off.
• NOTE: Saving your Progress: Make sure to save your progress by traveling to the World Map screen (and waiting there until everything’s fully loaded) regularly, and especially before closing your game.

 
Edits are ongoing

Hey y’all, I’m not sure if this is an annoying question or not allowed but I was looking for some advice with my fishless cycle. It’s my first time ever attempting this on a 5G tank with plants that I hope to put a betta in. I have been following the guides on Dr. Tim's and Fish Lab for fishless cycles. So basically I was dosing a half amount of ammonia after I started seeing nitrites and whenever ammonia read zero; I was checking the water every day or every few days. Lo and behold, after a week or so ammonia was zero, nitrites were zero and I had nitrates! I was so excited that my cycle was nearing the end. I redosed half of the ammonia and rechecked and levels were good again. Then, according to the online guides it says to dose a full amount of ammonia and recheck within 24hrs; if ammonia and nitrites are zero then the tank is officially cycled. I did this and ammonia is reading ~1ppm and nitrites ~2-4ppm. Did I ruin everything by adding the full dose? Do I just need to wait and retry a full dose again when the levels read zero? I guess I can’t add a fish as soon as I was hoping. Any advice? Is this normal? I assume the bacteria load isn’t able to keep up with such a high ammonia load but how is it supposed to if they say to just dose half the amount? Any and all advice is much appreciated!! Thank you!

Hi everyone!
I found this sub by accident and so glad I did! I'm going to Italy (Puglia region) for a week (May 17-24), followed by 4 days in Berlin to see a friend. I've been watching the weather and it seems quite warm, but I have no idea what the nights are like, and same with Berlin. In Puglia I will be doing a yoga retreat, where we will be doing yoga twice a day (first thing in the morning, then the evening), with our days open to whatever we feel like such as the beach, a hike, visiting local towns etc. We may have 1-2 "fancy" nights at a restaurant. In Berlin, I will mostly be hanging out with my friend, walking around, sitting at cafes etc.
I only want to bring a small backpack and a carry-on, since I will be taking a few lower cost flights and the checked bag fees are high. I have compression bags to shrink my clothes. I tried to stick to a colour palette of 4 (black, white/cream, red, blue), so I can have more things to mix and match. I am also bringing some laundry detergent in case I need to sink wash! Here is what I have:
Tops: (12 total) 1 blue/white striped t-shirt, 1 black t-shirt, 1 white ribbed tank top, 1 navy ribbed tank top, 1 red cotton tank top, 1 off-shoulder black and white "fancy" top, 1 white t-shirt (wear on plane), 1 blue and white striped button-down, 1 white cotton gauze button-down, 1 light blue button down (I figured the button-downs can double as a light evening layer or beach cover-up), 1 red sweater, 1 cream cardigan (wear on plane)
Bottoms: (6 total) 1 pair blue jean shorts, 1 pair black cotton gauze wide leg pants, 1 pair black flowy bermuda shorts, 1 pair cropped wide leg blue jeans, 1 black midi skirt with elasticized waist, 1 pair stretch trousers (for the plane)
Dresses: (2 total) 1 black gingham fit and flare mini dress, 1 cotton eyelet white mini dress
Yoga clothes: 3 pairs black leggings, 1 black bra, 3 black/blue/striped yoga tops, 1 pair black yoga shorts
Shoes: 1 pair black birkenstock leather sandals, 1 pair black patent leather thong sandals, 1 pair white sneakers (will wear on the plane). No heels for me lol.
Others: Underwear, 2 regular nude bras, one nude strapless bra, 1 black/white polka dot one piece bathing suit, 1 black bikini, 1 small quick-dry towel, 1 packable floppy beach hat, 1 canvas tote, 1 small black bum bag/fanny pack
Writing it out it seems like a lot lol!

Hi Everyone!
We recently booked an airbnb after some small back and forth near a beach. The host was very responsive, sent an offer and I booked it. There are 5 of us going, all over 21 but under 25 years old. Right after this, they sent over the rules detailing quiet hours (no problem) and the age requirement being 25 and guests under 25 need to be pre-approved or an additional deposit may be warranted. I responded telling them that we are all over 21 and under 25, happy to send over ID's, and also requested some restaurant rec's in the area.
It had been over 72 hours since we got a response, and our reservation is in under a week. I messaged, called and texted. Finally today I went through airbnb support to try and get help with them responding. Shortly thereafter, the host responded, but only listed restaurant rec's and nothing else regarding the age requirement / if we are all good to go. Is this normal? I sent yet another follow-up asking for a confirmation that everything is good, but still nothing. They seem to be avoiding this question and its confusing me as to why. As our trip is less than a week to stay, I do not want to get booted last minute in what seems like a nonrefundable reservation. Any tips or experiences with something similar? All around a bit confused and uncertain if this means we can just check-in on arrival without problems or if I should be worried? Thank you all in advance!

Hi there everyone. A friend of mine is a teacher of twelve years working for a Local Education Authority in England. He was informed around Easter time that he was being made redundant. Following the Easter break, he had a meeting with the head and was accompanied by a union rep, during which he was informed that a member of staff for the LEA would be in contact to arrange potential suitable alternative work.
Yesterday, my friend received a letter from this person that stated that he must be actively seeking work within teaching otherwise his redundancy payment would be forfeit. Further to this, he has been told that the employee at the LEA can and will demand evidence that he has been looking for work and can also speak to the interviewers that my friend applies to/interviews with.
My friend had previously decided that he does not want to continue teaching and has begun looking for work in other areas, so this was a bit of a blow for him. He is resigned to losing his redundancy payment which is reasonably substantial given his term of service.
He has also been told that, should they provide suitable alternative work for him, he has no right to refuse based on unsuitability.
My gut is telling me that none of this is legal and they are trying to strong arm him into submitting and giving up on the redundancy payment without any challenge. In particular, the notion that he is being forced to find his own suitable alternative work so they can avoid paying redundancy seems especially suspect. So is any of this legal?

In the town of Portswin, Tennessee during the 1970s, there lived the Dorvell twins: Paul and Lara. With their dark brown hair and lovely brown eyes, they acted like they owned the school. They always treated their classmates like they were beneath them. Most kids are afraid to stand up to them because their parents are members of the PTA and they knew what would happen to them if they did.
However, there was only one person in town who wasn't afraid of them. Her name was Sallie Garrett and she was the new kid who just moved with her parents from the big city of Philadelphia in the north. Every day, she always wore a blue dress to school and at home which most kids thought was pretty weird.
She didn't care what they thought, though and when she first met the Dorvell twins, she only bumped into them by accident and that made Paul, the tougher of the twins angry. He told Sallie to apologize at once and she did so, sarcastically of course which only served to make them even more mad.
Once Sallie left, Lara and Paul plotted to make the new girl's life as miserable as possible. And for the next couple of days, they did so by flicking paper balls at her, tripping her in the school cafeteria, and calling her mean names. Sallie just ignored them, not letting their bullying get the best of her.
Finally, the twins had enough and they planned something so bad that it would change everything in their small town forever. One day, as Sallie was walking home from school, she noticed two people following her. She assumed that they were just other kids looking to make friends with her, at first.
But they kept following her and she was getting tired of it. Sallie turned around and she recognized the ones who are following her: Paul and Lara Dorvell. Her eyes widened and she began to sprint into the forest. She ran for miles and miles looking for a place to hide, but the twins were already behind her each of them holding a big rock in their hands.
Lara and Paul bashed her head with the rocks from behind and they continued to do so over and over again until Sallie stopped moving or fighting back. She was dead. Without any remorse, the evil twins buried her body that was wearing the blue dress in the woods, hoping to get away with the sin they have committed.
For a while, no one noticed that Sallie Garrett had vanished. But after a few hours, her folks started to get concerned that she hasn't arrived home for supper. So they began posting missing posters of the girl and even started a search party with the entire Dorvell family joining in to find the girl.
Tired of looking for Sallie, Paul and his sister headed off to another part of the woods to relax before they could continue on their search. Suddenly, they began to hear a voice. The voice sounded familiar as it said, Vengeance. Vengeance.
At first, they brushed it off as just the wind. But as the voice continued to repeat Vengeance, the twins started to feel like they were losing their minds. They covered their ears to block out the sound, but it got louder and louder until it was right behind them.
I'm here.
The Dorvell twins turned around to see Sallie just as she was when she died in her blue dress. But she and the dress were covered in dirt with Sallie herself still with the bleeding wound from her head.
"I-it can't be," Paul stuttered before screaming at her. "You're dead! You're dead!"
But Sallie just laughed and locked eyes with her killer, putting him in a trance. Lara hesitantly walked to her brother, but he smacked her in the head with a rock. The same rock he used to kill Sallie. Lara fell to the ground and tried to crawl away, but he caught up to her and began smashing her with the rock. And then, everything went black.
Once it was done, Sallie snapped the boy out of his hypnosis before smiling sweetly and fading away into the afterlife.
When the townsfolk found Sallie's body, they also found Paul standing over the body of his now dead sister, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. He tried to tell them that it wasn't him and it was Sallie's fault for making him kill his sister in the first place. Yet no one believed him. After all, his shirt and pants were covered in his sister's blood. So he admitted to not only killing Sallie, but also killing his sister.
After that, he was found guilty for the murders. But because of his young age, he was put away in a juvenile detention center before transferring to the county prison a few years later. For the rest of his life, he would often wonder whether it was guilt that drove him to kill his sister. Or maybe it was all in his head and that he was so obsessed with maintaining his status that drove him to commit this deed.
We'll never know, but this tragic incident impacted their small town for years to come and it still does to this day.

We're searching for people with expertise in coding languages.
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Recruitment Process There is no formal interview for this job! No phone calls, no waiting, and no wasting time wondering whether you got the job or not. Instead, you will be guided through a self-paced and automated recruitment process.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Welocalize uses numerous identity checks to ensure that everyone who makes the team is real, qualified, and ready to work.
To avoid any misunderstandings, do not use IP masking programs (such as VPNs).
Project Details
Job Title: Internet Search Coding Expert
Location: Remote/work from home – Note: Even though the position is WFH, you must reside in the country/state that is noted in this description. This will be automatically checked during the hiring process.
Hours: Set your schedule based on the following – Minimum commitment is 10 hours per week. You can choose to work up to 29 hours per week (if project needs allow). - Note: Data volumes can vary from week to week.
Start date: ASAPEmployment Type: W2 Part-Time Employee, payment every 2 weeks
Project Duration: Long-term
To apply: https://jobs.lever.co/welocalize/940d5f1f-5d14-4b93-8640-f29a36a8998a?lever-origin=applied&lever-source%5B%5D=MAK145REDISCE

Hello, just looking for advice on best next step. I have booked a sport class for my son in February, and when the classes started in April the sessions were initially cancelled for the first couple of weeks and then changed to a different location. I have informed the branch manager that I could not attend that new location, and requested a refund. This request as well as my follow-ups by email and WhatsApp messages were ignored (I am confident the contact details were correct since I had received prompt responses from them before that point). I have received a response from the head office admin team quite quickly, but they just forwarded my request to the local branch manager so ultimately it's still been ignored. It's now been over a month.
I have the names and addresses of the company directors based in Company House, would the next be to send them some kind of letter before going to small court claim? Could someone tell what type of letter I should send, and maybe point me out to a template?
The amount is just over a £100 and I could live without it, but it's more for the principle!
Thank you!

An excerpt from the upcoming thesis on the counter theory to the rise of MAGA.
The Radicalization Of Evangelicalism
With Evangelicals intense support and influence over the MAGA movement and far right, my friend put together some research to ask one simple question.
"What if the Evangelicals weren't always like this? What if someone made them loose their way? What if they even once supported things like abortion?"

• Evangelicals were not always on the far right, their people, pastors and community even previously recommended abortion bills. “Financial capability” was even an approved reason, by Gods will, to engage with abortion. Yet one man, Jerry Falwell, a segregationist, would push for modernization and mobilization of the evangelical far right movement. Apparently, he knew better than every pastor in the history of that religion.

Politico Abortion History Right White Evangelical
ASA3 Article by the Christian Medical Society of historical Abortion Stances

• Near 1980 he launched his “Moral majority” group and “I Love America” rallies. He said he felt he saw a serious lacking in general morality in the country and was trying to save it. The Moral Majority was promoted as being pro-life, pro-traditional family, pro-moral, and pro-American. Which are all hallmarks of the Republican party and MAGA today.

Wiki Moral Majority

• Fallwell pushed for conservative politics so much that it led Billy Graham, a widely respected and well-known evangelical preacher, to criticize him for “sermonizing” about political issues that lacked a moral element.

Centerforpolitics On Farwell Sr History “Poisonous” To Republican GOP

• Graham, unlike Falwell, insisted on racial integration and even invited Martin Luther King to preach with him at a revival in New York City.
• However, Fallwell, a televangelist Christian, would make the odd alliance with Weyrich, a Roman Catholic, to help get “religion back into politics” to fight the imaginary enemy of “secular humanism.” Even though Falwell’s father was an atheist and from a line of criminals and drunks.

Cnn Opinion Weyrich Catholics Protestants

• Beyond intense homophobic, racist and misogynistic comments, Falwell preached, “The idea religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to prevent Christians from running their own country.” For your review, I’ve attached some “Devil Worshipers.”

Vanityfair Inside Jerry Falwell Jr Unlikely Rise And Precipitous Fall
Standford LawSchool Founding Fathers Separation Of Church And State

• In the 1990s that imaginary attack on religion of “separation of church and state” was called “political correctness.” With Bill O’Reilly even claiming that Christmas was ‘under siege’ in 2004 by “secular progressives.”
• h. In the mid-1990s Falwell also promoted the Clinton Chronicles, a right wing propaganda video that accused the Clinton’s of excessive crimes all the way up to murder.
• The ‘Falwells’ founded Liberty University and became puritan punishers and fined and ruined peoples academic lives for failing to live up to their “elite moral standards.” Few people understand how much harm academic death can cause someone and how likely suicide can become. Some of these sins included merely being in the same room as the opposite sex or drinking. Contrasted by the Falwell’s criminal family history and Jr’s claim his father had consistently openly drank and partied with friends before marriage. His father even apparently broke up a marriage to later claim his wife, Macel. His main tactic was incepting love letters, which was a federal crime for each instance.
• Jerry Jr would also reveal, “He became a different person to build a church and a school.”
• In 1988 the Falwells nearly lost everything due to Sr’s financial mismanagement to the tune of millions of dollars. While it’s claimed that his son helped reorganize things, restructure debts and find new funding sources, there doesn’t appear to be any articles on where those funding sources came from.

Vanityfair Inside Jerry Falwell Jr Unlikely Rise And Precipitous Fall

• On 9/11 Fallwell Sr even said, “"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'
• While other evangelicals said it was impossible to know which punishments god gave for which sins. Fallwell would later claim those words were taken “out of context.” That’s funny when it seemed like he was specifically talking to them in that moment.

Huffpost Jerry Falwell 911 Remarks
TheGuardian On Farwells 9/11 Claim

• It would be ironic that his son, after years of advocating for purity and monogamy, would himself engage in a messy seven-year affair that shocked the evangelical community. This scandal, along with other minor scandals and financial misconduct involving tax-free financial benefits to friends from the university, starkly contrasted with the values he publicly demanded. Although the affair appeared to be consensual among the involved parties, it was overshadowed by other, less publicized but more concerning alleged crimes. Additionally, despite his minimal evangelical conviction, he was thrust into an intense spotlight that would ultimately contribute to his downfall.

NPR An Affair That Felled Evangelist Jerry Falwell Jr S Career
Politico Jerry Falwell Liberty University Loans

• It's ironic that Jerry Jr., who initially had no prior relationship with Donald Trump, would become the first evangelical leader to endorse him in 2016. This endorsement came just two months after the death of his evangelical brother, raising some suspicion to his sudden ‘change of heart.’ Reports suggest that the endorsement was part of a quid pro quo with Michael Cohen to conceal an affair casting an additional shadow over evangelicals.
• However, there was a silver lining when 2,000 members of Liberty University, where Jerry Jr. was a leading figure, signed a petition for his removal, showing a commitment to integrity within the university community.
• Add to all that, concerning comments like tweeting he would only wear a mask that had “Governor Blackface” on it, in the wake of George Floyd. Although this was arguably during his “self-destruct” phase.

Politico Jerry Falwell Trump Liberty University

• Then, upon reflection, he insisted his fall was due to endorsing Donald Trump, and not his own sins.

People How Jerry Falwell Jr Is Connected To Donald Trump
In Summary:
Jerry Falwell Sr.'s commitment to a strict evangelical approach was deeply influenced by his desire to reshape the moral landscape and possibly counteract the less savory aspects of his family's history. His vision radicalized evangelicalism, aligning it closely with far-right politics, a transformation that had lasting impacts on American political and religious culture.
Jerry Falwell Jr., however, doesn't appear to have had any widely recognized issues with racism or segregation prior to 2020, which marks a stark contrast with the controversies that exploded around him later. His leadership at Liberty University seemed to embody the ultra-conservative values his father espoused, but his personal scandals, particularly the affair with the pool boy, starkly contradicted the public persona he projected. This scandal was particularly poignant given his father's harsh stance against similar moral failings in others, highlighting a deep hypocrisy that often went unremarked in less prominent families.
The ominous saga of the Falwell’s underscores the complex dynamics within evangelical circles, where there has been a tension between public morality and private behavior. It suggests a need for a reevaluation of how evangelical leaders engage with politics and society, advocating for a return to core values that emphasize personal integrity and humility over public condemnation of others' imperfections.
This also raises broader questions about the path forward for evangelical communities. There might be merit in considering a separation of church and state interests as it’s founders supported. Such changes could potentially help the evangelical movement find a more sustainable and less divisive role in modern society, avoiding the pitfalls that ensnared the Falwells.
As a refresher, here’s some Jesus:

Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

And for those who follow the path of the fallen after learning of this, you’re not following the path of God, you’re following the path of the fallen angel.

u/neodestiny

Hi, Thank you for anyone reading and trying to help with this. I am writing this as I don't know what next steps are.
I have been recently hired for a finance position in one of the reputed company. The company has contracted Sterlingcheck for the background check verification. I have not lied at all on my resume, and I have people who can back me up for the same. The problem is, the Sterlingcheck notified my previous US employer but they are not properly contacting the previous employers who are international (India). One of the previous emplyer told me that Sterlingcheck straight away sent "unable to locate your email" on their company email! I am not sure what else I can (or could have) provided more than the company email. (I have already provided them with the experience letters as given by my past employers at the time of resignation)
Also, another past employer uses gmail.com domain email address which isn't very professional but they are a small company and hence they didn't want to spend money on getting a domain name for their email at the time (this was 6-7 years ago).
All the past employers have given me experience letter (or equivalent) for my time over there and I have left all the jobs without any liabilities and on good terms with all of them.
My question is, if Sterlingcheck doesn't do the employement check as intended for overseas employers, are my chances slim on getting this job? Is there any way I can explain this to the HR at the new company and find out more information on the same?
I really appreciate your time for the same.
TLDR - Past employement verification by the third party background checker for overseas employers is probably not getting done correctly and wanted to know if I can explain the situation to my future employer HR.

Hi, Thank you for anyone reading and trying to help with this. I am writing this as I don't know what next steps are.
I have been recently hired for a finance position in one of the reputed company. The company has contracted Sterlingcheck for the background check verification. I have not lied at all on my resume, and I have people who can back me up for the same. The problem is, the Sterlingcheck notified my previous US employer but they are not properly contacting the previous employers who are international (India). One of the previous emplyer told me that Sterlingcheck straight away sent "unable to locate your email" on their company email! I am not sure what else I can (or could have) provided more than the company email. (I have already provided them with the experience letters as given by my past employers at the time of resignation) Also, another past employer uses gmail.com domain email address which isn't very professional but they are a small company and hence they didn't want to spend money on getting a domain name for their email at the time (this was 6-7 years ago). All the past employers have given me experience letter (or equivalent) for my time over there and I have left all the jobs without any liabilities and on good terms with all of them.
My question is, if Sterlingcheck doesn't do the employement check as intended for overseas employers, are my chances slim on getting this job? Is there any way I can explain this to the HR at the new company and find out more information on the same?
I really appreciate your time for the same.
TLDR - Past employement verification by the third party background checker for overseas employers is probably not getting done correctly and wanted to know if I can explain the situation to my future employer HR.