Chuyen la do day

hi everyone,
i (29, F, FL resident) am in day 3 of my research of where to apply for a LMHC. i am already working for a corporate behavioral health practice in admin and interning with a local LMHC a few hours a week doing admin so i am good to go when it comes to supervision, internship hours, etc. these connections will serve me well.
online is my best choice as i have 2 step sons 50% of the time, and i will have to stay working as much as possible. after much consideration, i am sure about LMHC over LCSW - i know multiple people who did FSU's SW program (including my own therapist!) and they all really loved it, but that class list makes me want to cry; it is not my path!
i also know that for FL licensure it is 60 hours and must including a human sexuality and substance abuse course. the official page says: " Minimum of an earned master’s degree from an institutionally accredited program in mental health counseling or a closely related field..."
the schools i've actually seen mentioned AGAIN and AGAIN is U of the Cumberlands and U of Lou. Monroe. they are both quite affordable BUT on the CACREP website it says:
- University of Louisiana at Monroe LA - 2 Year (Interim Report Required) - accreditation ends Mar 31, 2025
- University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg KY - Accredited (Re-Accreditation In-Process) - Mar 31, 2025
is it worth even applying to these due to these accreditation notes? does anyone know how likely re-accreditation is? considering, i keep seeing these school suggested i would imagine very likely, right?
otherwise, i have Bellevue, UMass, Capella, Keiser, NLU, Lamar*, U of Tennessee*, and am working my way down this list: https://www.collegerank.net/best-online-masters-mental-health-counseling
*this is a master of education in clinical mental health counseling VS other degrees are a MS or MA of counseling? does this matter???
thoughts and advice are much appreciated!

I will be going on holidays to Portugal for a few days in June. There are some particular skincare products that I would like to buy in person (although most of these products are available online, the majority of the time they are always sold out so I wanted to try my luck and buy them in person, if they are available in Portugal). I will be staying in Lisbon and Porto and was wondering if someone could tell me any shop/pharmacy where I can easily find these items: 1. Boderm Tazarene Cream (ideally the 0.05%, blue one) 2. SVR B3 Hydra essence (a 2% niacinamide toner in 150 ml bottle) 3. Any other recommended products that you have used that are fragrance/essential oil free (mainly SPF, that are lightweight and don’t give white cast)
Lastly, are pharmacies cheaper than department store/shops? And compared to the UK are the skincare products (like La Roche Posay SPF) are they cheaper in mainland Europe or do they cost the same?

hi family, In the past two months, La Santisima has definitely made it known to me she is present. In no way have I denied this, and i have set a beautiful altar for her in my bedroom . I never heard of her, until a friend and i went to New Orleans and he was on a mission to find a statue of her but i started becoming more educated and resonated . Maybe i moved to quickly, but back home i went to a botanica and purchased a beautiful statue of her on her horse. I went home, and that evening my father’s brother, my uncle, passed, which made me very confused . I did what i could to work through this. I am white , and adopted and raised by a Hispanic lady, whom I call mom. She never associated with spirits though . She saw my altar and became very concerned , and a few days later her brother passed unexpectedly as well. This is all so confusing to me. My mom, i also reside with her, won’t let me light candles in my room anymore .
Thank you for reading this , I just need some clarification. I feel so non existent, not real, and La Santisima wants to be with me I truly do feel but I’m not sure what is happening for real. Does anyone have an explanation or similar experience any empathy? I need help :/ i feel so restricted now, like what do i even do ?
Thank you all again. I love this community. & ofc thank you God and La Santisima.

Hi all. I've been on a big 1400s to late 1700s binge lately, and while learning about the war of Spanish succession I read that Spanish nobles did NOT want another habsburg on the throne. I can see how people at that time would view the habsburgs as responsible for spains decline in the 1600s, but how do modern day Spaniards view it? Are the habsburgs not seen as those responsible for Spain being a great power in the first place a la Charles the Fifth? I'd love to hear how this dynasty is viewed in Spains history so if you happen to be from Spain, or just really know your stuff please let me know!

Hi all, longtime listener, first-time caller. Please see my query and first 300 below.
My biggest question is this: 95% of the story takes place in 2014, but the book opens in 2020 when my main character receives a letter from the California Dept of Fair Housing & Employment informing her of an investigation into behavior at Chatpic. Receiving the letter spurs her to tell the story of what happened back then. The book checks back into 2020 in the middle as my MC tries to get more information about the investigation, and then it ends back in 2020 again when she decides what she wants to do about the letter.
The reason the story takes place in 2014 is because the time period--pre #MeToo/Donald Trump/the workplace reckoning of 2020--informs the decisions the MC makes back then, and she's looking back at it from a wiser perspective. If you've read The Rachel Incident, Caroline O'Donoghue does a similar thing as she retells a 2008 abortion story from the perspective of present day.
In the end, the investigation is not a driving force of the plot--so my question is how important is it that it's mentioned in the query? I ask because I've found that trying to add that piece to what I've already written starts to get convoluted, though obviously I can work at it. I think it's very clear once you read the first 300, but for agents who don't want a sample, is it clear in the blurb that this story is looking back to a time gone by?
Mostly looking for insight on this question specifically, but if you have further feedback about the letter for first 300, open to that as well. Thanks!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear [Agent],
Thank you for the opportunity to submit my query for TERMS OF SERVICE, a true-ish fictional story about a young woman in a nearly impossible workplace a la UNCANNY VALLEY meets THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (with shades of 9 TO 5). TERMS OF SERVICE is complete at 95,000 words.
It’s 2014 and down-and-out celebrity blogger Maggie Clarke is desperate for a fresh start. Not only is she broke in New York City, but at 31, she thought she’d be writing something a little less embarrassing than Justin Bieber listicles by now. When her longtime internet friend Aron York–recently named the world’s youngest billionaire–offers her a lucrative position at his massively popular social media app Chatpic that puts her at the center of his inner circle in Los Angeles, it’s exactly the step-up she’s been waiting for. As Maggie learns to manage the always-on hours, the slew of acronyms, and the unlimited access to free cold brew, she encounters another more complicated problem–the boys’ club. Except this isn’t the typical ham-fisted sexism she’s used to–this is the tech bro variety: insidious, inexorable, and infuriating. When she meets an ambitious young reporter who encourages her to speak out, Maggie has a shot at revenge. But in a world before mansplaining and microaggressions, is blowing the whistle worth the risk? And is anyone ready to hear it?
Like Maggie, I was also plucked from internet obscurity by the world’s (then) youngest billionaire, [redacted], to come work at his massively popular social media app, [redacted company]. I was a founding member of the company’s content team, and all I have to show for it is six footnotes in the [redacted company] biography [redacted title] and the brutal feminist awakening that inspired me to write this manuscript. Before that, I was a full-time writer in New York whose work has appeared on MTV, Rolling Stone and Elle. Currently I’m a content and editorial consultant in Chicago, and I’m also on TikTok where 21,000 people watch me rant about work and office culture. (It’s also where 2M people enjoyed my show-and-tell video about the “sentimental” stock certificates [redacted company previously mentioned] gave a few early employees–that were worth exactly $0.00.)
As the agent who represents [Author 1] and [Author 2], you have a strong list when it comes to complex female characters embroiled in complicated social dynamics. TERMS OF SERVICE would be a great addition to this track because, while similar themes of class and workplace are explored, my flavor of levity and sarcasm makes my work distinct from [Author 1] and [Author 2], bringing a new facet to your program.
If you are interested in reading TERMS OF SERVICE, I would be happy to forward a sample of any length you suggest. Thank you for your consideration!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First 300:
Chapter 1
2020
A lot of people might revel in the idea of receiving a letter announcing an investigation into their ex-employer.
One might, for example, envision draping themselves in a mink stole, lighting the cigarette at the end of their old-timey cigarette holder, and dialing the investigator’s number from a rotary phone atop a solid wood desk under shadowy, film noir lights. One might then imagine whispering I knew this day would come into the receiver between bursts of psychotic, hysterical laughter as they rejoiced in the long overdue arrival of the long arm of the law.
But me, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe because I didn’t have a mink stole.
No, I was crouched on the ground of my parents’ musky basement in Des Plaines, Illinois, knee-deep in piles of old diaries and CDs when I received notice of one such letter. It was month four of COVID, and Dad and I were only halfway through his cleaning list. He was already a germaphobe so a global pandemic was all he needed to justify a top-to-bottom disinfection of the entire house. And since my routine trip home in the middle of March turned into a hapless extended stay when the world shut down, it was the perfect excuse to put me to work. Just like the good old days.
We wiped down every square inch of the place. We soaked the faucet heads in lemon juice, we scrubbed the coffee mugs with baking soda. We vacuumed the damn fridge.
Reorganizing the basement shelves was a beast. Every box was like a Russian nesting doll of useless crap: old TV Guides, corroded double-A batteries, dried-out cans of paint primer, an unsettling number of hand saws. I made decent headway through the “tools” and “electronics,” but I lost all steam when I got to my high school stuff—faded Polaroids and folded-up notes stopped me in my tracks.

** this is a long rant
We broke up yesterday — after 16 months together and what was both our first relationship (both around 18-19 y/o). I met him online, me in nyc and him in LA. We both got into the same college and our first interaction was nothing but sparks. There was no consideration for looks, background, and what nots. To me, that was the purest form of connection and intent of interest. Fom my daylight to midnights, our hours were full of conversations, flirts, and little did I know, the beginning of love.
After three months of talking, he traveled across the country to meet me and those memories felt like scenes out of a Hollywood movie. Those memories I kept on as we did LDR for the next 5 months until college started. While it was hard, I learned with the time difference and schedule differences, it’s not the quantity of time you spend with each other but if the person on the other end is worth waiting for. I waited.
When college rolled around, he filled his schedule once again with student govt campaigns, clubs, and networking events (we go to a highly competitive school). I waited. I gave him my all (my firsts of everything) and we went on dates here and there but it felt nothing of what he promised: the quinesstenial college romance of holding hands down campus, studying in the library, watching the first autumn leaves fall. I asked why we can’t do all of this and he told me he’s busy and that there’s that insecurity in him to show personal life in public. I empathsized as his touch and his care behind the door meant more that what was displayed. So I became accustomed to waiting.
During winter, I reflected on our relationship: the imbalances of love. I asked am I receving as much as I’m giving? My love langauge is acts of service and physical touch. His, as I came to conclude, is quite rare. Because of his ambition, time is his most valuable asset — no matter how busy he is, he always makes time to spend time with me. I know that he loves me because he’s a person who puts up a strong front, a big smile, and what seems to be never-ending energy, but when he’s with me, he’s able to let it go. Like a bird who everyone sees soaring but only I can see when he’s down, with his wing tucked, and defenseless. I came to treasure this trust between us and proud of how deeply connected we became from just talking through a screen to be spending arm and limb next to each other.
-Yet, I couldn’t heal him. No matter how hard I’ve tried, he feels as if he lost himself in with the amount of things he’s trying to accomplish in college and as he tries to find his passion to pursue. Because we only spend nights together in the comfort of my room when both of us are tired from the day’s schedules, that old spark of never-ending conversations of random topics disappeared. For him, he enjoys my company but sometimes he feels as if this relationship felt like an obligation. Because I spent so much time invested to him, I also lost sight of who I was coming into college, full of aspirations to do and explore.
We talked about this issue, and I told him, yes we need to redirect our focus but it doesn’t have to mean the chopping board. As students, the most and least I can give is my time for when he needs support and comfort. I want to be with him along this journey and come out into real adulthood with memories and success to share. But as the stubborn soul he is, he reaffirms that he doesn’t want us to cling on and salvage the bare minimum. he told me, “if I have a chance at loving you again after college, I will fall even harder.”
This love was becoming cancerous. From one day to the next, our love catching closer to the end depsite our souls becoming more saturated with depth. Why can’t love be everlasting like the fairytales promised.
I miss him so much and I don’t know how I should treat him. should i wait for him until we’re ready? what are the boundaries of us? we both agreed to continue to talk because we care and support each other but will he still be soft and gentle to me because he loves me but we’re not in a relationship? will he wait for us?

Poor Sophie, if I knew her IRL I would have given her some advice. I work in tech as a SMS specialist type of software engineer and I have a deep passion for information security when it comes to phones in particular.
We will go through options by cheapest and easiest to the more pricy and invasive.
Step one download a Bluetooth scanner app on your phone. I use these for home security. If someone breaks into my home I’ll know the make, model, age, etc of the phone if Bluetooth is on. These days with the car connect speakerphone, AirPods, etc there’s a huge chance your partners Bluetooth is on. Bing bong gotem.
No Bluetooth dang, that’s ok you can use a background check service like been verified. Now I haven’t done this for Rob, their relationship is none of my business and I never renewed my subscription. All you need is fullname, age, location. There’s a high chance he kept his LA number and got an Austin number. If you know he kept his LA number and an Austin number shows up, super suspicious.
Dang, no luck there, that’s ok you can hire a Private Investigator. I’m of the belief of if it’s gone this far you should just leave the guy. Let’s say you want to do this, a PI has access to software and databases that the average person does not. Usually they are ex cops or ex military personnel. Sometimes they have access to the good ones like LexisNexis. These are pretty in depth down to the Social Security number and all the places you’ve been that are of interest.
I hope she just leaves his ass before she takes these steps.

Having tried the German Nivea cream that everyone seems to think is the closest dupe to Creme de La Mer, I must say I'm baffled. Is it a good product? Sure, for dry heels and elbows, or for slugging if you've run out of vaseline. But even with my dry skin I can't imagine using this as a regular moisturizer. This stuff won't spread! It's like diaper rash cream. And when you finally manage to sort of rub it in, it's quite greasy...just like diaper rash cream. I know because I've actually bought diaper rash cream to use on my face back when my skin got so dry it cracked and bled. The consistency is uncomfortably similar.
I know that no cream is worth La Mer's price tag, and that rich ladies mainly buy it because it's a rich lady staple at this point. But I can't imagine anyone paying that much money for something that feels like putting diaper rash cream on your face. Those who compare the two tend to focus on the lack of seaweed stuff and whatever long-term benefits that might come with, but is this honestly the only difference here? People spending an arm and a leg on moisturizer are getting the same day-to-day experience as everyone putting on Nivea, just with added long-term benefits? I genuinely can't fathom having that kind of money and not buying something more pleasant to use. I like me a heavy cream, but this ain't it.
Anyone who's tried both creams, do they really feel the same in terms of consistency? I do plan on seeing for myself, but it's going to be a while until I can get to a La Mer counter and I can't get this out of my head lol

I DO NOT GIVE OUT PASSWORDS! I USE 2FA & YOU SHOULD TOO! ALWAYS BE WEARY OF PEOPLE PHISHING FOR YOUR PASSWORD OR CLAIMING YOU ARE BANNED!
PAYMENT: Zelle (strongly preferred), Venmo, CashApp, or Paypal FF (Last Resort). High value orders and new to the sub Zelle only.
SHIPPING: USPS $6 less than 10oz. $10 over 10oz. $100 insurance and tracking included. Free shipping on orders over $500. Additional insurance over $100 is optional at buyers liability. Additional insurance $0.80/$100 coverage. I can ship other methods at buyers' request.
AUTHENTICITY: All of these items have been verified for authenticity using acid tests or a sigma. I offer a full money back guarantee on the authenticity of all items listed. I am happy to send a video of an acid / magnet test if requested.
If you need more pictures or info don’t hesitate to ask.
ORDERS SHIP THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY!
PROOF: https://imgur.com/a/Tc6XrxP
All Prices rounded up to the nearest $0.25
Coins:
Mexican Gold 2 Peso 1945 Restrike (2x) - $133ea
Gold Jewelry (ALL 5% BELOW SPOT):
14K Gold 18.5" 3mm Omega Chain / Necklace 22.514g Signed 14K Italy & MI - $971
14K Yellow & White Gold Two-Tone Ring Size 6-3/4 Signed 14K Makers Mark 5.267g - $227.25
10K White Gold Fuchsia CZ Heart Necklace and Earrings Set 18” Rope Chain Signed 4.39g - $135
Sterling Silver Necklaces:
20” x ½” HEAVY Figaro Chain 238g - $425
30” x 6.5mm Italian Curb Chain - 54.47g - $109
16” Italian San Marco Chain with 7” San Marco Bracelet 62.3g - $115
31” Puff Heart Necklace with Italy Rope Chain 15.4g - $35
30.5” Box Chain with Owl Pendant / Brooch (has attachments for both) 11.63g - $33 SOLD!
19” Italian Square Herringbone Style Sterling Chain with Czech Pendant - 6.28g - $20
18” Italian Sterling Box Chain with Ross Simon Cross Pendant 2.61g - $20
16” Sterling Abstract Glass Pendant Necklace 15.96g - $25
18” 925 Box Chain with Synthetic 14x10mm Sapphire Pendant & Matching Earrings with 10x8mm Sapphires 8.12g - $30
18” 925 Gold Vermeil Box Chain with Pear Cut Ceylon Sapphire Pendant & Matching Triangle CZ Earrings 12.13g - $30
20” Italian Millefiori Necklace with Circular Glass Pendant 3.18g - $25
15.5” Italian Millefiori Bead Necklace 3.98g - $20
15.5” Italian Murano Style Necklace (Note the wire is ferrous for strength, clasp and non-stone charms are sterling) - $15
15” Native American Fetish Necklace (Note the wire is elastic material for strength, beads and pendants are sterling) - $30
17” Sterling Bead / Clasp Turquoise Nugget Necklace (Note the wire is ferrous material for strength, beads and clasp are sterling) - $15
Sterling Silver Bracelets & Pendants:
8.5” x ½” Heavy Curb Bracelet 53.6g - $105
Taxco 7.5” Juan Luis Flores 70s Vintage Bracelet 43.49g - $86.98 SOLD!
Sterling Flower Filigree Bracelet 8” 10.19g - $30
Sterling Rose & Garnet Tennis Bracelet 7.5” 13.43g - $35
Ross Simon Sterling Rose Quartz Aventurine Tennis Bracelet 7” 9.50g - $30
Sterling Native American Bear Bracelet (Note the wire is ferrous for strength, clasp and non-stone charms are sterling) - $40
Sterling Silver 2-Strand Malachite Bracelet 7” 2.32g - $20
Sterling Clasp Faceted AB Crystal Bracelet with amazing sparkle (Note the wire is ferrous for strength, only clasp is sterling) 7” - $15
Taxco Hummingbird Pendant / Brooch (has both attachments) 11.95g - $24 SOLD!
Sterling Pink CZ Butterfly Bracelet 7.25” 7.5g - $27.50
Sterling Silver Earrings: https://imgur.com/a/rTrTKTE
Larimar Dangle Earrings 1g - $12
Dolphin Jumping through Hoop Drop Earrings 6.86g - $15
Taxco Sterling Half Circle Bohemian Hoop Earrings 9.24g - $20
Taxco Sterling Triangle Drop Earrings 9.43g - $18
Taxco Sterling Shell / Feather Drop Earrings 6.01g - $15
Taxco Sterling Triangle / Bead Drop Earrings 21.79g - $25
Flower Drop Earrings with Aquamarine Stones 9.28g - $25
Teardrop Shaped Earring with Black Beads 5.13g - $15
Concentric Oval Earrings 2.05g - $12
Leaf / White Opal Studs (Brilliant Luster on these) 2.22g - $40
Vintage Filigree Sterling Drop Earrings (Super intricate) 14.33g - $20
Vintage Sterling Dragonfly Earrings 12.39g - $20
Heart Shaped Drop Earrings with Lapis Stones 5.22g - $15
Sterling Silver Rings: https://imgur.com/gallery/65jVHip
Bali Swirl Design Sterling Ring Size 7-1/2 11.06g - $27.50
Large 925 Ring with CZ Size 6 5.97g - $18
Large 925 Ring with CZ and Flower Engraving Size 6 9.28g - $18
925 Ring with Bands of CZ Size 6 5.9g - $18
Wedding Band Style 925 Ring with Moissanite Size 6 2.41g - $18
Shablool Didae Israeli Filigree Style Ring Size 7.5 One-of-a-kind 8g - $25
Sterling Silver Flatware / Kitchen (MOST @ 95%):
Porter Blanchard Sterling Tea Pot 612g - $554 (95% of SPOT)
Gorham Sterling Footed Bowl 619g - $560 (95% of SPOT)
Pimaral Peru Sterling Serving Set 311g - $281.50 (95% of SPOT)
Assorted Sterling Spoons (Unmarked and the smaller two are thin) 44g - $40 (95% of SPOT)
English Shell by Lunt Sterling Silver Soup Spoons (4) 135g - $122.25 (95% of SPOT)
La Touraine by Reed & Barton Sterling Tea Spoon 30.34g - $27.50 (95% of SPOT)
Lunt Lus60 Sterling Silver Salt Spoon 2.94g - $10

I recently started collecting ouch plants and wanted to share everything I’ve learned in hopes that it will help others. These tips come from a mix of places—personal experiences, conversations with growers, reading cactus forums, Reddit, YouTube videos—and because I’m a weirdo, I’ve organized this list from essentials to less important.
Anyway… hope this is helpful and for all you experts, if I’m saying anything dumb, feel free to tell me. I’m still learning!
Miracle Gro = The Worst
Don’t use Miracle Gro. It contains coagulants that cause the soil to hold moisture for obscene amounts of time, making it incredibly easy to overwater your plants.
Personally, I prefer Uni-Gro, which comes with a good mix of organic and mineral ingredients. Depending on the type of cacti (especially those known to grow at higher elevations), I will amend it with pumice and akadama to ensure solid drainage and mineral content.
If your cacti are already planted in Miracle Gro and you don’t plan to repot them, I suggest purchasing a moisture meter from Amazon or Home Depot. Use it to keep an eye on how wet the soil is. If it’s not dry, don’t water them. If it is dry, a little goes a long way!
I’m a Plants Wetter (and Not Afraid to Admit It)
I am historically terrible when it comes to overwatering and have to remind myself that cacti are not humans--they are plants that have evolved to go years, if not centuries, without direct access to water. Take the Copiopoa, for example—they grow in the mountains of Chile, eat rocks, cook in the sun all day, and can live for hundreds of years getting moisture only from the coastal fog. Wild stuff!
I get that that’s an extreme example, but less is more and whatever I define as “less” is still probably too much. In practice, that means I’ll check my plants every 1-2 weeks (or less) and give them a sip of water if their soil is fully dry.
If you’re not sure whether the soil is moist or not, check the hole in the bottom of your pot—if it’s dry, then it’s time to water. If it’s moist—check again in a few days. If there’s no hole, repot your plant immediately.
The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Spring is cactus season! That means new growth, flowers, and action. The rest of the year? Your cacti are using that time to chill, grow, and get thicc—growth will still be taking place, it’s just less noticeable.
Don’t let that trick you into thinking your plant needs more water.
Merry & Bright
Cacti need as much light as possible. Even though I know this, you know this, and dogs know this it bears repeating.
If your plants are inside, put them by the window or under an extremely powerful grow light. Many moisture meters also come with a light meter, so it’s easy to check how much light you’re getting—but ultimately, brighter is always better.
If you’re putting them outside—morning light is the best light. Just be careful about how much exposure they’re getting in the afternoon. Here in the Coachella Valley, for example, the sun turns into a giant death ray in the sky every summer, which means most of my cacti need afternoon shade.
For everyone else, if you’re moving your cacti outdoors, like many on this subreddit have suggested, the best approach is to increase afternoon sun exposure over time; otherwise, they’ll burn.
Repotting & The Many Dumb Mistakes I’ve Made
Much like overwatering, I have made a lot of dumb mistakes when repotting in the past. C’est la vie.
Spring and summer = cactus growing season and the best time to repot. This is true of most plants, but for some reason, I didn’t figure it out until recently. I’ve killed a handful of plants because I repotted them in December and January, thinking it was OK because it’s warm here. Don’t be like me.
When it is time to repot, consider watering your plants a day or two beforehand. Take care to avoid damaging the roots and once you’re done, let them chill in a shady spot for two weeks before giving them any more water. I learned this from watching the Peter W. episode of Cactus Quest. The idea here is that the shade will reduce the shock, your plant won’t be thirsty, and it can use those two weeks to repair any root damage that occurred.
Buying plants from big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, etc.? Check your soil! Most of these store’s wholesalers are using garbage soil that doesn’t drain and will kill your new buddies if they’re not repotted.
Propping
It’s crazy to me just how easy it is to grow new plants from cuttings. You can literally leave some species of cactus lying on a pile of dirt and they’ll start growing roots and eventually pop out new growth.
If you’re propping from a cutting—make sure to give your plant a few days to callus over, then put it in some dry soil or perlite and wait 2-4 weeks for them to take root. They’ll rot if you water them without roots because they won’t be able to drink anything.
Not sure whether it’s got roots? Give it a very gentle yank to see whether it comes out of the soil. If there’s any tension, then you’re making good progress!
Don’t Get Pricked
Cactus thorns suck. They’re a lot like splinters and can be a giant pain in the ass to remove. In situations where I have to handle them with my hands, I will do one of two things:

1. BBQ Tongs: Use these to pick up or plant smaller specimens without having to worry about my precious digits.
2. 2 Pairs of gloves: I go this route when handling heavier guys. The first layer is leather work gloves. The second layer is cheap raptor gloves from Amazon. I’ve found this prevents 80-90% of surprise punctures but reduces finger mobility.

Feed Me, Seymour
The right substrate (meaning it has a good balance of mineral and organic ingredients) should provide your ouch plants with almost everything they need, so you probably won’t need to worry about fertilizing.
If you do want to hook them up with some food, many folks on this subreddit recommend Schultz’s, which has worked well for me so far—I only use it sparingly only once in spring and early fall. I dilute it by 50% when I do.
If I’ve just repotted a plant, I’ll wait two weeks, then give it a sip of Moon Juice (which is 0-0-0, but full of micronutrients) to help it get established.
I Swear, it’s Not an Addiction
If it were up to me, I’d only buy from my local ouch plant dealer, but after spending some time online, I’ve found some great places to grow my collection! Here's a few:

• Arid Lands: has an incredible assortment of common and hard-to-find plants at very reasonable prices. Their website might be antiquated, but it’s a goldmine.
• Paradise Found: They have a smaller assortment, but also offer a ton of hard-to-find plants at reasonable prices. I was truly impressed by how thoughtfully the plants were packed when I received them.
• Planet Desert: They have a great assortment. Some plants are reasonably priced while others are on the expensive side. It’s best to check prices from other shops before making a purchase.
• Etsy: I’ve made several purchases from different growers here. It’s easy to find what you’re looking for and know exactly what you’re getting. The only disappointing thing is the prices tend to skew higher (sometimes they’re reasonable, usually they’re not).

Other Helpful Resources

• This subreddit. Appreciate y’all.
• Your local growenursery. All the folks I’ve met out here have been so kind and helpful—they care about plants as much (if not more) than we do and have always been willing to answer my questions regardless of whether I’m making a purchase.
• Cactus Quest: I have learned so much watching this dude’s videos… About how to be a better cactus dad, socal-local growers, different species, etc.
• Planty – aka ChatGPT for gardeners. Strongly recommend trying it out and asking questions. I’ve used it to better understand nuanced care for specific species such as recommended soil mixes, outdoor positioning, and watering, as well as how to best protect my plants from local climate extremes.

Link Roundup: Everything I Mentioned in This Post
Soil

• Uni-Gro: Unfortunately this is tough to find online. This store has small bags in stock, but I suggest checking with your local nursery.
• Pumice: https://www.amazon.com/Pumice-Volcanic-Succulents-Orchids-Hydroponics/dp/B09YWPXP9J/
• Akadama Soil: https://www.amazon.com/NOHOBE-Succulents-Amendment-Provides-Retention/dp/B0B7XXY3BF/
• 3-in-1 Moisture Meter: https://www.amazon.com/Sonkir-Soil-Moisture-Tester-Gardening/dp/B07BR52P26/
• Pre-mixed Stone Eater’s Soil: https://cactus.store/products/stone-eaters

Equipment

• BBQ Tongs: https://www.amazon.com/KingTong-Stainless-Steel-Tongs-Grill/dp/B07DBPL435/
• Leather Work Gloves: https://www.amazon.com/Wells-Lamont-1168XL-HydraHyde-Water-Resistant/dp/B079RQRWY1/
• Raptor Gloves: https://www.amazon.com/RAPICCA-Handling-Reinforced-Grabbing-Grey-Black/dp/B07DVXQ9RD/

Plant Food

• Schultz Cactus Food: https://www.amazon.com/Schultz-Cactus-Liquid-Plant-2-7-7/dp/B01E82THI6/
• Super Charged Moon Juice: https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/supercharged-moon-juice

Growers, etc.

• Arid Lands Nursery: https://aridlandswholesale.com/oscommerce/
• Paradise Found Nursery: https://www.paradisefoundnursery.com
• Planet Desert: https://planetdesert.com
• Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=trichocereus&ref=search_bar
• Cactus Quest: YT Channel + Insta

I havent seen this particular point show up after lurking for sometime, if I’ve missed it I apologize and will accept my downvotes with honor.
The primary reason for the destruction of Shady Sands was more so a decision brought about by the logistical necessities of show production rather than any other lore or writing reason.
LA and the surrounding deserts are usually the cheapest locations to shoot a film, and they are easy to adapt to a nuclear wasteland aesthetic.
In terms of chronology, if the desire is to make the show cannon, or potentially cannon, it’s easier to make it the most recent entry in fallout, making the show a prequel can present more narrative and writing challenges.
A show set in the heart of the NCR, after it’s establishment, would in my opinion, do a worse job at capturing the feeling of the games if the NCR was active and functional.
Presented with the desire to shoot on location, have the story chronologically set after fallout 4, and capture the feeling brought by the worst of the wasteland, eliminating the NCR is the best choice for that particular story.
*Argument aside my personal feelings are an irrational anger at the loss of my favorite faction coexisting with my love of a good adaptation. I’m not going to die on any hills about plot holes and I’m going to fence sit on any debate about contradictions, at the end of the day I enjoyed the show despite raising my eye brow at a chalk board.

From a former board member:
Good afternoon!
To all my fellow Ithaca residents, please make sure to take to the polls today, to vote in the Ithaca City School District Board of Education election. If you believe in public education, making sure our students, teachers and support staff are getting the resources and tools they need to thrive and succeed, you will make time to get to the pools, between 12pm and 9pm. If you don’t have access to transportation, I am happy to transport folks (send me a message on Facebook or email)
As many of you know, I spent 6 years on the Board of Education, until I made the difficult decision to resign two years ago. After receiving many Facebook messages, text messages, and phone calls in the past 24 hours from friends and community members asking me who they should vote for and if they should vote yes/no to the budget, I have decided to share my thoughts publicly so I can get back to my 9-5 job for the day . As a single mom of three and a homeowner, I empathize with the sentiment of people feeling like they can no longer afford to rent or own a home in Ithaca. However, Ithaca has been becoming unaffordable for quite some time, I say this as someone who has lived in this community for 21 years. This feeling did not start with our assessment that increased this past year or the rollout of the BoE budget. Voting NO to the budget will not change your assessment, it will not “stick it” to administrators, who will get their raises along with other unionized ICSD employees as part of contractual negotiations. Voting NO will punish and hurt children, teachers and supporting staff. Teachers and support staff will have less resources and support to educate and inspire our children if we have to adopt a contingency plan. And our most vulnerable students will suffer the most. “How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity” – Ghandi. In this context, how ICSD cares for and educates its most vulnerable students is an indication of how well the school district fares in educating its school community.
As we have all read about four of our schools losing “Good Standing” status with NYSED, and our Black and Brown students feeling the impact of this the most; how can we as a community in good conscious, say that we will provide our children, our future leaders with less than they deserve to overcome the many obstacles that the pandemic has created. For all the caregivers, educators, mental health workers out there, we all know - no one is okay! Some of us were not okay before we were forced into a few years of isolation, so to expect our educators to be able to reconcile the damages that the pandemic created with fewer resources is setting our educators up for the impossible. And yes, taxpayers should not have to bear the weight of this alone when we live in a town with college/university campuses. So instead of glorifying the problem, why don’t we talk about structural solutions? How many of us know Anna Kelles and Lea Webb personally, socially or professionally? Why don’t we bring in our state representatives to help us think about structural long-term solutions of state aid and university contributions? And while we are at it, invite Governor Kathy Hochul who sits on the Board of Trustees of Cornell University to this conversation; why are we not thinking strategically about those who hold power to shift this paradigm? I know this will take time, and folks are concerned with the now.
What can we do now? We can do an inventory of what ICSD offers and provides our students and staff from academics to extracurricular activities. We can ask the questions of, what is the district allocating funding for and is it effective and for whom? The district has an Evaluation Officer, we need to hear from her on what are the impacts of our initiatives, programs, and the curriculum offerings. Our teachers and support staff have unions and union leaders. We need to hear from the union leaders, not just during budget season or when chaos is amiss, but throughout the academic years so we know how best to support teachers all year long.
I will be voting yes to the budget. Yes, it is a huge increase. But guess what folks? We have 12 schools in our very small city, and we are living during a time of high inflation so the services needed to support all these 12 schools have increased. A typical classroom in our building has many adults. I bring this up because I constantly hear the comparison of salary of ICSD teachers to teachers outside the district who are making more than ICSD teachers. 9/10 times these teachers in other districts are making more money because they don’t have co-teachers, teachers assistants, teacher aides, 1:1s, etc. I am in NO way making the argument to have less support in the classroom or to eliminate positions, I am pointing out that our district has a larger supporting staff than many other districts. Teachers and supporting staff deserve a HIGHER wage without question. But this is not an ICSD only problem, this is a nationwide issue. Our country has not put anywhere near enough funding into public education that is needed. And this is not an excuse for the Board or the highly paid administration team. But we have to be real about what are the root causes vs. symptoms of the problems. Give this article a read if you have time: Schools are bracing for widespread teacher layoffs. Here’s why CNN Politics
Now the tricky part of this post, who I am voting for. I am going to be brutally honest because that is just who I am. After attending the public forum with all seven candidates, I left with very very strong opinions of what I witnessed and heard. I plan to vote for Barry Derfel, Moira Long, and Eldred Harris. I know Barry Derfel very peripherally from sitting on the BoE, as well as when I worked for the Multicultural Resource Center, and he was supporting teachers with culturally responsive teaching as well as participating with the Talking Circles initiative. What I know of Barry, is that he is a supporter of equity and inclusion, meaning NO CHILD GETS LEFT BEHIND. Barry has been a teacher, an administrator, and is a parent – he understands the many facets of public education and how we are thriving as a district and how we are failing as a district. Two truths can stand side by side.
I was on the BoE with both Eldred and Moira during my tenure, and it was not always cordial and a walk in the park between us. But what I can say, is that in those behind the door conversations, heated debates, I rarely ever questioned their commitment to children and teachers and support staff. Moira has always championed for teachers and retirees; she understands their plight and struggles as a former teacher herself. Eldred and I both grew up in NYC (though he is my senior by maybe a couple decades) and understand the struggles of being hyper visible yet unseen, overcoming adversity, attending underfunded schools, and taught by teachers who were tasked with the impossible. I know Eldred to be someone who is going to champion for what is best for every child, someone who is going to tap into their radical imagination to think of another way forward, someone who has institutional knowledge and knows how far the district has come, and someone who is willing to ask the hard questions.
I’m going to close this long monologue by saying I believe in creating space for new voices at the table. However, some of these new voices are advocating for changes that will hurt specific populations of children, like candidates who are advocating to bring back policies such as "tracking", while research shows tracking has a disparaging outcome for students and frankly is a racist policy. I said it. There are also candidates who have flip flopped on their support of the budget, telling ITA they would vote yes and after receiving the teacher’s union endorsement telling community members, they would vote no for the budget. Misleading your constituents is never a good sign and not a good way to build community trust and engagement. If I had to vote for a fourth candidate, it would be Todd Fox. He was honest and transparent about his talents and his lack of knowledge of the processes within public education. However, he spoke with passion and authenticity when speaking about his experiences in the school district as a student, and the support he wished he had as a former ICSD student. What I hope for in a school board member, is someone is not afraid to ask the hard questions, someone who listens with compassion and empathy (even if they disagree), someone who takes the time to get to know their constituents and can be honest with themselves and their fellow board members when they are individually or collectively are missing the mark. And most importantly, someone who is is always thinking about equity, and who is at the table and who is not. Our district is in need of school board members who are looking beyond what their individual child needs and instead is looking at what all of our children need in order to receive an equitable education that allows them to more than survive but to thrive within ICSD.
(excuse my typos I don’t have the energy to edit this another time, apologies)
Nicole LaFave
Nicole LaFave Interim Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Office of Diversity and Inclusion Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management Cornell University
Edited to add that I’m not the author, just sharing.

Anyone know how strict the noon deadline is (for check in on the first day of your permit)? I just called the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, and they did not seem to be aware of the noon deadline, telling me I could come at any time before 5 pm, even on the first day of permit.
We will be traveling from LA and think we can do the 6 hr drive early morning on the first day of our permit, but if this is a strict deadline, I do not want to risk losing the permit (e.g. a flat tire) and will try to figure out a way to leave a day earlier (not ideal due to work). We've been before and only need two nights, so planning on hiking in on day 2 of permit dates.
Wondering if anyone has experienced this first hand. Appreciate any insight!

2nd generation Scientologist here, I left a few years back (was in for 24 years) and have been speaking out and advocating for holding the cult accountable like many in the anti-Scientology community. And although I am glad to see many more people are protesting these days then in recent years, it’s worth considering WHY we are protesting in the first place.
Don’t get me wrong, there are many valid ways to protest Scientology in order to hold them accountable for their abuse of their members, be it financial, mental, emotional or otherwise. However, recently, I and many others in this community have noticed a trend of people going out of their way to scream at, harass, and publicly humiliate individual members who have nothing to do with management or who have no power or wherewithal to move the needle in holding the cult accountable. Many of these are also done through monetized livestreams, where they are literally profiting off of the humiliation and harassment of strangers. scientologists are already humiliated by management from how they’ve been going to extreme lengths to cover up abuses, create slander websites about ex-members who speak out and represent themselves as a malicious, secretive and as an otherwise horrendously deceptive and dangerous organization.
StreetsLA being one of the first to instigate the trend and another major figure in the community seeing the views he got and promoting it as some kind of advantageous business opportunity where you can make a YouTube channel screaming at and harassing People (who are literally forbidden to stick up for themselves) for money. Many of these personalities following suit are wildly narcissistic, clout chasing freaks who say the most vile and inhumane shit I’ve ever heard, but it’s these types of people who are attracted to these types of protests.
This is a serious fight with serious implications for those who’ve been affected by the cult, and although I understand the dramatic appeal, it’s being turned into a sideshow for entertainment, with no regard to the ramifications of said behavior. In Scientology, you’re indoctrinated to believe (like in many cults) that it is “us versus them“ that all who have not learned the “true workable technology“ of Scientology are insane and under the thumb of some ancient cabal of evil psychiatrists, blah blah. The point is, these types of protests literally prove (from the Scientologist perspective) that L. Ron Hubbard was right and they are wise to stay within the cult because it is safer than leaving, it emboldens them to trust this technology deeper because every time they walk outside, someone is screaming “GET BACK IN YOUR CULT!” at the top of their lungs for days/weeks on end.
Yes, many Scientologists are so lost in the sauce they go out of their way to attempt to intimidate protesters(most of which are management reps of individual orgs who are trained to do so), while management drafts up the legal documents to attack them. Nothing in Scientology happens without an order to do so by a higher up or by an LRH policy.
But most (imo) are harmless normal folk who have been manipulated extensively and probably have doubts about Scientology effectiveness because of how in debt they are or how little “progress“ they have made, there are children in many of those buildings and it’s hard to say what impression they’re getting from the protesters I’m referring to, I can tell you when I was a kid, seeing seeing people in masks screaming at me and my family as I walked in was very confusing and frightening to say the least.
The nuance here is, although Scientology is a corrupt, evil and destructive cult, we must appeal to those who have the power to remove Scientology’s tax exempt status, we must appeal to the humanity in its members to use common sense, to have some self-respect and understand that they are being used and spreading Scientology is doing the opposite of helping mankind.
Realistically, Scientology as a concept will never go away, and there will always be a small amount of people who stick up for it, but we can make actual effective change that removes Scientology’s ability to silence victims, abuse children, elder abuse, coverup sexual abuse, traffic whole families for labor, etc.
I understand that this kind of content can be entertaining for many of you, but what they are doing is setting us back and I’m not going to pretend that one of the biggest podcasts in the world (that I’ve been a fan of since it began) amplifying and bolstering such behavior hasn’t been disappointing to say the least.
I implore you to seek to understand the nuance in this area and stop promoting abusive behavior, you cannot abuse people out of an abusive situation and the only way scientologists at large will leave as if they understand that the indoctrination they’ve been fed is malicious and wrong.
The H3 channels and pod have always been an outlet for me to relieve stress and laugh when everything else in my life feels like shit, even when I was in the cult. So I won’t stop watching, but I’ve said my peace and I appreciate the tolerance and inclusivity this community promotes. So with that. Peace.
🤙

Been saving up my (M20) money living with my grandparents for about a year now in the middle of nowhere Arizona. In August I intend to sell my car, and in tandem with my savings Im looking at about 20k to travel with for an indefinite period.
I want to hitchhike most of the way, and I'm not against setting up my hammock and sleeping bag in the woods somewhere every other night. I expect the journey from AZ to take 3-4 months, I want to take my time in different places and enjoy it all. Of course I'll be using hostels for showers and beds, but I'm concerned cost wise about hostels, it could be something I book every other night.
I intend to pack: sleeping bag, clothes, laptop, kindle, portable battery, toiletries, and a pocket hammock. Of course food and water will be managed.
My current itinerary: PHX-LA-San Francisco-Portland-Seattle-Vancouver-Calgary-Winnipeg-Chicago (stay with my sister) - New York (might take greyhound, plane, or train [CHI to NY]).
I have people in New York who can house me for a little bit while I make the decision if I plan to stay in NY or continue to travel. If I do continue to travel I'll be booking a ticket to India, that will have to be another reddit post for another time.
Looking for any advise from people who have done similar things. Tips on sleeping in the woods? Tips in general? My goal is to spend no more than $30/day, is this unrealistic? Is there anything I might not be considering? When I'm stopped in different cities, is it realistic to imagine myself finding a public space to put a hammock and a sleeping bag up for the night? What about getting robbed, should I be concerned and are there any preemptive measures that might be taken?

I learned last month that the unit I've been renting since 2019 is fully covered by the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and have been elbow deep in any and all information about the RSO for weeks, as my landlord doesn't have any of the RSO notices they're required to post in common areas on the property and has never given me a copy of a valid registration statement, which they're also required to do.
As a result of all the research and reading about the provisions of the RSO I've been doing, I've been doing some digging for more info about the actual property itself, both out of curiosity and also because now I'm obviously feeling even more distrusting of my landlord.
I knew when I moved in that this is a family-owned property that's been in the same family since I think the '20s. The day-to-day manager who lives on the property and who handles everything (repairs, inspections, etc) is a woman in her 30s, sometimes two of her uncles tag in when she's out of town or there are big projects on the property, and the actual owner is her grandfather.
My lease agreement begins with "This Agreement, dated [Date], by and between an individual known as [Grandfather's Name] of [address in another city in California], hereinafter known as the "Landlord", AND [My Name], hereinafter known as the "Tenant", agree to the following."
So, 1. The wording of this lease is very clear that he is an individual, and not like, a trust or a company or some other kind of entity, and 2. When I called the LA Housing Department to get confirmation that my unit/this property is subject to the RSO, the representative said "Yes, and he pays the registration fee every year so he's aware of the RSO status," so again, referring to him as a person/individual and not an entity.
Today though I just learned that this man died in 2015. Every rent cheque I've paid since 2019 has been addressed to him, as is stipulated in my lease. So my lease was/is between me and a man who had already been dead for four years when I signed, I've been paying rent to a dead man, they've been collecting rent on behalf of a dead man, and the property is registered annually with the city by a dead man.
This is like... sketchy as hell, right? Or am I wrong?