Ok I’ll keep this snappy
1) Client signed up with me for my business services. Signed terms and conditions + agreement to work together for X months etc
2) client was due to pay but had bad news from work and was delayed a lump sum. We agreed in writing to delay payment a month
3) client didn’t make payment again and is now owing multiple months payments
4) I gave notice before claim for an MCOL (money claim online UK) and he agreed to do a payment plan.
5) client paid 2 payments and then has ghosted and blocked me on different platforms - I have since done an MCOL procedure
Question: I used stripe to sign him up for the service subscription so I have his payment details stored there. Am I legally allowed to attempt to pull the full remaining amount?
P.s. this guy is a dodgy character, multiple posts about him scamming people on Facebook when I searched. Seems like a piece of S*** I cannot guarantee he is at his address anymore for a legal follow up through MCOL

Well, UGEE results have been declared today (where's the guy who said it will be declared on monday tho). Just woke up, checked the result, have cleared reap cutoff but missed supr by 1 mark. Damn it hurts. Prolly gonna join some comedk college.
Anyways, coming back to title, few days ago I compiled a few UGEE interview questions, so thought of sharing them here for those who cleared UGEE (congo for clearing it, hope you clear the interview too).
#1
My friend had the opportunity to appear for the Dual Degree Programs interview. She shared her entire experience with me. Once the document verification was done, the candidates were divided into seven groups. 20 minutes before the interview, she was given a sheet with 3 questions one each from Physics, Linguistics, and Mathematics.

1. (a) Since Newton’s First Law of Motion can be derived from the second law of Motion, what do you think is the relevance of the first law? Did Newton give us three laws when two would have been adequate?

(b) A similar Mechanics question which I don’t remember.

1. A Linguistics Question of Medium Difficulty
2. You are given an equilateral triangle of side length ‘a. Disprove or Prove: Among any five points inside the triangle, there always exists a pair at a distance not greater than a/2.

The candidates were not asked to write the answers but just ponder on the questions for 20 minutes. Soon she was ushered into the interview room where she was welcomed by several warm panelists that asked questions like

• Why IIIT and Why Research?
• Tell us about your family and school education.
• Do you like linguistics?, to which she said that she loved Tamil. He asked further, Do you find the present web applications in Tamil efficient?
• Which field in Computer Science do you like the most?
• Do you have any experience working with Cryptography?
• Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Out of the 3 questions handed in earlier, she was able to solve the Lingo question and even managed to write some satisfactory reasons for the Physics questions but failed to solve the Mathematics question. They further asked questions related to Friction, Work, and Energy. They did not ask the linguistic one and moved on to the mathematical question. They asked her to solve it with their help.
She told them about her extracurricular achievements and they seemed to be impressed. One of the professors ended the interview by saying that if she got selected, she should come with her extracurricular file then. The entire interview lasted for 50 minutes and she considers it to be one of the most memorable interviews.
#2
Eg: suppose you're stranded on an island and you know that the nearest landmass is n distance away. What is the shortest method to reach that. And other pcm questions with most of them relying on logical reasoning. The interview should be 2 way, i.e. only you shouldn't be the one talking and nor should the interviewer be the only one talking. If you get stuck on any question ask them for time to think or ask them for suggestions. Some questions won't have any answer and they're only looking for how you think and whether you're teachable or not, not whether you get the right answer
#3
The interview questions can be based on some concepts in math and physics, or they can be completely logic based (strategizing, puzzle solving, etc). They want to know how well you understand the questions, how you break it down into simpler problems and how you think through it...they are not as interested in the actual answer. We are not supposed to share the exact interview questions so please don't ask/DM me about that lol. All I can tell is that I was asked two questions, first one was based on 3D geometry and the second one was purely logic based, basically I was given an emergency situation and was asked to create a strategy to get people out of the situation; not going into the details.
In general, you don't need to "prepare" anything specially for the UGEE interview. They just want to evaluate you based on critical thinking and research aptitude. The REAP paper is designed for the same purpose.
You can recollect your past accomplishments and formulate them with you hobbies so that you can present them well in front of the interviewers. Don't get mushy, don't exaggerate anything but at the same time, don't hesitate to share any hobby or achivement however unrelated it might be. They are not judging you only by your PCM grades, rather they want to evaluate you broadly as a person, someone having the research aptitude and interest. The institute is most ambitious about their dual degree course
#4
Question 1
It was based on a truncated polyhedron, the first part asked the shape we would get if we cut a cuboid along the opposite vertical edges. There were three more parts, obviously tougher than this, but he skipped them and went to the second question, maybe because of lack of time. I don't remember them.
Question 2
“An astronaut in space wakes up after years, not feeling weightlessness. Give possible arguments.” Well, the language was not the same, but similar.
#5
https://www.quora.com/How-are-the-interview-questions-for-IIIT-Hyderabad-for-the-UGEE-How-should-I-prepare-for-them-And-what-are-the-chances-of-clearing-the-interview/answeNaren-Akash-R-J
#6
Q: There are 10 stones lined up & you are standing at the first stone. You can move only forwards by 2 ways: (a) moving 1 place ahead ; (b) moving 2 places ahead by skipping a stone. How many possible ways can you reach the 10th stone?
A: I made around 5 cases wherein there would be 0/1/2/3/4 double-jumps (with the rest being single-jumps). And partially calculated it using PnC, until one prof asked me to explain my thinking and approach towards the qs. I think I explained it well (with a diagram for the cases) and we had a brief discussion abt it for a min or so. (He said I don’t need to fully calculate it)
Now, we moved to a physics question**, a very basic qs to test your thinking:**
Q: A balloon is filled with air(with a light rope) and placed in the centre of a closed room, what will happen to it?
A: It will fall down because of the weight of the rubber and of the rope.
Q: Right, let’s say that the rubber & the rope have negligible mass, what would happen now?
A: It would remain stationary in the room.
Q: Okay now if i fill helium to this, what will happen?
A: It will either move upwards or downwards depending on the resultant of the weight of the rubber+rope & the buoyant force.
Q: Now let’s say that the helium balloon is tied to a very long and heavy rope, what will happen to it?
A: It will not move upwards, but stay stationary due to the tension in the rope.
Q: Okay, so now I give you a scissor, with the same apparatus as prev qs, how will you make sure that the balloon doesn’t fly up to the ceiling.
A: Sir I’ll keep shortening the rope from bottom to top in order to reach equilibrium (I should’ve worded it better that day lol)
Q: But if you cut it too short, won’t it fly up permanently?
A: Yes sir, absolutely, it will. So what I’ll do is I’ll cut it long initially, and keep cutting it until the weight of the rope is equal to the buoyant force on the balloon. And more the net force, faster the balloon would go in the upward direction, so I can judge the equilibrium point becoming closer as the balloon starts moving up slower & slower.
Q: Okay but how will you make sure that the balloon is stationary and not moving here-and-there?
A: Sir I will bring the balloon-rope system in equilibrium, to the centre of the closed room, and hold it stationary for a while so that there’s no constant velocity on it. This will make sure it’s stationary because there’s no other external force on it.
Q: Very good Sarthak. So, let’s move to one last qs, say I filled a balloon with air like the very first qs, in the morning, and left it like that till the evening. What do you think will happen? — just briefly think and answer, we just want to know your approach & thinking.
A: Umm sir, we’re assuming the balloon to be air-tight right?— Like no air can escape from the bottom hole (at where the string is attached)?
Another Prof: Ahh I like your thinking here, good. Nice.
#7
They asked me about my hobbies and interest and why i am interested in research ? Why I want to join IIIT Hyderabad? All at once
I answered them that my hobby is watching youtube videos, I am interested in volunteering and working with Ngo's and I am also interested in opening up electronic items and trying to repair it.Then why research? - I answered them that I want to become a scientist and research allows me to think out of the box and -------xyzabc---------.
Then comes the technical part.
Que1.The asked me what is arithmetic mean of (x1,x2,x3,x4……..xn)
Que2.Then they asked me their geometric mean
Que3.Then they asked me the relation between 2 que and arithmetic mean of (logx1,logx2,….logxn)
Que4.They asked me about the class 9 que that when a load carries in railway station carry a load is their work is zero and if yes why do they get tired?
Then they kept asking question around this only is air resistance is zero no friction etc …
#8
3 questions - one from matrices and binary numbers, one from thermochemistry and thermal physics, and one from linguistics .
I was given roughly about 15 min to solve the questions. I solved the 1st two questions quite easily as they were simple ( also note that the first question of matrices and binary numbers was also error prone and very loosely defined I considered it to be wrong and so also discussed this with the pannel “All of them gave me a smile”.)
After trivia on the matrices problem and the linguistics problem the professors started asking me independent question which were very elementary questions from the fields of linguistics. They also asked me to represent certain decimals and and certain numbers in binary format as an exercise.
Then they asked for my board's percentage and my mains percentile and why I opted for 5 year programme. For the all the questions I was honest and especially for the last I told them it didn't matter to me if it was 5yr or 4yr .
My suggestion to you guys:
The interviewer are not there to know the right answer, rather they are there to analyze how you are able to think about the solution to see whether or not you fit for being a part of research institution. If you don't know answer to something, ask them for hints but don't get stuck anywhere and don't fear much, just be clear with your basics, no need to go on to deep learn the subject. Know a little about the branch that you wanna opt for. If you have an extra curricular, do tell them. Don't oversell anything, just be true to yourself and it will be a cakewalk. Also they will definitely ask for your hobby, do keep a few of them in mind and know a bit about them too. Like if you mention to them that you like reading novels, they will prolly ask which type of novels, or which is your faviourite one, tell lessons that you learnt from that novel, same goes for any other hobby. They are there to judge your personality and thinking ability. Sit down whener you are free, form a good intro for yourself including hobbies and all and try on to frame questions yourself, this way you will be prepeared for D-Day. Dont take stress during interview and try not to fumble, it will all be good

I come from what I consider a middle class family. We are not rich by any means, we do not go on extravagant holidays but going up we were spoiled and did have more than most people in our area. We got bikes, a trampoline and swing sets. We had toys. Our parents gave us (me and my sister) approx 5k each to put towards our first cars (not allowed to buy until we got our full licence and had a job for at least 6 months).
Me(23F) and my sis(26F) have always had a strained relationships but things got worse as we got older. I worked hard for my first car and bought a Toyota worth 20k where as my sister only spent the money my parents gave her and spent her wage on clothes and makeup. Because I was younger and I got a more expensive car, she assumed our parents gave me more than her but this was far from it.
Anyways about 8 months ago my sis and Brother-in-law(BIL) got engaged and everybody was happy.
They wanted to have an engagement party in BIL’s home town (500km away). We were cool with that but we all had to take time off work, pay for fuel to drive there and spend money on accomodation. Overall trip cost me about $500-600. Which I wasnt to concerned about because they promised us the wedding would be at home so I wouldn’t have to stress about this.
Fast foward a couple of months and sis organises her own hens party(nobody else was apparently allowed to help). This too was held at a destination, now appox 1000km away from home town. So I had to miss another 3 days work, 3 nights accomodation, fuel money for 2000km and had to chip in for the party because that what’s bridesmaids do. Goodbye $1600 but I couldn’t say no. She’s my sister right, I had to go. Oh and she also announced that here wedding would also be at this location in just 4 months - this was big shock to everybody.
Another month goes by and my sis starts sending me photos of dresses, shoes and accessories she wants here bridesmaids to wear on her big day. $100 on a pair of shoes - you’ve got to be kidding me. I’d never wear these shoes again. $400 dresses. I was strat up honest with her and said “Nope, not happening. I work a decent job and get paid ok money, but I cannot afford $500 for a dress and shoes that I will wear once”.
Well this upset the whole family. Sis, mum, dad, Granny, Aunts you name it and they were all calling me, demanding that I apologise and buy the dress. Call after call, message after message. It was too much so I ended up just buying it to shut them up after mum and dad promised that I could car pool with them the distance to the wedding and hitch in on their motel to save money.
The plan was to drive my our parents to the destination on Wednesday (Wedding on Friday) and therefore I only booked in 3 days of work. Well the week before the wedding, I am now told that I was needed at the destination by Monday. dress alterations, nails (because apparently a French tip at one place is not the same at all and you will be able to tell the difference in the photos - eyeroll) and pre wedding practice runs need be done. Again I resisted but the calls and messages started again. I couldn’t handle it. So I just packed my car, took 2 sick days at work and drove to destination. Everything would be easier right if you don’t have 20 people spamming you at the same time stressing you out.
I got my own accomodation for 2 nights then planed to jump in on my parents room like previously promised. Boy was I wrong. My parents purposely booked a 1 bed room motel without a couch. Leaving me stranded again. This trip alone was going to cost me: Fuel: ~$500 Accomodation: Sunday-Sunday (7night) $1750 Nail: already done back home but had to do again ($90) Dress Alterations: (because the dresses hem was longer than the other bridesmaids because I’m a bit shorter- for aesthetics apparently) $100 Wedding Hair and Makeup: (was not told until after it was done that bridesmaids would have to pay for their own) $200
Thankfully there was no drama at the wedding and it went pretty smoothly. Until 2 days later. I was already back home by this stage when the phone starts blowing up again. Phone calls, messages, social media post. Calling me lousy and cheap and disrespectful and so much more for not “Donating” to “Her” (not their which I think was funny) wishing well at the wedding. I tried to explain that I had spent close to $5,500 if not more in 6 months just accomodating her. Without lost time at work. This made everything worse. Apparently my mum had told her that they paid for my dress, accom, fuel etc and that the least I could do is spare a “few hundred dollars” for her wishing well. Well she didn’t take to kindly to the truth that I paid for it all and is now calling me a liar and much worse.
AITA
Did I also mention that am a studying full time at night and already am short of money due to trying to pay student loans

I’m wanting to break into the rental market and have come up with many ideas that I’ve run by this sub, so here’s another…
I have a bit over $100,000 in equity I can pull out of my primary residence ($240,000 value with right at $100,000 left on the mortgage). I know people will borrow against the equity in their primary house to buy an investment property, so I’m wondering if that’s a way for me to break into investment properties.
A bit more info. I have the income that I can afford 2 mortgages pretty easily,supposing I don’t exceed $180,000 purchase of a rental property. I have enough cash to cover repairs so don’t necessarily need to borrow money for that. The houses I’m looking at are basically move in ready homes. I’ve looked into BRRR but I’m not convinced I understand it enough to do well. My long term goal is that in another 20 years, rental properties are my retirement income.
Is using the equity in my primary residence a good/bad/decent idea? Do the numbers make sense to do it?

Listen, subscribe, or just read the transcript here: https://www.misophoniapodcast.com/episodes/s8e4-ben-s
In this episode, Adeel speaks with Ben from Indiana about his lifelong journey with misophonia, highlighting the unique challenges he faced from his early years into adulthood. The discussion commences with Ben recounting his earliest memory of misophonia, which involved a distressing incident with a babysitter and being triggered by the sound of chewing gum. This experience seems to have left a profound impact on Ben, shaping his perception of his condition. Ben opens up about growing up in a masculine environment and how navigating misophonia was particularly challenging in such contexts. Moreover, he shares his experiences as a minor league baseball player, where the culture of chewing gum added another layer of difficulty, forcing him to be constantly aware of his surroundings to manage his triggers. The conversation also touches on Ben's current coping mechanisms and how he handles misophonia within his family life, especially in terms of creating an understanding environment for his son. Adeel and Ben's dialogue offers a raw and honest look into the complexities of living with misophonia, the importance of finding community, and the ongoing journey of explaining the condition to those without it.

he said "come wander with me love come wander with me away from this sad world come wander with me"
E T Y M O L O G Y
good afternoon, children of Sol. today i'd like to dissect the meaning of a word.
what is a word?
is it its character? it sound? the length and phrase, is it the tone and enunciation of it? is it it's light or dark, it's unsung or loud spoken?
what is a word?
does it live now or then? future-tensed or forever?
it is increasingly becoming clear to me, a face, that i may not understand the nature of a word.
that i may make it out clearly, but not hear it fully.
that they ring louder in my hands and pit than i do in my ears.
the power words exhibit, i cannot pinpoint its locus.
i can only be swayed by it.
C O N V E R S A T I O N
and maybe i can only speak words with words.
unsaid or past told, i can only speak to it with words.
whether the onset of night, or the rapture of day, i have discovered i cannot speak to words with words
i can speak to it with my body, pits, hands and all.
that i may be able to answer them back , and maybe then i can be able to engage them
the words that have made a home within me
S U R A
the physical form of a word is a face
startling, a mouth to hear
ears tilted either side, eyes on a mission to anywhere but here
now, it's easier to look at your hairline
a word is easier to recall than a face
many faces can say the same word
make it out clearly, a word
make it out clearer, a face
let the pit weigh, arms fall
sum it up, and it is a corporeal form
a word, and more than just a face
i write a word to a face
and give face to a word
for a face is a word, and a word is a face
give it form, child
he came from the sunset he came from the sea he came from my sorrow and can love only me

Sheff Utd vs Spurs

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Competition: Premier League
Date: 19th May 2024
Venue: Bramall Lane
Kickoff: 16:00 (BST)
TV: Sheffield United vs Tottenham Hotspur Live Streaming and TV Listings, Live Scores, News, Videos - May 19, 2024 - England Premier League :: Live Soccer TV
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Team News

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After being forced to deploy a makeshift backline at Goodison Park, Sheffield United boss Wilder will have two centre-backs at his disposal once more; Mason Holgate could not face his parent club last weekend, while Anel Ahmedhodzic is back from suspension.
Andre Brooks (illness) and Oliver Arblaster (calf) should shake off the afflictions which forced them off early against Everton, while none of George Baldock (calf), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Tom Davies (thigh) and Ben Osborn (thigh) have been ruled out just yet either.
However, Chris Basham (ankle), Oli McBurnie (thigh), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) and Max Lowe (ankle) are guaranteed to miss out, while John Egan (ankle) - out of contract this summer - is unlikely to force his way into contention either.
As for Spurs, it is largely as you were from the midweek defeat to Manchester City, where eight infirm troops were absent from the ranks and will also be missing for the trip to Bramall Lane.
Richarlison (calf), Yves Bissouma (knee), Manor Solomon (knee), Fraser Forster (foot), Destiny Udogie (thigh), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Ben Davies (calf) and Timo Werner (thigh) will all watch on from the sidelines, while Giovani Lo Celso is a fresh doubt owing to a blow to the knee.
Rodrigo Bentancur, who did his best to destroy a chair on the Tottenham bench after being taken off in midweek, is a candidate to be demoted by Dejan Kulusevski, but Micky van de Ven should continue as an emergency left-back.
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Sheffield United possible starting lineup: Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Bogle, Souza, Hamer, Arblaster, Brooks; Brereton Diaz, Archer
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Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son
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Match Stats

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• Sheffield United have lost their past three league games against Tottenham, as many as they had in their previous 13 against them (W5 D5).
• Tottenham won 3-1 in their most recent away league game against Sheffield United and they last won consecutive visits to Bramall Lane in December 1975.
• Sheffield United have won their final league game in each of the past three seasons. They most recently did so in more consecutive campaigns between 1969-70 and 1973-74 (five), with the fourth game in that run coming against Tottenham.
• Tottenham have lost their final league game in only one of the past 13 seasons, with that loss coming at already-relegated Newcastle in 2015-16.

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Head to head (h2h) history and results

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Sheffield United wins: 30
Draws: 27
Tottenham wins: 39

Pundit Predictions

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Chris Sutton
We have seen an angry Ange Postecoglou this week, and I totally get why. I really liked what he said before the Manchester City game about how he wants the club to win something, rather than just have bragging rights. If I'm a Spurs fan, that's what I want to hear.
He was bang on. He is trying to build a winning culture at Tottenham and clearly the mentality at the club does not align with his.
On the flip side, I do also understand the pettiness of the Tottenham fans who do not want Arsenal to win the title.
But it sounds like Postecoglou's anger is not just at some of the Spurs supporters who wanted their side to lose to City on Tuesday, but at some people inside the club too.
If you are are on the inside and you want to build a winning club, then you cannot have that mindset where you don't want to win every game - you cannot pick and choose, you have to be relentless and all pull in the same direction.
That does not seem to be happening at Spurs. We have seen this movie before, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.
I admired Postecoglou when he was at Celtic, for the way he turned the club around as well as the football he played.
I still think he has over-achieved in his first season at Spurs because they lost Harry Kane just before it started, and the football has been excellent, but they have fallen away recently.
I am sure Postecoglou would accept it has been a disappointing end to the campaign, with five defeats in the past six games, even if they have had some difficult fixtures in that run, but all of this underlines that there are other issues at the club. I don't know what happens next - they either believe in him, or they don't.
He will be desperate to finish the season on a high, as will Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, whose side are already relegated, are bottom of the table with only three wins all season, and on a six-game losing streak. Even if the Blades do respond, I am still backing Spurs.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2

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Mark Lawrenson
Tottenham have had really difficult games recently with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. That’s just what you want at the end of the season when you’re going for things! They’ll win this, though. Sheffield United 0-2 Tottenham.

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Paul Merson
Chelsea have kept Tottenham hungry in recent weeks with a bit of a run, so they need to win this game to confirm UEFA Europa League qualification. If Spurs can play anywhere close to their full potential, they will win this game easily and that's exactly what I think will happen. It's been a decent first season for Ange Postecoglou, but he needs to be careful with his comments.
The Australian has received flak for calling out Tottenham's 'fragile foundations' after their defeat against Manchester City, seemingly referring to the fact that most of their fans weren't fazed by the result as it wouldn't be a favorable outcome for Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Arsenal vs Tottenham is a huge rivalry and you have to understand it. If you don't, its perfectly ok to not say anything, but just don't question fans!
The fans will be here much longer than any player or the manager - they are the heart and soul of the football club. Ange isn't going to have people ringing him every few minutes if Arsenal win the Premier League, so I doubt he knows what the result meant to Tottenham fans. All I'm saying is there was no need for him to say anything!
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-3 Tottenham

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Robbie Savage
Spurs need a point to secure fifth place and Europa League football. If they lose, slip to sixth and Manchester United win the FA Cup, it means they will be playing in the Europa Conference League.
Spurs know what they have to do. They have to get something at Bramall Lane. I think they will, I think they’ll get all three points in a 2-0 win.

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COYS

I'm writing a guide to help people new to trading so that they don't lose life savings, ruin their life etc.. Here's what I have so far as an outline, what else can I add?

INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING SOLANA RUG PULLS

Solana has quickly risen to prominence in the DeFi space, offering fast transactions and low fees. However, with this popularity comes the risk of rug pulls – a form of scam where developers abandon a project after attracting investments, leaving investors with worthless tokens. To steer clear of Solana rug pulls, traders must be vigilant and informed about the projects they choose to invest in.

RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Before diving into any project on Solana, it’s essential to do your homework. Take the time to research the team behind the project and their track record in the crypto space. Look for projects with transparent communication channels and a history of delivering on their promises. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the team with any questions or concerns you may have.
Another crucial aspect to consider is the tokenomics of the project. Make sure to understand how the tokens are distributed and whether there is a limited supply. Projects with fair token distribution and a capped supply are less likely to engage in rug pulls as there is less incentive for the developers to run off with the funds.

CHECK THE TOKENOMICS

Understanding the tokenomics of a project is crucial. Look for projects with transparent token distribution and limited supply. Make sure to assess whether the tokenomics align with the project’s goals and objectives. A well-thought-out tokenomics model can indicate a project’s long-term viability and commitment to its investors.
When researching tokenomics, pay attention to factors such as the token’s utility, inflation rate, and distribution mechanism. Projects that have a clear and sustainable tokenomics structure are more likely to be legitimate and less susceptible to rug pulls. By carefully examining these details, you can make more informed investment decisions and reduce the risk of falling victim to scams.

ANALYZE THE SMART CONTRACT

Rug pulls often occur due to vulnerabilities in the project’s smart contract. To protect yourself from such risks, it’s crucial to have the smart contract audited by a professional. An audit can help identify any potential weaknesses or security flaws in the code, allowing you to make an informed decision about investing in the project.
Before committing any funds, take the time to review the project’s smart contract thoroughly. Look for any red flags or suspicious code that could indicate a potential rug pull. By conducting due diligence on the smart contract, you can mitigate the risk of falling victim to scams and protect your investments in the long run.

MONITOR THE COMMUNITY

The community surrounding a project can provide valuable insights into its credibility and potential for success. Look for projects with active and engaged communities that are supportive and transparent. A strong community can help identify any warning signs or red flags early on, allowing you to make informed decisions about your investments.
Engage with the project’s community through social media channels, forums, and chat groups. Pay attention to the sentiments and discussions within the community to gauge the project’s reputation and trustworthiness. By staying connected with the community, you can stay informed about the latest developments and potential risks, helping you navigate the volatile DeFi landscape more effectively.

WATCH FOR RED FLAGS

While the allure of quick profits may be tempting, it’s essential to be cautious of projects that promise unrealistic returns or have anonymous teams. These are often red flags that indicate a potential rug pull or scam. Trust your instincts and proceed with caution when evaluating new investment opportunities on Solana.
Keep an eye out for projects that lack transparency or have unclear objectives. Look for projects with a strong track record, active development, and a clear roadmap for the future. By being vigilant and discerning, you can avoid falling victim to rug pulls and protect your hard-earned investments in the DeFi space.

DIVERSIFY YOUR INVESTMENTS

One of the best ways to protect yourself from potential rug pulls is to diversify your investments across multiple projects. By spreading your funds across different assets, you can reduce the impact of any single rug pull on your overall portfolio. Diversification is a fundamental risk management strategy that can help safeguard your investments and minimize potential losses in the event of a scam.
When diversifying your investments, consider allocating your funds across various sectors and asset classes. By spreading your investments across different projects with varying risk profiles, you can create a more resilient portfolio that can withstand market volatility and unexpected events. Remember to regularly review and adjust your investment strategy to reflect changing market conditions and emerging opportunities.

SET STOP LOSSES

Setting stop losses is another crucial risk management strategy that can help protect your investments from potential rug pulls. A stop loss order automatically sells your assets if they reach a predetermined price level, limiting your losses and preventing further declines. By setting stop losses on your investments, you can mitigate the impact of rug pulls and protect your capital in volatile market conditions.
When setting stop losses, consider factors such as your risk tolerance, investment goals, and market conditions. Use technical analysis tools and market indicators to identify key support levels and set stop losses accordingly. By implementing this risk management strategy, you can reduce the impact of potential rug pulls and safeguard your investments in the DeFi space.

STAY INFORMED

In the rapidly evolving world of DeFi, staying informed is essential to making sound investment decisions. Keep up to date with the latest news, developments, and trends in the Solana ecosystem to stay ahead of potential risks and opportunities. By staying informed, you can make better investment choices, identify emerging trends, and navigate the dynamic DeFi landscape with confidence.
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i can even feel it, the aura, the way she looks at me with disgust, from the moment she wakes up i feel uneasy, in my own room i feel uneasy, as if she’s watching me, i can feel not being welcome, being hated by my own mother. i dont want to stay, i really want to leave, i’d rather be homeless than live with this fucking narcissist any second. she wishes i was never born, she wishes i’d disappear, she wishes she never i was never even conceived, i can see it in her eyes.
this is the first time i call my mother that, i have never insulted her, never yelled at her or even raised my voice, in every “argument” it’s her screaming at me or saying very harsh things and me sitting there, taking it. but calling her that word after years of torment feels good.
she never smiles at me, i dont remember the last time she did, everytime i try to talk sweet to her and show her i love her, she says “i dont talk all lovey dovey” and implies she only knows how to communicate in insults and arguing.
im 18, im supposed to be in college, i cant afford it. i dont know what to do. do i apply to a college abroad? would they take me with my weak passport? my father died in august 2022, things went downhill from there, she became more bitter, she became harsh, and while i understood at first, it is taking a toll on me and i cant take it anymore.
she now torments me for the smallest of things.. like one time i came back from the gym, poured a cup of water, then poured another cup of water because i was thirsty and i had finished my water at the gym. she yells “who drinks like that!!? drink like a normal human.” and while that seems like just a minor inconvenience, the issue is it happens with every small action i make, over and over, daily, every single muscle i move, she has a negative comment about, and that was when i told her to just give me a fucking break.
how about that one time when i was 15, i came out to her about the fact that i was raped as a child, and couldnt say anything because of the extreme fear, and as any normal mother does, she had zero empathy and her eyes and just said “well why didnt you defend yourself?”. im not going to say how that made me feel. im just going to let you guess.
today i came back from friday prayer and got the car washed like she asked, she sees i came home wearing the home sandals instead of the main sandals i wear to go out, both normal sandals, but one is plastic sort of like a croc. she glares at me, raises her voice and says “is this what you wear to friday prayers? wont you dress like a normal person?” implying people were going to stare at my sandals which are taken off during prayers and judge me. i just cant. and when i told her i couldnt find my main sandals and was in a hurry, she said “fucking look for them, i put them right here in this drawer, use your head.”
when i forget small things she mentions, she gets pissed and talks to me in that same tone she always does, and that same glare, even though she knows im riddled with ADHD, but she doesnt care enough to learn a single thing about her son’s mental health problems, not the ADHD, not the BPD, not the chronic depression, all of which im not being treated for, and all of which i have been diagnosed with, all of which she was told and warned about.
did i mention, this one time? i had an insane tooth infection, the right side of my face was VERY swollen for days, i was in the worst pain of my life, i was terrified, and having already experienced an extreme panic disorder and health anxiety, god knows i was afraid of sepsis, and when my blood test results came back and i saw my white blood cell count was high, god forbid.. i panicked. i couldnt control it. i wanted to go back to the dentist, just to let him look at the report and tell me im okay, which was for free, in a dentist that was very close to my home, she didnt like that. she didnt like that i was riddled with health anxiety after spending 30+ minutes on top of my dad’s dead body trying to revive him, she couldnt accept that i had been traumatized. she kicks me out. so here i am, on the streets, face swollen, sleeping and shitting on the street with a fever and diarrhea, wiping my ass with pieces of cardboard, hoping to god nothing bad happens to me because that infection was sucking the power out of me.
she wants me to provide, im trying to provide, im trying to pay her back for the money she spent on me ever since i turned 18, but i JUST got qualified legally for work, and im JUST now able to even look for work, yet she has been shaming me for it before i was legal. so for now, until i find a job, im getting money from my ex, which im not so proud of, but so far i sent her 300 dollars hoping she shuts up, and 300$ is a good amount in my country. but she questions how i got that money, she thinks im selling my body for it. which honestly, im very willing to do at this point, i have a nice body and even though males are not as valuabe in that field, if it makes me money until a place im applying at accepts me, i dont have any morals and i’ll happily do it.
about the money she spent on me, usually food, and gym subscriptions, and an amount of money she spent to get me my driver’s license (which was in her best interest, by the way), did you know that i got nothing of my father’s inheritance? she took it all, no, i didnt even look at it, i didnt ask for it, and she sometimes even reminds me that i didnt deserve it, even though i never fucking had it, and it was a GOOD portion of the inheritance too.
and by the time i was 18, she claimed i blew all my side of the money on going to the fucking psychiatrist to stop me from killing myself, and gym memberships, she loves to talk about some “legally you owe me”, but arent you supposed to spend that much until im 18? legally speaking, since we wanna go that way. legally speaking, dont you OWE me that money? i didnt spend any of it, YOU did, and you’re way more happy to let me drive 140kms to get you packs of cigarettes that are cheaper that arent being sold here, spending a shit ton of gas money, every two weeks, rather than letting me see my girl who by the way offers to pay for any inconvenience for her because she knows how my mother is. but no, its not just the money that bugs her, 25 minute drive to see my girl is too much, but a 2 hour round trip just to spend more money on cigs isnt, right? no, she doesnt want me to be happy, she KNOWS she doesnt pay anything out of her own pockets when i go see my lady, she KNOWS seeing her gets me out of that depressed state, but she doesnt want me to, and when the money excuse gets old, she says “maybe 6 months ago i would have been happy for you, but you simply ruined it, your actions did this”.
actions, she says, or basically, my lack of action, yes mother, im terribly sorry i was born in a country that will not allow me to work until a month ago, im sorry that i couldnt apply to college because i cant afford it, and because i knew nothing about life, lived in the middle of nowhere my whole life and didnt start learning how the world works until i turned 17. you didnt teach my how to ride a bike, you didnt teach me how to defend myself, you didnt teach me how to speak english, you didnt teach me how to fucking swim, you didnt introduce me to any physical activity and fucking locked me at home my entire childhood, with just internet access, until i became overweight as a child, and until i took matters into my own hands and changed that. and guess what? my other two sisters? 9 and 16, one is overweight and the other is OBESE since she was a child. great fucking parenting, leaving a 9 year old glued to an ipad because you never knew how to be a mother. and when i tried to take matters into my own hands and restrict the 9 year old from spending 12 hours plus a day on the ipad doing god knows what with god knows who, so she can have real fucking friends, real life fucking experiences, “give it back. im her mother, not you”. well you’re the reason she’s fat, you’re the reason we all got bullied. maybe introduce the poor kid to a fucking sport? fuck.
and guess what? i kind of hated my dad too. he always called me useless, always had that same fucking stare in his eyes, always yelled at me to shut up and be a man if i ever cried as a kid, so much so that i WISH he beat me, i wish they beat me as a child rather than getting neglected, after my face got swollen at 5 years old from being slapped hard by him in a barbershop, they were too scared to do anything else because of the consequences it would cause them. so they decided to neglect. i wish you fucking taught me how to fight, i see all these dads teaching their boys how to defend themselves and you never taught me how to throw a punch, i had to do it all myself, i had to workout myself, i had to fill that lack of sense of masculinity up by getting as big and scary as possible, i had to teach myself how to not be a fat slob like you taught me anymore, because guess what? they were both fat slobs themselves, no fucking wonder they didnt know how to show their kids healthy habits.
if you think that these stories are just minor inconveniences, i agree with you, but imagine it happening every single day, every single second you’re at home, for years, it slowly builds up and becomes unbearable.

Edit: DO NOT message me a simple hi or hello, with no information about you, Put some effort in to your message like i have, come on. Day+Attempt#191
Hello everyone, Thank you for taking the time to read, I know its long, I know - I know. But its worth the read, Trust me. I appreciate you immensely.
Here's a bit about me,
My name is Jay, I live on the East coast of the US. I'm looking for love - like everyone else on here.., but you may not believe or even be doubtful that I've never had a GF before with me being 26, but its true. I'm simply just not willing to "be with" just anyone and I'm very picky. I want us to be a match, more than just have similar things in common.
One thing I have always been told is that I'm a "Real Catch, I'd be extremely lucky to have someone like you" - WELL THEN TAKE ME. I'M FREE. LOL.
About me:
Physically -
~I'm a semi-tall guy, around 5'10.
~I'm thin but muscular.
~I have dirty blonde/ brown hair.
~Changing colored eyes.
~A voice nice enough to melt all your safeguards and get right into your heart and weak spots.
~I do not have any tattoos or piercings. Though I would like to get some eventually.
If you'd like to see a picture of me just ask and I'll show you - IF I may see you as well, I simply just don't want a picture of me out there for anyone to see.
-If there's anything else you'd like to know just ask.
Otherwise -
~I do have 3 pet bunnies I would be more than happy to show you, they are extremely cute.
~I'm a very honest and down to earth guy.
~I'm very patient and easy going.
~I'm very curious and inquisitive. I will try to ask everything I can to learn all about you haha.
~I'm Very VERY Kind & Caring, I will probably ask how you are feeling a bajillion times a day, simply out of care for you.
~I can get pretty clingy, and will always want your attention and to be talking with you. If i have someone im interested in i wont want to talk to anyone else🤷‍♂️
~I'm very trustworthy - you can confide in me, and entrust your deepest secrets and I wont tell a soul.
~I'm a HUGE hopeless romantic, im old fashioned and will always try to impress you.
- I'm, a BIG softie even though I may look a smol bit intimidating, but I'd do just about anything to see you smile or laugh. And yes.., I do mean anything.
~I'm a big goof - I will get up to some silly shenanigans ALL the time, I will crack dumb jokes and send you memes and tik toks just to make you happy, even if its from across the room I'd wait to see your reaction lol.
~I'm extremely loyal, and would never even think of cheating.
~I will cook for you, and clean up too, even around the house, I'm very self productive and don't ask for much. Just don't forget to kiss the cook.
~I'd also love to just cuddle up and watch a movie or read a book together, anything to get us closer. Id try to take you out on dates whenever possible haha. I have a million SUPER romantic date ideas I have but have never had anyone interested enough in me to take out. Here's your chance ;)
~I will always want to share stuff I find interesting with you, and try to share every moment of every day with you. I'm not looking for someone who can only talk for a small amount of time, I want someone who's willing to put in all the effort I put into them back into me, it goes both ways. If I'm "with" someone you are my TOP priority nobody and nothing else would be. You would be the only person I'd truly want to talk to, so rest assured I would NEVER cheat, even more so because no one is interested in me - Hence why I'm here hahaha.
I'm sure there is more to me than this snippet but I cant think of more at the moment haha, so get to know me and find out more about me.
Some of my interests are: Engineering- I'm a nerd. I admit it. I love being technical and hands on, I love building things. All kinds of things, from furniture, machinery, and reverse engineering anything I find. I love learning how things work and trying to improve things.
Music - I prefer music with a very fast pace, or with some very meaningful lyrics I can relate to. I love to sing along to music and songs that have a deep meaning behind it I can sympathize with makes it all the better. Some bands I like are: Bad Omens, Beartooth, Demon Hunter, MIW, I9K - The list goes on. I'm a bit of a metalhead unfortunately.
TV Shows & Movies - I love watching shows, and I'd love to stream some shows and have some E-dates with you, to get to know you, or if you are close to me, maybe we could do it in person. Some shows I like or more of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Comedy, Action, stuff like: National Treasure, Halo, BattleBots, Rick and Morty, AHS, Anything Marvel or DC, The Witcher, Wednesday, The Sandman, The Magicians, The Umbrella Academy, ETC.
Gaming - Yes yes I know, Basic guy likes basic stuff. But gaming has been a thing for me since forever. I know most of you wont care or want to hear that, but I'll leave out the specifics on this part unless you are interested in that, MEGA Bonus points if you are.
Here's a lists of Cons to dating me-
~I'm not Ryan Reynolds. Disappointing, I know.
~I will fight you on what goes on pizza lol.
~I'm not rich.., Yet.
~I can't pronounce Worcestershire.
~I'm slightly forgetful, but with good reasoning.
~(Not really a con but- some might disagree) I still have ALL of my firsts, Do with that what you will c:
~I've got an endless pile of love and affection and no one to give it to! What a dilemma! Help me fix it?
Other than that I'll save the rest for a bit more of getting to know each other.
Here's a bit of what I'm looking in you:
~Preferably someone with lots of free time, and loves to chit chat. I'm seriously not interested in getting 1 message a day. Though I understand people get busy, I personally am not willing to try to learn about you and form something with 7 responses a week. Effort gets reciprocated and I appreciate the time you put in me.
~Physically: -I’m not personally attracted to anyone who’s “curvy/ chubby”, I apologize. Not a shallow thing, I just dont have the attraction chemical in my brain for that, I’m sorry. -If you’re shorter than me, thats a plus to me. -I love dimples, if you have those when you smile, bonus points 😊 - I’m not sure what else to put.., but as for nsfw wise find out😂
~I'm a sucker for a different accent other than American, and if you have an Posh English accent you have already won my heart.
~I'm also only really looking for someone within the ages of 18-35. I don't want anyone old enough to be my mom lol.
~I'd prefer (But not a must) people NOT on the other side of the world, as other time zones SUCK. I don't expect to find anyone who also has never had a boyfriend either, but that would be a real plus. I also don't mind a LDR, but I don't want that forever. But it gives us time to get to know each other.
But as for attributes I'm looking for in you:
~Someone who is above all else very very Loyal and would never cheat.
~Someone who is Honest, and will tell me the truth over a little white lie.
~Someone who is Kind & Caring, who'd constantly check on me, and accept me for who I am & help me improve day to day.
~Someone who is trustworthy, and I can count on to keep my secrets safe, or even just help me remember things.., I do tend to be somewhat forgetful.
~Someone who is very Patient and wants to see me succeed and will help me do so, just like I would help you. Even if its small day to day things, I would appreciate your company ANY time.
~I want a partner who is Affectionate, can reciprocate, and loves to snuggle and talk about their day, and what their interests are, and what makes them happy.
~Someone who can admit they get clingy or overprotective is a bonus.
~A partner with good communication is key, if something wrong we have to be able to talk about it.
~A partner who likes to game with me or at least watch me play would be a plus but not a requirement.
~Someone with a good sense of humor and like to joke around, I am a big goof after all and I love to joke around. Sending memes is always appreciated and good to cheer people up too!
~I'd prefer someone with the same music taste, but not a requirement, Plus if you wouldn't mind if I send you love songs occasionally that's a bonus, or sending me some back haha.
~Being willing to voice call is a must, Texting forever is not the way to go. I have to know what your voice is like haha, later on we can video call if you are comfortable with that. I prefer chatting on Discord because Reddit messages of any kind I'm sure you know are unreliable and sucky in general. So please send me your discord if you have one :)
~I would LOVE to see picture of your pets if you have any. Bonus points if it includes your beautiful self haha.
I'm sure there is more I'm looking for but I cant think of it right now haha, I will have to edit this when I think of it.
Please tell me about you as an opener! I told you a good bit about me, now its your turn haha.
Tell me some things like -
~What's your name?
~Where are you from?
~How old are you?
~What are your hobbies / interests?
~What about my post interested you?
~Where is my TV Remote?!
~Selfie? Pet pics?
~Hit me with your best joke or meme :)
~What's your favorite candy?
I'd LOVE to get to know you, and see where things go.
But yeah, I know it was long I'm sorry haha. Send me a message and lets get to know each other! :)

So, I'm in 9th grade. And i got caught smoking weed and being a normal horny teenager on snap. and when my mom caught me smoking weed, she let me take a walk to think about my actions. in reality i went to go smoke more with my friend. And i was dumb enough to video tape my friend coughing. and when i got home, my mom went through my phone and saw everything. she saw me flirting w guys, the video of my friend coughing from the weed. It's been almost a month now without my phone, or my ipad. (that i bought btw WITH MY OWN MONEY) I understand if my mom doesnt want me to have snap, but i recently have been getting locked out of my house, and i have an app on my phone that opens the garage. My mom NEVER unlocks the door. so im always waiting outside for an hour until my brother gets home. Its been almost a month, and ive been doing everything shes told me to do, without complaining. My mom did go through my snap and found stuff that a 9th grader should NOT be doing.(I will not be giving details.) Ive worked hard for my phone. How do i earn my phone and ipad back.

JEFFERSON CITY — The 2024 legislative session that ended Friday seemed more a referendum on Republican Party loyalty than a collective venture toward policy.
Constant infighting among Republicans over priorities and which ones were truly conservative led to days-long filibusters, name calling and the death of many conservative bills, including a top party priority: making it more difficult to amend the Missouri Constitution.
The divisions were so ingrained that the Senate Democrats, holding 10 seats in a 34-person body, delivered the deciding votes on some of the session's most important bills.
The hard-right Freedom Caucus has said their issue with mainstream Republican leaders in the legislature is a lack of dedication to “big red” policies like reducing personal property tax and preventing foreign countries from owning Missouri land.
Looking back at previous sessions, that argument doesn’t quite stack up. In the last several years Republicans have passed one of the nation's most strict abortion bans, limitations on transgender health care and enacted several income tax cuts.
The Freedom Caucus went to great lengths to disrupt Senate procedure and strong-arm leadership in an effort to pass their highest priority, changes to the initiative petition process. The impact was that they were tossed off Senate committees by the Republican leadership and later in the session failed to convince their Republican colleagues to embrace their priorities.
Less than two weeks before the constitutional deadline for the budget and with an important federal health care reimbursement that creates over $4 billion in revenue, Freedom Caucus members filibustered for 41 hours with the demand that leadership first bring up a resolution changing the approval threshold for state constitutional amendments.
Going into the last week of session, initiative petition reform still had not passed.
This week, the Freedom Caucus supported a motion among Republicans to end the Democratic filibuster on the issue through an extraordinary motion — the previous question — that hasn’t been used in the Senate since 2020. But only 16 Republicans would support that plan, which needed 18 votes, so it was never brought before the floor.
With that failure on Wednesday, the resolution was sent back to the House, which refused to budge on Thursday and sent it back to the Senate. On Friday the Senate adjourned without any further action and the effort died.
The failure to pass the resolution making initiative petition changes showed the inability of even a supermajority to act when splintered on such chaotic, disruptive lines.
Senate President Pro Tem. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said that this session showed that more can get done through compromise than confrontation.
"I'm walking out of here as a guy that has basically accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish and I did it in a way that was respectful and collegial," Rowden said in a press conference after adjournment.
Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, R-Independence, backed up that point saying, "I don't think Democrats won or Republicans lost (the session), I think decorum won."
Fiscal Year 2025 budget
A set of constitutionally mandated bills that fund the state's operations passed just three hours before the May 10 deadline. The final budget is $51.7 billion, $1 billion less than what the governor proposed, and about $2 billion less than last year's budget.
Three things stuck out in this year's budget: Infrastructure continued to be a major focus, spending was reduced to come in line with revenue projects and numerous members on both sides of the aisle were frustrated by the lack of transparency in the process.
Over the last two years, about $3.5 billion has been put into widening I-70 to six lanes statewide and I-44 in the southwestern part of the state. Both projects are about equally funded through debt and general revenue. The budget that was approved is expected to reduce the state surplus to about $1.5 billion.
Up-to-date numbers from the Office of Administration show a more rosy revenue picture than anticipated. So far Fiscal Year 2024 revenue receipts are up 2.7% year over year. That's far higher than the projected .2% growth in revenue used to craft the budget. If that revenue continues at the same pace and with a current general fund balance of over $4 billion there is a chance the state's surplus will hardly be tapped over the next year.
The declining budget also represents a return to normal state budgeting. Since the pandemic, states have received an unprecedented influx of federal COVID relief and infrastructure cash. That has led to record high appropriations that oftentimes don't get spent. In the FY 2023 budget, $10 billion of the $48 billion appropriated was never used. In 2018, only $2 billion of the $28 billion budget was left unspent.
No public comment was taken during the budget process and meetings between the House and Senate where the final budget package was finalized only existed behind closed doors. Senators only had a few minutes to review the bills before voting on them and House members had little time to debate as they passed the budget just hours before the constitutional deadline.
This backdoor process drew criticism from Democrats, Freedom Caucus members and the governor as many felt out of the loop.
Elections and initiative changes Fighting over changes that would make it harder to amend the Missouri Constitution again put the brakes on normal operating procedures on the Senate floor this session.
The Freedom Caucus has more than once sent the Senate into disarray over a piece of legislation that again failed to cross the finish line after years of attempts.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, would have asked voters whether the current threshold to amend the state constitution — a simple majority, or 50% plus one — should be raised to also require a majority vote in at least five of the state’s eight congressional districts.
This year’s proposal included two provisions that led the chamber to several lengthy filibusters totaling more than 100 hours. In addition to the threshold requirement, the provisions would ask voters to bar noncitizens from voting on constitutional amendments and to ban constitutional amendments sponsored by foreign governments.
These provisions are already state law and Democrats made a point of filibustering against those provisions.
Republicans this session also pushed a resolution that would ban ranked-choice voting in Missouri. SJR 78 was passed by the House on Friday. The question will now go to voters to decide.
Ranked-choice voting is a practice where voters rank their preferred candidates on a single ballot until a winner is declared after receiving a majority of the vote. The idea is to give voters more options once their top-ranked choice is eliminated by distributing their vote to their next preferred candidates. Opponents said the practice does the exact opposite by splitting the vote.
While it is not in state law, St. Louis practices a version of ranked-choice voting that will be protected if the ban passes.
Education bill An omnibus education bill, SB 727, raising the minimum teacher salary, allowing charter schools in Boone County and providing private school scholarships to low-income students, has already been signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson. The provisions of the bill, approved by the minimum vote required in the House, are estimated to cost the state $468 million.
The new state minimum salary for teachers is set at $40,000 a year beginning with the next school year and includes additional incentives for teachers with longer careers and those with master’s degrees.
The voucher-like scholarship program for private school students offers up to $6,375 per child for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and transportation. The program is funded by private donors who can claim tax credits.
The size of the bill ballooned from 12 pages to more than 150 because of amendments in the Senate. House leaders blocked amendments so that the bill would not have to be returned for another vote in the Senate out of concern it would die because of filibusters on other topics.
The law requires a public vote to approve any switch to four-day school weeks while providing incentives to schools that stick with five-day weeks.
New crime provisions A major public safety bill that passed during the final House session on Friday made changes to how children are viewed in the court system, increased punishment for various crimes and limited the authority of citizen police review boards, among other items.
The bill tracks legislation passed last year, except for two technical provisions that prompted a veto by Parson. The law increases the age under which children could be considered adults in felony offenses from 12 to 14.
On July 4, 2011, Blair Shanahan Lane was killed by reckless celebratory gunfire. A portion of the bill dubbed "Blair's Law" creates penalties for such activity. After the bill passed on a bipartisan basis Friday, House members rose for a round of applause directed at Blair Lane's mother, who was in attendance.
The bill also creates "Valentine's Law" raising punishments for fleeing a law enforcement stop. It is named for St. Louis County Detective Antonio Valentine, who died in a crash pursuing a person fleeing police.
And there is a provision known as "Max's Law" that increases punishment for injuring or killing law enforcement K-9 dogs.
Sludge regulations House Bill 2134, which would create new regulations for wastewater sludge under the Missouri Clean Water Act, gained bipartisan approval and was signed by Parson.
The bill gained traction as concerns about waste lagoons and land application practices by Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions have been brought to light. The new law prevents companies like Denali from applying waste as fertilizer without a regulatory process and testing.
Denali was previously forced to cease operations in Missouri after 6,000 gallons of slaughterhouse waste spilled into a field, causing residents to complain about the smell and runoff concerns.
Regulatory Sandbox Act The House Friday gave final approval to SB 894 creating an avenue for new companies offering innovative products to be excused from meeting some state regulations for the first 24 months that they begin offering innovative products to consumers.
Companies would be required to apply and meet certain criteria to participate in the program.
The bill also creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Economic Development that will promote policies and initiatives to support the growth of entrepreneurship of Missouri-based businesses with less than ten employees.
Eviction moratorium A bill passed on Friday barred any municipality from enacting an eviction moratorium. The bill, SB 865, comes in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic when cities across the country prevented landlords from evicting tenets. Realtors and apartment associations spoke in favor of the bill as they feel moratoriums violate the rights of property owners.
National Guard deployment Parson signed a bill on May 8 approving additional funding for a Missouri National Guard deployment to the southern border. The governor traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, to sign House Bill 2016 into law and visit with members who have been deployed since March.
“The battle that we’re fighting down here at the border is keeping it from happening in our own borders, in our own state in Missouri,” Parson said before signing the bill.
Members of the National Guard are assisting with Operation Lone Star after being invited by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Operation Lone Star is a state-level border security effort at the Texas-Mexico border that began in 2021.
The $2.2 million in funding supports the operations of approximately 200 National Guard members and 22 Missouri State Highway Patrol officers for 90 days. Since the start of their mission, only around 50 guardsmen and 22 members of the highway patrol have served in Texas.
Sports wagering moves ahead After years of failed attempts to get legalization through the Missouri General Assembly, sports gambling appears to have found a more promising path.
Early in May, the Winning for Missouri Education committee along with a coaltion of Missouri professional sports teams submitted over 340,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to the Secretary of State's office desk.
If the Secretary of State verifies that enough signatures are genuine, the question would be put to voters in November. Thirty-eight other states have legalized some form of sports wagering.
The petition proposes a 10% tax on wagers to be collected by the Department of Revenue, deposited into the state treasury and credit to the "Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund," raising a projected $35 million.
Approximately $5 million in funds from the sports wagering tax would go into a fund to help compulsive gamblers and the rest would go to public school and higher education programs.
Child tax credits Bipartisan support and a State of the State address plug by Parson helped two bills, SB 742 and HB 1488, which would add provisions allowing for tax credits related to child care services to reach the Senate floor for consideration.
However, opposition from Freedom Caucus members of the Senate stalled action both in an effort to advance bills they felt deserved more priority and out of a general dislike of tax credits. The Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, while the House bill is sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph.
Protecting IVF House and Senate bills to protect in vitro fertilization clinics got a flurry of attention but did not advance following an Alabama state court ruling that relied on a state abortion ban to restrict in vitro fertilization clinics.
The Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis ruled in 2016 that IVF-created embryos were a matter of “marital property of special order.” This has provided legal protection for doctors and patients in the IVF field.
However, that court ruling cited abortion protection offered by Roe Vs. Wade, which was overturned in 2022. With Missouri having a similar abortion ban to the one in Alabama, leading advocates and lawmakers alike are concerned about what could lie ahead.
Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, filed SB 1486 which would specify that Missouri's abortion ban does not have a definition that includes in vitro fertilization embryos that have not been implanted in a body. Rep. Bill Allen, R-Kansas City, filed House Bill 2845 which states that the IVF process is protected under law and no one can be prosecuted for undergoing or administrating IVF.
Here is what happened to other legislative topics that garnered attention during the session but did not pass:
Protections for pesticide maker: HB 2763, sponsored by Rep. Dane Diehl, R-Butler, would have protected pesticide manufacturers from claims that they failed to warn consumers of possible cancer risks in their products as long as the federal Environmental Protection Agency has approved those products.
Much of the debate before the House approved the bill focused on Bayer, the company with U.S. headquarters in St. Louis that purchased Monsanto, the original manufacturer of RoundUp pesticide. According to The Associated Press, the company is seeking to stem a tide of lawsuits claiming that Bayer’s products cause cancer.
Diehl, a farmer, said he drafted the legislation out of fear that Bayer would be forced to pull RoundUp off of the market, harming farmers ability to grow crops. The bill never made it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Presidential primaries: New voting laws passed in 2022 eliminated the presidential primary in Missouri. Following low voter turnout in this year’s Republican presidential caucus, SB 1120 and HB 2618, which would reinstate presidential primaries, passed out of their respective committees. The House bill passed with amendments that would create new residency restrictions for candidates vying for U.S. Congress. Ultimately, neither bill got floor consideration.
The Taylor Swift Act: Bills in both the House and Senate sought to address the impact of problematic images created by artificial intelligence but did not make it into law. While ten states provide some form of retribution for this type of crime, only Minnesota and New York statutes allow for both civil and criminal relief.
The Taylor Swift Act, House Bill 2573, offered by Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, targeted fake pornographic images. The bill was approved by the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology but never received a floor vote. The name of the bill referred to explicit AI-created images of the singer that went viral in January.
A similar bill, Senate Bill 1424, sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, did not get a hearing.
Media Literacy: Companion bills, House Bill 1513 and Senate Bill 1311, aimed to teach students about media and digital literacy. Neither bill advanced.
Danny's Law: Legislation that sought to protect 911 callers from prosecution when calling to report a hazing incident stalled in the House. The bill was named after former University of Missouri student Danny Santulli, who suffered irreparable brain damage after drinking too much when pledging a fraternity at MU in the fall of 2021.
Danny’s Law was meant to offer exoneration to those involved in hazing incidents if they’re the first to call for emergency help.
“As the mother of three college-age men, I understand this is a major issue,” said Rep. Jo Doll, D-St. Louis, who spoke during a March 7 committee hearing. “It’s really important to give kids the ability to call 911 without being afraid of the consequences to them.”
Protecting major water users: House Bill 2669, which sought to limit information being released to the public about major water users, was approved by a House committee but failed to get a floor vote. The bill was meant to protect the information of Missouri’s family farmers and would keep information about individually identifiable water users from being disclosed to the public.
Highway Commission changes: A bill, House Bill 2568, that would have changed the makeup of the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission was voted down in a committee in Apri. Two other bills that would have either changed the makeup of the commission or done away with it altogether failed to move forward after being the subject of public hearings in early February.
Nursing restrictions: Missouri is one of only a few states not to allow nurse practitioners to practice independently without the authority of a physician. A House committee passed an amended version of one bill, HB 1773, sponsored by Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green, that would allow nurses to practice independently after 6,000 hours of work under a physician's supervision. The bill was never placed on the House calendar, a roadblock which some nurses point to opposition from House Floor Leader Rep. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit.
Dmitry Martirosov, Molly Miller, Aidan Pittman, Grant Green and Madeline Shannon contributed to this story.
Cover image: State Representative Chantelle Nickson-Clark(cq) throws her papers at the end of the legislative session on Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City. Nickson-Clark was the first Black woman elected to represent District 67 in St. Louis County in Nov. 2022.

I have an Ironwood XL. Used about 10 times then I got an igniter not found fault (8 hours into a cook) and it hasn’t worked since.
It’s been months now between waiting for parts to arrive. Chance to fit them. Then restarting the process when it doesn’t work.
I’ve had replacement parts for every component. New igniter assembly. New mother board. All new cables. Still same fault.
I think it’s firmware but Traeger haven’t been able to fix it.
After spending near £3000 on this dream grill and now having g not been able to use it for months I’m so fed up and just want my money back.
Anyone else had this fault?

I’m not kidding, I’ll write anything. I simply do not care anymore. Do you think you have talent? Do you think you don’t? Doesn’t matter, I’ll write that erotica anyway. I’ll lie all the way to the moon for a politician and paint you a god instead of a nobody with money. Just please give me money, I am begging you.
Now, I see you may be wondering, why hire me, an uneducated sad little man living alone in a trailer park after his wife kicked him out of his own house. Why not hire Phil instead? He’s a lawyer, he knows how to write, doesn’t he? And he sure does make a lot of money, haha. I will have to point out, however, that the fact is that his chiseled jawline and dreamy eyes really do not make up for a ridiculous lack of intelligence — seriously, Imma murder that sonbitch and he doesn’t even see it coming. Acts all nice like, “We’re all friends here, please put down the pencil”, as if I couldn’t see through his handsome facade and light blue eyes alight like the sea on a summer’s day. Guy can’t count to ten to save his life without first taking a break to bang my whore of a wife!
Now, I hope you understand my situation. I’ve been in love with her since I was only a child — without the addition of man-. When you love someone so much for such a long time, eventually you start to forget what it’s like without them — then it hits you in the face. Every time I was accused of plagiarism, racism, sexism, xenophobism, disdain for truthfulness, and general vileness of character, she was always there to be disappointed. She waited on me coming home just to tell me how much she pitied me, how sorry she felt that I of all people was forced to be alive when so many good ones died for nothing. She was my rock, my reef in a turbulent sea and I miss her like deserts miss the rain.
Anyway, your money will go towards a good cause, the best cause imaginable. I will win her back if it takes all my remaining sanity. If all else fails, at the least I can buy a revolver and live out my childhood dream of recreating the opening of Shawshank Redemption for real this time.
Thanks in advance, kind people, you are my last remaining hope and hold onto this cruel reality. Cheers!

I have had to move back in with my father in florida for some time now and I live off of SSI due to my chronic pain and mirganes. Everything was fine until SSI cut my payments by more than half with not much explanation. I’ve been trying to work but I haven’t found any luck with finding jobs. I used to be able to supply for myself and my rabbit max but ever since my SSI got cut we have been struggling month by month. I still pay my father the same amount I originally was paying him when I initially got there ($400), with how much I’m getting now I barely can feed my rabbit let alone myself. He can’t afford to help me any more than letting me pay the 400$ to live there since I wouldn’t find any where else to go for that low of a price. I’ve been getting by with the few loans I’ve taken out but now I have nothing and more debt than with I started with. I know I panicked and that’s why I did what I did, but I genuinely just don’t know what to do anymore. I really really just need some help; and I’ll be able to give it back at the beginning of next month in the beginning because that’s when the SSI payments are deposited. I’m asking for 60$, that will be enough for all of the hay I need for Max for the rest of the month and will leave me with enough money to get myself meat to cook for the month

My mother had been ill for my entire life. Lots of chronic illness and things they couldn't quite pin down to an exact cause, but were nonetheless there. She had cancer twice in my life, and that was the easy stuff compared to this. My parents didn't get along and were separated. When I was around 10~ she made a deal with my dad. She would get back with him on the condition he helped raise my sister and I.
Well, to say the least, he was still a pretty shitty person. I don't think he has a bad heart, but he certainly is not upto the task of taking care of other human beings. Taking care of my mother essentially got sicced off to my sister and I. She would have grand-mal seizures, blood pool in her legs and come out off blisters that would develop all black, have these weird age regression episodes and all sorts of other medical disasters. She was extremely narcoleptic between when I was about 10 and 16 (this is when she had the regression things too). She also had a rare condition called Addison's which means she couldn't really control her emotional responses and didn't produce the proper hormones. So when my dad would be a dick it'd put her into shock and she'd start turning blue. When this happened you'd have to give her a solu-cortef emergency injection to bring her back into a state of not dying from shock.
My dad was of course clueless and left this all up to my sister and I when we were adolescents, pre-teens and teenagers. I had severe social anxiety my entire life and stunted social development. My mom advocated to put me into home-school after 7th grade since she thought I might do something drastic. I was in home school until we moved to be with my dad as well because of it. She was always my strongest advocate and understood me like no one else on the planet did.
Anyways, to continue her little story. I got sent off to a specialty clinic thousands of miles away with her. Just her and I no one else when I was 14. I lived in a hotel for about a year and then in an apartment near the clinic after that for another year with her. Taking care of her when she could barely move. There was a good half dozen times she was on the brink of death and we barely scrapped by. There was times her heart literally stopped or she completely ceased breathing only to be resuscitated. She would forget who I was for days at a time and regress to being a teenager. She would think I was her brother who molested her when she was little and get moderately violent or irritable towards me (understandably, from her perspective. I do not hold it against her at all). In her times of lucidity she begged me to return to my home with my father. She forced me since she thought she'd really hurt me and my bestfriends father (not even my own father) drove all the way down and picked me up. He drove me thousands of miles all the way back. My dad sent my sister out to take care of her instead for the last year (of 3 she spent down there).
Well, eventually she and my sister came back. I started working at 16 pretty much right after I got home because university was certainly not in the cards economically anymore. When they returned my mom was functional enough to live somewhat normally. She was permanently immune-compromised and prone to fatigue so she was really in no state to work or anything of that sort, but my dad essentially forced her to start working after a few years. He refused to help fix her car (which had just been sitting in the garage rotting away while she had been sick all this time) and would get rough with my sister and I. This would upset my mom so much every-time that she would need her emergency injection or go into seizures. Sometimes he would pin her down or push her down and I would have to fight him off of her and this would make him more and more upset.
My sister left and ex-communicated him. So it was just my mom and I. She secretly stashed away some of her money and came up with a little plot to escape from my dad. Hired a traveling mechanic to fix her car, got extra money from her brother who she barely talked to in years because of history from their childhood. It was a whole situation. She was working in home care for elderly people and turns out one of my dad's childhood friends was on disability. So she took him in so she could take care of him in the comfort of our own home. Less stress, easier, etc.... My dad was naturally pissed for reasons only god knows for her being able to fix her car.
Anyways she finally had enough money. Her and chuck hatched an idea that she takes care of him, she gets paid, and I help with the rest of the apartment cost. I chose last second to stay with my dad. The rationale was I've seen my father have suicidal episodes and knew he was deeply troubled and not fit for the world. He is very old fashioned, only worked for his family, retired at 44 (and then went destitute because the medical debt). I mean this dude can not use a phone to save his life.... He has never written a resume because he never had to. He alienates everyone he has ever known because his ego does not match his status because of our families legacy. He thinks he is some brilliant person that knows all and is infallible no matter what. If you even challenge him he gets violently upset and angry. BUT I still was worried about him. So I stayed with him because I knew he'd be screwed alone.
My mother is much smarter than him.... So I thought she'd be okay with the situation. She was still Ill but I think I was blind to it. Having experienced it my entire life..... So I didn't go with her. Because of her fragile constitution even before she left she had a hip that had broken (and fused back together, without her even knowing), several broken ribs that had done the same, broken knee and a collapsed lung. She also got / had constant shingles because her immune system just couldn't stop it.
Anywho. My mom had been having a rough time after 5 or so months... Seemed the guy she was taking care of was running her super ragged and she was getting super worn down. Due to my stunted development I couldn't drive and my dad was no help there either. He just cash cowed me for my work money like he did to my mother. I was trying to save for a car and driving classes (I'm 24) so I could get a car and visit my mom and help her.
I finally had the resolve... enough of my dad... to admit to her that I should have gone with her. We decided I'd get a car and we would move in together just her and I. Go someplace far away and the rest would be history. She was going to be fine. I was going to be fine. I missed her dearly. When she was gone for 10 months I only saw her face twice when she dropped by. She would hug me and tell me how much she loved and misses me. She absolutely didn't want to see my dads face so I couldn't get him to bring me to where she lived. She didn't want him to know where she was in general.
She was dead less than 48 hours after we had that phone call. She overdosed on her pain medication she had taken for 20+ years while in the ICU (she was in the ICU a lot). The last person she talked to was my grandmother saying she felt like she couldn't breathe and is suffocating. I think it was an accident but I'll never know.
I know the guy she was taking care of was abusing her and that is when I decided that we should move in together. About a week before she died he shit on her carpet and would drag a bunch of homeless people into their apartment and do drugs while she was in the hospital. She kept putting him into rehab and he kept just leaving and coming back. It turns out he fakes a lot of his disability so the government helps him and so he can push people around and is just a drug addict asshole. Last conversation I ever had with her was like 36 hours before she died she asked to borrow money for her phone bill. I of course gave it to her.
After she died and we got the news, by the time we got to her apartment for her belongings everything was taken. Her safe was broken into. The entire place was desecrated and destroyed and looted. Her phone, cards, wallet, purse, car... everything gone. Luckily they left most of the sentimental stuff. There was only 2 people that could have robbed her and the police just kinda don't care.
My dad has been heartless about the whole thing. He doesn't seem to care that much and has been pushing me around harder than ever. Asking me for super large rent payments to live in his house when I told him I need to get a car. It's like he wants me to be imprisoned to him like he imprisoned my mother. Since if I leave he will be absolutely alone. I pay for anything he asks me to already. Thousands of dollars. I didn't mind helping.
I hurt so much inside, since if I went with my mom... chances are she would still be alive right now. She wouldn't have to stress herself nearly as bad ending up in the ICU... getting out and going back to work and repeating. She was always so sick her ending up in the ICU didn't even set off my mental alarms. I would have never known she was so close to death.
She was truly the closest person to me in the entire world. Not a single person was ever more important to me. She made me who I am. She was the only person I saw as not only my parent but an emotional confident. She advocated for me my entire life. She understood me. She in spite of all her own trouble was my rock and my comfort. I loved her with all my heart and I grieve her loss with that and more.
I fear for all the times only her and I shared. Only I have those memories now. I worry about the slow sands of time warping my memories and thoughts. I can never ask her "is that how you remember that". I can never ask her what she thinks of something or for her wisdom. So much of my life just with her it's like it never existed since it only exists within me now. I can never be assured the voice in my head matches her voice in life. I can never be sure she didn't die in loneliness because I didn't make a good enough effort to visit her by my own means.
She was only 48. The idea I'll have lived exactly half my life without her when I reach her age is scary to me. Even more frightening yet is the idea that once I'm old I'll have lived only a fraction of my life with her. She will fade in my memory into the distant past; a nostalgia. I fear becoming someone she wouldn't recognize. I fear every day I have to continue to live without her. When I see the blue skies I think about how it's a blue sky she will never have seen. When I see a TV show I think she would have liked it hurts me to think that I'll never know for sure. It devastates me all the questions I didn't ask her that I'll never know the answer to. What flowers did you enjoy mom?
I wish I would have been less frugal and done more for holidays and her birthday. I so desperately wish for even one hour to talk to her about all this in a final parting.
And what makes me feel just a little better? She had mostly online friends. A self proclaimed recluse. She was very much like me and shy herself. Introverted and just interested in what she was interested in without a care in the world. A lot of her friends have messaged me and other people from throughout our lives telling me how much I resemble her. Not only her physical likeness but in personality. She of course would say this to me herself when she was alive. It comforts me in a weird way to know that I'm so much like her, that I am truly in every way her son, that if I like or dislike something I can say with some confidence she probably feels the same. In a way I feel like I can really experience the things she wanted to do for her. This is the only thing that drives me forward right now. I had been incredibly suicidal until I made this realization.
It also comforts me to know how much people cared for her even when she was in her own world away from the world. When people tell me I have her kind heart and gentle soul I realize that those are qualities they saw in her and respected. And I feel great pride that people would see her in me because I loved her so dearly.
Finding meaning without the person you cared for more than anything is truly a Sisyphean task.
Love you forever and ever mom, I'll never forget you. I'll forever be your little pessimist!

I’m a Scorpio & have always had trouble with change. Big or small it was hard for me. For the last year changes have occurred, favorable & unfavorable but I have this internal feeling to trust what’s happening even if I don’t understand. I’m in the midst of uncertainty & walking into the unknown & I’ve been crying about it on and off but I feel numb? Or calmer about it? . Is this growth or has this happened so many times & just don’t care?

So, I'm 14, in 9th grade. And i got caught smoking weed and being a normal horny teenager on snap. and when my mom caught me smoking weed, she let me take a walk to think about my actions. in reality i went to go smoke more with my friend. And i was dumb enough to video tape my friend coughing. and when i got home, my mom went through my phone and saw everything. she saw me flirting w guys, the video of my friend coughing from the weed. It's been almost a month now without my phone, or my ipad. (that i bought btw WITH MY OWN MONEY) I understand if my mom doesnt want me to have snap, but i recently have been getting locked out of my house, and i have an app on my phone that opens the garage. My mom NEVER unlocks the door. so im always waiting outside for an hour until my brother gets home. Its been almost a month, and ive been doing everything shes told me to do, without complaining. How do i earn my phone and ipad back.

Week 0: CBSE - 49 Week 1: NBME 29 - 51 Week 2: New free 120 - 58* Week 3: USWA 2 - 53 Week 4: NBME 31 - 61 (90% chance passing)
My dedicated was 6 weeks and I didn’t take any more NBMEs or other assessments two weeks out from the exam. I didn’t want to burn myself out and felt that the confidence boost from passing an NBME was what I wanted going into the exam; didn’t want to mess with that by taking another and failing. But I think here you just have to know yourself to know how big of a risk that is. I figured if I had a 90% chance of passing within one week and I studied hard for two, then i would at least stay at 90% by the time exam day came.
*idk why I took the new free 120 so early. Not the best idea but I guess it doesn’t truly matter in the end
▶️ Study methods - focused on UWORLD to teach me what I needed to learn or review. ~68% complete with an average of 50%. Timed tutor because I preferred to learn what I miss right then and there; going back to review felt like more inertia. Learning it right on the spot also helps with the philosophy that one solidly reviewed block is better than two mediocrely reviewed ones. I did 2 of my weakest organ systems first and then switched to doing Qs by subject because that’s effectively doing mixed blocks by system. And when I did subjects like biochem and micro and pharm those felt more “discrete.” Basically what I mean is, by doing questions those subjects could be brute-force memorized and without having to understand an underlying unifying system like with renal physiology or something. Seemed like a faster way to maximize points on the exam.

• annotated FA and referred to it while doing questions. This helped me reread my old margin notes from class, gain familiarity with the chapter layout, and added a layer of passive review. I remembered a decent amount just from skimming through tables and whatever in the chapters as I did UWorld questions
  
• made ankis of incorrects or unsuspended relevant cards from anking. Only kept up with them for 4/6 weeks but that still helped. Especially since I started with my weakest subjects so those ankis had been seen the most times by the end of dedicated
  
• read pathoma chapters if I needed them for a particular system. Read 1-3 the week of step
  
• dirty medicine videos here and there. Started off my routine with them every morning because it was just a few min time investment and a nice warmup but the knowledge adds up over time
  

▶️ More thoughts - UWORLD, PATHOMA, FA = all I needed. I knew before dedicated that I wanted to just home in on core resources only - I didn’t wake up at 6 am to study every day or anything like that. I honestly didn’t do as much as I wanted or maybe should have but I did focus completely when I studied - ⭐️ my focus as I built and executed a study routine was ALWAYS on getting the pass and the most useful knowledge for the LEAST time and effort. If it took 5 assessments I wouldn’t do 6, for example. So honestly I possibly cut corners but that was always for efficiency/time constraints rather than just not wanting to study. - had a few study buddies I met with weekly. Great for maintaining morale, which can’t be underestimated because a lot of dedicated is psychological - dirty med biohacking video was helpful for the day before and day of the exam
Good luck!!!!