Questions on workers compensation include vacation pay
learn programming
2009.09.24 06:25 learn programming
A subreddit for all questions related to programming in any language.
2014.07.27 22:35 thefriendlypickle For Canucks who love makeup and everything beauty-related!
Tips and tricks for Canadians who love makeup.
2008.03.13 22:19 PC Gaming
For PC gaming news and discussion!
2024.05.18 14:10 Money-Quantity-1845 How to identify the skills that will make you a millionaire
This is geared towards deciding what kind of service/consulting business you can start, or course you could create and sell. But also works for figuring out what kind of higher-paying job you can get, product-based business, etc.
PHASE 1: IDENTIFY
Take 30 minutes today, and 30 minutes tomorrow. Actually invest this time, over two separate days. It works 1000% better that way.
Write down as many answers as you can to the following questions:
1) What tasks are you good at?
(e.g. running, fixing cars, making girls laugh, brewing good coffee)
2) What skills have you learned well?
(e.g. programming, writing viral tweets, a sport)
3) What challenges have you overcome in life?
(e.g. fixed a stutter, overcome a phobia of X, dug yourself out of debt, lost 50 lbs)
4) In jobs you've had, what tasks did you do well at? Especially if you became the "go-to" guy when anyone needed this?
(e.g. calming down mad customers, creating excel spreadsheets, selling)
5) What's easy for you, that's hard for other people?
(finding great photo ops, getting girls' numbers, picking winning stocks)
Keep going until you get a MINIMUM of 30 things. 50 is better. If you don't have at least 30, think harder, and/or start asking friends what you're good at (this is a good thing to do anyway)
Once you have done that:
6) Find at least two friends and family who have known you for years. Ask them: "What have you noticed I am good at?" Ask them in a way that they can take time to give a thoughtful and thorough response (over text works well, since then you have a written record.) If they need prompting, help them with questions like:
PHASE 2: CLASSIFY
Get a sheet of blank paper, divide it into 4 quadrants. Along the top, write "FEW <-> MANY". On the side, write "LOW <-> HIGH" (but write it sideways).
Take every single item you came up with in Phase 1, and classify it in two ways:
1) FEW vs MANY - How many people does this appeal to?
(e.g. Few: tuning your race car, advanced mathematics.
Many: get a raise at work, get more dates (for guys), find a great guy and keep him (for gals))
2) LOW vs HIGH price - what are people willing to PAY for this?
(e.g. Low: folding clothes, digging dirt, posting comments on twitter, how to throw a baseball
High: Writing advertisements that sell, finally getting in shape after failing at it for 20 years, launching a new high-paying career)
Write each into one of the 4 quadrants on your sheet of paper. If you're not sure, just guess - sort through them quickly, your first impression is fine.
PHASE 3: SORT
The sweet spot is MANY and HIGH PRICE. If you can solve a problem that many people have, and they're willing to pay an arm and a leg for, and you can actually solve that problem for people - that's the easiest to monetize.
For FEW and LOW price - forget about those.
In fact, forget about most LOW price - No one's going to give you stacks of cash for your high-end agency or course for repairing holes in socks.
The exception is something that is you feel you can serve to MANY people, at a profit. You come up with a unique product that you can sell worldwide through Walmart, for example.
Your best bets will probably be on the HIGH end. The more people who want it, the better.
PHASE 4: FILTER
Make a spreadsheet (or write it on paper) with your ideas in the first column, and then five more columns with these labels:
PHASE 5: EXECUTE
Test it. Create an idea for how to make money on it - whether that's building a business around it (ideally), or getting a job/side hustle - and put that plan into action.
It'll either work or it won't. You'll either make $ or you won't. If not, asking people for feedback in this room. You may need to pick a different idea. Maybe the idea's great, and you need to execute differently.
But keep going, learn from your experiences, and NEVER GIVE UP. There is no failure, you either learn or succeed. The only possible failure is doing nothing and letting time pass by unused.
PRODUCTIVITY WHILE COOLING OFF.
A productive activity that takes very little effort is reading through the money room and spend a good amount of time going through it.
You’ll see how hundreds of guys are making real life building money. Go through them all, and find 5 that appeal to you, and the telegram username of who’s making money that way.
You should be able to answer basic questions. How much do they make monthly from that income source? How long did it take to make that income? How long did it take to get their first payday from that income source? Did they have any prior skills that were required to be able to start that income source? Etc.
submitted by Money-Quantity-1845 to u/Money-Quantity-1845 [link] [comments]
PHASE 1: IDENTIFY
Take 30 minutes today, and 30 minutes tomorrow. Actually invest this time, over two separate days. It works 1000% better that way.
Write down as many answers as you can to the following questions:
1) What tasks are you good at?
(e.g. running, fixing cars, making girls laugh, brewing good coffee)
2) What skills have you learned well?
(e.g. programming, writing viral tweets, a sport)
3) What challenges have you overcome in life?
(e.g. fixed a stutter, overcome a phobia of X, dug yourself out of debt, lost 50 lbs)
4) In jobs you've had, what tasks did you do well at? Especially if you became the "go-to" guy when anyone needed this?
(e.g. calming down mad customers, creating excel spreadsheets, selling)
5) What's easy for you, that's hard for other people?
(finding great photo ops, getting girls' numbers, picking winning stocks)
Keep going until you get a MINIMUM of 30 things. 50 is better. If you don't have at least 30, think harder, and/or start asking friends what you're good at (this is a good thing to do anyway)
Once you have done that:
6) Find at least two friends and family who have known you for years. Ask them: "What have you noticed I am good at?" Ask them in a way that they can take time to give a thoughtful and thorough response (over text works well, since then you have a written record.) If they need prompting, help them with questions like:
- "What do you mean by X?"
- "Tell me more about X."
- "Can you elaborate?"
- "What else have you noticed I am good at?"
PHASE 2: CLASSIFY
Get a sheet of blank paper, divide it into 4 quadrants. Along the top, write "FEW <-> MANY". On the side, write "LOW <-> HIGH" (but write it sideways).
Take every single item you came up with in Phase 1, and classify it in two ways:
1) FEW vs MANY - How many people does this appeal to?
(e.g. Few: tuning your race car, advanced mathematics.
Many: get a raise at work, get more dates (for guys), find a great guy and keep him (for gals))
2) LOW vs HIGH price - what are people willing to PAY for this?
(e.g. Low: folding clothes, digging dirt, posting comments on twitter, how to throw a baseball
High: Writing advertisements that sell, finally getting in shape after failing at it for 20 years, launching a new high-paying career)
Write each into one of the 4 quadrants on your sheet of paper. If you're not sure, just guess - sort through them quickly, your first impression is fine.
PHASE 3: SORT
The sweet spot is MANY and HIGH PRICE. If you can solve a problem that many people have, and they're willing to pay an arm and a leg for, and you can actually solve that problem for people - that's the easiest to monetize.
For FEW and LOW price - forget about those.
In fact, forget about most LOW price - No one's going to give you stacks of cash for your high-end agency or course for repairing holes in socks.
The exception is something that is you feel you can serve to MANY people, at a profit. You come up with a unique product that you can sell worldwide through Walmart, for example.
Your best bets will probably be on the HIGH end. The more people who want it, the better.
PHASE 4: FILTER
Make a spreadsheet (or write it on paper) with your ideas in the first column, and then five more columns with these labels:
- Need
- Entry
- Control
- Scale
- Timing
- NEED. Is this something people desperately need? The more it is a "need" rather than a "want", people are more likely to pay for it.
[5 = desperately need, 1 = completely optional] - ENTRY. How easy is it for a competitor to clone your business, and compete with you? Barriers can include copyright/IP law protections, unique reputation or brand, ingrained habits of the market, etc.
[5 = difficult to clone and compete, 1 = no barrier to competing] - CONTROL: Do you have control over the product or service being sold, your pricing, etc.? Or is it controlled by some other entity (e.g. with affiliate marketing)?
[5 = you have full control over every aspect of the business, 1 = some other entity has full control] - SCALE: If it becomes profitable, can you ramp up sales (and profit) by a factor of 10? 100? 1,000? What is the MAXIMUM monthly profit this may grow to?
AND: how easily can it ramp up to that limit?
Do you have to hire, train and retain expensive employees to scale it?
Or can you use automation to scale up without effort?
A food cart on a street corner has a low upper limit to its profit. A nationwide restaurant chain can scale that 1000x, but that will cost a lot of money and time. In contrast, a SaaS computer program can quickly scale up worldwide, maybe even without having to bother hiring any employees at all.
[5 = scale to the moon easily, 1 = cannot scale high or will be difficult/expensive to scale] - TIMING - How much of YOUR time is required for the day-to-day operation? At the beginning, of course you will be fully involved. But is there at least a potential path to where it can continue to earn money without requiring a lot of your time?
[5 = you can eventually drop off the grid for a month and it continues printing money, 1 = it only ever earns money while you are giving it your full attention]
PHASE 5: EXECUTE
Test it. Create an idea for how to make money on it - whether that's building a business around it (ideally), or getting a job/side hustle - and put that plan into action.
It'll either work or it won't. You'll either make $ or you won't. If not, asking people for feedback in this room. You may need to pick a different idea. Maybe the idea's great, and you need to execute differently.
But keep going, learn from your experiences, and NEVER GIVE UP. There is no failure, you either learn or succeed. The only possible failure is doing nothing and letting time pass by unused.
PRODUCTIVITY WHILE COOLING OFF.
A productive activity that takes very little effort is reading through the money room and spend a good amount of time going through it.
You’ll see how hundreds of guys are making real life building money. Go through them all, and find 5 that appeal to you, and the telegram username of who’s making money that way.
You should be able to answer basic questions. How much do they make monthly from that income source? How long did it take to make that income? How long did it take to get their first payday from that income source? Did they have any prior skills that were required to be able to start that income source? Etc.
2024.05.18 14:06 SamyCom A Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Fulfilling Relationship
The human desire for connection is fundamental. We crave companionship, intimacy, and the shared journey of life with someone special. But navigating the often-murky waters of starting a relationship can feel daunting. Fear not, love seekers! This guide equips you with the tools and knowledge to embark on this exciting adventure with confidence.
Understanding Yourself: The Foundation for Healthy Relationships
Before venturing out, take time for self-discovery. Reflect on your values, dealbreakers, and what you seek in a partner. What are your passions? What kind of lifestyle do you envision? Being clear on these aspects allows you to attract someone compatible and build a relationship grounded in shared goals and values.
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence:
Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others, is crucial for navigating any relationship, romantic or otherwise. Practice self-awareness by identifying your emotions and their triggers. Learn healthy communication skills, including active listening and expressing your needs assertively. Honing these skills fosters empathy, creating a foundation for open and honest communication with a potential partner.
Building a Strong Support System:
Strong friendships and a supportive network enrich your life and can be a source of strength when forming new relationships. Surround yourself with positive, like-minded individuals who uplift and encourage you. They can offer valuable perspectives and be your cheerleaders throughout the dating journey.
Expanding Your Horizons: Where to Meet Potential Partners
Gone are the days of relying solely on chance encounters. The modern world offers a plethora of ways to connect with people who share your interests. Here are some options to consider:
The first date is like the opening chapter of a book. Make an effort to dress appropriately for the occasion, arrive on time, and display good manners. Conversation is key! Here are some tips to foster connection:
The initial stages of a relationship are exciting but can also be confusing. Set healthy boundaries around physical intimacy and communication frequency. Don't rush things - allow the relationship to progress naturally. Here are some additional points to consider:
Rejection is a natural part of the dating experience. Learn from these experiences and don't take them personally. Evaluate what you might have learned and use it to make informed choices going forward. It's important to maintain a positive outlook and approach future encounters with an open mind.
Cultivating a Healthy Relationship: Beyond the Spark
Attraction is essential, but a lasting relationship requires more. Here are some key aspects to nurture once you've found someone special:
submitted by SamyCom to love_kiss [link] [comments]
Understanding Yourself: The Foundation for Healthy Relationships
Before venturing out, take time for self-discovery. Reflect on your values, dealbreakers, and what you seek in a partner. What are your passions? What kind of lifestyle do you envision? Being clear on these aspects allows you to attract someone compatible and build a relationship grounded in shared goals and values.
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence:
Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others, is crucial for navigating any relationship, romantic or otherwise. Practice self-awareness by identifying your emotions and their triggers. Learn healthy communication skills, including active listening and expressing your needs assertively. Honing these skills fosters empathy, creating a foundation for open and honest communication with a potential partner.
Building a Strong Support System:
Strong friendships and a supportive network enrich your life and can be a source of strength when forming new relationships. Surround yourself with positive, like-minded individuals who uplift and encourage you. They can offer valuable perspectives and be your cheerleaders throughout the dating journey.
Expanding Your Horizons: Where to Meet Potential Partners
Gone are the days of relying solely on chance encounters. The modern world offers a plethora of ways to connect with people who share your interests. Here are some options to consider:
- Social Activities and Hobbies: Join clubs, groups, or classes based on your passions. Not only will you learn something new, but you'll also surround yourself with people who share your enthusiasm, creating a natural springboard for conversation.
- Volunteer Work: Giving back to your community is not only rewarding but provides opportunities to meet like-minded people who value shared goals.
- Online Dating Platforms: Utilize dating apps and websites with a focus on compatibility and shared interests. Create a clear profile that reflects your personality and values to attract potential partners who align with you.
The first date is like the opening chapter of a book. Make an effort to dress appropriately for the occasion, arrive on time, and display good manners. Conversation is key! Here are some tips to foster connection:
- Be Present: Put away your phone and focus on the person in front of you.
- Ask Engaging Questions: Go beyond the superficial. Ask questions that reveal their passions, values, and aspirations.
- Be a Good Listener: Pay attention to their responses, ask follow-up questions, and show genuine interest in their world.
- Be Authentic: Don't try to be someone you're not. Let your true personality shine through.
The initial stages of a relationship are exciting but can also be confusing. Set healthy boundaries around physical intimacy and communication frequency. Don't rush things - allow the relationship to progress naturally. Here are some additional points to consider:
- Honesty is Key: Be upfront about your intentions and expectations. If you're looking for something casual, communicate that clearly.
- Respect Individuality: Maintain your own interests and hobbies. Don't lose yourself in the relationship.
- Beware of Red Flags: Be mindful of behaviors that raise concerns, such as excessive jealousy, controlling tendencies, or disrespect.
Rejection is a natural part of the dating experience. Learn from these experiences and don't take them personally. Evaluate what you might have learned and use it to make informed choices going forward. It's important to maintain a positive outlook and approach future encounters with an open mind.
Cultivating a Healthy Relationship: Beyond the Spark
Attraction is essential, but a lasting relationship requires more. Here are some key aspects to nurture once you've found someone special:
- Quality Time: Schedule regular time for meaningful conversations, shared activities, and simply enjoying each other's company.
- Acts of Love: Express your affection through words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Find out your partner's love language and tailor your expressions accordingly.
- Open Communication: Maintain open and honest communication. Share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns openly and actively listen to your partner's perspective.
- Conflict Resolution: Disagreements are inevitable. Learn to communicate your needs assertively, listen to your partner's perspective, and work towards solutions together.
2024.05.18 14:01 Mpidcarter Alimony
In Massachusetts, there are rules regarding how long a spouse must pay alimony based on the length of the marriage. My understanding is that this pertains to divorces where one spouse asks the court to grant alimony, therefore, the court is ordering alimony based in these guidelines. My question relates to a situation where a couple hammers out a divorce agreement on their own, both parties properly represented by council. If the two parties agree that alimony will be paid until death from one party to another, regardless of the length of the marriage, will the court reject that agreement? In other words, isn’t it possible that one party may agree to an alimony time period, including permanently, if they’re getting concessions in exchange from the other side that they deem reasonable and fair? My wife believes that no matter what two people agree to, the court will intervene and cause alimony to me at a specific time regardless of the intentions and agreements between the two.
submitted by Mpidcarter to legaladvice [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 13:42 PeachPuzzled5827 Rate My Salary - IT Field + Network Engineer
Rate My Salary - IT Field + Network Engineer
PERSONALIA
submitted by PeachPuzzled5827 to BESalary [link] [comments]
PERSONALIA
- Age: 28
- Education: Bachelor Computer Science
- Work experience : 4 years
- Civil status: Married
- Dependent people/children: 1
- SectoIndustry: IT Services
- Amount of employees: 20000
- Multinational? Yes
- Current job title: IT Field Network Engineer
- Seniority: 2
- Official hours/week : 39
- Average real hours/week incl. overtime: 60
- Shiftwork or 9 to 5 (flexible?): no shift very flexible I pick my own hours
- On-call duty: Yes
- Vacation days/year: 26 days +7 ADV
- Gross salary/month: 5100 Euro
- Net salary/month: 3170 Euro (inlcluding 50 euro netto compensation)
- Netto compensation: 140
- Mobility budget/cabike/...: 900 Euro/month car + unlimited Fuel/electric
- 13th month (full? partial?): Full
- Meal vouchers: 6,60/day
- Ecocheques: 250 yearly
- Group insurance: Included
- Other insurances: Included
- Other benefits (bonuses, stocks options, ... ): 2% Bonus profits once a year from company ( 10k Brutto )
- Group prime benefits 3100 Netto once a year
- City/region of work: Brussels
- Distance home-work: 1 hour
- How do you commute?: Car
- How is the travel home-work compensated: From mobility budget
- Telework days/week: always on site, can ask 2 days per week
- How easily can you plan a day off: Pretty easy
- Is your job stressful?: yes
- Responsible for personnel (reports): No
2024.05.18 13:37 Fair-Pipe-5146 Check&Where to Watch Free the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk live Boxing?
Where To Stream Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk Official Broadcast
The highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place on May 18, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Boxing fans around the world are eagerly waiting to witness this epic clash between two of the best heavyweights in the world. If you're wondering where to watch the official broadcast of this fight, we've got you covered.Viewing Information
- Date: May 18, 2024
- Location: Kingdom Arena -- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Start time: Noon p.m. ET
- How to watch: DAZN and ESPN+ PPV
- Price: $69.99
Streaming Platforms
The Fury vs. Usyk fight will be available to stream on two major platforms: DAZN and ESPN+ PPV. Both platforms offer high-quality streaming services, ensuring that you won't miss a single moment of the action.DAZN
DAZN is a global sports streaming service that has been making waves in the boxing world. They have exclusive rights to many big fights, including the Fury vs. Usyk bout. To watch the fight on DAZN, you'll need to subscribe to their service. The good news is that DAZN offers a free trial period, so you can sign up and watch the fight without paying a dime.ESPN+ PPV
ESPN+ is another popular streaming service that will be broadcasting the Fury vs. Usyk fight. However, unlike DAZN, you'll need to purchase the fight as a pay-per-view event. The price for the PPV is set at $69.99, which is a bit steep but worth it for such a high-profile fight.Fight Card and Odds
The Fury vs. Usyk fight is the main event of a stacked card that features several other exciting bouts. Here's a look at the full fight card and the odds for each fight:| Fight | Odds |
|---|---|
| Oleksandr Usyk (c) vs. Tyson Fury (c), undisputed heavyweight championship | Usyk -115, Fury -105 |
| Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis, vacant IBF cruiserweight championship | Opetaia -600, Briedis +400 |
| Joe Cordina (c) vs. Anthony Cacace, IBF super featherweight championship | Cordina -450, Cacace +350 |
| Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel, heavyweights | Sanchez -250, Kabayel +180 |
| Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab, lightweights | Chamberlain -1400, Wahab +750 |
| Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirwan Safar, light heavyweights | N/A |
| Isaac Lowe vs. Hasibullah Ahmadi, featherweights | N/A |
| David Nyika vs. Michael Seitz, cruiserweights | N/A |
| Moses Itauma vs. Ilja Mezencev, heavyweights | N/A |
Why You Should Watch
The Fury vs. Usyk fight is a true superfight between two of the best boxers in the world. Both men are undefeated and have dominated their respective divisions for years. Fury is the current WBC and lineal heavyweight champion, while Usyk holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. The winner of this fight will be crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title that hasn't been held since Lennox Lewis in 2000.But beyond the titles and accolades, this fight is a fascinating stylistic matchup. Fury is a giant of a man, standing at 6'9" and weighing in at around 270 pounds. He's a skilled boxer with incredible footwork and head movement for a man his size. Usyk, on the other hand, is a smaller heavyweight at 6'3" and around 220 pounds. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, technique, and conditioning. He's a former undisputed cruiserweight champion who moved up to heavyweight and has already defeated Anthony Joshua twice.
The clash of styles between these two men is sure to produce fireworks in the ring. Will Fury be able to use his size and reach to keep Usyk at bay, or will Usyk's speed and movement allow him to get inside and outbox the bigger man? It's a question that has boxing fans salivating, and one that will be answered on May 18th.
Conclusion
The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight is one of the biggest boxing events of the year, and you won't want to miss it. With two undefeated champions putting it all on the line for undisputed glory, this fight has all the makings of a classic. Whether you choose to watch on DAZN or ESPN+ PPV, you're in for a treat. So clear your schedule, invite some friends over, and get ready for a night of unforgettable boxing action.2024.05.18 13:34 PokeDew AITA for asking my friends what flavor their wedding cake is?
I am not The OOP, OOP is u/Scaredoflove11
Rebuttal by u/Roeapparently
AITA for asking my friends what flavor their wedding cake is?
Originally posted to AmItheAsshole
Thanks to u/czechtheboxes & u/USMCLee for suggesting this BoRU
Original Post May 11, 2024
I (22f) am in the wedding party of my friends we will call Em(25f) and Roe(25m) who will be getting married in about 2 months. I have been really excited for the wedding since it'll be an opportunity for all the friends from college to get together for the first time in 2 years. Not to mention Em and Roe are my best friends, or at least I thought they were.
We have a discord for all the wedding stuff and they have a channel about food. They've been really good about being open about the food they intend to have at the reception including vegan/vegitarian/gluten free options for everyone and answering questions so I didn't think there would be any contention if I asked a question.
Anyway, about 4 days ago I posted a message into the discord asking "Hey, what flavor is the cake gonna be? I wanna mentally prepare myself lol." I think looking back my choice of extra words is what caused all this, but I meant it in the sense that I have a long documented dislike of chocolate flavored foods like cake or ice cream. So I added it in the event the cake was chocolate.
I recieved a private message back that the cake would be chocolate and that if I had a problem with it then I could "shove it" cause it was their wedding not mine. And i felt really taken aback by this response.
Never did I mention that I would have been upset and I certainly wouldn't have put up a stink about it. Its exactly like Em had said, it's their wedding. I explained as much and tried to apologize for any offending I did but she got even more defensive and started basically blasting me for implying that she was offended and I was just left overall very confused.
I gave it two days before I tried to apologize again and smooth it over figuring she may have just been having a bad day but I got shut down again telling me she didn't need my apology cause nothing was wrong and I needed time stop trying to make it seem like shit was wrong between us and to just drop it.
I texted Roe to see if I could gauge what was going on since he and I have always had an open dialogue about things like this but he basically just told me he couldn't talk to me right now and I have to imagine its cause Em told him not to.
Its been 2 days since then and I'm just really confused. This whole thing has made me want to drop out of the wedding party and honestly not go at all. I wish Roe would talk to me and Em would be honest. I can't help but think maybe I just don't get how stressful planning a wedding is and like maybe theyve gotten pushback from other people on other things and somehow its being taken out on me? Or is it really a big no no to ask stuff like this? I don't know? This is the first wedding i'll have ever gone to, so am I the asshole?
VERDICT: ASSHOLE
In the comments "Roe" appears
Roe is u/Roeapparently
Here May 11, 2024
Hey Izzy. Not surprised you didn’t share the whole story. You never do. Just like last year’s surprise party for Em (tldr: Izzy here spoiled the surprise and tried to claim my present was hers).
I’m “Roe”, the groom to be. I don’t do Reddit, but my best man does and frequents this thread. He saw this post and it was so obvious it’s you. This whole cake thing did happen but it is NOT the whole story and did NOT go the way Izzy claims.
First off, cake was not her only complaint. You refused to have a joint bachelobachelorette dinner cause “I have poor taste”, you said my suit was tacky cause I wanted white and not traditional black, you whined about the bridesmaids dresses being purple cause you wanted Ivory. Any decision we’ve made there’s ALWAYS a complaint. And Em has done nothing but be patient and try and find common ground. She should not have to change her wedding choices for you.
Second, we NEVER told you to “shove it”. Em only messaged you privately because she was tired of having to argue in the group chat. Everyone else is tired of your bullshit too so we didn’t want to bother them with it. It’s a cake. Eat it or don’t.
You have hated me ever since I joined the friend group. And that’s fine! But you will NOT ruin Em’s day because of your pettiness. If you care about her, then honor her decisions. Of COURSE Em is different! Cause she grew tf up! All of us did except you! My god you’re fucking 22, stop acting like a spoiled teenager, chocolate cake will not kill you (btw asshole I’m 26 not 25, pay attention). I wasn’t angry about this until you decided to go to the internet for pity. It’s pathetic and immature.
For the record, Em double checked my response. She signed off on it. Get it together.
OOP
MHH370
**DO NOT CONTACT THE OOP's OR COMMENT ON LINKED POSTS
submitted by PokeDew to CharlotteDobreYouTube [link] [comments]
Rebuttal by u/Roeapparently
AITA for asking my friends what flavor their wedding cake is?
Originally posted to AmItheAsshole
Thanks to u/czechtheboxes & u/USMCLee for suggesting this BoRU
Original Post May 11, 2024
I (22f) am in the wedding party of my friends we will call Em(25f) and Roe(25m) who will be getting married in about 2 months. I have been really excited for the wedding since it'll be an opportunity for all the friends from college to get together for the first time in 2 years. Not to mention Em and Roe are my best friends, or at least I thought they were.
We have a discord for all the wedding stuff and they have a channel about food. They've been really good about being open about the food they intend to have at the reception including vegan/vegitarian/gluten free options for everyone and answering questions so I didn't think there would be any contention if I asked a question.
Anyway, about 4 days ago I posted a message into the discord asking "Hey, what flavor is the cake gonna be? I wanna mentally prepare myself lol." I think looking back my choice of extra words is what caused all this, but I meant it in the sense that I have a long documented dislike of chocolate flavored foods like cake or ice cream. So I added it in the event the cake was chocolate.
I recieved a private message back that the cake would be chocolate and that if I had a problem with it then I could "shove it" cause it was their wedding not mine. And i felt really taken aback by this response.
Never did I mention that I would have been upset and I certainly wouldn't have put up a stink about it. Its exactly like Em had said, it's their wedding. I explained as much and tried to apologize for any offending I did but she got even more defensive and started basically blasting me for implying that she was offended and I was just left overall very confused.
I gave it two days before I tried to apologize again and smooth it over figuring she may have just been having a bad day but I got shut down again telling me she didn't need my apology cause nothing was wrong and I needed time stop trying to make it seem like shit was wrong between us and to just drop it.
I texted Roe to see if I could gauge what was going on since he and I have always had an open dialogue about things like this but he basically just told me he couldn't talk to me right now and I have to imagine its cause Em told him not to.
Its been 2 days since then and I'm just really confused. This whole thing has made me want to drop out of the wedding party and honestly not go at all. I wish Roe would talk to me and Em would be honest. I can't help but think maybe I just don't get how stressful planning a wedding is and like maybe theyve gotten pushback from other people on other things and somehow its being taken out on me? Or is it really a big no no to ask stuff like this? I don't know? This is the first wedding i'll have ever gone to, so am I the asshole?
VERDICT: ASSHOLE
In the comments "Roe" appears
Roe is u/Roeapparently
Here May 11, 2024
Hey Izzy. Not surprised you didn’t share the whole story. You never do. Just like last year’s surprise party for Em (tldr: Izzy here spoiled the surprise and tried to claim my present was hers).
I’m “Roe”, the groom to be. I don’t do Reddit, but my best man does and frequents this thread. He saw this post and it was so obvious it’s you. This whole cake thing did happen but it is NOT the whole story and did NOT go the way Izzy claims.
First off, cake was not her only complaint. You refused to have a joint bachelobachelorette dinner cause “I have poor taste”, you said my suit was tacky cause I wanted white and not traditional black, you whined about the bridesmaids dresses being purple cause you wanted Ivory. Any decision we’ve made there’s ALWAYS a complaint. And Em has done nothing but be patient and try and find common ground. She should not have to change her wedding choices for you.
Second, we NEVER told you to “shove it”. Em only messaged you privately because she was tired of having to argue in the group chat. Everyone else is tired of your bullshit too so we didn’t want to bother them with it. It’s a cake. Eat it or don’t.
You have hated me ever since I joined the friend group. And that’s fine! But you will NOT ruin Em’s day because of your pettiness. If you care about her, then honor her decisions. Of COURSE Em is different! Cause she grew tf up! All of us did except you! My god you’re fucking 22, stop acting like a spoiled teenager, chocolate cake will not kill you (btw asshole I’m 26 not 25, pay attention). I wasn’t angry about this until you decided to go to the internet for pity. It’s pathetic and immature.
For the record, Em double checked my response. She signed off on it. Get it together.
OOP
Its pathetic and immature to anonymously post asking for advice on Reddit but you coming here starting shit and posting my real name isn't? Okay, Marcus, since we're not hiding anymore how does it feel to have your shit aired for real? Here's how I KNOW Em didn't sign off, becuase she never would have agreed to using my real name.Roeapparently
You're just trying to get me upset at her too. She's my best friend, and I should have known you'd do this. You always try to manipulate us into being mad at each other. Case in point when I had planned this really awesome dinner for just her and I and you had to plan her suprise party for the same day. I just wanted alone time with my best friend but you couldn't wait one day for the party.
Em has known me far longer than you, and no offense, I'm sure I know her better than you do. But I've kept my mouth shut because I love her and just want her to be happy.
I complain about everything? Then how come I've never said anything about the hundreds of times you've made Em cancel plans with me to go hang out with you? I just wanted my bff to spend a little time with me. We're not allowed to have sleepovers anymore cause it "makes you uncomfy" or take a girls trip for the weekend because "too expensive". Sorry you can't take care of her like I can. Some of us can afford rent. Clearly this was never about the cake and more so about you hating me. I was fine when you joined the friend group, but you clearly weren't fine with mine and Ems relationship. You've been the same towards some of her other friends who I'm sure would agree.
Get a life Marcus. Stop trying to take mine.
OOPShe was fine using your name. You brought this to the internet, not us. If you didn't want this attention, don't post.
The plan was for you to distract her while we setup the party by taking her to a movie, not going to the movies then taking her to dinner and TELLING HER OF THE PARTY. We waited hours expecting y'all to be back.
I have never once made Em cancel. She always did that on her own, and not frequently at all. You have had plenty of time alone with her. Just because she spends time with me too doesn't mean I'm forcing her to. And yes, a trip to multiple countries across Europe is very much too expensive. We already live paycheck to paycheck, which you know. I know money isn't a concern for you but it very much is for us. Not all of us have apartments paid for by dad.
Nobody else seems to think the same things about me, and if I'm wrong I will gladly listen and change. But that requires communication directly, not anonymous Reddit posts. You may have known her longer, but you clearly don't know Em well. You fail to see how miserable your comments and attitude have made her these past few months. For her sake, knock it off.
~"Paid by daddy" real mature asshole. You know I work hard like everyone else. Its not my fault my parents made better decisions than yours and can actually help their kids. And of course I wasn't just gonna take her to the movies on her birthday a rouse or not it was still her birthday and shes my friend and I love her and wanted her to an actually decent meal other than the shitty pizza you bought for her.
Also yeah maybe you didn't tell Em to cancel, but knowingly asking for plans when we had them is basically the same thing. Before you, she was fine. She had everything she needed. And for all of you in the comments saying I have a crush or want to fuck Em, you're delusional and know nothing about me. We're best friends. I love her. She loves me. Not my fault we have natural chemistry that everyone over the internet can feel. But its not like that.
Marcus you're an asshole. You've been an asshole since day one. Just admit you're not the guy who can give her what she needs and move the fuck on and leave us alone.
MHH370
Hey u/Scaredoflove11 did you really make a fuss because you wanted the bridemaid's dress to be ivory instead of purple?
Also u/Roeapparently did you really make your fiance cancel sleepovers because it made you uncomfortable?Roeapparently
ImissBagelsNo. I never made Em cancel anything. I'm fine with her having sleepovers. Izzy wanted to do it at our apartment and kept begging Em to have me sleep on the couch so I wouldn't ruin "girls night". For the record, Em shut it down not me. She's capable of making her own decisions, I trust her to set her boundaries. If I came off as uncomfortable, Izzy never mentioned it till now
RoeapparentlyDoes Em even still want Izzy there? Because Izzy is sounding more and more unhinged. How did she try to steal your bday present to Izzy?
FINAL COMMENT BY u/RoeapparentlyEm still wants Izzy there. they've been friends for years. I won't make her kick her out, but I'm starting to reach the point where I want it. And no she didn't steal it. She claimed she purchased the gift cause "i was too poor to afford it". It was a rather expensive purse Em eyed once while shopping but couldn't get at the time, so I saved for it.
You're proving my point. I'm not gonna argue over Reddit anymore over this, especially if you're gonna talk about my parents like that when you know full well why they aren't rich. Either message us in private or drop it all together. If this is how you really feel, don't bother coming to the wedding.THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT THE OOP
**DO NOT CONTACT THE OOP's OR COMMENT ON LINKED POSTS
2024.05.18 13:16 kksingh11 Unrest in Kyrgyzstan
 | Last night in Kyrgyzstan, there were spontaneous riots: several hundred Kyrgyz gathered near a dormitory for migrant workers. The reason was a mass brawl started by foreigners on May 13. As a result of the scuffle, local residents, including an elderly security guard, were injured. Police barricaded the approaches to the hostel, and the rioters tried to break through the cordon. Law enforcement carried out several detentions. However, this caused an even greater outcry, which led to an increase in the crowd. This was also facilitated by the active actions of some barkers who worked together. Calls to take to the streets and take revenge on foreigners were published in Telegram and WhatsApp chats (initially it was said that they were Pakistanis, but later it was stated that Algerian citizens were involved in beating the locals). Pockets of disobedience were noted in several neighborhoods near different hostels with migrants, but the largest was in the center of Bishkek, where they demanded the release of the detainees. After the statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that there are no Kyrgyz among the arrested, by morning the people began to disperse to their homes. In total, as a result of the mass riots, 29 people were injured. This is the number of citizens who sought medical help, according to the Ministry of Health. At the same time, the embassies of Pakistan and India called on their citizens to stay at home until further notice. This whole situation raises a lot of questions. The spontaneity, but at the same time the organization of the movement, look planned. Too many people gathered in a short period of time, and the rioters dispersed very quickly in the morning - a puff of smoke and no one is left. The presence of activist-squad leaders who coordinated the actions of the crowd, characteristic of organized unrest, is the hallmark of any such event. This is echoed by the mass calls on social networks, thanks to which such a large number of people were able to gather. So far, it all looks like either a trial run before larger protests (Kyrgyz are certainly familiar with this), or interested parties in the unrest got the desired result, and there was no need to continue the party. Whether this is the case or not, we will probably find out later. (From Telegram) submitted by kksingh11 to SocialisGlobe [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 13:08 Sinosta [Offer] Virtual assistant
I am currently looking for a long-term virtual assistant role. I have one year of experience as a government worker and two years in a private market research company. Currently, I am a virtual assistant for a content creator, where my tasks include social media marketing, file management, and basic photo/video editing.
I primarily use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, depending on the client's preference, mostly for generating reports and analyzing statistics. I often work with specialized or proprietary software made or bought by the client, so I consider myself a quick learner when it comes to new software.
Regarding my work schedule, I prefer working on weekdays (Philippine time, GMT+8) and am available for up to 40 hours a week. I prefer tasks that offer flexibility and can be done at any time of the day. I am not available for night shifts.
For payment, I use Wise (formerly TransferWise) because it is user-friendly and allows us to agree on the currency as long as it is supported by Wise.
My current rate is $7 per hour, which I consider my base salary. I accept any equivalent currency of this value as long as it's supported by Wise. This rate is negotiable depending on the tasks.
Thank you for reading this post. Please $bid and message me if you would like more comprehensive details about me. I can send my resume and answer any questions you may have.
submitted by Sinosta to slavelabour [link] [comments]
I primarily use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, depending on the client's preference, mostly for generating reports and analyzing statistics. I often work with specialized or proprietary software made or bought by the client, so I consider myself a quick learner when it comes to new software.
Regarding my work schedule, I prefer working on weekdays (Philippine time, GMT+8) and am available for up to 40 hours a week. I prefer tasks that offer flexibility and can be done at any time of the day. I am not available for night shifts.
For payment, I use Wise (formerly TransferWise) because it is user-friendly and allows us to agree on the currency as long as it is supported by Wise.
My current rate is $7 per hour, which I consider my base salary. I accept any equivalent currency of this value as long as it's supported by Wise. This rate is negotiable depending on the tasks.
Thank you for reading this post. Please $bid and message me if you would like more comprehensive details about me. I can send my resume and answer any questions you may have.
2024.05.18 13:00 Different-Try6992 My First Rep Chanel medium denim Shopping Bag
 | Disclosure: This is my personal opinion of the bag. Seller: Q Contact Info: WhatsApp at +8618719455007 Chanel denim medium sizes : $365 USD All including shipping including FedEx shipping Payment Method: PayPal, providing a secure transaction. Timeline: I contacted Q on May 5 and placed the actual order on May 6 I received the actual pictures of the bag on May 8 I confirmed him to ship it took 2 days to receive the tracking number it was shipped through FedEx Bag arrived on the 17 , so a total of 7 days which was pretty fast I asked Q which factory the bag came from he DID NOT DISCLOSED factory name and said. That he can only provide me the absolute best quality based on his 7 years experience . Quality of the bag it’s well made in my opinion it’s a perfect bag for every day used submitted by Different-Try6992 to RepladiesDesigner [link] [comments] The bag arrived packaged in a dust bag, well protected, and professionally packaged, with no damage—absolutely perfect, exactly like the pictures the seller showed me prior to shipping. I did not care for the box and didn’t want to pay extra fees Q is amazing , he was honest and patient even after me asking 100 questions he took so many pictures of the bags and sent me a detailed video just to make sure I was happy with my purchase prior to shipping! I think sellers like that deserve recognition!!! There are not many honest out there that actually care ! |
2024.05.18 12:57 ECUALUM2003 Awesome NBA/MLB/NHL Friday
Cashed both top nhl plays, 2-0 nba, 14-7 with most top plays cashed including the 3 “umpire overs.”
Anyone else tail and cashed last night? Looks like no one did so far.
I’ll try to work on Saturday games later this morning if wife gives me some time. Thanks to those who show thanks and tip when they hit. You keep me going and my wife off my back
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980
submitted by ECUALUM2003 to ECUalum2003 [link] [comments]
Anyone else tail and cashed last night? Looks like no one did so far.
I’ll try to work on Saturday games later this morning if wife gives me some time. Thanks to those who show thanks and tip when they hit. You keep me going and my wife off my back
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980
2024.05.18 12:56 Sweet-Count2557 10 Stunning Water Villas With Pools at Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives
 | 10 Stunning Water Villas With Pools at Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the epitome of luxury and relaxation in one of the world's most sought-after destinations?Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of the ocean surrounding your private water villa, complete with a stunning infinity pool overlooking the crystal-clear waters.At Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives, the allure of 10 exquisite water villas with pools beckons travelers seeking unparalleled tranquility and opulence.Each villa encapsulates a blend of modern design and natural beauty, promising an unforgettable escape unlike any other.Key TakeawaysPrivate infinity pools with stunning ocean viewsSeamless blend of luxury and natural beautySpacious and modern accommodations with personalized settingsMesmerizing sunset views and tranquil oasis for relaxationOverwater Villa With Infinity PoolNestled above the turquoise waters of the Maldivian lagoon, our Overwater Villa beckons with its private infinity pool, offering a luxurious retreat for those seeking unparalleled beauty and relaxation. The new Water Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi showcase the epitome of luxury with their infinity pools that seamlessly blend into the horizon, creating a sense of endless serenity. These villas feature sliding doors that open up to a breathtaking view of the lagoon, allowing the tranquil sound of the water to envelop you in a cocoon of peace.One of the highlights of the Overwater Villa is the incorporation of both indoor and outdoor showers. Imagine starting your day with a refreshing shower in the open air, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Maldives. The sleek platform over the water provides the perfect spot to bask in the sun during the day and stargaze at night, all while being surrounded by the charm of the Maldivian waters.With the private infinity pool and stylish terrace, the Overwater Villa at Coco Bodu Hithi offers a perfect blend of luxury and natural beauty. It's a sanctuary where you can immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Maldives while experiencing the utmost comfort and elegance.Deluxe Water Villa With Private PoolWith its private infinity pool overlooking the azure waters, the Deluxe Water Villa at Coco Bodu Hithi in Maldives offers a luxurious retreat for guests seeking unparalleled relaxation and breathtaking views. Here are four reasons why this villa stands out:Private Infinity Pool: Imagine lounging in your own infinity pool, the crystal-clear waters seamlessly blending with the horizon, creating a sense of infinite space and tranquility.Access to the Lagoon: Step directly from your villa into the inviting lagoon, where you can snorkel among vibrant marine life or simply float in the calm, turquoise waters.Indoor and Outdoor Shower: Experience the epitome of luxury with both an indoor and outdoor shower. Feel the warm sun on your skin as you shower al fresco, surrounded by lush greenery.Sundeck: The spacious sundeck beckons you to unwind in style. With comfortable loungers and a cozy daybed, you can bask in the sun, sip on refreshing drinks, and revel in the unparalleled views of the Indian Ocean.Escape Water Villas offer an exquisite blend of comfort and sophistication, where every detail, from the private infinity pool to the access to the lagoon, is designed to elevate your Maldives experience.Sunset Water Villa and PoolAs we step into the realm of luxury and tranquility, the Sunset Water Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi beckon with their private infinity pools and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. These exclusive villas offer a unique experience, combining the beauty of the Maldives with the comfort of modern amenities. Imagine starting your day with a refreshing dip in your private infinity pool, surrounded by nothing but the sound of the ocean and the gentle sea breeze.The Sunset Water Villas not only provide a luxurious stay but also grant direct access to the lagoon and house reef, perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts looking to explore the vibrant marine life beneath the surface. In the evenings, guests can unwind on their private sundecks, savoring the mesmerizing sunset views that paint the sky in hues of orange and pink. The alfresco dining areas offer a romantic setting for a candlelit dinner under the stars, creating unforgettable moments for couples seeking a peaceful retreat.Each Sunset Water Villa is meticulously designed to offer a blend of elegance and comfort, featuring modern amenities such as an indoor/outdoor shower and a spacious deck for relaxation. Whether you're seeking a luxurious escape or a romantic getaway, the Sunset Water Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi provide the perfect setting for a truly unforgettable experience.Water Retreat Pool Villa ExperienceOur experience in the Water Retreat Pool Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi was nothing short of luxurious and exclusive, offering a serene escape with private pools and direct access to the stunning lagoon and house reef.Personalized Luxury: Each Water Retreat Pool Villa boasts a spacious master bedroom equipped with modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay. The villa's private pool area is well-maintained and perfect for relaxation under the Maldivian sun.Seamless Connection to Nature: Guests can step directly from their villa into the crystal-clear lagoon or explore the vibrant house reef just moments away. The seamless connection to the surrounding marine environment enhances the overall experience.Privacy and Tranquility: The high level of privacy and security in the Water Retreat Pool Villas guarantees a peaceful and undisturbed stay. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings and unwind in a secluded paradise.Customized Comfort: Guests have the freedom to personalize their room settings to match their preferences, creating a tailored and enjoyable atmosphere throughout their stay. From lighting to decor, every detail can be adjusted to enhance the overall comfort and luxury of the villa.In the Water Retreat Pool Villas, every moment is designed to offer an exclusive and unforgettable experience, combining luxury with the natural beauty of the Maldives for a truly exceptional stay.Ocean Oasis Villa With PoolNestled in the tranquil beauty of the Maldives, the Ocean Oasis Villa at Coco Bodu Hithi beckons with its private infinity pool and direct access to the mesmerizing lagoon and house reef. Imagine starting your day with a refreshing shower in the indoor or outdoor facilities, setting the tone for a luxurious bathing experience. As you step out onto the spacious sundeck, equipped with comfortable loungers and a daybed, you're greeted by the breathtaking Indian Ocean views that stretch endlessly before you.One of the highlights of the Ocean Oasis Villa is the private infinity pool, inviting you to immerse yourself in its crystal-clear waters as you soak up the sun and enjoy the serenity of your surroundings. With direct lagoon access, you can easily slip into the inviting waters and explore the vibrant marine life just steps away from your villa.After a day of relaxation and exploration, retreat to your Ocean Oasis Villa, where relaxation amenities await to ensure your comfort and well-being throughout your stay. Whether you choose to unwind indoors or bask in the beauty of the Maldives outdoors, the Ocean Oasis Villa provides a perfect sanctuary for your tropical getaway.Luxury Water Villa Pool SanctuaryImmerse yourself in luxury and serenity at the Luxury Water Villa Pool Sanctuary in Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives, where a private infinity pool awaits exclusive relaxation amidst stunning Indian Ocean views. This sanctuary offers a modern master bedroom with high-end amenities, providing the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. The private pool area is a tranquil oasis, ideal for unwinding and taking in the breathtaking tropical surroundings.Here are four reasons why the Luxury Water Villa Pool Sanctuary stands out:Private Infinity Pool: Dive into the crystal-clear waters of your own infinity pool, overlooking the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. Enjoy the ultimate relaxation as you soak up the sun in this exclusive setting.Stunning Indian Ocean Views: Step out onto the spacious outdoor deck and behold the mesmerizing views of the turquoise waters that stretch to the horizon. Let the beauty of the Maldivian seascape captivate your senses.Modern Master Bedroom: Retreat to a stylish and contemporary master bedroom that exudes luxury. Unwind in a plush bed surrounded by elegant decor and top-notch facilities.Serene Private Pool Area: Escape to the serenity of your private pool area, where peace and privacy reign supreme. Relax in seclusion and revel in the comfort of this idyllic sanctuary.Tranquil Pool Villa on WaterA Tranquil Pool Villa on Water at Coco Bodu Hithi offers guests a serene and private escape over the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives. As you step into this luxurious sanctuary, you're greeted by the shimmering private infinity pool, inviting you to cool off while soaking in the breathtaking ocean views. The villa boasts an array of luxury amenities, including an indulgent indoor/outdoor shower, a sumptuous king-size bed for ultimate comfort, and a spacious sundeck equipped with loungers and a daybed, perfect for relaxing under the sun or stargazing at night.Designed to prioritize comfort and elegance, the Tranquil Pool Villa seamlessly blends with the natural surroundings, creating a tranquil atmosphere that soothes the soul. With direct access to the lagoon and house reef, you can effortlessly immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of the underwater world right from your villa. Whether you choose to bask in the sun on the sundeck, take a refreshing dip in the infinity pool, or explore the vibrant marine life just steps away from your door, this tranquil oasis promises a rejuvenating and unforgettable experience in the heart of paradise.Secluded Water Villa With Pool DeckSecluded amidst the azure waters, the Water Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi beckon with their private pool decks for unrivaled relaxation. These luxurious retreats offer a perfect blend of comfort and exclusivity, where guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of the Maldives.Exclusive Lagoon Access: Step directly from your private pool deck into the crystal-clear lagoon, where vibrant marine life awaits exploration just below the surface.Invigorating Outdoor Shower: Freshen up in style with an outdoor shower experience surrounded by lush tropical greenery, providing a unique connection to nature.Spacious Sundeck: Bask in the warm Maldivian sun on the expansive sundeck, complete with comfortable loungers and a daybed, ideal for soaking up the breathtaking panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.Spectacular Indian Ocean Views: Every corner of the Water Villa offers stunning vistas of the endless turquoise waters, creating a sense of tranquility and awe-inspiring beauty.At Coco Bodu Hithi, the Secluded Water Villas With Pool Decks provide an unparalleled escape for those seeking privacy, luxury, and unparalleled natural beauty. Indulge in the ultimate Maldivian experience where the gentle lapping of waves and the warm ocean breeze create a harmonious symphony of relaxation.Exotic Water Villa Pool HideawayNestled in the heart of Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives are the Exotic Water Villa Pool Hideaways, offering a luxurious and secluded retreat for guests seeking unparalleled relaxation amidst the beauty of the Maldives. These exclusive water villas feature private pools that invite guests to unwind in style while enjoying direct access to the crystal-clear lagoon and vibrant house reef, perfect for snorkeling and exploring the marine wonders just steps from their doorstep.The Water Villas with private pools boast an exquisite design that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living, allowing guests to bask in the sun-kissed Maldivian paradise. The villas also offer the indulgence of both indoor and outdoor showers, providing a unique bathing experience surrounded by the natural beauty of the island.Guests can luxuriate on their private sundeck, complete with comfortable loungers and a daybed, ideal for soaking up the tropical sunshine in ultimate comfort and privacy. The sleek design of the Water Villas creates a serene and intimate hideaway, making it the perfect setting for a memorable Maldives vacation where every moment is infused with luxury and relaxation.Premium Pool Villa Overlooking OceanOur Premium Pool Villa at Coco Bodu Hithi presents guests with an unparalleled and luxurious experience overlooking the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.Private Infinity Pool: Step outside onto your private terrace and take a refreshing dip in the infinity pool that seems to blend seamlessly with the ocean, offering uninterrupted views of the crystal-clear waters.Mesmerizing Indian Ocean Views: As you relax on the plush sun loungers by the pool, soak in the breathtaking panoramic views of the Indian Ocean stretching out before you, creating a sense of tranquility and peace.Spacious Master Bedroom: Retreat to the elegantly designed master bedroom featuring modern amenities and a comfortable king-sized bed, ensuring a restful night's sleep in the lap of luxury.Luxury Amenities for Ultimate Relaxation: Indulge in the lavish amenities provided in the villa, from the opulent bathroom with a deep soaking tub to the cozy living area perfect for unwinding, every detail is tailored to enhance your relaxation experience.Privacy and security are of utmost importance in our Premium Pool Villa, allowing you to enjoy a secluded and personalized stay in a secure environment where you can fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the Maldives.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow Many Villas Are There in Coco Bodu Hithi?We're thrilled to share that Coco Bodu Hithi boasts a variety of luxurious villas for guests to choose from.The resort features a total of 100 villas, offering a range of amenities such as private pools, stunning sunset views, and the unique experience of overwater living.These luxury accommodations provide an exclusive retreat in an island paradise, where guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of the Maldives surroundings.What Is the Difference Between Escape Water Villa and Water Villa?When comparing Escape Water Villas and Water Villas at Coco Bodu Hithi, the main distinction lies in the private infinity pools that come with the Escape Water Villas. These pools offer a refreshing retreat amidst the stunning Maldivian landscape.Additionally, both villa types boast contemporary designs, luxurious amenities, private decks, and breathtaking ocean views, ensuring a memorable and indulgent stay.The Escape Water Villas provide a more secluded and intimate experience, perfect for those seeking a luxury retreat.ConclusionSo there you have it, 10 stunning water villas with private pools at Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives, each offering a unique and luxurious experience.Did you know that these water villas have an average size of over 1,500 square feet, providing ample space for relaxation and enjoyment?With breathtaking views, upscale amenities, and unparalleled comfort, these villas are truly a dream destination for anyone seeking a memorable stay in paradise.Come and experience the magic for yourself! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 12:55 ECUALUM2003 Awesome NBA/MLB/NHL Friday
Cashed both top nhl plays, 2-0 nba, 14-7 with most top plays cashed including the 3 “umpire overs.”
Anyone else tail and cashed last night? Looks like no one did so far.
I’ll try to work on Saturday games later this morning if wife gives me some time. Thanks to those who show thanks and tip when they hit. You keep me going and my wife off my back
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980
submitted by ECUALUM2003 to u/ECUALUM2003 [link] [comments]
Anyone else tail and cashed last night? Looks like no one did so far.
I’ll try to work on Saturday games later this morning if wife gives me some time. Thanks to those who show thanks and tip when they hit. You keep me going and my wife off my back
My picks/analysis/answering questions is and will remain free- but if you’ve been crushing the books with me, would you consider a tip for my time and effort? (and keep wife off back ha!)
As always Tips are NEVER expected but GREATLY appreciated to the newborn diaper fund/medical bills for wife.
Venmo=@ECU03 (LAST 4 DIGITS IF IT ASKS=5029)
PayPal=@superbae
Cashapp=$Alew1980
2024.05.18 12:54 emptypink Evicted: Need Help Navigating Landlord Drama with a Kid in Tow!
Need Help Navigating Landlord Drama with a Kid in Tow!
Hey Halifax
We need some advice about a residential tenancy issue that's got us spinning.
We received an eviction notice (Form F for change of use) on April 16th, the day after we paid rent. This notice gives us less than two months to pack up and move out of our rental in Nova Scotia by June 15.
Here's the backstory:
-We replied to the eviction notice with a big "Whaaat?" and asked for an explanation. Crickets. No response.
-On May 7th, the landlord hit us with another bill—$120 for water. We explained our financial situation (it's tight!) and mentioned we probably wouldn't be able to pay the May 15th rent either. We also explained we are still waiting for reason of why and what you are doing with the house.
-We're super stressed. We're taking our kid out of school early and having to move during peak season. We've been house hunting for two years, viewed many places, and even had offers fall through. Our landlords hinted we could buy the place we're renting, but then said they would "Sell in a year."
We moved here from B.C. two years ago and started renting this house on April 15, 2022. In 2023, the lease wasn't renewed, but we stayed put. Then, on April 15, 2023, they bumped the rent up by 2% without proper notice. We just assumed the landlord was playing by the rules. Turns out we over paid by $576.
Because of the eviction, we've decided to head back to B.C. Moving costs during high season are a whopping $10,000. Yikes!
So here we are, about to yank our kid out of school, squeeze into a trailer, and embark on a cross-country adventure through Canada. Fun times, right? 😂
I have a few questions:
-- Should we accept the landlord's offer, or should we dig in our heels and push for better terms?
--Are there any legal angles we should be aware of, given the short notice and our financial strain?
--Any tips on managing this wild transition smoothly, especially with a kid in tow?
Thanks a ton for your help!
submitted by emptypink to halifax [link] [comments]
Hey Halifax
We need some advice about a residential tenancy issue that's got us spinning.
We received an eviction notice (Form F for change of use) on April 16th, the day after we paid rent. This notice gives us less than two months to pack up and move out of our rental in Nova Scotia by June 15.
Here's the backstory:
- We have been in 3 bedroom house for 2 years and never missed a payment. Great tenants. Landlord's even said so in writing when sending eviction.
-We replied to the eviction notice with a big "Whaaat?" and asked for an explanation. Crickets. No response.
-On May 7th, the landlord hit us with another bill—$120 for water. We explained our financial situation (it's tight!) and mentioned we probably wouldn't be able to pay the May 15th rent either. We also explained we are still waiting for reason of why and what you are doing with the house.
- they responded saying that it is a private concern and that an immediate family member is moving in and asked us not to tell anyone in the neighborhood or community.
-We're super stressed. We're taking our kid out of school early and having to move during peak season. We've been house hunting for two years, viewed many places, and even had offers fall through. Our landlords hinted we could buy the place we're renting, but then said they would "Sell in a year."
We moved here from B.C. two years ago and started renting this house on April 15, 2022. In 2023, the lease wasn't renewed, but we stayed put. Then, on April 15, 2023, they bumped the rent up by 2% without proper notice. We just assumed the landlord was playing by the rules. Turns out we over paid by $576.
Because of the eviction, we've decided to head back to B.C. Moving costs during high season are a whopping $10,000. Yikes!
So here we are, about to yank our kid out of school, squeeze into a trailer, and embark on a cross-country adventure through Canada. Fun times, right? 😂
I have a few questions:
-- Should we accept the landlord's offer, or should we dig in our heels and push for better terms?
--Are there any legal angles we should be aware of, given the short notice and our financial strain?
--Any tips on managing this wild transition smoothly, especially with a kid in tow?
Thanks a ton for your help!
2024.05.18 12:51 Investnew Need some opinions/advice on a weird agent commission/referral fee situation for multi-million house
My grandparents bought a house in the 1950s that is in poor condition at this point, but in land value alone is worth over 3 million dollars. As trustee of the family estate I'm responsible for dealing with it, but I live 1000 miles away in another state.
I hired a company to do multiple estate sales at the property selling my grandparent's belongings which drew the attention at least a dozens of real estate agents who were able to find my contact info and contact me. Most claiming they had clients who were interested in making offers.
It's a VERY hot neighborhood. House itself, was appraised for 3.2, but because of the location it's been the target of many investors/builders who would likely tear it down and build something much larger to sell for much more. Two on that very street re-built and sold over 7-8 mil.
I had two very real investors wanting to make an offer at 3.6 mil with all contingencies waived. One of which was also a licensed agent and was going to cover all closing expenses meaning I'd pay nothing in agent fees.
I briefly explored going down that route of selling off market and hiring a real estate attorney at a flat fee to help with the documentation, but I had multiple people in my life I was consulting with who were strongly advising I just hire an agent and list it on market. The thinking is, if the property already had that much interest off market, it would be behoove me to list it properly, advertised it to a much larger audience, and try to generate some kind of bidding war - even if ultimately I end up taking home less by selling it for 3.6 and paying out commissions.
Ultimately, I was leaning towards going with Mark, because of his experience/knowledge/connections, but also because my local agent friend, who have a really strong relationship with, was going to be getting a referral fee. I communicated this to Jeff that it was a really hard choice and he quickly came back saying, they'd be happy to pay out a referral fee to "whoever you want" if it made a difference.
I talked to Jeff and his partner on the phone and explained the situation. I explained that Mark was actually planning on paying out 40% of his total commission to my agent (Paul) and the middle man (Sally) and that while I didn't have much reason to care about Sally, I did think that if any referral fee was going to paid out, it should go to Paul and a cousin of mine as both had been a sounding board for months giving me advice throughout the process. I understood that asking them to pay out 40% of their commission was unreasonable, but asked what they'd normally pay out in this situation and I was told "standard referral is 25%"... That made sense to me and seemed to be what I found online as "standard" referral %. I explained if I went with them, I'd actually have them split that referral fee between Paul and my cousin and they said that would be no problem at all.
For Reference:
For Reference:
Given that Jeff and his partner were agreeing to match everything Mark was offering and that I genuinely had a great impression from them, I ultimately made the touch decision of going with them.
I did want to make sure the referral portion they promised was part of the process, but given this is sort of unusual, none of the listing agreement documents mention that aspect. I had asked Jeff about how I'd go about making sure Paul and my cousin got paid and I was told they'd need to contact Jeff with their information. No problem. I signed the exclusive listing agreement and told both Paul and my cousin to contact Jeff as they'd each be sharing 25% of Jeff's commission as a referral fee (12.5% each).
Oops.
Although "25% is a standard referral" was communicated to me over the phone, I never got that in writing.
As soon as Paul and my cousin reached out to Jeff with their info asking for the shared split of 25%, Jeff contacted me saying, "oh actually... normally we offer a 20% referral at 6% total commission. In this case we are able to provide 10% total referral as a courtesy to you and your relationships seeing as how we didn’t receive this as a referral."
This was the first time I was seeing "10%" communicated to me. I reminded them they told me 25% over the phone. They reiterated they were able to pay out 10% of their commission as a referral "as a courtesy" to me. They suggested that if we moved the commission structure back up to 5% total instead of 4%, they'd be fine with paying out 25%.
For reference:
Just looking for some thoughts/advice before I respond to Jeff about it. At this point, I have an exclusive listing agreement with Jeff and his partner. It's possible some of this was just basic miscommunication and they had never intended to pay out 25%. Granted, they had told me 25% back when the commission structure was higher so on some level I get why they'd want to compensate for agreeing to a lower fee structure, but this surprise has me questioning what else they might surprise me with as we get further along.
submitted by Investnew to RealEstate [link] [comments]
I hired a company to do multiple estate sales at the property selling my grandparent's belongings which drew the attention at least a dozens of real estate agents who were able to find my contact info and contact me. Most claiming they had clients who were interested in making offers.
It's a VERY hot neighborhood. House itself, was appraised for 3.2, but because of the location it's been the target of many investors/builders who would likely tear it down and build something much larger to sell for much more. Two on that very street re-built and sold over 7-8 mil.
I had two very real investors wanting to make an offer at 3.6 mil with all contingencies waived. One of which was also a licensed agent and was going to cover all closing expenses meaning I'd pay nothing in agent fees.
I briefly explored going down that route of selling off market and hiring a real estate attorney at a flat fee to help with the documentation, but I had multiple people in my life I was consulting with who were strongly advising I just hire an agent and list it on market. The thinking is, if the property already had that much interest off market, it would be behoove me to list it properly, advertised it to a much larger audience, and try to generate some kind of bidding war - even if ultimately I end up taking home less by selling it for 3.6 and paying out commissions.
- "Standard" 6% commission on a 3.6 mil house would be $216,000. Meaning, I'd have to sell it for over 3.8 to make this exercise worthwhile.
- Option 1 (Mark): This is a weird one. My agent local agent (Paul) referred me to a lady (Sally) who does business in both states. When I met with Sally, she had brought in a "partner" (Mark) who happens to be a huge real estate big wig in that particular neighborhood. Like, every transaction Mark does is a multi-million dollar deal. Has been involved in 10 of the last 12 sales on that street. Knows all the builders and agents who had reached out to me. I thought nothing of Sally, but got a great impression of Mark. Clearly Mark knows his shit and opened my eyes to a lot of things I need to be careful about. He had a plan of action that made a lot of sense. I ended up calling Mark directly and asking him to explain how his referral situation worked if he was technically a referral of a referral and he explained that he was actually going to be giving up 40% of his commission to Sally and Paul. I asked how I could be sure I was getting the "Full Mark" if he was giving up so much of his commission, but he assured me he'd give it 100% effort...
- Option 2 (Jeff): Referred to me by a friend of mine (not an agent) who lives out there and had hired this guy when he bought a condo. I'll call the agent Jeff. Jeff showed up with his partner Melissa. Again, I got a great impression from them. They haven't done nearly the level of business as Mark, but have done similar sized deals in the general area. They clearly knew their stuff, though and had very similar advice as Mark. On some level, I saw them as the underdogs and believed they'd be hungrier to put in a higher level of effort on my behalf.
Ultimately, I was leaning towards going with Mark, because of his experience/knowledge/connections, but also because my local agent friend, who have a really strong relationship with, was going to be getting a referral fee. I communicated this to Jeff that it was a really hard choice and he quickly came back saying, they'd be happy to pay out a referral fee to "whoever you want" if it made a difference.
I talked to Jeff and his partner on the phone and explained the situation. I explained that Mark was actually planning on paying out 40% of his total commission to my agent (Paul) and the middle man (Sally) and that while I didn't have much reason to care about Sally, I did think that if any referral fee was going to paid out, it should go to Paul and a cousin of mine as both had been a sounding board for months giving me advice throughout the process. I understood that asking them to pay out 40% of their commission was unreasonable, but asked what they'd normally pay out in this situation and I was told "standard referral is 25%"... That made sense to me and seemed to be what I found online as "standard" referral %. I explained if I went with them, I'd actually have them split that referral fee between Paul and my cousin and they said that would be no problem at all.
For Reference:
- On a 3.6 mil sale with listing agent taking 2.5% ($90,000), paying out 40% of that commission as a referral would have had Mark taking home $54,000 (60%) while my agent Paul/Sally split the $36,000 referral (each taking $18,000). To be honestly, I didn't love the idea of Sally taking home $18,000 for basically doing nothing other than introduce me to Mark.
- On a 3.6 mil sale with listing agent taking 2.5% ($90,000) paying out 25% of that commission as a referral would have had Jeff taking home $67,500 while local agent Paul and my cousin (also an out of state agent) split a $22,500 referral (each taking home $11,250).
For Reference:
- On a 3.6 mil sale with listing agent taking 2% ($72,000), paying out 40% of that commission as a referral would have had Mark taking home $43,200 (60%) while my agent Paul/Sally split the $28,800 referral (each taking $14,400). Again, I didn't love the idea of Sally taking home $14,400 for basically doing nothing other than introduce me to Mark.
- On a 3.6 mil sale with listing agent taking 2% ($72,000) paying out 25% of that commission as a referral would have had Jeff taking home $54,000 while local agent Paul and my cousin (also an out of state agent) split a $18,000 referral (each taking home $9000).
Given that Jeff and his partner were agreeing to match everything Mark was offering and that I genuinely had a great impression from them, I ultimately made the touch decision of going with them.
I did want to make sure the referral portion they promised was part of the process, but given this is sort of unusual, none of the listing agreement documents mention that aspect. I had asked Jeff about how I'd go about making sure Paul and my cousin got paid and I was told they'd need to contact Jeff with their information. No problem. I signed the exclusive listing agreement and told both Paul and my cousin to contact Jeff as they'd each be sharing 25% of Jeff's commission as a referral fee (12.5% each).
Oops.
Although "25% is a standard referral" was communicated to me over the phone, I never got that in writing.
As soon as Paul and my cousin reached out to Jeff with their info asking for the shared split of 25%, Jeff contacted me saying, "oh actually... normally we offer a 20% referral at 6% total commission. In this case we are able to provide 10% total referral as a courtesy to you and your relationships seeing as how we didn’t receive this as a referral."
This was the first time I was seeing "10%" communicated to me. I reminded them they told me 25% over the phone. They reiterated they were able to pay out 10% of their commission as a referral "as a courtesy" to me. They suggested that if we moved the commission structure back up to 5% total instead of 4%, they'd be fine with paying out 25%.
For reference:
- On a 3.6 mil sale with listing agent taking 2% ($72,000), paying out 10% of that commission as a referral would have had Jeff taking home $64,800 (90%) while my agent Paul/my cousin split the $7200 referral (each taking $3600).
Just looking for some thoughts/advice before I respond to Jeff about it. At this point, I have an exclusive listing agreement with Jeff and his partner. It's possible some of this was just basic miscommunication and they had never intended to pay out 25%. Granted, they had told me 25% back when the commission structure was higher so on some level I get why they'd want to compensate for agreeing to a lower fee structure, but this surprise has me questioning what else they might surprise me with as we get further along.
2024.05.18 12:42 tristanfinn Old Genocide Joe Has Got to Go! – by Philip Giraldi – 17 May 2024
https://xenagoguevicene.wordpress.com/2024/05/18/old-genocide-joe-has-got-to-go-by-philip-giraldi-17-may-2024/
Embracing Netanyahu does not constitute a foreign policy
It is extremely difficult to discern what might be the thinking behind the clueless President Joe Biden and his Blinken-Austin-Mayorkas foreign-policy-plus national security team. Or rather, the problem is that there does not appear to be any thinking about it at all if one measures it by what benefits it brings to the American people. It all actually seems to derive from a desire to construct a narrative that will win the presidential election coming up in November, which will fortunately be run against a deeply flawed GOP candidate named Donald J. Trump. But look at what is on the Biden record: the country’s southern border with Mexico is a porous as a Swiss cheese, allowing literally millions of illegal immigrants into the USA since Biden took office; Washington is both de facto and de jure simultaneously fighting and losing two unnecessary wars involving nuclear powers which has cost a nearly bankrupt Treasury well into the hundreds of billions of dollars; and the White House is needlessly sanctioning non-hostile competitors like China while also making illegal popular social media sites like TikTok which have committed the sin of reporting and disseminating accurate narratives about good old “best friend and closest ally” Israel. Predictably, neither of the assertions about the value of the Jewish state is true, nor is it a democracy, but who cares when you’re having fun shooting people and spending someone else’s money?
Oh, and just try to exercise your first amendment free speech rights by demonstrating against Israel’s slaughter of upwards of 40,000 Palestinian civilians using US provided weapons and you will be hit on the head by a cop, possibly arrested, and even expelled from college! If you want to see where this is all going, check out reports of the recent FBI detention and interrogation of distinguished Israeli historian Ilan Pappe seeking to enter the US through the Detroit International Airport. Pappe is a critic of the Netanyahu government and of US policy so he was held, questioned in detailed about his contacts, and had his phone copied before being allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, a group of top federal judges have signed a letter stating that they will strike back against the demonstrating students by refusing to hire any graduates of Columbia University Law School as law clerks. And there even is a bill currently before Congress that would empower the government to label the foreign protesters “antisemites and terrorism supporters” and deport them, with some going to Gaza with the expectation that they would be killed, possibly by the mighty Israel Defense Forces (IDF)! It would be a startling new development to punish those whose crime consists mostly of trespass even given the rather loose ethical boundaries established by the war on terror and the Antisemitism Awareness Act! Or indeed one might follow the Senatorial route led by a chirping Lindsey Graham who recommends dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza to kill everyone who has survived the Israeli onslaught. The area then might be developed after the radiation dies down for those splendid seaside villas for Jews only suggested by the esteemed Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
To be sure, Joe sometimes mumbles something that might just be viewed positively, like his recent blocking on humanitarian grounds of a consignment of bunker buster bombs on their way to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that, no matter what, he would invade Rafah to completely destroy Hamas and whoever else might happen to get in his way. Joe predictably reversed that decision last Tuesday, approving a $1 billion supply of munitions after he came under pressure from the Israelis and their many friends in the US, to include a host of Israel-loving GOP congressmen who have carried their fight on behalf of the Jewish state to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being directly threatened with American wrath lest it try to punish Israeli leaders for their genocide in Gaza. As Bill Astore put it “Last week, President Biden appeared to have strapped on a temporary spine in delaying shipments of ‘offensive’ weaponry to Israel for its murderous invasion of Rafah in Gaza. That spine had a short duration as Biden announced [Tuesday] renewed shipments of tank and mortar rounds to Israel.” Congress has also gotten into the game with the GOP controlled House of Representatives having passed a bill that would compel the White House to continue all arms shipments to Israel. Joe might also be thinking of political contributions, as American Jews donate the majority of Democratic Party funding, as well guaranteeing a friendly media in his campaign as they dominate both the news and the entertainment industries. See, Joe can figure some things out all by himself every once in a while!
Here’s the problem with Joe, apart from the roughly $12 million in gift-donations from Jewish/Israeli sources that he has obtained in his political career. His tactical thinking does not extend beyond his personal interests, to include his corrupt children, a trait very much like that which is possessed by his good buddy Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges of his own in Israel. Joe believes he is much cleverer than he actually is and thinks that an occasional mild verbal criticism of the Israeli behavior will convince his target audience of voters that he really is concerned about the continuing death toll in Gaza, where the Israelis have already been taking initial steps in their attack on Rafah by using their tanks to penetrate into the targeted zone to destroy and kill.
And as for the reported completion and initial functioning of the floating pier connected to Gaza constructed by US military engineers, it will not dramatically change reality on the ground even though Biden is claiming that it will enable the entry of much needed food and medical aid. Israel will still “security” control what is allowed to enter into Gaza proper while Netanyahu is seeing the pier as a bridge to nowhere, usable primarily to export excess Palestinians to foreign lands that are either willing or unwilling to accept them. And its existence creates some interesting possibilities. As it presumably will be logistically supported on the pier itself by US-based personnel, Netanyahu might well be tempted to stage a false flag attack blamed on Hamas to kill a few Americans and lock Biden into Israel’s right-wing Gaza policies from now on. Bear in mind that, in reality, Biden could care less if all the Palestinians might be “disappeared” just as he would like to see any and all critics of Israel be subjected to the harshest punishments, including prison and denial of basic rights as well as being stripped of government benefits. He has called the protesters “lawbreakers” and spreaders of “chaos” and congress is currently investigating the alleged “subversive organizers” of the “anti-Israel terrorists.”
Biden and company, as well as Trump, who is advising the Israeli government to “finish the job” with the Palestinians, clearly have no actual red lines that must not be crossed when it comes to Israel. The war of extermination of the Gazans has been accompanied by a more hidden war being conducted by the Jewish settlers on the West Bank, which has been largely under Israeli occupation since 1967. The frequently armed settlers have been attacking unarmed Palestinians, destroying their homes and businesses, ruining their crops and vineyards, and even killing them on occasion. Israeli police and army standing by do nothing to stop the fun and even frequently participate themselves by arresting and beating Palestinians who are guilty only of being Palestinian. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested without charges apart from “preventive detention” since the troubles began in October and the jails are overflowing. The clear intention, verbalized without any shame by senior Israeli government officials like Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is to produce a Greater Israel cleansed of Arabs. And Biden, who pretends to favor a two-state solution to the unrest, helps the process along by vetoing UN resolutions that would help create separate sovereignty for Palestine.
Some of the most outrageous recent developments have been the settlers’ interfering with shipments of food and medicines entering into Gaza, a point that a faux-sympathetic Biden stresses repeatedly when pontificating regarding bringing aid to the starving people who are trapped with nowhere to go inside the enclave. The Israel clampdown even includes the Mediterranean Sea being blocked off by the Israeli navy which shoots any desperate Gazans who try to go close to the water so they can fish for food. In the most recent incidents, observed by the standing-by but inert Israeli army and police, truckloads of food were blocked, the drivers and aid workers removed and beaten, and the food was destroyed and burned before the trucks were treated likewise. In another incident settlers dumped huge boulders on one of the access roads to a checkpoint leading into Gaza, rendering it impassible and blocking any aid. Journalists and aid workers are meanwhile being killed by the army to prevent any reporting of what is going on while the US State Department refuses to condemn the activity. Biden called the interference with assistance convoys “outrageous” but has done nothing whatsoever about it, nor has he followed up on pledges to sanction Israelis who attack Palestinians or their property on the West Bank.
The whole problem is that Israel is a monster, an apartheid state that somehow feels it is empowered by God and the United States to kill all its neighbors and rob the American taxpayer to pay for and equip the slaughter. Israel is backed by an all-powerful US domestic lobby that includes unlimited Jewish money and activist Zionist groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) led by the hideous Jonathan Greenblatt and the venerable American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which are now busy raising money to defeat all congress critters who have ever criticized the Jewish state. ADL and AIPAC are also linked to “that old time religion” knucklehead Christian Zionists concentrated in the Republican Party who have their Scofield Bibles firmly embedded between their ears where their brains are supposed be. A partial solution would be to make the Jewish-Zionist groups register as foreign government agents directed by Israel under the the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is exactly what they are, but that will never happen. President John F. Kennedy tried to register the predecessor group to AIPAC and many believe he paid the ultimate price for that affront as well as for his bid to stop Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
So, my fellow Americans, what should we do? Well, we should do whatever we can, which includes speaking out about how we have been sold out by our leaders and opinion makers, and we should continue to do that even knowing that they will try to silence us by destroying free speech in this country. It is all we have left and we should continue to oppose what is happening. The first step however, is to get rid of politicians like Joe and Donald, who have been completely corrupted by more than fifty years in the “system” and are totally sold out and irresponsible in their behavior. There are honest politicians and journalists out there and we just have to find them, support them and get them elected and in positions where they will be able to bring about change in how things are done in Washington! One might call it the New American Revolution to restore our rights and free us from foreign oppression!
submitted by tristanfinn to altnewz [link] [comments]
Embracing Netanyahu does not constitute a foreign policy
It is extremely difficult to discern what might be the thinking behind the clueless President Joe Biden and his Blinken-Austin-Mayorkas foreign-policy-plus national security team. Or rather, the problem is that there does not appear to be any thinking about it at all if one measures it by what benefits it brings to the American people. It all actually seems to derive from a desire to construct a narrative that will win the presidential election coming up in November, which will fortunately be run against a deeply flawed GOP candidate named Donald J. Trump. But look at what is on the Biden record: the country’s southern border with Mexico is a porous as a Swiss cheese, allowing literally millions of illegal immigrants into the USA since Biden took office; Washington is both de facto and de jure simultaneously fighting and losing two unnecessary wars involving nuclear powers which has cost a nearly bankrupt Treasury well into the hundreds of billions of dollars; and the White House is needlessly sanctioning non-hostile competitors like China while also making illegal popular social media sites like TikTok which have committed the sin of reporting and disseminating accurate narratives about good old “best friend and closest ally” Israel. Predictably, neither of the assertions about the value of the Jewish state is true, nor is it a democracy, but who cares when you’re having fun shooting people and spending someone else’s money?
Oh, and just try to exercise your first amendment free speech rights by demonstrating against Israel’s slaughter of upwards of 40,000 Palestinian civilians using US provided weapons and you will be hit on the head by a cop, possibly arrested, and even expelled from college! If you want to see where this is all going, check out reports of the recent FBI detention and interrogation of distinguished Israeli historian Ilan Pappe seeking to enter the US through the Detroit International Airport. Pappe is a critic of the Netanyahu government and of US policy so he was held, questioned in detailed about his contacts, and had his phone copied before being allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, a group of top federal judges have signed a letter stating that they will strike back against the demonstrating students by refusing to hire any graduates of Columbia University Law School as law clerks. And there even is a bill currently before Congress that would empower the government to label the foreign protesters “antisemites and terrorism supporters” and deport them, with some going to Gaza with the expectation that they would be killed, possibly by the mighty Israel Defense Forces (IDF)! It would be a startling new development to punish those whose crime consists mostly of trespass even given the rather loose ethical boundaries established by the war on terror and the Antisemitism Awareness Act! Or indeed one might follow the Senatorial route led by a chirping Lindsey Graham who recommends dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza to kill everyone who has survived the Israeli onslaught. The area then might be developed after the radiation dies down for those splendid seaside villas for Jews only suggested by the esteemed Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
To be sure, Joe sometimes mumbles something that might just be viewed positively, like his recent blocking on humanitarian grounds of a consignment of bunker buster bombs on their way to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that, no matter what, he would invade Rafah to completely destroy Hamas and whoever else might happen to get in his way. Joe predictably reversed that decision last Tuesday, approving a $1 billion supply of munitions after he came under pressure from the Israelis and their many friends in the US, to include a host of Israel-loving GOP congressmen who have carried their fight on behalf of the Jewish state to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being directly threatened with American wrath lest it try to punish Israeli leaders for their genocide in Gaza. As Bill Astore put it “Last week, President Biden appeared to have strapped on a temporary spine in delaying shipments of ‘offensive’ weaponry to Israel for its murderous invasion of Rafah in Gaza. That spine had a short duration as Biden announced [Tuesday] renewed shipments of tank and mortar rounds to Israel.” Congress has also gotten into the game with the GOP controlled House of Representatives having passed a bill that would compel the White House to continue all arms shipments to Israel. Joe might also be thinking of political contributions, as American Jews donate the majority of Democratic Party funding, as well guaranteeing a friendly media in his campaign as they dominate both the news and the entertainment industries. See, Joe can figure some things out all by himself every once in a while!
Here’s the problem with Joe, apart from the roughly $12 million in gift-donations from Jewish/Israeli sources that he has obtained in his political career. His tactical thinking does not extend beyond his personal interests, to include his corrupt children, a trait very much like that which is possessed by his good buddy Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges of his own in Israel. Joe believes he is much cleverer than he actually is and thinks that an occasional mild verbal criticism of the Israeli behavior will convince his target audience of voters that he really is concerned about the continuing death toll in Gaza, where the Israelis have already been taking initial steps in their attack on Rafah by using their tanks to penetrate into the targeted zone to destroy and kill.
And as for the reported completion and initial functioning of the floating pier connected to Gaza constructed by US military engineers, it will not dramatically change reality on the ground even though Biden is claiming that it will enable the entry of much needed food and medical aid. Israel will still “security” control what is allowed to enter into Gaza proper while Netanyahu is seeing the pier as a bridge to nowhere, usable primarily to export excess Palestinians to foreign lands that are either willing or unwilling to accept them. And its existence creates some interesting possibilities. As it presumably will be logistically supported on the pier itself by US-based personnel, Netanyahu might well be tempted to stage a false flag attack blamed on Hamas to kill a few Americans and lock Biden into Israel’s right-wing Gaza policies from now on. Bear in mind that, in reality, Biden could care less if all the Palestinians might be “disappeared” just as he would like to see any and all critics of Israel be subjected to the harshest punishments, including prison and denial of basic rights as well as being stripped of government benefits. He has called the protesters “lawbreakers” and spreaders of “chaos” and congress is currently investigating the alleged “subversive organizers” of the “anti-Israel terrorists.”
Biden and company, as well as Trump, who is advising the Israeli government to “finish the job” with the Palestinians, clearly have no actual red lines that must not be crossed when it comes to Israel. The war of extermination of the Gazans has been accompanied by a more hidden war being conducted by the Jewish settlers on the West Bank, which has been largely under Israeli occupation since 1967. The frequently armed settlers have been attacking unarmed Palestinians, destroying their homes and businesses, ruining their crops and vineyards, and even killing them on occasion. Israeli police and army standing by do nothing to stop the fun and even frequently participate themselves by arresting and beating Palestinians who are guilty only of being Palestinian. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested without charges apart from “preventive detention” since the troubles began in October and the jails are overflowing. The clear intention, verbalized without any shame by senior Israeli government officials like Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is to produce a Greater Israel cleansed of Arabs. And Biden, who pretends to favor a two-state solution to the unrest, helps the process along by vetoing UN resolutions that would help create separate sovereignty for Palestine.
Some of the most outrageous recent developments have been the settlers’ interfering with shipments of food and medicines entering into Gaza, a point that a faux-sympathetic Biden stresses repeatedly when pontificating regarding bringing aid to the starving people who are trapped with nowhere to go inside the enclave. The Israel clampdown even includes the Mediterranean Sea being blocked off by the Israeli navy which shoots any desperate Gazans who try to go close to the water so they can fish for food. In the most recent incidents, observed by the standing-by but inert Israeli army and police, truckloads of food were blocked, the drivers and aid workers removed and beaten, and the food was destroyed and burned before the trucks were treated likewise. In another incident settlers dumped huge boulders on one of the access roads to a checkpoint leading into Gaza, rendering it impassible and blocking any aid. Journalists and aid workers are meanwhile being killed by the army to prevent any reporting of what is going on while the US State Department refuses to condemn the activity. Biden called the interference with assistance convoys “outrageous” but has done nothing whatsoever about it, nor has he followed up on pledges to sanction Israelis who attack Palestinians or their property on the West Bank.
The whole problem is that Israel is a monster, an apartheid state that somehow feels it is empowered by God and the United States to kill all its neighbors and rob the American taxpayer to pay for and equip the slaughter. Israel is backed by an all-powerful US domestic lobby that includes unlimited Jewish money and activist Zionist groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) led by the hideous Jonathan Greenblatt and the venerable American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which are now busy raising money to defeat all congress critters who have ever criticized the Jewish state. ADL and AIPAC are also linked to “that old time religion” knucklehead Christian Zionists concentrated in the Republican Party who have their Scofield Bibles firmly embedded between their ears where their brains are supposed be. A partial solution would be to make the Jewish-Zionist groups register as foreign government agents directed by Israel under the the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is exactly what they are, but that will never happen. President John F. Kennedy tried to register the predecessor group to AIPAC and many believe he paid the ultimate price for that affront as well as for his bid to stop Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
So, my fellow Americans, what should we do? Well, we should do whatever we can, which includes speaking out about how we have been sold out by our leaders and opinion makers, and we should continue to do that even knowing that they will try to silence us by destroying free speech in this country. It is all we have left and we should continue to oppose what is happening. The first step however, is to get rid of politicians like Joe and Donald, who have been completely corrupted by more than fifty years in the “system” and are totally sold out and irresponsible in their behavior. There are honest politicians and journalists out there and we just have to find them, support them and get them elected and in positions where they will be able to bring about change in how things are done in Washington! One might call it the New American Revolution to restore our rights and free us from foreign oppression!
2024.05.18 12:32 drashtishah3334 Query regarding UK visit visa for my Stepmother
Hi, thanks to this community for all the great help. I have a query.
I'm on a Student Visa (from India) and my husband is on a Skilled Worker Visa. I plan to invite my mother to the UK on a visit visa to attend my graduation. I have a few questions:
1) My mother is not familiar with English. Can I fill in her visa application?
2) My mother is technically my stepmother. My biological mother's name is on all my documents as it was impossible to get them changed. I have the death certificate of my biological mother and the marriage certificate of my father and stepmother.
How do I address the discrepancies in the passport regarding my mother's name?
3) My mother has the following assets: Does this help with her application?
Thank you so much for your help in advance.
submitted by drashtishah3334 to ukvisa [link] [comments]
I'm on a Student Visa (from India) and my husband is on a Skilled Worker Visa. I plan to invite my mother to the UK on a visit visa to attend my graduation. I have a few questions:
1) My mother is not familiar with English. Can I fill in her visa application?
2) My mother is technically my stepmother. My biological mother's name is on all my documents as it was impossible to get them changed. I have the death certificate of my biological mother and the marriage certificate of my father and stepmother.
How do I address the discrepancies in the passport regarding my mother's name?
3) My mother has the following assets: Does this help with her application?
- £7,000 in a savings account for over a year
- £25,000 in fixed deposits
- A house in her name
- Her husband is back home
- She is not financially dependent on me
Thank you so much for your help in advance.
2024.05.18 12:31 EatDatCatCat455 [EU-DK] [H] Frog TKL Burgundy F13 built and Bacca60 PC WKL [W] PayPal GnS
Timestamp + pictures
The keyboards have keycaps on them in the pictures. They are not included but I can sell them if you're interested. The Bacca60 does not include switches either.
(The price includes the PayPal GnS fee.)
If you have any questions or want more pictures feel free to ask. My PM is always open :D
submitted by EatDatCatCat455 to mechmarket [link] [comments]
The keyboards have keycaps on them in the pictures. They are not included but I can sell them if you're interested. The Bacca60 does not include switches either.
(The price includes the PayPal GnS fee.)
| Items: | Description: | Price: |
|---|---|---|
| Burgundy Frog TKL F13 - C stock | Built with the included aluminium plate and 50a tadpoles with dry HG MX Blacks spring swapped with lubed Geon 3-stage 65g springs, soldered onto a Galatea FR4 1.6 PCB and TX AP stabs lubed with BDZ and 3203. 80a tadpoles and an FR4 half plate is included. Perfect external condition but it's a c stock because the top middle screw hole has trouble screwing in with 2 of the 3 long screws. | 280€ + shipping |
| Bacca60 Polycarbonate WKL | The Bacca60 is a polycarbonate sandwich mounted keyboard. It comes with a Millmaxed BT60 PCB. TX AP stabs. plate foam, brass plate and a custom PP plate. The few soundtests on YouTube are not that great so I can send a sound test if you want to hear it. | 200€ + shipping |
2024.05.18 12:26 Sweet-Count2557 Best Family Resorts Near Chicago
 | Best Family Resorts Near Chicago Are you ready for the ultimate family vacation near Chicago? Look no further! We've done all the research for you and found the absolute best family resorts in the area.Get ready to be blown away by the breathtaking views, endless activities, and top-notch amenities these resorts have to offer. From scenic vistas and water sports to comfortable rooms and stylish accommodations, we've got you covered.So pack your bags, buckle up, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure with your loved ones!Key TakeawaysThe Abbey Resort offers scenic nature views and plenty of amenities, but customer service needs improvement.Eaglewood Resort and Spa is close to Chicago and offers comfortable accommodations for large families, with entertainment options like an indoor pool and bowling alley.Osthoff Resort has very spacious bedrooms and serves delicious food and drinks at the on-site restaurant, but some facilities need updating.Lincolnshire Marriott Resort offers luxurious amenities, stylish rooms, and endless dining options, with entertainment options like a golf course and Marriott Theater.The Abbey Resort: Scenic Vistas and Water SportsWe love visiting The Abbey Resort for its breathtaking scenic vistas and exciting water sports activities. The resort is nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, offering stunning views of the water and surrounding nature. The natural beauty of the area is truly awe-inspiring, with lush greenery, towering trees, and vibrant flowers dotting the landscape. Whether you're relaxing on the beach or exploring the hiking trails, you'll be treated to panoramic views that will take your breath away.But it's not just the scenery that makes The Abbey Resort special. The resort also offers a wide range of water sports activities for the whole family to enjoy. From paddleboarding and kayaking to jet skiing and wakeboarding, there's something for everyone. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Geneva provide the perfect backdrop for these thrilling activities. And don't worry if you're new to water sports – the resort offers lessons and guided tours to ensure your safety and enjoyment.Eaglewood Resort and Spa: Comfortable and Beautiful RoomsAt Eaglewood Resort and Spa, you can expect comfortable and beautiful rooms that provide the perfect retreat for families. The rooms are designed with the utmost comfort in mind, ensuring a cozy and relaxing stay.The staff at Eaglewood Resort and Spa are friendly and welcoming, making your experience even more enjoyable.Room Comfort RatingThe rooms at Eaglewood Resort and Spa provide a comfortable and beautiful experience for guests.Immaculate room cleanliness ensures a safe and healthy stay.Engaging family-friendly activities keep everyone entertained.The staff goes above and beyond to make guests feel welcome and secure.A wide range of amenities cater to the needs of families.When it comes to room cleanliness, Eaglewood Resort and Spa leaves no stone unturned. From spotless linens to meticulously cleaned surfaces, every corner of the room is attended to with utmost care. This attention to detail ensures a safe and hygienic environment for guests.In addition to the impeccable room cleanliness, the resort offers a plethora of family-friendly activities. Whether it's splashing around in the indoor pool or enjoying a round of bowling, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The friendly and cordial staff is always on hand to facilitate these activities and ensure that families have a memorable and enjoyable experience.Furthermore, the resort's extensive amenities make it an ideal choice for families. From on-site restaurants with child-friendly menus to spacious accommodations that can comfortably accommodate large families, every need is catered to. The resort's commitment to safety and comfort is evident in every aspect of the guest experience.Overall, the rooms at Eaglewood Resort and Spa provide a comfortable and beautiful retreat for families. With a focus on room cleanliness and a wide range of family-friendly activities, guests can rest assured that their stay will be both enjoyable and safe.Room AestheticsOur favorite feature of Eaglewood Resort and Spa is the comfortable and beautiful rooms' aesthetics. The room decor is tastefully done, with a soothing color palette and elegant furnishings that create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the room, from the plush bedding to the stylish artwork on the walls. It truly feels like a home away from home.In addition to the stunning room decor, Eaglewood Resort and Spa also offers a wide range of outdoor activities for guests to enjoy. Whether you're looking for a relaxing stroll through the resort's picturesque grounds or an adrenaline-pumping adventure like zip-lining or hiking, there's something for everyone. The resort also has a pristine golf course and a beautiful swimming pool, perfect for enjoying the great outdoors.Overall, Eaglewood Resort and Spa is the ideal destination for those seeking a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing stay, with plenty of outdoor activities to keep you entertained.Staff FriendlinessWe really appreciate the staff's friendliness at Eaglewood Resort and Spa. They always greet us with warm smiles and go above and beyond to make us feel welcome and valued.Here are four reasons why their friendly staff makes our stay even more enjoyable:Exceptional customer service: The staff at Eaglewood Resort and Spa is well-trained in providing top-notch service. They're attentive, responsive, and always ready to assist with any requests or concerns.Genuine care and hospitality: The staff's friendliness isn't just a facade; they genuinely care about the well-being and satisfaction of their guests. Their warmth and kindness create a safe and welcoming environment for families.Personalized attention: The staff takes the time to understand our needs and preferences, ensuring that our stay is tailored to our liking. They make us feel like valued guests, enhancing our overall experience.Consistency in service: The staff's friendliness is consistent throughout our stay, from check-in to check-out. This level of professionalism and dedication contributes to a high level of customer satisfaction.Overall, the staff's friendliness at Eaglewood Resort and Spa is a testament to their excellent staff training and commitment to customer satisfaction. It truly enhances our experience and makes us feel right at home.Osthoff Resort: Watersports and a Beachfront LocationWe absolutely loved the beachfront location of Osthoff Resort, with its multitude of watersports activities available for our enjoyment. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the sight of the sparkling blue waters and the soft sand beneath our feet.The resort offered a wide range of beachfront activities for all ages, including paddleboarding, kayaking, and jet skiing. We couldn't resist the thrill of riding the waves on a jet ski or exploring the calm waters on a paddleboard.The spacious bedrooms provided a comfortable retreat after a day of fun in the sun. We were able to relax and unwind in the cozy beds, knowing that we'd wake up refreshed and ready for another day of beachfront adventures.The resort also offered delicious food and drinks at the on-site restaurant, ensuring that we never went hungry during our stay.With our love for the beachfront activities and spacious bedrooms at Osthoff Resort, we couldn't help but be intrigued by the next resort on our list: Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. We were excited to discover the stylish rooms and top-notch amenities that awaited us.Lincolnshire Marriott Resort: Stylish Rooms and Top-Notch AmenitiesThe Lincolnshire Marriott Resort offers stylish rooms and top-notch amenities, making it an ideal choice for a luxurious getaway. With its stylish room decor and top-notch customer service, this resort guarantees a memorable and comfortable stay. Here are four reasons why the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort stands out:Luxurious Amenities: From the moment you step into the resort, you'll be greeted by a sense of luxury. The resort boasts a wide range of amenities, including a golf course for golf enthusiasts and the Marriott Theater for those seeking entertainment. Whether you're looking to relax by the pool or indulge in a spa treatment, the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort has you covered.Endless Dining Options: Food lovers will be delighted by the diverse dining options available at the resort. From fine dining to casual eateries, there's something to suit every palate. Indulge in a gourmet meal or grab a quick bite at one of the on-site restaurants, all while enjoying impeccable service.Stylish Room Decor: The rooms at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort are thoughtfully designed with stylish decor and modern furnishings. Each room provides a comfortable and elegant escape, allowing you to unwind and recharge in style.Top-Notch Customer Service: The staff at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort are dedicated to providing exceptional service. From the moment you check-in to the moment you check-out, you can expect personalized attention and assistance with any requests or needs.The Lincolnshire Marriott Resort offers a luxurious and unforgettable experience for those seeking a stylish getaway. Speaking of serene retreats, let's now explore the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, another fantastic option for a peaceful escape.Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago: Serene RetreatNestled in the charming suburb of Oak Brook, Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago is a serene retreat that offers a perfect blend of city excitement and peacefulness.With its outdoor activities and beautiful surroundings, this resort provides a tranquil escape for families seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.From its family-friendly amenities and services to its easy access to Chicago and its attractions, Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago truly embodies a peaceful suburban getaway.Peaceful Suburban GetawayDriving through the charming suburb of Oak Brook, we were captivated by the serene retreat offered by the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago. Nestled amidst beautiful surroundings, this resort provides the perfect blend of city excitement and peacefulness.Here are four reasons why this suburban getaway is worth considering:Scenic vistas and water sports at The Abbey ResortComfortable and beautiful rooms at Eaglewood Resort and SpaOutdoor activities and beautiful surroundings at Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook ChicagoSerene retreat in the charming suburb of Oak BrookWith its scenic nature views and plenty of amenities, The Abbey Resort is a great choice for families. Meanwhile, Eaglewood Resort and Spa offers cushy accommodations for large families and a range of entertainment options like an indoor pool and bowling alley.As we move on to the next section, we'll explore the family-friendly amenities and services offered by this peaceful suburban retreat.Family-Friendly Amenities and ServicesWhen exploring the family-friendly amenities and services at the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, we were impressed by the perfect blend of city excitement and peacefulness offered by this serene retreat. The resort provides a wide range of family-friendly activities and kid-friendly amenities to ensure a safe and enjoyable stay for all. Take a look at the table below to get a better idea of what the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago has to offer:AmenitiesActivitiesServicesOutdoor poolNature walksChildcare servicesPlaygroundBike rentalsRoom serviceGame roomMovie nightsConcierge assistanceFrom the outdoor pool and playground to the nature walks and movie nights, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. The resort also offers childcare services and room service to make your stay even more convenient. With these family-friendly amenities and services, the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago ensures that every member of the family has a memorable and safe experience. Now let's delve into the blend of city excitement and peacefulness offered by this serene retreat.Blend of City and TranquilityAs we explore the serene retreat of the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, we're captivated by the perfect blend of city excitement and peacefulness it offers. Nestled in the charming suburb of Oak Brook, this resort provides a haven away from the bustling city while still giving easy access to Chicago and its attractions.Here are four reasons why the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago is the ideal destination for families seeking a balance of city attractions and outdoor adventures:Family-friendly amenities and services ensure a safe and enjoyable stay for all ages.The beautiful surroundings offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring nature.Easy access to Chicago allows for exciting city adventures, including visiting museums, exploring iconic landmarks, and enjoying the vibrant dining scene.The serene retreat of Oak Brook provides a peaceful atmosphere for relaxation and tranquility after a day of city exploration or outdoor adventures.With the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, families can have the best of both worlds, experiencing the thrill of the city and the tranquility of a retreat.Illinois Beach Resort: Spectacular Views and Activities for All GenerationsWe absolutely love Illinois Beach Resort for its spectacular views of the sandy shore and the wide range of activities it offers for all generations. Situated at 100 Lake Front Drive, Zion, IL, this resort is a haven for families seeking a safe and fun-filled getaway.The resort boasts a large pool nestled in an atrium with palm trees, providing a tropical atmosphere where both children and adults can enjoy a refreshing swim.For those who love sandy shore activities, Illinois Beach Resort has got you covered. Take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline, build sandcastles with the kids, or simply relax and soak up the sun while enjoying the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. The resort also offers beach volleyball and beach yoga, perfect for those looking to stay active during their vacation.When it comes to generational entertainment options, Illinois Beach Resort truly excels. Families can enjoy bike rentals and explore the scenic trails surrounding the resort, or engage in a friendly game of tennis or basketball on the available courts. For a more laid-back experience, the resort provides board games and puzzles, ensuring that everyone in the family can find something they enjoy.Safety is a top priority at Illinois Beach Resort. The resort follows strict guidelines to ensure the well-being of its guests, with regular cleaning and sanitization practices in place. The staff is friendly and attentive, always ready to assist with any concerns or questions.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat Are the Rates and Availability for the Rooms at the Abbey Resort?Rates and availability at The Abbey Resort vary depending on the room type and season. The resort offers a range of accommodations to suit different needs, from cozy rooms to spacious suites.Amenities include scenic nature views, plenty of amenities to use, and a kids' area with swimming, boating, and biking options. Parents can relax at the spa center and enjoy live piano music at the bar.Customer service could be improved, but overall, it's a great family-friendly option.Are There Any Age Restrictions for the Use of Water Sports Facilities at Osthoff Resort?There are no age restrictions for the use of water sports facilities at Osthoff Resort. It's a family-friendly resort that offers a wide range of activities for all ages.From swimming in the beautiful lake to engaging in thrilling water sports, there's something for everyone. The resort ensures the safety of all guests by providing trained staff and necessary equipment.Can You Provide More Information About the Dining Options at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort?Looking for great dining options at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort? Wondering what culinary experiences await you? Well, you're in for a treat!Lincolnshire Marriott Resort offers a variety of popular restaurants that will satisfy every palate. From fine dining to casual eateries, there's something for everyone.Indulge in delicious meals crafted by talented chefs using the freshest ingredients. So whether you're craving a juicy steak, fresh seafood, or a mouthwatering dessert, Lincolnshire Marriott Resort has got you covered.Bon appétit!What Are the Specific Outdoor Activities Offered at Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago?At Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, we offer a wide range of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. From exploring the beautiful surroundings to engaging in fun-filled outdoor games, there's something for everyone.Our resort is known for its family-friendly amenities, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all. So whether you want to go hiking, biking, or simply relax in nature, Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago has got you covered.Can You Provide More Details About the Amenities and Activities Available at Illinois Beach Resort for Different Age Groups?At Illinois Beach Resort, there are plenty of amenities and activities for all age groups.For the little ones, there's a large pool nestled in an atrium with palm trees, perfect for splashing around.Older kids can enjoy the sandy shore and take part in beach activities like building sandcastles.Adults can relax and soak up the beautiful views while enjoying a variety of water sports.With something for everyone, Illinois Beach Resort is a great choice for families looking for fun and relaxation.ConclusionWell, congratulations! You've made it to the end of our journey through the best family resorts near Chicago.You've learned about scenic vistas, comfortable rooms, watersports, top-notch amenities, and serene retreats.Now, all that's left is for you to pack your bags, hop in the car, and head off on an unforgettable family vacation.Just remember, while these resorts may promise relaxation and fun, be prepared for the chaos and excitement that comes with traveling with kids.Happy travels! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 12:18 New_Selina_Now Trip report - Uzbekistan
Dear solotravel
Just returned from my solotrip to Uzbekistan and thought i'd do a little trip report as I know trip reports from this forum has inspired me in the past. Just remember that this is purely my experience, and others might have had other experiences on their trip to Uzbeksitan.
Uzbekistan was completely safe. Never once felt unsafe and never felt like I had to hold on to wallet or my phone. The country isn't very touristic and therefore I never really felt like you had to keep an eye out for scammers either. Regular taxis might overprice sometimes but didn't experience they tried to screw you afterwards.
GETTING IN:
Recently Uzbekistan relaxed their entry requirements and at least I could get in visa free.
GETTING AROUND:
Getting around the country was easy. They have a pretty decent railway system that was cheap and quite reliable. There were multiple trains a day especially between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara that was cheap and comfortable. Make sure to download the Uzbek Railway app to your phone. It's a good app where you easily can buy train tickets. Just make sure you book them a couple of days in advance as train tickets get sold out fast. Especially if you want to go on the bullet train that runs between these cities. You can also take private taxis that are a bit more expensive but did the trick too. I'm sure you can take shared taxis and busses as well but didn't do any of these options.
Getting around the cities are easy too. Tashkent had a nice metro and public bus system. A ticket to go on any of these cost 0.13 USD and you could pay by card which was surprisingly efficient and modern. If you can download Yandex or Yango (works like Uber) to your phone which also is a good, cheap way to get around. Uber isn't available in Uzbekistan, so these are good alternatives.
COST OF LIVING:
It's very very cheap. You can easily go out for a good meal and drinks for about 7-8 USD in total. And bonus: tipping culture isn't that big, and a 15% service charge is mostly included in the bill.
ACCOMODATION:
There are hostels in most cities, but most felt like guesthouses. So, there isn't a huge and established hostel scene. There are also plenty of hotels that are a bit more expensive but that you can still get for good value.
ATTRACTIONS:
If you take the Silkroad route I did, expect that most of what you see are historical and cultural sights. Tashkent was a typical old soviet city and has a couple of museums, squares etc. Some of the things I saw was as follows:
Tashkent: TV tower, Chorsu, Magic City Park, Timurid Museum, Amir Temur Square, Walking around exploring
Samarkand: Registan, Shah i Zinda, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Russian district, Mausoleum of Islam Karimov.
Bukhara: Old Town (Was feeling sick while in Bukhara so didn't end up seeing much)
Khiva: Old Town (beautiful but not much else to see there)
Nukus: Aral Sea tour, Necropolis, Main Square, the mosque. (They also have a pretty famous Art Museum but didn't get to go. Apparently, they have a famous puppet theatre that sounded random but fun but unfortunately, they didn't have any shows while I went but might be worth be looking into.
FOOD:
Uzbek food like plov is widely available at restaurants in all cities I went to and it's possible to find Turkish and other kinds of middle eastern foods around. Besides Tashkent though, I felt like finding western style food was a bit harder although not impossible. Hygiene standards weren't as bad as many other countries like maybe India, but not what I'm used to at home either. So, I did get some stomach issues on my trip. Some other travelers I met didn't have issues on their trip though. Either way it might be a good idea to bring some Imodium or another type of stomach medicine just in case.
LANGUAGE:
Uzbek and Russian were spoken by most. English, as I only spoke, was hard to get by solely but not impossible. In hindsight it might have been useful to learn a couple of Russian phrases and words.
VERDICT:
Is Uzbekistan worth going to? I would say yes. It's a very amazing and interesting country and the mix between strong islamic and russian/soviet influence I felt like was very unique. It's a country that's still developing but it's still developed enough that's it's easy and comfortable to travel around without too much hassle. It was quite clear that most tourists in the country were part of tour groups and is still quite "undiscovered" among solotravellers and people in general travelling by themselves. So, as I mentioned earlier, that means that the hostel scene is very weak and the hostels that did exist I felt like guesthouses. However, you shouldn't be afraid that you don't get to meet other solotravellers.
I will say however as much as I enjoyed my trip, I wasn't blown over backwards by Uzbekistan either. But I think there's a simple explanation to this.
It's a country you go to because it's much less touristy, more undiscovered and you want to see things not many other people get to see. But exactly because of this expect that most places only really have enough to do for 1-2 days and that the things you see, like museums, monuments and other sights, maybe aren't as well done or as high of a quality as other places. That's not necessarily bad but it's just something to keep in mind.
But I'll also say that a part of the charm of Uzbekistan is not just to see the sights but also just to relax and experience daily life and explore the cities, even if there isn't much to do.
Either way, Uzbekistan is an amazing country. I glad i went and it was worth every cent and I can only recommend everyone to go! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
submitted by New_Selina_Now to solotravel [link] [comments]
Just returned from my solotrip to Uzbekistan and thought i'd do a little trip report as I know trip reports from this forum has inspired me in the past. Just remember that this is purely my experience, and others might have had other experiences on their trip to Uzbeksitan.
- Me: 28/M, Scandinavia. Typical blue eyed, blond hair guy.
- Trip length: 11 days
- Destinations: Tashkent (2 nights), Samarkand (3 nights), Bukhara (2 nights), Khiva (1 night), Nukus (2 nights), Tashkent (1 night)
- Cost: plane tickets: 800 USD. Accommodation and various spending like food, attractions, transportation, tours etc: 820 USD. I did stay in more expensive accommodation like hotels for a couple of nights so it can be done cheaper.
Uzbekistan was completely safe. Never once felt unsafe and never felt like I had to hold on to wallet or my phone. The country isn't very touristic and therefore I never really felt like you had to keep an eye out for scammers either. Regular taxis might overprice sometimes but didn't experience they tried to screw you afterwards.
GETTING IN:
Recently Uzbekistan relaxed their entry requirements and at least I could get in visa free.
GETTING AROUND:
Getting around the country was easy. They have a pretty decent railway system that was cheap and quite reliable. There were multiple trains a day especially between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara that was cheap and comfortable. Make sure to download the Uzbek Railway app to your phone. It's a good app where you easily can buy train tickets. Just make sure you book them a couple of days in advance as train tickets get sold out fast. Especially if you want to go on the bullet train that runs between these cities. You can also take private taxis that are a bit more expensive but did the trick too. I'm sure you can take shared taxis and busses as well but didn't do any of these options.
Getting around the cities are easy too. Tashkent had a nice metro and public bus system. A ticket to go on any of these cost 0.13 USD and you could pay by card which was surprisingly efficient and modern. If you can download Yandex or Yango (works like Uber) to your phone which also is a good, cheap way to get around. Uber isn't available in Uzbekistan, so these are good alternatives.
COST OF LIVING:
It's very very cheap. You can easily go out for a good meal and drinks for about 7-8 USD in total. And bonus: tipping culture isn't that big, and a 15% service charge is mostly included in the bill.
ACCOMODATION:
There are hostels in most cities, but most felt like guesthouses. So, there isn't a huge and established hostel scene. There are also plenty of hotels that are a bit more expensive but that you can still get for good value.
ATTRACTIONS:
If you take the Silkroad route I did, expect that most of what you see are historical and cultural sights. Tashkent was a typical old soviet city and has a couple of museums, squares etc. Some of the things I saw was as follows:
Tashkent: TV tower, Chorsu, Magic City Park, Timurid Museum, Amir Temur Square, Walking around exploring
Samarkand: Registan, Shah i Zinda, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Russian district, Mausoleum of Islam Karimov.
Bukhara: Old Town (Was feeling sick while in Bukhara so didn't end up seeing much)
Khiva: Old Town (beautiful but not much else to see there)
Nukus: Aral Sea tour, Necropolis, Main Square, the mosque. (They also have a pretty famous Art Museum but didn't get to go. Apparently, they have a famous puppet theatre that sounded random but fun but unfortunately, they didn't have any shows while I went but might be worth be looking into.
FOOD:
Uzbek food like plov is widely available at restaurants in all cities I went to and it's possible to find Turkish and other kinds of middle eastern foods around. Besides Tashkent though, I felt like finding western style food was a bit harder although not impossible. Hygiene standards weren't as bad as many other countries like maybe India, but not what I'm used to at home either. So, I did get some stomach issues on my trip. Some other travelers I met didn't have issues on their trip though. Either way it might be a good idea to bring some Imodium or another type of stomach medicine just in case.
LANGUAGE:
Uzbek and Russian were spoken by most. English, as I only spoke, was hard to get by solely but not impossible. In hindsight it might have been useful to learn a couple of Russian phrases and words.
VERDICT:
Is Uzbekistan worth going to? I would say yes. It's a very amazing and interesting country and the mix between strong islamic and russian/soviet influence I felt like was very unique. It's a country that's still developing but it's still developed enough that's it's easy and comfortable to travel around without too much hassle. It was quite clear that most tourists in the country were part of tour groups and is still quite "undiscovered" among solotravellers and people in general travelling by themselves. So, as I mentioned earlier, that means that the hostel scene is very weak and the hostels that did exist I felt like guesthouses. However, you shouldn't be afraid that you don't get to meet other solotravellers.
I will say however as much as I enjoyed my trip, I wasn't blown over backwards by Uzbekistan either. But I think there's a simple explanation to this.
It's a country you go to because it's much less touristy, more undiscovered and you want to see things not many other people get to see. But exactly because of this expect that most places only really have enough to do for 1-2 days and that the things you see, like museums, monuments and other sights, maybe aren't as well done or as high of a quality as other places. That's not necessarily bad but it's just something to keep in mind.
But I'll also say that a part of the charm of Uzbekistan is not just to see the sights but also just to relax and experience daily life and explore the cities, even if there isn't much to do.
Either way, Uzbekistan is an amazing country. I glad i went and it was worth every cent and I can only recommend everyone to go! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
2024.05.18 12:18 dvnschmchr Self-Employed Tax Credit (SETC) — $50,000+ in Tax Credits for Entrepreneurs Self-Employed Individuals
Self-Employed Tax Credit (SETC) — Over $50,000 in Tax Credits for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed Individuals
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, especially for entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals.Enter the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) with its vital Sick Employees and Tax Credits (SETC) provisions.
This legislative act has been a lifeline for millions, and here's why you should be informed and act swiftly...
👉 Click here for more information on claiming your tax credit
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The author is not liable for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on this information. Consult a qualified legal professional for advice tailored to your circumstances. Please seek proper legal guidance.
In March 2020, the FFCRA was enacted to support businesses with paid sick leave and unemployment benefits due to COVID-19. Initially, it focused on employers with W-2 employees.
https://youtu.be/J0IMsehvlNw
By December 2020, the CARES Act expanded FFCRA to include self-employed individuals, freelancers, independent contractors, and gig workers, providing them with tax credits to offset lost income due to COVID-19.
The FFCRA offers paid sick leave, free COVID-19 testing, food assistance, and unemployment benefits. For self-employed individuals, it provides equivalent coverage through tax credits claimable on income tax returns, reimbursing them for COVID-19 related sick leave.
Self-Employed Tax Credit (SETC) FAQs
What Is The FFCRA?
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), enacted in 2020, aimed to help small business owners provide sick leave for employees affected by COVID-19. Initially targeting small business employees, it was expanded in 2021 to include self-employed individuals facing business losses due to the pandemic.What is the Difference Between SETC and FFCRA?
The "Self-Employed Tax Credit" (SETC) refers to the tax credits for sick and family leave provided to self-employed individuals under the FFCRA. Essentially, SETC is for self-employed individuals, while FFCRA targets employees.What Dates Are Eligible For FFCRA/SETC Income Tax Credits?
Eligible dates for FFCRA/SETC income tax credits are from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, and up to 10 days between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021.Breakdown of Eligible Days:
- Childcare-related time off: Up to 110 days
- 50 days between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021
- 60 days between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021
- Personal or family illness: Up to 20 days
- 10 days between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021
- 10 days between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021
Do I Still Qualify If I Did Not Pay Myself Sick Leave?
Yes, the FFCRA/SETC is designed to cover self-employed individuals, even if they did not pay themselves sick leave.Why Can't I Find Information About SETC on the IRS Website?
SETC is an informal term for the sick and family leave tax credits for self-employed individuals introduced under the FFCRA. Look for information under the FFCRA and its application to self-employed individuals.Do I Have to Be Self-Employed to File for the Tax Credit Refund?
Yes, the tax credit is specifically for self-employed individuals, including small business owners, freelancers, partners in partnerships subject to self-employment taxes, and 1099 contractors.Do I Need Positive Tax Earnings in 2020 to Qualify?
No, if you did not have positive earnings in 2020 due to COVID-19 but were self-employed, you can use your 2019 net income if it was positive.Do I Need Positive Tax Earnings in 2021 to Qualify?
No, if you did not have positive earnings in 2021 due to COVID-19 but were self-employed, you can use your 2020 net income if it was positive.How Much of a Tax Credit Can I Expect to Receive?
Several factors determine the refund amount, including:- Net income from Schedule C on your 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax returns.
- Days missed due to sickness or quarantine from COVID-19.
- Time spent caring for a loved one affected by COVID-19.
- Duration of school or daycare closures requiring care for a minor child.
Can I Qualify if I Already Filed My Taxes for 2020 & 2021?
Yes, you can still qualify. An amended tax return will need to be filed, requiring copies of your 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax returns and your driver's license.Do I Have to Fill Out Extensive Paperwork?
No, the process involves signing an agreement letter, completing a survey for information, and uploading copies of your tax returns and driver's license. The rest is handled for you.Can I Claim SETC Tax Credits If I Am Also a W2 Employee?
You may still be eligible for SETC tax credits if you earned self-employment income in addition to your W2 salary during 2020 and/or 2021. However, receiving paid leave benefits as an employee may affect the amount you can claim as a self-employed individual.Do I Qualify If I Already Received Sick & Family Leave Credit on Previous Returns?
You would only be eligible if you did not fully utilize the credit(s) on previous returns.Is the SETC Tax Credit Based on Gross or Net Self-Employed Income?
To qualify, you must have a positive net (after deductions) self-employed income for 2019, 2020, or 2021, and qualifying COVID days.How Long Before I Receive My Cash Refund?
Once the necessary paperwork is submitted, the process usually takes 12-16 weeks to complete and receive your cash refund from the IRS.Can Both Spouses Qualify for the SETC?
Yes, if both spouses are self-employed, each could qualify for up to the maximum amount of $32,220 under the right circumstances.Refund Statute of Limitations and SETC
The deadline to amend the 2020 tax return for SETC credits occurring between April 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, is April 15, 2024. For SETC credits between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2021, the amendment deadline is April 18, 2025.Can I Qualify If I Received Unemployment Benefits in 2020 and/or 2021?
Yes, but you cannot claim days you received unemployment benefits as days unable to work due to COVID-19.Is a Complete Copy of My Return Needed to Amend?
Yes, a complete copy of the return is required to amend it for SETC credits.How Much Is the SETC Credit?
The SETC tax credit can be up to $32,220, based on your self-employed net earnings in 2020 and 2021.How Can I Claim the SETC Tax Credits?
Determine eligibility and amend your 2020 and/or 2021 tax returns, preferably using a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or through Legacy Tax & Resolution Services.Why Would the IRS Refund My Taxes?
The federal government supports businesses affected by COVID-19. This is a limited-time opportunity, so filing for SETC credits promptly is crucial.What Is the Social Security Tax Deferral?
Employers can defer the 6.2% employer portion of Social Security tax for March 27, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Self-employed taxpayers can defer 50% of their self-employment tax for the same period. Deferred amounts must be repaid by December 31, 2022.Who Qualifies for the SETC Tax Credits?
Eligible individuals include self-employed persons, such as sole proprietors, 1099 contractors, freelancers, and partners in partnerships who filed Schedule SE with positive net income and paid self-employment tax for 2019, 2020, and/or 2021.Does SETC Apply to C or S Corp Income?
No, C or S Corporation income is not considered self-employed income. However, corporations may qualify for sick or family leave tax credits under FFCRA.Is Health Insurance Required for SETC Eligibility?
No, health insurance coverage does not affect eligibility for the SETC.Are Unpaid Medical Bills Eligible for the Tax Credit?
No, the SETC credit only considers average daily wages and missed days due to COVID-19-related issues.What Qualifies as a Reason for Claiming SETC?
Reasons include quarantine orders, self-quarantine advised by a healthcare provider, caring for someone under quarantine, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, waiting for test results, getting vaccinated, experiencing vaccine side effects, and caring for a child due to school or daycare closure.How Long Before Receiving a Cash Refund?
Once paperwork is submitted, the process typically takes 12-16 weeks to complete and receive the cash refund from the IRS.Do Both Spouses Qualify for the Maximum SETC?
Yes, both can qualify for the maximum credit but cannot share qualifying COVID days.Is the SETC Tax Credit Taxable?
No, the SETC tax credit is not taxable.What
If I Have IRS Debt or a Treasury Offset?You need a $0 balance with the IRS to receive a refund. Outstanding debts must be paid off first.
Can I Claim SETC Tax Credits If I Am Also a W2 Employee?
Yes, but paid leave benefits as an employee may affect the SETC credit. If the employee status does not provide full coverage, additional credits based on self-employment income may be claimed.Can Weekends Be Claimed?
Yes, if self-employment work is typically done on weekends. If not, weekends cannot be claimed.What Is a Form 1040?
IRS Form 1040 is the standard individual income tax form used to report annual income and calculate tax liability.What Is a Form 1040X?
IRS Form 1040X is used to amend previously filed individual tax returns. Legacy Tax & Resolution Services will use Form 1040X to file for SETC tax credits.What Is a Schedule SE Form 1040?
Schedule SE is a tax form used by self-employed individuals to calculate the self-employment tax owed, covering Social Security and Medicare taxes for those who work for themselves.What Is a Schedule C?
Schedule C is used by sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, and other self-employed individuals to report business income and expenses. The net income from Schedule C is used to calculate self-employment income on Schedule SE.What Is a Form 7202?
IRS Form 7202 is used to claim the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) credits for self-employed individuals, detailing eligibility and tax credit calculations.What Is a Form 8821?
IRS Form 8821 authorizes the release of tax information to a third party, allowing Legacy Tax & Resolution Services to access necessary tax information to calculate SETC credits and amend returns.Are Processing Fees Required?
Legacy Tax & Resolution Services charges no upfront fee. After calculating the tax credit, the fee for filing tax returns is $395. An additional 20% of the refund amount is due after the refund is received.Does Filing for SETC Impact 2023 Income Taxes?
Filing for SETC credits does not impact the filing of 2023 income taxes. The team at Legacy Tax & Resolution Services will amend previously filed returns for 2020 and/or 2021.If Both Spouses Have Self-Employed Income, Can They Each Get the Credit?
Yes, both can receive the credit but cannot share qualifying COVID days.Is the SETC Tax Credit Taxable?
No, the SETC tax credit is not taxable.How Long Before Receiving a Cash Refund?
Once the necessary paperwork is submitted, it typically takes 12-16 weeks to receive the cash refund from the IRS.What If There Is IRS Debt or a Treasury Offset?
A $0 balance with the IRS is required to receive a refund. Any outstanding debts must be paid first.Can SETC Tax Credits Be Claimed If Also a W2 Employee?
Yes, but receiving paid leave benefits as an employee may affect the SETC credit. Additional credits may be claimed if employee benefits do not provide full coverage.Can Weekends Be Claimed?
Yes, if self-employment work is typically done on weekends. If not, weekends cannot be claimed.What Is the Definition of a Dependent?
A dependent is a qualifying child or relative of the taxpayer. A child must have lived with the taxpayer for over half the tax year, and the taxpayer must have provided more than half of the relative's total support. Gross income thresholds and other criteria apply.What Happens in Cases of Divorce After Filing 2020/2021 Taxes?
If the 2020 and/or 2021 tax returns were filed jointly, both taxpayer and spouse must sign the amended returns. If filed as Head of Household or Married Filing Separate, only the taxpayer's signature is required.Can Days Taken to Care for a Child Other Than Your Own Be Claimed?
No, only days taken to care for a dependent can be claimed.Can More Than One Parent or Guardian Claim FFCRA/SETC Credits?
Yes, but parents or guardians cannot claim the same dates twice.Is Online Schooling Considered "Closed" for the Credit?
Yes, if the physical location of the school or place of care is closed, it is considered "closed" for the purposes of the credit, even if the child is expected to complete assignments.What Does It Mean to Be Self-Employed?
A self-employed person is generally someone who carries on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, independent contractor, or a member of a partnership that conducts a trade or business. This includes part-time businesses and gig workers.Can SETC Tax Credits Be Claimed If Receiving Unemployment Benefits?
Yes, but days receiving unemployment benefits cannot be claimed as days unable to work due to COVID-19.Will Refunds Be Sent by Check or Direct Deposit?
Refunds for 2020 and 2021 will be sent directly by the IRS via check to the address provided on the amended return(s).Why Are Positive Net Earnings Required for SETC Income Tax Credit?
Positive net earnings are necessary to qualify for the credit as they indicate taxable income against which the credit can be applied. If positive earnings were not available in 2020 due to COVID-19, 2019 net income may be used.Can SETC Tax Credits Be Claimed If Also a W2 Employee?
Yes, but receiving paid leave benefits as an employee may affect the SETC credit. Additional credits may be claimed if employee benefits do not provide full coverage.Can Weekends Be Claimed?
Yes, if self-employment work is typically done on weekends. If not, weekends cannot be claimed.Can Days Taken to Care for a Child Other Than Your Own Be Claimed?
No, only days taken to care for a dependent can be claimed.Can More Than One Parent or Guardian Claim FFCRA/SETC Credits?
Yes, but parents or guardians cannot claim the same dates twice.Is Online Schooling Considered "Closed" for the Credit?
Yes, if the physical location of the school or place of care is closed, it is considered "closed" for the purposes of the credit, even if the child is expected to complete assignments.What Documentation Is Required?
A complete copy of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax returns, including Schedule C and a copy of the driver's license for identification, is required.What Is the Form 1040 SE?
Form 1040 SE is used to calculate self-employment taxes, including Social Security and Medicare taxes for individuals who work for themselves.What Is the Form 1040-X?
Form 1040-X is used to amend previously filed individual tax returns to claim the FFCRA/SETC credits.What Is a Schedule C?
Schedule C is used by self-employed individuals to report business income and expenses. The net income from Schedule C calculates self-employment income on Schedule SE.What Is the Form 7202?
Form 7202 is used to claim the FFCRA credits for self-employed individuals, detailing eligibility and tax credit calculations.What Is the Form 8821?
Form 8821 authorizes the release of tax information to a third party, allowing the calculation of SETC credits and the amendment of tax returns.What Are the Processing Fees?
Legacy Tax & Resolution Services charges no upfront fee. The fee for filing tax returns is $395, with an additional 20% of the refund amount due after the refund is received.Does Filing for SETC Impact 2023 Income Taxes?
Filing for SETC credits does not impact the filing of 2023 income taxes. Amendments are made to previously filed returns for 2020 and/or 2021.If Both Spouses Have Self-Employed Income, Can They Each Get the Credit?
Yes, both can receive the credit but cannot share qualifying COVID days.Is the SETC Tax Credit Taxable?
No, the SETC tax credit is not taxable.How Long Before Receiving a Cash Refund?
Once the necessary paperwork is submitted, it typically takes 12-16 weeks to receive the cash refund from the IRS.What If There Is IRS Debt or a Treasury Offset?
A $0 balance with the IRS is required to receive a refund. Any outstanding debts must be paid first.Can SETC Tax Credits Be Claimed If Also a W2 Employee?
Yes, but receiving paid leave benefits as an employee may affect the SETC credit. Additional credits may be claimed if employee benefits do not provide full coverage.Can Weekends Be Claimed?
Yes, if self-employment work is typically done on weekends. If not, weekends cannot be claimed.Can Days Taken to Care for a Child Other Than Your Own Be Claimed?
No, only days taken to care for a dependent can be claimed.Can More Than One Parent or Guardian Claim FFCRA/SETC Credits?
Yes, but parents or guardians cannot claim the same dates twice.Is Online Schooling Considered "Closed" for the Credit?
Yes, if the physical location of the school or place of care is closed, it is considered "closed" for the purposes of the credit, even if the child is expected to complete assignments.What Documentation Is Required?
A complete copy of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax returns, including Schedule C and a copy of the driver's license for identification, is required.👉 Click here for more information on claiming your tax credit
2024.05.18 11:39 HollyBoni 120-130mm steel frame recommendations for XC, distance, and light trail riding
Hey everyone!
I'm looking to build up a hardtail. I'd like to use it for longer distance riding on mixed terrain. Dirt roads, gravel, natural trails, and occasional bikepacking trips. I have a 150mm full sus for more sendy stuff. I definitely don't want some uncomfortable XC whippet tho. I don't care about going fast, I ride flat pedals and i'm not afraid to use stem spacers and riser bars. I have some leftover parts, including a Pike Charger 2.1 which can be adjusted from 120-150mm (or 160mm?). I'd like to run it in the 120-130mm range. What I would like in a frame:
-preferably steel
-modern-ish geo, but I don't want to go overboard
-two bottle cage mounts, maybe rack mounts
-external cable routing (not an absolute must, but I would really like it)
-threaded BB
-reasonable price, available in the EU. Somewhere around €700-900 would be nice.
So far i've found two options. Fairlight Holt, and Nordest Britango 3. The Fairlight is absolutely beautiful and perfect, except two things: price and the 27.2mm seat tube. To keep things simple and headache free (which is the main direction for this build) I won't run a dropper first and see what kind of riding I can get away with. But if I want to, the 27.2mm seat tube is a bit limiting. OneUp has a 120mm 27.2 dropper, and while I run a 210mm on my full sus, for something like this a 120mm would be probably enough. My main question/issue is the reliability of these 27.2mm droppers. The other problem with the Fairlight is price. It's 800GBP which is about ~930EUR. I wouldn't have to pay import taxes since it's made in the EU, but I do have to pay 27% VAT...
I pretty much like everything about the Britango 3. It's a bit "dull" and I guess less "special" than the Fairlight, but that's about it. It's €750 with shipping included, zero import taxes or VAT.
I've also looked at the Stanton Sherpa. It does look good on paper, but the 853 frames are out of my price range, and i'm not a 100% sure how much the 4130 version would cost shipped outside the UK with VAT and import taxes.
Any other frames that i've missed?
Thanks!
submitted by HollyBoni to Hardtailgang [link] [comments]
I'm looking to build up a hardtail. I'd like to use it for longer distance riding on mixed terrain. Dirt roads, gravel, natural trails, and occasional bikepacking trips. I have a 150mm full sus for more sendy stuff. I definitely don't want some uncomfortable XC whippet tho. I don't care about going fast, I ride flat pedals and i'm not afraid to use stem spacers and riser bars. I have some leftover parts, including a Pike Charger 2.1 which can be adjusted from 120-150mm (or 160mm?). I'd like to run it in the 120-130mm range. What I would like in a frame:
-preferably steel
-modern-ish geo, but I don't want to go overboard
-two bottle cage mounts, maybe rack mounts
-external cable routing (not an absolute must, but I would really like it)
-threaded BB
-reasonable price, available in the EU. Somewhere around €700-900 would be nice.
So far i've found two options. Fairlight Holt, and Nordest Britango 3. The Fairlight is absolutely beautiful and perfect, except two things: price and the 27.2mm seat tube. To keep things simple and headache free (which is the main direction for this build) I won't run a dropper first and see what kind of riding I can get away with. But if I want to, the 27.2mm seat tube is a bit limiting. OneUp has a 120mm 27.2 dropper, and while I run a 210mm on my full sus, for something like this a 120mm would be probably enough. My main question/issue is the reliability of these 27.2mm droppers. The other problem with the Fairlight is price. It's 800GBP which is about ~930EUR. I wouldn't have to pay import taxes since it's made in the EU, but I do have to pay 27% VAT...
I pretty much like everything about the Britango 3. It's a bit "dull" and I guess less "special" than the Fairlight, but that's about it. It's €750 with shipping included, zero import taxes or VAT.
I've also looked at the Stanton Sherpa. It does look good on paper, but the 853 frames are out of my price range, and i'm not a 100% sure how much the 4130 version would cost shipped outside the UK with VAT and import taxes.
Any other frames that i've missed?
Thanks!
2024.05.18 11:39 tristanfinn Old Genocide Joe Has Got to Go! – by Philip Giraldi – 17 May 2024
https://xenagoguevicene.wordpress.com/2024/05/18/old-genocide-joe-has-got-to-go-by-philip-giraldi-17-may-2024/
Embracing Netanyahu does not constitute a foreign policy
It is extremely difficult to discern what might be the thinking behind the clueless President Joe Biden and his Blinken-Austin-Mayorkas foreign-policy-plus national security team. Or rather, the problem is that there does not appear to be any thinking about it at all if one measures it by what benefits it brings to the American people. It all actually seems to derive from a desire to construct a narrative that will win the presidential election coming up in November, which will fortunately be run against a deeply flawed GOP candidate named Donald J. Trump. But look at what is on the Biden record: the country’s southern border with Mexico is a porous as a Swiss cheese, allowing literally millions of illegal immigrants into the USA since Biden took office; Washington is both de facto and de jure simultaneously fighting and losing two unnecessary wars involving nuclear powers which has cost a nearly bankrupt Treasury well into the hundreds of billions of dollars; and the White House is needlessly sanctioning non-hostile competitors like China while also making illegal popular social media sites like TikTok which have committed the sin of reporting and disseminating accurate narratives about good old “best friend and closest ally” Israel. Predictably, neither of the assertions about the value of the Jewish state is true, nor is it a democracy, but who cares when you’re having fun shooting people and spending someone else’s money?
Oh, and just try to exercise your first amendment free speech rights by demonstrating against Israel’s slaughter of upwards of 40,000 Palestinian civilians using US provided weapons and you will be hit on the head by a cop, possibly arrested, and even expelled from college! If you want to see where this is all going, check out reports of the recent FBI detention and interrogation of distinguished Israeli historian Ilan Pappe seeking to enter the US through the Detroit International Airport. Pappe is a critic of the Netanyahu government and of US policy so he was held, questioned in detailed about his contacts, and had his phone copied before being allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, a group of top federal judges have signed a letter stating that they will strike back against the demonstrating students by refusing to hire any graduates of Columbia University Law School as law clerks. And there even is a bill currently before Congress that would empower the government to label the foreign protesters “antisemites and terrorism supporters” and deport them, with some going to Gaza with the expectation that they would be killed, possibly by the mighty Israel Defense Forces (IDF)! It would be a startling new development to punish those whose crime consists mostly of trespass even given the rather loose ethical boundaries established by the war on terror and the Antisemitism Awareness Act! Or indeed one might follow the Senatorial route led by a chirping Lindsey Graham who recommends dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza to kill everyone who has survived the Israeli onslaught. The area then might be developed after the radiation dies down for those splendid seaside villas for Jews only suggested by the esteemed Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
To be sure, Joe sometimes mumbles something that might just be viewed positively, like his recent blocking on humanitarian grounds of a consignment of bunker buster bombs on their way to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that, no matter what, he would invade Rafah to completely destroy Hamas and whoever else might happen to get in his way. Joe predictably reversed that decision last Tuesday, approving a $1 billion supply of munitions after he came under pressure from the Israelis and their many friends in the US, to include a host of Israel-loving GOP congressmen who have carried their fight on behalf of the Jewish state to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being directly threatened with American wrath lest it try to punish Israeli leaders for their genocide in Gaza. As Bill Astore put it “Last week, President Biden appeared to have strapped on a temporary spine in delaying shipments of ‘offensive’ weaponry to Israel for its murderous invasion of Rafah in Gaza. That spine had a short duration as Biden announced [Tuesday] renewed shipments of tank and mortar rounds to Israel.” Congress has also gotten into the game with the GOP controlled House of Representatives having passed a bill that would compel the White House to continue all arms shipments to Israel. Joe might also be thinking of political contributions, as American Jews donate the majority of Democratic Party funding, as well guaranteeing a friendly media in his campaign as they dominate both the news and the entertainment industries. See, Joe can figure some things out all by himself every once in a while!
Here’s the problem with Joe, apart from the roughly $12 million in gift-donations from Jewish/Israeli sources that he has obtained in his political career. His tactical thinking does not extend beyond his personal interests, to include his corrupt children, a trait very much like that which is possessed by his good buddy Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges of his own in Israel. Joe believes he is much cleverer than he actually is and thinks that an occasional mild verbal criticism of the Israeli behavior will convince his target audience of voters that he really is concerned about the continuing death toll in Gaza, where the Israelis have already been taking initial steps in their attack on Rafah by using their tanks to penetrate into the targeted zone to destroy and kill.
And as for the reported completion and initial functioning of the floating pier connected to Gaza constructed by US military engineers, it will not dramatically change reality on the ground even though Biden is claiming that it will enable the entry of much needed food and medical aid. Israel will still “security” control what is allowed to enter into Gaza proper while Netanyahu is seeing the pier as a bridge to nowhere, usable primarily to export excess Palestinians to foreign lands that are either willing or unwilling to accept them. And its existence creates some interesting possibilities. As it presumably will be logistically supported on the pier itself by US-based personnel, Netanyahu might well be tempted to stage a false flag attack blamed on Hamas to kill a few Americans and lock Biden into Israel’s right-wing Gaza policies from now on. Bear in mind that, in reality, Biden could care less if all the Palestinians might be “disappeared” just as he would like to see any and all critics of Israel be subjected to the harshest punishments, including prison and denial of basic rights as well as being stripped of government benefits. He has called the protesters “lawbreakers” and spreaders of “chaos” and congress is currently investigating the alleged “subversive organizers” of the “anti-Israel terrorists.”
Biden and company, as well as Trump, who is advising the Israeli government to “finish the job” with the Palestinians, clearly have no actual red lines that must not be crossed when it comes to Israel. The war of extermination of the Gazans has been accompanied by a more hidden war being conducted by the Jewish settlers on the West Bank, which has been largely under Israeli occupation since 1967. The frequently armed settlers have been attacking unarmed Palestinians, destroying their homes and businesses, ruining their crops and vineyards, and even killing them on occasion. Israeli police and army standing by do nothing to stop the fun and even frequently participate themselves by arresting and beating Palestinians who are guilty only of being Palestinian. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested without charges apart from “preventive detention” since the troubles began in October and the jails are overflowing. The clear intention, verbalized without any shame by senior Israeli government officials like Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is to produce a Greater Israel cleansed of Arabs. And Biden, who pretends to favor a two-state solution to the unrest, helps the process along by vetoing UN resolutions that would help create separate sovereignty for Palestine.
Some of the most outrageous recent developments have been the settlers’ interfering with shipments of food and medicines entering into Gaza, a point that a faux-sympathetic Biden stresses repeatedly when pontificating regarding bringing aid to the starving people who are trapped with nowhere to go inside the enclave. The Israel clampdown even includes the Mediterranean Sea being blocked off by the Israeli navy which shoots any desperate Gazans who try to go close to the water so they can fish for food. In the most recent incidents, observed by the standing-by but inert Israeli army and police, truckloads of food were blocked, the drivers and aid workers removed and beaten, and the food was destroyed and burned before the trucks were treated likewise. In another incident settlers dumped huge boulders on one of the access roads to a checkpoint leading into Gaza, rendering it impassible and blocking any aid. Journalists and aid workers are meanwhile being killed by the army to prevent any reporting of what is going on while the US State Department refuses to condemn the activity. Biden called the interference with assistance convoys “outrageous” but has done nothing whatsoever about it, nor has he followed up on pledges to sanction Israelis who attack Palestinians or their property on the West Bank.
The whole problem is that Israel is a monster, an apartheid state that somehow feels it is empowered by God and the United States to kill all its neighbors and rob the American taxpayer to pay for and equip the slaughter. Israel is backed by an all-powerful US domestic lobby that includes unlimited Jewish money and activist Zionist groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) led by the hideous Jonathan Greenblatt and the venerable American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which are now busy raising money to defeat all congress critters who have ever criticized the Jewish state. ADL and AIPAC are also linked to “that old time religion” knucklehead Christian Zionists concentrated in the Republican Party who have their Scofield Bibles firmly embedded between their ears where their brains are supposed be. A partial solution would be to make the Jewish-Zionist groups register as foreign government agents directed by Israel under the the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is exactly what they are, but that will never happen. President John F. Kennedy tried to register the predecessor group to AIPAC and many believe he paid the ultimate price for that affront as well as for his bid to stop Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
So, my fellow Americans, what should we do? Well, we should do whatever we can, which includes speaking out about how we have been sold out by our leaders and opinion makers, and we should continue to do that even knowing that they will try to silence us by destroying free speech in this country. It is all we have left and we should continue to oppose what is happening. The first step however, is to get rid of politicians like Joe and Donald, who have been completely corrupted by more than fifty years in the “system” and are totally sold out and irresponsible in their behavior. There are honest politicians and journalists out there and we just have to find them, support them and get them elected and in positions where they will be able to bring about change in how things are done in Washington! One might call it the New American Revolution to restore our rights and free us from foreign oppression!
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Embracing Netanyahu does not constitute a foreign policy
It is extremely difficult to discern what might be the thinking behind the clueless President Joe Biden and his Blinken-Austin-Mayorkas foreign-policy-plus national security team. Or rather, the problem is that there does not appear to be any thinking about it at all if one measures it by what benefits it brings to the American people. It all actually seems to derive from a desire to construct a narrative that will win the presidential election coming up in November, which will fortunately be run against a deeply flawed GOP candidate named Donald J. Trump. But look at what is on the Biden record: the country’s southern border with Mexico is a porous as a Swiss cheese, allowing literally millions of illegal immigrants into the USA since Biden took office; Washington is both de facto and de jure simultaneously fighting and losing two unnecessary wars involving nuclear powers which has cost a nearly bankrupt Treasury well into the hundreds of billions of dollars; and the White House is needlessly sanctioning non-hostile competitors like China while also making illegal popular social media sites like TikTok which have committed the sin of reporting and disseminating accurate narratives about good old “best friend and closest ally” Israel. Predictably, neither of the assertions about the value of the Jewish state is true, nor is it a democracy, but who cares when you’re having fun shooting people and spending someone else’s money?
Oh, and just try to exercise your first amendment free speech rights by demonstrating against Israel’s slaughter of upwards of 40,000 Palestinian civilians using US provided weapons and you will be hit on the head by a cop, possibly arrested, and even expelled from college! If you want to see where this is all going, check out reports of the recent FBI detention and interrogation of distinguished Israeli historian Ilan Pappe seeking to enter the US through the Detroit International Airport. Pappe is a critic of the Netanyahu government and of US policy so he was held, questioned in detailed about his contacts, and had his phone copied before being allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, a group of top federal judges have signed a letter stating that they will strike back against the demonstrating students by refusing to hire any graduates of Columbia University Law School as law clerks. And there even is a bill currently before Congress that would empower the government to label the foreign protesters “antisemites and terrorism supporters” and deport them, with some going to Gaza with the expectation that they would be killed, possibly by the mighty Israel Defense Forces (IDF)! It would be a startling new development to punish those whose crime consists mostly of trespass even given the rather loose ethical boundaries established by the war on terror and the Antisemitism Awareness Act! Or indeed one might follow the Senatorial route led by a chirping Lindsey Graham who recommends dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza to kill everyone who has survived the Israeli onslaught. The area then might be developed after the radiation dies down for those splendid seaside villas for Jews only suggested by the esteemed Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
To be sure, Joe sometimes mumbles something that might just be viewed positively, like his recent blocking on humanitarian grounds of a consignment of bunker buster bombs on their way to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that, no matter what, he would invade Rafah to completely destroy Hamas and whoever else might happen to get in his way. Joe predictably reversed that decision last Tuesday, approving a $1 billion supply of munitions after he came under pressure from the Israelis and their many friends in the US, to include a host of Israel-loving GOP congressmen who have carried their fight on behalf of the Jewish state to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is being directly threatened with American wrath lest it try to punish Israeli leaders for their genocide in Gaza. As Bill Astore put it “Last week, President Biden appeared to have strapped on a temporary spine in delaying shipments of ‘offensive’ weaponry to Israel for its murderous invasion of Rafah in Gaza. That spine had a short duration as Biden announced [Tuesday] renewed shipments of tank and mortar rounds to Israel.” Congress has also gotten into the game with the GOP controlled House of Representatives having passed a bill that would compel the White House to continue all arms shipments to Israel. Joe might also be thinking of political contributions, as American Jews donate the majority of Democratic Party funding, as well guaranteeing a friendly media in his campaign as they dominate both the news and the entertainment industries. See, Joe can figure some things out all by himself every once in a while!
Here’s the problem with Joe, apart from the roughly $12 million in gift-donations from Jewish/Israeli sources that he has obtained in his political career. His tactical thinking does not extend beyond his personal interests, to include his corrupt children, a trait very much like that which is possessed by his good buddy Netanyahu who is facing corruption charges of his own in Israel. Joe believes he is much cleverer than he actually is and thinks that an occasional mild verbal criticism of the Israeli behavior will convince his target audience of voters that he really is concerned about the continuing death toll in Gaza, where the Israelis have already been taking initial steps in their attack on Rafah by using their tanks to penetrate into the targeted zone to destroy and kill.
And as for the reported completion and initial functioning of the floating pier connected to Gaza constructed by US military engineers, it will not dramatically change reality on the ground even though Biden is claiming that it will enable the entry of much needed food and medical aid. Israel will still “security” control what is allowed to enter into Gaza proper while Netanyahu is seeing the pier as a bridge to nowhere, usable primarily to export excess Palestinians to foreign lands that are either willing or unwilling to accept them. And its existence creates some interesting possibilities. As it presumably will be logistically supported on the pier itself by US-based personnel, Netanyahu might well be tempted to stage a false flag attack blamed on Hamas to kill a few Americans and lock Biden into Israel’s right-wing Gaza policies from now on. Bear in mind that, in reality, Biden could care less if all the Palestinians might be “disappeared” just as he would like to see any and all critics of Israel be subjected to the harshest punishments, including prison and denial of basic rights as well as being stripped of government benefits. He has called the protesters “lawbreakers” and spreaders of “chaos” and congress is currently investigating the alleged “subversive organizers” of the “anti-Israel terrorists.”
Biden and company, as well as Trump, who is advising the Israeli government to “finish the job” with the Palestinians, clearly have no actual red lines that must not be crossed when it comes to Israel. The war of extermination of the Gazans has been accompanied by a more hidden war being conducted by the Jewish settlers on the West Bank, which has been largely under Israeli occupation since 1967. The frequently armed settlers have been attacking unarmed Palestinians, destroying their homes and businesses, ruining their crops and vineyards, and even killing them on occasion. Israeli police and army standing by do nothing to stop the fun and even frequently participate themselves by arresting and beating Palestinians who are guilty only of being Palestinian. Hundreds of Palestinians have been arrested without charges apart from “preventive detention” since the troubles began in October and the jails are overflowing. The clear intention, verbalized without any shame by senior Israeli government officials like Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is to produce a Greater Israel cleansed of Arabs. And Biden, who pretends to favor a two-state solution to the unrest, helps the process along by vetoing UN resolutions that would help create separate sovereignty for Palestine.
Some of the most outrageous recent developments have been the settlers’ interfering with shipments of food and medicines entering into Gaza, a point that a faux-sympathetic Biden stresses repeatedly when pontificating regarding bringing aid to the starving people who are trapped with nowhere to go inside the enclave. The Israel clampdown even includes the Mediterranean Sea being blocked off by the Israeli navy which shoots any desperate Gazans who try to go close to the water so they can fish for food. In the most recent incidents, observed by the standing-by but inert Israeli army and police, truckloads of food were blocked, the drivers and aid workers removed and beaten, and the food was destroyed and burned before the trucks were treated likewise. In another incident settlers dumped huge boulders on one of the access roads to a checkpoint leading into Gaza, rendering it impassible and blocking any aid. Journalists and aid workers are meanwhile being killed by the army to prevent any reporting of what is going on while the US State Department refuses to condemn the activity. Biden called the interference with assistance convoys “outrageous” but has done nothing whatsoever about it, nor has he followed up on pledges to sanction Israelis who attack Palestinians or their property on the West Bank.
The whole problem is that Israel is a monster, an apartheid state that somehow feels it is empowered by God and the United States to kill all its neighbors and rob the American taxpayer to pay for and equip the slaughter. Israel is backed by an all-powerful US domestic lobby that includes unlimited Jewish money and activist Zionist groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) led by the hideous Jonathan Greenblatt and the venerable American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which are now busy raising money to defeat all congress critters who have ever criticized the Jewish state. ADL and AIPAC are also linked to “that old time religion” knucklehead Christian Zionists concentrated in the Republican Party who have their Scofield Bibles firmly embedded between their ears where their brains are supposed be. A partial solution would be to make the Jewish-Zionist groups register as foreign government agents directed by Israel under the the terms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is exactly what they are, but that will never happen. President John F. Kennedy tried to register the predecessor group to AIPAC and many believe he paid the ultimate price for that affront as well as for his bid to stop Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
So, my fellow Americans, what should we do? Well, we should do whatever we can, which includes speaking out about how we have been sold out by our leaders and opinion makers, and we should continue to do that even knowing that they will try to silence us by destroying free speech in this country. It is all we have left and we should continue to oppose what is happening. The first step however, is to get rid of politicians like Joe and Donald, who have been completely corrupted by more than fifty years in the “system” and are totally sold out and irresponsible in their behavior. There are honest politicians and journalists out there and we just have to find them, support them and get them elected and in positions where they will be able to bring about change in how things are done in Washington! One might call it the New American Revolution to restore our rights and free us from foreign oppression!