No service apology letter sample

~Marine electronics market~ is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The market growth is attributed to growing seaborne trade, development of novel marine vessels, growing demand for marine electronics in recreational boating industry, andincreasing emphasis on marine vessel safety. Further, the market trends are moving towards development of autonomous and unmanned marine vessels, growing adoption of electric and hybrid propulsion systems, and rising development of naval vessels, such as submarines, ships, and aircraft carrier.
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The recreational boating industry has seen a surge in demand, post-pandemic especially in developed countries. For instance, according to the National Marine Manufacturer Association (NMMA), retail unit sales of new powerboats in the US reached a 13-year high in 2020 with nearly 320,000 units sold, up 13.0% compared to 2019, comprising Personal Watercraft (PWC), including Jet Ski, Sea-Doo and Wave Runner, were up 8.0% to 82,500 units in 2020.Theannual sales of boats, marine products, and services totaled $49.3 billion in 2020, up 14.0% from 2019.
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· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2024
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
Global Marine Electronics Market by Component Type
o Hardware
o Software
Global Marine Electronics Market by Application
o Merchant Marine Electronics
o Fishing Vessel Electronics
o Yacht/Recreation Boat Electronics
o Military Naval Electronics
o Autonomous Shipping Electronics
o Smart Boat Electronics
o Underwater Drone Electronics
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
o Latin America
o The Middle East and Africa
Company Profiles
o Abengoa, S.A.
o ACR Electronics, Inc.
o AIRMAR Technology Corp
o Alcom Marine Electronics
o Atlantic Electronics Ltd.
o Digital Yacht Ltd
o Elcome International LLC
o Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
o High Seas Technology
o Icom Inc.
o Jason Marine Group
o Johnson Outdoors Inc.
o Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
o Marinsat Marine Electronics & IT Solutions
o Maretron
o ONWA Marine Electronics Co. Ltd
o Teledyne Technologies Inc.
The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2023 and forecast to 2031.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global marine electronics market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offer Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies.
Media Contact:
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~Centrifugal chillers market~ is anticipated to grow at a moderate CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The market growth is driven by the rising demand of chillers in the end-user industries, such as hospitals, hotels, manufacturing plants and more. The market growth in the industrial sector is attributed to the lower energy usage and higher energy efficiencies offered by centrifugal chillers. The growing industrialization in the developing economies, due to supporting government policies is also expanding the need for thechillers. The benefits offered the chillers such as low procurement and maintenance cost, have also contributed to thedemand of chillers.
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The growth in the centrifugal chillers market is instigated by the rising adoption of cold chain infrastructure, especially in agriculture, and the food & beverage industry to sustain food, and crops for a longer duration alongside reducing the use of preservatives, and processing. For instance, India's Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure scheme promotes integrated and complete cold chain facilities without any break from the farm gate to the consumer, to reduce losses by improving efficiency in the collection of farmers' produce, storage, transportation, and minimal processing. Both horticultural and non-horticultural produce are eligible for support under this scheme. Under this scheme, as of December 31, 2022, a cold storage capacity of 8.38 lakh MT has been created.
full report of Opt Centrifugal Chillers Market available @ https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/centrifugal-chillers-market
· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2024
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
Global Centrifugal Chillers Market by Type
o Air Cooled
o Water Cooled
Global Centrifugal Chillers Market by Tonnage
o Less than 1000
o 1000 - 2000
o More than 2000
Global Centrifugal Chillers Market by Industry
o Food & Beverage
o Pharmaceutical
o Plastics
o Chemicals & Petrochemicals
o Data Centers
o Others (Commercial, Rubber, etc.)
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
o Latin America
o Middle East and Africa
Company Profiles
o Air Liquide Advanced Technologies
o Arctic Chiller Group
o Arkema Group
o Chemours
o Hudson Technologies Inc.
o Johnson Controls International plc
o Klima Therm Ltd.
o Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
o Motivair Corp.
o Orbia Advance Corporation S.A.B
o Piovan S.p.A.
o Reynold India Private Ltd.
o Sinochem Group
o SRF Ltd
o Trane Technologies Company, LLC
The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2023 and forecast to 2031.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global centrifugal chillers market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new Type launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offer Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies.
Media Contact:
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Contact Person: Mr. Anurag Tiwari
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Contact no: +91 780-304-0404

~Cable glands market~ is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2024-2031). Cable glands provide a protective barrier around the entry point of cables into enclosures, machinery, or equipment. Cable glands prevent the cables from being exposed to environmental factors such as dust, moisture, chemicals, and physical damage, which can extend the lifespan of the cables and reduce the risk of electrical faults. cable glands can reduce cable failures and associated downtime in industrial or critical applications, leading to increased productivity and cost savings, which drive the demand for cable glands in the market. Factors such as upgrade and renewal of existing networks, owing to government regulations, the surge in the construction industry among developing countries, the rise in energy demand levels globally, the increase in population, and growth in real estate are expected to drive the growth of the cable glands market soon.
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The rising demand for industrial automation boosts the growth in the cable glands market by necessitating efficient and secure cable management solutions. Industrial automation depends heavily on electrical and electronic systems for operations, requiring strong cable connections to ensure smooth functioning and safety. Cable glands are used to protect against environmental factors such as dust, moisture, and vibration while securing cables in place. As industries increasingly adopt automation to enhance productivity and efficiency, the need for reliable cable glands grows exponentially. The growth of sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation further strengthens this demand. Cable glands manufacturers in the cable glands market are presented with lucrative growth opportunities as they provide the evolving needs of industrial automation, offering innovative and durable solutions to meet the demands of modern industrial settings.
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· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2024
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
Global Connector Market by Product
o PCB Connectors
o I/O Connectors
o Circular Connectors
o Fiber Optic Connectors
o RF Coaxial Connectors
o Rectangular Connectors
o Solar Connectors
o Patch cord
Global Connector Market by End-User
o Consumer Electronics
o Telecom
o Energy and Power
o Automotive
o Aerospace and Defense
o Others

Global Connector Market by Material
o Copper
o Aluminum
o Stainless Steel
o Telecommunication
o Consumer Electronics
o Security and Surveillance
o Others
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
o Latin America
o The Middle East & Africa
Company Profiles
o ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
o Ametek, Inc.
o Amphenol Corp.
o Aptiv PLC
o Axon' Cable
o Fujitsu Ltd.
o J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
o Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
o Molex, LLC (Koch Industries, Inc.)
o Nexans S.A.
o Yazaki Corp.
The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2023 and forecast to 2031.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global connector market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.

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About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offer Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies.
Media Contact:
Company Name: Orion Market Research
Contact Person: Mr. Anurag Tiwari
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Contact no: +91 780-304-0404

The ~global online gambling~ industry is estimated to register lucrative growth over the forecast period 2019-2025. Factors that augment the business growth of the market include high internet penetration coupled with the increasing use of mobile phones. Moreover, ease of access to online gambling, legalization & cultural approval, corporate sponsorships, and celebrity endorsements are further fueling the growth of the market. Apart from this, the growing availability of cost-effective online gambling mobile applications across the globe is also driving the market growth. The recent COVID-10 outbreak, which prompted several governments to prohibit social gatherings and announce full lockdown, has impacted a segmental performance of the industry.
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Additionally, the market is characterized by the presence of several market players operating in the global online gambling industry. Some of the key market players of the industry include William Hill PLC, Bet365 Group Ltd., Paddy Power Betfair PLC, Betsson AB, Ladbrokes Coral Group PLC, The Stars Group Inc., 888 Holdings PLC, Cherry AB, and others. The industry is fragmented in nature, and players operating in the industry face tough competition with each other. Therefore, in order to stay competitive, these players adopt various strategies including mergers and acquisitions, product launches, geographical expansion, and others.
full report of Online Gambling Market available @ https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/online-gambling-market
· Market Coverage
· Market number available for – 2024-2031
· Base year- 2024
· Forecast period- 2024-2031
· Segment Covered- By Source, By Product Type, By Applications
· Competitive Landscape- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., Kerry Group Plc, Cargill
· Inc., and others
Market Segmentation
o Type
o Sports Betting
o Casinos
o Poker
o Bingo
Regional Analysis
o North America
o United States
o Canada
o Europe
o UK
o Germany
o Italy
o Spain
o France
o Rest of Europe
o Asia-Pacific
o China
o India
o Japan
o Rest of Asia-Pacific
o Rest of the World
Companies Studied
o 888 Holdings PLC
o Bet365 Group Ltd.
o Betsson AB
o Cherry AB
o GVC Holdings PLC
o Kindred Group PLC
o Ladbrokes Coral Group PLC
o Flutter Entertainment PLC
o The Stars Group Inc.
o William Hill PLC
The Report Covers

• Comprehensive research methodology of the global Online Gambling industry.
• This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights.
• An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.
• Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global Online Gambling Industry.
• Insights about market determinants that are stimulating the global Online Gambling industry.
• Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues.
• Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players.

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About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offer Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies.
Media Contact:
Company Name: Orion Market Research
Contact Person: Mr. Anurag Tiwari
Email: [info@omrglobal.com](mailto:info@omrglobal.com)
Contact no: +91 780-304-0404

I went nc with my sister years ago for a multitude of reasons. One of the reasons being that she had mental health issues and claimed she was getting help but no one (including her then husband) was allowed to know what she was diagnosed with, what the treatment was, etc. No one was allowed to know what her physical medical diagnoses were and what meds they were being treated with. It started with random things like she was on a medication that requires her to take (per her…there is no proof she was willing to show proving what she said) 6 pills at once. She claims she asked her then teenage daughter to give her six of these pills while she was driving. (It was for a fever blister supposedly.) But her daughter gave her the wrong pills and she didn’t notice bc she was driving. I could understand a mix up (we do have SALAD drugs. Sound alike look alike drugs) but that wasn’t the case. Think of the meds being named something completely like shrimp vs chicken. The pills didn’t even look similar or have similar sizes. She ended up in ICU bc she overdosed since apparently her daughter gave her the wrong drug. BUT no one was allowed to ask said daughter bc (per sister) she was devastated and felt guilty. Once the initial shock wore off…my husband and I realized things didn’t add up. Then a few months later she randomly took FMLA from her job and left the state to do a 6 week in house mental health clinic. they wanted her to stay for 12 weeks but she would only agree to 8 weeks. After she came back she would only talk about movies (she tried to equate movies to every situation in life and it was exhausting), religion which was strange bc I never could tell if she would be 110% pro religion or thinking it was all an elaborate scheme, politics where she was in the far far far left (people should have a right to demolish anything if it made them uncomfortable. At one point I told her the sheer size of her house made me uncomfortable so I should have a right to demolish it…totally never would. I don’t think I have that kind of rights. To which she fought back that was her home and I had no right. I just looked at her and said…so people don’t have a right to demolish something bc it makes them uncomfortable or is it only your things that rule applies to), and jobs (at my then 3yo’s birthday she kept bringing the convo back to a client of hers who had been SA and how she had to teach the client what that meant and what intercourse was and what that situation was bad. People kept redirecting the convo but she kept going back to it). At that party I finally reached my breaking point and sent the kids outside to play and yelled. I yelled a lot, kicked her out of the house, and went nc. I did apologize to the other adults for losing my temper. She sent me a long crazy message about how I needed help bc I was mentally unstable.
Recently I read a post on Reddit and it made me curious…I looked her court records up online. I expected maybe another cc that went into the system bc it was 15k plus that she stopped paying on. (Not the first time or even second that would have happened.) Boy was I wrong. She had traffic violations for 15-24 over the speed limit. She had failure to yield tickets. She had a couple tickets for no tags. A warrant out for one of the vehicle tickets. And…a violation for a trashed yard due to excessive rubbish which also had a warrant out on her.
I don’t know if she has custody of her kids at this point. They are all older. One is a legal adult. I know she convinced my parents after all was said and done that I went to court and testified against her. I’m still left confused over that one bc…my parents were at court with her for the divorce. They were in the court room with her. I was never there. I didn’t even know when the court date was. I asked my mom if she remembered seeing me on the stand but she would never answer. Golden child can’t be questioned when holes appear!!! Must defend golden child!!! (We are no contact with my parents now for a multitude of reasons.) my parents defend her so much and all I can think is…you’re enabling her to be a total and utter mess.
Part of me wants to contact her to see if she’s ok. I feel the need to make sure she’s not on the verge of doing something bad. Just know she’s ok on some level. I won’t bc I’m not going down that sewer pipe. I just feel so bad for her. I want to wrap her up in a warm blanket and give her hot chocolate telling her it will be ok. I hoped the court records would have been empty. I hope and pray she’s moving on in her life and thriving. Instead it just feels like she’s getting worse. I feel horrible for my nibblings who are experiencing all of that and in all honesty I don’t even know if they have contact with her now. Ex BIL may have stepped in for the health and safety of the kids. I don’t know.
But yeah I feel total guilt. I remember when I told my BIL about the birthday party event (in case the kids said something to him I didn’t want to be the crazy person and he deserved the right to know what was going on) he told me I needed to find a way to fix the relationship with my sister bc she needed me now more than she realized. He was more right than anyone could have imagined. She has/had two best friends. Best friends for 25ish years. All lived in the same town. Neither were willing to show up and testify in her defense. One agreed to but then gave a bs answer to back out at the last minute. The other couldn’t bc she couldn’t get off work rofl. She didn’t even write a character reference letter to the judge. Who would have thought they would have abandoned her.
I know it’s safer for me and my kids (mentally, physically and emotionally) to stay away from all of them but I still feel guilty. What’s the best way to handle the guilt?

Hi! Can anybody please guide me regarding this situation. I got an email yesterday from TPH legal services regarding a debt I had from couple years ago and when I told them I can pay but I need sometime, they told me that I have to right away or to hire a lawyer and ask them to negotiate on my behalf and told me they can’t give me any more time and I would have to pay it right away or they will take me to the court.
Without prejudice Your delinquent account is due payable in full, according to the applicable laws governing your contractual obligation. Unless we receive payment by certified funds within 5 days from the date of this letter, you will leave us no alternative but to consider all legal remedies and actions that could be taken against you. This may include, but may not be limited to, commencing legal action for judgment against you for the amount owing, interest and all costs recoverable by law.
With a Judgment, it will be our client's right to garnish your bank account(s) and to give instructions to the Sheriff to seize and sell your assets and property. The costs for performing such enforcements will be added to your existing debt, with interest, until paid in full.

I know you're not going to text me back and I don't blame you. It took me years to process how we ended and how I fucked up. Writing a letter to you, which admittedly is an apology, was one of the hardest things I've done. I never even wanted to send it in the first place because I didn't want to disrupt your life or trigger you in any way. But someone on Reddit commented that this is the apology that many others would have wanted but never got, so how can I not?
While I am relieved that I finally reached out, I know that I can't expect anything in return. But a part of me still wants to hear from you -- How are you doing? How's your family? How's your heart? I have no intentions of trying to get back with you or work my way back to your life. I just want to know that you're okay. I just want to see you win. I just want to see you thrive. I just want to see you bloom.
This probably won't mean anything to you (at least anymore), but you were a big part of my character development. The worst mistake I made was hurting you but please know that I've worked on my mind and I've worked on my heart. I owe this to you and I owe this to myself. I will always wish you the best, I'm sending love your way, and I'll forever be grateful for you.

[CW: talk of ableism and trauma]
——————————-
TL;DR: My dad said to my mom when I took out my new fidget toy after a fairly traumatic day: “he’s (not my preferred pronouns) just going into ‘Autistic Mode’”. He said that he would look into group homes tomorrow again because I “treat them like shit”. I shut down around them, and have been doing so for at least a week or more. I don’t have a job, freshly graduated from college as of December, and I have been struggling to get interviews. I have been using my university’s career services and got accepted into Vocational Rehab, but my parents keep threatening to kick me out of the house and be done with me.
——————————
For reference, I am highly confident I am Autistic and ADHD, but I have not been officially diagnosed. I have a referral and am in the process. My med manager is treating me with non-stimulants which work well and have increased executive function. I have also been exploring my being queer over the last few years, but only recently tried to explain to my parents in totality last November.
I knew they are queerphobic, and I knew that I annoy / upset them when I don’t talk and engage, and that when I talk it’s too much and not about the right thing. I just wanted to believe I was wrong. I wanted to believe I was reading into things because I’ve had so many past experiences where what I felt and what I thought turned out to be false. And they say they love me, and they love me so much that they hate to see me in pain, and so I wanted to believe that it’s true.
The last few days have been hard. My parents had family friends over (that have known me since I was a baby, and they have two adult children that didn’t come this round) for memorial day weekend from out of state. Since seeing the friends last, I have been doing a lot of self-discovery and further accepting the queer parts of myself. I hadn’t been planning to change my name, until by happenstance I found one online that I wanted to be mine due to it's simplicity and androgynous nature. But my parents (and my brother, though he has trans friends) have not been supportive. I just thought they raised me and gave me a name they picked out and so didn’t want to use a new one. It doesn’t make it better, but it’s something.
But they have made it clear in past conversations that it would be unfair for me to tell family friends and extended relatives. And so I spent all of last week before the weekend trying to debate whether I should tell the family friends that were coming over in a text message before they arrived. I tried to summon the courage, but I ended up not doing that. So when I first saw them, I shut down when their first words were “Hey, ”. I decided that I would make myself scarce because I knew I would just keep shutting down and having trouble speaking with them. Literally, it would be the same as with my parents where either the words don’t come or I don’t have the energy to get them past my throat.
So, I tried to be polite when I saw them and just didn’t engage in extensive conversation. When they left, my dad told me I was rude and selfish, and that I need to write them a letter to apologize. I ended up sending them a text today to apologize (didn't explain everything), but I didn’t want to send a letter because I am tired of using my dead name, and I would need to sign it.
I have been trying to avoid my parents even though we live in the same house because I don’t have a job yet. I recently graduated from college in December, but I have not been able to get interviews. I have been making use of my university’s career services and made appointments with the head of engineering to make my resume more appealing in terms of software engineering. I graduated with Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Computer Science, Creative Writing, and Linguistics. I just want a job right now, and computer jobs pay well. I am hoping to figure out something beneficial in Creative Writing later, maybe Ghost Writing or something that might pay better than that. I also got accepted to use Vocational Rehab, and so I have been working with them.
But, since I am avoiding my parents, they believe I am trying to make it clear that I hate them. They consistently say that I “treat them like shit” and I am “lazy and just want an easy life”. Today has been a hard day after all the turmoil over the last week, and so I have had very little energy. I thought I could be experiencing depression, but I know what that feels like and where it leads. I am not there yet. So, I think the best word to describe it is probably dejected. Like the people who are constantly in my life don’t want me. In the late afternoon, I decided I didn’t just want to sit up in my room anymore, so I drove down to my bookstore to browse, and then checked to see if I could refill my meds. I had about an hour where I started feeling happy and enjoying myself, especially being able to browse the books and look at the descriptions on the back and recording the ones I want to read for later.
When I got home for dinner so my parents didn’t get mad, it was like all that happiness disappeared the moment I saw them. I could not move my face even if I wanted to, to pretend like I was cheery and all right. We got dinner out, and then I sat down. The counselor I like seeing at career services is also an ADHDer. I saw her last week to go over more plans for jobs, and she showed me the various baskets of stim toys she keeps on her bookshelf to hand out to students. She gave me one that’s a tightly knit, long rectangle and has a small glass ball inside. You squeeze it and the ball moves back and forth.
I haven’t used stim toys much growing up because I thought I was supposed to bear all the frustration and anxiety. But I have been trying to treat myself kinder over the last few months. So, I’ve been taking that stim toy with me, and had it when I went to the bookstore. With dinner set up, my parents were trying to get me to interact and “be better”. Without thinking, I took out the stim toy. My dad said I was going into “Autistic Mode” and that they can’t do anything. He will look at group homes again tomorrow.
…
Up until that moment, I had doubts. I thought that they really were trying to accept me and it was just hard, especially with all the queerness and years of mental health management (since 2019 when I broke down). But over the last month or so, I’ve had various times where I needed to record my mental health history for intake and I started talking about my parents and how I am starting to recognize the gaslighting and emotional abuse.
I have also been trying hard to remember the good moments. But I can't remember a moment where I was showing signs I am clearly Autistic or ADHD, and that they genuinely enjoyed and loved it. Especially as I've gotten older. I remember them expecting me to get good grades in school from the beginning. If it wasn't "A"s they were upset, and if I failed a test they told me to study again and took me down to school to convince the teacher to let me test again. If I couldn't prove I knew the material and the teacher didn't let me retake it, then I was shunned on the way home.
I want so much to be wrong. I want so much for them to be right and that it's me who is abusing them like they say it is. I don't know why--I don't really feel any emotional love for them and I don't think I ever did, I just don't want them to suffer--but if I am the one who's hurting them then maybe I can change and stop. Maybe I can get better and show them love and be nice to them like they deserve. I wouldn't need to make a plan to estrange myself from them when I am on my feet to better take care of myself. I wish it was me.
I don't know why I am writing all of this. You all have your own problems and don't need to load on mine, and I am not going to pretend I have it the worst even just in my own city. I also feel manipulative, like I am only writing the bad parts and that I should try to remember and describe the good parts.
I just don't have anyone I can talk to right now. I have been out of therapy for a few months. I have been on wait lists for more experienced therapists dealing with gender-affirming care, since that has become a bigger problem. I have something scheduled for the middle of next month with a more general therapist and a referral to a specialized therapist as well.
But I just want to talk to someone who understands. I don't have that in my life. When doctors ask me if I have anyone I can just vent to or trust, I can't think of anyone. I have one friend, but since graduating we only meet up once a month. I can share a lot with her and she is supportive, but then I feel like that one meeting is filled with me trying to vent and seek therapy from her. I don't really want more social interaction, but I want to feel like someone sees me, the real me, and they actually like what they see.
I plan to call the suicide hotline tomorrow. Not because I am suicidal, but because I was told I don't need to be suicidal to call. I know my parents will hear me on the phone if I call tonight, and I don't really want to spend a long time writing out the words in a text to the text number to explain everything when the person on the other end might not be able to fully understand, and so they would just tell me what they think I need to hear. But I guess I'd get the same from the phone call.
I don't know how to wrap this up, and it sounds when I read this over like I am quite lucid and therefore being petty by putting this here. I am lucid, but it doesn't really help me feel better. I can't lie to myself anymore; I've been trying so hard to not lie to myself when I spot it. I am sorry for the long rambling and various tangents. I just want to put this somewhere where people might understand.

I am currently filling out a claim on the jobs4TN.gov site, and just reached this "Voluntary Disclosure" section - although the description at the top states that "These questions are for reporting purposes only and do not impact your eligibility", in actuality, would any of the questions in this section have any sort of impact on how much benefits payment I would be eligible to receive? (based in Tennessee, that is?)
These relevant questions include:
1: "What is your gender?"
2: "What is your race?"
3: "What is your ethnicity?"
4: "Are you a veteran?"
5: "Are you disabled?"
6: "Are you currently homeless?" (only Yes/No options)
"Have you been arrested/convicted of a crime? If so, you may be eligible for additional support services and programs."
"Have you registered for Selective Service?" (only Yes/No/Documented Exemption options)
If I was to answer Male, White, & Not Hispanic or Latino for the first 3 questions, would this have any kind of potentially negative impact on how much compensation I am to receive (at least when compared to if I selected a different answer besides "White" , and/or selecting "Hispanic or Latino", for instance) and how much financial compensation I would be eligible to receive?
Would choosing "I do not wish to answer" for these questions (at least the first 3) instead be a better option? And what is the importance of each question in regards to this section's impact on my potential benefits compensation? (Or do they all matter equally, or not matter much at all, really..?)
But overall, would there be any potential for a difference in payout based on one's answers here, given the current political climate, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)-conscious businesses/corporations/departments, etc. that would result in higher compensation perhaps if I didn't truthfully answer to being a "White Male" so to speak? Lol.
Ultimately, I am just trying to find out if I should provide the answers Male, White, Not Hispanic or Latino, No (not a veteran), No (not disabled), No (arrested/convicted of a crime), Yes (registered for Selective Service),
OR if I should use the "I do not wish to answer" option instead, and on what questions would this be BEST to use this answer as a substitute?
Should I maybe just say "I do not wish to answer” for those first 3 questions regarding GendeRace/Ethnicity, and more accurately answer "No" for the veteran and disabled questions? Would selecting "I do not wish to answer" be more beneficial of a selected answer on these first 3 questions - would they have any positive impact on how much compensation I’d receive? Do you think using this answer matters less on the next questions asking if I'm a veteran, disabled, or convicted criminal?
Regarding the "Have you ever been arrested/convicted of a crime" question, what would be the optimal choice? You would assume "No" would clearly be the best answer if applicable, but the statement next to the question saying "If so, you may be eligible for additional support services and programs" makes me think otherwise perhaps...
And I have a rather unique situation regarding this one.
Basically, I was convicted several years ago for marijuana / paraphernalia possession charges, and have since had these charges expunged from my now-clean record back in February; so they technically should not be on my record anymore, and I can now lawfully answer "No" now for any "past convictions/arrests" questions I encounter, like this one here in this claim. Wondering what the best answer to choose is for this one: Yes, No, or I do not wish to answer?
My apologies for the lengthiness of this post; but any and all input - advice, comments, suggestions, even warnings, all is appreciated!!

I hope this is the right place to ask. I have fairly extensive Linux experience, but more on the server side. I've never been able to get the desktop end to meet my needs.
I am completely fed up with Windows 11's junk at this point. Sure, it runs everything, but I spend half my time fixing it. I switched my former business to all Ubuntu and magically I was able to focus on my actual job, not part time IT.
I'm hoping someone can chime in as to if the following are possible yet. I've done my homework, and can't find quite perfect solutions, but all of these are necessary to me switching:

1. Hardest one - Excel (and now, unfortunately, Outlook and Teams) - I feel like Libre is always a few steps behind, and with some new work I do, I absolutely have to work with Outlook and use Teams. It's regular work, and some is on my i7-1260p laptop, so I don't think running a VM is going to cut it :/
2. Easier one - I rely on switching between desktops using my Logitech mice's thumb wheels. I'm open to alternatives, but I definitely need a fast mouse-based way to switch between desktops quickly. I've run some kind of sketchy utilities that can do this before, but they seemed laggy.
3. Hard-ish one - I have some really really nice audio equipment and I'm picky about the audio streaming services I use. Currently Amazon Music because everything is FLAC and a lot is 24-bit sampling rate. Apparently the web interface doesn't support 24-bit, and some Electron app no longer works. I am open to switching services, but it's just with the amount I've invested in my audio setup, I want to have the best source I can. Amazon, as much as I can't stand them, seems to have the best blend of track library and sound quality. I hope this doesn't sound snooty, it's just a hobby that brings me a lot of happiness, and it's worth tolerating Windows just so I at least feel like I'm getting the most out of my audio equipment investment.

Thanks for any thoughts. I try desperately every 6 or so months to switch to Linux for a lot of reasons, but it feels like I can never make it work :/ If it says anything, I'm even willing to give up the Windows-only games I play just to move to something that's actually stable, consistent, and responsive.

I was going to post this in Japan. But it's not allowed. So I thought of presenting this here to get more direct answers:
I was looking for news related to the Japanese monarchy. I stumbled into an English site dedicated to news from Japan:
90% in Japan support idea of reigning empress: survey
Here are the 3 comments under this article that stood out to me:

1. "What's the point when the Emperor or Empress has no power nor Empire?" (12 likes/9 dislikes)
2. "I support the idea of disbanding the entire imperial system, along with all systems of royalty across the world." [...] (15 likes/ 13 dislikes)
3. "The 90 percent that don't count, like so many other decisions in Japanese political, socioeconomic scene." (13 likes/14 dislikes)

I believe the article was deleted because it was littered with negative comments. I'm not sure if they are Japanese because they used English profile names and they commented in English. The article is very recent so it seemed unusual to delete it for housekeeping. Also, Japan Today is a Tokyo-based online newspaper. So this must be the Chrysanthemum Taboo phenomenon.
According to Wikipedia: "The chrysanthemum taboo is the Japanese social taboo against discussion or criticism of the Emperor of Japan and his family, especially Emperor Hirohito/Showa (1901–1989)."
This made me think: Do ordinary Japanese avoid discussions of the Imperial Family?
I went to a random Japanese news site to look for an article on the same topic:
90% of people are in favor of a female emperor! The momentum for the realization of "Emperor Aiko" is growing within the Kishida administration, causing concern for "Princess Kiko's feelings"
I translated the Top 3 comments under this article:

1. "If the Kishida Cabinet were to steer the ship while ignoring the will of 90% of the people, wouldn't that be a failure of democracy? Furthermore, I feel that Princess Kiko's feelings are irrelevant, and that she should instead be considerate of the Imperial Family." (45,000 I empathize/I see 383/Hmm 2767)
2. "The world is moving towards a new era. I don't see the need to be obsessed with male lineage. Above all, it's wrong to put pressure on women for something they cannot control, such as having to give birth to a boy. Now that we don't know what will happen in the future with the coronavirus, war, earthquakes, etc., seeing Aiko's Mary-like smile is very reassuring and healing. I sincerely hope that Aiko will become the Emperor." (11,000 I empathize/I see 36/Hmm 524)
3. "I think Aiko is a good choice. The Emperor and Masako were educated, so I think they will be able to be close to the people. It's the Reiwa era, so I want them to stop treating women as superior to men. Looking at Mako, Kako, and Hisahito, Aiko, who grew up in the Imperial family, is the best!" (32,000 I empathize/I see 103/Hmm 1324)

It seems like people are not only talking about the Imperial Family, they also openly talk about members they like and don't like.
But this does not extend to Japanese pop culture. They barely mention the Emperor of Japan or his family. Most of it was indirect. Known examples:

1. In the anime Gate - Thus the JSDF Fought There! (2015) - The Emperor was hinted to allow the evacuation of civilians to the Imperial Palace.
2. In Sword Art Online (2012) - Kirito and Asuna were talking about the Imperial Palace's digital services being separate from the rest of the internet.

Weirdly, I can identify specific three older Japanese animation movies where the Emperor was directly mentioned:

1. In Hayao Miyazaki's Grave of the Fireflies (1998): A soldier committing seppuku cried out "Tenno Heika Banzai!" (Long live the Emperor!).
2. Memories (1995) - In the second part of the anthology, "Stink Bomb" mentions the Emperor refusing to leave Tokyo despite the mass evacuation of citizens.
3. A late 90s/early 2000s anime about the romance between then-Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako. I forgot the name.

In criticism of the monarchy, I know an Australian journalist wrote a book detailing the difficulties Empress Masako experienced when she was Crown Princess. Japan managed to control its release in their country, with the help of nationalists who harassed publication houses, but they failed to control/persuade the author. It helps that he is a foreigner.
A political breach of taboo could be the end of a person's public service. In Post-war Japan history, I read about ministerial resignations caused by leaking Emperor Hirohito's opinions on sensitive issues, usually related to foreign and military affairs.
After the 3/11 tsunami, Diet member Taro Yamamoto gave a letter to Emperor Akihito about the plights of the victims. Politicians demanded his resignation. He likely heard some things from crazy nationalists. But today, he is still a Diet member.
So the Japanese people do talk about the monarchy. The extent of their opinions on the Japanese monarchy is mostly limited to news and gossip and written in Japanese so foreigners do not immediately notice the discourse around them. Anything more than that, like publishing critical deep-dives on the monarchy, references in fiction, and fictional portrayal, is rarely done and prone to attacks from nationalists. But breaking the taboo isn't as serious as it was during the Showa period. What do you think?

Last Thursday, I got 2 letters from a debt collector for a supposed unpaid bill from a couple of medical procedures in 2019. One letter said I owed almost $4k however due to the age of the debt, they couldn't sue me. It said the date of service was April 2019. The 2nd was $600ish and said the date of service was June 11, 2019. That one did not say they couldn't sue me.
To my knowledge, I have received no other letters regarding the debts, not from the hospital or any collection agencies until now. I do recall the procedures, I just figured my insurance covered everything since I never got a bill.
Do I ignore the letters, or go ahead and pay them? I am in Oklahoma. I really don't want to restart a timer on the debt, if I don't have to.

This happened a few years back. A little context: My uncle has been in and out of jail and he’s a gigalo. He often has different partners and does not have a house of his own, instead he stays with the woman he’s seeing. Now into the story My mom had me young and did not marry. When I was younger she got with my step dad, let’s call him, Brad. Brads a good man, he always wanted the best for my mom. When they got married I was my mom’s bridesmaid. The wedding was being held next to a lake, it was beautiful. The wedding of my mom’s dreams with everyone she loves there, including her older brother let’s call him, Mark. My mom hadn’t talked to Mark in a while, when she invited him. He waited till last minute to RSVP. This didn’t sit right with me but it was my mom’s big day so I brushed it off. We get to the venue and everything was running smoothly. About an hour before the wedding started my mom clearly started to get nervous because she was ordering people around (more than normal) and yelling a lot. I was running back and forth between the Groom, and the bride while also making sure everything was in order. I noticed almost everyone had arrived, everyone except the my mom’s father and brother Mark. Last minute my mom’s father and brother showed up about 10-15 minutes before everything started. The worst part was that my mom’s father and brother were clearly high. My mom’s father, who uses a wheelchair to get around, fell out of the car onto the sidewalk. It took 3 guys the get him up, the entire time Mark just sat around. He showed up with some random woman who none of us had met before, and he wasn’t even dressed. His shirt was unbuttoned, no tie, and hair a mess. The grooms men took him back and fixed him up. The woman he brought had to be in her mid to late 60’s while mark is in his early 40’s, not a big difference but still enough to warrant looks. She was a sweet woman, she told us how long it took her to get Mark to RSVP and to get him out of the hotel room to get here. I felt bad she had to put up with him but I didn’t say anything at the time. Eventually, we got one with the wedding and the service went well. But after it, Mark started getting agitated. He was raising his voice at this old frail woman in the middle of the venue in front of all the guests. This was starting to frighten everyone was Mark is a pretty well built 6’6 jacked man who has a tendency to snap at people. Guest ignored it for the most part till out of no where, people stopped to gasp. Mark had hit this woman, sending her almost flying back. He looked like he might have been on something other than weed. Marks brother and other guests dragged his out of the venue as he screamed to the woman she needed to shut up. He threw insults at her, but she just apologized to everyone, picked up mark and hers things and ran out after him. My mom was horrified and the guests were stunned, but the wedding had to go on. Pretty soon the guests must have forgotten about it as they laughed and danced. There were some other things that happened that night but I will never forget waking up in the morning and watching my mom call her brother to ask what the fuck happened the night before only to be stoned walled because Mark had changed his number without telling anyone. We wouldn’t hear from Mark for a couple months and when he did pop back up my mom forgave him like always, but man I will never forget that day.

Intro: While running through the forest one full moon night, you smelled a particularly delicious-seeming dead rabbit. Never one to waste a good meal, you go for it, but as you’re beginning to chow down, you feel something sharp closing over your leg. It hurts. You don’t know how you’re going to get out of this, but you do know one thing: You’re going to take a piece out of whoever did this to you.
Summary: Speaker finds Listener trapped in the woods, so she finds a way to patch him up.
Go ahead and monetize, it's fine. Word count is about 1700.
If you fill this or plan to fill this, please notify me. Please don't make edits without asking first.
Line breaks represent the listener talking or space where no one talks and should be short pauses, words within {brackets} represent the speaker’s tone or sfx. At ellipses, the speaker trails off, and at dashes, she is either cut off abruptly by the listener or by herself.
Author’s Note: Y’know, I don’t think this is what I envisioned originally, there was going to be a lot more of the “get you to calm down, heal your injuries, make the pain go away” stuff, but I think I like it nonetheless. It certainly feels more realistic now, with the lack of getting in range of a wild animal’s teeth. And who knows? Maybe it has more series potential the way it is. We might even find out, one day.
If you want to read this somewhere other than Reddit, it's also here.
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{preoccupied} All right, what’s on the docket for today? Check the rabbit traps, see if I got anything edible, that’s a good start. After that, maybe I can head down to the creek, try to catch some fish. Even if I don’t get any bites, it’ll still be nice to- whoa.
{a little awed} Well, damn. That’s a beautiful sunrise. Been a long time since I’ve seen one like that. Hell, for someone who lives in nature, I don’t spend enough time appreciating it.
{sigh} Yup, lovely. {back to business} All right, that’ll be enough appreciating for now. Time and tide, after all, and scavengers are even less polite than they are.
All right, where did I leave the first one, again? Past the fallen tree, yes, leave the track at the rock that looks like a bear-
{scared gasp} {quieter} Okay. That’s a wolf. That’s a wolf. He sees me, yup, looking right at me. That’s bad. Okay, okay, survival lessons, what do I do… He probably doesn’t want a fight. Make myself larger, make noise.
{loudly} Hey! Hey, you, wolf! Get outta here! Come on, I know you don’t want to be around a human, shoo! Leave!
{to self} {worried} Why isn’t it- Okay, that’s not ideal. He’s not moving, he’s growling at me, I should- what should I do? This seems strange. If it was going to jump me, wouldn’t it have by now?
{trying not to panic} Oh, fuck, what do I do? If I move towards him, will he take it as aggression and attack? But, if I walk away, he could think of me as prey and attack anyway. I suppose it’s a wild animal, there’s no telling what it could actually do, is there? But… wait, does he look… why’s he looking at me like that? He almost seems… scared.
{forced calm} All right, use your brain, {insert name here}. There is a wolf, here, in the place where you set a rabbit trap. Why? Probably because it wants to eat the rabbit, and you’re interrupting a hungry predator. But no, that doesn’t fit so well, he’d be doing… something other than this, I think, if I actually was getting between him and food. Maybe he already finished it, and he’s just chilling? I suppose that’s possible… But then he would’ve left already, right? So there’s probably something keeping him here. Like what? No chance it’s cubs, I’d be dead already. Same with an injured packmate, probably same with a stash of food. So why…
The trap? No, that wouldn’t even make sense. It’s tiny. It’d kill a rabbit, for sure, but a wolf probably couldn’t even get his paw through the little loop, much less get caught by it. But maybe…
Hey, hey, stay calm, buddy. I’m not threatening you, I’m not even gonna get in your blind spot, just want to walk over to the side… Yup, that’s it, you can keep your eyes right on me, see? I’m not a threat. Just want to look at- {gasp}
{shocked} What? Where did- How!
{forced calm} Okay, okay, the how isn’t that important. The wolf has his leg caught in a trap. Bloody hell, that looks nasty. That explains the immobility, and the growling. Poor guy is probably scared out of his mind right now, with that thing through his leg. {upset} I can’t believe you can still even get your hands on spike traps like that! I mean, come on, isn’t that inhumane?
{forced calm} Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter. How do I help him? I could… call the forestry service? But cell service is so horrible out here… I could drive into town and call them? Oh, but what if they said they can’t help? Or what if they’re too late, and he’s already chewed his paw off by the time they get here? Wait, do wolves do that? I think I read somewhere that they do that. I shouldn’t let him do that. Okay, can’t get anyone else to come help, I could try to get the trap off it myself? That’s… that’s a really not-good idea, isn’t it? Yeah, he’s a wild animal. Probably doesn’t like humans so much in the first place, and now he’s scared and in pain… He’d probably maim me before I even had the chance to help, no dice. But I have to do something…
{upset} Ugh! Come on, {insert name here}, think! There has to be something you can do. Something you can… {gasp}
{excited} That’ll work! Okay, wait- right there, Mr. Wolf, stay- do not chew your paw off while I’m gone, I promise I’m going to make the pain stop.
{running footsteps sfx} {fading away} {chuckle} Heh, I’m talking to the wolf like he understands me. Ridiculous. Oh, but I hope he gets the message…
{some indicator of a time skip}
{running footsteps} {out of breath} I’m back! I’m… back. I made it. You’re still here, right? Oh, oh good. Please tell me you didn’t injure your paw any further.
{confused} Wait… you’re not growling at me anymore. Huh? That doesn’t make much sense. I- eh, can’t worry about it right now. {coaxing} I brought you some food, buddy! It’ll be nice and tasty, and it’ll help you go off to sleep so I can get that thing off your leg. Doesn’t that sound good? Don’t you want to feel better?
{considering} Uhhh… how to give it to you… All right, I can push the tupperware into your reach with a stick, that’ll work just fine, yeah? Yeah, nothing wrong with that.
{scraping sfx}
{coaxing} All right, Mr. Wolf, don’t you want to eat the bacon? I promise it’ll taste good!
{perplexed} Was that… a sigh? Did you just sigh at- oh, well, you’re eating. Good enough for me.
{pleased} Wow, you polished that whole thing off. Okay, the pills should be kicking in soon. I think they’ll work as well on you as they would a human? We’re both mammals, our chemistry shouldn’t be too different. God, I hope that’s how it works.
{fading out} Yup, there we go. That’s it, buddy, just go to sleep… You’ll feel much better when you wake up, just let it all drift away… I’ve got you.
Okay. Damn, that leg looks even worse up close. I don’t think I can patch it up here. I might need to…
{some indicator of a time skip}
{fade in} -right, I think that oughta do it. All patched up, the gauze should hold decently well. As long as he doesn’t go stepping on any more traps, he should be able to use the leg as much as he needs. Oh! That reminds me. I need to find out who set that trap, maybe there’s some kind of-
{small voice} Your eyes are open. How long have your eyes been open?
{terrified} I- uh- wait, fuck, no- this isn’t what was supposed to- uh- okay, down, down, stay back, please don’t kill me- I’ll give you more bacon if you don’t kill me please-
I… I’m not dead?
{scared gasp}
I keep opening my eyes… and he keeps being there. Just tell me, am I gonna die or not?
{disbelief} What, you’re a communicative wolf, now? What’s that whine supposed to mean?
{plaintive} Oh my God, I’m losing it. I’m cracking up under the stress. I’m actually trying to talk with the vicious wild animal.
…Well, in for a penny. What is it that you want, Mr. Wolf? Is there some reason you haven’t killed me yet? I doubt it’s gratitude.
{perplexed} Wha- The refrigerator? You’re pawing at- {shell shocked} Oh my God. It’s the bacon. He wants more bacon. Well. I guess I did say I’d give him some, and I’m not dead. All right then, Mr. Wolf, if you’d like to move out of the way so I can reach the fridge…
Thank you.
This is the most surreal bloody thing I have ever encountered, I hope you know. How in the hell do you understand me?
{door opening and closing sfx}
Yeah, I didn’t really expect an answer. Well, uh, here’s your bacon. Please don’t bite my hand.
{scraping sfx}
{nervous} Are we… are we cool? I patched up your leg and gave you some food, and you don’t turn me into food? Sound reasonable?
…In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I’m going to take that as an affirmative.
{fond} Aww, that was a cute little- {nervous} okay, okay. Not calling you cute. Message received.
Uh- whoa, wait, what are you doing? What are you sniffing around for? I don’t have any more bacon-
The… trap? Why do you care about…
That is the strongest “mind your business” stare I have ever gotten from anything, human or animal. Understood, business minding.
Sniffing… OH! You’re going to- nope, never mind, I’m not involved, you do you, Mr. Wolf.
{annoyed} Y’know, just because you could kill me, doesn’t mean you have call to be rude. I did save your leg, after all.
{taken aback} Is that… your version of an apology?
I- Apology accepted. Or, wait. {mischievous} I can’t go through my life knowing I could’ve said this, but didn’t. I’ll accept your apology, on one condition. I get to scritch your ears.
Don’t look at me like that, you’re fluffy. I want to scritch. I- is that okay?
{gasp} All right, I’m going to risk it.
{scritching sfx}
{in awe} I’m… I’m petting a wolf. I did not expect this… ever.
You really are fluffy, this is nice. And it looks like you’re enjoying it, too-
Oop, okay. I guess we’re done.
All right, yup, I shall open the door. You shall exit the door, and continue to do whatever wolves do. Don’t step in any more traps, okay? I don’t want to have to risk getting mauled again.
{door opens and closes sfx}
{muffled} {exhale} {stunned} Oh my God. Did that really just happen? There’s no way that just happened. The wolf understood me. That’s not how wolves work! Wild animals don’t just speak English. Was he… was he somehow sentient? Does that mean that there are other creatures out there that can think like that? God, that just makes the fact that that spike trap exists even worse. I… I really can’t even process this. How does one begin to process this? I gave a wolf headpats. This is not a normal experience.
I… don’t think I’m going fishing today. Maybe I’ll just have a nice little lie-down, instead, and when I wake up it’ll have been a weird dream. Yeah. That’d work.
…I wonder if I’ll ever see him again?

Intro: While running through the forest one full moon night, you smelled a particularly delicious-seeming dead rabbit. Never one to waste a good meal, you go for it, but as you’re beginning to chow down, you feel something sharp closing over your leg. It hurts. You don’t know how you’re going to get out of this, but you do know one thing: You’re going to take a piece out of whoever did this to you.
Summary: Speaker finds Listener trapped in the woods, so she finds a way to patch him up.
Go ahead and monetize, it's fine. Word count is about 1700.
If you fill this or plan to fill this, please notify me. Please don't make edits without asking first.
Line breaks represent the listener talking or space where no one talks and should be short pauses, words within {brackets} represent the speaker’s tone or sfx. At ellipses, the speaker trails off, and at dashes, she is either cut off abruptly by the listener or by herself.
Author’s Note: Y’know, I don’t think this is what I envisioned originally, there was going to be a lot more of the “get you to calm down, heal your injuries, make the pain go away” stuff, but I think I like it nonetheless. It certainly feels more realistic now, with the lack of getting in range of a wild animal’s teeth. And who knows? Maybe it has more series potential the way it is. We might even find out, one day.
If you want to read this somewhere other than Reddit, it's also here.
​
​
{preoccupied} All right, what’s on the docket for today? Check the rabbit traps, see if I got anything edible, that’s a good start. After that, maybe I can head down to the creek, try to catch some fish. Even if I don’t get any bites, it’ll still be nice to- whoa.
{a little awed} Well, damn. That’s a beautiful sunrise. Been a long time since I’ve seen one like that. Hell, for someone who lives in nature, I don’t spend enough time appreciating it.
{sigh} Yup, lovely. {back to business} All right, that’ll be enough appreciating for now. Time and tide, after all, and scavengers are even less polite than they are.
All right, where did I leave the first one, again? Past the fallen tree, yes, leave the track at the rock that looks like a bear-
{scared gasp} {quieter} Okay. That’s a wolf. That’s a wolf. He sees me, yup, looking right at me. That’s bad. Okay, okay, survival lessons, what do I do… He probably doesn’t want a fight. Make myself larger, make noise.
{loudly} Hey! Hey, you, wolf! Get outta here! Come on, I know you don’t want to be around a human, shoo! Leave!
{to self} {worried} Why isn’t it- Okay, that’s not ideal. He’s not moving, he’s growling at me, I should- what should I do? This seems strange. If it was going to jump me, wouldn’t it have by now?
{trying not to panic} Oh, fuck, what do I do? If I move towards him, will he take it as aggression and attack? But, if I walk away, he could think of me as prey and attack anyway. I suppose it’s a wild animal, there’s no telling what it could actually do, is there? But… wait, does he look… why’s he looking at me like that? He almost seems… scared.
{forced calm} All right, use your brain, {insert name here}. There is a wolf, here, in the place where you set a rabbit trap. Why? Probably because it wants to eat the rabbit, and you’re interrupting a hungry predator. But no, that doesn’t fit so well, he’d be doing… something other than this, I think, if I actually was getting between him and food. Maybe he already finished it, and he’s just chilling? I suppose that’s possible… But then he would’ve left already, right? So there’s probably something keeping him here. Like what? No chance it’s cubs, I’d be dead already. Same with an injured packmate, probably same with a stash of food. So why…
The trap? No, that wouldn’t even make sense. It’s tiny. It’d kill a rabbit, for sure, but a wolf probably couldn’t even get his paw through the little loop, much less get caught by it. But maybe…
Hey, hey, stay calm, buddy. I’m not threatening you, I’m not even gonna get in your blind spot, just want to walk over to the side… Yup, that’s it, you can keep your eyes right on me, see? I’m not a threat. Just want to look at- {gasp}
{shocked} What? Where did- How!
{forced calm} Okay, okay, the how isn’t that important. The wolf has his leg caught in a trap. Bloody hell, that looks nasty. That explains the immobility, and the growling. Poor guy is probably scared out of his mind right now, with that thing through his leg. {upset} I can’t believe you can still even get your hands on spike traps like that! I mean, come on, isn’t that inhumane?
{forced calm} Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter. How do I help him? I could… call the forestry service? But cell service is so horrible out here… I could drive into town and call them? Oh, but what if they said they can’t help? Or what if they’re too late, and he’s already chewed his paw off by the time they get here? Wait, do wolves do that? I think I read somewhere that they do that. I shouldn’t let him do that. Okay, can’t get anyone else to come help, I could try to get the trap off it myself? That’s… that’s a really not-good idea, isn’t it? Yeah, he’s a wild animal. Probably doesn’t like humans so much in the first place, and now he’s scared and in pain… He’d probably maim me before I even had the chance to help, no dice. But I have to do something…
{upset} Ugh! Come on, {insert name here}, think! There has to be something you can do. Something you can… {gasp}
{excited} That’ll work! Okay, wait- right there, Mr. Wolf, stay- do not chew your paw off while I’m gone, I promise I’m going to make the pain stop.
{running footsteps sfx} {fading away} {chuckle} Heh, I’m talking to the wolf like he understands me. Ridiculous. Oh, but I hope he gets the message…
{some indicator of a time skip}
{running footsteps} {out of breath} I’m back! I’m… back. I made it. You’re still here, right? Oh, oh good. Please tell me you didn’t injure your paw any further.
{confused} Wait… you’re not growling at me anymore. Huh? That doesn’t make much sense. I- eh, can’t worry about it right now. {coaxing} I brought you some food, buddy! It’ll be nice and tasty, and it’ll help you go off to sleep so I can get that thing off your leg. Doesn’t that sound good? Don’t you want to feel better?
{considering} Uhhh… how to give it to you… All right, I can push the tupperware into your reach with a stick, that’ll work just fine, yeah? Yeah, nothing wrong with that.
{scraping sfx}
{coaxing} All right, Mr. Wolf, don’t you want to eat the bacon? I promise it’ll taste good!
{perplexed} Was that… a sigh? Did you just sigh at- oh, well, you’re eating. Good enough for me.
{pleased} Wow, you polished that whole thing off. Okay, the pills should be kicking in soon. I think they’ll work as well on you as they would a human? We’re both mammals, our chemistry shouldn’t be too different. God, I hope that’s how it works.
{fading out} Yup, there we go. That’s it, buddy, just go to sleep… You’ll feel much better when you wake up, just let it all drift away… I’ve got you.
Okay. Damn, that leg looks even worse up close. I don’t think I can patch it up here. I might need to…
{some indicator of a time skip}
{fade in} -right, I think that oughta do it. All patched up, the gauze should hold decently well. As long as he doesn’t go stepping on any more traps, he should be able to use the leg as much as he needs. Oh! That reminds me. I need to find out who set that trap, maybe there’s some kind of-
{small voice} Your eyes are open. How long have your eyes been open?
{terrified} I- uh- wait, fuck, no- this isn’t what was supposed to- uh- okay, down, down, stay back, please don’t kill me- I’ll give you more bacon if you don’t kill me please-
I… I’m not dead?
{scared gasp}
I keep opening my eyes… and he keeps being there. Just tell me, am I gonna die or not?
{disbelief} What, you’re a communicative wolf, now? What’s that whine supposed to mean?
{plaintive} Oh my God, I’m losing it. I’m cracking up under the stress. I’m actually trying to talk with the vicious wild animal.
…Well, in for a penny. What is it that you want, Mr. Wolf? Is there some reason you haven’t killed me yet? I doubt it’s gratitude.
{perplexed} Wha- The refrigerator? You’re pawing at- {shell shocked} Oh my God. It’s the bacon. He wants more bacon. Well. I guess I did say I’d give him some, and I’m not dead. All right then, Mr. Wolf, if you’d like to move out of the way so I can reach the fridge…
Thank you.
This is the most surreal bloody thing I have ever encountered, I hope you know. How in the hell do you understand me?
{door opening and closing sfx}
Yeah, I didn’t really expect an answer. Well, uh, here’s your bacon. Please don’t bite my hand.
{scraping sfx}
{nervous} Are we… are we cool? I patched up your leg and gave you some food, and you don’t turn me into food? Sound reasonable?
…In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I’m going to take that as an affirmative.
{fond} Aww, that was a cute little- {nervous} okay, okay. Not calling you cute. Message received.
Uh- whoa, wait, what are you doing? What are you sniffing around for? I don’t have any more bacon-
The… trap? Why do you care about…
That is the strongest “mind your business” stare I have ever gotten from anything, human or animal. Understood, business minding.
Sniffing… OH! You’re going to- nope, never mind, I’m not involved, you do you, Mr. Wolf.
{annoyed} Y’know, just because you could kill me, doesn’t mean you have call to be rude. I did save your leg, after all.
{taken aback} Is that… your version of an apology?
I- Apology accepted. Or, wait. {mischievous} I can’t go through my life knowing I could’ve said this, but didn’t. I’ll accept your apology, on one condition. I get to scritch your ears.
Don’t look at me like that, you’re fluffy. I want to scritch. I- is that okay?
{gasp} All right, I’m going to risk it.
{scritching sfx}
{in awe} I’m… I’m petting a wolf. I did not expect this… ever.
You really are fluffy, this is nice. And it looks like you’re enjoying it, too-
Oop, okay. I guess we’re done.
All right, yup, I shall open the door. You shall exit the door, and continue to do whatever wolves do. Don’t step in any more traps, okay? I don’t want to have to risk getting mauled again.
{door opens and closes sfx}
{muffled} {exhale} {stunned} Oh my God. Did that really just happen? There’s no way that just happened. The wolf understood me. That’s not how wolves work! Wild animals don’t just speak English. Was he… was he somehow sentient? Does that mean that there are other creatures out there that can think like that? God, that just makes the fact that that spike trap exists even worse. I… I really can’t even process this. How does one begin to process this? I gave a wolf headpats. This is not a normal experience.
I… don’t think I’m going fishing today. Maybe I’ll just have a nice little lie-down, instead, and when I wake up it’ll have been a weird dream. Yeah. That’d work.
…I wonder if I’ll ever see him again?

TLDR:
Turkish Airlines dicked me around for four years to get a $390 refund from a cancelled flight, and has finally closed that door, telling me the voucher has expired. Can I do anything, or should I just give up?
Turkish Airlines cancelled my Lahore - Berlin flight in April 2020 because of the pandemic, and offered a refund. I immediately tried to fill out the online paperwork to get the refund, but received the message that refunds were on hold for a few months. When I tried again a few months later, I was told that since my credit card had expired in the process, I'd need a letter from my bank stating that this was indeed my account, and stating my new account information.
At this point, I was overwhelmed and low key traumatized (I'd gotten stuck in Lahore, had to take a $3000 evacuation flight and move back to Canada where I have citizenship, rather than returning to Berlin where I was living). I tried to produce this letter but it was absurd because obviously my Canadian bank is not going to print a document stating my full credit card number alongside my name. Finally Turkish Airlines told me that I needed to go to an in person office. I tried, but everything seemed closed, or they didn't answer their phone, and I didn't have access to a car. Fast forward to 2022, I finally tracked down an open office when passing through Berlin airport, and brought all the documentation. They tell me they can't help me. After numerous emails, Turkish Airlines issues me an EMD voucher, valid for 2 years up till April 20th 2024. I try to get it refunded but each query through their online feedback form takes months. I no longer have a EUR account, and they finally tell me that yes I can use my USD account. I've moved between 4 countries during this period, so it takes me a while to deal with the asinine customer service and figure out what I need to give them to get a refund (this has included multiple long phone conversations with customer service). It takes me so long that now we are at December 2023. Finally I submit all the documentation. But no, turns out I need to have a wet signature on my form. I am travelling for work and am not able to submit this information until March 2024. One month later, I receive a cookie cutter response, again telling me everything I need to do (which I've already submitted). I write an email half in capslock, extremely angry, but ALSO RE-ATTACH ALL THE PAPERWORK (because I notice one form I had previously submitted, I had forgotten in my most recent submission). One month later I get a response saying that since I didn't reply, they have closed the case (I have proof in my email that I replied with all the forms they asked for). I repeat the entire submission process again, and call the call center multiple times. I receive a response one month later saying my voucher has expired (it expired during the time they took to respond, not when I filed the claim), too bad, no refund for me.
I feel really stupid after all of this... feels like the joke was on me? How did I spend this much time trying to get this refund when maybe they never intended to refund me? Do I have any recourse, since the cancelled flight was 4 years ago?

Schengen Country: The Netherlands Applied from: VFS New York City, USA Nationality: Indian Visa Result: Received a 1-Year Short-Stay Mulitiple Entry Visa Bio: 26 M (Single/Unmarried)
Hi All, I thought I should share my experience and profile as it might be helpful for people applying to The Netherlands in USA.
Some more background (For OPT/STEM OPT Students): I am an Indian National on F1 Visa, and I am currently under OPT working for an employer in NYC, with a pending STEM OPT Application. My current OPT work auth expires in the first week of July and my travel date is from 17th July - 28th July. While submitting the application my STEM Work Auth was not approved and was pending.
Planned Trips: I have two trips planned this year. The first being the Tomorrowland Music festival, where I would visit Belgium and The Netherlands from 17th July - 28th July as mentioned above. Second trip would be in December to Norway for approx a week.
Main Destination: After going through this sub, I figured that I should show Netherlands as my main destination as they are the only country that has been handing out 1-year multi entry visa. This would cover both my trips and I would not need to apply again for my second trip. I even called the consulate and told them about both my trip and they said that they would consider to provide me 1-year visa as long as I have my second trip listed on my cover letter.
Application Documents: I prepared all the documets that were listed on the VFS Website.

• The Application form was filled on the Netherlands website and it generated the complete application form.
• Passport: I took photocopy of all pages of my current passport, even though it is completely empty (I got it renewed last month). Apart from that I took photocopy of all Visas and entry exit stamps, on all of my previously expired passports (I have 3 expired passports)
• I took my I-20 and F1 Visa as evidence of legal status. Here I did not attach my EAD Card as it was expiring before my travel date. I did not want them to think that I am going to EU because my current work auth is expiring. They might not be aware of the STEM OPT extension rules, so I did not want them to get confused and took a little risk here, by not providing the EAD at all. It paid off!!
• I took photographs as per schengen requirements, but the VFS did take those. In fact, they clicked a picture there itself while taking my finger-print and used it for the visa (It was free and its mandatory).
• Proof of Travel: This is where things get interesting. Even though my plan is from 17-28, I provided an itinerary for 17-31st July. I booked fully refundable flight tickets, hotel tickets, train tickets (to and from belgium). A very very detailed itinerary (as in what I am doing each day to the last detail). I even booked all my flights, hotels, activities for my Trip to Norway along with a detailed itinerary for the same. I did my best to make sure that they know that i am going only for tourism and I have put in the extra extra extra effort as to do my research and plan my itinerary for both trips.
• Finance: I showed my bank account statement for last four months. I also, showed my robinhood investments, Fidelity investments and my 401k investment. (As far as I know they only care about liquid cash in your account, but I still wanted to show my commitment to USA by showing my investments especially 401k)
• Employer: I took a letter from my employer confirming my employement and travel dates. I also attached paystubs for last three months.
• Health Insurance: AXA Travel Insurance (Cost be approx 40 euros)

Cover Letter: This is a very very crucial part of my application. I listed my travel plans, my previous travel history (I have been to 6 countries), intention of coming back and strong finances. The consulate told me to mention both trips in the cover letter and I did that. kept everything in under a page.
Yes I know I have showed way more than what is needed and required. its usually very easy to get a visa from USA, but here are the two reason why I went the extra mile:

• I wanted a 1-year mult entry visa, so I wanted to show both my trips to the last detail. Flights, hotel, trains, internal flights. Each and every things was booked and fully refundable. This showcased my genuine intent for turism and showed me as someone who is less likly to overstay. I just wanted to avoid going through the hassel of applying for a seperate visa for Norway.
• My work auth was expiring in the first week of July, with a pending application with USCIS to extend my employemnt till 2026. I did not want them to think that I am going to overstay and provided as many details and finances as I could to not get flagged.

VFS Process and Timeline: VFS is a fucking horrible. Just wanted to put it out here. Finding a slot was a little messed up. The VFS website goes down almost every eveing and you don't see any slots at all, even though they have slots available. I booked a slot for May 10th in the last week of April. They had plenty of slots, so finding one based on your preference was not an issue.

• May 10th: Visa Appointment at 8:30 AM. I was let in at 9:30 AM. Fucking joke of an org. They were just letting France and UK people in, even tough most of them had a later appontment. FYI: All schengen visa are processed at the same place. They dont have seperate offices for each consulate. Its a single office that sends application to each consulate based on where you are applying. I was also forced to use their courrier service to get my passport delivered, even though I was told on phone that I could pick up my passport! At the center I was told that "Especially for Netherlands, we do not allow passport pickup"
• May 10th: In the evening I got this email "Your application has been submitted to the Embassy and is currently under process.Please continue to track the status online for further updates."
• Radio silence after that.
• Also to those who are curious, The consulate/embassy (I am not sure who processes the visa), send the passport to VFS and then they send it to you. It doesn't come directly from the Consulate/Embassy. (I got to know this when I called VFS about my application status).
• May 27th: I received a message from FedEx, stating that a package would be delivered to me on May 28th, along with the tracking details. Based on shipment date and location, it was obviously my passport coming from VFS. The amazing part is that, there was no email/SMS update from VFS that my application was processed. Infact even after getting my passport their website tracking shows, application under process at embassy.
• May 28th: Received my passport with a stamped 1-year multiple entry Schengen Visa from the Netherlands.

Anyone has any question, feel free to ask me anything! I hope everyone applying gets their visa!! All the best!

Anyone else’s Neighbors turn into a glorified dog rescue notification service?
Couple weeks ago, I got a notification about a dog “abandoned” and needed rescuing. I knew that very moment that this was about to avalanche on this app.
Look, I know people are passionate about rescuing dogs (and cats for that matter) and I have and always had both in my home, many rescues. But my feed and notifications are now constantly “ABANDONED DOG NEEDS HELP!” With either a phone number to a rescue, or a shelter name which sometimes is hours away from me.
Go into the comments and if anyone responds that they “wish they could help,” they will be met with “you can donate to…” and the rescue’s or persons venmo.
So, I asked Ring if they could possibly give them their own category so people interested can keep getting those alerts, and those not can unsubscribe from them. They responded with some form letter about “we don’t see harassment happening.” What? Who ever said that? Like they didn’t even read the email.
So now, since they all post under “wildlife and environment issues” I’ve had to unsub from that category to get notifications about things happening near me. Kinda sucks that if there is a wildlife or environmental incident, I will no longer be notified, but it’s the only way to make it stop. In the meantime, if I scroll through in the evening to see if there have been any incidents in my area, I have to wade through at least a couple dozen dog rescue posts to see anything else. Anyone else seeing this yet? If it just becomes this, which will obviously get worse when every rescue enthusiast sees how they can emergency notify a bunch of people in a neighborhood at once, then I don’t see the point of the app at all except for rescues, especially after seeing so many posts of people being denied posting incidents in their neighborhoods.

I'm currently an elementary special education teacher but I have a question going back to when I was a high school student: I was a special education student on an IEP all the way through graduating. I am learning disabled and have adhd so when I went to take the SAT's, I received accommodations.
I took it during the school day, under the supervision of a proctor trained by the SAT board because I received time X2. I had 2x the amount of time than normal. The test took the entire school day. I started first thing in the morning, took a lunch and finished a half hour before school ended. I was so proud of myself!
The problem? My half sister was the special education teacher working for the district who was trained to give the SAT. The school sent a letter to the board explaining the situation and was given written permission to carry on.
A guidance counselor accidentally walked in on us, immediately apologized and walked away. About a month or 2 later I received a letter stating someone confidentially complained in a letter to the board and my SAT scores were now considered null and invalid. I had to take the whole thing over again. I was livid but also felt betrayed.
The guidance counselor told my parents she did it and had no guilt. Despite being friends at one point, my Mom never talked to her again.
Were we the assholes for going through with the test? Was it the guidance counselor? I'm just looking for a teachers point of view. I obviously was very impacted by this and am wondering if I, my family and school was really in the wrong? Thanks for reading this long!

What are my chances of getting in RD for fall 2024?
3.3 GPA from most recent Maryland CC
2.6 GPA from old Maryland CC (death in family)
Retail management job
40 credits
Excel certification
1 letter of recommendation
High school extra curriculars and community service
Resume
No MTAP
I already applied just want to know my chances!